Comfort Food

Comfort food is different things to different people. To some of us, it’s a heaping plate of macaroni and cheese or mashed potatoes with gravy. For others, it’s grandma’s matzo ball soup or nonna’s spaghetti and meatballs. For me, though it’s tough to admit, the one food that makes me feel warm all over is a big, juicy burger and a side of fries. This meal, like no other, conjures up my fondest childhood memories.

There are certain foods that engender a response as primal as comfort. Food, like smell, has a way of transporting us back to another place and time. Whenever I make my grandmother’s banana bread, I’m reminded of sitting in her kitchen watching her bake amid clouds of flour and sugar, while the sweet smell of banana wafted from the oven. I can’t help but think of her when those smells fill my own kitchen.

Mini meatballs and bowls of onion dip remind me of my parents New Year’s Eve parties. The house was filled with family and friends, but this adults-only party required my sister and me to stay upstairs and out of sight. Begrudgingly, we would fill our plates with tasty treats and head up to watch Dick Clark and entertain ourselves. As the voices grew louder and louder, we’d eventually sneak downstairs for more food thinking that the adults were too distracted to notice. We always got caught of course. And after a mock stern look from my mother, we would head upstairs once again, sated and happy.

I have vivid memories of impromptu pizza and popcorn parties that always seemed to happen (at least to me) very late at night. My dad would sometimes work into the evening, and when he finally came home, he would make mini pizzas (tomato sauce and cheese on English muffins) and a big bowl of popcorn. I could always hear the popcorn begin to pop on the stove before the air filled with its savory scent. That was my cue to head downstairs. And sure enough, as my sister and I rounded the corner, two smaller bowls were waiting just for us.

The backyard BBQ, the turkey roasting in the oven – we can all recall celebrations and those everyday moments that included our favorite foods just as sure as we can picture the faces of the people we shared them with. This is all part of the tradition and ritual of sharing to begin with. Food connects us to one another. It feeds our souls as well as our bodies and nourishes the events in our lives.

If you love hamburgers, too, visit A Hamburger Today at aht.seriouseats.com

Bright Idea?

The jury is still out on which light bulb is the best, but you can be sure that incandescent bulbs are on their way out. Beginning in 2012 (2011 in CA), incandescent bulbs will be phased out. Each year, another wattage will be eliminated (starting with the 100 watt bulb), making them all extinct by 2014. So what will take its place? The push for CFL (compact fluorescent light) and LED (light emitting diode) bulbs are leading the way.

Fans of the CFL argue that they can be used in most household fixtures, lasts 10 times longer, and use approximately 75% less energy than an incandescent bulb. However, CFLs take a while to reach their full brightness and consumers complain that the light quality is less than satisfactory. Myself included. Today's CFLs do not "read" color well making our rooms, and each other, look washed out. And, let's not forget that trace of mercury that requires us to handle them with care. Technology is improving. We are starting to see "soft white", "cool white", and "daylight" varieties on the market that mimic the light quality of incandescent bulbs.

LEDs are long-lasting and low-wattage, so although they will cost more initially, they will save you money overall. LED bulbs are also versatile and illuminate artwork and work spaces well. These bulbs are mercury-free, making them the greenest choice. But, beware of bulbs that throw off a blue cast.

The good news is that by the time incandescent bulbs are completely phased out, technology will (hopefully) have addressed all of these issues. Hybrid bulbs are now being produced that combine the best of CFLs and halogen (the closest light we have to daylight right now, but runs too hot for most indoor use) like the GE Reveal hybrid bulb. I'm a big fan of the original Reveal bulb, so let's hope this one looks as good.

Image via denverlightbulbs.com

Keep It Together

When any container will do, keep it simple and repeat. Organize pens, pencils and the like with this vase, these glasses, or a few bowls.

Image scanned from Pottery Barn

A Zero-Waste Home: Could You Do It?

