An Autism Taboo That Needs To Be Broken

Break The Autism Taboo

Taboos, of autism and parenting at Ramblings of a Stone Age Queen is one of the best commentaries I have read about the realities of parenting an autistic child who suffers from meltdowns that can result in aggression towards herself and the parent who cares for her.  This is not a fluffy opinion piece by a high functioning autism researcher sitting in his lab. This is a concerned parent talking honestly about the harsh realities, the thoughts that spring into her mind in the midst of being attacked by the child she loves.  This is the story of mandyque; one parent who has stood up and said "this is happening to me".

I encourage you to visit mandyque's blog Ramblings of a Stone Age Queen where the commentary is posted. If you are a parent of a child with autism leave a message of support. If you feel up to it tell your story. Help mandyque break a taboo that needs to be broken.

Following is the entire comment. I was going to post an excerpt but this is such an honest, courageous and compelling story that I am reprinting it in its entirety. It is a story that should be known:

"I have had a particularly difficult weekend with my autistic daughter, and it occurred to me that there are some things that only other parents of children with autism understand properly. But even then, there are things which are left unsaid, because we are too scared that we will end up facing criticism, or worse, social services involvement. But if we aren't honest about what is going on, we carry on suffering in silence, convinced that we are the worst parents and that we will be hated and reviled if we dared to speak of our deepest fears.

On Saturday night, daughter had a major meltdown. She became so upset and confused that she attacked me, lunging forward and clawing at me, and she spent over and hour screaming blue murder. I have no idea what the neighbours must have thought, she sounded like she was being brutally tortured. The fact is, this hideous scenario occurred because she wouldn't go in the bath, then when I said it was time for bed, she wanted to go in the bath, but it was too late. Perhaps I should have given in and bathed her anyway, but it's all part of her needing to learn flexibility, that she can't always have her way, and besides, I was exhausted already and needed to go to bed myself.

Finally, I was able to get her upstairs, but she lunged for me again, trying to push me out of the way, clawing at my arms and chest and screaming. This is where the shameful part really kicks in. In any other situation, if someone attacked you, the fight or flight reflex kicks in, but of course you can't fight back when your disabled child attacks you, because that is a child protection issue. Nobody considers that it's also a carer protection issue, and no carer wants to admit that they had the urge to fight back. I didn't want to harm her, and I didn't, but the urge was there. The urges included wanting to tear at her hair, putting my hands on her neck, slapping and punching her. In any other situation that would be accepted as a normal reaction, but when it's your child, it's met with shock and concern that you are an abuser. I repeat again that I did not act on these impulses, I did not harm her, but to be put in that situation is an unbearably hard thing for a parent to cope with.

Eventually I managed to get her into the bathroom, where she sat on the toilet, refusing to move for over half an hour, while I got out and waited on the landing. When she is so wound up, she needs a lot of time to calm down, without stimulation and attention, so away from the TV and computer for a start! I sat on the floor, shellshocked and shattered by this latest episode and hoping that she wouldn't come and attack me again. She screamed and screamed for a while until exhaustion made it subside, but she kept winding herself up and having a little scream, which I had to ignore, while making sure that she can't come downstairs again. Finally she calmed down enough to realise that she had to go to bed, and bizarrely, once she had calmed down and come to terms with the situation, she just got up and went, as quick as that. She just stood up and walked into her bedroom, where we had a hug and a goodnight kiss and she went to bed. And that was the end of that, for her at least, the whole situation, over and done with. In the meantime, I'm ready to crack up, I don't know whether to cry or scream, I'm completely dazed by the whole event.

But how do you deal with this sort of situation? I know how to calm her down, I know that putting space between us works, I know that she needs a low stimulation environment and time to process information, but what do you do when your child attacks you? Especially as they get older and stronger, you can't pick a 15 year old up and put them in time out like you can with a tantrumming toddler, you can't lock them in somewhere because that is imprisonment, and you certainly can't hit them back. Manual handling courses are available for teachers and professional carers, but parents are not allowed to do these courses for insurance reasons. There is no protection for the carer at home. Parents of teens and young adults are actually told to call the police, but what is the point of that? Criminalising a disabled young person who isn't being violent because they are bad, but because they are confused and upset? Terrifying them with a visit from a policeman, who we all know is there to catch bad people and stop them doing bad things by putting them in jail? There's little point in calling on help from social services, you end up being made to feel that you are a failure as a parent instead of being supported.

The only people who truly understand are other parents who suffer the same way, but none of us get the help to deal with situations like this. A friend of mine today asked if I had a panic button, similar to the ones that elderly people use to get help, but there is no such support that I know of. What is the answer? I'm damned if I know, but taboos are there to be broken, and if one person can stand up and say 'this is happening to me', maybe others won't feel quite so alone."

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Want to Experience Windows Phone 7.5 Demo on iPhone

If you still don’t know that Microsoft have a mobile platform for smart phones, well now thanks to an HTML5 demo, you can try out a basic Windows Phone 7.5 experience directly on your iPhone or iPod Touch.

All you have to do it launch Safari and paste the URL below.

http://aka.ms/wpdemo

If you have not seen a windows phone before! but have seen the Windows 8 Dev. preview, well they have a similarity. They have this Metro GUI which have a lots of tiles, swiping around, it’s fast and fluid and an enjoyable. But best of all for, it’s original, and not borrowing everyone else seems to have done with iOS.

The purpose of this demo is going to convince you to stay away from an iPhone? I Doubt it, iPhone is still the best smart phone out there there’s no contest about that specially if you sold 3millions of it in just a matter of 3weeks.

But if you want to see what Windows Phone can offer you can try it out.

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Candied Pecan Topped Sweet Potatoes

I'll pass on the marshmallows, please. If you're a fan of marshmallows on top of sweet potatoes, this post may not appeal to you since there are no marshmallows to be found here. I'm not sure what it is about marshmallows on top of the ever popular sweet potato casserole that others love. For me, I'm not a fan of the texture or how it even adds to the dish. Instead, I'd rather have Candied Pecan Topped Sweet Potatoes because it's sweet, crunchy and well, more my style. Besides, marshmallows are much better used in rice krispie treats and smores!...

A couple days ago I shared my favorite mashed potato as of late. Well, these sweet potatoes take on a similar technique but made with the sweet tooth in mind. Preparing these sweet potatoes is similar to the Creamy Chive Mashed Potatoes because it uses butter, cream cheese and half & half. The difference is that this also incorporates pure maple syrup for that sweetness.

