It’s World Communication Week. It’s National Men Make Dinner Day. It’s National Fig Week. Communicate to a man in your life that you want him to make dinner. Here’s a fantastic, not-as-sweet-as-you-might-think recipe for duck with dried fruit (toss in some dried figs) pilfered from epicurious.com:
Peppercorn-Crusted Muscovy Duck with Blueberries
Bon Appétit | January 1998
Serves 4
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
1 cup mixed dried fruit, cut into matchstick-size pieces
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 12- to 16-ounce boneless Muscovy duck breast halves with skin
4 teaspoons crushed mixed peppercorns
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) chilled butter, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup frozen blueberries, thawed
Stir sugar and water in heavy small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until mixture is deep amber, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 8 minutes. Stir in vinegar (mixture will bubble). Add broth. Simmer until reduced to 1 cup, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in dried fruit and ginger. Let stand 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, using fork, pierce duck skin (not meat) all over. Sprinkle with salt. Rub pepper over skin side of duck. Heat a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add duck, skin side down, and cook until golden and crisp, about 15 minutes. Turn over; cook to desired doneness, about 8 minutes for medium. Let rest 10 minutes.
Rewarm sauce over low heat. Whisk in butter a few pieces at a time. Stir in blueberries. Season with salt and pepper.
Slice duck breasts; serve with sauce.
Oh, boy, we’ve been waiting for this. Today the New York Times reported that the 
In 1975 New York City was in dire financial straights. Mayor Abraham Beame and Gov. Hugh Carey asked the federal government for a measly $1 billion line of credit. President Ford refused.
Eli Whitney applied for a patent on the cotton gin on this day in 1793, a patent he was granted March 14, 1794. The U.S. Patent Office web site states: “Eli Whitney watched a cat pull feathers through a cage — it was how he thought of the invention now known as the cotton gin.” One must wonder: as Eli watched this disturbing scene, did he do nothing to rescue the unfortunate player in this “light bulb” moment? For surely these feathers were attached to some hapless bird who was trapped in that cage.
On October 26, 1825 first passage through the Erie Canal was opened from Lake Erie to New York City. We always wondered how the mules were able to hold their breath long enough to make it all that way.
Pablo Picasso was born on this day in 1881. On Oct. 25, 1955 Tappan sold its first microwave oven. It cost $1,200. That same year Picasso painted this pitcher. It’s worth $8,000-12,000. If only he’d had access to a microwave, maybe he could have melted the actual pitcher and painted it the way it REALLY looked instead of having to use his imagination.