Michael

Tassajara Cooking

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One of the books that changed my life was Tassajara Cooking. The first edition was published just before I graduated from high school. This small brown book was the guide to how to cook, not a list ore recipies. In it, I think, is advice to try every recipe multiple times, leaving an ingredient out each time. This will teach you what each item contributes to the dish.  That “try it for yourself, don’t slavishly follow” was an early, important, life lesson.

At some point I lost my original copy. I’ve been looking for years to find a replacement. This search was complicated by not remembering the title correctly.  Having a copy of The Tassajara Bread Book in hand, from the same era, I kept looking for The Tassajara Cook Book.  That lead to other fine books, but not the one I was looking for.

Today on Amazon I noted the listings for Tassajara Cooking. Scrolling through the used offers I found one with photos of the book.  Eureaka! The full description confirmed it is indeed the 1970s era printing.

I ordered. I sent feedback.

This isn’t a question. This is feedback.

Your listing for Tassajara Cooking – with the inclusion of photos and detailed description – was Fantastic! I’ve been searching for months for this exact item. The published in the 70s copy. The book that was an early guide to cooking for my college-aged self.

Thank you so much for enabling me to find this bit of nostalgia.

Yes, I could have ordered a later print run. But then there would be no plain brown cover, there would be no cover to match my copy of The Tasajara Bread Book. There would be no memories welling up as I take the book from the shelf for reading.

Thank you so much.

This is a very happy start to the new year.

P.S.  Yes, it’s New Year’s Day, a federal holiday. Yet, Ceasars Mama has already replied to my feedback.

Message from 3rd party seller:
Thank you for the wonderful feedback !!
Made us so happy to hear !
Happy New Year to you and thank you !

Resolution: Tracking

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Jerry Seinfeld is attributed with popularizing the “don’t break the chain” method of developing habits/stopping procrastination/personal motivation. He denies doing or inventing this. (Choose your own reference.) No matter, his name is attached and people are marking calendars. Me too, kinda.

So what is this? There’s something you want to do, to get better at. You want to do this whatever every day. Get a wall calendar. On the days you do it, mark the day with a red X. After a few days you’ll be motivated to keep growing that chain of Xs.  That’s how it was described to me.

Therefore my (only) resolution for 2018 is to track ten activities I wish to develop into daily habits.

At the start of 2017 there were eight daily habits I wanted to develop. I adapted the practice. In a sketchbook journal I ruled out a grid on the last page, fitting a full month to the page. On days the activity was performed, an X was entered. Of the eight, four have become daily habits. Two are more than once a week habits. Two still need attention.

It worked well. So my only resolution for 2018 is to track the ten activities I’ve identified as desirable habits to strengthen. I am not resolving, for example, to exercise each day. I am resolving to note every day whether or not I did exercise.

A daily review of “did I …” is a motivator to do. Especially on days when most of the items merit a check mark. There’s an impulse to “do them all.” Tracking induces action.

This photo shows the tracking sheet for part of last February. Yes, the third from the right needs some attention. It’s on this year’s list.

Habit Tracking sample, February 2017
Habit Tracking sample, February 2017

First Loaf

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Many people obsess on their 401(k) and IRA balances when preparing for retirement. They would do well to obsess on activities. This was central to my planning. The finances were on auto-pilot. The what to do and when to do it took a lot more thought. It’s more personal than financial planning. We each have a fairly unique set of interests.

One of the activities I’ve planned is more cooking. Lots more cooking. This loaf, Irish Soda Bread, is a start. I’ve not baked bread in years, may be even decades.

First loaf of Irish Soda Bread, December 27, 2017.
First loaf of Irish Soda Bread, December 27, 2017.

Should

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Time to write! It will go badly, and there is so much I SHOULD be doing around the house and there are 2 distracting 8 yo boys + 2 dogs in the living room and I need some exercise, but am going to write, because shoulds are shit.

~ Anne Lamott

Don’t should on yourself.

Tamales!

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Throughout Latin America it is high tamal season. Remezcla has an article featuring ten diverse examples, A Journey Through Latin America’s Diverse and Delicious Tamales.  Only ten?  As you might expect the comments are filled with questions, Here are the first few:

Josue De Avila Colombian tamales???
Santiago Nariño Y los tamales colombianos que? (Hay tres tipos más en Colombia)
Giovanni Duenas No Salvadoran Tamales? BUNK
Mabel Sanchez Paches de Guatemala and tamales negros!
Janet Irene Panameno Where are the Salvi Tamales???
Erika Alatorre What about the huchepos? de michiocan?
Marty Marty Tamales de elote! Don’t forget those!
Josue Baires Y los tamales pisques o los tamales Salvi?
Juan Carlos Vega I’ve tried a few on this list.some are delicious but nothing beats my favourite..salvadoran tamales

I’m hoping some of those people will visit here an brag on their favorites.  If we’re lucky…