tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64363618920536940992024-03-13T09:51:31.070+00:00Godful Foodanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-71965754663789811092017-06-09T12:57:00.000+01:002017-06-09T12:57:11.466+01:00Less talked about<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }</style><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The storm started
with a flawless sky.
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">– It will pour
soon, take the raincoat, pronounced Anthony, eyes closed. The weather
service on the phone showed it would storm, he continued, his head
part of the pillow.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">– Really? I open
the balcony door to check. But it looks alright, clear and quiet, I
say incredulously.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">– They even graded
it code yellow, a warning.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">– A good storm
starts with a warning, I say, half-jokingly, and look through the
layers of winter jackets and trench coats. But I have to go, can't
see the raincoat here, and it doesn't look like any storm out there,
I add, grab my bicycle keys from the kitchen table. pull a ripe peach
from the fruit bowl for breakfast later (wonder if it's actually
going to be enough for breakfast; no, not really), and walk out. I
shut the door closed behind me on my tiptoes, always holding back a
little before the lock latch clicks. I'm stealth like that; no one
hears when I come and when I go.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I leave home when
the only light available is the flickering yellow of traffic signals.
(I've always wondered why the red and green go after midnight; life
on the road never ceases.) Away from the traffic lights and a
crossroad, I move past a lengthy stretch of rose bushes, the soft
sweet smell. I inhale noisily and it really gets into my head. I feel
a subtle tickle along my spine and up my neck and down into my legs,
like a buzz you get from a cigarette.
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Stifled air keeps
grating against my bare arms as I pedal. I look up; the eastern part
of the sky starts to loose its stars, becomes mellowed, starts to
lighten, comes down from a dark high.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The storm continues
with a loud pop, no, two. One from a window pried ajar by the wind,
the other from an overturned trash bin outside. I wash my hands clean
from the chocolate batter, rub them dry against my apron and rush out
to collect the scattered garbage bags on the pavement. In the thin
dawn light I can see the storm now. I mean, I can see the low
thunderclouds, they look like sand dunes. It's mesmerizing to see a
white and blue jet flying into one, a man-made mirage. By the time
I'm done gathering the egg shells that spilt from a loosely tied
trash bag, the back of my chef's jacket is soaked. The temperatures
have been in the upper twenties lately, no difference between the
inside and out- on the skin, so the wet cotton feels good, cooling.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Back inside, I check
the weather on my phone: heavy wind and showers for the next hour,
code yellow. I'm about to go and fix the open window, but then I get
a better idea. I'm going to have the peach now and watch the
rainwater form ellipses on the window sill. Half-way into my
breakfast, I realize, with a pang in my stomach, I don't have much
else for seconds. I was right, a peach wasn't going to be enough. I
try to distract myself from feeling the disappointment and think
about how many of the commuters will pour onto the streets any moment
now, see drenched roads and sidewalks and wonder if it's rained in
the night. I'm still hungry but I have seen the dune fields in the
sky, so.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In a week there will
be another code yellow. It will knock off the trees, disrupt the
traffic, make the news. It will hold on for over a day and everyone
will know of it – the first summer storm of the year. To me it will
smell like damp cow shit in the pre-dawn air – I prefer storms less
talked about. But whatever, I'll pack a bigger breakfast at least.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zwZWCD7H4Iiaof4SW7SjyLW6lGi5AN8iqTDJFPs7iNazmCKhcqH0BDGc23-H5In-dTT2LaBdt5CzztnIJXnbzYrGtnTawxLXe2xMJovSSJH0sMyiex6394dzdzDngyoUT83XEpwrKKc/s1600/IMG_1571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zwZWCD7H4Iiaof4SW7SjyLW6lGi5AN8iqTDJFPs7iNazmCKhcqH0BDGc23-H5In-dTT2LaBdt5CzztnIJXnbzYrGtnTawxLXe2xMJovSSJH0sMyiex6394dzdzDngyoUT83XEpwrKKc/s400/IMG_1571.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Olive Oil and
White Wine Cake</b></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>Makes one 24-cm
(9-icnh) loaf cake</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I
wrote about this cake <a href="http://godfulfood.blogspot.nl/2009/11/believe-it-or-not.html">before</a>. In November of two thousand and nine,
to be exact. Lately I've found myself making it with a renewed zeal,
and in doing so there have appeared a few tricks that make this cake
even better, which is a long-ish sentence to simply say I'd like to
talk about it again here. (Hi, Maud!)</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">First,
in place of neutral vegetable oil I now use extra-virgin olive oil.
It lends a level of sophistication to the cake, adds to it a pleasant
savouriness. It shouldn't be anything too crazy, the
olive oil. Something fruity would be best.
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Second,
regarding </span><span style="font-style: normal;">white</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
wine,</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> it should be dry and
fragrant </span><span style="font-style: normal;">(</span><span style="font-style: normal;">and
not too expens</span><span style="font-style: normal;">i</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ve</span><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span><span style="font-style: normal;">.</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">A C</span><span style="font-style: normal;">hardonnay
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">or Pinot Grigio</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">will blend in well </span><span style="font-style: normal;">with
olive oil</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> and you'd still </span><span style="font-style: normal;">be
able to </span><span style="font-style: normal;">taste the wine after
baking. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">For </span><span style="font-style: normal;">a
little more wine</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> flavour,
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">because why not,</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
I pour a few tablespoon of white wine over the cake top when it's out
of the oven.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I
don't remember if I emphasized </span><span style="font-style: normal;">before</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
how good and unusual this cake is, so let me do it </span><span style="font-style: normal;">again
now. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">It's a simple recipe,
but it yields a way more complex outcome, with the most moist crumb
out there. I'm pretty sure of that. You probably wouldn't know what
to expect after the first contact. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">There
is a possibility</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal;">y</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ou'd
be wondering if this is a savoury business or sweet. I'd say it's
both as far as a cake could allow, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">a
mix of olive oil and white wine in a sweet batter.</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">A delectable </span><span style="font-style: normal;">happy</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
thing that won't</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal;">easily</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
bore </span><span style="font-style: normal;">you </span><span style="font-style: normal;">out.
</span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">3
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">large eggs, at room
temperature</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">¼
teaspoon table salt</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">300
g light brown sugar</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">180
ml extra-virgin olive oil</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">180
ml white wine, plus more for after baking (see above)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">300
g unbleached all-purpose flour</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">1
Tablespoon baking powder</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Preheat
the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Grease
a 24-cm loaf pan.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Separate
the eggs. Add the salt to the egg white.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">In
the bowl of a stand mixer (or using a hand-held mxer), beat the egg
yolks together with the sugar at high speed until light and fluffy,
about 2 minutes. Lower the speed and mix in the olive oil until
incorporated; then add the white wine and mix until fully blended. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Combine
the flour and baking powder together, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">add
to the white wine mixture. Mix well.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Whisk
the egg whites until stiff. Using a rubber spatula, carefully fold
them into the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and
bake until golden brown, about 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick
inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the
oven and pour a few more tablespoon of the white wine over the top.
Let cool completely before taking out of the pan.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Wrapped
in cling film, it will keep wondrously moist and fragrant for up to a
week.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Goes
great, like it should, with Earl Grey tea or black coffee, or plain,
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">storms or no storms.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span>
</div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-82732686909352762792017-04-30T19:41:00.001+01:002017-05-08T19:12:21.312+01:00Familiar but different<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; </style><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">smells of black tea leaves,<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> steeped and left <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">since dinner in the pot on the kitchen counter<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. The nig<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ht</span> air<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm at knifepoint<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and yet <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm mostly concerned that my feet are cold. I cringe.</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– It really feels
it should be a different time of year, don't you think? I say to a
man who is about to, what, rob me? I'm really cold, I add. I draw out
'really' and shuffle from one foot to the other. It's close to
freezing. My eyes are watering from a flu.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– Where have you
been? The man asks me.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm looking at his
sharp jawline first, then at the knife blade at my throat. It's
beautiful, engraved with a female silhouette. I feel more relief when
I notice the birthmark on his neck, right above where the collar of
his shirt grips it tightly. It's dark out, but I can make out its
color – merlot. A wine stain on the pristine white tablecloth. I
saw it before.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– I know you, I
say slowly and pause after 'you'.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Suddenly there is a
shriek, and another, they are coming from around the corner. It's
loud and unexpected and makes me jump. Take it easy, must be a sea
gull, he says and pulls away the knife. It sounds human to me, like
someone is laughing, I say and look around. There is no one in sight.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– I know you do.
Is there something you wanted to tell me last time?</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I know the man, I'm
sure now. Before, I sat next to him on the train. He was asleep and
his phone kept ringing. I remember he had on a nice perfume –
citrus fruit and incense smoke. I was studying his exposed neck. It
felt intruding but exciting to be so near to someone's live artery
and stare at it uninterruptedly and with impunity. The birthmark was
close to it.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– You smelled of
knives, I wanted to tell you then.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– Why knives?</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– My metaphor for
danger, I guess.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– I would have
liked to hear that. What stopped you?</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– I woke up.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Another shriek,
strong enough to shatter glass. Someone is patting me on the
shoulder, asks me if I'm O.K.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– Wake up, Anya,
wake up. Are you O.K.?</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I open my eyes; my
forehead is covered in sweat. Anthony is sitting on the edge of the
bed, looking concerned. It's getting light out, close to a sunrise.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– I had a strange
dream, really strange, I say to him, drawing out 'really' again.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– <span style="font-style: normal;">I'm
making coffee. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I think you'd
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">like some?</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARMFDfLOFnF34e_51wscW7PGw4o2-7vVmuusd2FJw_1ydyfk9iLFoG8HjfmL3zE9aukm51UV9uUgQE5seTopyxHwXrukOOi70rTsIuATlOlwPe5_CtENRWMH2CsqQOHy-meBLovSYF6A/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgARMFDfLOFnF34e_51wscW7PGw4o2-7vVmuusd2FJw_1ydyfk9iLFoG8HjfmL3zE9aukm51UV9uUgQE5seTopyxHwXrukOOi70rTsIuATlOlwPe5_CtENRWMH2CsqQOHy-meBLovSYF6A/s400/image2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Bitter
Orange and Walnut Bars (Mabroosha)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
Adapted from <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gaza-Kitchen-Palestinian-Culinary-Journey/dp/1682570088/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=VFBV8CQCM9PF403BC085">The Gaza Kitchen</a>, </i>by Laila El-Haddad and Maggie
Schmitt</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Makes about 24 pieces</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This one here is a very interesting recipe, no need to draw out
'interesting' – only, maybe, 'very'. Interesting because in essence
it's a crumble kind of thing, except that all crumbles I know of are
butter-based, and for <i>mabroosha</i> a combination of butter and
olive oil is used, with a bigger emphasis on olive oil than butter. I
like recipes like this: familiar but different.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Also, try to say <i>mabroosha</i> and not feel comforted by the sound
at the same time, a bunch of consonants and vowels that conspire to
sound, to me, like <i>babushka.</i><i> </i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Actually, <i>mabroosha </i>means 'grated' in Arabic, and that's
because the recipe will have you grate half of the dough over the jam
and nuts. It's good if you have a medium-sized cheese grater for it.
Bitter orange marmalade is a tradition choice, but any kind of jam
can be used for<i> mabroosha.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_Jlf9kgjWLm9_bROsWQd8gfk9oQ9K6_GZn8ESN6eAdkbH2yNBOn2rdcIQoi9sYZrMqcYeCyd_WrVipS9kFqSLof1tuCmBnQOWmUNEKFogTuYPAerA2ZO6FPUp135sFAneVdFvukIovo/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_Jlf9kgjWLm9_bROsWQd8gfk9oQ9K6_GZn8ESN6eAdkbH2yNBOn2rdcIQoi9sYZrMqcYeCyd_WrVipS9kFqSLof1tuCmBnQOWmUNEKFogTuYPAerA2ZO6FPUp135sFAneVdFvukIovo/s400/image1.JPG" width="287" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Of course it goes very well with coffee. It crunches pleasantly under
the teeth, and has soft pockets of jam, is sweet but olive oil pulls
it a little towards savoury, plus cinnamon, orange zest and
rosewater, it's got a lot of good stuff, this great little <i>mabroosha</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">380 g (3 cups) all-purpose flour</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">220 g (1 cup) sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Pinch of salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">60 g (4 Tablespoons) butter, softened to room temperature</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
180 ml (¾ cup) olive oil</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2 medium eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 Tablespoon rosewater</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
2 teaspoons orange zest</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">160 g (1 ½ cup) bitter orange marmalade</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">100 g (1 cup) finely chopped walnuts</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
½ teaspoon cinnamon
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F). Thoroughly grease a 33 x 23 cm (13
x 9 inch) rectangular pan.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mix together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. To this, add
the butter, olive oil, eggs, rosewater and orange zest. Knead
together until they are well combined. The resulting dough should not
be sticky. If the dough appears too crumbly, add a little more
rosewater. If it appears to be too wet, add a little more flour.
Divide the dough into two equal parts.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Using the palm of your hand, spread out one part of the dough in the
prepared pan. Spread the jam or marmalade evenly over the dough. Mix
the walnuts with the cinnamon and top the dough with this nut
mixture. Using a medium-sized cheese grate, shred the remaining dough
evenly over the jam and nuts.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bake for 30 to 40 mi<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">n<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">utes or<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> until the crumbs are sli<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ghtly golden and the jam is bubbling out. Let it cool, then divide it into bars.</span></span></span></span> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-47246250941281268202017-01-31T22:13:00.000+00:002017-02-06T08:18:46.414+00:00Here is another scene<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }</style><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here is a scene. I'm
in a small town on the Black Sea coast, on summer holidays with Mom.
We are having lunch at a roadside restaurant near the beach. We just
ordered and while waiting I'm thinking what to write on a postcard
for Dad. He is back home working, toiling, through the hottest month,
July. I aim to be funny and write that nothing over here, like our
laundry or hair, ever completely dries out. It's humid over here,
Dad. I capitalize 'humid' to make a point. Also, I add, Georgian food
is the best. I underscore 'the best'. I'm having <i>lobio </i>for
lunch. I'm twelve years-old here; a summer sea breeze tickles my knees. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here is another scene. I put two kitchen towels wrapped around ice cubes
onto my knees. Anthony drapes a blanket over my shoulders, hands me a
bowl of warmed stewed beans. My face is streaked with tears.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I caught a cab to
get home. The car moves fast through the late-afternoon traffic. The
driver, who<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span>is young, turns on the wipers and checks his phone at
the traffic lights. I think he notices in the rear window that I've
been sobbing. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– Is something
wrong? he asks.
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– No, no,
everything is alright.
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I really don't want
to be crying, it's involuntary. It could have been worse, this is
probably nothing, stop sobbing, it's embarrassing, I tell to myself.
I underscore 'embarrassing' and highlight 'nothing' in my mind's eye.
It's green and the car jolts and starts moving fast again. It knives
through the rain.
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anthony returns a
call. I phoned him ten minutes ago or something like that to ask for
help.
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– What happened?
