January 21, 2012

paula deen’s #diabetes: no one to blame butter self…

this video is from 2011. don’t be distracted by the fact that the fox people struggle reading the teleprompter, it’s more important to note that by this time, paula deen was well into her awareness of her diabetes diagnosis.

she seems completely baffled why, based on the foods she cooks, that anthony bourdain would call her “the most dangerous person in america”. she “aw shucks” and “y’alls” and continues to spin her well-worn tale that she just cooks the way her mama and her grandma cooked. she’s just a sweet, unassuming southern gal who has no idea why anthony bourdain would have such angry things to say about her…

…well, now we know. now we know that for the past three years, she has continued to peddle her fat filled, sugar saturated, butter bonanza recipes to the public while all the while knowing that she suffers from a food based disease. now we know that she wasn’t using the time to “digest” the diagnosis (as she claimed on “the chew“), but was more than likely seeking out the most lucrative pharmaceutical deal to once again peddle to the same public that she helped to make sick.

she could have spent that time writing a new cookbook – a healthier one, based on the palates of those faithful fans. one that lightened the southern diet (more greens, less fat, less oils). instead, her son is spinning off his own career based around “not my mama’s meals” < so she knows it’s wrong, but why not keep more money in the family? mom gets the drug deal, son gets to make his own money and career on a different network…it all works out quite well for the deen family…not so well for america.

anthony bourdain is right when he tweeted: “Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later.”

serious eats was running a series way back in 2008 called “paula deen is trying to kill us” – an artery blocking collection of recipes including this one for ham and banana casserole:

  • Butter
  • 12 slices white bread
  • 8 large slices deli ham
  • 4 bananas, sliced on the bias
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar
  • 2 cups crushed potato chips
  • 6 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup cream
  • Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Butter a 9 by 13 glass baking dish. Butter both sides of the bread and layer 6 of them into the bottom of the baking dish, overlapping them as necessary but keep them even. Layer the slices of ham on top of the bread and then the bananas, 6 more slices of bread, then the cheese, potato chips, and bacon. In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs, milk, cream, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Pour this over the casserole almost to the top. Bake for 45 minutes until brown and bubbly. Cut into squares and remove with a spatula, like lasagna

see? like a lasagna? my favorite ingredient is the unspecified amount of butter…but knowing paula deen, it’s measured in sticks and not tablespoons.

i’m all about personal responsibility. hell, my sister loves some of paula deen’s recipes. and i know for a fact that she doesn’t cook them every night. some have tried to (once again) make this discussion about class – what’s the difference between ina garten and paula deen? one is french based, the other working class. so let’s criticize the working class celebrity chef. but when you are “sending love and best dishes” with a deep fried cheesecake with added chocolate and powdered sugar and “tee hee” a vegetable (a sprig of mint), then somewhere down the line, you are responsible for your own actions:

i don’t wish illness on anyone. but paula deen had a real opportunity to educate her fans and help them change their diets and change their lives. but instead, she claims that she always preached moderation (i must have missed those episodes) and that now she will have to change her life – by cutting back on her sweet tea – because that’s what’s killing america…sweet tea.

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January 16, 2012

#meatlessmonday recipe: triple smoky mac & cheese and a protein lesson from @herbivoracious…

i’ve been a vegetarian for more than half my life and so you can imagine how surprised i was to find that the old rule of grain + bean = complete protein has been debunked! who knew? and why didn’t you tell me? luckily, michael over at herbivoracious did in a witty and informative post, “how do you get your protein? – is vegetarian protein a problem?“

along with so many parts of this blog, my meatless monday posts have fallen to the wayside, but like other parts of this blog (and my life), i’m trying to get things back on track! we’ve started selling items on ebay for the “farm fund” and i have to admit, the first posting was a little difficult. i’ve been collecting things for far longer than i’ve been a vegetarian and i have some deep emotional attachments to some of them. and as i walk through the house, deciding what will stay and what will go, it’s the oddball things that seem to make it to the “stay” list. i’m sure that as time goes by, as the fund grows larger and our new life is closer on the horizon, these feelings will change, but for now, it’s kind of difficult separating from all this stuff….difficult, but not impossible…

it’s also strange that through my googling research, that this “urban homesteading/homesteading/off the grid” concept seems to be occupied by two seemingly disparate groups:  eco peeps and survivalists. so, some websites are very bucolic and inviting, others feel like previews of  “the walking dead“. but at least it gives me hope that red states and blue states can agree on something (even if it’s for very different reasons)…

geez, i’m rambling this morning. back to meatless monday!

image from herbivoracious

in reading michael’s git yer protein post, he had a link to this dish with a whopping 25 grams. and since the days have turned cold here, his recipe for triple smoky macaroni and cheese will give us a warm and hearty dinner and delicious leftovers for our workday lunches. i’ll either wilt some arugula from my CSA box on top or have a lovely salad on the side – despite it’s ooey gooey cheesy goodness, i’m still trying to lose my 2011 stress and holiday overindulgence pounds!

