Much like a turkey carcass the day after Thanksgiving, Food & Wine has been stripped of anything I found interesting and/or useful. Today we turn the bones into soup.
Cuban Sandwiches
We often go to Havana Mania for lunch with friends. I have always wondered why the description for a Cuban classic contains the same ingredients as a "Medianoche." It would puzzle me. Then I read that the BREAD is different. A Cuban is served on a crusty bread; the medianoche on a softer, egg bread. Since "medianoche" means "middle of the night" it does make sense to have a "quiet" bread if you're going to raid the refrigerator!
In An Effort to be Helpful
The magazine gave an illustrated lesson on salting food. We were instructed to buy three porkchops. Take the first, soak it in a saltwater brine and let it sit in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Remove, dry and cook. The salt is said to be absorbed by the chop resulting in a chop that is "extra plump and juicy."
Take the second chop, rub it well with salt and let it sit on a small plate - uncovered - in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Here air drying is expected to "concentrate its porky flavor."
The third chop is to be treated "normally." Unwrap it, sprinkle salt on it and fry it.
As I don't approve of salt in cooking and never use salt while cooking, I can hardly endorse such foolishness as this. You're on your own with this one.
This One's For You, George Bush! How ya been?
Lemony Brussels Sprout Slaw
1/2 cup 2% plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup low-fat mayonnaise
1 teas. finely-grated lemon zest
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped chives
1/4 cup chopped dill
Pepper to taste
2 lbs. raw Brussels sprouts, finely shredded.
1/4 cup + 2 T salted, roasted sunflower seeds.
Mix it up, chill it a bit and eat it. Not you, George, I just remembered it's broccoli you dislike. Apologies.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Here - Let Me Help You Spend That...
The monthly magazines are beginning to trickle in and, as always, I amused myself by looking at all of the various things the well-heeled consumer could have for the flick of a credit card and a substantial credit rating.
Food & Wine teased me with a layout on the new stoves, wall ovens and cook tops. The absolute peak in over-paying is La Cornue's "1908" stove for $14,500. At least I thought so until I read that this outrageous price tag is 25% LESS than the custom-made Chateau model! Further, unlike the Chateau which takes months to construct, the 1908 is ready to come cook at your house. lacornue.com
There is a 22 in. wide Viking "does everything" - convection oven, steam oven and microwave all in one for $1,800. I would remind everyone that any oven becomes a steam oven if you put a big pan of water on the oven floor. I bought a DeLonghi toaster oven that does all of that from amazon.com for less than $200. So hah! And do you think I could get Richie to hand over the $1,600 I saved him? Let's just say "Never."
If you are a techno-freak, Gaggenau makes a cook top that doesn't have any burners as we know them. Instead, the entire no-seam, flat cook top is heated to allow the chef to put his pots and pans any old where he wants. $5,500. gaggenau.com
Architectural Digest has given me some startling insights on the state of the Irish economy. Last month I discovered that a Ryan family castle (Ryan-Air) was up for grabs. This month there is a castle in Kiltegan (ad doesn't say where this is) with a granite Victorian domecile of 25 bedrooms, 17 baths, 2 half baths contained in 46,200 sq. ft. It was built starting in 1867. Addditionally, your $10.1 million will get you 427 acres of woodlands, two lakes, formal gardens as well as lodges, stables and cottages. Hmmm, cottages? Servant cottages? Are the servants being sold, too? Or will they be auctioned them off separately?
Then I turned the page to find a listing for Alexandra Bay, NY, known locally as Millionaire's Row. There are only three houses on this isalnd which is "just minutes away from the mainland by boat." One of the three is for sale with this caveat: In need of significant restoration. The house - or what's left still standing, photo wasn't very clear - is still owned by the descendant's of the original owner, one Alson E. Clark, an industrialist. It has 8 bedrooms and 3 baths (and I see a problem right away) and contains 4,700 sq. ft. in its three-storied Shingle-style building.
Gnawing bitterly at my disappointment that it was not the entire island for sale, I misread the price and gasped out loud. $985 MILLION. But then my vision cleared -- my gasp had dried my eyes - and I read it right. $985,000. As is.