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I came off my bike –
my foot slipped off the wet pedal. I lost control, was on the ground
in an instant. <span style="font-style: normal;">I wince at the image
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">of my knees hitting the
cobbled road, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">feel the lines
on my forehead gather into a tense </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and
busy</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> intersection.</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">I notice a rip in my jeans
sleeve, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">a</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">few frilly dark threads are
sticking out. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I took a taxi
back home, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I say, the
steering wheel is badly bent, and the knees are starting to ache like
hell, something similar to when a dentist hits a nerve ending with
his drill. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I hang up, the </span><span style="font-style: normal;">cab
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">driver asks if I want to go
to the hospital first. </span>
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– <span style="font-style: normal;">No,
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">it's probably </span><span style="font-style: normal;">OK</span><span style="font-style: normal;">,
I tell him. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">The forehead
lines and eyebrows conspire into a frown now; </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
really don't want his </span><span style="font-style: normal;">attention.</span>
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">W</span><span style="font-style: normal;">hen
I get home, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">the ice cubes are
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ready to go,</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
wrapped up into the kitchen towels. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
pull off the jeans and sit down on the couch, two cushions under the
knees – to straighten them now is beyond my willpower. In a little
while the ice feels too cold to tolerate, I take a break. I eat the
Georgian bean and walnuts stew that Anthony warmed up for dinner,
</span><i>amolesili lobio</i><span style="font-style: normal;">. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
take a spoonful and the mouth is instantly comforted by the rich and
creamy. And in my mind I'm twelve again, sitting at the roadside
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">Georgian </span><span style="font-style: normal;">cafe,
writing the postcard for Dad. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
can almost feel the </span><span style="font-style: normal;">warm</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
sea </span><span style="font-style: normal;">breeze too.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2kfBeI4ffh3mLaVge1rcpmsJ1LmZ0_YWqKU8vPcmG03kL9j-zHipJubUN_hvX1ynL71Kw-GmXR_2BF-GPKaguOjX8n9diQDema1PXTMXZU9lXrDI6GBNlmRHgg0-SsCny2fmVej0l7Q/s1600/IMG_1186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2kfBeI4ffh3mLaVge1rcpmsJ1LmZ0_YWqKU8vPcmG03kL9j-zHipJubUN_hvX1ynL71Kw-GmXR_2BF-GPKaguOjX8n9diQDema1PXTMXZU9lXrDI6GBNlmRHgg0-SsCny2fmVej0l7Q/s400/IMG_1186.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-style: normal;">A</span><span style="font-style: normal;">molesili
Lobio (Stewed Red Beans and Walnuts)</span></b>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Adapted
from </span></span><a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Amolesili-Lobio-Stewed-Red-Beans-and-Walnuts"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Saveur</span></i></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Serves 6-8
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Back
in time (USSR) they used to say that Georgian, bold, fresh, spicy,
was the best Russian cuisine. </span><i>Lobio </i><span style="font-style: normal;">means
'beans' in Georgian, and there is an infinite number of recipes for
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">it out </span><span style="font-style: normal;">there,
from slow-cooked stews to crushed-bean salads. I </span><span style="font-style: normal;">favor</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
this </span><span style="font-style: normal;">version</span><span style="font-style: normal;">:
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">it's rich </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and
earthy, beautifully colored, not quite purple and not quite red,
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">highly aromatic. Heed </span><span style="font-style: normal;">the
walnuts here: they enrich the stew and they freshen it too, similar
to a cucumber's job in a stir-fry</span><span style="font-style: normal;">.
</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">W</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ithout
further ado:</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">1</span><span style="font-style: normal;">00
g toasted walnuts</span>
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">½
cup olive oil</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">6
cloves garlic, finely chopped
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1
medium carrot, finely chopped</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1
large yellow onion, finely chopped
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1
small red chile, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1
medium leek, finely chopped
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">2</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
teaspoons whole coriander seeds</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1
teaspoon hot paprika
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">450
g dried dark red kidney beans, soaked overnight and drained</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3
L water (or chicken or vegetable stock)
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">½
cup finely chopped cilantro</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">½
cup </span><span style="font-style: normal;">finely</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
chopped </span><span style="font-style: normal;">dill</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">½
cup finely chopped </span><span style="font-style: normal;">flat-leaf
parsley</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2
Tablespoons red wine vinegar
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Salt
and black pepper, to taste</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Place
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">the</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
walnuts and half the olive oil in a food processor. Puree until very
smooth, about 2 minutes, and set aside.</span>
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Heat
the remaining oil in a large heavy-bottom saucepan over </span><span style="font-style: normal;">a
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">medium heat. Add the garlic,
carrots, onions, chile, and leek. Cook, stirring occasionally, until
golden, about 10 minutes. Add the coriander seeds and paprika, and
cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. </span>
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Add
the beans and water, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a bare
simmer and cook, uncovered, until the beans are very tender and the
cooking liquid has reduced </span><span style="font-style: normal;">enough
to </span><span style="font-style: normal;">cover the beans by a
fingertip, about 2 – 2 ½ hours Using a ladle, transfer half of the
beans to a blender. Puree until smooth and return to the pot. Stir in
the walnut puree, cilantro, dill, parsley, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Serve with country-style bread on the side. </span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Refrigerated,
keeps well for up to 5 days.</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }</style><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%;</style></div>
</div>
</div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-34596567894418597702016-11-30T22:22:00.002+00:002016-12-01T09:39:13.655+00:00Tell more<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }</style> </div>
<span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Code yellow' is
beginning with a bunch of dry leaves blowing across the bike path and
rolling over the glistening sidewalk. The scratching sound they leave
behind is the only chord the first badass storm of the season is
offering right now. It's 4.30 am. At 4 am, midst my half-burnt toast
and coffee for breakfast, I got a warning on my phone of the imminent
severe wind – and that users of 'fragile' means of transportation
such as bicycles, scooters and caravans may be at risk.
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Another
duo of</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> leaves perform a
circus </span><span style="font-style: normal;">stunt. A synchronized,
uninterrupted somersault from one side of the bike path to the other.
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">At 4.45 am </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I'm
their sole spectator, albeit in a rush to get to work on time. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
feel annoyed with my </span><span style="font-style: normal;">bike – it's stuck on the lowest gear</span><span style="font-style: normal;">.
I </span><span style="font-style: normal;">take it out </span><span style="font-style: normal;">on
the pedal</span><span style="font-style: normal;">s, push harder on
them.</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal;">A
block further </span><span style="font-style: normal;">it</span><span style="font-style: normal;">'s
starting to drizzle, a soft </span><span style="font-style: normal;">infrequent</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
drizzle </span><span style="font-style: normal;">for now</span><span style="font-style: normal;">,
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">and</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">even </span><span style="font-style: normal;">quite
pleasant </span><span style="font-style: normal;">on the skin.</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">take a turn,</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
and suddenly – a loud, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">low
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">bang </span><span style="font-style: normal;">of</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
thunder, the </span><span style="font-style: normal;">next </span><span style="font-style: normal;">chord
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">in line.</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">I'm </span><span style="font-style: normal;">about
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">fifteen minutes away from
wor</span><span style="font-style: normal;">k and </span><span style="font-style: normal;">the
risen loaves of bread (plump and soft, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">not unlike a young woman's
breast), </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and the warmth of the
bread oven.</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
push the pedals harder, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I can
make it, past the light installation that says in tall red electric letters MEMORIES ARE SOUVENIRS, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">just go go,</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">fast fast.</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">4
pm. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">'</span><span style="font-style: normal;">Code
yellow' </span><span style="font-style: normal;">ends</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">with a phone call from </span><span style="font-style: normal;">my
parents</span><span style="font-style: normal;">. </span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– <span style="font-style: normal;">Are
you safe? We read on the internet about the storm, worried now, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">my
mother says.</span></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– <span style="font-style: normal;">Yes,
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">we are fine</span><span style="font-style: normal;">.</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
I j</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ust got b</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ack
home from work. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">It's calming
down now. I'm m</span><span style="font-style: normal;">aking cookies.
</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– <span style="font-style: normal;">What
cookies? </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Tell more.</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwT386wENAmrZ8Uz1JS-8SQ_ZUH3yDfo4-WspN-7Xnb1EoGdOA9KIf3lMZuzvZ-L76QkMQ-esUyAnP2QaTgAuYMfP2BosYXo_Adj8sG7lyxtGbX-gwMnPtacyFlj2SOoqHt4Sb_G4KNNM/s1600/IMG_0868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwT386wENAmrZ8Uz1JS-8SQ_ZUH3yDfo4-WspN-7Xnb1EoGdOA9KIf3lMZuzvZ-L76QkMQ-esUyAnP2QaTgAuYMfP2BosYXo_Adj8sG7lyxtGbX-gwMnPtacyFlj2SOoqHt4Sb_G4KNNM/s400/IMG_0868.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-style: normal;">Nutbutter
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">C</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ookies</span></b>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Adapted from </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sourdough-Recipes-Rustic-Fermented-Savories/dp/1611802385"><i>Sourdough</i></a><span style="font-style: normal;">,
by Sarah Owens</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Makes
about 60-65 cookies</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">You
know </span><i>Lebkuchen</i><span style="font-style: normal;">, that
old-fashioned German gingerbread? I bet these nutbutter cookies will
remind you of it. And possibly of oatmeal cookies. And most certainly
of spice cookies. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">And if
that's not enough, here is more: they are sourdough cookies.
Sourdough nutbutter cookies!</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I
understand </span><span style="font-style: normal;">that</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
to make </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and keep alive </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><a href="http://godfulfood.blogspot.nl/2016/10/quite-near.html">your own sourdough starter</a> for cookies alone, however delicious, is a big
ask. But if you already have one, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">w</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ouldn't
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">you</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">then </span><span style="font-style: normal;">want
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">a</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
great breakfast cookie </span><span style="font-style: normal;">–
because it's great for breakfast, crumbled over a bowl of thick
yogurt, or along with coffee and a cold tangerine on the side – </span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">for winter </span><span style="font-style: normal;">months
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">at least</span><span style="font-style: normal;">?</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">W</span><span style="font-style: normal;">hat
nut butter to use is the </span><span style="font-style: normal;">subject
of taste.</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> I myself gravitate
towards milder nut butters – such as almond or cashew – for
these cookies. This way all elements at play </span><span style="font-style: normal;">are
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">more</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">noticeable</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
in </span><span style="font-style: normal;">the outcome</span><span style="font-style: normal;">:
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">earthy
rye flour; </span><span style="font-style: normal;">n</span><span style="font-style: normal;">utty, nearly milky oats; </span><span style="font-style: normal;">deep,
smoky maple syrup; s</span><span style="font-style: normal;">oothing cinnamon and exotic
nutmeg. </span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">By
the way, if the presence of sourdough in the cookie evokes the
notions of acidity, I'll hasten to say this is really not the case
here. The sourdough starter is first mixed with water and rye flour
to form such a pre-ferment that leaves no traces of acidity in the
cookie dough. </span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>For the leaven
(pre-ferment)</i>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">20
g sourdough starter</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">50
g very warm water (40 C)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">70
g rye flour</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>For the cookie
dough</i>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">140
g leaven (pre-ferment)</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">2
large eggs</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">60
g maple syrup</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">½
teaspoon baking soda</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">1/8
teaspoon table salt</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">½
teaspoon ground cinnamon</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">¼
teaspoon ground nutmeg</span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">480
g </span><span style="font-style: normal;">good-quality </span><span style="font-style: normal;">nut
butter of choice (almond, cashew, hazelnut, etc)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">120
g unrefined cane sugar</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">1
vanilla bean, seeds only</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">30
g rolled oats</span>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>To make the
leaven (pre-ferment):</i>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Eight
hours before making the cookies, mix together the starter and water
in a medium non-reactive </span><span style="font-style: normal;">bowl</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
(wooden, plastic or stainless steel). Add the rye flour, mix with
your hand until hydrated and stiff then cover with plastic. Leave to
ferment at room temperature. Once it's puffy and smelling of honeyed
fruit, you can mix it into the dough or keep refrigerated up to
several days before using.</span></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>To make the
cookie dough:</i>
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Preheat
the oven to 175 C (350 F). Add the eggs and maple syrup to the leaven
and mix well with your hand. The mixture will look split, but it will
come together once the remaining ingredients have been added.
Sprinkle the baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg over the top,
stir to incorporate. Mash in the nut butter, sugar and vanilla seeds,
and then fold in the oats. If the dough feels a little runny,
refrigerate it for about an hour.
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Form
the dough, about a teaspoon's worth, into small balls, and
place onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Don't overcrowd it, bake
about 12-15 cookies at a time. (At this point you can also
refrigerate the dough, covered with plastic, for up to two days.)
Using a fork, press the balls gently to flatten into 4-cm disks. Dip
your fork in (rye) flour before each cookie to prevent it from
sticking to the dough.
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bake
for 7 to 8 minutes, rotating the sheet halfway through, until the
edges just begin to appear firm. Do not over<span style="text-decoration: none;">bake.
Let cool on a wire rack. These will keep well in an airtight
container at room temperature for 4 to 5 days.</span></span></div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-68610767525200782002016-10-31T21:11:00.000+00:002016-11-01T08:38:15.061+00:00Quite near<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }</style><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Downstairs a drama
is unfolding.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In my bedroom there
is a mosquito on the window, it makes thumping sounds as it runs into
the glass, in angular curves, like the ones on a cardiogram, moves
from one corner to the next. I'm in bed, arms under a pillow, and I'm
watching it. There is not much choice for the mosquito to go
elsewhere, the window is closed. I'd give it a moment before it will
sense there is warm blood on the pillow, an easy reach. The sky is
all grey, thick grey, it makes the mosquito look grey too.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A man with a pistol
walks out of the hallway, starts to pace in front of the building.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The wine last night
has left me with the disinclination to get out of bed too early. It
was a good red, too good to stop at a glass. I baked a loaf of
Russian rye and there were well-aged Dutch farmer's cheese, butter, a
couple of soft-boiled eggs that trod on the edge of hard, and the
remnants of an OK<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, </span>store-bought roast chicken. We both agreed we could
have made a better chicken ourselves, but we'd been too hungry to
wait I suppose. Anyway, all that was dinner, and it was delicious. We
had it on the floor, with the balcony door open, 'a picnic'. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCuBCEMExwN26R0SD24h7EIc_BmNzZb2B8O-MzSsUJcoWj7EFtvnRJWffHXg_5JhvXeizyEOjVwyclz7h6vvvFYQD9glS2Ttx6UeTFoe3Dmb3bWTDX76n3vgoxKv1lClFPK4-S8dPCcg/s1600/IMG_0714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCuBCEMExwN26R0SD24h7EIc_BmNzZb2B8O-MzSsUJcoWj7EFtvnRJWffHXg_5JhvXeizyEOjVwyclz7h6vvvFYQD9glS2Ttx6UeTFoe3Dmb3bWTDX76n3vgoxKv1lClFPK4-S8dPCcg/s400/IMG_0714.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Downstairs police
cars are everywhere, a security cordon around the entrance. The man
has fired the pistol. Sirens break through the glass, come to a halt
quite near. I wonder what may be wrong, eyes tracking the mosquito's
ups and downs along the window frame.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The phone buzzes,
but it's so far away, on the computer desk. The thought of getting up
and out from under the warm blanket isn't so agreeable right now,
it's my free day after six days of work. I'll get out of bed when the
mosquito has finally reached me, I'm thinking. The phone buzzes
again, makes me curious. I'm now willing the mosquito to finally get
close enough to be annoying, so I have a good reason to make a move
myself. Now it starts ringing. I'm getting up.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's 12 p.m. on the
phone clock, plus two messages and a missed call from Anthony. <i>There
is a shooting right in front of our building, </i><span style="font-style: normal;">says
one, and </span><span style="font-style: normal;">a </span><span style="font-style: normal;">link
to a </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Dutch </span><span style="font-style: normal;">news
site in the other. I stare at the phone screen, make out that at
least no one is injured.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I
sit back down on the bed to call back Anthony. We exchange a few
incredulous </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">can<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-you-believe-its</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;">.
After I hang up I reach for a newspaper by the bed and swat at the
mosquito. Got him. Then </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
open the window </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and </span><span style="font-style: normal;">go
to the kitchen. I set the kettle on </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and
a</span><span style="font-style: normal;">s I wait I cut a </span><span style="font-style: normal;">thick</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
slice of the rye bread </span><span style="font-style: normal;">from
last night </span><span style="font-style: normal;">to go with my
coffee. I'll spread honey on it now.</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">It's my favourite </span><span style="font-style: normal;">most
comforting</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> Russian bread --
Borodyns</span><span style="font-style: normal;">k</span><span style="font-style: normal;">y.