As for the candied pecan topping, it couldn't be easier to make. Whole pecans are tossed with dark brown sugar, an egg white and a pinch of salt. Feel free to add more spices like cinnamon and nutmeg if you'd like but I love it all on its own. Place the topping over the mashed sweet potatoes and bake. Now how easy was that?!

The best part of this dish is the crispy, sweet pecan topping that blankets the top and underneath is the smooth and creamy sweet potatoes with the hint of maple syrup. It's pure sweet comfort food that goes well with all the favorite Thanksgiving flavors...

Candied Pecan Topped Sweet Potatoes
recipe adapted from Cook's Illustrated

Sweet Potatoes:
5 pounds sweet potatoes
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 package (8 Oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (to 3/4 Cups) half & half, warmed
1/2 cup pure maple syrup

Candied Pecan Topping:
2 cups whole pecans
1 egg white
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
pinch of salt

Peel and cut the potatoes into pieces that are generally the same size. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook for 30 to 35 minutes or until soft enough to easily poke with a fork.

Drain the potatoes in a large colander and return to the empty pot. Place over low heat and mash the potatoes until any liquid/water has evaporated.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Remove the pot from stove and add 2 sticks of butter, cream cheese, warmed half & half and maple syrup to the mashed potatoes. Continue mashing until fully incorporated. Transfer the mixture to an oven-proof 9x13 serving dish and top with slices of the remaining butter.

Combine the ingredients for the topping. Place the pecan mixture over the sweet potatoes. Bake in the preheated oven until the pecans are toasted and crisp, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve immediately.

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Michelle Dawson (2008): Autism Is A Disability, A Neurodevelopmental Disorder

Photo from Nature Magazine, November 2 2011,  Shows High Functioning Autistic, 
Researcher and Anti-ABA Activist* Michelle Dawson and High Functioning 
Autism Expert  and Anti-ABA Activist* Dr. Laurent Mottron

It may seem surprising to some to learn that Michelle Dawson, the central image of the "Autism is an Advantage" campaign of  high functioning autism researcher and anti-ABA activist Dr. Laurent Mottron has herself formally declared that autism is a disability and a neurodevelopmental disorder.

Dr. Mottron and Ms Dawson were featured recently in Nature magazine promoting the autism is an advantage beliefs of Dr. Mottron and Ms Dawson.  Yet,  in another very formal context,  Michelle Dawson has described autism as a disability.  In fact she used her autism disability as the basis for a human rights complaint against her former employer Canada Post**.

In Dawson v. Canada Post Corporation, 2008 CHRT 41 (CanLII) Ms Dawson brought a complaint under the Canadian Human Rights Act against her former employer Canada Post alleging that Canada Post had discriminated against her and harassed her on the basis of her autism disability contrary to the provisions of the Canadian Human Rights Act.  The Human Rights Tribunal found that she had substantiated most of her claims and found that Canada Post had contravened sections 7 and 14 of the Act.

A complaint pursuant to the Canadian Human Rights Act is brought under one of the grounds listed in section 3 of the Act. The Tribunal decision listed the grounds as  race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability and conviction for which a pardon has been granted. In Ms Dawson's case she alleged discrimination, harassment and retaliation against her by Canada Post on the basis of disability ... autism ... as set out in several paragraphs of the CHRT decsions:

[2] In her complaint, dated August 9, 2002,  Ms. Dawson alleges that the Respondent discriminated against her on the basis of disability, in breach of section 7 of the Canadian Human Rights Act in that it failed to accommodate her disability (autism).

[86] Ms. Dawson testified that autism is a neurological disability and that people generally do not have a good understanding of this reality.

[90] Ms. Dawson testified that  autistic persons compared to non autistic people process information very differently, at a very basic profound level, really low level.

[95] In her testimony, Ms. Dawson also referred to people with Down Syndrome.  She testified that Down Syndrome is in the  same classification as autism.  They are both developmental disorders or neuro-developmental disabilities.



[220] The Tribunal thus finds that Ms. Dawson’s disability was an important factor in the way she was treated by the Respondent in relation to the above mentioned events and that the  Respondent’s conduct amounts to harassment and contravenes section 14 of the Act.

Contrary to those who assert that autism is an advantage Ms Dawson, as indicated in the CHRT decision,  testified that autistic persons compared to non autistic people process information very differently, at a very basic profound level, really low level.  Ms Dawson also testified about a serious deficit which afflicts many with autism disorders  SIB, or Self Injurious Behavior.  She gave evidence before the tribunal about her own Self Injurious Behavior. I commend Ms Dawson for having the courage to speak openly and honestly about her own very serious autism deficit, her self wounding:


[97]In her testimony, Ms. Dawson spoke about her self-inflicted injuries. Ms. Dawson testified that, at the very worst, there was probably a week or two weeks where two weeks in a row, she would have something, that she would injure herself. She added, however, that this would be rare. According to her, she would self-injure about once a month and never more. She testified that for cuts, it would not be more than one small area affected and not more than one or two cuts, but they would be in the same place. 

A Mysterious Dr. M testified about autism and self injury generally indicating that self-injury is linked to autism. He also talked about having diagnosed Michelle Dawson, having written letters on her behalf and having observed the results of her self injurious behavior:


[103] For Dr. M., the idea of curing autism is meaningless. Violence is absolutely not a problem that is attached to autism. According to Dr. M., what characterizes autism is that the specific part of the brain which is in charge of social activities is broken in an autistic brain. According to Dr. M., self-injury is linked to autism.


[110]Dr. M. testified that, while the ordinary person will become aggressive when anxious, autistic individuals will sometimes self-injure. This is especially the case, according to Dr. M., when an autistic person cannot understand a situation or cannot get an answer to a question. According to Dr. M., self-injury is the most extreme response to a psychological impasse that has no solution. It is a response to a disorganization of the world. It is the way for an autistic person to respond to negative situations whereas non autistic persons will show anger. Dr. M. stated in his testimony that he was aware of Ms. Dawson self-injury behavior. He had seen one of the wounds she had inflicted upon herself. For Dr. M., a self-inflicted injury is a sign of a deep psychological suffering.

[111] According to Dr. M., autistic people will also have a self-injurious behavior when experiencing internal pain of physical or psychological displeasure. So, if an autistic person finds himself or herself in a situation where he or she cannot escape, or experiences a feeling of disorder, he or she may self-injure, such as biting one's arm or hand. Dr. M. added that it is very difficult for a non autistic person to understand this type of behavior.

[130] Dr. M. testified that Ms. Dawson had told him that the injury that she self-inflicted helped her psychologically. For Dr. M., Ms. Dawson had the habit of self-injuring. Dr. M. interpreted these acts of self-injury as a sign of major psychological suffering, a way for autistic individuals to cope with anxiety. He stated in his testimony that he personally saw one of the wounds that Ms. Dawson had inflicted upon herself and stated that the wound was impressive, and would have been impressive for her coworkers.


Dr. Mottron's opinion piece in Nature magazine emphasized what he considers to be the advantages of autism and spent little time discussing the serious deficits that can accompany those with autism disorders.  Even Michelle Dawson described in the CHRT proceeding as intelligent and high functioning can suffer from serious Self Injurious Behavior. This father of a severely autistic young man with profound developmental delays who has engaged in serious self injurious behavior has no doubt that autism is a disability, a neurological disorder.  Especially for those like my son who do not share Ms Dawson's communication and high functioning abilities and intelligence self injurious behavior is a very serous reality, a deficit, not an advantage.


It is unfortunate that Dr. Laurent Mottron who has built a fine reputation for himself conducting studies and writing articles about high functioning autistics, persons with Aspergers and autistic savants, would downplay the serious deficits that accompany autism disorders.  He,  and his colleague Michelle Dawson, have opposed government financing in Canada of ABA treatment for autism, to this date the only solidly evidence based intervention for autism.


Almost annually a naive, autism ignorant mainstream media swallows the Mottron Mantra and paints a picture of autism as something other than what it is ... a disability ...  a serious neurodevelopmental disorder. In doing so Mottron and the MSM do a great disservice to those most severely affected by autism disorders.

*Ms Dawson made representations as an "autistic" to the Supreme Court of Canada in the landmark Auton Case in which the SCC overturned British Columbia Court decisions which had required the BC government to fund ABA treatment for autistic children. Her application to the Court for intervenor status was supported by an affidavit from Dr. Laurent Mottron. In her representations to the Supreme Court Ms Dawson opposed ABA therapy.  See Auton (Guardian ad litem of) v. British Columbia (Attorney General), 2004 SCC 78, [2004] 3 SCR 657, paragraph 5, "Indeed one of the interveners in this appeal, herself an autistic person, argues against the therapy."

**Note: I was an in house labour lawyer with Canada Post in Ontario between 1993 and 1997 but had never heard of Ms Dawson until after my return to private practice in New Brunswick. My son was diagnosed with Autistic Disorder a year after I returned to private practice and I become active in autism advocacy in New Brunswick.  Ms Dawson contacted me by telephone to ask for access to a legal opinion concerning autism which she heard had been provided to the Autism Society New Brunswick of which I was president at the time. 

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Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake

Thank goodness for cheesecake. Coming up with a gluten free dessert to serve for the holidays has been quite a challenge for me. Some gluten free desserts leave a noticeable after taste or has a slightly different texture from gluten laden dishes. But thank goodness for cheesecake. It's been the dessert that is perfect for special occasions, is versatile to make into a variety of flavors and above all, it's super easy to make into a gluten free indulgence. For Thanksgiving, I made this Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake and it's made me fall completely in love with cheesecakes once again. The creamy cheesecake filling is decoratively swirled with a homemade wild cranberry sauce, garnished with whipped cream and a little more cranberries. This is an elegant way to sweeten up any holiday meal!...

Growing up, one of the first desserts I've ever made for my family was a cheesecake. It's my dad's favorite dessert and one my mom enjoys because it's not particularly too sweet. The very first recipe I tried was one from a little paperback cheesecake recipe booklet I bought for $1. It highlighted recipes using Borden/Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk. My family loved my first cheesecake and often request it on special occasions. It's the one cheesecake recipe that I love using time and time again after all these years. First off, it's easy. If I had success with it as a teenager, anyone can make a cheesecake! Secondly, it's a great base recipe that you can play with by incorporating other flavors and ingredients. And third, it's amazingly delicious... a truly fail-proof recipe.

For the crust, you can make a traditional graham cracker crust. I used gluten free graham crackers - if you're gluten free and come across these, snag them and an extra one too! They make for a great pantry staple for those who are gluten free. Prepare the crust in the bottom of a springform pan.

The filling is where the magic happens. A couple bricks of cream cheese, a few whole eggs, a little freshly squeezed lemon juice and a can of sweetened condensed milk are blended together. The mixture is poured into the springform pan on top of the prepared crust.

At this point, here's where you can play a bit. I took leftover homemade wild cranberry sauce and swirled a few spoonfuls on top of the cheesecake filling. Using a knife, swirl the sauce in to get a little bit of cranberry sauce into every bite! Aside from cranberry sauce, use whatever you'd like - jams, pie fillings, baking chips, etc. The possibilities are endless...

Bake this beauty up in a preheated oven, uncovered and without any water bath for a little less than an hour... and it comes out perfect every.single.time.

Cranberry Swirl Cheesecake
adapted from Borden/Eagle Brand

crust:
1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar

filling:
2 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
3 large eggs
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup cranberry sauce (homemade works best)

garnish: (optional)
whipped cream
more cranberry sauce


Preheat oven to 300°F.

To make the crust, combine graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar; press firmly into bottom of ungreased 9-inch springform pan.

Beat cream cheese until fluffy in large bowl. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Add eggs and lemon juice; mix well. Pour over crust.

Dollop spoonfulls of the cranberry sauce randomly over the top of the cheesecake filling. Using the tip of a paring knife, drag the knife across the cheesecake filling to swirl the cranberry sauce into it.

Bake the cheesecake in the preheated oven uncovered for 50 to 55 minutes or until set. Cool for an hour to finish setting, chill for another hour before serving. Serve by garnishing with whipped cream and extra cranberry sauce if desired.

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Creamy Chive Mashed Potatoes

There's so many ways to make mashed potatoes - what's your favorite? For me, I think I've found my favorite. It's the ever popular recipe by The Pioneer Woman and she prepared it for Food Network's Thanksgiving Throwdown last year. That alone told me it had to be good since she prepared for Chef Bobby Flay. And wow - this certainly didn't disappoint. To add my own spin, I made Creamy Chive Mashed Potatoes with fresh snipped chives, a whole lot of butter, cream cheese, half & half and lots of love...

My son loves mashed potatoes. So for Thanksgiving this year, I made them extra special using The Pioneer's recipe. Granted, it's not exactly the healthiest version and one I won't make all the time, but it was a nice treat to indulge just a bit. The key to the recipe is using softened cream cheese. It makes it even creamier with a little bit more depth and richness. You can ease up on the calories and fat by substituting low fat or even fat free cream cheese, 1% or skim milk and if you must, margarine (I'm a real butter kind of gal). The original recipe is a great base to play with so feel free to incorporate other ingredients like cheese, other fresh herbs, or even bacon! For now, this is my favorite mashed potato recipe and I plan on making lighter versions so I can enjoy all the richness without the guilt!

