Apparently, I am a shiny red lobster claw.
I'm makinga strata for brunch today. When I first started making these, I congratulated myself for being supercool because I was incorporating something from another culture, something that I didn't grow up eating, into my meal plan rotation. Now I congratulate myself for being superlazy because these are so easy and forgiving to make.
I don't really have a meal plan rotation. I just said that to give the impression that I still cook on a regular basis. Which I don't.
Anyway, if you've never made one, it is like a quiche without a crust but less puddingish and more cakelike. Everybody loves it.I guess for your first one, you should follow a recipe but the basic elements are these:
This dish is perfect for me because I have the talent for producing an attractive and delicious meal when faced with a larder that contains only an onion and some hot sauce. When I want to. Today I lucked out and found a plastic bag containing three small loaves of Italian bread that were mysteriously placed in the vegetable crisper. They were hard as a rock so I used them to make an onion-mushroom strata, except since I only slap in one layer of filling between the top and bottom layers of bread (sounds enticing, doesn't it?) instead of painstakingly layering smaller amounts of each, it's more of a singular strat, I guess. It doesn't matter! That is the beauty of it.
I do take care preparing the fillings. I caramelized the onions very slowly and then finished them off with some fresh thyme and 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. Sami would plotz if he knew about the vinegar, but I am the decider and that is how I make them and he loves them. A professional ethicist might deem this slightly less than honest but… end, means – you know. It all works out and no one is harmed. In a seperate pan, I sauteed portabella mushrooms in butter and garlic. Now do you want some?
A little cheddar cheese, a little parmesan and a custard made of three eggs and 1 1/2 cup of milk and were ready to go. You're supposed to let this sit for 24 hours after assembly so that the bread absorbs the custard, but if I neglect to plan ahead, which is always, I just cover the whole works with plastic wrap and weight it down with canned goods for an hour or so. I find that two Progresso soups, one blackeyed peas and a marzipan are ideal for this step.
This is the real reason that I like to make these. I get a secret thrill from knowing that this kind of situation is going in in my refrigerator, even if it only lasts for an hour. I like the texture of the finished dish better this way than the 24-hour sit method. This way, the bread absorbs all of the custard but doesn't lose it's structure and what you have is something cakelike in the end. If you make it the recipe-recommended way, it comes out more dense and .. I don't know, wet. Or thick. Or heavy. Something like that.
Anyway, you should google up some real recipes if you're interested in making one of these.
Pros:
Cons:
Now updated with images!
The smartest, sexiest, most fashionable, most in love first couple ever is coming to New York today on a big date. Plans include terrifying the citizenry with a low AF1 fly-by, taking in a Broadway play and calling room service at the Waldorf-Astoria for lobster and champaign.
I am so proud of my country! So proud that I was inspired to rework a famous song for Michelle.
Start spreading the news:
I'm brining my fork
to eat high-end shellfish in New York, New York.
These size 13 shoes
are coming your way.
We'll play the happy couple in New York, New York.
I want to wake up with Ol' Stinky, the Chrysler thief.
And find I'm most beautiful. Best mom-in-chief
A number one. Face like chopped beef.
These painted-on brows
are melting away.
I'm watching you with my small eye – you can't get away. You're gonna act like
a real husband in public view
And find your ass is on stage.
Can't make a move.
Call Desiree.
Tell her that you've
Been tied to my ass
on a big ticket date.
If she wants time alone with you,
she'll have to wait.
If we can fake it now, we can drain the U.S. cash cow.
It's up to you, New York media. New York media.
I
She's wearing a cocktail dress, an updo and party earrings and he's going to a Broadway show without a tie.
Sunday Photo Contest: Why is the most in-love first couple ever dressed for two entirely different events?
(a) haven't been married long enough to know they should dress in the same style
(b) left the tie at Desiree's
(c) didn't want to spoil The Bo Look of darkcoat/white chest
(d) no actual communication between them
Bonus Amusement Item:
In The Apple Doghouse: A peek into how the company scrutinizes iPhone apps.
Is there anyone who doubts that the rejection was based on those eyebrows? Offensive! Or maybe it was because they painted some boobs onto her.
This is the seaside restaurant where the fam took me for a nice birthday dinner yesterday. Really it is a lovely setting when the windows aren't streaked with rain
and the waves aren't violently crashing in the background. No wonder I was bummed out last night. It looks more like the opening scene of a murder mystery than a festive birthday dinner party.
Tomorrow is my birthday. I'm chewing an extra-strength TUMS and drinking tap water out of a plastic tiki mug.
Don't congratulate me.
This is my first birthday ever that I don't feel
happy, or at the least content. I am filled with dread. Because life, huh? Life.
MORNING UPDATE: I'm feeling a lot more optimistic today. I just checked my "Your Birthday Today" horoscope and it says, in part:
"It is a time when we need to let go of things that no longer serve
their purpose, and hold on to things that have a future. It is a time of
cleaning out dead wood, not necessarily for new beginnings."
This fits in perfectly with my secret plan of turning the old TV room into a den with a big desk so we can park our work laptops and piles of bills and valuable junk mail there. I can't do that until I clean out the wooden laundry racks that seem to have taken permanent residence there and let go of the wing back chairs from the parlor. Also the piano – can I get rid of that?
The horoscope also says that I'm ruled by Mars this year so look out. I would hate to have to get all war-like on your asses.
UPDATE 2: Bob Hope has fallen off the list of "Famous People Born on May 29" and has been replaced with Melissa Etheridge and Annette Bening. Ain't that a hell of a thing?
