Food – The Laughing Wolf

Winter 26 Bleg

I hate to do this, as your kind gifts over the last 4.5 years have kept me going. Right after I was hit by lightning that June, and things started going South rather rapidly, quite a few of you stood up and helped me out as I dealt with health issues, health bureaucracy, and general bureaucracy. At that time, I wanted nothing more than to get better and move to the desert SW. As I look out at the roughly inch of snow that fell here this morning, there is a part of me that still very much wants to move there.

That said, about 3.5 years ago, I found a new Church home and my desire for a new life took on a new meaning. It was something long building, as I had for years thought there was something I was supposed to be doing, though I wasn’t sure what it was that I was to do. It literally took getting hit by lightning to have a moment of clarity, and to slowly (I am a bit thick and slow) realize that the end doesn’t matter, only the path. Bit more on this later in the post.

It took more than three years to get a small monthly stipend going, and during that time your gifts literally allowed me to live as I had no real income during that time. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate those gifts, and all the prayers that came with them. Both mean more than I can ever truly express. Which is why I hate to ask for more, but my stipend is not huge and while things are improving, there is more to do than I can cover.

So, I’m going to do a formal Bleg. Haven’t done this in a while, but here’s what I’m looking at over the next year or so.

First up, keeping the blog up and the lights on costs about $500 right now. I’ve got some fairly stable hosting that at least sorta-handles Instalanches and the like. There are support services that help keep the spam at bay, and things running smoothly (or at least relatively so). I would not mind doing a bit more, and expenses could go up if I start doing more video and the like as planned.

Second, I am doing an experiment right now by taking a seminary course as a remote-learning non-degree student. I will note that if I do change to pursue a degree or certificate, everything should count towards that. The last round of neurological testing done last year said I should be able to take a course and pass it. I will also note the doctor who did the testing and I had an interesting side talk on the fact that I can still form new memories, but that the conditions to form new memories are not always there. So, trying some things, including something told to me by a fellow lightning strike survivor to aid in creating those conditions.

I will admit right now the class is wonderful, I’m truly enjoying it (its on the theology behind the Liturgy, the main worship service for Christians). It is also sometimes overwhelming and almost always like trying to drink from a firehose. It is testing my compensation systems for life, and I’m having to devise new stratagems for handling the loads. Which is good, very good, don’t get me wrong; but, it is not easy and I look back at being able to breeze through some courses with a degree of envy.

It is also expensive given my budget. Right now, looks like the total cost is going to be around $2k for the course. A couple of you have stepped up and covered registration and such, and it is much appreciated. Now, if I do okay with this course, I would like to try again this fall with another course, which will be another $2k (bit more). If that goes well, I would then try two courses, and if that goes well, and I have the blessing of my Priest, I would consider seeking a scholarship and try full-time. That’s in the future, but for this year alone having $4k would be a huge help.

Now, as my regular readers know, I have the opportunity to go on a pilgrimage this spring. I am Eastern Orthodox Christian, and belong to the Bulgarian Patriarchate which means my home Church is in Sophia, Bulgaria. So, I will be going to Sophia and basing out of there. The trip is for spiritual development and discernment, and as such I will be visiting Churches and monasteries (and possibly a seminary) in Bulgaria; will be going up to Bucharest, Romania for a visit (and cooking lessons, more in a bit); and, will be going to Mount Athos is Greece to spend some time there.

For those who don’t know, Mount Athos is one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Short version: fairly soon after the start of Church, Christian hermits took up residence there; and, when monastic life became a thing, monasteries were established there; and, during various times of persecution and such, those monasteries became a refuge and many items were stored there.

Getting to visit requires getting a “visa” via an office of the Greek government on the mainland, as Mount Athos is accorded as it’s own territory, almost it’s own country in some ways. You then have to contact the monasteries to arrange to visit. I’ve been approved for my “visa” though I am attempting to change the dates of my visit. My Bishop (our Church has one Bishop for the USA, Canada, and Australia btw) has invited me to join him at one of the monasteries for a special service, and I’m now waiting to hear from the ‘visa office’ on my request to change the dates of my visit.

For all I am working to do this on the cheap, there are still expenses. I got a fairly good deal on the airfare; but, with all the fees and taxes added on it ended up about $1,800. I’ve found some short-term studio apartment rental in Sophia that look good, have stoves and oven, wifi (my seminar class will be finished while on the pilgrimage), and such, for about $33 a day, or a total of around $1,800 with taxes and fees. Several of them offer a service to pick me up and take me back to the airport even. While I’m in Bulgaria and Romania, I want to take some cooking lessons, one of which is Romanian country cooking in the Carpathian mountains. Right now, looking at about $750 for doing those. When one visits and stays at monasteries, they do appreciate donations and so I am budgeting $900 for that. I also want to budget for some hotel expenses as I can’t always stay at monasteries and such, so am adding $700 for that. I’m also budgeting $500 for trains, busses, and other transport. Sadly, given age and the joys of having been hit by lightning, I am having to get trip insurance that includes hospital and medical evacuation. That looks to be $800 (possibly a bit more). So, looking at about $7,250 for the trip itself.

Oh, for the record, if I die or am killed while on the pilgrimage, I’ve given instructions that I am to be buried there. No need to bring me back here, let me rest where I fall. This constitutes full legal notice to any and all parties who may (or may not) have a claim on my estate.

Now, there are some expenses that are not a direct cost, but also need to be considered. First up, a new cell phone. I have a non-numbered model senior-citizen special right now. I would like to upgrade that so I can handle a particular translation app and take better pictures and videos. Several have already asked if I will post pictures and videos, and I actually hope to do so daily. I really want to video some or all of the cooking classes, and various explorations of Churches and more. From the Carpathian mountains to Mount Athos, we are talking some beautiful country and I want to share it with you. Given that my phone won’t even trade in on a new mobile, am budgeting $1,500 for that. I also need a new pair of prescription sunglasses. Insurance will cover part of that, but I’m still going to be out roughly $500 simply because of my prescription (rarely can be ground in store). Not looking for super high end, just a solid pair of glasses and yes I’ve already priced some out. Now that physical therapy and massage therapy have me walking more normally, I need a new pair of Redwings, and those will be about $135. For all that I feel their quality has slipped, these shoes are incredibly comfortable, can handle rough terrain at need, and are safety shoes — which can come in handy. Now, I also am looking at some specialty clothes, including a vest that a priest I know speaks highly of that can even be worn with a cassock (not an issue for me at present) that is pickpocket and RF resistant. Also looking at a couple pairs of pickpocket proof pants and such, and some decent travel pants that can be line dried at need (several of the apartments have washers, no dryers). There are some other miscellaneous things, including the backpack I bought that does not put weight on my artificial shoulders (app $450). So, budgeting about $300 for the miscellaneous (excluding pack). Which makes this part about $2,435.00.

So, I’m looking at a goal of $14,185. That’s a lot, though I admit it should probably be rounded up to $14,500. Heck, the marketing types would probably suggest that or more, but I would be grateful for any of that. Everything helps and is very much appreciated.

Now, I know some people may not want to donate money as that can be misspent, misused, etc. So, I’ve put as much of the clothing and other items for the trip on my Amazon Wish List and made them highest priority, so they should show up first. And, yes, I hope to ship over some things in advance (supplements and other supplies) so I don’t have to carry them in my luggage.

Now, to go back to something mentioned earlier. I am on a path of which I do not know the end, when it comes to this new life. I’m helping at my Church, taking this class to see how well I can handle it, and to, if possible, to push on down that path. It has several possible destinations, from monastic life to the priesthood. I have faith I will be guided to the destination that is right for me. This trip is a part of that process and I am thankful to my Priest and my Bishop for their help, encouragement, and guidance on this journey. And I appreciate your help, your prayers, your gifts in allowing me to make this journey.

Before I forget, I did promise to say more on the cooking lessons. I’ve already contacted and made tentative arrangements for one cooking lesson in Sophia, which will provide an introduction to Bulgarian cooking. There are some other possibilities there as well, but nothing scheduled yet. In Bucharest, I actually may have the chance to take three different classes: one introductory course to Romanian cooking, a cheese-making class, and one where I will be taken into the Carpathian mountains and learn Romanian country cooking. I’m hoping for more really, particularly in Sophia but we will see.

If this goes well, and there is any money left over, I am already thinking about a possible trip to the Holy Lands. Just an idle thought for now, as we need to see how well I do on this trip first, but it is there. And if I can go, I will be reaching out to some people for help in doing a bit more than the normal, as there would be at least three graves I would like to visit that are tied to October 7.

