there's only a space between now and here to get yourself nowhere.

"Only the pots know the boiling points of the broths," she says as Tita weeps into the wedding batter she is making to celebrate the marriage of her sister to her own true love.

There are some things in life that shouldn't be given so much importance, if they don't change what is essential.

Take care to chop the onion fine.

Keeping secrets will always lead to unhappiness and communication is the key to love.

Tita knew through her own flesh how fire transforms the elements, how a lump of corn flour is changed into a tortilla, how a soul that hasn't been warmed by the fire of love is lifeless, like a useless ball of corn flour.

The most elementary of good manners . . . at a social gathering one does not bring up the subject of personalities, sad topics or unfortunate facts, religion, or politics.