Gone too long

Hello again,
I feel as though I have neglected you.  My last post was on the 15th of January.
I am truly sorry.  I have a new schedule and now I wake up at 4 am everyday and I am
just too tired at night to post.  I know it's just typing but if I'm tired it doesn't feel right.

Our internet was down all last week as well.  Cable company said we needed a new converter box because ours was old.  They sent us a new one and we hooked it up and everything went to H-E double hockey sticks.

I have been quite the internet junky as of late so it was a tough week.  Especially with the research that I have been doing.  We are so dependent on technology. 
A brief update it's COLD AS A WELL DIGGERS #$@% IN JANUARY.

Actually just a little colder than that.  I find it amusing that the dogs want to be outside even more now.
I let them out and then stand inside at the doorwall and watch them.  Even with my new layer of blubber
(Thanks Chantix and my ability to taste food again) I find it much to chilly for my willy!!!!!!!

I managed to get out ice fishing again and this time I had a wanky danky fish finder.  I only caught a couple of  fish while using it and the rest without.  Apparently you just have to have one available.  Must be a new rule that they developed while I was away from the sport for so long.  Thanks Bobby for the use of your wanky danky fish finder!!!!:)

Wanky Danky

Bobby and Eric

Rudy  (mike)

The three holes I caught most of my fish from.

Bucket O' Bluegills

We had a good time and the weather was nice as well. 

Thanks for checking back in and I will be back.  (Sooner this time)

Ice Fishing

Went ice fishing for the first time in years.  I used to go with my dad all the time but he moved away.
So I decided I would try it again.
I went out to Narrow Lake and parked in the public boat ramp.  Supposed to cost 6 bucks to park there according to the sign but "No Hablo Ingles para mi el dia."
I just followed some tracks to a couple holes that were fortunatley still open because the ice auger I borrowed was very dull. 
I had two poles going one had a wax worm and the other a spike.  30 foot of water.

Here is my simple set up.

Didn't get a bite.  These two guys come over next to me and there is a couple holes open by him so he plunks his wanky danky fish finder in the hole and says, " There is one fish down there".  Then he drops his line down the hole and catches the damn thing.  Then his buddy repeats the same thing verbatim.

So guess what I'm thinkin????????

I need a wanky danky fish finder.

Here is what I stared at:

Oh well it was right in the middle of the afternoon so I'll go back this evening and tryit again.

It was nice just to get out although would have been better had my pops been there.

I probably wasn't holding my mouth right!!!LOL

Build a pizza and family game night

Last night we had build a pizza night.  It's where I get all the stuff around and everyone else eats it.  Oh wait that's every night.  Oh well at least I know they would die a slow miserable death of starvation were it not for me and my kitchen.  Seriously though I feel peaceful in the kitchen.  Everybody has a place where they fit right in.  My wife fits right in between the covers in bed.  She seriously loves to sleep.  I don't get it.  Boring!!!  I've been up since 4 am.  Was in town at 4:30.  Have had the dogs out 10 times.  ( I wish they would pee faster cuz it's really cold out.) I have cruised Craigs list top to bottom.(by the way there is a mig welder for 80 bucks used only twice)  I have managed to go through two pots of coffee.(which I mixed Creme' brule with African kitamu just to see what it tastes like.)  Now I'm here.  Oh yeah pizza night.oops


I started with frying up some sausage and bacon.  Cut up ham and all the veggies.  I just buy ready made pizza crusts. (it's too easy) 8 inch size.  Pizza sauce, and cheese.  Dinner for four cost about 12-15 dollars
and there is always leftovers for omelettes in the morning.  The cool thing is everyone gets what they want and they can build it how they want.

From left to right and top to bottom we have:

Ham, sausage, pepperoni, bacon

Oninos, green pepper, artichoke hearts, mushrooms

Black olives, mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce

8 inch pizza crusts

Build em right on a cookie sheet

Toss in oven till done(depends on how much goodies)

We played Euchre while waiting for pizzas.  Joe and I beat momma and Kaitlin.

