Here's to pizza!

Pizza. A savory Italian dish of a round flattened base of leavened dough. In Italy, a formal restaurant setting, a pizza would be eaten with a knife and fork. In a causal setting, it is cut into wedges and eaten by hand, which is the way most of us usually eat it. A favorite food among many people around the world. It enjoys a wide variety of crust and toppings depending on regions. October is National Pizza Month. Started by Gerry Durnell, publisher of Pizza Today magazine in 1984, October has become a month to celebrate this delicious food from its humble origins to the crazy debates about which region has the better pizza and even what toppings are acceptable.

There have been foods like the pizza found throughout the Ancient World. In the 6^th century BCE, Persian soldiers of the Achaemenid Empire, during the rule of King Darius I, baked flatbreads with cheese and dates on top of their shields. Ancient Greeks would use oil, herbs and cheese on their flatbreads. The term, pizza, was first recorded in a 10^th century in a Latin manuscript from southern Italy. According to legend, the modern pizza was invented in Naples in the 18^th to early 19^th century. The popular story goes, in 1889, the Royal Palace of Capodimonte commissioned the Neapolitan pizzaiolo (pizza maker) Raffaele Esposito to create a pizza in honor of the visiting Queen Margherita (1851-1926). He created three pizzas and the queen preferred the pizza which represented the Italian flag: red (tomatoes), green (basil) and white (mozzarella) which became the pizza Margherita. Pizza was brought to the US by Italian immigrants in the late 19^th century. The first US pizzeria, Lombardi’s, was opened in New York City in 1905 and it is still open today. The demand for pizza would skyrocket after World War II when servicemen were returning home from the Italian front and asked for this dish.

There are many variations of pizza. In Italy, the pizza napolitana remains a popular style which contains San Marzano and mozzarella di bufala.  Pizza is extremely popular in the United States in which 13% of American eat pizza on any given day. There are regional pizzas which developed in the US. Everyone is familiar with the New York style which is a hand tossed crust with a light layer of tomato sauce with mozzarella cheese and toppings such as pepperoni. New York pizzas usually measure between 18-24 inches in diameter and cut into eight large pieces. You may also be familiar with the popular Chicago style deep dish pizza. However, were you familiar with the other regional styles. First, the California style which is a thin crust and topping which unusual toppings such as chicken and goat cheese. This style was popularized by California chefs, Wolfgang Puck and Ed LaDou. Second, the Detroit style is a rectangular pizza with a thick crisp crust topped with sauce, cheese, pepperoni and mushrooms. Lastly, the St Louis pizza, which is a very thin, cracker like crust commonly topped with Provel cheese, which is made with cheddar, Swiss, and provolone cheeses, and cut into squares instead of wedges.

The world record for the largest pizza was in Rome in December 2012 which measured 1,261 square meters (approximately 13,570 square feet)! And the world record for the longest pizza was in Fontana, California in 2017 which measured 1,930.39 meters (approximately 6,333.3 feet)! That’s almost a mile and a quarter long! Of course, with the popularity of pizza, there are many debates which occur. New York will always claim their pizza is better than other regions. While style of pizza is dependent on region and personal taste, one topic sparks a large and louder debate: toppings. More specific: is pineapple an acceptable pizza topping? Most people will state that pineapple does not belong on a pizza because it is not an Italian ingredient. However, this argument is week as many different styles use toppings which are not Italian. I personally love a pizza with pineapple and Canadian bacon. However, that is the only combination I will use with pineapple. Pineapple does not belong on a pizza with pepperoni or other toppings. According to Debate.org, 59% of respondents said yes, pineapple is an acceptable topping while 41% said no. And the debate goes on.

In conclusion, pizza is as simple or as complex as consumers wants. Regardless how you enjoy your pizza, it is a food which has had a long and successful history. From early forms in the Ancient world to the legendary beginnings in Italy, pizza will continue to be favorite around the US and around the world. So next time you enjoy your favorite pizza, remember its humble beginnings to its worldwide success. May even try a type of pizza you have never had before. You never know, you may find a new favorite. Here’s to pizza!

