Thursday, January 20, 2011

WEIGHT LOSING TIPS

MOVING EXTRA:                                                                                                              
                             1. Use stairs to climb don't use elevators.                     
                             2. Do your homework with yourself.
                             3. Play with your kids.                                                     
                             4. Play throw ball or any kind of sports or activity.   
                             5. Don't be lazy,stay active.      
                             6. Work out in gym 1 hour a day.                              
                             7. Walk daily in routine life.                                      

One Big Cookbook


I keep saying that I really don’t need any more cookbooks, but somehow new ones just seem to keep creeping onto my overloaded bookshelves. As you know, I recently acquired “Baked Explorations” and “Baked – New Frontiers in Baking” from that hallowed place in Brooklyn, as well as David Lebovitz’s “Ready for Dessert.” Now comes Molly O’Neill’s “One Big Table.”

Molly O’Neill is well-known in the food world, having been a food columnist for the New York Times and the host of “Great Food” on PBS. She has written several books, including the “New York Cookbook” which of course I own and use frequently. In fact, it’s the source of those matzoh balls I make every year at Passover. I had the pleasure of meeting her years ago when she came to Atlanta to promote the book.

Over the past decade, Molly crisscrossed the country to amass recipes from cooks throughout America. She collected over 10,000 recipes and this book contains about 600 of them. Here is what she writes about her inspiration:

“I’ve never known a food-obsessed person who did not have someone in a cotton apron – a grandmother or mother, an uncle, a father, a neighbor, a teacher – standing behind them who could turn an ordinary meal into an extraordinary one and make the world seem larger, full of heart and bursting with possibility. But these American cooks had been forgotten over the past several decades as ‘cooking’ morphed into ‘cuisine.’ I wanted to find them and cook with them and get a taste of their America.”

Her words resonated with me. In my life, those people in the “cotton aprons” include both of my grandmothers (they really DID wear cotton aprons; my maternal grandmother used to sew her own out of lace and gingham), my dad and my mom, both of whom I have written about here before. I like to think I am that person for my sons Andy (who loves to cook) and even Eric (who is much more interested in a good meal and proficient in the kitchen than he would like to admit). Who was that person for you?

In any event, you can expect me to post a few recipes from this wonderful book. I can’t wait to try the marinated feta, original deviled eggs, 3-generation olive salad, West Indies crab salad (I loved this when I lived in Mobile as a teenager) and chocolate-sauerkraut (really?) cupcakes. I’ll keep you posted.


I made the following soup when we were captives in our house last week. It was just the ticket as it was warm, comforting and hearty enough to sustain us throughout the ice storm. I'm just happy we didn't have to rely on it for more than five days!


FAYRENE SHERRITT’S HUNGARIAN MUSHROOM SOUP (from “One Big Table” by Molly O’Neill)

6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 pound white mushrooms, coarsely chopped (see note)
2 medium onions, chopped
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups water
2 cups chicken stock (preferably homemade)
2 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
2 teaspoons paprika, preferably smoked (see note)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
½ cup sour cream
½ cup chopped Italian parsley
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

In a Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and onions and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until vegetables are soft. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring, about 1 minute until incorporated.

Slowly whisk in the water, stock, milk, dill, tamari, paprika and salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.

In a small bowl, mix the sour cream with ¼ cup of the warm soup to temper, then stir mixture into the soup along with the parsley and lemon juice. Taste to adjust seasonings and serve.

Serves 6





*  While the recipe calls for white mushrooms, I used criminis (baby portobellos) because I like their "meatiness" and heartier flavor.

*  I think smoked paprika really does add another element of flavor to this soup, so I would encourage you to use it.  You can also use smoked pimenton (Spanish paprika), which is what I did.  If all else fails though, you can use sweet paprika.


*  Want to make this vegetarian?  No problem.  Just substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock.


*  Feel free to play around with quantities of dill, tamari (or soy sauce, which is what I used) and lemon juice.  I ended up using a little more of each, but that's just my taste.

