True, if you use pig feet in the stock, you get more jelling power. But in terms of taste, it's hard to tell the difference.
Friday, October 16, 2009
culinary discovery
Stock made from chickens tastes pretty much the same as stock made from chickens and pork.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Dreamstate effects
Laksa apparently has a noticeable effect on dream quality. Perhaps it's anything with coconut milk, I'm not sure. But last night's dreams were particularly complex, plot-driven affairs of the big-budget Hollywood type, with a very consistent and obvious art direction angle...somewhere between period spy thriller and high-budget sci-fi of the type starring your Ethan Hawkes or Uma Thurmans. Perhaps seeing Inglourious Basterds two days ago had something to do with this, but I'm more tempted to blame the curry paste.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
New Photo web site
In case anyone is out there, I have started putting photos up on the Photoshelter site. There are a few galleries up already, and I will try to be diligent about posting all the "backlog."
Until I figure out how to work this interwebs thing, the home page is at this ugly-ass address:
First try at Laksa, went as follows:
Laksa paste (which as far as I can tell, is just like making Thai curry paste):
garlic
shallots
fresh ginger
fresh kah
fresh turmeric
lemon grass
Thai shrimp paste
one ancho chili
two chipotle morita chilies
keffir lime rind
candlenuts
date sugar
All these things got chopped up and then mashed into paste the mortar. Then sauteed for a few minutes and put aside (there is some left).
(yes, I know using Mexican chilies is odd..but I have lots of them, and they add a nice smokey flavor. They got toasted before being soaked and chopped in. Also, lime rind is more of a Thai curry thing, but I like the flavor).
Soup base was homemade chicken and pork stock, to which was added the spice paste and coconut milk, fish sauce, more date sugar, and some lemongrass and a pandanus leaf.
Noodles were big wide flat Vietnamese rice noodles.
Meat was poached chicken (poached the stock and the meat pulled when nearly done, then the bones added back to the stock); this was seared in the pan before assembling the soup. I also added some tiny Holland shrimp to my bowl (they come in convenient packages at the supermarket and are very tasty)
Other ingredients - blanched Thai long beans and sauteed oyster mushrooms.
Extra toppings; crispy fried onions with turmeric, raw shallots; scallions;
Garnishes: mint, big Thai basil (krapraw), cilantro, bean sprouts, limes.
Result - heerlijk!
Friday, June 19, 2009
not gonna talk about politics no more
not much point...just gets me angry and does no good.
It's going to be pictures, food, and other stuff from now on.
like anyone cares...
Monday, April 20, 2009
if you're Republican, Democracy = tyranny
I have lost all the patience and motivation to debate or argue with Republicans, for the simple reason that they have proven over and over that they are just complete fucking imbeciles.
As their idiotic "tea party" protests made abundantly clear, Republicans firmly believe that "tyranny" is defined as "losing a fair and open democratic election." Of course, having the guy they voted for make torture legal, proudly break laws and illegally wiretap people, lock up anyone including American citizens without any legal process or charges, and so on - that's not "tyrrany" because it's the guy they voted for, get it?
No, for Republicans, "democracy" means they get to win elections regardless of how people "vote." "Supporting the Constitution" means their guy not supporting it. "Shredding the Constitution" means the other guy supporting it. "Supporting the President" means supporting the President they voted for and calling the guy they didn't' vote for Hitler and a Socialist. "Patriotism" means anyone who doesn't agree with their guy must leave the country, but when it's someone else they immediately want to secede or have a revolution.
I think it's honestly time to start sterilizing these people.
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