A Perfect New Year's Eve

I've never been much of a party girl, and New Year's Eve especially, was never my thing. Get all dressed up in something uncomfortable, go out and spend a lot of money on a dinner that's not so good, and probably drink way too much. I'd rather stay home. Ever since David was born, New Year's Eve has been a stay at home event for us. When our children were young, we gave our housekeeper/nanny the week off between Christmas and New Year's, so we decided that staying home would be best for us. We might invite another couple over, have a great dinner and some champagne, and wrap up the evening by 11pm. We've been doing this for almost 40 years. So what's my idea of a perfect New Year's Eve now, that I don't have any children to care for and we can do what we want? My choice is to be home, just the two of us,(as we have been for the last 40 years), for a wonderful home made dinner, a nice bottle of wine, and a movie. That's what we'll do this year. Now all I have to do is prepare the meal, which I enjoy doing anyway. Here's what we're having: gravlax and dill sauce (appetizer), simple salad with vinegrette dressing, barbequed lamb chops, sauteed kale and mushrooms over brown rice, and a nice bottle of Malbec wine. Dessert will be gingerbread. Yum. I'm hungry already. To all of you, celebrate in whatever way is best for you, but be careful out on the road. There are so many crazys. I was discussing New Year's Eve with one of my kids, and we determined that once you have a wife and/or family, you're partying days on December 31 are over. Everyone just wants to stay home and enjoy some quiet time with family and a few friends. My kids that used tolove to party, now want to stay home. Funny, when you've got what you want right beside you, there's no need to go out looking. I've got Ron right here. Why would I want to go anywhere else?

Eggnog Pie

One of my favorite holiday drinks is eggnog. I just like it plain, with no alcohol added. Thick, cool and creamy, I only drink it in December, and only a little bit. So what should we do with the leftover? Why make something else rich and decadant, of course. I hate to throw anything anyway. Remember, Americans waste over 28% of they buy. This recipe has only 6 ingredients. You can make it extremely easy by using a store bought pie crust, instead of making you're own. The store bought crust is very good. This recipe is adapted from a Whole Foods recipe. In case you don't check the Whole Foods web site and blog, you're missing lots of great recipes and healthy cooking ideas. I check it frequently and have added new healthy salads to a long repetoire of favorites. Here's an eggnog pie recipe to keep your family happy through the end of the year. Happy New Year! Eggnog Pie Ingredients: •1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell •4 large eggs • 3/4 cup sugar(to cut calories, try half sugar, half splenda) •1 1/2 cup eggnog •1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract • Freshly grated nutmeg (optional) Method: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line pie crust with parchment paper or foil, fill with pie weights or dried beans and bake 15 minutes. Remove weights and continue to bake 15 minutes longer or until lightly golden. Let cool on wire rack. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar until blended. Add eggnog and vanilla and whisk until well combined. Pour into pie shell. Bake pie until just set (still jiggling slightly), about 1 hour. Pie will puff while baking and settle upon cooling. Cool completely to serve. Slice and garnish with nutmeg. Nutritional Info: Per Serving:250 calories (90 from fat), 10g total fat, 4g saturated fat, 135mg cholesterol, 150mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (1g dietary fiber, 24g sugar), 6g protein

The Power Of The Voice

I was recently in LA to visit my mom and help Tracy and David with some wedding stuff. After a delicious lunch at Le Pain Quotidian in Brentwood (I had the Mediterranean plate and Mom had quiche) we came back to Mom's house. She had just received a short CD of Les Miserables, as an ad for the upcoming movie. We put it in an old boom box to play it, only to discover that the tape was blank. However, we discovered a tape in the boom box that is priceless. My parents spent quite a lot of time with my kids when they were young. Before they were in school, the kids went to Grandma and Grandpa's on Mondays. This often involved a Sunday night overnight, so they spent some great quality time with their grandparents. One of the favorite things my parents would do with the kids (usually one at a time), would be tape record their voice. The tape we found is a treasure trove of memories. The tape begins when David is around 2 years old, and has bits and pieces of activities, recitals, conversations, and graduations, all the way up to age 14. What a find. We sat there for over an hour listening to the tape, smiling and sometimes crying, with the memories created by this little bit of celluloid. The most memorable part of the tape was a 10 minute segment when David, age 8, is describing a day at Olympic Boys and Girls Club, a summer camp he attended for several years. Off the top of his head he tells about everything he did at camp from the moment he was dropped off, until pick up time. He describes each activity in detail, with no stammering for a word or idea, just like he'd written out the script. Also on the tape was David, pretending he was performing at the Music Center, playing the piano. He would introduce himself, then play the piano. As a wonderful pianist, he also played the piano at all school events, from the time he was about 8 years old, so we have a lot of school programs on tape. Finally, he would practice reports for school in front of his grandparents, and it reminds me of how very accomplished he was at a young age. The other wonderful piece on the tape was my mom, dad, and David reading books together and just talking. David was about 4 at the time, and my father was reading to him. It was wonderful to hear his voice, so loud and strong. It was almost like he was in the room. But it was also sad, as it was almost 4 years to the day that we attended his funeral. The voice is the most powerful reminder of people, I think. Much more than a photograph. Photos are great, and everyone today has thousands of pictures of their children and grandchildren, but don't forget to record their voices. You forget things, precious moments, and the audio tape brings them back. I am calling my kids today to remind them to tape some moments like the ones I described above. Years later everyone will look back with great fondness at these memories.

Dogs Make Everything Better

The horrific event that took place at Sandy Hook School, in Newton, Connecticut last week has been difficult to think about, much less write about. What could I say that hadn't been said a million times before by those more eloquent than I? So I've been quiet, trying to process it all, grieving for the families that will never see their precious children again and for the faculty and staff that died trying to protect our youth. How do the families of Newtown get through this tragedy? Loving families, clergy, and grief counselors will help some, but the loving hug of a dog will also give great comfort. Days after the shooting, I saw a picture of a man sitting on the edge of his pickup truck with his bulldog. He was holding a sign that said "My bulldog gives hugs." I guarantee his dog has given many hugs this week. There is nothing like the hug of dog, his warm breath on your neck, his sloppy tongue giving you a kiss, that makes evrything better. Dogs understand. I'm no psychologist, but I know that whenever I have felt sad, my dog knows, and reacts accordingly. Now there are numerous dogs in Newtown, helping to calm children and adults alike. Dogs have taken their place alongside grief counselors in these tragic situations. They truly are man's best friend. The shooting at Sandy Hook raises the urgent issue of gun control, and if we are ever going to feel safe again. Over the same weekend that these massacres took place, there were at least 5 other shootings, most ending in murders, throughout the country, including one at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, where 50 rounds were fired, but fortunately no one was hurt. What is wrong with people? There are so many factors that play into the violence of Americans, it is difficult to know the cause. I feel compelled to write about gun violence and gun control, but the topic is complex, and I will wait for another time. It's enough to say right now that "guns kill", and assault style weapons kill more. We as a nation must have the conversation and work on fixing the problem. All we can do now is hug our children, keep them close, tell them we love them, and think about how to solve the problem of violence in America. Oh, and don't forget your little four legged friend who asks so little from you, yet gives so much. He's always there to make everything better.

Romanian Jews Without A Home

I'm in the process of reading an excellent book, A Secret Gift, by Ted Gup, for my Monday book club. The book is about Sam Stone, a very successful owner of men's clothing stores in Canton, Ohio during the depression. He wanted to share his success with those less fortunate, and gave money anonymously to many poor citizens of Canton during 1933. His roots, however, were in Dorohoi, Romania, a fact that he hid from family and friends alike. The book referenced the plight of the Jews from Romania, which I knew nothing about, but was so interested that I researched this little known pocket of anti-Semitism. I always think of Hitler's Germany when I think of anti-Semitism, but the Romanians were way ahead of Hitler. As early as 1880, the Romanian

government began passing laws that marked them as "foreigners" and "aliens," and ostracized them from the community. In the late 1880's Hungary began tightening an economic noose around its Jews. Laws were passed that barred Jews from working as peddlers or shop owners, and made it illegal for them to sell flour, sugar or other staples. In 1898, new laws were passed that placed a quota on the number of "aliens"-Jews- allowed to attend schools. In addition, Jews could not vote or obtain licenses. Agriculatural and economic reversals turned their Gentile neighbors against them. Jews became targets and scapegoats of the state. In 1900 things continued to deteriorate. Jews could not own land, they were barred from living in rural areas, and were subject to a quota that required that two Romanians be hired for every "unprotected alien," (a thinly veiled reference to Jews). Jews faced homelessness, hunger and depression. They were entitled to none of the civil rights accorded those considered true Romanians. Because of this treatment by the Romanian government, Romanian Jews were facing extinction. The U.S. Secretary of State John Hay described the plight of these Jews this way: "by the cumulative effect of successive restrictions, the Jews of Romania have become reduced to a state of wretched misery. Shut out from nearly every avenue of self-support which is open to the poor of other lands, and ground down by poverty as the natural result of their discriminatory treatment, they are rendered incapable of lifting themselves from the enforced degradation they endure." The Jews that fled Romania became known as fusgeyers, or "foot-walkers." They wandered around Europe aimlessly looking for a country that would accept them. Many of them finally ended up in America, thanks in great part to the work of John Hay, but they were often looked down upon, even by other Jews. Jews have been persecuted for thousands of years, but this was something I had not heard of before. Exact statistics are difficult to come by, but around 400,000 Jews left Romania during the years 1880-1903. At one time Jews were 5% of the Romanian population. Today, about 6,000 Jews remain in Romania, mostly in urban areas. Another sad chapter in the history of the Jewish people.

