Italian Cooking - A Labor of Love
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Posted:Sep 11, 2007 6:39 pm
Last Updated:Sep 14, 2007 1:10 am 25083 Views
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I’ve always thought one of the main reasons Italian food is so popular is because the love that goes into preparing many of the dishes comes through in the flavors.
My father used to describe my grandmother’s ritual inspection of each bean for a famous pasta and bean dish discarding any that had the slightest imperfection. She literally would begin cooking a Sunday dinner at eight in the morning which would culminate in a spectacular feast for all and her feelings would be hurt if there were any leftovers. She would say, “Eat; go ahead and finish it. I’m only going to throw it away” whereby my father would jest with his favorite, “Oh, so you’re feeding me garbage?” She was tolerant of his antics but you could see the seriousness in her face and emotion in her eyes when it came to presenting her pride and joy, dinner for the family. It was a labor of love.
The classic Italian risotto is just such a labor of love. It’s a full flavored rice dish requiring constant attention or the rice will stick to the bottom of the pan, the heavier the bottom of your pan, the better. It’s quite simple to make but you can’t walk away from it and it has to be served immediately once it’s ready. Its creamy texture is the result of the starch breaking down from the continuous stirring. Traditionally, Italian Arborio rice is used from the Po valley but I believe in flexibility in cooking and using ingredients readily available so I will just as easily make it with medium or long grain rice.
The risotto is cooked uncovered on medium high heat beginning with the sauteeing of the mushrooms (an assortment of portabellos, shitakes, other wild or button mushrooms), removing them from the pan, adding a little more butter/oil (1-2 T) and softening some minced onion (half of a small onion or a couple shallots).
Add rice, stirring to coat with the fat. When the rice has taken on a pale, golden color, pour in about 1 cup of dry white wine, stirring constantly until the wine is fully absorbed. Add 1/2 cup broth (chicken or vegetable) to the rice (it’s best if you have the broth already warmed in another saucepan), and stir until the broth is absorbed. Continue adding broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring continuously, until the liquid is absorbed. After the first cup and a half of broth has been added, dissolve a small pinch of saffron (use the threads which you can cut into little pieces with scissors, not the powder) in a cup of the broth and add it to the rice. Continue adding broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring continuously, until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is al dente, about 20 minutes.
The total amount of liquid is somewhere between three to four times the amount of rice since a fair amount will evaporate in the cooking process.
Just prior to the rice being finished, add the cooked mushrooms with their liquid.
Traditionally, more butter is added at the end but it’s a bit rich for most of our modern tastes so it’s at your discretion. At this point, a cup of freshly grated Parmesan and/or Romano cheese is stirred in along salt and pepper to taste. Fresh parsley or chives make a nice finish if you like.
Serve with additional Parmesan to top it off!
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It's about that time when I sit down and start writing my annual letter to the great one
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Posted:Sep 9, 2007 3:33 pm
Last Updated:Sep 14, 2007 1:19 am 23953 Views
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i wrote santa a letter last year
which described my ultimate
Dream present, you know, i
mean like my ultimate babe
i described her in great detail
and we can be pretty sure he
was at the very least amused
at my specificity and at least
it wasn’t one of those silly
toys like all the boys usually
request from the great one
like a game boy or a gun
early christmas eve i was
waiting for the time to draw
near so i logged onto alt and
browsed around when suddenly,
there she was and i just new
he got my letter but decided
not to make it so easy for me
to unwrap my present so he
just presented the possibility
and left it up to me to begin
unraveling the mystery that
is she so of course i began
the beguine and emailed
and in accordance to the
great one’s grand plan
she didn’t respond at all
so i waited some more
and saw nothing was to
come so naturally it was
time to write again as i
think there’s never been
someone more worthy
of electronic stalking
therefore i sent her an
email to end all emails
you know not just one
but a series at various
times and seeing she
didn’t block me yet
i was thinking yeah,
she likes me lots so
naturally i kept writing
cause Dream babes as
amazing as her can only
be the result of divine
intervention so i sent
everything from formal
to fun to poetry to well
everything really so
here it is almost time
for me to send santa
another letter for this
year and much to my
elated astonishment
she finally talked to
me the other day and
i like started bouncing
off the walls like our
favorite bing bing Bing
Ricochet Rabbit so like
i haven’t heard anything
back but clearly i’m not
the easily discouraged
type as you’ve gathered
so i sent her a really nice
note and will give it time
and now i’m about
to compose my 1st draft
of my annual santa letter
and i’m thinking, hey
santa, do you think this
year you might let her
know that she’s supposed
to be mine because this
is like way too hard,
well, that’s my Dream
so thank you santa
cause we all have to
have our dreams.
