When Immortal Isn't

This year has been hard for many people, losing their heroes.

It’s interesting to see heroes age and pass away. Whether it is a musical hero performing a favorite song on the radio or a cd or an acting hero performing a favorite role on tv or a movie, they are always there, just as your remember them.

When the real world comes crashing down it hurts. They cannot be gone, they are right there, just as they always were.

It’s hard and it hurts when timelessness and consistency runs headlong into the reality.

Immortal heroes should be Immortal.

Menu Plan -- December 27 - January 2

Tuesday:
Vegetarian Stir Fry with Noodles

Wednesday:
Take-Away Pizza

Thursday:
Egg Salad Sandwiches, Chips, Fruit Salad

Friday:
Barbadian Chicken Fingers, Roast Potatoes, Green Salad

Saturday:
Cheese & Crackers, Chips & Dip, Hot Buttered O's

Sunday:
Black-Eyed Pea Salad, Spring Rolls, Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Monday:
Meatball Hoagies, Green Salads, Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Menu Plan -- December 13-19, 2016

Tuesday:
Beef Stroganoff over Egg Noodles, Baked Spinach, Cherry-Vanilla Ice Cream "Cup Cakes"

Wednesday:
take-away

Thursday:
Quick Beans & Rice, Pita with Olive Oil & Seasonings

Friday:
Leftover Beef Stroganoff over Egg Noodles, Baked Spinach

Saturday:
out in Melbourne

Sunday:
Spaghetti and Lentil Bolognese, Garlic Bread

Monday:
Egg Drop Soup, Spring Rolls

Menu Plan -- December 6-12, 2016

Tuesday:
5-Ingredient Chicken over Biscuits, Peas & Carrots

Wednesday:
Hungarian Noodle Bake, Vegetarian Sausages, Green Salads

Thursday:
Beef Tortilla Pizzas, Fruit Salad

Friday:
Couscous Cakes with Salsa, Deviled Eggs

Saturday:
Beef & Bean Burritos, Chips & Salsa

Sunday:
Lemony Garbanzo Bean Pitas, Vanilla Pudding

Monday:
Egg Drop Soup, Spring Rolls, Vanilla Pudding

Corralling the Monkeys

I often wonder if the Founding Fathers had the idea of a three-ring circus in mind when they created the intricate and interconnected three-branch system of government for the US.  More and more, it seems as though the US government is a circus, meant only for entertainment and to distract the public from what is really happening.

That has been no more evident than this year.  Following a Presidential Campaign that started with a clown car of potential candidates, the field was narrowed down to just two main ones.  While that act was going on in the main ring, a battle for control of the lions was raging in the second.  And in the third ring, the trapeze artists were trying to manage their routine short a performer.

It really was an amazing, unprecedented, and, one can hope, unique election year, culminating in the trick of tricks when the costume was pulled off the ringmaster, only to reveal him as the one of the clowns.

As an American abroad, I really do want to take a “not my circus, not my monkeys” attitude about the whole thing.  I cannot.  Unfortunately it is MY circus.  As a voting citizen, I played a part in scripting the tableau that played out before the world.  Further as an American abroad, I am asked to explain the results.

I can explain the process.  I can even explain the Presidential Preference Primary process — whether it be an election or a caucus.  I can go into detail about the Electoral College, and even explain that in Louisiana, the electors are actually listed on the ballot, after they are selected by the party voters as part of the Presidential Preference Primary ballot.  And I can explain that is not the case in every state.  I can explain the voting, from the difference between the closed primaries most states hold to the open primaries in Louisiana.  I know the process.  I know what happens if there is a tie for electoral college votes, or if no one candidate manages to secure a majority.  I know there is great debate about whether the US should change how it votes for President, both inside the US and outside of it.  I know that much of the debate is because the system created by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution is unnecessarily complicated and confusing and not well-understood by most people, the media included.

But try as I might, I cannot explain this year’s circus performance. All I can say is I wish I didn’t have to try.

Meals in Melbourne: The Grand Trailer Park Taverna

Dearest and I had heard about The Grand Trailer Park Taverna before, and even tried to go once or twice only to find the restaurant closed for one reason or another.

We finally made it there this weekend. After seeing the new Beatles tour documentary movie, we decided that burgers and fries would be a perfect meal to end the evening out. We got there just in time to snag the last best seats at the bar table. I do not necessarily like the shared table idea, I would prefer my own space to dine, but that’s just me. I noticed many tables were reserved so that it seems the popular spot wants to cater more to larger parties than to smaller or individual walk-ins. Of course, it could just be that we were there on a Saturday night, but even so, I’d think there would be fewer reserved tables a more spots for walk-ins on such a busy night. But then I’m not up on the optimum restaurant management strategy.

Overall the burger joint reminded me of places in New Orleans, though the unpretentiousness of the decor and ambiance was artificial and forced in the hipster way that is popular now rather than the authentic dive-y-ness of New Orleans neighborhood restaurants.

The menu is simple, with a few variations on burgers and standard sides. I really liked that the burgers were customizable, so I could get what I wanted on my burger. I’m a pretty no frills person with my food. My standard burger order in the US was always with cheese, extra pickles only. Though I’m not opposed to ketchup and mustard, I DO NOT like mayonnaise or mayo-based sauces. And I’m only going to pick off the raw onions and lettuce, so it’s easier for everyone if I can avoid them from the beginning. I was pleased to see onion rings as a side, as I think those are almost a requirement at a good burger joint. I’ll always pick onion rings over fries to go wth my burger. There was a good selection of housemate milk shakes, offered with or without alcohol. And there were a few waffle-based desserts on the menu.

After some thought, I decided to go wth the simple, basic burger, without shallots, but with extra pickles — you can be sure if pickles are an option, I’m getting extra. Dearest picked a slightly fancier burger served dressed with the addition of a mac & cheese croquette, but switching out the beef patty for a chickpea patty to keep it vegetarian. We split sides of onion rings and fries, using the latter as a bellwether dish for comparison purposes.

We were a bit concerned by the description of “brioche buns” which usually means something more akin to a sweet bun-sized tea cake than a burger bun. And both of us feel that many brioche buns are too rich a bread for something as independently rich as a premium burger. But these buns were much more like traditional burger buns than the cakes of brioche that come with other chef-inspired burgers. I was a bit disappointed that my burger came with no pickles at all, but was pleased when the waitress offered to get me a cup of pickles. (I actually prefer my pickles on the side, so the cup of pickles was perfect for me.) The burger itself was nice, not the best burger I’ve ever had, but certainly worth it for the price. Service was quick, and the waitress did everything she could to make sure customers got what they ordered. A group at the other end of the bar table had some issues with their order, but as far as I could observe, mix-ups were corrected easily and quickly.

I’m not sure if the confusion was with the people taking the orders or the kitchen staff filling the orders, but the communication issues could certainly be a bigger problem when the restaurant is busier or with larger groups or less understanding diners.

The onion rings were good, and I was pleased they were served with extra packets of ketchup. I miss ketchup for fries and onion rings, so that was a very welcome surprise. The fries were average. Battered fries are common, and pretty much the same no matter where you get them. Good french fries are not an easy thing to produce consistently, especially with many different people operating the fryers, so the battered ones help ensure a level of acceptable consistency. The fries were not bad, but I was expecting them to be a bit more individual.

I had toyed with the idea of dessert, but after finishing my burger and sides, and letting it settle a while, found there was nothing on the dessert menu that was calling out to me. Which is not to say I would not find something on the menu irresistible on another visit, just at this time, there was nothing that was interesting me.

It was a good dinner, and just the kind of no-frills place I was wanting for dinner. It’s definitely on my list of places we can, and should, visit again when in Melbourne. And it would be a great place for a simple meal with friends. It’s kitschy and tries a bit too hard to be hip, but at its heart, The Grand Trailer Park Taverna is a humble burger joint. And that’s enough.

Overall Rating: ★★★★☆

The Battle for Poland

Personally, I don’t play Pokemon Go. I don’t care if other people play the game. But I do care when playing the game becomes disrespectful or downright dangerous.

I don’t have all the facts, but according to the articles I have read many places have requested that the location be removed from the database as an available PokeStop. Places like: the National Holocaust Museum, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC; the Melbourne Cemetery in Melbourne, and the site of the Nazi Concentration Camp Auschwitz in Poland.

These places are worthy places to visit, but not the kind of places where a game of this sort should be played; certainly not a game with the tagline “Catch Them All.”

I blame the players for not being aware enough of their surroundings to realize playing the game could be considered disrespectful. Then again, I have noticed that people in general are less and less aware of their surroundings. And I’m not even talking about players who have nearly caused accidents by walking across streets without considering traffic or falling off curbs or down stairs.

But I really blame the developers of the game. According to numerous articles/sources, the GPS database used for this game was created by and for players of another, similar game, probably with the intention of using that information for this version. During the development of the database in the previous game, the questionable locations issue was raised. Players and officials objected specifically objected to Auschwitz being used as a “battle ground” in the previous game. And while it’s not an official battle ground in this version, it is a PokeStop.

