January 2009 Exercise – Kate David-Hays, Caterer, Amuse Bouche Catering, Marblehead, MA

Crispy Chicken Confit over toasted Cauliflower, Ambrosia Apples, and Pomegranate Seeds with Manfredi Olive Oil, Basil Chive Oil and Reduced Balsamic

Plate used in January’s exercise:

To participate in the next exercise, please send an e mail to: jeffrey@bauscherinc.com

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Hall & Oats – One on One

Ambrosia – Biggest Part of Me

Jefferson Starship – Miracles

It’s the time of year when writers succumb to an inclination to categorize and rank. Everywhere I look, there are simplified ratings of complex people, new stories, and events; omnibus remembrances of the newly dead, and articles proclaiming the best of/worst of everything. Top ten lists abound.

I, myself, can’t resist categorizing and ranking, and not only at year’s end. Throughout the year, my family sometimes plays a game that I like to call “Best & Worst.” At the end of a party, vacation, dinner, etc., one of us will ask another: “what was the best part of ____ and why?” And then, of course: “what was the worst part of ___ and why?” Round and round we go, discussing the highs and lows of the event, comparing judgments, agreeing and disagreeing until we’ve discussed things as well as we possibly can.

If we play our game for the year that was 2009, I think we’ll have to get the “worst thing” out of the way first. There were all kinds of “worst” things about the past year: the crippled economy, petty politicians, childish celebrities, a lot of embarrassingly pointless news stories (balloon boy, anyone?), and the painful, seemingly endless, healthcare reform debate, to name only a few. In fact, it might be difficult to pinpoint one particular day that was itself so terrible; let’s just say that the whole year was saturated by and enveloped in a bad, smelly fog of discontent.

In spite of this, however, I can easily isolate one best day of 2009, one that was radiant in spite of all that fog. It was, without a doubt, the 20th of January.

To celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama, I canceled all of my classes and spent the day with Mimi and Jim, watching every second of the festivities on our computer screen (we don’t have a functioning television). I even decorated the outside of our house with American flags, something entirely out of character for me. For dinner — prepared just before coverage of the inaugural balls started — I served a meal inspired by the inaugural lunch, with a few additional nods to ingredients from geographically significant places in Obama’s life. The star of the meal was ambrosia, made with fresh pineapple (from the great state of Hawaii), bananas, and coconut.

Although ambrosia is essentially just a tropical fruit salad, its name suggests that it should be so much more than that. According to wikkipedia, in Greek mythology, ambrosia is:

sometimes the food, sometimes the drink, of the gods, often depicted as conferring ageless immortality upon whoever consumes it. It was brought to the gods in Olympus by doves (Odyssey xii.62), so may have been thought of in the Homeric tradition as a kind of divine exhalation of the Earth.

I’m not suggesting anything actually divine about the inauguration of Barack Obama, but it did seem to me that on January 20, 2009, a lot of people who live on a small section of the Earth’s northern hemisphere were finally able to exhale — or sigh — in a way that felt divine, or very nearly so. Ambrosia was a fitting accompaniment to our inaugural meal.

In the quite a few parts of the US, notably the South and Midwest, ambrosia is a much more prosaic dish than its classical name implies. Sometimes called “five cup salad,” a name that is surely the antithesis of the word “ambrosia,” this modern version almost always includes one full cup of–shivers!–miniature marshmallows as well as other ignoble ingredients like mayonnaise, maraschino cherries, and canned mandarin orange and pineapple. It would be difficult to convince a dove to carry such food anywhere.

A more divine version of ambrosia includes fresh fruit and substitutes bananas for the marshmallows. And while our inaugural ambrosia salad did not, as far as as I can tell, confer ageless immortality upon anyone, it did make us all very happy.

(Inaugural) Ambrosia

1 cup of fresh pineapple (chopped over a bowl to catch the juice)
1 cup of fresh naval orange supremes*, (make the supremes over a bowl to catch the juice)
1 cup of banana, chopped
**1 cup of fresh cherries, pitted and chopped
1 cup of toasted coconut
1/2 cup of toasted pecans (optional)

Combine the first four ingredients in a large crystal bowl. Sprinkle the coconut and pecans over the top. Serve immediately. This probably makes enough for four as a side dish. It also makes a great dessert — just add a bit of freshly whipped, lightly sweetened cream, maybe spiked with Grand Marnier.
* To supreme a citrus fruit: With a serrated knife, cut the peel and pith from the top and bottom of the fruit so that it stands level on a cutting board. Beginning at the top of the fruit, carefully cut the peel and pitch away with long, even strokes. Next, pick up the fruit and hold it over a bowl to catch the juices. With your knife, locate the membranes that section off the fruits segments. Carefully slice the fruit in between the membranes to loosen. You wind up with lovely, peel, pith, membrane-free slices of orange, grapefruit, etc. It’s not hard to do and is absolutely worth the time and effort.
**I’m not really sure what to do about the cherries. First, cherries aren’t in season in January. Second, I confess, I sort of like maraschino cherries. Still, that red dye is spooky, isn’t it? I’ll look for a jar of morello cherries for the future. You should do whatever seems right to you here.

