February - You Are Out of Here!

The month of February has been a rough one around the launchpad.  We lost our good friend and neighbor at the outset of the shortest month, followed by a succession of unfortunate events over the course of the month, including several winter storms - and then the anniversary of my mother's passing on Tuesday.  I will not be sad to see this month end today.

We are planning a relatively normal Pizza / Movie night at the launchpad - though there was some discussion that we should watch Ghostbusters tonight to honor Egon Spengler / Harold Ramis, who we also lost in this cold, bleak February.

Most evenings, after LBA and SoBA are in bed, Mrs. BA and I will settle down for some TV to unwind.  We are often doing other work and the TV is often on in the background - but occasionally we watch something off the DVR or, gasp, on live TV.

A while ago - kottke posted a list from the Writer's Guild of America of the 101 best written TV shows.  Thoughts?  Comment away.  My comments appear for the first 50 shows.

1. The Sopranos - I was a late comer to this show, Mrs. BA converted me.
2. Seinfeld - not that there's anything wrong with that.  One of those shows that is sometimes on in the background if Mrs. BA and I can't find anything else to watch
3. The Twilight Zone (1959) - a little early for me, but Rod Serling is always, the Man.
4. All in the Family - it definitely started to wane toward the end - but Archie Bunker was the bomb. 5. M*A*S*H - one of those shows that I would go and find if it was on somewhere.
6. The Mary Tyler Moore Show - OH, MR. GRANT!
7. Mad Men - one of the best shows still on TV
8. Cheers - even with Kirstie Alley, I still watched.
9. The Wire - this is one I didn't watch.
10. The West Wing - Jed Bartlet is still my President.
11. The Simpsons - again, a good show, but I never got on board.
12. I Love Lucy - the definition of ground breaking.
13. Breaking Bad - I watched the first couple of episodes from the first season and even then, it was a little dark for me.
14. The Dick Van Dyke Show - a show about writers in the Top 20!
15. Hill Street Blues - HEY! Let's be careful out there.
16. Arrested Development - this show was never on my radar.  I don't think I could ever get past Jason Batemen from his Silver Spoons days.
17. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - my MIL swears by this show.  It's funny, but it's not for me.
18. Six Feet Under - watched every episode from every season.  I often quote Nate, "I hate the living."
19. Taxi - the extremely capable and underutilized Judd Hirsch.
20. The Larry Sanders Show - don't think I ever saw one episode
21. 30 Rock - One of Mrs. BA's favorites
22. Friday Night Lights - not for me
23. Frasier - another one of those shows that Mrs. BA and I will watch in reruns if it's on.
24. Friends - see #23
25. Saturday Night Live - I recently came to the conclusion that I am too old for SNL now.
26. The X-Files - never got hooked on Mulder and Scully
27. Lost - this show was of course, out there, but it was great, if confusing.
28. ER - another one that I stayed with until the end, and that was hard.
29. The Cosby Show - Bill Cosby, showing that clean comedy is great comedy.
30. Curb Your Enthusiasm - not a Larry David fan.
31. The Honeymooners - Jackie Gleason made this show what it was.
32. Deadwood - this show could only have been successful on pay cable.
33. Star Trek - despite it's limited run - the first was the best.
34. Modern Family - have not watched this one either.
35. Twin Peaks - see Lost.
36. NYPD Blue - after Hill Street Blues, all the rest were just posers
37. The Carol Burnett Show - I still can't watch some of these sketches without losing it.
38. Battlestar Galactica (2005) - I preferred the first one
39. Sex & the City - was never a big fan
40. Game of Thrones - I only went online and watched the Red Mass Massacre because I had to know what everyone was talking about.
41. The Bob Newhart Show - I agree, this Bob Newhart was better than the Vermont inn reboot.
TIE Your Show of Shows
43. Downton Abbey - have not gotten hooked on this new one.
TIE Law & Order
TIE thirtysomething - I watched most of these, I used to know someone who had a thing for Ken Olin.
46. Homicide: Life on the Street - like the Wire, never got into this - maybe it's a Baltimore thing.
TIE St. Elsewhere - Before ER, there was St. Elsewhere
48. Homeland - I may have a thing for Claire Danes.
49. Buffy the Vampire Slayer - was not a buffy person
50. The Colbert Report - no.
TIE The Good Wife
TIE The Office (UK) - didn't watch the American one either
53. Northern Exposure
54. The Wonder Years
55. L.A. Law
56. Sesame Street
57. Columbo
58. Fawlty Towers
TIE The Rockford Files
60. Freaks and Geeks
TIE Moonlighting
62. Roots
63. Everybody Loves Raymond
TIE South Park
65. Playhouse 90
66. Dexter
TIE The Office (US)
68. My So-Called Life
69. The Golden Girls
70. The Andy Griffith Show
71. 24
TIE Roseanne
TIE The Shield
74. House
TIE Murphy Brown
76. Barney Miller
TIE I, Claudius
78. The Odd Couple
79. Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TIE Monty Python’s Flying Circus
TIE Star Trek: The Next Generation
TIE Upstairs, Downstairs
83. Get Smart
84. The Defenders
TIE Gunsmoke
86. Justified
TIE Sgt. Bilko (The Phil Silvers Show)
88. Band of Brothers
89. Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In
90. The Prisoner
91. Absolutely Fabulous (UK)
TIE The Muppet Show
93. Boardwalk Empire
94. Will & Grace
95. Family Ties
96. Lonesome Dove
TIE Soap
98. The Fugitive
TIE Late Night with David Letterman
TIE Louie
101. Oz

All About Soup

This week is supposed to turn cold again, with more snow forecast, too.  I am getting a little tired of winter - though my siblings and I all think that my mother must be mad at us for something.  My mother loved snow and has unloaded on all of us this winter.  Tomorrow is the eight anniversary of her passing and I still miss her every day.

My mother was not a big soup maker - she leaned toward the canned variety.  Mrs. BA has ventured down the soup road recently, making a killer batch of Baked Potato Soup not too long ago (the last time it snowed and we had a snow day).  "Potato Soup" is on the list below but Mrs. BA is #1 on my list.  BuzzFeed had this list on the "Definitive Ranking of Soup" and I have posted a recipe for my favorite on the list - New England Clam Chowder.

The Definitive Ranking Of Soups
Not all soup is created equal.

