Bunkerman's. :)
A reprise challenge cage match was held the crisp morning of December 24 on the home turf of Big Al. The participants were buff and prepared, each having a stock of secret ingredients to use.
Big Al chose the go the all-natural, greenie style route with plenty of zest of lemon for his perfectly formed citrus pancakes. Big Al's plating incorporated orange slices on a field of powdered sugar - quite attractive.
Bunkerman used sophisticated science and technology to capture dark matter and dark energy [aka red and green dark chocolate m&m's) and a few Higg's bosons (semi-dried Bing cherries) to flavor his delicate, fluffy (using cosmic inflation aka sour cream), and yes, a bit crunchy (via chopped walnuts) vanilla multigrain pancakes. Bunkerman's plating used a Christmas motif - mint leaves and fresh red raspberries - to accentuate the red & green from the embedded m&ms.
Naturally, [ ;) ] man defeated nature and Bunkerman won. The pancakes were graded according to taste (50%), texture (30%), plating (10%) and creativity (10%). The contest was a bit close, though, with a point differential of about 20 pts out of a possible 400.
Bunkerman was, of course, modest in his win, simply thanking the judges and looking at his shoelaces as his HS coach used to urge. Big Al was gracious, congratulating Bunkerman for a well-fought match.
And Bunkerman began new plans for Relativistic Pancakes to be ready when Big Al issues a new challenge.
Word of the Day
"Felicity" - noun [$10]
Felicity means 1. a. great happiness, bliss; 1. b. an instance of bliss; 2. something producing happiness; 3. an appropriate and pleasing manner or style or an instance of it.
Sentence: The contestants and judges enjoyed a morning of much felicity, partaking of good food and conversation during the preparation and tasting of two examples of supremely fine pancakes.
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
The Coney Revisited
Yesterday I made a few minor improvements to my recipe for a fine, but simple, food from the heartland aka Ohio. By the way, natives in my part of Ohio pronounce it, "uh-hi-uh" with the stress on the 'hi' :)
A coney in Ohio is named for its namesake not from Coney Island in New York City, but from the sandwich of the old Coney Island in Cincinnati. A coney is a hot dog topped with a meat sauce and onions.
To repeat my old recipe from a prior post, fry up a pound of good hamburger (lowest fat content), drain, add a can of Manwich (a sloppy Joe sauce), heat a bit. That's the meat sauce. It can be refrigerated and saved, but reheat it before using. No change there.
For the best coney, use Angus "bun-size" hot dogs - they have the best flavor and the extra length lets you add more sauce evenly. Apply some Coleman's mustard to the hot dog bun of your choice. Coleman's is very yellow and a bit hot, so don't use too much. Boil the hot dogs a few minutes to cook (they are pre-cooked, so all you are doing is heating them). Put the hot dog into the mustard-lined hot dog bun, then slather some meat sauce onto the hot dog and add chopped onions. Eat and enjoy!
NOTE: put the hot dog into the bun first, and add the meat sauce on top, then the onions. You might want a spoon handy as some of the goodies will inevitably fall out when you chomp on the Coney.
Simple, cheap, tasty food for the common man and woman with all-American ingredients. One need not be rich to eat well in our modern world.
Word of the Day
"Adlect" - verb, transitive [$10,000] from ancient Rome.
"Adlection - noun [$10,000] from ancient Rome.
Adlect means to nominate or choose a person to enter the Roman Senate. In the principate, the Emperor would adlect senators by nomination.
Adlection was the term for a process that the Romans used to fill civic vacancies. It was most known for filling the Senate to the requisite number, when membership fell below the ordained number of members. The term is a Latin combined word, from "ad" meaning towards, for, and "lect" meaning collect, pick, hence "adlect" mans to pick for the Senate. Compare to "elect", from 'e' meaning from, out of. Hence, "elect" means to choose from people.
Sentence: Caligula once adlected a horse to the Senate, whether out of derision for its other members or in a bit of mad humor. Today,
A coney in Ohio is named for its namesake not from Coney Island in New York City, but from the sandwich of the old Coney Island in Cincinnati. A coney is a hot dog topped with a meat sauce and onions.
To repeat my old recipe from a prior post, fry up a pound of good hamburger (lowest fat content), drain, add a can of Manwich (a sloppy Joe sauce), heat a bit. That's the meat sauce. It can be refrigerated and saved, but reheat it before using. No change there.
For the best coney, use Angus "bun-size" hot dogs - they have the best flavor and the extra length lets you add more sauce evenly. Apply some Coleman's mustard to the hot dog bun of your choice. Coleman's is very yellow and a bit hot, so don't use too much. Boil the hot dogs a few minutes to cook (they are pre-cooked, so all you are doing is heating them). Put the hot dog into the mustard-lined hot dog bun, then slather some meat sauce onto the hot dog and add chopped onions. Eat and enjoy!
NOTE: put the hot dog into the bun first, and add the meat sauce on top, then the onions. You might want a spoon handy as some of the goodies will inevitably fall out when you chomp on the Coney.
Simple, cheap, tasty food for the common man and woman with all-American ingredients. One need not be rich to eat well in our modern world.
Word of the Day
"Adlect" - verb, transitive [$10,000] from ancient Rome.
"Adlection - noun [$10,000] from ancient Rome.
Adlect means to nominate or choose a person to enter the Roman Senate. In the principate, the Emperor would adlect senators by nomination.
Adlection was the term for a process that the Romans used to fill civic vacancies. It was most known for filling the Senate to the requisite number, when membership fell below the ordained number of members. The term is a Latin combined word, from "ad" meaning towards, for, and "lect" meaning collect, pick, hence "adlect" mans to pick for the Senate. Compare to "elect", from 'e' meaning from, out of. Hence, "elect" means to choose from people.
Sentence: Caligula once adlected a horse to the Senate, whether out of derision for its other members or in a bit of mad humor. Today,
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
An Epicurean Delight
Grand Jean displayed his Epicurean skills in the wilderness last week at a campsite deemed "Slippery Rock" camp. Boreas, the North Wind, had forced us to ground early after the last crossing of Le Grand Portage, and Boreas continued to blow all afternoon. Grand Jean reached into one of his two giant LRP packs to pull out the ingredients for making a fine sandwich for himself and Big Al.
I noticed the smell and ambled over. Drool began to drip from my mouth as the smell of fried Spam wafted over me. Grand Jean was making a few grilled Spam and cheese sandwiches ... with real butter. OMG, what a masterpiece!!!
Big Al offered me a small quarter sandwich to taste, and the taste exceeded my already lofty expectations. The sandwich bread was finely grilled with real butter; two slices of Kraft American singles bracketed a Spam single slice [these are available in supermarkets in my hometown in Ohio.] I ate it slowly, savoring its exquisite flavor ... a 10! This will go onto my lunchtime menu back at the bunker.
Grilled Spam and Cheese
Two slices of good bread
Butter
One slice of Spam
Two slices of American cheese [or Velveeta cheese]
Fry the spam until a bit crispy. Put a slice of cheese onto the bottom slice of bread, add the Spam slice and top with the second slice of cheese. Spread a bit of butter onto the bread on both sides of the sandwich and put into the skillet. When one side is browned, flip over and brown the other side. When it's brown, you are done. Eat and relish its wonderful flavor.
Word of the Day
"Enervate" - verb, transitive [$10]
Enervate means 1. to lessen the vitality or strength of; 2. to reduce the mental or moral vigor. Enervate is a rough antonym of energize.
Sentence: Wind enervates canoeists: it saps the canoe's forward momentum and blows the canoe off course. Wind is the canoeists' bane.
I noticed the smell and ambled over. Drool began to drip from my mouth as the smell of fried Spam wafted over me. Grand Jean was making a few grilled Spam and cheese sandwiches ... with real butter. OMG, what a masterpiece!!!
Big Al offered me a small quarter sandwich to taste, and the taste exceeded my already lofty expectations. The sandwich bread was finely grilled with real butter; two slices of Kraft American singles bracketed a Spam single slice [these are available in supermarkets in my hometown in Ohio.] I ate it slowly, savoring its exquisite flavor ... a 10! This will go onto my lunchtime menu back at the bunker.
Grilled Spam and Cheese
Two slices of good bread
Butter
One slice of Spam
Two slices of American cheese [or Velveeta cheese]
Fry the spam until a bit crispy. Put a slice of cheese onto the bottom slice of bread, add the Spam slice and top with the second slice of cheese. Spread a bit of butter onto the bread on both sides of the sandwich and put into the skillet. When one side is browned, flip over and brown the other side. When it's brown, you are done. Eat and relish its wonderful flavor.
Word of the Day
"Enervate" - verb, transitive [$10]
Enervate means 1. to lessen the vitality or strength of; 2. to reduce the mental or moral vigor. Enervate is a rough antonym of energize.
Sentence: Wind enervates canoeists: it saps the canoe's forward momentum and blows the canoe off course. Wind is the canoeists' bane.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Cheap Food
Some people complain constantly about the cost of food. Sure, sometimes weather factors make the prices of some foods go up a lot, but the choices available to the modern American are remarkably broad, IF one is willing to do a bit of work and cooking. One can be a lazy bum and whine for a prepared food to pop into the toaster oven or microwave, or one can get off one's butt, use one's hands and fix something cheaply.
Here's a recipe for Johnny Cakes, a very simple, energy filled side dish for a couple fried eggs. "Johnny Cakes" is the slang name for a food of the common pioneer family in Rhode Island and other New England colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonnycake - that box pictured is the same as the one from where this recipe came, except I cut the salt in half and used olive oil instead of grease/lard. I've adjusted it to make the serving size suitable for one man.
