Christmas food – part V

And finally, a small overview to some of the other deserts ;)
By the way, I want to wish all “Quichas” bloggers and readers, a sweet :);) and great 2006!!!

Christmas food – part IV

This one is called "Rabanadas" or "Fatias Douradas", which I can translate as "Golden Slices" :)))
It’s made from bread slices, which are imbibed in milk (that was warmed with a lemon slice and a cinnamon stick), passed through eggs and fried. Then they’re covered with a little bit of sugar and cinnamon powder. One can add a kind of syrup as well, made with honey, Oporto wine and other things.

Christmas food – part III

And finally, the deserts. In a blog that very often dedicated its posts to food, I can’t think of a better way to end this year than with some “sweet” pictures :))). So, this first one has an example of the typical fried Christmas deserts. This in particular can more or less be translated as “Dreams”, because they’re some what fluffy... :):);)

Christmas food – part II

So, after the cod, usually we have some kind of meat, later on. This year, the pork stuffed with dried plumbs was the elected ;)

Christmas food – part I

As I promised to some of you, I did a “photo documentary“of our Christmas food in order to illustrate some of the typical Portuguese dishes of this season. I couldn’t but start this new section in “Quichas e Afins” with the main course that you’ll find in the majority of the Portuguese homes on Christmas Eve: codfish with vegetables.

Today we had the Institutes’ Christmas lunch and this was what I got as a gift... :))
You can take a look at some pictures on: http://www.flickr.com/photos/catarinamoita/tags/immxmaslunch/
As you can see, science in Portugal has a quite feminine touch... ;)

Yes, you guessed right. These were the “pearls” of the 7th art that I had to endure during my flight to Lisbon. Not one, but two. Why, beats me, but it was quite painful...

Today's dinner: cod in the oven stuffed with cheese, apples and fries :):)

Plus, this is a landmark: we've reached the 100th post of Quichas!!! Hurray!!! :))
Many thanks to all the contributors ;):)

Thank you all for coming to the dinner! :)
You can take a look at the pictures on:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/catarinamoita/tags/portuguesedinner/

It's winter. It's cold out. In fact, right this second, we are experiencing blizzard conditions here in the Boston area.

The goats need sweaters.

Wedge, this post is for you ;)

Someone has been having too much fun with the God Mic.

You’re probably thinking who the guy in the picture is... :) Well, as my last post was about an American holiday, I thought it was only fair this time to dedicate another one to a Portuguese holiday. And so, as tomorrow (December 1st) we celebrate the Restoration of Independence from Spain, it became the chosen one. As such, here goes a bit of history: Portugal was ruled by Spain during 60 years, after a succession crisis in 1580. By 1640, a revolution took place (as is our tradition, only one person was killed - the State Secretary), and John IV (the guy in the picture) was acclaimed king, and that initiated the 4th dynasty – the Bragança dynasty.

another fun time waster; my high score so far is 1,023 feet.
what's yours?

http://gprime.net/game.php/kittencannon

not content with just stringing up some icicle lights on your house this year?

here's what you should do.

As tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I thought of writing something about it. While I was browsing some funny cartoons to go along with it, I found this one by Stavro Jabra dating from 2003 in Al-Jazeerah’s web site... As I “digged” more in their archive, I found several almost invariably about Bush and Sharon, which the second (also from 2003) is a very light (and actually funny:)) example... I learned as well that “Aljazeerah Info Center needs your support”, and that you can send your donations to: Al-Jazeerah Info Center, P.O. Box 724, Dalton, GA 30722-0724, USA. Or you can just use Paypal... God bless America

As part of the lab is preparing to go and watch the 4th movie of the Harry Potter series, out of curiosity I decided to go to the official website and take a peek in what’s being discussed in the forums. The subjects discussed are profound  and I must say that the word “hot” is quite ubiquitous… Here are some examples:


Harry Potter Forums:

1. We love Snape's pants club

2. Snape is hot

3. Does anyone here think Emma Watson is hot?

4. Does Bellatrix have children?

5. Where do the teachers sleep?

6. HARRY & HERMIONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOGETHER!!

7. Ron is so hot!!!

Ed, here goes your answer according to wikipedia:

“Chowder is any of a variety of soups, enriched with salt pork fatback and thickened with flour, or more traditionally with crushed ship biscuit or saltine crackers, and milk. To some Americans, it means clam chowder, made with cream or milk in most places, or with tomato as "Manhattan clam chowder." Corn chowder is a thick soup filled with whole corn (maize) kernels. Chowder is often commonly associated with New England cuisine.”

