Mixed greens for two people – divide into two individual salad bowls.

Sprinkle with  1 – 2 slices of purple onion chopped or 1 scallion sliced

1 navel orange, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces

2 Tablespoons of sliced honey-glazed Walnuts (I sometimes use sliced Almonds)

Top with a sprinkle of Blue cheese or your favorite cheese & drizzle with balsamic vinegar or balsamic dressing.

To glaze Walnuts or Almonds

 1 Teaspoon canola oil

1 Teaspoon honey

2 Tablespoons walnuts or almonds

Heat the oil in a small fry pan.  Add honey and nuts and stir over medium high heat until almonds are covered with mixture and just begin to brown. Remove from heat and let cool in a small ceramic bowl.

Sprinkle over salad & drizzle with Balsamic vinegar or your favorite salad dressing.

They must have sensed a hesitation in my voice as they offered several good arguments (including using my credit card) to convince me otherwise. I gently explained that I would rather give them each a few dollars to save for toys they really wanted, rather than spend a few bucks on cheap ones that would soon find homes in a landfill. They weren’t buying it, and with the skill of what seemed like the Harvard debate team, they continued to argue. Finally I saw an opportunity for a life lesson. So, I stiffened my tone, and stood my ground. It was a grim walk back to the car.

But on the drive to their house the tone changed from sad to happy as we talked about the things in life that are of value to them and bring them the most joy. They surprised me, talking not about toys, but about activities they have enjoyed with their mom and dad, the summer camp experiences, and videos (of course).

After we pulled into their driveway, I gave each grandchild a kiss and hug with the promise of a few bucks to slip into their piggy banks. As I drove away I didn’t feel like a Grinch at all.  And I came through with my promise the very next day when we took a trip to the playground.

When you make your plans this season, please consider giving a gift of simple pleasure — comfort and warmth.  Maine Warmers are made in America and provide a truly lasting value. Check out their Cozy Sheep or Bears for special gifts during the holidays.

This post appeared in the December issue of the Maine Warmers December 2011 e-Newsletter.

1 egg

1 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar

1 lemon peel, grated

2 cups almond flour (I use Bob’s Finely Ground Almond Meal/Flour – from blanched whole almonds)

1 teaspoon baking powder

Mix all ingredients well.  Cover and place in freezer for one hour.

Turn onto waxed paper or plastic wrap and form into long roll – about 15 inches and about 1 ¼ inches in diameter. Return to freezer for future baking.

When ready to bake, unwrap the dough and slice into ¼ inch slices. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake in preheated 350° oven for 15 minutes.

Baked cookies are about 2 inches in diameter.  Makes about 48 cookies.

I wash and save plastic containers from restaurant leftovers and store bakeries to use for packaging gifts of muffins, cookies and other treats. They help protect the contents, don’t have to be returned, and it feels less wasteful to reuse these containers.

To make things a little easier on each other, my husband and I used to trade Christmas lists — suggestions of modestly priced items that the other person might not know we wanted. My husband usually added a few humorous tidbits, special messages, or an outrageous request, like a 1957 Chevy with a super charger, painted turquoise and white.

That year we were exceptionally stressed for time and later than usual in carrying out this ritual. It was only two weeks before Christmas when we traded wish lists, and without even a moment to look at it, I folded the one he gave me and put it in my wallet.

On the 19^th of December, the day I was to start my Christmas preparations, my mother was unexpectedly admitted to a hospital in Florida, where she and my father lived, and my father (due to physical disabilities) was not physically able to be home alone for an extended period of time. The Delta Airline representative I talked to on the phone was very helpful in making a last minute emergency airline reservation. Before I knew it, I was heading out of Portland, on a plane headed to Florida.

When I arrived in Florida I was relieved to see my mother looking well. At the hospital I talked with the team of physicians and learned that she had a treatable condition, and would be released the next day if all the remaining tests backed up their theory. Encouraged and feeling good about her health, I scurried around putting things in order, adding a few festive touches to the Florida house, and preparing a nice dinner for when my mother returned home. I thought it might be nice to spend the holiday with my folks.

When I slowed down enough to take a deep breath and think about the situation, I was suddenly torn. I knew my folks were elated to have me with them, but what about my husband and our two sons who were returning from college for Christmas break?

My mother came home from the hospital the next day feeling fit as a fiddle. My folks had plans to go to relatives and friends for Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner. I would go with them, of course.

If I did nothing, then like Congress trying to pass a budget resolution, time would make the decision for me. On Wednesday, I called Delta to see what my options were for return flights to Maine, but this time I didn’t get the nice lady phone rep. All flights were booked or prohibitively expensive unless the situation was an emergency. I hung up the phone feeling resigned to a Christmas in Florida.

