The Story of Bottled Water

I don't know about you, but I really appreciate the Story of Stuff project. Their latest video, the Story of Bottled Water, has this delightful little moment:

"Drinking Bottled water is quickly becoming as popular as smoking while pregnant!" (with the pregnant lady looking down on the bottled-water guy!)
-Dave

Chocolate Moneky

This week we will be giving into chocolate cravings with two treats:

Moneky Banana Biscotti gone Chocolate (and Half Baked)
Here is the original RECIPE
And here is my version

3/4-1 Cup Ripened Bananas, mashed
1 Egg or 2 Egg whites
2 Tbsp brown Sugar
1 tsp vanilla

1 Cup white flour
3/4 + 2 Tbsp Whole Wheat flour
1/2-3/4 cup white sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup cocoa *my addition, and it is delicious!* (I encourage you to use fair trade from which ever local store sells it, like Ten Thousand Villages)
1/4 cup Chocolate chips (optional to make this double chocolate!)

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees
Place first 4 ingredients (wet) in a bowl and combine.
Mix together dry ingredients. Add to wet ingredients to form a thick dough.

Divide into two equal portions and place on a silpat lined baking sheet (or parchment paper) 4 inches apart.Form each piece of dough into a 6 inch log, about 3 inches wide. They turn out to be flat style logs, more like rectangles. Bake for 25 minutes.
Remove, and decrease heat to 250 degrees. Allow logs to cool ten mins.
Using a serrated knife cut biscotti into diagonal strips.
*This is where I stopped! Biscotti means twice baked, so if you like follow the remaining instructions for a great treat. Or, if your pieces were a perfect cakey crunchy combination like mine why not leave them and have Half baked Biscotti!
To finish: Place back on cookie sheet, and bake for 20-25 mins, turning once for evening browning if you like.
Go Bananas and eat them up!
Store in air tight container, if they make it that far!


Peanut Butter Balls
My mom made these all the time in little logs instead of balls. She called them chocolate bars and never shared because they were her special dessert. Please, share these with your family because they are a healthy treat for their sweets cravings too!
Mix 4 Tbsp light, crunchy peanut butter with 4-6 Tbsp hot (or left over) coffee (could use water for caffeine-free) .
Mix in 3-4 Tbsp hot chocolate mix (or cocoa and sugar if you like).
Toast 1/2-3/4 cup oatmeal in a frying pan on medium high heat, stirring often (don't need oil or spray or anything, just keep them moving). Just toast till light brown so they are no longer raw.
Add oatmeal and 2 tbsp dark raisins to wet ingredients and mix.
Wet hands with cold water and shape into 1/2-1 inch balls. Refrigerate to firm, and store in fridge or freezer.

Thank You, Ukulele Man

The other day on the bus ride home I had a delightful encounter.

I got on the bus and sat near the front. There was a pair of young people sitting in the seat opposite and I couldn't help but be drawn to them almost immediately. She was your typical downtown young lady, trendy/hippy hand-made clothes and hat, while he was tall, bearded, wearing a huge winter coat and playing a blues scale on on a Ukulele.

Now, I've recently had a bit of an obsession with the beloved UKE, ever since an radio article on CBC's GO stated in no uncertain terms that the Ukulele is the perfect gift for the hard-to-shop-for person in your life, as its easy to play and growing in popularity. Plus the host said that playing a UKE makes you feel like a GIANT, which is no doubt all kinds of awesome.

But the pair on the bus had something else going on, beyond excellent taste in fashion and musical instruments. They were lively, daring, and looked to be having a lot of fun. In a place where most people sit silently avoiding attention, they were relaxed and even having some fun. Eventually he was able to coax his bus mate into a little impromptu jam session, while he played and she invented cold, bitter lyrics of lament and tragedy.

Now, I'm not saying I necessarily want to play the blue on a Ukulele whist (and at the same time) traveling on public transit, but I do want to take every opportunity to enjoy the company of those around me and not to let life slip by.

Thank you, crazy Ukulele Man. May we all follow your cute, under-sized example.
-Dave

Dave's Article for CFGB

Fine Dining on the Rooftops of India

Monday, March 01, 2010

As part of a recent Food Study Tour, a group of Canadian Foodgrains Bank supporters and staff visited the Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief (EFICOR). EFICOR is a partner of World Relief Canada and has long been active in the Indian state of Bihar, working with people who have traditionally been among the poorest and lowest castes in India.

Read more here: