With your very own Crumpet Toolkit you can make the most delicious sourdough crumpets of your life whenever you like. Are sourdough crumpets the secret to longterm happiness? I will let you be the judge of that.
Author Archives: Susan K. Finston
Cactus Flower Summer
Israel’s changing rainy season winter weather patterns including more episodic, intense rains have brought a bonanza of beautiful summer cactus flowers
October 7th and the “Good Fence” – Looking Back to Look Forward
Once upon al time there was an Israeli border with Lebanon near Metula called the “Good Fence” where Lebanese civilians crossed into Israel for free medical care, work and trade – an economic lifeline for Southern Lebanese farmers and merchants. The Good Fence lives on in our collective memory as a symbol of peaceful coexistence that we hope can return to reality.
Chandigarh City Beautiful: Green Spaces and Mid-Century Architecture
Chandigarh has developed in harmony with the vision of its architect Le Corbusier on a human scale over the decades. In fact it is widely known as “The City Beautiful” due to its effective urban design, and abundance of public parks and gardens.
Exploring Shimla: India’s Queen of Hills
Shimla, Queen of Hills, was founded by the British in the late 19th century as the summer capital of the British Raj. After the hurly-burly trip north from Delhi, words can’t express the meditative, elevating and inspiring beauty of Shimla in the foothills of the Himalayas. I will let my photos tell most of the story.
Our Journey to Shimla on the Iconic Toy Train
Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and a famous Hill Station in the foothills of the Himalayas. We reached Shimla via India’s iconic and romantic Toy Train. Our travel coincided with incredible turmoil in India’s domestic air travel industry, complicating air travel and making even railroad trips uncertain due to the spillover effect of huge waves of flight cancellations. It was truly an adventure.
Uber 3-Wheelers
The Uber Auto Rickshaw is a great example of how India assimilates Western products through a local lens.
When I wake up too early …
If you are one of those people with a jar of sourdough sitting in the back of your refrigerator and no time for baking – this Sourdough Crumpets recipe is for you!
New Year’s Eve Mu-Shu with Pancakes
As a Jew I make Mu Shu with Chinese pancakes not because it is a traditional New Years’ food but just because it is so delicious! Best wishes to our Chinese friends around the world celebrating the start of the 2026 Year of the Fire Horse! “Horses arrive and Success follows.”
Finding the Christmas Spirit in India
My great love affair with India started long before my first trip more than 26 years ago, and it was very important to me to finally travel with my husband to India in December 2025 – to give him at least a taste of the country and the culture. It was a wonderful, memorable trip for both of us. I do not claim expert status on India – I am just sharing a few photos and memories of our time last December at the request of friends who have asked about the experience.