EXCUSE ME, I THINK YOU DROPPED SOMETHING!!

Thank you Paul Post for writing an article in the Saratogian about Farm Aid that opens with a paragraph about the garbage that was left by the concert’s attendees on Saturday evening. The article continues to relate the reactions of other people involved with the concert as well.  Their reactions were one of dismay.  This is not an attitude that is limited to SPAC, although you would hope that the Farm Aid concert-goers would demonstrate some awareness regarding litter and the earth.

Just because there are people paid to pick up after us at the concert, the ball game, the movie theater, does not entitle us to leave our trash behind.  It is a culture wide problem.  When our family leaves a stadium, concert or movie theater, we take our trash with us.  However, it is a taught habit.  My boys are tempted to leave it sometimes like most people around them or because the event allows it.  I let them know that our family is responsible for their own trash.

I have on a number of occasions made myself unpopular by making comments aloud like,”Who’s trash is this?”  or “Who left their wrapper behind?”  These questions have left my mouth many times on a Saturday morning at the rec soccer field ( near the casino) when a snack is served and a few wrappers are strewn about.  I have deepened my popularity by asking the enabling parents who stand up to pick it up, “Could you please let the kids pick up their own garbage? Thanks!”

My other unpopular MO is to say to someone who drops litter right in front on me, “Excuse me, I think you dropped something.”  I say it politely and usually witness an eye roll by the litterer but they do bend over and retrieve their garbage.

One time when I lived in NYC, my personal safety was threatened when I mentioned to someone that they dropped something.  I think I was in over my head because  this young woman was an uber professional litterer.  She was standing on a corner in the village with friends eating from her Chinese food container and when she decided she did want anymore and was done she simply dropped the half-full container on the sidewalk with her fork implanted in the container.  A garbage can was perhaps six feet away.  I was incredulous at her level of piggery, but somehow managed a calm tone with my formerly successful comment, “Excuse me, I think you dropped something.”  I didn’t fool her.  She knew what I meant.  She turned to me and snarled something about messing my face up.  I believe I made one more comment and we both let it go.

Did she pick up her Chinese food container?  Well, no but maybe I made her think for a few seconds or maybe I was simply annoying.

So - 
if you currently pick-up your own garbage when there are others paid to do so - Thanks!!

If you don’t currently pick-up your own garbage at the events described above, but want to start doing that - Terrific.

If you don’t currently pick-up your own garbage at these events and have no intention of changing your ways - all I can say is ,”Excuse me, I think you dropped something.”

Diane Lachtrupp Martinez

To read the Saratogian article in the Tuesday September 24th edition, go to www.saratogian.com

A SARATOGA TRADITION

    It's that time of year again when Saratogians rent their homes to incoming ballet, track and summer fans.  The following article was my first published writing piece ever and describes our preparations and the exciting final 36 hours leading up to our exit the summer of 2009.  We just moved out of our home again and a new article is in the works.  Enjoy and if you are a homeowner who habitually rents out their home or first timers, please share your experiences.

    It is a yearly Saratoga phenomenon; when teems of local residents vacate their homes to rent to the summer crowds.  Hundreds of seemingly emotionally and financially stable Saratogians sign contracts, clean and de-clutter their homes and ultimately move out and find new digs while someone takes over their home.  While the financial rewards are considerable, home owners in many cases earn every penny as the preparations are intense and the homelessness inconvenient.

    Our family enters our sixth season of renting this summer and five out of six have been for the full season.  Preparations for the 2009 season start December of 2008, when our realtor contacts us to update our website information and confirm its accuracy.  One year we had a rental by January, but this year there are no bites until March.  First, we contact our 2007, 2008 gentlemen renters and they politely decline.  So we move ahead with new unknown summer renters.

    The time between March and April passes uneventfully as we sign leases, receive deposits and speak occasionally with the realtor.  Conversations with my friends who rent are frequently peppered with “Do you have someone yet?  Is it the same people as last year?  How long are you renting for?”  The rare bold question is “How much are they paying?”  No one is panicked in the spring.

