Girl Friday

Coco and Steve

I bought four nectarines from Lund's last night and they turned already today. I'm always amazed when fruit does this. Is there some airborne chemical at the grocery stores that keeps stuff shiny and perky?  Only to go soft and brown within 24, nay, 12 hours of being brought home?

My nectarines' fate is now sealed.  They shall join the frozen strawberries and blueberries, as well as the ice cream in the freezer, as they meet their death: the immersion blender.  I made chocolate malts last night, but I think fruit and berry shakes sound absolutely delicious for tonight.

I want to thank Breyer's for making this all possible, as they're the ones who finally came out with lactose-free ice cream:

It makes for deliciously gut-friendly shakes and malts.

In other news, I've added two new pets to my household.  You may remember Coco and Steve from a certain film they co-starred in.  Since I didn't think it was fair to end their lives after their task of entertaining humans was completed--yes, I judge--Coco and Steve have found permanent residence in my apartment.

That's Coco sucking rocks in the front, Steve is to the right.  I picked up this handy 2.5 gallon mini-aquarium at Petco, as well as some high-potency food and a couple of live plants.  The fish are happy.

There were originally three fish, but Gay Whore didn't make it 6 hours past her screen debut; she was named for the working title of the film before we decided on "Shades of Orange."  Coco was named for Coco Chanel and her golden accessories rule, which we employed throughout the film's production.  Steve, I think, just came out of nowhere. 

Actually now, courtesy of Steve Marsh recently demonstrating how his Latino immigrant coworkers from an old restaurant job pronounced his name, I've taken to calling Steve "Estebe."  Coco and Estebe.

Pumpernickel Jalapeño Cheddar Pretzel Sandwiches

I guess giving up grocery store junk food for the most part was a pretty stupid idea if it means I've lived without these for two years:

They rock my world.

Snyder's of Hanover Product Info
Entry on Junk Food Blog

Week In Review

Things that happened this week, in no particular order:

• Cafe Havana closed.  It's apparently going to reopen as a different restaurant soon.  Also, they're using the space right now to film this movie.  I have no more information than that, which I got from Johnny.  We like to call him The Man Upstairs.

• vita.mn published the Summer Guide '08, possibly all you need to get through the next three months.  Definitely pick up a hard copy.

• I overheard my mom.  Raucous laughter ensued.

• All this recent talk about fried plantains kicked my own craving into high gear and I had to fry some up with dinner last night.  I went the tostones route, frying green plantain slices once, smooshing them, frying again, then topping them with garlic, fresh lemon juice and kosher salt.  I refuse to admit just how many of them I ate, but I will confess that there was some teeth-baring over the last one (which I scored).

• I got the good news that my friend Kara is now selling her gorgeous jewelry at Cliché in Uptown.

• I went bicycle shopping and came home with nothing.  I can't seem to find any used bikes I like, so I might just bite the bullet and buy a new one.  I'm kinda paranoid about not liking it, though.  How's the resale market for bikes under $200.00?

Friday... Four

- The Rosedale Sephora opens today.  They're not offering any sweet grand opening discounts, so I'm refusing to go until I need something.  Besides, I just got an Ulta coupon in the mail and their Roseville store will be a ghost town this weekend.

- The Mill City Farmers Market opens for the season tomorrow, 8:00am sharp.

- The Top Valu Liquors Grand Opening Sale also commences tomorrow.  Both new and very improved Columbia Heights locations have been open for a while, and both will be running the same specials: 10% off all liquor, 5% off all beer, 15% off all wine, 15% off all liqueurs, mixers and bar supplies, and 15% off all 375, 200, 100 & 50 mls (isn't that liquor?).  There are also a ton of wine, beer and liquor tastings going on, so click here for all the info.

- Yesterday kicked off the Eastside Food Co-op's special plastics recycling effort.  Now every recyclable plastic item that the city doesn't accept with your trash (like dry-cleaning bags, plasticware, plant pots, yogurt tubs and various kinds of lids) can be brought to the Co-op on Thursdays and Fridays for recycling, 7:00am to 4:30pm.

Friday Five: What People I Know Are Up To Edition

1. Amber is making a prediction about who dies in the Sex and the City movie.

2. Reetsyburger is letting go of polka dots and redesigning her blog.

3. Christian is realizing why it's sometimes a bad idea to buy drinks for strangers in Northeast bars.

4. Leif is discovering Mexican Coke for the first time, starting a love affair he quite possibly won't be able to stop.

5. Cherish is moving to Chicago, where the cost of living is going to seriously cramp her shopping style.

I have to confess that I've never actually met Cherish in real life, but we've been reading each other's blogs for a long time.  In the spirit of not really knowing someone but still wanting to share useful information about something, here's a bonus link:

6. LJ Twin Cities is on a quest for latte art, and wondering what the tipping etiquette is for this fancy extra.

Shouldn't Every Day Be "Don't Eat Animals Day?"

Happy Earth Day.  Remember that the single most important thing you can do to save the planet is to eliminate or significantly reduce your meat consumption (yes, birds and fish included).

Food for thought:

- A 2006 United Nations report found that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all the SUVs, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined.

- Only 10% of the oceans' big fish population remains, the other 90% wiped out mostly by industrial fishing.