Johnny Cakes
1/2 cup corn meal (white or yellow)
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
3/4 cups boiling water
2 Tbl. olive oil
Preheat a large skillet to medium high (380F for electric fry pans). Mix dry ingredients well in small/medium bowl. Add olive oil to skillet to heat. Then add boiling water to mixed dry ingredients and mix thoroughly; it will be thick.
Drop mixture onto skillet in one (heaping) tablespoon sized lumps. Do not touch or turn for six (6) minutes*. At six (6) minutes, turn over & cook for about five minutes. This will yield 4-5 golden brown Johnny Cakes.
*The recipe on the box says this, but mine stick a little (I am not using a Teflon skillet), so I lift them a bit midway - yes, I'm fussing.
Calories are about 240 plus the olive oil absorbed, making them about 480 total, or perhaps 120 calories per Johnny Cake, about the same as a slice of bread.
Yellow corn meal from Quaker Oats works fine. A 24 oz. container cost $1.69 at the supermarket last time I bought it; that package will provide about enough for 10 meals per above. The cost of the corn meal is thus less than 20 cents. Good enough olive oil for this use costs about $10 for 1.5 liters at Costco, thus 2 Tbl. costs about 20 cents, too. [There are about 50 servings with size 2 Tbl (= 1/8 c) in 1.5 liters.] Add in 10 cents for the energy used in cooking.
Cost - about 50 cents.
You can store the corn meal in the refrigerator indefinitely in a sealed container.
This morning I will make this recipe to have with a couple fried eggs (over medium).
PS: It occurred to me this recipe gives about 500 calories for 50 cents, thus providing 10 calories for each penny. Thus a 2500 calorie per day energy requirement for a human being costs $2.50 using it. One would have to add to that for protein (milk, eggs, cheap cuts of meats, etc.), fruits & vegetables (apples, oranges, cabbage, etc.), but you can see that the cost to feed people can easily be less than $5/day.
Word of the Day
"Pleonasm" - noun [$10] T. S. Eliot
Pleonasm means the use of more words than are needed to give the sense (e. g. 'see with one's eye's).
Sentence: I remember using a pleonasm as a young boy in arguments with my brothers: "You stupid idiot!"
Here's a recipe for Johnny Cakes, a very simple, energy filled side dish for a couple fried eggs. "Johnny Cakes" is the slang name for a food of the common pioneer family in Rhode Island and other New England colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonnycake - that box pictured is the same as the one from where this recipe came, except I cut the salt in half and used olive oil instead of grease/lard. I've adjusted it to make the serving size suitable for one man.
Johnny Cakes
1/2 cup corn meal (white or yellow)
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
3/4 cups boiling water
2 Tbl. olive oil
Preheat a large skillet to medium high (380F for electric fry pans). Mix dry ingredients well in small/medium bowl. Add olive oil to skillet to heat. Then add boiling water to mixed dry ingredients and mix thoroughly; it will be thick.
Drop mixture onto skillet in one (heaping) tablespoon sized lumps. Do not touch or turn for six (6) minutes*. At six (6) minutes, turn over & cook for about five minutes. This will yield 4-5 golden brown Johnny Cakes.
*The recipe on the box says this, but mine stick a little (I am not using a Teflon skillet), so I lift them a bit midway - yes, I'm fussing.
Calories are about 240 plus the olive oil absorbed, making them about 480 total, or perhaps 120 calories per Johnny Cake, about the same as a slice of bread.
Yellow corn meal from Quaker Oats works fine. A 24 oz. container cost $1.69 at the supermarket last time I bought it; that package will provide about enough for 10 meals per above. The cost of the corn meal is thus less than 20 cents. Good enough olive oil for this use costs about $10 for 1.5 liters at Costco, thus 2 Tbl. costs about 20 cents, too. [There are about 50 servings with size 2 Tbl (= 1/8 c) in 1.5 liters.] Add in 10 cents for the energy used in cooking.
Cost - about 50 cents.
You can store the corn meal in the refrigerator indefinitely in a sealed container.
This morning I will make this recipe to have with a couple fried eggs (over medium).
PS: It occurred to me this recipe gives about 500 calories for 50 cents, thus providing 10 calories for each penny. Thus a 2500 calorie per day energy requirement for a human being costs $2.50 using it. One would have to add to that for protein (milk, eggs, cheap cuts of meats, etc.), fruits & vegetables (apples, oranges, cabbage, etc.), but you can see that the cost to feed people can easily be less than $5/day.
Word of the Day
"Pleonasm" - noun [$10] T. S. Eliot
Pleonasm means the use of more words than are needed to give the sense (e. g. 'see with one's eye's).
Sentence: I remember using a pleonasm as a young boy in arguments with my brothers: "You stupid idiot!"
Monday, April 11, 2011
What is a Coney?
That is the subject of a jocular discussion between Mrs. B & myself this weekend, which spread to a dog agility event in New Hampshire. For background, Mrs. B grew up in Brooklyn and I grew up in my hometown in central/SE Ohio.
To a New Yorker, a coney is what was sold at Coney Island in New York City - the original. Ordering a coney, one received a hot dog slathered in mustard & sauerkraut in a bun. Those are still sold on the streets of New York from the numerous carts that sell food in Manhattan.
BUT in the heartland of the US, a coney is different. It's not even named after the Coney Island of New York City. There was a Coney Island amusement park in Cincinnati years ago. And it sold coneys!
The Ohio (and Indiana) coney is a hot dog slathered in chili / sloppy joe sauce, mustard and onions. Very tasty! We had those often at home as a boy; one could also buy them at the old root beer stands (A&W or Stewart's) or at the various Dairy Queens. They even sold a foot-long Coney!
I made Ohio-style coneys over the weekend. Here's the recipe:
Use good hot dogs - I used Black Angus beef hot dogs made 8#/lb. The mustard was Buckeye Mustard made in Ohio. The sauce was made with a pound of Black Angus 85% lean burger and a can of Manwich (just follow directions on the can). I chopped up an onion myself. Just boil the hot dogs a few minutes.
Take the hot dog bun, line both interior sides with mustard, put a hot dog into it, slather with as much sauce as possible, top with as much onions as will fit. Eat & enjoy!
Lol, be sure to have a good napkin & a spoon to gather up the goodies that drop off. Mmmmmm. Far, far better than the New York Coney!
The Ohio coney is a fine example of American ingenuity. The New Yorkers made a good start, but then the Ohioians improvised to improve it to create a superior product.
I'm looking forward to leftovers this week.
Word of the Day
"Conjuncture" - noun [$10]
Conjuncture means a combination of events; a state of affairs.
Sentence: Is the conjuncture of the Panic of 2008, the Great Recession and the ongoing retirement of the baby boomers sufficient to cause American leaders to "think outside the box" for governmental reform? I doubt it. We mostly have the same old fools and knaves in the Dark City in the swamp.
To a New Yorker, a coney is what was sold at Coney Island in New York City - the original. Ordering a coney, one received a hot dog slathered in mustard & sauerkraut in a bun. Those are still sold on the streets of New York from the numerous carts that sell food in Manhattan.
BUT in the heartland of the US, a coney is different. It's not even named after the Coney Island of New York City. There was a Coney Island amusement park in Cincinnati years ago. And it sold coneys!
The Ohio (and Indiana) coney is a hot dog slathered in chili / sloppy joe sauce, mustard and onions. Very tasty! We had those often at home as a boy; one could also buy them at the old root beer stands (A&W or Stewart's) or at the various Dairy Queens. They even sold a foot-long Coney!
I made Ohio-style coneys over the weekend. Here's the recipe:
Use good hot dogs - I used Black Angus beef hot dogs made 8#/lb. The mustard was Buckeye Mustard made in Ohio. The sauce was made with a pound of Black Angus 85% lean burger and a can of Manwich (just follow directions on the can). I chopped up an onion myself. Just boil the hot dogs a few minutes.
Take the hot dog bun, line both interior sides with mustard, put a hot dog into it, slather with as much sauce as possible, top with as much onions as will fit. Eat & enjoy!
Lol, be sure to have a good napkin & a spoon to gather up the goodies that drop off. Mmmmmm. Far, far better than the New York Coney!
The Ohio coney is a fine example of American ingenuity. The New Yorkers made a good start, but then the Ohioians improvised to improve it to create a superior product.
I'm looking forward to leftovers this week.
Word of the Day
"Conjuncture" - noun [$10]
Conjuncture means a combination of events; a state of affairs.
Sentence: Is the conjuncture of the Panic of 2008, the Great Recession and the ongoing retirement of the baby boomers sufficient to cause American leaders to "think outside the box" for governmental reform? I doubt it. We mostly have the same old fools and knaves in the Dark City in the swamp.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Another Blank Wednesday
Nothing in the news.
Fools lining up for GM paper ... ugh.
I have no fine philosophical thinking to offer today.
It's raining hard & cold here & I have to take the recycling out soon - ugh. I suppose that's a lot better than my 20-something ancestor who lived in a lean-to in Ohio around 1805 in the snow & cold, who went hunting a panther with his older brother with a black powder muzzleloader rifle. Those guys were tough, no doubt. But on days like this, rather than whine, I just think that I'm inherently the same person as them, so tough it out. You are too - you have the same biological and cultural strength that our pioneer ancestors had. Adopt their mental attitude and be a survivor.
Mrs. B bought a two pound bag of "House Blend" Starbucks coffee beans at a local HomeGoods store for $16.99. It's pretty good - small beans with sort of an Italian roast. My first pot will make about four cups. Hmmm ... compared to a $4.50 latte that one has OTHERS make and serve, I break even on the first pot.