Food & Wine teased me with a layout on the new stoves, wall ovens and cook tops. The absolute peak in over-paying is La Cornue's "1908" stove for $14,500. At least I thought so until I read that this outrageous price tag is 25% LESS than the custom-made Chateau model! Further, unlike the Chateau which takes months to construct, the 1908 is ready to come cook at your house. lacornue.com
There is a 22 in. wide Viking "does everything" - convection oven, steam oven and microwave all in one for $1,800. I would remind everyone that any oven becomes a steam oven if you put a big pan of water on the oven floor. I bought a DeLonghi toaster oven that does all of that from amazon.com for less than $200. So hah! And do you think I could get Richie to hand over the $1,600 I saved him? Let's just say "Never."
If you are a techno-freak, Gaggenau makes a cook top that doesn't have any burners as we know them. Instead, the entire no-seam, flat cook top is heated to allow the chef to put his pots and pans any old where he wants. $5,500. gaggenau.com
Architectural Digest has given me some startling insights on the state of the Irish economy. Last month I discovered that a Ryan family castle (Ryan-Air) was up for grabs. This month there is a castle in Kiltegan (ad doesn't say where this is) with a granite Victorian domecile of 25 bedrooms, 17 baths, 2 half baths contained in 46,200 sq. ft. It was built starting in 1867. Addditionally, your $10.1 million will get you 427 acres of woodlands, two lakes, formal gardens as well as lodges, stables and cottages. Hmmm, cottages? Servant cottages? Are the servants being sold, too? Or will they be auctioned them off separately?
Then I turned the page to find a listing for Alexandra Bay, NY, known locally as Millionaire's Row. There are only three houses on this isalnd which is "just minutes away from the mainland by boat." One of the three is for sale with this caveat: In need of significant restoration. The house - or what's left still standing, photo wasn't very clear - is still owned by the descendant's of the original owner, one Alson E. Clark, an industrialist. It has 8 bedrooms and 3 baths (and I see a problem right away) and contains 4,700 sq. ft. in its three-storied Shingle-style building.
Gnawing bitterly at my disappointment that it was not the entire island for sale, I misread the price and gasped out loud. $985 MILLION. But then my vision cleared -- my gasp had dried my eyes - and I read it right. $985,000. As is.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
The Ginger People
This is not a Ginger Rodgers fan club gone wild. Instead these good folks create ginger-based foodstuffs. I first encountered them on a foray through Trader Joe's where their Ginger Chews candy looked appealing. I must say they weren't kidding when they named them "chews." It takes several minutes to eat one and then more minutes to clean the residue out from between yur teeth.
Established in 1984, Ginger People have locations in Marina, CA and Queensland, Australia where they make crystalized ginger in covered vats which is said to deepen the ginger flavor.
The candy wrapper gives their Web site -- gingerpeople.com -- so I went calling on them. I discovered that in their minds, ginger is a miracle drug, no more, no less. Upset stomach? Drink Lemon Ginger Beer! Sore throat? Ginger Soother with ginger, honey, lemon and fizzy water. They also claim that ginger MAY fight obesity, cancer, sore muscles, arthritis and can boost the immune system. Perhaps these claims are valid, but I bet you would have to eat 10 lbs. of ginger a day to find out. I like ginger, but...
Ginger Ale is an old remedy for an upset stomach. Richie's mother gave him ginger ale when he was a child and 71 years later, it's still his "drug of choice."
The Web site has a store directory and it was a happy discovery that Whole Foods, 405 N. Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo, stocks their line. I'm interested in their sauces -- Spicy Ginger Teryaki and Hot Ginger Jalapeno; meh on the Thai Green Curry. I'm thinking about steamed shrimp doused in Ginger Jalapeno ...
Why, yes, they do make Ginger Snaps!
Established in 1984, Ginger People have locations in Marina, CA and Queensland, Australia where they make crystalized ginger in covered vats which is said to deepen the ginger flavor.
The candy wrapper gives their Web site -- gingerpeople.com -- so I went calling on them. I discovered that in their minds, ginger is a miracle drug, no more, no less. Upset stomach? Drink Lemon Ginger Beer! Sore throat? Ginger Soother with ginger, honey, lemon and fizzy water. They also claim that ginger MAY fight obesity, cancer, sore muscles, arthritis and can boost the immune system. Perhaps these claims are valid, but I bet you would have to eat 10 lbs. of ginger a day to find out. I like ginger, but...
Ginger Ale is an old remedy for an upset stomach. Richie's mother gave him ginger ale when he was a child and 71 years later, it's still his "drug of choice."
The Web site has a store directory and it was a happy discovery that Whole Foods, 405 N. Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo, stocks their line. I'm interested in their sauces -- Spicy Ginger Teryaki and Hot Ginger Jalapeno; meh on the Thai Green Curry. I'm thinking about steamed shrimp doused in Ginger Jalapeno ...