24. Lentil Soup - There is some weird underlying sadness in lentil soup.
23. Egg Drop Soup - Sorry, but those egg shreds will just always be a little unsettling.
22. Split Pea Soup - Split pea texture is what I imagine eating chalk would be like, if the chalk was pea-flavored. Plus it’s hard to eat without thinking about The Exorcist.
21. Manhattan Clam Chowder - You think hot tomato clams make you so metropolitan, don’t you? Sorry, but you’ll never be as cool as New England clam chowder.
20. Chicken Noodle Soup - This soup is great in theory, but it’s almost never executed well. Soggy noodles and sad chicken bits, crying together in a bowl.
19. Broccoli Cheddar Soup - When done well, this soup can be amazing. When done poorly, it’s an ungodly mouth punishment.
18. Gumbo - Gumbo gets points for spiciness, but there’s a lot going on. It can be a little intimidating.
17. Bean Soup - Mad love for dem beans (white beans, black beans, navy beans, love them all), but it must be said: Soups just don’t let ‘em shine.
16. Minestrone - Minestrone is the go-to vegetarian soup, but it can go bad so easily. Urgh, so many overcooked vegetables.
15. Miso Soup - Miso serves its purpose (getting your body ready for the inappropriate amount of sushi you’re about to digest) but — real talk — it’s pretty bland and lame in the grand scheme of soups.
14. Chili - Chili is like a thick, spicy bowl of the American dream. And the American dream will make you feel kind of pukey if you eat too much.
13. Matzo Ball Soup - Sure, sometimes the matzo balls are so dense you feel like you ate a softball and are scared of what’s gonna come out the other end. But when a matzo ball soup is done correctly, it’ll warm your entire soul.
12. Wonton Soup - Never choose between dumplings and soup again.
11. Mushroom Soup - Something magic happens to mushrooms when you blend them up, especially if you use rosemary.
10. Potato Soup - This is perfect if you’ve ever wanted to drink a potato. Potatoes (and sweet potatoes, as shown above) are delicious in all forms, even liquid.
9. New England Clam Chowder - Hot clams in cream seem like a bad idea. WRONG. They’re a great idea.
8. Tomato Soup - Full disclosure: If all tomato soup was actually tomato-cheddar, it would be at the top of the list. But since it isn’t, tomato remains in the upper middle of the pack. Sometimes it is EXACTLY what you need and sometimes it’s just tomato water.
7. Seafood Bisque - Like eating your own personal creamy ocean.
6. Gazpacho - When it’s hot out there is literally nothing better than gazpacho. It has all the flavors of summer in one convenient bowl. It’s like sunshine was put into a soup.
5. Chicken and Dumpling Soup - This is just an excuse to eat dumplings with the added recreation of chasing after them as they swim around.
4. Pho - Not sure what’s better — the subtle flavors or arguing with people about how to pronounce it. Either way, it will fill your soul with happiness.
3. Tortilla Soup - So many yummy flavors! It’s like a fiesta in your mouth.
2. Ramen - There’s a noodle party and you’re invited.
1. Butternut Squash Soup - This soup is the squash at its best. Creamy and yummy, it’s like drinking velvet.

New England Clam Chowder
from Epicurious
by The Culinary Institute of America Gourmet Meals in Minutes

Yield: Makes 2 quarts
Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 pound canned clams, minced, juices reserved 
• 2-3 cups bottled clam juice 
• 2 bacon slices, minced 
• 1 onion, diced 
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
• 1 bay leaf 
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves, chopped 
• 1 pound potatoes, peeled, diced 
• 3 cups heavy cream or half and half 
• 6 tablespoons dry sherry, or to taste 
• Salt, to taste 
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste 
• Tabasco sauce, to taste 
• Worcestershire sauce, to taste 
• Oyster or saltine crackers, as needed 

Preparation
Drain the clam juice from the minced clams and combine with enough bottled juice to equal 3 cups of liquid.

Cook the bacon slowly in a soup pot over medium heat until lightly crisp, about 8 minutes.

Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the flour and cook over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 2-3 minutes.

Whisk in the clam juice, bring to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The liquid should be the consistency of heavy cream. If it is too thick, add more clam juice to adjust the consistency. Add the bay leaf and fresh thyme.

Add the potatoes and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, place the clams and cream in saucepan and simmer together until the clams are cooked, about 5-8 minutes.

When the potatoes are tender, add the clams and cream to the soup base. Simmer for 1-2 minutes.

Stir in the sherry. Season to taste with salt, pepper, Tabasco, and Worcestershire sauce. Serve in bowls with the crackers on the side.

Lego(s) Are Awesome!

Because, according to the movie, Everything Is Awesome!  The Brave Astronaut clan went to the movies last weekend to take in the Lego Movie. It was very, very funny.

If you are looking for something to do - there is a new Chrome plugin that allows you to build Legos in your browser (from BuzzFeed) - and evidently, this summer, you will be able to get your very own set of Ghostbusters Lego set(s).

So do you know everything you need to know about Lego (including that the plural of Lego is Lego) (from BuzzFeed - which incidentally I think the BuzzFeed folks really, really like Lego)?

1. “LEGO” comes from the Danish phrase leg godt, which means “play well”
2.  The company got its start when Ole Kirk Christiansen, a carpenter, lost his business and began making toys out of his surplus lumber. The business took off and eventually evolved into the giant Lego empire.
3. Originally called “Automatic Binding Bricks,” LEGO wasn’t the first to market the toy. Kiddicraft holds that distinction, and LEGO just improved on the design.
4. In 2002, LEGO sued the Chinese makers of “Coko bricks,” a building block closely resembling LEGO bricks. Coko had to cease production and issue a formal apology.
5. Early LEGO figurines had no facial features, gender, arms, or moveable legs.
6. 560 billion LEGO parts had been produced as of 2013. That’s 80 LEGO pieces for every human being on the planet.
7. LEGO is the world’s largest producer of rubber wheels—more than Bridgestone, more than Goodyear, more than anyone. They produce more than 306 million tiny rubber tires a year.
8. The world’s tallest LEGO tower was 94 feet high a utilized 465,000 bricks.
9. In 2009 a life size house was built using 3.3 million LEGO bricks. 1,000 volunteers helped to assemble it.
10. There have been fifty LEGO video games.
11. The factory process is so streamlined that only 18 out of every million LEGO pieces fail to meet company standard.
12. Every second, seven LEGO sets are sold. In the time it takes to read this sentence, dozens of sets are sold worldwide.
13. There 915 million different ways to combine just six individual LEGO bricks. According to National Geographic’s special MegaFactories: LEGO, the possibilities are nearly endless.
14. The largest commercial LEGO set is that of the Taj Mahal, with 5,922 individual pieces.
15. There are no LEGO sets with a direct military theme. Ole Kirk Christiansen didn’t want to make war seem appealing to children.
16. As part of the 2011 “LEGO Bricks in Space” program, astronauts brought 13 Lego kits to the International Space Station to see how they react in microgravity.
17. Speaking of space, there are enough LEGO bricks to stack from the earth to the moon…ten times.
18. Legoland, LEGO’s theme park chain, has a whopping seven locations worldwide. Billund, California, Florida, Malaysia, Windsor, Günzburg, and the Discovery Center in Manchester.
19. LEGO is more than just a toy, it’s an art form. Nathan Sawaya is the world’s foremost LEGO artist and he’s shown in museums around the nation.
20. In 2000, The British Association of Toy Retailers named LEGO the “Toy of the Century”, over the teddy bear and Barbie doll.

The Cubano

Today was President's Day and another successful federally mandated playdate for LBA and SoBA and our friends.  Mrs. BA made a very tasty meal of pulled beef sandwiches and chicken wings.  Here's a recipe for a Cuban sandwich.  I have had a few Cubans before and there is nothing quite like a really good one.  Perhaps the launchpad needs a panini press.

The Cubano
from Epicurious
by Jose Garces The Latin Road Home

Ingredients
Roast Pork

• 2 Tbsp kosher salt + 1 Tbsp 
• 2 Tbsp granulated sugar 
• 1 Tbsp ground mustard 
• 2 lb boneless pork shoulder, tied in an even roll 
• 1/2 cup Dijon mustard 
• 1 tsp ground mace 
• 2 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper 
• 1 Tbsp Spanish smoked sweet paprika 

Sandwich

• 4 (6-inch) light crisp-crusted bakery rolls 
• 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard 
• 3/4 lb best-quality domestic ham (unglazed), thinly sliced 
• 1/4 lb Swiss or Gruyère cheese, thinly sliced 
• 1 large dill pickle, thinly sliced lengthwise 
• 2 Tbsp unsalted butter 

Preparation
To cure the pork, combine 2 tablespoons of the salt with the sugar and ground mustard. Rub the mixture all over the meat, cover, and set it in the refrigerator to cure for 6 hours.