Inflation fighting: use your own hands and tools to prepare your own daily food. Even a caveman can do it :)
Word of the Day
"Distaff" - adjective & noun [$10]
Distaff means (adjective) 1. maternal; also female; (noun) - 1. a woman's work or domain; 2. the female branch / side of a family.
Sentence: The great Triple Crown winning horse, Secretariat, showed fine descendants on the distaff line; his daughters were superb mares producing great runners.
Fools lining up for GM paper ... ugh.
I have no fine philosophical thinking to offer today.
It's raining hard & cold here & I have to take the recycling out soon - ugh. I suppose that's a lot better than my 20-something ancestor who lived in a lean-to in Ohio around 1805 in the snow & cold, who went hunting a panther with his older brother with a black powder muzzleloader rifle. Those guys were tough, no doubt. But on days like this, rather than whine, I just think that I'm inherently the same person as them, so tough it out. You are too - you have the same biological and cultural strength that our pioneer ancestors had. Adopt their mental attitude and be a survivor.
Mrs. B bought a two pound bag of "House Blend" Starbucks coffee beans at a local HomeGoods store for $16.99. It's pretty good - small beans with sort of an Italian roast. My first pot will make about four cups. Hmmm ... compared to a $4.50 latte that one has OTHERS make and serve, I break even on the first pot.
Inflation fighting: use your own hands and tools to prepare your own daily food. Even a caveman can do it :)
Word of the Day
"Distaff" - adjective & noun [$10]
Distaff means (adjective) 1. maternal; also female; (noun) - 1. a woman's work or domain; 2. the female branch / side of a family.
Sentence: The great Triple Crown winning horse, Secretariat, showed fine descendants on the distaff line; his daughters were superb mares producing great runners.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Pemmican
The mountain men and 'coureur de bois' who explored and trapped in the old west and Canadian north needed a nutritious, portable food that would last for weeks or months. They carried and ate pemmican, which was made from dried meat, crushed nuts and chopped berries, held together with some rendered fat as a binder and made into sticks or bars.
I will be going on a canoe and camping trip in the northern part of Algonquin National Park in Canada in a couple week. As Bunkerman, I try to eat foods that have some historical or survival connection. I made some pemmican this weekend for lunches on the trip. Here's my recipe.
1. Two parts Jack Link's Premium Cuts - Prime Rib Beef Tender Cuts (aka jerky);
2. One part chopped walnuts;
3. One part orange flavored dried cranberries (from Trader Joe's)
4. Peanut butter (Jif Reduced Fat)
5. Wax paper
Put the jerky strips into a Cuisinart and chop into very small bits, then put into a sturdy bowl. Add the other two ingredients and mix well. Then started adding peanut butter and mixing (used a knife to cut the peanut butter into the mixture helps) until it sticks into a bar when you grab a bunch into your hand and squeeze.
Then take sheets of wax paper about a square foot in size, place formed bars of the pemmican on it and roll wax paper around the pemmican bar, then use a small piece of tape to keep the wax paper cover in place.
Store in your refrigerator until ready to hit the trails.
Word of the Day
"Self-wrought" - adjective (participial adjective) [$1000 ! yes, found only in the OED]
from "wrought" which is the archaic past and past participle of 'work'.
Self-wrought means produced or brought about by oneself.
Sentence: In two weeks, Bunkerman carry his self-wrought pemmican as a nutritious and historically accurate food on his canoe and camping trip in the north Canadian wilderness.
I will be going on a canoe and camping trip in the northern part of Algonquin National Park in Canada in a couple week. As Bunkerman, I try to eat foods that have some historical or survival connection. I made some pemmican this weekend for lunches on the trip. Here's my recipe.
1. Two parts Jack Link's Premium Cuts - Prime Rib Beef Tender Cuts (aka jerky);
2. One part chopped walnuts;
3. One part orange flavored dried cranberries (from Trader Joe's)
4. Peanut butter (Jif Reduced Fat)
5. Wax paper
Put the jerky strips into a Cuisinart and chop into very small bits, then put into a sturdy bowl. Add the other two ingredients and mix well. Then started adding peanut butter and mixing (used a knife to cut the peanut butter into the mixture helps) until it sticks into a bar when you grab a bunch into your hand and squeeze.
Then take sheets of wax paper about a square foot in size, place formed bars of the pemmican on it and roll wax paper around the pemmican bar, then use a small piece of tape to keep the wax paper cover in place.
Store in your refrigerator until ready to hit the trails.
Word of the Day
"Self-wrought" - adjective (participial adjective) [$1000 ! yes, found only in the OED]
from "wrought" which is the archaic past and past participle of 'work'.
Self-wrought means produced or brought about by oneself.
Sentence: In two weeks, Bunkerman carry his self-wrought pemmican as a nutritious and historically accurate food on his canoe and camping trip in the north Canadian wilderness.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Fine, Simple Food
I enjoyed some fine dinners in my hometown - the area is developing some wineries and one in particular has a fine restaurant attached. I took some friends there on two occasions, enjoying several varieties of wine ... and the MidWest red meat in the steaks and roast beef ;)BUT the treat of the week was a lunch with Big Al, Grand Jean and a few colleagues at a special place. It's just a little trailer that looks like a log cabin and is parked on a small lot across from a pizza shop. The food was superb ! The special of the "House" is the "Plowboy" - a scrumptious baked potatoes filed with pulled pork and laden with barbecue sauce and some white sauce. The photo is my Plowboy half eaten (taken with my iPhone).
This food was just excellent - tasty, filling and cheap. The Plowboy costs $5. That's my root beer in the photo, courtesy of Big Al et al. Thanks, guys for a great meal !!!
Actions
I plan to sell a bushel of TIPs soon and put the money in cash. I'll buy stocks on a further dip towards S&P 1000 area.
Word of the Day
"Hendiadys" - noun [$10]
Hendiadys means an expression of an idea by two words connected with 'and' instead of one modifying the other [e. g., 'nice and warm' for 'nicely warm']
Sentence: Is Obama better described by the hendiadys, 'sleazy and mendacious' or more compacted as 'sleazily mendacious' or perhaps 'mendaciously sleazy' ?
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Yes !!!
Great news in today's WSJ !
***quote follows***
A Guilt-Free Hamburger
Maybe that juicy steak you ordered isn't a heart-attack-on-a-plate after all.
A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that the heart risk long associated with red meat comes mostly from processed varieties such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs and cold cuts—and not from steak, hamburgers and other non-processed cuts.
The finding is surprising because both types of red meat are high in saturated fat, a substance believed to be partly responsible for the increased risk of heart disease. But the new study raises the possibility that when it comes to meat, at least, the real bad actor may be salt. Processed meats generally have about four times the amount of salt then unprocessed meats.
In a report that pooled data from 20 different studies from around the world, the researchers found that daily consumption of about two ounces of processed meat was associated with a 42% increased risk of heart disease and a 19% heightened chance of diabetes. By contrast, a four-ounce daily serving of red meat from beef, hamburger, pork, lamb or game wasn't linked to any increased risk of heart disease. There was, however, a small, but statistically insignificant risk of diabetes. ...
***quote ends***
I'm looking forward to a fine black Angus hamburger today, fried in olive oil, with pickles and Valveeta cheese..
But ... sighhhh ... I guess Spam comes out poorly, as does my wonderful European sausage. Guess I have to keep the amounts of those that I eat down.
More
That study exposes a major composite fallacy in much public health, diet and even climate dialogue - the combination of Secundum Quid, aka Hasty Generalization, and Argumentum ad Verecundium, the inappropriate appeal to experts.
Far too often, results of poorly designed research studies which do not properly segment major differences in the object of the study (food types, people) are propagated as Truth incarnate for policy. Yet they are simply wrong in their conclusions. As this more thorough study shows.
Eat some red meat ... and hold the salt.
Word of the Day
"Recension" - noun [$10]
Recension means 1. the revision of a text; 2. a particular form or version of a text resulting from such revision.
Sentence: I gleefully await the recension of dietary recommendations that will include more red meat - steaks and unsalted hamburgers.
***quote follows***
A Guilt-Free Hamburger
Maybe that juicy steak you ordered isn't a heart-attack-on-a-plate after all.
A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that the heart risk long associated with red meat comes mostly from processed varieties such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs and cold cuts—and not from steak, hamburgers and other non-processed cuts.
The finding is surprising because both types of red meat are high in saturated fat, a substance believed to be partly responsible for the increased risk of heart disease. But the new study raises the possibility that when it comes to meat, at least, the real bad actor may be salt. Processed meats generally have about four times the amount of salt then unprocessed meats.
In a report that pooled data from 20 different studies from around the world, the researchers found that daily consumption of about two ounces of processed meat was associated with a 42% increased risk of heart disease and a 19% heightened chance of diabetes. By contrast, a four-ounce daily serving of red meat from beef, hamburger, pork, lamb or game wasn't linked to any increased risk of heart disease. There was, however, a small, but statistically insignificant risk of diabetes. ...
***quote ends***
I'm looking forward to a fine black Angus hamburger today, fried in olive oil, with pickles and Valveeta cheese..
But ... sighhhh ... I guess Spam comes out poorly, as does my wonderful European sausage. Guess I have to keep the amounts of those that I eat down.
More
That study exposes a major composite fallacy in much public health, diet and even climate dialogue - the combination of Secundum Quid, aka Hasty Generalization, and Argumentum ad Verecundium, the inappropriate appeal to experts.
