My girlfriend mentioned the other night that my Twitter feed was looking a bit "complain-y" (my word, not hers) and in taking a look, I agree. Over the course of Thanksgiving weekend I posted complaints on Twitter about negative experiences with 3 businesses about service and/or quality issues. I like to think that I also post when I have positive experiences at places but I think the old saying is true that customers who have positive experiences with your business will tell a few people and those who have negative experiences will tell EVERYONE.
For me, it seems that when I dine out I have the same problem at a lot of different restaurants - which makes me wonder if it's a problem for anyone else. Once my food has been served, the server will tend to act as if they are done serving the table. There is no coming back to check and make sure everything is okay, if the order was correct, is everything is cooked as requested, etc. This is especially an issue if the food is delivered by someone other than who took the order, which happens at many restaurants. If there is a problem and one or two people at the table are not eating because their order was wrong and the server is nowhere to be found, now the meal is awkward for the whole table. No one knows whether they should eat or not, food gets cold, people are unhappy and the whole problem could have been solved with a simple 30 second "Hey, how is everything here? Everyone's food come out okay?"
Along those same lines, another issue I have had repeatedly lately is that I can't get anyone to refill my drink once my food has been delivered. I have had this happen a number of times, I get to a place, sit down, order a drink, order food, get the drink - which is gone by the time I get my food, and no one ever comes back to see if I would like another. Having practically grown up in my family's restaurant, I know how much of a restaurant's profit comes from booze sales - a lot. Keep the drinks coming, servers. This is especially important if you are serving any type of spicy food - Mexican, Thai, Japanese, Cajun, etc. I have walked out of restaurants leaving food behind that I'm unable to finish because I can't get a server's attention to bring me another drink to cool off my mouth while eating spicy food. So I walk away, unsatisfied, cranky, in seek of something to drink elsewhere and not likely to ever return no matter how good the food is.
And probably my biggest pet peeve - not bringing the check. This usually happens after the two above complaints - I'm not being served any more food, I may not have finished the food I did order because I'm not being served anything else to drink, no one is checking to make sure everything is okay, and then I can't flag down or make eye contact with a server to get them to bring the check. In my opinion, this is probably the worst thing a server can do to a customer. I've got an empty glass, an empty plate, I may have somewhere else (a show, a movie, work, etc.) I'm supposed to be - but I have to wait for someone to bring me my check so I can pay and leave. I'm trapped there - as I'm not the type to walk out without paying - and I'm frustrated and...what do I have to entertain me while I'm sitting there frustrated? My phone - with access to a few hundred of my closest friends on Facebook and Twitter to tell them just how awful an experience I'm having at wherever I happen to be. It's probably not the best way to handle the situation, but it is what happens. To be fair, I also try to do the same thing when I'm having a wonderful experience or have eaten/drank something amazing, although I probably don't do it with the same frequency as the negative. Another important thing to note - this is also the time I'm thinking about leaving a tip. You could have been amazingly attentive and helpful in the begining of a meal, but if you've completely abandoned me once you dropped off the food and I've had to flag you down or ask you more than once for the check, guess what happens to your tip amount...
My stepfather ran a restaurant when I was growing up, and I spent a lot of time there - working, eating, and just hanging out. I worked for 15 years in a service industry as a Customs broker, spending many of those years as an account manager tasked with coordinating work over a network to make sure that my clients were receiving the same high level of service no matter where their freight was being cleared. In 2010 I walked away from a lucrative corporate job and ended up working on a food truck for 7 months having very direct interaction with customers. So, I like to think I understand what it's like to work in the service industry and I bring that perspective as a customer when I go out. I'm not horribly picky, I will even eat things after my order gets messed up if they are brought to me - I ordered mashed potatoes but got fries? Ok, I like fries too, I'll go with that if the alternative is sending back my order and waiting for new food while everyone I'm with is already eating theirs. Forgot to bring me a drink I ordered? That's cool, either bring another one or if I'm leaving, make sure the one I never got doesn't show up on my bill. I'm more likely to be understanding the busier the restaurant is - things get hectic, orders get forgotten, you don't have time to come around and refill my water glass as often, etc. I get that, but I'll give a few examples of horrible service I've received in the last couple of months...
-A higher end specialty cafe/lounge near Metro Center during Happy Hour, service was spotty as the bar filled up and got busy - completely understandable. But as others cleared out, it was down to me, my girlfriend and maybe two other parties of two and the service no only did not improve, it got worse. There were two bartenders handling 6 customers and BOTH OF THEM were standing with their back to their customers talking to each other. We had been enjoying the food and drinks and would have stayed and kept on ordering more of them but it was difficult to get anyone to take an order from us and then once we did order we would wait and the drink wouldn't get made so we would have to remind the bartender that we were still waiting. This happened to the couple next to us as well - again, there are 6 people sitting at a bar with 2 bartenders. We sat for awhile with empty glasses and plates, could not get anyone to clear them, take our order for another, etc. so we finally asked for the check and left. This place is two blocks from my office and I would love to make it a regular Happy Hour spot - but have not been back since this disaster of a first visit.
-A mid-level chain restaurant in the suburbs on a somewhat busy Sunday evening, not a horrible wait for a table but the restaurant was definitely busy when we got there. We got seated, our server was very attentive for drink orders and food orders, someone else brought the food and then we never saw our server again. No more drinks, no checking to make sure we got what we ordered, nothing. Actually to be more correct, we did see our server again - she SAT DOWN at the table behind us which was full of young guys and gave them a very detailed run down on the wine selection, brought out samples, etc. all while we were trying to make eye contact with her so we could get to-go boxes, pay our bill, and leave. We finally had to flag down another server who brought us our check, while our server was still sitting at the table directly behind us. I spoke with the manager on our way out, who apologized but we have not been back to either this location or this chain since.
