We’re used to seeing ducks, cormorants, geese, eagles, and herons fishing in the river behind our home. Today I saw something completely different. I saw some ripples near the shore, indicative of some bird looking for lunch. What I was not expecting was to see a crow surface with a minnow in its beak. I told Julian about what I saw. As usual, he was skeptical – until he saw it himself. Crows are known to be extremely intelligent, but this bird had to have learned it from watching the other birds fish. Nature will always surprise me.
Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/12/08/diving-crows/
Dec 07
How Do I Like Them Apples?
As with applesauce apples, I have strong opinions on eating apples. The latest fad in apple varieties is super-sweet. Witness the popularity of the Honeycrisp variety. I bought some Sugar Bee apples a week or two ago, and they were even sweeter than Honeycrisps. I prefer my apples crunchy with a tart edge. Perhaps tastes will swing back my way – eventually.
Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/12/07/how-do-i-like-them-apples/
Dec 07
Paris Packing
We’re traveling to Paris for a quick vacation. This was a spur-of-the-moment decision and came together surprisingly fast. Julian made the plane reservations and rented the apartment we were in last year within a 48-hour span.
Going to Paris this year may be a little different, thanks to the “yellow vest” riots. President Macron increased taxes on fuel. These, combined with reduced buying power, have mobilized the citizenry to protest. So these developments have forced us to pack alternate items in our suitcases. Julian had these suggestions:
- Swim goggles, to protect eyes against tear gas;
- Bandanas, to protect the nose and mouth against same;
- My glasses, since tear gas and contact lenses are a bad combination;
- Nothing that could be mistaken for a yellow vest. (Julian has a yellow and silver rain jacket.)
And my mother is worried about terrorists?
Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/12/07/paris-packing/
Dec 01
Compassion and Children
I believe that the status of children is a key performance indicator (to use an MBA term) of an administration. Children are faring very poorly these days. A few examples:
- Separation of immigrant children from their parents.
- Housing these children in facilities that are eerily reminiscent of the World War II-era internment camps.
- Tear-gassing small children as they and their families are trying to cross the border.
- The number of uninsured children already in this country has increased.
No amount of “Be Best” Christmas ornaments in the White House can camouflage the record of the Occupant-in-Chief.
Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/12/01/compassion-and-children/
Nov 25
Staying Warm
Ah, the good old days. When something broke, we’d call the landlord. Now when something breaks, we realize WE’RE the landlords.
On Friday I noticed that the condo was cold. I looked at the thermostat and it said the inside temp was 62°. A little investigation by Julian revealed that the igniter for the gas furnace wasn’t igniting. The water heater and gas dryer were working fine. Naturally, this happened Thanksgiving weekend, when most self-respecting furnace repair folks are drinking mai tais on Maui. Puget Sound Energy sent over a gentleman today. Unfortunately, he’s not licensed to do any repairs and the utility’s techs who are don’t work weekends. One outfit that supposedly makes weekend calls wants $500 up front before walking in the door. Another repair outfit can’t fit us in until December 3. So we’ll shiver for at least one more night.
We’ve had a little experience with heat-less homes, mostly in conjunction with power outages. We had two ice storms when we lived in Greensboro that knocked out power for two days each. We piled every last blanket and comforter in the house on the bed and slept fully clothed. The second ice storm happened about a month before we moved to Seattle. We resorted to burning Julian’s father’s old business records, since we didn’t want to move them. One year’s worth of paperwork kept us warm for 15 minutes. The first night of that outage we heated Lean Cuisines for dinner in the gas grill.
With luck, I’ll come home to a warmer house tomorrow.
Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/11/25/staying-warm/
Nov 22
Today’s Feast
Thanksgiving is time for tradition with a twist. I made the usual cranberry-orange relish. I also made applesauce. Most of the apples were Braeburns, but I tossed in a Pink Lady and a Fuji that were languishing in the fruit drawer. This year’s twist: Later on I’ll roast some delicata squash, using a method I found in Cook’s Illustrated. Julian made the key lime pie while I was sleeping. We are guaranteed not to starve tonight.
Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/11/22/todays-feast/
Nov 22
Otters!
We are thankful to have a home that overlooks a river and a park, particularly at this time of year. The bald eagles are back from summering in the mountains. Mergansers and cormorants also return. The herons, mallards, and Canada geese are here year round, although I’ve yet to see the snow goose that slums with its cousins during the winter.
