On dieting - Try this, It's good for you!

I know I should take better care of myself. My mother suffered from adult onset diabetes and it was that awful disease that took her. Of course, it is my right as a father to liberate certain pieces of candy from my son's Halloween stash, right? I've never truly tried dieting, I do try and cook meals that are better for all of the Brave Astronaut clan, and I read ingredient labels more than I used to. There's always that nagging idea in the back of my head that I should make use of the fitness center in my building (but it's so far from my office).

Perhaps there's hope. There's a new diet out there. I spotted a while back (on kottke) an article describing the Steve Ward diet, also called the Line Diet:

"All that you need for my diet is graph paper, a ruler, and a pencil," Steve would explain. "The horizontal axis is time, one line per day. The vertical axis is weight in lbs. You plot your current weight on the left side of the paper. You plot your desired weight on a desired date towards the right side, making sure that you've left the correct number of lines in between (one per day). You draw a line from the current weight/date to the desired weight/date. Every morning you weigh yourself and plot the result. If the point is below the line, you eat whatever you want all day. If the point is above the line, you eat nothing but broccoli or some other low-calorie food."

As a data geek and lover of spreadsheets, I could get behind this. Except perhaps for the low-calorie thing. I have started wearing a pedometer and it boggles my mind when I look down at it at the end of each day and see that I've walked nearly 5000 steps (or about 2 miles and only150 calories). Well, it's something.

Here's a recipe (from Eating Well) to help you get that waistline looking like you want it to. If you think you need to. I mean, not that you need - never mind, I'm shutting up now.

Grilled Salmon & Zucchini with Red Pepper Sauce
Jazz up simply grilled salmon and summer vegetables with a zesty sauce based on the classic Spanish romesco. Made with roasted red peppers, tomatoes and almonds, this sauce is a great match for any seafood, poultry or vegetables. Using smoked paprika brings out the flavors from the grill. Serve with: Grilled baguette.

4 servings
Active Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
  
• 1/4 cup chopped jarred roasted red peppers
• 1/4 cup halved grape tomatoes , or cherry tomatoes
• 1 small clove garlic
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar , or red-wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon paprika, preferably smoked
• 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 1 1/4 pounds wild-caught salmon fillet, skinned and cut crosswise into 4 portions
• 2 medium zucchini , or summer squash (or 1 of each), halved lengthwise
• Canola or olive oil cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley , for garnish
  

Preparation

1. Preheat grill to medium.
2. Process almonds, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, oil, vinegar, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a food processor or blender until smooth; set aside.
3. Coat salmon and zucchini (and/or summer squash) on both sides with cooking spray, then sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Grill, turning once, until the salmon is just cooked through and the squash is soft and browned, about 3 minutes per side.
4. Transfer the squash to a clean cutting board. When cool enough to handle, slice into 1/2-inch pieces. Toss in a bowl with half of the reserved sauce. Divide the squash among 4 plates along with a piece of salmon topped with some of the remaining sauce. Garnish with parsley, if desired.
   

It's Movie Night

Fridays are movie nights here at the Brave Astronaut launchpad. Tonight, we tried LBA out on Raiders of the Lost Ark, but it was a little too scary for him. The fallback position was Bolt.

Here's a little something I found on the Interwebs the other day. Enjoy! Movie clips wherein the title of the movie is spoken in the film.

On the Cusp of History

So here I sit, watching game 6 of the Yankee Game - will they win their 27th World Series? Things are looking up. Mariano's in for five outs.

There are several anniversaries to mark this week:

• On this date in 1979, the American Embassy in Tehran was stormed, resulting in the Hostage Crisis that lasted until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan in January 1981.
• This weekend, as was noted by Chancellor Angela Merkel during her speech to a joint session of Congress this week, the world will observe the twentieth anniversary of the Fall of Berlin Wall
  
• I previously noted (in a post here in 2007) about the premiere of Sesame Street on November 10, 1969
  
• On HBO this week, a new documentary will remember the election of Barack Obama one year ago.
• One of the more popular songs on the Brave Astronaut iPod is Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a coal ship, which sank in the Great Lakes on November 10, 1975.

The World's Best Food

With Turkey Day looming just a few weeks away, no recipe this week. (I know, I know, it's a huge disappointment to so many of you) - but hey, there's still baseball to watch.

