Steak au Poivre? No problem. A little kosher salt, a melange of whole peppercorns, maybe some Remy Martin cognac, and room in which to work. Add some delicate sensibilities and a willingness to risk expensive cuts of beef in the pursuit of excellence, and any chef worth her or his salt can put out a beautifully plated steak au poivre or a bistecca Fiorentina.
When it comes to tasting and digesting, all of that care over ingredients and all of that professional training is part of the mix. We all know that.
So what's John McCain trying to sell us with his pick for vice president? Whatever good qualities she may possess, Governor Palin is most assuredly NOT ready for head chef duties. With her all we're seeing right now is sizzle--clever attack lines written for her by Republican hack wordsmiths. No steak yet, not the kind, at least, that the American economy and the American people need. She's pro-oil, pro-gun, pro-life and not yet truly a pro in the governor's chair.
There's a reason why Democrats rarely have "beauty queen" on their resume--Gloria Steinem being the notable exception. Being a beauty queen is all about sizzle. (And when you see a bumper sticker reading "Mac and Milf," it doesn't take much to see where part of her appeal is coming from.)
Joe Biden has done his time as sous chef. He's washed the dishes. He's experimented with cuisines traditional and modern. He's ready to walk into the kitchen of leadership. Sarah Palin is not.
It's time to get Barack Obama and Joe Biden elected. Now that's a dish we can dig into!
Great article re: Fox News and their propganda
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/9/214910/3796/923/565556
Thanks to all who signed up and participated in the Barack Birthday Bake Off. There are four Food Tasters for Obama logo t-shirt winners instead of three, because we had a tie in the "organizing ideas" category. The winners (three wonderful recipes are avaiable below the fold) are:
Best Recipe: Erica Rivera's Black and White Birthday Cake (an original recipe)
Best Photo: Hanneke Hoogstrate's Berry Spangled Baked Cheesecake and Banoffi Cheesecake on the Batavia (Jakarta Indonesia's colonial name, providing one more degree of separation from the candidate) ship's chest (posted on her Dutch website at http://www.blago.net/_baking_08/08_04_berry_tart.php)
Best Organizing Ideas:
--David Levy's (who prepared a Unity Pound Cake for 60 at an outdoor party of the Prince George's County MD office), and
--Michaele Camp (whose Sour Cream Pound Cake won the Bake Off hosted by Gena Bowser and Sharon Wilkerson at the Urban Tea Loft in Chandler AZ)
Congratulations to the winners.
Attached is an article regarding new voter registrations that are being purged or missing - it seems to be occuring in areas where there are minorities voting. Please be aware and do whatever you can to alert authorities ( and not Republican authorties, they seem to be behind it ).
Below is the link -
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/07/purge-surge-whatever-it-takes.php
Today I received the following email, presumably anticipating Obama’s August 4 birthday:
“Does anyone know, what is Senator Obama's favorite kind of cake? Please let us know. Thank you. David”
As a result of David’s inquiry and for the benefit of all those with similar questions, I’ve compiled most of the reliable information about Barack’s eating habits. It’s not easy sorting through all the phony facts on the internet sites where they ask: “What is Obama’s favorite food”. There are lots of pranksters on the loose. I did chuckle at the Republican who claimed Obama’s favorite is “waffle,” but there are a lot of racist jokers with puerile and predictable suggestions, like KFC, fried chicken and watermelon.
So here’s the scoop. According to the NY Times of May 27, his personal assistant during the campaign, Reggie Love, revealed:
Senator Obama “eats pretty much anything, from chicken wings and barbecue and ribs to grilled fish and steamed broccoli.” But when he is campaigning in a small town with limited options, a cheeseburger is always a good bet. (“Cheddar is the cheese of choice,” Mr. Love added.) He knows that “the boss,” as he calls Mr. Obama, likes MET-Rx chocolate roasted-peanut protein bars and bottles of a hard-to-find organic brew — Black Forest Berry Honest Tea. He keeps a supply of both on hand.