Naturally, there is a story behind the acquisition of this cookbook.  It was purchased for me by my sister (in-law, but we don't look at it that way) Barbara, who lives in NYC.  She gave it to Andy (who also lives in the city) and insisted he schlep it on the plane to Florida where he was meeting us right after Christmas.  Since it weighs over 10 pounds, he wasn't thrilled, knowing he would either have to lug it in his backpack or exceed the weight limit on his luggage.  He asked why she didn't just order it from Amazon and send it directly.  Her response?  She wanted to support the local bookstore in the West Village so they can hopefully stay alive in the midst of those big-box booksellers.  Gotta love that!

Or at least I did until it was my turn to drag it back on the plane to Atlanta.  Thanks, Barbara!

The Dumbest Generation?

This is a follow-up to the previous post, the video found while clicking around the links associated with the source of the previous video.


Hmmmm. I don't think I buy the idea, but I could be wrong. I definitely agree with the damage done by irreverance for the past.

School Days

A snippet of A simple life.  Saignon, Provence, France
This sweet photo was taken while we were staying in Saignon, France last fall. The most beautiful village that we found in Provence. 
This precious little child gave a 
kiss 
to her mother and confidently trotted down the street to school.  
I was thinking how simple life was when my children were little and 
cute backpacks 
and sweet school shoes 
filled our cares.  
Today, while routinely relegated to  the passenger seat of my car,
wringing my hands, 
as one teen drives; 
as well as,   concentrating hard on all things math while prepping my son for a big test today... 
I remembered this sweet moment in France.  

A simple 
snippet 
of 
a simple little life.

Oh, If We'd Only Had The Interweb Tubes When I Was In College

I went to UCSD in the early 1980s. At that time, the campus was still peppered with aging 1960s/1970s radicals. These balding, ponytailed, grungy hippies were still students and helped act as the intellectual mentors of the hipsters who ran the Che Cafe, the Committee for World Democracy and all the dimwitted, pathetic lefty groups who were mimeographing signs to staple up on walls telling us that Ronald Reagan was going to lead us into nuclear war*.

These perpetual students would have been the perfect targets of this lovely video. Enjoy. (Warning: Some un-'Post-like language included.)



* - He didn't. He won the Cold War. The hippies moved on to other topics. (See also: warming, global.)

Harian Sabtu

Ruas jalan samping bangunan ini sepi. Terik gersang si angin bercinta dengan raja cahaya. 16 buah pohon palm yang mengawali, memayungi bangku kayu yang kududuki.

Sabtu siang, aku sendiri menatap keji pada barisan tentara pelbagai bentuk dalam kertas. Berita yang memuakkan. Dan aku jengah! Bukan! Bukan politik, bukan kekalahan tim bola kesayanganku, jua kasus operasi plastik. Bukan itu.

Tapi kata-kata itu bagai menginjak, membawa pesona arogan dua kuasa. Pelik. Busuk dan biadab! Maunya saja aku membaca koran itu. Maluuuu! Jijik! Perang saja pecahkan. Bosan.

Hoaaam. Kantukku menjemput. Kulempar koran bedebah itu. Maka harian Sabtu itu teracuh, dengan berita soal... Aku.

KITCHEN TIPS:PULSES


  1. Use  luke warm water for washing all kinds of pulses and use wooden spoon in cooking.

Nicely Put

I saw this quote today while researching for a client. Boy does it ring true.


OT Tip - Vision Development in your child

I want to talk a little bit today about vision development and how watching tv or playing video games at a young age affects your child's learning and behavior.


Children watch more tv and play more video games than in any other time period. TV has become America's cheapest baby sitter. Unfortunately, a lot of parent's don't realize the developmental affects this has on your child's vision and learning.




Did you know that babies are not born with 20/20 vision? For the first 6-8 weeks their vision does not focus well and depth perception is just beginning to develop. At this age it is important to change the babies position often in the crib and during feedings. Provide brightly colored toys that make noise and play peek-a-boo and patty cake. Avoid tv. (Resource: Vision First Foundation)


From 6-12 months babies start to use their hands and feet to explore their environment as well as using both of their eyes together. At this age it is important to encourage the baby to crawl, DO NOT encourage early walking. (See my post on crawling for more developmental information). Provide a lot of stacking and take apart toys to encourage visual development. Avoid tv. (Resource: Vision First Foundation


At ages 1-3, eye hand coordination and dept perception have developed. Provide lots of exploration through the zoo, playground, pool, or water park. Choose your toys carefully, provide blocks, toys that move by pushing the feet, and safe areas for them to scribble, finger paint etc... Avoid tv, video games and computer time. 


