Spicy Citrus Popcorn

Here's a great snack from The Lark, the hottest restaurant in Santa Barbara.  It's addictive.  I hope you like it.

                                 Spicy Citrus Popcorn

1 cup canola oil (225 grams)
1 cup popcorn kernels (225 grams)
1 tablespoon salt (7 grams)
1 teaspoon chili oil (5 grams)
2 teaspoons olive oil (10 grams)
Zest of 2 limes
Zest of 2 lemons
2 tablespoons cilantro (10 grams), chopped
½ teaspoon citric acid (2 grams)

Directions

1. In a wide, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat along with 2 or 3 individual popcorn kernels. When they pop, add the remaining kernels and cover.
2. Let the popcorn pop, shaking the covered pan frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the popping slows down.
3. Pour into a large bowl, toss with the remaining ingredients and serve.

1 cup canola oil (225 grams)
1 cup popcorn kernels (225 grams)
1 tablespoon salt (7 grams)
1 teaspoon Calabrian chile oil (5 grams)
2 teaspoons olive oil (10 grams)
Zest of 2 limes
Zest of 2 lemons
2 tablespoons cilantro (10 grams), chopped
½ teaspoon citric acid (2 grams)

Directions

1. In a wide, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat along with 2 or 3 individual popcorn kernels. When they pop, add the remaining kernels and cover.
2. Let the popcorn pop, shaking the covered pan frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the popping slows down.
3. Pour into a large bowl, toss with the remaining ingredients and serve.

Food Trends: Charcoal Lattes

Charcoal lattes are the next food trend, starting in the UK and parts of Asia, and now moving into the U.S.  The magic ingredient is activated charcoal, and is said to have major benefits to your health.  It can cleanse your digestive system.  It also reduces bloating and gas and increases energy.  It is also said to relieve a nasty hangover.  There are, however, some important things to consider before consuming a charcoal latte.

Activated charcoals is also used for drug overdoses and poisoning.  It is non discriminative and therefore can remove beneficial nutrients or medications as well as impurities.  It must be used in small doses.  Anyone who takes medications (probably everyone reading this blog) should avoid consumption of activated charcoal, according to some dieticians and nutritionists.  PLEASE, check with your doctor before making this drink or ordering it at a coffee bar.  Maybe this is a drink best enjoyed by the young and the healthy.  I don't know if it is served yet in San Diego, but you can find it on the menu in Chinatown in New York City at The Good Sort.  Below is a home recipe for it, if you dare.  Please, drink responsibly and check with your doctor before consuming.  I was all  ready to try it before I read about the negatives.  Proceed at your own risk.

Activated charcoal latte

3 cups of almond milk
1 tsp activated charcoal
2 tsp vanilla extract

Any sweetener, as desired

Heat all ingredients in a saucepan, then blend in blender until frothy.  Enjoy.

Dogs Helping People

Ron and I were in the Scripps Lab waiting for him to get blood drawn, and in walks a lady with a beautiful lab/golden retriever dog.  The dog was wearing a jacket identifying him as a canine companion in training.  The woman sat down and of course I started talking to her, wanting to hear all about her role in training a dog to help man.  She was happy to talk.

Although I never got the name of the organization she volunteered for, I do know this.  The organization trains and places canine companions to disabled and handicapped persons and wounded warriors.  They do not train dogs for the blind.  That is another organization.  These dogs, by the time their 18 months of training is completed, know dozens of commands that enable the dogs to assist persons in wheel chairs or walkers, the hard of hearing or those with any affliction that requires assistance.  The woman I talked with was raising her 13th canine companion.  She said that although it was difficult to give up a dog after working with one for 18 months, she knows that another puppy is just around the corner, waiting for her love and training.  Also, she knows that the dog she has just trained is going to a worthy person who is going to have years of love and assistance from the dog she has trained.  For many, a canine companion enables them to get back into society, out in the world, and live a complete and satisfying life.

Thank you to all the men and women that volunteer their time and expertise to making programs like this work.  They are truly making a difference!

The Brilliant of the Women Code Breakers of WW11

I took history in high school and college, yet never did I hear about the important role that women played in breaking code for America and its allies.  In 1944, the code-breakers intercepted 30,000 water transport messages a month, that they were able to solve through an intensive search for patterns and some "golden" guesses.  That information enabled the Navy to pinpoint and sink almost every supply ship heading to the Philippines or the South Pacific.  Additionally, before D-Day, the female teams of code breakers participated in the effort to give the Germans false information and fake radio traffic about the site of the Allied landing.

