A Recipe For Books!!!

For those of you who know me, know that I am a voracious reader. I loveloveLOVE to read. I rarely let a day go by that I don't spend some of my day buried in a book. I prefer the old school kind of book. I find the idea of running my finger across the screen to turn the "page" extremely unsavory.

I am a bit obsessive and get on a kick and read everything I can get my hands on in a particular genre. Right now I am on my 6th book written about or between the late first century to the 4th century. It never gets old. Those Romans are insane! Last summer was the summer of Shakespeare (I read 12 plays back to back) followed by a fall of 14th century writers (Boccaccio, Chaucer, Alighieri). I jump around for no rhyme or reason. Sometimes it is not the period, but the style. I had a dark moment where I read every Bukowski and Fante book available. It was this time that my daughter tricked me into reading the Twilight series! Not really. My daughter wanted to "discuss" the book with me!! How could I turn her down. I will be honest, not a literary masterpiece (Some Bronte watered way way WAY down), but a great story. Read all four in 6 days. It was the literary shower I needed after spending all that time with Bukowski.

About 10 years ago, someone gave me the book Barrel Fever by David Sedaris. I roared while reading in bed to John's annoyance. "Steph, pu-lease. It cannot be that funny." It was. I immediately ran out a purchased every book he had written. I eagerly waited for his next book to arrive. My impatience led me to Augusten Burroughs (which never satisfied me). I loved Mr. Sedaris' audio books (that voice!), his spots on This American Life, and his pieces in the New Yorker. One of my favorites has always been Holidays On Ice. The point in Mr. Sedaris' life where he worked as an elf at Macy's during the Christmas holidays. His humor was so raw and exposing. I admire his courage.

So, today I decided to give you my recipe for the perfect holiday gifts for your own Book Worm!!

1. Holidays On Ice by David Sedaris. Trust me, this hilarious account of Mr. Sedaris and his family during the holidays is simply one of the best books ever. Well, if you don't include his other Books.
2. Full Woman, Fleshly Apple, Hot Moon by Pablo Neruda. This a book of poems that touch on love, on food and life. It is playful and exciting. His rhythm is soothing.
3. The Complete Stories by Flannery O'Connor. A short story master. No one highlights the light and the dark like Ms. O'Connor. Love the short story.
4. A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. Truly magical. I recommend the Barnes and Noble version if you dipping your toe into this pool for the first time. These versions are fantastic and make the reading easy to reference.
5. Selected Letters by Vanessa Bell. Vanessa Bell was Virginia Woolf's sister and part of the Bloomsbury Group. She was an artist and her letters to Virginia Woolf, Lytton Strachey, Duncan Grant and Roger Fry are a fascinating insight to the time and their social circle's reality.
6. The Progress of Love by Alice Munro. Sad and beautiful and shocking. Short stories that are thoughtful and spectacular.
7. Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan. The only Italian cookbook you will every need. Trust.
8. The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found by Mary Beard. For you non fiction lovers out there. A spectacular book on Pompeii and the culture of ancient Rome. Could not put it down.
9. Mindfucking: A Critique of Mental Manipulation by Colin McGin. A small book by an amazing thinker. Forgive the profanity, this is not a profane book. It is a beautiful and thoughtful exercise, whether you agree or not, in the act of mental manipulation. I enjoy his writing.
10. Ghost Wings by Barbara M. Joosse and illustrated by Giselle Potter. I wanted to include just one children's book. My kids are long out of picture story books, but this is one that we still read. It is the story of the death of girl's abuela and it's subsequent emotions. It touches on the Day of the Dead and the migration of Mexico's monarch butterflies. The illustrations are breathtaking.

I know this list is limited, but I could have put on 50 of my "favorites". A little Updike, some Didion, a pinch of Suetonius, maybe some Bukowski or Fante. I love books.

I Am An Ass and Pumpkin Advice

So a while ago, the fabulous Kamala set up this awesome recipe section. Those who know me know how nuts I am. I have this insane gelato company, three insane kids, two insane smelly dogs (available for adoption), and one insane amazing husband (Philly, not Utah.) It was easy to ignore this fabulous link. I have stuff to do! Soccer games to attend (insert groan here)! Fruit to blend! Cows to pet! I could go on, but really, it is just a pile of excuses.

So, without further ado, I will do. I may not only give recipes, I may give you style advice. Although that is highly unlikely, but I might. In fact, I will.

