As I watched the last Republican presidential debate, I felt as if I were watching a bad reality show. Name calling, shouting, accusations were all there in abundance. Where was the talk about important issues facing our nation? I have never in my life seen men who want to lead the free world behave so badly! A narcissist, an unbending, uncompromising staunch conservative, and a conservative who can't seem to make up his mind. What a choice for the Republicans. I cringe at the thought of Trump in a room full of world leaders when the discussion is not going his way. Is he going to stand up and tell them they're not fair? Will he name call? He does not have the temperament or the character to lead our country. Nor does he have the knowledge. All we've heard so far is that he's going to build walls, high walls, and that he's not going to let Muslims in the country. How he's going to do these things has not yet been disclosed. Cruz and Rubio, in a desperate attempt to stop the Trump train, have resorted to some ugly behavior which we have not seen from them until now. I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.
On the other side of the aisle, we watch the Clinton/Sanders debate, where we see issues like immigration, education, health care, climate change, and foreign policy discussed. They actually tell us what they would do, not just what is wrong with the way it is now being done. Although no candidate is perfect, we do have clear choices. Everyone has a few issues that they want their candidate to support. Here are mine: 1. Equal pay for equal work for men and women (how can anyone be against that?)2. A woman's right to choose 3. Work toward more renewable energy and end fracking 4. Health care for all. 5. Background checks for gun purchase
This is such an important election in so many ways. We need to elect a person with experience, knowledge, ability to work and play well with others, and someone with a thoughtful, even temperament. Who is out there that fits the bill?
Monday, February 29, 2016
Friday, February 26, 2016
A Sad Day
Today I attended the funeral for Maria Julia Avelos. I first met Julia when she was 18 years old, newly arrived in Los Angeles from El Salvador, not speaking a word of English. Her sister Tony worked for a friend of mine, and we thought Julia would be the perfect person to care for my newborn baby Philip, while I was away at work. Over the almost 38 years that I knew Julia she was my employee, a second mother to my children, and most of all a friend. She died last week from complications, while waiting for a liver transplant. She was 56.
Over the years, our families have shared many happy occasions. Ron and I and our three boys attended Julia's wedding to her husband Peter. Philip was the ring bearer. When Julia married and left our house after 10 years to start her own family, she continued to work for my mom once a week. Julia had three wonderful boys, and continued working for my mom until about 6 months ago, when her health prevented her from working. She attended the weddings of our three children, and she took care of my dad in his last years. To say she was part of the family is an understatement.
A favorite thing for David and Philip to do on the weekend was to go home with Julia to her home. They loved her and her family, and spent many weekends with the Avelos family. Julia was from El Salvador, and one of her favorite foods was pupusas. Julia would either take my kids out for pupusas, or make pupusas for them at her home. Everytime pupusas are mentioned, my kids think of Julia and the happy times they spent with her.
It was ironic this morning as Ron and I drove to Culver City for her funeral, that right in front of us for the last 20 miles of the trip, was a Mexican food truck, with the words "PUPUSAS" written in huge letters! I thought that was a sign...of what, I don't know. Anyway, here is Julia's recipe for pupusas, and the cabbage salad called curtido, that accompanies it.
Pupusas
2 c masa harina
1 c water
1 c queso fresco, crumbled
Mix masa and water well, and knead well. Cover, and let the dough rest for 5-10 minutes. Shape into a big ball, then cut into 8 pieces and make 2 inch balls. Roll each ball into a 6 inch disc. Sprinkle with queso fresco, then place another tortilla on top. Grill on a griddle, both sides, until cheese is melted. Serve with curtido.
Curtido
1 cabbage, chopped
2 carrots grated
1 onion, sliced
1/2 tsp cayenne or paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp olive oil
1 Tsp salt
1 tsp brown sugar
1/4 c vinegar
1/2 c water
Combine first three ingredients, then set aside. Combine the rest of the ingredients (for the dressing), and pour over veggies. Combine, let it set for a while, and serve with pupusas.