Christmas, 2010

It's been almost two years since I spent what I thought at the time was the loneliest Christmas ever, but in retrospect was one of the best. That was the year Ron was at Taft. Christmas was the eleventh month of the nineteen months we spent apart. I met some amazing people in the nineteen months I was alone. Carole, Linda and Rod were three of the special people I grew to know and love during this time. Carole is married to Michael Santos (released in August, 2012, after over 25 years of incarceration.) We drove together to Taft every Friday during the summer and fall of 2010, and became very close. Through Carole I met Linda and Rod, whose son is serving a nine year sentence at Taft. Linda and Rod live in Bakersfield, about 30 minutes from Taft. They visit him weekly, although now he has been moved to Lompoc (about 2 hours away), and will be released in 2013. Anyway, back to the story. Because of Linda and Rod's proximity to Taft, Carole and I would often overnight at their house when there was a free visiting day. Free visiting days were usually Mondays, like MLK's birthday, so we'd go up on Sunday, spend some time with Linda and Rod, and visit our hubby's on Monday. Carole and I were invited to spend Christmas Eve with them, then visit our husbands on Christmas Day. We did, and it was one of my most memorable Christmas' ever. It was a wonderful Christmas for me, even though I was without my children, grandchildren and mom. The five of us had a spectacular dinner, cooked by Linda, and a decadant dessert, also made by Linda, that I can still taste. It was a recipe from Ina Garten, which consisted of meringue, whipped cream and fruit. After dinner we watched movies, opened gifts and stockings, again prepared by Linda, and talked about our families. It was a happy time, a sad time, a nostalgic time. I still think about that Christmas often, and am thankful that I was able to meet these three wonderful people that helped me through a difficult time. Carole and I are both with our families this year, and Linda and Rod will have Corey home next year. I know that can't come soon enough for them. Christmas day, 2010, I left Bakersfield at 7:30am and headed to Taft. I wanted to get there before the crowd, as Christmas is one of the busiest visiting days of the year. Ron and I talked for hours. I didn't want to leave that afternoon, but knowing this would be the one and only Christmas we would spend apart made it easier. Finding the good in a bad situation is sometimes difficult. Luckily I met good people to help make the bad times better, and Christmas, 2010 turned out to be one I will never forget.

Easy Gifts Anytime Of Year

Around the holidays I think about homemade gifts for friends and family. This year I made 9 fancy scarves, and gave all but one away. They're simple scarves made from Starbella yarn, which creates a beautiful fluffiness to a basic scarf. I also made some homemade chai tea, packaged in small plastic holiday containers (available for $1 each at Dollar Store), and ready to drink by just adding water. Delicious. Here's another homemade gift good for giving anytime of year. I have only made the salt variety, but I know the sugar variety is equally good. Peppermint Foot Scrub (sugar or salt based) 1 cup sugar or kosher salt or Epsom salt works well too

olive oil to moisten several drops of peppermint essence food coloring (red) if desired. It looks better with food coloring place the sugar or salt in a bowl. Add enough olive oil to moisten the mixture, then add peppermint essence. Finally, add food coloring until the desired color is achieved. I like a pink color. This scrub can be made with other essences, like lemon, orange or eucalyptus. Add food coloring like yellow for lemon, etc. I packaged the salts in a small plastic container which I bought at Dollar Store. They were decorated with a holiday theme, but you can get the plain ones, and just tie with ribbon. The salt and sugar scrubs are great for home pedicures, or use in the bath as a scrub for your skin. You'll pay high prices at bath stores for these products, and they're so cheap and easy to make at home. Any hostess would love this gift. Enjoy.

The Importance Of Aspirin

We've all heard how important aspirin can be when you have a heart attack. It can literally be the difference between life and death. New information is always surfacing that adds to what we already know. Here is some information sent to me by Cyrelle from an article by the Mayo Clinic. Please read it and pass it on. Mayo Clinic Aspirin Dr. Virend Somers, is a Cardiologist from the Mayo Clinic, who is lead author of the report in the July 29, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Most heart attacks occur in the day, generally between 6 A.M. and noon. Having one during the night, when the heart should be most at rest, means that something unusual happened. Somers and his colleagues have been working for a decade to show that sleep apnea is to blame. 1. If you take an aspirin or a baby aspirin once a day, take it at night. The reason: Aspirin has a 24-hour "half-life"; therefore, if most heart attacks happen in the wee hours of the morning, the Aspirin would be strongest in your system. 2. FYI, Aspirin lasts a really long time in your medicine chest for years, (when it gets old, it smells like vinegar). Please read on. Something that we can do to help ourselves - nice to know. Bayer is making crystal aspirin to dissolve instantly on the tongue. They work much faster than the tablets. Why keep Aspirin by your bedside? It's about Heart Attacks - There are other symptoms of a heart attack, besides the pain on the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating; however, these symptoms may also occur less frequently. Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack. The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep did not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep. If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water. Afterwards: - Call 911. - Phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by. - Say "heart attack!" - Say that you have taken 2 Aspirins. - Take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and ...DO NOT LIE DOWN! A Cardiologist has stated that if each person after receiving this e-mail, sends it to 10 people, probably one life could be saved! I have already shared this information. What about you? Do forward this message. It may save lives!

A New Kind of Pepsi

Ron gave up diet cola about a month ago. He feels so much better, and he has actually lost weight. Although diet cola contains no calories, there is a lot of evidence that is not good for you. How could it be good for you with all those ingredients in it that I can't pronounce? I've always thought it was better to drink the diet cola than to consume all the sugar found in regular soft drinks, but I may have been wrong. I only drink diet cola when I'm out at a restaurant eating a burger. Otherwise, I've been drinking tea and Ron has converted to plain soda water or flat water. Most of my kids have kicked the cola habit, and if they must have one, they go for a natural product like Izzy or Hansen's. I recently heard about the new Pepsi product, and can't wait to see what it really does. Could soda really be a fat blocker? I'm excited about the new product, and can't wait until it comes to America. In the mean time I will try to stick to tea and water. Much better for us all, I'm sure. Soda has recently been maligned as an empty food product that contributes to obesity in America. Mayor Bloomberg proposed a ban on all soft drinks larger than 16 ounces. Now Pepsi says its new product can prevent weight gain. The new special edition Pepsi in Japan is said to contain "fat blockers." The new soft drink, Pepsi Special, which will be released by Suntory and Pepsi, has been deemed by the Japanese government as a "food for specified health uses." According to the Huffington Post, it includes dextrin, which "some say helps prevent the digestive system from absorbing fat." What is dextrin? Essentially it's a powder used as an additive in foods to change texture or create coatings as a pharmaceutical thickening or binding agent. It is also used in textiles to increase the stiffness of fabrics. It is part of another word, maltodextrin, which is a digestible carbohydrate derived from rice, corn, or potato starch and can be found in the list of ingredients in everything from granola to snack foods. But dextrin alone is different. It's indigestible. And studies on Japanese lab rats have shown that when used as a food additive, dextrin makes it difficult for the body to absorb fat. Pepsi is the second manufacturer to release a fat-blocking soda in Japan. The first was Kirin Mets Cola, which has been extremely popular. Pepsi Special is due to hit shelves on November 13 and will cost ¥150, or just under two bucks.

Cinnamon Butter

Many years ago, when Phil first started his food business, now called Evol Foods, I was constantly thinking of other products he could sell or produce. My first thought was designer salt. Pretty good idea, I thought. My other idea was flavored butter. Honey butter, strawberry butter, garlic butter, apricot butter, for example, all ready to spread in a little tub. You can find that in most markets now. I don't know if it's a big seller, but it sure is convenient. Here's a butter that you can't buy ready to spread, but it's so easy to make, you can have it ready to go in just a few minutes. It's really called "Texas Roadhouse Cinnamon Honey Butter." I don't know why. I guess it was served in some roadhouse diners in Texas. It is so delicious on muffins, bagels, toast and croissants. Once you try it you'll keep it on hand all the time. Texas Roadhouse Cinnamon Honey Butter 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature 1/4 c. powdered sugar 1/4 c. honey 1 tsp. ground cinnamon Whip the room temperature butter with whisk attachment for 30 seconds. Add powdered sugar, honey and cinnamon and beat until completely combined and very smooth. Scrape down sides of bowl and turn up speed and whip for a minute or two or until really light and fluffy. Makes about 3/4 cup.

