Try WNBA

In a previous blog and in stories on News 12 Connecticut, I've tried to figure out which baseball team southwestern Connecticut should cheer for: the New York Yankees or the the Boston Red Sox. Of course Yankee stadium is closer to us here in southwestern Connecticut, plus its usually easier to hear Yankees games on the radio or see them on TV. On the other hand, the Red Sox is New England's team, and historically Connecticut is considered New England. However, I've found most die-fans are reared. All it takes is a few trips to the stadium as a child, and a family tradition is born. I'll pose another dilemma. Should people in southwestern Connecticut root for the WNBA's New York Liberty or Connecticut Sun? The distance between where these two teams play isn't as great as Yankee Stadium to Fenway. The New York Liberty play at Madison Square Garden, about 48 miles from Norwalk. The Connecticut Sun play at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, about 80 miles from Norwalk. Since the WNBA is celebrating its 10th season, the league hasn't been around long enough to build generations of fans, so take your pick! If you haven't watched much women's basketball, now may be a good time to take in a few games. The NBA season is over- and America is out of the World Cup - plus, you can get an inside look at how these professional women train in my "Living Fit" reports on News 12 Connecticut. Tomorrow beginning at noon, find out what the first thing   #24 Megan Mahoney does after practice. Then tomorrow night, both the Connecticut Sun and the New York Liberty play at home. It's Connecticut vs. the Houston Comets and New York against the Charlotte Sting.

If you are a fan of either team, please let me know! Send an email to BlogHRKovar@news12.com .

Bring Your Dog to Work Day

Friday was  Bring Your Dog to Work Day.

I didn't know until I heard it on the radio while driving in and it was too late to fetch Ms. Willamena. However, I was really close to bringing her in Friday morning anyway.  I was going to use her as a prop in my "What's To Do Report." I had even written the script. But at the last minute I decided to leave her at home because she really isn't too helpful at the office and its too hot and cruel to make her wait in the car.

I should introduce you to Willamena. She is an eight-year-old full-blood NEWSHOUND. She was a rescue pup and is said to be a mix of Lab, German Shepard and Rottweiler. Whatever she is, she enjoys digging up good news stories!

She once tried her paw as "Willamena with the Weather", but she likes using her nose to uncover truth, justice and whatever food is left out on the sidewalk.

Yes. Willamena has a boyfriend. His name is Otis and lives in Black Rock.

Blame it on the Rain

I've learned my lesson on complaining about southwestern Connecticut weather. In a blog I wrote just before going to Houston for Father's Day, I pointed out how sick I was of rain. We had nearly seven inches of rain in May and almost eight inches in April. So I fly to Houston for the weekend and am pummeled with more than ten inches of rain in ONE DAY! I was scheduled to fly home Monday morning, but as my parents and I went down for breakfast at our hotel, the elevator doors opened to a sea of water in the lobby. I promise you a minnow swam over my foot.

(click on pictures to enlarge)

We were stranded at the hotel for hours, with roads closed and all flights suspended. Not knowing when flights would resume, I thought about walking through the waist-high water outside to get to Hobby airport, which was only three miles away. But then I heard a news report advising people not to walk in high water unless they've had a tetanus shot. My parents' car was submerged and had to be towed away when the flooding finally went down.

Despite the fact it rained here on Mother's Day when my parents came to see me, I have to say  Mother's Day was much better than Father's Day. Yet it wasn't all bad. I am grateful for the time I was able to spend with my parents. I also got to see my grandmother, Momo. She lives in Crystal Beach, Texas, a ferry ride away from Galveston. She is so funny, and always has a joke to tell!

My parents and I also spent some time in Galveston. Our last-minute motel was nice, we had a balcony overlooking the Gulf, where people were attemping to surf.

I did, however, get a glimpse of what was to come when I rented rollerblades Sunday morning. As soon as I started out along the seawall, it started pouring. I was drenched. Of course as soon as we packed up to drive to our hotel by the airport, the sun came out and it was perfect beach weather. But that night is when all the rain began. According to reports, overnight into Monday marked the rainiest day in Houston since Tropical Storm Allison hit the area in June of 2001. I finally made it to the airport by hitching a ride with a Texas truck equipped with monster wheels. My 10:00 am flight turned into a 7:00 pm flight.  By the time we boarded we were informed the flight would be delayed another two hours because of bad weather back home in the northeast. I finally made it home safe, but we are still waiting to hear from the insurance company as to what they are going to do with my dad's car.