And one more thing: although this post implies otherwise, I actually like “Five Cup Salad,” miniature marshmallows and all. In fact, if I’d had the presence of mind to do so, I would have taken a photograph of the ambrosia salad that we had yesterday for Christmas dinner at my in-law’s. Still, I’m fairly sure that anything that contains miniature marshmallows cannot properly be considered classical “ambrosia,” and I definitely wanted something divine on January 20, 2009.

1. Saosin – The Alarming Sound of a Still Voice

The only song on this album that makes me cry. Simply breathtaking.

2. Flyleaf – Again

This was the first track given to the public via MySpace, probably the best song off the new album.

3. La Roux – In For The Kill

One of the finest synth pop songs made since the 80’s. Should stand the test of time.

4. Saosin – Is This Real?

Oddly enough, the lyrics speak out against organised religion, yet I still love this track. The first song i heard from the new album.

5. Manchester Orchestra – I’ve Got Friends

Wow, what an epic band these guys are. My top track from the album.

6. Every Time I Die – Roman Holiday

A dirty, beat up, punk/hardcore track that you can really move to. top choice to open the album, guys.

7. Silverstein – A Shipwreck in The Sand

The epic title track from the band’s best work to date has a deep meaning going back to the discovery of the new world.

8. Vera – Alone

This band is the best thing to come from Canberra since Medicare, yet they have only recorded 2 demos. This young band have miles to go, and will get there in style.

9. A Skylit Drive – Those Cannons Could Sink A Ship

This is the second song off the album, and really brings the pace down, but the vocals on this track are amazing (even though a bit ’shopped) and the guitar work complements it to post-hardcore perfection.

10. Ambrosia – Reality As A Dream

This was the first track released onto MySpace by the remnants of The Mariana Trench. The song itself led them onto bigger and better things, as Ambrosia signed with a manager and are set to release a full length album early 2010.

Find her in the Orange section—more like an apricot.

Nectar and Ambrosia by dancingelf (deviantart)

Ambrosia: the food or drink of the gods, said to bestow ageless immortality on whoever consumed it. The word is often used interchangeably with nectar (hence the expression, nectar of the gods), though some ancient Greek works (like Homer’s Illiad and Odyssey) clearly differentiated between the two. Either way, both are considered delectable and divine, so fragrant they can even be used as perfume.

I find the entymology of both words interesting and strangely interchangeable, because although ambrosia literally means ‘not mortal’,  nectar translated from latin means ‘drink of the gods’,  pulling from the Greek word nektar, meaning overcoming death [ nek: death; -tar: overcoming].

It’s interesting to note what it says in the Handbook of Classical Mythology by William Hansen

“A key difference between gods and humans, according to the poet Homer,lies in their respective diets. Since the gods do not, like mortals, consume bread and wine, they are bloodless, producing instead a kind of immortal fluid,a thin substance called ichor. As a consequence they do not die. When they feast, they consume nectar and ambrosia, which preserve the gods in their present state, keeping them from aging” (Clay 1983, 144–148).

That quote sparks all kinds of theories! Would the gods then become mortal if they were to stop feeding on ambrosia and nectar? Is that why they deemed the theft of them so severe they would sentence the thief to Tartarus (see the story of Tantalus). Interesting things to ponder.

Though modern works (usually Greek myths retold) often reference ambrosia, it is usually being used in the most literal sense, that of a delicious, unparalleled drink, fit only for the gods. I would love to see it used in a more magical/fantasy setting, where it can literally bestow eternity upon its drinker. Can you imagine the stories that could be told?

Custard, from Ambrosia or not, is truly the food of the gods.

Admittedly, given that this week I reached the dizzy heights (or lows, depending on your viewpoint) of muesli with custard for breakfast on Sunday morning, apple crumble and custard for dessert in the evening, custard on Hob Nobs on Monday and thoroughly polishing off the tub tonight, I may be a little biassed.

But honestly – on a cold and dark December evening, nothing quite compares to the unctuous rib-sticking creaminess of custard, glowing yellow in the gloom. It takes you straight back to being about five, when all you had to worry about was sleeping, eating, sleeping, eating. It’s a mouthful of hug, appealing straight to the most basic desire for something sweet and soothing.

