george hirsch blog

Plant, Nurture and Trust

Living Well: You Can Do It Day 185
Today I tended to my tomatoes, staking all six varieties of them. I see that the first flowers are now producing fruit. Only a few weeks ago I had my vision of preparing a simple pomodoro e mozzarella made from my own homegrown tomatoes. Once the seedlings were planted, it was only a matter of trust that those little plants would soon bare fruit. Today I realize there are so many things we can apply this principle of planting the seed, nurture, and watch the fruit grow; and into something so delightful.

Now I’m only two more weeks away from plating-up a simple dish of fresh pomodoro e mozzarella with a little olive oil, basil and fresh cracked black pepper. I will fill you in on the tomato growth. 

Pit Stop Firenze

Somehow the words Pit Stop and Florence just doesn't sound right. Well, when traveling Tuscany via vintage Fiat in a caravan, having a hamper strapped to your trunk is an an option; along with wine tasting and having a picnic with the Tuscan view. The 500 Touring Club seems like a cool concept, especially for those with a time constraint OR those who may need a lead car to get you to your next point of interest. Check it out. 

How Do You Fly Your American Flag?

For us it is simple, a vintage flag hangs from our porch at the entrance of our home. This vintage historic flag, with it's wonderful yellowed patina is a strong reminder of the great history of our nation. So whether you hang a crisp red, white and blue, fresh out of the package from your local hardware store or place a few smaller flags at the foot of the mail post box; and size of the flag does not matter, as long as you show your patriotic support for our great nation, armed services and the forefathers that sacrificed so we could have all the liberties we have today.
How to hang the American Flag.Once the flag is up, then go off and light the grill. For inspiring Fourth of July recipes.
Be well and have a safe holiday. George

Anything But Boring Fourth

Living Well: You Can Do IT! Day 182
This weekend will be your chance to make your salads stand out amongst the same old side-dishes at the BBQ. I have put together a good mix of savory salads for your Fourth of July summer party season. 

Go Ahead, Light-Up

Living Well: You Can Do It! Day 182
You can’t do it in restaurants and bars, it’s forbidden on planes and God forbid you tried it in Church. Besides it's no good for you! The light-up I'm talking about is the kind that makes your mouth water. Fire up the grill or BBQ pit and make smoky ribs that are finger licking good or grill up burgers; the juicy kind. Try a few different kinds of burgers. Go Ahead, I dare you.

Worth Wining About

Living Well: You Can Do IT! Day 181 
Take a trip with me to Sagaponack, New York, just a frogs leap from my home. I visit with dear friends Roman Roth and Michael Braverman at Wolffer Estates Vineyard and chat about wine. For more summer beverages, check out the summer issue of GH Lifestyle.

Hot Delivery, Under 5 Minutes

Get the recipe, then make it. It's delicious. 

Make It Happen

Living Well: You Can Do IT! Day 179
It's the start of the week, ahh clean slate. Do you have plans to make this week your best yet?  TIP, keep the focus on your dashboard and not the rear-view mirror. Be your own life driver. It doesn’t matter what transpired yesterday. All your doing power is now only in today. This makes such sense because we can not change yesterday, so focus only on today and make plans for the future. So many times as a chef I would have to live up to you are only as good as your next meal. How true that statement applies to the rest of life as well. It still reminds me everyday that the savoring life is truly in the moment. 

More than five billion little green houses have been built since 1935

Did you know? It was 1934, the height of the Great Depression, when Charles B. Darrow of Germantown, Pennsylvania, showed what he called the MONOPOLY game to the executives at Parker Brothers. What did they say to his pitch? REJECTED! But, with help from a friend who was a printer, Mr. Darrow sold 5,000 handmade sets of the MONOPOLY game to a Philadelphia department store. Response? People loved the game! But as demand for the game grew, he couldn't keep up with all the orders and came back to talk to Parker Brothers again. Did he get to say I told you so? YOU BET! The rest, as they say, is history! In its first year, 1935, the MONOPOLY game was the best-selling game in America. And over its 65-year history, an estimated 500 million people have played the game of MONOPOLY!
What's a summer family get together without a good Monopoly competition? And besides it's the easiest way to collect two hundred dollars.

Only Good Stuff

Inside summer issue of GHL.

George Hirsch TV Series: Princess Cruises, Behind the Scenes

Have you ever been on a cruise? Did you ever wonder how all 3000 passengers get fed? Well now you will see how it is done, as I take you on a behind the scenes tour of the Caribbean Princess with Executive Chef Alfredo Marzi. For the full story on Cruising...

Terms and Translations for Traveling with Humor

This should give you a laugh. Laughter is the fruit in life.
Snap taken from George Hirsch Lifestyle eMagazine Summer 2008

one of the best places on earth

Living Well: You Can Do IT! Day 174
Twelfth century hilltop castle anyone? Just follow the winding road to Castelletto Di Montebenichi.

things will be great when you're...

