A few years ago, I just happened on a food demo by Tony and Cathy Mantuano of Spiaggia in Chicago at the Italian Festival at Belmar. The recipe was ravioletti di crescenza con salsa di Parmigiano-Reggiano e burro al tartufo, better known around our house as cheese ravioli in browned butter and truffle oil. What was most helpful about the demonstration was watching Cathy make the ravioli dough. I had long been intrigued by making fresh pasta but a bit intimidated by the process of making it. Watching it done made all the difference in my confidence level. Tasting it made Robert supportive of buying the necessary ingredients.
Robert and I ventured off to the kitchen store to acquire the pasta machine and our first fresh pasta was a joint effort. I mixed and Robert ran the machinery. Do not go there! I will not tolerate the sexist interpretation of men and machinery! Our first fresh pasta was a rousing success! Recently, I must admit, I've lost the touch and I've been wishing I could watch a good pasta maker again.
One of my guilty pleasures in the blog world is The Amateur Gourmet. Adam Roberts is a cute young man who bumbles and blunders a bit, but he's like my young nephew learning to cook and develop a veneer of culture. He did a vblog on the Food Network website for a while and now has a new web show on Scripp's new Food2. His second episode is on fresh pasta.
It is the same sort of education I had at that Italian Festival at Belmar with the advantage of being able to rewind and play it again.
I have not fully explored this new Food2 site. I see one of the kids from Next Food Network Star has a video on there and there are Ace of Cakes episodes as well. I'll blog more when I have explored the site.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Beer and Cheese Event
Jackie at Fromage to Yours has another cheese pairing event planned for Thursday, May 7th at the Embassy Suites Denver Tech Center. These events are always fun and very educational. Admission is $10 and $5 of that goes to the Food Bank of the Rockies. As an active volunteer at Covenant Cupboard Food Bank, I am keenly aware of how many new clients we see each week and how much we need food. In my book, the donation to FBR is reason enough to attend, never mind the great cheese and beer!
Jackie carries only cheese from American cheesemakers and her events pair cheeses she carries with local beers, wines and liquors. This particular event features Beehive Cheese Company from Utah and Grafton Village Cheese Company of Vermont and beers from Great Divide brewery in Denver. Some of my favorite snacking cheeses come from these two companies!
By the way, she just added a line of local wines and is planning to offer wine and cheese pairings in her store on a regular basis. Check her website www.echeese.com for details.
Robert and I have taken to nibbling cheese and crackers before (or sometimes instead of) weekend meals. I drop by Fromage to Yours Thursday or Friday to check out what is new and interesting. Jackie is quite free with offering samples! Lately, Robert has really been enjoying Brick from Rocking W here in Colorado. It is a very mild and buttery cheese. I'm totally taken with Beechers Handmade Cheese Flagship Reserve. It is everything you think of when you think of Cheddar -- a little tang, chewy texture, that unique Cheddar flavor. The Reserve is cloth-wrapped and that means the cheese loses moisture during the aging process. As with a sauce reduction, the loss of moisture intensifies the flavor. I've been using San Joaquin Gold from Fiscalini Cheese Company in California for risottos and other dishes where I would use a fontina or a parmegiana-reggiano. Of course, I make no secret that Mezzo Secco from Vella Cheese in California is the special touch that makes my Mushroom Spinach Lasagna a real winner.
Some might think the economy is reason to avoid speciality shops, but I find the intense and fresh flavors of these cheeses allow me to use less cheese and gain flavor.
Jackie carries only cheese from American cheesemakers and her events pair cheeses she carries with local beers, wines and liquors. This particular event features Beehive Cheese Company from Utah and Grafton Village Cheese Company of Vermont and beers from Great Divide brewery in Denver. Some of my favorite snacking cheeses come from these two companies!
By the way, she just added a line of local wines and is planning to offer wine and cheese pairings in her store on a regular basis. Check her website www.echeese.com for details.
Robert and I have taken to nibbling cheese and crackers before (or sometimes instead of) weekend meals. I drop by Fromage to Yours Thursday or Friday to check out what is new and interesting. Jackie is quite free with offering samples! Lately, Robert has really been enjoying Brick from Rocking W here in Colorado. It is a very mild and buttery cheese. I'm totally taken with Beechers Handmade Cheese Flagship Reserve. It is everything you think of when you think of Cheddar -- a little tang, chewy texture, that unique Cheddar flavor. The Reserve is cloth-wrapped and that means the cheese loses moisture during the aging process. As with a sauce reduction, the loss of moisture intensifies the flavor. I've been using San Joaquin Gold from Fiscalini Cheese Company in California for risottos and other dishes where I would use a fontina or a parmegiana-reggiano. Of course, I make no secret that Mezzo Secco from Vella Cheese in California is the special touch that makes my Mushroom Spinach Lasagna a real winner.
Some might think the economy is reason to avoid speciality shops, but I find the intense and fresh flavors of these cheeses allow me to use less cheese and gain flavor.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
When is a Democrat not a Democrat
Okay, moderate Senator Arlen Spector is no longer R-Pennsylvania, but D-Pennsylvania. Again. We've seen the headlines and the news clips, President Obama endorse him and Vice-President Biden court him. What difference does this make? The answer, none. The all important 60 in the Senate refers to 60 votes, not 60 people with a D after their name. While Republicans have historically been a voting block and currently seem be moving in lock-step with "Obama, not just 'no', but 'Hell No," Democrats have always been an independent lot. This is, after all, the bunch Will Rogers was talking about -- "I am not a member of any organized political party, I am a Democrat."
