Administrativia

Cake: 1/2 cup sliced almonds 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed 3/4 cup granulated sugar 4 eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract 1/2 teaspoon imitation rum extract 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup eggnog Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 10-inch bundt or tube pan. Sprinkle the almonds into the bottom of the prepared pan. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add almond and rum extracts; mix well. In a medium bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture, alternately with eggnog; mix well. Pour into prepared pan. Smooth top. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean. Cool in pan for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes have elapsed, remo...

This week: Lemon Rice Pilaf A 'pilaf' is a grain dish that first browns the grain (in this case rice) before cooking it in a seasoned broth. 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon butter 1 large shallot, finely minced 1 1/2 cups long grain rice (such as basmati) 1/2 cup dry white wine A few sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped and chopped (about 1 tablespoon) 2 cups chicken stock 1 cup water freshly ground pepper 1 lemon, zested 1 handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped toasted slivered almonds, for garnish (optional) Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add oil and butter and shallots to pan, sauté shallots for 2 minutes. Add rice and lightly brown for 4 to 7 minutes. Add the wine and allow it to evaporate completely, 1 to 2 minutes. Add thyme, chicken broth and water to pan, bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork and stir in the lemon zest and parsley and top with sliver...

Need a recipe to take care of the leftovers? Try this one... it's on the rich side, which makes it look less like leftovers and more like a really nice (and planned) meal. Turkey Tetrazzini 6 tablespoons butter 1/2 pound mushrooms thinly sliced 1 tablespoon Madeira 4 tablespoons flour 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 to 3 cups leftover cooked turkey (diced @ 3/4" cubes) 1/2 pound linguine cooked to al dente stage 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese mixed with 2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs Salt and freshly ground black pepper Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a skillet. When the foaming subsides, add the mushrooms and saute, over high heat for 2 to 3 minutes until the mushrooms have absorbed the butter and are tender. Stir in the Madeira and evaporate over high heat. In another saucepan heat 3 tablespoons of butter. When foaming subsides, stir in the flour and cook for a minute. Whisk in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cook, over low heat, for ab...

From the British Film Institute -- filmed in 1898.

Epilogue to Misplaced Metaphors -- Patron: I see you've fixed the tree. Where did you find a top? Bartender: It was there all along. It was loose and fell in. Patron: Not that rare an occurance in these parts.

From Time's Swampland Blog , Michael Scherer lays out how Obama's positions re: GLBT rights will be frustrating to those who don't believe that separately equal works. "Radically pragmatic" is how he labels this incremental approach -- and to some there is a certain appeal to embracing a more evolutionary path. The problem with this approach is the assumption that fundamental rights and equal treatment can somehow be handled in some sort of cafeteria model -- out of this one? choose another. Sacrifice this one, to get that one... and eventually the arc of history will catch up. Certainly a less costly approach to those who eschew living up to the Constitutional guarantees of equal rights -- those who already enjoy full citizenship can take their time in getting to that emotional comfort spot that tells them it's okay to "let the gays be equal now"... as if they (and not the Creator as invoked by Jefferson) are the source of those inalienable righ...

Ginger Snaps An easy and quick holiday treat... 1 cup sugar 3/4 cup margarine or unsalted butter 1 egg 4 tablespoons dark molasses 2 cups flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons ginger 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon cloves Preheat oven to 375°F. Sift dry ingredients together. Cream together margarine and sugar. Beat in egg. Add molasses; add dry ingredients. Mix well. Roll in small 1 -1 1/2 inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar and place on ungreased or parchment lined cookie sheets about 2 - 3 inches apart. Bake 8 - 10 minutes.