Place a rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 325°F.

To roast the pork, rinse it under cold running water to remove the seasoning. Pat dry with paper towels. Combine the Dijon mustard, mace, black pepper, paprika, and the remaining 1 tablespoon salt. Rub the mixture all over the meat. Set the pork in a roasting pan, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and cook until the internal temperature reaches 175°F, about 45 minutes. Allow the meat to cool completely before slicing.

To make the sandwiches, heat a sandwich press or griddle to medium-high. Split the bread lengthwise and pull it open. Spread the mustard on 1 side of each roll and layer on the roast pork, ham, cheese, and pickles. Spread the butter all over the outside of the sandwiches and griddle until the cheese is melted and the meats are warmed through, 3 to 4 minutes. (Alternatively, wrap the sandwich in foil and toast in a 350°F oven for 5 to 7 minutes.) Slice each in half on the diagonal and serve.

Farewell to a Friend

"Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret?  There are better things ahead that any we leave behind."

- C.S. Lewis

This has been a very difficult week at the Launchpad.  Just one week ago (though it seems much longer), the Brave Astronaut clan, the Cheverly community, and I'm also convinced in a way, everyone, were stunned by the premature loss of my friend and next door neighbor, and founding member of the "collective."

Our friend Riley left us entirely too soon.  He had faced an inordinate number of health challenges over the past year (and through his entire life), but these past several years were the happiest - with his wife and two children.  As has been noted here before, their two children are very close to LBA and SoBA and the eight of us did a lot together.  Riley and I had often talked of removing the fence between our yards because the kids were always climbing over it instead of going around through the gate.

Then again, had we done that, neither Riley nor I would have had something to lean on during our many conversations about politics, our town, our families - there was no subject that Riley wouldn't talk about.  Riley was my "spotter" and support structure for working in and around the house, if I didn't quite know how to finish something - I'd go find him, because he would know.  We never got to build our communal shed - but I'm going to work on that this summer, and I know that he will be around to help me.

Last Monday, I noted on Twitter that I was having "one of those days that you don't like to have. But if you have to have it, have it in Cheverly."  I am so touched by the support of this community for Riley's family at this time and am honored to be a part of this great place.

When we sent Riley home on Saturday, his family was supported by hundreds of friends and we heard stories of comfort, humor, and dignity - all integral parts of Riley's character.  Riley spent most of his life working in politics and I woke up on Saturday morning with Ted Kennedy's eulogy for his brother, Bobby, stuck in my head.

"My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it. 
Those of us who loved him and who take him to his rest today, pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will some day come to pass for all the world. 
As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him:"

"Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not."

Farewell my friend.  You will be greatly missed and I know that you will always be with us.

Zucchini Parmesan Crisps

Vegetables are liked well enough here at the launchpad.  It's possible these might even appeal to Mrs. BA.  I will say that the Pioneer Woman's Onion Straws are a new staple for launchpad meals - and this recipe also calls for mandoline work, which I am still recovering from the last go-round with that kitchen tool.

Zucchini Parmesan Crisps
from the Smitten Kitchen
adapted from Ellie Krieger

This doesn’t too closely follow the original recipe because I found I needed thinner chips, more crumbs, more parmesan and sometimes less baking time than recommended. I also found that I could only reliably get “crisp” effect, one that lasted for a while, when I used an egg white instead of an olive oil wash. Please don’t take any of the measurements in this recipe as the law; cooking times and required coating will vary by thickness and baking pan heaviness. You’ll want to keep an eye on them and look for a good golden color before removing from the oven, which will ensure that they get and remain crisp. They’re also best on the first day, so you’re going to have to eat them all. I promise, you won’t mind. 

Ingredients

• Olive oil or cooking spray
• 2 medium zucchini (about 1 pound total) 
• 1 to 2 egg whites 
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese 
• 1/2 cup plain, dry breadcrumbs, such as panko 
• A couple pinches sea salt 
• Freshly ground black pepper 

Preparation
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Coat two baking sheets lightly with cooking spray or thinly with olive oil. Slice zucchini into slightly-less-than 1/4-inch thick rounds; if they feel especially wet, spread them on a towel while you prepare the other ingredients. In a small bowl, lightly beat first egg white with 1 teaspoon water to loosen it. Combine cheese, crumbs, salt and pepper in a separate bowl. Dip each zucchini coin in egg white, letting excess run off before gently dipping them in parmesan mixture. Arrange in single layer on baking sheets. If additional egg white is needed, prepare it the same way, with 1 teaspoon of water. If additional crumb mixture is needed, make a few spoonfuls at a time, matching the volume of crumbs and cheese.

Bake zucchini rounds until browned and crisp, about 25 to 30 minutes, flipping each over halfway through. Please keep an eye on them; they may need to be moved around on the tray so the ones at the edges don’t bake more quickly than the ones in the center. Take them out only when they’re golden all over and let them cool on the tray on a cooling rack or a plate.

Keep at room temperature until needed. Crisps are best on the first day.

Shuffle Up and Deal!

Tomorrow night the Brave Astronaut will be tending bar at LBA and SoBA's school fundraiser, Casino Night!  This is the fourth year I have been making drinks for parents, and this year the event has a Mardi Gras theme and one of the drinks that will be served up will be lots of Hurricanes.

So based on where you live, what should you be drinking (from BuzzFeed - where you can get all the recipes for the drinks below as well)?

