Smelling the Roses

I almost titled this Time but then realized that what I really mean is taking time and not so much dealing with Ben Franklin's time is money.  What I mean is just taking time to be in tune to what is going on around us and how we are connected to it all.  

I really have been able to take time for what I feel is important and necessary.  I have used the phrase a couple of times in the last month that "there is a time for everything".  What is amazing is the time I am "taking" is not spent as much on the past or the future.  I am focusing so much more now on the present--something I have always really strived for in my life.  How did this happen?  How did the switch just flip?  

Someone recently told me that I am very balanced, and granted, this was right after having done a head-stand contest and realizing how good my physical balance is.  When we talked later about the idea of physical and inner balance, he said to me that I am very well in tune to myself and aware of what I am feeling.  

The action I am currently working on, however, is the communicating of my feelings and needs.  I long to get better at honoring my desire for relationship while allowing for openness to transform in these needs.  I have set my heart on being more conscious on how to communicate the inner balance and/or imbalance I feel into active ideas and thoughts.  

This is not an easy task for me and I will probably be set back before I accomplish the ideal.  However, as I was talking to one of my classmates on our walk the other day, Communication is part of the title in our Master.  It is part of the reason I am here.  How incredible that what I feel I need to improve upon could be directly and/or indirectly involved in the knowledge I gain both in class and (mostly) outside of class.  

I will work on this balance I have as part of the process of improving my communication.  I will take time, in the present moment to focus on my words and what I am feeling and be able to merge this into vocal expression.  

In the same way, I want to remember my connection to the unlimited oneness of the universe.  I've been talking to friends these past couple of weeks on this topic, and I know my need for improvement in consciousness and being receptive of this link.  I truly believe what we feel could be influenced by outside sources, beyond our imagining.  We are one with each other in the end, and this will be acknowledged more as time goes on.  

Inner Peace

A part of me has the attitude of "go hard or go home" and I think in some situations it has served me well.  However, Italian culture is not based on the all or nothing attitude, and I think it has been a blessing for me here.

I had a conversation with a friend yesterday about how important it is to just observe sometimes.  We can learn so much just by allowing our senses to take over--mostly in terms of vision and hearing.  Gestures and body language, and even the choice of words people use can give us insight on that person and really allow us to see them in a new light.

I have come to appreciate the days I have in Italy where I can just be still and let my calm and silence be a reflection of my inner peace.  I truly feel that this allows me to reflect to others the foundation of a life filled with love and meaning.  I am able to better serve others and let my love shine by taking time to contemplate and have silence, while at the same time actively finding myself and building my faith--a faith in myself, in others, and in all of life.

In finding myself and building my faith in this earth that we live in, I am also better able to find what I can do and where I can be of best service to others.  I am more aware of what I owe and to whom I owe it.  What perfect timing to be in Italy, getting my Master's in a subject that I know will allow my talents and reason of being to evolve.

I have learned so much just in the classroom, and have so much written down I want to share.  The in-class learning, however is only a small portion of all I have learned in not even yet a month.  After a year I think I will know my true path and my purpose.  Until then, I will live as always with patience kindness and faith, while applying myself to good and positive things, and surrounding myself with the people who reinforce and deepen this path to purpose.

My Food Story

Photo courtesy of Kunal Chandra

This week we were so unbelievably fortunate to have Barny Haughton, a brilliant and inspiring figure in gastronomy, teach and guide the course of the week, which was Sustainable Gastronomy.  I could go into his history and achievements, but I really just want to mention the way he impacted my week.

I was literally writing down his exact words from his lectures all over my notebook page.  The way he thinks and lives speaks to me, not only because of his high achievements, but also because of what I imagine in my life and the lives of others.

He set the stage of the class with the mention of a book called A New Earth.  With this introduction he talked about the future of food and our direct impact on it.  He believes that the future of food we want will come from "the imagination, courage, and enterprise of small groups with big ideas."  With that thought, he had us divide into groups and perform and present our hypothetical models for food education in practice.  The themes varied, but each one of the workshops was something I could see myself doing someday.  Not only that, but these were situations in which I have seen throughout my schooling and professional career, and circumstances in which I know need the most attention and have the highest priority in our world today.

