The Roots of Homelessness

~ Teresa ~ 5 Comments

Two weeks ago, I wrote about an investigative series that CTV British Columbia was conducting on the subject of homelessness. Today, I want to follow up on that post. The series, called Off the Streets, covered a number of issues, including drug and alcohol addiction, as well as the special problems faced by homeless youth and single mothers. Mi-Jung Lee and Jon Woodward explored a number of solutions as well, focusing on supportive housing, sobering centres and programs to keep single mothers and youth off the streets.

Throughout the series, we heard that youth who had been through the foster care system, single mothers and First Nations people are particularly at risk of becoming homeless. What wasn’t mentioned is that these groups also face a higher risk of poverty or that as poverty increases in this country, so does homelessness.

It’s not easy to discuss poverty without running up against political and ideological differences. It can be safer to stick to the necessary work of finding strategies to help the people who have already found themselves disenfranchised.

Discussions about poverty in Canada are happening though, in the context of homelessness, but also in relation to poverty’s other consequences, like the toll poverty takes on the health care system and societal productivity levels. Here are a few links to some of these discussions:

Housing and Homelessness – CCPA
Child Poverty Statistics – CCRC
Poverty in Canada – The Economist

I hope that we can, as a culture, really commit to eradicating poverty and reducing income disparity, thus attacking the roots of problems like homelessness, crime and illness.

Stylish Blogger Award

~ Teresa ~ 13 Comments

Elaine at California Living was sweet enough to send me a Stylish Blogger Award. Betsy at A Plateful of Happiness was kind enough to give me one, too.

Sometimes the hardest thing about blogging isn’t finding subjects for posts or getting a really good photograph. The hardest part can be connecting with others to turn your monologue into a conversation. Kim at The Yummy Mummy Cooks Gourmet wrote a great piece called Thoughts on How to Stop Writing a Billboard in the Desert, which really puts a lot of this in perspective. She suggests you build your own tribe, rather than relying on people to discover you.

The Stylish Blogger Award is one way of doing this. Curate a list of bloggers you enjoy, let them know that you appreciate what they’re doing and then have them come up with a list of their own. Make sure you explore these lists and you’re bound to find people that you connect with. Leave comments for some of these new discoveries, start some conversations and pretty soon the blogosphere might seem a little less lonely.

Here’s how it works:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award:

Thanks so much to Elaine at California Living for choosing my blog as one of her fifteen. I’ve enjoyed her blog so much and it’s wonderful to know that she’s enjoyed mine, too.

Thanks to Betsy at A Plateful of Happiness for choosing my blog as part of her list, too. She writes with us on French Fridays and I enjoy her posts about cooking, life and reading.

2. Share 7 things about yourself:

1. I do drink beverages other than tea. Really.
2. Some say chocolate and some say lemon. I say both.
3. Though my dog does have a jacket, I am not one of “those” people.
4. I knit and crochet, but not as often as I’d like.
5. I still have cassette tapes and the means with which to play them.
6. The only sport I’ve ever been good at is curling.
7. I think Michael Quinion of World Wide Words is always right.

3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers:

Play With String Crochet, knitting and cleverness
¡Me Gusta! Clever insights on architecture, music, urban issues and more
The not so exciting adventures of a dabbler… The highs and lows of kitchen adventures, with a dollop of humour
Vegan Thyme Amazing feats of recipe adaptation
Maroc Mama Food, travel and family
Miss Kris Kitchen Beautifully presented food with lovely stories
Everything But the Cake Food and knitting, PDX-style
Tammy Circeo Food and photography
Prof Who Cooks One of our newest FFwD members
The Kitchenarian Beautifully designed, full of food
The Barefoot Kitchen Witch Cooking, Gardening, Crafting and those Cakes!
The CSA Files Cooking with the bounty from an agricultural share
Lemon Tart A Vancouver Foodie
rainy day kitchen Beautiful, clean design and photography from another FFwD participant
napangel Fantastic photography

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

Happy to and I hope that you take the time to visit Elaine and the others I’ve listed. I think you’ll enjoy their blogs, too.

Update – February 8, 2011:

Kathy of Bakeaway With Me gave me this award today. Thanks so much, Kathy! I always enjoy reading your blog. I encourage everyone to go and take a look!

