Collage of Christmas Memories...

                                             Collage of Christmas Memories...

  Now that the ambiance of Christmas day still lingers in the air, and the wrapping paper and some gifts are still strewn about the house, along with remnants of cookies and other goodies...now is the time for a bit of reflection.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without love, reflected in the presence and faces of those nearest and dearest whether near or far away.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without family, and the joyful generosity of spirit.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without prayerful reflection on the gift of life, and the meaning behind the season.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without snow, but pictures of snow will have to do.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without the sending and receiving of cards and letters from friends, relatives and old college roommates.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without cutout, mincemeat and cream cheese cookies.

  It wouldn't be Christmas without creating memories through conversation, playing card games and going to visit certain Christmas light extravaganzas.

  Yesterday Christmas arrived in full force, bringing with it much joy and gratitude. The afterglow of Christmas fills our home with love, and hopefully radiates from it to others.

  As the deeper realities of Christmas begin to permeate my thoughts anew, I am thankful that each year with the gift that Christmas is, I am forced to slow down and contemplate deeper realities that will resonate within, and hopefully manifest themselves without for the twelve months to come.

 ~Kathy~

                                

Check out my other blogs:
www.kathy-dessertmania@blogspot.com
and
www.mertonthinker@blogspot.com

Real meaning of Christmas...

                                    
                           Real meaning of Christmas...


    I was just in a human maze of unbelievable proportions! It consisted of cars and people and merchandise, and an indoor shopping mall, and there were times when I wondered if I would get out in one piece physically and mentally. I have no one to blame but myself, as I decided to shop on a day equal to or worse than black Friday...which I avoid like the plague. There were moments of frustration, exhaustion, and jubilation, all within seconds or minutes of each other, but after two hours I had to call it quits for the day. I think I may still have a few brain cells left, and perhaps an ounce of patience. How do the store clerks pull it off day after day? Bless them!

  So, here I am in my cozy home at my computer, asking myself what did I just experience, and out of all that traffic, honking, glitter, tinsel and fakery, where is an inkling of the real meaning behind the season? I have been to most of the stores these past few weeks, picking away at my shopping list, and trying to remain calm and bright. It hasn't been easy when it takes forever to find a parking space, or what you are looking for is in every size but the one you need. One clue that people are frazzled and anxious these last days before Christmas is that very few shoppers are aware of the others around them in the store, or in the parking lot. 

  In all of this, I have caught glimpses here and there of a light in all of this mess out there, and it was in the form of one person helping another. Today at the mall, among a crowd of hundreds of bustling shoppers, a man slowly pushing the wheelchair of another person, so that person could shop was a highlight for me. 
That gave me a clue to the remedy for all the merchandise madness, which is to slow down. Is all this rushing around really necessary? Is going to five more stores really going to bring the real meaning of Christmas any closer to any of us, or will it just push it farther away?

  A simple act of caring, whether it be a word, smile, letter, card or visit, will do much more to bring to life what Christmas is all about.

  Wishing each one of you reading this a very special and meaningful Christmas.

~Kathy~

Reflections on baby Mary

                                                 Reflections on baby Mary

 Forget Christmas gifts for me this year, as right now I am holding the most precious gift of all...baby Mary. No material gifts can compare to the wonders of new life. Trying to see the world through the eyes of a baby brings us back to innocence, which brings us back to the divine. Holding a baby can remedy all ills, as one is taken into a simpler, more contemplative realm. How can this mental state not be beneficial for mankind? Don't we as humans have a deep seated need for a connection to eternal realities? Holding a baby makes this connection a reality, and forces one to slow down and become a little more contemplative in the process. Truly, holding a baby is the best Christmas gift, forcing me to slow down amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

~Kathy~

Grace, all grace....

                                                                Grace, all grace....



   Recently I was given a great gift. Not a material gift, but an interior gift. It came about in response to a phone call that I made to inquire about a nursing teaching position. The woman at the other end of the phone happened to be my former boss from eleven years ago. The phone call started the wheels rolling for me occupationally, but touched me at a deeper level. 

  There is some truth in the old saying that it's not what you know, but who you know. I have often discovered this saying to be true in my life. Sometimes its putting yourself in touch with the right person at the right time. More than that, it is grace, all grace.


~Kathy~

Can Baking Change the World?

                                Can Baking Change the World?



     I am asking this question because over the past few days I have come across two articles that propose the idea that baking can indeed change the world. The first article I read, from Food and Wine Magazine, Nov. 2011, states that "cookies can change the world." The article goes into how Cookies for Kid's Cancer was launched, which helps people organize bake sales to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Gretchen Holt-Witt went on to publish a cookbook titled Best Bake Sale Cookbook. All author proceeds go to Cookies for Kid's Cancer. This is one example of how baking cookies can raise needed funds for a worthy cause, and by doing so change the world for the better. 

    The other article related to the topic of baking potentially changing the world comes from Cooking Light Magazine, Nov. 2012. The title of the article hit me right between the eyes, and compelled me to bake a pie! Really. The article, "Pie as Holiday Therapy: Don't fret, the road to calm is through flour and fruit" was almost as satisfying as eating a piece of pie. The author of the article makes a strong connection between baking pies and the therapeutic elements involved in this timeless endeavor. 

    The author makes the point that baking pie evokes childhood memories of comfort and happiness. In addition, there is a sense of making something for others to enjoy, along with the therapeutic effect of doing something you really love to do. The author, Jennifer Drawbridge, states "one of the nicest things anyone can do for me when I'm feeling stressed is to ask me to bake a pie, or five pies, or twenty." I have baked 12 pies in one day to donate to a local Thanksgiving dinner, and it did feel good to give them away. I also fully agree that baking of any kind is a stress reliever, unless you are under pressure, with the clock is ticking, and the guests due to arrive any minute. I remember well how under these conditions, while baking an apple pie for my Dad and a cake from scratch for my Mom...I left the sugar out of the cake! Luckily the boiled frosting helped mask the forgotten sugar.

    I fully subscribe to this new mantra, and in our family, baking changes the mood, environment, and appetite of everyone in the home.

~Kathy~

Vintage Cookbook Discovery!

                               Vintage Cookbook Discovery !


  Recently I found myself browsing the shelves of a used bookstore, looking for
some items for baskets for a local charity fundraiser. For me this is potentially dangerous territory, being in a bookstore with time to browse the shelves. Suffice it to say that when in a bookstore, I can always find a book to buy, either for me or another person. On this particular day however, I confined myself to the cookbook section.

  Since I own a fairly large collection of cookbooks, it was nice to see many of them as I browsed each section...similar to meeting an old friend among a crowd of strangers. The classic standbys were present, such as Alice Waters and Julia Child and Jacques Pepin, but there were vintage regional cookbooks as well. My eye was drawn to a small thin blue volume, and as soon as I opened it up I knew I would be purchasing it for myself because of the literary connection to John Steinbeck. The title of the cookbook is The John Steinbeck House Cookbook, copyright 1984, which is filled with glorious photos of the Salinas Valley, along with recipes served at Steinbeck House. In addition, there are six pages of black and white Steinbeck family photographs. There is even a handwritten recipe attributed to John's mother from a cookbook she received as a bride. 

 After bringing the cookbook home and spending more time looking through it, I can't say there is anything particularly outstanding about the selection of recipes, except that they were served at the Steinbeck House. I do plan to try a few of them very soon, such as: chicken cheese enchiladas, praline cheesecake  apple kuchen and pumpkin mallow pie with gingersnap crust.

 A bit of research on the Steinbeck House, located at 132 Central Avenue, Salinas, CA 93901, reveals that this Queen Anne style Victorian was the birthplace and boyhood home of John Steinbeck, who wrote Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden, Cannery Row, The Red Pony, and Tortilla Flat among others. To get a sense of how Steinbeck was so masterful in creating mood and evoking sensory response to food, read Chapter 22 in The Grapes of Wrath.

 The Steinbeck House was built in Salinas in 1897, and the Steinbeck family moved into the house in 1900. The house was opened to the public as a restaurant on February 27, 1974, which was the 72nd anniversary of John Steinbeck's birth. In 1995 the house was designated as a literary landmark, and in 2000 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

~Kathy~

Shopping Mania has begun...

                                            Shopping Mania has begun...


  
   With the Grand Opening of Paragon Outlets in Livermore today, I found myself
driving to the new shopping center...just like thousands of other people. As I walked through the outdoor mall, and checked out a store here or there, I was
asking myself why I felt the desire to be here among all of these people. There was a sense of the upcoming holiday season in every store window, and a spirit of joy among the crowd, which was helped by the free peppermint chocolate from the Ghiradelli Factory Outlet.

  What is the driving force behind this mania to go to such a place on opening day? Is it fueled by relief that the election is finally over, and we no longer have to see negative campaign ads? Or is it the reality that there are only 47 shopping days left until Christmas. Maybe its the contagion of people spending money to buy gifts for others (or themselves) that is enticing. But maybe, just maybe it is just wanting to be in the know as to what shops there are, and what the hot trends seem to be. 

  All I know is it was enjoyable being part of a group of devoted shoppers of all ages and locations. I did manage to find a few gift items, but if the line was long I had no trouble setting things back on their racks and walking out the door. Given that the parking was out in a field, and there were many CHP traffic officers to direct the continuous stream of cars off of 580, no one really seemed to mind the wait. That patience will most likely wear thin in the coming weeks, but for today everyone was all smiles. 

~Kathy~

Unexpected Treasures...

                                                       Unexpected Treasures


   Some of the most profound experiences of my life started with something very small, such as a thought, idea, experience, or a chance meeting. In particular, meeting an elderly woman in need of a visitor, evolved into a deep and lasting friendship. Much as a worn pathway on a hike can lead to unexpected views, flora, or even a chance sighting of a treasure in the natural world, so too can people bring many gifts into our lives. 

   While in college at CSU Chico, I took it upon myself to volunteer some time reading to a legally blind woman. This woman and I became friends, and I call her my adopted grandmother. Over many years, she and I shared many hours together reading, shopping, and going to theater and musical events. I came to appreciate her wisdom, and her joy in the simple things of life. Even though she was legally blind, she managed to have a positive attitude, and lived life to the fullest. From my adopted grandmother I learned to slow down a bit, and take time for others. Her joy in life stemmed from a deep inner balance, seeing things in their proper perspective. She taught me not to get caught up in the small, petty and inconsequential things of daily life, but to develop a more omniscient view on events. She also taught me to be more reflective throughout the day, and to take my religious beliefs seriously. My adopted grandmother never complained about anything. This was exceptional to me, as I know that she had her aches and pains. 

   I lost my adopted grandmother over twelve years ago, and yet her memory is held deep within my spirit. As a nursing student at CSU Chico, I learned more practical wisdom from her than I could have learned from any textbook. My debt of gratitude to her knows no bounds. In life, there are many unexpected treasures awaiting us, whether it be a person, idea or experience. Sometimes even very negative experiences hold within them a wealth of wisdom. These gems light up our path through life, and dispel any darkness. 

~Kathy~

Healthcare Documentary "The Waiting Room"

                   Healthcare Documentary "The Waiting Room"

  Interestingly,this political season has provided a vast number of narrative stories from both major party candidates. It seems clear that personal stories tug at the heart strings of people from all walks of life. Some of my most treasured family memories are the stories that have been passed on to me from my parents. These stories create an emotional bridge with ancestors I never knew. They also function as a window or lens, through which I connect with who and where I am from. The power and value of stories to create connections between people is an ancient tradition. Every culture uses storytelling to pass on cultural traditions, values, recipes,and family history. 

  Each of us has his or her own stories to tell, and many powerful stories come from those who have health-related narratives to share. This is the raw material from which Bay Area filmmaker Peter Nicks created his documentary about Oakland's Highland Hospital, titled "The Waiting Room". Nicks, who earned his master's degree in documentary filmmaking at UC Berkeley, focuses on the narratives of the uninsured. 

  Using "The Waiting Room" as a launchpad, Nicks has started developing what he calls a "digital storytelling project" about the nation's healthcare system. He wants to examine what works, what doesn't and where to go from here by having ordinary people tell their own stories. The website, www.whatruwaitingfor.com is developing into a multimedia platform where people can share their stories using videos, comments, blogs and pictures. A tab at the top allows you to classify your story according to a specific emotion. The site also gives viewers an opportunity to choose particular themes, such as: access to care, violence and chronic disease, or others that may be relevant to them. 

  This project has reverberating effects into the developing medical community as the film and storytelling website are slated to be incorporated into medical school curriculums, universities and elsewhere, as part of an effort to expand the conversation about healthcare.

  The documentary "The Waiting Room" opens in the Bay Area on Friday October 19th at the Grand Lake in Oakland, Camera Cinemas in San Jose, and Sundance Kabuki in San Francisco.

~Kathy~
*Reference: Tri-Valley Times 10/18/12

Free Market Lesson...

                                                         


        Recently I had two experiences which caused me to stop and reflect on the pluses and minuses of the free market system. Many months ago I decided to try and sell some of my sewing and knitting projects at a local senior center craft shop. I was excited by the idea of having people purchase what I made, and I decided that my earnings would go to a local charity. 

     A few months went by, and none of my handmade clothing or knit baby washcloths were selling, and I was somewhat disappointed.Around this time, I decided to give some of the clothing I had made to an organization that provides clothes to the needy in our local community. I happened to be in the office on the day when a mom walked in asking for clothes for her 2-year old son. One of the things she needed was pajamas. She looked through the clothing drawers, and lovingly reached for the flannel pj's I had brought in that day. An indescribable feeling came over me, and even with the passage of 2 weeks since that day, I have difficulty putting into words what I felt at that moment. If pressed to articulate the feeling, I would say it was a combination of joy, gratitude, humility and pride all mixed together. Even though no one had purchased these pj's when they were on sale at the craft shop, I had been royally compensated for them from the look on the mothers' face when she chose them for her son.

     Since this experience, some of my craft items have found a buyer, and I have earned some monetary compensation. However, no monetary reward can compare to knowing that something I made is not only wanted, but really needed.

~Kathy~

Dimensions of Time...

                
         Time takes on new and varied dimensions when you are a parent of small children. The immediacy of needs causes time to take on an omniscient dimension, where everything is seen through a triage lens that deals with events in the order of importance. 
       
          Often an infant will have his/her days and nights mixed up, creating a time warp of sleepless nights for the parents. Nothing makes a day feel longer in my view, than being up several times during the night. The early morning hours have a pace all their own, where time seems to barely creep along, especially if you continue to look at a clock. The darkness and quiet are wonderful for reflection, but the brain is usually too tired to have any continuity of thought. If there is one concept that can get replayed in one's brain at such an early hour, it is the thought of getting back to sleep.

          Infant sleep patterns usually adjust to a more manageable pattern after the first few months after birth. Then the parents breath a sigh of relief that they won't have to be drowsy during the day, and sleepwalking throughout the night. Somehow the old adage to "sleep when the baby sleeps" never really works because that is the only time when the parent(s) can get anything done. 

          If there is anything I learned from taking care of infants it is this: everything can wait, because nothing is more important than being present to the needs of a child.

~Kathy~







      

Being a Grandmother aka "Cookie"

                                                                 Isabel and "Cookie"

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and I agree. I could write a book about being a grandmother...the differences between being a mother and a grandmother, the joys of celebrating each new milestone along the way, enjoying the growth and development and having the time and energy to spend focusing on one child.

Now that I have been blessed with two granddaughters, I am having double the fun being "Cookie"!
Isabel and I have done a lot of baking together over the years...mostly cookies, of course!During my visit here on the East Coast, we will be baking a Lemon Meringue Pie and peanut butter cookies.

Now that I have fully gotten into the hang of rocking a newborn, while reading a book to five year-old Isabel, I am beginning to remember the tiredness that comes over you at the end of the day. Don't get me wrong,it's a good kind of tired...from moving, rocking, consoling, and doing many small but necessary tasks throughout the day.

My time here with my two granddaughters has refreshed my memory about the importance of the small details of daily life. I had forgotten about the demands that a newborn makes on your time and energy. There are moments when it seems as if you will never have the time to read a book, or follow a recipe, but then as I
hold baby Mary and do a gentle bouncy walk...and she calms down...I wonder why I even cared about reading or trying to bake something. The nuances of the newborn are never-ending, and unpredictable, but there is nothing more precious!

Natural Rewards

                                                     Big Basin State Park



                                                        Natural Rewards

      Almost immediately, as one enters a natural habitat, the internal clock begins to tick more slowly. There is a sense that time takes on a completely different dimension. Thoughts of due dates, assignments or appointments fade away, as the mind slowly unwinds and begins to adopt the pace of the natural world. 

      Taking in the visual field before me I notice that to my right is a field of golden scrub grass blowing gently in the afternoon breeze, as the last rays of sunshine wash across this broad, glowing expanse. 
Looking up, I am surprised by the complex pattern of gnarled old oak limbs, with its expansive canopy from which jays and wrens roost, and woodpeckers create their characteristic designs on the ancient bark.

      The cool breeze wafts over me, and I inhale the woodland aroma of leaf, tree, lichen and earth. As the late afternoon shadows begin to lengthen, from the shrubs on my left I hear the rustle of underbrush, and into the clearing steps a doe and her fawn. Again I am reminded of the beauty of the natural world. My knitting and reading can't hold a candle to the immediate delights of Augustin Bernal Park.

       It is reluctantly that I realize it is time to leave this place of tranquil beauty. As I pack up my untouched knitting project and book, I feel I have received a very special gift of time enveloped in a heavenly place.

~Kathy~ 

Birthdays...

                                                                     Birthdays...


     Birthdays provide each of us with a built-in opportunity to reflect on our past, present and future. They are like stepping stones on our journey through life, giving us a reason to consider where we have been, and what we have learned. Then to take this self-knowledge and look at our life in the present, and ask ourselves why are we doing what we are doing. Birthdays also shine a light onto the future, and cause us to question where we are headed. 

