Keeping the past alive

I don't know exactly when I discovered my passion for cooking. Maybe it was during college when I was living in a dorm that had a shared kitchen. It was a bit of a haul from the main campus and I opted out of the meal plan my second year of school after the dreaded "Freshman 15" added more girth than I cared for.

With mom and dad miles away, and a basic understanding of a few recipes, I would cook for myself and friends. Big hits were those from memory - written down at first and then only there to glance at one in a while. These days I find myself going basically on general suggestions of recipes than exact amounts.

As I was searching for some paperwork tonight I found, amongst my misfiled papers, a recipe from my Grandma that I had been looking for the night before. It's written on and index card, in her hand writing. I LOVE that. Not only do I have the pleasure (and challenge) of recreating this amazing recipe that she shared with us at many family gatherings, but I have the recipe - penned in her handwriting. That's special and I will type it up (and share it with you)...but I think there is much to be said for those old index cards of recipes that we have loved since our childhood.

I found another one from a gracious, short, plump neighbor I referred to as my "backyard grandma" - it was for Pepperkakos. An old Norwegian recipe, most likely handed down to her as a young girl.  A spicy and cookie, rolled so thin you wonder how you managed to take a bite of it without it breaking into a zillion crumbs. Just seeing her perfectly penned letters takes me back to sitting in her kitchen, learning to play a game of hearts, having milk and some cookies and smelling the sweet fragrant pipe of her husband in the next room. No margarine called for here....generally it called for "oleo"...those words make me smile. And sad she is no longer here to share my stories.

These are the recipes I cherish so much - there is so much more that goes with them - it's a bit of nostalgia and keeping those sweet memories so real and at that moment I almost feel as they, these venerable creators of such tasty offerings, are here keeping me company over a cup of coffee as I try my best to do honor to the recipes that that lovingly penned for me to share and make my own memories.

So here for you is an incredible recipe that my grandma C. would make for dessert on Sundays after we would enjoy a carb-laden dinner that usually involved pasta, angel biscuits (*yet another recipe to share another day) and a bit of Lambrusco to wash it all down. Please feel free to share this and keep a part of my past alive.

Cheers, happy cooking and making your own memories!

14 Carrot Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, prepare pan with cooking spray and a pinch of flour to coat pan. Can use 3 - 9" layer pans if desired. (*I use a regular cake pan)

Combine in a large bowl:
2 c. sifted flour
2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 t. salt
2 t. cinnamon

Add:
2 c. sugar
1 1/2 salad oil
4 eggs

Mix well and add:
2 c. finely grated carrots
 18.5 oz. can of crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 c. chopped nuts (I use pecans or walnuts)
12.5 can flaked sweetened coconut

Blend thoroughly and pour into pan(s). Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 min. or until tests done. Cool and frost.

Cream cheese frosting:
1/4 lb. butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1 t. vanilla
1 lb. confectioners sugar (sifted if lumpy)

Combine butter, cream cheese and vanilla. Cream well. Add sugar gradually beating well. If too thick add milk, if too thin add more sugar.

Occam's razor and my life

So I was doing a little light reading on Occam's razor. I think I like Einstein's variation of it best: "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler." Huh?! Okay. That's good advice. But where do you start - to whittle away those things that don't make sense, but not to the point of too simple.

Granted this is making a stretch of this theory beyond it's original intention *(entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity)...but I think it's a good starting point to try and simplify life.

I am also a fan of Thoreau - but I think his advice of "simplify, simplify" is a bit to vague.

What spurred this whole monologue within me? Maybe it's the back to school schedule...a bit overwhelmed with the oldest child having to get up an hour earlier than last year to catch the bus, feeling unfamiliar in the new role of middle school parent and the fact that now the kids have a cell phone and an email account. When did things change so fast?! It seems like it happened all within a week, but truthfully I think the decisions on the cell phone and email had been made a while back, I was just putting them off in denial...my way of trying to keep things simple.

It's a new school year. And it has taken a while to acclimate to the nuances of our new adventure - some are good, some are unchanged and some are VERY different. But with all of this brings a lot of clutter, schedule changes, confusion and being disorganized. I am reaching - stretching - for that balance of being organized and attentive (a perception of control exists here). I feel so distracted right now. Pulled in so many directions...it is time to simplify...but where to start...

It starts with me. Within.

I smiled the other day when my grown-up-overnight-7th grader came home and was discussing communications with me. She said that her teacher said that it's possible for someone to be talking, but for the listener not to hear. "To hear but not hear - that's what we talked about at camp," she said. I smiled. That was one of my favorite prayers during Shabat service. It speaks of a quiet calm that starts with REALLY hearing and tuning into the world and people around us...and I think that's the best place for me to start to start shaving  off those distractions - making changes in me, my behaviors, my world...whittle it down to the most simple way of life, without being too simple.