Category Archives: Education

New Year’s Resolution #1

Posted on December 22, 2008 | 5 comments

Let latkes be latkes.

A latke is a potato pancake, shredded potato with onion and seasonings, fried in oil. It is a Jewish tradition that the Food Police are trying to eradicate. I ate one at Katz’ Deli the other day. The NYTimes is all a-twitter about healthy living and using little or no oil to make these treats that I eat (one) perhaps twice a year. As my brother used to tell my Mom, “Wrong-O, Moose Breath.”

Yes, over the past week I consumed eight ounces of cranberry-orange shortbread cookies. I also made soups and grilled cheese sandwiches and roast chicken and steak for Jim.

Jim will tell you first-hand that I do not like to be lectured to, by anyone. Physics lessons while on long car trips I learn from and endure, but do not presume, unless you’re Eric Ripert, Margaret Fox or Mark Bittman to lecture me on food.

I know how to use a bunson burner to measure a calorie. I know what I need to do to manage my health and weight. And sometimes I just want a latke. I’m asking Anthony Bourdain to take up the latke lamp. The oil burned for eight days. An entire civilization eats latkes as tradition. Now pundits are trying to make them healthy, even eschewing the beloved potato.

What has this world come to? I’m presuming to know how a very pregnant woman feels when her back aches and all people want to do is give advice and feel her belly. Stop feeling mine! Mind your own beeswax!

I’m making rosti tomorrow, then falafel, and then perhaps goujonettes of sole. Deep-fried everything, even parsley. Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead. Fry, baby, fry. Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Education

Forever Young

Posted on December 21, 2008 | 7 comments

Bob Dylan, childrens book, Forever Young. I did place it on my Amazon Wish List. I need to read it thoroughly before giving it to any child I know. Oblique references to “Lay, Lady, Lay” with a big brass bed? We’ll see. If it makes a child think of the world and his/her place in it, perhaps.

Can we do ten favorite movies next? My brother and I had a competition years ago and we both went way over the limit, but that doesn’t mean you can do so.

If you were stranded on a deserted isle with no-one, a 42″ flat screen TV and electricity and water and food and all the DVD’s in the world, what ten movies would you watch over all others? No. You have to look over the world of movies and choose ten that you can have on your isle. What would you choose?

Just like Gilligan’s TV show a boat will come to take away the other 50,000 movies but for some inexplicable reason, will not rescue you. Even if you just saw the re-runs, why didn’t the Professor and Captain get them out of there? Didn’t Tina Louise need more gilded dresses?

Go for it. It’s a wonderful life, and looks to be a white christmas here, but I have a letter out of Africa from both Meryl Streep and Katharine Hepburn that reminds me of little women and the song that Sam was not to play at Rick’s. The hills are alive with do-re-mi and Thelma and Louise need me to help a young Frankenstein get the flux capacitor working so that Michael J Fox can go back to the future.

I truly, madly, deeply love you for putting up with me these seven months. Please write in. Thanks, Dee and the Tin Man, who has a heart after all

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Practical Cookware

Posted on December 20, 2008 | 4 comments

I tried to go to our nearest Linens ‘n Things the other day and it had closed up shop and was gone. I’d just wanted to look for two small things. What does one do when one lives in a major city and everything is in the suburbs? My brother needed mincemeat and was told to drive outside Manhattan to Hackensack NJ to get it. He doesn’t own a car. Instead he called me and I shipped it directly to Dad.

The prices at Sur La Table are through the roof, but the service is usually stellar (except last time) and when I need a particular item and they have it, it’s a five minute drive. Our hardware store has a number of practical, interesting and decently-priced items, like when I needed two coeur a la creme molds. They have recently steered me to a restaurant supply store that can be useful if I know that what I need is what they stock. I now have their catalog and they’re only a five minute drive away. That’s where I got knife guards and a new knife case for traveling. No, I won’t try to take it on a plane except in checked baggage. Well-priced.

Emails come to me by the dozen from all kinds of cooking empires. In years of practice and study, other than having a state-of-the-art kitchen with beehive oven out back and grilling empire for Jim, I have 95% of all the stalwart multi-purpose equipment and tools that I need so can afford to be choosy.

For example, the restaurant supply store still sells real pastry bags, not the clear plastic ones to throw away. When it comes right down to it, you still have to fish out your pastry tip at the end, so why not wash the bag, let it dry and re-use it?

