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where do you get your food?

7/30/2014

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Last week, my family spent time at a rented cabin in Southwestern Ohio, in the area near the Serpent Mound.  My daughter had very much wanted a "relaxing" vacation (as opposed to one of our urban adventures which she claimed involved far too much museum-going).  We obliged and decided to have a more mellow sojourn with time made for just sitting, reading, and yes, relaxing.  With two cats and an overstuffed car (it would seem that taking it easy means taking half the house with you--books, instruments, puzzles, games, old movies, food, swim gear, hiking gear, balls, toys, etc.), we headed south. Leaving at about 9:30 in the morning, we arrived at our destination around 2:00 with some struggle to find our way.  After dropping off the cats at the cabin, and settling in just a bit, we set off in search of a meal in the nearest town.  We had seen one place as we were driving in and decided to simply head there.  Good thing we did, because our choices otherwise would have involved either Dairy Queen or take-out food from a convenience store.  After consuming a decent, albeit a bit heavy, meal at the restaurant we asked the waitress where the nearest grocery store was so that we could purchase some fresh items.  Her response, "Oh, it closed."  Now, it was a Sunday, so that could have meant "it's closed by now on Sunday"--but somehow we could tell that wasn't what she meant. Asking for clarification, we learned that indeed the only grocery story in the town, an IGA, had closed the day before--permanently.  Residents now had to drive 20 miles one direction or the other to reach a supermarket.  She did inform us that the town's two dollar stores were trying to fill the gap by carrying more foodstuffs.  Being ready to simply unpack, we headed to one of these stores and found that yes, there were packaged/dry foods and that one whole wall of the store was lined with dairy and freezer cases.  It was clear that the store was attempting to provide a wider range of goods to customers, but there was nothing resembling a fresh vegetable or fruit.  We bought bread, milk, juice and cheese and figured we'd find plenty of farm stands in the area the next day, which is really what we wanted anyhow.

Well, that's not exactly how it worked out. . . I did find a flyer for an area farm market.  We drove out to it following signs that wound us around quite a lot of country highway.  There is no way we would have found it by chance.  The stand was operated by a Mennonite family and as we discovered, Mennonites also ran a general store and a bakery along the same route.  The farm stand had some great watermelons, fresh eggs, corn and tomatoes.  But not much else. Truly, the pickings were rather slim.  There was an entire wall of jams, jellies and preserves, but no lettuces or greens--even the summer squash were small and a bit shriveled.  I found some colorful frying peppers, a purple onion and a small carton of red potatoes to round out our shopping.  We also bought a cheerful bouquet of zinnias and gladiolas at a reasonable price.  I was glad to have some fresh food to work with, but a bit disappointed that I was not in the farm-fresh produce belt I expected considering the miles of planted fields we'd passed (albeit almost all planted with corn and soy).

The general store had even sadder looking produce--it's specialty (that people lined up for every time we were there) was the deli counter, and bulk candy . . . the bakery obviously specialized in sweets and again people were lined up buying cream horns, whoopie pies, apple fritters, cream sticks, cinnamon buns--everything was mammoth in size.  Admittedly, we frequented the bakery for fruit pies--a treat for which we have a penchant rarely indulged.  Blueberry, peach, blackberry, and--ok--even pecan and shoo fly.  But truly, we had to watch ourselves because the food at restaurants was so heavy too.  Broasted chicken, fried fish, canned green beans with ham (I'd almost rather eat the can), deep-fried french toast, bbq.  Salads or garnishes, rarely offered, never ventured beyond iceberg lettuce turning brown.  

