While still talking addictions...

I like Mark Bittman, his columns and cookbooks. While still on the topic of addictions, his article in Sunday's New York Times was fabulous. Our Red, White and Food shout-out for this week goes to Mark and that marvelous Grey Lady...

To read his latest thought-provoking article, "Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?", click here.
Thanks, Mark!

Pix from Internet

More than just fire

It is hard to say all I felt about 9/11 and the 10th anniversary on Sunday, especially with almost my whole family there now and the new threats that arose. But I wonder this...how can we come so close together to mourn and honor and then step away so far apart to live?

I watched a lot of the ceremonies and also a documentary on the firehouse nearest the World Trade Center. Two film makers chronicled the journey of a young man for his first summer as a firefighter, which included being a trainee on 9/11. Did any of you see it? When walking around NYC, I pass by several firehouses and am struck by how young most of the men are. Young. Very young.

In the documentary, among many other things, it also showed a lot of firemen cooking and serving up huge meals in the firehouse. As a matter of fact, before 9/11, the film makers wondered if this was going to be a more of a cooking show than a film about firefighting.

In Shelter Island, the firehouses hold a special place in my heart. As one of the commissioners, my dad was very helpful in unifying the two houses there so they could work more efficiently together. Every summer there are fundraisers, both full-blown, cooked-by-the-firemen barbecues. I got to go to one this year. As usual, the firemen at the grill and local corn were sublime. There is nothing like Long Island's corn...North Fork varieties preferred!

This Red, White and Food shout-out is to all firefighters for their bravery, dedication, service and yes, for their love of cooking.

Thank you.

Happy Birthday!!

Tonight is the night...time to celebrate the first birthday of my discovering personal care products truly without harmful chemicals! On July 26, 2010, I found this company by accident...trolling around on my computer and thank heaven I did. Such a gift to be able to "green up" as I "clean up" and to save my health and Mother Nature from harm.

This Red, White and Food Shout-out is for Ava Anderson, the young woman herself who jumped off the couch and into action when she learned about the threat to teenagers from all those chemically-rich, perfume and contaminant heavy personal care products she and her family and friends were using. She researched and researched and dug into the "dirt" of what's really in those products and who else was at risk. The list includes all ages, very man, woman and child (even those not born yet!) in the U.S.

Her curiosity spread to ask what was really in those "pure", "safe" and "natural" formulas, too. The answers she got spurred her into more action. In December 2009, Ava's research and work turned into the cutting-edge, first-in-class personal care line...truly without harmful chemicals, of course...that I use daily and rave about here on this blog.

Click here , then "News" for more news articles on Ava. Check out the awards she has won for her environmental work!

Ava embodies vitality and gumption and is a constant reminder to me, on a daily basis, that one person counts. One person can make a huge difference. And, when others join in...why the ripple effect is positively a life force. Thank you, Ava, for your vision, hard work and commitment to making the world a happier, healthier place. xoxox   

Come celebrate with me...yes, there will be cake! Drop by Shoppes on Woodlawn tonight, from 5-8! Each guest will receive my S-AVA card! Party on!

Tri-Fecta!

I love The Environmental Working Group. I Love The New York Times. I love Mark Bittman. And so, there you go...this article here is the perfect trifecta of love and the perfect shout-out for today's Red, White and Food.

Here is a direct link to the EWG's new brochure: meat eater's guide and here is their fabulous chart. Love it! It's lentils for me for dinner. How about you?

Little lost "lamb"

This Red, White and Food post is a little unusual...talking today about "food" that soothes the soul and for many of us, that food has four legs. While I would love to tell you all about the wonders of my four-legged "babies", my "grand-babies", too...and how they have brought me so much joy and comfort, there is a little lost one who needs the attention today.

On Saturday, this precious old gal was wandering along the main street where I live...not moving very fast and in this dangerous,100 degree plus heat, she looked very distressed. She has pretty good teeth still, loves cheese and not dry kibble, seems blind but is spatially aware and has a sore leg but manages to move around a bit. She is well-fed...er, plump, and has pretty toes. Our vet did not recognize her nor did the groomer nor the neighborhood dogsitter and she is not chipped. No ID in sight.

Oh, woe. Two thoughts have crossed my mind...she has wandered off for a reason, not expecting to be rescued and end up here in Dog-ville, or her caretakers haven't noticed she is missing or maybe they are hurt, have heat stroke. I am not even going to go there. Anyway, any help? Please give me a shout if you have any clues. We have already named her. Geez. xoxoxoxo

FFF

This Red, White and Food shout out is to families of any kind everywhere. Ours flew in for the Fourth and poof! were gone in an instant it seems. So much fun with moments from tender to hilarious packed in between. Here are a few of pix and yes, I do need to read the instruction manual for my new camera...have some weird shadows going on...consider them visual texture!

First, because this is primarily a food blog, some of the food...

Me "speed cooking" in the kitchen...not

Stuffed Portobellas

Wheat Berry Salad

Jon's famous Blueberry Pancakes with New Jersey Blues

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

And now, my precious "peeps"...

Getting ready to take the lake

complete with "missile" in hand

Cameron and Lissa chilling

Resh and Christian grabbing a last spot of shade with Kyle

Sweet sisters having a quick conference

First Mate Robin and Captain Tommy

Meanwhile, back on land...

Float Masters Lissa and Jon

Magic Masters...one delighted, one not so much

Music Masters jammin'

From our Fam to yours...woohoo!

Woohoo!

This is a big shout out and more tomorrow for the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2011, introduced Friday afternoon. I am so grateful to be supporting a company on this blog that is right in line, actually way ahead of the pack, on safety issues and on sourcing clean, green, ethically produced ingredients and like-minded manufacturers. And one that goes beyond the industry "insider" Personal Care Products Council and is instead a full-fledged and fully-compliant member of the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.

A special shout out to the bill’s authors, led by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and sponsors [Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), and Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)] and The Breast Cancer Fund.

Read the article below from Forbes today...a Red White and Food shout out to "food safety"...skin food included!!

Here is the article... http://blogs.forbes.com/amywestervelt/2011/06/27/new-and-improved-safe-cosmetics-act-could-boost-green-chemistry/. I also post other articles frequently on my Facebook page, too. Check them out here on Facebook.

Become involved, if not for yourself, for them:

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

                                                                     Margaret Mead

For A Happy, Healthy, Safe Summer...

Just when I thought it was safe to take my eyes off the toxic sludge ball for a moment, while I brushed my teeth...I saw this. Number one hit "trending" on Yahoo's search engine this morning...not "summer solstice" which is today, but "Fried Kool-Aid Balls".

Now, being the optimist, I hope people are curious because this is just so incredibly foul and they are checking it out to make sure they know what not to eat this summer. What not to feed their precious children who, The Centers for Disease Control says, are already facing fewer, less healthy summers than they could in part because of all this chemical soup...made cute and colorful, fatty and sweet, so kids will use and eat these products. For sure, you will not find the recipe here. Don't even go there. It belongs in the annals of Red White and Bad. Seriously upsetting.

And so, it gives me great pleasure to give this Red White and Food shout-out this morning. And I want to thank my son, Christian, for sending it to me. Now this is the way for families to increase the number of summers they share...healthier, happier ones, truly ones with more carefree, sunny days together. Thanks, sweetie. xoxox 

Click summer of your life and enjoy. Great job, Aspen! 

Also, please keep the safety of your sweet pets in mind...plenty of water and shade. There was  this article in our paper today. You can bet I will be checking up on this with my vet.

Here's to a happy, healthy Summer for all!

Fave beach

Workin' it

The Environmental Working Group works it alright. They are the main group that looks at harmful chemicals in our food, water and personal care products. I would even go so far as to say...we cannot live well without their work or stated more positively...we are able to make better, more educated, fact-based decisions about what to eat, drink and slather on our bodies because of them. This Red, White and Food shout out is for them. EWG, WE LOVE YOU!

Click here EWG food news for the newest report on which fruits and veggies top the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen Lists!

Feeding our Children

Many of you have asked about food for little ones. Before I really launch into the post title, I want to give a Red,White and Food shout-out to Richard Scarry. It would have been his 92nd birthday last Sunday. My kiddos grew up with his delightful characters; Lowly Worm, Huckle the Cat and all the gang in colorful Busytown. Such a precious place Busytown was. Here is Google's interpretation to commemorate the day...

When my children were little ones, I was the DIY Mother Extraordinaire...made all their food and even the dog's too. Living far from relatives, they were born just before the brilliant idea of "play groups" took hold, and so we spent many delicious, delightful afternoons together eating those goodies and reading Richard's magical books. Thank you, Richard Scarry, for popping in every afternoon, nourishing my children's imagination and whetting their appetite for more. You fed them well! Happy Birthday! xoxoxo 

They're Baaaaaack

Farmers' Markets, that is!!!! So exciting. Really exciting that two new ones have sprung up within walking distance!!! This Red, White and Food shout-out is to Farmers' Markets everywhere...big hugs!

