Tuesday
Dec132011
Pie Three Ways, Season 1, Episode 1
Here's a video my I did with my friend, Marijean Jaggers, about making a few variations on Sweet Potato Pie.
Entries in video (16)
Thursday
Jun162011
Whole Foods Parking Lot
I don't know that this is quite as good as the Trader Joe's video, but here's a video about Keepin' it Real in the Whole Foods Parking Lot that's been going around. I imagine that, if there's not a Wegman's video made yet, there probably will be before too long.
Wednesday
Mar252009
Instructable Wednesday: Sugar Glass
This week's Instructable is on making sugar glass, which is a technique you've most likely seen on those cooking competitions where they're making a sculpture and everything has to be made from an edible material. Sugar glass is also used in the movies and probably on stage when someone needs hitting over the head with a bottle. The author of the Instructable posted a video of this technique…
…which, as you can see, has a million and one uses around the home.
This particular Instructable, while full of information, admits that it glosses over the process of making a mould for shaping the glass. However, on step 5 he links to another instructable on Two Part Silicone Casting which will give you the information you need for that.
…which, as you can see, has a million and one uses around the home.
This particular Instructable, while full of information, admits that it glosses over the process of making a mould for shaping the glass. However, on step 5 he links to another instructable on Two Part Silicone Casting which will give you the information you need for that.
Wednesday
Feb112009
Trader Joe's Fan Commercial
Carl Willat has made a video that captures the experience of shopping at a Trader Joe's. While this is informative for those who have not been and who are interested to know what the fuss is about, it's really for those who have been and who want to enjoy the shared experience. After all, it's funny because it's true.
via @Frauenfelder.
via @Frauenfelder.
Monday
Feb092009
Craft's How to Make Vinegar
Although text is great, sometimes you just want to see what it takes to make something. In this case, I think it's handy to be able to watch the process of putting together your own vinegar.
As the source article suggests, one can order red wine vinegar mother online, or if you have a local brewery supply store, you can likely get it there. LocalHarvest also has a malt vinegar mother if you're more interested in making your vinegar out of beer instead. This is especially handy if you had a party and have a bunch of beer left over in a keg. If you have the space for it, you could make quite the batch.
via Craft.
As the source article suggests, one can order red wine vinegar mother online, or if you have a local brewery supply store, you can likely get it there. LocalHarvest also has a malt vinegar mother if you're more interested in making your vinegar out of beer instead. This is especially handy if you had a party and have a bunch of beer left over in a keg. If you have the space for it, you could make quite the batch.
via Craft.
Thursday
Feb052009
Stephen Colbert did not win Bocuse d'Or
Stephen Colbert, political commentator*, describes how he did not win the Bocuse d'Or. Also, no Newbery. What's with that?
In any case, watch the video below:
*- And that's all. Certainly not a comedian. Only serious. Yeah.
In any case, watch the video below:
*- And that's all. Certainly not a comedian. Only serious. Yeah.
Saturday
Jan312009
On FineCooking.com: Sous Vide or Bust
A New article on Fine Cooking's web site is up: Sous Vide or Bust, where I describe the basic basic basics or sous vide cooking and whether all that equipment is necessary.
Unlike here, Fine Cooking has some editorial sensibilities, so I didn't feel that it was appropriate to link to the following video on the original article. However, to illustrate what can be done with minimal equipment, I present Kamikaze Cookery with The Perfect Steak. Note that, as you may have guessed with the early part of this paragraph, there's some language in this video, and a little bit of suggestiveness coupled with putting the 'b' in subtle.
Unlike here, Fine Cooking has some editorial sensibilities, so I didn't feel that it was appropriate to link to the following video on the original article. However, to illustrate what can be done with minimal equipment, I present Kamikaze Cookery with The Perfect Steak. Note that, as you may have guessed with the early part of this paragraph, there's some language in this video, and a little bit of suggestiveness coupled with putting the 'b' in subtle.
Monday
Jan122009
Fractal Foods
Fractals are constructs that, when you look closely at them, contain tiny copies of themselves. There are fractals all over nature, and there was a period in the early nineties, around the time of the first Jurassic Park, that fractals and chaos theory were intensely popular. The most popular mathematical fractal, the Mandelbrot set, was featured on t-shirts and posters everywhere, and how quickly your computer could generate one was the Big Nerd equivalent of how quickly your car could go from 0 to 60 MPH.*
Note that the audio to the video contains not only a naughty word or two, but extreme geekery in the form of a Jonathan Coulton song.
In the world of living creatures, fractals aren't quite as popular. If you met a bear that was a fractal bear, he'd probably look like this:
and that'd just be weird, right?
Vegetables are a little different though; at least a few of them are. People talk about onions having layers like that's something interesting, but the broccoli relatives are the ones that you want to watch out for. If you've ever cut up a broccoli or cauliflower, you've probably noticed that the little stalks are much like the larger bits, at least up until a point.
