tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69555056410055835832024-03-05T05:51:47.591-05:00The Hungry Intellectuals(book & supper club)Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-36245050276913789852014-01-27T14:51:00.003-05:002014-01-27T14:51:52.702-05:00Egyptian Beef and Rice<div style="color: black; padding-left: 20px;">
1 lb. organic, grass-fed ground beef</div>
<div style="color: black; padding-left: 20px;">
1 cup finely chopped onion</div>
<div style="color: black; padding-left: 20px;">
2 cups water<br />1 1/2 c. uncooked Basmati rice<br />1 c. slivered almonds<br />1 c. golden raisins</div>
<div style="color: black; padding-left: 20px;">
1 c. chopped dehydrated apricots <br />1 tsp. ground cardamom<br />1 tsp. cinnamon</div>
<div style="color: black; padding-left: 20px;">
3/4 tsp. pepper<br />salt to taste<br />5 tbsp. butter for frying, divided usage<br />2 chicken bouillon cubes</div>
<br />
Add onion and water to large pot and begin to heat.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, fry rice
in 2 tablespoons butter in large skillet, stirring constantly until
golden brown. Add to pot along with bouillon cubes and bring to
boil, reduce heat, cover and cook 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
In separate pan, fry almonds in 2 tablespoons butter, stirring constantly over low
heat until golden brown; remove. Fry raisins in 1-tablespoon butter
over low heat, stirring constantly until plumped; remove.<br />
<br />
Brown ground beef, drain and crumble. Add spices to beef and continue to brown for a couple of minutes.<br />
<br />
Layer cooked rice, mead, raisins, and almonds on large platter. Serve hot!<br />
<br />
Serves 8-10.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-21818394910377705492011-10-09T22:19:00.001-04:002011-10-09T22:23:32.871-04:00Literacy Promotion in a BoxWalk or ride along a bike path sometime soon and you may spot one. Stop and open the door. A charming mini literary world awaits you thanks to the Little Free Library movement. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUAVnR7XBRfw27dIeA87EEYhiUEBQrmMDYHGfAoo-SClrgMbWIURxaJn332tbt2fDlWf8XdJP5Hc6jwcnR606zoDOeQLUTyL2anpVefVIdza0mN2k5nrDFmszS-R9b45mq_6RFEd5Nljw/s1600/LittleLibrary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUAVnR7XBRfw27dIeA87EEYhiUEBQrmMDYHGfAoo-SClrgMbWIURxaJn332tbt2fDlWf8XdJP5Hc6jwcnR606zoDOeQLUTyL2anpVefVIdza0mN2k5nrDFmszS-R9b45mq_6RFEd5Nljw/s320/LittleLibrary.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The idea is simple yet profound. Each Little Free Library is a small box, reminiscent of a bird house, just big enough to hold 20 books or so of varying topics, from nonfiction to novels, biographies or picture books. No library card needed. Simply pay it forward: take a book, donate a book, or exchange a book. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The <a href="http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/">Little Free Library</a> is a nonprofit organization started by two men inspired by Andrew Carnegie. The men want to help communities worldwide increase access to books, raise literacy, and surpass famed Andrew Carnegie's record of building 2,509 free libraries. Carnegie paid for the buildings but expected the cities to fill them with books and fund the staff and maintenance. The Little Free Library wants to see their scaled-down libraries planted all over the world and tended to by neighbors.<br />
<blockquote><i>"It's like a literary water cooler, where people gather and have a discussion about books in a way they wouldn't have had if they had just met on the street," says Todd Bol, one of the co-founders. </i></blockquote>The round the world journey of this movement and the books themselves is likely to continue, since all registered<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=201860500793147213935.0004ac6e854ff1e35e434&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=43.834527,-89.824219&spn=32.912703,76.113281&t=m&z=4&vpsrc=6"> Little Libraries are noted on a Google map</a> with global positioning (GPS) coordinates.<br />
<br />
Anyone can be a registered Library Steward. Bike riders, social activists, doctors, lawyers, art galleries, and community development advocates are already part of this modest little effort. The Hungry Intellectuals may be the next to join the movement, so stay tuned!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-39570519321740014052011-09-11T16:57:00.000-04:002011-09-11T16:57:02.536-04:00A Revolution in Local Community<a href="http://www.meetup.com/The-Hungry-Intellectuals/">The Hungry Intellectuals</a> uses Meetup.com to organize our bookclub dinners and events. It is a fantastic service and has worked really well for us as a group. The Meetup.com Co-Founder/CEO sent out the following email this morning. His words were so poignant, I had to share.<br />
