Yam Gratin

(bake in 350-degree oven; total baking time about 1&3/4 hours)

1 onion finely sliced and sautéed in olive oil until transparent 2 cups evaporated milk or heavy cream 1 tsp kosher salt or ½ tsp regular salt 3 lbs yams, peeled and sliced ¼” thick 1 ½ cups grated cheese (cheddar, Monterey jack or Swiss, or a combination thereof)

1. Spray large (3-quart) casserole dish with nonstick spray (important; don’t skip this step).
2. Stir together evaporated milk (or heavy cream) and salt in large bowl. Add sliced yams to bowl, coating with milk/cream as you add them; make sure they are all coated.
3. Layer 1/3 of yams slices in baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the cheese. Repeat with another 1/3 of yams and remainder of cheese. Top with remaining yams. Pour any remaining milk/cream over top.
4. Place uncovered casserole on center rack of oven (bottom third of oven works OK if you need to bake something else on the top third) on a baking sheet (very important) to catch boil-overs.
5. Bake 30 min.
6. Remove from oven and press fork or spatula carefully against top layer to allow liquid to flow over “crust”. Replace pan in oven.
7. Bake 30 minutes more. Remove from oven a second time.
8. Press top layer to allow liquid to flow over top a second time, and replace pan in oven.
9. Bake another 40-45 minutes or until yams are tender.
10. Remove from oven and let rest 15 minutes before serving.

Fluffy Butterscotch Pudding

1 package fat-free sugar-free Jello butterscotch pudding mix
1 can evaporated milk + enough juice from canned pineapple that was packed in its own juice) to make 2 cups.

Mix together and beat with hand rotary beater several minutes. Spoon into three or four individual serving dishes and garnish with canned pineapple (optional).

Brown-sugar Brandy Rhubarb

4 c. sliced rhubarb
½ c. or more brown sugar
4 Tbsp. tapioca
¼ or more brandy

Mix all in top of double boiler. Place 2 inches of water in bottom of double boiler and place top pan on top of bottom pan. Heat water in bottom of double boiler until steam comes out from between the two pots. (Tapioca and fruit will have a chance to sit for enough time while water heats up before tapioca and fruit start to cook.) Turn down heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes. You can stir before serving but if you don’t stir, the rhubarb stays in distinct pieces.

Civil War Mac and Cheese

3 c. milk
11/2 c. elbow macaroni
3 Tbsp butter (optional)
½ lb grated cheddar cheese (approx. 2 cups packed)
Freshly ground black pepper
Grated nutmeg
Bread crumbs (or buttered bread cubes)

1. Heat milk in large sauce pan being careful that milk doesn’t scorch on bottom of pay. Stir in the dry macaroni. Simmer for 15 minutes or until done. Macaroni will absorb most but not all of milk.
2. Either melt butter in another sauce pan and stir in black pepper, nutmeg and cheese and stir cheese until melted or stir cheese and seasonings directly into macaroni and milk and skip the butter (it is rich enough without the butter).
3. Place mac and cheese into baking dish. Sprinkle top with breadcrumbs or buttered bread cubes and bake in a 375-400 degree oven until top is lightly browned.

Administrative denial of firefighter’s claim for benefits upheld where firefighter changed story of how injury happened and administrative denial was supported by substantial evidence, under collective bargaining agreement and NY Admin. Proc. §306(1) (COA 4/5/2011)

Claimant firefighter changed his description of the cause of his back injury from his original version given to his supervisor in his initial report of injury ( which was a defective air suspension in his seat) to a different version (which was hitting a pothole that caused the air-suspension seat to elevate and then shoot downwards, which he claimed at the collective-bargaining-agreement hearing challenging the district’s denial of his claim for benefits for a work-related injury).  After the firefighter’s initial report, the district had had the seat inspected by the district’s mechanic and the manufacturer’s representative neither of whom found anything wrong.   In its denial, the district attributed the firefighter’s back complaints to his two prior back injuries.   Claimant’s neurosurgeon testified at the hearing that he would not causally related the injury to a work-related injury if the injury did not occur as the firefighter had claimed.  

The district’s denial of benefits was upheld because it was supported by “substantial evidence”.  “Substantial evidence” is such relevant proof as a reasonable mind may accept as adequate to support a conclusion or ultimate fact, and is less than a preponderance of the evidence.  Substantial evidence requires only that a given inference is reasonable and plausible, not necessarily the most probable.  The firefighter had the burden under the collective bargaining agreement and under NY Admin. Proc. Act §306(1) to prove that the denial was not supported by substantial evidence.  The hearing officer was required to give deference to the district’s determination.  The fact that there was also substantial evidence supporting the firefighter’s position was irrelevant so long as there was substantial evidence supporting the district’s denial. 

Matter of Ridge Road Fire District, v. Michael P. Schiano  http://bit.ly/fsvwSN (Ct. App. April 5, 2011) (four to three decision).