News The Morning News
posted by on September 3 at 7:58 AM
In Darfur: Chaos erupts as Arab tribes turn against each other.
In clinical trials: New schizophrenia drug shows promise.
In the fullness of time: Bush will be “viewed as a far-sighted leader.” According to Rove, anyway.
On television: “The Wire” comes to an end.
In the Atlantic: Hurricane Felix upgraded to a Category 5.
In Basra: British forces start pulling out.
In North Korea: Kim Jong Il agrees to dismantle nuclear facilities.
Recipe of the Day: Stuffed Rond de Nice Squash Poached in Olive Oil (below the jump). Recipe and photo via Smitten Kitchen.
Ingredients:
2 1/2 pounds rond de Nice squash (about 6), (or substitute large zucchini, either cut in half lengthwise or cut into pieces 2 inches tall and scooped out.)
Salt
1 tablespoon, olive oil
1 onion, minced
1 clove of garlic, minced (optional)
1/3 pound loose mild Italian sausage
2 to 3 tablespoons tomato paste (optional)
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme (optional)
If poaching in oil:
1 sprig rosemary
1/2 bunch of thyme
20 whole black peppercorns
1 head garlic, cut in half
2 to 3 1/2 cups olive oil
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cut a small slice from the bottom of a squash so that it sits flat. Cut the top, about 2-inches from the stem end, leaving a nice wide hole. Using a spoon, scoop out the insides, leaving a 1/4-inch thick wall of squash on all sides. Trim the top of the squash. Set the squash flesh aside. Repeat with the remaining squash. Season the inside of each squash with salt and turn upside down onto a plate. (The salt will draw out the moisture.)
2. In a large saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over low heat. Add the onion, garlic (optional) and a pinch of salt and cook until tender. Add the sausage, raise the heat to medium, and cook, stirring often to break up the sausage, until it is no longer pink.
3. Finely chop the reserved squash flesh and add it to the onion-sausage mixture with some salt. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste, if using, and cook for one minute longer.
4. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl, leaving the excess liquid in the pot. Stir in the breadcrumbs and parsley and season to taste with salt and black pepper.
5. Turn the squash right-side up and stuff them with the squash-sausage filling. If poaching in olive oil, place in a pot fitted with a lid and just large enough to hold them snug. Pour the 2 to 3½ cups olive oil into the pan around the squash, enough to rise just to the top. Add the rosemary, thyme, peppercorns and garlic and cover. If baking without olive oil, spread a teaspoon or two of olive oil at the bottom of a baking dish big enough to hold the squash snug, place them inside, and cover the dish. For both, cook in the oven until the squash is tender when pierced with a knife, about 45 to 60 minutes.
The squash can be served immediately or cooled, in or out of the oil, and reheated later.
This just in:
GW Bush ON SURPRISE VISIT TO OUR TROOPS in Iraq.
Beautiful pictures on TV, STANDING WITH OUR TROOPS.
And preempting other film and news from Iraw today that of UK troops PULLING OUT OF BASRA.
That stuffed squash seems tasty when I read the recipe, but when I look at the photograph I get the feeling it will leave me hungry...
LOVE SQUASH IN ALL ITS FORMS -
BUT
IT IS STILL JUST SQUASH - HOT TIP - USE BUTTERNUT COOKED SQUASH IN SOUPS AND STEWS - ADDS NICE FLAVOR AND VERY GOOD FOR YOU
AND THEN THERE IS THE NW ZUCINI - JUST HOW MANY CAN YOU EAT IN ONE SUMMER - WHEW
Then there's the new, more appalling than you can imagine interview with our glorious leader, Bush II on his retirement plans:
"I can just envision getting in the car, getting bored, going down to the ranch," he says. He also has big plans for making money. "I'll give some speeches, to replenish the ol' coffers," says Mr Bush, who is already estimated to be worth $20m. "I don't know what my dad gets - it's more than 50-75 [thousand dollars a speech], and "Clinton's making a lot of money".
and
"During the course of six one-hour interviews, Mr Bush, feet up on his desk, munching on low-fat hot dogs, tells Draper of the loneliness of the US commander-in-chief. "Self-pity is the worst thing that can happen to a presidency. This is a job where you can have a lot of self-pity," Mr Bush says."
also
"Apart from the joy of getting bored, he is looking forward to setting up a "fantastic freedom institute in Dallas" for young democratic leaders around the world."
The Fantastic Freedom Institute?? Does that mean Haliburton Death Camps in BushSpeak?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2161205,00.html
Thanks for the link, O.A.
@4: I think "Fantastic Freedom Institute" is fantanstic. Kinda like the Zoolander School For Kids Who Can't Read Good and Want To Do Other Things Good Too. One assumes he won't ask if the architectural model is a Freedom Institute for ants...
Kim Jong Il promised to dismantle his nuclear weapons? Isn't that tremendous news? Why isn't that getting more play? Oh, wait...that's right, Clinton got a similar promise and these jokers said he was naive for trusting a madman. I'm sure he totally means it now. Probably was promised a free membership at the Fantastic Freedom Institute.
Re: Darfur... there's an org called "24 hours for Darfur" that's spearheading a video advocacy campaign which will culminate in a 24 hour broadcast of grassroots videos on September 16. I'm amazed at how little promo they're getting - here's their video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzf2flWM0WI
Thanks for the heads up @1. Wasn't sure how to get motivated for cleaning up Labor Day weekend neglect. I only get like 8 channels though, so I don't see Bush. Tennis is on!
unrelated: finally know how to upload cell camera to pc/blog. I'm super pleased with the crispness!! Out of a $25 phone (after 50 rebate)!
@6 -- the Zoolander analogy is spot on! HAHA
I'd also recommend a simple stuffing of rice, corn, and some cheese flavored with thyme for those squash.
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