Thomas Jefferson was a foodie

 

Thomas Jefferson has to be one of my favorite figures in Colonial History. He was a multi-faceted individual. At sixteen, he entered the College of William and Mary and graduated two years later. In addition to being a politician, he was an inventor, architect, horticulturist, and a musician (he played the violin). So, when I was searching for a non-fiction book, this one immediately caught my attention.  If you are ever in the Charlottesville, Virginia area go see Monticello his home where many of his inventions are on display.

Jefferson, as you may know was the second Vice President under John Adams and then went on to become the third President of the United States. He was one of the Founding Fathers and one of the principal authors of the Declaration of Independence.  He held many positions in the United States government including the first Secretary of state and the "ambassador to Europe" which led him to take up residency in France. I am sure many of you studied him and other historical figures in school.

When the French added their might and army to assist during the Revolution they brought with them their cuisine which Jefferson immediately enjoyed.  Sadly, the colonists were not adventurous and did not share his love.  It wouldn't be until years later that Americans would accept French cooking.  In fact, Americans can credit Julia Childs for making it popular in the 1960's and to this day it is incorporated into many of the dishes eaten here in the US.

ryui3France was a perfect place for someone with a more discerning palate such as his. He took his slave James Hemings with him and paid for James to be an apprentice in a French kitchen.  His hope was to bring the cuisine back to the colonies and incorporate it into everyday dishes. While Jefferson embraced French cuisine, the colonists were far less adventurous, and his enthusiasm for it wasn’t widely shared.

The gentry and some of the middle class had plenty to eat and it was not uncommon to be served a huge breakfast and dinner.  A common breakfast according to this book was freshly baked bread, corn pone, pancakes, cold ham, chicken and several types of hash. Coffee and tea were both served. My breakfast of toast and coffee pales against the early colony breakfast. Dinner was lots of meats, veggies from the garden, salad etc. Not well seasoned but plentiful. Compared to their hearty breakfast, my Thomas' 100 calorie English muffin with peanut butter, feels sadly lacking.  But one must maintain her girlish figure. 😂

I may have gone on and on, but if you're looking for a concise history of Jefferson and his era—without getting too deep into politics—this might be the book for you. Naturally, it centers on cuisine and the relationships among the people of his time, offering a fascinating glimpse into daily life. It also provides an account of pre-revolutionary Paris, painting a vivid picture of the city premodern times. 

Here is tidbit I picked up while reading this book. The fork was nearly non-existent in the colonies. People ate primarily with spoons, knives or their fingers. While the  Virginia elite adopted the fork, it took time for the practice to take hold in the colonies. A study by Lorena Walsh and Carol Stammas showed that between 1700-1709 3 to 8 % of Virginians owned a fork.  By 1778 that number increased to 21% among the poor and 52% among the middle class. 

Of course, forks have their place, but there's something undeniably satisfying about eating with your hands, don't you think? Whether it’s the crispy perfection of French fries, the comforting warmth of a fresh slice of pizza, or the simple joy of tearing into barbecue ribs, sometimes, food just tastes better when you ditch the utensils.

Expiration dates

 

Everything and everyone have an expiration date. As you approach a certain age, which I am rapidly approaching, that realization becomes increasingly clear. The interesting thing about expiration dates, though, is that they’re not always exact. Take food as an example, a container of milk might have today’s date printed on it, but that doesn’t mean it instantly spoils at midnight, it only may spoil at midnight.  In reality, the milk may be perfectly good for a few days, another week, or maybe two.  

With humans it is a little different.  For the most part, your expiration date is thankfully unknown.  It is like playing Russian Roulette, Click, Click, Bang, Gone. Off course many of us will live long lives but many of us may not. 

 Several of my friends faced this uncertainty when they were diagnosed with cancer. They fought long and difficult battles despite being told they had only months to live.  One friend, after enduring major surgery and aggressive chemotherapy for stage 4 metastatic breast cancer was told she was in remission only to find out one week later that it had metastasized to her brain. Still, she continued the good fight and because of this she was finally able to go to the Stanley cup finals and watch the Washington Capitals win!  If you follow the Caps, they make it to the Stanley Cup finals but are eliminated in around the second round.

Another friend had pancreatic cancer. He kept going to the doctor who repeatedly dismissed his symptoms as simple stomach issues. When he finally was tested, the diagnosis came too late, he had already passed the window where chemotherapy might have extended his expiration date. If his expiration date had just been extended even one or two days, he would have seen the birth of his first granddaughter. Granted pancreatic cancer is a death sentence but, in this case, the medical community failed him by not listening. OK, enough of this heavy talk and back to expiration dates.

I read a book all about human expiration dates that I think is a perfect summer read.  The book is called Expiration Dates by Rebecca Searle.  She is the same author that wrote The Dinner List, which I wrote about on April 23. (Also a great summer read).

The book follows Daphne, a woman who believes the universe has a plan for her—one that reveals itself every time she begins a new relationship.  Each time she receives a slip of paper with his name and the exact number representing their time together, their expiration date. Yet, she has always wondered if one day, there would be a slip without an expiration. 

Then, day after a blind date she finally does. The slip contains only one thing, the name Jake, her blind date.

As their relationship unfolds, Daphne starts questioning things and the plot continues.

Exercising when retired

 

In April, 2020 we were in the midst of the COVID Pandemic.  Everyone including myself was struggling to stay sane.  We all were searching for things to fill our time and trying to exercise was a priority.

Going to a gym was out of the question. It wasn't even an option.  Even now, working in the healthcare profession, I still feel uneasy being in a gym environment. I am diligent about wiping everything down before and after I work out.

Just recently I revisited a post I wrote on April 27, 2020 and re-watched the video that I shared with you. Even though we’ve returned to a "normal lifestyle," this video still feels incredibly relevant to me. The creator's perspective on age resonates deeply making me realize that, by her definition I've officially stepped into the "elderly" stage. But being "elderly" is just a concept; one I choose not to accept. It is simply another phase in my life's journey, full of wisdom, humor, and quirks.  Age is a state of mind.  If you feel old and act old, you will be old.  I prefer to take a different path.

Aging sneaks up on us—it’s something we don’t always notice until a moment like this makes us stop and reflect. If anything, it means I have lived through experiences worth sharing

This woman created this wisdom with humor and wit.  Please watch this video.  

Jello Salad

 

I grew up in the 60's and Jello was a staple in my house.   Every year, when it was our turn to host Thanksgiving dinner, my mom or I would make a Pineapple Jello Salad—a dish that wasn’t just any ordinary Jello creation. I started making this dish when I was in elementary school and I was proud of my contribution to the dinner.  It was a true showpiece, holding its own beside the turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing.

What made this particular salad so striking? It was all in the design and presentation. To create it, you needed a can of pineapple slices (it must be slices), drained of juice, with the rings left inside the can. Then, you'd prepare a small red Jello (it must be red—there’s much debate over which flavor works best) according to package directions. Once slightly cooled, you’d carefully pour it into the can, covering the pineapple rings. After refrigerating until firm, the real challenge began—getting the slices out intact.

Here is my tried-and-true method: Invert the can onto the plate you plan to serve it on. Make sure it is centered on the plate. Using a can opener open the bottom of the can.  Using a sharp knife free the Jello from the side of the can. Slowly lift the can up and hopefully the pineapple slice log stays intake. Place it on its side using the pineapple as your guide.  I must confess my family wasn't particularly fond of this dish but my mom and I both agreed that it made the table look pretty and we loved it. 

You might ask me why on Earth am I reminiscing about Jello Salad?  First, many of you may have never encountered this vintage dish. Second you may ask, why bother making something so boring there are recipes like Strawberry Pretzel Salad which are far superior in both looks and taste?   Click on this Strawberry Pretzel Salad for the Taste of Home Recipe. Lastly you may ask why now, it's not even Thanksgiving? 

I was inspired to write about this salad because I just watched Leanne Morgan who has a hilarious take on Jello salad and when to eat it.  While I could paraphrase what she said, I would rather you hear it from her. The clip just brought back some wonderful memories of gathering with my family and remembering those who are no longer with me. Food, especially something as distinctive as Jello salad, can be such a powerful connection to those memories.

In addition, if I can entice just one person to make the sliced pineapple salad my work here is done.  All kidding aside, I would love to hear if this recipe was part of your childhood, when you ate it and if you used red Jello and if you haven't watched Leanne Morgan yet, add it to your play list.  

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry

This book has a quirky charm which is why I chose it.  A.J is an owner of a bookstore on Alice Island a fictional town located somewhere in New England.  He opened the store with his wife, Nic, but tragedy struck when Nic was killed in a car accident. Since then, A.J. has drifted through life in a haze, weighed down by grief.

One day a child is left in his bookstore.  From the beginning there is a unique bond between them.  She literally transforms his life in so many ways.  It is almost like she awakens a side of him that he did not know existed.  But the story is not as straight forward as it seems.  Twists that I did not see and the authors character development made for a compelling read. 

E-readers also become a point in the book triggered by a rare visit by A.J's Mom at Christmas who brought each of his family members an e-reader.  A.J. becomes enraged and it is easy to identify with his frustration.  As digital reading becomes more popular, bookstores face an uncertain future. His business definitely is impacted by the device. 

I always thought I would be one of those people who would never give up reading a physical book, but I succumbed to the ease of the e-reader.  It is so incredibly convenient to carry the e-reader, perfect for moments when I need to occupy my time, especially during my recent travels to Europe.  As an avid reader, having dozens of books at my fingertips and the ability to download a new one instantly is hard to resist.

Unfortunately, this is so true.  Gone are the days when bookstores were everywhere each with their own personalities.  I love going to new places and seeking out local bookstores.  One of my favorites was a bookstore is in Duck, NC called Duck's cottage.  Although they are booksellers, they also sell great coffee and mugs. I would stop by in the mornings the week I was there for some java, and I don't mean the software. I picked up a mug and several books including one mystery written by a local author.  I haven't been to the outer banks for a while.  I hope the store has survived.

I really enjoyed the book. The book was published a while ago and I am sure many of you have already read it but if you haven't consider picking it up. 

Netflix recently adapted it into a movie, and while I haven’t watched it yet, it’s definitely on my list. Still, I sometimes hesitate to watch film versions of books I love I don’t want to be disappointed.

Please share your thoughts on the book itself and the book vs the movie.

Story of My Life

Every now and then I get a hankering for a good Romance Novel.  I know the mention of romantic comedy might cause a few eye rolls, but sometimes, a girl just needs to kick back and enjoy a book without expending too much brain power.   Over the years I have suggested romance novels once or twice or maybe more often. 

With so many books in the romantic comedy genre, it’s clear that not all are created equal. For a book to make it onto my must-read list, it has to have the following elements:

• Great and witty characters - The author must develop both main and supporting characters well. I want to know them, relate to them, and feel invested in their story. A sense of humor and witty banter between them also helps.
• A strong story line.  Even if the best characters are well written they can't save a weak plot.  For instance, I just read a book, Something in the Water, that started out with two good characters, a good plot twist but the author did not follow through on some of the most important parts of the story. This book is more of a thriller, so my expectations of the story line was higher.
• Tension between the two main characters who will become love interests.
• A Happy Ending.  The happier the better.  In today's world where happy endings are few and far between a feel-good conclusion is a must.

I just finished a romantic comedy that I really enjoyed entitled Story of My Life by Lucy Score.

The main character Hazel Hart is a successful romantic comedy author whose confidence is shattered after very traumatic breakup.  Not only did her boyfriend leave, but he marginalized her writing capabilities, leaving her feeling incapable of picking up her pen again. Despite this, she promised her publisher another book who has made it clear to, "Get Us a Manuscript or Else!".

Synopsis of the Book Desperate for inspiration, Hazel acting on an impulse, buys an historic home sight unseen and leaves Manhattan for Story Lake, PA. There she meets a group of eclectic townspeople including the man who will restore her crumbling home to its former glory and who will serve as her muse, mentally and physically.  He is a ten out of ten on the hunky scale.

Before Hazel knows it, her creativity is reignited, and a new story just seems to pour its way onto the pages. She is back in business.

This book is a romantic comedy within a romantic comedy, ticking off all my must-have elements. Honestly, Hallmark should be looking to turn this into a movie—though they might have to dial down some of the heat.

If you are going to the beach or sitting by the pool, consider reading this book

Rough as a corn cob

Once again, I was in my car on my way to work.  My radio was set on my favorite drive time radio station 104.7 and I was listening to the Bob and Sheri show. a woman called in and said that she was talking to some people and she had used the expression "rough as a corn cob".  She was met with quizzical looks and began explaining the phrase’s meaning. But by the time she finished, she realized it was probably best left unsaid.

Having lived first Long Island than Maryland, I had never heard that expression myself. That saying just wasn't in our phrase book.  Lamar one of the cohosts, who has become more vocal on air since Bob Lacey's decision to retire a few months ago, started to explain. 

Apparently, corn cobs played an essential role in rural American households with outhouses. I guess but I cannot swear to this never having grown up in an outhouse environment that the Sears Catalog was used to wipe oneself after a "Go".  If the Sears catalog was gone, corn cob husks, conveniently stored in a bucket near the door, were used.  According to Lamar the Sears catalog was a preferred, smoother option. But when that rean out, corn cob husks were the next best thing.  All I could think is how much it would hurt to use a corn cob husk on one's bottom.  Although if the husk was not really dried out, it might be softer than you think.

Anyway, using a corn cob husk is certainly a much better solution than not using anything at all so congrats to the person who first thought to use it. I love learning new things and I found this use of something usually eaten and then discarded was a very interesting piece of Americana.