I found this article over at Jim Romenesko’s Obscure Store.
I’m all for blogging, obviously, but c’mon, dude, don’t tell the world about how you break the law while you are sworn to uphold the law. He’s a Loser on so many levels.
Last night I had a dream that I was about to take the oath of office as President. I was terribly concerned about the woman who was going to be the White House chef, “Sweetie”, and couldn’t find her (always thinking about the food). Turns out she was checking out the kitchen. Then I remember feeling like I’d better find the bathroom but I had to wait in line because there were lots of women using the bathroom (it was the inauguration after all). While waiting in line I thought after I’m President I won’t have to wait in line.
Today is, my friend, A.W.’s birthday-Happy Happy.
Have you seen the identity theft commercial where a guy is sitting in his recliner talking in a valley girl voice about maxing out the credit cards? That commercial makes me laugh every time.
On the subject of theft, this site has apparently been the victim of image theft. The little frog and goat image has been stolen and posted on music forums. Please, don’t you know that stealing bandwidth is a mean and ugly thing to do? Oh wait; you’re a thief what do you care about mean and ugly? Have no fear we’re working on a solution that will stop your punkasscold.
*I realize that people who steal images don’t actually read the site that they are stealing from but I like the sound of punkasscold as one word.
For those of you who have been playing the Frog and Goat music game at home you know that one of my all-time favorite songs is “Summertime”. I like nearly every version of that–Janis Joplin’s is playing right now. A close second is “At Last”. Did anyone else happen to tune into A&E’s Breakfast with the Arts this morning? Cyndi Lauper kicked musical ass with her rendition of “At Last”. I’ve always liked Cyndi because she is just so unusual.
I was entering the previous entry into the blog when I heard a high pitched whine from the den. It sounded like an alarm. It was an alarm. For the evil cat had just vomited all over the power block that the Christmas tree was plugged into. So, basically, the cat almost set the house on fire. That would have really pissed me off.
Yesterday the better-half and I made Stollen and we had to make a few substitutions. The substitutions didn’t distract from the outcome at all. One of the substitutions was using almond extract instead of vanilla. I know you’re asking yourself who doesn’t have vanilla. I had some that I’d made from a vanilla bean and vodka (ala M. Stewart) but somehow it had gotten moldy. We also had no rum but had kirsch so in it went. The result was brilliantly good and we’ve put a good and proper dent in the loaf already.
Here’s the recipe: Stollen, 350 degree oven
2 1/2 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp mace
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 heaping tsp cardamom
3/4 cup pulverized almonds
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1 cup cottage cheese
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla (we used almond)
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 tbs rum or rum flavoring (we used kirsch)
1/2 cup currants
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup candied lemon peel
3 tbs melted butter
2 tbs vanilla sugar (I put a vanilla bean in a glass jar then piled on the sugar and sealed and it sits in the refrigerator for times like these)
Put the butter in a large bowl–I quartered it to make it easier to work with. Pulverize the almonds and add to the bowl. Add the sugar. I did a quick job of cutting in–not too much though. Then we sifted all the dry ingredients and added that to the bowl. I cut in the dry ingredients and then gave a quick stir. Then we added the egg, the cottage cheese and all liquid flavorings to the blender. I pressed mix for about 30 seconds–everything was well incorporated.
Add the contents of the blender into the bowl and mix. Add currants, raisins and lemon peel and mix. I used my hands to make sure everything came together. At this point make sure you put everything into the bowl (this is my mother’s suggestion since there are so many ingredients).
Then the better-half took over–he’s the bread maker in the family. He crafted an oval with the dough (he used his hands but I’m sure a roller would work too). Then we put half of the melted butter over the dough. Then he folded over to the edge. You could also go about 3/4 of the way to the edge as well.
Put a cookie sheet into a brown paper bag (it was tough finding one without advertising all over it–thanks marketing!). Put the oval on the paper bag and slide into the oven. Bake for an hour at 350. Check it at the hour mark and if it is browned (tan-ish-really). Take it out (we did the toothpick trick for doneness) and then brushed on the remainder of the melted butter. And, finally, sprinkle the vanilla sugar on top.
Cool and then enjoy. Actually we let it cool just long enough to cut it and eat. This morning we re-heated in the toaster oven and slathered on some margarine–more butter works too but we’ve been going through butter like a hot knife through butter. Hehe.
Today it has been snowing off and on since early this morning. It is the kind of snow that should make everyone happy–all the people who like to say “Look it’s snowing” can and everyone who hates the idea of shoveling can say “Look it’s not sticking”. Egalitarian snow…the best kind. Now, if it would only stick.
How long after a major hurricane can one expect not to have to listen to the discordant sounds of chainsaws? Instead of dueling banjos we have dueling chainsaws across the creek. Both are equally scary.
This is a tad disturbing…quick read that article before it is gone.
It is a good thing there’s the good ol’ Way Back Machine.
