plum tart & mexican with girls

we got a new girl at the office not too long ago. well, time flies, it was may... for years there was just one woman at that desk, then i came along and little over year ago another, now we are six. newest addition moved from another town, bought a house, there was talk of a house warming party, then there was summer vacations, then there was more talk, finally about a month ago it was decided to set a date and try to make sure that all of us could come. getting us six off duty at the same time wasn't that simple, the desk needs to be "manned" every day from 7 am to 22 pm, only 2 of us work the same shift... however, and never mind how, we finally had this party yesterday evening.


thru arrangements 4 of us worked the day (including the hostess), i sort of volunteered to fix the food and decided on mexican (as it's super easy and fast) and rustic plum tart as dessert. decided on this plum tart because, how shall i put this, i wasn't sure there would be a pie pan in the kitchen i was baking in.. surprise, there was!

decided to make the crust the night before, it would be well chilled, easy to transport and everyone has a rolling pin, right? here's what you need

recipe calls for yellow corn meal, which i didn't have so i put some semolina instead (worked fine), but in a pinch you could just add that amount of regular flour. it pays to actually chill everything, i usually skip this chilling (confession time), somehow the crust came out perfect (note, i had not done this before). the steel contraption? it's a pastry blender, if you don't have one, food processor works fine and that is actually what the recipe says to use. i do find this contraption very useful. actually, it might work for mashed potatoes as well

the blender leaves nice size butter pockets that help make the crust crisp

don't mix too much after adding the cold water, the dough needs to stay a bit lumpy

on cling film, ready to be formed into a disc

all packed, ready for fridge and baking later on





fresh from oven, it was served with whipped (real) cream with some vanilla extract and sugar in it. recipe doesn't call for it but i used some demerera sugar on top the crust to make it even more crispier. i was very happy on how this tart turned out, will definitely make it again to serve with mascarpone

my heap of mexican goodness on a corn tortilla, made a mess eating it (wasn't the only one!) there is letture, grated aged cheddar, tomatoes, jalapenos, salsa, chili beans, rosa mexicano guacamole, red onions, bell pepper, spicy chicken on top. i might have forgotten something...






turned out that the only thing needing improvising in the kitchen was using a bottle (empty!) of bubble as a rolling pin. she did have one (pink of all colors!) but little did i know that you're supposed to fill it with water in order for it work, oh well...

oh, girls! why do wear black socks?!?!?!







here's the fireplace at the shack, very handy as it's getting colder and we'll not be having a shortage on fire wood...

nyc, day 5, oct 7th

got up very early to be on time for the martha show taping on west 26th. got a ticket (certain someone declined for some reason) for the 10 o'clock taping, was told to be there latest 8.30. there are arrangements before the show, and i'm sure they seat people by the color they wear. we were told that we're live (later on, when i arrived at the hotel, low and behold, the show was on tv...) haven't (still) watched the whole show so i'm not sure if i got my 15 seconds of fame







anyways, there are instructions as what and what not to wear (dress to impress), not going to bore you with details of my attire, other than mentioning that i've always worn an orange top for a martha taping (this was my third, in as many years). this was the set for oct 7th show







no video at any times, you can take pics before and after the taping. here's martha answering someone's question after the show (right before she went to yoga). we got 3 freebies: the michelin guide of nyc resturants 2010, october issue of everyday food and laura day's new book how to rule the world from your couch. gave the michelin guide and everyday food to F & A, since they might enjoy them more, haven't started day's book yet, but will tell you how it was after i've done so







while i was at martha, certain someone went (all on his own!) to dan's chelsea guitar to check "the last hole in the wall guitar shop" and got a t-shirt to prove it...

later on in the day, we took the train to 72th str station and central park. this is the dakota, people still gather in front of it







he was there







nyc classic, pretzel with generous amount of salt







you have no idea how amusing this dog was, and well behaved...







him taking mine







me taking his







towards south east corner of central park







towards south west corner of the park







dozens of these poor horses provide amusement for tourists, didn't seem like the horses were enjoying it. don't know, it's a living for many but the animals shouldn't be put do this. it's just plain wrong to make them walk on asphalt for days on end







this wednesday also included a quick tour of midtown, here's st patrick's from inside







rockefeller center. 10 yrs ago i went ice-skating there with A, who had not seen skates in her life (correct if i'm wrong!), we had so much fun then!







both of us in the pic... ocean spray was promoting cranberries at the rockefeller center, we were on opposite sides of their very cute old red truck







cranberries and then some







we also visited chinatown, briefly, on this fine wednesday. i think certain someone didn't quite enjoy this outing, too many people around. these are... dried mushrooms?







dried fish?







street life in chinatown







only a couple of blocks away, little italy







the afternoon was exhausting, so i was told. we went back to the hotel, but i went out and about by myself for a few hours frantic shopping tour in chelsea. had to stop at rickshaw for some dumplings, these were classic pork. we went back on friday before getting a cab to the airport but they weren't open yet, bummer, will have to try again on next trip







wednesday evening we went to A & F's new apartment for dinner. F deals with wine so we got some tasters. we liked laetitia pinot noir arroyo grande valley, drank the whole bottle, i think? if so, sorry F!


we ordered in from phillipine restaurant Ihawan2, my entree bbq pork with rice, very rich, very tasty and not spicy at all, i liked!







one of 2 appetizers we got, lumpiang shanghai, fried minced pork and shrimp springrolls, the other was fried squid (not very photogenical)







this is avocado con hielo: avocado, sugar, crushed ice and milk, soooo good! but not something i would have come up first hand with an avocado







the kitchen... i want the stove, i want the fridge, oh heck, i want the kitchen!!!







A & F's living room







the view, for this alone, but the kitchen as well?!?!? guys, do you need a live-in maid, or something? please?







took the train back to hotel. could be just my imagination but certain someone might have thought that it wasn't the correct form of transportation at that time of night, we got to hotel all well anyway

teriyaki salmon & getting ready for winter

sometimes i get a graving for eggplant and i do cook with it quite often. what i usually don't get from the shop is fish, the prices are outrageous (and because dad's fish is always fresher). this time there was salmon with very reasonable price, i got some to try with teriyaki marinade.

got these veggies to go with the salmon, and some leek from day before. i had no idea how this would end up, but here's how it started

one famous nigella says you don't have to sweat eggplant before cooking, maybe you don't but i always do. sprinkle generous amount of salt on chopped / sliced eggplant, let sweat for 30 to 45 mins, rinse and dry well







this went into veggie side dish, bell pepper, leek, eggplant, carrot and white onion. my japanese santoku knife, looks great but always makea a blister, annoying!







started with 1 tbsp of rapeseed oil, high heat and sauteed eggplant first by itself (eggplant could soak up as much oil as you pour, that's why i like my non-stick pan). lowered the heat and softened (not browned) the onion before adding carrot







merry mix cooking away (do not like eggplant that's not cooked enough) before peppers and leeks. did add 1dl of water. oh, just realized that forgot to take a pics of the dish when done... cooked the eggplant, onion and carrot mixture for 15mins on medium heat with the water. added pepper and leek to cook for 5 mins more (just to vilt the leek, really). after that 1 tsp chinese chili oil (hot stuff!) and 1 tsp sesame oil (too much spoils everything) for a little asian effect to bind the veggies with the salmon. i wasn't too happy with the bland color of this dish but it sure tasted good







salmon swam in teriyaki marinade (skin side up) for 2 hrs in the fridge







seared flesh side on hot pan, no fat, then turned skin side down and heat to low to continue cooking under cover, added a couple of tbsp of water to pan before lid. (discard the leftover marinade). i was tempted to taste the salmon right out of marinade but resisted (love sushi!). biggest mistake with fish is to overcook it, this came out perfect







certain someone had to work for his lunch, clearing the storm damage from week ago







did my share by storing deck furniture for winter







table and chairs went into this unused barrel sauna (from the link you get the idea what barrel sauna looks like). all nice and cosy inside, hidden from rain, sleet and snow







folded the cover nice and proper, martha would be proud of me...

by the time all this was done i was almost late for work..

nyc, day 4, oct 6th

i had bought us tickets to intrepid over internet to avoid the lines. all well, except we were there bright and early so the line wasn't that bad to begin with






the ship's bell







can you believe they landed in this from the first moon mission??? looks like a tin can...







the amount of food served daily on the ship... i forgot, but it was tons for the 3000 member crew. no wonder they needed industrial size "kitchen aid"







flight deck







bridge




























certain someone and lockheed A-12 blackbird







wing tip of the above mentioned blackbird







tail view of the same







grumman F-14 tomcat







bell AH-1 cobra







by the time we were done with intrepid it was way past lunch time and we were very hungry. times square and red lobster weren't that far, so there we went







appetizers, i guess they must have a name, i didn't ask, probably crabcake of sort, definitely not diet food!







wood-grilled lobster, shrimp and scallops







lobster tail, shimps in 2 ways







had to take certain someone back to the hotel for a nap after this... went shopping around herald sq, took this on the way back to the hotel right after i met mr & mrs R (from work!) on 6th avenue, i had no idea they were in the city. it really is a small world





























went for an evening stroll together later in the evening, and for a "light" snack. the beer might have been enough, the lunch was quite heavy







late night traffic on w 23rd