-A popular Logan Circle restaurant/bar on a Friday night. It was busy inside, so we agreed to sit on the heated patio to avoid waiting for a table. It was chilly but sitting on the under was nice. Our server was new, from what he told us, and VERY attentive when we got there - almost too attentive. He brought drinks, took our food order, checked on us, made sure our food arrived and then...a large party was seated next to us and we literally could not get his attention to save our lives. Not only that, but he moved the heater closer to the larger table without saying a word to us so now we're cold and not getting any service. No more drinks, no water, we sat with empty plates and glasses for probably 20 minutes before I finally got his attention and asked if we could pay so we could leave because we were freezing. I have gone to other restaurants owned by the same restaurant group, but not back to that one (which was a favorite) since that incident.
-A popular, hipster type sushi place on H St. on a Saturday night. Pretty busy, but no wait for a table. From the time we are seated every request feels like an inconvience to our server. Can we get some water? Can we order drinks? Can we order an appetizer? Can we order dinner? Everything was a struggle and he was dropping things off and immediately walking away so if we wanted to order something else we had to yell to get him back. By the time our appetizer arrived, we were ready for another drink but he dropped off the plate and ran off before we could order one, then a busboy brings our food out, no server to be found for drinks still. We finally asked him to leave the water carafe at our table so we could have something to drink but I would have gone through about 3 beers with spicy sushi (at a nice profit for the restaurant) instead of water if I had the option to order them. After awhile, I just stopped eating my food because I wanted another beer - did the server notice that we were both sitting there with semi-full plates and empty glasses and ask if we needed something else? Nope, he walked by us several times clearing empty tables and talking to another server refusing to even look at our table, even though we were waving at him trying to get his attention.
In all of these instances, I spent less than I planned to or would have, I tipped much less, and I tweeted more (using the name/twitter handle of the establishment) about the bad service I was receiving.
I get it, waiting table is a pretty thankless job most of the time. The pay is bad, the benefits are usually non-existent, the customers can be rude and difficult, etc. I don't always think the problem is just bad servers - I think it starts at the top with owners and management in restaurants - or at least it should. If my experience at a restaurant is poor, the server may see a reflection in their tip depending on whether or not I perceive the bad experience to be their fault, but the real hit is loss of profit to the restaurant. I won't order as much as I would when I'm enjoying my experience, and not only will I not recommend it to others, I will likely discourage people I know from going there. The reality is that economically times are tough for most people. I'm fortunate to be able to afford to eat out fairly often, but also I'm a very good cook. I can spend money on good ingredients and make a delicious meal at home so I don't need to go out to eat to have a great meal - but a lot of times I want to go out. And when I do go out, I want to have a satisfying experience whether it's a high end fine dining establishment or a hole in the wall burger place - of course I adjust my expectations accordingly and don't expect the same level of service at each place, but the end goal is that I walk out of a restaurant, any restaurant, satisfied. I shouldn't leave hungry, frustrated, or needing to go somewhere else to get what I came there for in the first place.
What are you service pet peeves? Do you find yourself cooking more to ensure that you're spending your money on a dining experience you know you will enjoy rather than risk ruining a nice night with bad service at a restaurant?
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Gluten-free, (almost) Raw, Vegan Holiday (or really anytime) Cookies!
I'm not an incredibly healthy eater. I eat a large amount of vegetables, grains, lean protein, beans, fruit, etc. but I temper that healthiness with butter, bacon, red meat, cheese, sweets, and other delicious things that are tough to keep in moderation. I usually don't seek out cookie recipes that don't include butter or flour but I bookmarked this recipe awhile ago for Lemon Icebox Cookies that sounded delicious and were not only vegan and gluten-free, but raw. Raw food intrigues me, I understand how healthy and energized one could feel eating only fresh, raw foods - but I can't imagine eating that way exclusively.
One of my favorite holiday cookies are Thumbprint Cookies with Jam which are buttery, shortbread type cookies rolled in chopped nuts with a bit of jam on top. So good.
I imagined that the lemon icebox raw cookies could be done in a similar way for a healthier version of one my holiday favorites which would also work well for gluten-free or vegan guests. I tried this out yesterday with spectacular results.
These cookies are chewy, light, and tangy from the lemon and rich from the cashews and sweet jam filling. Note: using jam makes the cookies not technically raw as jam is cooked, but still a healthy addition to your holiday cookie rotation.
Recipe:
Lemon Cashew Thumbprint Cookies
*Adapted from Lemon Icebox Cookie recipe
Wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper and refrigerate several hours, or overnight
Chop addition cashews to a rough chop, suitable for coating the cookies
Remove chilled dough, break off pieces and roll into small round balls, then roll in chopped cashews to coat and make less sticky. Press down on a baking sheet into a cookie shape, and make indentation on top of cookie with your thumb or the back of a small spoon.
Spoon a small amount of jam, preserve, or fruit spread into the indent. I used a lemon-raspberry marmalade which was fantastic, but you could use any type of fruit filling - strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, fig, lemon curd, etc.
Keep finished cookies refrigerated - Enjoy!
One of my favorite holiday cookies are Thumbprint Cookies with Jam which are buttery, shortbread type cookies rolled in chopped nuts with a bit of jam on top. So good.
