Category Archives: Editorial

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Fog

Posted on January 29, 2013 | Leave a comment

The fog comes

on little cat feet.

It sits looking

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on.

– Carl Sandburg

That is today along the Lake. it has come in and out dozens of times giving an eerie presence in record-high temperatures.

I did a study of Chicago at age nine, with this poem and also about “hog butcher for the world” and a collage of Chicago photos. I don’t recall how I did on the paper, of course an A+ was expected and deserved. But there is a reason I remember this paper, for the poetry and for allowing myself to show that I’m smart.

Back then, girls couldn’t be “cool” if they were smart. This was when I was interested in horses and dogs, not boys. You can’t take shop because you’re a girl, so stop asking. You must take home ec with the other girls. So I read, a lot at home. And summers I took off my shoes and was a tomboy climbing 150 feet down to the creek every day and playing baseball with the two neighbor boys, ghost men everywhere!

And swimming. And brillo’ing my father’s 1964 red Buick Special coupe. I was working on his whitewall tires and saw tar on his doors so used the steel wool to buff it out. Man, was he upset! We’re now in a place where someone before us took steel wool to the stainless appliances. When we move out I’ll tell this story – it certainly wasn’t me as I learned that lesson at age eight!

It’s interesting, childhood memories. The fog is out again and it’s raining. I’ll never forget those poems. Cheers, Dee

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Happy Anniversary, Honey!

Posted on January 25, 2013 | 4 comments

Yes, it’s ten years today so hubby arranged for an after work phone conference on a Friday night.

I got him/us two presents. The first was finding and framing the personalized luncheon menu from our wedding. That is beautifully done and has already been presented.

The second was going through storage just now and bringing him our humidifier because it is so dry here he’s awakened to nose bleeds the past two nights. Think of it this way, it’ll save me from washing the sheets and pillowcases every day! Some kind of expensive gift, it only cost me next month’s storage fee so I got to check that off my list as well.

What is planned? Absolutely nothing. We thought of putting it off so I could actually have my first date for Valentines, our own Hallmark moment. Romantics, aren’t we. What is the tenth anniversary gift? I’ll have to look it up.

Perhaps we can renew our vows at our 25th so no-one can disapprove of us eloping in the first place. Maybe cowgirl boots will be designed to fit me by then. There’s no way I’m going to slice off my little toes to fit into Jimmy Choo’s or the cowboy boots they’d have to make for me today.

Thanks for reading, and love to my dear husband who has to put up with me and the dog every day! Best wishes to all family and friends. Raise a glass! Dee

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Kitchen Witch

Posted on January 24, 2013 | Leave a comment

The good luck charm is supposed to be San Lorenzo, of course. I’ve actually looked for paintings or statues and have not found them.

So I settled for better. I have the Virgin Mary looking down on me, from Da Vinci. Of course it’s a tourist print that I framed and she is serene and beatific. I also have a fan by Halbrund of a Degas from the Staatsgallerie Stuttgart, a photo of fresh peaches at a farmers’ market from Montreal, and a 1991 NYTimes article of bungled or over-complicated restaurant menu terms.

These, along with my many knives on a wall-mounted magnetic rack below, bring me peace and tranquility as I cook our meals.

My “office” is a corner with a view. While I will move it and finish the space right now I have three office witches. My old cat Nathan, who I got as a surprise 3,000 miles away at five weeks of age. He fell off the 7′ shelf in the garage he was born in, and was rejected by his real mother so came to me for 13 years. I’ve a photo of him serene on his monogrammed bean bag bed in the California sunshine.

Then there’s a holiday ornament of a Yellow Lab with angel wings and a halo. That would be Chani, my first dog. Chani and Nathan got along well and both have been gone for over a decade. Nathan always got the last word in a discussion, until I held him when he was dead. Chani was severely abused but got over it. The neighborhood put up a tree in “her” park in her honor after her death at age 12.

The animals keep me grounded as an older “single gal” and let me know my volunteering on their behalf has not been in vain.

Then there’s me, at about 18 months of age with all possibilities available. I look at that tiny photo whenever I’m afraid of change or moving forward. That little girl in the pink snowsuit out in the cold could, and can, change the world. She may have already done so.

