A new year for the Cosmic Spatula

So, it was a spur of the moment idea.  Rita contacted everyone to see if they could get together Sunday.  Sometimes, this is the best way to pull it off. Just do it!

So we had yet another great feast. Chicken wrapped in phyllo pastry, vegetables spiced with some fiery hot sauce, a great tossed salad with all kinds of greens and some red things, wonderful bread, and great carrot cookies with icing (where are the left overs?).

But what was this? --------------->



It was lurking nearby, watching all of us while we had dessert, conversation, and laughs.

Were you able to identify the thing above?

Was it some left over from the meal?

Was it left on someone's plate?


Did it come in on someone's boots?


.


..

...


....

Can you find it in one of the pictures below?

It is Charlie's nose...

Hey?

What's up with this Cosmic Spatula thing? 


Where everybody go?


Did our spatula get stuck in something?


It has been a quiet as a mouse in a cat convention.


As silent as a deaf mute in outer space.


As empty as my popcorn bowl five minutes after I've filled it.


As lonely as ... as.... I need help here.....


As slow as congress in passing good bills,


Could I generate some excitement if I were to declare my self a New England Patriots fan?


What about the Indianapolis colts?


Well, I will just wish all you active people a happy holiday.


Fred

Okay so apparently the Cosmic Spatula Blog no longer exists. It has been changed to "The Fred and Jan Show". Anyway the latest meeting was at the abode of R & J with the occasion being the kick off of the Steeler football season.It was brunch at noon 'cause the game started at one. It was a nice day so we were able to eat on the back veranda.Showing our true fanaticism the table was totally Steeler black and gold. We had Mimosas- the most important item. There was typical brunch fare- two egg puffs (one being of egg beaters for the faint of heart.) There were sorta good for you chicken sausages,
a variety of pastry and bagels, and Vera made a fruit, yogurt and granola dish. Rita's famous tomato pie was in attendance (see recipe below) and yippee there was enough left for R & J to have some the next day. Sorry Fred. We all squished in to our somewhat diminutive TV room with our somewhat diminutive TV, and the true fans began to yell, Barb knitted, and others stifled their yawns until it was time to make a get away. In case you don't know- the Steelers won. Actually that means we need to do the same thing every week to maintain the mojo. But alas we have not and as of this writing the team is two wins and one loss, but it is a long time and MANY games until the Super Bowl. See ya' then.

Cosmic Brunch

Normally we all wait until after the Cosmic event to post our blog or pictures. 


It is time to be different!


This is a before the event post. 


It shows the preparation that some do to get ready for the event.  This is why Rita (and Fred) will be late to this event.  


Preparing the ingredients for the tomato pie is not a trivial task. Below, after the picture,  you will find the recipe.

Recipe:

1. Prepare a pie crust in advance.
2. Cut this stuff up, or get your partner to do it for you while you run around the kitchen doing other stuff.
3. Sprinkle season stuff on the cut-up stuff
4. Pull pie crust out of the oven when you get the sprinkle part done (step 3), but not before you get the cutting part done (step 2).
5. Throw this sprinkled stuff in the pie crust ... well... may you just put it in gently.
6. Put in oven at 350 or 400 or somewhere in between, depending on how fast you can do the next step.
7. Take showers.
8. Pull pie out of the oven and boogie to the event.
9. Ops, you forgot to dress, so back home and do that, then speed to event.
10. Arrive at event and walk in like you been really busy.

Better late than never??