Far too often, results of poorly designed research studies which do not properly segment major differences in the object of the study (food types, people) are propagated as Truth incarnate for policy. Yet they are simply wrong in their conclusions. As this more thorough study shows.
Eat some red meat ... and hold the salt.
Word of the Day
"Recension" - noun [$10]
Recension means 1. the revision of a text; 2. a particular form or version of a text resulting from such revision.
Sentence: I gleefully await the recension of dietary recommendations that will include more red meat - steaks and unsalted hamburgers.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Tasty Bite
Food is one of my favorite topics. A problem with much customary American food is that it's rather boring. That doesn't mean I don't like it: I love simple foods like mashed potatoes, cheese burgers, and so on. I've even written about a simple fried egg here.
But after awhile, one wants more exposure to the exotic foods and flavors of the world We read about those, but except at a restaurant, can't get it simply. Now it's available.
Tasty Bite is the name of a panoply of superb Indian cuisine that can be prepared very easily and added to rice, vegetables and other dishes, or just eaten alone for lunch. All are all natural and vegetarian. I'm not a vegetarian, so often add some chicken (the Purdue prepared chicken strips are great and easy). I'm looking at a product called Paneer Makhani: it's "homestyle paneer cheese in a creamy spiced sauce." The product has just 240 calories. One boils the pouch in water for five minutes or microwaves it in a bowl for 90 seconds. That's it.
The Indian spices are superb - sooooo tasty. And not "hot". I don't like "hot" spicy foods; they are usually too hot. Mild is OK.
Tasty Bite makes many different flavors; all have been excellent. We first found this product at Whole Foods. But that's no longer convenient for us, so we bought a case online and put that in the pantry. Shelf life is months. See http://www.tastybite.com/
Some are suitable alone for lunch, like a vegetable stew, but with incredibly tasty exotic spices.
This is a five star product family in my book.
Markets
More up. This feels like a crowd of penguins edging closer & closer to the ice cliff. I'll check the Krypto Fund for orders later this AM. I've been compared to a perma-bear in the commentary lately. That seems inappropriate to me since I was targeting S&P 1200 last summer and was ridiculed widely [ ahem, by that same critic ;) ]. Now we are there. I have more strong urges to cut back. I'll stick with Krypto, though. She's a super fund manager. Good doggie. Here's your fee - a tasty dog treat.
Word of the Day
"Limn" - verb, transitive [$10]
Limn means 1. to describe, to portray in words; 2. (archaic) paint (esp. a miniature portrait); 3. (historical) illuminate (such as a manuscript).
Sentence: It's quire impossible to limn the taste of Tasty Bite Indian cuisine - the flavor is as tasty as the illumination of a manuscript is beautiful.
I came across this word first in Goethe's Faust - the Great Books edition, Dedication, line 3. Recently, it was also in the Book of the Week - Braddock's March, page xiv. Without checking the true meaning, one would guess wrongly from this sentence: "lessons from that experience that are limned deep in the American self-conscious." It doesn't mean the lessons are deeply etched or engraved - it mean the picture - illumination - is placed deep in the self-conscious.
But after awhile, one wants more exposure to the exotic foods and flavors of the world We read about those, but except at a restaurant, can't get it simply. Now it's available.
Tasty Bite is the name of a panoply of superb Indian cuisine that can be prepared very easily and added to rice, vegetables and other dishes, or just eaten alone for lunch. All are all natural and vegetarian. I'm not a vegetarian, so often add some chicken (the Purdue prepared chicken strips are great and easy). I'm looking at a product called Paneer Makhani: it's "homestyle paneer cheese in a creamy spiced sauce." The product has just 240 calories. One boils the pouch in water for five minutes or microwaves it in a bowl for 90 seconds. That's it.
The Indian spices are superb - sooooo tasty. And not "hot". I don't like "hot" spicy foods; they are usually too hot. Mild is OK.
Tasty Bite makes many different flavors; all have been excellent. We first found this product at Whole Foods. But that's no longer convenient for us, so we bought a case online and put that in the pantry. Shelf life is months. See http://www.tastybite.com/
Some are suitable alone for lunch, like a vegetable stew, but with incredibly tasty exotic spices.
This is a five star product family in my book.
Markets
More up. This feels like a crowd of penguins edging closer & closer to the ice cliff. I'll check the Krypto Fund for orders later this AM. I've been compared to a perma-bear in the commentary lately. That seems inappropriate to me since I was targeting S&P 1200 last summer and was ridiculed widely [ ahem, by that same critic ;) ]. Now we are there. I have more strong urges to cut back. I'll stick with Krypto, though. She's a super fund manager. Good doggie. Here's your fee - a tasty dog treat.
Word of the Day
"Limn" - verb, transitive [$10]
Limn means 1. to describe, to portray in words; 2. (archaic) paint (esp. a miniature portrait); 3. (historical) illuminate (such as a manuscript).
Sentence: It's quire impossible to limn the taste of Tasty Bite Indian cuisine - the flavor is as tasty as the illumination of a manuscript is beautiful.
I came across this word first in Goethe's Faust - the Great Books edition, Dedication, line 3. Recently, it was also in the Book of the Week - Braddock's March, page xiv. Without checking the true meaning, one would guess wrongly from this sentence: "lessons from that experience that are limned deep in the American self-conscious." It doesn't mean the lessons are deeply etched or engraved - it mean the picture - illumination - is placed deep in the self-conscious.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Perfect Fried Egg
The Epicurean philosophy urges one to have a simple life, but also enjoy some of fine things the world offers. That attitude reminds me of an interview I saw around four decades ago of Jack Benny. Jack Benny was a great comedian from the vaudeville era thru the radio era and then thru the early years of television. He had traveled around the nation entertaining and had eaten at many small and large establishments. In his travels he enjoyed finding places that had the best offerings of simple foods. In the interview he talked awhile about a diner or small restaurant somewhere in the Mid West that served the best ham and eggs he had ever eaten . His delivery was exquisite. What in prose might seem bland could be hilarious when Jack Benny said it.
This example shows us that "fine" need not be expensive. One can create foods that look and taste marvelously without spending a C note. The World's Finest Martini recipe posted here does that for cocktails. Yesterday I made what I like to call The Perfect Fried Egg. This is not the world's best. I might have claimed that once, but on a train tour of Scotland on The Royal Scotsman a few years ago I had a couple fried eggs that were so tasty I have to forego claiming I can top them.
Start with the best eggs you can find. I use fresh eggs from a local farm laid by happy, free range chickens fed with organic feeds. (I think this is where the Scottish eggs have the advantage.). Spray your skillet with Pam or some antistick spray. Put some olive oil (extra virgin !) in the pan and set the heat at about medium.
Test the temperature by putting a drop of cold water into the oil. When it pops vigorously, the oil is at the correct temperature. Crack the eggshells one at a time and put the eggs into the oil. This takes a bit of practice and requires a good wrist action for a clean crack. Sprinkle some black pepper on them. Now wait.
When the white is not quite fully cooked, carefully flip the eggs over. Start counting off seconds once the first egg has been flipped. In my "humble" opinion [;)], over medium is the best. The yolk is cooked to being mostly thick, but only very slightly solid. This required 35 seconds being "over", no more, no less.
When 35 seconds have elapsed, take out the first egg flipped and put it onto your plate, then take the second egg out. Voilà ! You now have two Perfect Fried Eggs.
By the way, the perfection is in the manner and result of the frying. If you have better eggs, you'll beat mine. And it's a matter of taste. If you really like runny or solid eggs, you might think these substandard. But as for your taste ... I can't possibly comment. ;-)
Markets
A good rally. I wonder if this in an intermediate bottom. Those Krypto Fund asset allocations to stocks have been a good sign of that in the past. The sellers seem to have dried up and few sellers were uncovered lower on recent probes. But then, the question is, What to buy ? I have few ideas now. I need to do some research.
Word of the Day
"Ipsedixit" - noun [$10]
Ipsedixit means an assertion made but not proven.
Sentence: These ipsedixits that I make for my recipes, such as The World's Finest Martini and The Perfect Fried Egg, are done facetiously to provoke thought and comment.
This example shows us that "fine" need not be expensive. One can create foods that look and taste marvelously without spending a C note. The World's Finest Martini recipe posted here does that for cocktails. Yesterday I made what I like to call The Perfect Fried Egg. This is not the world's best. I might have claimed that once, but on a train tour of Scotland on The Royal Scotsman a few years ago I had a couple fried eggs that were so tasty I have to forego claiming I can top them.
Start with the best eggs you can find. I use fresh eggs from a local farm laid by happy, free range chickens fed with organic feeds. (I think this is where the Scottish eggs have the advantage.). Spray your skillet with Pam or some antistick spray. Put some olive oil (extra virgin !) in the pan and set the heat at about medium.
Test the temperature by putting a drop of cold water into the oil. When it pops vigorously, the oil is at the correct temperature. Crack the eggshells one at a time and put the eggs into the oil. This takes a bit of practice and requires a good wrist action for a clean crack. Sprinkle some black pepper on them. Now wait.
When the white is not quite fully cooked, carefully flip the eggs over. Start counting off seconds once the first egg has been flipped. In my "humble" opinion [;)], over medium is the best. The yolk is cooked to being mostly thick, but only very slightly solid. This required 35 seconds being "over", no more, no less.
When 35 seconds have elapsed, take out the first egg flipped and put it onto your plate, then take the second egg out. Voilà ! You now have two Perfect Fried Eggs.
