Two New Books

During our recent celebration we received two interesting books, each with an entirely different focus. Both them provided us with enjoyable and very informative reading during the Holy Week, outside of course from the religious stuff we had.

A close friend gifted us with “Diabetes Cooking for Everyone.” The everyone, to her mind, must have included us, although we are non-diabetic. It could be a precautionary token for us, or it could be meant for us to spread the ideal diets for people suffering from the disease. Whatever the intention, we got many pointers and we read through the voluminous soft cover book.

It is authored by award-winning Carol Gelles, a trained nutritionist who suffers from diabetes type 2. She cautioned, however, that before getting into a serious diet one must consult a nutritionist or physician. Like the modern theory on eating, Gelles says any food is acceptable in a diabetic program as long as it has been calculated into daily allotted totals. Like instead of getting an 8-oz. hamburger, one must have only a 3-oz. piece. Quite good to satisfy a craving. With fruit juices and fruits, a diabetic can have less than one serving. The author’s  goal is to bring a broad range of full-flavored food into a diabetic’s meal. Quite reasonable.     

Take for instance Vegetable Tomato Soup, done in a short time to retain the veggies’ crispness; the French classic Coq au Vin, not done with the traditional bacon and butter but with chicken legs or thighs which have much flavor as well; the Roast Leg of Lamb, with the caveat that one needs to count the carbohydrates in the mint. This can be served with Boston Lettuce Salad or Pea Soup.

The second book we got was “Rizal’s True Love” by a descendant, Gemma Cruz Araneta. Most of the vignettes have been published in her column in a daily broadsheet. We were told in the past that Rizal’s favorite food was Chicken Tinola, and this book reveals more of his talents other than writing. Rizal was indeed ahead of his time. We never knew he did a water system in Dagupan while in exile and that he drew a map of Mindanao. We never learned how his mother, Doña Teodora Alonso y Realonda, was arrested and made to walk from Santa Cruz in Manila to Santa Cruz in Laguna by the cruel Spaniards. And believe it or not, Rizal also owned a barong Tagalog.

This book must awaken our  dormant patriotism, as it chronicles the many exploits not only of Rizal, but a group of Philippine heroes who so bravely struggled and fought for the country.

Now, can you guess what/who Rizal’s true love is? We did, but we are not saying.

Enjoy our country. Help it become great – again.

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