Category Archives: “Soul Food”

Dec17
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Words cannot describe what a parent must feel about a loss of a child. I sincerely hope neither myself nor anybody else ever lives to find out, but in this cruel world, it is still possible to lose a child to a senseless murder committed by a soul-less criminal.

I can say to a grieving parent “I understand”, but the truth is, I can’t. As every cell inside me is fighting the very hypothetical notion of ever being in this situation. Mind just cannot process, and the heart refuses to speculate. The whole being is simply shuts down at the very thought that these things are possible, and nothing seems to stop them.

As I’m rejoicing that my own child is safe at home, part of me is broken for all the parents and loved ones of the 20 tiny lives lost in Sandy Hook’s massacre and for all the adults who rushed to save them and at the end perished themselves. This will be the holiday season we’ll never forget. There will be many unopened gifts left forever under the Christmas tree, and too many families gathering together for a burial instead of a holiday meal.

I know that all the children across the nation were hugged and kissed extra tender this weekend, and all the parents said an extra prayer that their family is healthy and safe. I held my teen in my arms for what seemed like an eternity. And I know he doesn’t understand it yet, but years down the road, he will, once he holds his own babies in his arms. My only wish is that he will never have to doubt that they will always come home at the end of each day.

Join me in a prayer for all the lives lost and for all the families forever broken!

What’s Cooking This Week

During difficult times like these, you may feel like you just want to huddle in a corner a not move. And it may be right for some, or for a while. But when you have a house full of young children and a holiday season upon us, life still goes on, as it should be, and you may find yourself wishing to share some special times with your family. This recipe is a great chance to get the kids involved, cherish the moments and make future memories to pass on to your grandchildren.

“Candy Canes” Cupcakes

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For 24 cupcakes:

2 1/2 cups of flour (I used Cup4Cup gluten free flour blend)

1 cup of buttermilk

2 eggs

1 Tbspoon of cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups of sugar

1 1/3 cups of oil

1 tspoon of salt

1 tspoon of baking powder

1 tspoon of vanilla

1 tspoon of white vinegar

2 Tbspoons of red food coloring

24 chocolate covered mint candies

Cream cheese frosting:

16 oz of cream cheese

2 sticks of butter

1 tspoon of vanilla

3 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

24 candy cane candies

In a big bowl, beat together eggs and sugar, then add vanilla, oil, vinegar and buttermilk, beat together, add red food coloring and beat until all is well combined. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour and the rest of the dry ingredients. Gradually add the dry ingredients into wet ones and beat until everything is incorporated.

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line the cupcake pans and drop a spoonful of batter into each cup, then place a mint candy in a middle.

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Cover each candy with more batter until the cups are about 3/4 full. Bake for about 25 minutes, test to see if done towards the side of the cupcake as the mint will be melted and sticky. Cool off completely before frosting.

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To make the frosting, whip softened butter until light and fluffy, then add cream cheese and whip it all together. Add vanilla and gradually start adding the powdered sugar to incorporate it all. Prepare candy canes for decorations. Carefully snap the ends of about 1 inch each using a knife to make candy canes shorter. Use the cut off pieces to make decorations: place them into a food processor and pulse until they are broken into small pieces. Pipe the frosting on each cupcake.

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Insert a candy cane and decorate with broken candy pieces. This a great project to share with the kids. Not to mention that the cupcakes are delicious!

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Alternative options make include ‘Santa Hat” decorations, they look better on the mini cupcakes.

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Enjoy! And cherish the moments with your children!

Nov12
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Sometimes you get people in your life with whom you have more “goodbyes” than “hellos”. And sometimes those “goodbyes” are more important than the whole relationship because letting go is an act of love in itself and a word of care in action. I had two people like that in my life, I hope you had at least one as I think if you haven’t experienced loss, you won’t have anything to compare how great the love was.

