Sunday, February 13, 2005
Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is an ideal vegetable for the organic gardener because it is resistant to many common pests and diseases. It will thrive in coastal areas and produce greens all year round in regions with a mild winter climate. Since chard comes in a rainbow of colors, with deep green leaves and stems than can range from pale white, to golden yellow to brilliant ruby red, it is regarded as an ornamental plant by some, but is fully edible.
Beta vulgaris is a member of the beet family, but it does not have a bulb, and is instead cultivated for its large edible leaves and stems. The leaves are usually a deep green color and can be eaten raw or prepared like spinach, such as by blanching or sauteeing, and they are a bit sweeter. The stem needs extra cooking time, separate from the leaves and are considered a delicacy in Europe and even used in sweet dessert tarts.
Chard is rich in beta-carotene, iron, potassium and Vitamins A, C and K. I made a great dish tonight, sauteeing the stems with shallots and butter before tossing in the leaves. A dash of balsamic helps the leaves wilt, and then I toss in some chopped Kalamata olives and serve it next to couscous atop a filet of orange roughy.
Swiss chard is an ideal vegetable for the organic gardener because it is resistant to many common pests and diseases. It will thrive in coastal areas and produce greens all year round in regions with a mild winter climate. Since chard comes in a rainbow of colors, with deep green leaves and stems than can range from pale white, to golden yellow to brilliant ruby red, it is regarded as an ornamental plant by some, but is fully edible.
Beta vulgaris is a member of the beet family, but it does not have a bulb, and is instead cultivated for its large edible leaves and stems. The leaves are usually a deep green color and can be eaten raw or prepared like spinach, such as by blanching or sauteeing, and they are a bit sweeter. The stem needs extra cooking time, separate from the leaves and are considered a delicacy in Europe and even used in sweet dessert tarts.
Chard is rich in beta-carotene, iron, potassium and Vitamins A, C and K. I made a great dish tonight, sauteeing the stems with shallots and butter before tossing in the leaves. A dash of balsamic helps the leaves wilt, and then I toss in some chopped Kalamata olives and serve it next to couscous atop a filet of orange roughy.
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Democrats make a Good Choice
Celebrate Chairman Dean with a contribution to the DNC.
Celebrate Chairman Dean with a contribution to the DNC.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
New Service
As a new community service, this blog will now feature the current Department of Homeland Security Terror Alert level in the left-hand margin. The full DHS Advisory system:
As a new community service, this blog will now feature the current Department of Homeland Security Terror Alert level in the left-hand margin. The full DHS Advisory system:
Monday, February 07, 2005
Mint
Although the genus Mentha contains only about 20 distinct species, due to easy and extensive cross-breeding, there are hundreds of known variations. The common characteristic of all these mints is the presence of the volatile oil menthol which gives mint its characteristic cool, fresh taste.
Mint is indigenous to the Mediterranean, the Middle East and western Asia. Spearmint (M. spicata) is found in much of the native cuisine of these regions, from Greek yogurt-mint sauce to Middle Eastern tabbouleh to sweet Arabic teas. Peppermint (M. x piperita), is a cross between spearmint and M. aquatica and was first cultivated in England in the 18th century. Known for its intense flavor, peppermint is in wide commercial production, primarily for its essential oil which is used as a flavor additive in products such as toothpaste, chewing gum and candy. Mint has also been used and celebrated for its traditional medicinal value in treating stomach and bowel pain, nausea, flatulence and for supporting the function of the gall bladder.
By far the best use of mint is in the Cuban rum-based cocktail, the mojito.
Although the genus Mentha contains only about 20 distinct species, due to easy and extensive cross-breeding, there are hundreds of known variations. The common characteristic of all these mints is the presence of the volatile oil menthol which gives mint its characteristic cool, fresh taste.
Mint is indigenous to the Mediterranean, the Middle East and western Asia. Spearmint (M. spicata) is found in much of the native cuisine of these regions, from Greek yogurt-mint sauce to Middle Eastern tabbouleh to sweet Arabic teas. Peppermint (M. x piperita), is a cross between spearmint and M. aquatica and was first cultivated in England in the 18th century. Known for its intense flavor, peppermint is in wide commercial production, primarily for its essential oil which is used as a flavor additive in products such as toothpaste, chewing gum and candy. Mint has also been used and celebrated for its traditional medicinal value in treating stomach and bowel pain, nausea, flatulence and for supporting the function of the gall bladder.
By far the best use of mint is in the Cuban rum-based cocktail, the mojito.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Live Super Bowl Blogging
7:32 PM PST - Well the Patriots win 3 Super Bowls in 4 years by a total of 9 points. I'll give them the dynasty label.
7:31 PM PST - Deion Branch is MVP.
7:16 PM PST - My MVP pick - either Deion Branch or Rodney Harrison.
7:15 PM PST - Not even close.
7:13 PM PST - So is McNabb Montana?
7:04 PM PST - So Patriots need to recover the onside kick and get at least one first down.
7:03 PM PST - Oh my. Not dead yet.
6:59 PM PST - Philadelphia is not playing like they are down 10 late in the 4th quarter. I wonder what it will take for them to have a sense of urgency?
6:55 PM PST - I have to say, Terrell Owens is singlehandedly keeping the Eagles alive.
