From F to 100%

/ Karina Pinella / Leave a comment

When my kids were just learning their abc’s and 1, 2, 3s, I thought I’d go back to school to get a third degree. I was burnt out at my then current part-time job. For almost two years, I had my fill of filing, printing out flyers, and inserting brochures in folders. So many forms, folios, ad nauseam. I actually thought the company I worked for owned acres of forests.

I had an epiphany one slow Wednesday afternoon. While the clock ticked and the rain drummed outside, I had jerked myself awake just before my face thudded down my desk. I had to reorient myself and saw the stack of folders I had yet to fill. Suddenly a vision appeared before me: I was entering my home, calling out, “Honey, I have work to do tonight. Will you be okay with pot roast and baked potatoes instead of the lamb de flambé and scalloped little potatoes and crème de brulee? I have to fill 200 folders by tomorrow.” Continue reading →

Nepal

/ Karina Pinella / Leave a comment

6,621 – death toll to date
7.8 – magnitude of earthquake from a scale of 2.5 or less to 8.0 or greater
3,000,000 – number of people in need of aid

The figures are overwhelming to the point of losing their meaning,
The distance of 7,921+/- miles from here to Nepal makes it even more unreal,
Thoughts of empathy, feelings of pity still seem empty.
True, disasters always happen, and for a day or so, we feel blue.
Then we are back to experiencing our own pain in the mundane.
But we can help by however we can give—with our time or a dime.
For me a donation to Catholic Charities feels right.
http://catholiccharitiesusa.org/donationinfo/

Pancakes Sprinkled with Chocolate Chips or Spread with Preserves

/ Karina Pinella / Leave a comment

How can you have pancakes and hold the syrup? You can still be a pancake eater without dousing your stack with maple syrup (50g of sugar) or some liquid labeled pancake syrup (with ingredients you might find in water softeners and detergents).

The best mixing bowl to use is one of those 8-cup (2 quarts) measuring glass bowls (Pyrex or Anchor), so you can simply pour a bit of batter directly into the skillet and use a rubber spatula to swipe off the drip from the lip of the bowl.  Before starting, place a bowl of chocolate chips near the plate(s) you will use to serve the pancakes because you will put the chocolate chips on top of the cooked pancakes so they will soften. Continue reading →

Us

/ Karina Pinella / 5 Comments

Red, yellow, black, white . . .
Colors that can cause delight or a big fight,
Depending on the spectrum of your tolerance.

All lives matter,
For we are all made from the same batter.

Let’s take away labels, beginning with race.
The only purpose it serves is to peg a tight space,
Where movement is suppressed,
Cultivating a perspective that is narrow and depressed.
Stop writing on the blanks where it tells you to choose your label.
Why perpetuate an age-old myth that’s real purpose is to shackle?

You, me can start to stop the fuss,
Let’s just label ourselves US (of America)

©2015 Karina Pinella

Kale and Carrot Sauté

/ Karina Pinella / Leave a comment

As a side dish, this green and orange combination makes a pretty addition to the table. Chop a bunch of kale, unless you buy a bag of pre-washed kale, which I use until summer, when we have a garden. Chop however many carrots you want, along with 1 big onion. Crush 3 or more garlic cloves, depending on how many people you will be talking to after eating. You’re ready to saute.

Put about 2 tbsp of oil in the skillet, over medium heat. Put in your crushed garlic. After a minute, put in the chopped onions. Depending on how al dente you want your onions, you can then put in the chopped carrots. After a minute, put in the kale.

Continue to stir and cook, until the kale is tender to your liking, although it is best not to overcook kale, as its nutrients would be more potent. Enjoy the crunch!

Bus

/ Karina Pinella / 1 Comment

It’s convenient–easy, breezy,
But mostly wheezy,
Every day I end up running,
Down the hill I go,
Hoping I don’t stub a toe.
Whiz — there the bus goes,
Damn!
Wheezing for nothing.

Grilled Cheese with Mushrooms & Onion and Dip

/ Karina Pinella / 1 Comment

Ideal bread to use is Pain de Campagne for the crunchiness after you’ve grilled it. Mouthwatering cheeses to use are blocks of Swiss and Gruyere that you will slice to your desired thickness, but I prefer thin so they melt faster.

Slice however many button mushrooms you want and one regular yellow onion, and then saute them with whipped Cabot butter, or regular unsalted butter, in medium heat. Set aside. Continue reading →