LOVING HOME

I hated going home

to antiquated rules,

to ugly fashions despised

by those who knew

better, acceptable ways

and spoke in tongues

of apple pie and moms

so pretty with blue eyed kids

and husbands of prestige so affluent.

I hated going home

where boisterous tunes

of tickling rhythms aroused

involuntary primal moves,

where pictures of luscious tropics

bleeding gods, and America

the beautiful hung

in tacky mix of hope

and ignorance combined.

I hated going home

where simmering sofrito attacked

olfactory senses defenseless.

Where your fire slowly cooking, attempted,

to fill emptiness unrecognized.

Where consumed, rebellion digested,

in your sustenance at home,

I rested, protected by love

in your food disguised.

(Submitted to Magpie Tales . Hope you visit and treat yourself to some great reading.)

A young Puerto Rican girl, wanting to fit into the mainstream, sometimes rebelled and resented the customs of her ethnicity. Her grandmother, her Mami, always cooked delicious foods. This helped the girl eventually accept her cultural identity and recognize the love that was intrinsic to her home.

(

Sofrito is a blend of ingredients used as a basic in many Puerto Rican dishes. It is comprised of chopped garlic, sweet peppers, onions, cilantro and/or a similar herb, culantro.)

(Thank you to Jingle for nominating me for the Versatile Writer Award.)

Food for the Soul

Recently, I was getting more acquainted with a blogging social network site called MidChix (http://midchix.com/). Maybe you're familiar with it, but if not, it's one I recommend. I'm pretty new and hardly adept at the social networking protocols but I think that I'm supposed to invite you to check them out and become my friend on the site. I'd be honored if you became my friend - anywhere.

As I surfed, I discovered a "flock", (it's their word for group, I think) that was devoted to Latinas. (My flock is on Meditation - more suited of course to a soul searching, spiritually unenlightened one such as I). Being a Latina, I decided to make an entry and had fun writing about my background. I probably should be doing more of this anyway, since the book I've written and rewritten umpteen times, is about my coming of age in the Bronx. Anyway, one of the things I mentioned was precisely that I was enjoying it, and I would expand my comments into a blog post. Here it is:

CULTURE SHOCK

The kitchen was noisy, hectic and busy. People ran around, all giving orders and adding to the chaos. This was my very first ever, and thankfully, my last Enchilada Dinner Fund Raiser for my daughter's soft ball team, an attempt to help her make friends in her new community. We had just moved from Long Island, New York to this slow paced, bi-lingual, bi-cultural state where parents did things like this - make their kids join soft ball teams and then work their butts off trying to raise enough money to cover costs.

I did the best I could to become invisible, to let no one know how clumsy I was in the kitchen, and especially I wanted to hide the fact that I had no clue how to make enchiladas, having barely tasted my first ones only weeks before.

Shyly, I had to confess this to a Mexican-American lady, who clearly did not believe me. I guess she assumed I shared her heritage and I was merely slacking off or worse, ashamed of my true heritage. She was less than helpful to me as she ordered me to dice onions all morning. I muddled through somehow, and considered the discomfort of the day dangerously close to trauma.

DIVERSITY

We don't all look alike, though there is a distinct Latin look. I have that. I have dark eyes, dark, wavy hair and olive skin. I'm short, and if curve is the new word for bulge I'm very curvy. My countenance is conjured up whenever people think of a typical Hispanic lady. My cousin, on the other hand, is very white, thin has red hair, hazel eyes and a face full of freckles. His brother has black hair and pearly white teeth that glisten in contrast to his very dark skin.

Aside from physical diversity, there are distinct differences in the cultures of the various countries that fall under the Latin umbrella. They can be subtle, and most often involve differences in the spoken dialect of the global regions.

Though our music may sound the same to the unfamiliar ear, there is an immense range of rhythms and beats that are unique to each country. However, music is one of those things that, regardless of its origins, weaves throughout the hearts of all, and knits a web of unity and camaraderie amongst all Latin souls.

ETHNICALLY SPEAKING, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

Food is what to me provides the deepest distinction between Latin cultures. Even if we don't all look alike, we all like to eat what our grandma's cooked and that remains unique to each country and that's what the irritated Mexican-American enchilada lady failed to comprehend.

