I am a thief of glances.  I’ll admit it.  I love to make eye contact with people when I am out and about.  It doesn’t matter if I am in the car, at the store, or at work.  If someone is near me and we are facing each other, I look at their face, seeking their eyes.  Should our glances meet, I look away quietly, with what can only be described as a smug sense of satisfaction at having made yet another personal connection.

Not everyone likes my glances; I have made a few people uncomfortable when they notice me looking, as though I have invaded their personal space, as if they saw something there they shouldn’t have seen, or have not allowed themselves to see.  It’s not sexual in nature, those stolen glances.  To me there is something about making eye contact that reminds me that I am not alone in the world – that we are all interconnected, equals, seeking something from each other.

After my very first day of Kindergarten 38 years ago, three little girls followed me as I walked home.  They surreptitiously walked a bit behind me, so I wasn’t really aware they were shadowing me until after I got home.  As a happy-go-lucky 4 1/2 year old, I wouldn’t have noticed them even if they had stomped behind me the whole way.  Their arrival was announced with the repeated ringing of the doorbell, which my father then answered in curiosity.

“Steven kissed me.” Said one of the girls.  ”Me too,” said another.  The accusations continued until all three girls had made my father aware that I had stolen a kiss from each of them that very day.  Apparently, it was wrong to kiss all of the girls I liked.  It’s not like this had been mentioned to me previously; after all, when attending family functions I was encouraged to give all of my aunties a kiss…  I suppose I was just really happy to suddenly be surrounded by girls, and my fervor got away from me…  Either way, my unabashedly wanton ways were out in the open now, after only my first day of school.

After some quiet laughter and a solemn promise to set me straight, my father shut the door and came to my room, where I hid, having heard the angry remonstrations from the girls on the front porch.  ”Don’t kiss any more girls at school,” my father told me, feigning anger in the hopes that I would realize the error of my way.  But a stolen glance at my father as he began to walk away revealed an odd sense of pride behind those steady eyes.

When I was fourteen, my parents divorced, and I moved from a large, open farmhouse we had been renting in Italy to a small apartment above a convenience store.  Along with the requisite foods, cleaning supplies, liquors and personal hygiene items, the owner of the store had a variety of imported toys and candies.  Every penny of my weekly allowance was spent at the store on either Legos or something sweet.

Every day, twice a day as was customary in Italy, the store owner closed shop to enjoy a meal with his family.  One day while playing outside at lunchtime during Summer vacation, a great temptation was revealed to me.  I noticed that the side door to the shop was left open, likely to keep the store from getting too hot inside, while the owner was away at lunch.

I looked around to ensure nobody was watching on that lazy afternoon, then crept over the low balcony, into the store, realizing with wonderment that I was alone, unwatched, with a great deal of time on my side.   My heart raced, pounding in my chest, my eyes darting to and fro for any sign of movement in the low light of drawn shades.  My face was flush, my hands wet with cold sweat, my stomach full of butterflies, as my glance moved toward the Legos and candy….

Over the next few weeks, my Lego collection slowly grew to a collection any young man would envy.  I was careful to hide my new largess from my mother, who would surely have skinned me alive for having carted away box after box without payment.  I built prolific creations, then quickly took them apart again, so as to not arouse attention.  But it was the chocolate eggs that kept bringing me back…

Each Swiss egg was about 4 inches wide, with three layers of chocolate – one white layer sandwiched between two layers of creamy milk chocolate.   Although the chocolate was perfection, what tugged my tortured my soul over and over through that open door (despite alarm bells in my mind to stop,) was what was inside each and every egg, behind that smooth, chocolaty skin.

Miniature books.  Tiny card decks. Forty piece miniature model planes, cars or ships.  Coins.  Metal soldiers.  To this day, I want to find the person who determined what went into these eggs and personally thank them for their ingenuity, for their obvious open pathway into the mind of a young boy still recovering from his life having been turned upside down.  I gleefully built each model, played with each toy soldier, squirreled away (and to this day still have) the miniature cards.  The chocolate, to me, was the sweetest I had ever tasted, rich with the flavors of plunder.

I suppose my need to steal glances and those chocolate eggs are linked, huh?  I mean, when we as adults are out and about in public, we are not so happy-go-lucky as we were in grade school.  We are quiet, unassuming, our expressions largely held in check.  When I make eye contact with strangers, I wonder if I am trying to see that which is hidden under the surface, what surprises lurk within, under the smooth skin.  Who are forty-piece models, each part intricate and fragile, held together beautifully on display?  Who are the many-chaptered books with fine print, difficult to understand but worth the read?  Who are the cold metal coins, aging gracefully but easily pocketed away? Who are the fun decks of cards, shuffling through life one game after another?  And who are the metal soldiers, whose eyes decry a hard life led, moving forward in that daily battle?

My father, were he still alive today, would likely tell me I should keep my eyes to myself, that living my own life is enough, to not have to try and figure out the lives of others as well.  But I’d also like to think that even as he told me this, he would smile a bit, proud in the knowledge that he raised a fine thief of glances, kisses and chocolates.

Written in commemoration of National Chocolate Day.

Hanukkah begins at sundown tonight, by Jewish tradition when you can see three stars in the sky tonight.  I have always loved the Jewish tradition that the days begin at night, when it is dark enough to see the twinkling and mysterious lights in the Heavens.  The tradition of nightfall beginning a new day comes from the book of Genesis.

It is often in our lives that our biggest, most meaningful changes occur when after the darkest of times, when it looks like all is lost.  So much we thought was permanent can be taken from us, over time or immediately, leaving us feeling helpless and beat down.  It’s also easy to find ourselves lying under the burden of problems we have brought upon ourselves through procrastination or bad habits.  During these times we pray for a little light in the distance, so we can begin our lives anew…

About Judea and Israel

Since its inception, the faith of the people of Judea has gone through changes.  A geographical trading hub and militarily strategic flash point, the land of Judea (now Israel) has maintained a cultural environment conducive to its peoples coming into contact with a variety of foreign concepts.  This contact has bred change among the Jewish faith, and in reply, from time to time, angry conservative back-lashes.  Because of this, Judaism has both expanded and contracted over time.

