In Isabel Wilkerson’s acclaimed new book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, she shares the story of the stumbling stones. In 1992, German artist Gunter Demnig, began commemorating the lives of Sinti and Roma people who were murdered by the Nazi regime. The project soon expanded to include all who were killed by Nazis: Jews, primarily, but also homosexuals, theContinue reading “The Lessons of the Stumbling Stones”
Author Archives: christinanifong
March 2021 Newsletter
The Gift of Hearing Others’ Stories In my work as a magazine writer, I interview people from all walks of life. We sit down, often in their living rooms or offices or a nearby coffee shop. I pull out my notebook and push record on my phone app, and out flow the stories. The big momentsContinue reading “March 2021 Newsletter”
February 2021 Newsletter
Lessons of the Stumbling Stones In Isabel Wilkerson’s acclaimed new book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, she shares the story of the stumbling stones. In 1992, German artist Gunter Demnig, began commemorating the lives of Sinti and Roma people who were murdered by the Nazi regime. The project soon expanded to include all who were killed by Nazis: Jews,Continue reading “February 2021 Newsletter”
Chickpea Curry Dinner
As early spring warms into longer, sunnier days, I find my dinners are a mix of winter’s root vegetables and early-bird greens and onions and herbs. This curry dish couldn’t be better suited for this in-between time — pair potatoes, sweet potatoes and/or carrots with kale or spinach or chard. Maybe you have some cilantroContinue reading “Chickpea Curry Dinner”
Irish Soda Bread
My husband’s father is Irish-American and his mother was Italian-American, which means my husband grew up with an appreciation of both cultures, but a table topped with Italian dishes. When our family began our own holiday traditions, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day was among them. But there was no cherished Irish Soda Bread recipe to be handedContinue reading “Irish Soda Bread”
Seeing Stars
There has always been something mysterious about the night sky. Something inscrutable. Ancient. Lost. Staring into its pinpricks of light feels to me like trying to read a scroll of hieroglyphs. That’s how it feels. But I know it’s not impossible to discover the heavens’ secrets. Plenty of people peer into the inky expanse and see a roadmapContinue reading “Seeing Stars”
January 2021 Newsletter
Seeing Stars There has always been something mysterious about the night sky. Something inscrutable. Ancient. Lost. Staring into its pinpricks of light feels to me like trying to read a scroll of hieroglyphs. That’s how it feels. But I know it’s not impossible to discover the heavens’ secrets. Plenty of people peer into the inky expanse and seeContinue reading “January 2021 Newsletter”
December 2020 Newsletter
Reading Books Is Our Super Power I was a confused and awkward middle schooler (weren’t we all?), who struggled to make friends and to understand the world outside my tiny experience of it. I was always saying the wrong words, doing the wrong things, ending up in places I didn’t want to be. Where I feltContinue reading “December 2020 Newsletter”
Cranberry Orange Sauce
I made my first-ever cranberry sauce a few Thanksgivings ago. I have to admit, I was pretty smitten. These days, it’s not hard to find whole, fresh cranberries at many stores. But if fresh aren’t available, frozen whole cranberries will work too. I have tinkered endlessly with this recipe, trying to find the perfect balanceContinue reading “Cranberry Orange Sauce”
Sugar-Coated Pecans
Add these to a salad or scatter them alongside the pickles and crackers on your cheese board or set them out before you serve your meal as an irresistible snack. In any case, they’ll bring a little fancy, a little salty, a little sweet to your table. The secret is starting with top-quality nuts. AndContinue reading “Sugar-Coated Pecans”