I'm bored. Not channel surfing bored. Like what isn't nailed down in the kitchen is going into my mouth bored. My Mae made a massive pot of green curry with chicken and fish cakes. Like cauldron big. Like big enough to feed every resident of my Mae's home village in Thailand, plus all of their children and grandchildren. She used these huge Costco sized industrial cans of coconut milk and bamboo shoots. Except I don't think Costco has a Thai aisle. But I could be wrong.
The trouble with being bored in my house is that we only have Thai satellite TV. I can't really cook either. Despite the fact that my Mae made a huge cauldron of coconut curry, she serves it peppered with guilt-ridden commentary like, "Lots of cholesterol, so don't eat too much of the sauce" or "Only once in a while, I guess it's okay". So I can't make any of the things that seem so appealing at Christmas -- cookies, pies and the like. Also, it's 70 degrees outside, and it really doesn't feel like Christmas now that I've been spending Christmas in the colder climes. I only brought one book (Augusten Burrough's Running With Scissors) and I already finished it. And I'm here til the 31st. Seriously, what am I going to do til then?
Last night's latkes were perfection -- russet potatoes, squeeze all the moisture out, and in a latke-experienced friend's words, "Don't be chintzy with the oil." Also perfection was the Jim Lahey no-knead bread -- if you haven't tried it, you must. Luisa the Wednesday Chef has the recipe up so you don't have to pay the Times for the archived article. My personal notes: up the salt to 1 3/4 tsp., lower the water to 1 1/2 cups, if you're going to use the well-floured towel, let it be a tightly woven 1 ply, not the double layer cheesecloth that wound up stuck with 1/4 of my first attempt, a smaller casserole dish makes for a better shaped loaf. I want to experiment with flavorings next -- golden raisins and fennel, cheese bits and bobs, yuzu pepper, etc. I also want to try a silpat instead of the well-floured towel or tricky plastic wrap I used on the second attempt.
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Got any suggestions on what to do? I've run out of people to text message.
Maybe find an excuse to break through your mother's admonitions to that you can cook/bake something. For me, the answer would be going to the gym. Intense chores around the house might also work and get extra points with mae. I know it sounds painful, but remember: live to eat!
Oh yes..that bread is amazing. After making about 2 dozen loaves, I have a few suggestions. Try the second rise in a smallish skillet dusted with wheat bran. It's so much easier to flip the dough into the screaming hot pan when you have that handle to hold on to. And the wheat bran is much less messy than flour. I also use a small baking dish...a 2 1/2 qt. ceramic souffle dish for a small high loaf. It's just so addictive!!
Excellent idea, Carol! I have to go pick up some wheat bran. I have to admit that I'm not much of a baker, but this bread makes me want to become one. How lovely to have fresh bread all the time, made to one's exact specifications.
you could go on a porcine tour of la:
http://www.laist.com/archives/2006/12/22/jonathan_golds_top_12_manifold_gifts_of_the_pig.php
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Got any suggestions on what to do? I've run out of people to text message. "
think about somebody you love, will love, would like to love.
long as love and attractive geography is involved.
that should eat up the odd half-hour or so.
I forgot to mention that I don't drive. This is a big problem in L.A., as you can all imagine.
hi ganda, so you're back in town. i'm glad you get to spend it with family. i wouldn't know what to do with myself either if i wasn't at home and didn't have a car. uh... get someone to take you to the bookstore. sudoku puzzles can keep me amused for hours. make a list of songs to download. think about new year resolutions, if you make them...