Spice Dish

Sunday, Waffle, Sunday

 
 

Do you know what makes people happy? Waffles. Fluffy waffles. That and lots of Bloody Mary's. This past Sunday I held a little waffle party. I invited the hungover hordes to come in their jammies, sip some hair of the dog and dig into stacks of waffles. It's a funny thing, but almost every person said something to the effect of "I haven't had a homemade waffle since I was a kid." or "MMMM it smells like childhood" I love those moments. Growing up at my house Sunday waffles were a weekly occurrence. I loved it. My grandfather used to pack every square full of powdered sugar and then drizzle warm maple syrup over the top.

It really was so simple. Waffles with syrup, sausages, and some baked eggs (again with lots of Bloody Mary's). Everyone ate until they couldn't anymore, syrup covered most of my kitchen table, and a happy Sunday ensued.

Crispy, Fluffy Waffles

1¾ cups all-purpose flour (sifted)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 Tbs granulated sugar
3 eggs
2 cups whole milk
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 oz butter (1/2 stick)
1 tsp vanilla extract


Pre-heat your waffle iron to its hottest setting. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Separate the eggs. Warm the butter and milk over a low flame until the butter is melted. Beat the egg yolks until smooth then whisk in the milk & butter and then the oil.

Beat the egg whites until stiff then slowly add the sugar and continue mixing until stiff peaks form.

Slowly add the flour mixture to the milk mixture and mix until combined. Fold in the beaten egg whites.

Spray both surfaces of your waffle iron with cooking spray.

Ladle batter onto the waffle iron and close it. Waffles will be golden brown and crispy.

 

Enjoy-

EB

The Naughty 90's

No... not those 90s. The other ones. Before those...

I have in my collection strange little book, "Rector's Naughty '90s Cookbook". This fascinating book was published in 1949, yet the recipes are from the 1890s. They are recipes from father and son team Charles and George Rector. in 1899 Rector's Restaurant on Broadway in NYC was one of the finest, most opulent restaurants anywhere in the U.S. This article from 1908 notes that the building bought to 'upgrade' the restaurant cost upwards of $700,000! It was where anyone, who was anyone went. It was known for “loose” women, not so above-board gentlemen and all around hijinks. It's name was put to songs, plays and slang.

  
                 Rector's in full swing!

On the elder Rector's death, hundreds of recipes were found in his files. Those recipes are what make up this interesting little book, filled with long forgotten ingredients, headshots and biographies of leading women of the day and period (for the 1890s) advertisements.

The recipes themselves are a great collection of the 'novel' and 'elegant' from turn of the century America. There one I chose was for:

Stuffed Avocado a la Maxine Elliot

 

It's an old take on the shellfish stuffed avocado with “Russian” dressing. One of those, at one time was considered elegnt, now is considered cliché dishes. The recipe for the dressing included a few ingredients I had never heard of, “India Relish”? But it really was tasty. There's a reason recipes like this one stick around.

As for the recipe's namesake? This Maxine Elliot was one dapper woman. She was smart, beautiful and strong. She was an actress, lover of kings, robber barons and anyone else she fancied. Married several times, it was said she had better business sense than most men. I assume this dish was served at one of her sought after lavish and "fabulous dinner parties."

Russian Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise

2 tbs chili sauce

2 tsp finely chopped green pepper

2 tsp India relish

2 tsp finely chopped pimento

Combine all ingredients and blend well.

 

After prohibition made running the restaurant difficult, George Rector (the son) and his wife toured the US and wrote food articles for the Saturday Evening Post. They issued a well received cookbook in 1928 and were considered culinary experts who appeared in national newspapers, on the radio and in newsreels offering culinary advice until 1947.

The book is a snapshot of what Americans were looking back at in the 40s. What were they nostalgic for? Apparently the freedom to be "loose," carefree and opulent. Sounds good to me!

Enjoy-

EB

Small Things

 

I live in San Francisco, a city known for street art, stenciling, sign repurposing, graffiti, tagging, yarn bombings and lots of sidewalk soapboxing by way of chalk paint. On my way home today, one of those read “Practice the Wonder of Small Things.” I thought about it for the rest of my journey. Not so much about what small things I wonder about, but just what constitutes a “small thing.” A drink at your favorite bar? A new song that changes your outlook? Getting the band back together? A perfect taco? A new car? A child? Making it through a month without losing your mind? What is small to one person might just be monumental to another. 

  

After chiding myself for taking this to a place more metaphysical than material, I realized that the message was my small thing. Not what it said, but what it was.

 

I am the noticer of litte adornments in my world. I am the one to notice strange statuary, oddly placed paintings, funny notes, clever decorations and like things all throughout the city. My friends comment on it all the time. How I seem to be able to find these little treasures while they are blissfully unaware.

 

I love these artistic expressions found on almost every surface of the city. I know that many people prefer to live in communities where walls and sidewalks are spic and span, but for me I can't imagine living somewhere where art (even with it's property defacing tendancies) didn't exist.

 

What's your small thing?

 

EB