Lunch Box Chronicles: Day One Hundred and Seventeen (On Saving the World)

In a world in which nothing seems predictable, from civil wars in the Middle East, to union busting in Wisconsin, rising oil and gas prices, and millions of kids going hungry, I often shut my eyes and wonder if I can, just in a small way, make the world a better place.  It sounds so trivial, but it is real...can improving just one life, once in a while, make the world just that much better?

I have to believe it is so, or else, the meaning of existence would not mean much at all...So, how is it that some of us have the curse that we feel compelled to make the world a better place, and other of us, can just exist, being satisfied that we survive day-to-day without harming anyone in our path?  I am one of the cursed...I am driven by the need to "do good" on some level in my life.

For many years, I represented 100s of kids, kids in trouble with the law, kids struggling in school, kids who parents tried, but simply couldn't withstand the rigors of parenting.   There was a lot of pain, a lot of lecturing, a lot of re-shaping, and too much disappointment.  There would be a team of social workers, psychologists, teachers, probation officers and lawyers working with these kids and families, but sometimes, the dysfunction was so hard wired, or the damage from the abuse so irreversible that, no matter our best efforts, the kids would fall through the cracks, and eventually become adults who also fell through the cracks.   I started to feel as if each child's pain became my own.   Ten years into it, I left to maintain my protective shell and to help my own family.

Years later, after leaving that world, I occasionally have a fleeting encounter with my past. Was that young victim a past client of mine?  Is so-in-so now in prison?  And, how many babies did she lose to state custody?  But, sometimes, a glimmer of what it means to make a difference walks through the door.

And, indeed that is what happened this week when I was sitting in the bakery.  After a steady stream of walk-ins, one tall well-dressed man walked in the bakery.  "Beth?" He said, "Yes?"  I answered.  He continued, "You may not remember me, but you represented my son several years ago when he was a teenager."  "Oh yes," I said, "How is he doing?"   He continued, "He is doing wonderfully; after the dark period in which you represented him, he turned himself around, got into college, did really well, and now works in finance.  I just wanted to say thank you and wish you good luck with your business ventures."  Slightly stunned, I said "You are welcome; and please tell your son, I say congratulations and if he ever wants to invest in his attorney, I have a great business."  We both said good-bye with a smile and a nod.

I guess one small gesture can make a world of difference, even if it just for one kid.

And, with this, I offer a way to help you make someone's life better, just for a fleeting moment....by making a damn good Spelt Right Pizza.   The way I prepared this crust was one of the best I can remember.

Ingredients:  One Spelt Right Pizza Dough, fully thawed and risen, stretched out on a stainless steel pan oiled with extra virgin olive oil.  Preheat oven to 450F.  Let dough rest in a warm place while on the pan.  It gives it a lighter crispier texture.   Top with your favorite toppings.  I used Frank's Pasta Sauce, made in Cranston, RI., Hannaford Mozzarella Cheese, sauteed mushrooms, and Trader Joe's Calamata Olive Tapenade.  Bake for 15-20 minutes, depending upon how you like your crust.

Critique:  A pizza that has the possibility to make the world a better place.  Enjoy.  Stop and smell the roses and the pizza.

Lunch Box Chronicles: Day One-Hundred and Eight (Everything Emma Spelt Right Bagel with herb chevre and fried egg)

Three simple ingredients, one delicious breakfast or lunch or snack!  Spelt Right Everything Emma bagel, toasted to perfection, with herb chevre goat cheese, and a fried egg. Salt and Pepper to taste.  This meal is packed with so much protein (7 grams from the bagel, 4-6 grams from the egg, and 5 grams from the cheese) that you will be satisfied for many hours after eating this.  If you want to add a little green, add some wilted spinach on top.....Oh, yum, simply yum!!!

Everything Emma Spelt Right Bagel Basking in the Sun

Lunch Box Chronicles: Day Eighty-Six (Guest Blogger from Cyberspace)

Wow, the internet and long term friendships can be VERY COOL. I am convinced that "6 degrees of separation" is more like "2 degrees of separation" with all of this cyber activity. I recently reconnected with my friend, Diana S., from high school. Prior to this year, the last time I saw her was about 30 years ago. I must say, we have both aged well! Diana is a wonderful fan of Spelt Right and recently sent me an email post from another high school acquaintance, posting a recipe from another friend in Boston made with Spelt Right dough. Given that we all live in different states, I think it is quite COOL. Here is the post, the link, and the recipe. Enjoy! http://heyspelty.blogspot.com/2010/08/happy-happy.html

spelt calzones
makes 2 enormous calzones

1 ball spelt right  frozen pizza dough, thawed and risen for around 2 hours
(make sure not to let the dough rise too quickly.  with wheat flour i would usually proof dough in the oven with the oven light on- this does not work for spelt.  i don't know why, my guess is that it has something to do with shorter gluten strands....?)

filling:
1 med zucchini, large dice
6 oz fresh spinach (1 bag)
4 scallions, small dice
4 oz feta, crumbled

olive oil
salt
pepper
red pepper flakes

preheat oven to 450

cover an inverted baking sheet with parchment paper

for the filling:

brown zucchini in a non-stick pan with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
remove from pan.