When I explained to my husband that a return flight was going to be hard to book, he was understanding, of course, but disappointed. We talked about the things we needed to do to pull Christmas together in Maine without my presence.

When I hung up the phone, I suddenly remembered my husband’s wish list, thinking I might do a little shopping for my eventual return to Maine. I pulled it out of my wallet, and looked at the list for the first time. This is what he had written two weeks prior, “The only thing I want is for you to be home for Christmas.”  There was nothing else – no suggestions, no outrageous items, and no funny comments. I turned the paper over – nothing. My heart sank.

I went shopping, feeling distracted and with little concentration on what I was doing. I was thankful my parents did not pressure me to stay in Florida and understood my dilemma. I called Delta Airlines back, hoping an angel would answer the phone and understand my situation. She did. I flew home to join my family on Thursday afternoon — two days before Christmas.

In Maine, my husband, our sons, and I chipped in to bake, clean, wrap, etc. I think because everyone helped, that Christmas became a turning point. We all recognized that sharing the responsibility of making the holiday festive was what brought us the most joy. Since then, I try never to leave all of the holiday prep until the last week, and my husband and I never felt the need to write another wish list.

When Masey Kaplan’s son brought home a school fundraising catalog with wrapping paper made in China, and she didn’t want to buy any of it, she thought how nice it would be to have a choice of products made in the US.  She saw friends with small Maine businesses, struggling in a down economy, and thought a catalog that carried only items made close by would be a way to help them as well as raise funds for schools.

She came up with the idea of creating “Close Buy Catalog” for school fundraisers. After months of researching and developing a business plan, Masey began to approach small Maine businesses to find products for the catalog. Jennifer and I were working at the New England Products Trade Show when Masey stopped and introduced herself.  The first, experimental catalog called would go to four schools in the greater Portland, Maine area. There were plenty of skeptics, and I have to admit, I was one of them.

But, confidence and iron determination showed through her soft voice and pretty smile and convinced me that she could climb this mountain.  So, in the spring of 2010, we took a chance and signed on, not knowing what to expect. I decided, even if we didn’t get any orders, Masey was so nice that it would feel good to support her. 

Masey’s background in graphic arts allowed her to create the catalog and was one of the fun parts of the project. But there were the arduous tasks of managing all the data that came in from schools, distribution, and the finances. She put hours into planning and working out road blocks — things that can quickly turn the burning fires of enthusiasm to ashes.

The following October, when the orders came in, I was pleasantly surprised that we had sold forty items.  When Masey stopped to see us this spring at the trade show, she said that she was expanding the catalog to 35 or 40 schools. Again, I wondered how successful the project would be, given the state of the economy. But in October, my skepticism again melted away as I learned orders for our Cozy Sheep and Hot Dogs numbered in the hundreds.

When I talked with Masey, she said they had to turn away about thirty schools who wanted to sign on in late summer. By that time it would have been too difficult to manage any add-on schools, as catalogs and samples had already been delivered.  Next year!

With all of the attention her business requires she’s had to enlist the help of her husband. He now does morning duty, and she leaves for work about 5 AM. “He makes sure the kids are dressed, eat breakfast, school papers put in their backpacks, lunches made, and so on. I take over at 3 PM when they come home from school,” she says, “and he works until 6 PM. Then we have family time.”

She explains that this year, even with more schools, it is easier than last year because the management systems are set up.  The first year was hard, but she says, “I am fueled by joy.”

 Masey would like to expand Close Buy Catalog to other states, where she thinks people would feel the same way about buying locally. No longer a skeptic, I know if she sets her mind to it she will succeed. Masey has climbed a huge mountain pulling a heavy load, saying, “I think I can, I think I can.”

Check out the Close Buy Web site for more information, participating vendors and schools.

These are a family favorite – especially this time of year. They make your whole house smell wonderful and welcoming to someone coming inside on a raw November day. The only difficulty with them is they are addicting.

Beat together:

 4 eggs

¾ cup of Canola oil

1 ½ cup sugar

2 cups of fresh pumpkin or 1 15 – 16 oz can of pumpkin

2 teaspoons cinnamon

¾ teaspoon each of nutmeg, cloves,&  ginger

 Sift together then add to the mixture above:

2 cups gluten-free all purpose flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill, or a mixture of ½ cup brown rice flour, ½ cup corn flour, ½ cup sorghum flour, ½ cup garbanzo bean flour)

2 teaspoons baking powder (gluten-free)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon Xanthan Gum (Four eggs have great binding power so this ingredient is optional in this recipe).

