Sunday, December 20, 2009

Our Borscht Recipe

3 slices bacon
1 yellow onion
5 giant bulk beets
2 boxes beef broth
bouquet parsley
3 T red wine vinegar
6 juniper berries
big pinch ~1t cloves
3 finger pinch sugar
salt & pepper
~1 cup chopped cabbage (optional)

Saturday, December 05, 2009

First Down MONTANA!

Today I got up and went out to rake and sweep up the leaves while they were still dry. The city leaf collection folks have already come twice so the rest of the leaves from the junk trees had to go into the bins. Unfortunately there are still more leaves left, boooo. After the leaves, I went up to check the intertubes, however the older laptop wasn't seeing the new modem. The new netbook was fine. So, I putzed around, searching for tips on the web and shutting down and restarting computers. Apparently, the fourth or fifth time was a charm. I got both computers working just in time to catch the beginning of the Montana quarter-finals game against Stephen F Austin. The Griz went on to win 51-0, excellent. Also, tried out the speed test with the laptop hardwired to the router, got 30 Mbs!!! Never got higher than 6 with the old ancient modem. After the game we went for two trips up Mt Tabor. It was cool but sunny and a nice ride. On the way home we went to New Seasons to get food for the week. We decided to try a Dungeness crab for the first time. I just read how the season just started, Dec 1st, and the first 8 weeks are the most prolific. We had three stinky cheeses with some rye bread, then had the crab with butter, yummy. They are quite a bit bigger than Maryland Blue Crabs and probably equally tasty. We finished dinner roasting chorizo sausages over the fire in the backyard, more flavor! What a delicious dinner. Now, off to work for three days.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Armadillo Eggs


Armadillo Eggs
Cut jalapenos in half. Stuff with cream cheese. Wrap in loose sausage. Wrap all that in a piece of bacon. Grill!!! From LSU video @ 13:10.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Iowa Fight Song - Skin Kandy

Apparently I'm a little slow on this as it came out in 2007. That's what happens when you live 2000 miles away. A little band from Cedar Rapids called Skin Kandy did this! VERY SWEET!!!


Skin Candy- Iowa Fight Song - Skin Candy (intro by Hawkeye Marching Band)

Porter Playoffs round 4

Kona Pipeline vs MacTarnahan's Black Watch
Both of these entries have what I call a sharp flavor, or maybe in the case of the Black Watch a sharp feel. The Kona's sharpness comes from, I think, their addition of actual coffe, which is not necessary as roasted barley will do the job just fine. The MacTarnahan's problem is its over carbonation and thin feel. Also, while I haven't had a Bud or Miller for quite some time, there was something in the taste of the Black Watch that reminded me of that sort of beer. Oh, well. The Deshutes Black Butte and Butte Creek remain 1 and 2, but not sure of the order. I will have to have showdown this weekend, back to Belmont Station to pick up more! Here's a guess at an order for the rest:
3: Otter Creek Stovepipe
4: Kona Pipeline
5: Rogue Mocha
6: MacTarnahan's Black Watch
7: Dick's Lava Rock
8: Anchor

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Porter Playoffs round 3

Rogue Mocha vs Deshutes Black Butte
The Rogue Mocha is a good example of the porter style in every way but one.  As some Oregon breweries are wont to do, and as Oregon is home to many of the States' hops farms, Rogue over hops their Mocha Porter.  The grapefruit flavour of what I'm guessing is cascade hops does not jive well with the coffe flavour of the roasted malt.  The Deschutes on the other hand is a nearly perfectly balanced porter.  Lots of chocolate maltiness, not too sweet, not too much molasses aroma, nice big head, very nice.  I'd have to say at this point its a tie between the Black Butte and the Butte Creek.  All the best porters have the word Butte in them.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Porter Playoffs round 2

Dick's Lava Rock vs Otter Creek Stovepipe
The Dick's entry in this showdown is quite similar to the Anchor beer, although not as big.  It is a little sweet for my tastes.  The Otter Creek, is moving towards the beatuy that is Butte Creek, a little dryer but still has a big coffee taste and molasses nose.  So far the Butte Creek is still in first followed by Otter Creek, maybe I'm just a sucker for beers with the word creek in them.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Porter Playoffs round 1

Butte Creek vs Anchor
Although the Butte Creek feels just a little light in mouth it was the winner of the first round.   The Anchor porter came off a little syruppy with a molasses flavor, it was a little strong and over malted for me.  The Butte Creek has a wonderful typical porter flavor and is easy drinkin!