    And then late June comes, the final payments are in, it occurs to one that you only have five weeks remaining in your home and you need to start sorting and cleaning.  We start by categorizing and recycling our children’s school papers as well as our own. Trips are made to the Salvation Army with clothing and we have our annual stoop sale.   The experience of annually ridding our home of unnecessary items is cathartic and welcome.

    My husband and I in early July start eyeing our teenage son’s room, anticipating and dreading the emotional and physical energy it will require to put his room in shape.  Up until fall of 2008, our two sons had shared a room and somehow the younger ones presence had kept the older one’s true self at bay.  But now, my older son has had full reign in the room, unplugged, unedited, undone.  Throughout the past nine months, we had issued daily warnings, comments and suggestions with unsatisfactory success.  We start him packing boxes the first week of July and we feel hopeful. 

    On Monday July 20^th, we have a family meeting to plan the next ten days to our exit on Tuesday July 28^th at 3pm.  I get out the chalkboard and we name our project “Operation Escape,” which goes at the top of the chalkboard.  Underneath our inspirational heading I list every day and what we need to accomplish each day.  In addition to packing ourselves up to live at my mom’s and de-cluttering our home, we include our to do list: return library books, banking, teaching, recycling and changing our mail.  Finally, we boldly list two ambitious projects we hope to accomplish prior to our exit - wash the exterior of the house and finish the taxes.  I am the eternal optimist.

    On the evening of July 20^th my husband’s family arrives from New York to help my husband with his sailboat and they go sailing on Tuesday.  Our “Operation Escape” chart is ignored and we reconfigure on Wednesday.  They depart Wednesday afternoon and we go back to fulltime work on the house. 

    Thursday morning, I walk with my neighbor who is also a habitual renter.    Although she does not have a chalkboard family list, she has her own personal to do list and cleaning the shower is one of three things on her list today.  Her efforts to ready the house will be thwarted by a houseful of company over the weekend and into Tuesday.    We check in over the next couple of days to commiserate and give the update.

    By Friday, we see progress.  We proudly get out our chart and are able to erase off the do list: playroom, my youngest son’s room, living room, and third floor. My teenage son’s room, although it has seen improvement, remains a source of stress and we are concerned that it could be our undoing.   Friday afternoon I cajole my sons and one of their friends to wash the house siding by our back garden entrance.  There is a fair amount of horsing around but they clean it well and we reward ourselves with root beer floats in the backyard.  It is a great Saratoga summer afternoon.  Life is good.

    Apparently, we feel that we deserve a break and we go sailing for two full days on Saturday and Sunday July 25^th and 26^th.  We manage to not think about what waits for us at home and what extreme effort lies ahead on Monday and Tuesday.  Arriving home Sunday at 6pm, we unpack, accomplish a few more chores and hit the hay early to ready ourselves for the final 30 hours of “Operation Escape.”

    Monday July 27^th, finds my six year old, husband and I washing the siding on the front of the house by 9am.  My teenage son (the time management expert) refuses to help or work on his room as he says;” I have plenty of time.”  At one point my husband has his head in his hands and declares my eldest son’s room akin to kryptonite; he is weakened every time he enters the room.  I manage to get both my husband and son back on task.   A good friend hosts my younger son for the rest of the day for a play date.  We are grateful. 

    The rest of Monday passes in a blur as we continue to pack our clothes, clean out draws, closets, take down posters, box up toys, sort paper and earn a living teaching dance in between.  My mom comes by for my youngest to gather him for dinner and an overnight.  I take a short nap on my Saratoga porch, enjoying the breeze and mourning how much I will miss it.  All my clothes are packed by 4:20 and I am feeling good about my day until I receive a phone call from the realtor that the renters would like a full size bed in one of the bedrooms not the two twins.  What??   I had imagined the sheets and blankets I would use and how I would dress the beds.  All for naught.  My husband is teaching at the studio and I decide to deal with this when he comes home.

