Monday, April 19, 2010

Another Wonderful Weekend

We hosted another IPG (Intensive Phase of Growth) over the weekend, with about 25 Baha'is participating. The weather was beautiful - almost 70 degrees.

We visited neighbors in Shalishan and Hilltop. People were out on porches, children were playing, and the people were interested in the resources the Baha'is were offering for children's classes, youth programs, study circles and devotionals.


Some of the friends came from Yakima, to study and learn.

We spent both mornings studying and listening to stories.

Marion brought her journal, and shared a story about visiting the King of Samoa, who was a Baha'i.

Martha and I checked our map, to find our Hilltop neighborhood. One of our goals was to visit with people, get to know them. Martha and I spent 40 minutes sitting in the park, enjoying conversation with a mother and her children.

Lisa offers children's classes in her home in Salishan. It is always a welcome refuge after school for many of the neighborhood kids.

We gathered in the late afternoon to share stories. One little girl, only six, brought Martha and me to several houses where she has friends and family. That resulted in a long discussion with a man about the changes in Hilltop. It is now a transient community needing a lot of care.

Our goal is to build neighborhoods, where children are grounded in love, faith, and community. That provides stability and optimism when they transition into adulthood.

Nancy and Rose provided meals both days, so I didn't cook. Nancy brought her own china and silverware. Marion did all the dishes, and my kitchen was left spic'n'span.

We went over to the garden in the evenings to dig trenches. The field was plowed last Thursday, two weeks late due to rain and the tractor breaking down. I'm eager to get my potatoes and onions in the ground before they disintegrate, and to seed my carrots. We have weather coming that is perfect for germinating them - sunshine and rain, off and on all day. George will bring 3 bales of straw home tonight, and I'll layer it into all the trenches then double dig the berms to remove weeds and lighten the soil. I'll be doing this off and on as my energy allows. I don't plant a berm until I have the soil just right - weed free and fertile.

We had a house-guest from Oregon who brought something that I haven't had in a long time - Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. It was so good! I have a friend at the garden who told me to 'help myself' to her rhubarb - she says a tea made from the leaves can be poured in the seedbed rows to prevent club root. I'll boil the leaves and then save the stalks for a pie!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Cooking For The Friends

We hosted another IPG (Intensive Phase of Growth) here over the weekend, with Baha'is coming from Colorado to partner and learn from those in our cluster.

I offered to cook lunch for Saturday, and spent much of Friday cooking and cleaning. I'd done my grocery shopping on Wednesday, and did my prep (that mountain of vegetables that has to be chopped for salad and crepes) on Thursday.

Well, I got an e-mail, a ' heads up' to watch out for wheat products, and there'd be another diabetic. In the past we've accommodated lactose intolerance, wheat and gluten intolerance, vegan and vegetarian preferences, raw food devotees, macro or micro pr
eferences, George's diabetes, and the salt restrictions for older folks. I had to laugh - it is almost an insurmountable job just to 'break bread together'. A friend brought spelt bread as a substitution for my rolls, and we made it!

But, it made me wonder, that we in the West have accumulated so much abundance that it is not sufficient to just eat, as is the case in other parts of the world. We acquire preferences and suffer restrictions, some of them not medically warranted but just a lifestyle choice. I felt grateful that I've had a healthy appetite throughout my life, a love of hard physical work, and limited finances so I could just enjoy the basics - a garden and the enjoyment of cooking. And, as I age, there is a fascination with outcomes - the American diet, diseases of affluence, the strategies of marketing, and the addiction to 'cheap fast food'.


On Saturday I served Tarka Dhal, an east-Indian mung lentil combination
that is mashed with spices. It is like hummus, very subtly flavored, and wonderful warmed in a vegetable crepe. Cilantro is the prominent garnish here, and is used abundantly.

I made a 'chop' for the cornmeal crepes, using red chilies and leeks from my garden - these are laid out in the fry-pan before the batter is poured, to tenderize the vegetables. While the bottom is cooking, I sprinkle the top with seasoned breadcrumbs before I flip it over. That gives the crepes a crispy texture. The crepes are medium sized, filled with the lentil mixture, folded in half, then topped with cilantro.

I also made corn/hominy chipotle soup; broad bean soup; tossed green salad with mandarin oranges, walnuts and huckleberries; a peach-pumpkin bread pudding and potato rolls. I think, given my enjoyment of these foods, that I was the one that was the most satisfied. I cooked what I love!

