NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
September 28, 2000
The aroma of fresh-baked bread reminds me of coming home from school on Friday afternoons. Not only was there a weekend to look forward to, but fresh rolls were waiting to be devoured. Mix in the smell of pine-scented cleaner with the baking bread and I get really nostalgic. Mom always washed the floor after making bread.
Food has many meanings beyond basic nourishment. Food can comfort or excite. Some foods might repel you if you've had a bad experience with them, while other family favorites draw people close. From birthday parties to weddings to funerals, food is part of life's events. The aroma of food or even the thought of certain foods can conjure memories.
Psychologists have studied the relationship of food to thoughts, feelings and images of people and events. Which food aromas remind you of a distant event or person? For some, comfort foods might include homemade meatloaf, creamy mashed potatoes, steaming soup or warm pie.
Here's a recipe for bread pudding with apples and raisins that will fill your kitchen with a delicious aroma and may stir nostalgic thoughts. It's from Millie Katzen's "Moosewood Cookbook" published in 1977. You can substitute cake, banana bread or any type of bread that suits your taste.
Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding
Preheat oven to 350 F. Beat the following ingredients together using a blender or mixer.
3 cups milk
3 eggs (large)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Juice from 1/2 lemon
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 Tbsp. honey
2 Tbsp. sugar
Mix the following ingredients together in a greased 9x13-inch pan
4 cups coarsely crumbled bread
1 1/2 cups freshly grated apple
1/2 cup raisins
Pour the first mixture over the bread mixture. Mix together. Bake 35 minutes. Serve with frozen yogurt or ice cream, applesauce or fresh fruit. Makes about 12 servings, 1/2 cup each.
A 1/2-cup serving of Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding contains about 130 calories and 2 grams
of fat. You can increase the fiber content by substituting whole grain breads for white
bread.
Many people are currently shunning breads, rice, pasta and other starchy foods in favor of high-protein diets that promise miraculous weight loss. While high-protein diets may pare some pounds from your frame for the short term, more than 90 percent of people regain the lost weight within a couple years. Much of the initial weight loss from high-protein diets is due to water loss. Following a high-protein diet over time also strains the kidneys, which have to filter out the nitrogen from the extra protein. Eating a diet low in carbohydrates can cause ketosis, a condition that can lead to weakness and dehydration. High-protein diets are generally high in fat, especially saturated fat, which can increase the risk for heart disease.
Maybe it's time to toss the word "diet" out of our vocabulary because the word conjures up thoughts of hunger and deprivation for so many. Enjoy food. Slow down and savor the flavor of foods. Include foods from all the food groups of the Food Guide Pyramid. Aim for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, especially deep orange, gold and green ones. A serving of fruit or vegetables is one-half cup cooked, fresh or frozen, one medium piece of fruit, one cup of leafy greens or 3/4 cup of juice.
Concentrate on eating plenty of whole grain foods like oatmeal and whole wheat breads and cereals. Adding more whole grains to your diet is being noted as one of the wisest health moves you can make. A new study reported by Harvard researchers shows that women who consume more whole grain foods reduce their chances of stroke. Include lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cooked beans, nuts and lowfat dairy products to get the protein, vitamins and minerals your body needs.
If you've been advised to lose weight by a health professional, try trimming down your portion sizes -- and maybe trimming up some trees for extra exercise. The Surgeon General advises at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on five or more days of the week. That doesn't mean sweating in a gym. Raking the lawn, washing windows, mopping the floor and dancing all count toward the total.
Make some homemade bread without a bread machine; even kneading dough counts as physical activity. Enjoy the aroma and invite some friends over for fresh bread. You just might make a memory, too.
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Source: Julie Garden-Robinson (701) 231-7187
Editor: Tom Jirik (701) 231-9629