There is absolutely no excuse for the developers of the game to leave the possibility for some locations to be used as part of the game. I’m not saying they should do a check of every possible GPS location, but when issues with certain locations being inappropriate for game use were raised, there is no reason they should have been left available.

To make matters worse, the developers are only considering disabling certain GPS locations, if and only if, they are dangerous — for example if the locations are in the middle of train tracks or off the end of a pier. They are not entertaining the idea that other locations may be inappropriate for other reasons. This is completely inexcusable. What possible reason cane there be for disabling particular GPS locations for being “dangerous” but not for being inappropriate. It can only be a monetary decision on the part of the developers. Leaving in “dangerous” locations opens them up to lawsuits, especially in the overly litigious US. Leaving in inappropriate locations only garners the game more press. There is no other legitimate reason why some locations can be disabled for one valid reason, but others cannot for equally valid reasons.

After giving it thought, I decided the game developers would not even have to disable particular locations. All they have to do is re-write the code to have those locations penalize players for playing there. Those are there kind of consequences that will make game players notice and respond.  Most will stop playing in places whereby doing so they will lose points or coins or lives. It won’t even have to cost the developers money to make particular locations off limits. If they know how to turn off locations for being dangerous, surely they can figure out how to make other locations undesirable in the game.

Then again, I’m not a player of the game. And I’m usually aware enough of my surroundings to be respectful. So maybe I’m the problem.

Nah, it’s the developers.

Menu Plan -- June 21-27, 2016

Tuesday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Wednesday:
Hamburger Steaks with Mushrooms & Onions, Yellow Rice, Peas

Thursday:
Spaghetti with Lentil Sauce, Green Salads

Friday:
Fish Sticks, Tater Tots, Mandarin Orange Cake

Saturday:
Potato Soup with Rivels, Crusty Bread

Sunday:
Patty Melt Jaffles, Chips & Ranch Dip

Monday:
White Beans & Rice

Menu Plan -- June 7-13, 2016

Tuesday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Wednesday:
Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili, Crackers

Thursday:
Homemade Hamburger Helper, Peas

Friday:
Buttermilk Pancakes with Apple Compote

Saturday:
Tamale Pie, Blueberry Kentucky Butter Cake

Sunday:
5-Ingredient Chicken over rice, Blueberry Kentucky Butter Cake

Monday:
3-Cheese Calzones with spicy sauce, Blueberry Kentucky Butter Cake

Menu Plan -- May 31-June 6, 2016

Tuesday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Wednesday:
One Pot Pizza Pasta, Green Salads

Thursday:
Baked Bean & Cheese Burritos, Chips & Salsa

Friday:
out before seeing Evita

Saturday:
out after shopping

Sunday:
Chicken Noodle Soup, Crusty Rolls, Molasses Spice Cookies

Monday:
Baked Potatoes, Marinated Vegetables, Molasses Spice Cookies

Menu Plan -- May 24-30, 2016

Tuesday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Wednesday:
Sausage & Cheese Turnovers, Fruit Salad

Thursday:  
Sweet & Sour Noodles, Spring Rolls

Friday:
-out-

Saturday:
Baked Bean & Cheese Burritos, Chocolate Cake

Sunday:
Fried Ravioli, Caprese Salad, Chocolate Cake

Monday:
Split Pea Soup, Pretzels

Stating the Obvious

Tip for anyone who needs reminding:

If you have to go to Emergency Room or are in the Emergency Room, it's more important that you deal with the emergency than live tweet the experience.

It All Counts

I have not joined the FitBit craze. I do not own a wearable exercise tracker. I do have a pedometer application on my iPod, but that’s it as far as exercise tracking technology goes for me.

A few acquaintances have recently begun to complain that their FitBit is not tracking their exercise. This complaint is almost always followed by moaning that their exercise for the period in question “doesn’t count.”

Last night, as my hour-long ballet class was ending, one of the other students noticed that her FitBit had not registered as many steps as she knew she had taken. She bemoaned that her numbers for the day would be “off” and it was as though the class didn’t, and wouldn’t, count as exercise for the day according to the FitBit.

Other friends have similar complaints. Some explain that the device will not register the steps on walks when they are pushing their children in strollers. Another common complaint is that the device does not register exercise when riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill. Also, the time spent doing yoga or pilates type exercises is “wasted” because the wearable device does not register it.  (I understand there is a way to manually enter exercise into the program, which would then “count” but when this was discussed with several friends, they said they see this as cheating, because the device did not actually record the actions.)

Here’s the truth: your body knows whether you exercised or not. You cannot cheat your body. Even if the wearable device does not register barre work in ballet class because the arm one which you are wearing the device is not moving, your body knows you have exercised. Your thighs, knees, calves, ankles, and feet know you’ve been doing pliés, relevés, and/or grand battements. Your upper back knows it when you have held your arm in first or second position for barre work or floor. Just because the device is not moving does not mean you are not moving. And just because the device is not registering it does not mean you are not exercising.

I know it’s fun to watch the numbers on the tracker go up. And I know there is a feeling of accomplishment when you see the tracker tracking. But exercise is exercise whether the tracker tracks it or not.

I take my walks based on time rather than distance. The 0-to-5K walking program I found online uses time rather than distance to measure the walks. And before I got my new iPod with the pedometer application, time was really the only basis I had for measuring my walks. I honestly didn’t know how long I walked in distance. But using podcasts of old-time radio shows, I knew that I walked for one whole episode, for example, or one complete episode and through the first commercial break of a second. Now that I have the pedometer, I can keep track of things like distance and steps and approximate calories expended. But my walks count as exercise even if I don’t have my iPod for tracking. I’ve still walked. I’ve still exercised and burned calories.

Similarly my ballet class counts as exercise even without wearable technology to track it. I've done an hour of exercise. My body knows that.

It seems that in just a few short months, a portion of the world has become dependent on wearable technology, and their exercise isn’t really exercise unless it’s tracked and logged by an app(lication). I know the wearable technology companies want people to feel that way, but it’s not the truth. Exercise is exercise and you don’t need a computer chip in a piece of plastic to confirm that.

Menu Plan -- February 16-22, 2016

Tuesday:

do-it-yourself dinner

Wednesday:
Potato Soup with Dumplings, Crusty Bread

Thursday:
Creamy Spinach & Tortellini, Crusty Bread

Friday:
Fluffy Oat Bran Pancakes, Fruit Salad

Saturday:
5-Ingredient Chicken over Rice, Peas

Sunday:
Braised Round Steaks with Gravy, Hungarian Noodle Casserole, Broccoli, Strawberry Dream Whip Pie

Monday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Menu Plan -- February 9-15, 2016

Tuesday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Wednesday:
Mini Chickpea Cake Wraps, Yellow Rice

Thursday:
Oven-Fried Chicken, Sautéed Summer Squash, Green Beans, Fruited Jell-O

Friday:
Fluffy Oat Bran Pancakes, Fruited Jell-O

Saturday:
Caramelized Onion Pizza

Sunday:
Braised Round Steak with Gravy, Hungarian Noodle Bake, Broccoli, Strawberry Dream Pie

Monday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Who's Screwing the Sisterhood?

Dear Ms. Madeleine Albright and Ms. Gloria Steinem:

Whether or not I support Hillary Clinton has nothing to do with female-ness -- hers or mine.  Just because I happen to be a woman does not mean I have to blindly support her in a campaign to be President, or anything else.

I find it quite interesting, and frankly insulting, that neither one of you have made similar comments about support for Carly Fiorina or Sarah Palin.  They're both women too.  Where is your support for them in the sisterhood?

I have the right, and in fact, an obligation, to cast my vote for the candidate whom I think is best for the job.  THE CANDIDATE.

No one steps into the voting booth with me and checks to see that the box I ticked is for a person with the same gender as me.

No history, civics, government or good citizen class I have ever taken has mentioned supporting people of the same gender as a requirement for voting.

I admit to not studying every religion out there thoroughly, but I haven't seen or heard of one that believes failing to vote for candidates of the same gender will send you to hell.

And while I haven't actually seen it, so I can't be 100% sure, I am more than reasonably sure my uterus doesn't contain that condition in order to operate as intended.

Not voting for, or not supporting, Hillary Clinton are not a valid reasons to have my XX chromosomes revoked.  Voting for Bernie Sanders or Marco Rubio is not going to make me any less female.  My choices in the voting booth are based on who I feel is the best choice for the job in question not the word/picture on the door of the restroom the candidate in question chooses to use.  And they have nothing to do with my own gender.

Now that we have that cleared up, keep your noses and your DNA tests out of my voting booth.

Yours Very Sincerely,
A Female Who Is Not Supporting Hillary Clinton

Meal Plan -- February 2-8, 2016

Tuesday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Wednesday:
Ramen Noodles & Vegetable Stir Fry, Spring Rolls

Thursday:
Breakfast Burritos, King Cake Doughnuts

Friday:
Cheesy Red Pepper Pizza, King Cake Sundaes

Saturday:
Three-Cheese Chicken & Noodles, Fruit Salad, King Cake

Sunday:
Southwest Ranch Cornbread Salad, King Cake Parfaits

Monday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Missing the Madness

The madness has begun again. The 11 days of crazy that mark Mardi Gras in New Orleans. While the season actually begins on January 6th, the real fun does not begin the evening two Fridays before Mardi Gras Day.

It’s hard to explain the experience to anyone not born and raised with it. It’s hard to translate how an entire city effectively shuts down for eleven days, or at the very least four nights and five days over the course of eleven days.

For reasons I can’t explain, I have a “Parade Tracker” app on my phone. I get real-time updates of parade progress. I woke up this morning and saw that the Sunday morning parades were stalled on Canal Street, and the afternoon parades were delayed 60-90 minutes. Unfortunately, the app did not mention why the parades were stalled/delayed, just that they were.

In many ways I miss Mardi Gras season in New Orleans. I do not miss the planning or the crowds or the drunks, but I do miss the tradition and history, and I miss the pomp and circumstance. It’s part of me, and being so far away really makes me homesick. Were I there, I’d be tracking the parades on the apps or watching on television not going to them in person, so I’m not really missing anything, but still, this is the time of year when I feel the most homesick and the least able to do anything about it.

I miss being with people who know what I’m talking about. I miss seeing krewe flags flying from porch columns. I miss seeing the beads hanging from the trees and lampposts along parade routes. I even miss having to check where we’re going to see where it is in relation to parade routes. I really miss having King Cake everywhere. And come Wednesday, February 10th, I’ll miss seeing Lenten menu ads and table tents. It’s just the time of year when I’m homesick.

The Maine Attraction

When the World Exploded

Yesterday (January 28) was one of those “where were you” moment anniversaries for my generation. Not quite as big as “where were you when Kennedy was shot” was for my parents’ generation, but still a moment we all shared because it was a moment when the world was rocked in ways we never dreamt possible.

Thirty years ago yesterday, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after launch.

My answer to the “where were you” question is very different than many of my friends’, but it’s still a moment in time we all share.

For most people, it was an ordinary Tuesday morning. Most people I knew were in their usual Tuesday routine. Parents were at work, children at school. My father went to work, and my older brother went to school. I did not. I was off school that day because the father of the owner of my school had passed away and the funeral was scheduled for that morning. In order to allow the entire small, family-like faculty and staff to attend the services, school was canceled.

My mother had gone back to bed (as was her routine) and my younger brother and I were planning in spending the morning watching tv. The Price is Right was our special favorite and it was a great treat to be able to watch it in the middle of the school year. We had the tv on and were just a little disappointed to be watching the shuttle launch rather than the popular gameshow. The Space Shuttle launches were still a big thing then and this was a big one, as this one was to take up the first civilian astronaut. It was a huge deal. We watched the launch, and then, we watched as the shuttle exploded. I ran to wake up my mother with the news. Her response when I told her that the shuttle had exploded was “It has not!” I quickly turned on her tv and she watched the news reports and the replays.

I do not know how many times I saw the film of the explosion that morning and over the following days. I know it was more than necessary. I know I don’t ever have to see it again. I know that experience was part of the reason I chose not to seek out the footage of the towers falling in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Even before there was a diagnosis for the condition, I know that media-induced post traumatic stress disorder was a real thing.

Recently the official reports and documents surrounding the Challenger disaster have been released and new information about the last moments of the crew has emerged. I’m sure there are some people who question NASA’s decision to keep that information secret. I’m sure it’s information some people need, for research, development, and safety concerns. But why release information that can only traumatize the general public? There is nothing to be gained and only harm can come from it. Just because some facts were not released to the public does not mean they should be. I believe that all knowledge is important, but despite what the media and conspiracy theorists think, not everything needs to be known. Because the truth is, once you know something, it’s nearly impossible to un-know it. And I really, honestly, truly wish I could un-know what I learned by reading the reports and news stories that came out about the thirtieth anniversary of the event.

Three years ago, I was on a cruise that made a stop at Port Canaveral. There was no question, I WAS going to the Kennedy Space Center while we were there. I had been to Johnson Space Center in Houston. I had been to the Martin-Marietta Michoud facility in New Orleans. I was going to Kennedy Space Center. We took a full-day tour, seeing all the highlights, including the newly installed Space Shuttle Atlantis. The one thing we missed while we were there was the Astronaut Memorial. Both my younger brother and I wanted to see it, but with all the other things to see, we somehow missed it. It was important to me to see, and it was the one thing I regretted not making time for during our visit.

Last year, when we decided to take a cruise from Tampa, my dearest asked if there was, because we were so close, any way we could make a trip to Kennedy Space Center for him to experience the wonder and see the actual things that changed the world for him too. We managed it and my younger brother and I set off again to the Space Center. This time I made it to the Astronaut Memorial. It was dusk and the facility was closing by the time we got there, but it was an awesome sight and a fitting memorial to the people to made the world both larger and smaller all at the same time. If you are ever at the Kennedy Space Center, after you’ve seen the Saturn V rocket, touched the moon rock, and stood open-mouthed staring at the actual Space Shuttle Atlantis, still covered with actual space dirt, spare a few moments to see the Astronaut Memorial. For all the people who remember where they were thirty years ago yesterday morning, it’s well worth a visit.

Holes in the Head

You know those days when you wake up in the middle of the night with a headache leaking out your eyeballs?  Then when you finally get back to sleep, it's only minutes until the alarm goes off and the headache is still threatening to explode out the top of your head?  And you think that maybe there is something to the practice of trepanning?

Yeah, it's one of those days.

I'm taking my medicinal Dr. Pepper, my Excedrin, my cold compress and spending the day on the couch hoping the atmospheric pressure equalizes itself sooner rather than later.

Pitching the Plates

Last night we went out to a local pub.  It is in the process of re-doing the facilities.  It has a new chef and an all-new menu to go with the brand new digs.

It all looked promising -- the menu was a bit fancier, both with ingredients and descriptions.  Familiar pub classics had been updated and new, of-the-moment dishes were added.

We picked our choices and placed our order.  That's when things got interesting.  After perusing the menu, I turned my attention to people watching.  I wasn't noticing the diners so much as the staff bringing out dishes.  And I noticed a surprise.

The pub had gone hipster!  I noticed a distinct lack of plates -- you know, generally round or square pieces of fired porcelain on which food is usually placed for service?

It started with the soups I saw.  The soup was in oversized coffee cups, but those were on individual bread boards with a quarter of a loaf of bread on a napkin.  Then I noticed other dishes:  mixed seafood feasts and fish & chips were in artificial wicker baskets on the same individual bread boards with ramekins of tartar sauce and wedges of lemon artfully (I'm assuming) arranged on the side.  Precariously stacked, towering burgers were served on the boards as well.  I counted my lucky stars when my bangers & mash came out on a plate.  I was doubly thankful when I saw the amount of gravy served with the sausages.

When did society decide plates were unnecessary?  When was the decision made to throw away centuries of dining knowledge and return to the culinary dark ages when state-of-the-art presentation was trenchers and rough-hewn planks?  Of all the technology to eschew, why plates?

Who is to blame for this trend and what can we do to prune the buds back before they go to seed?  It is already too late to nip it in the bud, but I'm sure with careful protests (in the form of requests to the kitchen) we can stem this tide and return to the useful and practical system of actual plates in restaurants.

An Immigrant's Australia Day

For my first Australia Day celebration, just days after I had arrived in Australia as a new immigrant, I made a dish using the fresh green beans my mother-in-law had given us.  I made a dish that is a favorite in my immediate family, smothered green beans and potatoes over rice.  It was a perfect dish to use the fresh green beans in a way my husband had probably never encountered.  But it was decidedly not an Australian dish.

So when my second Australia day came around, I decided that I was going to institute a tradition in my new family.  And since I am known to be contrary just for the sake of being contrary, I decided that my celebrations of Australia, would continue to be decidedly not Australian.

That year I had some banana peppers from my in-laws' garden.  They were growing bell peppers, but the plant produced both bell peppers and banana peppers, and my in-laws were a bit timid about the banana peppers.  They were afraid the peppers may be much hotter than sweet, and since they were unwilling to give them a go, they offered them to me.  I gladly accepted!  I had introduced my dearest to homemade Mexican food though chilis, burritos, Spanish-style rice, and tacos, but I wanted to do something a bit different.  The I remembered a gorgeous photo in one of my cookbooks, a photo that was so very delicious-looking that my mouth watered whenever I flipped past it, the color photo of Huevos Rancheros in my copy of Test Kitchen Favorites:  The 2007 Companion Cookbook to the Hit TV Show by America's Test Kitchen.  I had found the dish for my un-Australian Australia Day celebration!  It was perfect:  it used fresh ingredients I had on hand, it was vegetarian, and it was something that dearest may not have encountered before.  It also fed my unquenchable-in-Australia desire for Mexican food.

My third year came around and I wondered whether I should continue my non-Australian food tradition and I decided, YES!  And I started looking for something that would fit the bill.  It turned out to be a crustless cheese quiche, Southern-style biscuits, and a white Texas sheet cake.  Another non-Australian meal.