Creamy Chive Mashed Potatoes
recipe adapted from Pioneer Woman

5 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes
2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter
1 package (8 Oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (to 3/4 Cups) half & half, warmed
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup minced chives

Peel and cut the potatoes into pieces that are generally the same size. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook for 30 to 35 minutes or until soft enough to easily poke with a fork.

Drain the potatoes in a large colander and return to the empty pot. Place over low heat and mash the potatoes until any liquid/water has evaporated.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Remove the pot from stove and add 2 sticks of butter, cream cheese and warmed half & half to the mashed potatoes. Continue mashing until fully incorporated.

Add the seasonings and chives, folding them in. Transfer the mixture to an oven-proof 9x13 serving dish and top with slices of the remaining butter.

Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until potatoes are warmed through.

To make ahead/freezer meal: Prepare the dish above up until it gets baked in the preheated oven. You can wrap and cover the dish to refrigerate up to 3 days before serving. When ready to bake, preheat the oven, cover the dish and bake per recipe above.

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Autism Wandering: Pennsylvania Police Officer Rescues 7 Year Old Girl From Frigid Waters

Police Officer Theresa Stauffer

Photo: Lancaster Online

One of the terrifying realities for many parents of autistic children is the tendency of many children with autism to wander away, from home and safety to unknown dangers.  It is a terror that I have experienced a number of years ago and written about several times on this blog.  Lancaster Online reports a recent occurrence in  Pennsylvania where an alert neighbor and the prompt action of police officer, Theresa  Stauffer,  combined to save the life of a 7 year old girl with autism who had wandered neck deep into a pond's frigid waters:

"As she headed to her patrol car, Stauffer said she heard the woman tell the dispatcher the child had entered the water.  Stauffer, 31, drove to the pond in less than a minute."I could see the child, probably hip deep, walking toward the center of the pond," she said.


The officer ran toward the water, throwing her patrol belt and gun to the ground while yelling to try to get the girl's attention.But the girl was focused on the water and did not respond to Stauffer, the officer said.  "The water was up to her upper stomach, she was splashing her arms and her teeth were chattering, so I ran into the water," she said.

The mucky bottom of the pond made every step a challenge."All I was thinking was, 'Get to her and get her out of the water,' " Stauffer said. "When I caught up to her, the water was up to her upper chest and lower neck." She came face to face with the girl, who turned her attention to the officer. "She was muttering, 'Cold, cold,' " Stauffer said. The officer put her arm around the girl and pulled her from the pond."

The Lancaster Online article indicates that police officer Theresa Stauffer deflected any praise or credit for the girl's rescue and credited the local resident who alerted police to the situation.  The Lancaster Online reports that police officer Stauffer did not want to be called a hero.  To this "autism" dad though that is exactly what she is, a hero, as is the neighbor who reported to the police.

For me as a father who has lived through a similar experience and whose son is safe today I read each such story having lived a similar experience.  These stories  do  not hide the truth about the challenges facing autistic children and their families. When they end well, as this one did, I live again the  fear, relief and joy I felt many years ago when I was reunited with my son.

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MSI ECS -The Great HP Sale this November 28

It’s that season of merry and SALE again, MSI-ECS is having another great SALE on HP products. The SALE is from November 28 to December 2, 2011 and it be be will mostly notebooks and desktop PCs from HP.

The sale offers discounts of up to 80% off of the suggested retail price.

There are accessories included in the sale like Acer projectors, Microsoft products(mostly mouse), Genius items, Imation flash drive and Belkin iPod/iPad accessories.

Sale starts at 8:30 in the morning until 7:00 in the evening. So what are you waiting for…

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Οι τοκογλύφοι έχουν ντόπιους εκβιαστές σαν εσωτερικούς συνεργάτες.

 

Η γλώσσα των αληθινών αριθμών

Του ΝΙΚΟΥ ΚΟΤΖΙΑ Συγγραφέα, καθηγητή του Πανεπιστημίου Πειραιώς nkotzias@otenet.gr

Σύμφωνα με την ειδική διεθνή εταιρεία συμβούλων δανειοδοτήσεων TFMA, τα 8 δισεκατομμύρια ευρώ της επόμενης δόσης, για την οποία μας εκβιάζουν, θα διανεμηθούν ως εξής: 19% θα πάνε στο ελληνικό Δημόσιο, 23% σε έλληνες κατόχους ομολόγων, κύρια ελληνικές τράπεζες, 18% στην ΕΚΤ.

Τέλος, το υπόλοιπο 40% θα πάει σε αλλοδαπούς επενδυτές, κύρια σε γερμανικές και γαλλικές τράπεζες και ασφαλιστικές εταιρείες. Με άλλα λόγια, η Ελλάδα βρίσκεται εκβιαζόμενη για μια δόση δανείων τα οποία κατά το 81% θα επιστραφούν ως τοκοχρεολύσια στους δανειστές, ενώ το ελληνικό Δημόσιο θα λάβει το 19%. Πρόκειται για τον πλήρη παραλογισμό: μας εκβιάζουν οι δανειστές μας που θα λάβουν τα 4/5, αντί να τους «εκβιάζουμε» εμείς που θα τους τα δώσουμε μόλις τα λάβουμε! Τα ίδια και χειρότερα συμβαίνουν τα δύο τελευταία έτη. Το 2009 και το 2010 το 86,4% των δανείων που έχουμε λάβει χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για πληρωμή τοκοχρεολυσίων.

