Confucius said...

Sunday, June 29, 2008

I once heard that Confucius believed the most natural needs of human beings are food, sex and more food, in that order. No, this is not a blog about sex; however it is my take on the sensuality of food. The lure of food, the power it holds over every man and woman. My minister once made the comment that "hunger will make a monkey eat pepper." Well, if hunger can do that to a monkey, dare I ask what it can do to a human? It is summertime here in North Carolina , which means it is hot, extremely hot. Usually during the summer season people eat less and drink more. This got me thinking about hot steamy nights, and luscious sexy foods, light, flavorful, just down right charming. What could be prepared that would charm the sweat off a lover?

I started to research foods that entice the senses and there are many, but for this encounter I wanted only the most endearing. I selected eggs, avocado and asparagus. Now this might appear to be an odd combination but hear me out. One of the most delicious egg dishes to start any morning or end any evening is Eggs Benedict. There are multitudes of ways to prepare it, but I suggest the good old fashioned recipe that involved English muffins perfectly toasted with butter, poached eggs, thinly sliced layers of Black Forest smoked ham, and the most decadent Hollandaise recipe you can get your hands on, namely mine. Can you picture it? Hot coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice and baby roses floating in a glass bulb.

So that doesn’t do it for you? Well let’s move on to those pear shaped Goddesses of greenness, the avocado. Guacamole is my preferred way to prepare this fruit. I make a large vat that can be shared and consumed with a variety of sides. Corn chips, fresh vegetables, grilled meats, you name it and guacamole will gracious take its place, not over powering but gentle resting to entice and please. Everyone has their own recipe for guacamole, some add tomatoes to the concoction, while others are purist and just mix a dollop of sour cream or mayo and a bit lemon juice. I, on the other hand, perform a symphony with the little jewels and leave parts of it slightly chunky. Whatever your preference, guacamole is the perfect heat-of -the-moment type dish.

The final selection involves those sexy green legs of the vegetable world, asparagus. It may be an acquired taste for some, and for those with a more mature palate, asparagus is one of the most sinuous food you’ll ever consume. When prepared properly, gently steamed with a bit of salt and fresh squeezed lemon juice, asparagus and a lovely bottle of wine can take you places you have never been before. There are not many foods today that when grown in optimal conditions will yield a delicious flavor; but a true to the heart asparagus farmer will tell you a good crop of asparagus is worth its weight in gold. So the next time you are looking for something sexy to share at the dining table consider these three charmers.

Cookin’ for a Livin’

Sunday, June 15, 2008

There is really nothing worse than being jobless in the summertime, except perhaps being jobless in the winter during a snow storm in Cook County. News reports about the economy are of little consolation to those who are unemployed. It is a hopeless felling when you are jobless in the heart of a recession.

What is a jobless person to do? Cook. Can’t Cook? Learn.

Think about your God given natural talents. This summer I had the opportunity to me some wonderful folks who work as Personal Chefs. They are perhaps some of the hardest workers, committed to preparing delicious, healthy foods for their clients.

Their journey did not just happen, it took planning and a desire to think and work outside the box; creating a lifestyle that not only met their needs but the needs of their customers. Since you must work, this may be career option for you?

I worked as a personal chef, long before it was popular or even called “personal chef.” I was a cook for a number of folks in Detroit, Michigan. It is probably one of the few jobs I ever held that I really enjoyed and looked forward to going to everyday. It is an honorable and honest way to make a fairly decent living. No, you won’t get rich, unless you are discovered and invited to be on Food TV Network. The job can lead you into some interesting directions however. As a professional cook, I learned to style food, create recipes, and cook for large groups of people. I had to start small, keep it simple and be creative. If you truly love to cook and don’t mind cooking for others this is one of the most rewarding jobs you will ever encounter. Let’s face it, people love to eat and if you can create a master piece out of just about any cut of meat or develop mouth watering magic from eggplant, you may be on to something.

There are many personal chef’s who also work as personal caterers working in the host home to create wonderful buffets of food. You can hire yourself out as a Private Cook for Hire at local Bread and Breakfast locations or Executive Apartment Complexes that house traveling executives. Everyone in town for business does not want to eat at restaurants everyday, particularly when they are in town for 4-6 weeks.