    I break the news to my son and husband around 6pm.  After considering our options, we decide to bring a futon mattress from the third floor down and put it on top of the antique twin beds pushed together.  It looks ridiculous as the mattress is not as wide as the two beds.  We had considered putting the two beds together but the mattresses are different heights.  Suddenly, I remember another twin mattress on the third floor in the Jacuzzi room and yes after my son measures the height, it will work.  I disappear downstairs as the guys heave mattresses up and down stairs.  In the end it works and it is decided that I will go and purchase king size sheets at Target the next day in my “spare time.”

    By evening we are in good shape, packed to travel, possessions are secured on the third floor and in the basement.  The kitchen remains the final frontier for Tuesday.  The cleaning people are scheduled to arrive at 9:30.  Our final night of sleep is short and with great enthusiasm and no energy we look forward to the “Final Day.” 

    D-Day, Tuesday July 28^th has arrived and we are working by seven with a piece of fruit to sustain us until breakfast at 10:45.  We manage to get my eldest son out of bed and working by 8:30 and his eyes are swollen from lack of sleep.  This is the first year that he is really involved in the exit process.  He resents the work, the change and what he sees as the intrusion.  My husband and I are holding up well. 

    I have set a goal for us to be off the second floor (bedrooms) completely so that the cleaning staff can clean easily, thoroughly and quickly.  The cleaning staff arrives at 10:00, starts on the third floor bath and we are off the second floor by 10:45 and take our breakfast break.  Every time we eat in the last two days, it has been an exercise in cleaning out the fridge.  This time is no different.  My son is not thrilled with his breakfast.

    Everything we are taking with us is piled in the dining room, adjacent to the kitchen and near the back door exit.  We are literally making our way out the door.  One of the renters shows up at noon, saying that she was told she could move in then.  I politely remind her that the lease says 3pm and that we need all the time allotted.  I escort her back to the front door, close the door and go back to work.

    And now for the kitchen and the fridge.  For how much room the fridge takes up in our home, it remains the most intense work area.  We sort food to be tossed, food to go into the cooler to be transported to my mom’s fridge, food to be moved to the downstairs fridge and then we repeat the process with the freezer.  I make decisions as to the foods’ destiny and my son and husband execute.  Then my son and husband take out every shelf and drawer and clean it in soapy water, rinse, dry and replace it.  My six year old calls from my mom’s missing us and asking if I could bring over his wallet, his money for the bank and his Buzz Light Year piggy bank.  I have remembered the first two and promise to do my best on the third.  We miss him too and will be reunited by 3:30.

    At some point, I head over to Target and purchase the king size sheets.  I make the trip in a succinct 35 minutes and they work great.  The cleaning people are efficient, pleasant and flexible and the five of us work around and with each other for the last two hours to make our 3pm goal.  We all are doing what it takes to get the job done.  In the morning, my son had the occasional breakdown that I got him through but now with 90 minutes left, there is no sign of that.  After every job is completed, he says, “What’s next?”  If only.

    At 2:53 the renter shows up again and I invite her to sit on the porch.  We are wiping the last counter, vacuuming the kitchen floor and straightening the last pillow. 

The house looks pristine; no signs of clutter, plenty of sparkle and ready for inspection.

My husband, son and I take everything out to the van and come back in to welcome the renters.  By this time, the other two renters are gathering on the front porch and I welcome them in at 3:03pm.  

    I thank and pay the wonderful cleaning people and then take up my job as tour guide.  The women seemed pleased as I show them around, explain appliances and go over security.  My husband takes over the technology part of the tour and exchanges phone numbers.  I give the garden tour as I will be watering while in town at my mom’s and they will be in charge while we travel.

    We climb into the car and head over to my mom’s, a mere mile away, and look forward to showers and lunch.  I know for a fact that I smell and look like I smell.  The renters looked surprised when I said we were professional dancers.  We arrive at my mom’s, gather our younger son in our arms and have sandwiches and showers. My husband heads out the door an hour later to teach at 5pm.  I am in awe of his stamina and calm.  I opt to go out to dinner with my mom and the kids.

