On this foggy cold December afternoon, I wanted to warm the house up with french onion soup, but didn’t have time for roasting bones, etc… so I came up with this “almost homemade” cheat with a little help from my sister who cooks in a cafe.

In a dutch oven, melt about one half stick (1/4 cup) of real butter and add 4 or 5 medium sized sliced onions. Carmelize over low-medium heat very slowly for about 20-30 minutes, adding a couple dashes salt and pepper. Pour in 48 ounces of prepared beef broth. Turn heat up to medium. Sprinkle in about a teaspoon of brown sugar (if you have it), two or three healthy shakes of worcestershire sauce and about 1/4 cup whatever wine you have. I used a cheap box burgundy that my wife is keeping to make it through family visits. Let it simmer but not boil for about a half hour or until the smell brings people to the kitchen from other rooms. Give it a taste. If you’re like me, Sprinkle in a little bit of cornstarch, (like a teaspoon at most), just to thicken a bit. Dissolve that cornstarch really well and decide if that’s the right thickness for you. Add more to your preference, but remember it takes a few minutes of stirring until you know how thick it’s going to get. You want it about half as thin as gravy.

When you think the soup is done: Separately, use a bakery loaf or day old loaf of bread… (seasoned bread or rye bread is best). Slice it into 1/2 inch slices. (About two slices for every bowl of soup.) Preheat the oven to 425. Butter the bread on the bottom generously and a little bit on the top. Layer on the bread some sliced cheese. Your liking here is probably best. It is supposed to be swiss or mozzarella but I used provolone with great results. Pop that in the oven until the tops of the cheese get browned and bubbly.

Put two or three ladles of soup into a bowl. Put the bread, directly out of the oven on the top of the soup. Serve immediately so the cheese is still nice and stringy. If it makes you feel better, sprinkle a teeny tiny bit of something green on top, like parsley.

Rugelach is a traditional Jewish cookie. It’s name means “little twists” in Yiddish. It looks like a very small crescent roll, about two inches big at the most.

Cookie Ingredients:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2-pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

Cream the butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer. Add 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the salt, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour and mix until just combined. Form the dough into two even balls on a floured surface. Wrap each piece in plastic, and refrigerate for at least one hour or up to two days.

Filling Ingredients:

For Raspberry Filling, use raspberry jam or preserves.

For Nut Filling:¼ cup sugar, 3 tsp cinnamon, 2 TBSP chopped walnuts, melted butter

For Apple Filling, use pureed apple pie filling either homemade or prepared.

Finishing Directions:

(finishing will require egg white wash and small amt granulated or course sugar.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place refrigerated ball of dough on floured surface.

Roll into thin circle at least 14” big.

Spread filling thinly and carefully with pastry brush. If making cinnamon filling, brush gently with melted butter, sprinkle sugar & cinnamon and then sprinkle on walnuts.

With pizza cutter or pastry wheel, cut the circle of dough into twelve equal pie slice shapes.

Roll each slice from edge to middle gently yet tightly forming small crescent.

Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Brush with egg white, sprinkle sugar on top.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes until golden light brown.

NIAGARA FALLS, NY- Officials on both sides of the US-Canadian border are scrambling to figure out how to best handle the impending conversion of Canada to the Metric Time System. “This [metric time conversion] creates a logistical nightmare to Rainbow Bridge authorities as well as our local airports, train stations and other transportation hubs,” stated Mayor Paul Dyster of Niagara Falls, New York.

Many citizens are being caught by surprise as the preparations for this transformation have gone largely unnoticed by the public. It seems major media outlets have miscalculated the impact this is going to have on the United States’ ability to synchronize markets, television broadcasts and transportation concerns, and have not been covering the upcoming conversion and it’s fierce opposition in Canadian Parliament.

Metric Time Concerns Parliament, March 2012

Canada converted to the Metric System in 1973 to catch up to Europe, (who mostly converted in the late 60’s). American students studied hard to learn the Metric System throughout the 70’s and were told conversion, or “metrication” would be complete by the 1980’s. These plans, however, were abandoned by the 1990’s. The United States’ failure to convert was largely blamed on the tremendous cost to manufacturers, but proof of that has never been established.