The Story of Hanukkah

The story of Hanukkah occurs 2,200 years ago, during a time when Judea was ruled by the Greeks, who were forcibly impressing their beliefs and culture on its subjugated peoples through a process known as Hellenizing .   Many progressive Jews, after examining Greek philosophy and culture, willingly moved to Hellenize their evolving faith.  To the more traditional practitioners of Judaism, this was entirely unacceptable.  Among the rank of the religiously disgruntled was Mattathias, a priest living in the small town of Modiin with his five sons.

The Greek ruler Antiochus IV, having been warned that the religious issues in Judea were getting close to all-out civil unrest (and possible war,) decided that what Judea needed was an even heavier dose of Hellenism.  Issuing decree after decree, Antiochus began to incrementally whittle away at a variety of basic Jewish practices, including the study of the Torah.  Unrest grew worse over the next two years, as Mattathias’ small band of resistance moved to the surrounding mountains to coordinate attacks on the Greeks.  With each new outrage against their faith, the resisters began receiving greater support from the Jewish population, both conservative and liberal.   By the time of our story, only the most liberal of the Jews still supported the Greeks, pushing for even more reforms of the faith.

Judah Maccabee (The Hammer)

During one particular attack, Mattathias and his sons were ambushed by Greek forces, and the elder was killed.  The survivors regrouped under Mattathias’ son Jacob, who by this time had shown himself to be an able tactician and warrior, earning himself the nickname HaMakabi (the Hammer.)  Thinking the resistance to Hellenism had been quelled, Antiochus ordered an altar to Zeus be erected in the Temple.  To HaMakabi and his followers, (we know them as the Maccabees,) still recovering from their wounds, this was the last straw.  Something would have to be done to remove the Hellenists once and for all…

Three long hard years of fighting later, in 165 BCE, the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem, removing everything that had been placed in it by Antiochus and the Greeks.  The Temple was then cleaned up and prepared to be re-dedicated to the Jewish service of their God.  Among the items cleaned up and saved from the debris of battle was a special lamp which burned an eternal flame.  This lamp had previously been dutifully maintained by the Temple priests before they were turned out, the lamp’s light having been extinguished years earlier by the Greeks.

The Eternal Light

Scripture called for the lamp to burn oil that had never touched by anyone but a Temple priest.  Finding oil containers in the Temple that had not been opened and used by the Greek soldiers proved difficult; however one small untouched urn was found, with only a single day’s supply of oil left in it.  The Maccabees decided that more important than awaiting more oil was the relighting of the eternal symbol of God’s love and kindness to the Jewish people.  The lamp was lit, among humble celebration (It was, after all, the Temple, and in the Holy of Holies.)  And as we all know from having heard the story of Hanukkah, the eternal flame miraculously burned for not one, but eight days.

Judah Maccabee instituted on the eighth day a new Holiday to commemorate the Hanukkah (or dedication) of the Temple, and the miracle of the eternal flame.

You Can Be a Hanukkah Story, Too…

The story of Hanukkah is a story about overcoming great odds, of reclaiming those things that are truly important, of re-centering.  It is a story of re-dedication.  So how can we use this 8-day holiday to rededicate ourselves to re-centering our own lives?  How do we go about determining what outside forces have taken over our inner spirit, and expel them?

The 9-candle menorah (known as a Hanukkiah) symbolizes the miracle of the eight days, with each candle lit one by one using the central candle, to mark each day of the Hanukkah festival. How about for each day, we all think about a way to refocus and center our energies, to ultimately relight our inner flame?  Here are eight great ways to do so…

1. On the 1st day, clean up your work area, whether it is an office room in your home, or your desk at work.  Put in a pile scraps of paper with phone numbers and tasks.  Throw out wrappers and unneeded paperwork.  File away everything that you finished.  Use file folders and labels to get better organized. Then stop, relax, and think about the possibilities for productivity.  Should you run to the store and purchase dividers, cups, trays and whatnot? New office supplies makes just about anyone feel good…
2. On the 2nd day, figure out how to use technology to get better organized.  Consider creating a Google Calendar and put in the little projects you need to get done, or use Outlook’s tools to help.  Use Excel, Word or Google Docs to write down the big projects and break them down into little tasks, so things don’t look so daunting.  Calendar the little pieces for completion, bit by bit.
3. On the 3rd day, begin figuring out how you can take better care of your health, without putting a crimp on your pocketbook or free time.  Can you afford a Wii Fit system to enjoy in the mornings or evening?  Can you visit websites that will show you how to eat more healthily? Can you throw out some of the junk snacks and replace them with healthier alternatives? How about replacing water for those sugary sweet sodas, and putting nuts in the candy bowl at work?  Look into it!
4. On the 4th day, begin looking around your home and see what you have failed to accomplish.  Using technology or a simple paper list, write down all of your unfinished home projects.  Now number them, with the least desirable projects first.  Start the first one.  Now.
5. On the 5th day, evaluate how you let interruptions creep into your life, especially when you are supposed to be relaxing.  Do you let your cell phone or home phone control you?  Do you constantly check emails?  Can you get away from Twitter or Facebook for an afternoon?  If not, then you have let something else control your life.  Think about taking some relaxing time on the weekends to simply stop it all.  Turn off everything that can communicate with or talk at you. Read a book, or go for a walk.  Go see a movie or eat a meal somewhere. But without interruptions.  When you are done, feel free to dive into social media, or turn on the phone again, but while you can, enjoy that tiny vacation…
6. On the 6th day, figure out ways to separate what is you do for a living from what it is you do for play.  Build those boundaries between office life and home life.  Make your home your own personal Holy of Holies, the untouchable place. Let the phone take messages.  Don’t check work email. Figure out ways to make your work stay there, so you can play and relax more at home.  Your heart will thank you later…
7. On the 7th day, figure out how to slow down the pace of that out of control thing you call your life.  How do you learn to prioritize what is needed to be done, so you can bit off smaller pieces each and every day?  Does everything need to get done now?  Do you stress things too much and need to find relaxation techniques?
8. On the 8th day, figure out how to say no to others.  Are you involved in too many things? Are you stretched too thin?  Can you give up some of what you are already giving time to, so you can focus on your own happiness too?  Sometimes saying no once in awhile does more for your friendships and career than saying yes too often…

