What's for Christmas Eve dinner tonight?

 What's for dinner tonight? "Holiday foods are especially powerful because they’re tightly bound to episodic memory – the brain’s record of personal experiences. “When we taste those foods again, the hippocampus and amygdala bring those emotional memories back to life,” said Traster. Experiences encoded in childhood are particularly durable, especially when they’re paired with strong emotion and repetition. Christmas foods often meet both criteria, becoming deeply embedded early in life."

Maybe, but we're having Italian restaurant take-out for Christmas Eve dinner from DaVinci's in Upper Arlington, not traditional (in our family). We're living in a retirement facility called The Estates (formerly The Forum) so hosting is a bit difficult for us. But we do have our 1963 dining room table that has a leaf on which we can eat our non-traditional dinner. On Christmas Day we'll all be eating in the dining room for a traditional buffet with Italian left-overs for the evening.

Why Christmas Food Tastes Better – The Brain Science | Technology Networks

https://youtu.be/y1xFD89xio0?si=Tzchxn8caMBsORra  Holiday dinners in 1961 -- remember Jim DeMott's oyster dressing and deviled eggs?

Sharing Legacy Recipes: A Holiday Potluck in Memory – Oaktree Memorials

Almond flour pie crusts and other recipies

 Easy Low Carb Diabetic Almond Flour Crust - The Naked Diabetic

"Extra Fine Ground Almond Flour – This type of almond flour works best for recipes calling for sifting. When you want a more packed crust, always choose the finest grind available. Extra Finely ground almond flour is ideal for pie crusts and crusts that you want to cover the sides of a pie plate. The finest grinds also work better in cake and bar recipes,."

20 Best Low Carb Almond flour recipes for diabetics

"Living with diabetes doesn’t mean giving up delicious foods. With the right ingredients and recipes, you can still enjoy mouthwatering meals while managing your blood sugar levels. Almond flour is one such diabetic-friendly ingredient. In this article, we’ll explore 20 of my favourite almond flour recipes all crafted with diabetes management in mind. . . 

Almond flour or almond meal and ground almonds, is rich in healthy fats, protein, essential nutrients and fibre. Unlike refined white all purpose flour, almond flour has a lower glycemic index, meaning it doesn’t cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Making almond flour a great option for those watching their carbohydrate intake."

Inflation 1973-2023 in my recipe box

Today I was looking through my recipe box (sort of a historical archive now since I rarely bake) for something cobbler like/lite and found a recipe for cheesecake that serves 12 by my cousin Judy who lives in Winnebago, IL and grew up in Byron. It was dated August, 1973, so I have no idea why we were exchanging recipes. Our big family reunion was 20 years later and for that she contributed some from her mother, Aunt Gladys (d. 1976). Anyway, I'm not going to make a cheesecake, but on the back of the card I noted the prices. Things have changed a bit in 50 years. Pie filling (for topping) .59; Dream Whip .26; graham crackers .23; cream cheese .55. It seems I didn't count the sugar, eggs, and butter because I probably had that on hand (called homemaker math). It's in my handwriting, so I probably copied it to fit in this tiny box for 3 x 5 cards.

Some on FB are old enough to remember the nightmare of stagflation of the 1970s--high inflation, high unemployment, and low growth. In 1973 the average rate of inflation for food prices was over 13%. In August 1973 when I noted the prices, the food inflation rate was 18.2%! That may be why I noted the costs on the card. Compare that to 2023 food prices which was 5.8% for the year. The killer rate we all remember (and blame Biden for) was about 10% for 2022. I blame this primarily on the lockdown which really messed up all levels of the economy as well as health.

Data are from https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/food-inflation-in-the-united-states/? 

Clara Mellem, 1930-2023, dear friend from church

"With deep sorrow, we announce that Clara Bernetta Mellum, nee Braaten, passed away Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at her home in Columbus, Ohio, surrounded by her loving husband, Reuben, of 66 years and her children. Clara was 92 years of age. In addition to her husband, Reuben, Clara is survived by her children, Mark (Bev), Steven (Jean), and Mary (Ken), along with nine grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law Joyce Braaten and Gladys Mellum and many nieces and nephews. Clara was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Kerri, and her grandson, Andy. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Clara Braaten, along with brothers, Newman, Iver, Boyd, and Norris, sisters Gladys, Adeline, and Bernice, sisters-in-law Ella and Ardith, and brothers-in-law Maurice and Les.

Clara was born on May 3, 1930, in Wyndmere, North Dakota. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Gol Aal Lutheran Church, near Wyndmere. She grew up on the family farm and attended grade school at Garborg Township District 4. She graduated from Wahpeton High School in 1948. Clara earned a Bachelor's degree at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where she met her husband, Reuben. Her teaching career started at a country school in North Dakota and continued with an elementary teaching position in the Twin Cities area. Clara and Reuben were united in marriage in Wyndmere on August 12, 1956.