<br />
<i>(original message written by Meetup.com CEO; stylized on this blog by me)</i><br />
<br />
**********<br />
<br />
Fellow Meetuppers,<br />
<br />
I don't write to our whole community often, but this week is<br />
special because it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and many<br />
people don't know that Meetup is a 9/11 baby.<br />
<br />
Let me tell you the Meetup story. I was living a couple miles<br />
from the Twin Towers, and I was the kind of person who thought<br />
local community doesn't matter much if we've got the internet<br />
and tv. The only time I thought about my neighbors was when I<br />
hoped they wouldn't bother me.<br />
<br />
When the towers fell, I found myself talking to more neighbors<br />
in the days after 9/11 than ever before. People said hello to<br />
neighbors (next-door and across the city) who they'd normally<br />
ignore. People were looking after each other, helping each<br />
other, and meeting up with each other. You know, being<br />
neighborly.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"> <b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A lot of people were thinking that maybe 9/11 could bring</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> people together in a lasting way. So the idea for Meetup was</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> born: Could we use the internet to get off the internet -- and</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> grow local communities?</i></span></b></div><br />
We didn't know if it would work. Most people thought it was a<br />
crazy idea -- especially because terrorism is designed to make<br />
people distrust one another.<br />
<br />
A small team came together, and we launched Meetup 9 months<br />
after 9/11.<br />
<br />
Today, almost 10 years and 10 million Meetuppers later, it's<br />
working. Every day, thousands of Meetups happen. Moms Meetups,<br />
Small Business Meetups, Fitness Meetups... a wild variety of<br />
100,000 Meetup Groups with not much in common -- except one<br />
thing.<br />
<br />
Every Meetup starts with people simply saying hello to<br />
neighbors. And what often happens next is still amazing to me.<br />
They grow businesses and bands together, they teach and<br />
motivate each other, they babysit each other's kids and find<br />
other ways to work together. They have fun and find solace<br />
together. They make friends and form powerful community. It's<br />
powerful stuff.<br />
<br />
<b><i>It's a wonderful revolution in local community, and it's thanks<br />
to everyone who shows up.</i></b><br />
<br />
Meetups aren't about 9/11, but they may not be happening if it<br />
weren't for 9/11.<br />
<br />
9/11 didn't make us too scared to go outside or talk to<br />
strangers. 9/11 didn't rip us apart. No, we're building new<br />
community together!!!!<br />
<br />
The towers fell, but we rise up. And we're just getting started<br />
with these Meetups.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #666666;">Scott Heiferman (on behalf of 80 people at Meetup HQ)</span><br style="color: #666666;" /><span style="color: #666666;"> Co-Founder & CEO, Meetup</span><br style="color: #666666;" /><span style="color: #666666;"> New York City</span><br style="color: #666666;" /><span style="color: #666666;"> September 2011</span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-47398585977437731342011-09-10T19:47:00.000-04:002011-09-10T19:47:58.439-04:00Spiced Persimmon Swirl CheesecakeRecipe adapted from multiple sources & some creative taste testing! <b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Ingredients</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBw5_FcDNybLYpyClmfT6ojV7-XxPf0Ybrml9k1trjElg9Fb4KBvruKxCeKe_cOxiS43PHx6pAcbLZmcWy2MMMaSn8YWDtSqJP3sZvyyUVV6rMS_owwbZGGirYKSQHw-Knx1uZ8pgEwPnl/s1600/IMG_20110910_193849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBw5_FcDNybLYpyClmfT6ojV7-XxPf0Ybrml9k1trjElg9Fb4KBvruKxCeKe_cOxiS43PHx6pAcbLZmcWy2MMMaSn8YWDtSqJP3sZvyyUVV6rMS_owwbZGGirYKSQHw-Knx1uZ8pgEwPnl/s320/IMG_20110910_193849.jpg" width="320" /></a><u>Crust</u><br />
2 cups finely crushed Ginger Snap cookies<br />
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts<br />
6 tablespoons butter, melted<br />
