Is something organic if it is shipped across the country? What about the fuel that is used and how that affects our environment, not to mention the freshness of the food and a myriad of other factors. Over the last few years i have been reading everything i can get my hands on to help me answer these and other questions so sit back, relax and explore where my quest has taken me thus far.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Soap Smithing

Greetings from Brooklyn, 

Well I have started to make my valentine's day soaps for the masses......well, maybe for family and friends and someday the masses ;) Who cares it's fun and keeps me out of trouble. I do have good news, I had my first online purchase of products! It was exhilarating and terrifying, what if she hated them? And me? Oh geez, what do I do? Mr. Mouse helped out, he said, "ship the order!" And so I did......I want to call her and see how she's doing, how's work and the family and oh yeah how are those soaps? I have resisted the urge thus far, I am aiming to not become a soap stalker of sorts. 

Anyway onto my newest concoctions, I have been sticking to the feminine scents but today I branched out and made something with a more masculine scent which I am just loving. My sister gave me some feedback on scents that she likes and I tried to incorporate some of that into one set, I also had some other thoughts for what valentine's day may smell like to one and have made a soap with that incorporated into it. My vague descriptions must be killing you! 

Alright so my masculine scented soap is sandalwood scented with a hemp base for the guys. I have two other molds setting up and two more in line to be poured. The one I have setting up is lilac scented yum! Oh and it's a pretty neat looking one too. The third that is setting is a cinnamon sugar scented soap (smells like a delicious cookie!) As I said I have more soaps to make but limited molds so they have to be made in cycles, currently I am sitting in my office, microwave in front of me, I know, it's a strange piece of equipment for an office, but hey- the printer is in the kitchen! I am up to my eyeballs in the little hearts and stars I have made to incorporate into my big molds and inhaling the sweet scents of cinnamon, lilac and sandalwood which is surprisingly not a bad combination. After all of this soaping I must have the cleanest hands on the planet, also all my utensils are deliciously clean, I can't complain though, I tried candle making ONCE, it was awful, clean-up was a nightmare, I melted two spatulas and ruined a pot, never again!




Well I hope you enjoyed the pics, wish you could smell the delightfulness. 

Bye for now
~CM

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Pesto II


I made pesto back in September and wrote about it. BUT I did not make it from basil that we grew for the past few months. We finally trimmed our basil tree (yes, it became a tree) this morning and I pulled out the old food processor to make some pesto. The basil was great the kitchen smelled intoxicating as I was pruning the"tree".  I think I am so partial to this batch because it has been a labor of love from our little kitchen garden.  I mean the thing got so bit some leaves got burned by the grow lights and our other plants are all midgets because they have been starved for light!  I used almost the same recipe as last time but substituted pecorino romano cheese instead as I like the sharp bite and saltiness it brings to the table.

The pesto turned out GREAT, it was bright green in the processor once mixed, in my opinion good pesto, like a good piece of beef or fine wine needs to rest and the ingredients need to blossom prior to being completely enjoyed. I let it sit for a bit about 30 minutes at room temperature and tasted it again later and there was more complexity to it, as if the cheese and pine nuts and olive oil all did their dance and merged together.  Of course basil is the star of this dish and always will be, the other ingredients are only to compliment and punch up with deliciousness of that ingredient which they totally did.

We will make a couple great dishes with this pesto, then I will take the remaining and freeze it into an ice cube tray. Why such small portions you ask? Well pesto, unlike marinara or alfredo sauces can be enjoyed in much smaller amounts - about the size of an ice cube is actually a service size for someone, that is unless you are of the biggie size generation, much like myself, an ice cube sounds so minuscule. I agree it does, but just try it, you will be pleasantly surprised and then your creation will be able to go much further and make appearances in many more dishes than you could have dreamed of!

Just to save you from searching again, the recipe is:
12 Cloves of garlic (although I thought 8 was better, 12 scared all the vampires, close friends, family and colleagues away)
4 C fresh basil
1/3 C pine nuts
1/2 C grated parmesan (i used the romano instead)
1/2 C olive oil (more if you prefer a different texture)
salt/pepper to taste (i didn't need any, the romano is very salty to me)


I got this awesome but simple recipe from Bruce Brennan, who is the author of Hippy Gourmet and has many cool videos on youtube (look him up!)

The final product >>>>>>>
Oh, I have so many delicious plans for this pretty!








Buon Appetite from the Mouse!

Friday, January 1, 2010

2010 New Years Day Good Luck Dinner


We just finished the most delectable good luck dinner to kick off our new year.  When we sat down to eat my fiance asked what made this a good luck meal.  Well for as long as I can remember this was a traditional meal that my mother made as well as her mother, I really did not know what made it so lucky.  I did a little searching around the web and found a few bits of information that I can share.  The traditional meal we made for tonight was pork and sauerkraut with mashed potatoes and green beans.  Apparently there are different meal traditions all over the world, it seems that this meal choice is more of a German descent than Irish (which is what I am).