Here are other known likes: Planters Trail Mix: Nuts, Seeds & Raisins, Roasted almonds, Pistachios, Water, Dentyne Ice, Nicorette, Vegetables (especially broccoli and spinach), handmade milk chocolates from Fran’s Chocolates in Seattle.
The NY Times reported the candidate’s efforts to quit cigarette smoking included chewing Nicorette gum. One reported side effect of Nicorette is heartburn.
And dislikes: Mayonnaise, Salt and vinegar potato chips, asparagus (“if no other vegetables are available, he’ll eat it”), and Soft drinks.
In response David’s specific question though, here’s what Obama McCain Comparisons says (which appears to give you carte blanche in deciding what to bake for the big day):
“According to Obama’s daughters he doesn’t like sweets so much... he does like pumpkin pie.”
This same site as well as others claim that based on an interview on January 18 of this year Obama’s favorite restaurant is Italian Fiesta Pizzeria in Hyde Park, Chicago, IL. The website tried, but failed to identify Obama’s favorite toppings. This restaurant is known for its thin crust pizza and spreading toppings to the edge of the pie. His view on where he likes to eat appears to be one position Obama has not changed since he clinched the Democratic nomination.
Obama apparently also enjoys shrimp and grits, though it is not clear if that is a home-made or eat-out dish.
One thing is absolutely clear. Chili is Obama’s favorite food to cook and/or bring to a potluck. In fact, here are his own words and recipe:
“I’ve been using this chili recipe since college and would bring it to any potluck. I can’t reveal all the secrets, but if you make it right, it’s just got the right amount of bite, the right amount of oomph in it and it will clear your sinuses.” Ingredients: 1 large onion, chopped; 1 green pepper, chopped; Several cloves of garlic, chopped; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound ground turkey or beef; 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/4 teaspoon ground oregano; 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric; 1/4 teaspoon ground basil; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar; Several tomatoes, depending on size, chopped; 1 can red kidney beans. Method: Sauté onions, green pepper and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add ground meat and brown. Combine spices together into a mixture then add to ground meat. Add red wine vinegar. Add tomatoes and let simmer, until tomatoes cook down. Add kidney beans and cook for a few more minutes. Serve over white or brown rice. Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, onions and sour cream.
“I’ve been using this chili recipe since college and would bring it to any potluck. I can’t reveal all the secrets, but if you make it right, it’s just got the right amount of bite, the right amount of oomph in it and it will clear your sinuses.”
Ingredients: 1 large onion, chopped; 1 green pepper, chopped; Several cloves of garlic, chopped; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound ground turkey or beef; 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/4 teaspoon ground oregano; 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric; 1/4 teaspoon ground basil; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar; Several tomatoes, depending on size, chopped; 1 can red kidney beans.
Method:
Sauté onions, green pepper and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add ground meat and brown. Combine spices together into a mixture then add to ground meat. Add red wine vinegar. Add tomatoes and let simmer, until tomatoes cook down. Add kidney beans and cook for a few more minutes.
Serve over white or brown rice. Garnish with grated cheddar cheese, onions and sour cream.
There you have it. Of course Obama may develop a hearty appetite in the course of this campaign. So maybe after November 4, when asked what Obama likes to eat, you’ll just have to say: “McCain’s lunch!”
wizinit is the nom de guerre of a veteran diplomat and fan of the late columnist Art Buchwald who writes serious analysis and political satire. If you would like to be notified whenever wizinit posts a new article click on the logo to join Food Tasters For Obama.
These is a great slideshow of Sen. Obama in the Middle East with our troops and Middle East leaders, courtesy of POLITICO, one of my favorite political blogs.
Enjoy!
http://www.politico.com/slideshow/slideshow.html?xml=xml/181#id=181&num=6
Sen. Obama's campaign issued a memo to reporters on how Sen. McCain has had to move to Sen. Obama's positions - because he has been wrong all along ! Boy!
Keep it up Sen. Obama - can't wait to get rid ( legally - nothing physical ) of the present administration!