Taste of the Caribbean

In honor of the warm weather finally arriving, a taste of the Caribbean. In this weekend's "What's Cooking" on News 12 Connecticut, two chefs from the U.S. VIrgin Islands visit to promote tourism there. I'm now ready to visit, and it's not just because of the lack of spring weather we've had in southwestern Connecticut. Its the food. Spicy and sweet. Chef Leslie Gumbs taught me how to make cinnamon coconut whipped creme that I can't wait to see if I can actually make myself.

Also Chef Larry Nibbs, click on picture to enlarge, shared his secrets for Creole Yellowtail Snapper.  Enjoy your trip to the tropics this weekend.
Chilled Mango-Papaya-Mint Fruit Coulis Soup Topped with Cinnamon Coconut Whipped Creme
(Can be served with pound cubed cake)
72 Servings
Mango/Papaya Mint Fruit Soup
10 lb Mango (Diced)
10 lb Papaya (Diced)
3 cup Passion-Fruit Juice
2 oz Pear Essence
1 cup Karo Corn Syrup
2 spring Mint Leaves

Cinnamon Coconut Whipped Creme
2 qt Heavy Cream
8 10X Sugar
4 tbl Cinnamon
2 tsp Coconut Extract
1/2 cup shredded coconut                              
Combine mango and papaya (peeled, pitted and cubed) into mixing bowl.  Retain 3 lbs of papaya and mango cubed.
Puree 7 lbs of mangos and papayas in a bowl.  Puree mint in karo corn syrup.  Add 1 cup of passion fruit juice to loosen.
Combine fruits, mango-papaya puree and mint puree.  Refrigerate and serve chilled.
Whisk heavy creme, coconut extract, cinnamon and coconut in chilled mental bowl.  Add sugar in stages until a stiff peak.
Serve fruit soup in small bowl and pipe whip cream in center with a mint leaf for garnish. 

Creole Yellowtail Snapper Style
1 8-10 lb. whole fish (clean and seasoned )
1 red pepper med julienne cut
1 green pepper med julienne cut
1 onion med julienne cut
1 tomato med julienne cut
2 tsp tomatos paste
2 oz of lemon juice
1 tsp garlic ( minced)
2 oz of olive oil
2 spring thyme
4 fresh lemons
1 bay leaf
1hd of romaine lettuce
1 tsp scotchbarnet ( hot sauce)
1 oz worcestershire sauce ( Lea & Perrins )
7 oz of water ( fish stock optional)
2 oz of white wine
Salt and pepper
Method of Creole sauce:
In a med sauce pan, over med heat add oil, saute vegetables, add garlic, thyme and bay leaf. Add wocestershire sauce, lemon juice, white wine, water or stock. Bring liquid to boiling temperature. Add hot sauce and salt to taste,add tomatoes paste to thicken in liquid. Sitr occasionally and simmer until flavor blend in for 10 to 12 mins.
Whole Fish Baking Method:
Heat oven to 350 degree. Place whole fish in a nonstick baking pan one side down other side facing up.Place fish in oven for 15 to 20 mins. Check fish for proper cooking .Place baked fish in a platter.garnished with romaine lettuce places around each side with lemon crown on the top of the lettuce and then add creole sauce on top to finish.

June 16, 2006

Spring Shortage

Hopefully you have outdoor plans this weekend. If not, think about this: my morning weather pal Paul Piorek says it is going to be sunny and in the 80's-- a rare springtime occurrence here in southwestern Connecticut. I'm looking at it as more of an early summer, which begins next week on the June 21st.

With summer approaching, I feel like I'm still waiting for my "spring break" from dreary weather. I've found that I'm not alone. Several people are telling me "What Bugs" them is that southwestern Connecticut doesn't seem to have their once-favorite season anymore, spring!

Plus, the state of Connecticut is blaming a slight drop in employment on the spring's cool and rainy weather.

Click here for the full report from the state.

Basically, the state Department of Labor says the rainy weather kept tourists away and halted construction work.

"Poor weather in May not only depressed beach goers in Connecticut, but also the employment figures for the month," said State Labor Economist John Tirinzonie. " With cloudy, cool conditions and record precipitation during May, the construction and leisure and hospitality industry sectors in May showed significant losses in jobs when seasonally adjusted," he noted. "Landscaping and retail building and garden supply stores seem to also feel the effects of a cooler and wetter than normal May. Hopefully, when summer finally heats up in June so will the state's job market."

For the past two years I've done "What's Bugging You" reports on the issue because people want their springtime back!

I have to thank Paul Piorek for compiling the weather statistics for me.  Lets take a look at what we're complaining about.

According to rainfall totals at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, more than double the amount of what's normal for the month fell in the first two weeks of June. As of June 13th, we've received 3.73". The normal for the month is 1.44".

May and April were wetter-than-normal, too.

May's total: 6.50". May's average: 4.03".

