John Updike, 3.18.1932 - 1.27.2009

We have lost a brilliant author whose insight, writing and thought are unmatched by contemporaries. John Updike has passed away. He was 76.

If you haven't read the Rabbit series, I recommend you do. Rabbit, Run; Rabbit Redux; Rabbit Is Rich and Rabbit At Rest are incredible, outstanding, thought-provoking works that captured American small town life and middle class angst better than any other material I've encountered. That said, these novels are not for the young or especially sensitive or easily offended.

The series, now available in a single Everyman's Library text, displays tremendous insight into the human condition, as English majors so often say. Even the late Rabbit Remembered, which wrapped up the entire epic, proved worth reading.

Updike's observations of a couple whose husband had read Proust's entire In Search Of Lost Time series prompted me to begin reading all of the renowned but lengthy classic. I still remember Updike's commentary in which the wife's Proustian commitment was questioned due to her having read only Swann's Way, the first volume of the seven-work set.

If an artist is ever awarded a national holiday, this man's work, legacy and spirit should be among the very first recognized.

Pad See Ew

I've long been a fan of Pad See Ew, an outstanding Thai noodle dish that's often made with a black bean sauce. Here's the best recipe I've come up with, yet.

Ingredients:
4 Teaspoons regular soy sauce
6 Tablespoons mushroom flavored soy sauce
4 Teaspoons sugar
1 Tablespoon black bean sauce
4 Cloves garlic, minced
1/2 Block tofu, cubed
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
16 Ounces (2 cups) broccoli florets
8 Ounces dried wide rice sticks (or 1 pound chow fun noodles)
1 Chicken breast, cubed
Canola oil

Directions:
1. Boil water for cooking rice sticks. Cook rice sticks (noodles) and drain in colander. Rub in some canola oil to prevent sticking and set noodles aside.
2. Lightly whip 2 eggs and set aside.
3. Create sauce by combining soy sauce, mushroom flavored soy sauce, sugar, one clove minced garlic and black bean sauce. Stir until sugar is dissolved and set aside.
4. Add 2 tablespoons canola oil to wok and place on high heat. When oil begins smoking, add broccoli florets and stir fry for 2-3 minutes. Set broccoli aside.
5. Add 2 tablespoons canola oil to wok and return to high heat. Add tofu and 1 clove minced garlic. Stir fry 3-4 minutes (until tofu browns). Set tofu aside.
6. Add 2 tablespoons canola oil to wok and return to high heat. Add cubed chicken and 1 clove minced garlic. Stir fry 3-4 minutes. Set chicken aside.
7. Drizzle egg into wok and cook over high heat (approximately 1-2 minutes). Scramble egg in wok, then add to wok noodles, broccoli, chicken and tofu.
8. Add sauce and stir frequently, mixing all items together.

Thai Sweet Corn Cakes

Long my favorite appetizer, Thai Sweet Corn Cakes combine three of the best culinary ingredients available: corn, eggs and cilantro. Here's the recipe I recommend:

Ingredients:
2 cups drained canned, thawed, frozen or corn kernels
3 eggs
3 tablespoons cornstarch
½ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 cup cucumber, diced
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
Vegetable oil, for frying
Sweet Thai Chili Sauce *

Directions:
1. Remove 2 cups of fresh corn kernels from cob (or prepare 2 cups of frozen or canned kernels).
2. Dice cucumbers and set aside.
3. Chop cilantro and set aside.
4. In a small mixing bowl, beat eggs lightly. Add cornstarch, salt and white pepper. Mix.
5. Add corn, onions and garlic. Mix.
6. Place a wok or stir-fry pan over medium heat. Add vegetable oil to ¼-inch depth. When oil is hot, place corn batter mixture in pan using ¼-cup. Cook uncovered for approximately two minutes. Turn once and cook uncovered for approximately two more minutes.
7. Remove corn cakes from wok using spatula or slotted spoon and place on paper towel.
8. Let corn cake drain for 30 seconds, then transfer to serving plate.
9. Top with cucumber and cilantro and serve.

* Sweet Thai Chili Sauce – Can be sprinkled atop corn cakes when serving or can be used as dipping sauce. Look for Blue Dragon Thai Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce (available from Paul’s Fruit Market in Louisville and other grocers), or you can make your own.

What's Your Rule On Finishing Books?

I read 42 books last year. It could have been more.

On several occasions I began a lengthy novel (or biography) that, once 100 pages in, I felt compelled to finish. Sometimes, though, I lost interest part way through some of these texts. Still, I pushed on.

Granted, it paid off. I completed dozens of books in their entirety. Yet, I found myself on many occasions with some time wanting to read but not wanting to read one of the current books I had underway.

What to do? Is it OK to bail on reading a book even though you're 100 pages in?

I used to think bailing was unacceptable, but now I'm not so sure. Here's why.

Over the holidays I began reading Jaroslav Hasek's The Good Soldier Svejk. Some 120 pages later, I found it dark, depressing and just silly for my current mood and taste. So I abandoned the novel in favor of Douglas Coupland's The Gum Thief, and I'm glad I did. I'm finding it much more poignant. And, every time I swing by the table where it sits, I'm reminded I want to steal some time to kick back in the easy chair and open its pages.