Having sworn I would not take my eye off all the other things going on in the news that are being covered-up by the Cheney shooting incident....I got this joke from an old friend and adapted it for mass consumption.
Vice Presidential weapons technology sure has gotten high tech in recent years. Why, in Gerald Ford's day, the Vice President could only bean his friends with golf balls. And he had to wait until he ascended to the Presidency to do it! Cheney has access to immediate gratification, and to bird shot. Much more effective.
I dare not imagine what the next Vice President will have access to!
Credit to Gerry Stout, of Valatie, NY. We won't go into the Cheney/Darth Vader/Kor/Rumsfeld chorus line that started all this.
For the past hour, "The Ed Schultz Show" has been discussing Cheney non-stop. Which means Big Eddie has lost an hour that could have been spent analyzing the Hurricane Katrina response report. I really do appreciate Ed. But it was hour two before a caller managed to get him off the topic of Cheney-quiddick or Shotgunica-gate or whatever you want to call it.
Vigilance, people. Vigilance!
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Friday, February 03, 2006
Rumsfeld, unh! Good God, Lord, What Is He Good For?
So today, the sleeziest looking man in Washington (according to my dedicatedly Republican co-worker) had this to day about Hugo Chavez:
And just as G.W. Monkeyboy was apparently elected legally.
To be honest, I put more faith in Chavez' electoral numbers. But that's just me.
"I mean, we've got Chavez in Venezuela with a lot of oil money," Rumsfeld added. "He's a person who was elected legally — just as Adolf Hitler was elected legally —....
And just as G.W. Monkeyboy was apparently elected legally.
To be honest, I put more faith in Chavez' electoral numbers. But that's just me.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
The Truth About Cindy Sheehan's Arrest Last Night
For those of you who think you know, from reading the short sentence and a half about the incident in the Associated Press report, what really happened leading up to the arrest of Cindy Sheehan at the State of the Union fantasy show last night, here is Ms. Sheehan's side of the story.
NBC News reported that she actively refused to cover up her t-shirt. Read the real story before you decide how you feel about the situation.
NBC News reported that she actively refused to cover up her t-shirt. Read the real story before you decide how you feel about the situation.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
YWCA opposes Alito confirmation
My sister sent me this (12 page) statement from the YWCA about Judge Alito. When the freaking YWCA comes out against a judicial nominee, you gotta know there's something wrong going on.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
The difference between me and a slug...
Yup, I slept on the couch for two nights running because it was too much work to get up and go to bed. Typical weekend here in the House of Sloth. (At least I fell asleep in front of the news instead of in front of HGTV this time. Not as embarrassing when I wake up.)
I was a busy little baker yesterday, however. These rolls are so damn good, but next time I'll increase the yeast because they didn't rise all that high.
Batter Rolls
Makes 1 dozen
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
1/2 cup warm water
5-6 teaspoons yeast (equivalent to 2 packages)
1 egg
3 1/2 cups flour
Heat milk; stir in sugar, salt and butter, then set aside to cool for a few minutes. Place warm water into large bowl. Sprinkle yeast over water and stir until dissolved. Add milk mixture, egg and 2 1/2 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours to overnight.
Remove from refrigerator, punch dough down, and spoon into greased muffin cups. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about one hour. In the meantime, preheat oven to 375 degrees. When dough has risen sufficiently, bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until starting to turn golden.
I was a busy little baker yesterday, however. These rolls are so damn good, but next time I'll increase the yeast because they didn't rise all that high.
Batter Rolls
Makes 1 dozen
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
1/2 cup warm water
5-6 teaspoons yeast (equivalent to 2 packages)
1 egg
3 1/2 cups flour
Heat milk; stir in sugar, salt and butter, then set aside to cool for a few minutes. Place warm water into large bowl. Sprinkle yeast over water and stir until dissolved. Add milk mixture, egg and 2 1/2 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours to overnight.