Shot I took of  last year's bounty

I forgot my camera last week but won't this week when I head up the street, around the corner and down a few blocks to the new Hillcrest Farmers' Market! I have gotten yummy eggs, Swiss chard, summer squash, leeks, broccoli, winter spinach, cucumbers and a de-lish cookie or two there. I will share more next Tuesday.

My home away from home, the Greenport-Shelter Island "hood", also just opened a new market and I know it is full of deliciousness as well. Can't wait to load up on Long Island's freshest there. Here are some scenes from their opening day, courtesy of their website.

Yum...Blue Duck's breads

Yay!!! Thank you so much for opening these markets. Be sure to find one (or start one!) in your neighborhood so that good, fresh food and health are within walking distance for every neighbor and family! xoxo

The Sweet La Catrina

I just realized that I have been writing about Mexico for over twice as long as I was there! Today, I just cannot resist posting this last post...well, maybe it's the last...

Remember the fun of "old-fashioned" candies that I wrote about...those from Economy Candy and The Vermont Country Store? Well, they have a kindred store in Guanajuato, Mexico...La Catrina. So sweetly colorful and merry and filled to the roof with traditional candies, many made with my beloved smokey-sweet caramel, cajeta.

I am so attracted to these kinds of stores...not because I actually eat the candy...I really just love the delicious fun. This Red, White and Food shout-out is to La Catrina and her dulce-delightful store!

One of the many "La Catrinas" waiting to help!

Dulces, dulces, dulces

You have no idea

how tempting it was to think about hopping on that horse...just for a moment. I was soooo, soooo close. I mean within footsteps. Just for a moment...who would mind? The saddle looked a little intimidating. I rode the English kind. Maybe that's what stopped me? Gosh...sweet thing. I rode lots of palomino ponies in "my day". My beloved Topper was a skewbald kind of like this one

...such a lovely pal. Nothing like the bond young girls have with a horse. Anyway...

There was something else in that square that was also really tempting that I hope you will enjoy today...a really yummy piece of bread. Whether its sweet bread, sourdough bread, gluten-free bread or fully-loaded bread...go grab yourself an honest to goodness loaf. And thank the baker! Look at these pix...such a beautiful little bakery! 

Here is a Red, White and Food shout-out to all bread bakers who do it right! Yum!

Not's Berry Farm

is one I prefer to do business with...the farms that absolutely do not use pesticides on strawberries and this Red White and Food shout-out is to them.

Those luscious, juicy, sweet heralds of spring, strawberries, are sadly among the most "poisoned" foods we can eat and are listed in the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen...foods so toxin-rich that they are classified as "must buy organic" foods. This from The Daily Green:  Up from No. 6 in 2009, strawberries rank No. 3 on the 2010 Dirty Dozen list. Why? 59 pesticides have been detected in residue on strawberries. Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods#ixzz1JKDZtW00

I don't know about you, but that's 59 things I don't want to have to worry about.

From what I can gather, the main culprit is a chemical called methyl idiodide, a gas pesticide that is injected into soil and "uploaded" into the berries. This chemical has been linked to many serious health conditions as well as ground and water contamination.

Here is an article that shows what some farmers are doing to raise healthy berries...healthy for us, the workers and the environment and some more information on what you can do. The EPA is accepting public comment on this pesticide until April 30th. Read this and decide for yourself: http://news.change.org/stories/some-strawberry-farmers-wont-use-cancer-causing-pesticide-methyl-iodide

You have a right to know what you are eating and so ask before you buy, remembering what you eat becomes you! A special thanks to the farmers who are working so hard to feed us and do it safely. We are berry grateful!!

For the Love of Licorice

Spring is sweet and today I am giving myself some sweetness in the form of licorice. Oh my, I love it. Whenever I am in New York, I visit the mother of all candy stores, Economy Candy, http://www.economycandy.com/. My love for that store is truly like, well... like a kid would love a candy store. And, I feel like a kid in it. And, I am not alone.

Economy Candy holds the candy crown nationwide. Numero Uno. Really, it is worth a visit...so much sweet, floor-to-ceiling fun. Love the extra charge for whining. And if you need a fabulous hair cut, Anessa, who cuts my hair, is right around the corner! Then, you can go for lunch at ...see I have a whole tour just waiting for you!

I also like to order candy from The Vermont Country Store. They have several pages of their print catalogue dedicated to just licorice candies...fun!!! And, online, under candy, they have a tab, The Licorice Shop http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/products/Food-Candy/Candy-Chocolate/Licorice.html

My new favorite is Mint Licorice Caramels...here, have a look. They are melt in your mouth yum!

This Red, White and Food post is for those old-fashioned candies,especially licorice and the stores that carry them. While not completely healthy, a little real sweetness, a little sweet fun always has a place in my heart.