This “so simple it’s crazy” chicken dish is pure comfort food, baked to perfection if you like it juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
I used bone-in chicken thighs but you can use breasts, drumsticks or a mix thereof. Cooking with the bone-in tends to give it more flavour & helps retain moisture. If you like Southern fried, it tastes similar but without the breading & excess fat – a healthy alternative.
Place chicken on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Sprinkle chicken generously with garlic salt, dehydrated chopped onion (or onion salt) + white pepper on both sides. Rub it in, then put bay leaves over top. Pour fresh lemon juice & a little bit of extra-virgin olive oil on top & cover with thinly sliced lemons. Bake at 325 F for about 1 ½ – 2 hrs. or until crispy on the outside. Turn oven off & leave for up to ½ longer.
Inspiration for this delicious recipe came from a renowned urban diner in Chicago, namely the “White Palace Grill.” There are Diners and then there are Diners!
Open since 1939, The White Palace Grill might be the finest example of an urban diner in Chicago or anywhere else for that matter. It has managed to stick around while other businesses have come and gone.
In addition to an extensive lunch and dinner menu, the White Palace Grill serves up eggs practically any way you can think of 24 hours a day. The diner attracts city workers, policemen, firemen, business people, college students, politicians, the after hours club crowd and just about anybody. The mix of people is terrific and diverse. It is an urban oasis.
Just as a picture tells a story (if the walls could describe every patron who has walked into the place they could write a book), the White Palace Grill is a key part of Chicago history. If you need a break from “caramelized onions”, “infused” sauces and names of food you can’t pronounce then go over anytime 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened –Anatole France
Just the other day one of my dearest friends in the whole wide world lost her #1 best friend & dog Milo, after 13 loving years. This is for you, my SS#1 (between us) girlfriend! You were the bestest mom ever + Milo was one very lucky dog! Thinking of you…..
Pets are beloved members of the family and not “just a dog” or “just a cat.” When they die a part of us dies too and we feel a significant, even traumatic loss, given the intense bond most of us share with them. It’s natural to feel devastated by feelings of grief and sadness when a pet dies but never feel guilty or ashamed about grieving for an animal friend.
If you lived alone and the pet was your only companion, coming to terms with his loss can be even harder. If you were unable to afford expensive veterinary treatment to prolong the life of your pet you may even feel a profound sense of guilt. Like grief for humans, grief for animal companions can only be dealt with over time, but there are healthy ways to cope with the pain. Here are some suggestions:
Don’t let anyone tell you how to feel, and don’t tell yourself how to feel either. Your grief is your own, and no one else can tell you when it’s time to “move on” or “get over it.” Let yourself feel whatever you feel without embarrassment or judgment.
Create a legacy: Preparing a memorial, planting a tree in memory of your pet, compiling a photo album or scrapbook, or otherwise sharing the memories you enjoyed with your pet, can create a legacy to celebrate the life of your animal companion.
Look after yourself: The stress of losing a pet can quickly deplete your energy and emotional reserves. Looking after your physical and emotional needs will help you get through this difficult time. Eat a healthy diet, get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly to release endorphins and help boost your mood.
If you have other pets: try to maintain your normal routine. Surviving pets can also experience loss when a pet dies, or they may become distressed by your sorrow. Maintaining their daily routines, or even increasing exercise and play times, will not only benefit the surviving pets buy may also help to elevate your outlook too.
Remembering Milo
He was just THE BOY
Not a dog toy.
He was a human friend.
Brilliant & funny
Right to the end.
Milo was part of my Heart
That is now gone, but will never
be forgotten.
He brought us such Joy. Such happiness…
His Daddy will miss his co-pilot on drives across the country.
His Mommy. I’ll just miss My BOY.
– Angela Pucci
I was there 2 yrs. ago when Angie took this pic in Florida.
For Angie….remember it’s always better to have loved & lost an animal than never to have loved one at all.
