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Stories about food, family and friends. Favorite foods, memorable meals, food mayhem, recipes and more.
10 MAR 2022 · News alert: I’m not perfect. Of course, this isn’t news, but it makes the contradiction of receiving criticism an odd struggle. Each of us knows we are works in progress, yet having others point that out can still be a hard pill to swallow.
Call it constructive criticism, critique, or “gentle love,” we need to have an outside point of view to help us see ourselves with fresh eyes.
I began this episode of The Delicious Story with the premise that criticism is a push-pull concept, a necessary jab to the psyche.
With the help of a panel of women—experts in their businesses and professions—we dig beyond the narrow view of the need/pain paradigm. We discuss feedback as an essential skill set, both giving and receiving it, and how to maximize results.
The Panel of Experts
I proudly highlight successful women who generously share their wisdom in this show. Each comes with a varied background of experiences and brings compelling observations.
Tracey Kelley worked as a corporate manager and now provides writing services on a contract basis. In addition, she has also been a yoga instructor for more than a dozen years. Tracey toggles these areas—both at the organizational and individual instruction-level—where critique is essential.
Jennifer Phipps is a massage therapist who practices out of Des Moines, Iowa. She speaks particularly to building trust with her clients and minimizing chronic pain. Her work can only happen with candid feedback, which she invites.
Celest Rose came from a corporate background in coaching. In 2018 she started a business as a certified body confidence coach and recently earned certification in Integrated Sexuality. Celeste views the subject of criticism through the organizational lens that has evolved with an emphasis on intimate relationships.
Felicia Coe owns Cirque Wonderland Studios and Cirque Wonderland Entertainment. Her performers provide circus arts, aerial arts, acrobatics, and more. On the studio side, Cirque Wonderland teaches the many performance arts of her craft. Felicia works with clients who hire Cirque Wonderland Entertainment for their private and business events as an entertainment outlet. Feedback is essential for both of her business operations.
Clair Williams-Vavra came from the hospitality management field and used her expertise to segue to Sales Engagement Manger with startup QuickHire about two years ago. Harnessing statistical analysis systems and technology, she helps clients recruit and retain the right hires for their businesses. For Clair, feedback has got to be two-way to build trust within her team.
What is Constructive Criticism Anyway?
For many, the word criticism harbors only a negative association, as in being criticized – or berated – by someone. A quick internet search reports that the word critic came from the Greek word kritos which means to judge. Fast forward to the 20th century, criticism developed into a scholarly analysis, providing balanced judgment.
We think of negative criticism about you or your performance in something like a job review. But the definition of “constructive criticism “focuses on providing helpful guidance, supported by specific examples.
Strong leaders who want to encourage the best from their teams evaluate them based on their efforts and accomplishments first. And more than that, recognize the inherent skills of the individuals involved.
Ready to Give or Receive Feedback? Set the Mood
Still, there is this friction between giving instructive criticism that butts up against an individual’s willingness to accept it in the first place.
To get the full scope of the wisdom our TDS guests offer, take a listen to the podcast, or enjoy viewing the discussion in vodcast mode.
Here are some high points of our conversation:
•Go to “critique.” If you get bogged down in the word criticism, try another more friendly option. As per Shakespeare, it will smell just as sweet by any other name. Words such as feedback or critique may prove more palatable.
•Build a bridge of trust. Good leadership requires a level of trust between team members. Providing specific, actionable ideas will land better if the environment is collaborative and trusting. Encourage feedback that doesn’t just focus on the thing that needs change but invites specific actions to reach the goal.
•Embrace the positives. Trust that people within your organization have strengths they bring to the effort. In seeking to guide, consider the unique qualities of individuals and how to harness their way of learning and communicating.
•Check-in with yourself. Ground your feedback with a clear understanding of what you look to accomplish. Make it your goal to speak from a place of empathy, one that recognizes the dignity of the other individual as a priority.
How to Receive Constructive Criticism
You are evolving in who you are, and so is everyone else. With that humble mindset, look to feedback with objective curiosity. Here are a few points to consider.
•Keep your perspective. Take a bird’s eye view and be interested in the feedback you’re given. Think, “What can I learn here?”
•Consider the source. Be open to the sources you know and trust for feedback. If the feedback is delivered negatively, broaden your view to consider the messenger. Is there something you might find helpful even if the messenger delivers the feedback poorly, or can you let it go altogether?
•Note your strengths. Recognize and verbalize your strengths often to counter that insidious naysayer within. It’s so easy to believe the worst of ourselves, even when the feedback is positive.
When people take the time to offer feedback, most often, it’s because they believe we are capable of growth. That’s a good vibe worth harboring.
By viewing constructive criticism as an affirmation rather than degradation, you begin with the wind at your back. Go forth and observe. Do so gently and with the recognition that improvement never ends.
19 JAN 2022 · Pssst. Listen. Do you want to know a secret? Do you promise not to tell? Then lean in, and I’ll tell you one: for most people, the promise of information that is “hush-hush” is intoxicating.
We want to know—almost need to know—details that seem to put us in the know or give us an edge in the world. We all gossip or have been in circles where gossip takes place. Gossip plays out in families, friends, work, even in politics and other national organizations.
At its core gossip usually comes with darker undercurrents—emotion laced with fear and judgement. We talk about difficult subjects, frightening stories, the things we can’t talk about in public or give the light of day.
Most of us associate gossip with shame—shame about the information being told, and a kind of shame for ourselves for engaging in it, if it veers malicious.
But fear not about any the roles you’ve played in gossip. Here we talk with Leah Ackerman, intuit, empathic, and sexual health /wellness coach, about the dynamics of gossip. She talks about us feeling more empowered to redirect our conversation.
Leah spends her time coaching women how to feel good in their own skin. After years in the corporate world of marketing, Leah found her calling to supporting women. But as gossip is a gender-neutral phenomenon, the tools and ideas shared apply to everyone.
What is gossip and why do we do it?
Per Merriam, gossip is the action of telling a “rumor or report of an intimate nature.” Gossip travels from one person to another and group to group. It is often based on some truth. We spread news (rumor, conjecture, and true details) via gossip with the innate idea of protecting the herd.
Example: so-and-so got food poisoning from X restaurant. We are likely to believe the gossip, in part, because it comes from someone else – and if that person is someone we know, we latch onto the information.