 Mix well.

 Grease bottom of a 15” x 10” x 3” baking pan. Pour batter into pan and bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.  Cool on a rack.  

 Frost with cream cheese frosting or sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar.

On the First Friday of the month, in the arts district of Portland, Maine, people wander into open art galleries, pause on the streets to listen to musicians, browse through the tables of local crafters on the sidewalks, and swing hula hoops around their middles.

 It’s First Friday Art Walk, and in front of the Portland Museum of Art — a popular spot with free admission on Friday nights — Tracy Tingley encourages people to stop and try one of her “Hardcore Hoops.” The visuals are wonderful. Black hoops, decorated with colorful tape, go round and round on two or three brave people, while bunches of hoops lean against the pillars of the museum waiting for others to pick them up and join in. Tracy nonchalantly twirls one on her arm while she swings one around her core. Upbeat music plays on a boom box.

Tracy has plenty of hoops for everyone of every size to use. Kids eagerly run to try it, but most adults walk past because they don’t think they can keep a hoop going around their mid-sections for more than ten or fifteen seconds.

Tracy can be found in other locations around Portland with her hoops. She sets up a canopy tent at the popular Farmers’ Market in Deering Oaks on Saturday mornings and encourages people to put down their bags of veggies and hoop awhile. Hoops are scattered over the lawn, leaning against the big Oak trees, or standing against the tent posts.

One Saturday morning in August, my grandson accompanied me to the park and was immediately eager to stop and play. I tried to walk by, hoping not to be noticed. But The Hoop Lady caught my eye, smiled warmly and said, “Try it!”

“I can’t,” I replied, shaking my head for emphasis.

“I’ll teach you in 30 seconds, and I guarantee you can do it. You can borrow one of these”, she said, in her calm, confident voice, pointing to an assortment of 30 or so hoops. “Let me find one that fits you.”

As promised, in 30 seconds she taught me how to keep the hoop going. It was fun and amazingly easy — for about five minutes. Then I found myself sweating and getting out of breath. It was exercise in disguise.

Tracy explains that her hoops are weighted with water, making it easier to keep them going. She makes the hoops herself with black plumber’s piping, decorates them with colorful tape, and sells them online (see her Web site below) or at any of the many venues she attends. She carries them around town on the roof of her car, and sells them to anyone who she happens to meet on the street and wants one. There is no high pressure sales pitch.

Tracy is happy to talk about the benefits of hooping. “When someone can’t exercise because any form of impact exercise will cause them pain, they soon gain weight and become terribly discouraged. Hooping is a good all around exercise that improves core strength (thus the name, “Hardcore Hoops”), provides cardio, stimulates circulation, and creates energy flow. Hooping, most importantly, is fun. It’s a great exercise for people who have had knee or hip replacements. Physical exercise is known to reduce stress, pump up endorphins, and contribute to weight loss.”

When I asked her how she got into hooping she graciously gave me some of her history. At age eighteen she went to work, summers, at Disney World expecting to be hired as Cinderella. “Instead they put me in a Goofy costume,” she recalls. As it turns out, Fantasy Land was not her life’s calling, and after six years she switched to what she thought would be a more grounded profession in the financial world. Disheartened by the the dishonesty that resulted in the 2008 economic catastrophe, she started Hardcore Hoops. Her sister, who lives in Bend, Oregon, sparked her interest. It seems that the West Coast folks are way ahead of East Coast folks in the hooping arena.

Want to join the fun? At 6 PM on Wednesday evenings in the spring and summer, a group of people gather to “hoop it up” on the spacious green lawn of the Eastern Promenade overlooking Casco Bay. It’s free. Tracy provides music and hoops. Some people take their own hoops or borrow one of hers. Don’t worry if you think you can’t. She’ll teach you in 30 seconds.

If you don’t live near Portland, Maine, ask around to see if anyone is “hooping it up” in your town or start your own hoop group!

Check out Tracy’s Web site and a video.

I have even added lobster to this in the fall when the price goes down. This recipe originally came from Betty Crocker’s International Cookbook, as “Mediterranean Fish Soup,” but over the years I have made several adaptations to it.

Feel free to leave a comment or contact us with any questions. Enjoy!

Cook and stir in a large pot over medium-high heat until onion is soft:

¼ cup olive oil

1 large onion, (or 2 small), chopped

1 stalk celery with leaves (optional)

1 clove of garlic, finely chopped  If you like lots of garlic add more.