Why did we hear nothing about this for almost 70 years?  Partially because of the vow of secrecy each woman who entered the program took.  Recently, collections in the National Archives have been declassified, and surviving women, in their 90's have started to tell their stories.

Women were often recruited for this top secret endeavor from colleges, but some were also taken from the classroom.  New college graduates just starting a teaching career thought the prospect of learning code and helping the war effort exciting and patriotic.

Because of the excellent work of these unsung heroes, both the WAC's and WAVES were formed.  Army WAC's were accepted beginning in 1942, while Navy WAVES came along a bit later.  The Navy's female code-breakers had the opportunity to become commissioned officers.  They went to boot camp, cut their hair short, and were subject to harsh Navy discipline.  However, they loved the pride and camaraderie, and in a year there were 4,000 code-breakers at the WAVES barracks D, working three shifts a day, marching and singing, "I don't need a man to give me sympathy/Why I needed it before is a mystery."

Just as the book and movie Hidden Figures revealed the role of women, African American women, had played in the space program, Code Girls, by Lisa Mundy, reveals the important role women played in winning WW11.  Why we're just hearing about this now, I do not know.

Artisian Bread In Carlsbad

Looking for a good bakery in Carlsbad?  I've found one.  It's Praeger Brothers in Carlsbad.  Owned and operated by Clinton and Louie Praeger, born and bred in Carlsbad, it's a real find.  When they opened their business several years ago, their main focus was bread, and it became a big hit.  They began selling at local Farmers' Markets, and can now be found at outdoor markets in Carlsbad, La Jolla, Hillcrest, Little Italy, Vista and Escondido.  Their bread is also available at Jimbo's and Seaside Markets.  Since first opening a few years ago, they have expanded their products and their retail store.

I was there recently and bought delicious soft pretzels (New York style), French baguette, chocolate chip cookie and flatbread with pumpkin seeds.  They have beautiful loaves of wheat, rye and sour dough bread, in addition to croissants and several sweet bakery items.  Prager's retail store is open Monday-Saturday.  They have recently added sandwiches and drinks to their menu of items, so you can go for lunch and buy your baked goods for the week.

Prager Brothers is located just a few blocks from Faraday and El Camino Real, on Palmer St.  You'd never know it was there if someone didn't tell you about it.  You'll be glad you know if it.  The bread and baked goods are just delicious, and who doesn't want to support a local, independent business, that makes such a great product?

Do Dogs Get Colds?

The short answer is YES, but not from humans.  The colds that humans get are species -specific.  They can not catch a cold from other humans, but they can catch a cold.  I have had a least a dozen dogs over the course of my lifetime, and I don't ever remember one catching a cold.

As with most dog illnesses, lack of appetite and no desire to drink water, along with general lethargy, are cause for concern.  If your dog is sneezing, has watery eyes and a runny nose, he probably has a cold.  There are several canine viruses that dogs can contract.  If your dog does not get better in 7-10 days, seek medical advice.  In the meantime, keep your dog isolated from other dogs.  He is probably contagious, so no park or doggy play dates if he has cold symptoms.

So, humans get an average of 2-3 colds per year, and canines rarely, if ever get colds.  Go figure.

Impress Your Guests With Baked Apple Roses

They look impressive, they taste delicious, and they're so easy to make.  I got the recipe from my neighbor Max, who loves to cook.  He had guests for dinner last night, and besides a fabulous ciopppino, he made the apple roses for dessert.  Here's how to impress your guests with a dessert that looks like you've been in the kitchen all day.

                                      Baked Apple Roses

1 package Pepperidge Farms puffed pastry (or similar), defrosted
2 firm apples, halved, cored, and sliced thin.  Be sure to keep skin on.
melted butter
mixture of cinnamon and sugar

Place sliced apples on a plate and microwave for 45 seconds, or until apples are limp.  Take two pieces of the puffed pastry, and roll it into a long rectangle, about 3 inches wide.  Trim puff pastry and have 4 rectangles to fill.  Spread with melted butter or apricot jam, which has been heated to a thin consistency.  Layer the apples on the puff pastry, with about 1/2 inch of the skin over the puff pastry.   Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture. When you roll it up this will be the top of the rose, so red apples are good.  After covering the rectangle, fold the rest of the rectangle over the apples. Again, spread melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.  Now, start at one end and roll the puff pastry tightly, then seal the puff pastry at the end.  The tops of the apples should be exposed and look like a rose.  Place in a buttered muffin tin, cook at 400 degrees for 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown.  Cool and remove.  The result is a beautiful apple rose!  You can cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar, or serve with ice cream or whip cream.  Any way, it's a delicious dessert.