</span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-style: normal;">B</span><span style="font-style: normal;">orodyns</span><span style="font-style: normal;">k</span><span style="font-style: normal;">y
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">Bread</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Adapted from </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bread-Matters-Modern-Definitive-Baking/dp/0740773739"><i>Bread Matters</i></a><span style="font-style: normal;">, by Andrew Whitley</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Makes
1 </span><span style="font-style: normal;">large </span><span style="font-style: normal;">sandwich
loaf</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">This
is a beautiful bread: </span><span style="font-style: normal;">hearty,
moist, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">dark, dense, intensely
sour </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and </span><span style="font-style: normal;">flavoured
with coriander seeds. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Somebody
I know even compared it to beer, something to do with the floral
coriander seeds.</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> It's
certainly the most consumed bread in Russia, I grew up on it. Some
time ago a great idea </span><span style="font-style: normal;">descended
on </span><span style="font-style: normal;">me to make my own
Borodynsky.</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Now
I have a t</span><span style="font-style: normal;">u</span><span style="font-style: normal;">b
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">with </span><span style="font-style: normal;">rye
sourdough starter in the fridge, I'm starting to think of </span><span style="font-style: normal;">it</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
as a pet, I only need to name it. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A</span><span style="font-style: normal;">lriiiiight. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVBBDQTFzf3xsdE_wYSjMkPHx9sHs3G3WViRkS-RdUhSIaprLQbYm6nwVekjk_pMYTJUr0XhQbUi793aofmxKaiEGbDw6dvVTTz4PUUIqYmhYaMMdsRO7QSosHcGj56yMlSlR-7vRj0A/s1600/IMG_0784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVBBDQTFzf3xsdE_wYSjMkPHx9sHs3G3WViRkS-RdUhSIaprLQbYm6nwVekjk_pMYTJUr0XhQbUi793aofmxKaiEGbDw6dvVTTz4PUUIqYmhYaMMdsRO7QSosHcGj56yMlSlR-7vRj0A/s400/IMG_0784.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The
process is really straightforward. You need the aforementioned rye
sourdough starter that will require four days to fully come to life.
Then you make a production sourdough, which is going to be more
active than the starter itself, and which will be used, as the name
suggests, for the production of the bread. And then you make the </span><span style="font-style: normal;">main
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">dough. Frankly, it's almost a
one-bowl operation, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">save for
a tu</span><span style="font-style: normal;">b and a loaf tin. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>For the rye
sourdough starter</i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">100
g dark rye flour</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">200
g very warm water (40 C)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>For the
production sourdough</i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">100
g rye sourdough starter</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">300
g dark rye flour</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">600
g very warm water (40 C)</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>For the dough</i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">540
g production sourdough (the rest can be mixed into the sourdough
starter as a “feed”)</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">460
g dark rye flour</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">10
g fine sea salt</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">40
g unsulphured molasses</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">180
g warm water </span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">2
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">teaspoons</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
whole coriander seeds, divided use</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>To make the rye
sourdough starter: </i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">On
day 1 mix 25 g of dark rye flour with 50 g of warm water in a large
jar or a plastic tub with a lid. Keep out of the fridge. On day 2,3,4
continue adding another 25 g of dark rye flour and 50 g of warm
water. The starter will get a little bubbly, and that's of course a
very good thing. After the last feeding let the starter ferment for
another 24 hours out of the fridge before moving on to the next step
to make the production sourdough.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>To make the
production sourdough:</i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Mix
100 g of the rye sourdough starter with the dark rye flour and warm
water in a large plastic tub. The rest of the rye sourdough starter
can be stored in the fridge, and fed with 25 g of dark rye flour and
50 g of warm water once every 2-3 days, and at least 24 hours ahead
of your next Borodynsky loaf. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Let
the production starter ferment, out of the fridge and for about 12
hours. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Place</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
a bowl under</span><span style="font-style: normal;">neath</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
the tub in the (likely) event the production starter overflows; it
will get very bubbly.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>To make the
dough:</i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Thoroughly
oil a bread loaf tin about </span><span style="font-style: normal;">23
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">x </span><span style="font-style: normal;">13
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">cm. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of
slightly crushed coriander seeds over the bottom of the tin.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">In
a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together. It will be a very
sticky mass. Wet your hands and place the mixture in the tin. Even
it out, cover loosely (a clean plastic bag works well) and leave to
prove until the dough has increased in size by about one third. This
can take up to 4-5 hours.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Preheat
the oven to 220 C. When the dough is ready, sprinkle another teaspoon
of lightly crushed coriander seeds over the top. Bake for 10 minutes,
then turn the oven down to 200 C and bake for further 40 minutes.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Remove
from the oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before turning out onto a
wire rack. If necessary, <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">r</span>un a sh<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">arp</span> knife along the sides of the tin to ease the bread out<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. </span>Cool completely before storing (wrapped in cling film).
Borodyn</span><span style="font-style: normal;">s</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ky
is best the day after baking. </span></span>
</div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-88431395602831385852016-09-30T18:39:00.001+01:002016-10-01T03:43:05.051+01:00So many more<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It starts with an unusual sound – I would have easily mistaken it for a candy foil wrapper.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– How strange, Anthony says looking out of the window across the narrow courtyard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– What's that? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– I can see the curtains moving about in the apartment across, and last night I saw the shadows and heard the clanking of the cutlery, but I can't see who lives there, the actual figures, not the outlines, you know. Such a difference from Amsterdam.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– It's an Eastern European thing, I contemplate from the kitchen table where I laid out a couple postcards we picked up at a souvenir shop in the old town last night. Your coffee is getting cold, I say then pour fresh boiling water into another cup and drown in it two full teaspoons of instant coffee for myself. The taste isn't that great but it does the job, hurries up the brain alright. I take a sip and think of what to write on the postcard we are going to post to ourselves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Next to my coffee I have fresh prune plums, we bought a kilo at the market nearby yesterday. I pick one from a bowl on the kitchen counter, it's small and roughly oval, I look at it before biting into. I expect its thin purple skin to snap under my teeth which will then go on to sink into the juicy glass-green flesh. I'm right about that. I take another, this one looks like a misshapen rain drop. I'll probably end up eating at least a dozen now.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2xFygmWjnmfF_ttxRWzlU0YZehq2nMuJfsnGhzW52Qr-sOOaZYKewO8Jcm9G11feCmMziqmZklr_XlIHOVl8qd1fu1RDD_c7_EzLKQJtAicpkb9x059iGAexh4z84qjp_e62GLoG7Ms/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2xFygmWjnmfF_ttxRWzlU0YZehq2nMuJfsnGhzW52Qr-sOOaZYKewO8Jcm9G11feCmMziqmZklr_XlIHOVl8qd1fu1RDD_c7_EzLKQJtAicpkb9x059iGAexh4z84qjp_e62GLoG7Ms/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Every fruit street vendor in this beautiful city sells fresh Italian prune plums this time of year</i>, I write down on the back of the postcard. On the front there are three connected images of winding cobbled alleys of the Old Town, and <i>București</i> below them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– How is it looking with the rain? Still sounds like a foil candy wrapper? I ask. The phone says it's thunderstorms and showers for the next hour or so, and that the temperatures are going to drop. Maybe we should get a cheap umbrella, and a pair of sweaters, one for each?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I push the chair back, stand up and move towards the window to bring Anthony his coffee. Sugar? He nods towards the cup. Affirmative, I say leaning over the window sill. A mix between a rustle and a swish, the rain drops remain soft and rare. Maybe the forecast is wrong, I suggest. I take a deep breath and notice how the air in the courtyard simultaneously smells of laundry detergent and wallpaper paste, or maybe that's nail polish remover. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– How is the postcard coming along? Anthony asks between his coffee sips. I congratulated Bucharest with its abundant offerings of purple Italian plums, I say and we both chuckle. And in the next sentence, I'm thinking, we could congratulate ourselves with our wedding anniversary today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Four years down already? We wish you so many more! </i></span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">With love from Bucharest --</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Purple Plum Torte</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Adapted from <i><a href="http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/3783-original-plum-torte">The New York Times</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yield: 8 servings</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm happy to report that I did track down Italian prune plums back in Amsterdam (last weekend at the farmers' market at Noordermarkt, to be helpful). In Dutch they are known as <i>kwetsen</i>, and it's their season now, and this is the cake for them (and for you if you love plums). I must say the recipe looks too simple to believe it's special. But it is! It's about the plums, only them, how jammy and pleasantly sharp they get after they bake and how it's such a nice contrast to the sweeter crumb, and how, sitting atop the said nutty whole wheat crumb, they gather under themselves pools of their own bright juices to slowly release them the next day down the aforementioned buttery crumb. Purple Italian prune plums (they are sweet and tart at once) are meant for this torte, but if none are around, other purple plums will do too.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKFNERT6YyjCXV3yTNm4T6RwHq8OYjoqCQlQS415KI10EABL6CTChWhp7_KVVg5dHaJyCFC6Y78IVNI_jSJ2CHMOQFBbtPlKodxWYLFkGCeBuJo8s2v2r4ISVsjKXN4XwDzNDLxweJ0A/s1600/IMG_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKFNERT6YyjCXV3yTNm4T6RwHq8OYjoqCQlQS415KI10EABL6CTChWhp7_KVVg5dHaJyCFC6Y78IVNI_jSJ2CHMOQFBbtPlKodxWYLFkGCeBuJo8s2v2r4ISVsjKXN4XwDzNDLxweJ0A/s400/IMG_0512.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anthony says this torte is "10 out of 10". Sweet but not too much, a little sour (because of the plums), nutty (because of the whole wheat flour), and light so you keep wanting to eat it – “it's got it all figured out”.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">120 g cane sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">115 g unsalted butter, softened</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">130 g whole wheat flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 teaspoon baking powder (4 g) baking powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">¼ teaspoon table salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2 large eggs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">15-20 Italian prune plums, pitted and halved</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">½-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (depends on how much you like cinnamon)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1-2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Heat the oven to 175 C (350 F). Line the bottom of a 22-cm (9-inch) or 24-cm (10-inch) springform pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the sides.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Combine the prune halves with the cinnamon in a bowl and set aside. To cut down on washing up, you perhaps may want to sprinkle the cardamom over the fruit at a later stage in the process once the plum halves are arranged over the batter, but tossing the fruit in spice first allows for a nice and even coating.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In another bowl cream the sugar and butter with an electric mixer until fluffy and cappuccino in color. Add the eggs, one at a time, then the flour, baking powder and salt, and beat well. Scrape down the sides of the bowl; the batter will be rather thick.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Spoon the batter into the prepared baking form and smooth the top. Place the plum halves skin side up all over the batter, it should be all covered. Sprinkle with the lemon juice and a tablespoon or two more of cane sugar, depending on the sweetness of the fruit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bake until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted into the a centre part of the torte comes out clean of batter, about 45-50 minutes. Let it sit for ten minutes then remove from the pan. Cool on a rack and keep covered in clingfilm. It get even better on the next day after the plum juices has further permeated into the crumb. Keeps well for up to three days.</span><br />
<br /></div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-17314924526820962772016-08-31T20:29:00.000+01:002016-09-30T07:55:19.674+01:00That was great<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }</style><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I turn the oven switch on, a white round ribbed knob with my
fingerprints of harissa and olive oil, from yesterday, on it.
Alright. It's going to get hot, I holler to Anthony who is in the
bathroom, under the water. Slowly the temperature inside the
apartment rises to a hundred degrees, possibly more. A million of
sticky, sultry, sexy centigrades that will loop the apartment to
penetrate every surface, from the cotton blanket to the metal sink,
and then fall out on the skin in the form of sweat. This last week it
finally started to feel like real summer to me but everyone you ask
is grumpy and inconvenienced. Too hot, they'll say, and wipe their
heated foreheads with the back of their wrists. Some will point to
the skin peeling off their pink shoulders, as if to say, See? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– Even the coldest
shower setting has felt like it's at room temperature. Do you really have to do
this now? Anthony asks, out of the shower.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– Yes, I do. I
really want to cook dinner for you now. It's our first free day
together like, what, in a month? I say and extend a can of chilled
beer. Besides it'll be quick, I just want to soften these apricots,
no more, in fact they are ready. See?</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I pull a tray with
them out of the oven, a little juice oozes from each half. The room
is filling with the smell of sauteing onions.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– Alright,
alright, but whatchya making? Anthony asks and opens the beer can.
<i>Click.</i></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– You'll love this
– giant couscous with apricots and harissa. I made it for myself a
few times before, a great dish.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– I love tiny
couscous, and not in the least for its fluffiness. Is this one going
to be fluffy?</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– No, it's going
to be chewy and soft and spicy and flavourful, I say. Then add,
You'll smack your lips, trust me.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anthony walks around
the kitchen table, turns on the ceiling fan and picks up <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the</span> big glass
jar <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">with</span> giant couscous for inspection. Mo-gra-bia, he reads out load
the name on the label, breaks it up in syllables. Never heard of it.
Where did you get it?
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– A Middle Eastern
store in town.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I pour the cooked
couscous into the prepared sieve over the sink, run cold water
through it.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– If you could
just mix these two together, the dinner will be ready in a minute, I
say and point at the harissa and olive oil lined up along the cutting
board.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The recipe is meant
to yield four servings, but at the end we push each other's forks out
of the bowl for the last bits – the sweet-tart apricot threads, the
starchy lone couscous pearls, the left-out deeply savoury soft onion
dice, the smears of harissa paste on the bottom of the bowl.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT59Qyc-_1mQu8m-g6IwZlY8Gb7SG8jMg1PwCFGXbSj1xdAPAYSnfWJY8X0kXnlkSjyQxaLE7XcvzPp9QjLU9acrmdtXLhUHlLXj-uK9PP3JyUxo7GbmqtNVbwLcG8uNCTCB7Jh3MFv5M/s1600/IMAG2834-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT59Qyc-_1mQu8m-g6IwZlY8Gb7SG8jMg1PwCFGXbSj1xdAPAYSnfWJY8X0kXnlkSjyQxaLE7XcvzPp9QjLU9acrmdtXLhUHlLXj-uK9PP3JyUxo7GbmqtNVbwLcG8uNCTCB7Jh3MFv5M/s400/IMAG2834-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– That was great, thank you, Anthony says and pulls my silk skirt off the back
of a chair to hand to me. Let's get out for ice-cream now.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I dump the dishes in
the sink, check if I turned the oven off. I dab a little lipstick on
my lips with my fingertips, notice how it still smells of garlic and
cardamom and how the lips are still burning from harissa.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We shut the door
behind us, only leave the ceiling fan on.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Pearl Couscous
with Apricots and Harissa</b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Adapted from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Diaries-II-Simple-Suppers/dp/0007256035"><i>TheKitchen Diaries II</i></a>, by Nigel Slater</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Serves 2 (as a main)
or 4 (as a side dish)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Unless you have
apricots so ripe they practically ooze themselves inside out, I'd
suggest to briefly roast them to get them juicier and more fragrant
of the themselves. Not too long, somewhere around fifteen minutes in
a hot oven.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I found the couscous
needs plenty of liquid to cook and not get stuck to the saucepan's
bottom, so I upped the amount of stock (water) from 300 ml, as per
the original recipe, to 750 ml. (I thought to mention this in case
you own <i>The Kitchen Diaries II, </i><span style="font-style: normal;">look
up the recipe </span>and question my choices.)</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>For the couscous</i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">750 ml vegetable
stock or water</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">150 g pearl couscous</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2 Tablespoons olive
oil, plus a little extra</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 Tablespoon fresh
lemon juice</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2 teaspoons harissa
paste</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">a small bunch of
flat-leaf parsley</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>For the apricot
dressing</i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3 Tablespoons olive
oil</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2 small onions,
finely diced</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">5 pods of green
cardamom, lightly crushed</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 clove of garlic,
finely chopped</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">finely grated zest
from 1 small lemon</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">250 g ripe apricots,
halved and stoned (see headnote)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To prepare the
couscous, bring the stock or water to the boil in a large saucepan.
Pour in the couscous, bring back to the boil and salt the liquid very
well, as you might for pasta. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the
couscous is tender but still with a little bite. Drain in a colander
and run cold water through it to cool it quickly. Tip it into a bowl
and toss gently with a few drops of olive oil to stop it sticking
together.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the meantime,
warm the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onions and
saute them gently till soft and lightly golden (don't brown it). Stir
in the garlic, cardamom pods and lemon zest, and cook until the
garlic has softened. Cut the (roasted) apricot halves in two or three
and add to the onions.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Stir the warm onion
and apricot mixture into the couscous, then stir in the lemon juice.