For my fourth Australia Day, dinner was a vegetarian stir fry over ramen noodles and classic ice cream sundaes with whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry.

My fifth Australia Day was the day after we got back from a month in the US so I wasn't up for a complicated meal, or visiting with others, so we stayed in, recovering from jet lag and had a meal of pasta al olio (noodles with oil/butter).

This year marked my sixth Australia Day.  I knew that despite the media push to celebrate with lamb (on or off the barbie), I could not do that.  And not only because I do not like lamb.  A few months ago I had participated in a cooking challenge and found a great recipe for cheese enchiladas.  I had never made enchiladas from scratch, but this recipe was uncomplicated and turned out great results.  When I served that meal, I told dearest that we needed to invite people over to share that meal.  And he knew just the people.

My tradition of immigrant cuisine for Australia Day continued.  We had cheese enchiladas, Spanish rice, and chips & dip.  It was a great evening with good company and excellent wine.  This time we celebrated with friends, but it was our kind of celebration, not one dictated by media or outside pressures to conform to what is expected.

It was my tradition -- an immigrant celebrating a holiday celebrating a country of immigrants.

Menu Plan -- January 26-February 1, 2016

Tuesday:
Cheese Enchiladas, Spanish Rice, Chips & Salsa, Fudgesicles

Wednesday:
out to dinner with in-laws

Thursday:
Chili Pizza Cups, Strawberry Fluff

Friday:
Spanakopita, Strawberry Fluff

Saturday:
Turkey Burgers, Sautéed Summer Squash

Sunday:
Egg Drop Soup, Spring Rolls

Monday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Hacking Away at Knowledge

Today was cleaning day at my house.  I cleaned the bathrooms and swept and mopped the hard floors.  Dearest had vacuumed the carpets yesterday while I cleared off the coffee table and dusted.

While my floors were drying this morning, I was playing on the internet.  I happened upon a click-bait list.  I know better than to click the link, but I did it anyway.  It was a list of cleaning hacks.

One particularly amazed me.  It was the tip to sweep or vacuum the hard floors before mopping.  I stared at the screen in utter surprise for several moments, wondering why anyone thought this was a hack.  Doesn't everyone sweep or vacuum before mopping?  Why would anyone need to be told this? How does this qualify as a hack?

Once I recovered my senses, I thought more about this.  And then I reflected on the "How to Be a Good Tenant" booklet that came with the lease information for my current apartment.  One of the tips in the booklet was cleaning house on a regular basis would make it so much easier when moving out. I wondered then who needed to be told that.  Who doesn't clean their house on a regular basis?  And who needed to be told that cleaning on a regular basis would make it easier to ensure the house was clean when you moved out?

The more I thought about both of these tips, the more I decided that modern society is not educating people, it is making them stupider.  Things my grandparents knew are now life-hacks because the the current generation has no idea about anything they haven't read on the internet.  Generations of resourcefulness tricks and knowledge have been lost because the information is not being presented in a click-bait BuzzFeed list.  And even though grandparents and great-grandparents know the same things and could have told  people, if it's not in a Life Hack Listicle, it's not worth knowing.

I really feel bad for the children of today.  Who will have to be told, in the future equivalent of a life hack listicle, that you shouldn't grab the baking dish in a hot oven with bare hands or what a broom is for!

Happy & Bright

Casting Your Right

Election madness has officially started for me. I got my Presidential Preference Primary absentee ballot in the mail today.

I was hoping to delay the onset of the season a bit longer, but at the same time, I really appreciate getting it early so I don’t have to pay for overnight or express mail postage to get it back to the Registrar of Voters on time.

After looking over the ballot, and paying close attention to at least one of the debates, I still have no idea for whom I’m going to vote. I’m torn between knowing I should cast a ballot, but at the same time thinking it’s not going to matter anyway, so why bother?

I hate to not vote in elections, but when the choice comes down to picking the least worst candidate rather than the best possible one, I sometimes think not voting is the lesser of two evils.

Australia has compulsory voting. I disagree with that idea. I believe voting should be a right, but not a requirement. I should have the option to not vote. I should have the option to not care. I do not believe that compulsory voting automatically results a more informed, more involved, populous. I do not believe that just because voting is required, it will naturally follow that everyone cares or has a vested interest in the outcome. The only thing that compulsory voting ensures is that voting turnout will be as close to 100% as is humanly possible. It does not guarantee that the best possible candidate will be elected to fill the position. It does not guarantee that the best possible government will result. All it guarantees is that people will turn up on election day because they do not suffer the consequences for not having done so. It’s not compulsory voting so much as a forced roll taking.

I believe in the right to vote. I have cast a ballot in at least one election every year since I first registered to vote in 1991. I believe no-one should be denied the right to vote should they choose to do so. But everyone should have the option to freely express the right to not care. While it is true that individuals in Australia are not actually required to cast a ballot, they are required to show up to the polling place and receive a ballot. Failure to show up and receive the ballot leaves the individual subject to fines. I’m sorry, Australia, forcing your citizens to do something under threat is not democracy; it’s government-sanctioned extortion.

I truly believe that not everyone cares about who is in charge of their government. Forcing people to show up and be ticked off a list is not how democracy should work and it’s not a way to get the apathetic involved and engaged in the process.

A much better way would be broadcasting Parliament Question Time as the newest reality tv series, allowing registered voters to vote an MP on or off the bench every week. That’s how to get the voters engaged! That’s how to hold elected officials accountable.

Skewing the Curves

One of the news stories that's making the rounds in the past couple of days is the result of a survey that indicates that 10% (or more) of US college graduates think that Judge Judy is a Supreme Court Justice.

The problem is, the headline is a bit misleading because the question asked in the survey is misleading.  The question lists four names and asks which one is a Supreme Court Justice.  Judge Judy is not one of the choices as such.  She is listed under her real name, Judith Sheindlin.

While I have not seen the actual results from the survey, it is entirely conceivable that 10% of the respondents did tick Judith Sheindlin as an answer to that question.  I know her real name, so I would have known that was an incorrect answer, but I may not have been able to pick the correct answer from the other choices.

This is a lesson, but not necessarily in the way the survey designers think.  It is much more telling about the way survey questions are written.  When I took statistics, there was a section on the fact that how the questions were worded can influence the answers, and thus the outcome of the survey.  It is entirely possible to phrase the question to produce desired results, rather than independent, objective answers.  The way the questions are phrased can change the results of the survey.  This is one of those cases.

Had "Judge Judy" been a choice, I am sure most people would have known that was not the right answer.  So I am not sure how much faith we can put in the results of the survey as a whole, considering that one question was worded in such a way as to influence the answers.

Much has been made of the survey here in Australia, mostly laughing about how stupid Americans are.  But I wonder, how many Australians would be able to pick out the names of any of the High Court Judges?  I know there is far more coverage of the US Supreme Court and the Supreme Court Justices here in Australia than there is of the Australian High Court and High Court Judges.

While it's fun to laugh about the results, it's more important to take away the lesson that how questions are worded is just as important as the statistical results.

It's the Little Things

San Francisco has voted to phase out plastic bottles of water over the next four years.

Good for San Francisco.

But here's the rub.  The ban is only on bottles holding 21 ounces or less.

Taking a look at just the two major bottled beverage companies in the US, we find:

• Dasani (a Coca-Cola Company) sells water in 20-ounce bottles, 24-ounce bottles, 1-liter bottles, and 1.5-liter bottles.
• Aquafina (a Pepsi-Cola Company) sells water in 20-ounce or 1-liter bottles.

What do you want to bet that the standard bottle size, whether filled with water or a sweet fizzy liquid, will increase in the next four years from 20 ounces to 22 ounces?

The advertising slogan is already out there -- and if the beverage companies market it properly, the work is done for them.  Remember the old Dr. Pepper slogan about enjoying a bottle at 10, 2, and 4?Well, the beverage companies can re-work that and market 3-packs of 22-ounce bottles of water with the idea that 3 bottles, drunk at 10, 2, and 4 will provide all your water needs for a full day.

It's a win-win for everyone but San Francisco and the environment.  I'm pretty sure the wheels are turning already.

By the way, Coke & Pepsi, I'm willing to discuss compensation for this idea.  You can contact me through this blog.

Menu Plan -- January 19-25, 2016

Tuesday:  Pasta with Sauce, Bruschetta
Wednesday:  Chicken & Vegetable Stir Fry
Thursday:  Fancy Jaffles, Fruited Jell-O
Friday:  Spinach Quiche, Fruited Jell-O
Saturday:  Frito Chili Pie, Strawberry Dream Whip Pie
Sunday:  Quick Beans & Rice, Cornbread, Strawberry Dream Whip Pie
Monday:  do-it-yourself dinner

Grown Up Choices

Advice to my friends' young daughters:

Do not start shaving your legs.  Just don't do it.  I know it's a grown-up fancy lady kind of thing you want to do, but trust me, do not start.

Like so many other things you long to do when you are a child, the novelty wears off quickly and it just becomes a chore.

