28 April 2010
26 April 2010
Bacon brownies!
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Bacon Brownies Recipe
2) 1 ounce squares unsweetened chocolate 1/2 pound bacon, cooked and drained on paper towels
1/2 cup total, butter and bacon drippings
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
Pinch salt
1/2 cup unbleached white flour
Chocolate ganache drizzle
Spray an 8" X 8" square baking pan with vegetable spray.
Cook bacon, drain on paper towels and crumble in medium pieces. Save bacon grease.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Measure bacon drippings into a 1 cup measure. Add melted butter to that to make 1/2 cup total.
Melt unsweetened chocolate and butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Do not burn. Remove from heat. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, stir in sugar until well mixed.
Add eggs, vanilla and salt and beat well with spoon. Fold in flour and mix just until smooth.
Pour half the batter into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with half the bacon, and carefully pour the rest of the brownie batter on top.
Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes, then sprinkle some more bacon on the brownies, reserving at least a handful of bacon for the topping. Return brownies to the oven and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes or until knife comes out clean.
Sprinkle the rest of the bacon on top, and cool completely before drizzling with Chocolate Ganache.
Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival July 19-22
http://www.photographyvermont.com/Gallery/Musicians/GreyFox2009SlideshowByAdamFrehm/
http://www.greyfoxbluegrass.com/
Grey Fox takes place on the incredibly beautiful and breathtaking Rothvoss Farm that is a working hay farm in the town of Ancramdale, NY. The Rothvoss Farm has long been the site of the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival, stretching from 1983 to 1999, presenting the best of bluegrass and acoustic music, and serving as a Mecca for bluegrass fans the world over. Now known as Grey Fox, the festival is produced by Mary Tyler Doub and Ron Thomason, who are dedicated to continuing the same great tradition.
Rothvoss Farm
Ancramdale, NY
http://www.greyfoxbluegrass.com/
Grey Fox takes place on the incredibly beautiful and breathtaking Rothvoss Farm that is a working hay farm in the town of Ancramdale, NY. The Rothvoss Farm has long been the site of the Winterhawk Bluegrass Festival, stretching from 1983 to 1999, presenting the best of bluegrass and acoustic music, and serving as a Mecca for bluegrass fans the world over. Now known as Grey Fox, the festival is produced by Mary Tyler Doub and Ron Thomason, who are dedicated to continuing the same great tradition.
Rothvoss Farm
Ancramdale, NY
21 April 2010
letterpress, you make me feel warm and fuzzy
In the last five years, there's been a surge of renewed interest in letterpress (just check Etsy or any artsy-fartsy card shop). Evidently, a lot of new-old printers are women. According to the folks at Boxcar Press (hint: amazing resource/supplier), nine out of ten (!) of their new customers are female -specifically, these are ladies looking to print DIY wedding invitations. I'm not going to invoke a battle of the sexes, because that's just silly (plus, the one pro letterpresser I know is a dude). Still, consider this: Benjamin Franklin got into printing when he was 12. So if letterpress is downright American. Building your own press could be construed as civic duty.
We found two homemade models -a lever-based rig and a screw press - and probed our pro presser for some advice/critique, after the jump...
Lever Press esembles: C&P Pilot Press Parts: galvanized pipe, pipe fittings, shelf board, parchment paper, rubber bands, foam strips, etching board cost: $$ (~$200)
Difficulty: Easy
Pro presser says:
* "It's very possible to grab a press like this for $200-$400 if you don't mind moving it, possibly putting in some time to clean/fix it up and have somewhere to put it."
* "The flex when pressure is applied seems like this whole thing could break if you got real crazy forceful."
* "This one uses excess backing behind the print in order to achieve a better impression but chances are that backing will eventually wear down and putting in a new piece does not seem that easy -- you would have to re-do all your original registration in order to change the backing."
