Well, not much going on yesterday, picked that tallest stem of basil to dry and store
They say to not let it flower, changes the taste somehow
Need to use up those tomatoes now, one dinky Rutgers and two nice Better Boys, maybe one for breakfast
One more cucumber coming along, I clipped that dead one that was climbing the tree
Another crop of jalapenos on the way, another half pint to pickle
And a few more small poblanos on the plant, a few Rutgers tomatoes but that will be it for them
I watered all the pots nicely again yesterday... And pulled the Sunflower, it gave up and died
I had a couple smoked ribs in the fridge that needed to get used... So I started on some BBQ beans
I chopped onions and those two litle poblano peppers, Sauteed them in olive oil, added the chopped meat from the ribs
Added that to a large can of Bush's Best Baked Beans with BBQ sauce and spices, simmered slowly
And later a bowl of those with a hot dog and bun were very tasty... Yeah!
So, with my afternoon cocktail and TV... Later Beans and Hot Dog, that was about it for a quiet day
~ Now... What is in Store for Tuesday? ~
~ Monday August 16, 2010 ~
~ Another Good Casino Day! ~
~ You Can't Win 'Em All ~ But I Won 4 out of 6 Times This Month ~
And another good day after a really BORING start... I do OK early morning but around 10 a.m. I get antsy for something to do
That's when I buy too many scratchers or head to the Casino to lose a couple Twenties
But I look at it this way... Go to a Movie for $20, you get the entertainment but no chance to win
And to a Bar to get a badly mixed drink at too high a price, no chance to win and maybe get smoked out by cigarettes
Or to a restaurant for a $25 meal I could cook better at home
And I can watch a Movie at home for free and mix a better and lower priced drink
So I go to the Casino for the Entertainment (it IS for me) and a chance to win something too
So, did my morning routine, then picked a couple tomatoes, headed to Circle K 66 for a Bingo and Crossword
Both duds so back to the ranch for breakfast... NOW WHAT?
Well, I had been to the Casino 5 times already... Won three times and lost twice but still ahead... So let's go agaion
Got a couple Twenties out of the ATM and headed to Riverside and the Argosy Casino, and my same favorite nachine
I totally expected to lose this time... but let's try anyway
I started winning nice little wins right away, soon was close to a $20 win but not quite
I won 3 mixed sevens twice, that's a 50 credit win each... Then when I was back down to 178 credits I hit 3 RED sevens for a 120 credit win!
~ Three Red Sevens = 120 Credits ~
Now that's time to run for the hills, 298 credits, cashed out for $74.50
So I got my cash-out ticket and then stuck in another $10 for the heck of it
Played that 40 credits a few rolls and then hit a nice little one, cashed out for another $2.75 win... added that to my $74.50 and cashed out my tickets
Win for the day $37.75... not bad... And I was only at the Casino for 20 minutes!
So then I dropped by the Riverside RED-X for another Bingo and Crossword
Then back home to work a $3 winner Crossword... Gambling win for the day $40.75... Loss $9, not too bad
Casino win for the month $231.00.. Loss $80.00... Profit of $151, nice little addition to the bank account... SO FAR ANYWAY
And what else? a pic of the latest tomatoes, picked Number 10 Rutgers... that little one, then Better Boys Number 6 and 7
I gave R.L. Number 4 and 5 when he was here, he scarfed down Number 4 in a flash, took number 5 with him
And then my afternoon libation, my CNN News Brainwashing, then later more of that Gumbo, now even better, a real home run this attempt
~ Yeah... A Nice Winning Day... Again ~
~ Sunday August 15, 2010 ~
~ Nature Sanctuary Work Day ~
~ And Sigi on Video Call ~
~ Sigi Wulle in Schwaben, Germany on Yahoo VideoCall ~
Well, one morning when I was on Instant Message with Herr Wulle in Germany I clicked on Video Call
And it works pretty good even though he didn't have enough light on
And I took a short video clip of the call
Kinda fun and it works pretty good, once I talked about an hour to Australia on that system
Oh yeah, Sigi sent me that German Country type song so I added that for flavor today
So yesterday, a pleasant morning of chat in the Parkville Nature Sanctuary on Cabin Wiring Work Day
People started showing up at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, only two when I got there
One a young guy, Kevin from Kenya, Africa, who asked if this was where the Hike Started today
I said I didn't know of any Hike today, we had a Work Day scheduled
So he said maybe that was what he was invited to participate in
So, when the gang arrived, the first Item on the Agenda was to move some wood chips to get the work truck up to the cabin
The people that had donated the wood chips had dumped the full load blocking the trail on the way to the cabin
So everyone including Kevin pitched in with pitchforks to make room for the truck to get by
Of course as usual, my work was to video the whole operation... Me work? You kidding?