     Recently I came across an article about birthdays, and the author shared his bucket list of things he wanted to do before he died. I read the article with interest, but found that I had difficulty connecting with this authors' bucket list. That is o.k., but it made me realize that everyone has a different set of priorities...even when faced with the thought of death. Birthdays can remind us of our mortality, but they are also a time to appreciate life, and the tremendous gift that it is. Life is such an awesome treasure. 

    As I get older, I have a deeper awareness of the rapid passage of time. This was brought home to me recently after I met a former co-worker from 32 years ago. My mind tried to flip back to the distant past, and I realized all the pivotal events that have helped to shape and form me over the course of these intervening years. Each one of us is a unique conglomeration of our lived experiences in many ways. Yet, these experiences do not define us, but are an integral part of the complexity of our being. 

~Kathy~ 

Deja Vu

                       
                                            Deja Vu


Recently I had the experience of running into a woman who I had worked with thirty two years ago. I didn't recognize or remember her, but she recognized me. 
I was very surprised that she remembered me, my name, my face, and the doctor that I worked with, and it took me back to those long-ago days when I worked in a doctor's office. 

This chance meeting set off a wave of filed away thoughts and memories about that time in my life when I was newly married, and didn't yet have the blessing of children. I was working my first day shift position as a nurse, so I was actually awake during the day for the first time in two years! 

Looking back, life seemed so simple, so focused, so unencumbered by outside events. There was a beauty in the uncluttered life, so to speak. I remember fully enjoying my work in that office, and really enjoying being an awake member of the working world. 

This chance encounter with another Kathy, raised a mirror reflection to my mind of how I saw myself in the earlier years of my life. This reflection took me back to a time when I saw life quite a bit differently than I do now. I saw things through very rosy lenses, which I no longer tend to do. Some of my nursing experiences in those years have stayed with me, and I even remember some of the difficult patients, and why they were challenging to deal with. I also remember the incessant phone calls from very demanding patients. 

As I reminisced with Kathy about those days in the office, I was also thinking about how she viewed me back then, versus how I am now. The catapult back to those years seems light years away from who I am now, and what I have learned since those office days. Thirty two years seems like an eternity!!

As we said goodbye, I sensed within me a fleeting nostalgia for my former self. There is a certain intangible quality that I wish I could recapture and bottle up. I don't fully know how to describe the essence of it. Maybe it is the naivete mixed with the ability to see always the best in every situation and person, without getting caught up in the myriad negative details. This realization is what has stayed with me since this random (or planned?) encounter. I have come to the humbling conclusion that I used to intuitively know much more than I currently do, and I need to recapture some aspects of my former self.

~Kathy~

New Life has Arrived!!!

                                                                  New Life has Arrived!


I am still wrapping my mind around the arrival into this world of our second grandchild. Baby Mary arrived last evening (East Coast time), and weighed in at 7  pounds 9 ounces! She is so beautiful!!! Whoever said that all newborns look like Winston Churchill needed their eyes checked...it is simply not true!

There is much more to be contemplated upon, and said in this blog on the awesome gift and responsibility of parenthood, but for now I think it is best just to savor these first few days after Mary's birth, and let it soak in that she is here at last!

This is a time of transformation for family and friends, as we are faced with the miracle of birth and new life. New parents are going through a tranformation as they adjust to new the new demands and schedules that a baby seems to bring with them. 

I wonder what Mary's'  personality and temperament will be. Will she be a sleeper, or awake day and night? How will she magically wrap each one of us around her tiny finger? How wonderful it is to fall in love with a baby! The adventure is just beginning!

~Kathy~ 

Awaiting New Life!

                                            Awaiting New Life!


These past few weeks I have been focused on the upcoming birth of our second grandchild, baby Mary. Waiting, hoping and praying for her safe arrival have given me an extra awareness of the sanctity of life, and of the sacred process of birth.  


Giving birth is a life transforming experience not only for the mother, but for the whole family and relatives and friends, as each one is touched by the transmission of new life. Seeing the baby through an ultrasound gives one a vivid idea of the confines of the uterus, and the miraculous development that has taken place inside. Yet, this glimpse into the mysterious world of the fetus leaves one wondering even more about what it must be like to be surrounded by amniotic fluid. One can only begin to imagine the sensory experiences of hearing everything through layers of tissue and fluid. Hearing the baby's heartbeat resonating through the medium of a doppler, so fast and rhythmic, reminds me of the vital role of the heart in being able to support all of the bodily functions.


In these last few days of awaiting the birth of baby Mary, I am experiencing gratitude for the gift of new life in our family. I am also experiencing a bit of nervousness about the birth, and all that it entails for the mother. The reward of bringing new life into the world is never without some pain, but this memory fades away as one beholds the supreme gift of a new life that has entered the world.