By the way, the perfection is in the manner and result of the frying. If you have better eggs, you'll beat mine. And it's a matter of taste. If you really like runny or solid eggs, you might think these substandard. But as for your taste ... I can't possibly comment. ;-)
Markets
A good rally. I wonder if this in an intermediate bottom. Those Krypto Fund asset allocations to stocks have been a good sign of that in the past. The sellers seem to have dried up and few sellers were uncovered lower on recent probes. But then, the question is, What to buy ? I have few ideas now. I need to do some research.
Word of the Day
"Ipsedixit" - noun [$10]
Ipsedixit means an assertion made but not proven.
Sentence: These ipsedixits that I make for my recipes, such as The World's Finest Martini and The Perfect Fried Egg, are done facetiously to provoke thought and comment.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Gutes neues Jahr !
That means Happy New Year in German, literally Good New Year.
This evening I will do some powerful voodoo to help ensure a prosperous New Year. I'll make about four dozen golden spring rolls. Having spring rolls at New year's is a Chinese "good luck" charm - I learned this from the famous Chinese chef and restauranteur of the 1960-70s, Joyce Chen in cooking classes in the mid 1970s. The reasoning that spring rolls are good luck is that they are made to look like bars of gold. Thus having them for New year's is a good luck charm.
I suppose it's similar to my grandmother saying that having sauerkraut at New Year's was also good luck. Maybe it's for the same reason - sauerkraut can look like golden threads.
My spring rolls are baked, not deep fried - I get the gold color by spraying them with Pam, or brushing with olive oil. The filling is hamburger, bok choy, green cabbage, green peppers, onions, oyster sauce and various other Chinese spices. I'll make four dozen and have them for New Year's eve dinner with Mrs. B along with a fine Golden Kryptonite Martini.
Hey, that's a double voodoo spell !
Wait ... quintuple voodoo - I'm making some golden sauerkraut for New Year's day dinner, along with a pork roast & golden Bavarian potato pancakes. Maybe I'll have a bottle of fine German reisling wine, too. That would be quintuple voodoo as the wine is a golden color.
Doing my best for the common man ;)
Actions
I still have the S&P January puts. If the market doesn't drop during the first week, I'll roll them forward into a later expiration date.
Word of the Day
"Preterite" - adjective and noun [$10] Grammatical
Preterite means (adjective) expressing a past action or state; (noun) a preterite tense or form.
Sentence: As all events of 2009 will soon be described only in preterite tenses, we can hope that 2010 will bring good news for the common man in its soon applicable present tenses.
This evening I will do some powerful voodoo to help ensure a prosperous New Year. I'll make about four dozen golden spring rolls. Having spring rolls at New year's is a Chinese "good luck" charm - I learned this from the famous Chinese chef and restauranteur of the 1960-70s, Joyce Chen in cooking classes in the mid 1970s. The reasoning that spring rolls are good luck is that they are made to look like bars of gold. Thus having them for New year's is a good luck charm.
I suppose it's similar to my grandmother saying that having sauerkraut at New Year's was also good luck. Maybe it's for the same reason - sauerkraut can look like golden threads.
My spring rolls are baked, not deep fried - I get the gold color by spraying them with Pam, or brushing with olive oil. The filling is hamburger, bok choy, green cabbage, green peppers, onions, oyster sauce and various other Chinese spices. I'll make four dozen and have them for New Year's eve dinner with Mrs. B along with a fine Golden Kryptonite Martini.
Hey, that's a double voodoo spell !
Wait ... quintuple voodoo - I'm making some golden sauerkraut for New Year's day dinner, along with a pork roast & golden Bavarian potato pancakes. Maybe I'll have a bottle of fine German reisling wine, too. That would be quintuple voodoo as the wine is a golden color.
Doing my best for the common man ;)
Actions
I still have the S&P January puts. If the market doesn't drop during the first week, I'll roll them forward into a later expiration date.
Word of the Day
"Preterite" - adjective and noun [$10] Grammatical
Preterite means (adjective) expressing a past action or state; (noun) a preterite tense or form.
Sentence: As all events of 2009 will soon be described only in preterite tenses, we can hope that 2010 will bring good news for the common man in its soon applicable present tenses.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
World's Finest Martini - a reprise
As requested, here again is my World's Finest Martini recipe. Take three parts gin, one part vodka, one part white Lillet, and one lemon twist, mix in a shaker with lots of ice, and serve on ice. This is derived from the original James Bond martini recipe in Ian Fleming's book, "Casino Royale". I prefer more Lillet than Bond ordered. I've taught the bartenders at a club where I stay on business trips to New York City to make my recipe - we call it, "Golden Kryptonite". I keep my gin & vodka in the freezer door in pint bottles and my Lillet in the refrigerator so they are very cold. I also make up an entire weekend's supply (three stiff drinks, one each for Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings) in a cocktail mixer on Friday and put the second two days' drinks in a large, thick glass (no ice) covered with plastic wrap in the freezer to store.
White Lillet is a French appertif wine. No need ot use any particularly fine gin or vodka - the Lillet and lemon provide the flavor. I use Gordon's for both, of course, since that is what Bond specified. The name, "Golden Kryptonite" fits since if you drink too much, you will be numbed as Superman was with gold Kryptonite.
White Lillet is a French appertif wine. No need ot use any particularly fine gin or vodka - the Lillet and lemon provide the flavor. I use Gordon's for both, of course, since that is what Bond specified. The name, "Golden Kryptonite" fits since if you drink too much, you will be numbed as Superman was with gold Kryptonite.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thanksgiving Leftovers
The feast was fabulous: free-range, organically fed turkey roasted to perfection, baked Buttercup squash, cranberries, oyster "stuffing", apple-onion "stuffing", pumpkin cheesecake, and fine German Spätlese wine from the Mosel-Saar-Ruhr region.
I hadn't noticed before, but a relative pointed out to me that most of the principal parts of traditional Thanksgiving dinners are New World foods, that is, native to the New World (vs. the Old World of Europe, Asia and Africa). Here's a few - turkey, cranberries, pumpkin (for pies or my cheesecake), squash, regular and sweet potatoes. Very fitting that our holiday feast and giving thanks for whatever good has happened for the past year are New World foods.
The holiday was variously celebrated in the colonies and Washington proclaimed the first national thanksgiving in 1789 as the new government took shape under the Constitution. Various state holidays were celebrated, but then Lincoln proclaimed the first regular, national holiday in late November. Thanksgiving is a fine holiday and I hope all celebrated it in some appropriate manner, or at least had a moment of thought about what one could be thankful for, such as a few good friends or one's health.
Or perhaps surviving the financial Panic of 2008.
Markets
There will be a smashing today as a big, state-owned Dubai company announced that it will not repay its bonds at maturity next month. This a a problem in dealing with a state-owned company. Sovereigns just don't have to follow rules or customs if they wish. So now I suspect the fear is spreading to any Dubai related debt, which I just heard is around $80 billion. Sigh ... why would so many "smart" banks lend money to such entities ? This again reminds me of the great Harry James song, "I've Heard that Song Before" - check out this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh0NZa0WMJQ&feature=PlayList&p=AD7DA2393178FFBF&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=24
Actions
I am thinking of buying some S&P Dec. call options today IF I can get a reasonable price. To me, this Dubai default is not particularly important and the panic rather senseless. But the old fears are there, so I might as well take advantage of them to try to bang out a trade. I'll put this speculation on in phases, as usual.
I thin the December jobs number next Friday will be good and this drop is a "Black Friday" discount sale.
PS: For squash, you want buttercup squash, not the more common butternut squash. The alliterative mnemonics are, "brown is bad" (butternut squash is brown) and "no on nut". Buy only buttercup squash for baking.
Word of the Day
"Ordure" - noun [$10]
Ordure means 1. excrement, dung; 2. obscenity, filth; foul language.
Sentence: The air in DC is redolent of the ordure filing the 2,000 page ObamaCare "plan".
I hadn't noticed before, but a relative pointed out to me that most of the principal parts of traditional Thanksgiving dinners are New World foods, that is, native to the New World (vs. the Old World of Europe, Asia and Africa). Here's a few - turkey, cranberries, pumpkin (for pies or my cheesecake), squash, regular and sweet potatoes. Very fitting that our holiday feast and giving thanks for whatever good has happened for the past year are New World foods.
The holiday was variously celebrated in the colonies and Washington proclaimed the first national thanksgiving in 1789 as the new government took shape under the Constitution. Various state holidays were celebrated, but then Lincoln proclaimed the first regular, national holiday in late November. Thanksgiving is a fine holiday and I hope all celebrated it in some appropriate manner, or at least had a moment of thought about what one could be thankful for, such as a few good friends or one's health.
Or perhaps surviving the financial Panic of 2008.
Markets
There will be a smashing today as a big, state-owned Dubai company announced that it will not repay its bonds at maturity next month. This a a problem in dealing with a state-owned company. Sovereigns just don't have to follow rules or customs if they wish. So now I suspect the fear is spreading to any Dubai related debt, which I just heard is around $80 billion. Sigh ... why would so many "smart" banks lend money to such entities ? This again reminds me of the great Harry James song, "I've Heard that Song Before" - check out this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh0NZa0WMJQ&feature=PlayList&p=AD7DA2393178FFBF&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=24
Actions
I am thinking of buying some S&P Dec. call options today IF I can get a reasonable price. To me, this Dubai default is not particularly important and the panic rather senseless. But the old fears are there, so I might as well take advantage of them to try to bang out a trade. I'll put this speculation on in phases, as usual.
I thin the December jobs number next Friday will be good and this drop is a "Black Friday" discount sale.
PS: For squash, you want buttercup squash, not the more common butternut squash. The alliterative mnemonics are, "brown is bad" (butternut squash is brown) and "no on nut". Buy only buttercup squash for baking.