Then on to the cabin and they started on the wiring work, headed by Erwin Carney and Don Kixmiller
And I got some video, But more chat than work, and Kevin watched and chatted as there was no work for him
Then later we found out there WAS a Hike scheduled and Kevin came an hour early for that
And then Bob Fluchel, Director showed up on the trail with the people on the hike and joined in the work group
And Kevin re-united with Caroline, the girl that had invited him to the Hike
About that time I had plenty of video and I headed on back to the ranch
Later to upload the video and starting work on that, maybe a project for today
Then just finished out the rest of the day, later a Steak and Twice Baked Potato re-run
~ A Nice Day... And a New Project to Work on Now ~
~ Saturday August 14, 2010 ~
~ An Innovative Gumbo! ~
~ And Pretty Tasty! ~
~ Name It ~ It's In There! ~
Well, Friday the 13th wasn't unlucky at all.. Even though HOT! (outside)
I started off with a half of that little watermelon, well chilled... Sweet and fully Ripe
Then a run to Circle K 66 for a Bingo and Crossword, had a $3 winner Bingo to trade in
Back home to work a $3 winner Crossword, willl trade that one in today
Then I just poked around until about 11:00 a.m. and then started on my Gumbo
Gumbo is a very versatile dish and can be made of many things and in many ways, though essentially similar
Sort of like Jambalaya, but also different, mostly in the way of preparation more than ingredients
Gumbo starts with a roux, and the most defining and essential and critical part of the dish
Getting the roux cooked to the proper color without scorching or burning
I started mine with 1/3 cup of peanut Oil and 1/3 cup of flour, over low heat and then stir stir stir
The most tedious part, taking quite a bit of time to get it right, and I got mine done close to OK
I already had diced up all the meat and veggies (except the shrimp) the day before
And I had already cooked up some Uncle Ben's Converted Rice
So I brought them out of the fridge and heated up the chicken stock in a separate pan
I got my slow cooker out of the pantry and got it warming up when finishing the roux
Then I combined the vegetables with the roux and stirred in the chicken stock
Next added that to the Slow cooker, then stirring in the diced meats
And Oh yeah, I had a couple ears of sweet corn, so I cut the kernels off and added that
And speaking of the meat, they say use what you have, usually seafood and/or sausage and chicken
So here I got innovative, I diced up a smoked turkey leg and a hunk of smoked pork shoulder
Well, turkey subbed for the chicken and smoked pork for the sausage... Seemed it would work OK
So I got all that going in the crock pot, added a couple cups of frozen cut Okra
Then let that all meld in the pot a few hours, then set out the cooked frozen shrimp to thaw
Then at serving time, layered the rice on a plate, added the shrimp, topped with the Gumbo
Then covered and into the microwave to bring everything to the right temperature
And then with all humble honesty I can say this was the BEST Gumbo I ever attempted, Oh Yeah!
~ And Now Today... Might Just Go to the Nature Sanctuary Work Day ~
~ Friday August 13, 2010 ~
~ Another Lucky Day at the Casino ~
~ But NOT on Friday 13th! ~
~ Now That is a Winner! ~
So, I started out a boring morning after Chat and clean-up, headed up to get the mail and to the Chopper for a Bingo and Crossword
And this week's special deals on Burger Helper for 49 cents, 12 ounce Kraft Cheese for 99 cents and a dozen eggs for 49 cents
Saved a couple dollars on that deal... Back home to work my DUD scratchers and now what?
Well, I am still ahead on the Casino and scratchers this month... so let's go to the Casino again
Up to the ATM for a couple twenties and headed out, figuring to LOSE after that last win, but it is ONLY money... isn't it?
So back to my favorite machine, stuck in my money and started hitting little wins right away...
I hadn't been there 5 minutes when I began winning those nice moderate wins, soon was over the 240 of a $20 win
But I just couldn't quit... Decided I would try for 300 credits, a $35 win... and then I would get close but not quite make it
So I would play back down, then up again, never under 200 credits this time and finally hit that 150 credit roll that made 401 credits, cashed out for $100.25
Three Blue-3 BARs are worth 30 Credits ~ Times 5 is 150 Credits ~ Added to the 251 I had left.. a nice Win of $60.25
Even after ignoring my rule (as I often do) of quitting if I get $20 ahead, I just kept going this time... and WON!
~ Now Ain't that a Cute little Melon? ~
So then what? I was only at the Casino for an hour and then only 10:30 a.m. and the whole day to go
What did I need from the Price Chopper? Well, kinda planning on making Gumbo again
So I needed some celery and on the way in the produce department they had these little Sugar Baby Watermelons for $1.99
So I had to have one of those. then got my celery, extra big bunch, then my Mexican friend there pointed to the Cantaloup
He says "Melon, muy barato... 99 cents!" AHA! So I picked up one of those and lettuce, only 99 cents a head also
On to the spice aisle for bay leaves and celery seed, then a bag of frozen okra, should be all set now
Later I chopped and diced most all that goes in Gumbo and it's in the fridge waiting for me to start it sometime this morning
Then much later, I put another KC strip in marinade and a baking potato in the oven
Then another Shrimp Cocktail, grilled KC Strip Steak, Baked Potato and Garlic toast.. Oh yeah, then a piece of Cheesecake... AHA!
~ And Now Today... Parkville Style Gumbo on the Way ~
~ Thursday August 12, 2010 ~
~ A Visitor from Las Vegas on Wednesday ~
~ And Three Hours of Chat! ~
~ R.L. Chitwood and Friend ~
And one more HOT day! Outside that is, nice inside... Long morning waiting for my visitor
But he said afternoon and showed up about 1 p.m. or so...
And then a lot of catch up on old times and old friends and where were they now
R.L. was interested in how I made my BLOG page and other things on the computer
Watched one of my boring videos of the Liberty Memorial and was inpressed by the sharpness of Blu-ray
Showed him my video cam and he said "That little thing did that?" Well yeah... 1920 X 1080 AVCHD video IS impressive
So then he had this photo he wanted me to scan so he could put it on Facebook for that friend in the pic
I did that and showed him a couple ways to burn a DVD to back up his photos offline
Fairly easy to do and so many neglect to make copies and later lose them all with a HD crash
Anyway, a very long and very pleasant chat, nice to have a visitor actually interested in my simple efforts here
Finally left about 4 p.m. to visit with his sister who lives in Kansas City And off he went into the sunset
So then, one more manhattan to celebrate, a rare second one, then whup up something for dinner
How about some re-hotted up Smoked Spareribs, BBQ Beans and Cole Slaw, Yeah!...
~ A Good Way to Wind Up a Pleasant Day Overall ~
~ Wednesday, August 11, 2010 ~
~ Visitor from Las Vegas Today? ~
~ R.L. Chitwood Said He Would be Here this Afternoon ~
~ Salsa Ready for the Processor ~ Salsa in the Pot ~
Another HOT day... 100 degrees and again forecast for today
So what better to do on a hot day than to make HOT salsa? And those jalapenos are HOT!
The jalapenos I grew last year were very tasty but mild in heat, this year they are EXTRA PICANTE!
Well, I needed to do something with those tomatoes on the table so I sliced up some onions and garlic
Chunked up the tomatoes and jalapenos and into the food processor
Then in with some olive oil, salt and pepper, basil, oregano and cumin and simmer awhile
And a sample taste says this stuff is MUY PICANTE! Then into the fridge to cool
Not much else going on... Picked that little cucumber, the tree climbing vine it was on is wilting
So, looks like maybe only 8 cucumbers out of that pot, expected more and bigger, but the pot is too small
A couple plants still have good leaves but most seem to be giving up, I'll get a pic today maybe
I was almost tempted to go to the Casino yesterday but they closed the gaming floor Tuesday for a 'scheduled upgrade'
So I made up for the urge buying scratcher tickets, and about broke even
I won a $2, $2, $4, $10, and a $20... Fun but no real win... Counting the cost of the tickets...
