In Search of Pumpkin Cheesecake
We got out early today at the office. I went to my Radiation treatment. Then I ran to the Library . Funny, I almost went over my limit on the number of books I have checked out.
I went home to get a cheesecake recipe. My contribution to Thanksgiving is a Pumpkin Cheesecake. I couldn't find the recipe I always use, so I will have to try a new one.
To make a Cheesecake, you need a Springform Pan. Its two pieces. The sides come undone, and separates from the bottom.
I went to dig my Springform pan out from the bottom kitchen cabinet.
Way, Way in the back where I could barely reach.
I found the side part.
And the bottom of the Springform pan ? Wedged in between the shelf and the wall.
I did everything I could to dig it out. It was not coming undone.
That piece of bakeware will be wedged in that spot until the Second Coming of Jesus ... or until the City of LA demolishes the building - whichever comes first.
Off I go to Ralphs , for all my Pumpkin Cheesecake needs.
Of course, they don't have a single Springform pan in their cooking aisle.
I will have to make one more stop in my cooking expedition.
Shopping the day before a major holiday is really weird.
There are alot of people in the Supermarket who just don't belong there.
It makes shopping for us regular Supermarket-goers difficult, because none of these people know where anything is.
As I was in the Baking Aisle looking for the Springform pan, there were 2 really large, young, hip-hop type guys in the aisle.
My guess is they offered to bring the dessert for tomorrows dinner at Moms place.
"Get out of the way dude, let the lady by." said one.
"Yo, man, I got to find the jello" said the other.
Jello - hmmm, Thanksgiving dinner should be interesting.
People Watching is so much fun....
Then there was a very wealthy looking, upscale dressed, businessman, with his shopping cart looking forlorn and lost.
And a short, chubby Hispanic woman wearing a t-shirt came up and put something in his cart.
I was confused. These two don't go together.
I saw them talking. Gee, I thought, that can't be his wife.
Oh, it dawned on me - The Housekeeper, Maid, The Hired Help.
She obviously knew more about the Supermarket than he did. He should have just stayed home and let her do the shopping.
He looked like a Deer in Headlights.
But I was really taken with a young couple with two children. The older one in the cart, and a baby in a sling that the mother was holding.
The young husband was dressed crisp and clean. The young woman wore fancy pointed-toe high heels, her hair in a very business like bun.
I looked at her walking around the Supermarket in those high heels and carrying the baby.
They looked like they were on their way to a Thanksgiving Dinner - not shopping for it.
As they talked I noticed their interaction. She let the husband make all the decisions about what to buy.
Hmmmm... she wasn't American. Did he meet her in Russia and bring her back to the states with him ?
Then there were the two separate Chicks who were way overdressed for the Grocery store.
One, in long flowing black lace. Hair dyed streaks of white and baby blue. She looked like she belonged on stage singing in a band. My guess is that she had stopped off on her way home from work, wherever that is. She was quickly grabbing her items. And was out of the store in a flash.
Who knows, maybe she was shopping for Thanksgiving on her way to sound-check at the Club.
The other Chick, looked like she was at the Supermarket to pick up Guys. Micro-mini denim skirt and boots. She was wearing a fake purple wig, like Natalie Portman in "Closer".
It was the way she was posing herself with her shopping cart - her hand on her hips, and her hips jutted out to the side.
Usually when people are serious about shopping for Thanksgiving, they don't stand in one place and Pose.
She could have been posing for a fashion magazine. Maybe there was a photographer at the other end of the aisle.
Well, enough people watching. I had to get going.
Waiting for the elevator, I tried to call Bed, Bath and Beyond to see if they had Springform pans.
They hung up on me. Twice.
Holiday help who don't know how to use the telephone switchboard....
I had plenty of time for cellphone calls. The line to the elevator was ridiculously long. Only one elevator was working at the Ralphs on Western and Hollywood.
The other 2 were out of order.
I stopped off at Rite Aid first. I was mad at Bed, Bath and Beyond for hanging up on me twice and I really didn't want to spend money there tonight.
But Rite Aid has no Springform pans.
But they did have three middle aged men standing in line each buying those large beer cans. I think its like 3 beers in one can.
I thought 'Well, thats how some people spend Thanksgiving." I guess they were having a party of their own.
Finally at Bed, Bath and Beyond.
Not a single Sales person to help me anywhere.
I was about to buy two little mini-springboard pans, which I really didn't want.
I looked on the bottom shelf - and there is was: A set of 3 springform pans, 8 inches, 9 inches and 10 inches - for under Ten bucks.
Wow, thats a good deal.
And I got the second to the last one.
Alot of people must be making cheesecake this year.
While I was there, I got a little vegetable steamer.
And a really handy gizmo. Its called a Nuscup.
It is a measuring cup and spoon - because it adjusts. And it works for both liquids too.
(I've used it already and its really handy.)
Okay - too much running around. I will have to make the Pumpkin Cheesecake tomorrow.