Today I saw something swimming low in the water heading for shore. I aimed the binoculars to where I saw the ripples and was treated to the sight of three otters cavorting on the riverbank. They weren’t on dry land long. It was the first time in quite a while that I’d seen an otter, let alone three of them, on the river. With luck, I’ll see them again over the holiday weekend.
Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/11/22/otters/
Nov 22
Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving is still my favorite holiday. While it’s difficult for some to conjure up reasons for gratitude in these times, I’m an optimist. Here is my list for this year:
- I’m thankful to live in this country. I believe our democracy has the resilience to withstand the current chaos. It’s survived a full-scale Civil War, in which over one million people died (number courtesy of Wikipedia).
- I’m thankful to live in a beautiful part of the world. When I can see Mount Rainier in the morning from Seattle, I know it will be a good day.
- I’m thankful for my family, and that my mother’s able to see her great-grandchildren grow.
- I’m thankful for 29 years with Julian. He’s a great cook and a wonderful traveling companion. His “seedy wry” sense of humor (pun from a mutual friend) never fails to crack me up.
- I’m thankful for my friends and coworkers, past and present, who immigrated to this country for education and opportunity. Not only have they enriched my life immeasurably, they’ve made great food for department potlucks – and given me recipes.
- I’m thankful for my far-flung friends who are only an email away.
- I’m thankful for my nearby friends and neighbors. We’ve gotten each other through 16 years of living and losses.
- I’m thankful for my congregation, which has given me the moral grounding to withstand the aforementioned 16 years of living and losses.
- I’m thankful to be healthy, bum knees notwithstanding. My maternal grandmother didn’t live to be my age.
- I’m thankful for meaningful work that helps save lives, and the caregivers of our patients. Everyone: Family, custodians, cooks, nurses, dietitians, technicians of all types, and physicians.
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.
Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/11/22/giving-thanks/
Nov 18
Take a Knee – PLEASE
Preferably my left one. Thursday morning I stood up and the knee locked. I eventually got it loosened up, but it locked up several more times during the day. A reverse house call to our friend Bruce resulted in a tentative diagnosis of a joint mouse, a small bit of cartilage or bone floating around in the knee and wreaking havoc.
The mouse can be removed arthroscopically – provided I can see an orthopedic surgeon. The next day I tried to get an appointment, but all three I contacted weren’t available. The closest thing I could get was an appointment with a physician’s assistant tomorrow. At least I can get the MRI scheduled. The bigger issue is that we’re leaving on vacation to Paris in less than three weeks. With Thanksgiving in the way, time is tight. The thought of sitting in an apartment in Paris while Julian’s off taking pictures is NOT my idea of a vacation.
The exam and the MRI were done today. The working diagnosis, based on the exam and x-rays, is a torn meniscus. I’m waiting to hear the results of the MRI.
Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/11/18/take-a-knee-please/
Nov 18
Hard Times for Food Porn
The consolidation of the magazine industry continues, and food publications are not immune. The personality-driven magazines (e.g., Rachael Ray, Martha Stewart) seem to be doing fine, but more general-interest publications are suffering. An acquaintance of mine lost her job at AllRecipes. Last week I was looking at my mail and noticed the headline on the latest Cooking Light: The Farewell Issue.
Next to Bon Appétit, I’ve subscribed to Cooking Light the longest, My friend Bernie turned me onto it when we were in grad school. At the time, it was a spinoff of Southern Living, the arbiter of taste below the Mason-Dixon Line. The recipes were reliable. It had an excellent stable of contributors over the years, including Andrea Nguyen and Eleanor Krieger. (My brush with fame: Eleanor was a student in the food science lab where I was a teaching assistant.)
Several years ago, Time-Life bought Southern Living, Cooking Light, and Sunset. All three got homogenized and lost some of their respective identities. Sunset was bought by a Western-based publisher and got some of its regional mojo back. Cooking Light was sold to Meredith, which also owns Eating Well. Two magazines in the same genre wasn’t sustainable; therefore, Cooking Light was axed. My subscription will be rolled over to Eating Well.
This probably won’t be the last magazine to fold up. Adieu, Cooking Light.
Permanent link to this article: http://ediblethoughts.com/2018/11/18/hard-times-for-food-porn/
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