Over the years, our families have shared many happy occasions. Ron and I and our three boys attended Julia's wedding to her husband Peter. Philip was the ring bearer. When Julia married and left our house after 10 years to start her own family, she continued to work for my mom once a week. Julia had three wonderful boys, and continued working for my mom until about 6 months ago, when her health prevented her from working. She attended the weddings of our three children, and she took care of my dad in his last years. To say she was part of the family is an understatement.
A favorite thing for David and Philip to do on the weekend was to go home with Julia to her home. They loved her and her family, and spent many weekends with the Avelos family. Julia was from El Salvador, and one of her favorite foods was pupusas. Julia would either take my kids out for pupusas, or make pupusas for them at her home. Everytime pupusas are mentioned, my kids think of Julia and the happy times they spent with her.
It was ironic this morning as Ron and I drove to Culver City for her funeral, that right in front of us for the last 20 miles of the trip, was a Mexican food truck, with the words "PUPUSAS" written in huge letters! I thought that was a sign...of what, I don't know. Anyway, here is Julia's recipe for pupusas, and the cabbage salad called curtido, that accompanies it.
Pupusas
2 c masa harina
1 c water
1 c queso fresco, crumbled
Mix masa and water well, and knead well. Cover, and let the dough rest for 5-10 minutes. Shape into a big ball, then cut into 8 pieces and make 2 inch balls. Roll each ball into a 6 inch disc. Sprinkle with queso fresco, then place another tortilla on top. Grill on a griddle, both sides, until cheese is melted. Serve with curtido.
Curtido
1 cabbage, chopped
2 carrots grated
1 onion, sliced
1/2 tsp cayenne or paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp olive oil
1 Tsp salt
1 tsp brown sugar
1/4 c vinegar
1/2 c water
Combine first three ingredients, then set aside. Combine the rest of the ingredients (for the dressing), and pour over veggies. Combine, let it set for a while, and serve with pupusas.
Monday, February 22, 2016
Sushi On The Rocks
I finally had a leisure day. I began with four games of Pickleball, my new favorite pasttime. Next, I ran errands. Finally, I decided to try a neighborhood place for lunch. I settled on Sushi On The Rocks, a local sushi restaurant in small shopping center. What a wonderful find. I can't wait to return.
I was greeted at the sushi bar by the sushi chef, with whom I immediately struck up a conversation. He had just relocated to Oceanside from Florida. He was working hard to make ends meet, working at Sushi On The Rocks, and at a second sushi restaurant in Del Mar. He was a great addition to the restaurant, as he was not only friendly to customers, he was a fine sushi chef.
I ordered several cut rolls. Everything was fresh and delicious, as you can see from the pictures. I was interested to find out that the wasabi I had been eating for years, was not really fresh wasabi. The green paste that you usually get in sushi restaurants is a mixture of wasabi root and horseradish. Sushi On The Rocks has real, fresh wasabi. It is ground from the root and served as a condiment for sushi. The fresh wasabi was delicious. It's not hot the way I expected it to be, but rather mild. My whole experience at Sushi On The Rocks was great, and I can't wait to go back for dinner. Although Ron doesn't like sushi, they had lots of other options. Several types of tempura, both vegetable and shrimp were available, as was chicken or beef teriyaki. I will try it again soon. If you have a chance, go to Sushi On The Rocks in Oceanside for lunch or dinner. You'll be happy you did.
I was greeted at the sushi bar by the sushi chef, with whom I immediately struck up a conversation. He had just relocated to Oceanside from Florida. He was working hard to make ends meet, working at Sushi On The Rocks, and at a second sushi restaurant in Del Mar. He was a great addition to the restaurant, as he was not only friendly to customers, he was a fine sushi chef.
I ordered several cut rolls. Everything was fresh and delicious, as you can see from the pictures. I was interested to find out that the wasabi I had been eating for years, was not really fresh wasabi. The green paste that you usually get in sushi restaurants is a mixture of wasabi root and horseradish. Sushi On The Rocks has real, fresh wasabi. It is ground from the root and served as a condiment for sushi. The fresh wasabi was delicious. It's not hot the way I expected it to be, but rather mild. My whole experience at Sushi On The Rocks was great, and I can't wait to go back for dinner. Although Ron doesn't like sushi, they had lots of other options. Several types of tempura, both vegetable and shrimp were available, as was chicken or beef teriyaki. I will try it again soon. If you have a chance, go to Sushi On The Rocks in Oceanside for lunch or dinner. You'll be happy you did.
