LushMommy's Vinegar and Garlic "Sukang" for Lumpia
2 cloves garlic, crushed and chopped
1/4 cup vinegar
ground black pepper, to taste
hot sauce (optional)
Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl. Allow to sit for a least 10 min before serving with fresh fried lumpia. (Make a small bite off the end and use a teaspoon to pour the vinegar directly into the eggroll.)
I'm sorry, everyone who cares. I'm so behind. I'm taking a real estate course right now, so that's taking up all my concentration.
must have chemistry with me. It's not just physical attraction, but that's a very essential component to the mix. It's something more — something almost volatile, caustic. It's the electricity that goes through me when he enters the room, or when I hear his voice at the other end of the line, imagining the heat at the end of his words. Not having any layers on, not having to be someone I'm not. It's being exposed but not feeling vulnerable. We'll have reams and reams of things we can talk about, without wanting to stop. And I'll have reams and reams of things to say with my lips, with my hands, with everything else...
Today begins a special series on vinegar, which I believe should attract more flies than honey. It is one of the most under-appreciated condiments out there. There are even more different kinds of vinegar out there than wine. Any good pantry will have a selection of high-quality vinegar to choose from, much like a well-stocked wine cellar.
Shopping Tips:
All I have to say is avoid conventional white vinegar, which is produced chemically from ethyl alcohol, which is in the same family as ethanol, the chemical corn-derivative that's being used as an alternative to fossil fuels. I would only use it to clean mirrors or glass or my coffee maker.
Tomorrow: LushMommy's Mommy's Filipino Chicken Adobo.
Ruby and me.
Ruby and my son, too cool to be awake.
Choosing my karaoke set.
No one took pictures of the actual singing. Oh well.
*Thanks to Ruby and Skip for rocking out with me. Also thanks to my son's father and my son for braving the cold to represent.
A delicious and simple Lenten-friendly dish from Food & Wine Annual Cookbook 2006, p. 181:
"Bake salmon fillets at 350°F until almost cooked. Cover them with honey and place under the broiler until they are nicely caramelized."
I usually sprinkle a little sea salt, black pepper and garlic powder before baking.
Shopping Tips:
Salmon: About fish cuts: fillets are nice when they are at a good price; however, the steaks are usually more economical per pound. It's really not that hard to pick the bones out of salmon. Don't be lazy. Use a dedicated kitchen pair of needle-nose pliers to take out the bones prior to cooking.
He's a nature filmmaker. He's adventurous. He's Scottish. He's smart. He's sexy. He just needs to shave more often, and I'll love him even more. (He reminds me of a favorite actor of mine, Ben Chaplin, from Birthday Girl with Nicole Kidman, and Terrence Malick's WWII epic, The Thin Red Line.)
See Gordon Buchanan in Expedition Borneo on The Science Channel.
His Nature documentary, Leopards of Yala, has clips on the PBS website.
My favorite contestant, Season 6, so far: Blake Lewis. I didn't like him at first because of the ridiculous overuse of gel. But he won me over by choosing a Keane song, "Somewhere Only We Know," which is currently on heavy rotation on my jukebox. All he has to do is stop looking like he's from a prefabricated English boy band, and I'll keep vigil over the busy signals to vote for him.
My second favorite is Phil Stacey, who is so cute with a hat on (without one though, he looks a little Vulcan/Nosferatu; he's no Daughtry when it comes to a shaved head). Up close, he also appears much older than he does on his Idol profile. He's a decent singer and has charisma, so hopefully he'll stay on long enough to grow a bit of hair on top.
Of the women, alas, I was at mass for Ash Wednesday, so I missed all but the last half hour. Who I'm happy I saw: Gina Glocksen. She rocks. I'm a bit bothered that none of the judges liked the beginning of her performance, which I thought was moody and affecting, and a modern, edgy update to a Celine Dion song. Who I'm disappointed I didn't see: Antonella Barba, who is hot (girl-crush alert!) and has a great exotic look. I like the fact she isn't a trained singer.
Who I think should go from the men's side: Rudy Cardenas, who (no hate mail please) is so gay and hackneyed, and Sundance Head, who is so unhot and gave a dreadful Meatloaf-like performance. It wouldn't be fair for me to judge the ladies. We'll see tonight who makes the cut...
If you've used your noodle, now use your coconut:
Coconuts deserve to be called a "superfood." Coconuts (in particular, its oil) got a bad rep in the mid-20th century. But it's making a comeback. Its lipid profile, though saturated, is similar to breastmilk (so it's common in infant formula), and has antibacterial properties. It is great for athletes as a recovery food. We can't forget its emollient properties either, and its oil is a natural, fragrant, nontoxic alternative to baby oil and baby lotion (which often contain mineral oil, a petroleum product). Coconut meat is high in fiber too.