So, with reluctance and hope I make a winter bleg to you. I will be pinning this to the top, or reposting every day, to keep it available this week. I hope to do other, regular, posting as well, but want to push this while I can.

Thank you all for all you have done. I could not have made it this far without your help, your prayers, and your gifts. Your love, if you will. My hope for all of us is that there is much more to come.

Thank you.

UPDATE I: My thanks to G for using Zelle in the Bard’s Jar. You were the first too do so; I hope it went well for you; and, I did get it and it is applied to the trip. Thank you so much!

UPDATE II: First and foremost: THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to my Winter 26 Bleg! Particular thanks go out to Vodka Pundit for his post at Instapundit that brought most or all of you here. In addition to the automated thank you, I’ve hopefully sent a quick thank you to everyone I could. To all of you who donated anonymously, please accept my thanks! I also very much appreciate all the comments of support, prayers, and more that have been given. I also want to thank JC and LB for sending me something off my Amazon Wish List. I’ve made all the items needed for the pilgrimage highest priority, so they should show up first. All the gifts, all the prayers and thoughts, and all of YOU are very much appreciated. Please help spread the word, as there is still a ways to go. THANK YOU!

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, and to start a truly new life, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Kapustnica

This last Sunday, we celebrated the feast day of the saint for whom our Church is named: Joy of All Who Sorrow. This is, of course, the Theotokos, known to many in the West as Mary the Mother of God. Being a feast day and not during a fasting period, it means there was a lot of good food at our “coffee” after the service.

While it is called a coffee (and there is some excellent coffee to be had as one of our members has a relative who owns a coffee roasting business), it usually is something of meal. That is because we generally fast from all food and drink (even water) starting no later than midnight Saturday night before partaking of the Eucharist. Some even do longer periods. Technically I’m exempt because of health and now age, but other than enough water to go with the medicines and such I have to take (and I take them about 0300 so that at least six hours have passed before service begins) I do my best to keep the fast.

Since becoming a Chanter, I haven’t been able to cook or do as much with food as I would like to do. There were also some issues that came up with kitchen access where I rent, but those are getting resolved (and I’m developing alternatives). For this day, however, I really wanted to do something nice. So, I had seen a recipe for an Eastern European soup that sounded good, and would be a good (close enough) ethnic fit. That soup is called Kapustnica.

The picture above really doesn’t do it justice, especially since my version really was more a stew than a soup. It is technically a sauerkraut soup; but, reality is that is a bunch of sausage and smoked meats cooked with some sauerkraut, mushrooms, and onions. With good sauerkraut, it is also extremely tasty. Here’s what I did:

To start, I diced a huge white onion medium fine (not coarse, not fine, in between), and sliced three large cloves of garlic as thin as I could. The onion, garlic, and three fresh bay leaves (use dried if you can’t get fresh) then were cooked/sauteed until tender (clear) in a mixture of lard and bacon drippings (a few T, didn’t really measure it). Three tablespoons of sweet smoked paprika were then added and the mixture cooked until the paprika turns dark and roasted.

As I was cooking the onion, I prepared my crockpot. Into the bottom I put the sauerkraut (I used a jar of Polish sauerkraut with some carrot included, mild and good) and a bag of dried mushrooms that I had rehydrated using white wine for a couple of days before use. In this case, I used a white wine from Romania as it both fit the spirit of the recipe and the deli where I got the meats and sauerkraut had it at a decent price. My own take is that a slightly sweet, not dry wine, is best. This one really worked well.

The onion/garlic mixture then went on top of the mushrooms and kraut. On top of that, I chopped up a couple of different types of Eastern European sausage (I picked two that looked good from the meat case), pretty much a whole smoked pork loin, and a small chunk of smoked cured beef. The beef is the only thing I would do differently, as the cure made it hard and it still wasn’t quite tender even after cooking. To be honest, at the meat case, I had just pointed and said: one of those, one of those, one of those, one of those… I went with what looked good.

Since I had drained the kraut (not much draining was needed to be honest), I put in some bone broth and some vegetable broth as liquid to get the cooking underway. I didn’t fill to the top as I had to transport the crockpot to Church, and a full pot will spill. Kept it roughly a couple of inches from the top, but was more than enough to cook the mixture.

