Monthly Archives: May 2009

In a Tudor Kitchen

While watching Heston Blumenthal’s Tudor Feast, I had to agree with Blumenthal that during the reign of the Tudors the English ruled the culinary world. He staged a modern version of a typical Tudor feast to demonstrate the level of … Continue reading

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Ethnic Pork Preparations Lead to Judicial Activism

I wish this wasn’t true, but it is. Senate Republicans are focusing on a speech made by Supreme Court nominee Sonya Sotomayor in 2001 at Berkeley. As reported by The Hill, a conservative news site: Sotomayor also claimed: “For me, … Continue reading

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Desserts, Demystified

Dave Kellett, author/artist of the Sheldon web comic, provided this helpful graph on Sunday: You can view it full-sized here. And, for the record, I couldn’t agree more with his exhaustively researched conclusions.

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Best Pig Ever

While describing the suckling pig I saw (but did not eat) at St. John restaurant in London, I alluded to having already eaten the Best Pig Ever. That happy event began, as did many of my recent food epiphanies, with … Continue reading

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Bacon Explosion

I was at Costco on Wednesday, getting a head start on my Memorial Day weekend barbecue preparations. I already had two full racks of pork ribs (St. Louis style) in my cart and a box of three one-pound bacon packs … Continue reading

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Craftsteak

She Who Must Be Obeyed and I thought we’d get an early jump on the Memorial Day weekend, so on Thursday we drove to Foxwoods. He Who Must Not Be Ignored watched as mom and dad blew his college fund … Continue reading

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Petits Machins

Miles’s homework folder had a letter in it that he wrote yesterday in his language arts class: Dear Dad, Bladderwort plants suck up bugs. Sundew plants dissolve bugs, and so do Venus Fly Traps. Cobra lilies have bug soup. And … Continue reading

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Chocolate Cakes with Red Beet Ice Cream and Toasted Walnut Sauce

I knew I wanted to make a chocolate dessert, but also wanted an unusual component or presentation. What could be more unusual than beets and chocolate? (Okay, I can think of lots of more unusual combinations, but how many of … Continue reading

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Don’t Listen to Jenny McCarthy

Oprah Winfrey (I won’t refer to her by just “Oprah;” one-name status is reserved for Dylan, Miles, Stravinsky, Joyce, and others who will be remembered by history.) has chosen to sign Jenny McCarthy for a talk show deal. It’s not … Continue reading

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Roulade of Pekin Duck Breast with Creamed Sweet White Corn and Morel Mushroom Sauce

For previous birthday dinners I’ve relied on some serious meat for the main course: beef filet, short ribs, pork belly. I decided to try duck this year for a change of pace. The recipe looked like a good combination — … Continue reading

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