The Best Meal Ever December 31, 2006
Posted by Dale in Vegetarian Food, Wheat-free.add a comment
I just have to tell you about the wonderful meal we had last night at one of the rare gatherings of the Sorensen clan. It’s not often that everyone from my family are able to get together. My brother Barrie has spent several years gallivanting all over the world, mainly playing sax on cruise ships. He doesn’t get home very often, but when he does we all enjoy his cooking. This trip home, instead of coming off a cruise ship, he is returning after completing the Pro Chef course at The School of Natural Cookery in Boulder, Colorado. This time, even more than usual, we were eagerly anticipating his cooking! So last night we gathered at the family home in Tryon to enjoy a six-course meal prepared by our incredible family chef. Here’s what was on the menu:
- Amuse Bouche: Quenelle of Tofu Olivade on a Red Bell Pepper Boat
- First Entrée: Carrot Coconut Cream Soup
- Second Entrée: Marinated Fennel with Avocado and Roasted Pistachios on a Bed of Butterhead Lettuce
- Third Entrée: Crimini Mushroom and Beet Green Stuffed Yucca Root Pastry with Walnut Cream Sauce
- Principal Plate: Lemon Braised Great Northern Beans with Red Beet Sauce on Broiled Millet Cake with Young Pea Shoots and Fresh Basil Oil
- Dessert: Lemon Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Frozen Nut Custard
It was amazing!
You know, when people discover that I am a vegan, and furthermore can’t eat wheat or corn, they invariably ask something like, “what can you eat?” Believe it or not, all the items on last night’s menu were vegan, wheat-free and corn-free. So, the answer to the question, obviously, is “Lots!”. In fact, I would have to say that the more I give up, the more varied my diet becomes. By necessity, one is forced to look for alternatives to replace what is lost. Since giving up red meat as a new year’s resolution 15 years ago, I have evolved from a decidedly “meat-and-potatoes” guy to one that enjoys a much wider variety of ethnic cuisine, and a much wider variety of vegetables, grains and legumes than I could ever have imagined before.
Sadly, Barrie will be heading off to join his girlfriend in Lithuania soon, and we will have to wait until his next visit home to sample some of his wonderful culinary creations again. In the meantime, the memory of this most incredible meal will be with us for a good long time.
Rosie Photos December 21, 2006
Posted by Dale in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
I’ve just uploaded some photos of Rosie the Ruffed Grouse to my new Flickr account. Click here to visit my site and view the photos.
Snuggle up with a good book December 10, 2006
Posted by Dale in Kids, Life.add a comment
My three year old son gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “snuggle up with a good book”, as he does so quite literally. While many kids gravitate to teddy bears for comfort at night time, Bailey has always been inclined to choose more unusual snuggling partners: anything from dinky cars to tractors, drum sticks to harmonicas, flashlights to snow shovels (plastic, at least!), and yes, books. It doesn’t seem to matter what – sometimes he just grabs the first thing he sees – but he has to have something. And once he latches on to it, it is with him for the night until he finally releases his grip in the morning. In the case of books, I’d like to think that the message learned from the reading has held special resonance for the boy, that the act of holding the book is a tactile representation of the strength of feelings elicited by the story. In reality, I don’t think this is the case; it’s a simple matter of inanimate objects providing comfort. I can only wonder about why this is so, but I do know that it gives me comfort to see that books are in the rotation.
Salting Ice and Snow December 6, 2006
Posted by Dale in Environment.1 comment so far
It is officially that time of year when we buy salt by the bagful and throw liberal handfuls of the stuff on our doorsteps and sidewalks. There’s no doubt about it – salt is effective at melting ice and snow, and it’s cheap. But what about the effect of salt on the environment? Environment Canada has published the results of their study on salt and the environment in their online newsmagazine EnviroZine. They say the harmful effects of salt on the environment can be minimized by careful management and judicious use. Additionally, because of the corrosive nature of salt, we would all do well to reduce its use, if for no other reason than to save our doorsteps. Salt can also make quite a mess of our indoor floors when it gets tracked inside. Alternatives worth considering include sand, wood ash, and kitty litter. All three of these substances provide good traction and are better environmental choices, but they won’t melt ice or snow. So if salt is still your choice, how much is enough? Harrowsmith Country Life has the answer in their February 2006 issue:
You only need a few grains to effectively remove snow and ice over an area that measures 1 square foot. To calculate how many ounces you really need, multiply the square footage by 0.08 and resist the urge to use any more than you require.
Something I’ve tried that works incredibly well is to simply sweep the doorstep bare. However, this is a pretty high-maintenance procedure – you have to sweep before any of it becomes icy, and before anyone walks on the snow and packs it down. Admittedly, this is likely impractical for those of you with sidewalks, but it is manageable for a small area like your doorstep, and it will keep your doorstep from becoming pitted and corroded.
The debate over Midwifery in PEI December 1, 2006
Posted by Dale in Birth, Politics.1 comment so far
It really annoys me when people make “factual” statements based on their own opinions or assumptions which have been formulated from their limited knowledge or experience of the subject. A current example is PEI Health Minister Chester Gillan’s assertion that PEI does not need legislation to regulate midwifery, due in part to the fact there is no demand for such services here in PEI. (See this CBC article). The problem with statements like this is that a large portion of the population believes it – after all, this is a pillar of society addressing an issue that he has presumably researched – his statements must be based on documented evidence – why would we question it? How is it that politicians continue to make decisions – important decisions! – based on their own opinions rather than well-informed and comprehensive research? How did he arrive at the assumption that there is no demand? By discussing it with his politician buddies? Expand your survey circle a little wider there, Gillan. You could start by asking anyone in BORN (Birth Options Research Network), the group advocating for midwifery regulation in PEI, for their perspective. My wife is a member of BORN, and she alone has heard dozens of Island women express their desire in having access to midwifery and other birth options. But don’t take my word for it, Gillan – why not ask Island women directly? You might be surprised by what you hear. To state that there is no demand for midwifery here when there is no service here, is like saying, pre-Tim Hortons era, “Islanders have no interest in a drive-thru coffee shop.” If you build it, they will come!
Mr. Gillan also states: “There is not a pending need at the moment to offer this service along with normal services that we offer for birthing. [I]t would be adding another service to one that is already provided.” If Gillan stopped to think about this for a minute, he would realize that this is very short-sighted thinking. In fact, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada recognizes the impending shortage of maternity care providers. Retiring obstetricians are not being replaced, as fewer doctors are choosing obstetrics as a specialty. Concurrently, fewer family physicians are offering maternity services. In their National Birthing Strategy for Canada, the SOGC warns, “If there is no strategy to address the shortages of maternity care providers, it will be impossible for Canada to have sustainable family-centred maternity and newborn care.” The SOGC recognizes the importance of midwifery in helping to deal with this crisis. By being proactive now (and joining the majority of other Canadian provinces in legislating midwifery), Mr. Gillan would ensure that there will be no future shortage of adequate maternity care on PEI, while also providing women with a wider variety of choices in birthing their children.
For more on the topic, see this post by Peter Rukavina. Also, please feel free to sign BORN’s on-line petition for midwifery on PEI.
