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September 11, 2006
It's probably related to all the good eating I've been doing...
Sorry, sorry sorry. I do want to share blog-worthy anecdotes and such, but I'm not feeling very bloggish. I've also developed a physical ailment, so I'll use that as an excuse -- it's some sort of jaw or tooth or ear problem (possibly TMJ, which I've just read is "the most vague area in dentistry," hurrah!). I'm supposed to avoid bagels (oops) and yawning (how?) and press warm compresses on my face and eat half a bottle of Advil a day (since Advil tastes like candy, this last bit isn't hard at all). I hope this goes away soon.
Despite my ailing jaw or head or tooth or ear, we rode the G and 7 trains for five hours today to get ourselves to the U.S. Open, so we could meet up with my brother and take advantage of the $5 grounds passes. The only remaining tennis events included in the pass were the juniors and wheelchair finals (the main event, the men's final, was not included and is astronomically priced, but with this pass you can pretend that you're going). We mainly went so we could enjoy the day, watch any tennis we could, and picnic outside while watching the men's final on the big screens. D and I amused ourselves by counting brand-name polo shirts and sweaters tied at the neck. We also rooted for juniors doubles teams with slightly mismatched outfits. I'm actually very glad we went, since I enjoy watching tennis and the atmosphere at the Open is pleasant. I usually miss it every year because it coincides with trips upstate. I was glad to learn about this pseudo-attendance option (thanks, Nick!) -- the Tennis Center grounds are really nice, the tennis was good, and the preppiness of the scene is quite entertaining.
Since posting may continue to be lame and sporadic, here is a food-related offering. While eating at Little D last night (Little Dishes renamed because somebody owns the trademark for "Dishes"(!)), we had a lovely chocolate cake. I recognized it as very similar to something I made years ago -- Asian Five Spice Chocolate Cake from Epicurious. It's wonderfully dense and chocolatey and decadent. And if I can make it, anyone can. So go click on that and try it the next time you need a kitchen project.
(By they way, we had a lovely dinner at Little D. The specials -- a fresh pea soup and an heirloom tomato salad -- were lovely, and I liked the scallops. It's becoming a regular dinner spot of ours, despite my earlier doubts.)
Finally, I thought I probably wouldn't ever use the Honeydew Melon Lime Popsicle recipe that came in my Gourmet swag bag, but I had a super-ripe melon sitting on the counter the other day and some spare time, so I did. Pushing the blended melon, lime, and simple syrup mixture through a sieve wasn't fun, but the resulting pops were great (and really, that was the only annoying part of a pretty simple recipe). Since I ran out of popsicle holders (only four in the free mold), I poured the rest in an ice cube tray. When they were slightly frozen, I stick toothpicks in to make mini-melon-pops, and these have made great little snacks.
Posted by csageday at September 11, 2006 12:04 AM
Comments
Now I'm dying to invent an occasion to make five-spice chocolate cake.
Did you really do it just like they said and it worked? I get nervous these days when fluffing eggs and folding them in are concerned. I've never made flourless chocolate cake before, but I've always liked it, and with five spice? Must invent an occasion for it.
Posted by: Amber at September 11, 2006 03:28 PM
An easy and amazing warm chocolate cake (which is different from flourless, but I like it better) recipe is Nigella's Molten Chocolate Babycakes. They are individual and sooooo good. Here's a link http://www.nigella.com/recipes/recipe.asp?article=162
Posted by: jm at September 14, 2006 11:39 AM
Amber: It's been a few years, but I don't think the folding was a big deal. I just remember chopping up chocolate endlessly, which, come to think of it, probably wasn't all that necessary.
jm: Thanks for sharing -- those look yummy. I have questions, though -- is a pudding mold like a mini ramekin? cuz I have lots of those. And is baking paper parchment paper?
Posted by: Cindy at September 15, 2006 01:53 PM
If the Gourmet recipe is anything like the cake we ate, I can't wait to try it.
And just to brag: The melon-lime popsicles were awesome! I was so happy to be one of the tasters!
Posted by: Rose at September 17, 2006 09:45 PM
Yes, I use mini ramekins for making them. And baking paper is parchment paper.
Posted by: jm at September 20, 2006 04:50 PM