Living Well: You Can Do It!
You have come to a fork in the road; one sign says uptown and the other says downtown. What do you do now? Does this scenario sound familiar? How many times do we reach this proverbial fork on a daily basis? I’m referring to the decision of choosing a positive reaction (downtown) vs. a negative reaction (uptown). Sort out emotional reactions carefully as it can alter life's outcomes in drastically different directions. Here's my experience, you'll see what I mean. I was returning from a trip on a rainy night. My car was at an airport car park that I always use. I found my car with a flat tire. This caused a major delay returning home. My fork in the road. I decided to wait for help and chalk it up to just one of those experiences. I passed the time, waiting with the park attendant, who kept me out of the rain, offered me a cup of hot coffee and his nice conversation. This experience was also underscored by later finding out that a major auto accident had taken place on the route I would have taken home at that same time. I was thankful for taking the downtown fork.
image robrscott

The G is Silent

Tired of rice and pasta? Not in the mood today for French fries or baked potato? Put a spin on the tuber in the menu rotation, make some gnocchi. The g is silent, pronounced like nock-e. Of course the inflection will vary depending on your address. The shopping list is short; potato, flour and an egg. These soft little pillows aren't picky. You can serve them topped with butter and parmesan cheese, a hearty ragu meat sauce, or summer's bounty of pesto. Maybe I can entice you to try your gnocchi with spinach and fresh tomatoes?

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image credit: ShyMan, istock

Make Dad Breakfast: Recipe

Living Well: You Can Do It! Day 171
Show Dad Annual Appreciation by Making Him Steamy Belgium Waffles Today
Steamy Belgium Waffle Recipe
From George Hirsch Living it UP! TV Series
2 egg yolks
half teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 cups milk
one third cup butter, melted
2 cups flour

2 egg whites, stiffly beaten

1 Tablespoon baking powder
Preheat waffle maker. Put all ingredients, except egg whites, in a large mixer bowl. Beat on low until moistened. Increase to medium, mix until smooth. By hand, gently fold in beaten egg whites. Pour one half cup batter over grids. Close waffle maker, bake until steam no longer escapes, about 3 to 5 minutes. Repeat. Serve while hot with your favorite topping. 
Note. Serve with fresh fruit, whip cream, or Smoked Sausage with Jam Sauce

need cedar planks but, not for siding

Living Well: You Can Do IT! Day 170
You going to need them for today's fish recipe. It's been raining for days and when there's a chance to step outside and cook, go for it! Soak planks for 30 minutes before you fire up the grill. Make sure the grill is good and hot! Cedar planked fish takes on a wonderful smoky flavor with more flair and a lot less hassle. The plank may be charred, but the fish is perfectly cooked. The technique of cooking on planks is not new. Developed by Indians in the Pacific Northwest, cooking on cedar and alder has been a tradition for centuries.
This weekend when you are running errands, head to the hardware store and pick up some cedar planks. Oh and be sure they are untreated non-resined wood, no thicker than 1 inch. Cedar and alder are popular choices, but mesquite, cherry, peach, apple, and oak also add their own unique flavors. Just give it a try. Enjoy.

image,© Olga Lyubkina

It's Good Friday

Living Well: You Can DO IT! DAY 169
Not the high holy day, but one to be celebrated because it is the final Friday of Spring 2009. How about celebrating the extra daylight with a early evening BBQ with friends, wine and good food. I’m planning tonight's dinner- burgers are on the menu! Here are some recipes for an easy-n-quick plate up so you can put your feet up! Enjoy.

IMAGE, David Smith

Fruit or Vegetable

Living Well: You Can Do IT! Day 168
History says fruit, state of Oklahoma declares it the state vegetable. Well, it’s that time again, watermelon is abundant at the market and at a very good price. Get hydrated with one cup of diced watermelon; it’s about 92 percent water. Benefits. Watermelon not only boosts your metabolism, it’s practically a multi-vitamin containing high levels of vitamins A, B6, C, and is also a source of potassium with higher levels of lycopene than any other fresh fruit or vegetable (15 to 20 mg per 2-cup serving). Who knew? No matter how good it is for you, the main reason we like it is because it is a refreshing treat to eat. Here's a refreshing watermelon cocktail recipe for you.

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Two Great Italian Restaurants, East and West: video podcast

Living Well: You Can DO IT! DAY 167
title translation: Due ristoranti, est ed ad ovest italiani grandi

Rose, my Nana, taught me the fundamentals of preparing and serving “true” Italian food. The secret is simple, prepare the food with your heart and serve with love! Sure, it’s easy during my travels throughout Italy to find endless great restaurants that serve dish after dish following my Nana’s rule. However, can you find an Italian restaurant that can deliver in this country?

