Beef Stroganoff is more than you think!

Is it Stroganoff or Rogeroff... you decide!

One of the favorite meals in our family is beef Stroganoff.

The recipe isn’t the easy 1950’s one that most people think of… however, it is well worth the time and trouble to make something special as we did again today!

Here’s our own ancient recipe for Beef Stroganoff!

The reason most people don’t think about Russian Cuisine is that it was simply ‘asleep’ for about 80 years until ingredients and basic raw materials became more readily available.

Elena Molokhovet and her classic Russian Cookbook from 1891 was for many years in Soviet Russia little more than an interesting book with wonderful ideas on cooking. In fact, the very first Stroganoff traces itself back to this early cookbook given to young wives starting out.

I have this cookbook and you can too with a little looking, but as they warn you… it is time consuming and requires many ingredients.

Ah… for me this is always what I really want to hear!

Roger

Много очень вкусный русских рецептов еды!

Who’s REALLY embarrassing Cal Poly?

Warren Baker, who is REALLY embarrassing Cal Poly?

Who’s Really embarrassing Cal Poly?

Recently, a member of the engineering faculty was called into what appeared to be a administrative ‘disciplinary meeting’ but ended as a rant by the engineering dean and the provost regarding how certain disgruntled folks were ‘embarrassing the university.’ Little did they know, it aint one guy!

Well, the only advice I can give Cal Poly is ‘don’t do anything embarrassing.’ Unfortunately, according to one expose’, Cal Poly has a lot of things that might be called ‘embarrassing’; here are a few select quotes:

1) Declining morale and a high level of turnovers also plague the college. During the past three years, staff turnovers have exceeded 50 percent. In addition, six chairs have stepped down and numerous faculty and staff have voiced dissatisfaction.”

2) “… this year’s anticipated $1.3 million shortfall.”

3) Noori also is the guiding force behind a controversial effort by Cal Poly officials to provide College of Engineering expertise and personnel to help start a similar institution in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Critics of the plan contend women, Jews and other minorities will be excluded.”

4) It appears as though both Dean Mohammad Noori and Provost Bill Durgan worked at the same small college years ago which may explain why:

Cal Poly Professor Mike Cirovic said, “Durgin wanted to quell rumors that would not help, and in fact, would harm the college.”

5) Yet, Mohammad is “the highest paid dean, adding salary and perks, in the California State University system”…. And in spite of faculty objections has been rewarded by higher administrators by having his: “salary has increased 11 percent over the past two years; his $900 monthly housing allowance is additional to his $213,000 annual salary.”

6) One can only wonder why Cal Poly even entertained employing Mohammad Noori after comments like this were made by North Carolina State University:

“He is an incredible bully who doesn’t respect his faculty,” said Larry Silverberg, Professor and Associate Head of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NCSU. “This place shut down while we waited for his contract to run out.”

In any event, the one thing I have learned about Cal Poly is that everything starts at the top. Nothing, from my observation, happens without Cal Poly President’s Warren Baker’s tacit or expressed approval.

So, who is really embarrassing Cal Poly? Don’t be surprised after all this; Warren gets a 21% raise.

Roger

For the complete story on the recent Cal Poly Follies!

China Relations: our best ambassadors!

Kristin and Karen representing America well in China!

I am seldom worried about my daughters when they travel… they are excellent good will ambassadors for our county.

They send me pictures and they , very kindly, buy us a few things that they know we’ll love: like a step-by-step cd guide on Madarin Cooking or Chopstick stands ( yes, chopsticks, too).

Here are some of the links to pictures of their wonderful adventures!

Day 1
forbidden city
( Gu Gong )

Day 2
Great Wall
Ming tombs

Day 3 & 4
my Presentation!
Vietnamese Dining
Temple of Heaven

Day 5
Beijing Capital Museum

Day 6

Peking Duck!


At least I’ll have some Chinese Food Locally at our own ‘Mandarin Gormet”

Roger

Kristin at the Great Wall

KristinAtTheGreatWallMy daughters are returning home from China and from what I have read and seen from them… well, simply put, they had a marvelous time.

From what I understand it wasn’t all fun and travel and sight seeing and dining at great places and meeting the locals… oh, I guess it was all those great things and more!

Karen enjoyed the fact that Kristin ‘the energizer bunny’ took her everywhere and did everything together. Kristin loved the company. So it worked out just fine.

Yes, Dad and Mom enjoyed the pictures.

For English speaking people, Chinese is one of the toughest languages to learn but I was proud of my daughters working on some of the simple greetings and questions and answers. I know they will want to come back.

Interestingly enough, Karen kept her blogging up and was chosen “Blog of the Day” by an Internet group… very cool.

Glad you had fun , ladies!

Dad