April's total: 7.98". April's average: 3.99".

2005 was cool and rainy as well. Southwestern Connecticut had five straight weekends with measured rain- beginning on the weekend of April 23rd. Plus, temperatures in the month of May were nearly 5 degrees below normal.

So get out your bathing suit, sunscreen and grill and enjoy this Father's Day Weekend, because before you know it we'll be complaining about the constant hot and humid temperatures of summer.

"Happiest" Part 2

Due to readers' requests, I am posting some pictures from this past Mother's Day visit with my mom and dad.

As part of my mom's gift, I got her tickets for Jersey Boys. This is a family photo just before the May 17th Wednesday night performance (click to enlarge).

I am not a huge fan of Broadway musicals, but this show was excellent. And it just so happened that after we were seated, former President Clinton and Chelsea made their way to their seats about six rows in front of ours.

My mom also had a very special Mother's Day proper. That's because we were invited to celebrate Mother's Day with my photographer Lori Golias and her family and other friends.  Lori cooked cornish game hens, mashed pototoes, grilled vegetables and more. It was delicious!

Here we at dinner. Lori transformed her living room into a swanky dining hall. Maybe the most interesting fact about my parents' trip is that they drove from Texas. They wanted to take the opportunity to see the coast along the way. So they   took a week and enjoyed themselves, making stops in Alabama, Savannah, the Carolina's and Atlantic City. We also enjoyed some time together in NYC. Ya'll come again soon, ya here?

YOU Cook?

Despite that my closet is stuffed full of clothes, shoes, accessories and who knows what else because I can't really get to it all, I've always been a true minimalist in the kitchen. Ever since I opened the fridge of a male friend ten years ago and found only an orange and a bottle of champagne, I've wanted such Zen. Though I've never been there, honestly, right now, even after a near week-long parental visit, if you opened my fridge you'd find only (wait let me go look) water, a tomato, left over sushi, radishes (from my dad's garden- I will allow these in my space anytime,) milk, parmesan cheese and a few left-over items headed for the trash in a few minutes.

My cabinets are pretty much the same way. Besides, I have a small kitchen, so I have to keep it this way. I just measured and its 49 by 73. That is inches. It just enough room for a small fridge, stove, sink and 16 by 25 inches worth of counterspace. However, over the past year, I've started cooking. I've always been able to make the staples: scrambled eggs, broiled frozen chicken breasts, spinach and mushroom quesadillas, guacamole, and my specialty: warmed and spiced up left-overs. But since I've been doing the "What's Cooking" show on News 12 Connecticut, I've learned how to make some incredible dinners. Think about it. These chefs that come on the show have to carry all the ingredients to the studio. Then they have put the dish together within about ten minutes and then clean up to make room for the next chef. For the most part they keep it simple. But you know if you watch, these famous and skilled chefs from southwestern Connecticut and New York City consistently whip up great things. (After a lesson from Morton's, you should try my steaks.)

However, the one dish that really got me motivated is a Macaroni and Cheese from Carol McManus of Espresso Love on Martha's Vineyard. I've never even liked mac & cheese, much less one that is going to take more effort than opening a box and stirring in some powdered cheese mix. But this recipe is so good. My boyfriend loves it. After I started making it, we've gone to restaurant after restaurant trying to find a better one, and we can't. This one is special. Though don't feed it to vegetarians and its not cheap. It does work as the main course, and if you have kids, I'm told they like this kind of stuff. I'll pass along the recipe, but I usually double it- and throw in some extra cheese- a pepper jack. Since I do that I usually substitute one cup of the heavy cream for the cup of milk. I spoke with Carol about my fiddling with her recipe, and she said that is what you should do to make it your own. If you try this recipe, please let me know how it turns out! BlogHRKovar@news12.com. Oh- and if you have leftover prosciutto, a cook told me to wrap it around a piece of melon and serve as an appetizer. Its good. Also, you can find out when What's Cooking airs every Saturday and Sunday by clicking here.

Macaroni and Cheese with Prosciutto (This French take on mac and cheese has a nice assertive flavor.)

INGREDIENTS:  8 oz. small elbow macaroni ( 2 cups)

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup 2% milk

3 oz. thinly sliced prosciutto, coarsely chopped

1 cup grated Gruyere' cheese

1 cup smoked Gouda cheese

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter 11/7-inch glass baking dish. Cook macaroni in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain well. Wisk 3/4 cup gruyere', 3/4 cup gouda, parmesan, cream, milk, prosciutto and nutmeg in a large bowl to blend. Add macaroni and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining gruyere' and gouda cheese over the top. Bake until cheese melts and macaroni and cheese sets, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.