I was ready to go generally negative on the concept of gossip, but it turns out to be one way that news informally spreads. Per the BBC article, “Do We Have Gossip All Wrong?” gossip is a societal tool.
We often share information we don’t feel that we can receive otherwise. As a study in social science, gossip is talk about someone else that involves evaluation of that person, good or bad. The news spreads person-to-person and the community is notified.
But the article does make the point that gossiping often stems from a place of feeling powerless. “…groups traditionally shut out of power and influence, may find empowerment through their own channels and interpretations of the truth.”
Could this gossip thing be the source for people readily believing conspiracy theories and misinformation generally?
When it comes to power, we equate it with more control or autonomy of self. We seek information to verify what we think, and that which we want to believe and have others believe, too.
The Four Agreements Frame of Mind
But when it comes to control, the only thing we have a crack at is influencing how we feel. The news or information aside, it is what and how we believe about ourselves and our place in the world, that really matters.
If we focus our lens to the kinds of gossip that circulate about those in our immediate circles, the activity of gossip doesn’t feel so good. Whether the information we disperse is true or not, an internal moral gut sense often shouts out a “yuck” in our ear, especially when we relate news that is unkind or none of our business.
Whether you’ve been the gossiper or the subject of it, gossip can also reveal pain and helplessness. If we don’t confront that feeling of lacking, we in fact have less power. When you look at gossip and its correlation to pain, it amounts to a whole lot of suffering going on!
Leah delves into her discovery of the informative book The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. For her, the message of the book was all about reducing internal suffering. The agreements are listed below, but you can listen to the interview where she provides more context.
Be impeccable with your word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean about yourself and others. Don’t speak against yourself or gossip about others. Speak only truth and love.
Don’t take things personally. It’s not your job to manage the expectations of others or to try and control their reactions.
Don’t make assumptions. Ask deeper questions about the meaning of what you hear. Respond with exploration such as ‘what do you mean by that?’
Always do your best. You can change (improve). Your past behavior was based on the tools and information you had at the time. You can develop new tools and information in order to proceed differently going forward. Do the best you can to grow and give others that same grace.
What to Ask Before You Engage in Gossip
•What does the information that I’m relating say about me? What about this is story is triggering for me? What do I feel about this topic?
•Forgive yourself and forgive others. Repeat often that we are each doing what we can do with the current information and tools available to us. And remember, one person’s weakness may be gossip, but we all struggle with behaviors we want to change.
•Ask more direct questions of someone sharing gossip. How does this topic make you feel? What’s going on with you. Or change the subject.
•Set boundaries of conversations for time together. If you know that gossip is a thing in the circle, make it clear you’re trying to avoid it.
What Is Your Take on Gossip?
It’s true we live in a world where gossip (and our opinions about it) travel exponentially in our social circles. However, before talking about others, it is essential you understand what you’re saying and how it impacts you, and others.
Begin with an honest personal assessment of how you feel about the information you’re speaking to or hearing about, and you’re likely to speak from a place of honesty and kindness as a result.
29 NOV 2021 · Have you ever looked out on the world (listened to too much news) and wondered, "why can't people just get along?"
We all want roughly the same things: a happy life, experience love and family, prosper and live. But we all seem ready to roll over others to achieve these goals, desperate in our feelings of lacking.
Indeed, global peace and recognizing each other's shared needs and desires seem unimaginable. It is easy to feel hopeless and powerless in that reckoning because even many of our close relationships are at odds. Our country seems more at war within in recent years, and the fighting spills over into families. We've lost sight of each other while entrenching ourselves in our camps.
Do you feel that tug of toxicity – from entrenched opinions about thorny subjects like religion and politics – with some people in your life? I do. But wait, we must have some influence, if not on the world stage, at least in our backyards with family and community.
Our families are a microcosm of humanity, a path to understanding our bonds to the larger world. Through family and friendships, we gain insights into how to be humane. So, when intimate ties crash, we can feel lost not just in who we are but also in what purpose our lives even serve.
If you've struggled to find peace within and without, this episode of The Delicious Story is for you. Here I chat with Elena Greenberg, a practicing attorney, mediator, and professional mentor.
Elena walks us through steps and ideas to help us find common ground and harmony with family, not just for the holidays, but the long haul, too.
Our Separateness
We are each unique in our views of the world. You've probably realized this when you've shared an experience, witnessed an event, or even read the same book with others and noted that you don't "see" the facts or their meaning the same way.
We each interpret the outside "reality" based on our prism of life knowledge and prejudices. And the truth of the variations of perspective is that sometimes objective facts become irrelevant. Often, two people can't agree on what is, infact fact. We become stranded in subjective opinion instead.
And what's more, the person you are now and the opinions you hold dear may not be relevant later as you grow and change. Thus, you can't be certain that the opinions you believe today, will be yours by tomorrow.
So, in theory and based on experience, we get that we're different. And we either come to terms with the differences, find them exciting or unimportant or deny they exist at all. We often seek those we believe are the "same," because differences can cause us internal stress.
When it comes to strongly held opinions, like those of politics and religion, we become entrenched in the "facts" (code for opinions) that we believe even at the expense of important relationships. And the more we insist on our rightness, the less we hear or seek to understand any other point of view. Growth is not possible.
Finding Our Common Ground
I've been thinking a lot about estrangement in families lately since I've read Karl Pillemer's book Fault Lines: Fractured Families and How to Mend Them. Throughout the book, he interviews numerous people experiencing estrangement from family members.
Pillemer suggests that these fractured bonds don't serve us and leave holes in our family ties that impact generations into the future. He also tells stories of those who decide they want to end the estrangement.
Reconciliation hinges on a few points. To mend, all involved realize that the past disagreement is no longer critical. They also recognize they don't require an apology for an old wrong. And ultimately, the path to a relationship lies in going forward.
If you've been teetering on the brink of fissures in your family because of toxic topics, try to turn a corner for the holidays and beyond. Elena offers some tips for guidance.
1.Recognize nobody's opinions are going to change. Straight up acknowledge that you don't wish to change your opinions, and neither does the other party. Lower your bar of expectation. Search for topics where you're less invested and more aligned and discuss those.
