Archive for June, 2011

Roasted Cauliflower Salad: Post-Catharsis Peace on a Plate

June 27, 2011

Sometimes it all gets a little bit much. And we’ve all felt that way. I have found, during these times, the drive towards catharsis escalates.

The Greeks define catharsis as the range of a “release of pent-up emotion or energy” to the human soul seeking to be purged of excessive passion. (Excessive passion! Isn’t passion by definition excessive? Its definitely NOT mellow and measured. Somehow, that makes it not….passionate.) I also like to think of catharsis as Bharat Muni defines it. The Indian sage “exhorted kings to spend some time outside of their ‘sanitized worlds’ and to participate in drama and theater activities, which would allow them to encounter emotions that were not part of their routine daily experience.” In a way, he deconstructs one of the Greek definitions — catharsis as something meant to be experienced by an audience, after witnessing tragedy on the stage. Tragedy removed, purging induced. On the other hand, Bharat Muni wants you to be on stage. Woah.

In the modern interpretation, this brings a whole lot of time-space continuum, mirror within a mirror conundrums. Because now you are feeling emotions from your real life and your cinema verite life. Interesting. (That’s a conversation over wine with the right crowd…and the right wine).

Brazen Bites 6.21: 2030 is the new 2012. Maybe there is such a thing as a free lunch. And other stories.

June 21, 2011

If I weren’t so lazy, I would consult AP Style on the best way to write that title. But does it really matter in the post-modern blog writing world? Does a Creative Commons License impute a creative license? And while we’re asking such existential questions, is there such a thing as a free lunch?

All you highrollers out there will say, “Yes! I get it all the time.” Then I’ll say, “Really? Really.” And after some thought you’ll say, well, maybe not.

Yes, that highroller comp strategy is nothing new. Saloons in the late 19^th century actually practiced it to encourage high-margin liquor sales. The lunch was the lure to liquor. The way to the well. The link to the drink. You get the idea. Hence, “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.”

But before you Friedman fans start rejoicing, maybe its not always true. Maybe, just maybe sometimes, Virginia, there is such a thing as a free lunch! Really? Really.

Cool as a Cucumber

June 17, 2011

Kick me for the cliche. My writing teacher would circle it and write C-L-I-C-H-E in big red letters. My writer friends would flinch. Groupon will never hire me. But its late and I want to post this before I go to bed. It was either that or “In a Pickle”. Not much better. I thought the choice was more reflective of my week. Work was anti-perspirant commercial worthy. I don’t watch TV now* but when I was growing up I felt like they all ran to an “Under Pressure” soundtrack. But I kept it cool. Cool as a….I’ll spare you.

Persephone’s Revenge

June 12, 2011

We’ve all had our revenge fantasies. From the “involuntary” schadenfreude to the out and out Sesame Street-style “what would happen if I pop this balloon..?” But the best revenge is always the sweet kind. Which brings me to this cake. I can only think of Persephone as she comes back from the Underworld, ushering in Spring.

It’s the happiest cake I know. It’s just Bursting. That’s right auto-correct. With a capital B. It makes you want to sing. Makes you want to take down your grandma’s curtains, make clothes out of them, run out to the fields and make like that scene in The Sound of Music.

The hills are alive! Take that Hades. Persephone is in the house. (Let’s forget for a moment that Persephone had the worst ever case of The Stockholm Syndrome that puts Patty Hearst to shame.)

This cake is what would have been served on the day Hermes found her. Citrusy. Shiny. Sweet. Colorful. Spring in a springform pan. A fresh orange cake with poppy seeds dripping with a raspberry maple glaze (it was, after all, Persephone’s ruby-stained lips that gave away the fact that after that time on the dark side, er, she ain’t what she used to be).

And because it is an homage to The Queen, we must crown the confection with edible flowers.

Slowfood Cooking Demo @ Farmers at the Firehouse

June 5, 2011

Cookito Ergo Saxum. I cook therefore I rock. Descartes be damned.

It was Friday night, I was baking two orange poppy seed cakes to a Girl Talk soundtrack. I think its the happiest cake in the world.

Funny how the brain works. I must have absolute silence when I’m writing or reading. But when I’m working with my hands, and tasting things, anything ultra-sensory, I have to have music. Must. have. music. Its sensory amplification.

But I digress.

Saturday was summer morning at its finest in Pittsburgh and I had the privilege of wielding my knife at the chef’s table at Slow Food Pittsburgh’s Farmers at the Firehouse.

Pittsburgh’s Local Food Movement on Our Region’s Business

June 3, 2011

Bill Flanagan takes a moment to chat with me and Leah Smith of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) on the region’s local food movement.

Archive for June, 2011

Roasted Cauliflower Salad: Post-Catharsis Peace on a Plate

Brazen Bites 6.21: 2030 is the new 2012. Maybe there is such a thing as a free lunch. And other stories.

Cool as a Cucumber

Persephone’s Revenge

Slowfood Cooking Demo @ Farmers at the Firehouse

Pittsburgh’s Local Food Movement on Our Region’s Business

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