10 Things To Think About Re: Paula Deen

Guys at the Camellia Grill from Kitchy Cooking

 1. Paula Deen is nearly 70 years old and raised in the deep South.  One would be hard pressed to find a 70-year-old Southerner (or 60 or 50 or 40 for that matter) who hasn't used a racial slur in some form or another.  (It is not right, but it is a fact.)

2.  All week "brand" consultants said Deen should have just lied under oath.  (That is the kind of brand one wants, the kind that lies under oath.  Though most Southerners would be inclined to lie about it.)

3. The woman who caused Deen to be deposed offered to drop her harassment suit... if Deen would pay her 12 million dollars.  (Who's harassing who?)

4. While Deen was being dropped by the Food Network, Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich, and Graham Elliot, the three judges on Masterchef were accused by several female contestants of sexual harassment.  This was not featured on CNN.  P.S. Masterchef is thinking of dropping the segment that it filmed with Paula Deen.  (As an aside, Masterchef is show about home cooks.  Most of the people on the show are like Paula Deen, they are trying to find a way to improve life for their family.  Many are single parents.  Recently, Joe Bastianich stood next to his mother and threw food at one of the contestants because he didn't like his pasta.  (If Bobby Deen had thrown food at someone, I'll just bet his Mama would have slapped him!)

5.  Speaking of the Food Network, it seems a bit ironic that they are "horrified" by a racist comment but rarely feature African-American chefs on any of their shows.  Only one of their regular programs is hosted by African Americans.  As Mama might say... Deeds not words.

6.  The Camellia Grill in New Orleans has all male, predominately African-American waiters.  The dress code is white jackets and black bow ties.  Hooters employs and all female waitstaff who are required to wear short shorts and skintight Hooters shirts.

7.  Edward Lee spoke out about Deen.  He had filmed a show for her and was not glad that it would not air.   He said of Paula Deen,

"In my infinite innocence, I was excited for it. I was flattered that Mrs. Deen would even ask me on her show. I felt like we connected the Old and New Southern values through a dialogue of food – albeit in light-hearted and sugar-coated cooking skits. I dare say, I felt proud. In light of all the noise that surfaced this week, I realize there is still a deep ravine between the two and the opinions of many this week was an exercise in tearing apart rather than building bridges. Mrs. Deen was gracious, friendly and funny. Unfortunately, none of those qualities trumps racism."

I am sure Lee is in no way innocent.  He learned to cook from a Korean grandmother and if he is honest, he heard some pretty racist things in his kitchen.  Clearly instead of gracious, funny, friendly, Deen should have shouted obscenity at Lee and thrown pasta at him.  Then maybe she would be respected.

8.  If the "N" word is the most horrific pejorative in the English language, why do people in their teens, 20's, 30's use it so often?  For weeks I hear Kanye West and Jay-Z sing Niggas in Paris. At the 55th Grammy Awards the song won best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.  Perhaps if the word is so offensive EVERYONE should stop using it.   (I do understand the intellectual argument for reclaiming, but Jay-Z wins a Grammy?)

9. In case you missed it because you were too busy watching Paula Deen, the United States Supreme Court struck down the Voting Rights Provision and sent Affirmative Action back to the lower court.  Chief Justice John Roberts will, however, keep his job.

10.  There is no dialogue about race in America because no one wants to be called a racists. Because it easier to fire someone from the Food Network (who admits to telling the truth) than it is to look at the racial makeup of the Food Network. Because using the "N" word can get you fired or win you a Grammy.  Because the South is hotbed of lingering racist behavior if you cook there, but if you vote there, it is one big melting pot devoid of any racism.

The Score:

Fired

Paula Deen

Still Working

Gordon Ramsay

Joe Bastianich

Graham Elliot

John Roberts

Antonin Scalia

Anthony Kennedy

Clarence Thomas

Samuel Alito

Kitty Grooming Day

Sunday is Kitty Grooming Day at Doe Run Farm.   We ALL have mixed emotions about it.   This Sunday, Trick decided to go with a new center part.  It looks quite lovely.

Happy Sesquicentennial

Today is the sesquicentennial of West Virginia.   Our 150th Birthday.

West Virginia has the distinction of being the only state to secede from the Confederacy!

Their first choice for a state name was Kanawha.  No one liked it.  Nor were they fond of Allegheny, New Virginia, Augusta, Columbia nor Western Virginia, so finally they decided on West Virginia.


Check out Bootstraps and Biscuits:  300 wonderful wild recipes from the hills of West Virginia at Cookbook Of The Day.

AN ASIDE:

I just love the word "sesquicentennial" and one must wait 150 years to use it and then it's over. The prefix "sesqui" translates to one and one-half.  It forms one of my other favorite words (one that can be used on any occasion)  "sesquipedalian."   Coined by Horace in his Ars Poetica it literally translates to a foot and half long, but it means to use big words, like "sesquicentennial."

