Food resolutions

'Tis that time of year when we make great plans for the year ahead. Lose weight, eat better, exercise more… You know the rest. But if I could make just one resolution it would be to plan my meals better. So often I find myself standing in front of the fridge and not knowing what to make or eat. If only I had planned ahead and had lots of veggies. I will definitely eat more vegetables. They are so versatile, not to mention healthy.

But planning ahead takes more than just a fully stocked fridge. It takes knowledge and inspiration. That's where Tamar Adler and her book, An Everlasting Meal comes in. Adler advocates cooking with all parts of your food: bones, peels and the ends of your food. Her thought provoking essays make you want to curl up with a bowl of homemade soup and remember the days when you spent hours in the kitchen. Luckily you won't need hours or a lifetime supply of food. Adler teaches you how to use those more boring of veggies like celery, onions and potatoes. Just don't be fooled, this is not a book of recipes. This is a book on cooking philosophy, if such a thing exists. Check out her videos below and prepare to fall in love like I have.

Tamar Adler preps veggies for the week

Tamar Adler boils water (and I fall in love)

Salad Pt. 1

After the holidays, or after a stretch of binge eating, I crave vegetables.

Here is an amazing salad with a little bit of everything.

You'll need:

2 huge handfuls of baby spinach (don't forget to give it a rinse)
1 Granny Smith apple, sliced into thin strips
as much goat cheese as you think "healthy"
walnuts (or any nut will do) I used a few shakes from the bag
sprouts

Put it all into a large bowl, give it a toss and maybe a drizzle of some balsamic vinegar dressing.

As you can see I don't really use precise measurements when making this salad and that's what makes it all the more fun to make. And delicious.

Enjoy.

Cranberry-Coconut Lemon Squares (my favourites)

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) icing sugar
• 2/3 cup (150 mL) cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks
• 3/4 cup (175 mL) all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
• 6  eggs
• 2-1/2 cups (625 mL) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (250 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 3 lemons
• 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) sweetened shredded coconut
• 2 cups (500 mL) whole frozen or fresh cranberries

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Lightly butter a 9×13-inch (3-L) baking dish or coat with non-stick cooking spray. Place 1-1/2 cups (375 mL) flour and icing sugar in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Whirl until blended. Add butter. Pulse until crumbs form. Or in a medium-size bowl, stir flour with icing sugar. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles crumbs. Turn mixture into baking dish. Press evenly over bottom. Bake in centre of 350F (180C) oven until edges are golden-tinged, from 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 325F (160C).
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, using a fork, stir 3/4 cup (175 mL) flour with baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, whisk eggs until blended. Whisk in sugar and lemon juice. Gradually whisk in flour mixture just until blended. Stir in coconut until evenly distributed. Then stir in whole cranberries. If using frozen cranberries, do not defrost.
• Pour mixture over hot baked crust, making sure cranberries are evenly distributed. Bake in centre of 325F (160C) oven until centre is set and edges are deep golden, from 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely on a rack. Then cut into 2-inch (5-cm) squares. Squares will keep well at room temperature for 1 day. Or cover tightly and refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze up to 1 month.

Nutrition (per Serving)

Protein

3.1 G

Fat

8.5 G

Carbohydrates

36.6 G

Fibre

1 G

Iron

0.8 Mg

Calcium

16 Mg

Calories

230 

This is hard for me to write but after the death of a family member I’ve decided it's something I need to think hard about. Mental health affects us all in different ways and its not something that we always talk about. It’s so easy to say you’re just going through a rough time or having a bad day. It can be difficult asking for help but it can be even harder admitting you have a problem.

I’ve suffered from depression probably my whole life. Sure, I had a turbulent childhood changing schools, moving countries, constantly making new friends.  But I never had anything truly bad happen to me. My parents have always been loving, supportive and as I’ve grown older they have become my friends and allies. So what do I have to complain about really? Well, that’s where depression can get a little tricky. It can happen to anyone and even those that may appear to be “happy” on the outside may be struggling on the inside.

There are days, bad ones, where I can’t even imagine myself getting out of bed. The simplest things like getting dressed are the equivalent to running a marathon – exhausting. But I somehow manage to do it and get through the day, hoping that the next day will prove to be easier. For me there are certain things I can do to help with my moods, such as talking to my Mom or exercising with my favorite Burlesque Star/trainer. It’s important to have role models in life, especially if they aren’t perfect themselves (because no one is perfect). I think to myself, “if they can do it I can try too.”

Some of the most important things I’ve learned while dealing with this dark cloud of mine is that I can always ask for help even though it feels like the most difficult and embarrassing thing in the world. It’s more than just acceptance it’s calling the monster out of the darkness. And I’ve had some mixed reactions from friends telling me, “there’s no way you’re depressed!” or “what do you have to be so sad about?” but the explanation isn’t as straight forward as they might think. I still don’t understand it myself, but I’m trying. And I’m trying to get help and not feel so debilitated.

Christmas-time can be a hard time for a lot of people and especially those dealing with mental health issues. I don’t have any wise words or secret remedies but I do believe in the power of talking. Not everyone will understand, care or even know what the hell to do for you. But if you can start a conversation I think that’s the first step.  So whether you need someone to talk to or notice that your friend or family member seems a little “off” take the moment and start talking. Even if you don’t know what to say. Tell them you’ll listen.

