Column

“The butler did it!” How many times have we heard this while watching a mystery of some kind, but it is almost never the butler. Most of us never had the luxury of being attended to by a butler, but we know of quite a few. Let’s test our memories about “gentlemen’s gentlemen”.

1. He is probably the most famous Butler in local sports history and played center field for the Giants against the A’s in the 1989 World Series. Who was he?

2. The most famous manservant in literary history was Jeeves, the British butler for playboy Bertie Wooster in the 20s and 30s. Who wrote the books?

3. Jeeves was a successful BBC series in the 90s. It starred Steven Fry as Jeeves. The actor who played Bertie Wooster went on to star in a medical series in the US for eight seasons very successfully. Who is he?

4. On “Seinfeld,” George Costanzo, while thinking he is a TV writer, concocts a situation where a judge orders a defendant to serve as a butler for not being able to pay for damages. What had this defendant done?

5. This year, “Lee Daniels The Butler” was a box office hit depicting the career of a White House manservant serving famous US Presidents of the latter part of the 1900s. Who played Dwight Eisenhower in the movie?

6. The most famous Butler of them all was Rhett Butler, who loved Scarlett O’Hara for most of the novel “Gone With The Wind.” However, until it was too late, Scarlett loved the Southern dandy down the road. Who was he?

 

 

 

 

 

In the Chinese calendar and astrological tables, 2014 is the Year of the Horse. According to those who believe in such things, all people have specific predilections and tendencies towards greater or lesser degrees of luck, as the outcome of events is, to a large degree, determined by when and under which astrological sign, a person is born.

While I would guess that ninety-eight percent of people, if asked, would say that they make important decisions and choices based on logic or thoughtful analysis, I would also say that most also believe in luck. If that’s not the case, then how is it that California collects nearly $2 billion per year from its citizens by selling lottery tickets?  Why are Indian gaming casinos—which seem to be popping up all over the state—more popular than ever?

Do you believe in luck? Do you have a lucky number, or a superstitious tradition or ritual that you employ (or perhaps just think about) before you make an important decision or choice? Be honest. If you’re familiar with the Budweiser beer commercial that ends with the line: “It’s only weird if it doesn’t work,” you can believe what marketing research has discovered—that the same 98% that profess to employ logic when it comes to important decisions, also “knock on wood” before they make them.

Of course, some people make their own luck, as they are the ones who define it as: “The intersection, where and when opportunity and preparedness meet.”

Liz Hendrix, is just such a person, and in this issue of ALIVE (see Robin Fahr’s interview on page 24  ) you will learn about how this United States Dressage Federation (USDF) gold medalist, 4^th level certified instructor, and internationally known horse trainer and seller, was at the top of her career when she was suddenly and unexpectedly struck with a life-altering disease that made it uncomfortable to be outdoors. That’s quite a restriction when your entire career revolves around horses, but with the discipline of a champion, Hendrix got back on a horse of a different color, to write and illustrate a wonderful children’s book; Angel and Evie: Catching a Unicorn.

So, go ahead and believe in luck, but be sure to remember to focus on making your own when it comes to things that matter most. Like Liz, you’ll then be one of those people who really do make lemonade out of lemons… who then sell that lemonade to the same people buying the lottery tickets!

 

Ever hear yourself saying, “I know I shouldn’t eat all these salty chips right now…but tomorrow I’ll eat light”? Or this one, “I’m too tired to exercise today…but I’ll walk an extra half-mile tomorrow.” Or this tried-and-true excuse: “I worked hard today and deserve to relax in front of the TV and eat this ice cream with a few cookies—after all, tomorrow is another day.”

Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.

I don’t know about you, but in my world, tomorrow is never today. Unfortunately, procrastinating and wishing we were thinner won’t lead us to lose any excess weight. If it did, we’d all be walking around at our healthiest weights. Wishing without creating a solid strategy is often referred to as magical thinking.

When magical thinking is combined with cravings for the wrong foods, unhealthy eating habits and a lack of exercise, it’s a surefire recipe to stay stuck and continue adding inches and pounds each year. Yikes!

