Italian Ricotta Pie

 I'd never even heard of ricotta pie until I talked to Regina.  I was looking for a recipe for the most delicious Portuguese custard cups that are available locally at the bakery inside Ranch 99 Market on Clairemont Mesa.  I was having a few friends over for a morning visit and I thought I might serve them.  However, the crust of the custard cup looked so complicated, I asked Regina if she had an alternative.  She sent me a simple recipe for Italian ricotta pie.  The crust was so simple, so I decided to make the whole pie.  What a treat.  So simple, so delicious, so easy.

                             Italian Ricotta Pie

Crust-  

1c. flour, 1Tablespoon sugar, 1/2 tsp salt.  Put these ingredients in a pie pan.  Mix the following:  1/3 cup vegetable oil, 2 Tablespoons milk.  Add to the flour mixture and mix, then put pie crust up the sides of the pan and cover the bottom.

Filling

1 1/2 pounds ricotta cheese, 4 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup sugar.  Mix, and pour into pie shell.  Cook at 350 degrees for 1hour, no more, no less.  It will puff up and get golden brown.  

Let it cool completely before cutting.  Dust with powdered sugar.  Enjoy.

A Memorable Week in Colorado

 After a year of pandemic isolation, my mom and I, both fully vaccinated, headed to Colorado to visit my son David and his family in Denver, and my younger so Philip and his family, in Boulder.  I'm so glad we went, and thank you to the weather, for cooperating.  Except for a cool day on our day of arrival, we had 75 degree weather the rest of the time.

Kids grow up so quickly, and our first few days were spent with David and Tracy and their 6 year old Calvin and his boundless energy.  He is just finishing kindergarten, is reading, writing, doing complex puzzles (1000 piece puzzles on his own!), taking karate, riding his bike and talking up a storm.  What a delight.  During this past year, he has flourished, partly because he's been in private school which only closed down for 2 weeks all year.  14 kids in a class, he's doing so well!

Then it was off to Boulder to visit Phil and Deborah, and 11 year old Lennon and 9 year old Elsa.  Lennon did an on line school program this year, and has just taken off academically.  He has loved the flexibility of making his hours and planning his time to suit his needs.  He loves to get all his work done in 4 days, so he can have a long weekend.  He has taken piano lessons on line too, and is really enjoying learning.  Next year he starts middle school in person, so he will have to adjust.  Elsa, on the other had, did the zoom learning from her local school.  She finally went back to 4 day a week in person school at the end of March.  It's been difficult for her.  She is social, and loves the in person learning.  Deborah (her mom), has done a fantastic job keeping her focused and engaged.  She is interested in fashion and acting, and put on several shows for us.  Just adorable.

My mom and I took an afternoon off from kids and went to Pearl Street in Boulder, to shop and have lunch.  A fabulous lunch at The Kitchen (lobster roll and home made potato chips) was quite a treat.  Another night in Boulder, while Lennon had a Little League Game, we took Elsa to Pizzeria Locale.  If you find yourself in Boulder, check it out.  It's thin crust, artisan pizza from southern Italy.  Get the budino for dessert.  You won't want to share.

All in all, the week was so special for all of us.  We rarely get the whole family together, so our Easter Sunday brunch and egg hunt at Phil's was so much fun.  We got out of town just before another cold front moved it.  Back home now, our week in Colorado continues to bring a smile to my face.

New In Carlsbad: Le Papagayo

 Le Papagayo in Leucadia has long been a popular dining spot.  The food is good, the ambience is great, and happy hour is often filled with live music.  Now Le Papagayo has opened in Carlsbad.  You're going to love it.  It's right on Carlsbad Village Drive, and it has it's own parking lot.  The restaurant is almost completely open, with heaters everywhere, so don't worry about being cold.  The bar is beautiful, and there's a big stage, where live music will be performed.  It's a great for any meal, but happy hour is a particular favorite of mine.

My lunch bunch went there recently.  Everyone loved the setting and the food.  I split a huge (one pound) pastrami sandwich on rye, with russian dressing, sauerkraut, Gruyere cheese and sweet potato fries.  Two of us finished the whole thing.  Other items of interest were delicious onion rings, which I plan to order next time.  Tema ordered a Cubano sandwich, Carol ordered a Mediterranean wrap.  We did not order it, but I have it on good authority that the lobster bisque and grilled cheese sandwich is outstanding.  Next time.

