Travel | mermaidcamp

Cooking with Kraut

January 22, 2016 — 1 Comment

potato, fake sausage, kraut

The first rule of cooking with kraut is like Fight Club, never cook the kraut. The living probiotic culture that gives your homemade sauerkraut all the extra health benefits would be killed if heated above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The zesty flavors as well as the cool temperature are used to create contrast in dishes. Most people think of the Reuben sandwich when they think of this very useful condiment. Indeed, the use of cool crunchy fermented vegetables as part of a well stacked sandwich takes the creation to a new level. I encountered red cabbage kraut in use at my favorite food truck in East Austin a couple of years ago. The Juice Well hooked me on their vegetarian Kraftwork sandwich at first bite because the condiments were spectacular and made in house (or in Airstream to be precise). I never forgot how much bang for the buck one gets out of specialty first rate condiments.

Another obvious use we all know is the hot dog on a bun served with kraut. This time honored combination works well by itself, or with a fermented beverage like beer. I will soon be entertaining real live Europeans in my home. Real live krauts will be eating krauts at my house, so I am gearing up to treat them to some special culinary delights. My friend Steffi will visit with her friend from Zurich for a way-out-west vacation. I have some local places in mind to dine with the visitors, but it will be gem show time in Tucson, not the best season to go to restaurants here. We like eating at home the best anyhow. This is a vegetarian home, with no meat, but I am not adverse to fake wurst. In fact, fake meat is one of the only processed foods I still consume…my biggest guilty pleasure.

Today’s experimental dish, which I just devoured for my breakfast, is a baked potato with Tofurkey Italian Sausage chopped into pieces on top of the spud. I topped it with spicy and cool Cowboy Kraut from Garden Goddess. I am very full and happy with the way this tasted. I added some cheese between the potato and the slaw, which is cool for all of us lacto-ovo vegetarians. Vegans might add something else. The flavors worked well, and the contrast of warm and cool made it all the more satisfying. I know not everyone wants sauerkraut for breakfast, but my craving for the stuff has reached an advanced stage. I have become officially crazy for kraut. Do you have any ideas or recipes to share with me on my new favorite food?

Digesting the Past

January 20, 2016 — 2 Comments

fermenting beverages

Our bodies alert us to imbalance and disease long before a diagnosis can be made. I have always had excellent digestion, but a couple of years ago I had to make some dietary changes to stem some new symptoms I had acquired in my digestive tract. My thermogram showed inflammation all along the digestive system, but the real issue was that I felt bad. I had become a burping bubbling mess. I eliminated wine and beer, which made a huge difference in the problem. I also decreased, but did not totally stop, my consumption of bread. These changes, together with some attention to adding the foods that heal the spleen, helped me conquer my indigestion.

During the time I was studying my spiritual path as it coincided with all this unexpected indigestion in my body. I believe there is always some soul element of every physical manifestation. Indeed, I had unresolved, undigested issues about my home and environment that had serious consequences. Stress from trying unsuccessfully to put a stop to crime in our neighborhood had become a permanent drag. I was really sick and tired of reporting crime with no response and no effort made by authorities to stop it. The culture of willful blindness had won the day, and no progress was possible. Now there is a breakthrough!!!

This week our new police chief, Chris Magnus, starts his job running the Tucson Police Department. I have very high hopes that his new energy will uplift the community and bring people together to improve conditions in our Tucson neighborhoods. His reputation for community policing and success in reducing violence precedes him. We need to improve the working relationship between the cops and the citizens here. His experience should prove very valuable to improve the culture of TPD.

My new hobby is fermenting raw foods. I have tried concocting several beverages that are super simple to make and taste great. They have the added benefit of probiotic culture which boosts immunity and assists digestion. Over time the healthy bacteria growing in my beautiful beverages will improve my health, but for now I just love the flavors. At the moment I am fermenting some red cabbage kraut juice, a batch of swizzle, and a batch of ginger beer. When the ginger beer is ready I want to try a second fermentation to add more fizz. The possibilities of delicious new ways to digest the past are endless. Here are directions for you if you want to try making your own switchel, packed with electrolytes from the apple cider vinegar. To your health, gentle reader!!!

Farmers Markets for Family Fun

January 18, 2016 — 1 Comment

The goddess herself

The popularity of farmers markets is in the rise. People are interested in fresh sources of local food, and more entrepreneurs are entering the market with new natural products. The variety and quality of locally produced foods has soared in Baja Arizona in the last few years. Specialty growers and artisanal small batch culinary companies are featured at most of our markets. Some feature food trucks and vendors of prepared meals, both frozen and ready to eat on the spot. Many markets have entertainers, usually musicians, to entertain the crowd. The combination of shopping for special food and being outdoors is a perfect recipe for family enjoyment. The market creates an atmosphere that encourages healthy culture and social engagement.

