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Monday, November 30, 2015
Cranberries Are Not Just For Thanksgiving
I always look forward to November, because that's when Trader Joe's brings back their cranberry relish. The one I love is the cranberry/orange relish, chunky relish filled with cranberries and oranges, and just enough tang. I buy that now instead of making my own. It's that good. Trader Joe's carries it in November and December, then it's gone until the next year. I wonder why we don't make more use of the cranberry during the fall and winter season. It pairs so well with turkey and chicken, but is also delicious with pork or fish. I've used cranberry relish to top plain Greek yogurt. It's a delicious lunch. It's also great as an accompaniment to gingerbread. Or use the chutney version with your favorite Indian dish. One of my favorite web sites for food is Tasting Table. Here are some ideas for how to prepare cranberries that you may not have though of. There are some that I will try. Maybe you will too.
Friday, November 27, 2015
California Agrees To Overhaul Use Of Solitary Confinement
Knowing a bit about the penal system, articles about improving the quality of life for those incarcerated, always catch my eye. There has been much talk about decriminalizing marijuana and reducing the sentences for first time offenders. President Obama even did what no president before him has done, visit a federal prison. It's hard to have an opinion on such a topic when you have only heard about it. Seeing it and talking to prisoners gives one a very different perspective.
Solitary confinement is used to separate dangerous prisoners from the general population, either because they ahave been violent in prison or because they have been identified as gang members. Such prisoners are left in solitary confinement indefinitely, with severe psychological effects. Solitary confinement is also used in low prisons or "camps," for very minor offences. (Playing music too loud, gambling, being late for work, having more than the accepted amount of food and toiletries in your locker), or just because they don't know what to do with you.
Ron was put in isolation for 17 days when he first arrived at Taft. Why? Because the warden said so. Later we found out that Ron's paper work had been lost, and they put him in isolation until everything was sorted out. Those days were probably the worst Ron ever experienced. He had no idea how long he would be in isolation, and as the days wore on, his letters to me became more desperate and he sounded more despondent. Singing to himself, reciting poems he learned 50 years ago, sleeping in a cell on a box spring without a mattress, being awakened at 3am for breakfast, having no one to talk to and nothing to do for hours, days, on end, had a profound effect on him. Is this punishment or torture? Tens of thousands of inmates across California have participated in hunger strikes since 2011 to protest the state's use of solitary confinement.
Finally, it looks as if this practice may be reduced and used only in extreme cases. Under the settlement, prisoners will no longer be sent to isolation indefinitely. Gang members will no longer be sent to solitary based solely on their gang affiliation. Only inmates found guilty of serious prison infractions, like violence, weapons and narcotics possession will be sent to isolation.
The state will create a new unit for prisoners who are deemed too dangerous to return to the general population. There, they will have more privileges than in solitary, including more time out of their cells, small group leisure activities, and phone privileges.
Solitary confinement has its place. Dangerous prisoners made need such a placement, but for most prisoners, who will return to either general population in prison, or be released, it is not a good option. They are severely damaged, probably beyond repair. The problem too is that they don't get much psychological treatment to help them deal with extreme isolation. I for one am happy to see some prison reform in the 21st century
Solitary confinement is used to separate dangerous prisoners from the general population, either because they ahave been violent in prison or because they have been identified as gang members. Such prisoners are left in solitary confinement indefinitely, with severe psychological effects. Solitary confinement is also used in low prisons or "camps," for very minor offences. (Playing music too loud, gambling, being late for work, having more than the accepted amount of food and toiletries in your locker), or just because they don't know what to do with you.
Ron was put in isolation for 17 days when he first arrived at Taft. Why? Because the warden said so. Later we found out that Ron's paper work had been lost, and they put him in isolation until everything was sorted out. Those days were probably the worst Ron ever experienced. He had no idea how long he would be in isolation, and as the days wore on, his letters to me became more desperate and he sounded more despondent. Singing to himself, reciting poems he learned 50 years ago, sleeping in a cell on a box spring without a mattress, being awakened at 3am for breakfast, having no one to talk to and nothing to do for hours, days, on end, had a profound effect on him. Is this punishment or torture? Tens of thousands of inmates across California have participated in hunger strikes since 2011 to protest the state's use of solitary confinement.