It's Earth Week and I've been thinking about my family's imprint on the planet. We recycle, shop with reusable bags and refuse plastic, buy locally and fresh when we can... but there is certainly more we can do. That's when I saw this article from Sunset Magazine about the Johnson family and their zero-waste home.

After reading through the article I asked myself, could I do this? How about you?

Forgo packaging - instead of buying bags and boxes of food, buy in bulk instead. The Johnson family actually brings glass jars to the grocery store and has meat (from the butcher) placed in jars and other food products stored in fabric sacks, instead of packaged in plastic. Who knew? If the store can weigh the jar empty, and then deduct that weight, you could shop this way, too. Bring mesh bags to hold fruits and vegetables and leave the plastic alone. Could I do this? Yes. Mostly. I honestly can't see myself using glass jars or eliminating packaging altogether, but I can absolutely reduce packaging by at least half and purchase mesh bags to use right alongside my fabric grocery bags. I'll save the jars for holding the bulk foods when I get home.

Pare down - The Johnson family uses only essential, multi-purpose kitchen gadgets instead of drawers filled with many. Mail, clothes, books, and even furnishings, can all reduced to the bare minimum. I especially like their idea of giving gifts of experiences instead of things. Could I do this? Not well. I can live with less clothing and stuff in general, and I can definitely do without a mailbox full of wasted paper, but I need my books and the comforts of home. I am more apt to buy something from a second-hand shop or repurpose a piece of furniture than buy something new, so that's good news. I only buy clothes for myself when I need to, but I could do better with my girls. And I've already reduced the amount of gifts I give. I plan to increase the number of gift certificates I purchase and gift experiences instead of things.

So although I couldn't live entirely like the Johnson family, I will be making some changes. Here are some ways you can make changes, too.

• Remove yourself from direct mail and catalog lists by visiting dmachoice.org and catalogchoice.com.
• Consider using microfiber cloths in place of paper towels.
• Buy re-fillable bottles of shampoo and conditioner.
• Reduce beauty product packaging by using one thing for multi purposes like Vaseline (eye make-up remover, lip gloss, moisturizer, and burn and cut balm).
• Buy beauty products from companies that buy back packaging like Mac cosmetics.
• Make your own household cleaner using Mrs. Johnson's recipe: 1 1/2 teaspoons castile soap, 3 teaspoons white vinegar, and 4 cups of water. 

Check out the blog (I love the tagline) and see what else they've done.

Bird Watching

No, this isn't a bird. This is who comes to visit when bird watching becomes more important than common sense. The bears are awake, take in your feeders - and the one night we don't... He gave quite a performance. I was actually surprised he didn't smile for the camera. (This shot was taken from a second floor window. No harming of humans was involved. Although the feeder is toast.) As I sat on my porch writing this post, I observed the birds take what little seed was left from the ground. I will miss watching them for a few days while we try to persuade Mr. Bear to find his nightly meal elsewhere.

You'd think 17 years of country living would teach me something. Bears really do live in the woods. And although I've seen moose tracks in the yard, I have yet to see an actual moose. He's next on my list. Maybe I'll leave out some muffins.

The Journal Keeper

I spent this past weekend immersed in Phyllis Theroux's book, The Journal Keeper. I'm only half way through, but I was so inspired that I wanted to share it all with you.

After briefly looking over the title when it first came out, I placed it back on the shelf and kept on my merry way. Ironically, I had just started to keep a journal around that same time - years after starting, stopping and (gasp!) throwing away journals I had previously started. I thought a journal was a book filled with dark, not-so-pretty images - of life and of myself. Visions of Dear Diary, I don't know why Suzy hates me so filled my head. The last thing I wanted to do was write about my angst.

I eventually gave in and started writing down thoughts and ideas almost a year ago. I'm not fanatical about it, and sometimes I write about trivial things like the weather. Something told me I wasn't really committed to the process.