I have been a customer at many markets all around the world, rarely being disappointed. Yesterday I participated as a vendor for the first time at the Heirloom Farmers Market at the Rillito Race Track in Tucson. I was in training to represent Garden Goddess raw fermented sauerkraut, made in Phoenix, down here in Tucson. The goddess herself, Suzette Smith, showed me how it is done and set me up with the equipment and permits I will need to get going on my own as a market vendor. We had a really great time meeting the customers as well as the other vendors. For our first appearance anywhere in Tucson we had a very warm reception. The flavor as well as the health benefits make fermented foods easy for me to promote. I eat the kraut myself daily with excellent results. I can enthusiastically endorse the changes it has made to my digestive system. Health is valuable to me, but if something does not taste good I am not very likely to get into it. Garden Goddess krauts are so deliciously different from others on the market that I find the sample taste convinces many to buy. Some folks who think they are not fans of kraut change their minds when they taste the Garden Goddess versions of this ancient food. Others who do enjoy it are surprised to find such a full flavored kraut with so many medicinal additives to increase the benefits.

The time flew by yesterday because sharing the day with the community at a market is one of my favorite pastimes. I am feeling lucky to find a new way to participate in the local food culture. It is a blast to turn people on to the wonders and flavors of artisanal sauerkraut.

Sunday market at Rillito Race Track

young entrepreneur

Friday is for Venus

January 15, 2016 — 1 Comment

signs in order

The days of the week are assigned to planets. Friday is the day of Venus, the goddess of love, known to the Greeks as Aphrodite. Since it is the final day of work in most western countries it holds special meaning. Thank God It’s Friday, and Piss Off Early Tomorrow’s Saturday are acronym phrases invented to celebrate the arrival the free time on the weekend. Happy hours, romantic dining, and entertainment beckon to workers as they finish the tasks in front of them. The magic of payday often happens on Friday too. In the ancient world the 40 hour work week was unknown, but the day had meaning as a weekly holiday dedicated to art, beauty and love. Today I like the idea of setting aside time for art, beauty and love. In our home I take time every Friday to follow some small but significant rituals.

I clean and clear the house of clutter, discarding anything we no longer need
I care for all my houseplants and do touch up work on the outside garden area
I cook some special foods. This can vary, but at least one dish is prepared as a treat
I workout at the gym and take a long steam bath to pamper my body and mind
I come home early in the day to relax and finish the food preparations
I watch the PBS Newshour with Shields and Brooks political commentary
I drink cocktails of my own creation

That is all it takes to make my weekend start with a bang. The clean house and the food treats make home feel like a trip to a resort. Home is where the heart is, gentle reader. What are your Friday rituals?

planet Venus sign

My Medicare Miracle

January 14, 2016 — 5 Comments

View from the exercise bike, JCC

My life has changed dramatically in the last two weeks. I have been looking forward to Medicare because it saves me a significant chunk of cash each month. I shopped and researched wildly, reaching the conclusion that the new Iora Primary Care is right for me. I am signed up with Humana on a Medicare Advantage plan that costs me nothing and offers benefits I can really use. I went to my first appointment with Dr Julia Jernberg, my new primary care physician, on Monday. She is the smartest, coolest doctor I have ever seen. She gave me a simple practice I can do at home to relieve a chronic pain I have had in the front of my ankle. She specialized in this orthopedic technique at University of Arizona School of Alternative Medicine. She nailed the diagnosis (always key to success), then taught me how to do my own simple hands on healing. I find a position of comfort and gently coax my muscle out of trauma for about three minutes at a time, twice a day. It is ridiculously easy to do, but she cautioned me not to be too zealous and overdo my remedy. She nailed the zealous diagnosis too. I have followed her instructions for three days and believe I can feel improvement. Dr. Julie is truly my dream doctor, a teacher of self care. She is assisted by the best staff in the most well designed environment. I could not be more pleased with this fantastic upgrade to my health care.

My Silver Sneakers card arrived in the mail this week too. This card provides free membership privileges to Medicare recipients at health clubs all over the country. In Tucson many clubs participate in the program, but each one offers a different set of privileges. I am already a very happy member at Tucson Racquet Club, and have arranged to pay a fee over and above my Silver Sneakers membership (covered by my insurance company). I think it is worth paying $22 a month to be able to attend all the classes at my club. However, I took my Sneakers card to the newly remodeled Jewish Community Center and was given full membership privileges. The JCC does not restrict me to Silver Sneakers classes with my special membership. They offer a wide array of fitness options. This thrills me, but not as much as the fabulous Zuckerman Family Wellness Center does. The gym is the feature I use the most at a club. This one is spacious, modern, well staffed and super clean. The view from the equipment room is spectacular, and like the Racquet Club, it is situated right on the Rillito River walk. They have new state of the art equipment and professional trainers. There is free high-speed WiFi which I used to read some magazines on my iPad while I peddled the new age exercise bike. The bike even has arm rests.

