Saffron! Gold in a Jar - Travis County Medical Alliance

A Publication
of the
Travis County
Medical Alliance
March 2012
TCMA Board Members
President:Vickie Blumhagen
President-Elect:Lydia Soldano
Treasurer:Kylan Bunker
Treasurer-Elect:Tera Ferguson
Secretary:Lara Norris
Parliamentarian:Roberta Pazdral
Communications:Stephanie Trotter
Community Service:Amy Roberts
Community Serv-Elect:Julie Schlitt
Finance:Melissa Smith
Medical Affairs:Jennifer Clitheroe
Membership:Mari Josey
Membershipo-Elect:Loren Gigliotti
Programs:Elaine Agatston
Enrichment:Melissa Edgarton
***************
To report an illness,death or
birth in a medical family:
Wendy Kratzer at
wendykratzer@mac.com
To recruit a new member:
Mari Josey at
mari.josey@gmail.com
To ask about a meeting:
Elaine Agatston at
agatston@aol.com
To obtain legislative info:
Jennifer Clitheroe at
jclitheroe@austin.rr.com
To reach the President:
Vickie Blumhagen at
vblum@austin.rr.com
To report a change in address
information, or to submit news
for the Vital Signs: Pat Wallis at
patriciaawallis@gmail.com
General Membership Meeting
April 17, 2012
9:30 am
Umlauf Sculpture Garden
605 Robert E. Lee Road
Program: Grant Recipients
Volunteer of the Year Award
www.traviscountymedicalalliance.com

PRESIDENTʼS MESSAGE
Vickie Blumhagen, President, vblum@austin.rr.com
This yearʼs Diamond Disco Ball was one of the most successful
fundraisers TCMA has ever had! Thanks to Lara
Norris, our Dancing Queen/Gala Chair, and the Gala
Committee, everyone had a great evening and at the
same time raised over $44,000 (after expenses) for local
non-profit health related organizations. Who could forget
the Solid Gold-Tini, awesome food, disco dancing, amazing
silent auction and Dr. Jack Carsnerʼs disco attire!
Thanks to Melissa Smith, VP Financial Development,
$49,750 was raised in underwriting; this is a record for
TCMA!
Amy Roberts, Julie Schlitt, Berenice Craig and other
members of Community Service have been visiting local
non-profit health related organizations to explore the possibility
of adding new Community Service projects next
year. So far these new opportunities include projects at
St. Louise House, Peopleʼs Community Clinic and Austin
Relief Nursery.
Please be sure to attend this yearʼs Joint Installation on
March 29th at the Westin Hotel in the Domain. This is
when the TCMA and TCMS will install their new slates of
officers. TCMA will be installing the following officers for
2012-2013:
President Lydia Soldano
President-Elect Loren Gigliotti
Treasurer Tera Ferguson
Treasurer-Elect Christine Fenrich
Secretary Jeni Lowry
Parliamentarian Vickie Blumhagen
VP Community Service Julie Schlitt
VP Community Service-Elect Berenice Craig
VP Communications Amy Roberts
VP Financial Development Kimberly Chassey
VP Medical Affairs Yvonne Bailes
VP Membership Edie Finch
VP Membership-Elect Sahar Askew
VP Programs Lara Norris
VP Enrichment Tammy Moghadam
Donʼt forget to pay your dues if you havenʼt already! Itʼs
not too late to donate to this yearʼs Annual Fund Drive.
Thank you again for helping to enhance the health of
Central Texans through supporting TCMA special events,
community service and political action!
HEARTBEATS
THANK YOU to.......
Huge thank you to Lara Norris, Melissa Smith and
the Gala Committee (Roberta Pazdral, Lydia Soldano,
Edie Finch, Jennifer Carsner, Elaine Agatston,
Sahar Askew, Loren Gigliotti, Julie Schlitt,
Andrea Stovall and Vickie Blumhagen) for their
tireless work that went into making this yearʼs gala so
successful and fun.
