A New Venture

For the past couple of years I have been trying to 'find myself' and figure out what path I'd like to wander around on during the next phase of my life. I've considered many options, from accounting (my college degree - hated it) to working in a restaurant (too physical for me at this point). Some of the in-between options I've considered range from copy-writing to opening a new-age exercise studio to creating a website. I have even thought about a business grocery shopping for others...there is a real need here, and who is pickier than I am when it comes to food??? I did sign up for a local photography class which begins in about a week. Perhaps Foodography is in my future? All I know is that I need a much better answer to the question "And what do you do?" It is a bit awkward telling others I am a stay-at-home mom when my boys are 19 (and not even home) and 16. Basically, I have now become a 'stay-at-home-wife'. This is not so glamorous as one might imagine. One, I am not popping bon-bons one after the other all day long with my soaps running in the background. And two, I do still have a 16 year old at home...'nough said!!

Yes, I know how fortunate I am to be able to stay home, especially in these times of a possible double dip recession. But the grass is always greener...so I've heard it said. And what does any of this have to do with a food blog? Well, I suppose it has to do with the hunger of wanting more out of life, of wanting to make one's life the best it can possibly be. Sure I have a terrific life. I am most thankful for that. Truly! But that doesn't mean I can't want to enrich it further. I want to know that I have made a difference in this world, that I have helped in some small (or large) manner to make the universe a better place.

So my question remains: How??? I welcome your answers.....

And until next time....Namaste!

Food = Peace??

There is something so special about food. We all must eat, breath and sleep (oh ok...and pay taxes and die). Breathing is involuntary, and sleeping - well, that's a whole other can of worms for me! But eating, even though we all must do it, is done in so many ways. We have a choice in how and what to eat...well, in many cases we do. I believe that when you understand what and how a person eats you have a much better sense of who the person is. One of the first things one is faced with when traveling to another country is eating: where to eat, what to eat, when to eat (we discovered it's very important to know when to eat in Europe).

There are so many aspects to food. It can be sensual and romantic, fast and processed, wholesome and comforting - or any combination of these. A shared table is often the place of many heated discussions, proposals, intimate conversation and family updates. A table for one can be lonely, or it can mean finally having a relaxing moment to oneself. It really all depends on the day and the person. I love a family meal when the television is turned off and everyone is seated around the table enjoying not only the food but also one another's company. This is unfortunately a rare occurrence for us these days. During the week my 'family' often consists of only my younger son and me...on weekends my husband is present, and during the summer my eldest returns home to join our feasts.

What I wish is that you all take the time to learn how others eat. Perhaps this will lead to a deeper understanding and acceptance of one another's cultures and differences, which could even lead to world peace! (I can dream, right?) I raise my glass to good food, and more importantly, great family time. Bon Appetit...and Peace Out!

Happy Birthday, Julia! Would you like some gelato with your birthday cake??

Wow, it has been over a month since I last blogged...I missed the entire month of July!! But how appropriate that I chose today - August 15th - to re-emerge on the blogging scene. Happy Birthday, Julia Child!

Lately, I have been experimenting with gelato and ice-cream recipes. I have always wanted to perfect homemade ice-cream, but found the recipes tended to be less creamy and dense than I prefer, and often the final product was a bit grainy. I came across a recipe for a classic gelato on Epicurious.com and it was the base I have been searching for! My first go at the recipe I added a vanilla bean and cherries to the base. The cherries were fresh organic cherries which I pitted and chopped. I added a touch of Grand Marnier, nutmeg and a spicy syrup (simple syrup infused with red pepper flakes, cardamom, star anise, cinnamon and nutmeg). The end result was a delicious creation of creamy icy goodness!

Yesterday I made a different gelato. My son requested a coconut-banana-rum ice-cream, so I added shredded unsweetened coconut and about one tablespoon of dark rum to the base. I left the coconut in because I like the texture it creates, but if you want a completely smooth base you can strain out the coconut when it is ready to go in the ice-cream maker. I pureed two frozen bananas and when they were completely smooth and creamy I added a scant tablespoon of dark rum and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. I had planned to swirl this into the coconut base when it was almost frozen, but it ended up getting completely mixed in. No matter...on bite and I was transported to a tropical paradise! Next time I will top it with a caramel sauce.

I have some other flavor combinations to try. I'm planning to make a strawberry gelato with black pepper and possibly anise. I have had the strawberry-black pepper combo in the past and want to recreate it at home. I think the anise would add another dimension, but I am not sure if it would be a good dimension. I also have plans for a peach-chipotle-honey combination. When peaches are at the peak of their season I love to slice them on top of a healthy scoop of vanilla ice-cream. I pour a little brandy over the ice-cream (to taste), and follow it up with honey, chopped pecans and a touch of chipotle powder. As a side note: perfectly ripe peaches are also delicious halved,a little goat cheese added to the center, and drizzled with honey (and maybe a chiffonade of mint)...makes a wonderful appetizer and pairs well with a crisp white wine or glass of champagne.

Bon Appetit!

The Irish Heather/Salty Tongue Cafe

I have been in Vancouver for several days with my family and the food has been incredible! Today we found a real gem: The Irish Heather. This is a gastro pub here in Vancouver's Gastown area, and the food is said to be truly authentic. I stumbled upon it quite by accident while searching for restaurants online. The reviews were so wonderful and it was so close (about a 10 minute walk from our hotel) that it was as if "Karma" herself was insisting we go.

