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May 25, 2008
Pistachio Mixed Herb Pesto
Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2003
Show: Good Eats
Episode: Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut
1/2 to 1 clove garlic, peeled
2 cups packed flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons fresh lemon thyme leaves
2 tablespoons fresh tarragon leaves
1 tablespoon fresh sage leaves
1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
3/4 cup roasted pistachios
Salt and pepper
2/3 cup olive oil
Into a blender with the motor running, add the garlic and pulse until finely chopped. Add all of the herbs, cheese, pistachios, salt, and pepper to the blender, and blend until finely chopped. With the blender running, add the olive oil in a steady stream until the mixture becomes creamy and emulsified.
Serve over pasta or use as topping for bruschetta.
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Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi
Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2003
Show: Good Eats
Episode: Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut
5 ounces (about 1 1/4 cups) coarsely ground, roasted macadamia nuts
1/2 cup panko (Japanese-style bread crumbs)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup butter, melted
Vegetable oil, for brushing foil
4 (6 to 8-ounce) mahi mahi fillets
Kosher salt and pepper
2 tablespoons coconut milk
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In a medium bowl, stir together the nuts, panko, flour, and butter. Set aside.
Place a piece of aluminum foil on a baking sheet and brush it liberally with vegetable oil. Place the mahi mahi on the foil and sprinkle each fillet with salt and pepper on both sides. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush each fillet with the coconut milk. Divide the nut mixture among the tops of the 4 fillets, patting the mixture to spread and adhere to the fillets. Return to the oven and bake for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to stand 10 minutes before serving.
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Macadamia Nut Crust
Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2003
Show: Good Eats
Episode: Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut
5 ounces (approximately 1 1/4 cups) roasted macadamia nuts, ground
1/2 cup panko (Japanese-style bread crumbs)
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, melted
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the nuts, panko, sugar, flour, and salt. Add the melted butter and stir to combine.
Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9 or 10-inch cake, pie, or springform pan as a crust for a cheesecake or cream pie. Bake according to instructions for cheesecake or pie. If baking for a precooked pie filling, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place on the center rack of the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes
Posted by renh at 03:43 PM | Comments (0)
May 22, 2008
subpoena
subpoena: a legal writ requiring the person named in it to appear in court.
Posted by renh at 05:22 PM | Comments (0)
May 20, 2008
disparate: Completely distinct in kind or quality
Posted by renh at 09:01 AM | Comments (0)
May 19, 2008
smoothie
Yummy Wake-Up Smoothie
Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse
Show: The Essence of Emeril
Episode: Cooking with Kids
1 large ripe banana, peeled and sliced
1 cup hulled strawberries
1/2 cup raspberries, or peeled and sliced kiwi (about 2)
1 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
Place all the ingredients in the blender and process on high speed until smooth, about 30 to 45 seconds.
Pour into glasses and serve.
Posted by renh at 04:54 PM | Comments (0)
May 18, 2008
1. the diving bell and the butterfly
It's good and artsy, not overwhelmingly sentimental. I kinda like his humor and how candid he described his feeling.
2. the other boleyn girl
Based on a history fiction, it is good. I was moved to tears at the ending part. Good performance delivered by the actors. I am very interested in the Tudor era.
Posted by renh at 03:34 PM | Comments (0)
Re: cookie
kitchen sink cookies still are a little too sweet. Cut down the sugar part.
Emeril's oatmeal cookies are good. I made the changes based the reviews from FN. 1) add half cup flour and half cup oatmeal; 2) cut sugar down to half cup each; 3) use half a stick of butter, half cup of oil and one cup of apple sauce; 4) use 1 cup of currant instead of raisins.
Posted by renh at 03:30 PM | Comments (0)
May 16, 2008
magnolia soul
Let the good times roll, the bad times gone
The sun gonna shine, so get on your feet
Let the good times roll, the sad times gone
Let the good times roll pretty mama
Can't stop magnolia soul
Dear Magnolia, What's crackin?
Been a long time since I last saw your face
Never forgot the day out in the sticks
I saw your crescent smiling place
All the way from uptown-downtown-lakeside to river
Heard “W' don't care about them
Gotta watch who you make your friend
Otherwise people come through and backstab you again
Just some advise to live, three times I've been
Through the dark, true light will win
And they say that this the end
But we're fixin to make them saints march on again
A light little hurricane called, but she came
Officials new the deal, when they didn't do a thing
New her every move, yeah Katrina was her name
Had the whole game in the palm of his aim
Hand in the pot caught cold and old
Should've fixed the damn levies long time ago
Yeah we didn't take the chance to do it
Pretty happy old Prez and the mayor,
folks wad dying too
Gang members at the Superdome, we in the heat
Folks in wheelchairs, feet swoll, nothing to eat
So to the kids and families that lost, I rhyme for
Mangolia clap, show the world your soul
So everybody clap your hands
Just step into the “cela' band
Keep stomping to the Zulu drum
You can't stop this native son
Let the good times roll
Pretty Mama, can't stop Magnolia Soul
Posted by renh at 04:42 PM | Comments (0)
May 13, 2008
It is indeed very sad news. I am particularly concerned about the students trapped underneath the rubble and their devastated parents. Growing up under the single-child policy, I understand what the single child means to the parents and the grandparents. Especially, in traditional Chinese culture, the parents would count on the kids to take care of them when they get old. This is very different from the western culture.