The Prince of Tides is one of my favorite movies, and the book is even more amazing than what you see on a screen. Through love, they find their healing and getting whole again, through love, they lose each other but carry the spark with them throughout the rest of their lives. The separation scene is poignant and emotionally charged at the same time, you feel the loss and the new beginning all entwined in one, you damn the necessity of letting go and you applaud the beautiful closure.

Unfortunately, in life, you don’t always get the farewell you’d imagine to be the best, even if you really wanted it, or felt that you truly deserved it. Sometimes you get “whatever was available” depending on life circumstances and how the other person viewed not just the ending but the whole relationship. And you can cry your eyes out how it happened, or you can complain that it’s not fair, it won’t change the fact that there were two “dealers” in this ” game of broken hearts”, yours just did not win this time, or that time either.

And it’s probably best to leave the winners in their new round of the Russian Love Roulette as they are obviously more successful in it, or at least to wish them that their winning streak would continue.  So long my Prince of Tides, I had more ebb than flow with you, but such was the cycle of that relationship! And the White Horseman, he is long gone on a road of his own, where it leads him, I do not know, but he is happy just to take the journey.

So goodbye my loves! If the farewell was a bit bitter for you, I’m sure you can sweeten it with your new winning card. Till I see you both again, in heaven, in due time for each of us!

What’s Cooking This Week

I think during times like that, you’re allowed to medicate yourself a little, just to take the edge off and get adjusted to the new situation. Whatever your medicine is, the actual pill, some sweets or alcohol, immerse yourself into the experience, cry, if you have to, buy some cheap plates to break a few (learned the hard way), or just quietly curl on a couch sipping your drink and walking down the memory lane.

“Anarchy in the Peddler-Land” Iced Tea

2 oz of vodka (I used Liv potato vodka to make it gluten free)

4 oz of strong black tea, brewed and cooled off

1-2 lemon slices

1 sugar cube

Dissolve a sugar cube in tea, squeeze lemon juice from 1 slice and place it on a bottom of a cocktail glass. Add tea with sugar and then vodka, mix it well, then garnish with more lemon if desired. Skip the ice to make it stronger.

If you still feel sad, have another, or try it with some chocolate.

Enjoy!

Oct11
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Difficult time periods are rarely just an exercise in testing your resolve, it is usually an opportunity for life lessons and growth.  We can’t always control the circumstances and the cards that are dealt for us, but we are in charge how we react to the environment and what we make out of it.

I can’t tell you what’s the best way to deal with some difficult issues you may be facing right now, you have to find your own answers and your own path. Stick with what feels right to you no matter how improbable or even silly it may look to others. You’re weaving your own tapestry following the pattern directed by your heart. You’re your own guide, deep inside your soul you have all the needed answers.

When I was home for 8 months undergoing cancer treatment, I was often too weak to go outside or do much more than curl up on a couch. Yet I remember it as one of the most productive periods in my life, I was able to accomplish a lot, right there not leaving my home. Not all work needs to be this grand production of a Hollywood scale undertaking, the most difficult work is usually done within yourself, whatever it is that’s needed to make a necessary shift in your life, both on a physical and emotional levels. And sometimes, like I said in my previous post, you need to go back to the basics, get in touch with your “inner child” or become a child for the time period again.

When I was sick, I surrounded myself with crayons, glitter, glue, family pictures and construction paper. Heck, I was already surrounded with medicines, blankets and “get well cards”, I might as well just play a little.  I spent my time making a giant collage of how I wanted my treatment to go and what a general outcome I’d wish to have. And today, 5 years later, I can say that was exactly how everything went! Wishful thinking? It surely felt like it 5 years ago. Dreams come true? Absolutely! I still have beautiful shadow boxes that I made during those long 8 months. Going through family pictures, strolling through some memories, you can say that I wanted to preserve certain moments in case the outcome would not turn out in my favor, and the treatment would not work. I’m sure somewhere deep inside it was on my mind, however, from the very beginning, I felt that this experience was not to die from but to overcome, learn and grow from. Ambitious and arrogant? Probably. But your soul always knows much more than a human mind can even grasp.