I know you won't listen to your mother, because, well, she is your mother.  But maybe you'll listen to me -- the really cool lady who's not related to you and isn't anyone's mother.

Do not start shaving your legs!  Or, at least wait until you absolutely have to to start.
You will thank me.

Also, always send handwritten thank you notes, but that's a story (and advice) for another time.

Meals in Melbourne: Fancy Hank's BBQ Joint

This dinner was supposed to be special. We were going out for our anniversary. The night we got married, we celebrated with friends at Whole Hog Cafe. Our wedding was low-key, and our post-event celebration was low-key as well. It was getting to be dinner time and we picked the spot by kind of just throwing a dart, which landed on the barbecue place. But it was definitely an us kind of thing to do. We haven’t had barbecue for any anniversaries since then, but we do like to celebrate with a meal out, even if it’s just take-away fish & chips.

Dearest usually plans something special for our celebratory meals, and I like to be surprised by what he finds. This year, he searched out authentic American-style barbecue places, perhaps because he was thinking as I was, about the celebratory meal we had six years ago on a winter’s night in Little Rock.

I’m not a barbecue connoisseur by any means, but I do like a good bit of slow-cooked, smoked meat. My preference is for brisket or pulled pork, particularly when there is a great smoke ring on the brisket. I think barbecue needs corn and beans as side dishes, but I’m not too picky. Many people will argue that coleslaw is a must, but I don’t particularly care for cabbage or mayonnaise so I skip that offering. Basically, I want well-prepared, tasty food. Barbecue isn’t fancy and it doesn’t need the kinds of culinary trickery that seem to be in fashion lately. The magic in barbecue comes from the long, slow-cooking and the smoke that infuses the meats with a flavor not available anywhere else. It’s a craft, and good pit bosses are worth their weight. But it’s not a dainty, art project kind of meal.  Which makes it good for me, because I'm not a dainty, art project kind of meal person.

Barbecue to me (and a lot of other people) means a lot of food, mostly meat, at a reasonable price, served simply. Most places in the US use the generic formula of “plates” or “platters” made up of one or two meats, one or two sides, and a bread of some sort, usually a white-flour-based yeasted bread. The meats and sides are more often than not at the customer’s choosing and customization from the available options is encouraged. Sandwiches are often found on the menu, but not a given, and are available made from any of the meats from the platter choices. Depending on style (Memphis, Carolina, Texas, Kansas City, etc.) sauces may be served with the meat, or may be available on the table or condiment bar, for customers to add to their preference.

Dearest did some research on websites, scouting out menus and locations and decided that Fancy Hank’s BBQ Joint was the place to try. We arrived early, about half an hour before they opened for dinner. That gave us time to peruse the menu and consider our choices. We had a couple of questions, which were quickly answered by the employees. The menu ticked all the right boxes with an assortment of meats and sides. It was looking good. We decided to give it a go.

After discussion and thought, we decided to go with the Do-It-Yourself option over the prepared (and apparently not customizable) Pit Master’s Selection set platters. We chose:  Carolina Chopped Pork and a link of Beef Sausage as our meats; and Succotash, Mac & Cheese, Home Fries, and Hush Puppies as our sides. I drank Sprite, while dearest had a beer (I can’t remember what kind) followed by a Coke.

We were quite disappointed to learn that the only way to get bread to go with the meal was to order a sandwich, and those (non-customizable) options just did not appeal to us. Jalapeño cornbread was an option as a side, but I wanted the bread to help temper some of the anticipated spice from the sauces, and an independently spicy cornbread would not have done that.

I asked about the Succotash. My only previous experience with succotash in Australia was on an episode of MasterChef where the dish contained no corn and six shelled peas as garnish. That’s not succotash; no way, no how. The menu description for this succotash had all the right words, but I still had some questions about this version of one of my favorite dishes. I asked if it was a hot salad; because it was listed with the salads, it could go either way. The guy looked at me a bit strangely, and I clarified that I was asking about the serving temperature, not the spice level. He informed me that it was not “boiling hot” but he wouldn’t call it cold either. Okay, I decided yep, we could give that a shot.

After ordering, I checked out the available sauces. There were two: a sweet sauce dearest decided was closer to a blended chutney, and a coffee-molasses sauce that was intriguing, if a bit bitter. How could it be anything but with those main ingredients? Also available was what I determined was ketchup, though the squeeze bottle was unlabeled so I took a chance with that. There were a few other bottles on the condiment tray, but I do not remember what they were exactly, I think one was a spiced vinegar, but I could be wrong. I definitely wanted to try the available sauces, so I served myself a healthy, shareable potion from each of the three squeeze bottles and headed back to the table to wait.

Our buzzer buzzed very quickly and dearest went to pick up our meals from the service window. I was pleased with how they looked, though I will admit to wondering about serving meats that may need a knife and fork on just a plastic tray lined with grease-proof paper. (But, have no fear, We Want Plates, there were proper plates and silverware available on the condiment tray.)

I tried my Carolina Chopped Pork first thing, and found it nicely cooked, with that indescribable but ohh-so-fantastic texture of smoked, pulled meat. Next I tried a bit of my Succotash. It was cold. Okay, not what I was expecting, but not bad. I thought they skimped a bit on the corn and the serving temperature and use of field peas put it more in the category of Texas Caviar or Black-Eyed Pea Salad than succotash, but I was willing to give it a chance as I know lima beans are hard to find in Australia.

After that I took a sneaky taste of dearest’s Mac & Cheese. Okay this was excellent and I immediately regretted not getting a serving all for myself — because stirring some of my pork into that would have been great! I also sampled dearest’s Home Fries and found them to be bog-standard crispy-battered fries. There was nothing special or remarkable about them.

I tested dearest’s Beef Sausage. I was really expecting something closer to the texture of smoked sausage or kielbasa. I got soft-cooked ground beef in an incredibly tough casing. Besides the freakish strength of the sausage casing, the most noticeable thing about it was the overwhelming amount of black pepper used in the sausage. The sausage was not advertised as being spiced or having an unusual amount of black pepper in it, so this was quite a shock to my taste buds, and to dearest’s, who was very happy to have ordered the Mac & Cheese to help mitigate a bit of the spice.

Lastly I moved on to my Hush Puppies. Hush puppies are one of those things that are literally a throw-away item. One legend of their development is that the cook fried a bit of the batter for the fish or chicken he was cooking and threw it at the dogs barking at the kitchen door, to quite literally, hush the puppies. But as it turned out, those fried balls of cornmeal-based dough were pretty good for the people too. Fancy Hank’s Hush Puppies are light and fluffy, and very nice on their own, though I think in my case the person prepping the plates in the kitchen was a bit rushed because mine could have been drained just a smidge longer after frying; there was a good bit of oil/grease still in them. But that is definitely a minor complaint and one that is easily corrected in the kitchen.

After sampling everything plain, I tried the pork with each of the barbecue sauces, and decided the best option would be to mix them with the pork, getting a bit of sweetness from the chutney sauce and bit of je ne sais quoi from the coffee-molasses one. That was a great idea as it produced a much more classically, to me at least, flavored sauce.

As the meal went on, I began to notice the succotash was swimming in what appeared to be olive oil. Obviously the servers in the kitchen have a problem draining the fat from the food for service. There was at least a quarter of a cup of oil at the bottom of my bowl, which frankly made the rest of the succotash unappetizing. Also, as the meal progressed, both dearest and I noticed a bit of heartburn coming on. That’s unusual for both of us. Looking at the dishes at the end of the meal, we had managed to finish only the Carolina Chopped Pork. That’s very unusual for us, and for most places in Australia where the servings are significantly smaller than standard US restaurant portions.

On the whole, Fancy Hank’s BBQ Joint was not one of the better places I have been. It was in fact, extremely disappointing, both for what it is, and as a re-creation of the barbecue at Whole Hog from our wedding night. I feel bad being so critical of a restaurant that is trying to get it right. But in my opinion, they have failed. The only thing on the menu I would even consider ordering again is the Mac & Cheese, but that is neither special nor unique enough to warrant a trip, and certainly not at $9 a pop.

Overall Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Thank You Granddaddy, for allowing us to hijack your 80th Birthday Party.

Thank You, Linda (and Trent).  We honestly could not have done it without you.

Thank You, Dearest, for everything.

Comfort Food, Coming Right Up

I often want comfort food.  Well, I want things which could be classified as comfort food.  And for me, that usually means it involves biscuits and gravy of some sort.  I could be perfectly happy with biscuits and gravy for most meals.  I am certain there is never enough gravy, and biscuits are the perfect thing to pair with gravy.

But then I think that I should probably have some sort of vegetable and some sort of protein source with the biscuits and gravy.  And if it's an all-in-one dish like a casserole, even better.