“Bisque is a highly-seasoned thick, creamy soup of puréed shellfish, of French origin. It can be made from lobster, crab, shrimp or crayfish. It is thought the name is derived from Biscay, as in Bay of Biscay, but the crustaceans are certainly bis cuites "cooked twice", for they are first sautéed lightly in their shells, then simmered in wine and aromatic ingredients, before being puréed. Bisque is a method of extracting every bit of flavor from imperfect crustaceans not good enough to send to market; if the shells are not ground to a fine paste and added to thicken the soup, it is not really a bisque.”

Old Classics are always funny.

I first saw this back in 2001, and I still laugh over it. Would Martin beg for food from these dogs?

Martin, this post is for you. While you're starving in Dominican Republic, this is just a glimpse of all the food you've been missing during this week: http://flickr.com/photos/beckie42/sets/1278277/

I hope it will serve you as a lesson, to never go to the Caribe on vacation... ;)

Over the past few days, the subject of Intelligent Design has popped up in lunch conversation rather frequently. I've finally found a debate on the subject that truly hits home.

The dreadful place in New Hampshire where part of the lab spent the weekend... ;)

Photos of Catarina's Birthday Weekend Extravaganza!

I think that perhaps Henry enjoyed himself a bit much.

Also, on the news front, we have discovered that Henry and Wirt may have been twins seperated at birth. More on that later.

Today another Nature headline caught my attention: “Marijuana may make your brain grow. Cannabinoid injections sprout new neurons in mice”. I’m sure there are plenty of people really happy reading this... :)

In this rather dull and depressing day, a headline caught my attention in Nature: “Viagra helps out endangered species”. :):) I know what you’re thinking, but after some reports about its application in plants (yes, supposedly its very good for cut flowers, just too expensive to use ;)), the matter here is other: “a survey showing that traditional Chinese-medicine users are switching from medicines based on animal products to 'the little blue pill' to treat erectile dysfunction.” Nevertheless, conservation groups are not so optimistic, as “endangered species are used for a wide range of products aside from treating impotence”. I guess it’s a start…

Continuing our "walk of fame" through the 80's, today Quichas e Afins presents our own European Britney Spears of the time: Sabrina.

Just for your delight, here goes the lyrics of her major hit: Boys Boys Boys

Boys, boys, boys
Boys, boys, boys
Boys, boys, boys
Boys, boys, boys

Sunshines down
So come to town
Set your body free
Hold me tight
My love tonight
Tell me you believe

Everybody, summertime love
You'll remember me
Everybody, summertime love
Be my lover, be my baby

Boys, boys, boys
I'm looking for a good time
Boys, boys, boys
Get ready for my love

Boys, boys, boys
I'm looking for the good time
Boys, boys, boys
I'm ready for your love

Stay around
The sun goes down
Babe I'm feeling right
Take a chance
With love romance
Have some fun tonight

Everybody, summertime love
You'll remember me
Everybody, summertime love
Be my lover, be my baby

Boys, boys, boys
I'm looking for a good time
Boys, boys, boys
Get ready for my love

Boys, boys, boys
I'm looking for the good time
Boys, boys, boys
I'm ready for your love

Boys and girls in the summertime love
Summertime love on the beach tonight
Say hey, say you, say me, say what
Everybody has gotta car
Don't stop, don't move
I just get your body in the groove
I said hey, I said who
I said me, I say you gotta get in the groove

Boys, boys, boys
In the summertime love, in the summertime love
Boys, boys, boys
Let's summertime roll, let's summertime roll
Boys, boys, boys
In the summertime love, in the summertime love
Boys, boys, boys
Let's summertime roll, let's summertime roll

Everybody, summertime love
You'll remember me
Everybody, summertime love
Be my lover, be my baby

Boys, boys, boys
I'm looking for a good time
Boys, boys, boys
Get ready for my love

Boys, boys, boys
I'm looking for the good time
Boys, boys, boys
I'm ready for your love

Yesterday I decided to document a proper Bostonian sunset. Sorry Dave, it’s the best I can do…

As “Quichas E Afins” prouds to be an eclectic blog, reaching to all sorts of fields (which includes gastronomy, wild life protection, among others), today I decided to dedicate my post to religion. To contradict the ones that state that religion and its practice is some what old-fashioned and doesn’t keep up with modern times, I thought of introducing to you the “Olive Tree Bible Software Company” :):)

Yes, this company provides software to read, annotate and cross-reference the Bible for Palms, Pocket PCs, SmartPhones and other devices.

