Saturday, September 28, 2019

Happiness is the Lodge 12 inch, 6 quart camp oven, for when the shtf or anytime

There's your regular one, and your deep one. I bought the regular one on deep discount this summer, heh heh, for when the shtf, since I plan to shelter in place. The thing comes ready to go right out of the box, pre-seasoned in the factory. I'm breaking it in inside first, with a few recipes for breads, beans, and roasts before I use it outside on charcoal. For a hoot give a look at the Backwoods Gourmet YouTube Channel to see what using this type of equipment is all about. That Florida boy knows his stuff.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Happiness is homegrown organic San Marzano tomatoes

We are recently harvesting these organic San Marzano tomatoes grown from seeds we bought in March from Johnny's Selected Seeds. These are perfect sliced on the Saturday night pizza, on the BLTs at lunch, and of course for sauce. Wonderfully petite and sweet.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Happiness is a grilled Boar's Head veal and pork brat and some late summer, local farmer's sweet corn for a sunny, Saturday lunch

The pre-cooked brat browns up quickly over a charcoal fire, five minutes a side or so. Available at D&W Fresh Markets in Michigan, they are pricey at $2.00 per sausage, but they are worth it. Delicious served with some Dijon mustard.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Monday, August 26, 2019

Happiness is getting your tires at Sam's Club

Ye olde TPMS indicator light came on yesterday (that's the Tire Pressure Monitoring System indicator light for you folks way out there in Whack Jack, Pakistan), and a rear tire was found to be down to 15 lbs. of air pressure. Refilled, it was down again overnight, 2 lbs.

So it was Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off To Sam's I Go this morning.  They found a little bitty nail in the tire and repaired the hole it made. For FREE. Because I bought the tires there.

Just one more reason to make Sam's Club your tire center of choice. 

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Happiness is red beans and rice, even if you don't have any red beans, just use whatever beans you have

Red Beans and Rice (h/t Rosso & Lukins)

1 pound navy beans, soaked overnight in the frig
2 cups chicken broth or made from bouillon cube
2.5 cups San Marzano tomato puree
2 bay leaves
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1/4 t Tabasco sauce
4 andouille sausages
1/2 t salt
1 t granulated onion
1/4 t garlic powder
1 cup white rice, boiled, drained and buttered


1) Drain beans and parboil covered in fresh water in a covered 3 quart dutch oven: Bring to a boil and shut off the heat for an hour, boil it again and shut off the heat for an hour, then bring to a boil for a third time and let simmer for an hour or two on low until the beans are tender.

2) Drain the beans and return to the dutch oven; add the broth, tomatoes, bay leaves, Worcestershire and Tabasco, sausages, salt, onion and garlic; bring to a boil, cover, and bake in a 350 degree F oven for an hour.

3) Boil the rice in 6 cups or so of salted water 15-20 minutes, just like pasta, stirring frequently but gently; drain and reserve rice in a buttered bowl covered in the warm oven (h/t James Peterson).

4) Add more Worcestershire and/or Tabasco to taste, if desired. Serves 3-4 over rice with plenty of beans left over for the morning toast.




Friday, August 9, 2019

Happiness is the new British prime minister recognizing International Cat Day yesterday

Number 10 Downing Street's "Larry" bears a striking resemblance to yours truly's Buddy, who by the way is also the picture of health today. We found a worm on her behind after all and wormed her. And now she's like a new cat! Sometimes veterinarians know NOTHING, except how to take our money.

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Happiness is a sammich

The MLT, mutton lettuce and tomato, is notably missing.

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Happiness is the humbler joys of homefelt quiet

Happy next him who to these shades retires,
Whom nature charms, and whom the muse inspires,
Whom humbler joys of homefelt quiet please,
Successive study, exercise, and ease.

-- Alexander Pope

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Happiness is a cat with heart disease who wants to live

Here she is, all sick like, trying to catch some rays before judgment day.

Well, it's judgment day, and wouldn't you know it, she bestirred herself, rose up from the sick bed at 06:00, ate some dry food and trotted upstairs. Then she jumped to her happy place on the coffee table for a little rubdown, and then to the fountain for a good long drink like she hadn't drunk in two days. Well, she hadn't drunk in two days, nor eaten. And then she turns up in the kitchen at her feeding spot, looking at me like what's for breakfast, tender tuna or chicken? 

She's definitely turned a corner. Judgment day, postponed.

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Happiness is Steve Earle's 1986 hit Guitar Town

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From Lost Highway:  History of Country Music III

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Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Happiness is Kirk Douglas and Silvana Mangano as Ulysses and Penelope in 1954's "Ulysses"

Mangano manages to get her share of screen time in the episode where the lonely witch Circe disguises herself as Ulysses' seductive wife.

The camera work of the blinding of Polyphemus is noteworthy for the way it makes the viewer use his imagination.

And a relatively young Anthony Quinn (age 39) takes one in the shoulder in the end.