I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up

But why would I want to? This fall is like no other. For the first time in my life absolutely nothing is wrong. This is the best fall since the Yankees won their three-peat back in 2000. I’m as happy as I was then, maybe happier… I’m as happy as a puppy with a treat… and maybe that’s because I’ll soon have a puppy of my own. Or it might be that I’ve just relocated to a small town where the days are sunny and I sleep in a tree house beneath a canopy of leaves. But those reasons aren’t the only reasons. 

Did Someone Say "BBQ" ?

A certain special friend of mine loves bar-b-que's. He loves them so much we have a running joke that despite his various academic degrees and accolades, all that really goes on inside his head is the word "BBQ" over and over again, at least for the summer months (maybe in winter the word changes to "turkey" or "eggnog").

As you can imagine, we derive many jokes and laughter at this friend's expense, but all joking aside, who doesn't love a BBQ? Summer has always been my favorite season and a big reason for that is the fact that during the warm summer months, more than any other time of year, we treat ordinary days like holidays, which means lots and lots of BBQ's. Yes there are some actual holidays, like the 4th of July,  but even after, all we really need is a day (or afternoon) off from work, sunshine, a few friends, and simple, yet delicious food to throw on the grill.

Many people associate nostalgia with summertime, and for good reason;  most of us spend more time using our senses for pleasurable experience in the summer than in any other season. Think about it, we are outside (which is already a sensory plethora) with the sounds of birds singing, ocean waves crashing and if we're lucky, music and laughter. Now add the scents and tastes of flame grilled corn, melted butter, and a juicy steak smoking over a fire. Who wouldn't be nostalgic?

Cooking over a flame is the essence of cooking. Using fire to create food is how the human species survived and evolved over thousands of years. There is no experience that makes us feel more human, more connected, than the act of cooking with fire, outside, with others. And what else is a BBQ but this act? No wonder my friend can't stop thinking of them.

Last week in the Poconos... I'm really enjoying my Smores!!

Two thirds of summer is already gone, and with it the opportunity to slow down, unwind, and spend much needed time with our friends and family. But there is still some time left and however busy you are, it would be nothing short of tragic to let it slip by un-celebrated or un-enjoyed.

I haven't been writing much (as you can probably tell from the lack of blog posts), but that's because I've been out enjoying life, which I hope is the case for you too. As much as I love writing, I love living more. And so far, I've had a pretty amazing summer! Take a look...

Me, enjoying a lovely afternoon on the beach, back in June

At the Biergarten on the NYC High Line

Surprise! Happy 78 Grandma!!

Does this shot really need a caption?!

     

Good times with friends "glamping" in the Poconos :)

     

Finally! ...Meeting my sister for the first time (it only took 13 years!)

Happy 13 Years to this couple!

... I guess 13 is my lucky number ;)

You May Be What You Eat, But You Live In What You Waste

When I open my fridge I see lots of beauty. Fluffy florets of broccoli, the pale green hue of a ripe grape, the dark and sensuous mousse au chocolat; there, just beyond the white refrigerator door, lies a temperature controlled metropolis bursting with color, scent, and of course, taste. It is a world of sensual delights that makes my world possible. But there is a dark side to this mouthwatering metropolis, a side most of us don't see or think about; like any city, there is sin here too. There is corruption, and in it, a wealth of waste.

Apparently this is a very old work of art once used for a postcard.

Foodlosophy to Fill You Up This Ramadan

Azim Azimzade. Ramadan of the poor people. 1938

Food is tied to everything we do and everything we are. This is true even when we abstain from eating it, as is the case for the millions of Muslims who are currently fasting for the holy month of Ramadan. In addition to the nutrition and enjoyment derived from consumption, food can have an even larger impact when it’s used as a spiritual aid. And by used, I mean not used, or at least withheld for a significant period of time. Sacrificing food and other indulgences can mean strengthening one’s spirit while ensuring a profound appreciation for the nourishment so easily taken for granted.

Photo of family preparing to enjoy Iftar in Bejing, China (Huffington Post). Check out more photos of Iftar from around the globe here: Ramadan Iftars From Around The World

It’s no wonder that food has the power to transform both personally and politically. In the course of his lifetime, Mohandas Gandhi fasted several times. In his fight against political injustice Gandhi called his fast “a god given opportunity” (History.co.uk). In addition to an opportunity, fasting became a powerful tool in the fight for caste equality in India. Furthermore, fasting is a valuable method integral to “passive resistance”, a philosophy that calls for peaceful progression towards achieving goals, often in the face of violent opposition. Of course, not all fasting is done in such dramatic fashion, nor is it solely intended to bring about political change.

Eat to Live (this summer!)

Photo taken from dsfmag.com

I absolutely adore Disfunkshion Magazine. They have fabulous stories, artful photos, and best of all, they are all about female empowerment. Yes there is a lot of fashion, but there is also a focus on the dynamic woman: intelligent, strong, complex, beautiful and unique.

Photo taken from dsfmag.com

I recently discovered their Eat to Live section and loved it! It's full of enticing recipes sourced from all over the globe; I especially love the focus on nutritional ingredients used in surprising new ways, did someone say frozen-strawberry-kiwi-yogurt-bars?

The photos are pretty amazing too! Check it out here and be prepared for a feast for the eyes:

http://dfsmag.com/blog/eats/

Photo taken from dsfmag.com

A Plea For The Bee

Every morning I wake up, wash my face, brush my teeth and head to the kitchen. I put water on the stove and wait for it to boil. After steeping a tea bag for a minute or two, I stir in a spoonful of clover honey. One spoonful, not much, right?

Maybe not to us. But to a honeybee, who can only produce one-twelfth of a teaspoon in her lifetime, a spoonful of honey is a plethora. Suddenly, honey doesn’t seem so expensive when we consider the fact that “for one pound of honey, the bees visit over two million flowers and fly the equivalent of two-and-half-times around the world” (Salisbury). But honey is expensive, and the true costs are only now becoming clear.

Taste of Transcendence: Feeding the Guru at Punjab's Golden Temple

Thousands of pilgrims outside the Golden Temple in Punjab, India (photo taken from andysworldjourneys.com)

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about overpopulation and food shortages. What comes up time and time again is the so-called “futility” of trying to feed the 7 Billion+ people that make up our global society. I’ve heard people say that it can’t be done and it’s useless to try, that it’s those people’s faults for producing more mouths to feed. People say that’s life. 

Mostly I hear it spoken of casually, abstractly, as though starvation were something to be accepted and tolerated, like say, losing the game or catching a cold. Sure it sucks, but again, that’s life, says the person with the fully stocked pantry.

Actually that’s not life. That’s death, the absence of life. And while death may be part of life, starvation most certainly shouldn’t be. But is it actually possible to feed every mouth on our planet?