Don’t Cry for Me When I’m Gone
So, though I give you all my heart
The time will come when we must depart
But all around you, you will see
Creatures that speak to you of me;
A tired horse, a hunted thing
A sparrow with a broken wing…
Pity – and help (I know you will)
And somehow, I will be with you still;
And I shall know, although I’m gone
The love I gave you lingers on.
– Anonymous-
Separate Lifetimes
We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own,
Live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps, we would still live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan….
Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade just as painting does, or music. If you are born knowing them, fine. If not, learn them. Then rearrange the rules to suit yourself – TrumanCapote
Better than a thousand holy words, is one word that brings peace – Buddha
And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. ~Sylvia Plath
Did you know that handwriting is becoming extinct?
That’s kind of a no-brainer with typing & texting being the norm. But apparently only handwriting primes the brain to respond to letters in a more literate way than typing or texting will. Evidence suggests that writing with a keyboard doesn’t engage your brain the way writing with pen and paper does; it’s more detached and abstract. That’s really bad news for me cause I’m left handed & writing is not only slow going but it’s also really messy.
So if you’re wondering where in the world I’m getting my information, it’s condensed from a recent article written (by hand no less) by Joanne Chen taken from the health section of “Martha Stewart Living.” As it turns out there’s more to life than just food, fashion & decorating. Read on (my comments in brackets)…
“We’re in a rush to digitize everything, as if fast and efficient are always positive things,” says Anne Mangen, a postdoctoral fellow at Oslo and Akershus University, in Norway, who has written (I’m wondering by hand?) extensively on handwriting and the brain. “It’s worrisome that there’s not enough awareness as to how movement can affect the mind” – whether it’s wielding a pen or thumbing through papers. Electronic devices swallow up every last opportunity for us to write with pen and paper, from to-do list apps (I want you to know I write all my to-do lists by hand) to calendars. Today, small children often know how to swipe a screen before they learn how to color (what a shame). Which leads one to wonder how the demise of handwriting will affect the way they, we, and future generations think, communicate, and remember: Will our brains ever be the same?
Michelle Dresbold
As easy as it is to mindlessly doodle your name, a lot actually happens in our brains as we write. A 2012 study at Indiana University used functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare two groups of preschoolers – one having learned letters and symbols by typing, the other by handwriting. The scans showed that the brains of the kids in the typing group didn’t distinguish between letters and shapes, but the brains of those in the handwriting group did. In short, children who learn letters by printing may have an easier time learning to read.
Clinicians have long suggested that writing by hand – notes, diaries, lists – is helpful to those with memory loss. In fact, when elderly subjects experiencing mind cognitive impairment took up Chinese calligraphy for eight weeks, their brain function improved, while those who didn’t got worse, according to a 2011 Clinical Interventions in Aging paper by Chinese researchers.
In short, when we write, we’re not only memorizing the letters on the paper but also the process and the experience of shaping them. Handwriting involves more movement than typing. What’s more, while word processing produces uniform letters on a screen that scrolls endlessly (and is way more legible than my handwriting), handwriting entails finite space and allows for variation in letter and word size and position.
As a result, you remember information not just because you’ve recorded the words, but also because once you have, you can envision where they’ve landed on the page and how big or small the text is. Handwriting is a visual special activity which might explain why you remember appointments better when you pen them on a calendar that when you type them into a smartphone.
Handwriting, more than typing, requires us to engage in activities that promote creativity – like slowing down and reflecting which are worthwhile whether you’re mapping out a thank-you note, a novel, or a sales presentation. Additionally, handwriting permits expression beyond a straight line, much like doodling, which, according to Sunni Brown, author of the forthcoming book, TheDoodleRevolution(Penguin Portfolio), can “turn on” the neurological networks responsible for imagination and discovery. Not to mention it’s a great form of personalized self-expression, considering how distinctive (or elaborate, or architectural, or sloppy) our scrawls can be.
The author says “there’s something satisfying about the sight of so many words, the feel of paper thinned a bit from all that ink – and the realization that something so old-school can still be fast and efficient. And I bet I remember most of what I wrote.”
