A Dinner Party with Friends

On Sunday I had some friends over for dinner (it had been a while since the last time) and decided to make a couple of dishes I hadn't made before.

One of my friends says that EVERY time she is with me, she tries something she has never had before. I am seeing how long I can keep this streak going for. So far it's been about 7 months :)

She had never had duck, so duck was definitely on the menu. Also, for a while now, I have been craving garlic noodles from Crustacean restaurant. I found a copy cat recipe which I then bastardized even more. Both of these dishes were very good, but I have got to say, the noodles were phenomenal!!!

I don't have pictures because I has 1.5 hours to put the whole mean together, but both dishes came out beautifully.

Chinatown Steamed and Roasted Duck
Recipe By: Tyler Florence

Ingredients:
1 whole (4 to 5 pound) duck
1 tablespoon Chinese five-spice powder
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
5 slices big fresh ginger
4 cloves garlic
1/2 bunch green onions
1 tangerine,peel cut in big strips
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup soy sauce

Directions:
Duck is notoriously a fatty bird, to diminish the fat and produce a crispy skin, begin by trimming the excess fat from the neck and body. Rinse the duck, inside and out, and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Combine the Chinese five-spice, sugar, and salt in a small bowl. Rub the spice mixture all over the duck, inside and out. Salt and five-spice powder makes a fragrant dry marinade, which draws some of the moisture from the duck so that the spices penetrate. Stuff the duck cavity with the aromatics: the ginger, garlic, green onions, and tangerine peel. Fold the wing tips back under the duck and tie the legs together with kitchen string. Poke the duck breast a few times, piercing the skin.
Place a roasting pan on the stovetop over 2 burners and fill with 2-inches of water, turn the heat to medium. Set a V-rack insert inside the pan and lay the duck on the rack, breast-side up. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Steam the duck for 45 minutes, checking the water level periodically. Steaming the duck first melts away some of the fat and shrinks the skin.
In a small saucepan combine the vinegar, honey, and soy sauce over low heat. Cook and stir for 5 minutes until thick. The duck will be lacquered with the sweet glaze, which caramelizes during roasting, making the skin crisp and brown.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Take the foil off the duck, remove the rack with the duck, and pour out the water and all the fat that has rendered out (this is great to use in other dishes like fried rice.) Put the rack with the duck back inside the roasting pan. Baste the duck with the vinegar mixture, until all the skin is completely coated in the glaze. Stick the whole thing in the oven. Roast the duck for 1 hour, basting periodically with any remaining glaze to set in a deep mahogany color. Tent the breast with some foil if it gets too dark. The legs will wiggle easily when it's done. Carve and serve.

Crustacean-inspired Garlic Noodles Recipe

Ingredients:
1 lb fresh noodles
4 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic (pounded)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 1/2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder (used vegetable bouillon cube)
2 1/2 teaspoons oyster sauce
5 teaspoons grated parmesan cheese (omitted - it REALLY didn't need it so I'm glad I left it out)

Directions:
Rinse the noodles with cold water and set aside. Heat up a pot of water and let it boil. Boil the noodles in the hot water until they are done, drain the water, and set aside to cool down the noodles.

In a pan, saute the garlic with the olive oil in medium heat. The purpose is to infuse the olive oil with garlicky flavor. Discard the garlic and then add in 4 tablespoons of butter and turn the heat to low. Add in the chicken bouillon powder, garlic powder, oyster sauce and blend well. Set aside to let it cool.

Once the garlic mixture is cool and the noodles are cool at room temperature, pour the garlic mixture over the noodles and toss them together to blend well. Add in the grated parmesan cheese, toss well, and serve immediately.

WTF???

OK - WTF is wrong with people?? Seriously!!!

My 4 year old (almost 5) monkey takes a ballet class and a Broadway jazz class. In her ballet class, she is the youngest, but one of the best.

This morning, I dropped my little monkey off at preschool. This is a Russian, private preschool. As the monkey walks in to the school, the owner pulls me aside and tells me the following:

She feels like she needs to inform me that I am wasting my money on the dance classes the monkey is taking. That during rehearsals for their recital, she and the dance teacher that comes to the preschool, noticed that the monkey has no dance-ability. That the other kids are so much better than her. That the dance classes were doing nothing for her. That maybe she should get a new teacher. That maybe she should trying going to the dance teacher that comes to the preschool.