Becoming a Light Unto the World Around You…

One of the traditions surrounding Hanukkah is after lighting the Hannukiah one places it outside, not inside.  This is so everyone passing by can see and be reminded of the miracle.  By working on quelling the outside influences in our lives, we can better grasp the lives we want to lead, and pull ourselves out of the darkness.  We can use the 8 techniques above to not only light the “house within,” but also in our greater happiness light the “house without.”  People will see the twinkling of a happier you, and remark on the miraculous, lasting changes they see…

Just in Case…

By the way, if you were looking for Hanukkah recipes and other traditions, and feel a bit let down… Here you go… Sheesh.

What is that incredible smell?!?

For the women reading this, November 5th is National Men Make Dinner Day. It is also known affectionately as National What The Heck is That on My Plate Day, National Why Are There So Many Dishes in the Sink! Day, and so forth.

Take some time after reading this, find your significantly manly other’s cell phone number, and happily dial it so that you can tell him the GOOD NEWS! Just make sure you have finished reading first, as there are a number of rules involved with this uniquely dangerous holiday. You will want to become knowledgeable on them prior to the negotiations with him, lest you wind up being provided a less-than-desirable offering from the kitchen.

Rules for Men make Dinner Day

1. The meal is dinner, and served sometime between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. prompt.

2. Ambience is required, including (but not limited to) decent and clean dish, glass and flatware, napkins, and a form of desirable table decor (candles, placemats, centerpiece, etc.)

Setting a fine example, men...

3. Table must be cleaned and dry prior to serving the dishes.

4. There must be a minimum of 2 items on the plate. It is desired that at least one fully cooked vegetable and starchy item be provided. Meat is optional, in that there are a growing number of vegetarians…

5. The foods provided must be cooked, in a stove, on a pan or grill, or using a pot. Microwaving is allowed for the vegetables only.

6. The main dish must have a minimum of 4 ingredients, and found in a published cookbook or Internet site of decent repute.

7. Nudity is optional, and only allowed when welcome. If bacon is involved, nudity is not recommended during the cooking of the meal… A decent shirt, socks and trousers is strongly suggested. Aprons are optional, but certainly welcome both during the cooking and serving portion of the meal.

8. Foods cooked must be of a nature deemed desirable by those being served, as drawn from personal experience. If you are unsure, you MUST ask your woman what she wants!

9. It is desired that the food be served on serving plates or trays, with proper implements for serving. Service for two only allows for the food to be placed on the plates, but offset by appropriate ambience, including candles and preferably softer music.

10. My strongest recommendation is to clean up after dinner is over, including the table, plates, counters and cooking surfaces. In most instances, this produces more of a positive reaction than the dinner itself.

Meal Suggestions

Oh, my hero....

Male Kitchen Colleagues: Search your home or the Internet high and low for a good cookbook, and find something that you have identified ingredients for, and you know your mate will love. Shop for what is needed, now. There are so many incredible and easy dinner recipes on the Web!

Here are a few sites to get you started, from some of the most influential chefs in the World and right here on Twitter. Some are simple to follow, while others will require a more experienced man in the kitchen…

Mario Batali – Incredible Italian recipes! Fuggedaboudit!

Bobby Flay – BBQ, Dude!

Gordon Ramsay - Shut up and cook!

Paul Bocuse – Fine French dining… Bon Appetit!

Chef Andre’s Recipes courtesy of KathyIreland.com

Emeril’s Recipes – BAM!!!

Jamie Oliver (The Naked Chef) – Not what you think…

Gary Arbaugh – wonderful variety of easy recipes, sure to please your significant other!

Visit back here tomorrow, and let me know how it went…

Steve Woods

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Fourth Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu

As the story goes, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, was playing cards one night in 1782 with other muckety-mucks, something he did quite often. Getting hungry but not wanting to stop and eat a proper meal (hence interrupting what was a very good game,) Montagu asked his valet that some sliced meat be brought to him, stuck between two slices of bread so he wouldn’t get his fingers greasy. The other players, noting the request, stated aloud “I’ll have the same as Sandwich!” This story was first noted in 1770, and has had a lot of runtime since, although never proven to be true. But I love unproven stories… National Sandwich Day is celebrated today, in honor of Montagu’s birth on Nov. 3rd, 1718.

History of the Sandwich

The sandwich is the original mashup. The concept of putting meat and bread together in one form or another has been around for a very long time. In the 1st Century Rabbi Hillel enjoyed a thick mixture of nuts, apples, spice and wine between layers of unleavened matzot bread. This was eaten alongside the traditional bitter herbs to commemorate Passover, and to this day is called the “Hillel Sandwich.”

Dining in the Middle Ages

In the 6th Century, tavern-goers in the Middle Ages would eat meat with sauces on large, thick slices of stale bread, open-faced sandwiches known as Trenchers. The hard bread sopped up the sauces and softened to an edible state, at which point it was either eaten, tossed to dogs, or given to beggars. In Northern European countries, softer versions of bread were layered with butters and carefully sliced meats, likely an early predecessor to the English version of the modern sandwich.

