The Book of Tea - Kakuzo Okakura (1862-1913)

This is one of my current bedtime reads. Kakuzo discusses how tea has affected nearly every aspect of Japanese culture , thought, and life. The book is very accessible to English speakers because Kakuzo was taught at a young age to speak English; and spoke it all his life, becoming proficient at communicating his thoughts to the occidental mind. In his book, he discusses such topics as Zen and Taoism, but also the secular aspects of Tea and Japanese life.   This is a wonderful book to read while sipping a hot cup of tea.  His explanation of the Japanese Tea Ceremony is particularly engrossing.

Homemade Kuhlua Recipe

1 12-cup pot very strong coffee  2 lbs. light brown sugar 4-6 tablespoons vanilla extract 1 bottle 190 proof Everclear   Bring coffee to a boil in dutch oven or large pot. Gradually add 2 lbs. light brown sugar and return to boil stirring constantly. Let cool until room temperature. (Add 1 cup of ice to cool water in a sink and use as a cooling bath). When completely cool, add the vanilla and Everclear. It is ready to serve.

An Amazing Hors d'oeuvres

I saw this appetizer on a TV show about Spanish Basque cooking.  The idea of combining anchovies and banana peppers appealed to me.  I simply wrapped the anchovy around a pepper which had been drained and destemmed.  The flavors were amazing.  The sweet and sour nature of the marinated peppers neutralized the extreme saltiness of the anchovies.  Eaten with a nice dry red wine, these make for a wonderful tapas.

Pizza Crust Recipe

This recipe makes a great pizza crust

10 ounces of general purpose flour
6 ounces of water
1 ounce of olive oil
1 package of  active dry yeast
1 Tablespoon of Kosher Salt
1 Tablespoon of Sugar

1. Heat water to 100 - 100 degrees and mix in yeast - allow to sit for 10 minutes

2. Mix remaining ingredients and form loose dough ball.

3. Place dough ball in the refrigerator for 4 hours

4. Roll out dough with a rolling pin and bake at 500 degrees for five minutes.

5.  Remove from oven and spread sauce and desire toppings

6.  Bake pie for 12-15 minutes

I make a triple batch and divide - the dough freezes well.

Kvass

My next project - Kvas (квас) is an ancient beverage from Slavic Europe. While it is basically a low-alcohol beer, it is enjoyed as a soft drink, even by small children. Factory-made versions have been available for some time and many are quite good. But homemade will always be best. Often spelled "kvass."

 

• Stale dark rye bread, cubed -- 1 pound
• Water -- 3 quarts
• Active dry yeast -- 1 (1/2-ounce) packet, or 2 1/2 teaspoons
• Water, lukewarm (110°F) -- 1/4 cup
• Sugar -- 1 cup
• Raisins -- 2 tablespoons

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°F. Spread the cubes of bread on a baking sheet and place in the for about an hour, or until the bread is fairly well dried out.
2. Bring the 3 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Remove from heat and immediately stir in the bread. Cover with a clean towel and let rest in a dark, cool place for 8-10 hours.
3. Pour the liquid through a fine-meshed sieve or strainer, gently pressing one the bread to get the liquid out. Don't press too hard, or your kvas will turn cloudy.
4. Mix the yeast with the warm water and a pinch of the sugar. Set the yeast mixture aside for 10 minutes to proof until foamy. Stir into the strained liquid along with the 1 cup of sugar until the sugar is fully dissolved. Cover again with the towel and let set another 8-10 hours.
5. Strain the liquid again through a fine-meshed sieve or strainer and pour into a 1-gallon pitcher or container. Add the raisins and cover tightly with plastic wrap and a rubber band. Set in a dark, cool place for 4-5 days until the yeast sediment has settled to the bottom of the container and a clear liquid remains.
6. Carefully pour off the clear liquid into a clean container or individual bottles, taking care not to disturb the yeast sediment. Chill well before serving..

 

Fast Food

American Fast Food versus Japanese Fast Food - which one is healthier????  Hmmmmm

http://www.valumarket.com/valumarket_iroquois.htm

The best ethnic grocery store in Louisville.  I love this place.  I can easily spend a few hours exploring the aisles just looking at the various items I have never seen or tried.  The produce department carries everything from Horned Melon to Yuca Root.  The deli makes the best pressed Cuban sandwich in Louisville.  Seafood?  Huge tanks contain live fish for truly fresh seafood - right now the tanks are stocked with Tilapia.  This is where I buy my noodles, sausages, squid and sandalwood soap.  There is so much that I want to try.  This is not Jungle Jim's of Cincinnati but it is the best we have in Louisville.  If you cannot find something - ask for Josh.  Josh will get you anything you wish! All of the Valumarkets are good but the one in Iroquois Park area is the best.