What I find concerning is what does a person do who lives in that town and for whom driving 20 miles is impossible?  Elderly folks, or those who cannot afford an automobile, or the disabled who cannot drive?  This is what is referred to as a "food desert" and unfortunately it impacts those who can least afford it, both in terms of finances and health.  A couple of years ago Scientific American ran a cover feature about this, I've included the link below.  Most of us are aware enough to know this happens in the inner city, but would we suspect it happens in rural farming regions? This experience has me pondering my own food habits and leads me to pose a few questions for readers.
  1. Where do you get your food?  Local grocery stores? Farmers' Markets? Stands?  Chain supermarkets? Local artisan shops?  (I buy local produce at the local family supermarket where the prices are best and the produce cheapest--as compared to the farmers market).
  2. Have online stores improved your ability to eat healthy?  Two of my favorites: Swanson Vitamins and DrVita.com offer health foods, like specialty flours, organic cacao nibs, and coconut oil at lower prices.  And, of course, there is Amazon.  I get my dried shiitaki mushrooms in bulk from them.
  3. How much of your food can you make yourself? No-knead artisan bread is a great place to start. There are tons of recipes on the web.  Even I have managed to master a good cinnamon raisin that is really filled with raisins.
  4. What restaurants do you frequent?  Can more of your business go to local establishments, ethnic food places, or places that focus on healthier fare?

Depending on your geographic location, you may live in a desert or a grassland when it comes to food choices. Thankfully, more options exist than used to, but that doesn't necessarily help those without means or mobility.  This isn't a problem with an overnight solution, but if we consider our food choices more carefully we can support and grow an economy that will hopefully provide better for everyone and increase our national health.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/high-and-dry-in-the-food/

Artfully yours (and laying off the pie)-- Lisabeth
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Feeling a little italian

7/15/2014

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Me ordering a cappuccino from our favorite barista
Since returning from my trip to Rome and Tuscany, I've been feeling "a little Italian."  More pointedly, I've been trying to incorporate some of the best elements of what I experienced in Italy into my daily life without spending a ton of money our being unrealistic.  To my mind, this is what makes travel transforming and expanding.  I've read lots of travel memoirs, including Frances Mayes' many works on Tuscany.  I adore her facility with language and appreciate her insights into adopting another culture, but let's get real: I won't be purchasing a villa in Italy or shipping back expensive antiques or opening my own winery.  Her work deals with the art of transformation, but on a grandiose, high-budget scale.  Most of us cannot fathom or manage such life-changing projects and I would argue that we don't have to.  My "coffee quest" illustrates the point.

Everyday in Rome, my husband and I went to this little coffee bar around the corner and had a cappuccino and a pastry to start our morning.  (I'm not continuing the pastry habit, since that wouldn't be good for me, and to be honest, I only like pastry when traveling). However, I noticed that having a good cappuccino in the morning was a truly nice way to start the day and seemed to have a better effect on me physically and mentally than the cups of drip coffee with no sugar--but way too much cream--that I have been normally slugging down each day.  Part of this has to do with the quality of the coffee (hotter, fresher, stronger) and the fact that heating the milk makes it far more digestible.  (Look into a pan in which you've heated milk and you'll see the solids left behind--clean right away if you know what is good for you!)  Part of the joy I experienced with my Italian coffee was the ritual and part was the product.  Now I had to figure out, how do I replicate this at home?

Being an academic, my first line of attack is always to dive into research.  I went on Amazon and started investigating espresso makers.  Whoa--even I was not prepared for the deluge of information.  What distressed me most was the variety of opinions out there and the amount of specific, negative feedback on nearly every machine regardless of price.  I came to the conclusion that I could spend a lot of money on a piece of equipment that produced a lukewarm, weak cup of coffee.  

And here's the thing: I'm cheap and not looking to spend a fortune, especially without guaranteed results.  With my research, I kept coming back to simplicity.  Why not try the traditional Bialetti espresso pot? These little beauties, made of aluminum with a bakelite handle have been gracing European kitchens since 1933.  They've become so iconic that you'll see them displayed in houseware exhibits at Museums like the Victoria & Albert in London or the Cooper-Hewitt in New York.  Best of all, they can be had easily for under $50 and operate right on your stove burner.  Now my problem was how to get that frothy milk that makes the drink special?  Again, I hit the sites.  The expensive machines come with a steaming frother function, but if I wasn't going that route then how was I going to emulate the results?  There were independent frothers that looked like French presses, but I thought--how many pots and pans do I want to dirty for a cup of cappuccino?  IKEA came to the rescue. They sell a tiny, efficient hand-held frother that could be shipped to me for under $7.  As luck would have it, my father had a large Bialetti pot that he'd bought years ago that he was willing to let go since he also has a Starbucks espresso maker.  