Homemade Gifts For The Holidays Or Anytime

I was coming out of the Dollar Store last week, when I noticed a woman who had just bought about a dozen plastic holiday jars with tight fitting lids. I thought to myself that those jars would be great for some homemade holiday gifts, or gifts anytime of year. I went back the next day and bought a few jars. Here's what I'm doing with the jars. I'm making two different homemade gifts for giving. Hairdresser, manicurist, mailman, or anyone you want to remember will appreciate a homemade gift. I am making scented bath salts and sugar scrubs and chai tea (just add water). Here are the recipes for both. Peppermint Bath Salts or Sugar Scrub 1 cup Epsom salts or sugar 1 T. olive oil few drops of essential oil-peppermint for this batch food coloring In a bowl, mix salt or sugar with oil, to moisten. Add scent and food coloring, and mix until completely blended. Package in airtight containers. Other scents that work well are lemon or orange, eucalyptus and pine. The jars I bought are plastic, which makes them super safe to use in the bath. Chai Latte 1 cup nonfat dry milk powder 1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer 1 cup French vanilla flavored powdered non-dairy creamer 2 1/2 cups white sugar 1 1/2 cups unsweetened instant tea (regular or decaf) 2 teaspoons ground ginger 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon allspice 1/4 teaspoon white pepper Yes, I know it sounds very sweet, but it's just right. Use about 2 heaping tablespoons per cup of hot water. No, this is not a low fat version. Package in jars for easy giftgiving. Other ideas for how to fill the plastic jars include bean soup ingredients, mixed nuts, hot chocolate mix, spiced or sugared pecans, licorice, potpourri, terrarium, granola or trail mix, or seasoning mix.

Avocado Fudge

Fallbrook is the avocado capital of the world.  There's a store there called Swirlz, which is a retro candy store, carrying all the wonderful candy bars, mints and gum you remember from your childhood.  They also have a lot of new items, like avocado fudge, touted as the world's healthiest, most satisfying fudge ever.  The fudge is handcrafted using only the finest ingredients available, including Haas avocados, grown in Fallbrook. 

Avocados are rich in vitamins, lecithin and healthy fats, thus making avocado fudge much healthier than fudge made from traditional recipes.  I tasted it, and it's yummy.  You'd never know avocados were a main ingredient.  The fudge comes in all the basic varieties, including chocolate, chocolate mocha, chocolate peanut butter, white chocolate, and rocky road.

Fran and I were in downtown Escondido one morning, scouting out a trip for our wanderers group.  We ran across a retro candy store called Swirlz on Grand Ave., where they sold the avocado fudge from Fallbrook.  I tried it and it is delicious.  Fran tried the avocado/coconut ice cream.  No good.  Anyway, here is the Fallbrook recipe for avocado fudge.  The key to this is making sure that you give it time to harden completely.  Otherwise, you'll end up eating it with a spoon.

                                                                Avocado Fudge

• 1 avocado, ripened
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup cocoa
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preparation:

In a medium sized saucepan, melt the margarine over low heat. Once margarine is melted, puree with avocado in food processor or blender until perfectly smooth. Be sure there are no chunks of avocado left!Return mixture to saucepan over very low heat and aff the rest of the ingredients,except the walnuts, adding the powdered sugar a portion at a time. Once all the sugar has been added, the mixture should be thick. Add walnuts if desired, and transfer to a loaf pan. Refrigerate until firm. Now, be patient! If you don't let it firm up, you won't be able to slice it up into squares.  

Cheesy Onions

Years ago, maybe 40+ years ago, my mom got me hooked on Gourmet Magazine. Every month I would anticipate its arrival, and devour the travel articles and recipes. In those days there was really no magazine that matched it for wonderful travel destinations (with great detail on restaurants and hotels) and fantastic, although often complicated recipes. One recipe that my mom found in the 1960's and has been making ever since, is what I call Cheesy Onions. It was first printed in a story about outdoor barbequeing, and although the barbeque is a great way to make this, you can also do it indoors in the oven. Here's the simple recipe that you will love. Cheesy Onions 4 medium sized onions (Bermuda or Spanish, it doesn't really matter) Parmesean cheese Butter Peel onions, slice off both ends so they're flat on the top and bottom, then slice in 1/4 inch slices. Place a small pat of butter and grated parmesean cheese in between each slice. You should have about 5 slices in all. Reassemble onion so it looks whole. You've got the sliced onion with butter and cheese between slices, put back together at this point. Now, wrap well in aluminium foil, making sure foil is folded so that juices cannot run out of the onion. Place on barbeque and cook until onion is soft. It could take close to an hour. Rotate onion to prevent burning. The oven method is the same except that you cook it in the oven, about an hour. What you have when you unwrap it, is just delicious. Soft, cooked onion, with butter and melted parmesean. What a combination. Enjoy with your favorite meat, fish or chicken. It goes with anything. Another way to make this which will cut down on cooking time is to peel the onion and par boil it for about 5 minutes. Then slice and proceed as above. This should cut oven or barbeque time considerably.

Quiet Time Together

With Thanksgiving behind us and Hanukkah and Christmas right around the corner, the talk everywhere is about what we are thankful for. It gets repetitious, as most people say they are thankful for good friends, family and health. Most of us don't sit around and talk about what we're thankful for, how our lives have evolved, hopefully improved, how we have evolved and improved, but Ron and I do. Maybe it's because we've been through a lot that we reflect on the past more than others might, and seize each moment and enjoy it to the max. A few weeks ago I blogged about Ron's birthday, and how we had been through alot, but that we were both so optimistic about the present and future. We talked more about what we have been through, and Ron said to me that it (his incarceration) doesn't seem so bad now. I said, "You've got to been kidding!" How time heals all wounds. He is now looking at our 19 months apart and thinking about the "good" that we found during that time. The anticipation of our weekly visits was the climax of our week apart. The four hours we spent together every Friday was the highlight of a predictable, rather mundane week. Yes, Ron developed some new skills at Taft, made new friends (although temporary friends), read some books, reflected on life and love and improved his health. I used the time to develop a deeper relationship with my mom and children, become more independant, learn bookkeeping skills (well sort of), and survive in the single world. I've always said to Ron that life is a roller coaster. At first you're chugging up the big hill, hoping to reach the top. You may get there, with a few little dips in the ride. Somewhere near the top, things usually level off, and for the latter years of your life you simply glide along. Our roller coaster has been a little different. We climbed up the first hill with a few ups and downs, reached the top, rode the top of the coaster for awhile, then crashed quickly to the bottom. Now we're chugging our way up again. Ron feels happier than he's ever been. I believe him. He says the big difference is living in the moment. We go to play bridge now, and Ron is totally focused on that activity, not thinking about what he'll do later. In the past, Ron would only partially enjoy anything he was doing, as he was always thinking about what came next. So what am I thankful for? All the usual things, like family and friends, and good health. I am also thankful for Pepper, our rescue Schnoodle that we brought home a year ago. What a wonderful addition to our life. We sometimes overlook the fact that without good health, nothing else matters. I have 2 friends that have recently lost a young family member, one 45 and one 48, both suddenly. They know the value of good health, and of living in the moment. I am most thankful that I have a partner who has grown, changed and developed into a man I am proud to call my husband. I am thankful for our wonderful talks about life, children, politics and the world, that encourage me to be the best mother, daughter, wife and human being I can be. I am thankful that I love to read and learn, and that I am constantly challenging myself in that department. Finally, I am thankful that my great grandparents didn't miss the boat, that I was born in America, that I have the freedom to speak my mind and believe what I want, even if it's not popular. I'm sorry if I've rambled a bit, but I'm writing this early on Thanksgiving morning, right before I go to the gym. I wanted to respond to a wonderful conversation Ron and I had last night before it got away from me. We're spending a quiet Thanksgiving together but alone, after last week having the family here for Ron's birthday. That's just one more thing that I have to be thankful for. I don't have a family that guilts everyone up if they can't make it to Thanksgiving dinner. For the last several years we have celebrated Thanksgiving on Friday or Saturday, because that was the day that worked for everyone. My family marches to it's own drum, something else for which I am thankful.

Good Eats In Escondido

Several weeks ago Fran and I drove out to Escondido (22 minutes from my house, for those of you who think it's in another time zone) to preview our wanderers trip for October. We got an early peek at Grand Avenue, not as grand as it once was, but it's coming back, and a chance to check out a lunch location for our group. There are several new restaurants along the main street of old Escondido, and after talking to several locals, decided to try Entwined, a new eating establishment on Grand Avenue. We were pleasantly surprised, and decided to bring our group of 20 wanderers there for lunch in October. They, too, were pleasantly surprised. Entwined is warm and inviting. The chairs are comfortable and much of the original building has been maintained, like the ornate ceiling decorations. The restaurant has several nooks and crannies, for privacy, near the back of the room. Very cleverly designed. We had just finished a one hour tour of the architecture and history of Escondido and were hungry for a good meal. That's what we got. Entwined has a creative, contemporary menu, using several ingredients that are so popular today: bacon, sweet potatoes, goat cheese, burrata, cured meats. Prices are very reasonable, with all sandwiches, paninis, salads, and appetizers priced from $10-$12. My sandwich was the BLP, which stands for bacon, lettuce and pear. In addition, it had a delicious cranberry relish, and crispy sweet potato fries served with a curry ketchup.(addictive). Others at our table had the sweet potato burger, so big you couldn't get your mouth around it without taking it apart. One of the favorite dishes was an avocado/mango stack, with crab on top. It was beautiful and delicious, and very healthy. Another in our group ordered the cheese and meat platter, with nuts, apricots and figs. Someone else tried the gazpacho soup, another had the grilled turkey melt with fries. There is so much to choose from it is hard to decide. The presentation of the food is superb. Everything is a work of art. The food itself was exceptional, so good in fact, that I would drive the 25 or so miles to eat there. I have not tried dinner yet, but I would expect it to be equally good. It's hard to get 20 women to agree on much, but I think everyone at lunch today would agree that Entwined is a winner.