Why, yes, they do make Ginger Snaps!
Friday, October 5, 2012
A Salute to S. J. Perelman
Perelman was an imaginative man with a solid sense of satire. He was a member of the Round Table, Algonquin Hotel set as well as a highly regarded Hollywood writer and playright. Born in 1904, he died October 17, 1979.
His specialty was to pick up a brief item in a newspaper or, more likely, a magazine and skewer it. He read voraciously and always resented the fact that the people who wrote long novels got more praise than he did for his short pieces.
In fact, in person, he may not have been much fun. His marriage to Laura West, (writer Nathaniel's sister) was rocky from the start due to his constant womanizing, which certainly seems doubtful given his looks, which were, to say the least, unremarkable. A less kind observer might use the word "ugly."
He regarded children as non-essential to his happiness and ignored his. Son Adam spent some time in a reform school. Perelman devoted his love to his MG (car) and his mynah bird, both of whom he pampered considerably.
Richie is cleaning out our old books and handed me, "The Road to Miltown or Under The Spreading Atrophy." I've been laughing ever since. It's an excellent book to keep in the door pocket in Richie's car. He decides to run an errand while we're out; I choose not to go in and instead settle in for some laughs with Perelman.
"The Wickedest Woman in Larchmont" covers his introduction to and enthrallment with Theda Bara in 6th grade. Sample: "I accidentally got my first intimation of Miss Bara from a couple of teachers excitedly discussing her."
"If you re-arrange the letters for her name, they spell 'Arab Death'! "one of them was saying with a delicious shudder. "I've never seen an actress kiss the way she does. She just sort of glues herself onto a man and drains the strength out of him!" The other replied, "I know - isn't it revolting? Let's go see it again tonight!"
Needless to add, I was in the theater before either of them, and my reaction was no less fervent."
He has the deft ability to put himself into a story and then going on from there. His characters often have ridiculous names -- very Charles Dickens of him. I'm thinking of British earl Lewellyn Fitzpoultice. He has an awesome vocabulary.
October 17th is not that far away. I think Perelman is deserving of remembrance from his fans so I propose Wednesday, October 17th be Perelman Satirical Salute Day, to be celebrated with a gin martini at lunch.
His specialty was to pick up a brief item in a newspaper or, more likely, a magazine and skewer it. He read voraciously and always resented the fact that the people who wrote long novels got more praise than he did for his short pieces.
In fact, in person, he may not have been much fun. His marriage to Laura West, (writer Nathaniel's sister) was rocky from the start due to his constant womanizing, which certainly seems doubtful given his looks, which were, to say the least, unremarkable. A less kind observer might use the word "ugly."
He regarded children as non-essential to his happiness and ignored his. Son Adam spent some time in a reform school. Perelman devoted his love to his MG (car) and his mynah bird, both of whom he pampered considerably.
Richie is cleaning out our old books and handed me, "The Road to Miltown or Under The Spreading Atrophy." I've been laughing ever since. It's an excellent book to keep in the door pocket in Richie's car. He decides to run an errand while we're out; I choose not to go in and instead settle in for some laughs with Perelman.
"The Wickedest Woman in Larchmont" covers his introduction to and enthrallment with Theda Bara in 6th grade. Sample: "I accidentally got my first intimation of Miss Bara from a couple of teachers excitedly discussing her."
"If you re-arrange the letters for her name, they spell 'Arab Death'! "one of them was saying with a delicious shudder. "I've never seen an actress kiss the way she does. She just sort of glues herself onto a man and drains the strength out of him!" The other replied, "I know - isn't it revolting? Let's go see it again tonight!"
Needless to add, I was in the theater before either of them, and my reaction was no less fervent."
He has the deft ability to put himself into a story and then going on from there. His characters often have ridiculous names -- very Charles Dickens of him. I'm thinking of British earl Lewellyn Fitzpoultice. He has an awesome vocabulary.
October 17th is not that far away. I think Perelman is deserving of remembrance from his fans so I propose Wednesday, October 17th be Perelman Satirical Salute Day, to be celebrated with a gin martini at lunch.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
A Timely Cartoon...
Mallard Fillmore by Bruce Tinsley You have to imagine...
Mallard Filmore is slumped on a couch, watching TV through his duck feet. The TV is saying, "Tonight's presidential debate is being brought to you by the Chevy Volt, the official car of the Obama administration."
Zing!