Figured I'd better get my two cents worth in about the last Spatula before we moved on. Hopefully we can count on Fred, our own paparazzo, but where has everyone been? Personally I fogot my password. I know that Tim & Barb have bigger fish to fry, but I thought that Bob had enough frivolity in his system that he would not abandon us even though he has his very own blog now.
The last event was quite special as Tim and Barb took the plunge. The group was enlarged with special family and friends. Fizzy drinks with sugar on the rim and home made maraschino cherries were served by Barb's niece and husband from Pittsbugh along with ceviche. So advanced. I didn't even recognize Tim's brother, Jeff for about 15 minutes. White hair does become him. The table out on the deck looked like a picture from Gourmet Magazine. And to think I often wondered, "Who are those people?"
It was very hot and sunny, but Rita was so kind as to be late so that the sun went down exactly on cue as we sat down to enjoy our repast. Thanks Rita. Also all lateness was forgiven as when she did arrive she was accompanied by a WONDERFUL tomato pie, a gorgeous cake with chocolate icing and ganache and an equally gorgeous daughter.
The main course was a wonderful filet with a "slightly reduced" reduction. Aside from the temptations mentioned above there were garlic mashed potatoes, a wonderful green bean almondine (I love friends with gardens) and a Waldorf salad that Ron and Jeff couldn't help pretending was part of the appetizers. Thanks to one and all.
I don't mind bragging that we finished every bottle of wine in the joint. Well- we had to toast didn't we? The ceremony was inspiring and Libby's poem brought tears to every eye.
This was also the debut of Bob and Vera's exchange student, Guzya. I'm sure you will hear more about her as she will be spending a year with "the hippies." So thanks to one and all- You know who you are and how special you are......

Memories made in August 2010

It was a warm, sunny, evening in August.  The invitation list was extended to include a number of friends.  It was a event to remember: the wonderful food, friends, weather, surroundings, music and a commitment service.

The hosts

A walk before dinner

The Table

The Friends

The Tomato pie

The Service

  

flying cookware and slippery ribs

Hi Gang:

Ron and Jan, you were missed, and here is what you missed.

The grilling of the ribs was taking too long and with time running out and rain on the way, I headed for the oven with a platter of ribs. I arrived to find my pre-heated pan sitting on top of the stove put there by my lovely wife (what is this empty pan doing in the oven?) Ahem, so forgetting that it might be hot, I grabbed, and it flew! Once it was retrieved before melting through the linoleum, time to get the ribs in. While tilting the platter to slide into the baking pan, (now cool and returned to the oven), the ribs slid right off the platter, missed the pan entirely, and went to the bottom of the oven onto the 450 degree surface. POOF. Instant smoke and billows of it filling the kitchen. (Didn't I do that on the first Cosmic Dinner?)

Rita and company to the rescue! Potholders flying, oven grate flung into the back yard, remove the squash from the near flaming oven, spatulate the smoldering remains off the bottom of the oven, return squash to oven and smoke for 20 more minutes with the ribs. Thank heavens we took the batteries out of the smoke alarms weeks ago. (I think I better take care of that today).

Damn! still not done. Off to the microwave for perfect ribs. Asparagus on the grille never take off cause all the coals are gone, they go in the microwave too for that perfect microwaved finish. Yikes, I gave myself over 3 hours to orchestrate this latest disaster/gourmet feast. Ah well, adaptability is my motto.

Well, that's about it. I'll let Rita and Barbara contribute their additions to the meal because the salad and squash and dessert were of course, fantastic, but I don't know the particulars.

Thanks all for another eventful evening.
Bob

A few Cosmic Picnic Pics

Here is the fire that baked the potatoes:

Here is the 'facilities'.

Or is it: "Here *are* the facilities."

Or "Here be the facility?"

Here are the dogs waiting to either get a food handout or to lead someone back home.

Dinner in the Pines

Well, it looks like you are, Fred. Actually, being the social butterfies that we all are, finding a time to do a May Spatula was going to be extremely difficult. But as fate would have it, Ron and Jan's weekend trip on the 14th was cancelled. So the Spatulas performed a little last minute dance, and a quaint little picnic was arranged in the pine grove below Fred and Rita's house. It's so nice. There is a great fire area where Rita roasted taters in the coals. She also came up with a hot artichoke dip that we devoured along with a salad. Jan made a Pot O' Beans. Barb brought a bumbleberry pie (look it up), and Bob brought Vera, always a sweet treat. The boys were enamored of Fed's machine. The weather cooperated. They even have a "facility" for those too dainty to be true woodspersons. It was Sunday evening so the game was called on account of darkness, and the dogs led us out of the woods and back to reality. It was great to see everyone.
Onward to June!

May dinner date

I have to admit my hearing is somewhat impaired, my listing is sometimes selective and my memory is frequently offline.

I'm sure the May Cosmic Spatula dinner was discussed at the April dinner. Can someone refresh that conversation for me - or, at least, the bottom line?