2.Stick to doing things together you enjoy. My husband's family used to put on elaborate dinners where we'd eat and then finish up discussing topics for hours into the evening over fine bottles of wine.
On the other hand, my parent's family gathered a couple of times a year and largely didn't say anything I considered to be of substance. Instead, we played Trivial Pursuit and other games. For years, I didn't get why this was their choice. But now I see the wisdom. When you don't have a lot of topics of interest in common, playing games is one way to enjoy time together and have fun.
3.Set boundaries for the time of the holidays. Allow room for discussions later. Elena explains that setting boundaries for a family event doesn't mean we can only talk about the turkey and the pie. It does mean determining when other more challenging subjects are best to discuss.
You can set aside time to talk about issues you want to talk about, but agree that doing so during dinner, for example, will not help you all enjoy the time together.
4.Determine for yourself what it is you want to accomplish by gathering as a family. It's a good idea to establish your goals for the family event and then check in often if you feel yourself slipping into a mood or veering toward a topic that will derail that objective.
The challenge is to gracefully ask Uncle John, for example, in a patient way if we can table a conversation for a time other than dinner. How would you ask Uncle John to shift to another subject?
5.Be curious. When you do open up to discuss difficult topics, spend more time listening and repeating back what you hear. "Tell me more" is a lot more inviting than "no, you're wrong!" We all want to be understood. A barrage of facts or arguments where neither party is actually listening is not going to make understanding possible.
You’re On a Quest!
Be objective, listen actively. (Yes, this is a massive shift, and a challenge) Put on your scientist's hat, and look at the situation as if you're tasked with studying it.
You can benefit from learning what is driving someone's opinions beyond the facts. Why do they feel as they do? Try to understand the feelings of the other person: they are more important than the facts themselves.
There is no doubt that many of us feel stressed about the cultural dialogue we hear and talk about these days. But bickering about facts and disassociating with family and friends is not going to solve problems or help you even feel better.
Personal bitterness is a road to personal suffering. Strive to understand yourself and others. Make connection on common ground such as shared feelings the goal. Practice the tips here, and not only will you enjoy your family and friends more, but you'll also feel more hopeful about personal circumstances and the world outside of your control.
To learn more about Elena Greenberg and the services of mediation she provides via Iowa Mediation Services you can check out her links.
1 AUG 2021 · Even as baby boomers march by the millions into older age, redefining what it means to be old, we still struggle as a culture by limiting beliefs about seniors. And of all the fiction about aging, one devastating falsehood that seems to stick is that elders can't learn new things, including technology.
In this episode of #thedeliciousstory, we chat with Senior Savvy's expert Abbie Richie who busts the myth that seniors can't learn tech. Abbie shares her inspiring story of helping seasoned adults everywhere frolic on the internet to connect and live productively in the new age of aging.
AN ARCHAIC NOTION OF AGE
It's not just our society that has trapped seniors into the confines of antiquated ideas about aging. The lie has been thousands of years in the making; perhaps ageism fallacies can be traced back far into the depths of human history. Notably, a view of aging surfaced with the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384 BCE - 322 BCE). He likened the aging brain to a wax tablet that cools with age, becoming rigid and brittle to forming new concepts.
Fast forward nearly a couple of millennia to 1523, when the idiom "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" first appeared in a book about animal husbandry. The literal meaning was that it is hard (but not impossible) to train an older dog new tricks and procedures. We naturally are drawn to catchy quotes and sayings, especially if they encapsulate a grain of truth.
In 1546 when the "old dog" phrase appeared in John Heywood's proverb collection, it was sold to our collective brain and has been circulating in our shared truisms lexicon ever since! The old dog principle is a perfect example of how history never wholly dies, even if we lose track of it.
SENIORS CAN BE TECH-SAVVY
We are learning new things about ourselves and the world each day, no matter our age. Those who are savvy and want to age well do themselves a favor by putting in efforts to gain new knowledge with intention. Not just occasionally, but regularly.
It's good for your brain to acquire new information. To resist learning simply because of the 'age excuse' is to give in to a self-defeating stereotype and promulgates the concept.
Per the BBC, "The Amazing Fertility of the Older Mind," David Robson cites a study at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. For this study, participants memorized a list of items that they then compared and referenced with a table of word pairings. Adults over the age of 60 were "more reluctant to rely on their memory, preferring instead to laboriously cross-reference the two tables, even though it took significantly more time. For some reason, they weren't confident that they had learned the pairs accurately.
This distrust of self has looped over into tech learning as an older adult, too. The issue proves worse likely because seniors compare their ability to learn against younger generations' second nature tech know-how.
The comparison is a false paradigm, however. Younger people grew up with 21st-century technology, while older people have had to incorporate it later. After all, if you're over the age of 50, you were full-blown adulting when home computers and cell phones burgeoned in the 1980s and '90s.
As Abbie points out, older people can feel lost in the language of technology not because they can't learn it, but because it seems foreign, not understanding some basics about the context of use or steps. Abbie explains that it's most helpful for older adults to start with a base of why and move on from there. Her point is to shift from a can't learn mindset to how-to learn instead.
CRUSTACEANS AS FOOD
As with all episodes of The Delicious Story, I asked our interesting person Abbie to share her memorable meal story. If you're a lobster lover, you'll particularly enjoy her tale.
I like the idea of lobster more than the prospect of preparing it. In her telling, Abbie takes on the task of cooking lobster full-on, which you'll find heroic.
The talk of lobsters launched my musings. When did humans determine these strange exoskeleton prehistoric-looking creatures of the sea were edible in the first place?
Per History.com, the European settlers in North America found lobsters washed up on shore in piles. The crustaceans were so plentiful they provided a common source of protein. The abundance of Lobsters also made for great fertilizer in settler's gardens.
Lobster was considered common food in many regions for centuries and did not become popular in the U.S. until the early 19th century when trapping and adequate transportation developed. By the time of WWII, lobster was considered a delicacy.
YOU'RE NEW OLD BRAIN
There is probably a metaphor somewhere between the subject of lobsters and older brains, and it may be about longevity. Lobsters live for a long time. The oldest one documented was nearly 100 years old, found in Novia Scotia, twice the lifespan of an average Maine lobster.
Of course, older adults aren't just interested in living longer but also living well. So the benefits of continued learning are also helping keep the brain strong and cognitively active for the long haul.