Add unsweetened, sulpher-free coconut flakes to your yogurt, smoothies, cereal or your baking. Coconut oil is also great alternative to butter or vegetable oil in baking, frying and sauteing (see my famous muffin recipe); it has a higher smoke point than canola and olive oil. Lastly, fresh coconut milk is superior to canned ones, and though a messy endeavor to make yourself, the taste rewards are high (fresh frozen coconut milk is available at Filipino and [I believe] Hispanic food markets).
If you are unclear about Lent, its meaning and practice, visit the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw and its Lenten Regulations page.
Also order The Little Black Book: Six-minute meditations on the Passion according to Matthew from their website. It is a type of vade mecum (pronouced vahday maykum, Latin for "travel with me"); The Little Black Book is a pocket-sized booklet to read through the whole Lenten season, based on the writings of Bishop Ken Untener (1937-2004). I have it in my hands right now.
of no profanity. No cursing. No cussing. (Get ready for some really creative blogs.)
I should really give it up entirely, at least in front of my son. He's a complete parrot now. He can even use the "wrong" words in the right context. The last thing I need right now is some busybody accusing me of nurturing a potty mouth.
Sometimes I think, what's the friggin' big deal? Expletives are so common 
place in the everyday vernacular. It's almost subconscious how they pervade our speech. I probably have said curse words in my sleep. They can be so useful in conveying just the right amount of vitriol to sum up the moment, the thing, the person. Who says we don't have the right to offend? Not only do we kill each other with kindness, sometimes we kill ourselves. The recipients of swearing should just try to develop a stronger stomach to those bitter little pills, which sometimes are loaded with truth.
This is un-Christian of me to say, I know. I'm going to confession soon anyway.
DON'T WASTE IT:
Use that leftover wine corked in your cupboard or fridge in your cooking experiments. You'll be surprised by the complexity it adds to your finished dishes. I like to add a 1/4 cup of red wine to my ground beef, ground pork or bulk sausage that I'm sautéing for pasta sauce, let it simmer until almost evaporated then add the tomatoes (or jarred sauce). Also white wine can enhance, but not overpower, the delicate taste of white fish, when cooked in such techniques as poaching and francaise.
Must Reads:
The Joy of Cooking (Wine is a common component in the recipes of this cookbook classic.)
From WineShopOnline.com: Wine 101: Cooking Wines
From marthastewart.com (plus search the website's recipes):
First inductee:
Polska Vodka.
This cheap-ass rubbing alcohol fucked me up royally last night. I still taste its toxic haze in the back of my throat and nose even 24 hours after consuming it. When I examined the refreshments table at the party, I thought Polska was quality because it came in a Grey Goose-esque frosted glass bottle (I later discovered it really costs a bargain basement price of $12.99 for 1 liter). It's been so long since I've felt this close to blacking out from drinking. It was déjà vu all over again and it freaked me out.
The last time was 8 years ago, when I drank at home in MD another stock vodka in a plastic bottle. The last thing I remember was being in my kitchen; I didn't realize I'd passed out in my hallway, where I was found naked in a pool of my own vomit. I was rushed to the emergency room for alcohol poisoning and had to swallow charcoal in order to throw up supposed aspirin I threatened to take during this raging-drunk suicide attempt, all of which I do not recall.
The only time I ever tried to commit suicide caused by cheap vodka. I ain't goin' out like that. I swore since then to avoid all vodkas that come in plastic bottles. Now I am expanding the embargo to all vodka brands that cannot afford a billboard advertisement.
Shopping Tips for Vodka: TOP SHELF ONLY. Now that's out of the way, choosing among reputable brands becomes, as I often say, a matter of taste. Another personal anecdote: one night, a couple of months ago, I ordered a vodka tonic while talking to this Tibetan* guy I met at a local bar. Apparently he was a regular there and had some cache with the bar maid, and trying to
impress me, he told her to make it with Grey Goose. I interjected, "No, no, Ketel One." That is my number one choice. Second is Stolichnaya, especially its different flavors. Belvedere if I'm feeling ultra-luxe. Tanqueray makes an excellent vodka too, which I loved even before coming to appreciate its more famous gin.
I don't believe the hype either. My opinion: Grey Goose is overrated, Absolut's reputation is more indebted to its legendary advertising campaign than its actual product, and Skyy is just a slickly-packaged crap domestic brand. Okay, your opinion can differ. But whatever, to each their own.
*I refer to him as the "Tibetan" guy not to generalize Tibetan people. The reason is I tried to pick his brain about Buddhism in his homeland but every time he'd pull me to the dance floor to change the subject.
