Memorial Day Picnic at Morris Park

After a stop at the Vietnam Memorial in Fairmont, we set our red, white and tableware on a peaceful table in a rustic woodland park nearby.  I made a salad on sticks with yesterday's roasting chicken and vegetables, a hard cooked egg, cheese, and a few raw vegetables.  The dessert was a chocolate souffle with mascarpone topping and berries.  The original recipe is in the May issue of Food and wine Magazine. 

Chocolate Souffle with Mascarpone

(Serves 8-10)

In a separate bowl, mix cocoa powder, flours and baking powder.
10 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (not the Dutch processed kind)
1 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour
2 teaspoon baking powder

Separate eggs.
5 eggs

In mixer bowl with whisk, beat egg yolks at medium speed until thickened, about 2 minutes.
Egg yolks

Beat in sugar, 1/4 cup at a time until very thick and pale yellow, about 3 minutes.
1/2 cup sugar

Beat in the butter at medium speed a tablespoon at a time. 
1/2 cup Earth Balance Buttery Spread

Reduce speed to low and mix in the dry ingredients in 2 additions, alternating with the milk.
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoon evaporated skim milk
1/4 cup skim milk
Scrape the batter into a large bowl.

Clean the mixing bowl and whisk.  Beat the egg whites at medium speed until thick and foamy, about 2 minutes.  Gradually beat in sugar.  Beat until the whites are thick and glossy, about 1 minute longer.  With rubber spatula, mix one-third of the whites into the batter, then fold in the remaing whites until not streaks remain.
5 egg whites
1 tablespoon sugar

Place batter in a 7 inch springform pan lined with parchment paper and greased with olive oil spray.
Bake at 375 F. for 45 minutes.  Cool in pan on rack for 30 minutes.  Take from pan and remove paper.  Cook further on rack. 

Topping
Whip mascarpone, milk and sugar at medium speed until soft peaks form.
Serve cake with topping and fresh berries. 
3/4 cup cup mascarpone
3/4 cup evaporated skim milk
1 tablespoon sugar
 

 
   

WV AND celebrates Diamond Anniversary

It was 25 years earlier when 100 dietitians assembled in a Cleveland hospital basement and formed ADA.  The first year was spent serving the country during a time of war.

In the midst of the second world war, dietitians in Charleston, corresponding with other dietitians in the state, met to arrange for affiliation.  Mildred Kent Shaw of Ohio Valley General Hospital was elected the first president.

15 members were present at the first annual meeting, yet a ballroom was filled with commercial and professional exhibits.  There was opportunity!

A topic at the second annual meeting was Food Rationing.  Many dietitians were teaching Red Cross Nutrition Courses.  West Virginia dietitians acted as hostesses to the Virginia and Caroline Dietetic Association.

In 1950, Charleston dietitians met with representative of the Diabetes Committee to standardize diabetic diets.  WVDA assumed much responsibility for Camp Kno Koma-West Virginia's free camp for diabetic children.  Members continue the work today.

In 1952, the WVDA scholarship program was established.  To date, we've awarded 54 scholarships.

Alida Thistleton, president in 1960, recalls a challenging time during her presidency:  They wanted to meet at an historic hotel when they learned that one member of their group would not be allowed in the hotel.  So they tried another hotel.  Yes, they were told, there was a table near the door and the member could come in the back door and sit there.  WVDA had come face to face with segregation.

In the 1970s, journal clubs for the purpose of acquiring continuing education hours were formed in many areas of the state.  WVU Medicine's journal club still meets once a month!

Many hospitals in the state had traineeships in their dietary departments, providing an ADA approved route to membership.

Nutribird was a shared education theme featured in nutrition education projects throughout the state and nation.

A 2004 relay Run Obesity Out of West Virginia raised awareness across the state with community events in seven cities.

In 2009, a childhood obesity essay contest was conducted for seventh grade students throughout the state with prizes presented at the West Virginia capital Easter egg hunt.

The annual "Dietitians Day at the Legislature" provides the opportunity to meet with elected officials in their capital offices.

West Virginia dietitians exhibit posters at the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo annually.

West Virginia dietitians perform in key roles in public health initiatives and serve on numberous food and nutrition boards and commissions.

