Monday, August 30, 2010
Club Gancho 8/29/10 - What's everyone doing next weekend?
I noticed that Carlos posted some drinks of the week on past posts. Today I started a batch of Limoncello and I should I have a lovely lemony libation in about two months. My friend Valerie from Italy gave me her family's recipe so it's very authentic. I'll share it with you today:
MANFREDINI FAMILY LIMONCELLO
20 lemons washed
1 liter pure grain alcohol (Everclear)
1/2 kg. white sugar (about 1 lb.) NOTE: I use less, more on that later.
1/2 liter white wine (light wine like Pinot Grigio) or water
Peel zest from lemons and try not to get too much white with the peels. Put peels into a large glass or ceramic crock and cover them with the PGA. Cover and let sit for 40 days in a cool, dark place. After 40 days remove the peels and strain the liquid. Put the wine and the sugar into a saucepan and heat over low flame until the sugar melts. NOTE: I use about half the sugar called for in the recipe because I find 1 lb is too sweet for my taste. Do not boil. When the sugar is dissolved and the wine has cooled add to the strained liquid, cover and store in cool, dark place for 10 more days. Turn and shake periodically during these 10 days. Decant and enjoy.
I usually do a double batch so I can give some away. It's delicious over ice but since it's made with pure grain alcohol it's best not to overdo lest you get a headache. Of course you can purchase Limoncello almost anywhere these days but it's fun to make it.
Hey, what's everyone doing next week for the long weekend? Are you doing something traditional? Something different? Staying home and relaxing or going away?
I do the traditional; this is what we do...For many years a group of friends, those of us who dive, have gone up to the north coast of California (Gualala) for camping, spearfishing and abalone diving. We've been doing it for so many years that now we are the old farts and the kids are diving too! A friend owns some land so we all bring our tents and set up camp. We also set up swings and zip lines for the kids so they can entertain themselves. Everyone goes out on Saturday and gets their limit of abalone (2 per person) and whatever unlucky fishies happens to get in the way. Then we have a big feast and potluck later that day. Abalone has to be sliced and pounded so the big folk do the slicing and the little folk do the pounding. Then we fry it all up and eat like kings. Repeat on Sunday except we add a blackberry picking excursion.
I'd love to hear what everyone else has planned, whether it involves travel or hanging around the house. So what's cookin'???
Labels: gancho
Your limoncello concocting reminded me of my mom's fruitcake tradition. She made a HUGE one in a large ceramic crock. It was put together at Thanksgiving and tucked away in a cool part of the basement, covered in cheesecloth. Every day, Mom would trek downstairs at some point and dose the fruitcake with some rum (and herself as well? who knows?). By Christmas it was truly rich in flavour and served with her homemade custard poured from a pitcher, just divine. That along with fondant-stuffed dates, candied orange, lemon and grapefruit peel and black walnut fudge, all homemade, guarenteed that we were in a coma during most of the holiday. But happy!
Labor Day plans are prosaic. Hanging around home, taking Communion to shut-ins and probably helping my youngest daughter in the church nursery. She may be moving out of state soon so every moment I can spend with her is precious.
JudyB, how kind of you to spend your weekend helping others. I'm sure the people you visit will be very grateful and happy to see you. What's up with your youngest and why might she be moving out of state?
I've been sick all weekend and I had to stay home. To pass time I started rewatching La Verdad Oculta since there will be a line in caray for that novela soon.
I have to confess, I was a huge fan of La Dueña but I've been completely bored by STuD. I didn't know why since they appeared to be keeping it close to the last version. When I went to Tvolucion.com last week to check an episode of Cuando Me Enamoro I saw that they were already at episode 95 so I finally got it. La Dueña only had 95 episodes (it was a short novela) but STuD is not even yet in Ultimas Semanas, that means they've been streching the plot to cover at least an extra month or two (or maybe more).
Jarocha
Sylvia, I am looking forward to seeing those pictures! Will wait patiently.
I plan to spend much of the coming long weekend at Bumbershoot music festival. Ozomatli and Los Aterciopelados are playing, plus a bunch of other bands I don't remember right now. With any luck the weather will be decent, although they don't call it Bumbershoot for nothing. Last year was rather damp. I can handle drizzle, but high winds and downpour would probably ruin it for me.
I'm way behind in reading the recaps so I want to say here that it's wonderful having you back. Your "voice" has been missed!
The Limoncello sounds divine. Sugar, wine et. al, what's not to like?? Along with the mouth-watering treats Judy noted (fondant-stuffed dates!), I'm simply salivating.
Oh Judy. You want your children to be happy but of course, want them near. Sigh...
Jarocha, hope you are feeling better. I can't think of a better use of time or a more soothing balm than watching Eduardo Yanez ;)
Julia, wishing you sunny weather for the music festival. Sounds great.
My weekend plans are up in the air. Hub made it home around midnight last night but he's scheduled to leave again before I get home tonight. It's our 26th anniversary so I'd hoped for at least a dinner together. Pity party for one! :) Actually, I'm getting used to living with his life on the road.
Hope everyone has a happy, sun-drenched weekend!
