Gotham Gal

relaxing for just a little bit more

I really wanted to go to the beach and relax at the end of the summer.  As Josh told me today on the phone, you are such a doer and now you are in such a total chill mode that it seems frustrating for you when we come out there with so many friends.  Interesting observation.  He could be right. 

There is no doubt I am in chill mode.  Reading books, exercising because I need to ( as in I'd rather be a lump) , thinking of projects on the horizon, etc..  Regardless of how much I unplug and recharge, at my age or where I am in my life, you can never fully unplug. 

I just finished reading the book, The Slap.  An interesting multi-cultural slice of Australian life.  Although the story centers around a young child who is slapped by an adult at a party, there is much more to the book than what appears on the surface.  It is about choices.  The reader glimpses into each character and how they feel about where they are in their lives.  There is one couple with two children who might be unsure of many things in their relationship but at the end of the day it still comes back to being responsible for the choices that they have made and their connection to each other.

Maybe because I am, gasp, middle-aged but I see many of my peers taking pause of where they are in their life.  Sure, you can check out of life for a week or so but you still have a mortgage to pay, children that you are responsible for, relationships that you have built over the years and perhaps businesses or a job that relies of you.  And then there is always the kids...and family. 

Many of the characters in the book wanted sides to be drawn in the sand.  When it came down to it each character had to make their own choice based on decisions that had been made a long time ago or the course their lives took.  As people I know that have made decisions to get divorced or forge down a different path, one forgets that you are still connected to your children and the decisions made from the life you had before.  Those responsibilities don't just evaporate because you want them to.  Obviously they could but that would leave serious destruction in your wake. 

So as I sit here in my big orange chair reading my book and contemplating whether to make blueberry jam or not, this time is short-lived.  I still run errands, I still have lots of kids coming and going, I still have responsibilities from businesses to finances, I still am in my life.  Certainly nice to sleep countless hours and contemplate new horizons but the reality is that those new horizons will always have old horizons embedded in the plans. 

banana peanut butter bread

I found this recipe while searching for whole wheat pizza dough on the net.  It uses whole wheat flour too.  Quite tasty and a bit different.  It is a rainy day and baking seems appropriate.  The house smells amazing.  I wish I could capture it and send that over this post.

Preheat oven to 350.

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking flour

1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature

1 cup peanut butter ( I used extra crunchy )

2 ounces cream cheese

1/3 cup heavy cream

4 soft bananas

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup light brown sugar

1 1/2 cups peanut butter chips

Mix together the butter, cream cheese and peanut butter.  Add in the light brown sugar, vanilla and eggs.  Mix together.  Mix together the flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl.  Then incorporate in to the other mixture.  Mix thoroughly.  Add the peanut butter chips.

Bake in a loaf pan for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  I doubled this recipe so I used 3 loaf pans plus a brownie pan.  I ran out of loaf pans.  This recipe makes a lot!

Not sure how I feel about the whole wheat flour I used.  It is from Amber Waves Farm.  My whole wheat pizza dough is still suspect.  More on that later. 

a mix of weekend eats

There was a recipe this week in the NYTimes for a light summer appetizer.  Simple and easy to substitute with other things in the pantry. 

Here is what I did.  I toasted a few pieces of sliced country French bread and the let it cool. 

1 cup of ricotta mixed with the juice of half a lemon and a few drops of olive oil

2 peaches peeled and thinly sliced

Arugula mixed with fresh lemon juice, olive oil and kosher salt

Sliced almonds

Spread the ricotta over the bread, one layer of peaches, toss a little bit of arugula on top and then the almonds.  Really good.  I did the same thing again the next day but used figs and no arugula but just a little bit of honey dribbled over the top.  I put peaches on a few and figs on others.  Nice presentation and a light easy starter with the first bottle of wine of the night.  

Made this tray of tomatoes with mozzarella and pesto on the side for Fred's bday on Friday night.  New layout from my traditional layout of years past. 