What is your good luck charm? Please don’t say a rabbit’s foot. Cheers! Dee

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Pizza Dough

Posted on January 24, 2013 | 1 comment

People are always amazed that our Friday night “Pizza Night” consists of pizza I make from scratch. They ask if I even made the dough. Of course!

I learned to make pizza dough when my mother got a cuisinart food processor in the seventies. It was so easy!

Since then I’ve lived in many different climates with incredibly high or low humidity so do it by feel, and have changed things. I keep a jar of yeast, not packets and have never found or used fresh yeast or rapid rise yeast. Just an old fashioned gal, I guess.

For two pizzas, cookie sheet sized (rectangular): 1C whole wheat flour; 2C unbleached white flour; and 1t salt in a food processor (I’ve switched to Kitchenaid). Mix 1C tepid (baby milk temperature) water with 1T yeast, a pinch of sugar and flour and 1T olive oil.

Pulse the dry ingredients and drizzle in the yeast mixture. Let the dough form a ball, adding drops of additional water as needed, 25 times around and stop. Wait five minutes. Go another 25 times around the bowl and stop, pour onto a floured counter and knead for a minute and form into a ball. It should bounce back when you touch it with your finger.

Place in a bowl and cover with a damp, clean kitchen towel and put in a warm place for 90 minutes. I prefer the microwave, off of course.

Remove, divide into two equal portions – a bench scraper works well here – and knead each segment rolling it back on itself then forming tight balls. Flour over and under and cover with the bowl you used to proof the dough for ten minutes.

Roll to size, I prefer a straight wooden pin and cut off excess with a rolling cutter. I find that not only is the whole wheat healthier, it gives the dough the ability to stretch and stay stretched and makes quick work of rolling it out.

The toppings are endless so don’t get me started. I’d be more creative if my husband didn’t like cheese, pepperoni and sauteed mushrooms. We did have a participatory pizza party with guests which was fun. I don’t normally use tomato sauce.

Ideas: sliced parboiled potatoes, rosemary and fontina. Sauteed spinach, roasted garlic and feta. Roasted butternut squash slices with gorgonzole dolce. Pissaladiere with caramelized onions topped with anchovies (sliced small, it’s a great appetizer). Think up the best things from your childhood and make a pizza. Just make sure that if anything cannot cook in time, roast or saute it beforehand. Likewise if something is going to give off a lot of moisture, like mushrooms or onions, saute them first until their water is nearly gone.

Cheeses are always an issue and the cheese lady at the local market told me to use fresh mozz but slice it and dry it on paper towels so it makes for a tasty, not soggy, pizza. After all, you spent time making that dough and you want it to be crisp and tasty! Hoping that you get the kids involved, come on, it’s only another load of flour-coated shirts… and enjoy my time-tested climate-change dough recipe.

Cook in at least a 450 degree oven for ten minutes, turning the pans halfway through and changing oven shelves. Wait for the cheese to melt and brown, and for the crust to pull away from the sides of the pan. Let sit for five minutes, cut with your roller and enjoy! Cheers, Dee

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The Big Picture

Posted on January 22, 2013 | Leave a comment

I always love this film directed by Christopher Guest starring Kevin Bacon and a lot of upcoming stars. btw, Director Guest, I loved you as the six-fingered swordsman, and all your films.

It tells you how to be true to your self and see the big picture, not dwell on popularity, self-involvement, details or money.

Forget about television, the more channels there are the less there is to see. What I read is all about crazy things like “reality” shows and “news.” They dish dirt.

Most who write (for those few that still read) do so about small things because we tweet and have very short attention spans. While I must do small things like paying bills and cooking, I like to see the big picture.

It’s a comprehensive picture where people have food and jobs and we have equality between people. There are serious issues that our elected representatives need to address. To do so, they must first talk to one another.

Let us all hope that today’s reconciliation Inauguration is not in vain. These senators and members of congress attend as a public duty. It is the people in this representative democracy that will make things happen.

Do you need a crosswalk in your neighborhood? You have a computer. Look it up and if the municipality will not help, find out who to call and do it. Your child’s life may be at stake.

Most of all, VOTE! I don’t care what party you vote for, just register, do your public duty and privilege, and vote. If you saw the inauguration today, you must know that living in a democracy is a privilege. Yes, we also have rights that are guaranteed and protected by a Constitution.