Put the harissa paste in a small bowl, stir in the 2 Tablespoons of
olive oil, then fold gently into the apricots and couscous. Taste and
add salt if needed. Remove the leaves from the parsley, chop them
roughly and stir into the couscous.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-8155265940719096642016-07-31T21:37:00.002+01:002016-08-01T14:24:23.975+01:00The right thing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }</style><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm going to fucking
need the ambulance – I want to pick up the phone and shout into the
receiver. I'm having a crushing, no – squeezing, no – stabbing,
no – burning sensation somewhere there, an inch deep under the
ribcage, on the left of the sternum. I take a breath and it gets
worse, a sharp pain shoots up my neck and into my shoulders, so I try
not to breathe that much. As I wipe my cheeks dry there is a black
residue on my fingertips, the mascara. I can't see, but I'm sure I
must look like shit right now. Please fucking help me, I want to say.</span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That's stupid, so stupid to have wou<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">nd</span> up like this. I was going
to unlock my bike, but I need a moment. I pull my bag off the
shoulder, put it down on the pavement and place myself next to it. I
pick my phone from the bottom of the bag and look at the black screen
like it's a mirror. I do look like shit: the eyelids thicker than
usual, especially the lower ones, puffy cheeks under the eyes, the
mascara leaks. I search my bag for a napkin—the keys, wallet,
lipstick, yes, a bruised ripe peach, a crumpled post-it with a
grocery list (three exclamation marks next to 'cherries'), but there
is no damn napkin today. I swipe the phone screen and dial Anthony. I
tell him I'm sitting on the pavement, tell him about the chest pains.
Take a deep breath, he says—but it feels there is a sharp fish bone
stuck in my throat, I say back.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You are changing jobs, he says, with a very calm voice, and it's a
lot of emotions, coping, accepting, and releasing, but you did the
right thing. But did I? I ask.
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's been a long while, Anya, seven whole years. Of course you did, of
course. You needed to leave, to go and learn a new thing, you know
it.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I baked and shaped my last breads there today, you know, I say and
pull out of my bag an oval loaf of sourdough bread<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> --<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.gebroedersniemeijer.nl/en/#product-range">a</a></span></span><a href="http://www.gebroedersniemeijer.nl/en/#product-range"> batard</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gebroedersniemeijer.nl/en/#product-range"> </a>--</span> I
took from work. It smells sour and creamy, the time-old and visceral
smell of good bread, and that's so very reassuring at the moment. The
smell of these breads has always reminded me of my grandmother's
well-used wooden salt-box (designed as Baba Yaga, the forest-dwelling
deformed witch from Slavic folklore; this one was with a mortar,
that's where the salt went). It had often been a centerpiece on my
grandmother's dining table. I've got a baguette for you as well, your
all-time favorite, I say with a stress on 'your'.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That's nice, thank you. But do something nice for yourself too
today.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Something nice. I've been meaning to make a cherry clafoutis for a
while now, maybe I should do that, I only need to pick up fresh
cherries for it, yes, I'll do that. I'll get a kilo of fresh fat
near-black staining cherries for a clafoutis. Only I won't make it.
I'll eat the full kilo, berry by berry. Because fresh cherries are
great like that. They make me very happy.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRmULJIMgxPVFmcTHVxsZ4wbHrmCnVuZe_gH9rZBxPo7a1P0ZNM4-7DOw55zKMc9vIFaSzpUu66es9fh57D5hZFLLdtfYJxsfapHaIt53Svm_ZOJ01-ykDGXIAAXgMbwUGHu4d-VVARw/s1600/IMAG3289-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRmULJIMgxPVFmcTHVxsZ4wbHrmCnVuZe_gH9rZBxPo7a1P0ZNM4-7DOw55zKMc9vIFaSzpUu66es9fh57D5hZFLLdtfYJxsfapHaIt53Svm_ZOJ01-ykDGXIAAXgMbwUGHu4d-VVARw/s400/IMAG3289-01.jpeg" width="226" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">OK, I guess I'll get going, I say, wipe my cheeks dry again and
get off the phone. I peel myself off the pavement, bump into a
tourist with a camera a few steps away from my bike. Pardon me. Deep
in my skull a headache is unfolding, the dull type. I take a deeper
breath, still no better, it only pushes more salt out of my eyes. I
put my sunglasses on, so no one sees the tears, unlock the bike <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">to</span>
ride off.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Quick Flapjack Cherry Granola </b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Adapted from <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stirring-Slowly-Recipes-Restore-Revive/dp/022410165X"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Stirring Slowly</span></i></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">,
by Georgina Hayden</span></span></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Serves 4</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jiRUmsnd2Ls2mNKV_5K_GrtusDgMgkK_CHVwgPzrwyZ3aM5T3kRrIZjMcw2ckw9CP4FMyVC7D_91rLwzrHKS3COtcXVvpV8MMPvdWf55X-MRqOaHb2JVduw-OQMYeBkFl517SA4m-MM/s1600/IMG_20160728_164307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jiRUmsnd2Ls2mNKV_5K_GrtusDgMgkK_CHVwgPzrwyZ3aM5T3kRrIZjMcw2ckw9CP4FMyVC7D_91rLwzrHKS3COtcXVvpV8MMPvdWf55X-MRqOaHb2JVduw-OQMYeBkFl517SA4m-MM/s400/IMG_20160728_164307.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since I don't trust myself around
fresh cherries, I don't bother anymore to try and cook with them, at
least for this summer. Dried cherries, however, are no problem, I can
manage that. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Why are you making a pancake granola? Anthony raised his eyebrows on a recent morning. Before I
also didn't know that there is such a thing as a British flapjack and
that it's not a thick pancake. The British understand flapjack as a
chewy oatmeal cookie bar, and that's what the recipe in question
refers to – good, chewy, toasty, crispy oats.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IC2lSdrT47wYHdE7hGqjOOZQZpDjaDDEwD7b_c2MR7-adPNxuFtnRIu5ZcoGRpK_BYjz-YAn4KOij8FLA4xvZPR2Xp2ppe6vcoJMsUMrv7WMElD9gQ9b9UnOkBLgrIbSVHjUbkC8bgM/s1600/20160728_174704-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IC2lSdrT47wYHdE7hGqjOOZQZpDjaDDEwD7b_c2MR7-adPNxuFtnRIu5ZcoGRpK_BYjz-YAn4KOij8FLA4xvZPR2Xp2ppe6vcoJMsUMrv7WMElD9gQ9b9UnOkBLgrIbSVHjUbkC8bgM/s400/20160728_174704-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I tinkered a little bit with the
recipe<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span>and came up with a formula<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> (</span>not that much different from the origi<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">na<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">l) </span></span>I'<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">m</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">particularly</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">fond of</span>. No cinnamon, but
lemon zest; no vanilla extract but fresh vanilla bean seeds; runny
honey with a neutral taste<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> --</span> acacia honey works best
here. The result is a pure, mild, well-rounded oatmeal flavour, a
little savory, not undone by sweet dried fruit, with a few fresh and singing flavours (lemon zest and cherries) in between. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 Tablespoon flavourless oil</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">¼ teaspoon fresh vanilla bean seeds (from about half a vanilla
bean)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">125 grams rolled oats</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">grated zest of a small lemon (about ½ teaspoon)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">50 grams dried cherries</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">50 grams dried figs</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2 Tablespoons mixed seeds (pumpkin, sesame, poppy, sunflower)</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt, such as <i>fleur de sel</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3 Tablespoon light
neutral runny honey, such as acacia honey</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Combine the oil,
vanilla seends and lemon zest together in a medium-size non-stick pan
with a good splash of water (4-5 Tablespoons) and place it on a
medium heat. Scatter in the oats and stir it all together. Put the
matching lid on and leave the oats to cook for 5 minutes, stirring
often. While the oats are cooking, roughly chop the dried cherries
and cut the figs into similar-size pieces.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When the oats have
softened, remove the lid and add the seeds to the pan. Turn the heat
up a little and toasts the oats and seeds for 2 minutes. Sprinkle in
the salt and add the chopped dried fruit. Toss everything together
and drizzle over the honey. Mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes until
you have a golden chewy granola.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Leave in the pan for
a few minutes to cool, then spoon over fresh berries and yogurt or
leave to cool completely, and store in an airtight container until
needed. It will surely keep well for up to 3 days, this much I can
tell, maybe even longer, but it never lasts with me that long.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Variation</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For a much brighter,
sharper taste, use 1 Tablespoon pomegranate molasses to 2 Tablespoons
runny honey instead of lemon zest. I must say I can't quite decide
which version I like better. Depends on the day, I guess.</span></span></div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-36507254061980688562016-06-30T12:40:00.000+01:002016-06-30T13:06:24.623+01:00That is a must<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“Wait, wait, I still can't believe it
– and the phone hasn't rung before that in years?” I shout,
incredulous, over the jet engines, stressing and drawing out 'e' in
'years'.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We are close to a runway, planes are
taking off. I squint then raise my eyebrows and repeat what I just
said, but my pitch is no rival to the taxying jumbo jet, so I wait
before Anthony can hear me again. On the far side of the runway a
plane lifts itself off ground, the jumbo jet is next.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“My father said it hasn't, no. Not a
single phone call, not a single text message for the last eight
years, since his retirement from the police force in fact – it used
to be his work phone.” We are cycling side by side, towards a
course of tall trees down the narrow road. The plan is to drop the
bikes somewhere there, Anthony stretches out his arm to point, and
watch the planes sprawled out on the grass in the cooling shadow. In
the event of peckish-ness we've got a bag each of tortilla and ridged
potato chips.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had lunch at home before the ride:
thick unapologetic sourdough toasts with bean confit, impossibly good
and addictive. I placed the beans on top of the toast and smashed
them gently with a fork. The best part is never the soft plump
fragrant beans but the richly flavoured (garlic and herbs) olive oil
that has to be mopped up off the plate, and then from the bottom of
the pot, <i>that</i> is a must, it's non-negotiable. When we reach
for the pot with the remaining beans, more bread is required, more
hunks of moist and yielding sourdough crumb. We killed that sourdough
loaf (<a href="http://www.gebroedersniemeijer.nl/en/#product-range">a boule</a>), the kitchen table surface is covered with the oily fingerprints
and the floor with the crust shards, these prick the skin under my
feet as I walk towards the sink to wash my hands and mouth.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is a cold six-pack of Heineken
with us in the rucksack, in the event of thirst.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I press my hands to my ears and the
jumbo jet's roaring softens and sounds like seashells. A magic trick
– physics. Airborne, it starts to look like a white ink dot.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“But when did you hear about this?”
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A tractor chugs by, turns down a
farmer's field across the road.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“We talked last night when you were
asleep.”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We have recently gotten back from a
two-week trip to Southern Russia. Where my mother filled our plates
with the tenderest of cutlets and the tastiest of stuffed bell
peppers, my father poured us birch sap vodka, my uncle took us well
past midnight to a roadside cafe where they caught and grilled for us
a whole carp, my grandmother made for us her signature Don Cossacks
fish stew and fluffiest <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirozhki">piroshki</a> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">with
stewed cabbage or chicken mince. There, from my old room, Anthony
skyped with his parents in the States. And then his
father's unused phone rang.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“<span style="font-style: normal;">He
couldn't tell if the woman on the phone was Russian, but she did
sound Eastern European, he said.”</span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“<span style="font-style: normal;">And
what did she say?” I ask and follow the jumbo jet with my right
eye, then with the left. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“<span style="font-style: normal;">She
wanted to know if he worked for an American company or the
government. </span><i>Hu aar u</i><span style="font-style: normal;">,
she said. I'm Ron, said my dad.” </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bean Confit</span></b></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Source: <a href="http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/the-temporary-vegetarian-bean-confit/?_r=0">“The Temporary Vegetarian” series</a>, from <i>The New York Times</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yield: 2–4 servings</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As far as which fresh herbs to use,
it's completely to taste and adaptable. Originally, these are
rosemary and oregano, but I like to sub rosemary for thyme, for
instance, and when I had neither thyme nor oregano but only basil in
my fridge, I used basil then and it was great.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But what beans to use, it's strict. Not
as in what sort of white bean matters (that's also adaptable and a
subject of taste), but how old they are. Old dried beans will take
forever to cook, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/dining/how-to-cook-beans-recipes-tips.html">salt or no salt</a>. If possible, use <a href="http://www.ranchogordo.com/">Rancho Gordo</a> dried
beans, those are the best (but sadly, not available in Europe, which
is why I sometimes ask Ron for a shipment.)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">100 g (½ cup) dried cranberry beans,
Italian white beans, or other white beans</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 sprig thyme</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 sprig oregano</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2 cloves garlic</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">375 ml (1 ½ cups) extra virgin olive
oil</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Soak the beans overnight in plenty of
cold water.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In a heavy ovenproof pot, combine the
beans and 1 liter (4 cups) fresh cold water. Put over high heat and
bring to a boil, then scale the heat down to low. Simmer gently,
uncovered, until moderately tender, 30-45 minutes, or longer if
needed (beans can take from one to three hours to cook). Do not boil
or stir to prevent the beans from breaking into pieces or the bean
skins to separate from the beans. As the beans cook, check
periodically for water, adding hot water as necessary to keep the
beans covered with liquid by at least a fingertip.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Preheat the oven to 150 degrees Celsius
(300 degrees Fahrenheit). Drain the beans, then return them to the
pot and add the fresh herbs and garlic. Cover with the oil. Place in
the oven, and cook uncovered until the beans are completely tender,
30 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven, let cool and season to taste
with salt. For best flavour, allow to cool to room temperature, then
cover and refrigerate overnight or up to seven days.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To serve, gently reheat the beans and
serve with a slotted spoon, leaving the oil in the pot (reuse the
flavoured oil for various dressings or a vinaigrette, OR mop it up
with good bread!). Serve warm, and crushed, on top of toast, or mixed
in with rice or farro.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-61362566135509394382016-04-30T21:53:00.000+01:002016-05-07T19:20:41.037+01:00You'd have thought<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }</style><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“You mean you've
never had rhubarb?” I say, incredulous, and pick up at the
greengrocer's shop a bunch of rhubarb stalks, crimson and lanky, the
leaves tightly furled. I stress 'never' in such a way you'd have
thought my friend has just admitted never having had water. “And
you are twenty-seven!” I don't know why I had to bring up age. As
if one's placement on a time scale has anything to do with it. How
old was <i>I</i> to try rhubarb for the first time? Twenty-five, I
remember that. It was a simple rhubarb compote, I remember that too.
I made it in my brand-new round Le Creuset (the colour of kiwi). I've
had it for eights years now. It was the smallest in stock at the
kitchenware store and it was on sale, and that's how I could afford
it on my then student budget. I had just moved to Amsterdam. The shop
assistant, a stocky young guy, described to me the merits and
advantages of a bigger cast-iron pot, also a Le Creuset, but I recall
saying I was going to use it to cook for myself only, so the smallest
one would do fine, solo meals, you see. I instantly wondered if I
didn't sound flirty for saying that, because I really didn't mean to
sound that way. In the rhubarb compote I threw in some dried lavender
flowers, I remember that too. I must have enjoyed the thing, but I
assume that now, because, strangely, I don't remember if I did. I
have to bend the rhubarb stalks to fit them in my shopping bag, one
of which snaps and dislodges a fibrous deep purple thread. It hangs
off the stem like a broken violin string. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_0tZgH2VpYNz6y47e_yG2naXveaHNJbT06tp_nXllbgNmQCfJDT6Tnvq1RoqRneJ9n7v3xoZ9FWq96KrMoZzzBNDelnPwYcrUtrCZpL8V1bfx64HFQEAWfFjBWl3SYZSvrSq3WFGC8Y/s1600/Studio_20160428_165712%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_0tZgH2VpYNz6y47e_yG2naXveaHNJbT06tp_nXllbgNmQCfJDT6Tnvq1RoqRneJ9n7v3xoZ9FWq96KrMoZzzBNDelnPwYcrUtrCZpL8V1bfx64HFQEAWfFjBWl3SYZSvrSq3WFGC8Y/s400/Studio_20160428_165712%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The crimson liquid,
thick, almost viscose, is dripping through the sieve, separates from
the rhubarb flesh, soft and slithery. I love the smell of roasted
rhubarb. It smells fresh and clean, sharp even. The crimson flow
slows down now, goes at a steady pace, like an IV drip. Arms crossed,
I lean with my hips against the sink and wait until the rhubarb is
fully drained. I'm putting together a rhubarb polenta cake. I have
already rubbed the butter into the polenta with my fingertips. I
almost got the wrong polenta meal at the supermarket – I needed the
coarse polenta but distractedly pulled the fine off the shelf. Excuse
me, I said to the cashier and to the ten people behind me in line <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">at</span>
the check-out, then ran back to the grains aisle to exchange the bag.