Pentagon 9-11 Memorial

Today I went to visit the September 11th Memorial at the Pentagon,which was open to the public on Sept. 11, 2008. This memorial was designed to remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy. The following pictures will give you a sense of the the beauty and solemnity of this memorial.

Each cantilevered bench is dedicated to three 9-11 victims, with a reflecting pool of water beneath each bench.

At night, each reflecting pool is illuminated, making a beautiful, surreal impression on the viewer.

Duarte's Tavern...

                                                                    Duarte's Tavern




In the small, coastal farming town of Pescadero, lives a California landmark, Duarte's Tavern-a family-owned institution that has been around since 1894. Duarte's is known for cream of artichoke soup, crab cioppino, baked oysters and their olallieberry pie. The James Beard Foundation named this tavern an American Classic in 2003.


Recently my husband and I made our way over to Half Moon Bay to escape the heat of the valley, and to enjoy the beauty of the coast and the ocean. Years ago we had heard about Duarte's Tavern, and have eaten there five times over the years. 


There is something very special about the place. I like its history, and how long it has been serving excellent home-cooked meals. I also enjoy the rustic, old west atmosphere. There is nothing that comes close to it. Sitting at a small table in one of the several rooms, you are flanked by huge taxidermied specimens of marlin, or antlered deer. In addition, Duarte's draws people from all over, as it is mentioned in almost every tour guide book I have ever checked. So, you will find locals as well as out-of-towners, or out-of-staters seated next to you, which always makes for interesting conversations.


The olallieberry pie is worth the drive to Pescadero. Olallieberries are harvested along the California central coast for only six to eight weeks in summer, usually starting in mid-June. Duarte's freezes at least 30,000 pounds each season in order to make this pie year-round.


 Save room for a slice of this pie, as it is divine! However, if like me, there is no room for it after a delectable meal, then you can make it yourself! I did just this after our recent visit, and it was very close to the original. Here is the recipe, which I found on-line:


Duarte's Olallieberry Pie     Serves 8


1 1/2 cups cake or pastry flour, plus 1/4 cup for filling


3/4 cup vegetable shortening


1/4 cup whole milk


1/8 tsp. salt


2 pounds fresh or defrosted frozen olallieberries


1 cup granulated sugar


1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.


2. In a large bowl, combine the flour and shortening. Using a handheld pastry blender, work the shortening into the flour, stopping as soon as pea-sized lumps form. Add the milk and salt, and stir with a spoon until the lumps combine to form a soft, easy-to-work dough. If it feels too dry, gently stir in one or two more teaspoons of shortening. 


3. Divide the dough into two equal pieces. Using your hands, gently shape one piece into a ball. The dough should be soft-even a little sticky. (If it feels dry, the crust will be hard.) If the dough seems too sticky, add a small amount of flour while rolling the dough ball a half dozen times in a circle with your hands until it holds together. Place the dough ball on a well-floured counter and flatten with a few quick strokes of a rolling pin. Flip the flattened piece, and roll it a few more times, adding a little flour to the pin if the dough sticks. Flip the dough again and continue rolling to form a circle of dough 9 to 10 inches in diameter, and up to 1/4 inch thick. Fold the dough circle in half, transfer it to a 9-inch pie pan, then unfold and trim the edge, leaving a 1/2-inch rim of dough around the pan.


4. In a medium-sized bowl, gently combine the olallieberries with the sugar and the remaining 1/4 cup of flour. Pour the berry mixture into the bottom crust.


5. Roll out the remaining dough for the top crust, and place it over the berries. Fold the edge of the top crust over the bottom crust, and seal the two together by pushing lightly with your fingertips. With a paring knife, cut a few slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape. 


6. Cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and set it on a low oven rack to catch drips from the pie. Place the pie in the center of a rack above it, and bake for 60-75 minutes, or until its golden brown and steaming. Allow the pie to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Reverence for Life...

                                              Yosemite 




 The beauty of a sunrise, sunset, lake, mountain or stream, resonates within the spirit, and calls for a response. For each person the response will be felt and interpreted in a unique way consistent with that persons experiences, beliefs and values. Even so, the reverberations felt within a person to the beauty of nature go very deeply into the core of our human nature, and how we were created.


Nature in all its glory, nurtures and refreshes the spirit. There is a slowing down of our internal motor when we come across a breathtaking view. This slowing down can be perceived physically in a decrease in blood pressure, pulse and respiration rates. There can be a sense of coming home to what matters most in life when ones visual field is full of a beautiful sunset (as in the above photo). All of the extraneous elements that distract us, or irritate, annoy, or in other ways disquiet our spirit, are somehow stripped away, and we are left focusing on the magnificence before us. It is in these precious moments that we get a glimpse of heaven on this earth. It is also in these moments that we can come to a deeper appreciation of the gift of life.  

