Text 18023, 95 rader
Skriven 2008-12-17 15:19:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av RUTH HAFFLY
Ärende: soup 391
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 ML> Irritates me that people won't even say "what can I do,"
 ML> though the answer is likely to be "nothing."
 RH> I've known my share of people like that.  Then there are those that
 RH> see you working and know they should be but just sit there.........

There are two different situations here, but I imagine the same
people are culprits in both. The one is where everyone is supposed
to pitch in in some way, and some people just sit on their hands.
The other is where one or a few "hosts" or "cooks"  are expected to
do the work, and everyone else is a "guest" or "eat" - in this
situation I kind of expect people to offer to help, even if they
are not going to actually be useful; I imagine the polite offer is
an acknowledgement that "gee, you're doing something, thank you."

I don't think people are lazy, or mean-spirited, or whatever, more
likely they're indecisive and shell-shocked, and if you said, you
there, cut carrots, they would cut carrots.

 ML> not only paying homage to my superior culinary skills but
 RH> Could he hers are just as good, if she's not under that kind of
 RH> pressure.
 ML> Nope. I've quit being modest on this board. I hope I don't
 ML> end up obnoxious, but if I do, tough.
 RH> You've not come across that way to me yet.

If you ever pretend that you're capable of doing something
and you're not, the ordure will strike the rotating blades.
This is a general warning, not particularly at you, as I
figure you can probably pretty much do anything you put
your mind to.

In the case discussed, the woman was incapable of doing what
she was supposed to be doing, I was assigned to teach her, and
I taught her. She didn't pretend, and after a few pro forma
gestures aimed at making her comfortable to be at the foot of
the table (the second most prestigious (highest profile, anyway)
spot in the room! - the first being the head of the head table,
and the third being the head of the second table, and so on,
though only the head table has a head and a foot, the others
having nobody seated at the foot - I told you this is the
oldest and most tradition-bound musical organization in the
United States, and what I'm doing there I don't know) I didn't
pretend either. By the way, traditionally one of the officers,
the president, vice-president, or secretary, usually presides,
but I was surprised to see that one of my committee chairs, a
woman of great dynamism and even now attractiveness, but a bit
on the abrasive side, had pride of place. Afterward I inquired
who the next president was going to be, fearing that it would
be she; it's not.

   But, I understand--if she
 RH> can't take credit for something, then there's no sense trying to give
 RH> it to her wrongly.

Yep: no good taking unearned credit; no good giving it, either.

 ML>       Title: Shrimp In Garlic Butter
 RH> Sort of like a shrimp scampi, but not quite.

Actually, quite like New Orleans-style "barbecue" shrimp, as
performed at Pascale Manale's.

Sugar cookies
category: cookies
yield: 36

3 c flour
1 ts baking powder
1 c sweet butter, room temp
1 c sugar
1 lg egg, room temp
1 ts vanilla
parchment

Sift flour and baking powder.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add
egg and vanilla and beat until incorporated. Add
flour mixture in two batches. Blend until dough
begins to become firm. Place dough on parchment
and knead by hand for 1 min. Transfer to a plastic
bag and refrigerate 1 hr or more.

Oven at 350F.

Roll dough on parchment to 1/8" thickness. Cut
into circles or desired shapes. Transfer to
greased cookie sheets and bake until golden,
about 8 min.

Philadelphia magazine July 2006

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