Jack’s Experimental Cooking

This uses one skillet and cooks in less than thirty minutes. Blasting some black metal while you cook is optional but recommended. I did chop two red bell peppers, but other than that do not ask me for any proportions as I don’t cook that way unless I’m following a recipe — and usually only for the first time.  I served it with Kentucky Ale, but a good honey mead would probably go with it quite nicely.

ground lamb
chopped, fresh bell peppers
frozen or fresh corn
mesquite barbecue seasoning
pico de gallo
cumin
chili powder
red pepper flakes
chives
paprika

In a large skillet, brown the lamb over a medium high heat. Drain and set aside. Put the peppers and corn in the skillet and cook 1 – 2 minutes. Add the lamb and spices. When the peppers begin to soften add the pico de gallo, stir to combine. Remove from heat and enjoy.

Flour Power

Inspired by TMDT’s gluten free baked goods – the divine chocolate caramel bars, the fabu white chocolate bars, and the too die for cake, I was inspired to pick up a bag of brown rice flour at the grocery this evening. I think I’ll start with some vegan pancakes and see where else I travel. I also began taking note of all the other gluten free flours on the shelf. One was made from ground chick peas. I can’t quite separate that it’s not used for making humus. Maybe I just need to do some experimental baking. I have had wheat free frozen waffles with soy butter and honey for breakfast the last couple of mornings. They are very good and quite filling.

I’ve also decided to start doing a supplement in addition to the creatine and whey protein to increase my T and thereby my lean muscle mass. I did the research. It’s safe. I’ll see where that road leads me as well.

Wildcat Chili

I caught myself in a debate about which to buy: peanut or soy butter. The soy won, but I was taken aback by even considering it. Five years ago the peanut butter would have won without a contest, and it wouldn’t have been the all natural one either. It would have been Peter Pan with all the associated sugars. And I most likely would have picked up a pack (or two) of Camel filters as I checked out. I might have dined on fried chicken, baked potato smothered in blue cheese dressing, and sweet corn on the cob. Washed it down with extra sweet tea and a slab of pecan pie for dessert. Fast forward to soybutter’s victory, and I came home to fix poached fish, pickled okra, and hot cauliflower for supper. Hey, but I had a protein shake to wash it down. Yes, I’m back to watching my carb in take. By keeping my intake at 150 or less, I can still eat normally and even enjoy a beer on occasion.

Speaking of  lower carbohydrates I’m reminded of a t-shirt I saw today: Loose Carbs, Eat Wildcat. Today was Team Spirit Day at work, and most of us were in our team colors. On the elevator there was a guy in UK Blue carrying a pot of chili. After a woman made a disparaging remark about another woman’s blue shirt, she asked the guy about the pot he had. “It’s Kentucky Chili, and you can’t have any,” he said with a smile. “I make better chili though,” I said making sure the cardinal on my shirt was in plain view. And after reading the dude’s shirt this afternoon, well, I might just start using Wildcat as an ingrediant along with the dark chocolate. =

Добро пожаловать в Место Джека

Is it the rare steak rubbed with spices and lime or my gingered brown rice that brings you here? Maybe it’s the pom-berry juice in the black stemmed glass or the promise of something more. Don’t tell me you hope for my weekday speciality of one-eyed jacks and good strong coffee in the morning? Perhaps it’s far more base than that and you’re merely drawn by your  morbid desire that I’ll not catch myself when I type the wrong homonym — a rarity but it does happen.  At any rate, welcome dear reader.

 I walked into my favorite deli paradise today and was told that I could not have a rare burger. They aren’t allowed to do that. I complained that they did it two weeks ago and was told that they weren’t supposed to. Note to self, hold out for the guy at the register. Honestly, I don’t get what the fuss is about. I’ll sign a waiver if you offer it.

I love the Web, but I don’t often trust it. According to the translator Добро пожаловать в Место Джека means “Welcome to Jack’s Place”.

