Yes, I love the guy. He’s formerly from Queer Eye, is a cook, and writes haiku. And he hosts Chopped!, not my favorite cooking show because of the baskets so I quickly (as hubby is about to pick me up for dinner) I wrote this about their ingredient baskets.
Parmesan and eel
Baccala, fig jam and eggs
I’m already Chopped
But I’m ready to slather it with mustard and place it on date-nut bread with some sliced pineapple and liverwurst. Don’t cook this! Dee
Categories: haiku
During my/our travels and work experiences, I’ve met a number of very interesting people. Mary Cech is publishing her second cook book, the first on wine lovers’ desserts and this new one on savory pastries and I’m nervous as she’ll be my first interview. This is a teaser so you’ll have to come back.
Lest you fear I’ve let the capon issue rest (over 60 of you have visited on this issue alone, not the Concord grape but it may be the next wave) I recently got off the phone with the president of Wapsie Farms, an organic farm that raises capons and he’s agreed to be interviewed in a couple of weeks. My mother, God rest her soul, always cooked capon for special occasions outside of Thanksgiving (turkey) and Christmas (prime rib and Yorkshire pudding). Wapsie’s president asked me where I was raised and said capons were often available in the Northeast. I’m on a quest for interviews with interesting food mavens.
So, turn your channel to Dee and let’s find out what makes these culinary stars tick. And why we can’t make that souffle rise, Mary?… Dee
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: food maven interviews, Marc Nichols, Mary Cech, wapsie farms
My parents told me that when I cried as an infant, they played Jackie Gleason’s “Music, Martinis and Memories” to get me to sleep, and if that didn’t work they drove me around the block once and I was a goner. I’d like to say that my cooking memories are analogous with my musical ones, but they’re not. I may hit the high notes with some of my dishes, but at my age my vocal range is more limited.
I remember following the bouncing ball and singing along with Mitch, but Sinatra, not Elvis, was my forever love. If Tommy Dorsey taught me breathing and Nelson Riddle did my arrangements, I’d be up there on stage at the Grammy’s! We listened mostly to classical music, and I took up violin and piano early on.
Of course in high school I listened to the Beach Boys in the cafeteria, but at home I listened to the Beatles, Bad Company, Dave Mason and Jimmy Buffet before he became a pirate. Many others, never enough. I never had Pirate Radio, which we saw this past weekend. It was a blast from the past, a past I never lived because I was only seven when Radio Caroline was broadcasting. My family was more concerned with watching Walter Cronkite and keeping the student masses at bay by not allowing them to know the head of the institution was a member of the Manhattan Project.
My tastes still trend towards folk because I love a good story. Yesterday my husband showed me how to use the new iTunes app that allows home sharing. It’s great because it gives me access to my CD’s that are in storage! I love James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Pete Seger, Arlo and Woody Guthrie, Joan Baez, the former Cat Stevens, the Eagles, Burl Ives (in his underwear), Carlos Montoya, Henry Mancini, Tony Bennett and his alter-ego Antonio Benedetto, Diana Krall, The Chieftains, the Clancy Brothers, Juni Fisher, Enya, Marty Robbins and many other artists. Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, Dan Fogelberg, and my friends Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Offenbach, and the great Celtic poets.
When I was home-sharing, I realized that I did it not for what I wanted to hear, but what I wanted to play on piano or guitar. Korky and Douglas, my music teachers, should appreciate that sentiment. That said, I hope you’re not shopping for tons of gifts as you know that your presence is a gift anywhere, and homemade food gifts show that you really love the recipient. Musically yours, jingle those bells, Zoe…. Dee
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: frank sinatra, musical stars, nelson riddle, tommy dorsey
Joe, my father-in-law, runs a cattle ranch. When he was younger he ran a dairy, yup, a small family farm and I remember bringing a bucket of milk to a twin baby calf that was abandoned by his mama (they usually have one, and if there are two, they generally neglect one).
Both sons have left the ranch to pursue other ambitions, but they are aware of what goes on, giving a shot to de-worm a calf or castrating a bull. I am not a party to it except ordering it at the butcher’s counter or in a plastic package at the supermarket. So, yes, I am a party to it because I prepare it, cook it and eat it.
We currently live in a very wealthy, eco-friendly place. They build an eight bedroom house but think because they used bamboo and cork, it’s “green.” The ultimate hypocrisy (and my favorite Christmas gift in decades) occurred at our local Whole Foods market when I asked for a capon. The butchers didn’t know what one was. I posted this on the blog and got over 60 hits on capons! The head butcher wouldn’t come out to talk to me but just said he couldn’t order one for me because it wouldn’t meet Whole Foods standards. I just thought it was because he couldn’t find one that was organically raised.
After the response to this original post, I emailed the local store/regional manager and in their responses they sent me the entire chain, which is hilarious, especially as most of their meat is steer, that is castrated bull. But they object to capons for humanitarian reasons. First they said, if you can order what the customer wants, do it or if you can’t, don’t bother. Then they must have found out I’ve had 50 hits on capon this week so they told the local store to get in touch with me asap.