I was flabbergasted, to say the least. Thank G-d I was wearing sunglasses when we had this conversation. I mean, really, WTF????? Why would you feel the need to say this to me? Did I ask for your opinion???

This has annoyed me the entire day, and I'm not even sure why. It's not like I believe her, but still... No mom likes to be told that their kid sucks!

Only in a Russian preschool, can the people be so rude as to insult you under the guise of giving you advice! Thankfully, the monkey graduates from there in August.

The Wrong Feature

This is my Monday feature, "The WRONG feature".

Play along.

5 things you think maybe be wrong, for one reason or another and 1 that you KNOW is wrong.

Is this wrong:

• I got my first graders teacher drunk on Saturday night at a school fund raiser
• My dinner tonight was left over desserts from dinner last night
• I constantly wish there was a way to TIVO (actually DirecTV DVR) three shows at one time. Yes, I love TV.
• I want to look in to the future 5 years to see if the choices I am making are the right ones
• I'd love to hire someone to rearrange my closet because I have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear - and I'm scared to take a whack at it myself

I KNOW this is just WRONG :

The Hoff is binge drinking again - and makes his 16 year old take care of him. http://www.tmz.com/2009/05/04/david-hasselhoffs-weekend-the-real-story/ . Seriously, grow the eff up!

Teachers are people too

Last night I got the monkey's 1st grade teacher DUH-RUNK!

Another parent and I went to a silent auction for the school. The theme was sixties, maybe 70 people showed up, and it was pretty boring. We decided to partake in the bar. All of the sudden we see the monkey's teacher (who teaches her daughter too). We decided to make things more interesting and do some shots. We asked her teacher to partake. She was game.

She had no idea that you could do Vodka shots. As a person of Russian origin, we don't sip Vodka. Sipping vodka is nasty. We shoot it - and not tiny American shots. But big ole Russian shots (about an American double shot at least). Over the evening, we did 3 double shots. We ended up having a great time with the teacher.

One thing - I swear like a sailor when I drink - oops! I normally won't swear much, and not at all in front of the kids, but fuck, when I drink, I like to drop "f" bombs.

Hopefully she won't remember that on Monday.

I was telling this story to my friends when one said "teachers are people too". I should have know better, especially after reading Vodka Mom, but for some reason I feel like I corrupted her.

I still remember hearing her say, "I can drink, but you got me wasted" over and over again!

Time is running ahead

Tonight I got off late from work and decided to stop and get a bite to eat. I went to a Chinese restaurant I had never been to before, even though it's around the corner from my house.

There were groups of senior citizens eating. In fact, I was the only person under 50 there (maybe 60). There was a number of small groups and one big group of 20 or so.

They all looked to be having a great time, chatting and reliving their youth. Or just going out to eat with their spouse.

Today, I am constantly running around, wishing for more time here, less time there. I am constantly looking to improve myself, my life.

These people made me stop. Reassess a little bit. And slow down.

What a great lesson.

Facebook

Best time waster ever! Yes, I absolutely hate the "enhancements" made to the site (bring back the old news feeder) but it's still a great waste of time.

I can take quizzes for days, comment on peoples status' and find people I didn't know I wanted to re-connect with.

Most importantly, if I ever need to procrastinate, it is there to welcome me in to its' loving arms.

OK...now I've grossed myself out.

Reality shows are not real??

The Hills -

• Suddenly Lauren has stopped talking about her dating life. So what about her real life actor boy friend? Why isn't he on the show?

The Real Housewives of NYC -

• "I can't wait to bake something" "I know pancakes in the morning" Ummm, you don't bake pancakes.
• "I love your appliances. Who makes them" Ummm, BIG OLD Monogram GE emblem on them! "I like GE"
• by the way, Kelly is insane!!!

Dancing With The Stars -

• "It's been honor to be here, and so much fun" Ummm, is that the case or do they want to revive their careers and lose weight?

American Idol -

• Who cares what place you finish? If you're good you're going to get a contract.