My friends bought me the Ninja Pro.  A new mixer that can chop anything including ice.  It is an easy clean up too.  I made guacamole and salsa.  The machine over chopped everything.  I do prefer the chunky but it is quick and easy.  I just used the machine for chopping individual items and then mixed them together at the end.  I had 9 for dinner last night so the machine is not big enough to whip up salsa for 9.

Guacamole:

6 soft avocados

1 red onion

1/2 jalapeno

Juice of one lemon

2 Italian tomatoes

a few shots of Tabasco sauce

kosher salt

This is a recipe that always needs doctoring.  Put this together and then play with it.  Maybe another tomato, more lemon juice, etc.

Salsa:

10 Italian tomatoes

2 Vidalia onions

handfuls of cilantro

kosher salt

1 jalapeno

Juice of two limes

Chop away.

Grilled shrimp, grilled fish (white fish), soft tacos, chopped napa cabbage.  Dig in. 

where does the legal drug money go?

I was happy to see a health bill care bill passed this past year.  To me, it meant a change in a different direction that was sorely needed.  One bill isn't going to fix the system but at least it is a step towards a new path. 

Personally, we have been lucky in terms of our health.  We all show up for our annual check-ups and bi-yearly dentist appointments with few hiccups.  There has been conversation that we are going to change our health care policy this year to a health care savings account but have yet to pull the trigger.  Regardless, I do use our insurance card for any prescribed drugs we pick up at the pharmacy.  This week I got a small glimpse into the insanity of the health care system. 

Emily takes a particular medication for her skin.  It is prescribed by our dermatologist.  Each time Emily runs out, we repeat the process.  The doctor calls in her prescription to the pharmacy, the pharmacy calls our insurance company (who is Oxford Select) and then they decide not to give Emily the drug.  Then our doctor (her assistant) calls Oxford and goes through the explanation on why they prescribe this drug to Emily. Oxford then gives it the okay by giving the pharmacy a number which allows them to pass on the Oxford savings to us.  The prescription then costs us about $40 and lasts for roughly a month.  Lots of back and forth every single month which is a cost that is not equated into the transaction. 

Last week we went to fill the prescription and the 3-4 day process began again.  By the time Emily got out to the beach, they had not finished the monthly game of tag.  She came without her meds and not that it is life threatening but she needed them. 

I called our dermatologist and asked them to call in another prescription out here.  They did.  I figured that I would just bag the insurance out here because it is always such a hassle and her drugs have already been filled in the city.  Thinking it couldn't cost more than $80 and I'd only do it once without insurance.  I assumed that there is no way that the insurance company would agree to two separate prescriptions for the same 30 days when they make it so difficult just to get the one.  I assumed right. 

I walk into the pharmacy and ask to pick up the meds for Emily Wilson.  She pulls the bag out from the back and that was when I noticed the price.  $567.  At first I thought it must be a typo.  She looks at me and asks me if I have an insurance card.  Standing there speechless, she is just smiling and nodding because she is well aware of the difference.  I tell her I am going to come back with the card.  I am blown away by the cost.

Back with my card, they go through the process of calling in the prescription to the insurance company and the prescription is declined.  The pharmacists calls the NYC pharmacy to try and switch the insurance to here but ends up the prescription had already been picked up by someone in our house.  I told the pharmacist that I was blown away by the price.  I had no idea.  He said two things that stuck.  One is that he isn't making the money on the difference in price (someone is) and two is that this particular drug doesn't have a generic brand.

I understand the high cost of research and development on the pharmaceutical companies part and they are charging high prices to recoup that.  I understand that the insurance company makes a guess of how many people under their umbrella are going to buy the drug Emily uses every year and negotiates a price with the pharmaceutical company based on that.  Hence that is why we pay only $40 with the insurance card.  Yet do they really believe that holding back for four days and making it so difficult to get the drug is the best way to reign in their costs? 

