The Dinner Hour

May 18, 2005

Final Training Session with George Thomas

Today's Music

The Sound of Music Movie Sound Track  Click here for a background on the von Trapp family.

Yummy Ginger Recipes

Robin's Fresh Ginger Ale

In a saucepan mix 2 cups of water with 2 cups of sugar.  Add a 5" chunk of ginger cut into 1/8 to 1/4 inch "coins."  Bring to a boil and turn down to a simmer for 5 minutes.  Remove from the stove and cool to room temperature.  Put in the refrigerator overnight.  Pour through a strainer and store in a jar in the 'fridge.  When you want some "gingerale" fill a glass with ice and add a couple of tablespoons of the ginger syrup (or more to taste).  Now fill the glass with soda/seltzer water and top with a line wedge.  Enjoy!

Black Dog Ginger Cookies

From The Black Dog:  Summer on the Vineyard Cookbook

• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh ginger
• 1 1/2 cups canola oil
• 3 cups granulated sugar plus 1 cup for rolling the cookies
• 3/4 cup molasses
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 5 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 7 cups pastry flour

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Mix the fresh ginger with 1/2 cup of the oil in a food processor until well minced.
3. In a large mixing bowl blend 3 cups sugar molasses, and the eggs.
4. Strain the minced ginger/oil mixture, reserving the liquid.  Add this liquid, plus the remaining sup of oil to the egg mixture and blend until smooth.
5. In a separate bowl, mix together the salt, cinnamon, baking soda, cloves, and flour.
6. Add the dry mix to the wet mix.  Blend well.
7. Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper or grease with butter.
8. Scoop the cookie dough by teaspoonfuls and roll in the reserved cup of granulated sugar.
9. Place on prepared cookie sheets and back for about eight to twelve minutes.  Just until the tops crack and the cookies are flat.
10. Cool completely on wire racks.  Enjoy!

Makes about eight dozen cookies.

Let's Get Hoppy

Everything that you ever wanted to know about hops and more!

Hops, are a wonderful ornamental plant as they grow rapidly resembling Jack's beanstalk sometimes growing up to a foot a day.  You can train them to grow along a string or wire and their flowers have a lovely scent.  While they are not commonly considered "food" you can eat the hop shoots that first emerge in the spring - they are asparagus-like.  Click here for more.

From the NYT Dining In/Dining Out

A Kitchen's Heat, On the Go