Screw Press (via Instructables)
Resembles: Copy Press
Parts: six 12"x12" cuts of plywood, nuts, washers, veneer press screw
Cost: $
Difficulty: Moderate
Pro presser says:
* "You tend to see this style of press used more for the gluing of book bindings, but it seems lightweight, solid, and much easier to move and store."
* "Adding a Boxcar base would dramatically help for precision alignment. It's a cast piece of aluminum with grid lines. $150 for the smallest one, but worth it if you plan to print often."
* "You'd probably get less movement and more control than with a gerry-rigged lever. If so, the impressions could wind up being darker and clearer. Sidenote: old-school letterpress guys try to print with the least amount of indentations on the paper, which is called a kiss-off. These days, though, an indentation is desirable since it shows it's handmade."
* "My main problem with both presses is that inking all those prints by hand with a brayer would drive me crazy! It's also really hard to ink polymer plates with a brayer -- it's only easy if your brayer is always bigger than the design on the polymer plate."
TIP: Use Crisco for all your initial clean up with presses, rollers, brayers, etc. Saves you from having to use expensive solvents 2-3 times. Instead, clean first with Crisco and then do a round of cleaning the heavier-duty, toxic solvents.
Getting your images print-ready:
Platen presses like these require plates (duh). Unless your press is magnetic (neither of the above ones are), then you need to pay for a custom photopolymer plate. Boxcar Press can create plates from PDF or even artwork you snailmail up to 12 x 17 inches (though they do charge for the time to scan). A small plate might cost $30; ink would be $14-20; paper varies. Not a huge savings, but on the other hand, you can wall mount your plate after printing as a thoughtful, post-wedding gift to your sweetheart.
19 April 2010
07 April 2010
02 April 2010
31 March 2010
love this blog! hahaha
undercover Target video. hahah
http://www.fuckedinparkslope.com/home/tag/target
Sea Monster or Giant Crustacean?
A newly recovered giant isopod -- or Bathynomus giganteus
http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/scitech/2010/03/30/sea-monster-giant-crustacean/
29 March 2010
thank you Coachella for sending your leftovers my way while im in CA :)
Yo La Tengo with Camera Obscura.
and....
Yeasayer
and...
Echo & the Bunnymen
and...
Murs
and...
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
and....
Yeasayer
and...
Echo & the Bunnymen
and...
Murs
and...
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
basic simple syrups you can make @ home
In a mixed drink, sugar can be the bridge between the booze and other flavors, minding the gap between bland and delicious. Sugar balances out the assertive taste of citrus and blends a drink’s ingredients into a more pleasant whole. But you have to be sure not to overdo it—there’s nothing worse than a cloyingly sweet drink.
Sugar is often used in its raw form, but for speed and efficiency, cooks and bartenders developed a simplified and easily measured alternative: the syrup. The most common syrup, a simple syrup, is one part water to one part sugar, stirred until the sugar grains are fully dissolved.
Sweetener can add a complexity all its own. For gin and whiskey, a syrup made with honey is pleasant. Tequila together with agave nectar makes sense. And for applejack, high quality maple syrup adds deep, rich notes. But these are not strict rules. The most important point is not to let the sugar dominate.
The real creativity comes when you manipulate your syrup. By boiling chopped ginger root or cinnamon with water, for example, you can extract intense flavor; add the sugar and you have something totally new. Fiddle endlessly. Once you start playing with spices and different sweeteners—try demerara sugar (unprocessed raw cane sugar) or any grade of maple syrup—you’ll be set to create your own signature concoction.
Simple Syrup
Combine one part table sugar and one part hot water. (I like superfine, because the very small granules dissolve easily.) Stir until dissolved.
Honey Syrup
Combine two parts honey (I like acacia) and one part hot water. Stir until dissolved.
Acacia Lavender Syrup
Combine two parts acacia honey and one part hot water. Stir until dissolved. Add 1 ounce lavender leaves Stir. Let sit for at least 12 hours or to taste.
Ginger Syrup
Combine 1½ cups water and one firmly packed cup of finely chopped and peeled ginger, and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, still covered, and let stand for 4 to 6 hours. Strain to remove the ginger, saving the spiced water and pressing the ginger to extract any moisture. Add one cup of superfine sugar and stir until dissolved.
Cinnamon Syrup
Combine 1/3 ounce cinnamon sticks, broken up, with one cup sugar and one cup water. Place in saucepan and heat, stirring sugar until dissolved. Just before boiling, remove the mixture from the heat and let sit for at least 6 hours. Strain to remove cinnamon.
cocktail recipes.
The Boukman
1½ oz white rum
½ oz cognac
¾ oz cinnamon syrup
¾ oz lime juice
Ten Stand
1½ oz bourbon
¾ oz honeyed ginger syrup
½ oz fresh lemon juice
Bee’s Knees
2 oz gin
¾ oz fresh lemon juice
¾ oz lavender syrup
Glogg (started in the 1920's)
In a 2-qt. saucepan combine water, fruits, nuts, orange peel, and spices. Bring to boiling, then turn off heat and cover pan (keep the pan on the burner). Let sit for 1 hour.
In a 4- to 6-qt. stockpot combine port, brandy, and bourbon. Heat over medium-low heat to warm the mixture, about 15 minutes. Do not allow to simmer or boil.
Strain spiced liquid into port mixture, reserving almonds and raisins. When mixture is warmed through, ladle into thermoses or mugs. Add a few raisins and almonds to each mug (which soak up the liquid and add a punchy surprise to each cup).
1 1⁄2 c water
3⁄4 c golden raisins
6 prunes
3⁄4 c whole almonds, preferably without skins
Peel from 1 orange (See tip)
*6 whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
*6 cardamom pods
*6 2⁄3 c Port (1.5 l)
1 2⁄3 c brandy (1⁄2 of a 750 ml bottle)
1 2⁄3 c bourbon (1⁄2 of a 750 ml bottle)
DIY Goat cheese ** one of my favorites!
Making Goat Cheese @ home
1⁄2 g fresh goat’s milk
1⁄8 t MM Mesophilic Culture
5 T distilled water
Liquid rennet
1 t kosher salt
To make goat cheese at home,
Heat the goat’s milk to 75-80ˇF in a stainless steel pot. (Look for local goat’s milk because the closer the milk is to its source, the fresher it will be—which results in more nuanced flavors in your cheese.) Stir in the culture. Add the distilled water into a small cup and stir in one drop of liquid rennet (culture and rennet available at dairy connection.com). Mix well and add one tablespoon of the mixture to the milk. Stir well, cover, and place in a warm room-temperature spot for about 18 hours.
Place two layers of fine cheesecloth over a strainer and set in a deep pan or bowl. When the milk has coagulated, ladle the curds into the strainer. Let drain for an hour, stir in salt, scrape into a covered container, and refrigerate for up to two weeks. Makes roughly 8 ounces of spreadable cheese. (You could also shape the cheese into disks or logs and let them age—from two days up to two weeks uncovered in the refrigerator—into a firmer consisten
How to Make Gravlax
Scandinavian dish consisting of raw salmon, cured in salt, sugar, and dill. Gravlax is usually served as an appetizer, sliced thinly and accompanied by hovmästarsås (also known as gravlaxsås), a dill and mustard sauce, either on bread of some kind, or with boiled potatoes
http://readymade.com/blogs/food-and-entertaining/2010/03/11/how-to-make-gravlax/
German Ravioli -Maultaschen
Noodle Dough:
2 2/3 c. all purpose flour (300 grams)
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 T. oil
3 T. water
Meat Filling:
2-3 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
1/2 onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 oz. (25 grams) day-old bread or rolls, cut into cubes and sprinkled with 2 T. water
5 oz. frozen spinach (1/2 package), thawed, squeezed dry and chopped
2 T. fresh or 1 tsp. dried parsley
1 T. spicy mustard
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. dried marjoram
8 oz. ground round
1 egg.
1/4 tsp. salt
Fresh ground pepper
For Cooking:
1-2 quarts broth (beef or other)
Preparation:
Dough:
Mix flour with salt, eggs, oil and just enough water to make a smooth dough. Knead for 5-10 minutes, until satin-y. Form dough into a ball, oil surface, wrap in plastic wrap and let rest for at least an hour.
Filling:
Cook bacon and remove from pan. Sauté onions and garlic in bacon drippings until translucent.
Mix all filling ingredients well. If you want a finer texture, put ingredients through a meat grinder, too.
Make the Maultaschen:
Roll out 1/2 dough to 1/8 inch thickness or thinner. You should have a sheet about 12 inches by 18 inches. (You may also use a noodle roller to make flat sheets with 1/5 of dough at at time.)
Score dough with a knife, one time through lengthwise and five perpendicular cuts to make 1 dozen rectangles.Place one tablespoon dough on each rectangle.Fold rectangle over and pinch sides to close.
Repeat with the other half of dough.Bring broth to a simmer and place 1/3 of the Maultaschen in the broth. Cook for 15 - 20 minutes. Remove and drain. Keep warm if not serving immediately. Repeat with the rest of the Maultaschen.
26 March 2010
23 March 2010
17 March 2010
craving tapenade
Ingredients:
1 cup kalamata or mixed green and black olives
1 medium onion, chopped
3 Tablespoons capers, rinsed
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1-1/2 teaspoons dried
3 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
Grated peel (no white attached) of 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
In the bowl of a food processor, combine the pitted olives, onion, capers, oregano, olive oil, vinegar, and lemon peel. Process to a spreading consistency. Season to taste with the pepper and store in a small jar in the refrigerator.
1 cup kalamata or mixed green and black olives
1 medium onion, chopped
3 Tablespoons capers, rinsed
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1-1/2 teaspoons dried
3 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
Grated peel (no white attached) of 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
In the bowl of a food processor, combine the pitted olives, onion, capers, oregano, olive oil, vinegar, and lemon peel. Process to a spreading consistency. Season to taste with the pepper and store in a small jar in the refrigerator.
99 cent invention**New Bedometer iPhone App Counts the Calories You Shed Having Sex
A London woman desperate to get her lazy boyfriend to exercise has invented an iPhone application that measures how many calories you burn off having sex, The Sun reported Wednesday.
The download, called the Bedometer, analyzes the time and intensity of each sexual encounter—and you can post your results on Facebook."The results have been amazing. My boyfriend can't get enough of it," Livvy Thompson, 25, said.The gizmo is put on the bed and measures raunchy activity using the iPhone or iPod Touch's motion sensor before adding up the calories.Administration worker Thompson, of Islington, North London, wanted to encourage lover Dan Dinapoli, 25, to tone up."Our initial tests show that a vigorous workout for 15 minutes burns almost 200 calories each," she said.The 99 cent invention follows the Passion application which analyzes a user's bed moves and gives advice on how to improve."The Bedometer is the ultimate app as it's fun and functional," app guru Omidad Hiwaizi, of ad agency Chemistry said.Meanwhile, the life-saving iResus has become one of the fastest-selling apps ever. It tells users how to save heart attack victims.
The download, called the Bedometer, analyzes the time and intensity of each sexual encounter—and you can post your results on Facebook."The results have been amazing. My boyfriend can't get enough of it," Livvy Thompson, 25, said.The gizmo is put on the bed and measures raunchy activity using the iPhone or iPod Touch's motion sensor before adding up the calories.Administration worker Thompson, of Islington, North London, wanted to encourage lover Dan Dinapoli, 25, to tone up."Our initial tests show that a vigorous workout for 15 minutes burns almost 200 calories each," she said.The 99 cent invention follows the Passion application which analyzes a user's bed moves and gives advice on how to improve."The Bedometer is the ultimate app as it's fun and functional," app guru Omidad Hiwaizi, of ad agency Chemistry said.Meanwhile, the life-saving iResus has become one of the fastest-selling apps ever. It tells users how to save heart attack victims.