And when it comes to learning technology, one silver lining is that tech helps keep us connected. Hopefully, as more people are vaccinated, and COVID infection rates go down, we won't need to rely on our Zoom and Facetime for contacting friends and family. But it's good to know we have the options and know-how to use tech tools just the same.
Technology isn't going away even if you can manage to avoid using it. No matter your age, you can learn, and the adventure of being a lifetime student is finding the path that helps you best incorporate new information.
Just because we age doesn't mean we're ready to be pushed by the wayside in the world. All learning –and learning technology in particular –assures we will remain vital and relevant even as we grow older.
3 JUN 2021 · Each person has a story to tell, but not everyone believes that – or even wants to tell theirs. However, others have the drive to share their story because of a particular experience, one that perhaps scarred them but left them with an important life lesson as well.
If you seek to write your story but don't know where to begin or how to accomplish it, then this episode of The Delicious Story is for you. Here you'll meet Stormi Lewis, the published author of several books and a story-sharing coach. Stormi works as a muse and coach to help others find their writer's voice and turn the book's concept into reality.
In this interview, we'll delve into how she became a writer and storytelling expert. Then we'll explore some tips for those who wish to write their story (both fiction and nonfiction) and how to publish it. We will also chat about the most significant publishing hurdles, which can make the writing challenge pale by comparison.
WHAT DOESN'T KILLS YOU SHOULD BE WRITTEN
During the podcast, Stormi explains her backstory and what compelled her to write books, especially her memoir. There is inspiration through her experience that will resonate for many and offer encouragement for anyone who doesn't think they can write a book.
I was thinking about memoirs and looking at a list of titles via a quick Google search: what do you think is the #1 circumstance for writing memoirs? It turns out – per the New York Book Editors post – that life's transformation and transitions are the primary impetus for writing most memoirs.
Something significant occurs in someone's life, forever changing them, and they want to write the story to share it and perhaps bolster others. So, understanding the lesson of your story is key to knowing how to start writing it.
We also chat with Stormi about the distinctions between autobiography and memoirs and fiction contrasted with nonfiction. Stormi is all about both fiction and nonfiction in her writing and dives into the value of each.
But when it comes to memoir, the driving force is when something significant transpires in our lives, and instead of losing oneself, the storyteller finds their way through to another side. We all seek those stories, especially in times when we struggle, because they provide hope. It's like the saying that what doesn't kill us makes us stronger – when it comes to memoir, what doesn't kill you, is worth turning into a book!
HOW TO STOP STALLING AND GET TO WRITING
Stormi understands what holds many writers back from being productive. During our interview, she offers up tips for feeling stalled in the writing process while navigating complications in life. And there is always that stubborn internal voice that can sabotage writing and publishing a book.
You'll discover why Stormi brings an understanding to her coaching, too, because she has had her struggles and managed the process while holding down a full-time job. She understands busy. So, if doing your writing is the essential piece for your memoir experience, instead of hiring a ghostwriter such as Storied Gifts, it makes good sense to have such a coach in your corner.
MARKETING IS THE ELEPHANT
Stormi walks through an overview of the differences between self-publishing versus working with a publisher. Either way, you choose to go, it's essential to have the full picture of what awaits you once you complete your memoir. Then there's the next step, marketing!
Marketing is not for the weak of heart. It's the enormous elephant muscling its way out of the corner and taking up nearly the entire space in the room after you publish a book.
Once you write your story, craft it, take hours editing it, and see it finally realized into print, your book has become your baby. Your newborn needs your entire investment and hard work, physically and emotionally, to share it. Stormi shares some of the considerations involved in that whole process.
FOOD IS LOVE
We finish up by the podcast talking about memorable meals, which is the driver for every interview here at Storied Gifts. Stormi's meal story is about connection more than the food, which is often the case with the meal experiences closest to our hearts.
The power of food stories is immersive and visceral. We can all relate to the touch, smell, and taste of good food, plus it is essential to our survival. Eating at its best is something to be savored. And when you mix eating with time shared with others, you have the makings of rich memory.
For those who can talk and dream about the food, I found the history of fettuccine Alfredo interesting and worth chatting up here since Stormi referred to it in her story. It will make for a good foodie factoid the next time you want to impress a dinner party!
It turns out variations of the dish hail back as far as the 15th century. However, the recipe of butter, parmesan cheese, and pasta is documented to have been invented by a restaurant owner in Rome named Alfredo di Lelto in 1892.
Alfredo's version is the recipe at its purist, but of course, today, we mostly think of it as a mix of cheese and cream. The family legend is that he concocted the dish to entice his wife to eat after giving birth to their child. Imagine having to induce (pun intended) anyone to eat Fettucine Alfredo!
27 MAR 2021 · Indulge your senses and feel the splashy effervescence of life in this interview (#thedeliciousstory podcast #63) with chef Terrie Kohl. Based in Des Moines, Iowa’s largest metropolitan area, she is a one-woman culinary powerhouse that dazzles and delights, one great meal at a time!
With a career in the food industry that spans decades, you’ll learn how Terrie took brave steps that earned her the credentials to become a top chef. She launched her business Country Club Market, where she offers outstanding catering and cooking classes.
I promised you “cooking party” ideas at the opening, and Terrie delivers. Sharing anecdotes of some of the cooking class styles she has provided over the years – she serves up a slew of ideas that will get your creative wheels turning for your next party.
Listen and soak in Terrie’s exuberance and her delectable food stories and suggestions. From her experiences, you’ll glean ideas to savor more of your own time around the table.
THE ART OF THE COOKING PARTY
If you find you’re one of those people who gets stumped when it comes to creating a memorable party for an event, then you’ll discover inspiration in Terrie’s cooking class tales. She has instructed many groups, some as large as 150 people and others as intimate as a gathering of 2.
Sharing food is a rich connector. No matter how different we feel we are from one another, we all must eat to live. Try as we might to differentiate ourselves from one another, we are all in this human story together, and eating, plus the pleasure of it, is one way we can all relate.
It makes sense that in addition to connecting through eating, you can blend in the cooking as a part of your gathering. Terrie describes several ways to bring cooking classes into your home – or hers – for a winning and memorable party.