Remove from refrigerator, punch dough down, and spoon into greased muffin cups. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about one hour. In the meantime, preheat oven to 375 degrees. When dough has risen sufficiently, bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until starting to turn golden.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Mysteries
Here's a thought to ponder. Ever watch "X-Files" or "CSI" and wonder why they carry wimpy little dollar store flashlights instead of the maglights that every real cop on the planet carries? Well, here's another part of that same mystery.
How come the investigators of "CSI" enter a home that has been thorougly gone through already, that has been sealed as a crime scene, and instead of turning on the overhead lights or even desk lamps they walk through illuminated only by flashlights?
Yeah, I need a life....
But at least the week is ending on a high note.
How come the investigators of "CSI" enter a home that has been thorougly gone through already, that has been sealed as a crime scene, and instead of turning on the overhead lights or even desk lamps they walk through illuminated only by flashlights?
Yeah, I need a life....
But at least the week is ending on a high note.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
What I made for New Years Day dinner
Black Eyed Peas with Roasted Root Vegetables
Serves 6
1 1/2 cups black eyed peas, sorted and rinsed
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, or 1 teaspoon dried
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 medium rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 large parsnip, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 large red onion, peeled and cut in eighths
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Combine peas with 6 cups water, thyme, and rosemary. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer about 1 hour, until tender.
In the meantime, preheat oven 400. Put vegetables and onion on a large piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic and salt. Wrap tightly and place in baking dish. Put in oven and roast 30 to 40 minutes until they look caramelized when you peek. (Browned, not yet blackened.)
Combine peas with vegetables and mix well. Taste for seasoning and adjust as desired. Serve hot. Reheats well.
Note: If using fresh rosemary sprigs, be sure to remove the small woody parts from the peas before serving.
Serves 6
1 1/2 cups black eyed peas, sorted and rinsed
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, or 1 teaspoon dried
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 medium rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 large parsnip, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 large red onion, peeled and cut in eighths
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Combine peas with 6 cups water, thyme, and rosemary. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer about 1 hour, until tender.
In the meantime, preheat oven 400. Put vegetables and onion on a large piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic and salt. Wrap tightly and place in baking dish. Put in oven and roast 30 to 40 minutes until they look caramelized when you peek. (Browned, not yet blackened.)
Combine peas with vegetables and mix well. Taste for seasoning and adjust as desired. Serve hot. Reheats well.
Note: If using fresh rosemary sprigs, be sure to remove the small woody parts from the peas before serving.
What I made for New Years Day dinner
While I did go out and enjoy some really wonderful dim sum on New Years morning with a lovely group of people plus a phone call to Morty (the little Jewish guy who lives inside the head of my friend Dennis who is African/Native American and has no Jewish in him at all other than Morty...) I also spent the evening with some other friends and this was my half of our joint dinner effort for the New Year. Yummy stuff!
Black Eyed Peas with Roasted Root Vegetables
Serves 6
1 1/2 cups black eyed peas, sorted and rinsed
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, or 1 teaspoon dried
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 medium rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 large parsnip, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 large red onion, peeled and cut in eighths
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Combine peas with 6 cups water, thyme, and rosemary. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer about 1 hour, until tender.
In the meantime, preheat oven 400. Put vegetables and onion on a large piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic and salt. Wrap tightly and place in baking dish. Put in oven and roast 30 to 40 minutes until they look caramelized when you peek. (Browned, not yet blackened.)
Combine peas with vegetables and mix well. Taste for seasoning and adjust as desired. Serve hot. Reheats well.
Note: If using fresh rosemary sprigs, be sure to remove the small woody parts from the peas before serving.
Black Eyed Peas with Roasted Root Vegetables
Serves 6
1 1/2 cups black eyed peas, sorted and rinsed
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, or 1 teaspoon dried
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 medium rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 large parsnip, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 large red onion, peeled and cut in eighths
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Combine peas with 6 cups water, thyme, and rosemary. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer about 1 hour, until tender.
In the meantime, preheat oven 400. Put vegetables and onion on a large piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic and salt. Wrap tightly and place in baking dish. Put in oven and roast 30 to 40 minutes until they look caramelized when you peek. (Browned, not yet blackened.)