Word of the Day
"Ordure" - noun [$10]
Ordure means 1. excrement, dung; 2. obscenity, filth; foul language.
Sentence: The air in DC is redolent of the ordure filing the 2,000 page ObamaCare "plan".
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
On the Trail
Today is another slow news Wednesday. The 1-2-3 Fund is doing well - it's up about 12% in total asset value since I purchased the call options positions about ten days ago. The options themselves are up around 36%, but I deployed only 1/3 of the fund's assets into them. I'm just holding as the moves so far don't seem to have blow-off characteristics. The stocks are just big, "boring" companies with substantial overseas revenues: UTX, PG, CAT, MT, RIMM, MMM, BA, ITW, GOOG and HBC. If no "blow-off" actions occurs sooner, I'll consider paring back the positions around S&P 1100.
Trail Food
In the canoe or on the trail in the wilderness, one needs good backup food supplies if the fishing and hunting is not productive or if you are just enjoying the scenery and fresh air. On my recent canoe trip I experimented with three traditional sources. Also, I tasted some of the supplemental food of the Epicurean Campers and will comment on it today. My trail food experiments come from three centuries: 18th, 19th and late 20th centuries.
18th Century - The very early pioneers in the wilderness of North America - trappers and mountain men - carried pemmican as a staple food. The food traditionally was a combination of dried meat, crushed berries and nuts, and rendered fat. It was made into chunks or strips that could be eaten on the move or in camp and would last forever on the trail.
My pemmican was made this way: (1) take equal parts good quality beef jerky, dried fruits and nuts; (2) process each individually until the bits are small; (3) put all in a bowl, mix & add some honey, then add peanut butter (not an oily "all-natural variety - I used Jif reduced fat) until the mixture holds its shape well when you grab a handfull and squeeze. Then form it into little rolls like a Chinese spring roll and wrap individually in wax paper. I put about a dozen pemmican rolls into a plastic zip lock bag. The pemmican easily kept for a month, tasted great, and very filling and nutritious in camp.
19th Century - My 19th century food was hardtack. hardtack was a staple in the Civil war in the Union Army. It's just a large 3 inch square cracker about 1/2 inch thick. The ingredients are wheat flour & water. I bought mine made from this site - it made hardtack in the Civil war and its product is very authentic: http://www.bentscookiefactory.com/Hardtack.html
My hardtack for the canoe trip had been part of my survival stores for years and was about 20 years old. I had it for breakfast every day, making a few experiments to find the best way to eat it. The Union Army soldiers used to fry it in bacon fat or just smash the hardtack with their pistol butts to add to coffee, plus sugar. Alone, hardtack is very, very flat tasting - like baked paste.
But, putting peanut butter on it made the hardtack quite good with coffee. And even better was adding BOTH peanut butter AND jelly. Woody of the Epicureans gave me some jelly on the last couple days and that combination made the hardtack sit up & cheer. It's very filling, too - I usually just had 1.5 crackers each breakfast.
20th century - that was MREs - Meals, Ready to Eat. I have quite a large stockpile for the risk of Armageddon or civil strife, and decided to use some of it on the canoe trip. The MREs were simply superb. Excellent taste, good variety, complete with heaters. The only drawback is they are a bit heavy. But as we were traveling mostly by canoe, the weight was less important.
I bought mine about seven years ago from Long Life Foods here: http://www.longlifefood.com/
They seem identical to the military versions, except the name on the package.
GORP
The snack food of the Epicurean Campers was designated GORP - "good, old raisins & peanuts" as Grand Jean said. I'd didn't take any, but sampled the fare of the Epicureans. In my humble opinion, that of JR (borrowing the signature nickname of oilman JR Ewing of the old TV show, Dallas) was the best. It had plenty of tasty nuts, raisins, other dried fruits and just enough M&Ms, from memory. Other campers' GORP was good, too, except for one: Big Al might be one of Les Grandes Pêcheurs, but putting coconut into GORP got an F in my opinion, and others, too. He came in last in the GORP contest. My pemmican was deemed not an entry.
Word of the Day
"Lief" - adverb[$10] archaic, from Shakespeare
Lief means gladly, willingly
Sentence: I would lief eat the GORP of any of the Epicurean Campers except that of Big Al. He might make a superb pancake, but putting coconut into GORP was downright wierd. Yuck.
Trail Food
In the canoe or on the trail in the wilderness, one needs good backup food supplies if the fishing and hunting is not productive or if you are just enjoying the scenery and fresh air. On my recent canoe trip I experimented with three traditional sources. Also, I tasted some of the supplemental food of the Epicurean Campers and will comment on it today. My trail food experiments come from three centuries: 18th, 19th and late 20th centuries.
18th Century - The very early pioneers in the wilderness of North America - trappers and mountain men - carried pemmican as a staple food. The food traditionally was a combination of dried meat, crushed berries and nuts, and rendered fat. It was made into chunks or strips that could be eaten on the move or in camp and would last forever on the trail.
My pemmican was made this way: (1) take equal parts good quality beef jerky, dried fruits and nuts; (2) process each individually until the bits are small; (3) put all in a bowl, mix & add some honey, then add peanut butter (not an oily "all-natural variety - I used Jif reduced fat) until the mixture holds its shape well when you grab a handfull and squeeze. Then form it into little rolls like a Chinese spring roll and wrap individually in wax paper. I put about a dozen pemmican rolls into a plastic zip lock bag. The pemmican easily kept for a month, tasted great, and very filling and nutritious in camp.
19th Century - My 19th century food was hardtack. hardtack was a staple in the Civil war in the Union Army. It's just a large 3 inch square cracker about 1/2 inch thick. The ingredients are wheat flour & water. I bought mine made from this site - it made hardtack in the Civil war and its product is very authentic: http://www.bentscookiefactory.com/Hardtack.html
My hardtack for the canoe trip had been part of my survival stores for years and was about 20 years old. I had it for breakfast every day, making a few experiments to find the best way to eat it. The Union Army soldiers used to fry it in bacon fat or just smash the hardtack with their pistol butts to add to coffee, plus sugar. Alone, hardtack is very, very flat tasting - like baked paste.
But, putting peanut butter on it made the hardtack quite good with coffee. And even better was adding BOTH peanut butter AND jelly. Woody of the Epicureans gave me some jelly on the last couple days and that combination made the hardtack sit up & cheer. It's very filling, too - I usually just had 1.5 crackers each breakfast.
20th century - that was MREs - Meals, Ready to Eat. I have quite a large stockpile for the risk of Armageddon or civil strife, and decided to use some of it on the canoe trip. The MREs were simply superb. Excellent taste, good variety, complete with heaters. The only drawback is they are a bit heavy. But as we were traveling mostly by canoe, the weight was less important.
I bought mine about seven years ago from Long Life Foods here: http://www.longlifefood.com/
They seem identical to the military versions, except the name on the package.
GORP
The snack food of the Epicurean Campers was designated GORP - "good, old raisins & peanuts" as Grand Jean said. I'd didn't take any, but sampled the fare of the Epicureans. In my humble opinion, that of JR (borrowing the signature nickname of oilman JR Ewing of the old TV show, Dallas) was the best. It had plenty of tasty nuts, raisins, other dried fruits and just enough M&Ms, from memory. Other campers' GORP was good, too, except for one: Big Al might be one of Les Grandes Pêcheurs, but putting coconut into GORP got an F in my opinion, and others, too. He came in last in the GORP contest. My pemmican was deemed not an entry.
Word of the Day
"Lief" - adverb[$10] archaic, from Shakespeare
Lief means gladly, willingly
Sentence: I would lief eat the GORP of any of the Epicurean Campers except that of Big Al. He might make a superb pancake, but putting coconut into GORP was downright wierd. Yuck.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Superior Coffee
Right now I am drinking cup #2 of fine, black American-style coffee made with an incrementally improved technique that I learned on my wilderness camping trip and experimented with over the past few days. Perhaps it was around breakfast at camp that the subject of coffee came up. Big John, aka Grand Jean [which nearly rhymes in French], had brought a real aluminum percolator along and thus we had fresh perked coffee every morning made with good quality ground coffee.
Another of the epicurean campers, nicknamed Condor, was discoursing on how very fine coffee can be made. I already did most of his process on my normal mornings, but when he said that using a French press or simply a fine wire filter instead of paper permitted the natural oils to get into the coffee, my ears perked up. I've had negative experiences with French presses, as they let a bit of the grounds into the brew, and the coffee cools off too quickly. But the fine wire mess ... I remembered that my home "Gourmet Thermal" Mr. Coffee maker had such. In the past I had placed a paper filter into it. So I resolved to try this technique on arriving at home.
Today is the third day of this experiment. I can confirm the flavor is superior. Another friend says that this technique also reduces the caffeine content as the hot water flows more quickly through the wire filter than a paper filter. Caffeine can be a problem if I go on to that fourth cup in the morning, so a reduced amount is a dividend of the process.
Here is the my entire method in full.
1. Use high quality, whole beans from Central America, Africa or Southeast Asia. No Mexico/Columbia/Brazil (those are too plump and less tasty in my opinion). I prefer a medium roast. Mrs. B buys them for me from Community Coffee on a subscription basis.
2. Grind them fresh in the morning.
3. Use a coffee maker that drips the coffee into a thermos to preserve heat, and not a simple pot heated on a hot plate (which overcooks the coffee quickly). While grinding the beans, put hot water into the thermos to heat the glass - this preserves the heat of the coffee longer. [Of course, empty the thermos before starting the brewing.]
4. Put the fresh ground coffee into the wire basket - no paper filter.
5. Brew normally.
This coffee is really, really good in my "humble" opinion. Btw, rinse the wire basket with hot water every day as you dump the old grounds and wash it periodically.
Markets
Big drop yesterday on "good" news. To my thinking, this indicates a "sell on the news" pullback, not a change in character. Traders sold, investors pulled bids to get stock lower, and bears became emboldened, believing that persistent blather of fears of another bad September. I suspect few real sellers are lower, and some real buyers lurk to scoop up shares.
As I've said many times, the beefers [aka big, evil funds] can make Ms. Market dance to any tune they wish for a short time. Wait a few days to see if bad news occurs. I'm preparing a list of US stocks that rely on overseas revenues. I had erroneously characterized them as "exporters" but I don't care if they truly export or they make the stuff overseas. I see the next bull market as lead by stocks firms selling to industries and consumers in China, India, southeast Asia, South American and eastern Europe. That's where the big growth will be.
Word of the Day
"Wen" - noun [$1000]; a Mencken word
Wen means (I) 1. a benign tumor of the skin especially of the scalp; 2. an outstandingly large or congested city; (II) (also wyn) a runic letter in Old and Middle English, later replaced by "w".
Sentence: The entire east coast of the US from Maine to northern Virginia has coalesced into a single sprawling wen.
Another of the epicurean campers, nicknamed Condor, was discoursing on how very fine coffee can be made. I already did most of his process on my normal mornings, but when he said that using a French press or simply a fine wire filter instead of paper permitted the natural oils to get into the coffee, my ears perked up. I've had negative experiences with French presses, as they let a bit of the grounds into the brew, and the coffee cools off too quickly. But the fine wire mess ... I remembered that my home "Gourmet Thermal" Mr. Coffee maker had such. In the past I had placed a paper filter into it. So I resolved to try this technique on arriving at home.
Today is the third day of this experiment. I can confirm the flavor is superior. Another friend says that this technique also reduces the caffeine content as the hot water flows more quickly through the wire filter than a paper filter. Caffeine can be a problem if I go on to that fourth cup in the morning, so a reduced amount is a dividend of the process.
Here is the my entire method in full.
1. Use high quality, whole beans from Central America, Africa or Southeast Asia. No Mexico/Columbia/Brazil (those are too plump and less tasty in my opinion). I prefer a medium roast. Mrs. B buys them for me from Community Coffee on a subscription basis.
2. Grind them fresh in the morning.
3. Use a coffee maker that drips the coffee into a thermos to preserve heat, and not a simple pot heated on a hot plate (which overcooks the coffee quickly). While grinding the beans, put hot water into the thermos to heat the glass - this preserves the heat of the coffee longer. [Of course, empty the thermos before starting the brewing.]
4. Put the fresh ground coffee into the wire basket - no paper filter.
5. Brew normally.
This coffee is really, really good in my "humble" opinion. Btw, rinse the wire basket with hot water every day as you dump the old grounds and wash it periodically.
Markets
Big drop yesterday on "good" news. To my thinking, this indicates a "sell on the news" pullback, not a change in character. Traders sold, investors pulled bids to get stock lower, and bears became emboldened, believing that persistent blather of fears of another bad September. I suspect few real sellers are lower, and some real buyers lurk to scoop up shares.
As I've said many times, the beefers [aka big, evil funds] can make Ms. Market dance to any tune they wish for a short time. Wait a few days to see if bad news occurs. I'm preparing a list of US stocks that rely on overseas revenues. I had erroneously characterized them as "exporters" but I don't care if they truly export or they make the stuff overseas. I see the next bull market as lead by stocks firms selling to industries and consumers in China, India, southeast Asia, South American and eastern Europe. That's where the big growth will be.
Word of the Day
"Wen" - noun [$1000]; a Mencken word
Wen means (I) 1. a benign tumor of the skin especially of the scalp; 2. an outstandingly large or congested city; (II) (also wyn) a runic letter in Old and Middle English, later replaced by "w".
Sentence: The entire east coast of the US from Maine to northern Virginia has coalesced into a single sprawling wen.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
A New Champion Crowned
The annual Southeast Central Ohio Invitational Pancake Tournament was held on Friday, December 26, 2008 under ominous signs. The sighting of a raven bode ill for the prior two-time champion, Bunkerman. A broken outdoor thermometer also portended the breaking of a streak.
Bunkerman was defending his title on the challenger's home field, aka kitchen. The local supermarket were more than adequate for his improvisational skills to let him prepare a fine entry, viz., chocolate almond pancakes made with whipping cream, sour cream, and an admixture of graham cracker crumbs with a base of Hungry Jack pancake mix. The pancakes, fried perfectly in olive oil and topped with butter and pure maple syrup had a fine delicate favor which enticed the judges to sing paeans of praise.
Then Big Al stepped up to the stove. [FYI, Big Al is a non-posting reader.] His entry evinced weeks of preparation and experimentation. The batter used the identical Hungry Jack base, adding the secret ingredient - cinnamon chips - and chopped apple bits. His cooking skill was superb. The pancakes were perfectly round and browned. But then he used his finely honed culinary skills to create a perfect presentation with a topping of apple slices, confectioners sugar and caramel drips. The final effect was pleasing to the eyes, reminiscent of fine French cuisine. The flavor was superb and the texture and mouth feel were excellent.
The discussion among the judges was cautious. Bunkerman's pancakes were deemed champion quality by all. But those of Big Al were awarded the first place by a unanimous decision, including the vote of the gracious Bunkerman. Big Al accepted the prestigious title of SEC-Ohio Pancake Champion with humility, looking at his shoe laces as he spoke a few words of thanks to the judges.
Bunkerman is planning his comeback ...
Markets
GMAC getting TARP money to convert to a bank and resume auto lending.
Trouble in Gaza .. is that news ?
The Obama Fund may deploy cash soon. A stock list will be posted tomorrow.
Word of the Day
"Eschaton" - noun [$10]
Eschaton means the final things in the order of time.
Sentence: The defeat of Bunkerman in the SEC-Ohio Pancake Tournament altered the eschaton, disturbing the currents of life everywhere. Will the Universe ever return to normalcy ?
Bunkerman was defending his title on the challenger's home field, aka kitchen. The local supermarket were more than adequate for his improvisational skills to let him prepare a fine entry, viz., chocolate almond pancakes made with whipping cream, sour cream, and an admixture of graham cracker crumbs with a base of Hungry Jack pancake mix. The pancakes, fried perfectly in olive oil and topped with butter and pure maple syrup had a fine delicate favor which enticed the judges to sing paeans of praise.
Then Big Al stepped up to the stove. [FYI, Big Al is a non-posting reader.] His entry evinced weeks of preparation and experimentation. The batter used the identical Hungry Jack base, adding the secret ingredient - cinnamon chips - and chopped apple bits. His cooking skill was superb. The pancakes were perfectly round and browned. But then he used his finely honed culinary skills to create a perfect presentation with a topping of apple slices, confectioners sugar and caramel drips. The final effect was pleasing to the eyes, reminiscent of fine French cuisine. The flavor was superb and the texture and mouth feel were excellent.
The discussion among the judges was cautious. Bunkerman's pancakes were deemed champion quality by all. But those of Big Al were awarded the first place by a unanimous decision, including the vote of the gracious Bunkerman. Big Al accepted the prestigious title of SEC-Ohio Pancake Champion with humility, looking at his shoe laces as he spoke a few words of thanks to the judges.
Bunkerman is planning his comeback ...
Markets
GMAC getting TARP money to convert to a bank and resume auto lending.
Trouble in Gaza .. is that news ?
The Obama Fund may deploy cash soon. A stock list will be posted tomorrow.
Word of the Day
"Eschaton" - noun [$10]
Eschaton means the final things in the order of time.
Sentence: The defeat of Bunkerman in the SEC-Ohio Pancake Tournament altered the eschaton, disturbing the currents of life everywhere. Will the Universe ever return to normalcy ?
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Fried Eggs & Spam II
A successful experiment always makes me feel good.
Last week in the comments on my "Fried Eggs and Spam" post, I theorized that putting a slice of Valveeta cheese onto the eggs might really taste good. This weekend I had fried eggs and Spam and the slice of Valveeta on both days. There is no doubt that adding the slice of Valveeta makes a significant improvement.
Very, very tasty !
Monday, October 27, 2008
Fried Eggs and Spam
This weekend I made what is probably the finest breakfast: fried eggs and spam.
The eggs were, of course, from happy cage-free, organically fed chickens who have sunlit porches. I fried them with a bit of pepper in olive oil to the over-medium phase, which required 35 seconds on the flip side. To eat them, I mash them with my fork and eat each bite with a bit of spam.
The spam is fried in olive oil until each side is a bit crusty.
I also have 1/2 of a bagel toasted a bit with pumpkin butter, and some fruit.
This food is soooooooo good - I had it both days this weekend. The only improvement I'm pondering is adding a slice of Valveeta cheese on top of the eggs. Thinking ...
Markets
More Euro-beefer liquidation and some Asia selling. And some more US-beefer selling. And the public is selling its mutual funds. And we even hear of some public pensions fund being forced to sell a bit ... to fund commitments to "alternative investments".
Perhaps a bit of recapitulation of what we know now is in order.
1. Big, evil funds - aka beefers - exist and were grossly oversized and very dangerous to the world financial markets and we now know they are dangerous to the common man and the real economy, too.
2. A bit of inflation is good. It helps people have some confidence in their asset values and businesses. Trying to grind out 2%-3% core inflation is nuts.
