Thursday, March 22, 2012

New York - #11, July 26, 1788


Starting on a personal note, it is somewhat appropriate that we arrive at New York on this date. Today would have been my mother's 82nd birthday. She's been gone for six years now and I miss her each and every day. Although she was born in New Jersey, raised in Rhode Island, she spent her adult life in New York, raising me and my siblings. It is truly the state where she made her mark. Rest well Mom.

I am a New Yorker. I was born there, spent all of my childhood there and moved from the Empire State when I was 35. It is the state with which I most identify. Having lived in three different areas of the state (Long Island, the Capital District, and the Hudson Valley), people used to tell me I didn't have a New York accent, the New York accent one hears from those who live in Gotham and its environs.

I have traveled extensively throughout the state - crossing into Canada at both the Northern border (shout out to Plattsburgh!) and the Western border (hey Buffalo!). I have been through Fulton (city with a future) on my way to Oswego. I've been through the center of the State, visiting Cooperstown.

I debated about what other information to provide here (the histories are all covered well below) and no one needs an extensive travelogue of my time in the Empire State. So by all means, let's do trivia!
  1. The First American chess tournament was held in New York in 1857.
  2. The 641 mile transportation network known as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway is the longest toll road in the United States.
  3. A brewer named Matthew Vassar founded Vassar College in Poughkeepsie in 1861.
  4. In 1807 The Clermont made its maiden voyage from New York City to Albany making the vessel the first successful steamboat.
  5. New York City has 722 miles of subway track.
  6. The New York Post, established in 1803 by Alexander Hamilton, is the oldest running newspaper in the United States.
  7. The Genesee River is one of the few rivers in the world that flows south to north.
  8. Adirondack Park is larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier, and Olympic Parks combined.
  9. The oldest working cattle ranch in America is in Montauk, Long Island. Deep Hollow Ranch has been around since the 1800s.
New York has done very well in the presidential arena as well, producing six chief executives:
In addition there have been five men who have been "a heartbeat away from the presidency," including Gerald Ford's Vice President and two-time presidential candidate himself, Nelson A. Rockefeller. The others are: Aaron Burr, George Clinton, Schuyler Colfax, and William Wheeler.

The Governor of the Empire State is a Democrat and the son of a former Governor. Andrew Cuomo was elected in 2010, while his father, Mario, served as Governor of the state from 1983 to 1994. Both of the Senators for the state are Democrats, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. The House delegation is currently 21-8, in favor of Democrats.
Facts
Links
Prominent New Yorkers (or Nuh Yawkers) (do I get to be on this list? Here's some other more lengthy ones from which I cribbed the list below - here and here, I included below those who screamed NEW YORK to me)


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Monday, March 19, 2012

Winning Recipe Number 1 - Pecan Lace Cookies

Those of you close to Mrs. BA and me may have heard that she was involved in a "March Madness" bake-off at work. There were four rounds - the first week was cookies, second was bars, the third week is cakes, and the final round is "Bring Your Best."

Mrs. BA was unsure about the first round as she doesn't have a great number of cookies in her baking wheelhouse. But she buried the competition with this recipe. Next week, her winning bar recipe. This week she will bring her cake prowess to the competition - and just so you know, she rocks!

Pecan Lace Sandwich Cookies with Orange Buttercream
Bon Appétit | December 2004

Yield: Makes about 18

Ingredients
Cookies
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup coarsely ground pecans (about 4 ounces)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Filling
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice
  • 3/4 teaspoon grated orange peel
Preparation
For cookies:
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Stir butter, sugar, and corn syrup in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in flour. Add nuts and vanilla; stir to combine.

Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until bubbling and lightly browned, about 11 minutes. Cool on sheets 10 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool completely.

For filling:
Whisk all ingredients in medium bowl until smooth. Spread 1 teaspoon filling onto bottom of 1 cookie. Top with second cookie, bottom side down, pressing lightly to adhere. Repeat with remaining cookies. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store between sheets of waxed paper in airtight container at room temperature.)
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Thursday, March 15, 2012

Virginia - #10, June 25, 1788


The second Commonwealth in our series (after Massachusetts), Virginia also has the longest continuous history of any of the American States, with the founding of Jamestown in 1607. During the Civil War, Richmond, the current state capital, served as the capital of the Confederacy. Of course, some still refer to Richmond as "the Occupied City." It was during the Civil War that the state of West Virginia (#35) was created, which we will visit in about four months. The Virginia General Assembly is the oldest legislature in the Western Hemisphere.