So Carlsbad has another excellent restaurant to add to its repetoire.  Le Papagayo is a good choice for any meal, nice for groups, and great for happy hour.  Give it a try.

The Emotional Toll of Covid-19

Covid-19 has changed us forever.  Even though we're coming out of extreme lockdown now that most of us over 65 have been vaccinated, many seniors are still having a tough time.  Here are just three examples.

A 90+ year old woman in LA has been in for a year, only going out occasionally for groceries or a short walk.  She was invited to dine outdoors at a nice restaurant recently, and was all set to go.  The day before the lunch date, she changed her mind.  She felt going to lunch was just too much for her.  Since Covid-19 she has gone from walking with a cane to using a walker all the time.  She was worried about where she would park, how hard would it be to get the walker out of the car, and how far she would have to walk.  It was all just too much, so she cancelled the lunch date.

Another woman I know who is in her 70's confessed to me today that she feels depressed.  She if fully vaccinated, but doesn't want to leave the house.  Her husband took her out a few days ago to shop, which she normally loves to do.  She walked through the store, and bought nothing.  She didn't even enjoy herself and was anxious to get back home.

I have another friend in her late 60's who hasn't been out in a year.  She is desperately afraid of getting Covid-19.  Now that she and all her close friends are vaccinated, nothing has really changed to her.  She is afraid to go to lunch outdoors.  She will shop for groceries, but with a double mask and a shield.  It is going to be a long time before she gets back to "normal."

These people are not outliers.  Most people are feeling a degree of anxiety and fear, and wonder how it will all end.  Covid-19 has affected us all.  I feel a little bit guilty because I don't have these same feelings.  I, too, have been in for most of the year, but I have tried to keep social friendships up, meeting for coffee in a park, lunch in my own backyard, or a meal outdoors.  Oh, and lots of walking.  I figure I have probably walked about 2,000 miles during Covid-19.  Being vaccinated gives me freedom to get out and do more.  I have several out of town trips planned in the next few months to visit family and friends, and I feel safe doing so.  I think we have to push ourselves a bit to get out and back into the world.  It's easy to stay home with a book or Netflix, but getting out and doing stuff is so worth it.  Always with safety precautions, let's get back to life as we once knew it.

Something You May Not Have Heard Of: Redneck Fishing Tournament

 The Redneck fishing tournament is an annual event held on a channel of the Illinois River, near Bath, Illinois.  It is usually held during the first month of August.  It's purpose is to decrease the population of silver carp, as species of Asian carp, in the river.  The fish is an invasive species in the midwest and has become a nuisance in various waterways over the past twenty years.  These invaders are competing with native fish for food.  The silver carp weigh around forty pounds and are bony.  They respond vibrations by jumping out high out of the water.  The motors from the boats make them jump, and the boaters have nets with which to catch the silver carp during the fishing tournament.

Silver carp were among several species of fish imported to the U.S. in the 1970's as a way to reduce algae in commercial fishing ponds.  It is thought that flooding along the Mississippi River in the 1980's allowed the fish to escape those commercial ponds and make their way into rivers, ponds and lakes.  The Redneck fishing tournament is a way of controlling the silver carp population.  The fish that are caught during the tournament (nets only, no poles) are used for scientific research, fertilizer and cat food.  

When I first heard about this tournament, I thought if was just a way for people to have some fun, and I didn't like the idea of them killing fish just for fun, but now that I find out that this is a way to control the population of the unwanted silver carp, I understand.  Proceeds from the event have been donated to local charities.  Because of the pandemic, the tournament has been on hiatus since 2019.  

(I tried to insert a short video of the redneck fishing tournament so you could see the thousands of fish jumping out of the water, but I couldn't.  If you google redneck fishing tournament you will see a short video of the event.)

Visit Sunshine Mountain Vineyard

 Just about 20 minutes from my frontdoor is a wonderful venue for relaxing, drinking fine wine, mingling with friends, or a special event like a wedding or big party.  (they can accomodate up to 150 people).  It's a 30 year old winery called Sunshine Mountain, at the top of a hill in San Marcos!  Who knew?

