Monday, November 12, 2012

Comfort


My favorite comfort food would have be braised beef. You know, beef, slow-cooked in a Dutch oven or in a slow cooker until it falls apart with simple mushrooms, some onions and lots of fresh thyme and garlic. ~ Tyler Florence

Comfort
A warm bed, hot bubble bath,  or soothing cup or tea--we all have different definitions of comfort. But no matter what our specific comforts are, one thing is certain we all need to feel comfortable and take time out once in awhile indulge in creature comforts to be at our best. 

My husband and I have just gone through the licensing process to become resource parents. The older term for this was foster parents. One of the most important things we've learned is that above all else comfort is essential to the well being of the little people who've had their lives incredibly disrupted. As adults we take for granted being able to buy ourselves a great cup or coffee or chocolate bar. We just assume that we will go home to our beds. 


But consider for a moment, the little ones who are removed from meth houses by children's services. Did you know that they literally can't take anything with them when they leave? No blanket or teddy, no favorite doll or matchbox car. Not even the clothes on their backs, because they might be contaminated. In other cases in which the children are allowed to take a few items, 9 times out of 10 their parents throw their belongings into trash bags. It's quick and easy, but consider the message it sends. What do we put in trash bags? Garbage. The kids often come away with the message that not only don't mom and dad want me, they think I'm garbage. Why else would they throw all my things away?

To combat such negativity, resource parents are instructed to bring suitcases with us when we go to pick children up, so that they can at least feel normal in a very small way. Talk about a small comfort! I don't know about you, but it rather humbles me. Somehow not getting my comfort coffee exactly the way I want it when I go through the drive-thru seems like small potatoes!

Foods of Interest

Fish Market in Hong Kong. Photo by Erika Celeste.

Almonds have had a sacred place in many ancient religions Hermes, Mercy, and Thoth all ate them to gain wisdom and prosperity--two of the cornerstones of comfort. Many Americans cite meat and potatoes as their comfort food. But beef found its place as comfort food long before the Americas were a twinkle in humanity’s eye. Egyptian Goddesses Hathor and Isis loved the stuff. It was believed to cause those who ate it to go into a state of bliss. Blueberries are also thought to have a calming effect and thus induce feelings of comfort. Legend has it that witches ate blueberry pies to ward off psychic attacks. Broccoli, which was sacred to Jupiter, was believed to have ramped up one’s strength—sort of Popeye style. We now know that it helps fight off cancer, which is comforting to know in itself. Calendula or marigolds (the petals are edible, just make sure they’re not full of pesticides) are also believed to increase happiness and protection. Who wouldn’t feel comfortable if they were happy and protected? In many areas of tehe world where fish is a staple of the daily diet, it is also seen as a comfort food. As we discussed last week, it was considered sacred by almost every primitive culture. Why not? If ancient people could fish, they would never go hungry. In uncertain times that was most certainly a comfort. Above is a picture of a fish market from my time in Hong Kong. The fish was so fresh there that despite being splayed open the hearts were still beating!  Finally, whole grains are considered to induce comfort. The ancients believed that grain contained the nurturing qualities of Earth. Sheaves of wheat have long been the symbol of prosperity—which is very comforting to those who possess them. Not only does grain keep you regular (it certainly would be uncomfortable if they didn’t) but they taste great. My two vegetarian sisters often turn to grains as their comfort food. A nice big bowl of macaroni and cheese or heaping help of pasta has very soothing effects on most of us.

Skirt Steak. Photo by Erika Celeste.
Marinated Skirt Steak
Skirt steak
½ C Olive oil
½ C Red wine
Garlic powder
½  t Rosemary
½ t chamomile
1 t Marjoram
½ t Powdered coriander
1 t Basil
2 green onions chopped
1 t Salt (or to taste)
½ t cracked pepper
large ziplock bag

Directions:
Combine all ingredients except steak in a bowl. Mix thoroughly. Place skirt steak in the ziplock and pour the marinade over it. Seal the bag. Work the marinade over the meat. Let marinade for up to two hours. (This is a very thin cut of meat. It will be overpowered if you wait much longer.) Place the meat on a searing hot grill. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side. Remove from heat and let sit at least 5 minutes. This is best if sliced very thinly as shown in the picture. A little goes a long way and you will feel more content with less if you eat it this way.


Trout Almondine
6 Trout Filets
½  C Flour
2 T garlic powder
½ C Milk
¾ C Panko
1 t Marjoram
1 t Chamomile
1 t Lemon balm or verbena
½ C toasted, slivered almonds
1 Lemon
3 cloves garlic minced
Salt to taste
Cooking spray

Directions:
You will need three bowls. The in the first mix flour and garlic powder.  Pour the milk in the second. In the third combine Panko, marjoram, chamomile, and the lemon balm or verbena, and the minced garlic. Dip the fillets first in bowl one, making sure to thoroughly coat them, then into bowl two, and finally roll them in bowl three covering both sides with bread crumbs. For baked fish you may add almonds to the breading mixture. For fried wait as they will come off in the oil.

