Lime Cornmeal Glazed Cookie

Lime Cornmeal Glazed Cookies

My favorite cookie recipe, the Lime Cornmeal Glazed Cookie:
The cookie that bites back!


Incidentally, and for no particular reason, this recipe contains no leavening agents (baking soda / baking powder) and no salt.


If you don't consider the time it takes to zest those limes, this recipe is very simple and fast.  The night before I plan to bake these cookies, I take the limes, my favorite zester and a bowl into the living room, and I 'zest the night away' in front of the TV!  The only liquid in the glaze is juice from the limes.  Pucker up, buttercup!

They are definitely a wake-you-up cookie. Take one bite, and your eyes pop wide open!

Unless the limes are HUGE, I find that I need a lot more limes to get the right amount of juice and zest than the recipe calls for. I often use 12 - 14 limes.
I let the glaze that drips off onto the parchment paper dry, and I eat it like candy!
Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature.
     If you use margarine, I will come to your house and beat you!
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
4 teaspoons freshly grated lime zest, plus 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (about 6 limes total).
      If you use lime juice out of one of those plastic squeezy-thingys, I will come to your house and beat you TWICE! 
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest (2 medium oranges)
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal


Directions


In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add egg; beat until just blended. Add citrus zests, lime juice, and almond extract.


With the mixer on low speed, add flour and cornmeal. Continue beating until well blended. Transfer dough to a piece of plastic wrap. Shape the dough into a disk, wrap, and chill until firm, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using your hands or an optional 1 1/4-inch ice-cream scoop form balls from chilled dough. Place balls on prepared sheets, spaced about 3 inches apart. Spray the bottom of a medium drinking glass with non-stick cooking spray. or moisten the bottom of the glass slightly with water, and  flatten balls with the bottom of glass until dough is about 1/4 inch thick.


Bake cookies until crisp and light-golden brown around the edges, 14 to 16 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to a wire rack, and let the cookies cool completely.  From personal experience, I find this baking time a bit too long. Watch the first batch of cookies closely.  They can burn quickly!


Place a wire rack on top of a piece of parchment paper. Pour the lime glaze over the cooled cookies, allowing the excess to drip off the edges. Let glaze set. Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
  Lime Glaze

3 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
8 tablespoons fresh lime juice, plus 2 1/2 teaspoons freshly grated lime zest (about 6 limes total)

Directions

Sift confectioners' sugar into a medium bowl. Add lime juice; stir until smooth. Stir in lime zest. Your proportions of lime juice to confectioners' sugar will vary, depending on humidity, the size of the limes, and the amount of juice they yield. You might have to use more or less juice or confectioner's sugar, accordingly.

Use glaze immediately.

Me & my cell phone:

Me & my cell phone:


1) I check my voice mails.  Maybe twice a month.


2) My cell phone is *not* my hobby.  I have real hobbies, and I'm good at them.  It shouldn't be your hobby, either, but you are responsible for how wisely you use your time, and that is your own business.
  
3) I don't read text messages.  I don't sent text messages.  


   To paraphrase a well known game show, "If you can't afford to buy a vowel, and use complete sentences, proper puncuation and proper grammer, you can't afford my attention." (I also don't respond instant messages who are written in the same duck-speak.


3) If I missed your call, there are several reasons why:
  a) I will take your call if I am expecting it.
  b) I hate the damned thing (cell phones)!
  c) I didn't hear the damned thing ring.  It is not now, nor will it ever be, attached to my hip.
  d) You say you left a message?  See #1.


4) I do not take pictures with my phone.  That is what a real camera is for. I have a real camera, and I am pretty good at using it.  While I am on the subject, like the damned plague, I try to avoid looking at pictures taken with cell phones.  They hurt the only eye I have left, and I think it is in my best interest to protect that lone retina.
  