But to keep you informed, here's a list of where to find the world's best foods. From The Guardian, via kottke, of course. So if you've saved any room after Thanksgiving and you've got some travel dollars set aside, get busy. The article contains descriptions of these great culinary finds and strangely, missing number 6).

1. Best place to eat Oysters - Strangfor Lough, Northern Ireland (Cuan Oysters, Sketrick Island, Killinchy, Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland, 02897 541461)
2. Best place to eat: Aubergines - Ta Kioupa, Athens (Dinokratous & An, Polemou 22, Kolonaki, 11521 Athens, 0030 210 7400150)
3. Best place to eat Hamburgers - Little Owl, New York (90 Bedford St, New York, 001 212 741 4695)
4. Best place to eat Zabaglione - La Cinzianelle (Via Lago, 26 Corgeno, Italy 0039 0 331 946 337)
5. Best place to eat Pho - Pho 24 (5 Nguyen Thiep Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (and other locations). 0084 88226278)
6. Best place to eat Macaroons - Laduree, Paris (16 rue Royale, 75008 Paris, 0033 01 42 60 21 79)
7. Best place to eat Roast Chicken - L'Ami Louis, Paris (32 rue du Vertbois, 3e, 3rd arrondissement, Paris, 0033 1 48 87 77 48)
8. Best place to drink Milkshakes - Fosselman's, Los Angeles (1824 W Main Street, Alhambra, Los Angeles, 001 626 282 6533)
9. Best place to eat Texas barbecue - Snow's, Texas (516 Main Street, Lexington, Texas, 001 979 773 4640, Saturday only)
10. Best place to eat Steak - El Carpicho, Jimenez de Jamuz, Spain (Paraje de las Bodegas, s/n, Jimenez de Jamuz, near León, Spain, 0034 987 664224)
11. Best place to eat Fish and chips - The Wee Chippy, Fife, Scotland (4 Shore Street, Anstruther, Fife, 01333 310106)
12. Best place to eat Strawberry tart - Restaurant de Bacon, Antibes, France (688 Boulevard de Bacon, 06160 Cap D'Antibes, France, 0033 4 93 61 50 02)
13. Best place to eat Pastrami on rye - Katz's Deli, New York (205 E Houston Street at Ludlow Street, New York, 001 212 254 2246)
14. Best place to eat Custard tart - Antiga Confeitaria de Belem, Lisbon (Rua de Belém, 84-92, Belém, Lisbon, 00351 21 363 7423)
15. Best place to eat Leg of beef - Le Louchebem, Paris (31 rue Berger, Angle 10, rue des Prouvaires, Paris, 0033 1 42 33 12 99)
16. Best place to drink Tomato juice - Happy Girl Kitchen, California (Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market, One Ferry Building, San Francisco, 001 831 750 9579)
17. Best place to eat Italian slow food - Coco Lezzone, Florence (Via del Parioncino 26, Florence, Italy, 0039 05 52 87 17 8)
18. Best place to eat Nordic food - Olo, Helsinki (Kasarmikatu 44, 00130 Helsinki, Finland. 00358 9 665 565)
19. Best place to buy Olive oil - Turkish embassy electrical supplies, London (76 Compton Street, London EC1, 020 7251 4721) and Manni (Monte Amiata, Seggiano, Italy, 0039 069 7274787)
20. Best place to eat Tacos - El Pastorcito, Mexico City (4503 Lorenzo Boturini Street, 24 de Abril, Mexico City, Mexico, 0051 55 5764 1185)
21. Best place to eat Peking Duck - Quanjude, Beijing (Hepingmen Dajie, Xuanwu District, Beijing, China, 0086 10 6552 3745)
22. Best place to eat Pork belly - Gramercy Tavern, New York (42 East 20th Street, New York, New York, 001 212 477 0777)
23. Best place to eat Vegetarian Indian - Sagar Ratna, Delhi (18 Defence Colony Market, New Delhi, 110024, Delhi, India, 0091 11 24 33 36 58)
24. Best place to eat Sushi - Daiwa sushi, Tokyo (Building 6, Chuo-ichiba, 5-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 0081 3 3547 6807)
