Lifetimes Columns
- A Dad’s Point-of-View: The best thing about getting older is …
- The Dinner Diva: Plasticware
- In the Scheme of Things: Seeing the world
- Man-to-Man: My history with my woman
A Dad’s Point-of-View: The best thing about getting older is …
Column by Bruce Sallan
www.brucesallan.com
I had lunch with a good friend the other day and the subjects we covered really made an impact on me, as I reflected on them. I had just come from a lesson in using social media, where I’m learning the new technologies that are popular in our culture now, such as Twitter, Facebook, Linkenin, Smart Phones, I-everythings, etc.
While I’m not a total novice, I do admit that every time a new “thing” comes out, it fills me with dread. I face having to learn it, figure it out, and even understand it. Frankly, I did not “get” Twitter at all until my lessons finally penetrated my middle-aged, failing hard-drive of a brain. And that was also after reading “Twitter for Dummies”-and I’m not kidding. Continue reading “Lifetimes Columns” »
A Slice of Life: Tuesday, Feb. 23
- Nan Russell: Heart stories
- A Dad’s Point of View: Stick with the rules, even when it’s hard
- The Dinner Diva: Spice it up
Nan Russell: Heart stories
www.intheschemeofthings.com
The picture sits on my desk. I’m not sure why I like it near me, but I do. Accidently discovered in a tattered box in a shed at my mother’s house, my great, great grandfather’s picture brings more questions than answers.
I always knew he came to America in the 1800s with three brothers. But I never knew why he left Germany. I never knew his dreams or aspirations, what kind of man he was, or what his life was like. I don’t even know his name. And while genealogical research can fill in some gaps, it will never reveal the untold stories of his heart.
It makes me wonder. Will my great-great-grandchildren look at my picture and not know my name, or anything about my life, my passions, my struggles, my dreams? Or will they have heard stories along the way and know that their great-great-grandmother followed her dreams to move back to Montana and become a writer, passionately loved their great-great-grandfather, and wished future generations a world filled with tolerance, trust, love and peace. Continue reading “A Slice of Life: Tuesday, Feb. 23” »
AFP.com Life Blogs: Sunday, Feb. 14
- Dad’s Point of View: Marriage – it’s complicated
- The Dinner Diva: More veggies
- The FlyLady: Make it fun, and the family will help
A Dad’s Point-of-View: Marriage – it’s complicated
Column by Bruce Sallan
www.brucesallan.com
My wife took me to see Nancy Meyers’ new movie, “It’s Complicated,” which stars Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin. She had seen it a day or two before and wanted to see it with me saying, “It would be good for us.” Honestly, I do tend to like what is typically labeled “chick flicks” but don’t like director Nancy Meyers’ perfect world, perfect rich characters, perfect looking people, dressed and coifed just perfectly. But, for the sake of marital harmony, I agreed.
I didn’t expect what followed. Throughout the movie, my wife was jabbing me in the ribs whenever she wanted me to notice a point being made that she felt related to me or us. So, I left with bruised ribs, which ached even more toward the end of the movie during the one, truly hilarious scene. I really enjoyed laughing that hard, in spite of the pained ribs, which I’ve totally exaggerated for sympathy anyway.
Without a doubt, the best thing about the movie is that comic scene near the end. “It’s Complicated” is also that rare movie title that really works and has so many other relevant meanings related to life, marriage, raising kids, and even a facebook status. Continue reading “AFP.com Life Blogs: Sunday, Feb. 14” »
Basic skills
Column by Leanne Ely
www.savingdinner.com
Basic kitchen skills translate into meal making, a crucial component to running a home. Now before you start to panic, please know that doesn’t mean you need a degree from Cordon Bleu in order to make dinner for your family! You need skills—that is all. That and a good recipe or two. (I can help you with that!)
Cooking skills fall into two different categories: preparation and actual cooking. Preparation involves getting the food ready to be cooked, using skills such as chopping, dicing, and other fun stuff with a knife. All of this translates into preparation, or prep work as we Dinner Divas like to call it.
The cooking part (this is where you dispense of the knife and start using the heat) can be a little tricky, but mostly it’s because the cook doesn’t know the stove. Getting to know your own stovetop is as essential as understanding concepts like preheating (don’t put the food in until the oven is heated to the indicated temperature), broiling (food cooked under the heat source), and my favorite, grilling outdoors on a barbecue grill. Continue reading “Basic skills” »
Going organic
Column by Leanne Ely
www.savingdinner.com
I get asked all the time about using organic food to healthfully feed your family. My answer invariably is yes, go as organic and as natural as you can afford to. If going “all the way” isn’t possible, at least go with some organic produce. Don’t worry, I’ve got a resource that will help you choose your priorities.