The Grumble Free Year: One family's journey to help others be grumble free

The Grumble Free Year: Twelve months, eleven family members and one impossible goal by Tricia Goyer is her family’s journey to attempt to grumble less and praise more. Before they set off on this seemingly impossible journey, Tricia and her husband, John, promise their kids that if they can achieve this goal, the family will go on a cruise. Their ten children agree to give it a try. The book is twenty chapters, separating into three parts: Gearing Up, The Challenge Begins, and Winding Down, Tricia Goyer details their planning, their successes as well as their failures and where the ideas need to be thrown out, added new ideas or improved upon original ones. At the end of each chapter, there are three Reflection Questions in which the reader can reflect on the topics discussed in each chapter and find the areas that need more attention or improvement. There is also a My Turn section in which the reader can apply the Grumble Free technique to their own journey. Using personal stories and well as relevant Bible verses, Tricia Goyer guides the reader to a grumble free year and beyond.

I was invited to become a member of the Grumble Free Year Launch team. Since I review books on a regular basis, I joined even though I was unfamiliar with Ms. Goyer’s work. I was curious about what this journey would be about. As I began, I was intrigued by her story as her younger children come to their family through adoption and the challenges they faced as the children were older adoptees. At the end of each chapter, I would thoughtfully answer the Reflection Questions and I begin to see where I could change my grumbly ways. Some of the challenges and methods do not apply to me…yet as my children are only 7 years old and 13 months. However, I now have a tool at my disposal in order to face those future grumble years by getting to the root of the grumbles. The Grumble Free Year is a wonderful book with heartfelt, personal and honest stories that shows that the goal of being grumble free isn’t easy, but it is rewarding. This book helped me realize where I am already working on my grumbling and the areas where I still need work. It is a book I will be visiting again and again as I need it. I highly recommend The Grumble Free Year.

The Grumble Free Year:

Twelve months, eleven family members, and one impossible goal

will be available November 5, 2019

in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Harvest of Gold: Darius and Sarah's story continues

Harvest of Gold by Tessa Afshar is the sequel to Harvest of Rubies. Sarah is still adjusting to life married to a Persian aristocrat. She has wealth, property, honor and power and yet the one thing she desperately wants seems impossible to get: her husband’s love. What she doesn’t realize is that Darius is battling within himself. He finds himself drawn to her, at the edge of falling in love with her, yet he always seems to find an excuse to pull himself back, to close himself off. When a plot against the king is discover, Darius is sent on a mission to expose the plotters before it is too late. At the same time, Sarah’s cousin, Nehemiah, hears God’s call to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. Nehemiah’s journey to Jerusalem and Darius’ mission soon combine, and Darius finds himself being pulled by his mother’s God. Will Darius discover who is behind the plot against the king? Will he finally surrender to his love for Sarah? Will he stop running away from God and surrender to his call?

Harvest of Gold starts soon after Harvest of Rubies ends, and Darius and Sarah can’t seem to find a peaceful life before they are caught up in another plot to unravel. This book didn’t have the same intensity as the first book and it’s drama seemed to be drawn out. The story was separated into three parts. The third part is where the real emotions and drama happens although it seems rushed in order to finish the book. Overall, I enjoyed Darius and Sarah’s continued story and the challenges Nehemiah faced as he rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. If you enjoyed Harvest of Rubies, you will enjoy Harvest of Gold, although it doesn’t exact live up to its predecessor.

Harvest of Gold

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Harvest of Rubies: a love story set in the Ancient Persian court

Harvest of Rubies by Tessa Afshar is the story of Sarah, a young Jewish woman with the ability to learn multiple languages, is trained to be a scribe. Her talents lead her to the employment of Queen Damaspia, wife of Atraxerxes, the king of Persia. She quickly finds herself trying to untangle an accusation made by the queen mother, Amestris, against Queen Damaspia. When Sarah unravels the lies and helps avert disaster, she wins the heart and favor of the queen. Her reward is to be married to one of Atraxerxes’ valued subjects. Darius isn’t thrilled by the prospect of marriage just as Sarah tries to get out of it. But they realize that they have no choice. As their marriage finds a rocky start, Sarah tries to make the most of her new role and life and she again finds herself uncovering an evil scheme against Darius’ estate. The schemer soon reveals that he has dangerous intentions. Can she uncover enough evidence to convince Darius of the evil scheme? Will Darius learn to trust her enough to follow the evidence? Will she trust the Lord enough to guide her through?