Friday, February 19, 2016
Make Sure You're Taking Care Of The Big Things
A philosophy professor did a demonstration for his college class to prove a point. I'm sorry I don't know the name of the professor to give him proper credit, but whoever he is, he did an excellent job. Here is what he did.
He filled an empty pickle jar with golf balls, and when there was room for no more, he asked the class if there was any more room in the jar. They all said "No." He then took a cup of small pebbles, and poured it into the jar with the golf balls. He asked the class again if the jar was full. Again, they answered, "No." Next, he took a cup of sand and pour it into the pickle jar, filling all the remaining cracks and crevices. He asked the class again if the jar was full. The again answered, "No." Finally, he took a cup of chocolate milk and poured it into the jar. Amazingly, there was still room for the milk. The professor asked for a final time if the jar was full, and indeed it finally was. What was the point of the demonstration?
The professor told the class that life is full of big, important things, like job, family and friends. It is also filled with smaller things, like things you need to do around the house, shopping, getting your car washed. Using the example of the pickle jar, the professor said that if the golf balls had not been put in the jar first (important things in life), they never would have fit. You must take care of the important things in life first, the other stuff can all wait. One student raised his hand and asked what the chocolate milk represented. The teacher paused for a moment then said, "Whatever is going on in your life, there's always room for chocolate."
He filled an empty pickle jar with golf balls, and when there was room for no more, he asked the class if there was any more room in the jar. They all said "No." He then took a cup of small pebbles, and poured it into the jar with the golf balls. He asked the class again if the jar was full. Again, they answered, "No." Next, he took a cup of sand and pour it into the pickle jar, filling all the remaining cracks and crevices. He asked the class again if the jar was full. The again answered, "No." Finally, he took a cup of chocolate milk and poured it into the jar. Amazingly, there was still room for the milk. The professor asked for a final time if the jar was full, and indeed it finally was. What was the point of the demonstration?
The professor told the class that life is full of big, important things, like job, family and friends. It is also filled with smaller things, like things you need to do around the house, shopping, getting your car washed. Using the example of the pickle jar, the professor said that if the golf balls had not been put in the jar first (important things in life), they never would have fit. You must take care of the important things in life first, the other stuff can all wait. One student raised his hand and asked what the chocolate milk represented. The teacher paused for a moment then said, "Whatever is going on in your life, there's always room for chocolate."
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Respect For The Presidency
Today is President's Day, and a good reminder of the respect our president deserves. Regardless of who sits in the oval office, the office itself deserves respect. Our President represents us both here and abroad. Even though we may not be aligned with his policies, he is the president. The great thing about America is that we all have the right to our own opinion. We should be able to express it without fear of being bullied, shamed or put down. Democrats and Republicans are both proud Americans and I think want the best for our country. They just see a different path to get there. Just because they disagree does not make them UnAmerican.
I have been shocked and disgusted over the past seven years at the disrespect shown to our president. I have certainly not liked every president we have had in my lifetime, but I always spoke of them and the office, with respect. Our president represents America abroad. I look at some of the current candidates running for office and wonder about their ability not only to lead, but to set an example for the world. Will Americans respect the next president enough so that America will remain the world leader?
Presidents deserve respect, and hopefully we will find our next president to be worthy of respect. Even if he doesn't meet our idea of how things should be done, we must respect his right to move things forward in his own way.
I have been shocked and disgusted over the past seven years at the disrespect shown to our president. I have certainly not liked every president we have had in my lifetime, but I always spoke of them and the office, with respect. Our president represents America abroad. I look at some of the current candidates running for office and wonder about their ability not only to lead, but to set an example for the world. Will Americans respect the next president enough so that America will remain the world leader?
Presidents deserve respect, and hopefully we will find our next president to be worthy of respect. Even if he doesn't meet our idea of how things should be done, we must respect his right to move things forward in his own way.