We have done a lot of group work so far, but this particular type of work was far from easy.  We are all from different backgrounds, cultures, upbringings, and we all have our own priorities as well.  That, coupled with highly motivated, and "go-getting" attitudes from all members proved to be challenging, but successful in the end.

After getting to really dig deep into each other's points of view and genuinely learning from each other, we were able to see from where those beliefs stemmed from.  Barny wanted us to explore the significance and value of our individual relationship with food.  He wanted us not only write about it, but also present it to the class.  He stressed that this exercise should be heartfelt and real.  Here are some of the pictures from the day:

The last part of his vision for us was to have each person prepare and cook a meal which reflects our food and cultural identity.  This was to be done after class and brought for the next day to share with the rest of the class.  This would also be presented and explained to each other, in order to know and understand one another on a different and personal level.

Barny did these activities as well, in front of us, just as we did for each other.  He made a "salad for all seasons" and it was simple, yet remarkable.  He talked about ingredients as being of high importance, and how we sometimes need to separate ourselves from the entire cooking process from beginning to end--he suggested instead to just "be" with the ingredients, almost as if in a meditative state.

The dish I chose to cook revolved around ingredients and aroma.  I was unsure of how exactly I would put it all together, but I knew that I needed apples, sweet potatoes, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and cloves.  I also knew that it needed to be warm.  The flavors and spices all spell comfort for me.  The fact that the ingredients work together is what amazes me the most; how all of my favorite flavors and foods can all be put in one dish and actually work is almost destiny.  The meaning behind all of these ingredients can be explained, which is what I presented on, but it is easier to explain in speech than in writing (which is usually opposite for me)!

Something I will share is what I wrote about for my Food Story.  And here it is:

To write about my relationship with food is a tricky task.  There are many connections I could recall upon.  I have studied the science and nutrition of food in my undergraduate degree, and now I am in a Master program, studying the culture and art of food.  When asked to speak from the heart and talk about what rings true to me, there is only one route to go.  I believe my existence on this earth is to be in contact with people.  I have been challenged with this calling at the times I have felt I wanted to be more introverted and independent, but I now know my life purpose involves people.  Life can be a challenge, but without each other there is no overcoming.  An important thing I have realized and experienced in my life is that in this interconnection of people, food is a direct and understood link.  It connects us with one another: it is associated with different holidays, it identifies with all cultures, and we even each have our own relationship with it.  Food truly couples with every detail of life on earth, and is what sustains every living thing: sunlight is food for the plants, insects for birds, nectar for bees, plants and animals for humans.  And there are not only coupled links, but truly a chain of connections between all existence thanks to this sustenance.  Connections, relationships, and common ancestry are what I have felt a draw toward.  Charity and gratitude not only for people, but for all of life is what my call in life revolves around.  To value all of life I in turn respect and feel indebted to that which sustains and binds it, and that is food.  


I have a lot of respect and a newly evolved appreciation for all of my classmates after this week.  I am grateful for having had Barny instill this knowledge of our place here and the strength we have to make a difference, and in a sense become a wake-up call for the sometimes sleeping world we live in.

He left us with the thought of "staying with the positive" and when things don't always go in the way we want them to go, we need to remember that "the best things in life are those that somehow just fall into place, like the falling autumn leaves.."

Cheers!

--A special thank you to my classmates for the pictures--

(Especially Kunal Chandra)

Change

“To the fearful, change is threatening because it means things may get worse. To the hopeful, change is encouraging because it means things may get better. To the confident, change is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.” ~ Lorraine Matusak


I have always been one to follow my heart, knowing that it will lead me in the direction I am meant to go. Sometimes following your heart can be hard, and sometimes our mind allows our decisions to be made without the influence of our conscience.  No matter the path we choose, it is the one we are supposed to be traveling.  When I choose from my heart, it is what I know is best, even if it's not what my head is saying is right.  


Change can be extremely hard, and sometimes I have found myself avoiding change because of what I know is to come.  Avoiding hardship is not a way to learn or to grow I have found.  Challenging ourselves to change and go against the current can, in the end, be the exact thing we needed, even if it requires the most from us.  