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Reactions to Chemisty
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Posted:Sep 8, 2007 3:44 am
Last Updated:Sep 10, 2007 11:24 pm 24228 Views
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Chemistry, we all want it. It’s the buzzword of buzzwords for finding a partner. But what is it really? Well, first off, there’s the physical attraction and that has an impact on what follows. Then there’s the chemistry in the communication. There is something so exciting about a conversation that clicks effortlessly, each line lighting the other person up who in turn says something that lights you up and the fire ignites. We love that! It’s like nothing can go wrong; everything meshes so perfectly. But what is it really? Alright, common interests are definitely a part of it but many of us share interests yet we don’t experience this while conversing. So, what is it?
I happen to think as great as it is, it’s not in any way a determinant for what will produce a lasting relationship. This is definitely true in my life and from what I hear from others I talk to, it’s not producing longevity for their relationships either.
So what is it really?
I believe it’s several factors coming together at once for both people such as physical attraction, a high level of interest in meeting someone, an overall good mood and lots and lots of luck. In other words, to me, it’s chance. If you met the same person on a different day at a different time under other circumstances, you may have felt nothing, or something significantly less than the “chemistry” you felt at the time yet it seems so many people are basing their decisions about relationships on this. To me, it’s like considering a move to Las Vegas after winning a jackpot.
I think there are two basic types of chemistry, the first being that which I’ve described and the second being the type which develops over time when you’ve known someone who you may have felt no connection with at all for months, maybe a year or more but suddenly one day, something changes and you begin to turn toward each other and then a chain reaction occurs leading to KaBoom!
For all the joy I’ve experienced with the first type, I’ve honestly never had a relationship of lasting value develop from it while the latter is responsible for all my most meaningful and lasting relationships.
I still love it when I really click with someone in conversation who I’m attracted to and I still get really excited about it because it seems like we could get along so well together but I listen to my own personal history lesson very carefully.
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The First Day of Class
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Posted:Sep 7, 2007 1:48 am
Last Updated:Sep 8, 2007 2:29 am 22942 Views
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It’s the first day of college Human Sexuality class in the psychology department. The professor is trying to get a feel for the student body so she asks, “How many of you have sex once a day? A few students raise their hands.
She says, “My, aren’t you the lucky ones!” Next, she asks, “How many of you have sex once a week?” Lots of hands go up and she nods, “Well, that is the average.”
She continues, “How many have it once a month?” A few hands go up.
Lastly she questions, “Is there anyone who has sex only once a year?” One guy in the back row is jumping up and down in his chair and raising his hand wildly. She wonders, “If you only have sex once a year, why are you so happy?”
He replies, “Because tonight’s the night!”
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The Second Week of Class
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Posted:Sep 7, 2007 1:47 am
Last Updated:Sep 11, 2007 4:31 pm 23746 Views
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It’s the second week of Human Sexuality class and the professor is feeling a bit frisky so she asks, “Alright, by a show of hands, how many of you are into fisting?”
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Looking Beyond Skin Deep
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Posted:Sep 6, 2007 3:25 pm
Last Updated:Sep 8, 2007 2:27 am 23593 Views
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Amidst the discussion of my Barbie post yesterday, I reached back to Richard Cory, the poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson which encapsulates the idea of the grass is always greener on the other side (everyone envies the rich guys seemingly perfect life only to discover he is more depressed than everyone else).
Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean-favoured and imperially slim.
And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
"Good Morning!" and he glittered when he walked.
And he was rich, yes, richer than a king,
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine -- we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.
So on we worked and waited for the light,
And went without the meat and cursed the bread,
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet in his head.
_______________________________________
A great quality is to continually develop the ability to better understand the other side. It can be applied everywhere, not just between the sexes, classes or superficial beauty.
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A Bad Day for Barbie
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Posted:Sep 5, 2007 6:07 am
Last Updated:Sep 14, 2007 1:20 am 23802 Views
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Well, Mattel is recalling lots of tainted toys from lead contamination so it looks like Barbie's back to school fashion statements are weighed down with her inability to accessorize this semester.
Barbie is shockingly at a loss for words and very depressed right now. There are rumors developing she is taking the news harshly and has dropped out of school.
Update: These photos just in by our correspondent UntamedGirly
Ken cannot be reached for comment.
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8
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My Basic Safety Advice for engaging in BDSM with someone you dont know extremely well
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Posted:Sep 5, 2007 3:37 am
Last Updated:Sep 6, 2007 7:51 pm 27910 Views
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I remember reading an article about meeting with someone involved with bdsm years ago who related the term “danger freak” defined as someone who’s pleasure derives from engaging in bdsm with a stranger. They tend not to meet with the same person more than once or twice since the sense of danger diminishes greatly so the joy is gone. Few of us are danger freaks.
We all make our own choices owing much to intuition when deciding to become intimate with someone we haven’t known for a long time.
I’m offering my general personal advice for privately engaging with someone. These are basic safety tips. Some of you are seriously educated about specific topics and very experienced. Please feel free to contribute.
This is a vast subject and I’ve seen a lot of good information as well as misinformation all over so sift carefully.
