Text 14671, 120 rader
Skriven 2014-07-06 23:14:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: 640 enough for today
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The last couple days.

July 4 - this was our closest brush with the fury of nature.
The Weather Channel said that we'd have a couple hours of
38-mph winds, giving us a chance of wind damage but not the
glory of enduring a tropical storm, defined as a 1-minute
stint of 39+-mph winds. Oddly, Weather Underground (owned by
the same outfit) said the winds would top out below 30.
Weather Underground was about right. We did get some real
rain - Providence, half an hour north, set a record rainfall
for a July 4, 2.63" - the official station closest to here,
the field near the Marriott in Newport, registered an inch
less than that, though we emptied a vase on the back porch
at 3" halfway through, and the next day at a party someone
reported 6" at the marina. Midafternoon, we went off-island
to some friends' in Peace Dale, where it was anything but
peaceful, with driving rain and winds that threatened to
take down their party tent. The party was moved inside to
an air-conditioned structure, thank goodness. I had a Saugy
hot dog, completely mediocre despite its exalted reputation,
and a large quantity of baked beans that had been made by a
pretty lady named June. The food was abundant but not notable,
with the possible exception of a pate that I'd made in response
to Rosemary wringing her hands about what to bring. The rain
was notable. The company was pleasant (even a raft of teenagers
and an infant).

Unlike most tropical cyclones I've been in, this one brought
cold air rather than warm, and we shivered this night in 60F
temperatures.

July 5 - the day of the nouveau and oldveau riche. Our first
party was a pig roast at the home of a (I'm not kidding)
nursing home mogul, who, when he's not trying to squeeze the
last dime out of the elderly and infirm, is perfectly friendly
and nice. Two kegs, one of Sam Summer or the equivalent, but
the other was Brooklyn Lager, so I was happy. We got there a
little late, as Rosemary wasn't up to gladhanding all afternoon
- she's on the planning commission, but some of the local Dems
have been pushing for her to run for Town Council, which I
think is a crummy idea and a tiresome occupation, and so far my
view (shared by many other friends) has prevailed. By the time
we got there the pig had been largely pulled apart, the
remains being the medium-rare bits and the bony bits. Suited
us just fine. Sad to say, the cooks had done a good job of
trimming off the fat. The other highlights were teriyaki wings
made by a relative of the host and teriyaki drumsticks made by
the town attorney, who thus one-upped the competition at half
the cost. The lowlight was a pasta and cheese casserole that
came in two versions, mild and spicy. Rosemary tasted the
latter and reported that other than cayenne it had no taste.
So of course I took a big blob and discovered that she was
wrong. It did taste moderately of cayenne but in fact had been
made with a substantial proportion of blue cheese. Gagginess
supreme. There were no other notables, with the possible
exception of another loaf of that pate I'd made. Three kinds
of blueberry desserts. After having had her ear talked off by
people complaining about the new downtown historic district,
Rosemary suggested we leave for our other party, at the home
of a pair of slightly more genteel friends, 86 years and 85
years of age, respectively. Where there was discussion about
why neither our host nor hostess was included in her latest
book, Legendary Locals of Jamestown RI, while their sister-
in-law, grandparents, and great-grandparents, and his mother
are. I drank way too much Johnnie Walker, switching to Savory
and James Amontillado for watching the fireworks in Newport.
The food was competently done (mostly done by the hostess)
but not exciting, with the possible exception of yet another
loaf of my pate. The setting was, however, extraordinary,
being the second of the Really Big Houses pictured on the page
hazardousdesign.blogspot.com/2011/09/really-big-houses.html .

July 6 - hot and somewhat sticky, unlike the day before,
which had been pretty perfect. We just hung around the whole
day, being pretty partied out; in fact, Rosemary spent much
of the day asleep, but not before informing me that she had
to provide a quiche for a hen party tomorrow (in honor of
our friend Sue's 80th birthday). She said if need be she'd
buy it at the store (scandalous idea), so of course I made one.
I'm not invited to the hen party but will be Sue's date to the
Newport Gulls vs. Mystic Schooners game tomorrow evening.

Quiche
cat: semi-delicious, mine
servings: 8 to 12

h - crust
1 1/2 c flour
6 oz butter - I used salted, but it would be
- better to use half salted and half sweet
1 ds sugar
1 ds salt
water
h - filling
1/2 lb Gruyere cheese
6 lg eggs (I used 5 jumbos)
1 ds nutmeg
1/2 ts salt
1/2 ts white pepper
1/2 ts garlic powder
1 pt half-and-half (that's what she had -
- I'd use real cream)

For the crust. Process all together until crumbly and just
beginning to hold itself together. Remove from machine,
chill lightly, and form into a disk. Cover with wrap and
refrigerate 1 hr or until firm. Roll out to about a 14"
circle and place in a glass pie tin. Prick all over with a
fork, cover with foil, and fill with pie weights. Bake at
400F for 15 min. Remove foil and pie weights.

For the filling. Process together until reasonably well
blended and pour into pie crust. Bake at 325F for 40 min.
Cool well and serve lukewarm or cool.

Source: moi

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