Spring

Maize: Staple of the Americas

May 3rd, 2013
by Wendy.
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from www.popcorn.org

Holidays like Cinco de Mayo whet the appetite for flavors south of the border. Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines are typically knows for bold and blood-pumping ingredients. And while other cultures may use rice, potatoes or pasta as the base for meal making, Mexican cuisine is based in corn, or maize, and features a wide range of corn products (tamales, tortillas, tacos).

Maize is native to the Americas. It is a cereal grain that has been part of American culture for centuries. Maize varieties were grown throughout the pre-Columbian Americas, domesticated in Mesoamerica and eventually spread to the rest of the world after European contact with the Americas in the late 15th century and early 16th century. Some of the oldest examples of maize, including a primitive type of pod-popcorn, were found in the Bat Caves of west central New Mexico and in the Tehuacan Valley of central Mexico. Pods at various sites were found to be some 4,000 to 7,000 years old.

In South America people valued their popcorn enough to be buried with it. Bowls or bags filled with popcorn were often found in burial grounds of ancient people of the coastal deserts of North Chile. The kernels were so well preserved they still popped even though they were 1,000 years old. Talk about shelf life!

Apart from food, sixteenth century Aztec Indians used popcorn as decoration for ceremonial headdresses, necklaces and ornamentation. Young women danced a “popcorn dance” and wore garlands of popcorn in their hair.

If you’re looking for an indigenous taste of the old, old “South” try this recipe for Chili Lime Popcorn. Popcorn pays homage to its birthplace with this simple recipe that combines a splash of lime juice with a dash of chili powder for a snack that shouts Viva Mexico!

Chili Lime Popcorn
Makes: 1 quart

Ingredients
1 quart popped popcorn
1 teaspoon brewer’s yeast powder (or nutritional yeast; available in health food stores)
1 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions: Preheat oven to 300° F. Spread popcorn on a baking sheet. Sprinkle yeast powder, lime juice, chili powder and salt over popcorn. Heat about 7 minutes and toss just before serving. Serve warm.

Welcoming Spring with an Easter Egg-stravaganza

Mar 25th, 2013
by Wendy.
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by Nicole

After a long and punishing winter, Spring can’t come soon enough for me. And nothing helps me shake off the gray-sky blues like decorating for Easter.

As a child, my fondness for Easter was overshadowed by my near-fanatic adoration of Christmas. After all, it’s hard to compete with Santa, trees, mangers, elves and presents. Over the years, however, I’ve come to love Easter every bit as much. Not only do I appreciate its profound spiritual significance, but I also welcome all the totems and symbols associated with the holiday, many of which also signify the coming of Spring.

Some of these—hot cross buns, the pure white of the Easter lily—have visible roots in the Easter story. Eggs, which in the Easter tradition represent new life, were adapted by early Christians from pagan celebrations of the vernal equinox, in which they served as powerful symbols of fertility. Other traditions, including the Easter Bunny himself, arrived in the New World with European settlers.

So whether it’s Easter season, Spring fever or a reaction to being cooped up in the house for months, I’ve pulled out all the stops. My house looks like an Easter parade. I’ve got bunnies of all shapes and sizes perched on every available surface; a flock of ceramic chicks marching across the mantel; bouquets of flowers; and, of course, dozens of eggs. I have delicate china eggs on my dining room table; baskets of painted wooden eggs in my family room; and even a wicker “Easter tree” adorned with brightly colored mini-eggs. (more…)

Tag Sale Treasures!

Mar 19th, 2013
by Wendy.
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by Nicole

Spring is in sight and I’m bursting with anticipation for my favorite bloom. And I don’t mean crocuses or daffodils. My vernal blossom of choice is that other colorful perennial: the giant “Tag Sale” signs that crop up everywhere with the first thaw.

I became a casual tag sale shopper when my kids were small. I’d drive around with toddlers dozing in the backseat, lazily previewing the goods and stopping only when something caught my attention. Yard sales were my secret source for books, DVDs, toys and even the occasional piece of child furniture. My gang still uses a set of wooden chairs and craft table from a high-end chain that I picked up for $40.

My true addiction, however, kicked in about five years ago. And for that, I blame the lovely Australian family in our neighborhood who spent two decades expensively decorating their home only to move back Down Under for good. They were selling ALL, and I bought it. Lamps, tables, furniture, decorative pillows, window treatments storage units all found a new home with yours truly—snapped up for a fraction of their actual cost. It was the mother lode of tag sales, the proverbial big score that kept me going back for more. (more…)

Dreaming of the Sunshine State

Feb 27th, 2013
by Wendy.
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by Nicole

I miss the good old days of airline tickets.

Trust me, I’m a huge fan of technology. The Internet delivers loads of convenience and general awesomeness to life but, in my view, the demise of paper tickets is hardly one of its crowning achievements.

Getting that sleek packet of tickets all lined up in their colorful folder and stapled to my itinerary was always a highlight of trip planning. In the weeks and months prior to departure, I’d take them out of the drawer and gaze upon them, attempting with my layman’s eye to decipher the mysterious codes and hieroglyphics that marked my coming adventure. It made me feel like I was in the Golden Age of Air Travel…and that excitement lay just around the corner. Somehow, calling up my flight confirmation email on the smart phone just doesn’t deliver that same thrill.

And right about now, I’d clutch them to my chest and tuck them under my pillow at night, if only… (more…)

It’s Time for a Spring Fling!

May 4th, 2012
by Wendy.
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The sleepy lull of the winter solstice has finally come to an end. Whisk away the cobwebs, pack away the parka and haul out the patio furniture–spring is underway and not a moment too soon! Everywhere you turn, the earth is teeming with life. It is an unabashed season of rebirth; an awakening of the dormant spirit that calls for celebration. Now is the perfect time to welcome the outside  world back into your home. Plan an afternoon tea with friends and neighbors who’ve been in hibernation these past few months. An afternoon tea gives you the perfect excuse to 1) get your spring cleaning done 2) use your seldom seen china and silver and 3) pretend you’re a British royal and wear a fashionable hat.

Of course, Americans have favored coffee over tea since 1773, so you’ll want to have both available. Additionally, offer guests finger sandwiches and sweets. The following recipe tops a shortbread-type base with the sweet goodness of strawberry preserves, popcorn for an added whole grain bonus and drizzled chocolate for an elegant touch. (more…)

Baskets of Easter Joy

Apr 2nd, 2012
by Wendy.
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Growing up, we spent every Easter with our cousins. The night before, we kids would pile onto the floor of our grandparents’ bedroom and compare notes about what the Easter Bunny might bring. Unlike Santa, the Bunny didn’t require us to be good all year, so we drifted off to sleep happily confident he’d deliver unconditionally.

Come Easter morning, we’d race down the stairs and dive in to our baskets, which we found displayed like treasure on the dining room table. We had to get there before the grownups woke. This gave us time to sample the goods and make any necessary adjustments, such as swapping my black jelly beans for somebody else’s purples.
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