Can't We Just Send This To Them?

You know, when I was a kid and didn’t want to finish what was on my dinner plate I was told, “There are little boys and girls in China who don’t have any food to eat, so finish your dinner!”

It took me a few years to come back with the line, “Can’t we just send this to them?” as I looked down at my Brussels sprouts. If you’ve read this blog before, you know how I feel about those little-green-baby-heads.

I had visions of putting my food into a container and then boxing it up and taking it to the post office and mailing it off to China. Once there, some little Chinese girl or boy about my age would open it up and be grateful for the Brussels sprouts that they’d grow up, come to America, find me to say thank you and we’d become the bestest of friends. Yeah, wild imagination, I know. It’s what gets me through.

When my nephew was little and didn’t want to eat his chicken nuggets, I told him, “There are little kids in Boznia that don’t have enough to eat, so finish up!” Part of it was because it was true at the time, but it was just a way of getting back at some poor, little kid for what my own mother had said to me. Yeah, I know there’s something wrong with that, but Tyler’s ok today at nearly 19 years old. I didn’t do any permanent damage.

Today, when I think about kids not having enough to eat, it now comes closer to home. Those kids without enough food to eat are right here in the United States. Some are probably right in my own neighborhood. How is it that the richest, most powerful country in the world can have its children going to bed without dinner or wondering where their next meal is going to come from? It confounds me.

How can you and I, besides collecting non-perishable foods, make a difference in this calamity? Any ideas?

Here’s one place in the U.S. that’s doing something…
You know, when I was a kid and didn’t want to finish what was on my dinner plate I was told, “There are little boys and girls in China who don’t have any food to eat, so finish your dinner!”

It took me a few years to come back with the line, “Can’t we just send this to them?” as I looked down at my Brussels sprouts. If you’ve read this blog before, you know how I feel about those little-green-baby-heads.

I had visions of putting my food into a container and then boxing it up and taking it to the post office and mailing it off to China. Once there, some little Chinese girl or boy about my age would open it up and be grateful for the Brussels sprouts that they’d grow up, come to America, find me to say thank you and we’d become the bestest of friends. Yeah, wild imagination, I know. It’s what gets me through.

When my nephew was little and didn’t want to eat his chicken nuggets, I told him, “There are little kids in Boznia that don’t have enough to eat, so finish up!” Part of it was because it was true at the time, but it was just a way of getting back at some poor, little kid for what my own mother had said to me. Yeah, I know there’s something wrong with that, but Tyler’s ok today at nearly 19 years old. I didn’t do any permanent damage.

Today, when I think about kids not having enough to eat, it now comes closer to home. Those kids without enough food to eat are right here in the United States. Some are probably right in my own neighborhood. How is it that the richest, most powerful country in the world can have its children going to bed without dinner or wondering where their next meal is going to come from? It confounds me.

How can you and I, besides collecting non-perishable foods, make a difference in this calamity? Any ideas?

Here’s one place in the U.S. that’s doing something…

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/06/132705940/l-a-effort-matches-leftover-food-with-the-hungry?utm_source=streamsend&utm_medium=email&utm_content=13208969&utm_campaign=Food%20News%20Friday%2C%20January%207

A Letter of Apology

Dear Take Out Restaurant Cashier:

I would like to apologize in advance for the misery I’m going to cause you.

It’s Friday night. The end of the work week and those of us at home are ready to relax with a few good eats and some lively spirits. My order was called in about 30 minutes ago and its for a group of five adults who are ravenous.

We know Fridays are busy for your restaurant, but it’s when we like to do take out; go figure.

Now, I don’t live a hop, skip and a jump away. I live in what is often referred to as B.F.E., the boonies, the country, the piney woods, the boondocks and a plethora of other names for my out-of-the-way location. So, when I order take out, it’s usually a 20 minute drive to the restaurant. Then a 20 minute drive home. A 40 minute drive round trip, you see. Not the most convenient, but one has to do, what one has to do, right?

When I first moved to my house, we’d do take out and get home to find that there was one meal missing. Living where I do, makes it most inconvenient to drive all the way back here to get that meal, so here’s what I’ve learned to do:

1. Come in and greet you with a smile and give you my name, phone number, order number or whatever I can to identify what was called in for you to make us for dinner.
2. Next, I pay you for that order. For five people, we often order sandwiches or platters, quarts or pints with all the sides and fixin’s to go with. This can add up to a substantial amount of cash or plastic, of which I am happy to give you, as your food will make my night extremely pleasant.
3. Finally, after years of screwed up orders, I am going to take each item out of the bag you carefully packed. Remember, I apologized up front for causing you misery. I know this is tremendously inconvenient with a line of others waiting to pay for and receive their sacks of take out goodies, but if I go home without the right stuff, you have no idea what wrath I’ll receive.