Virginia owns the Presidency. It has produced the most so far. The Mother of the Presidency lays claim to eight presidents (in order of appearance):
  1. George Washington
  2. Thomas Jefferson
  3. James Madison
  4. James Monroe
  5. William Henry Harrison
  6. John Tyler
  7. Zachary Taylor
  8. Woodrow Wilson
Partially due to its proximity to my home state of Maryland, I have been to Virginia a fair number of times. We have friends who live in Charlottesville (where we have spent several nice weekends - taking drives up along Skyline Drive). I have been to several professional meetings in Virginia and will return to Richmond for a meeting in the fall. I have done the Civil War tour through the state (Manassas, Richmond, Petersburg, and others). I have been to Hungry Mother State Park in southwestern Virginia.

Mrs. BA and I have several friends that live in Northern Virginia and we travel "across the river" to see them on occasion. Sometimes its hard, though because all the roads seem to be named Glebe. But we soldier on.

There is a fair amount of history to recount about the Commonwealth, but you can read that from any one of the number of links below. Here's what Brave Astronaut has been reporting in this series so far.

Virginia's Governor is a Republican (and mentioned on most shortlists for the vice presidency in the upcoming election), Bob McDonnell. Virginia's governors are elected for three year terms and may not run for reelection (but can be elected again - as long as it is not consecutive). It's Virginia. The two Senators of the Commonwealth of Virginia are Democrats, former governor Mark Warner, and Jim Webb, who will retire at the end of the current term. There are 11 House districts in Virginia and the delegation currently has 8 Republicans and 3 Democrats.
Facts
* - close readers of this blog may have noted that I have been inserting quotes in the names of the signers - for those who have been wondering - the quotes are from 1776, which opened last night at Ford's Theatre. Get your tickets now, the show runs through May 9.

Links
Prominent Virginians (more here and here. Discuss)
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Monday, March 12, 2012

Brown Butter Irish Soda Bread

This Saturday is St. Patrick's Day. The day when everyone is Irish. While this Brave Astronaut is not one to partake of the whole Corned Beef and Cabbage thing, bread is another story. Here's a recipe for a particularly good looking soda bread (from Epicurious).

Brown Butter Soda Bread
Bon Appétit | February 2006

Rosemary and black pepper make this bread anything but typical. Wedges are delicious with plenty of butter and your favorite preserves.

Yield: Makes 2 loaves

Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
  • 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper plus additional for topping
  • 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
  • 1 egg white, beaten to blend
Preparation
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Stir butter in heavy small saucepan over medium heat until melted and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir flour, oats, sugar, rosemary, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper in large bowl to blend. Pour buttermilk and melted browned butter over flour mixture; stir with fork until flour mixture is moistened.

Turn dough out onto floured work surface. Knead gently until dough comes together, about 7 turns. Divide in half. Shape each half into ball; flatten each into 6-inch round. Place rounds on ungreased baking sheet, spacing 5 inches apart. Brush tops with beaten egg white. Sprinkle lightly with ground black pepper. Using small sharp knife, cut 1/2-inch-deep X in top of each dough round.

Bake breads until deep golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool breads on rack at least 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Baker's Wisdom:
You'll get the most tender soda bread by kneading the dough gently and briefly, just until it comes together, so the gluten is minimally developed.
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Thursday, March 8, 2012

New Hampshire - #9, June 21, 1788


Our ninth state (and the third New England state) in our series is the Granite State, New Hampshire. I fully expect that Anna will have something to say here (I probably should have asked her to write this post), as she is a native of the state. Before Mrs. BA and I were married, we traveled to New Hampshire for Anna's wedding, traveling throughout New England and New York. Some day, I might tell you about Mrs. BA being kidnapped by nuns when we checked into the hotel for the wedding.

Most summers, the Brave Astronaut's family would travel to my grandmother's summer home in Maine. One highlight (?) of the trip was upon reaching New Hampshire was to count the bridges (overpasses, underpasses, etc.) on the New Hampshire Turnpike. The fine folks at the NH DOT were kind enough to number them. My mother always threatened to write the Governor, because for a few years the numbers were out of sync. There are also no rest areas on the short Turnpike. But there's something even better. State-run liquor stores.

New Hampshire holds the records for several "firsts":

New Hampshire holds a significant place in American politics. In case you hadn't noticed, the Granite State holds the nation's first presidential primary every four years. The state also has produced one President of the United States, Franklin Pierce, although Jed Bartlet is from New Hampshire, too. Democrat John Lynch is the current governor of New Hampshire. The two Senators for the Granite State are split ideologically, but both of them are women - Kelly Ayotte (R) and Jeanne Shaheen (D). The popular Shaheen is the only women in US History to be elected both as a Governor and a Senator. There are two House Members for New Hampshire and both are Republican.
Facts
Links
  • nh.gov - the Official Website of the State of New Hampshire
  • Open Up New Hampshire - Entertainment and Travel in the Granite State
  • The New Hampshire Tourism site - visitnh.gov
  • The Encyclopedia Britannic entry for New Hampshire
  • Wikpedia
  • 50states.com entry for New Hampshire
  • InfoPlease entry for New Hampshire
  • The New Hampshire Almanac
  • New Hampshire state guide from the Library of Congress
  • IMDb list of films and TV shows shot in New Hampshire
Prominent New Hampshirites (here's one list and another)
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Monday, March 5, 2012

Easy Mac and Cheese

Growing up, a popular dish with my mother was Mac and Cheese with hot dogs. It was delish. This recipe (from the Amateur Gourmet) is very close to hers. Make a white sauce, add cheese, macaroni, and top with bread crumbs. Don't forget to bake it. Of course if you're me, you'll spend some time in the kitchen picking out macaroni before it goes into the oven (and trying to make sure it doesn't look like you've been eating it).