using the same pan, quickly saute the spinach until fully cooked.
once it is cool enough to handle, squeeze as much moisture from the spinach as you can.
chop.

mix zucchini, spinach, scallions and feta in a bowl.

for the crust:

after the dough has risen, dust the counter or a board with spelt flour and divide the dough ball into 2 equal pieces.  working one at a time, flatten each dough ball to roughly 10" diameter.

scoop 1/2 of the filling onto one side of each flattened disc, then fold the remaining dough over the filling.  crimp the edges.

transfer your calzones to the inverted baking sheet.

using a sharp knife or scissors, snip 3 holes into the top of each calzone to allow steam to escape.

brush the tops with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

bake for approx. 15 minutes until golden brown.

devour.

Lunch Box Chronicles: Day Fifty-Eight (Tuna Salad on Grilled Spelt Bread - Whole Foods Style)

Thank you Whole Foods, Portland (Maine, that is)!   I was on my way home but decided to take a quick detour to Whole Foods.  There was something wildly magnetic pulling me there.  Perhaps, my credit card?

I was getting some sliced turkey and the woman helping me asked me if I had a sister in Seattle.  "Nope, I said, but I betcha she is Lebanese."  There is a strong ethnic resemblance among many of us - relative or not.  Her co-worker then began assisting me and I said, "So, do I look like someone you know too?"  "Nope," he said, "but you do look familiar.  Do you work here?"  I explained that I am around a lot because I am "THE SPELT LADY".  "Ohhhh, the Spelt Lady?"  Well, he said, "I've got something to show you.  Check out these great sandwiches that we make with your Spelt Right pizza dough.  We take balls of the dough and grill them and make these great sandwiches."   The spelt sandwich of the day was tuna salad, baby spinach and tomato.  

Despite not needing dinner (Spencer was working on some tofu creation at home), I bought one for a photo op.  Glad I did.   One word?  Delicious!  One piece of advice?  Head out to Whole Foods - Portland, Maine and get yourself a sandwich made with grilled SPELT dough.  Second piece of advice?  Just buy a Spelt Right dough and try it at home - you might need a panini maker.

Lunch Box Chronicles: Day Eleven (Spelt Right Monkey Bread)

Here's a great recipe for a treat or to impress your friends, family, and neighbors at brunch.

News Flash!! We have provided you a step by step one minute slide show on how to make these.

Ingredients: 2 Spelt Right Pizza Dough Balls, fully thawed to double their frozen size
1/2 cup organic cane sugar (I never using bleached white sugar)
1 tablespoon cinnamon (I use organic)
6 tablespoons real butter, melted (and purified if you would like). Purified means skimming off the impurities from the top of the melting butter and pouring off and using the clear butter, leaving the sediment on the bottom. Throw away the sediment. Also, known as ghee.

And, you will need a bundt pan or other pan with removable sides.

Preheat oven to 400 F

Lightly butter a bundt pan. Be sure to put a cookie sheet or other pan on the shelf beneath where you place the bundt pan because it will drip. Place melted butter in small bowl. Mix together cinnamon and sugar in a separate bowl. Gently pull apart the thawed dough and make 1/2 inch 1 inch dough balls. Then take the dough balls and dip in butter. See picture. Take the dipped dough balls and roll in cinnamon/sugar. Place the coated dough balls in bundt pan. Repeat steps until you are finished with the dough balls.

Bake at 400 oven. Remember to place a pan on a rack under the bundt pan because it will drip and make a mess.

Bake for about 30-45 minutes. Done when balls are not gooey in center. WaaLaa! The perfect treat for a gaggle of 7 year old girls visiting, or for a troop of teenagers over to watch a basketball game. Not a bad surprise for a brunch either.



Click Play Button to Start

Lunch Box Chronicles: Day Nine (Olive, Goat Cheese Tarts)

We're giving you two options today. A fitayer or a Spelt Right sesame bagel. We did not have enough room in our bellies to sample the fitayers because we just returned from the Associated Buyers Table Top Show and have been nibbling all day.

First Taste: Great for a Light Dinner. Ingredients: One Sesame Mucho spelt bagel, Silver Goat Chevre Goat Cheese, Sliced Avocado, and Trader Joe's Olive Tapenade Spread (warned you about the TJ addiction). Directions: Toast Bagel to Desired Crispness or Softness (I love the versatility of Spelt Right bagels), spread on Goat Cheese, spread tapenade over goat cheese, place slices of avocado on tapenade. Enjoy!!! Yum, yum, and yum. I give this a personal two thumbs up.

Second Taste: Goat Cheese and Olive Tapenade Fitaya. Ingredients and Directions: One Spelt Right pizza dough, double in size. Divide dough into six equal balls. Stretch or roll to about 1/4 thick. Spread on goat cheese first and then tapenade. Shape into triangles. Bake at 400 for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. UNRATED. We were just too full to try this one! We'll let you know tomorrow.