You can call this procrastination and not wanting to get out of bed this morning. As I sit here in peace and quiet, I have been quietly meditating.
Meditation is one of those "things" I have always outwardly scoffed at at but on occasion do. My problem with meditation is that for me it quite often turns to sleep. This time was not the case.
I am reflecting on the direction of my life, my health, and my goals. Several weeks ago I posted a rather ominous post, Crossroads. Today's meditation provided me a lot of insight and may provide it's follow up post.
When you do too many things, you "wear too many hats". Do you do that? Check out my about.me page to see my hat collection. I wear too many hats. It's my choice too. What is the result? I don't sleep enough, I don't eat right, I don't exercise, and I don't appreciate the people around me.
This is not a post about being sad! I said earlier, I had insight into what was going on. I believe I had an epiphany of sorts.
Before everyone panics, let me assure you I will continue to blog and maintain my presence on Twitter. In fact Social Media is very important to my future, so I'm not going away, but I digress.
My meditation led me to nine simple guidelines, which I believe if put in practice would lead to a happier world:
Put others before yourself
Laugh
Slow down, focus, and observe
Cherish the people around you
Walk
Live simply
Get enough sleep
Eat a balanced diet
Meditate and Pray
These all seem to intertwine in one way or another. Slow down & Walk. Cherish the people around you & Put others before yourself.
I'm very interested in any comments you may have.
No recipe with this post.
Until next time, I wish you Peace, Love, and Hollandaise Sauce.
I thought I said everything I could say about popcorn last week, but I was wrong. WAY WRONG. I have gotten a tremendous amount of feed back here in the blog, on Twitter, even at work regarding Popcorn. I'm beginning to feel like a regular Orville Redenbacher!
First things first, let me clarify things. If have microwave popcorn use it by all means. It convenient, inexpensive, and darn tasty! But, if you want to save money, avoid excess packaging, and avoid potentially harmful chemicals, when you run out of your current supply of microwave popcorn, try the Brown Bag method. I really think you'll be impressed.
Second, Recipes? We don't need no stinking recipes!
Recipes are guidelines. Let me repeat that in a larger font.
Recipes are guidelines.
Tonight, the Wilkes Toastmasters Club hosted our International Speech Competition. Since I was organizing it, I was responsible for filling all of the roles: judges, counters, timers, contest master, sergeant-at-arms, participants, and getting snacks and drinks. Time was of the essence, and so was budget. I am also the President of the club so I have an idea of what the finances are and I didn't want to spend any of the club's money on the contest.
Dilemma: Very little time, and money for snacks are coming out of my pocket. Solution: Dollar Tree!
www.dollartree.com
For under $15, I purchased several packages of cookies (including very good fudge grahams), a popcorn bowl, a serving scoop, aluminum trays, bottled water, microwave popcorn and chocolate covered pretzels. WHAT? MICROWAVE POPCORN!?! Remember, recipes are guidelines.
When I got to the contest site, I microwaved two bags of popcorn and while they were still hot, I mixed in two bags of chocolate covered pretzels. The chocolate melted and MELDED the popcorn with the pretzels and made a nice sweet and salty snack.
Was it fast? Yes! Was it cheap? Not as cheap as brown bag, but it was fast!
The Contest was a lot of fun! Debbie won the Table Topic competition and Wendy won the International Speech competition. Both will be advancing on to the Area competition. If you are interested in more information on Toastmasters, please contact me or check out http://www.toastmasters.org/.
Until next time, I wish you Peace, Love, and Hollandaise Sauce.
WARNING: This is a long post. A very long post. You've been warned.
I was watching TV on a quiet Sunday, waiting for the Daytona 500 to start. It was stuck in the middle of another rain delay.
My wife was sleeping and my kids were doing other things. I wanted a snack just for me - popcorn.
Popcorn and I have a relationship that goes way back.
I can remember walking the hallways of Margate Elementary School after school raising money for a trip to the Kennedy Space Center. My mom bagged up pretzels and popcorn in sandwich bags and would shout "Popcorn! Popcorn! 15 cents a bag" to anyone that would listen.
These days, I volunteer at the local high school's concession stand on behalf of the Band Boosters. I sling hot dogs, nachos, candy, and popcorn. Popcorn is now a dollar a bag, but I don't have to shout about it.
Corn is native to the Americas and popcorn is thought to be
one of the oldest forms. Evidence of
early cultivation of corn has been found dating back to 3600 BC in New Mexico
(and possibly as early as 4700 BC in Peru).
Enter the Spanish Conquistadors. Cortez invaded Mexico in 1519 and saw popcorn
for the first time.
When the English
arrived in North America, they also learned about popcorn from the Native
Americans.
The English who came to America in the 16th and 17th
centuries learned about popcorn from the Native Americans.
Moving forward to the late 1800’s, Popcorn gained popularity
throughout the United States with street vendors following crowds around with
fresh poppers at parks and fairs.
By the time of the Great Depression, popcorn was considered
inexpensive at 5 to 10 cents a bag. With
its popularity growing, the popcorn business thrived while many other
businesses failed and growing corn became a source of income for many
struggling farmers.
During World War II, many products including sugar were
rationed for the war effort. Candy
production dropped causing Americans to increase their consumption of popcorn
by over 300%.
Our story takes two directions here. With the end of Wold War II, Raytheon
Corporation had a surplus of magnetrons (a type of vacuum tube used in radar). In 1946 Dr. Percy Spencer began experimenting
with a magnetron when he noticed that the chocolate bar in his pocket had
melted. Out of curiosity, he placed
some popcorn kernels next to the magnetron and turned it on - the popcorn
popped.
Meanwhile, popcorn consumption had slumped in the early
1950s, when television became popular.
This caused attendance at movie theaters to drop and with it, popcorn
consumption. Yet it was at this same
time that the first microwaves became commercially available.
It wouldn’t be until the mid to late 1970s that the
microwave became a staple in most households.
With the microwave in the home, many foods could be quickly and cheaply
prepared, including popcorn.
The Amana RadarRange was the microwave of choice in the 1970's. These things were powerful and nearly indestructible. You could cook almost anything in these things: popcorn, hot dogs, canned ravioli, oatmeal, but you might want to avoid the Legos. I melted a friend's set of Lego's when I put them in (the wheels had a metal axle)!
I had better results.
That was a lot of information, I imagine you may havea lot of questions
So, why does pop corn pop?
Spirits with anger issues?
Nitro Glycerin extract?
Water trapped in the kernel?
How can "I" make popcorn?
My advice to you is, don't. Drive to North Wilkesboro, NC and go to the Liberty Theater. It's not the prettiest movie theater, and it only has two screens, but for a Saturday matinee you can get 4 adult tickets for $16 dollars. They play first run movies, and they serve the WORLD'S BEST POPCORN. It's still cooked in coconut oil, and it's cooked FRESH. The large bag with one free refill is $4.
If you are still going to make your own popcorn then you have several methods:
Air Popper. I'm not a fan of using a device just to make popcorn, especially when that device doesn't bring any flavor to the party. You can use a popcorn for roasting coffee (8), which gives it some merit, but much like a spice grinder, once you've used coffee in it you can't use it for anything else .
Jiffy Pop. To me this is old school fun. An aluminum pan, oil, and un-popped kernels covered in foil. Ready in eight minutes from the stovetop. And I burned it every time.
Microwave Popcorn. Walk down the snack aisle in any supermarket and you'll find scores of different brands and flavors of microwave popcorn. They all break down to the following: a special bag with a metal film laminated to one side, popcorn, solidified cooking oil, and one or more seasonings (usually including salt), and natural and artificial flavorings. Recently there has been some concern that a chemical used to give microwave popcorn its tasty butter flavor, diacetyl, may pose a health hazard.
That's right! My friends want me to take this blog to the world and we want to start this with our favorite comedienne, talk show host, and all around great person, Ellen DeGeneres!
This would be a chance for all of us to talk and cook and have a blast
Coffee
Over the top recipes
Why Donuts are better than Oatmeal
So help me out, lets make #GetTheCoffeeBruinOnTheEllenShow trend!
Until next time, I wish you Peace, Love, and Hollandaise Sauce.
I like to go on and on and on and on... I love words, so sometimes my blog entries take WEEKS to write. Other times, when I'm inspired, I can bang one out in a a day and a half.
The problem is, I have people that want content, and they want content NOW! I want to give them content NOW too.
So starting with this post I'm going to try something I'm going to call a "BLITZ POST". I'm still going to continue with my long form posts, but occasionally when I need to get you some good information or a couple of good pictures, etc. you'll get it in this format. So without further ado,
BLITZ POST 1: Mexican Lasagna
Mexican Lasagna? Rick Bayless meets Mario Batali meets Cheap Dad
Grocery List:
Corn Tortillas 1 lb.
Refried Beans (pinto or black) 15 oz. can
Enchilada sauce 24oz.can
Queso Cotija (also known as the "Parmesan of Mexico") 16 oz.
Mexican Chorizo 1lb
Ground Beef 2lb
Shredded Cheddar Cheese (or Mexican blend) 16 oz.
Diced Tomatoes with Chilis 15oz can
Cilantro, 1 fresh bunch
In large skillet, remove casing from chorizo, brown and crumble, retain fat.
While browning, in large lasagna pan, spread a thin layer of enchilada sauce. Spread refried beans on a tortilla and place bean side up in the pan. Continue placing tortillas in pan until bottom is covered with a minimum of overlapping. When chorizo is browned, add to pan. Add several handfulls of Cotija, some cilantro and several tablespoons of enchilada sauce.
In the large skillet, begin browning the ground beef in fat from the chorizo. While browning, in large lasagna pan, spread thicker layer of refried beans on another layer of tortillas and place bean side up in the pan. Spread remaining Cotija, the drained can of tomatoes with chilis, some cilantro and several tablespoons of enchilada sauce. Add another layer of tortillas with a thinner layer of refried beans, the browned and the drained ground beef. Add several handfulls of Cheddar, some cilantro and several tablespoons of enchilada sauce.
Finally top with plain tortillas, the remaining enchilada sauce, the remaining Cheddar, and several leaves of cilantro.
Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until the cheese is melted.
For now, this is the first Blitz Post. Pictures to come later. Maybe.
Until next time, I wish you Peace, Love, and Hollandaise Sauce.
Over the next few days and weeks I will be forced to make decisions about my life and future that I thought I had already made. This is America in the 21st century, so I shouldn't be surprised. There is no stability.
The economy is forcing changes in many areas and I am seeing it first hand.
Really it isn't bad news. I have worked hard and will be paying off my mortgage, so no matter what happens I have provided a roof over the heads of my family. Even if the WORST case scenario happens (which I think I may be legally bound against mentioning) I will still be able to pay off my car and I still teach at the local community college.
Anxiety is the issue. Which direction do I go now? Who can I trust? Do I follow my heart? Do I follow my dreams, and if so at what cost? Do I try to take the stable safe path, when I'm not sure that it's so stable and safe?
Does is matter what color my parachute is when I'm landing in a minefield?
Sometime
long ago, someone dropped flour into the primordial hot oil and up rose
the prehistoric donut, and since that time the donut has spread to
every corner of the globe.
Most cultures have their own version, from
the French Beignet, to the German Berliner, to the Italian Zeppole. But
for the past 200 years, the donut has been a quintessentially American
pastry.
Yeast,
cake, or filled. Frosted, glazed, plain, powdered, cream filled,
custard filled, jelly filled, fruit filled, coconut, peanut, cinnamon,
sour cream, and even chocolate, there’s a taste for everyone.
Here in Wilkesboro we have 3 options, Day-old Fund-Raiser Krispy Kremes, Dunkin Donuts, and now Dixie Donuts. ***2020 EDIT: WE ALSO HAVE DOM BAKERIES TOO!!!
But
very soon, if my doctor has her way, donuts will be off my list. It
seems that as I approach 40, I need to start worrying about my heart, my
weight, my colon, and all these other things. She wants me to eat
healthier, more vegetables, less meat, more exercise, less stress, and
most of all, more oatmeal. More oatmeal? I stopped eating paste in
kindergarten!
With this in mind I would like to explain to you why I feel that Donuts are actually better for you than Oatmeal.
Oatmeal CAN BE absolutely delicious! Once you add brown sugar, cinnamon, maple syrup, blueberries, milk, and/or chocolate chips, you have had to doctor it up to the point where it has lost any nutritional value. Donuts are absolutely delicious. The only thing you have to add to improve a donut is add another donut.
Oatmeal is quick, convenient, and relatively inexpensive per serving. I can’t call ahead my order for Oatmeal. I have Dixie Donuts on speed dial. Per serving, Oatmeal is more expensive than a lot of other breakfast foods including eggs and toast. As for convenience, I can’t drive and eat oatmeal. I can drive and eat a donut.
Oatmeal contains a wide array of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and is a good source of protein, complex carbohydrates and iron. Blah Blah Blah. Donuts contain wheat which is full of vitamins and minerals, and donuts are great sources for simple carbohydrates which are easy for the body to digest and give you quick energy.
Oatmeal can help you control your weight. If you lose weight by skipping breakfast, then yes, oatmeal can help you lose weight. Any time you skip a meal, your body goes into “fasting mode”. During this fasting, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are all used for energy. Carbohydrates are the number one source of fuel, followed by protein and then fat, and donuts are excellent sources of carbohydrates and fat.
You probably already have oats in your kitchen. You probably also have tuna fish, hot sauce, green beans, and salad in your kitchen. Those wouldn’t make a very good breakfast either. Oatmeal is a breakfast food. Donuts can be eaten anytime you’d like, but especially breakfast. And as an added bonus, you can dunk donuts in coffee. You can’t dunk oatmeal in coffee.
Oatmeal may help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. Eating oatmeal may reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. A diet that includes oatmeal may help reduce high blood pressure. The fiber and other nutrients found in oatmeal may actually reduce the risk for certain cancers. Wow, it’s the miracle food. But donuts are diet food too. Donuts have less fat and calories than regular pastries. Isn’t it obvious? Just look at the hole in the middle.
2020 EDIT: It is unlikely that prehistoric man could possibly have anticipated the impact of the invention of the donut? But today, with the world on fire, let's pause for a moment and sit down with our fellow man and enjoy the simple pleasure of a donut, and maybe a cup of coffee. perhaps in sharing this most American of pastries we can come to an understanding and begin to heal our broken society
No recipe today, until next time, I wish you Peace, Love, and Hollandaise Sauce.
You can call this procrastination and not wanting to get out of bed this morning. As I sit here in peace and quiet, I have been quietly meditating. 