What was a sandwich called before it got its current name? Up to the 16th Century, the combination of bread and meat was called, well, bread and meat. I suppose it wasn’t imaginative, but it did the job…

The Sandwich Arrives in America

Elizabeth Leslie

How did the sandwich make its way to America? In 1840 Englishwoman Elizabeth Leslie wrote a cookbook called Directions for Cookery wherein she introduced a recipe for a ham sandwich. Really? A recipe? For a ham sandwich? Elizabeth suggested the sandwich as a main dish. That must’ve been one heck of a sandwich. Ham was typically used in American sandwiches, as it was much easier to come across than beef, which was more prevalent in England.

During the Industrial Revolution, as bread-making and meat preserving became more prevalent, sandwiches became the oft-chosen lunch option for workers, as it was quick, easy and relatively inexpensive. The early versions typically included some form of sliced vegetable, meat, and even cheese. On July 7, 1928 the Chillicothe Baking Company began marketing pre-sliced wrapped bread loaves, and the sandwich positively took off…. (Note: The Wonder Bread Company is oft-credited as inventing sliced bread first, in 1930. Not true – they are the first to market it nationally.)

Army C Rations

During the Temperance movement, barkeeps worked hard to keep customers coming despite the growing ban on alcohol, offering free sandwiches with drinks, thus furthering its popularity. As workers commuted greater distances to work, train stations began selling sandwiches to weary travelers, who scooped them up rather than consider making dinner so late in the early evening.

In World War II, soldiers would put together the canned or otherwise packaged peanut butter, jellies and bread they found in their C Rations and invented the PB&J. Returning home from war, the soldiers shared their favorite sandwich with their growing children, and a perennial American favorite was born.

What is Legally a Sandwich?

Not legally a sandwich...

Believe it or not, in 2006 the Superior Court of Boston, Massachusetts had to rule what a sandwich is. A shopping mall had lured a sandwich shop as a vendor, with the provision that the mall management would not allow another “sandwich shop” to set up a storefront in the mall. Along came a burrito stand, and the sandwich shop challenged their right to set up shop. A judge had to determine what the legal definition of a “sandwich” was, and after much thought, ruled that a sandwich is composed of at least two slices of bread, Because no burritos (or tacos, chimichangas, wraps or pitas) may claim this title, the sandwich shop owner lost his challenge.

Sandwiches Around the World

Regional variations on the sandwich (legal definition aside) include the Vietnamese Bahn Mi, Chilean Barros, Pakistan’s Bun Kebab, Germany’s Butterbrot, English Chip Butty, Uruguayan Chivito, New York Hero, Philadelphia Cheesesteak, Greek Gyro, Chinese Shaobing Youtiao and more. Seems there is no shortage of the idea to combine bread with something good. Breads are either sliced, wrapped, or covered in a dough and boiled, fried or baked along with their fillings. In many cultures, much as it is in American, the sandwich and its many variations are the staple luncheon fare.

The incredible but inedible Dagwoo

The Impossible and Improbable Dagwood

Hey, you can’t write something about the history of the sandwich without including the Dagwood, a concoction created by Chic Young and featured in Blondie, his comic strip. The original mention of the Dagwood included beef tongue, onion, mustard, sardine, beans and horseradish. Yum. You know, beans as a sandwich additive are certainly under-represented.

Over the years, more and more was added to the Dagwood, reaching epic proportions. If life truly is like a sandwich, and the more we add the better it gets, then the Dagwood reminds us of the joys received in biting off more than we can chew…

Because they could be collected from all around, were lightweight, and could be stored for great periods of time through tough winters, nuts (mixed with other dried foods) allowed for the formation of base camps and hunting exhibitions.  The carrying of dried nuts allowed groups to travel great distances without the necessary concern of what to eat along the journey. In other words, the variety of nuts found in ancient times, in part, allowed our ancestors to comfortably spread out across the globe.

Today is National Nut Day, and I’m torn between celebrating either the guy who wears dirty sweaters and shouts at the walls as you transit from your parked car to the office door (and you pray he won’t notice you) or that little delicious, crunchy, culinary delight in the big grocery bin.  Maybe in some weird way, I can figure out how to do both…

If you asked a botanist

Ask a botanist what a nut is and he’ll likely first think of you, because you’re bothering him, and frankly he doesn’t know you.  After he moves past that, he’ll tell you that a “true nut” is a dry fruit with a hardened ovary (Ovary? Really?) and softer, detached seed center, and that it stays shut even at full maturity.   I don’t know why it has to be described in that way…ask your new botanist friend!  Examples of what a botanist would call a “true nut” are chestnuts, beechnuts, hazelnuts and filberts.  I’ll bet when a botanist is at Baskin Robbins and is ordering toppings for his girlfriend’s ice cream sundae, he says nuts, even if they are not “true nuts.”  He does if he wants to keep dating her….

If you asked someone who cooks for a living

In the world of cuisine, the definition of a nut is fast and loose.  If you spent your day around sharp knives and open flames, you might be a little loose with the definitions too.  Any large oily seed extracted from a shell and used to cook with is considered a nut in the world of the kitchen.  Because we have much closer relationships with those that cook our meals than botanists, we tend to view pistachios, walnuts, almonds, cashews, coconuts, pinenuts and even peanuts as “nuts.”  Everyone likes to remind the lowly peanut that he is actually a legume, or bean.  The peanut never asked for such dichotomy.  If some of us can call Perez Hilton a celebrity, why can’t we just call a peanut a nut?

Health benefits of eating nuts

A diet that includes nuts has a variety of benefits to the eater.  The Omega 3 oils in nuts reduces hypertension and the risk of heart disease, and may add years to your life if you replace sweet treats at breaktime with them often.  Studies have shown that putting out a bowl of walnuts and almonds can actually reduce the level of “bad” cholestrol in our bodies, and increase the number of health-conscious hotties hanging around your desk.