<br />
<u>Filling</u><br />
24 ounces softened cream cheese<br />
1 cup sugar<br />
3 large eggs from the farmer's market<br />
1 cup <a href="http://hungryintellectuals.blogspot.com/2011/09/persimmon-season.html">persimmon pulp*</a><br />
1 teaspoon vanilla extract <br />
2 teaspoons Chinese Five Spice (special blend of anise, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, & ginger)<br />
<br />
<b>Directions</b><br />
<i>Preheat oven to 325F</i><br />
<br />
<u>Crust </u><br />
<ol><li>Mix cookie crumbs, walnuts and butter with hands until a wet sand consistency forms. </li>
<li>Press mixture firmly along the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan; set aside.</li>
</ol><u>Filling</u><br />
<ol><li>In a small bowl, stir the persimmon pulp with the Chinese Five Spice blend; set aside. </li>
<li>Using an electric mixer on medium speed, combine sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla until well blended.</li>
<li> On low speed, add eggs one at a time. Mixing each time just until blended. </li>
<li>Pour the filling over the crust in the springform pan. Use a spatula to even the surface and release any air pockets.</li>
<li>Drop the spiced persimmon pulp by the teaspoonful on top of the cake. With a fork or toothpick, gently swirl the persimmon into the filling without disturbing the crust to achieve a marbled/swirled effect. Reserve any leftover persimmon for garnishing later. </li>
<li>Bake for 55 minutes or until the center is almost set. Do not overbake.</li>
<li>Transfer pan to rack; allow cake to cool completely. Refrigerate, uncovered, for 6 hours or overnight. Before unmolding, run a thin knife along the edge of cake to loosen. </li>
</ol>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-51432292872513348782011-09-10T19:31:00.000-04:002011-09-10T19:31:02.706-04:00Persimmon SeasonAsk any middle class suburbanite how they know that the Fall season has arrived and you will undoubtedly get the response:<br />
<br />
<i> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> "When Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Late is back!"</span></i><br />
<br />
Joking aside, as a locovore, I sense the arrival of Fall when I start to see my neighborhood Persimmon trees bearing their fruit. Wild persimmons are one of the most common yet overlooked American fruit. The taste has been described as a cross between a plum and an apricot, and I would add that the pulp smells similar to pumpkin. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgFjB8Ej6czV16y1zVBkwHOqByDi9gobFjU6BkcYXTCTG6_MPwad3GhcmtOCtRlZ3hyO8dYKdX4dl7q7kgc2GZ807udy7jcNygPZiEpIHo4qu4zJr6TUlPfvA85m4FZEcNT96jKDJjz0v/s1600/ark-prod-persimmon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgFjB8Ej6czV16y1zVBkwHOqByDi9gobFjU6BkcYXTCTG6_MPwad3GhcmtOCtRlZ3hyO8dYKdX4dl7q7kgc2GZ807udy7jcNygPZiEpIHo4qu4zJr6TUlPfvA85m4FZEcNT96jKDJjz0v/s1600/ark-prod-persimmon.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of SlowFoodUSA.org</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Wild persimmons are native to a wide swath of the southeastern U.S. Early American settlers valued persimmon because it was easily available and literally falls into your hands when you shake a ripe tree. The fruit was commonly used to make breads, thick soups and sweet pudding. <br />
<br />
Though the trees are harder to find now because of general deforestation, modern persimmon recipes abound, and most of them start with the same base: persimmon pulp. A fair warning: Preparing persimmon pulp can be time consuming (but worth the effort). <br />
<br />
<b>Persimmon Pulp How-To</b><br />
Make sure to gather only ripe fruit. Ripe persimmons are evenly orange and squish easily (this is probably why they aren't commonly sold in grocery stores). They should fall off the branch with just a light touch.<br />
<ol><li>Using your fingers, remove the blossom tops and pinch off any darkened spots. </li>
<li>Lightly rinse the fruit and place in a large, clean bowl. Add warm water until the fruit are all submerged and allow to soak for 20 minutes. </li>
<li>After soaking, pour out the water and return the fruit to the bowl. Get a potato masher (or similar tool) and mash the persimmons into a pudding like consistency. </li>
<li>Get a fine mesh strainer and place inside another clean bowl; pour the mashed fruit in the strainer.</li>
<li>Using the masher or a spoon, press the pulp through the strainer. You will be left with a ton of seeds, skins, and fibers.</li>
