Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

Photo by Autumn Mott Rodeheaver on Unsplash 

 

Autumn is my favourite time of the year: the weather, the colours, the leaves, the crispness in the air, cozy sweaters, the food, and the holidays! Halloween rules, of course, but you can't go wrong with Thanksgiving, either. We had our dinner yesterday at my sister's house. I thought I'd share a few photos of the feast (I came early and helped with the prep)...

 

The massive charcuterie board that went the entire length of the table--it was impossible not to snack! There was a variety of crackers, cheeses, deli meats, pepper strips, baby carrots, grapes, fresh figs, and dried apricots. One end had a bowl of hot pepper jelly (excellent on a cracker with brie) and the other end had a bowl of hummus, homemade by my niece. 
 

The platter in the background is full of homemade spanakopita, which is a Greek spinach-cheese pastry made with filo. Everyone agrees my sister has perfected the recipe.

This was my dinner (starting at the bottom and going clockwise): mashed potatoes; homemade cranberry sauce; green beans with almonds; roasted cauliflower; mixed greens salad with beets, apples, and goat cheese; and glazed carrots. There was also a butternut squash soup.

I meant to take more photos, like of the soup and the dessert table, but I was distracted and forgot (oops). The food was all excellent and I'm looking forward to leftovers. The company was also good, which is really what it's about. I hope all who are celebrating this weekend are having a fantastic time!

What I'm thankful for: getting to enjoy another beautiful autumn.

Are you celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend? What are you thankful for? Share in the comments...

Cheers,

Aspasia

Don't forget to follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com, and  if you're looking for your next read, I've got you covered!

 

Love Lies Bleeding

Bleeding Heart

*Blood Magic

*Tooth & Claw

(Links take you to all available stores. Books marked * are free everywhere other than Amazon. Love Lies Bleeding and Bleeding Heart are also available in paperback.)

 

This Is My Home

This Is My Home from Mark on Vimeo.

Well, not really my home--but that of Anthony Pisano. I was interested in the home that looked like an antiques shop but what really intrigued me once I started watching was the spirit and outlook of Mr. Pisano. Come to think of it, he's not unlike Maude from Harold and Maude. Here is a person who truly embraces life and his fellow humans. As an introvert and a product of a generation that always lock their doors I can only envy Mr. Pisano's easy openness. But maybe I'll be able to take the headphones off one of these days and connect with a stranger or two. Not a bad idea for all of us to attempt. Thank you, Mr. Pisano--the world needs more of you.

[Edited to add photo. Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com]

How to Prevent the Zombie Plague

My head is pounding, my throat hurts, and I am super cranky. But let me go back a bit...

Yesterday was a busy day for me. I ran all over the city, walking, taking the subway, going to a hospital, a coffee shop, a restaurant, a couple of stores, and a mall. And everywhere I went everyone was coughing or sneezing. I was perfectly healthy yesterday. Now--see above.

I know people are busy and have important things that need to get done. Apparently taking a sick day would bring civilization to its knees or something. But before you decide to be "brave" and go into work or school or out to run errands even though you're sick think about some of the other people you're affecting:

• You could be coming into contact with people who have lowered or suppressed immunity. People with serious illnesses, the very young, or the elderly. What is an inconvenient cold to you could easily become pneumonia in them with consequences that are a little more than inconvenient.
• The person you give your cold to might be the caregiver for someone with suppressed immunity. Whether they accidentally pass on your germs to that person or end up having to avoid the person who relies on them until they're no longer contagious, their lives just got a whole lot more difficult.
• You might end up giving your cold to a pregnant woman. I don't know too much about this subject but I'm pretty sure cold medications aren't allowed during pregnancy. The woman who was already dealing with plenty now has to go through the misery of a cold with little to no relief.
• You might affect someone's health in a different way. For example, diabetics have a hard enough time keeping their blood sugars at a reasonable level in order to avoid the serious consequences that come with out-of-control sugars. There are a lot of things that can throw it out of whack, including stress and illness. You know what causes a diabetic stress? Getting sick and watching helplessly as their sugars go crazy. I know because I've been diabetic since I was eight years old.
• In Toronto we have a downtown hospital district. The place is rife with medical staff and students, as well as researchers. I know they take every precaution to keep healthy (except maybe for quitting smoking--what's up with that, guys?) but it doesn't take much to catch someone's cold. And they don't have the option to just go into work anyway. Take a second to think about how many people that ends up affecting.
  