Read my previous BLOGS and watch my TV show and you will know my favorite hometown restaurant is famed eatery Nick & Toni’s, in East Hampton, NY led by the team of Mark Smith and Chef Joe Realmuto. VIDEO CLIP AT NICK AND TONI"S. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a rustic Tuscan farmhouse, where there’s seasonal outdoor dining and many dishes that come from their own organic gardens, local fisherman catches and local farms. Expect fresh ingredients, unpretentious sophistication and always a delicious experience. Nick and Toni’s has mastered Nana Rose’s golden rule. What about when I travel west?

After flying west for more than five hours, there’s one option that will make me drive a couple hours to reach in Northern California. Bistro Don Giovanni crafted by partners, Donna and Giovanni Scala. Located on the fringe in the heart of Napa you will think you just traveled to Tuscany as you walk through the gardens surrounded by majestic Italian Cypress trees; you know, those tall 'creepy Italian trees' as they were referred to in 'Under the Tuscan Sun'. Surrounding the herb garden is a hedge row of rosemary that is up to my waist with a huge fountain overlooking a sea of vineyards, vegetable and herb gardens. They also produce their own olive oil from the olive trees located on the property.

Specializing in Rustic Italian and Southern French food, one of my favorite dishes is the Roasted Beet and Fennel Salad with Haricots Verts, Avacado and Roquefort Vinaigrette. Also not to be over looked is one of the best frito mistos with crisp fennal, beans, calamari and shellfish; include any pasta especially the cavetille with braided duck bolognese, seared salmon with buttermilk mashed potatoes; whole roasted fish; and any contorni.

Service at these restaurants are first rate and both of these highly acclaimed restaurants would make Nana Rose smile. 

Shake it UP!

Living Well: You Can DO IT! Day 166
Who doesn’t break a smile with a tall shake insight? Sure, In-N-Out Burger and Shake Shack make great shakes, but it's easy doing it yourself at home. It's a perfect treat on a warm summer night. The cost of a smile followed by brain freeze? Priceless! For my chocolate thick shake recipe and more GHL summer 2008.
Summer 2009 digital edition is coming soon. Are you free subscribed? 

Turn Over a New Leaf

Living Well: You Can DO IT! Day 165
Just the thought of the start of a new workweek can leave you feeling heavy and powerless knowing there's so much distance between you and next Friday. Before you punch-in at work let's see how we can adopt a better attitude to set you up for successful outcome. The question is, "How do I get myself to feel better about Monday morning?" Gratitude is the best place to start. Then, give yourself a plan to do your best, by owning the pride in the quality of the work you do. Make a difference by giving 100 percent. After a few days of working this new attitude, you will surely begin to notice you are feeling different and your positive work attitude is spreading around work.
Some supporting activities for your successful week.
I will learn something new that will better me in my job performance.
I will share my knowledge with someone who can benefit from my help.
I will spend a few hours this week contributing to my family's community.
I will take time for me, allocate some quiet time, feed myself a proper diet and participate in some physical activity.

Sunday Special

Living Well: You Can Do IT! Day 164
At home and in a relaxed mood? Why not, Sundays are the perfect reason to have a casual day with family and friends. It's that time again, grill up something tasty and easy. Peel some shrimp, cut-up some vegetables, coat with lemon, olive oil and serve with good bread. For complete recipe, click here. Could it be any better than this? Yes! Add a nice glass of white wine, some good conversation, and you there you have it, a casual special day breaking bread with friends. Enjoy. 

Makeup For Yesterday

Living Well: You Can Do It! Day 163
Yesterday I gave you my Frites Recipe aka Pommes Frites to combine with my Marinated Hanger Steak Recipe, for a Steak Frites combo. Ok, today it’s time to step it up, and work out the heart with a jog or a power-walk? It’s a good calorie burner with like impact on weight-loss that is similar to a running program, only it's easier on your joints. Note, a power-walk is different than a stroll. Power-walking is an ideal aerobic activity. Technique, time your power walk for an average of 12 to 15 minutes per mile, using your upper and lower body in tandem. Take long even strides, and pace yourself with consistent breathing technique. Benefits, you will be burning the same calories as running; while toning muscles in the buttocks, thighs, hips, shoulders, upper back and abs. Motivation, the most difficult step in power-walking, bending over, putting on your sneaks and walking out the door. Now you are good to go! P.S. Reminder, summer is almost here. Do you have your free subscription for the George Hirsch Lifestyle eMagazine? 

Go Frites Friday

Living Well: You Can Do IT! DAY 162
A few days ago I blogged about The Buz on London Broil. Yesterday in GHL Extra, (enews of GHL magazine) I featured a Marinated Hanger Streak recipe with a killer marinade (comment from TV series viewers). Today I’ll round out the dish by adding Frites,aka pommes frites recipe, aka French fries for you yanks. BTW, steak frites are a great gift to make dad for Father’s Day; just supply the beer and ball game. Sorry MCDs, credit for Frites is actually claimed by Belgium, France, Netherlands and Spain. They all had there potatoes in the hot oil first. No matter who is first, give it a go by making Frites at home. There’s nothing like it! Have No guilt. Live today and tomorrow jog or walk it off. Enjoy!