Two questions. I bought a slow-cooker two years ago for an event and used it once and it’s taking up space. Does anyone really use these? And I need a solution to storing glassware as I have no cupboard space and need them handy. Fellow “lofties” use their oven, microwave and perhaps dishwasher for storing dishes (after turning off at the breaker) because they need cupboard space for work items or such. I need to use all those appliances. Hanging a rack from a 10’ ceiling doesn’t work. Any thoughts? Dee

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Posted in Cooking Utensils, Editorial, Education

More Than Hardware

Posted on December 20, 2008 | 1 comment

A couple of weeks ago Jim and I went to our favorite local hardware store to have a key made or pick up a new sink trap or A/C filter. I love going there because the folks are so helpful in finding things, and because over 1/3 of the shop is dedicated to cooking! Yep, that’s where I picked up Margie’s quiche pans.

And while we were on our way out I saw this gorgeous hardcover book with photos of Spain (I’ve never been) and a PBS show with a most unlikely duo, Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow. Now, I’ve been a fan of both for years but just never thought I’d see them on the same book jacket. When one sees Mario he’s inevitably expounding upon the regional cuisines of Italy, wearing his chef coat, shorts and clogs.

When one sees Gyweneth Paltrow, one doesn’t necessarily think “food.” Well, I awakened with a sore throat at 2:00 this morning and after sitting up and taking a throat lozenge, I turned on PBS with no sound and found Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Bittman and Claudia Bassois at the Alhambra palace eating persimmons.

Back to hardware. The gentleman at the shop told me about the cookbook, the show and that it would be back on PBS in January after their holiday money-raising marathon. Yes, it is public television and this show makes me want to support public television but spare myself the marathon and “free” mug.

It also makes me want to keep supporting our local hardware/cooking store and perhaps take a sojourn to Spain. Not that I think Bittman or Batali would offer to show me around, but I’d feel bad going with Jim because so much of Spain is seafood and he’s allergic to anything that swims.

While we’re not celebrating Christmas here, Jim’s birthday is the 23rd and, like his family, I like to make it special because it is easily absorbed into the holiday season. Hopefully he’ll be back at work, and we have an event that evening, so I’ll have to think of something. Most spouses would be touched by a homemade breakfast of bacon and eggs, huevos rancheros or an omelet but I do that for him every morning. I’ll think of something. No, I’ll bet Gwyneth Paltrow has other plans for the day that do not include SE Texas. Good try, though.

Next time I’m at my local haunt I’ll check out the book more thoroughly to see if it’s an appropriate addition to my overstuffed cookbook shelves. I definitely want to visit the Alhambra and learn more of Spain. Tapas, anyone? Paella?

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Posted in Cook Books, Editorial, Education, Travel

Memories

Posted on December 19, 2008 | Leave a comment

A few things of my Mom’s are being sent this way, for arrival early next week. Nearly ten years ago Mom boxed up her Lenox china, bone-colored with two plain platinum rings on the outside of the dinner plates. I had always loved them and my siblings didn’t want them as they don’t regularly entertain.

I think there are four cut crystal wine glasses left, plus a few sherry or apertif matching crystal. A couple of works of art, one more a placard that brings me home, and the other a pen and ink of an upstate NY barn.

It is with hope that my sisters entrusted her recipes to me for a while, to perhaps put forth a family memory book in a few months’ time. My brother took the loose photos of Mom years ago, tossed in a box in her garage, and that will take him several months to scan to CD’s for each of us. So we each have a job to do.

There was a fantastic photo of Alison and I down by the creek, perhaps age 7-8, or 8-9, respectively. Our brother will scan that for us. There are so many memories. In a drawer I also have a creekside photo near where we grew up, from the editor of the local paper in 1982. I’ll take photos when I can and post them. Especially the vintage Revere Ware potato masher! Hope that’s included! I’m tracking the packages and they’re in TX but probably not here until next week. Jim’s birthday is the 23rd and we have an event that evening. Everything else depends upon him being better soon. I’m doing OK and am just a bit tired.

Today I made bacon and eggs and English muffins for breakfast. Blueberry jam for Jim. Fresh broccoli-cheese soup for lunch with fresh-made sesame roll (made by our bakery). Dinner is loaded baked potatoes, sliced tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, salt and pepper. Also one ribeye steak that will be sliced and he’ll eat 3/4 of it. I rub it with garlic, brush it with olive oil and add salt and pepper and grill it, rest it and we’re good to go.

The emotional aspect of Mom’s stuff will hit next week. Dad’s already working on next month so at least some of us can get together. Christmas just didn’t work with flights et al.

You’d better take those cookies out of the oven now, they’re in danger of burning and your kids have had enough raw dough this afternoon after school. Happy holidays! Dee

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Posted in Cooking Utensils, Editorial, Education, Recipe Ideas

Lazy Chicken

Posted on December 18, 2008 | Leave a comment

As I recall, this is a Romanian recipe. My family has been making it for at least thirty years so here’s my spin on it. Oh, my brother, a great cook, asked me why it’s “lazy.” There are few ingredients and they’re all cooked together for amazing results! He must have been in college at the time and couldn’t afford both carrots and onions.