Please check out everyone on my blogroll and do browse through all the participants’ blogs for French Fridays with Dorie. It’s by sharing our favourites that we can build community.

More, not Less

~ Teresa ~ 3 Comments

When we think of community, it’s usually in the context of what the members of a community have in common. It can be more difficult to remember that none of the communities we belong to are monolithic.

How do we make our communities accessible, whether they are communities of interest, identity or geography? What makes a neighbourhood/event/discussion safe and accessible?

Defensiveness is often the response to these questions. But this defensiveness only serves to break down community. Being open to critique and change can only strengthen it.

Curb cuts and bike lanes are hard-won concessions that increase everyone’s ability to get around a neighbourhood. Providing precise accessibility information for events lets people know if it’s possible to attend and also leads to the awareness needed to plan more inclusively in the future. Identifying our areas of privilege can help us to stop erasing or ignoring the experiences and contributions of others. Stepping back when asked to by people whose experience of privilege is different from your own doesn’t diminish community; it widens it.

FFWD – Michel Rostang’s Double Chocolate Mousse Cake

~ Teresa ~ 25 Comments

Almost five months after buying Around My French Table, there’s still a little bit of the scent of new book about it, but that’s fading fast. It’s now starting to look like some of the most-used cookbooks in my collection. One page has a drop of braising liquid and on another there’s a tiny stain from Valrhona chocolate. I’m sure that there’s also some gluten-free flour mix dusted throughout. At least I don’t dog-ear the pages (shudder).

Ultimately, I think those stains are the markers of a successful cookbook. Though I try to keep my cookbooks safe from my culinary adventures, I inevitably put a chocolately finger on the page or spatter some too enthusiastically stirred broth over the book. I’ve a few that are still pristine; those are likely to end up in a box at a yard sale someday. Those that I enjoy most are no longer so pretty.

It’s safe to say that I’m enjoying cooking from Around My French Table. Learning from Dorie Greenspan and from each other, the group has made some delicious dishes so far. This week’s recipe has inspired me to do a little learning beyond the AMFT classroom. Since the double chocolate mousse cake almost cries out for ice cream, I pulled out my (brand new) copy of David Lebovitz’ Ready for Dessert and looked for a suitable match. I don’t have an ice cream freezer, but that wasn’t too much of a barrier. I used his frozen caramel mousse recipe, along with salted almonds (both of which are meant to be served with sherry-glazed pears and chocolate, but those will have to wait for another time).

The cake itself is mostly a matter of stirring. Once the chocolate is melted, the rest of the ingredients are incorporated bit by bit, save for the egg whites, which are folded in at the end. The most time-consuming part of the process for me was walking down the block to the corner coffee shop, Bump N Grind, to pick up the espresso. I don’t usually drink coffee at home (I’m a mildly obsessive tea drinker) and my neighbourhood is known for very good espresso, so there’s little reason for me to keep coffee on hand. I used to have a fantastic chocolate cake recipe (which I’ve sadly lost) that used a long Americano. I lived closer to Continental Coffee then and entertained enough that they knew exactly what I was up to when I came in. It brought back memories when I walked into the shop yesterday and asked for a third of a cup of espresso.

I chose to bake the cake twice and serve it cold, which is Dorie’s favourite version. You can also bake it once and serve it with chilled chocolate mousse on top or bake it twice and serve it warm. I think there’s some experimentation called for, to make sure I identify my favourite version of this cake. I don’t think I’ll manage it all at once, though.

What I can tell you is that the cake is dense and delicious, reminiscent of a brownie, but much more sophisticated. The hint of espresso works really well with the bittersweet chocolate. Adding caramel mousse and salted almonds? Amazing.

You can find many other blogged descriptions of this week’s FFWD recipe here: Michel Rostang’s Double Chocolate Mousse Cake

A First Step

~ Teresa ~ 6 Comments

The City of Vancouver has made a commitment to eliminate homelessness by 2015, which Mayor Gregor Robertson has said is targeted toward street homelessness. Already, the number of shelter beds available in the city has made an impact on how many people are sleeping on the street, but longer-term solutions need to be addressed as well.