Think about weddings, birthdays, special business clients, anniversaries, and you are just beginning to scratch the surface of the many cooking class party ideas. The key is to bring in an expert like Terrie, who can assure that everything is prepared from the thoughtfully selected ingredients, the engaging recipes, and stunning presentation that raises cooks at all levels.
PREPARATION IS KEY
A funny (and embarrassing) sidenote about this interview is that I lost it for a time. I recorded with Terrie back at the end of 2019, intending to publish it as a podcast and blog in January of 2020.
Somehow, I mislaid the interview in the early months of the new year and just recently realized I’d missed publishing this gem. I blame it on the crazy of pandemic times.
Of course, the things Terrie talks about, from meal preparation to holiday planning and parties, are all timeless and valuable. But it feels especially great right now as we all plan for potentially opening up our lives after socially quarantining, entertaining again with family and friends once everyone is vaccinated.
Terrie’s advice about entertaining and how to make these special events work are spot-on practical. I bet we’ll all feel the heightened sense of pleasure as we gather at tables with friends and family and still being able to keep the focus on the people.
A MEMORABLE MEAL FOR THE BOOKS
For those of you who proudly wear the mantle of “foodie” or love a bit of food history, Terrie’s memorable meal story is a stellar and one that involves culinary legend Julia Child. The story is set in Boston at the Westin Copley Square, 1997, and relates a scholarship from Les Dames d’ Escoffier.
I drop these bits of information because I wasn’t aware of the organization. Les Dames is a professional culinary organization that began in 1976 “for women leaders in the food, beverage, and hospitality industry.”
At the time of this story, Julie Child was already in her 90s. She has passed away but remains an icon of fine food, especially French cuisine. I’m a huge fan and enjoyed reading about her memories in the fantastic book My Life in Paris, where she talks about the process of publishing the seminal Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
A COOKBOOK FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Terrie is emphatic that her work is joyful every day. Her latest labor of love is her cookbook, called Bringing Friends and Family Back Around the Table, which was released in 2019. A very tasty publication!
Perhaps you’ve been fortunate to appreciate a resurgence of meals around the table during quarantine during the pandemic. I hope so. Or maybe you live on your own and are salivating to bring friends you’ve missed back together again. In any case, we are all hungry to be dining together again. Terrie’s book is filled with succulent recipes to inspire and help you plan.
Organized with recipes that are Terrie’s tried and true favorites from years of catering, you’ll find categories of recipes from breakfasts through desserts. The book finishes with a special section of recipes from the archives of her mother and grandmother’s recipe boxes in their handwriting.
There are recipes that are part stick-to-your-ribs comfort food, such as meatloaf and Sweet-Sour Spareribs. And others which are hale back to a time when it was mostly Mom who put the meal on the table. You’ll find recipes for bread pudding and pumpkin, for example, that scream of potluck days of the past.
TERRIE SHARES A FAVORITE
With so many recipes and food ideas included in her book, I did ask Terrie to offer one of her favorites. She mentioned a pork tenderloin dish transcribed from the book below with Terrie’s permission.
Maple Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Rosemary Cherry Sauce
Two 2-lb pork tenderloins, silver skin trimmed
1 ½ lbs. maple bacon
Olive oil
1 c red onion, julienned
¾ c dried cherries
2 t garlic, minced
2 t fresh rosemary, crushed
1 ½ c chicken stock
1 T red wine vinegar
1 T cornstarch
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line sheet pan with parchment paper.
Spiral wrap pork tenderloins with bacon and secure with toothpicks.
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over high heat. Add tenderloins to skillet and sear on all four sides, not cooking through. Transfer to sheet pan. Bake about 20 minutes until instant-read thermometer reads 145 degrees F.
Meanwhile, in same skillet heat 1 teaspoon olive oil on medium high heat. Add onion, dried cherries, garlic and rosemary. Cook 10 minutes or until onions are golden. Add chicken stock and scrape bottom to de-glaze. Turn heat to high and bring to a boil.
Whisk together vinegar and cornstarch. Gradually add mixture to pan, whisking continuously until sauce is thickened and bubbly, about 1 minute.
Remove pan from heat, cover, and set aside until serving. If sauce cools, warm in pan, covered, over low heat. If it thickens, use whisk in a few tablespoons of chicken broth.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Terrie’s tidbit is that this recipe would work well with chicken breasts as well.
© Terrie Kohl
CONTACT TERRIE KOHL
You can contact Terrie on her FB page, and to order a copy of her cookbook or find out more about her catering and cooking class services, you can also email or call her.
Terrie has a website and a newsletter but says the best way to reach her is by phone 515.987.5957 or email Terrie (at) countryclubmkt.com.
If you love the comfort of delicious baked goods, Terrie is known for her baking services and world-famous scones. I’ve seen Terrie dozens of times on our local TV stations and radio outlets. She is a powerhouse of energy and delights in bringing joy to the table for her clients.
14 JAN 2021 · Something rare awaits you in this episode of The Delicious Story. We visit with aviation and urban historian Dr. Janet Bednarek, professor at the University of Dayton.
She takes us on a journey covering the historical highlights of aviation after WWI, including the evolution of the airport system, and the role of barnstormers in igniting the public’s interest for flight. You’ll also learn the surprising impact the United States Postal Service played in aviation development.
Prepare to be surprised and intrigued by the history that makes your travel by plane possible today. Seat backs up and buckle in.
LADIES IN AVIATION
Dr. Bednarek does stand apart in the aviation historian world. It turns out that female aviation historians are quite a rarity. She was the only one who appeared in my search, as a matter of fact, but she assures me there are other women in the field of study as well.
Dr. Bednarek and I connected to talk about the unique role of woman in aviation and how their involvement led to greater safety in the early days of flight. Those ladies were true trailblazers given they had to face the headwinds of inequality of opportunity, many of them active right around when women were finally given the right to vote.
My fascination with females in aviation started with the story of Bessie Coleman who was the first African American and Native American woman to earn her pilot’s license in the mid-20s. Her achievement was doubly notable as a woman of color.
Did you know that the history of aviation spans 3000 years? If you include all the ways humans have interacted with sending things aloft, it all began with the first kite invented in China in 1000 B.C.E.
Ever since then, ladies had to work extra-hard to make their way into the air, and yet they kept on taking every opportunity to do so. After the Wright brothers got the first plane airborne in 1903, Blanche Scott was permitted to taxi a plane and it became airborne making her the first female pilot.