Away I went with my experiment!  I found the frother delightfully easy and light.  The Bialetti pot makes coffee quickly and piping hot. Cleanup is easy and I don't have devote a bunch of counter space to a machine.  I top our cappuccinos with some ground cinnamon (naturally sweet and good for balancing blood sugar).  Now, we wake up eager to go make and enjoy our morning coffee.  Each cup takes us back to our awesome vacation.  What's the "take-away" from this?  Two things: little changes in daily routine can have a big impact in terms of quality of life AND there is nearly always a cheap and easy solution to getting what you want if you put thought and energy into engineering your final results.  

As always, I'll leave you with some exercises to play with:
  1. Think back upon your favorite vacations, make a list.  What are the small things about each trip/place/culture that made you happy? (Examples: the peace and quiet, the hustle and bustle, good artisan bread, the sound of waves, the way people dressed, the music, the nightlife, the museums, a regional dish--you get the idea).
  2. Now get specific.  For example, if your answer was "the music I heard"--what kind of music? (Cajun, country, improvisational jazz, grunge).  If the answer was "the food I ate"--what dishes, seasonings, atmosphere?
  3. Now figure out how to incorporate it into your life.  This could mean buying a cd/mp3 recording, finding local venues with live music, looking for a recipe, baking bread weekly, buying an alarm clock that wakes you up with the sound of waves, or changing your morning coffee ritual. :)  Think small, inexpensive, and easy.  Have fun with the quest.
  4. Now DO IT.  You may not be able to afford a lakefront vacation cabin, but how about re-making your family room to resemble a lodge?  How about nature sound cd's that take you to that place?  How about a screensaver with a lake scene?  How about a couple of freshwater fish recipes that remind you of that time--like a simple pan-friend trout?  You get the idea.

Let your travel transform you in small but meaningful ways.  This is the best part of the experience and makes it worth the money, time and energy.  Why spend hundreds, even thousands, of dollars without long-term benefit?  Capitalize on your investment and alter your life for the better!

Artfully Yours--Lisabeth

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coming home

7/3/2014

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My husband and I spent the last couple of weeks traveling in the Tuscan region of Italy.  We started our trip with a few days in Rome, taking in the archaeology, art and history, and then moved on to a walking tour of small towns in the Maremma (the more southern, wilder part of Tuscany).  There we not only took beautiful hikes, but also saw the remains of Etruscan civilizations, including "sacred" walkways, necropolises, and temples.  We visited plenty of chapels that had been built in the middles ages, and then renovated and restored in the Renaissance, sitting and meditating and lighting candles for lost loved ones.  We ended our sojourn with a day at Ostia Antica, ogling this particularly prolific archaeological site that includes incredible standing ruins from both the Republican and Imperial periods of Roman history.  We loved the challenging walking, the gorgeous countryside, the mystery of the history we encountered, the language we heard, and the food and customs we sampled.  

As we always do when we travel, we tried our best to use the language for functioning (pathetic as our attempts were) and to adapt to local cuisines and traditions.  My husband's most memorable phrase: "I've locked myself out of my room."  I liked ordering coffees at the bar, drinking them standing up, right there, so as to get the cheaper price that Italians pay.  I love my espresso with one packet of sugar and a small glass of water "frizzante" (with gas).  We learned that melon and ham really do marry together well, and that the Italians never have dinner before 8:00 pm (which is when restaurants open).  We were surprised to see young children arriving with their families for dinner on Saturday night at 9:30--my daughter has always insisted she be home by then to bathe, read and go to bed and she will not bend on this!  Also, nearly ALL European women wear a bikini, regardless of age or body shape.  I felt like a real granny in my black "one-piece" and immediately purchased a two-piece online upon return.  We'll see how that turns out.  We loved the lighter pizzas--no "meat lovers'" or "stuffed crust" here, and the wild boar sauce on pasta.  I cannot imagine anything that would quite capture that taste in North America.  