Isn't that "Facebook Button" that is located on some 'smart' phones quite the invention?  At the moment, I can think of no other gimmick that encourages fast, ill-thought out photography that is quickly posted by people who are too lazy to crop or to other wise properly prepare a photograph before it is made viewable by the general public.  At an alarming rate, the internet is splattered by random acts of "BLAH!"


5) I won't even talk on a cell phone while driving my vehicle.  Never. Not even for you.  In fact, I usually turn it off before I get in the car, and I don't turn it back on until I exit the vehicle. (And that is if I remember, or I care to turn it back on!)


6) I will not talk on a cell phone while walking through a store, and especially while waiting in the check out lane - or any other public place, as far as that is concerned.  That is rude.  If I would be waiting on an important call, I will quickly excuse myself and get to a more private area before continuing the concersation.  If people taking loudly on cell phones in stores / check out lanes annoy the Hell out of me, why wouldn't I think that the same behavior would annoy the hell out of someone else?  It does!


I do answer messages sent to me on Facebook or e-mails faster than any other mode of communication.  The reason is that I am probably already on the internet or on my computer, and thus I can kill 2 birds with the same stone.  My precious resource - time! - is saved.

For additional reading:
http://mrtoadslivingoutloud.blogspot.com/2011/03/buying-live-digital-chicken-in.html

- Michael

Michael, The Animal Whisperer

I don't know how I developed this particular skill, but I do know that when I go to Grant's Farm here in STL, there can be over 100 people standing by a fence looking at the Clydesdales in the distance. All their whistling, whoopin' and hollerin' won't bring the horses over to the fence to see the spectators. I gently make my way through the crowd, and give a particular whistle. A stampede ensues! Those Clydesdale colts, who are still HUGE compared to other adult horses, come galloping across that huge pasture, high-spiritedly over to the fence, and in particular, over to me! I don't know why! What gives? Mark and several of his relatives were with me on this visit.

When I go to the St. Louis Zoo, if I am the only person in the 1904 Flight Cage, there is a particular Egret that is fond of me. All birds in this cage are free-roaming, contained only by the large wire frame of the flight cage. I do have this particular event on video. This Egert will fly down to within just a few feet of me. I squat down to his level, and he will jump up and perch on my fore arm, and gently explore my upper quarters with his bill. He was sitting on my arm for probably 15 minutes, before I had to gently persuade him to go on about his way, so I could continue through the Zoo.

If I go into the Bird House, the Toucan will slide down the wires of his enclosure, just to visit me. He ignores everybody else in the bird house.

A similar event happened when I was at the Chimpanzee enclosure. There were several Chimps down near the large observation windows in front of their outside enclosure. This was a nice, busy fall day at the Zoo, and any time a chimp is near the glass, he draws a large crowd instantly. I was standing 2 - 3 people deep from the windows in this crowd when I caught the chimp's eye. He approached the glass, and motioned with his hand for the small children in front to move out of his line of sight. The kids didn't understand him at first, so he again motioned with his hand for them to step to the side. I walked through the part in the crowd that the chimp made for me, and he looked into my eyes for what seemed to be the longest time. Then, he pointed at the plugs in my ears, the choker made of nuts 'n' bolts that I always wear around my neck (visible in my profile pic), and he pointed down at my bright, glittery raspberry shoes. It might be my imagination, but he did seem to smile! Then, he put his knuckles gently against the glass. I put my knuckles, in the same fashion, against my side of the glass, against his knuckles. We paused for a moment as he once again looked deep into my eyes. I know I saw another smile cross his face, and then he scampered off into the distance!

I know I had tears in my eyes, as I turned to the crowd that was standing behind me. Many of them had their hands over their mouths, and their eyes were WIDE with astonishment. I heard a few gasps. I intentionally raised my eyebrows at them, in a "So, there! Take THAT!" sort-of fashion, as I made my way through the crowd. Like Moses and the Red Sea, they automatically parted as I walked on!

Animal Whisperer? I dunno. You tell me. :)

- Michael

The Passing of the Greats (Andy Rooney, Stan Kann, Virgil Fox)

(Andy Rooney - What is Art?)