The 75th anniversary commemoration booklets, "Snapshots of the First 75 Years" was published for the gala celebration.  Cindy Gay, editor, compiled photographs and tributes submitted by members with interviews from the original historian, Annabelle Cruise.  30 members wrote tributes, with history of the transition from food person to an important member of the healthcare team, obtaining liscensure, the formation of internships, early steps to obtaining insurance coverage and reimbursement, and much praise for the professionalism of the membership.

We were honored to have Academy President-Elect, Donna Marin, speak.

Marshall Student Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics created an exhibit of artifacts from the 75 years.

A copy of the commemorative book was presented to Donna Martin for the national records.

"West Virginia began with a small group of dietitians scatted throughout the state.  Now their efforts, and those who followed, including many women and a few men, are a matter of record in our national office."

 



 

A Short Pilgrimage through "Food On Foot" (Book Review)

This historical book researching eating on trails and in the wild confirm my belief that the "food and planning is an important part of any walk or outdoor activity".  Dried fruits, seeds, nuts and flatbreads were common selections.  Different cultures had elaborate selections such as freshly roasted kebabs.  "In open air, the appetite is good and to make your own meals is pleasurable".  Pioneers, who hunted along the trail, supplemented meals with meats and vegetables.  

Army rations have come along way to now include poppy seed cake, cranberries, spiced apple cider, peant butter and crackers.  A World War II favorite was SPAM.

The Roman marchers carried wheat and handmills to bake flatbreads in clay pots called clibanus.

The mountain climbers nourishment got harder as the altitude increased.  Climbers had to monitor the color of their urine to determine sufficient hydration.

 

From the publisher:

World traveler, mountain climbing enthusiast, and scholar Demet Güzey introduces readers to the vital connection between food and human expedition in Food on Foot (April 8, 2017; ISBN: 978-1-4422-5506-7; Hardcover $38.00; 236 pages; Rowman & Littlefield), the next installment in the Food on the Go series. From pilgrims to pioneers, soldiers to explorers, the only limit to humanity’s reach is the food they can find along the way, and Güzey examines the myriad ways we have approached this problem over the centuries and across landscapes.

From tinned foods to foraging in the arctic wilderness, worm-infested hardtack to palate-dulling army rations, loss of appetite in high altitudes to champagne and caviar at base camps, Güzey gives a thoroughly researched and insightful account of how we manage food on foot, and how disaster strikes when we fail to manage it well.

Firsthand accounts, authentic artifacts and photographs, expert opinions, and recipes reveal new perspectives on lesser known as well as more famous expeditions, such as the disastrous end of the Donner Party, the stranded men of Shackleton on Elephant Island, and the first successful summit of Mount Everest. An extensive bibliography provides ample opportunities for further reading. 

This culinary history book is a great gift for adventurous food lovers and food-loving adventurers.

About the Author:Demet Güzey, PhD, is a writer and lecturer of food and culture with a passion for trekking in high mountains. She has published numerous articles in academic journals and magazines, ranging from Food Biophysics to Gastronomica, and climbed some grand mountains, such as Mont Blanc and Mount Ararat. You can read more about her at www.demetguzey.com.

This book is not a cookbook, yet I was compelled to create a meal from one of the scenarios in the book.  My favorite travelers were the Pilgrims who traveled places where food was shared.  The Tuscan route might include vegetable soup and day old bread with a sweet cake called Spongata.  Here is my version:

Spongata

(Serves 8-10)

Filling

Cover fruit with alcohol and allow to sit at room temperature for a few hires.

13 grams golden raisins

7 ounce assorted diced dried fruit ( I used figs, dates, cherries, apricots, cranberries and blueberries)

Wines, brandy and gold rum to cover the fruit

Grind spices in a seed grinder.

1 gram cloves

1/2 cinnamon stick

Fresh grated nutmeg

 

Squeeze liquor from dried fruit.  Combine fruit with nuts, wheat germ, spices, wheat germ, honey and salt.

66 grams roasted and ground walnuts

10 grams roasted and ground almonds

13 grams wheat germ

33 grams warm honey 

Pinch of salt

Pastry

Cut buttery spread into flour-salt mixture.  Stir in liquor.  Add enough cold water to form a dough.  Divide dough in half.  Roll to fit and 8 inch springform pan.  Press into bottom of pan and slightly up the side.  Fill with fruit and nut mix.  Cover with second dough half, rolled to fit the pan.  Press dough together to enclose all of fruited mix.