I imagined that the lemon icebox raw cookies could be done in a similar way for a healthier version of one my holiday favorites which would also work well for gluten-free or vegan guests. I tried this out yesterday with spectacular results.
Recipe:
Lemon Cashew Thumbprint Cookies
*Adapted from Lemon Icebox Cookie recipe
- 2 Cups Raw Cashews (if you can find cashew pieces, it is often times cheaper than buying whole cashews since you are going to grind them up in the food processor anyways)
- Additional handful of cashews to chop for rolling cookies in
- 1/4 cup Agave Syrup
- 3 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 1/2 Tablespoons lemon zest
- 1/2 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 Teaspoon sea salt
Wrap in plastic wrap or wax paper and refrigerate several hours, or overnight
Chop addition cashews to a rough chop, suitable for coating the cookies
Remove chilled dough, break off pieces and roll into small round balls, then roll in chopped cashews to coat and make less sticky. Press down on a baking sheet into a cookie shape, and make indentation on top of cookie with your thumb or the back of a small spoon.
Spoon a small amount of jam, preserve, or fruit spread into the indent. I used a lemon-raspberry marmalade which was fantastic, but you could use any type of fruit filling - strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, fig, lemon curd, etc.
Keep finished cookies refrigerated - Enjoy!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Sports Culture and the Victims of Winning At All Costs
Much has been said on the news, seemingly more horrible by the day, coming out of State College, PA regarding the rape of children by Jerry Sandusky, a former assistant coach at Penn State University. I don't know much about Penn State, I am not a former student or a fan of it's storied football team. I was actually recently in State College for a weekend visiting some friends who live there, and even in that brief visit I could draw some basic conclusions about the kind of town it is. It's a football town, a Penn State football town. Penn State football provides not only entertainment to those living close by, but pride and identity. The town is named STATE COLLEGE, the university literally gives it it's identity.
While I don't have inside knowledge of State College, or Penn State, I do know a few things about small towns. I'm from one. And while sports in my hometown never brought in millions of dollars and 100,000 fans every weekend, they apparently were still worth more than the safety, self-esteem, and dignity of young girls. This is the message that was made clear to all the kids in my hometown when the school district failed to investigate, discipline or remove the wrestling coach that took our tiny high school to 14 league championships, 10 district championships, seven regional championships and a state title after countless girls and their parents reported his inappropriate behavior, touching, and comments towards girls as young as 6 and 7 over a period of over 15 years.
Yesterday, I read this article on Jezebel titled "What if Penn State's Coach Had Victimized Girls?" That is a question I don't have to wonder too much about the answer to, it's a reality I grew up watching unfold. In this series from the Seattle Times, "Coaches Who Prey", my former elementary school gym and music teacher, Randy Deming, was featured prominently.
I think about how this played out in front of me as a kid because of a successful wrestling program in a tiny town and then I try and magnify that thousands, millions of times and imagine the protective halo over the Penn State football program. In those terms, it is not in any way surprising to see how someone with the power of Jerry Sandusky could terrorize young boys for years, for decades, in Pennsylvania untouched by parents, university officials or law enforcement.
To say it is a tragedy is an understatement, there are really no words that can describe the suffering and the damage when the trust a child puts in an adult is broken in this way. This ESPN article where other athletes describe the aftermath of sexual assault at the hands of a coach does not paint an optimistic picture of what the victims go through even after the abuse stops. How many lives have been ruined by Jerry Sandusky and the culture that kept him working for a program and a charity that gave him an endless supply of victims? How do you put a price on some one's suffering, on their life? Is the suffering of even one child worth the success of an athletic program at any level? For every rational person that answers no to that question, there are countless others who have suffered in silence believing their lives were not as important as their abusers, or worse, came forward only to be victimized all over again when their stories are not taken seriously and investigated or even reported to law enforcement. It is sickening.
Sadly I fear that as horrifying as the details we already know about the allegations against Jerry Sandusky are, that we have yet to know the full depth of his actions. I have a hard time believing the time he was allegedly caught in a shower with a young boy in 1998 would have been the first time he had done something like that and I'm sick to my stomach thinking about the numbers of children he was in contact with throughout his career. And while the focus needs to stay on him and the victims in this case, any adults that knew or suspected something was wrong and didn't come forward need to be held responsible for their lack of action. It is the only way to try and preserve some sense of dignity and justice in this horrible story. Let this serve as a lesson to those who hurt children that they can not and will not get away with it and let this serve as a lesson to children that they will be believed when they speak out about abuse and perhaps most importantly, that there are adults willing to stand up for them and punish those who hurt them. That is what should be the focus right now, not the exit of a coward who preached excellence and responsibility then refused to show any when given an opportunity to stop a monster.
While I don't have inside knowledge of State College, or Penn State, I do know a few things about small towns. I'm from one. And while sports in my hometown never brought in millions of dollars and 100,000 fans every weekend, they apparently were still worth more than the safety, self-esteem, and dignity of young girls. This is the message that was made clear to all the kids in my hometown when the school district failed to investigate, discipline or remove the wrestling coach that took our tiny high school to 14 league championships, 10 district championships, seven regional championships and a state title after countless girls and their parents reported his inappropriate behavior, touching, and comments towards girls as young as 6 and 7 over a period of over 15 years.
Yesterday, I read this article on Jezebel titled "What if Penn State's Coach Had Victimized Girls?" That is a question I don't have to wonder too much about the answer to, it's a reality I grew up watching unfold. In this series from the Seattle Times, "Coaches Who Prey", my former elementary school gym and music teacher, Randy Deming, was featured prominently.