Finally, it looks as if this practice may be reduced and used only in extreme cases. Under the settlement, prisoners will no longer be sent to isolation indefinitely. Gang members will no longer be sent to solitary based solely on their gang affiliation. Only inmates found guilty of serious prison infractions, like violence, weapons and narcotics possession will be sent to isolation.
The state will create a new unit for prisoners who are deemed too dangerous to return to the general population. There, they will have more privileges than in solitary, including more time out of their cells, small group leisure activities, and phone privileges.
Solitary confinement has its place. Dangerous prisoners made need such a placement, but for most prisoners, who will return to either general population in prison, or be released, it is not a good option. They are severely damaged, probably beyond repair. The problem too is that they don't get much psychological treatment to help them deal with extreme isolation. I for one am happy to see some prison reform in the 21st century
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Helicopter Parenting May Be Ruining A Generation Of Children
Many months ago, I blogged about helicopter parents, and how I thought constant hovering, not allowing children to experience failure, always being involved in school, sports and friends, was unhealthy for both parent and child. Now Julie Lythcott-Haims, former Stanford dean, has expressed the same view. She noticed a disturbing trend during her decade as dean of freshmen at Stanford University. Incoming students were brilliant and accomplished on paper, but with each year, more of them seemed incapable of taking care of themselves.
Simultaneously, parents were becoming more and more involved in their children's lives. They talked to their children multiple times a day and swooped in to personally intervene anytime something difficult occurred. Lythcott-Haimes came to believe that parents in affluent communities have been hobbling their children by trying so hard to make sure they succeed, and by working so diligently to protect them from disappointment and failure. Overhelping might assist in developing and impressive resume for college admission, but it robs the child of the chance to learn who they are, what they love and how to navigate the world. Overhelping can leave young adults without the strengths of skill, will and character that are needed to know themselves and to craft a life.
Lythcott-Haims, along with a growing number of writers, are urging stressed-out helicopter parents to breathe and loosen their grip on their children. Our job as parents is to put ourselves out of a job. We should be striving to raise independent adults, ready to take on all that life might throw at them. Lythcott-Haim's has a short test for parents to take to see if they are a helicopter parent.
1.. Check your language. If you say "we" when you mean your son or daughter, as in "We're on the travel soccer team" it's a hint that you are intertwined in an unhealthy way.
3. Stop doing their homework.
My children had many failures along the path to adulthood, and hard as it was to see them disappointed when not making the team, serving detention at school for rule infractions, not finishing assignments on time and suffering the consequences, it did teach them there are roadblocks in life. I think it has served them well in adult life, as they have all overcome obstacles and have succeeded. I like to think that our parenting had something to do with this.
Simultaneously, parents were becoming more and more involved in their children's lives. They talked to their children multiple times a day and swooped in to personally intervene anytime something difficult occurred. Lythcott-Haimes came to believe that parents in affluent communities have been hobbling their children by trying so hard to make sure they succeed, and by working so diligently to protect them from disappointment and failure. Overhelping might assist in developing and impressive resume for college admission, but it robs the child of the chance to learn who they are, what they love and how to navigate the world. Overhelping can leave young adults without the strengths of skill, will and character that are needed to know themselves and to craft a life.
Lythcott-Haims, along with a growing number of writers, are urging stressed-out helicopter parents to breathe and loosen their grip on their children. Our job as parents is to put ourselves out of a job. We should be striving to raise independent adults, ready to take on all that life might throw at them. Lythcott-Haim's has a short test for parents to take to see if they are a helicopter parent.
1.. Check your language. If you say "we" when you mean your son or daughter, as in "We're on the travel soccer team" it's a hint that you are intertwined in an unhealthy way.
