Aroma-Therapy.......

Hi Everybody....
I hope your Week-End was Kick ASS!
Today's Pro-Bowl football game isn't on until 7:30, so I have all day to get creative as far as dinner goes. Yesterday I came across some exceptional food values while grocery shopping, and I ended up with TWO cut-up whole chickens, and TEN pounds of Country Style Ribs (Cut up pork shoulder).
The pork was bought with the notion of making the filling for tamales, but that will come at another time so I bagged and froze most of the pork. I also froze one of the chickens....So what to do?
In my mind I started to formulate some ideas. I had a hankerin for some Pesto Chicken, but I was out of Pine-Nuts! I also didn't have any fresh Basil.
Time to Experiment!
I DID have some Cilantro..
I DID have fresh Garlic..
I DID have grated Parmesian..
I DID have some nuts in the shell left from Christmas.
I DID have Olive Oil...
Mix them all in the blender until liquified....VOILA!!!! Home Made Pesto!
Put the Chicken in a Zip-Lock, dump the Pesto in the baggie over the chicken, and let marinate for at least an hour. Dump EVERYTHING in a roasting dish and bake for 1 1/2 hrs at 350. Serve over pasta OR rice....YUM!
I'm thinking that a side of baked sliced Summer Squash AND sliced Aubergine (I just LOVE that word...Eggplant to the Non-Euro's) drizzled with Olive Oil and sprinkled with some very expensive pink Himalayan Salt.
OK....Now the Pork!
I had One Sweet Potato..
I had One Onion..
I had Two lonely apples..
I had some imported Hot Indian Curry..
I had some Imported Garam Masala...
I sprinkled some Pink Salt, Curry, and the Masala on some Pork and set it aside.
I sliced up the apples and sweet potato and onion in a dish and drizzled some Honey over the slices. I then sprinkled a tad of cinnamon on them as well. I added about a half-cup of Apple Juice to the melange, and let everything set for about an hour.
In a shallow baking dish, dump the dish of slices over the seasoned pork, and bake for two hours at 350. Right now my house smells like my favorite Indian Restaurant, The Raja Rani in Ann Arbor.
Thank you for visiting Chez G-Man, and his Indian/Italiano Cuisine. I know it seems like a lot of food, but sometimes you get unexpected guests. And if not...I work late every Monday, and I still have a 20 year old college student living at home!
Have a Great Week...Peace!!!

Friday Flash 55.....

The small-time hood eyed his next mark.
She was Blonde. She was Leggy. She was Alone!
The rhythmic staccato of the short menacing steps that women in high heels make, now sounded hurried.
He prepared the attack...

Clutching the pistol in her pocket, she thought...
"Keep coming Mother-Fucker, I got something for you"!!!



If you or anyone you know has written a Friday Flash 55.
Please come tell The G-Man!
I will visit, read, enjoy, comment...Then BOOK!!!
So from the most gracious host from coast to coast,
Have A Kick Ass Week-End!!!

Thursday Portrait.....

There always seems to be something hanging over my head on these Thursday Portraits, but I just can't put my finger on what. I'll think of it....

I seem to be on this 'Femme Fatale' kick lately on my Friday 55's. I wonder where THAT inspiration is coming from? Hey Thats IT! Thursday is the day BEFORE Friday Flash 55!
(Friday Flash 55 is where you pen a story that has a Plot, and a Central Character, and it is EXACTLY 55 words.)
( Although, since I am the most gracious host from coast to coast, I accept ALL entries of any format...:-) )

Aaahh Shaddup! You'll be my age someday...IF YOUR LUCKY!!!!!

See Ya Tomorrow...Peace!!!

Retro-Wednesday.....

Because of the convenience of modern technology and Google, you can search and get any recipe' that your hungry tummy desires. In my opinion, that fact alone will someday make Classic Cookbooks like this obsolete!
I got the idea for this post a few weeks back because of a post by Susie over at Clean and Crazy! This 'Bible' of cooking was first published in 1975, and I've been cramming and clipping and stuffing articles and food tips in it for 30 years!!
As I was perusing the pages, I came across a couple of box covers from Land-O-Lakes Butter. Hehehehehe.....
Anyone male from the Mid-West that is over 40 years of age, knows whats coming next...
Take a sharp knife or razor blade, and cut along both sides and the bottom of the butter box that the Indian maiden is holding in front of herself.
Then fold up from the bottom of the label, about two half-inch folds.
Lift up Pocahontas' buttery flap, and see what treasures she is hiding!!
Dont'cha just Love it?
Peace...!!!

TMI Tuesday....

A Mr. Jay "Tonto" Silverheels from Key Mosabee Florida asks..

'Dear Mr. Knowitall, Did those crazy Dutch bastards really buy Manhattan Island for 24 Dollars worth of trinkets way back when"?

'Dear Tonto, if the truth be known, in 1626 Peter Minuit did give about 60 Guilders (roughly $24) worth of beads, knives, axes, and clothes, to Chief Seyseys of the Carnarsee Tribe..."To let them live amongst us", on Manhattan Island. But there was only one problem...
They Didn't Own The Island!!
They lived on the other side of the East River...In Brooklyn! They only visited the Southern tip of the island to hunt and fish. Such a Deal!
The Weckquaesgeeks Tribe which lived on the upper 3/4's of the island, had a much stronger claim to Manhattan, and they were very pissed off when they found out about getting cut out of the mix. They fought with with the Dutch for years over this until they were finally paid off as well.

I hope you found this little tid-bit interesting, Mr. Knowitall grows weary...

Peace...!!!

Mmmmmmmmmmmm...

Hi everybody....
It's a damp, dreary, rainy, cool Sunday in Mid-Michigan.
Not wanting to be cooking all day because of back to back football games, I thought of something easy and Yummy...Chicken Chile Verde!
First of all, let me relate my thoughts on something....Cooking!
Coming from a 'Blue Collar' background, my Grandmother was a fantastic cook, but it was nothing fancy and very basic. As one gets older you get exposed to ethnic, gourmet, and all types of cuisine, and you sort of settle in on a combination of all things tasty. As an avid reader of cook books and cooking blogs, I sometimes feel that I'm commiting a Mortal Sin by loving Velveeta, Miracle Whip, or Sloppy Joes made with Manwich. Don't get me wrong now, I can make Tamales from scratch, perfect Home made Pirogi's, and Tandori Chicken. But I also enjoy fried Bologna sandwiches, and Chef Boyardee Ravioli out of the can! You like what you like...It's just that simple! You are not a bad person if you prefer Hershey's chocolate to Godiva Chocolate. Or if you prefer Preggo Spaghetti sauce to your old Aunt Sophia's!
Get over this trendy Food Elitism people, and get back to grilled cheese and salmon patties!! Thats why I like that Sandra Lee chick from The Food Channel. She cooks like I do, she takes as many short-cuts as you possibly can and still keeps it delicious and cheap.
Getting back to the Chicken Chile Verde...
I de-boned a whole baked chicken.
In a pot, saute' a whole onion, a green bell pepper, and 3 cleaned Jalapena's. When onions are transluscent, add a quart of water and bring to boil. Turn down the heat, add two cans of navy beans, two jars of salsa verde', a bunch of fresh Cilantro, cumin and LOTS of garlic.! Simmer for a bit, then add your cooked de-boned chicken.
This is a version that I just came up with out of my head. I have made it with pork. I've made it with turkey. I've used fresh green tomatoes out of the garden. I've used canned tomatillo's from specialty stores. This is just how I'm making it TODAY!
Don't ask me for the recipe', I never make Chile OR Meatloaf the same way twice!
There is no right or wrong way, it's NOT Rocket Surgery, It's COOKING!!!
Just like that bald guy from The Travel Channel, Andrew Zimmern says...
If it LOOKS good...Eat It!!!
Have a Kick Ass Week....Peace!!!

Friday Flash 55.....

The red glow of her cigarette pierced the darkness.
As he lay snoring on the bed, she finally decided to end the frustration.
She gathered up her belongings and left a note...

Clark,
You are handsome, strong, and mild-mannered.
But being faster than a speeding bullet, JUST DOESN'T CUT IT IN THE SACK!!!
Lois.


If you or anyone you know has written a Friday Flash 55...
Come tell The G-Man.
I will visit, read, enjoy, comment...Then BOOK!!!
So from the most gracious host from coast to coast...
Have a Kick Ass Week-End!!

Thursday Portrait.....

Nothing special this week.
Just a plain office snapshot.
You may think that I forgot something.
A friendly reminder of a certain upcoming event maybe?
C'Mon people, PERIODICALLY I love to leave a little mystery!!
I'm ready for tomorrow, hows about YOU?
Peace...!!!

Retro-Wednesday.....

Remember these trucks?
Did your house have a Milk Chute?
These glass bottles filled with lactose delight were deposited in them about every other day. In "our" day, most families only had ONE vehicle, and Dad needed it to go to work, with so some items were conveniantly delivered to your door...Literally!
This bottle is from the Shenville Creamery in Timberville Virginia. A jewel in the Shenandoah Valley. I'm sure that it will be a collector's item some day, since the dairy went "Udder-Up" in 2004.
I hope that this post brought back some childhood memories...
Peace...!!!

TMI Tuesday.....

A Mr. Billy Bulova from Birmingham Alabama asks...

"Dear Mr. Knowitall, Who invented Daylight Savings Time?"

'Dear Billy, Ben Franklin did!'
In 1784, Ben wrote an essay suggesting that setting the clocks ahead in the Spring, and behind in the Fall would be wise because it would save expensive candles.
His idea wasn't given much thought until 1907. Thats when a British builder named William Willett was riding through the countryside, and noticed that in spite of the full daylight, all of the cottages curtains were drawn shut! It was a waste of daylight he thought, and wrote a paper advocating setting the clocks ahead in April, and back in October. This idea was Boo-Hooed as well, but the advent of WWI brought a dire need to conserve coal, so the British Summer Time act was passed in 1916. It set the time ahead one hour in the Spring, and back one hour in the Fall.
The USA followed suit in 1918, but the act was so unpopular that it was repealed in 1919. It was reinstated during WWII, and some states kept it, and some didn't!
The transportation industry led by the Greyhound Bus Co. lobbied very hard to remedy the situation, and finally in 1966 Congress passed the Uniform Time Act. It did NOT make DST mandatory, but it said that individual states needed to observe it on an individual basis. Daylight Saving Time is now observed in about 70 countries around the world!
PS...It's Daylight Saving Time! Singular..Not plural!
We are saving Daylight.