The system is surely broke.  We spend billions of dollars on health-care from hospitals to medications.  We now have the ability to help people live longer and healthier lives yet the actual costs are so high.  The pharmacist isn't making anymore money.  The companies are making more money which in turn pays for lobbyists to keep the whole circle going. 

I certainly don't know the answer on how to fix the system but my tiny observation over the weekend in dealing with the insurance company to get Emily a skin drug which is just a benefit not life saving blew me away.  $566 for 30 pills vs $40 with my card.  All I can say is, wow. 

The Egg

I was going to post about Exile on Main Street which is one of the new restaurants in Amagansett.  I met my friends there last night for dinner.  This morning I felt like a garlic clove.  The food was fine, I won't go back and it isn't worth the pictures I took.  Instead, I am going to post pictures of The Egg.

My friend, who I had dinner with last night, is a total foodie.  He loves products, restaurants, food, anything related to the food industry and particularly he loves candy.  These pictures are from his Egg.  Totally cool.

   

This chicken looks incredible.  Could an egg be my next fun accessory?
 

Peach Pie

Yesterday I taught my friend how to make a pie.  We went for a peach.  One with a classic pie top and the other lattice.  She realized how much work actually goes into a pie.  It is a work in motion but somehow always recovers in the end. 

This is the recipe I used for the pie crust.  We made two separate batches of this crust.  Using the Cuisinart to mix.

• 3 cups flour
• 2 T sugar
• 2 t. kosher salt
• 2 1/4 sticks unsalted butter
• 8 T or more of unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 t. apple cider vinegar
• 3 T. very cold water

Out here, the air is laden with water.  So sometimes you need a little more water for the crust to come together.  Better sticky than crumbly.

We sliced and peeled about 18 peaches.  Mixed that with 1/4 cup of sugar, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 1 1/2 tsp, 1  tsp. kosher salt, 1 1/2 cardamon and 2 T. corn starch.  The peaches are prime right now and the seasonings just help bring out the flavors where the corn starch just helps the peaches stick together.

Baked at 350 for about 45 minutes.  Yum.  

Next weeks lesson is either blueberry jam or canned tomato sauce.  Maybe both?

Amber Waves Farm, Amagansett

When two young women, Kate Baldwin and Amanda Merrow, win a bid from the Peconic Land Trust to begin a farm, you know that change is taking place.  The next generation of farmers are not only interested in growing local produce, they are interested in becoming a piece of the community where they can educate locals on why eating tomatoes in January is not very good for the environment.  The carbon mile for each tomato to get to each mouth on the East End of Long Island is not like creating a salad with local squash at that time of the year.  That is their mission as well as growing beautiful products that are sold to local restaurants and residents.  They have also begun to grow wheat which is something that has not grown out here in almost 50 years when it used to be grown in abundance.  I got a jar of wheat flour last night which I plan on using soon.  Very impressive farmers. 

The dinner last night was to hopefully get people interested in their mission.  Butting against their 7.5 acres is a huge building sitting on 2 acres with 94 parking spaces.  They are interested in turning that into a place where people can take cooking classes, students can come and learn about local products and carbon miles, a cafe where their wares can be sold, etc.  Think of the success of Dan Barber with Stone Barn/Blue Hill Farms and then replicate that idea on the East End.  Super smart. 

It is always refreshing and energizing meeting young people who are trying to change the world.  Doesn't matter what the content is.  In this particular case the content is farming but that type of energy and entrepreneurial drive is really what makes this country continue to change and move forward. 

Amber Wave Farms is located behind the Amagansett Market.  I am going to go over there today and load up on their wares.  Tomatoes galore.  Above is a picture of their husk cherries.  Small husks filled with tiny golden tomatoes that taste like nothing I have ever had before. 

This was the table where we had dinner.  Nothing like sitting in the middle of beautiful greenery.

The food was delicious.  The tomatoes could not be beat.

Even the cheese's we started with from Lucy's Whey, a local cheesemonger.  Lucy has actually expanded her reach into the Chelsea Market.  A tiny shop in the back. 

