Obama in Berlin

Yesterday may have been the best day of J's life when we saw Senator Obama give his global unification speech.

I can't say that my excitement matched his. Meaning, I could sleep and didn't get up at 4am that morning to check on the status of his arrival. I almost didn't go because I'm not keen on big crowds nor walking the estimated 1.5 miles that was required for the general public to get to the Victory Tower where the speech was held. But it was hard to ignore how monumental the event was --to be given the opportunity to see an African-American presidential candidate so warmly welcomed in our adopted city.

In hindsight, I'm glad I decided to go. We had a great time in part because, due to Ben's generosity towards J, all four of us had the chance to get press credentials which gave us front row viewing. I was wearing my "Obama Mama" tshirt which garnered alot of unwanted attention. I don't know what I was expecting but I found myself having to turn away from a few cameras--all but the one who asked to take my picture with Sandra. "Shoot," I told her. "I knew I should have worn makeup!" She asked me whether her hair was standing up. These things are important, you know.

This was a day that we will look back on and remember fondly. It is also comforting to be teaching the baby early lessons: He can vote for whomever he wants.....as long as it's a Democrat.

Girl vs.Yeast, Part Deux

Okay, technically there was no yeast involved in this culinary adventure but I couldn't think of anything snappier and the title works so cut me some slack, folks.

On last night's agenda, Coq Au Vin and Baked Alaska. Chosen for their obscurity, charm, and complexity. The 1950's kitsch factor was a bonus. It doesn't seem like much of an accomplishment if it doesn't take more than 6 hours, a bucket of sweat, and the added bonus of the chef screaming at her victims: "Oh no, the ice cream is melting under the meringue and there are still 50 seconds on the timer! Quick, let's cut it before it melts Don't move. Just hurry up and eat it. No, you have to eat it NOW, standing up before its ruined! Was it good? Did you like it? What do you think? Should we try it again?" Fun times.

You can see I have a knack for making people at ease. Meals with me are always so looow keeyyy and stress free. No wonder my husband dreads Sunday dinner!

First, the Coq Au Vin which is a chicken stew of sorts cooked in dry red wine. Another Barefoot Contessa treat. Lots of ingredients but once the dreaded chopping is done, you basically throw everything in the pot to cook. I'm still stumped as to why the chicken turned red but I made it so it couldn't have possibly turned out perfectly. It tasted great, though. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Try it if you dare. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/barefoot-contessa/coq-au-vin-recipe/index.html


Then, the preparation for the Baked Alaska, which is basically an ice cream cake with a brownie base that is covered in meringue. The recipe is a bit non-traditional but adapted from Gourmet magazine so it was an easy home-run. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/saras-secrets/baked-alaska-recipe/index.html

Overall, the meal got high marks although I ached this morning trying to get out of bed. The dishes were totally worth the effort but I can't say I'll be making them the same night anytime soon. There are too many other recipes I could kill myself over to do that.

The Family that Lays together.....

One of the beings in these pictures is going to be a great dad. To give you a hint, they have an imposable thumb and are capable of comprehensing commands more complex than "sit!," "stay!," and "no." Oh, and they are a male which is an important trait to have in a father.

Seeing him with the pets sometimes makes me a little weepy. That such a big guy could be such a softy and so caring to these furbies is touching. I can't imagine what I will feel like seeing him with my little gummy bear.

Notice the rapid advancement from sweet family bonding to manipulation and attempted mutilation by the furred ones? Yes, he can sometimes be taken advantage of by Josie and fall victim to Ramsey's wild wrestling antics. That soft side just helps to balance out my tough side. Balance is important in a relationship even if it leaves you a bit scarred, literally.

EDITED TO ADD: Not 5 minutes after Ramsey's spasm where she scratched the crap out of J she proceeded to take a swipe at me for trying to trim her vicious nails. I now have a beautiful battle scar over my eyelid, ON my eyelid, and a across the bridge of my nose. Enough of this family bonding mess. If you are on the market for a cat, give me a call. I think we can help you out.

Pan Fried Delight

For the party last week, I made this delectable carmelized onion dip. The inspiring recipe came from the Barefoot Contessa and boy is it good. I mean really good. So good, in fact, that you'll be compelled to bottle it up and inject it straight into your blood stream for the sheer "YUM!"satisfaction. Uh huh, that good.

I love her. Don't you? She is one of maybe two cookbook authors that I know I can turn to when I need a home run dish. No need to cook and tweak the item a million times to make sure it is just right. Yes, it may require more ingredients than you'd prefer but if she wrote it, it will be perfect and people will love you for it. Because that's really why we cook, right? We want to cook things people love for the people we love so they will love us a little more in return. Or admire us. Or at the very least like us a little more.

