Christmas Traditions and Reminiscences

This is my next-to-oldest cookbook. I bought this one myself for my "hope chest" when I was 15. That makes it almost 50 years old. You can tell from the condition that it has been used often. It contains the recipes for my annual Christmas offerings for my family — divinity (my mother's favorite), coconut macaroons (my Daddy's favorite), chocolate chip cookies (my daughters' favorite) and fudge, which everyone requests to this day. 


It's not the oldest cookbook I have. I have one that my mother got for me when I was 5. It's called "My First Cookbook," and was published by the Imperial Sugar Company. (I would post a picture of it, except that it's packed away in a box somewhere.) In it, there were blank pages for writing in recipes, and I have written — in crayon — my favorite recipe at the time, which was my granny's biscuits. Even then, I was an aspiring cook. I think Women's Lib, in which I was a fervent and active participant, clouded my life goals for a period of time. With maturity, comes clarity and perspective... thank goodness. The circle of life, right? If only we all listened to the inner voices of our youth...

The Hard Truth: Taking Responsibility for Your Health

I wonder if many people understand what is happening and what it means to each and every one of us. While everyone likes to see the insurance companies as big, bad corporations disinterested in the well being of the average Joe, the average Joe has taken advantage of insurance companies to the point that the premium pool is dangerously close to being insufficient in handling the claims the companies are forced to pay. Frankly put, the American public has an expectation of being cared for that far exceeds the available resources. 

How sad is it that research money is having to be used to try and find better treatments for heart disease when it's the single most preventable chronic disease? And, even when faced with irrefutable evidence that lifestyle changes need to be made immediately to protect themselves from impending serious health issues, most people find excuses instead. Nobody has a problem chasing the dollar but, for some reason, sees a problem with incorporating 30 minutes of aerobic exercise in the daily schedule. Parents would die for their children, but won't cook for them.

We are actually flirting with the possibility that we could have a decimation of human population equal to the Black Plaque within the next 100 years, simply because our bodies are too weak to withstand a serious pandemic. Let that fact sink in. Now, maybe you're one of those people who thinks, "So what? I'll be long gone by then." And, if that's your true feelings on the existence of your progeny, stop reading now and enjoy your double fudge ice cream with whipped cream. Namaste. 

However, if you've ever watched a person struggle through the recovery of a stroke or deal with the consequences of having a foot amputated because of diabetes, I invite you to read on, think and, ultimately, act.

I watched both my parents die suffering, because they were selfish and lazy. Diagnosed with serious health issues, they chose to treat symptoms with prescription medication, rather than address causes by making lifestyle changes. I'm not saying their demise would have been any easier had they chosen to make an effort. But, I do know retiring to a bed to wait for death is not an option I would choose. But, the American public is about to get a rude awakening by being faced with exactly that same decision...continue life as usual or make an effort to help themselves.

It's time the American public starts accepting the realization they are at risk for a health disaster. And, frankly, there's no one to point the finger at but the person in the mirror. But, the good news is, the problem is correctable. It means not eating to the point of discomfort, denying ourselves unrestricted indulgence in foods we know are unhealthy, being willing to sweat through some physical activity on a regular basis and no longer pretending that healthy cooking is an unnecessary chore.

And, there's the rub, isn't it? Whether it's comfortable to admit it or not, the majority of Americans have become indolent, self-indulgent and indifferent to consequences. We know medical science is going to provide a panacea that helps us mask the discomfort and ignore the issues. As long as there is a pill to make us feel better, everything is fine, right? Guess what, that pill costs money.

So, reality check. Do you eat healthy or are you in line at the fast food drive-thru more often than in the kitchen? Is most of your food in the freezer in handy-dandy disposable plastic trays with a expiration date of some time next year? Do you devote some time each day to actual physical activity that requires movement of your body faster than window shopping and makes your heart beat faster?

We've allowed our priorities to become dangerously skewed. It's time to throw out the excuse of busyness, and start taking care of business. It's not rocket science. It's more important than that. For the sake of our economy and future generations, it's time to get strong and healthy. 

The Knowledge of Living and the Art of the Senses

Like most everyone else, there are some charities, organizations... causes, if you will... that I am passionate about. Libraries, for instance, because the written word is becoming blase as we try to cram as much as we can into the 17 or 18 hours of waking time that we have every day. Instead, we listen to books, rather than read them. That means, if there is a word we don't understand, we're probably not in a place that would allow us to stop and look it up, learn something new... what a concept! It makes me think that, eventually, books will become like radios and TVs, just background noise. And, I find that sad. Go to this website to see a damning statistic about the average reading level of adults in the U.S. 

Another thing I feel strongly about is cooking. It is my creative outlet. When I create a brand new recipe, I'm queen of the world! I love everything about cooking... the prep, the selection of spices and herbs, the aromas. Something bubbling on a stove, simmering on a grill or baking in the oven is pure magic... all those ingredients, brought together by heat to create art that fuels the body, satisfies cravings, feeds all the senses. You feel the texture of  the foods on your hands... crisp vegetable, fleshy meat, gritty spices. You see the colors of the various ingredients forming an abstract image... red and green peppers with white mushrooms and golden onions against brown meats. The aromas tempt your taste buds and, without even realizing it, your digestive system is already starting to work. You can hear the sizzle and the bubble. And, finally, the supreme climax of tasting the end result. 