On a further note:
Graphologists, who study and analyze handwriting say it’s because every stroke reveals a writer’s personality, mood, dislikes, and intent. Here are some hidden meanings in written words:
What does your Handwriting Say About You?
this is me – well it sounds good in writing!
Sentences that slope UP signal optimism; those that tilt down, depression, says Michelle Dresbold, author of Sex, Lies, and Handwriting(Free Press).
BIG characters suggest outgoingness, says Marc Seifer, author of “The Definitive Book of Handwriting Analysis” (Career Press). Curvaceous ones reveal a sensualpersonality.
When letters slant RIGHT, the writer is emotionally effusive; left, she’s emotionally withdrawn, according to Dresbold.
Dots above the i’s and crosses for t’s that run into the next letters signal impatience; if they run to the left, the writer is prone to procrastination, says Dreshold.
At le diner en Blanc we were fortunate enough to have Michael, our own private (well semi-private as it was for 16 people) chef. Or was he a cook? Everything was so impressively laid out & tasted so good that I automatically assumed he worked at a top Vancouver restaurant. Well as it turns out he just happens to have a passion for cooking but doesn’t do it for a living. So that in my opinion makes him a cook/chef. So, what’s the difference?
To most people, a cook and a chef are the same thing. The two terms are used interchangeably to indicate someone working away in the kitchen, regardless of whether that individual is cutting vegetables or masterminding the entire menu.
First course – prawn in mango & avocado compote. At diner en Blanc – Vancouver Science World. August 22, 2013. Approx. 2,500 people.
For those who work in the culinary field, however, there is a big difference. Although there is no single professional organization that determines exactly who is a chef and who is a cook, most agree that the difference lies in education and experience. If you have a culinary degree and/or trained under a notable chef and have moved up the ranks, you are typically considered a chef. If you simply dabble in the kitchen at home or are just starting out at the bottom of the restaurant totem pole, you are almost always considered a cook.
What Makes a Cook a Cook?
Most people agree that a cook is lower-ranking than a chef, and that chefs themselves vary in rank. For example, an executive chef is the top of the line, while sous chefs, chefs de partie, and other professionals might have the right training, but are still working toward their top professional goals.
If you still aren’t sure exactly what it is that makes a chef a chef, consider these qualifications:
Extensive training under a chef with the goal of gaining a culinary education equal to that of a degree (also known as a culinary apprenticeship)
Responsibilities that include a supervisory role
The ability to create and implement menus in a restaurant setting
Management roles in the kitchen
3rd course – poached figs & peaches with fois gras, roasted beets and brioche.
A cook, on the other hand, can expect to:
Prepare food on a daily basis
Perform kitchen duties, as needed and directed
Clean and wash the kitchen
Use recipes and follow someone else’s menu plan
Still be at the learning level of his or her career
There are some culinary institutions (including the American Culinary Federation) that offer designations and titles based on testing, work experience, and education. Although many organizations and restaurants recognize these distinctions (and will boost your career accordingly), they aren’t required to be a chef or to be successful in your own culinary career.
4th course – Dungeness Crab meat, Scallop, Ahi Tuna & Vegetables. *Course #5 (not shown) was dessert – petit fours & jello shooters (I grabbed some extra shooters).
In most cases, the cook is below the chef in terms of prestige, pay, and career development. However, there are instances in which this isn’t true. Many home cooks or amateurs have skills and experience that surpass that of their chef counterparts; they simply may not make claim to the title.
Famous Cooks vs. Famous Chefs
In fact, many of the celebrity chefs we have come to know and love as a culture aren’t really chefs at all. Rachel Ray and Nigella Lawson are two of the biggest names in the culinary and Hollywood world, but both women profess that they aren’t trained chefs…and have never pretended to be anything other than cooks. Self-trained, self-motivated, and never having worked in a long-term chef capacity (such as overseeing a restaurant), they are just two examples of cooks who have hit it big.
