Month: October 2008

Posted on

What women really really want?

what women want... everything!

Women are fascinating creatures that often confound most men. “What women really want?” tends to trouble us more than just at birthdays and anniversaries. Everyone has needs that we can easily identify… but understanding the ‘wants’ are more elusive.

So, guys, here is my super secret strategy. I  ask  the women in my life what they want through actual ‘communication.’ It may seem like a strange technique, but it works better than  clairvoyance  . I also like to give folks what they want, not what I want them to have.
Odd as it seems, Laura wanted a new vacuum cleaner… a Dyson. Ok, I know what you are thinking…. old school guy gives the little woman a cleaner… not what it seems. In our little family, we have divided up chores on the basis of what bothers whom. Laura has a thing about the house… so she handles that. I have a thing about the kitchen and the yard… so I cook and handle all of that.
Her choice of a ‘gift’ surprised & amazed me… so I had to blog!

Roger

Posted on

Eggplant Parmesan ala Rogeir

Eggplant Parmesan

There is such a history to the use of eggplant in the foods of man… primarily as a meat substitute or meal extender throughout the ages.

Whatever the humble beginnings, it makes a nice dish in many forms, particularly if breaded and deep fried.

After a good head start from Aunt Jeanne, we worked up a new and improved version… that ws wonderful.

Check out our recipe!

Roger

Yes, that is feta cheese on top … plus a whole lot more

Posted on

Cooking with Eggplant

the humble eggplant

My wife of 36 years has very few faults — and I mean that sincerely — but those she has surround what she considers ‘acceptable’ cuisine. There are two items that we tend to think of as vegetables ( Eggplant is actually a berry) that she has always found objectionable: Okra and Eggplant. I would normally enjoy dishes made with these ingredients only when I traveled on the road.  However, the challenges with many ‘vegetables’ is always in the preparation, usually needing to reduce their moisture so that they don’t make a fine dish… watery. So, I would argue that it is the preparation and not the eggplant that is the issue.

With a little encouragement from Laura’s aunt Jeanne, Laura is ready to try something … new. Most of the recipes you will find on the internet do not address the issue of ‘wateriness’ as they tend to view quickness in preparation as more important than the final product. Sorry, that’s just the way I see it.

I am deep frying slices of seasoned and battered eggplant that has first had some moisture reduction therapy (details to follow when I post the recipe) that I will layer in a casserole with various cheeses and our own Marinara Sauce… along with a few surprises… so far it all smells delicious!

Stay tuned!

Roger Freberg

Although the Arabs like to take credit for many things, including bringing the eggplant to europe in the middle ages, the eggplant originated in Asia where it has been cooked before time began; China and India are the top producers today.

Yes, you can make the recipe  Jenny Craig compliant  and portion controlled. I plan to include a nutritional panel and a portion size suggestion.

Posted on

An American Carol : an inconvenient truth

an American Carol is an Inconvenient Truth

I had the opportunity to see “An American Carol” and laughed my a** off! Congratulations to the brave men and women of “an American Carol” who may never work in Hollywood again.

In any movie there are those wonderful back stories about how no one would syndicate this movie until someone from France stepped in! France, I do understand this, after all, didn’t they have those ‘immigrant riots’? Anyway, a lot of the movie was ‘reductum ad absurdum’ (to reduce to absurdity)… to make their point by showing truly funny examples of what hasn’t happened. They traveled back in time to show Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito all singing ‘kumbaya’ together to the very naive British Prime Minister, a couple of suicide bomber nuns and a skit of college professors indoctrinating students.

If you were taken to see a Michael Moore flick… take them to see this… but see it anyway and don’t feel bad about laughing out loud.

Roger Freberg

Posted on

It’s always cool to get something in the mail

the Republican candidates for President and Vice President

No this isn’t one of those photoshopped pictures… but a nice gesture by Senator McCain and Governor Palin to their millions of supporters. Even this isn’t a rare collectable, per se… it was fun to open the envelope and find it there.

I do have an autographed book by John McCain… which is also fun.

Good Luck!

Roger