PIE EATING CONTEST

I came across these photos on mrwaterslide (flickr) and couldn't resist re-posting them. They come from the pages of 'A Vermont Family Album' dated Labor Day 1957 in Peacham, VT. Talk about getting down & dirty in the best possible way... eating pie, of course.

THE EGG EXPLODES

Not many folks know I have a thing about eggs. Not to eat. In fact, I go through periods when I won't eat an egg at all. No, my obsession with eggs has to do with their inherent symbolic nature. Fertility, birth, potential, fragility, transformation, and even the soul. Remember that scene with Robert DeNiro in "Angel Heart" when he cracks, peels, and devours an egg? Brilliant.

I'm also obsessed with the thought provoking paintings of Michael Dumontier and Neil Farber. Like the one above titled, The Egg Explodes/You are Born. Food for thought. You can see more brilliant paintings on their blog, personal message.

NATIONAL RASPBERRY CREAM PIE DAY

Hey gang! I haven't posted in awhile thanks to a hectic work schedule. I'm happy to say I'm back just in time for National Raspberry Cream Pie day!

Here's a vintage recipe for Cream Pie from Woman's Home Companion Cook Book. To turn it into a Raspberry Cream Pie, just add berries to filling.

Cream Pie
single crust pie (see below)
2/3 cup sugar
3 1/2 tbsp cornstarch or 5 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups milk
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla

1.  Prepare pastry and make a baked 9-inch pastry shell. 
2. Combine sugar, cornstarch or flour and salt in the top of a double boiler; stir in cold milk. Cook over boiling water until thickened, stirring constantly. Cover and cook 15 minutes longer.
3. Stir a little of the hot mixture into slightly beaten egg yolks; add to remaining mixture in double boiler and cook for 2 minutes over hot, not boiling, water, stirring constantly. Cool and add vanilla. 
4. Pour into baked shell. If desired cover with meringue and bake in a moderate oven (325º F) about 15 minutes or until lightly browned; or just before serving top with whipped cream. 

Fruit Cream Pies: Arrange sliced bananas, peaches, or any slightly sweetened berries in pastry shell before adding cream filling; or place fruit on top of filling. May be topped with whipped cream if desired. 

Single Crust Pie Recipe
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup shortening or butter, chilled
3 tbsp cold water

1. Sift flour; measure; add salt and sift again. 
2. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in half of the shortening (or butter) until mixture resembles coarse corn meal. Cut in remaining shortening (or butter) coarsely until particles are about the size of peas.
3. Sprinkle water, 1 tablespoon at a time, over small portions of the mixture; with a fork press the flour particles together as they absorb the water; do not stir. Toss aside pieces of dough as formed and sprinkle remaining water over dry portions; use only enough water to hold the pastry together. It should not be wet or slippery. Press all together lightly with the fingers or wrap dough in waxed paper and press together gently. Bear in mind that the less the dough is handled the more tender and flaky the pastry will be. Chill dough.
4. Roll out dough on a lightly floured board or canvas into a circle about 1/8 inch thick and 2 inches larger in diameter than top of pan. Fold over and place in pan; unfold and fit loosely. Trim edge with scissors, leaving about 1 inch of pastry over rim of pan. Fold 1/2 inch of edge under and make a standing rim; flute with the fingers along edge of pan. 
5. Prick the pastry all over with a fork. Chill thoroughly. Bake on upper shelf in a hot oven (450º F) about 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to a lower shelf after the crust is set if the edges are browning too fast. Cool the shell thoroughly before adding filling.

SONG FOR SUNDAY

Stranded in this spooky town  

Stoplights are swaying and the phone lines are down  

This floor is crackling cold, she took my heart, I think she took my soul  

With the moon I run far from the carnage of the fiery sun

 
Driven by the strangle of vein showing no mercy I do it again,  

Open up your eye, you keep on crying baby, I’ll bleed you dry 

Skies they blink at me, I see a storm bubbling up from the sea

 
And it's coming closer 

And it's coming closer

 
You shimmy shook my bone leaving me stranded all in love on my own 

Do you think of me? Where am I now? Baby where do I sleep?  

Feel so good but I'm old, 2000 years of chasing's taking its toll

 
And it’s coming closer  

And it’s coming closer  

And it’s coming closer  

And it’s coming closer

(closer, kings of leon) 

ph: humanoid

A WOMAN, A CAR, AN ISLAND

a woman

a car

an island.

She has kept her head lowered... to give him a chance to come closer. But he could not, for lack of courage. She turns and walks away.

In the Mood for Love

dress//jacket//purse//pumps

SONG FOR SUNDAY

don't hold yourself like that
you'll hurt your knees
I kissed your mouth and back
but that's all I need
don't build your world around volcanoes melt you down

what I am to you is not real
what I am to you you do not need
what I am to you is not what you mean to me
you give me miles and miles of mountains
and I'll ask for the sea

don't throw yourself like that
in front of me
I kissed your mouth your back
is that all you need?
don't drag my love around volcanoes melt me down

what I am to you is not real
what I am to you you do not need
what I am to you is not what you mean to me
you give me miles and miles of mountains
and I'll ask what I give to you
is just what I'm going through
this is nothing new
no no just another phase of finding what I really need
is what makes me bleed
and like a new disease she's still too young to treat
like a distant tree
volcanoes melt me down
she's still too young
I kissed your mouth
you do not need me

(volcano, damien rice)

A WOMAN, A CAR, AN ISLAND

a woman

a car

an island.

"Don’t you recognize me, Mr. Mahé? I am Julie. Julie Roussel."

La sirène du Mississipi

blouse//skirt//shoes//stockings