mukki

I have a package from Kalusytan's in my pantry that I haven't used. I bought it to try in this mac and cheese recipe.

I was wondering when she was going to come out with a new book! Looking forward to a Sofra Bakery cookbook someday, as well...

The Cumin Beef is one of the most delicious things I've eaten recently. Fuchsia's new book Every Grain of Rice: Simple Chinese Home Cooking was released in the UK recently.

Every Grain of Rice by Fuchsia Dunlop (UK version; US version doesn't come out until 2013) Burma: Recipes and Tales of Travel by Naomi Duguid Bouchon Bakery (not as interested as I would have been 5 years ago, but will likely still buy it) Street Foods of Mexico Tacos, Tortas and Tamales Frontera: Margaritas, Guacamoles and Snacks Coming Home to Sicily Jerusalem: A Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi

I was in Seattle not too long ago. Highlights: Dahlia Bakery: English muffin sandwich, doughnuts with huckleberry compote and mascarpone cream, chocolate pecan cream cookies (looking forward to their cookbook this fall so I can make these at home) Salumi: porchetta sandwich is delicious. Long line unless you get there before 11AM opening time. Spinasse: excellent pasta dishes (dinner only) Elliott Bay Books: if you love bookstores, make sure to stop here!

The shame - it's a Pink Squirrel! It truly does taste better than it looks.

Passionfruit are around. We receive them at the office in our weekly Fruit Guys delivery in the fall. I've also ordered them from White Dove Passion Fruit Farm in Santa Paula, CA. I've heard that Berkeley Bowl carries them, as well.

Classic Daiquiri (2.5 oz Flor de Cana rum, 1 oz lime, 3/4 oz simple) from Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide.

I much prefer the Appleton Reserve to the Extra, but then I'm using it in cocktails, not sipping it straight.

Jack Rose: Laird's apple brandy, lemon, grenadine.

I've only tried it in this cocktail (which is what I specifically bought it for), but it was an excellent drink.

West Side from "Speakeasy": Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka, lemon juice, mint.

20th Century: gin, creme de cacao, lillet, lemon

That cake seems to bring out my inner child -- I want! Do you think the crumbs added anything to the final flavor/texture?

No, it's still in the 30s at night up here. Sigh.

The Rio Bravo is on my (long) list of cocktails to try. Here's a Luau from the tiki genre (3 rums, lime, simple, orgeat, passionfruit, Angostura) that's been half consumed. Nice balance, strong drink.

Thumbs up to both the Farmhouse Pork and Qing Qing's Back in the Pot Pork. The latter was particularly delicious -- the pork belly rendered so much fat that it was almost deep frying in its own fat.

I also love using it in homemade Magic Shell. Quite addictive.

I have this one, as well, and it's going to be available in the US in April (with a much prettier cover, I might add).

Coda: El Dorado 12 Year Rum, Flor de Cana 4 Year white rum, lime, St. Elizabeth's Allspice Dram, demerera syrup + whole egg. Note that the rums listed are my substitutions since I didn't have what the recipe called for. Rather light bodied and tasty, though I'm not the biggest fan of allspice dram. Allspice is great in a spice cake, but not so much in a cocktail (I have a similar attitude towards cinnamon).

I really enjoyed it; much better than the version in Danny Meyer's book. A tad on the sweeter side, but not a problem. The grenadine I'm using is from Small Hand Foods.

Pink Lady (Hendrick's gin, Laird's apple brandy, lemon, simple, grenadine + egg white).

Tried the Applejack Rabbit. A tad sweet, but overall an excellent drink!

Tonight's drink was Have a Heart Cocktail from Vintage Spirits. Really enjoyed this one! 1.5 oz gin (Hendrick's), 3/4 oz Kronan, 3/4 oz lime, 1/4 oz "real pomegranate" grenadine (I used Small Hand Foods version). Again, I can't really say that the use Kronan was identifiable as a specific flavoring.

Made 2 Doctor Cocktails last night (2 oz Appleton, 1 oz Kronan, 1 oz lime juice). Quite good. The Swedish Punsch gives the drink a hint of something different, but not really easy to identify. Perhaps a bit smoky? Definitely made a more "manly" cocktail than I usually drink.