Letter below, courtesy of Talking Points Memo - one of my favorite political blogs:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/07/obama_campaign_memo_obama_lead.php
With exactly two weeks to go to August 4, participants in Barack’s Birthday Bake Off are franticly preparing for the big day. Most are happy just to celebrate while organizing for the campaign. But many are admittedly drawn by the chance to win an attractive t-shirt with the Food Tasters logo (see sample at http://www.onemillionstrong.us/showDiary.do?diaryId=1313); I know I’d be. So here is our best effort to answer your questions and lay out the contest rules:
1. You must be signed up for any one of the “Barack’s Birthday Bake Off” events hosted by “Mark Wiznitzer” on my.barackobama.com, such as the event at White House zip code “20500” at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/organizing/4g9y9#rsvp
2. All contestants, except employees of the Obama campaign, must be registered as a member of “Food Tasters for Obama” at my.barackobama.com no later than midnight August 4. Not yet a member? Sign up at http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/FoodTastersforObama.
3. One Food Tasters for Obama t-shirt will be awarded to the winner in each for the following three categories: a) best recipe, b) best birthday campaign organizing idea, and c) photo of the best decorated desert.
4. After you have complied with requirements 1 and 2 above, submit your entry via email to markwiznitzer@gmail.com. Entries must be received no later than 11:59PM EDT on August 5 (in European that’s Greenwich 04:59 on 060808). To be considered the subject line of the email submission must read: “BARACK BIRTHDAY BAKE OFF CONTEST”. Sorry, as good as it may taste, we won’t be able to personally sample your baked goods (unless you happen to be in the Champlain Valley on August 4, in which case, let us know).
5. Entries need not be your own original, recipe, idea or decoration, but then you must indicate the source of your inspiration. Winning recipes, campaign organizing ideas and decorations remain the “property” of their owner, but will be shared with the world by Food Tasters for Obama. By your entry you acknowledge your compliance with these conditions.
6. We are not responsible for any emails that are not receive on time, are blocked by spam or other internet security filters, attached files that cannot be opened or viewed, or any terrorist incident or acts of public disorder, floods, earthquake or other natural disasters that may interfere with our ability to recognize your brilliant effort and reward you with a t-shirt.
7. Selection of winners will be entirely subjective, but this competition is open to anyone who supports Barack Obama for President, including but not limited to employees of Price Waterhouse, the Obama campaign, its surrogates and volunteers, first-time voters, former Hillary backers, Obamicans, or any minors or non-US citizens who would vote for Obama if they could.
Good Luck!
In honor of Sen. Obama's calls to teach our children another language in addition to their mother tongue of English, for your enjoyment here is ABBA, one of my favorite groups singing in Spanish. In case you are not familiar with ABBA ( they are an older group from my college days ) - they are Swedish and have numerous albums and songs they have sung in Spanish and other languages to include Spanish.
Not to mention, that there are several education studies that confirm that just like learning to play a musial instrument, learning an additional language in addition to your mother tongue increases your IQ.
Need I say more ?
NO HAY A QUIEN CULPAR ( ENGLISH - THERE IS NO ONE TO BLAME )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACo4DtH5eZQ
Great Pics of our Senator in Afganistan!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2008/jul/20/obama.afghanistan
Someone, a former Hillary supporter had written a blog post regarding her lack of enthusiasm for supporting Sen. Obama as she came over from the Hillary camp. She wanted other bloggers on MYBO to give her reasons to support Sen. Obama enthusiastically.
One of the points that attracted me to Sen. Obama's bid for the presidency was his efficiency. Yes, that is a point that has not merited great discussion. The article linked below will detail the differences between the McCain campaign and Sen. Obama's campaign which speaks to the cause of efficiency.
If the efficiency and the focus of the Obama campaign can be translated to the workings of the US govt. once Sen. Obama takes office, can you imagine all the millions of dollars that could be saved in our wasteful government's intertwinings and bureaucracies ?
To this blogger, I appreciate your loss - I can imagine how I would have felt if Sen. Obama had lost. Both of these campaigns were not only campaigns, but movements as well. Movements that both of these candidates carried and carried well. While I am sorry that you do not resonate with Sen. Obama's campaign, the other alternative is frightful.