    A week has gone by since our dramatic exit and now we experience the aftermath of our move.  Currently the checkbook, my younger son’s socks, my bathing suit bottoms and some cash are still at large.  We manage to miss my son’s eye appointment twice, have yet to complete the taxes and make my mother cry within three days of our arrival.  However, like a new mom who vows never to go through childbirth again, we have forgotten the pain and are readying ourselves for next year’s rental.

           

           

           

Diane L. Lachtrupp

           

           

           

GLUTEN-FREE UPDATES FOR SARATOGA RESTAURANTS AND WISH LIST

In earlier blogs, I talked about where to shop for gluten and dairy free products as well as restaurants that I have frequented that offer gluten-free entrees.  Here are a few updates to add to my previous listings.

Limoncello Restaurant at 1 Ballston Avenue in Saratoga Springs is now offering a variety of gluten – free pastas on their menu.  I have been asking them for awhile and it paid off.  Thanks!!

Mama Mia’s Pizza and Café at 185 Ballston Ave in Saratoga Springs has offered gluten – free pasta and pizza for some time now and has added gluten – free tiramisu to their menu.  Dessert for everyone.

Chianti Restaurant at 18 Division St. in Saratoga now has gluten-free pasta.  An opportunity to try all their great pasta toppings.

Beverly’s Restaurant at 47 Phila Street in Saratoga has added gluten –free baguette.  How much fun is that?  I had breakfast there last month and instead of just home fries, I was able to also have bread in the form of a gluten-free baguette.

Fifty South at 2128 Doubleday Avenue on Route 50 has been a maverick in the food allergy arena offering up gluten-free pastas and breads as well as being flexible in general.  What I did not know is that have gluten-free pancakes.  Excellent.

Wish – list!!  Now I know I have two arms and two legs, good hearing, 20/20 with my contacts, can still outrun my children (8 and 15) and have a lot to be grateful for physically, BUT if someone could invent some dairy – free brie, blue cheese, parmesan or mozzarella (remember, I am also allergic to soy) - I would be eternally grateful and probably five pounds heavier.  That is the only upside to being allergic to gluten, dairy and soy – it keeps your weight down about 8 pounds.

If I had a choice of my allergies – I would have soy first, gluten second and dairy third.  Unfortunately, I am the least allergic to soy and my allergies to dairy and gluten are very strong.  Although I do enjoy tofu and miso soup, I am not building one of my dinner parties around it.  As to gluten, I feel that there have been quite a few solid substitutes - corn, brown rice and quinoa pasta, brown rice and millet/flax bread, brown rice quesadillas, corn cereals and many wonderful flours to cook with.  AND NOW – with baguette – I am over the moon.  French, crusty, soft on the inside and fun to say.

Clearly – I need something to go with my baguette and brie is the first thing that comes to mind along with a strong Bordeaux. So far, the cheese substitutes that do not include soy are limited. 

To expand on my cheese desires, it would be fantastic if restaurants would keep a block of rice cheese on hand.  It comes in cheddar and mozzarella.  It is not interesting by itself, but melted you now have expanded the number of dishes that you could sell to a dairy –free customer.  Now you can make a panini, a pasta dish with melted cheese or a chicken parmesan.  The rice cheese can be frozen and either grated or sliced to suit your dish. 

Now many people are not allergic to soy like me, so keeping a little soy cheese on hand is a good idea as well.  Stop by Four Seasons at lunch time and take a look at some of the wonderful things they do with soy cheese in their plentiful lunch buffet.

Know any updates for restaurants offering gluten and dairy –free food or stores that are offering gluten and dairy – free products.  Please – let me know.

Diane Lachtrupp Martinez

I WAS WAY OFF



New Yorker dressed for warm weather in March

      I am currently in New York City for a quick 4 and ½ hour turn around.  Arriving at 10:15, I could not help notice the stark contrast between my apparel and the resident  New Yorkers.  New Yorkers  were wearing light jackets, no jackets, Capri pants, no hats and high heels with no stockings revealing bare skin between the bottom of their pants and the tops of their shoes.  Crossing Madison Park (between Madison and 5^th and 26^th and 23^rd) I saw grass and the first crocuses pushing their way up.  And now for the final slap in the face – a line that lead to Mr. Softie.  Not possible.