A quick review of Scott’s bio reveals that she was known to be an adventurer, having completed a transcontinental automobile journey before she became a pilot. Her tour by car occurred in the early 1900s at a time there were no more than 218 miles of paved roads outside of cities across the U.S.
Blanche’s life spans a period of incredible changes in aviation, from when planes were invented to watching Glen Armstrong set foot on the moon. It was men and women who made the flight you can take today a reality.
BARNSTORMERS IMPACT FOR AVIATION
It’s easy to get sort of romantic about the courage (and craziness) of barnstormers who piloted temperamental planes made of wood, wire, and paper surrounding an engine. These men and some women would do nearly anything to fly, which is why so many of them turned to entertaining audiences.
Here is footage from the 1920s with a sampling of the types of air acrobatics these aviation daredevils would perform.
Dr. Bednarek explains the circumstances that led to the barnstormer phenomenon. You’ll also learn more about the state of the military after WWI, that led pilots to become entertainers.
It was the barnstormers who captured the imagination of the public. These flyers brought entertainment and aviation antics to the masses. Audiences found flight exciting, but the draw also might have been an appetite for watching death-defying tricks in case they turned for the worse.
Unfortunately, just like Bessie, many pilots didn’t live a very long life. And as to the influence they had on the public, Dr. Bednarek explains that their feats may have worked against those who were trying to make air travel more mainstream.
For some pilots, there were additional employment opportunities to consider. Dr. Bednarek explains how the United States Postal Service played a pivotal role in finding a use for airplanes in the service of mail delivery, for instance.
Dr. Bednarek details the backstory and some of the ideas and technology the U.S. Postal Service (link) incorporated in flight between WWI and WWII that helped shape it for the future. Even though pilots who worked for the postal service had the security of a paycheck, the work was nearly as dangerous as that of a barnstormer.
AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT
The next time you enter the airport, consider all the history that occurred to make it possible for you to have access to flight.
Dr. Bednarek explains there was an interest to make a commercial interest of flight after WWI. However, it was an idea that would require an organization of airport facilities to dot the country, and more acceptance by the public.
In the 1920s, there were grassy airfields throughout parts of the United States, but for true success as a means of transportation everything hinged on an organized system. Per Centennial of Flight, “In 1929, Pan Am replaced its rickety pier at Miami and built the first true, U.S. land-based international airport, 116-Pan American Field.”
Listen in during the interview as Dr. Bednarek walks us through the changes that influenced airports, which in turn had an impact on the urban communities nearby.
MEMORABLE TABLE MANNERS
Once grounded, I do ask Dr. Bednarek to share a memorable meal story. She had a couple of interesting ones that were not so much about food as on the mishaps of the meals. Her first story had all the potential of being romantic: she had just gotten married and Paris was involved. But alas, everything came down to table manners.
Admittedly, formal dining etiquette will trip most of us at some point. It’s easy to forget or not know the rules. My knowledge has lapsed as I eat at home in isolation with my hubby in front of the TV during pandemic times.
I found this video by Real Men Real Style titled the Ultimate Guide to Table Manners to give you a quick 101. It’s funny with helpful brush-up reminders.
FLIGHT ETIQUITTE
Since we are talking etiquette, it seemed right to mention airline passenger manners, too. Maybe you’ve experienced rude behavior during a flight or heard about belligerent passengers caught on video in the news now and then.
Or, perhaps you’ve been pushed to it in a state of exhaustion on a flight yourself and not put your best self forward. Air travel can get hectic and bring out the worst in people.
As a public service announcement, here’s a printable that you’re welcome to wear on your next flight. Consider it a gentle reminder for everyone to be chill and kind to each other.
And if we all observe some passenger etiquette flights will be more pleasant, too. Over at Thrillist they offer a hearty list of manners to mind. I’m not sure if I agree with rule number 8 about hot food, but you can read the full list and see if you generally agree.
THE PAST IS YOUR FUTURE
The next time you’re at the airport waiting to check bags or removing your shoes to pass through security, remember that there have been many stories in the past to make your adventure possible. Isn’t it remarkable that something people could only dream of doing 100 years ago we largely take for granted today?
Once you’ve boarded the plane, stowed your baggage in the overhead and buckled up, consider what a marvel it is to fly. And then smile politely to your neighbor and honor your shared space before turning your head to nap.
Dr. Bednarek’s book she wrote with her husband is available to purchase.
Details about the Walter Prescott Web Memorial Lectures Dr. Bednarek mentioned can be found over at University of Texas Arlington, Department of History.
10 DEC 2020 · In this episode of #thedeliciousstory, we visit with Ginger Johnson, expert connector, author, and coach, about how the world you live in is filled with the opportunity to connect, an adventure just waiting for you to grasp it. Her goal is nothing short of epic—to ignite your curiosity and help you find the thrill in looking out and seeing the possibilities when you engage with others.
If you’re asking, “Why do I need a refresh on how to connect with others?” The answer is because connectivity done with purpose will enrich your relationships and even spill over to positively impact how you live.
WHERE DID YOU LEARN SOCIAL SKILLS?
Who taught you your social graces? What were the significant takeaways from those lessons? “Do share. Be nice. Smile. Don’t interrupt.” Is that the gist of it?
It’s likely that how you encounter other people and form friendships is influenced by those who raised you as well as the first people you really connected with. Ginger dives in to help us unpack old concepts we acquired from original connections and then review a new kind of attitude.
What is “connectivity?” As a contrast, Ginger refers to “networking,” which is its antithesis. If you hear the word “networking” and think a tooth extraction sounds better, take heart. You can find joy and confidence and less pain in connecting with others if you approach it from a frame of mind Ginger explains in this podcast.
MAKE YOUR LIFE RICH IN CONNECTION
I’d like to segue here with an honest personal experience. The truth is, I’m a nervous chatter person in public settings, which others probably misconstrue as an extrovert in action. The blabbering is actually cover for the introvert that I am. I get gummed up, worried about how others perceive me, and probably act either kind of aloof or whacky. If you can relate, then chances are, we should be friends.
For some time, I’d been watching Ginger’s videos about connectivity and reading a lot of her posts on LinkedIn. I was at once blown away by her energy and impressed by her suggestions. Finally, I decided I did want to try and improve my connection skills, so I purchased her book, “Connectivity Canon.”