1. Alabama - The Alabama Slammer (Amaretto, Southern Comfort, Sloe Gin, and orange juice) Why?: Legend has it that the drink originated in the state in the 1970s and is known as the signature drink of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.
2. Alaska - The Smoked Salmon Bloody Mary (Smoked Salmon Vodka, V-8 Juice, tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper) Why?: Alaska Distillery has recently produced a vodka made with a secret recipe of smoked salmon caught in the Gulf of Alaska.
3. Arizona - The High and Dry (Mandarin Vodka, Triple Sec) Why?: During the prohibition era, Phoenix featured a “secret bar” behind a bookshelf in the Arizona Biltmore, where “every self-respecting gentleman” had access to a decent highball.
4. Arkansas - The Arkansas Razorback (Rum, vodka, amaretto almond liqueur, Kahlua coffee liqueur) Why?: This popular cocktail shares its name with the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. You can even buy cocktail glasses embellished with the Razorback mascot! 
5. California - The Mai Tai (Light rum, dark rum, lime juice, orange curacao, orgeat syrup) Why?: This fruity beverage is said to have been created by Victor “Trader Vic” Buergon at his Polynesian-style restaurant in Oakland, Calif.
6. Colorado - The Snowball (Vodka, Fresca, and lime juice) Why?: The interesting combo of vodka and lemonade is also popular in the U.K., but this combo of Colorado Premium Vodka and Fresca makes this drink uniquely Coloradan.
7. Connecticut - The Limonata (Vodka, sparkling lemonade, blood-orange juice) Why?: Available exclusively at Ballo at the Mohegan Sun in Monteville, Conn., this drink features a sphere of frozen blood orange that adds sweet flavor to the cocktail as it melts.
8. Delaware - Blueberry Vodka Tonic (Vodka, blueberries, and lots of time) Why?: Unlike typical vodka tonics, Delaware’s blueberry version features a vodka infused with fresh blueberries for over a month.
9. Florida - The Rum Runner (Captain Morgan, blackberry liqueur, creme de bananes, and orange juice) Why?: Rum Runners are said to have been invented in the 1950s at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in Islamorada, Fla.
10. Georgia - The Scarlet O’Hara (Southern Comfort, cranberry juice, and a lime wheel) Why?: There are several varieties to “The Scarlet O’Hara”, but in Georgia, they typically feature Southern Comfort.
11. Hawaii - The Blue Hawaiian (Light rum, vodka, Blue Curacao, pineapple juice, and sweet & sour mix) Why?: This tropical cocktail was invented by Harry Yee, a legendary bartender at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki.
12. Idaho - Spring Whiskey Sling (Blended whiskey, lemon juice, sugar, and water) Why?: The Red Feather Lounge in Idaho features a famed Spring Whiskey Sling that was featured in the “Best of List” in The New York Times.
13. Illinois - The Chicago Fizz (Dark rum, ruby port, lemon juice, sugar, club soda, and egg whites) Why?: While New Orleans is credited with the origination of the fizz, the Chicago variation’s claim to fame was its popularity at the Waldorf-Astoria bar in New York during the pre-prohibition era.
14. Indiana - The Refined Janet Guthrie (Sweet Tea Vodka, Refined Mixers margarita mix) Why?: In honor of the Indy 500, this beverage was created to commemorate the first woman that qualified and drove in the race.
15. Iowa - The Iowa Sunrise (Bacardi white rum, vodka, lemonade, sprite, orange juice, and grenadine) Why?: While similar to many cocktails in composition, the Iowa version is said to represent the beautiful sunrise over Iowa in winter mornings.
16. Kansas - The Pendergast (Buffalo Trace Bourbon, sweet vermouth, Benedictine, and Angostura bitters) Why?: This cocktail is named for Thomas Pendergast, a Kansas City politician famed for his populist touch and connections with the Mafia during the Prohibition. 
17. Kentucky - The Mint Julep (Bourbon, sugar, and water) Why?: The origins of the drink are murky, but the mint julep was introduced by US Senator Henry Clay during the 18th century.
18. Louisiana - The Sazerac (Rye whiskey, Peychaud’s bitters, sugar, and absinthe) Why?: In June 2008, the Louisiana Legislature proclaimed the Sazerac as New Orleans’ official cocktail.
19. Maine - Dust to Dust (Cold River Vodka, Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, Aperol, and ginger syrup) Why?: The bar Grace, located in Portland, Maine, is famous for this unique ginger cocktail.
20. Maryland - The Black-Eyed Susan (42 Below Vodka, Early Times Kentucky Whiskey, sweet & sour mix, and orange juice) Why?: The cocktail, named after Maryland’s state flower, is the official drink of the Preakness Stakes. 
21. Massachusetts - The Cape Codder (Vodka and cranberry juice) Why?: The drink was conceived by the Ocean Spray cranberry growers under the name “Red Devil,” which was later changed to “The Cape Codder” in the 1960s.
22. Michigan - The Golden Cadillac (Creme de cacao (white), Vodka, Galliano, blueberries, water, sugar, and lemon juice) Why?: While the cocktail was created in California, it’s famed name (Cadillac, of the Motor City origin) and taste has made it a popular beverage in many bars in Michigan.
23. Minnesota - The Bootleg (Bootleg mix, gin, vodka/light rum, and club soda) Why?: Bootleg cocktails are made specifically from Bootleg Mix, which can only be purchased from the Woodhill Country Club in Wayzata, Minn.
24. Mississippi - Mississippi Punch (Dark rum, bourbon, brandy/cognac, fresh lemon juice, and sugar) Why?: This cocktail recipe was first printed in Jerry Thomas’ The Bon Vivant’s Companion, attributing its location in Mississippi.
25. Missouri - The Missouri Mule (Bourbon, Applejack, lemon juice, Campari, and Cointreau) Why?: The cocktail was created for President Harry S. Truman, with its name representing his home state of Missouri and the donkey mascot of the Democratic Party.
26. Montana - The Montana Tornado (Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey, gin, tequila, and 7 Up) Why?: Unlike other tornadoes, the Montana Tornado features 7 Up instead of the commonly used Coca-Cola. The drink is also served in a mason jar instead of the typical cocktail glass.
27. Nebraska - The Kool-Aid Caddy (Orange vodka and Kool-Aid) Why?: Kool-Aid was invented in Hastings, Neb, by Edwin Perkins. Naturally, the state boasts a beverage in his honor.
28. Nevada - The Nevada Cocktail (Light rum, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and sugar) Why?: In honor of Nevada Day, which falls on the last Friday of October, many drink this cocktail to celebrate.
29. New Hampshire - The Gin-Esaisquoi (Lillet blanc, Velvet Falermum, egg whites, and orange bitters) Why?: This drink was originated at the White Mountain Cider Company in Glen, NH by bartender Jeff Grdinich for his friend Kevin Ginestet, who, ironically, is allergic to eggs and does not drink alcohol.
30. New Jersey - The Applejack (Applejack brandy, lemon juice, and grenadine) Why?: During the colonial period in New Jersey, the Applejack was used as currency to pay road construction crews. New Jersey also boasts the oldest licensed distillery, Laird & Company, which continues to produce applejack.
31. New Mexico - La Paloma (Tequila and grapefruit soda) Why?: This cocktail was first recognized in Evan Harrison’s Popular Cocktails of the Rio Grande. Known as “The Dove” in Spanish, it’s origins are claimed to be somewhere along the Rio Grande. 
32. New York - The Moscow Mule (Vodka, lime juice, ginger beer) Why?: The cocktail is said to have been invented in 1941 by John G. Martin of G.F. Heublein Brothers, Inc., an East Coast spirit producer and Jack Morgan, President of Cock ‘n’ Bull Products.
33. North Carolina - Dirty Beetz (Vodka, beet juice, lime juice, and orange juice) Why?: The Fiction Kitchen, a local Raleigh haunt, features this cocktail. Created by Christopher Tamplin, the use of beets creates a vibrantly colored cocktail when garnished with a lime and orange peel.
34. North Dakota - The Howlin’ Wolf (White Creme de Menthe, blue curacao, vodka, and Sprite) Why?: It’s no surprise that this drink is named after North Dakota’s state animal, the coyote (AKA prairie wolf).
35. Ohio - The Black Gold (Captain Morgans, Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila, Sierra Mist, and Grenadine) Why?: The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes have specialty cocktails, naturally the folks in Thistledown wanted to create a drink to represent the Ohio Derby. The Black Gold is named after the only horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Ohio Derby.
36. Oklahoma - The Farmer’s Daughter (Vodka, fresh strawberries, basil leaves, and simple sugar) Why?: Lobby Bar, located in Oklahoma City, specializes in maintaining the tried-and-true nature of cocktails while adding an individual twist, crafting each individually with added, natural ingredients. Each of their Farmer’s Daughter cocktails is made with fresh fruit. 
37. Oregon - Flaming Ring of Fire (High proof rum, whiskey, and tabasco sauce) Why?: Named after Oregon’s location in “the Pacific Ring of Fire”, this shot turns up the heat with added Tabasco sauce.
38. Pennsylvania - The Bronx (Gin, Sweet red vermouth, dry vermouth, and orange juice) Why?: Strangely, this cocktail was created by Joseph S. Sormani in Philadelphia, a retired Bronx restaurateur. 
39. Rhode Island - Rhode Island Red (Partida Blanco tequila, chambord, lemon juice, agave nectar, orange bitters, and ginger beer) Why?: While hailing from California, this drink was created to salute the 350th anniversary of Rhode Island’s reception of a Colonial Charter. 
40. South Carolina - The Hemingway Mojito (Bacardi, sunset-red Italian Campari, muddled mint & grapefruit, soda water, and grapefruit juice) Why?: Amen Street’s, located in Charleston, mixologists created a cocktail to match the colorful like of Ernest Hemingway. The drink boasts beautiful colors to reflect Hemingway’s love for Key West’s sunsets.
41. South Dakota - The President (Light rum, grenadine, and orange juice) Why?: Over 2 million people visit South Dakota annually to visit this befitting cocktail’s dedication, the Presidents of Mount Rushmore.
42. Tennessee - Lynchburg Lemonade (Jack Daniel’s whiskey, Triple sec, sweet & sour, and Sprite) Why?: This famous cocktail got its name from the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Alabama restaurateur Tony Mason brought JD to court, alleging that the distillery stole his recipe, but a judge declined his request for $13 million in damages.
43. Texas - The Mexican Martini (Tequila, Cointreau orange liqueur, sweet & sour mix, lime juice, orange juice, and Sprite) Why?: This cocktail variation of a margarita is served straight up in a cocktail glass and can be served extra spicy. This drink was created and continues to be incredibly popular in Austin, TX.
44. Utah - The Mountain Derby (Woodford Reserve, grapefruit juice, honey, and lemon juice) Why?: This interesting cocktail was created by Dave Wallace and beat out other cocktails in a competition held in Park City, UT. As a result, his concoction is now featured on drink menus at bars and restaurants all over the city for six months.
45. Vermont - The Old Vermont (Gin, maple syrup, lemon juice, orange juice, and bitters) Why?: For a true version of an Old Vermont, a bartender needs to use Barr Hill Gin from Vermont.
46. Virginia - The Copper Barley (Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water) Why?: The Copper Barley is a cocktail that uses malt exclusively from the Virginia Highland Malt distillery.
47. Washington - The Washington Apple (Vodka, Sour Apple Schnapps, and apple juice) Why?: This can be served as a martini, a shooter, or on the rocks, but its main ingredient is Washington apples from, well, Washington.
48. West Virginia - The Persephone (Bourbon, whiskey, triple sec, lemon juice, and egg whites) Why?: This holiday inspired, champagne-based cocktail was featured in the West Virginia Gazette by its style team.
49. Wisconsin - The Tom and Jerry (Rum/brandy/whiskey, egg whites, vanilla extract, sugar, nutmeg, and powdered milk) Why?: This Christmastime cocktail was originally created by journalist Pierce Egan in the 1820s, but continues to be most popular in Wisconsin. 
50. Wyoming - The Boiler Maker (Light draft beer and whiskey) Why?: Similar to Old Faithful in Wyoming, The Boiler Maker is a geyser of sorts. To consume this cocktail, you first have to drop the shot of whiskey into the beer, then down the entire thing in one gulp.
51. Bonus: Washington D.C. - The Rickey (Gin, lime juice, and carbonated water) Why?: While the drink was created in the 1880’s, the drink maintains its popularity as one of the most popular gin cocktails in the area and even has a virgin version called the “lime rickey”.