Diana
We don't have much planned for this coming weekend - depends a lot on whether Hurricane whatshisname hits or stays out to sea. We could use the rain but not Category 3 winds, thank you very much! If we are spared the tempest, we will go to Yorktown to hear the Virginia Symphony. They give a free outdoor concert every year - lighter music, lots of fun. Everyone takes lawn chairs, food, wine, whatever and hears great music under the stars. (Hurricane Earl, that's the feller...Hope he has the decency to stay away!!)
This past weekend we went to DC to watch the St. Louis Cardinals - our team - get walloped by the Washington Nationals. But the weather was nice and we were with our two boys and daughter-in-law, which was the whole point.
Judy, the food sounds great. Most people I know don't care for fruitcake but I LOVE it. Our family recipe was totally different from yours, and probably the worst in the world if you didn't grow up eating it. I'd love to taste yours, and all of the other food also. My thighs are saying, "Oh yeah, bring it on!"
We have no special plans for Labor Day, but I'm looking forward to the day off. Your plans, as well as Julia's and Emilia's sound very exciting. Good luck to all of you with the weather.
Jarocha, I hope that you are feeling better soon.
Diana, I wish you and your husband could spend your anniversary together. Happy anniversary to you both.
Judy and Emilia, I'm one of those who enjoys fruitcake. My MIL makes very good fruitcake each Christmas. Each year she says it will be the last. I especially like it fortified with either rum or Bourbon.
Carlos
I just heard that Uni will replay La fea más bella, starting in two weeks (9/13) at noon. Does anyone plan to watch it? It was such a sensation the first time around. Board Mom said that if I want to, I can moderate a new board for it. I'd link to each day's old recap, add details if necessary, and open the discussion.
LFMB was my first, and you never forget your first love! I know many people joined Caray since then, and never saw Fea. Do you think it would be worth the trouble to run a discussion board? Do you think people would show up?
I'm recording way too many telenovelas right now, but I think I could put this on my same-day-watch list and shuffle something else to the weekend-highlights-watch-or-not rotation, if people are going to be discussing it here.
I need a dose of Jaime Camil. I've been recording Tontas in the middle of the night, but there are a lot of annoying parts I'm skipping over. I'd rather watch something fresher.
Julia, if you like Camil, he really shines in Fea. Incredible script, and his interpretation of the role is pure magic.
@Julia...Good grief. I could hardly bear watching Tontas the first time. What are you doing re-watching!? Cease and desist immediately! (I know...it's good for your Spanish fluency. If you can stand it, go for it!)
The other gem was Santiago and his mother. The mutual admiration between the two actors was palpable. Both were confident that the other could handle anything that came at them. So one would divert away from the script, the other would follow, and they'd just run with it! I particularly remember a scene about Santiago color-coding his sock drawer.
It looks like that Limoncello would have a good kick, just a little at a time. Sometimes you have to adjust recipes. That a lot of sugar. It's like the ooey gooey butter cake recipes. They call for a pound of sugar. The few times I've made that I cut way back and you don't notice any difference.
We don't do anything special for Labor Day. I think we're going to try take a little trip somewhere, day trip. Probably pick a state park and take a little hike.
Diana, I hope you got that dinner together. Pulling for you. :)
Julia, still cool in Seattle? The Twins (Minnesota, baseball) went on a road trip, Texas and then Seattle. They were in Seattle this weekend. According to the sportswriter, 108 when they hit Texas and sounded like didn't hit 70 in Seattle? I can't wait to get some of that weather. Had some 70s last week and some coming again later this week.
Carlos and Hombre, I see you both have picked up where you left off with the Gancho recaps, putting out brilliant Dinero recaps.
Paula, LFMB at noon, sounds good. Do you know which noon that is? EDT, CDT, PDT? That was my first TN as well, albeit only the last 100 or so episodes. Not sure when I could squeeze a tape of that in?
Jarocha, luckily I live in an area where I can purchase fresh epazote at certain markets, so I think I'm OK there. Thanks for the advice and I hope you feel better soon.
Julia, I love the name of the Bumbershoot festival! While on the boat whenever I was on watch Ozomatli was one of my favorite choices. They are excellent for keeping up the energy level. I'm sure you'll have a great time at the festival. What a super couple of bands.
Diana, what a shame that you and hub are going to miss being together for your 26th! Drat the luck. However who says you have to celebrate on the exact date? I hope you can postpone it until you can have a nice dinner together. Happy Anniversary to both of you and congratulations on your wonderful achievement.
Paula, I think you should definitely post a discussion for LFMB. I actually never watched it, not enough time, and I'm not sure I'll be able to watch it this time around but I'll give it a try. I doubt I will be able to resist Camil, he's such an awesome actor.
Everybody's plans sound wonderful! I enjoy music festivals and any sort of live entertainment in general.
No, the pics are still in my camera but it's a lot easier for me to download them on the desktop than on the laptop. If I get desperate enough however...
Sunday.
Julia, that music festival sounds fantastic!
I know many people don't like the shortened DVD versions of novelas, but I often do, and Gancho is coming to DVD on October 5th. BTW, the Tontas DVD is out, and it's only $14.99 for 4 discs, but I wasn't nearly as enchanted by that show as I was by Gancho.