The Life Of A Diplomat

Ron and I finally went to see Argo. Two hours of great entertainment. I loved every minute of it. The movie started a conversation between the two of us that went late into the night, then continued early the next morning. Who chooses a career in diplomatic service? What is an ambassador and what do they do? Are ambassadors spies? Questions and more questions, so I thought I better do some research. An ambassador is the President's highest-ranking representative to a specific nation abroad. An effective ambassador has to be a strong leader, a good manager, a resilient negotiator and a respected representative of the the United States. A key role of an ambassador is to coordinate the activites not only of the Foreign Service Officers and staff, but also representatives of other U.S. agencies in the countries. Foreign Service Officers are professional, trained diplomats who represent the U.S.. They listen to and observe what is going on in the host country, analyze it, and report to the ambassador and Washington. The represent our country around the world and engage openly and transparently with representatives of foreign governments and civil society. Through this process, they collect information that shapes our policies and actions. This is what they've done for hundreds of years. Recently the U.S. has expanded the role of American diplomats in collecting intelligence overseas, ordering State Department personnel to gather the credit card and frequent-flier numbers, work schedules and other personal information of foreign dignitaries. According to an article in the New York Times by Mark Mazzetti, the U.S. regularly puts undercover intelligence officers in countries posing as diplomats, but a vast majority of diplomats are not spies. They do a lot of information gathering, profile building, and gathering of biographic and biogmetric on ranking diplomats in their host country. In other words, everyone seems to be watching everyone else. Certainly ambassadors and foreign service diplomats play a key role in many sensitive negotiations, but much of their time is spent learning the culture of the host country, entertaining dignitaries and developing friendly relations with the country to which they're assigned. I just wonder if this rescue could have been pulled off today, in this era of instant communication. I doubt it. How everyone kept this quiet at the time, and since it was declassified in 1997, is quite amazing. Even since its declassification, I had never heard of this mission. It never got any press until Argo was made. Now the world knows of the heroism of Tony Mendez and Ken Taylor, Canadian amabassador and his wife. They were selfless. Their mission was to save the six Americans despite the great risk to themselves. What I find most amazing is that all six Americans return to foreign service after this incident. Something in their makeup makes them seek adventure, at any price. I wish them all well.

A Brief History of Blackface

Recently one of my children asked me about blackface. Had I told him about it when he was young and why hadn't he learned about it in school? Probably I had not told him about it, and he probably hadn't learned about it in school, either. Well, his question woke me up to the fact that I didn't really know that much about the history of blackface either. So, after a bit of research, here's some information on the history of blackface and racist black stereotypes. Blackface is much more than just an actor applying burnt cork makeup. It is a style of entertainment based on racist black stereotypes that began in minstrel shows and continues to this day. The stock characters of blackface minstrels have played a significant role in disseminating racist images and perceptions around the world. Many immigrant groups were stereotyped on the music hall stage in the 19th century, but the mocking caricatures of the blacks and the belief that blacks were racially and socially inferior to whites was fostered by both white and black performers in blackface. Blackface makeup was either a layer of burnt cork or cocoa butter or black grease paint. Early on, exaggerated red lips were painted around the mouth, like a clown. Later, the lips were painted white or unpainted. Costumes were either gaudy formal wear, swallowtail coats, striped trousers and top hats. The white man's characterizations of plantation slaves and free blacks during the minstrel era (1830-1890)took such a firm hold on the American imagination that audiences expected any person with dark skin, no matter what their background, to conform to one or more of the stereotypes: Jim Crow, Zip Coon (eventually merged into a single stereotype, "coon."), Mammy (better known as Aunt Jamima), Uncle Tom, Buck, and Pickaninny (bulging eyes, unkempt hair, red lips, and wide mouths into which they stuff huge slices of watermelon) were just some of the stereotypes. White audiences in the 19th century wouldn't accept black entertainers on stage unless they performed in blackface makeup. One of the first blacks to perform in blackface for white audiences was William Henry Lane, aka Master Juba, who invented tap dancing. He became so famous that he was finally allowed to perform without makeup. The American minstrel show was effectively dead by WW1, yet some of the old-timers continued to peddle blackface stereotypes later in vaudeville, films and television. The stereotypes that blackface peddled, continued to exist through the first half of the 20th century, in vaudeville, blackface on Broadway, silent movies, race movies, racist cartoons, and radio. The Amos and Andy characters were created by two white actors with blackface and vaudeville experience, and became an immediate success. Portraying blackface racist stereotypes on radio was a bit of a challenge because there were no visuals. The voices were even more exaggereated to help listeners distinguish between characters. In 1951, Amos 'n' Andy ranked 13 in the Nielsen ratings and in 1952 won an Emmy. The NAACP responded by initiating a boycott of its sponsor, Blatz beer. The Civil Rights Movement was underway, yet it took a dozen years to eliminate it from most network schedules. Although blacks have made tremendous strides in our society, many of the stereotypes from the 19th century exist to this day. The Cleveland Show is basically Family Guy in blackface with a lot of negative black stereotypes thrown in. Even Tyler Perry, the most prolific and successful black producer/director/actor, has a recurring mammy character, Mabel "Madea" Simmons in much of his work. Blackface helped create negative stereotypes that exist to this day.

Vintage Technologies

As I was driving to the Y this morning I heard a report on how offices are changing.  This report said that in the next few years telephones and fax machines would be obsolete.  I guess that means desk phones will be gone, and everything will be done on cell phones.  Because of scanning, fax machines will be gone too.  This story got me thinking about how many technologies that were once thought of as cutting edge, are now obsolete.  Here are a number of examples. 

One of the  best examples is the typewriter.  When I graduated high school, my parents bought me a beautiful Smith Corona portable electric typewriter for college.  I was thrilled.  Today a college freshman will most likely take a laptop computer and an I Pad.  Nothing less.  Go try to buy a typewriter today.  That's not easy.  Here are a list of other items that we couldn't live without in the 1970's and 1980's and are now gathering dust in the garage.

8 m/m handheld camera, Betamax (1970's),  boombox (1970's), VHS (1980's) laser disc, cassette transistor, cassette tapes, reel to reel tape recorder, calculator watch, Wang calculators, walkman, discman, led watches, TV watch, wrist computer, and calculator watch.

How about the Apple Newton?  It was one of the worst marketing failures ever, yet it was a personal digital assistant, a precurser to the I Pad.  I guess they recovered from the failure of the Newton. 

A few other technologies that have gone by the wayside include massive mainframes.  I remember Ron's accounting office in the 1980's.  They had one huge room that was just for the computers.  Everything was so large and bulky.  The telex is another technology that is gone.  When I got into the travel business in the 1980's, we used telex to send messages to Europe.  This was time consuming, and frankly, you never knew if it would work or not.  Now, everything is instantaneous, done by e-mail.  What a difference. 

Of course we no longer have the phonograph or turntables either.  I guess there are a few old ones still out there, but most of them are gone.  A few years ago I gave my old record collection to my daughter-in-law Deborah.  She had an old phonograph and still loved to play records.  A blast from the past, but the sound is so much better on the current technology. 

These are just some of the many technologies that are gone.  One final one, and one of my favorites is the Polaroid camera.  In its day there was nothing more amazing.  Everyone wanted the instant gratification of seeing a picture develop before their very eyes.  Now, we have have digital phones and camera phones.  What can be more instant than that?  I was at Bull Taco for lunch yesterday, took a picture of the beautiful view, and within seconds had sent the picture to a dozen people I thought my enjoy it.  Times have really changed, and what we think is fantastic today, will fade.  I don't know what  will replace our current technologies, but I do know for sure that it will probably be something we haven't even imagined.

Bye Bye Hostess?

When I heard that Hostess was ceasing operation on November 20, I couldn't believe it. Hostess is an institution. What would our world be without Twinkies, Snowballs and Ding Dongs? One of my favorite all time snacks is Hostess Snowballs (the pink ones). I know they all taste the same, but I'm partial to pink. Light chocolate cake with a creamy white something inside, covered in a thin marshmellow, topped with shredded coconut. Delicious! It's all over a labor strike. Hostess said it will ask a bankruptcy judge for permission to liquidate if enough striking workers do not return to work soon.. This may be the end for the 82 year old company that has been in dispute with about 1/3 of its 18,000 employees, who are members of Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Miller's International Union. If enough striking workers do not return to work, the company would ask the bankruptcy court for permission to shut down and sell assets. Since this news first surfaced, multiple corporations have shown interest in taking over Hostess. It appears there may be an auction and some Hostess brands will be auctioned off. We'll have to see how it plays out. What would life be like without Hostess? Well, for one thing, Ron would no longer be able to buy their little chocolate doughnettes. He loves those things. They must be filled with tons of preservatives, because they last forever. And speaking of lasting forever, how long does a Twinkie last? I think indefinitely. A sponge with cream filling and lots of preservatives. I heard there's a run on Hostess products, that people are buying up all they can find. Good idea, because their shelf life is forever. You may even see them bought and sold on EBay. My guess is someone will come along and buy the company and we won't have to worry any longer about the possibility of life without Twinkies.

Where Were You On November 22, 1963?

November 22, 1963 was probably one of the most memorable days in my life, and even now, 50 years later, I remember it clearly. I was working at the Federal Building in West Los Angeles at the time, while going to school. It was a boring job, having something to do with home loans, as I recall. I worked from 8-12 everyday. There was a buzz around the office around 11:30am, people were saying that Kennedy had been shot. I hurried to finish my work and ran out of the building, waiting to be picked up by my mom. "Is it true, is it true?" I shouted to her as I jumped in the car. "Yes, it's true, but we have no other details yet," she said. With that I started to cry. John F. Kennedy was the first president that I felt was my president. There was just something about him that gave me confidence everything would be all right. It didn't hurt that he was handsome, charming and brilliant, and I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to kill him. Boy, was I naive. A few other days are imbedded in my memory and here they are: Death of Princess Diana: I was in Tijuana, on my way back from Puerto Nuevo. Puerto Nuevo is a small town near Ensenada, that has dozens of lobster restaurants, one better than the next. We had gone there for dinner with our horse trainer, two jockeys, and some other friends. We were getting ready to cross the border when we heard the terrible news. I will never forget that night. First American to walk on the moon: Ron and I had just recently met, and we were having lunch at Hamburger Hamlet in Westwood. To be quite honest, we were so engrossed in each other that we didn't realize what a really big deal it was. The day the challenger exploded on liftoff: I was teaching 3rd grade in North Hollywood, California, and we were watching the liftoff as a class. At first the kids did not understand what had happened, and I squirm in my seat remembering how difficult that event was to explain to 8 year olds. 9-11: I was in bed, and got an early morning call from David, our son the stockbroker. I figured he was calling to tell me about the stockmarket, but he was yelling, "Turn on the TV." I could not believe my eyes. I'm sure many of you who were old enough remember in detail the attack on Pearl Harbor, the bombing of Hiroshima, and other momentous occasions know where you were and what you were doing. It's amazing how our brains do not let us forget. So Thanksgiving is just two days away, and it's a good time to reflect and think of all we are thankful for. Life has its ups and downs for all of us, but when you think about the big picture, most of us have a pretty fantastic life. Here we are in the greatest nation on earth. Let's enjoy our family and friends, and hope for peace and prosperity for America.

It's Ron's Birthday

Happy Birthday Ron. Today (actually the 17th) is a very big birthday....70! On Saturday we celebrated by having a family party here at home. We were thrilled that all the children, grandchildren, daughter-in-laws (and daughter in law to be), and mom, were all here. It was the first time Ron had ever held Elsa, and he actually got to spend some time getting to know his oldest grandchild, Lennon. This was what he wanted for his birthday, and our family came through. Thank you all. Ron has been home 16 months. Each month he seems stronger and happier than the month before. He is healthy (and working hard to stay that way), happy, and optimistic about his future, our future. I know that sounds odd, that at 70 years of age he should be thinking about his future, but it's really been like starting his financial life over again. Most people are happily in retirement, know what their future financial life will be at age 70, but not Ron. He is trying hard to get a business started, and has some other financial opportunities that look promising. As he says, he wants to do something that's more challenging than sitting on a stool at Costco, talking to people. His opportunity may be right around the corner. Our son David is engaged to be married (June 1), and our other two children are happily married with two children each. My mom is healthy and happy, living on her own in Los Angeles, and for this we are delighted. There's nothing that makes a parent happier than to seeing their children happy in a relationship, and to see their older parents thriving. The other reason Ron is so happy about making it in good health to 70, is his family history. His mom died of liver cancer at age 67. His dad died of pancreatic cancer at 73. Not a good family history, but Ron is doing what he can to beat the odds. Genetics are not in his favor, so he must do everything else he can to maintain good health. Here's to a happy, healthy birthday Ron. You've been through a lot, we've been through a lot, but our positive outlook leads us to believe the best is yet to come. I believe.

Lasagna Cupcakes

Cupcakes are all the rage, but I bet you never thought about lasagna cupcakes.  This is a quick and easy recipe, and a way to control your portions.  I don't know about you, but my problem with lasagna, and casseroles in general, is portion control.  I always either cut a piece that's much bigger than I should be eating, or after the meal, while cleaning up, go "even up" the pieces left in the casserole.  This recipe will prevent all that from happening.  It will give you a nice, small portion, and it will give you lots of extras to freeze for those emergency dinners.  Here's what you do.

Use wonton wrappers instead of noodles.  Take a drinking glass, and cut the wontons into rounds (as you would a biscuit).  Fit one into the bottom of each muffin pan.  Then, using your favorite lasagna recipe, layer each muffin container.  I use a basic marinara sauce to which I add ground beef.  Layer ricotta cheese, sauce, shredded mozzarella, then repeat with a wonton, ricotta, sauce and cheese.  Fill each container all the way to the top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  The lasagna should be bubbly and crispy.  I like a little crispiness on the edges, and you'll have this on each lasagna cupcake. 

Top with a sprig of basel.  With a nice mixed green salad and some sliced, grilled garlic toast, you have a simple, yet gourmet meal.  Take the remaining cupcakes and freeze them.  I freeze them in zip lock bags, two to a bag.  Then, when I have nothing planned for dinner, I just remove them from the freezer and reheat, either in the oven or microwave.  They're just as good weeks later.  Enjoy.

Long Live The Apple Pan

My mom recently sent me a review of the Apple Pan in Los Angeles, written by one of my favorite new websites, Tasting Table.  They review restaurants from major cities, showcase up and coming chefs, and give the reader lots of recipes.  I especially liked the review of the Apple Pan, because this was one of my favorite spots to eat while I was growing up.

The Apple Pan is on Pico Blvd. in West Los Angeles, right across from the Westside Pavillion.  (there was no westside pavillion when I first started eating there).  It opened in 1947 and is famous for its burgers and apple pie, served with vanilla ice cream.  It consists of a U shaped counter, with food preparation taking place in front of you on the other side of the counter.  It's closed on Mondays, but just about any other day of the week, day or night, it's busy.  If you want a seat and they're all taken, just stand behind someone until they leave.  No hostess to take names, just stand there and wait. 

The Apple Pan is also the model for the very successful burger chain, Johnny Rockets.   Founder Ronn Teitlebaum claimed he used the menu, presentation and counter seating/grilling area as the model for his chain.  The menu at the Apple Pan is small.  2 kinds of burgers, tuna or egg salad, and that's about it.  They serve their burgers with special relish, wrapped in paper.  Cokes are served in the can, and they give you a little metal holder with a paper cup, if you must drink from a cup.  I must mention the pie, since I've had many.  Their apple pie is to die for.  My sister and I used to buy a pie and practically eat the whole thing.  When you get a full pie to go, they give you a styrofoam cup filled with a thick apple juice to pour over the warm pie.  The other pie I absolutely love is their banana cream pie, loaded with tons of fresh whipped cream and lots of bananas.  Delicious.

Many young men and women out on a date used to go to the Apple Pan in the 50's and 60's because they were open until 1am on the weekends.  However, all dates did not end well there.  I know of one man who disliked his date so much that he left the counter on the pretense of using the bathroom, went in the bathroom and climbed out the window.  He never saw his poor date again. 

Oh, those were the days.  In the 1990's, commercial property developers wanted to buy the Apple Pan property and develop it, along with adjacent properties into a big center.  The Apple Pan owners refused to budge, and the result is a large building right next to the little restaurant.  They simply refused to sell, and I'm sure they were offered a pretty penny for the property.  So the restaurant still stands where it has for 65 years, and everyone who lives on the west side in LA has been there.  They're right down the street from 20th Century Fox, so you may even see some stars if you go there.  No matter what, you'll have a great meal at a modest price, and probably get to talk to some interesting people while you're at it.