Η τρέλα δεν είναι μόνο ότι πληρώνουμε χρέη που δεν είναι όλα νόμιμα, αλλά ότι μας εκβιάζουν προκειμένου να «αποκτήσουμε» τη δυνατότητα αποπληρωμής τους! Δίνουμε κυριαρχία. Ευνουχίζουμε κανόνες δημοκρατίας. Πήγαμε σε βαθιά ύφεση. Ενα εκατομμύριο άνεργοι. Και όλα αυτά για να έχουμε «το δικαίωμα» να τους πληρώνουμε δανειζόμενοι με βαρείς όρους.
Η ακολουθούμενη από Βερολίνο και Βρυξέλλες τακτική είναι η ίδια με εκείνη που ασκήθηκε απέναντι στη νικημένη Γερμανία μετά τον Α' Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο. Τότε, οι Γάλλοι και άλλοι σύμμαχοί τους, σε αντίθεση με τις αντιλήψεις των ΗΠΑ, επεδίωξαν να τιμωρήσουν και να πειθαρχήσουν τη Γερμανία με μέτρα που την οδήγησαν σε μεγάλη ανεργία, ύφεση και υπερχρέωση. Οι αποζημιώσεις που υποχρεώθηκε η Γερμανία να πληρώσει για τον Α' Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο ανέρχονταν σε 325 σημερινά δισεκατομμύρια ευρώ. Η αποπληρωμή τους τέλειωσε μόλις το 2010! Το χρέος αυτό, αποτέλεσε σημαντική αιτία υπονόμευσης της δημοκρατίας στη Γερμανία και επέτρεψε την κυριαρχία του ναζισμού.
Οι Αμερικάνοι, όπως και οι Γάλλοι, διδάχθηκαν από τη λάθος αντιμετώπιση της Γερμανίας και γι' αυτό μετά τον Β' Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο αντί να επιλέξουν την ουσιαστική διάλυση της Γερμανίας, όπως ήταν η αρχική τους σκέψη, στήριξαν τελικά τη σταθερότητά της συμβάλλοντας στο «οικονομικό θαύμα» της Γερμανίας. Η διαφορά συμπεριφοράς των νικητών ανάμεσα στον Α' και τον Β' Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο, ήταν ότι είχαν, πλέον, αντιληφθεί ότι η λύση δεν ήταν η τιμωρία, δεν ήταν η πειθάρχηση της Γερμανίας με εξοντωτικά μέτρα, αλλά η ενσωμάτωσή της σε ένα συνολικότερο σύστημα. Η ανάγκη υποστήριξης της ανάπτυξή της.

Το συμπέρασμα που εξήγαγαν, ότι για τα λάθη της ηγεσίας της Γερμανίας, ορθότερα για τα εγκλήματά της, δεν έπρεπε να τιμωρηθεί ο γερμανικός λαός ως σύνολο, αλλά κύρια οι ηγέτες της.
Σε αντίθεση, όμως, με ό,τι θετικό συνέβη για τη Γερμανία μετά το 1945, παρά τα εγκλήματα πολέμου που διέπραξε, η Γερμανία απαιτεί σήμερα τη συλλογική τιμωρία του ελληνικού λαού, ενώ διευκολύνεται στα αυτοκρατορικά της σχέδια από την ηγεσία της χώρας που ευθύνεται για ό,τι συνέβη. Αυτό δείχνει ότι οι ελίτ της Γερμανίας, εγκλωβισμένες σε έναν βαθύ οικονομικό εθνικισμό έχουν πλήρως τυφλωθεί και δεν έχουν διδαχτεί ούτε καν από την ίδια την Ιστορία.

Το άρθρο έχει δημοσιευθεί στην Κυριακ. Ελευθεροτυπία 27-11-2011

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Ultimate, Unchecked, Unfounded Autism Assumptions: Autism Isn't Really Increasing, It's All Genetic

".... is one of the 1 percent of children in the U.S. born with autism, a complex developmental disability that affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others at varying degrees. Autism appears to be increasing because of the psychological testing that is available to detect it, said Ramona Puget, who earned a bachelor of arts in psychology and is the president of the Kern Autism Society, a local chapter in the national organization of the Autism Society.  ...There is no known single cause for autism, but it is accepted that it's caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function, according to the research. It is a neurological disorder that is present at birth, but symptoms may not appear until much later      "  

Lodi News-Sentinel, November 26, 2011  [underlining added -HLD]

Really? Can someone help me here?

What conclusive studies have been conducted to determine that autism is increasing because of a) diagnostic changes (last significant changes in 1994) b) increased availability of testing to detect autism c) increased social awareness d) pressure to obtain autism diagnosis to access autism services and treatment? 

If there is no known single cause for autism, or for the autisms, as other sources will often say, how do we know that autism is present at birth or that autism is not really increasing, that it is only ascertainment factors that are creating a false impression of increases in autism disorders? Some very credible sources have pointed to the likelihood of genetic environmental interaction as the source of autism disorders.  Most autism research has focused on the genetic side of the equation with little effort made to "ascertain" potential environmental causes or triggers of the various autism disorders.

So how can it be said that autism is not really increasing or that autism is present at birth?  Surely there are enough controversies in autism discussions without reviving the assumption that autism disorders are 100% genetic and are never caused or triggered by environmental factors?

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Ultimate Sunday Fun Day Foodie Holiday Giveaway!

So we've survived Black Friday and even Small Business Saturday. With a lot of shopping opportunities over, what do you have in store for Cyber Monday? I'm still working on my shopping list for some special folks but if you have some foodies left to shop for (or heck, to buy for yourself!), here's my Foodie Holiday Gift Guide that offers a few tasty ideas. But wait! Be sure to scroll down and read on... because one lucky reader will be receiving a large holiday package containing one of each of these gifts and it's as easy as 4-3-2-1! Yes, that's a total of 4 cookbooks, 3 food inspired family games, 2 kitchen tools, and 1 gourmet spice set! Will you be the lucky winner of this Ultimate Sunday Fun Day Foodie Holiday Giveaway?!

4 Cookbooks - what foodie wouldn't want a cookbook? There are quite a few I recently came across and love. One has beautiful, artistic photography and a modern take on cuisine, another uses non-traditional flavors to jazz up classic recipes, another captures fail-proof recipes from my favorite cooking magazine series and lastly, one livens up the party with some delicious libations!

Eleven Madison Park Cookbook

THE COOKBOOK is a sumptuous tribute to the unforgettable experience of dining in the restaurant, where the latest culinary techniques are married with classical French cuisine. The book features more than 125 sophisticated recipes, arranged by season, adapted for the home cook, and accompanied by stunning full-color photographs by Francesco Tonelli. ELEVEN MADISON PARK is sure to be one of the most talked-about cookbooks of 2011.

Everyday Exotic - The Cookbook

Following the success of the hit television series Everyday Exotic, Chef Roger Mooking and his producer Allan Magee bring together the most delicious of his 52 inspiring episodes. Using the concept of one main exotic ingredient, Roger demystifies the ingredient through its flavor and aroma, empowering the reader to embrace them in their cooking. Mix in your standard midweek recipes and you have new classics that your entire family will love. So discover your own inspiration for plating each recipe in the accompanying beautiful presentations found within each vibrant and colorful photo throughout the book.