Combine peas with vegetables and mix well. Taste for seasoning and adjust as desired. Serve hot. Reheats well.
Note: If using fresh rosemary sprigs, be sure to remove the small woody parts from the peas before serving.
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Sometimes you just have to say what the fuck
This recipe (copied mindlessly from the Jewish Food Mailing List's archive) actually sounds good to me. I think that means I have a tastebud malfunction. LOL!
Six-Layer Bombay Cheese Ball
Serves: 3-4
8 oz. cream cheese softened
4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/3 cup mango chutney (available in specialty shops)
2 tablespoons flaked coconut, unsweetened
1/4 cup toasted pecans or almonds
1 tablespoon finely chopped scallions
1-1/2 tablespoons currants or raisins
Combine cream cheese, cheddar and curry and beat by hand until smooth. Shape into a 5-1/2″ diameter disc, 1″ high. Chill until firm (45 minutes). Spread chutney on top. Sprinkle coconut, nuts, scallions and currents.
Six-Layer Bombay Cheese Ball
Serves: 3-4
8 oz. cream cheese softened
4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 teaspoon curry powder
1/3 cup mango chutney (available in specialty shops)
2 tablespoons flaked coconut, unsweetened
1/4 cup toasted pecans or almonds
1 tablespoon finely chopped scallions
1-1/2 tablespoons currants or raisins
Combine cream cheese, cheddar and curry and beat by hand until smooth. Shape into a 5-1/2″ diameter disc, 1″ high. Chill until firm (45 minutes). Spread chutney on top. Sprinkle coconut, nuts, scallions and currents.
Friday, December 16, 2005
The death of good radio
Today's broadcast of Air America Radio's "Morning Sedition" was its last. Marc Maron, the delightfully neurotic and totally angry leftie host has been canned by an increasingly sold-out network and is returning to Los Angeles where, at least, he won't have to deal with snow. I hope the cats make the trip okay and at least he'll be reunited with his wife.
Words cannot express my sorrow. I mean, I was totally addicted to "X-Files" but didn't cry in the end. I didn't even cry when the guys from the Lone Gunman died about three or four episodes before the end. (And what, they died just so they could do a cameo as ghosts in the last episode? What a waste...) For the last fifteen minutes of today's "Morning Sedition" I was in tears, blubbering away over a radio show I had to wake up two hours early in order to hear. What's that all about? Must have been good radio.
Anyhow, before I forget, here is my final recipe posted on the "Morning Sedition" blog. From now on they'll be here, at the Morning Seditionists blogand sometimes in Jim Earl's dream book. (I confess I'm having some trouble picturing Earl as a 14 year old girl but it wasn't like he had a choice in what the software calls it...)
Death by Chocolate
Ingredients
24 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
2 quarters unsalted butter
2/3 cups heavy cream
6 whole extra large eggs
Steps
Melt 2 sticks of butter and 16 oz. of chocolate in a double boiler. Warm 6 eggs in hot water. Coat a 9" spring form pan with butter. Make it watertight with foil. Beat the eggs whole until they are fluffy (like a meringue) Slowly fold the melted butter and chocolate in to the eggs. Place the mixture in the springform pan. Place the pan in a larger pan partly filled with warm water. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Cover with foil and bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for another 10 minutes. Pour on topping. Refrigerate. Serve.
Chocolate Topping for Death By Chocolate
Scald 2/3 cups of heavy cream in a saucepan. Remove from heat. Add 6oz. of finely chopped semi-sweet chocolate immediately. Cover and let stand for five minutes. Stir until smooth. Test the topping by stirring. It is ready when a drop "mounds" before disappearing into the rest. If it is too think - thin with warm liquor. If it is too thin, add more chocolate, re-heat and test it again.
Words cannot express my sorrow. I mean, I was totally addicted to "X-Files" but didn't cry in the end. I didn't even cry when the guys from the Lone Gunman died about three or four episodes before the end. (And what, they died just so they could do a cameo as ghosts in the last episode? What a waste...) For the last fifteen minutes of today's "Morning Sedition" I was in tears, blubbering away over a radio show I had to wake up two hours early in order to hear. What's that all about? Must have been good radio.