I was playing golf with some friends a few weeks ago, when someone mentioned that their wine club was holding their first post pandemic, in person event, at a winery in San Marcos.  They were nice enough to invite me to the event.  I'm so happy they did.

It's just 20 minutes from my house, but miles away in atmosphere.  It's very rural.  You go up a winding road for a few miles, then turn onto a gravel road for the last few hundred yards.  When you get there you feel like you're at the top of the world.  

Inside, is a tasting room.  I had a very good cuvee red blend, and nursed that for the few hours we were there.  A folk singer entertained us, platters of cheese, salami and fruit and crackers could be purchased, and we sat and talked and enjoyed an almost "normal afternoon."  It felt so good.  The huge patio overlooks San Marcos, Vista and Oceanside, and you can see all the way to the Pacific Ocean.  Small conversation areas are arranged, with a heater in the middle of each.  Twinkling lights are strung overhead.  What a beautiful setting.

If you want, you can join their wine club, which gives you all kinds of perks besides discounts on wine.  It's also a magnificent setting for a special event, like a wedding or big party.  Next time you're looking for getaway that is close by, try Sunshine Mountain.  It's dog friendly and kid friendly too.  Be sure to check the days and times, as they have limited hours because of the pandemic.  

What Does 95% Efficacy Really Mean?

 I was listening to the Al Franken Podcast in late March.  His guest for an hour was Andy Slavitt, so I obviously got a lot of information about Covid-19.  He finally answered the question I had been asking for weeks.  What does 95% efficacy actually mean?  It does not mean that you have a 5% chance of getting Covid-19.

The actual percentage of vaccinated people in the Pfizer (and Moderna) trials who got Covid-19 was about a hundred times less than that:  0.04%.  What this 95% actually means is that vaccinated people had a 95% lower risk of getting Covid-19 compared with the control group participants.  In other words, vaccinated people in the Pfizer clinical trial were 20 times less likely than the control group to get Covid-19.  Even more importantly, those that got it,  got a mild case, and no hospitalizations or deaths were reported.  In other words, this is one of the most effective vaccines that we have.  Think of it as effective as polio, measles and mumps.  Would you not get one of those vaccines?

Hopefully those that have been reluctant to get the vaccine will rethink their decision.  This is not a political decision, it is an important health decision.  For the sake of yourself, you family and friends, and the world, get vaccinated.  For the good of us all, herd immunity is the way we get back to normal.

Little Italy in San Diego

 On a beautiful Sunday afternoon in March, I took my mom to the Embarcadero.  She hadn't been to downtown San Diego in several years, and was she surprised.  First, with the beautiful modern architecture of the big commercial buildings, second, with the beautiful new apartments and condos dotting the area, and third, with outdoor sculpture and art that seemed to be everywhere.

What I really wanted to show her, however, was the new restaurants next to The Star of India.  The Brigantine restaurant group bought the property that formerly was Anthony's several years ago, and you wouldn't believe what they've done with it.  They actually have 4 restaurants there, one more beautiful than the next.  They have both The Brigantine and Miguels, their two signature restaurants which you may have eaten at in other areas of San Diego.  They also have a tapas restaurant called Topside, above Brigantine.  What I liked so much was that the interior made you feel like you were on a cruise ship.  I don't know if that was their intention, but you feel just like you're on a luxury ship.  Go check it out.

For lunch, we walked to India Street, where most of the action was.  We got a ringside table at Mimmo's, one of the many Italian choices for lunch and dinner.  I had a most delicious lobster bisque, while mom had a pear salad with gorgonzola cheese and candied nuts.  Great dipping sauce for foccaccia bread, and we were all set to people watch.

Oh, my, thousands of people must have walked by.  My takeaway for the afternoon of people watching?  Most were poorly dressed in clothing that didn't look so good.  Ripped jeans (I know that's the style), untied tennis shoes (I know that's also the style),  most looking rather sloppy.  Almost everyone was wearing tennis shoes of some sort, so I can see why athletic companies are doing so well during the pandemic.  All anyone wears is a pair of workout pants or shorts, and long shirt, and tennis shoes!  Even if the people weren't neatly groomed, their dogs were.  Many, many, dogs, and all had on expensive collars and sweaters.  I just found it funny that most of the dogs looked better groomed than their owners.