Favorite Cookbooks...

                                              Kathy's Favorite Cookbooks


I own close to 50 cookbooks, which cover all types of international food, culinary techniques, and basic kitchen knowledge. Some of these cookbooks I have had for over 30 years, such as my Betty Crocker cookbook. Others I have owned for a short time, such as Lulu's Provencal Table, which was given to me by my father on Labor Day weekend 2010, when I visited my parents in Bend, Oregon.


My last post was about inspiration, and these cookbooks are where much of my inspiration comes from for cooking and baking. In addition, the magazine "Fine Cooking" also offers a wealth of information, excellent recipes, stunning pictures of succulent dishes, and wonderful tips on all kinds of problems that may arise while in the kitchen.


Recently I picked up a used copy of Elizabeth David's Mediterranean Food, which is quite a find from a used book sale because it goes into the history behind the recipes. Originally published in 1950, this little book is a treasure trove of historical knowledge, mixed with the expertise of a renowned chef. Elizabeth David was England's revered culinary authority, who revolutionized British cooking in the 1950's.


Marion Cunningham (of Walnut Creek) has written many great cookbooks, one of which I turn to several times a month when looking for a recipe from the past.The title of this cookbook is Lost Recipes, and I have made Joe's Special, Vegetable Frittata, Popovers and many others that remind me of the things my Mom would make when I was growing up.


I cannot leave out mentioning the Cafe Beaujolais Cookbook, written by Margaret Fox (former owner/chef at Cafe Beaujolais Restaurant in Mendocino, CA.) The Black Bean Chile recipe (which is what Julia Child ordered when she visited this restaurant in the early 1980's) is excellent! The Pumpkin Muffin recipe and Sour Cream Waffle recipe are also some of my favorites from this cookbook.


Related to the Cafe Beaujolais Cookbook is the cookbook titled Morning Food by Margaret Fox published in 2006. This dogeared book focuses on food that will make family and friends jump out of bed to get to the breakfast table first! My favorite recipe from this book is Buttermilk-Cinnamon Coffeecake, which the restaurant was known for. In addition, there are a large variety of waffle, french toast, and omelet recipes-Blue Cheese, Bacon, Apple and Walnut Omelette being my favorite.

In honor of chef Alice Waters, of Berkeley's Chez Panisse Restaurant fame, I must include one of her many cookbooks titled Chez Panisse Cooking, published in 1988.This book is a reference book for me. I have never made a single recipe from this book, but I have enjoyed reading it for ideas over the years. My Dad loved the restaurant, and knew Alice Waters. I remember eating there once as a teenager with my family.

I would be doing a great disservice to Julia Child if I didn't include her Mastering the Art of French Cooking in my list of all-time favorite cookbooks. I have only made one recipe from this massive book...Boeuf Bourguignon (beef stew in red wine, with bacon, onions and mushrooms). This recipe is worth the price of the book!! Guests have always loved it. It was one of the recipes I made for my parents when they would come for dinner. 

Related to Mastering the Art of French Cooking, is Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home. This is a delightful book that is co-written by both chefs, with each of them
weighing in their tips and advice for each recipe. They had a wonderful friendship, and it shines through in the pages of this 400 page cookbook that is filled with beautiful full-page photos. I just got my hands on this book, and plan to try something from it soon.

~Kathy~ 

Inspiration...

Lately I have been pondering this word inspiration because it is a word that is full of meaning for me. I often decide to take up a new hobby, or take a class,travel, or read a book because I am inspired to do so.In fact, I think that quite a bit of how, when or why I decide to do something is based upon this very word...inspiration. 


I am not entirely sure that this is a good thing, and yet I think it has become my mode of operation, and at this point in my life it would be difficult to change. I admire those who carefully plan and plot, weighing alternatives to decide the best course of action, while trying to address all options equally. Somehow these types of abilities skipped my DNA, or maybe that is just my excuse for not taking the needed time to weigh all options before making a decision.


Even so, I am content with how I arrive at decisions. Thus far in my life I think I have made very good, if not excellent choices. I don't want to leave out the reality that faith has played in my life, and it has been a huge factor on many levels. 


There are many people who have inspired me along the way as well. Notable among them are my parents, friends and adopted Grandmother. Patients I have cared for have also taught me so much about life, love, suffering and forgiveness.
My husband has also been influential in how I have made decisions and lived my life. Everyone needs a good listener and sounding board, and he has always been there for me.