The good news is, facing reality and getting on track TODAY is a great way to leave magical thinking and procrastination in the dust. And, having effective “tools in hand,” with a willingness to use them, is what propels us toward reaching our weight loss goals.

In my private practice, I offer solid strategies for people who are ready to trade in magical thinking for research-based weight loss tools. So, before we declare that we are simply unmotivated, “weak-willed dreamers,” let’s consider the fact that there may be some complex issues unconsciously driving our overeating impulses. Often, clients are surprised by what they learn about themselves in our sessions. In addition to focusing on releasing excess weight, we often explore how to:

• Stop using food in an attempt to manage emotions

• Track and celebrate progress toward small goals

• Uncover negative core beliefs

Early in my work with weight loss clients, I often ask, “Do you have any limiting core beliefs?” A core belief is a positive or negative perception you have about yourself. For example, a positive core belief would be that you feel attractive or competent. A negative core belief would be that you feel unattractive or incompetent.

Often, people struggling with negative core beliefs don’t believe that they deserve their successes—at a core level they feel like a failure. For this reason, deflecting compliments is a common response from people who carry a lot of negative core beliefs about themselves. Sadly, there’s simply no “intake port” to receive the positive information.

Unfortunately, negative core beliefs can keep us stuck in overeating cycles. These self-destructive cycles can perpetuate retaining extra weight and create a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. Eventually, unless interrupted, our limiting core beliefs can become self-fulfilling prophecies. Uncovering negative core beliefs can be a way to address our “unconscious self-sabotage.”

What I love about offering hypnotherapy is that, through deep relaxation, my clients have an opportunity to explore underlying issues that often sabotage their efforts in achieving goals. Exploring under the surface of a challenging issue and addressing the roots can be extremely productive. As illustrated by many of my clients’ successes, unhealthy habits often lose their power when unconscious issues are brought into the light where conscious understanding and integration can take place.

Finally, why not step onto a path of action TODAY—rather than tomorrow? Call me if you’d like leading-edge tools and a “power partner” for your exciting journey toward reaching your weight loss goals. After all, isn’t it time to leave “magical thinking” and procrastination in the dust…and claim the healthiest mind-body possible in 2014?

Join Trina and attend her upcoming Walnut Creek workshop for women and men: Managing Emotional and Compulsive Eating—John Muir Women’s Health Center: Tuesday, February 18, 6:30-8:30 pm. Cost: $40 (Includes Weight Loss: 2-CD set). Seats are limited—register today for this inspiring workshop: (925) 941-7900 option 3. For more info, go to www.TrinaSwerdlow.com & click on “Private Sessions & Workshops.”

Trina Swerdlow, BFA, CCHT, is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, an artist, and the author and illustrator of Stress Reduction Journal: Meditate and Journal Your Way to Better Health. Trina has a private practice in downtown Danville. You can reach her at: (925) 285.5759, or info@TrinaSwerdlow.com.

Certified Clinical Hypnotherapy services in California can be alternative or complementary to licensed healing arts, such as psychotherapy.

 

 

 

I have had a few people recently tell me they decorated their home over ten years ago and it is time for an update. In most cases an update means replacing a few pieces in the room to bring in a fresh look. Materials fade and wear out, wood finishes look used and muted, drapery styles go out of fashion. The start of the New Year is the perfect time to think about redecorating.

The Living Room is usually the room everyone sees first but it sometimes doesn’t get used very often.  Introducing a more current pop of color to your more neutral style furniture by updating throw pillows and accessories can do the trick. Another great place to start in the refreshing process is floral arrangements, as they are one of the first things to fade and look tired.  Next up is the Family Room, one of the rooms that is used the most. The sofa or sectional probably needs some TLC in the form of re-fluffing cushions, if the fabrics are still in good shape, or re-upholstery. If you are considering re-upholstery it can cut down on the cost of buying new if you select a well-priced fabric; something durable that can last another ten years. Purchasing new is a great option if the sofa is no longer comfortable, has seen better days and looks like it belongs in a college student’s first apartment! Investing in furniture is important and finding the right sofa is a key consideration.