When is it and who is hosting it?

Thanks in advance.

Muddy in Creekside: Monday AM

Fred,

Keep the cookies and your job with the Animal Rescue League. Great picture though.

Your photo skills are appreciated. Have a good week.

Babs

Barbara,

You are redeemed.

I'm so sorry I didn't look more closely before I posted such an irresponsible post.

Can I keep the cookies now?

Defending Her Life

Dear Fred and all concerned dog lovers,

A close up would reveal that Zoe was licking my fingers. It would not show any food because I do not feed at the table, well... at least with other people's dogs. So there. HA! Indicted without real proof!

Give me back my cookies!!

Babs

Coconuts All

Dear My Friends and family (Ben) and inductees from New Hampshire!

Last night was another wonderful eating and social experience. It is definitely time for me to learn new songs. Singing the old ones is heartwarming none the less. Bob and Tim are the best band I know and having my son, Ben, play with me is always an amazing experience. You guys should hear him drum. Thanks all for welcoming him so graciously. My favorite guest from NH was Mollie! The sweet cocker spaniel...what a cutie! Ann was an inspiration! Also very cute, by the way. Neil and his wife were also lovely and of course the divine Rachel and Ian. What a village we are creating.

I promised the recipe for the macaroons, which I now regret leaving with Fred! heheheh. They were darn good.

Here it is: make sure the batter gets set before you bake. Otherwise they run a bit while baking, but still work out fine. I doubled this recipe for 14 people. My cookies were also fairly large. The recipe is for 2 dozen cookies, but they would have to be smaller.

Ingredients:

4 large egg whites at room temperature

1 cup granulated white sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup cake flour (sifted)

3 cups sweetened shredded coconut

In a stainless steel bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water, whisk together the egg whites, sugar and salt. When the mixture is warm to the touch and nice and creamy, remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla, flour and coconut. Cover and refrigerate for about two hours, or until firm.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place small amounts ( a tablespoon) or desired amount of the batter on the parchment a few inches apart. Bake for about 15 or 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Then place the cookies on a cooling rack.

There ya go ! Bake on!

Ben fried the bananas in butter and brown sugar in a very hot pan until soft but not too soft. Sometimes that worked...hehehe.

The coconut ice cream was online. I used egg yolks for richness. I can post that too if you like.

To me the best part was the warm bananas on the plate with cold ice cream on top and the cookies on the side. Hot, cold, sweet and crunchy..yum!! I am truly a texture freak!

I know that May is full for all of us and may not work. Please hold June 5 for our party, which is a potluck and may substitute if we have trouble finding dates. How about the road trip the end of August??? Sounds like fun.

Love you guys and gals. Hope to see you soon.

Barb and Tim

Thai ing one on

Yep- I knew I would be the first one to have time to blog about our latest dining adventure what with Fred and Rita having "guest speakers" in from New Hampshire including the most spry 92 year old I've ever seen, and Barb having to deliver her son to an airplane this morning(which has got to be a very hard thing to do.) Cosmic Spatula expanded to 14 for the April meeting!
The most amazing thing, aside from another round of FABULOUS food, was that we all arrived actually at precisely at 6:00. I'll probably never get over that. Especially when we have a half hour window. I wanted to get there on time as I was in the appetizer category. It was cool with a chance of rain so our hoped for outdoor appetizers were not practical. Therefore, my Chicken Satay (Thai grilled chicken on a skewer) became Thai- spear 'em with a toothpick- chicken Mcnuggets. But we might have hit upon something there. Think you could even use it as a main course.
I was sure that sometime during the "first round" of couples there would have to be some food failure or at least some food that was just okay. BUT NO. The bar is now raised soooo high! I'll let Rita, our official recording secretary, put in the entire menu. But I've got to get the recipe for Rita's seafood curry which was just right. Curried stuff can get overwhelming, but this was perfection.
Authentic spring rolls- healthy; the salad so pretty with the beets and mango-need the salad dressing recipe too; never tire of asparagus; and Bob has a new appreciation of coconut. I'll tell you what- that Ben sure can fry a banana. Not to mention that he can sure play a guitar too. It's not too many groups that are fortunate enough to have the kind of after dinner entertainment that this group can provide.
So onward toward summer and the opportunities and challenges that will present. The road trip is still up for discussion, and the suggestion to postpone the group for the summer was soundly voted down. Guess I'll just be forced to have more fun and food frolic. Bye for now

Number 4 - at Windblown Studio

It's about great food, good friends, guests, and enjoying life.

