Finding A Kitchen Treasure My Mom's Herb MIll

Where would we be without those dozens of kitchen gadgets that make our prepping and cooking easier and much more fun? Recently I discovered my Mom's herb grinder , a Christmas gift given a few years ago from a good friend who was family too, Eunice. She never used it, the gadget was  still in its' packaging.

It's the Microplane Company  herb mill  which finely cuts fresh herbs into perfectly shredded pieces. I don't know why my Mom never used it. It really is perfect . The company also has other mills and graters like their garlic and ginger ones that are worth looking into.

There's only two pieces and they fit puzzle like together. The fresh herbs,(I used my fresh basil) are put in the cylinder. The pestle like piece is then put inside.

It's worked like a pepper mill.

The leaves are ground with those small blades , producing perfect pieces. I wish I had used this before for my sauces because it really is a big help. I plan on using it with chives (one of my Mom's favorite herbs besides basil and fresh dill (Eunice's favorite herb which she used liberally on salmon and cucumbers). There's so much that can be made with it. I plan on making basil butter for corn and using it also on fresh rosemary for pizza.

Where would we be without our gadgets? Finding my Mom's herb mill was a godsend. It really will be used much more for a variety of different herbs.

The Elder Parent's Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time for families and continuing culinary traditions. It becomes more meaningful as parents age. They still want to be part of the cooking and crowd yet there are circumstances that may be difficult. It may be hard to celebrate- yet there are ways of making it a bit easier.

Some older parents are still agile both mentally and physically in their eighties and nineties. They can be helpful in the kitchen and in the dining room. Have them do small chores such as peeling eggs for deviled eggs or uncorking wine bottles. They can also help in tasting and offering their opinion for different dishes as well as reminding you what spices and their amounts to use in family recipes.The important thing is not to tire out the older generation. If they want to nap before dinner, let them,if they oversleep let them. The meal will still be hot when they wake up. To keep a harmonious table, let them talk about what they want to talk about and have the kids engage with their grandparents and great grandparents. (this is a good time for the no phone rule at the table). Also keep an eye on what they eat.  Those on dialysis should have more high quality protein such as the turkey and less processed foods such as Stovetop Stuffing. Make sure they eat some portion of veggies. Diabetics can enjoy the main meal but desserts can be tricky. Try a no bake low carb pumpkin pie that has low calorie brown sugar add for sweetening and a pecan nut crust. Another sugar free dessert is a pumpkin cheesecake with no sugar. It's got the same creamy silkiness of the real thing but it's made with Truvia.

One of the hardest conditions to deal with is dementia. It's is difficult , especially for family members who remember their parents as vibrant people, steering the Thanksgiving dinner with a smile and steeliness. The best bet is just to roll with it. Enjoy this time with them, no matter how trying it will be. You may have to plan the Thanksgiving dinner in the early afternoon. Some sufferers have what is known as "Sundown Syndrome" which as the sun goes down , anger and confusion may set in. Simple tasks such as stirring mashed potatoes or setting the table can be calming for them. Also conversation is important. Ask them about Thanksgiving pasts but don't become frustrated if they don't remember . As for drinks and food, certain ones can actually help. Serve Concord grape juice instead of soda. The grapes boost cognition as well as cardiovascular health. Cut out sugar where you can too. It can make blood sugar levels spike which is linked to the disease. Sweeten pies and cranberries with agave or maple syrup. Try to avoid overly processed foods and ingredients  which can affect the mind. A dish such as green bean casserole is made with mostly processed ingredients such as mushroom soup and frizzled onions. Skip that and make the fresher string beans almondine instead. It has freshly squeezed lemon juice and almonds which improve cognitive memory.

Thanksgiving with elderly parents can be trying yet also joyous too. Make sure mom and dad have a good holiday.If they will you will too.

Two Years Without The Chef

Today marks the second anniversary of losing my Mom. It is still tough without the Master Chef for advice, Yet her legacy is with me every day, in every teaspoon and cup.

It is tough to cook on your own, even tougher to cook for one at times. I miss making one of our favorites , croques monsiuers. These are the famed French bistro fried cheese sandwiches of Gruyere or Swiss cheese paired with ham. They're fried in plenty of butter and the taste is melt in your mouth delicious. I miss those over processed chicken and turkey pot pies from Swanson and later Marie Callender. These were part of my growing up and let's face it -  who doesn't love them? She and I used to split one, with me getting my childhood favorite - the crust.It's kind of hard to eat any of that yet. As she used to say "It's time to make new traditions." and that's true.  Yet it's hard. Harder still is recreating family recipes and sometimes forgetting one ingredient. That happened to me not long ago when I made the butternut squash version of our family's zuppa di zucca - pumpkin soup. I freaked out when I didn't have an actual onion and had to use onion powder. I thought for sure it just wouldn't come out right. It did  - with a flavor similar to what my Mom and great-aunt created.

Then there are times when I wish she was here (she is on some astral level) just to see some of the gadgets I've bought and received. What would she have thought of my air fryer?She would have marveled at its' rapidness to cook and its'  whole electronic dashboard. Its' versatility would have amazed her and I know we would have tried everything from steaks to chicken wings and drumsticks in it. How would she have felt about the Beyond Burgers I tried out back over the summer? My Mom wasn't a big beef and burger eater. She may have liked them - maybe on buttered toast as she always liked to have them. Heavens only know what she would have thought about the ice cream loaf I debuted on Memorial Day. I could just hear her saying that I could buy the exact same thing at Dairy  Queen." Yet she may have applauded the fact that I created my signature summer dessert. I know she would have liked my Asian cole slaw because, like me she wasn't a fan of the gloppy mayo soaked kind. She would have loved the salty, scallion packed flavor that had a finishing note of ginger.

The two years have gone by too quickly.  No one can replace this very influential Master Chef.Her advice though is permanent and eternal.

Thankful???

Today is the American Thanksgiving, while others are thankful, personally I am not. it has been a God awful year , especially with my Mom's passing. I cannot give any thanks for such a bleak, heart breaking year, full of misery heaped upon more misery.

What I will be grateful for being Thanksgivings past, where my Mom cooked such family favorites as Swabische style stuffing , rich with sage along with pecan pies, loaded with nuts and sweetness.I will be thankful for all those New York Thanksgivings where we gathered together with friends in Greenwich Village as I had my version of a dinner, a turkey - spinach- avocado wrap.

That's what I will give thanks for and that's all/

Have a good Thanksgiving. Cherish what you have.