Paula, I agree, the scenes of Santiago and his daughter, and Santiago and his Mom Isabel were excellent. I liked the fact that the Mom was a Beatles fanatic (it seemed so funny that a group that was once so cutting edge is now the fantasy of a grandma!)
I might need to get that Gancho DVD. I don't like the shortened versions of novelas I haven't seen, because it's often too hard to follow the story (I got the short version of Amor Real from the library, and had no clue what was going on or who anyone was), but for something I've seen before, it's kind of nice to rewatch the highlights and not bother with the filler.
What struck me most about that video was the really harsh tone of the women's voices. Frenchwomen's voices are almost always beautifully modulated. I wish that were true of Latina women...often I find it really hard to listen to them. They sound like chickens cackling.
(Alex F's nickname is El Patrillo, The Colt, because his father, Vicente, is The Stallion.)
I just spent two weekends ago at Indian Market in Santa Fe which was fabulous this year and this last weekend roaming Indian ruins near Los Alamos and the adobe ruins of Fort Union. The clouds are legendary this time of year on the high plains north of our little Las Vegas. Had memorable chicken fajitas at El Rialto in LV.
I am very interested in seeing the Fea, I missed it last time so will look for the blog opportunities to commune.
TNW ran a board when Colombian Fea rebroadcast last year. The "club" was a mix of virgins, veterans, and a few incredibly well-versed fanatics. It generated some extraordinary discussions. Gaitán's (the author's) masterpiece stands up to intense analysis. I'm getting excited.
It appears that our hurricane will pass offshore far enough as to be only a minimal threat to us, although the Outer Banks of NC are preparing for a beating. Lots of trees in our neighborhood so we'd just as soon be ignored by hurricanes and such.
I am eagerly awaiting the opening of Club Fea. Do you all think I should list Clubs Gancho and Fea on those forms from the university alumni association that ask me which snooty clubs and professional organizations I belong to, and which boards of directors I serve on, and which charitable foundations I have endowed?
Emilia, I hope that hurricane stays far away from you, and you only get enough of a breeze to cool off.
Cheryl, the Indian market and ruins sound fun. What sort of stuff do they sell at the Indian market? Did you get anything good?
Paula, I watched every episode of LFMB and BLF up until after the wedding and the birth of the baby. I watched a few of the early episodes of Ugly Betty but lost interest after a bit. I'll join in the study group. I really enjoyed both Spanish versions... UB not as much.
Cheryl, you lead such an interesting life. How's Willa?
Julia, I think that you should definitely list Club Gancho and Club Fea on your alumni updates. Sunny and warm? (60˚?)... I'm happy for you.
Jeff, I hope that you do join in on the LFMB discussion. I may not watch every episode religiously this time around, but I wasn't a commenter here the first time around. I think it'll be a lot of fun.
Judy, I rather enjoyed Tontas, especially (well, mostly) the recaps but I'm certainly not tempted to watch it again, although I wouldn't mind seeing Soledad in her shorts ensembles again.
Carlos
Carlos
We're actually going to have a little dysfunctional family night tonight when we all gather 'round the TV to watch the Buckeyes opening football game against Marshall. Julie's coming over, Andy will be up and around...now if I can just come up with some recipe for these gigantic never-ending zucchini I'm trying to dispose of, my life will be perfect! (momentarily)
How can you tell when someone hasn't got a friend in the world?
You see them in the grocery store, buying zucchini.
I prefer it sliced thin and sautéed until it starts to brown, with a teeny bit of butter and salt and pepper.
Then made a topping with "pan biglio" breadcrumbs mixed with 2 chopped garlic cloves, dried basil, shredded fresh parmesan and Kosher salt. It smells pretty good. Also had some farm apples I had to use up. I won't make double crust pies anymore (too fattening) but everybody's happy with a one crust pie and it's taken care of very quickly.
We live and learn. I underrated our pompous salesman.
Something to ponder while waiting to what Earl wants to do. Somehow it doesn't feel real ominous, but my fingers are still crossed. Don't have to drive to work in Norfolk tomorrow - yay! Though it would be exciting to be crossing the bridge tunnel. And let's hope VDOT closes the tunnel's floodgates in a timely manner if it becomes necessary.
(That's a punchline from another old joke.)
"Because with a clarinet, she can't sing!"
Okay, you twisted my arm. One more.
I had to shoot my dog the other day.
Why? Was he mad?
Well he sure wasn't happy about it!
Hombre, how did Baltimore fare?
This kangaroo walks into a bar and says, "Let me have a beer."
And the bartender says, "Here you are. That will be $25. Say, we don't see many kangaroos in here."
And the kangaroo says,________
=============
A three-legged dog limps into a bar and says, "I'm looking for_____."
...finish this one!
I feel ashamed to even know the ending I grew up with.
STuD watchers, has anyone else wondered what the hat budget must have been for that TN? I remember Carlos saying that Rosendo's Charlie One Horse hats are quite pricey and everyone seems to have their own chapeau wardrobe.
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