Gołąbki

Gołąbki - Polish dish

            The final cooking project inspired me to prepare one of my favorites dishes called "Gołąbki". This is a traditional Polish dish made from boiled cabbage leaves and stuffed with minced pork or beef, chopped onions and rice or barley. Usually, it baked in a casserole dish with a tomato sauce. Despite the fact that preparation of gołąbki is time consuming, this dish is pretty easy to make. On Saturday morning, I invited my friends for a dinner party, and I started preparation of this very tasty dish. Because one of my friend is vegetarian, I decided to modify the traditional recipe of stuffed-cabbage. I replaced ground meat with Portobello mushrooms and vegetables. 

Fresh fish - Whole Foods Market 

Union Sq Market

            The most challenging part of preparation was to find proper cabbage with large leaves. I went to Union Square farmers market, which is very colorful on Saturday morning. I saw many stands with fresh vegetables and fruits from local farms. I bought fresh herbs such as parsley and dill that were important ingredients for my dish.   Despite the fact that I purchased some fresh herbs and mix of green salad, I did not find any cabbages. One of the sellers told me that it is still  to early to  sell cabbage, simply because this vegetable have not grown enough to be harvested. Fortunately across 14th Street, there is a Whole Foods Market, where I found nice large cabbages from Florida. In Whole Foods, I also bought mushrooms, vegetables and jasmine rice.

Steamed whole cabbage

Gołąbki - ready to cook

            In early evening I started preparation of Golabki. I began my culinary adventure by cooking jasmine rice. The rice for filling cabbage should be sticky, therefore I used more water and I cooked it longer until the rice became to stick together. In the second pot I steamed  entire head of cabbage for about 15 minutes. The next step was preparation of stuffing. On the frying-pan I sautéed 2 chopped medium onions and 3chopped cloves of garlic in oil. Than  I added chopped Portobello mushrooms. After 10 minutes I added one cup of  mixed of fresh dill and parsley . Finally I mixed everything with rice. I added 2 rough eggs, salt, pepper, and a cup of bullion of "Vegeta".  I removed steamed cabbage from the pot and I started to separate its leaves. Finally I stuffed each of the leaves and wrapped them. In the large pot I placed layers of wrapped staffed cabbage and each layer I separated by leaves of cabbage. Finally I added juice from previously cooked head of cabbage and I leaved them to simmer for the next 30 minutes. The last task was to prepare sauce for the Golabki. I wormed up  3 spoons of butter on the frying-pan and I added one large spoon of  flour and I mixed until I got smooth texture. Than I added 3 spoons of tomato paste and cup of broth. I mixed everything until I had the texture of thick sauce. I added some salt, black pepper and a little bit of sugar.

           Diner table. Good food = happy people:)

            The dish was very successful. All my friends were impressed by the well balanced test of that dish. We served "Gołąbki" with "Albero" - sparkling white wine, made with organically grown grapes in Spain. In addition for dessert we made delicious refreshing fruit salad. All friends and myself, we had a lot of fun at this night, and the flavor of stuffed cabbage and nice atmosphere of that night will stay in our memory for very long time.

Sparkling White Wine

#15 Playtime Is Over

The passage “Playtime is Over” written by David Elkind touch up on very interesting issue that is student’s free time. The author states that recess is no more free students’ time but has been replaced by recreation under supervision of “recess coaches”. The study of University of Michigan pointed that in the last decades the young students ”lost eight hours of free time a week for unstructured play and outdoor activities.” The number of free recreation hours constantly decrease in favor of hours of classes. I personally disagree with the author of passage these hours are lost. I believe that the recreation under supervision of adult “recess coaches” causes more advantages than plays of kids by themselves. Children need the proper guides to discover surrounding world. I think that process of socializing of children is better if an adult supervises children’s free activities. In addition, children should be slowly prepared for the challenges that they are going to face in their future life.