In all, an afternoon in Little Italy is safe and fun.  We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

An Evening At Carmine's

 A few weeks ago, when life was beginning to return to normal, I was in LA for the weekend.  My mom loves to get out, especially to eat a fine restaurant.  I was thinking and thinking of where we could go that would be safe, outside and warm.  I remembered Carmine's an Italian restaurant and bar on Santa Monica Blvd in West Los Angeles, that Ron and I used to frequent years ago, (pre 2003) when we lived in the area.

I knew they had taken the parking lot and turned it into a beautiful outdoor dining area.  I made a reservation for a Saturday night, and we had a wonderful evening.  Mikey, the host and waiter who took care of us, was outstanding.  He was friendly and helpful, and made us feel so comfortable.  The outside space is welcoming.  It almost feels like you are eating in someone's backyard.  They built a wood platform, wooden walls all around, and the top is open.  Twinkling lights are strung across the top, and heaters are everywhere.  I hope they keep this space when things move inside and get back to the old normal.  I loved eating outside, as did my mother, who dressed in several layers in case it was cold, but was not needed.

The food was delicious, as it has always been.  We began with a small super thin cheese pizza and a glass of red wine, just to get things started.  We ordered a perfectly prepared eggplant parmigiana with a side of penne pasta and marinara, and  white fish served with pasta and vegetables.  What I liked so much about the eggplant was that it was not overcooked or oversauced.  It was just right.

Unfortunately we were too full to even think about dessert.  We will try something sweet on our next visit. 

If you are in LA, on the Westside, remember Carmine's.  It's good old fashioned Italian food, but modernized, with a wonderful homey feeling, and great people to help make your dining experience extraordinary.

Ready For A Vacation? Try Cypress Cove Nudist Resort

 I was playing pickleball one morning, two women and two men, and we like to talk alot on the court.  One of the men had lived for a time in Kissimee, Florida, and started telling us about the Cypress Cove Nudist Resort that was just down the way from where he lived.  I just had to check it out.

They tout themselves as a family friendly resort, although I didn't see any children there.  The resort is built on 300 acres, with a 50 acre lake, 84 villa hotel rooms and apartments, a campground and a residential community.  It's kind of like where I live, in Ocean Hills, but without clothes.

They offering several dining choices, dancing in the evening, swimming, pickleball, tennis, a fitness center, and a 9 hole golf course.  Clothes are optional in many places on the property, but in and around the pool it is nude only.

On their website they have a video showing how shy people get over their resistance to shedding their clothes.  They all seemed to love it.  

Just saying, if you want something unique for your next getaway, Cypress Cove Nudist may be for you.  (Because this is a family friendly blog, I have not included pictures from the resort.)

The Good Old Days in Westwood Village

 Whenever I go to LA to visit my mom, I take an hour out to go to Westwood Village to charge my car.  My car is fully electric, and I don't get quite enough mileage to get back in forth without recharging.  No problem.  I take Pepper with me and we walk around Westwood for an hour.  There is a charging station inside a parking structure right near the two famous movie theatres,  Fox (first opened in 1931 and except for the pandemic would still be showing movies, and the Bruin, opening several years after the Fox, again, waiting to reopen after the pandemic. I pass by all my old favorite haunts, except that they have radically changed.

Gone is the college town vibe of Westwood that I grew up with.  It disappeared over 20 years ago.  What's left is a lot of boarded up shops, trash, lots of trash, a few fast food restaurants, mostly serving Asian food (to meet the needs of the UCLA  population), several nice coffee shops, Trader Joes, Ralphs and Target, and a cannabis shop, and lots of homeless people.

I grew up in Westwood and visited it often until we left LA in 2003.  I walk Pepper down Westwood Blvd and remember when Ralphs, Safeway and A and P were all in Westwood Village.  In addition to those national stores, there was also a small specialty market called Jorgensens.  Very exclusive.  We had Foster's, which was an exclusive crystal and china store, similar to Gumps.  We had Wil Wrights ice cream, so delicious.  Every scoop was served with a little maccaroon cookie.  Oakley's barbershop has been there forever.  They might still be there.  In the 1950's when I would walk to Westwood Village on a Saturday with friends, we would shop at Woolworth's, Lanz and Fedway (a small department store).

