A fruit dish greater than its parts

Good things take time. Haste makes waste. Go the extra mile. Did you too grow up on platitudes such as these? Sayings designed to instill the value of hard work and dedication? Funny how these catchphrases stick. Trite little verbal tidbits repeated by parents, grandparents, mentors and coaches burrow into your psyche and weave their way into an entire philosophy on how to live life. They certainly did in my case.

In fact, they lodged so firmly that I could use a lesson or two in not trying so hard.

I bring my striving attitude to the kitchen and have sworn my allegiance to paying attention to details and putting in the time required. Proficiency comes with practice, and experience has taught me that the more time and effort I put into something, the better that something (usually) is.