the daily recipe

Test Tube Meat Nears Dinner Table - They are hopeing to grow artificial pork meat suitable for burgers, sausages and pizza toppings out of pig stem cells within the next few years.

Pink Floyd have been named the world's greatest rock act of all time by listeners of a British digital radio station. I have to agree wholeheartedly. But Planet Rock who carried out the poll says that Jimi Hendrix came 10th after Bon Jovi. That's a hot pile of steaming poo and might be the worst I have heard in music history...

Rock's greatest act? | Music | Breaking News 24/7 - NEWS.com.au (27-12-2005)

More than 150,000 people have been killed by the South Asian earthquake and tsunami and their aftereffects. Millions more remain without food, shelter, medicine and other necessities.

Almost three in 10 Americans say they have donated to victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia, according to an Associated Press poll taken as the private total begins to approach the amount given by the government.

Despite the outpouring, the amount still pales in comparison to the donations in the days following the Sept. 11 attacks. But much more is expected. Twenty-nine percent say they have given for tsunami aid; an additional 37 percent say they plan to.

Before the next big story comes along and the media jumps ship, make it a point to keep spreading the word to help and not to forget all those in need just because it stops appearing on our televisions and computers everyday.

Donation Links

AmeriCares Foundation South Asia Earthquake Relief Fund is delivering vital water purification systems and essential medicines to combat disease to the people most at risk.

Direct Relief International Tsunami Relief Fund is distributing emergency medical supplies and other health-related items to locally-run programs in South Asia.

American Red Cross Tsunami Relief and Recovery Efforts provides nutritious food, everyday supplies, basic healthcare and the support victims they need.

Clinton Foundation & UNICEF Tsunami Water and Sanitation Fund was funded to address the critical water and sanitation needs of children affected.

Long-term eating of lots of red and processed meat such as bacon and coldcuts may increase the risk of cancer in the colon and rectum, 20 year study says. I guess this may not be a groundbreaking finding for some of us.

Read the Articles on Google News



But this does reinforce some time-honoured nutritional advice from mom -- more fruits and veggies and less red meat is a recipe for good health.

Yes, it's fried pickles! It's friggen easy to make and it's fricken good! Gretchen thinks it would be good with 1000 Island dressing. Berger likes to dip it in horse radish to give it a kick but he has yet to taste it. All I need is a cold beer in a forsted mug.


the procedure
1. Combine flour, corn meal, and barbecue seasonning, and place in a medium bowl.
2. Make a slurry of mustard and beer in a separate medium bowl.
3. Dip the pickle slices in the mustard mixture and then in the flour-cornmeal mix.
4. Deep-fry at 325* in peanut or canola oil until the batter is browned.
5. The pickles will float to the top when done.

the formula
1 cup flour
1 cup of yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon barbecue seasoning
half cup prepared mustard
1/8 cup beer
20 to 30 dill pickle slices (deli slices, dill flavor)

We took a mini road trip to SF bay for a little NYE celebration. The road was wet on the way up and full of snow on the way back down. Fun trip that consisted of clubbing, dim sum, lots of driving, more eating and little bit of sight seeing.

Sam's Fougasse Bread

Easy and tasty. Hense the reason you can read it here on the daily recipe. The bread can be cut in to peices for an appetizer or in large pieces as a partner for cheese or grilled meat. Keep in mind that the dough must rise for 3 hours.


the procedure
1. In a large bowls sprinkle yeast over the water and stir with a fork to dissolve. Let is stand for 5 minuets. Whisk on 4 tablespoons of the olive oil. In a separate bowl stir together the bread flour, whole wheat flour and a teaspoon of salt. Add flour one cup at a time in to the yeast mixture, stirring well after each addition. When dough begins to come away from sides of bowl, turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in garlic and rosemary. Make sure to leave some rosemary for the topping. Continue kneading, adding more flour as necessary, until dough is shiny, elastic and no longer sticky. (Used to take me about 10 minuets by hand. If you have a mixer, check frequentley not to over nead)

2. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl. Spin and turn to coat all sides with oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set aside until dough triples in volume (about 2 hours).

3. Punch dough down and place in an oiled 9x13 inch baking sheet. Press and pat dough until it covers entire surface of the pan. Cover with a towel and let raise dough reaches top edge of sheet 9 (out 45 minuets).

4. Preheat oven to 400F. Just before baking, dimple dough with fingertips and drizzle surface with 2 table spoon of the olive oil. Sprinkle with the reaming .5 teaspoon rosemary and the reaming 2 teaspoon salt. Transfer to middle rack of oven, Put and empty backing dish on lower rack. Quickly pour 1 cup of boiling water into empty dish and close the door. Bake until bread is golden brown and well risen (20 to 25 minuets). Remove from pan and place on a rack. Brush top with the reaming 1-tablespoon oil. Cut in to squares and serve warm. Don't forget the olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping!

the formula
1 envelope active dry yeast
1.5 cups cool H2O (approx 75F)
7 table spoons of olive oil plus oil for greasing
3 cups bread flour, plus flour for kneading
.5 cups whole-wheat flour
4 teaspoons kosher slat
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
generous portions of minced fresh rosemary
* Makes one 9x13 inch flat bread.