Rice and beans, in a myriad of heavenly varieties and combinations, is the staple in Puerto Rico. Pork is the meat of preference and garlic is used as if it had been included in the most powerful and mystical of all ancient scriptures - like a sacred ingredient, without which the world is doomed. There are all sorts of tropical fruits, roots and yams. And bananas come in a variety which ressembles the diversity of the people - there are regular bananas, plantain bananas, purple bananas and little wee bananas which are great when fried. There are probably more I don't know about. And by the way, almost anything that is edible can be fried, according to some hidden Puerto Rican health book, that challenges the findings about cholesterol being bad for you.

MY ALMOST DAILY RITUAL

Many years ago, when I lived in Germany, my grandmother used to send me bags of rice and beans, though I assured her they had food there. She did this because (though most proponents and defenders of having strong cultural identities would deny it) I think most cultures have a downside. For Puerto Ricans, at least the ones I know, the downside is the belief that things Puerto Rican tend to be superior and this is especially true about food.

Almost daily I encounter this perspective in the food department at my house as I struggle to care for mother and mother-in-law as best I can. I used to cook daily until I got smart and started making better use of my freezer, in spite of protests from the elderly ladies, who prefer their meals freshly cooked. My mother and mother-in-law refuse to eat anything but Puerto Rican food. There are those who have advised me to let them starve, but I'm too kind. So almost daily, a ritual takes place at my home which involves none other than rice, beans, avocado and plantains because the ladies don't really eat much else. Luckily for me, being vegetarian, they no longer like meat, so it's one less worry. I try to diversify the food as much as possible, but only within the realm of what constitutes a Puerto Rican meal. And since we live in a place where we're probably the tiniest minority, stores do not usually stock up on our delicacies.

A BLESSING DISGUISED

I like all kinds of food - Mexican - of course, Italian - my favorite, Chinese -yum, Indian -lifts my spirit, Middle Eastern - a ticket to heaven. When the ladies did not live with me, I made Puerto Rican food once a week, maybe. Their presence and demands, now keep me frequently connected to my culture in more ways than one, but most intensely through my stomach.

Though it may sound like complaining, which is not foreign to me, the fact that I so often cook and eat the food of my childhood, seems to not only feed my body, but in a strange way nourishes my spirit. It makes me happy.

I don't always eat the food the ladies prefer, but I do eat it frequently. When I do, I can feel a connection to my earthly roots. If you accept a holisic approach to life, you know that what affects the body also impacts the mind and the soul.

Tonight the ladies are having their usual soul food. Hubbie and I are having enchiladas. After living in New Mexico for over 20 years we're tri-cultural now and Mexican food is our other soul food. Meat and potatoes? Well, we don't eat meat.

OUR SOUL FOOD

Rice, beans, avocado and plantains

Plantains are large bananas. We like them ripe and fried. Sometimes, we eat them when they are green, hard and are closer to a potatoe. They are fried, of course, but prepared a little differently.

Frying sweet plantains is easy. Eating them, even more so.

If you want recipes, let me know.

SOUL GROWING GARDEN

Yearly, my husband undergoes a unique transformation - he becomes Elmer Fudd, the infamous cartoon character who continuously hunted Buggs Bunny.

Luckily, he doesn't own a weapon and merely fantasizes about the many ways he could murder those treacherous wabbits who love munching on the veggie plants, which took so much love, toil and trouble to grow. Exasperation gives way to resignation as, not only the rabbits torment him, but I myself join in the torture as I defend the cute little cotton tails, who are merely trying to survive.

My husband has a type A personality, which he continuously tries to tame by meditating, reading, and sheer will power. Sometimes he succeeds. And although the many rabbits, quail and infinite variety of birds that come to snack on his garden irritate him to no end, gardening is his truest form of calming himself, of getting in touch with his own essence and relaxing as he accepts the ever generous gifts of Mother Earth (which the animals assume are there for sharing).

I consider gardening to be a wonderful form of resting in that quiet, still, meditative state. This is where the reasoning mind is perhaps occupied with detail but the other mind - the one that is expansive, limitless, eternal and free - takes over as it dwells in one of the most natural, soothing, affirming and spiritually grounding activities one can engage in to purify and center the soul.

"The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for Him there."

