Food by Jude   Eat well, live long and have more fun!

Latin Lovers?

Psyche was a princess who was drop-dead gorgeous, this ticked-off her sisters, who were merely beautiful. It really irritated Venus, Goddess of Love and Beauty, who would not have a mere earthling stealing her thunder. Venus was determined to put the little upstart in her place, so she asked her son, Cupid for his assistance.

Cupid was all grown up by then, and no longer the curly-haired cherub we associate with Valentine’s Day. Resembling a cross between George Cloony, Brad Pitt and a young Tom Sellack (but better looking), he was also a dutiful son.

“Use your powerful arrows and make that little trollop fall hopelessly in love with the most despicable creature on earth”, Venus commanded. “Etiam” (Latin for O.K.) he replied, and off he went. But then, he got a gander of the girl, and shot himself in the foot.

Meanwhile, Psyche was depressed. Her beauty was so intimidating; guys ogled, drooled, then dated someone else. Her sisters had all married kings; her parents thought she was a loser. Her father finally approached Apollo, God of Light, and asked for help. Apollo advised him to try “tough love”, so they dressed Psyche in mourning, took her to a remote rocky peak, and left her.

So, there she was, alone, afraid, and dressed in an unattractive outfit, when suddenly, Zephyr, the West Wind floated, her off to a picture-perfect plateau. She saw a shining river and a mansion with golden pillars (it looked a lot like Beverly Hills). All day she strolled through the grounds and the mansion. It was eerily quiet, but then she began to hear voices (even before she discovered the automatic Nectar dispenser) “we are your servants, ready to grant your every wish” they said. She had 2 pounds of chocolate, and went to bed.

Around midnight, she awoke to discover someone in her room. It was Cupid. “I am your husband, and I love you”.

That was enough for Psyche. Even though he only showed up at night, in the dark, she was happy. And,  because she never had to worry about what to wear, this on again off again relationship continued for sometime.

Remember the merely beautiful sisters? They were anxious about Psyche and came looking for her. Convinced her mysterious husband was a really mean and ugly monster, they told her to take a knife and a lantern, and when he was sleeping, stab him.

Psyche would never think of killing her husband, but they had peaked her curiosity. She did shine the lantern on him as he slept that night. “Wow, what a hunk”, she thought.

Cupid awoke and couldn’t understand why she had not trusted him, so he left, and went home to mommy.

Psyche, now the original desperate housewife, followed him. Venus forced her to perform some really weird and dangerous tasks like sorting seeds and stealing beauty secrets from Proserine, goddess of the underworld.

Finally, that clod of a Cupid, realizing what a treasure he had, stood up to his mother. Psyche and Cupid eloped to

Olympus, and were married by Jupiter, himself.

During the wedding feast, Psyche was given Ambrosia to eat, which made her immortal and a goddess.

Venus, knowing that her rival Psyche would not be living on earth, and she, Venus would once again be the pin-up girl of the Romans, capitulated. Psyche and Cupid lived happily every after.

In a few short weeks we will be celebrating a very unique holiday; the only one honoring a rodent - February 2nd, Ground Hog Day.

Marmota Monax, “the mouse of the mountain that digs”, is also known as a whistle pig and a marmot, and is related to squirrels and prairie dogs.

Where I live, in Tuolumne County, our local representative is the yellow-bellied marmot, who hangs  in and around Yosemite National Park.

Pennsylvania may have Punxsutawney Phil, but our own Tuolumne Tim is a remarkable creature, an architect, neat freak and a discriminating diner (her obviously reads this blog).

Known to many as a pest, ground hogs like peas, carrots, beans, apples, pears, bell peppers and squash, just to mention a few of their favorites.  They will pick them up wherever he can find them.  This does not endear them to gardeners or farmers.

However, their high fiber diet keeps them fit, and able to perform amazing architectural feats (for a rodent, that is).  The abode (burrow) of Tuolumne Tim, consists of an entry, observation hatch, sunning area, spacious sleeping area and a private bathroom that, when well used, is filled up with dirt, and a new one is dug.  Tim is a very fastidious fellow. 

But, enough of the lifestyle of the Smart and Furry, let’s get to the meat of the matter - eating more fiber in t he form of fruits, vegetables and grains.

Fiber, the ultimate healer, can lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, and help maintain weight.

Important for us all, yes; but vital to the nutritional  habits  of our kids who have fallen into a fast food abyss.

  The recommended DV (daily value) of fiber is 25 grams.  Sadly, few Americans come even close.

And yet, it can be so easy, and so delicious.

Stock up your pantry with cans of chili, refried beans and garbanzo beans, ready to eat high fiber cereals, graham crackers and oatmeal cookies.

One half cup of canned (yes canned) blackberries in syrup provides 3.3 grams of fiber.  Try them over pancakes instead of syrup.

Guacamole, made from scratch is a healthy snack when served with no-trans fat tortilla chips.  It is also very tasty on Triscuits!  Simply mix up some mashed avocado with a few tablespoons of diced mild green chilies (from a can) and season to taste with garlic or garlic powder  and lemon juice.

Want a quick, easy high fiber dinner?  Heat up a can of chili w/beans, pour it over some rice, top it with shredded low fat cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes and sour cream.  Serve it with a green salad and tortilla chips.  The kids will love it.

Another quickie - augment a piece of chicken cooked as you like, with a side dish of steamed artichoke and aioli (low fat mayonnaise mixed to taste with garlic and lemon juice for dipping. Add some sliced tomatoes with your favorite dressing and some toasted rye bread.

A new year is the time to set goals and to improve our lives.  Make one of your goals to improve  your fiber intake - it’s so simple.  Don’t let yourself be outwitted by a yellow bellied marmot.

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