A Must Watch: John Adams

I don't have cable. Heck, I don't have a television. So I often miss out on cool things to watch - at least when everyone else is watching them. I was recently told about the HBO miniseries, John Adams, staring Paul Giamatti. I've since watched half the episodes and have been quite moved by Paul's portrayal of Adams and, to be honest, the entire cast is quite fabulous.

I have been most intrigued by the part of Thomas Jefferson in this series. Mr. Jefferson has been an interest of mine for some time now - especially since my discovery of the Thomas Jefferson Hour. It was interesting to see him portrayed as well, frankly, aloof and somewhat self-centered. I've yet to see the series Jefferson, but am pretty curious about it.

Oh and in my wanderings online, I found these two interesting trailers!

*Thomas Jefferson Lives* trailer from Stephen Cognetti on Vimeo.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for PEAS.

I'm sure you don't need me to tell how about the cool Google graphic today. Peas for Gregor Mendel's 189th birthday! For those that don't know, Mendel as an Austrian friar and scientist, who gained posthumous fame as the founder of the new science of genetics for his study of the inheritance of certain traits in pea plants.

Learn more about Gregor Mendel.

Vintage CookBook #1: A World of Good Eating

I love browsing thrift store shelves in pursuit of lost culinary treasures. I particularly love finding interesting American cookbooks. The most recent of which is A World of Good Eating - Recipes From Around the World by Heloise Frost. Originally published in 1951, the book has chapters on the British Isles, China, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Scandinavia and America.

Though I haven't tried out any of the recipes, there are a few that really caught my eye!

Irish Pork Cake (British Isles)
Broccoli with Mustard Mayonnaise (France)
Schwabisches Fleish (Germany)
Caraway Pork Chops (Poland)
Barszcz (Poland)
Anadama Bread (America)
California Orange Bread (America)
Tomato Soup Cake (America)

The tomato soup cake recipe seems to gross out all of my friends, and is one of the more unusual recipes in the book. So, Naturally, that's the one I'd like to try first. But for now, I'll share the recipe! If you're brave enough to give it a try, let me know!

Tomato Soup Cake

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 can tomato soup
2 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon nutmeg, cinnamon and clove
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup raisins or dates (floured)

Blend together the sugar and shortening. Add eggs, one at a time, and mix well; then the tomato soup.

Sift flour, baking powder, soda and the spices together and add to the rest of the ingredients. Bake at 375.

Frosting:
1 package cream cheese
2 teaspoons cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar