In Memoriam...

I can't help myself, I feel compelled to share this with the World: Today, we lost a truly Great Man. I know he was not known or renowned Worldwide, but he SHOULD be! So I am posting this in the hopes that many will read this and take heed of what I say. George L. Barton IV passed away today. He was a real friend and mentor to both me and my daughter. "Barty" or "Grandpa" to many of us who knew him, had a wicked sharp tongue and an equally sharp sense of humor. He too NO CRAP from anyone. He never, EVER minced words. And he was one of the kindest and most giving people anyone could have hoped to know. I got to know "Grandpa" George at work at a most amazing place, Park View High School in Sterling VA. He was a distinguished teacher of English there, as well as at Northern Virginia Community College. When I had a personal or professional dilemma, Mr. Barton was one person I could always go to. When he didn't have some very useful advice (which was pretty much never!), he would be one to commiserate and empathize. He taught me that you can be nice and still not be taken advantage of. To his students, the word INSPIRATIONAL would pretty much sum him up. He put up with nothing short of your best effort. And he worked with you until you had truly achieved it. He taught his "kids" to work hard and to take pride in giving your all. He helped so many to turn their lives around, both academically and personally. To his co-workers he was a LIVING LEGEND. He could say what we could not -- and had the courage to do so. He busted his backside to get the job done right, too. And the effect he had on those he taught, was entirely positive and life-long. Life-CHANGING in many cases. He was also a veteran of the United States Army, who would share with you the painful story of lost friends and the devastation of War. Through his Service to Country, he learned that there are wonderful people the World over, and you have to give each and every one their fair chance. Throughout his life, George Barton fought to give everyone he met a fair chance. And he was not afraid to be honest and vulnerable, either. His telling of his war stories was a way of reminding us all how precious life is, and how important it is to make every moment count. It is terribly hard for me to say (write) this with these tears still in my eyes, BUT: DO NOT BE SAD AT HIS PASSING! Instead, be happy that he ever WAS. And be even happier if you were lucky enough to KNOW him! I personally count this man as one of my HEROES, and the things I have learned from him are as important as any teachings of the religious or philosophical greats. The best way to honor this man, who was a true HERO in so many respects, a bona-fide role model, an amazing friend, a proud and caring father, and an inspiration to anyone who met him... Would be to do as he did. This means that, if you knew him (or someone like him, or even aspire to know someone like him!!!!) you should: #1 -- Give, and give, and then give of yourself some more. The legacy you leave by doing this will be 1000's of times greater than the sum of your actions. The ability to touch others in a positive way is the best achievement anyone can hope for. Ask ANYONE who knew him and they will tell you that his spirit will live on well past his years, in everything they do and every life THEY touch! #2 -- Get off your ASS and do something! Life is not meant to be spent in quiet reflection, home alone. This great man was out teaching in two places, out with his students, friends and family on his boat, at the shooting range, or at IHOP, playing with his grandchildren, ans talking to or sending messages to present and former students. I can't tell you how many people have said "But he just called/texted/emailed me yesterday..." on learning of his passing today. He was more alive than anyone I knew. I am in awe of him still. And, #3 -- Don't take any CRAP from anyone. You can do this in the nicest possible way. I remember GB telling someone they were ACTING LIKE a dumbass. Not that they WERE A DUMBASS, oh no. Because he didn't spend time with anyone truly stupid. He just wouldn't put up with anyone who wasn't at the top of their game. MAKE people work for your respect, because you DESERVE it. TELL someone if they are out of line, while fully expecting that they CAN and WILL live up to your expectations. People will surprise you with their ability to rise to a challenge. And if you don't challenge them, you deprive both of you from the benefits that are there to be reaped. RIP George Barton. I love you like a member of my family. You have given so much to so many, and your legacy is HUGE. You have made the World a better place, and the fruits of your labor will live for many, many generations. I aspire to have ONE IOTA of the type of strength and honesty and integrity you exhibited in your lifetime. Our grieving for you is purely selfish, that we here on Earth have been deprived of your company from now on. I hope to overcome that selfishness and be the type of person you always challenged me to be.

Meat-Free Lettuce Wraps!

Ingredients: 1lb Tempeh 1/2 medium yellow onion, minced a dash of each of sea salt & pepper 3 large cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup shredded carrot 1/4 cup fresh ginger, peeled & minced or shredded 2 Tablespoons sesame oil 3 Tablespoons Tamari soy sauce 2 Tablespoon each water and rice vinegar 3 Tablespoon natural peanut butter 3 Tablespoons plum sauce 1 Tablespoon dried red chile flakes 6 green onions, chopped 8oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained & chopped 1/4 cup peanuts, chopped (alternately you can use 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds) 10-12 large butter lettuce leaves, rinsed and patted dry Directions: Heat a large, non-stick skillet on high. Add 1 TBSP sesame oil, Tempeh, onion, garlic, salt & pepper, and carrot… Cook until onion is translucent, stirring often to break up the Tempeh. Add in ginger, and continue cooking 2-3 minutes. Meanwhile, in a microwave safe bowl, combine remaining sesame oil, soy sauce, water, peanut butter, rice vinegar, plum sauce, and chili flakes. Microwave for 20-30 seconds, then stir until smooth. Add into the skillet and stir to combine. Add green onion and water chestnuts into the skillet then cook for 2-3 minutes until the green onions are soft and the water chestnuts are heated through. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts, and serve with the cold lettuce leaves, to wrap filling in.

