Mostly Semantics

An elderly couple in Kensington died last night when their home burned, in spite of heroic behavior from neighbors and local emergency personnel. My thoughts are with them, and those who cared about them.

It is believed – but not confirmed – that their home was not equipped with smoke detectors. It may not have helped, even if they did: Mrs. Reynolds had limited mobility, and may not have been able to escape even with ample warning. The following is no way meant as an indictment of the Reynolds, for whom I have nothing but sympathy. (more…)

It’s weird. I own more than two weeks worth of Duke tshirts, and I have a Duke hoodie I wear all the time when it’s weather appropriate, and sometimes when it’s not. But I have not had a particularly hard time living here in DC with people who have had a problem with Duke. However, on Saturday, I had a couple of run-ins with interesting people with comments on my hoodie. And by interesting, I mean, a group was strange, and the other was the ultimate in douchebaggery. (more…)

So, caramel is delicious. It’s sweet, just a little salty, and considering that it’s pretty much burned sugar… remarkably complex. And ice cream. Ice cream is amazing. So caramel ice cream studded with little bits of crispy caramel goodness? Yeah, that probably shouldn’t be legal.

This was my thinking before I made the stuff. If possible, I’m even more fanatical about it now. I made it to finish off this year’s inaugural smoked meat dinner, and had 10 or 12 people over. Hunched over the bowl, stealing tastes of the still-cooling custard at 3am, we knew the ice cream would be good. When the ice cream finally froze, it actually exceeded expectation. Just. Wow. It’s like a cold, creamy version of those little candies in the shiny gold wrappers… minus the creepy old man from the commercials. I couldn’t resist: as each guest arrived, I drug them to the corner of my kitchen, opened the freezer, and doled out a single precious spoonful. All swooned, closed their eyes, or sighed approvingly. One said, in a rather accusatory tone: “this is pure butterscotch!” No, it’s better. (more…)