prawns, blue grenadier and calamari pan fried with garlic, oil and parsley and tossed through spaghetti no. 4

this is my favourite ever friday night meal. the bottle of wine is cooling in the fridge. i have prepared the seafood, and it resting in oil, garlic and parsley. ready to be tossed around a large frying pan.

the huge pot of water is on to boil. this is for the spaghetti, number 4 size. i abhor round spaghetti that is too thick. and don't even talk to me about the spaghetti with holes in the middle. just wrong.

i kept a portion of calamari aside and that is sitting in some oil, garlic and parsley but with the tiniest amount of fresh, red-hot chilli, diced finely. this i think will be like a cook's treat, eaten while the rest is being put together. i am happy to share it with anyone who comes into the kitchen but i don't think the kids will want any.

do you like that phrase "cook's treat"? it's something nigella said in one of her shows, as if the mere mention of it, like a verbal reservation, justified the indulgence of stuffing your face with some tasty morsel in the kitchen, either while cooking or immediately after, as you are plating up.

i like the idea and have made it my own.

do you have parmesan or other hard dry italian-type cheese on your seafood pasta? it's not the done thing i know, but i do. i like the pana granado myself. i have one of those amelie cheese graters which are just fantastic.











and i usually put too much oil in my seafood pastas just because i'm greedy.

oh goody, piano is here...

coffee, including turkish coffee recipe and reading the grinds

one of the best pieces i have read on coffee surely must reside here. it's called Comedia Del Latté, it's by fluffy, one of the compadres* at we do chew our food.

coffee is something that i drink almost every day. there was a time, in my adult life, when i didn't. i didn't even necessarily drink it at cafes, let alone at home. i remember being in new york with princess in a pusher (that's a pram, nothing to do with some bizarre drug story) and my mother. we would head out in the morning, take five steps, and mum would say

i just need a coffee.

at the time, i couldn't really understand it. and this is a short 6 or 7 years ago.

things changed for me when i got a job at a graphic design studio. that is a whole other story in itself, and includes probably about 15 sub-stories. however the coffee part of the tale is that we would get takeaway coffees from a nice cafe nearby. even the young spunk designer who was drinking hot chocolates when i started, was ordering lattes by the end of my 3.5 years there.

my brother drinks flat whites. he is the only person i know to do so. i drink a skinny latte.

there's a good joke that goes like this. january of last year i was up in sydney with a gaggle of girlfriends. we are all mothers, and some of us are mo-fos as well. just joking. i know i can be sometimes.

one of the crew was celebrating her 40th birthday and had decided instead of having a party, that she would like to take us all up to sydney, that is pay for flights and accommodation, at a nice coogee hotel, right on the beach road. so we head off in limo to the airport, champagne at 11am. giggling we check in, and i was trying to explain to the others that no body should make any kind of joke about nail files or bombs. i really wanted to go to sydney, see?

anyway, that first night we went out for dinner. we all drank too much. there was a thunderstorm with masses of hot, heavy rain. we sat in the restaurant, and ate a huge amount of food. and then i ordered a skinny latte. they laughed and laughed at me; i'd eaten steak, i'd eaten frittes, i'd eaten half a huge dessert tasting plate. and then i ordered a skinny latte.

i think it's reasonable.

my mother has skinny lattes too. she used to be a cappuccino woman, now she is latte girl.

my sister still has cappuccinos i think.

john has strong lattes.

princess can't wait to be a coffee drinker. i used to order cappuccinos when she was a toddler, so she could have some of the chocolate froth.

my sister is emotionally scarred by an exchange she had when she was a kid and wanted the froth from my mum's cappuccino, and our mother said

i like the froth, too.

my sister still remembers that. and i've seen her give her two kids all the froth on her cappas.

