A Girl's Reflections

Food Friday – Homemade Salsa

Adjoa Pearlsa — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:30:02 PDT

I recently read an article that said adult picky eaters may actually have a disorder. This is funny, since every single member of my immediate family is a picky eater. I have never considered any of us as having selective eating disorder nor do I buy into this theory.

Unless, knowing what you like and eating what you like is a disorder. Besides, there is something to be said for personal taste and cultural influences in shaping our overall taste in food.

I remember going to this little Italian restaurant a few years ago. My sister ordered a pesto based pasta dish only for the owner to drop by our table.

He came by to explain that their pesto is the real authentic pesto “you can really taste the herbs, this is not North American pesto”. “Some customers find it a little too “herby” they complain after the taste their meal”. He warned, trying to persuade her into ordering something else.

It turned out to be the best pesto we have both tasted, we loved it so much so that we started making our own pesto.

The same is true for salsa once we tasted the simple authentic homemade salsa, we were hooked and have been making our own since.

INGREDIENTS

8 Tomatoes (I used Roma Tomatoes)
Cilantro (I used around 15 sprigs)
2 Jalapeños (adjust to your taste)
2 Garlic Cloves
1 Medium Red Onion (A milder onion can be used)
I Large Lime Juiced
4 Tablespoons of extra virgin Olive Oil
Salt to taste

Chop / dice the tomatoes, Jalapenos, Onion and Garlic. In a large bowl combine all chopped ingredients, add lime juice and olive oil and mix, salt to taste.

The salsa is only as good as its ingredients, buy fresh quality produce and use a good extra virgin olive oil. it last up to two weeks refrigerated.

I Miss The Sun

Adjoa Pearlsa — Thu, 24 May 2012 05:30:40 PDT

(Vancouver, BC, 2012)

Being born and having lived in a couple of countries in Africa, I took the sun for granted. The sun always glowed and if it didn’t, just give it a moment, it came back before it was missed.

I remember my first warm sunny day out of Africa. I had been living in Switzerland for about seven months. I loved the winter it was my first real winter, and it also provided lots of reading time. The adults were not as keen on getting me outside to go play. All outdoor activities were planned and did not last long; to me it was a magical place.

Then Spring came along with the nagging voices that sang the “let us go out for a walk” “Let us go out to play” chorus. Those voices slogged to separate me from my mountain of books, nearing their due dates to be returned to the library.

(Geneva, Switzerland 2011)

When I finally went out I thought the “natives” were crazy.

Every green space was filled with people enjoying the sun. The sidewalks and cafes were filled with lots and lots of people. I remember thinking – These natives are acting as though they are feeling the warmth of the sun for the very first time.

“It is just the sun people,” I said to myself rolling my eyes.

I have been thinking about my first warm sunny day out of Africa a lot lately. Today, as I sit here in Vancouver spring and winter battles. Last week it looked and felt as if spring had won. The past few days have been dark and rainy, cool not cold but it feels like winter is winning again.

I miss the sun; I miss the feeling of its warmth.

Wordless Wednesday – Stop And Smell The Roses

Adjoa Pearlsa — Wed, 23 May 2012 05:30:11 PDT

It Is Over – Diabetes Blog Week 2012

Adjoa Pearlsa — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:00:53 PDT

I cannot believe the 3rd annual Diabetes Blog Week is over. I am looking forward to the 4th next year.

It might take me till next year to catch up on reading all the posts. Diabetes Blog Week 2012 had 240 participants each writing 7 posts for a total of 1,680 individual blog post.

A huge Thank you to Karen Graffeo for organizing and hosting Diabetes Blog Week.

Happy Victoria Day to all Canadians! Hope you had a wonderful long weekend.

Diabetes Hero – Diabetes Blog Week Day 7

Adjoa Pearlsa — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:21:11 PDT

(Photo credit – University of Toronto)

Before the discovery of insulin, diabetes was a feared disease that most certainly led to death. Doctors knew that sugar worsened the condition of diabetic patients and that the most effective treatment was to put the patients on very strict diets where sugar intake was kept to a minimum. At best, this treatment could buy patients a few extra years, but it never saved them. In some cases, the harsh diets even caused patients to die of starvation.”

Thank you! Dr. Frederick G. Banting and Dr. Charles H. Best you are my diabetes heroes.