Window treatments that have come loose from their drapery hooks or look dingy and faded from sunlight also need some updating. Sometimes the hardware can be saved if budget is a factor.  Rods can be cut and repositioned for a new look and design. Thinking outside the box, using a fun patterned fabric in a neutral room, and having fun with your redesign is what I want to see for 2014! When in doubt, ask a designer to create a design for you to get ideas flowing. We are familiar with all styles and can suggest the perfect application for your project.

I am so excited! Wait, really though…like tippy-toe-dancing-in-place with wavy-flappy hands excited!

By now you must realize I am a Danville native, which in general terms means that for the very longest of times, Danville was all I knew. Couldn’t wait to get out as a youth and couldn’t wait to get back as an adult. My travels took me much further and broader than I could even have dreamed from my bedroom in Sycamore, once I did have the opportunity to go.

My travels took me to Africa, Vietnam, Pakistan, Indonesia and India while I traversed the globe brining affordable healthcare to developing countries. While in each of these places I immersed myself in the culture and I ate the way they ate. Hence my love for pho, nyamachoma, padang, nihari, and biryani. And those loves do not go away. (Side note: this article may/should result in multiple google searches for terminology unknown as to enhance the readers’ experience.)

By and large, the best eating is Middle Eastern. The dishes are clean and bountiful and cater more to the vegetarian but waste none of the animal when used. They are colorful and flavorful and always seem to focus on community sharing or gatherings. I always leave a Middle Eastern table with that “right kind of full,” that I have spoken of in the past—never that greasy-gut, bowling-ball feeling that American food leaves me with.

This love affair with food is wonderful when you find yourself at a back alley hawker stand in faraway worlds, but what am I to do once I return to the fish bowl from which I came. These desires don’t just diminish, and sometimes I NEED dolmas.

Danville Market was the only place within 20 miles that I knew of where I could go to pick up true Middle Easter Groceries in which to make my own versions of classics at home, but the people there were so terribly rude. By now you know me to be a man of substance and while the store had so many things I wanted, I refused to go there on principal based on my third unsuccessful attempt. The owner clearly wasn’t happy to have me as his customer, so I was content to oblige…not happy. Content.

All of a sudden I need Tahini, and I need it now. I’ll just run in, grunt at the man, pay and go.

As I walk in, Malisa Meemari is making fresh coffee and looks up to smile and welcome me. This isn’t the Gargamel I was expecting. Then I hear the sounds of a jovial husband and wife (Morad and Minou) coming from behind the lunch counter. They are loudly welcoming me in with her hands full of fresh vegetation and his with a sword and spiced meat creating true kabob.

This isn’t the market I remember. The items on the shelves are the same. The kitchen looks the same. But there is no little dark cloud. The place is sunny, happy and full of positive energy. The inhabitants are elated to see me! TRULY elated to see me. I quickly ask if the store had changed owners. Why yes, it has!

The Meemaris (formally of the Kabob House in Walnut Creek) gave up 30 years of restaurant success for the quieter (we’ll see) life of grocery and counter. Daughters Malisa and Mahsa have taken their spots amid their busy lives to craft the lunch menu and help launch to day-to-day operations, and I have a place to shop again!

I got my tahini, and six other things I didn’t come in for. Shook all their hands. Was promised a wonderful hand-crafted meal by mom and floated to my car.

My Christmas has come early!

508 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville

925-820-2319

 

Is round better than flat? How can changing the curve of a roof line change the gender attraction of a vehicle? We will leave that question to the professional market research folks who conduct these studies. Well, the folks at Volkswagen did ask the question, performed the testing and determined that a more conservative roof curvature would help bring more men to purchase the Volkswagen Beetle.

Volkswagen redesigned the Beetle two years ago keeping the spirit alive, and created a more masculine profile noted by the lower roofline and a more upright windshield. The R-Line receives more aggressive bumpers and side sills plus appropriate badges. The overall lines are clean and smooth and flow as you would expect on a Beetle. An optional sunroof drapes blackened glass from the front windshield back over three-quarters of the roof adding a performance flare.

