I have to admit something about yesterday's recipe: remember when I said I went crazy, used less oil than was called for, and it turned out great anyway...? Well, it really did, but the topping doesn't hold together quite as well as it does with all the oil called for. It doesn't bother me a bit -- it tastes just the same! But since Linda thought she might try making this for houseguests, I thought a warning was only fair. =) I'm really trying to watch what I eat now, and to make a conscious effort at reducing fat and calories. Crumbly topping is a very small sacrifice, as far as I'm concerned, for cutting a considerable amount of fat from the recipe. So... use as much oil as you see fit, and enjoy!
I re-read several parts of "Diet for a New World" after I had eaten my fill of crisp last night. I mentioned yesterday that I think John Robbins is a bit of an extremist, and I still stand by that. He cites hundreds of studies, articles, books, etc. for stats on world hunger, farming, nutrition, and so many other topics. I have a theory that anyone can find the stats he needs to prove his point if he looks hard enough. And people will believe what they want to believe, and I, being a crazy tree-hugging Birkenstock-wearing hippie-chick vegetarian, choose to believe most of what I read in "Diet." Crazy Atkins people would probably burn copies of this book, because it preaches the exact opposite of what they "believe."
That being said, I like a lot of what John Robbins stands for, and I find his book to be inspiring. I am at a place where I need to be making some changes in my life -- first and foremost, to get happy and healthy. I've had a pretty tough summer, and I need to turn things around. I need to be in a better mood on a regular basis. I need to shed a few pounds (I know, me and millions of other Americans). I need to eat as well as I was eating a couple of years ago. I need to get back into Yoga and hiking. I want to bake all my own bread and sprout my own seeds and cut refined sugar out of my life and take the time to think about each bite of food I put into my mouth and enjoy the little things as well as the big things. "Diet" makes me want to make all these things happen. I bought my copy of the book several years ago, during one of my vegan phases. Obviously, that phase passed. I think I've reached a happy medium -- my diet now consists of as much organic food as possible -- especially eggs and dairy. That's my compromise for putting those products back onto my menu. I feel pretty comfortable with this lifestyle. I'm fairly sure I'll never go back to veganism -- I'm happy with lacto-ovo vegetarianism -- but this really is a great book to have on hand. It's so Earthy and crunchy and... well, so me!
Ginger October 14, 2004 08:07 PM PDT "Crazy Atkins people"?
Hardly. I think the future of weight maintenance will be both vegetarian and carbohydrate control, especially those simple carbohydrates like processed sugar and white flour. It might be painful to let go of one's ideologies, but as more low-carb research comes in, it'll likely be healthier. It's worked for me.
See http://www.nourishingconnections.org/Documents/Fat_and_weight_gain.pdf
Linda October 13, 2004 11:24 PM PDT Thanks so much for the heads up on the oil! I'm sure it tastes great both ways, but it's good to know of the difference...especially since I really am planning on making this for company.
Alice October 13, 2004 07:27 PM PDT I'm glad there are others who are consciously trying to cut extra calories and fat, and at the same time, really enjoy food and want to share all about it. I hate feeling like my food isn't as appealing to others, just because I've lightened it. Granted, fat and sugar do taste good. I just see that as an easy answer, however, and I think it's a cop-out to rely on them when there are countless other ways to make excellent food. I feature a lot of lightened recipes on my own site and am glad to have the company of others in this endeavor! (Note: there is of course, plenty of excuses for the occasional indulgences)
