Chit Chat and All That...

@Leila, sure, here ya go. First off you need a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, 9 or 10 inch. Alternatively an oven dish that you can get very hot. Turn oven up to its highest setting. Put 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in the skillet or dish. Once the butter melts, rub it all over the pan or dish, coating it very well. Return it to the oven and leave it to get hot.

In a bowl:

• Add 3/4 cup of cornmeal (fine or medium ground)
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour (no self-rising)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix it well.

In a separate bowl:

• 2 beaten eggs
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter

Melt the butter and let it cool about 5 minutes.

1 cup of butter milk; shake it well before adding to the eggs. Add the cooled butter and mix it all until well mixed.

Add the bowl of liquid to the cornmeal flour and mix well, you should have a mixture that is pourable.

Remove the pan or dish and pour the batter in, you should hear a sizzle.

Put it back in the oven, turn the heat down to 350 and bake for 18 to 20 minutes or put a toothpick in it to test it's done

Take it out and let it cool 10 minutes.

Enjoy.

 

Thank you so much, @Elmer B Fuddled

At the moment I'm in the process of making a malt beer loaf but next week I'll definitely give you mum's corn bread a try. Yum, I'm already looking forward to it!

 

@Leila try it the deep south way of eating. While warm, smother it in butter and a lot of honey. That's the true way to eat cornbread.

 

That sounds so delicious I'm actually contemplating making a single serve dish tomorrow just so I don't have to wait until I've finished the malt crust and have some more room in my freezer again.

 

I don't think freezing it is a good idea. It's meant to be consumed with nice home made stew or a spicy pot of chili.

 

High on catnip again are ya my friend.

 

That's good to know. Unfortunately, it also means it is going to be a weekend project and I'll have to stare at your picture (pretending not to sniff the screen) for a little while longer

 

While the rest of Europe does nothing to fight for their pensions, the French are out on the streets again. Bravo!



French strikes over retirement age move into ‘higher gear’

 

@Leila, I made a slight mistake because I wasn't paying attention. The baking powder should be 1 and 1/2 teaspoons, not half, sorry.

 

Thanks for letting me know, @Elmer B Fuddled. I've just added that extra teaspoon to your recipe

 

Duhh... Pardon my French, but could someone translate the writing on the placard for me?

My flailing effort: On the seventh of March one blocks (or we are blocking) everything something something...

Scuse me! I have a thingie about languages.

 

They are telling the government to fuck off.

 

My French is not great, and I do not see clearly the end of the banner... but it seems to say something like "on 7th March we block everything until [the proposal to reform the pensions system] is withdrawn"

I think the last word is "retrait" and my interpretation is they are against the proposal to postpone the retirement age to 64 years...

I must reckon the French know how to go on strike! I wish people were so committed to fight in Spain like they are in France.

Politicians are trying to steal our future pensions!

 

Macron recognised after the general election results that in fact "he was being told to fuck off". Basically people "voted" for him to avoid voting for Le Pen. So Macron acknowledged that people did not like him or want him as president either... no surprise.

In Spain now we have a wave of people leaving the country for tax-friendly lands abroad. Does this happen in other countries in Europe too?

I remember the famous case of Gerard Depardieu who also said au revoir and left France to reduce his tax bill.

This is the chap that has stirred the political landscape in Spain after he said "adiós" to the current government, who has turned Spain into the worst tax hell in Europe (I would like to leave too, but I can't).



Rafael del Pino: the billionaire road builder taking his toll in Spain

 

They are stealing more than that. They are taking our right to freedom. European Union human grid lock.

 

Life with cyclical tinnitus.

 

Hey guys, I’ll be visiting New York in April, first time in my life in the United States.

Anyone has some must sees, favourite restaurants, general advice for first time visitors?

I’ll stay for 5 days. Earplugs are already prepared ahaha

 

Avoid crowded areas; prime for pick pockets.

 

The French have been the last 2 months on strike and people have been demonstrating to protest against the pension reform, and the extension of the retirement age from 62 years to 64 years...

In Spain the situation is much much worse, but the "unions" have been bought by the government, who has given them tons of money. Hundreds of millions of euros to keep the general unions quiet...

In several sectors people are striking, though... Oddly, courts are in fact shut, they have been striking for 2 months in Spain, so citizens cannot enforce their rights in court in case they need to...

 

• Explore Central Park.
• Walk the Highline.
• Walk Brooklyn Bridge.
• Metropolitan Museum.
• American Museum of Natural History.
• Top of the Rock observation decks in Rockefeller Center (ice skating also available in this location, aka The Rink).
• Attend a Broadway show if you can. Everyone’s been raving about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child here lately.
• I see that you’re from Italy, you should definitely check out Little Italy then. An iconic Italian neighborhood with lots of good food (pasta dishes are top tier there).

You have to try the NY stable foods i.e. chopped cheese, bagels (Lox everything bagel), NY style pizza. Halal food, and cronuts. Lots of good spots for those everywhere.

For restaurants: Peter Luger Steakhouse. Katz’s Deli (pastrami on Rye), Joe’s Pizza, Luigi’s pizza (Brooklyn), Magnolia’s Bakery (Banana pudding), Halal Guys, Gray’s Papaya (hot dogs).

My advice is to stay away from Time Squares. I know it’s a popular go to destination for tourists, but honestly, there’s nothing special there. Vastly overrated IMO. If you do decide to go, high chance you’re going to encounter lots of panhandlers, scammers, and annoying hustlers. Don’t make eye contact with any of them, tell them no thank you, and just keep walking. Do NOT engage with them. The moment you do, they will pester you until you give them money.

 

Anyone got any good psychological thriller movie recommendations? Or how about books in a similar genre?

 

The Shining
Eyes Wide Shut
Get Out
The Siege *predicts 9/11*



I used to love watching these prior to getting you know what.

 

I like Stieg Larsson's Millennium Series a lot. The first three books kept me busy for quite a while when they came out and I remember trying to convince countless friends to also give them a try. Most of the, however, were deterred by their volume. Sigh!

Unfortunately, the author died before he had the chance to bring the series to an end and his family commissioned another writer to continue his work. I'm not a big fan of those books because the writing / storytelling is too different for my taste.

I liked the movie they made of the first book (US version). I watched the Swedish versions (all three original books have been made into a movie), too, but for some reason I like the atmosphere created in the US version better.

Another movie, and an old one at that, that has stuck in my memory ever since I watched it is Primal Fear. It has brilliant acting and an ending you didn't see coming.

As for another book, how about The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August? It's not really a psychological thriller but the idea behind it is so unique that I've been reading it again and again.

 

Thanks buddy for all the good advice, I took notes and will let you know how it went

 

The French really know how to protest.

I wish people were so motivated and committed in Spain too (which is NOT the case, sadly).

French anger spreads after Macron forces pension age rise

Strikes escalate and MPs call for protection as interior minister warns protesters against wreaking havoc.

 

Hooray! Just in time for the next great recession.

 

You could just decorate and make your ear defenders cute instead, like @aura did...

 

How’s it going tinnitus rejects?

 

The French protesters burnt part of Bordeaux City Hall yesterday. That's what TV is saying here.

And King Charles III has postponed his visit to France. After what happened to his ex-wife in Paris he will stay in the UK just in case...

Why don't the protesters just attack Macron's residence? It would expedite matters.

Or bring out the guillotine...