Daily Archives: December 22, 2008

Verdict: Not a Curmudgeon

Posted on December 22, 2008 | Leave a comment

Josh Groban, yesterday en route 3/4 mile home from the grocery store. Noel brought me to tears. It’s never taken until the 21st of December to reduce me to a puddle of tears. Once a year, usually right after Thanksgiving. Perhaps I’m becoming more hard-hearted. I certainly hope that’s not the case. Thanks for believing in me, Santa and all good things. Dee

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

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

→ 5 Comments

Posted in Editorial, Education

Holiday Treats

Posted on December 22, 2008 | 3 Comments

At the store today they were promoting probably mulled wine. The guy left for a moment so I got to try a small bite of the chocolate-covered lebkuchen, like we got stale from Uncle Ernest every year and had to write thank-you notes before opening.

I’m thinking of my own trifle. I actually have madeleine pans, imagine that. But I bought some ladyfingers and I’m thinking of ladyfingers brushed with Framboise, layered with a light (fattening) chocolate mousse and fresh raspberries. Perhaps for Christmas. I love chocolate and raspberries together, reminds me of a mousse cake I used to make and, heaven forbid, decorate at Cafe Beaujolais in Mendocino CA for owner Margaret Fox. Decorating desserts was the bane of my existence.

Margaret taught me a lot about honesty, quality, hard work and determination. She is a fixture in my pantheon of Women I Admire. Don’t laugh. Look who men admired and half of them are criminals who stole our childrens’ futures, bankers, insurance tycoons, and auto magnates. But the Bernie Madoffs of the world certainly made themselves money in the process. That is not my sole criteria for the Pantheon. It is not a criteria at all, if you’d like to know.

Honesty, integrity, a sense of purpose, love thy neighbor… I’ll get you the list once I crystallize it in my mind. Right now I have to turn on the heat, feed the dog and work on dinner. To all a good night, Dee

→ 3 Comments

Posted in Editorial, Recipe Ideas

Tagged ,

Here it is

Posted on December 22, 2008 | 1 Comment

with some new photo-reportage from the permanent amateur photographer:

Thanks for reading and writing in. That’s the infamous C-clamp on the bottom right. Dee, Reporter At Large

→ 1 Comment

Posted in Editorial, Friend Alert

Happy Birthday, Jim!

Posted on December 22, 2008 | 5 Comments

The dining room table has flowers for you. Alstroemeria like I carried at our wedding, but dark pink. Plus culinary ways to a man’s heart. Spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, your favorite. Tortilla chips and salsa. Dr. Pepper with real Imperial sugar, and some funky pink grapefruit soda for you to try.

Cocktail pumpernickel bread with thinly sliced radishes, warm unsalted butter and salt a la James Beard for tomorrow evening before our event. I’ll even use my cutters for fluted rounds to decorate.

I braved the holiday crowds for you, dear and they were pretty scary. Even parking was an adventure. btw, you haven’t told me your ten movie choices yet, though I know Star Wars 4-6. Let me guess. Anything by the Bronte sisters or Jane Austen. The Queen, and Memoirs of a Geisha. I nailed it! Way to go, Dee!

Elopement 101

Elopement 101

→ 5 Comments

Posted in Editorial

Little Ray of Sunshine

Posted on December 22, 2008 | 2 Comments

That’s what Sunnegga means, and was.

dscn0754

When her folks were away, when she had ACL surgery, she was my little angel. Now I can place her photo on our frig with our other loved ones, including her human “sister” Annie. Jim and I loved Sunni. I took care of her at home or she came to stay with us and she was a lovely guest dog.

Now I know why yellow Labs are close to my heart. Zoe’s an Aussie runty mutt but I’ve always wanted a Sunnegga. You’re going on the frig, Sunni! With all the people and dogs that I love. Miss you guys. Take care, Dee

→ 2 Comments

Posted in Editorial, Pet