America's Favorite Food

With over 3 billion pies sold every year in the U.S., pizza is definitely America's favorite food. Yet it has only been an American favorite since after World War 11.

It's history goes back to the 6th century B.C., when Darius the Great (521-486 B.C.) baked a kind of flat bread upon his soldiers sheilds , and covered it with cheese and dates. Many other cultures, including the Greeks and Romans also made a version of pizza. In 79 A.D after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, evidence was found of a flat flour cake that was baked and widely eaten in Pompei.

In the 19th century Umberto 1, King of Italy, and his wife, Queen Margherita di Savoia, were in Naples on holiday and were offered several varieties of pizza. The Queen loved the mozzarella, basil and tomato pizza (the colors of the Italian flag) and ate it every time she went to Naples. So now you know how the Margheritta pizza got its name. By the late 19th century pizza was sold in the streets of Naples for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Simple ingredients like mushrooms, anchovies,cheese and tomatoes were used.

As Italians imigrated to America at the turn of the century, so did the pizza. It was introduced to Chicago by a peddler who walked up and down Taylor Street with a metal washtub of pizzas on his head.

Gennaro Lombardi claims to have opened the first U.S. pizzeria in New York City in 1905. No one seems to dispute that fact. The pizzeria is still in existance today. When American soliders reutrned from Europe after World War 11, they wanted the delicious pies they had tasted in Italy. This was the beginiing of a phenomenon that would sweep the nation, and to this day shows no sign of letting up.

Today, pizza comes in many forms, from street food to gourmet quality. Thin crust, thick crust, with sauce, without sauce, everyone has their personal preference. I love a very thin crust. I will list my favorite pizzerias at another time. I know there will never be agreement on which is best, but in the mean time, send me your favorites so I can check them out. With my committment to lose weight in 2010, this is probably not a good way to start the year, but what the heck, I can't recommend something if I haven't tried it.

New Year's Resolution: More Calcium

It's a new year, and a new opportunity to make resolutions. I know, some of us have stopped making resolutions because it's so hard to follow through. Well, here's one promise I am making to myself that I know I can stick to. I'm going to increase my calcium intake and decrease my risk of developing osteopena or osteoporosis.

Several years ago Fran, Jan and myself went to the Oaks at Ojai (www.oaksspa.com) for a few days of exercise, healthy eating and relaxation. Each night they have a guest lecturer speaking on a variety of topics. While we were there we listened to a nurse speak on osteoporosis. I thought I knew a lot about the disease, but she really deepened my understanding. This is such an easy problem to turn around. It just takes a few small changes. Here is some of what I found out. As with all medical topics, always check with your doctor before starting a new regime or changing old ones.

1. Eat foods high in calcium. This includes dairy products, especially yogurt, but don't forget about leafy greens, beans and seeds. Leafy greens are high in calcium and don't produce some of the side effects of milk products, such as digestion problems and mucous. Orange juice contains both calcium and vitamin D. The body cannot absorb calcium without vitamin D. Another bonus of orange juice is it's high vitamin C content.

2. Sit in the sun, without sunscreen, for 10-20 minutes per day. This is important, but you are advised to do this when the sun is not at full strength. Before 10am or after 3pm are the best time for catching some rays. In between, wear sunscreen. The purpose of sunbathing is to allow the body to absorb vitamin D, an important component in warding off osteoporosis.

3. Take calcium supplements, between 1200 and 1500 mg per day. Be sure to take calcium carbonate, the easiest type to absorb. It must also be formulated with magnesium. Liquid calcium in a citrate base is an excellent choice, easy to add to juice drinks or shakes. remember to take your calcium in several doses throught the day, as the body cannot absorb it all at once. Many years ago my ob/gyn told me to start taking Tums everyday. What he didn't tell me, and probably didn't know at the time, was that the calcium in Tums does not absorb as well as calcium citrate, thus it was doing me very little good. Take only 500-600 mg at a time.

4. Try to give up soft drinks. This is a hard one for me. I'm not sure I can do it. However, the carbonated drinks deplete the calcium in your bones, because they contain phosphoric acid, which makes calcium pass out of your system in the urine.

5. Make sure that your multi vitamin or calcium supplement contains trace minerals. It may not sound like much, but trace mineras are essential to bone formation. Boron, manganese, copper, zinc and vitamin K are important in the bone building process.

I always make new year's resolutions. Rarely do I stick to them very long. I'm hoping I will be able to incorporate some of these changes into my daily life and help keep my bones straight and strong.

