Given the blame game of the last almost-four years, this quote is so appropriate!
“Poor President Obama.
If he gets re-elected, Look at the mess he’s going
inherit”
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Freedom to eat . . .
We reached the 16 trillion in debt, yesterday, and it keeps rising. Our economy is in major trouble, people continue to be out of work, schools are a mess, rising crime, etc., and what is the pet peeve of the current administration . . .what we eat or purchase in the way of food. I consider this a major invasion into my way of life and my responsibility as a mother and homemaker. The economy is already shaky and the regulations cause even more grief for the marketplace and the restaurants in the country if they do not conform to Mrs. obama's agenda to regulate our food intake. Will this really impact the people who already prefer sugar and salt to fruit and vegetables? I don't think so. Will it possibly raise my costs at the market. Probably.
Growing up, I soon discovered that when I was given responsibility, I soon did what I should in most everything I had to accomplish. Granted, when I was young, single, and working, my eating habits were not the best but a family and children soon had me personally working on ways to better the situation. I didn't need the government to restrict my choices in order to me to do well. And, I resent them even considering this action in a country that was based on freedom of choice. I suppose that once they make a grab for our religious freedoms, can more of our private freedoms be far from the chopping block?
Years ago, I had an acquaintance who desperately wanted to improve her meals for the family and cut back on their dining out and over indulgence. I suggested she just stop buying chips and soda. She didn't feel she could do that. I mentioned that requiring everyone to partake of the vegetable at each meal would be a good start. She said her children didn't like vegetables. I gave her recipes but she just never got around to buying the simple ingredients required. Nothing changed in her family's diet. So, does the president's wife think that she can change such minds just because she says so? Until people want to change, it isn't going to happen.
If anything would work, education would be of more benefit. Nutrition classes in all grades might impact people. You can't make people try new foods if they don't understand them or know how to fix them. When I was in high school, they still offered home ec classes which are made fun of today. Well, we learned basics in cooking and many were inspired to take that knowledge home and try it out on their families.
When I was first married, my husband insisted on a minimum of three items on the dinner plate: protein, starch, and vegetables. When the children came along, the dinner table rule was you would get dessert if you finished your dinner. You could only leave the table if you ate your vegetables. I now have children who like most any vegetable and will snack on fruit.
Yes, I still bake cakes and cookies but I never double the recipe because we all have learned some self control. We eat what we need and then only if we are still a bit hungry, do we treat ourselves to a cookie or piece of cake. Even healthy changes happen in some of my baking when I add more fruit, use whole wheat flour, or find a substitute for some of the fat. I didn't need anyone in Washington to tell me how to feed my family.
When we treat ourselves to a dinner out, however, we go to enjoy ourselves because why pay a lot of money for tiny portions of unseasoned food because the government says so?
As has been said for years now, it is the economy, stupid! We have bigger issues to contend with rather than having the sticky paws of the politicians making rules about what we eat.
Growing up, I soon discovered that when I was given responsibility, I soon did what I should in most everything I had to accomplish. Granted, when I was young, single, and working, my eating habits were not the best but a family and children soon had me personally working on ways to better the situation. I didn't need the government to restrict my choices in order to me to do well. And, I resent them even considering this action in a country that was based on freedom of choice. I suppose that once they make a grab for our religious freedoms, can more of our private freedoms be far from the chopping block?
Years ago, I had an acquaintance who desperately wanted to improve her meals for the family and cut back on their dining out and over indulgence. I suggested she just stop buying chips and soda. She didn't feel she could do that. I mentioned that requiring everyone to partake of the vegetable at each meal would be a good start. She said her children didn't like vegetables. I gave her recipes but she just never got around to buying the simple ingredients required. Nothing changed in her family's diet. So, does the president's wife think that she can change such minds just because she says so? Until people want to change, it isn't going to happen.
If anything would work, education would be of more benefit. Nutrition classes in all grades might impact people. You can't make people try new foods if they don't understand them or know how to fix them. When I was in high school, they still offered home ec classes which are made fun of today. Well, we learned basics in cooking and many were inspired to take that knowledge home and try it out on their families.
When I was first married, my husband insisted on a minimum of three items on the dinner plate: protein, starch, and vegetables. When the children came along, the dinner table rule was you would get dessert if you finished your dinner. You could only leave the table if you ate your vegetables. I now have children who like most any vegetable and will snack on fruit.