Party Time

Southerner love to throw a party.   We can turn virtually anything into a a gigantic celebration.   We have many a homegrown holiday to celebrate, like Decoration Day and Mardi Gras.   Take a look at the Kentucky Derby for example.   The actual running of the Derby is over in roughly three minutes. Secretariat ran the fastest Kentucky Derby at 1:59.40.  In that case, the whole thing is over in under two minutes!  Now ask yourself how long is the party for the Kentucky Derby?   Louisville starts parting a full two weeks before the race.  That equals a week of parties for each minute of the actual race.   That sounds about right.

Gone With the Wind would have been a much shorter book and movie if the law of diminishing party returns had been fully explained to Scarlett.

Scene:  The Picnic at Twelve Oaks.  Scarlett and Melanie sit talking.

SCARLETT

Of course we will win the war.  Our uniforms are prettier.

MELANIE

But Mr. Butler says we have no canon forges.

SCARLETT

Fiddle Dee Dee.

MELANIE

 But if all the men go to war, who will we dance with at the cotillion?  It will just be us at the barbecue. You and me at the tea dance.   No debutant balls, no....

SCARLETT

Mammy!

MAMMY

Yes, Miss Scarlett.

SCARLETT

 Gather all the slaves.

Scene:  Scarlett and Melanie got to the upstairs balcony and look out at the gathered slaves below.

SCARLETT

 Y'all all free.   Pick up your checks on Friday.  Now get back to work.

MELANIE

We should have a party!

SCARLETT

 We should have two weeks of parties.

THE END

When Yankees arrived at Fort Sumpter, they would have been in time for the big Emancipation Dinner Dance.


And what of today's festivities?   Yes boys and girls, today is:

National Bourbon Day

And you foolishly went to work!   Leave now, there is ice to crush, lemons to peel, bitters to buy.

Generally, as big Jack Daniels drinkers, we favor the Tennessee whiskey to the Kentucky Bourbon, but today is Bourbon Day, so we are breaking out the Woodford.  And maybe the Maker's Mark or that old school Elijah Craig.

While all bourbons are whiskey, not all whiskey is bourbon.   Here are some fun facts to impress your friends for National Bourbon Day.

Elijah Craig is sometimes credited with being the originator of Kentucky bourbon, but probably not.  P.S. Craig was a Baptist minister, who'd a thunk it.

In 1964 President Lyndon  Johnson signed an Act of Congress that designated bourbon as “The Official Spirit of America.”  And you thought it was Diet Coke!

There is no such thing as "French " bourbon.  Bourbon must be made in America with Kentucky being the bourbon epicenter.

Bourbon is made from a mash which is mostly corn, giving it its nickname "corn whiskey."   The ratio of corn must be at least 51% but no more than 79%.

Bourbon is aged in American White Oak barrels that have been charred inside.  

Bourbon must be aged two years.


So now you know pretty much everything you need to know for National Bourbon Day.


We suggest two things  --  Bourbon and ice.

Fine! If you insist on complicating the whole thing try a Boulevardier.  Its basically a bourbon Negroni.

Boulevardier

1 1/2 ounces Bourbon
3/4 ounce Campari
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
a cherry for garnish

Put the liquors in a shaker of ice.  Stir, strain and serve with the cherry on top.

Go forth and drink.

But do not drive!!!

Full Disclosure:  We took the photo from Saveur and believe it might be some sort of Manhattan, but it resembled a Boulevardier, and we are writing before our actual drinking begins.

Technical Help???

 

Does anyone blog using an iPad??  I thought my iPad would make it much easier, but I tend to get bogged down and just not post.  I tried Blogsy but it didn't like to post anything over a few sentences.   I would be interested in your comments, ideas, apps or whatever.

Mint Julep

                          

                                       

    

  Yes, there is a whole lot of cocktails going on.   Not the traditional silver julep cup, but then not your traditional julep.  We headed over to Todd Thrasher's new foodie emporium, Society Fair.  We left a big jug of Mint Syrup.  Yes, we could have made our own but this was just so easy.

                                                    

                                         

       

So, just grab some ice, a sprig of mint, your favorite bourbon, and the mint syrup and a drink is just around the burn pit.                                                               

               

            

             

You've Got A Friend

My friend, Ann, had serious back surgery earlier this year.  Needless to say, she has been a bit worthless.  For Memorial Day, I went to visit to help out.  I mowed, trimmed trees, cut some firewood, scrubbed the old 70's brick fireplace wall, painted it white, hung blinds and drank a good bit of gin.

I hung this rather large painting that Ann acquired some time ago.  It had never been unwrapped.   It looked quite nice on the white wall.   I forgot to take any photos so Ann sent these along.   She photographed the painting with the dust rag still sitting on the table!  

