Order from Chaos

What the Wizard of Oz was Really About?

2012-01-27T13:18:00.004-05:00

As you, my faithful readers, know, Fridays are normally pizza-movie night at the Launchpad. Today, I am home with SoBA, who was up most of the night emptying out his stomach. Now, after watching Toy Story 3, we segued into Stuart Little 2, during which he fell asleep. There will likely be more video entertainment later in the afternoon when he wakes up. Hopefully, he will want something to eat, now that several hours have passed without his throwing up. When I was sick, my sick day routine involved a lot of TV, drinks drunk with a straw on the couch, and pastina. So far, all we are missing for SoBA is the third (there is some getting flat Sprite on the table next to him) item.

LBA has seen the Wizard of Oz and it has been featured for pizza-movie night in the past. But do you know some of the myths and trivia associated with the blockbuster film?

Dorothy's iconic shirt was actually pink.
The Wicked Witch Cries Out, "Fly, Fly, my Pretties!"
Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the Tin Man but was recast when the makeup nearly killed him.
The Land Of Oz Was Named For L. Frank Baum's Cabinet Drawer Marked O-Z
Margaret Hamilton's Make-Up Was Life Threateningly Toxic
Pink Floyd Purposely Created "Dark Side Of The Moon" To Coincide With Oz
Unbeknownst At The Time, Professor Marvel Is Wearing L. Frank Baum's Jacket
A Munchkin Committed Suicide by Hanging Himself on Film

New Jersey - #3, December 18, 1787

2012-01-26T21:59:00.004-05:00

As the United States Constitution was ratified by the original thirteen colonies, the United States took shape fairly quickly. The third state in our series is the Garden State, New Jersey. I have a sort of love-hate relationship with New Jersey. It is where Mrs. BA and I honeymooned in Cape May after we were married ten years ago (and will return in April to celebrate our anniversary - with a bunch of archivists - but celebrate we will).

I have spent a fair amount of time in New Jersey. My grandmother and aunt used to live in Livingston and we would travel there from our home on Long Island at the holidays. I have been to several meetings in New Jersey - New Brunswick, Trenton, and Morristown. My fascination with lighthouses has brought me to New Jersey to look at the many lighthouses that mark the coast. I have also been to the sin city of the East, Atlantic City. I went there once with my mother to try out for Jeopardy and learned later that Mrs. BA was there that same day.

Running up the middle of the state is the hate part of the relationship, The New Jersey Turnpike. When the road works, it's great. But over the course of several recent trips to New York (more specifically trying to get home from New York), the Turnpike has let me down. It is truly a case of too many cars and not enough road.

The current governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie, a Republican. Both Senators for the Garden State are Democrats, Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez. The House delegation is almost evenly split 7-6, with one more Democrat than Republicans.

1st District - Robert Andrews (D)
2nd District - Frank LoBiondo (R)
3rd District - Jon Runyan (R)
4th District - Chris Smith (R)
5th District - Scott Garrett (R)
6th District - Frank Pallone, Jr. (D)
7th District - Leonard Lance (R)
8th District - Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D)
9th District - Steven Rothman (D)
10th District - Donald Payne (D)
11th District - Rodney Frelinghuysen (R)
12th District - Rush Holt (D)
13th District - Albio Sires (D)

Facts

State Capital - Trenton
Date of Admission - December 18, 1787
Area - 8,721 sq. mi. (47th)
State Motto - "Liberty and Prosperity"
State Nickname - the Garden State
State bird - American Goldfinch
State mammal - horse
State flower - common meadow violet
State University - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
State Archives - the State Archives
Population (2011 est.) - 8,821,155
Signers of the Declaration of Independence -Abraham Clark, John Hart, Francis Hopkinson, Richard Stockton, Reverend John Witherspoon

Links

nj.gov - the Official Website of New Jersey
The New Jersey Tourism site - visitnj.org
The Encyclopedia Britannic entry for New Jersey
Wikpedia
50states.com entry for New Jersey
nj.com - everything New Jersey

Prominent New Jerseyites (more here and here's another)

Both Abbott and Costello
Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito
Count Basie
Jon Bon Jovi
Former Supreme Court Justice William Brennan
Whitney Houston
Jerry Lewis
recently announced NFL Hall of Fame inductee Bill Parcells
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia (that's three!)
Ol' Blue Eyes, the Chairman of the Board
The Boss
Joe Theismann (whose career was ended by a player that played for the New York Giants)
New Jersey is the birthplace of Grover Cleveland and can lay partial claim to another President, Woodrow Wilson, who was president of Princeton shortly before his election. Although he is the last President to have been from Virginia, the mother of the presidency.

Nutella Coated Bacon

2012-01-23T21:12:00.001-05:00

I saw this on Friday and almost posted a special Friday recipe. Good lord, this sounds good. Seen on BuzzFeed, copied from the Detroit Free Press website. It appears the recipe originally comes from here.

Sweet and Spicy Nutella-Coated Bacon
Serves: 6
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes

1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Vegetable oil cooking spray
6 thick slices bacon (1/2 to 3/4 pound)
3 tablespoons Nutella
Fleur de sel or another coarse salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine brown sugar, chili powder and black pepper in a small bowl and set aside.

Spray a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange bacon slices on baking sheet, making sure they do not overlap. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on desired doneness, then remove from oven and carefully flip bacon slices.

Sprinkle each slice liberally with sugar-pepper mixture. Return to oven and bake for an additional 8 to 10 minutes. Cool bacon slices on paper towels until approximately room temperature.

When bacon has cooled, place Nutella into a small bowl and microwave on high for approximately 15 to 20 seconds, until softened. Transfer bacon slices to a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet or large plate. Using a silicon brush or icing spatula, lightly spread Nutella onto the top of each bacon slice. Place plate into refrigerator and allow Nutella to harden. Once coating is firm to the touch, sprinkle with fleur de sel and serve.

Variations:

Reduce the amount of black pepper to 1/2 teaspoon and add 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/8 teaspoon ground red (cayenne) pepper to the spice mixture.
To make a European Elvis sandwich, spread the top of one slice of bread lightly with honey, top with the coated bacon and thin slices of banana, then close with a second slice of bread.

Adapted from bellalimento.com. Tested by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
150 calories (60% from fat)
10 grams fat (3.5 grams sat. fat)
8 grams carbohydrates
7 grams protein
355 mg sodium
15 mg cholesterol
0 grams fiber

Click, Clack, Ding, Kerchunk!

2012-01-21T11:55:00.001-05:00

One of the more popular books in the rotation for LBA and SoBA is called Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type. It occurs to me that while reading this story, SoBA and LBA might be confused with the use of something called a "typewriter." Sadly, back in April 2011, it was reported the last typewriter factory closed its doors.

I remember taking "Keyboarding" in (junior?) high school. I wound up dropping the class because I had already "learned" to type and wasn't in the mood to relearn. Now, of course, I can type pretty fast and don't have to look at the keyboard (I'm not doing it now) to make sure that I am typing correctly. I do sort of hover near the "home keys" but the backspace / delete key is much easier to use than "correct-a-type" ever was.

In keyboarding, we used IBM Selectric typewriters. It had that very satisfying hum when you turned it on. Sometimes it felt like you could take it outside to mow the lawn with it. We had a manual typewriter around the house growing up until that finally gave up the ghost. When I went off to college, I had a brand spanking new word processing typewriter that had a disk drive that you could type your papers and then save! them to this piece of plastic. It had a little delay on it that you would type a line of text and then it would magically appear on the paper. It had a flip screen that served as a keyboard cover. For the life of me, I can't remember what it was called or who made it. But then again, if you can't remember a lot from college, you must have had a pretty good time, right?

Here in the office (where I deal primarily with electronic records) there was a typewriter around for a while - I don't know if it is still here somewhere. But with a computer on everyone's desk and the "Avery Plug-in" available so readily, is anyone still typing out addresses on envelopes (the last line of defense for needing a typewriter)?

So, dear reader. Typewriters? What do you think?

Pennsylvania - #2, December 12, 1787

2012-01-19T21:34:00.005-05:00

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (the first of four Commonwealths in the United States state list - any guesses of the other three before we get there?) became the second state to become part of the United States just five days after Delaware. Pennsylvania is the only one of the original thirteen colonies that does not border the Atlantic Ocean.

While the capital of the state, Harrisburg, is located near the center of the state, its two largest cities are found on the eastern and western borders, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, respectively. Philadelphia, of course, holds a special place in the history of the nation, as the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and waged the American Revolution and signed the Declaration of Independence. Pittsburgh also holds a spot in history as KDKA became the world's first radio station, when it started broadcasting in 1920.

I have traveled all across Pennsylvania - having attended several professional meetings across the state (most recently I was in Bethlehem). I also have a number of friends in the state, including Ed in Pittsburgh, Anna (Mrs. BA's best pal), J in PA and Special K, PCW, and several others. PCW, of course, has one of the sweetest jobs in the world, literally. She works here.

Of the many colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, Dickinson College, J in PA's employer holds the distinction of being the first college founded in the United States (after independence). My two older siblings also went to college in the Keystone State, at LaSalle University. Mrs. BA also went to college in Pennsylvania.

The current governor of Pennsylvania is Tom Corbett, a Republican. The Senators for the state are split, one Republican, Patrick Toomey, and one Democrat, Robert Casey, Jr. The House delegation is currently split 12-7, in favor of the Republicans.

1st District - Robert Brady (D)
2nd District - Chaka Fattah (D)
3rd District - Mike Kelly (R)
4th District - Jason Altmire (D)
5th District - Glenn Thompson (R)
6th District - Jim Gerlach (R)
7th District - Patrick Meehan (R)
8th District - Michael Fitzpatrick (R)
9th District - Bill Shuster (R)
10th District - Tom Marino (R)
11th District - Lou Barletta (R)
12th District - Mark Critz (D)
13th District - Allyson Schwartz (D)
14th District - Michael F. Doyle (D)
15th District - Charles Dent (R)
16th District - Joseph Pitts (R)
17th District - Tim Holden (D)
18th District - Tim Murphy (R)
19th District - Todd Platts (R)

Facts

State Capital - Harrisburg
Date of Admission - December 12, 1787
Area - 46,055 sq mi (33rd)
State Motto - "Virtue, Liberty, and Independence"
State Nickname - the Keystone State
State bird - ruffed grouse
State mammal - white tailed deer
State flower - mountain laurel
State University - Penn State University
State Archives - the Pennsylvania State Archives
Population (2011 est.) -12,742,886
Signers of the Declaration of Independence - George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, John Morton, Benjamin Rush, George Ross, James Smith, James "I'm not like you, John" Wilson, George Taylor

Links

pa.gov - the Official Website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Tourism site - visitpa.com
The Encyclopedia Britannic entry for Pennsylvania
Wikpedia
50states.com entry for Pennsylvania

Prominent Pennsylvanians (again, subjective and my own opinion - one list found here and here's another)

Pennsylvania has produced only one President of the United States, and the only bachelor President, James Buchanan.
Louisa May Alcott
Kevin Bacon
The Barrymores
Joe Biden gets to be on this list, too. He was born in Scranton.
Daniel Boone (although I would always place him with the Lone Star State, when we get there)
Alexander Calder
Adrian Cronauer (I was watching this movie when preparing this post)
Bill Cosby
Ann B. Davis
W.C. Fields
Benjamin Franklin
Robert Fulton (as with Boone, I would associate him with another state more - New York)
Milton Hershey
Reggie Jackson (see above)
Gene Kelly
Mario Lanza (wait he's not a native Italian?)
Benjamin Netanyahu (yes, the current PM of Israel)
Arnold Palmer
William Penn
Jimmy Stewart
Andrew Wyeth

But the Twinkies will Still be Good, Right?

2012-01-16T15:36:00.003-05:00

Word has reached the launchpad that Hostess Cakes is filing bankruptcy. But Twinkies will live forever, right?

Here is a list of several recipes using the indestructible sponge cake. Below is my favorite (and something that might actually be edible). Believe it or not, there is a whole cookbook that you can order, devoted to using Hostess Cakes for cooking.

Twinkie Toffee Treat

Items Needed:

1 box Hostess Twinkies
2 prepared packages of pudding (I usually use vanilla, but like chocolate as well!)
1 large tub of whipped topping
6 Heath candy bars

DIRECTIONS: Crush Heath candy bars in a sturdy plastic bag. Cut Twinkies lengthwise and line bottom of glass pan with Twinkies, creme side up. Add a layer of pudding. Layer with remaining Twinkies, creme side down. Top with the whipped topping. Sprinkle with the crushed candies. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Delaware - #1, December 7, 1787

2012-01-12T22:27:00.006-05:00

So here we are. The first post of the new States of the Union series here on Order from Chaos. Over the course of the remainder of the year, I will post information about the 50 states in the order of their admittance to the Union. That means, week 1, is the First State, Delaware.

Delaware is the second smallest state in the union (after what state?), comprised of three counties (the fewest number of counties of any state) - Mrs. BA used to know someone who would say "three counties when the tide was out, one when the tide was in" - and is about 100 miles long and ranges from 9 to 35 miles wide. Delaware also has the only circular state boundary in the United States, the Twelve Mile Circle.

Having driven through Delaware more times than I care to recount, I believe that most of the state is Interstate 95 - known in the state as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. Paying a toll for the privilege just adds insult to injury. Delaware also features favorable incorporation laws and as a result, about half of the publicly traded corporations in the United States and 60% of the Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in Delaware.

The state is reliably Democratic - the current Governor is Jack Markell (D), both Senators and its sole House Member are Democrats: Thomas Carper, Chris Coons, and John Carney.

Delaware also has great beaches and is a popular destination for the Brave Astronaut clan when the situation presents itself. There is a minor league baseball team, located in Wilmington, The Wilmington Blue Rocks, which I have been to, organizing a group outing to a game. Wilmington, Delaware's major city, has been home to many professional meetings for the Brave Astronaut and it holds a very special place in my heart.

Facts

State Capital - Dover
Date of Admission - December 7, 1787
State Motto - Liberty and Independence
State bird - blue hen chicken
State flower - peach blossom
State University - The University of Delaware (and employer of one of Mrs. BA's brothers-in-law)
State Archives - the Delaware Public Archives
Population (2010) - 897,934
Signers of the Declaration of Independence - Col. Thomas McKean, George Read, Caesar Rodney.

Links

Delaware.gov - the Official Website of the First State
The Delaware Tourism site - visitdelaware.com
The Encyclopedia Britannic entry for Delaware
Wikpedia
The Delaware Memorial Bridge - the second longest twin suspension bridge in the world (really?)

Prominent Delawareans (completely subjective and my own opinion - full list here)

Joseph Biden, Vice President of the United States
Valerie Bertinelli
"Gentlemen of the Congress, I say ye, John Dickinson"
The DuPonts
Ryan Philippe
Judge Reinhold
William Roth
The Shues, Andrew and Elisabeth
George Thorogood

So that's the first post. What do you think? What's missing?

Oregano Brussel Sprouts

2012-01-09T21:11:00.002-05:00

I like brussel sprouts. There I said it. You can't make me stop liking brussel sprouts. In fact I made some for Christmas dinner, but was the only one to eat them. I made this recipe, which was good, but here's another recipe for you to try so that you might develop a taste for them as well. Recipe from here.

Oregano Brussels Sprouts

To make a meal of this, serve over farro, quinoa, rice, or on top of a frittata. Use leftover oregano drizzle over everything from roasted squash, frittatas, baked potatoes, or with a good amount of fresh lemon juice, as a salad vinaigrette.

24 small brussels sprouts (less if you can only find larger sprouts)
extra virgin olive oil
fine grain sea salt

Oregano Drizzle

3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 
1/4 cup fresh oregano, chopped
 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
 1 large garlic clove
 1/4 teaspoon fine grain sea salt, plus more to taste

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for rubbing

a big handful of toasted almond slices

Wash the brussels sprouts well. Trim the stem ends and remove any raggy outer leaves. Cut in half from stem to top (quarter, if using larger sprouts) and gently rub each half with olive oil, keeping it intact. Or if you're feeling lazy, just toss them in a bowl with a glug of olive oil.

Make the oregano drizzle by pulsing the olive oil, oregano, parsley, garlic, and salt in a food processor until the herbs are just little flecks of green. Season with more salt if needed, and set aside.

Just a few minutes before you're ready to eat, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in your largest skillet over medium heat. Don't overheat the skillet, or the outsides of the brussels sprouts will cook too quickly. Place the sprouts in the pan flat side down (single-layer), sprinkle with a couple pinches of salt, cover, and cook for roughly 5 minutes; the bottoms of the sprouts should only show a hint of browning. Cut into or taste one of the sprouts to gauge whether they're tender throughout. If not, cover and cook for a few more minutes.

Once just tender, uncover, turn up the heat, and cook until the flat sides are deep brown and caramelized. Use a metal spatula to toss them once or twice to get some browning on the rounded side. Remove from heat and drizzle and toss with as much (or little) oregano pesto as you like. Season to taste, and serve sprinkled generously with the almonds as soon as possible. They really are best straight from the stove top.

Serves 4 as a side.
Prep time: 5 min - Cook time: 8 min

States of the Union: A New Series

2012-01-05T20:31:00.002-05:00

I love the Animaniacs. I would let LBA watch these guys instead of some of the other stuff he sits slack jawed in front of the TV watching now.

It's been a while since I had a recurring list appear on the blog (you may recall the Presidents of the United States series - you can still refer to them with the list that appears on the right side of this blog). I think it's time for a new set. LBA, deep into first grade, is learning at a mad pace and often will quiz me on things. He is trying to memorize all of the fifty states. So this new series should help. You got a preview of this series with those posts back in November and December.

As there are fifty states, this series will run for the entire year (I will do my best to make sure I am here every week). The final week will feature some sort of conclusion, as yet to be determined. The states will be revealed in the order of their admission to the Union, sorry Hawaii and Alaska lovers, you're gonna have to wait for a while. But hey, Delawareans, you guys win! You'll be up first, next week. Be sure to let me know if there is something specific about a state that you want / need to know!

Salty Chicken

2012-01-02T22:49:00.002-05:00

Wait. Does this mean I can't eat the skin? That's the best part. And if it's all salty, yummy goodness . . .

Salt-Roasted Chicken
Bon Appétit - December 2011
by Christian Domschitz

Christian Domschitz, chef de cuisine at Vestibül, locks in the chicken's flavor and moisture under a simple crust made with kosher salt and egg whites.
Yield: Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients

3 large sprigs flat-leaf parsley
3 large sprigs marjoram
3 large sprigs tarragon
1 3–4-pound chicken
7 cups (about 2 3/4 pounds) kosher salt
12 large egg whites

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a 15x11" roasting pan with foil, if desired. Stuff herbs into chicken cavity; tie legs loosely together. Tuck wing tips under.

Place salt and egg whites in a large bowl. Use your hands to blend well, kneading to soften slightly, about 4 minutes. Pack 1/3 of salt mixture onto bottom of pan. Place chicken on top. Pack remaining salt mixture over and around chicken to completely enclose.

Roast until a thermometer registers 165°F when inserted through the salt crust into thickest part of thigh, about 70 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes. Crack salt with the back of a knife or wooden spoon. Remove salt and skin from chicken; transfer meat to a work surface. Carve and serve.

New Years Resolutions

2012-01-01T13:49:00.003-05:00

Yeah, yeah. I know. Everybody and their brother makes them. And doesn't keep them. It's up to you dear readers to keep me in line.

Lose weight. I stalled for a while, I was going to the gym at work fairly regularly. Then the kids became the exercise. Problem is, I often find myself picking at their plates when they are done with dinner. I need to find some regimen that will help me get to my goal, which is about 15-20 pounds away.
Have date night at least once a month. I like going to the movies. I like spending time with Mrs. BA and our friends. We don't get a chance to do it enough. I'd like to do that more.
Yell less. My father like(d/s) to yell. My mother was the primary disciplinarian at home and "wait until your father comes home" made you feel strange, because you didn't necessarily think you would get in more trouble, but there might be yelling. I don't want to be that father. I need to take a breath before responding to LBA and SoBA. It's hard, but they deserve better than they sometimes get.
Be outstanding, or at least highly successful. My fellow federal workers, you understand. I think I am on the way to this, hopefully.

What resolutions are you all making? Is there something missing from my list?

I wish you all a happy and healthy new year!

Shh. You're in the Library.

2011-12-29T21:56:00.004-05:00

Although some of these pictures may inspire you to gasp loudly. Nice job US getting several on the list. Was somewhat surprised to not see the Library of Congress on here. Go see the pictures, they are stunning. Hey, C in DC - one of your former employers made the list! Some of these Incredibly Intricate Libraries are pretty awesome also.

The 25 Most Beautiful Libraries in the World
(from BuzzFeed / Flavorwire)

The University of Coimbra General Library, Coimbra, Portugal
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven, CT
University of Salamanca Library, Salamanca, Spain
The Trinity College Library, aka “The Long Room,” Dublin, Ireland
Old Library, St. John’s College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
Philological Library of the Free University, Berlin, Germany
Central Library, University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
The Harper Library Reading Room, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Frederick Ferris Thompson Memorial Library, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
George Peabody Library, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Queen’s College Library, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
Wren Library, Trinity College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
Duke Humfrey’s Library, Bodleian Library, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
Suzzallo Library’s Graduate Reading Room at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA
The North Reading Room in Doe Library, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
La Sorbonne Reading Room, Paris, France
Codrington Library, All Soul’s College, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
Cornell Law School Library, Ithaca, NY
University of Michigan Law Library, Ann Arbor, MI
Pontifical Lateran University library, Rome, Italy
Powell library, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Widener Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Fisher Fine Arts Library, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Pitts Theology Library, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Bapst Library, Boston College, Boston, MA

I think I saw some of these books on the shelves in the pictures (video from kottke).

Mac and Cheese (and Bacon)

2011-12-26T10:40:00.002-05:00

This recipe appeared at the launchpad a few weeks ago and it quickly made an appearance on the table. It will likely get made again. Be careful of the garlic, it cooks quickly and if it gets too toasted, it overpowers the dish. I saw the recipe in that woman's recipe magazine but it is from Emeril Lagasse.

Emeril's Three-Cheese Baked Macaroni

Ingredients

Coarse salt
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
3 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
3 large eggs
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar (6 ounces)
1/2 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese (2 ounces)
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan (1 ounce)

Directions

Preheat oven to 475 degrees. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook macaroni 6 minutes (it will be undercooked). Drain. Meanwhile, heat a small skillet over medium and add bacon. Cook until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon mixture to a medium bowl. Add macaroni and stir to combine.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and evaporated milk. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, cayenne, nutmeg, and cheeses; mix well. Add macaroni mixture and stir well to combine. Transfer to an 8- or 9-inch square baking dish or 2-quart gratin dish. With a spoon, gently spread mixture to form an even layer. Bake just until sauce is bubbling at edges, 12 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

2011-12-24T10:11:00.000-05:00

The Brave Astronaut clan are staying home for the holidays. Many of you are aware of the troublesome trip we had while going to visit with my family. Thanksgiving has been off the board for several years now and it is possible that making the trip at Christmas may soon follow. It's just too hard with LBA and SoBA in tow. Unless we are spending Christmas somewhere warm.

Tonight will be spent with Mrs. BA's family and then tomorrow morning we will all be waking in our own beds to see what Santa has brought us. It is also LBA's birthday - so the day will start out as Christmas and end as his birthday. We are having C in DC and her lovely family over for dinner (it's OK Mom, there are people coming) and the Christmas China will be coming out.

Tonight I will likely read a Christmas story to the boys before they head off to bed. Maybe this one.

My fervent wish to all of you, as always, is that you will always be able to hear the sound of the sleigh bell. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Wait, Today's Not a Holiday?

2011-12-20T07:29:00.000-05:00

I guess I have to go to work then. For those in the know, today is my birthday. Finished your shopping yet? Here's a few ideas for the Brave Astronaut you love.

