March 14
Albert Einstein's Birthday 



Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist, best known for his theory of relativity and specifically mass-energy equivalence, E = mc. He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to Theoretical Physics
."  In January 1933, Adolph Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. One of the first actions of Hitler's administration was the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service which removed Jews and politically suspect government employees (including university professors) from their jobs, unless they had demonstrated their loyalty to Germany by serving in World War I. In December 1932, in response to this growing threat, Einstein migrated to the United States.

Einstein's theory of relativity ideas helped usher in the atomic age.
 The Nobel Prize winner became the ultimate symbol of theoretical physics and one of the most vocal advocates of human rights and world peace. Einstein's contributions to theoretical physics are commemorated by the bizarre retention of his brain at the University of Missouri. His contributions to world peace are commemorated by the FBI's bizarre 1500 page file compiled under the direction of Edgar J. Hoover  which conected Einstein with hundreds of communist-front organizations.

The idiocy of the FBI files was reported by Richard Schwartz in an article in the September 1983 Nation magazine. The files which were released under the Freedom of Information Act included such allegations that (1) Einstein was an Russian spy; (2) Einstein framed Bruno Hauptman for the Lindbergh kidnapping; (3) Einstein had invented a robot that could read human thoughts; and (4) Einstein was taking control of all the major Hollywood studies. There were also reports of Einstein's alleged efforts to curb nuclear proliferation and the threat of nuclear war, these being the most dangerous accusations in Hoover's opinion.

Einstein has been portrayed in opera (
Phillip Glass' s 1976 opera Einstein on the Beach), theater: (Ed Metzger's one-man play Albert Einstein: The Practical Bohemian and Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile), and film: IQ  (1994) where he was portrayed by Walter Matthau, and Insignificance (1985)  where he was played by Michael Emil.

So lets celebrate Albert's birthday with some Deviled Brains and a DVD of IQ.
 
 

Deviled Brains

Ingredients
 
3 calf brains, about 10 oz each
1 TB white vinegar
2 TB salt
2 TB lemon juice
salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
several sprigs parsley
2 cups vegetable oil

*See Appendix A
 
dash of cayenne pepper
1/4 cup brown glace de viande*
1/2 cup white wine
¼ cup butter
3 TB Dijon mustard
2 eggs mixed with 2 TB water
6 TB breadcrumbs
lemon wedges for garnish

 
Instructions
 
  1. Wash brains in cold water and soak in a separate bowl of cold water for 30 minutes. Remove any membranes and place brains in a
    saucepan. Cover brains with cold water and add vinegar and 1 TB salt. Simmer for 20 minutes and allow to cool to room temperature
    in poaching liquid. Remove brains, drain poaching liquid and cool brains under cold running water. Set brains aside.
  2. While brains are cooking, place shallots, vinegar, wine, cayenne pepper and black pepper in a saucepan. Cook over low heat until all
    liquid evaporates. Add glace de viande and bring to a boil. Add butter and beat well. Add salt to taste. Set aside.
  3. Heat oil to 375º F.
  4. Slice each brain in 8 slices. Spread each side with mustard. Dip each slice in flour, then in the egg-water mixture, then in the
    breadcrumbs. Fry in the oil until golden. Serve with lemon wedges

Serves 4

© 2011 Gordon Nary and Tyler Stokes