It did cook faster than I expected, even on low in the crockpot. Figure about four hours as good. I ended up cutting it off a bit after seven when I went to bed, and around midnight it had finally cooled enough to go into the refrigerator. Once I had it at the Church, I plugged it back in, set it to low, added the water (and took the picture) and then let it go. Some wonderful people got it to the serving table for me, and I did make it to the kitchen in time to get the sour cream out of the refrigerator so people could add a dollop to top the bowls of soup if they wanted.

I will note that it is a rich soup/stew, and adding the sour cream is tasty but may be gilding the lily a bit. It was a hit, and I have very little cleaning to do of the crockpot. I also picked up a box of Russian chocolates to go with the other sweets. Someone did some meatballs, there was homemade fried chicken, and someone did some very nice cabbage rolls as well. Lots of other food, but tried to stay mostly keto.

So, Kapustnica is fairly quick and easy to do (couple of hours on the stove top in a big pot), and is also quite tasty and filling. If you don’t have a good Eastern European deli nearby, use some good smoked sausage (without corn syrup, Meijer brand here is good for that) and whatever other smoked meat you can find nearby. Or, heck, smoke some of your own on the grill or in a smoker and use that. I will simply say that the better the kraut, the better the soup/stew. Don’t have dried mushrooms, use fresh. Thing is, have fun and enjoy.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, and to start a truly new life, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

A Good Day

I caught a Lyft ride up to the Carmel farmer’s market this morning to get my chef’s knives sharpened. There is a professional knife sharpener (two actually most days) who can sharpen my good knives without voiding my warranty. They even give me the industry rate, which is good because it usually is seven or so knives.

Bacon on a stick, about a quarter inch thick or better

While I waited, I shopped as there are several vendors there I like. I did eat a bit as well, as seen with the deep-fried (I think) bacon-on-a-stick above. There’s a local charcuterie place that honestly is as good as some I’ve had in Europe; a farm that has amazing eggs and good meats; lots of other meat, veggie, and even mushroom vendors; lots of ethnic food; and even a local mead maker is there.

I tried to be good, but did come away with eggs, meat, a huge thing of fresh basil (plan to make pesto Monday or Tuesday for freezing), fresh garlic, local goat cheese, and a few other delights. I also had good coffee and enjoyed an arepa filled with shredded chicken and avocado (cold).

Sadly, was starting to overheat and dehydrate a bit so did not get back to a favorite: a Vietnamese lady who does Vietnamese egg rolls. She doesn’t seem to speak a lot of English, but that’s okay as she has help that handles that while she makes and fries some amazing traditional egg rolls.

A good way to spend a morning, and now most of my knives are ready for a “new year” of cooking. Want to find someone at the Church to tag-team with so I can do some chicken souvlakia, salad, and a blueberry moz dessert. If I can get a good recipe (and maybe some native guidance), hoping also to do some Pho this fall. I can do cooking on Friday and Saturday, but need someone to reheat and/or get things out on Sunday as I really can’t leave during the service to do that. Besides, if they have a car and can get me to Restaurant Depot or other, all the better.

Home now, dealing with package delivery issues (have one package lost in the purgatory-or-worse that is the new USPS center that is a black hole for mail, that needs to be a column). I did get my new driver’s license today, sans donor status. Now in my wallet. I’m also imbibing water and electrolytes, and enjoying the cool. I’ve been using LYTEshow electrolytes with biking and other activities, and really like them. No sugar or artificial sweeteners or flavors, just electrolytes. Tangy, but tastes pretty good and works.

More soon. Hope you all have a good weekend.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Whew!

After posting yesterday morning, I went and joined a friend in the Church kitchen to help them cook for a social that night. What I walked into was a pile of groceries completely covering the work area, and a real-life version of “Chopped.” As in what do you make out of all these ingredients that will be tasty, fun, and enjoyed by an unknown number of people? And, no, we had no idea of how many were showing up for dinner so winged amounts and also had to consider special diets as a possibility.

So, we brainstormed a bit even as we started prep. The only two things he had planned were underway (a brisket in the oven and a big pot of borscht he was starting). We bounced ideas off each other and things took off. We actually changed plans on the fly a few times: something you really aren’t supposed to do, but it was just us and we rolled with the improvements.

Along the way we produced the following: a Thai-style chickpea curry, chicken korma, grilled chicken, grilled salmon, grilled thin ribeye steaks, a rosemary and lime ‘stuffed’ sirloin, grilled lime corn on the cob, grilled asparagus, grilled peppers, an amazing ham and potato salad, two huge bowls of green salads, baked potatoes (the ones not used in the potato salad), and of course the borscht and brisket. Pretty sure I’m leaving out a couple of dishes.