</ol>Compost the remains and your seed-free persimmon pulp is ready for use!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-79600607706948692722011-09-01T19:53:00.001-04:002011-09-10T20:06:32.575-04:00Local Author. Local Dinner.<div class="description"> The Hungry Intellectuals Book and Supper Club invite you to dinner and a book reading from local author, Cris Cohen from his new book titled <em>Staying Crazy to Keep From Going Insane</em>. Ticket sales for the dinner benefit Durham Central Park. <br />
<br />
Cris Cohen of Cary, NC, is the humor columnist for the CaryCitizen.com and a prolific humor blogger.<br />
<br />
“I am very flattered that the Hungry Intellectuals chose my book for this year’s event,” said Cohen. “It is possible that this decision was the result of a computer error or that most members voted while intoxicated. Although, to be fair, I think that is how most bills make it through Congress.”<br />
<br />
<strong>Dinner Theme:</strong> NC Local and Seasonal Cuisine <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkySfCDgv0zdHrEeaqdng47spMws5m2uvWvRmToPPIINr9JhU8QnhDUecmwHEtvKlFyWJn4NGsAxeJdKJSAaqvTUvkSHa7wargTgBtqHRtqObrcLuY6OBkD1BYv71ylECY9ILmJuPo6AM3/s1600/soldout.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkySfCDgv0zdHrEeaqdng47spMws5m2uvWvRmToPPIINr9JhU8QnhDUecmwHEtvKlFyWJn4NGsAxeJdKJSAaqvTUvkSHa7wargTgBtqHRtqObrcLuY6OBkD1BYv71ylECY9ILmJuPo6AM3/s1600/soldout.png" /></a></div><div style="color: black;"><b><a href="http://www.meetup.com/The-Hungry-Intellectuals/events/20628461/">Additional Details & To Buy Tickets</a></b></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-68023471631803973812011-07-12T13:55:00.001-04:002011-07-12T13:55:57.550-04:00Crazy for Durham Central Park!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWhO66JzkMzuHtNcHnV-F_b7-gJI0YoBnfw5g9WKz7n56RGWeUAoqRVqD5s6gDG4WmuAu2UeC7b9gg3exB65TM2_5_qbbxoVam0DtY0md75RUJNqsBGwGcs-5IVHTCn1EiR0E3mUuMFUA/s1600/a216acf9406beae75c08fce29b0ec81e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWhO66JzkMzuHtNcHnV-F_b7-gJI0YoBnfw5g9WKz7n56RGWeUAoqRVqD5s6gDG4WmuAu2UeC7b9gg3exB65TM2_5_qbbxoVam0DtY0md75RUJNqsBGwGcs-5IVHTCn1EiR0E3mUuMFUA/s200/a216acf9406beae75c08fce29b0ec81e.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>The Hungry Intellectuals Selects Cris Cohen’s Book for 2011<br />
Meals from the Market Dinner Theme</b><br />
<br />
<br />
The Hungry Intellectuals book and supper club will host it's second “Meals From The Market” dinner this year to help raise funds for Durham Central Park. And the members have voted Cris Cohen’s upcoming humor book, "Staying Crazy To Keep From Going Insane," as the theme for their 2011 event.<br />
<br />
Meals From The Market dinners are annual fundraisers that individuals and groups host in their homes. Ticket sales to the dinners support Durham Central Park’s preservation and cultural activities. Last year’s Hungry Intellectuals fundraising dinner helped buy new benches for the park.<br />
<br />
To make the annual event more engaging for dinner guests, The Hungry Intellectuals select a book around which they create a theme for the dinner.<br />
<br />
"The Hungry Intellectuals Book and Supper Club is very excited to use Cris' book for our Meals From The Market 2011 dinner theme,” said club organizer Heather Curtis. “We are all too familiar with the idea of ‘staying crazy to keep from going insane!’"<br />
<br />
Cris Cohen of Cary, NC, is the humor columnist for the CaryCitizen.com and a prolific humor blogger. He is publishing his new book this year as a means to raise funds for a local baseball league for kids with special needs, including his own son. The book will be a compilation of humor columns he wrote<br />
for several newspapers when he lived in California before moving to Cary in 2008 and new ones he’s written since then. Proceeds from sales will be donated to the baseball league.<br />
<br />
"Staying Crazy To Keep From Going Insane" has already been endorsed by Pulitzer Prize-winning humor author Dave Barry, New Yorker magazine cartoonist Drew Dernavich, and PEN/Faulker Prize-winning author T.C. Boyle.<br />
<br />
“I am very flattered that they chose my book for this year's event,” said Cohen. “It is possible that this decision was the result of a computer error or that most members voted while intoxicated. Although, to be fair, I think that is how most bills make it through Congress.”<br />
<br />