Three-Person Chess
A chess variant board to accommodates three players, without compromising ANY of the rules, strategies, or competitive challenges. There are only a few changes that must be followed to maintain order where the teams border each other. More here.

There's also the "vertical" version of chess.

It includes a "last move" marker hung around a recently promoted pawn-turned-Queen signals to an opponent that without an equally crafty counter, the game will end soon. It's only $300.
From Hammacher Schlemmer.

And remember, there is always the list of the five greatest toys of all time (from Wired via kottke).

the Stick
the Box
String
the Cardboard Tube
Dirt

It's My Birthday!

2011-12-19T22:44:00.002-05:00

Mrs. BA loves me. This is my birthday cake for tomorrow.

Buttercup Bake Shop Caramel Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting

2-1/2 cups flour
2-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup Caramel (next recipe) + 1/2 cup water, mixed

Frosting:

2 cups packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
6 T. unsalted butter, softened
2-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Bake at 350º. Grease and flour two 9x2" cake pans.Line bottoms with waxed paper. Sift dry ingredients and set aside. Using medium speed, cream butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time. Add dry ingredients in thirds, alternating with caramel mixture, beating until smooth. Put into pans; bake 30-35 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cool completely on wire racks.

Make frosting by melting butter, brown sugar, and cream in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat, stirring constantly. Let come to a boil. Boil 5 minutes, without stirring. Remove from heat and cool 20-30 minutes. Add sugar, beating with mixer until smooth. If too thick add a bit of cream. Frost cake layers when cold.

Makes a 2-layer 9" cake.
Serves 10-12.

Caramel

1 cup cold water
3 cups sugar
2 cups heavy cream

Combine sugar and water in medium-sized pan. Stir occasionally over medium-low heat, until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Let no sugar stick to sides of pan. Increase heat to high and boil without stirring, until the syrup becomes a deep amber color, about 15 minutes. To prevent the syrup from becoming grainy, use a pastry brush dipped into cold water to brush down any sugar crystals sticking to the sides of the pan. Swirl the pan occasionally for even browning. Once the syrup turns deep amber in color, immediately remove from heat. Slowly and carefully add the cream to the syrup (mixture will bubble vigorously), whisking constantly, until cream is mixed in completely. Return pan to medium-low heat, stirring until sauce is smooth, about
1 minute. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature before refrigerating.

Will keep for 1 month. Makes 3-1/2 cups.

States Stereotypes

2011-12-15T20:57:00.002-05:00

Stereotypes aren't cool. Funny, but not cool.
Seen on Huffington Post and BuzzFeed

This post is another hint (following the post in November) to what is coming to Order from Chaos in 2012). Figure it out yet? Check back, right here in three weeks. Bring a map.

Christmas Recipe - Donuts!

2011-12-12T22:44:00.004-05:00

When Mrs. BA and I got married, we eschewed the traditional wedding cake and went with a Croquembouche (basically a tower of cream puffs). It was awesome. Here's a kid-friendly version that would be a hit at most tables this holiday season. From Epicurious.

Doughnut-Hole Croquembouche
Epicurious
December 2007

This kid-friendly version of a classic French Christmas treat subs doughnut holes for the traditional cream puffs. They're attached to a Styrofoam base to form a tall cone, which can then be decorated with candy or artificial leaves bought at craft stores.

Yield: Makes 1 croquembouche

Ingredients

About 70 doughnut holes of any flavor
Assorted candy decorations such as M&M's, Red Hots, licorice balls, and silver dragées
1/4 cup corn syrup with 1 teaspoon water stirred in
Purchased or homemade chocolate or caramel sauce (optional)

Special equipment

Clear tape
18-inch-tall Styrofoam cone (available at floral shops and craft stores)
Waxed or parchment paper or aluminum foil in color similar to doughnuts
Cake-decorating turntable (optional)
About 70 toothpicks
Thimble
Cloth leaves (available at floral shops and craft stores)

Preparation

Using tape, cover cone with paper. Place cone on turntable if using
Arrange 1 ring doughnut holes around base of cone, placing as closely together as possible. Insert toothpick through each doughnut hole into cone to attach doughnut hole to cone, leaving end of toothpick sticking out (you'll push it in later with thimble)
Attach second ring of doughnut holes above first, again packing tightly and staggering so doughnut holes in second ring are not directly above doughnut holes in first ring.
Continue in same manner to attach remaining doughnut holes. For top tiers, if desired, slice off small amount of each doughnut hole on side facing toward cone to make shape more tapering. Finish covering cone with 1 doughnut hole attached to top of cone.
Using thimble, push in toothpicks until not visible.
Decorate by pushing candies and leaves into gaps between doughnut holes. If candies won't adhere, dip in corn syrup-water mixtur before attaching.
If desired, drizzle with chocolate or caramel sauce. Croquembouche keeps, covered loosely with aluminum foil and refrigerated, 2 to 3 days.

Test-kitchen tip: Shredded coconut on a platter around the croquembouche can give the feeling of snow. For a healthier option, substitute round cherry tomatoes or cherries for the doughnut holes.

First Snow of the Season

2011-12-07T20:46:00.000-05:00

We are expecting our first "real" snow of the season tonight. It is not supposed to amount to anything, but here in the DC area, you never know how people will react. I need to go to the grocery store soon, but there isn't enough money in the world to send me there tonight.

The Brave Astronauts are heading out this weekend to get our Christmas Tree - continuing a tradition of cutting our own at a farm in Northern Maryland. We will make a day of it, joined by the OSG family, ArchivesNext and J in PA. I guess it's time to start decorating - and I guess cards will need to be addressed and sent. And a Christmas letter needs to be written, the shopping completed, plans made . . . . I truly have miles to go before I sleep.

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

- Robert Frost

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

2011-12-05T22:38:00.003-05:00

Because everything is better with chicken, especially something that was already good to start with!

Double Barbecue Bacon-Wrapped Grilled Chicken
from Betty Crocker

Mouthwatering and moist, this grilled chicken gets flavor from bacon and two kinds of barbecue sauce, one tangy, the other creamy with a kick.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients
White Barbecue Sauce

1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
2 teaspoons chopped parsley
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper sauce

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
8 slices packaged precooked bacon
2 teaspoons barbecue seasoning
1/4 cup barbecue sauce

Preparation

Heat gas or charcoal grill. In small bowl, stir together white barbecue sauce ingredients; cover and refrigerate until serving time.
Wrap each chicken breast with 2 slices bacon, stretching bacon to cover as much of the breast as possible; secure ends of bacon to chicken with toothpicks. Sprinkle both sides with barbecue seasoning.
Place chicken on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 5 minutes. Brush with 2 tablespoons of the barbecue sauce. Cook 5 to 7 minutes longer or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F). Turn chicken; brush with remaining barbecue sauce. Serve chicken topped with white barbecue sauce.

Girl Scouts (cookies)

2011-12-03T17:00:00.003-05:00

Back in September, Girl Scouts of Nassau County celebrated their 100th Anniversary by planting 100 trees at Camp Blue Bay in East Hampton, NY. As most of you, my faithful readers, know, my mother was a lifelong girl scout and spent several weekends at Camp Blue Bay.

That's not to mention the number of years she served as "cookie mother" and our living room would be crammed full of cartons of cookies that we were unable to have. Have a look at the chart above - where do you fall?

Now, I have also spoken of the many girl scouts (and girl guides) that came through Nassau County (and my house) over the years as part of the International Hostessing Program, which my mother co-chaired for many years. I don't recall this being utilized by any of them - but I guess it's new.

Happy Birthday to the Girl Scouts! Thanks for everything you've done. And Happy Birthday to my sister!

Eggs, Not Just for Breakfast, Except When They Are

2011-11-28T22:31:00.004-05:00

Breakfast for Dinner at the launchpad moved recently (to accommodate a friend's school schedule) to Tuesdays. While pancakes are the most common item served, we have had waffles and french toast in the rotation recently. There is talk of introducing some egg based products into the schedule as well (we will often have quiche the next day if there is leftover bacon).

Perhaps omelettes? Funny story . . . my sister and I were cleaning out my parent's house several years ago, and we disposed of an omelet pan that had clearly seen better days (and probably not seen the light of day in several years). But we got caught(? !) and had to try and replace it. Thanks eBay. Maybe we could have just downloaded this video instead.

If we are searching for additional egg products, I might try these - because everything is better with bacon. I "transcribed" the recipe from the video (linked above).

Bacon-Wrapped Eggs

1 dozen eggs
1lb. bacon
shredded cheese (cheddar probably works best here)
chopped fresh herbs (chive, dill, thyme, your choices)

Cook the bacon on medium heat until browned but not crisp. Set aside to drain and cool. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a muffin tin or ramekins with bacon slices. You may spray the tins / ramekins with non-stick spray. Cover bottoms with chunks of bacon. Crack one egg into each bacon cup. Season with salt and pepper. Top with cheese and herbs. Bake until set (approximately 15 minutes).

Of course, there used to be those times when we would go out for breakfast. But now all I want to do in the morning is sleep.

Thanksgiving #2 - A Potato Alternative

2011-11-21T22:07:00.001-05:00

As mentioned here with last week's recipe, the Brave Astronaut clan will be on the road for Thanksgiving - making a short (and hopefully quick) trip to Wilmington, DE to share Thanksgiving with Mrs. BA's family. LBA is off from school on Wednesday and Friday and SoBA is off on Friday. I am taking Wednesday off and Mrs. BA is going to spend the night on Thursday with her sister and come home with the boys on Friday. I'm going to work. There is some part of me that may be interested in some of the Black Friday deals - but my background in retail may keep me away from the stores - no matter how good the deal.

There has been little discussion about the menu for Thursday, although I am certain there will be turkey. I posted my vegetable choice last Monday and I am a big fan of the mashed (Mrs. BA believes they are really, whipped) potatoes. Although this recipe certainly has merit and could make a good alternative.

(I will say that I was not overly impressed with the recipes that I stumbled across leading up to the All-American Holiday. Perhaps the Christmas lineup will be better.)

The remaining question is how many desserts will there be? And will I be able to drive home by myself and still reach the steering wheel?

Roasted Potatoes with Bacon, Cheese, and Parsley
Gourmet | November 2007
by Gina Marie Miraglia Eriquez

You've encountered a million potato-bacon-cheese combos in your lifetime, but in retrospect they all seem to be rehearsals for this one, a classic of Miraglia Eriquez's Calabrian grandmother Mary Pacella, who immigrated to Brooklyn in 1934. Crispness abounds, from the bacon to the slight crust on the roasted potatoes, yielding to creamy, very potatoey interiors.

Yield: Makes 8 (side dish) servings
Active Time: 30 min
Total Time: 1 1/2 hr

Ingredients

3 pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes (about 3 inches in diameter)
6 ounces bacon (about 6 slices), halved lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Preparation
Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in lowest position.

Generously cover potatoes with cold water in a 4-quart pot and add 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer, partially covered, until potatoes are just tender when pierced with a small sharp knife, about 12 minutes. Drain. Cool potatoes to warm, then peel and cut in half crosswise.

Cook bacon in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring, until cooked through but still flexible. Drain on paper towels, reserving fat in skillet.

Brush bottom of a 15- by 10-inch shallow baking pan with oil and half of reserved bacon fat. Sprinkle potatoes with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and arrange, cut sides down, in baking pan. Bake until undersides are golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Turn potatoes over, then sprinkle with cheese, bacon, and garlic and drizzle with remaining bacon fat (if fat congeals, reheat briefly over medium heat). Bake until cheese is melted, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

Cooks' notes:

Potatoes can be boiled and peeled 1 day ahead and chilled in an airtight container.
Potatoes, without cheese, bacon, garlic, and bacon fat, can be baked 6 hours ahead and kept, loosely covered, at room temperature. Turn potatoes over and proceed with recipe, baking a little longer. If baking at same time as stuffing, leave oven temperature at 425°F.

Where Am I?

2011-11-17T21:27:00.006-05:00

Coming soon - a new series to Order from Chaos! Any ideas on what it is?

I have had a book idea in my head for some time - it's a book about the layout of the streets of DC and how the state avenues were placed. In my spare time, I might actually get it done some day. I even have the title ready, "Where Alaska meets Hawaii." Have a look at this video to see an intrepid DC resident have a ride around all of the state avenues. Then you can have a look at this mesmerizing video of an individual's cross country trip by car over the course of 7 days (don't worry, the video's not that long).

By the way, with Christmas a little more than a month away, if you are looking for ideas for the Brave Astronaut that you love, this map is pretty cool.

Presidential Beer

2011-11-15T21:28:00.001-05:00

As most of you know, most Fridays is Pizza / Movie night at the launchpad. And what good is pizza if you don't have a nice cold beer. Some time ago, I spotted this article in the Washington Post Food Section. While it certainly evokes memories of the President's "Beer Summit," Presidents and Beer have a long history together.

Evidently Thomas Jefferson used to make beer at Monticello. The recipe has been unearthed and curators / brewmasters at Monticello are now making Monticello Reserve Ale for sale. For an archivist / historian, it should be mandatory drinking.

Keeping in the Thomas Jefferson vein, today marks the 72nd anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial. Faithful readers may recall the memorial holds a special place in the hearts of the Brave Astronaut and Mrs. Brave Astronaut, as it is where I asked her to marry me. Of course, I remember that night - we spotted a sign that listed a number of things the National Park Service prohibited at the memorial (at that time, dancing was not listed). Since proposing marriage was not on the list, down on one knee I went.

And so here we are, almost ten years later, still happily married and parents to two great boys. Love you Mrs. BA!

Thanksgiving Recipe #1 - Brussel Sprouts

2011-11-14T22:07:00.003-05:00

I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that next week is Thanksgiving. That only means that Christmas is right around the corner as well. Last year the Brave Astronaut clan had a beach Thanksgiving, celebrating at our friend's condo, where we had turkey and all the fixings for just the four of us. It was a lot of fun.

This year, we will be traveling to Mrs. BA's sister's house in Wilmington, DE for the day. I have long given up on traveling to NY for Thanksgiving. The traffic has become unbearable and not worth the stress it causes. I am contemplating asking my father to see if he is interested in coming to the launchpad for Christmas - as we have no plans to travel north (faithful readers may recall last year's trip to NY that took two days to complete).

Traveling to someone else's house for Thanksgiving means I have less control over the menu. Growing up, there was always more dessert to look forward to after the meal and the possibility of the 9:00pm turkey sandwich was available - not so, unless we liberate some leftovers. Pearled onions were always on the table as my mother made them (even if they were frozen from a box) because her mother would have wanted them. I made them several years as well and have actually developed a taste for them.

As to vegetables, I wouldn't mind seeing these on the table this year. I know that many hate them, but they are one of my most favorite vegetables.

Annie Lau's Garlic Stir-Fried Brussels Sprouts
Epicurious | October 2011
by Molly O'Neill
One Big Table
San Jose, California

Annie Lau is ethnically Chinese, born in Malaysia. Her husband is ethnically Chinese, and born in Hawaii. The couple moved to San Jose in the late 1990s and their kitchen is a laboratory where their regional and ethnic influences meet local ingredients. Neither had seen to Brussels sprouts before moving to California, but after numerous attempts, they devised a recipe to bring out the nutty sweetness in the little cabbages. The final recipe, Ms. Lau says, "is an experiment in laziness. The less you do, the better." Try to pick similar size sprouts.

Yield: Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups Brussels sprouts, outer leaves trimmed, then halved
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1. Heat the olive oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant and light brown. Add the Brussels sprouts and turn heat to medium-high. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Do not disturb for about a minute, so the edges caramelize, then toss. Leave for another minute or more. If the sprouts have not picked up enough golden color toss again. The more caramelization (browning) you get, the better the flavor (high heat is key!). Be careful not to overcook, though, as that releases that nasty sulfur odor that puts people off Brussels sprouts.

3. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Source Information
Reprinted with permission from One Big Table: A Portrait of American Cooking by Molly O'Neill, (C) 2010 Simon & Schuster

On Cars

2011-11-13T09:17:00.000-05:00

We recently became a one-car family. The car that I bought a few years ago, a 1998 Volvo, finally got to the point where the amount of money it required to fix (and make it road worthy) was more than we were willing to spend. We are managing (Mrs. BA and SoBA are bearing the brunt of it - as they are on Metro everyday now - and it makes them both a little motion sick).

We may look at getting a new car sometime next year, but right now it is pretty nice to not have a car payment each month. There are certainly no lack of resources from which I can conduct research on car buying. There are of course unlimited options as to what kind of car we might get for our second car.

Unfortunately, I cannot have my first car again. It was a 1982 Mercury Zephyr. It was yellow and looked like a cab. I beat the hell out of that car. When it came time to get a new car, the transmission had failed to the point where the car would no longer go in reverse. Parking became a real problem. The Washington Post reported back in May that the Ford Motor Company has decided to shutter the Mercury brand.

Where will you be when the Revolution Comes?

2011-11-11T21:50:00.000-05:00

Today is Friday November 11. It is Veteran's Day in the United States. A day to remember all those who have served our nation.

As I have indicated here before, I had a previous career as a Social Studies teacher, teaching American History. I was also an American History major in college. Now, much has been made this year to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the US Civil War, but let us not forget the first real war that made a difference for Americans, the Revolutionary War.

Here's a list of myths regarding the American Revolution. There might be a quiz later. There is more information at the link (from Smithsonian Magazine).

Great Britain Did Not Know What It Was Getting Into - the British Government was prepared to counter the colonies actions with military force as early as January 1774, when word of the Boston Tea Party reached London. A secondary question was also considered: Could Britain win such a war? The passage of the Coercive Acts — or Intolerable Acts, as Americans called them sought to punish the colony of Massachusetts for the Tea Party. Parliament also installed Gen. Thomas Gage, commander of the British Army in America, as governor of the colony. This was a huge miscalculation. In September 1774, colonists convened the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia and planned to embargo British commerce until all British taxes and the Coercive Acts were repealed. The British government (under Prime Minister Lord North) still believed the Americans would pose little challenge in the event of war. Government leaders and King George decided that backing down meant losing the colonies.
Americans Of All Stripes Took Up Arms Out Of Patriotism - While the term “Spirit of ‘76” referred to the colonists’ patriotic zeal it is not entirely true. Soon enough the colonists discovered how difficult and dangerous military service could be and enthusiasm waned. It required an Act of Congress in 1777 that mandated men who enlisted must sign on for three years or the duration of the conflict, whichever came first.
Continental Soldiers Were Always Ragged And Hungry - Accounts of shoeless continental army soldiers leaving bloody footprints in the snow or going hungry in a land of abundance are all too accurate. The Army’s supply system, imperfect at best, at times broke down altogether; the result was misery and want. But it, too, was not altogether accurate. American forces received shipments of heavy clothing arrived from France at the beginning of the winter in 1779. Conditions faced by the troops varied widely.
The Militia Was Useless - America's first settlers adopted the British militia system, which required all able-bodied men between 16 and 60 to bear arms. Some 100,000 men served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. However, some Americans emerged from the war convinced that the militia had been largely ineffective. Militiamen were older, on average, than the Continental soldiers and received only perfunctory training; few had experienced combat. This was demonstrated at Camden, South Carolina, in August 1780, when militiamen panicked in the face of advancing redcoats. Throwing down their weapons and running for safety, they were responsible for one of the worst defeats of the war. However, in 1775, militiamen had fought with surpassing bravery along the Concord Road and at Bunker Hill. Nearly 40 percent of soldiers serving under Washington in his crucial Christmas night victory at Trenton in 1776 were militiamen. In New York state, half the American force in the vital Saratoga campaign of 1777 consisted of militiamen. The militia had its shortcomings, to be sure, but America could not have won the war without it.
Saratoga Was The War’s Turning Point - On October 17, 1777, British Gen. John Burgoyne surrendered 5,895 men to American forces outside Saratoga, New York. It was a loss of nearly one-quarter of those serving under the British flag in America in 1777. It resulted in persuading France to form a military alliance with the United States. But Saratoga was not the turning point of the war. There are four other key moments during the several years the Revolution was fought that can be identified. First was the combined effect of victories in the fighting at Concord in April 1775 and later at Bunker Hill near Boston. After the bitter defeat of Washington at Long Island, the second turning point came with Washington's sneak attack at Trenton in late December 1776, he achieved a great victory, destroying a Hessian force of nearly 1,000 men; a week later, on January 3, he defeated a British force at Princeton, New Jersey. The third event did not take place on a battlefield, when Congress abandoned one-year enlistments and transformed the Continental Army into a standing army, made up of regulars who volunteered—or were conscripted—for long-term service. Finally, the campaign that unfolded in the South during 1780 and 1781 marks the final turning point of the conflict. Unable to quell the rebellion in New England and the mid-Atlantic states, the British turned their attention in 1778 to the South, hoping to retake Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Although the British enjoyed several early successes, the colonists were not broken. In April 1781, unable to crush the insurgency in the Carolinas, Lord Cornwallis took his army into Virginia, where he hoped to sever supply routes linking the upper and lower South, but ultimately led to his surrender to Washington at Yorktown.
General Washington Was A Brilliant Tactician And Strategist - It is a generally accepted idea that the American Revolution could not have been won without the leadership of George Washington. In fact, Washington’s missteps revealed failings as a strategist. In August 1776, the Continental Army was routed in its first test on Long Island in part because Washington failed to properly reconnoiter and he attempted to defend too large an area for the size of his army. In the fall of 1777, when Gen. William Howe invaded Pennsylvania, Washington committed his entire army in an attempt to prevent the loss of Philadelphia. During the Battle of Brandywine, in September, he once again froze with indecision. Later, Washington was painfully slow to grasp the significance of the war in the Southern states. For the most part, he committed troops to that theater only when Congress ordered him to do so. Washington also failed to see the potential of a campaign against the British in Virginia in 1780 and 1781, prompting Comte de Rochambeau, commander of the French Army in America, to write despairingly that the American general “did not conceive the affair of the south to be such urgency.” Indeed, Rochambeau, who took action without Washington’s knowledge, conceived the Virginia campaign that resulted in the war’s decisive encounter, the siege of Yorktown in the autumn of 1781.
Great Britain Could Never Have Won The War - Once the revolutionary war was lost, some in Britain argued that it had been unwinnable. In reality, Britain might well have won the war. The battle for New York in 1776 gave England an excellent opportunity for a decisive victory, but General Howe let Washington and his army slip away. Britain still might have prevailed in 1777, when London ordered Howe to advance up the Hudson River and rendezvous at Albany with General Burgoyne, who was to invade New York from Canada. Though the operation offered the prospect of decisive victory, Howe scuttled it. Believing that Burgoyne needed no assistance and obsessed by a desire to capture Philadelphia—home of the Continental Congress—Howe opted to move against Pennsylvania instead. He took Philadelphia, but he accomplished little by his action. Meanwhile, Burgoyne suffered total defeat at Saratoga. After 1777, both Washington and John Adams assumed that unless the United States and France scored a decisive victory in 1781, the outcome of the war would be determined at a conference of Europe’s great powers. It was only by Cornwallis’ stunning defeat at Yorktown in October that cost Britain everything but Canada.

Presidential Papers (and Libraries)

2011-11-08T21:44:00.002-05:00

Today is Election Day. In one year, Americans will head to the polls to either reward or punish President Obama with a second term. It should be an interesting year, if not very, very long.

As I think I have said here before, I work for the federal government in an agency that among many other things, oversees the presidential libraries for all of the presidents from the latter half of the 20th Century. Presidential libraries and the papers that fill them became federal records in part to the 32nd President of the United States (and Honorary Archivist-in-Chief), Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Prior to that point, US Presidents had the option of taking their stuff and doing with it what they wanted.

Thomas Jefferson, our third president, was rightfully concerned with this lack of organization regarding presidential papers. In 1801, he wrote a letter about the "lack of a safe deposit" for his papers. The letter exists in the collection of the National Archives, in the records of the Department of State.

Many of the papers of the early presidents have been lost to history. There are some collections here and there, but you are not likely to find a great deal of material on Millard Fillmore or Martin Van Buren. The Library of Congress was the early beneficiary of no presidential library system and many presidential papers collections may be found there.

Below is a list of the Presidents and where the majority of their papers reside (the link is to the Miller Center, which also provides a list of locations of presidential papers). At the end of the list is the aforementioned Presidential Libraries, part of the National Archives. There is already discussion of where the Barack Obama Presidential Library will be. Unfortunately, it's looking like Illinois and not Hawaii (that would have been a sweet job!). And, for that matter, if things don't start looking up, that library is going to be needed sooner, rather than later.

George Washington - at the University of Virginia
John Adams - at the Massachusetts Historical Society
Thomas Jefferson - a prolific writer, his papers are everywhere, here's about 27,000 of them at the Library of Congress
James Madison - also at the Library of Congress
James Monroe - at the College of William and Mary
John Quincy Adams - here's an example of how widely scattered presidential papers can be - but as with his father, the bulk are at the Massachusetts Historical Society
Andrew Jackson - at the University of Tennessee
Martin Van Buren - another extensive list, with the bulk at the Library of Congress
William Henry Harrison - the majority of Harrison's papers were destroyed by fire in 1858, but there is a microfilm collection at the Library of Congress.
John Tyler - most of Tyler's belongings (and papers) were destroyed during the Civil War, what remains of his papers is at the Library of Congress.
James K. Polk - many places, but mostly at the Library of Congress.
Zachary Taylor - Library of Congress
Franklin Pierce - the Library of Congress (shocking), but also material at the New Hampshire Historical Society.
Millard Fillmore - the man from Western New York brought his stuff back to the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society Archives.
James Buchanan - the only President from Pennsylvania, the majority of Buchanan's papers are held at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Abraham Lincoln - most likely the most written about President, there are Lincoln Papers everywhere. But he also has a Presidential Library and Museum (but it's not part of the Presidential Library system).
Andrew Johnson - the University of Tennessee undertook a project to centralize Johnson's papers.
Ulysses Grant - though I am really confused by this, the Ulysses Grant Papers are held at Mississippi State University. People know that's in the South, right?
Rutherford B. Hayes - you'll note I didn't dis President Hayes above - one of the only 19th Century Presidents to have his own presidential library.
James Garfield - when you get killed in office, a lot of people tend to write about you and go looking for your stuff. Garfield papers are widely scattered (as this list shows) and the bulk of the material are at the Library of Congress.
Chester Arthur - there is a very limited collection of Arthur's papers at the Library of Congress.
Grover Cleveland - the only man to serve two non-consecutive terms (see #24) - his papers are also at the Library of Congress.
Benjamin Harrison - there is a Harrison Presidential Site in Indianapolis, IN, but the bulk of his papers are found at the Library of Congress.
Grover Cleveland
William McKinley - assassinated in office, McKinley's papers went to the Library of Congress
Theodore Roosevelt - the youngest man to serve as President, TR went on to live for many years after leaving office. After his death, his papers went to the Library of Congress.
William Howard Taft - the bulk (!) of Taft's papers are at the Library of Congress.
Woodrow Wilson - the last President to come from the Commonwealth of Virginia (the mother of the Presidency), Wilson is also the only president to have a Presidential home / museum located in the District of Columbia. His birthplace in Staunton, Virginia is home to his library and museum.
Warren G. Harding - what there is of Hardin's papers (his widow destroyed much of his papers allegedly to clear herself of any implication in his death) is at the Ohio Historical Society.
Calvin Coolidge - the thirtieth President has a presidential library and museum located in Northampton, MA.
Herbert Hoover - Hoover decided after Roosevelt started the Presidential Library system that it was a pretty good thing (and he needed all the help he could get to try and restore his image) so the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library is found in West Branch, IA.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt - the FDR Presidential Library (in Hyde Park, NY) is located next to the Roosevelt family home. FDR designed the library.
Harry Truman - "Give 'em Hell" Harry's stuff is at the Truman Library in Independence, MO
Dwight Eisenhower - Ike was born in Abilene, Kansas and as a result that's where the Eisenhower Library is.
John F. Kennedy - the Kennedy Library (in Boston, MA) sits prominently on Boston Harbor.
Lyndon Johnson - the most recent presidential library that I have visited, the Johnson Library is in the state capital of Texas, Austin
Richard Nixon - After many discussions with the Nixon family, the Nixon Library opened in July 2011 in Yorba Linda, CA
Gerald Ford - OK, I like(d) Jerry Ford, but the only president to not be elected to the job has a Library in one place (Ann Arbor, MI) and the Museum somewhere else (Grand Rapids, MI). And it's not like there close - they're two hours apart. What does that say?
Jimmy Carter - the Carter Library is in Atlanta, GA, not Plains, where the peanut farmer President hailed from.
Ronald Reagan - the Reagan Library (in Simi Valley, CA) also holds the plane (Air Force One) used by President Reagan while in office.
George H.W. Bush - the first Bush Library is in College Station, TX on the campus of Texas A&M University.
Bill Clinton - the Clinton Library is in Little Rock, AR
George W. Bush - the [still being developed] second Bush Library will be located in Dallas, TX on the campus of Southern Methodist University.

Coffee Heath Bar Ice Cream

2011-11-07T21:36:00.000-05:00

I noted with some sadness the other day that Friendly's, one of the greatest places of my youth is in trouble. The article notes that Friendly's was born during the Great Depression and the recession of nearly 100 years later is threatening to wipe it out. Go get those Jim Dandy's while you still can, folks.

Friendly's plays a role in my family not just for me. It was also where my sister worked for several years. And some time ago, the one where she worked was planning a celebration to commemorate its 40th anniversary of serving Long Islanders ice cream.

Now I like ice cream. I don't think that anyone would debate that with me. I am not sure what does my ice cream choice say about me? But I really want this flavor to be real. I am going to have to break out the Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker at home and whip up some ice cream. So here's a recipe that I certainly would make. Now.

Coffee Heath Bar Ice Cream
from Simply Recipes

The "via" instant coffee packs at Starbucks work great for this recipe.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups milk
2 1/2 cups cream
1/3 cup white granulated sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
1/2 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of salt
4 egg yolks
4 ounces of Heath bars or other English toffee

Method

Combine the milk, 1 1/2 cups of the cream, sugar, brown sugar, instant coffee, espresso powder (if using), vanilla and salt in a medium saucepan. Heat the base until it begins to steam, whisking continuously.
When the base begins to steam, pour one- half cup out of the pan and into the egg yolks, whisk immediately. When completely combined, add the yolk mixture back into the rest of the of the base, and heat until the mixture reaches 170°F, or until it coats the back of a spoon.
Remove immediately from heat and pour through a fine mesh sieve. Add in the remaining cup of cold cream and let chill for several hours, preferably overnight.
Hit heath bars (still in their wrappers) repeatedly with the back of a wooden spoon, until they are thoroughly crushed. (You can also put the toffee into a plastic or paper bag and do the same.) Place heath bar pieces into a container and freeze while you churn the ice cream.
Pour the base into an ice cream maker and churn according to your ice cream maker manufacturer's instructions. Remove ice cream and stir in heath bar pieces.

Makes a little more than a quart.

LBA and SoBA new Bedroom

2011-11-04T16:20:00.004-04:00

It's almost time for LBA and SoBA to move into the same bedroom. They currently have their own rooms and beds but we are planning to move them into bunk beds in the same room. The other bedroom will become a playroom / dressing room for them.

There is currently a lot of discussion between Mrs. BA and I about what color the room(s) should be painted. Maybe we could choose from one of these. Although Mrs. BA does have some ideas - and I'm evidently not allowed to pick the color. Allegedly, the last time I painted a bedroom, it came out pistachio green.

Barring some large cash infusion, LBA and SoBA's new bedroom will not have a water slide like this bedroom does. Both LBA and SoBA like Star Wars but there will be none of these (that I'm aware of). I'm not spending $500 for the book. Nor will have have a giant Calvin and Hobbes mural.

"Show us the Monuments"

2011-11-03T21:20:00.004-04:00

First, what movie is the above line from? (Remember, it's pizza/movie night at the launchpad - but this movie is probably not being shown until after LBA and SoBA are in bed). Still don't know?

Living in Washington DC is pretty cool. I never get tired of the views and all of the great monuments that are all around the capital city. You may have heard that Washington had an earthquake back in August, which damaged the Washington Monument. After seeing this video, I understand (I was in Chicago when the quake happened, depriving me of one of my bucket list items - being in an earthquake). The link above is to DCist, from there you can get to the videos from the National Park Service, or click here, you want the "500ft level video view" videos.

Once you're done shaking, here's a list of some myths about the many monuments and statuary around DC for your enjoyment.

There are 13 hands on the Iwo Jima Memorial. Nope, just twelve, no Hand of God.
Fine. There is no such thing as the "Hoof Code" i.e., "the number of hooves in the air on equestrian statues tells you how the person died. Two hooves in the air means the person died in battle, one hoof means the person was injured in battle, and all four hooves on the ground means the person survived battle unharmed." But I don't believe it.
There is a bible buried under the Washington Monument. Well, not under, but among other things, there is one in the cornerstone.

And another list of those obscure monuments that you really have to look for if you want to see them. No, I'm not telling you where they are. Go find them yourself!

The Albert Einstein Statue
The Maine Lobsterman
Sonny Bono Memorial Traffic Island
The Run-over Fireman Monument
The Women's Titanic Memorial (dedicated to Kate Winslet, just kidding)

Then again, you could try to get here to have one of the best views in the city. Call your congressman (and then call me - because I want to go, too).

Halloween Goodies

2011-10-31T07:33:00.000-04:00

Today is Halloween. The day that kids all across the country get to go to people's houses and get free candy. As a parent of two young boys, I get to accompany them and um, get a cut of the take. When I was younger (but older than my boys are now), I used to go out on my own and could cover most of my entire neighborhood in just a few hours. I learned which houses to get to first because they had better candy (or candy apples, as one usually did) and which to avoid (the dentist always gave away toothbrushes and apples).

Here's a page from Epicurious, which offers their best Halloween recipes. I have chosen one of them and reprinted it below. It is not for the kids though - but for the adults at home handing out candy or load into a flask as you walk about the neighborhood. Enjoy and BOO!

Witches' Brew
Gourmet - October 2009
by Kemp Minifie

Punch is one of the easiest ways to set the Halloween mood—all you need is a cauldron, perhaps, or a pointy black hat and ice block "hands."Not every blend of fruit juices takes well to the with-or-without option of alcohol, but the combination of sparkling cider and cranberry juice cocktail, subtly enhanced with a spice syrup, both support an optional dose of dark rum.

Yield: Makes about 3 quarts
Active Time: 15 min
Total Time: 1 1/2 hr (includes steeping)

Ingredients

2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
5 whole cloves
3 tablespoons finely chopped peeled ginger
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1 (25 1/4-ounce) bottle sparkling cider (about 3 1/4 cups), chilled
4 cups cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
1 (1-liter) bottle club soda or seltzer, chilled
1 cup dark rum (optional)
Ice blocks in any shape (see cooks' note, below)

Preparation
Bring cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger, water, and sugar to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let steep, uncovered, 1 hour.

Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding solids, then chill until cold.

Combine all remaining ingredients, except ice, with syrup in a punch bowl. Add ice before serving.

Cooks' notes:

To make hand-shaped ice, fill powder-free, latex-free rubber gloves with water and tie wrist end securely, then freeze.
Syrup can be made 1 week ahead and chilled with spices. Strain before using.

Six Books that Screwed Us All Up

2011-10-28T21:26:00.001-04:00

As has been previously discussed here, I used to work in a library. And now, for all many of you can tell the difference, I am a librarian.

Here's a list of six books that is offered (with some comment) for discussion. The article suggests these books "accidentally screwed the world."

#6 - Jaws, Peter Benchley. Hey I grew up on Long Island. When this book came out - the ocean was a lonely place with the number of people who stayed huddled on the shore.

#5 - Coma, Robin Cook. Like number 6, I think the movie was more scary. Unless you were reading the book alone, in a hospital.

#4 - On the Naturalization of Useful Animals, by Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. Rabbits in Australia? You don't know the story? This book will tell you and you will never bring an animal anywhere again. You might never go anywhere ever again.

#3 - The Satanic Verses, by Salman Rushdie. I think this book screwed Rushdie more than anyone else, but then again, I'm pretty sure his bank account didn't get screwed.

#2 - The Dick and Jane series, by William S. Gray and Zerna Sharp. And let's not forget about Spot!

#1 - The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, by Dr. Benjamin Spock. Mrs. BA and I have a copy of this on the bookshelf somewhere. Hey, everybody makes mistakes now and then, right? So he was wrong on a few things in the beginning. We all turned out OK.

The Return of Mad Men

2011-10-26T20:20:00.004-04:00

I have been keeping tabs on the men (and women) of Sterling Cooper through Netflix streaming (I've actually been watching the first season, which I don't feel like I saw the first time around), while I wait for the arrival of Season 5 in March.

My father was in advertising (pharmaceutical advertising) and every time I watch the show, I picture him. It was such his life.

Here, one wonders how Don Draper might pitch today's social media tools, in this case, the Facebook Timeline. If you would like some more information on what New York was like in the Mad Men era, you can go and watch this travel film from 1962.

And if you need some clarification on how much money Don has in his pocket at any given time, here's a handy list of prices of things from 1962 compared to today. (I would love to be able to get a new car for $2600 - think I could extreme coupon it? I also think it's funny that TVs are still relatively the same price.)

Strawberry-Rhubarb Trifle

2011-10-24T20:43:00.001-04:00

I am all over this. It might even make an appearance at Thanksgiving. All though, I might get in trouble for it not being "from scratch."

Strawberry-Rhubarb Trifle
from Betty Crocker

Ingredients

1 box Betty Crocker® pound cake mix
Water and eggs called for on cake mix box
1/2 lb rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (2 cups)
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
2 cups sliced strawberries
2 boxes (4-serving size each) vanilla pudding and pie filling mix (not instant)
2 1/2 cups milk
2 cups frozen (thawed) whipped topping
1/2 cup orange marmalade
1 cup medium-size whole strawberries, if desired
Shredded orange peel, if desired

Preparation

Heat oven to 350°F. Make and bake cake mix as directed on box for one 9-inch loaf or two 8-inch loaves, using water and eggs. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours.
Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, mix rhubarb, sugar and orange juice. Heat to boiling over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; cook about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rhubarb is tender and mixture starts to thicken slightly. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled. Stir in sliced strawberries.
While rhubarb mixture is cooling, in 2-quart saucepan, mix pudding mix and milk. Cook over medium heat 6 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture boils. Cool 15 minutes. Press plastic wrap directly on pudding to prevent a tough layer from forming on top. Refrigerate at least 2 hours until chilled. Fold in whipped topping.
Cut pound cake horizontally in half. Spread marmalade over bottom half. Top with top half. Cut into 18 slices. Place 9 slices in bottom of 2 1/2- to 3-quart trifle or serving bowl.
Spoon half of the rhubarb mixture over cake; top with half of the pudding. Repeat layers with remaining cake, rhubarb mixture and pudding. Cover; refrigerate at least 2 hours until chilled.
Arrange whole strawberries on top of trifle. Garnish with orange peel. Store covered in refrigerator.

Makes 12 servings

69 American Patents that we don't need

2011-10-20T22:40:00.001-04:00

I should be rich. When my grandfather came to this country, he started a company based in Maine, that extracted carrageenan from seaweed. It is carrageenan that keeps your toothpaste smooth, among many other useful ways. However, at some point, my grandfather sold the company. He does however, hold a patent for the process.

Here's a list of patents that perhaps did not need proceed past the really bad idea that someone had. You can click on the link above to get more information about these "great" ideas.

Rotating Ice-Cream Cone - a nice idea but certainly not practical
Doll Urn - um, ew.
Shoe-Powered Neck Massager - well they do say that bad shoes can make your back hurt.
Hammock Pants
Gerbil Vest - can you use this only with gerbils?
Mouth Exerciser
Dieting Mask - patent held by Hannibal Lecter
Thumbsucking Inhibitor - ditto (it has steel spikes)
Hunting Camouflage
Flying Device - patent held by Wile E. Coyote
The Human Bike
Instant Snowman - for all those kids in the South, "Hey Mom, can I go outside and turn on the snowman again?
Heated Sunglasses - giving new meaning to the phrase, "OW, MY EYES!"
Snake Collar and Leash
Bird Diaper
Burglar Trap Door - patent held by Scooby-Doo
Automatic Tipping Hat
Dimple Producing Device
Combination Grocer's Package, Cheese Grater, Slicer, Mouse and Fly Trap - Hey, I have an idea to "streamline" several chores at once
Sheep Protector - from whom?
Cigarette Ring - classy/
Scalp Cooling Device - yeah, that's called water
Life Saving Apparatus
Bedwetting Assistance Owl
Give Yourself A Pat On The Back - from the producer of the back scratcher
Shark Protection Suit - "You go inside the cage? Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark's in the water. Our shark . . . Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for to sail back to Boston. And so nevermore shall we see you again."
Gas Powered Pogo Stick
Indoor Surfing Machine
Inverted Mask
Doggy Dust Cover - for the allergic dog
Human Car Wash
TV Controller - invented/patented in 1979, when the remote control was already pretty much firmly in every (male) American hand
Moose Shades
Old Person Scented Doll - what does it smell like?
Anti-Attack Guard For Women - why only for women?
Electric Tissue - "Timmy, stop sticking the electric tissues up your nose"
Giant Soup Bowl
Soap Slide - oh good, another way for my boys to put more water on the bathroom floor
Fart Filter
Horse-Powered Car
The Question-Comma and Exclamation-Comma
Poodle Ear Protectors - protecting them from what, exactly?
Inception Boxer-Briefs
Helium Sun Shade - talking funny and keeping cool at the same time
Dance Helper
Beer Can Hat 2.0
The Cereal Monster - this is not a description of SoBA
Toilet Breather - boy, you'd have to be pretty desperate.
The Useless Forkstick
Stylin' Split Pants - I could see where these might be useful
Toe Puppets - that's just creepy, unless you like that sort of thing
Heated Ice Cream Scoop - yeah, that's called hot water
Killer Bee Protector
Angel Ears
Arm Mitten - to keep one arm from getting more tanned than the other and/or to keep that pitching arm warm
Baby Cage - it's not what you think
Beach Boot
BeerBrella
Bird-Powered Blimp - patented in 1887
Bunny Syringe
Cleavage Pants
Toasty Tent - hey, only you (stupid) can prevent forest fires (the total loss of your campsite and most of the surrounding area)
Deer Ears Hearing Aid
Floating Furniture
Hurricane Safety Bed
Nightmare Gloves
Pantyhose x3
Life Watch - hey look at that, my watch says 3, 2, 1, ze-
Instant Face Lift

Crispy Potato Roast

2011-10-17T21:13:00.000-04:00

As I think I have said here before, I'm not allowed to own a deep fryer. "Hey, wonder what this would taste like deep fried?" However, I do, on occasion, make my own potato chips. And they're good. This might be a close second (however, it is from that woman so I might have to boycott it on principle).

Crispy Potato Roast
from Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled
4 shallots, thickly sliced lengthwise
coarse salt
1/2 to 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes (optional)
8 sprigs thyme

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine butter and oil. Brush bottom of a round 9-inch baking dish with some butter mixture. With a sharp knife or mandoline, slice potatoes very thinly crosswise.
Arrange potato slices vertically in dish. Wedge shallots throughout. Sprinkle with salt and red-pepper flakes (if using); brush with remaining butter mixture. Bake 1 1/4 hours. Add thyme and bake until potatoes are cooked through with a crisp top, about 35 minutes more.

Cook's Note
The thinner the potatoes are cut, the crispier they'll become in the oven. Keep the slices together as you cut them so that you can arrange them easily in the dish.

100 Greatest Non-Fiction Books

2011-10-14T21:21:00.001-04:00

Growing up, one of my first jobs was working at a public library. I was and am an avid reader. I was always in the summer reading club and would race to the library to get my next book and collect my certificates at the end of the summer. When I got the job at the library, one of my tasks was to read the shelves (to make sure the books were in the right place on the shelves). This allowed me to broaden my horizon of reading books other than junior fiction. One of the first non-fiction books I read was Fatal Vision by Joe McGinniss. The book relates the story of Captain Jeffrey MacDonald, who was convicted of the murder of his pregnant wife and two daughters at Fort Bragg in 1970.

So recently, I spotted (of course on kottke) this list of the 100 greatest non-fiction books from the Guardian and thought I would share. I confess that I haven't read very many of these. The list is arranged by topic and is obviously Anglo-centric. So how many have you read? I am pretty sure that Anna VS and C in DC will have something to say about this list.

Art

The Shock of the New by Robert Hughes (1980) - the story of modern art, from cubism to the avant garde
The Story of Art by Ernst Gombrich (1950) -the most popular art book in history, which examines the technical and aesthetic problems confronted by artists
Ways of Seeing by John Berger (1972) - study of the ways of art

Biography

Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects by Giorgio Vasari (1550) - Biography mixed with anecdotes in this Florentine-inflected portrait of the painters and sculptors who shaped the Renaissance
The Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell (1791) - an affectionate portrait of the great lexicographer
The Diaries of Samuel Pepys by Samuel Pepys (1825) - "Blessed be God, at the end of the last year I was in very good health," begins this extraordinarily vivid diary of the Restoration period
Eminent Victorians by Lytton Strachey (1918) - Strachey set the template for modern biography, with this witty and irreverent account of four Victorian heroes
Goodbye to All That by Robert Graves (1929) - Graves' autobiography tells the story of his childhood and the early years of his marriage, but the core of the book is his account of the brutalities and banalities of the first world war
The Autobiography of Alice B Toklas by Gertrude Stein (1933) -Stein's groundbreaking biography, written in the guise of an autobiography, of her lover

Culture

Notes on Camp by Susan Sontag (1964) - Sontag's proposition that the modern sensibility has been shaped by Jewish ethics and homosexual aesthetics
Mythologies by Roland Barthes (1972) - Barthes gets under the surface of the meanings of the things which surround us in these witty studies of contemporary myth-making
Orientalism by Edward Said (1978) - Said argues that romanticised western representations of Arab culture are political and condescending

Environment

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962) - This account of the effects of pesticides on the environment launched the environmental movement in the US (I feel like I have read this - or that I really, really should)
The Revenge of Gaia by James Lovelock (1979) - Lovelock's argument that once life is established on a planet, it engineers conditions for its continued survival, revolutionised our perception of our place in the scheme of things

History

The Histories by Herodotus (c400 BC) - History begins with Herodotus's account of the Greco-Persian war
The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (1776) - The first modern historian of the Roman Empire went back to ancient sources to argue that moral decay made downfall inevitable (not read cover to cover, but referred to in many college history classes - so it's like I did read it)
The History of England by Thomas Babington Macaulay (1848) - A landmark study from the pre-eminent Whig historian
Eichmann in Jerusalem by Hannah Arendt (1963) - Arendt's reports on the trial of Adolf Eichmann, and explores the psychological and sociological mechanisms of the Holocaust
The Making of the English Working Class by EP Thompson (1963) - Thompson turned history on its head by focusing on the political agency of the people, whom most historians had treated as anonymous masses
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown (1970) - A moving account of the treatment of Native Americans by the US government (Like Silent Spring, I feel like this is a book that every American should read)
Hard Times: an Oral History of the Great Depression by Studs Terkel (1970) - Terkel weaves oral accounts of the Great Depression into a powerful tapestry (you gotta love Studs, he came to a professional meeting several years ago in Chicago and had a group of archivists completely under his spell).
Shah of Shahs by Ryszard Kapuściński (1982) - The great Polish reporter tells the story of the last Shah of Iran
The Age of Extremes: A History of the World, 1914-1991 by Eric Hobsbawm (1994) - Hobsbawm charts the failure of capitalists and communists alike in this account of the 20th century
We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Familes by Philip Gourevitch (1999) - Gourevitch captures the terror of the Rwandan massacre, and the failures of the international community
Postwar by Tony Judt (2005) - A magisterial account of the grand sweep of European history since 1945

Journalism

The Journalist and the Murderer by Janet Malcolm (1990) - An examination of the moral dilemmas at the heart of the journalist's trade
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe (1968) - The man in the white suit follows Ken Kesey and his band of Merry Pranksters as they drive across the US in a haze of LSD
Dispatches by Michael Herr (1977) - A vivid account of Herr's experiences of the Vietnam War

Literature

The Lives of the Poets by Samuel Johnson (1781) - Biographical and critical studies of 18th-century poets, which cast a sceptical eye on their lives and works
An Image of Africa by Chinua Achebe (1975) - Achebe challenges western cultural imperialism in his argument that Heart of Darkness is a racist novel, which deprives its African characters of humanity
The Uses of Enchantment by Bruno Bettelheim (1976) - Bettelheim argues that the darkness of fairy tales offers a means for children to grapple with their fears (wow, Bettelheim -there's a name I haven't heard since my pursuit of my education degree)

Mathematics

Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter (1979) - A whimsical meditation on music, mind and mathematics that explores formal complexity and self-reference

Memoir

Confessions by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1782) - Rousseau establishes the template for modern autobiography with this intimate account of his own life
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass (1845) - This vivid first person account was one of the first times the voice of the slave was heard in mainstream society
De Profundis by Oscar Wilde (1905) - Imprisoned in Reading Gaol, Wilde tells the story of his affair with Alfred Douglas and his spiritual development
The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by TE Lawrence (1922) - A dashing account of Lawrence's exploits during the revolt against the Ottoman empire (that's what the movie is about, right?)
The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi (1927) -A classic of the confessional genre, Gandhi recounts early struggles and his passionate quest for self-knowledge.
Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell (1938) - Orwell's clear-eyed account of his experiences in Spain offers a portrait of confusion and betrayal during the civil war.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (1947) -Published by her father after the war, this account of the family's hidden life helped to shape the post-war narrative of the Holocaust. (Hey, I've read this one!)
Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov (1951) - Nabokov reflects on his life before moving to the US in 1940.
The Man Died by Wole Soyinka (1971) - A powerful autobiographical account of Soyinka's experiences in prison during the Nigerian civil war.
The Periodic Table by Primo Levi (1975) - A vision of the author's life, including his life in the concentration camps, as seen through the kaleidoscope of chemistry.
Bad Blood by Lorna Sage (2000) - Sage demolishes the fantasy of family as she tells how her relatives passed rage, grief and frustrated desire down the generations.