Claires on Cedros

It's great when two friends get together and create something unique, something just right for this time and place. That is what happened when longtime friends Terrie and Claire decided to open a restaurant together. Claire had a long history in the food industry, working 12 years running the bakery at Milton's in Del Mar, and creating the bread recipe that she sold to them for their now famous, Milton's Multi Grain Bread. Terrie brought her talents to the project, and together they have created a breakfast/lunch restaurant that I think you will like.

I've been there twice now, once for lunch, once for breakfast. The food is fresh, creative, and artististically presented. For breakfast, you'll find omelettes of every variety, huevos rancheros, bacon and eggs, and fritattas. I had the caprese fritatta, their best selling breakfast item. It's a fritatta with mozarella and tomatoes on top, finished with a lightly dressed salad of small, delicate lettuce leaves. Just delicious. Our group also had the multi grain pancakes which were excellent and the fruit and yogurt combo with a homemade muffin. Everything was fresh and the baked goods were all made in house. The coffee was great too. For lunch I had a warm chicken salad with nuts, cranberries and olives in a delicious dressing. This was served with homemade pumpkin muffins to die for. Other luncheon items included burgers, salads of every variety, soups, quiche and fresh, warm, breads. Following the meal our server brought us two wonderful butter cookies. I don't know if this is standard, or if they're just doing that to get us interested in the bakery. In any event, it topped off the meal beautifully and made us want more.

One of my favorite things about Claire's is the building itself. Their goal is for the building to be as sustainable as the menu. It is the first free standing restaurant in the country with LEED Platinum certification. (leadership in energy and environmental design). They have also joined the Green Restaurant Association, which strives to run businesses using environmental practices and ensure sustainability. This is all important to me, and the space they have created is both trendy, homey and green. It appeals to a certain crowd, those interested in the environment and up to the minute fashion. There are lots of businessmen there as well, so don't get the idea it's just for women. Especially for lunch on the patio, you will see many men discussing business.

I highly recommend Claire's on Cedros (http://www.clairesoncedros.com/) for something new, different and delicious. Just across from the Solana Beach train station, it makes for easy parking. They also cater private parties after closing, with different menu items altogether. Give it a try.

What to do With Lavender

A field of lavender is one of those beautiful sights you will not soon forget. If you've been to Provence in the spring, you have most likely seen it. If you live in California, there are many nurseries that grow lavender, although not in abundance like you will find in France. In any event, it is a wonderful aromatic herb, with a variety of uses.

Hang it upside down and dry it, then crumble the flowers and make sachets. Or make a beautiful lavender wreath and hang it in your closet or bathroom. Also, the stems can be used to weave baskets. It can also be used in cooking. One common use is in lavender honey. Here's a recipe for blueberry lavender jam. This is so good and so easy to make you'll want to keep it on hand to make any breakfast a special event.

Blueberry Lavender Jam

2 T. dried lavender flowers

1 can (11-1/2ounce)frozen white grape juice concentrate

3 c. fresh blueberries, washed and drained

Make a lavender sachet by cutting a piece of cheesecloth into a 6-inch square, placing lavender in the center, and tie into a bundle

in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, bring lavender sachet, grape juice concentrate and blueberries to a boil. Stir constantly until the berry mixture jells, about 20 minutes. (to test whether mixture ihas jelled, place a teaspoon on a plate and cool. Lightly touch the berry mixture with your finger to see if it is the consistency of jelly. If not, cook 10 more minutes. Cover and steep for 2 hours.

remove the lavender sachet and sicard. Divide the jam between 2 pint jars, cover and stor in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Offbeat Travel: A Trip to Cuba

In 1987, when I had all about I could take of teaching in LAUSD, I became a travel agent, something I continue to do to this day. There were many opportunities for agents to travel near and far, and I took advantage of this as much as possible. In the year 2000, my friend Elaine and I decided to journey to Cuba. This was at a time when travel to Cuba was tight, and the rules for foreigners were ridgedly enforced by the Bush administration.

I had sent a film crew to Havana in the late 1990's so I had some idea of the red tape that was involved in getting the proper permits. Elaine and I went with permits from a ministry in Los Angeles. We brought medicine and clothes to a church in Havana. There are several categories of people allowed to visit Cuba, religous and medical being two of them. We spent several weeks obtaining the proper documentation, meanwhile planning our trip so we would be ready to go when our papers were in order.

We made most of our arrangements through a Canadian tour operator, as there are no restrictions for Canadian tourists, and Elaine has both Canadian and American citizenship. Most people that go to Cuba connect through either Cancun or Mexico City, as there are no direct flights from the U.S. One can also fly direct from Canada.