So when you’re faced with some difficult choices in life, yet again, get back to the basics, take care of your whole being, nourish your body with good nutrition, let your soul grow and learn the lessons you were supposed to learn during this experience, sustain your character and don’t let anything compromise who you are.

You are a divine spark, and you will continue to shine on even during a personal eclipse period!

What’s Cooking This Week

Nourishing your body is of the utmost importance on a daily basis but it becomes simply crucial when you need extra strength to fight the disease or other life adversary. Look for simple but nutrient-dense ingredients and just be creative. Play with your vitamins a bit. :) This recipe is beautiful in its simplicity but offers a perfects pairing of potent nutrition and adventurous spirit.

Pink Series: Recipe # 4

Smoked Salmon and Pomegranate Salad

1 cup of baby spinach

2 slices of smoked salmon

1-2 pearl red onions

1/4 cup of pomegranate arils

1 tspoon each olive oil and lemon vinegar

salt, pepper to taste

The recipe is pretty straightforward. Cut the onions and salmon, mix into spinach and top with pomegranate, season as desired and drizzle with oil and vinegar. Serve it as a side salad or a small lunch plate. I like it alongside a toasted bread with hummus. A wonderful dish full of vitamins and antioxidants.

Enjoy!

Oct2
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5 years ago at this time I was just coming out of the most difficult period in my life. Having just completed a gruelling 8-month journey of a major surgery and 6 rounds of the most aggressive chemotherapy available at the time, I was like a new baby, bald (LOL), vulnerable and very eager to start a new chapter.

It was the beginning of 2007, when I found a big lump in my right breast. With no family history of breast cancer, or actually no cancers at all, and, as I later found out, not even BRCA1 or 2  genetic mutation, breast cancer was on my mind as often as let’s say a Bubonic plague. Too “young” for mammogram and with “non-significant” family history, I was an undesirable candidate for any kind of testing at all. Untill it was too late…

When my cancer was found, it wasn’t in its early stages anymore, it was right on a brink of being metastasized. So you can say it was found right on time. However, it didn’t spare me the need for the most aggressive surgical and chemo options available. But it did ultimately save my life! And I’m very grateful for that!

I always say I’m glad I had cancer, no matter how bizarre it sounds. It’s during the most difficult times when our faith, personality and integrity get tested, and you either come out on top, as a winner, or you break down and sink to the bottom, crushed by your own bitterness and misery. Yes, I’d totally forgo the side effects of chemo, some of which will probably remain with me for the rest of my life, but who I am today is enhanced and validated by that experience, and my positive personality traits are shinier and more visible because of that (and yes, I’m working on a few areas that are still kind of shaky, but aren’t we all a work in progress?!). :)

So today, after 8 months of aggressive treatment and 5 years of post-cancer therapies and follow-up, I’ve finally reached the first survival milestone.

It appears I have survived! :)

And just like a new baby yet again, I’m eager and ready, and a little scared,  to start this next chapter of my life. With no more therapies and less oncology visits, I’m actually facing a “normal life”, or rather say a “new normal”. Whatever that may mean, I do not know yet, but I’m ready to find out!

So please help me celebrate and join me for my new cooking series. During the month of October, to promote breast cancer awareness, I’ll be sharing some personal experiences from my cancer journey along with valuable information to learn more about breast cancer and resources. And with that, I’ll be making recipes of all kinds of pink foods.

From baby pink to orange-red to deep purple ombre, join me on a journey of exploring “Fifty Shades of Pink”! :)

What’s Cooking This Week

Nothing is cooking! Because we’re drinking! :)

We’re celebrating, right?!

