Friday, December 12, 2008
NASA - Tonight is the Biggest Full Moon of 2008
From NASA, the people who really know their moon: "No, you cannot see Neil Armstrong's footprint. But go ahead and look: The full Moon of Dec. 12th is the biggest and brightest full Moon of the year."
December 12: The Virgin of Guadalupe
December 12 is an important day for Mexican Catholics. It is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. An excellent summary of the history of this feast, including a little insight into the internal politics of organized Catholicism, can be found in this linked column by Maria Elena Salinas for the Arizona Daily Star.
Even if you know nothing at all about the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, you have undoubtedly seen her image on a plaque, blanket or tattoo. As far as popularity goes, the Virgin of Guadalupe is big. Really big. Bigger than . . . Oprah.
Have you ever imagined living in Mexico? If so, or if you are just looking for a book that will help you escape the cold reality of winter, check out On Mexican Time by Tony Cohan. In this well-written memoir, Mr. Cohan chronicles the journey he and his wife undertook out of the fast lane in California and into a new life in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It is a very, very nice read.
Even if you know nothing at all about the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, you have undoubtedly seen her image on a plaque, blanket or tattoo. As far as popularity goes, the Virgin of Guadalupe is big. Really big. Bigger than . . . Oprah.
Have you ever imagined living in Mexico? If so, or if you are just looking for a book that will help you escape the cold reality of winter, check out On Mexican Time by Tony Cohan. In this well-written memoir, Mr. Cohan chronicles the journey he and his wife undertook out of the fast lane in California and into a new life in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It is a very, very nice read.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
"Mark Twain: Unsanctified Newspaper Reporter" by James E. Caron
Like this Christmas Cactus blooming just as the holidays begin, timing can be everything in the hunt for good books.
The Arizona Daily Star reprinted a Chicago Tribune review of Mark Twain: Unsanctified Newspaper Reporter by James E. Caron. The book sounds interesting, but as I was sliding the review into my 'books to read' folder, I noticed its suggested price: $50. Wow. That is a big number.
A check at Amazon shows it listed today at $42.05. The local library system doesn't yet show the book in its catalog. Perhaps it is set at a price that gives them pause, too. I'll keep the review as a reminder to look for the book, but like a stock market trader I will be timing the market (and talking to the librarian about a possible inter-library loan).
Fifty bucks. I wonder what ol' Samuel Clemens would have to say about that.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Food and Drink: The Croissant
My mom and dad have been married to each other for 60 years. What is the key to such a long and happy marriage? I can only tell you what I observe: They both really enjoy eating bakery. And my mother, at least, enjoys baking. Lest you get the wrong idea, I must add that they are both very slender; the baking life need not be an overweight one.
On the matter of baking and bakery, the apple has not fallen far from the tree. I love it, too. I could attribute this interest in part to being given an Easy Bake Oven one Christmas when I was a girl, but I also recall being given a pink, child-sized broom and matching pink dustpan one holiday and I have absolutely no passion for cleaning. It must be genetics.
Whatever the reason, nature or nurture, over the years I've baked cakes, pies, small desserts, breads, rolls, quiche and other delights both savory and sweet. My thoughts finally turned to the croissant one day as I was looking over the weekly grocery store advertisement. Croissants were shown; $3 a piece. "Outrageous," I grumbled into my morning java. "Three dollars for an over sized dinner roll, and a lousy roll at that." This alleged croissant, I knew, had no flaky buttery layers, no delicate crunchy bits over tender bread, no goat cheese filling, no chocolate, no jambone et fromage. I vowed to make my own.
I began by consulting one of my essential texts: How to Bake by Nick Malgieri. Milk, yeast, flour, sugar, salt; the ingredients were simple enough and all on hand.
After reading Nick's instructions on technique a few time, I turned next to the Internet. On the web I read more recipes and ultimately decided to print just one, which I found at about. com. I intended to follow Nick Malgieri's recipe for the croissant dough, with the addition of some of the techniques I'd gleaned from the web. Finally, watching a few You Tube videos clarified the process of rolling and turning the dough that is required to get all those beautiful, buttery layers.
Friday night I mixed the dough and put it into the refrigerator. Saturday, I made the butter layer and incorporated it into the dough. This was the rolling and folding part. It was fun, and surprisingly easy. The activity caused anticipation to sky rocket in our household. After the final turn of the layered dough, it went back into the refrigerator to chill again until Sunday morning.
Early Sunday, I cut out little triangles of dough. A few were simply rolled into the classic shape, but to some I added a goat cheese and tomato mixture and to others . . . chocolate. Into the oven they went.