By the late 1970s, Deming had established a top-notch wrestling program at Blaine High School that would bring pride to the border town.
But complaints kept coming. Staheli and half a dozen other mothers complained en masse to the School Board that the coach had groped girls. "They were just stony-faced," Staheli recalled of the elected officials. "They were all sports jocks. They said these complaints were ridiculous. He was a fine person and we were a bunch of women's libbers."
Deming continued to offend, his file shows. In 1985, the district reprimanded him after he admitted asking a girl at the school if she had any nude photos of herself. Two weeks later, he was reprimanded for massaging a girl in the boys locker room.
In 1987, Deming was investigated by police for touching a 10-year-old near her genitals, but no charges were filed.
Superintendent Robert Gilden wrote to him later that year: "Based on your employment history at Blaine, it is apparent that something is seriously wrong."
But Deming kept his job, in large part because he was a local coaching hero, parents and victims said. During his career, Deming took the Blaine wrestlers — the Borderites — to 14 league championships, 10 district championships, seven regional championships and a state title.
In 1990 — the same year he won state coach-of-the-year honors — Deming was charged with first-degree child molestation after another 10-year-old reported that he rubbed her breasts and touched her near her genitals.
District officials suspended the coach, and the town revolted.
"He was a big celebrity up in Blaine," said James Hoogestraat, a lawyer representing the 10-year-old victim in an ongoing lawsuit against the district. "People circulated petitions asking that the school not terminate him."
Deming kept his job until March 1991, when Whatcom County Deputy Prosecutor Mac Setter offered a deal: Setter would dismiss charges if Deming resigned and never taught again. Charges were dropped, and Deming resigned. But it didn't take long before he was teaching again.I can speak a little about how the culture of sports and winning keeps people quiet when something is wrong because I feel hesitant, as an adult living 3000+ miles away from where I grew up, typing this blog entry. I wonder how people will react to me making the comparison between their beloved coach and wrestling program and what's happening in the news right now. I was in Randy Deming's classes, he was my gym, health and, even for a short time, my music teacher, in elementary school in the early 1980's. I heard the comments described in the legal complaints against him, how girls were inferior and comments made about their bodies - 7, 8, 9, 10 year old girls. I saw him give back and shoulder massages to girls, sit them on his lap, and smack them on the butt or even kiss them, I heard him make comments when their bodies began to develop. None of this was hidden, it was simply accepted as normal. No matter how much I hated going to his classes, how wrong it felt, no adults said it was wrong so it must have been okay. This is what you think when you're a kid, no matter how many times you hear it's wrong when you see it going on all around you and no other adults are doing or saying anything, you assume you must be the one who is wrong. Finding out many years later how many adults did know and did nothing doesn't do much to change that view.
I think about how this played out in front of me as a kid because of a successful wrestling program in a tiny town and then I try and magnify that thousands, millions of times and imagine the protective halo over the Penn State football program. In those terms, it is not in any way surprising to see how someone with the power of Jerry Sandusky could terrorize young boys for years, for decades, in Pennsylvania untouched by parents, university officials or law enforcement.
To say it is a tragedy is an understatement, there are really no words that can describe the suffering and the damage when the trust a child puts in an adult is broken in this way. This ESPN article where other athletes describe the aftermath of sexual assault at the hands of a coach does not paint an optimistic picture of what the victims go through even after the abuse stops. How many lives have been ruined by Jerry Sandusky and the culture that kept him working for a program and a charity that gave him an endless supply of victims? How do you put a price on some one's suffering, on their life? Is the suffering of even one child worth the success of an athletic program at any level? For every rational person that answers no to that question, there are countless others who have suffered in silence believing their lives were not as important as their abusers, or worse, came forward only to be victimized all over again when their stories are not taken seriously and investigated or even reported to law enforcement. It is sickening.
Sadly I fear that as horrifying as the details we already know about the allegations against Jerry Sandusky are, that we have yet to know the full depth of his actions. I have a hard time believing the time he was allegedly caught in a shower with a young boy in 1998 would have been the first time he had done something like that and I'm sick to my stomach thinking about the numbers of children he was in contact with throughout his career. And while the focus needs to stay on him and the victims in this case, any adults that knew or suspected something was wrong and didn't come forward need to be held responsible for their lack of action. It is the only way to try and preserve some sense of dignity and justice in this horrible story. Let this serve as a lesson to those who hurt children that they can not and will not get away with it and let this serve as a lesson to children that they will be believed when they speak out about abuse and perhaps most importantly, that there are adults willing to stand up for them and punish those who hurt them. That is what should be the focus right now, not the exit of a coward who preached excellence and responsibility then refused to show any when given an opportunity to stop a monster.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Fall Comfort Food - Apple Cider Braised Pork and Pocket Apple Pies
The weather has turned colder here in DC and along with jackets, sweaters and boots I've been able to dig out some of my favorite fall recipes and make some delicious comfort food.
One thing I've been really anxious to make is something I discovered last year while looking for something to do with the delicious apple cider that I get from the market I work on the weekends. I knew that apples went well with pork so I thought about braising some pork in apple cider, doing some web research I found out that I'm not the only one to have this idea. So after a few trials, I think I have the ratios down for a great meal.
It's a very forgiving recipe, you can adjust the quantities and ingredients pretty easily to fit what you have on hand or what you like.
Start with some pork - I use pork shoulder, if you wanted less fat you could also use a pork roast, or if you wanted to make a smaller version you could make this with a couple of pork chops in a deep frying pan a lot faster than the slow braising process I use. Season liberally with salt, pepper and some garlic powder and let that sit while you prep the veggies.
