Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, November 12, 2016

8

FOOD AND DRINK

Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 12, 2016 

Julie’s Favorite Family Recipes

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com

IT’S TIME FOR DESSERT

Dessert before dinner? Why not? I have said 
many times in our teachings here that if you 
like it, buy it. Over the holidays I hosted a wine 
seminar at the Whole Foods in East Pasadena. 
Our list of wines included champagne, sangria, 
chardonnay, and a petite sirah, with price points 
ranging from $10 to $50 (yes, that was the 
Taittinger Champagne). To my pleasant surprise 
the hit of the tastings was a 2010 Petite Sirah from 
San Simeon Winery.

 If you recall last weeks article on “fruit forward” 
and “jammy”, a petite sirah is often 
a perfect starter wine for those just 
learning about wines, or those who 
might want an alternative to cabernet. 
Prices can range from $8 to $30 for 
a bottle. At $18 for the San Simeon 
Sirah, this Orange County Fair gold 
medal winner is a great value in my 
book. It is indeed a bit jammy, but 
that is perfectly acceptable with 
grapes that are aged well. Petite 
sirah grapes were first introduced 
in France in the 1800’s, but really 
never caught on partly due to the 
high humidity in Rhone. Here in 
California we have a drier climate so, 
much like the chardonnay grape, the petite sirah 
has thrived. Originally, petite sirah was paired 
with zinfandel grapes to tone down that “jammy” 
effect. Winemaker Anthony Riboli explains that 
they were able to capitalize on the small grapes’ 
high skin-to-juice ratio and make an exceptional 
wine on it’s own merit without needing to be 
blended. This critic agrees - I think that this San 
Simeon treasure is especially appreciated during 
the winter and will go great with a beef stew or a 
spicy bowl of chili with or without beans. 

 This weeks wine term: Tannins. Think of 
tannins as how the wine lies on or grips your 
tongue. Smooth? Rough? Neutral? Bitter? In 
layman’s terms, it’s “pucker power”. Let’s hope it’s 
not the last one, bitter, that wouldn’t be good.

 San Simeon Petite Sirah 2010 - Available at 
Mission Liquor and Vons stores throughout the 
San Gabriel Valley and beyond.

Dills Score: 90

Closure: Corked

Listen to Dining with Dills KLAA AM 830 Radio 
Saturdays at 5 PM www.peterdills.com

PAULA DEAN PUMPKIN BARS: 

INGREDIENTS
4 eggs
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
15 -ounce can pumpkin
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
Icing:
8 -ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 
Using an electric mixer at medium speed, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and 
fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients 
to the pumpkin mixture and mix at low speed until thoroughly combined and the batter is smooth. 
Spread the batter into a greased 13 by 10-inch baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely 
before frosting. Cut into bars. 
To make the icing: Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer 
until smooth. Add the sugar and mix at low speed until combined. Stir in the vanilla and mix again. 
Spread on cooled pumpkin bars.


HEALTHY LIFESTYLES


THE JOY OF YOGA


RESIST NEGATIVITY

Do you remember 
the “like attracts 
like” principle? 
It illustrates the 
idea that the 
more energy and 
thought we put 
into something, the more it will grow. Also, the longer 
we are in that place or state of mind, the greater the 
tendency is to stay there. It becomes comfortable. 

 This applies to thought patterns and habits, or 
even optimism and negativity. Gandhi illustrates this 
point of view eloquently: “Your beliefs become your 
thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your 
words become your actions, your actions become 
your habits, your habits become your values, your 
values become your destiny.” In other words, “like 
attracts like.” So, how then do we change course and 
step off the flow of negativity? 

 First, the realization of the power of choice must 
come into awareness. No one, no circumstance, no 
external structure has power over our lives and inner 
peace. Higher values of love, compassion, tolerance, 
and universal connection with one another are the 
guiding force by which we soothe fear. To take the 
fuse out of fear, truthfulness (honesty), or satya must 
be present. 

 Second, after becoming aware and acknowledging 
the feeling of fear or the train of thought of negativity, 
cultivate the opposite. Optimism and love are the 
antidotes to overcoming negativity. Even doing this 
begrudgingly will call upon those higher principles 
when we act in our higher selves. 

 This process will lead us into the spirit of open-
mindedness. This process is one of the core reasons 
why yoga benefits the world. The world has enough 
pain and negativity. Yoga cultivates compassion and 
tolerance –for everyone- and that means everyone! 
Each one of us is experiencing the human condition 
together. Any actions I take affect not only others but 
myself as well by creating my own internal suffering 
from living in a negative frame of mind. Resist and 
defeat negativity with hope and a positive attitude. 

 Knowing all of this, my yoga practice, meditation, 
and a practice of loving-kindness feel more important 
than ever. 

Namaste, Keely Totten

 
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