Holding Out for a Hero

The CDs from Musclecakes were waiting for me in my PO Box this afternoon. I’ve got them downloaded to my hard drive (and one in my Lyra). I can’t wait to take give it a go at the gym. I was almost inspired to head to the gym, but, um, no. One workout a day is enough. The best thing about an athletic trainer (and musician) making a workout track for you is that it is really good stuff to use for a work out. I gave him the ingredients for my chili mac. I doubt he’ll be impressed with anything that contains smart ground, dark chocolate, and organic whole wheat pasta. But then he is a Bright Blue Spot in Texas. BTW, I’m officially a Bright Blue Dot in the Blue Grass.

On Friday I went to Sesame Street only to discover that The World’s Greatest Bar Tender doesn’t work there any more. At least The Empress is still there. Having been encouraged so many times, I tried a Bombay Sapphire martini. I wasn’t impressed. Give me my Tanqueray Rangpur any day, and I’ll be a happy camper. I don’t know quite what that shot was the Newbie comped, but I wasn’t impressed with it.

I watched the first episode of Dante’s Cove last night. I’m hooked. Let’s just say that if Here! were offered in my area, I’d get cable. I think there is a way to watch it on-line, and it might be possible to get the channel on my phone. I know there are several TV options available for telephone viewing. I don’t know if I’m more amazed by the technology or my willingness to buy into it. Anyway, Cove is a combination of Dark Shadows, Sex in the City, live action The House of Morecock, and even a little Scooby Doo. Suffice to say that I couldn’t have done a better job. Well, okay I would have done a little better with bondage, but hey, that’s just me.

Scarlet Boxers

It never fails to astonish me where I get inspiration for a poem. In some cases, like “Cherry Ripe,” it makes perfect sense. After all, I was eating a bowl of cherries and pondering the Lily Prince. However my latest “Scarlet Boxers” (http://dragonwolf77.mindsay.com) came about while I was eating cubes of cold watermelon. I’m sensing a chilled fruit theme though. =

And, I was so inspired by TDMT’s latest blog post, that I went shopping, and will soon be in possession of a lapel pin with a http://britebluedot.com/index.a.html.

Cherry Ripe

After a fabu supper of TDMT’s to die for benedictine piled high on lightly toasted “bird seed bread” and laced with warm, crisp bacon, a simple white crock bowl full of chilled ripe cherries set off not just an explosion of tastes but also got my creative juices flowing (http://dragonwolf77.mindsay.com/).

I’m saving the caramel bar and champagne for tomorrow night.

Adventures in the Wine Trade

I make absolutely no secret to choosing bottles of wine based on type (Shiraz being a favorite) then by how much I like the label. Often this works out well, and I’ve turned up more than a couple of nice, inexpensive brands that I’d buy again and share. A decent vineyard often employees a decent artist to produce a decent label. At times it doesn’t work out at all. With the current bottle I’m not displeased, but I’m also considering going out and Googling the directions to turn wine into vinegar. It’s not quite Christ-like, but I’m still intrigued. I have this odd idea brewing that I’ll have this splendid vinegar for use in all of my salad dressings.

And it might just work. However, I’m disheartened by the realization that I’ve never been able to make the champagne and caviar salad dressing as I consume all of the champagne first–sad but true. I wind up with either a very simple vinaigrette or something store bought. And I recall that I once bought a bottom shelf Chardonnay for a soup recipe, but gave it someone as a last moment (literally) Christmas gift.

Still, I’m reminded of another adventure with wine. I was going to a house warming party. I had with me an excellent bottle of win. I’d had someone drop me off. I went to the house. I had the wrong address. Imagine my chagrin. Then there was the other conundrum. As I recall it was “the only yellow house on the block.” Unfortunately, there were five yellow houses, and one that might have been described as yellow by a straight man who is color confused. Oy vey. I decided that I couldn’t walk around the Highlands with a bottle of wine knocking on doors. Yes, I might have made some new friends. In retrospect… I walked up to the mall, bought a pack of gum to get enough change for a pay phone (do they still have those?), and called my mother to come get me. I did attract some strange stares in the process, and if there’s a moral of the story, it’s two fold. First get the address correct before going AND carry the wine inside something just incase you messed up on the first one.