I'll let others describe the food. They can do it much better than I. However, I will share with you that I'm very pleased to be married to the person who made the main dish. Wow! And, we have leftovers!

I was fearful of the asparagus, because I was warned that it contained lots of garlic. I don't mind garlic in food, but I don't like garlic flavored with food.

However, I did try Bob's asparagus, and it was very good. All the food was wonderful. What a team!

However, in every party there is one or two who just can't control themselves.

We did capture one such moment on camera.

Not that she was the only one, but she was the only one I caught on camera.

Some culprit feeding our dog, Zoe!

Shame on you.

Bad! Bad Human!

Barbara busted!

One of the side benefits of having such talented friends, is that after dessert is over, the dishes are cleared, the coffee served, and the bellies full, they break out their instruments and play music.

Even the guests come prepared to play. Ben, we thank you for your tender touch on those strings.

And some of the guests actually listen.

For Tim King

Just read that the ancient Assyrians used to say that the gods do not subtract from a man's allotted life span the hours he spends fishing. You might live to be 100 !!

April Cosmic Dinner

In case some of you are wondering, the April Cosmic Spatula will commence on April 24, between 6:00 and 6:30 PM. at Windblown Studio.

Hors d'oeuvres on the porch, dinner afterwards, music, frolicking and laughter follows.

Cosmic thought of the day

I found out something today that I wanted to share with you all.

Scientists discovered a new heavy element that goes into slot number 117 on the atomic scale. You can read about it in the New York Times. The really interesting part of this finding is that they have yet to name it, but they will. “Naming elements is a serious question, in fact,” said Yuri Oganessian, a nuclear physicist... “This takes years.”

So how long has it been since the discovered our moon? Duh?

Cosmic thought for the day.

Things to think about

I was thinking the other day... about the Moon.

I realized just how stupid it was that that our moon is the only moon in our solar system that is not named.

Why is that?

As of 2008, there were 172 known moons orbiting planets in our universe. They all have names. Names like Phobos, Aoede, Lo, and SI2003_J_23. One hundred seventy-two names. Many not pronounceable. Ours does not have a name. We just call it "Moon."

So, why doesn't our moon have a real name? I know some may think that lunar may be a name, but it is really reserved for adjective or adverb use like lunar-storm or lunar-eclipse. For use like: "he went lunar" or 'he got lunar faced'. Lunar is more like what our moon does other than what it is.

Moon. the noun that refers to our moon. What is that?

Now get this. The reason why we call it "Moon" is that in 1665 when they discovered other satellites around other planets, the guys who did the discovering sat around a camp fire drinking wine and were talking about these satellites and one of them said: "Hey! we are going to get confused with all the moons we found. When Galileo here says 'moon', I can't tell if he is talking about that satellite around Jupiter or the one on Earth here. We need to do something to clear up this confusion."

So, being the great thinkers of their time (keep in mind they were drinking wine), they decided to name all the other moons they found and not name ours. They invented Phobos, Lo, Aoede and kept the word 'moon' to refer to our Moon.

Well, DUH!

They could have just as easily named our moon" 'Gal", "Gork", or even 'LOOK"! But no they had to keep on referring it as 'Moon'. Or they could have just as easily gave them numbers, our Moon would be '1', Phobos would be '2' and so on up to '172'. Easy huh? Pronounceable too!

But, wait! Had they invented numbers back? Were they still using Roman numerals? That would be a problem. Ours would be called 'I' (eye), Phobos would be 'II' (eye,eye) and so on up to CLXXII (sea, ell, ex, ex, eye, eye).

Bad idea.

If we had done that, the 'Old McDonald had a Farm' song would be thought of a song to some moon. "... had a farm, EIEIO"!

Don't you wonder about such things?

Something Cosmic the group should think about.