3. Stop doing their homework.
My children had many failures along the path to adulthood, and hard as it was to see them disappointed when not making the team, serving detention at school for rule infractions, not finishing assignments on time and suffering the consequences, it did teach them there are roadblocks in life. I think it has served them well in adult life, as they have all overcome obstacles and have succeeded. I like to think that our parenting had something to do with this.
Monday, November 23, 2015
Chia Seeds:Not Just For Your Chia Pet
We all remember years ago when the Chia pet appeared in every store as a novelty gift. Spread the seeds on a wet terra cotta planter, and watch it grow. It was cute at the time, still is, and I guess it's still popular. But the health and food industry has discovered that it's also loaded with nutrients that can positively effect your body and brain. A one ounce serving contains the following: Fiber, 11 Grams. Protein, 4 grams. Fat, 9 grams, of which 5 are Omega-3s. Calcium, 18% of RDA, Manganese, 30% of RDA, Magnesium, 30% of RDA, Phosphorus, 27% of RDA. They also have decent amounts of Zinc, Potassium, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B2. Now that you know this, aren't you going to go out and buy them? There are many more reasons to include them in your diet, and here are a few,
1. Chia seeds are loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants fight the production of free radicals, which can damage molecules in cells, contribute to ageing and diseases like cancer.
2. Almost all the carbs in chia seeds are fiber. Fiber doesn't raise blood sugar, doesn't require insulin to be disposed of and therefore is very good for diabetics. Because of the high amount of fiber, chia seeds can absorb up to 10-12 times their weight in water, making you feel full and theoretically, making you eat less.
3. Chia seeds are high in many important bone nutrients. It's an excellent source of calcium for those that don't eat dairy.
4. Chia seeds can cause major improvements in Type 2 diabetics. This was most interesting to me, as Ron is a Type 2 diabetic. A study gave half the participants 37 grams of wheat brain, the other half 37 grams of chia seeds, for 12 weeks. The results was that blood pressure went down by 3-6 mm/Hg and an inflammatory marked called hs-CRP went down by 40%. The effect of the fiber on reducing blood sugar spikes after meals is still being tested.
2. Almost all the carbs in chia seeds are fiber. Fiber doesn't raise blood sugar, doesn't require insulin to be disposed of and therefore is very good for diabetics. Because of the high amount of fiber, chia seeds can absorb up to 10-12 times their weight in water, making you feel full and theoretically, making you eat less.
3. Chia seeds are high in many important bone nutrients. It's an excellent source of calcium for those that don't eat dairy.
4. Chia seeds can cause major improvements in Type 2 diabetics. This was most interesting to me, as Ron is a Type 2 diabetic. A study gave half the participants 37 grams of wheat brain, the other half 37 grams of chia seeds, for 12 weeks. The results was that blood pressure went down by 3-6 mm/Hg and an inflammatory marked called hs-CRP went down by 40%. The effect of the fiber on reducing blood sugar spikes after meals is still being tested.
5. Chia seeds can improve exercise performance as much as a sports drink. The Aztecs and Mayans used chia seed to fuel performance back in the day, and look what they did!
Chia seeds are easy to incorporate into your diet. I make a hot cereal that I eat 3-4 days a week, which gives me a great, nutritious breakfast. 3T. chia seeds, 3T. flax seeds, 1/4 cup quinoa, 1/4 cup oats. Add water and cook for about 30 minutes, or until the quinoa pops open. I usually make a big pot and just dole it out each morning for breakfast. You can also sprinkle them on cereal, yogurt, vegetables or rice dishes. They can be added to water or juice, which makes the whole thing rather gelatinous, which I don't particularly like.
Chia seeds are not tolerated well by everyone, so either check with your doctor before incorporating them into your diet, or start slowly, about 1T. per day. Your body will love the benefits.
