Yearly Archives: 2011

Great Family Recipes: Grandma Roth’s Brownies

Recipes

April 5, 1956, Wausau Daily Record Herald; Wausau, Wisconsin

From far left: my mom, my aunt, my grandma, and my uncle

I’d like to start a new series in the month of December. I’m going to share a favorite family recipe every Monday. Let’s start with my grandmother. I think Grandma Roth is a great cook, but she doesn’t do it very often. Plain and simple, she doesn’t enjoy cooking. Grandma told me that she finds it annoying when she works over the stove for hours only to see her food to be gone in minutes. She always said that the best thing to have for dinner is reservations. Oddly, when her children were young, she told me only went out to dinner twice per year so there must have been a lot of home cooking at one time. One of the few times she went out for dinner was for her husband’s company’s annual dinner! I’m not sure when the other time was…it might have been for her wedding anniversary, but I can’t be sure because her wedding anniversary falls over Thanksgiving and I can’t imagine her going out for dinner over the holidays. Happy 62nd wedding anniversary, (Great) Grandma!

I don’t know why she was featured in the paper (above), but in that article she shared a recipe for lemon chiffon pudding. I don’t think she ever prepared that for me, but she did make brownies on special occasions. These ARE the best brownies ever. As a family we actually make them very infrequently so I haven’t tried making a gluten free version yet. Years ago I begged Grandma for the recipe. I’m sharing the recipe with you today for you to enjoy. If you want to share it, do please attribute it to her.

Grandma Roth’s Brownie Recipe

3/4 cup butter

3 squares chocolate

4 eggs, well beaten

1 3/4 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups flour

Nutmeats (optional)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Melt together butter and chocolate. Add beaten eggs. Spread batter about 1/2 inch thick in an 8 by 12 or 9 by 13 pan. Bake in a slow oven for about 30-35 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Note: make sure you use a rectangular pan or they won’t turn out right.

Copyright – @Grandma Roth — Don’t mess with Grandma!

Lunch Wrap Up: Week of Nov 28th

Packed lunches

What a week. It wasn’t that unusual, but I really felt like I barely got through. Then I was sick this weekend so I am really behind in everything, especially housework.

Charlie’s lunches

Turkey wrap, blueberries, peas, apple slices, bar

Charlie told me he wanted a wrap when I had asked him in the morning. He was so over leftover turkey that I decided to go with lunch meat (anti-biotic free, no nitrates). After I picked him up from child care I mentioned the wrap and he said he wished I had cut it. Duh. Child care menu: Meatballs in tomato gravy, steamed rice; veggie blend, apple

Potatoes, gravy; apple slices; turkey; avocado; bread

I made that bread in the bread machine and my son was crazy for it. Yes, it’s gluten free. You can find gluten free bread machine mixes. I haven’t felt strong enough in the kitchen to try to make my own gluten free bread. Also there’s the whole lack of time thing. Child care menu: BBQ chicken, cheesy mashed potatoes, green beans, orange, Italian bread

Turkey carbonara with sun-dried tomatoes; frozen chickpeas; oranges and pears; corn muffin; bar

We were looking for creative ways to use up the turkey and we had started pasta before we realized we didn’t have a drop of red pasta sauce in the house. We dug up my cousin’s partner’s carbonara pasta recipe and it was phenomenal. I will be sharing the recipe after I secure permission. We ate through a ton of the pasta and only had enough leftovers for the little guy (and not us). The chickpeas were not a hit, but everything else was. I purchased bagged frozen chickpeas to avoid cans. Why? BPA levels soar after eating canned soup. Yuck. Child care menu: Pizza noodle bake, salad with dressing, pineapple chunks, wheat roll.

 Mac and cheese; pretzels; pea pods, egg; sliced oranges

The oranges came back, which was slightly surprising. I have agreed that he can eat some fruits and veggies provided by the child care so I’m wondering if he ate their fruit. Child care menu: Mac and cheese, veggie blend, banana, roll

Bacon; applesauce; crackers and apple butter; green beans

This is one of those skimpy kind of lunches. Friday lunches are usually bad. He ate everything accept for the apple butter. Child care menu: Turkey and cheese wrap, lettuce, applesauce.