      Upon driving out of my snow and ice filled driveway in Saratoga Springs that morning (with not an inch to spare between snow piles) in a down pour at 6am, I chose to don hiking boots, a long faux –fur lined vintage army storm coat, gloves and a winter knit hat. My upper half of my body featured five layers: my bra, my unnecessary camisole, my thankfully light blouse, wool blazer and ridiculous winter coat.  I was prepared and  I was way off.

      Normally, I do not pay much attention to weather forecasts.  If tornados, hurricanes or earthquakes are promised my ears prick up, but other than that I take the weather as it comes.  What can I do.  If it’s raining or snowing then I deal with it at the time.

      However, I think now I will consider the weather when travelling even if it is a mere three hours away.  I don’t need to be subjected to Capri pants, spring jackets and the annoyance of sweaty boot feet and carrying around my weighty jacket with no warning.  I think that if I had witnessed alfresco dining and daffodils, that would have put me over the edge.

      Next time, a  preemptive phone call to my mother –in- law in Brooklyn, would have done the trick.



Diane Lachtrupp Martinez as
Gluten Gal and Tango Mom

Shopping Gluten-Free & Your New Staple -Quesadillas

        



Diane displays some of her gluten-free staples that she purchases.



 Food shopping with food allergies is a skill that you develop. You have several choices: hit the health food store, (easier & expensive), go to your local market (overwhelming and limited) find a co-op (bulk purchasing) or do more of you own cooking.
        When I first found out about my trio of allergies – gluten, dairy and soy, I headed straight for the health food store and received a lot of  welcome help. The smaller size of the store and the fact that 30% of it is directed to foods without dairy, soy or gluten makes it easy. In many supermarkets, gluten-free food is “segregated,” while in the health food store, shopping for gluten, dairy and soy free food is the norm.  Emotionally, it is a more supportive place to shop where half the people are purchasing the same foods as you are regardless of their food allergies.  When you shop at the supermarket, the food is labeled, as health foods, it is limited and the employees are not as knowledgeable or helpful. But it is less expensive and certainly the supermarket chains are becoming more aware of the available products.  I recommend to start shopping at the health food store for help and variety and then once you have established some products you like and have experimented a bit, head over to the supermarket or join a co-op to purchase your items at a reduced price.  It takes some time to find the substitutes for your gluten filled life style, that you once enjoyed, but they are out there.

     BREAD  -  Let’s start with bread, probably your largest wheat carrying food.  My first couple of months, I ate brown rice bread and I will tell you, that was no substitute.  The brown rice bread was like a brick and only palatable when toasted.  For a time, I thought I had only a wheat allergy and not gluten, so I switched to spelt bread. (be clear with your doctor.)  Then, I found Sami’s Bakery.  Now I can enjoy a cold sandwich on their millet/flax bread or  I can toast or  make a panini on their cinnamon raisin bread.  AND – they now make hot dog rolls and hamburger rolls.  For awhile, I ate everything on the bread, hamburgers, hot dogs, etc.  Remember, I will not be ignored.  If you read my previous blogs, I am a foodie and determined to still enjoy culinary experiences.  Chances are, there are some local bakeries as well that may offer some gluten-free products.  As a substitute for bread, I also purchase brown rice tortillas from “Food for Life.” (recipe below)

PASTAS – These run the gamut from brown rice to corn and there are some good ones.  I enjoy, a variety and see what’s on sale.  Tinyada makes a good brown rice product and comes in a variety of shapes.  There are also corn and quinoa pastas.  Check the cooking instructions, as they all require a different amount of time.  You could always consider the fact that Pad Thai noodles were designed to be gluten-free and have been perfected for years. I use them in my chicken noodle soup and no one is the wiser.