Mind

The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud (1899) - Freud's argument that our experiences while dreaming hold the key to our psychological lives launched the discipline of psychoanalysis and transformed western culture.

Music

The Romantic Generation by Charles Rosen (1998) -Rosen examines how 19th-century composers extended the boundaries of music, and their engagement with literature, landscape and the divine.

Philosophy

The Symposium by Plato (c380 BC) -A lively dinner-party debate on the nature of love.
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (c180) - A series of personal reflections, advocating the preservation of calm in the face of conflict, and the cultivation of a cosmic perspective.
Essays by Michel de Montaigne (1580) - Montaigne's wise, amusing examination of himself, and of human nature, launched the essay as a literary form.
The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton (1621) - Burton examines all human culture through the lens of melancholy.
Meditations on First Philosophy by René Descartes (1641) - Doubting everything but his own existence, Descartes tries to construct God and the universe.
Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion by David Hume (1779) - Hume puts his faith to the test with a conversation examining arguments for the existence of God.
Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant (1781) - If western philosophy is merely a footnote to Plato, then Kant's attempt to unite reason with experience provides many of the subject headings.
Phenomenology of Mind by GWF Hegel (1807) - Hegel takes the reader through the evolution of consciousness.
Walden by HD Thoreau (1854) - An account of two years spent living in a log cabin, which examines ideas of independence and society. (I've always meant to read this . . . )
On Liberty by John Stuart Mill (1859) - Mill argues that "the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others".
Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche (1883) - The invalid Nietzsche proclaims the death of God and the triumph of the Ubermensch.
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn (1962) - A revolutionary theory about the nature of scientific progress

Politics

The Art of War by Sun Tzu (c500 BC) - A study of warfare that stresses the importance of positioning and the ability to react to changing circumstances. (I've read parts of this one, too, really.)
The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli (1532) - Machiavelli injects realism into the study of power, arguing that rulers should be prepared to abandon virtue to defend stability. (Read this one, too.)
Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes (1651) - Hobbes makes the case for absolute power, to prevent life from being "nasty, brutish and short".
The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine (1791) - A hugely influential defence of the French revolution, which points out the illegitimacy of governments that do not defend the rights of citizens. (I really should have read this one)
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft (1792) - Wollstonecraft argues that women should be afforded an education in order that they might contribute to society.
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels (1848) - An analysis of society and politics in terms of class struggle, which launched a movement with the ringing declaration that "proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains".
The Souls of Black Folk by WEB DuBois (1903) - A series of essays makes the case for equality in the American south.
The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir (1949) - De Beauvoir examines what it means to be a woman, and how female identity has been defined with reference to men throughout history.
The Wretched of the Earth by Franz Fanon (1961) - An exploration of the psychological impact of colonialisation.
The Medium is the Massage by Marshall McLuhan (1967) - This bestselling graphic popularisation of McLuhan's ideas about technology and culture was cocreated with Quentin Fiore.
The Female Eunuch by Germaine Greer (1970) - Greer argues that male society represses the sexuality of women.
Manufacturing Consent by Noam Chomsky and Edward Herman (1988) - Chomsky argues that corporate media present a distorted picture of the world, so as to maximise their profits.
Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky (2008) - A vibrant first history of the ongoing social media revolution

Religion

The Golden Bough by James George Frazer (1890) -An attempt to identify the shared elements of the world's religions, which suggests that they originate from fertility cults.
The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James (1902) - James argues that the value of religions should not be measured in terms of their origin or empirical accuracy.

Science

On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin (1859) - Darwin's account of the evolution of species by natural selection transformed biology and our place in the universe.
The Character of Physical Law by Richard Feynmann (1965) - An elegant exploration of physical theories from one of the 20th century's greatest theoreticians.
The Double Helix by James Watson (1968) - James Watson's personal account of how he and Francis Crick cracked the structure of DNA.
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (1976) - Dawkins launches a revolution in biology with the suggestion that evolution is best seen from the perspective of the gene, rather than the organism.
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking (1988) - A book owned by 10 million people, if understood by fewer, Hawking's account of the origins of the universe became a publishing sensation. (I was one of those people who owned this book for a while)

Society

The Book of the City of Ladies by Christine de Pisan (1405) - A defence of womankind in the form of an ideal city, populated by famous women from throughout history.
Praise of Folly by Erasmus (1511) - This satirical encomium to the foolishness of man helped spark the Reformation with its skewering of abuses and corruption in the Catholic church.
Letters Concerning the English Nation by Voltaire (1734) - Voltaire turns his keen eye on English society, comparing it affectionately with life on the other side of the English channel.
Suicide by Émile Durkheim (1897) - An investigation into protestant and catholic culture, which argues that the less vigilant social control within catholic societies lowers the rate of suicide.
Economy and Society by Max Weber (1922) - A thorough analysis of political, economic and religious mechanisms in modern society, which established the template for modern sociology.
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf (1929) - Woolf's extended essay argues for both a literal and metaphorical space for women writers within a male-dominated literary tradition.
Let Us Now Praise Famous Men by James Agee and Walker Evans (1941) - Evans's images and Agee's words paint a stark picture of life among sharecroppers in the US South.
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan (1963) - An exploration of the unhappiness felt by many housewives in the 1950s and 1960s, despite material comfort and stable family lives.
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (1966) - A novelistic account of a brutal murder in a town in Kansas, which propelled Capote to fame and fortune (It might have made sense to follow up Fatal Vision with this book.)
Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion (1968) - Didion evokes life in 1960s California in a series of sparkling essays.
The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1973) - This analysis of incarceration in the Soviet Union, including the author's own experiences as a zek, called into question the moral foundations of the USSR. (Read for a class in college, a real uplifting tale.)
Discipline and Punish by Michel Foucault (1975) - Foucault examines the development of modern society's systems of incarceration.
News of a Kidnapping by Gabriel García Márquez (1996) - Colombia's greatest 20th-century writer tells the story of kidnappings carried out by Pablo Escobar's Medellín cartel.

Travel (what no Fodor's?)

The Travels of Ibn Battuta by Ibn Battuta (1355) - The Arab world's greatest medieval traveller sets down his memories of journeys throughout the known world and beyond.
Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain (1869) - Twain's tongue-in-cheek account of his European adventures was an immediate bestseller.
Black Lamb and Grey Falcon by Rebecca West (1941) - A six-week trip to Yugoslavia provides the backbone for this monumental study of Balkan history.
Venice by Jan Morris (1960) - An eccentric but learned guide to the great city's art, history, culture and people.
A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor (1977) - The first volume of Leigh Fermor's journey on foot through Europe - a glowing evocation of youth, memory and history.
Danube by Claudio Magris (1986) - Magris mixes travel, history, anecdote and literature as he tracks the Danube from its source to the sea.
China Along the Yellow River by Cao Jinqing (1995) - A pioneering work of Chinese sociology, exploring modern China with a modern face.
The Rings of Saturn by WG Sebald (1995) - A walking tour in East Anglia becomes a melancholy meditation on transience and decay.
Passage to Juneau by Jonathan Raban (2000) - Raban sets off in a 35ft ketch on a voyage from Seattle to Alaska, exploring Native American art, the Romantic imagination and his own disintegrating relationship along the way.
Letters to a Young Novelist by Mario Vargas Llosa (2002) -Vargas Llosa distils a lifetime of reading and writing into a manual of the writer's craft.

Pork Chops with Pineapple

2011-10-10T20:54:00.003-04:00

Here's a recipe that I can actually say that I made. I made it last night for a delicious Sunday night dinner. I'm afraid its a Martha Stewart recipe, and we all know that I'm not particularly fond of her. I adapted the recipe in as much as I used boneless pork chops, and I had no jalapenos (I sprinkled a little cayenne in with the pineapple). I also used canned pineapple (I reserved the juice and had a nice vodka and pineapple with dinner).

I found the recipe on Punchfork, which is a recipe aggregator, found on the greatest of all Internet aggregators out there, kottke.

Pork Chops with Pineapple and Rice

Ingredients

2 cups long-grain white rice
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
4 bone-in pork chops (2 1/2 pounds total, 1 inch thick)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 jalapeno, diced small
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/4 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves, for serving

Directions
Cook rice according to package instructions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Season pork on both sides with salt and pepper. Cook until meat is slightly pink in center, 7 minutes per side. Remove from skillet. Transfer pork to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.

Reduce heat to medium. Add pineapple and jalapeno to skillet. Cook, stirring, until pineapple is tender, 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soy sauce. Serve pork with pineapple mixture, rice, and cilantro.

Where is that Library?

2011-10-08T15:23:00.002-04:00

I sometimes tell people that I went through my junior and senior year at college not visiting the university library with any regularity. I knew lots of people who went there to study, but I preferred to study in my room. With beer. It's not that I didn't get books from there, it just wasn't the place I wanted to study.

Last month was National Library Card Month. I am a bit ashamed to admit that I don't have a library card. It is something that I really should rectify. In my defense, I don't have the time to read like I used to - I am currently reading a book that I started long ago and long after it would have been due back to the library. I do know where the library is, our local branch is on my way home. In fact, I just brought a box of books in to donate just the other day.

Do you know where your local library is? This site can help. As stated here before, my first "indoor" job was working at the public library, which recently celebrated its 50th year of service to the town. Now that I think about it, I worked there about thirty years ago. But I'm not going to think about that anymore.

It's possible that if my local library looked like this, I might go there more often. This is a concept for the "Wall of Books" at the Stockholm Public Library.

Archivists and Presidents - Left Handers

2011-10-05T21:22:00.000-04:00

I am left-handed. Many years ago, I was in Boston for a high school conference (Model United Nations trip to Harvard) and during some free time, I went shopping and came across a store that catered to the left-handed. I am fond of the saying that goes, "If the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handed people are in their right minds." I used to have a mug that said so.

My mother was also left-handed and used to tell stories about being persuaded to change. Growing up, she was made to write with her right hand, but it didn't take. She wanted to learn to knit but her favorite aunt refused to teach her to knit left-handed so she learned to knit right-handed.

President Obama is also left-handed. I have noticed sometimes when he signs his name he has that over-the-top curl, which I don't have (and neither did my mother). In the modern era of the ball-point pen, it is less of an issue (less smudging), but I don't know how my mother made out.

I have also noticed that in my profession, there are an inordinate number of left-handed archivists. I don't know what that says, but there it is. And here's a list of facts about being left-handed.

According to Scientific American, 15% of people are left-handed. Males are twice as likely to be left handed than females.
Left-handers are more likely to be geniuses. 20% of all MENSA members report being left-handed.
A study found left-handed men are, on average, 15% richer than right-handed men for those who attended college and 26% richer if they graduated.
Left-handed people are three times more likely than right-handed people to become alcoholics.
If both parents are left-handed, 50% of their offspring will be left-handed. Two righties have only a 2% chance of having a lefty. (I've been working on SoBA, who tends to bat from the left. That formula sort of works - 50% of my parents were left handed, so 25% of their kids should be left-handed, right? That's me.)
Psychologists from Queen's University Belfast found that female cats are more likely to be right-pawed, while male cats tend to be left-pawed.
Lefties are more likely than righties to really, really hate spiral notebooks. (Yes we do.)
Research conducted by Dr. Nick Cherbuin shows that lefties are better at handling large amounts of stimuli, making them naturally better at playing video games. (Well that explains a lot.)
Statistically, the older a mother is, the more likely she is to give birth to left-handed children.
Left-handers are believed to reach puberty 4 to 5 months after right-handers.
Only 50% of lefties report using a computer mouse with their left hands.. Similarly, 68% use their right hand for scissors and 74% hold a dinner knife in their right hands. (Raising my hand, my left hand, but even so.)
4 of the 5 original designers of the Apple Mac computer were left-handed. [In addition to President Obama], three of the past five presidents were left-handed (Clinton, and Bush 41).
According to one study, lefties have an average lifespan that is nine years fewer than that of righties. (Well, that's depressing.)

Lamb Chops with Lemon

2011-10-03T20:58:00.003-04:00

I want to eat more lamb.

Tonight we had pasta and sauce with meatballs and sausage, courtesy of my MIL. But I want lamb now.

Lamb Chops with Lemon
Bon Appétit | April 2011
by Michael Symon

Serve the lamb with your favorite tzatziki (cucumber and yogurt sauce) and horta (sautéed greens tossed with red wine vinegar and honey).

Yield: Makes 12 servings
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 14 hours (includes marinating time)

Ingredients

3 large shallots, minced
6 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
6 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
6 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon sugar
24 lamb rib chops (from three 1 1/4-to 1 1/2-pound racks of lamb, cut between bones into individual chops)
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel
Fresh oregano sprigs (for garnish)

Preparation
Mix minced shallots, chopped mint, chopped oregano, minced garlic, sugar, and 1 tablespoon salt in small bowl. Press 1 rounded teaspoon shallot-herb mixture onto eye of each lamb chop. Turn chops over onto large rimmed baking sheet. Press remaining shallot- herb mixture onto eye of each chop. Cover lamb chops with sheet of plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, and lemon peel in small bowl until slightly thickened and well blended. Season lightly with salt and generously with freshly ground black pepper. Spoon oil mixture lightly over chops. Turn chops over and spoon remaining oil mixture over. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour.

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill lamb chops to desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer lamb chops to platter. Garnish with fresh oregano sprigs and serve.

Fusilli with Tomatoes, Bacon, and Blue Cheese

2011-09-26T20:43:00.002-04:00

Blue Cheese is not something I reach for first, but I might be able to get past it for this dish. I bet it would taste even better if one added some of Stanley's Blue Cheese Sausage to it. The recipe comes from the Amateur Gourmet.

Fusilli with Tomatoes, Bacon & Blue Cheese
Serves 4

Ingredients:

A few strips of bacon or pancetta, sliced into lardons
A splash of olive oil
1/2 an onion, diced
A big pinch of red chile flakes (pepperoncini)
A big squeeze of tomato paste (like 1 tablespoon)
1 28-ounce can of whole peeled tomatoes (preferably San Marzano)
1 pound fusilli
Salt
A good big chunk of blue cheese, preferably Gorgonzola (1/4 pound? Even more?)

Preparation

In a large skillet, add the bacon or pancetta and the splash of olive oil. Turn up the heat to medium.
When the bacon’s released a lot of its fat and is just starting to crisp but not entirely crispy, push the bacon aside and add the onion to the pan. Allow the onion to cook by itself for a minute, stirring it around, then incorporate it into the bacon and stir all around.
Push the onion and bacon aside and add the red chile flakes to one part of the pan and the tomato paste to another part of the pan, allowing both to caramelize slightly.
Stir everything together and then add your can of tomatoes, squeezing the tomatoes with your hands into the pan (careful not to squirt yourself! You can do this in a bowl beforehand if you’d rather not make a mess.) Sprinkle with salt, bring to a boil, lower to a simmer and allow to perk away for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil, then season it aggressively with salt. (It should taste like the sea.)
Drop the fusilli into the pot of boiling water and cook 1 minute less than it says on the package directions (taste a noodle: it should be just al dente.) With a spider, lift the fusilli into the pan with the sauce, turn up the heat and stir all around. If the pan is really dry on the bottom, add a splash of pasta cooking water. Continue to cook and stir until all the fusilli is coated and has absorbed most of the sauce.
Off the heat, add all your blue cheese and stir it aggressively into the pasta until it makes a creamy emulsion. Scoop into bowls and serve with a drizzle of olive oil on top and another sprinkling of red chile flakes.

Blackberry Buttermilk Cake

2011-09-19T21:06:00.000-04:00

I was just thinking the other day that it would be nice to have buttermilk in the fridge more often. It comes in handy in so many recipes. Like this one. Crud, now I need to go back to the store.

While you are shopping for the ingredients for the cake below, here are some other ideas for cakes that require a bit more expertise (and lots of fondant).

30 Cakes that Look Like Other Things (from BuzzFeed)
Stealth Cake is Awesome (looks like Asparagus, tastes like cake) (also BuzzFeed)

Blackberry Buttermilk Cake
Bon Appétit | July 2011
by Melissa Roberts

Buttermilk keeps this moist cake light and flavorful. Dust it with powdered sugar as it cools for a sweet, decorative finish.
Yield: Makes 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan and parchment
2 1/3 cups cake flour (sifted, then measured) plus more for pan
2 1/2 cups (10 ounces) fresh blackberries
1/4 cup plus 1 1/3 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
1 cup well-shaken buttermilk
Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Special equipment: Use a 9"–10"-diameter springform pan.

Preparation
Position a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°. Butter pan; line bottom with a round of parchment paper. Butter parchment. Dust with flour; tap out excess. Arrange berries in a single layer in bottom of pan; sprinkle evenly with 1/4 cup sugar.

Sift 2 1/3 cups flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into a medium bowl; set aside. Using an electric mixer, beat 3/4 cup butter and remaining 1 1/3 cups sugar in a large bowl at medium-high speed, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl, until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla and zest. Reduce speed to low; beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with flour mixture and beating just until incorporated. Pour batter over berries in pan; smooth top.

Bake until cake is golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour 25 minutes. Let cool in pan set on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then run a thin, sharp knife around edge of pan to loosen. Remove pan sides. Invert cake onto rack and remove pan bottom; peel off parchment. Dust top generously with powdered sugar and let cool completely.

Balsamic Strawberry Popsicles

2011-09-12T21:24:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was the last day at the pool for the Brave Astronaut clan. Yes, our pool is open for an extra week after Labor Day and it is glorious to have that opportunity. I managed to get in one last time (and the water wasn't as cold as I thought it might be - given all the rain we've had of late) and took a jump off the high dive.

So here we are in the middle of September (already?) and Indian Summer is surely about to begin and there will be a few more warm days before the weather really turns "crisp." I know that Mrs. BA hates crisp, but I sort of like the fall. Not as much as the winter, mind you. But that would get me in even more trouble with Mrs. BA.

Here's one last summer recipe to either make or save for next season!

Balsamic-Strawberry Pops
Epicurious | July 2011
by Charity Ferreira

A little balsamic vinegar and a few grinds of black pepper bring out the sweetness of ripe strawberries.
Yield: Makes 6 to 8 pops

Ingredients

2 cups sliced, hulled strawberries (from about 1 pound berries)
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons good-quality balsamic vinegar
Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation
Place the strawberries and sugar in a food processor and pulse just until the mixture is finely chopped and juicy but still chunky; you don't want a smooth purée. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the balsamic vinegar and a few grinds of pepper.

Spoon the mixture into ice pop molds and insert sticks. Freeze until firm, at least 6 hours or up to 1 week.

To unmold the pops, run hot water over the outsides of the molds for a few seconds, then gently pull the sticks.

Update / Bonus Recipe:
In the July 17 New York Times Magazine, the food column had several options of popsicles: Fruity, Savory, Creamy, and Boozy! Enjoy - the recipe / article is here.

10 Years Later

2011-09-11T08:46:00.002-04:00

Twin Tower Cameos from Dan Meth on Vimeo.

Here we are - ten years later. This post will go up at the exact moment the first plane struck the north tower of the World Trade Center (of course, shown in the video above). At that moment ten years ago, I was dropping my car off for service and had a friend pick me up for work. When I got to work, of course, everything changed. You can read my previous posts about September 11 by clicking the links that follow (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010).

Since that day, so much of my own life has changed. My mother (who was getting on a plane with my father in Texas that morning) passed away in 2006. I married the love of my life (who was here in Washington on September 11, while I was still in New York) and we now have two wonderful boys, who I hope will never have to experience the same tragic circumstances that I did.

We live in a nation forever different. Many of the things we took for granted have been irrevocably changed. We still find ourselves looking over our shoulder for what might be coming next (as recent news shows). I feel like I want to watch some of the ceremonies tomorrow and have been drawn to several of the anniversary shows that have been on TV this week.

Remembering is what we should do. Never forgetting what and who we lost is what we can do. Being strong and moving forward is what we must do. At some point today, stop. reflect. remember. God Bless America.

It's Labor Day

2011-09-05T22:42:00.007-04:00

Today marks the unofficial end of summer. Good news - the pool will be open for one more week (and weekend). As is right and fitting, most schools in New York will go back to school on Wednesday, although LBA started back last week. SoBA starts his penultimate year in daycare before following his big brother to his school.

The Brave Astronaut clan had a great Labor Day weekend. I managed to get 18 holes in on Saturday, while Mrs. BA went and picked up SoBA, who was spending some quality time with his cousins. It was a great day for golf and I would love to find more time to play more. On Sunday, we went to the Maryland State Fair and enjoyed some fine fair food. Then today, we enjoyed a lamb roast at my sister-in-law's house. Her husband roasted a whole lamb. I may have been overserved. I found myself needing to take to my bed (from where I am posting this) - so needless to say I am not all that interested in posting a recipe (urp).

But never fear, faithful readers. Google has come to the rescue (again). Some time ago they launched Google Recipe View. You can plug in any ingredient (something you have on hand and may not be sure what to do with it), or search for a recipe for a favorite dish - and get lots of different options to make.

I hope your Labor Day weekend was good and fall will be here before we know it.