Simply follow these 10 tenets and thou shalt possess healthy, smooth, glowing skin for life.
Images – paperblog.com
1) Thou Shalt Always Use Sunscreen (yes, even in winter).
Of all the skin sins, going out unprotected is the worst. UV rays cause 90 percent of wrinkles, sun spots and other signs of aging. And although face lotions with sunscreen ward off burning UVB rays, not all fully shield you from UVA, the deeply penetrating light that ages skin. What to look for: If your skin is sensitive, zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are natural minerals with stellar UVA coverage; otherwise, you may want the longer-lasting protection of chemical-based SPF with UVA-blocking avobenzone or octocrylene.
2) Honor the Change of Seasons
Just as you swap sweaters for sundresses come summer, pull a switcheroo for skin care twice a year. What your complexion craves in warm weather (less oil! ample sunscreen!) is different from the TLC it requires in cooler temps.
A few months from now, dry winter air will rob moisture from your skin, says Marsha Gordon, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City for St. Ives. Stick with your daytime SPF-laced lotion, but also apply a rich cream or oil at night to keep skin soft & supple.
3) Leave no Skin Unbuffed
Your skin regenerates every 28 days on average, but this process slows down—even as early as your mid-20s,” says David Bank, M.D., a dermatologist in Mount Kisco, New York. Exfoliating removes dead cells lying on skin’s surface, revealing prettier skin. For face Use a finely ground scrub or a chemical exfoliant (alpha hydroxy, lactic or glycolic acid) up to three times a week after cleansing, Dr. Bank suggests.
For body The skin here is thicker than that on your face & neck —which means it can handle more intense scrubbing. Smooth skin every other day with a salt- or sugar-based body polish; they’re grainy enough to soften your roughest parts.
4) Love Thy Skin in the A.M. & P.M.
Your anti-aging plan should be a twice-a-day habit, like brushing your teeth. A consistent routine gives you healthier, younger-looking skin not only now but in 10, 20, even 30 years, says Jeffrey Dover, M.D., coauthor of The Youth Equation (Wiley). In the morning, use peptides, which lessen lines and improve texture (and won’t make skin sun-sensitive). Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum (approx. $25) is an inexpensive & apparently effective choice.
At night, reach for an over-the-counter retinol or prescription retinoid treatment to stimulate new collagen production and cell turnover and to lighten brown spots.
5) Give thy Body its Daily Moisturizer
The skin on your body has far fewer oil glands than your face (100 per ½-inch square versus 900), making it prone to flakes. Never miss a chance to hydrate.
A fast dry-skin fix Reach for a lotion with a gentle, low-dose chemical exfoliant such as lactic acid. Your long-term supple-skin plan Apply lotion to damp skin (to seal in water), wait for it to be absorbed, then top it off with a second layer. Body hydrators contain ingredients like jojoba oil and shea butter as well as sealants that coat skin, “so two back-to-back applications trap even more moisture into skin,” Dr. Bank says.
6) Covet thy Covers
“When you’re sleep-deprived, your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol,” says Marianna Blyumin-Karasik, M.D., a dermatologist in Miami. And excess cortisol has been linked to acne, as well as sensitive and dry skin. Follow these easy sleep-better tips tonight for more beautiful skin tomorrow—and beyond.
Your nightly TV lineup may keep you from tucking in the requisite seven to eight hours of shut-eye, resulting in a sleep debt, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia report. Set your DVR and try to watch late-airing shows early the next evening instead.
Cut back on caffeine. Research shows that even one cup of joe disturbs nighttime sleep in some people, leaving them more tired and reaching for more caffeine, creating a cycle of sleepiness—and coffee addiction!
7) Never (ever!) Pop or Touch Pimples.
“Your hands can transfer more breakout-inducing bacteria to the area,” Dr. Blyumin-Karasik says. “And most people squeeze too hard, causing trauma to skin.” Both of which mean your pip-squeak pimple may turn into a huge, inflamed cyst. Zap zits safely.
