Signs of Spring=Food Expo

Every year in early March, I look forward to the Natural Food Expo in Anaheim, California. I started attending this event annually when my son Phil's food company, Evol Foods,began attending trade shows, about 5 years ago. Not only does the food show give me a chance to see Phil, Deborah, and Lennon, but it gives me a chance to do one of my favorite things, talk about and eat food. The Anaheim Natural Food Expo is the largest in the country, with thousands of exhibitors, and I think I saw all of them this year. I walked the show for two days, accumulating samples and information on a enormous variety of products. Over the next few weeks I will blog about many of the products and give you an idea of food trends. Here goes.

Snack foods are bigger and more plentiful than ever. Crackers of every conceivable type were in attendance. Gluten free is still the "in" thing, and many cookies, crackers and breads were gluten free. I can still say I haven't tasted a gluten free cookie or bread that I would consider buying. In my opinion, they just don't taste very good. One product I liked very much was Maria and Ricardos. They make tortillas and wraps of various kinds. Gluten free and sprouted grain wraps were both good, but the whole wheat tortillas were especially delicious. They're available at Whole Foods. Another snack food item that I absolutely loved was Popcorn Indiana. Black and white, carmel,and cinnamon sugar popcorn flavors were all declicious. Their products (they also make several varieties of crackers) are available at Whole Foods, Costco, and Ralphs. They're worth checking out. An interesting cracker that I really liked was by CrsipRoot. The chips are made from cassava root. They're crispy like a potato chip and nice and salty. You can find they at Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Jimbos. An interesting, but not so great tasting product was called Kims Magic Pop. It's a puffed disc, about the size of a CD, that they very dramatically demonstrate at the show. About every 10 seconds a machine emits a loud "pop", and out comes one of the discs. The taste is similar to rice cakes, but not as crunchy. They are sold in many natural food stores. There were so many crackers and chips I would not even begin to mention them. Suffice it to say, the new twist is using things like flax seed, beans and other unusual grains like kamut, in the crackers. One company I did like was Suzies. They use kamut, spelt and other whole grains to make puffed cakes, flat bread and crackers.

Another very popular snack food item is freeze dried and dried fruits and vegetables. We've hadd dried apples, pears, bananas and the like for a long time, but several companies have added a new twist. Danielle is a company that produces crispy fruit and vegetable chips. Flavors like pumpkin, banana, pineapple, carrot, okra and sweet potato are included in their line of products, in addition to the more typical apple, pear and mango. They're crispy and salty like chips. My favorite was sweet potato. Good but not great. Ecofruits makes freeze dried fruit, using fruits you don't normally associate with freeze dried products. Raspberries, grapes and blueberries were just some of the fruits they freeze dry and package. O'Jeju, a Korean manufacturer, makes dried mandarin oranges. They flavor them with either kim chee or chilis. Very spicy, and not so good.

These are just a few of the many snack foods that I sampled in Anaheim. Look for more blogs where I will talk about yogurt, seaweed, tea, hot and cold drinks, ethnic foods, and frozen prepared foods, a popourri of items that don't fit in any category. I went home on Saturday so full I couldn't think about food until the next day.

You're Never Too Old To Stop Learning

I usually go to LA on Thursday to see my mom, children and grandkids. This week I went on Wednesday, so I could join my mom's group, Gallery Hoppers, on a trip to Pepperdine to see an amazing exhibit of Roy Lichtenstein collages. Gallery Hoppers is a group of women from age 75-98. Most are ex-docents from the Hammer Museum at UCLA from many years ago, when my mom used to train docents and lead tours. Every month they plan a trip to an interesting exhibit. These women never want to stop learning.

The Frederick Weissman Foundation has an amazing number of Lichtensteins, as does the Lichtenstein Foundation. For this exhibit they gathered all collages, no oils or prints, from these two sources and from Eli Broad's personal collection. Our guide was the director of Pepperdine's museum, Michael Zakian, who should be a college professor. I learned more than you can imagine in his 50 minute tour. I learned about the process by which Lichtenstein got to collage, which was so fascinating. I found it interesting that the most intelligent questions came from the Gallery Hopper group. They are so bright, always learning, always reading and expanding their minds. On the way home we talked about the exhibit, but the women also talked about the play they were going to see over the weekend, a concert they had tickets to, or a book they were reading. One of the women did not stay for lunch. When I asked why, I was told she didn't like the lunches because she hated small talk. Was she talking about the same group? I was talking with one of the women as we walked to the car and she felt the key to staying young was getting out and doing something physical and mental everyday, even if it is sometimes an effort. I think that's very good advice.

If this interests you and you go to Malibu or LA, it will be open until April4. Lunch afterwards was at an excellent Greek restaurant called Taverna Tony. It's in the Crosscreek shopping center, about three minutes from Pepperdine. You just knew that food would somehow be involved, didn't you?

