The Void and Neztra

Craving Kenya: Sukuma Wiki

2010-09-01T08:38:00.004-05:00

As many of my friends know, I once lived in Nairobi, Kenya in East Africa. I have fondest memories of this country, the people, culture and the food. I have to be honest, the food was an acquired taste. It is in general milder tasting, often with texture completely foreign to the western palette, but once you get use to it, a plate of mashed plantains can be quite exquisite.

While my family got settled in to our new home on the equator, my mother hired a housekeeper/cook named Jerita. With her tiny, birdlike frame, huge, beautiful smile and calm, almost zen-like composure, it was hard to believe that she had four children of her own and a huge extended family to support. Jerita cultivated many skills than made her the central figure and matriarch of her family, but cooking was where she truly shined. From ugali, a maize-based, grit like side dish, to irio and githeri, she was an ambassador of traditional Kenyan fare to my family.

Since leaving Kenya and the incredible Jerita in my past, I have often craved the unique flavor of one of Kenya's siganture dishes, Sukuma Wiki. A simple vegetarian stew of kale, tomatoes and spices, the flavor and earthiness brings me right back to a specific moment - my mother's kitchen in Kenya where while a little ghost gecko peered at me from the corner of the room and a panting dog lounged in a patch of dappled sunlight in the open doorway to the garden, I watched my mother avoid stepping on the fallen fruit of our avocado tree in the backyard while she hung laundry on a line. Meanwhile, a huge pot of Sukuma Wiki simmered gently on the stove and Jerita hummed softly as she gently lifted the lid and stirred the fragrant, steaming goodness inside. As long as there is Sukuma Wiki, that memory will always be with me.

So here it is, my recipe for one of Kenya's culinary treasures, Sukuma Wiki:

6 cups of fresh, washed and roughly chopped kale
2 TBSP vegetable oil
6 fresh cloves of garlic, crushed slightly, but still whole
1 cup of diced, white onions
1 can of Rotel or spiced tomatoes and peppers
2 cups beef broth
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Optional:
a dash of cumin
a dash of curry powder

Note: With fresh, not-sold-in-a-bag kale, to ensure there is no grit in your dish, I recommend filling a large pot with water and submerging the kale in the pot, agitating slightly to release the grit. I usually repeat this about three times with fresh water, then I give the leaves a ten minute vinegar bath to sanitize the leaves a bit. Then I drain the water from the leaves on a clean hand towel before chopping.

1. In a large, thick-bottomed pot, heat the olive oil over medium temperature.
2. Crush slightly the garlic cloves to open them up, but do not chop them up into small pieces. Also chop the onion into large pieces (about 1" cubed). Add garlic and onions to the pot and saute until the onions become limp an clear.
3. Remove the seeds from the jalapeno pepper along with the white ribs in the inside of the pepper. This will tone down some of the heat. If you prefer a lot of spicy heat, leave the ribs and if you are VERY adventurous the seeds as well. Dice into 1/4" pieces. Add to the pot and saute for another couple of minutes.
4. Add the can of Rotel or spicy peppers and tomatoes and the beef broth. Bring to a low boil.
5. Turn the heat down to medium low (about a three on your stove dial) and add the cleaned and chopped kale. Place a tight lid on top and let cook for five minutes. Stir the leaves and continue cooking for another ten or until the leaves are soft like cooked spinach.
6. This dish can be a bit soupy, so if you prefer less liquid, instead of pouring it out or draining it when serving, simple allow the kale to cook a little longer without the lid to reduce the liquid.

Enjoy while still warm on top of ugali, basmati rice, chapatis or with a side of dry-fried potatoes.

Neztra Recommends: Glaceau SmartWater

2010-08-26T11:24:00.006-05:00

I know what you are thinking, water is water and it is silly to waste money on something that is delivered right to your kitchen and is practically free. In theory, I have always agreed, but that was before I was introduced to SmartWater.

Most bottled water is spring water, which means to me that it could really contain any number of impurities, but the flavor is there. The flavor of some spring water remind me of camping in Colorado next to an ice cold mountain stream. Distilled water, impurity free, is a safe bet, but lacks any flavor. It is flat and pointless.

SmartWater is a combination of the two; distilled, but infused with electrolytes that lend a sharpness and depth to the flavor of the water that is missing in other distilled waters.

I am hooked! I just wish it wasn't so costly. I limit myself to one bottle a week that I then fill with water from my PUR water filtered tap at home. The water doesn't taste as good, but I cannot financially, or ecologically justify drinking only SmartWater.

On a side note, I do have to ask, Glaceau, why Jennifer Aniston? That had to be a costly investment. I am curious to see how her endorsement will affect sales. I am not blown away by the promotional campaign.

Still, Neztra recommends this brand for bottled water drinkers.

Standard disclaimer: I am not paid nor have I been blackmailed by Glaceau to endorse this product. Besides, who even reads this blog? Seriously.

Neztra Recommends: Tasty Bite - The Brand Says it All

2010-08-04T12:27:00.006-05:00

Continuing on the theme of taste vs. nutritional benefits, my latest product passion is one that I have been yearning to find for years.

When I lived in East Africa, I was introduced to the flavors of India and became an immediate fan. I still remember my first bite of searing hot Indian curry over cardamom rich basmati rice. It was like nothing I had ever tasted and something I couldn't imagine spending my life without. Sopping up the rich, creamy sauce left over from the Palak Paneer with warm, slightly smokey and softly buttered hunks of Naan was the best part.

Since then, every few weeks, I get a craving for some Indian curry and yes, there are restaurants in the area that boast a solid Punjab style Indian menu, but it isn't cheap and the ghee used in most of the recipes I love is as calorie rich as it is flavorful, which is why when I discovered packets of shelf stable and healthful Indian dishes by Tasty Bite, I experienced foodie Nirvana.

Now if you are like me, you have been to those dusty little Asian food stores where the products on the shelf are six months or more past their "best by" date and even when you get home, the scent of Naag Champas clings to the dingy packaging of whatever it is you have purchased. The flavors of the shelf stable Indian dishes you can buy at an Asian grocer have mild, toned-down spice profiles, more fat than anything else and are usually very runny and leave me unsatisfied. Tasty Bite is worlds away from those shadows of Indian culinary fare.

Full of spicy punch and large, recognizable chunks of veggies and beans, these shelf-stable, 90 second prep entrees in a bag are the next best thing to either spending three hours cooking in my own kitchen or spending $20 plus in a dark, dubious restaurant sandwiched between a head shop and a mostly deserted bar on a Friday night in the bad section of town (because, let's face it, those are the Indian restaurants that have the most authentic and delicious offerings).

The best thing is though, most of the products I have tasted run 200 calories or less per serving and they are a meal unto themselves!

My favorite is the Madras Lentils. It is like a spicy vegetarian chili with hints of ginger, cumin, cardamom and other delicious and punchy flavors. Another favorite is the Chunky Chickpeas in a garlic and ginger sauce. By itself or in a salad, the dish is hearty and wonderful.

If you are in pursuit of a low calorie, high fiber, low fat meal option, Tasty Bite products are right up your alley. Enjoy in good health!

Once again, I need to state that in no way are my statements endorsed by Tasty Bite(R) nor am I paid in any way for this review. I am simply passionate about this brand.

Neztra Recommends: PopChips - Snacking Satisfaction

2010-07-12T13:54:00.006-05:00

Eating healthy is a daily challenge. When choosing between a handful of carrots or a handful of M&Ms, making the healthier choice is like pulling sugar-rotten teeth. But since I am dedicated to becoming the incredible shrinking woman, I am on a quest to find tasty, healthy snack alternatives. When I stumbled upon PopChips, I discovered savory snacking nirvana.

Each 0.8 oz. bag has only 100 calories and more flavor than any baked chip I have ever tried and most fried chips as well. The Popchips web site has this to say about their product,

"We start with wholesome potatoes, add a little heat and pressure, along with a little snack magic. And pop! It's a chip."

Neither baked nor fried, this snack is a whole new world of delicious. There are currently seven flavors to choose from and each one of them is incredible. My favorites are Salt & Pepper and Barbecue, but even the Original, simply salted, is tasty.

If you are watching what you eat, you owe it to yourself to give them a try. If not available in your area, you can purchase them online through Amazon.com.

And for the record, no, I have absolutely no connection to PopChips nor am I paid in any way for this endorsement. I merely love these snacks.

Italian Sausage and Summer Veg Lasagna

2009-09-21T14:27:00.003-05:00

I love entertaining. Spending an evening in the company of my friends, in the comfort of my own home is pure bliss. Cooking for my friends is a pleasure I try to indulge in whenever possible.

Last week, I decided to make, for my friends, a dish that always gets raves from diners and since I am on a summer squash kick, it truly hit the spot.

Lasagna tends to be so heavy that not long after eating, a good nap is in order. This is, as far as I can tell, because of the abundance of carbs and cheese. I tend to make a slightly lighter version. Not to say that my lasagna is more healthy than the average lasagna, just that is seems lighter on the stomach.

Paired with a salad of fresh, mixed greens, grape tomatoes, sweet onion rings, pecans, cranberries, cucumbers and topped with a light grating of Gruyere and a garlic balsamic vinaigrette, this is a great meal for a group of four or more. The bulk of the work can be done the day before, so all you have to focus on the night of the dinner is the salad and some slicing some crusty french bread if you wish.

Wine pairing: Cabernet Sauvignon or Chianti

Be prepared - the prep and cooking process for this dish is two hours. I usually prep and construct the lasagna one night and bake it the next night.

Italian Sausage and Summer Veg Lasagna

3 Tsp. Olive Oil
1 medium Sweet Onion, diced
1 1/2 lb. fresh Italian Sausage (Hot or Sweet to taste), removed from the skin if linked
3/4 cup Red wine
1 large Yellow Summer Squash, sliced 1/2" thick, then cut each "coin" into fourths
1 large Zucchini, sliced 1/2" thick , then cut each "coin" into fourths
3 cups sliced, fresh White Mushrooms
4 Cloves of Garlic, roughly chopped
6 large, fresh Basil Leaves, cut into 1/4" pieces
2 20 oz. jars of Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce (yes, I can make my own, but I usually don't bother)
1/2 package no-boil Lasagna
1 cup Ricotta Cheese
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 cup Grated Asiago Cheese

Preheat the oven to 375F.

In a large frying pan, saute the onions in the olive oil over medium heat until the onions become soft and translucent. Add the Italian sausage, making sure to break it up into bite size pieces. Cook until sausage has browned. Add the red wine, garlic, squash, zucchini, and mushrooms. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until sausage is not pink in the middle and the veggies have softened. Remove the lid, stir in the basil and continue to simmer until the liquid has reduced to just cover the bottom of the pan.

In the meantime, spray the inside of a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Then coat the bottom of the dish with pasta sauce. Line the bottom of the pan with one layer of lasagna noodles, then another coating of sauce.

Sparingly add pearl onion sized dollops of ricotta on top of the lasagna. I prefer to keep the dollops between one and two inches apart. Then add one layer of the meat and vegetables, covering the noodles and cheese completely. Add a very light sprinkling of mozzarella cheese. Add another light layer of sauce and more noodles. Repeat the layering steps (noodles, sauce, ricotta, meat and veg, mozzarella and then sauce) until the dish has been filled to approximately 1/8" from the top. Sprinkle on any remaining mozzarella cheese and then the asiago cheese on top of that.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated oven at 375F for 60 minutes. Then remove the aluminum foil, being careful not to burn yourself, and place the pan back in the oven to bake, uncovered for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and slightly toasted on top.

Now comes the difficult part. It is best to let your lasagna rest on top of the stove for at least fifteen minutes before cutting into it. This will help all the layers come together and will be best for pretty plate presentation. If you just can't wait, that is fine too, but be prepared for burned tongues!

Either way, I hope you enjoy!

Yield: 8-10 LARGE portions

Randomness ... I love it.

2009-05-13T09:40:00.002-05:00

more fail, owned and pwned pics and videos

Gorgonzola Stuffed, Bacon Wrapped Medjool Dates with Balsamic Glaze

2009-04-30T08:00:00.004-05:00

I'm a city girl. The smallest community have ever been a part of is Dallas, TX. So you can imagine that I was fearful of the change when I moved to the very small town of Bentonville, Arkansas.

Because it is the home of Wal-Mart and many business people travel in and out each day, Bentonville is a unique community, merging the best of big city life and small town culture. With a population of around 35,000 people the city boasts a surprisingly wide range of dining experiences including at least, to my count, five Thai restaurants, two sushi joints and bona fide Indian takeaway.

In Bentonville Square, one of the newer restaurants is Table Mesa, offering an eclectic menu bounded loosely under the description of Latin. They will make a point to tell you that theirs is not a Mexican restaurant, though they do offer Mexican fare, from tacos to chili rellanos. They also offer a wonderful tapas section as well as Cuban, Spanish and South American fare. Fresh, well-seasoned and delicious, you would be hard-pressed to find something on the menu that lacks authenticity or flavor.

Nothing, however, compares to their margaritas (sweetened with agave juice) and an unassuming tapas dish aptly named the Cheap Date. The Cheap Date was recommended to us by our hostess, who assured us that we would love it, though, at the time, it sounded dubious, especially considering that I have never been a fan of dates. Boy was I wrong. A perfect combination of flavors and textures, this dish is addictive. The salty and smoky flavor of the bacon blends perfectly with the earthy sweetness of the dates and the creamy bite of the Gorgonzola cheese. Pure bliss.

So addicted am I and my little group of friends, that I created my own version of the Cheap Date at home and have been told that it is even better than what is served in the restaurant. Of course, these people are my friends, so I would not put it past them to lie about it. So I put it to you: Try this recipe at home and let me know what you think. As usual, I am not so much about the measure spoons and cups and with this recipe, you really don't have to be. Enjoy!

Gorgonzola Stuffed, Bacon wrapped Medjool Dates with Balsamic Glaze.

Speaking of Balsamic Glaze, you can make you own by reducing Balsamic Vinegar with a bit of sugar and a little butter, but if you can get a hold of a bottle of Blaze Balsamic Glaze (seen here at Amazon.com and apparently also available to purchase at Costco) you will be doing yourself a huge favor. Good Stuff!

8 Jumbo Medjool dates (I bought mine at Costco but if they are not available to purchase in your local area, they are readily available for purchase online)
8 slices of bacon
Brown Sugar
Balsamic Glaze
Cream Cheese (whipped works best)
Gorgonzola Cheese (I prefer BelGioioso brand)

In a medium-sized skillet, begin cooking the bacon over medium heat, turning every couple of minutes until the edges begin to curl. Sprinkle brown sugar on one side of the bacon, then turn the slices over and drizzle a very small bit of glaze on the other side of the bacon. Be very careful not to overcook the bacon. Be sure to turn the bacon over and cook the glaze into the bacon a bit. When done, the bacon should be not quite finished cooking and still pliable. If it is cooked too much, it will break when you try to wrap the dates.

In the meantime, place the dates in a microwave safe container with a tablespoon of water. Cover and heat in the microwave on high for about 20 seconds. This softens the dates slightly and makes the pits easier to remove.

Gently remove the pits, trying not to tear the flesh of the dates too much. Stuff a pea sized portion of cream cheese in the bottom of each date, then stuff with the Gorgonzola cheese to about 3/4 of the way full. Add another small dollop of cream cheese to the end of the date.

Carefully wrap each date with one slice of bacon, being careful not to burn yourself or break the bacon. The natural stickiness of the brown sugar and balsamic glaze will keep you from having to use tooth picks or anything else to secure the bacon to the date.

Gently wipe the skillet to remove most of the bacon grease and remnants, but leave a very small amount of grease in the pan. It should not pool in the bottom of the pan, but instead lightly coat the surface.

Place the dates in the skillet over medium heat with a teaspoon of water. Quickly place a lid on the pan and let cook for about a minute. Turn the dates and cook with the lid on again for another thirty seconds to one minute.

Remove, drizzle with a little bit of the balsamic glaze and serve while still warm.

Yields 8 dates - appetizers for four people

Your Demise vs. Animal Health...

2009-04-29T09:04:00.001-05:00

I love it. Best sign I have seen in years.

