The New York Times published an (ostensibly) news article today about the way weatherization money in the stimulus bill is being divvied up. This strikes me as the kind of journalism that makes parts of the country seize particularly on the NYT when they want a scapegoat.
We came home from running errands to discover that our cable had finally been turned off. Probably the hardest part for me (aside from Bravo’s refusal to put its programming on Hulu) is that for nearly 10 years, I have set the timer on my television every night, and fallen asleep with The Daily Show or a Keith Olbermann replay as background noise. Last night I felt fairly virtuous going to bed with a book in my hand – it’s been a very long time since I did that.
You know, my whole life I’ve hated the left’s reputation for being elitist; I especially hated the fact that we often are. But in the wake of George Tiller’s murder, I made the mistake of reading the Twitter feed of all those mentioning Tiller’s name. I have to say, it’s hard not to believe I’m better than these people: Read more »
Well, at least it seems big to me. We’ve decided to cancel our cable and buy an antenna. (We’ll keep the internet.) Read more »
In preparation for the big move, Lilly Bear got a haircut. I’ve always wanted to compare the before and afters:
The Derby food turned out great. The burgers definitely tasted like a traditional hot brown. I love mint juleps (my version in particular), but they’re definitely an acquired taste. If you’re thinking about making them, proceed with caution.
I know that I’m late to the party on commenting on Meghan McCain, since she’s already been media topic-of-the-day a couple times now since the election. However, I started following her on Twitter yesterday (another bandwagon I’m late for), and I have to admit, she’s very charming. She’s even pretty moderate; in the wake of the news that Maine had legalized gay marriage, she said, “Congrats to Maine, such amazing news!!!!!”. And some Democratic friends of mine have commented that if every Republican were like her, they’d be more likely to support a Republican.
It all sounds a little familiar.
These are almost the exact feelings expressed for John McCain a few years ago. He was a seemingly moderate, funny, Democrat-seducing guy whom the press couldn’t write a bad story about. The problem is, the conservative underbelly was still there, and it took the spotlight of an election to expose it. And I imagine that Meghan is the same way, were she to run for office: if she had to articulate a position on a wide range of issues, if she had to woo voters in a Republican primary, and if she had to provide differences between herself and a Democratic opponent, the charm would start to wear off.
Democrats wanted to believe that John McCain was one of them, but he was a Republican for a reason. Granted, Meghan may just be a Republican because her father is one of the most famous Republicans there is, but there would have to be some policy stances to back it up were she to run.
With any luck, though, she won’t consider elected office, and we’ll get to keep the facade. I mean, she likes the Flaming Lips – who would want to lose that?
The Kentucky Hot Brown is traditional on Derby Day, but unfortunately, it isn’t finger food. Because the first Saturday in May is perfect for grilling everywhere in the country, I figured why not turn this regional favorite into burger that can be enjoyed anywhere?
Serves 4
Ingredients:
4-8 slices bacon, depending on your preference
1.33 lbs. ground turkey (typical package size – I would use just 1 lb if it were available)
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1-2 tablespoons bourbon
1 heaping teaspoon Dijon mustard
8 slices French bread or bread of your choice
2 eggs
¼ cup milk
Dash nutmeg
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
4 slices sharp white cheddar cheese
1 large or 2 small tomatoes, sliced
Cook the bacon (in the oven or frying pan) until crispy. Set aside on paper towel to drain.
Combine the turkey, maple syrup, bourbon and mustard in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Shape into four patties. Grill approximately six minutes on each side, or until cooked through. During the last three minutes of cooking, put one slide of cheddar cheese on top of each burger to melt.
Whisk together the eggs, milk, parmesan cheese, and nutmeg. Brush mixture onto one side of each slice of bread. Place bread under broiler or in toaster oven until browned.
To assemble the burgers, place one slice of bread egg mixture side up. Top with one patty, tomato, and bacon slices, and another slice of bread, egg side facing the toppings. Serve with a frosty mint julep.
Before we get on to the excitement of the day, I want to take a moment to remember Eight Belles. Horses (and dogs) are willing to work so hard to do what we ask of them, and they can’t tell us when something hurts. I think the first step to ensuring that we don’t exploit them is simply remembering that they sacrifice for us out of loyalty and eagerness to please.
Last year, Jane Smiley (Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Horse Heaven) wrote a lovely, wise and heartfelt eulogy shortly after Eight Belles’ death. Maybe this year we can appreciate it without foolish comparisons to Hillary Clinton. Here is a excerpt:
“We all know people who cannot admit defeat, and horses can be the same. We all know people who simply defy their own weaknesses and go on. I see Eight Belles’s death as heroic in that sense — stubborn and foolish, shocking and tragic, but not, in the end, an accident. I think the filly’s courage deserves respect, not pity.”
Ahhh, the staple of Derby Day. Indeed, the only reason some people get excited for horse racing at all. There are a surprising number of recipes and techniques for this classic drink. After lots of trial and error, I have found this method works best.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 bunch mint (8-12 sprigs, minimum)
1 cup bourbon
Lots of ice
The night before the Derby, make the simple syrup. Select the four nicest sprigs of mint and set aside to use as garnish. Place the rest in the bottom of a small sauce pan. Add the sugar and 1 cup of water. Cook over high heat until the mixture boils and all the sugar has dissolved. Pour all the contents into a glass container and refrigerate overnight.
To assemble the drinks:
Remove the lower leaves from the sprig, leaving the top few for your garnish. Place the leaves in the bottom of a silver julep cup or old-fashioned glass. Crush with the back of your spoon, but be careful not to tear the leaves. Scoop two spoonfuls (approximately two tablespoons) of sugar syrup into each glass. Add 1/4 cup bourbon, and stir to dilute the sugar syrup evenly. Fill the glass to the brim with ice and stir to blend until the outside of the glass is frosty. Slip in your mint sprig for garnish and serve!