6:41 PM PST - They only get 3. So Patriots keep the Eagles in it for the time being.
6:31 PM PST - Or not. Patriots could put this away with a drive right here.
6:23 PM PST - I suppose this game has the makings of another classic ending.
6:10 PM PST - Never just reuse the old mint if you want to make a new mojito. Fresh mint is essential.
6:02 PM PST - Dull dull dull game.
5:50 PM PST - Missed the Patriots' TD drive.
5:22 PM PST - "Drive My Car" and "Get Back" so far. I wonder how much in royalties that Michael Jackson is earning from this Super Bowl.
5:20 PM PST - Paul McCartney looks like he needs a cane.
5:10 PM PST - Time for the wardrobe malfunctions!
5:02 PM PST - Tie game with a minute left in the half. This is one strange game. Passing by very quickly.
4:53 PM PST - As for the commercials, some amusing Bud or Bud Light spots; a good Ameriquest (?) one where the customer gets beaten up by the store proprietor; and aFritos (I think) Tostitos one in the pregame with the Bridal Party.
4:49 PM PST - Sloppy, sloppy all around.
4:42 PM PST - Refs are a bit gunshy. The guy is tackled, loses the ball while he's getting back up, and they still rule it a fumble? Idiots.
4:37 PM PST - First competent playing by the Patriots all game.
4:30 PM PST - Eagles on a roll again...
4:25 PM PST - Well, I guess the credit has to go to the defenses thus far.
4:22 PM PST - Well, New England hasn't looked too hot either. It's not that I think that they've been too conservative, it's just that it hasn't paid off.
4:13 PM PST - I speak too soon! His luck finally runs out and he throws the easy pick.
4:10 PM PST - McNabb is a liability so far. He's being carried by his receivers, the defense, and the excellent punting. He's been lucky up to this point that he hasn't cost his team at all.
4:07 PM PST - T.O. walks the walk. He's made an impact already.
4:06 PM PST - Eagles on the first sustained drive of the game.... Let's see where this leads.
3:42 PM PST - McNabb loses the ball, but his knee was clearly down. The call should be overturned quickly.
3:31 PM PST - Eagles win the toss. The kid who tossed the coin totally rigged it. The coin didn't flip over in the air at all.
7:32 PM PST - Well the Patriots win 3 Super Bowls in 4 years by a total of 9 points. I'll give them the dynasty label.
7:31 PM PST - Deion Branch is MVP.
7:16 PM PST - My MVP pick - either Deion Branch or Rodney Harrison.
7:15 PM PST - Not even close.
7:13 PM PST - So is McNabb Montana?
7:04 PM PST - So Patriots need to recover the onside kick and get at least one first down.
7:03 PM PST - Oh my. Not dead yet.
6:59 PM PST - Philadelphia is not playing like they are down 10 late in the 4th quarter. I wonder what it will take for them to have a sense of urgency?
6:55 PM PST - I have to say, Terrell Owens is singlehandedly keeping the Eagles alive.
6:41 PM PST - They only get 3. So Patriots keep the Eagles in it for the time being.
6:31 PM PST - Or not. Patriots could put this away with a drive right here.
6:23 PM PST - I suppose this game has the makings of another classic ending.
6:10 PM PST - Never just reuse the old mint if you want to make a new mojito. Fresh mint is essential.
6:02 PM PST - Dull dull dull game.
5:50 PM PST - Missed the Patriots' TD drive.
5:22 PM PST - "Drive My Car" and "Get Back" so far. I wonder how much in royalties that Michael Jackson is earning from this Super Bowl.
5:20 PM PST - Paul McCartney looks like he needs a cane.
5:10 PM PST - Time for the wardrobe malfunctions!
5:02 PM PST - Tie game with a minute left in the half. This is one strange game. Passing by very quickly.
4:53 PM PST - As for the commercials, some amusing Bud or Bud Light spots; a good Ameriquest (?) one where the customer gets beaten up by the store proprietor; and a
4:49 PM PST - Sloppy, sloppy all around.
4:42 PM PST - Refs are a bit gunshy. The guy is tackled, loses the ball while he's getting back up, and they still rule it a fumble? Idiots.
4:37 PM PST - First competent playing by the Patriots all game.
4:30 PM PST - Eagles on a roll again...
4:25 PM PST - Well, I guess the credit has to go to the defenses thus far.
4:22 PM PST - Well, New England hasn't looked too hot either. It's not that I think that they've been too conservative, it's just that it hasn't paid off.
4:13 PM PST - I speak too soon! His luck finally runs out and he throws the easy pick.
4:10 PM PST - McNabb is a liability so far. He's being carried by his receivers, the defense, and the excellent punting. He's been lucky up to this point that he hasn't cost his team at all.
4:07 PM PST - T.O. walks the walk. He's made an impact already.
4:06 PM PST - Eagles on the first sustained drive of the game.... Let's see where this leads.
3:42 PM PST - McNabb loses the ball, but his knee was clearly down. The call should be overturned quickly.
3:31 PM PST - Eagles win the toss. The kid who tossed the coin totally rigged it. The coin didn't flip over in the air at all.
Prediction
New England 42
Philadelphia 17
New England 42
Philadelphia 17