CEREAL – At first I ate things with oats in them, not realizing that some oats contain gluten, so that had to change.  The loose cereal in the bins is very expensive and so I sought another option.  I wanted an affordable gluten-free granola type cereal and was not interested in the rice puffs or corn flake type cereals.  Finally, my husband spotted something at our super market; the brand is “Enjoy Life” and is a solid granola.  I enjoy cinnamon crunch and they offer other flavors as well.  Although not inexpensive, it is more reasonable and I will seek it out in the co-op I just joined.

Dessert - Until recently, a tough category.  Gluten free cookies were available at first but tended to be dry.  Now I have found  moist brownies at the super market, and mixes for cakes and breads at both the health food store, co-op and super market.  Gluten free flour has been available for a long time and you can  readily find  both rice flour and almond flour.  I use these flours to whip together pancakes or muffins without a recipe.  Following a recipe drives me nuts.  I look at it once and then I do what I want.  Namaste makes a good rice flour, Bob’s Red Mill has many products and Betty Crocker has even jumped on the band wagon with some gluten-free mixes.  Again you have to see what you like.  I made a gluten-free chocolate cake for a party and my son could not stay away from it.  Normally, he avoids my gluten-free products but he was unaware of its origins and went to town on my cake.

READING LABELS - Shopping takes longer as you should be constantly looking at the ingredients.  I try to do a lot of cooking myself so my use of packaged food is limited, but I still have to read ingredients on some of the products I purchase.  Things to be aware of; in addition to looking out for wheat and gluten on a label , modified food starch is  gluten and should be avoided.   Watch what chicken stock you purchase, many have wheat as do some sausages and soups.  Wheat is a cheap filler and that is part of the problem, why many of us now have food allergies.  Yes, genetics are involved but putting cheap fillers such as soy, wheat and dry milk where it doesn’t really belong can create overexposure and produce an allergy.
           Good luck with your shopping. Products are out there and console yourself by knowing that you are eating healthier than a diet filled with wheat and gluten.  Next time, I will cover shopping  with a dairy allergy. 

GLUTEN - FREE SHOPPING IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK
1) Four Seasons on Phila Street in Saratoga has good quality, good selection and good help.
2) Price Chopper on route 50 is increasing their stock and has pastas, crackers, cereals, flour, and cookies.  Employees don't really know the products but the manager is willing to listen.
3)  Hannaford I understand has a very good selection but is less convenient for me.
4) Odd job lot has good prices on a variety of flours, mixes and pastas.

     RECIPE FOR QUESADILLAS

     One of my favorite gluten-free products are the brown rice tortillas that I cook with from the company “Food for Life.”  I am able to quickly and easily cook them up and serve them as a quick lunch or dinner or a great appetizer for company.  Mine are also dairy free as I use rice cheese to still create that cheesy goodness that we expect from a quesadilla.  Quesadillas are also flexible because you can use just about anything you have in the fridge to fill them.  When I think I have nothing to serve, I turn to them.

1 tbls. olive oil             2 brown rice tortillas     4 slices of rice cheese   

 2 full slices of onion      4 slices of tomatoes           1/3 cup spinach

Have all your ingredients ready by the stove, as quick assembly is necessary to have the quesidilla come together without burning.  Heat stove to medium under your round frying pan and add oil.  Add 1 tortilla and 2 slices of rice cheese, torn to cover the bottom leaving a half inch from the sides.  Next, add your filling of tomatoes, onions and spinach.  Add the remaining 2 slices of cheese and cover with the other tortilla.  Press down with either a sandwich press(invaluable) or a flat pan with a filled tea pot on top to create weight. When the cheese has started to melt and adhered both sides – flip over to complete the grilling.  The quesadilla is complete when both sides are golden brown and the cheese is melted.  Serve alone for lunch or a great dinner with rice and beans and a salad.  Experiment with different fillings but always have your choice of cheese on the outside of the ingredients to seal the tortillas.  Now you can eat like everyone else.  Enjoy!!

Diane Lachtrupp Martinez