George Bernard Shaw

~

This year hubby made a great discovery, which had actually been in existence for many years but was new to him. He delved full force into a form of gardening that is both beautiful and efficient. He began Square Food Gardening; originated by Mel Bartholomew, who authored a book by the same title. "One can grow more in less space," the book entices gardeners. It's true and this is just one of its many benefits for individual gardeners as well as communities in all parts of the world. I don't feel fully qualified in recommending this type of gardening, since I'm not the one doing it, but based on my observations and comments from my husband, this provided a great solution to gardening in the desert, as it apparently does for gardening in the city, or in places with limited resources.

It seemed to me, the hardest part was building the boxes that use very little soil, compared to traditional gardening methods. My husband, though, didn't think that was actually very hard at all, and he's the one who made them.

~

Before I proceed to display, what I consider to be a work of art, co-sculpted by my husband and Mother Nature, I must remind you of where I live.

This is my neighborhood - a dry, rocky, barren earth, beautiful in its own way but providing the gardener with immense challenges. Nevertheless, for many years my husband has persevered in planting and cherishing the fruits of his labor, small though they sometimes were. It seems this only magnified the value of the tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and squash that somehow succeeded in coming to life. It's amazing what Love can do.

~

My husband's Eden.

This is hubby's garden today. It's small but we anticipate it will produce much. An added feature of this year's garden is that it is organic. What more can vegetarians ask for? It is truly our mini garden of Eden.

As I write this all sorts of metaphors and analogies come to my mind - Mother Earth, birth, growth, life, death, beauty, decay, hope, rebirth...

But, I'll let you make those connections. For now, I'm grateful to enjoy this garden, to let it bless me with its peace and to know that my husband finds his soul within it and his Spirit is nourished by the food of Divine soil.

"One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth."

Dorothy Frances Gurney

Coupons = Money

Is the love of money really at the root of all evil? It sounds wise, but we mustn't take this too literally. Rich or poor, I've never met anyone who hates money. It's hard not to "love" money, when it represents so much in our lives. Money, to a large degree, defines our quality of life and for many of us it determines if we can meet our basic needs.


Considering our tough economic realities, this is a great time to consider becoming frugal and one such way is by using coupons to stretch those precious dollars, which even if we deny loving, sure are essential. Once, one is aware of something it changes us. Now that I'm aware that I can save so much money, I'm unwilling to "throw" it away by just giving in to impulsive and expensive unplanned consumerism.


I've only recently discovered couponing (a new verb to me). My daughter, who like so many young women with little children struggles to make ends meet, has learned to save considerable amounts of money with coupons. She has taught me a little, though I'm still quite the novice. Yesterday, I saved all of $1.80 with coupons at the grocery store. Not enough to make me rich, but "A penny saved is a penny earned," according to Ben Franklin, the wisest of our country's founding fathers. But my daughter has paid $20.00 for $80.00 worth of groceries. Not bad. I've heard of women who pay nothing for $300.00 worth of groceries. Definitely, free is best but I suppose you must be somewhat of a professional couponer (a new pronoun) to accomplish such feats.





To help with our coupon education there are tons of websites dedicated to this new science of saving. I take it from a good source that the following sites are really good:

• http://hip2save.com/
• http://thekrazycouponlady.com/

I have discovered the following on my own:

• http://coupons.com
• http://thecouponblogs.com
• http://couponmom.com

~

Obviously, I'm no expert yet, but I have followed some preliminary steps, which you can do too. I have:

• started clipping coupons from the Sunday newspaper (I'm told that's one of the best sources of good coupons), magazines ("All You" is a great magazine for coupons), and web sites (I already got a free Dominoes Pizza. Wow!),


• set up a coupon binder to organize my coupons,
  
• set up a separate email to receive offers from various companies,
  
• overcome the laziness that tries to convince me that couponing is a waste of time. Time is money!
  
• I've started to experience the rush one gets from a great bargain - minimally of course, I've only saved $1.80.

~

So, you thought this was supposed to be a spirituality blog. What's spiritual about saving money, you ask.

I think everything we do is spiritual. We are, after all spiritual beings. And I do think there's something spiritual about money. It's symbolic of our life stream - like blood, can't really do much without it. Within this context I think the couponing movement has a spiritual component.

First of all, it's primarily comprised of women. The Divine Mother must have something to do with it.

Secondly, the women who are involved with it seem to be most concerned with love of their families. Wherever there is Love, there is Spirit.