…just one more thing on the “go” list!

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January 11, 2012

the day it all changed…

via treehugger

have you ever had a moment when everything changed? a moment of such clarity that it shook you to your core and upended your life path? well, i’m happy/grateful/excited to say that happened to me last friday. i went to a class for work. i felt i didn’t have time to devote a whole day to this class, little did i know the earthshaking lesson i would learn that day…

the chef who lead the class was an amazing man. with an amazing story. a story that was filled with the ups and downs many of us face (and one, that broke his heart and his spirit).  but with time and meditation, what he came away with was a realization that he was meant to be of service. and everything shifted for him. i sat there, mesmerized by his tale. and i started to wonder about my life. and the lives of my friends. all of us, working so hard. and for what? to pay the rent. to pay the mortgage. to dream of the day when we are retired (and old!) so that we can live some life of simplicity.

why not now?

why not sell everything? why not say, to hell with it and get off the grid? for the first time in a long time, life seemed full of possibilities. and these possibilities made total sense. i called the irishman to see if i was crazy. was this something we could do? could we grow our all own food? could we build our own tiny house? could we have a workshop where we could get serious about creating? could we have loads of dogs and toil over soil? he was all in. i started googling “homesteading” like a mad woman. there were many things to consider. as eco as i am, there are certain things i cannot live without:  a bathtub. wifi. a washer. i definitely could live smaller. but i need access to a city. museums. a job.

i started looking at all our possessions as assets to freedom. we’ve been collecting a lot of stuff for a lot of time. and now that stuff would help us get to a place where we could actually live our lives. i started calculating:  those sofas + that diner = a solar panel system. i opened closets, filled with clothes and shoes and more stuff. kitchen cabinets filled with plates and bowls and appliances. our garage…oh, our garage…

so. the plan is to plan an exit plan. to figure out how to get from here to there. the first step is to liberate ourselves from and with all this stuff. to pick maybe the top 5 places we would like to own land. maybe there’s an interim step where we are still city dwellers, but we reduce our environmental impact. we grow a serious garden. we start to barter more, and spend less…maybe we raise some chickens for eggs? i’m not going to overthink things. i have to remember that moment in that class where everything felt so clear…it wasn’t rational, it was emotional. i figure 2012 will be all about squirreling away money. about research and learning and meeting like-minded people.

but all of that could change in a moment. and we’re completely open to that change.

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January 7, 2012

#forksoverknives the worst film of 2011? what the kale?!?

back in may of 2011, roger ebert wrote a review of “forks over knives“. and while he felt the documentary was directed at physicians and focused a bit too much on nutrition (and not on exercise), he had no criticism of the message:

The bottom line: I am convinced this message is true. A plant-based whole foods diet is healthy. Animal protein is not necessary, or should be used sparingly as Asians did, as a flavoring and not a main course. This adds the advantage of allowing us to avoid the chemicals and carcinogens pumped into livestock and poultry. Fast food is lethal. Parents who feed it to their children are helping them get hooked on fat, salt and sugar addiction. The facts are in.

but somehow, by the end of the year, this life-changing documentary became the worst film of 2011 on his show, “ebert presents at the movies“.

(i couldn’t get the video to load, but i urge you to click the link and listen to the banal critique.).

forks over knives wasn’t meant to be entertaining. it wasn’t shot to go up against “transformers” or whatever else hollywood churns out for us to sit in a darkened theatre and shove popcorn and jujubees in our pie holes. it wasn’t glossy because it wasn’t glossing over the facts:  we are a sick nation. many of our ailments can be prevented/cured through a healthier diet. hell, even roger ebert changed the way he “eats” because of it:

P. S.: I have recently decided to ditch my canned nutrition and switch to a liquid diet based on fresh fruits and vegetables. Yes, I consulted my physician.

to name this film, of all films, as the worst of the year is insulting and a crime. countless lives have been changed/saved…and that is the power of filmmaking at its core.

i’m not a violent person, but after watching these two critics, i’d like to beet the crap out of them!