Firstly, we should remember that children are very naïve. They need appropriate guide who can inspire them and help to discover the world and show what is god and what bad in their behavior. As a child, I used to believe in many stories made up by my friends. My classmate once told me that he keeps an African Lion in the backyard, and if I don’t give him some candies his animal Is going to swallow me. Today that story seems very funny; however, for one who is eight years old this was terribly curtail message.  If as a kids we would have someone who would give us good advices and direction of play we would better use the time of free recreation, and faster uncover that some stories are unreal and not true. I believe that the process of socializing of children can pass smoother if the children could have an adult supervisor, who can help them to understand the world. Children are unable to estimate surrounding world, therefore the help of professional couch can be very helpful.

          Secondly, children have a lot of energy to run down. To help children to grow up in sustainable way they need as many hours of recreation as possible. I believe that a practice of sport helps a lot in proper development of children. As an example I should mention my sisters eight years old son. His behavior had changed a lot since he started trainings of Karate. He became quiet and more concentrated at school. Thanks to Karate coach that little boy discovered that some behaviors are inappropriate. The trainer explained them also that the children should be respectful and friendly for their mates.

Finally, we should remember that modern world changes very rapidly. Every day we face new challenges. In order to preparing children to face difficulties of the future life, adults should give them opportunity to grow up in good environment. I believe that outdoor activities and observation of nature can learn a lot. Children should have an adult who can help them managing their time, so these activities can help in development of children’s skills. There are many techniques that professional teachers or coaches use in order to help to educate young students. As an example I should mention “Green Schools”, which has often place in countryside. During the few days trip to the countryside children can learn about the farm’s animals, discover how to use traditional village tools and eat natural food that comes from the farm. This form of education brings unforgettable experience, that stay in the memory of young students for very long time.

As I mentioned, I believe that education and proper development during the early children’s life can be better if young students have support from teachers and coaches because they can help children to understand the surrounding world, and explain may difficult issues in an appropriate way.  

 

#14 Myth: Bottled water tastes better than tap water.

One of the most common myths about the water is that  bottled water tests better than tap water. However, facts show something different. In many cases tap water test as good or better as bottled water. The article "Bottled Water Myth Versus Reality" explains that commercials of  of bottled water companies are trying  to convince us to buy their products. However, the surveys prepared by New York Times and Cleveland’s local TV news channel show that in many cases  people prefer tap water that bottled. The american society
 is very naive and easy believe to commercial messages, therefore is so easy to convince people that bottle of water is much better for you that glass of tap. As responsible members of our society we should not believe to everything that sellers tell us. The fact is that we pay a lot of money  just for the bottle or the commercials that promotes certain products.





Reality: In taste test after taste test, people can’t tell the difference. Corporate
Accountability International’s “Think Outside the Bottle” campaign has held countless
taste tests comparing bottled water to tap water, as have many media outlets, from The
New York Times to Cleveland’s local TV news channel. The results generally favor the
tap. Ultimately, however, the point isn’t whether one
tastes better than the other—its how our tastes are
shaped by advertising, rather than by what’s good
for us. Between 10 and 15 percent of the price of
a bottle of water goes to cover advertising costs.1
We not only buy their myths, it turns out we pay
extra for them.

#13

The author of passage “Mom, Dad, Buy Broccoli” highlights very important issue of advertising of the junk food for children. The article shows that commercials of this unhealthy went out of control. The passage states that the 10 biggest sellers of the “empty calories” decided to cut back on commercials directed to kids. I think that decision of reducing number of commercials that are directed to children is very important, and makes significant step to change habits of young Americans. We should remember that by many years the American families developed very bad style of eating of junk food. I believe that the fast food industries make our children fat, destroys the tradition of eating together with family at home, and change the habits of our society.

First of all, it is proved that: fast food, sodas and candies are not good for children. Children’s diet should be sustainable and very rich with natural ingredients. However, the large American food companies promote the food which is unhealthy. Many kids drink everyday huge quantity of soda, overeat chips, French fries and hamburgers from fast food companies. This food is very unhealthy. The food studies show that each generation is more obese than the previous one. Children don’t spend enough time making outdoor activities. As an example I can mention children of my neighbors that spend about four hours every day playing computer games, and eating junk food at the same time. Their parents don’t like to cook at home. In the effect, children don't know how beneficial eating fresh fruits and vegetables can be because they eat just high processed food from McDonalds, Taco Bell, Wendy’s etc.