Let’s say you want to serve four, or two with lots of leftovers. Take four half chicken breasts on the bone, with skin. A bunch of carrots, scrubbed. One or two onions, cut into eight wedges each. Place tightly in a roasting pan, with onions and carrots sticking up. Dot with butter. Salt, pepper and thyme, whole branches if you grow it. A splash of chicken broth, another of dry white wine and place in a 450 degree oven for about an hour until everything smells fantastic and is browned and delicious. Check on it halfway and add more liquid if it’s dry. You want it to roast, not steam.

That’s it. One of the banes of my existence is timing. In my Thanksgiving cooking lesson, I taught my students to work back from dinner time. If dinner is at seven, the garlic mashed potatoes go on the fire at 6:30. The roast chicken is at 20 minutes per pound unstuffed and weighs X and needs an extra fifteen minutes to rest. If it’s simple I just do it by rote, if a dinner party I usually jot it down just to make sure I have hors d’oeuvres and other items out.

As you prepare for the holidays, please remember yourself. Don’t choose a meal that enslaves you to the kitchen with lots of last-minute fuss. This time is what roasts are for. Place some potatoes around that prime rib! Add carrots, rutabagas, whatever tickles your fancy. Place the roast out to rest and listen to the oohs and aahs. An open kitchen is what you want, with stools on the opposite side so you can talk with your guests and yet keep them out of your way.

Stick with me, kiddos. I’ll have you shopping the perimeter of the grocery store in the blink of an eye! Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Education, Recipes

Home

Posted on December 17, 2008 | Leave a comment

What is home? Mom is gone, and we have to stay in a hotel whenever we visit Dad. Jim’s folks give us the big back bedroom that the boys shared, with King bed because Jim likes his space. But if you make noise in the bathroom or turn on a light, the bulls are there, 15 feet away, staring and waiting for food. Looking into those cow eyes at 5:00 a.m. is not good, especially when they start talking and get the goats next door making human sounds.

I’ve wrestled with this for a long time and know that my place is alongside my husband Jim. Here in a loft? Right now that’s home but we’re open to different solutions.

We like living downtown and don’t think we could handle suburbs. Country is another option, but not one that can be exercised at this time. Here is home, we’ve been here over four years and can wait a few months to see what the markets are doing.

In the meantime there might be a movie worth seeing, other events as well. We’ll be here for Christmas and always have “strays” and may just do good things. Blog friend Susan is doing so for our troops. Check out potandkettle.wordpress.com Buy the book. I did. Take care, Dee

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Artemesia Gentileschi

Posted on December 16, 2008 | Leave a comment

Women and art. With all the castles and historic places and galleries I attended in Scotland and London, the most important work of art was at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, The Royal Collection, her self-portrait.

La Pittura (Self-portrait as the Allegory of Painting, 1638-39) is a Renaissance painting of a woman by a woman. That was simply not done in that era. I went to the exhibit by myself and ran into several women in this corner looking at this extraordinary work of art. All women, and amazed at the talent and bravery of one woman in 1638.

All my life I’ve been amazed at the talents of women that mainly get passed over by men. Family is a given with Owee, Mom, Joan and Lorna and Aunt Anna on Dad’s side. My violin teacher, Nancy S., Sallie P., Carol H., Mrs. H. (ballet and tap), Joanie and her Mom of course.

My H.S. French teacher, gymnastics coach, Margaret Fox and all my favorite female chefs (no, you’re not on Food Network).

Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Florence Nightengale, and then we have the story tellers. Joan Baez with Diamonds and Rust, Kate Wolf and the wildwood flower, my celtic storytellers and now Ms. Juni Fisher.

There are many more and that’s a good thing, because there can never be too many women to emulate. Given that we’re over 50% of the population, we need our girls to aspire to something great, like President. When I was six years old I had three precious books. One was “Four Days” about the death of JFK, another was about Abraham Lincoln, and the last about Annie Oakley, who was my heroine of the day.

What ties this together is that Jane, another heroine, is helping to restore a work of art by Artemesia Gentileschi. I believe women painted in those days but just weren’t given credit for it. Artemesia was brazen (not in a bad way) to paint herself this way.

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Posted in Editorial, Education, Friend Alert

Scotland

Posted on December 16, 2008 | 3 comments

I just read a lexicon of Brit terms that we Americans don’t understand. Of course, as a blog it was subject to merciless critics, some wrote about including Scots terms.