So I am giving you my initial primary reason for supporting Sen. Obama and supporting him enthusiastically. And I hope that if all the MYBO bloggers can add to your list, maybe you can find a point that will resonate with you to support Sen. Obama with all the enthusiasm you had for Sen. Clinton.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-burrell/can-america-afford-a-mcca_b_113591.html
Thanks ~
I would respectfully request Bayh not be considered as a VP candidate. Not only for the reasons as listed in this article but I find him non responsive to information. I have contacted his Senate office contact email address and have never received any kind of response. I would go for Lugar before I would go for Bayh. He was a huge HRC supporter which is not a problem, except that since the primary, he has been absent from campaigning for Sen. Obama.
He's also accepted money from AK STEEL - an environmental polluter.
So, once again, NO TO BAYH.
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/bayh_as_veep_he_cochaired_wing.php
While Sen. Obama was in Kuwait he shot a 3 pointer with our troops ! He's my hero !
Check it out !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExOQRLuWGhc
Obama wipes his forehead at a Montana campaign event in May.
McCain's handlers think they were owned. Photo-analysis suggests that Barack Obama may have been play-acting when he pulled out a hanky and patted his forehead at a campaign appearance in Montana two months ago. And the two lost months may cost McCain the election if the candidate, who is known for his volcanic temper, has a Nixonian moment of perspiration during the Presidential debates this Fall.
It's all part of a game of hot potato that the two camps have been playing, trying to stay cool under the constant glare of media scrutiny. Until today McCain's people believed they were going to win because Obama had fallen for the Republican's challenge to visit Baghdad, where the average high this month is 115 degrees. But then the news reported: "No sweat."
The confirmation was contained in today's AP story about Obama's suspicously frequent workouts, in which photo-journalists were quoted as saying that:
"even when he shot hoops earlier this year with members of the University of North Carolina varsity men's basketball team, they didn't see Obama sweat."
The report has the McCain campaign in a panic, for what was suspected and feared is now confirmed: Obama is cool, literally as well as figuratively. It's not just that he made the cover of Rolling Stone, GQ and Vibe. They knew McCain didn't stand a chance going one-on-one against Obama for the Metromale vote. That was a given. But it's the image of McCain as a sweaty old guy who turns off Hillary Clinton's women voters they were counting on to win that has them worried.
Sources who did not want to be identified because they are not authorized to discuss the sensitive subject confirm that a hush-hush project code-named "Operation Bikram" has been launched from an inconspicuous office at Republican National Committee headquarters. GOP operatives are simultaneously scouring the aisles of drug stores nationwide to find the most effective anti-perspirant and reviewing comparison tests of moisture wicking underwear. Separately a top-secret team of technicians, specialists in heating and cooling, is ready to move in and take over any debate venue that registers above 65 degrees.
These precautions are all intended to manage McCain's known tendency to get hot under the collar at the slightest provocation. And when really provoked McCain is known to breathe fire and sweat bullets. "It's hard to get John to cool off after one of these incidents," says an old family friend. "But that's why he has been so happy with Cindy, becuase he knows that at the end of the day he'll go home to an ice-cold Bud."
In just over three weeks Barack Obama will be 47. And over 70 Obama supporters have already signed up for the big event on August 4, Barack’s Birthday Bake Off.
What better way to celebrate than with Baked Goods? Food Tasters for Obama is hosting this nationwide event. Sign up here, and send in your ideas, photos and recipes. The best ones will win prizes like this first run t-shirt.
Bake your favorite desert recipe in honor of Barack. And use this event to raise funds, attract and register voters or organize friends of Obama. Here are some of the ideas we’ve received so far from other Obama supporters:
Join in folks. If you just are not into baking, don't fret. Just buy a birthday cake to celebrate. (We at Food Tasters for Obama are more into the eating than preparing anyhow.) Or you can just light a candle and sing Happy Birthday. Celebrate while organizing for Obama.
wizinit is the nom de guerre of a veteran diplomat and fan of the late columnist Art Buchwald. If you would like to be notified whenever wizinit posts serious analysis or political satire, click on the logo to join Food Tasters For Obama.
