Back to the Kitchen!

I have written before about the importance of cooking with children.  Cooking involves a number of curriculum areas, encourages children to try new foods, develops self-help skills, and helps to develop healthy eating habits.  Unfortunately, many children's cooking activities consist of making sweet treats, using ingredients like mixes and canned frosting, or combining different kinds of candies to make a product even though children enjoy making real food.  At a very young age children can make simple dishes like sandwiches and scrambled eggs by themselves.  As they grow they can progress to more complex dishes.  My grandson was making chicken pot pie for his family by the time that he was nine.  He had developed the skills that were needed and the interest in cooking by working in the kitchen with his mother from the time that he was old enough to stand next to her and stir.  He also enjoyed watching the cooking shows and picking out recipes that looked good.  His mother would then look up the recipe on the internet, help him to make a shopping list, take him to the store, and make the recipe for dinner.  In addition to all of the benefits of cooking, helping to make the list gave him a basis for developing literacy skills (vocabulary, the importance of reading and writing).  Going to the store with a list added to the literacy skill development, as well as critical thinking, math, and social skills.  All of this and a good dinner as well!

Marriage is Making Me Crazy!

Reading this title may make you think that this is a diatribe (all too common) on the things involved in a marriage:  husbands, children, pets, garbage men, hot water heaters, etc.,etc., etc.  While all of these things and more have, at one time or another, made me a little crazy, it is the actual physical act of a wedding that is making me crazy.  I love to see people that I care about find someone to marry.  I love the ceremony, the commitment to each other, the food and the dancing.  I love shopping for shower gifts and attending all of the parties and festivities.  It is preparing to attend the wedding that is giving me problems.

This summer the daughter of good friends got married.  I love both the bride and the groom and was thrilled to share their special day.  I was asked to read in the wedding, and felt that this would be a good time to get a new dress, since most of my wardrobe is more appropriate for work or gardening.  Off to the stores I went - how hard could it be to buy a dress?  I found lots that would be nice for work but were too casual for a wedding.  I found some with sequins, feathers, and odd things that were too dressy or too weird.  In Kohl's I found a red and black dress with cape sleeves and a bell skirt.  Not my usual type of dress, but I decided to try it.  I put the dress on and checked the back and side views.  Not bad, although it did make my butt look a little big (one of the things that tends to happen when you have a big butt!).  I was getting excited because I really liked the dress.  I had found the one for me!  Then I turned around, faced the mirror, and let out a scream.  That dress would need a turtle neck and long johns under it before I could wear it in public.  Off to other stores to search.

I tried on several other dresses.  There was the lavender print with the big, floppy rose at the neck.  It looked like the flower on a clown outfit, and the underskirt was a micro-mini so that at least three quarters of my legs showed through the material.  Off with the dress.  Then I tried on a plain, plum colored dress.  It wasn't too bad above the waist, but the skirt was cut at an extreme angle with no hem and there was a big rip up the side.  I looked like one of those chicks on the shipwreck movies whose main purpose in the film was to have her clothes torn while she hyperventilates.  At that point I went home and got out my twelve year old blue dress.

Now another dear friend has a son who is getting married.  I decided to circumvent the dress problem by finding a dressy top to go with my black slacks.  I walked through the stores.  There were the tops that were so covered by sequins that they looked like something that I would wear in a joust.  There were the ones that were practically transparent so that I would need to get another shirt or two to wear under them.  There were the ones that had attached jackets that hung like a gunny sack.  Suddenly I saw it - a maroon tunic sweater with a cowl neck and a beautiful scarf.  I have never worn scarves (I have a tendency to look like the Frito Bandito), but I knew that this was the outfit that would look good on me.  I grabbed it and ran to the dressing room, yanked my top off, and put the sweater on.  It was lovely, but it hung to my knees.  I had worn shorter dresses in the 60's.  Rather than looking elegant, I looked silly.  Maybe I could wear the blue dress with a sweater.