Christmas and family time.

Embracing one’s cultural background can be difficult at times. For me, I’ve always grappled with the question of what it really means to be Polish. Does this involve a high caloric intake of pierogies, kielbasa and copious amounts of vodka? (Of course not!) But apart from a country’s cuisine what cultural clues make you who you are?

The holidays can be an important time to embrace one’s traditions and remember what your family has gone through to get to where you are today. My grandmother, who has Alzheimer’s, obviously struggles with what she does and does not remember. But ask her to tell you a story about when she was young at Christmas time and her eyes light up and its as if it were only yesterday. My mother also likes to tell me stories about her childhood Christmases. I've never understood why you would have carps swimming in the bathtub waiting to be prepped for Christmas Eve dinner but apparently its a Polish thing. There are cultural lessons to be learned here but also a family tradition to be passed down. No two Polish-Canadian families may be alike but we all share a holy wafer before the Christmas Eve dinner. And even if we may not have a carp swimming in our bathtub there are lots of Polish and Canadian delicacies waiting to be consumed.

Who you are is more than just where your family came from. But whether we like to admit it or not, our family has a huge role in shaping us and making us the people we are today. It’s easy to frown at the bad jokes made after one too many drinks with Christmas dinner but its more interesting to look beyond those jokes and remember your family’s story. The Canadian-Story especially is one of immigration and old family traditions. Ask to hear some of these stories around the Christmas tree this year. People love talking about themselves and who knows, you might learn something amazing about your family and yourself.

Christmas Movies

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. What are you watching?

The Classics:

These are the movies that have been around since the beginning of time. Your grandmother watched them when she was young, that’s how old they are. And no matter how many time you re-watch these classics it wouldn’t be Christmas without them.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without George Bailey and his guardian angel Clarence. James Stewart plays the suicidal George Bailey who is shown what life would have been like had he never existed. This film set a lot of Hollywood standards and made Jimmy Stewart a household name.

Miracle on 34^th Street (1947)

Edmund Gwenn stars as the loveable Kris Kringle who convinces Susan and her cynical mother Ms Walker, played by Maureen O’Hara that he is the real Santa. Throw in a little romance between Ms. Walker and Fred Gaily who helps arrange a formal hearing for Santa and you too will be believe in the magic behind Christmas.

White Christmas (1954)

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star as a successful song-and-dance team who become romantically involved with a sister act team. They team up to save the failing Vermont Inn of their former commanding general. You’ll learn the importance of falling in love, doing good for others and everything you ever wanted to know about the magic of snow.

Claymation and Animation Magic:

These are the films that make you feel like a kid again. And as all good Christmas films would have it there are carols for all the films. The 60s held some sort of magic that could only be described with the use of puppets and animation. It’s no surprise that Tim Burton lands in the mix.

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970)

The Nightmare before Christmas (1993)

Frosty the Snowman (1969)

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

So don't be a Grinch and tell me what you like to watch during the Christmas season.

Ms. Knope and Lil' Sebastian by Lucy Knisley

I'm a huge fan of Lucy Knisley and in case you haven't read her books or checked out her webcomics then all I have to say is "You're welcome."because you probably clicked on one of those links.

An oldie but a goodie

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

I wasn’t going to read the next book for my book club but something made me go to the used bookstore and try to find a copy of Abraham Verghese’s Cutting for Stone and when I found it – it was on. I had under a week to finish a 658 page paperback novel and after reading the first chapter, I knew I could do it.

To say that I liked this book is an understatement. I loved everything about it, especially the family saga in the unconventional setting of war torn Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It all starts with a lovely Hindu girl named Sister Mary Joseph Praise, that’s right, she’s a Catholic nun. And on top of that, she’s living in Africa and she’s pregnant – with twins.

The story is told from the perspective of Marion Stone, one of the twins. “Born in Africa, living in exile in America, then returning at last to Africa…proof that geography is destiny.” Marion and his brother Shiva are raised by the hospital where they were born but more specifically by Hema and Ghosh, doctors who worked with Sister Mary. Spoiler Alert: Sister Mary doesn’t survive the childbirth and the twins are left orphans from the first chapter of this book. But what about the father, you may ask? That’s too good to give out.

“I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.” From the Hippocratic Oath all physicians must swear to when entering into the field of practicing medicine. There is another oath or 11^th commandment that the doctors in this novel learn the hard way: “Thou shall not operate on the day of a patient’s death.” The art of medicine is one I doubt I could ever perform. The decisions needed to be made in order to save a person’s life or end it are some of the most difficult decisions the characters of Cutting for Stone must make. But what’s even more difficult for them are the complicated relationships they have when they are alive and healthy.

Not only are the dramas of these characters enthralling but so too is their landscape. Ethiopia plays an important part in this novel. The political conflicts that arise between Eritrea and Ethiopia are paralleled in the personal dramas of its people. How can people seem so different from each other when they are all so fundamentally alike? How can people hate each other so much when they forgot what they were fighting for to begin with? The endings in love and war are always unforgiving and unfair but apparently that’s the way it goes.

In the end, all things come full circle. We may lose things, places, each other but we can never escape our destiny. What that destiny is for Marion only he can figure out, but it’s deeply rooted in the soil of Africa.