After their marriage, Clara joined Reuben at the church parsonage in the Norway Lake area near New London, Minnesota. Their first son, Mark, was born in 1957, and in 1960, the young family moved to Breckenridge, Minnesota to serve Breckenridge Lutheran Church. Here, Clara's and Reuben's other two children, Steven and Mary, were born. After moving from Breckenridge in 1974, Clara and Reuben served two other churches, one in Pemberville, Ohio, and one in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Wherever she lived, Clara served as a teacher in the public school system. In Pemberville, Clara taught migrant farmworkers' children and eventually directed that program. In St. Clair Shores, Clara was a substitute teacher for ten years until she and Reuben retired.

Upon their retirement, Clara and Reuben relocated to Columbus, Ohio, where they joined Upper Arlington Lutheran Church. Clara volunteered at the church's Clothes Closet as well as other volunteer opportunities, while Reuben served as a visitation pastor. At the time of her death, Clara and Reuben were living at the Forum at Knightsbridge in Columbus.

Throughout her life, Clara found joy in spending time with her family, which she treasured above anything else. She was eager to help her family in any endeavor. She enjoyed baking, cooking and volunteering at her church. Clara especially loved to carry on cherished family recipes for such things as Norwegian lefse, krumkake, and spritz cookies. She brought her rolls and cinnamon buns to countless family gatherings and enjoyed sharing her knowledge of baking and sewing with others.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 14, 2023, at Upper Arlington Lutheran Church on Lytham Road in Upper Arlington at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 am - 11:00 am, with a lunch following the service. Interment will be at the columbarium at the church.''

Clara Mellum Obituary - Columbus, OH (dignitymemorial.com)

*                                            *                                       *

Clara and Reuben joined our church after his retirement and their son Steven lived here. He was our visitation pastor for several years, and we had occasion to call him when our daughter's father in law had an emergency and was in the hospital here in Columbus.  We were guests with them in February 2020 when the Hahms hosted a Valentine dinner (perhaps the last social event before the Covid lockdown that we attended) and each married couple brought their wedding photo.  Clara had the most beautiful wedding dress I've ever seen. We saw them several times at the Hahms who love to host creative and delicious dinners for 6-8 people. Every Sunday we saw Clara and Reuben go up the aisle for communion--they usually sat a few rows behind us.  The last time we saw her was Sunday, March 26, and she died while we were in Arizona March 28-April 4. We had planned a visit at their home in the Forum earlier in March, but we both had colds, so had postponed the visit.  We will miss her gentle ways and friendly smile.

My new log book for exercise

 My Strength and My Shield: A Realtree™ Journal by Ellie Claire | Goodreads

This is a cute little journal in a camo style with inspirational messages inside. My old exercise journal has no design or flair and I think I bought it in Spain at a "dollar store" run by foreigners.  The Spanish just call them "the China store," instead of Dollar Tree.  That one is dated September 5, 2018, with about 6,500 miles ending with about 15,500.  I think my first one was around January 1, 2015. My new one is made by Ellie Claire Gift and paper Expressions c2016. I bought it at Marc's for maybe a dollar or $1.49, but you can find it at Thrift store sites on the internet for about $5.00.

At first when checking this journal I found a page for Ella Claire, who had a blog, recipes, poems, etc.  Not the same person.  There is also a St. Ella Claire and she's not it either.  

Lenten goals--cleaning instead of fasting

My Lenten goals are getting a slow start. This week it was tackle the cupboards and bookshelves of the kitchen. I'm on the first shelf of cookbooks in the kitchen--next will be the "junk drawer."  I'm already stuck at the computer. I'm looking at a recipe take away from the Home & Garden Show, Feb. 25-Mar 5, 2006. As I recall I picked it up because we went to a demo for a chocolate peanut butter torte with bananas in honor of Elvis' birthday at Gourmet Galaxy Cafe which was sponsored by Whole Foods, Columbus Dispatch, Home Source Interiors, etc. Before I put this in the stay or go pile, I'll just mention 2 recipes easy enough for 80-somethings to learn (each 2 pages features a Columbus chef or personality with their favorites. 

1)  Manny Malhotra of the Columbus Blue Jackets (hockey) offered, "Asparagus a la Manny" which requires 1 bunch of asparagus, salt and pepper and olive oil and aluminum foil.  2) The COO of Donatos (pizza chain based in Columbus) and daughter of the founder reported that she had worked in all areas from take-out window, making night deposits, spreading sauces and cheese to dotting pepperoni slices to the edge, but there was no recipe.

When I went back and checked my blog, I see I had written about this cookbook in 2006. https://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com/2006/03/2228-chocolate-peanut-butter-cream.html.

By the time I got to shelf 3 I was browsing Vols. 3-5 of "A Taste of Columbus" by Beth Chilcoat. Vol. 5 was 2000, and she began the series when her children were small, and by this one she had grandchildren. I had inherited these from my daughter who had given them originally to her mother-in-law, Marilyn.  All are done in calligraphy with lovely drawings of Columbus' historical scenes. Chilcoat's husband (also co-author) died in 2006 of ALS, and she later wrote about widowhood and grief. Cap City Diner Meatloaf by Jimmy Mohammed has 28 ingredients (mostly herbs and spices) in vol. 5.