- Because it takes up to 16 pounds of grain to produce 1 pound of animal flesh, using 1 acre of land to raise cattle for slaughter yields only 20 pounds of edible protein. If soybeans were grown instead, that 1 acre would yield 356 pounds of edible protein.

Now that green is officially the new black, I'm hopeful more people will discover how serious an impact the meat industry is making on our environment. Pathetically, world hunger still plagues our planet--people are starving to death in Haiti, just 600 miles off the coast of Florida--but if mankind simply ceased slaughtering animals for food, world hunger could cease to exist.

Panna Cotta (As In, The Best In Minneapolis)

Kickin' it with JDR and the G-ride.

This photo was taken at the vita.mn-sponsored Voltage pre-party Tuesday night at Nick & Eddie (wow, that was kind of a mouthful).

I wanted to thank manager Doug Anderson on my way out the door, but the man who had been bustling behind the bar almost all night was nowhere to be seen when it was time for me to go.  See, none of the passed hors d'oeuvres were vegetarian, so Doug very kindly had a couple sent out for me from the kitchen.  That's customer service, people!

He also very surreptitiously handed me a panna cotta, but my friends spotted it so then I had to share.  It was, hands down, the best panna cotta I've ever had.  Not gelatinous at all; only creamy and beautiful.  There was a fantastic strawberry sauce on top that was so lively it just had to be a puree and not a reduction, and a chocolate meringue cookie on the side that melted in your mouth with heavenly citrus and dark chocolate taste.  It was like all the elements of a fresh strawberry shortcake were reassembled into a different, more better dessert.

If God or the devil made a panna cotta, it couldn't possibly taste any better than this one.

Hotdish

- The 4th Annual Northeast Hotdish Revolution will be taking place next Sunday, April 13th, in the banquet hall above Crescent Moon Bakery.  It's kind of a "battle of the boroughs," with residents of Holland, Sheridan, Bottineau, Windom Park, Audubon Park and St. Anthony West Park encouraged to bring their best casserole.  Doors open at 4:00pm for hotdish chefs, judging at 4:30pm, then dinner at 5:00pm.  Suggested donation is $5 if you enter a dish, otherwise $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

I'm actually contemplating bringing something to the contest this year.  I have 2 extraordinarily good hotdishes; one is straight-up, canned soup and macaroni goodness, while the other is a healthier, vegetable and cheese-type thing.  Categories for the contest are "Spicy" (not my quotation marks), Vegetarian, Tater Tot, Kids Under 16 and Darn Good, for anything that doesn't fit into the other categories. 

Both my hotdish joints happen to fall under the "Spicy" (like, for real spicy), Vegetarian and God Damn Good categories.

- Those that bemoaned the relocation of Totino's Italian Kitchen can quit their bitching and start eating spaghetti again.  The former Northeast institution reopened last week at their new Mounds View location.

- Chiapas restaurant is STILL not open, despite the most recent sign claiming the remodeling was supposed to be done last week.  Also, a new Mexican bakery is going in across Central from Chiapas (and next door Northeast staple Durango Bakery), close to Adelita's restaurant.

Recipe: Coconut Flan

I made flan this weekend.  After browsing a handful of recipes, I decided to create my own flan recipe using a fresh coconut.  To make it you will need: 1/2 cup sugar, 3 eggs, 1-14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk, 1 1/2 cups coconut milk, 1/4 cup shredded coconut, 1 teaspoon almond extract and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Preheat oven to 350.  If you're using a fresh coconut, crack it open (I used a hammer).  Break off the outer hull and pry out the insides using a knife. Cut away the roughage and shred the white flesh until you have a 1/4 cup, plus a little extra for garnish.  Set aside.

I used a 200 g brick of unsweetened coconut milk concentrate, which requires 1 part concentrate to 2 parts water to make the milk.  200 grams is roughly 1 cup (those of you who know me: yes I had help with the math), so cut the brick in half.

Add the half-brick to 1 cup of hot water and stir until smooth.  Set aside.

Heat 1/2 cup sugar in a saucepan just until it caramelizes.  Transfer to 9-inch glass pie plate and swirl around to cover the bottom, working quickly before it hardens (I was working so quickly I couldn't take a picture).  Set plate aside.

In medium bowl, whisk three eggs until they're a little frothy. 

Add the 1/4 cup shredded coconut, coconut milk, condensed milk, almond extract and vanilla extract.  Whisk until well-blended.  Pour mixture into the prepared pie plate.  Since flan is custard, it needs to bake in a water bath.  Place pie plate into larger baking dish and add water to the dish.  It should come up to flan level.  (Action shot!)

Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes, but no longer than 45.  If you're skittish about overbaking, lower temp to 300-325 and bake for a full hour.  A flan that's cooked through will be a little golden brown on top.

Remove the flan from its water bath and cool completely in glass pie plate.  Once cooled, invert onto flat plate or cake server and continue to chill in the refrigerator, if desired.  (Some folks like their flan at room temperature).  Toast the leftover coconut in a non-stick skillet over medium heat for 5-10 minutes, until the smaller flakes turn brown.

Slice flan and garnish with toasted coconut, fresh fruit or both.  I always seem to have mandarins in the kitchen, but sliced kiwi or chopped mango would work nicely, too.

Voila, flan.  It turned out perfectly.  I served it to my family after Easter brunch and it got rave reviews.