For Christmas this year, I gave several people a set of the Target Andy Warhol Tomato Soup cans.  I had them on the mantle with a small abstract painting her father did for her.   This was the photo she sent.

Her back is still interfering with her life!   But the room looks much better.

White Fruit Salad

I admit to a rather unhealthy adoration of white food.  Grits, rice, potatoes -- yes I know the more colorful one's diet the healthier one will be.  I have heard it and ignored it.

Recently, I was cooking a leg of lamb.  My side dish was to be scalloped potatoes.  I wanted something colorful and acidic to cut through the richness of the meat and potatoes.   Someone suggested a fruit salad, and I thought a nice colorful mix of plums, peaches, berries, and herbs with a tangy vinaigrette would do the trick.

"Pick some nice fruit for the salad," I said on the phone.  I dug into the bag of fruit when my guests arrived.  The was an apple. An Asian pear.  Two mushy Bartlett pears.  A small watermelon.  A cantaloupe that felt full and ripe, but when cut into was a gelatinous slime.   I will admit that I missed the blueberries and blackberries that got tucked into the fridge without my knowledge.   My guests were used to the plastic cups labeled "fruit salad" at the high end grocery that contain chunks of melon, a few berries and maybe a chunk of pineapple.

I set about making a white fruit salad, and found a green veggie to serve with the lamb.   When I set the fruit salad on the table there was an uproar.  It did not look like any fruit salad they had ever eaten.  It was all white with some cucumber in it and a revolt was at hand.  Then they ate it.  It was delicious, even though it was white and there were no chunks of watermelon.

White Fruit Salad

1 Asian pear
2 Bartlet pears
1 apple
1 small English cucumber
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 lime, juiced
Pinch of salt

Peal the pears and apple and cut into a small dice.  Do the same with the English cucumber.  Sprinkle with the lime juice and salt.   Toss in the cilantro.

Dressing

1 lime, juiced
2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon fruity vinegar


Mix together in a small bowl and toss into the fruit salad.

Remember, it is your fruit salad... if you don't like cilantro add parsley.  Lemon work as do limes.  Cider or champagne vinegar will work,as will a white balsamic.  Use mayonnaise instead of yogurt if you so choose.  When dressing the salad, however, less is more.   You want the fruit to be gently assisted by the dressing and not drowned.


Some guests might just balk at white fruit salad, but give them a minute.  There was about a tablespoon left in the bowl and put it into the chicken's snack.  Someone yelled from the other room, "You're not throwing that away?"  Don't worry, we'll make more.

Death In The Afternoon

My last week sucked. There is really no other way to put it.  It sucked.  I will try to spare you most of it, but do let me say that if I hadn't had my blogger friends out there to keep me informed an enlightened it would have been worse.  Still, I spent a lot of time sitting very still with my eyes closed as the television played in the background. 

There are a lot of Criminal Minds, CSI, SVU type shows that run in the afternoon.  I find this interesting since most of those show feature brutalized or dead women.   They also feature really lovely coroners and criminologists with long flowing hair.  At some point his week I watched as one of these glamorous coroners pull the body of woman out the water and load her on a gurney.  The body had better hair than I did!  According to the story line she had been in the water 3 days -- 3 days and her hair looked better than mine, which did nothing to improve my mood.  (I know it was just a fake TV body, but still, it should not have had coiffed hair.)

Saturday there was a chicken massacre.   A rampaging raccoon killed 5 chickens and injured several other.  I got the survivors locked up and set about burying the bodies.   Several chickens remained unaccounted for.  As I approached the bodies, the first thing I did was pull my hair back.  Even after burying the chickens, who were never touched by my human hands and whose liver temp I did not check, I still felt scuzzy.

I went inside, took a shower and was half dressed when I heard a chicken scream.  I went running out of the house to save her wearing  my Roll Tide t-shirt and little else. The screaming chicken was running wildly, the raccoon was chasing her, I was chasing the raccoon, while screaming wildly.  We ran almost to the barn when the chicken a turned and headed back toward me.  When she turned, so did the raccoon.  At this point, he looked to be the size of English Springer Spaniel.  He was running right at me as stood there motionless.

All I could think about was the glamorous coroner who would find my body in the yard -- with bad hair.  Not to mention no pants and probably no face as those are the tastiest bit to predatory animals.  At the last minuet, the raccoon turned, clearly appalled by wet and stringy hair.  Or perhaps he was an Ole Miss raccoon.  Either way... do press on dear Bloggers,  one never knows whose life one might be lifting.

To quote Scarlett O'Hara, "Tomorrow's another day..."

Week End Espalier

This weekend's "big" project was moving and wiring up the espaliered apple tree.   Frankly, when it comes to fruit trees our thumb is closer to black than green, but we have high hopes for our espalier.  It has survived two years which is generally one year and eleven months longer than most of our fruit trees.  Do keep your fingers crossed.