April 18
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 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 connected Einstein with hundreds of communist-front organizations.

 

Albert Einstein

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.

Albert Einstein has been the subject of or inspiration for many novels, films, and plays, including many comic characterizations.  Some of the more memorable film and TV portrayals include Michael Emil in Insignificance (1985), Yahoo Serious in Young Einstein (1988), Robert Downey Jr. in That's Adequate (1989),John Ehrin in  Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991), Walter Matthau in  I.Q. (1994),and Andy Serkis in the TV production of Einstein and Eddington (2007) .

To commemorate the captivity of Einstein's brain by the University of Missouri, here is a recipe for deviled brains. Calf and lamb brains have always been a gourmet favorite, noted for their creamy consistency. In the 1990s consumption of brains ceased in most of Western Europe because of the fear of mad cow  disease (Bovine spongiform encephalopathy  or BSE) and was the reported source of William Shatner's character's mad cow disease in Boston Legal. However, like William Shatner, brains are slowly returning to popularity. According American Meat Institute said there is no risk of BSE from eating calves' brains because of their young age, which does not give the illness enough time to incubate.
 

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