I am highly impressed with the quality of the operation, but my favorite part of the JCC gym is the special needs population. Some special needs individuals work out independently and some come to the J with care givers who encourage and help them. I watched a young man who appeared to have Down Syndrome have such a great time on the TRX equipment that he inspires me to try it. He was so comfortable and happy swinging on the rings and attempting super difficult moves that I decided I can do that too. I think it is really fun to share the gym with the special population, and it is the first time I have experienced that cool thing. You just go, JCC!!!

My Very Own Medicare Paraclete

January 6, 2016 — 3 Comments

Haley in the greenhouse

I am excited to have lived long enough to make it into Medicare. I have expert guidance and very good luck in my choice of providers. Iora Primary Care recently opened very near my home. I will go to my first appointment next week, but yesterday I met my new Paraclete. Her name is Haley and I like her a lot. She will be my helper/guide/uplifter at the medical practice. We visited the Tucson Botanical Garden yesterday while getting to know each other. I am an enthusiastic new patient of this brand new model for Medicare Advantage clients who are insured by Humana.

Haley has experience in different kinds of yoga and fitness. She is assigned to me as a coach. The problems with using the word coach are various. For one thing everyone and their dog is a coach now. It is impossible to know what the term is supposed to mean in each case. Also coaching implies some kind of external pressure rather than helper by one’s side. We tried out the word paraclete on some people we met at the gardens. It does sound exactly like parakeet, and nobody knows what it means, so it is high comedy. We met the botanist in charge of the butterfly greenhouse, whose first language is Italian. He was able to guess the meaning, but I think it will be an uphill struggle to get this word into common use. Religious people use it to connote Holy Spirit. I like the idea that Haley is my personal Paraclete, provided and paid for by Medicare. Whatever we call her she is the bomb. This was worth the wait.

Haley in the greenhouse

Haley at the Gardens

Arizona Inn for Innovative Cuisine, Who Knew?

January 1, 2016 — 1 Comment

We went out to eat in our neighborhood today to celebrate the new year. I was thinking of eggs Benedict but we arrived after the breakfast menu had been retired. Much to my delight the lunch menu had been updated since our last visit to include many new dishes that are right up my culinary alley. The Arizona Inn is a very classy place to dine, stay, or do just about anything. I used to take my mother there all the time because she loved the ambiance. I am also a fan of the reserved, quiet atmosphere and the historic style. In Tucson nobody really needs to put up a Christmas tree at home because the Inn provides a fabulous super tree in the library every year for all of us to enjoy. They keep the wood fire going and the charm flowing for hotel guests, so off the street visitors are treated to the same upgraded style. We love the dining room, but the Audubon Bar is adjacent which has a patio where the full menu is also available. The entire space is elegant and designed for classic leisure. I am not sure if many remember classic leisure, but it includes well designed surroundings, croquet, and fabulous service.

I was surprised to see the jackfruit Korean tacos so I ordered them. My starter of vegetarian spring rolls was fresh and delicious. The salad on which the rolls were served was the most sumptuous part of the dish, adding texture and another layer of flavor to go with the dipping sauces. To be honest I would have been satisfied after that course, but the tacos arrived and they really excited me. I finished my soba noodles and two of my tacos, which took me past the point of sensible portions. I am guilty of overeating on New Years Day!! Well, I made no resolutions, so I guess I did not break any. Bob was not able to finish his paella after his starter of corn and cauliflower chowder. I tasted the chowder, another vegetarian item, and really like it too. Bob ordered take out dessert, so the experience lives on in the fridge as two kinds of cake.

Our service was delivered with impeccable precision and grace by Mike Yaugor who has worked at the Inn for six years and likes it. I try not to hound waiters with my lacto-ovo vegetarianism by asking too many questions, but I need specificity. Mike was proactively ready to serve anyone, even vegans. He knew everything about everything on the menu. When Bob ordered paella, which normally is served after 5 pm, he proactively found out that the kitchen could accommodate the order at lunch time. Mike is my kind of guy, a happy, attentive, detail oriented server, comfortable with his colleagues and his guests. He did not mind asking the chefs to don the toques to come out for kudos on camera. Nathan Brown and Mathew Patton were holding down the kitchen on 1 January, 2016. They kicked out a lunch that made our celebration special and memorable. We are both impressed with the innovative new twists to the offerings. We’ll be back! This is, by far, the best restaurant in my neighborhood at the moment.