My lunches

Turkey sandwich, avocado; yogurt; blueberries and an apple slice

Turkey, bread; avocado; grapes and yogurt; popcorn

I was so pressed for time that I couldn’t even fix myself a proper sandwich.You should know that grapes and yogurt is not the best combination. And the popcorn I made on the stove. I used “Tiny but mighty” popcorn in coconut oil with a dash of salt. Amazing.

Turkey sandwich; carrots; pears and oranges; Bumble Bar

Nothing green at all since I ran out of spinach. Boo.

Mac and cheese with peas; hard-boiled egg; sliced orange

Larabar; chicken stew/soup; apple; crackers

I made a crockpot meal the previous day for dinner. When I packed it up for leftovers, I heated it up that morning and then put it in the thermos hot. I’m happy to report that the thermos held heat. It was warm, not piping hot but not cold. Next time I might pack it in some kind of sleeve. If I knew how to knit well, I’d knit a little thermos cozy.

Open thread: Food advertising

Open threads

I guess I’m a delicate flower when it comes to the ad I blogged about yesterday. Based exclusively on comments, I’m in a tiny minority of people who are offended by that ad. Certainly the ad I blogged about is mild in comparison to bikini-clad babes, macho guys, or robots in many beer ads, which often make me scratch my head and wonder what are they selling anyway?

My reaction comes from a place of total advertising saturation and complete exhaustion of corporate shenanigans. I think that beer ad was the ad that broke the camel’s back. Ads are everywhere and most are boring, ugly, offensive, misspelled, or stupid. I appreciate parodies, but as I move into my jaded mid-thirties even Super Bowl advertisements that used to seem “witty” to me are far less interesting. I’m watching less and less TV in general and now I’ve stopped watching TV news completely. I can’t take the commercials. I can’t stand the advertisements masquerading as news. I can’t listen to my husband yelling at the TV anymore. It’s so easy for us to see it for what it is: a sham. (I’m no puritan though; I indulge in Netflix)

The most important thing for every citizen to do is to call advertisers on their offensive ads. To sit silent is to condone. Also we need to be aware of insipid ads creeping into our every day lives. Did you read about the school that started selling advertisements on children’s report cards? I was shocked at first and then I saw the brilliance. Next up -targeted ads on report cards. Getting all D’s on your report card? Try ABCD tutoring services!

Advertising must be responsible. I’ve come to realize that no corporation will become responsible on its own. It doesn’t begin with government regulations (because let’s face it — they don’t get passed). It starts with people at the grassroots level saying, “Hey something is wrong with this picture.” We have to demand it. No one is going to come in on a white steed to save the day.

What food advertising just burns you up?

 

Ad critique: God and Pabst Blue Ribbon

Happening Now

This blog post is completely off-topic, but I wanted to share this photo with you. I am appalled by this advertisement. What are your thoughts? Am I overreacting?

I spotted this large ad as I was driving east on North Ave just before Western. I turned around and stopped to take these photos. This particular area of Chicago is called Humboldt Park. It’s also the neighborhood that my husband lived in when he first moved to Chicago in 1999. I consider the area to be dangerous — at least it was when my husband lived there. Although there is a vibrant Puerto Rican community (back then I loved driving under the Puerto Rican arch), there was a lot of drugs, crime, and gangs in the area back then. One of my schools is about 15-20 minutes away.

While I normally appreciate a good parody, I’m offended in this case. First, the placement of this ad in this neighborhood is troubling. What does this community need? A donation to a community center? Yes. Investment in Roberto Clemente High School (which coincidentally participated in Cooking up Change) several blocks south on Western? Yes. This tasteless ad for beer? NO. I have to wonder if any community would welcome this advertisement. Would your community want this ad displayed?

I am the daughter of a former art teacher so I appreciate art. Michelangelo‘s work on the Sistine Chapel and his depiction of God and Adam does not scream beer ad. In fact, in my opinion Michelangelo’s work borders sacred. Does God drink and endorse drinking beer? I find that offensive (and I’m not even religious). The ad is part of Pabst Blue Ribbon’s online art parody project. Beer ads are notoriously offensive, but is the company taking it too far?

What are your thoughts? Am I overreacting?

NaBlogPoMo and other news

Miscellaneous

A month of daily posting is finally over. What a relief. I haven’t felt that kind of daily blogging pressure since I ate school lunch every day. I don’t like how it feels knowing I *have* to put something out there, but I think that my content this month was actually half-decent.