Anyway, I worship the women. I watch her show and think about her perfect little 40 year marriage and her perfect little, I mean GINORMOUS, house in the Hamptons which is equipped with the perfect Versailles inspired garden and picture perfect fully decked Vikings kitchen and think: "If I can conquer the pan fried onion dip, that too can be mine." Funny how the mind works. Rationally, you don't go from cooking well to having a multi-kabillion dollar enterprise but it's a start, I suppose. To just be happy doing what you love and to have the side bonus of being successful at it is the true desire really.

I met her once....well, I stood behind her once...when we were in Paris two years ago. She was staying at the same hotel and I had just come back from a tour of Giverny (Monet's house and gardens where he painted Waterlilies a gagillion times) with a guide. The guide was yammering on about something to do with Parisian architecture when I saw her. And when I say, I froze, got clammy hands, and a dry mouth I am not exagerrating. I was star-struck. Here she was--my Food Network idol--standing not three feet in front of me wearing her signature button down denim shirt and I was at a loss for words. I think I forced out a pip-squeaked "Excuse me, Ms. Gardner?" but I said it so quietly that she didn't hear me and I lost my nerve. Man, I'm still mad at myself for missing the opportunity. Who knows? I could be her apprentice now had I spoken up but it wasn't meant to be. So ist das leben.

Where was I? Right, the recipe that will make you fall in love again with french onion dip. Make it and tell me you don't like me just a little bit more for turning you onto it. If you happen to gain 20 pounds in a week from eating all 2 cups of dip on your own or your guests stay well pass their welcome out of a desire to finish it off, just know you've been warned.

Curse of the Pharaoh

Against his better judgement but in response to my constant pestering, we held our third murder mystery party last night. I love a good game but I am partial to murder mystery games because they bring out a totally different side in people. First of all, who among us doesn't like to dress up? I don't care how old you are there aren't very many people who don't love the escape that dressing up provides. Add to the mix, an opportunity to play a character and there is no telling what will happen. Those that you expect to hold back go all out and really play up their part. Those you expect to play up there part do it so well you wonder how long they prepared for their roles. Hours? Days? A lifetime? Either way, I get a kick out of it even though I'm the one orchestrating but I like bossing people so that should come as no surprise.

J was against the idea because when we last hosted a mystery party in Atlanta people got too confused and so the game dragged on. I thought it had more to do with the game itself, rather than the crowd but last night changed my perception. It had everything to do with the group. Engaged guests make the party. Of course, J came around too, as he always does, and became one of the stars of the show. We are thoroughly exhausted today but I'm already thinking about when we'll host the next one. I'm always up for the chance to laugh at someone else's expense!

For more pictures of the party than you care to see, follow the link below to my Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9997610@N02/.

MauerPark

On Sunday, we decided to go to Mauerpark to check out the flea market there.



We'd been to other flea markets in Berlin before but had heard this was a true Berlin flea market, not some trumped up tourist attraction. This market drew the people, man. Cool, we love the people, right? We're down.

Ha. If the people shop at Mauerpark, then I'd prefer to take my business elsewhere and solidly align myself with "those who are part of the problem." Finding the solution has never been further from my mind.


Mauerpark (or Wall Park in english) is a 300 meter long section of the former Berlin Wall that has been remade into a park in Prenzlauerberg. Because there is a stadium nearby, the wall was particularly high and massive here to prevent visitors to the soccer games from jumping the wall.



You can take a stroll along the inner wall that has been open to graffiti artists, make a picnic near the stadium that it partially surrounds, or visit the flea market nearby. All of the guide books tell you that your walk here will be interesting but interesting doesn't even begin to describe the scene.



Berlin has a funny way of reminding you why so many different types of people are drawn to this city. The best word I can think of to describe it is: schizophrenic. On any given day in any given area, you are bound to be challenged by what kind of city you think Berlin is. In one sense, it is obvious why Prenzlauerberg has the highest birthrate in any city in Europe. They've got cobblestone streets, trendy cafes, trendier kid and maternity stores, and beautiful tree lined streets. Huge playgrounds and newly restored buildings can be found in all over. And then, just when you think you've gotten a sense of it, you stumble into Mauerpark and your perception of the neighborhood is turned on its head.



Mauerpark is weird, man. In the funniest, beatnikish, "We are way too tuned into the establishment," sort of way. Observant people-and those not prone to sensory overload like me--took notice of the "Hey, did you see that guy's face tatoos running up his leg?;" or "Anyone in the market for a box of half used suntan lotion, watered down Listerine, and a burnt out light bulb? All of it can be yours for an Euro" ; or"Dude, I am so glad we made it in time for the "Sorry, Guillermo" concert. I was afraid we'd miss it." I was just overwhelmed by the piles of junk of sale and the sheer number of people buying them.



Can't say we'll be returning to Mauerpark for their bargain basement prices or their assortment of discarded treasures but it is definitely the type of place that would have been a shame to miss.