The tree

Happy New Year!!

Mike Yaugor

Korean jackfruit tacos

spring rolls

: The Inn in miniature

: The Inn in miniature

: The Inn in miniature

: The Inn in miniature

Fermenting Foods with Garden Goddess

December 18, 2015 — 4 Comments

questions answered

paleo snacks

bone broth explained

kraut fans

My latest craze is making sauerkraut. I discovered Garden Goddess Ferments products at a farmer’s market in Scottsdale a couple of weeks ago. We returned to Phoenix the following weekend to buy more sauerkraut and attend a workshop about making fermented foods. Suzette Smith of Garden Goddess Ferments organized an expo with break out learning sessions at the Office Pile. The space was perfect for the event, and many interested patrons turned out to learn more about eating healthy food. Healthy snacks, bone broth, personal chef services, and health coaching tables greeted guests, and classes were held both upstairs and in a conference room.

The fermented food class Suzette taught was so basic, simple, and informative that anyone could leave and go make kraut after attending. She told us about the benefits of the natural probiotic cultures and how she created her own delicious line of small batch artisanal krauts which she sells to the public. She also has for sale hand made crocks and cabbage shredders for the home fermenter. She forgot to bring the tool with which she had planned to mash the cabbage, so while she gave her informative lecture she pounded the cabbage with her fist until it yielded enough liquid to submerge itself. It really drove home the primitive, and as Suzette stressed in the class, forgiving nature of this process. If you have a glass or stainless steel vessel, a cabbage, a small amount of salt and a fist you can preserve food like our ancient ancestors. The mixture was rubbing up immediately, demonstrating the basic chemistry involved. This is the most natural way to preserve food and keep it alive.

It is so simple I can’t believe we are not all doing it all the time. I am hooked. I had both succeeded and failed in the past with large batch kraut in a ceramic crock. After seeing the class I understood that I had used too much salt and left it in the crock too long. Other students reported the same thing. This is what we got for following directions. This is one of those hands on experiences, like bread baking, that can be best learned by personal observation. Suzette is enthusiastic about the healthy possibilities and has developed a range of zesty flavorful krauts containing very healthy ingredients such as ginger, garlic and turmeric. The difference between her products and commercial krauts is the living probiotic culture present in the home made version. Bubbbie’s is the only live sauerkraut I know on the market, but she does not have anything like the range of flavors Garden Goddess offers. Suzette also creates seasonal varietals. Right now at home I have Kowboy Kraut, finished with cumin, Kristmas Kraut with some apple and my favorite, Power Kraut, made with red cabbage, garlic, ginger, and turmeric. She is constantly creating new and exciting combinations. If you live in the Phoenix area I urge you to run right out and buy some Garden Goddess kraut. Your digestion will thank you for it.

Suzette in her kitchen

The Garden Goddess

More Blessed to Give Than to Receive

December 16, 2015 — 1 Comment

The “meaning of the holidays” is a phrase that has been diluted. Although this commercial venture of the company was done for public relations purposes, there could be no better public relations. I wish all the gentle readers comfort and joy for the season and beyond.

Rebirth of Phoenix

December 15, 2015 — 1 Comment

air bnb

We visited downtown Phoenix over the weekend, staying in the Garfield Historic District. The neighborhood is undergoing a major revitalization with very impressive results. It had been few years since I was in that part of town which now is near university campuses for medicine and law. U of A and ASU now have large downtown campuses and hospitals. The demand for real estate has taken off fast. Very cool local businesses have sprouted up to serve the community. We enjoyed eating at two of them, Jobot Coffee and Dining and Mother Bunch Brewery. They both have distinctive atmosphere, excellent service, and fantastic food. There are very few chain stores in the district. Most businesses are local and unique. The Roosevelt Growhouse is a wonderful non profit with a mission to promote healthy food and handmade art. Participants are welcome to work on and pick from the communal garden, and some people rent small individual garden spaces for $10 a month. The folks working in the garden together on Sunday were clearly enjoying each other and the beautiful sunny day.

Mother Bunch Brewery

There are murals everywhere. The back alleys and walls, utility boxes and entire buildings are decorated with brightly painted art. Naturally some are better than others, but the total effect is really stunning. The artsy feeling flows all through the area. Our home away from home was the best part. We rented a shipping container Air bnb apartment that came with bikes for us to ride around the area. We felt right at home. Our local hosts gave us advice and directions and off we went exploring. I look forward to returning to do some more exploration and watch the Phoenix as it rises up from the ashes of the real estate depression. It appears to be a very lively rebirth.