The best representation of a fractal that I've seen in nature is broccoli's cousin, the romanesco. The first time you see one, you tend to think "pointy broccoli." That's because it looks like:
Image courtesy of PD Photo.org under a Creative Commons Public Domain license.
which, as you can clearly see, is a pointy broccoli, or something that looks suspiciously like a pointy broccoli.
*- The "Magic Eye" or random dot 3D autostereograms were also very popular at that time.**
**- Ooh, and fiber optic artwork. People loved that stuff.
Note that the audio to the video contains not only a naughty word or two, but extreme geekery in the form of a Jonathan Coulton song.
In the world of living creatures, fractals aren't quite as popular. If you met a bear that was a fractal bear, he'd probably look like this:
and that'd just be weird, right?
Vegetables are a little different though; at least a few of them are. People talk about onions having layers like that's something interesting, but the broccoli relatives are the ones that you want to watch out for. If you've ever cut up a broccoli or cauliflower, you've probably noticed that the little stalks are much like the larger bits, at least up until a point.
The best representation of a fractal that I've seen in nature is broccoli's cousin, the romanesco. The first time you see one, you tend to think "pointy broccoli." That's because it looks like:
Image courtesy of PD Photo.org under a Creative Commons Public Domain license.
which, as you can clearly see, is a pointy broccoli, or something that looks suspiciously like a pointy broccoli.
*- The "Magic Eye" or random dot 3D autostereograms were also very popular at that time.**
**- Ooh, and fiber optic artwork. People loved that stuff.
Monday, January 12, 2009 at 8:30AM in food tagged broccoli, fractal, mad science, math, mathematics, romanesco, vegetables, video Thursday
Jan082009
BaR2D2 Mobile Drink Station and Party Robot
Some of you may know that, during the day, I build robots. And while making a car that can drive itself on city streets is pretty cool, I have to admit that I kind of wish I had my own mobile drink serving/mixing robot. But, with the aid of Instructables, I can now build my own BaR2D2.*
The build instructions are very complete. It wanders around a party, it has lots of clever, sound-activated lights, it serves drinks, it has cold beverage and ice storage. Oh, just watch the video:
Via BoingBoing Gadgets.
Preview photo by Kristie Stephens.
*- And, of course, you can also build your own. They don't all necessarily have to go to me.
The build instructions are very complete. It wanders around a party, it has lots of clever, sound-activated lights, it serves drinks, it has cold beverage and ice storage. Oh, just watch the video:
Via BoingBoing Gadgets.
Preview photo by Kristie Stephens.
*- And, of course, you can also build your own. They don't all necessarily have to go to me.
Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 8:30AM in equipment tagged distilled spirits, diy, drink, instructables, robot, video Thursday
Dec042008
FN Crazy
FoodVu is a food site with a definite video bent. They host a number of different styles of short-format, food related video, including instructional and humorous videos. The flagship video series is The FN Crazy Show, which explores what's happening at the Food Network. Not to be confused with FN Dish, which is a Food Network-owned blog that occasionally intersects the television network.
The FN Crazy Show follows Food Network shows, people, and trends in a way that shows they really do enjoy aspects of the Food Network, but it's the flaws that make for good copy. There's an underlying plot to the series of videos, generally having to do with a power struggle around the hosting of the series.
Speaking of hosting, the show's primary host, Sarah East, is adorable, which is a French word meaning, "adorable." Oh, wait. Those actually look the same written out, don't they. Sigh. The delivery is fast and punchy, much like an older film where they wanted to fit in a lot of dialogue in a short space, and imitated in more modern times by The Hudsucker Proxy, Pushing Daisies, and The Middleman.
Given the choice between delivering meaningful insight or making a joke, FN Crazy will go for the joke. That is not a criticism; the show is funny, and there are plenty of commentaries hidden in there, but if you're looking for a video show that's trying to change the fundamentals of inequality in society, this is probably not the one for you.
So: I certainly recommend.
The FN Crazy Show follows Food Network shows, people, and trends in a way that shows they really do enjoy aspects of the Food Network, but it's the flaws that make for good copy. There's an underlying plot to the series of videos, generally having to do with a power struggle around the hosting of the series.
Speaking of hosting, the show's primary host, Sarah East, is adorable, which is a French word meaning, "adorable." Oh, wait. Those actually look the same written out, don't they. Sigh. The delivery is fast and punchy, much like an older film where they wanted to fit in a lot of dialogue in a short space, and imitated in more modern times by The Hudsucker Proxy, Pushing Daisies, and The Middleman.
Given the choice between delivering meaningful insight or making a joke, FN Crazy will go for the joke. That is not a criticism; the show is funny, and there are plenty of commentaries hidden in there, but if you're looking for a video show that's trying to change the fundamentals of inequality in society, this is probably not the one for you.
So: I certainly recommend.