Space: The Final Frontier

As I am the Brave Astronaut, I try to remember the anniversaries of significant space milestones.  Here in January, we have two that fall one right after the other.

Yesterday was the 47th Anniversary of the launchpad fire that killed astronauts Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee on the Apollo 1 Mission to the moon.  I have posted about this before - and it is of course, one of the reasons I am known as the Brave Astronaut.  This month, the movie Apollo 13 has been playing with some frequency, and it's one of those movies that I will stop and watch if I come across it.  In that movie, Jim Lovell's (played by Tom Hanks) asks him about the fire that killed Grissom, White, and Chaffee.  Lovell tells his son they fixed the door so that kind of tragedy would never happen again - which it didn't.

As for today's anniversary, 28 years ago, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds into its mission, killing American teacher Christa McAuliffe and six others: Gregory Jarvis, Judy Resnik, Dick Scobee. Ronald McNair, Michael Smith, and Ellison Onizuka.  The seven are memorialized on a monument at Arlington National Cemetery.  I remember watching the launch of the Challenger (very few people still were, as the shuttle launches had become very routine) and realizing something very bad had happened, by the way the reporters on TV were talking.  As far as shuttle movies go, one of the better ones is Armageddon, which I also spotted in the TV listings the other day.

Space travel has its risks - we should always remember those who gave all so we could expand beyond our terrestrial borders to see what is out there.  Ronald Reagan's speech the evening following the Challenger disaster (when he was supposed to have delivered the State of the Union - something President Obama will do later this evening) was extraordinarily moving.

Roasted Broccoli

Three weeks ago, Roasted Chicken.  Last week, Roasted Potatoes.  This week, Roasted Broccoli.

• Preheat oven to 375° 
• Chop a head of broccoli (do not rinse, immediately prior to preparing!) 
• Mince 2-3 cloves of garlic 
• Put broccoli, garlic, 2 tbsp. olive oil, and a few shakes of salt and pepper in a ziploc bag. 
• Shake it up!! 
• Spread out on baking sheet, place on top rack, and bake for about 30 minutes. 
• Broccoli will be crunchy and delicious!

Who is the Most Significant Person of All Time?

Statistically speaking, of course.  Two individuals set out to quantify the contributions of prominent individuals and come up with a list of the most significant people in the world.  From the Atlantic.  Thoughts?  Comment away.

1. Jesus
2. Napoleon
3. Mohammed
4. William Shakespeare
5. Abraham Lincoln
6. George Washington
7. Adolf Hitler
8. Aristotle
9. Alexander the Great
10. Thomas Jefferson
11. Henry VIII
12. Charles Darwin
13. Elizabeth I
14. Karl Marx
15. Julius Caesar 
16. Queen Victoria
17. Martin Luther
18. Joseph Stalin 
19. Albert Einstein 
20. Christopher Columbus

So we have four religious leaders (Jesus, Mohammed, Martin Luther, and Henry VIII), two of them in the top 5.  Protestants just can't get a break.  There is a part of me that feels that Johannes Gutenberg needs to be on this list, because without him, numbers 4 and 10 (and for that matter #17) don't have an outlet for their work. 

I would like to see how they calculated their results to have Napoleon come in at number 2.  I guess it's plausible, seeing as what he accomplished (or didn't accomplish) made number 7 and number 18 possible.  But one could also make the case that Alexander the Great begat Julius Caesar who begat Napoleon.

It's interesting the sciences are so "underrepresented," with only Darwin and Einstein on the list.  Leonardo DaVinci, anyone? Copernicus? And it's nice (for those of us living here in the Americas) for Columbus on the list, but there are other explorers out there that one could say had a greater impact on navigation and exploration.

Can you tell I have some issues with this list?

Roasted Potatoes

Two weeks ago, I posted the alleged best roast chicken recipe.  There's nothing quite like good roasted potatoes surrounding your bird in the oven.

Roasted Potatoes
from Bon Appetit, October 2013

yield Makes 8 servings

Ingredients 

• 8 sprigs hearty herbs (such as thyme, rosemary, and/or sage) 
• 4 garlic cloves, unpeeled, lightly crushed 
• 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, unpeeled, cut into 3/4" pieces 
• 1/4 cup olive oil 
• Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper 

Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°F. Place herbs, garlic, potatoes, and oil in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Divide between 2 large rimmed baking sheets and roast, tossing occasionally, until potatoes are soft and golden brown, 45–55 minutes.