[Last week's Washington Post Food Section had several pages devoted to the American staple - including ways to "dress it up" - if you so desired.]

Easy Mac and Cheese
Summary: An easy, creamy mac and cheese from David Waltuck’s “Staffmeals.”

Ingredients
  • Course (kosher) salt
  • 1 package (16 ounces) ridged elbow macaroni
  • 3 cups heavy (or whipping) cream
  • 2 1/2 cups grated sharp yellow Cheddar cheese (about 10 ounces)
  • 1 small onion, minced
  • 1 small clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Dash of Worcestershire sauce
  • Dash of Tabasco sauce
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan (I used more! And added Pecorino for good measure)
  • 1/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs (homemade or store-bought)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
  2. Bring a large stockpot of water and 1/4 cup of the salt to a boil over high heat.
  3. When the water is boiling, add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until flexible but very al dente, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain, then let the macaroni stand in the colander under cold running water until chilled. Drain again, then transfer to a medium-size baking dish or shallow casserole and set aside.
  4. Bring the cream to a boil in a small, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat (watch it, though: you don’t want it to bubble up!). Reduce the heat to low and stir in the grated Cheddar, onion, garlic, mustard, Worcestershire, Tabasco, pepper, and salt to taste. Stir over low heat just until the cheese is completely melted, then remove the pan from the heat and taste and adjust the seasoning; the flavor should be strong.
  5. Pour the cheese sauce over the macaroni in the baking dish and stir thoroughly to coat. Sprinkle first the grated Parmesan, then the bread crumbs, over the mixture and bake until the sauce bubbles and the top is golden brown and crusty, 30 to 40 minutes. Let stand a minute or two before serving.
Quick notes
If you want to cook this ahead for a dinner party, make the sauce and boil the mac, stirring them together in the baking dish and then cover with plastic before refrigerating. An hour before you want to cook it, take it out of the fridge to come to room temperature and top with the Parmesan and breadcrumbs just before it goes into the oven.

Preparation time: 20 minute(s)
Cooking time: 40 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 6
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Thursday, March 1, 2012

South Carolina - #8, May 23, 1788


Welcome to the Great State of South Carolina, home to Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, and other golf paradises. (evidently the land of "Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places"). I have been to South Carolina at least once on vacation with OSG, Mrs. OSG, and Mrs. BA and was lucky enough to play golf at the famous Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.

Named for King Charles I (Carolus is Latin for Charles), South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union at the start of the Civil War. South Carolina has played an important role in American History. During the American Revolution, the Battle of Cowpens pitted South Carolina Loyalist forces against the American Revolutionary Army and the Loyalist defeat was the beginning of the end for the British in the Revolution. The Nullification Crisis was a showdown between President Andrew Jackson and the state of South Carolina, which exercised it's states rights to not enforce the protective tariffs of the United States. Anti-abolitionism ran strong in South Carolina, leading indirectly to the caning of Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner by South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks. After South Carolina seceded in December 1860, Confederate forces began shelling Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, ultimately taking the fort from the Union.

The current governor of South Carolina is a Republican, Nikki Haley. And you can say you heard it here first - if Mitt Romney is the Republican nominee - she should be at the top of the short list for vice president. Both of the Senators for the state are also Republicans, Jim DeMint and Lindsay Graham. The House Members for the Palmetto State are heavily Republican, with only one Democrat in the 6 person delegation.
Facts
Links
Prominent South Carolinians (one list here, and another)

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Monday, February 27, 2012

Cinnamon Brown Butter Breakfast Puffs

We like bananas at the launchpad. Sometimes they get eaten while ripe, other times they wind up as banana bread. I have found success recently making the banana bread in small muffin tins, which SoBA and LBA devour quickly. SoBA has also recently developed a French Toast addiction problem, demanding it for every breakfast. Now, I'm good, but that can't happen every day. Unfortunately, I don't think these could make an appearance during the week. Not that I wouldn't like that . . .

Cinnamon Brown Butter Breakfast Puffs
Adapted from Betty Crocker and others

If you don’t wish to use buttermilk, you can replace it with regular milk and nix the baking soda (keeping the baking powder). I like to get the toppings ready first because they take so little time to bake, you don’t want to be scrambling to have something to dip them in.