Thing is, I can’t really say how much fun it was. My mind hasn’t really worked that way since the lightning strike, but doing it engaged more of the creative side than the logic side. The bouncing of ideas off each other worked, and forced my brain to work in some ways that haven’t gotten a lot of stimulation. Somewhere along the way, I found myself just doing some things I used to know to do first, like mixing up batches of various seasonings: a general purpose ‘steak’ seasoning I like as a base, a mix for the salmon that used both dry spices and fresh minced dill, and some various herbs that were likely to be needed.

Tried something new with the corn (why not!), in that I covered it in lime juice before putting my ‘steak’ seasoning on it. As the ears roasted on the top rack in the grill, I had a stick of butter I would rub over them after turning them for even cooking. I did put a bit of Tajin on three of the ears as they grilled, though you couldn’t tell it by service. Only thing I would do differently is to put more lime juice on for a longer period of time, as I think it worked well flavor-wise.

I’m exhausted, and even hurt a bit, but it was and is so worth it. My friend is crazy in all the right ways, and playing a giant game of “Chopped” with a social event was indeed crazy, and crazy fun. Even better, the food was enjoyed. Two reactions that made me smile were comments from a somewhat picky “customer” who raved about the salmon; and, a little girl just starting in on solid food who loved the ribeye steak.

One trick I did on the salmon was to put pats of butter on top when I put it skin-side down on the grill. As it cooks the butter melts and keeps that top side moist even as it adds nice flavor to go with the dill. The step-by-step is squeeze fresh lemon juice on the fish, generously season with your chosen spices/rub, throw on some extra dill on top of that, and put pats of butter on top. Grill and enjoy.

So, don’t expect much out of me today unless things really blow up. Be safe, be alert, and enjoy the day. I think I’m going to do some voice exercises and practice singing. Other than that, it’s a good day to relax a bit.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Periodic Reminder: DoorDash Are Thieves, Do Not Use Them.

The original post for those who missed it and/or need to read it. Do not use them. Have heard from a number of others who have had similar experiences.

No Irish Products Need Apply

Part of my family is from Ireland, and I appreciate Irish contributions to the world. Heck, the enclosed Catholic confessional came from the Irish I’m told (by an Irish priest no less). However, there comes a time when you have to let rubbish go; and, to call the current leadership and government of Ireland rubbish is to insult every midden heap and landfill in the world. They are a disgusting lot, and you should pay attention to the ethnic and religious makeup (and how few generations they’ve been in Ireland) of many of them.

As I noted in the previous post, the despicable fascista midget serving as president had Jews removed from the Holocaust Memorial service yesterday, with his goons dragging a pregnant Jewish woman out by the arms. My understanding was that he has been asked by the Jewish community not to attend, but did anyway just to be the largest anti-Semitic ass he could possibly be. Suspect he’s more than happy that many Jews are fleeing Ireland (and I strongly suggest they do as this guy would be right at home in the Third Reich and I suspect he mourns that they no longer exist).

Made the decision a few weeks ago to stop buying Irish products, but decided to go public with it after yesterday.

Kerrygold butter? Not any more. Plugra is as good, costs a little less, and is made here in the US I think.

Alcohol? On the stout front, America as a large abundance of good stouts, not to mention craft beers, that are flat-out better than Guinness. It may be heresy to some, but Guinness mostly coasts on reputation. Diageo is the owner and is not Irish, but promotes it as an Irish brand. Had just been introduced to an independent Irish distiller, but Irish whiskey is off the list. Frankly, lots of small independents to explore here, and I would offer that Scotch was the better choice usually. Again, easy choice to make and I won’t suffer for doing without.

Irish wool and fabrics? Eh, check out this U.S. company that I’ve heard good things about. Again and again there are a lot of good options here to check out, and you would be helping small U.S. businesses.

Seriously, it may not make a huge difference but it is something I can do. I don’t have to support Nazi-loving politicians. I can instead invest in American products and small American businesses. Hope you join me in so doing, as if enough of us do, it might help make a difference.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving once we have medical issues cleared up, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

DoorDash = Rip Off

The short version for those members of the short-attention-span theatre is that in my opinion they are thieves, and are not recommended. Do not use or trust them for anything. For those who want the full version, here is why I think they are thieves.

