Chloe: Critic Girl/Renaissance Woman

I don’t think I could look myself in the mirror if I pretended to be able to critique the memoir of Jacques Pepin. I also probably couldn’t wait until I got all the way through to come up with one piece on the many experiences of this fascinating man. And so, I’ve decided to cook my way through the book at Jacque’s direction.

Eggs Jeannette: An original by Jeanne Pepin, Jacque’s formidable mother.

Apart from the tedium of boiling eggs to prepare, this dish is remarkably simple and tastes exactly that way. Though I’m used to more flavor with my eggs (I’m always adding this sauce or that ingredient), the combination of the garlic, herbs, and the crisp brown filling is refreshing and comforting. It is easy to see how this is the Pepin household’s version of sunday gravy or fried green tomatoes. Eggs Jeannette is also an opportunity for adventure - just as there are so many different versions of “deviled” eggs, there could be as many variations on this theme. Adding heat or spice - nutmeg or chilis or different herbs - could yield an equally satisfying treat that is dinner party worthy and not just a perfect family brunch treat.

Recipe as used from the book:

Eggs Jeannette

6 Jumbo Eggs (preferably organic)
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2-3 tablespoons whole milk (I did cheat and use skim)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Dressing:
2-3 tablespoons leftover stuffing
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon water
Dash of salt and finely ground black pepper

Put the eggs in a small saucepan and cover with boiling water. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 9 to 10 minutes. Remove eggs to a bowl of ice water and chill for 15 minutes.

Peel the eggs under cold running water.

Split the eggs lengthwise and scoop out the yolks gently. Mix the yolks with the milk, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture back into the hollows of the whites, reserving 2-3 tablespoons for the dressing.

Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet. Place the stuffed eggs face down and cook for 2-3 minutes, until crispy brown on the open face side.

For the dressing, mix all ingredients together and drizzle on top of the egg halves. Serve lukewarm.

tags: recipes, jacques pepin, books, cooking

I found this at the Kinky Librarian…

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next three sentences on your blog, along with these instructions.
5. Don’t you dare dig for that “cool” or “intellectual” book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it. Just grab what is closest.

Here’s mine: I’m reading The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen by Jacques Pepin.

“He was polite, remembering names and acting attentive and concerned. At the same time, he was stately and imposing in stature and voice, which made it difficult to feel completely at ease in his presence.

Although I took orders from Aunt Yvonne for all private meals, for formal government dinners, I dealt with a State Department protocol officer through an attache to the president.”

I haven’t gotten to page 123 yet - in fact I’m in the first chapter. But Monsieur Pepin is talking about DeGaulle. I plan on working my way through this book on the blog, so we will hear from him again.

tags: books, blogs, blogging, food, jacques pepin

I spent most of my childhood being afraid of the Wicked Witch of the West. Or laughing at her. From the green faced menace in the Judy Garland film to the old jewish mother rendition in the middle school play, we knew who to hate (or mock). And who to identify with her: The Wicked Witch of the Grocery Store, the Classroom, the Neighborhood. In fact, I’ve even heard a classic metaphor mixing where Evil Stepmothers were in fact re-named Wicked Witches in their own right. But, it turns out, the original Wicked Witch of the West may not have actually been quite so wicked.

Gregory Maguire takes L. Frank Baum and Hollywood to task on the real story of Elphaba Thropp in Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. In fact, she was born a green faced menace and had a difficult childhood, but grew into an intelligent, knowledge-thirsty young woman who questioned the norm and nursed a burgeoning streak of rebellion. Her life took a series of twists or turns, which may or may not have been at the will of or in response to gurgling politics in the center of Oz, and so practically just found herself (and perhaps “found herself”) in the palace on the hill with the flying monkeys and Dorothy and the Lion knocking on the door.

The novel opens with a scene where Elphaba swoops down on the famous foursome and overhears repition of a number of nasty rumors that have been conjured up about Elphaba’s past. She’s been castrated, addicted to medication for her skin condition, spurned in love, born a man. The stage is set for the literary creation (both in her world and ours) of a Wicked Witch from a girl with a series of normal life experiences: born imperfect into an unhappy home, spurned by society for her skin color, kept to herself because of her experiences with society, rebellion against the establishment, and a broken heart leading to further reclusiveness.

Maguire, though, sets us all straight and tells the true story of Miss Elphie’s life and how she came to be otherwise known as the Wicked Witch of the West. Along the way, we also learn the stories of Glinda the Good Witch (a society wife with sorceress capabilities) and the Wicked Witch of the East (Elphie’s sister, in relation to whom Elphaba gets her nickname), and a few other interesting and intriguing characters and philosophies. As with all succesful novels, I was depressed when it came to an end, hoping for more information and for these people to live on. I was comforted with an excerpt of Maguire’s next Oz opus, Son of Witch, which is reported to come out in October 2005.

My fire is lit to get the Maguire real story in Confessions of a an Ugly Stepsister and Mirror, Mirror. And frankly, I’m interested in actually going back and reading the original Oz series. As a young reader, I was annoyed at the prospect that there was more than just the movie that I knew and loved. I also believe that I tried to read one of the books out of order and was not yet ready for other fantasies than my own, nor was I prepared for how different I found the book and the illustrations from my own imagination. Now, I’m ready. And willing. I’m pleased to find interesting fantasy novels about women, and women with whom I can identify and who I can (honestly) look up to and understand better.

Rating: @@@@1/2 of @@@@@

Best Jacket Review: “Save a place on the shelf between Alice and The Hobbit - that spot is well deserved” - Kirkus Reviews

Tags: books, witches, fantasy, gregory maguire