Ruth Paget wrote the following food blogs to transmit family knowledge from one generation to the next.
To access the blogs, type the title in the blogger search bar or click on the link following the title:
Apple Economics
German Celery Root Economics
Pumpkin Economics
Cabbage Economics
Squash Economics
Omelets All Day
Polenta Economics
Meatball Economics
Coconut Economics
Antioxidant Onions
Frost-Resistant Potatoes
Reuben: Sandwich Game
Iced Coffee and Cold Brew
Oktoberfest Food
Chinese Probiotic Black Bean Chicken with Vegetables at Golden Star Restaurant in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
The black beans used in black bean chicken with vegetables at Golden Star Chinese Restaurant in Salinas, California are fermented black soy beans.
As a fermented food not only do fermented soy beans have a delicious salty flavor, they are also a probiotic that promotes gut health. Fermented black beans are high in protein content and fiber. They usually replace oyster sauce as a flavoring agent when they are used in a dish. They enhance the flavor of vegetables, especially cabbage.
At Golden Star, they flatten the chicken used in black bean chicken with vegetables to make it cook quickly in a wok. When the chicken is done, it is taken out and set aside.
More oil goes into the wok to heat up followed by the seasoning trio of minced garlic, minced fresh ginger, and chopped scallions. Fermented black beans are added to the seasoning trio and stirred in before adding the following seasonal winter vegetables: carrots, green bell peppers, mushrooms, and cabbage.
Once the cabbage and carrots soften up, the flattened chicken is added back in and heated up with the vegetables. Just before serving, shaoxing wine is added in for flavor.
This dish is best eaten steaming hot over rice. I love the distinct vegetable flavors that become even more pronounced with the black bean sauce.
The flattened chicken curls in the wok when heated. There seems to be a lot of chicken in the black bean chicken, but flattening the chicken might make ¾ of a breast seem like twice that amount.
I like the flavor of salty, fermented black beans and the seasonal winter vegetables very much. This preparation also tastes good with shrimp. I am biased, but I think the seasoning trio of garlic, ginger, and scallions is pretty tough to beat for flavor and health.
The black bean chicken with vegetables at Golden Star Restaurant in Salinas, California is a very flavorful dish that makes excellent use of the organic produce in Salinas Valley.
Chinese food lovers already know this is a tasty dish, but diners seeking a probiotic dish that is mildly flavored might enjoy trying black bean chicken with vegetables as well.
Note: There is parking behind Golden Star Restaurant with a passage to Main Street where Golden Star Restaurant is located in Salinas, California.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Recycling Landscaping Trimmings by Ruth Paget
Twigs and branches from landscaping might be able to be recycled into paper products like toilet paper, tissue, napkins, and paper bags.
Having emergency supplies of those products on hand might help with community preparedness for disaster.
Just a thought. The following companies might have services to do this already in place:
Wood Recycling Company
https://www.visionrecycling.com/
Reuse Wood Company
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Ruth Paget created the following music games to transmit family knowledge from one generation to the next.
Click on the link following the game titles to access the games or look up the game title in the search bar.
*Clefs: The Music Fundamentals Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/clefs-music-fundamentals-game-created.html?m=1
*Duple: The Musical Rhythm, Meter, and Metric Organization Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/duple-musical-rhythm-meter-and-metric.html?m=1
*Phrygian: The Musical Scales, Keys, and Mode Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/duple-musical-rhythm-meter-and-metric.html?m=1
*Solfege; The Sining and Harmonic Organization Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/solfege-singing-and-harmonic.html?m=1
*Plagal: The Harmonic Organization Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/plagal-harmonic-organization-game.html?m=1
*Bass Line: The Harmonic Composition Fundamentals Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/bass-line-harmonic-composition.html?m=1
*Cambiata: The Melodic Composition Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/cambiata-melodic-composition-game.html?m=1
*Picardy Third: The Harmonic Composition Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/picardy-third-harmonic-composition-game.html?m=1
*Codetta: The Visual Score Analysis Game
https://ruthpaget.blogspot.com/2024/04/codetta-visual-score-analysis-game.html?m=1
Sylvain Tutoring in Salinas, California and Princeton Review can help prepare for the AP Music Theory Exam.
by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Ancient Western Civilization Games Created by Ruth Paget
Ruth Paget created the following games to transmit family knowledge from one generation to the next to promote lifelong learning and a pleasant lifestyle.
To access the games, type the name of the game in search bar or click the link that follows the title of the game:
*Pharoah Hatshepsut
*Thutmose III: The Ancient Egypt Game
*Ramses II: The Ancient Egypt Media Game
*Marathon: The Ancient Greece Strategy Game
*Salamis: The Ancient Greek Navy Game
*Tyre: The Ancient Greek Engineering Game
*Gaugamela: The Ancient Greek Bittersweet Victory Game
*Cannae: The Ancient Carthage Strategy Game
*Alesia: The Roman Conquest of Gaul Game
*Ancient Rome and Latin Reading List Games
Games Created by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Calzone Change-Up at Gino’s in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
A calzone fills an entire large pizza box at Gino’s in Salinas, California.
Calzones at Gino’s are in no way a hand-held item. At Gino’s you split the calzone in two and share it with two people for dinner. You eat them with a knife and fork and do not carry them like you do in Naples, Italy where they originated.
I like the Italian-American calzone at Gino’s for size and flavor.
A calzone is made with a large, round piece of pizza dough. At Gino’s, they fill one side of the dough with ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and sweet pepperoni.
The unfilled side is turned over the side with the filling and the edges are sealed and crimped to look like a Galician (located in Northwestern Spain) empanada. The calzone at Gino’s is baked to form a crisp crust with a soft, warm interior. Gino’s calzone comes with mozzarella sauce on the side for dipping.
A family of four could amply eat with an order of two calzones at Gino’s in Salinas, California. I recommend the calzone as a multicultural change for a standing pizza night dinner.
For more information on calzones, check out the following website:
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Friday Night Fish FryDinner at Black Bear Diner by Ruth Paget
Friday Night Fish Fry Dinner at Black Bear Diner in Salinas and Monterey by Ruth Paget
On a recent outing to Black Bear Diner in Monterey (Salinas also has a location), I saw that Black Bear Diner is doing Friday Night Fish Fry. Fish Fry usually comes with French fries.
I like to order lemonade with fish fry to increase the vitamin C with the meal - Vitamin C fights scurvy, the old time sailor’s plight.
The Monterey location advertised catering for events in the restaurant.
I have included the following link to their website:
https://blackbeardiner.com/location/salinas/
Note: Friday Fish Fry Dinner has a long history in Wisconsin where my family lived for several years. This meal is usually reasonably priced and welcome for work-weary parents.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France