So, today I have a visitor coming... A friend of a friend where I used to live...
I remember a fishing excursion we went on to the Ozarks a long time back...
He moved to Reno, Nevada a long time ago, now working in Las Vegas, maybe he can give me some Casino advice
The BEST ADVICE is to stay out of there... But it's fun for me and I don't have all that much lately
Mainly playing with my Tech Toys and an occasional trip to the Casino.. and of course those scratch tickets
So I haven't seen R.L. for maybe 25 years, should have a lot of catching up to do this afternoon...
~ And On to Endure Another HOT Day! ~
~ Tuesday, August 10, 2010 ~
~ A Bit of a Garden Catch-Up ~
~ Too Hot for Everything but the Better Boys Tomatoes ~
~ Better Boys Up to the Roof ~ Cukes Up in the Pear Tree ~
Another HOT day! The Thermo in the Blazer was reading 101 last time I went to the Price Chopper
Only thing I had to go for was a gallon of Vino Tinto at Gomer's and a Bingo and Crossword
And I went out early to get a couple pics of the tomatoes and cucumbers
The Better Boys tomatoes look great but it seems to be too hot for the pots, stuff looks wilty, especially the cukes
So I watered everything out front yesterday, the cukes did NOT perk up like they usually do and the Rutgers is looking shabby
One cuke plant is climbing about two feet up in the pear tree, trying to keep cool maybe?
A couple new blooms on the Rutgers tomato but I think it is about through for the season
And the cucumbers are still setting blooms but not sure they can survive this hot weather now
I see one more cucumber getting some size, number 8, only picked 7 so far, thought I would get more than that
But they sure tasted good, but I think they needed a lot bigger pot and a better spring start
But the basil is looking good but I didn't get around to picking and drying it yesterday, maybe today
So after getting everythng watered good, nothing much happening the rest of the day
Don't know about today but looks like I will have a visitor tomorrow... R.L. from Las Vegas said he would drop in
Should be a nice talk, haven't seen him for about 25 years...
~ So Now... Ever Onward and Upward? ~
~ Monday, August 9, 2010 ~
~ Not a Good Day at the Casino ~
~ But Ya Can't Win 'em All ~
~ But I am still AHEAD for the Month... (I Believe) ~
Well not a really down day on Sunday, I had a pretty good time and a pretty good day
No gardening (except watering the tomatoes)... No cooking projects... Just warming up stuff... That freezer is stuffed!
Just kind of a Play Day with scratchers and the Casino
Stopped by the Mail Box for the Saturday snail mail and headed to Circle K 66 for a Bingo and Crossword
Both duds... now that won't hardly do for the day
Then breakfast (or brunch) of another Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich on toast, yeah... Nice
Then to my bored period when I need something to do... SO back to the Chopper for $20 worth of scratchers
Usually do good to win even half of the cost on these but it's fun... Last time I did make a $7 profit
But this time I only won $4... Now what?
Well, I still had $20 of my last Casino winnings in my pocket and ahead for the month, so I went to get another Twenty and headed out
Got the same machine as last time... When I won that $81.25 and still playing on Casino winnings, not MY money
So I just stuck in a Twenty to see how long that would last.. and it did quite a while before running down to ONE credit
So I stuck in another Twenty... And won some, lost some, was once $10 ahead but I like to try for a Twenty profit
But I finally ran my credits out and headed for the Riverside RED-X to trade in my $4 scratchers for a Bingo and Crossword
And back home I scratched off the Bingo for a $6 win...
Well, I haven't kept track of what I spent on scratchers, won a few $3, $6, $10 and that $50 and a $27... Then I won $51 and then $81 at the Casino
And I have quite a bit more cash left this month than last month (when I did not go once to the Casino)
So I think I am still ahead of the game, but I better avoid the Casino the rest of the month to stay ahead
But now... My freezer is stuffed, I need nothing and nothing on my Want List but that computer scheduled for a try in October
Yeah, How Sweet is IS! So then an afternoon cocktail, and TV, later some steak and a take-off on a twice baked potato
And another slice of cheesecake... Ahhhh, nice entertaining Sunday overall...