-----------------------------
Turk Kahvesi
Turkish Coffee

[verbatim from one of my turkish cookbooks]

1 heaping spoon ground coffee
1/4 teaspoon sugar (for coffee with little sugar) - this is called az sekker
1/2 teaspoon sugar (for medium-sweet coffee) - this is called orta
1 teaspoon sugar (for sweet coffee) - this is called sekkerli
no sugar (for black coffee) - what the?
1/4 cup (65ml) cold water (or measure water with demi-tasse to be served)

Turkish coffee can be obtained anywhere as ground coffee. Otherwise, coffee beans can be roasted in a pan in the over, stirring occasionally until the preferred darkness is obtained. The the beans are ground, in a Turkish "kahve degirmeni" (brass coffee grinder) if available, or in an ordinary coffee grinder until it becomes pulverised.

Ground coffee can be preserved in a tightly-covered jar for a few weeks.

Place coffee and sugar in a small cevze (pot with long handle, preferably brass, copper or enamel), add water and mix them together. Cook on a very low heat stirring occasionally until the froth on the surface starts rising.

Pour a small amount of froth into a demi-tasse. Return pot to the heat and bring to a boil. Pour the remaining coffee into the demi-tasse until it reaches the brim.

NOTE: If more that one demi-tasse preferred, multiply above ingredients by the number of cups and pour a little froth into each cup first. Make sure not to drink the thick residue remaining at the bottom of the coffee cup.
1 Serving.

[Ramazanoglu, Gulseren. (1990). Turkish Cooking. Istanbul: Ramazanoglu Publications. p.90]

then once you have drunk the coffee, leave the grinds at the bottom, turn the cup over onto the saucer, turn it three times and put it down to settle. after about 5 minutes, turn the cup over look for any of the following:

ACORN - at the top means success and gain: At the bottom means good health.
AIRCRAFT - journey; if broken means danger of accident; can also mean a rise in position
ANCHOR - at top rest, stability, constancy; at bottom means clouded, inconstancy
APPLE - achievement
AXE - difficulties; if at top overcoming of difficulties
BABY - small worries, something new
BAG - a trap; if open, escape
BALL - variable fortunes
BELL - unexpected news; good if near top
BIRDS - good news
BOAT - visit from a friend, protection. lifepath
BOOK - if open it's good news; if closed you need to investigate something
BUSH - new friend or opportunities
BUTTERFLY - fickleness
CABBAGE - jealousy; with dots means at work
CANDLE - help from others
CAP - trouble
CAT - deceit, a false friend
CHAIN - engagement, a wedding
CHAIR - a guest
CIGAR - a new friend
CIRCLE - success, completion; with dots means a baby
CLOCK - better health
CLOUDS - trouble; with dots means many problems
COIN - money coming
COMB - an enemy
CROSS - suffering, sacrifice
CUP - reward
DAGGER - danger from self or others; beware
DISH - trouble at home
DOG - good friend; if at bottom friend needs help
DOOR - odd event
DUCK - money coming
EGG - good omen, creation, new beginnings
ELEPHANT - wisdom, strength, luck
ENVELOPE - good news
EYE - creation
FACE - a change, may be a setback
FAN - flirtation
FEATHER - lack of concentration
FENCE - limitations, minor setbacks, not permanent
FINGER - emphasizes whatever sigh it points at
FIRE - at top achievement; at bottom danger of haste
FISH - good fortune
FLAG - danger
FLY - domestic annoyance
FORK - false flattery
FORKED LINE - decision
FRUIT - prosperity
GATE - opportunity, future success
GLASS - integrity
GLOW - a challenge
GOAT - be careful of enemies
GRAPES - happiness
GUN - anger, sex
HAMMER - hard work needed
HAND - if open means friendship; if closed means an argument
HARP - love, harmony
HAT - improvement, especially in a new job
HAWK - jealousy
HEART - pleasure, love, trust
HORSE - if galloping means good news; if just the head means a lover
HORSESHOE - good luck
HOURGLASS - need to decide something, time, synchronicity, illusion, creation
HOUSE - security
ICEBERG - danger
INSECT - problems are minor and you will easily overcome
JEWELS - gifts
KANGAROO - harmony at home
KETTLE - any illness is minor
KITE - wishes coming true
KNIFE - broken friendship
LADDER - promotion, a rise in life
LAMP - at the top means a feast; at the side means secrets revealed; at the bottom means postponement
LEAF - new life
LETTER - news
LINES - if straight means progress; if wavy means uncertain path
LION - influential friends, strength
LOCK - obstacles if closed - new information unfolduing if open
LOOP - avoid impulsive actions, full circle
MAN - near handle means a visitor
MASK - excitement; insecurity. something hidden
MOUNTAIN - great goals but with many difficulties
MOUSE - theft
MUSHROOM - at top means journey or moving to the country; near bottom means rapid growth; if reversed means frustration
NAIL - injustice, unfairness
NECKLACE - complete, admirers; if broken means danger of losing a lover
NEEDLE - recognition, admiration
OAK - health, long life
OCTOPUS - danger, 8, infinity
OSTRICH - travel
OWL - gossip, scandal
PALM TREE - success, honor
PARASOL - new lover, something hidden
PARROT - a journey, but also can mean people talking
PIG - greed
PURSE - at top means profit; at bottom means lose
QUESTION MARK - need for caution
RABBIT - need for bravery
RAKE - watch details
RAVEN - bad news
RING - aphone calls, mear the top means marriage or the offer of marriage; at bottom means long engagement; if broken means engagement broken off
ROSE - popularity, creation
SAW - interference, tear apart
SCALE - legal issues; if balanced means just result; if unbalanced means unjust result
SCISSORS - quarrels, possibly separation
SHEEP - good fortune
SHELL - good news
SHELTER - danger of loss or ill health
SHIP - worthwhile journey
SHOE - change for the better
SNAKE - an enemy, but also wisdom
SPIDER - reward for work
SPOON - generosity
STAR - health and happiness, hope
SUN - happiness, success, power
SWORD - arguments
TABLE - social gatherings
TENT - travel, cover, hidden truth
THIMBLE - changes at home
TORTOISE - criticism, usually beneficial
TOWER - disappointment
TREE - improvements
TRIANGLE - something unexpected. pyramids, 3
UMBRELLA - annoyances
URN - wealth and happiness
VASE - a friend needs help
VIOLIN - egotism
VOLCANO - harmful emotions
WAGON - a wedding
WASP - romantic problems
WATERFALL - prosperity
WHEEL - if complete means good fortune; if broken means disappointment
WINGS - messages
WOLF - jealousy
YOKE - domination
ZEBRA - adventure, especially overseas