Thirdly, many of the participants are sincere, genuine givers. There are many blog sites devoted to sharing this possibly life saving skill. Also, there are many women, who once they have mastered the art, are willing to freely share their knowledge with others by hosting and teaching mini workshops on couponing. Some women, who stock pile groceries, cleaning supplies and cosmetics, donate a portion to food banks or shelters. Not all couponing is intended to just remain contained within the confines of one's own household. It has the potential to expand giving in a creative and fun way.

"(S)He who wishes to secure the good of others has already secured (her)his own."

Confucius

Many blessings to all those who willingly share what they know. May their rewards be tenfold.

The Choice

-

"If we're not supposed to eat animals...how come they're made out of meat?"

Anonymous

With lentils, tomatoes and rice, olives and nuts and bread,

Why does a man care to gnaw a slice of something bleeding and dead?"

Henry Bailey Stevens

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Several years ago, some acquaintances announced they were dropping by. It was Christmas and my kitchen looked like it was in recovery from a cornucopia explosion. There was food all over the place. Yet, panic struck as I wondered desperately about what food I would offer my company. In my Puerto Rican culture, as in most cultures, offering food is the best way to demonstrate hospitality; and the best way to compliment your host is to eat. I was determined not to forgo this important social communion just because my visitors were vegetarians.

"What can I possibly feed them.?" I asked every member of my family, who looked at me in total perplexity, as they too found the incoming visit akin to a visit from the beings that inhabit the planet Vegietar, a world not yet discovered. What kind of people don't eat pernil (roasted fresh ham), or turkey or beef stew? Though I had already embarked on my spiritual journey, which mandated that one desist from any form of judgment - I knew deep in my heart that these people were weirdos. I finally did creatively put something together, but as I served it I felt disappointed, maybe a little angry that they deprived me of an opportunity to show off my true culinary skills, all of which involved meat dishes.

~

What goes around comes around. Perhaps my visit is dreaded by my carnivorous friends, who see no possibilities for food consumption devoid of meat. I'm a weirdo too now, and frankly I no longer feel like I've given something up, but rather I've heightened my consciousness, increased my knowledge and probably improved my health. But that's me, and unfortunately that's not all that makes me a weirdo. (We won't go into that.)

As a vegetarian, I try to refrain from judgment of others who still chose to chew the fibrous, bloody (they say juicy - yuck, meat juice), thick flesh of a being that actually had a face, some feeling and maybe even some consciousness itself. (Okay, so there's judgment or at least some arrogance in that previous statement. Sorry carnivores.) It's an issue. Those of us who chose to focus on a vegetarian diet tend to feel superior to those who don't and vice-versa. There are T shirts and bumper stickers displayed by those not so fond of animals, that say, "I didn't claw my way up the food chain, to eat vegetables." I think I've noticed a smirk or two emanating from people who disapprove of those who only eat rabbit food and secretly think we must be some kind of radical, pinko, commie, bleeding heart, misguided, animal and tofu loving, anemic, cheap political group. The rivalry is fierce - and like in a divorce situation, where the children are the losers in the battle - I feel animals are the biggest losers here, but they may not be. It may be us. Consider how mother earth as well as our lovely bodies are being damaged by methane gas, hormones, antibiotics etc. The consequences are scary, and though I honor choice, I do think we can make choices that benefit us all.

Rachel Ray and Emeril Lagasse just announced they became vegetarians! No, just kidding. But wouldn't that be something? I digress. But there is good news. You don't have to become vegetarian, not all at once, cold turkey - so to speak. You can become a Flexitarian. That's a cool label for you and all you have to do is eat other stuff, not meat, several days a week. It's so doable and you'd be providing the Universe with such a gift. Can you try that? You protein worshiper, you. Can we meet half way?

~

There was an old Twilight Zone episode in which aliens came down to earth and were luring people to board space ships to go to the aliens' home planet. They had a book titled "How To Serve Man", which convinced the humans of the aliens benevolence. As the space ships took off for space, one man finally managed to decipher that the book was not a book of goodness towards humanity, it was a cookbook. The aliens were going to cook and eat the humans!

What if there is a planet out there, whose technologically and intellectually advanced inhabitants look just like cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, etc.; and they came to earth and found us to be yummy and delectable? What if they discovered that human-on-the barbie made a great tasty and nutritious snack? What if they really loved munching on a well roasted human leg as they walked around a festival.?

We must remember - what goes around...

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Recommended reading:

The Food Revolution by John Robbins