I wasn't leaving with the wrong polenta, I'm sorry. The whole point
of this cake is the contrast of the gritty sugary buttery crust and the soft
tart <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">refreshing </span>rhubarb.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_7jkOFWm7AW_PiTR7g9mMjotkNereonWhJi11x9q4OiXRkE4sanNCfOvL8fbPAb9d8bhK86t9wtERLUjUAXS_Jw2FmXdhNJ4lO5Yhs3z7KuESR3VTiSUvW8GogZmBqEqHXa7ku1VVcM/s1600/20160428_161454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_7jkOFWm7AW_PiTR7g9mMjotkNereonWhJi11x9q4OiXRkE4sanNCfOvL8fbPAb9d8bhK86t9wtERLUjUAXS_Jw2FmXdhNJ4lO5Yhs3z7KuESR3VTiSUvW8GogZmBqEqHXa7ku1VVcM/s400/20160428_161454.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>What a wonderful
thing! </i>– I'd written in the margin next to the recipe after the
first try, three years ago – <i>I like how the coarse polenta requests
a little extra work from the mouth, that it is a perfect foil to the
fleshy rhubarb</i>. I<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> went</span> on: <i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I</span>nstead of cinnamon, which I believe
would be lovely here, I used a vanilla bean, and will continue to do
so, and in lieu of an orange, a lemon</i>. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>But refrain adding either to the fruit itsel</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>f, its clean taste is </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>another nice contrast to the vanilla- and lemon-scented <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">crust</span></i>.</span> </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>And why </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>is there no salt </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>amongst the dry ingredients? </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A little of<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span>it<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> should</span> only z<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">oom</span> in on the flavours</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. </span></span></span></span></span>And on: <i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By the way, <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">t</span></span>he soft, moist pink
of this rhubarb looks like pure sex.</i>..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO765rApHHQCUKH3GIL8h50pUf_amhW-ypkNgwEdoAWbB8ha9KeXT7mDGGSQzHDe5TAG3gRy3CDnfpBzar3H1yAvxkrcwrw8B-JhfXRDvOJIKPIXMIIMkb7HCf1QpijZAfj55QfJuoDIk/s1600/IMAG2509-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO765rApHHQCUKH3GIL8h50pUf_amhW-ypkNgwEdoAWbB8ha9KeXT7mDGGSQzHDe5TAG3gRy3CDnfpBzar3H1yAvxkrcwrw8B-JhfXRDvOJIKPIXMIIMkb7HCf1QpijZAfj55QfJuoDIk/s400/IMAG2509-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I love this cake,
how it made its way into my memory and lodged itself there, solidly,
despite the fact that until today I haven't made it as much as twice.
That said, believe it or not, but I never stopped thinking about it.
And I stress 'never' in such a way you'd have thought I've just
admitted never having had a meal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I set <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the</span> kettle on
for coffee and ask Anthony if he would like a slice with his cup.
Yes, he'd give it a try, he says.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“I hate rhubarb. I
was six when I tried it first. It used to grow in my backyard. My
friends would eat it, they would eat it like a candy, can you imagine
this, but I can't stand it. The only thing I hate more in my desserts
than rhubarb is lemon. But this is not bad, it's actually nice, I
quite like it. I won't finish my slice, though. Because I can't stand
it.”
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I get out for a
moment to take the trash down. The slice is gone when I'm back. I
know it's not in the trash bin, it can't be – I haven't yet placed
a new bag in it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I really love this
cake.</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }</style>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Rhubarb
Polenta Cake</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Adapted
from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ripe-Cook-Orchard-Nigel-Slater/dp/1607743329/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462082462&sr=8-1&keywords=ripe+nigel+slater"><i>Ripe</i></a>, by Nigel Slater</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>For the filling</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">500 g (1 pound)
rhubarb</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">50 g (heaped 1/<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4</span> cup)
unrefined cane sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4 tablespoons water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>For the crust</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">125 g (¾ cup)
coarse polenta</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">200 g (1 ½ cups
plus 1 tablespoon) all-purpose flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 teaspoon baking
powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1/<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2 teaspoon fine sea salt</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">150 g (<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">heaped 3/4</span> cup)
unrefined cane sugar, plus 1 tablespoon more for sprinkling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 plump vanilla pod,
seeds only</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">grated zest of a
small lemon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">150 g (10
tablespoons) butter, cut in small pieces</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 large egg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3 tablespoons milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lightly oil or
butter a 20cm (8-inch) springform cake pan. Heat the oven to 180
degrees Celsius (350 F) and put a baking sheet in the middle of it to
get hot. Trim the rhubarb, cut each stem into short lengths, and put
them in a baking dish. Scatter over the sugar and water and bake for
twenty minutes, until the rhubarb is soft but still holds its shape.
Remove the rhubarb pieces from the dish and put them in a colander or
large sieve to drain. (Reserve the rhubarb juices to serve with the
cake.) You can prepare the rhubarb filling up to one day in advance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Combine the polenta,
flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Add the
vanilla seeds, lemon zest and butter. Rub the butter into the polenta
with your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse rubble.
Alternatively, blitz the mixture in a food processor. But really, do
it manually. Not only it's a cinch to do, saves on washing up, is a
peaceful thing to do, yes yes yes, but rubbing the butter into the
polenta mixture with your fingers will also help to release the
essential oils in the lemon zest and distribute the vanilla beans
more evenly. Break the egg into a small bowl and mix with the milk,
then blend into the crumble mix. Take care not to overmix; it's done
when the dry and wet ingredients have come together to form a soft,
slightly sticky dough. If it isn't a little sticky, add a touch more
milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Slightly wet your hands and <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">p</span>ress about
two-thirds of the mixture into the prepared cake pan, pushing it 2cm
up the sides. Make sure there are no large cracks or holes. Place the
drained rhubarb on top, leaving a small rim around the edge. Crumble
lumps of the remaining polenta mixture over the fruit with your
fingertips, but don't worry if the rhubarb isn't all covered. Scatter
over 1 tablespoon of unrefined cane sugar.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Put on the hot
baking sheet and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the edges and the
crust turn deep golden br<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">own</span>. Mine was done after about 35 minutes, so I'd
suggest to start checking from then on. Cool before removing from the
pan. Serve in slices, with coffee.</span></div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-17215061010835018392016-03-31T20:25:00.000+01:002016-05-08T20:21:53.037+01:00Than any other<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%</style></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“When
you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what's
the first thing you say to yourself?” “What's for breakfast?”
said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?” “I say, I wonder what's
going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet. Pooh nodded
thoughtfully. “It's the same thing,” he said.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> –
A.A.Milne, <i>Winnie-the-Pooh</i></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I haven't eaten
since early afternoon. I had huevos rancheros around 11:00, and it
was a wonderful feast. It felt particularly good to wolf it down on a
Monday morning – and out in town. I don't normally go out for
breakfast, but we happened to be in a neighborhood close to <a href="http://www.bakersandroasters.com/">Bakers and Roasters</a> and they do really good breakfast. It's
always busy in there, even on a Monday there can be a waiting list.
But we got lucky – a table for two just opened up. At first I can't
decide what I want. There is a granola on the menu, and I'm a big one
for granola. I like discovering different granolas. The problem is, I
realized sometime ago, they are rather similar in a lot of places,
and often not that interesting. It's an issue, it makes me wary of
ordering granola in a restaurant or a</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="st"><i> </i>café</span>. Besides, I finally
finished tweaking a recipe for pistachio and dried cherry granola and
I'm pretty sure I like this granola better than I'll like any other
for now. So I go back and forth between the eggs and the salads. I
haven't had a good breakfast egg dish in a really long while, and
huevos rancheros speak to me right now: crispy tortilla, Brazilian
black beans, slightly melted cheese, two fried eggs, avocado, fresh
tomato salsa and sour cream. So I chose that and asked for extra
chorizo. Every bit was delicious. </span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Actually it was my
second breakfast. I had toasted sourdough bread soon after I woke up
at 8:00. I love sourdough toast. Today I had it with peanut and
pistachio butter, and creamy honey. After I finished the last bits I
thought of a new spread combination for next time I have toast for
breakfast: <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">white</span> almond butter and the Italian apricot preserve
I'd picked up at Casa del Gusto. A<i>lbicocche di Valleggia, </i><span style="font-style: normal;">it
says on the jar. I picture </span><span style="font-style: normal;">the
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">southern European sun and
squint involuntarily. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I c</span><span style="font-style: normal;">an
already taste </span><span style="font-style: normal;">this next toast</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
in my mind's mouth: </span><span style="font-style: normal;">soft,
crunchy, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">creamy, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">a
little</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> sweet, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">a
little </span><span style="font-style: normal;">sour. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I</span><span style="font-style: normal;">'ve
never been to Italy and I really want to go. I</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
take a post-it to write </span><span style="font-style: normal;">the
idea</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> down: almond butter +
apricots. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I'm religious about
my toast. The crumb must remain chewy, but only deep down. On the
surface and a little below it must be crisp and lightly golden, for
the pleasure of the </span><span style="font-style: normal;">eyes,
ears and teeth. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I have found
a perfect </span><span style="font-style: normal;">way
to achieve that: I toast it once </span><span style="font-style: normal;">then
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">turn it </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">toast it again, both times at
a low setting. Seems to do the trick. </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">It's
almost 17:00. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I'm</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
starting to </span><span style="font-style: normal;">think more
intensely about food, which means I'm </span><span style="font-style: normal;">hungry.
It's not an unpleasant feeling. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
like thinking about what I'll be eating next, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">or
what I ate earlier.</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> I won't
be home till later </span><span style="font-style: normal;">tonight</span><span style="font-style: normal;">,
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">so to cook a meal will by
that point feel like waiting an eternity. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
make do with two pillows of chewing gum</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
for now</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> – I don't like
eating on the go;</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> chewing is
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">O.K.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">D</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ecided:
I'm going to have the </span><span style="font-style: normal;">aforementioned</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
granola for dinner, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">technically
a third breakfast but at dinnertime. I'll on<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ly have to stop by a grocer for some yogurt<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. It has to <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">be full-fat<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. </span>I don't <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">like low-<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> or zero-fat <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">anything.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qnAR0S5dt5xyP8qRI-3CLq_5vOoSGXZVGbsqo7PAnLLgWPALf-iUVnOfHyQGllergxLjS2r1aqT01Qf4F0Nr8CGjsmwk7o9GLSCY3ExnQODjzzPf64125H34usoecJ_qX4ozAVggfrI/s1600/20160330_180130-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qnAR0S5dt5xyP8qRI-3CLq_5vOoSGXZVGbsqo7PAnLLgWPALf-iUVnOfHyQGllergxLjS2r1aqT01Qf4F0Nr8CGjsmwk7o9GLSCY3ExnQODjzzPf64125H34usoecJ_qX4ozAVggfrI/s400/20160330_180130-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-style: normal;">V</span><span style="font-style: normal;">anilla Bean
Pistachio and Dried Cherries Granola</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I
found </span><span style="font-style: normal;">the <a href="http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014304-eleven-madison-park-granola">original recipe</a> in</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">T</span>he New York Times Cooking recipes collection, and it comes from
Daniel Humm, the chef of the Eleven Madison Park restaurant in
Manhattan. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Judging by the
ingredients list it clearly was a recipe for a special cereal, a
luxury granola. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">That said, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">it
lacked </span><span style="font-style: normal;">to me </span><span style="font-style: normal;">I
didn't know what, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and I
didn't just want to let it go, so</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
I kept tweaking. I eschewed the sugar, upped the quantity of maple
syrup as well as oats, added poppy seeds, fine-tuned the amount of salt, and finally,
I added vanilla seeds, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">real,
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">fragrant, wonderful vanilla
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">seeds </span><span style="font-style: normal;">(</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>not
</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">a</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>
</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">vanilla extract or
paste)</span><span style="font-style: normal;">, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and
suddenly I had on my hands a granola that I</span><span style="font-style: normal;">'d
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">like better than any other.
Each bite offers a full </span><span style="font-style: normal;">exciting
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ride: savory, sweet, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">deep</span><span style="font-style: normal;">,
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">lip-smacking,</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
refreshing, soft, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">crunchy,</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
nutty, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and rich. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">It</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
took me about twelve </span><span style="font-style: normal;">batches</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
to get it right, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">but v</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ictory
is mine. </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OvMwDGXO0FuRG8w9B2QFY21xfpcg0t-XIj8VcvUhhWY4GHLk9u8XwH27McF9NFjDhvuH9V6xtjaybSB6YQ5O1AwexUCQK2zvj4hfyLvVAz0D9Jpv-rq7-0Od6A0vQAD3CwTgk7XUMB4/s1600/20160315_193125-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OvMwDGXO0FuRG8w9B2QFY21xfpcg0t-XIj8VcvUhhWY4GHLk9u8XwH27McF9NFjDhvuH9V6xtjaybSB6YQ5O1AwexUCQK2zvj4hfyLvVAz0D9Jpv-rq7-0Od6A0vQAD3CwTgk7XUMB4/s400/20160315_193125-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">300 g rolled oats</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">150 g shelled
pistachio nuts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">70 g unsweetened
coconut flakes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">50 g raw pumpkin
seeds</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">20 g poppy seeds</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">7 g (1 teaspoon) <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">fine sea</span> salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2 large vanilla pods
(to give</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">about ½ packed teaspoon of</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">vanilla seeds)</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">160 ml maple syrup</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> 80 ml extra virgin olive oil</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">100 g dried cherries</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Preheat the oven to
150 degrees Celsius. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with baking
paper.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In a large mixing
bowl, combine the oats, pistachio nuts, coconut flakes, pumpkin and
poppy seeds, and salt.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cut the vanilla pods
in half and scrape out the seeds. In a small bowl, stir the vanilla
seeds into the olive oil. This will help to disperse the vanilla
seeds evenly throughout the oats mixture.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Using your hands,
mix the wet and dry ingredients together. Tip the granola out onto
the prepared baking sheet and spread in an even layer. Bake until
fragrant and golden brown, between 35 and 45 minutes, stirring every
15 minutes to ensure the granola bakes evenly. If it doesn't look
entirely dry as you'd expect, it will firm up as it cools.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Remove
the granola from the oven and stir in the dried cherries. Allow to
cool to room temperature before </span><span style="font-style: normal;">transferring
to </span><span style="font-style: normal;">a</span><span style="font-style: normal;">n
airtight</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> container </span><span style="font-style: normal;">where
it will keep for up to 3 to 4 weeks.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Y</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ield:
about 6 ½ cups</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span>
</div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-12545888487224367672016-02-29T18:17:00.000+00:002016-05-07T19:21:56.851+01:00Let's have breakfast already<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }</style><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Eventually I'll wake
up.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hands ice-cold –
<i>You </i><i>f</i><i>orgot </i><i>your g</i><i>loves on the kitchen
table</i> – head emptied –<i> </i><i>That shows!</i> – an
unsure yawn. A turn to the left, over a particularly arched bridge,<i>
</i><span style="font-style: normal;">legs woolen, strained. </span><i>W</i><i>hat's
this? </i><span style="font-style: normal;">A</span> police car blocks
the road, but it doesn't look intentional. Someone is shouting, a
female voice. A guy, on his knees, shouting back, swears it won't
happen again. A night gone bad, and the police happened to be
passing. Now they are standing and watching the scene, themselves a
man and a woman. I float by, leave them behind, descend the bridge
with ease.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I hear the heels, on
the empty street they sound sharp but brittle. Tram tracks are
brought to sheen by a light frost, and these too sound alive, two
metal nerve endings through which electric currents charge. A turn to
the right – a man relieves himself onto a corner of somebody's
home. He's got my face, has on the same shoes. <i>What is all this?
