As I am reflecting back on this past year and looking toward 2016, my thoughts keep coming back to Carly Simon’s song “These are the good old days…”
It may sound corny and perhaps even trite but I take this message quite literally. Twenty years from now, we will be reminiscing of these times, these days we are living now and I want to live them fully cognizant of how meaningful they are, right now.
From left to right: Rebecca, Valerie with Zouzou on her lap, David with Bramble on his lap, me, Natalia, Gabe and Corinda. Bottom row is Cassius (Rebecca’s baby) and Barli.
Troubadour (Tru) eating grass a few days after recovering from emergency surgery
What this means to me personally is just to keep cherishing my family with all the wonderful people and furry friends in it, including our magnificent horse, Troubadour, whom we almost lost on Christmas eve. Thankfully, he is recovering well now. Everyone is healthy and well and I just want to revel in that and not take it for granted!
What this means for Cuisinicity is that I not only want to keep doing what I have been doing for my loved ones and for all of you, but I also want to pay it forward to our beautiful planet even more mindfully than I already have. I was particularly impacted by the “Finding Common Ground” summit held in Boston earlier in the year (I reported back on it here) that emphasized the importance of sustainability to our health, both personal and global, and to the future of our kids.
My new year’s resolution is to contribute to the sustainability of our environment and to the well-being of other species by creating even more plant-based recipes. In that spirit, I have expanded my repertoire of dishes and added a new Vegan category to my Recipe index on Cuisinicity.
My goal is to create a new line of wholesome vegan cuisine with a French Cuisinicity twist.
It is no small task of course, and it is a work in progress. I find it more challenging because it is newer to me… but I am learning! It has already paid off as it resulted in my creating a dessert that I consider one of the highlights of my Cuisinicity recipes over the last 20 years: my Crème au Chocolat which does without the heavy cream and eggs that it typically requires, without compromising its rich taste. It is the perfect marriage of Delicious and Nutritious and now I can proudly add to that…sustainable!
I recently created a Vegan Burger that I think will also satisfy even the more carnivorous among us! If you love Moroccan flavors, you will delight in my new Moroccan Tagine. I am currently perfecting a recipe for French Crêpes (savory and sweet) that will open up a whole range of delicious vegan options to add to my repertoire, so stay tuned! I just created a Mediterranean Barley Stew which I still have to write up for you, but you can already get a sense from this little video clip of me cooking it in my kitchen to see if you’ll like (love) it! Of course, I have many more recipes that I already had created over the years that you’ll just have to find for yourself in my Vegan recipe index or throughout the website as I am in the process of identifying them myself!
This year, 2016, there will be no “New Year-New Me”! Rather this new year will find me embracing the good old me and us. It will also find me trying to make whatever small contribution I can toward a brighter more secure future for our planet and for our kids!
I hope you will join me in this path, in whatever way you wish. My job will be to make it that much more enticing for you. I think I am up to the challenge!
Have a happy healthy new year, from my family to yours!
love,
Dear Catherine,
since many months I am following your delicious Cuisinicity! Today it’s the best time to say:” Thank you so much! For your generosity and your wonderful humour! I live with my family in a small village in the south of Bavaria. I read an interview with your husband in our magazin “Die Zeit”. I searched for some more informations- and found YOU! You were my greatest discovery in the year 2015!…your recipes are so welcom in our kitchen. My English is not very good, therefore your videos are so helpful!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Special greetings to your son! My boys like the videos with Gabe! And we all love Barli! Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family!
Lilianne
Sehr Lilianne!
Thank you so much for your wonderful note! I am so touched by it! Your beautiful words went right to my heart! I can’t believe I get to speak to you from my kitchen all the way to yours in your little village in Bavaria. It makes it so special and fills me with joy! Gabe (and Barli!) will love to hear that your boys like the videos where he (and she!) appears! Did they also see our “unjunk yourself” videos with Gabe and his sisters? I think they would love those too!
https://cuisinicity.com/unjunk-yourself/
https://cuisinicity.com/i-am-an-animal/
Again, my heartfelt thanks for your lovely note, it makes it all worthwhile!
