HUNGRY GERALD

OH, MY!!! Another lush BSK “doubleheader”—a dish made in an amount to give pleasure for two nights of suppers. The dish is paprika (much) with lentils; skin-on chicken thighs; chunks of sweet potato; onion slices, chopped garlic and crushed cumin seeds. Surprise ingredient is “Daqua”, an Egyption vinegar condiment. This gives the dish a unique flavor (and color as it combines with the cumin). BSK served it with orzo. HG. splashed HG’s bowls with hot sauce. BSK opted for sprinkles of parmesan. Wonderful. dining—could eat it every night.

Happily, HG/BSK’s beautiful/brilliant. daughter, Lesley R., was with HG/BSK at their Canadian  scenic waterfront home on Prince Edward Island on October 12, Canadian Thanksgiving Day. Also present for a traditional turkey feast was BSK’s sister. Noel, and her husband, Yossi. (they live on PEI and Lesley. is visiting to help clean up and shut down the family home.). Feast. began with cups of creamy squash soup (a tradition introduced by HG’s beloved late sister, Beulah Naomi F. Katz). Then, turkey and mashed potatoes with abundant, pungent gravy. Turkey was edible. But, not comparable to the turkeys BSK’s late father, Roy K., would buy from a local farmer for Ohio holiday feasts  —Succulent–on a par with BSK’s cranberry sauce. PEI side dishes included stuffing, brussel sprouts, string beans and –Oh, joy.!!–BSK’s cranberry sauce, world’s best.

Delightful dinner party last night at HG/BSK’s  scenic  (fabulous sea views) family waterfront home on Canada’s Prince Edward Island. BSK’s sister and brother in law, Noel and Yossi M., brought along their house guests from Forest, Ontario: Patti and Bill L.   Starter was a salad of Newfoundland baby shrimp. This was followed by spaghetti with Bolognese meat sauce. Dessert was Apple Crisp and vanilla ice cream. Drank much pinot noir.  Savory supper. Bill L. is a Finn and enlivened the meal with tales of the tangled relations of Finland and Russia,(Battles in the snow. B-r-r-r!!)

HG eats lots of cashew nuts–a generous handful at lunch (with a glass of orange juice) and a larger handful at the cocktail hour (drinking vermouth and campari on the rocks). HG is grateful that cashews have health benefits. They help with regularity. They are a good source of vitamins and minerals. They contain some fiber and an amount of protein.They may lower cancer risk. So, munch on HG, munch on!!

The best quick meal is heathy and tasty, Beat one (or two) eggs into simmering chicken broth. Add silken tofu, parsley, soy sauce and a dash of hot sauce.   Add shreds of left over chicken, ground pork, vegetables. Pleasant addition would be kasha or quinoa or couscous (HG likes. hearty Israeli couscous). For more protein, add shrimp or a thin slice of haddock. Pour a glass of dry white wine and enjoy a quick gourmand treat.

BSK is the best home cook.  Every night BSK and HG share a yummy supper together. HG is enveloped in a wave of culinary joy. BSK, in addition, is efficient and economical.  A specialty is BSK’s “doubleheaders”. That is, BSK makes enough of a favored dish to provide two happy suppers.  Two nights ago, BSK cooked a lush and fragrant chicken/mushroom curry. Fabulous. Last night, BSK completed the “doubleheader” by adding juicy shrimp to the curry. More joy.

In previous posts, HG noted that. when HG was a young journalist there was only one Mexican restaurant in New York—and it was terrible. HG discovered real Mexican tacos in a little hole in the wall eatery near First Avenue and 32nd Street. HG was intrigued and on a subsequent visit to close friend Peter. m (deceased) in Los Angeles HG asked Peter to steer HG to a good Mexican restaurant. Peter, no foodie, chose Taco Bell. HG, a Mexican food neophyte, found the chain’s tacos quite tasty. Since those days, a massive migration of Mexicans has caused an explosion of Mexican eateries (HG thinks they may outnumber hamburger joints). HG now opts for sophisticated (and pricey) Mexican cuisine (still opts for tacos and burritos upon occasion). Mexican restaurants are so prolific that Prince Edward Island (Canada’s Smallest Province where HG/BSK have a scenic family waterfront home ) now has three quite good Mexican restaurants. Pass the pico de gallo.

HG is very fond of hot dogs. Eating them at Nathan’s on the Coney Island oceanfront boardwalk was a windswept treat. Jewish delicatessens served tasty New York franks and “specials” (like a knockwurst). At home HG grilled Hebrew National hot dogs. When in an expansive mood, HG ordered Schaller & Weber franks (shop is a long time fixture of New York’s German Yorktown neighborhood–their weisswurst are exceptional). However, the best doggies HG ever ate was at an unlikely location–the hot dog stand in a corner of the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal on 8th Avenue. The combination of the heated roll, the fabulous pork/beef hot dog, the tangy sauerkraut and the pungent mustard was a fast food masterpiece. HG was a bus commuter from Montclair, NJ, for many decades, Coming and going, HG always devoured these morsels. BSK sometimes mused why HG was modest about supper portions. Port Authority hot dog appetizers took the edge off supper fressing.

What is the best thing to eat with a glass of icy vodka? The answer is “gribenes” (grieven). This is Yiddish for the crunchy bits of chicken skin left over as a by-product of rendering chicken fat aka schmaltz . The salty, crisp tidbit is incomparable. (HG’s beloved late Mom made the ultimate “gribenes”). They used to be for sale in New York Jewish delicatessens, They are now very hard to find. (New York old time Jewish treats are disappearing from NYC as the city becomes more cosmopolitan).

Talented son Jeremy left HG a big container of his smooth, tasty zucchini soup before he left Prince Edward Island for his family home in Tokyo (Jeremy shares his Japanese home with wife, Maiko; son Haru and daughter Teuru. Jeremy and Mako own and run the busy izakaya–Freeman Shokudo which serves the best pastrami ever). Brooklyn barbecue rules!! HG has J’s zucchini soup for lunch every day. Happiness in a bowl!!.