Recipe Screensavers.

A recent Vittles team meeting veered into a random conversation about the dearth of good screensavers. (The operative word here, being “good.”) I mean, really, if koi or Pamela Anderson aren’t your cup of tea, the pickins’ are pretty slim. So, in an effort to add some taste to the world of screensavers, not to mention recipe collectors, we decided to prove that “free” and “good design” are not mutually exclusive. And because our new screensavers feature six original recipes, they can even help with that ever nagging “what’s for dinner? dilemma. Whether you lean towards Seared Lamb Chops and Poblano Chicken Quesadillas, or prefer a less protein-focused Smokey Beet Salad or Roasted Cauliflower Fusilli, our recipe developers have created something for every palate. Feel free to share with colleagues. That may help keep their drool off your screen.

• Download the Vittles Screensaver for Mac (ZIP archive, 2.72m)
• Download the Vittles Screensaver for PC (ZIP archive, 2.54m)
• Download the Recipes from the Vittles Screensaver (PDF, 367k)

Salad Bar Pilot

The San Francisco Unified School District is going out of its way to offer a new healthy option for elementary school kids this week. Here comes the salad bar…Miraloma Elementary is the proud recipient of the pilot program. Problem is, this plan has no pilot. I mean no one to run the thing. Veggies, check. Salad bar, check. Staff, ummmm. Oddly, I sit on the subcommittee that was apparently in charge of making this decision and yet never notified until I arrived at school today. The same day as the food. Now while our fresh veggies are aging in the fridge we’re supposed to start recruiting volunteers to get them into our kids mouths. Will we ever have the funds to have the food and the labor to get the job done? Or is feeding our kids just not the government’s priority afterall. Will someone please step up to the plate?

Celebrating Frost in Tucson

Visiting Tuscon this week I stumbled upon a reason to celebrate. No, not two for one margaritas. I’m talking about a huge victory for our nation’s culinary scene. Gelato! Yes, I know it’s been around our parts for a while, but here’s the scoop:
Master gelato maker Nazario Melchionda went back to Italy a few months ago to renew his visa so that he could continue creating his creamy delights for Frost, A Gelato Shoppe in this town that so desperately craves all things cold. His application was rejected and Tucsonians had to go back to eating ice cream, popsicles…or, take a deep breath…nothing at all!
After a five month battle, lawyers finally got him back in the states on a special “extraordinary abilities” visa, usually reserved for rocket scientists, NCAA players and Carnegie Hall headliners. Turns out one class in Bologna, Italy and 20 years of refining his craft has given the guy a lot of clout. Sounds to me like someone in the INS has a serious sweet tooth. No complaints here. That said, I’m pretty sure it’s my civic duty to drop by and make sure he’s earning his stay…Anything for my country.

Monday Red Beans and Rice

Today is red beans and rice day. Red beans and rice is the iconic dish of Louisiana Creole cuisine, traditionally made on Mondays. Red (kidney) beans, vegetables (garlic, onion and celery), spices (thyme, cayenne pepper, and bay leaf), and pork bones left over from Sunday dinner, cooked together slowly in a pot are served over rice. I made the creamiest beans in the crock pot with a great ham-hock I got as a gift from my sister. Andouille, as well as a milder Kielbasa on the side and brown rice made an ordinary Monday special.

Pondering Pork And Ex-husbands

At the risk of sounding like I watch way too much TV, I love the series “Sit Down Comedy” on TV Land. Here the biggest names in stand-up (Jerry Seinfield, Roseanne, Jon Stewart, Robin Williams) sit down with one of their own, David Steinberg, and discuss just about everything. The latest episode Ray Romano has some funny food moments and discusses delivering futons to chic clients like Cher and Robert DeNiro — and picking up a return from Larry David and describes living in his parents’ basement until he was 29.