CurrentMom

No Doldrums Here -- Winter Fruit Salad

Meal Monday

Admittedly, it's January in Boston and it's 60 degrees outside. Climate change? Freak weather? Both? Most likely. But it's still winter and the fruit selection at the markets ain't what they used to be, as they say.

What's a conscientious (or somewhat aware) mom supposed to do? What works in place of the gorgeous peaches, plums, nectarines, etc. of summer? O summer fruit, where art thou? For the most part, the mealy imported substitutes just don't cut it.

So I'm embracing my inner winter foodie. Stand by for exciting squash and parsnip recipes in the near future, but for now, let's go with a winter fruit salad.

Teach Our Children Well

Truth Thursday

I did something this week I haven’t done in years – I gave a homeless person $1 as I walked by. I was in a tony part of town, hyper-conscious of having just repaired my Mac computer at the local Apple store, toting a fancy $10 salad home for lunch, wearing a cute coat I had picked up in Paris on my last trip, and looking at my iPhone. 

And there he was, sitting on a box, smoking a cigarette, his hand out. And without really thinking about it, I reached into my wallet, handed him a dollar bill, and smiled, and he smiled back and thanked me.

And now I can’t stop thinking about it.

Decades ago, living in New York during what was the height of the homelessness/crack crisis, I told myself that I would not give money to people on the street. Instead, I would do what many people tell themselves they do – I would give it to organizations that help the homeless.

Except I never have. I give money away, but I always wind up giving to organizations that lead the fight around social issues that I care most deeply about, and frankly, homelessness has never quite made it to the top of that long list. I once participated in a rally and march on Washington for housing, but that was more because my boss at the time was involved and asked me to be too.

But I was so conscious of who I was, walking in Bethesda that morning, with all my fancy accouterments, compared with this poor man sitting on the sidewalk, that I caved. And it made me feel a little better about myself … momentarily.

My kids and I have had some conversations about homelessness and extreme poverty. My oldest is very self righteous about how privileged we are, and although he doesn’t do anything in a volunteer capacity about it, he understands. My two younger kids have come to Manna, a local food distribution warehouse for our county, to help pack boxes; we’ve volunteered at the local JCC on Thanksgiving and at local shelters on Christmas. Homelessness doesn’t generally stare them in the face as it did for me when I was there age, living in New York City, but they are vaguely aware and indeed, aware that it is our responsibility to help when we can.

But is any of it enough?

Wild Rice Salad -- Earthy and Easy

Meal Monday

I am on a perpetual quest for wholesome yet sophisticated dishes to expand my repertoire. And the simpler the recipe the better.

Naturally, I tend to cook what I find appealing and often try to recreate something I've had at a restaurant. For years, I've enjoyed wild rice side dishes. These are good warm alongside chicken, beef or fish, but they also work well as a cold salad.

The other day, I approximated what I've had many times at many restaurants. It's really good and really easy -- thus ticking my two main boxes.

Transforming from Dogs to Cats - the Adolescent Parlor Trick

Truth Thursday

A few years ago, as our two oldest boys were simultaneously wading into the shoals of early adolescence, a friend sent me a brilliant essay on how, as kids grow from elementary school age to teens, they essentially morph from being dogs to being cats. 

I am here to say that it is absolutely true. I currently have one cranky old cat, one spunky kitten and one aging but happy puppy living under my roof – and my family is still in negotiation about whether to get a real pet.

My oldest, who was still an older dog/younger kitten at the time of the article, is now 17 and has completely transformed into an old, mercurial cat. He shows up in public for food, but only on his own schedule, and only will eat what he likes.

He enjoys the downstairs living space when no one else is home, stretching his long, lanky limbs out on the couch, watching tv and leaving a trail of cracker crumbs and juice spills in the kitchen on his way. But as soon as he hears the key in the lock, he hightails it upstairs to his room, with his door always closed and often locked (against house rules.) He will reappear around 10:00 at night, after having taken his early evening nap, and stretch and scrounge for dinner leftovers. 

He ignores you completely in the early morning when he has to get up long before his circadian rhythms tell him it’s time, and he snarls at night when you need to ask him a question. But if he has a question or a need, it’s right now, immediately, or else he retreats to his lair, mumbling under his breath about the unfairness of it all.

Left to his own devices with no school or work responsibilities, he would sleep about 18 hours a day.