We were not able to get into the pub side due to one underage son...but they have an attached restaurant (The Salty Tongue Cafe) serving the same food and drink, and it was here that we had quite the feast. In the cafe there is a 40 foot communal table which seats 48 people...and this table becomes the dining section of the gastropub at 5pm. We began with a few appetizers: a cheese plate, which included a cranberry chutney, gherkins, honey and toasted bread along with several Irish cheese selections; a sausage plate served with whole-grain mustard; and potato wedges served with a coconut chutney dip. For entrees we ordered several to try: one fish and chips, a 'heather pot pie' - which was a steak and guiness pot pie served on mashed potatoes with gravy, and one order of their macaroni and cheese with beef short ribs and a grainy mustard (my choice...excellent!!). We were happy with all of our selections...and ate til our stomaches were ready to burst with joy!

So if you find yourself in Vancouver one day, and I sure hope you do, please check out The Irish Heather and/or The Salty Tongue Cafe.

Mango Panna Cotta

I am not cooking this week. My downstairs AC unit has not been working since last week, and it is not due to be fixed until Friday...and with temps in the upper 90's it is just too hot to heat up the kitchen any more than absolutely necessary. So tonight I took a little field trip to my local Whole Foods and let my boys pick their dinner from the pre-made section. I chose smoked chicken, cornbread, potato salad and cole slaw. And then I saw it....the dessert section. Usually I pass on this section, but today I felt drawn to the counter with the colorful layouts of individual cheesecakes, tiramisu, fruit-laden florentine cups, and finally the mango panna cotta (my choice).

I love a good panna cotta, and often choose this when it's an option. Today's panna cotta had a wonderful cookie-like crust and was topped with a gelatenous mango layer. The flavors mingled with one another to create a luxuriously creamy taste sensation. For anyone wondering what panna cotta is, in its most basic form it is a creamy Italian dessert made by heating cream with sugar and adding gelatin to help it set up. To this other flavors may be added, vanilla being a popular choice. I have had some wonderful panna cottas in my travels, and this one ranks right up there. Somehow the mango and cream combo just works for me. Of course, I also love mango with coconut rice as a dessert. Hmmm, I bet a coconut panna cotta with mango would taste divine. I will have to give that one a try and report on it at a later date. In the meantime I will savor the remainder of my dessert...Bon Appetit!

Nia

So I know this has nothing to do with food; however, it is, in a sense, a type of cleansing - only it's for the spirit and body rather than the palate. A few months ago I discovered Nia. "Nia?" you ask..."What is Nia??" Nia (pronounced 'Knee-uh') is a form of dance which has been around since the 1980's. It incorporates several different styles of movement including jazz, salsa, martial arts and yoga. What I especially love about it is that while there IS a structural base, there is also freedom within the structure. If one doesn't move exactly as the instructor that is not only okay but often encouraged. In fact, most classes have a 'free dance' element. Nia is for all body types and all ability levels. The classes I attend include several people who I am fairly certain are/were professional dancers. On the other end of the spectrum there are those who have limitations in their mobility. And then there is everyone in between...it is a wonderful mix!

Nia, for me, is joyous and mind-opening. It brings to me a sense of peace, self-awareness and self-confidence...after a class I feel centered and more conscious of my life. And the people I have met are some of the most beautiful I've encountered. It is an ecclectic group for sure, but I believe that is part of what makes it so beautiful and fulfilling. My instructor has an awesome spirit. She expresses joy in every movement. The people in my classes include singles, mothers, grandmothers; a chef, a sex columnist, a lawyer - and then there's everyday little ol' me. Different as our life stories and paths are, we are all looking for something the typical cardio dance class falls short of providing. And I appreciate the fact that there is no one telling me I have to do this or have to move like that...there is no competition over who does Nia 'best' or is the most intense. There really is not a 'wrong' way to move. I consider it my form of 'group therapy'. I am hooked, and this is one habit I don't plan to break! If you haven't given it a try I highly encourage you to get right over to the nearest group...but watch out, you might get hooked, too!

Going Vegetarian...Is this 'The Answer'???

I am considering the concept of vegetarianism...at least when eating out. Well, maybe that is a bit extreme, but my body has gotten used to grass-fed beef and free-range chicken. Tonight I had an appetizer with pork at a nearby restaurant, and as a result my stomach is not very happy. Same thing happened last week with a local restaurant I used to haunt on a weekly basis...they closed down to remodel for a couple of months, and when they re-opened they had changed the supplier of their chicken. I recognized the difference with my first bite. How disappointing!! This had been my back-up on nights when I was short on time and/or energy.

For me eating is as much a spiritual experience as it is a nourishing one. I relish 'the perfect bite'. I take great pleasure in feeding my family and friends and making sure the food I provide is not only full of flavor but also rich with the nourishment that helps our bodies flourish. I know...sappy...but it's how I feel. Which is why getting sub-par meals is so disappointing to me.

I have noticed that, gradually, more restaurants are becoming conscious of what foods they provide to their customers. A new place recently opened in my town - The Grazing Cow - which offers grass-fed beef hamburgers and hot dogs from the same place I order my beef. I have not eaten there myself but have heard wonderful things about it. When I finally get there I will make sure to report back...We recently traveled to Virginia and went to Big Bowl. They use all local produce, free-range chicken, pork from sustainable farms and beef that is hormone/anti-biotic free. Their beef is not grass-fed, but perhaps that will come in the future. The food was delicious! I think that as more people discover how good 'real' food tastes the switch from processed foods will be a bit easier. I pray this time is only right around the corner!