Luckiest girl does Q & A with Jiro Dreams of Sushi Director, gets food posioning

My little cousin Josie does this incredible thing: she doesn't talk much yet so when she's feeling super lovey she shakes her head back and forth in fast, mini shakes, she clenches her teeth, and pushes her face into yours. Sometimes she stomps her feet, like she has a point to make in Morse code. She is so full of love that she doesn't know what to do, how to express it, so it just overflows all over the place -- like a tea pot with steam. I've been feeling like that every day for months now, overwhelmed with love and gratitude and blessing.

And then I got food poisoning. It too was an overflowing, of sorts. At one point, when my head was on the toilet seat, I thought about how many butts had been on it and that I didn't care because even if it had been 5000 butts I wasn't going to move. Then I laughed about it, briefly because it made my stomach seize up and that was shitty... The point is that food poisoning brought me back to Earth. I had been feeling so lucky, undeservedly lucky -- free drinks and hotel rooms lucky, the perfect pair of salmon colored loafers at a steal lucky -- like the universe was out of wack. And now, after 30 solid hours of bed, the score is settled.

Here's another thing for which I was lucky:
Q & A With Jiro Dreams of Sushi Director David Gelb: Elegant Eel Dissection + The Importance of Rice

preview + more posts for hipsters

The gentleman and I spent the weekend in Palm Springs living like wealthy 60 and overs -- tasting wine, munching quince and cheese toasties, napping. In an act of youthful defiance we ordered burgers from room service 10 mins before the kitchen closed. They called him Mr. Courtland when taking our order and told him it was a pleasure to serve us. Very successful trip. PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Until then, read Food Gadgets for Hipsters: Bicycle Can Cage, a new post on Squid Ink.

Did I mention that my Mac & Cheese post got its own page in this week's LA Weekly? I've riding the residual elation all week so it must have been an oversight. But here it is.

strawberry ice cream

I know what you're thinking. You must have a zillion cute ice cream bowls. Yes, I do. They're from Anthropologie. I got them for my birthday and I put all kinds of things in them -- cereal, soup, everything.

This recipe is adapted from the Cuisinart recipe booklet that came with my ice cream maker.

RECIPE

3 cups fresh strawberries, stemmed and quartered (you can use some frozen ones too)
4 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
1 1/2 cups whole milk
2 3/4 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons vodka

DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl, combine the strawberries with the lemon juice and 1/2 cup of the sugar. Stir gently and allow the strawberries to macerate in the juices for 2 hours. Stir gently and allow the strawberries to macerate in the juices for 2 hours. Strain the berries, reserving the juice. Mash half the berries.

 In a medium bowl, whisk the milk and remaining sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the heavy cream, reserved strawberry juice, mashed strawberries, vanilla and vodka. Pour the mixture in to the ice cream maker and let mix until thickened.

Billy's in print

Forgot to mention...

japanese valentines for him

4 Japanese Valentine's Day Chocolates for Guys is a little something I wrote for all the lovers out there.

My personal Valentine will be getting a different sort of treat this year, with a more direct message...

Get you minds out of the gutter!! I'm talking heart shaped banana pancakes -- crap like that, yeesh!

Bonny Billy Blend

Image via Drag City

Please enjoy the new ink: Bonnie "Prince" Billy Sells His Own Organic Coffee

And get ready for my notes on homemade strawberry ice cream, up tomorrow!