Back in December, on the 26th to be precise, I was under the weather and not wanting to go out of the house. This also meant I did not feel like walking to the Steer-Inn (historic diner, Flavortown approved) for a Fiesta omelette. So, being now officially disabled and sick, I decided to give DoorDash a try with the order. I had used them for a small order before, and that had gone okay. So, why not give them a try?

This is what my order looked like when it arrived. Does this look anything like a Fiesta omelette?

Does this? So, first thing I did was to reach out via the web page, but this leads only to an option to request a refund.

So, I use the chat feature to reach out to the delivery driver, Jonte. No go. Tried again. No response.

So, reached out every way I could find. Turns out, the contact info they have with PayPal does not appear to be current, and when I talked with PayPal they provided me a means to actually reach a person. Did so, three times I do believe, and each time they would launch an appeal which was denied. According to them, I got food so I should suck it up and deal with it; that because I got food and had only used them a couple of times meant I should just deal with it and any disappointment was entirely on me. In movie terms: “You f’d up! You trusted us!”

Talking with PayPal, no chance of any help through them because it was a delivery and they don’t get involved. I really need to talk to Visa and see what if anything they can do.

I also want to note that at no point in the process was I asked to provide proof of the wrong order being delivered. In fact, in the initial contact means provided there was no way to do so. When I was denied for the about the fourth time and someone said it was because I had provided no proof (that I repeat I was NEVER asked for) that I finally got an e-mail to send them the photos. I did so. Didn’t matter, no refund.

So, I’m done with them and I am going to do everything I can to warn people about them and their oh-so-interesting business practices. If anyone has any data on how often this is done to the elderly and disabled, I think that could be fascinating to share with a couple of different State AGs who have a habit of suing companies (and even administrations) for interesting practices and such.

Meantime, I do not recommend them and in fact urge you not to give them any business. Save yourself the money, time, and hassle as after about three days they will stop responding even if they have said they will do so. They lie. They also have competition, and if anyone has info on a good delivery service let me know. Meantime, save yourself a rip-off and avoid DoorDash.

Oh, and if they don’t like my opinion that they are thieves (didn’t get the food I ordered or my money back, that’s theft in my book and happy to discuss it in court if they like), they can suck it up and deal with the understandable disappointment (think that was the wording given me by one person on their staff) because it is fully on them.

Sourdough English Muffins

Today wasn’t only my baking and cleaning day, it turned into a major cooking day. Got as much done as I could for reasons I might get into later, and wish I could have done more.

One thing I did get done was to cook up a batch of sourdough English muffins. I’ve been asked for the recipe, so decided to share it here too.

Ailbe’s Sourdough English Muffins

Hardware: Cast iron skillet, lid, large bowl, tea towel, pastry/cutting board, cutter, scraper.

Ingredients:

360 grams all purpose flour
5 grams sea salt (I use half smoked, half pink)
20 grams maple syrup
240 grams warm distilled water
100 grams (plus) sourdough discard or starter

The day before you want to cook them, combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix by hand. If using active starter, use 100 grams. If, like me, you use your “discard” for this, I will go anywhere from half again to double the amount. Scrape down the bowl if needed, and cover with a tea towel/thin dish towel. Let sit in a safe place overnight. NOTE: I will mix the batter anywhere from noon onwards, and put it on a shelf in my room to keep the cats and others out of it.

The next morning, put a cast iron skillet on low heat with a lid. Use your scraper to get the dough out of the bowl and onto a well-floured work surface/board. I do a few fold-and-press until the dough firms up just a bit and forms a rectangle. I then work it out (can be rolled out) to about a quarter inch thick (may be a bit higher, the dough will tell you where it needs to be) and cut into disks. My high-tech cutter is a pint glass which I’ve found to be the perfect size for a proper muffin.

Place the muffins into the skillet (I do four at a time) and cover with the lid, and cook for four minutes each side. Place on a plate to cool, stacking as you go. This recipe will do a dozen muffins, sometimes a bit more depending on how generous I was with the discard/starter.

Two key things: use a cast iron skillet (it does matter) and get the heat right. Too high and you will burn the muffins. Two low and they will not cook through. I’ve done them enough times now that I know where to set the knob to get good marks and cooking. Plan to experiment on your first batch, and give the pan plenty of time to come to temp before starting.