Yield: 9 to 12 standard muffin-size puffs or 30-ish miniature ones. Try not to overfill as I did or you won’t get as great domes on them.

Coating
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
Puffs
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon table salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup (5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing muffin cups
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 12 standard size or 30 miniature muffin cups, or line cups with paper liners.

Prepare coatings: In a small saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons butter over medium heat and continue to cook it, stirring frequently, until brown bits form on the bottom and it smells nutty and heavenly. Immediately remove from heat and set aside. In a small bowl, combine 2/3 cup sugar and cinnamon. Set aside as well.

Prepare puffs: Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg together in a medium bowl and set aside. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Mix in 1/3 of flour mixture, followed by 1/2 of buttermilk, repeating again and finishing with the flour mixture. Mix only until combined.

Spoon into prepared muffin cups, filling only 3/4 of the way. (I filled mine higher and they ended up spilling over a bit and doming less than they are capable of.) Bake standard sized muffins for 20 to 25 minutes and miniature muffins for 12 to 14 minutes. When finished, muffins will feel springy to the touch and a tester inserted into the center will come out clean. Transfer them in their pan to a wire rack.

As soon as you feel you’re able to pick one up, take your first puff and roll the top and upper edges in the browned butter. Don’t be afraid to pick up the browned butter solids at the bottom of the saucepan; they’re the dreamiest part. Let any excess butter drip off for a second before gently rolling the butter-soaked cake top in cinnamon-sugar. I find if you roll too firmly, or have too much wet/not absorbed butter on top, the sugar can clump off, which is heartbreaking. Transfer puff to wire rack to set and repeat with remaining puffs. Eat warm.

For an even more indulgent, doughnut-like puff: Make an extra two tablespoons of the browned butter and roll the whole puff in it and the cinnamon sugar. (I usually have enough cinnamon sugar to fully roll the puffs.)

Do ahead: Puffs are best within hours after they are baked. They can be made it advance and stored in a freezer bag until needed, too. Simply spread them out on a baking tray and reheat them until warm in the oven.
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Friday, February 24, 2012

On this Day in History - Go Read a Book

There's a strange confluence of events to mark today. Earlier this morning, LBA participated in a Black History Month program at his school (the first graders sang ABC, by the Jackson 5) - I would have liked to attend but unfortunately couldn't make the time to do it.

It was on this date that ground forces pushed into Iraq during the first Persian Gulf war. A month earlier, I remember vividly sitting at the Syosset train station waiting for my father to arrive listening as George H.W. Bush announced the liberation of Kuwait had begun.

The event that prompted this blog post is that today also marks the day that President Andrew Johnson was impeached for violating the Tenure of Office Act. Whenever I think of this event, I am reminded of Edmund G. Ross, the Kansas Senator whose one vote made the difference in keeping Andrew Johnson in office as President. In high school we watched a film made from the book Profiles in Courage, in which one the individuals written about by John Kennedy was Senator Ross.

I like to think that I went to a pretty good high school. In fact, there is some agreement on this. In June 2011, Newsweek rated my high school number 57 on its list of Top High Schools in the United States.

In English class, we read a lot of books (and I liked to read anyway - plus I worked in a library during high school). I found these two lists of the Ten Books You Should Have Read in High School (one more traditional and an alternate list). How many of them have you read?

In no particular order, with my annotation if I've read the book:
  1. Frankenstein - Mary Shelley (no)
  2. The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne (yes, along with other Hawthorne works)
  3. The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger (still have a copy in the house, everyone should)
  4. The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald (no)
  5. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (no)
  6. Siddhartha - Herman Hesse (I feel like this crossed my desk at some point - but I might have done the Cliff Notes version)
  7. Lord of the Flies - William Golding (yes, and it's on the bookshelf next to Catcher in the Rye)
  8. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Mark Twain (yes)
  9. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (yes. "Stand up, your Daddy's passing")
  10. The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand (no)
The alternate list (a little more off the norm and several which came out after I was out of high school)
  1. Infinite Jest - David Foster Wallace (no)
  2. Maus - Art Spiegelman (no)
  3. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy (no, but I did read Gulag Archipelago in college)
  4. Swamplandia - Karen Russell (no, and have never heard of this one)
  5. Reality Hunger - David Shields (no)
  6. The God of Small Things - Arundhati Roy (no)
  7. Against Interpretation - Susan Sontag (no)
  8. Ender’s Game - Orson Scott Card (no)
  9. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress - Robert Heinlein (no, but I was never a big Sci-Fi reader)
  10. Beloved - Toni Morrison (yes, but in college, not high school)

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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Maryland - #7, April 28, 1788


Named for Queen Henrietta Maria, this week we find ourselves in my new home state, Maryland. One piece of trivia for Maryland - there are no natural lakes in the state. Maryland is also home to the oldest airport in the world and still a working airport - The College Park Airport (and Aviation Museum).

