17 May 2020 - Plague Journal Day 66

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?


Hey, folks, today is Stepmothers Day! How does one celebrate that occasion? Perhaps watch a Disney film together? Read a fairy tale? OK, maybe not.

If you're out in the woods hunting mushrooms (today is National Mushroom Hunting Day), you might want to watch out for huntsmen sent by an evil stepmother. That makes me wonder if perhaps Walt Disney had too many 'shrooms and that's why he was so hard on stepmothers. It could be. It's just a hypothesis, mind you, but still ....

Today I'm going back to one of the prayers in the back of the Methodist Hymnal (the 1964/66 one). I just read it again and it seems more than appropriate to our times.

#742 - FOR ALL CONDITIONS OF MEN
O God, the creator and preserver of all mankind: we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldst be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially, we pray for thy holy Church universal, that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed in mind, body, or estate; that it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their suffering, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we ask for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.


Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

16 April 2020 - Plague Journal Day 35

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?


No, today is not The Day of the Triffids, that's something completely different. This is the Day of the Mushroom.

We're starting a movement - sauté your vegetables! Why not join our movement and sauté some mushrooms today?!

Yes, we're starting a movement - sauté your vegetables!

Also, here's a great retro kids' SF book that actually held up pretty well on rereading as an adult:
The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet, by Eleanor Cameron


Now, the penultimate post in my limited run series - the prayers in the back of the Methodist Hymnal (the 1964/66 one). I'll insert names in them rather than just the titles as in the original as appropriate.

#745 - FOR THOSE WHO LABOR IN THE GOSPEL
Increase, O God, the faith and zeal of all thy people, that they may more earnestly desire, and more diligently seek, the salvation of their fellow men, through the message of thy love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Send forth a mighty call unto thy servants who labor in the Gospel, granting unto them a heart of love, sincerity of speech, and the power of the Holy Spirit, that they may persuade men to forsake sin and return unto thee. And so bless and favor the work of thine evangelists, that multitudes may be brought from the kingdom of evil into the kingdom of thy dear Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.


Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.

In times like these, it's more important than ever to come together. Grand Teuton Press is proud to join the #StayHome Movement uniting our entire industry to encourage everyone to stay home if you can to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Together we can save lives. #AloneTogether

Carnage du Jour - 04 June 2016

Tenderloin - but this time it wasn't pork, it was beef.

I had bought a whole beef tenderloin some time ago and cut it into two two-pound-ish roasts, cooking one and freezing the other.

Well, as I said, that was some time ago and it was time to cook the remaining, now-thawed portion.

Since my trusty Better Homes & Gardens cookbook told me that tenderloin should be roasted at a higher temperature than most cuts (it might have been 425 rather than 350?), I thought I'd do it on my (also trusty) Weber grill.

The fire was doing its thing, getting ready in the chimney starter, so I pulled out the roast and gave it a liberal rubbing of kosher salt, dried thyme, and dry mustard. At the same time I was lightly marinating some fresh Michigan asparagus in a mixture of balsamic vinaigrette and green goddess dressings, as well as preparing some cheese-stuffed mushroom caps for the grill.
Simply grilling it for something on the order of 25 minutes (turning it every 5 or 10, eventually checking with my instant read thermometer for an internal 140) with the other items joining after a few minutes was all it took.

I have to admit that this was one of the most successful beef tenderloins I've ever done, and the sides were so good as to evince the comment from Heidi that she didn't know which of the three items was her favourite.

Delicious and highly recommended.

Carnage du Jour - 26 June 2012

It started with a disappointment, as many great meals seem to do. The eggplant was past its prime.
(OK, the eggplant had probably been past its prime for almost a week, but let's not pick nits, eh?)
So, what to cook with the pork chops instead of the roasted eggplant and tomatoes that had been planned? Well, how about that rutabaga and purple cabbage sitting there in the vegetable drawer? Well, why not?

Next up, peeling the rutabaga (don't you love that wax?) and cubing it. With the oven preheated to 425F, a liberal sprinkling of kosher salt and freshly ground pepper were added, and in it went.
About 10 minutes in, the small head of red cabbage was shredded (coarsely) and popped into the skillet for a quick sauté in some canola oil. The cabbage was added to the rutabaga and popped back into the oven.
After another 8 minutes, the skillet was reheated and re-oiled to receive the chops. They had been given a treatment of a bit of beau monde, some salt, and some cumin. A quick sear on each side (the blood was just starting to leak from the marrow) was all it took before they joined the veggies and some button mushrooms in the roasting pan. They got about a cup of chicken stock and a very loose tenting of aluminum foil and finished in the oven for another 6 minutes.

Serving time was very fragrant (aromatic?), and each of the components was simply delicious. The rutabaga was just tender and had almost a golden beet flavour. The cabbage was just perfectly cooked down - still a bit of tooth to it, but tender and tasty. The chops were cooked just through - one could imagine pink, but not see it - and as juicy as one would ever want.

All in all, a great success!