The Beloit College Mindset List - Class of 2015 edition

2011-08-30T22:45:00.001-04:00

Today was LBA's first day of school. It's a half day, full day tomorrow. Of course, don't get me started on the fact that school isn't supposed to start until the Wednesday after Labor Day - come on, New Yorkers, you know it's true. He did much better today than last year. He was very happy to see all of his friends again. SoBA is going to spend a few days with his cousin(s) as he doesn't go back until next week. Some day I hope to be able to take the time off I need and perhaps even take a vacation.

Last week, Beloit College came out with its annual list for the incoming college classes, for what they may or may not know / remember as they enter their college years. The list, always up for great discussion, offers a list of cultural touchstones that shapes the lives of these incoming freshmen. I wonder what LBA's list will look like.

The Mindset List for the Class of 2015

Andre the Giant, River Phoenix, Frank Zappa, Arthur Ashe and the Commodore 64 have always been dead.

Their classmates could include Taylor Momsen, Angus Jones, Howard Stern's daughter Ashley, and the Dilley Sextuplets.

There has always been an Internet ramp onto the information highway.
Ferris Bueller and Sloane Peterson could be their parents. (that's disturbing)
States and Velcro parents have always been requiring that they wear their bike helmets.
The only significant labor disputes in their lifetimes have been in major league sports.
There have nearly always been at least two women on the Supreme Court, and women have always commanded U.S. Navy ships. (and it's still not enough)
They “swipe” cards, not merchandise.
As they’ve grown up on websites and cell phones, adult experts have constantly fretted about their alleged deficits of empathy and concentration.
Their school’s “blackboards” have always been getting smarter.
“Don’t touch that dial!”…what dial?
American tax forms have always been available in Spanish.
More Americans have always traveled to Latin America than to Europe.
Amazon has never been just a river in South America.
Refer to LBJ, and they might assume you're talking about LeBron James.
All their lives, Whitney Houston has always been declaring “I Will Always Love You.”
O.J. Simpson has always been looking for the killers of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman.
Women have never been too old to have children.
Japan has always been importing rice.
Jim Carrey has always been bigger than a pet detective.
We have never asked, and they have never had to tell.
Life has always been like a box of chocolates.
They’ve always gone to school with Mohammed and Jesus.
John Wayne Bobbitt has always slept with one eye open. (really, just him?)
The Communist Party has never been the official political party in Russia.
“Yadda, yadda, yadda” has always come in handy to make long stories short.
Video games have always had ratings.
Chicken soup has always been soul food.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show has always been available on TV.
Jimmy Carter has always been a smiling elderly man who shows up on TV to promote fair elections and disaster relief.
Arnold Palmer has always been a drink.
Dial-up is soooooooooo last century!
Women have always been kissing women on television. (not that there's anything wrong with that)
Their older siblings have told them about the days when Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera were Mouseketeers.
Most have grown up with a faux Christmas Tree in the house at the holidays. (but shouldn't)
They’ve always been able to dismiss boring old ideas with “been there, done that, gotten the T-shirt.”
The bloody conflict between the government and a religious cult has always made Waco sound a little whacko.
Unlike their older siblings, they spent bedtime on their backs until they learned to roll over.
Music has always been available via free downloads.
Grown-ups have always been arguing about health care policy.
Moderate amounts of red wine and baby aspirin have always been thought good for the heart.
Sears has never sold anything out of a Big Book that could also serve as a doorstop. (oh, that's just sad)
The United States has always been shedding fur.
Electric cars have always been humming in relative silence on the road.
No longer known for just gambling and quickie divorces, Nevada has always been one of the fastest growing states in the Union.
They’re the first generation to grow up hearing about the dangerous overuse of antibiotics.
They pressured their parents to take them to Taco Bell or Burger King to get free pogs.
Russian courts have always had juries.
No state has ever failed to observe Martin Luther King Day.
While they’ve been playing outside, their parents have always worried about nasty new bugs borne by birds and mosquitoes.
Public schools have always made space available for advertising.
Some of them have been inspired to actually cook by watching the Food Channel.
Fidel Castro’s daughter and granddaughter have always lived in the United States.
Their parents have always been able to create a will and other legal documents online.
Charter schools have always been an alternative.
They’ve grown up with George Stephanopoulos as the Dick Clark of political analysts.
New Kids have always been known as NKOTB.
They’ve always wanted to be like Shaq or Kobe: Michael Who?
They’ve often broken up with their significant others via texting, Facebook, or MySpace.
Their parents sort of remember Woolworths as this store that used to be downtown.
Kim Jong-il has always been bluffing, but the West has always had to take him seriously.
Frasier, Sam, Woody and Rebecca have never Cheerfully frequented a bar in Boston during primetime.
Major League Baseball has never had fewer than three divisions and never lacked a wild card entry in the playoffs.
Nurses have always been in short supply.
They won’t go near a retailer that lacks a website.
Altar girls have never been a big deal.
When they were 3, their parents may have battled other parents in toy stores to buy them a Tickle Me Elmo while they lasted.
It seems the United States has always been looking for an acceptable means of capital execution.
Folks in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have always been able to energize with Pepsi Cola.
Andy Warhol is a museum in Pittsburgh.
They’ve grown up hearing about suspiciously vanishing frogs.
They’ve always had the privilege of talking with a chatterbot.
Refugees and prisoners have always been housed by the U.S. government at Guantanamo.
Women have always been Venusians; men, Martians.
McDonalds coffee has always been just a little too hot to handle.
“PC” has come to mean Personal Computer, not Political Correctness.
The New York Times and the Boston Globe have never been rival newspapers.

The King's Fried Chicken

2011-08-29T21:21:00.001-04:00

I have become addicted to Guy Fieri's show on the Food Network, Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Just the other evening I was watching him at a place that served approximately 20,000 pieces of Fried Chicken a week (or something like that). Then I saw this on kottke, where the Google Executive Chef scored the recipe to Elvis Presley's fried chicken.

But of course, we're not allowed to have a deep fat fryer at the launchpad. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't make this in a heartbeat. But then again, the heartbeat might be a lot slower after eating this.

The recipe has been "google-sized" and I have done my best to reduce the amounts to a more manageable size (I used a recipe converter to lower the amounts to one-tenth).

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Elvis Loved

2 1/2 tsp thyme
1 1/4 tsp oregano
1 1/4 tsp basil
2 1/2 tsp onion powder
2 1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 1/2 tsp dry mustard
2 1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/4 tsp chili powder
2 1/2 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp coriander
2 1/2 tsp cumin
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
2 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 1/4 tsp ground white pepper

1.3 gal. buttermilk
1/3 case organic free range chicken (roughly 3 chickens, divided into 1.5- to 2-lb. sections)

Mix these amounts of the dry ingredients together in a large bowl, then whisk in the buttermilk until it's thoroughly mixed.

Pour the batter over the chickens and marinate for up to five days - keep refrigerated, of course.

For frying
Now mix another 4x the above dry ingredients, and add:

1/4 lb. cornstarch
.8 qt. all-purpose organic whole wheat flour

Dredge the marinated chicken pieces in the dry herbs/flour/cornstarch mixture mix.
Fry the dredged chicken in a large skillet with hot peanut oil @ 375 degrees. Once chicken has reached a golden brown color, finish cooking it in the oven.

The Doomsday Clock

2011-08-18T20:03:00.000-04:00

One of my first jobs was working in a public library. I shelved books, retrieved archived issues of magazines for patrons and sorted and read shelves for accuracy. It was a great job and I made a number of great friends during the time that I worked there. I was not interested in a job in food service, though a number of my friends did go that route.

I was a history geek (and a bit of a nerd) so working in the library was just right. I remember looking at old issues of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and becoming fixated on the Doomsday Clock, which was featured in each issue. In January 2010, the Doomsday Clock was moved one minute away from midnight - from five to six minutes to midnight.
The Doomsday Clock appeared in the Bulletin first in 1947 at seven minutes to midnight and was an indication of how close mankind was to its own obliteration, particularly to the dangers of nuclear war. It has been adjusted 18 times since its inception - midnight being the point at which the end of the world might occur.

The closest the clock came was two minutes to midnight, in 1953, when the United States pursued plans to develop a hydrogen bomb, in addition to the testing of a nuclear device by the Soviet Union. The furthest the clock ever sat was seventeen minutes to midnight, in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. The clock has also been used to monitor climate change around the world as well as biosecurity issues.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

2011-08-15T22:52:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of having my nephew and his friend visit with us. In addition to the scampi we served (as mentioned in last Monday's post), Mrs. BA made a sour cream coffee cake, which was extremely tasty. Here is another variation - but Mrs. BA's was the best.

Sour Cream Coffee Cake (with a Chocolate Cinnamon Swirl)
from "Baked: New Frontiers In Baking"
by Matt Lewis & Renato Poliafito

Ingredients:

For the crumb topping:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup pecans, toasted [Let them cool before proceeding.]
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1-inch cubes

For the chocolate cinnamon swirl:

1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon dark unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the sour cream cake:

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, soft but cool, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 1/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
16 ounces sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1. First make the crumb topping by putting the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor, pulsing for 5 seconds to mix. Add the pecans and pulse until the pecans are finely chopped and thoroughly incorporated. Add the butter and pulse until combined it'll look like coarse sand. Cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

2. To make the chocolate cinnamon swirl, simply whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.

3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees & butter a 9 X 13-inch baking pan. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together into a medium bowl.

4. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter until smooth and ribbonlike. Scrape down the bowl and add the sugar. Beat until the mixture is smooth and starts to look fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the bowl and mix again for 30 seconds.

5. Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat just until incorporated.

Add the dry ingredients in three additions, scraping down the bowl before each addition and beating only until each addition is just incorporated. Do not over mix.

6. Pour one third of the cake batter into the prepared pan. Use an offset spatula to spread the batter evenly.

7. Sprinkle half the chocolate cinnamon swirl mixture over the batter, covering the entire surface of the batter.

Spoon half of the remaining batter over the swirl mixture--do this in blobs, as Matt suggested--and spread it evenly. Top with the remaining swirl mixture, then the remaining batter, and spread the batter evenly. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the top of the batter.

8. Bake in the center of the oven, rotating the pan three times during baking, for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes, then serve.

The cake will keep for 3 days, tightly covered, at room temperature.

To Mrs. BA on the Occasion of Her Birthday

2011-08-12T07:49:00.006-04:00

Today is the day that this Brave Astronaut stops and celebrates one of the greatest days in history. For today is Mrs. BA's birthday and I urge all of you, my faithful readers to celebrate along with her (we can all have a drink in her honor - she doesn't, so it's OK if we have hers).

Mrs. BA is a great daughter. Trust me on this, her mother would tell you the same. We all complain about our parents, but I am grateful to hers for producing such a great person. She is a great sister. As the oldest of three girls, she and her sisters are a great set and I am happy to know her sisters and their families.

She is an outstanding mother to two wonderful boys (LBA and SoBA), who love her very much. While there are certainly moments that lead to more gray hairs for both Mrs. BA and me, those two boys are spitting images of their mother and I love them as much as I do her. I went through a period that I didn't think I was going to have children or that I wasn't going to be a good father. It is because of her that I do have those two great boys and I am a mildly successful father. However good those boys are, it is because of her.

Finally, she is the best wife a man could ever ask for. I love her with all of my heart. I cannot begin to imagine a world without her in it, nor do I want to. I find it hard to remember a time when she wasn't a part of my life. She has helped me to be a better person, really helped me to know what love is, and what "quality of life" really can mean.

She can still get me to catch my breath when I see her, her laugh will always make me smile, her touch will never cease to energize me. I am forever grateful for her love and will work for the rest of my days to earn and deserve it.

Mrs. BA, I love you. Happy Birthday. Thank you for you. I'm a very lucky man.

_____________________
Of course it is also Pizza and Movie Night Friday at the launchpad. Maybe Mrs. BA will get to pick the movie, but probably not this one (one of Mrs BA's favorites). Evidently because there are no original ideas in Hollywood, there are talks of rebooting this series. The original was released 28 years ago on July 29.

10 Things you didn't know about National Lampoon's Vacation (from BuzzFeed)

The W in Clark W Griswold Stands For Wilhelm

Originally, We Were Supposed To See Aunt Edna Wiggle Her Fingers While Tied To The Top Of The Car

Originally The Film Ended With The Griswolds Taking Roy Wally (Eddie Bracken) Hostage

All The Distant Shots Of Walley World Are Matte Paintings

Harold Ramis Was Inspired To Shoot Wide Shots Of Clark Alone In The Desert By La Guerre Du Feu

It Was The Only Vacation Movie To Receive An R Rating

Harold Ramis Is Embarrassed By The Scene In East St. Louis - "No, I'm from the South side of Chicago, I'm here on Vacation!"

The Script Originally Called For The Griswolds To Go To Disneyland - but evidently the Magic Kingdom objected, because they don't close.

The Film Is Based On An Article By John Hughes - September 1979 issue of National Lampoon

Harold Ramis Has An Uncredited Role As A Police Officer At Walley World - he does?

Grilled Cheese

2011-08-08T22:32:00.001-04:00

When my mother was pregnant with me, she and my father went on an extended holiday to France. My father and grandfather would sit down to dinner each evening for an enormous meal, which would send my mother's stomach into somersaults. She would excuse herself and ask for a grilled cheese sandwich to be sent up to her room.

It is for this reason, I feel, that I am not a big fan of grilled cheese sandwiches. However, now as a father of two small boys, I find myself making them. We often have a variation of grilled cheeses (Mexican grilled cheese - the quesadilla, the Italian grilled cheese - pizza, or the American grilled cheese).

Evidently April was / is grilled cheese month. Here's a number of recipes that one can make to enjoy the melted cheesy breaded goodness, of which I have picked my favorite to share for Recipe Monday.

Barbecue Bacon Grilled Cheese Sandwich
from Veronica's Cornucopia

2 slices Texas toast
2-3 T barbecue sauce
2 oz sliced sharp or smoked cheddar cheese
4-6 slices cooked bacon
1 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Butter or margarine

Heat a skillet over medium. Spread the barbecue sauce over the bread slices, then over one slice arrange cheddar cheese slices, bacon over that, then sprinkle the Monterey Jack over the bacon. Top with remaining bread slice. Melt some butter or margarine in the skillet and place the sandwich on top of the puddle, scooting it around until the bread absorbs the butter. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until cheddar looks melted, then remove and melt more butter in the pan, flip the sandwich and cook additional 4 minutes and serve hot.

Makes one sandwich.

Veronica's Notes: Your sandwich will require several minutes less cooking time if you use regular bread. Also, the Monterey Jack isn't necessary but I like to glue the bacon, cheese and bread all together by putting cheese on both sides. Change it up as you desire!

Pick a Letter, Any Letter, Just Not J

2011-08-06T21:30:00.001-04:00

In my free time [OK, I'm back, I had to stop laughing for about ten minutes], I have this dream of publishing a book. I have about 200 pages of a novel done, it just needs some final tweaking and a few more gaps to fill. I also have at least two ideas for non-fiction books, one of which involves the naming convention surrounding the Washington street grid. When I first moved here, I found it fascinating as to how the streets were lettered, followed by a system of words (one syllable, two syllables, and finally three syllables). Then of course, there is the placement of the state streets.

One thing I questioned early on was the absence of a "J" street. "I" Street, yes - followed by "K" Street. So why did J get screwed? The answer I was given was that I and J were too alike for both to be used. Yeah, OK, whatever.

But it evidently turns out to be true. But this post from We Love DC looks at the omission of J Street (along with the absence of X, Y, and Z Streets), which was not based on Pierre L'Enfant's desire to insult John Jay, although that story is certainly much more fun.

Electronic Communication

2011-08-03T21:16:00.000-04:00

There are days that I long for the days of actual letters. I am a big fan of the letters between John and Abigail Adams (they are used in part in 1776), where they signed their letters, "dearest friend" or some other affectionate closing. Those kind of things don't exist anymore. We are a society that communicates electronically (email, Facebook status updates, tweets, etc.). Part of my job responsibilities include providing reference service and it is very rare to receive an actual letter anymore - it's 95% email.

This article, which appeared in the Washington Post some time ago (yes, I saw it online - but I did read it in print as well - one of the last people to still read a newspaper, I know), concerned how to close emails. Gone are the days when one would sign, "Your obedient servant" or "Sincerely Yours," in email, which by definition is much more instantaneous, it almost begs for a "fluffier" closing.

I find myself often using "Best," which is my shorthand (and others) for Best Regards. In responding to my reference inquiries, I often use "Sincerely" as I am more or less cutting and pasting a letter into the email, so that "Sincerely" is appropriate. I will use "Love" when corresponding with Mrs. BA or a member of my family, but it still looks a little weird in email. More often than not, I both receive and send emails without a closing (sometimes there isn't even a name - that gets discerned from the header information).

What do you all think? Be sure to sign your name if you leave a comment :)

With my very best regards,
Brave Astronaut

Shrimp Scampi

2011-08-01T22:23:00.002-04:00

We haven't made this yet, but at least we have all the ingredients. Maybe this week. If we aren't eating at the snack bar at the pool.

A couple of weeks ago, I dug out some shrimp from the freezer to make a batch of shrimp scampi, which I served over polenta. It was very tasty. Here's another scampi recipe, which looks just as good, from Simply Recipes.

Shrimp Scampi

If you are using frozen shrimp, defrost them quickly and safely by putting the shrimp in a large bowl of ice water.

Ingredients

1 pound large (16-20 count) shrimp, shelled* and de-veined, tail-on for presentation if you want
Salt
3-4 garlic cloves, slivered, or 1 Tbsp minced garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 Tbsp lemon juice

* Whether you prepare the shrimp shell on or off is really up to you. Cooking the shrimp with the shells still on will impart more flavor, but they are much messier to eat. Shelling the shrimp before cooking them will make the shrimp a lot easier to eat and you can save the shells for shellfish stock if you want.

Method

Heat a sauté pan on high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-high and add the olive oil and butter. Once the butter melts, foams up and subsides, add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for a minute, or until you see the edges of some of the garlic just beginning to brown.
As soon as the garlic begins to brown, add the shrimp to the pan. Then add the white wine and stir to combine and coat the shrimp with the butter, oil, and wine. Spread the shrimp out in an even layer in the pan. Increase the heat to the highest setting and let the wine boil vigorously for 2-3 minutes.
Turn the shrimp over, or toss them so the cooked sides are mostly facing up, and boil the wine for another minute. Remove from the heat, add the parsley and toss to combine. Add the lemon juice and black pepper.

Serve alone, with crusty bread, over pasta, or over rice (for gluten-free version).

Serves 4.

Chicken with Risotto

2011-07-25T21:21:00.001-04:00

Here is one of those occasions where the Recipe of the Week will be featured on the Brave Astronaut table later this week. Mrs. BA found this recipe on the Annie Eats blog and we are going to work it into the rotation later this week. I'll try and remember to post a review.

Herbed Risotto with Chicken and Caramelized Onions
Yield: about 6 servings

Ingredients:

1½ tbsp. olive oil, divided
1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
Pinch of sugar
5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups water
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
¾ tsp. salt
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 cups Arborio (medium grain) rice
1 cup dry white wine
2 oz. grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 cup)
1 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tbsp. minced fresh parsley
2 tbsp. minced fresh chives
Ground black pepper

Directions:
Add 1½ teaspoons of the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and sugar, stirring to coat. Allow the onion to cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown and caramelized. Remove the onions to a plate and set aside.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the chicken broth and water and bring to a simmer. In the meantime, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet used to cook the onions set over medium-high heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Transfer the chicken to the heated skillet and cook, turning once, until each side is a light golden brown. Remove from the heat and transfer the chicken pieces to the saucepan with the simmering broth mixture. Let cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165˚ F or until cooked through (no longer pink). Remove the chicken from the broth and transfer to the plate with the onions.

Add 2 tablespoons of the butter to a Dutch oven set over medium heat. Once melted, add the garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the rice to the pan, stirring to coat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the grains are translucent around the edges, about 3 minutes.

Add the wine and cook, stirring constantly, until fully absorbed, about 2-3 minutes. Stir 5 cups of hot broth mixture into the rice. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until almost all liquid has been absorbed and the rice is just al dente, 16-19 minutes, stirring twice during cooking.

Add ¾ cup of the hot broth mixture to the risotto and stir gently and constantly until the risotto becomes creamy, about 3 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan. Remove the pot from the heat, cover and let stand for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Stir the shredded chicken and caramelized onions into the risotto with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, lemon juice, parsley and chives. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, add up to ½ cup of the remaining broth mixture to add moisture and loosen the texture. Serve immediately.

Cupcake Chicken

2011-07-18T23:29:00.000-04:00

I am not a big fan of dark meat chicken, but this recipe sounds too interesting not to try. I guess I would also need to get a smoker.

Ingredients

12 medium skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
2 cups Jack's Old South Huney Muney Cluck Rub, or 1 recipe Basic Chicken Rub (see additional recipe below)
3/4 cups chicken broth
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the sauce:

1 cup Jack's Old South Vinegar Sauce or Basic Vinegar Sauce (see additional recipe below)
2 cups Jack's Old South Hickory Sauce or Basic Hickory Sauce (see additional recipe below)
1 cup ketchup
1 cup honey
1 cup maple syrup
1 1/4 cups seedless blackberry preserves
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

What you'll need:

Poultry shears
1 silicone cupcake mold, with holes punched through each cup (or an aluminum cupcake pan, also with holes punched through each cup)
1 13 X 9-inch aluminum baking pan
1 aluminum baking sheet

Preparation
Heat a smoker to 300°F.

Using poultry shears, remove the knuckle on each end of each chicken thigh bone. Then trim the excess fat off the skin and meat of each thigh until the pieces are 3 to 4 inches wide, leaving about 1/4 inch of excess skin at the edges of the meat. Apply the chicken rub evenly to both sides of the thighs.

In the cupcake mold, place each thigh, skin side down, in an individual cup. Sit the mold in the baking pan, and pour the chicken broth into the pan, being careful not to pour it directly on top of the chicken. Place the pan in the smoker and cook, uncovered, for 1 1/2 hours.

Remove the baking pan from the smoker. Gently flip the thighs onto the baking sheet. Season the tops of the thighs with salt and pepper. Return the thighs to the mold cups, skin side up, and put the baking pan back in the smoker. Cook for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the sauce: Put all the sauce ingredients into a blender and blend until thoroughly combined. In a medium pan over medium heat, warm the sauce until it is hot but not boiling. Set aside.

Remove the pan from the smoker, and unmold the chicken thighs onto the baking sheet, skin side up. Brush the thighs lightly with the warm sauce. Place the baking sheet in the smoker and cook for 30 minutes to allow the sauce to caramelize into the chicken skin.

Remove the baking sheet from the smoker, and serve the cupcake chicken immediately.

Basic Chicken Rub

2/3 cup chili powder
1/2 cup sugar
4 tablespoons kosher salt
4 tablespoons onion powder
4 tablespoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients thoroughly. You can store this rub in an airtight container indefinitely.

Basic Vinegar Sauce

2 cups cider vinegar
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup hot sauce
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup sugar

In a stockpot over medium heat, combine the vinegar, ketchup, and hot sauce. Stir together. Pour in all the remaining ingredients and stir to dissolve. Do not boil. When spices are thoroughly dissolved, take the pot off the heat, and funnel the sauce into a bottle. The sauce will keep, refrigerated, for up to 1 year.

Basic Hickory Sauce

2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 cups ketchup
2 tablespoons smoked sweet paprika
2/3 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and pulse until thoroughly combined. Pour into a medium pot, and stir continuously over medium heat until heated through. Do not allow it to boil. Remove and use while hot. If reserving for later use, allow the mixture to cool; then pour it into a large bottle or container and store, refrigerated, for up to 1 year.

Quotable Movies

2011-07-15T20:10:00.001-04:00

Part of the celebration of the Fourth of July at the launchpad involves the mandatory viewing of 1776. Mrs. BA usually has to leave the room lest she commit murder - she hates when I quote the lines from the movie and that doesn't include the singing.

