More than a book club meeting
Susan often hosted our book club meetings. In fact, other than Emilda, she hosted most often because she truly enjoyed sharing her home with friends. We always had fabulous dinners at book club and I remember one of Susan's dishes in particular as the best of all. She prepared an eggplant dish that blew my mind – I adored it and had to force myself to stop at two helpings of this insanely yummy dish made of thinly sliced eggplant rolled up and stuffed with ricotta cheese and pine nuts and smothered in a delicious homemade tomato sauce. “It is so easy,” Susan assured me, “it is one of Giada’s recipes.” When I made the dish myself, I realized how time consuming it was! Yet Susan enjoyed making us happy! She always cooked wonderful main courses for us, even when she was tired or had just had company, or didn’t feel 100%. She also sweetened our lives with her famous lemon bars – another “easy” recipe. She made her house incredibly welcoming with flowers and candles artfully arranged on a beautiful table set and ready for us to enjoy. Everywhere you looked were treasures to behold: family photos amongst shells; tiny ceramic pieces with equisite colors; mermaids in unexpected niches. I deeply admired Susan’s fashion style as well – she always looked completely stylish and adorable in her clothes. All of these things, her cooking, her artful home, and her lovely personal style highlight a woman full of warmth, love, caring, creativity!! I miss you Susan!