It was supposed to only be a light "makeover". But Michelle Obama's June 18 appearance on The View has thrown both the gourmet and nutrition worlds into a tailspin. It was all going so well too, until the closing segment discussing breakfast. That's when Michelle revealed that she likes to get her breakfast protein from... sit down when you read this: bacon!
Sure, she also eats toast and fruit. But it was the Everyman's Side that has the food world buzzing. It seems like just yesterday that we learned Barack Obama was an Elitist Modern Metro Man when he talked about the price of arugula at Whole Foods. Well, just fogetaboutit!
And they're not talking about a love of fancy rashers here. No gammon or flitch, jamon or lardon. Not even Canadian or peameal bacon. And certainly not turkey bacon. No, according to Michelle both Obamas are fond of good, old-fashioned American bacon.
Not everyone is walking around in shock after Michelle let slip the Obama secret, however. Traders at the CBOT were salivating at the prospect of a surge in activity on pork bellies, while environmental advocates were dusting off long abandoned projects for converting bacon grease to biofuels. And Food Tasters for Obama has sent its members an urgent appeal for volunteers able to consume a regular diet of high sodium and saturated fats.
Meanwhile, John McCain expressed surprise over media attacks on his wife's latest example of plagiarizing recipes. It was revealed this week that Cindy McCain tried to pass a slightly modified Hershey's oatmeal butterscotch cookie recipe as her own, and two months ago the McCain web site removed her "family recipes" after it was learned they had been filched from the Food Network. Coming to her defense, McCain said critics who call her a cereal offender are "delusional" and display "a perfect manifestation of a September 10 mindset."
wizinit is the nom de guerre of a veteran diplomat who is a fan of the late columnist Art Buchwald and comedian Andy Borowitz. If you would like to be notified whenever wizinit posts serious analysis or political satire, click on the logo to join Food Tasters For Obama.
Via Daily Kos:
For those of you who aren't aware, Parents magazine is having Cindy McCain and Michelle Obama submit their homemade cookie recipes to be voted on by their readers. Apparently, the winner of the cookie contest has predicted the election the past four times. So Cindy McCain submitted this little treat:
Cindy McCain's Oatmeal-Butterscotch Cookies Makes: 5-1/2 dozen cookies View Nutrition Facts Ingredients * 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter or margarine, softened * 3/4 cup granulated sugar * 3/4 cup packed brown sugar * 2 eggs * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract * 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour * 1 teaspoon baking soda * 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 3 cups rolled oats * 1-2/3 cups butterscotch chips Directions Heat oven to 375 degree F. In a large bowl beat the butter or margarine, granulated sugar and brown sugar together. Add the eggs and vanilla, beating well. In a medium-size bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture; stir until blended. Stir in oats and butterscotch chips. Drop by tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degree F for 10 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Cindy McCain's Oatmeal-Butterscotch Cookies
Makes: 5-1/2 dozen cookies
View Nutrition Facts Ingredients
* 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter or margarine, softened * 3/4 cup granulated sugar * 3/4 cup packed brown sugar * 2 eggs * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract * 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour * 1 teaspoon baking soda * 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 3 cups rolled oats * 1-2/3 cups butterscotch chips
Directions
Nice recipe methinks, except it's 100% copied from Hersheys!
Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies Ingredients: * 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened * 3/4 cup granulated sugar * 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar * 2 eggs * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract * 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour * 1 teaspoon baking soda * 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 3 cups quick-cooking or regular rolled oats, uncooked * 1-3/4 cups (11-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S Butterscotch Chips Directions: Heat oven to 375°F. Beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Stir in oats and butterscotch chips; mix well. Drop by heaping teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 4 dozen cookies.
Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies Ingredients:
* 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened * 3/4 cup granulated sugar * 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar * 2 eggs * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract * 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour * 1 teaspoon baking soda * 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 3 cups quick-cooking or regular rolled oats, uncooked * 1-3/4 cups (11-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S Butterscotch Chips
Directions:
Oh, snap!
Now some users may think this is petty, and I'll definitely admit that it's more humorous than most stories. But overall, it speaks volumes to the type of person Cindy McCain is (and we already know about her husband...) - fake.