Got a lone blemish? Reduce redness with an OTC anti-inflammatory cortisone cream twice a day; banish bacteria with benzoyl peroxide nightly, says Diane Berson, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.
8) Treat the Body as thou Would thy Face
Unless you bundle up in a turtleneck and gloves year-round, the same damaging UV rays that shine on your face will hit your neck, chest and hands. “Yet most women act as if there’s a stop sign at their jaw,” says Dr. Dover, who advises rubbing skin treatments all the way down to your cleavage, then wiping the excess on your hands, too.
9)Get thee to a Gym
Aside from keeping you healthy, energized and slim, working out has specific benefits for your complexion. It increases circulation. When skin is supplied with enough blood, oxygen and nutrients, it’s able to bring its A-game and look smooth and healthy all the time. Wounds healed about 29 days faster among older adults who exercised than among those who were sedentary, research from The Ohio State University at Columbus finds.
It calms you (and skin) down. Exercise is a proven mood booster. Working up a sweat helps your body better regulate stress hormones linked to anxiety and depression, as well as acne, sensitivity and dryness. Incorporate a quick bout of cardio into your weekly workout routine to get happy—a 20-minute sweat session can improve mood for up to 12 hours, according to researchers at the University of Vermont in Burlington—and keep skin looking fresh, too.
10)Eat thy Fruits, Vegetables and Fish
New research suggests a healthy diet may fend off your skin’s top enemies. Phytochemicals and antioxidants (in leafy greens, carrots, tomatoes, etc.) and fatty acids from fish such as salmon allow your body to fight sun-induced damage. Low-glycemic foods (with fewer sugars) may prevent collagen breakdown by reducing cell inflammation and subsequent destruction of skin’s support structure.
Last week we covered wardrobe staples that are worth splurging on – things that will always be on trend. Then we have new Trends for this FALL. Well, not really new (as in nothing ever is) but things you’ll be seeing more and more of this Fall. This was taken from the Huffington Post.
1. Capes
A model walks the runway at the Valentino Autumn Winter 2013 fashion show during Paris Fashion Week . (Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images).
It’s difficult not to, but don’t fear capes – how can you, they’ve sustained themselves through the Victorian era, the 1940s, 1960s, and now, 2010s? They’re also versatile: as proven by Valentino’s winter white offering (which is beaded and calf-length) and Jill Stuart’s RTW classic black piece (which she paired with trousers and oxfords), a cape can carry you through the season and various events. Merely treat it as you would a coat, and remember that if your grandmother could do it when she was young, so can you — just like *Lily Allen (see lyrics below) and Kate Hudson did in 2010.
A model walks the runway at the Tommy Hilfiger Women’s Fall 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion at Park Avenue Armory in New York City. (Photo by Peter Michael Dills/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week).
2. Academically-Inspired
Back-to-school is synonymous with fall (obviously), but this time around, we grown-ups aren’t being left out. Case in point: collections by the likes of Tory Burch, who saw crisp button-ups layered underneath cardigans and worn with tweed pants. Meanwhile, the king of collegiate, Tommy Hilfiger, showcased a collection chalk-full of argyle suits, knit sweaters, and even a book print dress (though for the record, it’s tragically next-to-impossible to find online).
3. Over-The-Thigh Boots
Beyonce performs on stage during ‘The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour’ at the Barclays Center in New York. Beyonce wears a blue dress and boots by Pucci and hosiery by Capezio. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood Entertainment).
It’s been more than a few years since thigh-high boots re-introduced themselves, and this season is just another testament to their staying power. (Which makes sense – winter is cold, you guys, it’s okay to cover up.) On the celeb front, Heidi Klum recently donned a suede style in the spirit of Emilio Pucci’s collection, while Miley Cyrus has made headlines in hers. Though breathe easy, flat aficionados: you can wear a smaller heel or even a flat style if you’d rather not risk tumbling to your death like some of us would.
