consciouseating
Good Humor
Foods That Make Us Smile
by Judith Fertig
“L
ife is uncertain. Eat dessert first,” counseled writer
that it’s a laughable legend.
Ernestine Ulmer in her now famous bon mot.
As the late humorist Erma Bombeck reminds us, “Seize
What is it about desserts that can bring a
the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who
smile to even the grumpiest adult? Woody Allen has even
waved off the dessert cart.”
compared comedy to dessert, commenting that it is “a bit
like meringue.”
Desserts are meant to be lighthearted. The very word,
Chocolate Crostini
after all, is the exact reverse of stressed.
So simple, yet so good. The final sprinkle of salt makes all
More than any other part of the meal, a favorite dessert
the difference.
instantly takes us back to treasured moments in our child- Makes 16 crostini.
hood—to a more uncomplicated time in our lives—if only One 10-inch baguette
momentarily. “Oreo cookies make me very happy,” confess- 6 to 8 ounces good-quality dark chocolate, in bar or block
es columnist Craig Wilson of USA Today. “I can eat a sleeve form, cut into 16 pieces
of them so quickly it even embarrasses me. Add a glass of Extra-virgin olive oil for brushing
milk, and I’m giddy.” Coarse kosher or sea salt for sprinkling
Dessert encourages us to engage our playful side, espe-
cially true if we are indulging in a familiar confection with a 1. Preheat the oven to 375° F.
new twist: a carrot cake cupcake; miniature ice cream sodas; 2. Slice off the ends of the bread and then slice the bread on
a flight of tiny snow cones, each drizzled with homemade the diagonal, ½-inch thick, to get 16 slices. Arrange the
syrup; or a chocolate chip cookie you break apart like peanut bread on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Bake for
brittle. (See accompanying recipes.) 15 minutes or until golden.
Maybe what brings out our inner smile is the story as- 3. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and carefully
sociated with a treat. Perhaps it’s a baked apple Grandma place a piece of chocolate on each slice of bread. Return
used to make when you and your cousins visited her and to the oven and warm for two minutes or until the choco-
managed to get into all kinds of scrapes. Most of us admit to late begins to melt. Sprinkle with a tiny bit of salt and
having a sweet tooth; chocolate is such a universal craving devour while warm.
Collier/Lee Counties
swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64