The 2014 Beetle is available in the following line up: 2.5L Coupe ($20,815), TDI Coupe ($25,015), R-Line Coupe($25,615), GSR Coupe ($30,815), 2.5L Convertible ($25,815), TDI Convertible ($29,315), R-Line Convertible ($29,815)

New for 2014 is the arrival of a new and more fuel efficient 1.8-liter turbocharged TSI 4-cylinder engine. This new engine will gradually replace the present 170-horsepower/2.5-liter naturally-aspirated 5-cylinder base engine in the Beetle. The 2.5L comes standard with a 5-speed manual transmission and is available with an optional 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic (manual shifting mode). The TDI, R-Line, and GSR are equipped with 6-speed automatic or an optional 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic.

My test model was the R-Line with Sunroof, Sound and Navigation. The interior was gray on gray with touches of silver trim including shiny rings around the air vents and speakers. The interior feels larger than it is and the controls for radio, navigation, and cooling and heating were easy to use. The seats were comfortable and had decent bolstering. The steering wheel allowed you to command the radio, Bluetooth, and cruise control with a touch of your finger. I really appreciate gadgets so I loved the push-button start and keyless entry. The headroom was excellent and the Beetle has usable back seats.

Performance and handling were impressive in the 2014 VW Beetle. The 2.5L 5-cylinder engine delivers 170 hp. The R-Line with its 2.0 turbocharged 4-cylinder ups the horsepower to 210. The TDI carries a 2.0L diesel turbocharged 4-cylinder and generates 140 hp.

Room for improvement:

• The seating position is a little too high

Cool Features:

• Push-button start
• AWD option

Safety on the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle includes airbags, Anti-Locking braking (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and more. The Beetle includes Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collisions.

In Summary – The 2014 Volkswagen Beetle with its recent redesign should attract a better mixture of the genders. It is fun to drive especially with the R-Line and its 2.0 turbocharged 4-cylinder. The interior provides a nice driving experience while the suspension grabs the road and adds to the excitement of the drive. Are you ready once again for flower power? Well, it could be a good time to reminisce!

Specifications

2014 Volkswagen Beetle R-Line w/Sunroof, Sound and Navigation

Base price:                  $31,095 as driven: $32,030 (including destination)

Engine:                         2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder

Horsepower:               210@ 5300 RPM

Torque:                        207 @ 1700 RPM

Transmission:           6-speed automatic with Tiptronic

Drive:                            Front-wheel Drive

Seating:                         4-passenger

Turning circle:          35.4 feet

Cargo space:               15.4 cubic feet

Curb weight:               3,056 pounds

Fuel capacity:             14.5 gallons

EPA mileage:              City 24/Hwy 30

Wheel Base:                100 inches

Warranty:                    3 years/36,000 miles powertrain limited

Also consider:            Ford Focus, Fiat 500L, Mazda MAZDA3, Mini Cooper Clubman,
Toyota Prius

 

 

In hockey circles the Sharks are often referred to as the best team never to win the Stanley Cup. In the past five seasons they’ve won the President’s Trophy for the best record in the league once and been to the conference finals twice without ever advancing to the Stanley Cup finals.

There is reason to believe that this year might be different. An infusion of young talent plus maybe a change in style have the Sharks off to an improved record. A year ago the Sharks were built around older, slower players like Ryan Clowe, and Douglas Murray. Now, they have been replaced by the younger and faster Tomas Hertl, Tommy Wingels, Justin Braun, and Tyler Kennedy.

So we have established that the Sharks are faster and younger, what else has changed? Off the Bench believes that the Sharks are tougher as well. Defenseman Brett Burns has moved to forward. He brings size (6-6, 240) and a defenseman’s toughness up front. Center Joe Pavelski has been dropped to the third line where he faces favorable matchups almost every game. His quickness works in his favor in his new position. Hertl has played at a Calder Trophy level in his role as the third member of the first line with Burns and Joe Thornton. Through December Hertl has played at a Calder Trophy level in his role as the third member of the first line with Burns and Joe Thornton. Through Dec. 31 he has 13 goals and 8 assists. Hertl has also contributed to Thornton leading the NHL in assists with 24.