Advice on using less plastic--or how we lived in the 40's and 50s

Sometimes you have to wonder about the modern "sustainable" and eco-friendly life style. I can still remember when we were encouraged to use plastic bags to save trees. I have about 6 reusable bags, but during the pandemic we weren't allowed to bring them into the stores! They can get pretty yucky.  I remember when no one paid for bottles of water. All straws in restaurants were paper, in fact, most people didn't eat in restaurants. We all used cloth diapers; if there were disposable diapers, they were used for trips in the car. A few people had freezers, but they were for their home grown food. There were not 1500 kinds of air freshener and floor cleaners confusing one at the store. My Tupperware pieces (not many) are probably 50 years old. Can't compost--where would I put it that it wouldn't draw rodents or other animals.

This is the list recommended by Lifetime Fitness. For younger people, it might be a learning curve. We are all addicted to "convenience." My age group at least remembers a different time.  The trash figures are stunning, however, there are no citations for how the authors came up with them.  The worst environmental damage in recent years was caused by Covid and mask mandates.  Billions of masks made from fossil fuel are everywhere. The number of food containers for carry out must have been a real boost to that industry.  Probably came from China, like the masks.

1. Invest in a reusable glass or stainless-steel water bottle. People around the world buy a million plastic bottles every minute; in the United States, more than 60 million end up in landfills and incinerators every day.  (We don't buy throw away plastic bottles for water, but I do have plastic bottles I can reuse, thank you.  Don't like carrying glass bottles around.)

2. Opt for cloth rather than disposable diapers. Americans discard some 20 billion plastic diapers annually.  (I've seen the cost comparisons about 40 years ago and adding the cost of hot water and soap and electricity to dry so you don't save a lot.)

3. Bring your favorite mug or travel container to the coffee shop for filling up.

4. Skip the plastic straw. If a straw is a must, purchase a reusable stainless-steel or glass straw.

5. Stock up on reusable grocery bags. Americans use and discard some 102 billion plastic bags annually. Each of these can take 1,000 years to degrade.

6. Pass on prepared frozen foods: The packaging is mostly plastic or cardboard coated with plastic.  

7. Eschew chewing gum — it’s pretty much made from plastic. [Note:  I didn't realize this until about 5 years ago and gave up a very bad habit I'd had since childhood.]

8. Use matches instead of disposable plastic lighters, or invest in a refillable metal lighter.

9. Avoid plastic wrap to cover leftovers, cheeses, and other refrigerated food by using a dish cloth or parchment paper. [This isn't going to happen, but I do use reuseable plastic storage containers.] 

10. Cook with cast-iron instead of nonstick pans. Teflon, the most common nonstick surface, is a fluoropolymer plastic. [I prefer this, but it's not safe on a glass top stove, nor can I lift them safely.]

11. Make your own cleaning products. They’re less toxic, and you can reuse spray bottles, eliminating the need for multiple plastic bottles filled with cleaners. (For recipes, see “Make Your Own Spring-Cleaning Kit“.)  [Good in theory, but I've moved on to hiring at cleaning service.]

12. Decline plastic flatware with your takeout orders; pick up bamboo or other reusable flatware for picnics and traveling. [I use cheap stainless ware picked up at yard sales and reuse. But Covid made this carry-out trend grow immensely.]

13. Buy food in bulk when possible and pack it in your own reusable jars or containers. You’ll save money and limit unnecessary packaging.  [Not a useful tip for 2 person household.]

14. Bring your own containers for vegetables and fruits to the farmers’ market, where you can refill them.

15. Pack your lunch in reusable containers and bags. Skip foods packed in single-serving plastic cups.

16. Mix up your own hand salves, lotion bars, and deodorants instead of buying personal-care items sold in plastic containers. Coconut oil is a great base for all of these. (For more ideas, see “DIY Beauty“.) [I use a lot of coconut oil as moisturizer.]

17. Replace your Tupperware with a set of reusable glass storage containers for leftovers. [Not going to happen.  Glass is too heavy.]

18. Compost your food waste to reduce the number of plastic bags needed to haul it to the landfill.  [No place to put it.]  https://experiencelife.lifetime.life/article/18-ways-to-live-with-less-plastic/?

Basics of Low Carb

Low-Carb Eating — The Basics

Your food choices depend on a few things, including how healthy you are, how much you exercise and how much weight you have to lose.

Consider this meal plan as a general guideline, not something written in stone.

Eat: Meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, high-fat dairy, fats, healthy oils and maybe even some tubers and non-gluten grains.

Don’t eat: Sugar, HFCS, wheat, seed oils, trans fats, “diet” and low-fat products and highly processed foods.

Foods to Avoid

You should avoid these six food groups and nutrients, in order of importance:

• Sugar: Soft drinks, fruit juices, agave, candy, ice cream and many other products that contain added sugar.
• Refined grains: Wheat, rice, barley and rye, as well as bread, cereal and pasta.
• Trans fats: Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils.
• Diet and low-fat products: Many dairy products, cereals or crackers are fat-reduced, but contain added sugar.
• Highly processed foods: If it looks like it was made in a factory, don’t eat it.
• Starchy vegetables: It’s best to limit starchy vegetables in your diet if you’re following a very low-carb diet.

You must read ingredient lists even on foods labelled as health foods.

For more details, check out this article on 14 foods to avoid on a low-carb diet.

