Wednesday, March 23, 2005

 

Cuban Mojo Marinade


Sometimes (always at the most inopportune times) I get very shy. It must come from having grown up in a town that is fueled by self-aggrandizing, but when it comes to talking to people I don't know about food, I tend to focus more on blushing madly than joining in or even being remotely conversational. Can you believe? So silly. (Not when I am working mind you! Then I am in my element and therefore all kinds of in control)

Which is why, when I go into my favorite bookstore, The Cooks Library, all I can manage to do is smile politely, grab some books and run. Pity really, since it is such a warm, cozy (insert word that evokes your grandmothers parlor and some hot tea) place with food obsessive clerks (is clerk a politically correct term? Is it better to say sales associate?), patrons and vendors. Overall, it is a dream spot. Thousands of cookbooks, right there for the reading or buying and like minded people to chat the day away with. I go in about once a month, sometimes with only the intention of copying a recipe or two down, (which they seem to be ok with) but have yet to depart without a newly coveted book. While it is my goal to muster the courage (why this takes courage I have no idea.) to actually talk to the people (I did once send a nice thank you note once for getting a special order book for me, being obsessed with thank-you-note-sending and all, but I’m pretty sure that doesn’t count) for now, I will remain a loyal customer, and encourage you to visit if you are in L.A. It is a cookbook lovers dream, and there is free parking in back.

Last time I popped in, they spent quite a bit of time trying to locate a copy of Get Saucy by Grace Parisi (Harvard Common Press, 2005) that I thought might be inspirational. Without launching into a review of the book, I will say I find it delightful and full of interesting sounding recipes. This is the only one I have made so far, but I loved it. (Reprinted without any permission from anyone.) Try it and enjoy! (Notes in parenthesis are my own.)

The Cooks Library is located at 8373 West 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

¼ cup vegetable oil
1 medium sized onion, sliced paper thin
4 large garlic cloves, sliced thin
2 scallions, sliced thin
1 large jalapeno, (you guessed it) sliced thin. Leave in seeds
1 cup orange juice (the more sour the juice, the better)
½ cup lime juice
Salt

In a medium sized sauce pan, heat the oil over medium-low heat until shimmering. (OOH, I like that. Shimmering.)


Add the onion, garlic, scallions and jalapenos until just barely softened, stirring a few times, about four minutes. Add the orange juice and lime juice, season with salt and simmer for 1 minute.

Cool completely before adding chicken, pork or fish you want to roast or grill. Because it is so acidic, do not marinate more than 1 hour.



_____________________________________________

“The Orlando, Fla.-based restaurant chain Hooters recently issued $125 million in secured bonds. Moody's Investors Service ratings agency assigned a B3 rating to the notes, a "junk" or below investment grade rating.” Excerpt from CNN.com

Elsewhere: “The retailer Willams-Sonoma
said yesterday that fourth-quarter profit rose slightly as cost controls overcame disappointing sales growth. Earnings for the quarter, which ended Jan. 30, rose to $102.6 million, or 86 cents a share, from $102.1 million, or 85 cents a share, a year earlier. A change in accounting for store leases cut profit by 9 cents a share. Revenue rose to $1.08 billion, from $1 billion. That was below expectations of the company, which owns Pottery Barn, Hold Everything and Williams-Sonoma stores." Reuters

Comments:
That store looks perfectly delightful. I would LOVE to visit.

Something I heard once that helps me deal with people in service as I always feel like I'm troubling them even if I'm paying it for it, is to treat everyone like a friend. Somehow that has made it easier for me, if I go in somewhere treating everyone like someone I only saw just yesterday whether or not I did, they somehow seem to treat me the same. Good luck, I know what you're talking about and it seems to seize me at the strangest of times.
 
**BLUSH** What a little thrill to get a comment from you Grace! Thank you! (And thank you for not being fussy that I reprinted your recipe without permission! LOL) I just want to clarify they were having a hard time physically locating the book in the store, since they had sold out…luckily I was there right when the new shipment came in so they were actually rooting through boxes to find it for me, which they did, and I was grateful because as I said, it really is terrific! Thanks again!
 
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