132 grams whole wheat pastry flour

54 grams Earth Balance Buttery Spread

1/8th teaspoon salt

26 ml liquor (drained from fruit )

1-2 tablespoon cold water

Bake in 350 F. oven for 20 minutes.  Cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

 

   

 

Rainy Day Picnic at Ryerson Station

We enjoyed our Sunday afternoon picnic under a shelter, surrounded by sounds of a variety of birds and light rain.  Our menu today featured:

Pork Tenderloin with Spring Onion Sauce

Creamy Coleslaw

Cinnamon Apples

Chocolate Strawberry Cobbler

I've made the cobbler before.  Interesting that the juice from the berries combines with the dry cocoa to make a delightful sauce like chocolate syrup with less sugar! Since the onion sauce has a slight amount of sugar and the slaw as well, I eliminated any sugar in the apples and simply sauteed 2 apples in 2 tablespoons Earth Balance Buttery Spread with cinnamon and nutmeg.

 

Pork Tenderloin with Spring Onion Sauce

(Serves 4-6)

Press minced garlic into top of pork tenderloin.  Place in instant pot.  Surround with wine, juice, seasonings and vinegar.  Lock lid in place.  Place timer on 45 minutes.

1 (1 pound) pork tenderloin

6 cloves garlic, minced

1-6 ounce bottle White Zinfandel

1-6 ounce bottle apple juice

1 bay leaf

3/4 teaspoon low sodium beef base

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Slice thinly and store in refrigerator in cooking liquid.

Sauce

Bring broth and onions to a simmer on stove top.  Cook until most of broth is evaporated.  Stir in vinegar and jelly.  Serve on top sliced pork loin.

1 bunch spring onions, diced (include green)

1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth

1 packet apple jelly

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Our picnic today was at Ryerson Station (Pa.) State Park near Wind Ridge.  There are hiking trails, fishing, camping and a beautiful (free) swimming pool.

  

  

Mingo Mimosa

A perfect picnic day and Mothers Day calls for a toast!  I was happy to find Champagne in 6 ounce bottles-just the right amount to add to a 4 ounce orange juice to fill 2 champagne glasses.  

Our picnic today featured Shrimp-Rice Noodle Salad and Buckwheat Strawberry Shortcakes.  The mason jar salad, inspired by Rachael Ray , was layered in a pint size mason jar with the dressing on the bottom.  When shaken and poured onto the plate, the luncheon was ready to eat.

 
I layered each jar as follows:

• Fresh parsley and mint leaves
• Dressing
• Sauteed shrimp in minced garlic and sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon ground roasted walnuts
• 1 teaspoon fresh minced ginger
• 2 tablespoon grated carrots
• 1/2 cup cooked rice noodles
• 2 tablespoon diced grape tomatoes
• 1/2 cup red lettuce, chopped
• 2 tablespoon grated radishes

Here is the dressing for 2 I put together:
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 teaspoon mirin
2 tablespoon soy sauce, reduced sodium
Juice from 2 limes
4 teaspoon rice vinegar 

The buckwheat shortcakes were inspired by Eating Well.  Mine are layered with fresh strawberries and a yogurt blend of strawberries, nonfat plain yogurt and 1 tablespoon brown rice syrup (makes 2 servings).  The picnic was at Mingo Creek Park, a Washington County Pa. park.

My serviceware today featured a serving tray my husband gave me for Mothers Day and champagne glasses from our WV Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Gala held earlier in the week.  Here's the the toast at the gala where we enjoyed Chocolate MOOtinis!

 


 
 

Pesto & Puddles

The opening day of our local farmers market wasn't dampened by the cold and rainy weather.  Our farm fresh sampling of Spinach Pesto with Hard Cooked Eggs was a good one, with over 200 customers enjoying an egg half with the delicious pesto in just 2 1/2 hours.  Customers are already sold on the eggs from the free range cage free chickens from Working H Farms and we topped the egg half with fresh spinach and garlic pesto and aged cheese from the other farms. Here is the recipe:

Spinach Pesto

(2 cups)

Bring a large saucepan filled with water to a boil.  
Add spinach, basil and parsley.  Cook for 20 seconds.
Remove green mixture to a bowl filled with ice water.  Let stand
for 30 seconds.  Drain and pat dry with clean towels.
5 cups fresh spinach leaves, stems removed
2 1/2 cups fresh basil, stems removed
2/3 cup parsley leaves