Right off, I was touched because she signed the book filled with vibrant yellow pages. She then vividly revealed concepts I could understand. The kicker was the action steps offered as an experiment to try immediately. Without over-revealing it, I admit the first exercise was fun and made a powerful impression.
Ginger, as you’ll discover, doesn’t want any of your time wasted, and she doesn’t riff off platitudes. She is a passionate storyteller driven to give ideas you can try right away. In fact, she provides three things each of us can do right now. Consider these a gift to lift you out of this pandemic hibernation!
GINGER’S MEMORABLE MEAL
As anyone who listens to The Delicious Story knows, in each episode, I visit with interesting people and ask each guest to share a memorable meal story. It’s the way we vicariously enjoy the magic of a meal that brings people and precious memories together without adding the extra calories to the waistline!
Ginger delivers on that promise with a charming meal memory that also serves as a love story. There is even the mention of the cult classic film, Rocky Horror Picture Show. The 1975 movie is based on the 1973 stage production of the musical of the same name. Rocky Horror is a parody tribute to science fiction films and B horror movies, for those who haven’t seen it.
The plot involves a young couple, stranded when their car breaks down. They venture into a castle where they encounter the head of the house, a Dr. Frank N. Furter, who is a mad scientist and transvestite. The musical is a romping great time with fabulous tunes, and a signature performance by Tim Curry in full-on black bustier. It’s info that will help you understand Ginger’s memorable meal story.
And now, to the landlocked life of a Midwesterner, it is hard to fathom living in a place surrounded by mountains. And yet, Ginger describes her home in Talent, Oregon, and the Siskiyou Mountains to great effect. These peaks apparently aren’t very tall but spread into Northern California and Southern Oregon, and are notable for their “botanically diverse coniferous forests.” Ginger’s details of the place are lovely may give you a hankering to visit.
ENRICH YOUR CONNECTIONS AND LIFE
The zest for connection that Ginger teaches can spill over and influence how you do everything else. It could truly be that significant. Consider this a gift as we head into a strange version of the holiday season, and hunker down in the desert space of the pandemic until spring and vaccines arrive.
Ginger is generously offering our listeners a Delicious Story goodie of an inscribed copy of her book, “Connectivity Canon,” with a 50% savings! Use the code CANON50. Here's the link.
If you care to join in Ginger’s next Constructive Connecting 2-day masterclass scheduled for March 16 and 17 of 2021, registration opens soon with early bird offer opportunities if you sign up for her newsletter here. join the newsletter community with this link.
16 NOV 2020 · In this episode of The Delicious Story we chat with Stephanie Hoover, history author and podcaster, who researches and writes about true crime stories and the spiritualism movement of the 19th century. Stephanie digs deep to unearth events and people of intrigue and reveal historical culture and ancestors who often acted upon their belief in the supernatural.
With nine books to her credit and the ranking podcast “Stephanie Hoover Has That Story,” she has amassed impressive knowledge of our fascination with spiritualism. Her latest book, “Pretty Evil Pennsylvania,” comes out in 2021.
How relevant is spiritualism in life today? We discuss this during the show, so you can decide for yourself where you fall on the topic. From crossing paths with black cats to stepping on cracks in the sidewalk, many of us harbor superstitions. It’s ingrained in our thinking, passed on by family folklore and nursery rhymes.
Humans have been grappling with life’s meaning and what comes after it for centuries. Spiritualism has helped fill the void of that unknown. To get a quantitative sense of how long we’ve been searching, Universe Today provides some quick numbers: human-like creatures have walked the planet for about six million years, but it’s only been the last 200,000 that humans, as we are today, have been in existence.
Our civilizations are younger still, with only 6,000 years in our rear-view mirror. Most of the spiritualism that we have, came from within that same frame of time. Throughout that greater era, we’ve struggled to rectify what we see with what we don’t to make sense of what happens when the light snuffs out. Sometimes, the answers we create provide solace—and other times, the ideas simply freak us out.
CLARITY SPIRITUALISM, SPIRITUALITY, RELIGION
For anyone like me who’s a bit unclear about the word “spiritualism” (especially when compared and contrasted with the concepts of spirituality and religion), here are the definitions:
Spiritualism: (noun) Is a religious movement based on the belief that the spirits of the dead exist and have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living.
Spirituality: (noun) The quality of being concerned with the human soul as opposed to the material or physical things.
Religion: (noun) A social-cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that relates humanity to supernatural transcendental, or spiritual elements.
Whatever your thoughts of spiritualism and communing with the dead, Stephanie is not here to judge but to report on what she finds. She tells you stories enthusiastically based on her in-depth research and skilled writing that give you something to think about—no matter where you rest on the subject ghostly spirits.
A SIDE TRIP TO PUERTO RICO
We then make a complete segue to talking food, and on that subject Stephanie explains another project outside her usual where she helped craft a layered narrative that brought together a cookbook called “A Taste of Latin America.” You’ll find her anecdotes about the book a treat,
especially if you know little of Latin American food and want to learn more. My limited sampling is based in Peru because my daughter lives there, but I was surprised to discover some carryovers to Puerto Rican food.
As Stephanie explains, the cuisine is hearty, largely comprised of comfort dishes that have a lot to do with roasted meat, plantains, and starches. Think stick-to-your-ribs savory and flavorful fare and you’ll get the idea.
A prevailing item mentioned in the recipes I found online is something called pigeon peas. I’d not heard of them, and chatted briefly with my daughter to see if she had since she has traveled to other Latin American countries. She made the observation that potatoes are featured more in Peruvian food (because potatoes came from Peru), whereas beans are not so much (though, of course, there are plates that include them). Interesting! Anyway, it turns out that pigeon peas are a legume that came from India and have found their way into many Puerto Rican dishes.
Stephanie was fortunate to find a Puerto Rican restaurant in her community in Pennsylvania (she was surprised and pleased). I was curious if Des Moines, Iowa had one as well, and it turns out we’re on the map with one, too! (Double surprise.) How about you? Any Puerto Rican restaurants where you live? From Stephanie’s description the food sounds deliciously worthwhile.