I found a recipe for a Biscuit-Topped Chicken Pie that was intended to be served inverted on a plate, allowing the gravy to run down the sides and under the biscuit.  Okay, that's a good idea, but far too messy for me.  And the recipe used canned chicken gravy, which is admittedly gravy, but I can do so much better.  So I thought about the recipe, keeping a few of the elements I liked and ditching the things I did not like.  And I thought about adding some more vegetables to the filling.  I considered potatoes, but potatoes and mushrooms really do not go well in my mind.  Carrots were a better choice.  I often have celery that needs to be used in my fridge, and well, sautéing a bit of celery with the onion as a base for things is never a bad idea, so I thought, that would work as well.  And I wanted a creamy, but not too creamy gravy, and I needed to get the mixture thickened, so I thought adding the flour to the milk and then stirring that slurry into the simmering broth would be perfect.

The original recipe had a plain biscuit topping, but I knew I could do better.  So I tossed a bit of dried thyme into my biscuit mix, but parsley would work as well.

With my tweaks, I had a perfect comfort-food, single dish dinner with vegetables, protein, AND biscuits and gravy.  What more could I want from dinner?

Upside-Down Chicken Pie
Filling:
3 cups chicken broth
2 medium chicken breasts
½ medium onion, diced
1 large rib celery, diced
1 medium carrot, diced
3 tablespoons butter
7-8 medium button mushrooms, diced
3 tablespoons flour
⅔ cup milk

Biscuit Crust:
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
½ teaspoon dried thyme or 1½ teaspoons parsley flakes
½ cup butter or shortening, softened
⅔ cup milk

Preheat oven to 450ºF and grease a 9-inch deep dish pie pan. Place pan on rimmed baking sheet lined with foil.

Place chicken breasts in saucepan and add broth. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and separates easily with a fork. Remove chicken and reserve broth. Cut chicken into bite-pieces and set aside.

Sauté onion, celery, and carrot in butter just until the onion starts to turn translucent. Add mushrooms and cook until vegetables are soft and mushrooms have given up their liquid. Add reserved broth and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.

In a small jar with a screw top lid, add milk and flour and shake until combined. Stir into broth mixture, simmering until mixture has thickened. Add chicken and cook an additional 5 minutes.

In large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, cream of tartar, salt and sugar. Add butter and cut in using forks or a pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse sand. Add thyme and stir well to distribute. Add milk all at once, stirring just until a soft dough forms. Turn onto well-floured board and knead about a minute, before rolling out into 10-inch circle.

Spoon simmering chicken mixture into prepared pie pan. Place biscuit circle over liquid, tucking ends under to fit the pan.

Bake at 450ºF for 18-20 minutes or until biscuit is golden brown. The pie may bubble over.

Allow to rest at least 5 minutes before serving.

6 servings

Facts of the State

Dearest watched the State of the Union Address. I was in the room. That’s how I’ve experienced most of the State of the Union Addresses since I was in high school and required to pay attention for Civics class.

I fully admit I did not pay attention to the speech. That is not partisan, I did not pay attention to the Bushes or Clinton either. But I did take slight note of the clapping.

I really expected Obama to make his last State of the Union a “go big, then go home” kind of moment. In my opinion, the clapping did not reflect that. But as I said, I did not pay attention to the speech, so I am not entirely sure what kind of speech it was.

Part of the reason I did not pay close attention to the speech is that I tend to scream at the tv, causing everyone in the room to miss what was said during my response-rants. I know dearest wanted to pay attention to the speech and actually hear what was said, not just my response-rants. Dearest, on the other hand, believes the best way to scream at the talking heads on tv is through Twitter, so he was tweeting his comments on the commentary, or as he calls it “Aus-plaining” the experts were providing during the coverage. In particular, he replied to a comment that the State of the Union was required. I’m not sure of the exact quote, but I know the upshot was the commentator indicated that the President was Constitutionally required to address Congress. Dearest pointed out that the while the President:

shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient

he is not required to do so in person, and many Presidents have chosen not to. It is only recently that the pomp and circumstance of the Prime Time speech has become the norm.

Today, the fact checker replied that dearest was correct, and in fact, President Carter was the most recent president to not address a joint session of Congress. I did not know that. I did not remember that, but in my own defense, I was only 7 years old when Carter’s presidency ended.

I am impressed at the fact checking on the part of the commentator. Much better than the fact checking I have seen previously concerning coverage of American elections, particularly when one respected election analyst was discussing vote returns from all 51 states.

It’s interesting to watch the process from outside the US. I’m no more inclined to watch the next State of the Union address, (which technically would be in 2018, despite the fact that whomever wins the 2016 election may choose to address Congress following the inauguration in 2017). Viewing things from outside, I have noticed the insular nature of news reporting and commentary in the past, both within the US and outside it. And while the on-air reporting is still a bit insular, I applaud the fact checking I’ve seen on Twitter.

*** If you want more information on the State of the Union, including the text of the messages from every president who delivered them, I highly recommend this site:  The American Presidency Project -- State of the Union Addresses and Messages

Classic Class

A discussion group I belong to has been discussing classic literature. I'll admit I haven't read a wide sample of classics outside of required reading for school. And while I believe some things should be required reading, I am convinced requiring someone to read a book is never going to result in an appreciation for the book. So my experience with classics is definitely colored by being required to read them. Though I do not think anything would have helped me enjoy, or even like, Hemingway.

But the discussion in the group has centered lately on whether classic literature is relevant in today's world, and should we still be reading books written centuries ago. Whether or not we should be requiring students to read these classics has not been part of the discussion thus far; the discussion is purely about leisure reading.

As with most discussions of things, there are two main factions in the group. Those in favor of continuing to read classics and those against it. The arguments of those against it are quite interesting. They are doing nothing to sway me from my opinion, but they are rather interesting to read in a "people-be-crazy" kind of way.

One particularly adamant member has been voicing his (I can only assume) opinion with arguments that books written before Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue is not really worth reading as plot devices had not been properly "invented" or "incorporated into works well or thoroughly." He refuses to concede that works written before his arbitrary date of importance, including works by Sophocles and Shakespeare, have well-formed and, in some cases, quite complicated plots. Arguments that plotting works existed long before Poe have fallen on deaf ears.

This same person also objects quite vociferously to the repetitious exposition in chapters of novels that were first published as serials. Even when presented with the reason for such exposition, he maintains that today's readers would be just as well served by going through the classic works and deleting the repetitious content. Arguments that abridged versions doing that to most classic works are available were met with comments that reading an abridged work was no better than reading a classic comic. I guess there is no pleasing some people.

I do believe that classics have a place in today's world and they are still relevant, if only because so many current works are copies, pastiches, combinations, or re-workings of classic works. But for leisure reading, I do not see any reason to read anything you do not like or do not want to. Why force torture upon yourself?

At one point, I decided to read all the books well-educated people should read. I started with Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I hated them all! I am just not the Bronte's target market. But I recognize there are many people who love those books. I have similar feelings of dislike for Austen, Dickens, and Hugo. I am not going to voluntarily read anything by any of those authors again. But I have no objections to other people enjoying their works.

Personally, I have not read anything by Alexandre Dumas, Pere that I have not loved. But I know other people have not experienced those works the same way. There are classics for everyone. Often it's just a case of trial and error until you find the ones that are right for you.

Menu Plan -- January 12-18, 2016

Tuesday:  out after shopping/movie
Wednesday:  Cold Spicy Peanut Sesame Noodles
Thursday:  Chicken Upside Down Pie
Friday:  One-Pot Creamy Lemon Pasta, Bruschetta
Saturday:  out for anniversary
Sunday:  Kidney Bean, Chickpea, & Sweet Corn Salad, Cornbread, Lime Dream Pie
Monday:  Chicken Vegetable Stir Fry over Rice, Lime Dream Pie

Losing Heroes

The news broke while dearest and I were eating dinner that David Bowie had died.

I will admit I have never been a big Bowie fan. I know and recognize his music, but I know him more from dearest playing albums than from my own experience. The one exception is his appearance with Bing Crosby on one of Crosby's Christmas specials. I knew of that independently, and had seen it long before I really knew who Bowie was. But I saw that because I was a fan of Bing more than because I was a fan of Bowie.

Nevertheless, for one moment, the bottom kind of fell out of the world. Unexpected deaths will do that, regardless of whether the death is of a close friend or family member or a celebrity who has just always been there.

When I checked Facebook, not only because of the news, I saw that many people have already changed their profile pictures to photos of Bowie or his album covers.

I thought about this. And my thoughts went to a monologue delivered by Stephen Colbert in the wake of the Paris attacks in November 2015. Colbert discussed the people who made seemingly pointless and silly tributes, with things like watching the movie Ratatouille or posting tweets with the hashtag #PrayforParis. His conclusion was that it was not wrong, because it helps people make sense of the situation and feel a connection with the rest of the world. That monologue has made a big impact on me and has stayed with me since I first saw it.  And the message of the monologue is equally appropriate to other situations as well.

I used to think that these kinds of reactions to world-stopping news was silly and pointless. I have changed my mind. These tributes are from the heart and meaningful to the people making them. Who am to comment on someone else's tribute or reaction?

The world is too full of people ready to pass judgment on everything anyone would or could do. I'm not going to add that kind of negativity. If someone changes their profile picture; good for them. If someone wants to play their entire Bowie collection start to finish tonight; good for them. If someone wants to paint their face in the iconic lightning bolt makeup from the iconic Aladdin Sane album cover to go to work tomorrow; more power to them. I have made a decision to not participate in any negativity.