The Hungry Intellectuals’ 2011 Meals from the Market dinner is scheduled for Sunday, September 18. The group hasn’t determined the exact location yet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7vxSNzLkQhzqAUqixZL8jVdYqxlA838Hik6ZyqTdw9PaNNjGah6XFk6YHKylxIXG9NmDI5GRTRw2u07p-cUpYjXWlbzyfv7JrBImCz8SAVtVWbekLvD4NnEahMpHZV9x_HfWqBAFDkmf/s1600/Hi+Res+dcp+magnolia+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ7vxSNzLkQhzqAUqixZL8jVdYqxlA838Hik6ZyqTdw9PaNNjGah6XFk6YHKylxIXG9NmDI5GRTRw2u07p-cUpYjXWlbzyfv7JrBImCz8SAVtVWbekLvD4NnEahMpHZV9x_HfWqBAFDkmf/s200/Hi+Res+dcp+magnolia+banner.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Durham Central Park is a downtown destination that offers a venue for cultural activities. It is also part of a 24-hour, walkable neighborhood for arts, recreation, and locally owned businesses. The Park includes The Great Lawn, The Pavilion (home of the Durham Farmers Market) and The Skate Park. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.durhamcentralpark.org/" target="_blank">www.durhamcentralpark.org</a>.<br />
<br />
For more information on The Hungry Intellectuals, visit<br />
<a href="http://www.meetup.com/The-Hungry-Intellectuals/" target="_blank">http://www.meetup.com/The-<wbr></wbr>Hungry-Intellectuals/</a>.<br />
<br />
For more information on Cris Cohen and Staying Crazy To Keep<br />
From Going Insane, visit <a href="http://www.stayingcrazy.com/" target="_blank">www.stayingcrazy.com</a>.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-29296219320695597472011-06-26T16:58:00.004-04:002011-07-12T13:37:17.647-04:00The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival<span style="font-size: small;">"<i>Nothing exists now but the tiger, filling his field of vision like a bad accident, like the end of the world; a pair of blazing yellow lanterns over a temple door framed with ivory columns</i>."</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">-excerpt from The Tiger by John Vaillant </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUwlXLhNzkVVt3YTz8cNcMs5f9ai-xj6eDDXjwY0_mJd6JQAjec3B0qSgF2ABbpZXIFb1viFwKL7TPVU1EciVx5FnsGAHznhbQxEfFjLCrVwcq2Z-49nUu2It_1bTyfWUNG3DYlYO0GBQ/s1600/TheTiger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUwlXLhNzkVVt3YTz8cNcMs5f9ai-xj6eDDXjwY0_mJd6JQAjec3B0qSgF2ABbpZXIFb1viFwKL7TPVU1EciVx5FnsGAHznhbQxEfFjLCrVwcq2Z-49nUu2It_1bTyfWUNG3DYlYO0GBQ/s320/TheTiger.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />
Originally there was some hesitation for reading Vaillant's book The Tiger, for fear that the book would be too gory for members to stomach and discuss at the dinner table. Vaillant however, does a fantastic job of describing horrid events in elegant detail, allowing the reader to experience beautiful power and grandeur rather than blood and guts. <br />
<br />
The accompanying potluck dinner to our book discussion was a feast fit for a king. And staying true to our club's beliefs, most of the ingredients were locally sourced!<br />
<br />
<b>Dinner Menu:</b> Russian cuisine -or- Tiger themed food<br />
<br />
Beef Stroganoff<br />
<a href="http://hungryintellectuals.blogspot.com/2011/06/russian-eggplant-caviar-ikra.html">Russian Eggplant Caviar</a><br />
Cheese and Potato Pierogies with saute onions<br />
White Russian cocktails <br />
"Snow covered" nuts<br />
"USSR issued" soda<br />
Tiger Cake (black and orange striped cake)<br />
Russian chocolatesHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-15406609197091030032011-06-26T16:46:00.002-04:002011-07-12T13:36:25.251-04:00Russian Eggplant Caviar (Ikra)<b>Ikra aka “Russian Eggplant Caviar”</b><br />
This delicious recipe comes to us courtesy of one of our members who made this dish for our Russian dinner themed June meetup, <a href="http://hungryintellectuals.blogspot.com/2011/06/tiger-true-story-of-vengeance-and.html">"The Tiger."</a><b> </b> <br />
<br />
<u>Ingredients</u> <br />
2 medium purple eggplants<br />
3 medium tomatoes, pureed <br />
1 large onion, minced<br />
Garlic powder<br />
Pepper<br />
Olive oil<br />
Pita or rye bread for serving<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBUBiWDwEFy8LLr2cAIw_kECk_kpoX5u7Pwu4aJoQ8tuzf3s8rQs81P1616rofm21UwPSZAF8c3wLlN1SCFq1rhI_tKq8-BBxNnQoU5KoCdPjau2pHay5EhafdgJWzezXesmAMZ63Vs60/s1600/MP1B42_Eggplant-Caviar_s4x3_lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBUBiWDwEFy8LLr2cAIw_kECk_kpoX5u7Pwu4aJoQ8tuzf3s8rQs81P1616rofm21UwPSZAF8c3wLlN1SCFq1rhI_tKq8-BBxNnQoU5KoCdPjau2pHay5EhafdgJWzezXesmAMZ63Vs60/s200/MP1B42_Eggplant-Caviar_s4x3_lg.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<u>Directions</u><br />
<br />
Bake eggplant whole in a glass pan at 425ºF. until it is soft and its skin is charred and blistered. <br />
Cook diced onion in olive oil over moderate heat until they are soft.<br />