Question of the Day

2009-04-23T09:01:00.000-05:00

Question of the day: If you saw ME in a police car what would you think I got arrested for?

THCB: Simply Crusty Bread

2009-03-05T17:10:00.003-06:00

This week, it was Heather's turn to choose a recipe for THCB. Since I think she has a bit of an evil streak, I wasn't surprised when she immediately suggested we bake bread when I confessed that I never had, mainly due to a fear of the process.

My mother use to spend laborious hours, kneading, rising, punching down he bread and watching it rise again. It seemed excessively time consuming and muscle-strength sapping, especially since I do not own a stand mixer at the moment. Sidebar - if you have one that you would like to donate to me and you live in the Bentonville, AR area, I would gladly bake goods for you on a regular basis to get my hands on one without having to pay an arm and a leg to get the mixer.

Still, she took pity on me and picked a very simple recipe for Crusty bread. She then proceeded to trek all over Bed, Bad and Beyond with me as I picked out a bunch of culinary treasures, including a baking stone that, unfortunately, did not include a pizza peel. Still, I was excited to try my hand at bread baking.

The first thing I noticed is that the recipe is very easy! No endless kneading. No tired muscles at all! More importantly, no need to spend $300 on a standing mixer. Score!

The downside is you still have to wait a few hours for the dough to rise, but such is the nature of the yeast beast. It was well worth the wait.

Other than a lingering burnt odor that I am attributing to the brand new baking stone since my oven is SPOTLESS (for now), the baking process was easy-peasy and my bread came out of the oven looking like it belonged in a proper boulangerie at 5:00am rather than my modest kitchen.

I couldn't resist the urge to cut one of the loaves open when it was still hot and steamy and slather a little butter on it. The resulting slice was like pure heaven. Still a little moist, not dry at all, with a delicious, nutty flavor to the crust, which is amazing considering this was nothing but flour, yeast, salt and water! I am amazed.

The only negative I can report is that the bread was a bit dense, which was lovely the first day, but meant that after the first day, unless the bread was warmed in the microwave or in the toaster, it tasted dry and a little tough. I think next time I will knead the bread a bit more and maybe even let it rise twice instead of once. If I remember correctly, that is what lends a lighter, fluffier feel to the bread. On another note, round loaves do not make more than two good sandwiches, so I think I may attempt to bake a longer loaf next time. I still have half the dough in the fridge. I may also try making pizza out of it. If I do, I'll take pictures and share them.

All in all, I am very pleased with this week's baking. Thanks for the entre into bread baking HB! You rok.

Simple Crusty Bread

Adapted from “Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day,” by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoë François (Thomas Dunne Books, 2007)

Time: About 45 minutes plus about 3 hours’ resting and rising

1 1/2 tablespoons yeast

1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt

6 1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour, more for dusting dough

Cornmeal.

1. In a large bowl or plastic container, mix yeast and salt into 3 cups lukewarm water (about 100 degrees). Stir in flour, mixing until there are no dry patches. Dough will be quite loose. Cover, but not with an airtight lid. Let dough rise at room temperature 2 hours (or up to 5 hours).

2. Bake at this point or refrigerate, covered, for as long as two weeks. When ready to bake, sprinkle a little flour on dough and cut off a grapefruit-size piece with serrated knife. Turn dough in hands to lightly stretch surface, creating a rounded top and a lumpy bottom. Put dough on pizza peel sprinkled with cornmeal; let rest 40 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough or refrigerate it.

3. Place broiler pan on bottom of oven. Place baking stone on middle rack and turn oven to 450 degrees; heat stone at that temperature for 20 minutes.

4. Dust dough with flour, slash top with serrated or very sharp knife three times. Slide onto stone. Pour one cup hot water into broiler pan and shut oven quickly to trap steam. Bake until well browned, about 30 minutes. Cool completely.

Yield: 4 loaves.

Variation: If not using stone, stretch rounded dough into oval and place in a greased, nonstick loaf pan. Let rest 40 minutes if fresh, an extra hour if refrigerated. Heat oven to 450 degrees for 5 minutes. Place pan on middle rack.

THCB: Scottish Sharp-Cheddar Shortbread

2009-02-18T13:01:00.004-06:00

I've never made shortbread in my life. I've never even heard of Scottish Sharp Cheddar Shortbread. When I located this recipe on epicurious.com it was so different a concept that I just had to try it.

Remember last week when I said I love chocolate? Well, cheese is in the same category for me. Not only are there so many varieties of delicious cheese in the world that I have probably only scratched the surface as far as the flavors I have personally tried, but cheese is such a versatile ingredient in baked food that one could dedicate a lifetime to understanding the potential goodness of each style of cheese.

I personal favorites are Gruyere, Aged Swiss, and Asiago - the harder, sharp cheeses that seem to dance on the pallet like fine wine. I've made some of the best fondues with a mixture of Gruyere and Swiss, but that is another story for another day.

This Scottish Sharp-Cheddar Shortbread recipe was so easy that I would even recommend it as something to bake with your kids. The ingredients are simple and the steps are few and fun.

I did stray from the recipe slightly. I added a little more cayenne than recommended to bring out the sharpness of the cheese and ended up not finding as dry a cheddar as I would have liked. I also cut the shortbread into squares instead of circles to avoid wasting dough and having to reroll it out, which, as the recipe states, makes the resulting shortbread a bit stiffer and not as delicate.

The resulting flavor was similar to popular White Cheddar cheese crackers, but the flavor was much more complex and the texture was, as the recipe title suggests, similar to a regular shortbread cookie.

These treats were a perfect compliment to the Creamy Tomato Basil Soup I made the same night and a glass of Gewurztraminer - A perfect trio for a February night.

Scottish Sharp-Cheddar Shortbread
Courtesy of Epicurious.com

Ingredients
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* Pinch of cayenne pepper
* 8 ounces extra-sharp white Cheddar cheese, finely shredded
* 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

Using electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment, beat together butter, salt, black pepper, and cayenne at low speed just until blended. Add Cheddar and flour and mix at low speed just until smooth (do not over mix). Shape dough into disk, wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper, and chill 30 minutes.

Arrange racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat to 350°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

On lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4- to 1/8-inch-thick round. Using 1 1/2- to 2-inch round cutter, cut out rounds and arrange 1 1/2 inches apart on baking sheets. Reroll scraps if desired (rerolled scraps will be tougher).

Bake shortbread until lightly golden and beginning to brown on edges, about 13 to 15 minutes. Cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.

Cook's Notes:

•Look for a sharp, white Cheddar that is on the dry side, such as English Wensleydale Farmhouse Truckle or Extra Old Black Diamond Cheddar.
•It's important not to whip air into the dough — simply mix until blended.

Two Hot Chicks Baking: Triple Chocolate Brownies

2009-02-11T20:51:00.004-06:00

I love chocolate. Let me say that one more time. I love chocolate. White chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, flavored chocolate - you name it. By the way, if you are every feeling adventurous and want to try some truly delicious and unique chocolate, find yourself a bar of Belgium-made Dolfin Milk Chocolate with Hot Masala (you can order it online at World Wide Chocolate).

I have been on the hunt for the perfect brownie recipe for years. I am pretty picky about my brownies. They have to be the perfect balance of richness, heady chocolaty goodness and chewy texture. So when HP Sauce and I were trying to decide what to bake this week, it was an easy decision to make brownies our next endeavour.

We decided to try Nigella Lawson's Triple Chocolate Brownie recipe this time. It was so significantly different from any brownie recipe that I had ever made that I thought maybe, just maybe, Nigella knew something I didn't about the perfect brownie recipe. Six eggs... six eggs??? Three sticks of butter? Wow. I would either love them or die of hardening of the arteries just gazing at their buttery goodness. Alas, I did survive both the mixing, baking and taste testing of these rich brownies and have to say that, although they are not my ideal vision of a brownie, they are quite good heated in the microwave for a bit and served piping hot with a scoop of french vanilla ice cream melting on top. The richness of the brownie is like eating an almost souffle-like fudge. I don't know any other way of describing them. So if that sounds good to you, then I highly recommend this recipe.

