Spending the last night of 2009 with a fondue by Kristin, a walk around the lake and making Smores on the old campfire.
Happy 2010
Roger
party all night or until 10pm
cold and new years means it’s time for baked alaska
As a child I loved the shear extravagance of a ‘Baked Alaska.’ My grandmother would make this on those very rare occasions when my grandfather would actually allow her to cook… but since she had been a professional chef, I think he thought she had done her bit. However, I was always grateful when we would cook.
So, it’s cold outside and around the country and what do my daughters want on new year’s day? Obviously, they want Baked Alaska. Technically, when you splash a little brandy on it and set it on fire it is referred to as ‘Bombe Alaska.’
The version we are working on is elegant in it’s simplicity … and I confess, we stole the idea from an ex-army wife … who knows how to feed and entertain a lot of folks? Our version has a brownie cake bottom, a mixture of ice creams formed in ribbons on top and all covered with our wonderful meringue! I’ll put up pictures soon.
As most folks know, I am not a five minute chef… but this simple, easy recipe appealed to me… and it reminds me of my youth!
What are you baking for New Years?
Roger
quiche me once again
Kristin had made a small request for a crab quiche, which was also her Grandmother Junes favorite as well and it gave me a chance to break in my new 12 inch deep pie plate. Oh yes, slight modifications to the recipe had to be made to accommodate the roughly 50% increase in volume! ( you can’t just add 50% to the recipe — check your results as you go along) And , yes, for quality control I had to ‘taste’ every step along the way!!
Here is the basic recipe for my crab quiche.
I changed the recipe slightly adding 10 eggs, sherry and Armagnac made an appearance and more ‘goodies’….
Bake something today!
Roger
PS… yep, I had enough leftover for a second 8″ pie!
the value of researching why things go well
Most research seems to try to explain or predict why things go wrong. The line of questioning is always the same. Why did his heart stop beating? Why do some relationships end? Or, as Bob asked, “What IF my bladder explodes?” We have a tendency to focus on the negative and all too often fail to look at ‘why things go right.’ We study why people become fat, but little publicity goes toward sharing research on how many many people stay slim. In the practical world, people look for positive answers to avoiding negative consequences. After all, watching people do things right, be they a young player watching an older football player or observing a happy individual can teach us a lot. Focusing on studying negative outcomes has value, but truly successful and happy people focus on what works!
It’s not that we should give up research into what goes wrong, but we should also move to the next step and ask , “what does this say — if anything — about those who are succeeding and happy?” Are there any heuristics (rules of thumb) for happiness for example? I think a quick look into the world of literature can shed a little light on the situation. Many have written in their critiques that Jane Austin’s stories would greatly simplify if her characters would actually talk to one another. I am reminded that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in “Pride & Prejudice” would dance with each other over hundreds of pages , each misinterpreting the other because neither would do one simple thing… talk candidly, honestly, straightforwardly and openly with each other. If they said what they meant and meant what they said, then there would be little drama and no story. Unlike Jane Austin, most of us like to minimize unnecessary drama.
Of course there is risk in this ‘honesty’ thing and it isn’t for the uninitiated. Being honest also means becoming vulnerable and often hearing what you don’t want to hear. However, although dealing with the truth can be challenging, it is at least a good starting point to plan and launch toward a new and happier life. Besides, lying to yourself or others should be kept to important matters … for example, how would you answer if your partner in life asks whether or not their new pair of pants makes them look fat? How would you answer this universal unsolvable question? Personally, I think a variation of a line from Zelda fits best,
” Forgive me for staring, I didn’t really hear the question as your beauty left me without words.”
Okay, a bit corny… but honesty also means avoiding minefields and still being tactful. Looking in the mirror honestly every day is good for one’s relationships, charting your course in life, one’s professional research and one’s soul.
Roger
Christmas morning is special
Everyone has some special family traditions around the holidays and ours is no exception. I was up to fashion and put into the oven the annual TURDUCKEN … however, we have decided that this is more of a TURGUCKEN (Turkey, Goose, Duck, Chicken) with a little Pheasant thrown in for fun!
For me, the morning was early up at 4:30 am to get the food prepared for a mid afternoon dinner. Everyone strolled into the living room to partake of our own special breakfast of Raisin, Blueberry Cinnamon rolls and coffee! Then come the presents: clothes ( of course) for all, software and kitchen gadgets ( one for making a ‘Blooming Onion for those familiar with the Outback signature dish) and certain things special to the individual… like a long warm wool Michael Kors coat for Mom to help her endure her 7 am classes this winter!
The day is just beginning … enjoy the spirit of the occasion!
Roger