I like Tinsley's work as he skewers both parties unmercifully.
Mallard Filmore is slumped on a couch, watching TV through his duck feet. The TV is saying, "Tonight's presidential debate is being brought to you by the Chevy Volt, the official car of the Obama administration."
Zing!
I like Tinsley's work as he skewers both parties unmercifully.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Consolation Prize!
We'd planned a Fall Family Tour in early October. First to my sister and that family outside of Chicago and then on to Long Island to see Richie's brother and his family.
I checked flights on a near-daily basis and something odd appeared -- all of the flights from LAX to Chicago were consistently over-sold. And then our neighbor who works for MAA (a Major American Airline) told us the pilots were forcing cancellations by "discovering" mechanical problems. There is no convenient way to get to New York from Chicago on MAA. It's either Newark or La Guardia because there is only one flight a day to JFK, our airport of choice. Collectively the whole picture looked so bad that we said the hell with it.
But given the fact that we really wanted to do this, we're feeling a little ... let down. Obviously we can't plan on flying anywhere so what do we love that we can drive to and from? Palm Springs, that's what!
Ever on the hunt for new restaurants (and Palm Springs is surprisingly good at that) I went online and sure enough - three that we haven't tried! And that actually sounded like they had good stuff behind their front doors.
Cheeky's, 622 W. Palm Canyon, Palm Springs for breakfast and lunch. "First of Fall apple omelet with sharp Cheddar and bacon - $9" This is easily made at home - saute some slices of Grannie Smith in butter, and when they're done, pour in the well-beaten eggs and finish the omelet with a dusting of grated Cheddar. Whether or not to crumble your bacon over that is Diner's Choice.
Tropicale, 330 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs Richie and I could share this and eat nothing else and still be full. The Pupu Platter - coconut shrimp, Thai chicken skewers, Korean beef skewers, spring rolls and Korean ribs. Bring it on - $26, or $13 each.
Jake's, 664 N. Palm Canyon, Palm Springs Lunch and dinner and a three course dinner for $29. (Two days ago, it was $27 so we'd best not tarry here if we want in on this deal.)
Starter of soup or salad (including Caesar) and a main of chicken Milanese or meatloaf with macaroni and cheese or roasted salmon or fettucini or something called an "Eggplant Tower" and dessert.
I'm feeling better by the minute!
I checked flights on a near-daily basis and something odd appeared -- all of the flights from LAX to Chicago were consistently over-sold. And then our neighbor who works for MAA (a Major American Airline) told us the pilots were forcing cancellations by "discovering" mechanical problems. There is no convenient way to get to New York from Chicago on MAA. It's either Newark or La Guardia because there is only one flight a day to JFK, our airport of choice. Collectively the whole picture looked so bad that we said the hell with it.
But given the fact that we really wanted to do this, we're feeling a little ... let down. Obviously we can't plan on flying anywhere so what do we love that we can drive to and from? Palm Springs, that's what!
Ever on the hunt for new restaurants (and Palm Springs is surprisingly good at that) I went online and sure enough - three that we haven't tried! And that actually sounded like they had good stuff behind their front doors.
Cheeky's, 622 W. Palm Canyon, Palm Springs for breakfast and lunch. "First of Fall apple omelet with sharp Cheddar and bacon - $9" This is easily made at home - saute some slices of Grannie Smith in butter, and when they're done, pour in the well-beaten eggs and finish the omelet with a dusting of grated Cheddar. Whether or not to crumble your bacon over that is Diner's Choice.
Tropicale, 330 E. Amado Road, Palm Springs Richie and I could share this and eat nothing else and still be full. The Pupu Platter - coconut shrimp, Thai chicken skewers, Korean beef skewers, spring rolls and Korean ribs. Bring it on - $26, or $13 each.
Jake's, 664 N. Palm Canyon, Palm Springs Lunch and dinner and a three course dinner for $29. (Two days ago, it was $27 so we'd best not tarry here if we want in on this deal.)
Starter of soup or salad (including Caesar) and a main of chicken Milanese or meatloaf with macaroni and cheese or roasted salmon or fettucini or something called an "Eggplant Tower" and dessert.
I'm feeling better by the minute!
Monday, October 1, 2012
An Ancient Rule Was Right...Too Bad I Didn't Listen
The rule? "Do as I say, not as I do." I know better than to try to bake something. I accept the fact that since I'm too impatient to fry bacon or fill an ice cube tray that baking is not for the likes of me. In day-to-day cooking, I can be sloppy "Needs more pepper" or "Yeah, that looks like a half a cup of chopped onion." Baking is demanding, up to and including using a knife blade (flat sided, not curved!) to measure exactly one teaspoon, etc.