There are lots of reasons that cooking at home is beneficial, not the least of which is our health. There's some damning evidence about the state of our diets. We see it everywhere. There's no denying the obesity epidemic. Even more alarming, life expectancy is going down, despite medical advances and technology. Diabetes is one of the main reasons. Yet, experts all agree that by cooking at home, we are able to control our intake of sugar and salt, our portions, avoid preservatives and additives, while preserving and adding to our heritage, our health, our creativity... our legacy. 

And, just to make sure you were paying attention, there's a link between our decline in education and rise in obesity. Do your research. Be smart. Take control.

And, in answer of the prevailing question... yes, I read cookbooks! Call it quirky, but it's where I get my inspiration. One I highly recommend is LooneySpoons. It's chock full of nutritious recipes, helpful hints, cooking tips and amusing anecdotes and cartoons. 

So, in the words of Bill Haley and His Comets... get out in the kitchen and rattle those pots and pans!! http://youtu.be/7CXFXB4uknI

The Joy of Cooking is Not Just a Book

When I take one of my home-cooked dishes to work to share with my colleagues, I almost always hear someone say, “I wish I had time to cook.” That remark always takes me by surprise. My first flash-thought is, “Umm, what do you eat?” And, then it hits me. Have you ever noticed how many restaurants there are nowadays? In a three-mile radius of my home, I can name 25 without even giving it much thought. TWENTY-FIVE! And, the sad new is, three-quarters of them are fast food, such as McDonald’s, KFC, Little Caesar’s. My next thought is always, why would a person not make time to lovingly prepare a beautiful and healthy meal, enjoying the aromas of cooking and the peace of home; but, choose instead a meal prepared by a total stranger with unknown ingredients, to eat in a noisy restaurant with the prerequisite unhappy child crying somewhere? I totally get that working folks have to deal with a stricter schedule, but do the math. Are those few minutes you save by using the drive-through at KFC worth the risk of losing out on long-term quality, independent life in your later years?

It’s an obvious fact. Everywhere we look there are signs that we Americans are killing ourselves, not to mention guaranteeing obesity and shorter life spans for our children, with our fast-food, damn the calories, full fat ahead eating preferences. Don’t get me wrong… I enjoy eating out. Trying new restaurants is one of my favorite pastimes. And, I love a really good hamburger, but what I make at home makes a Big Mac look like road kill. Plus, I get to choose the soundtrack. 

Maybe it’s just me, but in the time it takes to decide where to eat, drive to the restaurant, wait for seating, peruse the menu, wait for the waiter to fulfill the order, eat, pay the check and drive home, I can cook the food I want to eat, in my jammies, and I don’t even have to comb my hair. I think if everyone were to be brutally honest, it really comes down to the planning and the — dum, dum, DUMMMMM — clean-up. Puh-leeze! Can you say dishwasher? Garbage disposal? C’mon, you know who you are.

So, let’s break it down. Here are some cold hard facts about health issues for older folks:

·     Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. The average age for heart attack in men is 66; in women, 70.

·     Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., and the American Cancer Society says poor diet is accountable for 35 percent of the cases.

·     Almost 27 percent of people over the age of 65 in the U.S. have diabetes, which is the leading cause of kidney disease. The risk of death doubles for people with diabetes compared to the same age group without diabetes and was the underlying cause listed on 15 percent of death certificates issued in 2010.

·    The Alzheimer’s Association reports that, of Americans aged 65 and older, one in eight has Alzheimer’s, which is the 5^th leading cause of death for that age group.

The Centers for Disease Control has reported that almost all heart disease and adult-onset diabetes is preventable. And, while Alzheimer’s cannot be prevented, its onset can be delayed. And, guess what, folks… a healthy diet is listed as either the number one or number two most effective prevention in each of these late-life diseases. For seniors, the benefits of healthy eating include increased mental acuteness, resistance to illness and disease, higher energy levels, faster recuperation times and better management of chronic health problems. As we age, eating well can also be the key to a positive outlook and staying emotionally balanced. I think we can all agree, there’s not much point in living longer if the quality of life is impaired by a serious disease state. But, for the generation who swore to never get old, it appears to be a no-brainer. You are what you eat. Fill your body with junk, and that's exactly what it becomes... a piece of junk.

Of course, I love to cook and realize this is all a matter of perspective. So, for those of you who have seen too many episodes of Hell's Kitchen, let me see if I can help banish your fears. Here are a few of my Culinary 101 hints:

·    Research on the Internet. Google low calorie recipes. You will be blown away by how many there are in cyberspace.

·   Start with casseroles. They’re easy, practically fool-proof and don’t require a lot of clean-up.

·   Invest in a crock pot. You can cook almost anything in it, even chocolate cake, and it's really hard to burn or overcook.

·    Buy a steamer. It’s a two-fer… a great sauce pot for cooking soups or pasta; add the insert and steam any fresh veggies you want in about 10 minutes. Talk about fast food! It provides healthy cooking with easy clean-up.

·    Measuring cups and spoons are necessary, but don’t go all OCD on getting the measurements exactly right. It’s not brain surgery.

·    A couple of good sharp knives are a must. Starting out, I recommend a chef’s knife and a paring knife.

·    Improvisation is the basis of culinary genius, so experiment!!

·    Relax, pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy getting to know your inner child… Julia Child, that is!

Now, “Get out in that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans."