A Taste of Kindness

 One thing Pope Francis taught us was kindness to others. He was very much like St. Francis ,of whom he took his name. we can learn from both ,especially during these are times.

Food is one of the best ways to reach out to anyone.If you do have a family member, neighbor or friend who is alone and wanting company share a meal with them. Nothing lifts the spirits more than a meal and good conversation.It doesn't;t have to be a fancy meal, McDonald's or even a sandwich in the back yard will do the trick.Invite them over for a Sunday family dinner. It's soon to be barbecue season so save an extra set at the outdoor table.Remember our veterans, especially the elderly ones. Not only share a meal with them but shop for them as well. You can also volunteer at soup kitchens too. It's strange that many just volunteer only on Thanksgiving or Christmas. The needy are hungry all year long. They need food in the  Spring and summer months too. The staff would greatly appreciate the extra hands too. There are also food pantries that will need help and food too.Donate what you can if you can.

It is hard to share however with food prices always rising to astronomical highs and not enough time, thanks to busy schedules.Yet , we lose our humanity when we only think of ourselves. If you're having struggles yourself  reach out. There's no shame in visiting a food pantry. You have to eat. Your family  and animal companions have to eat. Keep in mind that they also have necessary items too, such as diapers, detergent, soap, and paper towels to name a few. Another idea that can work is the community are aptly named community gardens. Cities such as Paterson and Newark, both  New Jersey  highly urban cities have these. Everyone in the neighborhood pitches in, from tilling and hoeing the soil to planting the seeds to weeding and then harvesting the crops. It means fresh veggies and fruits for all. Some gardens even offer cooking classes that show how to make nutritious yet tasty meals with the harvests. They also offer classes for kids for gardening too as well as other classes such as yoga and meditation. It's all about helping each other.

Pope Francis ,like St. Francis helped all. It's time to do the same. The best way is through food.

A Good Quick Meal

  What's your idea of a good quick meal It could be a grilled cheese? Or is it ramen soup with a rare and expensive egg?  Do you prefer Sunday leftovers on MOnday where' there's no prep but plenty of reheating

Le'ts hear your ideal quick meal. MIne would have to be ramen,  any soup for me is a good quick meal that's also hot and filling.

All Foods British

Today is a double day of celebration in England. It's not only St. George's Day, he of  dragon slaying but also celebrating the soon to be named prince, William and Kate's third child.Celebrate with tasty British food - and no  - that's not a joke. British  food has been transformed to rival that on the other side of the Channel.

One quintessentially British food is clotted cream. It's sometimes called Devonshire or Cornish cream and it's essentially cow's milk heated in a warm bath. Creamy curds then appear and these can be spread on scones and muffins.Amazon sells it but it can also be made at home by cooking whole cream i a very cool oven  175 degrees Farenheit for twelve hours. It's delicious on crumpets which is where our English muffins come from. Mixed with mustard it makes an excellent sauce for steak. It's also a part of a cream tea, Brits piled it onto scones along with a thick layer of strawberry or plum jams. Teas themselves are a lovely way to celebrate a new baby or as a light afternoon meal with friends. Start with a variety of teas for a lovely light beverage to wash down those scones , petit fours and some savory sandwiches such as egg salad and watercress.Another big English favorite is the picnic. It's not the dinky, wrapped sandwiches and a bag of chips. This is an elegant affair with a wicker hamper and china. The utensils are not plastic but actual metal. Food is usually a cold chicken with sausage rolls and potted shrimp on the side. The last is spiced shrimp, laced with paprika and a mix of ground ginger, mace and nutmeg.It's sealed with butter and served with crusty brown bread.

Our Sunday dinners of roast beef and ham originated with the early and wealthy English colonists. The big Sunday dinner still holds sway over most families.It's ususually roast beef served with the buttery yummy Yorkshire pudding,a kind of popover baked with the juices from the roast.along with eggs, flour and milk. A green vegetable such as broccoli or peas is also served with it to round out the meal. Dessert could be fresh strawberries in season or a Victoria sponge rich with strawberry preserves and whipped cream..Another well beloved British meal is breakfast  A breakfast fry up is usually bacon, sausages and blood  pudding, a type of sausage made with oatmeal and pig's blood. There are eggs with it, usually fried, poached or scrambled White bread also is fried in the bacon grease , although grilled  oatcakes replace it in the Midlands. Baked beans are also included along endless cups of milky tea.The countries of the former British Empire has impacted their diet as well. The most popular takeout or take -away is Indian food. A Friday or Sunday night treat might be curry or samosas with a cool lasse to drink. Chinese food is also a popular choice as well in the UK.

Celebrate Saint George's Day and the birth of Baby Cambridge with a cream tea or a Yorkshire pudding.The British know how to cook and produce delicious food.  Try a recipe  and enjoy the flavor of Britian.

One Day Can Last A Year

Patriot's Day is a time not only of remembrance but of  coming together. In these divided times we need to be closer now more than ever. It's time to open our hearts ad our kitchens.

One of the best ways to keep up  communal unity and harmony  is to open our doors and let our neighbors come for a meal.It's the best way of getting to know people, their backgrounds, and  customs.,It's also a good time to expand palates and cookbooks. Many have experienced ethnic and even American foods second hand usually in restaurants and fast food joints. This is a chance to enjoy homemade kim chi, or samosas, apple pie and hamburgers made by home chefs.It's a chance for kids to also taste different food from different countries for the first time. It teaches them about their friends's ancestries along with bonding them even closer. An even better idea is holding a block party any time of the year (even winter when there is always a combination of different holidays from different beliefs). Everyone can contribute and make the best of their repertoire. Celebrate the event with a cookbook featuring everyone's  recipes and their pictures. A short description of each recipe , why it's made and what it means to the families can also be included.

Another way to unite a neighborhood is taking care of each other. Don't think twice about inviting elderly neighbors over for a Saturday night supper or a Sunday roast. They'd appreciate an old fashioned home cooked meal.Include their favorite dishes too and make sure that they have a plate of leftovers to take home. It's also a good time for the kids to learn history by asking a generation who may have lived through the Second World War and the Korean War. Elderly neighbors can also be invited over for a weekday lunch and possibly a card game if everyone has the time.Also don';t hesitate to bake a cake for their birthday as well as sharing your garden's late summer harvest with them.Remember also , those who may be in need too. Donate your bumper produce to the local food pantry along with helping out at soup kitchens. Do this throughout the year not just on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Bring the kids too because they need to acquire a sense of empathy towards those less fortunate.

This is only one day but it can be extended to last throughout the year. Be inclusive when you cook. Open your heart and garden and hearth to everyone . It's a great way of uniting people.