Expectations were down for the Sharks going into this year. Experts have picked the Los Angeles Kings to win the Pacific Division and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks to win the conference and thereby represent the west in the Stanley Cup finals.Plus, the Sharks core is aging. Dan Boyle is 37, Thornton is 34 and Patrick Marleau is also 34. This makes for a bad play in the national press. So far this year those three have defied father time and have played up to their old levels.

Finally, Anti Niemi is at the top of his game in goal for the Sharks. He is covering both the low shots and the high. His backup, Alex Stalock, is a marked improvement over Thomas Greiss.

****

This will be the last Off the Bench, at least as written by me. It has been my pleasure to serve you since Alive began publishing. However, I moved to San Diego in June and I have found it increasingly difficult to maintain my involvement with Bay Area sports, even in the Internet age. I have found there is no substitute for being part of the conversation and participating directly. I hope you understand and share with me the joy I have felt writing for you.

Here’s to you, my readers, without whom there is no point in writing this column.

For many of us the New Year presents another opportunity to pursue new ideas, expand and improve on previous endeavors and set new goals in both personal and professional interests.

Some people make New Years resolution stating lofty and ambitious goals that they, in all good faith, want to achieve. Unfortunately, very few follow through with these idealistic dreams. Why not make a resolution that is easier to keep and has many redeeming values and life improving benefits?  Join a community music group – namely a band, orchestra or choral group.

Usually, you do not have to be an experienced musician. Many community music groups do not require previous experience but some do require experience, at least at the intermediate level. It’s easy to find out what level of experience is required – just ask the group representative.

Research studies have proven that participation in a music ensemble greatly enhances one’s life.  A few of the many benefits of playing or singing in a community group include self satisfaction, enhanced self worth and the pure enjoyment of making music with others. Lifelong friendships are a common element in being with others who share the same goals of making music together for self improvement, camaraderie and fun.

Bay area residents are very fortunate as there is a plethora of community music groups in the Tri-Valley. One can find a group usually in most communities. Enter “community music groups” on the internet and you will be surprised to find how many groups there are in your area.

There are groups for almost any musical interest you can name including: concert bands; jazz bands; rock bands; swing bands; orchestras, including small chamber groups and full symphony orchestras. Many churches have choirs open to members and nonmembers. There are community choruses of various sizes that present a variety of repertoire from classical to jazz and popular music. Below are just a few of these local groups.

Community Bands:

• Danville Community Band, www.danvilleband.org, Director, Robert Calonico
• Pleasanton Community Concert Band, www.pleasantonband.org, Director, Robert Williams
• Walnut Creek Concert Band, www.walnutcreek.org, Director, Harvey Benstein
• Contra Costa Wind Symphony, www.ccwindsymphony.org, Director, Dr. Duane Carroll
• San Ramon Symphonic Band, www.sanramonperformingarts.com, Director, Larry Colon
• East Bay Symphonic Band, www.eastbaysymphonicband.org, Director, Beverly Johnson
• Tracy Community Band, Face book, Director, Scott Lycan

Orchestras:

• Livermore-Amador Symphony Orchestra, www.livamsymph.org, Director, Arthur Barnes
• Diablo Symphony Orchestra, www.diablosymphony.org, Director, Matilda Hofman Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra, www.cccorch.org, Director, Timothy Smith
• Castro Valley Chamber Orchestra, www.cvorchestra.org. Director, Todd Wetherwax

Choral Groups

• Blackhawk Chorus, www.blackhawkchorus.com, Director, Diane Gilfether
• Valley Concert Chorale, www.valleyconcertchorale.org, Director, John Emory Bush
• Voices of Musica Sacra, www.vmschorus.org, Director, Mark Tuning
• Pride of the Pacific Chorus, wwwsingharmony.org,
• Women Sing, www.womensing.org, Director, Martin Benvenuto
• Rossmoor Choral Society, www.rossmoornews.net, Director, Frank Ryken

Playing music or singing with a group of friends is not only fun, creative and a rewarding way to spend time but more and more studies are showing the various health, social and general well being benefits of having music in your life.