Hemingway's List for Young Writers

I didn't make a list of resolutions for 2014.  Less disappointment when I don't follow through.  Although, I would like to, and will make a concerted effort, to lose weight this year - which may result in my sleep apnea going away.  I would just like to feel better.  Mrs. BA and I are also trying to save more (any?) money this year - so we have started on the 52-week savings challenge.  You can see more about it here.

For several years, I have played with a manuscript that I have started, edited, stepped away, come back to, all with the hopes that someday I might get it published.  Maybe 2014 is the year for that too.  So while, I no longer could be considered young, here's a list of books recommended by Ernest Hemingway in 1934.  Think these are available for the Kindle?

• “The Blue Hotel” by Stephen Crane
• “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane
• Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
• Dubliners by James Joyce 
• The Red and the Black by Stendhal 
• Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham 
• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 
• War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy 
• Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann 
• Hail and Farewell by George Moore 
• The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky 
• The Oxford Book of English Verse 
• The Enormous Room by E.E. Cummings 
• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte 
• Far Away and Long Ago by W.H. Hudson 
• The American by Henry James 

To help me with the book, I may also follow Hemingway's advice on "How to Write Fiction."  Also, I would probably benefit from Elmore Leonard's advice on "10 Rules on Writing:"

1. Never open a book with weather - "If it’s only to create atmosphere, and not a character’s reaction to the weather, you don’t want to go on too long. The reader is apt to leaf ahead looking for people."
2. Avoid prologues - "They can be annoying, especially a prologue following an introduction that comes after a foreword."
3. Never use a verb other than “said” to carry dialogue - "The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in. But said is far less intrusive than grumbled, gasped, cautioned, lied."
4. Never use an adverb to modify the verb “said” - ". . . he admonished gravely. To use an adverb this way (or almost any way) is a mortal sin. The writer is now exposing himself in earnest, using a word that distracts and can interrupt the rhythm of the exchange."
5. Keep your exclamation points under control - "You are allowed no more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose."
6. Never use the words “suddenly” or “all hell broke loose” - "This rule doesn’t require an explanation. I have noticed that writers who use ”suddenly” tend to exercise less control in the application of exclamation points."
7. Use regional dialect, patois, sparingly - "Once you start spelling words in dialogue phonetically and loading the page with apostrophes, you won’t be able to stop."
8. Avoid detailed descriptions of characters - "In Ernest Hemingway’s ”Hills Like White Elephants” what do the ”American and the girl with him” look like? ”She had taken off her hat and put it on the table.” That’s the only reference to a physical description in the story, and yet we see the couple and know them by their tones of voice, with not one adverb in sight."
9. Don’t go into great detail describing places and things - "Even if you’re good at it, you don’t want descriptions that bring the action, the flow of the story, to a standstill."
10. Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip - "Think of what you skip reading a novel: thick paragraphs of prose you can see have too many words in them… I’ll bet you don’t skip dialogue."

Clementine Jam? Sign me up

I was never a big fan of the "marmalade" - jam, for me, is one color, red.  And it tastes like strawberry. Or raspberry.

Both LBA and SoBA love clementines.  I do as well, I often have a couple with my lunch.  So here's a recipe that I think might please all the men of the launchpad.

Clementine Preserves
from Mountain Mama Cooks who "borrowed" it from the Imperial Sugar recipe website

Prep time: 1:30
Yield: Makes 5-6 half pint jars

INGREDIENTS

• 20 clementines 
• 2 lemons 
• 5 cups water 
• 3 cups Imperial Sugar Extra Fine Granulated Sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash and peel clementines, reserving peel from three clementines. Set aside reserved peel and cut all clementines, first in half and then quarter halves. Put clementine pieces in a large non-aluminum pot. Do not use an aluminum pan as it can react with citrus. A cast iron dutch oven is ideal.
2. Peel both lemons reserving seeds. Cut lemon same as clementines and add diced lemon flesh to pot with clementines. Dice reserved clementine peel into small (1/4-inch) pieces and add to the pot. Add sugar and water and and turn stove on to medium-high.
3. While the fruit and water are heating up, add reserved lemon seeds to a cheesecloth bag with a tie or place seeds in a piece of cheesecloth that you can tie with kitchen twine. Drop it into the pot. Bring the fruit to a boil, turn heat back to simmer and cook for 60-75 minutes, stirring occasionally until water evaporates and preserves start to thicken. Remove cheesecloth with lemon seeds from pot. If you'd like a smoother consistency preserve, use an immersion blender to pulse the preserves and rind until desired consistency is achieved. 
4. Preserves will gel more as they cool. It's crucial not to overcook preserves and keep a close eye on it during the last 10-20 minutes as they can burn easily. 
5. Transfer preserves to clean, sterile jars and store in the fridge up to 3 months.

IMPERIAL SUGAR INSIGHT
Puree the rinds and clementine flesh with an immersion blender to create a bitter-sweet dream that's more like jam than marmalade.

Recipe developed for Imperial Sugar by Kelley Epstein @Mountain Mama Cooks.

The Best Roast Chicken Ever?

A while back, BuzzFeed held a March Madness contest (in October) to determine the best Roast Chicken Recipe.

Here’s how it went down: 

BuzzFeed Food editors chose eight famous roast chicken recipes and randomly seeded them in a single-elimination bracket. For each matchup, the two competing chickens were cooked in separate ovens exactly as the recipe prescribed.* Every matchup was decided by a blind taste test of both white and dark meat from each chicken, marked only as “Chicken 1” and “Chicken 2.” 

*Since the goal of this tournament was to find the most delicious method of roasting a chicken, each chicken was served plain, with no sauce. Therefore, if a recipe called for a sauce or au jus, that part of the recipe was ignored.

Here were the contestants:

1. Glamour's Engagement Chicken - because evidently it's so good, that when you make it, your man will propose.
2. The Food Lab's Roasted Butterflied Chicken
3. Thomas Keller's Chicken
4. Jamie Oliver's Chicken
5. Martha Stewart's Chicken
6. Judy Rodger's Chicken
7. The Pioneer Woman's Chicken
8. Julia Child's Chicken

In the opening round, 1 beat 2; 3 beat 4; 6 beat 5 in a landslide (that just warms my heart); and 8 beat 7 (which upsets me).  In the second round, Keller beat Engagement and Judy was defeated by Julia.  In the finals - Thomas Keller beat Julia Child.

Simple Roast Chicken
Thomas Keller - Epicurious, October 2004

yield Makes 2 to 4 servings

EPICURIOUS EDITORS' NOTE: This simple roast chicken recipe by legendary chef Thomas Keller is one of the top-rated chicken recipes on Epicurious. It's an essential, delicious chicken recipe any home cook can master and enjoy.

Ingredients 

• One 2- to 3-pound farm-raised chicken 
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 
• 2 teaspoons minced thyme (optional)
• Unsalted butter 
• Dijon mustard 

Preparation
Preheat the oven to 450°F. Rinse the chicken, then dry it very well with paper towels, inside and out. The less it steams, the drier the heat, the better.

Salt and pepper the cavity, then truss the bird. Trussing is not difficult, and if you roast chicken often, it's a good technique to feel comfortable with. When you truss a bird, the wings and legs stay close to the body; the ends of the drumsticks cover the top of the breast and keep it from drying out. Trussing helps the chicken to cook evenly, and it also makes for a more beautiful roasted bird.