Now in a new millennium, we are faced with the hard reality that the rest of the world that is on Metric, is now facing the May 1, 2012 deadline to convert to Metric Time. Countries have already become used to converting speed (miles/meters), weight (pounds/grams), and temperature, (Fahrenheit/Celsius). Now international interests must calibrate all of our schedules so that we can interact successfully for business and travel on the new time scale.

For those of you not savvy on Metric Time, we have a quick review. The Metric System is based on the number ten, or the decimal system. Hours are an antiquated division of the day, based on the archaic dozen measurements. (Twelve numbers on a clock, two dozen hours in a day). Metric Time divides the day into “Chrons”, that is the new measurement of time. The Latin root for time, chron is the root word and will be further defined by the divisions of tens.

Each day will have ten units of time, or chrons, beginning with the zero and ending at ten. This can best be compared to hours. Each chron will then be divided into “Decachrons” and “Centichrons”. Precision timing (used in racing and scientific experimentation) will require the use of “Millichrons and Kilichrons”.

Fifth Grade Teachers, Jim Harriman and Rachel Anne Zaremski, of Hamilton, Ontario are excited about the impending antique clocks remaining in their rooms.

“The round faced clock is about to become extinct!” declared Sherman Zavitz, Historian for Niagara Falls, Ontario. And it’s true; Canadians and Europeans will use only digital clocks. In fact, municipalities all over Ontario are already spending a great deal of tax payer funds to install new clocks in every building. In order to integrate people classrooms and offices all over Canada are required to have a round face clock displaying Old Standard Time and a digital clock displaying Metric Time in every room.

As Americans, we better learn to adapt or face a true obstacle in the world market. When we were children our society resisted the change to the Metric System. Canadians had to embrace this change and are confident another generation can again successfully usher in a new era of scientific accuracy and standards that will align themselves with the E.U.

A rotation around the sun (almost exactly 24 hours) is going to be divided into ten units or chrons. Each chron will have 100 centichrons. Centichrons can be most comparable to minutes. 12:00 AM will be 00:00. (Pronounced zero chron zero). 12:PM (noon) will be exactly half way through the day, half of ten is five so it will be 05:00 (pronounced five chron zero). The most difficult adjustment will be understanding that there are one hundred centichrons in a chron, so clocks will go to 99. For example, you may have a scheduled dinner party at 07:80 (prounounced seven chron eighty). The workday will begin at 9am for Americans, but for Canadians it will begin at 3:75, or “three chron seventy five”. Metric time is applauded for totally eliminating the confusion between AM and PM. Right before our midnight, when we are seeing 11:59 on our clock? Canadians will see 9:99.

Until we do, Americans have several options to stay synchronized with their Canadian neighbors and business partners. Both Apple and Android have created a Metric Time Converter App, which you can download for free here. The United States Bureau of Weights & Measurements has a constant online Metric Time Converter Website. Or, to be really up to date in your home and office, you can purchase a Digital Metric Clocks- but they are selling out quickly. Some can be found on eBay at a tremendous mark up.

Things in the Chocolate World have gotten a little more cut-throat. Hershey has decided to market it’s own aerated chocolate bar, and call it Hershey’s Air Delight. Deja Vu? Well, that’s because Gen X grew up with the sweet treat known as the Aero Bar, by Nestle. It is still available in Canada, and is the #5 convenient store item in the nation to our north. Those of us living on the Canadian border can still pick up the Aero bar at certain shops, especially on Native American reservations (for some reason).

Is it just a simple rip off or something even more sinister? Well… we are only left to guess for now. Nestle has been interested in taking over Hershey for a few years now, in hopes to compete with confection giant Cadbury. However, the most recent article on the subject by Reuters tells us that Nestle has decided to wait it out and let the value of Nestle’s stock drop a little in this terrible economy.

It makes you wonder if Hershey has a deal already hence the new product, or is Hershey making a competition with Nestle? Probably not! According to Bloomberg Business Reports, aerated chocolate is cost effective, and in the face of doubling cocoa prices Cadbury has begun a line of it and Nestle is ramping up their push to sell more Aero bars.