I knew all of this yesterday afternoon when I set out to make Parmesan Tuiles (tiles.) It's a simple recipe calling only for flour, butter and Parmesan. How hard could that be?! No baking soda, no yeast, both of which I avoid like a cat does water.
Mistake #1 - at Trader Joe's I bought a wedge of Parmesan-Reggiano, not the already grated in a plastic container. If I was going to do this properly, I would grate the cheese myself, thank you very much! Besides I have a dandy little French grater that makes the job go very quickly. Simply put a chunk of cheese in the little basket and turn the handle. Viola!
Except that I couldn't find this grater. I dug around in the "Miscellaneous" drawer (corn on the cob handles, scissors, fried egg forms, and more, much more) and there it wasn't. Then (and only then) did I remember that the little knob on the handle had broken off and I'd thrown the whole thing out. Mistake #2 - bad memory.
So I got out the box grater. I would still be using it 18 hours later if I used the smallest hole side of it. So instead I got out the cheese knife for hard cheeses and cut strips, using the chef's knife to chop them up.
Finally I had the dough assembled, but it quite resisted being turned into a roll from which I could cut slices for baking. It tended to crumble. Undaunted, I got a cookie sheet and put down the parchment paper the recipe said to use. As it was 80 degrees, I decided to use the toaster oven.
Mistake #3 I thought that the parchment paper might pose a fire hazard, but then reasoned that it is designed to be used in the oven, rests on hot metal and doesn't catch fire so it should be okay. But: remembering CERT training, I emptied the sink and got a pot holder should it turn out to be a bad idea.
Slices on the paper, cookie sheet in the little oven, I stood glaring through the glass window of the oven door. The first 3 minutes, all was well. For the second 3 minutes, you're to turn the pan around. I did, it caught fire and I had to grab the potholder and fling the whole tray into the kitchen sink, (which is, happily, stainless steel) and run a torrent of water over it all. But it takes more than a tiny kitchen fire to scare me off. I will do this again, but I will use Trader Joe's grated and I will use the regular oven.
And if that doesn't work, the hell with Parmesan Tuiles. Someone, somewhere must sell them...
I knew all of this yesterday afternoon when I set out to make Parmesan Tuiles (tiles.) It's a simple recipe calling only for flour, butter and Parmesan. How hard could that be?! No baking soda, no yeast, both of which I avoid like a cat does water.
Mistake #1 - at Trader Joe's I bought a wedge of Parmesan-Reggiano, not the already grated in a plastic container. If I was going to do this properly, I would grate the cheese myself, thank you very much! Besides I have a dandy little French grater that makes the job go very quickly. Simply put a chunk of cheese in the little basket and turn the handle. Viola!
Except that I couldn't find this grater. I dug around in the "Miscellaneous" drawer (corn on the cob handles, scissors, fried egg forms, and more, much more) and there it wasn't. Then (and only then) did I remember that the little knob on the handle had broken off and I'd thrown the whole thing out. Mistake #2 - bad memory.
So I got out the box grater. I would still be using it 18 hours later if I used the smallest hole side of it. So instead I got out the cheese knife for hard cheeses and cut strips, using the chef's knife to chop them up.
Finally I had the dough assembled, but it quite resisted being turned into a roll from which I could cut slices for baking. It tended to crumble. Undaunted, I got a cookie sheet and put down the parchment paper the recipe said to use. As it was 80 degrees, I decided to use the toaster oven.
Mistake #3 I thought that the parchment paper might pose a fire hazard, but then reasoned that it is designed to be used in the oven, rests on hot metal and doesn't catch fire so it should be okay. But: remembering CERT training, I emptied the sink and got a pot holder should it turn out to be a bad idea.
Slices on the paper, cookie sheet in the little oven, I stood glaring through the glass window of the oven door. The first 3 minutes, all was well. For the second 3 minutes, you're to turn the pan around. I did, it caught fire and I had to grab the potholder and fling the whole tray into the kitchen sink, (which is, happily, stainless steel) and run a torrent of water over it all. But it takes more than a tiny kitchen fire to scare me off. I will do this again, but I will use Trader Joe's grated and I will use the regular oven.
And if that doesn't work, the hell with Parmesan Tuiles. Someone, somewhere must sell them...
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