-Slice one medium sized onion - any type will work, but I tend to use yellow onions or red onions. Cut in half, then slice.
-Chop one small-medium head of cabbage. If you don't like cabbage, you can use another sturdy type of green (turnip greens, collards, kale, etc.) but cabbage gives a nice flavor with the apple and the pork.
-Cut a few cloves of garlic to a medium/large dice - I like a lot of garlic so I used 3-4 cloves, adjust to taste
-Other things you can add are fresh fennel, celery, turnips, carrots, any veggie that will withstand a long, slow cooking process without turning to complete mush
Heat a large braising pan - dutch oven, deep frying pan, stockpot, etc. Anything that will hold all the ingredients, hold heat well and has a cover. Brown the pork in the pan on all sides, add a little oil to keep from sticking if neccesary.
Then add in your veggies around/under/on top of the pork.
Now you're ready for your braising liquid:
Mix 2 parts apple cider, 1 part apple cider vinegar, 1 part water or chicken/veggie stock with 1 or 2 large tablespoons of country style dijon mustard (the kind with the seeds in it).
Pour the liquid on and around the pork and veggies, add some salt and pepper and any other seasonings you like (thyme, sage, rosemary, etc. are all nice with this recipe - whatever you like and have on hand is fine) reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 hours. You can also put the pan (if it's oven safe) into an oven set at 250-300 degrees for this part. The lid will keep the moisture in your pot and keep everything from drying out even if the liquid does not cover your meat and veggies.
Once everything is cooked down, the pork should be cooked all the way through and easy to pull apart. You might want to drain some liquid off, but serve the pork and veggies mixed together with some of the braising liquid. You can serve with potatoes, I like to actually throw in some chopped potatoes for the last hour of the cooking process so everything finishes at the same time. You can also serve over mashed potatoes, rice, egg noodles, or just serve in a bowl with some crusty bread and soak up the braising liquid with that. It's a very hearty fall/winter dinner that makes your house smell wonderful.
I also discovered this weekend a fast and easy way to make a delicious apple dessert that went wonderfully with the apple cider braised pork.
I used some store bought pie crust for ease and quickness, if you are the type of cook that makes your own pie crust and freezes it for quick use like this that's even better - or you can make a quick crust from scratch if you have a good recipe. This makes two pretty large pocket pies, you could make make 4 smaller ones with the same amount of ingredients, or double it to make 4 large/8 small pies.
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
-1 pre-made circle of pie dough, sliced in half
-1 medium-large apple, sliced. (Any type will do, I used a Gala but you could use any type depending on how sweet or tart you like your pie)
-1/8 cup bourbon (optional)
-1.5 tablespoons brown sugar
-1.5 tablespoons butter (melted)
-dash of vanilla extract
-cinnamon, granulated sugar, & nutmeg to taste
Place your two pieces of pie dough on a baking sheet and brush with melted butter, then sprinkle cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg on dough.
In a small bowl combine apple slices with bourbon, brown sugar, a dash of vanilla extract, and a dash of cinnamon.
Spoon apple mixture onto pie dough, fold dough over and seal edges to form a pocket. Brush remaining melted butter onto top of pie pocket and sprinkle with more cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg.
Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes depending on size and quantity of pies; bake until golden brown all over. Let cool and then enjoy! Can be cut into pieces and eaten with hands, or topped with ice cream while warm and eaten like regular pie. Tasty any way you want to eat it!
One thing I've been really anxious to make is something I discovered last year while looking for something to do with the delicious apple cider that I get from the market I work on the weekends. I knew that apples went well with pork so I thought about braising some pork in apple cider, doing some web research I found out that I'm not the only one to have this idea. So after a few trials, I think I have the ratios down for a great meal.
It's a very forgiving recipe, you can adjust the quantities and ingredients pretty easily to fit what you have on hand or what you like.
Start with some pork - I use pork shoulder, if you wanted less fat you could also use a pork roast, or if you wanted to make a smaller version you could make this with a couple of pork chops in a deep frying pan a lot faster than the slow braising process I use. Season liberally with salt, pepper and some garlic powder and let that sit while you prep the veggies.
-Slice one medium sized onion - any type will work, but I tend to use yellow onions or red onions. Cut in half, then slice.
-Chop one small-medium head of cabbage. If you don't like cabbage, you can use another sturdy type of green (turnip greens, collards, kale, etc.) but cabbage gives a nice flavor with the apple and the pork.
-Cut a few cloves of garlic to a medium/large dice - I like a lot of garlic so I used 3-4 cloves, adjust to taste
-Other things you can add are fresh fennel, celery, turnips, carrots, any veggie that will withstand a long, slow cooking process without turning to complete mush
Heat a large braising pan - dutch oven, deep frying pan, stockpot, etc. Anything that will hold all the ingredients, hold heat well and has a cover. Brown the pork in the pan on all sides, add a little oil to keep from sticking if neccesary.
Then add in your veggies around/under/on top of the pork.
Now you're ready for your braising liquid:
Mix 2 parts apple cider, 1 part apple cider vinegar, 1 part water or chicken/veggie stock with 1 or 2 large tablespoons of country style dijon mustard (the kind with the seeds in it).
Pour the liquid on and around the pork and veggies, add some salt and pepper and any other seasonings you like (thyme, sage, rosemary, etc. are all nice with this recipe - whatever you like and have on hand is fine) reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 hours. You can also put the pan (if it's oven safe) into an oven set at 250-300 degrees for this part. The lid will keep the moisture in your pot and keep everything from drying out even if the liquid does not cover your meat and veggies.
