New Year Resolutions

Dear publisher of Museum Cafes & Arts Cookbook:

Your cookbook is so lovely with all the pictures of famous paintings that I decided to start the 2008 New Recipe Each Week Experiment off with your Pork Loin Chops with Apple-Tarragon Chutney recipe. The fact that I don't like cooked apples in any way, shape, or form might have been a tip-off for a more realistic person, so I accept full responsibility for starting the year with something that I didn't have a chance of liking. That was definitely my fault--I guess some part of me keeps thinking that, as an American, I must have some sort of genetic disposition to like apple pie. The CD of soothing music to cook to is a very nice touch, but I may point out that if you had included some very pertinent information, such as cooking times or the word "meanwhile," I might not have needed quite as much "soothing." Not that I'm criticizing--only one of us has published a cookbook and we both know which one of us that is--but a slight hint as to how long it might take to cook the pork chops, or a time frame for cooking 4 cups of liquid down to 1 cup, well, that might have been helpful, though I think I'm as up for surprises as the next person. To show that we bear no grudge, my husband will be fixing your Sauteed Duck Breasts with Swiss Chard and Ginger-Braised Celery later this week. I will have the soothing music CD queued up for him.

Sincerely,

Toni

PS. Even though I didn't actually like your recipe, it did smell fabulous and if you ever decide to market that scent as a candle, I think you might really have something.