QUOTE : I reached for turmeric, soft and yellow, rich but not spicy---Paul. Trent, cumin seeds---fresh, ready to be crushed. But I knew. Mashing would not crush them, it would only soften their edges, crack their husks. Cumin was strong. It endured. Next I added coriander, which seemed to balance the mixture, then paprika, ginger, and a touch of cayenne. I picked up the pestle and ground the spices. The cumin seeds rolled over the others as I ground them against the stone. Scent wafted up. It was a very Moroccan mixture, and it fit my mood---spicy and aggressive, underpinned by subtle questions and hesitancy.