RIP Andy Rooney.

He died one month after giving his last address on 60 Minutes.
Mr. Rooney had gone to the hospital for an undisclosed surgery, but major complications developed and he never recovered.

In my mind's eye, he was a champion in my "The Emperor's New Clothes" campaign. He, too, realized that the 'Emperor' was stark naked, no matter what other people tried to talk him into believing, the Emperor still wasn't wearing any clothes! I have definitely suffered from saying so, especially at the hands of my own family, but since I was first able to speak, I have always been the little boy that noticed that everybody was putting on an act - when in fact, the "Emperor" was still neekid! The difference is that I was brave enough to SEE the truth, and honest enough to TELL it.

I don't know whether to attribute my premonition to general life experience, or to my nursing background, but I had a feeling that after he gave his last address on 60 Minutes, he wouldn't last long afterward.  


I don't know the details of his surgery, but I suspect that Andy did the same thing that St. Louis' own Stan Kann did.   I personally knew Stan from the St. Louis social circles.   


Even though Stan was (I believe) the nation's last full-time working theatre organist, restoring and playing St. Louis' Fabulous Fox Theatre's 4 / 36 "Crawford Special"  Wurlitzer organ, Stan Kann was more famous for his record breaking 77 appearances on the Johnny Carson Show, and 89 appearances on the Mike Douglas Show.  


Stan Kann was 83 yrs. old when he passed away. He waited too long to have a heart cath, and died on the table during the test.  I suspect Any Rooney's story is similar.  


Here are some Stan Kann videos.  With a latency of 1.5 - 2 seconds, he could accompany a silent film, for example - for 3 hours, non-stop!  That accomplishment is just a drop in the bucket.  Not only could Stan keep up with the activity on the screen, considering that LONG latency, he could also whistle another entirely unrelated tune - at the same time!  In essence, he was playing 3 songs at the same time:


1) the one that his FINGERS was playing
2) the song that came out of the pipes 1.5 - 2 seconds later
3) the 3rd unrelated tune that he was whistling.  


I asked him, "How the Hell do you do that?" The little man whipped, "Your problem is that you are actually listening to what you are playing!"


Pure Genius!


But then again, the late great Virgil Fox once arrived at a concert venue the day before the scheduled event, and he  sat down to play an organ that he was playing for it's inaugural concert.  The organ was newly installed, and the organ company had to hire temporary help that was unfamiliar with their work, to get the job done in time (BAD IDEA!).  This new, hurried tech accidentally wired the pedals backwards!  As was his custom, Mr. Fox played a practice tune with a flourish, and barely missed a note.  A representative from the organ company was with him, awaiting his approval on their instillation.  He turned, look at the organ tech and said with a chuckle, "I can play it as you have it, but I would prefer that you rewire it before tomorrow!"


Stan Kann YouTube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Stan+Kann&aq=f

Additional Stan Kann info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Kann

A tribute to Stan Kann, compliments of Channel 9 Public TV:

An interview with Virgil Fox:

Today, I'm missing Stan Kann, Virgil Fox, and now - Andy Rooney.  More and more genius is leaving this planet, and it's not being replenished at the same rate.  

- Michael

Old junk" can work better than "new and improved" !

Go figure.  This is further proof that, more often than not, "Old junk" can work better than "new and improved" !

At the same estate sale that I bought the Farfisa organ, I bought a  Morley Power Wah guitar pedal - for $1.  There was a sign taped to the pedal that read, "Needs Work - $1".   I paid a total of $26 for the Farfisa AND the Morley pedal. I use many effects pedals, including chorus, distortion, tape delay and wah pedals attached to many of my keyboards, from the digital piano to my Wurlitzer piano and now, the Farfisa.

The work that it needed was that the tiny light bulb that is the basis of it's function needed to be replaced.  It isn't economically viable for  electronics companies to sell and ship these tiny bulbs individually.  They are only 22 cents each. 