Whatever the motivation of Hershey’s, America is the beneficiary of this new product. Many of us who have enjoyed Aero bars for years can attest that the aerated chocolate tends to be a bit more creamy tasting than solid chocolate. After sacrificing my seventy nine cents and testing the Hershey Air Delight, (it was really tough), I can vouch for the nice flavor of this one. I will say that just like other American chocolate products, the taste is less creamy than Canadian chocolate bars… which tend to be a little more European in flavor, (rich and creamy). However; if you find yourself in the United States, far from the Canadian border, this candy bar will be a nice little chocolate indulgence for you. Enjoy!

During my daughter’s travels this Spring, she had the opportunity to stay with an extended family in a cozy townhouse Cadiz, Spain. The Andalusia Region is known for it’s rich historical mix of cultures- from Arab to Mediterranean to Catholic. The hosts were quite welcoming, friendly people who enjoyed converging on the rooftop deck for an evening of playing musical instruments, singing and celebrating life.

What would your grandma make you if she were Spanish? Probably the delicious homemade dish served to my daughter, warm and hearty bean soup with chorizo sausage- all mopped up with a thick bread. Several months later and back in the United States, my daughter found herself craving the comfort food of her Andalusian kinfolk and took to the internet to track down the recipe. (Unable to raise Abuelita on messenger.)

She found many different recipes for this Spanish staple- varying from region to region. Based on her memory she narrowed it down to one recipe and then modified it to be as close to La Abeula de Cadiz as possible! When the cooking project was complete, I was quite impressed. The creamy golden broth sparkled with carmelized onions, beans, carrots and the beautiful dark red sausage. We decided we better record this creation and share it with others so the the flavor is not lost!

We hope you give the recipe a try. Daughter’s advice is this: in Spain, they only give you one chunk of chorizo per bowl and for good reason, it’s not only powerful, but the soup is soooo filling you just can’t eat more than that. She then said, “okay, naptime, I’m in a food coma” and fled for a siesta. Let us know how it turns out for you. I feel it’s something you can prepare in a half an hour, for less than $7 per pot, and feed a family of 4 to happy contentment.

Ingredients:
1 8oz stick of SPANISH chorizo (other kinds are wrong texture), casing removed
1/2 large yellow onion, chopped
4 TBLSP olive oil
32 ounces canned white kidney beans, drained
10 oz canned peas & carrots
2 cups chicken broth
paprika
garlic powder
corn starch

Directions: In a warm skilled, saute onions in olive oil till just soft. Add chorizo sausage cut into 1 1/2 to 2 inch chunks. Continue to saute until onions are slightly carmelized. Add 2 cups chicken broth, drained beans, drained peas & carrots and stir. Sprinkle 4 or 5 dashes of paprika on top. Sprinkle dash or two of garlic powder. Continue to stir on med/high heat preventing scorching for about 5 minutes. Sprinkle on 3 or 4 more dashes of paprika- to taste. Salt lightly if desired. Continue to stir. Reduce heat to simmer. In separate cup, mix about a tablespoon of corn starch with about two tablespoons of warm water. Stir until consistency of milk. Slowly pour half into soup. Continue to stir soup. After a few minutes, you may need to add remaining cornstarch water. You want to bring it up to the consistency of stew. Sprinkle two more times with paprika for good luck. Stir it up, pour into nice shallow stew bowls. Serve with a hunk of bread for sopping up the gravy.

So today I found myself with a new camera, and about an hour of time on my hands in the LaSalle section of Niagara Falls. I headed to LaSalle Waterfront Park and took a bunch of excellent photos of the water, the bridge, the snow and nature. But this chair caught my eye sitting at the edge of the very busy Buffalo Avenue, the main artery that runs through LaSalle.