I loved Harvest of Rubies. Right from the start, I was drawn to Sarah and her intelligence and her modest opinion of herself. She feels that her only redeeming quality, her only value is being a scribe. When that is taken away from her, she is at a lost as her value. Ms. Afshar paints a detailed description of Persian court life and the societal structure of the time. I enjoyed Darius, a man of pride who finds himself drawn to his new bride despite his desire to keep his distance. As Darius and Sarah investigate the scheme, they learn that their first impressions weren’t the truth. Their love story felt very realistic as explanations and apologies don’t automatically result in trust and love. Darius and Sarah’s interactions with each are electrifying and by the end I smiled and laughed at their antics with each other. Their story continues in Harvest of Gold, which I will be reviewing soon. I highly recommend Harvest of Rubies.

Harvest of Rubies

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Its National Cookie Month!

Everyone loves cookies! October is National Cookie Month! The word, “cookie,” derives from the Dutch word koekje meaning “small or little cake.” Cookies are sweet, small cakes which take various forms around the world. There go by many names around the world too. In America, they are cookies. In Britain and Australia, they are biscuits. In German, they are keks, or plzchen (Christmas cookie). In Spain and other Spanish-speaking nations, they are galletas. Let’s dive into the origins of cookies, the different types enjoyed around the world as well as a few of my favorite cookies.

According to culinary historians, cookies were originally testers. A small amount of cake batter was baked to test the oven temperature (What’s Cooking America). The earliest cookies date to 7^th century CE Persia (now Iran), one of the first countries to cultivate sugar. By the end of the 14^th century, Renaissance cookies had many cookie recipes. English, Scottish and Dutch immigrants were the first to bring cookies to America. Some cookies are made for everyday enjoyment, others are made for specific occasions. Christmas is a time where tons of cookies are made and passed along as gifts to friends and loved ones. In Australia, special biscuits are made for ANZAC Day on April 25. Anzac biscuits were originally used by the Australian army during World War I for their long shelf life. Today, these cookies are often used by veteran’s organizations for raise money for the care of war veterans (What’s Cooking America). 

Cookies are made throughout the world in various shapes, flavors and for various occasions. In India, nankhatai are a buttery shortbread cookie which is made traditionally during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights (Smith, 2018). France is known for macarons, these delicious yet technically difficult cookies are often featured in cooking and baking competitions to test the competitors’ skills. One of Italy’s most popular cookie is the biscotti which can be enjoyed alone or dipped in coffee. In Iran, the reshteh khoshkar is a rice flour-based cookie which is deep fried and drenched in syrup. It is the traditional cookie for Ramadan (Smith, 2018). In China, a popular cookie is the almond ginger cookie (Bandurski). In Mexico, a cinnamon cookie known as Reganadas are made during Día de los Muertos. Tradition states the cookies represent the tormented souls of people and animals in purgatory as they wait to be allowed into paradise. In Argentina, alfajores are a breakfast cookie. A sandwich cookie made with shortbread filled with dulce de leche and rolled in coconut (Smith, 2018). And of course, in the United States, the chocolate chip cookie is a common favorite. Invented by Ruth Graves Wakefield (1905-1977) of Whitman, Massachusetts in 1937 while she ran the Toll House Restaurant (What’s Cooking America).

My first favorite cookie is the snickerdoodle. A type of sugar cookie which is rolled in cinnamon sugar and has a cracked surface when baked. It can be crisp or soft depending on the ingredients used. I prefer them soft and chewy. My second favorite cookie is shortbread, specifically Scottish shortbread. Shortbread cookies are made worldwide; however, the Scottish shortbread is one of the best known. The traditional Scottish biscuit made with sugar, butter and oat flour baked at a low temperature to prevent browning. They are usually poked with a fork or tool to create its design and can be cut into various shapes. Walkers Shortbread is Scotland’s largest food exporter of shortbread biscuits. My third favorite cookie is the peanut butter cookie. Especially my maternal grandmother’s recipe. It is simple, only four ingredients, easy to make and fun to decorate the criss cross design with the back of a fork. It was one of the first cookie recipes I learned to make, and it was the first I taught my daughter.

