Argentina

Ok, Blahg followers. It's true. I've been cheating on you with another blog! I'm in Argentina for the summer and I decided to start a new blog, mostly because I wanted to try out wordpress. Here's my Argentina blog: Austral City. I promise some blahg updates sometime this summer, but I will admit it's hard to keep up two blogs.

SoCal

Heard this on KCRW today. It's from food52.com.

Expensive tomatoes

by Jestei, posted about 1 month ago.

Serves 2

• 2 Large heirloom tomatoes
• 1 dash Good course salt

1. 1. Live in Southern California. This step is important.
2. Go to the farmer's market. Pass the $5-a-lb heirloom tomato lady several times. Do nothing. As you are about to leave, approach her table, dig around in your pocket for the last time, place two tomatoes on her scale, then fork over your last $10, $3 of it in change. Go home. Lie to your spouse about how much they cost. Place salt on a nice piece of china. Cut up tomatoes, dip them in the salt and eat them. Regret nothing.

I'm Running on the "Yelling Platform"

Its not breaking news that a debate over healthcare reform is going on all across the country, so I'll jump right in and try to get some of the numbers out of the way first. We stand to spend $2.5 trillion this year alone on healthcare with between $1.2 and $1.6 trillion coming from the government, depending on how you cut up the numbers (ie if you include tax credits to businesses or not). The proposed healthcare overhaul sits at $1 trillion to be spent over 10 years, or $100 billion per year. That hypothetically would increase the annual spending of the government from around $1.5 to $1.6 trillion per year. While $100 billion per year is not an insignificant number, it becomes more than reasonable when considering the rate at which healthcare spending has been increasing and what is at risk if the money is not spent. Healthcare expenditures continue to rise by 6-8% annually, far outpacing the expected 3-4% of inflation. The math is pretty simple and the numbers dramatic enough (I used a fairly conservative 6.25% increase and got $3.4 trillion/yr in 5 years and $4.6 trillion/yr in ten) to see that spending $1 trillion now to cut costs later seems like a pretty wise investment in our future.

To do so several measures have been proposed such as restricting insurance companies' ability to deny coverage or drop coverage based upon pre-existing conditions, and not allowing them to set yearly or lifetime spending caps on individuals. Both of these would obviously be beneficial to individuals, but they also would help the nation in ways I don't feel has been highlighted in this debate. As it stands now, caps and pre-existing conditions allow the insurance companies to make money off of the healthy, and then simply abandon them when the risk becomes too great. For example, more often than not once people have reached their cap they are forced into medicaid and their costs are passed to the federal government. Or, if they are denied coverage for a procedure or treatment because of a bogus pre-existing condition clause and are unable to pay independently, the healthcare provider is forced to take a loss which is in turn passed along to everyone else in the form of higher costs. Essentially this allows the insurance companies to make their profits off of someone until the numbers become unfavorable at which point they pass the bill to the federal government, and by extension, the nation's tax payers. If insurance companies want the opportunity to provide healthcare coverage, they should also take on the responsibility of doing so.

However, while the reform and cost saving approaches are important, they are only stop gap measures, and it is likely the insurance companies will eventually find a loophole. Because of this, without the public option, it is my opinion that this healthcare reform will ultimately fail. A public option would help to level the playing field and provide fair competition to the insurance companies' near monopoly, one that has become more and more complicated, more expensive, all while restricting access care. In 1997 293,000 people were employed by the health insurance industry. Ten years later that number had grown to 444,000, an increase of 52%. By comparison overall employment grew by only 12% during that time. Today the number is likely closer to half a million and does not take into account those employed by healthcare providers specifically to deal with insurance agencies. When your business model is based around finding ways not to pay for medical treatments, it certainly seems that increasing your work force by 52% would be a move to make things more complicated, and not to find ways to save the consumer money.

But what about the naysayers? Some of the arguments coming out of the town halls have simply been maniacal ranting or have come from industry plants (50,000 insurance industry employees have been mobilized to fight reform), but one coming from ordinary citizens which I fail to understand is the outcry against a public option. Currently every US voter is already covered by a public option, should they live to be 65. Are these people simply going to tear up their Medicare cards when they turn 65 because its “socialism?” As I've pointed out in past posts, neither a public option or a single payer system are socialized medicine. The government would not control your physician or your hospital. Those would remain standalone institutions, operating independently and reimbursed by the public programs and with private funds much in the same way that they are paid by insurance plans now. The differences would be cost savings in the form of a ten fold decrease in overhead and improved coverage, both for those without coverage and those with existing coverage.