My older sister lived in Maryland when she was first married and we used to travel from New York to visit her. In those days, you would go through the Baltimore-Harbor Tunnel (our only option back then - the Fort McHenry Tunnel wasn't opened until 1985), I remember going through the tunnels and waving to the guards in the booths inside. They waved back. There aren't any guards in the tunnels anymore.

Partially because of it's proximity to the Brave Astronaut (and its central location in the MARAC region), I have been to Baltimore fairly often. I am convinced however, the city hates me. Once when Mrs. BA and I were on our way to Baltimore, we got lost and it was not a happy time in the car. Recently, we were on our way to the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Baltimore when SoBA got sick in the car. The city just doesn't like me.

I have been to the far corners of the state, spending a long weekend at Wisp Resort at Deep Creek Lake (man-made - remember no natural lakes in MD) and spending several relaxing days in Ocean City on several different occasions. Going back to Ocean City was made even more attractive recently, when Coke was named the official soft drink of the city, pushing out Pepsi. Maryland also has some good Civil War cred, with the Antietam battlefield not far. Been there too.

Like last week's state, Massachusetts, Maryland is also a reliably "blue" state. Our governor is Martin O'Malley and our two Senators are Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, Democrats all. The House delegation is majority democratic, with only two Republicans - one of which might be flipped in the next election.
Facts
Links
Prominent Marylanders (a little more difficult to find a list to reference. here's one and a second)
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Monday, February 20, 2012

Creme di Mascarpone

Stolen from one of the local chefs here in our little town.

Creme di Mascarpone
Serves 6
  • 3 eggs, separated
  • 3 TB fine white sugar* (fine texture, not classy ohh la la)
  • 1 1/3 cups mascarpone cheese
  • 1 tsp orange zest
  • 2-3 TB rum
  • Garnishes
Beat egg yolks and sugar until pale and fluffy. Fold the mascarpone into the yolks, a little at a time, until fully combined. Stir in the orange zest and rum.

Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold into the yolk mixture. Fold whites into the yolk/cheese mixture. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Garnish with shaved dark chocolate, fresh berries and light, crisp cookies!

*The sugar...my sugar does have a vanilla bean split and stored in it...so the sugar does have some vanilla essence. If you want, feel free to add a drop or two of vanilla extra for further awesome flavor.
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Saturday, February 18, 2012

Random Ramblings

This is a holiday weekend for most, as we will celebrate President's Day on Monday. LBA and SoBA are going to my MIL's house for a few days so Mrs. BA and I are going to go out like people who don't have kids. Tonight is dinner with friends and tomorrow is a movie and maybe dinner again! We are evidently also getting phone upgrades this weekend, which makes Mrs. BA very, very excited.

Later today, I will be attending the memorial service for a resident of our town, who will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Sherry, we are all thinking about you and we are there for you as you go on without Tim by your side.

There is some talk about snow tomorrow. I have given up on getting excited by this possibility, with the mild winter we have had this year. If I want to relive some weather, I can go here, too.

Mrs. BA and I like to play Scrabble - though are games have moved onto Facebook, but we haven't played there in some time. I did note recently there was a move afoot to retool Scrabble, including a typeface makeover. Don't screw with the classics, please?

If the boys were around this weekend, maybe we would go bowling.

More than likely we will spend some time sleeping, watching TV, and doing regular mundane stuff. That's how we roll. Speaking of TV, found this list some time ago. I believe that I can honestly say, I saw every single one of these.

Top Ten TV Show Finales You Should Have Watched Live
  1. M*A*S*H - "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen"
  2. Cheers - "One for the Road" (sorry, we're closed)
  3. Seinfeld - "The Finale"
  4. Friends - "The Last One"
  5. Magnum, P.I. - "Resolutions"
  6. The Cosby Show - "And So We Commence"
  7. All in the Family - "Too Good Edith"
  8. Family Ties - "Alex Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
  9. Home Improvement - "The Long and Winding Road"
  10. Frasier - "Goodnight Seattle"
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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Massachusetts - #6, February 6, 1788

If April Showers bring May Flowers,
What do Mayflowers bring?


Pilgrims
(get it?)

Many years ago, I used to work retail (for Filene's Department Store). Occasionally, I would travel to the "home office" in Boston. It was a fair trip from Poughkeepsie (where I was working) to Boston, but I could do it in a few hours, compliments of the Mass Pike. In addition, most summers growing up, my family would travel to Maine for vacation and for some reason (although the state is more narrow width-wise than length-wise) it would take FOREVER to get through Massachusetts. I have some really vivid memories of stopping at rest areas in Massachusetts to eat sandwiches that my mother had prepared that morning. It was nice to eat with the cars whizzing by with the smell of exhaust permeating your sandwiches.