15 March 2010
14 March 2010
12 March 2010
Infusing liquor. starting this weekend.. tasting party to follow when done
Mix your favorite spirits with seasonal herbs, fruits, and even vegetables for tasty, and beautiful, beverages. Use our combinations or create your own. Wash and dry the add-ins; trim, slice, pit, or cut them into chunks before placing them in two cups of alcohol. Let the spirits infuse in the refrigerator until the desired flavor is achieved, at least overnight and up to a month (remove the additions before they break down).
1. Chamomile rosemary Gin Combine gin, 8 chamomile sprigs with flowers2. Fennel Vodka Combine vodka, 1/2 small fennel bulb, plus fennel fronds
3. Plum-Lemon Balm Brandy Combine eau-de-vie de vin (unoaked brandy), 3 yellow plums, 2 lemon balm sprigs
4. Lemon peach sake Combine sake, 1 trimmed lemongrass stalk, 1 peach
5. Red-Plum Grappa Combine grappa, 3 red plums
6. Lemon Verbena Vodka Combine vodka, 2 long lemon verbena stems with leaves
7. Lemon Basil-Raspberry Brandy Combine eau-de-vie de vin (unoaked brandy), 1 lemon basil sprig, 1/3 cup raspberries
8. Beet-Cucumber Vodka Combine vodka, 1 small peeled beet, 3-inch piece cucumber
9.Bacon-Infused Bourbon Whiskey-Cook three to four slices of bacon, enough to render at least 1 – 3 ounces of fat. Once the bacon has cooled a bit, pour off the fat from the pan. Pour 750 ml of bourbon into a non-porous container. Strain the 1 – 3 ounces of bacon fat into the container and infuse for four to six hours at room temperature. Place mixture in freezer until all the fat is solidified. With a slotted spoon, remove fat and strain mixture back into bottle. Pass bourbon through a coffee filter to remove sediment if desired.
10.blackberry whisky- 2 kilos of blackberries, gabottle of whisky – Gilbert says don’t go too cheap here but no need to buy the best
250g of good white cane sugar combine the blackberries, sugar and whisky. Shake each day until the sugar is dissolved. Then place the jar in a dark place for 3 months. Strain off the liqueur and store in a cool place for at least a year.thered on a sunny day 1×75ml
10 March 2010
homemade Pate. SO good
1 large eggplant
1 cup walnut pieces
2 teaspoons fresh ginger root, peeled, grated and finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, mashed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
Salt and hot pepper sauce to taste
1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Pierce the eggplant with a fork in several places and bake until very soft, about 45 minutes.
2. While the eggplant is baking, grind the walnuts in a food processor until very fine, and set aside.
3. Remove the eggplant from oven, slash to let steam escape, drain off any liquid, and scrape the pulp into a food processor with the ginger root, garlic and olive oil. Process until smooth.
4. Add the ground walnuts and allspice, and process until smooth.
5. Season to taste with the salt, and hot pepper sauce. Spoon into a small loaf dish and chill several hours or until firm.
1 cup walnut pieces
2 teaspoons fresh ginger root, peeled, grated and finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, mashed
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
Salt and hot pepper sauce to taste
1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Pierce the eggplant with a fork in several places and bake until very soft, about 45 minutes.
2. While the eggplant is baking, grind the walnuts in a food processor until very fine, and set aside.
3. Remove the eggplant from oven, slash to let steam escape, drain off any liquid, and scrape the pulp into a food processor with the ginger root, garlic and olive oil. Process until smooth.
4. Add the ground walnuts and allspice, and process until smooth.
5. Season to taste with the salt, and hot pepper sauce. Spoon into a small loaf dish and chill several hours or until firm.