PROFOUND SUBJECTS AND MEMORABLE MEALS
My favorite question to ask anyone in the field of history is to inquire as to how hopeful they are for the future given what they know of the past. I think you’ll find Stephanie’s answer both encouraging and insightful, not to mention a serious reason to dive in and learn yourself some history.
If there is one thing that remains true throughout time, it’s that people across borders and generations are inherently the same. We function on the same Richter scale of emotions from one people to the next. The circumstances of events vary, but our responses are predictable, and knowing that gives us something to work with.
Stephanie then shared her memorable meal, a particularly delightful recall of a tradition that will have you hankering to sit around a fire roasting food, too. What is it about food cooked outdoors that makes it especially tasty?
As I think about it, if fire is man’s first discovery, is it any wonder that it continues to be such a strong force? We count on fire to give us warmth, keep the dark at bay, and heat our food. It can also turn on us if left to do so. There is something primal about fire, I suppose and sitting around one brings us in almost at a DNA level. What better place to allow the darkness to seep in close, all the while feeling protected enough to swap our very best ghost stories.
22 OCT 2020 · Until recently, the only thing I knew of Peru was that Paddington the Curious Bear (with tattered hat, old suitcase and all) came from there. The beloved character of children’s books was made famous by British author Michael Bond, describing the bear that lived in “darkest Peru” before becoming a stowaway deposited at a railway station in London.
My knowledge of the South American country all changed a few years ago when my daughter Alexandra moved there after falling in love with Lima, thereafter, making her home in Lima the South American city by the sea. She met a wonderful guy and launched her business there as well. In this episode of #thedeliciousstory, you’ll have a chance to meet Alex and David and learn fascinating details about their cosmopolitan adventures—all while enjoying a virtual sampling of signature dishes of Lima!
THE SILVER LINING OF A PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN
The Peruvian government was an early responder in addressing the spread of COVID-19. Even before the U.S. went into lockdown, the country mandated serious restrictions on their population, including a strict quarantine lasting over 100 days.
It does this mother’s heart good to know that her baby lives somewhere where lives and public safety are so important. I wondered, though, how she, David, and their little Shih Tzu dog named Charlotte managed to remain sane for almost four months of confinement in their fifteenth story apartment!
For months, the three weren’t permitted to go anywhere except to make grocery store runs (and only one person at a time), which became a treat. Restaurants, bars, and everything else was closed.
Alex and David share the experience of their daily life holed up in a city that went nearly silent. They were fortunate in many ways, and provide some interesting insights into how the normally-noisy and crowded city changed after the start of quarantine.
SIGHTSEEING SPOTS OF LIMA
Alex and David describe details of a few more prominent amenities, and you can sense their joy in it, because they love to give friends and family a more intimate understanding of their city. You can glean ideas of the variety of attractions in Lima, a city made up of districts (each with its particular “flavor”).
The parks and green spaces are an oasis for Lima dwellers to connect with nature. For Alex and David, their favorite is the Roosevelt Park (interestingly named after the U.S. President), which is near their apartment and became a mental health lifeline during the pandemic.
Another treasured and particularly beautiful park they discussed is the Bosque del Olivar. The main feature of this large area of land is the forest grove of olive trees established by Spaniard Antonio de Rivera, who brought more than one hundred olive saplings from Spain in the 1500s. It is a wonderful place to walk and think about the history these trees have seen of the city, including when Peru gained their independence in 1821.
A CITY OF EXCEPTIONAL DINING
Although Lima isn’t so much a tourist destination (but, instead, a brief stop to other parts of Peru such as Cusco), it is as stunning as it is a notable dining mecca. Alex and David delve into a few of the signature dishes there, including ceviche, or fish “cooked” in citrus, and anticuchos, which are grilled kebobs of beef heart.
One dish I can report is always worth eating is lomo saltado. Anywhere I’ve ordered this during my visits to Lima I always find it tasty.
Alex provides an overview of the influences of the foods of Lima, too. Think roasted and wok-cooked meats, a variety of seasonings with an emphasis on sauces, and you’ll get some idea. And I bet you’ll be surprised to learn of Peru’s role in the history of spuds, which today are a mainstay all over the world!
Like any city, Lima is a place shaped by hundreds of years of cultural diversity. Per Culture Trip, Peru has the second-highest Japanese population in South America, for instance, which is reflected in the Japanese cuisine fusion restaurants. I recommend a favorite that Alex has taken me to twice, called Kaikan. Lima itself is also the home to the largest Chinese population in the Western hemisphere!
MEMORABLE MEAL STORY
Both Alex and David have enjoyed travel and have taken several trips together since they met. We finish up the interview with a savory story of a vacation journey to Croatia where they visited the cities of Zadar, Dubrovnik and Zagreb.
If you are a seeker of the perfect hamburger—yes, I said hamburger—David can tell about his experience and exactly where you can go to enjoy one. Alex describes another dish she enjoyed at Bar Despacito (which, surprisingly for them both, has a Spanish name) that will surely make your mouth water.
THE PERUVIAN CONNECTION
And about those bears. My research on Paddington did reveal that Peru is home to the Spectacled or Andean Bear found in Northern Peru. This endangered species has the special markings of a light face that gives it the appearance of wearing a mask.
Andean Bears are omnivores and the third largest mammal in South America. Their only predator is humans. Author Michael Bond may have been influenced by this species of bear, especially since he originally wanted Paddington to come from “darkest Africa” until he found out there are no bears there.
Not that I put too much stock in signs from the universe, but it turns out our family has some history with Peru before Alex moved there and planted her flag, too. Our “Uncle Andrew” as we now call him (the brother of Alex’s grandfather’s Aunt Ta) went to Peru 100 years ago with ideas of mining for silver, and was never heard from again by the family. Could he surface if Alex were to look him up in local records? Family stories suggest that he perished, but we’ll never know for sure as his letters simply stopped coming sometime during the 1920s.
But you needn’t worry about getting lost in Lima (unless that is your goal)! Until you visit, you can at least lose yourself in the details and food described by Alex and David in this podcast. Try to imagine a world post-pandemic. I know we all are doing just that these days! That more “normal” future might include the charms of a visit to Lima, who knows!
Stories about food, family and friends. Favorite foods, memorable meals, food mayhem, recipes and more.
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| Author | Sherry A Borzo |
| Organization | Sherry A Borzo |
| Categories | Society & Culture |
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