Old Town San Diego: So Much To Do

A few weeks ago my friend Linda, who lives in Bakersfield, called to tell me she and her husband Rod would be in San Diego for a few days for a business meeting. Would I like to come to Old Town and spend a few hours with her, she asked? Of course I would. Most of the time I have spent with her has been at her beautiful home in Bakersfield or in the Taft visiting room. A chance to see her somewhere else would be great. Well, I drove to Old Town, found a free parking space on the street, and was set for a day of fun.

Linda was staying at the Best Western Hacienda, right in the heart of Old Town. If you have visitors who want to stay in that area, this is an excellent choice. It has a very Mexican feel, with tile roof, and Mexican decor. The beds were very comfortable, and the lobby has several computers for the use by guests.

We started at the Morman Museum. I didn't even know it existed, but it was a 45 minute guided tour through a museum to show what it was like for the Morman Batallion, a group of 500+ volunteer Mormans who travelled from Iowa to California during the Mexican American War. Some brought families with them, others sent for wives and children after they were settled. It was quite interesting and something I didn't know anything about.

The tour made us hungry, so we headed for Casa de Guadelajara, a well known Mexican restaurant in Old Town. We had a beautiful table on the patio, and with weather in the 60's, it could not have been more perfect. A basket of chips and a chile releno later, we finally left to do a little shopping.

Lots of cute stores have been added to the newly remodeled Plaza. I only bought one thing, a bottle of hazelnut agave (sugar subsitute). If you haven't tried agave, you should. Linda bought two little leather bracelets for her and her daughter-in-law. We also stopped in the Temecula Olive Oil store, which is always fun to browse. They have a new store in Solana Beach, but the Old Town store is much larger and has more merchandise.

Our last stop was the beautifully renovated Victorian homes. Old Town has a small street with 5-6 homes, some of which you can actually go inside. A beautiful coral tree shades the area, and with benches for relaxing, it's the perfect spot to leisurely enjoy. One final note, the oldest Jewish synagogue, Temple Beth Israel, built in 1889, stands among these elegant historic homes.

Linda and I had a great time. She's a very crafty lady and a great cook, and was kind enough to bring me a delicious Asian plum sauce, made by her, from plum trees in Bakersfield. I couldn't resist opening it right away and trying it. I had some left over stir fry veggies and chicken that was fantastic with the plum sauce. She had also made a plum-vanilla concentrate that when added to seltzer water makes a refreshing fruit drink. I can't wait to try it. Anyway, our day was so much fun and I saw lots of Old Town which I hadn't seen before. Thank you Linda, for showing me part of my city in a new way.

Cooking With Shirataki Noodles

Several years ago I discovered Shirataki noodles at Food Expo in Anaheim. They were almost too good to be true. Noodles with only 20 calories per serving. I thought that was not possible. But I went to Henry's (also available at Whole Foods and Jimbo's) and bought a package for about $1.95. This serves about 2, at 20 calories per serving. They are low in carbs and low in fat. They are made from tofu, but you'd never know it. The key to good results is to drain them and pat them dry, then microwave for 45 seconds, then pat dry again. Now you're ready to cook with them. They are a little chewy if you don't follow this process first. Below is a variation of the recipe on Hungry Girl (TV show) recently. I love Hungry Girl. She packs so much information into a 30 minute show you have to sit down with pen and paper and take notes.

Noodles With Veggies and Alfredo Sauce

1 package Shirataki noodle (cut them with a scissors, as they are very long)
broccoli and zucchini, cut and steamed
1T. sour cream (low fat)
1 wedge Laughing Cow Light Swiss cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Steam veggies and set aside. I used broccoli and zucchini, but you can use any combination you like.

Prepare noodles by draining, patting dry and microwaving for about 45 seconds. Pat dry again and cut in pieces with shears.

Place noodles in a microwavable dish, add veggies, salt and pepper, then top with Laughing Cow wedge and 2 T. low fat sour cream. Microwave for 1 minute, until cheese is melted. Mix cheese into noodles, top with some parmesean cheese, and microwave for another minute. You won't believe the delicious, cheesy nutritious meal you have at only 150 calories. I hope you enjoy this dish.

Sixtieth Visit To Taft

Wow. My sixtieth visit to Taft took place on Friday, and I probably have 18 more (or less) visits to go. We spent a long time talking about the future. Our talks always seem to come back to what our lives will be like when we're together again. Some men talk in prison about getting out and getting back to their old lives. Ron thinks, and I agree, that things will never be as there were. How can they? Men and women, after spending time behind bars, are changed. Things will surely be different, but we think they'll be better.

Ron often talks about how difficult everything is in prison. I'm going to try to relay a story he told me today that shows that very thing, and if I tell it well, you won't believe.