The house smelled glorious while the croissants baked. And the results? Heaven! Warm from the oven, the little pastries were flaky and tender, buttery and delicious. Why had I waited so long to try this? And importantly, wait until Mom and Dad eat these!
On the matter of baking and bakery, the apple has not fallen far from the tree. I love it, too. I could attribute this interest in part to being given an Easy Bake Oven one Christmas when I was a girl, but I also recall being given a pink, child-sized broom and matching pink dustpan one holiday and I have absolutely no passion for cleaning. It must be genetics.
Whatever the reason, nature or nurture, over the years I've baked cakes, pies, small desserts, breads, rolls, quiche and other delights both savory and sweet. My thoughts finally turned to the croissant one day as I was looking over the weekly grocery store advertisement. Croissants were shown; $3 a piece. "Outrageous," I grumbled into my morning java. "Three dollars for an over sized dinner roll, and a lousy roll at that." This alleged croissant, I knew, had no flaky buttery layers, no delicate crunchy bits over tender bread, no goat cheese filling, no chocolate, no jambone et fromage. I vowed to make my own.
I began by consulting one of my essential texts: How to Bake by Nick Malgieri. Milk, yeast, flour, sugar, salt; the ingredients were simple enough and all on hand.
After reading Nick's instructions on technique a few time, I turned next to the Internet. On the web I read more recipes and ultimately decided to print just one, which I found at about. com. I intended to follow Nick Malgieri's recipe for the croissant dough, with the addition of some of the techniques I'd gleaned from the web. Finally, watching a few You Tube videos clarified the process of rolling and turning the dough that is required to get all those beautiful, buttery layers.
Friday night I mixed the dough and put it into the refrigerator. Saturday, I made the butter layer and incorporated it into the dough. This was the rolling and folding part. It was fun, and surprisingly easy. The activity caused anticipation to sky rocket in our household. After the final turn of the layered dough, it went back into the refrigerator to chill again until Sunday morning.
Early Sunday, I cut out little triangles of dough. A few were simply rolled into the classic shape, but to some I added a goat cheese and tomato mixture and to others . . . chocolate. Into the oven they went.
The house smelled glorious while the croissants baked. And the results? Heaven! Warm from the oven, the little pastries were flaky and tender, buttery and delicious. Why had I waited so long to try this? And importantly, wait until Mom and Dad eat these!
The finished product.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
More Holiday Music: Mary Chapin Carpenter
On the December 3, 2008, podcast of The Diane Rehm Show, Diane interviews Mary Chapin Carpenter. Mary Chapin has released a new compact disc, Come Darkness, Come Light: 12 Songs of Christmas.
A number of cuts from the new disc are played on the show. The featured music was gentle, lovely, and showcased the artist's wonderful voice. In fact, just listening to her voice on the program is pretty cool. Mary Chapin said during the interview that the music celebrates not just Christmas, but also the winter solstice.
On the topic of holiday music, both Diane and Mary Chapin said that they listen each year to A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, the December 24 service held in King's College Chapel in Cambridge, which is broadcast on various public radio stations around the country. Wisconsin Public Radio, for example, is scheduled to broadcast the program at 9 a.m. on Christmas Eve day.
Other notes:
Mary Chapin Carpenter lives on a farm with six (6) dogs.
During the podcast station break, it was announced that "Support for public radio comes from . . . the Department of Homeland Security." Is it just me, or does that seem odd?
A number of cuts from the new disc are played on the show. The featured music was gentle, lovely, and showcased the artist's wonderful voice. In fact, just listening to her voice on the program is pretty cool. Mary Chapin said during the interview that the music celebrates not just Christmas, but also the winter solstice.
On the topic of holiday music, both Diane and Mary Chapin said that they listen each year to A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, the December 24 service held in King's College Chapel in Cambridge, which is broadcast on various public radio stations around the country. Wisconsin Public Radio, for example, is scheduled to broadcast the program at 9 a.m. on Christmas Eve day.
Other notes:
Mary Chapin Carpenter lives on a farm with six (6) dogs.
During the podcast station break, it was announced that "Support for public radio comes from . . . the Department of Homeland Security." Is it just me, or does that seem odd?
Cuban Blogger Threatened by Police
From Mother Jones: "Havana-based writer Yoani Sanchez was recently named by Time magazine as one the 100 most influential people in the world, and she won the 2008 Ortega y Gasset award for digital journalism. But that didn't stop Cuban authorities from directly threatening her with jail last week." (more at the link).
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