I have been thinking today about how much pleasure Nora Ephron gave the world as a novelist, screenwriter, playwright and columnist. So wise and funny and edgy and still at the top of her game when she died last week at 71. She loved to cook and food was an underlying theme in her stories. ” Heartburn”, the thinly veiled account of her divorce from Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein was a masterpiece of literary revenge. And she was the perfect choice to direct the wonderful movie “Julie and Julia” about America’s most famous cook.
In a heartfelt column in the L.A. Times, Meghan Daum described her as “a sort of literary mother hen with a cashmere-clad wing outstretched.” Here are a few favorite quotes from Nora, along with her great salad dressing recipe.
“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.”
“I don’t think any day is worth living without thinking about what you’re going to eat next at all times.”
“Reading makes me feel I’ve accomplished something, learned something, become a better person….Reading is bliss.”
“Having a baby is like throwing a hand grenade into a marriage.”
And here’s how she introduces her salad dressing recipe in Heartburn:
“I had gotten to the point where I simply could not make a bad vinaigrette, this was not exactly the stuff of drama. (Even now I cannot believe Mark would want to risk losing that vinaigrette – You just don’t bump into vinaigrette that good.)”
Mix 2 Tbs. Grey Poupon mustard with 2 Tbs. good red wine vinegar. Then whisking constantly with a fork slowly add 6 Tbs. olive oil until thick and creamy. This is a strong dressing and would be good for greens like arugula and endive.
Note: I like to add a pinch of salt and pepper .
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Thanks for the Nora remembrance. How could she leave us without something to put under this great strong vinaigarette? Guess we’ll have to do it on our own.