Every other month or so, Taft takes a group of men to the DMV. These are men that are soon to be released. They must get a driving report from the DMV to take with them to Halfway House, otherwise they cannot drive. Even though they've been incarcerated and haven't driven for a long time, they still need to get the driving record to show to the halfway house. Go figure. So last week one of Ron's friends, who is leaving next week, went with 5 others in a van to the DMV, about 12 miles away. Each man had to pay $5 for the driving report, plus $5.96 for gas. The money for the report was taken from each man's commissary account (the prison made out a check for each man for the DMV). The money for gas also came out of their account. So all the men gathered, ready to go to the DMV. First, a check for one of the men was missing. They had to call over to another building, have someone look for the check, and bring it to the area where the men and van were waiting. They all got in the van, and one of the supervisors asked the driver if he had the paperwork for the men. No, he didn't have it. The paperwork had been left back at another building, and again they waited while someone went to get the paperwork. Finally, hours after the trip had begun, they were off to the DMV, paperwork, checks and gas money in hand. Something that should have taken 2 hours took the better part of the day.

Paperwork. There's a lot of it at all prisons, and none of the employees like it. I don't blame them for not liking it, but because they don't like it, many things don't get done or are very slow to get done. When Ron's friend asked his supervisor several weeks ago if arrangements had been made for him to go to the DMV, the answer was, "I'm working on it."

We had a laugh today about all this. It's a perfect example of what we all say about bureaucracy, and how difficult they make even the smallest thing. Ron will be out soon (July 27 or sooner), and then he can start dealing with all the other bureaucracies he has missed in the past 18 months, like Blue Cross, Medicare, Visa, and insurance companies. You get the picture.

What Inspires You?

Every Saturday morning I take a yoga class at LuLuLemon. A new addition to the class is a seven year old girl. She has been coming with her mother for the past few weeks. Today, near the end of the class the instructor asked the child (in front of 40 adults, mind you), "What do you like about yoga?" She thought for a moment and then calmly said, "Yoga relaxes me." Such a simple answer, but as they say, "Out of the mouths of babes."

Relaxation is one of the benefits of yoga. There are so many. Katy, our instructor, talked today about inspiration, and asked us who or what inspired us, and what does inspiration mean? This was very meaningful to me, for I had the entire practice to focus on this question. Who inspires you and why and what inspires you?

Katy said something else that I connected with. She said to hang around people or things that inspire you. You will be energized just by being around others that you find inspirational. It's contagious. Your connection with these people or things will become part of you, just by being around them. If you are creative, hang around other creative souls. It will get your creative juices flowing. The ocean is one of the things that inspires me.

I will often sit at the beach and meditate. Just by being near the power, the beauty, the ebb and flow and the life that lives within the ocean gives be an inner strenth. I could do the same meditation in my home, but the results would not be the same. Stay near those that inspire you.

Inspiration comes to us each in a different way. Sometimes it's a parent, grandparent or teacher that inspires. Sometimes it is a "thing," like the ocean or the Grand Canyon or a beautiful work of art. Often the people we find inspirational are not famous. They're just ordinary people living ordinary lives.

So who inspires you? Think about it. Tell them they inspire you. It will change you both. Today at the end of class Katy told the little girl in front of everyone that she inspired her. I could see on the child's face what hearing that meant to her. She was beaming.

All Politics Is Local

This is a phrase commonly used in politics today. It was coined by longtime Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil many years ago. I love it because it's so true, but I would take it a step further. All change is local.

A few weeks ago I had some friends over to watch a movie. Movies always lead to great discussions, and Jean and Regina were telling me about a local project they have become involved with through their church. It's a program helping recent Iraqi refugees to El Cajon, to help them get jobs, bridge the cultural gap, and create communication and friendship between people of different backgrounds. This is a perfect example of what I mean by "All change is local." We have to start making societal changes one community at a time. Many local changes start through church or synagogue. I remember many years ago when Los Angeles had thousands of Jewish-Russian refugees, the temples were all involved in programs to help them assimilate.

Regardless of what problem you think of, and there are many to think of, the solution can be found locally. Take school bullying, for example. We don't need edics from Washington or Sacramento telling school principals to take steps to stop bullying. Each community should be working on this issue independently, solving it in a local way, that works for them.

Another big issue for me today is the lunch program in most public schools. The government is trying to set new standards, but really we should be working on this at a local level. Every community has different needs. I'm happy to say that many local communities, Encinitas in particular, have made changes to their lunch program and are offering their children better options. My son Phil, sells his burritos to several school districts in Colorado, offering the children a healthy, organic meal. This may not work in West Virginia or Mississippi, so the change has to come locally.

Regina paraphrased Father Mike the other day, when she told me that if bad or evil come your way, it's up to you to turn it around and send it back out there in a positive way. I do believe this.

I have an acquaintance that I no longer go to dinner with because of the way he treated the waiters and waitresses. I guess it made him feel powerful to push them around and demean them. What I should have said to him was what my mother-in-law used to say to Ron. "Always be kind and polite to your waitress or waiter. You don't know if he/she has a sick child at home, is struggling to pay the rent, or what she/he is going through. Always treat them with respect." I should have said this to the guy I no longer go to dinner with, as an example of turning a bad thing into something good.

So remember, all change is local. Here in San Diego we are making a difference locally in so many ways, like The Boys and Girls Club, Community Resource Center, and CASA. We can all make a difference. Yes, we can.