Deciding to study in Italy for a year was both the easiest and hardest decision to make.  Yes, I was fearful and at times wanted to back out; and No, it's not the easiest and most comfortable situation I have lived, but that's part of the purpose.  Challenging ourselves, becoming self-sufficient, appreciating what we have, who we are, and where we are from can give us strength we never knew we had and an awareness we have never understood before.  It can make the (now) insignificant stress we experienced prior seem less than trivial.   


I know that I am where I am supposed to be, no matter how hard it may seem at times.  I have grown more this week in Italy than I have a month elsewhere.  I have learned more about myself than I had known until now.  I am fortunate and quiet, ready for the world to continue gracing me with the opportunities of life and, most importantly of love.   

Unexplainable Love

I am blown away by the unending love from those that have not only seen me at my best but also at my worst.  I tend to wonder how it works: what is it that connects me to these people?  Is it the bonds that were formed when I needed these people the most, when I was vulnerable and weak?  Is it the fact that these people have seen me at my best; have witnessed my potential and the person I truly am?  Have we shared a spiritual bond that has kept us there for each other no matter what, giving us the forgiving heart to sustain the relationship we have formed?  Or is it the fact that we are all human beings, allowing for an unexplainable understanding of one another?

Actually the more I think about it, the more I realize that there is no one answer; and thus, no right answer.

Most of our existence consists of unspoken significance and understanding.  A funny example of this theory is when I asked my Dad: what's with men and their beard phase?  And my Dad acknowledged that "women will never understand the beard."  And we don't, really.  From my perspective, it must just be something all guys do to prove they are real men.  I am man, I can grow beard.  And when I brought this up to my Dad, he said it's just the simple fact that men can grow facial hair, so they think: why not.  I feel like there is more reason than that, but as I probed for more intellectual answers (mostly in order to understand the male brain more) I was told that it's just a guy thing.  "If you were a guy, you'd understand."

As I stepped back from the conversation, I realized that it's yet another one of those unwritten and unspoken understandings (which women have an unending list of, might I add).  Ok, enough with the prefix un-.  (My apologies)

Back to my hypothesis: Sometimes people can't help how they feel or who they love--no matter what happens in a friendship or relationship, and they can't explain why.  We've all heard of the stories and even experienced firsthand the up-and-down phases of relationships.  And from the outside perspective one wonders: what are they thinking?!  But no barrier could stop the love that emanates from the relationship, the bond formed; no wrong could cause that love to fade.

And this is always hard to explain to someone on the outside, am I wrong?  The truth is: that's just Love.  It's both the best thing in life and sometimes the hardest thing to comprehend, let alone put into words.

The very best example, of course, is the love that parents have for their children.  Or even their grandchildren.  Every parent wants the best for their child, wishes only happiness for them, and would climb the highest mountain/swim the deepest sea for them.

The love we have all experienced develops of course from our family, friends, and through our long lasting relationships.  I have been lucky enough to experience this kind of love throughout my life and be a witness to others', and I truly feel that there is not one person out there who is not loved in this way.

This love we all possess is the single most important reason for our being; the one thing that gives us meaning in life and the strength to persevere in any situation.  Ironically, those who guide us through the rough patches in our lives are also those that provide us the motivation to get through it for--and that is true love: when you want to give just as much if not more for those who have given to you.

We know this: we are not here for ourselves, but of course for each other.  We should allow for others to be there for us too!  So in the times when we are at our lowest we need to be inspired by those who love us, press ahead, and humble ourselves to let them in, while acknowledging our imperfections.  

It is wonderful and expected to uncover the best and the worst of ourselves; and we are incredibly lucky for those who truly love us, who will always be there--Unexplainably.

Simple Food

From the recipes I've provided so far, it doesn't look like I eat necessarily "simply".  But the truth is, I pretty much stick to the same foods on a daily basis, sometimes depending on what is in season, what is cheapest.  This is especially true when I try a combination of something or a flavor that I really like.  Most people who know me well know this about me and can vouch, so ask them.  Whoever they are.

I started to get interested in Dietetics when I went to college, where my free time was spent researching recipes, nutrition, fitness, you name it.  It wasn't until I started really getting into the schooling and the professional issues that I realized my passion.