Thank you for your time and patience and I’ll be back soon!

Horse meat? I don't think so!

Vegas Summit Advocates Return to Horses as Food
BLM chief attends Las Vegas horse summit organized by euthanasia supporters
The Associated Press
Post a Comment By CRISTINA SILVA Associated Press
LAS VEGAS January 4, 2011 (AP)



http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=12538943&utm_source=streamsend&utm_medium=email&utm_content=13196523&utm_campaign=Food%20News%20Wednesday%2C%20January%205

This is Cantastic!

This is just the thing to get people to donate food for the hungry! Check out this website!

http://www.canstruction.org/

Not Why I Collect Corks, But A Great Idea, Too...

People ask me why when I open a bottle of wine, when I toss a cork into a large lidded jar at home where I keep them, what I'm saving them for. I usally tell them I'm making a boat. Typically the answer is followed by an "ahhhh..." with a nodding head, then the questions start.

My friend Patti gave me a book to read called Cork Boat, by John Pollack. Here is the Amazon page where you can read a synopsis of the book.

http://www.amazon.com/Cork-Boat-John-Pollack/dp/0375422579/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1288110360&sr=1-2

It is my all-time favorite book! A page-turner! Couldn't put it down!

So, my collection of corks is for something...maybe a boat, maybe not...but it sure is a conversation starter and brings the memory of the book back every time!

Here's an idea I just found from the LA Times off of Food News Journal.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2010/10/wine-corks.html

Wegmans - Please come to Quakertown!

I have been pining away for a Wegmans grocery store in Quakertown for about 11 years; since my first foray into their 'Marketplace' when I worked for Aetna in Allentown all that many years ago.

They have some of the freshest take out food and a variety of products that outshines most food courts! Their store section is wonderful and if you stay out of the Marketplace area, you don't spend anymore money than at any other grocery store.

It's that Marketplace that can set you back about $40-$50 or more for a quick and easy dinner idea! But, oh what great food they have! Took my sister who lives in Maine, to the one in Allentown for a field trip when she visited once. She, like me was way over stimulated on her first visit.

They have sushi, a Chinese buffet, a submarine sandwich station, pizza counter, a bakery that is simply overwhelming, a hot bar, a salad bar and a deli. There is also a cheese counter with chunks of cheese from all over the globe, an olive and pickle bain marie and fresh meats and seafood galore. In some of these places, you can get beer in PA. Of course this is well controlled with limits and can only be purchased in the Marketplace with ID.

As for produce...this is awesome at Wegmans. Both local and in season like peaches, apples, corn and tomatoes and non-local like truffles, cheramoyas, star fruit and fresh figs.

Have you shopped at a Wegmans? Every time I have, their employees have been helpful, kind and cheerful. A friend of mine told me you can take expired coupons to them and they'll give you the amount off, regardless! How cool is that for a grocery store?

I'm not getting any kickbacks nor am I trying to advertise for them, but wishing they'd open one closer to me. I like the variety and would even consider working there since they are listed as one of the best places to work - 13 years in a row!

I'd just like to have the opportunity to shop at a place that treats their employees well, has great variety and is concientous about their service.

Glass in Frozen Veggies - PLEASE READ!

How does this happen? We'll probably never know, but for safety's sake folks...read on!

Supplier recalls frozen vegetables because of glass fragments
By the CNN Wire Staff
October 17, 2010 -- Updated 1923 GMT (0323 HKT)

(CNN) -- Packages containing frozen vegetables sold by Wal-Mart nationwide and Kroger stores in the Southeast may contain glass fragments, the supplier said Friday in announcing a voluntary recall.

While there have been no reports of injuries, the Pictsweet Co. of Bells, Tennessee, is advising the public not to eat the recalled store-brand vegetables because of the potential for harm.

Consumers should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund, Pictsweet said.

The voluntary recall covers the following items:

-- Kroger 12-ounce Green Peas (UPC 11110 89736). Production Codes of 1440BU, 1440BV, 1440BW, and 1600BD.

-- Kroger 12-ounce Peas and Carrots (UPC 11110 89741). Production Codes of 1960BD and 1960BE.

-- Great Value 12-ounce Steamable Sweet Peas (UPC 78742 08369). Best by dates of July 20, 2012; July 21, 2012.

-- Great Value 12-ounce Steamable Mixed Vegetables (UPC 78742 08026). Best by date of July 15, 2012.

Consumers with questions may contact Pictsweet toll-free at 1-800-367-7412, extension 417, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Daylight Time, Monday through Friday.