Add spinach mixture, tomatoes, garlic, walnuts, lemon juice,
black pepper, cheese and olive oil to food processor.  
Process until finely chopped.
14 tablespoon grape tomatoes, diced
2 large cloves garlic
1 cup toasted walnuts
3 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup Parmigiano cheese, shredded
1/4 cup olive oil

Our water today had blended fresh blueberries and watermelon, garnished with slices of oranges.  I don't usually have time to prepare the water in advance.  For this one I did, blending and straining the blueberries, then blending the watermelon to mix with the water overnight.  

 This is the first of seven Saturdays we'll be at the market with Farm Fresh Sampling.  ("sharing unique ways to combine healthy seasonal ingredients in foods made at home").

Cast Iron Cookbook (Review) Does It All

It wasn't hard to pick out recipes from every chapter of Dutch Oven and Cast Iron Cooking to make at home.  I did that and tried 8 recipes in just over a week.  Since I'm cooking for two (petite) senior citizens, I made smaller batches of each recipe and cooked in 8 inch and individual cast iron skillets.  I was impressed that the whole recipe was cooked in the same skillet. Sauteing and baking, while in steps, all cooked from start to finish in the one pan! 

I liked the format of each recipe.  Ingredients, preparations, then cooking.  The cookbook featured both stove and grilling techniques.  Pictured above is the Apple Cranberry Puffed Pancake.  (I used dried cherries in place of cranberries)

Some recipes with accompanying picture gave me ideas for combining my own recipes to create a similar product.  Here's my version of the Pesto Rolls:

Fireside Lasagna was delicious.  When I discovered I was out of lasagna noodles, I used broken spaghetti-it worked just fine!  When cut, the layer of ricotta cheese and eggs creates delightful visual appeal.

 
Since I want to have handy this recipe for "Swiss" Crabmeat Bake, I'm including the specific measures I used at home for this simply delicious entree.

Crabmeat Bake

(Serves 4)

Dough 
Combine flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl.  Stir in cheddar cheese.  Cut in buttery spread until mixture is crumbly.
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
Pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup shredded cheese (I used aged white cheddar)
1 tablespoon 1 teaspoon buttery spread


In 8 inch skillet, saute onion and pepper in buttery spread until tender.  
1 tablespoon buttery spread
1 mini sweet pepper, diced
2 tablespoon onion, diced

Gradually blend in flour, dry mustard, milk and Parmigiano cheese.  Cook until cheese melts, stirring constantly.  
1 3/4 tablespoon whole wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 cup skim milk
1/4 cup shredded cheese (I used shredded Parmigiano)

Add crab and tomatoes.  Stir until mixture is hot.
8 ounce wild crabmeat
1/3 cup diced grape tomatoes
To reserved dough mixture, add remaining milk.  Stir until dough is formed.  Drop by spoonfuls over hot crab mixture, like a cobbler topping.
1/4 cup skim milk

Place skillet in a 400 F. oven and bake for 25 minutes.

I made the cheesy puffed potatoes (like Duchess potatoes) and Glazed Vegetables. Both were delicious.

Here is the Hot Fudge Cake-a very simple recipe!

The Berry Crumble was so good.  I used a mix of fresh strawberries and blackberries in ours.

Yes- we did add vanilla ice cream for dessert.  This morning, I mixed crumble with plain yogurt for a high quality protein breakfast.

Berry Crumble 

(Serves 8)

Mix oats, flour, nuts, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Cut in buttery spread.
1 1/2 cups oats
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3 tablespoon brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cub buttery spread

Mix berries, sugar and cornstarch together and place in bottom of 8 inch skillet.
3 cups mixed berries
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon flour or non GMO cornstarch

Top berries with crumble mix.
Bake at 400 F. for 30 minutes.

As in any recipe that I make, I try to use whole grains, less added sugar, skim milk and a good fat.  (I used Earth Balance Buttery Spread in the recipes made here)  Most everything I make is the scratch version, though the cookbook gives the option of some purchased products as well.

I also enjoyed the comparison chart for enamel and "bare" iron skillets.  After reviewing the book, I can say that I will be using my cast iron skillets more often.

  Thanks Fox Chapel Publishing for the review copy!