Listeria Hysteria

And really, should we be blamed for being hysterically paranoid about the tainted meat recall from Maple Leaf Foods? Since the "scandal" broke out in the news, I have been wracking my brain to recall whether my family has consumed any of the recalled & voluntary recalled products. The only thing I can think of is a pizza luncheon that was part of a summer-fun rewards program at work. Did I eat the pepperoni pizza? Oh dear.

At the slightest hint of nausea last night...and other gastrointestinal symptoms that I won't mention here, I became near hysterical. Faster than lightening, I was on my laptop trying to get more information, but sadly the offerings came up short. With 29 cases being conclusively linked as of today, and an additional 30 under investigation, it's enough to make me swear off even smelling pepperoni for the rest of my life! This sort of reporting, however, is creating a state of panic. The facts need to be put out there: Who is likely to be most affected by listeria, what is the likelihood that treatment will succeed in curing the ailment, what percentage of people who contract listeria recover fully? We're focusing on the most negative statistics, and although we need that information, we also require the more optimistic facts. Please please please put those out there for the nervous nellies like me!

As for the blind trust we've always put into the likes of Maple Leaf Meats/Schneiders, well I'll certainly think twice before buying any of those products again. If you visit the JM Schneider website, you'll see that "J.M. wouldn’t make or sell anything he wouldn’t be proud to serve to his own family. He insisted on using only the finest cuts of meat, trimmed by hand, and natural spices and seasonings. He believed in craftsmanship and followed time-honoured recipes using traditional methods " Hmmmm...it looks like someone wasn't taking ol' man Schneider's insistance very seriously & fell asleep at the wheel. However, I'll take Mr. Schneider's advice & I will purchase only the finest cuts of meat, season them myself & server THOSE to my family. In a pinch, forget that processed stuff...it'll be all-natural peanut-butter-jelly-time.

My sincere condolences to those who have been affected by this horrible situation. I wish the rest of you good health.

Back to school blues

It's more like "starting school for the first time blues". This is the day I've been dreading for just over four years - the day my baby girl goes to junior kindergarten. My heart breaks just thinking of it! Oh yes, I hear you hollering at me to get a grip & keep it together. Hah! Easier said than done, my friend. How can I possible get a grip when I've always kept my children perfectly coddled in my little cocoon? How in the world am I supposed to drop her off & say goodbye without a wavering voice and eyes brimming with tears? How??? There must be some sort of prescription med out there that'll do the trick. (Note to self: investigate prescription meds for moms of children going to school for first time.)

She's ready to go to school. She's been ready & willing for a while now. I'm the one who's kept her close - allowing her only a ballet class & a community centre art class. Those were tough enough on my fragile nature - allowing my child to attend a class ALONE for a full 45 minutes! They didn't even allow me the courtesy of a peep hole so I could have a gander from time to time at how she was doing.

Oh this is torture! Maybe a nanny-cam....yeah...that might do the trick. Or I could send her to school with a wire-tap. Yeah, I could be onto something there.

I've got to snap out of this. She's doing what so many other children will do, have done, and will continue to do - go to school. And I will learn to deal with it. In the meantime, I'll try to prepare myself so when it's my son's turn next September, I won't be quite so close to a nervous breakdown.

Wish me...uh...her luck.

Pump up the jam...

Let me tell you how much I love this time of year... I LOVE IT! I love love love those juicy, fragrant little specimens we've come to know as strawberries. MMmmmmm strawberries - fragole - fresas - erdbeeren - morangos - Doesn't matter how you say it, they're sooooo yummy.

I've always made it a point to go strawberry picking toward the last week of June. Even as a teen, when most were way too cool to pick fruit out in the country, I'd put together a yearly excursion. More often than not, I'd only get one or two true-blue friends who only came along because they didn't want me to feel like a lonely berry-picking loser. I admit it, though - picking berries at 17 is kind of geeky.

Geeky or not, I still maintain the tradition. Now, however, my children outdo my level of excitement. "We're going berry picking" is met with whoops & clapping & jumping. Love it! I asked my parents to join my family this year at Applewood Farms in Stouffville & I can honestly say I felt truly happy. There's nothing like sitting in a strawberry field, surrounded by your family, with your mouth full of those sweet, luscious berries.

With our baskets & bellies full, we made our way home. While everyone snoozed around me, I went on to make jam. Am I nuts? No. I find it so rewarding & relaxing. Plus, there's nothing that comes even close to the quality of my jam on any grocery shelf. I hope I don't sound like a jam & jelly snob, but my preserves rock! Can't wait till peach season. Winona peach fest, here I come!!!