I have been to Boston several times, the last time was a professional meeting in 2004. It's a great city and I could see myself living there. It's a great walking city (because you really don't want to drive there). But then again, I don't know if I could root for the teams that play there. It's a New York thing, sorry. I will point out that Massachusetts is home to the first lighthouse in the United States, the Boston Light. (and we all know how much Brave Astronaut likes lighthouses).

I've also been to Fall River, home to the Bordens, although I was more interested in seeing the ships. I've also been to the library of the 35th President (I interviewed for a job there many years ago). Kennedy is one of four Presidents to hail from Massachusetts (there's also a fifth who is linked to Massachusetts (although represented another state as President). Of course, the Adams father and son are the first two - can you name the other two? (The fourth one was born in Massachusetts, aligned to another New England state, and elected from another state)?

Massachusetts is, of course the location where the American Revolution got its start, with the Boston Tea Party, the ride of Paul Revere, the battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill and is now the permanent home of Old Ironsides.

The Bay State also has made a significant contribution to education in the United States. The state was the first state to require teachers be appointed and grammar schools to be established following the passage of the Massachusetts Education Law of 1647. Horace Mann also made Massachusetts his home and pushed many 19th Century education reforms from his home, founded Westfield State University, and laid much of the groundwork for contemporary universal public education. Other firsts in the state include:
Massachusetts is one of the most "blue" states in the Union, home to the Democratic family dynasty, the Kennedys. The current governor of Massachusetts is a Democrat, Deval Patrick. The Senators for the state are currently split, with John Kerry on the Democratic side and Scott Brown, a Republican, although that may be rectified later this year. All ten Representatives are Democrats.
Facts
  • State Capital - Boston (NOT Springfield)
  • Date of Admission - February 6, 1788
  • Area - 10,555 sq mi (44th)
  • State Motto - "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem" ("by the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty")
  • State Nickname - the Bay State
  • State bird - chickadee and the wild turkey (or is that the official drink?)
  • State flower - the Mayflower (duh)
  • State dog - you really don't need me to tell you this one, do you?
  • State University - UMass
  • State Archives - Massachusetts Archives
  • Population (2011 est.) - 6,587,536
  • Signers of the Declaration of Independence - John "Sit Down, John" Adams, Samuel Adams, Elbridge Gerry, John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine
Links
Prominent Massachusites / Bay Staters (more here and here)
  • The Adamses (Abigail, John, John Quincy, Samuel, et. al.)
  • Susan B. Anthony
  • Leonard Bernstein
  • New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
  • The Band, Boston (again, duh)
  • John Singleton Copley
  • Emily Dickinson
  • Michael Dukakis
  • Dr. Seuss (aka Theodore Geisel)
  • Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. and Jr. (Jr. was the former Supreme Court Justice)
  • The Kennedys
  • John Krasinski (that's why he does these commercials with Alec Baldwin)
  • Henry Cabot Lodge Sr. and Jr.
  • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
  • Christa McAuliffe (although she's remembered as being from New Hampshire)
  • Samuel F. B. Morse (but his home is in Poughkeepsie, NY)
  • Elizabeth Poole (the first woman to found a town in the Americas)
  • Paul Revere
  • Mitt Romney
  • Eli Whitney
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Monday, February 13, 2012

Valentine's Day

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day (in case you forgot). It is an occasion for me to tell Mrs. BA how much I love her and don't know how I would live without her. (incidentally, for years my father used to get a pass for not always remembering Valentine's Day because [he said] it was not celebrated in France. However, it should be pointed out that he came to America when he was 7, so that lame excuse pretty much didn't work so good)

Now I am not sure what Mrs. BA and I will do tomorrow night. I jokingly referred to White Castle's promotion a few weeks ago, but I don't think that's quite what we have in mind. We did score a nice gift certificate from her sister for watching her kids a few weeks ago, so we could do that.

But as it is a Tuesday night, it might just be brinner as usual. I did however take the Epicurious challenge to design a Valentine's Day meal just for me and Mrs. BA. This is what I got:
Roast Lamb with Lamb Sausage Crust and Fresh Grape Pan Sauce
Bon Appétit | December 2007
Selma Brown Morrow

A savory crust and simple sauce lift this roast into the special-occasion realm.
Yield: Makes 8 servings

Ingredients
Sauce:
  • 2 cups halved seedless red grapes
  • 2 cups tawny Port
  • 2 cups low-salt chicken broth
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
Sausage Crust and Lamb:
  • 1/2 cup halved seedless red grapes
  • 1/4 cup halved pitted Kalamata olives
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 small garlic clove
  • 8 ounces ground lamb
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 2- to 2 1/2-pound well-trimmed racks of lamb (each with 8 bones)
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 cup low-salt chicken broth
  • 4 tablespoons Dijon mustard, divided
  • 2 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs made from crustless French bread
Preparation
For sauce:
Boil all ingredients in large saucepan until reduced to 2 1/3 cups, about 20 minutes. Cool. Puree in blender. DO AHEAD: Can be made 5 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.