2 great resources for you to eat healthier this year are the “engine 2 diet” and whole foods market’s health starts here program.

have a healthy and happy 2012!

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December 23, 2011

it’s been a long time…

Image2011 was a tough year. life felt scattered and fuzzy and challenging and frustrating. friends faced major illnesses, financial upheaval, the loss of loved ones. we all had to let go of something – homes, jobs, a way of life. we scaled back and huddled together, wondering when the storm would pass. but through all the struggle, came a clarity – a realization of what truly matters – we gave an ear to listen, a shoulder to lean on, a hand to hold…stripped of all that we thought we knew, we were left with ourselves and each other. conversations became more meaningful, connections more genuine.

the approach of the end of the year usually brings loads of self-reflection. but this year, i feel i’ve been doing it every day. instead of writing here, i’ve been buried in my journal, trying to figure out what happened…but our financial implosion was caused by people i’ll never know and by a sense of greed and a disregard for others that i cannot comprehend. so all i can focus on is what i do know…i have an incredible circle of friends, an amazing and talented boyfriend and 2 dogs that bring me joy each and every day, i have my health, a creative mind and i work for a company i love. i feel things are coming back into focus. i feel a shift in the air and that 2012 won’t be as brutal as 2011 was. we’ve all become untethered from possessions and ways of thinking that were holding us back. and in that liberation, we must find a way to move forward. together.

i feel my life is more authentic now and to 2012, i say, “bring it!” … i’m ready.

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October 17, 2011

anonymous letter from a shelter manager…

a friend posted this on faceboook. it is heartbreaking and as many people as possible need to read it:

A Letter from a Shelter Manager – anonymous in North Carolina

I think our society needs a huge “Wake-up” call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all…a view from the inside if you will.

First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the “back” of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don’t even know.

That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it’s not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there’s about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are “owner surrenders” or “strays”, that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses I hear are; “We are moving and we can’t take our dog (or cat).” Really? Where are you moving too that doesn’t allow pets? Or they say “The dog got bigger than we thought it would”. How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? “We don’t have time for her”. Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! “She’s tearing up our yard”. How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me “We just don’t want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she’ll get adopted, she’s a good dog”.

Odds are your pet won’t get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn’t full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don’t, your pet won’t get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the “Bully” breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door.

Those dogs just don’t get adopted. It doesn’t matter how ‘sweet’ or ‘well behaved’ they are.

If your dog doesn’t get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn’t full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don’t have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

Here’s a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being “put-down”.

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to “The Room”, every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it’s strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the “pink stuff”. Hopefully your pet doesn’t panic from being restrained and jerk. I’ve seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don’t just “go to sleep”, sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You’ll never know and it probably won’t even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can’t get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work.

I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

My point to all of this DON’T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say “I saw this and it made me want to adopt”. THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT.

please share on all your social media channels.

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September 19, 2011

a personal plea from dion neutra to save the kronish house…


images from neutra.org

things are not looking good for the kronish house, the largest neutra in beverly hills. not even waiting until the agreed upon extension date next month, the owners have taken the house off the market and have started asbestos abatement (do they even have a permit?). there’s something fishy about this move, it reeks of backdoor deals – are they doing this so that the new owners won’t have blood on their hands? this way, the demolition has already been done and the new owners will be free to build the mc mansion of their dreams on 2 acres of prime beverly hills land. because that’s what beverly hills needs…

time is really ticking on this one. dion neutra is asking EVERYONE to attend the beverly hills city council meeting tomorrow evening (public comments will be heard around 7:15pm, so get there by 7pm). and please, please sign and share this letter addressed to the mayor and city council. it will only take a moment, and it could make all the difference in the world.

we need to unite as an international voice – too often, money trumps historic preservation. absolute worst case scenario, we lose the kronish (and i don’t type that lightly), but we pave the way for historic/cultural preservation to be the norm in beverly hills and not the demolition of irreplaceable treasures of architectural art.

p.s. if you were planning on attending the event on the 24th, it has been CANCELED. that’s why this latest push is so important. it is critical that we spread the word and do all we can in the time remaining.

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