Friday, November 16, 2007

cucumber-mint raita

cucumber-mint raita

via http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/109803


1 large unpeeled English hothouse cucumber, halved, seeded, coarsely grated
2 cups plain whole-milk yogurt
1/4 cup (packed) chopped fresh mint
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon plus pinch of cayenne pepper

Wrap grated cucumber in kitchen towel and squeeze dry. Whisk yogurt, mint, cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper in medium bowl to blend. Add cucumbers and toss to coat. Season raita to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.) Sprinkle raita with pinch of cayenne pepper and serve.

Perfect Greek Salad

http://dkn.vox.com/library/post/greek-salad-recipe---by-popular-demand.html

Tomatoes. I highly recommend using medium to large sized tomatoes - The juicier the better!

Bell Peppers

Cucumbers.

Red Onions

Feta Cheese.

Kalamata Olives


The dressing. A traditional Greek salad dressing contains FRESH lemon juice, olive oil, dried oregano flakes, salt and pepper. DO NOT use vinegar to sub for lemons. Greeks out here in the city do that at diners and stuff just because it's easier...I never use their dressing. It just sucks in comparison and you'll have to trust me on that. The best part about the dressing is that you don't have to make it separately. I'll get to that later.

Instructions

The key to the veggies in a Greek salad is CHUNKS. So when cutting, think chunks. You'll see what I mean.

In one big serving bowl:

1. Slice your tomatoes in half across the belly. Remove the seeds. (I just take my knife and loosen the membranes first then stick my fingers in the seed holes to get 'em out.) Once you have removed the seeds, rinse the tomato again and cut it into bite-sized chunks, anyway you like it.

2. Slice your bell peppers across the belly to remove the seeds/stem. Cut the peppers into bite-sized chunks, as well, or you may simply slice them into strips as you may do for other salads.

3. Peel your cucumbers. (Or don't peel, it depends on the cuke but if the skin is rubbery definitely peel it) Slice the cuke in half, long ways. Take a small spoon and scrape out the seeds. Slice the cucumber into chunks that are about 1/2" to 3/4" thick.

4. Peel your onion and cut it anyway you like to make the layers into bite sized chunks.

5. Feta. Crumble enough feta on top of the salad to cover most of it in one layer. I found this is the best way to determine the right amount. If you've never worked with feta before, the best method for crumbling is to cut it into 3/4" slabs and go from there.

6. Loosely sprinkle olives over the salad - this all depends on how much salad you are making and how many olives you like to have in one serving.

Now it's time to dress the salad. This can be tricky depending on the size of your salad. I recommend doing a little at a time, tossing in between and tasting to see if you need a little more of this or that.

To taste:

  • Drizzle olive oil
  • Drizzle fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • A pinch of salt
  • A few dashes of pepper
  • A few dashes of dried Oregano


Note: If you are bringing a large salad to a dinner party, picnic or potluck I do recommend making the dressing beforehand and putting it on at the last minute.

Friday, November 02, 2007

Baloney Detection Kit

http://www.xenu.net/archive/baloney_detection.html

from the Operation Clambake anti Scientology website.

Homeopathy Criticism Silenced

"I am reproducing this article by Andy Lewis from the Quackometer as the Society of Homeopaths have asked his service provider to take it down on pretty flimsy grounds. To me it reeks of a pathetic attempt to silence valid criticism of dangerous and unethical practices. See here for the full story. Decide for yourself."

from Homeopathy

See also here for details on how attempts to be grown up about it were ignored by the Society of Homeopaths.