Most of arguments against healthcare reform which I have heard personally have been along the lines of “that all sounds great... but if people can't pay for their own healthcare, why/how should we?” The way I see it this is a flawed line of reasoning. Not with regards to the big government vs small government, or even funding social welfare programs in general, but specifically when you apply a question of that nature to healthcare. No one asks who will be covered by the police or fire departments, or who will pay for repairing or roads or educating our children. These simply are the costs of society and the benefits afforded to us by those costs. All members of our society are entitled to certain services, and we provide those which are deemed to be essential to the good of our nation. What I struggle to understand is why some people so vehemently disagree with the notion that healthcare is one of these staples, that for some it could be so much of a paradigm shift so as they can't see the forest for the trees. We're not talking about making sure everyone has access to BMWs and first class flights, this is about ensuring the health of our neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family. Healthcare affects us all, is larger than what any one person can manage, and is essential to the well being of our nation as a whole. It is unimaginable to think that a family would be bankrupted by an unexpected elementary school bill, or that the fire department wouldn't respond to more than one house fire per year, yet similar scenarios happen every hour in healthcare.

Last night President Obama made this point much more eloquently than I can, and while I had initially capped off this paragraph making the point that this is a matter of national pride, after the president's speech I much prefer his reiteration of Sen. Ted Kennedy's idea that this is a matter of national character. We shouldn't do this because we pride ourselves as being a great nation, but instead, because it simply is the right thing to do.

Final note: I wrote most of this prior to President Obama's speech Wednesday night, but was holding it back until after the speech. I was pretty sure that he would back off of the public option, and thankfully I was wrong. Instead, he presented it clearly and with a factual representation of what it is, a measure by which to offer coverage to those who can not afford or find health insurance while at the same time injecting competition into an increasingly bloated and monopolized system. And isn't it sad that on a night in which the president focused on restoring civility to an open debate, Rep. Joe Wilson couldn't even make it through the 45 min speech before reverting to pointless grandstanding.

http://www.epi.org/economic_snapshots/entry/webfeatures_snapshots_20070919/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125107323271252625.html
http://www.pnhp.org

Health of the Nation

Did you hear Obama's speech on healthcare? STOP BEING SCARED PEOPLE! We need healthcare and healthcare reform.

Scar McDyess: What do you think about Medpac? Here's the list of members.

While I would love to see the single-payer system that Scar discussed in early posts, that kind of change would be too much. So, I hope the plan they are trying to push through works.

Everyone seems to be concerned about sacrifices that might have to be made. Is this a real concern or can they simply reduce inefficiences to pay for the plan?

In other news, I'm going back to grad school! Most of you already know this news but some may not. I'll be moving to LA to pursue a master's in Urban Planning at USC.

Also, my garden is flourishing. Photo on left (basil, tomato, mint, and watercress). I'm so proud because it's the first time I've not killed all my plants. Plus, having these things on hand for cooking saves $$$$$.

Below is a delicious recipe that uses mint, basil, and tomatoes (sent by my friend Emily).

Pasta With Herbed Tomatoes

Mix:
5 tomatoes, chopped (I use 1 or 2 boxes of cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered)
3 cloves garlic, chopoped
1 C fresh basil, chopped
2 T fresh mint, chopped
2 t salt1 t pepper
1/2 t red pepper flakes
1/2 C olive oil

Marinate 2-3 hours or overnight

Cook 1 lb bow tie pasta; drain. Transfer to large bowl and add half the tomato mixture and 1/2 C fresh grated parmesan; mix til cheese begins to melt; add rest of tomato mixture and 1/2 lb fontinella or fontina cheese (can also substitute mozzarella). Stir and served warm or at room temperature.

Note: This recipe has a lot of cheese but if you want to cut back or omit, I think it would still be really good. The marinated tomatoes really make the dish.

1:1 delicious and delicious

I made Cooking Light's Ultimate Chocolate Cake recipe for my friend Megan's 30th recently (recommended by Mom).

As frosting, I used a very simple ratio for ganache also found in the Ratio, a book I mentioned in an earlier post. This is the ratio for ganache: 1:1 baking chocolate/cream. Now, good baking chocolate can be expensive but if you want to cut costs, chocolate chips are fine (or a mix of baking chocolate and chips). Heat up the cream and add the coarsely chopped chocolate to the pan. Remove pan from heat as soon as the chocolate has melted.

Result: Amazing cake. Great recipe. Highly recommended. You can't really go wrong with ganache. It would probably make rotten vegetables taste delicious.

Banana and Black Bean Empanadas and Go Mousavi!