Low-Carb Food List — Foods to Eat

You should base your diet on these real, unprocessed, low-carb foods.

• Meat: Beef, lamb, pork, chicken and others; grass-fed is best.
• Fish: Salmon, trout, haddock and many others; wild-caught fish is best.
• Eggs: Omega-3-enriched or pastured eggs are best.
• Vegetables: Spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and many others.
• Fruits: Apples, oranges, pears, blueberries, strawberries.
• Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, etc.
• High-fat dairy: Cheese, butter, heavy cream, yogurt.
• Fats and oils: Coconut oil, butter, lard, olive oil and fish oil.

If you need to lose weight, be careful with cheese and nuts, as it’s easy to overeat on them. Don’t eat more than one piece of fruit per day.

Foods to Maybe Include

If you’re healthy, active and don’t need to lose weight, you can afford to eat a few more carbs.

• Tubers: Potatoes, sweet potatoes and some others.
• Unrefined grains: Brown rice, oats, quinoa and many others.
• Legumes: Lentils, black beans, pinto beans, etc. (if you can tolerate them).

What’s more, you can have the following in moderation, if you want:

• Dark chocolate: Choose organic brands with at least 70% of cocoa.
• Wine: Choose dry wines with no added sugar or carbs.

Dark chocolate is high in antioxidants and may provide health benefits if you eat it in moderation. However, be aware that both dark chocolate and alcohol will hinder your progress if you eat/drink too much.

Beverages

• Coffee
• Tea
• Water
• Sugar-free carbonated beverages, like sparkling water.

A Sample Low-Carb Menu for One Week

This is a sample menu for one week on a low-carb diet plan.

It provides less than 50 grams of total carbs per day. However, if you’re healthy and active you can eat slightly more carbs.

Monday

• Breakfast: Omelet with various vegetables, fried in butter or coconut oil.
• Lunch: Grass-fed yogurt with blueberries and a handful of almonds.
• Dinner: Bunless cheeseburger, served with vegetables and salsa sauce.

Tuesday

• Breakfast: Bacon and eggs.
• Lunch: Leftover burgers and veggies from the previous night.
• Dinner: Salmon with butter and vegetables.

Wednesday

• Breakfast: Eggs and vegetables, fried in butter or coconut oil.
• Lunch: Shrimp salad with some olive oil.
• Dinner: Grilled chicken with vegetables.

Thursday

• Breakfast: Omelet with various vegetables, fried in butter or coconut oil.
• Lunch: Smoothie with coconut milk, berries, almonds and protein powder.
• Dinner: Steak and veggies.

Friday

• Breakfast: Bacon and eggs.
• Lunch: Chicken salad with some olive oil.
• Dinner: Pork chops with vegetables.

Saturday

• Breakfast: Omelet with various veggies.
• Lunch: Grass-fed yogurt with berries, coconut flakes and a handful of walnuts.
• Dinner: Meatballs with vegetables.

Sunday

• Breakfast: Bacon and eggs.
• Lunch: Smoothie with coconut milk, a dash of heavy cream, chocolate-flavored protein powder and berries.
• Dinner: Grilled chicken wings with some raw spinach on the side.

Include plenty of low-carb vegetables in your diet. If your goal is to remain under 50 grams of carbs per day, there is room for plenty of veggies and one fruit per day.

If you want to see more examples of go-to meals, check out this article on 7 healthy low-carb meals in under 10 minutes.

Again, if you’re healthy, lean and active, you can add some tubers like potatoes and sweet potatoes, as well as some healthy grains like oats.

Healthy, Low-Carb Snacks

There is no health reason to eat more than three meals per day, but if you get hungry between meals, here are some healthy, easy-to-prepare, low-carb snacks that can fill you up:

• A piece of fruit
• Full-fat yogurt
• One or two hard-boiled eggs
• Baby carrots
• Leftovers from the previous night
• A handful of nuts
• Some cheese and meat

Eating at Restaurants

At most restaurants, it’s fairly easy to make your meals low-carb friendly.

1. Order a meat- or fish-based main dish.
2. Drink plain water instead of sugary soda or fruit juice.
3. Get extra vegetables instead of bread, potatoes or rice.

A Simple Low-Carb Shopping List

A good rule is to shop at the perimeter of the store, where the whole foods are more likely to be found.

Focusing on whole foods will make your diet a thousand times better than the standard Western diet.

Organic and grass-fed foods are also popular choices and often considered healthier, but they’re typically more expensive.

Try to choose the least processed option that still fits into your price range.

• Meat (beef, lamb, pork, chicken, bacon)
• Fish (fatty fish like salmon is best)
• Eggs (choose omega-3 enriched or pastured eggs if you can)
• Butter
• Coconut oil
• Lard
• Olive oil
• Cheese
• Heavy cream
• Sour cream
• Yogurt (full-fat, unsweetened)
• Blueberries (fresh or frozen)
• Nuts
• Olives
• Fresh vegetables (greens, peppers, onions, etc.)
• Frozen vegetables (broccoli, carrots, various mixes)
• Condiments (sea salt, pepper, garlic, mustard, etc.)