Good Question Billy.
Mr. Knowital grows weary...
Peace...!!!

The Days Are Getting Longer....

Hi Everybody...
Did Y'all have a Kick Ass Week-End?
Yesterday I had to go to Walmarks to get a vacuum cleaner belt.
Now I usually do my grocery shopping at Kroger, but this is a Super Walmarks and I aimlessly wandered to the grocery section there. As I was perusing the meats, I noticed that corned beef briskets were 2.14 a pound. At Kroger they were 3.59 a pound marked down from 3.99!!
I thought about how good a Corned Beef/Swiss on Rye bread sandwich would taste for my lunch on Monday, and I bought TWO!
This seems like a lot of meat, but believe me they really shrink when they cook down. So I am cooking one brisket very slowly in the oven with a honey/mustard glaze. And I'm making a boiled dinner with the other one. After boiling the other brisket for about 3 hours, I added a cabbage head, about 10 nice sized carrots, and a Rutabaga! My grandmother never made vegetable soup without adding a "beggie" as she called them. If you have ever been fortunate enough to have a Michigan Upper Peninsula taste treat supreme known as a Pastie, the main underlying flavor of that little regional treasure is the rutabaga.
The smell permeating thru my house know is driving me CRAZY!!!
Sooo...?
Where in the WORLD is G-Man's Fu-Manchu?
Pretty clean-cut eh?
Next thing ya know I'll lose about 80 pounds and get Lyposuction!!
NAW........!!!
Have a Great Week....And Happy Martin Luther King Day.
It's no Holiday for me!
Peace...!!!

Friday Flash 55.....

Silently she spun around, arms akimbo.
He Screamed..."Don't turn your back on me you miserable little Shrew.
Your temper is bigger than your ass, AND your shoes are ugly"!

She slowly turns and glares Daggers back at him.
He sheepishly mutters..."Honey, I'm sorry".
Smirking to himself...('The advantages of dating a deaf chick')




You sure don't get to use the word "Akimbo" very often do you?
Hehehehehe..
If you or anyone you know has written a Flash 55...
Please come tell The G-Man.
I will visit, read, enjoy, comment...Then BOOK!
So from the most gracious host from coast to coast...
Have A Kick Ass Week-End!!

Thursday Portrait.....

Tonight I had to pick up my new specs at the Mall.
I was going to stop for some Chinese anyway, so I decided to check out what the food court had to offer.
Now I'm sure that you've all gone thru this scenerio...As you walk by each booth, very excited oriental men are offering you free samples of their wares on a toothpick! This one place had Blackened Chicken that was to DIE for! So I decided to get some 'Take-Out' from The Hibachi Grill. I couldn't decide on the Lo-Mein noodles or Rice, but something was trying to get mt attention. I went 1/2 Noodles, 1/2 Rice!
I'm all set for tomorrow...Hows about YOU?
hehehehehehe...
Peace...!!!

Retro-Wednesday......

Hi Everybody...
Once again I must apologize for pulling a Houdini these past few days.
I've been quite busy this week, and I just don't have much blogging energy when I get home. Plus my Ass is sore from sitting on stitches....Grrrrrrr
But forget about that horsehit, here comes Mongo!....Er sorry. Errant movie line!
But forget about my problems, on with Retro Wednesday!

Remember when most kitchen pantry items were made of either glass or tin? The first two pics are off the internet showing what a couple of Bouillon tins looked like from the 40's and 50's. My Wyler Tin is dated 1956, sorry for the blur.
This is a classic example of how families that lived during the depression, utilized all reusable items. My grandmother would use these tins for either holding tooth picks for camping trips, or to hold stick matches. They were air and water tight, and as you can see, they have stood the test of time for years!
The last pic is the open tin lying on my Publishers Clearing House Winning 10 Million Dollor Lucky Number!!!
But really....What would you rather have? A vintage bouillon tin...Or a vintage pipe dream?
See Ya Tomorrow...
Peace!!!

TMTI Tuesday........

A Mr. Sergio Garcia from Barcelona Spain writes...

"Dear Mr. Knowitall, with the Super Bowl just a few weeks away, the "Tiger-Mania" has died down a bit. I thought that all those jokes were AWESOME!
The longer he stays off the tour, the greater the chances of me winning a Major Tournament!!!
Please post a few more jokes before the public starts to forgive and forget OK?"

'Dear Sergio....OK, just one more time.'
Let Me Present For Your Viewing Pleasure...TMTIT
Too Much Tiger Information Tuesday!!!

Peace...!!!

Shiver Me Timbers.......

Hi Everybody!!
It's a Cold Sumbitch out there today isn't it?
Oh well, might as well enjoy it and be glad that you're alive.
Peace...!!!