As always my faithful helpers.  Got two now.

Whenever I'm in the kitchen they are like two Hoovers sucking up anything I might drop.

(Accidentally or on purpose)

After that we played a board game called Last Word.

There is a subject card and a letter card.  You set the timer and flip the subject card

you must say a word that starts with whatever letter is on letter card.

For example subject card says boys names and the letter card is C

Carl, Cory, Cliff are all blurted out and the last one to speak before the buzzer goes off wins the round and advances on the board.

Funniest one we had was things done in a dorm room and the letter was M and Joe blurts out masturbate!!

It was so funny no one else could speak.  Damn Kids anyways.

After a couple games of that we played a monopoly card game and then I went to bed.

It was a good night.  We need to do stuff like this more often.  

Well thanks for reading and don't be afraid to sign up for your own blog or subscribe to mine.  There are blogs of note everyday to read.  You can see what else is going on on this world.

See Ya!!!!!

First good snow of the season

We are under a snow watch today.  Getting our first decent taste of winter.  Storm totals are expected to be up to 7 inches.  Not that much but it does get a little difficult to travel.  we have been getting an inch here and there and some freezing rain and sleet but today is a real snow day.

Backyard

My poor flower pots

(the third and smallest is in the bathroom thawing so

I can dump it)

Birds need a re-fill.

The dogs just love fresh snow.  Especially when I dump it on them while shoveling.

Time to head on in.  No Biscuits outside!!

Poor Remmi gets a little cold.  He only has puppy fur.

He loves his white goatee though.  Says it makes him look cool.LOL

 

Wasn't much sun today so I made my own.

Happy snow day to all!!!!!!

Sausage Smoking

I was fortunate enough to recieve a sausage stuffer for Christmas from My Florida parents.
I was in the process of making jerky, snack sticks and salami to send as gifts to my Grandparents, my parents and my older brother.  All of which live in Florida.  I recieved the stuffer the day before I was going to stuff my final batch.

I didn't get any pictures of the stuffing process.  I was in a hurry.  This is a phone picture while they are in

 the smoker.  This is a terryaki blend with cheddar cheese.

It is cold outside so I filled a bucket with charcoal and put it inside the smoker.  This helps maintain the right temps while it is 15 degrees outside.

It turned out very tatsy.

I froze all the jerky, snack sticks and salami.  The sticks and jerky were vac packed as well.

I wrapped them in plastic grocery bags and duct taped them.  Next I picked up 3 medium boxes

from the Post Office.  Priority box, one price anywhere in the country.  I taped the bottoms shut and filled them about 1/3 of the way full of spray foam(available at all hardware stores) Then I nestled the bag down into the foam and sprayed more foam on top.  Closed and taped the lid and sent them on their merry way.

I have made so much jerky and sausage this year that my boys think it's boring now and prefer to lay on the couch and watch Dr. Phil.

I have received one report from the sunshine state that the contents were terrible and that as soon as they were finished eating the rest they would take the rest of my stock so that others would not suffer such unfortunate edibles. LOL 

Enjoy Florida Family.

Will send more later.

With Love,

New Years Eve Dinner (Clam Bake)

Ok I have been dying for some fresh seafood. My parents live in Florida and every time we visit we have fresh seafood.  In Michigan fresh seafood just isn't that easy to get your hands on.  If I was rich I would have everything just shipped to my house then I could cook it but alas I'm not.  Of course if I were rich I would build an oyster bar right here in town.  A good one with brown paper for a tablecloth and buckets of clams, oysters and crabs just dumped right on your table.  The smell of lemons and seawater would float through the air like fog rolling in from the ocean.  At every table there would be bibs and shell crackers.  Rolls of paper towel and flasks of melted butter would decorate the ensemble as well.  The beer would be cold and cheap and come in a big frosty mug.  There would also be dolly carts and taxis so the waiter could roll your gorged, drunk @#%$ in into a taxi and send you home all included in the price of a meal.  Sorry I think I was day dreaming.  I can't have that so I did what I could.  Turned out better than expected.


