Saturday was the day for yardwork at our house. (after pancakes, of course.) As a kid it was my job to mow the lawn. We had a big back lawn and a big front lawn. It took about an hour to complete. At age 7 it became my job. I’m not sure how it became my job. But it was.
I took pride in doing a good job and it was especially important that I did it all by myself – with no help. It’s a kid thing I think. Because these days I’ll take any help I’ll can get.
Our back lawn was not particularly smooth. Ruts, divots and bumps were the norm. Why? That’s a story for another day. Earlier in the year my dad had purchased a new electric lawn mower. It was orange. It was an amazing lawn mower – except the LONG extension cord required to make it go. It was a job in itself to manage. You see, it’s bad when an electric lawn mower and the cord collide. The result is not pretty.
It was the Saturday before Easter about 45 years ago.
It took just a split second for the world to stop and change my life forever… It’s like I left a piece of my young self behind that day.
The rest of the story tomorrow.
Monthly Archives: March 2021
Traditional roasted lamb called “abbacchio”
The cuisine of Rome, Italy is authentic, earthy, simple and substantial. One of the most popular dishes is roasted abbacchio – a hearty, and rustic dish, that make you look great, without having to waste too much time in the kitchen.
Usually ‘abbacchio’ in Lazio and in many areas of Central-South Italy is popular — with the Easter holidays. In fact, in Rome and its surrounding areas, sheep meat is also eaten for Christmas, because the agricultural tradition is strongly rooted in Lazio and especially Agro Pontino.
This traditional dish is very easy to prepare. All you have to do is put all the ingredients in the oven – and it practically cooks itself. Success is guaranteed: Your family will love it and you won’t have to stay in the kitchen to ‘spignattare’ (turn the roast), while everyone else enjoys good food, wine and company. It’s up to you whether you want to use chopped lamb meat or a more elegant leg of lamb, however. (In the second case, make sure to extend the cooking time by about 20-30 minutes).
Just make sure to serve it with potatoes, which must be cooked in the same pan as the meat, so as to absorb its juices and flavor. And then, abbacchio meat should be eaten hot, very hot, almost hot enough to burn your fingers. That’s why this dish is also called ‘alla scottadito,’ which means ‘finger-burning’ in Italian.
Ingredients
3 lb lamb in pieces (or a leg of lamb of the same weight)
2 garlic cloves
4 sprigs of rosemary
1 bay leaf
1 glass of white wine
2 lb potatoes
Extra-virgin olive oil
Salt
Pepper
How to make roasted abbachio
Spread the lamb with the peeled and chopped garlic cloves, rosemary sprigs and bay leaf in a pan. Sprinkle the meat with white wine and season it with extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.
Bake the meat at 355°F (180°C) for about 20 minutes (30-40 minutes if you use the leg of lamb). In the meantime, peel the potatoes and dice them into cubes (or larger pieces depending on personal preference).
After 20 minutes, add the potatoes, and stir the contents of the pan. Continue cooking for another 40 minutes. Serve very hot.
This was a tradition to eat this great dinner on Easter Sunday. You can make this simple, but hearty meal at your home, at the http://www.StarLoftsPgh.com
Regards, Charlie
Your personal Gym at the Starlofts, working from home.
When you are working from your Starloft, there are really few diversions to pull you far from daily jobs. You do not need to rush from one conference room to another. Discussions aren’t taking place for you to be all ears on, and nobody is behind you sharing spoilers about the most recent episode of the program you haven’t seen yet. As far as getting work done goes, you’re on a roll!
But what if you discover yourself a little excessive “in the zone” and eight hours have gone by and you’ve barely moved from your desk? You think you got up once to refresh your coffee … however perhaps that was the other day. If this sounds familiar, consider scheduling in some stretching and finding a long time day-to-day to work out.
You may be thinking that this concept is excellent in theory, but not possible in your home. After all, you needed to set up a office in the corner of the living room and there isn’t anymore complimentary area for an exercise location. But with simply a little bit of planning, you can discover space for a home workout. Here’s how:.
REORGANIZE THE FURNITURE.
The first step is to develop some area. It does not have to be a lot– just enough so that you can extend your arms out to either side and not touch anything. Lay flat and extend your arms behind you, as well. There need to be space for your arms and feet to fully extend.
If you think you’ll wish to stream exercise classes on your computer or TELEVISION, strategy your exercise location appropriately. Move your couch to the opposite wall and reconsider the coffee table. Perhaps put it to the side of the couch rather of in front of it. Or move it to an open area under the window. Eliminate any unnecessary clutter and furniture by saving it briefly in another room.
GATHER YOUR EXERCISE EQUIPMENT.
You don’t need a lot of expensive workout equipment. There are many workouts you can do without any devices at all, such as squats, lunges, push-ups, and slabs. But if you do desire a couple of tools for your exercises, think about the following:.
Little hand weights.Resistance bands.Yoga blocks. A step stool or action bench. An exercise ball. Ankle weights.
You don’t need a treadmill to do cardio. You could jump rope, walk or jog in location, or even placed on your favorite tune and dance. If you want something a little bit more difficult, a step stool or step bench may be ideal. Some video game consoles deal workout accessories if you prefer to exercise in game mode.
