why i love life
Thursday, 27. March 2008, 01:29:51
i am so happy to be alive
to be
that is the potent truth
to eat, to work, to love, to rest, to sleep.
to talk, to whisper, to shout
"i am alive"
therefore, i cook with extreme gusto
consume in gratitude
and love with all my heart.
tonight we are simulating a dish i ate with my friend
at a place simply called "the grill", in NOHO
chicken picatta with japanese noodles
on the side is cornbread and my homemade applesauce. this is easy: peel the apples, cut them up and boil them in water with a little cinnamon and honey until the liquid is reduced. don't throw away any water; just don't put too much in. it's not potatoes.
where's my fresh baked bread... i only know how to make corn bread or muffins. but i am about to venture into the science of bread baking.
to be
that is the potent truth
to eat, to work, to love, to rest, to sleep.
to talk, to whisper, to shout
"i am alive"
therefore, i cook with extreme gusto
consume in gratitude
and love with all my heart.
tonight we are simulating a dish i ate with my friend
at a place simply called "the grill", in NOHO
chicken picatta with japanese noodles
on the side is cornbread and my homemade applesauce. this is easy: peel the apples, cut them up and boil them in water with a little cinnamon and honey until the liquid is reduced. don't throw away any water; just don't put too much in. it's not potatoes.
where's my fresh baked bread... i only know how to make corn bread or muffins. but i am about to venture into the science of bread baking.
(15%)
any left overs???
By ellinidata, # 27. March 2008, 01:32:32
i wish i could cyber-transport a dish for you.
i think i need to buy a machine. my sister-in-law had one and it seemed to make perfect bread. no electric blanket necessary.
i always make enough for two or three, in case someone comes by.
By I_ArtMan, # 27. March 2008, 01:37:59
I love your life too Scott
I wish you could send some of your dinner too!
I have a recipe for a bread that needs no machine and it is not a a flat bread.
you know the old days in the 50 people population village I was born, the bread machines would have been a scare! no electricity back then , maybe it could have been an ashtray?
I will send the recipe to you ,one of these days.
By ellinidata, # 27. March 2008, 01:47:06
By noah counte, # 27. March 2008, 02:03:38
once the mulla (nasr eddin) was passing through the kitchen when his wife handed him the water bucket saying "please, go down to the river and get me some water, i can't go myself, because, i am waiting for the bread to rise."
the mulla took the bucket grudgingly, because he knew that getting the water was a woman's job.
anyway, he went down to the river and dipped the bucket into the stream. but the stream was running so fast that it tore the bucket right out of his hand.
he watched as it sank to the bottom of the deep water. he stood there staring at it for such a long time that a neighbor got curious and asked, "what are you doing there mulla?"
"uh... i'm waiting for the 'dough' to rise."
By I_ArtMan, # 27. March 2008, 02:10:26
Thanks for sharing.
By DuckyChickenLady, # 27. March 2008, 02:23:23
By noah counte, # 27. March 2008, 02:25:39
there's enough for all of us. all you have to do is drop in... a ga ga ga ga yuk yuk.
matthew got it.
By I_ArtMan, # 27. March 2008, 02:34:00
By ellinidata, # 27. March 2008, 02:39:50
By momable, # 27. March 2008, 05:07:40
Like you're crafting your next masterpiece... soon to be consumed. Ahh, the myriad of manners in which we satisfy our souls. Hi Scott.
By anonymous user, # 27. March 2008, 06:51:08
By Sodawax, # 27. March 2008, 07:38:50
"Ahh, the myriad of manners in which we satisfy our souls"
how?
how can one satisfy the soul?
how a sparrow can hide under a window shield and feel safe for life?
how only one voice can say tell lonely feelings?
and if it is only one voice how can a myriad of need can be expressed??
what is a manner any way??
By anonymous user, # 27. March 2008, 11:15:20
By nopanic, # 27. March 2008, 13:33:44
By b_laudanum, # 27. March 2008, 16:35:33
I did hear that every mulla can now get the water too with a 98% success!
what about that??
Have a wonderful,
day!
Whats for dinner??
honey I'll be home at 9pm!(ET)
By ellinidata, # 27. March 2008, 18:31:04
hi nic,
est-ce-que vous avez faim peut etre?
hi b. thanks for seconding the motion.
anonymous 1,
yes, everything gets its due attention.
anonymous 2,
when i am lonely, i make friends with myself... now i can't tear myself away. 'manner' is the same as 'way' as in the 'way' we do things.