Cook's Illustrated Cookbook
Cook's Illustrated Magazine has stood the test of time and distinguished itself among the pack by having a singular focus--developing recipes that work the first time and every time; it's as simple as that. For the first time since the magazine's inception, more than 2,000 of Cook's Illustrated's landmark recipes have been carefully compiled into a wide-ranging compendium that shows you how to make your favorite dishes better. A must-have collection for fans of Cook's Illustrated (and any discerning cook), The Cook's Illustrated Cookbook will keep you cooking for a lifetime--and guarantees impeccable results.

DIY Cocktails

Black Rose, Blood Orange Tequila & Soda, Kentucky Apple Sour: the newest trend in cocktails is creating your own! Now, the editors of DrinkoftheWeek.com have concocted the only guide that teaches you to create your own infallible thirst-quenchers. Using a simple system of basic ratios, you will learn to Mix new flavor combinations, Master advanced mixology techniques and Serve the perfect drink every time.With only nine ratios to master, you'll shake, stir, roll, and build literally thousands of unique and exceptional cocktails. All you need is a good thirst, an active imagination--and this guide!

3 Foodie Family Fun Games: Aside from sitting down to the dinner table with loved ones, my family loves playing games together. Here are some food-inspired games we enjoy together, which are great for adults and kids alike...

Bananagrams

The Anagram game that will drive you bananas. In this unique word game, players use tiles to create words crossword-style. The first player to use all their tiles is the winner. With multiple ways to play, this game is perfect for beginning spellers, as well as more advanced players. No pencil, paper, or board required. If you love the online game, Words With Friends like me (I'm borderline addicted lol), this game is definitely for you!

AppleLetters

An Apple a day for us all to play. Create a continuous word snake by adding your word to the head or tail. Originally designed with younger players in mind, APPLETTERS features three levels of play to amuse children and challenge adults. The free-standing tiles are easy to handle and can be used to play three different games. It's the domino game where you don't connect the DOTS... You connect the LETTERS! A fun word game for all.

Stone Soup

Stone Soup is a yummy memory matching game with Spice. From the classic tale of cooperation comes this simple game where players work together to “cook” a soup by making matches of ingredients. Match all the ingredients before the Fire under the kettle goes out and everyone wins. Players work together to "cook" a soup by making matches of ingredients. This cooperative game fosters memory, social development, helping others and cooperation.

2 Kitchen Tools: It's just as important to have the proper tools in the kitchen as it is quality ingredients. Here are some tools that make cooking and baking just a little bit easier...

OXO Egg Beater

After receiving one from the FoodBuzz Tastemaker program a few weeks ago, I knew friends and family would love this for themselves too! I ended up purchasing a few to give as gifts and one to include in my big holiday foodie giveaway. This egg beater is just awesome. I love the ease in using it for everyday things like mixing up pancake batter, eggs, and pretty much anything I normally would use a hand mixer for. It's my favorite kitchen tool for breakfasts and I think everyone should have one!

OXO Fine Zester/Grater

This is one tool every kitchen should also have. I love tools I can use for both sweet and savory dishes and this is definitely one of them. From zesting citrus fruits, grating hard cheeses, ginger, garlic, onion, nutmeg or even chocolate, this zester/grater makes it all so easy. You'll find yourself grabbing this more often than you think and is a must for any foodie to have in the kitchen.

1 Set of Spices: These spices make being in the kitchen a little more fun. I love incorporating new and different flavors in my cooking and these spices make it possible. I think the foodie on your holiday shopping list will appreciate these too!

Urban Accents

 I've loved this local company ever since I stepped foot into their headquarters and had a chance to meet the folks behind it all. It's one company that I fully support and it's no wonder their spice blends and rubs fill up my cupboard throughout the year. In fact, they helped me prepare one of the best Thanksgiving turkeys I've ever made and I look forward to making another turkey soon using their great products! You probably didn't realize it, but some of the store brand gourmet products found at Crate & Barrel and even Williams Sonoma are created by Urban Accents too. I definitely encourage folks to check out their site and for my big holiday foodie giveaway, I'm highlighting their Pride of Prague Hungarian Paprika Blend, Moroccan Road Roasting Blend, Mesa Rosa Chipotle Southwestern Smoky Blend and their award-winning Mango Masala Seasoning Salt. These will definitely spice it up in your kitchen!

Thanks to my foodie friends at the above companies and publishers, they will be sponsoring this week's Ultimate Sunday Fun Day Foodie Holiday Giveaway. A lucky reader will receive a huge package on their doorstep containing one of each of the items featured above! That's 10 foodie gifts (4-3-2-1) that you can keep for yourself or give to those foodies on your holiday shopping list this year. Will you be that lucky reader that will be enjoying this foodie-licious holiday package?! Read on for more details...

Some guidelines:

- Giveaway is only for those who live in the United States - my apologies to my non-United States readers!

- You must check back in a week when a winner is announced and email me to claim your prize if you win.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment answering:

What food related item are you coveting this year on your holiday wish list?!

Deadline: Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 12 midnight CST.

One winner will be randomly chosen by Random.Org's Interger Generator based on the number of your comment and will be announced on Sunday, December 4, 2011, next week! Good luck!

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Parents Annoyed with Useless, Trivial Cambridge Autism Research

Is Cambridge University Professor Simon Baron-Cohen's latest "autism research" useless?  Autism Eye reports that Autism Eye magazine editor Gillian Loughran "has been inundated with phone calls from parents expressing their annoyance at what they see as the latest trivia to emerge from Cambridge."

The impugned research examined the professions of parents of autistic children to look at whether parents with professional background as engineers, scientists and computer programmers were more likely to have autistic children.

Loughran pulls no punches in her comments on the value of the research:

“I could fill Cambridge University with parents of children with autism who are not working in any of the fields he mentions, but whose children went on to develop the condition.”


“Some children with autism are in pain and discomfort from gut issues and a considerable number of children with autism face exclusion from their school,” she said. “It’s far more important to study their health and educational problems than the history of their parents’ dating arrangements.”


Parents of children with autism despair at the number of academics who raise their profiles and sell more of their books while failing to conduct research that has the real potential to help these children.”

It is refreshing to see parents in the UK speaking out and demanding that we focus on meaningful autism research efforts that help autistic children rather than promote careers and sell books.

It is a message that should be heard loud and clear in Canada, the US and elsewhere in the "autism world". 

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Pumpkin Loaf

What does Thanksgiving mean to you? This year, Thanksgiving has much more meaning than those in the past. Perhaps it's due to the challenging months my family had this past year, but now we've managed to pull through the hard times to get to such a better place... and for that, we are thankful. Perhaps it's due to my renewed focus on life's simple pleasures and being content knowing all my basic needs are fulfilled... and for these, I am thankful. Or perhaps it's just being surrounded by loved ones, who I've known for years and who I may have just met... and for all of them, I am thankful. If I could, I would break bread with everyone who has touched my life and no bread is more fitting that this Pumpkin Loaf. It's sweet, comforting and a bread worth sharing. Would you like a slice?

