Kingston

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Dry Cooked Tofu

Random disclaimer: This dish is a favorite of my father’s. He has been making it for years now and does not rely on the use of teaspoons or any other measuring tools. He believes that to make a dish truly one’s own, one must trust their own judgment in determining the correct amount for each ingredient. As such, I have left out recommended measurements for this dish. But please note that this is not a dish with a bold taste and this should be considered in the use of ingredients. This dish is best served with a bowl of rice.

  Ingredients:

·         Scallions

·         Tofu

·         Olive Oil

·         Salt

·         Soy Sauce

  1.      Chop scallions and place to the side

  2.      Cut blocks of tofu into approximately equally chunks

  3.      Heat olive oil in frying pan over the stove.

  4.      When the oil has heated up add tofu first

  5.      After the tofu has been in the pan for a short while, add the scallions on top

  6.      When the tofu turns golden, add soy sauce and flip each piece

  7.      After the other side has turned golden, the tofu is ready to eat

  Optional Finishing Sauce

  Ingredients:

·         Black beans

·         Soy sauce

·         Chili oil

·         Vinegar

  Mix these ingredients together and serve over the tofu for added flavor

            Enjoy.

[kingstonyu-blog]

Corn

            America is one of the world’s richest, most highly developed countries. America is also the world’s most obese nation. With an obesity rate hovering around fifty percent, America’s problem with obesity is a pressing issue. Campaigns led by activists such as First Lady Michelle Obama have encouraged exercise in young children. Exercising can help encourage healthier lifestyles. However, the root of the problem lies in the state of the American food system where processed foods reign supreme.

            Every year, billions of tax dollars go towards subsidy programs that support the production of corn. And corn subsidies are growing. In 2004 subsidies were at $13.3 billion, raised to $22.7 billion by 2005 by the United States Agriculture Department (Kegans). Government subsidies come from the American people. In the film King Corn, the two growers are unable to turn a profit on their corn without payment from the government. Though expensive, corn production has relied on government funds to remain profitable.

Corn syrup, syrup made from the starch in corn, has found its way into nearly every food product. Corn syrup is a cheap, high calorie sweetener that adds no nutritional value. Humans have evolved to crave three types of foods, which rarely occur naturally, salts, sugars, and fats (Food Inc.). Corn syrup adds sugar to drinks and foods, which causes people to crave them. Evolution has programmed us to crave these rare foods, but the overproduction of corn and the development of corn syrup have made sugar overly abundant, contributing to the increasing incidence of health problems such as obesity and diabetes. Although corn subsidies do not force the consumption of unhealthy foods, their low prices discourage the purchase of healthy foods, particularly for poorer Americans. Food stamps are often spent on processed food rather than fresh fruits and vegetables (Pollan). By subsidizing corn, foods with high fructose corn syrup and other similar additives become cheaper and thus more attractive.

Government subsidization of corn has encouraged production of cheap processed food. These foods are low in nutrients and high in calories. Corn has also allowed for the mass production of meat by using corn in feedlots. This production of quick, cheap meat has allowed the fast food industry to thrive. Although corn is not the only problem with America’s food system, it is a major factor in the shift in American’s attitude towards food. As foods have become increasingly processed and packaged, Americans have become distanced from their food. Americans hold a happy illusion of farm houses and large pastures. While in reality, farms have been replaced by factories; pastures, by feedlots.

To solve America’s problem with obesity is not as simple as eliminating corn subsidies for farmers. However, discouraging the overproduction of corn can help reduce the appeal of sugary and fatty processed foods. Although it is important to exercise, food choices are just as important. A decrease in the production of corn would encourage food companies to produce healthier foods and encourage consumers to make healthier purchasing decisions. A change is needed in the American food system and elimination of corn subsidies can be a catalyst for such a change.

        Works Cited

Barrionuevo, Alexei. "Mountains of Corn and a Sea of Farm Subsidies - New York Times." Arts & Sciences | Washington University in St. Louis. 9 Nov. 2005. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://artsci.wustl.edu/~anthro/articles/09harvest.html>.

Fact Sheet: The Facts Behind King Corn. The National Family Farm Coalition. 25 April 2011. < http://www.nffc.net/Learn/Fact%20Sheets/King%20Corn%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf>

Food Inc. Dir. Richard Linklater. By Richard Linklater and Eric Schlosser. Prod. Jeremy Thomas and Malcolm McLaren. Perf. Greg Kinnear. Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2006. DVD.

King Corn Dir. Aaron Woolf. Prod. Aaron Woolf. 2007. Balcony Releasing, 2007. DVD.

Oliva, Cristin. "Domestic Ramifications." The Farm Bill. Mount Holyoak. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. <http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~cmoliva/index.html>.

Pollan, MIchael. "Weed It and Reap." The New York Times. 7 Nov. 2007. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/opinion/04pollan.html>.

Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: the Dark Side of the All-American Meal. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. Print.

[kingstonyu-blog]

Summer Vacation

            Sitting in a Friendly’s with my grandparents, the summer had finally begun. Every summer my grandparents would signify the commencement of summer by treating my brother and me to lunch at Friendly’s. On a warm summer day we walked from their apartment to the restaurant. The walk was long and hilly, but with my grandparents it seemed nothing more than a short stroll. As we passed familiar landmarks, I knew we were getting closer. Passing the church, passing the grocery store, my anticipation rose. Finally, the Friendly’s appeared in the horizon, a compact, unassuming building, which for me signified summer.

            We sat in a booth waiting for our server to come and take our order. My choice was an easy one. Each time we went to Friendly’s, I ordered the same meal. At the announcement that we would be going to Friendly’s, I knew my decision.

            “Is everyone ready to order?” asked the waitress.

            Without hesitation I told her, “Chicken fingers and Sprite, please.”

            My grandparents would peer over the menu as I waited patiently having made my ritual decision before even entering the restaurant. Waiting for the food to come, we planned out the rest of our day. Typical of my grandmother, the schedule was always precise and well-thought out. Sometimes we went to the library, sometimes to the park. Nonetheless, it was a relaxed atmosphere. With my grandparents, there were no worries.

            When the meal came we ate quietly. My brother and I shared our stories of the previous week. Regardless of whatever stories we told, my grandmother and grandfather listened with immense interest. Every word carried meaning for them. Minor details seemed to fascinate them. It was clear to see that this was their favorite summer tradition as well.

            When our meals had been finished the plates were cleared.

            “Will we be ordering any dessert?” the waitress asked.

            Again, my decision was an easy one. In my mind the only dessert worth consideration was the Candy Shoppe Sundae. This sundae consisted of two scoops of vanilla ice cream topped with the usual sundae ingredients, hot fudge, whipped cream, and a cherry. But the most important ingredient in the Candy Shoppe Sundae was Reese’s Pieces sprinkled over the ice cream. It was a sweet indulgence unrivaled by any other. To prevent the loss of even a drop of ice cream I ate quickly. My grandfather sat patiently drinking his post meal coffee. A contented silence fell over our table. Finally finishing the meal, my grandparents paid the check, a ritual I would not fully understand until several years later.

            As we all stepped out of the air-conditioned restaurant, a thick wall of heat greeted us. But we carried on as if it had no effect. It was to be expected. It was merely another indication that summer had arrived. Welcoming the heat, we continued on our way. Regardless of how the summer turned out, it always began at one of my favorite places with three of my favorite people.