Local television station CTV is in the midst of an eight-part investigative series on homelessness. Their first segment focused on the non-profit Streetohome, which aims to raise 26 million dollars to fund new supportive housing complexes. Their mandate includes providing “permanent stable housing with appropriate support services.” They’ve also identified a number of at-risk groups and intend to provide services to them that will address the issues that may lead them to become homeless.

While I think that the work that Streetohome does is fantastic, it’s only one aspect of how homelessness must be addressed. Philanthropic solutions cannot be the only action taken to relieve homelessness. Economic disenfranchisement is becoming a greater factor in our culture, especially in a city as expensive as Vancouver. I’ll be watching the CTV series with interest, to see how broadly they explore the issue.

FFWD – Gnocchi à la Parisienne

~ Teresa ~ 10 Comments

Though I’ve eaten traditional gnocchi many times, I’ve only made it once. My sister and I were invited to make it with a family friend and her daughter. Over the course of a morning, we made enough for about fifteen meals, which we divided amongst our households. I remember it was a very tactile process, with flour covering a wide countertop and our hands pulling at the dough, rolling and shaping it and then pressing each gnocco with the back of a fork. A tomato sauce simmered on the stove while we worked, ready for the gnocchi we set aside to cook for our lunch. It was, of course, worth all the effort.

Considerably less effort was needed to make this week’s recipe, Gnocchi à la Parisienne. Since it’s made of pâte à choux instead of potato-based dough, a stand mixer takes most of the work out of making this dish. Shaping the gnocchi also took very little time, as they’re dropped by the teaspoonful. I chose to freeze most of mine and let the balance of the dough rest while I made the béchamel sauce.

I halved the béchamel, which came together quickly, though it was thicker than other recipes I’ve made. It was easy enough to spread in the baking dish and over the cooked gnocchi and I think its thickness was an asset once it was baked. I used a mixture of Gruyère and Parmesan on top.


                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       

My first bites were dominated by the flavour of the cheeses. But as I ate my way through the dish, the nutmeg started to assert itself, along with the very tender texture of the gnocchi and the creaminess of the béchamel. The cheeses began to complement the other flavours and textures, rather than overwhelm them. I enjoyed it, though I’m not sure it was enough for me to want to make this again. It is making me want to try making potato gnocchi again, just for comparison. Maybe I’ll organize another work party.

You can find many other blogged descriptions of this week’s FFWD recipe here: Gnocchi à la Parisienne

It’s Snowing

~ Teresa ~ 4 Comments

It’s snowing now. Which is exciting, in the short term, for those of us who were raised in the Lower Mainland. We only see a week or two each year. Those raised in regions with snowy winters rarely share our excitement.

Sadly, it started too late to take any dog-in-snow portraits.

A Childhood Favourite, Improved

~ Teresa ~ 6 Comments

Once I’d tasted the Paris Mushroom Soup from last week’s French Fridays With Dorie assignment, I realized that my previous experiences with canned mushroom soup had unfairly prejudiced me against all mushroom soups. Then, my thoughts turned to the one mushroom dish that I could tolerate when I was small, Tuna Rice Casserole. Though it was made with canned mushroom soup, I loved it. Which started me wondering how much better this casserole could be, if it were made with the leftovers of a really good mushroom soup.

I’d cooked a full recipe of the soup, thinking we’d have enough for two meals and another meal’s serving to freeze. Instead, I came up with this recipe:

Tuna Rice Casserole

4 cups cooked brown rice
2 cups grated aged Cheddar (I used Dubliner) mixed with ¼ cup grated parmesan
2 thinly sliced scallions (all but dark green parts)
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1 clove finely chopped garlic
2 cans tuna (in water), drained
2 cups homemade mushroom soup (I used Dorie Greenspan’s Paris Mushroom Soup)
2 tablespoons crème fraiche
1 teaspoon crumbled dried sage leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Set aside a ½ cup of the cheese. Butter an 8X8 baking dish.. Preheat the oven to 350 °.

Mix the scallions, parsley, garlic and tuna with the rice. Then, stir in 1½ cups of cheese.

In a separate bowl, whisk the crème fraiche into the soup, then stir in the crumbled sage leaves. Stir the soup mixture into the rice mixture. Season with salt and pepper and give the mixture a final stir, then pour into the baking dish and smooth with a spatula. Top the casserole with the reserved cheese and bake for 30 minutes. If you like, you may run the casserole under the broiler for a minute or so to brown the cheese.