25. Best place to eat Filipino cuisine - Lighthouse Restaurant, Cebu, Philippines (Gaisano Country Mall, Banilad, Cebu city, Philippines, 0063 32 231 2478)
26. Best place to eat California cuisine - Chez Panisse, Berkeley, California (the article notes, "it is quite simply the best restaurant in the world. Superb.") (1517 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, California, 001 510 548 5525)
27. Best place to eat Algerian food - Restaurant Gnaoua, Algiers (Cite Sahraoui, les Deux Bassins, Ben Aknoun, Algiers, Algeria)
28. Best place to eat Classic French cuisine - Close des Gourmets, Paris (16 Avenue Rapp, Paris, 0033 1 45 51 75 61)
29. Best place to eat Tapas - Cal Pep, Barcelona (Plaça de les Olles 8, Barcelona, 0034 93 31 07 961)
30. Best place to eat Pizza - Frank Pepe Pizzeria, New Haven, Connecticut (157 Wooster Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 001 203 865 5762) AND Pizzeria La Sorrentina, Via Domenico Pirozzi 37, Fratta Maggiore, Italy, 0039 338 3248615
31. Best place to eat Thai curry - Krua Apsorn, Bangkok (503-505 Sam San Road, Dusit, Bangkok, Thailand 0066 2 24 18 52 8)
32. Best place to eat Simple French food - Le Vin et L'Assiette, Besancon, France (97 rue Battant, Besançon, France, 0033 3 81 81 48 18)
33. Best place to eat Ice cream - Corrado Costanzo, Noto, Sicily (Via Silvio Spaventa 7, Noto, Sicily, 0039 931 835 243)
34. Best place to eat Kebabs - Bade Miya, Mumbai (Tulloch Road, Apollo Bunder, Mumbai, India)
35. Best place to eat Ravioli - Babbo, New York (110 Waverly Place, New York, 001 212 777 0303)
36. Best place to eat Prawns - Casa Bigote, Sanlucar de Barrameda, Spain (Restaurante Casa Bigote, Bajo de Guia, 10, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz, Andalucía, 0034 956 36 26 96/956 36 32 42)
37. Best place to eat Currywurst - Konnopke's Imbiss, Berlin (Schönhauser Allee 44a, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, 0049 30 442 7765)
38. Best place to eat Ham - Casas, Aracena, Spain (Calle Colmenetas 41, Aracena, Huelva, Spain, 0034 959/128044)
39. Best place to eat Chocolate cake - Pierre Herme, Paris 972, rue Bonaparte, Paris, 0033 01 43 54 47 77)
40. Best place to eat Fried potatoes - Bomba Bar Cova Fumada, Barcelona (No 56 Carrer del Baluard, Barceloneta, Barcelona, Spain, 0034 93 221 4061)
41. Best place to eat Octopus - Tholos, Symi, Greece (Gialos, Symi 85600, Islands, Greece, 0030 22460 72033)
42. Best place to eat Bouillabaisse - Restaurant de Bacon, Antibes, France (688 Boulevard de Bacon, 06160 Cap D'Antibes, France, 0033 4 93 61 50 02) (that's two on the list from here!)
43. Best place to eat Steak and kidney pie - The Hinds Head, Bray (High Street, Bray, Berkshire, 01628 626151)
44. Best place to eat Pasta - Trattoria Caprini, Verona, Italy (9 Via Paolo Zanotti, Torbe di Negrar di Volpolicella, Verona, Italy, 0039 0457500511)
45. Best place to eat Ceviche - Sankuay, Lima, Peru (Garcia Leon 114 (between block 3 and 4 of Av Canada), Santa Catalina, La Victoria, Lima, Peru, 0011 51 1 470 6217)
46. Best place to eat Suckling pig - Montimar, Estellencs, Mallorca (Plaça Constitució 7, 07192 Estellencs, Mallorca, 0034 971 618 576)
47. Best place to eat Curry - Karim's, Delhi (Jama Masjid, Gala Kababian, Old Delhi, India, 0091 11 2326 9880)
48. Best place to eat Dim sum - Luk Yu Tea House, Hong Kong (24-26 Stanley Street, Central, Hong Kong, 00852 2523 5464)
49. Best place to eat Ramen - Ramen Jiro, Tokyo (2-14-11 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan)

