Lunch

I headed over to what is left of Borders today at lunch to see what was left.  I went in with a small list of things that would be nice to get.  I didn’t find any of them. 

What I did find was kind of interesting.  I picked up a shrink-wrapped cookbook from an author I like (Jaime Oliver), a book about cheese, and a picture filled guidebook to poultry.  I got not only Chickens, but ducks too!  None of those items I even thought I wanted when I walked out the door for lunch.

Sometimes it feels good to just roll with it, and do things you don’t normally do.  I still needed lunch, so I headed somewhere I don’t typically go.

While I was sitting there enjoying the ambiance and fine food; I noticed a man standing by the highway off ramp with a sign.  I watched panhandling for change while I ate.  The last time I gave money to a panhandler was in San Francisco down by Fisherman’s Wharf.  There is a guy there who hides behind a potted ficus tree, scares the living crap out of site-seeing tourists, and then while they are all out of sorts hits them up for money.  He got me for the three ones in my pocket, and the Japanese tourists across the street who were watching presumably got good pictures they can remember forever. Today was going to be different. 

When I was done eating, before I got into my car, I fished a ten dollar bill out of my wallet and gave it to him.  He seemed genuinely surprised, and certainly grateful.  As I got into my car to go, he walked over to some nearby bushed, got a half empty bottle of water, and a couple of small bags of chips out of it, and hurried across the street.  He was obviously on a mission. So I sat and watched for a minute.

A woman appeared from behind a tree across the street and met him.  He showed her what he had, she smiled.  They then walked together, straight over the gas station convenience store, and I went back to work; where I get to do all of the “expected” things once more.

I almost wish I had given him a twenty instead.

Cold War

Good evening, my fellow citizens:

This Home Owner Government, as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance of the Mouse Soviet military buildup in my Basement on the island of Cuba. Within the past week, unmistakable evidence has established the fact that a series of offensive holes missile sites is now in preparation on my stone foundation that imprisoned island. The purpose of these holes bases can be none other than to provide a vermin nuclear strike capability against my kitchen the Western Hemisphere.

I have been checking my kitchen for intruders since I declared mission accomplished.

While I have seen no “evidence” of kitchen raids; a quick look around the house has found:

Time for more concrete patch, and I think will start setting the traps outside and see what I get.

A Hill of Beans – Pinto, v2

So, last time, I wanted creamier beans and a redder appearance. 

I again started with four slices of bacon and used the kitchen shears to slice it into ribbons.  This time though I added diced onion (no shallot), a couple of clovers of garlic, and two Jalapeños. 

Instead of raw Chorizo I used smoked one that I diced into cubes.  Then I added half a can of diced tomatoes.  I got the creamier beans and redder appearance, and the second try was better than the first.  However, there is still room for improvement.

Next time, instead of the canned tomatoes to add acidity and color; I’ll paprika for color and some diced cherry tomatoes for acidity.  Also I need to find a better smoked Chorizo.  This one tasted more like pepperoni, which is ok, but I wanted more heat, and more flavor out of it.  This version was the consistency of baked beans, which is not what I wanted.  I may either mast half a can of beans, or I guess I could use some re-fried beans.  I want it kind of “pasty”. 

My First

On Open Letter to my first Weber Grill.

Why did you run away?  It’s been over ten years now since you left, and I still think about you sometimes.  It was the night before Father’s Day when you left.  Why did you go?  Did you like the houses across the street better than the apartment we were in?  Did you not like our neighbor, the gas grill?  I had such big plans for us on that Father’s Day.

It was painful, but I have moved on.  The grill I’m living with now is much more understanding.

After 10 years now we are still going strong, even after the warping grease fire that’s made it hard to get the grill properly placed.  Our relationship is so strong that we’ve had a small barrel grill and a smoker move in.  There isn’t even a hint of jealousy. 

Even so, after all these years I still think about you.  I guess you never forget your first.

Scooter-less

So the time has come and gone and the spot in the front yard that I thought was the 2011 rabbit nest was, in fact, empty.

Un-Americanized

I like Chinese food; however what we usually get here is Americanized Chinese food.  It’s not bad though I have had Overly-Americanized Chinese food which is nasty.  I have been looking for Un-Americanized Chinese food.  I once heard that a truly authentic Chinese restaurant typically only prepares one of the eight regional cuisines of china.   

I have finally found one near me house.  The Famous Szechuan Pavilion 

Its in what used to be a drive through coffee shop.  Ordering my food was difficult.  Though the owner/cook/waitress/busboy’s English was surely better than my Mandarin.  I got the Dan Dan Noodles.  When she asked it I wanted “Small or medium” I though she meant how big a bowl, you know, like a whole or half order kind of thing.  So I got the “medium” Portion size isn’t what she meant.  I found out what she meant was a small or medium spoonful of Sichuan pepper stuff.  My mouth was nice and numb after the first three or four bites.  I could still taste it, but the heat sort of disappeared.

So today at work my Chinese Cultural Consultant brought me:

Sichuan peanuts! 

Very tasty, and not mouth numbing!  The best part though was the back of the package.

I think that’s a great symbol for “CRAP THAT’S HOT!”

Randomness, Part II