Even if any of these people manage to avoid getting sick directly they might end up picking it up from a spouse, roommate, or child. We all know that this is the time of year for nasty bugs--why add to it by leaving the house and forcing others to come into contact with you? (I've lost track of the number of times I've gotten together with someone who didn't bother to warn me and I don't find out until it's too late that they're sick. I'm sure you've been in the same situation. Be honest--don't you want to wring their necks? Or at least put on a heavy duty surgical mask?)

These are just some of the examples of how a cold can be much more detrimental than you may have thought. So please, the next time you're sick and contagious--stay home. The world won't come to an end, your job won't suddenly disappear, those errands can wait. Honest. In the meantime rest, drink juice, eat soup, watch soaps and read trashy tabloids. Sleep works wonders. It also doesn't hurt to take extra garlic, vitamin C, zinc and echinacea. Get better and show some consideration for your fellow humans.

2023 Edit

As I write this, my SO and I are slowly recovering from one of the worst colds we've had. Last week, after three years of avoiding crowds, I took the subway. I wore a mask, despite the current lack of mandates, because the COVID 19 pandemic is still raging, even though the majority have decided to pretend it's not a thing. Because of rampant head-in-the-sand syndrome, hardly anyone else was wearing a mask, which is likely why I picked up this horrible bug and passed it on (I'm just grateful it's only a cold).

Everything I wrote in this post in 2012 goes triple now, thanks to the flu and especially COVID. Illness and germs don't care how healthy you think you are, what you want to believe, where you live, or what political party you vote for. An entire segment of society has launched itself over the cliff's edge of selfishness and wilful ignorance, choosing to believe any ridiculous conspiracy rather than trust science, with the result being the worldwide deaths of millions of people, not to mention the long-term debilitation of countless others. Sorry if you don't like what you're being told, but-- like illness and germs-- science doesn't care how you feel.

Too many people still need to learn to stay home when they're sick-- and employers need to get over themselves and support employees in order to preserve everyone's health and safety. Public health comes first: it's not up for debate. 

Besides staying home, everyone needs to do their part and:

• wear a mask in public
  
• avoid crowds as much as possible
• wash your hands frequently
  
• GET VACCINATED, including boosters

Nobody deserves to get sick or die because other people just can't be bothered. End of rant.

Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com

 

Photo by freeimages.co.uk

 

Book Review: Ready Set Grow!

January is the perfect time of the year for reading gardening books and catalogues: long enough after the last frost to be antsy about getting back into the garden, but well before all the work begins (around here at least) so that you actually have time to read and plan and dream. 

I was interested in checking out Ready Set Grow! even before DK Canada generously donated a copy to Parkview Neighbourhood Garden (thanks again Chris at DK), so I was excited to not only get my hands on a copy, but to finally be able to read and review it. I'm happy to say it was worth the wait. 

If you didn't already realize it, Ready Set Grow! is a gardening book for kids (and kids at heart). Parental help will likely be needed for most projects, especially for the younger set. The reading and skill level are best suited to 10- to 13-year-olds, although there's no reason why even the youngest children wouldn't enjoy the majority of the projects (the Wild-West cacti container probably not being one of them!), as long as mom or dad (or grand-mom or granddad) are there. 

The projects themselves are fun and often educational. They range from the practical (Make a self-irrigation system) to the crafty (Enchanted path) to tasty (Nasturtium nibbles, Pizza garden) and the just plain fun (Fairy Ring). There are indoor as well as outdoor activities; simple recipes; and lots of good, solid gardening info. If your child wasn't interested in gardening before reading this book I'd be surprised if they still weren't after. 

Unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to attempt any of the projects yet but they look straightforward; I think satisfying results are pretty much a given. The graphics in the book are fantastic: tons of photos, cute illustrations, and bright colours. The pictures alone make you eager to try the projects and leave you confident that you can do it. The book ends with a Glossary and Index, both helpful and welcome additions. 

Although the book isn't very long (79 pages) it's packed full of information and inspiration (and since it's a quick read, it leaves more time for playing in the garden). Overall, this book is ideal for any budding gardener (or anyone you'd like to encourage in that direction). And if you're lucky enough to read it in winter it gives you and your children plenty to look forward to. 

Quote: Did you know? Plants have two names: a scientific one often in Latin, and a common name, which may vary in different places.

[Edited to update title and links, and for formatting. Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com]

Review: A Slice of Organic Life

A Slice of Organic Life was generously donated to Parkview Neighbourhood Garden by DK Canada. I'm reviewing it on behalf of PNG. 