The 8 Meme

I was tagged for this meme by From KS to PA. It took awhile but was actually pretty fun.


8 Things I'm Looking Forward to:
Lunch with friends tomorrow
The weekend
Making Sunday brunch with the monkey's
The little monkey's birthday party in May
Summer (I love the heat and long days)
The Economy getting better
Napa Valley vacation in September
Finishing this meme

8 Things I did yesterday
Went to work
Had lunch with a friend
Came home
Went to a sushi dinner with the husband and the monkeys
Played the "Eye Spy" game at dinner
Went to Barnes and Noble and bought the next book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series
Booked the party place for the little monkey's birthday
Surfed the web

8 Things I wish I could do
Get weekly massages, mani/pedi's, etc...
Take more vacations with the family
Sing
Get to a point where I am happy with my weight and my body
Buy anything I want without worrying about money
Stay on a budget
Be more patient with the monkeys

8 Shows I watch
Greys Anatomy
The Mentalist
Lie to Me
Dancing With The Stars
Housewives of OC/NYC/ATL
Entourage
House
The Unit

8 Tags
Jiggety Jig
Caffeine Court
Dirty Socks and Pizza
I Left My Heart at Preschool
It's All About Balance
Janana Bee
The Norwidians
Under The Influence

The Wrong Feature

This is my Monday feature, "The WRONG feature".

Play along.

5 things you think maybe be wrong, for one reason or another and 1 that you KNOW is wrong.
Is this wrong:

• Swine Flu Not Kosher in Israel (OK, more funny than wrong)
• I don't feel well enough to go and work out but will get up and drive to the bookstore to get book 5 of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series
• When I posted my Facebook status that I was making homemade chicken soup, I got a lecture from a girl I knew in childhood on the CORRECT way to make chicken soup!
• I won't pay retail on clothes for myself but will buy brand new books, read them once and then just give them away
• I am tying to eat healthy and then go and buy European dark chocolate and walnut candies (and tell myself that they are for the kids and husband only)

I KNOW this is just WRONG :

Speidi got married - shudder! How about we legalize same sex marriage and make it against the law for these two to continue their fake lives (I hate to even call what they do living)!

Jewish Penicillin

I've been battling a bit of a head cold this weekend. Today, I decided to do what I could to battle it.

I made Chicken Soup. I will post the recipe tomorrow (not really a recipe actually - just the way I make it).

Chicken Soup is also knows as Jewish Penicillin.

According to Medterms.com:

Jewish penicillin: Chicken soup. If not really a form of penicillin," chicken soup may, in fact, have some therapeutic merit.

A study published in the journal Chest demonstrated that chicken soup may contain substances with beneficial activity including an anti-inflammatory effect that could ease the symptoms of colds and other upper respiratory infections. Chicken soup was found to inhibit neutrophil migration providing a basis for an anti-inflammatory activity. "Undoubtedly, the in vivo effects of chicken soup include more than the effects on neutrophils," the researchers wrote. "The warm liquid, particularly when sipped, can stimulate nasal clearance and may improve upper respiratory tract symptoms." (Rennard BO, Ertl RF, Grossman GL, et al. Chicken soup inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro. Chest. 2000;18:1150-1157.)
It should be added that to benefit from Jewish penicillin, one need not be Jewish

In the last couple of weeks I've been relying more on cures of generations past. I still BELIEVE in modern medicine, but it feels nice to be able to treat without medicines.

I'm not 100% well yet, but I did feel soothed while eating my broth :)

Guest Post

You can find me posting today at Moms Without Blogs. I am so excited!

I have been reading Lee since I began blogging. She started at around the same time as I did and she has done SO MUCH with her blog. She has a number of moms, who actually have no blogs, who guest post - she gives them a forum to talk about their lives and experiences.

She also has a number of bloggy moms who contribute to her blog.

I am very excited to be contributing to her Simple Recipe Saturday. Enjoy!

Moms Have It Hard

I was talking to a girl friend tonight. She wasn't born in this country, and only emigrated about 10 years ago. She got married here and has 2 sons.

Her husband and her were discussing her working. She tried to explain to him that it wouldn't work out. She doesn't have a degree in America. She has never really worked here. The only jobs she could get wouldn't pay much more than minimum wage. Not even enough to pay for after school care.