In conclusion, cookies have ancient beginnings and have developed throughout the known world and enjoyed throughout the world daily and on special occasions. Cookies with different ingredients, different shapes, different flavors, even different functions but all have special meanings to those who make and enjoy them. Enjoy National Cookie Month with your favorite cookie! Or take this opportunity to try and enjoy cookies from other countries. What are some of your favorite cookies?

References

Bandurski, Katie. The Best Cookies from Around the World. Taste of Home. https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/cookies-around-the-world/. Retrieved September 28, 2019.

Smith, Nasha. 10 cookies from around the world that you'll want to try immediately. Insider. https://www.insider.com/cookies-around-the-world-2018-8. August 27, 2018.

What’s Cooking America. History of Cookies. https://whatscookingamerica.net/History/CookieHistory.htm. Retrieved September 28, 2019.

Cilka's Journey: one woman's life after surviving Auschwitz

Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris is the harrowing story of Cecilia “Cilka” Klein who spent three years in Auschwitz before being liberated by the Russian army in 1945. However, once she thought she would be free to return home, the Russian authorities learn what she was at the camp and accused her of being a spy for the enemy. She is sentenced to 15 years hard labor at the Vorkuta Gulag in Siberia. Once again, she is given a number and forced to work in horrible conditions in the coal mines. Through a series of events, she finds herself removed from the mines and trained as a nurse in the hospital. There she learns the horrors that the other prisoners do not get to see. As she does her time, she has recurring nightmares and memories of her time in Auschwitz. Will Cilka survive her time in the prison? Will she ever be released and sent home?

Cilka’s Journey is a continuation of Ms. Morris’ bestselling book, The Tattooist of Auschwitz. I was unaware of this connection when I picked up Cilka’s Journey. However, you do not need to read The Tattooist in order to follow Cilka’s Journey. Given the subject matter, I thought the book would be difficult to read, so I wanted to pace myself. However, once I got into the story, I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know if Cilka’s survives and if she does, is she released? Does she escape? After reading Cilka’s Journey, I want to go back and get The Tattooist of Auschwitz. There are scenes and descriptions that are hard to read due to the subject matter, but the Vorkuta Gulag was very real and some of the events Ms. Morris depicts in this book really happened, which makes the horrors Cilka sees even more terrifying. I recommend Cilka’s Journey as a look into a part of history many people do not know or do not discuss.

Cilka’s Journey

is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Cancel culture: good? bad? ugly?

Over the past few weeks, after the news broke of SNL’s firing of Shane Gillis for making racist jokes against Chinese, I heard the term, cancel culture, more and more. I wasn’t sure what it was. When it comes to the massive world of social media, I’m somewhat of a novice. Yes, I’m on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram but I don’t follow of a lot of people or really pay attention to current trends. I decided to investigate and write about cancel culture. What I found was overwhelming and left me unsure of what my stance would be. So, my goal of this post is an examine of what cancel is and how people are using it, reacting to it and give my thoughts on whether it is necessary.

Cancel culture, as described by Wikipedia, is “a form of public shaming that aims to hold an individual and groups accountable by calling attention to behavior, usually on social media, that is perceived as problematic.” It is also referred to as call out culture or outrage culture. It is essentially a boycott of a person, usually a celebrity, when he or she has shared a questionable or unpopular opinion or has behaved in a manner that is perceived as offensive. The person is “canceled” when a large group of fans completely boycott the individual’s work causing loss of jobs, massive declines in the celebrity’s career and fanbase. For example, when Rosanne Barr made the racist comment about Valerie Jarrett, she lost her reboot show. This opinion, statement or behavior can be from the present; however, more and more celebrities are being canceled for things said and done in the distant past. Kevin Hart was canceled earlier this year, and lost his job hosting the Oscar because of a joke he made on Twitter several years before. However, canceling of a celebrity is rarely permanent. For celebrities like Taylor Swift, the offense was quickly forgotten and she’s back on top with a bestseller album. 

