Food

The search for digital content and a Saturday Costco run

Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 9:29 AM
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Cutting the cord on cable creates a situation where finding content over the air waves becomes very challenging. Over the air (OTA) content does not support on demand viewing. Finding a source of on demand content without a cable or satellite subscription requires turning to either physical media or internet content. For example, anybody with a Netflix subscription could easily push play on “How Beer Saved the World” which happens to be an amusing 2011 documentary about beer. This creates a scenario where new content has to be described. For better or worse the exposure to new content involves experiencing a combination of entertaining and disappointing content.

Dinner tonight will involve grilling some steaks imported to the great State of Colorado from McGonigle’s Market in Kansas City. Grilling outside will be possible today thanks to some surprisingly warm January weather. Before the grilling process begins a few large baking potatoes will be placed in the over at 350 degrees for about an hour. The potatoes will receive a couple ventilation holes courtesy of a fork and they will probably be given a lite coating of Lawry’s seasoning salt. One large question about dinner still remains. Will the requisite vegetable side dish be grilled, baked, or sautéed.  A quick visit to a Whole Foods Market on the way to Costco will quickly answer the vegetable side dish question.

Who has a great steak rub mixture they would be willing to share? The following recipe is for entertainment (and or educational) purposes only and should not be misconstrued as professional culinary advise. The steaks from McGonigle’s Market were allowed to reach room temperature then grilled over charcoal while it was snowing.

Outback Down Under Inspired Steak Seasoning

  • 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon coriander
  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric

This recipe includes a limited amount salt. Please adjust the salt level based on personal preference. The recipe yields 5 1/2 teaspoons of seasoning or about enough rub for 4 steaks.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo + A Lunch at Rudy’s BBQ

Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 1:25 PM
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Twitter is much easier to use for capturing a single thought than taking the time build a complete mobile weblog post on the go. Here is an example from my twitter feed @nelslindahl “When will the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo get a honey badger? I’ll donate $50 to help get one.” Naturally, everyone enjoys random thoughts about honey badgers. From what I can tell only one zoo in the United States has a honey badger in captivity. The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has a honey badger. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs probably should get a honey badger. I understand the zoo staff would have to stay out of the honey badgers cage, but what could be more fun than a rocky mountain honey badger exhibit?

I digress. We should turn our attention to the second part of the story. After visiting the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for a relaxing morning walk Joni and I decided to purchase lunch from Rudy’s “Country Store” and BAR-B-Q! Sure I might have had lunch at Rudy’s on Friday, but who judges somebody for having barbeque for lunch on back to back days? Joni enjoyed a BBQ turkey sandwich and some peach cobbler. I am seriously considering adding Rudy’s BBQ to my restaurants favorites list.

Rudy’s BBQ Day

Friday, September 23, 2011 at 8:59 PM
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Lunch today happened to include a visit to Rudy’s “Country Store” and BAR-B-Q! Backstory: Apparently, during an early morning climb up the Manitou Springs Include a couple of weeks ago David (from England) had a singularly unique eureka moment. Within that moment of epicurean bravado David concluded that a lunch visit to Rudy’s BBQ should be scheduled.

Pros:

  1. Rudy’s sells pretty decent barbeque.
  2. I am seriously considering taking Joni to Rudy’s on Saturday after visiting the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.
  3. The line service format is strangely compelling.

Cons:

  1. I do not understand why the proprietors of Rudy’s have decided to forgo selling deep fried potato products and onion rings.
  2. Enjoying the BBQ from Rudy’s did involve having to concede to several coworkers that decent BBQ does exist outside Kansas City.

Salsa Gordo Perezoso del Hombre Revised Recipe Update

Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 5:42 PM
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Salsa Gordo Perezoso del Hombre Revised Recipe Update

Test kitchen recipe update v8.02

The current test kitchen version of the salsa includes:

12 scotch bonnet habanero peppers,
30 serrano peppers,
67 jalapeno peppers,
16 bell peppers,
6 poblano peppers, and
8 Anaheim peppers.

Other than the wide variety of peppers:

2 whole onions,
9 garlic cloves,
2 tablespoons sea salt,
3 bunches worth of finely chopped cilantro,
2 1/2 cups of distilled vinegar, and
204 ounces of peeled whole tomatoes (without juice).

This recipe yielded about 13 quarts of glorious salsa.

Basic Salsa Preparation Instructions

1. Make sure you have all of the ingredients and about three hours of free time to complete the cooking process. This batch included the use of a food processor.

2. In multiple food processor batches combine the diced pepper mixture with a chopped up onion and the garlic in a large mixing bowl.

3. Use the food processor to process the peeled whole tomatoes and store them in a separate mixing bowl. In the tomato-mixing bowl, pour one cup of distilled vinegar, two tablespoons of salt, and about half a cup of finely chopped cilantro.

4. Bring all the ingredients for the salsa to a boil for about an hour or simmer the salsa for two hours.

5. Of course, the salsa has to be canned, refrigerated, and stored for about a day before it is ready for consumption. Some people do not boil the salsa and just can the salsa cold, but I have found that it never has exactly the right taste without proper boiling or simmering.