Clear your pantry of all unhealthy temptations if you can, such as chips, candy, ice cream, sodas, juices, breads, cereals and baking ingredients like refined flour and sugar.

The Bottom Line

Low-carb diets restrict carbs, such as those found in sugary and processed foods, pasta and bread. They’re high in protein, fat and healthy vegetables.

Studies show that they can cause weight loss and improve health.

The above meal plan gives you the basics of healthy, low-carb eating.

If you need a comprehensive list of low-carb recipes that are both simple and delicious, check out this article on 101 healthy low-carb recipes that taste incredible.

Of course, you can also browse the Internet for even more low carb or paleo recipes.

From: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/low-carb-diet-meal-plan-and-menu#bottom-line

Munching on crunchy carrots

I have a mouth full of fillings (I have all my permanent teeth). Many of them older than my dentist. But I love to munch on raw carrots. I don't want one of those "crunch" sounds to be a broken filling. So today I tried microwaving some carrot sticks about 10 seconds. Softens a little but leaves the crispness I like. Also, carrots are a nutritional powerhouse, and some studies show those properties are more available if cooked. Not sure 10 seconds is "cooking" but can't hurt. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf072304b?

I don't like the flavor or texture of "baby carrots" which are really just old tough carrots chopped and reshaped. I clean and slice the fullsize carrot. Much better flavor. I think the slimy fluid on them changes the flavor.

The Truth About Baby Carrots | Food Network Healthy Eats: Recipes, Ideas, and Food News | Food Network

June's recipe for Butterscotch Pie

 My husband is well known locally and in his family for his dislike of corn.  What good midwestern boy could hate corn (includes corn on the cob, escalloped corn, fresh cut corn), but he does.  Little known except by me, is he also gags at the thought of eating anything "butterscotch," which would include caramel or toffee or pecan pie. So I was surprised when looking through one of my recipe book treasures, "Favorite Recipes from the One Dozen Mums" (1974, index cards attached with plastic binder) that his own mother had submitted "Butterscotch Pie" as one of her contributions to what was probably a fund raiser for her club:

1 C. brown sugar

1 C. milk

2 T. flour

yolks of 2 eggs

2 T. butter

Cook in double boiler until thick.  Put into crust previously baked & spread slightly sweetened beaten whites over the top.  Place in oven to brown very little.

That's it.  Pretty simple with no details.  I enjoyed some of her specialties like Goulash or spaghetti with garlic rolls, but don't recall ever eating home made pie at her home.

August rain showers

 This morning I started out on my 2 mile walk (sort of a loop, and I'm probably exaggerating).  I stopped at a near-by "little library" and selected a book, "Nutribullet. Life changing recipes."  They lie.  I have one and it didn't change my life.  I went back and dropped it on our front porch rather than walk with it, then headed south to Fourth Street.  I'd gone about 3 blocks (stopping at another little library) when I felt a few sprinkles.  So I turned around and walked about a block to the Idlewylde Bed and Breakfast and sat on the porch for awhile.  When it stopped, I decided to go north along the lake, dawdled a while in the Walnut Street business district, and headed for the dock.  The sky over Kelley's Island was purple.  I thought that meant the rain had gone north over the lake.  No.  I waited at the pavilion for the storm to pass along with 3 fishermen and a dog walker I see every morning.

The Lakeside mission is to enrich the quality of life for all people, to foster traditional Christian values and nurture relationships through opportunities for renewal and growth which we call the four pillars--spiritual, intellectual, cultural and physical--while preserving Lakeside's heritage.  For almost 150 years (established as a campground in 1873) Lakeside has welcomed all ages to its beautiful grounds on the shore of Lake Erie, west of Cleveland and east of Toledo, and two and half hours from our home in Columbus. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Paces. Our little town has more than 900 private cottages which we own (lease) with 99 year leases. The non-profit organization, officially called "Lakeside Association" owns more than 50 structures, four major parks, and a large waterfront area for recreational water sports and fishing. There are cottages for rent, bed and breakfasts for brief stays, two hotels, and a campground for seasonal or overnight stays. Our little town is supported in part by assessing the cottage owners and through gate fees for all who enter from approximately Memorial Day to Labor Day. This way all who enter are able to enjoy our many recreational and educational events at the lakefront, the playgrounds and parks, the pool and wellness center, tennis courts, pickleball and shuffleboard courts, education and religious programs and lectures, entertainment in Hoover Auditorium by name performers and local groups, the Steele Memorial Bandstand in the park, and our wonderful Rhein Center for the Living Arts and the beautiful lakefront pavilion (built in 1909 and rebuilt in 1988) for enjoying sunsets and sunrises, concerts and worship. Most of the businesses in Lakeside are seasonal and include restaurants, a real estate and rental office, dress and gift shops, a wonderful book store, ice cream, coffee and carry out spots, and a beauty shop. There are many active organizations and volunteers that support the community from art teachers, to shuttle drivers, to garden helpers, to ushers and greeters. We also have a museum and archives to keep us grounded in our history.  

