Category: San Luis Obispo

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no need to preserve cheese, if you eat it all?

Barrel aged Greek Feta Cheese

I bought a ‘brick’ of feta cheese aged in barrels in Greece. I told Laura I was going to preserve it until we need it when the family all gets together. The response to my statement on cheese preservation was an exasperated “WHAT FOR?” Many women find cheese an almost religious experience, by contrast, most men reserve these feelings for truly worthy culinary treats best tasted around a rotisserie barbecue.

With this little diversion behind me, I began to place my aged feta cheese in a brine solution and then into a special part of the refrigerator until needed. The brine solution most folks recommend is 1 pound of salt to 1 gallon of water and there is particular emphasis on keeping the naturally buoyant Feta submerged. I use a small plate  to weigh down the cheese. (This is very similar to weighing down meat in it’s seasoned brine solution to eventually turn into  corned beef.)


Although this is not a particularly difficult process, it is just one that too many folks forget. Old air dried Feta isn’t satisfactory.  However, I am reminded that if you eat it all in one sitting then… then, there is no problem?

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when in Sparta, try the olive oil and oregano

From the Valley of Sparta in Laconia, Greece comes a wonderful olive oil and Greek Oregano

In my ever ending search for culinary wonders, I found a delightful Olive Oil wrestled from the semi arid hills of ancient Greece. One can almost sense the presence of ancient Sparta in the exquisite flavor of this fine oil.

If you never have an opportunity to visit ancient Sparta (BTW, you will find few pictures of the area on the internet with the exception of this fine  Lykovouno Web Site)   you should stop and visit the olive groves nearby.   The story is charming , it tells of a San Francisco dematologist returning to his ancestral home to rekindle a business. Fortunately for me, I discovered in reading his web site that he has a number of outlets in Northern California!

‘Lykovouno’ means something like ‘Wolf Mountain’ and one can almost see Spartan King Leonidas as a boy traveling and killing a wolf… maybe on this very mountain as his rite of passage. Spartan Boys were sent out to fend for themselves to test their worthiness, often having to steal, capture or hunt to eat.

So whether you are planning a Greek Feast or for everyday cooking, Lykovouno  (pronounced Lee-ko-voo-no)   Olive oil is wonderful. HERE is the site!

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Egg Nog the fuel of Revolutions

Who really popularized Egg Nog in America? Our Egg Nog is distinctively American ... because we take the best ideas from everywhere!

If you look into how and where and why egg nog was developed you will be very disappointed because everyone claims to have had something similar. It reminds me of how the Sumerians claim to have invented Baklava… but crushed nuts, honey and flat bread aint a good substitute.

So, let’s just say that our American Egg Nog is distinctively different with its range of ingredients, long list of spices and multiple alcoholic beverages!

Very American Rye Whiskey, French Armagnac (Brandy), Sherry from Spain, Jamaican Rum

In the old days, most desserts contained one spice, usually a reflection of frugal times. Apple Pies were seasoned with cinnamon alone (or all spice), gingerbread had ginger and eggnog was a nutmeg flavored beverage; but this has all changed. It’s hard to buy a commercial brand of eggnog today that doesn’t contain at least three spices.

I like to blend spices ahead of time and save them for when they are needed... as with the Apple Pie seasonings above.

So, is it getting a little chilly yet? It is definitely approaching egg nog weather which usually starts around Thanksgiving!

Here is my recipe!

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I know what healthy is! Halloween feasting!

My daughter Karla drew this delightful picture of Mom, Karla and me feeding the 'trick or treaters'!

I love Halloween and although I have said this many times before, it is the only holiday in which we show kindness to strangers… or at least to the strange and unusual!

Karla feels that we should give out healthy snacks… and she offers them to the treaters, while I have passed out something more traditional. I have always enjoyed seeing the large eyes the young  get when they receive a See’s Bar! It’s something I’ve done for 25 years here and now I am starting to meet their children!

Happy Halloween!

(Karla is dressed in her ‘Samuri Warrior’ outfit and she has me in a hunting suit… and Mom… well… she is a Professor)