Nuts are rich in fiber, protein, antioxidants, and vitamins.  Because of a very low glycemic index, nuts are typically suggested as a snack for anyone with insulin resistance problems, such as diabeties. Nuts contain linoleic and linolenic acids that help with proper skin, hair, brain, blood and immunilogical development.  They are considered to be one of the “perfect” foods, due to the large cross-section of identified benefits in consuming them in moderation.

Types of nuts

Here is a non-comprehensive list, in alphabetical order, of the types of nuts you can eat.  Some may require special preparation, so don’t run out and grab just any one of them off the ground!  Have you had the opportunity to try most of these?  I’ll bet you haven’t!

• Acorn
• Beech
• Butternut
• Brazilnut
• Candlenut
• Cashew
• Chestnuts (Chinese, Malabar, and Sweet)
• Colocynth
• Cucurbita Ficifolia
• Filbert
• Gevuina Avellana
• Hazelnut
• Hickory (Pecan, Shagbark Hickory)
• Kola
• Macadamia
• Mamoncillo
• Maya
• Mongongo
• Oak Acorns
• Ogbono
• Paradise
• Pili
• Pistachio
• Walnut

From nut to “nutter”

So how did such a good little food, responsible for the survival and spread of our species over millenia, become a derogatory term meaning “insane?”  Although there are no really direct explanations for it, there are regional cultural cues in our language that may’ve led to this…

From the 18th to 20th Centuries, the slang version of nut or nuts was used in a positive manner, denoting an extreme desire toward something.  This was highlighted in Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn, circa 1884: “Tom had his store clothes on, and an audience — and that was always nuts for Tom Sawyer.”  It was not uncommon in literature to describe the height of love as being a form of insanity.  Sometime around the mid 20th Century, the word nut became synonymous with describing one’s head, with terms such as “tough nut to crack” being used to describe one with very guarded thoughts or emotions.

Somewhere in the mid 20th Century, all of these terms seemed to converge, and the term nuts came to be used to describe someone whose sanity was in permanent (rather than temporary) question.  A variety of terms came about, including nutter, nuthouse, nutty, nuthead, etc., all demeaning in form.  In the last 30 years of so, the term nuts has taken back some of its original meaning, and is used once again to describe a pleasant but strong desire toward something.

Add some nuts to your life

Knowing how the wonderful nut has contributed so greatly to our survival and in no small way to the fact that you live where you do, why not take some to the office with you?  And say hello on the way to the guy with the stinky sweater. He might want some too…

It was a cold, hard, bitter Winter in 1692.  Many of the tiny lonesome towns along the Eastern seaboard had spent the Summer before fighting off attacks on their borders by neighboring Indian tribes, suffering heavy losses.  The Rye harvests had not been plentiful, as the Summer was a wet one.  It seemed that the shutters were drawn tight against a variety of forces outside.  It was during this time that 10-year-old Betty Parris began to act strangely.  Her father Samuel and mother Elizabeth had moved there only 4 years earlier, Samuel having taken the position of village minister, removing his family from the dangers of their farm in the wilderness. A normally bright, outgoing youngster, Betty took to hurrying about the house, hiding behind and under furniture, seeing hallucinations, and worse.  She would suddenly fall upon the floor in pain, twisting and contorting her body, much to the dismay of those around her.

Arriving at the same time as Betty Parris’ alarming condition was Memorable Providences, a book written by the then-noted Boston-based minister Cotton Mather.  In his book Minister Mather exhorted his readers to be on the lookout for signs of those that had been “bewitched.”  Many of the symptoms Mather described matched young Betty’s, as well as Ann Putnam and Mercy Lewis, playmates of Betty.

It wasn’t long before leaders, some having read and shared the warnings in Memorable Providences, began whispering that witchcraft was beginning to poison the tiny community of Salem Village.  The Parris’ servant Tituba was pushed to use an old “remedy,” baking a rye cake using the urine of the three afflicted girls, and feeding it to a dog that was believed to be associated with dark forces, based on his continued unfriendly behavior.

The girls began to emotionally feed off of each other, contorting and screaming in the presence of certain individuals, naming them as Satan’s tormentors, including the servant Tituba herself.   What made matters worse and sealed the fate of so many others, was that after having denied any involvement, Tituba acquiesced under pressure, saying she and other townswomen had flown around on brooms.  Tiny Salem Village was now in an uproar, a full-scale battle it seemed against Lucifer himself.

As the months progressed, the girls stated they say witches flying through the air and the spirits of townspeople assaulting them.  Those accused were left to languish under terrible conditions in jail, and many soon admitted guilt just to get out, many receiving harsh punishments and even expulsion from Salem.  Four-year-old Dorcas Good was arrested after accusations that her spirit had bitten the girls.  Dorcas watched and screamed from between her jailhouse bars as her mother was also carted off and subsequently hung.  Dorcas stayed in jail for 8 long months, and ultimately went insane.  As the seven girls enjoyed larger adoring audiences and perfected their fine art of physical demonstratives, the jails began to fill…

On October 12, 1692, Massachusetts Colony Governor William Phipps, after returning from England and hearing about the ensuing chaos in Salem, appointed five judges to find out what was going on there.  Unfortunately, he stacked the new Court with adherents of Cotton Mather, who listened closely to the testimony of Betty Parris and cliqué.  What made matters worse was a belief that the Devil himself was behind the previous, still-smarting military failures against the neighboring tribes.  Many of the judges,military leaders themselves, may’ve wished to deflect anger at them towards others, by supporting the accusations of witchcraft.

By late 1692, so many respected members of the community were put in jail by other townsfolk that educated people began to question the proceedings.  It just didn’t make sense, as the behavior of the accused were witnessed by nobody but the now-famous girls. Cotton’s own father Increase Mather wrote a very public plea, stating that it “were better that ten witches should escape than one innocent person should be condemned.” Increase Mathers personally wrote to Governor Phipps entreating him to stop allowing spectral evidence in Courts, and to stick with solid, factual evidence.