Our first summer at Lakeside was 1974 when our children, Phoebe and Phil, were 6 and 5 years old. We rented various cottages near the lake until 1988 when we purchased a small, year round house built in 1944 surrounded by wonderful neighbors from around the country. We went from one week rentals, to two weeks, to partial summer to full season Lakesiders after we retired over a 47 year period. Lakeside and the near-by Marblehead Lighthouse have presented many opportunities for subjects to paint as well as a place to teach at the Rhein Center for the Living Arts. 

Facebook can’t face the truth

Zuckerberg and his wife supported Biden/Harris big time, funneling mega-bucks for training poll workers and campaigners.  And we all know how that campaign fraud went.  However, it is technically free, and those of us who use it need to know the only product FB sells is us—our information.  Personal information about buying habits, religion, politics, opinions, photos—it’s all consumed and regurgitation by Facebook to buy and sell us. 

But Facebook is also pushing it’s own politics, and will blacklist our posts that they don’t like.  I’m reposting some of my blogs at my Facebook site, and they all come up with a warning—even if it is a recipe or a holiday tradition. FB by technical snooping knows I’m not one of them.  I’m just some deranged, low class, low caste college educated American who escaped the clutches of the Democrat party in 2000 for fresh air, liberation and truth.  There are a lot of us out there—every ethnicity, age, sex, religion—black, brown, white, rich, poor, employed, retired, Protestant, Jew, Muslim, Catholic. The U.S. capitalist system with freedom of religion and the religion of meritocracy has allowed Zuckerberg to arise to the heights of success, but he landed on a dead branch of socialism and is trying to clip the wings of others.  Ironically, it’s the capitalist way. Always kill off the competition.

I got a black mark for pointing out the racism and eugenics of the Leftists among us. I got a black mark for citing Newsmax, a conservative TV News source. I got a black mark for posting a an AA list on how to stay sober just for today. So I’m embedded in the the FB file dungeons as a right wing nut, no matter if I post recipes or voter fraud stories.

I have a lot of cookbooks and recipe files—some almost 100 years old, from my mom and mother-in-law to Inglenook to Betty Crocker to a collection from Ogle County Illinois homemakers.  But there are more people who have come forward to testify about voter irregularities at the polls, from the cemeteries  and from voting machines than I have recipes.  All those patriots are willing to put their reputations (and lives) on the line, and they’ve been silenced by the very government and political parties they want to save.

Switching from Fox to Newsmax for news

It’s so difficult to find the right contact to let a tv or radio show know they are doing something right.  I think this went to customer service, but I wanted to let Rob Finnerty know I’ve been enjoying his morning show:

“Sending a comment to Rob on Wake Up America to let you know how much I'm enjoying the morning shows (I watch several).  I Wake Up with you while on my exercycle--I do about 10 miles, stopping to walk and stretch.  I'm 81.  I left Fox about 3 weeks ago, so this is some adjustment for an old lady. I think Newsmax is more conservative than Fox, however, there is a clear distinction on Newsmax between opinion shows and news shows.  I like that.  I can make up my own mind if you provide the sources. Your guests are reasonable, yet conservative, a view difficult to find on the alphabet media and other cable shows. No one is shouting at me or becoming hysterical. I'm a retired university librarian, so I'm not looking for recipes, fashion or theater reviews.  Thanks for the news. I've been blogging for over 17 years.”

Copied from Linked IN:

Rob Finnerty is the anchor of 'Wake Up America' on Newsmax in New York City. He is a former Morning News Anchor in market 11 Tampa, Florida at WTSP 10 News. In 2016, he was part of a groundbreaking team that launched a morning show with a completely new format in a newsroom-based studio. The show was unlike anything else in local television, and quickly become the standard for how viewers consume local television news in the market.

Before moving to Newsmax, Finnerty was an Anchor/Reporter in Kansas City, MO, and co-hosted the talk show 'Better Kansas City' with a live studio-audience. He has also worked as an anchor at KBAK/KBFX in Bakersfield, California and as a sports anchor & reporter at New England Cable News (now NBC) in Boston, MA. At just 25, he covered the World Series, Super Bowl & the 2008 NBA Finals. Rob is originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts and he graduated with a degree in Communications from Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT. His passions in the industry center around politics, sports and major domestic and international headlines and he is represented by Ken Lindner who can be reached directly at Ken@klateam.com.

Mom's Meat and Potato Quiche

 I was looking through my box of handwritten recipes the other day, and saw, "copied from Mom 1990" Meat and Potato Quiche.  So I decided to try it today because I had all the ingredients.  It's in the oven now, but I don't have great hopes for it.  It uses shredded potatoes for the crust, and I'd forgotten that potatoes are very watery and turn pink when shredded.  Directs say, press them into a 9" pie dish, bake for 15 minutes at 425 then add the meat, cheese and egg mixture, then put it back in the oven for 30 minutes.  I could see immediately that the egg/milk liquid seeped through the crust, so I expect a very difficult clean up.

Meanwhile, I checked the internet, and found several versions of this, and finally one that was an exact match.  Yes, watery potatoes, and liquid seeps through!  But one comment said, "Exactly like 'More with Less Cookbook,' and I know Mom liked that.  So I got mine out, and checked.  Exact match.  You can use diced chicken, ham or sausage, and I used some of the Thanksgiving turkey.  Taste test will be later.

