First Press

The book got its first bit of press this week. First in Health Magazine, the online version. Actually, technically, I suppose I should say it's a blog under the auspices of Health.com. Oh, whatever, press is press. And it's exciting. I like the way the interviewer, Shaun Chavis, strikes a note between humor and utility, just like the book. And, best part, Shaun is a graduate of the same culinary "camp" that I attended too many years ago at Boston University. She didn't burn Jacques Pepin's turkey fricassee, I bet, but we can't all get the same lessons out of school.... Also this week, Chicago Magazine mentions the book in its round-up of things-to-do/foods-to-eat in the Chicagoland area. According to the round-up, one thing to do is go to the bathroom... That should be on all round-ups every day...

Hey, look, I'm part of a trend. This week a book called CURE CONSTIPATION NOW published. It's by a doctor, so prepare for more clinical info than what you'll find in the Un-Constipated Gourmet. (Dare I come up with an acronym so I don't have to type out my title every time? TUG. Oh, that's brilliant. TUG.) Prepare for a 3-step solution from Dr. Jones, the author of Cure Constipation Now. I haven't seen the book, but I love its timing. I'll endorse it just because it came out the same week as mine.

I've taken Taos. My spy in Taos, NM -- a child-hood friend who finds it funny when men, particularly my husband, sniff the interior of her new cowboy boots -- tells me that folks in her hometown of Taos are clamoring for the book. I wonder if this is a Southwest phenomenon? I mean, maybe it's so dry down there that dehydration is contributing to sluggish guts? What if my book turns out to be the #1 bestseller in our American desert lands? Wow. I'm getting a Napoleanic complex (the taking over the world complex...not the short man's complex) just thinking about it.

I was so happy to see my friend and client, Tea, writing about the merits of rhubarb on her blog, http://teaandcookies.blogspot.com/2009/05/rhubarb-revelation.html . My favorite line in her post: "Rhubarb is a flirt of spring, the first pink thing to emerge from the earth. It seems half fruit, half vegetable. A promise of what is to come." A promise, indeed. I know Tara wasn't talking about the promise of a visit to the potty. But her words could certainly be read that way, especially if you're me and always thinking about the call to duty that certain fruits and veggies do promise. And rhubarb IS a special friend to those in need of a kick in the pants. Tea provides a great recipe for rhubarb compote in this particular post. I have a similar recipe in the book, but Tea's may just be better. She adds vanilla bean. Brilliant.

Book have arrived!

I received my copies of the book. Twenty-five landed on my doorstep Saturday, and I've already mailed out 20 of them. Now I'm getting calls from recipients, who're saying things like:
1. Thank god! My children have been living on fiber bars and we've been desperate for food alternatives that "work"
2. My Uncle Saul is going to love this. The denizens of his retirement community will stand in line for hours to get a copy.
3. Why aren't there any pictures (that's my parents rxn)?!

I've got to try homemade granola bars

My husband and I caught an episode of Alton Brown (of Good Eats fame) the other night; he was making homemade granola bars, showing viewers how easy they are to prep and bake, how low in calories and additives they can be if made at home, how easy they are to freeze and have handy for any occasion. He didn't list "slow guts" as one of those occasions, but he could have. I haven't tried the recipe yet, but I'm going to the next time I have an hour to spare. Here's a link to it http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/granola-bars-recipe/index.html . I'm kicking myself for not including a granola bar recipe in the book. I've got granola and granola cookies, but no granola bars. All that aside, Alton Brown is a stitch. I've been waiting for a foodie character to emerge whose got the clout and cahones to takes the piss out of the "high art" of cooking. He comes close.

book is in the warehouse

For whatever reason, I've been incapable of updating this blog until today: the day I learned that my book is in the publisher's warehouse. A catalyzing bit of news. For those of you unfamiliar with publishing, the arrival of books to a publisher's warehouse marks the birth of a book. It's not officially "out," (in the cotillion sense) but it's officially alive, breathing, and my publicist emailed today to get a list of my "big mouth" friends, so she could send them advanced copies. I'm a beaming, proud parent. Now I just have to embrace the fact that I'm the beaming proud parent of a book on this particular topic. But I remind myself: it's a public service (a doctor I interviewed told me so). Why? Because if millions of folks read this book instead of visiting their doctors, and the irregularity problem is solved through a little creative cooking, then I (we) have saved the health care institution millions of dollars. Yahoozee. Let the savings begin...(in about two weeks when books arrive in stores).