A model walks during the Temperley London’s RTW collection.
4. ‘60s Mod
The best kind of fashion lives forever, and adding to 2013’s eclectic nature is the season’s mod influence, which infuses capes, thigh-high boots (good news, us: it all ties in!) with bright colours (like Lisa Perry’s loud dresses) and Twiggy-inspired mini-dresses (as found in Temperley London’s RTW collection). But in addition to flipping through old fashion magazines and scrolling through Tumblr, you can also look to someone like Alexa Chung who’s been embracing the vintage vibe for many moons now.
5. Pleated Skirts
A model walks the runway at the Calvin Klein Autumn Winter 2013 fashion show during New York Fashion Week.. (Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images).
The vintage throwbackcontinues with pleated skirts which borrow from the ‘70s and early ‘80s with their high waists and pleats. Calvin Klein infused this look with the season’s leather trend (which we’ll get to imminently), while Celine did the same. However, earlier this year, Diana Argon showcased Marc Jacobs S/S take on the trend, opting for a floral pattern and ‘50s style which there’s still plenty of room left for as we ease into autumn.
A model walks the runway at the BCBG MAXAZRIA Autumn Winter 2013 fashion show during New York Fashion Week. (Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images).
6. Hats
Finally, fashion and function merge in the season we need them to the most. Tommy Hilfiger featured beanies in droves in his F/W collection, while BCBG Max Azria did the same, thus finally offering a reprieve from hatless-ness in freezing temperatures. (Yes, we’re concerned about the cold. We’re adults – this is how it works.) Meanwhile, styles like fedoras, bowler hats, and this also found places within the Fall 2013 landscape, thus making “hats” and all that the word embodies a go-to autumn trend.
7. Menswear Fabrics
Model Erin Wasson walks the runway during Chanel show as part of Paris Fashion Week Haute-Couture Fall/Winter 2013-2014 at Grand Palais on July 2, 2013 in Paris, France. (Photo by Michel Dufour/WireImage)
When we say academic, you say tweed (“academic!” – “tweed!” – “academic” – “tweed!”), so with an influx of collegiate-inspired styles, we probably all expected to see menswear fabrics and patterns in droves, as is the true autumn way. Chanel dressed up the fabric in their Haute Couture collection through skirts and suits, while Alice + Olivia ran with argyle and plaid. Not that any of this is new: in 2010, Claudia Schiffer kept on-point with an argyle V-neck, making us wish we’d kept our vests from high school.
8. Emerald Green
Actress Sofia Vergara attends 2013 CFDA FASHION AWARDS underwritten by Swarovski at Lincoln Center on June 3, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jennifer Graylock/Getty Images for Swarovski).
Declared the “it” colour of 2013 back in January, emerald green clearly stuck around for its F/W hurrah, appearing in collections by Phillip Lim, Pantone, and Carolina Herrera. This, of course, is after Emily Blunt wore it in 2012, and Sofia Vergara rocked the colour in June – thus ensuring that incorporating an emerald top, accessory, or a dress still gets a green light (eh?) this fall.
9. Oversized Coats
A model walks the runway at the Michael Kors Autumn Winter 2013 fashion show during New York Fashion Week. (Photo by Catwalking/Getty Images).
Where the rest of autumn sees fitted pieces, outwear remains at large. Following in the footsteps of capes are oversized jackets, which pay homage to the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. (Think of Kevin McAllister’s mom in the original “Home Alone.”) Designers like Michael Kors used the look to capitalize on the menswear trend, while Mulberry kept their pink jacket relatively fitted – much like Kate Bosworth’s boyfriend jacket from a couple seasons back which she paired with leather pants.
A model walks the runway during the Mulberry Ready to Wear Fall/Winter 2013-2014 show as part of the London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013/14. (Photo by Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images).
