Pork and Butter is the secret of life


Back in the days when I had one wooden spoon and one knife, my grandmother pulled me aside to show me some of her secrets. Probably one of the most fun was leaning some of the tricks of the trade that folks got away with in the days gone by: chicken stock as a base for virtually all soups and the golden goodness of butter and pork. She would use a small amount of pork fat into almost everything she did… and I will confess to always having some around and using it frequently… sometimes in combination with butter.

To be frank, I don’t eat out that often, but when I do, I like to see what the chef recommends… that is to say… what the chef does best. Pork consumption is an increasing trend, first of all because it is delicious. One article made the following statement:

“Pig will be big in 2010, 2011, 2012,” said Carter, who plans to open two more ventures in downtown Phoenix this year, including El Rey Taqueria with a whole-pig roaster built in behind the bar.

As for me, I cannot think of anything more enjoyable than including lamb with pig as in tat great South African dish called   Bobotie!

Happy Birthday Karla

Karla's drawing of herself and a picture of her sister Karen and Mom in Washington, D.C. this past week

It’s Karla’s Birthday today! Happy Birthday! Karla likes to consider May her ‘birthday month’ in which every day is a celebration… and if she had her way… a present!

Happy Birthday, Karla

lemon squares for someone who really loves them

such a simple thing... but 'no substitutions!' 😉

My wife and my mother both love lemon squares and until recently, I really didn’t see the appeal. I found that folks didn’t use real lemons and the ‘crust’ wasn’t very tasty. So, with a little trial and error I found something that I could even enjoy, something with a Real shortbread crust. Here’s how I made this very simple yet elegant treat:

There are two parts: 1) preparing and baking the crust the crust and 2) preparing and baking the filling.

 

91/2 by 13 1/2″ pan


the crust

1 1/3 cups confectioners sugar

2 cups flour

2 1/4 cubes of butter (.6 lbs)

3/4 tsp salt

combine and cook at 350 degrees F. for around 20 minutes

the filling

2/3 cup lemon juice

2 cups confectioner’s sugar

4 eggs

3/4 tablespoons

3 tablespoons

1 teaspoon baking flour

350 degrees F. for 30 minutes

 

Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar

 

enjoy!

a time to pause and reflect at graduation(s)

after two weeks of witnessing graduations planning a couple of celebratory parties ... it's time to come home and recharge the batteries!

My daughter Kristin earned a masters degree in engineering at the University of Virginia and will be teaching at West Point in the fall … and our daughter Karen earned her Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee Knoxville … and will be teaching at the University of Louisville also in the fall. Congratulations, Ladies!

All this hard work makes me tired.

Dad

Emeril’s Delmonico’s in New Orleans

The Lobby of Delmonico's in New Orleans CLICK on the above picture to read about their successful team!

My daughters do know how to ‘get to me’ at times! Karen was in New Orleans for the  Reputation Institute annual Conference and she decided to ‘drop by’ the fine folks of Emeril’s Delmonico Restaurant in New Orleans! She definitely was ‘treated like a queen’ and then she did the most awful thing she could do… she sent me pictures of her meal!

Everything starts with the initial presentation!

 

Karen chose a wonderful selection. Karen wrote about her start: “My appetizer – a creole rice dish with pork – it was DIVINE!”


On the main course, Karen wrote: “The main course – pork chop with egg, bacon, and other delicious sides to make it one of the most enjoyable meals I have ever had!”


Ah, then comes dessert and Karen wrote: ” And the way to cap of the evening – a fabulous dessert! Corn bread pudding with honey ice cream, blackberries, and bacon (yes, I said bacon!) It was a true foodie heaven experience! :)”

Karen also noticed that they had a copy of the famous cookbook ‘the Epicurean’ , which was one of the turn-of the century cookbooks I gave my girls to start. After all, you never know when you will have to set a service for 24! 😉 Anyway, as Karen would say, ‘Dad did have ‘foodie envy!’ However, I am very happy that she had such a wonderful and fun experience!

“Bon Appetite” or as Emeril might say,”Bam! Bam ! Bam!”

Roger