That's when I found this book again. In it she writes: "...I am not a fan of those who urge you to dump whatever comes to mind upon the page. No, no, no. Your journal should be the one wise friend who helps you create your own enlightenment. Choose what you think has some merit or lasting value, so that when you re-read your journal in years to come it continues to nourish you."

The light bulb went off. My journal could be filled with quotes, sayings, memories, quips, and yes, even the occasional complaint. A book filled with musings that if you read them, you would think you had stumbled upon a conversation with a dear friend. Or at the very least, a wacky old aunt. I am inspired once again.

This delightful read is filled with words of wisdom. Visit her website to learn more about the book and her insights about journal keeping. Click here to purchase the same journals Phyllis uses.

Color = Emotion

Do you know why you are drawn to certain colors? Color tugs at our heartstrings. They speak to us on an emotional level. And depending on how old you are, if you are happy or sad, or going through a major life change, the colors we love (and hate) can actually change over our lifetime.

I pulled some colors from this fun birthday card my friend gave me years ago. Although we met in our early twenties, we knew we would have been best friends no matter what age we met. In this picture, I would be the girl in the yellow T-shirt - only because she stole my red jacket!

Red: If you love red (my favorite color) you do not suffer fools gladly. Our no-nensense approach to just about everything may seem a bit combative, but that's only because we hate having to do anything more than once. We strive to do our best at every turn. And we work very hard. If you decorate with red, be careful. Use it in small doses unless you tone down its vibrancy. Red also wets the appetite, making it the perfect color for a dining room. Red conjures up conflicting emotions of love and hate, passion and violence. But, it is also the color of joy, sexuality, sensitivity, and love.

Orange: If you love orange, you'll probably very creative. You're also known as a peace-keeper and you work well with others. People tend to either love or hate orange. Orange encourages socialization, it makes us feel bolder, and helps us let go of unrealistic expectations. Use orange as an accent and choose shades with brown or black undertones.

Pink: Ahhh, sweet pink - the most passive color in the spectrum. If you want to neutralize an opponent, pink is your man, or girl if you'd like. Pink is youthful, fun, and exciting, and depending on its vibrancy, can take on the same high energy as red. Complementary to all skin tones, it's great to use in a powder room or spa. Pink is very affectionate and can make you simply "feel good".

Yellow: They don't call her Ms. Mary Sunshine for nothing. Yellow can brighten your day and your disposition. It stimulates the mental process, activates memory, and encourages communication and creativity. Yellow is also the color of knowledge, so if you like yellow, you probably want to know "why" - you need to know every little detail. Use yellow in places that lacks natural sunlight.

Perfectly Imperfect

I have a 20-year-old Krups coffee pot that I love. It leaks. The temporary floor we installed in my large kitchen is still here after 18 years. The carpet throughout the house is worn from the comings and goings of everyday living. Doors are scratched from eager dogs wanting in or out. This is my home.

When someone remarks that I must live in a beautiful house, I cringe. It is beautiful – to me. But, it is far from perfect. I’ve been in those perfect houses and I leave them wondering about the people who live in them. I wonder if they ever put their feet up on the coffee table after a long day at work. I wonder if they eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in bed while they watch late night television. I wonder if they ever have pillow fights with their children or splatter flour all over the oven while they make cookies. I wonder if their kitchen floor ever sees a drop of water after they dance outdoors in the rain.

Homes are so much more than cherry wood cabinets and rainwater showers. Homes are where ritual and tradition live and breathe - a place where character and values are molded. It’s where I find solace, refuge, understanding, love, and acceptance. It’s a place I can’t wait to get back to. And even dreaming about replacing the floor and mending the scratched wood doesn’t change the fact that I love my home.

I look at the markings on my kitchen table and I’m reminded of the countless times my children spent sitting at that table doing their homework, making dents in the soft, pine wood. I use to be able to make out whole sentences, but every now and again I’ll find a few words among the scribbles. It has everything I could ever want and more.

Home is filled with memories.

And all of them are perfect.

Images scanned from Country Living magazine