“I had a good time playing again this year with the Danville Community Band at their Christmas Concert!” said, Norm Dea, director of instrumental music at Acalanes High School. “Huge Band with wonderful people enjoying each other and enjoying music making. Music education at its best and it does extend past high school and college!”

Making music can be a lifelong endeavor and it’s never too late to get started. Why not make 2014 a more fulfilling year by becoming part of a music group in your area? You’ll be glad you did. Have a very Happy New Year!

Don’t miss the Danville Community Band’s Annual Dinner Concert at the Diablo Country Club on Sunday, February 9, 2014. Contact the Diablo Country Club at 925-837-7040 for reservations. Seating is limited.

The Danville Community Band was founded by Dr. Lawrence Anderson and his wife, Jan in 2001 and quickly became the largest community band in the Bay Area. The band is currently directed by Professor, Robert Calonico, director of bands, at the University of California, Berkeley. The band currently has openings for percussion players.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net

Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.

 

Hmmm. Another year. Where did this last year go?  About Schmidt is the perfect example of a life lived year to year, paycheck to paycheck, never changing.

When insurance actuary Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) retires he pretty much believes his life is over but as the scene unfolds it’s clear that in many ways his life never started. Scene one has him sitting in his corner office, belongings all boxed up, briefcase in hand, waiting for the clock to hit 5:00 pm. As it strikes, he gets up, pushes his chair in, walks to the coat hanger and puts on his coat. His career at Woodman Insurance is done. Now what? At home he continues rising early and getting dressed up to find he has no place to go and a relationship with his wife that just isn’t working and maybe never did. Then she dies.

He finds himself never getting out of his pajamas and bathrobe, watching TV at random hours, dirty dishes everywhere. Late one night he encounters a “Save the Children” program and decides to sponsor a young Tanzanian boy. His solitary life is now one to share. Ndugu is favored with Warren’s monthly checks and his tale of woe. Warren’s therapy is pouring out his life to his young friend who probably can’t even read the letters.

Warren’s only daughter (Hope Davis) is living in another state, marrying a man (Dermot Mulroney) he can’t stand so he decides to get in the motorhome he and his wife purchased for retirement and head to Denver. He thinks that if he goes early enough for the wedding it will give him time to talk her out of marrying the guy. The wonderful Kathy Bates plays his daughters mother-in-law to be, a free spirit who sets her sites on the rigid Warren. If you don’t blink you may even get to see Kathy naked in the hot tub with Warren.

Writer-Director Alexander Payne’s has created a thought-provoking and often funny drama about isolation. Jack Nicholson is marvelous in this cuttingly funny, moving portrayal of a man searching for meaning in his unremarkable, unmemorable life. All in all, I really liked About Schmidt. There is a real lesson to be learned about living our lives on auto-pilot.

So, how is your search for significance coming along?  Do you have a handle on leaving some kind of legacy?  I’m not talking money, I’m talking influence. You can leave a major inheritance behind and have your heirs forget you the minute the money is gone, maybe before. What Warren was missing was living his life outside of himself…living with intentionality.

Ndugu saved Warren, Warren didn’t save Ndugu. The moment he wrote his first check, his life started to change. The size of his world changed. No longer was it the size of Omaha, it reached all the way to Tanzania.

I’m not saying you have to sponsor a child, although that is amazingly rewarding but there are unlimited opportunities, both large and small awaiting those who will step outside of their comfort zones. You have another new year just waiting for you to expand your borders. So, watch this thought provoking movie and start looking forward to an amazing New Year! As always, I enjoy your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A barely-discernible veil of powdered sugar still lingers on every surface of my kitchen. The wine closet has an alarming number of empty slots. The deli drawer in my refrigerator—once crammed with an enviable assortment of decadent triple-crème cheeses—now houses one teeny chunk of Parmesan.

It’s January. The Season of Excess has officially ended. The past six weeks were filled with good food—and much of it was reasonably healthy. At least, it started out healthy. It’s just all the other stuff I ate along with it that has transported me into The Land of Elastic Waistbands.