We All Dream

When I was a student at Berkley I had a neighbor who was working on his doctoral thesis in psychology. He was studying some aspect of dreams. After 50 years, I don't remember what. Anyway, I was one of his guinea pigs. I agreed to keep paper and pencil next to my bed and write down every dream I had as soon as I awoke, for a period of about 2 months. What I found out quickly was that I had multiple dreams every night, I could remember them in detail if I wrote them down immediately upon waking, and the more I wrote about my dreams, the more I remembered about them. When I first started recording my dreams it was usually one dream per night, but in just a few weeks I was remembering 2 or 3 dreams a night, and in minute detail. It's a matter of training your mind to remember. Dreams have always been a mystery to scientists and lay people alike, but we are learning more and more about their purpose and what they mean. Below are some interesting facts you may not know about dreams. 1. During a typical lifetime, we spend more than six years dreaming. 2. Negative emotions, like anger and fear, are most common. 3. Average person has 4-7 dreams per night. 4. If you're snoring, you're not dreaming. 5. Eating cheese before bed may help you sleep. 6. We forget 90% of our dream within 10 minutes of awakening. 7. When lucid dreaming, you can control the dream and do anything-even fly. 8. Pioneer research means that scientists may soon be able to record our dreams. The subconscious mind is fascinating, and I love the idea of being able to record dreams. It may reveal information to help treat patients with mental disorders. Or, it may let average people what they're dreaming about all night. Fascinating stuff.

To Drill Or Not To Drill, That Is The Question

The question of whether to drill for oil in the Artic has been an ongoing political controversy since 1977.  The area under discussion is situated between the Beaufort Sea to the north, Brooks Range to the south, and Prudhoe Bay to the west.  This area was created by an act of congress in 1980.  The controversy over whether or not to drill refers to a particular area of the ANWR region.  No one is attempting to drill willy nilly in the artic.  Much of the debate over whether to drill in the 1002 area of ANWR rests on the amount of recoverable oil as it relates to the world markets, weighted against the potential harm of oil exploration on wildlife, water, and the calving ground of the Porcupine caribou.

Prior to Alaska's statehood, virtually all of the 375,000,000 acres of Alaska Territory was federal land and wilderness.  The act of statehood gave Alaska the right to select 103,000,000 acres for use as an economic and tax base.  To complicate matters, Alaska natives protested a Federal oil and gas lease sale of lands on an area that the Natives claimed.  Long story short, this has been a political football for the last 40 years.  The big question is whether drilling in ANWR will have any significant effect on the US becoming energy self sufficient, and how would this oil effect the world market.  The fact is, they don't really know.  What they do know is that the amount of oil they're talking about is is less than 1% of the world market, so there would be little economic impact. 

On and off for the past 40 years, presidents have been trying to do exploratory drilling.  During the 1980's a bill permitting drilling was expected to come up for a vote, when the Exxon Valdez oil spill delayed and ultimately derailed the process.  In 2008 President George W. Bush pressed Congress to reverse the ban on offshore drilling in the ANWR in addition to approving the extration of oil from shale on federal lands.  (fracking).  Despite his previous stance on the issue, President Bush cited the growing energy crisis as a major factor for reversing the executive order issued by his father in 1990, which banned coastal oil exploration and oil and gas leasing on most of the outer continental shelf. 

What it really comes down to, is whether you're on the side of conserving our precious land and wildlife, or if you want to drill for more oil to possibly improve our energy independance, at the risk of disrupting land and wildlife.  There are so many other alternatives to achieve energy independance today, I would hate to see massive drilling in ANWR.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has stated that the 1002 area has a "greater degree of ecological diversity than any other similar sized area of Alaska's north slope."  Alaskans are all for the drilling.  After all, they participate in the oil profits.  Residents receive annual dividends from a permanent fund funded partially by oil-lease revenues.  In 2000, the dividend came to $1,964 per resident.

Anyone who has every seen the magnifigance of a herd of caribou racing across open land knows what I'm talking about.  We must be able to protect our parks, wildlife and open space.  We are innovative and creative and can find other ways reduce our energy dependance. 

Vintana Classes Up North County

There really aren't any restaurants in North County that you feel you have to dress up for, but now that Vintana is open in Escondido, you'll want to put on something special.  We went there for the first time in early October with Laurie and George.  We were celebrating their anniversary, and we did so in style.  The restaurant is stylish, comfortable and very good.  Laurie said it reminded her of Las Vegas, with colored fountains in front, and  from our third story  window seat, it was really a spectacular sight.

Vintana is part of the growing number of Cohn restaurants in San Diego, which include The Prado, 333, Indigo and several others.  This one is overseen daily by Debra Scott, executive chef, and she is out and about, schmoozing with customers throughout the night.  She is very charming.  The decor of the restaurant (which is absolutely enormous) is very comfortable, contemporary, with beautiful light fixtures, comfortable leather chairs, and a killer bar.  In addition, there is a covered outdoor cocktail area, with fire pits everywhere.  What a great place for a wedding or special event.

Upon arrival, the valet takes your car, and tells you it will be waiting for you up top when you finish your meal.  We walked through the showroom, (of course they want you to buy a car while you're there), then took the elevator to the third floor, where the hostess directed us to our

table.  Service was impeccable, from start to finish.  Our waiter, Stephan, was helpful in explaining the menu and making suggestions.  We were all very pleased with our food.

Upon sitting down, we are served a basket of warm popovers (remember Kirby's?) with flavored butter.  It's hard to eat just one, but I knew a big meal was coming, so I controlled myself.  Only George had a starter.  He had the Vintana wedge, which he said was delicious.  Instead of fresh tomatoes, it was served with tomato confit.  Other starters that I would try if I could eat more include Darrens Belly Roll (crispy rare yellowtail+asparagus nori mango-dynamite dipping sauce), Chef Deborahs Roasted Nut Crusted Brie (with jalapeno jelly, honey roasted garlic, grilled ciabatta), and Tempura Crab Cakes (pork belly+blackberry-baby arugula salad perserved lemon+dijonnaise).  Several soups and salads are also on the menu. 

The entrees run the gamut from chicken to fish, to pork to beef.  Several vegetarian entrees are also available, like roasted garlic and crispy mushroom gnocchi and a daily vegetarian selection.  I had a pork tenderloin cut porterhouse style, with a sweet potato mash, brussel sprouts and a thick ratatioulle.  The pork was glazed with a sugar ginger topping that crackled when you cut it and melted in your mouth.  It was excellent.  Ron had a wonderful ribeye steak served with an heirloom tomato salad.  George opted for the prime rib, served with baked potato and broccoli.  Several fish options are available, like rainbow trout oscar (served with crab, asparagus and bernaise), and ancho-sesame Bbq hamachi (served rare with roasted pineapple salsa, chile black beans, and fried plaintain.  I thought the menu was inventive and creative, but enough of the traditional dishes that everyone can find something to eat. 

Since we were celebrating an anniversary, we were served a complimentary bread pudding, with ice cream and whipped cream.  The bread pudding was made with the popover dough, and I found it a bit heavy, but that didn't keep me from tasting it.  We also ordered the mud pie.  OMG.  This was special because it had little bits of brittle, nice and sweet, which complimented the coffee ice cream. 

All in all it was a memorable evening, and we will be back.  It's not cheap, but if you have a Passport Card, it keeps the price down.  Most entrees are between $28-$38, and starters are $8-$10.  Lunch prices are of course much less, and the menu is quite different.  This is a great special occasion restaurant, and Escondido is not so far away.  It took us less than 25 minutes to get there.  Get out and try something new. 

Oatmeal Smoothies

Get your day off to a healthy, low calorie start, with the smoothie below listed below.  It's about 200 calories, and you  won't need anything to eat for hours.  It is really filling.  This recipe should make 4 servings,  so when you figure out the calories per serving, it's not very much.  Enjoy.


 … Oatmeal Smoothies Ingredients: 1 cup ice. 1/2 cup frozen raspberries or strawberries. 1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt.  (greek yogurt if you prefer)1 banana. 1/2 cup old-fashioned, uncooked, rolled oats. 1 tablespoon honey.  1 cup liquid, either fruit juice or coconut water).  Combine ingredients in blender, blend for 30 seconds, or until all ingredients are incorporated and the mixture is nice and smooth.

Mexico's Squid Sweatshops

Recently as I drove along  Coast Highway I  noticed a tremendous number of fishing boats just offshore, all the way down the coast.  At first I thought it was lobster season, but according to the lifeguards in Solana Beach, the fishermen are out fishing for squid.  I couldn't find the reason why late September is the time for all the squid to be out there and ready to catch, but it is.  Day, and night, the fishing boats are present.  The largest population of squid on the west coast is found from Alaska all the way to Baja, Mexico.  I know how hard American fishermen work, and I decided to check out the Mexican fishermen if their plight was as difficult.  It is, only much worse. 

I read about a small fishing village called Santa Rosalina, where much of the Baja squid fishing originates.  The boats on which they fish have no life vests, radios or emergency lights.  Every season, several fishermen die at sea, from accidents, drug overdoses, or illness.  The fishermen are so competitive that they won't tell each other where the best fishing is, or even help if a boat capsizes. 

