Thermometer Calibration

It is of utmost importance in the food service industry to have an accurate food thermometer. Certain bacteria can make people sick within minutes of ingestion; especially dangerous is the bacteria found in most poultry products. The industry standard temperature for cooking poultry range from 170-180 degrees F.
How do you know your thermometer is accurate? The answer to this is to check it in ice water. We know (or should know) that water freezes at 32 F; therefore, a glass of ice water will be very close to 32 F. By setting the thermometer in the ice water for a few minutes, you can find out if the thermometer is accurate if it correctly reads plus or minus 1 degree short of 32 F.
If the thermometer is not accurate you can calibrate it in two simple steps:

1.) At the back portion of the dial, there should be a hex or square shaped nut.

2.) While your thermometer is still in the ice water, use a small wrench to hold the nut secure and twist the dial portion until the indicator is directly on 32 F.

This blogger wonders how many food establishments require a weekly calibration test. Hmm... food for thought.

Onion Domes and Casinos

I read an article in yesterday's edition of the New York Times which addressed the issue of casinos and gambling in and around Moscow, Russia. Apparently they're having a real problem with it. Amongst the many onion domed Orthodox Churches that surround the city, a growing number of its population is becoming addicted, more than ever, to gambling.

I did some further digging on this growing problem by logging on to ITAR-TASS information site. According to TASS "The Moscow Duma ( lower chamber of Russian parliament) has adopted a legal act banning all gambling outlets from apartment buildings, bus and railway stations, airports, and from 100-meter exclusion areas around educational establishments." 1*

This blogger did not know that Russian's gambled, or even had slots and casinos in Russia!

According to Moscow's Serbisky PsychiatryInstitute:

2 million Russian's gamble each year.

330,000 Russian's are considered "compulsive" gamblers.

compulsive gambling leads to alcoholism.2*

*1 source: http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/prnt.html?NEWSID=1094667

*2 source: http://www.postcronicle.com/news/original/article_21246291.shtml

And Top 3 excuses Are...

Most Orthodox choral singers are simply not passionate about singing. We claim to have the "fullness of the Faith" ,which includes a rich tradition of liturgical music and chants, but we don't seem to care about it at all. I have been choir directing for the past 18 years and have become witness to this. So here we go with the top 3 Orthodox choral singers excuses for not singing prayerfully:

1) "We're not professional singers so deal with it."

My response to this is that I would necessarily not want a classically trained operatic soprano, for example, blaring out shrieks of a Cherubic Hymn soprano line only to draw attention to herself. Don't get me wrong, as they're probably many professional musicians who are of the Orthodox Faith who do prayerfully sing in their home choir. Ya don't have to be trained to sing sweet melodies to our Lord! It's an EXCUSE! According to the Abridged Typicon (proper order in Church book) it says: "Executing liturgical music in a shouted tone of the secular songs, or the passionate operatic tones, does not give those who are praying a chance to concentrate nor grasp the content and meaning of the hymns."

2) tardiness. I don't think that I have ever had all my choir members at the start of the Divine Liturgy! Having said that, it does not look favorably on me or them as well. They don't take their ministry with any seriousness. Also, it shows the lack of respect for God, those who came early and are trying to pray, and the choir director. Which leads to...

3) Lack of Self Discipline: If one can get ready and be on time for work, why not apply this to Church. Plan accordingly, set the alarm clock at least a half-hour back. I bet half, if not all Orthodox "slackers" do this for their secular job.

Oh...By the way, I tell my choir members to listen to African American Gospel music. Gospel music is "alive" "fresh" and soulful; not slow, lifeless, and dull sounding as are some of our choirs sound.

To be fair, though, there are many outstanding Orthodox Choir's around the country.

Kitchen Lingo

I have had the pleasure to work in the Food Service industry for about ten years of my life. As with all other professions in the world, we had our own second language; "kitchen lingo" if you will. Here are some real gems that I have remembered over the years:

guerilla= grilled chichen breast

for the squabs= child's menu

behind you, coming through, or watch your back--all mean the same thing...DON'T MOVE!

your mama= the dumpster

radar love= microwave it!

"kill it"= to cook the hell out of it

deep six= throw it away

make it happen!!!= do whatever it takes to give the chef what he needs

pay the bills= pick up the food

pre-meal= deadline to meet

"go get another case of 69's"= 3 compartmented aluminum foil homebound feeding trays. The ref. to #69 is just the code on the box. AFHFT #69