Add and bring to boil:

3 tomatoes, chopped or 1, 10 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 quart fish stock (fresh or prepared)  I often use homemade chicken stock if I have some in the

freezer.

2 cups water

1 teaspoon ground turmeric (This spice gives it an orangey look – perfect for autumn).

½ teaspoon ground thyme or 1teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped

½ teaspoon crushed fennel seed (optional)

1 bay leaf

A sprinkle of black pepper

Add two pounds of any fish and cook for about 5 minutes or until fish is done.

½ lb. haddock or other white fish, cut into chunks

½ lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined

½ lb. crabmeat

½ lb. bay scallops

Add a can or two of chopped clams if you like.

Serve with crusty garlic bread (not gluten-free) or gluten free crackers and a green salad.

A few weeks ago, as my husband and I drove to a family gathering, we were shocked to see a black sedan appear out of nowhere, speed in front of us, and slam into a cement wall under a bridge in Portland, Maine. Our first reaction was to run to help. After we simultaneously opened our car doors, my husband abruptly handed me his cell phone and said, “Dial 911.” Then he ran to help while I talked with the police dispatcher to give location and answer as many questions as possible.

Within minutes the police and ambulance, with professionally trained personnel, arrived. A woman, the only person in the car, was regaining consciousness, and we knew she would be okay. The airbag and seatbelt saved her life.

I realized afterwards how important it is to be aware of Rule #1. As difficult as it may be to talk about with teenagers and younger children, it’s also important to remember that a few moments can save a person’s life.

If you have ever been in an automobile accident — even a fender bender — you have probably experienced some muscle soreness. The heat from a Neck Warmer relieves stiffness and helps increase flexibility due to injuries or other
conditions.

Alice Mead was the woman who was responsible for bringing many children from war-torn Kosovo into Maine to keep them from being drafted into the military or into factional militias, where their lives would certainly be in danger. My friend, Connie Smith, who sheltered three teenagers from Kosovo during the late 1990′s and early part of the 21^stcentury, was the subject of an e-newsletter story in 2008.

Hearing Connie speak of Alice Mead and following the lives of her teenagers from Kosovo, I always wanted to meet Alice. Then one day last April, in downtown Portland, I helped a woman in a wheelchair navigate into an elevator and disembark on the 2^nd floor. As it turned out we were both attending a Woman’s Fund Leadership series. I introduced myself and was pleasantly surprised when she said her name was “Alice James – formerly Alice Mead.”

I often wondered what motivated Alice to risk her own life to help these young people escape the conflict between the Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo. I was happy to have the opportunity to ask her about how she became involved.

Her interest in this part of the world started many years earlier when she studied Russian. It heightened when she read about the breakup of Yugoslavia, but could not find follow-up information in the newspapers about the conflict. Curiosity and research led her to national organizations that were also trying to find information about the undocumented population of Kosovo Albanians.

“One night I literally woke up and felt a tap on the shoulder. It was a ‘you can and must do this,’ tap,” she said. She traveled to Kosovo, at great personla risk, where she gained valuable information that helped expose torture, killing, and exploitation of young people. See her documentaries on YouTube. 

In Maine, she found families who were willing to host the kids she helped to escape, and schools that were willing to educate them. “It was easy to get them out of Kosovo,” explained Alice. “It was much harder to bring them into the US.” Finding a family to keep a teenage student was challenging. Because these young people had been denied an education for so many years in their homeland, it was difficult for the schools to educate them. Eventually, US laws changed to require students to pay out-of-town tuition of $10 – $12,000 per year, which most could not afford. Some private schools in Maine began to generously sponsor these foreign students and waived the tuition for them.

The Kosovo teenagers missed their families and couldn’t even return for a summer visit during the years of conflict. Adjusting to cultural differences, diets, and the fact that they had regular teenage growing pains added to the challenges for host families. “Alice tried to rally these kids around her and keep them in touch with each other,” explained Connie Smith. “Some of them had relatives living in the US and visits were arranged when possible.”

Because she has been involved with many issues and projects to help kids, I asked Alice how she deals with difficult information involving children. She replied thoughtfully, “I don’t always deal with it well.” It dawned on me then that Alice doesn’t turn her head away from trouble, but deals with it by taking action. “I did not feel free myself if I did not stretch my own freedom as an American citizen,” she explains. “I have never for one second regretted the fourteen years I put into education and human rights development in the countries of former communist Eastern Europe.”

I admire her bravery, compassion, and ability to take action for the benefit of children. After talking with her, reading her books, and seeing her smile, I also admire the fact that, after all she has seen and lived through, she is still very much a child at heart.