Anyhow, before I forget, here is my final recipe posted on the "Morning Sedition" blog. From now on they'll be here, at the Morning Seditionists blogand sometimes in Jim Earl's dream book. (I confess I'm having some trouble picturing Earl as a 14 year old girl but it wasn't like he had a choice in what the software calls it...)
Death by Chocolate
Ingredients
24 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
2 quarters unsalted butter
2/3 cups heavy cream
6 whole extra large eggs
Steps
Melt 2 sticks of butter and 16 oz. of chocolate in a double boiler. Warm 6 eggs in hot water. Coat a 9" spring form pan with butter. Make it watertight with foil. Beat the eggs whole until they are fluffy (like a meringue) Slowly fold the melted butter and chocolate in to the eggs. Place the mixture in the springform pan. Place the pan in a larger pan partly filled with warm water. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes. Cover with foil and bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for another 10 minutes. Pour on topping. Refrigerate. Serve.
Chocolate Topping for Death By Chocolate
Scald 2/3 cups of heavy cream in a saucepan. Remove from heat. Add 6oz. of finely chopped semi-sweet chocolate immediately. Cover and let stand for five minutes. Stir until smooth. Test the topping by stirring. It is ready when a drop "mounds" before disappearing into the rest. If it is too think - thin with warm liquor. If it is too thin, add more chocolate, re-heat and test it again.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
So you thought J. Edgar Hoover was dead?
This story from Reuters via Yahoo scares the bejeebers outta me. And those how know me can tell you I have firmly attached bejeebers. And every one of them is having a Viet Nam era flashback right now.
If Jonathan Sofer, formerly (and for all I know currently) of Albany, NY is out there and reads this, please, dude, get in touch with me. We can get on the phone and chat with the ghost of J. Edgar just like in the old days when it wasn't a ghost. And my father won't be yelling at me to cut it the hell out anymore.
I was never so foolish as to dismiss the possibility of this going on. But these people know how to keep a secret. And this is the stuff NBC was able to find out about. Imagine what's still hidden.
Pentagon may be spying on anti-war activists - NBC
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The
Pentagon has a secret database that indicates the U.S. military may be collecting information on Americans who oppose the
Iraq war and may be also monitoring peace demonstrations, NBC reported on Tuesday.
The database, obtained by the network, lists 1,500 "suspicious incidents" across the United States over a 10-month period and includes four dozen anti-war meetings or protests, some aimed at military recruiting, NBC's Nightly News said.
The network said the document was the first inside look at how the Pentagon has stepped up intelligence collection in the United States since the September 11, 2001, attacks.
The report quoted what it said was a secret briefing document as concluding: "We have noted increased communication between protest groups using the Internet," but not a "significant connection" between incidents.
Americans have been wary of any monitoring of anti-war activities since the Vietnam era when it was learned that the Pentagon spied on anti-war and civil rights groups and individuals. Congress held hearings in the 1970s and recommended strict limits on military spying inside the United States.
A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment on the NBC report about the database. However, he said: "The
Department of Defense uses counterintelligence and law enforcement information properly collected by law enforcement agencies.
"The use of this information is subject to strict limitations, particularly the information must be related to missions relating to protection of DoD installations, interests and personnel," he added.
The Pentagon has already acknowledged the existence of a counterintelligence program known as the "Threat and Local Observation Notice" (TALON) reporting system.
This system, the Pentagon said, is designed to gather "non-validated threat information and security anomalies indicative of possible terrorist pre-attack activity."
If Jonathan Sofer, formerly (and for all I know currently) of Albany, NY is out there and reads this, please, dude, get in touch with me. We can get on the phone and chat with the ghost of J. Edgar just like in the old days when it wasn't a ghost. And my father won't be yelling at me to cut it the hell out anymore.
I was never so foolish as to dismiss the possibility of this going on. But these people know how to keep a secret. And this is the stuff NBC was able to find out about. Imagine what's still hidden.