Meat & Potato Quiche Recipe - Food.com

Doris Janzen Longacre wrote "More with less" cookbook and also "Living more with less." She was a Mennonite missionary.  I wrote about this cookbook at my blog in 2014.  She was my age and died when she was 39, but her cookbook sold over a million copies. In the 70s we thought if we had/ate less, we some how would help people who were poor with few material goods.  We know now, that isn't how it works. Life for the poor is improved when they have viable jobs and a decent government. One that doesn't abuse them.  Being careful with money, calories and nutrition is its own reward. Better health and less stress.  At that 2014 blog I included this, "Life is too short," which sounds like her philosophy and she might have written it, however the link is broken, so I can't tell for sure. But it was definitely my philosophy as a young mother in the 1970s. And life is too short to spend time tracking down obscure and broken links (although I do it often) in your 80s.

Life is too short to ice cakes; cakes are good without icing.
Life is too short to read all the church periodicals.
Life is too short not to write regularly to your parents.
Life is too short to eat factory baked bread.
Life is too short to keep all your floors shiny.
Life is too short to let a day pass without hugging your spouse and each of your children.
Life is too short to nurse grudges and hurt feelings.
Life is too short to worry about getting ready for Christmas; just let Christmas come.
Life is too short to spend much money on neckties and earrings.
Life is too short for nosy questions like "How do you like your new pastor?" Or—if there’s been a death—"How is he taking it?"
Life is too short to be gone from home more than a few nights a week.
Life is too short not to take a nap when you need one.
Life is too short to care whether purses match shoes or towels match bathrooms.
Life is too short to stay indoors when the trees turn color in fall, when it snows, or when the spring blossoms come out.
Life is too short to miss the call to worship on a Sunday morning.
Life is too short for bedspreads that are too fancy to sleep under.
Life is too short to work in a room without windows.
Life is too short to put off Bible study.
Life is too short to put off improving our relationships with the people we live with.

So maybe I'll browse some more in that cookbook. . . and think about Mom.

Here's another blog written by someone else. Life-Changing Cookbooks: More-with-Less - Paste (pastemagazine.com)

15 minutes later: Taste test. Not ready for prime time; glad I didn't try this one for company brunch.

Cocoa and the brain--new research

 I noticed in the University of Illinois LAS Newsletter that someone has done research on the effects of cocoa on the brain.  Sweet news for the brain | College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Illinois Been there, done that.  Not me personally, but I wrote about flavanols and the brain years ago.  Or at least, I summarized the research.  I didn't do it personally.  This has a slightly different pitch.

Collecting My Thoughts: Coffee vs. Chocolate for caffeine

Collecting My Thoughts: Dark Chocolate is good for us

Collecting My Thoughts: Habitual chocolate users perform better

Collecting My Thoughts: But make it dark chocolate

Collecting My Thoughts: Cacao vs. cocoa

And as I searched my 16 years of blogs by the tag "chocolate," I think I found more recipes than I did brain research

Collecting My Thoughts  Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Tart with Caramelized Bananas

Collecting My Thoughts: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake for one

Collecting My Thoughts Mrs. Bush's Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookie

Collecting My Thoughts: Chocolate mashed potato cookies

Collecting My Thoughts: Dark chocolate cherry trail mix

Collecting My Thoughts: Peanut Butter Fudge Cake

Enjoying summer's bounty

 For breakfast this morning I had 2 biscuits warmed up (left over from dinner a few days ago) with tart cherry jam.  My daughter has found a summer farmer's market on the east side whose produce she buys in bulk in the summer.  She bought gallons of tart Michigan sour cherries this summer and processed them into jam.  And we're now enjoying it.  She also bought baskets of cukes and using my Mother's recipe for bread and butter pickles and dill pickles, we've had some of that for holiday meals.  She also bought a lot of corn on the cob and wax beans and processed those for the freezer.  Bob hates corn, but the rest of us really enjoyed a taste of summer at Thanksgiving--tasted like we'd just walked into the field and pulled a few ears off the stalk. She sent some home with me after Saturday dinner, and I enjoyed it for Sunday breakfast. I'd often talked about how wonderful watermelon pickles are (the only produce I've ever canned, and that was 1957), so she found a recipe in my Mother's file box, and made them this past summer using tiny little flower shapes.  She also makes cherry pies with highly decorative crusts. The apple butter is scrumptious but perhaps fewer spices next time, she says.  She's considerably added to her costs by then packaging the jars and Fed-exing them to relatives. She often calls her cousin Amy for advice about mom's recipes if she thinks something doesn't sound right, so I know she got some, and her cousin Joan in Indiana who has been so helpful to us this past year.  I believe her sisters-in-law in Colorado and Kansas benefited from her generosity, and of course we did too. 

Thanksgiving dinner

Sweet and sour chicken

I received a new cookbook for Christmas—it’s a family compilation by the Shaw family, 5 of whom I met blogging and now read and enjoy regularly on Facebook. Their mother Ruth Baird Shaw went back to college after her Methodist minister husband died and became a Methodist minister.  All the children are grown with grandchildren and are quite successful and interesting people—and they have collected in 2 editions, family recipes. With photos.  As I was browsing (always looking for the easiest and quickest) I noticed “Ricky and Lyn’s Sweet and Sour Chicken.” I think Lyn is Joan’s daughter. 