They did and said they don’t carry capon because of humanitarian reasons. But they sell chicken, and steer. Ironically yours, Dee
Categories: Editorial · Utah
Tagged: capons, political correctness, steers, whole foods market
That has a derogatory ring to it. I just read that up to 93% of people are right-handed. I’m a leftie, a southpaw, and according to history you’re dexterous, I’m sinister. Wikipedia has an informative site on left-handedness. My father was left-handed but his knuckles were rapped enough to change him. He swore he would not change or allow anyone to change the two of his four children that followed suit.
At school I was issued safety scissors with a green plastic handle and blunt ends, even though I’ve never been able to use scissors with my left hand. Golf was interesting, in my short stint at lessons I was told by the Pro that I should use regular clubs because all the action is from the left hand, the swing and follow-through. As to guitar, which I just took up a few months ago, I never considered a left-handed guitar. It’s interesting reading as to well-known guitar heroes use their strong hand for the frets, not strumming (the awesome Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits). Perhaps as I take up guitar as a leftie on a rightie guitar, I spend more time learning chords and notes than getting through an entire song on the beat.
Knives are another issue. Kitchen peelers are rightie-based. I have to buy them for me. I’ve never bought a Japanese sushi knife but many of the Japanese knives are only made for right-handers and lefties used to have to special order. I can only use knives, or write, with my left hand. Many other motions are naturally done with the right hand (golf, guitar) and others are required of me, like starting the car with the key in my right hand.
Dad was caned. I was issued safety scissors. Let’s hope our teachers aren’t still penalizing children for being different. All my life, I’ve ended up in situations with groups of left-handed friends. All are smart and creative and my life would be less full without those experiences. Yes, I’ve been to a left-handed store and nothing stood out for me. The one thing I could use is a left-handed or dual-spout ladle. After all, I’ve turkey soup to serve! Cheers, Dee
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: ambidextrous, golf, guitar, knives, left-handed, scissors
We were committed to going out for lunch Thanksgiving day and the only restaurant open offered one solution, the family Thanksgiving meal. We brought back the leftovers, a few breast slices and about 1/4 cup of ham. Yesterday I cut up carrots, onions and celery and poured in a quart of chicken stock. Later I added some water and too much stellini (star-shaped pasta). I tried it and it needed salt. Then Jim was resting upstairs so after cooling the pot of soup in ice water several times I anchored a gallon bag in a large measuring bowl to chill/freeze it, it collapsed and I had broth and carrots all over the counter.
Jim didn’t come down to help because he’d spilled his water upstairs and was mopping up as well. All turned out for a family-less Thanksgiving weekend. Perhaps we’re supposed to have our disasters at other people’s homes. No, that doesn’t happen elsewhere, only at home!
As for my easy Thanksgiving soup, I’ll bring it to the boil again, add some fresh herbs and chicken stock, and perhaps a can of drained and rinsed cannellini beans. That could be dinner, with a nice loaf of French bread. Dinner for me. Jim wants meat and potatoes. Hope you enjoyed a long weekend with family and are home and recuperating from your vacation! Cheers, Dee
Several bloggers who tap my site now and then have made it big with sponsors et al. Congratulations! I wish you well. To my fellow cooks who photograph foods and make them look fantastic, bravo. I want to know how things taste.
It doesn’t matter that no-one has plumbed my exhaustively researched cookbook list or even the essential pantry. No-one is sponsoring that or my blog. That’s just me being there to share thoughts and writings on food, family and friends. And the love goes out tonight to everyone who is cooking a special meal for a loved one.
I multi-tasked this afternoon making an Italian bean salad with red onion and sausage, turkey soup, grilled NY strip steak (Jim grilled it, I prepped it), rosti potatoes (a Swiss dish that is a potato cake) and a simple salad.
How does Monday come around so fast? This is a non-traditional Thanksgiving because we saw no family, but got to talk with them over the weekend. I hope that you like that I write about food. I might do that even better than cooking but we’d have to a contest for that and I can’t think of another gal that would fit this profile. I’m thinking and might have the right rival if it’s food, writing and music. Nah, forget about that, the best candidates I can come up with would wipe the floor with me on all counts. With a great deal of love and gratitude on this Thanksgiving weekend I bid you a good evening. Dee
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: blogs, food blogs, food writers, Juni Fisher, sponsorship, Thanksgiving
If you look at the comments from “Nanny’s” you’ll find my m-i-l’s potato rolls, a staple at any family or church activity. She makes enough for an army, as 50-60 folks are at Thanksgiving, then a few hours later there are sandwiches on her potato rolls, then more pie or cake.