One of my goals in college was to find out what I would be happy doing.  I discovered a lot about myself through writing pages and pages, first starting with my interpretations of philosophy, religion, our existence on this earth.  And I have never been bored in coming up with hypotheses on different concepts and then discussing those ideas with people.  I have always been open to others' theories and I love to ask questions, so it usually makes for really interesting conversation.

I love hearing other's perspective because it  not only opens my eyes to new ideas and thought processes, but it helps me solidify my own.  And I respect all views. To each his own, right?

I loved working for WIC because I felt like I was giving to those who are in need.  I was often frustrated, though, because of the restrictions the USDA puts on this program.  I would often educate my clients on how they can save money in the most simple ways, leading to their children actually liking fruits and vegetables.  Some of my theories, for those who were able, considered learning to grow your own food, and especially getting the kids involved.  Learning to can and store your own food as a fun hobby to learn as a family.  Also buying in season fruits and vegetables because they are often much cheaper and they taste better!  And if possible, supporting local farmers.

I could easily go on and on about this topic on the why and how, but I will contain myself.  This time.

Much of my passion for good, clean, and fair food is from that of Slow Food.  I learned about this movement in Italy, when I studied there 3 years ago, and I knew right then and there it was something I needed to be involved in.  It encompasses all that I believe and want to work for, and it allows me to theorize, write, interpret, educate, respect, have compassion, continue learning and gain fulfillment in my job!

Slow Food started in Rome, Italy as a protest against putting in a McDonald's at the bottom the the Spanish steps  (fyi-the McDonald's went up anyway, I saw it!).  It has turned into a Movement that has spread to every country and now every state in the US, and there are even many local chapters in each state.  Their idea is to slow down the meal--and slow down as a way of living too.  They commit to and have respect for the community and the environment.  If you haven't heard of it, I would recommend even just reading about it--it will truly open your eyes and may even provide for a changed perspective.

Again, something I could talk extensively on, but I feel like there will be ample opportunity for that.

The University I am going to in Italy for my Master's in tied in with Slow Food.  I will be doing an internship in the last 3 months of my schooling, and I am hoping this will give me the "foot in the door" I need to be part of this movement--in some way or another.

I look forward to the continued education and further awareness of not only my Italian heritage, but the agricultural heritage that has led me to my stated simple food.

Slow Food unites the pleasure of food with responsibility, sustainability, and harmony with nature. Carlo Petrini, Slow Food founder and president

Turkey & Vegetable Burgers--with Guacamole!

First of all I need to apologize that I don't have any pictures for this one!  I actually took great pictures of this, and deleted them from my camera, thinking I had put them on my computer--however, I did not put them on my computer at all.  And I deleted perfectly good pictures.  Ah, such is life.

This was really fun to make because I knew the different flavors and spices together would be heaven on a plate.

They are both extremely easy and the directions are short and sweet.  I hope I gave enough information on the recipe, so if not--just ask!

Here are the recipes:

Turkey & Vegetable Burgers

1 pound ground turkey

1 medium zucchini, grated

1 medium carrot, grated

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme

Tabasco sauce

salt and pepper

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.  Form the mixture into 1/2-inch patties.  Heat oiled skillet over medium heat and cook patties for about 5 minutes per side, making sure no trace of pink remains. Serve with Guacamole, listed below.  

*I also recommend grilling these burgers, yumm!

Guacamole

2 medium avocados

1/2 medium onion, chopped

1 large green chili pepper, chopped

10 (or so) cherry tomatoes, quartered

fresh cilantro, chopped

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon orange juice

salt and pepper

Mash the avocados with a fork, add remaining ingredients.  Refrigerate for about 3 hours; Serve on top of the Turkey and Vegetable Burgers!

I love these turkey/veggie burgers.  The water from the vegetables I think added some moisture to the burger, so they seemed juicy, even though they are made from turkey.  It might be a lot of vegetable for someone who doesn't like the idea of vegetables in their burger, or even the idea of vegetables at all!  I loved the balance, but if you are hesitant, I suggest using about half the grated vegetable it calls for and simply add more meat.

The guacamole was to die for.  I have nothing more to say--it was that good. 

I had this with spinach, and it was perfect.  I put lots of fresh spinach on the bottom of the plate, then burger, then guacamole on top!  I hope you enjoy!