The State of America's Children & Salted Whiskey Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm already falling behind on my promise to keep this up and running. However, I started this post a week ago when I read the "State of America's Children" article by Marian Wright Edelman recently featured on the huffington post.

Ms. Edelman, head of the Children's Defense Fund, conveys some disturbing numbers regarding the state of poverty affecting America's youth. Sometimes quoted as "Kill Me Now Statistics", does it matter much if you say "One in five children is poor" or "Children are our nation’s poorest age group" or even "Every 32 seconds another child is born poor"? No matter your advocacy strategy or your approach to pulling on readers heartstrings, the fact is that youth in America are suffering. Additionally, many of the budget cut items directly affect youth-- and youth keep growing up. I highly recommend reading both the article and the full report.

If that doesn't make you want to combine whiskey and cookies, I'm not sure what would. Except maybe the pure desire for something truly delicious...



Salted Whiskey Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon table salt
14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, slightly softened
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tbsp Bourbon
2 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 bag dark chocolate chips
Sea salt for sprinkling over cookies


Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl. In a larger bowl, beat together butter and sugars until light and fluffy (you know, when it starts looking a little like cartoon clouds). Beat in egg, vanilla and Bourbon. Add dry ingredients, then fold in oats and chocolate chips. Roll into cookie-sized balls (approx. 2 tbsp), drop onto parchment-paper-lined cookie sheets, and flatten to 1/4" thickness. Bake at 350 for 13-16 minutes.

Return!

This blog has lain dormant for a long time, and for that I apologize. I had intended to follow up my first Geoffrey Canada post with a more nuanced interpretation of some of the problematic aspects of his approach, responding to some of the criticisms of the model and addressing the cultural imperialism implications, etc. I had intended to follow that post with a number of others: discussing the 11 year old boy I saw escorted out of Truancy Court in handcuffs; the final results of my research study about the effect that knowledge of a youth's abuse history has upon juvenile probation officer decisions; and some thoughts raised by the provocative memoir collection "Soul on Ice" by Eldridge Cleaver.



I also wanted to show off the Butternut Squash and Caramelized Gallete I made for Friendsgiving (recipe available here), "mince-ish pies" my sister and I made for Christmas Eve, and host of other delicious creations that came out of my kitchen this winter, spring and summer.



That didn't exactly happen as planned, but here are some images of what came along with my master's degree:



Orriocheta with Peas, Spinach, and Asparagus:


Thai Green Eggplant (Brinjals)


Multi-Colored Breakfast Potatoes:


Ginger Apple Pumpkin Bread:


Chocolate Hazelnut Holiday Cake:


Tarragon Dijon Mashed Potatoes:

And the newly introduced first course to every dinner party, nearly perfected art of the cheese plate:


More recipes, photographs and thoughts on juvenile justice & child welfare to follow!

Geoffrey Canada (Part I), & Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Apples, Lime and Sriracha

So: I have some catching up to do. The past few months have been a whirlwind of activity, frustration, and wonder, but after living under my graduate school rock for the entire duration of autumn and well into the ever-hated winter, I've decided it's time to emerge; or at the very least start writing about what comes out of my tiny tangerine kitchen again.

Over the past few weeks of winter break, I had some time to catch my breath and refocus for my last semester of social work study. Part of that refocusing involved re-reading Geoffrey Canada's "Fist Stick Knife Gun", a phenomenal first hand account of the Harlem Children Zone's founder's childhood in the South Bronx and a series of his reflections on youth violence and poverty.Canada is inspirational in his ability to realistically convey issues of systemic oppression and extraordinary violence while maintaining a deeply humanizing focus of his analysis. Take, for instance, this excerpt from the end of his book.

"I want people to understand the crisis of our children and I want people to act."

I will continue my gushing about Geoffrey Canada when I talk about the last book I finished, Paul Tough's "Whatever it Takes", but suffice it to say that he has become one of my personal inspirations over the past few months (even prior to his feature in the popular education documentary Waiting for Superman); his writing gives me hope; and his work gives me motivation to continue mine.

Many things and people, like the youth with whom Canada works in Harlem, have a terrible reputation but similarly deserve a fighting chance at demonstrating their inherent worth and brilliance. Some of those sorely under-appreciated and often written-off things are brussel sprouts.


So it's not really much of a recipe, but hey, I'm trying to get back in the swing:

1/2 lb. brussle sprouts
1 apple, thinly sliced
1 fresh lime
Sriracha hot sauce
Olive oil
Salt/pepper


Halve the brussel sprouts and remove any stray outer leaves. Lay on a cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil, salt & pepper. Roast at 400 for about 10 minutes until the sprouts start to brown.

Meanwhile, slice apples and add to a saucepan with a little oil. Add roasted sprouts, lime juice and sriracha. Stir until mixed, and adjust seasonings to taste

Serve with roasted root vegetables, sausage, and/or sweet potato.