We had great places to eat.  I loved going to Ships on Wilshire Blvd and having breakfast, a toaster at each table so you could make your own toast.  In the 1950's and 1960's we would eat lunch at Woody's Smorgasburger, or go to the bowling alley across the street and have pizza.  A few decades later we would have lunch at the Chatam, which finally closed in 1987.  The Chatam had the best sandwich ever:  turkey, ham, cheese and coleslaw on seedless rye.  OMG.  Who can forget Stan's Donuts across the street from the movie theatres?  It's still there, but of course ownership has changed multiple times.  

Exclusive men's stores, excellent restaurants like Monty's and the Moustache Cafe, and Crescent Jewlers, opened in 1946, still there today, with a new name, but run by grandchildren of the original owners.

I look forward to going to Westwood Village to charge my car, as it brings back so many memories.  Hopefully, Westwood will return someday to the exciting little town it once was. That is an aspiration, but there's not much chance of that happening in my lifetime.   

My Heart Your Heart

I just finished a very interesting book called Lightning Flowers by Katherine Sandefer.  The narrator has a rare genetic medical condition where her heart stops beating.  Through years of medical procedures, having a deribrilator put into her chest, leading to unbearable pain, only to find out what they did to her wasn't right, was unbelievable.  The other part of the story is how she navigated the medical system, a young woman without insurance, then minimal insurance, and how she surmised that working the system was more difficult than getting the proper treatment.

There is a great disparity between the high and low income countries in terms of pacemaker and defibillator availibility.  Each  year 1-2 million individuals worldwide die due to a lack of access to pacemakers and defibrillators.  Meanwhile, almost 90% of individuals with pacemakers would donate their device to others in need if given the chance.  One problem is that in America pacemakers are considered single use devices.  Sweden has been recycling pacemakers since 1996.  What took us so long to realize the humanity of recycling pacemakers?

The University of Michigan established Project My Heart Your Heart to test proof of concept for the safety and efficacy of salvaging donated pacemakers and re-implanting them in cardiac patients.  Donated pacemakers with at least 4 years of life left (most pacemakers last 10 years) are refurbished and implanted in patients around the world, most of whom would die otherwise.  What a gift.

Most of us take implantable cardiac devices (ICD's)for granted.  Pacemakers are part of the standard of medical care in wealthy countries.  The cost of pacemakers is prohibitive for patients in poorer countries, and although some patients in need are receiving near expiry devices or recycled devices, it's not nearly enough.  Let's hope that the My Heart Your project continues to grow, so that everyone who needs a pacemaker of ICD can get one.

 

Ending Back Pain The Spinezone Way

 My most recent orthopedic problem is the return of spinal stenosis, which I was diagnosed with many years ago.  I haven't had a problem in years, which I attribute in large part to a very active lifestyle, including daily gym workouts, spin classes, walking, yoga, and most recently pickleball.  While I was doing these activities regularly I never had a problem.  When we moved to Ocean Hills I actually became less active, partly because the Encinitas Y which I so dearly loved was too far away, and because Ron got sick and needed more help from me.  So over the last few years, I did less and less.  Last June I began to have terrible pain, so bad that over the next few months I had two steroid injections.  

The injections helped some, but I could see that that was not the answer.  I went to my family doctor in February, and he suggested 20 visits to Spinezone.  I had heard of Spinezone but did not know much about it.  Now that I am a patient there, I know what it's all about.

Spinezone was started in San Diego in 2005 by two orthopedic doctors, brothers Kian and Ramshad Raiszadeh.  Their goal as orthopedic surgeons was to start a company that would lead to LESS back surgery.  They created a personalized, non operative treatment regime that combines digital technology and onsite care.  Before beginning, the patient is evalulated for pain level, posture and core strength, aftyer which a program is created specifically for each patient.  

Recently Spinezone raised $12 million from new investors for expansion.  They have numerous locations in San Diego, but plan to expand into Orange and Los Angeles County.  They also intend to expand to other musculoskeletal conditions like hips and knees, all with the purpose of preventing surgery.  Sharp Hospital announced a $3.4 million cost savings for patients in back pain over a 2 year period.  Providence Hospital found a 35% improvement in back strength and 80% elimination of opoid use in patients in the Spinezone program.

Patients have to be willing to do the work, and I am doing my exercises twice a day, hoping that my results will relieve back pain.  I'm very optimistic.