Another interesting issue is the fact that junk food destroys the traditional way of eating in American houses. By many years the most important place of American house was the table. Parents used to meet their children as well as friends of family by one table in order to eat together self-prepared dinner. The habit of eating together is very important for the families because reinforce relationship between parents and their children.  However, I noticed that the most important item of nowadays home became computer, TV ,and smart phone. The “modern” families don’t cook anymore at home. Many of my friends prefer calling for delivery of food from the near fast food than cook by themselves. In addition, less and less families eat together. I am friend with one family, and I noticed that each member of that family takes its disposable food container and goes eating by himself at his room and watching TV or playing computer games at the same time. I think that this custom caused devastation of something very important: the strong family ties, because parents have less opportunity to for real conversation with their kids, and this is very sad.

       Finally, I believe that the food companies changed the lifestyle of Americans. The young generation relate synonym of good food with the companions such as McDonalds or Wendy’s. They are so wrong; therefore it is very important to educate young people about the quality of food that they eat. In my opinion the commercials of unhealthy food that are directed to children should not be allowed. Children and teenagers are still under process of development, and messages sent by commercials can effect negatively on their life. It is important that the young generation understand that eating junk food is unhealthy and causes obesity and heard diseases, therefore the information from the passage that 10 large companies decided to cutting back on advertising junk food to children is very optimistic.

       As shown uncontrolled habit of eating junk food and uncontrolled advertising of unhealthy food can have very significant results for us and our children. Eating fast food make progressively our society sick and obese.  In addition devastate very important tradition of eating together by one table. Finally irreversible can change our lifestyle. Therefore is very important to understand that problem. I believe as educated members of our society we should promote healthy food and traditional behaviors among our families. It will make relationship of families stronger and healthier. 

Eating Habits

Nowadays the food industry is one of the most lucrative and fastest growing fields of American economy. For the last few decades lifestyle and eating habits of American people changes a lot.  The modern Americans are very busy and don’t sped to much time cooking at home, therefore many people  developed the habit of eating  in the fast foods. Despite the fact that the fast food offers cheap and big portions the quality of its food is very bad.  The fast food meals are highly processed ,high in fat, sodium, sugar and cholesterol. This is just not natural and very unhealthy for consumers. The fast food eating habit referred as McDonalization create many dangerous health results such as obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol and cancer.  The study of food habits show that a generation ago, about three quarters of meals eaten by Americans were home made. Today more people eat in the restaurant and fast foods because is cheaper and faster. 

12: Factory Farming

Since the beginning of human civilization family farms have cultivated fields and raised the animals in very sustainable way.  However at the end of twentieth century food corporations  sloweley started displacing small farms. As a result   nowadays we have very limited number of family farms, and its number is constantly  reducing. 

Human health, communities and  environment  is affected by food production

“It is critical for consumers to learn about where their food comes from and make their own informed choices”

Sustainable farms

Farmers life is very hard...

THE FAMILY FARMS

Nowadays there is less and less small family farmers. However, many farms that grew to the food factories proportions use the name family farms

- Food industry is dominated by large scale food factories - they are supported by government

- every week 330 farmers leave their land - family farmers go out of buisness

nowadays there is about five millions less farms than there was in 1930

- very fewer people becoming farmers today

- just 6% of farmers are younger than the age of 35

What we should do to support sustainable, family farmers:

-         We should buy food from small, independent family farms. They use methods that are sustainable and safe for environment.

-         Small families farms make small communities wealthier. In the food corporations benefits go to fiewer people

-          - family farms production is not aggressive and makes environment more varied when ….

-         Family farmers serve as responsible steward (zarzadca) of the land

-         Small farmers usually live near to their farms and 
the existance of familly farms .....

#11 - The Meatrix

“The Meatrix” films: “The Meatrix”, “The Meatrix: Revolting”, and “The Meatrix II ½”, are series of the cartoons that are inspired by the film of brothers Wachowski The Matrix. The main purpose of “The Meatrix” is to make viewers aware of animal living condition and show the process of feeding animals.

The livestock is treat by the food factories owners in very bad condition. The pigs and cows don’t have space and are sick. There are stuff of unnaturally by artificial animal feed   antibiotics  Their life is pitiful and full of pain.