</i>On the window next door, a butcher's, hangs a picture of glossy
meat balls. <i>Look</i><i>s</i><i> good.</i> An empty bottle lays on
the dampened sidewalk. I step on a glass shard, it crunches like the
heel of a burnt bread loaf.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I look at myself
walking down the street, and with a tug on my stomach. Toss and turn,
and again. I almost disappeared around the corner when I turn around
and over the sound of next-door neighbors' drilling walls in their
bedroom, assertively say:</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Let's have
breakfast </i><i>already</i><i>.</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5W_Fpgen9pS-reFv73ZQf7PC1Wn4ctnwCLQn1Pr2CNOOUVXi_tA88PDgrx03-NGS7ivazJWJgT_-ji6NFVM3sxoIxojS3iSfqLYUZS4SP8pLQhGg8bqv7dqumdV3f2PVao5QDYiKJvU/s1600/20160229_170750-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5W_Fpgen9pS-reFv73ZQf7PC1Wn4ctnwCLQn1Pr2CNOOUVXi_tA88PDgrx03-NGS7ivazJWJgT_-ji6NFVM3sxoIxojS3iSfqLYUZS4SP8pLQhGg8bqv7dqumdV3f2PVao5QDYiKJvU/s400/20160229_170750-01.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Irish
Oatmeal Muffins</b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From<i>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0394555295?keywords=breakfast&qid=1452505020&ref_=sr_1_14&s=books&sr=1-14#reader_0394555295">The Breakfast Book</a></i>, by Marion Cunningham</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yield:
12 muffins</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I'm
into oats for my breakfast. For a long time I've been into <a href="http://godfulfood.blogspot.nl/2014/09/most-likely-perhaps.html">this very best oatmeal</a>, and although I don't intend to forsake that, not for
long anyway, I'm also into variation. These muffins </span><span style="font-style: normal;">are
an ideal</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> breakfast material:
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">fluffy,</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
with a pleasant nubby texture,</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">not too sweet, if barely at
all, with a right ratio of chewiness to softness,</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
plenty of fiber, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">a genuine flavor </span><span style="font-style: normal;">of
oats. They are plain-looking muffins, there is no denying that.
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">That's fine, though, because
muffins are not cakes, they shouldn't </span><span style="font-style: normal;">be
fanc</span><span style="font-style: normal;">ily</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
decorated or overly sweet,</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
plus, let me say it explicitly now, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">in
their simplicity </span><span style="font-style: normal;">t</span><span style="font-style: normal;">hey
are delicious, delectable, etc. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">T</span><span style="font-style: normal;">he
Irish cook their oatmeal all night long for a rich </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and
creamy</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> effect, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">writes
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">Marion Cunningham</span><span style="font-style: normal;">.
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">Therefore</span><span style="font-style: normal;">,
t</span><span style="font-style: normal;">hese muffins need to be
soaked overnight in buttermilk to obtain that signature </span><span style="font-style: normal;">creamy</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
oatmeal flavor. If you can, toast the oats first (180 C, about ten
minutes?) to </span><span style="font-style: normal;">bring forth –
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">even more! – their sweet
nutty taste. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Lastly,
I'm into Marion Cunningham's brilliance and wits. Expect more here
from her </span><i>The Breakfast Book. </i><span style="font-style: normal;">x</span><span style="font-style: normal;">o</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">500
ml </span><span style="font-style: normal;">(2 cups) </span><span style="font-style: normal;">buttermilk</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1</span>00
g </span><span style="font-style: normal;">(1 cup) </span><span style="font-style: normal;">rolled
oat</span><span style="font-style: normal;">s</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">2
large eggs</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">135
g </span><span style="font-style: normal;">(¾ cup) </span><span style="font-style: normal;">cane
sugar</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">210
g </span><span style="font-style: normal;">(1 2/3 cups) </span><span style="font-style: normal;">whole
wheat flour</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">4
g </span><span style="font-style: normal;">(1 teaspoon)</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> baking
soda</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">7
g </span><span style="font-style: normal;">(1 teaspoon) </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">fine sea</span>
salt</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">30
ml (</span><span style="font-style: normal;">2 tablespoons</span><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
vegetable oil</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Combine
the buttermilk and the oats at least 6 hours (ideally overnight)
ahead of mixing and baking the muffins. Stir well, cover, and let
rest in the refrigerator.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Preheat
the oven to 200 C </span><span style="font-style: normal;">(400 F).</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
Grease </span><span style="font-style: normal;">a </span><span style="font-style: normal;">muffin
tin. </span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Crack
the eggs into a large mixing bowl and beat until yolk and white are
blended. Add the sugar and beat to mix well. Add the
buttermilk-oatmeal mixture. Add the flour, baking soda, salt, and
oil. Beat until the batter is well mixed.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Fill
the muffin tins three-quarters full of batter. They bake about 20
minutes, but start checking for doneness after 15 minutes. The tops
should look nice and golden brown. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Remove
the muffins from the tin and cool on a wire rack, or serve warm from
the pan. In an airtight container, they'll keep well for up to three
days. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">But <i>will</i> they last that
long?</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span>
</div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-31502612621747007972016-01-31T20:53:00.001+00:002016-02-29T18:21:25.354+00:00Where it's closest to sunrise<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; line-height: 120%; }</style><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4:00 pm, Friday. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can't move and I'm
in the middle of a busy intersection. The traffic light's changed
already. I press my shoes into the asphalt, my toes, as if claws,
curl down into the smooth leather soles, my hands meld into the
handlebars of my bike that I had to dismount and is now hanging onto
me, and for some reason I shut my eyes closed and clench my teeth. I
don't see how in a distance an elderly woman falls over on the
sidewalk, but I do see two men run up to lift her up.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">7.30 am, Friday.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– I know you are
sleeping, but you need to see this, it's Venus, Anthony nudges me on
my shoulder, bends over the bed and points towards the window.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm looking at a
pinhole in a sheet of black paper held up against a lamp – light is
blazing through it. My eyes are hurting because I tore them open from
sleep, but it's completely mystical and I sit up and look southeast
where it's closest to sunrise and Venus shines bright. It doesn't
twinkle and I don't blink.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4:01 pm, Friday.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I bend forward as if
someone punched me in the stomach.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Car horns are
bawling at me.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– Yes, it's
reeeeeeed, I knooooooow, I shout back, to nobody in particular, the
heart pumped up.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">5:00 am, Thursday,
one day before the storm.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– Good evening,
someone says. I look around, there is a man. He is with another man,
a friend, talks fast, holds a can of beer in his hand, but “good
evening” is meant for me, and the smile. I wonder if he watches me
ride off, and then, if my bicycle's rear light is on. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4:02 pm, Friday.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Canvas bill boards
on either side of the road are flapping like trapped swans, as are my
skirt and a coat. <i>Beeeeeep</i> in front of me, <i>beeeeeeeep
</i>behind me. I'll run when it's green again, just another second to
get out of this.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I dial Anthony.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">– I got caught in
a spectacular gush of wind, it almost knocked me off my feet in front
of oncoming traffic. But I'm almost home, stopping for groceries now.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The heart's still
pounding, the hands sweaty. I wonder what the weather is like on
Venus.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhROGB1AIElswrHS1RZtjlj-qWThD0TwNaDCC3K3cEyChkwl4adasv2Qo4kf5yLjNv0ZE9lt7GymgZZoThOqQ0GxGG_gduoDCHecNXFenAApT6KjaXP5qq13mU9u7H18Dg8baV0mT27U/s1600/2016-01-31+09.38.38+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhROGB1AIElswrHS1RZtjlj-qWThD0TwNaDCC3K3cEyChkwl4adasv2Qo4kf5yLjNv0ZE9lt7GymgZZoThOqQ0GxGG_gduoDCHecNXFenAApT6KjaXP5qq13mU9u7H18Dg8baV0mT27U/s400/2016-01-31+09.38.38+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Curried Lentil
Soup</b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Adapted very
slightly from <a href="http://orangette.net/">Molly Wizenberg</a>, via <a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/curried-lentil-soup"><i>Bon Appétit</i></a></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="font-style: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yield:
4 servings </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is a very
soothing, very heartening soup. It is informed by <i>dal </i><i>maharani,
</i><span style="font-style: normal;">a heady mix of black and brown
lentils and beans, but with fewer spices, milder</span><span style="font-style: normal;">.
</span>Soft, silky and highly aromatic, it tastes and feels very
creamy. For the most part it's because of the French lentils, they
plump up and get fuzzy, sort of, in the broth. But should you not
know there is is a puree of chickpeas to give the soup its richness,
you would credit a stick of butter for it, or cream. It's quite
ingenious, that.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4 tablespoons olive oil, divided</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 medium onion, finely chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 medium carrot, finely diced </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2 large garlic
cloves, finely chopped, divided</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">2 tablespoons curry
powder</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> (or a good-quality garam masala bl<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">end</span>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">170 g French green
lentils (de Puy)</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">4 ¼ cups water,
divided</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 * 4<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">0</span>0 g can
chickpeas, drained, rinsed</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 tablespoon fresh
lemon juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">fresh cilantro or
spring onions, for serving</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Warm 2 tablespoons
olive oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and
carrot; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook until the onion is
translucent, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Add half of the
chopped garlic; cook for about 4 minutes longer until the vegetables
are soft but not brown. Add the curry powder, stir until fragrant,
about 1 minute. Add the lentils and 4 cups water. Sprinkle with more
salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Bring the heat to low and simmer
until the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile, puree the
chickpeas, lemon juice, ¼ cup water, the remaining garlic and 2
tablespoons olive oil in a processor.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Add the chickpea
puree to the soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and
additional curry powder, if needed. Add more water by ¼ cupfuls
to thin the soup to a desired consistency. To serve, sprinkle with
finely chopped fresh cilantro or thinly sliced green onions.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-45432271414073053442015-12-31T15:07:00.000+00:002016-01-11T09:17:06.834+00:00A day beyond price<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's
9:45 am, December 31. In about nine hours from now I'll be sharing the evening
out with my people. We'll have delicious pizzas made by my husband.
He'll take five balls of well-proofed dough, flatten each a little
and pat it slightly on both sides in semolina. Then, leaning over a
marbled worktop, he'll press it by hand into a symmetrical circle,
he'll make it look very easy and effortless, as if it's nothing to manually press and stretch a ball of dough into a thin, smooth,
promising round. In less than a quarter of an hour from then, our lips will be
covered in oven-hot paprika-red juices from salami picante, which we
will wipe off with the heels of our hands, which will stain our
clothes, which we won't notice until tomorrow. Greasy fingerprints
will cover our glasses. </span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After Anthony is done
with his shift, the kitchen
light out, we'll head outside to light a box of fireworks from last year. The night will
be brilliant, I hope it will be rainless too. Closer to midnight the
two of us will race home, we'll probably make it with only a few minutes to spare before more fireworks erupt with glee, rip through the dark sky, replace oxygen with sulphur. We'll open a bottle of </span><span style="font-size: small;">Benoît<b> </b>Lahaye Brut, <i>pop</i>, and cut into a fine, rich, soft panettone, the knife will only sigh through it and clink against the plate. The champagne will
taste like freshly baked puff pastry and vanilla cream, the
panettone, redolent with candied citrus peel and yeast, will give on
the tongue. We'll watch the fireworks from our balcony.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">11.45 am. I measure out butter for Yotam Ottolenghi's spice cookies. This is a fourth batch this month. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some time before Christmas I give one of these spice cookies to <a href="http://godfulfood.blogspot.nl/2013/02/a-peculiar-month.html">Olivia the Cat Lady</a>. She asks what's in it. "Oh, there is liqueur in it?" She sounds surprised, emphasizes 'liqueur', lifts it and stretches it like an accordion. "I shall wait till evening to have it. I don't like liqueur in the morning", she says. "But thank you very much, very nice of you!" She wraps it in a napkin, puts it in her heavy-duty bag, next to a can of cat food and a roll of wrapping paper with reindeer on it. She'll tell me in a day she loved the cookie very much.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sounds already
crackle through the air like a child playing with bubble wrap.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A day beyond price. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIq8za7in1kRS1A30FpMMAU-r80kfagqve-sWqQxda__U6c9frTvXuWbsEbWDeWQ6RJJt9WzyA1-kPcOPD5EOdhjP1y7UN26pz8iaZuCa3ifIAYz9eor3FdFj0Xs7Mo3fssbgAN6Vf2uY/s1600/IMAG2266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIq8za7in1kRS1A30FpMMAU-r80kfagqve-sWqQxda__U6c9frTvXuWbsEbWDeWQ6RJJt9WzyA1-kPcOPD5EOdhjP1y7UN26pz8iaZuCa3ifIAYz9eor3FdFj0Xs7Mo3fssbgAN6Vf2uY/s400/IMAG2266.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spice Cookies</b></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Adapted from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jerusalem-Cookbook-Yotam-Ottolenghi/dp/1607743949/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451565256&sr=8-1&keywords=Jerusalem"><i>Jerusalem: A Cookbook</i>,</a> by Yotam Ottolenghi and
Sami Tamimi</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
Yield: 16 cookies</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">C</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;">omplex, laden with </span><span style="font-style: normal;">winter
spices, chocolate, citrus zest, and currants soaked in liqueur,</span><span style="font-style: normal;">
with the crumb that is like velvet, </span><span style="font-style: normal;">and
with the </span><span style="font-style: normal;">top thinly </span><span style="font-style: normal;">coated
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">with sharp lemon
glazing, they are wonderful,
mysterious, perfect winter cookies. I bet they'll remind you of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry's_Chocolate_Orange">Terry's Chocolate Orange</a>. Only these are better!</span></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>N</i><i>ote</i>s<span style="font-style: normal;">: You can use brandy to soak the currants as in the original recipe. I myself don't like brandy, find it abrasive, pervasive. Honey liqueur on the other hand</span><span style="font-style: normal;">,
</span><span style="font-style: normal;">Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey for example,</span><span style="font-style: normal;"> does well by these. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">Next, I cut down on sugar in the glazing by one-fourth but there still was enough of it </span><span style="font-style: normal;">to provide for that ever so delicate
snap. </span><span style="font-style: normal;">In the cookie dough, I
replaced superfine sugar with dark brown sugar. And last, I </span><span style="font-style: normal;">grated
zest both from </span><span style="font-style: normal;">a whole orange and
a whole lemon for the lot, because for these cookies you don't stop </span>grating <span style="font-style: normal;">either </span><span style="font-style: normal;">at half a teaspoon.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">125
g currants</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">2
tablespoons </span><span style="font-style: normal;">honey liqueur
(see notes above)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">240
g plain flour</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">7
g best-quality cocoa powder</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">½
teaspoon baking powder</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">¼
teaspoon bicarbonate of soda</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">½
teaspoon each ground cinnamon, allspice, ginger and nutmeg</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">¼
teaspoon salt</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">150
g good-quality dark chocolate, finely ground </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">125
g unsalted butter, at room temperature</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">125
g dark </span><span style="font-style: normal;">brown </span><span style="font-style: normal;">sugar</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">1
tsp vanilla essence</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">grated
zest of a medium orange</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">grated
zest of a medium lemon</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">½
medium free-range egg</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">1
tablespoon finely diced candied citrus peel</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Glaze</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">3
tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">120
g icing sugar</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Soak
the currants in the honey liqueur for 10 minutes. Sift together the
flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, then add the spices, salt
and dark chocolate. Mix well with a whisk.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">In
a medium bowl, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla and lemon and orange
zest to combine but not aerate too much, about a minute. Add the egg
and beat for another minute. Add the dry ingredients, followed by the
currants and honey liqueur. Mix until everything just comes
together.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Gently
knead the dough in the bowl with your hands until it is uniform.
Divide the dough into 50g chunks and shape them into round balls.