Sweet potatoes are a perfect example. From Thanksgiving forward, they played center-stage in many festive meals. And had I the fortitude to scrape away the gooey marshmallow topping, candied nuts, puddles of melted butter, and/or molten brown sugar, I would have been left with something quite nutritious.Maybe I’ll try that next year.

For now, fellow January dieters can rejoice that sweet potatoes are one of the few starchy vegetables that ranks low on the glycemic index. They are also high in vitamins and A, B6, C and D; and a good source of potassium, calcium, folate, magnesium, iron, and beta-carotene.

Sweet potatoes are born with paper-thin skin and a high ratio of starch to sugar. (They’re not terribly desirable at this stage.) Only after a designated period of climate-controlled storage does the skin thicken into a protective barrier, and the starch contained within convert to sugar—resulting in the sort of sweet potato we know and love.

Shopping at the farmers’ market ensures you are purchasing the best possible product at its peak of perfection. There you’ll find a wide assortment of sweet potato varieties, grown both organically and conventionally. Whichever you choose, they’re ready to bring home and steam, bake, boil, sauté, or microwave into maximum deliciousness. These farmers’ market sweeties have also been handled far less than their supermarket siblings, reducing the likeliness of bruising, soft spots, and subsequent rot.

Growers divide sweet potatoes into two basic categories: moist and dry. The moist ones—commonly called yams—have reddish skin and bright orange flesh that’s sweet and moist. They also have colorful names like Garnet and Jewel and Beauregard. This variety is now officially recognized as one of America’s top-ten “super-foods.” Which means: They rock.

The dry ones—often labeled generically as “sweet potatoes”—have golden skin and pale yellow flesh that isdrier and more bland than sweet, with a floury texture reminiscent of a baking potato.

For the best results, select small-to-medium sweet potatoes that feel heavy for their size. Farm-fresh sweet potatoes remain fresh for at least seven days when stored in a cool, dry cupboard. Do not store them in the refrigerator.

An unadorned sweet potato baked in its skin is a healthy, flavorful alternative to traditional white potatoes. On these cold days, however, nothing beats the comfort ofwarm soup—especially when it looks appetizing; delivers an unexpected kick; tastes rich and creamy, and yet contains only a smattering of fat. The following recipe provides all that in less than one hour, from start to finish.

I happen to enjoy the velvety texture of pureed soup, but feel free to skip that step if you consider it too fussy. Or if you want to get truly fancy, top each serving with a drizzle of sour cream and/or some chopped fresh cilantro. This soup freezes perfectly, so there’s no reason not to double the recipe.

Smoky Sweet Potato Soup

 

1 tablespoon olive oil or butter

1 small yellow onion, chopped

1 pound red-skinned sweet potatoes (about 2 medium or 3 small), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks

1 garlic clove, chopped

Fine sea salt

3 cups (24 ounces) chicken stock or low-salt chicken or vegetable broth

1 teaspoon finely chopped canned chipotle chile peppers in adobo sauce*(use only 1/2 teaspoon if you don’t care for spicy food)

3/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Juice of 1 lime, plus 1 more lime cut into wedges for serving

 

 

1. In a soup pot or large saucepan, warm the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Stir in the sweet potatoes, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and cook about 2 minutes longer. Pour in the stock,and stir in the chipotle, cumin, and paprika. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil; then reduce the heat to low and cook, partially covered, until the sweet potatoes are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Using a hand-held immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth. (Alternatively, let the soup cool to room temperature. Working in batches, puree in a blender until smooth; then return to the pot to re-heat.) Stir in the lime juice. Taste, adding more salt if needed. Serve hot, and pass the lime wedges at the table. Makes 4 cups.

*Chipotles are smoked jalapeño chiles. Small cans of chipotle peppers in spicy adobo sauce are available in Latin markets, or in the Mexican foods section of most supermarkets.Remove as many chiles as you need from the open can, and transfer the remaining chipotles and adobo sauce to a small jar with a tight-fitting lid. It will keep in the refrigerator indefinitely, so you’ll always have chipotles on hand to perk up your cooking.

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad and Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM, or visit their web site at www.pcfma.com. This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well.