Meet Craig, aka “Ivanna Beat Breast Cancer”
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I agree, there are some stinkers in this world. But there sure are an awful lot of good people.
I met Craig Shniderman—one of the good ones—while working on the Fix-It and Forget-It PINK Cookbook, because he is Executive Director of Food & Friends in Washington, D.C. That outfit makes 1.3 million meals each year, and then delivers them to persons who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer and to others with HIV/AIDS, all of them in the greater Washington area.
“Of course,” says Craig, “we don’t just feed the women. Most of them have children—many are single moms—so we provide food for their kids, too. We want these people to know that they are not alone, that we’re on their team.”
This guy does not just sit behind his desk. He’s at the Washington, D.C. Avon Walk each year because he can’t bear to miss it. He’s got two favorite things about that event:
● “I love the Walk’s Opening Ceremony, which happens before sunrise. It’s dark. We’re all a little worried about making it through to the end. Each of us feels alone, and yet we know, too, that we’re part of a group. We’re each filled with expectations, with worry, with a sense of opportunity. And then you find strengths—and weaknesses—within yourself that you didn’t know you had as you move along in the Walk. The Walk is kind of a metaphor for having been diagnosed with breast cancer.”
● This man, who loves the outdoors and is an enthusiastic hunter, dresses in drag for one day of the Washington Avon Walk. He goes as “Ivanna Beat Breast Cancer.”
“I figured I could be part of the entertainment,” he says. “Humor can usefully intervene where there’s stress, fatigue, and big life challenges.”
Meet Craig in the Fix-It and Forget-It PINK Cookbook! And don’t miss two of his favorite recipes in the book. Here’s the Pink Sugar Cookies recipe, with this word from Craig about them: “Our staff at Food & Friends makes between 5,000 and 6,000 of these for the Washington, D.C. Avon Walk. Chef Devine developed the recipe especially for this event, and we give them to all of the walkers and staff during those days.”
Make them, and think of hope and helping others!
Makes 2 dozen cookies
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Baking Time: 8-10 minutes for each baking sheet
2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
2 tsp. red food coloring
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Cream butter and sugar until well blended.
3. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Mix until well blended.
4. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl.
5. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until fully incorporated.
6. Stir in food coloring until well blended.
7. Drop by heaping teaspoonsful onto parchment-paper-covered baking sheet.
8. Bake 8-10 minutes.
Where can I find statistics on the success of different
cancer treatments?