I welcome Senator Spector as a Democrat, but, realistically, he is a political creature who left the Democrats so he could win a primary and now he's come back so he can win a primary. He has no party loyalty, he has a keen sense of personal preservation. He is not a 60th vote to make that fillibuster-proof situation.
Quite honestly, I think that is fine. I like that we are not robots, but free to have our own opinions. I could never fit in with a political party that required my unconditional loyalty. I want to be represented by people who think about what is best for me as a constituent, not what is best for a political party. (I am certainly not represented at the state level and only partially represented at the national level, but I am not looking to participate in a tea party.)
Welcome, Senator Spector, to the party where free thought is encouraged and celebrated, even if it means we lose a few to the robot, er, Republican, party.
I welcome Senator Spector as a Democrat, but, realistically, he is a political creature who left the Democrats so he could win a primary and now he's come back so he can win a primary. He has no party loyalty, he has a keen sense of personal preservation. He is not a 60th vote to make that fillibuster-proof situation.
Quite honestly, I think that is fine. I like that we are not robots, but free to have our own opinions. I could never fit in with a political party that required my unconditional loyalty. I want to be represented by people who think about what is best for me as a constituent, not what is best for a political party. (I am certainly not represented at the state level and only partially represented at the national level, but I am not looking to participate in a tea party.)
Welcome, Senator Spector, to the party where free thought is encouraged and celebrated, even if it means we lose a few to the robot, er, Republican, party.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Old Friends, New Favorite Restaurant
As soon as we checked into our hotel in Honolulu, I called our old friend and pastor, Jeff Lilley. Jeff is now pastor of Lutheran Church of Honolulu. Jeff gave us a great, if somewhat speedy, tour of Honolulu, including his favorite beaches, their boat, great parks and such. His tips on things to do could have kept us busy for a good month if not longer! Even back in our Kansas days, Jeff was determined they would one day sell everything, buy a boat and spend the rest of their days sailing around the world. This boat is a great first step!
Jean is the Executive Director of Honolulu Habitat for Humanity, so we picked her up after work and got the whirlwind tour of Lutheran Church of Honolulu.
They have an incredible music program there and I couldn't resist getting a picture of the music storage area.
Every church musician I know would die for storage like this!
When they buy music, they buy the whole score, another trait that most church musicians love to be able to do!
Jeff had obligations at the church, so Jean tokk us to dinner at one of our new favorite restaurants, Sam Choy's. I'm sure Sam Choy's is hohum for most Hawaiians, but we thought it was a major feast! Robert and I split The catch of the day, steamed mahimahi with black Bean Sauce served with green beans and, in typical Hawaiian fashion, mashed potatoes.
There was a mess up with Jean's crabmeat stuffed Opah with shiitake mushroom sauce, so they brought us the appetizer of the day, crabmeat stuffed shiitake mushrooms.
Unfortunately, the appetizer picture is a bit fuzzy and we somehow missed a picture of Jean's opah. We found the seasoning to be spot on, the fish flawlessly prepared and the service, aside from the mis-communication with the kitchen to be excellent. With specials under the $30.00 price point including sides, it was quite reasonably priced for Honolulu. Try it nex time you are in Honolulu.
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| From Lilleys |
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| From Lilleys |
Every church musician I know would die for storage like this!
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| From Lilleys |
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| From Lilleys |
Jeff had obligations at the church, so Jean tokk us to dinner at one of our new favorite restaurants, Sam Choy's. I'm sure Sam Choy's is hohum for most Hawaiians, but we thought it was a major feast! Robert and I split The catch of the day, steamed mahimahi with black Bean Sauce served with green beans and, in typical Hawaiian fashion, mashed potatoes.
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| From Lilleys |
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| From Lilleys |
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Wild Chickens of Kauai
No chronicle of Kauai is complete without some mention of the ubiquitous wild chickens. We heard numerous stories about the chickens ranging from a humorous statement that "there is only one KFC on Kauai" to the impact of hurricanes freeing fighting cocks that mated with the wild chickens to create wild chickens that are not just common, but more aggressive.
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| From Taro Fields North Shore |
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| From Taro Fields North Shore |
Spouting Horn
My friend Dianne Draper used to live in Hawaii. She said Spouting Horn was the best place to buy the unique Ni'hau leis made of shells found only on that island west of Kauai. I couldn't afford the lovely leis, but we did get some typical pictures of the spouting horn area. As was so common on our vacation, the rain grays out the pictures a bit.
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| From Spouting Horn |
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| From Spouting Horn |
Kilauea Point
The first time we tried to visit this gorgeous lighthouse, it rained so hard we could barely see the lighthouse. We went on to Ke'e Beach and came back to take some pictures of this lovely place. We even had actual sunshine!
The birds were incredible and it was interesting to look down at the variety of colors in the water.
Of course, I couldn't resist taking pictures of this charming Episcopal Church in the nearby town.
I thought the grounds of the church were spectacular.
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| From Kilauea Point |
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| From Kilauea Point |
The birds were incredible and it was interesting to look down at the variety of colors in the water.
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| From Kilauea Point |
Of course, I couldn't resist taking pictures of this charming Episcopal Church in the nearby town.
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| From Kilauea Point |
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| From Kilauea Point |
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