Some have called cancel culture an extreme form of the PC culture and the popular catch all to describe a social justice warrior agenda (Butler, 2018). One author from an online magazine makes the argument that we have always lived in a cancel culture (Semiramis, 2019) and various people from history as examples. Alice Bell, who developed a cure for leprosy has essentially been “canceled” since she is a black woman and her contribution has been hidden. Alan Turing invented one of the core concepts of computer science but since he was gay, his name lives in obscurity. Today’s cancel culture is simply the minorities, the oppressed, reclaiming their power and fighting back (Semiramis, 2019). Some have even claimed that a cancel culture doesn’t exist as some who have been “cancelled” themselves back in the public’s good graces as time goes by (Butler, 2018). Others have claimed that there is only critics of cancel culture because most “victims” are usually white men (Semiramis, 2019) and they aren’t used to being held accountable for their actions. However, more and more victims of cancel culture are minorities and women who don’t always follow the new PC culture.

There is an equal argument against cancel culture. According to critics, the problem with cancel culture is the methods used to cancel certain people and ideas. “A small number of online progressives have appointed themselves a moral vanguard” to expose a transgression and enforce a punishment through a “digital mob” (Linker, 2019). It is an attempt to police American culture, to draw a line on what is acceptable in life and especially comedy as seen in the outrage over jokes made by some stand-up comedians. The most current comedian to be in the spotlight due to cancel culture is Dave Chappelle after his Netflix special Sticks and Stones ignited a firestorm online. Taylor Swift, a victim of cancel culture, spoke out against it, saying that cancelling someone can send the wrong, even tragic, message. Dr. Pamela Paresky calls cancel culture apocalyptic. “An apocalyptic culture is not interested in wounded hearts. It wants to destroy, not heal. It wants retribution for moral impurities, not forgiveness” (Paresky, 2019). Cancel culture is born out of a knee jerk reaction instead of asking “why did he say that?” (Paresky, 2019). As Wesley Morris writes in this article, The Morality War, the intent is ignored and only what is said is what matters (2018).

As I said earlier, this topic was very overwhelming. It took several days of reading article after article and gathering my own thoughts about cancel culture to be able to sit down and write this post. On one hand, it is important to call each other for things that are wrong and hopefully help them see the error in their statement. On the other hand, cancel culture really isn’t doing that. Cancel culture also doesn’t allow for a person to change their minds. Say someone made a statement twenty years ago and someone calls him or her out on it in the present, the outrage usually ignores any statement made since that clearly shows that the person no longer believes in the past statement. Cancel culture is essentially shunning, a Scarlet letter for the world to see. It is an extreme form of a boycott and in most cases, it is downright bullying. It’s one thing to call for a boycott to hurt a company or individual’s bottom-line, like the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1995-1956). However, it is entirely different to destroy their lives. Some in the cancel culture frenzy have called for the offender’s death and the death of his or her family!

In conclusion, the motives behind cancel culture is on the right track. We need to call each other out when statements or actions are made that are harmful. However, if I don’t something an actor, artist, writer or even politician has said or done that I don’t like, I simply stop watching their movies/TV shows, stop buying their music or book and I won’t vote for them for political positions. I will stop following them on social media. However, I will not call for them to be harmed or even killed. Cancel culture leaves no room for correction, no open dialogue. No opportunity to prove the statement wrong. It is essentially “I don’t like what you said, so you must disappear.” As you can see from the pictures I have found online, there are many in social media who question the firestorm of cancel culture. We can do better than that. Most of my research has shown me that there are plenty of people who are tired of the cancel culture and very few who see its merits.

References

Butler, Danielle. October 23, 2018. The Misplaced Hysteria About a ‘Cancel Culture’ That Doesn’t Actually Exist. The Root. https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/the-misplaced-hysteria-about-a-cancel-culture-that-do-1829563238/amp.

Linker, Damon. September 20, 2019. What is ‘cancel culture’ and its critics get wrong. The Week. https://theweek.com/articles/866329/what-cancel-culture-critics-wrong

Morris, Wesley. October 3, 2018. The Morality War. The New York Times Magazine. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/03/magazine/morality-social-justice-art-entertainment.html

Paresky, Pamela B. June 19, 2019. The Apocalyptic Cult of Cancel Culture. Psychology Today.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happiness-and-the-pursuit-leadership/201906/the-apocalyptic-cult-cancel-culture.

Semiramis. April 10, 2019. The Untold Truth about ‘Cancel Culture’. Medium.  https://medium.com/@vcasaisvila/the-untold-truth-about-cancel-culture-3675cac983c3