On A Differential Pair: 01.2008

Thursday, January 24, 2008

When a Language Starts Living Inside the Books

Editorial Pictures of the Year

Golden Orchid

Ingredients:
- 2 oz vanilla Cognac
- 2 oz GranGala Triple Orange liqueur
- 2 large mint leaves
- 1/2 small orange, juiced
- dash of simple syrup

Tea the mint into pieces and place into a cocktail shaker with ice. Add Cognac, GranGala, orange juice and simple syrup. Shake vigorously until the mixture is very cold. Strain into a martini glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a long orange twist or a vanilla bean.

Stonewall Jackson

Ingredients:
- 2 oz Maker's Mark bourbon
- 5 oz hot apple cider, steamed with cappuccino maker
- Whole fresh cinnamon stick for stirring
Garnish: Orange peel studded with fresh cloves

In a coffee mug, mix bourbon and hot apple cider (steamed with cappuccino maker). Stir with fresh cinnamon stick. Garnish with orange peel studded with fresh cloves. (Cocktail created by: Bar Martignitti)

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Mediterranean Orange Chicken

(makes: 4 servings)
4 teaspoons pine nuts, toasted and chopped
1 pound skinless chicken breast, boned and trimmed
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, for dusting chicken
Canola Oil Spray
1/4 cup dark rum
1/4 cup minced shallots, or red onion
1/4 cup chopped roasted red peppers
2 tablespoons chopped capers
2 tablespoons chopped olives
2 tablespoons chopped raisins
3/4 cup 100% orange juice
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

1. Toast pine nuts in a 350 degree oven for 3-4 minutes until golden. Remove, cool and chop.

2. With a meat mallet, pound chicken breasts to 1/2-inch thick and season with salt and pepper.

3. Dust both sides in flour, and pat so flour stays on.

4. Heat saute pan and coat with canola oil spray. Place chicken in hot sautŽ pan and spray uncooked side of chicken with canola oil in the pan. Sear chicken for one minute on both sides, and remove from pan.

5. In the same sautŽ pan, add shallots and saute briefly. Add roasted red peppers, capers, olives and raisins and saute briefly until shallots are translucent.

6. Deglaze pan with orange juice. Add chicken stock and lemon juice and reduce heat slightly when ingredients come to a boil.

7. Add chicken back to the pan to cook until completely cooked through, and sauce is slightly thickened.

8. Stir in salt, pepper and parsley.

9. Top each serving with 1 teaspoon of chopped toasted pine nuts. (Recipe by The Florida Department of Citrus, Cocktail Times.com)

Global Warmer

Ingredients:
- 6 mint leaves
- 1 1/2 parts Basil Hayden's bourbon
- 1/2 part triple sec
- 1 1/2 parts lime sour mix
- 1/2 part DeKuyper Tropical Mango
Garnish: mint leaf, lime twist

Mix all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. garnish with mint leaf and a lime twist. (Created by: Michael Becker, Portland Steak and Chophouse, Portland, OR)

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

We All Have a Dream

... we do.

Meaning of Life

On Sunday, after attending the Mary Magdalene Sanctuary, we talked about the meaning of life--if there's any-- from an atheist's point of view.

Dave and me strongly believed that there was no such a thing as "meaning of life" and after all what we do and what we believe is absolutely irrelevant from the cosmos point of view.

Mather, on the other hand, tried to establish the concept but was unable to do so and sounded a little like theists trying to proof the existences of none-existent God. Pretty unlikely of him.

Today, Dave sent me this:

I have heard over and over that if God did not exist, then life would not have any meaning. So the meaning of life must be something like 'To Worship One's Creator'. If that is so, then what is the meaning of God's life? He surely can not worship his creator since by definition he does not have one. Does this not mean that the meaning of an Atheist's life is identical to the meaning of God's life? (Neither one having a creator). So if God gets enjoyment by playing with his creation, then the meaning of an Atheists life is to enjoy playing with his/her creation. This creation can be what ever one dreams up. Art. Hobbies. Whatever... (I suppose one could include 'Children' but arguably, they may be more of a pain than a source enjoyment...)

So life without a God is not meaningless or else Christians should tell their God to commit suicide immediately.

So the meaning of life appears to be (the subjective answer of): "Follow your bliss". (Different for each person of course).

I very much liked it. Thought of sharing it with you.

Many Wives

A little boy was attending his first wedding.

After the service, his cousin asked him, "How many women can a man marry?"

"Sixteen," the boy responded.

His cousin was amazed that he had an answer so quickly.

"How do you know that?"

"Easy," the little boy said.

"All you have to do is add it up, like the pastor said, 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer."