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July 5th, 2003
 | 04:36 pm - July 4th
I had an excellent 4th of July. I have no loyalty towards nor love of the US, and in general I find nationalism to be one of the most vile and dangerous commonly held ideologies. However, I also dearly love to blow things up.
On Thursday, Aaron and I went over to Vancouver WA, where they sell far more impressive fireworks than can be found in Oregon. I particularly love the ones that consist of a mortar-like tube and a package of shells that you light, drop in the tube and then watch shoot several hundred feet up into the air and explode.
I bought a great deal of fireworks, made hazelnut gelato [1] and then ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) imester, Dawn, Aaron, and I went over the the Ennead - Barry, Bean, jakesquid, Amy, Amy's Aaron, and Bean's SO were all there. Imester worked the grill, we talked a great deal, and then after dark we set off an impressive number of fireworks. There's nothing like explosions and the smell of gunpowder to guarantee a good time.
[1]
5 ounces shelled hazelnuts, toasted and skinned
2 cups milk (I use goat's milk)
4 egg yolks
4 tablespoons sugar (or honey)
Grind the hazelnuts to a very fine paste (this can be done in a blender or coffee grinder).
Warm milk until the edge is ringed with tiny bubbles. Turn off heat at once. Put in the hazelnut paste, mix thoroughly, and cover. Allow to cool completely.
Line a strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth. Set over a bowl and pour the hazelnut milk mixture into the strainer and press as much through as possible. Tie up the ends of the cheesecloth, suspend over the bowl, and allow to drip through. (at least that's what the directions said, I simple squeezed the cheesecloth until the milk stopped dripping out).
When mixture stops dripping, squeeze gently. In another bowl beat the egg yolks and sugar until pale and foamy. Add the strained milk mixture mixing in a little at a time.
Pour everything into top of double boiler over medium heat. Stir constantly and cook for 3 to 4 minutes after the water in the bottom has started to bubble. (as always, put through a blender or food processor if it is at all lumpy at this point) Pour into a bowl. Allow to chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Freeze according to ice cream machine directions.
This produces a very smooth gelato with a strong hazelnut flavor.
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Comments:
My favorite also... they turn into actual fireworks, right? They are called Artillery Shells.
That's them (although some have other names). I love them. However, this year I did notice that some of the things they labeled as "fountains" (large cylinders packed with many smaller tubes) were actually more impressive, given that some of them shoot larger flare-like bursts even higher into the air. Next year, I'm getting some of those too.
heron61 sez: "I had an excellent 4th of July. I have no loyalty towards nor love of the US, and in general I find nationalism to be one of the most vile and dangerous commonly held ideologies. However, I also dearly love to blow things up."
Then it's evident you're celebrating the wrong holiday upon which blowing things up is considered cool. Try Guy Fawkes Day instead. :)
Perhaps the US fireworks industry could lobby to make that a national holiday here, all in the spirit of Anglo-American cooperation you know :) |
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