Chia seeds are easy to incorporate into your diet. I make a hot cereal that I eat 3-4 days a week, which gives me a great, nutritious breakfast. 3T. chia seeds, 3T. flax seeds, 1/4 cup quinoa, 1/4 cup oats. Add water and cook for about 30 minutes, or until the quinoa pops open. I usually make a big pot and just dole it out each morning for breakfast. You can also sprinkle them on cereal, yogurt, vegetables or rice dishes. They can be added to water or juice, which makes the whole thing rather gelatinous, which I don't particularly like.
Chia seeds are not tolerated well by everyone, so either check with your doctor before incorporating them into your diet, or start slowly, about 1T. per day. Your body will love the benefits.
Friday, November 20, 2015
The Bellows In San Marcos: Old World Charm, Contemporary Menu
I'm always on the lookout for new places to eat, and since moving to Oceanside, I find that the driving distance to places I want to try are long. Luckily I have noticed that Oceanside, Vista and San Marcos are actually beginning to have a nice restaurant scene. Oceanside and Vista are filled with small breweries and gastropubs, and San Marcos is getting into the act as well. I had heard about The Bellows, in San Marcos, and after looking at the menu, wanted to give it a try. We liked it and will go again.
It's located in a new small strip mall on Twin Oaks Valley Parkway, just a few blocks from Cal State San Marcos. It is surrounded by an area of new, upscale apartments and condos. It's definitely not college age kids renting these apartments. The restaurant itself is warm and inviting. It's a bit noisy, but that's what you have to expect from a gastropub. There's a large, beautiful bar in the center, and many tables and booths around the perimeter. The alcohol menu is extensive. None of us are big drinkers, so that was not a big draw for us. We came for the food.
We started with a plate of grilled sourdough topped with butter and garlic. It was a delicious way to start the meal, as I enjoyed one of the many "by the glass" wines along with it. The menu is extensive, with starters and small plates making up the bulk of the menu, with only about six entrees. Ron had the Niman Ranch flat iron steak and frites. He loved it. He ate every bit of it, which is unusual for him. The potatoes were especially good. They were similar to French fries, but were thicker and puffy. Just delicious. Richard had the grilled salmon on a bed of roasted vegetables. I didn't taste it, but he ate it all so I assume it was good. Laura and I split a lot of salads and appetizers. We shared a bowl of steamed mussels (excellent) and a grilled radicchio salad with melted mozzarella. I loved the salad. We also ordered two of the prepared salads, which come in a little ramekin. An artichoke heart and goat cheese salad was fair, but the white bean salad I ordered was not good at all. Other items on the menu include numerous flatbreads, cheese and charcuterie plates, whiskey burger, in house made sausages, pot roast, and several other salads. To finish off the meal, we ordered their home made gelato, three scoops per order. It was excellent.
It's located in a new small strip mall on Twin Oaks Valley Parkway, just a few blocks from Cal State San Marcos. It is surrounded by an area of new, upscale apartments and condos. It's definitely not college age kids renting these apartments. The restaurant itself is warm and inviting. It's a bit noisy, but that's what you have to expect from a gastropub. There's a large, beautiful bar in the center, and many tables and booths around the perimeter. The alcohol menu is extensive. None of us are big drinkers, so that was not a big draw for us. We came for the food.
We started with a plate of grilled sourdough topped with butter and garlic. It was a delicious way to start the meal, as I enjoyed one of the many "by the glass" wines along with it. The menu is extensive, with starters and small plates making up the bulk of the menu, with only about six entrees. Ron had the Niman Ranch flat iron steak and frites. He loved it. He ate every bit of it, which is unusual for him. The potatoes were especially good. They were similar to French fries, but were thicker and puffy. Just delicious. Richard had the grilled salmon on a bed of roasted vegetables. I didn't taste it, but he ate it all so I assume it was good. Laura and I split a lot of salads and appetizers. We shared a bowl of steamed mussels (excellent) and a grilled radicchio salad with melted mozzarella. I loved the salad. We also ordered two of the prepared salads, which come in a little ramekin. An artichoke heart and goat cheese salad was fair, but the white bean salad I ordered was not good at all. Other items on the menu include numerous flatbreads, cheese and charcuterie plates, whiskey burger, in house made sausages, pot roast, and several other salads. To finish off the meal, we ordered their home made gelato, three scoops per order. It was excellent.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Ice Cream and Candy Tart
This may become one of your favorite ice cream desserts. I was watching The Chew one day just after Halloween, and watched the chefs prepare an ice cream tart. Below is my version of this delicious tart. One of the best things about it is that you can vary it in so many ways. Here's the basic recipe.