By I_ArtMan, # 27. March 2008, 19:35:50
By nopanic, # 27. March 2008, 19:42:23
By I_ArtMan, # 27. March 2008, 19:48:30
Soyez les bienvenus tout le monde
By nopanic, # 27. March 2008, 20:59:13
If I knew what I know now I would have had
Michael dough rise and him have the two C sections!
By ellinidata, # 27. March 2008, 21:27:42
see you at 9p ET!
By ellinidata, # 27. March 2008, 21:29:09
By I_ArtMan, # 27. March 2008, 23:30:43
I will bring the wine too!
enjoy your dinner!
I am having Greek Lasagna (not to be confused with the Italian)
thanks for opening the memories from my childhood with Nasruddin Khodja! My grand father came to Greece as a child from Anatolia,I grew up with these stories
By ellinidata, # 27. March 2008, 23:36:14
i post one every now and then because elmar driver likes them.
gee you don't happen to have some retzina? *friends forever.
By I_ArtMan, # 27. March 2008, 23:40:10
Retsina is great ,I have "Amstel". cold to" brake teeth" as we say in Greek!
I am buying ouzo tomorrow for my kids Sunday Bday party!They will have the water, I will have the ouzo!
By ellinidata, # 27. March 2008, 23:44:36
here is a Greek beer that has a name to remember!
By ellinidata, # 27. March 2008, 23:49:12
By I_ArtMan, # 27. March 2008, 23:52:05
I think I found an expert Bar Tender!
By ellinidata, # 27. March 2008, 23:53:40
By ellinidata, # 27. March 2008, 23:54:36
By I_ArtMan, # 27. March 2008, 23:58:08
yes it comes on a discounted prices at the liquor store!
By ellinidata, # 28. March 2008, 00:04:48
By I_ArtMan, # 28. March 2008, 00:13:11
By noah counte, # 28. March 2008, 00:33:12
By ellinidata, # 28. March 2008, 00:38:54
so sorry you can't grow artichokes anymore... try jerusalem artichokes. maybe they will take.
good timing, angelika, gives me time to shower first. hey, wait a minute now... what do you have a lear jet? well anyway, don't go to LAX , use burbank airport, it's less than a mile from here...
i am suddenly reminded of that sad scene in 'the gold rush', when charlie chaplin does the little bisquit dance.
By I_ArtMan, # 28. March 2008, 00:48:40
dont' think of sad things now!
see you !
By ellinidata, # 28. March 2008, 00:53:43
By noah counte, # 28. March 2008, 00:54:08
o.k. i'm here... i await your arrival. the dough has risen.
By I_ArtMan, # 28. March 2008, 01:08:12
By noah counte, # 28. March 2008, 01:18:25
By I_ArtMan, # 28. March 2008, 01:19:08
enjoy Scott!
my kid is swamped in Geometry homework and I am happy helping , keeping my brains alive and away from Alzheimer's!
Dinner looks delicious,
you are a keeper!
By ellinidata, # 28. March 2008, 01:23:31
thanks to wikipedia
By I_ArtMan, # 28. March 2008, 01:24:12
By noah counte, # 28. March 2008, 01:34:59
By I_ArtMan, # 28. March 2008, 01:39:15
By noah counte, # 28. March 2008, 02:04:35
By I_ArtMan, # 28. March 2008, 02:55:58
creamed pearl onions
---------------------
12 ounces pearl onions
1 cup heavy cream
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup chicken broth
Blanch the pearl onions by placing them into a large pot of rapidly boiling water. Cook them for about 1 minute. Remove the onions from the water with a strainer, then plunge into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Drain them, then remove the skins.
Put the onions in a 3-quart saucepan and place over low-medium heat. Add the cream, bay leaves, and freshly grated nutmeg. There really is no substitute for freshly ground. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Then, remove the cover and add stock. Season again. Allow to cook down for 5 minutes to tighten up the cream sauce. Discard the garlic clove and bay leaves before serving.
By ellinidata, # 28. March 2008, 12:26:09
However I needed to keep a promise,
here it is my last recipe to you
Recipe: No-Knead Bread
3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
¼ teaspoon instant yeast
1¼ teaspoons salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.
1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.
2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.
3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.
4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.
Yield: One 1½-pound loaf.
Easypeasy, right??? The only thing I did differently was switch the all-purpose flour to whole wheat ..
By ellinidata, # 28. March 2008, 13:03:06
The switch to whole wheat didn't change the outcome? Nice!
By noah counte, # 28. March 2008, 13:21:09