Scoop bakes eggplant out of skin into a food processor / blender and puree. <br />
Add eggplant and tomatoes to onion. Mix and season to taste. <br />
Serve hot or cold with bread for dipping.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> *Photo from FoodNetwork.com</span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-24340738520136447622011-06-08T18:58:00.010-04:002011-06-11T09:41:53.458-04:00Strawberry Cobbler<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAx4xaMeHAS1t9ZjONvFVmExP9zsffbCtq2poF-IQBa2vKlZz_KnBDMwDHFPr12YoQB3tdjYMNcaoyuV5-Y8YngWYkpa4HTsScj6t-eufl_Ey5d724N6gVJBBupJ3pzPh7OIUgrpQucBtD/s1600/Strawberry-Cobbler1-155x155.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 155px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAx4xaMeHAS1t9ZjONvFVmExP9zsffbCtq2poF-IQBa2vKlZz_KnBDMwDHFPr12YoQB3tdjYMNcaoyuV5-Y8YngWYkpa4HTsScj6t-eufl_Ey5d724N6gVJBBupJ3pzPh7OIUgrpQucBtD/s200/Strawberry-Cobbler1-155x155.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615988728468060162" border="0" /></a><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="p1"><span style="font-size:85%;">Another amazing dish brought by a Hungry Intellectuals member to our <a href="http://hungryintellectuals.blogspot.com/2011/05/walk-in-suburban-woods.html">A Walk in the Woods meetup</a>. From what I recall, we polished off the entire batch!</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" class="p1"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }@font-face { font-family: "Courier New"; }@font-face { font-family: "Wingdings"; }@font-face { font-family: "Verdana"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }ol { margin-bottom: 0in; }ul { margin-bottom: 0in; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 12.8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>1/2 cup white sugar</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 12.8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>2 tablespoons cornstarch</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 12.8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>1/2 cup water</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 12.8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>2 lbs. strawberries, hulled (and chopped if they're large) </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 12.8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>2 tablespoons butter, diced</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 12.8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>1 cup all-purpose flour</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 12.8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>1 tablespoon white sugar</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 12.8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 12.8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>1/2 teaspoon salt</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 12.8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>3 tablespoons butter</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 12.8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;">·<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span>1/2 cup heavy whipping cream</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b> </b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><b>Directions</b></span></p> <ol style="font-family:georgia;"><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="border: 0in none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Butter a 2 quart baking dish. (I used a 9X9 in. square pan, but I should have used a deeper one - the filling boiled over a bit)</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="border: 0in none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Combine sugar, cornstarch, and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick and hot. Stir in strawberries, and remove from heat. Pour mixture into the baking dish, and dot with 2 tablespoons butter.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="border: 0in none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in 3 tablespoons butter. Stir in cream. Mixture should be fairly soft. Spoon on top of berries.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border: 0in none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Bake for 25 minutes in the preheated oven.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border: 0in none windowtext; padding: 0in;">Serve with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and enjoy!