One warning - HP Sauce and I ran into the same problem with this recipe. Twenty-five minutes in the oven simply didn't do the trick. HP figured this out too late, but after a quick consultation with her, I decided to leave mine in a bit longer. So I checked them at the 30 minute mark. Not done. 35 minutes, still goo in the middle. At forty, they were starting to look good and I decided to heed Nigella's warning to not cook the life out of them. Even so, these brownies are still on the under-done side in the very center. So if you have any solutions when you try this recipe, hit me up - I'd love to know your fix.

Triple Chocolate Brownies
Recipe courtesy of Nigella Lawson and Food Network.com

Ingredients
3 sticks plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 ounces best-quality bittersweet chocolate
6 eggs
1 3/4 cups superfine sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white chocolate buttons, chips, or morsels
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate buttons, chips or morsels
Approximately 2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar, for garnish

Special equipment: Baking tin (approximately 11 1/4 inches by 9 inches by 2 inches), sides and base lined with baking parchment.
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt the butter and dark chocolate together in a large heavy based pan over a low heat.

In a bowl or large measuring jug, beat the eggs together with the superfine sugar and vanilla extract.

Allow the chocolate mixture to cool a little, then add the egg and sugar mixture and beat well. Fold in the flour and salt. Then stir in the white chocolate buttons or chips, and the semisweet chocolate buttons or chips. Beat to combine then scrape and pour the brownie mixture into the prepared tin.

Bake for about 25 minutes. You can see when the brownies are ready because the top dries to a slightly paler brown speckle, while the middle remains dark, dense and gooey. Even with such a big batch you do need to keep checking on it: the difference between gooey brownies and dry ones is only a few minutes. Remember, too, that they will continue to cook as they cool.

To serve, cut into squares while still warm and pile up on a large plate, sprinkling with confectioners' sugar pushed with a teaspoon through a small sieve.

Grandmothers Rule the World

2009-02-06T13:03:00.005-06:00

As I have mentioned before, I am a novice baker with aspirations far greater than current abilities allow. But I come from a long line of excellent bakers. My grandmother is perhaps the greatest of them all.

Just so you know, Granny isn't the typical warm and fuzzy, stay at home cooking all day granny. Grandmother Helen likes to drive stick-shift sports cars. At 83 years old, she is still a very successful Avon salesperson. She travels by herself several times a year and made the journey twice to Kenya on her own when I was growing up there. She is adventurous, intelligent and fiercely independent - all of the character traits I hope to embody some day. She is also epically secretive about her trademark recipes - those decadent and devilishly delicious desserts that we moan in ecstasy over during the holidays and other special occasions.

To this day, I don't know what makes her apple pie the best. My mother and I are both very proud of the apple pies we serve and both have been complimented to no end on various occasions, however, in a blind taste test, Granny's pie will win out every time.

As she approaches the middle of her 80's I think Granny is finally starting to get to the point where she is ready to release her iron-fisted grip on her trademark recipes. This past year, I got a little misty-eyed when, for my birthday, she sent me not only her coveted Red Velvet Cake recipe that has been passed down from mother to mother since the beginning of the 20th century, but she also sent me recipes for some 30's, 40's and 50's era recipes, including an incredible recipe for Tomato Soup Cake, which sounds disgusting, but is actually quite nice. She also sent Victorian Lace Cake, Mayonnaise Quick Bread and an assortment of other odd, but delicious recipes.

So be on the lookout for some mid-20th century recipe reviews to come your way over the next few months.

It will be keen, groovy, and above all else, the cats pajamas.

Two Hot Chicks Baking: Ginger Snaps

2009-02-03T21:26:00.011-06:00

My buddy HP Sauce, aka Hot Pants, aka Eddy and I love baking. She loves it because she happens to be very, very good at it. I love it because I aspire to one day be good at it and it always results in tasty stuff I shouldn't eat.

Eddy is already a seasoned food blogger. She belongs to a bunch of food blogs and is something of an online bloggy celeb in some circles. Me, I just bask in her sunshine.

Eddy and I decided to start our own cooking group. What name would we call it? Why "Two Hot Chicks Baking" of COURSE. Because, well, I think it is obvious.

I love ginger. Ginger is the perfect balance of hot, sweet and exotic and can wear so many personalities that you might think it should be named Sybil. From Thai Coconut Curry to Pickled along side sushi, ginger rounds out some of the most delicious savory dishes in Asia and around the world.

On the home front, ginger takes on a new, more comforting facet as a layer in many, typically holiday traditional desserts. Playing a supporting role in dishes like Pumpkin Pie and Carrot Cake, Ginger is usually relegated to a subtle background role that is some times hard to pinpoint. For a starring role, Ginger shows its true personality when used to make one of my all time favorite cookies, Ginger Snaps. The hot, comforting flavor is the perfect accompaniment to a nice cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter day.

I've never made Ginger Snaps before, but Alton Brown, my personal Culinary Hero recently featured a recipe on his fabulous Food Network show, Good Eats for Ginger Snaps using not one but three forms of ginger; fresh, dried and candied. I had to try it and now, I share the results with you.

I wasn't able to find candied ginger at my local grocery store, but since I am not really a fan of it anyway, it wasn't a big deal to leave it out of the recipe. These snaps were good, except that they were not as "snappy" in texture as I am use to, but the flavor is incredible. I have never had Ginger Snaps like this before. Next time, I will probably increase the brown sugar and decrease the molasses quantity a bit to fix the texture of the resulting cookie, but other than that, these were pure heaven and I recommend them to anyone who loves Ginger.

So, without further ado, Alton Brown's Gingeriest of the Ginger Snaps:

Alton Brown's Ginger Snaps
Source: Food Network

Ingredients

* 9 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 tablespoon ground ginger
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
* 1/2 teaspoon ground clove
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 7 ounces dark brown sugar
* 5 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
* 3 ounces molasses, by weight
* 1 large egg, room temperature
* 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
* 4 ounces finely chopped candied ginger

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cardamom, clove and salt.

Place the brown sugar and butter into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on low speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the molasses, egg and fresh ginger and beat on medium for 1 minute. Add the crystallized ginger and using a rubber spatula, stir to combine. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until well combined.

With a 2-teaspoon sized scoop, drop the dough onto a parchment lined half sheet pan approximately 2-inches apart. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 12 minutes for slightly chewy cookies or 15 minutes for more crisp cookies. Rotate the pan halfway through cooking.

Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to stay on the sheet pan for 30 seconds before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with all of the dough. Store in an airtight container for up 10 days. If desired, you may scoop and freeze the cookie dough on a sheet pan and once frozen, place in a resealable bag to store. Bake directly from the freezer as above.

Very Good Taste's Omnivore's Hundred

2008-09-05T15:19:00.004-05:00

I've seen at many blogs I visit and decided to give it a try. This started with Andrew at Very Good Taste.

Here are the instructions:

1. Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2. Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3. Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4. Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake - All but the elephant ears
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill - not into bacteria-laden flesh thanks - consider this crossed off
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse - couldn't do it... sorry, saw National Velvet one too many times as a child.
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

French Toast Casserole

2008-08-20T09:50:00.009-05:00

A couple of years ago, I began a new tradition in my family by making French Toast casserole with Italian Pannetone Bread (a slightly sweet, seasonal bread originally from Milan that is speckled with bits of dried citrus fruit) and topped with hot Vermont maple syrup on Christmas Eve to be popped into the oven while we open presents on Christmas Day. Most years, I go from Christmas to Christmas only making this recipe once, though my family is addicted to it. This year, I decided to take advantage of the popularity of this little spin on a traditional favorite by making the recipe a bit more summer-friendly. The result was surprisingly delicious and received rave reviews from my family. Of course, they have to like what I cook, if not, they will be forced to face dreary Saturday morning bowls of grey, mushy shredded wheat...

I love stone fruit, but I am very picky about the texture, tanginess and sweetness of these pulpy little treasures. This summer, nectarines are delicious! Sweet, tangy and so juicy that you need several napkins to mop up the delicious nectar as it dribbles down your chin, these messy but divine fruits have been a summer snack staple for me. Adding this delicious flavor to my french toast casserole was easy and with a couple of small tweaks, was enough to bring a little golden sunshine to a treat usually relegated to cold winter mornings.