On top of the problem of clothes is the problem of a wedding card.  It is difficult to find a card, since most of them are all white and horribly insipid.  Actually, the sympathy cards are much nicer.  (Does that mean something?)  Maybe I could buy a sympathy card, white-out the message, and write "Happy Wedding" in it.

Maybe I could just talk them into eloping.

This Is Good?

I am interested in many things.  Some things are passing interests, some things are on my "to do when I have time" list, and some are an abiding interest that stays with me for many years.  Nutrition is one topic in which I have a long standing interest. I love to cook, and enjoying trying new foods, new recipes, and new cooking techniques. Along with this has come a growing fascination with nutrition, both for adults and children. I am deeply concerned about the poor food choices that so many people make. Their meals are full of processed ingredients and fats and sadly lacking in fruits, whole grains, and vegetables. The health implications of this kind of diet, both in the short term and the long term, are very upsetting.

There has been a movement in the past few years to encourage children to learn to make healthy choices when they eat. One idea that has gotten a lot of publicity is hiding vegetables in children's food so that they don't realize that they are eating them. Unfortunately, this does nothing to help children make healthy choices or to enjoy vegetables. This really seems like a poorly thought out idea to me (to express my feelings kindly).

I was interested to discover a newsletter about recipes for children that sounded as if it had some good information. I typed in my email and waited for the information to flow into my inbox. So far is mostly stumbling in since a good deal of it has involved treats and goodies. There has, however, been some useful information. Last week the section on vegetables included the author's recipe for carrots and peanut butter. (Open a bag of baby carrots. Place some on a plate. Place a tablespoon of peanut butter next to it. Encourage the children to dip the carrot into the peanut butter.) This was very helpful - I had been searching for a recipe like this!

The next recipe was described as a way to help children learn to like brussel sprouts. My family eats lots of them, so I eagerly read the recipe. Washing the brussel sprouts and trimming off the bottoms was familiar. Next, cut the sprouts into quarters.  So far, so good.  To make them palatable for children, the next step was to put three inches of lard into a frying pan and heat it.  (Lard?)  When it is hot, place the brussel sprouts into the lard and fry them.  (Lard?)  The children will love them and gobble them down.  (Lard?)  Is it just me, or does pouring three inches of lard down your child's throat in order to get them to try a few brussel sprouts seem a little odd?  Way to make your kids healthy!

I had thought about writing to the author of the newsletter, but found it difficult to compose a letter without using phrases that I discourage children from using to their friends.  "Dear Stupid" and "are you nuts?" were some of the ones at the head of the list.  I can hear my mother saying, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything".  I had to settle for the "unsubscribe" button.  At least I now have one less newsletter to read.

Conflict Resolution

Today I was watching while the three year old children sat down for lunch.  Two of the children, David and Carol sat next to each other.  As they adjusted their chairs, they turned to each other and kissed.  David said, "We're sitting next to each other" and Carol kissed him on the cheek.  When I asked them why they were kissing, David said, "Because we are sitting next to each other".  At this point, LaToya crossed her arms, leaned on them and scowled.  She then said, "You are supposed to marry me, David!"  David replied, "I will marry you tomorrow.  Okay?"  Apparently that was okay, since there were smiles all around and everyone said grace and started their lunch.

This was conflict resolution at its finest.  LaToya stated her problem, David listened to her, and David came up with a solution that made everyone happy.  It is the start of learning a skill that will serve them well later in life.  If only all of our conflicts and problems could be solved this easily!

Stomp Those Grapes

  Whatever season we are entering is my favorite season as I look forward to all of the things that it holds.  Right now fall is my favorite season.  I love being out in the sun without sweating all of the time.  I love the golden rod and purple asters under the blue sky.  I love the colors of the grapes, pumpkins, leaves, and mums.  I love the taste and crunch of the new apples and the smells of fall.  I also love the fall produce and all of the things that you can do with it. Right now there is a crock of cabbage and salt on my counter that is turning into (I hope!) sauerkraut.  I fire roasted a half bushel of roma tomatoes and canned them for all of the delicious fall and winter sauces.  I will be freezing apple pies so that we can have a piece during the winter. One of my fall traditions is the crock of grapes on my counter that is turning into wine.