Pentagon may be spying on anti-war activists - NBC
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The
Pentagon has a secret database that indicates the U.S. military may be collecting information on Americans who oppose the
Iraq war and may be also monitoring peace demonstrations, NBC reported on Tuesday.
The database, obtained by the network, lists 1,500 "suspicious incidents" across the United States over a 10-month period and includes four dozen anti-war meetings or protests, some aimed at military recruiting, NBC's Nightly News said.
The network said the document was the first inside look at how the Pentagon has stepped up intelligence collection in the United States since the September 11, 2001, attacks.
The report quoted what it said was a secret briefing document as concluding: "We have noted increased communication between protest groups using the Internet," but not a "significant connection" between incidents.
Americans have been wary of any monitoring of anti-war activities since the Vietnam era when it was learned that the Pentagon spied on anti-war and civil rights groups and individuals. Congress held hearings in the 1970s and recommended strict limits on military spying inside the United States.
A Pentagon spokesman declined to comment on the NBC report about the database. However, he said: "The
Department of Defense uses counterintelligence and law enforcement information properly collected by law enforcement agencies.
"The use of this information is subject to strict limitations, particularly the information must be related to missions relating to protection of DoD installations, interests and personnel," he added.
The Pentagon has already acknowledged the existence of a counterintelligence program known as the "Threat and Local Observation Notice" (TALON) reporting system.
This system, the Pentagon said, is designed to gather "non-validated threat information and security anomalies indicative of possible terrorist pre-attack activity."
Thursday, December 08, 2005
The worst recipe.....EVER
I don't make these things up. I don't have to.
This one is from Kraft Foods' website. No link. I can't bring myself to link to it.
Braunschweiger Bagel Topper
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) OSCAR MAYER Braunschweiger
1/4 cup MIRACLE WHIP Dressing
1/4 cup TACO BELL HOME ORIGINALS Thick 'N Chunky Salsa
1 tsp. GREY POUPON Dijon Mustard
3 cinnamon-raisin bagels (3 inch), halved, toasted
2 medium Gala apples, sliced
MIX braunschweiger, dressing, salsa and mustard until well blended.
SPREAD bagel halves evenly with the braunschweiger mixture.
TOP with the apple slices.
Do check out Jim Earl's website, though, as it's why I went looking for this recipe.
This one is from Kraft Foods' website. No link. I can't bring myself to link to it.
Braunschweiger Bagel Topper
4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) OSCAR MAYER Braunschweiger
1/4 cup MIRACLE WHIP Dressing
1/4 cup TACO BELL HOME ORIGINALS Thick 'N Chunky Salsa
1 tsp. GREY POUPON Dijon Mustard
3 cinnamon-raisin bagels (3 inch), halved, toasted
2 medium Gala apples, sliced
MIX braunschweiger, dressing, salsa and mustard until well blended.
SPREAD bagel halves evenly with the braunschweiger mixture.
TOP with the apple slices.
Do check out Jim Earl's website, though, as it's why I went looking for this recipe.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
I am *SO* declaring War on Christmas
One of my co-workers came in today in high dudgeon (look it up...) because some school had accidentally sent out some stuff that says "Merry Christmas" and they had to recall the stuff and reprint it and this pisses off my co-worker because Christmas is the season and if it weren't for Christmas there wouldn't even be a season and...
You get the idea. She doesn't like "Happy Holidays" because it fails to acknowledge Christmas and if it weren't for Christmas etc. etc.
When I said, "Well, gosh, how about I reply to your 'Merry Christmas' with 'Happy Solstice?'" at the same time an unexpected ally, a Jehovah's Witness, said, "How about how I feel, since Christmas is a man-made holiday that I don't celebrate?" The co-worker looked shocked and unconvinced. She said that she didn't think I'd say "Happy Solstice" since I know it's not HER holiday, and that she would try to be more careful about wishing me a "Merry Christmas" in the future (I knew I'd have to throw in the "Happy Hanukkah" thing eventually and explaining that there is no relation between Hanukkah and anything else relative to the winter holiday season, but so far I've avoided that confusion...) I asked how a sales clerk is supposed to know that I don't celebrate Christmas but she managed to change the subject to avoid further conflict, which was a good idea.
