Get the Blood Out

At the AJJF convention today Hillary told me that a good way to get blood stains out of clothes is to spit on the stain. A Hollywood costume professional told her the secret. It seems that your saliva had something (enzymes) that will breakdown your blood, not anyone else's just your blood.

Sounds like a small bit for Myth Busters.

Hellfire Steaks

I checked out Steven Raichlen's book How to Grill from the library this morning. Same information as ATK's grilling book but it doesn't feel as objective.

Nice information on checking a steak for how much it has cooked, the touch test.

The chapter on How To Grill T-Bone Steaks using the Hellfire Steak recipe.

Prepare the steak with salt and course ground black pepper. Then a lot of dry mustard powder and press into the meat with a fork. Finally, shake on some hot sauce. He uses Tabasco but anything will work. Grill on high heat (2 or 3 Mississippi).

A net search reveled that the rub will come off during cooking. People has used the technique on other meats besides beef. Raichlen recommends this recipe for tuna and salmon steaks as well.

Did I mention that it is spring time?

L4yer Cake

Layer Cake is a British gangster film made in 2004, before Daniel Craig was chosen to be the next James Bond.

The film reminded me of Fight Club with its complex plot of interweaving treads; it begs to be viewed multiple times. A good film that could have been fcuk'n fantastic if the first time director had not been able to make the film right away. The constant reworking and tightening of script that comes from first time directors having trouble getting a project going would really have made this project something special. As it is, it is simply good.

The director doesn't like the current trend in movie previews that show the entire film in 90 seconds and give away the six funniest lines. [bravo] He put together a teaser for L4yer Cake that actually teases and doesn't spoil the movie. Jaya says check it out on YouTube.

After watching L4yer Cake you might want to check out Snatch, same intensity with humor.

Baking Sheet Pans

Lincoln Food Services, 13 gauge aluminum alloy. Half size heavy duty sheet pan.

Software Error Messages

Ask me about the one with the helicopter, the fog and the Seattle airport.

Michael Bolton has an excellent article on Error Message Basics. If we ever get a chance to improve our messages the team should study this first.

Chocolate Truffles

Ever wonder why chocolate truffles as called truffles? They have nothing to do with the French fungi delicacy.

The sweet truffle is a bit size confection made out of chocolate with chocolate inside (ganache). At least in my book they are all chocolate through and through. Some people will eat a truffle that has flavor creams in the middle and the stores sell them a truffles but I strongly believe that they should be chocolate through and through (with perhaps an occasional "flavored" chocolate filling.)

Turns out the European truffle is a imperfectly shaped chocolate ball rolled in cocoa powder or nuts. These resemble the fungus thus the name. Just like their namesakes, chocolate truffles have come to connote luxury and indulgence. A sensual pleasure well worth the price.