Enjoy!

Thank You

Thanks to some people hitting the tip jar, I do indeed have a new pair of Red Wings. Next on the list is a new pair of sneakers, some clothing, and a wire rack storage unit.

Now, me being me, I went and got the new shoes Wednesday afternoon. Managed to get in about three miles of walking with them, as I started the break-in process. Yesterday I got in six or more miles of walking in them. Ouch. Between that and pushing my little grocery cart around all day (shopping day), I was moving like I was 90 by dinner time.

Hope to get a more substantive post up later, but today is baking day. As I work the bread, I’m also doing laundry, some other cleaning, and pretending to clean my room. In addition to bread, cooked up a batch of English muffins. Not only some for me to eat, but am trading them for rides since I have no car.

The young man who bought my car still hasn’t transferred the title, so got to send him a certified letter yesterday. Hoping that this gets taken care of quickly, as it not being transferred raises legal liability issues. Joy.

More later as getting the post done between stretch-and-folds. I still do everything by hand, and I get pretty good results if I say so myself. Even better, several people at Church have been letting me know they think it’s good.

Italian Food

Okay, I screwed up a bit today and overdid it. Part involved missing a bus while the bread was on first rise and betting I could walk to my destination before the next bus got there. Did it. Then walked back. Then took another walk later. If I thought I was tired before…

So, wanted to do a real post but decided to do a semi-funny story because a post on X reminded me of it. The post was a joke about the mafia running a pizza chain and giving up crime as the pizza paid better. Which reminded me of some really good Italian food that came to Huntsville many years ago.

It was the first time I did work for NASA (sub sub contractor??) and several of us were into food. When word came of a new Italian place that was supposed to be fantastic, I was a bit skeptical. Keep in mind that I lived a summer in northern Italy with an Uncle stationed there a while back, and had gotten to travel a bit besides. On top of that, I’ve had some of the best Italian in Boston and NYC (when the undercover cops tell you that X has the best Italian food in the city, and the restaurant is essentially neutral ground between the Mob and the cops, trust me it is indeed quite good).

So, some of us went to check the place out. Going in, you had to actually go through the kitchen to get to the dining area. Part of which was inside, part of which was outside and included a Bocce Ball set-up. Going through the kitchen I looked at what was being cooked, how it was being cooked, and did a bit of sniffing. Think my comment was along the lines of ‘this is going to be good.’

Yes it was. In fact, I would have stacked it up against almost any Italian food I’d had in the U.S. It was really good, and the rather flamboyant and loud owner and host was a bit of a hoot. He taught people how to play Bocce Ball, how to eat certain dishes, and have a good time. I really enjoyed the place despite his over-the-top antics. The food was just so good.

Then reality hit. Word went out quietly that the restaurant had closed. Louder words soon followed, and the true story came out.

Turns out Mr. Flamboyant had been in the Witness Protection Program, and had testified against the Mob. Accountant type, not a Pistol Pete or more. Don’t know for sure, but got the impression it was the Sicilians though some plumped for the Irish Mob. The attention coming to the restaurant, even in Huntsville, was not good. His not paying taxes or any withholding on his employees got the IRS involved, and well, they apparently had to move him again. Still wonder if the prime protection for so doing was in regards the Mob or the IRS. Prefer to deal with the Mob than the IRS to be honest. Seem to remember that he gave investment advice to employees and others too. Ah well.

I had some dealings years before that with someone else who had been in the WPP. Don’t remember why she was in the WPP, but do know that when they had to do an emergency relocation on her because of her being a ***** to so many people, and stiffing so many people, no one was surprised at her being in the WPP. That person was such that many felt she should have just been left hanging in the breeze. By this point, she’s long gone, and I’ve said a prayer for her soul.

It was a loss to culinary Huntsville, and frankly a bit more given just how good it was. Right now, can’t think of a place in NYC that matches it (even in the new Little Italy) and only a couple in Boston. As much as I do love Little Italy in the Bronx (Little Italy in Manhattan is mostly a tourist place now IMO), they would be hard pressed to match it. Sometimes wonder what happened to Mr. Flamboyant, but if he is still around and they relocated you to Indiana, drop me a line. I won’t say a word.

Thought I would share a funny and mostly pleasant memory this Friday evening. May your weekend be good, and tasty.