Avatars Of Our Community

 

Click the arrow to view PolyBore’s work.  A true innovative mind has produced a wonderful tribute to we web log writers.  Thank you very much!

In Search Of

Today I contemplate secret matters.  Private thoughts beginning to take shape in my mind.  That after all these years I would want to break away to find more inspiration.  To paint and write in a place of ambiance.  These walls close me in, just as the bars on a tigers cage.  The place I believed to be a haven of home has wrought my compliance and stilled much of my creative self.  Our Nation’s Capitol is like a stranger to me now.  People are gone and the new ones are so different.  It is an unfamiliar place … with a cold heart.  Everyone scurrying about in order to exist; trying to eek out a living and to hold on to their fading dreams.  The party’s over and it’s time to pack my bags and search for a place where I shall once again be treasured.  A place whereby my mind and heart will blossom like a spring flower.  A green valley with gentle rivers and relaxed artisans.  A place where food is a dinner to be appreciated and shared.  Just like a wonderful bottle of wine.  To be continued …

Happy Birthday Charlie!

Happy Birthday To You

Happy Birthday To You

Happy Birthday Dear Charlie

Happy Birthday To You!

Hey man this baby is ready to light up.  Baked Alaska for your celebration.  The inside is filled with chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream.  The cake layers and surroundings are in the shape of a boat.  Our Chef prepared this delightful creation and as you can see his piping of the meringue is exquisite. One can almost taste it.

My good friend Charlie is one of those, one-of-a-kind men, that after you have been introduced, you’ll never forget.  He has that quiet, soft humored, cultural dignity that comes from being a perfect gentleman.  Along with our good friends, Victor and Jim, they all three possess this same gentle trait.

We all met back when I was turning seventeen and that summer was one to remember.  Charlie, Victor, Jim, Bernadette, Peggy, Mike, Suzanne and I spent many fun times together.  You know, the times you share a dinner, a smoke, a drink of beer and intoxicating deep conversations.  Great music was forever being played over the radio and on the record player.  There was never a shortage of talented bands and artists back then.

Those summer days and many good times that we all shared over the years are treasured memories.  And keeping in touch is always a treat.  Happy birthday my dear friend.  Many happy returns.

Shortcake Tuesday

Strawberry shortcake in celebration for our good friend Andy Fanton.  Because he is across the big pond he will need to enjoy this electronically.  Toodle pip!

Makes Me Want To Holler TGIF !

Cookie Monster Wednesdays

Petit Fours Cookies

Sable Hollandaise
Light and Dark

Light:
8 oz butter softened
4 oz sugar
1 large egg
13 oz A.P. flour
1 pinch of salt
vanilla or lemon extract optional

Dark:
8 oz butter softened
4 oz sugar
1 large egg
vanilla extract
few drops red food coloring to batter
11 oz A.P. flour
2 oz cocoa powder —————–> sift together a few times
1 pinch of salt

1) Cream butter and sugar and add lemon extract.
2) Add egg and mix.
3) Add dry ingredients and mix.
4) Pre-shape the dough…frasiage.  Create two blocks the same size.

1/4 hotel sheet pan, parchment on bottom and dough on top.  Roll to get level, some thickness; cover and chill.

Bake 350º 8 to 10 minutes…until just set.  If baked TOO HOT they will distort.

Basic Sugar Cookies

6 oz butter softened
6 oz sugar
1 large egg
8 oz A. P. flour
1/2 t salt
1 t vanilla or almond extract to taste

1) Cream butter and sugar in mixer.
2) Add egg and vanilla.
3) Add dry ingredients and mix until just together.
4) Bring together by hand on table, using a little flour.
5) Wrap disk and chill.
6) Roll dough 1/8″ cookie cutter and sprinkle with sugar, parchment lined pan and chill cookies before baking.

Bake 350º about 12 minutes.  Light brown on edges and slightly brown on top.

Pissed Off Tuesday

There are certain people in this life that think they are above it all.  That means superior to the likes of you and me.  They seem to have a need to debate a subject, just for the sake of it.  I secretly believe that they do this to have conversation, or in order to stir things up.

Writing is best done whilst in a chair as it is easier to type this way.  However, after doing the wordsmith tango with a few of these instigators, I find that my temperature and temper starts to rise.  There comes a time when I could explode and reach through my monitor to squeeze their throats.  Just a wee bit, you understand.  Wouldn’t want to ever injure anyone, just stress my point … that not everyone thinks the way you do and that sometimes being an jerk is off-putting.

This photograph expresses the inner turmoil I sometimes feel when going head to head in these talks.  Like it is time to blast off and leave Earth for a time in order to find my sweet self.  I have no need to apologize for feeling this way, but I was raised to reflect a sunny disposition.  I suppose Sunny will be back tomorrow.  Time to blast off!

This morning I was using a tool to break a pill in half.  The plastic shield that covers the sharp razor slid down and I thought to pull the plastic back into position.  Unfortunately for me, I jammed my thumb into the razor’s edge and sliced into it really well.  OUCH!   Wasn’t my first thought and it took a good while to stop the bleeding and to try and keep pressure on it while attempting to wrap it and tape it with clear packing tape.  Afterward, I had to sit around holding my hand above my heart and applying pressure.  I guess it is time to cook dinner because my tummy is hungry.

Melancholy Mondays

Sometimes I drift into the world where there is only happiness and beautiful food.  Creating something delicious for others to appreciate and enjoy is one of the finest gifts I have had the pleasure to feel.  Unlike working in an office and the report you have been compiling for weeks is finally finished, food is an avenue whereby we can see, smell, desire, taste and be comforted by its blended complexities.

For those of you who have always wanted to produce quality foods, check your local listings for classes held by chefs that specialize in the types of cuisine you love the most.  Sign up for a few classes and gather with other cooks to watch demonstrations and hopefully, join in the chef presentations.  After a few classes, some teaching facilities will accept volunteers for upcoming classes.

The reason for todays title is that I really miss culinary school.  It was intense but every student had the same goals in mind.  There was a comraderie there that one will never find in professional kitchens.  That is … unless you are one of the very lucky few who tap into an environment that truly cares about their people, customers and especially the quality of their food.  Perhaps opening a school, on a small scale, would be worth my looking into.  Mainly I am interested in creating and working with very harmonious people.