The moment I saw this book I knew I wanted to read and review it. It's hard to resist the colourful cover bedecked with bright-eyed chickens! The overall design of the book is appealing, actually, with heavy (although not recycled) paper and plenty of beautiful full-colour photos. 

After a foreword by Alice Waters and an intro by editor-in-chief Sheherazade Goldsmith (fantastic name!), the main part of the book consists of over 80 projects grouped into three sections: 

• No Need for a Yard 
• Roof Terrace, Patio, or Tiny Yard, and;
• Yard, Community Garden, or Field. 

You can find projects to suit your needs in any of the three sections, but obviously some will be more suitable than others. 

I loved the idea of the book being divided this way; unfortunately the execution has some issues. There's too much repetition (e.g. "Start a Worm Composter" in Part 2 and then "Nourish the Soil" in Part 3, with nearly identical information). I think it might have worked better if the categories were more strictly adhered to. But overall it's not bad. 

You should also be aware that the book was apparently first published in the UK, so North Americans might have trouble with a few of the terms. Luckily measurements are offered both in Metric and Imperial. 

I like that each project is kept short--there's nothing more tedious than authors who delve into every minute detail while neglecting the fun side of exploring a new subject. Unfortunately, if you're looking for in-depth instruction you won't find it here. Instead, I suggest you use A Slice of Organic Life as a starting point. Find out what interests you, get a feel for it here, and then round out your knowledge elsewhere. Chances are, once you start projects you'll be hooked and will naturally start learning all you can about the subject anyway. 

The projects are surprisingly inspiring. Somehow I went from being opposed to livestock in the city (if you've ever heard the racket made by roosters, you would be too) to trying to figure out how I can get a pair of geese for my yard. In some cases my enthusiasm for things I used to do and drifted away from (like companion planting) was re-ignited. And best of all, I learned new things (bee-keeping)! 

On the downside, I noticed several inaccuracies, a couple of which are actually dangerous. I was really surprised to read a suggestion of flavouring oil with garlic. I thought it was common knowledge that garlic stored in oil is a formula for botulism. Unless you add some acid (such as vinegar) to the mix, do not store garlic in oil. Another terrible suggestion: making flea collars using essential oils. Although my vet had to search a bit to confirm it, essential oils unfortunately do cause kidney damage to cats. It's fine to diffuse oils in a room with good air circulation, but anything in close quarters will hurt your cat (not to mention that they're extremely sensitive to strong smells). And although not dangerous, the idea that there's a link between aluminum and Alzheimer's has been disproven; no one should still be repeating it. This is another reason why further research is essential (luckily most of the problems seem to be in Part 1 of the book). 

The book also has a few recipes, all of which look tempting indeed. I only tried one: Mushroom Frittata and it's already become a favourite. I'd love the chance to try more (I can see I'll be borrowing this book from PNG again)! 

Here's some of what you'll find in A Slice of Organic Life: 

Part 1: No Need for a Yard 

Growing Pots of Herbs Indoors, Support Local Businesses, Grow Strawberries in a Hanging Basket, Campaign, Go Green in the Playroom, recipes for Mushroom Frittata (p 106) and Wholemeal Bread (p 57)...  

Part 2: Roof, Terrace, Patio, or Tiny Yard 

Keep Urban Honey Bees, Use Eco-Friendly DIY Materials, Make Your Own Barbecue, Grow an Apple Tree in a Pot, recipe for Blueberry Muffins (p 123)...  

Part 3: Yard, Community Garden, or Field 

Make Simple Preserves, Grow Your Own Vegetables, Plant a Fruit Orchard, Keep a Few Geese, Make Organic Drinks, Create a Pond for Wildlife, Keep a Milking Cow, recipes for Pumpkin & Apricot Chutney (p 193) and Damson Wine (p 290)... 

The book ends with a reasonably detailed Directory and Resources section, which includes websites, books, and a few phone numbers, as well as the index. This book is fun to read, inspiring, interesting, and lovely to look at. It's not rocket science, but then, that's kind of the point.  

Quote: "...the small decisions we make can truly change the world."

[Edited to update title and links, and for formatting. Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com]

 

Review: The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Every so often a book comes along that totally changes your outlook. Within a few pages of starting The Omnivore's Dilemma, I knew it would be one of those books. 

