Success

This past summer, we went to Vermont, and we had a blast.  On the way home, I declared that it was mandatory to stop at King Arthur Flour on the way home.  And it was worth it!  I didn't know that the building was BRAND new, and we could see into the cooking classrooms.  The cafe was amazing.  The store was great, but of course, I expected over the top.  My husband and my kids had a good time trying to convince me to buy one of every thing!

I did buy lots of interesting things and now I need to replinish my supply (after two months).  I did buy some mixes, but what I really liked was the baking chocolate and the different kinds of chips.

Here is on the recipes that I made:

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/chewy-chocolate-chip-cookie-bars-recipe

The kids loved them and so did my coworkers!

POLITICAL GRIPE - UMASS and Tuition Free.

While I try to stay away from politics, I just can't stay quiet on this one.  I am so angry at Governor Romney.  He keeps REPEATING that HE made it possible for the BEST of the MA SENIORS to attend a Massachusetts Public College Tuition Free.

Back in the stone ages, when I was a UMASS Student, I remembered the "Curriculum Fee."  This fee was HIGHER than my tuiton, and while tuition rate hikes were capped at a certain level, the Curriculum Fee kept going higher and higher each year (and since my brother then went to UMASS my parents saw this fee over an EIGHT year period rise and rise).

Dear Governor Romney, I am sure that you can throw away $857 per semester.  That is how much "Tuition" is at UMASS per semester.  For you and your family, that kind of money isn't alot.  This semester's curriculum fee is $4,700.  So, while you offer a FREE ride to MA Seniors who are the best of the best, they still have to cough up $4,700 PER SEMESTER.  What is the curriculum fee. . . . it is a fee that is really tuition.  That Governor Romney, is REAL MONEY, and for the year it is almost $10K!  And over 4 years that is $40,000.  That is real money.  Meanwhile the FREE TUITION saves the family $6,800 over four years.  Not really that much compared to the $40K for the FEE.

http://www.umass.edu/bursar/Full-Time%20Undergraduate%20Fees.pdf

Of course, there is a "service fee" of $675 per semester.

And if you are in the HONORS part of UMASS that will cost you an additional $300 per semester!  NICE!  That used to be part of my TUITION and FEES.

AND if you want an engineering degree???  Tack on an additional $160 per semester!

Then there is the room fee, the meal fee, the telecommunications fee (mandatory for all on campus students).

So, Governor Romney, you were able to provide college for your kids . . . but not all of us can do that.  Some families rely on UMASS, and you and the others responsible for UMASS tuition and fees, have raised the fees, while keeping "tuition" low.  However, one can not attend UMASS without paying these fees.

Maple

I love maple...maple syrup and maple candy.  I have made maple ice cream and it is delicious.  When we were in Vermont I picked up a Vermont maple cookbook.  I had high hopes.  I had visions....and now I have made three disasters.  Each one worse than the previous.  Cakes not coming out of pans....brownies that are raw....and then burn in the center but yet the middle is batter.

For me the magic number is three.  If after three recipes in a row I have yet to make a successful and tasty dish I toss the book.  But I am convinced that the vegetable section must have a good recipe.

I am sure that my coworkers will gobble up the maple nut coffee cake pieces....and I stress pieces.  But I would like to make one good recipe from this book.

Gone girl and calzones

Another great book.  I love a great mystery and I love when it is written and I am surprised in a good way.  I highly recommend the book.

On a side note the other day my kids said that they have never had a calzone.  Last night I fixed that!  I made homemade calzones and the girl declared it was the best thing she had ever eaten.  Another new thing that all four of us can eat.  I had made a simple filling but next time I will try something more exotic.  However unlike pizza, you can't see the toppings.

No Recipe Posts - Just a book review

Last week I had gum surgery.  I won't get into the details, other than, I had no idea that the recovery from this would STINK.  Eating is hard work.  It is hard to control the food to make sure it doesn't go on the right side of my mouth.  I am done with yogurt, soup, ENSURE, BOOST and other soft foods.  In fact, even water sometimes hurts.

This post involves NO recipes.

Instead, I am going to let you all know that I finished the book Rav Hisda's Daughter by Maggie Anton.  I have read many of her books, and have enjoyed each one.  This one I enjoyed just as much, even though I bought it on my KINDLE.

The female lead, Dada, is a great female lead.  She is living life in post Temple destruction.  It is a male dominated world.  Females have little say about their future.  This book captured my attention!

Next on the TO READ list is GONE GIRL.  I just joined a book group, and am really excited to host my first group in November.  I gotta start reading the book.

Cooking!

Yes, I love my new kitchen.  Even though it is almost FIVE months old, and clearly broken in, I still love my kitchen.  LOVE IT.  I can't remember cooking in the old one.

Right now I am making Chewy Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Chip Cookie Bars, and some whole wheat maple bread.

Next up - a kugel - nice cold day, deserves a good kugel.

Stephanie

Saffron Chicken

This cookbook has become a favorite.  I heard her speak last year, during Jewish Book Month at Temple Emanuel in Newton, MA.  She spoke my language - she is a busy mom.  (She has five sons, so she is BUSY.)  I have made a few recipes from the book, but this one is EASY and YUMMY:

Chicken in Tomato Sauce and Saffron

2 packages of kosher chicken (the 8 piece package)

1 6 oz can tomato paste
1/4 t saffron powder
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 c olive oil
1 t salt
pepper
1 lime - just the juice.

Preheat oven to 350F

In a bowl, combine everything but the chicken.

Put the chicken in a large roasting pan (I line mine with Reynolds Non Stick Foil), and then rub the chicken pieces with the marinade.

Bake for 45 min to 60 min, until chicken is done.  Often I put tinfoil on top of the chicken to prevent burning.

This goes very well with Basmati Rice.  If you really want to WOW the crowd, try this recipe:

Steamed basmati rice with a crusty potato crust

Adapted from Sherene Michlin

3 cups basmati rice

1 tablespoon salt

Water

½ cup oil plus another ¼ cup

1 potatoe, ¼ inch slices

Clean and wash 3 cups of rice 5 times in warm water.  This is done by placing the rice in a large bowl.  Fill the bowl with water to cover the rice by an inch or two, and then slowly pour out the water from the bowl.  Repeat this until the starch has cleaned off the rice grains.

Bring 8 cups of water to a boil, add 2 tablespoons of salt and add drained rice.  Stir the pot 5 times to break up any clumps and then watch the heat so that the rice does not boil over.  Lower to a soft boil if necessary.  Cook for six minutes.  The rice should be al dente, soft with a firm center.  If still firm, boil for another minute or two, then drain the rice in a colander and discard water.

Coat a heavy bottom pot or Dutch oven with nonstick spray.  Pour ½ cup oil and 2 tablespoons water into pan.  Line bottom of pot with potatoes slices.  Sprinkle them with some salt.

Gently taking one spatula of rice out at a time place in pot.  Form rice into shape of a cone.  This shape leaves room for the rice to grow and expand while being steamed.

Cover pot and cook 8-10 minutes over medium heat to form potato crust.

In measuring cup combine ¼ cup oil and ½ cup hot water.  Pour/sprinkle over rice pyramid.  Do your best to distribute the oil/water mixture over the surface of the rice.  Place clean dish towel or 2 layers of paper towels over the pot and cover firmly to prevent steam from escaping.  Cook for 40-50 minutes over low heat.

Remove pot from heat and let sit for 5 minutes without uncovering it, this helps free the bottom crust.  Serve rice.