We arrived in Havana, went through customs without a hitch, and were on our way. There were many four and five star hotels in the city by then, and our accomodations were excellent. Much of the historic center of Havana has been restored, and several European governments have gambled a lot of money on the fact that Havana will again become a world class destination. Old Havana is the place to visit. One site that no visitor misses is the Hotel Nationale, the old hangout of Earnest Hemingway. It's loaded with pictures of memorabilia from the 1950's.

Once the hot spot of the Caribbean and popular destination for Americans, Cuba has now been declared a World Heritage Area by UNESCO with many plazas having buildings dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. Old Havana's side streets, narrow and cobble-stone, are another picture, one of urban decay. The walls of many of the buildings are literally propped up with wood. Walking these narrow streets one is struck by the absence of commodity shops. There is very little to buy, and they have stamps for all basic necessities. In other words, everything is rationed. When you do see a shop with clothing, the merchandise is 20 years old.

As poor as the Cuban people are, they are the happiest people you can imagine. There are musicians everywhere, even dancers in colorful clothes hoping to make a few pennies by entertaining passers by. I was struck by the fact that there is almost no anti American sentiment. Almost everyone you meet has a relative in Miami and their hope is to get there one day.

Where did all the old Chevys and Oldsmobiles of the 1950's go? Why, Cuba of course. They have vintage car shows several times a year. This is a big attraction for visitors from all countries. They also have music, music, music. Every bar and restaurant has music at night, dancing too. It's a happy place to be.

Open air markets offer an array of items, from food to crafts, to original art. When I was there I bought several oil paintings for under $20 each. Most artists are untrained but their paintings emote such feeling for life in Cuba. You can't help but love their raw, primitive work.

Food varies from poor to excellent. Many families use their homes as restaurants, and serve dinner in the backyard, dining room or patio every night. These were among our best meals, and it was so personal, as we could talk to the family members we were visiting.

Our tour guide was a young woman of 18, a college student, another person we met who hoped to come to the U.S. one day. She recited information from a prepared statement, and would not offer personal opinion on Castro, good or bad. We gave her a big tip at the end of the week, probably more money than she makes in several months. We were told that at the time doctors made $20 per month.

Beaches in Cuba are beautiful, and although we did not visit them, there are five star resorts along the coast, just as you would find in many other Caribbean islands. All in all it is a wonderful vacation, a real eye opener as to what life under a repressive dictatorship is like.

I recommend Cuba for anyone wanting to see this island before it becomes overpopulated with American style hotels and restaurants. It's beautiful, reasonable and very interesting. It will also give you a great appreciation for the American way of life.

Go Green and Save Money

I usually think of going green as a way of helping the environment, but at a higher cost. This is not necessarily so. Check out some of these energy saving ways to help Mother Earth and save you money at the same time.

1. set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer. Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85% of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.

2. Take shorter showers to reduce water use. Install a low flow showerhead. Install a faucet aerator on each faucet. This conserves both heat and water, while maintaining high water pressure.

3. Walk or bike when possible.

4. If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat is one of the most costly items in your shopping cart. It's even more expensive when you consider the related enviornmental and health costs. Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs and dairy whenever possible. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy. Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain. This is especially true for seafood.

5. Skip the bottled water. Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it creates large amounts of container waste.

6. Borrow instead of buying. Borrow from libraries intead of buying personal books, videos and movies. This saves money. Share power tools and other appliances that are infrequently used.

7. Make your own cleaning supplies. The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon and soap. This is a huge moneysaver.

Finally, check out the web site http://www.blogger.com/www.worldwatch.org for up to date information on going green and many more tips. If you just pick up one idea from this or other articles on the subject, change will come.

New Beginnings

As we begin a new decade, I too, am starting a new chapter in my life, and will be sharing some of my journey with you. For the first time in 40 years, I will be without my husband, Ron. After seven years of investigation by the federal government, Ron plead guilty in a tax matter. He will be spending the next 16-20 months at Taft Federal Camp.







I tell you this for several reasons. First, I am not a secretive person. I'm pretty much an open book. You might say, then why didn't I talk about this before? There were legal issues involved, and I didn't want to tell my story and speculate about how it might end. I have a great life, a wonderful family and a network of spectacular people to support me. Above all, I have a fantastic husband who I love and adore. This too shall pass.







So my blog is going to change a little. Once a week I plan to write a more personal blog, about myself and how I'm coping and about visits to Taft (which from what I've been told can be comical at times). I hope I won't bore you with this information, but I do hope I will enlighten you in an area you probably (hopefully) don't know much about.







Look for these once a week blogs. They'll probably be every Monday, beginning January 18. Ron will be checking into his new address on January 11, so I'll be ready to write the following week. As with everything else in my life right now, I have no definite plans, so my writing schedule may change. I thank you for your support and especially for reading this blog. I love doing it, and it's the positive feedback from all of you that keeps me going.