Variations: If I’d had more mushrooms on hand, I would have browned some more sage in butter, then sautéed a ½ cup of sliced mushrooms to add to the casserole. You could omit the scallions and sauté some finely chopped shallots with the mushrooms instead. You could also add bread crumbs (gluten-free or no) to the topping, if that’s your thing. Or you could use different herbs or cheeses. And of course, you could substitute another sort of dairy for the crème fraiche (or leave it out altogether).

It’s been at least a decade since I’ve had this dish, but I’m positive that this version is an improvement on the original. I suppose it’s ironic that I gave the Paris Mushroom Soup this treatment, since many people in the cooking group have been remarking what a healthful, low fat antidote the soup has been to all the excesses of December. But, I just had to make it. You could serve it with a salad, though, it pairs nicely.

FFWD – Paris Mushroom Soup

~ Teresa ~ 23 Comments

When I was young, my father used to call me an unnatural child because I didn’t like mushrooms. He’d been raised on a mushroom farm and took my distaste for them a little personally. I’ve made my peace with mushrooms over the years, but I still don’t seek them out. (Unless it’s Chicken of the Woods. If you have that, I’m coming to your house right now. Save me some.)

It’s World War II that made me the daughter of the son of a mushroom farmer. My grandfather was a veteran of that war and after he returned to Canada, he became a graphic artist. After a while, the company he worked for wanted to transfer him to the United States. But he had three sons and didn’t want them to be subject to U.S. draft laws. So, he gave up the job and started a mushroom farm instead.

I remember the mushroom barns. They were huge buildings, which we only entered under supervision. The button mushrooms glowed a little in the dim light and the smell of mushroom manure was surprisingly sweet. We would sometimes play hide-and-seek around the outside of the buildings, but mostly we played in the woods on the other side of the property. It’s a residential subdivision now.

So, although I didn’t eat mushrooms for many years, I had a soft spot for them. I’m also developing a soft spot for Paris Mushroom Soup. My mushroom-loving partner enjoyed it, as expected, but I really liked it, too. The soup starts with a reduction of white wine and the juices of the mushrooms. It ends with the addition of a “salad” of raw mushrooms and herbs, and a dollop of crème fraiche to finish it. Though I wouldn’t have made it without the prompting of the French Fridays With Dorie schedule, I’m glad I did.

UPDATE: Here’s what I did with the leftovers: Tuna Rice Casserole

You can find many other blogged descriptions of this week’s FFWD recipe here: Paris Mushroom Soup

Skills for Living

~ Teresa ~ 5 Comments
Just because it's pretty

Sewing is one of those skills I’ve been meaning to master for many years, but it just hasn’t happened. When I was in junior high, I did my obligatory time in Home Economics, which was enough to scare me away from sewing for a long, long time.

There were two Home Ec. teachers in my school. The cooking instructor was famous for her erratic and fickle moods, but because I cooked at home with my mother, I came away with no lasting scars. The sewing teacher made all of her own skirt suits and came to school each day in full evening makeup, her long nails freshly painted. She was icy to all but a few in the class and generally left the rest of us to figure out our assignments on our own. To make matters worse, I was very ill for several weeks that semester and when I returned, I found that she’d confiscated all my sewing equipment. I managed to pass the semester (and get some of the contents of my sewing box back), but I kept my distance from sewing machines from then on. I limited my sewing to replacing buttons and hand-sewing simple hems.

At the time, it didn’t seem like a big loss. I felt very DIY for mastering thrift-shopping and I needed to spend a lot of leisure time scouring Odyssey Imports for the Brit Pop that local radio stations so criminally neglected to play.

As the Handmade Revolution took hold, I took up knitting again and taught myself how to crochet. After a while, though, I started to notice the cute outfits and accessories that others were sewing. I realized that much of it was very simple in design and thought, I should be able to do that.

Well, I’m determined that this year I am going to learn how. Maybe I won’t be making myself a dress with darts and gathers, but I’m going to have at least one tote bag made with cute fabric and I’m going to feel confident enough to hem my pants on a machine.
I’m signing up for a Sewing Machine 101 class at Spool of Thread. I’ll meet you back here early next month and let you know how it went.