A Lesson from John Adams for the 4th

David McCullough in his book JOHN ADAMS describes this: It's George Washington's 2nd term, John Adams is vice-president- a time of turmoil in which Adams shares with Abigail, "this Constitution can not stand... I see nothing but a dissolution of government and immediate war."  During a rare one-on-one dinner with the President, Adams wrote, " he detained me there 'til nine o'clock and was never more frank and open about politics.  I find his opinions and sentiments more like my own than I ever knew..."  I laughed out loud as I read this.  These two founding fathers had know each other 20 years, but only while dining alone did Adams discover George Washington's inner thoughts.  Dinner is a time to discuss and reaffirm what we believe.  The act of sitting down to the dinner table documents who and what is important to us.  This Saturday the fireworks here start at 9 p.m.  Post your set time for dinner hour and see what opinions you discover.

 

Apple, iPhone- Dinner, Cooking Co-Op

Front page, Richmond Times Dispatch June 20th reads,"The smartphone revolution... For Many, iPhone is a life-changer."  If you buy my DVD "If It's Tuesday...It's My Night To Cook" you will understand... for many, cooking co-op/supper swap is a life-changer.  Just like people are enjoying the benefits of the newest version  of Apple's smartphone, Betsy R. is enjoying the "apps" of cooking co-op.  After reading the article-see helpful resources tab- she started a cooking co-op of her own.  For her this new food-delivery revolution is a life-changer.  Since she no longer tries to plan, shop, cook or eat out 7 days /week, she is saving "money hand over fists", coming home from work and actually sitting down to talk with her husband, and laughing as her 7 year old son, who does not talk to girls, shares with a co-op sibling, "Your mommy made my dinner last night."  Technology is meant to enhance our life, not to take it over.  So while buying a new iPhone, buy a new DVD and down-load the GPS app to send you home for a cooking co-op dinner.  The people in your lives matter most and food is the WD-40 that builds and maintains relationships.  How appetizing would a dinner be- just apples?

The Need for Cookery Schools in America

In her article "My Moveable Feast: Gastro-tourism in Paris", Sara Lodge describes a variety of cooking schools in Paris ranging from one hour lunch breaks for office workers to six hour classes where you first shop then go to a sleek apartment to cook a three-course lunch.  One manager explained: "Even in France, people have forgotten how to cook.  We wanted to remind them."  WOW!  If the French have forgotten how to cook,  there must be a need in this country, during these financially difficult times, to teach want-to-be cooks how and where to begin.  And even if you are a competent home cook, there is much to learn from cooking demonstrations.  My tuna cakes recipe idea( see helpful resources) was a by-product from a cooking demo.  Sara Lodge found from these cookery schools, "When you teach someone to cook, you communicate your philosophy of life."  There is more to cooking than the need to refuel... it is a "habit of the soul."

Pressure is a Privilege--Part 2

The second chapter of this book by Billie Jean King is "Lessons at the Dinner Table."  She and her brother were seriously involved in sports- tennis and baseball.  (Her brother went on to play 10 years in the major leagues.)  Her father, a firefighter had a difficult schedule.  "It was hard to find us all in one place at the same time --except for dinner... Dinner was a time for us to just sit down and talk, to connect,check in and find out what we were up to, air grievances, laugh, and tell stories.  My parents would talk to us about school, sports, our problems, even things like philosophy.  And they were very big on instilling good values in us from a very early age. The lessons were not earth- shattering, but were- and still are- absolutely essential."  Ms. King ends her chapter with 5 Rules for Life:  From My Dinner Table to Yours.  Be polite.  Show respect to yourself and others.  Listen to and engage your elders.  Give to those less fortunate than yourself.  Show gratitude.  Consider these  lessons from a pro--time spent at the dinner table brings victory to many aspects of our lives.  

McDonalds...Tiger woods...Cooking Co-Op

McDonalds has expanded all over the world by having a systematic, consistent formula for making hamburgers and french fries.  Tiger Woods has perfected his stance, grip, and swing.  He doesn't use one grip one day and use another grip another day.  That is the power of cooking co-op.  If it's Tuesday,  I know it's my night to cook.  I have talked to some of you that do cooking co-op one week out of the month.  You love the ease and simplicity of that one week.  Cooking co-op gives you repeatable consistent success to celebrate your day with family mealtime.  Put cooking co-op's systematic, consistent formula into every week...become a world champion and like Nike says...just DO IT!