Monday, February 15, 2016
New Eating Ideas With Hungryroot.com
Sometimes I just browse the internet looking for new and interesting food ideas or human interest ideas to write about. I recently stumbled upon the website hungryroot.com. Food is delivered to you by mail. It is not cheap, and I'm not even sure if it's good. I haven't eaten it, but I thought I would tell you vegans, vegetarians, gluten free, and adventuresome eaters about it. I'm not sure of the purpose of these food items. I guess it's for those on a plant based diet, as everything is from vegetables. Here are some of the items Hungryroot offers.
On the sweet side, you can get cookie dough made from chickpea, sweet potato and almond butter. You can get coconut carrot cake bites, and sweet potato cacao mousse. On the savory side you might want to try carrot noodles, cauliflower couscous, sweet potato noodle with creamy cashew alfredo, beet noodle, carrot noodle with tangy sriracha peanut, or daikon noodle in Korean scallion gochujang. If any of this sounds good or maybe just interesting to you, visit hungryroot.com, buy some of the items, eat them and tell me how you liked them. Most items are low in fat, calories and gluten free. I don't know how they taste, so somebody help me out. Just thought you'd like to know about another interesting food trend.
On the sweet side, you can get cookie dough made from chickpea, sweet potato and almond butter. You can get coconut carrot cake bites, and sweet potato cacao mousse. On the savory side you might want to try carrot noodles, cauliflower couscous, sweet potato noodle with creamy cashew alfredo, beet noodle, carrot noodle with tangy sriracha peanut, or daikon noodle in Korean scallion gochujang. If any of this sounds good or maybe just interesting to you, visit hungryroot.com, buy some of the items, eat them and tell me how you liked them. Most items are low in fat, calories and gluten free. I don't know how they taste, so somebody help me out. Just thought you'd like to know about another interesting food trend.
Friday, February 12, 2016
How Birth Order Effects Your Child's Personality and Behavior
Our book group took a survey of the birth order of it's members several years ago. We found that almost all of the members were first born. Firstborn children tend to be reliable, conscientious, structured cautious, controlling and achievers. Firstborns bask in their parents' presence, which may explain why they sometimes act like mini-adults. Firstborns are diligent and want to be the best at everything they do. They excel at winning the hearts of their elders.
The middle child often feels left our and uncertain about his place in the family. Middle children tend to possess the following characteristics: people-pleasers, somewhat rebellious, thrives on friendships, has a large social circle, peacemaker.
The last born child tends to be the most free-spirited due to their parents' increasingly laissez-faire attitude towards parenting, after having done it several times before they came along. The baby of the family tends to be fun-loving, uncomplicated, manipulative, outgoing, attention-seeker, and self-centered.
Being the only child is a unique position. Without any siblings to compete with, the only child monopolizes his parents' attention and resources forever. This makes an only child something like a super-firstborn. Only children have the privilege of having all their parent's support and expectations on their shoulders. Thus, they tend to be mature for their age, perfectionists, conscientious, diligent, leaders.
Today we have various other types of families, like blended families, families within families, adoption and gap children. Each one of these types of families upsets the general tendencies of personality. Peers, siblings, genes, and circumstance all play into how a child's temperament develops. It's the experiences shared by child and parental figure that leaves the lasting impression. Do your children and grandchildren exhibit the general tendencies that their birth order says? Mine are still young, so I'm not sure, but I sure know I showed all the tendencies of a firstborn child, as do most of my other firstborn friends. How about you?
The middle child often feels left our and uncertain about his place in the family. Middle children tend to possess the following characteristics: people-pleasers, somewhat rebellious, thrives on friendships, has a large social circle, peacemaker.
The last born child tends to be the most free-spirited due to their parents' increasingly laissez-faire attitude towards parenting, after having done it several times before they came along. The baby of the family tends to be fun-loving, uncomplicated, manipulative, outgoing, attention-seeker, and self-centered.