The bananas undergo a transformation in this recipe and become the perfect partner to the heat of the jalapeno and the meat of the beans. I used fresh diced jalapeno instead of tabasco. The vegan recipe from the Vegetarian Times below is slightly dry (the crust), so I definitely recommend using a sauce like guacamole. I prepared a make-shift salsa with chopped tomatoes, onions and lime juice (this was not bad). Another reviewer suggested sour cream with lime zest and lime juice.

The non-vegan version here in epi is even easier to prepare.

Politics: All eyes on the election in Iran today. Let's hope Mousavi wins and the power transition is peaceful...

****
Ingredient List
Serves 6 Crust
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. chili powder
4 Tbs. cold soy margarine, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 Tbs. white wine vinegar

Filling
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 cup cooked black beans
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
2 bananas, peeled and diced (1 cup)
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. ground coriander
2 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro
1 tsp. red pepper sauce, such as Tabasco

Directions

1. To make Crust: Sift flours, salt, and chili powder in bowl. Mix in margarine with fingers until mixture resembles coarse meal. Whisk together applesauce, vinegar, and 1/3 cup cold water in separate bowl. Stir applesauce mixture into flour mixture until textured dough forms, adding up to 1/4 cup more water, if necessary. Knead on lightly floured surface until dough comes together. Form into ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill 1 hour, or overnight.
2. To make Filling, heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onion 4 to 5 minutes, or until soft and translucent. Add beans and garlic, reduce heat to medium, and cook 3 minutes. Stir in bananas, cumin, cayenne, and coriander, and cook 2 minutes, or until bananas begin to break down and spices are fragrant. Remove from heat, and stir in cilantro and red pepper sauce.
3. Preheat oven to 400°F. Divide dough into 12 balls. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Roll out each ball to 6-inch round (1/4-inch thick) on lightly floured work surface. Fill with 2 Tbs. Filling, and brush edges of pastry with water. Fold dough circle in half, press to close, and crimp edges with fork to seal. Transfer to prepared baking sheet, and repeat with remaining dough balls and Filling. Chill 10 minutes. Bake empanadas 20 minutes, or until golden brown and crusty. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet before serving.

Nutritional Information
Per : Calories: 364, Protein: 10g, Total fat: 10g, Saturated fat: 4g, Carbs: 60g, Cholesterol: mg, Sodium: 748mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugars: 8g

Cook with Math

Food

Cookbook foes, there is a new anti-cookbook cookbook for you! Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking provides formulas that promise to set you free from the bondage of recipes. An example:

Pie dough = 3 parts flour: 2 parts fat : 1 part water. Roux = 3 parts flour : 2 parts fat. Sausage = 3 parts meat : 1 part fat.

I am a slave to recipes, I admit. I've been trying to figure out why for years. My mother and grandmother also cook with recipes. My friends from more traditional cultures (Asian, Middle Eastern) don't use recipes and while I envy them, I generally stick to the book.

I haven't read this book yet, but I will post again when I do. Wanted to get the buzz out of there on it.

Politics

A shout out to Obama for a great speech in Cairo today.

Crispy Black Bean Tacos with Feta and Cabbage Slaw

I have neglected this blog! Here's a quick, cheap, and fairly healthy recipe I made recently. I really love cabbage these days.

*****

Who needs meat? The cumin-scented black bean filling is hearty, satisfying, and incredibly easy to prepare. Round out the meal—and get a complete protein—by adding Mexican rice.

Yield: Makes 4 servings
Active Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

1 15-ounce can black beans, drained
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
5 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 cups coleslaw mix
2 green onions, chopped
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
4 white or yellow corn tortillas
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
Bottled chipotle hot sauce or other hot sauce

preparation

Place beans and cumin in small bowl; partially mash. Mix 2 teaspoons olive oil and lime juice in medium bowl; add coleslaw, green onions, and cilantro and toss to coat. Season slaw to taste with salt and pepper.

Heat 3 teaspoons olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tortillas in single layer. Spoon 1/4 of bean mixture onto half of each tortilla; cook 1 minute. Fold tacos in half. Cook until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Fill tacos with feta and slaw. Pass hot sauce alongside.

nutritional information
Per serving: 232.6 (kcal) calories, 40.0 % calories from fat, 10.3 g fat, 2.7 g saturated fat, 11.1 mg cholesterol, 28.7 g carbohydrates, 5.0 g dietary fiber, 1.5 g total sugars, 23.7 g net carbohydrates, 7.5 protein

Nutritional analysis provided by Bon Appétit