Living to be 150, What to do with Plantains

Tonight, according to a TV ad is Barbara Walters special on aging, not according to the TV Guide in the paper and not according to the one on the net yesterday. OK, I did some more research and the programme airs at 10:00 p.m. I would love to know how to live to a healthy 150 even if not all my friends do so. I would just have to make new friends. As I have been doing that all my life it wouldn't be so big a problem. Here is a link to an article about the programme Live to 150 with a picture of Barbara aged 78 and Paul Newman at 83 with his racing car. For those of you who do not see Barbara Walters on TV, this is a picture of her at the Oscars not long ago. She is always smiling and very vivacious. She is also one of the top TV interviewers in North America and a big TV personality. You ain't anybody unless she has interviewed you!!!!

There is a woman where we bowl who is 94 and she bowls twice a week, goes line dancing and plays table tennis so her daughters tell me (they are on my team). Not a scrap of weight on her either, lucky woman.

I was reminded yesterday of a soup I haven't made for a while but which we enjoyed very much when I did. It was in Eating Well magazine in 1983.

Plantain Soup
Serves: 4

2 tsp olive oil
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
1 sml onion, finely chopped
1 lge carrot, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
5 cups chicken stock
2 green plantains, peeled and diced
6 tbs chopped fresh cilantro
1 tsp ground cumin
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions: In a large pan, heat oil over med heat. Add celery, onions, carrots and garlic. Saute for 3 to 4 mins or until softened. Add stock and bring to a boil. Add plantains, 4 tbs cilantro, the cumin and bay leaf. Return to a boil, reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer gently for 40 to 50 mins or until plantains very tender. Discard bay leaf.

Cool slightly and then blend. Return to heat if necessary and season. Garnish with remaining cilantro.

To peel a Plantain: With the tip of a sharp knife make two lengthwise slits through the skin, not piercing the flesh, along opposite sides of the fruit. Slip your thumbs under the skin and peel it off. Some people do this under cold running water to wash away the sticky juice inside.

Have a great day.