After reading the pleadings from Increase Mather and a growing list of others, Governor Phipps (a Christian himself) overrode the influence that certain Christian religious leaders held over the court system, declaring that spectral or dogmatic evidence would no longer be admitted in the Massachusetts court system as a means to prosecute others.  Governor Phipps dissolved the 5-judge Salem tribunal, pardoning and releasing the accused.  These overdue acts helped to push our still-new legal system firmly into the principle of legal neutrality, that we all deserved to live our lives under laws based not on another’s dogma or beliefs.  The wisdom of this big step ultimately led to the incorporation of the concept of “freedom of conscience” into our Bill of Rights 99 years later.

Remember that bad harvest the Summer before Betty Parris’ hallucinogenic outpourings?  Research has shown that the Summer was unusually damp, particularly around Rye harvest time, Rye being the staple of food used in Salem.   Convulsive Ergotism can be brought on by consuming Rye that has been stored under these conditions, as fungus often forms and spoils the grain.  The townspeople of Salem at the time were unaware of this issue, or of potential consequences of eating spoiled grains.  Regardless, you ate what you had, in order to survive a bitter Winter….

Research has shown that Rye fungi are particularly harmful to the human mind when eaten. The hallucinogen LSD is derived from Ergot-based fungi, and the symptoms that Betty exhibited (fits, hallucinations, convulsions, etc.) are completely in line with the consumption of Rye fungus.

It is believed that after the original symptoms had passed (the bad grain had been eaten or tossed,) Betty had begun to realize that the townsfolk were seeking a reason for the fits she and her friends had suffered through, and that the popular reasoning was witchcraft and its effects.  Betty and her friends, along with four other girls, formed a clique and began wielding a frightful, new-found power — accusation.  It was only through the sheer fortitude of others that saw through the ruse that the girls were finally stopped.

Over nineteen people were accused, jailed, and hung.  Hundreds were imprisoned for a time. Many of those that were accused lost landholdings that ultimately seemed to benefit those that accused them. Few dared to question the authority of the newly-appointed court, especially after watching John Proctor and his pregnant wife’s very public example after John questioned the court’s decisions.  (See the movie The Crucible to learn more…)

Freethought Day is to commemorate the decision made by Governor Phipps to end the stranglehold that certain belief systems had previously held over our legal system.  It is a reminder to keep the legal system free of stereotyped biases against others, so that justice can be served, and nobody can be made a scapegoat in order to deflect the true root of the problems we encounter.

The conditions for intolerance and hate are ever-present, growing in dark, damp places.  In our Information Age, look over what you are fed with a careful eye, balancing what you partake of on a daily basis, lest you lose you hold on reality.  Never, ever be afraid to make a stand against what you see as an injustice in the lives of those that surround you, no matter how sweet or innocent the accuser may seem to you….

If you have not gone to a Starbucks or one of their hanging-on-to-dear-life local competitors and ordered an iced coffee, blended coffee or frappuccino, you are simply missing out on one of society’s shared sinful pleasures.  Don’t like coffee?  Then ask that barista you flirt with to hand you a green tea blend…

How did we come to fall in love with our blended ice coffees, anyway?

Introduction of the Frappé

Over 52 years ago at the International Trade Fair in Thessaloniki, Greece,  Nestle representative Yannis Dritsas was showing off a new instant chocolate milk mix.  People were enamored with the concept of adding a magical powder to milk, and shaking it up to instantly produce shouts of glee from their kids. During the course of the Fair, Yannis’ assistant Dimitris Vakondios, needing a pick-me-up, decided to make some instant coffee.  Hot water was nowhere to be found, so Dimitris  mixed the coffee mix with cold water and ice, and borrowed the shaker.  An instant hit was born.

Today’s Frappés

Today, Café Frappés are the national drink of Greece, in almost every coffee shop, and has been the subject of popular books.  There is a science involved with making a decent frappé, down to the proper techniques to create the perfect sized bubbles in the foamy top.

You can get a café frappé in varying degrees of sweetness, depending on how much sugar and coffee you want in the drink.  Glykos (sweet) typically means 2 teaspoons of instant coffee and 4 teaspoons of sugar.  Metrios (medium) means an equal measure of 2 teaspoons of coffee and 2 teaspoons of sugar, and Sketos (plain), meaning 2 teaspoons of instant coffee but no sugar.  To create a Frapogolo (frappé-milk) you can ask for the addition of evaporated milk to the mix.

To spice things up a bit, various liquers, chocolate milk, or vanilla ice cream can be added.  Starting to sound pretty good… Kahlúa anyone?

National variations on the Frappé

The frappé (and its die-hard fans) moved across Europe, from Greece to Cyprus, then Albania, Macedonia, across Asia, Turkey, and many Eastern Bloc nations, all of whom added their special twist on the drink.  Bulgarians have tried adding Coca-Cola rather than water, and in Denmark milk is typically used as a base rather than water.  Americans tend to like the version introduced and made famous by Starbucks, although in the Boston area, a frappé is what they call a very thick milkshake (no coffee.).  In France, a frappé is a milkshake-like concoction of milk or fruit juices.

Frappé is pronounced Frap. Rhymes with Rap. They liked that concept…

Frappé Recipe

According to http://www.frappenation.com to make a great Greek frappé, place 2 teaspoons of instant coffee, sugar to taste, and 3-4 teaspoons of cold water in a blender.  Blend for 10 seconds to get a good foam.  Add ice to a tall glass, and pour out the foamy mix into the glass.  Add a shot of evaporated milk and fill the rest of the way with water.

Today is World Vegetarian Day. Although the word Vegetarian was in existence previous to its formation, the Vegetarian Society is credited with making Vegetarianism a household word.  The Vegetarian Society has a somewhat purist definition of the term, stating that those practicing “semi-vegetarianism” are not true Vegetarians.  The term semi-Vegetarianism (or Flexitarianism) exists due to the multiplicity of choices individuals have made in their diet, whether based on ethical, religious, health, economic or other reasons.