See this fabulous pumpkin? I stole it from Dan's porch. See how the light moves through the pumpkin flesh? Scary! You can achieve this look by not going all the way through the pumpkin with your knife. I think we can all take a tip from Dan. It's a fabulous pumpkin and it looks fabulous on my stoop. Let's hope it makes it a few days before the squirrels and/or neighborhood kids smash it onto my neighbors stoop.

And That's Entertainment...

Ah yes, entertaining. We are all recovering from the holidays and possibly the last thing we would like to do is have a boat load of people over, eating your food, drinking your wine, breathing your air. Yes, it takes me a while to recover after the holidays. I just want to hole up and do nothing. Absolutely nothing. This malady can lead to isolation and 12 cats. Luckily I have three kids that force me outside to do something other than work. Then I start to get that itchy nagging feeling that.... I MUST HAVE A WINE AND CHEESE PARTAY!

The good ole fermented party. It is the perfect way to ease back into life and talking to other adults. It has to be quick and it has to be easy. I have found that just unwrapping, uncorking, untwisting stuff out of their packaging, plating beautifully plus some good tunes will equal a great time with little effort. Getting people liquored up and stuffing them with cheese and olives works.

Now, what about dessert? Good question. It cannot involve cooking or something that has to be fussed over. Answer = Gelato Cookies. They can be made in about 10 minutes and hours ahead. Don't be shy! Buy your favorite cookies or make them! Match the gelato to the cookie or the cookie to your favorite gelato.

Gelato Cookies!

Take the pint of gelato out of the freezer and let soften for about 10 minutes.

Scoop gelato out onto your favorite cookie.

Top with another cookie.

Wrap in parchment. Freeze.

Take out 5-10 minutes before serving. Place on plate and BAM! Dessert!

Holy crap that was easy! Your guests will be transported to the playground just after leaving the ice cream man! Instant childhood...with grappa.




Delicious photos by Nate

Reggie's Coffee Addiction

A gelato flavor with serious coffee for serious people, well, kind of serious, until we added booze. 

2 ½ Cups of whole milk

½ Cup of freshly roasted high quality dark roast beans

¾ Cups of sugar

5 Eggs yolks

2Tbsp of Bulliet Frontier Whiskey (small batch Kentucky whiskey) Change this if you like something else, its is what we have in the house.

You'll also need an ice cream mixer and a coffee grinder. The coffee beans should be ground at the finest setting (Turkish setting)

Combine milk and coffee (grind fresh coffee moments before adding to the milk) into a heavy bottomed sauce pan. Use the freshest ingredients you can find.  

Allow the milk to come to a simmer and simmer for 5 minutes, never boil.  Take off heat and cover pan with plastic wrap.  Allow the milk to completely come to room temperature. 

Remove plastic wrap and place milk and coffee mixture back on medium heat until bubbles form on the edges of the pan.

While the milk is reheating, place the egg yolks and sugar into the bowl of a mixer. Beat the sugar and yolks until thick, light yellow and the volume of the yolks has doubled. Stop once and scrap the sides quickly.

Turn the yolks down to medium and with your mixer running, slowly add the milk. Pour carefully and  allow the grounds to pour in with the hot milk. As you come to the end of the milk, stop short of pouring all of the grounds. About 1/3 of the grounds will remain in the pan stuck to milk proteins on the bottom. 

Wash the pan quickly and dry quickly and pour the mixture back into the pan and place on medium heat.  Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture thickens and coats the back of the spoon (approximately 8 minutes).  Pour directly into a bowl and place the bowl into a larger bowl containing ice and water.  Carefully stir the mixture to cool for about 5 minutes.  Be aware of the melting and sloshing water as you stir. 

Remove mixture and cover. All to cool completely and then place in the refrigerator. This is your finished gelato mixture. Gelato mix needs to “age” in order to achieve a nice smooth gelato.  Ideally, overnight is best.  

Once you are ready to have the gelato, stir in the whisky completely and place your mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to your ice cream maker’s specifications. I like to make my mix the day prior.  At a dinner party, I clear the table and place my gelato mix into the ice cream machine while I warm a rustic tart, make the coffee and put the grappa on the table. When the gelato is finished, we are ready to eat!

The gelato is very low in fat if placed in a traditional freezer, will freeze to a brick-like consistency.  It is best if you allow to melt in the refrigerator, not on the counter, and refreeze in your machine when you are ready, could be days later. The gelato is best fresh.

By Steph!