Aye, the Scots have always had that independent streak, a good thing. We could have used a lexicon to navigate the waters there last year, as we lived there for three months. I made sure we had a flat and negotiated the grocery stores first thing.

Second thing, actually, as I only brought a navy blazer and suit for Jim and it was snowing and sleeting upon our arrival. So our first stop was the outdoor store, Tiso, for winter gear. Bad wife.

But I learned to make breakfast with thin slices of pancetta, farm-fresh eggs and toast. At home I have to search for the cheddar I want, whether it be from Vermont or the UK. In Glasgow one buys “mature cheddar” of undetermined stature and it’s guaranteed to make a stellar grilled cheese sandwich for lunch.

We loved the pizzas, hated the burgers, loved the mussels. Also the fresh cold water we sipped by the gallon. The electric water heater in the shower was a trip. Jim scared the wits out of me telling me how hot the current was and to turn on and off every appliance at the source. Within 24 hours I knew how to boil water, make tea, cook eggs, and do laundry. The only appliance I didn’t use was the dishwasher as in a corporate apartment one only has four cups, spoons, forks, plates… you get the picture. It was easier and more cost-effective for me to hand-wash the dishes. With washing-up liquid, of course.

What I really liked about living downtown and walking everywhere, or taking trains, was that over there you don’t transport water. Your laundry soap comes in a pellet. Other than buying a sandwich and bottle of drinking water for lunch, one does not transport water home. Here I buy boxes of chicken broth. There it’s an Oxo cube which I gave away. They re-use bags and I still have my Tesco card. Also my Oyster card which I recently lent out to a friend in London on business.

Oh, and when you take the Tube, “Mind The Gap.” Cheers and good morning, folks! Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Education, Recipe Ideas

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Mincemeat

Posted on December 15, 2008 | 2 comments

My brother sent an email today. He lives in Manhattan, The Big Apple, and went to Zabars to find Crosse and Blackwell mincemeat to bring to Dad’s for Christmas. Apparently Dad is supposed to make the mincemeat tarts. Zabars didn’t have it. He went home and looked up mincemeat online.

First, the Crosse and Blackwell site pointed him to Hackensack NJ for the nearest jar of this fruit and sometimes meat mixture that is all apples and raisins and rum and brandy and all kinds of good stuff to put in a short crust and bake.

That didn’t work. So he went further and what did he find? My blog. That’ll teach him for not reading me from time to time!

It may be better that Mom is gone to find that her beloved Crosse and Blackwell label is now owned by Smuckers. But with Kevin in dire straits I was ready to send him my sole jar of mincemeat.

At the last moment, I found it on the Smuckers’ site under “specialty” items and Kevin ordered three jars to be sent directly to Dad pre-Christmas so he can make the tartlets. Mom always had a special Marie Antoinette champagne glass to cut the bottom piece, a precise “Mom” measurement of mincemeat, then used a champagne flute for the “hat.”

Let’s hope Dad figures that out. In the meantime I always remember Mom’s pastry recipe:

1.5 cups flour
1.5 sticks butter, chilled and cubed (3/4 cup)
1 teaspoon salt
3T ice water (maximum, depending upon consistency of the dough, weather, everything)

Pulse the flour, butter and salt in a food processor until it looks like peas or lentils. Add 2T water and pulse. If it comes together right away, it’s done. It shouldn’t look like a solid mass but should pull together if you grab a tablespoon full with your hand and it comes together. If it doesn’t, add a few more drops of ice water until it does so.

Hey, I’m not the pastry lady! My hands melt the stuff. DO NOT overwork the dough as you will enhance the gluten (which you want in bread but not in pastry) and make the resulting dough tough. Place the dough on a clean flat surface and make it into a small round. Wrap it in plastic and let it rest in the frig for at least 20 minutes. This allows the dough to relax and the gluten strands to stop forming.

Roll out and use your preferred cutters. I wish I’d asked for Mom’s. Mincemeat tarts were always a family staple from Thanksgiving through Christmas and while the glasses she used to cut the pastry were not valuable to any collector, I actually think Kevin should have them for offering mincemeat this year.

So, Dad, here’s how to make Mom’s mincemeat tarts, except for the year that she and A.L. made their own, with meat! I told you this already – they went back to C&B that is now owned by Smuckers.

There’s no getting near the post office today, the busiest day of the year for shipping. And USPS site is down is well and holding postage funds that it won’t allow me to print. Happy holidays to you, too, Uncle Sam!

It is going to be a new year and we can only hope to have a better economy and our troops home from Iraq. Wishing you the best this holiday season – Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Education, Friend Alert, Recipes, Recommended Pantry Contents

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