Harira in the Tagine

I found a recipe that the Moroccans prepare during the month of Ramadan. It has the reputation of being highly flavorful and hearty.

The harira simmers meat for hours in a rich broth made from crushed tomatoes, garlic, onion, and spices - turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, panch puran, and garam masala (a spice blend that is pungent but not hot.)

I'm still learning sequencing here, which spices to fry in mustard oil to release the potency, and when to add each spice in order. It is complicated, and I wish I could see it done in a class. These spices are the healthiest in the world.

I had to purchase Mustard Oil for some frying. It can only be found here in an east-Indian store that caters to east-Indian cooking. The owner explained all of it's uses, from cooking fish, enhancing spices, to its being used as a massage oil.
Given its punch, it probably could be used in my car's carburetor, to maintain optimum efficiency and performance!

The oil, from what I've read, has been used in India for centuries, but it is not approved for use in the United States as it is high in erucic acid, a monounsaturated omega 9 fatty acid. To sell mustard oil here it has to be labeled 'for external use only', but is readily used in all east Indian cooking. When I tasted it and used it to enhance my spices, I could instantly see why it is preferred. It creates just the right pungency to enhance the bland outcomes of most lentil dishes.

The harira originally uses lentils or garbanzo beans, but I wanted to use up some barley that my daughter gave me. I made a white basmati - wild rice blend, and put the harira on top.

Monday, April 05, 2010

A Reflection Meeting, A Devotional, and Easter


We enjoyed an Easter dinner at Rue and Annie's yesterday. Here Rue is dangling little Daniel in front of the TV - a video of my sister and I was paused on a frame showing her jewelry projects.

Our grand-daughter Daisy and little Daniel.

George took photos during the Baha'i Reflection meeting that we attended on Saturday. These gatherings focus on building spiritual communities in (everyone's) neighborhood.

Lisa is holding bi-monthly Devotions in her home. We visited with friends over lentil soup and bagels. Zoya, the woman in the middle of this photo is from the Saka Republic of Yakutia in the circumpolar region of Russia.

Just by coincidence, I'd been researching this landscape on Google Earth Friday evening. I'd also scanned down to Lake Baikal, the deepest lake on Earth and traced the entire shoreline, clicking onto photos of nearby villages. Martha had spent several years working in one of those villages. So, when they talked about those areas and the Baha'i communities, I felt instantly connected!

Dick Proenneke Journals

My sister gave me 'More Readings From One Man's Wilderness - The Journals of Richard L. Proenneke, 1974 - 1980' for an early birthday gift. I'm certainly enjoying this new collection, written exactly as he wrote the journal entries. His first book was edited for greater readability, but this newest book shows a more ideosyncratic style, and is so true to his nature and disposition. (photo, NPCA, flickr)

I'm reading slowly, savoring every entry. Proenneke was seldom as 'alone' as most of us realize. He not only enjoyed the abundant wildlife but floatplanes arrived every few days, with most visitors stopping at his place for a visit. He got out the coffee and tea, and made popcorn. Well, wouldn't you know it, that triggered popcorn cravings! Now I use my Orville Redenbacher hot air popper almost every day, spraying the hot kernels with olive oil and a little salt.

Friday, April 02, 2010

East-Indian Raita on Zucchini


Every week I make 3 1/2 quarts of plain yogurt which we enjoy with fresh fruit and home-made granola.

The yogurt works well also as a sweet and sour dressing for vegetables. Pictured here is an east Indian Raita made with onion, honey, salt, mint, coriander, and a sprinkle of finely chopped green chili pepper.

Finger Sandwiches - Tomato Chutney & Cheese

I made tomato chutney yesterday, and canned several jars. This chutney is very simple to make, and is excellent as an enhancement to curry dishes and rice.

I prepared Russian rye finger sandwiches, put soft neufchatel cheese on top, and placed the chutney in the center. I enjoyed this with a fresh fruit salad for lunch.

Left-overs For Lunch

This week I've prepared a number of east Indian recipes, so George has more variety in his lunchbox. Because he is diabetic, I focus on vegetables and whole grains, which provide little taste thrills.

Here, I've cooked the last of the wintered over mustard greens, added a rice-lentil pilaf, and included some raw fruit and vegetables.