And now in our lobby they've got Christmas music blaring. Have I mentioned that it all sounds like muzak? Well, it all sounds like muzak. Even if I didn't find the bulk of Christmas music boring if not bad, the muzak-ness of commercial Christmas music (and this shit is tinny to boot) makes my head and chest hurt.
So, tell O'Loofahly. I'm on a rampage. I'm declaring war on Christmas. IT MUST BE STAMPED OUT!
I've got nothing against Christmas. I've got nothing against most Christians. I've got lots to hold against stupidity and deliberate obtuseness. And against muzak.
There, I feel so much better now.
Here's a new recipe. I don't recommend it for eating. I recommend it for Jim Earl. What a guy! He's my dream guy. My hero. A god. Okay, a very funny fellow whose contributions to "Morning Sedition" are going to be sorely missed.
Crunchy Spam Bites
Servings: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
2 cups sweetened corn cereal
20 butter flavored crackers
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 can SPAM® Classic (12 oz.) or SPAM® Oven Roasted Turkey
1 egg, beaten
For Cheese Dip:
3 ounces processed cheese
1/4 cup ranch salad dressing
1/4 cup sour cream
Directions
Heat oven to 425°F. In a work bowl of a food processor, crush cereal and crackers. Stir in garlic and onion powder. Using a butter knife, slice SPAM® into one-fourth to one-half-inch slices. Using your favorite cookie cutter, cut SPAM® into shapes. Dip SPAM® into cereal mixture, then into beaten egg and again into the cereal mixture to coat. Place SPAM® on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 15 minute, turning after eight minutes. Meanwhile, for cheese dip, melt processed cheese in a microwave-safe dish. Stir in dressing and sour cream until smooth. Serve SPAM® bites with cheese dip for dipping.
You get the idea. She doesn't like "Happy Holidays" because it fails to acknowledge Christmas and if it weren't for Christmas etc. etc.
When I said, "Well, gosh, how about I reply to your 'Merry Christmas' with 'Happy Solstice?'" at the same time an unexpected ally, a Jehovah's Witness, said, "How about how I feel, since Christmas is a man-made holiday that I don't celebrate?" The co-worker looked shocked and unconvinced. She said that she didn't think I'd say "Happy Solstice" since I know it's not HER holiday, and that she would try to be more careful about wishing me a "Merry Christmas" in the future (I knew I'd have to throw in the "Happy Hanukkah" thing eventually and explaining that there is no relation between Hanukkah and anything else relative to the winter holiday season, but so far I've avoided that confusion...) I asked how a sales clerk is supposed to know that I don't celebrate Christmas but she managed to change the subject to avoid further conflict, which was a good idea.
And now in our lobby they've got Christmas music blaring. Have I mentioned that it all sounds like muzak? Well, it all sounds like muzak. Even if I didn't find the bulk of Christmas music boring if not bad, the muzak-ness of commercial Christmas music (and this shit is tinny to boot) makes my head and chest hurt.
So, tell O'Loofahly. I'm on a rampage. I'm declaring war on Christmas. IT MUST BE STAMPED OUT!
I've got nothing against Christmas. I've got nothing against most Christians. I've got lots to hold against stupidity and deliberate obtuseness. And against muzak.
There, I feel so much better now.
Here's a new recipe. I don't recommend it for eating. I recommend it for Jim Earl. What a guy! He's my dream guy. My hero. A god. Okay, a very funny fellow whose contributions to "Morning Sedition" are going to be sorely missed.