When it comes to alcohol, I prefer either wine or vodka. Yes, I know, most vodkas are made from wheat or rye and are still a no-no on a gluten free diet, but for some odd reasons, my body is able to tolerate one shot of grain vodka.  It must be some weird inborn Russian enzymes that help me digest it, but even then, it stops at just one drink. So I make it count! LOL   I usually go for a shot of Balinoff, I like its smooth taste and no bitter aftertaste that some cheaper vodkas leave, or Grey Goose would be my second choice. Some special occasion may call for a higher-end designer vodkas, those are usually location specific, and I’ve had a few great ones.

But this time, I definitely want more than one drink (some occasions are just hangover worthy :) ) so I got this nice looking potato vodka from a local distributor. It was smooth with a slightly sweet undertone, I really enjoyed it and would surely buy again. But it’s the Pink series, right? We need to spice it up, and a diluted vodka with cranberry juice drink is just not going to cut it this time!

Recipe # 1

Homemade Cranberry Vodka

1 bottle, 750 ml, of vodka

1 lb of fresh or frozen whole cranberries

1/2 cup of other cut berries (I used strawberries)

1 Tbspoon of lemon juice

lemon peel from 1 lemon

1 cup of sugar

I had difficulty finding fresh (or even frozen) cranberries at this time, so off I went to the Russian market, you can find all kinds of un-seasonal things there. In a saucepan, combine cranberries, strawberries, lemon juice and sugar and cook on low heat for about 5 minutes till cranberries burst and release their juice.

In a mean while, cut lemon peels in thin strips and place them on the bottom of a large glass container.

Once the berry mixture is cooled off, pour it over lemon peels and then pour in all the vodka. Cover the container with a tightly sealed top and set it aside on a counter for about one week.

After the week is over, open and strain the berries and lemon, then pour the vodka back in the container. Store it in a fridge for up to 1 month (if it lasts that long)! And don’t let the innocent color fool you, just like some women I know, it may be “pretty in pink”, but it’s also pretty strong, it’s your “fight like a girl” premium vodka drink!

Of note, don’t throw the berries out but rather put them in a freezer, they’d make an awesome “no kids invited” cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving dinner. :)

So here I am toasting my difficult but inspiring past 5 years and more healthy ones ahead!

And a toast to all the doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other medical professionals who through their expertise and dedication brought me up to the point where I can enjoy this drink feeling well and looking forward to the future!

And a big toast to my family and friends, especially my mom, who showed much love and care that lifted my spirit and let me concentrate on my recovery and be vulnerable without feeling defeated!

And a huge toast to my baby, my son, who gave me a complete reason to fight the disease and continue my journey on Earth because there is nothing more I love than being his mom!

Oy! And I think I’m drunk (but totally happy)! So you talk among yourselves for now! :)

Enjoy!

Jun27
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 Do you have a word or a phrase you often share with a friend or a loved one that only you two can understand?

It’s like a code that when you say it, the other person knows exactly what you’re talking about.

It would not work with somebody who only has a tangential connection to you, you have to maintain a special bond to know that just two words can hold a conversation-worth of meaning and care.

For my best friend and I those two words would be “white porch”. And we share just the exact connection I described along with frequent telepathy, finishing each other’s sentences (or thoughts) and caring deeply for each other. We share a bond based on a spiritual background and placing the utmost value on personal integrity and maturity that has helped us remain completely argument-free, non-judgemental and understanding  since we met 19 year ago despite a vast difference in personalities and some life circumstances.

And isn’t it what a true friendship should be about?! Mutual respect, care and “having each other’s back” no matter what life throws at you.

And we’ve both had our share of rocks thrown at us, some the same and some very much different. I know no matter what I do or decide to explore in my life, she’ll be a “mountain” behind my back and a “ground” under my feet. And I hope she knows I’d do the same for her! This is the same unconditional love notion I try to instill in my son always telling him “I can never stop loving you, I may just hate the bad things you’ve done, and I will always support you in your endeavours even though I may not like the direction”.

Isn’t the unconditional love is all about it? None of the “if” and “because” and just “do”?!

Through thick and thin, two busy lives, and joys of children being born, and all the losses, and all the triumphs, through all the past (and future) heartbreaks, and all the laughs (and cups of tea) … We are still here!