My suggestion is that they should now move to the Cabala; Madonna and her followers might appreciate that…

Today at lunch time I heard for the first time about a group (strategy) game called “Mafia” (I’m really ignorant about these things, sorry). As two of my colleagues discussed intricate strategies about it, I decided not to stay in the dark anymore, and to know a little bit more about it. As such, I went to that bible of information that is Wikipedia. There I learned (tried to;)) about the many variants of the game, its rules, roles (The Godfather is nice!:)) and what I found more interesting: its origin. Mafia was created by Dimma Davidoff (or so he claims) at the Psychological Department of Moscow State University, in spring of 1986, and it spread from there. This might explain some things…. ;)

On women careers... Enjoy ;):)

Continuing our best efforts to support the protection of the Flying Martin, Quichas E Afins discloses today some more information on this species, available in The Purple Martin Conservation Association. In order to encourage some of our readers to entail a breeding program, Quichas E Afins selected the “Sex-specific Behaviour” section. Please support this effort.

“In addition to plumage differences, martins can also be sexed by their sex-specific behaviors. One of the easiest ways to tell all breeding-age males (both adult and subadult) from females, is by their song. Only male martins sing the extremely common song that ends with a rapidly clicking, "krieeek" sound, which they deliver with a conspicuous, thrown-open beak. Another common behavioral difference is that males commonly follow behind their mate as she flies to the ground for nest material, to the eggshell tray for calcium, or to trees for green leaf plucking. This is actually a form of "mate-guarding" and serves to assure that only he fertilizes his mate's eggs. And finally, males frequently chase and pounce on females to copulate with them.”

Today I decided to share a proof of the long and special relationship that the Ferreira Moita family has to those remarkable animals called goats ;):). Enjoy.

As one of our most dedicated collaborators was called to fulfil his jury duties, Quichas e Afins could not but be the first to know the verdict to this intricate case:

In spite of the many comparisons to worms and other tasty comments of the kind that I heard about this desert, I thought I should share its recipe. Enjoy.

Aletria Recipe

8 cups of milk ( 1/2 gallon)
6 eggs
1and 1/2 cups of sugar
1 tsp. of salt
1 tsp. of vanilla extract
1 ( 12oz) Pkg. of fine egg noodles

Pour milk into a large pan. Bring it to a boil, stirring constantly. Add 1/2 of the sugar and the salt to the milk. Beat the eggs then add the rest of the sugar and all the vanilla to the egg mixture. Slowly blend some heated milk into the eggs to make them thin enough to pour easily. Break the noodles up and add them to the boiling milk. Stir constantly until the noodles are cooked. Remove from the heat. Slowly add egg mixture into the cooked noodles mixture. Pour onto platters to cool. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Today at lunch time, we decided to include in our conversation some other "animals" besides goats: the Furbys! These guys were a hit a few years ago... For the ones that haven't been introduced to these creatures, I add a picture and the price: $39.99.

An ode to the Portuguese most "picturesque" politician:

The Song of Alberto João Jardin

My resignation is quite out of the question

As my shopping is now underway:

I need new calças for next year’s celebration

(For which you Continentals shall pay!)

My cronies and I are so happy

To wear funny pants and beat drums

Our island economy wouldn’t be so crappy

If we were sober enough to find our thumbs.

But you see, Mardi gras is our reason for living

I fear this you can’t understand . . .

I call ‘work’ what you call ‘dancing’

Even as I ‘work’ with two breasts in one hand.

“But the subsidies!” you cry and you moan,

Beating your chests in the streets,

“Your extravagance makes our budget groan,

Your Mardi gras, our fair Portugal depletes!”

My friends, you suffer from vision—

That is, a true lack thereof

These pants can’t be a source of division

Just ask the tourists, they know whereof

They speak (with tears filling their eyes):

“Alberto Jardim, what an outrageous bash!

If you got any more chicks in bikinis

This island may develop a rash!”

So you see, I’m no rascal, no Caligula.

You Continentals have little cause for objection

I throw the best party on the Iberian Peninsula!

(And my resignation is quite out of the question)!

All rights reserved to Ed Adams

About meditation, budism and science:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Nov 16;101(46):16369-73

Continuing our tradition of providing our readers all the best exclusives, today we have an exceptional revelation: the Flying Martin's beauty concerns!
In a special attention to "Quichas e Afins", the Flying Martin decided to reveal his last turnover, as to set an example to other endangered species fighting aging problems.

As I think that this blog has not dedicated enough posts to science (which is quite reprehensible, as we are all in that trade or at least try to :)), I decided to call your attention to this week's Current Biology cover. It's not as nice as Luís's cover (I had to say this, otherwise he would hit me or fire me from his lab), but is very amusing! :))

The "interesting" things one can learn through wikipedia:

"Paris is often photographed with her teacup Chihuahua named Tinkerbell. However, in the summer of 2005 Hilton reportedly gave Tinkerbell to her mother, in favor of a smaller dog named Bambi after Tinkerbell had become too heavy."