There is already too much in the world; I do not need to add to it.

My Own Personal Italian Restaurant

A few days ago, dearest and I were watching the new (to Australia) Food Network and we happened to catch an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives that had a segment at an Italian restaurant, I forget where.  But the pizza they were making was interesting.  It had a portion of the shredded mozzarella under the tomato sauce rather than on top.  We both thought that was an idea worth trying out the next time we made pizza.  The pizza featured on the show was a simple cheese & sauce combination, with both fresh and shredded mozzarella.  Since I had both on hand, I decided to plan that for dinner and test out the technique.

I decided since the pizza was relatively mild in flavor, I would add a bit more by make the crust an herbed crust rather than just a plain one.  I think this was a good idea, and easy, as all it meant was adding a bit of Italian Herb Blend to the dry ingredients when I mixed up the dough.

The episode did not give a recipe, more just a technique, so I took my best guess at everything with the exception of the fresh mozzarella.  For that I used what I had.  I had four medium balls, so I used four medium balls -- it was about 100 grams or 3½ ounces.  There was also no recipe for the tomato sauce, but the sauce on the show was thicker than most pizza sauces I had seen.  I took my best guess with that too, and made it up as I went along.  I think it came out very well and it may be my new go-to recipe for pizza sauce.

Don't be intimidated by the length of this recipe.  It really is very easy to make.  But it is not something you can throw together in 20 minutes.  You do need to plan ahead to allow time for the dough to rise.  Start to finish, I would guess about 2 hours, but most of that is not hands-on time.

And yes, the house does end up smelling like an Italian restaurant for a few hours (or possibly several days.)

Italian Herb Pizza Dough
1 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar (can be golden syrup, honey, or white or brown sugar)
1 tablespoon oil (vegetable, canola, or olive oil, or melted butter)
1 package dry yeast (not rapid rise)
1 teaspoon salt
1½ teaspoons Italian Herb Blend (recipe below, or use a commercially available blend)
2½-3 cups all-purpose flour, divided

• In a large bowl, mix water and sugar and heat in microwave to between 110-120°F (it takes about 45 seconds on high in my microwave, I test with a probe thermometer after 30 seconds)
• Sprinkle yeast over water and allow to sit until it is lightly foamy (the yeast will sink and then rise again)
• Add oil and stir to combine
• Stir together salt, herb blend and 2 cups flour and add to water/yeast blend, stirring until a soft dough forms
• Place ⅓ reaming cup of flour on board
• Turn dough onto flour on board and cover with another ⅓ cup of remaining flour
• Knead flour into dough until dough becomes slightly stiff and no longer sticks to your hands
• Continue to knead for 5-8 minutes or until smooth and elastic, lightly sprinkling board with last ⅓ cup flour if dough sticks
• Wash bowl and coat lightly with oil (or spray with Pam)
• Place dough in bowl and turn to coat in oil
• Cover with clean towel and set in a warm place to rise for 1 hour or until doubled in bulk
• Punch down dough and knead lightly to expel large air bubbles
• Cut dough in half -- use one half for each pizza
• Allow dough to rest for 5-10 minutes before rolling for pizza

The remaining half can be used immediately for a second pizza can be wrapped in cling film then placed in a zip-top freezer bag and frozen.  If you freeze it, allow to thaw completely before continuing with recipe.  It takes about 4 hours for my dough to thaw completely when left on the counter -- do not thaw in the microwave.

Pizza Sauce
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons vegetable stock powder
⅛ teaspoon onion powder
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian Herb Blend (recipe below, or use a commercially available blend)
1½ teaspoons olive oil

• Combine all ingredients in blender (or food processor) and blend until smooth

Pizza
½ recipe Italian Herb Pizza Dough
½ recipe Pizza Sauce
3½ ounces Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, sliced ¼ inch thick
1 cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
½ teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
½ teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1½ teaspoons olive oil

• Preheat Oven to 425°F
• Grease 12-inch round rimmed baking sheet or pizza pan with butter
• Roll pizza dough slightly smaller than bottom of pan, and then place in buttered pan
• Using finger tips, gently stretch dough to fit pan, pushing slightly up the sides of pan, allowing dough to rest 5 if it's hard to stretch
• Prick dough with fork all over
• Bake dough at 425°F for 10 minutes
• Prick, and gently press down any large bubbles in the dough to deflate
• Sprinkle ⅔ cup shredded mozzarella over dough
• Drop 8-10 tablespoons of pizza sauce over shredded cheese, spreading lightly
• Place fresh mozzarella slices over sauce
• Sprinkle remaining ⅓ cup shredded mozzarella over pizza
• Sprinkle dried herbs over pizza
• Drizzle olive oil over pizza
• Bake pizza at 425°F for 14-18 minutes or until cheeses are golden brown and bubbly
• Remove from pan and allow to rest 5-10 minutes before cutting into 8 slices

Italian Herb Blend
2 teaspoons dried rosemary
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon ground sage

• Mix all ingredients thoroughly

Using What's Left

Every now and then I try to get creative with my leftovers.  I had half a rotisserie chicken leftover from a recipe of Savory Chicken Pies and I was in search of something hearty and complete in one dish; a perfect bowl of comfort.  Ohh, and it couldn't be soup or use pasta or potatoes, because I have made it a game with myself to not use the same starch in more than one planned meal per week.  Further to my mental exercise, I had already planned Italian- and Chinese-inspired meals so I wanted to avoid those basic styles of cuisine.

With those self-imposed restrictions, I thought Mexican, Tex-Mex, or Southwest was the way to go.  I considered tacos, but I had wraps planned using tortillas, and while those were chick-pea wraps with ranch dressing and a shredded carrot slaw, I did not really want to go the taco route, even with hard shells.  Then I thought about what I had on hand. I had arborio rice and a can of tomatoes, as well as half of a red and green pepper, and about ¾ of a red onion.  I also had a basic risotto recipe I had mastered a while ago.

I got to thinking:  what would happen if I combined the stuff I had on hand, with the chicken and a recipe of taco seasoning and made a Southwest-inspired Chicken Risotto?  A quick check of the fridge yielded there as a little bit of cheddar cheese in there, which would be a perfect finishing touch to the risotto.  I thought adding Parmesan would take it too far away from the Southwest flavor I was after. Yep, I think this could work.  After all, the basic risotto I make is really just that, basic -- onion, garlic, broth and Parmesan cheese.  It was perfect for a bit of tweaking.

This recipe may not be an original idea, but it is an original recipe creation.  And though it started with the basics from a recipe in a Better Homes & Gardens cookbook, the taco seasoning is an original blend as well.

Southwest Chicken Risotto
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium red onion, diced fine
½ medium red bell pepper, diced fine
½ medium green bell pepper, diced fine
1⅔ cups (320 grams) arborio rice
1 recipe taco seasoning (recipe follows; or use 1 packet commercial taco seasoning)
1 can crushed tomatoes
4 cups (1 liter) hot chicken stock, divided
2 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
½ cup (2 ounces) cheddar cheese, shredded

In large pan or Dutch oven, over medium-high heat, sauté onions and peppers in oil, just until onions are soft and translucent.  Add rice and seasoning, stirring until coated with oil and rice starts to turn translucent.  Add tomatoes, stirring well, cooking until all liquid is absorbed.  Reduce heat to low and add 2 cups stock, ½ cup at a time, stirring often, waiting until all liquid is absorbed before next addition.  Add chicken, followed by remaining 2 cups of stock, ½ cup at a time, stirring often, waiting until all liquid is absorbed before next addition.  When all liquid is absorbed, remove from heat and add cheese, stirring until combined.  Serve immediately.

Makes 5 hearty servings.

Taco Seasoning
1 teaspoon parsley flakes
1 teaspoon oregano
2 teaspoons chicken stock powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
pinch cayenne pepper

Mix everything well.  Use in place of one packet commercially-available taco seasoning.
If using blend for seasoning taco meat, add 1-2 teaspoons cornstarch.

Annoying, My Dear Watson

For the past couple of years, I have had a book that is meant to be read a page at a time.  I read Monarchs, Murderers, and Mistresses:  A Royal Book of Days, and A Reader's Book of Days with the calendar years.  I really enjoyed having a book to read throughout the year, a page or so at a time.

I did not find a book-of-days style book for this year, but I did find a "read a book in a year" page-a-day calendar.  I had a choice of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles.  I had never read The Hound of the Baskervilles, and Austen is not really my cup of tea, so it was an easy choice.

I'm only seven days into the calendar/book and already Holmes is driving me batty!  I admit, two years ago was the first time I had read any of Sherlock Holmes stories/novels.  I read a combined edition of both A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of the Four as the last book of the year for 2013.  Before that, my only real exposure to Sherlock Holmes had been through the Jeremy Brett portrayal in the series that was aired as part of Mystery! on PBS.  I had never really read anything of the famous sleuth.  A Study in Scarlet was short enough that the character did not get on my nerves too much, and it was the first introduction to the character, so the quirks of the character had not been fully fleshed out.  I found The Sign of the Four spent far more time discussing the Mormons and Mormonism than character development, so my experience with Holmes as a character has been limited.