Yes, I still bake cakes and cookies but I never double the recipe because we all have learned some self control. We eat what we need and then only if we are still a bit hungry, do we treat ourselves to a cookie or piece of cake. Even healthy changes happen in some of my baking when I add more fruit, use whole wheat flour, or find a substitute for some of the fat. I didn't need anyone in Washington to tell me how to feed my family.
When we treat ourselves to a dinner out, however, we go to enjoy ourselves because why pay a lot of money for tiny portions of unseasoned food because the government says so?
As has been said for years now, it is the economy, stupid! We have bigger issues to contend with rather than having the sticky paws of the politicians making rules about what we eat.
Continuing with the "A" Cookies - Anise Drops!
My mother was a self-taught cook/baker and the first time she tried these cookies, she neglected to mention that we should not turn on the central heat in the morning as this would ruin her 'resting' Anise Drops. Well, I did and they did! She never tried again but, years later, was was curious to find out exactly how they were supposed to turn out. And, if you make them the evening before and let them sit on prepared baking sheets overnight without benefit of central heat, they turn out great.
Anise Drops
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon anise extract or 2-3 tablespoons anise seeds*
Beat the eggs until light and fluffy. Add the sugar slowly and continue beating after each addition. Beat for another ten minutes as you want to incorporate a lot of air. On a low speed, add dry ingredients. Stir in the extract or anise seeds.
Drop or scoop the batter onto parchment-lined baking sheets about 1/2-inch apart to allow for spreading. Try to swirl the top a bit on the rounded cookie. Let the cookies remain at room temperature about 8 hours or overnight to dry.
The next day, bake in a preheated 325-degree oven for about 8-10 minutes or until cookies are golden but not brown on the bottom. Remove cookies to a rack to completely cool. If all has gone well, the top should resemble a pale, crisp 'icing'. If not, you will still have an airy, tasty cookie and no one needs to know otherwise!
*I prefer using anise seeds as the taste is more subtle but it depends on how much you like the licorice overtones.
I've successfully add a bit of fresh lemon zest to the recipe which brightens the anise flavor nicely.
Anise Drops
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon anise extract or 2-3 tablespoons anise seeds*
Beat the eggs until light and fluffy. Add the sugar slowly and continue beating after each addition. Beat for another ten minutes as you want to incorporate a lot of air. On a low speed, add dry ingredients. Stir in the extract or anise seeds.
Drop or scoop the batter onto parchment-lined baking sheets about 1/2-inch apart to allow for spreading. Try to swirl the top a bit on the rounded cookie. Let the cookies remain at room temperature about 8 hours or overnight to dry.
The next day, bake in a preheated 325-degree oven for about 8-10 minutes or until cookies are golden but not brown on the bottom. Remove cookies to a rack to completely cool. If all has gone well, the top should resemble a pale, crisp 'icing'. If not, you will still have an airy, tasty cookie and no one needs to know otherwise!
*I prefer using anise seeds as the taste is more subtle but it depends on how much you like the licorice overtones.
I've successfully add a bit of fresh lemon zest to the recipe which brightens the anise flavor nicely.
Definitely agree about the plastic flowers!
"Every man is wise when attacked by a mad dog; fewer when pursued
by a mad woman; only the wisest survive when attacked by a mad notion."
-- Robertson Davies
-- Robertson Davies
"The cloning of humans is on most of the lists of things to worry
about from Science, along with behaviour control, genetic engineering,
transplanted heads, computer poetry and the unrestrained growth of plastic
flowers."
-- Lewis Thomas
-- Lewis Thomas
"The reason there are so few female politicians is that it is too
much trouble to put makeup on two faces."
-- Maureen Murphy
-- Maureen Murphy
"Conscience is the inner voice that warns us somebody may be
looking."
-- H. L. Mencken
-- H. L. Mencken
Sour Cream Chocolate Cake
Just discovered this recipe on the Taste of Home Magazine site. I like the combination of sour cream and chocolate as they seem to work together well and adds a tang to the overall flavor. I just printed it out to try this weekend and thought I'd share!
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Sour-Cream-Chocolate-Cake/Print
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Sour-Cream-Chocolate-Cake/Print
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