French Toast Casserole - Summer Sweet Remix

1 loaf of crusty french bread, sliced 1 inch thick
6 eggs
1 cup of heavy cream
1/2 cup of milk
1/3 cup dark corn syrup
4 Tbsp. of dark brown sugar
3 large, ripe nectarines
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 stick of melted butter (4 Tbsp. before melted)

Mix the corn syrup, 3 of the four Tbsp. of brown sugar and melted butter and pour evenly over the bottom of a 13-inch, glass casserole dish/baking pan.

Place the slices of bread on top of the sugar mix, creating a layer of bread covering the entire bottom of the dish.

Beat together the eggs, cream, milk, cinnamon and salt until combined. Pour the mixture evenly over the bread.

Store in the refrigrator overnight or for at least four hours to set. When removed from the fridge, the egg mixture should have soaked into the bread almost completely.

Preheat the oven to 350. Cook for 45-60 minutes, or until a fork inserted into the bread comes out clean.

While the bread is cooking, dice the nectarines and toss gently with the remaining tablespoon of brown sugar. Place in the refridgerator until the french toast is done.

Remove the french toast from the oven and let set for at least 15 minutes to cool slightly.

Serve each portion with a nice, heaping spoonful of nectarines and top, if you wish with a dusting of powdered sugar or a spoonful of whipped cream.

I like to add a few pecans in with the fruit as well for a little added "southern" flavor.

Makes enough for 4 very hungry people with a little left over for the extra hungry person at the table.

I usualy serve mine with a side of thick bacon and some searing hot coffee.

Enjoy!

Movie Review - Pineapple Express

2008-08-10T18:58:00.003-05:00

I wasn't planning a trip to the movies this weekend, but my bestest bud and loyal movie going companion HP Sauce was bored and called this morning to see if I wanted to go see Pineapple Express. It looked like a funny way to pass a Sunday afternoon, so I begged off the weekly grocery shopping trip and headed up to Addison.

I had no clue. That's the best way to describe my reaction to this film. I HAD NO CLUE IT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE THIS GOOD!!!

Action packed and full of guffaw-worthy dialog, it truly exceeded my expectations. Of couse, part of the fun was listening to the stoner's sitting to my left repeat over and over "Dude! This is the best film EVER!" That just added to the hilarity.

Through the violence and comedy, the spirit of friendship was a theme that rode its way right to the end of this film. HP sauce and I had a really good time. She's my bud. I really appreciate her friendship. I hope she knows that. :)

3.75 puffs.... um, that is, winks.

32 is a dirty, dirty number

2008-07-30T17:19:00.003-05:00

So yesterday was my birthday. No, no...if you didn't remember on the date, don't bother showering me with expensive gifts today. They will buy you no leverage with me on the 30th of the month...

B-days are supposed to be fun, right? So guess where I spent my 32nd birthday, pondering the meaning of life in my thirties, why I am where I am in life, etc. and more. Nope, you probably guessed wrong.

Let me start off by saying that procrastination is sort of a personal challenge for me. In business, I am Miss Pro-Active, but in my personal life, not so much. So it was not surprising to anyone who knows me personally when I announced that I had to get my Texas driver's license because it was expiring on my birthday.

Unfortunately, getting Homeland Security clearance when I worked at the Federal Reserve Bank was easier than getting my Texas driver's license. Forms of ID needed to procure a license:

1. Birth certificate
2. Soc. Sec. card
3. Two other random and obscure forms of ID - take your pic - two years worth of insurance policy history, a voter's registration card, marriage license, the list continues.

I won't go into too many details, but here's the timeline:

DMV - 20 minutes
Tag Office - 20 minutes
DMV (again) - 20 minutes
Social Security Office - 2 hours
Home (getting insurance company to fax me pages and more pages worth of documentation) - 45 hour
DMV (for the third time) - 1 hour
Travel time between destinations - about a half hour all total. Thankfully, the various offices are all located within five to ten miles of each other.

Since visiting government offices is something I avoid like the dentist, gynecologist and all cheesy self-help books combined, it is safe to say that five hours dealing with bureaucracy was not a fun way to spend my birthday. However, at the end of it all, I have my license, a receipt for the registration on my car (that I threw away a month ago by accident apparently), voter status in TX, a new copy of my social security card that has been missing for the past ten years and a new sense of relief that I should not be forced to visit any of these offices again any time soon. So, all in all, I came out on top....I guess.

Movie Review - Stepbrothers

2008-07-28T17:41:00.006-05:00

I'm going to make this review short and sweet if I can - the way I wish this movie had been. Can you see where this is going?

The only thing that would make this film watchable would be booze. Lots of booze. Will Ferrell is like cotton candy - good in small doses and during very select times of the year. He has made some gems over the years - My favorites are probably not your favorites. I liked Elf and Anchorman to name a couple. But like cotton candy, too much Ferrell is sickening and begins to be the same old flat, one-dimensional flavor after the first five minutes.

There is a scene in this movie where one of the characters tells Will Ferrell that they want to punch him, just because his face makes them want to punch him. That's usually how I feel about John C. Reilly. He may be a perfectly nice person, but he usually just annoys me. If Will Ferrell is a one-dimensional actor, Reilly is usually 1/2 of a dimensional actor. Physically impossible you say? I say not. However, for once, I didn't hate John C. Reilly. He was the better of the two main actors in this film.

Yes, there were some funny moments, but, and maybe I am just getting too old for this stuff, my 32 birthday is tomorrow, after all, but after the first half hour, it was just more and more of the same, with a dash of scrotum and a pinch of bicycle abuse thrown in for good measure.

1.5 very generous winks.

Movie Review - The Dark Knight

2008-07-23T08:31:00.008-05:00

This past weekend, I trekked up to Addison to join my buds HP Sauce (of Randomosity and the Girl fame) and BLN for dinner (drinks) and a movie at Studio Movie Grill. It is beginning to be a regular thing for HP Sauce and I and now that BLN has joined us, our little circle of hilarity is complete. We had a blast. I don't think I have laughed that hard in a bit. Good buds that you can be yourself with - there's just nothing better.

So we decided to watch the Dark Knight and due to the hype we kept reading, we decided to pre-order our tickets. Good thing - the theater was packed!

So the hype, we all heard about how great this film was going to be way back in February and began to hear rumors of Oscar nods to Heath Ledger for his role as the Joker shortly after his passing. The cynic in me dreaded watching this film for fear of finding out that the hype was just that - hype.

Two and a half hours later, when the credits rolled up, all I could do was sit there in amazement for a moment. For once, the cynic in me had nothing to chortle about. The film lived up to ever bit of the hype. I was astounded, astonished, amazed - basically unable to think of enough alliterative words to decribe my state.

The Batman: I've always had a thing for Christian Bale, or maybe just Chirstian Bale's abs. No, definitely the whole package. He's a great actor, chooses interesting roles that are well suited to him and is gorgeous. As the Batman, he is nothing to scoff at and in this film, he delivered as usual, however, he was overshadowed by -

The Joker: We all knew Heath Ledger was a wonderful actor with a bright and promising future, but I never saw him come alive in a role the way he did as the Joker. Every head shake, every quirk and mannerism, every well-timed, nuanced and crafted phrase was another peek into the psyche of a bigger-than-life, but strangely, very realistic villain and madman. At the end of the film, I was left wanting more. I wanted to know more about what drove him to that place in life and whether any of his strange testimonies of heartbreak leading to a carved up face were real or all lies. I am sure there are plenty of Batman fans out there who know the story of the Joker from his birth to death, but I am just a casual Batfan, so bear with me if I am ill-informed. This review is about this movie specifically, not about the whole Batman story/franchise.

Best Scene in the film: The Joker's exodus from the hospital. Hilarious in very small ways and some really big ways.

All together, the acting was incredible, the music score phenominal and the pacing was surprisingly good for a 2 1/2 hour movie with not one, but two villianous plot lines and more connected scenes that I can even remember.

This is a keeper and the best film I have seen thus far this year. 4.75 winks out of 5.

Movie Review - Funny Games (Not so funny actually...)