We started with a big steamer pot.(I had to scrub all the leftover turkey frying oil from it).

I cut up potatos, celery, green pepper, onion, garllic, and parboiled in a pot with chicken stock

a little water, Old bay seasoning and some Tony Ceccero's seasoning.

While that was simmering I cleaned and soaked the mussels and clams.

I soaked them in purified water from the store.  Fresh water will kill them if left to long.  About 20 minutes is long enough for them to purge the sand and salt from inside.  Make sure they are closed tight before rinsing.  A little tap on the shell will make them close.  If they don't close then they are dead and no good.

I cut up some smoked sausage. Prepped the shrimp and the scallops.

Once the veggies were almost tender I strained them and all the liquid went into the big pot.

Then I began to build my steam pot.

Veggies go in with corn on the cob.  Then Clams and mussels after another good rinse.

Then shrimp and sausage then scallops.

A lemon is fun too!!

Then we get the money out and ready.

Make sure your liquid in the pot is boiling really good.  Put the lobsters on top of your stack of goodies

and slide it down into the big pot.  It's important that the food doesn't touch the water.  If it does it's called boiling folks not steaming.  There is a big difference in tenderness and taste.  I put aluminum foil over the pot and then the lid.  This helps keep the steam in.

While that's steaming for about ten minutes or so it's a good time to take pictures of your helpers.

Ok the smell will drive you mad. It only takes about 15 minutes but it seems like an hour.  All the veggies and seafood coming together.  I swear I was walking around trying to lick the air.  My mouth was watering as I prepped the table and melted some butter.  I checked the pot twice for doneness.  When the antennae pulls off the lobster without too much force it's done.  Also the bright red color will help let you know.  Do not overcook because everything will be tough.  It really depends on how much stuff is in your pot as well as the construction of the pot as too how much steam can circulate around your food.

I dumped it out on two cookie sheets with towels under them.

The three of us sat on the sides and picked whatever we wanted.

Kaitlin and Laura loved it and sat at the table and kept eating long after I was finished.

 

We put a good dent in it.

We had a really nice dinner. Fun too!!!!Happy New Year Everyone

New Years Eve Dinner (Lasagna)

Staying in again this year.  Last year we had 3 couples over for dinner.  We had prime rib with Potatoes Gratin and fresh green beans simmered in chicken stock with bacon and garlic.  A fresh salad also complimented the table.   For an appetizer we had scallops seared with chorizo and cilantro.  We also had artichoke and crab stuffed mushrooms for appetizer number two.  Appetizer number 3 was potato wedges wrapped in bacon, pan fried in canola oil then drizzled with a honey butter sauce and topped with chives.  We also made a huge punch bowl full of pomegranate martini and filled it with pieces of orange, limes, lemons, kiwi, melon, strawberries and starfruit.  It was very good.  It was a fantastic meal.  After dinner we sat in the living room and bowled on the Wii.  A safe and comfortable evening for all.

This year it is just Angel, Kaitlin, Laura(K's friend) and I.  Momma wanted lasagna so I am making everything from scratch.(Except noodles).  The sauce I started at 3 o'clock.  I browned veal, beef and pork in a a skillet.  Added in onions, celery and carrots, salt and pepper.  I added a quart of chopped tomatos and two tablespoons of garlic along with two bay leaves, oregano and thyme.  Then I whisked a small can of tomato paste into 4 cups of beef stock.  Brought everything to a boil, reduced heat and simmered for two hours.  That's the meat sauce.  Let it simmer a long time to bring out the flavors.

Next I built a cheese filling of Ricotta, Provolone, Mozzarella,Romano cheese, egg, milk, garlic and basil

Boil the noodles till al dente then build lasagna.  Sauce then noodles then cheese then noodles and so on.

Top with Mozzarella

Into the oven for an hour at 350 and garnished with a breadstick, parsley and a little fresh basil.

TIP: If your lasagna is this thick put a cookie sheet under it while in the oven to catch any boil over.LOL

It was deliciosco!!