Ice Cream and Candy Tart
Crust
2 candy bars, any kind (Hershey's or Twixt would work well)
4 large salted pretzels(the thin twisted ones, not the big fat twisted ones)
3 T. melted butter
Combine ingredients in a food processor until dry ingredients are crumbly. Take the mixture and press it into a rectangular shaped tart pan. Place in freezer until hard
Before making the crust, remove vanilla ice cream from the freezer and let it soften while you make the crust. When the crust is frozen hard, scoop softened ice cream over the crust, and spread to make it smooth. Return tart to freezer and let the ice cream harden
Once the ice cream is hard, drizzle caramel sauce over the top of the ice cream. Don't use too much. Then take a few Kit Kat bars and crush them. Take the crushed candy bars and cover the tart. The caramel will work as a glue to keep candy from falling off,
That's it. Slice into small servings, as it's very rich. You will love this dessert. You can change the recipe to suit your tastes. Use a candy bar with peanuts for the crust, or an Almond Joy, if you like coconut. Use any kind of ice cream you like, and you can use chocolate sauce instead of caramel. The candy bars you crush for the topping can be anything you want too. I love the original recipe, but may try it with some chocolate flavors, for my chocolate loving friends. Enjoy
Ice Cream and Candy Tart
Crust
2 candy bars, any kind (Hershey's or Twixt would work well)
4 large salted pretzels(the thin twisted ones, not the big fat twisted ones)
3 T. melted butter
Combine ingredients in a food processor until dry ingredients are crumbly. Take the mixture and press it into a rectangular shaped tart pan. Place in freezer until hard
Before making the crust, remove vanilla ice cream from the freezer and let it soften while you make the crust. When the crust is frozen hard, scoop softened ice cream over the crust, and spread to make it smooth. Return tart to freezer and let the ice cream harden
Once the ice cream is hard, drizzle caramel sauce over the top of the ice cream. Don't use too much. Then take a few Kit Kat bars and crush them. Take the crushed candy bars and cover the tart. The caramel will work as a glue to keep candy from falling off,
That's it. Slice into small servings, as it's very rich. You will love this dessert. You can change the recipe to suit your tastes. Use a candy bar with peanuts for the crust, or an Almond Joy, if you like coconut. Use any kind of ice cream you like, and you can use chocolate sauce instead of caramel. The candy bars you crush for the topping can be anything you want too. I love the original recipe, but may try it with some chocolate flavors, for my chocolate loving friends. Enjoy
Monday, November 16, 2015
What Took Me So Long To Discover Nicholas Kristof?
What took me so long to discover Nichoas Kristof? I guess it's that I don't read the New York Times regularly, but I have been reading it recently. I just read one of his articles, and now follow his blog. He is a Harvard graduate (Phi Beta Kappa), a Rhodes Scholar, and a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. He and his wife Sheryl have travelled the world, investigating regions of the world that are often overlooked. He currently works for the New York Times, writing articles of interest about everything from Darfur to Afghanistan. He's interested in improving the lives of people in underdeveloped nations, and his article called "Gift With Meaning," caught my eye
In thinking about the upcoming holiday, he suggests giving gifts that are more meaningful than a sweater or a gift card. He has a number of ideas, which I will share with you, that will really make a difference. I have decided that this year I am going to give a "meaningful" gift to all my adult friends and family, and toys for the children. Here are some of his suggestions:
1. For $20, through Heifer International (heifer.org) you can buy a flock of ducks and halep a family work its way to a better life. Several years ago my mother donated a cow to a family in Africa from Heifer International for me as a Christmas present. What a great present for an impoverished family. Hard to believe, but owning a cow may keep them from starving.