I went a new direction and started sharing photos of Chicago. My rationale? I have been anonymous for so long that I wanted to ground myself and the blog in space and time. I’m a real person, I live here, and I enjoy it immensely. Also, I think it’s important to think beyond the main reason why I’m advocating for school lunch reform. Of course it’s because of the children, but it’s also about doing right by our communities, which we know and love.

Takeaways from a month of daily blogging:

1) Throwing together a blog post and not stressing over it. Sometimes I revise posts too much and overthink them. Moving quickly can be risky, but there’s a certain freedom to a brief post. Just do it.

2) Doing a series. Most of you know that I will often say I am going to do a series of posts on something and then I have trouble following through. Part of that is a time issue, but other times I lose momentum. I stayed the course with my Cooking up Change posts, the Chicago photos, and my posts about Feeding America.

3) Enjoying the blog. I like blogging because it’s really fun to connect with you. I read (and cherish) your comments, but I haven’t had time to respond to them as I always want to. Thanks for reading.

Going forward I want to do more blog posts in a series. I have some fun ideas, but it’s a matter of time and execution as usual. Please tell me what you like to read and what you want to see more of!

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What I’m reading in the news:

Waiting for midnight, hungry families on food stamps give Walmart “enormous spike” (MSNBC)

Lines Grow Long for Free School Meals, Thanks to Econ0my (NYT)

Rising child poverty rates could be a ‘taste’ of what’s ahead (CSMonitor)

A second chance for faulty food? The FDA calls it ‘reconditioning’ (MSNBC)

A Family’s Billions, Artfully Sheltered (NYT)

In Wisconsin, Supper Clubs Open to All (NYT) — My “hometown” (it’s where I went to high school and home to many good memories) of Rhinelander Wisconsin got a mention!! Holy cow, Rhinelander must be moving up in the world. I’d like to add something to the article though — the only thing better than going to a supper club is going there in a snowsuit in the dark via snowmobile in the freezing cold and getting a nice hot drink. Those are magical, frosty nights.

My kind of town: Chicago’s Union Station

Chicago photos

When my parents moved crossed country four times, we went by train both ways. I fell in love with the vastness of the western United States looking out of the window of an Amtrak. A few years ago I found a little pink book with cover art by Mary Cassatt. When I opened the little book, I found scribbles detailing things I saw during my cross-country travels. Mostly I noted where little broken-down homesteads were. Presumably in case I ever needed to return to occupy one of these long-forgotten, neglected places. I wanted to remember their stark beauty and resilience on the prairie as I tried to hold on while my own scenery was changing.

 I like it when a place has an echo.

Earlier this autumn I took the train into Union Station. I just loved the majesty of the massive space.

Later in the day. Notice the light fills the space differently.

Part of me would love to sit there all day and watch people going by. I thought there would be more busy commuters, but there really weren’t that many people at 8 am.

I felt inspired and oddly happy after that short trip.

(I’m sharing photos I’ve taken of Chicago in November during my month of daily blogging – NaBloPoMo)

Child Hunger: Feeding America’s Backpack Program

Happening Now

When people grow up, they look back and glorify the experience of childhood. We think, “Life was carefree and fun when I was a kid. I wish I appreciated it more.” But the truth is that when you are a kid, you are at the whims and mercy of adults. That’s why kids want to grow up so desperately; they want to be in control for once.

Living in the USA, it can be hard to believe that children live with hunger when many images of kids in our communities and on TV are smiling and healthy. How could families be struggling? I see so many people eating out — how could there be a recession? But yet poverty exists in both urban and rural communities. There is no face on the problem of child hunger, but:

  • More than 16 million children live in food insecure households (here’s a reminder of what food insecurity means) in 2010.
  • Research indicates that hungry children do poorly in school and have lower academic achievement because they are not well prepared for school and cannot concentrate.
  • Only 2.3 million of the more than 20 million low-income children who receive free and reduced school lunch participate in Summer Food Service Programs.

Feeding America contacted me to inform me about their backpack program — Pack ’til They’re Back! — and sent me a backpack for me check out and to pass on to one of my students. Feeding America’s BackPack program sends nutrition food home with children over the weekend and during school vacations. The program is operated through member food banks.

My son was very interested in the backpack, but he already has his own. The one in the picture will go one of my students or another child at my school that doesn’t have a backpack. I love that kids can get food in a discrete way and a physical backpack for use at school as many of them don’t have ready access to either.

How can you get involved?