Most of you know about and employ safe calls but I can tell you not all women do so I’m repeating it here:
When you meet with someone, call a friend or family member to let them know you’re alright during the meeting. Check in with them if you choose to spend more time with the person. If you don’t have someone you feel you can call, at the very least leave a message for yourself, send yourself an email, do something to create the illusion to the person you’re with that someone else knows about your meeting. Doing it at regular intervals if the meeting becomes extended will communicate a discouraging message if you’re with someone with unsavory designs.
If you choose to engage in bdsm, do it gradually.
Don’t engage in the heavier activities you might wish to indulge. Get a feeling for the person when things become heated before you dive into the deep end. Get a sense of whether they’re focused on your safety and sensitive to your overall well being as things progress.
Do not let someone tie you up in the beginning under any circumstances. No matter how much you might enjoy bondage, it’s not worth it. If something goes wrong, you won’t be able to do a thing about it. Anyone who allows themself to be tied up at this stage is a danger freak in my eyes.
If you’re thinking about experiencing more serious activities, ask questions. Educate yourself as much as possible about activities which means you should obtain information from multiple sources.
Be observant. For example, if and when you choose to engage in bondage look to see if the person has safety scissors to get you out of it quickly if the need arises. There are so many unknowns and if the person doesn’t acknowledge this concept, I wouldn’t consider doing anything with them. Things go wrong no matter how much a person knows or how well something is planned.
Be careful, be safe and have happy experiences!
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On the Importance of Communication in Developing a Mutually Fulfilling Relationship
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Posted:Sep 4, 2007 2:21 am
Last Updated:Sep 6, 2007 12:28 am 25680 Views
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Sometimes when I’m reading a profile or post, I discover someone who says something that perfectly mirrors my feelings. It could be a variety of things but one in particular stopped me the other day when her profile stressed the importance of communication to come to terms with the specifics in developing a bdsm/d/s relationship. To paraphrase, she said we’re not mind readers so talking about things is absolutely necessary. I lit up and thought to myself, “Yes, Exactly!”
I’ve encountered a fair amount of women who give me the impression they don’t share this view. I currently have two theories as to why.
The first is their introduction into an alternative lifestyle did not involve communication of this sort so it’s foreign to their experience.
The second is because it’s like breaking character in a play. They wish to assume the role from the onset and coming out of the role ruins the ambience and sense of mystique for them. I can see their feeling about it if that’s the case.
There’s an advantage to standardized practices which has an obvious appeal; everyone knows what to do and the need for communication becomes less necessary if at all. Both assume their role and things go along smoothly so long as both are happy with it. If someone isn’t happy though, how long do they keep it inside or deal with it?
It’s like having actors assembled for a play without a script. If they’ve never done this, it’s a scary place to be. The lights come on and nobody knows what to do because this is not how it’s been before unless the actors are somehow prepared to embark on a new adventure and the director finds some way to motivate and inspire their creativity.
For me, communication is crucial to developing a mutually fulfilling relationship. Part of this communication is to open doors and inspire creativity. An environment of respect and trust provides a good foundation from which both can begin to open up and ideas can be more easily exchanged.
I’ll give an example of something I’ve encountered on several occasions. Corner time is something which seems to be somewhat popular as a form of punishment. I personally have no interest in it as it holds no erotic value for me and I don’t see it as an effective punishment in any context. The only time I might occasionally think to employ it would be as a variation on psychological bondage because I didn’t want her to see what I’m up to. Other than that, the last thing I want is to have someone standing in the corner at anytime, however, some women have communicated in varying ways they enjoy this so I may make use of it in those instances because it means something to them and therefore holds some degree of value in some way within the scheme of things.
Communication comes in many forms and talking about these things is of the utmost importance. There are more subtle ways as well. Paying attention and reading nonverbal signals is a skill of the greatest value.
What I want is something unique and highly interdependent with someone which transcends any standardized way of doing things.
Another profile said it best and again, I’ll paraphrase but she essentially wrote, “Let’s create our own special world together.” Nobody has ever said it better in my mind. That’s what I want.
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Researchers Requesting a Helping Hand
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Posted:Sep 4, 2007 1:08 am
Last Updated:Sep 5, 2007 6:16 pm 23970 Views
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A news article from the future:
Researchers Requesting a Helping Hand
Universal Gazette
Researchers are looking into a discovery causing them to spend unprecedented hours pouring over computer data.
It seems throughout history, most humans were right handed but sometime around the last years of the twentieth century, a sudden shift to a left handed behavior developed which grew steadily into the early part of the new millennium and continued at length. Furthermore, it has come to the attention of researchers people began typing almost exclusively with their left hands, a singularly unique development in practice.
Scientists note the change coincides with growing public interest in the internet especially pointing out the great increase in this change sometime around the introduction of the webcam.
Theyre trying to put their finger on the cause but data seems to be coming in at half the usual speed and are asking for volunteers to lend an available hand as the probe continues.
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