It’s gorgeous warm with crumble, slipping seductively over the oaty crunch of topping and the slight sourness of apples, but it’s just as good poured over bananas cold. And when it turns into creme anglaise and starts being put into pastry – try M&S choux buns , or James Martin’s caramelised orange recipe – then it metamorphoses into something utterly different but entirely glorious, with a wobble and sheen all of its own.

Although frankly, I’m quite happy stationing myself by the fridge with a spoon. The illicitness is half the joy.

So, amidst rain and deadlines and end of term malaise, here’s a simple recipe to cheer you up.

1.) Trek to nearest supermarket, any chain will do. Don’t forget your umbrella.*

2.) Locate baking aisle.

3.) Pick up tub of custard, ideally Ambrosia. More moneyed readers may like to head to M&S’s sunnier climes and buy a tub of their fresh luxury custard, dotted with statement vanilla. If you’re really dedicated, do a Delia and skip to 5.

4.) Race home in rain, bearing said custard (ideally pay for it first).

5.) Obtain spoon. Open tub. Take enormous spoonful of custard. Devour.

6.) Try not to eat entire tub in one go.

7.) If you manage to exercise that kind of self restraint, smother a spoonful over a Hob Nob. Beautiful.

All I have now in the fridge now is yoghurt. Honey it as I might, I feel bereft. Back to step one…

Try it, and tell me this chap and I are wrong.

*Umbrellas may not be needed outside Cardiff. But it’s been raining here for so long, we can’t quite be sure.

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “immortal.”
eng (AM-broze)

Ambrose is an English version of the Late Latin Ambrosius, which is a form of the Greek male name Αμβροσιος (Ambrosios) meaning: “immortal.”

The name was borne by a 4th-century Christian saint, a contemporary of St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Ambrose of Milan is considered a Doctor of the Church by the Catholic Church and he is also considered the patron saint of Milan.

The designated name-day is December 7.

There is a feminine version as well, Ambrosia, and in Greek mythology, it is borne by the daughter of Atlas and Pleione. It was also the name of the food of the gods eaten on Mount Olympos.

Other forms of the name include:

• Ambrozi (Albanian)
• Ambrosiu (Asturian)
• Anbortsi (Basque)
• Ambroaz (Breton)
• Amvrosij Амвросий (Bulgarian/Russian/Ukrainian)
• Ambròs (Catalan)
• Ambrosgiu (Corsican)
• Ambrozije (Croatian)
• Ambrož (Czech/Slovene)
• Ambroos (Dutch)
• Broos (Dutch/Limburgish)
• Ambroise (French)
• Ambros (German)
• Ambrosios Αμβροσιος (Greek)
• אמברוזיוס Ambrwzyws (Hebrew)
• Ambrus (Hungarian)
• Ambrósíus (Icelandic)
• Ambróis (Irish)
• Bosone (Italian: obscure)
• Ambrogio/Ambrogino (Italian: more common forms)
• Ambrosino (Italian: obscure)
• Ambrosi (Kiswahili)
• Ambrosius (Late Latin/Danish/Dutch/Finnish/German/Estonian/Norwegian/Swedish)
• Ambrozijs (Latvian)
• Ambraziejus (Lithuanian)
• Ambroeus (Lombard)
• Ambroży (Polish)
• Ambrósio (Portuguese)
• Ambrozie (Romanian)
• Ambròsu (Sardinian)
• Ambroggiu (Sicilian)
• Ambróz (Slovakian)
• Ambrosio (Spanish/Galician/Italian/Venetian)
• Emrys (Welsh)

Feminine forms include:

• Ambroisine/Ambrosine (French)
• Ambrogia/Ambrogina (Italian)
• Ambrosina (Italian)
• Ambrosia (Greek/Italian)
• Ambrozja (Polish)
• Ambrozija (Slovene)

/me waves! Just another simple look!

xoxo

Isadora Vayandar!

Details
Hair; fri.day – Dylan – Browns
Skin; BEBAE - Delilah – Cinna
Eyelashes; [glow] studio – Innocent, eyelashes – soft
Necklace; Donna Flora LULU necklace
Dress; ***Ambrosia***Eternity Rose
Socks; WWI SE Army Garter Socks
Shoes; fri. – Basic Pump (yellow)
Poses; (pennydreadfularcade)

/me waves! Just another simple look!

xoxo

Isadora Vayandar!