1) Raise awareness of child hunger and the BackPack Program in your community — it is nationwide, just like hunger.

2) Donating and volunteering at your local food bank (find one in your area using the locator)

3) Donating to Feeding America

4) Start a food drive in your community and donate it to a local food bank

5) Get more information online (including videos you can share).

Give a kid the gift of food

Stay tuned…I will be volunteering at a food bank in December and blogging about my experience! I’m looking forward to giving back.

Lunch Wrap Up: Two week recap

Packed lunches

The past two weeks have been weird. There have been odd days at work including report card pick-up day and a professional development day (that I took off). To keep things simple, I’m going to put two weeks worth of lunches up at once.

Also I’m posting my biggest lunch packing failure thus far. I have been packing my son’s lunch since September 2010 (after I saw Food, Inc) and I never struggled like I did almost two weeks ago. Why? It was a dreaded FIELD TRIP.

I had gotten myself all worked up about the fact that my three-year-old was going to be going on a bus for the first time and of course it would be the first time he has ever traveled by vehicle without one of us. My husband was totally not worried, but I kept thinking that something terrible would happen during the bus ride. Of course nothing did — thank god. I mean, many children who are age three take the bus to school so why was I so concerned? Because I’m like that.

Charlie’s lunches

BBQ sauce, chicken; boiled potatoes; applesauce; grapes; broccoli; crackers

Definitely a hit with Charlie. Child care menu: Cheesy chicken, diced parsley potatoes, broccoli, pear, wheat roll.

Pasta with sauce; roll; chicken; apple slices; carrots and pea pods

The roll came from Katz Gluten Free, a company my husband found online. Child care menu: BBQ turkey, rice, veggie blend, banana, rye bread.

 Mac and “cheese”; peas; hard-boiled eggs; sliced pear; crackers

Charlie’s teacher told me that I should not send two eggs because he only eats one. Note to self. Child care menu: Pasta and sauce, bean salad, cinnamon sliced pears, wheat bread.

Fragrant Basmati rice with cilantro; applesauce; antibiotic-free hot dog, ketchup; spinach and carrots; kiwi

I caved and gave him a hot dog like the other kids. Child care menu: Turkey hot dog, pasta, carrots with ranch dip, cinnamon applesauce, Italian bread.

Turkey wrap with daiya cheese over spinach; broccoli; apple slices; bar

Trying to match the other kids’ food again. Child care menu: Turkey and cheese wrap, mashed potatoes, corn, orange, rye bread.

“Party” rice with ground turkey, peas, red pepper, broccoli ; sliced grapes; carrots; pretzels; applesauce

I didn’t really do much matching that day. Child care menu: Turkey with gravy, stuffing, cucumber slices with dip, cranberry applesauce.

Field trip lunch: carrots; apple slices; chex; sunbutter sandwiches; muffin

The morning of the trip, I suddenly realized that due to the event they would be getting back to the facility after lunch. I thought that everything would have to be disposable so I started thinking about portable food that could be eaten quickly. The muffin came from Katz Gluten Free, a company that my husband recently discovered and ordered from. When I was just finishing up the sandwich, I decided that I should call my son’s child care and find out for sure when and where they were eating lunch. They told me that the kids would be having a late lunch back at school so no one to worry. I had already bagged most of the lunch so I left it as is. The sandwich is “sunbutter” — butter made from sunflower seeds (allergen free)! Child care menu: Chicken Alfredo, elbow pasta, veggie blend, pineapple chunks, wheat bun.

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 My lunches

Turkey chili (with pinto beans and sweet potato); bread; mandarin orange

Chili is a perfect wintery lunch.

Chex cereal (leftover from Charlie’s lunches); Trader Joe’s gluten free French roll, roasted chicken, sweet potato, regular potato, broccoli; grapes

Simple roasted chicken is now a staple ’round here.

Mac and “cheese” with peas, two hard boiled eggs; apple slices

Generic, but satisfying.

Lamb and potato curry, fragrant Basmati rice with cilantro; apple; Larabar

My husband made that for dinner and I took some of the leftovers into work. Amazing.

Chicken sandwich with spinach, apple slices; Larabar

Simple, easy, delicious. (I’m getting into Larabars now)

“Party” rice with ground turkey, peas, raisins, broccoli, peppers; apple; Larabar

I tried to get my son to eat it by calling it “party” rice. It sort of worked. My husband and I thought it was great. No convincing necessary.