Once everything is cooked down, the pork should be cooked all the way through and easy to pull apart. You might want to drain some liquid off, but serve the pork and veggies mixed together with some of the braising liquid. You can serve with potatoes, I like to actually throw in some chopped potatoes for the last hour of the cooking process so everything finishes at the same time. You can also serve over mashed potatoes, rice, egg noodles, or just serve in a bowl with some crusty bread and soak up the braising liquid with that. It's a very hearty fall/winter dinner that makes your house smell wonderful.
I also discovered this weekend a fast and easy way to make a delicious apple dessert that went wonderfully with the apple cider braised pork.
I used some store bought pie crust for ease and quickness, if you are the type of cook that makes your own pie crust and freezes it for quick use like this that's even better - or you can make a quick crust from scratch if you have a good recipe. This makes two pretty large pocket pies, you could make make 4 smaller ones with the same amount of ingredients, or double it to make 4 large/8 small pies.
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
-1 pre-made circle of pie dough, sliced in half
-1 medium-large apple, sliced. (Any type will do, I used a Gala but you could use any type depending on how sweet or tart you like your pie)
-1/8 cup bourbon (optional)
-1.5 tablespoons brown sugar
-1.5 tablespoons butter (melted)
-dash of vanilla extract
-cinnamon, granulated sugar, & nutmeg to taste
Place your two pieces of pie dough on a baking sheet and brush with melted butter, then sprinkle cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg on dough.
In a small bowl combine apple slices with bourbon, brown sugar, a dash of vanilla extract, and a dash of cinnamon.
Spoon apple mixture onto pie dough, fold dough over and seal edges to form a pocket. Brush remaining melted butter onto top of pie pocket and sprinkle with more cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg.
Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes depending on size and quantity of pies; bake until golden brown all over. Let cool and then enjoy! Can be cut into pieces and eaten with hands, or topped with ice cream while warm and eaten like regular pie. Tasty any way you want to eat it!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Why Chaz Bono is important
If you pay attention to mainstream media, it's pretty much impossible these days to avoid stories about Chaz Bono. The transgender son of Sonny Bono and Cher has been everywhere - a book, a documentary on Oprah's network, talk shows, tabloids and recently the volume of noise about Chaz got turned way up when it was announced that he was joining the cast of Dancing With The Stars on ABC. Of course this had to happen eventually, transgender people, long the butt of jokes and ridicule have been making strides towards visibility and acceptance and it was only a matter of time before a celebrity (or in this case, more like the child of two celebrities) transitioned in the public eye and brought the spotlight to the transgender community. The reaction to Chaz has not all been positive to say the least, but he has also received a tremendous outpouring of support as people start to view him as the confident, happy man that he is and see that transitioning clearly has improved his quality of life, not diminished it.
Last night Chaz was voted off Dancing With The Stars after 6 weeks of the competition, a very worthy showing. Addressing the audience after learning he was eliminated, he had this to say:
"I came on this show because I wanted to show America a different kind of man, and I know that if there was someone like me on TV when I was growing up, my whole life would have been different," he continued. "I dedicate everything I did to all the people out there like me -- especially the kids and teens who are struggling. You can have a wonderful, great life and be successful and happy."
And this is why Chaz Bono, who is just one of many trans people, matters right now. Because by doing nothing else than refusing to stay silent and out of the spotlight, he has given a voice to many who did not have one before and provided a visible example of the normality of trans people. He is just a guy, who had a different path to manhood than some, living his life and showing that there is a possibility of a happy, well-adjusted existence after transition. He doesn't have to make big statements, he doesn't have to say all the right things, by simply existing and putting himself out there he is showing people, especially young people, that it's okay to be who you are.
This is a message that is needed in this country now more than ever.
A survey published earlier in 2011 by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force titled "Injustice at Every Turn" showed some startling statistics about the transgender population in the United States.
Where I live, in DC, there have been multiple shootings and deaths involving trans identified individuals this summer. The police have been accused of being slow to act and not doing enough to find those responsible, in one incident the perpetrator was an off-duty DC police officer who witnesses say jumped on the hood of a car containing two transgender women and their friends and said "I'm gonna kill you" before firing his gun at them. This might seem like an extreme case, but every day there are incidents of trans people being kicked out of bathrooms for not appearing "female" or "male" enough to use a public bathroom, trans people denied employment or being harrassed by authorities for not having ID documents that match their appearance and preferred name, trans people being denied housing or admittance to a shelter because their existance makes someone uncomfortable, and many more examples of discrimination. In the United States, only 13 states and the District of Columbia have laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression. That leaves many places where trans people have no recourse when denied basic needs such as housing, employment, or a safe place to use the bathroom.
My personal reaction to Chaz has surprised me. I didn't expect to feel emotional about it, I didn't expect to feel as invested as I have in him competing on a silly dancing television show. But I found myself mesmerized watching the first episode, voting as many times as I could for him to stay on, and watching every week to see how he does. Last night when he was eliminated I was emotional again hearing him say how his life would have been different if he could have seen someone like him on television when he was younger. I was emotional because until I saw it, I never realized the sheer impact of seeing someone like Chaz on national television, not being studied on a talk show or the butt of jokes on a sitcom, but dancing alongside everyone else, could do for someone. It was something I didn't realize was lacking until I saw it and realized that it had never happened before. I was emotional because I can relate all too well to this and seeing him on television inspired me to do something I thought I would never do - come out as a transsexual.