We’re embroiled in unnecessary wars and no matter what people say, we’re still in a recession. We need jobs and that is not a government function unless you work for the government. Companies need to re-train employees and plan for the future.

What happens in an economic crisis? We taxpayers bail out companies who then hold that money and pay themselves bonuses while we lose our jobs and homes.

Think about the big picture, where we all get involved in whatever matters to us and make a difference. Cheers to the future, Dee

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My Fajitas

Posted on January 21, 2013 | 1 comment

I’ve never looked up a recipe for fajitas so please do not expect this to be truly authentic. Yesterday, I changed it up a bit and it was a hit with my husband. No, the dog didn’t get any of it! She’s spoiled enough as it is.

As it was a Sunday, I had some time. I always like to prepare all the veggies first then cut up the meat and marinate it, in order to prevent cross-contamination.

Cooking for two, I started with an orange and a yellow sweet bell pepper, rinsed and sliced, also one red onion, thinly sliced. Then I sliced up two boneless, skinless chicken breast halves and tossed them with the juice of two limes, about 1/2 to 1 tsp. Ancho chili powder and the same amount of ground cumin, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix, cover and set aside for an hour.

I use large flour tortillas and dry-toast them in a large skillet, moving each to a plate then covering to keep warm. Heat oil in the same pan, and add all the vegetables and cook until caramelized, about 20 minutes, season with salt and pepper along the way. Then add the chicken, draining it from the lime juice and cook until just done.

Serve with condiments like guacamole (mine is with avocados, lime juice, salt and pepper and a bit of salsa), salsa, perhaps cheese, sour cream, lime wedges.

I usually just put a pinch of cayenne pepper in my chicken marinade but this time used freshly purchased (penzeys.com) dried Ancho and cumin powders that made for a difference in flavor and, hours later, our home smells like dirty socks (the cumin) and it’s about six degrees outside so cannot open the windows!

There were a couple of tablespoons of vegetables left over which I saved for an omelet. Disclosure: tomatoes didn’t look that good so I sometimes get a fresh pico de gallo. Not wishing to go to another grocery for that, I opted for bottled salsa which was OK but it is the middle of winter so forgive me.

I like to just set up the fixings on the counter and we make a plate for ourselves. It may not be traditional but the smokiness and flavors are there and I haven’t made this in a year so hubby was happy to enjoy the dish once again.

Many of us get into food ruts where we make the same dishes regularly. I really miss the farmers market that delivered to my door a large box of whatever was fresh that week. That was a challenge for me to work through, especially in long cold winters with only hard squashes and onions and carrots. All very fresh.

For now, changing up spices or ingredients sometimes makes a routine meal more special. My husband loves meat loaf and hates leftovers, but that cold meat loaf sandwich for lunch the next day is the best thing he’s ever had!

This week marks our tenth wedding anniversary and I found the menu from our reception luncheon that the restaurant personalized with our names, hearts and rings, and had it framed for us. No meat loaf or fajitas, just good Italian food. Cheers, Dee

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Civility

Posted on January 17, 2013 | 2 comments

This quality seems to be in short supply these days. My husband is a Texan, and never fails to say yes ma’am or no, sir every time. I learned to write a thank-you note for everything and bring an apple for the teacher.

Yesterday I observed that in a state with vigorous laws against jaywalkers and warning motorists to stop for pedestrians, I’ve never seen either enforced or adhered to.

I’ve even stopped my car for a pedestrian on her cell phone in the street at a major crosswalk and she yelled at me and asked what I was looking at. Let’s just say she was not my generation and leave it at that. Rude.

Until today. It was about eight this morning and the dog and I went for our second morning walk (she’s a herder and it’s “routine”). En route home at a legitimate crosswalk a car came to a full stop and invited us to cross the street. Here for ten months, first time that has happened. I should have taken the license plate number and sent a thank you note. Sorry, Auntie L.

Here is your thank-you note. Thank you for not speeding on our street or honking your horn and gracious thanks especially for stopping your car and inviting an old lady and her old dog cross the street safely. May I or someone else provide a similar service for you one day soon. You made my morning! I even sang portions of Oklahoma, and Do Re Mi! In public – yeah, sorry about that.

This is the cosmic “point system” at work. Ten years of marriage and my husband still likes to open the car door for me. Dog Zoe and I still see him off, each with a high five (well, she’s still learning, I’d hoped for more of a Lassie but we’ll work on it). Do unto others…

Help “newbies” get the lay of the land with a homemade dinner (with plates, silverware and pots) while they open boxes, bring soup and crackers to folks with the flu, band-aids or herbal regimens when needed. Chili, omelets, dog walking, cat sitting, volunteering: I’ve done it all.

My points are accumulating. Hopefully they’re all stored up somewhere so we can use them if needed one day. So, say please and thank you, be gracious and civil and teach your kids to do the same and it’ll be a better world. Thank you for reading my blog, have a tremendous day. Dee

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Studies

Posted on January 17, 2013 | Leave a comment

The dog and I had people here today and needed to get out of the way for longer than we thought so went to the den and closed the door. I opened an old art book and out fell four of five pages from a long-lost study I did of Renaissance art.

Fr. Murphy brought out my love of art over the ages through college Art History and my family nurtured it with many vacations to Florence, my favorite city.

My study was about the Annunciation, the moment the Virgin Mary learned that she would be the mother of the Son of God. I know, it doesn’t sound like me. But this was before the internet and I visited all I could and researched others and have not seen this in many years.

What strikes me is that for a 16 year-old girl afraid of writing a 20 page thesis to graduate from high school, I just researched this and made notes on my own, for fun. Why do I blog? In high school or college it would take me hours to write 500 words. Now I can do it in under 20 minutes. It’s a challenge and it’s fun. And as an added benefit, the people I meet are interesting and amazing.

Thank you, dear reader, for making my day today. Also looking at me are a photo of my first cat Nathan who I had for 13 years, me at one year old in a pink snowsuit being inquisitive and fearless, and an ornament of my first dog with angel wings and a halo. Am I a glass half full kinda gal? You betcha. Stay with us. Cheers! Dee

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Saviors

Posted on January 17, 2013 | Leave a comment

I think all of us have them, we just may not know it. As a child I thought I challenged boundaries and survived to tell the tales. As a little kid I walked off the dock at a lake in Michigan. The water was over my head. I stood on the sand and looked up and saw the sun. I didn’t swim. Dad ran out on the dock and pulled me out. Savior.

When my brother was 16 I had him come visit for his birthday. We went up into the Adirondacks at 3:00 a.m. and donned wet wetsuits for 40 degree water and went down Class V rapids.

We hit a rock and I was bumped out of the raft and immediately placed my feet downstream and my paddle across my chest. After they rescued me, we got into an eddy and were all almost sucked under. Of course my brother was now in another raft.

I was cool as a cucumber and didn’t think anything of it until I heard the guides, 20 minutes later as we were safely ensconced on an island for lunch and the best chicken broth I’ve ever eaten, that by rescuing me we all almost died.

It was then my entire body started shaking and I realized what peril I placed us in. The afternoon was warm and sunny and we all dried out and paddled some calm waters before a steak and baked potato feast. All in all, I think my brother had a memorable birthday. I had a savior and don’t even know his name.

We do not live a life of danger, cliff-climbing, mountaineering. But things happen every day that change our lives and some leave. I mean leave life because of scary things, and choose to take their own, sometimes taking others.

We will never do that. We will fight for our family and probably not go into Class V rapids again, though we did do Class IV a few years ago together with a guide. Luckily we didn’t bring the dog and the guide did most of the paddling. The river we were on usually takes 5 hours to traverse. Our trip took two. That’s how fast the water was.

Cheers and y’all have a great day and think about the teachers, mentors, parents and others who’ve saved you. Dee

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Danish Kringle

Posted on January 15, 2013 | Leave a comment

I’ve never had it before yesterday, when a friend came to breakfast and brought one. Surely the company will know that everyone here tried it and will be headed your way!

Sweets for breakfast? No for me. But this was exceptional. I immediately ditched the challah and rye bread. The “Danish pastries” of my youth and adulthood were put to shame by this exquisite pastry.

There is no remuneration for me or my friend for recommending this pastry by mail order at 800-709-4009. Heat it up and eat it quickly lest your neighbors stop by to slyly ask to borrow a cup of sugar.

My recipe is to have at least two on hand and have everyone over for tea and juice and… Danish Kringle. Happy eating, Dee

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