For lamb:
Pulse grapes, olives, chopped rosemary, vinegar, and garlic clove in mini processor until olives are chopped. Transfer to bowl. Mix in ground lamb,1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Sprinkle racks of lamb with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 rack, meat side down, and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Set on rimmed baking sheet, meat side up. Repeat with 1 tablespoon oil and remaining rack; reserve skillet. Cool lamb completely.

Add 1/2 cup broth to skillet. Boil until reduced to glaze, scraping up browned bits. Add to sauce. Cover and chill.

Spread each rack with 1 tablespoon mustard. Press half of lamb sausage over top of each rack (layer will be thin). DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

Preheat oven to 425°F. Combine breadcrumbs, 2 tablespoons oil, and 2 tablespoons mustard in medium skillet. Toss over medium heat until beginning to color, about 5 minutes. Press crumbs over sausage on each rack. Cut through crumb crust (not lamb) between bones to score. Roast until thermometer inserted into center registers 135°F, about 30 minutes for medium-rare.

Transfer lamb to platter; let rest 10 minutes. Pour juices from baking sheet into sauce. Simmer in small saucepan until reduced to about 1 1/3 cups, about 9 minutes (sauce will thicken slightly). Season with salt and pepper.

Cut lamb between bones into chops. Set two on each plate. Spoon sauce over.

WHAT TO DRINK:
Martín Códax 2005 "Ergo"Tempranillo (Spain, $14), with lively fruit,full body, and supple texture.
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Thursday, February 9, 2012

Connecticut - #5, January 9, 1788


The first colony of New England to join the United States was Connecticut, in 1788, the fifth state to ratify the US Constitution. Having grown up in New York, on Long Island, I have been to and through the Nutmeg State on many occasions. In high school, I was part of a Model United Nations Club and for two successive years our club traveled to a conference at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

Most summers growing up, my family would travel to Maine for an extended vacation and that would bring us through Connecticut, though not at this particular time. The future Mrs. BA and I took an extended trip through New England, stopping at Mark Twain's home in Hartford, Connecticut.

Some years later, I spent an overnight at a bachelor party at Mohegan Sun casino and a motel hard on the highway in New London, which is not the nicest place when the submarine fleet is out of town.

Connecticut holds a distinction of having a presidential birthplace. George Herbert Walker Bush (who of course made his reputation in Texas) was born in New Haven, Connecticut. His father, Prescott Bush, was a long-time Senator from Connecticut.

The current governor of Connecticut is a Democrat, Dan Malloy. The Senators for the state are one Democrat, Richard Blumenthal, and one . . . not, Joseph Lieberman. The five Representatives are all Democrats.
Facts
Links
Prominent Connecticuters (really?) - here are two for this state - here and here - many New Yorkers tend to say they are from Connecticut. I disagree)
  • Dean Acheson
  • P.T. Barnum
  • Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe
  • John Brown (although I would certainly identify him with other states - he was born
  • Bette Davis
  • Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan
  • Charles Goodyear
  • Ella Grasso (the first woman elected to a governorship)
  • Katharine Hepburn
  • Annie Liebovitz
  • Frederick Law Olmstead (although he certainly made his mark elsewhere)
  • Benjamin Spock (no not that Spock)
  • Noah Webster
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Monday, February 6, 2012

Garlic Knots

This one's for my friend Gary, who turned me on to garlic knots years ago when we got some at Village Heroes. When we travel to NY and get ourselves some good NY pizza, we will often fill out our order with some doughy balls of love. Now, here's a recipe that you can make at home.

Garlic Knots
from Simply Recipes

It is perfectly OK to use store-bought pizza dough here. One 14-ounce package of pizza dough will approximate this recipe.

Ingredients
Dough:
  • 3/4 cup warm water (105°F-115°F)
  • 1 package (2 teaspoons) of active dry yeast (check the expiration date on the package)
  • 1 3/4 cups bread flour (can use all-purpose but bread flour will give you a crisper crust)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
Garlic-Butter Coating:
  • 5 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup parsley, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
Method
  1. Sprinkle the yeast on top of the warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes. Stir to combine and let sit for another 5-10 minutes, until it begins to froth a bit.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the olive oil, then the yeast-water mixture. Mix this together to form a soft dough and knead for 5-10 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball and lightly coat with olive oil. Put it in a large bowl, top the bowl with plastic wrap and set it at room temperature to rise.
  3. When the dough has doubled in size, anywhere from 90 minutes to several hours, cut it in half. Set out a large baking sheet and line it with a silpat or parchment paper. Take one half of the dough and cut it in half. Working with one piece at a time, flatten into a rough rectangle about 5 inches long 1/2 inch thick.
  4. Using a sharp knife, slice the dough into strips of about 1 inch wide by 5 inches long. Cut these strips in half. Take one piece and work it into a snake, then tie it in a knot. The dough will be sticky along the cut edges, so dust these with flour before you tie the knot. Set each knot down on the baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dough. Remember that the dough will rise, so leave some space between each knot.
  5. Once all the knots are tied, paint them with a little olive oil. Loosely cover them with plastic wrap and let them rise again until doubled in size, anywhere from 90 minutes to three hours or so. Toward the end of this rising period, preheat the oven to 400°.
  6. Uncover the knots and bake in the oven 12-15 minutes, or until nicely browned on top.
  7. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small pot and cook the garlic gently in it just long enough to take off that raw garlic edge, about 1-2 minutes over medium-low heat. Add the salt and parsley and stir to combine. Turn off the heat.
  8. When the knots are done, take out of the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Paint with the garlic-butter-parsley mixture and serve. These are best warm, but are good at room temperature, too.
Yield: Makes about 20 knots.
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Saturday, February 4, 2012