The grotesque working conditions are only the beginning.  Many squid processing plants consist of Korean or Chinese owned processing plants.  These factories buy each day's catch from middlemen known as permissionarios, who have frozen the price the fishermen receive for their squid at a very low rate.  Most Mexican fisherman consider a $50 paycheck to be a good price for a ten-hour fishing trip. 

When you hear about Mexican sweatshops you typically think of garment factories or auto assembly plants.  These plants have received great scrutiny in recent years, and are better regulated.  Small rural villages like Santa Rosalina have become home to a new kind of sweatshop.  These squid sweatshops operate Wild West syle, far from the federal labor offices in Mexico City.  But it's not just the lack of local law enforcement that's to blame.  Globalization and United States' lack of regulation over seafood imports are also responsible for the exploitation here.

The workers in these processing plants face deplorable conditions.  Single moms bring small children to practically live there while the mothers work.  They sleep on dirty floors.  Many of the workers have drug problems.  The workers have made attempts to organize, but it hasn't happened yet.  This is what faces poor workers who are not allowed to organize (unionize). 

Another problem is that seafood is often shipped from port to port before it reaches the United States, and it can be relabled upon entry and exit, so it's difficulte to know where it originated.  A processing plant in China purcheses squid and other ratw materials from many sources around the world, mixing them together into imitation crab meat, fish stick, or dried squid snacks.  Country of original Labeling is required only on fresh seafood, not products like these.  I knew there was a reason I don't eat imitation crab or fish sticks.

There are some global watchdog organizations there are trying to educate the public and get countries to pass laws providing more transparency.  We read often about trying to get our government to tell us the full story as to where our food is coming from.  I was shocked when I learned that conditions were so bad in Mexican processing plants, and even more surprised when I heard that the seafood from Mexico might go to China or who knows where else, before coming to America.  How can we ever be sure what we're eating?  For now, I'll stick to fish caught in American waters and hope that the FDA is looking out for us.  Maybe we should just all go vegetarian.  That would actually solve a lot of problems, but that's an issue for another day.

My Personal Journel

The weeks are rolling by. Every Friday around 5pm Ron mentions to me that another week has passed without a call or visit from probation. Just the way we like it. As I've said before, I think they are required to see all of their clients every so often, so a call from probation does not necessarily mean something bad. Ron only has 23 more months of monthly accountability. You might wonder what I mean by accountability. Here's what he does each month. He has to keep a record of EVERY dollar he spends. Rent, food, entertainment, medical, gas, electric, etc. Then he must show his earnings. Probation wants to make sure we aren't spending money irresponsibly. Any item over $500 must be accounted for. Since Ron also has restitution to pay, they're hoping that he makes more than he spends so he can give the rest to the government. With his minimum wage jobs that has not been the case so far. It's just another way of controlling you, and like it or not, this is the system. As Ron said when he first went to prison, you can either get with the program and face reality, or fight it and be miserable. The former is so much easier. So for the next 23 months we are here in San Diego, with occasional trips to Los Angeles to see my mother, and some possible business trips as well. Vacations are in the distant future, as are trips to Colorado to see Phil and his family. If you have to be somewhere, this is sure a great place to be. Our favorite drive is from Poinsettia to Solana Beach, along the coast, a drive we do often. It clears our mind and keeps us focused on the wonderful life we have. As Ron celebrates his 70th birthday in two weeks, I am thankful every day that we chose this city to move to 10 years ago. There are people that say (or think to themselves), how can you be happy with your current life when you lost so much? The answer is simple. I was able to discover what really makes me happy. Unfortunately when you're caught up in a fast paced life you often don't have time to smell the roses. When life slows down, and the thing you look forward to is a beautiful drive along the coast, or a walk along the beach with your husband or a good friend, or meeting friends at the Y and working out together, then sitting and having coffee afterward and solving all the worlds problems, then you know what is important. It's not how big your house is, how many paintings you have on the wall, or how many "things" you own. It's about the relationship you have with the few really important people in your life, and the relationship you have with yourself. I'm not sure I ever knew myself way back when. I was so busy with everything and everyone else in my life that I never had time to think about myself. Now I have plenty of time to think and smell the roses. I like it that way.

We're Moving Backward, Not Forward

I promised myself I wouldn't write about the topic of women's rights, but I find it so heavy on my mind these days, that I must. I have done my research, so the facts are right. The opinions about women are my own. We are celebrating 100 years of International Women's Day this year. This is a world wide celebration to acknowledge the great achievements women have made worldwide, and how far they still have to come. When International Women's Day was first commemorated, gender equality and women's empowerment were largely radical ideas. Today, we celebrate the significnt progress that has been achieved through determined advocacy, practical action and enlightened policy making. Yet, in too many societies, women remain second class citizens. In America, women gained the right to vote in 1920, when the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was passed. A women's right to vote was gained only after years hard work, sacrifice, and danger to those involved in the movement. Many men wanted to hold on to what they had, power. Through the 20th century women made advances in education, jobs, and health. Women hold prominent seats in boardrooms, congress, and every type of office around the country. They educate our children, protect our streets through work as firewomen and policewomen, help us during sickness, inspire us through their music and art, and lead us in prayer. Yet, when it comes to the pay they receive, they still make 77cents for every $1 a man makes. Is that right? I don't think so. Please explain to me the thoughts of those of you who are not for equal pay for equal work. I want to understand. Women's health and reproductive rights are another area where we have made huge strides. A woman's right to choose has been the law for decades, yet many citizens want to reverse the law, and go back even further. Personhood amendments are popping up everywhere. I checked a website that went state by state, and found personhood laws ready to be voted on in many state houses. These people want life to begin a conception, in many cases with no exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother. Many states want to criminalize abortion, although most haven't made it clear what that means. Does the woman who was raped by her brother go to jail for getting an abortion, does the doctor who performed the abortion go to jail, or do both go to jail? We better start building some bigger jails. Here's the one that really gets me. Some lawmakers feel that a woman's boss should have control over whether or not she can get contraception through her insurance. Since 98% of women (including Catholics) use birth control, this seems like a giant step back in time. No boss or lawmaker should be telling a woman whether she can get birth control through insurance. Another example of a law that men are pushing for is in Virginia. It's the transvaginal probe law. This would require all women who wanted an abortion to have an ultrasound. In early pregnancy, the way to do an ultrasound is with a transvaginal probe. This would be mandatory. These decisions should made by a woman and her doctor, not a politician. Women have achieved success at the highest level, yet men still do not want them to have equality. As usually happens, it is the poorest women who will suffer the most, as they don't have the voice to fight back. Defunding Planned Parenthood would mean that millions of women, for whom Planned Parenthood is their only medical treatment, would not get cancer screenings, pap smears, mammograms or family planning. Instead, they'd get sick or pregnant, and we'd have more people in need of medical financial assistance. Why aren't women standing up for themselves? If these things were happening to men, there would be an outrage. Remember women burning their bras in the 1970's? What are women doing now to protect the gains we've made and continue to move forward? I'm writing this, but other than that I'm really not doing anything. I would like those of you who see this differently to let me know why. I really want to understand.

Halloween Is A Hoot

Halloween seems to be becomming more and more popular, in terms of decorating and dressing for the occasion. When we lived in LA, no one decorated and almost no one went trick or treating, in our neighborhood anyway. Over the years Halloween has been celebrated more at school, in shopping centers and after school clubs. It's a great way to keep the children safe and still let them have a good time. In Boulder, Colorado they make Halloween a family affair. Everyone dresses up and parades along Pearl Street Mall (pedestrian only), then the merchants give out candy. No need to go trick or treating. Lennon, age 3, went as a hot dog, and Elsa, age 9 months, was a flower. Two Halloweens stick out in my mind. One was over 55 years ago. I was just a small child, but I clearly remember my parents going to a Halloween party. My dad was the hit of the party, dressed as a ballerina. Pink leotard, pink tutu, ballet slippers, and pink ribbon crisscrossed halfway up his legs. He looked fantastic, and I can't let Halloween pass without a smile at remembering my dad as a ballerina. The other Halloween that sticks out was about 30 years ago, when Ron and I went to a party in LA. We didn't know what to do for costumes, so we went to the home of a dear friend of our parents, Dick Gresham. Dick was creative character who loved to dress up, and had a costume for every occasion. We borrowed his "bagel and locks" (lox) costume. I was the bagel and Ron was the locks. (Ron had chains and locks all over a leather outfit). The costume was very creative, but the real reason I remember that Halloween year was that it was one of the last times we ever saw Dick. Dick was tragically murdered just a few weeks later. Here's what happened. Dick had a handyman come out to his home to give him an estimate on roof repair. Dick ended up hiring someone else to do the work, and the handyman came back to the house and killed Dick and threw him in the swimming pool. In the course of their initial conversation, Dick revealed that his daughter worked at an abortion clinic in Los Angeles. After the handyman killed Dick, he went to the abortion clinic looking for Dick's daughter, held several people hostage, but was finally killed in a shoot out with police. A very tragic ending. Well, this Halloween was happier. We live in a kid friendly neighborhood, where many people decorate their homes, and all the kids go trick or treating. I gave away three bags of candy. I got smart this year and bought stuff I didn't like, just in case I had leftovers. All the candy was given away, and our house is candy free for

another year. (or until I make a trip to See's for my favorite candy, scotch kisses).