Yes, I am a successful guy in my 30's with a loving girlfriend, great career, a happy and comfortable life and 10 years ago I went through a medical transition from female-to-male. If you've met me or come to know me online anytime in the past few years, chances are pretty high that you didn't know this about me. I don't talk about it with those who I know don't know, it's not a subject that just comes up usually, there is no logical segue into "hey, so I had a sex change" in most conversations. It's not something I've put a lot of effort into hiding, it's just something that most people wouldn't have any way of knowing and for the most part, and I've liked it that way. The point of going through transition was to get to this other side, a place where my gender is not an issue, where I'm seen exactly as the man I am without question. But lately this place has felt less and less comfortable as I see the statistics of injustice suffered by trans people and the alarming amount of youth taking their own lives before they have a chance to know how it doesn't always have to be an issue. I feel, much like Chaz talked about, that I can be a positive example of someone who made it through this process and is living a happy and productive life.
I don't feel tortured, conflicted, or in turmoil. I'm not constantly worried about my safety or discrimination - although there are definitely times when I still need to be. I feel very lucky and very priviledged to be at this point in my life, and I feel like I am in a position to create change simply by being who I am. By letting people get to know me, see how I'm not different than them, how it is possible that you know others just like me who you would have no clue had ever been any different. At different points in my life, I have had shame and fear about people finding out and looking at me differently or rejecting me. Writing this now, I have a fair amount of that fear, but I also know that I've been through a lot of hard things in my life and come out okay so if I lose a few people who can't deal with this I know I will still be okay. I have an amazing family who have shown love and support to me my whole life, caring and loving friends who have always had my back and the love of my girlfriend who supports me in everything I do. I'm very blessed to have the life that I do and I don't want to have to worry about hiding anything from anyone. I'm proud of what I've been through, of the man that I have become and how I got here and I want to work tirelessly to give everyone who struggles with who they are the same opportunities and support that I have had to succeed. To borrow an overused and slightly imperfect phrase, it gets better. But we all have to make it better and build a world where there is room for everyone to be who they are.
Thanks Chaz, for putting yourself out there and pushing me to be a better person.
Last night Chaz was voted off Dancing With The Stars after 6 weeks of the competition, a very worthy showing. Addressing the audience after learning he was eliminated, he had this to say:
"I came on this show because I wanted to show America a different kind of man, and I know that if there was someone like me on TV when I was growing up, my whole life would have been different," he continued. "I dedicate everything I did to all the people out there like me -- especially the kids and teens who are struggling. You can have a wonderful, great life and be successful and happy."
And this is why Chaz Bono, who is just one of many trans people, matters right now. Because by doing nothing else than refusing to stay silent and out of the spotlight, he has given a voice to many who did not have one before and provided a visible example of the normality of trans people. He is just a guy, who had a different path to manhood than some, living his life and showing that there is a possibility of a happy, well-adjusted existence after transition. He doesn't have to make big statements, he doesn't have to say all the right things, by simply existing and putting himself out there he is showing people, especially young people, that it's okay to be who you are.
This is a message that is needed in this country now more than ever.
A survey published earlier in 2011 by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force titled "Injustice at Every Turn" showed some startling statistics about the transgender population in the United States.
- 41% of the respondents reported attempting suicide, in contrast to the national average of 1.6%
- Transgender people are unemployed at double the national average
- 26% reported losing a job due to their status as transgendered, 50% reported workplace harrassment due to their gender identity or expression - at the same time, even when suffering harrassment 78% reported feeling more comfortable and confident at work and their job performance improved after undergoing transition
- 57% reported significant family rejection
- 46% reported being unlikely to to seek police assistance when needed due to harrassment
- 53% reported suffering some form of harrassment trying to access public services such as bathrooms, restaurants, hotels, etc.
Where I live, in DC, there have been multiple shootings and deaths involving trans identified individuals this summer. The police have been accused of being slow to act and not doing enough to find those responsible, in one incident the perpetrator was an off-duty DC police officer who witnesses say jumped on the hood of a car containing two transgender women and their friends and said "I'm gonna kill you" before firing his gun at them. This might seem like an extreme case, but every day there are incidents of trans people being kicked out of bathrooms for not appearing "female" or "male" enough to use a public bathroom, trans people denied employment or being harrassed by authorities for not having ID documents that match their appearance and preferred name, trans people being denied housing or admittance to a shelter because their existance makes someone uncomfortable, and many more examples of discrimination. In the United States, only 13 states and the District of Columbia have laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression. That leaves many places where trans people have no recourse when denied basic needs such as housing, employment, or a safe place to use the bathroom.
My personal reaction to Chaz has surprised me. I didn't expect to feel emotional about it, I didn't expect to feel as invested as I have in him competing on a silly dancing television show. But I found myself mesmerized watching the first episode, voting as many times as I could for him to stay on, and watching every week to see how he does. Last night when he was eliminated I was emotional again hearing him say how his life would have been different if he could have seen someone like him on television when he was younger. I was emotional because until I saw it, I never realized the sheer impact of seeing someone like Chaz on national television, not being studied on a talk show or the butt of jokes on a sitcom, but dancing alongside everyone else, could do for someone. It was something I didn't realize was lacking until I saw it and realized that it had never happened before. I was emotional because I can relate all too well to this and seeing him on television inspired me to do something I thought I would never do - come out as a transsexual.