I will admit that it can be bothersome, but I seem to be gifted / cursed with the ability to memorize (and recall) lines from movies at will and of course recite them while watching any particular movie (I have also noticed this disturbing trait in LBA - when we are watching a Wild Kratts episode for the umpteenth time).

I spotted this article in Time Magazine online and felt I needed to share and invite comment. The article commemorated the 25th Anniversary of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, a movie I can almost recite word for word, start to finish. Then again, these days, I can do that with Cars, Finding Nemo, Stuart Little, Thomas, etc.

The Top 10 Quotable Movies
10. Napoleon Dynamite - um, I actually have never seen this movie (I know, it's like you don't know me)
9. Clueless - have seen pieces of this, but again, not all the way through
8. Glengarry Glen Ross - steak knives, anyone?
7. Monty Python and the Holy Grail - "This? Oh, that's just a flesh wound."
6. The Wizard of Oz - parenthetically, there was a story in the Washington Post recently about someone in the DC area who has created Beltway backups - surely driven by a love of this movie.
5. Top Gun - Do you feel it? Do you have the need? You know, "the need for speed."
4. The Godfather - I have meant to watch this movie all the way through, really.
3. Casablanca - my father's favorite movie. He really likes the scene where they sing "La Marseillaise," which he will do for you after he's had a little too much to drink.
2. Anchorman - I don't know if this belongs in the Pantheon of great movies, but it is definitely quotable.
1. The Big Lebowski - the Dude abides.

Perhaps a Summer Home?

2011-07-12T23:28:00.000-04:00

For sale: Historic waterfront property with a spectacular, 50-foot-high view of Lake Michigan. Featuring solid, century-old cast-iron construction, painted distinctive red. Comes with its own Fresnel lens for signaling ships.

It would appear the federal government is doing all it can to raise some money (and avoid hitting that debt ceiling). If you needed some ideas for my birthday (which is in December), you could always buy me a lighthouse. The General Services Administration is currently holding an auction (three of them, actually) wherein you can bid on lighthouses in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Lake County, Ohio, and Conneaut, Ohio.

It has been previously noted my affinity for lighthouses. If I am on vacation and there is a lighthouse nearby, I will usually visit it. Someday, I will stay in one (there's a bed and breakfast). Now if you don't want to buy me one, the GSA is making a dozen lighthouses available for free (to public groups that will agree to preserve it). Perhaps JAL Tours should get one?

The lighthouses available for free are:

Ile aux Galetts Light in Lake Michigan (only accessible by small boat - might be a little remote)
Port Austin Reef Light in Lake Huron (also a little remote)
Alpena Light in Michigan (not much to this one, though)
Brandywine Shoal (out in the middle of Delaware Bay)
Ship John Shoal (also out in the middle of Delaware Bay)
Miah Maull Shoal (also out in the middle of Delaware Bay)
Race Rock (now this one I would get in a heart beat, at the entrance to Long Island Sound)
Orient Point Light (also in Long Island Sound)
Point Tuna Light – also known as Punta Tuna is in Puerto Rico!
Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse in Wisconsin (the lighthouse keepers quarters are evidently done in Art Deco)
Fowey Rocks Light in the Florida Keys
Point Fermin Light in San Pedro, California (a lovely little lighthouse)

Strawberry Cake

2011-07-11T22:24:00.000-04:00

This recipe is offered despite the fact that it comes from the kitchen of Martha Stewart - it has been adapted slightly by the author from whom I borrowed it. Enjoy.

Strawberry Summer Cake
adapted, only slightly, from Martha Stewart

[from the Smitten Kitten kitchen] I recently picked up some barley flour and fell in love with it. We tend to associate whole grain flours with heartiness and heaviness, but this is neither — it’s silky and delicate, like the best cake flour you’ve ever bought, and it has a subtle creamy, nuttiness to it that goes fantastically with berries. This cake works like a dream with 100% all-purpose flour but if you’ve got barley flour around, swapping it in for half the volume is beyond delicious, adding a real depth to a deceptively simple cake.

I am ever-so-slightly on the fence about the sweetness of this cake. I like it, but I wouldn’t hate the batter itself with 2 tablespoons less sugar (i.e. 7/8 cup sugar instead of a whole one). If that’s your inclination, go ahead and dial it back as well. Leave the sugar on top. It contributes to the berries turning into jam. [/from]

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for pie plate
1 1/2 cups (188 grams) all-purpose flour (can swap 3/4 cup or 94 grams all-purpose flour with 3/4 cup or 75 grams of barley flour, see Note)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 cup (200 grams) plus 2 tablespoons (25 grams) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup (118 ml) milk
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
1 pound (450 grams) strawberries, hulled and halved

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 10-inch pie pan or 9-inch deep-dish pie pan (what I used). I did not test this with a standard 9-inch pie plate but looking at the margin of space leftover in my deep-dish pan after baking the cake, I suspect you’d be safe. This cake would also work in a 9- or 10-inch springform or cake pan. The 10-inch would make a thinner cake than pictured.

Whisk flour or flours, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl. In a larger bowl, beat butter and 1 cup sugar until pale and fluffy with an electric mixer, about 3 minutes. Mix in egg, milk and vanilla until just combined. Add dry mixture gradually, mixing until just smooth.

Pour into prepared pie plate. Arrange strawberries, cut side down, on top of batter, as closely as possible in a single layer (though I had to overlap a few to get them all in). Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over berries.

Bake cake for 10 minutes then reduce oven temperature to 325°F and bake cake until golden brown and a tester comes out free of wet batter, about 50 minutes to 60 minutes. (Gooey strawberries on the tester are a given.) Let cool in pan on a rack. Cut into wedges. Serve with lightly whipped cream.

Do ahead: Cake can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days, loosely covered, but good luck with that.

Oh you know it had to be Flag Cake

2011-07-04T09:16:00.000-04:00

While I am watching my favorite movie that must be watched on the Fourth of July (which is also on the schedule for next year's list of shows at Ford's Theatre - and am very excited for), I harken back to the days of my youth when there was always Flag Cake for the Fourth. July Fourth is also my father's birthday - so indulge me by allowing me to wish him a very happy 82nd birthday.

Happy Independence Day!

Flag Cake (from Betty Crocker)
This patriotic cake is so simple and so versatile! To make this cake easy to take, you can frost and decorate it right in the pan.

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
1 container Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting or Betty Crocker® Whipped vanilla frosting
1/3 cup fresh blueberries
1 pint (2 cups) fresh strawberries, stems removed, strawberries cut in half

Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Make and cool cake as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan.

Frost top and sides of cake with frosting. For flag design, arrange blueberries on upper left corner of frosted cake to create stars; arrange strawberries in rows over frosted cake to create stripes. Serve immediately. Store covered in refrigerator.

Makes 15 servings

Best Picture Books

2011-07-01T21:55:00.001-04:00

This is a post for all my friends out there with young children. For example, I could write, "In the great green field . . ." and many of you would begin to recite from memory "The Big Red Barn." With LBA now six and a half, we are moving into "chapter" books for him and he is getting better at reading himself every day. SoBA is also improving a great deal and often wants a "bigger" book than the board or picture book.

Nonetheless, when I saw this article in the Washington Post a few weeks ago, I was prompted to share it with you. The gist of the article was whether or not the picture book was still worthwhile and helpful to children. Well, poop on that. We make our way through our extensive library - although there are books that tend to stay in the rotation for extended periods of time.

That is not to say that I wouldn't mind a new book now and then. Like maybe this one. And if it's being read by Samuel L. Jackson, more the better.

Here's the list(s) from the article. I've bolded the ones we read regularly. So what are your favorites?

From Dara Laporte, from Politics and Prose:

“Blueberries for Sal” by Robert McCloskey
“Caps for Sale” by Esphyr Slobodkina
“Good Night, Gorilla” by Peggy Rathmann
“Stone Soup” by Jon Muth (but we have the soldier's twist on this story)
“This Little Chick” by John Lawrence

Susan Modak’s list (she's from the Noyes Children's Library)

“Baby! Baby!” by Vicky Ceelen
“F Is for Fiesta” by Susan Middleton Elya
“The Lion’s Share: A Tale of Halving the Cake and Eating It, Too” by Matthew McElligot
“The Way the Storm Stops” by Michelle Meadows
“Weslandia” by Paul Fleischman

And from Tracey Grant, the WP Momspeak Columnist:

“Here Comes the Train” by Charlotte Voake
“When Mama Comes Home Tonight” by Eileen Spinelli and Jane Dryer
“Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak
“The Going to Bed Book” by Sandra Boynton
“Guess How Much I Love You” by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram

Baked Camembert with Thyme and Garlic

2011-06-27T21:46:00.001-04:00

With both Mrs. BA and I working all week, we tend to do our grocery store shopping on the weekends. I have never gotten into the whole grocery delivery thing - I like going to the grocery store. Sometimes, evening runs to the grocery store are what happens. Mrs. BA stays home with the boys and gets them ready and off to bed and I come home with dinner. For her (and if I have gone to Wegmans) that may mean some Brie and a baguette for dinner. So here's a recipe just for her, but feel free to use it yourself.

Baked Camembert with Thyme and Garlic
[from Epicurious]

[from the author] This recipe is a favorite of mine on a cold winter's night as it always reminds me of times with friends when we would ski and snowboard all day then sit by a log fire and eat and drink all night. If you don't have maple syrup on hand, use a spoonful of honey instead.
Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

1 x 9oz camembert in its wooden box
1 garlic clove, peeled and sliced into matchsticks
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 small baguette, cut into 1/2 in slices
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for brushing
crushed sea salt

Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Remove the camembert from the box and discard any wax paper packaging. Take a 10-inch square of foil and place in the box. Place the camembert inside.

Pierce the top of the camembert with the tip of a knife and push in the slices of garlic. Sprinkle the thyme leaves over the top and drizzle with the maple syrup. Loosely scrunch the foil up over the cheese. Set aside.

Brush two 12-inch square sheets (the size of your baking sheet) of parchment paper with oil. Line a baking sheet with one of the oiled parchment sheets, oil-side up. Spread the slices of baguette over the sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with crushed sea salt. Place the remaining sheet of parchment, oil-side down, over the bread.

Place in the oven with the camembert and cook both for 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese has risen and the bread is crisp. Open up the foil and dip in the hot baguette for a simple snack. Delicious!

Source Information
From Take 5 Ingredients: 95 Delicious Dishes Using Just 5 Ingredients by James Tanner.

Malt Shoppe Memories Ice Cream Cookie Cake

2011-06-20T22:40:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was Father's Day, and there was no Carvel Ice Cream Cake to celebrate. I was however working at the United States Open (golf) at Congressional Country Club. This cake however would appear to likely rival the Carvel cake, right down to the chocolate crunchies. I don't normally like to post recipes that use pre-mixed stuff, but I'm making an exception here. It was a 2010 Prize Winning Recipe from Betty Crocker!

Ingredients

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® double chocolate chunk cookie mix
2/3 cup chocolate-flavor malted milk powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons water
1 egg
1/2 cup hot fudge topping
1 cup crushed chocolate-covered malted milk balls
2 cups vanilla ice cream, softened
2 cups chocolate ice cream, softened
1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray 10-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Or line 9-inch square baking pan with foil, leaving about 2 inches of the foil overhanging sides of pan; lightly spray with cooking spray.
In large bowl, stir cookie mix, 1/3 cup of the malted milk powder, oil, water and egg until soft dough forms. Press 1/2 of dough into bottom of pan. Bake 12 to 13 minutes or until set. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, press remaining 1/2 of the dough into 10-inch circle on large ungreased cookie sheet. After removing cookie crust in springform or 9-inch pan from oven, bake dough on cookie sheet 12 to 13 minutes or until set. Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool 15 minutes.
Spread hot fudge topping over crust in springform or 9-inch pan. In medium bowl, break apart large cookie until crumbly. Stir in crushed malted milk balls. Sprinkle 1/2 of the crumbled cookie mixture over hot fudge; press lightly.
In large bowl, combine both softened ice creams and remaining 1/3 cup malted milk powder until well blended. Spread ice cream mixture over crumbs in pan. Gently spread whipped topping over ice cream. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture. Cover with foil. Freeze at least 5 hours or until firm. To serve, remove sides of springform pan or lift dessert using foil out of 9-inch pan. Let stand 5 minutes. Use hot wet knife to cut into wedges or squares. Store covered in freezer.

Dining in DC - Escargots

2011-06-17T23:04:00.002-04:00

Pretty much if escargot are on a menu, I'm going to order them. I love them. I am probably one of the only people you know who owns sets of snail shells, escargot trays, plates and forks. Back in the beginning of May, the [poor excuse of a] Sunday magazine in the Washington Post published a list about the best places to get escargot in the DC area. I have eaten at three of the five on the list. See? I told you. Now escargot are not for everyone. But that's fine, more for me. Do you think they are serving them in the hospitality tent at the US Open?

Bistro D'Oc - it's across the street from Ford's Theatre and it was the location of a celebratory dinner for the Brave Astronauts and the OSGs a few years back.
Bistro du Coin - also the scene of a Brave Astronaut celebration (I think it was an anniversary dinner) again with the OSGs.
Le Refuge - haven't been here, yet. But flambeed escargot might just get me there.
Le Vieux Logis - I used to walk past this restaurant on my way home from the Metro when I lived in Bethesda. While I haven't had their escargot, I had them at La Miche, up the street, where in fact Mrs. BA and I held our rehearsal dinner the night before we got married, which has unfortunately since closed.
Mannequin Pis - this great restaurant was the stop for a few years after Christmas tree shopping. It's very unassuming but the food (the mussels are the standout) is outstanding.

Are You There Readers? It's Me, Brave Astronaut

2011-06-13T21:01:00.000-04:00

Yes, I'm still here. The highly anticipated Rapture came . . . and went. It would seem most of us are still here. Evidently it's been rescheduled. Since I last posted (a recipe on April 25) a lot has happened and I have been trying to keep my head above water with all the things going on. I apologize for my absence and hope that you have been standing by waiting for my return. I will try and be better going forward. Let's say that here on the night of the first official (?) / unofficial (?) Republican Presidential Debate - I'm tan, rested, and ready [to continue].

So, what have you people all been up to? I have seen that some of my online blogging friends have also been contemplating their blogworthiness (keep it going, Stinkypaw - we love you!), others have been busy taking photographs of most of the residents of SW Scotland (and he does a fine, fine job), while still others have been out and about on vacation (from the pictures it looks like all had a great time).

Now, you people must all be starving, as I haven't posted a recipe here in three weeks now. Usually there has been enough "in the larder" so that I can have a couple of recipes ready to auto-post. I actually do have several in my Google Reader, which I just need to create into posts, which should have you all in new (and old) things to cook and eat throughout the summer.

So what have I been up to? Well first there was this. I spent the better part of this spring campaigning for a seat on my local Town Council. Intrepid readers will remember I ran for this seat two years ago, losing to the incumbent. This year the incumbent stepped aside and four of us stepped up to run. While I managed to double the number of votes I received two years ago, I still fell short. I will continue to be involved with the Town and be sure to keep my opponent - the newly elected Council Member on her toes.

After that I was the co-chair for this meeting. Working as a co-chair for a Local Arrangements Committee is sort of like being both the tortoise and the hare from their race. You plod along as the meeting date gets closer, breaking into a run here and there, sitting back while others complete their work, make a mad dash at the end and then just let the ending play out as the conference gets underway. We had a really great meeting and managed to have the most attendees for a MARAC meeting ever.

At work, things continue - as my employer undergoes a major transformation. Divisions are being realigned and renamed and my colleagues and I await the word on what will come of us. In the professional organization to which I belong, I did manage to win an election (the secret is evidently to run unopposed) - I was elected Vice President / President-elect of the organization.

Then I served as an usher for this (as I have done in the past). It was a great evening and I had the opportunity to meet and shake hands with Scott Bakula. Later this week I will begin my volunteering position at the United States Open (golf) at Congressional Country Club. I will be working on the scoreboards, so if you watch, you might see me, although I'm not allowed to peek.

Of course we are moving into the summer months so the pool is up and running - and we are looking to spend as much time as possible there. It would appear that I am the father of a "rising" first grader, which I can't spend a lot of time thinking about. But LBA will be starting camp soon and SoBA will finish another year of daycare (and might actually be potty trained before long).

Then in August, I will travel to Chicago for the Annual Meeting of my national professional organization. Among the regular professional obligations, I will be helping about 100 of my closest colleagues head out to a baseball game at Wrigley. Want to come?

Well, I am sure there is more to tell and I will try and fill some of the gaps over the next few weeks, but to get back on track, here's a recipe and please accept my thanks for coming back or staying with me during my prolonged absence.

Now I know that Easter has passed, but one of my weaknesses are those Reeses Peanut Butter eggs. And Mrs. BA's (who prefers these Easter treats, which she is welcome to) best pal sent me a link for a recipe for homemade peanut butter eggs. So here it is.

Homemade Peanut Butter Easter Eggs

INGREDIENTS

2 packages (18 sheets) graham crackers, crushed very finely
2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 sticks (12 Tablespoons) butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
Chocolate candy melts or almond bark

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine graham cracker crumbs, peanut butter, butter and powdered sugar. Mix on medium low until fully combined. You may have to use your hands to make sure it's completely blended.

Shape the mixture into eggs. I rolled it into golf ball sized balls, then formed the egg shape from there. Place on a wax paper lined baking sheet and place in the freezer for one hour.

Once the eggs are frozen firm, melt your chocolate according to package directions. Place the eggs in the chocolate one at a time, and slide a fork under each egg to remove. Place back on wax paper lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with sprinkles and refrigerate eggs until chocolate is set.

This will make about 24 Reese's egg-sized eggs.

Easter Lamb

2011-04-25T21:03:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was of course, Easter Sunday. At the launchpad, we decided on lamb. Especially when I saw this recipe in the Washington Post Food section a few weeks ago.

Bacon-Wrapped Herbed Loin of Lamb With Jus
The Washington Post, April 13, 2011

Course: Main Course
Features: Holiday (Easter)

Summary:
Loin of lamb is an elegant choice for a dinner party. It is best to buy a whole loin that includes the tenderloins and have the butcher break it down for you; that way, you can use the bone to make stock and then reduce that stock to a nice jus. The tenderloins in the center of the bacon-wrapped roast give the herb stuffing a criss-cross look. If only boneless loin is available, buy three pieces of equal length and cut the third piece into strips that resemble tenderloins.

MAKE AHEAD: The jus can be made up to 3 days in advance. Refrigerate or freeze until ready to use. The roast can be assembled the day before; blot it dry on paper towels before roasting.
4 servings

Ingredients:
For the jus

Lamb loin bone, trimmed of excess fat
2 large carrots, cut lengthwise in half (cleaned, unpeeled)
3 ribs celery, cut in half
1 large onion, cut in half (unpeeled)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Low-sodium beef broth or stock (enough to cover)
1/2 small bunch thyme
5 large sprigs rosemary
1 bay leaf
10 whole black peppercorns
1/4 cup finely chopped garlic and herbs, such as rosemary, thyme or oregano, to taste (optional)

For the roast

2 loins and 2 tenderloins, trimmed of fat and silver skin (from one 4-pound lamb loin saddle; to yield about 22 ounces of meat)
2 scallions (trimmed), white and light-green parts, chopped
Leaves from 1 large sprig rosemary
Leaves from 2 large sprigs mint
Leaves from 2 large sprigs oregano
2 large cloves garlic
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 to 10 strips raw bacon (about 8 ounces; see VARIATIONS)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Have a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet and a stockpot at hand.

Make the lamb jus: Place the lamb bone on the baking sheet. Place the carrots, celery and onion in a large bowl; drizzle them with the oil and stir to coat them lightly. Spread the vegetables around the loin bone. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes, until well browned. Transfer the vegetables and bone to a stockpot.

Place the baking sheet over medium-high heat; when it is hot, pour some of the beef broth or stock onto it, using a flat wooden spatula to dislodge all of the browned bits. Transfer the deglazing liquid to the stockpot.

Add just enough of the broth or stock to the stockpot to cover the bone. Add the thyme, rosemary, bay leaf and peppercorns. Bring the liquid to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium; cook, with the liquid lightly bubbling, for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Discard the bones and vegetables, then strain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer. (If you have it, line the strainer with layers of cheesecloth or a layer of flour sack cloth; that will clarify the stock nicely.) Discard any solids. Skim any fat from the stock (or use a fat separator) and then place the stock in a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat for about 30 minutes, until the stock is deep brown and concentrated. There should be 1 1/2 to 2 cups of liquid: the jus. Use as is, or stir in the finely chopped garlic and herbs, if desired.

For the roast: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Have a medium-size roasting pan at hand.

Lay the 2 loin pieces on a plate.

Combine the scallions, rosemary, mint, oregano, garlic, oil, salt and pepper in a mini food processor or blender, and puree to form a paste. Spread the paste down the lengths of the 2 loin pieces. Place the tenderloin pieces on top of one of the loin pieces. Top them with the remaining loin piece, herb side down, as if making a sandwich.

Lay the strips of bacon vertically (side by side) on a cutting board, overlapping them slightly. (There should be enough to wrap the entire loin.) Place the assembled loin on top of the bacon slices, just below the center point. Starting at the bottom, bring the strips of bacon up over the loin, then place your palms on the bacon-enclosed part of the loin and roll the loin over the remaining bacon to encase it completely. Use kitchen twine to tie the roast crosswise at 1-inch intervals, and then once lengthwise.

At this point, the lamb loin can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 day.

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat until it is very hot. Sear the roast on all sides, just to brown the bacon, then transfer the wrapped loin to a small roasting pan. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 125 degrees for medium-rare. Let the roast to rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Discard the kitchen twine before cutting it crosswise into thick slices.

Serve with warmed lamb jus.

VARIATIONS: If you'd rather not use bacon in the recipe, here are alternatives:
Substitute lamb bacon for pork bacon. (Lamb bacon can sometimes be found at farmers markets.)

Sear the outsides of the two loin pieces before spreading them with herb mix, then wrap the assembled loins in lamb or beef caul fat; tie the loin, and roast without searing it.

Do not wrap the roast at all. (Some of the herb stuffing might escape, and you should not remove the horizontally tied strings when serving, to keep the slices intact.)

When breaking down the saddle, leave the fat and belly fat attached to the loin, and use the belly fat to wrap the loin roast. Then proceed with the recipe as if the loin were wrapped with bacon.

Recipe Source:
From Sourced columnist David Hagedorn.
670 calories, 54g fat, 17g saturated fat, 150mg cholesterol, 1270mg sodium, 3g carbohydrates, 1g dietary fiber, 1g sugar, 43g protein.

Happy Passover

2011-04-18T22:15:00.000-04:00

I grew up on Long Island, in a predominantly Jewish area. At Christmas time, our Christmas lights were often in the minority after the familiar glow of lighted menorahs in the windows of our neighbors. One year, my father did our Christmas lights in all blue and white bulbs.

The Jewish holiday of Passover begins tomorrow. For one thing it means this place will be closed for the duration of the holiday. Remember, you can't get bacon and egg on a bagel there. You can't get bacon there at all.

For all of my Jewish friends a very happy Passover to you all. King Kullen, the local Long Island grocery store, which is one of the largest grocery stores with Kosher products, offered several recipes recently. In addition, Epicurious put out an article on preparing the best Seder. Here is one of my favorite recipes. I mean, really with that much garlic, how could it be bad?