Perfect Sunday

I attended the Kentucky Opera Sights and Sounds for Madam Butterfly this afternoon.  Afterwards, had a late lunch at the Vietnam Kitchen.  I cannot pronounce what I had but it was K6 :)  Does anyone actually know the names of their favorite dishes at VK or do they just refer to the codes? (Checked the menu and K6 is Hu Tieu cay Trieu Chau)

Mark Twain on Food and Drink

"the only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd druther not."

Great Louisville Restaurant Menu Site

The collection of menus may not be complete but they have a huge amount.  I like to look before I visit a restaurant for the first time.

http://www.louisvillediner.com/

U of L School of Music New Music Festival - November 8-12

Festival Dates: November 8 - 12, 2010 
The University of Louisville New Music Festival is an annual event devoted to the promotion of the diverse music of our times. The festival demonstrates the School of Music’s commitment to the study, performance and celebration of contemporary music. Works of the late 20th and 21st century are featured in free, open to the public concerts presented by various ensemble combinations, such as Chamber Music, Electronic Music, Wind Ensemble, New Music Ensemble, Choir and Symphony Orchestra. The festival features many world and American premieres as well as performances of exiting new music presented by faculty, students and guest artists. Each year the festival features a distinguished guest composer who shares her/his work, knowledge and experience with audiences, faculty and students.

The guest composer for the 2010 New Music Festival will be Danish composer Per Nørgård, who will be joined by two highly acclaimed artists: Peter Herresthal (violin) and Jakob Kullberg (cello). Our guests will engage in lectures, presentations, master classes and performances of Per Nørgård’s works as well as other new music.

Scars on 45 - One Eskimo - WFPK Live Lunch

I attended the Live Lunch today and saw and heard a great show.  One Eskimo was delayed so the opening band Scars on 45 started the show.  This was the band's second radio appearance and their first American tour.  The group played a 5 song set with the highlight being the song Give Me Something.  Check out their website www.scarson45.com, you can download Give Me Something for free.

One Eskimo appeared at the half hour mark and played 3 songs.  The strongest was Kandi which is heavily played on WFPK.  The word was that the lead singer is nursing a sore throat but his performance was brillant.  Both bands are playing at Zanzabar tonight.  $10 for the show, a major bargain.

Sights & Sounds | Sunday, November 7 | 1:30pm | Speed Art Museum

The Kentucky Opera will present Giacomo Puccini’s opera  Madame Butterfly at the Kentucky Center for the Arts.  In collaboration with the Speed Art Museum, Kentucky Opera and Speed Art Museum will present a mix of art, lecture and a showing of the film, Memoir of a Geisha.  The event is free of charge! 

Louisville Art Web Site

http://kentuckyartspeaks.wordpress.com/

I recently found this website and it is a wonderful resource for Louisville artists, galleries and art happenings!  I believe that there is a wonderful art scene here in Louisville.  The problem is one of communication.  The great events that happen all over the city are never well advertised.

A case in point is all of the free concerts and recitals performed by the faculty and students of the University of Louisville School of Music.  The majority of the events are free and open to the public   The quality of performance is professional.  If you would like to be on the school's mailing list, contact Shaunitra Wisdom s.wisdom@louisville.edu

Nightmare!

One Eskimo with Hugo and Scars on 45 this coming Friday at Zanzabar on Preston Street.  Doors open at 9.PM.  This band has seen a lot of play on WFPK and I have it on my Pandora mix.  One Eskimo is also playing the Live Lunch at the WFPK.studio at 12 Noon on Friday as well http://www.wfpk.org/live-lunch/

Fall Fruits and Vegetables

My friend Teresa just gave me some golden beets and apples.  Pondering how to use them.  I know that I will make some spiced apple rings and some apple cobbler.  I would like to incorporate the beets and apples into some type of salad.... need to do some thinking and researching.

Dia de los Muertos at 21C Museum

http://www.21cmuseum.org/museum/exhibits/dead-2010.aspx
Annually, 21C mounts an exhibition in honor of the Mexican Day of the Dead.  Tomorrow is the day (coincides with Election Day).

Exploring the museum lobby and basement of the hotel is one of my favorite activities on a Sunday afternoon.  I love the bar attached to the hotel, though the 8 - 10 dollar a drink price point is a little steep for me. Can run up quite a tab quickly.