With only 4 ingredients and minimal prep, this looks like one I would take to a church pot luck.

8 boneless chicken breasts

1 8 oz. jar peach or apricot preserves

1 8 oz. bottle Catalina dressing

2 envelopes onion soup mix

Mix all ingredient except chicken breasts.  Place chicken in casserole dish.  Pour mixture over the chicken breasts.  Bake covered for 1 hour at 350 degrees.  Remove cover and bake an additional hour.

This was submitted by Joan Shaw Turrentine, and Carol Shaw Johnston who was the compiler of the cook book comments that she has made this recipe several times and usually splits the recipe among 3 pans and freezes 2 of them for meals later.  It freezes really well.

My new cookbook, Deceptively Delicious

I had no idea I’d purchased an afternoon of reading for $1.00, Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld.  First, I’d never pay $25.00 for a recipe book, especially in 2007, but $1.00 looked like a good price on the library sale shelves.

I vaguely remembered the story of Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld, but had to look it up. He of course, was a famous comedian whom I rarely watched.  Then after he retired (I think) he married a much younger woman who was escaping a brief marriage, then they had babies and she made books. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Seinfeld

Their kids are now 20, 17 and 15 or approximately that, and when they were young she had some trouble getting them to eat, so she wrote cook books, one of which was the one I bought for $1.00.

I’m not sure the recipes are simple, the ideas are simple or if it’s supposed to be easy. But it has occurred to me recalling years ago when I tried to teach a young woman some basics of cooking who had never helped her own mother in the kitchen, that there’s a lot left out of cookbooks.  For instance:

1 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs—how would you explain this to someone who didn’t know how to make them or where to buy them; it’s not like they are in the bread section of a grocery store.

This whole cookbook is built around the idea of pureeing food and then slipping it into regular recipes.  For this you need a food processor which I’ve never used, and the instructions are not particularly clear: put the (item) in the processor, secure lid, press on button and puree until smooth.  Does a beginner just learning how to peel carrots understand that?

However, I suppose if your kids won’t eat regular, hearty textured food, slipping some puree into the French Toast or scrambled eggs might do the trick.  And it’s certainly not going to hurt adults.

I think a lot of women have larger freezers than I do and definitely more patience.  Maybe jars of toddler baby food?

And thank you Mom for all the things I learned from you that I never thought about so I didn’t have to start from scratch with a book.

Feeling loved

Yesterday it was raining hard when I left the market with a plastic sack in each hand.  I saw a woman approaching from my left.

“Oh my Lamb, my Lamb” I heard her say in accented English with out stretched arms.  And she threw her arms around me and gave me a big hug. It was my neighbor whose daughter has metastatic breast cancer, knowing how I was feeling because of our son’s brain cancer.

Today a church friend brought over a lemon buttermilk pie. Just because she loves us.  She and her husband stayed to visit for awhile.  She’s a wonderful chef and cares for many in the church by bringing them comfort food or inviting them to her home for dinner—every week.  I haven’t tasted the pie yet, but I found a recipe on the internet.  https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/buttermilk-lemon-pie/

Serendipity strikes again

When I had settled on retiring in October, 2000, I thought I might need a hobby, so I began keeping a small notebook in my purse to write in at the Caribou Coffee Shop on Lane Avenue in Upper Arlington where I stopped before going to work at the Veterinary Medicine Library at Ohio State University.  Because of the new millennium, the 2000 motif was everywhere, so my little notebook made in China, was “Year 2000 Tribute Millenium Series.”  As I would go through the paper—usually the Columbus Dispatch or Wall St. Journal, I’d jot down things that interested me—group meetings, movies, book reviews, special events, musical groups, recipes, web sites, conversations overheard—just about anything.  I had never heard of blogs at that time (not sure they existed), but that notebook was the start of my blog.

I had forgotten where I put the notebook, but a few minutes ago I was looking for something in my desk and there it was.  On September 22, 2000, I had jotted down “Almost Famous,” a movie with 4 stars. “Fictional account of Cameron Crowe’s teen years with Rolling Stones," I wrote.  Lennox 24, 4:50. Patrick Fugit (17) plays the 15 year old William Miller.”  Then I added later—“very good, saw 9/22/00.”  I had apparently flipped the notebook over and was writing on the verso of pages I’d filled earlier in the year.

Anyway, to make a short story long, I thought, “I wonder what happened to Patrick Fugit.  I recalled he was a very good actor in that movie.  In fact, the whole movie was good.

Internet search:  Found him.  His latest movie—wait for it—is “Robert the Bruce” which was just released last month in Scotland.

Cast: Jared Harris, Zach McGowan, Emma Kenney, Melora Walters, Talitha Eliana Bateman, Anna Hutchison, Patrick Fugit, Kevin McNally, Gabriel Bateman, Angus Macfadyen, Mhairi Calvey, Diarmaid Murtagh, Shane Coffey, Anthony J. Sharpe, Gianni Capaldi.

 

Patrick in 2000

Patrick in 2019