But in just the eight days I've read, which is about half of Chapter 1 of The Hound of the Baskervilles, I'm ready to slap Holmes into next week!  Does he get any less pompous?  Is there ever a moment when he does not know more than everyone else?  Is there a ever a moment when the character is even a tiny bit humble?

I will finish the the book, but I think reading it a bit at a time is the best way to get through the book for me.  If I had to sit down and visit with Holmes for more than five or ten minutes at a time I think I'd be ripping the book to shreds.  I'm already screaming back at the text.  I really do not understand how he has survived as a favorite character.

Net Poison Quotient

Sometimes I wonder if the Internet is really good for people.  I find there is a great deal of negativity on the internet.  Maybe it's a reflection of the real world, but I think the anonymity of the internet gives rise to more negativity.

I also wonder if people read and respond to comments more out of rage-reading than out of genuine concern.  I find myself sometimes rage-reading articles, posts, or comments, the same way I find myself sometimes rage-watching MasterChef or other competition cooking shows.

I want to think people are better than their comments, but unfortunately, I think they are not.  I think the freedom afforded by internet anonymity really allows people's true selves to come out in ways that in-person communication does not.  It also allows people to share their negativity with others, and then there is a whole community of like-minded people spewing forth negativity together.  It can be a quite poisonous environment.

It is so easy to get caught up in the in the negativity, that it bleeds into non-internet life.  I'm not sure what to do about it.  I doubt seriously that people are going to give up the internet.  And I doubt even more that people will change.  No, I have no solutions.  But I do know I am trying very hard to step away and get that kind of negativity and rage out of my life.  I do not need that kind of poison.

Meaningless Measurements

About a month ago I decided it was time for an annual checkup. Even though I felt pretty good, I thought it was a good idea to have a check-up. I hadn't had routine bloodwork for several years, and it was probably time to get things checked.

So I did.

The results of the tests were that I am experiencing a non-anemic iron deficiency. It's not serious, and I'm treating it with high doses of iron supplements. Iron deficiencies are very common among women in my age group. One of the big reasons for this is the natural loss of blood every month or so.

I had been experiencing symptoms of the iron deficiency for a while, but never put them together as something I needed to worry about. Even a month into the supplements, I have noticed a huge difference in a lot of things I have since learned are actually signs of an iron deficiency.

At the appointment with the doctor to discuss my bloodwork results, when it was determined that an iron deficiency was the issue, the doctor asked if I had heavy periods. I never really thought so, because they were normal to me. But that got me thinking. As a society, we give girls "the talk," show them aisle in the stores with products and send them on their merry way. Even among my girlfriends, periods are never really discussed, expect when they are arriving, or not arriving.

I never discussed my flow with anyone, not my mother, not my friends, not my doctor. After the appointment I went searching on the information for more information on what was considered a heavy period. I found information on what a normal period was, in terms of milliliters of blood lost. I don't know about anyone else, but I never wrung out pads or tampons to measure the blood loss. So while tampon boxes include capacity in milliliters, it's not a measurement that has any real meaning to the matter. And since my experience with menstrual cups was a dismal failure, I really don't see a way to quantify the monthly loss. Which leaves me pretty much where I was before I started researching, with no real way to determine if what normal to me is considered a heavy flow by the medical community.

I am not about to advocate free bleeding, for a number of reasons, not the lease of which is that the practice is unsanitary. But I do think we, as a society, need to change the way we talk about a normal process. I'm a college-educated person. My friends have graduate degrees. And yet, it is near impossible to get any real information on what's "normal" when it comes to menstruation. We need to do a better job with that. I'm not sure what prevents society from having these conversations; whether it's remnants of Victorian prudishness or just a collective squeamishness in regards to the subject.

I know if I could have determined whether my flow was heavy or normal I would have been more likely to pick up on the iron loss sooner. I would have been better able to discuss the facts with my doctor.

I'm not sure how to go about changing the conversation to be more open and have information more accessible to women, but I know it needs to happen. I know we need to stop measuring things in meaningless ways. Give it up, be honest, and say that medically speaking, heavy flow means chaining your pad or tampon more often than every other hour. Let's not mince words and say that if you are soaking through pads at the rate of one or more an hour for longer than 48 hours over the course of your period, it's a heavy flow. And while it may be normal to you individually, medically it is considered abnormal. And it can lead to serious a iron deficiency, which in turn can lead to a whole host of other issues.

Somehow we need to get beyond our ick factor and have serious discussions about things which can have serious consequences.

Menu Plan -- January 5-11, 2016

Tuesday:  Rice & Bean Burritos, Chips & Salsa
Wednesday:  Barbadian Chicken Fingers, Yellow Rice, Green Beans
Thursday:  Pizza Margherita, Dream Whip Pie
Friday:  Hot Turkey Sub Sandwiches, Zesty Corn Relish, Dream Whip Pie
Saturday:  Three Cheese Vegetable Lasagne, Garlic Bread, Dream Whip Pie
Sunday:  Whiskey Marmalade Chicken over Orzo, Broccoli, Dream Whip Pie
Monday:  Pasta with Sauce, Parmesan Pita Triangles

Frustrated ExPat, Personal Needs Edition #1

Dear Melbourne:

Why is it so hard to find facilities?

What do you have against visitors/customers who have the, apparently unfortunate, need to relieve themselves?  I seriously doubt that native Melburnians have found a permanent solution and no longer find themselves needing facilities.

Sometimes I think it is far easier to find a place to "pee on Mardi Gras Day" than it is to find a place in Melbourne to do the same.  I have struggled on many visits to your fair city to find facilities.  And, no the public restrooms 5 to 10 blocks away do not count as convenient or readily accessible.

I am not against making a purchase or paying for the privilege of using the facilities.  I have done so in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day to assure myself of availability when nature calls.  I would really just like to have them convenient, available, and easily located when I need them.  Unfortunately, when you need the facilities, nothing else will do.  And often, improvisation in this area will result in chats with the local authorities.

I really don't think I'm being unreasonable here.  I really don't think I'm asking too much.

Thanks,
A Frustrated Visitor, with money to spend!, in Your Fair City

Honoring the Good China

Today would have been my Aunt LaVerne's 92nd birthday.  She was a great lady with a zest for life -- from her worries about maintaining sexy ankles to catch, and keep, her a boyfriend (she was twice widowed) to her worries about how proper it was to serve pizza on paper plates for a casual luncheon on her deck.

Even when she passed away at 86, she was young.  She rode 4-wheelers though muddy fields, arranged hunt breakfasts, and chased her year-old great-great niece through her house until both of them collapsed in a fit of giggles to share a special treat.  She was never happier than when she was hosting an event, and was, a consummate hostess.  No one ever left Aunt LaVerne's house feeling unwelcome.

One time I was at my great-grandmother's house and Aunt LaVerne was there and we got to talking about her time living in Ireland.  She and her husband were hosting some American soldiers who could not get leave to go home for Christmas.  She had made a complete, traditional Christmas feast; roast turkey and all the trimmings.  And she served the festive meal on her set of Belleek dinnerware.  She had no fear in using her good, fragile, china for a Christmas feast for big, burly American soldiers.  I asked her how she stopped worrying about the delicate plates getting broken.  She laughed and replied "It doesn't matter.  I'd get new plates."  That was her attitude towards all her things.  It didn't matter if they got lost, misplaced, chipped, cracked, twisted, or broken; she'd get new ones.  (As it turned out, at least one plate did get broken during that Christmas dinner, and the story of replacing it years later will have to wait for another time.)

My mother inherited that Belleek dinner service -- including the replacement pieces, and it's safely packed in a box in a storage unit.  I'm both happy and sad about that.  Aunt LaVerne used her good things.  She never saved anything for special.  I like that, the idea of making every days special.  But I hate to use anything fragile I inherited from Aunt LaVerne because if it's broken, I'm afraid I'll loose one of the remaining bits of her I have.  Having her things keeps her with me.  But at the same time, I feel it's not respectful to her to not use them.  She used them.  It was just as likely to find haying breakfasts in the fields served on fine china as it was to see that same china being used for a fancy catered dinner party.

It feels somehow very disrespectful to have the teacups and saucers she carefully picked out for some purpose or function sitting in my cabinet collecting dust.  Because Aunt LaVerne would have used them.  I feel like I should be using them, hosting people for dinner or having bridge parties (despite the fact that I do not know how to play bridge).  I feel like I should share Aunt LaVerne's non-treasures with my friends and acquaintances.  I feel like I should use them because it's Tuesday.

Maybe one day I'll get over my fear of losing bits of Aunt LaVerne enough to honor her by using her things, but her birthday is not the day to do it.  Tomorrow may be though.  That's it dinner on the good china tomorrow.  Because Aunt LaVerne would have done it.

Happy Birthday, Aunt LaVerne!