2. For $74 through CARE (care.org) you can pay for a schoolgirl's books and supplies for a year, so she can attend school. This may be the highest-return investment available in the world today.
3. You can contribute $15 a month per child to Communities in Schools. This organization supports disadvantage kids, mostly black and Latino, in elementary, middle and high schools. The monthly donation will offer mentoring, pregnancy prevention, college counseling and more. It is effective. 91% of the students it helps end up graduating from high school.
4. Trickle Up (trickleup.org) is an organization that lifts people out of extreme poverty. The gift of a cow or other animal, training, a savings account and other support, seems to work by giving people hope.
5. HeroRats is another amazing program. In Angola, rats have been trained to sniff out land mines. In a day, they can clear 20 times as much of a minefield as a human. You can adopt a rat for $7 a month through Apopo.org.
6. CureBlindness.org is an organization fighting blindness in Asia and Africa. Dr. Sanduk Ruit and Dr. Geoffrey Tabin head this organization . For just $25, the cost per cataract surgery, you can give someone the gift of sight.
There are many other worthwhile organizations doing amazing work throughout the world. These got my attention, and I have decided that I will donate to CureBlindness this year, in the name of my adult friends and family. Knowing you are giving someone the gift of sight is worth more to me than another gift.
Nicholas Kristof is also conducting a a win-a-trip contest for 2016. Unfortunately I'm too old to qualify, but it's just the kind of experience I would have loved to have had. He is seeking a university student to travel with him to the developing world, writing posts for his blog. What an opportunity. If you know anyone who might like this opportunity, tell them to check out Kristof's website. In the meantime, think about making this holiday season a really "meaningful" one.
In thinking about the upcoming holiday, he suggests giving gifts that are more meaningful than a sweater or a gift card. He has a number of ideas, which I will share with you, that will really make a difference. I have decided that this year I am going to give a "meaningful" gift to all my adult friends and family, and toys for the children. Here are some of his suggestions:
1. For $20, through Heifer International (heifer.org) you can buy a flock of ducks and halep a family work its way to a better life. Several years ago my mother donated a cow to a family in Africa from Heifer International for me as a Christmas present. What a great present for an impoverished family. Hard to believe, but owning a cow may keep them from starving.
2. For $74 through CARE (care.org) you can pay for a schoolgirl's books and supplies for a year, so she can attend school. This may be the highest-return investment available in the world today.
3. You can contribute $15 a month per child to Communities in Schools. This organization supports disadvantage kids, mostly black and Latino, in elementary, middle and high schools. The monthly donation will offer mentoring, pregnancy prevention, college counseling and more. It is effective. 91% of the students it helps end up graduating from high school.
4. Trickle Up (trickleup.org) is an organization that lifts people out of extreme poverty. The gift of a cow or other animal, training, a savings account and other support, seems to work by giving people hope.
5. HeroRats is another amazing program. In Angola, rats have been trained to sniff out land mines. In a day, they can clear 20 times as much of a minefield as a human. You can adopt a rat for $7 a month through Apopo.org.
6. CureBlindness.org is an organization fighting blindness in Asia and Africa. Dr. Sanduk Ruit and Dr. Geoffrey Tabin head this organization . For just $25, the cost per cataract surgery, you can give someone the gift of sight.
There are many other worthwhile organizations doing amazing work throughout the world. These got my attention, and I have decided that I will donate to CureBlindness this year, in the name of my adult friends and family. Knowing you are giving someone the gift of sight is worth more to me than another gift.
Nicholas Kristof is also conducting a a win-a-trip contest for 2016. Unfortunately I'm too old to qualify, but it's just the kind of experience I would have loved to have had. He is seeking a university student to travel with him to the developing world, writing posts for his blog. What an opportunity. If you know anyone who might like this opportunity, tell them to check out Kristof's website. In the meantime, think about making this holiday season a really "meaningful" one.
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