I’ll keep it up on the blog as I have to try it, yet not in military proportions. I don’t know if it’s the ingredients or all the love and care that go into them or both, but I’m known to sneak one without butter or any sandwich ingredients, they’re that good.
If you’ve stuck with me through Concord grapes and the recent capon search (I just emailed a certain organic store with the fact that I’ve had 50 hits this week on capon) check out Margie’s potato roll recipe. She always says she learns from me, but I’ve learned a lot from her over the years and enjoy spending a day in the kitchen with her preparing a feast for 30-50 guests, or just breakfast, lunch and dinner for us temporary lodgers.
Thanks, Margie, we missed you (and your potato rolls) this year. Cheers! Dee
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: Margie's potato rolls, Nanny's
The dog let me sleep 39 minutes “late” until 7:30 this morning, then was kind enough to wait ten minutes for me to put on my boots, two coats, hat, and gloves, get her leash (keys are missing again so I left the door unlocked). Then I fed her and the fish, and determined to let Jim to sleep in because he has to work tomorrow.
I spent the morning catching up online and with laundry, dishes, dishwasher then served Jim breakfast in bed. Our neighbor called with the time of the Shuttle flyover, which we went out to see precisely at 6:10 p.m. It was a gorgeous day, starting off cold as usual and going up to a balmy 54 degrees! We dressed in Western garb (Jim in a Stetson shirt, me in a snap shirt with different colors and embellishments) in order to call his family back home. Since Jim met my family at Mom’s in 2001 shortly after we met, in 2002 I got introduced to his large family in Texas and we’ve been there every year but this one since.
Jim’s mother was lamenting her old PC and a few weeks ago finally succumbed and bought a refurbished MacBook. After initial installations it should require very few problems for her and much less long-distance tech support from her sons. We had a trial videoconference last night with parents, brother and family, then she took the MacBook to Nanny’s for Thanksgiving dinner. After the meal we engaged in a 2+hour videoconference with Nanny and many of the 50-60 people in attendance, even got to see all the new babies online and a quick shot of the little girls’ tea party in progress.
Jim wanted to go out to lunch because we’re both kind of down that we couldn’t see either of our families this Thanksgiving. The only restaurant that was open had only a full Thanksgiving meal available. I picked at it, Jim had a full meal and we came home. Moments after getting offline with Jim’s family my brother called. He and my Dad are halfway across the country and went to feast at lunchtime.
Now I’m about 20 minutes from dinner, very beautiful NY strip steak, loaded baked potatoes and fresh green beans. I’ll save the Brussels sprouts for the weekend. Jim has to work tomorrow and we may see a movie over the weekend or try the chic bowling alley that opened yesterday, either for lunch or to see how horrific we are at bowling!
Hope you had a wonderful day with family and friends. Hopefully we’ll be able to join the festivities next year. Cheers! Dee
Categories: Editorial · Utah
Tagged: Thanksgiving
Talk about missing family. I’d like to be packing up the car and husband and dog and driving to Nanny’s but that is not to be this year. Now I hear that two of the young girls (under ten) are hosting a tea party for all the other girls coming in for the weekend. My apt cooking school pupils (teens) are making petit fours for the event. I hope to receive a photo of the final product that I can share with you. It’s so sweet of the girls to host and cook for this new family tradition, and I’m sorry to miss it, but I’m probably over the age limit for attendance anyways!
Not having any children, one of my favorite things to do on Thanksgiving is play outdoors with all the kids. One year it’s trampoline, usually pushing the young ones on the swingset, and remarking to Jim how sweet these children are, and how smart as well. There may be near 60 people this year, with all the new babies, and everyone gets along. The parents may not agree, but as a cousin/aunt at a 12-hour Thanksgiving feast it looks pretty cool to me.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! Here’s the menu I’ve come up with and probably will not make, because Jim wants steak and probably a loaded baked potato and iceberg wedge with Thousand Island. That’s a breeze for me, and means we could even go downtown to see Pirate Radio! I’ve never been able to go to the movies on Thanksgiving Day, even as a kid, because I was too involved in preparing the “sides.”
Dee’s Thanksgiving Menu starts with appetizers Spinach Balls (I think I posted that on the site) and Spicy Almonds and Cashews (my version is different but check out Epicurious); Roasted Winter Squash Soup; Roasted Capon with Sausage/Apple Stuffing and Gravy; Brussels Sprouts with Leeks and Bacon; Braised Carrots in Consomme; Mashed Garlic Potatoes; Orange-Cranberry Sauce (fresh, of course); and Mincemeat Tarts.
I’m liking the steak idea, but will save the menu for a dinner party. Take care and enjoy the holiday. There’s a new, trendy bowling alley opening up in the neighborhood tomorrow. If I can round up a couple of gals we can bring canned goods for the Food Bank and bowl for free tomorrow afternoon! Sounds like Thanksgiving to me…. Dee
Categories: Editorial
Tagged: bowling, petit fours. Pirate Radio, tea party, Thanksgiving
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