I am satisfied with the Chinese government's rescue efforts. I am happy to see China is willing to accept foreign aid. One thing I felt could improve dramatically is the tech division. First, it is absolutely a disaster that the school building collapsed and over 900 students were trapped inside. The building collapsed in the middle with only the two stair paths stand on each end. from the picture, another building, which looks like an apartment building, stood very close to this one, yet was intact. I think the reason could be the school building needs to have big classrooms, therefore it doesn't have enough mechanical supporting elements per square feet. I remember the classrooms used to be big and empty (ie no arches/poles or beams/columns). This flaw might need more attention in the future. Second, there was no forecast. I understand it is rather difficult to predict the earthquake. After the quake, there wasn't enough media coverage about the seismological or geological facts. I read the article on the chinese seismological bureau, and they still didn't know what exactly was the cause. In order to prevent future tragedy, the data need to be collected and analyzed. Moreover, the spreading of the rumors can not be stopped until the facts are clear. Since it is known where the quake hot spots/belts are located, maybe it is possible to set up some surveillance system around the country, esp given the fact that a lot of the densely populated municipals are located in the "dangerous zone". Maybe more investment in science and research is needed in the future.
I also did a bit research. I was startle to find a county near my hometown had 3 mid-sized quakes within 77 days this year, and the city is located on the edge of one of the active zones in China.
Posted by renh at 04:17 PM | Comments (0)
May 12, 2008
kitchen sink cookie
Kitchen Sink Cookies
Copyright 2007, Ellie Krieger, All rights reserved
Show: Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger
Episode: Secret Weapons
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup applesauce
1 egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup chopped dried cherries
1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
1/4 cup lightly toasted walnuts
2 ounces dark chocolate, cut into chunks
Cooking spray
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Combine butter, oil and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on high speed, stopping occasionally to scrape down bowl, until mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add applesauce, egg white and vanilla and mix to combine. Add flour, oatmeal, salt and cinnamon and mix just until just combined. Add cherries, apricots, walnuts and chocolate and mix to combine.
Spray 1 baking sheet with cooking spray. Using 1 tablespoon cookie dough at a time, roll into balls and place 2-inches apart on baking sheet. Press cookies down with the palm of your hand to flatten slightly, as cookies will not spread as much as cookies with more butter. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until lightly browned but still soft. Remove from oven and cool on racks.
Recipe Analysis Note: Ingredients without discrete measurements such as "Salt, to taste" or "Ice cream, optional" are omitted from analysis. This is because amounts can be highly variable and difficult to determine.
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Twisted Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Recipe courtesy D.J. Dykes
Show: Emeril Live
Episode: Emeril's Cookie Contest
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 cups white sugar
3/4 brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups oatmeal
1 teaspoon hot water
1 cup raisins
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a cookie sheet.
First, add the butter and sugars into a mixing bowl and cream with mixer. Add the eggs and mix well. With a large spoon mix in the flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, and the oatmeal, mix well.
Add the water, raisins, and vanilla. Flour a workspace and with a rolling pin or your hands make a "snake" with the dough and cut it into several pieces or in a pretzel shape. Place on the prepared cookie sheet.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes (depending on how thick you snakes are). Let them sit and cool on the stove.
Serve on a plate and a glass of milk; garnish with something that you can BAM! with.
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Couscous with Pine Nuts
2006, Barefoot Contessa at Home, All Rights Reserved
Show: Barefoot Contessa
Episode: Friends of Friends
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
3/4 cup chopped shallots (3 to 4 shallots)
3 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups couscous
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts (pignolis)
1/4 cup dried currants
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the shallots and cook them over medium-low heat for 3 minutes, until translucent. Add the chicken stock, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat. Stir in the couscous, cover the pan, and set aside for 10 minutes. Add the pine nuts, currants, and parsley and fluff with a fork to combine. Serve hot.
Posted by renh at 10:57 PM | Comments (0)
seismology: The science that deals with earthquakes and the mechanical properties of the earth.
Posted by renh at 12:14 PM | Comments (0)
May 02, 2008
Sugar Free Vegan cookie
sugar-free vegan cookie, sounds intimidating? well, I'll give it a try.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Authored By: Polly Pitchford, Full Spectrum Health™
Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 cup natural malt sweetened chocolate chips or Carob chips
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup applesauce
1 teapsoon vanilla
Serves: 12
Cooking Time: Any
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, oats, salt, and baking soda. Stir in the walnuts and chocolate chips. In another bowl, mix the syrup, oil, applesauce, vanilla, and water. Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients just until the flour is absorbed. The batter will be fairly thick. Drop by heaping teaspoons onto 2 non-stick cookie sheets about 1" apart. Flatten with your fingers to a thickness of about 1/4" Bake until lightly browned on the bottom, about 12-15 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Carob chips are used in the nutrition analysis.
Posted by renh at 02:16 PM | Comments (0)
May 01, 2008
april
date cal %fat max avg % %
4.1 542 40 183 143 95 74
4.7 480 45 172 139 89 72
4.14 415 45 186 135 96 70
4.26 448 45 191 143 99 74
4.27 371 55 159 120 82 62
Posted by renh at 09:43 AM | Comments (0)
violet hill
coldplay is giving out free copy of their new single.
go to their website, and you can obtain a link to download it.
I am not very impressed with this song.
Posted by renh at 09:38 AM | Comments (0)