And when life gets hard (and it does almost every day), we dream of peace, and quiet time, and tranquility, that all happens so rarely in this Earth life. We dream of Heaven and the other side in all its beauty and comfort of feeling that you’re Home, and all the struggles have finally ended, and there is nothing to do but rest and chat sitting on a White Porch of our real home.

No, we’re not morbid, and we’re definitely not suicidal (4 kids are at stake), but this is our anchor, and the literal “light at the end of the tunnel” to know that a white porch is waiting for us when we’ve finally completed this Earth round. To fully be in this life and accomplish everything that’s thrown at, swims by, rolls under and is falling on our heads, we need to think that a reward is waiting when we’re no longer here.

And as we sit on the white porch, sipping our tea and reminiscent about the days just finished, the memories will be there but the emotional connections are broken. We’ll wave to our children getting on with their lives, facing their own struggles and revel in their milestones that we helped to achieve. We’ll see the men we loved passing by, and all the heartaches would finally be released and forgotten. We’ll see the ones we’ve somehow wronged, and the old regrets will be dissolved and unnecessary. And the parents walk by welcoming us Home, and we will understand how it was to be in their spot.

One day this life will finally make sense.

Happy Birthday, Girl, and “meet me on the white porch”!

What’s Cooking This Week

Is it a surprise that dessert comes to mind when a birthday party is coming up?! Especially if chocolate is involved. And coffee. What more can two girls wish for?! Pink icing of course! Oh, and a surprise!

“Surprise Birthday” Cupcakes

For 12 cupcakes:

1 1/2 cup flour (or gluten free flour mix plus 3/4 tspoon of xanthan gum, I recommend Authentic Foods or Cup4Cup by Williams-Sonoma)

1 cup of sugar

1/3 cup of baking cocoa

1/2 cup cold brewed coffee

1/2 cup canola or melted coconut oil

2 eggs

3 tspoon apple cider vinegar

3 tspoons vanilla extract

1 tspoon baking soda

1/3 tspoon sea salt

12 small fresh strawberries, whole but stems cut off

Icing

1 cup of firm butter (or Spectrum Organic shortening for dairy free)

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tspoon vanilla extract

1-3 Tbspoons of pureed fresh strawberries or seedless jam

sliced fresh strawberries for garnish

rainbow sprinkles

food coloring (optional)

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl beat together sugar and the eggs, then add all the remaining liquid ingredients, beat until all is well incorporated. Combine the flour (or the gluten free flour mix and xanthan gum) with the rest of the dry ingredients. Gradually beat the coffee mixture into the dry mix until all is blended.

Line the muffins pan with cupcake liners and fill 3/4 of each with batter. Bake for about 20 minutes, remove from pan and cool off completely.

While the cupcakes are cooling off, make the frosting, puree several strawberries in a food processor (or use jam), cut the stems off 12 small strawberries and prepare the sliced strawberries for garnish drizzling them lightly with powdered sugar.

For the icing, beat together butter (or Spectrum Organic shortening for the dairy free version), sugar and vanilla untill fluffy. Start adding 1-3 Tbspoons pureed strawberries or jam (if using fresh strawberries, add more/less depending how much liquid they have). I ended up adding about 2 Tbspoons of seedless jam and food coloring as I wanted a brighter pink color than what jam produced. For pink/magenta color, most food coloring instructions ask you to combine red and blue, so follow what the directions say and add drops gradually while mixing as to see how bright you want the icing to be.

When the cupcakes are completely cooled off, using a cupcake corer (or a knife if you don’t have it), make a hole inside each cupcake. Insert the corer as directed in the middle of the cupcake and twist to make a hole.

Remove the corer from the cupcake, you may leave the cake piece and cover with it later if you want.

Spoon some of the icing inside the hole and insert a small strawberry inside.

Spread some icing on top of each cupcake, garnish with rainbow sprinkles and sliced strawberries.

