Public Broadcasting: Asleep at the Wheel

OK, I just experienced the strangest email correspondence. I wrote an email to WMHT (our local PBS affiliate) to complain that they were not airing the newly launched cartoon series based on my favorite NPR show, “Car Talk”.

Sadly, this correspondence needs no further explanation:

From: Wendy
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2008 9:28 PM
To: wmht.org New Station Wide E-mail
Subject: Click and Clack

I am extremely disappointed that WMHT has decided not to air “Click and Clack: As the Wrench Turns” at the time that it had been nationally promoted. I have noticed that WMHT has sent Click and Clack to the television equivalent of Siberia: Saturdays at 12:00 midnight. And you have also decided to hold off on even BEGINNING the program until 3 weeks past its announced start date.

Why is this?

According to NPR’s website, “Car Talk is public radio’s most popular entertainment program, airing on 587 stations with more than 4.2 million listeners a week tuning in for an hour-long tune-up on car advice and fun.”

Why would you purposefully ignore such statistics?

Relegating what promises to be a successful show to a lousy time slot is ultimately short-sighted and naive. I can only assume that your staff and/or board has decided that this program is too “pedestrian” for their tastes, and the tastes of WMHT’s highbrow viewers. This could not be further from the truth.

I am not a regular PBS viewer, but I would have been had you made the CORRECT decision to air Click and Clack on Wednesdays at 8:00pm, beginning on July 9.

What a sad statement you are sending to your viewers - that you couldn’t care less about what they would like to watch. Good luck in your upcoming fund drives - I won’t be pledging.

And, here was the puzzling reply:

Dear Wendy:

Thank you for your e-mail on the new PBS series entitled “Click & Clack As the Wrench Turns”. WMHT will air this series on Saturday evenings from 12 midnight to 1am, beginning July 26th.
We hope you enjoy this series and thank you for watching WMHT!

Best regards,
Jayne Robinson
TV Traffic Coordinator
WMHT Educational Telecommunications
4 Global View
Troy, NY 12180
518-880-3439
jrobinson@wmht.org

Ask Wendalicious! The Weiner Edition

A reader writes:

Dear Wendalicious:

What do they put in hot dogs and what is the world’s record at Coney Island for eating the most hot dogs?

I like your blog!

Nick

I’m glad you like my blog, Nick - you’re obviously a man of good taste and breeding. Regarding the ingredients in hot dogs, I had an immediate answer that came to mind. But, I’m sensing that you are looking for a REAL answer, and not one that will purposely induce vomiting. SO, here’s the true answer to what’s in hot dogs.

According to www.ballparkfranks.com, The Ball Park Beef Franks contain the following ingredients:

BEEF, WATER, CORN SYRUP, CONTAINS LESS THAN TWO PERCENT SALT, POTASSIUM LACTATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, FLAVORINGS, SODIUM DIACETATE, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), SODIUM NITRITE, EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA.

What the heck does all that mean?  The first few ingredients I’m assuming you recognize, so I’ll start with potassium lactate. Potassium Lactate is a natural acid used as a preservative. Sodium phosphates regulate acidity in the product. Sodium Diacetate is another preservative, Ascorbic acid (an isomer of which is Vitamin C) prevents the formation of nitrosamines (those pesky little things better known as CARCINOGENS), and sodium nitrite is preservative against botulism (whew! Who needs botulism?).

Those beefy little dreams are completely chock-full of preservatives, which should clue you in to something - they cannot possibly be real food and therefore cannot possibly be good for you. Plus you’re practically consuming a salt lick when you’re eating one. Not good if you’ve got high blood pressure.

And, then I thought about those Hebrew National TV commercials, where they claim to answer to a “higher authority”. Hebrew National makes 100% Kosher hot dogs, claim to add nothing artificial, and they would seemingly be better for you, right? Here’s their ingredient list:

Beef, water, salt, contains 2% or less of spice, paprika, hydrolyzed soy protein, garlic powder, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite, flavorings.

OK, some of the ingredients are the same, though I’m noticing significantly fewer preservatives. There are only a couple things that don’t seem natural - hydrolyzed soy protein and sodium erythorbate. Hydrolyzed soy protein is a nice way of saying MSG (natural, though not necessarily good for you), and Sodium erythorbate is a SYNTHETIC (read: artificial) sodium salt that prevents oxidation in meat. Flavorings - well, that could be ANYTHING.