Aunt Wendy's Dippy Sauce

Get yourself some pretty glass bottles somewhere like at Michaels (craft store). The bigger, the better. I favor the ones that DON'T have corks, because cork degrades... Try for the ones with the beer-style flip-open tops! Next you wash up some fresh lemons and grate the tiniest bit off the outside (so the flavor is better) and cut them into slices so thin you can see through them. ROLL the slices to fit them into one bottle. When your bottle is good and packed, pour your favorite olive oil over the lemon slices. Next for the vinegar, get some fresh tarragon (and/or oregano and/or basil) and stuff the prettiest bits in your second bottle. Top off with half balsamic and half red wine vinegar. It takes about a week for the flavors to really infuse -- but once they DO, you can pour the two over a salad and just add a touch of salt & pepper, and it's YUMMY!!! Not to mention, when the oil is gone, re-use the lemons (but just once)!!! My favorite part is this -- If you put a bottle of each in a pretty basket, you now have a lovely home-made house-warming or holiday gift for someone. Believe me, they WILL like it! The name for this recipe comes from the fact that my Aunt Wen REQUIRES this as her Christmas present... And THEN she won't put it on a salad, no... She pours a little from each bottle onto a plate, and scoops it up on bread. She says this way, you get to savor it better -- LOL! DIPPY SAUCE!

NEVER Buy Microwave Popcorn!!!

Well, it has been said that the chemicals in the bags and flavorings of microwave popcorn are everything from gross to vaccine-negating to cancer-causing (try Googling perfluorooctanoic acid). I am sure almost all of us would like to cut chemicals OUT of our diets where possible...

And I am here to tell you how to do this with one of my all-time favorite snacks... AND save you money in the process!

Popcorn is naturally high in anti-oxidants, low in calories, low in fat, contains fiber, and is gluten-free and vegan. But as with many "convenience" foods that we now consider to be staples in our lives, the over-thinking and over-processing of popping corn has rendered it unfit to eat.

Well, rest easy now. Because all you need is a plain brown paper lunch-type bag and a half cup of minimally-processed popping corn, and you are on your way to eating healthier at a low cost, without sacrificing convenience!

Take your lunch bag and fill it with about a half cup of popping corn. Fold it over three times, and place on it's side in the microwave. "Nuke" this for ABOUT three minutes -- we all know microwave cooking times vary, so stay close and listen until you get the hang of this -- and enjoy!

Of course, you can still add salt and/or butter and/or hot sauce and/or your favorite toppings that will make this a less ideal but more delicious snack... My favorite is still to add a Tablespoon of melted organic butter (but a sprinkle of sea salt or parmesan is nice, too)... BUT skip the carcinogens and make a batch of popcorn for about 80% less cost than you are used to!

Where HAVE I Been???

Well, I've been away from the blog for quite a long time now... But summer's here and the time is right for dancing in the street... Or something like that! I decided to ease back into the blogosphere by gifting you with a new recipe. This one is low-fat, high in both protein and fiber, is both vegan and gluten-free. As an added bonus, it is easily adapted to campfire cooking!

Hearty Savoury Lentils with Wild Rice

Add 2 cups lentils and 1/2 cup wild rice to a pan. Cover with 6 cups boiling water. Add 2 heaping TBSP Marmite or Vegemite, a palm-full of dried parsley, and if you can find it, a few pinches of summer savory. Simmer on medium-low heat for the next 25 minutes, with a loose lid, during which you can caramelize an onion.

My favorite method of this is to finely chop one medium-large yellow onion. Add it to a pan with 2 TBSP veggie oil (butter if you aren't vegan), and then cook on low heat, stirring only twice, over a period of about 20 minutes. After everything is nice and brown, I like to add a few drops of lemon or lime juice... It helps with that lovely caramel taste. Once your onion is done, set it aside for a while...

Next, add a large handful of long-grain brown or jasmine rice to your lentil mixture. Stir thoroughly. Now you have 20 more minutes to simmer with your lid on again loosely (or preferably the lid to your pot on).

When your lentils and rice are nice and cooked, add first some salt and pepper to taste -- followed by a TBSP of cornstarch. Stir vigorously to make sure the mixture thickens without lumps. When it is all thickened, add your onion and serve!


VARIATIONS:

To make a nice lentil stew, increase the water to 8 cups and the Marmite to 4 TBSP. Add chopped carrots, potatoes, and celery when adding the second part of the rice, after the first 25 minutes of cooking. These are the only changes for a nice fall stew.

Also, to take this recipe camping with you... Combine your wild rice, lentils, parsley, summer savory, some salt and pepper, 2 TBSP onion powder and 1 TBSP garlic powder, in a baggie. Put a scant 1/2 cup of jasmine rice in another baggie with your cornstarch. The Marmite is so small, there is no worry in packing it along. Cook in the same 2-step process as before, only over a fire.

If you really aren't concerned with going vegan, you can use the butter to caramelize the onions, and this recipe is actually REALLY NICE made as a stew with some added cubed goat or lamb. I would favor goat, really, as this is quite a hearty dish. Just be sure you add your goat at the very beginning, as you want it to simmer for a long time with the lentils and wild rice.

ENJOY!!!