Dessert, which was made by Carissa Waechter, who is part of Amber Farms and is a pastry chef by training who worked in some of the top restaurants in NYC, was outstanding.  The cups she served this in were made of corn oil so they are completely biodegradable.  The small croutons on top were made from donuts. 

Really glad I was invited to this event.  They need to raise a significant amount of cash to buy the property/building next door.  They are a registered non-for-profit business but just starting out and it does take time to cultivate foundations or even Government money.  The building is a once in a lifetime event.  Not sure how Government in Long Island works but whoever oversees the City Council of this particular area of the world should be writing these women a big fat check.  This is the type of new local thinking that we should all be supporting. 

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• Unlikely Harvest for 2 Young Farmers (nytimes.com)

South Edison, Montauk

Last night, two girlfriends and I had dinner at South Edison in Montauk.  Ends up so did a few people we knew too...thank you Foursquare. Actually my friend who was there had sent me an email earlier in the summer saying South Edison is the best thing that has happened in the East end since I had been gone.  One of my friends has known the chef,Todd Mitgang, for years and he treated us to many dishes.  He is absolutely adorable and might have accomplished something that nobody has actually been able to accomplish before, consistent good food across the menu on the East end of Long Island.  Bravo!

Started out with small corn cakes and a maple butter on top. 

The place is open, clean and very beach feeling.  I am going to run through everything we had last night.  For the first round, salt and vinegar fried shishito peppers.  I love these.  Really well done yet some where so spicy that tears came to my eyes.  The creme for dipping and the tomato jam brought the spice down a few degrees.  Nice touch.

Fried Belly Clams. Fred's favorite.  These are amazing.  Just the right amount of crisp using ground cornmeal for the crust.  Dipped in a bacon fat aoli which is decadent and a light roasted tomato vinaigrette which works perfect.

Golden Gazpacho.  My friends loved this.  Yellow tomato gazpacho with a hint of ginger.  Large shrimp on the bottom.  Wasn't my thing.

Second round which was on the house.  Glad we got to try.  Thai Coconut Soup.  Todd has always cooked food with an Asian slant.  The first time I had his cooking was at my friends house and it was a total Thai meal.  This soup is amazing.  I'd rather dip in to this when the weather is cooler but it was brilliant.  Rich but not overwhelming coconut based soup with a slow poached egg, pearl onions, thai bail, crispy guanciale, shitake mushrooms and kale.  Mixing up the egg is the key.

Fluke Tartare.  A mixture of piece of raw fluke, grape tomatoes, pickled oyster mushrooms, watercress and a yuzu vinaigrette shaped into a cylinder.  On the side are crispy baby yams.  Nice.

This particular dish is clever and if they were open for lunch, I'd drive over and pick it up.  Spicy chopped tuna tartare inside a wrapped soft taco also stuffed with house smoked bacon, one heirloom tomato, a serrano chili and a creme sauce.  Wow!

Third round was spaghetti mixed with florida rock shrimp, lardo, beet greens, brussel sprouts, golden sun-dried tomatoes, fresh chilis and a tomato puree.  Really good and surprisingly light.

The grilled tuna is supposedly the thing to get.  I am not a huge fan of grilled tuna but this was really well done.  Sliced rare tuna served with orange peel, crushed coriander and an edamame puree and half a grilled japanese eggplant. 

Had to have a salad in here.  This was really well done.  Roasted red and golden beets with quartered heirloom tomatoes mixed with roasted hazelnuts, shaved cheese ( like a ricotta salata ) topped with mustard greens.  Really nice and light.

Dessert, but of course.  The ice cream sandwich is amazing.  Round brownies between salted caramel ice cream.  Can't go wrong.


I had to try the orange and olive oil cake.  An orange bundt cake with a grand marnier icing and olive oil ice cream.  I admit, I basically ate this entire thing myself.

