The Closest to My Heart

I leave today for Poland! My girl, Sabina, is getting married!! OK, she's not "my girl" but the heart strings are definitely there. I'm going a week before the wedding so that I can be totally available to her. Granted at this point pretty much everything has already been done, but maybe she'll just need to get away and have a cup of calming tea (as opposed to coffee!) and we can have a chat. I've already seen her in her wedding dress and cried so that event is past. Not so sure it won't happen again, though! Wow, lots of emotions, all good ones for this wonderful happening.

Brian isn't going with me. :( He would love to be there that's for sure. Though this time of year, the fact that it's colder weather in Poland, would make for a miserable feeling Brian. Brian served in the Gulf War and is one of the many soldiers who returned with Gulf War Syndrome - the media's term. So life drastically changed for him and, in his case, cold weather does not help in the least. I will write more in the future about loving someone with a chronic illness but that's for later. You can also check out his blog - Brian's Gate.
I miss Brian already but am so excited for Sabina and Chris. Can't wait to give Sabina a big hug!

Perhaps a Different Kind of Drink!

Coffee in many forms is at the top of my list especially as a comfort drink. I don't suppose I can really call it comfort food but it certainly fits somehow in that category. It is that cup of Ahhh and a transcendent experience. This quote also puts it well:

Coffee is the common man's gold, and like gold, it brings to every person the feeling of luxury and nobility. - Sheik Abd-al-Kadir

However, even I realize that other drinks are more appropriate for certain occasions, moods, or times of day. My friend (mentioned in the last post) also gave me a recipe for Limoncello! How exciting!! I've heard of others making it, but I must confess that I bought the bottle I have now at Trader Joe's. Nonetheless, this could be a fun winter activity and thought I'd share it with you.

© 2011 ABC Television / the chew

easy

skill level

over 120min

time

more than 12

servings

$

cost

Mario Batali's Limoncello

Contributed by: Mario Batali

This thick sweet cordial dessert will hit the spot after a long and filling meal. Make a batch

today and enjoy it for weeks to come. Note: Mario Batali prepared this recipe differently on air

but for best results follow the procedures below.

4 Cup vodka zest of 10 lemons

2 1/2 Cup sugar 3 1/2 Cup water

ingredients

4 Cup vodka

zest of 10 lemons

Place vodka and zest in a sealable jar, like a mason jar and allow

to sit in a cool place for 4 days.

2 1/2 Cup sugar

3 1/2 Cup water

On the fifth day place 2 1/2 cups sugar and 3 1/2 cups water in a

saucepan and bring to a boil. Allow to cook 5 minutes, remove from

heat and allow to cool.

Add sugar solution to the vodka solution and allow to stand

overnight.

Strain through a layer of cheesecloth in a conical sieve, pressing

the solids firmly. Strain again through a second layer in the same

manner.

Chill and allow to stand 1 week. Serve very cold.

Stepping Outside of the Box

OK, if you like coffee, you might want to go get a cup because this could be a long one!
A few communiqués from a friend have got me thinking. She had been catching up on my blog and so touched on a few subjects. She and I have talked about in the past how we often feel different, like we don't always "fit." Those feelings have certainly been around the last couple of weeks, in particular. They come and go in intensity, but they have been a part of my life for a long time. Perhaps there is a new book for me to read which she mentions:  

“Women Who Run With the Wolves”, by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés. 

My friend also writes - "In the book she's talking about our (women's) need to find our "wild" self. Wild meaning natural, as God created us to be with all the innate intuition and other spiritual gifts He intended us to have, but that our culture, etc. (especially in America, Western society) has put down. ... Beyond being Christian and "not of this world", much of what she writes gives me a better understanding of why I've always felt like I don't really "fit" often even with committed Christians whom I admire. I think I've always been a "wild" woman."

I like that about her, my friend, and I can relate! There is nothing wrong with the status quo. I enjoy many things in life from the creative side to the mundane (as I know I have talked about - see my labels "creativity"). But there are these "niggles" and a sense of adventure that keep rising to the surface. These thoughts that make me think, "I must be crazy!" and that buck the status quo. So much of the structure we live in seems artificial and forced. Am I an anarchist? NO. Boundaries are good and important in many areas and ways. However, I do think there is greater freedom than our structures allow.