Poor dog...

Today, Martin threatened me with the wrath of doom!

Galera, 6ª feira tem caipirinha em casa do Martin, valeu? ;)

Dave after taking 378 pictures, yesterday at the beach...

The scene of the crime....

Decorrente de um pedido que tivémos do meu chefe à hora de almoço, venho pedir sugestões para nomes de rapaz (em inglês, de preferência...). Dando o exemplo, a minha sugestão é James, que supostamente em hebraico significa "o vencedor".

Following a request from my boss today at lunch time, I'm asking for suggestions for good names for boys. I'll start: my sugestion is James ("the winner", in an english variation of a hebrew name).

Já que falei de cães clonados ontem, achei por bem mostrar as primeiras quichas clonadas, no já remoto ano de 1999. Ainda considerei dissertar sobre uma certa gelatina de 50 cêntimos que tivémos o prazer de "conhecer" hoje à hora do almoço (obrigado Wedge! Assim vamos todos manter uma distância considerável daquelas coisas!), mas achei que as quichas tinham prioridade ;)

As I wrote about cloned dogs yesterday, I thought it was only fair to show the first cloned goats, in the already remote year of 1999. I still considered talking about a certain 50 cents jello, which we had the pleasure to “know” today at lunch time (thanks Wedge! Now we’ll keep a considerable distance from those things!), but I thought that the goats had definitely priority… ;)

Hoje estou particularmente sem inspiração no que toca a escrever um novo post... acho que o mais interessante que soube hoje (obrigado Ed!) é a notícia que vem na Nature sobre a clonagem de um cão por um grupo na Coreia do Sul. O bicho chama-se "Snuppy" (Seoul National University puppy) e é apresentado com o "pai" na fotografia. Acrescente-se que é o resistente de 1095 embriões clonados introduzidos em 123 cadelas, a chegar a uma "puppyhood" saudável, como lhe chamam... :)

Today I'm not particularly inspired just to write a post... I think the most interesting thing I learned today (thanks Ed!) is the cloning of a dog by a group in South Korea, reported by a Nature paper . The animal is called "Snuppy" (Seoul National University puppy) and is presented with his "father" in the picture. It should be added that he is the resistant representative of 1,095 cloned embryos implanted in 123 dogs to achieve healthy puppyhood, as they call it…

Para não dizerem que este blogue é exclusivamente dedicado a quichas, aqui vai um post sobre outros seres vivos... :)
Hoje à hora do almoço tivémos oportunidade de dissertar e trocar impressões sobre ervas aromáticas utilizadas na cozinha portuguesa. Chegámos à referência ao louro (Laurus nobilis) e coentros (Coriandrum sativum) - sim, eu tenho de provar que aprendi alguma coisa em Agronomia! :) -, e para não haver dúvidas sobre o que é que é o quê, aqui vão umas fotos dos ditos. Houve um membro do lab que disse que os coentros sabem a sabão, mas não vou dizer quem foi... :) Só posso dizer que não é português.... :))


To not suffer criticism that this blog is entirely dedicated to goats, here goes a post about other living things... :)
Today at lunch time we had the chance to discuss about aromatic herbs used in portuguese cuisine. We talked about bay leaves (Laurus nobilis) and cilantrum (Coriandrum sativum) - yes, I have to prove that I learned something in Agronomic Engineering! :) -, and in order to not have doubts about what is what, here goes some pictures to clear things out. There was someone that said that cilantrum tastes like soap, but I'm not going to say who it was... :) I can only state that he's not portuguese...

Para aqueles que quiserem saber mais um pouco sobre estes bichos tão simpáticos, visitem: http://www.ics.uci.edu/~pazzani/4H/Goats.html
Achei particularmente hilariante a secção dos "Goat sounds" :)


For the ones who want to know more about these nice animals, visit: http://www.ics.uci.edu/~pazzani/4H/Goats.html
I thought particularly hilarious the "Goat sounds" section :)

And now, the english version:

Well, this is the first post of the brand new blog "Quichas e afins...", which I decided to create after the smashing success they experienced here and abroad (I'm actually abroad, but that's a detail)... Having said this, to start, I share the picture which created such a landmark... :)
For those of you out there who are wondering what "Quichas" are, well... I can only say that it's the most portuguese and typical designation you can come up to "goat" :)))

Bem, este é o primeiro post do novíssimo blogue "Quichas e afins..." que decidi criar após enorme sucesso das ditas aqui e além fronteiras (agora estou mais além fronteiras, mas são pormenores)... Assim sendo, para começo, partilho a fotografia que gerou tal sucesso... :)