Kamado Grill
My grill is smokin’. It does look pretty cool, but I mean the way it can cook. I have needed a new grill to replace my 20 year old Weber kettle. I loved my Weber; after all they are from my home town.
For the last couple of years I planned to buy a new Weber, but I have been intrigued by a Kamado type grill. A Kamado grill is a clay covered grill. It can grill but also act as an oven as the clay holds heat very well. This way you could bake in it; or if you keep the temperature controlled to a low burn, you can smoke food for hours.
These grills are heavy, the one I got when assembled all together, weighs about 200 pounds. (not very portable!)
These grills aren’t cheap, but I saw one at the local Costco and after careful thought, I said, goodbye Weber. Once I got help to put the big box into the car I had to get the grill home.
I was able to use a couple pieces of wood to slide the box out of the rear tailgate. So now I had the grill but I still would need to unpack it and assemble it before I could cook on it.
Almond milk, it tastes nutty
I had a coupon, so I decided to give it a try. I love skim milk, but I have heard of all the alternatives, like soy and now almond. The coupon was for Silk Almond.
I got the “original” which stated on the carton that it had less calories and more calcium than skim milk Sounds like it should be healthy so why not. I also had the choice of chocolate and vanilla infused varieties.
After have a slice of pie for dessert it was time to have some “milk”. The taste…?
It was cold, that was good…it was kind of nutty, that wasn’t so good. It wasn’t the taste I expected, which I was hoping was closer to cow’s milk. As a matter of fact, I had to have a glass of skim milk to after the almond to get the taste out of my mouth.
I guess Elsie has nothing to worry about on my end. I have spent a lifetime used to the taste of cow’s milk, so I will leave almonds for snacking and not drinking.
Spring time tomato planting season
It’s that time again…the time when I ask that question. Is it worth all the effort and cost to try to grow homegrown tomatoes?
Since I do my tomato plants in pots on the deck, I don’t have to worry about turning the soil over and all the work involved in getting the soil ready for planting. The trade off, I have to spend about $40 or so on dirt, or I should say “potting soil” for filling up my containers.
Sunday, on a nice sunny spring day, I made the mistake of walking through the garden section of the store I was in. I only say, mistake, because once I saw all those healthy looking plants and then started to see in my mind, vine ripe delicious tomatoes, I was done for.
So here we go, I bought 3 plants and a bunch of dirt. Now, I just have to get out my pots and get dirty.
French Onion Soup
Made some French onion soup last night. While enjoying it, I wondered what makes it French?
The ingredients are butter, thinly sliced sweet onions, beef broth, water, and seasonings. Hey maybe it’s the croutons that are placed on the soup along with a slice of provolone cheese broiled. Is crouton a French word?…..
Ah, I just looked it up on the Internet, crouton is derived from a French word meaning crust.
Well, I understand that the modern version of the soup originated in France in the 1800s. I read that a variation of the soup has been around since Roman times. So my thought is if I leave the croutons out, should I call it Roman Onion Soup?
Whatever you want to call it, I call it tasty and warming on a chilly spring night.
Baseball season starts
College basketball is over and now baseball gets geared up. If you don’t countJapangames the major league season starts up today and tomorrow. It’s a long season, by the time the playoffs start, football will be going into their second month of games.
Baseball is a game that always takes me back to my childhood. All we needed was our glove, a ball, a bat and an open area. I used to play with just a couple other friends. We had imaginary players and a lot of fun. I wonder how often in our fast paced and organized activities world children play like we did?
So, when I see the first pitch of the season this year; my thoughts will drift back to a field in my old neighborhood that was home to some great pretend baseball games. Speaking of pretend, this could be the year? Go Cubs! 
Taking the wrong cart at the grocery store
Now how did those cucumbers get in my shopping cart? That is the question I briefly asked myself as I grocery shopped yesterday afternoon. It must have been some kids having fun, or so I thought. I took the package of cucumbers out of my cart and stuck them in the bin with hams. See, I was far away from the produce section, and it wasn’t my fault!
