Category: Food & Wine

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Beef Stroganoff is more than you think!

Is it Stroganoff or Rogeroff... you decide!

One of the favorite meals in our family is beef Stroganoff.

The recipe isn’t the easy 1950’s one that most people think of… however, it is well worth the time and trouble to make something special as we did again today!

Here’s our own ancient recipe for Beef Stroganoff!

The reason most people don’t think about Russian Cuisine is that it was simply ‘asleep’ for about 80 years until ingredients and basic raw materials became more readily available.

Elena Molokhovet and her classic Russian Cookbook from 1891 was for many years in Soviet Russia little more than an interesting book with wonderful ideas on cooking. In fact, the very first Stroganoff traces itself back to this early cookbook given to young wives starting out.

I have this cookbook and you can too with a little looking, but as they warn you… it is time consuming and requires many ingredients.

Ah… for me this is always what I really want to hear!

Roger

Много очень вкусный русских рецептов еды!

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Jenny Craig in CHINA!

Karen or Here is Karen… or should I call her by her Chinese name “Kailin”?

‘Kailin’ is posing at the Great Wall with her  Jenny Craig  Breakfast. ‘Kailin’ is a mere shadow of herself from the days she held 4 National Powerlifting Records! Now she wants to continue dropping weight until the size 10’s she has on now are ‘baggy’ and she has to get smaller sizes!

Both she and Kristin ( or ‘Ki-li-si-tan’ in Chinese ) are off Jenny a time or two in order to sample the local cuisine which I here is wonderful.

They thought that the most recognizable picture from China would be with the Great Wall which at it’s closest point — they tell me — is only 50 miles or so from the outskirts of Beijing!

By the way, my daughters don’t pack things as well as I do when it comes to shipping things and I tease them a lot if anything comes to me crunched, dented or as mush. I used to think that my packing superiority was due to the fact that I moved so much as a child ( 5 different second grades for example). However, I now know that this completely inherited… because look what I received in the mail from their aunt ( my wife’s sister):

this was once a clock

It’s hard to imagine that this was once an exquisite marble clock, ;however, with time and a little patience I’ll get it put together… after all, unbelievably, the mechanism still works! Laura has a nice family… just don’t let them touch anything.

Roger Freberg

Here are some pictures from Day 2 in and around Beijing! 

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Great Raspberry Sauce for Chocolate Desserts!

Raspberry and Creme de Cassis Sauce

We have loved this wonderful Raspberry Sauce with a wide group of Chocolate desserts. Whether is be a chocolate cheesecake or a chocolate cake… this sauce makes the dessert special!

Preparing the Raspberry & Crème de Cassis Sauce


3 cups (one 12-ounce bag) (.7 liters) frozen unsweetened raspberries
1 cup (.23 liters) red currant jelly
2/3 cup (.15 liters) granulated sugar
1 tablespoon (15.4 milliters) arrowroot
1 tablespoon water (15.4 milliters)
1 tablespoon or more Creme de Cassis (15.4 milliters)

 

 

Making the Raspberry & Crème de Cassis Sauce

 

Step 1) Combine Ingredients, cook over medium heat, do not let mixture boil. Strain raspberry mixture into a bowl. Discard seeds. Pour raspberry purée back into saucepan.

 

Step 2) Mix arrowroot and water in small bowl. Stir in arrowroot  . Cook   stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a gentle boil. Cool sauce and add in Creme de Cassis as desired, yahoo!   Cover and refrigerateRoger Freberg

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Travel, Business and Education in China!

Business Cards are fundamental for travelers
My daughters have been planning their trip to China (Beijing to be exact) for some time. They plan to see all of the great attractions: the Great Wall, the Square, the Forbidden City and a martial arts theater. Karen’s classmate ‘Han’ suggested that she frequent a certain ‘secret’ alley of shops known to the locals… but to keep an eye on changing prices!

The original intent of the trip was in conjunction with a presentation Karen is giving at the Reputation Institute. However, this has evolved into a grand experience for the two of them.

As a parent of adult children, my participation is limited to researching great things to see and do… which is fun… although I have to — sadly — remind myself that I am not the one going! I guess that’s what parents sometimes do… wave at their adventurous offspring as they meet the world.

I did suggest that there is a new culinary school to visit, plus the names of some interesting restaurants… but then, they don’t have all the time in the world.

Have fun!

Dad

Yep, they even have their Business Cards!