~ Now It's Monday ~ I Like Mondays ~
~ Saturday, August 7, 2010 ~
~ Big Tomato Day ~
~ And Lucky Day at the Casino ~
~ Now That is a NICE Tomato ~ Better Boy Number Three ~
And made one NICE BLT Sandwich for Brunch on Friday
Then to make some salsa from those Rutgers and my jalapenos
So, the day started off slow... Talkin with Sigi on IM.. then Chefraw in Kitchen Chat
Had my Kitchen Chat coffee, my morning routine and then collect the snail mail and trade that $6 Bingo win at the Fast Stop
They didn't have a Crossword so I went to the Circle K 66 for one
Wasted trip, both DUDS... Now What? My Boredom period sets in about then
So... Went back to the Price Chopper and got a Twenty out of the ATM and got $20 worth of Scratchers out of the machine
Back at the ranch to work ALL DUDS... except ONE $27 win... HAH! $7 profit? No...
Took that back to the Chopper.. traded for $24 cash and another Bingo
And then I took that $20 and headed back to the Casino.. You only live once and I'm running out of time and it's only money!
I was going to just play that Twenty in that penny machine I won $11 on the other day... BUT... someone was using it
Couldn't find another one just like it so I headed back to my favorite quarter slot, Stuck in the Twenty for 80 credits
Wasn't too hopeful with only 80 credits and the machine had just paid out $35...
Anyway I played away... not many wins and I was down to $2.25... Just 9 credits... And then!
~ Three Blue Sevens are worth 80 credits ~ But the 5 Times makes it 400!
So then I cashed out for $102.25 and headed out... But that penny machine was now empty so I stuck a Ten in it
Didn't do much good and my Ten was soon gone... So away we went... Back home to work that Bingo Dud... Oh Well
~ Kansas City Strip Steak and Baked Potato! ~
So. now back home and that $100 bill burning a hole in my pocket... What can I buy!
My freezer is stuffed again... Smoked Turkey Legs, Smoked Pork Shoulder, Smoked Spareribs, Hot Dogs, Bread, Buns... What else?
Well there ain't no STEAK in there, wonder what the Chopper has on sale
Stopped to buy a couple HUGE baking potatoes, a loaf of Italian bread, then back to the meat display
So, there was a nice looking Top Sirloin with an 'Instant' $2 Off' coupon. a little off color but that doesn't hurt anything
Added that to my cart... Then a couple Kansas City Strips... $3 a pound off... Good buy like last time
Back at the ranch... Mixed a manhattan, watched some TV, went out to lay a charcoal fire... Marinated a steak in the fridge
Made a salad of Rutgers tomatoes, lettuce, green pepper, sweet onion, my cucumber... later added Zesty Italian dressing
About 5 p.m. into the oven with a big Idaho potato... 5:45 p.m. out to light the fire... 15 minutes later on with steak
Then I sat out in the not as hot day... with a glass of Vino Tinto while the steak sizzled
Next, buttered a couple chunks of Italian bread, plated the salad, steak and potato, had dinner watching TV... HAH!
And wasn't that a Dandy Dish to set before the King! Yeah Man!
~ Now to have a few more Lucky and Pleasant Days like That! ~
~ Friday, August 6, 2010 ~
~ Carpet Day ~ Few More Tomatoes Day ~
~ And One More Little Cucumber ~
~ Four More Rutgers ~ One More Cuke ~
Well back at my old place I used to give buckets of tomatoes to neighbors and had so many cukes that I made pickles
But now in my dotage I think it's a big deal to pick a few now and then... But they DO taste so good!
And I need ~something~ to write about anyway... Need to make some salsa out of those three Rutgers in front
So, nothing going on Thursday so I ran over to Wal-Mart to get some rug runners to put under the computer tables
There's heavy foot traffic under there and was looking a bit untidy... So I got two 6 footers
Cut one off 6 inches to fit and spent an hour fitting them around the table legs. Look pretty neat now
Now if I could do something about those ugly cables there
And that carpet IS straight, those table legs are offset so they can fold up underneath without touching
So what else? No cooking, thawed out some of that Home Made Pastrami I had in the freezer
Made a pretty nice sandwich with pumpernickel bread, mustard and dill pickle... and Tater Chips... Yeah
Now have to do something with those tomatoes.. and that little cuke in a salad today
~ And See What I can Find to While Away the Day ~
~ Thursday, August 5, 2010 ~
~ Casino Day ~ BLT Sammich Day ~
~ And That's About All ~
~ Better Boys Tomatoes ~ Oh So Good! ~
So, another -Not So Much Going On- day, but overall a pretty good day
I started thinking 'what for breakfast' and saw that big red ripe tomato on the table
So... How about a nice BLT... Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich... But I had no bacon
So... up to the Price Chopper for a pound, none on a real good sale but I got a nice looking pound of thick sliced Best Choice
Then I cooked up the whole pound in the oven, sometimes I use the Microwave... But it makes too much mess in a skillet
So I cranked the oven up to about 450 and put half of the pound of bacon in my big Pyrex dish
Took a few turns and a reload of the dish to do it all but I watched the News to while away the time
I pour off the drippings for seasoning later and put the bacon on paper towels between loads
When finished I sliced up that Number Two Better Boy tomato and made some toast
Then a nice spread of Spin Blend, on with the tomato slices, then the bacon and topped with lettuce
And WOW was that a good tasting sandwich!... I haven't been impressed with the Rutgers taste so far
And I think I used that first BB in a salad so you don't get the full taste that way
But the flavor of this tomato was just Outstanding! and reminded me why I ALWAYS stick to Better Boys tomatoes
The Rutgers didn't have a good start in that pot this year, and they are smaller and don't have much taste at that
And they are determinate, one crop and then they quit for the seasom
But the Better Boys are bigger, excellent taste and keep producing a good crop til frost... So there...
So then what? An Idle Mind is the Devil's Workshop and the Devil said let's go gamble
So up to the ATM for a couple Twenties and off to Riverside and the Argosy
Went back to my favorite machine, stuck in the twenties, played away a half hour or so and lost it all
But... Still $11.25 ahead for the month after that last $51.25 win
So, on the way out I stopped to try a penny slot... Stuck in a dollar to see how it worked
Played one penny a line for one line
Hey, kinda fun... and hit a bonus and won $3... So I stuck in a Ten to up the winnings
Played 2 cents a line for 5 lines... Ten cents a roll... And hit a nice Bonus
Well that was an $7.45 win so I decided to take that and run... Had $11 in the machine and cashed out for $18.45
Then stopped by the Riverside RED-X for a Bingo and Crossword scratcher
Back at the Ranch to scratch off a $10 Crossword win for a profit of $4
So not too bad a day of gambling, I beat the Devil a tad and still ahead on winnings for the month
And then... After an afternoon libation, thawed out a hunk of that smoked pork shoulder, chopped that up
Added some of my Home Made BBQ sauce, nuked that up and then added chopped sweet onion and sweet pickle
With a glass of Vino Tinto and some GUYS (the Best) Potato Chips, That was quite a feast
~ And that Finished Off Another Pretty Fair Day in Parkville ~
~ Wednesday, August 4, 2010 ~
~ Election Day ~ Garden Watering Day ~
~ And That's About All ~
~ One More Cuke... Number 6 ~ Can't count that Little One ~
So, HOT again Tuesday... VERY HOT! But not as busy a day as Monday
I did run up to the Price Chopper for a Bingo and Crossword... Got a $3 winner... Traded that for another loser
Then I headed down to the Church for a vote in the Primary election...
Not many there this time... Added another sticker to my Vote Count
Then I started watering the plants, the cukes looked kinda wilted again
First the cool and wet set them back... Now it looks like the excessive heat
I toted two full buckets of water out to them yesterday... Leaves perked right up
Then a couple buckets up the stairs to the Better Boys tomatoes, then two more for the Rutgers pot
Then a bucket each for the Peppers and another for the Marigolds, one more for the herbs and pineapples
I still need to tote a few buckets out for the bushes today
Made a run to the mailbox, the Chopper and the Drug store, after that the Vote and then inside for the day
Later I made a big salad with that cucumber and a Rutgers tomato, lettuce, green pepper and onion...
And topped with chopped boiled egg and Ranch dressing... GOOD!