So.... I went to Walgreens and bought a string of mini Christmas lights.  I pulled a blank metal plug out of a hole in the side of the pedal, and stuck in a couple of the tiny lights.  This pedal now works perfectly - for a total of $6.99!


On the other hand, the guitar pedal that I bought new several years ago only has about 5 minutes of play time on it, because the damned thing doesn't work right.  It never has.  


A rigged 1970's vintage guitar pedal, bought for a total of $7  - works perfectly.
A brand new $70 pedal doesn't work at all. 


Go figure.

- Michael

Attending Summer's Funeral

Yesterday, October 25, 2011, the temperatures in the St. Louis area reached a balmy lower to mid 80's.

My yearly membership at the Missouri Botanical Gardens expires on Halloween, and I wanted to get one more free entrance to the Gardens before my card expires, and before the cold fall rains set in.  

This membership is only $65, and pays for unlimited free entrance to the Gardens for 2 people (with this level of membership), a 20% discount at the Gift Shop, and free or drastically reduced entrance fees to the big events at The Gardens, not limited to, but including the Japanese Fest, the Best of Missouri Market, and much more.  I will renew my membership in a couple months.

When I go to the Gardens in the middle of Winter, with the exception of the always-balmy Tropical Rain Forest (the Climatron), and the Linnean House (the oldest greenhouse west of the Mississippi River), there is no life in the Gardens.  The flower beds and every other planting the is exposed to the elements have long since been tucked away for a long winter's slumber.  There are no flower buds or green grass, and the reflection pools that were home to beautiful and bountiful water lilies in the summer months have been drained of their contents.  They are now nothing more than cold , desolate, sterile, geometric concrete pits.  What remains in my mind when I view this beautiful winterscape is that Summer is intangible:   It is far out of reach.  There is no doubt that Summer is not making a return to this area any time soon.

During this visit, I walked into the Gardens at a unique moment.

The atmosphere was obviously "Summer" in nature, but it was evident that I was attending Summer's funeral.  I could see Summer's remains, but I knew she was not alive, and I knew she had been viable not so long ago.  Autumn was present, and she was giving Summer's eulogy with a colorful flourish.

I was taken aback when Spring arrived at this memorial service as an unexpected mourner.  She manifested her presence in several different ways.

As I was walking through the English Woodland Garden section near Henry Shaw's Tower Grove House, I noticed several young May Apple plants making an appearance.  Just a short distance from the May Apples was a red azalea bush with a few new bright red blooms.  In one of the beds that surrounds the Kemper Center Demonstration Gardens, I noticed a "Common Lilac" bush in bloom.  This bush had recently been pruned back, and instead of the new shoots being buds or branches, they were healthy bunches of fragrant flowers.  Our sense of smell is the strongest link to our memories.  I took one whiff of this lilac, and I was immediately transcended to an early spring afternoon.

Summer's remains were laying in quiet repose.  The last Spring mourner to pass Summer's corpse was a healthy Iris, "Baby Blessed", in full bloom.  This particular iris is not one of the few reblooming varieties (such as "Autumn's Tryst" or "Total Recall"), but under normal circumstances, would bloom in late April to early May.

Baby Blesses

"Total Recall"

I know there must be a scientific explanation as to why these spring favorites made a sudden Fall appearance in the Botanical Gardens.  I can't explain this phenomenon on a scientific level - but I CAN enjoy them, and I cannot possibly express to you the level of gratitude that I possess that I have this jewel - The Missouri Botanical Gardens - in my back yard.

My life without the venues that I frequent in this area would be a bleak existence, indeed.  We have often thought about relocating, and even though there are always trade-offs when it comes to making a move, the area in which we would relocate would have to offer at least as much - or more - than what I have here.  There are a few cities that come close to having venues that are similar to those that I enjoy here in St. Louis.  My choice would have to be made very carefully.  Southern California / San Diego is on the top of the list!  :)

- Michael

That's not an outfit - that is an ENSEMBLE!

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