What'll You Have?

Tonight this Brave Astronaut is serving as a volunteer bartender at LBA's school fundraiser, Casino Night. Tonight's theme is the 70s and I am preparing and serving a 1970s cocktail along with a variety of mixed drinks, beer, and wine. I must extend thanks to Restaurant Gal, who offered me several suggestions on what drink to serve. If you're not reading her blog, you should be.

I have done this for the past two years and am looking forward to this year's event! A good time should be had by all. Perhaps some of my patrons will understand some of the words from this list (see some of my favorites below) toward the end of the evening. If I'm feeling particularly frisky I might even try this trick.

Ben Franklin's Synonyms for Being Drunk
According to Mr. Franklin - "The Phrases in this Dictionary are not (like most of our Terms of Art) borrow’d from Foreign Languages, neither are they collected from the Writings of the Learned in our own, but gather’d wholly from the modern Tavern-Conversation of Tiplers. I do not doubt but that there are many more in use; and I was even tempted to add a new one my self under the Letter B, to wit, Brutify’d: But upon Consideration, I fear’d being guilty of Injustice to the Brute Creation, if I represented Drunkenness as a beastly Vice, since, ’tis well-known, that the Brutes are in general a very sober sort of People."
  • Been at Barbadoes
  • His Head is full of Bees (this is particularly fitting as LBA's school mascot are the Bees)
  • He’s had a Thump over the Head with Sampson’s Jawbone (LBA goes to a Catholic School)
  • Cherry Merry (according to Restaurant Gal - always garnish)
  • He’s been too free with the Creature
  • Fuddled
  • His Flag is out
  • Seen a Flock of Moons
  • As good conditioned as a Puppy
  • As Drunk as David’s Sow
  • The Malt is above the Water
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Thursday, February 2, 2012

Georgia - #4, January 2, 1788

Link
This week's entry is for the Peach State, the birthplace of good friend to the Brave Astronaut clan, OSG. Georgia is the first of the southern colonies to join the United States after the adoption of the Constitution. At the beginning of the United States Civil War, it seceded from the Union on January 21, 1861 and was one of the original seven states of the Confederacy. It was also the last state to be restored to the Union, on July 15, 1870. Georgia adopted its first Constitution in 1777 and has adopted new ones nine times since then. It is second only to Louisiana in number of Constitutions, which has had eleven.

I have been to Georgia a few times, specifically to Savannah (with OSG) to enjoy the many sights and culinary joys that exist in the city. There is one place in Georgia that I would like to travel - it's the Cathedral of golf, "A Tradition Like no Other." I speak of course of the Masters, the first major of the golf season, which always takes place in the first weekend in April.

One of my sisters is a HUGE fan of Gone with the Wind, which of course has a dramatic scene in Atlanta - home of Margaret Mitchell. Some day I would like to visit Atlanta, but I'm not entirely sure why. Atlanta is also home to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, currently the busiest passenger airport in the world.

Georgia is also the home of the 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, also a former governor of the state and a peanut farmer. The current governor of Georgia is, Nathan Deal, a Republican. Both of the Senators for the state are also Republicans, Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson. The House delegation is currently split 8-5, in favor of the Republicans.
Facts
Links
Prominent Georgians (here are the hot button lists for this state - here and here. Discuss)
  • Ralph Abernathy (although born in Alabama)
  • The B-52s
  • Kim Basinger
  • Herman Cain
  • Ray Charles
  • Ty Cobb
  • Laurence Fishburne
  • Newt Gingrich
  • Amy Grant
  • Boxers Larry Holmes and Evander Holyfield
  • Stacey Keach
  • DeForest Kelley
  • Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Juliette Gordon Low
  • Margaret Mitchell
  • Flannery O'Connor
  • James Oglethorpe (the founder of Georgia)
  • Burt Reynolds
  • The Roberts siblings, Julia and Eric
  • Supreme Court Justice (and court mute) Clarence Thomas
  • Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Fred Vinson
  • Alice Walker
  • Trisha Yearwood
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