2008-07-17T13:12:00.005-05:00

You would think that with a title like Funny Games, this might be a fairly harmless little film, boring maybe, but unable to affect the viewer on any deep level. If you think that, you are playing right into the director's hands. That is pretty much the theme of this film - the audience playing into the director's hands.

This suspense thriller that morphs into so much more is about a sweet little family vacation that goes horribly wrong when two psychotic young men happen upon the family's cabin on a lake. And you are clued into this from the first five minutes when a cute little game of "name that opera composer" in the car turns into the name of the film, in bright red letters across the entire screen, with ear piercingly raw rock music (or noise if you are like me) screeching through your speakers.

Let's start with the pros:

1. The acting: Naomi Watts and Tim Roth are incredible in this film. Michael Pitt and Brady Cobert are creepy and in some ways, downright hilarious, but totally believable at the same time.
2. The interesting visual perspectives, pacing and, in some ways, radical departures from traditional film culture.

Cons:

1. The violence. I won't go into details for anyone who wants to actually watch this movie, but I will say that this film acheived what I am sure the director hoped it would: nausea. Keep in mind, the actual blood and gore in this film is surprisingly pretty tame. Especially compared to slasher/gore films of late. But what is more terrifying is the very realistic potential for violence in the two young men and their utter lack of a sense of normal moral code. It is terrifying in its plausability. I am assuming that this film was not meant so much to be a scary movie, but more of a comment on scary movies and the audiences that flock to needlessly violent films and have been so numbed to their affect that only the most radical threat of violence can get through the audience's hard shell.
2. The pacing. I know, I just got done saying that it was a pro. And in some ways it is, but, and again, I believe this was intentional, there are points in this film where you want to scream "get on with it!" at the screen.
3. The feeling I was left with when the film was over. Again, I am not going to ruin it for anyone who wants to watch the film, so I'll say no more.

All in all, I am having a really hard time rating this movie. For film buffs, I think this is a gem, but for the average viewing audience, it just isn't good entertainment and I can't recommend this to someone looking for a fun evening in with popcorn and friends. Bottom line - you've been warned - watch at your own risk.

For film buffs: 3.5 winks
For everyone else: 2.5 winks

Weekend pancakes

2008-07-13T12:43:00.003-05:00

I love getting up on a weekend morning and to make pancakes for everyone at home. Everyone is fresh, well-rested and happy early in the morning and a nice, leisurely pancake breakfast is such a great way to spend time with people I care about. The only problem is, pancakes can be a little bit time-consuming sometimes. So the solution I have devised over the years is to use a pancake mix, jazzed up with my special blend of additional ingredients to make pancakes that taste like they are from scratch. So here it is.... my weekend Strawberry pancake recipe:

2 cups of good quality just-add-water pancake mix
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups chopped fresh strawberries
2 Tbsp. dark brown sugar
4 Tbsp. melted butter
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine all of the ingredients, adding the water gradually. You don't want to have overly thin pancake mix, so you may have to revise the water you add to the mix to suit your own needs. Don't overstir - the batter should just come together. I like the batter to be a little thicker with all the strawberries in it so that the batter cooks faster. It is less likely to burn.

Ladle 1/4 cups of batter per pancake on a griddle over medium heat.

That's all there is to it. These pancakes taste much better than out of the box pancakes and only take about ten minutes longer to make. Enjoy!

Beer, what?

2008-07-10T10:42:00.004-05:00

I don't know what has happened to me lately, but the Fourth of July weekend finally broke my distaste for beer. Historically, I have never been a drinker of beer. Sure, when at a party or barbecue and there is nothing else to drink, I've been known to imbibe, but when strolling down the aisles of my local booze boutique, I rarely head for the beer section. A good bottle of reisling, gewurtztrameiner, merlot or cab is usually in my basket along with a bottle of Malibu Rum and fixings for some fruity-tooty cocktails, but rarely do I slip a six-pack of lager into the mix unless I am having beer-drinking buds over.

A few months ago, a work buddy of mine introduced me to Budweiser Select. Not my favorite drink, but something I decided I could actually enjoy if I were forced to drink beer. Then the weekend before last, my little bro conned me into drinking a bottle of Becks. Yum! So fourth of July weekend, I decided to be a good little American and buy some beer, for ME to drink at our family barbecue. And I enjoyed it! So I guess, in my 30's, I have finally aquired a taste for beer.

I don't know whether to be disappointed with myself or resigned to my fate as a barley-hound.

Still - I love a good cocktail. Here's a couple I concocted for my mum this past weekend. She said they were (and I quote) "aweshum". She was feeling no pain at that point...

Tropical Twilight (hey! my drink - I get to name it)
2 oz. Malibu Rum
.5 oz. Dark Rum
Juice of 1/2 lime
3 oz. coke or diet coke
2.5 oz. 7up or diet 7up
1/2 tsp. raw sugar
crushed ice
sugar cane swizzle stick or regular swizzle stick.

Squeeze the juice of 1/2 a lime into a large tumber. Add the raw sugar and stir.

Add crushed ice to fill 1/3 of the glass.

Pour in the malibu rum, dark rum, and 7Up. Shake a little to combine.
Gently pour the coke on top of the other ingredients. If you do this right, you'll have a nice gradient of light to dark from the bottom of the glass to the top.

Add the swizzle stick down the side of the glass, but do not stir. Serve.

I'll try to take a picture and add it so that you all can see what it looks like. It is yummy!

Second drink I made this weekend:

Sun Beams (working title - this is a sort of less sweet, more punchy pina colada)
2 oz. dark rum
1/2 oz. triple sec
2.5 oz. pineapple juice
1 oz. coconut milk
2 oz. orange juice
juice of 1 small lime
crushed ice
3 Pineapple chunks and a slice of lime for garnish
swizzle stick

In a large tumbler, shake together rum, triple sec and crushed ice (enough to fill the glass 1 3rd of the way).
Add the pineapple juice, coconut milk, orange juice and all but 1 tsp of the lime juice. Stir well.
Float the last tsp. of lime juice on top of the glass. Stick the pineapple chunks on the swizzle stick and submerge into the liquid. Float the lime slice on top of the drink. Serve.

2nd Movie Review - July 4th Weekend

2008-07-06T19:20:00.005-05:00

Across the Universe - starring Rachel Evan Wood, Jim Sturgess, etc.

I have to admit it -I am a huge fan of the Beatles. One of my first memories as a child was my father playing the guitar and singing "If I Fell". From that time on, the Beatles music became the soundtrack of my youth. So when I heard that a movie made been made featuring Beatles music, I was thrilled! Then I got sidetracked and never made it to the theater to see the movie. Then it came out on DVD and I forgot about it. So when I went to my local Blockbuster this weekend and saw this title, I snagged it.

I wasn't dissappointed. Filled with emotional snapshots of the late sixties focused on the war in Vietnam and the social upheaval as a result here in the USA, this film was a feast for the emotions: joy, wonder, awe, sadness, anger, frustration and love, this film envokes it all.

Cleverly thrown in are characters that mirror some of the biggest names in music in the 1960's - Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and more.

Also featured was Eddie Izzard, who is quite possibly one of my favorite celeb personalities.

I may be one of a few since I didn't hear a lot about this movie when it came out, but I loved it and will most likely see it over and over. 4.25 winks.

Movie Review - Fourth of July Weekend

2008-07-06T12:48:00.004-05:00

Since I avoid movie theaters on holidasy weekends as if they are filled with ravenous, brain-material craving zombies with a special penchance for the flesh of 30-something women, I do not have any "now in theaters" movies to review this week. However, my Blockbuster account is still active, so I rented some DVDs instead.

Speaking of Blockbuster, has anyone noticed the particular frenzy that is Friday night at Blockbuster? People are nuts. Say you are reading the back of the latest Harry Potter movie on DVD and it happens to be the last one on the shelf. People will hover over you, waiting to see if you will put the movie back on the shelf or not.

Sometimes I mess with them a little bit. I'll just stand there, with the movie in my hands, reading the back for about five minutes while they circle me like a voracious vulture. Sometimes I'll hold on to the DVD, even if I am not planning to rent it. I know....I think I have an evil streak sometimes...

So, on to movie reviews. Pickings were slim this weekend and the reviews will reflect that.