Do you make the best chocolate truffles in town? A bridal shop might allow you to put your flyer in their shop. Brides are always looking for tasty little gifts for their guest. Everyone loves good food and there is bound to be something that you can cook or learn to cook in relatively little time. Do you make a great barbecue sauce? Do you grind your own blend of coffee and make heavenly Danishes?

Don’t stop looking for a permanent position, keep that resume circulating if a conventional job is what you really want; but in the mean time, while between jobs think about cooking for a living. Folks rarely have time to prepare a healthy meal anymore; so visit community groups and organizations and get out there and meet people. This is the time to become a social butterfly. Everyone needs to develop streams of income. Relying on one job for your livelihood today is unrealistic. Look at your joblessness or your desire to remove yourself from the conventional workplace as an opportunity to use your community as your source of income. Remember everybody loves a good cook!

LATCHKEY TEENS…Cooking for the family? Say what?

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

I am going to flip the switch here a bit and talk about a subject that is near and dear to my heart. A growing concern with many parents today is what to do with their latchkey teens. Yes, they are old enough to stay home alone, but should they be home alone with “nothing” to do? Of course the issue has always been a concern, but today with so much exposure to online porn, drugs, and violence what’s a parent to do? Most teens are hardly interested in after-school programs and not all teens are into sports activities or after-school clubs. Let’s get real; at times talking to teens is sometimes like talking to a brick wall. You deal with attitude, snarls, rolling eyes, and that unconscionable silence.

It is unfortunate that by the time children become teens or even tweens, the things that mean the most to us, as parents, means the least to them. Who should be watching our teens when parents are off trying to make a living; grandparents, nannies, babysitters? Is it reasonable to think that our children can and will stay home for the one, two or three hours while we complete the work day and tackle the interstate home?

Teens today may tolerate caregivers who are hip, cool and in the know about the things that are of interest to them, i.e. their music, fashion, technology and current events that suit their fancy. If you must select someone to supervise your young teen consider the following:

• Involve your teen in the selection process
  
• Look for some who has experience with teenagers
  
• Look for some who like teenagers
  
• Be honest about the job description, if you need a drive to football practice, or someone to help with homework, state that
  
• Seek someone interest and familiar with the teen culture and who is informed about sports, computer, music and those things that interest your teen
  
• Seek some one who is willing intellectually to go toe-to-toe with your teen
  
• Set ground rules on how your should will behave toward the caregiver
  
• Set ground rules on how the caregiver will behave toward your child and include conversations about discipline
  
• Explain how you want to be told about those “naughty” little behaviors, i.e. getting caught looking at porn on the computer, or visiting chat rooms that are off limits
  

I know this suggestion is probably more appropriate for a parent with young teens, so don’t jump down my throat, it’s just a suggestion. Parents with older teens may want to consider getting their teens involved in starting dinner. I know, they only want pizza, hot pockets and hanging out with their friends. Looks, they live in your house, use your electricity, water and air-conditioning; the least they can do is be responsible for cooking one or two meals per week. Try it! Ask! You might even get an Okay! Look I will even give them a recipe to start with below…remember nothing beats a failure, but a try.

Homemade Smoked Turkey and Cheese Hot Pockets

Serves 12 (These freeze beautifully, place in small freezer bags)

You may already be familiar with this recipe, but this is my version of "hot pockets." Make sure you store the pockets in freezer bags after baking and reheat in a toaster over for about 6-7 minutes or microwave for 8 seconds or a bit longer, if frozen. I do not like to microwave food so you may have to experiment with the microwave time. If you allow the pockets to get room temperature, 5-6 seconds in the microwave should be good, but start at the lowest time first. These are great with soup or a side salad.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound frozen bread dough, thawed (in frozen food section of your grocery store)

• 3 cups loosely chopped smoked turkey or ham (you may also substitute cooked sausage, cooked hamburger or cooked chopped chicken)

• 12 slices American cheese (you may substitute Swiss, Provolone or cheddar)

1. Don't forget to allow time for the dough to thaw out!

2. Divide thawed dough into 12 pieces.

3. On floured surface, roll each piece into 5 or 6 inch circle.

4. Place 1/4 cup ham and one piece of cheese on the circle

5. Fold dough over filling and seal edges with a fork.

6. Place on greased cookie sheet.

7. Bake at 350°F degrees for 10-15 minutes.

8. After 10 minutes, check pockets - remove when they begin to brown.

Allow to cool a few minutes before serving