Melvin, a gentleman who worked at the old Retsof Salt mine gave us the recipe for his home brew.  It is an easy to make wine that is a little sweet at first for my taste, but is great in spaghetti sauce and other dishes.  (It also adds a special ambiance to your entertaining when the guests see you take a mason jar out of the cupboard and pour it into the sauce.)  If the wine sits for a year or so, it will be much more drinkable.

Melvin's Wine

Wash and pick over 20 pounds of grapes.  (I usually use concords)  Put in a crock, crush as you put them in (I like to use a potato masher every few inches of grapes, but I am sure you can find something else that will work), and cover with 5 quarts of scalding water.  Let sit for three days.  After three days, strain juice and return the juice to the crock.  Add 5 pounds of sugar (I usually use 4) and let sit.  The wine will bubble - skim it off every day or two.  When it has stopped bubbling, put it in jars.  (I use canning jars, but old mayo, peanut butter, or any other kind of jar will work.)  If some bubbles appear, loosen the lids for a few seconds to let the gas out.  Enjoy!

This summer I have been reading Evan Dawson"s book, Summer in a Glass, about Finger Lakes wines and the people who make them.  Each chapter is dedicated to a particular vineyard.  It is a fascinating look at winemaking as well as the personalities who have shaped the area.  Maybe I will be in his next book!

I Strode For Life

For years I have watched newscasts of people who were on a charity walk, and I have always wanted to join them.  It looked as if the people who were participating were having a wonderful time while they were supporting a good cause.  I also have known many women that I love dearly - sisters, friends, coworkers, and sisters-in-the-Lord - who have suffered from breast cancer.  I have always wished that I could do something for these women while they fought and suffered through their surgery and treatment.  In September I learned of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Rochester, which sounded as though it would fit my needs exactly.  I organized a team of coworkers and friends, and we began to raise funds for the walk.

In my mind the walk took place on the picture perfect fall day in upstate New York.  I would be walking along under bright blue skies while a cool breeze fluttered the flags and the mums would be blooming in beautiful fall colors.  I would be laughing and chatting with my fellow walkers as we strode along for the cause.  When the weather forecast called for light showers ending in the morning, I thought that would be nice.  After all, Kevin Williams would never lie to me about the weather.  As I headed toward Frontier Field (trying to remember the map so that I could find it), the skies darkened and the rain increased.  No problem - it was supposed to stop.

Well, the rain did not stop.  As a matter of fact, it increased once again.  The flash mob that I was excited about joining turned out to be dancers on the stage that I could not see because of the sea of umbrellas.  When we started to walk, it seemed more like swimming than walking at the time.  Rather than chatting, many of us were hiding under umbrellas (the smart ones, not me), or had our heads buried as far as possible in our coats.  By the time I got done with the walk and to my car, I was soaked through and my fingers were so cold - due to the 46 degree temperature - that I could barely untie my shoes to change into dry ones.  It took me a hot shower, dry sweats, a big sweater, and soup to feel warm again.

Was it a miserable time?  Sort of.  Would I do it again?  Without a doubt. I joined 8700 people who raised $805,000.00 to fight a terrible disease and to help those who are suffering from it.  I had fun with coworkers and friends.  I have several funny stories to tell and some funny pictures to show everyone.  But most of all, I spent my time surrounded  by ladies who were carrying pink roses.  These roses were given to the survivors who took part in the walk.  These are ladies who endured surgery, chemo, radiation, pain, sorrow, and fear and who survived to be stronger than when they began their journey with breast cancer.  These ladies fill me with awe and respect, and I am proud to say that I spent part of the day in their company.

I am hoping for sun next year, but I will be there no matter what the weather.