Travel also involves a lot of challenges.  Besides the language, our bodies hate air travel (especially a really long, uncomfortable flight where someone early in the going left their underwear on the floor in the bathroom--not kidding).  New foods, different meal times, various sleeping environments--all can throw us out of sync.  Sights you want to see are often mobbed with tourists, or not open when you need them to be.  In other words, the mind-expanding experiences and memories don't come for free or easily.  However, despite the difficulties, it occurs to me that there are two advantages to travel:


One--learning and borrowing the best of a culture 

Two--coming home to new appreciation for your own place and space

So, with these ideas in mind, here are a few thoughts--

The things we want to take away from Italian culture:
  • An appreciation for pleasure and relaxation (one of the best days we spent was at a thermal spring spa doing nothing but soaking in the warm sulphur water, lounging and enjoying the view over olive groves).
  • An appreciation for quality over quantity with coffee.  I'm going to try to perfect my espresso/cappuccino making with an old-fashioned Bialetti pot and a battery-operated milk frother from IKEA.  Get away from the "mega-mugs" of joe that leave me running to the bathroom six times before noon!
  • We are going to invest in a hand-crank pasta maker and try our hand at making fresh pastas and raviolis.  Why not--it's the adult version of Play-doh.
  • We will continue to enjoy dining "al fresco" this summer and fall, weather permitting.
  • I've gained a new taste for the refreshment of sparkling mineral water.  Since I don't drink alcohol, this is a truly elegant, healthy alternative.  I will say, European bottlers don't add as much carbonation and I think the lighter bubbles are preferable.  My local grocery stores own label brand seems to replicate this better than the internationally-known brands sold here.

The things we have a renewed appreciation for at home:
  • The prettiness and cleanliness of our town.  Rome is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world in terms of the unbeatable historical resources, centuries of architecture and art. However, the graffiti and garbage that have been allowed to proliferate are a national disgrace. Romans need to get outraged about this and demand better service from their government.  I came home appreciating the neatness of my town and pride in its surroundings.
  • The availability of fresh fruits and vegetables.  It is tough to get fresh produce when you travel and for all their emphasis on food, Italians don't place too much importance on vegetables and salads which seem to be more of an afterthought.  I'm happy to be eating lighter and fresher again with access to my local market.
  • My local flora and fauna.  When I left, many of my plants were fledgling.  I was pondering what I would replace the 20-year old grapevine on my arbor with--but voila, I came back to a lush green jungle.  Additionally, the birds, squirrels, chipmunks and bunnies are happy to have us home again filling up the birdbath and feeders and have rewarded us with a lively show. Our favorite episode--a cardinal couple feeding their adolescent child seed.
  • Fourth of July Celebrations--fireworks never cease to thrill no matter my age.

I'll leave you with Mary Oliver's poem which captures the attachment to home and the spark of recognition we feel as we return to place.

Coming Home
by Mary Oliver

When we are driving in the dark,
on the long road to Provincetown,
when we are weary,
when the buildings and the scrub pines lose their familiar look,
I imagine us rising from the speeding car.
I imagine us seeing everything from another place--
the top of one of the pale dunes, or the deep and nameless
fields of the sea.
And what we see is a world that cannot cherish us,
but which we cherish.
And what we see is our life moving like that
along the dark edges of everything,
headlights sweeping the blackness,
believing in a thousand fragile and unprovable things.
Looking out for sorrow,
slowing down for happiness,
making all the right turns
right down to the thumping barriers to the sea,
the swirling waves,
the narrow streets, the houses,
the past, the future,
the doorway that belongs
to you and me. *

*http://www.dotwebb.com/drdot/cominghome_oliver.html


Happy to be home, and artfully yours-- Lisabeth (a little piece of my garden below)


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    Lisabeth Robinson

    I have been an educator for 20 years.  I create, I play, I guide and I grow.  I want to share that with you too!

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