The Signal - starring people that are somewhat decent actors, but relatively unattractive and so, apparently unmarketable to the average film viewer and thus, totally unfamous.

This is one of those movies that I expected to be sort of terrible. Image my surprise when I found that not only was this movie well directed and fairly well acted, but, for a horror movie, boasted a fair level of social consciousness and depth, even with an incredibly ambiguous storyline. The first section "Transmission 1" was eerie and terrifying. "Transmission 2" was hilarious and ridiculous, in a great way. "Transmission 3" was the weakest of the three secitons of the movie, but still did a good job of wrapping up.

All in all, I give this 3.5 winks.

More to come...

Nom

2008-06-30T15:51:00.007-05:00

My friend HP Sauce has inspired me to write about food, which is, if anyone has ever met me, obviously a love of mine. I love to cook. I am not a genius in the kitchen, but I try hard and like to think that I have a slightly above average pallet. So I am going to start posting recipes as I try them if they are truly good. This weekend, I made a Coconut-Cashew Basmati Rice Salad. This recipe smells SO GOOD when cooking and whets the appetite of your dinner party well before it is ready to eat. It was sheer perfection with grilled salmon, asparagus and green onions. I highly recommend the combination. Here's the rice recipe. I found it in Bobby Flay's Boy Meets Grill, but changed it up a bit to suit my taste:

2 cups of well rinsed and drained basmati rice
1-14 oz. can of unsweetened coconut milk
2 1/2 cups of water
1 medium sweet, white onion, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger
2 medium cloves of garlic, finely minced
4 Tbsp. vegetable oil
10 large green onions, sliced
1 cup raw cashews, halved
3/4 cup shredded coconut
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat 3 Tbsp. of vegetable oil in a large sauce pan with a nice, thick bottom over medium-high heat. Add the sliced white onion, minced garlic and grated ginger. Cook for about five minutes or until the onions are translucent in color, but not browned.

At the same time, in a seperate pan, heat the water and coconut milk over medium heat.

Add the rice to the onions in the sauce pan and saute for about three minutes. When the coconut milk and water comes to a soft boil, pour the liquid gently over the rice and stir quickly to mix. Immediately cover the pan and turn the heat down to the lowest setting. Let cook for 20 minutes. DO NOT STIR, MIX, REMOVE LID, OR LOOK AT THE RICE TOO HARD. Seriously, don't touch it for 20 minutes, even though you'll want to.

While the rice is cooking, heat the remaining 1 Tbsp. of vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the cashews and saute until they begin to brown. Turn the cashews out onto some paper towels to drain and add salt to taste.

Turn the shredded coconut out into the heated pan and toss continuously for a minute until some of the coconut starts to brown. Do not cook until all coconut is brown. you are going for a light toasting, which means about 25% of the coconut pieces will be brown.

Toss three-fourths of the cashews, the toasted coconut and the sliced green onion in a large mixing bowl.

After twenty minutes, fluff the rice with a fork and then add to the bowl with the cashew, coconut and onion mixture. Toss gently to incorporate. Add salt and pepper to taste.

When plating, garnish with a few of the reserved cashews for added presentation.

Yields: A lot more rice than I thought. Enough for six people to have really big servings.

My Weekend Movie Review

2008-06-30T15:19:00.004-05:00

Not sure how long this is going to last, but I am going to try to start reviewing movies I watch. They will be rated as follows:

Infinity winks - Movie Nirvana. There will never be a better film than this (you'll most likely never see this rating)
5 winks - OMG, this is going on my top ten movies of all time list
4 winks - Great film! I will see this again and add it to my DVD collection
3 winks - Solid entertainment. I may or may not see it again. Didn't blow my mind, but wasn't a total waste of money either.
2 winks - I wish I could get my money back. Help me save you some money. Don't bother, unless you are ab avid fan of this genre of film.
1 wink - OMG, I want my money AND my two hours back. What a waste of film. Please, for the love of all that is good in this world, please dont' go see this film.
Eyelids taped so I can't wink - It would be better to end civilization as we know it than to allow one more poor, unsuspecting soul to be forced to watch this film (I sincerely hope I never have to use this rating)

So this weekend, I saw two movies. Here's the run-down:

The Bucket List, starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson
I am sure that there are many out there that would give this film a higher rating. I'll admit, the acting was great and the story line was solid, but I really think that films like this bank way too much on what I like to call the "misty eye" factor. In other words the philosophy is crying = good film. I don't buy it. yes, I got misty eyed at the end, but just because it envoked an emotion response from me does not mean it was a good film. If you want to feel crazy emotions while watching a movie AND see a truly stellar film at the same time, watch the french film "Love Me If You Dare", then go back and witness the difference. The Bucket List will seem trite after that.... and it is, a bit. Still, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson are worth watching and their on-screen partnership is fascinating. My rating: 3 winks

10,000 BC, starring some people I have never heard of and the voice of Omar Sharif
(I know, I know, I could do some research. This is lazy-woman's film rating, but I never promised you critical reviews on par with S & E circa 1989 - so get over it)

I have no idea how historically accurate this seemingly historical fictional plot truly is, but it was surprisingly fun to watch. I had a hard time trying to figure out where in Africa these people might have lived where they could be up in a snow covered mountain rangeone day, in a tropical rain forest the next, the savannah and the desert, all in what appears to be the matter of perhaps a few weeks, maybe a month of walking. I mean, how fast can a person walk in a day?? Or maybe my understanding of climates in 10,000 BC is flawed. Who knows. Ultimately though, historical merit aside, this was a fun-ish movie to watch. The acting was nothing special, not was the plot, but there were some beautiful vistas (CGI though they may be) in the film and there was enough variety, action and story to keep the film moving along at a pretty good pace. Not bad! My rating: 3 winks

Jacob the Great

2008-06-30T14:58:00.004-05:00

This blog is starting to feel a bit like the journals I tried to keep as a child. I would write a few times and then the journal would disappear under my bed, only to be pulled out a year later, dusted off and used again. This time, I am going to try to be better about keeping up with my blog. Not that anyone reads it. Much like the journals of my childhood. And that is OK. I wouldn't want to bore anyone to death.

This past weekend, I drive down to H-town to visit my eight month old nephew, Jacob. Yes, he was hatched back in October. I know last time I wrote, he was still baking and was only about half-done. My sister-in -law went through quite a hard time to have him, ending up in the hospital for 10 weeks flat on her back, fearful the entire time. But enough about that... Jacob is a true miracle baby.

I know everyone says that their child or a child that is important to them is beautiful, but honestly, this kid is a knockout. I will post a picture to prove it. He's adorable. And the personality on this kid - he's just perfect!

Top ten reasons why he is the cutest kid ever:

1. Jacob sleeps with his little arms and legs tucked under his belly and sleeps with his butt in the air.

2. When he wakes up, he usually toots, no matter who is in the room or their level of importance in the grand scheme of life. Ah... to be that unself-conscious....

3. Jacob is a narcissist. When he sees himself in the mirror, a huge grin lights up his face, like he has found a long-lost friend.

4. Jacob is caught up in a torrid love-affair with Daffy Duck - the look of love and affection that crosses his face when he sees his stuffed ducky can bring you to tears.

5. Jacob is a couch potato. Food Network or Mario Galaxy for Wii, if there are lots of colors and interesting sounds, Jacob is mesmerized.

6. Jacob thinks it is funny when his mother sneezes and when his Daddy passes gas.

7. Jacob has aspirations of being a ballerina (ballerino? balletist??? I have no clue what the name for a male ballet dancer is). He likes to bounce in his Jumper-roo on his toes.

8. Jacob loves it when I blow raspberries on his tummy.

9. Jacob has the cutest little fat rolls on his legs and soft little baby heels.

10. Jacob is never sad for long and always perks up with a little love and attention.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a cotton candy, pink hearts and unicorns person. But this kid has definitely chipped away at my cynical side. Brat....

Torture Device

2007-07-20T21:51:00.001-05:00

I am playing catch up. Can you tell? Watch, after this post, there will be no new ones for another month. Hopefully though, I'll have something interesting to tell you in a couple of days.

So, I bought an elliptical machine. Yes, that's right,

I...voluntarily...bought....a.....torture....device.