Braised Brisket with Thirty-Six Cloves of Garlic

About 36 fat unpeeled garlic cloves (1 2/3 to 2 cups) or an equivalent amount of smaller cloves, plus 1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 tablespoons olive oil
A first-or second-cut beef brisket (about 5 pounds), trimmed of excess fat, wiped with a damp paper towel, and patted dry
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 cups chicken broth, preferably homemade or good-quality low-sodium purchased
3 or 4 fresh thyme sprigs, or 2 teaspoons dried leaves
2 fresh rosemary sprigs, plus 1 teaspoon chopped leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Drop the garlic cloves into a small saucepan of boiling water for 30 seconds. Drain immediately. Peel as soon as the garlic is cool enough to handle. Set aside on paper towels to dry.

Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy-bottomed roasting pan or casserole large enough to accommodate the meat in one layer. Use two burners, if necessary. Add the brisket and brown well on both sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer the brisket to a platter and set aside. (Or brown the meat under the broiler: place the brisket, fat side up, on a foil-lined broiler pan under a preheated broiler. Broil for 5 to 6 minutes on each side, until browned. Don’t allow it to develop a hard, dark crust, which might make the meat tough or bitter. Move the meat around as necessary, so it sears evenly.)

Pour off all but about 1 tablespoon of fat remaining in the pan and add the garlic cloves. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the garlic edges are tinged with gold. Add the vinegar and deglaze the pan, scraping up all the browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Add the stock, thyme, and rosemary sprigs, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Salt and pepper the brisket to taste on all sides, and add it to the pan, fat side up. Spoon the garlic cloves over the meat.

Place the brisket in the oven, cover (if you have no lid, use heavy-duty foil), and cook, basting every half-hour, until the meat is fork tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours or longer. (As the meat cooks, periodically check that the liquid is bubbling gently. If it is boiling rapidly, turn the oven down to 300°F.)

The brisket tastes best if it is allowed to rest, reabsorbing the juices lost during braising, and it's easiest to defat the gravy if you prepare the meat ahead and refrigerate it until the fat solidifies. That is the method I use, given here, but the gravy can be prepared by skimming the fat in the traditional way, if you prefer. If you go that route though, do let the meat rest in the pan sauce for at least an hour.

Cool the brisket in the pan sauce, cover well with foil, and refrigerate until the fat congeals. Scrape off all solid fat. Remove the brisket from the pan and slice thinly across the grain.

Prepare the gravy: Bring the braising mixture to room temperature, then strain it, reserving the garlic and discarding the thyme and rosemary sprigs. Skim and discard as much fat as possible from the liquid. Puree about one half of the cooked garlic with 1 cup of the defatted braising liquid in a food processor or a blender. (If you want a smooth gravy, puree all of the cooked garlic cloves.) Transfer the pureed mixture, the remaining braising liquid, and the rest of the cooked garlic to a skillet. Add the chopped rosemary, minced garlic, and lemon zest. Boil down the gravy over high heat, uncovered, to the desired consistency. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Rewarm the brisket in the gravy until heated through.

Arrange the sliced brisket on a serving platter. Spoon some of the hot gravy all over the meat and pass the rest in a separate sauce boat.

Friday's List - the 50 Most Important Children's Books

2011-04-15T22:51:00.000-04:00

I was a pretty voracious reader growing up. I was always in the summer reading program at the library and was reading books that were "above" me earlier than some. LBA is getting better every day at reading for himself and I think he will be as good a reader as Mrs. BA and I. I would love to read more - but I am a victim of my own time management.

I spotted this list the other day (from the Independent). Perhaps it is the British bent, but I haven't read a lot of these. The ones I have read are in italics. Your thoughts and comments welcome.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. Indispensable. The great classic beginning of English children's literature.
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. What effortless invention looks like.
Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner. A great political story: democracy in action.
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. As clear and pure as Mozart.
Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken. If Ransome was Mozart, Aiken was Rossini. Unforced effervescence.
The Owl Service by Alan Garner. Showed how children's literature could sound dark and troubling chords.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Superb wit and vigorous invention.
Moominsummer Madness by Tove Jansson. Any of the Moomin books would supply the same strange light Nordic magic.
A Hundred Million Francs by Paul Berna. A particular favourite of mine, as much for Richard Kennedy's delicate illustrations (in the English edition) as for the story.
The Castafiore Emerald by Hergé. Three generations of this family have loved Tintin. Perfect timing, perfect narrative tact and command, blissfully funny.
The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson. The heroine is blessed with such wonderful friends who help her through the twists and turns of this incredible journey.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The first few pages were so engaging, Marley's ghostly face on the knocker of Scrooge's door still gives me the shivers.
Just William books by Richmal Crompton. These are a must for every child.
The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde. This was the first story, I think, that ever made me cry and it still has the power to make me cry.
The Elephant's Child From The Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling. The story my mother used to read me most often, because I asked for it again and again. I loved the sheer fun of it, the music and the rhythm of the words. It was subversive too. Still my favourite story.
Treasure Island by R.L. Stevenson This was the first real book I read for myself. I lived this book as I read it.
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. A classic tale of man versus nature. I wish I'd written this.
The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono. A book for children from 8 to 80. I love the humanity of this story and how one man's efforts can change the future for so many.
The Singing Tree by Kate Seredy The story of two children who go to find their father who has been listed missing in the trenches of the First World War.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson-Burnett. I love this story of a girl's life being changed by nature.
Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah. Story of a young Ethiopian boy, whose parents abandon him in London to save his life.
Finn Family Moomintroll (and the other Moomin books) by Tove Jansson. A fantasy series for small children that introduces bigger ones to ideas of adventure, dealing with fear, understanding character and tolerating difference.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. It's rude, it's funny and it will chime with every 11-year-old who's ever started a new school.
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith. Written for a teenage audience but fun at any age.
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkein. Be warned, these tales of hobbits, elves and Middle Earth are dangerously addictive.
The Tygrine Cat (and The Tygrine Cat on the Run) by Inbali Iserles. If your parents keep going on at you to read Tarka the Otter, The Sheep-Pig and other animal fantasies, do – they're great books – also try Iserles' stories about a cat seeking his destiny.
Carry On, Jeeves by PG Wodehouse. A grown-up book – but not that grown-up.
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr. Judith Kerr's semi-autobiographical story of a family fleeing the Nazis in 1933.
Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett. Elaborate mythological imagery and a background based in real science. If you like this, the Discworld series offers plenty more.
The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson. The pinnacle of the wonderful Jacqueline Wilson's brilliant and enormous output.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Irresistible puzzle-solving tales of the chilly Victorian master-sleuth and his dim medical sidekick.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Age-transcending tale, both funny and sad.
Mistress Masham's Repose by TH White. Magical story of 10-year-old Maria, living in a derelict stately home, shy, lonely and under threat from both her governess and her rascally guardian.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Inexplicably evergreen, trend and taste-defying 1868 classic.
How to be Topp by Geoffrey Willams and Ronald Searle. Side-splitting satire on skool, oiks, teechers, fules, bulies, swots.
Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz. First of the action-packed adventures with 14-year-old Alex Rider.
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo. "Dulce et Decorum Est" for pre-teens.
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. Lively, amoral, wildly imaginative debut (six more followed) about the money-grabbing master-criminal Artemis, 12. The author called it "Die Hard with fairies".
The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier. Inspiring wartime story of the Balicki family in Warsaw.
Animal Farm by George Orwell. Smart 11-year-olds won't need any pre-knowledge of Marx, Lenin, Trotsky and 1917 to appreciate this brilliantly-told fable.
Skellig by David Almond. Brings magical realism to working-class North-east England.
Red Cherry Red by Jackie Kay. A book of poems that reaches deep into our hidden thoughts but also talks in a joyous voice exploring the everyday.
Talkin Turkeys by Benjamin Zephaniah. A book of poems that demands to be read aloud, performed and thought about.
Greek myths by Geraldine McCaughrean. Superheroes battle with demons, gods intervene in our pleasures and fears – a bit like the spectres in our minds going through daily life, really – beautifully retold here.
People Might Hear You by Robin Klein. A profound, suspenseful story about sects, freedom and the rights of all young people – especially girls.
Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman. A book that dared to go where no one thought you could with young audiences because it raises tough stuff to do with race.
Einstein's Underpants and How They Saved the World by Anthony McGowan. A crazy adventure set amongst the kids you don't want to know but who this book makes you really, really care about.
After the First Death by Robert Cormier. Cormier is never afraid of handling how the personal meets the political all within the framework of a thriller.
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd. A book that allows difference to be part of the plot and not a point in itself.
Beano Annual. A cornucopia of nutty, bad, silly ideas, tricks, situations and plots.

Butterless Apple Crumble

2011-04-11T21:04:00.002-04:00

We were very honored to have a celebrity at the launchpad last evening. Upon arriving for dinner, she and her husband had stopped to secure pie for dinner. So, it was Chicken Delicious for dinner and [keep your fork, there's] pie for dessert. It's possible that SoBA had four pieces of pie. (I shudder at the thought of my grocery bill when he hits the teenage years). On a related note, we will have dinner guests tomorrow night - wonderful friends who are here visiting DC from the retirement locale of New Mexico. I think slow cooker roast beef is on the menu for then.

I came across this recipe a while back and thought, really? no butter in the crumble? what's the point. But the fine folk over at Chocolate and Zucchini seem to know what they are talking about. I don't know if Kim [or his wife Maggie, for that matter, who makes a fabulous crumble - one I have only read about - but it reads as very delicious] would agree. Enjoy this variation!

Butterless Apple Crumble

100 grams (3.5 ounces, about 3/4 cup) flour (I use spelt flour)
100 grams (1 cup) rolled grains of your choice (oat, spelt, wheat, rye, quinoa, rice, barley... or a mix thereof)
50 grams (1/4 cup) rapadura sugar
50 grams (1/4 cup) unrefined blond cane sugar (you can use the combination of unrefined sugars that you prefer, or just one)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon mango powder (at Indian markets ; substitute the spice of your choice)
80 ml (1/3 cup) oil (I use a bottled blend of four organic oils)
1.5 kilos organic apples (3 1/3 pounds, about 8 medium), preferably a mix of varieties, some that keep their shape when cooked, some that don't

Serves 8.

Make the crumble topping up to a day in advance: in a medium mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients from flour to oil, and stir well with a fork to combine, making sure all of the dry ingredients are moistened by the oil. If making in advance, transfer to an airtight container and keep in the fridge.

On the day of serving, preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F). Peel the apples in alternating vertical stripes so that you retain some, but not all of the peel. Quarter and core the apples, then cut into smallish chunks.

Arrange the apple chunks over the bottom of a baking dish (the one I generally use is a 25-cm or 10" square) and sprinkle evenly with the topping.

Insert in the oven and bake for about 40 minutes, until the apples are tender and the topping golden brown, checking regularly to make sure it doesn't darken too much (if it does, cover loosely with a piece of parchment paper).

Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. You can bake the crumble a few hours in advance, and reheat slightly before serving: if the oven was in use for the main course, I'll just put the crumble in the cooling oven while we eat. The leftovers are fantastic straight out of the fridge the next day.

Creme Brulee

2011-04-04T22:12:00.001-04:00

Tonight was, as always, breakfast for dinner at the launchpad. Although tonight we did have French Toast instead of the usual pancakes. There was a time, BK (before kids), when Mrs. BA would go out for dinner or perhaps even have a dinner party. To that end, I own my own torch for caramelizing sugar for creme brulee. I might need to make some. Maybe for Easter.

This recipe (from Le Cirque) comes from the Essential New York Times Cookbook via Cheverly's greatest chef, Scott, who blogs over at Eat with Me.

Creme Brulee
Serves 6-8

4 cups heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, split, sees scraped out and reserved
Pinch of salt
8 large egg yolks
3/4 cup plus 2 TB granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1. Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Place eight 6-ounce ramekins in a roasting pan. Combine the cream, vanilla bean and seeds and salt in a saucepan set over low heat and warm for 5 minutes.

2. Gently whisk the egg yolks and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Gradually pour in the hot cream and stir gently to combine. Strain the custard into a pitcher; discard the vanilla bean and use a spoon to skim off any bubbles on the surface of the custard.

3. Pour the custard into the ramekins, filling them almost to the rim. Place the roasting pan in the oven and carefully pour warm water into the pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Loosely cover the pan with aluminum foil. Bake until set, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Remove the ramekins from the water bath and allow to cool.

4. Cover the ramekins individually and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or for up to 2 days.

5. When ready to serve, heat the broiler. Uncover the ramekins and place them on a baking sheet. Top each with 1 TB of brown sugar, and using a metal spatula or your gingers, spread the sugar evenly over the custards. Broil the custards about 4 inches from the heating element until the sugar browns and caramelizes, 30 seconds to 1 minute. *Use a blowtorch, if you have one, to caramelize the sugar on top.

NOTES: I had 6 matching ramekins. I tested how much custard they could hold, by filling them with water, then measuring that amount. Each of my ramekins held 3/4 of a cup of the custard. That was exactly how much this recipe made. Six ramekins of 3/4 cup of custard.

As noted above, I used a blend of three sugars, granulated white sugar, brown sugar and turbinado sugar. Not necessary, but interesting.

Baseball Quiz Answers

2011-04-03T13:34:00.000-04:00

I told you it was hard.

1. Question: Which two players hold the record for the most seasons (23) played for the same team?
Answer: Brooks Robinson (Orioles) and Carl Yastrzemski (Red Sox).

2. Question: Who hit 48 home runs beginning June 1, but only 51 in the season?
Answer: Ralph Kiner.

3. Question: Which two managers had six 100-win seasons?
Answer: Bobby Cox and Joe McCarthy. (I had half of this answer)

4. Question: Who played the most regular-season games without ever playing a postseason game?
Answer: Ernie Banks (2,528).

5. Question: Who has the best winning percentage among 300-win pitchers? Answer: Lefty Grove.

(6) Question: Who had a 79-15 record over three years? Answer: Lefty Grove.

(7) Question: Who was the player -- and in what year -- who led his league in home runs and RBIs, started every game of the World Series, and never crossed the Mississippi?
Answer: Larry Doby in 1954, the year after the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore and the year before the Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City.

8. Question: Since Tris Speaker did it in 1912, who is the only player with 50 doubles and 50 stolen bases in a season?
Answer: Craig Biggio.

9. Question: Which 10 Hall of Famers never played in the minor leagues?
Answer: Al Kaline, Sandy Koufax, Dave Winfield, Mel Ott, Bob Feller, Catfish Hunter, Eppa Rixey, Eddie Plank, Frankie Frisch, Ted Lyons.

10. Question: Who is the only catcher to lead a league in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage in the same season?
Answer: Joe Mauer (2009). (I might have gotten here eventually)

11. Question: When the strike stopped the 1994 season on Aug. 11, what team had the best record?
And what was Tony Gwynn’s batting average? Answer: The Montreal Expos, 74-40. Gwynn’s average was .394. (I knew Gwynn was close to Ted Williams' record)

12. Question: In 1955, the year they won their only championship in Brooklyn, what was the Dodgers’ average regular-season attendance?
Answer: 13,423.

13. Question: What two players share the record for most hits in a month?
Answer: Ty Cobb (July 1922) and Tris Speaker (July 1923), 67.

14. Question: From 2000 through 2009, Roy Halladay pitched the most shutouts, 14. Who led the 1970s with 44?
Answer: Jim Palmer. (Jim Palmer - really? The Underwear Pitcher? - sorry, a little Yankees sarcasm there)

15. Question: What pitcher won World Series games in three decades?
Answer: Jim Palmer (1966, 1970, 1971, 1983).

16. Question: Who won a batting title during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s?
Answer: George Brett (1976, 1980, 1990). (the Gordie Howe of Baseball?)

17. Question: Who was the youngest pitcher to win a Cy Young award?
Answer: Dwight Gooden was 20 years and 324 days old when the 1985 season ended. (I knew this one)

18. Question: What two-time MVP and Hall of Famer won league fielding titles as a shortstop and center fielder?
Answer: Robin Yount.

19. Question: Since 1900, what two pitchers won at least 20 games in 13 seasons?
Answer: Christy Mathewson and Warren Spahn.

20. Question: Who is the only pitcher to have 20-win seasons with both the Yankees and the Mets?
Answer: David Cone. (knew this one, too)

21. Question: Who is the only pitcher to have 2,000 strikeouts with two different teams? Answer: Randy Johnson (Mariners and Diamondbacks). (I expected this to be Nolan Ryan)

22. Question: Who had at least 200 hits and 100 walks in four consecutive seasons?
Answer: Wade Boggs, 1986-1989.

23. Question: Whom did the Reds intentionally walk five times in a 1990 game?
Answer: The Cubs’ Andre Dawson in a 16-inning game.

24. Question: Who is the only pitcher to twice pitch a complete game in a World Series seventh game?
Answer: Bob Gibson (1964 and 1967).

25. Question: Who twice got 10 or more hits in a World Series, with different teams?
Answer: Paul Molitor with the Brewers in 1982 and the Blue Jays in 1993.

26. Question: What Hall of Famer got his 3,000th hit off a Hall of Famer?
Answer: Dave Winfield off Dennis Eckersley.

27. Question: The Yankees’ Bobby Richardson set a World Series record with 12 RBIs in the 1960 World Series. How many RBIs did he have during the regular season?
Answer: 26.

28. Question: What player, whose number 44 is retired by two teams, hit 44 home runs in four different seasons?
Answer: Henry Aaron. (the answer is not Reggie Jackson)

29. Question: What six pitchers had 3,000 strikeouts before (or without ever) allowing 1,000 walks?
Answer: Ferguson Jenkins, Pedro Martinez, Greg Maddux, Curt Schilling, John Smoltz, Roger Clemens.

30. Question: What team has won its last nine World Series games?
Answer: The Reds.

31. Question: Why was Roger Maris never intentionally walked in 1961 en route to 61 home runs?
Answer: Mickey Mantle batted behind him. (C'mon this was a pitch right over the heart of the plate. I crushed this one out of the park)

It's Draft Day

2011-04-01T21:16:00.002-04:00

As you read this, I am likely putting the finishing touches on my fantasy baseball team. For the past few years, I have been the "owner" of a fantasy baseball team. I have done OK, primarily from my pitching. It could be said I am still in a "rebuilding" phase, having inherited the team from another individual. I would really like some speed (base stealers) and a little more home run production. Hopefully I will score some of that tonight.

In draft news, I spotted this article in the Washington Post a few weeks back. I would so be up for the idea of a Meat Draft. I could even "stomach" the high price (the meat is standard priced at $9.50/lb.) with the idea that one would get a wide range of meat cuts. The guys who run the meat draft find really good cows. If you are interested, talk to them.

It's Opening Day

2011-03-31T20:20:00.000-04:00

Yes, I could have been there. A friend offered me a ticket at the last minute to Opening Day for the Nationals. I didn't go. The streak is broken - I had been to every Opening Day game since the Nationals came to town. Maybe things will be better this season as a result.

George Will, the syndicated columnist, is a baseball lover. In his column today, he offered this baseball quiz. Answers on Sunday (or you can click the link to the column - the answers are at the end). How'd you do? I consider myself a lover of baseball and I only got a few of these. Like I said, George Will knows and loves baseball.

Which two players hold the record for the most seasons (23) played for the same team?
Who hit 48 home runs beginning June 1, but only 51 in the season?
Which two managers had six 100-win seasons?
Who played the most regular-season games without ever playing a postseason game?
Who has the best winning percentage among 300-win pitchers?
Who had a 79-15 record over three years?
Who was the player — and in what year — who led his league in home runs and RBIs, started every game of the World Series, and never crossed the Mississippi?
Since Tris Speaker did it in 1912, who is the only player with 50 doubles and 50 stolen bases in a season?
Which 10 Hall of Famers never played in the minor leagues?
Who is the only catcher to lead a league in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage in the same season?
When the strike stopped the 1994 season on Aug. 11, what team had the best record? And what was Tony Gwynn’s batting average?
In 1955, the year they won their only championship in Brooklyn, what was the Dodgers’ average regular-season attendance?
What two players share the record for most hits in a month?
From 2000 through 2009, Roy Halladay pitched the most shutouts, 14. Who led the 1970s with 44?
What pitcher won World Series games in three decades?
Who won a batting title during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s?
Who was the youngest pitcher to win a Cy Young award?
What two-time MVP and Hall of Famer won league fielding titles as a shortstop and center fielder?
Since 1900, what two pitchers won at least 20 games in 13 seasons?
Who is the only pitcher to have 20-win seasons with both the Yankees and the Mets?
Who is the only pitcher to have 2,000 strikeouts with two different teams?
Who had at least 200 hits and 100 walks in four consecutive seasons?
Whom did the Reds intentionally walk five times in a 1990 game?
Who is the only pitcher to twice pitch a complete game in a World Series seventh game?
Who twice got 10 or more hits in a World Series, with different teams?
What Hall of Famer got his 3,000th hit off a Hall of Famer?
The Yankees’ Bobby Richardson set a World Series record with 12 RBIs in the 1960 World Series. How many RBIs did he have during the regular season?
What player, whose number 44 is retired by two teams, hit 44 home runs in four different seasons?
What six pitchers had 3,000 strikeouts before (or without ever) allowing 1,000 walks?
What team has won its last nine World Series games?
Why was Roger Maris never intentionally walked in 1961 en route to 61 home runs?

Eggs in a Nest - not Toad in a Hole

2011-03-28T20:59:00.002-04:00

As it is most Sunday mornings, it was my turn to get up with the boys and get breakfast together. SoBA has been in a, "I WANT CEREAL AND YOGURT!" (that is SoBA's normal voice delivery BTW) rut and I offered him eggs as an alternative. LBA is not a big fan of eggs, so I didn't offer them to him. SoBA turned me down for the declaration noted above. But I decided to make myself eggs and toast anyway. I really should have gone for the Eggs in a Nest, but it was good separately.

The Amateur Gourmet posted a while back about his idea of making Eggs in a Nest on a Saturday morning (but I'm usually sleeping on Saturday mornings); in his post, he mistakenly referred to it as Toad in a Hole. Then on top of this, I have been jonesing for French Toast - which I was going to make for Brinner tonight (Monday nights is always Brinner night at the launchpad - that's Breakfast for Dinner). But since Mrs. BA is off today with LBA, who doesn't have school today, French Toast will wait for next week - it will be pancakes.

Eggs in a Nest is something that Mrs. BA's sister managed to get LBA (he, the aforementioned disliker of eggs) to eat and they are relatively easy to make. The Amateur Gourmet's post raises it a level or two - but it is still worth a try. The post was not broken down into a recipe, but I have cobbled one together below. Enjoy!

The Amateur Gourmet's [Eggs in a Nest]

1 egg
1/2 cup milk
Tabasco / hot sauce (if desired)
Parmesan cheese (if desired)
crusty french bread, sliced and a hole made in the middle
eggs (1 egg for each slice of bread)
salt
pepper

Whisk 1 egg and 1/2 cup milk together. Add in any extra ingredients desired to the custard. Soak bread in custard mixture briefly on each side to coat. Heat a non-stick skillet or cast iron frying pan, melting approx. 1 tbsp. butter, until butter begins to bubble. Place each slice of bread in a non-stick skillet or cast iron pan. Crack an egg into the hole in the middle of the bread. Sprinkle the bread/egg with some salt and pepper.

After approximately a minute, when the bread has toasted and there is a good seal on the egg in the hole, flip the bread over. Remove from pan after about 30 seconds (longer if you want a harder yolk) and serve. Sprinkle with some parsley and/or Parmesan cheese (if you used it in the custard).

Happy Birthday to my Mother

2011-03-22T20:30:00.002-04:00

Today would have been my mother's 81st birthday. One of the things she was devoted to over the course of her life was Girl Scouting. Some time ago I saw on Letters of Note, a great site that reprints correspondence from famous individuals at various points in their lives. This particular letter was from Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts in the UK. Baden-Powell's wife was Olave Baden-Powell, who founded the Girl Guides, the UK equivalent of the US Girl Scouts.

According to Olave, Robert Baden-Powell carried a letter with him at all times in an envelope marked, "In the event of my death." The letter was addressed "To the Boy Scouts." It was read for the first time shortly after his death in 1941. The sentiment in it could have easily come from my mother as well. God Bless You Mom. I miss you and I love you.

Dear Scouts,

If you have ever seen the play 'Peter Pan' you will remember how the pirate chief was always making his dying speech because he was afraid that possibly when the time came for him to die he might not have time to get it off his chest. It is much the same with me, and so, although I am not at this moment dying, I shall be doing so one of these days and I want to send you a parting word of good-bye.

Remember, it is the last time you will ever hear from me, so think it over.

I have had a most happy life and I want each one of you to have as happy a life too.

I believe that God put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness doesn't come from being rich, nor merely from being successful in your career, nor by self-indulgence. One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and so you can enjoy life when you are a man.

Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it. Look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one.

But the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. 'Be Prepared' in this way, to live happy and to die happy - stick to your Scout promise always - even after you have ceased to be a boy - and God help you to do it.

Your Friend,
(Signed, 'Robert Baden-Powell')

It's Spring! Eat Meat!

2011-03-21T21:02:00.000-04:00

It's time to move the cooking back outside! Not that the winter has stopped me from utilizing my grill. But yesterday marked the Vernal Equinox, also known as the first day of Spring. The weather has certainly been better here in the DC area and it looks like we have seen the last of the snow this year. Maybe.

I spotted this recipe in the New York Times Magazine. It's possible I drooled on the pages a little . . . I was reminded of the time that I had dinner with a friend at his house. We grilled enormous Porterhouse steaks and then we sat down and watched Zulu.

There are actually two recipes here. The dreadfully easy straight up method and the second, more involved grilling one.

1966: Rib Roast of Beef
This recipe appeared in The Times in an article by Craig Claiborne. Recipe adapted from Ann Seranne, a former editor of Gourmet.

One 2- to 4-rib roast of beef, weighing 4½ to 12 pounds
Flour
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper.

Remove the roast from the refrigerator 2½ to 4 hours before cooking.
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
Place the roast in an open, shallow roasting pan, fat side up. Sprinkle with a little flour, and rub the flour into the fat lightly. Season all over with salt and pepper.
Put the roast in the preheated oven and roast according to the roasting chart below, timing the minutes exactly. When cooking time is finished, turn off the oven. Do not open the door at any time. Allow the roast to remain in the oven until oven is lukewarm, or about two hours. The roast will still have a crunchy brown outside and an internal heat suitable for serving as long as 4 hours after removing from the oven. Makes about 2 servings per rib.

Roasting Chart:          

No. of Ribs	Weight Without Ribs	Roasting Time at 500 Degrees
2	4½ to 5 lbs.	25 to 30 mins.
3	8 to 9 lbs.	40 to 45 mins.
4	11 to 12 lbs.	55 to 60 mins.

2011 - Grilled Prime, Dry-Aged Rib-Eye Steak
by Harold Dieterle, the chef and owner of Kin Shop and Perilla in Manhattan.

For the herb butter:

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon minced chives
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the savory crust:

1⁄3 cup panko (or other) dry bread crumbs
1 tablespoon chopped savory, thyme or marjoram
1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the steak:

One 30- to 34-ounce prime, dry-aged rib-eye steak, brought to room temperature
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

Make the herb butter: In a small bowl, mash together the butter, lemon zest, chives, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Chill until needed.
Make the savory bread crumbs: Combine the panko, savory (or other herb) and butter in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Stir until thoroughly blended.
Heat your grill to medium high (notes for doing this on the stove top follow the recipe). Season both sides of the steak generously with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Lay the steak on the hot grill and sear both sides, 5 to 8 minutes on each side for medium rare; adjust the time according to how you like your steak done. Transfer the steak to a cutting board, spread the top with the herb butter and let rest, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Set an oven rack 6 inches from the broiler, then heat the broiler. Cover the top of the steak with the savory bread crumbs. Place the steak on a heatproof dish and set it under the broiler until the bread crumbs are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let sit for a minute, then slice and serve. Serves 2.

NOTE: If you would like to cook this on the stove instead of the grill, heat the oven to 425 degrees. Place a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and turn on your stove fan. Sear the seasoned rib-eye for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, then transfer the pan to the oven to finish cooking, 3 to 6 minutes. Then transfer the steak to a cutting board to rest as in Step 3 above, and continue with the recipe.

One Last Cold Weather Recipe

2011-03-14T21:34:00.000-04:00

With baseball season set to open at the end of the month and winter rapidly fading into the background, here is one last chili recipe to tide you over. So if it's cold where you are, or you don't mind chili all year round, here's a twist on regular chili. I could be persuaded to eat this.

From the Washington Post food section, February 23, 2011.

Cilantro Chicken and Chickpea "Chili"

Summary:
The dish has the look of a white chili and the flavors of the Middle East. It’s a nice change from the long-cooked, chili-pepper-flavored versions.

Ground white-meat chicken is available at Whole Foods and many other supermarkets. If you can’t find it, use a food processor to grind your own from boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Ground white-meat turkey can be substituted.

Serve over white rice or on its own, with pita chips on the side.

MAKE AHEAD: This can be made a day in advance and refrigerated.
6 or 7 servings

Ingredients:

2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 pounds ground white-meat chicken (see headnote)
1 small onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice (3/4 cup)
1/2 large red, orange or yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch dice (1 cup)
Salt
1 tablespoon ground cumin, or to taste
2 teaspoons ground coriander, or to taste
1 1/2 cups cooked no-salt-added chickpeas, drained
3 cups no-salt-added or low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 1/2 to 1 lemon)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a a 4-quart pot, preferably nonstick, over medium-high heat. Add half of the chicken; cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring, until the chicken loses its raw look. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the chicken to a clean bowl. Repeat with the remaining chicken, adding a tablespoon of oil as needed.

When all of the chicken is cooked, add the remaining tablespoon of the oil to the pot. When it is hot, add the onion and bell pepper. Season with salt to taste. Reduce the heat to medium; cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the vegetables have softened.

Stir in the cumin and coriander; cook for 1 minute, then return the chicken to the pot. Add the chickpeas and broth, stirring to combine. Cover; once you hear the mixture bubbling, immediately reduce the heat to medium-low so the mixture is barely bubbling at the edges. Partially cover and cook for 15 minutes.

Combine the lemon juice and cornstarch in a measuring cup, then stir it into the pot. Increase the heat to medium-high; once the mixture begins to boil and thicken, remove from the heat.

Stir in the cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Divide among individual bowls; serve hot.

Recipe Source:
From Nourish columnist Stephanie Witt Sedgwick.
300 calories, 17g fat, 1g saturated fat, 90mg cholesterol, 190mg sodium, 14g carbohydrates, 3g dietary fiber, 1g sugar, 22g protein.

Cheesecake in a Glass

2011-03-07T20:56:00.001-05:00

This recipe appeared in my inbox not too long ago. Now I am a cheesecake purist. Really no one can touch my mothers. It is the best and really, it spoils cheesecake for me anywhere else.

But I'm (usually) willing to try new things. From C in DC via The English Kitchen.

Cheesecake in a Glass with Rhubarb Syrup
Serves 8

If you only make one dessert this year . . . let this be the one! Easily made the day before (without the topping). Top with the rhubarb just before serving.

Crumbs:

50g of butter (1/4 cup)
200g shortbread type of biscuits, made into fine crumbs (about 2 cups)

For the cheese filling:

350ml of double cream (1 1/3 cups whipping cream)
150g of caster sugar (2/3 cup)
250g of mascarpone cheese (1 cup)
300g of soft cream cheese (1 1/4 cup)
the finely grated zest of an unwaxed orange
1/4 tsp vanilla

For the rhubarb topping:

450g of rhubarb (1 pound)
150g of caster sugar (2'3 cup)
1 TBS honey
the finely grated zest of 1/2 unwaxed orange

First make the crumbs. You want the biscuits really crushed fine. (A biscuit is a cookie.) Melt the butter and mix it together with the biscuit crumbs. Set aside.

Measure the cream along with the sugar into a large bowl. Whisk with a balloon whisk just until it begins to thicken. Do not over whip as you will have problems. Fold in the mascarpone cheese and cream cheese, along with the orange zest and vanilla. Set aside.

Wash the rhubarb and trim. Cut into 1 inch lengths. Place into a large pan along with the sugar, orange zest, honey and 4 TBS water. Bring to the boil then reduce heat and gently poach the rhubarb until softened. This will take about 15 minutes or so. Remove the rhubarb with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool. Bring the juices back to the boil and reduce until it is thick and syrupy. Watch carefully as you don't want it to burn or disappear. Set aside to cool.

Spoon a tablespoon of the cheese mixture into the bottoms of some pretty glasses. Top with 1/3 of the crumbs. Spoon half of the remaining cheese mixture over top. Top with 1/3 of the crumbs. Add the remaining cheese mixture, once again spooning it on top. sprinkle with the remainder of the crumbs. Divide the poached rhubarb between all the glasses and spoon it on top of the crumbs. Drizzle with a bit of the rhubarb syrup. Serve.

It's a Sitcom Party!

2011-03-04T20:56:00.005-05:00

Hey, it's Pizza / Movie night at the launchpad, but we are always up for a good sitcom. Check out this picture and see how many of the sitcoms you can identify. Click on the picture to see it larger. The key is here and the list is also below. No peeking until you at least try. I put in bold the ones that I missed.

Bonus Quiz - I have listed the characters as identified in the picture. Name the actors.

In other news, The US Government will not shutdown today. For that I am grateful, as I am sure are those people to whom I pay bills. The Congress passed another Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government for two more weeks, so they can keep talking about finding the money to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year.

Bonus Quiz #2 - Why is this date significant in American History? Why is it of some significance to Franklin Roosevelt, though he likely feels the same way about January 20?

Finally, if anyone is in the market for a car - I might be willing to give you mine. It would appear that another model of Mazdas (the Mazda6) may have spiders in the engine venting that may cause a fire. But a fire would be preferable to having SPIDERS in one's car! You can read the article about the recall here.

OK? Ready for the list. How'd you do?

The Odd Couple (Felix Unger)
Seinfeld (Cosmo Kramer)
The Mary Tyler Moore Show (Mary Richards)
Sanford and Son (Fred Sanford)
Night Court (Nostradamus "Bull" Shannon)
Mr. Belvedere (Lynn Aloysius Belvedere)
Everybody Loves Raymond (Ray Barone)
Welcome Back, Kotter (Gabe Kotter)
What’s Happening!! (Freddie "Rerun" Stubbs)
All in the Family (Archie Bunker)
The Cosby Show (Heathcliff "Cliff" Huxtable)
The Honeymooners (Ralph Kramden)
Maude (Maude Findlay) - I got this one on the second pass
Married . . . with Children (Al Bundy)
The Facts of Life (Natalie Green)
Chico and the Man (Ed Brown) - I thought it was Ed Norton, but that couldn't be right with Kramden also there.
Will & Grace (Grace Adler) - but only because it didn't look like her.
The Golden Girls (Sophia Petrillo)
The Dick Van Dyke Show (Rob Petrie)
Good Times (James "J.J." Evans, Jr.)
Roseanne (Dan Connor)
Saved by the Bell (Sam "Screech" Powers) - a show I never watched, thankfully
Charles in Charge (Charles)
Home Improvement (Wilson Wilson, Jr.)
Family Matters (Steven Quincy Urkel)
Three’s Company (Chrissy Snow)
Growing Pains (Jason Seaver)
Happy Days (Arthur "the Fonz" Fonzarelli)
The Jeffersons (George Jefferson)
Perfect Strangers (Balki Bartokomous)
Laverne and Shirley (Laverne DeFazio)
I Love Lucy (Lucy Ricardo)
227 (Sandra Clark)
ALF (ALF)
Family Ties (Alex P. Keaton) - although he looks like a girl, must be the hair
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (William Smith)
Friends (Rachel Green)
Sabrina the Teenage Witch (Salem Saberhagen) - I knew the show, but would have never been able to come up with the cat's name
Blossom (Blossom Russo) - tonight on a very special "Blossom," Blossom tries not to look so pained
Out of This World (The Cube) - never would have gotten this one, either
Frasier (Eddie)
Webster (Webster Long)
Full House (Michelle Tanner)
Diff’rent Strokes (Arnold Jackson)
Punky Brewster (Penelope "Punky" Brewster) - although I initially switched her with the Olsen twin.
Who’s the Boss? (Tony Micelli)
Mork & Mindy (Mork)
Taxi (Louie DePalma)
Two and a Half Men (Charlie Harper)

I Want a Smoothie!

2011-02-28T21:38:00.000-05:00

Both LBA and SoBA enjoy yogurt. A lot. I think if I owned a blender, I would make them more smoothies, possibly starting with this recipe for Strawberry Shakes.

Strawberry Yogurt Shake

Recipe Summary:
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Number of Servings: 2
Cups of Fruits and Vegetables Per Person: 1.00

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
3/4 cup plain low fat yogurt
1-1/2 cups frozen, unsweetened strawberries
1 tsp granulated sugar

Directions:
Add ingredients, in order listed, to blender container. Puree at medium speed, until thick and smooth.

Springtime Snow Stories

2011-02-23T22:07:00.002-05:00

Last week the DC area enjoyed some very springlike, almost summer-like, temperatures. The mercury rose above 70 degrees for three days in a row. It was wonderful. It made one think that the days of relaxing poolside were coming very soon.

Then it snowed. Well first it rained. Then it changed to sleet. Then a dusting of snow came on top of that. Note I said a DUSTING. I could have sneezed and blown the snow off the walk. And yet, my son's school district closed. Again. Now don't get me wrong, I love snow. But I am now at a point in my life where if it is going to snow - it has to be paralyzing, government closing snow. Otherwise I find myself in a position of burning leave that I don't have so that LBA is not sitting at home by himself (although soon enough, he might not mind that). I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank (profusely) my neighbor (and fellow member of the collective) who took LBA in for a few hours in the afternoon yesterday so I could get to work and not lose an entire day.

I have to believe the end of snow days is near (although as I have said before, my mother always warned us to make sure we had her birthday present because she always wished for snow on her birthday, which was March 22). Today's snow story is one that demonstrates how winter does not always give up easily.

In April 1982 (?), our family was expecting a visit from a French cousin. She was expected to arrive at JFK Airport to spend a week or so with us. My mother, ever the experienced airport greeter, got ready to go and meet our cousin. There was snow in the forecast and the weather prognosticators were rattling their sabers that it would be a good one (for April anyway). So my mother decided (smartly) to take an airport shuttle to the airport and not try to drive herself.

She made it to the airport without issue, met our cousin and then made their way back to the shuttle desk to work on getting home. It was now getting bad out there and road conditions were deteriorating rapidly. And my cousin? She had been told, "Oh it's almost springtime there, you won't need a winter coat." My mother called me at home (from an airport payphone - there were no cellphones) to tell me they were heading out. My father was stuck in New Jersey, unable to get home from his office in Morristown - he had made it to his sister's in nearby Livingston.

So I waited. And waited. My father called frequently, asking if I had heard anything. Finally after about an hour, the phone rang and my mother (calling from another payphone) told me they had made it to one of the shuttle stops to let out some passengers. They were about a third of the way from the airport to our home. Under normal circumstances a trip between JFK and our house should take about 3o minutes. She told me they had a few more stops to try and make and hung up.

So I waited. And waited. My father called and I updated him. Then my mother called back and said they had made it to another stop and were only about 10 miles away - but the driver was not going to be able to take them to the shuttle stop, he was only going to come off the Long Island Expressway and drop my mother and cousin on the service road and get back on the Expressway. Again, normally this would be fine (the shuttle stop was farther away from the house and it wasn't a bad walk down the service road to our house, which is just off the service road - on a normal day - which this no longer was). I looked out the window and asked my mother if she was seeing the same thing I was. We estimated how long it would be before she and my cousin would be let off and I told her that I would come up and meet them to help them get home.

So I waited. My father called and I told him the latest. I called my friend who lived around the corner (closer to where I had to go) and asked him if he was up for an adventure. I bundled up, grabbed my trusty Flexible Flyer sled and headed out into the darkening evening. I made it around the corner to my friend's house and he joined me and we trudged on through the drifting snow. Normally, the walk from our house to the Expressway exit takes about 15 minutes (it's only a 1/2 mile). After about 30 minutes (with about a 1/4 mile to go), I saw two figures emerging from the snow. It was my mother and my cousin. We put my cousin's luggage on the sled and started back.

My mother's adventure had lasted about six hours, my cousin about three, and mine, an hour.

Then, of course, there was shoveling. And retrieving the car where my mother had parked it for the shuttle. And calming my father down - he tends to worry (and overreact). We wound up making snow bunnies, instead of snow men, as it was almost Easter. And I am pretty sure I had at least one day off of school. Maybe.

New York Pizza

2011-02-21T22:15:00.000-05:00

When I moved to Maryland, I missed good New York style pizza. According to the map (click to embiggen) above, it is the food for New York. I have managed to find some good pizza here in the area, possibly the best is here. Now that I have a bread maker (and have already made some pretty good cinnamon raisin bread, I might have to try pizza dough to see how it turns out.

Pizza Dough (Bread Machine)
from CDKitchen
Serves/Makes: 2 crusts | Difficulty Level: 2 | Ready In: 1-2 hrs

Ingredients:

1 cup water PLUS
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons oil
3 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions:
Place ingredients in pan in order listed or as directed per machine instructions. Select white dough cycle. Makes two 12 inch regular crusts or one 16 inch deep dish crust. Top with desired toppings and bake at 400 degrees F for 18-20 minutes or until crust is light brown.

Double Date Night

2011-02-18T20:46:00.001-05:00

The DC area got to temperatures in the 70s again today - for the third day in a row - unprecedented weather. If I had not been sick earlier in the week, I might have "caught" something that would have kept me home today. As it is, Mrs. BA and I are in the midst of an unprecedented two-night event of our own. It's Double Date Night! Two Date Nights and Double Dates with two different couples!

Yesterday evening, our friend (Ed in Pittsburgh) and his lovely wife came for a visit. He had some meetings to attend to today and his wife took the opportunity to come along and visit with an old friend. They came without their children. When the plan developed, I immediately saw an opportunity for a date night. As you may know, it's Pizza / Movie night at the Launchpad and we asked one of our frequent attendees (and good friend) to think about looking after LBA and SoBA for the evening. She readily agreed - so Mr. and Mrs. BA are getting out to dinner tonight with Ed and Mrs. Ed. We have made a plan to go here for dinner. It is always good to see them and we are having a great time with them as we usually do (we went away for an anniversary weekend with them a few years ago, which was also a lot of fun.

Thursday also marked the birthday of Mrs. OSG and it was her desire to go out for a grown-up meal. Her hope was to go somewhere that did not have mac and cheese or hot dogs on the menu - and perhaps a place where people would bring us food - and somewhere where we might even be able to drink a little. Who were we to deny this birthday wish?! My [very kind] MIL gave Mrs. BA and I a gift card for dinner out at Christmas, with the added bonus of her being willing to babysit when we wanted to cash in. So we are doing just that. Our destination for Saturday night is this restaurant, where I have my eyes on the Coffee-cured Filet Mignon. I am pretty sure that Mrs. BA and Mr. OSG will be diving into an appetizer plate of the "Mountain of Blue Cheese Chips."

We have not been to Stoney River before and are certainly looking forward to it. As I have said before, I would go out all the time if my wallet and waistline could take it. And there is no lack of new places to go here in the DC area:

But wait there's more! Here's the bonus. My [extremely kind] MIL is in fact, babysitting, and is taking the boys to her house for Saturday night. So our second date night will allow us to have the house to ourselves. Although LBA does have a birthday party on Sunday so Mrs. BA will head out to get them in time for that. I need to go to the grocery store - and I would love to find a store that has one of these installed. As the post notes, there are plans to bring them to the US within the year.

Valentine's Day Recipe

2011-02-14T05:47:00.000-05:00

One of the greatest meals Mrs. BA enjoyed (she still talks about it) was the salted cod at Tavira, a Portuguese restaurant in Chevy Chase. I'm pretty sure if she's reading this, her mouth is already watering.

As today is Valentine's Day, perhaps you can make this for someone you love. Happy Valentine's Day! The recipe comes from here.

Salt-Crusted Chicken

one chicken, organic and/or from a source you trust, about 2 kilos (4.4 pounds)
1 medium bunch flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed with the flat of a knife blade
500 grams (17 2/3 ounces, about 3 3/4 cups) all-purpose flour
300 grams (10 1/2 ounces, about 1 1/3 cups) coarse salt
3 tablespoons thyme, fresh if available, dried otherwise (other dried herbs may be substituted, such as rosemary or oregano)
6 tablespoons ground flax seeds, or 160 grams (5 2/3 ounces) egg whites (from 4 to 5 large eggs)

Serves 4 to 5.

Lightly oil a baking dish big enough to hold the chicken comfortably. Set aside.

If you're using flax seeds rather than egg whites, place them in a bowl with 100 ml (6 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons) fresh water, and set aside for about 15 minutes, until the water is completely absorbed and the mixture is gelled.

Place the chicken on a work surface, on its back, with the neck side facing you. Slip your hand under the skin, starting at the base of the neck, and work gently to get your hand further in, lifting the skin from the flesh over each breast, and down over each thigh, without tearing the skin. Once the skin is loosened, slip in the chopped parsley, pushing it underneath the skin to cover the breasts and the thighs as evenly as you can.

Sprinkle a few pinches of salt inside the cavity of the chicken, and add in the garlic. Using a piece of chicken string, truss the chicken. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour with the salt and thyme. Add the soaked ground flax seeds or the egg whites, and 160 ml (2/3 cup) fresh water, and stir with a wooden spoon or a dough whisk until the liquids are absorbed. Turn out onto a clean work surface, and knead briefly until the dough comes together; it should be supple and pleasant to work with, not sticky or crumbly. Add a little water or flour as needed to adjust the consistency.

Flour your work surface well, and roll out the salt dough into a circle large enough to wrap the chicken in it (I shoot for a diameter of about 50 cm or 20").

Place the chicken in the middle of the circle and fold opposite flaps of the dough over the chicken to wrap it entirely. Press gently to seal; if it looks like the dough might not stay put, brush the seams with a pastry brush dipped lightly in water.

Lift the whole thing carefully but with determination, and transfer it to the prepared baking dish. Place in the fridge until ready to bake -- you can leave it in for a few hours or overnight. If the salt crust cracks slightly here or there, don't worry about it; it doesn't need to be 100% airtight.

Remove the chicken from the fridge and preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Insert the dish in the oven and leave it in for 1 1/2 hours (a little more won't hurt if the guests are late; just turn off the oven and leave the chicken inside).

Remove the dish from the oven, and break the salt crust open with a meat mallet or the handle of a chef knife. Once fractured, the crust can be simply pulled open with your oven-mitt-clad hands (it's fun).

Lift the chicken from the open crust, transfer it to a cutting board, and carve it. Discard the crust. Serve the chicken with the cooking juices, perfect roasted potatoes, and a green salad.

Happy Birthday Abe

2011-02-12T08:50:00.000-05:00

Today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Unfortunately, he, George Washington (February 22), and all of the Presidents, got screwed out of their own individual days when the vague "President's Day" Holiday was established on the third Monday in February.

As you, my faithful readers know, I am a volunteer usher at Ford's Theatre in Washington, which holds its own special place in Lincoln history. A while back, a website I read, We Love DC, dedicated one of its recurring posts, DC Mythbusting, to a Lincoln Edition. It talked about there was allegedly a depiction of Robert E. Lee in the hair of Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial (not true) and other Memorial Factoids.

The post also explained why there is a portrait of George Washington outside the presidential box at Fords. Do you know? It is one of the most frequent questions I get of theater-goers when I usher.

Happy Birthday Mr. President. For those who are socially motivated, I recommend that you follow @Mr_Lincoln on Twitter and you can "like" HonestAbrahamLincoln" on Facebook.