Mediterranean cuisine, featuring abundant fruits and vegetables, and richly flavored with herbs and spices, is hailed by chefs, nutritionists and health-minded Americans as the “gold standard” of healthy eating. The Mediterranean lifestyle blends wholesome, naturally good-for-you foods with a liberal dose of exercise and eagerness to enjoy the pleasures of life with friends and family around the table.

Recently, the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid was updated to showcase the role of herbs and spices, placing them at the heart of every meal for the flavorful and health-promoting antioxidants they provide.

Forty-eight hours without power does something to you.

Last weekend thousands in the surrounding areas suffered a power outage due to the snowstorm. When I went to bed on Friday night everything was fine. Early Saturday morning was a different story. I woke up early because I was so cold. A stop by the grocery store prepared me for the storm but I was not prepared for a weekend without power.

Now that I have an electric stove I wouldn’t be able to prepare any of the goodies I had purchased to get me through the weekend. No hot chocolate, no French bread pizza, no tomato soup and grilled cheese.

Church celebration

FEB. 28—Central Baptist Church, 2200 Wylie Ave., Hill District, will host the African-American History Celebration “Looking Back To Go Forward” from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Ralph Proctor PhD, chairman of the Ethnic and Diversity Studies Department at CCAC, will be the keynote speaker and Harold Hayes will be the Master of Ceremony. There will be several performances and presentations. For more information, call 412-566-1200.

The buzz about the Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Pittsburgh Chapter hat luncheon had reached all the way to Eons on Ellsworth Street.

The ladies who attended the 65th Anniversary Hat Luncheon Jan. 30, at the Omni William Penn Hotel wore beautiful hats. Many had been purchased at Eons and had a vintage flair.

LOVING THESE HATS— Melissa Pickett, Denise Hayes, Pamela Young and Marsha Thomas.

More than 100 members of Jack and Jill and friends gathered in The Bob and Delores Hope Room for an afternoon filled with great auction items, sweet music and a tasty lunch. A portion of the luncheon proceeds went to the Afro-American Music Institute and the Jack and Jill Foundation. James Johnson, Ph.D., AAMI executive director, remarked that “we” are a musical people and a wide variety of students attend AAMI for many reasons. Johnson appreciated the fact that the historic organization was investing in “our future.” Johnson said that students come to AAMI for many reasons. Several students have attended for voice lessons so they can propose to their spouse in a unique way.