3. Core inflation measures are correct. Trying to cut nominal inflation caused buy oil prices is stupid and destructive.
4. The monetary base should grow at 2-3% per year. The Fed was too tight until September.
5. Hedge funds are not an another asset class; most are not even "investments", but are just speculations or trading operations.
6. Commodity futures are not another asset class, either. Money in those contracts are just speculations, too.
It's rather obvious now to all, and to this writer for years, that excess money that flowed into hedge funds and commodity futures or related derivatives was a speculative bubble fueled by the rich and some pension funds.
That's enough for now.
The Federal money finally begins flowing today. I'll watch. This cure will work, but will take some time.
I suspect the continued weakness in oil is due to endless liquidation of beefers adn pension fund positions, plus the liquidation of inventories that some such speculators held to masquerade as "commercials". Traffic was heavy this weekend here as I drove to sheep herding classes for Sky.
Actions
I circled the wagons a la the Hussites on Friday to defend CVX, DVN, RIG, BHP and FCX. I was a bit long and concerned about being away from my screen during that museum trip. So I sold JPM, AAPL, GOOG and EDU and used just a portion of the cash to buy a bit more CVX, DVN, RIG and BHP. I am also holding EXM, DRYS, GNK, JOYG and MBI. I'm not expecting a lot, but figure my upside on these are rather good compared to those I sold.
My Krypto Fund spreadsheet wants me to buy emerging markets. But I'll wait a few days to let this settle more.
Politics
Big John McCain drew 4,000 people to an enthusiastic rally in Zanesville, Ohio, which is not far from my home town in Ohio. That's a lot for this sparely populated area. Comments about his reception was quite positive. So I wonder if he has more strength among the common man than the media credits for him.
Word of the Day
"Cosmogony" - noun [$10]
Cosmogony means 1. the origin of the universe; 2. a theory about this.
Sentence: What will Bunkerman use for building blocks for a cosmogony of understanding the behavior of future financial markets if beefers become extinct?
The eggs were, of course, from happy cage-free, organically fed chickens who have sunlit porches. I fried them with a bit of pepper in olive oil to the over-medium phase, which required 35 seconds on the flip side. To eat them, I mash them with my fork and eat each bite with a bit of spam.
The spam is fried in olive oil until each side is a bit crusty.
I also have 1/2 of a bagel toasted a bit with pumpkin butter, and some fruit.
This food is soooooooo good - I had it both days this weekend. The only improvement I'm pondering is adding a slice of Valveeta cheese on top of the eggs. Thinking ...
Markets
More Euro-beefer liquidation and some Asia selling. And some more US-beefer selling. And the public is selling its mutual funds. And we even hear of some public pensions fund being forced to sell a bit ... to fund commitments to "alternative investments".
Perhaps a bit of recapitulation of what we know now is in order.
1. Big, evil funds - aka beefers - exist and were grossly oversized and very dangerous to the world financial markets and we now know they are dangerous to the common man and the real economy, too.
2. A bit of inflation is good. It helps people have some confidence in their asset values and businesses. Trying to grind out 2%-3% core inflation is nuts.
3. Core inflation measures are correct. Trying to cut nominal inflation caused buy oil prices is stupid and destructive.
4. The monetary base should grow at 2-3% per year. The Fed was too tight until September.
5. Hedge funds are not an another asset class; most are not even "investments", but are just speculations or trading operations.
6. Commodity futures are not another asset class, either. Money in those contracts are just speculations, too.
It's rather obvious now to all, and to this writer for years, that excess money that flowed into hedge funds and commodity futures or related derivatives was a speculative bubble fueled by the rich and some pension funds.
That's enough for now.
The Federal money finally begins flowing today. I'll watch. This cure will work, but will take some time.
I suspect the continued weakness in oil is due to endless liquidation of beefers adn pension fund positions, plus the liquidation of inventories that some such speculators held to masquerade as "commercials". Traffic was heavy this weekend here as I drove to sheep herding classes for Sky.
Actions
I circled the wagons a la the Hussites on Friday to defend CVX, DVN, RIG, BHP and FCX. I was a bit long and concerned about being away from my screen during that museum trip. So I sold JPM, AAPL, GOOG and EDU and used just a portion of the cash to buy a bit more CVX, DVN, RIG and BHP. I am also holding EXM, DRYS, GNK, JOYG and MBI. I'm not expecting a lot, but figure my upside on these are rather good compared to those I sold.
My Krypto Fund spreadsheet wants me to buy emerging markets. But I'll wait a few days to let this settle more.
Politics
Big John McCain drew 4,000 people to an enthusiastic rally in Zanesville, Ohio, which is not far from my home town in Ohio. That's a lot for this sparely populated area. Comments about his reception was quite positive. So I wonder if he has more strength among the common man than the media credits for him.
Word of the Day
"Cosmogony" - noun [$10]
Cosmogony means 1. the origin of the universe; 2. a theory about this.
Sentence: What will Bunkerman use for building blocks for a cosmogony of understanding the behavior of future financial markets if beefers become extinct?
Monday, August 25, 2008
A Really Important Subject
That is FOOD. I love food ! I think I still have a high school poem that I wrote about the wonders of food - I received an "A" !
So as the news provides little stimulation for more erudite posts, I intend to write about some of my favorite foods and recipes. See below.
First, the markets. Nothing is happening. News is necessary relating to the "bottom" of the housing markets for a trend to form. Some data later this week might help.
Second, the world. It's a mess. Bush is shown to be a fool in trusting Putin. I remember that meeting of those two in Texas, thinking at the time that Putin really did not seem to be a friendly person. Bush was delusional about seeing into his soul. McCain was right, he looked into his eyes and saw KGB.
Here's a YouTube link to an interview of Zbigniev Brzezinski about the Russia-Georgia crisis. He's been a mostly reliable interpreter of international events for 30 years and speaks clearly with no BS. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCVq7EwZL0U
Food
The Perfect Fried Egg
I prefer my fried eggs cooked "over medium" with the yolk thickened by cooking but not solid - just on the verge of solidifying. When I mash the fried eggs with my fork, the thick yolk sticks to the white for a tasty mix.
Start with either farm fresh eggs or some good organic eggs, preferably raised cage-free with sunlit porches or free-range - i., e., happy chickens ! My favorite local brand is "Country Hen".
Put a good bit of olive oil in a frying pan. I suppose butter tastes better, but I have to toss a bone to health once in a while. Heat the oil at medium [i., e., "6" on 1-10 scale on my electric stove] until a drop of water sizzles. Crack 2 or 3 eggs into the pan. Sprinkle a bit of black pepper onto them. Cook until the white is … “white” with just a bit of transparency on top. Flip over. Now count to 35. This is really 30-35 seconds as my count is a bit fast and varies a little. Remove at once and put onto your plate.
Accompaniments: whole wheat toast or toasted whole grain bagel with pumpkin butter or marmalade; fried Spam; organic banana or small bowl of raspberries/strawberries.
Word of the Day
"Quacksalver" - noun [$100] (from writings of H. L. Mencken)
Quacksalver means 1. a quack doctor; 2. a charlatan. I guess quacksalver is a close synonym for mountebank.
Sentence: Obama seems to be the quacksalver de jour for the Democratic party, as his prescription for renewed prosperity is high taxes on their designated whipping boys - those earning high amounts in a year. Of course the truly wealthy get a free ride, as usual, with their freeloading municipal bond income.
So as the news provides little stimulation for more erudite posts, I intend to write about some of my favorite foods and recipes. See below.
First, the markets. Nothing is happening. News is necessary relating to the "bottom" of the housing markets for a trend to form. Some data later this week might help.
Second, the world. It's a mess. Bush is shown to be a fool in trusting Putin. I remember that meeting of those two in Texas, thinking at the time that Putin really did not seem to be a friendly person. Bush was delusional about seeing into his soul. McCain was right, he looked into his eyes and saw KGB.
Here's a YouTube link to an interview of Zbigniev Brzezinski about the Russia-Georgia crisis. He's been a mostly reliable interpreter of international events for 30 years and speaks clearly with no BS. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCVq7EwZL0U
Food
The Perfect Fried Egg
I prefer my fried eggs cooked "over medium" with the yolk thickened by cooking but not solid - just on the verge of solidifying. When I mash the fried eggs with my fork, the thick yolk sticks to the white for a tasty mix.
Start with either farm fresh eggs or some good organic eggs, preferably raised cage-free with sunlit porches or free-range - i., e., happy chickens ! My favorite local brand is "Country Hen".
Put a good bit of olive oil in a frying pan. I suppose butter tastes better, but I have to toss a bone to health once in a while. Heat the oil at medium [i., e., "6" on 1-10 scale on my electric stove] until a drop of water sizzles. Crack 2 or 3 eggs into the pan. Sprinkle a bit of black pepper onto them. Cook until the white is … “white” with just a bit of transparency on top. Flip over. Now count to 35. This is really 30-35 seconds as my count is a bit fast and varies a little. Remove at once and put onto your plate.
Accompaniments: whole wheat toast or toasted whole grain bagel with pumpkin butter or marmalade; fried Spam; organic banana or small bowl of raspberries/strawberries.
Word of the Day
"Quacksalver" - noun [$100] (from writings of H. L. Mencken)
Quacksalver means 1. a quack doctor; 2. a charlatan. I guess quacksalver is a close synonym for mountebank.
Sentence: Obama seems to be the quacksalver de jour for the Democratic party, as his prescription for renewed prosperity is high taxes on their designated whipping boys - those earning high amounts in a year. Of course the truly wealthy get a free ride, as usual, with their freeloading municipal bond income.
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