Stuff Brian Says...The Rice Cooker

What is your "Rice Cooker"?

Most of you who know Brian, know that a lot of stuff Brian says comes out in a confusing jumble, resulting in something adorably funny. His ADD and verbal dyslexia bring a whole new perspective on things. Conversations often go something like this:
Brian: "Did you go to I really want to go backpacking."
Deanna: "I'm going to the store tomorrow, do you want me to get you anything."
Brian: "I think it's getting better, I'm gonna try to run Mt. Sinitas three times tomorrow."

Interpreting Brian talk is like knowing a second language. So when I said to him, "I really think I was meant to come to Boulder. I have learned so much about food since I came here," I thought he was giving me another discombobled answer when he replied, "It's your rice cooker."

I stopped for a second because my Brian translator seemed to have been deactivated. Rice cooker, what??? Then I realized, Brian actually just communicated something very profound in one cohesive sentence. It all goes back to a couple weeks ago when Brian was making his bi-weekly batch of quinoa to pack away for his lunches. He was asking me which pot I thought would be big enough, and I said to him, "Why don't you just use the rice cooker?" He didn't respond and made the quinoa in a regular pot, which turned out to be a bit too small and boiled over.

Later that week Brian was out of quinoa and was about to embark on his messy and time consuming quinoa-making ritual, when I said to him again, "Why don't you just use the rice cooker? It is so much easier; you just turn it on and walk away." He said he didn't know where it was. I pointed to the cabinet it was in. He seemed agitated and said, "I don't know how to use it so I'll just use the pot." Realizing he would need me to do it for him, I got out the rice cooker, with much unnecessary attitude and impatience, and showed him exactly how to use it. This simply entailed putting quinoa and water in pot, covering with the lid, turning dial to cook, and walking away. After seeing how easy it was, Brian explained how he just needed someone to show him because the thought of using a new appliance seemed intimidating and too much of a hassle for rushed weeknight chores.

Tonight, Brian's profound analogy reminded me that I have a lot of rice cookers in my life. There are many things I want to try, but I push off, and often do things the hard way instead, because I am too scared or lazy or intimidated to try a new way. Since I found out I had celiac disease, people have been telling me I should open up my own gluten free restaurant or make my own gluten free products. That started back before gluten free became trendy. Boy, I wish I hadn't been so scared of the rice cooker then, because I could have been bringin' in the dough. But no, even though I have always secretly wanted to do just as people suggested, I've been too intimidated, lazy, and scared to try it out. I just needed someone to show me how to use the rice cooker.

While it is no secret to my close friends and family, I have not been happy in Boulder. I miss San Diego so much it physically hurts. But, at the same time, I am SO grateful for trying something new and unknown. Boulder has taught me how to use my own rice cooker, by introducing me to an intense world of natural foods and gluten free mania! It is like the trendiest thing ever here to be gluten free....so weird...but I am enjoying the perks of having gluten free restaurants and products every where I look. I needed to be exposed to this world of good food so that I wouldn't be so afraid of making it myself.

Since coming here just shy of three months ago, I have taken a course in preparing foods for Healing Diets, I have interned with a nutritionist, I have worked as a rep sampling natural food products, and I have created this blog. Every trip to the natural food store (which there are so many of) or the farmer's market is like a research expedition. I study ingredient labels, I ask the vendors how they made their products, I go home and research the health benefits and preparation instructions for various foods. It has been a nonstop learning experience.

And now that Boulder has shown me how to use the rice cooker, I have been experimenting and practicing daily. While Brian enjoys his usual healthy dinners, I have also been making all types of dips and spreads, and concocting power foods for Brian's running, and making heart healthy granola bars for my Dad, and creating less guilty but still delicious desserts, and making everything I possibly can from scratch. I've tried two different fasts/cleanses, and I've learned a lot about preparing vegan foods thanks to Brian testing out this new way of eating.

While I type this I have going in the dehydrator: energy-loaded power bars for Brian's Boston Marathon trip, heart healthy cookies for my dad, rosemary chamomile crackers for stress reduction, and mint carob macaroons for my coconut-loving buddy. Plus, I just finished making beet, walnut, broccoli salad wraps with homemade dressing and homemade corn chips for dinner and almond butter teff cookie bars made with homemade almond butter and almond milk for dessert. These are all things I never would have had the courage to try making before coming here. Sure, plenty of experiments have gone wrong, but having been exposed to a world of healthy foods that go right, I now have the confidence to keep trying, and soon I will open up my gluten free foods business.

So, yes Brian, Boulder has been my "rice cooker". And after a little exposure, help, and guidance from many sources, I now feel confident and ready to make some rice!

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