You may either fry or bake these. To fry drop the fillets into a very hot pan filled no less than ½ deep with canola oil. It isn’t necessary to completely cover the fish in oil. When they are golden brown on one side flip. Remove from oil when ready and drain on paper towels. Place sliced almonds on top before serving. For oven baking, spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and lay the fillets on the sheet. Place in oven preheated to 450 degrees. Cook for 8-12 minutes. You will know they are ready when the fish flakes.

Squeeze lemon over the fillets and add salt to taste. For an added ounce of comfort you may want to serve the fillets with garlic steamed broccoli.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Concentration


Hunger in adults produces nervousness, irritability, and difficulty in concentration. From a 2005 survey by Food Life Line

Concentration
Who can concentrate these days with all the nasty campaign ads from both sides of aisle? Luckily, we only have one day of the nonsense left. Then it will be on to using our minds of steal to concentrate on other worries such as taking finals and holiday planning.

The website Study Guides and Strategies has some excellent tips for improving concentration. Though it suggests them specifically for studying they would work well for any number of scenarios in which heavy concentration would be needed.*

  • Get a dedicated space, chair, table, lighting and environment
    Avoid your cellphone or telephone
    Put up a sign to avoid being disturbed or interrupted
  • Stick to a routine, efficient study schedule
  • Before you begin studying, take a few minutes to summarize a few objectives, gather what you will need, and think of a general strategy of accomplishment
  • Create an incentive if necessary for successfully completing a task,
    such as calling a friend, a food treat, a walk, etc.
  • Changing the subject you study every one to two hours for variety
  • Alternate reading with more active learning exercises. Ask yourself how you could increase your activity level while studying? Perhaps a group will be best? Creating study questions? The more active your learning, the better.
  • Take regular, scheduled breaks
To help along those lines there are a number of great foods to aid in concentration whether it's through a caffeine or sugar high or actual nutrition to help our brains focus. When I was writing a book in Hong Kong, my favorite concentration treat was to run down to the very formal expats McDonalds, which had a full coffee house, and grab a cappuccino. It always gave me the lift I needed to forge ahead!


Foods of Interest
Cappuccino in Hong Kong. Photo by Erika Celeste.
Mayans and Aztecs thought chocolate had magical powers, which I believe many women still attest to today! Back then the cocoa beans were so valuable they were used as currency. Besides the tenuous gathering, drying, and roasting process which made them valuable is the fact that the chemicals in chocolate are known to heighten positive emotions and increase alertness. Because of this it is also associated with the fourth chakra or heart chakra from which love flows. Coffee also has its prized place in history with records of it being consumed in Arabia since 800 AD. College students pulling all nighters, OTR drivers, and those trying to sober up all drink the brew to increase their mental awareness and stay alert. Fish is not only sacred in nearly every primitive culture, the  proteins in many fish are known to "feed" the brain keeping it healthy and warding off many aging diseases and strokes. Another food that helps slow the aging process and thus helps keep the brain mentally up to par is ginkgo biloba. As we age our digestive system slows down and doesn't process foods as sufficiently as it once did. Because our circulatory systems slow down too our brains don't get as much oxygen as they once did. Ginkgo biloba contains bioflavinoids that reduce free radicals and help our bodies and especially our brains gain back some of that lost activity. Ginseng works quiet similarly to ginkgo biloba. It is also associated with the first chakra stamnia and energy. Nuts are high in vitamin E which is also an antioxidant. Eating a handful a day can greatly improve concentration without fat or sugar.

This chocolate-coffee cupcake recipe is one of my favorites. In fact, since we had an outdoor picnic/beach style wedding reception on our lake front, I wanted our guest to be able to pick up and carry all their food. So instead of a wedding cake, we had a huge cupcake display. To fit with my theme of summer and new beginnings I used wrappers that looked like flowers from Wilton and ordered edible butterflies from Esty to decorate the tops instead of the usual almonds or nuts.


Chocolate-Coffee Cupcakes
Wedding cupcakes. Photo by Brian Glick.
Cupcakes:
1 C butter

½  C soda water
2/3 C cocoa powder
2 C all-purpose flour
1 C light brown sugar
1 C white sugar
2 T instant coffee crystals
½ t salt
½ t grated ginseng
½ t ginkgo biloba
1 ¼ t baking soda

3 eggs
½ cup sour cream
½ applesauce

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk butter, soda water, cocoa, and brown sugar in a sauce pan. Remove from heat once the sugar has melted.

In a large bowl blend salt, flour, sugar, baking soda, ginseng, coffee crystals, and ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo can be found at both health food stores and Asian markets. You may use the contents of powdered capsules in a crunch. (It’s similar to the cooking powder.)

Pour the cooled liquid mixture into the dry mixture. Mix together. Add the eggs, applesauce, and sour cream. Cream everything together until smooth.

Scoop batter into cupcake wrapper cups. Bake in oven for 25-28 minutes. They will be done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.


Frosting:
1 C butter
4 C confectioners sugar
1 T meringue powder
2 T cocoa
4 ½ T coffee (brewed or instant)
milk
chopped almonds

Directions:
Cream butter and meringue together. Add confectioners sugar one cup at a time. Add cocoa and coffee. Mix. Gradually add milk until the frosting consistency desired is achieved. Spread on cooled cupcakes. Top with chopped almonds.


* "Study Guides and Strategies." Concentrating While Studying. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.studygs.net/concent.htm>.