Really enjoyed your post about India and food. Two years ago I went to India for 15 days on a Rotary mission we spent our time modtly in Tamil Nadu down in the SE corner. Chennai was our main city but we ventured into many small villages farther south near the coast. Before we went we spent as much time as we could to prepare for the food side of the trip. Since I like very spicy food I truly enjoyed everything we ate in country. As a cook myself, I continue to employ Asian concepts in preparation and ingredients.

I was very impressed with the Hindu people. Very open and welcoming, uncaring about our own beliefs, accepting what we brought with us, nott rying to change our own way of thought, however different it was from theirs. their temples were mysterious and dark but commanding reverie, not unlike some Catholic cathedrals I’ve visited. while I am not very religious myself openly, the magnaminity of it all is appreciable.

then last year I had the opportinity to visit Honduras, agan for rotary, but this time it was to produce a video about a project there. The trip took me high into the mountains where the poor barely exist and we had an opportunity to witness a lifestyle as foreign as the language.

Both trips gave me a muchbroader viewpoint of life as we know it and an appreciation for all that we have here in our country. As you point though, our overabundance of everything and the way we take it all for granted is at times nearly disgusting. Since my two foreign experiences – and my wife’s discoveryof a wheat allergy – we have been cooking and eating differently. I try to shop locally as possible and nearly all out foods are from scratch.

By the way, I have developed cooking lessons for the gluten-free lifestyle and have done some teaching on the subject. Last fall I had an 8-session course on GF cooking at JVS. I now am searching for a venue to do it more intimately, such as in people’s homes – or in local churches. If you think this might on some way meld with your church and its needs I would be honored to offer such classes for your folks. the cost per person per class would only be about $15 and each would not only learn but also have an opportunity to cook as well. Let me know if you have any interest.

It would be terrific to see you again also. I hear you are back in the Methodist world – Presbyterians too much for you, eh?

Greg’s perspective makes more of a supporting argument for those complaining about the high cost of gas than giving a better “perspective”.

For one, gas cost twice as much on average when adjusted.
Another thing is he’s saying we’d need to settle for an underpowered Fiesta to benefit of paying less per mile. Nearly any 1970′s era car would offer better performance (0-60, 1/4mi time) and be more fun to drive than today’s Fiesta.

What I remember is how amazing it was to buy gas back in the late ’90s for $1 a gallon. That’s what makes today’s price stick so frightening.