Support Lucky Old Souls

It's been a while since we last heard from Matt Feldman (a.k.a. Feldie), jazz connoisseur behind the Newbold music venue and restaurant Lucky Old Souls, first reported on by kitchenplay. Despite a successful re-zoning venture, some great buzz among Philly bloggers, and support from the neighborhood association, it hasn't been the easiest ride. Specifically, Feldman has faced a few obstacles in acquiring the Lucky Old Souls liquor license (this should hardly be a surprise to anyone who's ever tried serving booze in Philly).

Thankfully, things are looking up. His hearing before The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is finally scheduled for Wednesday, August 4, at 12:30 P.M., at 8th & Market St. It's the next step in getting Lucky Old Souls off the ground and the more supporters in attendance, the better Feldman's shot at opening up what's sure to be one of the best spots for live music and food in Philly. (RIP Orthliebs)

kitchenplay will be there. Who else is in? RSVP with your full name to luckyoldsouls@yahoo.com.

Strawberry Cardamom Muffins

As I make my cross over from the sad side (thanks for all the sweet comments), I finally put to work some forgotten tools of happiness... brown sugar and butter, berries and spices.

Things I learned... strawberry muffin recipes are few and far between, so sometimes you have to use a blueberry muffin recipe instead... I really need a mortar and pestle for grinding spices, as opposed to the handle of my knife and cutting board (my birthday is May 17th, hint hint!)... you can fashion something akin to whole milk with heavy whipping cream and fat free milk... strawberries make me happy... baking makes me happy.















Strawberry Cardamom Muffins
based on Cinnamon Blueberry Muffins from epicurious

• 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup whole milk (or in my case, 1/4 c. heavy whipping cream and 1/4 c. fat free milk)
  
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh cardamom
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 pound strawberries, chopped
  
• Special equipment: a muffin pan with 12 (1/2-cup) muffin cups; 12 foil or paper muffin liners

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Put liners in muffin cups.

Whisk together butter, brown sugar, milk, vanilla and egg in a bowl until combined well. Whisk together flour, baking powder, cardamom, and salt in a large bowl. Add milk mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in strawberries gently.

Divide batter among muffin cups and bake until golden brown and a wooden pick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.

Have You Missed Me?

It's been well over two months since my last post. Did I lose my love for food, for cooking with others, for playing in the kitchen? Not exactly. I will confess that I have been on the sadder side of things lately and part of me hasn't been as excited to get my hands dirty in the kitchen. More often than not, cooking - baking in particular - have offered comfort (or at least distraction) for me when things were tough. So this recent cooking dry spell feels alien, likely influenced as much by the intense winter weather as by happenings in my personal life.

Rather than keep lamenting my lack of creative juices, both in the kitchen and on the blog, I need to start posting again, even if it is accomplished in a super uncreative way. Let me share some of the things that have been keeping my belly full and my taste buds tantalized. Yup, I'm giving you a list. Love it.

The Lockhart at Percy Street BBQ, in honor of Daniel's birthday
Many roast chickens, including one cooked by Mike in a clay pot
Soup dumplings at Dim Sum Garden
Brunches at Green Eggs Cafe
Plans for beef bourguinon and chocolate ginger scones at the Poconos this weekend (remember the Stuffalo adventure from last year?)
Beef short ribs for Christmas dinner
Roasted Brussels sprouts

It's a start.

P.S. And I've missed all of you.