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Frozen cubes of watermelon are always in our freezer when the good ones are in season. Since there are only two of us, a whole watermelon is a challenge, Now we eat it fresh and when we're tired of it, freeze in cubes. A few watermelon cubes, a splash of fresh lime juice and some tonic or soda is a great refreshing summer drink. I also add frozen green grapes to my pinot gris in the summer.

What is that based on? Potatoes are not especially moist -- 80% is not high relative to fruits and vegetables like greens. Consulting the Michigan State University Extension, we find that "Potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions and dry garlic prefer cool, dry conditions . . . (t)hey actually don’t need to be refrigerated at all.

I bought a big bag at a local Indian grocery and it's labeled “Product of India.” I didn’t realize there was Chinese black cardamom so I’ll be on the lookout!

Frozen grapes, for sure, but I had frozen some slices of nectarines to use them for…something…and found myself enjoying them still frozen.

I read that Chinese black cardamom and Indian black cardamom are different. Do you know which you used?

Enjoying cooking for us again. Poached rockling on bed of puréed cauliflower, broccoli, a few chips and a sauce made from green onion, yellow pepper, tomato and some herbs.

Potatoes are about 80% water, so high storage humidity—90 to 95%—is ideal to prevent moisture loss and shriveling. Per Serious eats…https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-store-potatoes-8711610#:~:text=(Potatoes are about 80% water,prevent moisture loss and shriveling.)

Actually, I think the ideal humidity inside a wine fridge is above 50% and below around 70%. Low humidity isn’t great for corks. But honestly, my wine fridge is kinda full - with wine.

Recently, I made the Black Cardamom Whiskey from A Whisper of Cardamom by Eleanor Ford. I love black cardamom in cocktails so I was interested to try this as all the previous cocktails I’ve made have used the pods to infuse a sugar syrup while this one infuses the whiskey itself. Here’s the “recipe”: “Fill a jar with whiskey, add a few black cardamom pods and leave to infuse somewhere dark.” Easy peasy. As instructed, I tasted after 24 hrs and found the flavor very subtle. At 2 days, it was noticeable, very flavorful at 3 days and starting to get a touch bitter after 4 days. The infused whiskey was nice in the recommended maple syrup-sweetened smoked cardamom Old Fashioned the book suggests. Serendipitously, I happened on a cocktail called Cabin in the Woods on a menu from Paragary's, a restaurant in Sacramento. It listed cardamom-infused bourbon, amaro Nonino, sweet vermouth and orange bitters as the ingredients. I mixed myself one of those, garnished with an orange twist and one of the black cardamom pods. It was lovely. Cabin in the Woods (with apologies to the creator as this was just my best guess) 2 oz black cardamom-infused bourbon 0.5 oz Amaro Nonino 0.5 oz Cocchi Vermouth di Torino 2 dashes orange bitters Garnished with a black cardamom pod and orange peel The smoky flavor of black cardamom makes this more appealing for fall and winter sipping but I’ll make this again when cooler weather comes around.

Guests for dinner so Mrs. C picked up jumbo lump crab. Clockwise from bottom right: Tartar sauce Gertie's crab cakes, shallow fried in ghee Carrot and endive, cooked down for 60+ and 30 minutes in butter, respectively Street corn from the seafood place Green beans with almonds, courtesy of dinner guest Coleslaw, also courtesy of dinner guest

I went to Café Bat. No bat. Very disappointing.

I was being a little tongue in cheek. However, if I went to Duck Bar and there was no duck ...😡

Ladyslipper is open and rocking - every night but Monday, from 5 PM...https://www.instagram.com/ladyslipperptown/ Kelly Fields making desserts.

Most (all) of the eel I see on menus here is at sushi bars. But there are plenty of things on the menu to help alleviate your aggravation. Have you ever, for instance, had Montauk red shrimp? Or scallops (served raw on the shell) from the same area?

This aggravates me.

No eels on last night's menu.

@RWood and a very nice glass

As would I have done. The best type.

Hugo Spritz after coming in from the pool. Pretty tasty. Prosecco, lime, mint, St. Germain and sparkling water.

+1. Shallots, garlic, potatoes, ginger - all in a rattan basket.

I store mine in a wine fridge -- 55°F and low humidity is ideal. Plus it's an opportunity to get acquainted with their future dinner companions.

Are there any eels on the eel bar menu?

Bathroom has better humidity.

Some random dinners over the past week or so: Big old salad, Spanish tuna, feta, olives, etc. Did some salmon in the donabe, served with above cucumber salad, potato salad, cole slaw. Eel Bar is celebrating its first birthday, so we dropped in. Only other picture I took was dessert: The caneles with strawberries. And finally, last night to Cafe Katja. Where I had the Wiener schnitzel, with buttered parsley potatoes, lingonberries and a side salad. A glass or two of Riesling went well.

All this talk made me go to my local Xi'an place... Wife got a rougiamo with cumin lamb