Congratulations to Roberta Pazdral for winning the
disco ball huggie hoop earrings (1.65 carats of diamonds
valued at $3,300) donated by Duncan &
Boyd in the womenʼs raffle.
Congratulations to Dr. Steve Gigliotti for winning the
menʼs raffle and getting to ride in a Vintage World
War II Fighter Plane, donated by Texas Pro DJ and
valued at $1,500.
Special thanks to the TCMA Enrichment Groups who
donated silent auction baskets (and also to Marissa
Edgerton for coordinating these baskets), TCMA
members who donated use of their lake houses, and
to all the TCMA members who used their special
connections to donate amazing silent auction items.
Thanks so much to Cindy Nelson for working so
hard to put all the Gala silent auction items on the
TCMA web site!

THANK YOU TO OUR FUND DRIVE DONORS!
GOLD
Dr. Joseph & Yvonne Bailes
Vickie & Guy Blumhagen
Toni & Paul Burns
Julie & Rob Cowan—
In Honor of Harold Brumley
Beth & Bob Schlecter
ASSOCIATE
Kylan & Noah Bunker
Brian & Lori Dewan
Tera Ferguson & Douglas Rivera
Dr. & Mrs. Robert Foster
Loren & Steve Gigliotti
Paul Harford & Sandy Dunn
Michael & Beth Josephs
Stanley & Karen Kim
Boyd & Sherry Morgan
Dr. & Mrs. Matthew A. Roberts
Anthony & Lydia Soldano
Amy Roberts, mattamyroberts@mac.com
Keep Austin Healthy: Let's Get Physical!!
CONTRIBUTOR
Joe Annis
W.P. & Jennie Barnes
Pat & Margene Beckham
Drs. Carolyn Biebas & Donald Patrick
Dr. Sean & Cindy Blaydon
Jennifer & Jack Carsner
Jennifer & Scott Clitheroe
Byron & Mary Darby
In Memory of Lyle Koen
Dr. & Mrs. E. J. Eichler
Drs. Randy & Heather Fagin
Sherrie & Robert Frachtman
Charlotte & Sonny Haro, M.D.
Dr. & Mrs. David Hopkins
John & Catherine Jones
Mari & Robert Josey
Wendy & Shannon Kratzer
Sharon Kronberg
Dr. Dan & Lurleen Ladd
Laurence & Julie Ligon
Patty & Isaac Loose
COMMUNITY SERVICE 2012!
CONTRUBIUTOR
David & Ann McFarland
Tom & Kay McHorse
Ann & Hector Morales
David & Cindy Nelson
Robert & Lara Norris
Shelly & Erol Ozdil
Roberta & George Pazdral
Suzy Ingram Politz
Jim & Cheryl Robison
Susan & David Reue
Kathy & Kevin Shelly
Melissa Smith
Elizabeth Stuart
Karen Teneriello
Dr. & Mrs. Jerry Tindel
Ted & Patricia Wallis
Vicki & Jason Zagrodsky
OTHER
Dr. & Mrs. Eugene Schoch, Jr.
Kathy & Zoltan Trizna
Our organization has once again been asked to assist the Travis County Medical Society on two days
this spring when they will be providing physical exams to students in AISD. The dates and locations
are as follows (specific times will be available closer to the date):
Thursday, April 12th at Delco
and
Tuesday, April 17th at the Burger Center.
Mark your calendars and join us in this show of support of the medical society! Volunteers are
needed on both days to help run the clinic. Duties include welcoming patients, assisting with registration
and directing patients around the facility. Our volunteers do not participate in providing the physical
exams, so a medical background is not required. Please contact Keep Austin Health Chair Vicki
Zagrodzky by e-mail at vzag@austin.rr.com if you are able to help. If your physician spouse would
like to participate in administering physicals, please have him or her contact the Travis County Medical
Society directly.

DIAMOND DISCO BALL
The TCMA Diamond Disco Ball was a Glitz and Glamour filled affair! When the guests arrived, they walked
the red carpet and then up the grand staircase, out to the dance floor in the Crystal Ballroom. Everyone
seemed to love the Solid Gold-Tini's, sampling the treats in the Dessert Disco Inferno, and dancing the night
away to the groovy music of the disco era! Roberta Pazdral, our former TCMA President, was the lucky winner
of the Duncan and Boyd Diamond Earrings, and Loren Gigliotti's husband Steve was the winner of the
Vintage WWII Plane Ride!
I, Lara Norris, as the Gala Chair, had the honor to work with some fabulous ladies on the gala committee! I
would like to thank-- Vickie Blumhagen, Roberta Pazdral, Lydia Soldano, Edie Finch, Jennifer Carsner, Elaine
Agatston, Sahar Askew, Loren Gigliotti, Julia Schlitt, and Andrea Stovall. Special thanks to Melissa Smith
for her awesome Gala Underwriting efforts! We couldn't have done it without the great Silent Auction Checkout
Team of Kylan and Noah Bunker, Tera Ferguson, and Christina Fenrich. Also Cindy Nelson on the TCMA
Website, along with Pat Wallis helping with the Newsletter/E-mail Blasts was so appreciated! We could not
have had such a successful gala without each and every one of you!!
Diamond level
Clinical Pathology Associates
Travis County Medical Society
Austin Regional Clinic
Seton Family of Hospitals
St. Davidʼs Healthcare
Platinum Level
Austin Anesthesiology Group
Austin Gastroenterology
BMW of Austin
Capital Anesthesiology Association
St. Davidʼs Foundation
Austin Radiological Association
Austin and Georgetown Cancer Centers
Gold Sponsor
James Dooner MD, Austin Retina Associates
Sponsors for 2012 Gala
Silver Sponsor
Christopher Seeker MD, Austin Area OBGYN and Fertility
Dr. Phil and Mrs. Cecilia Collins
Texas Oculoplastic Consultants
TMA Insurance Trust
Frost Bank
Compass Bank
Westlake Dermatology
Eye Institute of Austin
Snyderma
Bronze Sponsor
Dr. Shannon and Mrs. Wendy Kratzer
Josh Schenck, Realty Austin
Capital Otolaryngology
Premier Gynecology
Wiseman Family Practice
Austin Diagnostic Clinic
Dr. Robert and Mrs. Lara Norris

Saffron! Gold in a Jar
No wonder saffron (the yellow-orange, dried stigmas from the purple crocus or crocus sativus, sometimes called the
saffron crocus) is the worldʼs most expensive spice. Each flower provides only three stigmas; these must be carefully
removed from the flower and then dried. This is an extremely
labor-intensive process as it takes over 14,000 of these tiny dried stigmas to make an ounce of saffron. Fortunately,
the flavor is quite intense and very little saffron goes a long way when flavoring food.
Speaking of flavor, what does saffron taste like and why would you want to use it? A friend confided to me recently
that she had absolutely no idea how to describe the flavor of saffron. A brief web search indicates that she is not
alone. Many people describe the taste as bitter-honey, earthy, hay-like, floral, gasoline and “crap”. I think it tastes
like a smoky, grassy, floral herb but, admittedly, I use saffron as much for color and that certain indescribable authenticity
in dishes such as paella as I do for flavor. Speaking of flavor: Never fry saffron quickly in hot fat. This is
not stir-fry seasoning. Saffron should be treated tenderly by blending it slowly into hot, liquid foods and allowing it to
infuse a stock or broth. Thatʼs how to get the most out of saffron.*
Winter isnʼt over yet and one of my favorite winter dishes is a poached fish in saffron-flavored broth. Itʼs easy,
quick, and beautiful.
Poached Fish in Saffron Broth
Seafood stock:
(See “Scraps to Sauce in the TCMA February, 2011 issue. Substitute shrimp shells for beef bones; skip the oven
browning stage. Lose the tomato paste. Substitute white wine for red. Throw shells, veggies, herbs in stock pot.
Cover with water and white wine. Throw in garlic and desired herbs. Simmer about 45 minutes. Strain.)