Davanti Enoteca Del Mar

Our anniversary was way back in February, and Davanti Enoteca in Del Mar had just recently opened.  I looked at their menu on line and determined  we should try it for our anniversary dinner.  Unfortunately, they do not take reservations, we couldn't get it and so we ended up at their sister restaurant next door, Mia Francesca.  We said we'd try Davanti Enoteca another time.  Well, two or three times we tried and failed to get a table without a long wait.  We don't like to wait. 

It was Vivians's birthday recently, and Paula and I met her the Del Mar Highlands shopping center.  We decided to try Davanti for her birthday lunch, and I can tell you that lunch is the meal to try.  No wait, great hostess, waitstaff and food.  I am sorry I wasn't more persistant earlier when we couldn't get a table, as I missed some great meals.  This is a restaurant I will go back to again and again.  Everything is creative and delicious.

It's a rather small restaurant, serving predominently small plates, although they do have pasta dishes, chicken dishes and some fish entrees.  The star of their menu is the appetizers.  We decided on 2 salads, and a foccaccia that I liked so much I asked for the recipe.  We had a roasted corn salad with walnuts, goat cheese, arugula and wild mushrooms.  It was out of this world.  We also had a grilled romaine salad, with fresh anchovies, burrata cheese and tomato.  Excellent.  Other salads include escarole, gala apple, pecorino dolce, celery and hazelnuts.  They serve shaved brussel sprouts with pecorino parmesean vinaigrette.  The foccaccia we ordered is Ligurian style.  Here's what it is:  a thin layer of foccaccia dough filled with spoons of soft cow cheese (riccotta), then another layer of dough is added, and it's cooked.  The dough comes out soft and flaky, like phyllo dough, and they cut it in squares.  The whole thing is topped with a nice piece of honeycomb, for a little sweetness.  Oh, was this good.  I can't wait to go back and order it again.

Other popular appetizers are the saumi and cheese options.  You can mix and match various salumis and cheeses, add a nice glass of wine and bread, and who needs dinner?  Also included on their appetizer list are asparagus  with black pepper marscapone and pickled rubarb, truffle egg toast with fontina and asparagus, heirloom tomatoes with watermelon and avaocado+ vinaigrette, and white anchovies with celery, pecorino sardo and olives.  Did I say unusual?  Yes, all this and much more.  Those that love to try innovative combinations will realize that one visit to this establishment is not enough. 

I'm just looking at their menu as I write this and realize they also have Saturday and Sunday brunch from 10am-2pm.  Now that sounds interesting.  Our lunch for Vivian's birthday was wonderful, and I can't wait to go back again for an early dinner or a late lunch.  Anything to avoid waiting.  We don't do that, but we do like good food, and this has some of the best I've had in North County in a long time.

What To Do With Eggplant

Not everyone likes eggplant.  Ron, for one, won't eat it, so all the beautiful eggplant I picked at Suzie's Farm in September was either given away, or incorporated into a few recipes that only I ate.  I made two delicious recipes, one an eggplant/pepper/onion dip that was healthy and delicious, and the other, a ratatouille made from peppers, onions and eggplant that was delicious.  I just stumbled across this recipe, and wished I had had it when I had all that eggplant.  What a delicious, healthy sandwich, using the eggplant slices as bread.  It's a little messy to eat, as you must be sure to cook the eggplant all the way through, so I suggest a fork.  This recipe was on the Cabot website, hence their referral to using Cabot cheese.  Obviously you can substitute with anything you have available. Enjoy.

 

 

---

Ingredients:

2 cloves garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano or thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 large eggplant (1 1/2 pounds total)
4 ounces Cabot Sharp Cheddar, grated (about 1 cup)
1 cup diced vine-ripened tomatoes

Directions:
1. Chop garlic; sprinkle with salt and mash into puree with blade of knife held sideways. Scrape garlic-salt mixture into small bowl.

2. Add oil, oregano and pepper and stir until garlic-salt mixture is well blended.

3. Preheat gas or charcoal grill to medium.

4. Cut off and discard thin lengthwise slice from each side of eggplant; cut remaining eggplant lengthwise into about six slices, each about 1/2-inch-thick. Brush both sides of slices with some of oil mixture, scooping up solids and using it all.

5. Grill until browned on both sides and very tender all the way to center, 5 to 8 minutes per side.

6. Sprinkle half of eggplant slices with some of cheese, then tomato; top each with another eggplant slice, pressing it into place.

7. Transfer to serving dish with metal spatula; cut each slice in half crosswise. Serve warm.

Grilled Eggplant is a great healthy meal.

Autumn, San Diego Style

While much of the country is readying itself for winter, San Diego is enjoying warm weather, cool nights, warm sea temperatures, and a bit of rain. No wonder our weather is the envy of everyone. Yes, fall is a beautiful season in general, with cool crisp air, the trees turning colors, and even snow. My friend Judy, who lives in Big Bear, California told me they had their first snow in early October. But San Diego weather can't be beat. My boogie board group decided that we might not all want to boogie board when the water temperature cools, so we'd make a trip down to Coronado, as a farewell to summer. 12 of us carpooled to Coronado, parked on the street just north of the Del Coronado Hotel, grabbed our gear (boards, wetsuits for some, chair, and lunch) and set up close to the beach. We had a ball. Talking, laughing, boogie boarding, wiping out, getting up, all with a smile on our faces. Our resident photographer Jan, took many pictures of us, but without permission I don't dare publish pictures of this group in bathing suits. That could be the end of a lovely friendship. Anyway, the water was a bit cold for me. I hate wearing a wetsuit, so I usually only boogie board when the weather is warm. 67 degrees is about as cold as I can stand it. However, the water had quickly cooled off. On Thursday the water was 69 degrees, but on Friday, when we went to Coronado, the water had dropped to 64 degrees. I was ready to stay on the beach, but Christa convinced me that I could do it, and she was right. I got in, and although I froze my butt off, I had a ball. After boogie boarding, we all sat around and had a picnic lunch. Most brought extra food, so we all shared cookies, fruit and crackers. Lots of talking, telling stories, and planning our next adventure. Brandi has an idea for something exciting, and everyone sounded interested. There were lots of tourists on the beach. One group of Japanese people caught our attention. A young man in the group must have taken hundreds of pictures of us. We couldn't figure out why we were so interesting. We figured we will either show up on u tube or in some Japanese magazine. We never knew that anyone would find a group of 50's, 60's and 70's women so interesting. It's almost the end of October, and with just a bit of drizzle for the past few days, we're now headed for some more hot weather. The next few days are scheduled to be close to 90 degrees. I'm going with a few friends to Long Beach, to take a Segway tour. Can't wait. With fall weather in San Diego, you always plan to do something fun outside. Why would anyone want to live anywhere else?

Suzie's Farm

On a warm September morning Fran and I took a group of about 15 women to Suzie's Farm.  It's an organic farm near the border of Mexico, that provides delicious fruit, herbs and produce to farmers' markets, restaurants and some local organic markets in Southern California.  They also provide tours to the public, for the purpose of introducing newbies to organic farming,  teaching them why organic farming is important, and hopefully to develop some new customers.  Suzie was the dog of one of the women who started the farm, hence the name Suzie's Farm.  Each plot is named for a different dog, however no dogs were present on the day we visited.

It was the end of tomato and eggplant season, and peppers of all varieties were also in abundance.  We brought our own canvas bags and were allowed to pick and take home as much as we wanted.  I brought home a huge bag full, then had to figure out what to do with it all.  I hate to waste stuff.  I always quote the statistic that Americans waste 28% of their food, and that may actually be a conservative estimate.

I started by taking three bags of produce to my friends at the dog park.  I know they love to cook and would figure out something to do with the food.  Then I made an eggplant and pepper dip, a large pot of ratatouille, and a pot of marinara sauce.  All came out well.  I had to strain the marinara sauce to get the seeds out, as many of the tomatoes were cherry tomatoes.  The best thing I made was the eggplant dip, and here's my simple recipe.

                                Eggplant, peppers and onion dip

1 medium eggplant (I used a few small ones that we picked at the farm, and several different varieties:
2 red peppers (again, I used a variety of red and yellow)
1/2 onion
2 cloves garlic

Cube eggplant, peppers (remove seeds), chop onions, and mince garlic.  Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper, and arrange on a large cookie sheet in one layer.  Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees, until all vegetables are fully cooked and soft.

Cool, then transfer to the blender, add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste (I keep a tube on hand for uses like this), and season to taste.  I left the mixture a little chunky, but you can make it smoothe if you like.  Store in plastic container, serve with pita chips, pita bread or any veggie or cracker. 

It's a delicious dip.  However, I think the produce we picked was towards the end of the growing season and thus a little bitter.  I had to add a small amount of sugar to the dip to offset the bitterness.  I also had to do that with the marinara sauce I made.  In any event, it's a great, healthy and low calorie dip, good for any occasion.  Enjoy.