</span></span></li></ol>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-46116751038844579832011-06-08T17:25:00.004-04:002011-06-15T14:36:34.685-04:00Chilled Peach, Tomato and Cucumber Soup<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qwBQ5BIzNUAKdYlf7BhBT5HHka8IDAEkKT9i3HDpihUkvpcXFw00WsnfJtj0WwC05IvFi2wSQTNpR_FKUdzPp7L0IPW7kYCBjqmoHIANUoHV7AIEn3ayuFvfOPclCCIllBwDc2S2sB0j/s1600/peaches.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615965015752660914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qwBQ5BIzNUAKdYlf7BhBT5HHka8IDAEkKT9i3HDpihUkvpcXFw00WsnfJtj0WwC05IvFi2wSQTNpR_FKUdzPp7L0IPW7kYCBjqmoHIANUoHV7AIEn3ayuFvfOPclCCIllBwDc2S2sB0j/s200/peaches.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 200px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a> <br />
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<div class="p1">This refreshing twist on traditional peach soup was created by a member of the Hungry Intellectuals and brought to our May meeting, <a href="http://hungryintellectuals.blogspot.com/2011/05/walk-in-suburban-woods.html">A Walk In The Woods</a>. The smoothness and sweetness of the farmers' market peaches disguise the healthy tomatoes and cucumber flavors, and the cinnamon gives it a nice kick. The soup received rave reviews from everyone!</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><b>Ingredients</b></div><div class="p1">4 large ripe peaches </div><div class="p1">2 large ripe tomatoes </div><div class="p1">1 medium ripe cucumber, peeled and diced<span class="s1"> <br />
</span>Ground cinnamon</div><div class="p1"><span class="s1">Sugar</span><span class="s1"><br />
</span>Mint sprigs</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><b>Method</b></div><div class="p1">Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Cut a small “X” through the bottom of each peach and tomato, then drop them into the water to blanch for 20 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer peaches and tomatoes to a bowl of ice water. When they are cooled, drain well then peel them, starting from the “X” at the bottom. Discard skin and pits and transfer to a food processor or blender. <span class="s1"> <br />
<br />
</span>Add cucumber and blend/puree until smooth. Add cinnamon and sugar to taste. Transfer to a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, about 2 hours. <span class="s1"> <br />
<br />
</span>Pour soup into bowls or cups, garnish with mint and enjoy!</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-64303611078185885302011-05-25T17:28:00.012-04:002011-06-11T09:38:25.210-04:00A Walk in the Cary Woods<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmffyr8VJY-yt_9I0UqaX0TmCkeaN8G0iQVdDR5hz6HbTmEBu6FXZQcyiCEG3y2LIyk6yzlBVNBATynHb6Pux5lYzmW5aG_kVlINbQxUHiBb0yjunB58iu_xVkZjUXvpsyDhe1hcoOQVMA/s1600/WalkintheWoods.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmffyr8VJY-yt_9I0UqaX0TmCkeaN8G0iQVdDR5hz6HbTmEBu6FXZQcyiCEG3y2LIyk6yzlBVNBATynHb6Pux5lYzmW5aG_kVlINbQxUHiBb0yjunB58iu_xVkZjUXvpsyDhe1hcoOQVMA/s200/WalkintheWoods.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610772550107436962" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" >Inspired by Bill, fellow Hungry Intellectual member Nathan and I decided to hike to Sunday's bookclub meeting & BBQ held at a picnic shelter in Umstead Park.<br /><br />According to Google walking maps, our journey would take us 2 miles through suburban Cary along Harrison Avenue, and 5.5 miles along a couple of well-maintained trails of Umstead Park. The hike, according to Google, was anticipated to take no longer than 2 and 1/2 hours.</span><span style=";font-family:verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><p face="georgia">Much like most novice hikers mentioned in A Walk in the Woods, Nathan and I were in for more of a workout than we expected.<br /></p><p face="georgia">Nathan was definitely Bill in this scenario and I was Katz, mumbling and cursing as I tried to keep up with Nathan's brisk pace. Fortunately, I chose not to toss any of our BBQ supplies out of my pack along the trail. I did however, manage to convince Nathan to switch packs with me as mine was significantly heavier with most of the food, books, notes, water, and charcoal for the grill (that we didn't use anyway).