And just for the record, that night the Tibetan guy tried to pick me up (he wouldn't let me order a glass of water, only alcohol), I had been to an office party dinner and another bar beforehand, and had even more ounce for ounce of Tanqueray gin and Ketel One vodka than I had of the Polska last night. I was still standing by the end of the night and perfectly lucid, ready to debate anyone under the table, about politics, religion, etc. No hangover the next day either.
Buffalo wings are my favorite finger food, and are usually what I will order on a first visit to a new pub. I am very picky: the wing sections, both the wingette and drummette, have to be fat, otherwise I feel jipped; the skin has to be nice and crispy, with little or no breading (often restaurants overbread or the skin is soggy); the hot sauce cannot be wimpy or too hot, nor should the wings be drowning in sauce or have little at all. It's hard to find restaurants or pubs that meet all my criteria, plus are a good value piece for piece. When I find that diamond in the rough, it usually will become my new favorite restaurant.
That being said, I also like to make my own buffalo wings. I prefer baking over deep-frying, because it's easy to just throw the wings in the oven than hover over them in a fryer and baking creates less mess.
Serves one very hungry person or 2 as an appetizer.
12 individually quick-frozen chicken wing segments* (see Shopping Tips below)
1 tbsp butter or vegetable oil (if I have it on hand, I use macadamia nut oil)
3 tbsp, more or less to taste, cayenne pepper sauce (I believe Frank's Red Hot Original to be the best balance of heat and acidity)
If you sleep over at my house, I'll make this for you the next day. (I once fancied opening a bed-and-breakfast at my house.)
Serves 4 generously.
8 eggs, at room temperature
2 tsp dried oregano or 1 tbsp fresh oregano
Black pepper, ground
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
4 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
All these vegetables julienned into matchstick strips:
How do ya like these apples?*
For an alternative to the same old Red Delicious apple, which can often be firm on the outside, but be soft and mealy inside:
Try a Fuji apple, as pictured to the right. Always sweet, always firm with a long storage life and a bright fragrance, they are great in baking and applesauce, or just plain snacking.
LushMommy's Beginning Eater's Homemade Applesauce
Makes enough for maybe 3 baby meals.
2 large Fuji apples, peeled, cored and chopped into 1" pieces
That last post was completely self-indulgent. I apologize.
(Maybe I'm just a tween at heart.)
Use your noodle:
Add 1/2 cup peeled shrimp and 1/2 cup broccoli florets to the boiling water 2 min before adding the packaged ramen noodles (if the shrimp and broccoli are frozen, add another 4 min before dropping the noodles).
(And I always add the seasoning after serving it in a bowl, because the spices will stick to the pot.)
Shopping Tips for Ramen (or other Asian noodles): Try imported brands, rather than the run-of-the-mill domestic ramen. Venture to an Asian food market, and choose from the myriad of flavors of ramen, many specific to tastes of the country of origin. Also most imported brands do not use hydrogenated oil to precook the noodle.
I like Nissin from Hong Kong, Lucky Me from the Philippines, and Shin Ramen from Korea.
Take note all you ten-year-olds ringing my front doorbell:
I was six months pregnant when the last big snow storm hit NYC in January 2005. I did it all then and I can do it now too.
Will be a gentleman. He will open the door for me, volunteer to carry my bags (even though I would be perfectly alright doing it myself), buy me flowers even if it's not a holiday (it doesn't have to be a pricey fancy bouquet; a modest pocket full of posies are beautiful too)...
But he doesn't have to go beyond his means to please me. It's the simple and free things in life that make me happy.
But most of all, most importantly, a gentleman will make the first move...
From babble.com: Another Non-Father Emasculated By Support Court: Pay Up or Go to Jail.
Read Karen Murphy's blog article and my comment.
Happy Valentine's Day! Smootches to all!
If you are single like me, and are looking for love (or sex) in all the wrong places, try offering one of these muffins to a cute, interesting person you'd like to get to know better.
Chocolate-Chip, Cranberry, Walnut, Oat Bran Muffins
My muffin has made me famous among my mommy circles and co-workers.
*See Shopping Tips below.
Dry Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose unbleached flour*
2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour or oat flour*
2/3 cup oat bran, plus 2 tbsp for sprinkling on top*
1 tbsp baking powder (double acting, aluminum-free)
½ tsp sea salt or kosher salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp baking soda, if using yogurt, sour cream or buttermilk; omit if using milk
Stir-ins
1 cup chocolate chips (about half of a 12-oz package)*
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
Wet Ingredients
2 large eggs (left out for about 30 mins)
¼ unsalted butter, melted*
¼ coconut oil (melted if solid)*
2/3 cup organic sugar or evaporated cane juice or sucanat*
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup yogurt*, buttermilk or sour cream, pref. whole; can also use milk (not ice cold)