This Thanksgiving has been especially busy for me and my original holiday plans had to get rearranged. I can't complain, because the reason for all the changes is due to my new schedule where I'm still trying to find a balance of home and work life. However, this weekend will be a special Thanksgiving. I'll be hosting my family this year and as they say, better late than never! I'm excited to fill up the table with some classic Thanksgiving flavors and I look forward to sitting around the table with my family. How was your Thanksgiving? Hopefully it was a memorable one for you and loved ones!

So, this pumpkin loaf was prepared by my friend, Jenni. She brought this wonderful pumpkin loaf to the recent Thanksgiving Potluck Playdate Joel and I hosted a few weeks ago. Although I didn't try this loaf (since it wasn't gluten free), the other moms liked this loaf quite a bit. I got a few emails requesting the recipe since it was so good... so here it is! It's definitely a bread worth sharing, since the recipe makes quite a bit. It can be made into muffins or even mini loaves if you want to share these for the holiday as food gifts. I will say that leftovers (if you have any), make a delicious french toast according to my husband! I'll need to try my hand at making this with a gluten free flour blend soon...

Pumpkin Loaf

recipe from AllRecipes

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
3 cups white sugar
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans.

In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.

Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

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Autism, Arctic Ice Melt: It's Gotta Be Genetic ... er ... Natural Variation, Natural Fluctuation

Polar Bears photographed by Canadian Environmentalists 

"Arctic sea ice is disappearing on a pace and magnitude unlike anything the Earth has experienced in the past 1,450 years, according to a Canadian-led study published Wednesday in the leading science journal Nature.

The amount of sea ice in the Arctic has been declining continuously for the past four to five decades — and is now some two-million square kilometres smaller in area than it was in the late 20th century. But until this study, spearheaded by researchers Christian Zdanowicz and David Fisher from the Geological Survey of Canada, it remained unclear whether these losses of recent decades were out of line with natural fluctuations of the past."


Vancouver Sun, November 23, 2011


The Arctic Ice is melting at an unprecedented rate according to an article in Nature  but, gee, it is still unclear whether man made environmental factors could be involved or whether "it's gotta be genetic" ... er ... "natural variation".

Oh wait we are not talking about unprecedented, even startling increases in autism disorders are we? No, this is arctic ice melting more and more quickly. Let's take another half century and talk some more about  how we can't be sure it isn't just "natural fluctuation".  Science takes time and we've got unlimited amounts of time right?

No word yet on whether recent Nature contributor and high functioning autism activist Laurent Mottron has confirmed that the arctic ice melt is a natural evolutionary advance, an advantage, not an environmental calamity. 

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Crunchy Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Over the years, I've grown to love sweet potatoes more and more. This fall, I've probably used sweet potatoes more than ever before because my son Joel shares my love of these orange spuds too! Well, for our recent Thanksgiving Potluck Playdate with fellow moms and kiddies, my friend Sara brought this Crunchy Topped Sweet Potato Casserole. I loved the varying textures of a crispy, crunchy top followed by the creamy whipped sweet potatoes. We liked it so much that I plan on making it again for our holiday table... and I think you should too!

This could easily be made into a gluten free dish simply by substituting the all purpose flour with a gluten free flour blend. Aside from the sweet potatoes, what makes this casserole so great is the crunchy topping. Butter, sugar, a little flour start things off, but the key ingredients to the topping are the nuts and corn flakes. So if you have cornflakes lying around, here's the perfect opportunity to use them!

Crunchy Topped Sweet Potato Casserole
recipe adapted from Cooks

Casserole:
3 cups sweet potatoes, mashed
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 stick butter, melted

Topping:
1/3 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup all purpose flour (gluten free flour blend)
1 cup nuts (peanuts, pecans or walnuts)
1/2 cup crushed corn flakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix together all the casserole ingredients and beat until fluffy with a handmixer. Pour mixture into a greased baking dish.

In a small bowl, melt butter; add brown sugar, flour, nuts and corn flakes. Pour over sweet potatoes and spread out evenly.

Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes.

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CRANBERRY ORANGE PECAN BREAD WITH STREUSEL

HAPPY THANKSGIVING


I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I do not celebrate Thanksgiving. No turkey, no sweet potato casserole smothered under a mountain of marshmallows. No cornbread stuffing nor cranberry relish. No festive table heaving and groaning under an abundance of food. No traditional dishes, a holiday repertoire pulled out, no note cards flipped through searching for grandma’s recipe for this, mom’s recipe for that, dad’s special whatever. No. Thanksgiving. Dinner. None.

Mixed marriage does that to you. As does living in a foreign country, the country of your beloved spouse. French, American, lapsed Catholic, once-practicing Jew all with a bit of Italian thrown in. As each and every holiday rolls around, as the rest of the world as I know it begins planning for this celebration or that, as the festivities begin to unroll on one side of the ocean or the other, chez nous….in our home…negotiations begin.


Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Bastille Day, how does one celebrate these most national of holidays when not living in that nation? Valentine’s Day or Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day or any of these pseudo-holidays that in a moment of crazed consumption or idealized global sharing have been transported to my doorstep, are we required to join in the festivities just because the stores are bursting at the seems with decorations and gifts, music is oozing out of every boutique and friends are pulling out all the stops? Hanukkah or Christmas, Easter or Passover, even a lovely Shabbat dinner after a long, tiring week of work…. Sharing? Imposing? Teaching? Constraining? Negotiations can be long and difficult some years, other years the sons decide and some years, well, we are all carried away on a wave of holiday spirit and childlike excitement and simply do both. Or all. Holidays in our home are often a series of compromises, days and weeks of careful diplomacy and long discussions. One (me) is often confronted with burgeoning Scrooge-like tendencies, the moans and groans, the complaining and the disinterestedness in any and every approaching holiday. It is, after all, quite simply easier to ignore them completely, avoid any complexity in our already complex lives and celebrate not a one, just create our own happiness, enjoying festive meals, candlelight dinners, surprising the other with prettily-wrapped gifts on a whim with no calendar imposing, demanding, making those sentimental, emotional decisions for us.

Thanksgiving. I do believe that the last Thanksgiving meal I shared with family and friends was twenty-three years ago at my sister’s in Florida. JP and I had flown over, tiny, plump, happy baby in tow, and sat down with mother, brother, sister, grandma and great-aunt in that typical end-of-November Florida heat. Before that, well, memory fails me, but it must have been the year I was in college and drove up to New York to celebrate with my aunt, uncle and cousins. Or the year after, when Michael and I cooked together in our Brooklyn apartments, one up, one down. Well, as you can see, it has been many a long year since I ate turkey with stuffing.


