Sold on ceramic

For my birthday, I was given a lovely Kyocera knife and peeler set. I am over the moon with them!

Steve brought his Chicago Cutlery to our marriage, and has been faithfully sharpening them with a steel now for over 30 years. Kyocera ceramic knives are second only to diamonds in hardness, so they hardly ever need to be sharpened! This is a big plus for me, as I do not dare ruin the metal blades by trying to sharpen them, so I am always depending on Steve to wield the steel.

According to one source,

The hardness of the blades is measured on a scale called Mohs hardness scale. Kyocera blades are 8.2 on the Mohs hardness scale compared to steel that is 5-6 Mohs, and diamond is 10 Mohs. Under normal household circumstances, your Kyocera may take 3-5 years or more before it needs sharpening.

My ceramic knife is extremely lightweight--it's like cutting a tomato with a feather. It also allows me to shear tomatoes so that they are impossibly thin! Another plus: because it is so sharp, it does not "crush" the cells of the onion, and so it doesn't elicit the tears! This was a delight to discover, as I have suffered from onionitis for years using metal knives.

Finally, here is a most remarkable feature: you can cut an apple with a ceramic knife, and it will not brown! I know, it's hard to believe, but it's true.

Ceramic knives are not meant to replace metal knives, because they can chip, break, or shatter if twisted, pressed, or dropped. You must always use a wood cutting surface; you can't use them to cut bones or frozen foods or anything that might require flexibility from the blade. They must be carefully stored, so that their edges are protected from chipping against other utensils.

But consider how knights treated their swords. My Kyocera is my weapon of choice as I do battle daily in the kitchen!

For People Who Play with Food: Ramen Knitting!

Of Chicken Kiev and a Greek Tango

Another hour and Mother's Day 2009 will be history. I have been blessed for the past 22 years to have been among the ranks of mothers being honored on this day.

For many, it is a day of mixed emotions, or worse. For them, I pray God's comfort and peace. I am not without some lingering pains: my Grandma Pete died on a Mother's Day over two decades ago, and there were half a dozen Mother's Days where my own mother didn't know my name, thanks to Alzheimer's Disease.

But today, I awoke to a vase of coral and ivory roses on the kitchen table, plus a big pot of spanish lavendar and another of bog rosemary--gifts from my husband, Steve, and daughter, Joanna. After church they made me dinner, and what a dinner! Chicken Kiev, asparagas and rice pilaf. This was no frozen meal: Steve and Joanna made it from scratch, with lots of butter and garlic and parsley. But the most important ingredient was love.

My friend J. is newly divorced. She went to a concert last night and heard a song, "Greek Tango" sung by Constantinos Yiannoudes. It is a very sad song, wondering what happened to the love two people once shared. Here are the words:

Truly it is terrible. I have to admit
Your old love for me does not concern you anymore.

You hastily give me a typical "good evening."

You do not even give me your small beautiful hand.

As if it wasn't true

As if your tears never flowed for me.

As if it wasn't true

In those past years, when you lived for me

and I lived for you.

Each one hates the other.

And you have forgotten

all those sweet kisses you gave me.

And all our love is buried

in a drawer with yellowed letters.

As if it wasn't true,

as if your tears never flowed for me.

As if it wasn't true

In those past years, when you lived for me

and I lived for you.

Today J. taught Ephesians 4:30-32 to the high school group. It took great strength. The kids sat rapt, knowing that she spoke from her own experience. She compared a mother's love to Lord's. He is the source of all love, trust and intimacy. "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption," Human love may fail. Even a mother's love will someday come to an end, but God's love is constant and true.

This could have been one of those painful holidays. Though J. will never again celebrate her wedding anniversary, God is good: her son presented her with a vase of flowers early this morning, sat beside her in worship, and thanked God for her during the open prayer time. Like all wise and good children, he knew that the most important ingredient is love.

Matthew 18:3-5

And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes a humble place—becoming like this child—is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

How some of us spend Holy Saturday night

Tonight many of us at VCC are busily preparing food for the Easter dinner after worship tomorrow. We will have two lamb roasts, and two huge hams. I'm also bringing pea salad, strawberry spinach salad, cookies, green bean casserole, and 4 dozen devilled eggs.

It reminds me of Susan's Pascha last year, when she went to her roommate's Orthodox church in Seattle. Here's what they had to eat:

roast lamb on the spit! Actually, I'm glad I don't have to worry about getting that ready... : )

A Chinese Feast

Two nights ago, D.Y., our Taiwanese-American friend (who has been tutoring Joanna in Mandarin) made us a most fabulous meal. His Taiwanese parents owned a restaurant, so he knows what real Chinese food should taste like. We have only had the popular American variety, and he was anxious to introduce us to the Real Thing. All I can say is, it's a whole 'nother cuisine! Thanks, D. for opening up this new world to us.

The photos below are the nearest visual equivalents that I could find on the web to what D. served us. I wonder what the marriage feast of the Lamb will be like if it can be this good, this side of heaven?


- Miso Chilean Sea Bass. It was marinated in sake and rice wine.I am not a fish lover, but this was truly extraordinary.


Yuxiang Eggplant. This was a real hit. D. kept apologizing for its greasiness, but we are Bilynskyjs and not afraid of oil. After all, neither was Aaron.





Chinese Broccoli w/ Oyster Sauce




-Baby Bok Choy w/ Shiitake Mushrooms





- NiuRou Zuan Bing (Beef wrapped in Green Onion Pancake with
Hoison Sauce). These are Chinese burritos. I wish they were as widely available as the Mexican ones.




- and Potato Salad
sliced apples gave it an Asian twist.