Keep your materials in a storage bench, closet, or integrated cabinet near your workout area. Keeping them nearby and easily accessible will make it easier to take fast workout breaks.
CONSIDER YOUR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBORS.
If you reside in an upper-level home, your leaping jacks might sound rather loud in the apartment or condo underneath you. A thick mat, such as a yoga mat, can assist absorb sound and minimize the effect. Attempt to manage your motions and make them extremely intentional– this can also assist reduce the noise level.
REMEMBER: SAFETY FIRST.
Prior to beginning any workout regimen, it’s a great idea to speak with your physician. Make sure to clear your space of any obstacles prior to carrying out exercises, and constantly stretch very first to avoid injury. According to Harvard Health, it’s an excellent concept to begin gradually and develop intensity gradually in time. Other suggestions include differing your workouts, remaining hydrated, and ending your workout session with a cool off.
Make your own Vanilla
| When I was a kid, I used to sneak into my mom’s baking cupboard and swig her vanilla. I would hide in the dark with the sprinkles and icing sugar but I didn’t care because I absolutely loved the taste! The smell alone was bliss. After a few swigs it made me feel so good. (nothing to do with the alcohol content).I was so concerned that I would get caught that I used to put drips of chocolate sauce on my face and body to throw off people asking me why I smelled so delicious. I was sure my parents would send me away to Vanillaolics Anonymous so I never told ANYBODY, until I told you today. It ain’t a secret anymore.(I am pretty sure Mom is going to be calling me on this one). Fast Forward a few years and I have conquered my need to sneak into a cupboard and can make it myself from the finest vanilla beans in the land! Mexican Vanilla is the gold standard and vanilla made with Mexican beans is superior. I did the research and learned ALL about vanilla and the process to make pure vanilla extract. As it turns out, it’s actually quite simple to make the purest vanilla; it only requires 3 ingredients: Mexican vanilla beans, vodka and TIME. |
 | So it has been sitting for a while and the right amount of time has passed. The Vanilla is ready to go! You may or may not be a Vanillaolic yourself or maybe you know one… but anybody who likes to bake will absolutely treasure a gift like this. Or maybe you are like me, you have have been known to slip into the baking cupboard to have your own Vanilla Swig Party. |
Spaghetti with Shrimp and Chili Pepper
LIST OF INGREDIENTS
- 2 LBS 10 OZ of shrimp
- 12 OZ. of spaghetti
- 1 of celery stalk, chopped
- 1 of carrot, chopped
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- bay leaf
- tomato paste
- 1 BUNCH of cilantro, chopped
- fresh chili pepper, chopped
- dry white wine
- extra-virgin olive oil
- salt
METHOD
Shell and devein the shrimp; remove and clean the heads well and set aside with the shells for the broth.
Heat 2-3 Tbsp. oil in a saucepan over high heat, brown the heads and shells for around 5 minutes on high heat, mixing and crushing them with a spoon. Add the celery, carrot, and onion and cook for 2 minutes, then add 1 Tbsp. tomato paste and stir. Add 1 cup wine and let it evaporate, then add 1.8 quarts water and 1 bay leaf and bring to a boil. Cover with a lid and let simmer for 50 minutes.
When the broth is ready, turn off the heat and drain, extracting the broth.
Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium heat and toast the uncooked spaghetti, stirring them in the pan, for a couple of minutes. Add three ladles of shrimp broth to the pan, then continue to cook the spaghetti like risotto for around 10-12 minutes, adding broth in in 1/4 cup increments and adding salt. Continue until the pasta is al dente and the broth has evaporated, so as not to need to drain the pasta.
In the meantime, heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a skillet and cook the shrimp for 3 minutes. Set aside. Heat a thin layer of oil in another pan. When the spaghetti is cooked to al dente, transfer it to the pan and cook for 1 minute making the spaghetti crispy; add the just warmed shrimp and a handful of chopped cilantro. Serve with more cilantro and fresh chili pepper.
This great dish in your home at http://www.Starloftspgh.com
Stuffed Squid with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Ingredients:
1 medium (or two small) zucchini
8 oz crimini mushrooms, diced
1/2 shallot, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 oz pine nuts
2 lb. squid tubes
10 oz roasted red peppers
1/2 cup half and half
Pinch salt and pepper
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp parsley
Method:
Slice zucchini. Sprinkle with salt and allow to sit for 5 minutes or until moisture is drawn out of
the slices. Dry off the zucchini slices with paper towel, removing most of the salt. Flip the
zucchini and repeat this process. Dice the sweated zucchini.
Saute zucchini, mushrooms, shallots, garlic and pine nuts until fragrant and toasty. Stuff squid
tubes with the vegetable and nut mixture.
Place each stuffed squid tube, in a lightly greased pan over medium heat. Cook for about 4
minutes, rolling the tubes over every minute so that each side is exposed to the pan’s heat.
When the Squid is opaque white, remove from heat.
In a food processor, puree red pepper, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper until smooth. Pour
into a small saucepan and add half and half. Bring to a simmer. Drizzle red pepper sauce over
squid and serve.
Dine at your starloft. Www.starloftspgh.com
Pittsburgh's Theater District Star Loft Apartments 