Ultimately, The Omnivore's Dilemma seeks the answer to the query "What should we have for dinner?"; a question that is only simple on the surface. 

When agriculture (even organic agriculture) becomes industrialized and we are faced with a surfeit of food choices, when animals are raised in factories and our culture suffers from major food anxieties, the question (and resulting dilemma) starts to take on some serious depth and a tangled mess of implications. Michael Pollan explores the question by following three types of meals from their origins to the table. 

Part One focuses on Industrial Corn and its corresponding meal of McDonald's fast food (eaten in the car, no less). Part Two takes Pollan to the diminishing (but hopefully rebounding) world of Pastoral Grass, and the meal originating from a truly sustainable "grass farm," where the farmer works with nature instead of trying to turn it into a commodity. Part Three is all about the forest and a completely foraged meal. Pollan talks to farmers, visits CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations aka Factory Farms), bales hay, risks life and limb, kills chickens, tries vegetarianism, discovers the secretive world of mushroom hunters, philosophizes, and questions everything. He also shares fascinating bits of information--from the "beauty and wonder" of corn sex to why rats (fellow omnivores) are so difficult to poison. I guarantee you'll never look at food (or the way it's produced) the same way again. I know I haven't. 

Changes I've been inspired to make after reading The Omnivore's Dilemma:

• Besides buying organic, free-range meat, I'm now switching to grass-fed beef. Part One of the book (Industrialized Corn) convinced me beyond any shadow of a doubt that cows should not be grain fed. It's bad for them, bad for us, and bad for the environment.
• This isn't a change, but my commitment to free-range, organic eggs has been reinforced.
• Given the choice between two similar products I'll choose the locally produced one now. If it's also organic, so much the better, but local now trumps organic for me.
• I'm slowly weaning myself off as many over-processed foods as I can. Breakfast cereals (my major weakness) are the first to go. I'm switching to homemade granola or oatmeal for breakfast.
• No more fast food for me: cheap in price but expensive in other, less immediately obvious ways.
• I'm going to give foraging a try. Starting this spring I'll be heading out with my mom to pick wild dandelion greens and grape leaves. Ultimately I'd love to go mushroom hunting (I'll need to find someone experienced to show me how, though).
• I'm considering growing more food than I already do, but the squirrels tend to get to it before I have a chance, so I'll have to think about that one!

I hope (and believe) these changes will result in a positive effect on my health, the local economy, the environment... and homemade/locally grown food tastes way better too. All this from reading one book. Of course, now I have to read Pollan's other books too--what a hardship. 

Quote from The Omnivore's Dilemma:

So we find ourselves as a species almost back where we started: anxious omnivores struggling once again to figure out what it is wise to eat. Instead of relying on the accumulated wisdom of a cuisine, or even on the wisdom of our senses, we rely on expert opinion, advertising, government food pyramids, and diet books, and we place our faith in science to sort out for us what culture once did with rather more success. (p 303)

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. From Penguin. Also available as an e-book.

 [Edited to update title and links. Follow me on my official site: AspasiaSBissas.com]

Veggies, fresh from the urban farm...

Photo by Mike Pochwat, taken from the Parkview Neighbourhood Garden website.

 

Gardeners everywhere (okay, everywhere with a cold winter) tend to get antsy around this time of year. We long to play in the dirt and grow something fabulous. A lot of us get a temporary fix by fussing with houseplants or poring over seed catalogues. I'm lucky enough to have another outlet: the Parkview Neighbourhood Garden (henceforth PNG). 

 

Born of the fiendishly clever idea that cities can (and should) produce locally grown organic food, the PNG sprang to life last year on donated land in Willowdale (Toronto). The harvest (everything from corn to Swiss Chard to tomatoes and herbs) is sold out front or given to needy members of the community. Meanwhile, the beautiful garden is open to anyone who'd like to stroll along the paths, enjoy the sights, and maybe take some photos (as long as that's all that's taken, please). 

 

My own visits to the garden led to chatting with one of the gardeners (a friendly and fantastic lady named Nancy), which in turn led me to finally attending one of their meetings. There are all sorts of exciting plans for 2010, including an expansion of the garden. There are also tons of volunteering opportunities (students needing hours for their Volunteer Credit take note). 

 

If you're interested in attending a meeting or volunteering, contact the PNG here. The next meeting is Monday 25 January, from 7 to 9 pm at the John McKenzie House. 

 

Helping a worthy cause, supporting the community, and getting your gardening fix? Don't you love it when a plan comes together? :)