09 March 2010
Police hunt for Teddy Roosevelt walrus tusk thief
OYSTER BAY, N.Y. – Authorities are hunting for the person who stole a 15-inch walrus tusk from Theodore Roosevelt's home on Long Island.
The superintendent of the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, Thomas Ross, says the tusk was one of a pair displayed on a fireplace mantel. It was discovered missing Feb. 22 from a second-floor guest room in the Oyster Bay, N.Y., home. The room is usually sealed off by a rope when visitors take guided tours.
Old Brookville, N.Y., police and the National Park Service are investigating. The FBI has added the tusk to its national stolen art list.Several years ago, a man stole Roosevelt's revolver from the house. He pleaded guilty, and the weapon was returned.
_
The superintendent of the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, Thomas Ross, says the tusk was one of a pair displayed on a fireplace mantel. It was discovered missing Feb. 22 from a second-floor guest room in the Oyster Bay, N.Y., home. The room is usually sealed off by a rope when visitors take guided tours.
Old Brookville, N.Y., police and the National Park Service are investigating. The FBI has added the tusk to its national stolen art list.Several years ago, a man stole Roosevelt's revolver from the house. He pleaded guilty, and the weapon was returned.
_
08 March 2010
cooking, movies and sunshine!
yay. it makes me happy that the weather is finally heating up. It's been sunny the past few days here.
Catching up on my Oscars list of movies and just made baked chicken with a ginger/lime/hot sauce glaze and garlic couscous. good start to the week.
Catching up on my Oscars list of movies and just made baked chicken with a ginger/lime/hot sauce glaze and garlic couscous. good start to the week.
most excited to see Christoph Waltz win best SA!!
Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Lead Actor: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
Lead Actress: Sandra Bullock (Blind Side)
Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique (Precious)
Director: Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
Original Screenplay: The Hurt Locker
Best Animated Film: Up
oh and JSP what the EFF where you wearing?!!
http://oscar.go.com/oscar-night/winners?cid=10_oscars_slideshow_winners
Lead Actor: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
Lead Actress: Sandra Bullock (Blind Side)
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz (In. Basterds)
Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique (Precious)
Director: Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
Original Screenplay: The Hurt Locker
Best Animated Film: Up
oh and JSP what the EFF where you wearing?!!
http://oscar.go.com/oscar-night/winners?cid=10_oscars_slideshow_winners
07 March 2010
05 March 2010
It's Official! Conan Returns To The Stage!!
What a shroud of secrecy!! LOVE it.
Ticketmaster is reportedly prepping to sell tickets to a stage show starring Conan O'Brien at the Dodge Theater in Phoenix!!Neither the ginge nor the theater have announced what the show will entail, but you can buy tickets this Monday!!If this has anything to do with what we posted last month, then they certainly wasted NO time getting the ball rolling!!The performance is set for April 30th.What do U think Conan will be doing at this random performance??
REALLY?
The institute, which awards the annual Nobel Prize in medicine, says the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research has since 2000 given more than $175 million to research aimed at developing drugs against the disease.Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991. The disease is a progressive neurological condition that impairs the motor skills.Karolinska says Fox will receive the doctorate in a ceremony in New York on Friday.
04 March 2010
NY celeb spotted in Tampa
Tampa, Florida - The "Naked Cowboy" was spotted in Downtown Tampa today.
You may be wondering, just who is the the Naked Cowboy?
photos of mr. naked cowboy
The Naked Cowboy is a pan-handler that is usually in New York near Times Square. He's known for strumming his guitar wearing nothing but, well, his guitar.
In 2009 the Naked Cowboy was in Tampa for the Super Bowl.
You may be wondering, just who is the the Naked Cowboy?
photos of mr. naked cowboy
The Naked Cowboy is a pan-handler that is usually in New York near Times Square. He's known for strumming his guitar wearing nothing but, well, his guitar.
In 2009 the Naked Cowboy was in Tampa for the Super Bowl.
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