Details
Hair; fri.day – Dylan – Browns
Skin; BEBAE - Delilah – Cinna
Eyelashes; [glow] studio – Innocent, eyelashes – soft
Necklace; Donna Flora LULU necklace
Dress; ***Ambrosia***Eternity Rose
Socks; WWI SE Army Garter Socks
Shoes; fri. – Basic Pump (yellow)
Poses; (pennydreadfularcade)

gefunden von Martin im amerikanischen Supermarkt

Since I didn’t take many pictures of the yummy dishes I ate yesterday, I took some today of the leftovers!

Ambrosia

Our ambrosia is made up of mandarin orange segments, pineapple, shredded coconut, and mini marshmallows coated in a cream-cheese based sauce.

Pumpkin Gooey Cake

For a snack this afternoon I had a square of the Pumpkin Gooey Cake that I didn’t get a chance to try last night.  Let me say it again- there were 10 full-sized desserts to choose from and only 8 people to eat them.  This is a Paula Deen recipe, so I’m sure it was full of butter!  I love the flavor of pumpkin, but for some reason have always found pumpkin pie to be gross.  This bar was similar to pumpkin pie, but way more delicious.

We still have leftovers of the caramel apple pie, chocolate peanut butter pie, and the pumpkin roll (which I am dieing to try) still sitting in the fridge.  I, amazingly, am going to eat no dessert tonight!  I didn’t feel like I ate too much at dinner, but 3 hours later I don’t feel hungry, and I am trying to be better about only eating when my body tells me too.  Normally I would have eaten dessert (and let’s face it, probably a full serving of at least 2 types) whether I was hungry or not.  This is a serious improvement for me!  Tomorrow is my 8k.  I picked up my race packet today, so I’m ready to go

Each week at Bluebird Market for those Early birds who enjoy buying local produce and arts, we serve a FREE community breakfast from 8 am until 9.  Visit the market for cozy warm farmers market fresh and local breakfast FREE before you shop the sales!

This week is ‘Ambrosia Day’ at Bluebird Market.  We are honoring a southern favorite with fresh Indian River oranges brought to us by Bluebird Market Vendor Bob Baskin.  Paula Deen reportedly names Ambrosia as a Top 5 Favorite Christmas Dishes.  Find out the secret of delicious and nutritious Indian River Ambrosia at Bluebird Market, on Ambrosia Day, Saturday Nov. 28th …Kitchen Show at 11 am.

Earlybird Breakfast Menu – November 28th

Ambrosia (courtesy of Bob Baskin)

Pumpkin Nutmeg Bread

Muesli

Hot coffee

Dark Cocoa with Cinnamon Stick

Regalos para TODOS: Amigos, Novios, Esposos, Amigobios, Familiares, Personas especiales, Compañeros, Empresariales…. TODOS en una posibilidad ÚNICA y DIFERENTE como sólo AMBROSÍA sabe hacerlo… LLÁMENOS !!!

CONTÁCTANOS, seguro que tenemos lo que has estado buscando para darte el capricho

AMBROSIA REGALOS
Chocolate Caliente para el Alma

Olga Eugenia Ruiz M.
Gerente Comercial
ambrosia_regalos@hotmail.com
Tlfns: 492.06.09 – 314.623.49.34

For all of you following these fantastic Peace On Earth Hunt gifts, I can now reveal another – the very sexy Ambrosia Minidress from Silk Dreams Fashions.  This cute and sexy dress is designed using a slightly sheer texture guaranteed to get you noticed but for anyone not quite so daring you can add some lingerie to create a more sophisticated look.

The Ambrosia minidress also comes with an added belt to finish off the design and is perfect to mix and match with other outfits, as is the tasty black mini skirt.  Ambrosia is quite simply a very cute and fun dress just perfect to wear for many occasions.

So to get your hands on this super sexy little number then follow the link below for more info on the Peace on Earth Hunt starting on 1 December 2009.  Have fun!!

Peace on Earth Hunt

Sehr schöne Badezimmer von Pearl Baths. Hier die Serie Ambrosia.

Know what that is? That’s a carne mechada patacón, from Venezuela. It might look like a burger, but look more closely and you’ll see that the “bun” is really flattened plantains, which surround shredded beef, condiments (including SPECIAL SAUCE), and fried cheese.

EXCEPT, it’s not IN Venezuela, it’s in NEW YORK CITY. That’s right, this is from Patacon Pisao, in Queens. QUEENS! Why have you Queens residents not told me about this???? Why have you not mailed 50 of these to me already?!? You know who you are. I am disappointed.

Must eat. MUST. I have it on good authority that Ponce De Leon was not, in fact, looking for the Fountain of Youth. That was a translation error. He was actually looking for the Plantain of Truth, and he obviously would have found it in Venezuela, or in QUEENS. Please, someone eat this and tell me all about it.



(h/t amy dee)