What forms of Vegetarianism (and Flexitarianism) are there?

• Vegan – excludes all animal products and products that are produced from animal labor such as honey and eggs.
• Pescetarian – A Vegan who includes fish in his diet.
• Lacto-Vegetarian – includes dairy products but not eggs in his diet.
• Ovo-Vegetarian – includes eggs but not dairy.
• Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian – includes eggs and dairy.
• Fruitarian – eats only what can be harvested without harming the plant, including fruits, seeds and nuts.
• Su Vegetarian – eats no animal products or “fetid” vegetables such as onions, garlics, scallions, leeks or shallots.
• Macrobiotic – eats largely whole grains or beans.  Some also consume fish.
• Raw Veganists – eat only fresh and raw fruit, nuts, seeds and veggies.

The earliest records of Vegetarianism exist among the peoples of Ancient India, as well as Ancient Greece around the 6th Century BCE, both as a result of philosophies regarding nonviolence towards animals. As Christianity became prominent later in the Roman Empire, Vegetarianism disappeared across much of the European continent, as fish began to make its way into the common diet.  During the Renaissance, Vegetarianism began to rise in popularity, becoming more widespread in the 19th and 20th Centuries.

The Vegetarian Society was founded in England in 1847, and soon thereafter other larger nations joined the bandwagon, forming the International Vegetarian Union in 1908.  Vegetarians in the nation of India make up more than 70% of the World’s Vegetarian population, largely due to Centuries-old religious and economic necessities.  The U.K. has roughly 11% of its population Vegetarian (as defined by the Vegetarian Society,) and the United States has only around 3% Vegetarian.

Health and Vegetarianism

The American Dietetic Association has succinctly stated that a proper Vegetarian diet satisfies all of one’s dietary needs, significantly lowering one’s risk of Cancer, Heart Disease, Hypertension, Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Dementia and Alzheimers. The Association goes on to state that Vegetarians tend to have less excess fat in their bodies, therefore less illnesses commonly associated with those that have high Body Mass Indexes (BMIs.)

To ensure a balanced Vegetarian diet, one must include with a good supply of fruits and vegetables plenty of greens, soy, lupin, hempseed, buckwheat, amaranth and quinoa in their diet. Particularly Westerners, who tend to eat a diet high in Carotenoids but low in Vitamin B and Calcium. Include beans, peas, cereals, seeds, whole-wheat breads, nuts and tomato juice to keep your iron intake high, but be prepared to have to eat quite a bit often, as iron stores in Vegetarians tend to be lower than in those that consume red meats. Various oily nuts and seeds can help with Omega 3 fatty acids.

The Seventh-Day Adventists did a study on its members in California, and found that extended Vegetarianism added approximately 8 more years to a man’s life, and 3.5 more years to a woman’s life, on average.  Studies in France (where a high plant and low meat diet is predominant) showed a significantly higher life expectancy.

Environment and Vegetarianism

Those that choose Vegetarianism based on environmental interests do so largely because they believe that the large-scale raising, slaughtering and consumption of animal products has a deteriorating effect on the environment. According the United Nations, the livestock industry is the second or third largest contributor of global air, land and water pollution, climate change (almost 20% of greenhouse gasses – more than all transportation sources combined) and loss of biodiversity (one hamburger = 6.25 square meters of rain forest lost.)

Grain-fed animals consume far more water than merely growing the grain crops themselves.  The United Stated Department of Agriculture states that growing the crops necessary to feed animals requires 50% of our water supply, and 80% of our currently used agricultural land. Animals raised for slaughter consume 90% of our soy crop, 80% of our corn crop, and 70% of our grain.  The index used to measure the efficiency of conversion of eaten plant matter to bodily substance incidates that 10% of what a cow eats is converted to body substance by cattle (which means 90% of all of those crops eaten by our cattle turn into fecal matter.) Trophic Dynamic theory states that it requires 10 times as many crops to feed a production animal as it would to feed one person on a Vegetarian diet.  Many of these same researches admit that to tend smaller bands of animals grazing on unusable lands would be beneficial, and only take umbrage with large-scale animal farms.

Economic Justice and Vegetarianism

Many groups, including the controversial PETA, decry Vegetarianism as a method to offset poor working conditions in the meat industry, citing psychological damage caused by working in the slaughterhouse.  Agricultural in general is one of the most dangerous forms of work in the World, and having to raise less crops to feed animals would lower the rate of injury, they say.  Health advocates add to their argument that eating less meat would lessen the burden on the health care systems.  The lower need for grain would also likely make more available to poorer nations.

Religious Vegetarianism

Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism practice Vegetarianism to one degree or another as a form of morality.  Judaism and Islam have a long-standing tradition of animal welfare in how its farmers raise and slaughter animals, and many have moved to Vegetarianism as a moral stance in favor of animal welfare.  Many of the disciples of Jesus were rumored to be Vegetarian, and some Christian scholars argue that the allowance for eating of meat following the Great Flood was due to the dearth of plant matter available.

Considering Vegetarianism?

Making the swap to something you may’ve gotten so much culinary pleasure from is daunting, to say the least.  Here are some tips for you on this journey:

• Vegetarians all agree that to successfully make the transition from omnivore to one who consistently turns down meat, you must find within yourself and agree upon a strong reasoning.  You must be absolutely sure as to why you are doing it, or risk temptation at every turn, from family, friends and co-workers.  Think cold beer and BBQ on a hot summer day…
• Next, read up on Vegetarianism.  I mean really read up on it.  Make yourself your own personal expert on it.
• Find tons of recipes and organize them for use.  Try out one Vegetarian recipe a week and keep the ones you like.
• Begin the process of substitution in your meals by purchasing and using meat substitutes in your recipes.
• Give up red meat while keeping white meats and fish for awhile.  Then slowly cut out the others, and figure out for yourself what you’re going to do about dairy and eggs.
• Tell everyone you know about your choice; those that care about you will support you.
• Find as many ways as possible to make your choice fun, in the foods you eat, how you eat them, and the rate at which you take on Vegetarianism.
• Find Vegetarian restaurants and convenience foods in the Supermarket.
• Join a support group.  Look up Vegetarian on Twitter and FaceBook and join groups and talk, talk, talk!
• Download the free eBook Vegetarian Starter Kit

If you choose to make this journey, good luck!  Let me know how it goes!