Hmmm…the verdict?

Restaurant Re-Creation #4 - Insalata Caprese

Last night’s dinner creation was not inspired by any restaurant specifically, but my most recent experience eating it was at Schenectady Aperitivo Bistro on State Street. According to Wikipedia:

Insalata Caprese (salad in the style of Capri) is a simple salad from the Italian region of Campania, made of sliced fresh mozzarella, plum tomatoes and basil. It is seasoned with salt, black pepper, and olive oil. Ideally, the mozzarella is di bufala campana, the olive oil is extra virgin from the peninsula of Sorrento and the tomatoes and basil are grown in the full sun of the mezzogiorno.

Well, I’m not exactly what anyone would consider “ideal”, so I used regular cows-milk mozzarella, Vermont hothouse tomatoes, Hannaford brand extra-virgin olive oil (mixed with Balsamic Vinegar and garlic). The basil was grown in Schenectady.

And, I just found this entry on Epicurious.com:

The dressing is always a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil - only. Vinegar would destroy the delicate flavor of the cheese and is never used. Because this salad is so simple, top-rate ingredients are imperative: Hothouse tomatoes and rubbery processed mozzarella are unacceptable.

Oops! Like I said, obviously not ideal (Epicurious may even stoop so low as to call me a culinary heretic). But, I really thought it was delicious - Wendalicious, I dare say. Enjoy the following photo - a recipe is not necessary, since the photo is self-explanatory.

Insalata Caprese

CSA Delivery Inspires Impromptu Dinner!

Today marked the second delivery of my CSA share - well, it was actually the third delivery, but I missed last week’s due to my grandfather’s funeral.

Here’s what I got this week:

• Salad greens
• Green leaf lettuce
• Swiss Chard
• Thyme and Basil
• Sugar Snap peas
• yau choy (Chinese greens, similar to bok choy, but smaller)

I also purchased some squash, additional basil (I can’t resist), parsley, and spring onions at the Farmer’s Market. Still mostly green stuff this week, but I hear next week the beets are coming!

Anyway, I wanted to make sure I used some of this before it wilted and I had to throw it away, so I had to get creative to come up with something fun and delicious for dinner. After looking through the fridge and pantry, I found:

• Chicken Apple Sausage
• A jar of roasted red peppers
• Whole wheat fusilli
• Parmesan cheese
• garlic

And, then, inspiration struck! Here’s what I ended up making:

Are You a Jerk?

Ever wonder why so many people are jerks?

Well, my friend Jason shared a helpful interpersonal relationship truism with me today:

If you meet one person who you think is a jerk, then it’s probably them.

If you meet more than 5 or 6 people who you think are jerks, then it’s probably YOU.

Jason, if you’re reading this: it’s NOT you.

On the Bright Side

I do believe I am recovered from my “life sucks” funk.

The passing of both of my father’s parents in the span of 3 weeks (plus my brother-in-law’s illness) really had me questioning life, the universe, and everything.  My faith was rattled to the core.  What little I have left, that is.  But, after spending a joyous weekend with my friends Sarah and Sionna (and many of the old Siena crew whom we hadn’t seen in years), I feel much better, and more grounded.

We spent a lot of time together (I think Saturday’s party  itself was around 10 hours!), and had so much fun that I’m seeing my life in a more positive light.  One friend, whom I think I last saw in 2002, said to me after a interesting conversation: “Now I remember why I like being around you so much!  We should definitely get together one of these days.”  Nice!  I forgot how much I really like him (and his wife) too!

Plus we invented a new party game while we were there: ShoeBag.  It has something to do with a horseshoe in a bag, and hitting people in the head with it.  I think.  There was much beer at this party.

There’s nothing like an impromptu college reunion to lift one’s sagging spirits.

AND, more good news: my brother-in-law came HOME on Friday! He was released from the hospital and flew home to be with his family.  It’s truly a miracle that he’s even alive, let alone walking around and playing with his girls.  Bob and I will be heading down there in about two weeks to spend some time with them, and help out.

I guess the good vibrations you all sent my way helped.  Thanks, truly.

Another Chapter Closes

My grandfather passed away this morning, at around 2:30am. He had been resting comfortably in the hospice since Sunday afternoon, and his suffering is at an end.

