Category: entertainment

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Laura’s wonderful Cinnamon Rolls!

Laura's Wonderful Rolls in the oven!

Some of my favorite recipes are intertwined with personal memories of great times, events or emotional occasions!

Looking back, Laura always prepared this very unusual cinnamon roll for times she wanted to surprise me with something truly delicious. I was always suspicious…. but sometimes… it was just another way to show affection.

I remembered it containing a collection of unusual ingredients for a roll: mashed potatoes, cardamon … along with more familiar… walnuts, bluberries, white raisins… it was and is timeless and mouth watering!

For Christmas breakfast and New Years… with a little coaxing… here is her recipe!

Drizzling with a little Amarula frosting… and it is perfect!

Roger Freberg

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Blueberry, Amarula, Cinnamon Rolls & MORE!

Great Holidays are made better with Great food!
Holidays are made great by good company… and great food!

Yes... these little 'corns' are actually cornbread!Karen made some Russian Tea cakes with Amarula… all the more fantastic! She also found a Corn bread recipe from the ‘Epicurean’ made with corn flour cooked in antique cornbread pans that was fantastic!

On the left is my daughter Karen with what looks like little corn! In fact, what is surprising is that it is actually cornbread! The taste is not what we experienced in ‘cornbread’ know to be authentic southern style… it is a bit Yankee.

As we mentioned before, this recipe came from the Chef of the Delmonico’s circa 1890 from New York City in his wonderful 1100 page cookbook the ‘Epicurean.’

For dessert, Laura found a fabulous recipe for a chocolate truffle cake that incorporated raspberries, various beverages ( Grand Mariner, Frambusie, Creme de Cassis)… a spectacular steal from a Neiman Marcus recipe!

aaaaaah... the horseradish sauce

Last but not least, thanks to Chef Charles Ranhofer for transcending time to deliver a wonderful horseradish sauce to accent our prime rib of beef!

A wonderful Christmas memory!

Roger Freberg

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Vanessa Redgrave an idiot for all seasons

Who's side is she really on?

Okay, it’s time to sound a little political again.

Vanessa Redgrave may sound to some like a Joan of the leftist Arc … to me she just doesn’t make any sense at all.

In history, there had to be those who opened the gates of Cartage in the name of peace to the Roman armies, others tries to negotiate with Genghis Khan and still others tried to appease the likes of Adolf Hitler and Persian tyrants… all with predictably disastrous results!

So why am I surprised that Vanessa Redgrave after a life of supporting the bad guys is now reaching out her peaceful hand to Al Qaeda terrorists?

Having watched Vanessa for years, I really can’t figure out whether she is a naive idealist… or just hates everybody in the world but ‘the bad guys?’

Roger Freberg

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Delmonico’s Chocolate Eclairs!

what momma never told you!!!!
Bring on the eggs… lets say 16! Bring on the egg yolks… let’s say 10!

I am enjoying the ‘Epicurean’, the only cookbook you’ll ever need! I have loved the recipes from it… now we have a book! Karla found the perfect present for both Karen and Kristin!!!
Yes, there is some translation that needs to occur… you need to know what a ‘gil’ is ( 1/2 cup liquid) and what an ounce of corn starch is… but after you do the math… it is elegantly simple!

Here is the recipe! 

Now, in the beginning, ‘Eclairs’ were small (lady finger size), made with loads of eggs and totally fab ( as my girl’s would say)!

Check it out!

Roger Freberg

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Secret of Life: Butter & Eggs!

the secret of life is butter and eggs
One of the wonderful things about living a while is realizing how much we are told really doesn’t stand up to the test of time. We’ve been fed a lot of bad stuff.

What has been said about good nutrition simply doesn’t sit well with the facts. Vegetarians — for example — certainly are not healthier; it is more religious fever with them than based on any scientific evidence. Now, we are learning the value of animal fats play a vital role in our well being… who knew?

There’s an interesting book entitled “Nourishing Traditions” that challenges all of the rules we have been taught about what is and isn’t good for you. Without stealing any of their thunder… here’s what is being said:

“A full-spectrum nutritional cookbook with a startling message–animal fats and cholesterol are vital factors in the human diet, necessary for reproduction and normal growth, proper function of the brain and nervous system, protection from disease and optimum energy levels.”

Here’s where you can buy it.

Frankly, this doesn’t really surprise me… and this is why I have so enjoyed the refreshing turn-of-the-century pure fat saturated goodness of ‘the Epicurean.’

Yes, Virginia, you are what you eat… and if it be the 16 egg recipe for Eclairs in the Epicurean… so be it! My total cholesterol is down to 152 total… what’s yours?

Roger Freberg