Crunchy Spam Bites
Servings: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
2 cups sweetened corn cereal
20 butter flavored crackers
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 can SPAM® Classic (12 oz.) or SPAM® Oven Roasted Turkey
1 egg, beaten
For Cheese Dip:
3 ounces processed cheese
1/4 cup ranch salad dressing
1/4 cup sour cream
Directions
Heat oven to 425°F. In a work bowl of a food processor, crush cereal and crackers. Stir in garlic and onion powder. Using a butter knife, slice SPAM® into one-fourth to one-half-inch slices. Using your favorite cookie cutter, cut SPAM® into shapes. Dip SPAM® into cereal mixture, then into beaten egg and again into the cereal mixture to coat. Place SPAM® on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 15 minute, turning after eight minutes. Meanwhile, for cheese dip, melt processed cheese in a microwave-safe dish. Stir in dressing and sour cream until smooth. Serve SPAM® bites with cheese dip for dipping.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Welcome to Ms. Gyspy's World
This is what I get for waiting too long to register for a blog. I don't get to be "gypsy." I have to settle for a name Rhiannon hasn't called me in months...nay...years. But it's all good. I kind of like "gyspy."
I'm going to be moving my "vegetarian recipe of the day" (which has turned into the "semi-regular, mostly vegetarian recipe of the timeframe in fashion at the moment") from the soon-to-be defunct and widely mourned "Morning Sedition" blog to here and also to P.J. Sauter's excellent blog . I'll also post random political rantings here and also at my Live Journal blog.
And now I'm off to develop some political rantings. Here's a recipe, gleaned from the Pagantable mailing list to tide you all over until I get one going. (I'll fix all those links later...)
Baked Brie With Caramelized Onions
17 ounces brie -- chilled
1 sheet frozen puff pastry -- thawed
3 tablespoons butter
3 large onions -- sliced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cloves garlic -- minced
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon sugar
1 egg yolk
Prepare caramelized onions: Melt butter in large skillet over medium high heat. Add onions, saute until just tender. Add thyme, reduce heat to medium and cook until onions are golden, stirring often. Add garlic and saute two minutes. Add 1/4 cup wine, stir until almost all liquid has evaporated. Sprinkle sugar over onions and saute until soft and brown. Add remaining wine and stir until liquid evaporates. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
On lightly floured board, roll out pastry to 1/8 inch thickness. Transfer to a baking sheet.
Halve Brie horizontally. Place one half of Brie, cut side up, in middle of pastry. Top with caramelized onions. Cover with other half of Brie, cutside down.
Draw pastry up around Brie, holding corners. Tuck edges in and twist corners together to form bundle. Beat egg yolk with 1 teaspoon water and brush on pastry, avoiding edges.
Bake at 425 degrees F for 20 minutes or until golden and puffed. Let Brie stand in pan on rack for 20 minutes for runny cheese or 40 minutes for thicker cheese.
I'm going to be moving my "vegetarian recipe of the day" (which has turned into the "semi-regular, mostly vegetarian recipe of the timeframe in fashion at the moment") from the soon-to-be defunct and widely mourned "Morning Sedition" blog to here and also to P.J. Sauter's excellent blog . I'll also post random political rantings here and also at my Live Journal blog.
And now I'm off to develop some political rantings. Here's a recipe, gleaned from the Pagantable mailing list to tide you all over until I get one going. (I'll fix all those links later...)
Baked Brie With Caramelized Onions
17 ounces brie -- chilled
1 sheet frozen puff pastry -- thawed
3 tablespoons butter
3 large onions -- sliced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cloves garlic -- minced
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 teaspoon sugar
1 egg yolk
Prepare caramelized onions: Melt butter in large skillet over medium high heat. Add onions, saute until just tender. Add thyme, reduce heat to medium and cook until onions are golden, stirring often. Add garlic and saute two minutes. Add 1/4 cup wine, stir until almost all liquid has evaporated. Sprinkle sugar over onions and saute until soft and brown. Add remaining wine and stir until liquid evaporates. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
On lightly floured board, roll out pastry to 1/8 inch thickness. Transfer to a baking sheet.
Halve Brie horizontally. Place one half of Brie, cut side up, in middle of pastry. Top with caramelized onions. Cover with other half of Brie, cutside down.
Draw pastry up around Brie, holding corners. Tuck edges in and twist corners together to form bundle. Beat egg yolk with 1 teaspoon water and brush on pastry, avoiding edges.
Bake at 425 degrees F for 20 minutes or until golden and puffed. Let Brie stand in pan on rack for 20 minutes for runny cheese or 40 minutes for thicker cheese.
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