<br /></p><p face="georgia">Instead of printing the Google map and bringing it along with us, we chose instead to rely on the park's maps and trail markers. This was poor planning on our part, considering both Nathan and I are the most easily disoriented people we know. </p><p face="georgia">So 4 hours and 2 extra miles later, we arrived in true 3S hiker style: Sweaty, stinky, and starving! </p><p face="georgia">Thankfully enough, though we were very much late for the meeting, everyone was waiting at the picnic shelter with an amazing spread of food for our Appalachian BBQ:</p></span><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" ><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Strawberries and blueberries from the farmer's market</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">NC pulled pork & 'slaw</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Pasta salad</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Tossed salad from a member's home garden & homemade croutons</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Sweet potato chips</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://hungryintellectuals.blogspot.com/2011/06/chilled-peach-tomato-and-cucumber-soup.html">Peach, tomato, & cucumber soup</a><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://hungryintellectuals.blogspot.com/2011/06/strawberries-cobbler.html">Strawberry cobbler</a></span></li></ul><span style=";font-family:verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><p><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" >And most appropriately.... Snickers bars!</span><br /></p></span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-10691392047419709952011-05-18T01:23:00.006-04:002011-05-18T01:37:32.870-04:00Our eyes are bigger than our stomachs.I stumbled across this NPR article while taking a break from reading one of 3 books I'm currently juggling and found it rather timely. It helps put into perspective what we choose to spend our time reading, listening, or watching.<br /><br />There is more media to consume than time to digest them.<br /><br />A good read. Check it out here: <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/04/21/135508305/the-sad-beautiful-fact-that-were-all-going-to-miss-almost-everything">The Sad Beautiful Fact That We Are All Going to Miss Everything by Linda Holmes</a>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-77150824786503223732011-04-28T21:28:00.007-04:002011-05-18T01:18:27.864-04:00"I'd bang Ben Franklin!"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_BXo5TZ8uU4JYqqtsjMq8YalZ_Z4VHZdkycRSpFd2USofl6C6FgXqYmjMdcI0F7rjU-osB37OvI1LLhp9RmcNX0Vu56vT17ciSGVTbhjibnmyNTCpolRG9UWUb4FWx8mWV0BctIhmqKd/s1600/the_billionaires_vinegar_cover1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_BXo5TZ8uU4JYqqtsjMq8YalZ_Z4VHZdkycRSpFd2USofl6C6FgXqYmjMdcI0F7rjU-osB37OvI1LLhp9RmcNX0Vu56vT17ciSGVTbhjibnmyNTCpolRG9UWUb4FWx8mWV0BctIhmqKd/s200/the_billionaires_vinegar_cover1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607869027837092898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >The Hungry Intellectuals have a reputation for saying some hilarious, and often off-the-wall comments, but this month's one liner will go down in the record book! </span><span style=";font-family:verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ><p style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.meetup.com/The-Hungry-Intellectuals/events/16858282/">The Billionaire's Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace</a> has nothing to do with Ben Franklin but follows another "sexy" Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson. The book chronicles Jefferson's 1787 tour and escapades through Europe collecting some of the world's finest wine and follows a story line of the art (and deception) of the modern day comically extravagant high-dollar wine collecting business.<br /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >The question remains though: Why does an otherwise worthless object (i.e. an acrid and dusty old wine bottle) increase in ridiculous value simply because a celebrity is believed to have owned it?</span><br /></p> <p></p></span><span style=";font-family:verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:85%;" ></span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6955505641005583583.post-42977381525184813072011-04-07T19:52:00.002-04:002011-05-18T00:51:42.315-04:00Move over Oprah, there’s a new book club in town!<p>Do you know that 80% of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year?</p> <p>This is the beginning of a blog for those 20% of us who not only embrace reading, but also sharing a good meal and snob-free intelligent discussion.<br /></p>So bring on the comments, disagreements, criticisms and recipes!<p><br /></p>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00117200609145170985noreply@blogger.com0