Voila! You got mocha strawberry cupcakes with a “surprise”. This is what it looks like if you cut the cupcake.

Now they are all ready to be transported to a birthday party. I don’t know what we’d want to have on our white porch, but these look pretty heavenly.

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

Happy birthday girl! Enjoy!

May31
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  Do you ever feel some places look strangely familiar even though you’ve never been there before?

   If you’ve experienced a “de ja vous” in your life, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

   Sometimes you can get off a train and still feel like you’re home.

The kid and I just returned from a 5-day trip to Boston.  The trip was 80% for leisure and 20% for “business”. First, I thought that it’d be awesome to visit some historical sites on Memorial Day, and we did just that. And, second, even though the kid is only finishing his freshman year in high school, it’s never too early to start thinking about colleges. Usually, any incoming college student has their “dream” schools, “probable” schools and also “fall-back” choices. For now, all schools are in a “dream” category as we’re doing just that, dreaming, thinking, exploring, gathering information. But one choice is still a “dream”, no matter how you look at it, and for this kid, it’d be MIT.

Sure, that’d be a wish for anybody, but the kid is actually very good with technology, computers and electronics, he’d make a fine engineer. He took it after his father, because I’m definitely a humanitarian not a techie or even a scientist. Granted, I have a graduate degree and had to go through a number of math and science classes, and I did well, but I still need a calculator to do any kind of manipulations beyond 2+2, and as far as any electronics are concerned, I now mostly rely on the kid to produce whatever result I desire :)

So, MIT would be right up his alley, but how feasible it could be, the time will tell, there are still many “make it or break it points” , even for a kid who does well in school, like SATs and an inevitable pull of teen social life or just laziness over the many hours of studying “labor” you need to put in to actually get that coveted letter from MIT admissions. So, for now, we saw the place, got the basic info, and we’ll return in 2 years when he is a junior to have a more “hands-on” experience.

And back to the actual city of Boston. I absolutely love New England, their Colonial architecture, the waterfronts, oh and food of course! There is so much history behind the “cool” looking facade and a somewhat “snobbish” attitude (but I can definitely deal with that, hey, I live in NYC, we have a whole spectrum of “snobbish” to “artsy laid-back” here). The second I step foot on New England soil, I feel like I’ve “arrived”, my soul jumps from joy in recognition of “the time passed”, and I know I’m home no matter how far from it I may actually be. One might say it is because New England resembles Europe so much, and I feel homesick. First, I’ve spent my whole adult life in the US, so there is zero to none homesickness in regard to anything else but New York, and, second, it’s hard to miss the country that literary displaced and made us refugees, therefore, no physical or emotional attachment exists, it ended when we had to turn in our Soviet Passports, jobs and a place to live for a chance to leave the country that didn’t want us to begin with. And second, New England architecture looks nothing like anything in Eastern Europe, the closest you may get, style-wise, is the Baltic region, so, no, it is “homesickness” of a different kind.

My faith is metaphysical in nature, I believe in karma, reincarnation, past lives and cell memory (more on this on my Soul Food page). Take it or leave it, but my beliefs are substantiated by years of readings, research and personal experiences. We usually “remember” the past lives that are somehow significant to the lessons we’re learning in the current one or because that life held some significance to the whole soul’s growth process or as a turning point, or maybe simply because we liked that particular lifestyle or felt at ease in that life, but it’s a gift (though up for grabs by everybody) to decipher the cues that a certain “de ja vous” may not be from this lifetime at all. Through the years, I’ve learned to recognize when certain people, places or situations are a “bridge from way before”, and even though some people may be very tangential or fleeting in my current life (like my previous supervisor at work), there is still joy and a sense of “belonging” you feel when meeting such a person, just like a feeling you have bumping into a familiar face in a middle of traveling abroad, it’s like a small seed of “home” that you always carry inside. This is what I feel in New England, anywhere from Maine to Cambridge to even Georgetown in D.C. It must be all the previous lives on a British soil that make my heart melt and my soul jump from a tiny resemblance :)   Oh, and the older I get, the more “particular” I become about my tea, you have to see all the tea sets I own (and eyeing for future purposes), blame it on cell memory! :)

In a mean while, as I gather my thoughts, pictures and information about all the gluten free choices I encountered in Boston restaurants, please enjoy a gallery of images from Boston, Cambridge and Salem.