The Environmental Working Group publishes a Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce and came up with this list called The Dirty Dozen; the 12 fruits and vegetables they have found to be the most contaminated. The list goes from number 1 (strawberries) being the worst, to cucumbers, being the least of the 12.
You can get a full copy of this report by sending $18 (by check) to Environmental Working Group, 1718 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20009. Continue reading “Going organic” »
Freshman 15
Column by Leanne Ely
www.savingdinner.com
I met a young lady who was complaining about the “Freshman 15″ that she has gained thus far her freshman year at a university here in North Carolina. She couldn’t understand it; all she was eating was salads! She was eating healthy, or so she thought.
Once we talked, the light bulb that went off over her head was blinding. It occurred to me that if this bright coed on full academic scholarship was confused about the calorie content of salads, then she wasn’t alone! So I wanted to write about this and share with y’all.
The bottom line? All salads are not created equal. And sometimes good salads go bad. Let’s break it down. Continue reading “Freshman 15” »
Mindfulness
Column by Leanne Ely
www.SavingDinner.com
I knew it was coming, and it did: the holiday goodies are piling up at my house. Boxes of candy, a cookie sampler basket filled to the brim with every favorite homemade cookie you can imagine. My aching thighs!
But time for a reality check. This is the time of year to hold ground, not try and lose weight. Your regular exercise routine is more important than ever before. So is your eating plan. Yes, eating regularly as much as possible and just having a taste of these goodies that descend on your household is key to holding a firm line on your weight gain. Continue reading “Mindfulness” »
You gotta cook
Dinner Diva column by Leanne Ely
www.savingdinner.com
I grew up in the ’70s, where wide bell bottoms, Richard Nixon and Charlie’s Angels reigned supreme. And even though Helen Reddy was singing, “I am Woman, Hear Me Roar,” most homemakers of that time weren’t exactly burning their bras … they were figuring out the art of juggling a home and a career and were more interested in not burning dinner!
You could say I was one of the original latchkey kids from that era. My mom worked full-time most of my childhood, except when we were really young. She was organized and disciplined. In her words, she ran a “tight ship.” Dinner was never a question mark. My dad, brother, sister and I were never left to our own devices to figure out what to root around in the kitchen for dinner; there was a plan and we stuck to it. As I got older, I was expected to start dinner before my mom got home. Continue reading “You gotta cook” »
Dinner Diva | Clean, or clean out
Column by Leanne Ely
When you consider that we all have refrigerators and like any useful tool, they need cleaning from time to time. I really don’t think anyone needs to read a column on how to clean a fridge, and I’m going to assume we all understand how to do this (soap and water works every time!).
But what I want to talk about today is the difference between cleaning your fridge vs. cleaning OUT your fridge. And before I do, I must come clean that I had the biggest clean out I’ve had in a long, long time and I hang my head in shame. Cleaning out your fridge is akin to a physical confession that you planned poorly and didn’t have the forethought to wisely consume or freeze your food. Continue reading “Dinner Diva | Clean, or clean out” »
Dinner Diva | The C-Word (Cooking)
Column by Leanne Ely
Do you know “someone” who is deathly afraid of the kitchen because of the C-Word? Yes I’m talking about Cooking, capital C! You can easily identify these folks; they’re the ones with an aversion to . Sometimes they’ll abruptly change the subject and talk about photography or bird watching when the subject of feeding your family is brought up.
And then there are those who have a vague notion of what cooking may or may not be. Those folks are a little more obscure and hard to nail down. In the spirit of David Letterman’s Top Ten List, I’ve made my own: Continue reading “Dinner Diva | The C-Word (Cooking)” »
Dinner Diva | Preparedness
Column by Leanne Ely
It occurred to me as I was thinking about menu planning that not planning is choosing to live in an unprepared state. Think about what that means for a minute. Being unprepared means chaos, confusion and regret. Living life in a state of perpetual unpreparedness is highly stressful. Why do we do this to ourselves?
Continue reading “Dinner Diva | Preparedness” »
Leanne Ely: Fiber tips
Posted by afp on March 28, 2010 · Leave a Comment
www.savingdinner.com
If you’re looking for a way to bulk up your diet without bulking up your backside, the answer is fiber. It makes all the difference and will keep your body regular (if you know what I mean) and will fill you up so eating less is easier. Here’s how you do it:
Let’s start with breakfast. Look for cereals with 10 grams or more of fiber – it’ll be listed under nutritional facts. Measure out a cup of cereal, throw on a splash of nonfat or low-fat milk, add some fresh or frozen berries and you’re fibered up and ready to start your day. Continue reading “Leanne Ely: Fiber tips” »
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