Throughout our gastronomic history, our species has been populated with adventurous men and women who, after coming across a foreign substance stuck to a tree, under a rock, behind a bush or in a cave, thought to themselves, “I’ll put that in my mouth.”

Early history

The Ancient Greeks moved aside the bark of the mastic trees on the island of Chios, and grew fond of the flavor of the resinous sap they found therein, discovering that it kept their breath fresh as it cleaned their teeth.  How often have you seen something dribbling from a bush and thought you’d chew it for awhile?

The Greek physician and botanist Dioscorides decried the “curative” powers of the mastic resin.  Mastic was combined with beeswax to soften it, and the mix moved to the Middle East.  Did you know that the Greek Word mastiche, the root of the word masticate (or chew) comes from the mastic plant?

In the Second Century, the Mayans discovered the joys of chewing the sap of the Sapodilla tree, called chicle. These trees grow to over 100 feet tall, and were typically allowed to grow for 25 years prior to tapping for the resin every few years. Different tree saps appealed to different indigenous peoples. After felling spruce trees, early Native Americans discovered they could safely chew on the resin inside, and passed this little joy to the American colonists.  The practice of chewing spruce resin continued into the early 1800s, until paraffin wax grew in popularity as a chewable.

Introduction to America

Compounding on this early success, Adams added licorice flavor to his gum, and called in Black Jack, the very first gum sold in sticks.  The gum was extremely popular, but did not hold its flavor for long.  Of course, this meant that fans of Black Jack had to buy a lot to keep in good supply…

Black Jack chewing gum sold well into the 1970s, and made a comeback in the late 1980s as a novelty gum.  Adam’s original company merged with others, becoming known as the American Chicle Company, where Adams invented the popular Chiclets brand.  The American Chicle Company is now part of the Cadbury Group.

Making something good better

In 1880 William White ordered some chicle, and began experimenting with a variety of flavorings, including peppermint.  He added sugars and corn syrup to the chicle mix, which seemed to greaten the enjoyment and extend the flavor for a greater period of time.  With the advent of good flavorings, chicle-based gums took the market over from both spruce and paraffin.  By 1893, the William Wrigley Company began selling Spearmint and Juicy Fruit.

Since the 1920′s a variety of tree resins have been used to make chewing gums, including the lechi, caspi, sorva, nispero, tunui and jelutong trees, trees spanning the globe from Central and South America, North America, Indonesia and Borneo.  The last chewing gum brand in America to use chicle was Glee.

How chewing gum is made

The modern manufacturing process has introduced man-made resins and waxes and greatly increased the pleasure of the chewing experience. Sugars, special flavorings and other fillers are added together and mixed in with the melted gum base, and softeners depending on whether or not the gum will be used for bubbling. Sticks are scored and cut, spray-coated with super fine powdered sugar, and let sit for 2 days in a climate-controlled environment. Gum balls are coated with colored sugars mixed with beeswax or man-made waxes.

Other chewing gum facts

The American Dental Association says chewing a low-cal gum after every meal greatly reduces tooth decay because the increased saliva delivers with it flouride, calcium and phosphate to your teeth.

There are hundreds of brands of chewing gum all over the World, with at least 50 popular brands in the U.S. alone.

In 2004, a popular eBay attraction was ABC (already-been-chewed) gum that was purported to once belong to pop star Britney Spears. Pieces sold for up to $150.00 each.

Swallowing chewing gum is relatively harmless. Your body will not digest it, but as with all indigestibles, it will be passed through your body. That said, if you constantly swallow your gum, you increase the chances of one piece not getting passed, and becoming a Bezoar, or permanent stone in your digestive system.

It is that time of year again, when the days begin to shorten, the nights bring a chill and the leaves start to turn. It’s time for apples!

Harvesting apples was an annual event I eagerly anticipated. There was a “Pick Your Own” Orchard a few miles from my home and each year we would pile large wicker baskets, metal wash tubs, buckets and whatever else we could find into the pick-up, along with the ladder, and drive out to the orchard.

There would always be some type of reunion there. Neighbors who had moved off, returning to pick. Uncles, aunts, and cousins from all over would be there to pick apples. We would fill our baskets and tubs with Red Delicious, Yellow Delicious and especially Granny Smith’s. The Granny Smith’s would keep (stay fresh) longer than any other apple. And they were the best for canning, making pies, apple butter and most of all APPLE DUMPLINGS!

I remember my grandfather sitting on the front porch peeling and coring apples the next day, while my grandmother would be inside making the dough for the dumplings. My grandfather always said that if you could peel an apple from tip to core, and the peeling stayed in one piece, it was a sign of good luck. My grandmother would then tell me that if you dropped the peel behind you, it would fall in the shape of the first letter of your true love’s name.

Wrapping the apples was fun, but Ahhh… the smell of those dumplings cooking! Apple cinnamon spice filled the air. Everyone would be smiling and waiting with expectation of those delicious apple dumplings. Just about the time when you thought your taste buds would desert you, my grandmother would open the oven door, releasing a renewed bouquet of fragrance!

It’s that time of year again, when the fond memories of childhood fill my mind and my mouth waters once again for a taste of those Apple Dumplings!

Gary Arbaugh

You can find Gary’s Grandmother’s Apple Dumpling recipe at his wonderful recipe and good living blog, http://recipes4goofoodrecipes.blogspot.com/2009/09/grandmas-apple-dumplings.html