Later another smoked pork rib and tater salad... Good day overall...
Now you can't beat that Good Win with a really BIG stick
~ Another Good Day! ~ Busy Day! ~ Lucky Day! ~ Very HOT Day! ~
I like to get the week going again on Monday... Sunday can be a drag
So, Monday morning and no one in Kitchen Chat... An IM from Sigi and another from another nice guy in India
Did my BLOG and then the morning routine and off to charge into the day
Was going through my loser Bingos and found an overlooked $6 winner... AHA!
So then, dropped by the office to give Boss Bob my rent check... He gave me a couple ears of fresh picked sweet corn
Next up to the Price Chopper for some routine essentials, coffee filters, detergent, odds and ends
But all those odds and ends came to $46, took most all my casino winnings... Traded my $6 Bingo for another couple scratcher losers
Then remembering my pepper grinder was broken... Headed out to get another at Bed, Bath and Beyond
Stopped by Circle K 66 for a tank of gas and another Bingo and Crossword
Then on to Bed and Bath and picked out a new pepper grinder, not sure I like this one all that much yet
Back at the Ranch... worked that Crossword for that $50 win, now that is the way to go!
So then what? Well after two days of smoking, my grills needed cleaning, so I put them in to soak with that new detergent
Then after that, scrubbed them and into the dish washer to finish up
Now what? Well, back to the Price Chopper to cash in that Crossword winner, get some onions, green pepper and cherries
And my computer Weather Widget said 97F when I left.. But the one in the Blazer said 101, yeah it was HOT!
Then back home, My afternoon bebida and a TV break... Then out in that heat to pick a dozen nice jalapenos
Put a jar and lid in a pot to sterilize, put the pickling brine on the stove, put a slit in each jalapeno
Simmered them in the brine for a few minutes, then into the hot jar, filled with brine and topped off
Then a late lunch with that sweet corn, and red radishes... later a turkey leg and tater salad
And then that was it... to wind up another fun filled(?) day in Parkville
~ And Yeah... Still... How Sweet it Is! ~
~ Now it's Tuesday... Now What? ~
(Cielito Lindo)
~ Monday, August 2, 2010 ~
~ One Smokin Sunday ~
~ The Freezer Stuffed Again! ~
~ Sunday's Pork Spareribs Dusted with RUB and Ready for the Smoker ~
Well, I did it all over again Sunday Morning... No one in Kitchen Chat...
Talked on IM with Sigi and a nice guy from India... No... NOT Shallu, I said a ~nice~ guy
Then about 6:30 I decided to do that other slab of ribs, so out to the Kitchen to prep them
Then that done, up to the Price Chopper for a head of lettuce to make a BLT sandwich
So toasted up some bread, nuked up some already cooked bacon, sliced that Number One Better Boys tomato
On with the Spin blend, the tomato, the bacon and some lettuce... VOILA! Super BLT and was it GOOD!
Then about 9:30 I took the ribs out of the fridge and on with the BBQ Dry Rub... Let that warm up for an hour
Then into the smoker again about 10:30... My neighbor Jeff was out on his veranda, I asked if he would like some ribs
Why shore he says.. So I cut him off about a half slab... 0f the ribs I smoked Saturday, took them out, told him how to heat them up
Then back in the Kitchen to slice up the rest of that slab, and into an oven bag and back in the fridge for later
So then back out to check the tomatoes... That Number two Better Boy looks READY!
So I picked that one and a couple more Rutgers... colored up some but need a bit more ripening...
~ Rutgers Number 6 and 7 ~ Better Boy Number 1 ~ Rutgers number 8 and 9
~ Big One is Better Boy Number Two ~ ~ Better Boy Number One went into that SUPER BLT Sandwich Sunday Norning! ~
So then, about 11:30, the ribs smoking away.. Got this URGE to go to the Casino... Didn't go all last month
And Sigi wasn't around to talk me out of it, so up to take a couple twenties out of the ATM and head to the Casino
And... I was going to try for a $20 win and cash out... IF... So then I played for over an hour
Getting over 200 credits several times but not hitting that 240 ($20 win)
So, a Red - White and Blue Bar is 40 credits... Hit a Red - White and a 5 times (subs for the Blue) and got a 200 credit win!