Why you ask? Well, anyone who knows me personally would never, ever ask that question. One glance at my rapidly expanding ass (sort of like how the universe is constantly expanding...only my ass is expanding on a more exponential level than even the great universe) is enough said.

I'm 30! I have got to get myself in shape. Now is the time in a person's life when the doctor starts to say things like "cholesterol too high" and "blood pressure to high" and "bottom not high enough". Or maybe my best friends are saying that last one. Anyway, I value their opinion as much as a doctor, so, it is worth stating.

So, I buy this elliptical machine. Nordic Trac, $750. Yes, I paid out my huge bum for this thing. So I had better use it I suppose.

The first night, I put it together with the help of my father. Or maybe he put it together with my help. Eh, he's not writing this blog, so I'll state it my way. See the first sentence in this paragraph. Anyway, they should have said in the instructions, "Putting this big beast together is equal to your first work out in the amount of muscle pain and stubbed toes it will cause you to experience."

The next morning, I awoke to watch the sun rise, glinting off the cold black steel frame and I had to repress a terrified shudder. Oh no! Now I had to actually use it. This sucks.

And it did. It sucked for a whole ten minutes. No really, that's about all I could do the first day. I'll just wait while you finish with your hyena-like laughs, and are able to gasp in some actual usable air again. OK, you done?

Yes, ten whole minutes. I dismounted from the Sadistic Stallion of Shame on wobbly knees and ankles and huffed my way into the kitchen for a nice, cold glass of Riesling. Uh huh, seriously.

The next day was better. I lasted fifteen minutes!

The day after that, I gave my screeching calves and bum a rest.

The next day, I rode the Smug Steed for fifteen minutes at level 5 resistance. Woohoo! I'm doing better!

Today, I was able to get through fifteen real minutes of working out without feeling like I was going to have a coronary right there on the machine. Oh happy day.

Maybe next week I will have worked my way up to a truly staggering twenty minutes.

Ahh.....Finally

2007-07-20T21:43:00.000-05:00

On another note, I have more good news. I know! Can you stand it? I am really on cloud nine right now.

I finally, after two months of job hunting all over the greater Dallas area, was hired by an excellent company right here in Duncanville.

There must be something I am missing. The people are incredibly nice, down-to-earth and fun to be around. The work is interesting and challenging, in a good way. The salary is great, and my commute to work is exactly 1.52 miles. On back roads no less!

I really think sometimes God just takes a spiritual brick and smacks a big 'ol cosmic crater into the center of your forehead to make you stand up and pay attention to Him guiding our lives. I knew, from the moment I left that office on the day of my interview, that it was the perfect job for me.

It took two weeks for them to call me back. I was on pins and needles, and a neurotic mess. After they called to tell me that they wanted to hire me, I was elated and all that worrying just slipped away. I wish I had the faith then to give my worrying up to Him. I'm just woefully flawed. I know I say that all the time, but honestly, it is the truth. I am an incredibly flawed human being, but apparently, still worth looking after, which is a bit of a relief.

Better News

2007-07-20T21:34:00.000-05:00

Reading back over my last post, it is hard to believe I was ever in such a sorry emotional state. Life has truly taken a turn for the better.

My mother's situation is by far the best blessing my family and I have experienced this month. The tests they ran on the lump that they removed from her breast a month ago were all best case scenario for her. They got all of the malignancy and she will not have to have chemotherapy. She will have to do seven weeks of radiation therapy and will be on hormone inhibitors for a very long time to ensure that the cancer does not come back. But that's OK. Taking a few pills every day is nothing compared to what millions of cancer patients face each day.

I have a new-found appreciation for the plight of people suffering from terminal illness, specifically cancers. I've especially cleared out a space in my heart for their loved ones who have to face the certainty that their heart will been torn in two in due time when their friend, wife, lover, mother, father, brother or sister passes from this world. It is my fervent hope that I will be able to help these people in some small way. I'm not sure how yet, but when the idea hits me, I'll know it.

As for mom, I think she has a new lease on life and she realizes that she is a much stronger person than she ever thought she was. I am truly proud of her quiet strength and faith in God throughout this entire ordeal. Mom has always been my hero, but now, she's legend.

A Tale of Woe

2007-06-20T12:33:00.000-05:00

At some point, I'll have something more uplifting to post about, but for now, I'm living in a shadow of the good life. I'm in a dank and musty cave, buried in the gloom of the rocks around me, looking out on the dappled golden sunlight, dancing on the surface of fair waters, just out of my reach.

The latest news, my mom has breast cancer. I found out a few weeks ago and simply haven't been able to collect my thoughts enough to write about it. I am sure there are many, many people out there who know exactly how I am feeling right now. There is the shock of the news. The unbelief. The denial. And the age old question, "how could this happen to us?"

I don't think it truly hit me with all the gusto of a hurricane until Monday night at 11:00. My mom had just gotten out of surgery to remove the lump and two of her lymph nodes and lay in a hospital bed at the southern medical hospital. My mom is 5'10. She is an amazon. She's always a presence in the room, but that night, she was like a dusky green-dried out shell of herself. Her skin and bone structure seemed to droop, only kept in place by the coarse cotton sheet she lay on.

It was dark, cold and quiet in that room and only the sound of the machines she was hooked up to broke the silence. My dad sat in a chair by her bed, holding her hand, his shoulders making an upside down U under his rumpled shirt. The picture of sadness. It was a dark time for us. A very real look at what could be the future of all of us.

The positive news is that they caught my mom's cancer very early on and the doctors seem to be confident about her chances of making a full recovery, although, the robots that they are, no one will come out and say it. She'll have to undergo seven weeks of radiation treatment at best, chemo if necessary, but we are hoping that won't be the case.

She's back home now, surrounded by a garden of flowers and plants from friends and loved ones. Her color is coming back and the desperation of Monday night is slowly receding into our memories. Somehow though, I hope it doesn't disappear completely. It is a great reminder of the fragility of each of our lives and good to remember, even when we venture out from our gloomy caves and turn our faces up into that shower of amber sunlight beyond.

No Go

2007-05-30T15:48:00.000-05:00

Well, I didn't get the job I wanted. They hired someone else who was willing to take 10,000 a year less than my salary requirement. In part, I am not upset about this because I wouldn't want to work for a company not willing to pay their talent what they are worth. On the other hand, I really need a job.

I am trying to be patient and believe that the right job is out there waiting for me.

But I've come to believe that waiting is the hardest game to play.

Job Hunting

2007-05-08T11:25:00.000-05:00

I recently moved from Atlanta, where I had an incredible job with a company who shall remain nameless, in Marketing. I was there for six years. I established incredible friendships and working relationships, and was promoted three times without even seeking to be promoted. My work spoke for itself and people needed me.

So why am I having such a hard time finding a good job here in Dallas? I ended up taking a five month contract position because I wasn't able to find anything permanent and now I am on the job hunt again. I've been on three interviews in the past two weeks and no call backs. One interview went incredibly well and the hiring manager really seemed to like me. I was there on Thursday, now it is Tuesday. Is it too early to be worried that I haven't heard anything back? I am starting to become a neurotic mess! I need a job! It isn't a money issue right now, but more of a, I need to find my place issue.

I am such a mental mess right now...

As I Age

2007-05-05T17:33:00.000-05:00

How important is it to you to have a personal soundtrack? For some, perhaps it isn't even a point that has been pondered once in their existence. For me, my soundtrack changes daily, but their are songs that have been running in the background of my personal film for many, many years. Here is a list of constants in my soundtrack song list:

Roads by Portishead
To Wish Impossible Things by the Cure
The Other Side by Morphine
Riders on the Storm by the Doors
Bedshaped by Keane
Piece of my Heart by Janis Joplin
Next Lover by James
Never is a Promise by Fiona Apple
Novocaine for the Soul by the Eels
World of Two by Cake
My Lover's Gone by Dido
'Til the End of Time by Delerium
I Can't Be With You by the Cranberries
The Wind Cries Mary by Jimi Hendrix

There are others, but these are the ones that stand out the most for me. I had no idea I had such a sad soundtrack. It is very interesting to discover. Try this for yourself. See what you come up with. For me, I am a little scared of myself.