and if you've made it to the end, a treat for you:
A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, "You should do it, because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee." The husband said, " You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee."Wife replies, "No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee." Husband replies, "I can't believe that, show me." So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says... "HEBREWS"


* used here in the sense of comrades, not middle-aged men who may or may not be god-fathers. i just like the sound of the word.

a new foodie spot

food + mg = heaven.

i know it's the same for a lot of us. this is the place where i want to share interesting snippets with you, such as:

the 12 hottest chillis in the world, starting with the hottest at number 12:

12. Bahamian
11. Santaca (Japanese)
10. Tabasco
9. Jalapeno
8. Espanola
7. Cayenne
6. Sandia
5. Hot Ancho
4. Numex Big Jim
3. Rio Grande
1. New Mexico No. 6
1. Anaheim

[this scale was developed by Dr Roy Nakamara, taken from Wallechinsky et al (1980) The Book of Lists 2. London: Elm Tree Books Ltd.]

you may find a recipe or two, some nice pics, some humour and some very scholarly and dry information. but it will always, i hope, have an element of quirk.

this can also be a collection point for shared information about food. not restaurant reviews, as that is well-covered here and elsewhere. but if you know a good place to buy a large stone mortar and pestle, at the back of a dusty shelf in an obscure little asian market for $20, instead of the trendy place that charges $50, then i think everyone would be happy if you share it here.

And now with some pleasure I find that it's seven; and must cook dinner. Haddock and sausage meat. I think that it is true that one gains a certain hold on sausage and haddock by writing them down. - Virginia Woolf.

so, i'm going to try and gain a certain hold on things here, by writing them down.