Place on one or two baking sheets lined with baking paper, about 2cm
apart, and rest in the fridge for at least an hour.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Heat
the oven to 190 degrees Celsius. Bake the cookies for 15 minutes,
until the top firms up but the centre is still slightly soft. Remove
from the oven. Once the cookies are out of the oven, allow to cool
for 5 minutes only, and then transfer to a wire rack. </span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">While
the cookies are still warm, whisk together the glaze ingredients
until a thin and smooth icing is formed. Pour a generous teaspoon of the glaze over each cookie, leaving it to drip and coat the cookie
with a very thin, almost transparent film. Repeat this step for a
thicker glaze. Finish each with three pieces of candied peel placed
at the centre. Leave to set and serve, or store in an airtight
container for up to a week. </span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span>
</div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-76525962023260280682015-11-30T18:27:00.001+00:002015-11-30T18:35:18.493+00:00It didn't feel ordinary at all<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 120%; text-align: left; }p.western { font-family: "Liberation Serif",serif; font-size: 12pt; }p.cjk { font-family: "Droid Sans Devanagari"; font-size: 12pt; }p.ctl { font-family: "Liberation Serif"; font-size: 12pt; }</style><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My hands are cold, the feet
shuffle, the wait for the elevator feels long. I reach in my overcoat
pocket and there is a whole tangerine, forgotten since morning, still
fragrant, still carefree. I focus on its optimistic, arresting orange
and the unblemished, glossy skin when the elevator finally arrives. I
pause to look back outside the glass entrance door then step in. I
think I heard hastened heels behind me.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span>“<i>Respirez, vous êtes sur
FIP.” </i><span style="font-style: normal;">I
lean against the wall as the elevator starts to ascend. A French
music <a href="http://www.fipradio.fr/">radio</a> station is streaming on my phone. “<i>Breathe, you are on
FIP.</i>” </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">It
was a warm September day, two years ago. My friend and I walked down
the hilly roads away from Montmartre. We were about to cross over
when a bus slowed down in front of us at a stop. We made our way
around it, and I felt the heat of its exhaust fumes on my bare
ankles. It felt soft and pleasant, like a human breath. I thought
then that it could have happened anywhere, but in Paris it felt less
ordinary. Or rather in Paris it didn't feel ordinary at all.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">Third
floor. A neat arrangement of red gardenias in the hallway, in
matching pots.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-style: normal;">Fifth
floor. I had to stop, stand still. I'd seen the Eiffel Tower
countless times before, all through the eyes of others. Now</span><i>
I </i><span style="font-style: normal;">was
looking at it.<i> Here you are</i>.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Sixth
floor. I squeeze the tangerine a little, look into the dull elevator
mirror. I'll buy a train ticket to Paris, yes, that's what I'll do. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span></span>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">Eighth
floor. I step out of the elevator to hear the roof rattling. I turn
the key in the door: inside the apartment the windows rattle too,
and the curtains are unsettled. I connect my phone to the soundbar<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. </span>“<i>Respirez, vous êtes sur FIP</i>” fills the rooms<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> -- </span>jazz, classical,
world, film music in smooth succession. </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">I turn on the stove to make a
pot of simmered black beans for dinner, a wonderful, powerful,
flavorsome thing. I'll finish the tangerine, too.</span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhT_P14uUkLreNdvdUmJsdVViZQ20XSoqj98IqYNfTXxuQKwFpoeszEqcwxPq8s-QD8JQHiwc-mJ8GVfrB2WepIM2CohTNWG2p4brvdNdmlNG5x_TNLg6ayNNzpOOYc3wnnIZDt7U30A/s1600/2015-11-30+05.53.51+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhT_P14uUkLreNdvdUmJsdVViZQ20XSoqj98IqYNfTXxuQKwFpoeszEqcwxPq8s-QD8JQHiwc-mJ8GVfrB2WepIM2CohTNWG2p4brvdNdmlNG5x_TNLg6ayNNzpOOYc3wnnIZDt7U30A/s400/2015-11-30+05.53.51+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;">Simmered
Black Beans</b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Adapted
from </span></span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/health/nutrition/09recipehealth.html?_r=0"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">The New York Times</span></i></a></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Serves
6</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">Pardon
my bossiness, but make this dish, really. To soak the beans
overnight, to remember to do it, is the hardest step, which is
another way to say it's an easy recipe. I'd even take it further and
say it's the easiest way to the best pot of beans, which to me means
soft, well-seasoned, meaty beans suspended in a thick fragrant broth,
which is achieved by languidly simmering them in their soaking water
with plenty of garlic, onion and cilantro. I like them plain, with a
hunk of good sourdough bread, or with cubed avocado, a ring or two of
jalapeno, and a few shreds of <a href="http://godfulfood.blogspot.nl/2013/10/october-28th.html">roast chicken</a>. But enough with
lengthy sentences.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">450 g
black beans, washed and picked over for stones</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">2
L water</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">2
Tbsp extra virgin olive oil</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">1
medium onion, chopped</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">4
large cloves of garlic, minced</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">15
g (a good handful) chopped cilantro (coriander), plus more for
garnish</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">Salt
to taste</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">Soak
the beans in the water for at least six hours or overnight.</span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Heat
the oil over medium-low heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch
oven, and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it starts to soften,
about three minutes. Add half the garlic. Cook, stirring, until
fragrant, about one minute. Pour in the beans and soaking water. The
beans should be covered by at least two cm of water. Add more if
necessary, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and
simmer one hour. </span></span></span></span>
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-style: normal;">Add
the remaining garlic, cilantro and salt. Continue to simmer another
hour, until the beans are soft and the broth is thick. Taste. Add
more salt or garlic if necessary. Let sit overnight in the fridge for
the best flavor.</span></span></span></span></div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-48828327662610346972015-10-31T23:38:00.000+00:002015-11-30T18:32:02.089+00:00Younger than he thought<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The night falls. With it a softness -- the last indulgent lukewarm air -- permeates what's underneath the skin -- no skin. The light (vintage gold) exhales, makes me want to hold my breath. In darkness the water in canals seems motionless, unfeeling. Unlike the streetlights -- those dance. </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The morning started with a mist, thin, unsure. I woke up first -- it was still dark out. The street glistened, was absolutely silent. A car floated past the strong beam of a streetlight, a science-fiction scene. I closed the balcony door, picked up a DVD from the floor by the TV -- <i>The Sopranos</i>, season 3, disc 4 -- poured water in the kettle, switched it on, c<i>lick</i>.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I write down a list of groceries -- aubergines, basil, cherry tomatoes, wine -- then mindlessly place a cup of hot coffee on it. Instantaneously 'aubergines' grow fuzzy. I draw an exclamation mark next to 'wine'.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The day was rising, a pale, unhurried dawn, it reveals, catches clouds wandering off at the top of the sky. It should be a glorious day. Leaves are falling, gliding downwards of their own accord, like theater curtains at the end of a brilliant show. Goodbye to all that; encore, encore!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-- Happy birthday! Coffee?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Someone calls. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-- Much too, much too close to forty. I gotta go pick a fight, Anthony says and laughs.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-- Thirty-six isn't close to forty, I say and extend a cup.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-- I'm thirty-seven -- am I not? </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-- Two thousand fifteen minus nineteen seventy-nine...</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">-- That's right -- thirty-six.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He goes on to say it's a great gift, to be younger than he thought. A homemade birthday lunch is a bonus.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHWFVNxh3OgFyPoDBV02Six7YfUvNu4xOzjWHOfZH0MblYYcjGs36y7oyP_LcLFhN9v3HHsD4erHBl37bIyCya_KdOm9JncAx7kFh6ybSGagufs7sHBMt-RdaGciX3IdeLBr84gFoRUg/s1600/2015-10-31+08.44.27+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHWFVNxh3OgFyPoDBV02Six7YfUvNu4xOzjWHOfZH0MblYYcjGs36y7oyP_LcLFhN9v3HHsD4erHBl37bIyCya_KdOm9JncAx7kFh6ybSGagufs7sHBMt-RdaGciX3IdeLBr84gFoRUg/s400/2015-10-31+08.44.27+1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In darkness the water in canals seems motionless, unfeeling. Like the streetlights, we'll dance too.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Pasta with Roasted Aubergines and Tomatoes</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Adapted from </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/25/baked-aubergine-pasta-vegetarian-recipe-nigel-slater" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Nigel Slater</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Serves 2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is a pasta dish unmasked by any sauce, and is what it is: a sum of its three key ingredients -- aubergine, tomatoes, garlic. The sweet juices from the roasted vegetables and a generous quantity of olive oil will take care that the lips glisten here. Crush the tomatoes with a fork as they roast to syphon their bright juices into the oil. As pasta, I used conchiglie (shells) to catch an odd bite here and there, and to lock in some of that mushroom flavour that appears when roasted aubergine meets caramelized garlic. Originally, it's penne.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 large aubergine</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">250 g cherry tomatoes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">3 cloves garlic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">8 Tbsp olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Salt and pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">250 g dried conchiglie (shells)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A scarce handful of basil leaves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Set the oven to 200C.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wipe the aubergine and slice it into thin rounds. Place the slices in a single layer in a large roasting tin. Peel and crush the garlic and scatter over the aubergines. Throw in the tomatoes, whole, and trickle the olive oil. Season well, then bake for 25-30 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dump the pasta in a deep pan of salted boiling water. Cook for 9 minutes until al dente. Drain in a colander.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Add the drained pasta to the aubergines and toss gently together. Adjust the seasoning if needed. Tear the basil leaves and add to the lot. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
</div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-84403188545346281672015-09-30T19:16:00.001+01:002015-11-30T18:29:35.366+00:00Tomorrow and until<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">September. The air is well-supplied, redolent at dusk of ripe, ruby-fleshed figs -- and often after rain, of matured brie and cider. But the flats of rain have stopped, and for a few days now. A godsend. I ran out of shoes that weren't soaked.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The dusted-up, off-white trams are a contrast to young men's and women's tanned arms and faces, the remnants of a sea tan, the hue of unrefined cane sugar. I wonder if they can still feel the swell of sea waves, cool and constant, around their ankles, and how their lips must have tasted of salt after a swim.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJbeud0f4zDvqsqTEHcVIJgdhyqZZgqgVKBjyIuDOG2vIW4LdXZmKoOh7hokMbD2cD6TKtlWWzGe7GwmAkdJABSaoFMkRLf31ICah5YxsAsOO-3TF-ijDZZQP6VGM1iHkFgGRBU8di9k/s400/2015-09-30+07.53.32+1.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Day by day the light changes. There is a new intense quality to it that completes the summer's expiration. It's done, gone, but I reject, still, the idea of a coat. I'm being stubborn, might pay for it with a cold later. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"How do you find my new lipstick?", I ask Anthony as I make myself up in front of the bathroom mirror. I talk loudly -- he's in another room and the TV is on.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"I like it. Looks natural." </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I lean forward to consider my lips closer in the mirror, turn my head right, left, then wipe a little from the corners. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's almost dusk outside, a crisp evening, the atmospheric version of a cotton shirt freshly starched. We have dinner in town. It's our wedding anniversary -- three years. <a href="http://kaagmanenkortekaas.nl/">The restaurant</a> is filled with joyous clatter of plates and cutlery, and recurring pops of corks. I feel curious, order the only Hungarian on the wine list, <a href="http://mondivin.eu/mondivin_quintessence">red</a>. Could we have it by the glass, I wonder. Yes, that can be arranged. The full bottle appears on the table. No obligation to finish it, but it is a very good wine, sophisticated and masculine, and eventually we do. The fried fresh parsley, crisp, earthy, that comes with the venison, our main, is an expected surprise, it steals the show. It's a long dinner, there is comfort in eating in silence.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; min-height: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The wine has made my head spin. We skip the dessert and after cheese order coffee. It comes with bonbons made with particularly peaty Scotch, another surprise for the palette. On the calendar it's already another day and my alarm clock will go off at five in the morning. But why hurry a celebration? </span><br />
<br />
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlZDD12iT3PTuq6DnCYH8cu_R3cWp5fR1Iy1qd49kBRPgPwygWURPm3JhAOpDsaVQWZaKeO62u7wlYkulTxdcNS4vzqZosxFnxC0rfqsg7WL3T93GCiNZ6JaT8lI_6jK2-7ZV6osppelc/s400/2015-09-30+07.51.34+1.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tomorrow I'll have a simple dinner alone: paella rice cooked together with caramelized onions and sautéed mushrooms, and two, three, possibly more ripest figs, the last of the season, for dessert. I'll eat them out on the balcony while watching the skyline catch fire at sunset, and until the rain returns. September.</span></div>
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anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-25358005149892265142015-08-31T21:18:00.000+01:002015-11-30T18:30:32.165+00:00A sentimental thing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It feels like I'm being watched.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I woke in darkness, too early, dissected the night in half with the sudden motion of my tired eyelids. Have I heard something? The windows and balcony door are open -- the likelihood is high. For a moment I lay there motionless in the heat. A stifled breeze makes the trees rustle beneath the windows like a stream. The bed spring gives out a nervous creak as I turn. I let a few minutes pass before I get up and go to the kitchen for a glass of water.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivexu0sx10ji8sPe-XbHrS1ZvFLaog6r5u-fA_-0CM-I7iIQf1dUHODctTZY_ccIZLlEujC8Zxd0wmDhMsSBMxaW9Btruwjm1T44qXMtwQ8iQBaxXyk0wSwLwhLLYXK_opSmXoF2meV5s/s1600/2015-08-31+09.37.30+1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivexu0sx10ji8sPe-XbHrS1ZvFLaog6r5u-fA_-0CM-I7iIQf1dUHODctTZY_ccIZLlEujC8Zxd0wmDhMsSBMxaW9Btruwjm1T44qXMtwQ8iQBaxXyk0wSwLwhLLYXK_opSmXoF2meV5s/s400/2015-08-31+09.37.30+1-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The fume extractor is still on, a constant industrious drone. I must have left it on after preparing dinner: spicy potatoes, pan-fried with onions, madras curry powder, and cumin and coriander seeds (a deviation, barely, from<a href="http://godfulfood.blogspot.nl/2011/09/its-not-drag.html"> this </a>recipe). On the table there remained a couple crumpled napkins, half a watermelon, its vermillion flesh ripe enough to resemble candy floss, and cups with coffee remnants in them. I cover the watermelon with cling film and put it in the fridge. A sweet, exceptionally juicy late-August watermelon is for me a sentimental thing. A delight for the mouth but the particular sadness for the heart: another summer is gone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I finish the glass of water and get out onto the balcony for fresh air. It's humid, smells of swamp, grassy and strong. In the distance lightning bolts flash and spread across the night sky like vericose veins. I look up, the stars are hidden. I lean against the balcony railing, my eyes travelling from window to window, all unlit, impenetrable, in the building across. It's still around me, I'm no longer sure if I heard anything at all. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I go back to bed only to wake up again shortly, again from the feeling of being watched. I look out of the bedroom window -- and it's the full moon's metallic uncomfortable stare, has been all along.</span></div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-44339561906068252142015-07-31T21:30:00.000+01:002015-07-31T21:36:23.022+01:00Between espressos and apricots<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think I'm dreaming. I'm alone in my bed, sunk in sleep between the indented pillows and twisted sheets, but I feel a soft touch on my bare wrist. It's like a tickle and a brushstroke of a breeze combined; one moment it's here, the other it goes. Through the window the sunlight amplifies, my eyelids fail to screen it, I wake up. It must be close to midday: the sun is brighter than itself. I squint at it and in my eyes it looks like a ripe apricot in mid-July, rich orange and intense. The light has gotten iridescent, too.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The summer in the city is at its most lustrous these days, it sparkles like champagne, especially after a bout of unruly rain blown around by wind. The storms have somewhat blemished the scyscape recently, but it's only temporary, of course it is. On my birthday it was very hot, it seemed the air had entirely evaporated. I drank champagne that day, brut, it ta</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">sted like freshly baked puff pastry and vanilla cream. It felt enthusiastic on my tongue.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYH-DW0w98kZmGPCrqp7cNJFPdxXBpARvrcsCqgHzfBCPbEBuCm2f0Op8ujk3Au7-3IAbHGIVxmxln-1q7QWK0XFj38F5rf_nZbM6vJGY7rQm2KV66op-IoC6_LVfmX25fOdcYxu2kJc/s1600/2015-07-31+01.38.07+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYH-DW0w98kZmGPCrqp7cNJFPdxXBpARvrcsCqgHzfBCPbEBuCm2f0Op8ujk3Au7-3IAbHGIVxmxln-1q7QWK0XFj38F5rf_nZbM6vJGY7rQm2KV66op-IoC6_LVfmX25fOdcYxu2kJc/s400/2015-07-31+01.38.07+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I slept through breakfast, but that's ok. I'll have breakfast for lunch. I'm thinking to roast some apricots with a little honey and lemon juice. It won't take long, about twenty minutes in a moderate oven. I'll only have to rinse and halve them, and then wait for the gentle heat to metamorphose them into soft edible suns. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The warm fruit, relaxed, mellow, half honey, half almond in taste, will be a fine match -- and contrast -- to a bowl of <i>fromage blanc, </i>tangy and satisfying. My favourite part is when the juice from the apricots, perfumed and sharp, seeps into the <i>fromage blanc </i>and the two make the tip of my tongue curl upward and lips go <i>smack smack</i>. But first I want to get out for an espresso. I need it to shoot down my limbs, to diffuse like ink in my bloodstream.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The rest of the day finds its way between espressos and apricots, an unworried midsummer afternoon.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The touch on my wrist in the late morning -- it was my own breath.</span></div>