Now, salt the chicken—I like to rain the salt over the bird so that it has a nice uniform coating that will result in a crisp, salty, flavorful skin (about 1 tablespoon). When it's cooked, you should still be able to make out the salt baked onto the crisp skin. Season to taste with pepper.

Place the chicken in a sauté pan or roasting pan and, when the oven is up to temperature, put the chicken in the oven. I leave it alone—I don't baste it, I don't add butter; you can if you wish, but I feel this creates steam, which I don't want. Roast it until it's done, 50 to 60 minutes. Remove it from the oven and add the thyme, if using, to the pan. Baste the chicken with the juices and thyme and let it rest for 15 minutes on a cutting board.

Remove the twine. Separate the middle wing joint and eat that immediately. Remove the legs and thighs. I like to take off the backbone and eat one of the oysters, the two succulent morsels of meat embedded here, and give the other to the person I'm cooking with. But I take the chicken butt for myself. I could never understand why my brothers always fought over that triangular tip—until one day I got the crispy, juicy fat myself. These are the cook's rewards. Cut the breast down the middle and serve it on the bone, with one wing joint still attached to each. The preparation is not meant to be super-elegant. Slather the meat with fresh butter. Serve with mustard on the side and, if you wish, a simple green salad. You'll start using a knife and fork, but finish with your fingers, because it's so good.

The Twelve Posts of Christmas - #12 (2013 Edition)

For those of you who are interested, here are some of the things the Brave Astronaut was rewarded with this Christmas.  For the record, I didn't get any of the Twelve Days of Christmas gifts, nor did I get any of the fantasy gifts from Neiman-Marcus, I guess I wasn't good enough.

This was a very sweater Christmas, which was good, because I needed some new ones (as I sit here, I am wearing a very comfortable, but holey L.L. Bean sweater, that I'm not allowed to wear outside anymore).  I got a very nice maroon cashmere sweater from my MIL, and three, more casual sweaters from Mrs. BA.  I also got a sweater from my father, who also remembered the right stocking stuffer for my siblings and me.  A new popcorn maker was under the tree, which was good, because Mrs. BA threw out the old one.  I made popcorn for LBA and SoBA for pizza/movie night tonight and somehow, it tasted better.

Mrs. BA and I also scored some gift cards for shopping for things that we may not have realized we wanted or needed (as did LBA and SoBA) and my father made a contribution to a repair that we need to make to the Brave Astronaut mobile.  And we also got some new towels, a very exciting gift - but it's what we needed.

LBA and SoBA were also good boys this year - and were rewarded with multiple Lego sets, Razor scooters, DVDs, and new Wii games.  LBA also scored a iPod shuffle and SoBA has a new LeapPad.  Mrs. BA and I will be working on getting them to write thank you notes soon.

Mrs. BA really wanted one particular gift - and I was having trouble finding it - so I checked with Santa and he delivered me one.

Yep, it's the Lego Museum Break-in.

The Twelve Posts of Christmas - #11 (2013 Edition)

It's the recap / review blog post.  As I write this post, it's snowing outside the launchpad.  It is just enough to make things pretty - but not enough to cancel work for tomorrow - and LBA and SoBA are still off until next Monday so they didn't need to wear their pajamas inside out.

We spent Christmas Eve with Mrs. BA's family and LBA got his dinner wish of tacos/Mexican food for dinner.  My MIL was unable to join us - having gone to the hospital with pneumonia.  She's better now, after some antibiotics.  We had planned to have LBA and SoBA spend today and tomorrow with her - but between Mrs. BA and I, we are splitting the two days.  Mrs. BA took today and I am home tomorrow.

On Christmas Day, we celebrated both the day and the birthday of LBA.  We had a very nice dinner with some friends, "my sister Nancy" and C in DC's family.  This is becoming a tradition of having C in DC over for Christmas dinner, having done it for several years in a row.

The next day - we packed up and headed north for celebrations with the extended Brave Astronaut Clan.  We enjoyed out time there - having a nice family dinner on Thursday evening (and some cutthroat card playing) - then a trip to NYC on Friday.  There was rain in the forecast for Sunday - so everyone bugged out on Saturday, including us.  We had a relatively easy trip up and back, though it's possible our trip back may have gone well because the car was lighter.  You see, we left a duffel bag of clothes in New York, but luckily friends from town were also visiting Long Island and brought our bag home to us.

For New Years Eve, we continued with the tradition of celebrating with our good friends with fondue.  This year, we had our cheese fondue "appetizer" and then a wonderful dinner of beef tenderloin.  For dessert this year, I made a batch of crepes, which we ate with salted caramel sauce, jams, and fresh whipped cream.  We stayed until about 10, heading home, where LBA made it up until midnight.  It was a little uncomfortable watching Dick Clark's Rockin Eve with him, I came to the conclusion that I am too old for the music, he's too young for it.  And Jenny McCarthy is just awful.

On New Year's Day, we went to a friend's new house for an Open House - it was great to see her and many friends to celebrate the new year.  Today I went back to work and Mrs. BA stayed home with LBA and SoBA, though she took them to see "Frozen".  I am not sure what we will do tomorrow - as it is supposed to be bitter cold.

So another Christmas season is passing on - this weekend will be spent de-Christmasing the house.  I hope all of you, dear readers, enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and all the best wishes for a healthy and happy 2014!

The Twelve Posts of Christmas - #10 (2013 Edition)

SoBA has a penchant for eggs.  And he (and LBA) like my crepes.  Today is SoBA's birthday, maybe we will make these soon. From the Amateur Gourmet.

Breakfast Crêpes with Eggs, Bacon and Cheese

Our first weekend in the new apartment and it was my mission to make breakfast. I’d carried a box of foodstuffs from our old refrigerator to the new refrigerator so as not to waste anything and that box contained perishables like eggs, bacon, butter and milk. In my pantry, I had flour, sugar and salt. What could a person make with these things that wasn’t boring? A vision came to me, a vision of a nun on a beach dancing the hoochie-coochie. But then another vision came to me: Crêpes! 

I once made crêpes, long long ago (in 2007), but after that I didn’t make them. It wasn’t a choice or anything, I just didn’t think to make them. Then I was watching Lidia in the new joint (I’m always watching Lidia) and she made an Italian version of crepes and made it look so easy. That’s where this idea came from. 

And you know what? It is easy. I can sum it up in this paragraph: melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Pour it into a bowl and let it cool. Then add 4 large eggs and 1 1/2 cups whole milk. Whisk that together and then whisk in 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 cup all-purpose flour. (Recipe from Martha Stewart - [but I don't like her - as most of you know, use my recipe instead]) Martha says you should do it in a blender but I didn’t want to dirty my blender so I used a whisk which worked fine.

Now for the “hard” part. I put “hard” in quotes (and did it again) because it’s really not that hard. Tip 1: pour the batter into a measuring glass. Tip 2: melt some more butter, pour it into a little bowl and use a brush to brush a non-stick skillet with that butter. Then turn up the heat.

When the pan’s hot, lift it up and pour the batter in a thin stream around the perimeter, tilting it all around and trying to create the thinnest layer you can. See?

Let that cook on medium/high heat for a bit (30 seconds or so) and then slide a rubber spatula underneath it all around. Take a peak: is nice and browned? Then it’s time to flip. You can be a pro and do the whole flipping motion thing or you can just lift up a corner and use your fingers to flip it. It’s not that hot.