These little cuties were made by Mr. Mouse and were absolutely delicious.  They were mini-rubens........yum!





This was another Mr. Mouse creation, it is a cheesy crab dip in a bread bowl.








The below was found at: 
http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/newyearsday/luckyfoods
check it out for the full article.


Cooked Greens
Cooked greens, including cabbage, collards, kale, and chard, are consumed at New Year's in different countries for a simple reason — their green leaves look like folded money, and are thus symbolic of economic fortune. The Danish eat stewed kale sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, the Germans consume sauerkraut (cabbage) while in the southern United States, collards are the green of choice. It's widely believed that the more greens one eats the larger one's fortune next year.
Legumes
Legumes including beans, peas, and lentils are also symbolic of money. Their small, seedlike appearance resembles coins that swell when cooked so they are consumed with financial rewards in mind. In Italy, it's customary to eat cotechino con lenticchie or sausages and green lentils, just after midnight—a particularly propitious meal because pork has it's own lucky associations. Germans also partner legumes and pork, usually lentil or split pea soup with sausage. In Brazil, the first meal of the New Year is usually lentil soup or lentils and rice, and in Japan, the osechi-ryori, a group of symbolic dishes eaten during the first three days of the new year, includes sweet black beans called kuro-mame.


In the Southern United States, it's traditional to eat black-eyed peas or cowpeas in a dish called hoppin' john. There are even those who believe in eating one pea for every day in the new year. This all traces back to the legend that during the Civil War, the town of Vicksburg, Virginia, ran out of food while under attack. The residents fortunately discovered black-eyed peas and the legume was thereafter considered lucky.
Pork
The custom of eating pork on New Year's is based on the idea that pigs symbolize progress. The animal pushes forward, rooting itself in the ground before moving. Roast suckling pig is served for New Year's in Cuba, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, and Austria—Austrians are also known to decorate the table with miniature pigs made of marzipan. Different pork dishes such as pig's feet are enjoyed in Sweden while Germans feast on roast pork and sausages. Pork is also consumed in Italy and the United States, where thanks to its rich fat content, it signifies wealth and prosperity.


What NOT to eat

In addition to the aforementioned lucky foods, there are also a few to avoid. Lobster, for instance, is a bad idea because they move backwards and could therefore lead to setbacks. Chicken is also discouraged because the bird scratches backwards, which could cause regret or dwelling on the past. Another theory warns against eating any winged fowl because good luck could fly away.
Now that you know what to eat, there's one more superstition—that is, guideline—to keep in mind. In Germany, it's customary to leave a little bit of each food on your plate past midnight to guarantee a stocked pantry in the New Year. Likewise in the Philippines, it's important to have food on the table at midnight. The conclusion? Eat as much lucky food as you can, just don't get too greedy—or the first place you'll be going in the new year is the gym.
After reading this I did a search to see what some Irish traditions may be, while I did not find anything specific to food, I did find a bunch of superstitions, some were kind of neat, other's just plain crazy.


http://www.irishfireside.com/enewsletter/1206/1206holidaytrad.htm  is the site to check out different holidays and their traditions.



New Year’s Eve
Like elsewhere, the Irish celebrate New Year’s Eve with gusto. Greeting cards are exchanged between friends. Homes are made clean and spotless. Fresh linens are laid and cellars stocked with coal and provisions with hope that the upcoming year will be blessed and plentiful. Tables are spread with delicacies and children are allowed to stay up until midnight. An old Irish custom is to open and close the front door at the last stroke of midnight allowing the “old” year out and the “new” year in.
New Year superstitions are many. If you truly want to avoid bad luck in the coming year, do as the Irish do and avoid any of the following on New Year’s Day:
  • Don’t wear shoes with a hole in them - or financial problems will remain with you the entire year
  • Don’t wear new clothes on this day
  • Don’t sweep the floor – or you’ll sweep a good friend away
  • Don’t do laundry - throwing out water on this day is considered to be unlucky
  • Don’t remove the ashes from the fire
  • Don’t let the fire in the hearth go out
  • Don't make deals - money made on New Years Day will bring bad luck
  • Don’t carry debts over into the New Year
  • Don’t pay bills on the first Monday of the New Year
With such a lengthy list of things not allowed on this day, it might be wise for one to stay in bed! But only AFTER you clean the chimney – for doing so will bring good luck, as will having the first visitor of the year (preferably a dark-haired man) bring a lump of coal to your home. However, beware a red-haired woman or someone whose eyebrows grow together as your first visitor – an omen that bad fortune will visit during the coming year.


Regardless of how you all chose to celebrate we wish you a happy healthy (luck filled) New Year!!!


Good Night 
~CM







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