Finding Beauty

So it has been a long time since blogging regularly and a new chef job and some pushing from great women have encouraged me to crank that engine again.  However, I am not sure exactly the direction this might go.  It really started out as a recipe blog for gluten free experiences, then turned into a health rant, and now…not sure, but it will be neither of those in totality. I don’t believe one theme describes the whole picture—and this picture is not something I see in currently, but will gradually take form. 

Do I still want to write about food?  Yes.  Add to that more about justice, some policy, helpful ideas, health and just plain enjoyment of it.  I was definitely one on the low fat buzz, low carb fixation, and bad fats good fats drama…However, up front here:  One of my favorite foods is a hamburger with green chile.  I love beans and greens, oats, almonds, strawberries, coconut, peanut butter, beer, wine and coffee.  I love food, especially when there is love put into it. And places like ConAgra, Hostess, and Tyson do not really care about you or me, so I stay away from those guys and their synonymous competition. 

And I am not here to tell you how to lose weight.  I have been a stick and I have gained weight and unfortunately I have struggled with idealizing weight with my self-worth and I am sick of it. I do think it is important to feel good and be healthy so that you can do the tasks, hobbies that are necessary to enjoy your life.  Food is not the only driver to this blog, although it is the central premise.  There are so many other contributions to whole health and I hope to share that with all of you and I hope that you all will share it with me. 

The past 2 weeks, I have spent time not only looking for work, but finding beauty.  This has been rough as someone who is sensitive to many of the injustices in the world.  Graduate school has built me up in a huge way, but it has also stripped me.  I don’t regret it, but I discovered that many of my connections are through Facebook and I need more than that.  So my recap.

Started with the gorgeous community garden and so much rain that it takes care of itself.  I actually got to see a talented group of poets and readers describe what a lot of us feel, except I don’t feel like the last suicidal hamburger unless I don’t get this extension job I am really excited about to the point of desperation.  I have been going out and spending time with others besides family functions.  I sit outside with neighbors till late at night while the kids ride bikes and eat ice cream for dinner.  We are so broke, meaning that I have to pull out some tricks up my sleeve that I used to do to survive while a single parent.  Yet, I am having a great summer because I am experiencing new and enjoyable activities-at home. 

Click this link to access some of what I have had the opportunity to share this week. I will be posting recipes directly on the blog.

*a little about the photo...I was making a roasted cauliflower dish with garam masala, tumeric, paprika, cumin and curry powder sprinkled with an entire lemon squeezed on all the cauliflower and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.  You could use any citrus and garlic as well.  I thought the spice mix was really pretty so my helper in the kitchen told me to take a picture of it.  So, I did.  

Hello Again

It has been a long time since I have posted on this blog.  I have wanted to, but time has been precious over the course of the past 2 years.  It is sad that I had to let go of on of my creative outlets, but sometimes we make sacrifices for the greater good and I will explain more of that as I hopefully begin writing weekly again.  I did accomplish finally receiving my Masters Degree in Community Health Education and hope to put it to excellent use.

Currently,  I was just hired as a personal chef with my philosophy in mind about food.  This philosophy is fluid and proposes a respectful stance towards how life and food interconnect on more than a physical level. The couple I will cook for have some health challenges that they are successfully overcoming, but it takes a lot of work to do and then when the quality of life takes a stab, I think we all question is all the work worth it.  I am glad that I can help. I think my price is reasonable and I only work one day a week for now. I have another prospective position with the Bernalillo County Extension Service as an urban 4-H agent.  Wish me luck. Say prayers, light candles! I present for this position on July 25. Eek!

I will say that they prefer a low fat Vegan diet and I will post some of those creations as well as what I do for my own family and friends.  Stay tuned...I start Wednesday.

Summer’s Last Kiss

It has been a long time since I have posted and I refuse to give up this blog because I am too busy. Sometimes I have so much to say and little time to say it, but I am going to indulge because I need practice and just because.  I think one reason that I have not written is because my foodie philosophy is going through yet another overhaul.  It is hard to explain really and some things about how I view food are still the same, but I am more forgiving of some health issues and more critical of others especially in terms of not having power over our food and water or for those who do have the power, refuse to realize that these are basic needs and not privileges.  Food insecurity is unjust. I am reminded of this daily, but some events make this injustice much more tangible and shamefully obvious. 

On the last Saturday in October I was out of the house at 6:30 am. We had our first freeze of the season in Albuquerque.  Yup summer is over.  We had just decorated the school garden as a graveyard for the Harvest Festival we have at our church.  I woke up in a panic because I remembered that the sprinklers for the garden were scheduled to go on at 7:00.  So my eyes pop open, it’s still dark and before I even bother with a cup of coffee, I head out to turn off the sprinklers in my pajamas. It is only 28 degrees.  Tired and cold, I drive to the school and see the parish office parking lot is full of cars and full of people in blankets waiting.

I was totally thrown off by this. Who could be here at this hour in this cold? Waiting for what? Waiting for food.  Some of the people were entire families waiting for food boxes that was on a first come, first serve basis. Now I felt much colder.  Part of the goals for our garden is to help feed these folks that none of us even see unless it is the wee hours of the morning. They are a hidden population that venture out in the dark cold so they can feed their families.  What a privilege it is for us to try and help yet we don’t even know who they are and what they have to do to eat.  They are people who brave the cold weather for hours to hopefully get food.  Yes, summer is definitely over. 

I think about this at breakfast and how lucky I am that I have a power to be picky about where I get my food. As I swirl my jam and yogurt together.  I can buy it and make it the way I want.  I see that we have this real food trend really happening and I for one am not going to get to preachy about what you choose to eat, but I think all of us should realize that we can actually choose.  

Sugar Plum Jam

2 ½-3 lbs of plums (It really makes a difference to get them ripe and in season, which is during the late summer) chopped w/peels

1 cup maple syrup

2 cinnamon sticks

5 star anise

1 tsp lemon juice

A few whole cloves

Put everything in a pot and boil for like an hour or more.  If the syrup coats the back of a spoon, it’s done.  Put in sterilized 8 oz jars, leave 1/8 inch head space and cover with tops and bands.  Process in a boiling water bath for about 15 minutes.  Remove and make sure that it is vacuum sealed. Repeat the water bath if not sealed after 20 minutes or so.  I use my gut for this.