Going back...absolutely.  Not only is the food good the vibe is great.  Friendly, easy with good lighting.  A win win all around. 

Lemon Mousse

We went a tad crazy on how much lemon mousse we made but luckily is stays in the refrigerator for awhile.  There is nothing quite as good as the taste of a lemon dessert after a full meal.  Chocolate is amazing but lemon is lighter. 

Josh made this mousse and we quadrupled the recipe.  I know that is a no-no in baking but these type of recipes generally work out.  We ended up using 22 eggs instead of 24 because that is what we had.  Totally forgot to make lemon curd and had to go out and buy it.  Nobody really had it but they had a lemon cream with a curd base which I deemed acceptable.  This comes straight from Ina Garten, who IMHO, is a goddess in the kitchen.

This is for 6/8 people.

3 extra-large whole eggs
3 extra-large eggs, separated (KEEP THE EGG WHITES)
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (4 lemons)
Kosher salt
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup good bottled lemon curd, at room temperature

In a large heat-proof bowl, whisk together the 3 whole eggs, 3 egg yolks, 1 cup sugar, the lemon zest, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, for about 10 to 12 minutes until the mixture is thick like pudding. When it got really thick, I used a whisk. Take off the heat and set aside for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours, until completely chill. 

We didn't realize that you had to cool this for 2 hours so w put it in the freezer for about 45 minutes and it worked just fine.  

Take half the egg whites that you put aside and beat with an additional 2 T. sugar until really stiff.  Fold this into the chilled lemon mixture.  Take the cream and beat until it also forms stiff peaks.  Then fold into the lemon mixture. Now take the lemon curd and fold it in too. 

Pour into a souffle dish or individual souffle dishes and chill.  Serve cold with whipped cream on top.  We served blueberries on top. 

Really lemony, rich and light at the same time and creamy.  A yummy dessert. 

to live and drive in LA

In certain cities, such as Los Angeles, not having a car is not really an option.

First semester senior year of college, I had an internship working for Robinsons in Los Angeles.  It was a part of the curriculum I was majoring in.  The professor who placed me there was clueless that I would need a car.  The location of the headquarters was not in an area where I'd feel safe living.  The good news is I went with my best friend. The best news was that my Grandmother bought me a car which I sold after the semester was over and gave her back whatever money I recouped.  I knew and she knew that Los Angeles is all about the car.

Yesterday Jessica flew out to Los Angeles to see friends as well as my brother and his wife and their kids for the week.  Here is where the trouble began.

Renting a car if you are not 25 is not easy.  She called Avis and gave them Freds supposed corporate account number.  More on the supposed later.  Customer service told her (actually Fred) that she could rent a car at 19 but it would be an additional 27 dollars a day for the insurance she would have to buy.  Great, done.

She gets to Avis, no go.  They won't rent her the car.  She'd freaked.  They send her to another car service they are affiliated with but unless she can show them that she has her own insurance card she can't rent a car here either.

We call Avis.  Ends up that you have to be 25.  If you have a Corporate account number, think large companies like Chase or Federated, then you can be 18 and pay for the extra insurance.  Union Square Ventures has an account but it isn't corporate but something else possibly due to size and use.  Regardless, with his account you can actually be 21 and rent just not 18.  Bigger pots of money available?  Who knows.

So Jessica is in Los Angeles without a car on a Sunday afternoon with zero access to some document that will prove she has car insurance.  Although for some reason they want it separate from her parents.  Like she has her own insurance.  Whatever.

Jessica, being incredibly resourceful, managed to get some company to rent her a car at 19 for an extra cost.  In essence, a car for the week will cost her 550.   God knows who she convinced but she did. 

Beyond frustrating.  Is the age allowance based on accidents stats?  How comes certain accounts one can be 18, while others 21 and without any account 25?  Why can you vote and be sent to war but not be able to rent a car?

Bottom line, visiting cities with fantastic public transportation before you are 25 might be the way to go and.....you gotta have a car in Los Angeles.