Being the only child is a unique position. Without any siblings to compete with, the only child monopolizes his parents' attention and resources forever. This makes an only child something like a super-firstborn. Only children have the privilege of having all their parent's support and expectations on their shoulders. Thus, they tend to be mature for their age, perfectionists, conscientious, diligent, leaders.
Today we have various other types of families, like blended families, families within families, adoption and gap children. Each one of these types of families upsets the general tendencies of personality. Peers, siblings, genes, and circumstance all play into how a child's temperament develops. It's the experiences shared by child and parental figure that leaves the lasting impression. Do your children and grandchildren exhibit the general tendencies that their birth order says? Mine are still young, so I'm not sure, but I sure know I showed all the tendencies of a firstborn child, as do most of my other firstborn friends. How about you?
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Are You Superstitious?
Our January book club book was The Mapmaker's Daughter, by Laurel Corona. Laurel is a native San Diegan, and we were lucky enough to have her speak to our book club. She spoke on not only The Mapmaker's Daughter, but on the process of writing and publishing, for about an hour and a half. She is a wonderful speaker, and if you ever travel on Silver Seas cruise ships, you may be lucky enough to find her on board.
The Mapmaker's Daughter is the story of Amalia, the daughter of a mapmaker, during the time of the Inquisition in Spain. Corona did a lot of research for this book, and one of the things I noticed, was the insertion of Jewish superstitions into a 15th century story. Superstitions are prevalent in all cultures, but I never thought of Judiasm as having so many. Jews often refer to superstitions as bubbe meises. One of greatest amount of superstitions in the Jewish religion relate to the Evil Eye. Reciting kein ayin hora, which means "may the evil eye stay away" is supposed to keep evil away. Many Jews carry their own good luck charms as extra protection from evil spirits. Hamsa, a hand shaped amulet is used in jewelery, hanging from a car mirror, or over a door way. Muslims use this same symbol.
There are superstitions pertaining to all sectors of life. Here are just a few. Eat galic to ward off bad spirits, a childless couple should find an egg with a double yolk, then eat it to get pregnant. Some people believe that the deceased hear and know everything that is being said about them until the final spade of earth is thrown over. One popular superstition is the breaking of a glass at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony to cast away the demons and awaken the groom to the reality of married life. Also, if the bride returns from the huppah and takes the grooms hand first, she will dominate the home. Another popular superstition is the practice of tying a red ribbon to an infant's crib to ensure safekeeping from bad vibes.
It is clear that many superstitions involve warding off evil spirits. I was surprised how much of this existed in Judiasm, as I did not regard Judiasm as a superstitious religion. It is, just as all cultures and religions have their own superstitions, Jews are no different. Often based on fear, superstition plays an important role in our daily lives. Just think about some of your daily reactions. Many of them are based on superstition. (throwing salt over your shoulder, not opening an umbrella inside, not stepping on a crack.)
The Mapmaker's Daughter is the story of Amalia, the daughter of a mapmaker, during the time of the Inquisition in Spain. Corona did a lot of research for this book, and one of the things I noticed, was the insertion of Jewish superstitions into a 15th century story. Superstitions are prevalent in all cultures, but I never thought of Judiasm as having so many. Jews often refer to superstitions as bubbe meises. One of greatest amount of superstitions in the Jewish religion relate to the Evil Eye. Reciting kein ayin hora, which means "may the evil eye stay away" is supposed to keep evil away. Many Jews carry their own good luck charms as extra protection from evil spirits. Hamsa, a hand shaped amulet is used in jewelery, hanging from a car mirror, or over a door way. Muslims use this same symbol.
There are superstitions pertaining to all sectors of life. Here are just a few. Eat galic to ward off bad spirits, a childless couple should find an egg with a double yolk, then eat it to get pregnant. Some people believe that the deceased hear and know everything that is being said about them until the final spade of earth is thrown over. One popular superstition is the breaking of a glass at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony to cast away the demons and awaken the groom to the reality of married life. Also, if the bride returns from the huppah and takes the grooms hand first, she will dominate the home. Another popular superstition is the practice of tying a red ribbon to an infant's crib to ensure safekeeping from bad vibes.