Yes, I am a successful guy in my 30's with a loving girlfriend, great career, a happy and comfortable life and 10 years ago I went through a medical transition from female-to-male. If you've met me or come to know me online anytime in the past few years, chances are pretty high that you didn't know this about me. I don't talk about it with those who I know don't know, it's not a subject that just comes up usually, there is no logical segue into "hey, so I had a sex change" in most conversations. It's not something I've put a lot of effort into hiding, it's just something that most people wouldn't have any way of knowing and for the most part, and I've liked it that way. The point of going through transition was to get to this other side, a place where my gender is not an issue, where I'm seen exactly as the man I am without question. But lately this place has felt less and less comfortable as I see the statistics of injustice suffered by trans people and the alarming amount of youth taking their own lives before they have a chance to know how it doesn't always have to be an issue. I feel, much like Chaz talked about, that I can be a positive example of someone who made it through this process and is living a happy and productive life.
I don't feel tortured, conflicted, or in turmoil. I'm not constantly worried about my safety or discrimination - although there are definitely times when I still need to be. I feel very lucky and very priviledged to be at this point in my life, and I feel like I am in a position to create change simply by being who I am. By letting people get to know me, see how I'm not different than them, how it is possible that you know others just like me who you would have no clue had ever been any different. At different points in my life, I have had shame and fear about people finding out and looking at me differently or rejecting me. Writing this now, I have a fair amount of that fear, but I also know that I've been through a lot of hard things in my life and come out okay so if I lose a few people who can't deal with this I know I will still be okay. I have an amazing family who have shown love and support to me my whole life, caring and loving friends who have always had my back and the love of my girlfriend who supports me in everything I do. I'm very blessed to have the life that I do and I don't want to have to worry about hiding anything from anyone. I'm proud of what I've been through, of the man that I have become and how I got here and I want to work tirelessly to give everyone who struggles with who they are the same opportunities and support that I have had to succeed. To borrow an overused and slightly imperfect phrase, it gets better. But we all have to make it better and build a world where there is room for everyone to be who they are.
Thanks Chaz, for putting yourself out there and pushing me to be a better person.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
"This is What Democracy Looks Like"
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| From http://www.publicintelligence.net/ |
Having just moved to the city from a small town a year earlier, it was a time of great growth and learning for me. I didn't attend college, and had entered the work force while still in high school working my way into a decent entry level position for a 24 year old. Career wise I was one of the most "grown-up" of my group of my friends but I also felt like I had missed a huge chunk of education that they had gotten, the education on social issues and the systems of oppression that keep the status quo in place. It seems funny to even say now but I was learning about systemized oppression such as sexism, racism, and classism for the first time. Things that I had just thought were "the way things were" were actually complex ideas and theories and there were people talking about them, and actually planning to do things to create change.
So I did what most young people learning about the evils of the world for the first time do, I said cliche things like, "if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention" and I got involved. That involvement led me to DIY workshops where I learned about the intersections of race, gender, and class. I learned about the power of multinational corporations over the governments of poorer countries when it came to sidestepping environmental or labor protections standing in the way of profits. I learned about GMO's for the first time and how corporations were controlling the global food supply and squeezing out small farmers. It seems ridiculous to say it now, but at the time my mind was blown.
I read everything I could get my hands on and attending potlucks, skillshare sessions, and fundraising shows and parties. It was one of the first time the internet was being used to organize folks on a global scale and get unbiased news coverage and information out quickly. It was a very exciting time to be getting involved in activism to say the least.
I took the day off work on November 30th for the big protest march through Seattle organized by a coalition of labor, environmental and other NGO's. As I walked miles through my city I was amazed by the different messages of the groups and how they all tied in to this global meeting of trade officials. It was a peaceful protest of union men and women in hardhats concerned about trade agreements sending jobs overseas, environmental advocates dressed as sea turtles concerned about trade agreements that override local protections put in place for wildlife, nude vegans protesting the destruction of organic local food supplies by multinational seed corporations and so many others with signs broadcasting their varied messages. And then, in my city, in the United States of America, I saw this:
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| Photo from http://www.gapsucks.org/ |
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| Photo from http://www.benjamin.org/ |
The lessons I learned that week in November have stayed with me and shaped a lot of what I do now. While I'm older and much less willing to risk arrest now, my heart and support are with those in the streets refusing to be silent and accept what they see happening to their world. And whenever I start to feel like the issues are overwhelming and nothing will ever change, I'm inspired to get back out there and fight for the world I believe we all deserve in any way I can. I wish I could say that things have changed since WTO, I wish the horror of the photos above brought about changes in the way police deal with peaceful protesters, I wish it were safe to take to the streets and speak up about injustice but the stories coming out of New York show that it is not.
In some ways it's surprising to me that people are confused about what these protests are about. I get that the messages can be mixed and confusing and it's easy to write the protesters off as trust fund college kids who are bored and causing trouble...some of them probably are. But the message behind these protests is one that should appeal to about 99% of the U.S. population, the ones who are struggling every day in this economy. These aren't troublemakers, spoiled college kids out of touch with reality or the "lazy and unemployed". These are hard working people, educated people, people who went to school, got jobs, paid their taxes and did everything there were "supposed to" do and still they aren't getting ahead - some of them aren't even getting by without taking on a crippling debt load they have no idea how they will pay back. Meanwhile we watch the wealth gap grow every day in America and around the world. We watch those with money use it to make money and those without slip further and further behind. It's maddening and it makes sense that people are taking to the streets now and I hope it continues. It is the only way things have changed in history, when the frustrated and disenfranchised have had enough and realize they have little left to lose by being silent. This is an exciting movement and I hope we are just witnessing the beginning of historic change. I look forward to the weeks, months and years to come.
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