So with the credits I stil had left.. I cashed out for a $51.25 win and ran for the exit
I stuck $40 in the machine, cashed out for $91.25, that's a good hour's pay!
Back at the Ranch at just an hour and 20 minutes later, tossed another wood chunk in the smoker
Ribs out of the snoker at 3 p.m. then sauced and into the oven... Out at 5 p.m. to cool, then store
Some time in the afternoon I made some super tater salad, later had some ribs, tater salad and more garlic bread
Good weather.. Good fun.. Good Food.. What a NICE day most all day!
~ And Yeah... Still... How Sweet it Is! ~
~ Smokin Saturday ~ Smokin Sunday ~ Now What Today? ~
~ Smokin Again!... On Sunday! ~
(Mexican Hat Dance)
~ Sunday, August 1, 2010 ~
~ New Day ~ New Month ~ New Page ~
~ Big Smokin Day Yesterday! ~ And Again Today! ~
~ Pork Spareribs and Sliced Pork Shoulder! ~
So, a smokin day all day Saturday... Now 5 a.m. Sunday and maybe I will NOT do that second slab today
I took the ribs out of the fridge about 4 a.m. Saturday and cleaned and sloshed them with Wooster sauce
Back in the fridge until about 10:30, then out again to warm up and dust with BBQ dry rub
Then at 11:45 out to light the burner and get some apple wood in the fire box...
In with the ribs and sliced pork at Noon.. all set for the process now
Not so hot temp wise but man the humidity was unbearable... So no sitting out to enjoy the smoke
Just watch the smoke in the cool from the couch, watching TV, out to add another wood chunk when the smoke lessened
Just at 4 p.m. took the meat out of the smoker, smeared with my own KC Style BBQ sauce, cover and into the oven
Then at 6 p.m. out of the oven to cool...
Then I had that second cucumber I picked, sliced and in a vinaigrette as an appetizer...
(Better check that spelling there R.L.)
Later I wrapped each slice of pork shoulder and into the freezer
Then sliced a nice sampling of ribs with BBQ beans and some Italian bread garlic toast
And as usual, pretty dam tasty... Then the rest covered and back in the fridge, to slice and store today
~ Oh Yeah! ...How Sweet it Is! ~
~ Oh Yeah... Picked the FIRST Better Boy Tomato Yesterday! ~ Nice One ~
~ Smokin Yesterday! ~ Smokin Again Today! ~ (MAYBE) ~
(El Rancho Grande)
~ Saturday, July 31, 2010 ~
~ PAY DAY EARLY ~ READY TO SMOKE! ~
~ Spare Ribs and Sliced Pork Shoulder Today! ~
~ I LOVE My Price Chopper! ~ Most all that On Sale! ~
Well, I LOVE IBM too! My pay check came early, was not expecting it until Saturday
And I even LIKE Gomer's a little... My wine on a good sale and a 50 pound sack of apple wood for $16.00
And I got some Old Crow bourbon on sale too... And the Old Guy dragged the wood out to the Blazer for me
So, I checked the mail about 1 p.m. and there was my IBM check... Headed to the Bank to deposit it
Then headed over to Gomer's for another gallon of that wine for CHEEP! And Old Crow on sale a bit
And almost out of smokin wood so I got that sack of apple wood, best deal in town for smokin wood
Next back to the Chopper for some ribs, pork shoulder, wooster sauce and tater chips... And those 19 cent specials, hot dogs and beans
Ribs, Pork Shoulder and Chips all on sale too... Only thing regular price was the wooster sauce and it was a '25% more free' bottle
Then back to the ranch to unload and then sip a manhattan and get caught up with the TV Brainwash
Got all the stuff put away and later that cucmber and tomato salad with MY own cuke and tomato
So, wide awake at 4 a.m. today, up and at 'em... Got the ribs and pork out of the fridge
Rinsed and trimmed all, sloshed with WOOSTER sauce and back in the fridge to marinate
Well, I just prepped ONE slab of ribs for today, smoke the other one tomorrow, not enough room for everything in the smoker
So.. about noon time I will dust the stuff with BBQ Dry Rub, fire up the smoker and smoke away the day...
~ Oh Yeah! ...How Sweet it Is! ~
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