Highs and Lows - Happy Halloween

Marking a high, 40 years ago today, someone threw a switch and the Internet was born (no, it wasn't Al Gore). So feel free to spend a little time down the rabbit hole today. Have some birthday cake.

As to the lows, today marks the 80th Anniversary of the first Stock Market Crash that sent the nation and the world spiraling into the Great Depression. What is that saying about history? "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it?" Yeah, something like that. Got any money in your wallet? Maybe we could all go trick or treating for money, instead of candy on Saturday. Remember Unicef boxes? If you are of a certain age, I'm sure you do.

LBA and SoBA will celebrate Halloween at their daycare tomorrow with a costume parade and then on Saturday there will a parade in town and later trick or treating around the neighborhood. Coming of age in the late 70s and early 80s, I trick or treated during the Tylenol scare, stories about razor blades in apples, and being forced to give up loose candy (which to this day I am convinced that it was just my parents way of getting the candy they liked - hey that's what I would do).

Trick or treating today is very much an organized, structured event. In my neighborhood, one only goes to lights with the porch light on, only from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, and never alone. It's a far cry from when I would hit the pavement moments after getting home from school and trick or treat on my own (usually covering most of my neighborhood - about 100 houses at least), arriving home at dark with a sack full of candy. Then there was the inevitable sorting, trading with siblings, losses to parents, etc. But I usually wound up with enough candy to survive a few weeks on sugar rushes.

I will take LBA trick or treating on Saturday, while Mrs. BA and SoBA will stay home to greet the neighborhood children. LBA is dressing up as a robot this year (handmade costume by yours truly) and SoBA will parade around as a fireman.

And if you are at a loss for something to do on Saturday and Halloween is not your thing, but lighthouses are, you could take a trip to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Cape May Lighthouse (New Jersey). I would go, but I've already climbed that lighthouse. Maybe some of you MARACians returning home from Jersey City will make the climb?

It's Time for the Fall Classic

The great American pastime gets underway tonight. The Fall Classic. The World Series. It should be a great series. Let's see how the two competitors got here.

In the first National League Division Series (NLDS), the defending World Series Champions took the NL East crown and faced off the NL Wild Card Winner, the Colorado Rockies. In the other NLDS, the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers faced off against the NL Central winners, the St. Louis Cardinals. The Dodgers easily swept aside the Cardinals in three games (leading me to the prediction that they would be in the World Series, pitting Joe Torre against his former team, The New York Yankees). The Phightin' Phillies lost one game in the series to the Rockies and won in four games. In the National League Championship Series (NLCS), the Phillies and the Dodgers had several great games, but in the end the Dodgers only managed one win. The Phillies blew out the Dodgers in Games 3 and 5, to win the Pennant in five games, punching their ticket to the World Series for the second year in a row.

In the American League, for the second year in a row, the Minnesota Twins needed an extra game to wrap up a title. In game 163, the Twins defeated the Detroit Tigers to capture the AL Central crown, sending them to New York to face the AL East Champion Yankees in the first ALDS. The Twins were quickly dispatched and swept aside by the Yankees. In the other ALDS, the Wild Card winner, the Boston Red Sox traveled to Los Angeles to face the AL West winning Los Angeles Angels. The Angels overpowered the Red Sox and swept the Sox in three games also. In the ALCS, the Angels took on the New York Yankees. The two teams fought epic battles, including two extra inning games, which each team won a game. The Yankees emerged victorious in Game 6, winning their 40th pennant and a trip to the Series.

My prediction? Would you be surprised? Yankees in 6. Stay tuned.

Baked Brain

It's Halloween Week! Here's a special Monday recipe to celebrate the spookiest holiday around! It was forwarded to me by C in DC, who saw it here.

Ingredients:

• Round of brie cheese
• Mushrooms
• Garlic
• Bacon
• Poblano peppers

Dice everything into small dice. I added some pepperoni as well. Pour some olive oil in a saute pan. Saute everything and add some salt and pepper. Let this mixture cool.

For this recipe I just buy puff pastry rather than make my own. Cut the brie in half. Scoop some of the cheese out to make an indentation. Scoop some of the sauteed mixture on to the brie and spread it around. Cover with the other half of the brie.

Fold the puff pastry over the brie. Press all the ends together. Cut pieces from the second piece of brie and roll them into strings. Curl them on top of the brie to look like a brain.

Crack egg yolks into individual bowls and add food coloring. Then spread these mixtures over the puff pastry brain. I used black, red and green. Bake this in a preheated 475 degree oven until brown and bubbling on the edges.

Voila.....baked brain!!! Cut into it and it oozes all over the plate. When serving this at a party bring it straight from the oven to the guests. It makes a wicked presentation. Serve it with crackers. Baked brain might look gross but it is GOOD!!!!!