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anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-8806798185557740242015-05-31T22:26:00.000+01:002015-05-31T22:26:15.395+01:00Thousands of miles, away<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A round ceramic plate with sashimi is placed before me, and for the next week, month, until I might forget I'll feel the firm fresh flesh of the sea on my restless tongue, and how it melts. The plate is smooth, like marble, and grey, like smoke, and on it the slices of raw tuna, salmon and sea bream look like colour extracts -- ruby, muted pink and cream -- from a Japanese art print. There is a little square dish with soy sauce on the side, and a puff of shredded daikon, but these remain unstirred, undisturbed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It started to rain before the plate arrived at the table, soft, calm flow of raindrops dissolving in the garden pond outside. In anticipation, amidst the conversation -- but about what? -- my eye wandered off, got fixated on a random ripple, watched it expand and disappear over the heads of the oxygen-hungry quartet of carps. I imagined, if I could walk out through the glass door in the concrete modern frame I'd find myself thousands of miles away, on a bamboo walkway waving through a green garden towards a century-old, at least a century-old, wooden teahouse. I'd bow under the low entrance door, sit on a tatami floor, the rice paper window screen open to the same garden pond. I'd perhaps rest my eye on a hanging scroll depicting a cherry tree in bloom on the wall, and on an origami crane on a lacquered tray, and I will hear out the rustling rain, and each rustling word.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQavDmwSfoJGBg4lr4_WsJtfTJkWvsafWdWwB9PBuZxbal7IheENyUI_O1OiPAwpc6f5OkpA7MjymPVYiNh61ko_5iwWqSi3t0N_YEUsOx7z9lWIWwbfaTFy7a6NgyKGOPcenHstyFeWE/s1600/origami+crane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQavDmwSfoJGBg4lr4_WsJtfTJkWvsafWdWwB9PBuZxbal7IheENyUI_O1OiPAwpc6f5OkpA7MjymPVYiNh61ko_5iwWqSi3t0N_YEUsOx7z9lWIWwbfaTFy7a6NgyKGOPcenHstyFeWE/s400/origami+crane.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When the food is served, I lean over the plate, awed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I, too, could be a figure in a Japanese print.</span></div>
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anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-51696976630476420312015-04-30T22:36:00.000+01:002015-04-30T23:24:29.149+01:00It feels like I could<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The night enters the day at gunpoint, shoots into the bloodstream like an intravenous injection, no objection, mainlines it with dim windows and street lights, and somewhere with smears of dark lipstick around the wrists.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNg6qanWImMqez4HCxsTfoWuIMC5sR3f93AvNfM-90Jxdv-wCkXsiATnvir_dBhMVowiVWyXeM53Z92PJwwKOd2nta-GaAO7t3dxwV9_nsoekRMCweW7E6dLUGRDgraR0FLx61yaisGKo/s1600/IMAG1993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNg6qanWImMqez4HCxsTfoWuIMC5sR3f93AvNfM-90Jxdv-wCkXsiATnvir_dBhMVowiVWyXeM53Z92PJwwKOd2nta-GaAO7t3dxwV9_nsoekRMCweW7E6dLUGRDgraR0FLx61yaisGKo/s1600/IMAG1993.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The jet wash and the bass of engines dissolve on my face as I stand near a highway and watch planes descend into the liquid dark. I look up, veins strained, neck craned -- I could touch this plane if I reach out and stretch my arms, it feels like I could. Adrenaline gushes into the heart, turns it into a bass drum. The thrill becomes the drill. The plane levels with the runway, the air is pinned down to the fresh innocent grass, shredded by the engine turbines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The ground is cold, the chill slowly snakes around my legs, seeps through under my jeans, into the skin. Another plane is zooming in, and after it, in a greater distance, one more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My phone buzzes in my coat pockets, an incoming text. <i>Let me treat you to a glass of ice champagne with strawberries and mint.</i> The bitter, sharp smell of jet fuel weighs down the air, I gasp for breath. I pull a pack of chewing gum, peppermint, out of my jeans pocket. I take three pieces, the mouth is instantly awash with xylitol.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the morning, from the bed unmade still, I'll watch other planes knife through the non-resistant light.</span></div>
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anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-45794855060791502252015-03-31T19:40:00.000+01:002015-03-31T20:31:03.963+01:00When I wake up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>(March 1st)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In bonds of twisted sheets, the morning's begun with an intent to vanish. It's 10.30 a.m., the alarm must again have gone off unheard, unnoticed. A rare free Sunday, and I filled it to the throat with commitments, like a force-fed goose for foie gras. I need an expeditious take-off to be in town for brunch by noon. A shower, a little concealer, mascara and lipstick, no coffee.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is a waiting list. At least an hour for a table of three. Fine, we can wait outside. It's a clear day, polished blue skies, but at about one and a half hours, amidst a conversation over meals and clothing, I find myself thinking about my feet, they are numb, it feels like I have no shoes on. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXrn3xxigiC4tb_XPq11WnaZhlLqT78q-A3mwp7Sy_tPrG6DWftd3oqh-UeeebqTWk9VH7eQ2XLTSrXSr4t-AGJQRbIsuZp1IM10bc5bLVkyxGtTOBPRsnfJ0qpxlQ1nU7AtYh1ayyaQ/s1600/march.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXrn3xxigiC4tb_XPq11WnaZhlLqT78q-A3mwp7Sy_tPrG6DWftd3oqh-UeeebqTWk9VH7eQ2XLTSrXSr4t-AGJQRbIsuZp1IM10bc5bLVkyxGtTOBPRsnfJ0qpxlQ1nU7AtYh1ayyaQ/s1600/march.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have my first bite since yesterday at 2 p.m. It's been about eighteen hours. A stack of pancakes, decent flapjacks, melts under my fork and knife. I also order a bowl of fruit, and coffee, first an espresso, then a filter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>(March 8th)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The alarm goes off at 3 a.m. My naked arm reaches under the pillow to mute it. It's a wonder I hear it through the thick, sticky sleep. I lie still for a while. Do I even breathe? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I peel an orange before stepping out through the doorway, its fragrant skin lands in the sink in one twisted ribbon. I'll quickly eat it under the yellow light of the elevator. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The city is dark, unconscious, the night air soft, pure. The smell of orange lingers on my breath. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After work I stop by the chocolate store to get more François Pralus. On my way home I pick up roasted chicken and a bottle of Portuguese red. It's International Women's Day, and I feel like a carnivore.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The familiar orange skin is still in the sink.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>(March 16th)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's conventionally early when I wake up, not yet eight. I wish I could sleep in, but my throat's been scoured by sandpaper overnight, or it feels like it was. Raw, swollen, under siege. The bed offers no solace, so I get up and make myself a pot of coffee. Caffeine will kill the pain.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc8EFin2mzNWz63mdvbjLz_zs4lo732YOrdyTcIHq-Xb-rpOswV8mk1-aETGkCUr2dr2cZi4hkerNeWw3Q3HQvEk_EzBAsMZvCLMTCWNQ7yS17rHHtbHz4asp6UfvGpQXkRZ3lxDumq8/s1600/chemex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc8EFin2mzNWz63mdvbjLz_zs4lo732YOrdyTcIHq-Xb-rpOswV8mk1-aETGkCUr2dr2cZi4hkerNeWw3Q3HQvEk_EzBAsMZvCLMTCWNQ7yS17rHHtbHz4asp6UfvGpQXkRZ3lxDumq8/s1600/chemex.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>(March 20th)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bound by sweat-soaked sheets I stay in bed all day. I imagine if somebody ever pierces my ear with a knitting needle it will feel exactly like this: throbbing, high-voltage pain, minus blood gushing out. This is one bitch of a bug.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I order in Chinese. I'm mostly after a chicken soup, but get a dish of chicken and stir-fry vegetables in piquant red-pepper sauce in addition. I can do with more heat, so stir in a spoonful, and then one more, of sambal oelek. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>(March 29th)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">An icy beginning for daylight savings. Rain is relentless, wet snow hasn't stayed out of it either. The hair smells of last night, cigarettes, perfume, and tipsy laughter. When I wake up it's already 14.30 p.m. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm taking slow breaths</span></div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-34981759194880862012015-02-28T21:28:00.001+00:002015-03-31T14:00:29.944+01:00Perhaps for emphasis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">February the twenty-eighth, worn out, small-bodied, and unseeing. A day that in the confines of the apartment makes no effort to excite, that promises nothing. Lit in late-winter light, half milk, half gold, it means well, to pass quickly, to leave no trace. The lungs, unaccustomed, inexperienced, still burn a little from last night's smoking, and a faint taste of sodium chloride from the salt-encrusted margaritas continues to tingle the lips. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I don't always win, but I never get knocked down", said a male voice behind my back. I reluctantly peeled my eyes off the tropic green of<i> Mekhong River Thai Bar</i> signage and turned around to see a short man, barrel-chested, baby-faced. He was talking to me, asked me if I smoke. I said sorry, I don't -- and started to unlock my bike off the bridge railing. He went on to tell me these two guys, dipshits, just robbed him, took all his money, not much, and cigarettes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> "They approached me from behind, hit me on the head. If I saw them coming, it just wouldn't go down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I like to fight, collect scars and bruises.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"This one" -- he pointed to the knuckles on his right hand and lifted it to his lips -- "this one is my favorite." He elongated the first syllable, almost sang it out, <i>feeeey-vorite</i>, perhaps for emphasis. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He suggested we maybe have a beer, nodding towards the <i>Mekhong River</i>. It's open till 4 a.m, he said. "Everything else is closing down as I speak." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I said thank you, but I'd had enough for the night already. I smiled and rode off as fast as I could, the bike lights still in my coat pocket.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">February the twenty-eighth. Smoke grey before the night sky and all thoughts are on dinner. And what dinner!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Soba Noodles with Peanut-Citrus Sauce</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Adapted from <i><a href="http://orangette.blogspot.nl/2007/09/old-switcheroo.html">Orangette</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yield: 2-3 servings</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is my new go-to dish. A delicious, filling, slurpy, no-brainer meal, with enough kick, crunch and smoothness to please everybody's tastes. And by everybody I really mean every one who likes peanut butter and noodles, and now please tell me who does not?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>For the sauce</i>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">½ cup natural crunchy peanut butter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">½ cup fresh lemon juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 ½ tsp soy sauce</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">¼ tsp pressed garlic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">½ tsp sriracha or similar hot sauce, or more to taste</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">½ tsp sambal oelek or similar chili garlic paste, or more to taste</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 tsp olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 tsp water</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>For the noodles</i>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">250 g soba noodles</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3 red radishes, very thinly sliced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 small carrots, very thinly sliced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 celery stalk, thinly sliced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fresh cilantro (coriander) or chives, for serving</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Make the sauce. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, and whisk with a fork to blend well. It will look clumpy at first, but keep whisking. It will come together into a smooth, fragrant sauce. Taste, and tweak to your liking. Set aside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next, bring a large pot of water to a boil, and place a colander in the sink. When the water boils, add the soba noodles, and cook at a gentle simmer until they are al dente, about four minutes. Don't overcook. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Drain the noodles into the colander in the sink. Immediately wash them in cold water. Turn on the faucet and, with your hands, take small handfuls of soba and separate them between your fingers, taking care each noodle is rinsed. This helps to remove any starchy residues and keeps the noodles from clumping.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shake any excess water from the noodles, and pour them into the bowl of sauce. Manually or with forks, gently toss until the noodles are evenly coated. Add the carrots, radishes, and celery, and serve, topped with fresh cilantro (coriander) or chives.</span></div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-87114808318124213712015-01-31T22:56:00.000+00:002015-01-31T22:56:51.095+00:00Hypnotized by it<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A rich and modest square of François Pralus Cuba is starting to melt under the impatient tongue. I had to get out and pedal thirty minutes each way to get a bar. The day is tormented by rain and snow, they alternate first, then merge, land angrily on the skin. But I don't mind, have grown used to this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I gather speed -- I'll lose it in a minute to the next gust of wind. I only passed four or five blocks and I already feel my shirt slowly starting to dissolve in sweat on my back. I cross a traffic-laden road, the green light disappears quickly in the thick spew of hail. I wear mittens, but the skin on my hands feels raw, it burns. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Neat, elegant stacks of chocolate bars, thin as ballerina's ribs. The eye stops at each, sends the mind reeling, wanting, in a free fall. I pull a Cuba off the shelf, my favourite. I habitually run my fingers across its wrapper, the paper feels grainier under the wet skin. But I know well what's underneath it: a taste of cigar smoke and rum, not direct, but rather plucked from somebody's lips. Before going back I decide to have a cup of coffee, an espresso. It comes thick as crude oil. The woman across the counter compliments the colour of my lipstick, she would like to know the name of the hue. I say it's dark wine, Merlot. I reach into my coat pocket for change to find a crumpled piece of writing paper, both damp from rain. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I looked up, it was dark. The night was through, over, down to the last note in my pockets, each spent on wine. I alone must have had a bottle of young red, French, too. It knowingly blazed through the blood and softened the limbs. The phone buzzed and buzzed. I took a piece of paper out of my handbag, still blank but already folded, straightened it and wrote: <i>Remember how you spilled wine over my dress (good it was black) as we stumbled in a dance and we laughed at it and at our ourselves louder than everybody else combined</i>. Then I looked down at it and crumpled it up. The arthritic tree tops span overhead as I was unlocking my bike. I looked up, my head started to spin too, the stomach feeling dangerously close to the throat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The tongue gives in to the slow dark buttery melt, becomes sedated, hypnotized by it. </span></div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6436361892053694099.post-68013235470190820282014-11-30T21:59:00.000+00:002014-11-30T21:59:33.451+00:00I look away<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"I'm sitting down to write. I'll call you back later, I don't exist for now, only in my head." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The bedroom window is chilled, a thin line between the post-sleep warmth and a day as grey as smoke. I've been at my desk since morning, in front of the blank page. Sentences circle in front of my mind's eye, but they are like an empty baggage belt. I'm thinking back to my trip to Russia in October. It was 4 a.m. when I landed, one of the few flights to touch down at such hour. I flew through Istanbul, it was a soft day, sunny. No one aboard expected to step into the rain. I found myself wondering if coming down from a high feels like this, dark and cutting. Someone joked it was for us to get a cold faster.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A man in front of me in line to passport control sneezes, then coughs -- I roll my coat collar up, as if this would protect me. Somebody hasn't filled out the migration form correctly, the line stops moving. I pull a pack of mints out from my pocket. The cool on my tongue distracts me from joining in the angry groans and hissing whispers. I'd been up for twenty hours, my stomach growls. Except for the two in-flight meals, I didn't eat much that day. I take another mint, and one more. I look forward to my grandmother's crepes, thin and delicate, as if made of lace. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another hold-up, now with the luggage. The waiting's turned my thoughts inconsequential. I'm thinking about why I often now prefer a splash of bourbon or gin to a glass of wine. Maybe because I'm getting older. The gin they offered on the flight tasted of ethanol and burnt my tongue, I couldn't finish it. It must have been over half an hour, but the baggage carousel still moves around unladen. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I look away from my computer screen to find the daylight darker. My stomach growls again. I go and toast a slice of sourdough bread. The warm crust, crisp and yielding, a layer of almond butter and honey on top, a winter mouthfeel. I toast a second slice. South Park is on TV. I end up watching a few episodes. "I'm cereal, I'm super duper cereal!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It wasn't a long trip, only a week and a half, but a third day into my stay I was habitually counting down the time until my flight back. It's a terrible thing, it once more felt like a betrayal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The daylight's gone, the windows face the night again. A distant row of road lights line the horizon. I pick up the phone to call my parents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"How have you been? <i>Kak u vas dela</i>? <i>Skuchayu</i>."</span></div>
anyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01033881447990734432noreply@blogger.com0