11.22.2006

ComingSoon.



Scoured the whole of the United States looking for the TASTY Pizza pie.

The results coming soon.

11.15.2006

11.11.2006

Mini Pumpkin Pies




Pâte Brisée:

1 1/4 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp. granulated white sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/8 to 1/4 cup ice water

Combine all dry ingredients together. Work in butter. Slowly incorporate ice water. Roll into a ball, cover, and place in fridgedaire for 30 minutes. Grease pie molds. Roll out dough. Place in molds. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 F. Remove from oven. Allow to cool. Pour in pumpkin filling.

Pumpkin Pie Filling:

(Mix all ingredients together in a blender, or manually in a bowl)

3 eggs

1, 15 oz. can of pure pumpkin

1/2 cup 35% cream (or evaporated milk)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/8 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp salt

Bake pies at 350 F for 20-30 minutes. Ready when you pass a knife into filling and it comes out clean. Allow to cool. Serve with whipped cream.

GasTronomiC suiCide


Marco Ferreri made "La Grande Bouffe" (The Big Dinner/Meal) in 1973. It's a Franco-Italian production that includes some of the best from both worlds: Marcello Mastroianni, Philippe Noiret, polenta and crêpes suzette. The story goes...four friends lock themselves away in the villa of an aristocratic, vieux-garçon (played by Philippe Noiret) to eat until the death. They eat and eat and eat and eat and eat and eat and eat and eat; become lonesome; invite some ladies to their table; eat some more; and then, dip into some serious debauchery. Even though Fauchon prepared the dishes for this film, all I wanted to eat by the end was some be bim bop. As you may well imagine, there's quite a bit of social commentary running throughout this cinematic number, including, but not limited to the ever so famous saying: You are what you eat.

11.08.2006

Umrao Jaan




I sat and cried with fifty or so women at the premiere of J.P Dutta's rendition of Mirza Hadi Ruswa's epic tale of the Lucknow courtesan, Umrao Jaan, last night. The theme song (Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya) says: "Oh God. What did I do? Please do not let me come back as a daughter, again." Umrao Jaan is the distant cousin of Gaspara Stampa. It's a sumptuous production: the costumes, dances and music are...wheww...incredible. I've had the soundtrack on repeat since 8 o'clock this morning.

Rime d'Amore XLIII

Dura è la stella mia, maggior durezza
è quella del mio conte: egli mi fugge,
i' seguo lui; altri per me si strugge,
i' non posso mirar altra bellezza.
Odio chi m'ama, ed amo chi mi sprezza:
verso chi m'è umìle il mio cor rugge,
e son umìl con chi mia speme adugge;
a così stranio cibo ho l'alma avezza.
Egli ognor dà cagione a novo sdegno,
essi mi cercan dar conforto e pace;
i' lasso questi, ed a quell'un m'attegno.
Così ne la tua scola, Amor, si face
sempre il contrario di quel ch'egli è degno:
l'umìl si sprezza, e l'empio si compiace.

- Gaspara Stampa

And now, a word or two on movie snacks in India:

They sell everything from Pizzas and burgers to Indian snacks - dahi vada, chaat, papri chaat, lasagna, rolls (you know, kebabs wrapped in a paratha). These are at the multiplexes. The standalones (a dying breed) have things like jhaal muri (spicy/hot puffed rice with onions etc), the snacky stuff like chaat etc.

- S. Sen, Calcutta, India

11.01.2006

DoMesTiC BliSS



Domestic bliss is a Kitchen Aid stand mixer. This isn't the souped up version (that one is a jaw-dropping $545.00) but it will still respond to the command of "bippty boppity boo." And did I mention that you can get one in any color that falls within the visible spectrum?