While this is not a surprise, it is still sad, and I am dreading this wake and funeral - which will be an exact duplicate of my grandmother’s 3 weeks ago. The only difference with this one is that my family is no longer pretending to be a family anymore - there have been so many ridiculous disagreements and misunderstandings since my grandmother’s passing, that this is likely the last time I’ll ever see any of my cousins, aunts, or uncles. At least I’m not sad about that.

I’ll be heading out of town for a few days, so please pardon my lack of posts until I return.

-W

Restaurant Recreation #3 - Creamed Spinach

A few weeks ago (for Bob’s birthday) we went out to dinner with my in-laws to that new steakhouse in Latham, Filet 7 West. It was okay - food was decent, service was good, but it was extremely overpriced and not a good value, in my opinion.

As is usual with high-end steakhouses, entrees (read: steaks) are quite expensive, and the sides are served a la carte, family-style. Bob had Prime Rib (surprise, surprise), and I had Spice Crusted Top Sirloin. My steak was a perfect medium-rare, and Bob’s was deliciously medium. We decided to order two sides for the table - whipped truffled potatoes and creamed spinach.

Now, I’ve always claimed to hate spinach, but I was feeling adventurous that night, and enthusiastically agreed to the spinach (knowing it wasn’t going to be my only side dish option). I am so glad I did.

I don’t think I’d ever tried creamed spinach before, so I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was: creamy, rich, with the distinct earthy green taste of the wilted spinach. I just couldn’t get enough! I think I licked the bowl clean (after letting my in-laws take their share, of course). So, naturally, I decided that I had to recreate this at home.

What Makes a Good Neighbor?

When they stop by and bring you 4 pieces of homemade fig and hazelnut tart, just because they knew you’d like it.  I love that our neighbors are our friends…

Yum!

Early Season Delivery, and Reflections on the Meaning of Life

Well, here it is: my first delivery from my share in Eight Mile Creek Farm. Here’s what I received this week:

• Arugula
• Radishes
• Broccoli Rabe (rapini)
• Thyme
• Sage
• Salad Greens
• Garlic Scapes

This being the first week, there’s not a whole lot available, understandably. There’ll be more and more as the summer progresses. I supplemented my box with a few other purchases from the Schenectady Downtown Farmer’s Market:

• Yellow Zucchini
• Pattypan Squash
• Peas
• Spinach
• Butter Lettuce

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of color in this week’s produce selection at the market. I was hoping for some berries or other fruit, but it may be too early for that. I will have to stop at Bowman Orchards on the way home from work one of these days, or maybe tomorrow for some U-pick strawberries! The strawberries in the supermarket these days are awful - plus, they’re trucked in from California, and that’s just wrong.

I will be making the broccoli rabe and peas for dinner tomorrow night, to go with Grilled NY Strip Steak and baked potato. And, I found an interesting recipe for fried zucchini. And maybe some arugula pesto.

Other than that, I’m not excited about preparing anything else I’ve received - I’m pretty much underwhelmed. But, that’s the “fun” involved in purchasing a share - you don’t really know what or how much you’re going to get from week to week.

Something of interest to those of you who may shop (or want to shop) at the Schenectady Farmer’s Markets: they now accept debit cards! Just tell the Market Manager how much you want to buy, he’ll swipe your card, and give you $5 tokens to redeem at the booths. It’s that simple! The farmers will give you change in cash if your purchase doesn’t reach the $5 threshold. Finally! This is really a godsend for those of us who don’t carry cash.

♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣

A few personal notes:

My brother-in-law is recovering from yet another surgery (3 in all), and is again on the road to recovery. If all goes well, he should be returning home early next week. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

And, my dad called me today to let me know that my grandfather realistically has only a few days left. Dad’s decided to let the doctors take Papa off all the steroids that were keeping him alive, so his suffering can end. Looks like I’ll be headed out of town again this week - hopefully in time to say goodbye. My dad is going through so much right now, I just can’t stand it. Losing both of your parents in the same month - I cannot imagine.

Lately I’ve been saying to myself - “Life is stupid.” It makes no sense - I go through life, working for other people, taking their crap day after day, accumulating things, being so “busy” with meaningless activities, not able to take time to be with my friends and family because work is so “important”, accumulating more things, trying to live a perfect life with a perfect body because society says I’m worthless if I’m not thin - for what?? So I can die? I don’t get it. Maybe my priorities are so screwed up that I’ve lost my way - I don’t know. Watching my grandparents die has really left its mark on me. Life is just so stupid.