The preschool years (age 3) your child is learning how to use vision for learning experiences. Continue to provide many different environments, such as the zoo, water park, pool, playground. Encourage them to climb, jump, and walk on balance beams. Read to your child daily and discuss the book after. Avoid or strictly limit tv, video games, and computer time. (Resource: Vision First Foundation


In the school age years (k-12) limited tv, video game and computer till is still important. Children should be encouraged to read at least 20 minutes a day, and encourage active and creative play outdoors. 


In all these stages it is important to have your child's eyes check regularly by an optometrist. One in four children have eye problems, so catching it early is key! (Resource: Vision First Foundation)


For more information and reading, see these following articles or websites. 


Vision First Foundation 
LimiTV
TV, or Not TV, is that the question? - Sidney Groffman, OD, FCOVD
Baby Development
Even Good TV is Bad for Kids - Deborah Hage MSW






"The most important thing we’ve learned,
So far as children are concerned
Is never, never, NEVER let,
Them near your television set.
It rots the senses in their head!
It kills imagnation dead!
It clogs and clutters up the mind!
It makes a child so dull and blind
He can no longer understand
a fantasy, a fairyland!
His brain becomes as soft as cheese!
His powers of thinking rust and freeze!
He cannot think, he only sees!
“All right!” you’ll cry.  “All right!” you’ll say,
“But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children?  Please explain!”
We’ll answer this by asking you,
“What used the darling ones to do?”
“How used they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?”
Have you forgotten? Don’t you know? 
We’ll say it very loud and slow:
“THEY…USED…TO…READ.”  They’d READ AND read,
And READ and READ, and then process
To read some more…"
Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 


Disclaimer: I am a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant. The advise in these tips is not a replacement for medical advise from a physician or your pediatrician. Please consult their advice if you suspect any medical or developmental issues with your child. 

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What Do They Do All Day?

Dig this.
ROME (Reuters) – One in five young Italians, or more than 2 million people, are not studying nor working, the highest percentage of "idle" youths in the European Union, the national statistics office said on Wednesday.

ISTAT said that 21.2 percent of Italians aged 15 to 29 were in a statistical group known as NEET -- Not in Education, Employment or Training -- almost double the percentage of inactive youths in Germany.
Is this an indictment of the progressive concept of entitlements or what? All I can say is, Jerry Brown, man. Jerry Brown.

Photocabine


Some pictures I took last week with the Photocabine application. As you can see, black eyeshadow is my new passion.





I'm thinking about cutting my hair off... maybe something bizarre. Still don't know.

I'm sorry about the lack of posts that I'm doing this weeks, but my head needs a little break. I promise I'll be a good girl soon again ;)

Are you doing something interesting this week? I'm seeing some good friends, but I'll talk about it in my next post, because it's a good story...

Bali style Mix Vegetables Salad (Jukut Urab)

Bali style Mix Vegetables Salad (Jukut Urab)

1 bunch spinach, shredded
1 cup bean sprouts, trimmed
1/4 Chinese cabbage, shredded
150g snake beans, blanched and sliced
1-2 long red chilies, deseeded and sliced
2 tbsp shredded coconut, toasted
1/4 cup peanuts toasted

Dressing :

1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp sambal ulek
1 tsp brown sugar

Combine spinach, bean sprouts, cabbage, snake beans, chilies, coconut and peanuts in a large serving dish. Combine oil, lime juice, vinegar, sambal ulek and sugar in a jug.

Pour dressing over salad and toss to combine.

Bali style Mix Vegetables Salad (Jukut Urab)

Bali style Mix Vegetables Salad (Jukut Urab)

1 bunch spinach, shredded
1 cup bean sprouts, trimmed
1/4 Chinese cabbage, shredded
150g snake beans, blanched and sliced
1-2 long red chilies, deseeded and sliced
2 tbsp shredded coconut, toasted
1/4 cup peanuts toasted

Dressing :

1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp sambal ulek
1 tsp brown sugar

Combine spinach, bean sprouts, cabbage, snake beans, chilies, coconut and peanuts in a large serving dish. Combine oil, lime juice, vinegar, sambal ulek and sugar in a jug.

Pour dressing over salad and toss to combine.