I wish you and your family a happy new year!
sincerely,
Catherine
Happy New Year! Thank you for sharing your family news, especially touched by Troubadour … horses always suck me in … all those years of riding – my Dad claiming that I grew up with 6 legs!
So happy to see so many people on the same page of healthy living, makes me feel hopefull for the critical mass actual coming into being for a Healthy & Supportive Planet. The Team is getting Bigger!
I Just thought I’d share a happy accident for your recipes. I was attempting to make Potato Latkes, when I discovered “no potatoes” Here is the compromise …. look what is in the fridge & garden.
Sweet Potatoes peeled & grated/Leeks very thinly sliced into rounds/finely chopped parsley & chives from garden/ eggs (recommendation was just the whites… I used whole eggs, but did make it a bit runny)/ 2 Tablespoons of corn starch (used another flour to bind) & salt & pepper
Mix all ingredients use favourite oil/butter mix to fry patties made from 2 Tbsp. of mix (might have to squeeze out excess liquid) flatten with spatula & cook 3 minutes on a side until browned. The sweet & savoury was a wonderful combination served with a salad. It looked great on the plate too!
The original recipe was with potato & parsnip grated, but mine was a huge hit. The new one would be great for kids, as they might not like parsnip.
Catherine, I know with your talent you will come up with great proportions … I am a seat of the pants cook & just throw things in until it tastes or seems right. Looking forward to what you put in front of us in the future. All the Best! Krystyna 😉
p.s. give Troubadour a pat from me 😉
Happy New Year! I am looking forward to the new vegan category. I’m focusing on transitioning to a heavily plant based diet. Your website is such a great resource.
Laura
Yikes what happened to Troubadour? Hope he’s okay. It’s such a pleasure making your recipes that are so absolutely delicious and now, even more nutritious. Looking forward to learning more from you in 2016.
Hi Donna!
Troubadour had to have emergency surgery for colic on Christmas eve and we didn’t know if he was going to make it. Thankfully, all is well that ends well and he is now back at his home stable, happily eating his carrots again!!! Thank you so much for asking!
love,
Catherine
Bullseye, Katherine! Just what the Doctor ordered!
Have been following since your website launch, and have struggled with what I perceived as a disconnect with your husband’s message.
As a member of ACLM and an active participant, I look forward to this “path” you are embarking on, and helping us work through the barriers and challenges we all encounter, along with the powerful voice of David. Happy New Year!
Thank you Daniel! I am delighted to have you join us at the Katz Cuisinicity table…finally! There has never been a disconnect! David and our family have enjoyed a Mediterranean diet over all these years–mostly plants, but also including some fish/seafood and some poultry. We are just going toward an even more sustainable diet that is gentler to the planet in all the ways that we can and we are doing it hand in hand, as always! 🙂
Wonderful news! One of my 2016 culinary plans is to find or develop a couple of vegan dinners that my husband will love. He is happy with beans and grains, but loves his cheese with both. I’m thrilled to know I will have your help! Thanks in advance, and
Happy New Year to you and your family.
That’s great Jackie! I am with you!
Happy New Year Catherine. I look forward to your creations! I am an older parent with a 14 year old son and it is important to me to do all that I can to leave a happy healthy planet behind for him.
Absolutely Barbara! I feel exactly the same way! In fact, we are thinking to make our next “unjunk yourself” video for teens to be about sustainability in a way that will matter to them, so that too is in the works this year! 🙂
I’m so excited by the path you have chosen for 2016! If your vegan burger is an indication, you will be making a uniquely wonderful contribution to plant-based cuisine. I love the wholesome ingredients you use, and the fact that I can often make your recipes with mostly zero-waste ingredients. I am not living waste-bin-free, but it something I strive for and never quite reach absolute zero.
Thank you so much Linda! I am truly honored to hear that because I really value your opinion. I would love to take you up on your offer to be a kitchen tester for my new vegan recipes. That would be fantastic!! Have you tried my petits pots de Crème au Chocolat yet? https://cuisinicity.com/baked-chocolate-custard/
Happy New Year! I look forward to cooking with you in 2016 and I join your embrace of this delicate planet we all live and love on – Blessings – Greg
I do too Greg!! A happy healthy sustainable new year to you and your family too!
love-Catherine