It is clear that many superstitions involve warding off evil spirits. I was surprised how much of this existed in Judiasm, as I did not regard Judiasm as a superstitious religion. It is, just as all cultures and religions have their own superstitions, Jews are no different. Often based on fear, superstition plays an important role in our daily lives. Just think about some of your daily reactions. Many of them are based on superstition. (throwing salt over your shoulder, not opening an umbrella inside, not stepping on a crack.)
Monday, February 8, 2016
You"re Never Too Old To Try Something New
Ron decided on Tarte Tatin for his first endeavor. I've made many apple tarts in my life, but never tarte tatin. I bought the ingredients, and Friday afternoon Ron made a tarte tatin. I wish I had a picture of his face when he took it out of the oven, inverted it (the bottom becomes the top like pineapple upside down cake), and saw a PERFECT tart. Even I was surprised. He had assembled the apples in a way other than recommended by the recipe, but it came out looking beautiful. He was so proud of his first effort that he sent a picture of the tart to almost everyone he knew.
That night we went to dinner with Laura and Richard, and afterward came back to our house to enjoy Ron's tarte tatin and vanilla ice cream. It was so good that Richard had seconds.
Every week Ron will try something new. His next dessert will be Napoleons. His will be made with whipped cream and strawberries. (no custard). He'll try that next week, and I'll let you know the results. It's great to see him so enthusiastic and happy in the kitchen. There's no greater reward than making a beautiful meal, for yourself or others, and getting ooo's and ahh's from your friends. Who doesn't like to be appreciated for their efforts?
Friday, February 5, 2016
Do You Know Anyone With "Text Neck?"
What is text neck? It's an epidemic that could wreck your spine. It's the result of the smartphone, that device we can't live without. Hours each day of using the smart phone create poor posture, sometimes called "text neck," that can lead to early wear and tear on the spine, degeneration, and even surgery.
The human head weights about 12 pounds. As the neck bends forward and down, the weight on the cervical spine begins to increase. At a 15 degree angle, this weight is about 27 pounds, at 30 degrees it's 40 pounds, and at 45 degrees it's 49 pounds. That's a lot of weight to be putting on the cervical spine. Text neck is becoming a an epidemic. Just look around you and see how many people are looking down and forward, texting. Doctors are seeing profound changes in the spine in children as young as seven Most smart phone users spend an average of two to four hours per day hunched over. That's 700-1,400 hours per year people are putting stress on their spines.
Poor posture can cause other problems as well. Experts say it can reduce lung capacity by as much as 30%. It has also been linked to headaches and neurological issues, depression and heart disease. It's important for parents to keep tabs of childrens' use of mobile devices, and encourage them to work on their posture. In Encinitas, there is a doctor, who is promoting a good posture message through a program called Stra8up Kid2Kid. It's a series of 5 stretches for kids to do to reduce and even reverse the symptoms of a stoop-shouldered, chin forward posture. Each stretch takes just 10 seconds. The program is being taught in schools by children, to children. What a great idea.
The human head weights about 12 pounds. As the neck bends forward and down, the weight on the cervical spine begins to increase. At a 15 degree angle, this weight is about 27 pounds, at 30 degrees it's 40 pounds, and at 45 degrees it's 49 pounds. That's a lot of weight to be putting on the cervical spine. Text neck is becoming a an epidemic. Just look around you and see how many people are looking down and forward, texting. Doctors are seeing profound changes in the spine in children as young as seven Most smart phone users spend an average of two to four hours per day hunched over. That's 700-1,400 hours per year people are putting stress on their spines.
Poor posture can cause other problems as well. Experts say it can reduce lung capacity by as much as 30%. It has also been linked to headaches and neurological issues, depression and heart disease. It's important for parents to keep tabs of childrens' use of mobile devices, and encourage them to work on their posture. In Encinitas, there is a doctor, who is promoting a good posture message through a program called Stra8up Kid2Kid. It's a series of 5 stretches for kids to do to reduce and even reverse the symptoms of a stoop-shouldered, chin forward posture. Each stretch takes just 10 seconds. The program is being taught in schools by children, to children. What a great idea.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Green Matcha Meringues
I have always loved meringues. In fact, when I was a kid and my parents went out for the evening, we used to take egg whites, whip them until firm, add sugar, and eat. Yes, you heard that right. We never cooked the meringue, just ate the egg whites and sugar. Fast forward 50-60 years and I now know how to cook the meringues. Here is a recipe for green tea meringues, a little twist on traditional meringues. I think you will like them. They're so pretty and delicious.