I love this chair. I’m going to explain this photo to you, because, well I guess I’m not a professional artist who leaves all of her meanings hidden and you’re supposed to figure them out. Maybe, too, I’m a little cliche. But here’s the story.
This chair is ME. I’m a faded lady past her prime. Sitting around in dirty chintz, with what appears to be several years of soot on me. Oh probably once I would have been considered mildly attractive but utilitarian mostly. Not a stately Queen Anne armchair nor a Moderne plastic ball hanging from the ceiling that you sit in either.
Probably made in America- origins blue collar, aspirations something more. Worn out. Sigh. Faded. Past it’s use and after several years of procrastination, finally someone put it at the curb. Nothing more can be expected from her now. Just leave her the fuck alone.

This is where my poetic sob story comes to an abrupt end. Enter Lola. Lola the obviously purebred Rottweiler who is running loose on the very busy Buffalo Avenue, with two very desperate little boys running after her. Not dressed for the weather, obviously Lola somehow got loose and their parents must not be aware of this situation as they are chasing her alone. Screaming LOLA! LOW LAH!!! Stop. Come back here. Come ON! LOLA!
Traffic is rushing by and just as it appears Lola is about to meet her fate at the bumper of a Jetta, she smartly hops out of the street, young boys screaming in horror. The kids are probably 9 or 10 years old.
They catch Lola and grab her by the collar, trying to drag her back home, but she wrestles free, smiling, tongue hanging out, leaping gleefully through parked cars, parking lots, sidewalks and past store fronts until they catch her again. At one point the kid releases her collar wrist bent the wrong way and screams OUCH- sucking his fist. I cannot ignore this now.
“Did she bite you?” I ask. YES! He cries! We’ve been chasing her all the way from 81st!!! I look up at the sign. We are at 74th.
Then, this 9 year old kid yells across the street to his brother, “Where the HELL is Anthony???” At this I have to laugh inside.
Lola comes to me and I pet her. He tells me I don’t have to be afraid of her. Even though she bit him. So I say my hellos to Lola. Just when I’m thinking, I should try to hold Lola’s collar and see what I can do to help, Lola reads my mind. She gives me a warning “harrump!” as she flicks her face around to show me she can bite me too.
Hum. No, I can’t get bitten by a rottie today. But this poor kids are doomed to either get hit by a car, or see their dog hit.. and they are getting farther and farther from their home. I look in my trunk and find a yellow rope. Sure it’s about 100 feet long but it’s something.
I give it to the kids and I say, “Here, next time you catch her wrap this around her collar like a leash and see if you can walk her home.”
I got in my car like a coward. The kids looked at me. Guilt flashed through me. Then I thought, you know, this is not my story. This is their story. This is what they will laugh about 40 years from now. I do not need to be involved in every frigging loose, stray or otherwise vulnerable animal on this earth.
Slowly I pull away. Three blocks down the street, in the wrong direction, I see the boys hopping a white picket fence at a river front home. One hundred feet of yellow rope flailing behind them as they are yelling, “LOLA!”

Happy Valentine’s Day

NIAGARA FALLS STYLE!!!!!!!

This recipe is excellent for a snow day, (which is when I made this last). I got the recipe from a friend who is really into crock pot cooking. It smells the house up with a hearty zingy flavor… and hits the right spot after an afternoon of snow shoveling!

Ingredient List:
1 uncooked beef pot roast whatever size
6-7 potatoes cleaned and chopped (skin on)
1 can barbecue baked beans, (I recommend Bush’s Southern Pit Barbecue)
1 large onion chopped

Directions:
Add to crockpot: chopped potatoes, then chopped onions. Lay whole uncooked pot roast on top of them. Pour over can of barbecue baked beans including sauce. Swish about 1/4 cup water in empty bean can to pick up any sauce, pour over. Pepper to liking. Cover. Allow to cook in crockpot for 6-7 hours on LOW, or overnight. Serves 4 easily. Great to serve with biscuits.

It appeared on the CNN webcam that at approximately 7:45pm, Cairo Time, January 28th, that dozens of protestors on the streets of Cairo were happily chanting and waving cloths, cheering for the arrival of army tanks to Cairo.

It has been discussed on social networking sites today that the protestors are happily welcoming Army involvement, as they believe the Police are involved in brutality.