Choosing to step out of some of those structures, does require some extra effort for community living which I do feel is quite important. But I want community which has no agenda, isn't forced or timed, and is truly enjoyed by everyone. Unfortunately, I feel that is very difficult to find within many structures we have set up in our culture. There is nothing wrong with the structures necessarily and if people find them satisfying - great!! For me, I'm left wanting. I'm not sure what the answer is, and I certainly would rather be part of a solution than just point out problems. Though it seems, there are only a few of us who don't really "fit." Perhaps that's the adventurous and/or creative side of me and I'm OK with that!

The image shown here is the completed puzzle of the "nine dots." The challenge is to connect the dots, yes, all of them, with only four straight lines. The catch is you can't lift your pencil from the puzzle. It's impossible to do without going beyond the confines of the "box."

My friend was also hopeful that she was not one of the "snooty" missionaries that I talked about in my post entitled OK, Let's Talk about It... I was surprised to see the word snooty and thought - did I really write that?! Sure enough!! Perhaps that was a bit brash and snooty of me! Sorry. As I think about it, it is possible to chalk up some of those past impressions to youthful over exuberance?! She gives her thoughts: "I, too, have had my struggles over folks' expectations but I'm still glad for the opportunities God provided for me to show His love and encourage a few people along the way. For the most part, the missionaries with whom I've worked have lived very graciously in the culture to which the Lord sent them. However, when I was in Greece working in Albania I had a couple of single, female missionaries impress me negatively... so much so that I told my mission director that I didn't want to continue on the mission field if that was how I would end up." Expectations are tough especially if we don't even know that we have them. I hope I continue to grow in grace.


Image by Dave Kawalec

Coffee Granita Recipe!

Amazingly enough I came across another blog Philz Coffee Blog which talked about the same cold coffee treat that I had in Rome! (Part 1) The same cafe, evereything. He posted a recipe which I hope comes close to the original. With this recipe, there is a twist - cardamom in the whipped cream. I'm copying it here as well for your convenience. It's nice to know I'm not the only one on this side of the ocean who has enjoyed that wonderful taste.

OK, I just found another blog that reviewed the recipe at The Mom Chef. She is a self-professed coffee snob as well. I'll be sure to take her suggestions to heart as it sounds like this recipe might pale in comparison to the original. If you make it, let me know how it turns out!

Coffee Granita with Cardamom Whipped Cream
This recipe is from Bon Appetit’s April 2010 issue.

Ingredients
* 2 cups water, divided
* 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
* 1 1/2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
(instead of using espresso powder, try making a really strong brew of Turkish or Philharmonic)
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3/4 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

Preparation
*Bring 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar just to simmer in heavy small saucepan over medium heat, stirring mixture constantly until sugar dissolves. Stir in instant espresso powder and vanilla extract. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in remaining 1 1/2 cups water. Pour into 9x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Freeze mixture 1 hour; stir, mashing any frozen parts with back of fork. Cover and freeze mixture until firm, at least 1 to 2 hours longer and up to 1 day. Using fork, scrape granita, forming icy flakes. Return granita to freezer.
*Beat cream, cardamom, and remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in large bowl until peaks form. Divide granita among bowls or glasses. Top granita with whipped cream.

(photo from The Bitten Word)

Life Roads also Twist and Turn

I talked recently about the roads of the Amalfi coast and how they cling to the hillsides. They slink their way along the curves of the hill, matching undulation for undulation. The cliff on one side and the houses piled up on one another on the other. Sometimes there are tunnels and - blackness, yet, it doesn't last forever and in time you'll burst out into the sunshine.
Yesterday my business partner and I met with our accountant to discuss the steps of closing down our business. The business has been limping along for quite a while now, mainly due to lack of attention on both our parts. It's not that we didn't care about it, but life was so different when we started it. Almost 4 years ago when it started, neither one of us were married and goals were not the same. Did we fail because we are closing it down? I don't think so. It's a neutral action - neither good or bad. It's just that life has changed. Do I understand what all the twists and turns of the business were and what it was all about? No. It wasn't necessarily cheap but do I regret anything? No. My business partner and I were friends first and we still are friends!! So that's a success! :)
Transitions or changes need to happen sometimes and if I hold on to the past there isn't as much room for the future or even the present! A tunnel certainly is a transition from one part to another. I don't know what's on the other side yet but new views and vistas are coming. I can count on it!