10. Leather (Not Just Accessories)
We all have leather gloves, leather footwear, and a leather coat (which you can pick up for next-to-nothing at thrift stores if a new model is too pricey), but what about leather … everything else? In the spirit of Ross Geller, designers have clung to the fabric in droves, with everyone from Chanel (see: the aforementioned leather skirt) to Vionnet (loose-fitting leather pants) to Mulberry capitalizing on the leather look. You can do the same: even a leather-embellished t-shirt makes a good wardrobe staple, and again, a thrifted leather car coat from the 1970s will keep you on-budget and autumn-ready.
Also trending NOW:
“THE FEAR” from Lily Allen‘s “It’s Not Me, It’s You” Album
I want to be rich and I want lots of money
I don’t care about clever, I don’t care about funny
I want loads of clothes and fuckloads of diamonds
I heard people die while they’re trying to find them
And I’ll take my clothes off and it will be shameless
Cause everyone knows that’s how you get famous.
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track, yeah I’m on to a winner.
I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore
And I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore
And when do you think it will all become clear?
Cause I’m being taken over by The Fear
Life’s about film stars and less about mothers
It’s all about fast cars and cussing each other
But it doesn’t matter cause I’m packing plastic
And that’s what makes my life so fucking fantastic
And I am a weapon of massive consumption
And it’s not my fault, it’s how I’m programmed to function
Forget about guns and forget ammunition
Cause I’m killing them all on my own little mission
Now I’m not a saint but I’m not a sinner
Now everything’s cool as long as I’m getting thinner
Grilled Eggplant (or aubergine as it is called in France) with Tomatoes, Basil & Feta.
This is a delicious side dish or a satisfying vegetarian main course. Serves 4
These strange, beautiful, glossy purple vegetables are truly unique. An eggplant’s taste is particularly hard to pinpoint, other than a satisfyingly sweet bitterness. Its texture is like a chameleon and can range from gooey to spongy to slippery. But it is one vegetable that has so much potential so if you work with it properly you’ll learn to love it.
1 large eggplant, trimmed, cut lengthwise into 1-inch thick pieces.
Course salt
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
2 cups cherry tomatoes (about 10 ounces), halved
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
Pinch of red-pepper flakes
1/4 cup packed fresh basil leaves, torn
1. Generously season eggplant slices with salt. Place vertically in a colander, overlapping them. Let stand 30 minutes, rinse and pat dry. (*Eggplants contain a lot of moisture, which can ruin any dish. The trick to not having a bad eggplant dish is to prep eggplants in advance, by sweating and draining its extra water content.)
2. Preheat grill to medium high. Liberally brush cut sides of eggplant with oil. Grill, turning once, until tender, about 4 minutes a side. Or if you prefer you can roast the eggplant.
Mix tomatoes, pine nuts, feta, red pepper flakes and oil. Season with salt. Spoon over eggplant and top with torn basil leaves.
*Every Italian grandma knows that you must remove excess water from an eggplant – they contain a lot of extra moisture. Doing so not only dramatically reduces unwanted wateriness in a dish, but it also enhances the true essence of the taste. By sweating out the additional moisture, you also remove some of that extra bitterness taste. This leaves the eggplant tasting more sweet and pure.
Health Benefits: In addition to featuring a host of vitamins and minerals, eggplants contain important phytonutrients, rich in phenolic antioxidant compounds.
As a side with salmon & thinly sliced yukon gold potatoes with malt vinegar sea salt.
A great breakfast accompaniment for a lazy weekend, especially in the summer, or in winter if you need a pick me up. Or for when you run out of orange juice. Open & serve in a champagne flute. Great taste – no waste. One serving per can. Comes four to a box.
Always nice to share.
Not available in Canada – except maybe Quebec where they’re more civilized.
A classic mimosa recipe calls for equal parts sparkling wine to orange juice. Use a dry sparkling wine, not sweet.
When you’re making a mimosa, always add the sparkling wine first, then top with orange juice. This way, the cocktail mixes together on its own and won’t make a sticky mess at the top of the glass. You don’t need to stir as this will cause the wine to become flat.
juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
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