Speaking of produce, I picked up some good looking strawberries and grapes on sale. When I shop, I often leave my cart and walk around the aisles, returning to my cart with handfuls of items. That is what I was doing, when a nice lady came up to me and asked, if I picked up some strawberries and grapes? I said yes, why? She told me that I must have taken her cart!
I looked down at my cart and it looked like everything I picked up. The strawberries were there, the grapes, carrots, lettuce, chicken wings and other things. So I was confused. But she told me that she had strawberries and grapes in her cart at the produce aisle. She said she couldn’t find her cart after picking something else up. She laughed and told me that she got a new cart and started over, so don’t worry about it. So, how did I know I had her original cart for sure?
The cucumbers, yes those cucumbers that I stuck in the cooler with the hams. I headed back to produce to empty my original cart with the strawberries and grapes. Then I went back to the hams, grabbed the package of cucumbers and gave them back to the lady. I guess I got myself out of a pickle!
Early spring growing season.
Our early spring, or maybe better stated “non-winter” has made our plants get up and get growing earlier this year. Just ask someone with allergies. Thankfully that is not me; but, I have had to cut my grass earlier than usual and it is growing like a weed. Speaking of which, I have a lot of weeds that seemed to have liked the early spring also.
So, everything is growing earlier and quicker. Now I have to not only mow, but I have to buy some weed spray and crab grass preventer.
Sometimes, I wonder if it is all worth the effort? I think that, usually when I head out to cut the grass and think, didn’t I just do this? When I avoid the outdoors, I don’t think about it! But, since I like being outdoors, I have to grin and bear it.
The way time flies though, before you know it, the leaves will start falling in the fall and the growing season will slow down. However, come to think about it, all that raking…ugh!
Happy Spring.
March Madness Brackets
“Nobody cares what your bracket is.”
I heard that sentiment on a sports radio station earlier this week, as I was ready to make my NCAA basketball predictions. I guess that is true unless you are in competition with someone.
So, since the only competition I have joined this tournament year, is the one at work where the morning anchors are going against the evening anchors (we won last year!); I won’t bore you with my predictions.
It is interesting to watch games though after you have picked, you do become fans of a team you only care about because you picked them to win. The only bad thing is when you have to pick against a team you like and then you watch the game.
I guess those are the times you hope your wrong. Or not…if you have a bet riding with the evening crew of who is superior in basketball predictions! Did, I mention that I hope Ohio State does well this tournament?
Add On Meat Grinder
My kitchen Aid Mixer does a yeoman’s job when it comes to mixing. But I have always been intrigued by the little flip cover up front where you can add attachments.
Meanwhile I have read that to get the best tasting hamburgers, you should grind your own beef. So I decided to buy a meat grinder attachment for the mixer.
It works easily and after cutting up the chuck, I put it in the grinder and boom it came out like the pre-ground meat that you buy in the store.
I honestly couldn’t tell the difference from the ground chuck that I usually buy from the store and my own grounded chuck; but the burgers were very good.
Now I have to try other things to grind….turkey, chicken, teeth. Just kidding on the last one, but I will be trying some ground chicken soon.
Sweet triple play barbecue sauce
Saw a recipe for triple play chicken and since baseball season is just about here, I was intrigued.
The three parts for the triple play, #1) a rub, #2) some Mesquite smoking chips, #3) a barbecue sauce. I was intrigued by the sauce.
I made a few changes to the original sauce recipe and I liked it.
First of all in 2 TBL of olive oil, I cooked a ½ cup of finely chopped fennel for about 10 minutes. I then added 2 cloves of minced garlic for about 1 minute.
Then I dumped in 1 cup of ketchup, 2 TBL of spicy ground mustard, ½ cup of brown sugar, ½ cup of lemon juice, and a ½ cup of 7up or Sprite. I cooked this on low heat until it thickens a little, and I stirred occasionally.
The sauce is sweet and the fennel has a nice subtle flavor. When cooking the chicken, I did use a rub and added some smoke with wood chips; but the sauce overtook it all. In other words, a single play would have been just as good.
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