Do I miss it? I am often asked if nostalgia tugs at my heartstrings, if I yearn for a good old fashioned holiday spread, to sit down with loved ones before a cornucopia of Autumn’s best and fill my plate with goodies. But how to enjoy the true meaning of a holiday when it has no meaning for others? When you are so separated in both time and space from the source and soul of the feast and the origins from which it was born, the reasons that made this day so special? How can one recount the tale of Pilgrims and Indians breaking bread together in peace and harmony to a roomful of skeptics?

Yet, through thick and thin, there are some things that remain constant in my life, some traditions that I hold on to dearly, recipes that I create and recreate over and over again in the best of culinary and family traditions. Come Autumn when pumpkins and cranberries make their graceful appearance, when apples and pears crisp and sweet are abundant, when woodsy, earthy, clumsy chestnuts and elegant, sophisticated figs tumble in, with oranges plump and juicy I can’t but thumb through my old, sticky, stained notebook full of hand-written recipes culled from years of baking and cooking with friends and family and return to our old favorites. And this is what I share over and over again with my loved ones as we create our own family traditions.


My Cranberry-Orange Bread is a must-go-to recipe every holiday any time of the year. Sacks of cranberries are stuffed into one freezer drawer, ready at the get-go for my favorite quick bread. Tangy, tart, ruby red berries paired with sweet oranges is heavenly and add to that the crunchy bite of walnuts or pecans it is utterly festive! I first made this traditional, Thanksgiving Day treat eons ago while still a young college student and have been making it ever since. This year, I have decided to make tiny individual cakes and top each with a crunchy sweet streusel redolent of cinnamon. And somehow, no matter where I am, no matter how far from my childhood home and my jumble of memories, this one bread never fails to fill me with nostalgia, sweet recollections of Thanksgivings past.


INDIVIDUAL CRANBERRY-ORANGE BREAD WITH PECANS & STREUSEL

1 orange, preferably untreated
2 Tbs (30 g) unsalted butter, ideally at room temperature, cubed
1 large egg
1 cup (200 g) sugar
1 cup fresh cranberries, thawed if frozen (I used a container of 6.7 oz/200g), coarsely chopped
Heaping ½ cup (50 g) coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans
2 cups (280 g) flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt

Streusel Topping:

3 Tbs flour
3 Tbs packed light or dark brown sugar
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
2 Tbs (30 g) unsalted butter

Prepare the Streusel Topping:

Place the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and toss to combine. Add the butter, cut into cubes, and, using only your fingertips, rub the butter into the dry ingredients quickly until the mixture resembles coarse damp sand or crumbs with no large chunks of butter left. Chill in the refrigerator while you prepare the Cranberry-Orange Bread batter.

Prepare the Cranberry-Orange Bread:

Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Butter 8 to 10 mini cake molds – or even cupcake or muffin molds - or one large loaf tin.

Coarsely chop the cranberries by whizzing them quickly in a small food processor, being careful not to overchop and turn into paste. Coarsely chop the nuts by hand.

Finely grate the zest of the orange.

Squeeze the orange juice into a glass measuring cup. Add enough boiling water to make ¾ cup (about 190 ml) liquid. Add the cubes of butter and stir quickly until the butter is melted.

Blend together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a small bowl and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg and the sugar until blended, thick and creamy. Whisk in the finely grated orange zest and then the orange liquid. Whisk in the dry ingredients until well blended then fold in the chopped cranberries and pecans or walnuts.

Spoon or ladle the batter into the mini/individual cake tins, dividing the batter evenly among 8 or 10 tins, not filling more than ¾ full. Sprinkle the Streusel Topping over the batter, breaking up any chunks as you divide it among the cakes.

Bake the individual cakes for about 30 minutes (the single loaf for up to one hour), until the Streusel Topping is set and golden and a tester inserted in the middle of one cake comes out damp but clean.


Cool the cakes on a cooling rack before sliding a knife around the edges to loosen and unmolding.

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Pumpkin Pie with Wheat Crust

What's Thanksgiving without a pumpkin pie?! I'm sure there are plenty of pumpkin pies that will be enjoyed this year. Even though it's a dessert folks will look forward to, do them a favor and try a healthier version. This Pumpkin Pie with Wheat Crust will make having a slice of pie less of a guilty pleasure... although it may backfire when they come back for seconds!

This pie was made by my friend Suzanne, who prepared this pie for our recent Thanksgiving Potluck Playdate we hosted recently. Sadly, I couldn't enjoy a slice since it wasn't gluten free but my husband certainly raved about it. He's not exactly a whole wheat fan (when it comes to breads, pastas and the like) but this pie certainly was an exception. He said he liked how the nutty flavor complimented the pie filling and he didn't have any problems polishing off the leftovers from the party. That was a good sign that the pie was a winner! So if you're looking to incorporate some healthier changes to you holiday menu, why not start with dessert? Thanks Suzanne for a delicious pie and for sharing!

Pumpkin Pie with Wheat Crust
recipe adapted from Martha Stewart & Yahoo

Crust:
3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons ice water

Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. With your fingers, quickly rub butter into the dry ingredients until the pieces are smaller in size but still visible. Add sour cream and oil; toss with a fork to combine. Sprinkle water over the mixture and toss with a fork until evenly moist. Knead the dough in the bowl a few times -- the mixture will still be a little crumbly. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few more times, until the dough just holds together. Shape into a 5-inch disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator; let stand for 5 minutes to warm slightly. Roll between sheets of parchment or wax paper into a 13-inch circle. Peel off the top sheet and invert the dough into a 9-inch pie pan. Peel off the remaining paper. Trim the crust with kitchen shears or a butter knife so it overhangs the edge of the pan evenly. Tuck the overhanging crust under, forming a double-thick edge. Flute the edge with your fingers and set aside while you make the filling.


Filling:

1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree
3 large eggs, lightly beaten, plus 1 egg for glaze
1 1/2 cups evaporated milk
1 tablespoon heavy cream

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In a large bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, pumpkin puree, and 3 eggs. Beat well. Add evaporated milk, and combine. Set aside.

Make the glaze: Beat the remaining egg, and combine with heavy cream. Brush glaze very lightly on edges of prepared wheat pie shell from above. Fill pie shell with pumpkin mixture. Transfer to prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking for 30 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack.

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