Many factors play into the complex feeling of being inspired, whether it be to better oneself, become more knowledgeable, push oneself into uncharted waters, challenge oneself at a higher level, see the world, discover something...it is nearly impossible to pin down just one cause of an inspiration. Relying on self-knowledge helps, as does talking things over with trusted family members and friends. It also helps to consult a higher power.

The Beauty of Nature

                Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.
John Muir

            Lake Tahoe is just the place to nourish body and soul. If you are lucky enough to get to the lake early in the morning, when the sunlight hits the water, and sparkles reflect the light, then you begin to realize a different pace of life. It begins to sink in that the beauty surrounding you reflects the divine, and calls forth a response from your spirit.Contemplating the deep azure color of the water, with ribbons of emerald and light violet, I was struck by the magnificence before me. To slow down and appreciate the masterpiece of nature is to give thanks to God for his creation.

             

The role of a father...

Fathers play a very important, and irreplaceable role in our society as a whole, but most importantly in the family. Within the family unit, the father is protector and provider. These two qualities require development, but they are essential to the full maturity of a father. 


A father is fulfilled through service to his wife and children, just as children grow and mature from the unconditional love from their parents. There is a saying that the mother is the "heart of the home", and there is truth in that saying. The gentle touch of a mother is precious and needed within the family. If the woman is the "heart", then the man is the"lifeblood of the home", ready to protect and defend his family at all costs.


I and my three siblings were blessed to have a wonderful father. He lived a joyful and appreciative life, where he gave unselfishly to his family. Each of our lives have been enriched by the love and sacrifice that he (and our mother) made for each one of us to live a fulfilling life. He passed along to us his love of learning, his love of cooking,and his love of travel and adventure. 


On this day after Father's Day, I hope that our society will always value the role that fathers have, and that fathers will realize and appreciate how important they are to the well-being of society...but most of all to the health of their own family.

Summer in Paris-2010

Recently I was reminded of my trip to Paris two summers ago with one of our daughters. In many ways, this trip was like something out of an I Love Lucy Show. The one hour train ride from the little northern town of Beauvais into Paris, and then the return trip back was the setting for a series of mishaps, and near disasters. 


The train was clean, fast and expensive to take each day. Our motive was to save money by trying to get away with using an old train ticket each day, saving us over 40 euros/day. We got lucky the first time we tried this, and decided to try it again the next day. Much to our dismay, on this particular day there were three men checking tickets once the train got underway. In our favor, the two-level train was built with glass doors separating different areas, which allowed for seeing these "ticket checkers" from afar, and deciding a course of action/escape.


On this particularly fateful day, my daughter and I spent fifty minutes out of the hour train ride into Paris trying to evade these three men. It became a cat and mouse game of sorts, as we both scurried upstairs and down, and even resorted to the bathroom at one point!


Luck eventually ran out, as all three "ticket men" ended up in our section, and it would have been impossible at that point to evade them. I feigned sleep, and let my daughter (whose idea this whole thing was) to deal with the men, and pay the ticket fee. We had been caught five minutes before the train arrived in Paris.


We learned our lesson the hard way, and bought our tickets for the remainder of our trip. I would never try such a thing in the U.S., but something about being in a foreign country, and being on a budget made it seem more reasonable...and even fun at the time. That all ended with paying the full ticket fee, and I would never try such a thing ever again. 

Playing the Piano

                                 This is our piano, a P.S. Wick from St. Paul, Minnesota. It is
                     a cabinet grand piano with a wonderful tone. It is 80 years
                     old.
                     I found this piano at an estate sale in 1988, and knew
                     it was a great deal. 

                    I had wanted to learn to play the piano since I first touched
                    my grandparents piano...at the age of two. Their policy was
                    a hands off policy, so I never was allowed to touch even one
                    key. 

                    Our first child took piano lessons, and with running after
                    several children under the age of ten, it was fulfilling to
                    listen to someone else play the piano. Over the years a 
                    few of our children took to the piano, and that was enough
                    for me at the time.

                    As children began to graduate from college and leave home,
                    the piano was sitting idle for long periods of time. I began
                    to feel again my childhood longing for learning how to
                    play this lovely instrument. So, I took a series of lessons,
                    and after many long hours of practicing numerous songs,
                    scales and chords,I can say that I am fairly decent on
                    the piano, as long as the piece is at my level.

                    More than learning the Circle of Fifths and other elements
                    of theory, I learned that if you really want to learn something,
                    no matter how difficult, it can be done. So much of learning is 
                    attitude. I will never be an expert pianist, but I didn't take up
                    learning piano in order to become an expert. I enjoy the 
                    process of learning, and when I look back at where I started
                    in piano, and what I know and can play now...it was all worth
                    every minute of practice that I put into it!