It’ll cook faster on the other side so take note, maybe 15 seconds or so. Then slide on to a plate and start again: more butter, more batter, more cooking, more flipping, more crêpe-making. When you have all the crêpes you want, make your filling. I rendered some bacon in a skillet then added six eggs (beaten together with a pinch of salt and pepper), stirred slowly on high heat until curds formed, then I took it off the heat and added a bunch of grated Cheddar cheese. I piled that into the center of a crepe, in a straight line.

Then I rolled it up.

It’s like a French breakfast burrito only better because instead of a tortilla you have a thin sweet pancake. So give crêpes a go this weekend. You can take them in a sweet direction and fill them with fruit and whipped cream or you can stay in the savory arena and fill them with all different kinds of scrambled eggs. And whatever batter you don’t use you can save for later: crêpes for breakfast, crêpes for lunch, crêpes for dinner and crêpes for dessert. So, to quote my earlier post: don’t be a creep, make a crêpe.

The Twelve Posts of Christmas - #9 (2013 Edition)

Of course today is LBA's birthday.  We have worked very hard to make sure that he has a proper birthday in addition to regular Christmas festivities.  However, there will not be tacos for Christmas Dinner tonight.  We will spend our day in church this morning followed by having friends over for Christmas dinner this afternoon.  Tomorrow we will head to NY for a few days to celebrate with the extended Brave Astronaut clan.

LBA manages pretty well with a Christmas birthday. BuzzFeed posted a list a while back with reasons why a Christmas birthday is the worst - but I maintain it's been OK for him.

1. All your friends are home with their families, so you can forget a birthday party.
2. Or if they’re around, there are so many holiday parties people don’t want to celebrate.
3. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, you still get screwed. (Everything is closed and your friends are busy. Nothing better than hanging out alone to celebrate your birth.)
4. You get combo presents from everyone and it’s not OK to point out that if your birthday was in July, this would be an outrage. (As someone with a December birthday - I often got combo presents and never really contemplated the injustice.)
5. On top of the combo presents, your birthday presents are always wrapped in Christmas paper. (That is the cardinal rule - birthday presents must be in birthday wrap.)
6. You have to save up a list of what you want all year. Hopefully your dream present doesn’t come out in February, otherwise you will be waiting 10 months.
7. On the plus side - And people like to decorate really well for your “birthday.” 
8. People also like to remind you it isn't only your birthday.  (When LBA was very young, Mrs. BA took him to the pediatrician and a little girl came over to admire LBA.  She asked when his birthday was, Mrs. BA replied, December 25.  The little girl looked up at Mrs. BA and exclaimed, "Just Like Jesus!")
9. If they even remember at all. (We may have forgotten to give a present or two to SoBA, but LBA has always done well.)
10. People always start to call you the Grinch since you’re sick of all the holiday cheer.
11. This is what your birthday dinner looks like, even if you don't like turkey. (Again, there will not be tacos this evening.)
12. Your birthday "cake" looks a lot like cookies. (LBA always gets a birthday cake.)
13. You are always forced to do some horrible holiday activity on your birthday whether you want to or not.
14. And you are always getting upstaged by a fat guy in a big red suit. And you are always getting upstaged by a fat guy in a big red suit.

The Twelve Posts of Christmas - #8 (2013 Edition)

Mrs. BA was talking the other day about how much longer we have with LBA and Santa.  However long that is - he will be sworn to silence to keep SoBA on board.  My counterpoint is that, while the man may not come and visit each year - his spirit lives on in all of us.  So, yes, I still believe in Santa Claus, get over it.

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

By Francis P. Church

first published in The New York Sun in 1897

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

Dear Editor —
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon

Dear Virginia —

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
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About the Exchange:
Francis P. Church’s editorial, “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” was an immediate sensation, and went on to became one of the most famous editorials ever written. It first appeared in the The New York Sun in 1897, almost a hundred years ago, and was reprinted annually until 1949 when the paper went out of business.

Thirty-six years after her letter was printed, Virginia O’Hanlon recalled the events that prompted her letter:

“Quite naturally I believed in Santa Claus, for he had never disappointed me. But when less fortunate little boys and girls said there wasn’t any Santa Claus, I was filled with doubts. I asked my father, and he was a little evasive on the subject.

“It was a habit in our family that whenever any doubts came up as to how to pronounce a word or some question of historical fact was in doubt, we wrote to the Question and Answer column in The Sun. Father would always say, ‘If you see it in the The Sun, it’s so,’ and that settled the matter.

“ ‘Well, I’m just going to write The Sun and find out the real truth,’ I said to father.

“He said, ‘Go ahead, Virginia. I’m sure The Sun will give you the right answer, as it always does.’ ”

And so Virginia sat down and wrote her parents’ favorite newspaper.

Her letter found its way into the hands of a veteran editor, Francis P. Church. Son of a Baptist minister, Church had covered the Civil War for The New York Times and had worked on the The New York Sun for 20 years, more recently as an anonymous editorial writer. Church, a sardonic man, had for his personal motto, “Endeavour to clear your mind of cant.” When controversal subjects had to be tackled on the editorial page, especially those dealing with theology, the assignments were usually given to Church.

Now, he had in his hands a little girl’s letter on a most controversial matter, and he was burdened with the responsibility of answering it.

“Is there a Santa Claus?” the childish scrawl in the letter asked. At once, Church knew that there was no avoiding the question. He must answer, and he must answer truthfully. And so he turned to his desk, and he began his reply which was to become one of the most memorable editorials in newspaper history.

Church married shortly after the editorial appeared. He died in April, 1906, leaving no children.

Virginia O’Hanlon went on to graduate from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts degree at age 21. The following year she received her Master’s from Columbia, and in 1912 she began teaching in the New York City school system, later becoming a principal. After 47 years, she retired as an educator. Throughout her life she received a steady stream of mail about her Santa Claus letter, and to each reply she attached an attractive printed copy of the Church editorial. Virginia O’Hanlon Douglas died on May 13, 1971, at the age of 81, in a nursing home in Valatie, N.Y.

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My fondest wish to all of you for a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy holiday season.  Please take a moment and make sure that you can still hear the sleigh bell.  You won't regret it. 

The Twelve Posts of Christmas - #7 (2013 Edition)

We really need to decide what we're having for Christmas dinner.  I would eat this - maybe not in two days, but at some point.  We decided on Turkey instead.

Roasted Cod on Large Garlic Croutons
Bon Appetit, June 2008

Ingredients

• 1 pound plum tomatoes, cored, diced 
• 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion 
• 5 anchovy fillets, minced 
• 3 large garlic cloves (2 minced, 1 halved) 
• 4 7- to 8-ounce cod fillets or other white fish fillets (such as halibut; about 1 inch thick) 
• 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided 
• 4 1/2-inch-thick slices country white bread 
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves 

Preparation
Preheat oven to 475°F. Combine first 3 ingredients in large bowl. Add minced garlic and stir to blend. Season tomato mixture to taste with salt and pepper.

Arrange fish on rimmed baking sheet. Brush both sides with 2 tablespoons oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until just opaque in center, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tomato mixture. Cook until tomatoes soften and sauce thickens, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper.

Toast bread; rub 1 side with cut side of halved garlic. Top with tomato sauce, basil leaves, fish, and more sauce.

Per serving: 414 calories, 19g fat (3g saturated), 75mg cholesterol, 408mg sodium, 20g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, 39g protein (nutritional analysis provided by Nutrition Data)