Coffee - It is an Event!

Coffee is real good when you drink it it gives you time to think. It's a lot more than just a drink; it's something happening. Not as in hip, but like an event, a place to be, but not like a location, but like somewhere within yourself. It gives you time, but not actual hours or minutes, but a chance to be, like be yourself, and have a second cup. - Gertrude Stein

We all like it a bit differently - coffee that is! part 2

I've finished my morning coffee - an absolute necessity to really move into the day. Now I find myself ready to finish the post about my coffee evaluations of our trip. The coffee juices are flowing!

Poland - my experience this trip is limited only to one cafe but it was a strong contender after asking for some modifications. Their cappuccino with an extra shot was quite tasty! Their cold coffee treat gets second place, again, after adding another shot. This treat was more like an affogato or an ice cream sundae with espresso topping - quite yummy. I'm hoping things have changed within the home. I quit drinking coffee in peoples' homes back in the late 90's because almost everyone drank instant (at least the people I visited)! I tried for a while but just couldn't do it and switched to tea when visiting. However, that was a long time ago, so it all could be quite different.
Spain - this country wins for most normal, delectable coffee. I throughly enjoyed their cafe con leche or coffee with milk, steamed milk that is but not frothy. Just plain good.
Switzerland - although we visited only a week, at one point, I lived there for about 9 months. Never in my entire time there did I see any Swiss person take their coffee with an equal part of hot chocolate, as noted in my "part 1" post. I don't know where "they" got that information but it certainly was not my experience.
The Swiss take their coffee VERY seriously and put a lot of money behind it. I had a coffee at the bar of a 2 star, chain hotel and the guy was telling me that their machine, a smallish one of this type, cost "like the price of a small car." Yes, he said it cost $15,000 - yup that's dollars!! I know another person there who's home espresso machine cost the equivalent of $1,800. With all that said, I had the most consistently outstanding coffee and espresso in Switzerland - roll one's eyes back fantastic! They do come in third for cold coffee treat - coffee ice cream with a coffee/chocolate like syrup.

Now you know how I like my coffee - with milk. I prefer espresso and to drink coffee is a necessity in the morning, for sure, but a pleasure whenever I drink it!! So how do you like your coffee? Is it a necessity? Or just a pleasure? Are you an espresso fan or do you prefer brewed coffee?

We all like it a bit differently - coffee that is! part 1

Jetlag is receding. I'm thankful for that! Naturally coffee has played a part in this transition time, helping me stay up as late as I can to adjust as quickly as possible. I ran across an assessment of some Europeans, plus a few other groups as to how they enjoy their coffee. Having only been in Poland, Switzerland, Italy and Spain this trip, I can only evaluate from my perspective on those four countries. But first, the info I found on another site:

The Italians drink their espresso with sugar, the Germans and Swiss - with equal parts of hot chocolate, the Mexicans - with cinnamon, the Belgians - with chocolate. Moroccans drink their coffee with peppercorns, the Ethiopians - with a pinch of salt. Coffee drinkers in the Middle East usually add cardamom and spices. Whipped cream is the favourite amongst Austrians. The Egyptians are extremely fond of pure and strong coffee. They seldom add sugar to it, nor milk nor cream. They serve unsweetened coffee to mourners and sweetened coffee at weddings. The Italians are the unrivaled World Masters of Espresso. 

For this post I'll write only about Italy. I enjoyed both espresso and cappuccino while there. I will never challenge the concept of the Italians as World Master of Espresso! I did have mine with sugar but did not enjoy it as much as some others. That does not speak to the quality of espresso but rather the fact that I prefer my coffee with a bit of milk or cream. The cappuccino was delightful but as usual for me it was a bit weak - too much milk! Oh, the trials of a coffee snob! (That's me!) They do win hands down on the cold coffee treat!! OMG! The scoopable frozen coffee (but not ice cream) with whipped cream was absolutely awesome!! They called it a 'granita' but it isn't very similar to what we call granitas. Ours are more liquid, sweeter and come out of a special machine. Not these and I'll take these any day! Rome won the gelato contest and Rome again wins for cold coffee treat. Both of those places were around the Pantheon square. If you want specifics, let me know.

More next time on the other countries. :)