Pinch of saffron threads
Fish and Vegetables:
Sea Bass or Halibut, skin removed
Corn kernels removed from cob
Dark pitted olives
Yukon gold potato, cut into small dice and par-cooked until almost done
Haricots verts, trimmed and blanched
Cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
Green onion tops, thinly sliced or chives for garnish
Put enough seafood stock in a pan to cover the fish you plan to cook. Add salt, and a pinch of crumbled saffron and
simmer. Allow the saffron to infuse the stock and notice the beautiful golden sunshine color. Carefully place fish
piece or pieces, depending on the size of your pan and what will fit into the simmering (“quivering”, actually) poaching
liquid. Poach until fish is just cooked through. This will only take a few minutes. Just before the fish is finished,
add the corn.
Meanwhile, prepare the serving bowls. Place small amount of diced potatoes and haricots in each bowl. Remove
fish from poaching liquid. Cut into desired sized pieces. Ladle poaching liquid (with corn) over the potatoes and
haricots using just enough to create a shallow pool. Top with fish. Add additional liquid if desired but donʼt cover
the fish. Garnish with tomato halves, onion tops, and olives. Serve with fork and soup spoon.
A final word, or two: saffron stains clothing. Sometimes even bleach wonʼt remove a saffron stain. Be careful when
handling and eating. Thereʼs a reason it was used a dye for centuries. And where can you buy high quality,
“reasonably” priced saffron? Thanks to a tip from the Allianceʼs own Pat Wallis, at www.saffron.com
-- of course!
*Sharon Tyler Herbst, Food Loverʼs Companion. Jenifer Harvey Lang, editor, LaRousse Gastronomique.
Lyn Weingarten is a 2002 graduate of the Texas Culinary Academy. She has worked as a line cook at Lake Austin
Spa and Jeffreyʼs in Austin, Texas. She welcomes your polite comments and suggestions: lynw@austin.rr.com.

Calendar of Events
MARCH
21 - Membership event
28 - Book Club
APRIL
12 - Physicals with TCMS
17 - General Meeting
17 - Physicals with TCMS
25 - Book Club
29 - Spring Picnic
MAY
17-18 - AllMed in Dallas
BOOKCLUB
Travis County Medical Alliance
www.traviscountymedicalalliance.com
Suzanne McFarlane, smcf2222@austin.rr.com
Wednesday, February 22, Kathy and Zoltan Trizna
will review Embers by Sandor Marai at Ann Moralesʼs
home, 2605 Escondido Cove (03).
Wednesday, March 28 **Life List by Olivia Gentile
will be reviewed by Sarah Butler at Sarah Butlerʼs
home, 7601 Rustling Road (31).
Wednesday, April 25, **Evelyn Hootkins & Shirley
Mendelsohn will review The Monument Men by
Robert Edsel, at Deborah Jonesʼs home, 48 Sundown
Parkway (46).
Wednesday, May 23, we will read Night Circus by
Erin Mortenstern. Consider leading the review or
hosting this month!!
In June we will do a spouse book: Thinking Fast and
Slow by Daniel Kahneman. Beth Schlecter will lead
the review. Consider hosting this month!
Wednesday, August 22, Sherry Morgan and Charlotte
Haro will review Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. Location
TBA.
Editor
Pat Wallis, patriciaawallis@gmail.com
Thanks to everyone who emailed or sent a card to
me last month upon learning of my motherʼs
death. Your support and comfort are very much
appreciated.
MEMBERSHIP UPCOMING
EVENTS
MARCH 21st 6:30-9p.m.
NEW/PROSPECTIVE MEMBER HAPPY HOUR.
MEAN EYED CAT.
ALL MEMBERS ARE INVITED AND PLEASE
BRING ALONG FRIENDS IN MEDICINE.
APRIL 29th 12-3 p.m
TCMA/TCMS SPRING PICNIC.
MAYFIELD PARK. FUN FOR ALL AGES
PLEASE CONTACT LOREN GIGLIOTTI WITH
ANY QUESTIONS lorengigliotti@yahoo.com
Want to see more gala photos,
and in COLOR!
Check out the NEW website:
www.tcmalliance.org