Green Matcha Meringues
2 egg whites
125 grams sugar
1 T. matcha (ground green tea)
1/4 tst/ cream of tartar
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Whip egg whites until soft peaks, then add sugar, little by little, incorporating each addition before adding more. The process of adding the sugar will take 5-10 minutes, and egg whites should be stiff and glossy when finished. Add matcha, cream of tartar, and a drop of green food coloring for a deeper green color. If you can't find ground matcha in the supermarket (Whole Foods should have it), just take the tea leaves from a few green tea bags and grind it.
Transfer the meringue mixture to a pastry bag. Use a star as the tip of the pastry bag and pipe meringues onto parchment paper. Cook for 20 minutes at 300 degrees, then crack the oven and let meringues sit in cooling oven until completely cool. For an extra treat, melt chocolate (your choice, dark or milk), and dip tips of meringue in chocolate. They are a beautiful dessert. I hope you enjoy.
Green Matcha Meringues
2 egg whites
125 grams sugar
1 T. matcha (ground green tea)
1/4 tst/ cream of tartar
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Whip egg whites until soft peaks, then add sugar, little by little, incorporating each addition before adding more. The process of adding the sugar will take 5-10 minutes, and egg whites should be stiff and glossy when finished. Add matcha, cream of tartar, and a drop of green food coloring for a deeper green color. If you can't find ground matcha in the supermarket (Whole Foods should have it), just take the tea leaves from a few green tea bags and grind it.
Transfer the meringue mixture to a pastry bag. Use a star as the tip of the pastry bag and pipe meringues onto parchment paper. Cook for 20 minutes at 300 degrees, then crack the oven and let meringues sit in cooling oven until completely cool. For an extra treat, melt chocolate (your choice, dark or milk), and dip tips of meringue in chocolate. They are a beautiful dessert. I hope you enjoy.
Monday, February 1, 2016
Beef Brisket You'll Love
For Hanukkah this year I had all our family members from the Los Angeles area here for the afternoon and evening. A great time was had by all, and I thought the food I made was delicious. The main course was brisket, potato latkes with applesauce and sour cream, and cold marinated asparagus. I thought the brisket was especially good, and I will give you the recipe here. It's so easy, and it can be made several days in advance. In fact, it's better that way.
Beef Brisket
5 pound beef brisket, trimmed of all visible fat
2 packages dry Lipton Soup mix (or similar)
2 cans coke
1 bag pearl onions, 1 bag of mini carrots
Place brisket in a roasting pan, sprinkle soup mix on top, add two cans of coke, and water to cover. Cover with foil and cook for 4 hours, turning after two hours. For the last 30 minutes add onions and carrots. When the brisket is fall apart tender, remove from oven. Cool, then refrigerate over night. The next day, if there is any fat accumulated on top, remove it. Then remove the brisket, and cutting against the grain, slice. Return to pan until ready to serve. Reheat for 45 minutes at 350 when ready to serve. It is delicious, and the leftovers are great too.
Beef Brisket
5 pound beef brisket, trimmed of all visible fat
2 packages dry Lipton Soup mix (or similar)
2 cans coke
1 bag pearl onions, 1 bag of mini carrots
Place brisket in a roasting pan, sprinkle soup mix on top, add two cans of coke, and water to cover. Cover with foil and cook for 4 hours, turning after two hours. For the last 30 minutes add onions and carrots. When the brisket is fall apart tender, remove from oven. Cool, then refrigerate over night. The next day, if there is any fat accumulated on top, remove it. Then remove the brisket, and cutting against the grain, slice. Return to pan until ready to serve. Reheat for 45 minutes at 350 when ready to serve. It is delicious, and the leftovers are great too.
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