LIFE
FEBRUARY 9, 2012 • BCR RECORDER • B3
Special meal, treat for Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day brings back memories of my first real box of candy. My boyfriend, Jim, came with two velvet heartshaped boxes of Brach’s candy from the corner Rita drug store. Heikenfeld One was RITA’S KITCHEN for me and the other for my mom. Pretty cool. I learned a valuable lesson: Valentine’s Day isn’t just for sweethearts!
Scott Bien’s Valentine’s Day city chicken and special smashed potatoes I enjoy meeting young people who are cooking simply for the love of it. Scott Bien, a West-side reader, does just that. As Scott told me: “While my education is in law, my passion lies in cooking.” I asked Scott to create an easy, but elegant, Valentine’s dinner. Scott’s philosophy is if you love the person you are cooking for and love what you are doing, you are already half way to a delicious Valentine’s Day dish. (He also shared a fabulous recipe for a mango chicken curry on my blog, Cooking with Rita, on Cincinnati.com).
City chicken/pork
Made from pork loin.
Drain potatoes. Add everything and smash. Season to taste with salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper, garlic powder and curry powder.
Cakery Bakery’s filled strawberry cream cheese cupcakes
Scott Bien's Valentine's dinner features bacon-wrapped city chicken and smashed potatoes. THANKS TO SCOTT BIEN. The story goes that it was created years ago since pork was cheaper than chicken (Cincinnati being Porkopolis and all). The skewered meat is supposed to resemble a chicken leg. Scott gets his made at Humbert’s Meats on Winton Road. Humbert’s puts five one-inch cubes of pork on each skewer. Scott buys six skewers of pork and here’s how he makes them: Roll each in flour seasoned to taste with salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper and curry powder. Sauté in extra-virgin olive oil until all sides are golden but not cooked through. Wrap each with raw bacon and bake at 350 until ba-
con is crispy. Scott’s took about 60 minutes. I would check after 30 minutes because ovens vary.
Smashed potatoes 3 lbs. red (new) potatoes, quartered, boiled and kept warm ½ pound bacon, fried and crumbled (save some for garnish) ½ medium yellow onion, diced 4 green onions, sliced (save some for garnish) 8 oz. sour cream 8 oz. chive and onion cream cheese 6 tablespoons butter 1½ cups sharp cheddar cheese
I met Susan Smith of Cakery Bakery at, of all places, my eye doctor’s office. Susan and best friend Danielle Forrester have a specialty pastry and cake business. (Check out their interesting journey on my blog). Susan’s mom made fancy aprons by hand for the girls. Susan and Danielle are sure to be successful since they bring glitz and a homespun touch to their unique creations. Check them out at cakerybakeryboutique@gmail.com or by calling Danielle at 513-2597756. Cake Makes 24 very moist cupcakes.
Contributor
Florence Rotary Club welcomed Pamela Miefert of MCM Clinical Research to the Jan. 30 meeting at the Airport Hilton. MCM provides staff and facilities to enable local clinicians to perform clinical research in Northern Kentucky. Miefert is director of clinical operations for MCM. She highlighted the fact that the MCM research staff provides over 50 years of combined clinical research experience. MCM’s primary study areas include adult ADHD, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, substance abuse, COPD and hepatitis among others. Clinical trials conducted by MCM are used to determine whether new drugs or treatments are safe and effective in humans. MCM works closely with physicians, patients and pharmaceutical companies to ensure trials are carried out in a safe and effective manner. Results are carefully documented and reported to the study sponsors, in strict adherence to FDA guidelines for testing and reporting. Miefert explained the various phases of clinical trials. During Phase 1 a new drug is given to a small group of healthy individuals to establish safety and tolerance. Phase 1 trials are conducted in a clinical setting, typically involve overnight stays and close monitoring of the individual subjects. MCM then participates in Phases II through Phase IV of the testing process. In Phase II, a drug is given to a larger group, between
Pamela Miefert of MCM Clinical Research LLC spoke to the Florence Rotary Club on Jan. 27 about medical trials conducted by the company. THANKS TO ADAM HOWARD
200 to 500 patients with a disease condition to determine a range of doses, drug safety and effectiveness. In Phase III the drug is given to a larger group – 1,000 to 3,000 patients – to establish the drug efficacy and effectiveness in selected doses. Phase IV studies continue after a drug has been approved to monitor safety in larger populations. Phase IV studies may also include studies of an already approved drug for new indications or dosages. Miefert identified several benefits for patients participating in drug trials. She noted that participants may be among the first to benefit from a new drug if it proves effective. Participants may also receive a more consistent level of health care during the trial period by a selected research team. In most cases participants also receive compensation for their time and travel. Naturally, participants in drug trials may also be the first to encounter side
Strawberry filling
until all is incorporated. Chill icing slightly before filling pastry bag and frosting cupcakes. Cover and store in refrigerator. Rita Nader Heikenfeld is an herbalist, educator and author. Email her at columns@communitypress.com with “Rita’s kitchen” in the subject line. Call 513-248-7130, ext. 356.
Laptops from
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1½ cups frozen strawberries 1 tablespoon cornstarch ¼ cup sugar Pastry bag
Combine all ingredients and slowly bring to boil over medium-high heat (Keep stirring until thickened for best results.) Let cool completely before filling pastry bag. Insert tip down into cupcake. Or poke a hole in the center of the cupcake and use a baggie with the corner tip cut off.
2 sticks slightly softened unsalted butter 2 cups sugar 8 oz. softened cream cheese 3 cups sifted cake flour 3 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 5 egg whites 1 cup of milk 2½ teaspoons vanilla
12 oz. softened cream cheese 1 stick unsalted butter 2½ teaspoons vanilla 6 cups sifted powdered sugar Pastry bag
Preheat oven to 350. In mixer, cream butter until smooth. Gradually add sugar and beat until light
Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Slowly, add sugar, 2 cups at a time,
Florence Rotary hears about clinical research By Harry Chesnut
and fluffy. Add cream cheese and blend. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Add whites to butter mixture one at a time, beating well after each. Add milk and vanilla and alternate with flour mixture. Blend. (Don’t over beat – can cause dryness.) Fill foil-lined cupcake pans ¾ full. Bake 25-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean. Cool before filling and frosting.
Frosting
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effects from the drug under study. She noted that Viagra was originally under study as a drug to control hypertension – the now well-known side effects were unexpected at the time. MCM Clinical Research is located in Suite 300 in Medical Office Building 1B adjacent to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Florence. The company, established in 2007, is a member of the Better Business Bureau and Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. For information about the weekly meetings, guest speakers, and community service opportunities of the Florence Rotary Club, contact Pat Moynahan, president, at amoynahan@in sightbb.com or 859-802-0242.
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