The Column of Life

There is no real consensus on whether the visitors from the East on this day, celebrated as Epiphany in much of the Apostolic tradition, were kings, magi, wise men or wise guys, for that matter. This much we know: they gazed at the stars and came bearing gifts -- but they weren't Greek. The gifts were gold, frankincense and myrrh, all fit for a king. Here are three gifts for you, actually three fine men who are furnished with many gifts as anyone can see -- all fit for any king, pilfered from Blue . There was a time when Sicily had emirs -- yes -- prior to the time of that other Norman invasion. Mary Taylor Simeti married a Sicilian man and went to live in his homeland. That experience produced a very informative book about the cuisine of the emerald of the Mediterranean. Within that book, Pomp and Sustenance , she tells grand tales of many recipes over many centuries of Sicilian food. That Moslem Arabs, a.k.a Saracens, had a very powerful influence is evident not only in the cultu...

This recipe was created in the high tech kitchen of Column of Life this week. It was done two evenings in a row, because the first concoction was excellent even the next day at lunch. Dark meat chicken is a rather practical meat in that there's no need for extraneous fat, healthy or otherwise. If you get some excellent thighs from your local polleria , then you're off to a good start. Pollo alla Birra di Giovanni Chicken Thighs, six, skinless Newcastle Brown Ale, twelve fluid ounces (355 ml) Red Onion, one medium, thin slices Garlic Cloves, four, whole, peeled Lemon Rind, from an entire lemon Basil, dried, to taste Coarse Salt, to taste. Broccoli di Rape, one bunch, about 500 grams (one pound, ends removed, ready ( mondati ) 1. Brown the thighs in a deep sauce pan. Turning them from time to time. 2. Salt to taste. Oh, what the hell, throw some black pepper in there. 3. Add the garlic and lemon. Toss the pan to get the ingredients distributed evenly. 4. Add the basil. Toss and ...

This Mushroom Chicken recipe was stolen (and modified) from Mommy Gourmet blog. Butter, unsalted, two tablespoons Olive oil, one tablespoon Onion, one, sliced Chicken breasts bone in skin, three, between three and four pounds Flour, four tablespoons Broth, chicken or vegetarian, four cups [try tomato soup] Mushrooms, sliced, two cups White Wine, dry, one cup Marjoram, two tablespoons Bay Leaf, one Greek Yogurt, one half cup 1. Add butter and olive oil to a stock pot or Dutch oven and melt butter. 2. Add the onion and sauté over medium heat for about 10 minutes. 3. Salt and pepper chicken and lay on bottom of pot. 4. Sprinkle with four tablespoons of flour then add four cups of broth. Bring to a boil. 5. Reduce to simmer for twenty minutes. 4. Add wine, mushrooms, bay leaf and marjoram. Simmer for forty minutes. 5. Take about 1 cup of hot liquid and add to the yogurt. Stir, and then put the mixture back into the pot. This keeps it from curdling. 6. Heat for five more minutes and serve...

Pollo Ripieno from Basilicata Roasting Chicken, five pounds or so Butter, unsalted, one quarter pound Chicken Livers, about ten Sea Salt Ground Black Pepper Eggs, four Pecorino, grated, one half cup Sage, three or four sprigs Rosemary, two sprigs Pre-heated oven 375F 1. Eat two tablespoons butter, add livers. Salt. Pepper. Brown them for about five minutes and chop finely. 2. Beat eggs, add cheese and livers. 3. Sprinkle cavity with salt and fill with egg, liver, and cheese stuffing. 4. Sew, truss. Slip sage and rosemary under string. 5. Rub chicken with salt, pepper and butter. 6. Place in snug roasting pan in oven for about two hours. Check after one hour and a half, just in case. Olive Chicken from Teramo Chicken, one, cut up Olives, of any sort, pitted Garlic, chopped, to taste Lemon peel Sea Salt, Ground Black Pepper Sage Rosemary Nutmeg Olive Oil White Wine, dry 1. Marinate the chicken overnight in a tightly sealed bag with all the ingredients, except the wine and oil 2. Stew slo...

The main course is the secondo piatto , or the second plate . Here is something very enjoyable. easy and very tasty. Orange Juice, fresh, one cup Chile Sauce, one half cup Bell Pepper, one, sliced Mustard, one teaspoon Garlic, one clove, chopped Soy Sauce, two tablespoons Molasses, one tablespoon Mandarin Orange, slices, two or three Chicken, one, cut up Olive Oil Oven, pre-heated 350F 1. Brown the chicken parts 2. Place the parts in a baking dish. 3. Add all the ingredients. 4. Bake for 45 minutes, turning from time to time A little spicy morsel to munch on; chicken with an edge, so to speak.