Also, she spends about 1.5 hours each day with her eldest son on homework (the younger one is still in preschool). Her husband just doesn't understand these things. He is very proud when his son brings home great report cards, but is ignorant to the reason behind the grades. If she didn't work so much with him, he would not do as well. Her mom spent the majority of time, during my friends' childhood, working and making my friend do everything by herself, and my friend did not get as much out of school as a consequence.

I think dads don't always see everything that we moms do for/with our kids. Kind of like the groceries - you know, the ones the magically appear in the refrigerator ;)

I KNOW that things are tough for all moms, regardless of if you are a stay at home mom (like she is) or a working mom (like I am).

Sometimes the old fashioned cures are the best

Instead of antibiotics, for the little monkey's eye, I tried the old school cure of chamomile tea.

I was talking to a girl friend this morning, and she was telling me that her husband offered her some Chamomile Tea to drink. Her response - "But I'm not sick". Russians (and many others) use Chamomile as a medicinal herb, not really for drinking tea.

According to gardenguides.com:

What Chamomile Can Do For You
by Diane Kennedy Snyder

Chamomile with its rich apple scent is one of the most popular herbal teas in the world. Most people think of chamomile as tea. Chamomile is much more.
There are several types of chamomile. German Chamomile/ Matricaria recutita is a tall annual, which grows wild. Roman Chamomile/ Chamaemelum nobile is a low-growing perennial. Another type of chamomile is Moroccan Chamomile, often called the poor cousin.
Chamomile was worshiped by ancient Egyptians, prescribed by many a Greek doctor and is well known as one of the sacred herbs of the ancient manuscript, Lacnunga. Chamomile comes from the Greek word meaning ground apple.
Chamomile has many different applications: sedative, relaxant, depression aid, stress reliever, soothes teething and colic, calms the digestive system, settles nervous indigestion, gastritis, relieves headaches, menstruation, disorders of the kidney, liver and the bladder, hay fever, insomnia, hiccups, stomach cramps, vomiting, appetite loss, spastic pain, arthritis, is an anti-inflammatory agent, inhalant for asthma treatment; lightens, cleans, and conditions hair, used as a rinse for dandruff; skin cleanser; relieves eczema, helps ease itching, acne, burns, infected wounds, ulcers, and facial neuralgia, diarrhea aid, and is an insect repellent.

The swelling in the eye has gone SIGNIFICANTLY down. Hopefully it will go away tomorrow.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

Antibiotics and doctors offices

Why is it that doctors offices give out antibiotics like they are candy????

The little monkey had a puffy eye this morning. So off to the doctor we go (I feel as though I am at their offices every other week).

An aside...why the heck do I have the one child who doesn't just sit quietly in the waiting room watching the movie. No...I have to have the one who keeps talking, asking questions, pointing to other people, etc...

Not pink eye, not a sty, not a bite... So, it's either an allergy or an "infection". We came home and I gave her Benadryl. That doesn't help.

Therefore, it must be an "infection", which I think is fancy doctor talk that actually means "I have no idea what the hell is wrong with your child". The cure for "we have no idea what it is" - antibiotics.

I think I'm going to call their office back tomorrow morning and see if we can do something homeopathic instead.

Any suggestion?

The Wrong Feature

This is my Monday feature, "The WRONG feature".

Play along.

5 things you think maybe be wrong, for one reason or another and 1 that you KNOW is wrong.

Is this wrong:

• Even though it is 100 degrees outside, I still have the heater on in my office (my feet get cold even though I love to wear sandals)
• No matter what time I get home I have to watch TV for at least an hour
• I love to get comments but I am not the best in replying to each person
• I am very social but sometimes I would rather be left alone with a good book (OK, fine, more than just sometimes)
• I am excited about the challenge of building an access database from scratch

I KNOW this is just WRONG :

I was filling up the car tonight, sitting in the car reading while the gas tank was filing up. I hear a click telling me that the gas is filled. I squeeze the handle one more time just to make sure that the gas is topped off.

I look up to see my $$ damage and this is what I see:

I guess gas prices really are hell ;)