Apr4
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Sad little witch.

Not lucky… not rich.

Needed a drastic change.

Something really strange.

Apathy had moved in to stay.

Her mood had began to decay.

Had to do something soon.

She stared at an eerie moon.

 

This young witch

Knew it was time to switch.

No more boring potions

Or annoying lotions.

“Not a single reptile!”

She mumbled with a smile.

“I want something new.

Yellow… red… maybe blue”.

 

She added a bit of this and that.

Started to sweat… took off her hat.

She used both sadness and joy.

To her, emotions were merely a toy.

A pinch of anger and a dash of fear.

She suddenly wiped away a tear.

She paused briefly to think.

Her face turned green then pink.

 

She’d run out of surprise and disgust.

What other emotions could she trust?!

She hated sweetness, goodness and love.

Preferred a scorpion or a crow to a dove.

She measured out two cups of contempt.

She was now filthy, sweaty and unkempt.

Then she added a fresh batch of pure awe.

It was still fresh and 100% raw.

 

She threw out optimism but added remorse.

The latter was so much better… of course.

She slowly stirred these emotions all night.

her haggard appearance was a hideous sight.

She mixed these emotions with great care.

Some of the substance got stuck in her hair.

She was worried that something would go wrong.

And implosion… an explosion… it didn’t take long.

                                        S. C. Kleinhans

 

 

What’s Cooking This Week

 

I’m unsure what to cook this week, but any, or both, of these should bring the witch back to her senses :)

Apr2

Family Ties And The Power Of “I Don’t Think So”

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With both Passover and Easter coming soon, this week is all about family (oh, and food of course :) )

I come from a very mixed background, there is 50 % of Russian, 25 % of Ukrainian and 25 % of Jewish blood all mixed up to create a wonderful ME! And as far as my son, he is 50 % Italian and 50 % this European mutt I just mentioned. Therefore, when holidays come, it’s usually parties galore! Passover is often first at my mom’s house (don’t you love all the food “just like mama used to make”!), then I have a small gathering for Western Easter, and a week later, Eastern Orthodox Easter comes and so do the rest of the family and friends.

And then we repeat the whole tri-fold process in December for Hanukkah and Western – Eastern Christmas :) Plus all the minor ones in between. You’re never more than a month or two away from some holiday family gathering. And this is exactly how I like it! Oh, and I’m using the term “family” loosely here as many of my close friends have become like a family over the years, and I can’t imagine my life and a holiday table without them!

So this year, I was on a quest to kind of incorporate all holidays in one and make something sweet that I can also eat, aka gluten and dairy free. I found this amazing looking recipe for a cinnamon bun cake that said “for the holidays”, it didn’t specify though which holidays, so I thought it might as well be Passover/Easter holidays :) I know, I know, you’re not supposed to eat bread during a Passover week, but since I was born politically incorrect to begin with – a stubborn little Communist :) , and I’m totally areligious, yet very spiritual, I thought that was a great idea!

I hope I’m not offending anybody, but I don’t really get why would you give up something “in a name of God”, as for Lent or Passover. I don’t think God really cares what and when we eat, He/She/It is more paying attention to our non-food related life choices yet we still have the freedom to act as we please, it’s our Higher Self we’re mostly accountable for not  for the fallible human-made “holy” laws. I mean, if you’ve been a complete soda junkie or on a life-long fast food galore, and this is the only motivation to get you off those things, even for a short while, then go for it! Just don’t call it ” in a name of God”, I’d say, it’s more “in a name of YOU”, to cleanse your body and give it a rest from all the unnecessary food choices.

 I’ve never given up anything for Lent, or Passover, or followed a lot of other religious rules. Apparently I’m still alive and wasn’t struck by “Divine Thunder”. Though this year I decided to make an exception and give up “pleasing others” for Lent. I think it’s worked marvelously! “I don’t think so” became my favorite answer, I even implemented it on the last medical resident I’ve been working with this month. At first, she looked at me kind of all bewildered and lost. Yes, honey, don’t tell me how to do my job as I’ve been at it for over 10 years, while you crossed the hospital ground about 5 minutes ago. But it all worked out at the end (and exactly the way I said it, as, again, I’ve been at it for over 10 years).

So, giving up on being the “yes” person, I’m all for it! Giving up delicious food, “I don’t think so” :)

What’s Cooking This Week

First, a review. I love a good cup of latte or a nice mocha, but unless you feel like swinging by Whole Foods all the time, any non-dairy AND soy option is not happening. Or you can make your own :) I’ve been eyeing some latte/cappuccino machines but still unwilling to pay top dollar for something I’d not use every day. That untill I found this beauty, all for $ 29.99 http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-CM300BR-Cocoa-Latte-Hot-Drink/dp/B0002TUVQM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333404954&sr=8-1  I was sold and did not regret it! This little machine is quite powerful, could whip up 4 cups of your beverage to a perfect temperature in a mere minute and has a handy froth button to serve your drink all steamy and delicious.

Almond Milk Mocha

    1 cup almond milk

    1 heaping tspoon of instant coffee (I like Davidoff Cafe)

    1 tspoon of cocoa powder (like Rapunzel, organic cocoa)

     a sprinkle of cinnamon to taste

It was ready in a minute and a perfect companion to my cake creation.

Cinnamon Bun Cake

This recipe is gluten and dairy free but could also be made the regular way, just substitute all the gluten free flours (except for the almond flour) and arrowroot with wheat flour and use dairy yogurt or sour cream instead of coconut yogurt and regular butter instead of Earth Balance.

Cake:

1 cup superfine Brown Rice flour

1/4 cup Millet Flour

1/4 cup Arrowroot Starch

1/2 cup Almond Flour (for nut-free, use equal amount of either Corn or Quinoa Flour)

2 1/2 tspoon Baking Powder

1 tspoon Baking Soda

1/2 tspoon Sea Salt

8 Tbspoons Earth Balance butter or buttery spread (soy-free), room temperature

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature (egg-replacer may also be used)

1 cup plain coconut milk yogurt (such as So Delicious Dairy Free), room temperature

2 tspoons vanilla extract

Filling:

1/2 cup brown or coconut sugar

6 Tbspoons Earth Balance or coconut oil, melted

2 Tbspoons cinnamon

3/4 cups raisins

Icing:

2 Tbspoons Earth Balance, melted

3 Tbspoons Confectioner’s Sugar

2 Tbspoons creamer (I used Vanilla Coffee Creamer from So Delicious)

2 tspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat the bottom and sides of your round 9 inch pan with oil or oil spray. In a bowl, mix together all your dry cake ingredients until light and airy. In a separate bowl, beat together with a mixer sugar and Earth Balance (for cake) for about 3-5 minutes untill fluffy, then add eggs, one at a time, beat for another minute and then add, one at a time, yogurt and vanilla, beat till all light and fluffy. While mixer is going on a low speed, slowly add dry ingredients and continue incorporating untill the batter seems light.

Mix together all the filling ingredients.

Spread some filling on the bottom of the cake pan, then pour half of the batter over it, spread some more filling and add the rest of the batter, top with the remaining filling ingredients. Bake for about 40-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Right before the cake is done, mix up all the icing ingredients. let the cake cool for 5-10 minutes, remove from the pan and pour the icing on top.

Enjoy your “religiously incorrect” cake with a nice cup of almond mocha!