Desolation Row memories

I guess you have to have a quirky sense of humor or something, I know when I told my family this story they were extremely upset if it ever happened, which of course, it didn’t.

I was in the mall the other day and was coming out of the washroom and there is a coffee shop. Three or four young women were sitting and talking when a new one walked over and one of the girls was very happy to see her and hugged her and she sat down. It just struck me, they were all “skinny girls” and the words just came into my head, as if Bob Dylan was standing next to me.

“And the Phantom's shouting to skinny girls "Get outta here if you don't know, Casanova is just being punished for going to Desolation Row”.

Now in my world, these are standard lyrics which I would recognize immediately; however, these young women of perhaps 17 to 22 years old and would probably not know them. But…they were skinny girls…

I wondered to myself, what would happen if I shouted at them, “"Get outta here if you don't know that Casanova is just being punished for going
To Desolation Row!”

I thought about it and realized that maybe I could convince mall security and the local police that I was harmless, but I would never get back into the mall, and I would be no hero to anyone buy myself, and even then it might be rough going…..

Baked Spinach Omelette for Passover

Baked Spinach Omelette for Passover adapted from the newspapers adaptation by me of the recipe in Joyce Goldstein’s book The New Mediterranean Jewish Table.

This just caught my eye and I knew it must be mine. I want to redo it now with Italian seasoning, chopped onions and peppers and maybe chicken pieces. As well, I'd like to add mozzarella, and it could become a  lasagna type of dish. In the meantime, it's wonderful just as it is!

Ready in 1 hour   Serves 8

1 tbs unsalted butter

2 pkgs frozen chopped spinach thawed

4 plain matzos

8 large eggs lightly beaten

1 cup ricotta

½ cup freshly grated parmesan

3 tbs extra virgin olive oil

1 ¼ tsps. sea salt

½ tea freshly ground pepper 

Sprinkle of nutmeg.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Butter a 2-3 qt. rectangular glass casserole dish.

Squeeze spinach to remove excess water and pat dry with a paper towel.

Break matzos into 2” pieces and place in a bowl with warm water for 2 minutes.

Drain matzos in a colander pressing lightly.

In a large mixing bowl combine eggs, spinach, matzos, ricotta, parmesan, olive oil salt and pepper.

Mix until evenly distributed.

Transfer to baking dish and even out the top with a spatula. Bake on the middle rack until set and a toothpick comes out clean, about 40 to 45 minutes. Grind some nutmeg on the top.