Planters Cheez Balls Discontinued

Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 7:58 AM
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On the discontinuation of Planters Cheez Balls:

Why did the ‘evil’ Planters Corporation discontinue my favorite snack in a can product, “Planters Cheez Balls?” Whereas people all over the nation are unable to satisfy a specific food hunger: now is the time to take action by introducing a total boycott of all Planters Corporation products. My household will be officially boycotting all Planters products until the Planters Corporation decides to bring back Planters Cheez Balls. I would even accept an online order only product lunch that sidestepped national distribution.

Wine Tasting Notes 20110409

Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 10:08 PM
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Who knew an alumni association event could be so much fun?

This evening the Colorado Springs Jayhawks alumni group sponsored an event entitled, “Rock Chalk Wine-Tasting and Silent Auction!” The event occurred at the US Air Force Academy stadium press box. Overall, the press box provided a wonderful location for an event.

Wines for the tasting were selected by Ivars Spons of Sovereignty Wines. The wines were served by the glass with notes provided on the fly during the tasting.

1. Six Hands Winery Sauvignon Blanc
2. August Briggs Chardonnay
3. Alias Cabernet Sauvignon
4. Joffre Reserve Malbec
5. T-Vine Zinfandel
6. I am still working on hunting down the last wine of the evening. It might have been the 2007 LEO Eiswein “X-treme Sundowner,” but the exact wine has not been confirmed.

After experiencing the wine tasting event, I am thinking about signing up for more events. A wine tasting event can either be driven by the product or by the host. Without question, a vertical wine tasting of a world class wine can define an event. At the same time, a great host can define a wine tasting event.

Maybe signing up for a sommelier class would be fun?

Fajita Seasoning Recipe

Saturday, March 26, 2011 at 2:25 PM
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Joni decided that tonight would be a good night for fajitas. The following recipe was deployed in the test kitchen for testing purposes. Before using this recipe, please consider that this recipe is still in beta at version 0.10.

Percent Ingredient 1 oz 1 cup
34% chili powder 2 tsp 5 1/2 tbsp
16% salt 1 tsp 2 1/2 tbsp
16% paprika 1 tsp 2 1/2 tbsp
16% sugar 1 tsp 2 1/2 tbsp
8% onion powder 1/2 tsp 1 1/4 tbsp
3% garlic powder 1/6 tsp 1/2 tbsp
3% cayenne pepper 1/6 tsp 1/2 tbsp
3% cumin 1/6 tsp 1/2 tbsp
1% crushed red pepper flakes 1/8 tsp 1/6 tbsp

 

Revised Salsa Recipe

Monday, December 6, 2010 at 1:49 PM
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Salsa Gordo Perezoso del Hombre Revised Recipe

Test kitchen recipe update v7.42

The current test kitchen version of the salsa includes:

8 scotch bonnet habanero peppers,
20 serrano peppers,
25 jalapeno peppers,
12 bell peppers,
3 poblano peppers, and
4 Anaheim peppers.

Other than the wide variety of peppers:

1 whole onions,
6 garlic cloves,
1 tablespoons salt,
2 bunches worth of finely chopped cilantro,
1 cups of distilled vinegar, and
102 ounces of peeled whole tomatoes (without juice).

This recipe yielded about 7 quarts of glorious salsa.

Basic Salsa Preparation Instructions

1. Make sure you have all of the ingredients  and about three hours of free time to complete the cooking process. This batch included the use of a food processor.

2. In multiple food processor batches combine the diced pepper mixture with a chopped up onion and the garlic in a large mixing bowl.

3. Use the food processor to process the peeled whole tomatoes and store them in a separate mixing bowl. In the tomato-mixing bowl, pour one cup of distilled vinegar, two tablespoons of salt, and about half a cup of finely chopped cilantro.

4. Bring all the ingredients for the salsa to a boil for about an hour or simmer the salsa for two hours.

5. Of course, the salsa has to be canned, refrigerated, and stored for about a day before it is ready for consumption. Some people do not boil the salsa and just can the salsa cold, but I have found that it never has exactly the right taste without proper boiling or simmering.

Notes from 20101125

Thursday, November 25, 2010 at 10:45 AM
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* Joni built a time-based matrix for the preparation, heating, and storage of a complete and total Thanksgiving feast. During dinner, it will probably seem like a good idea to pop the cork on a bottle of properly aged cabernet sauvignon. Within the cabernet sauvignon varietal of wine, I have a strong preference for an aging process of at least 4 years. A good bottle of wine tends to spark my epicurean curiosities and satisfy my cravings for new adventures.

* This bullet point was left intentionally blank.

* The Microsoft Corporation has started to offer some discounts (and or price breaks) on Office 2010 software bundles. Microsoft should probably develop a more complete timeline for software releases to better assist consumers with the decision making process.

Notes for 20101102

Tuesday, November 2, 2010 at 5:32 PM
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After a full day of training, I voted. I purchased two tacos, rice, and beans from a local restaurant for dinner. I am done for the day. I do not intend to do anything substantial for at least 12 hours. In other nonrelated news, no shave November seems to be a passing event. Most of the people who talked about taking action seemed to shy away from the challenge. Maybe no shave November will provide the perfect excuse to grow a winter beard. Speaking of taking action; this week a regular National Football League game defeated a pivotal World Series game in television ratings. Who would have guessed that the World Series would falter? Without question, the NFL now represents the predominant American sport. Baseball might make a comeback, but that reality seems to be an illusory desire of a fallen dream.

Thinking Nachos

Sunday, October 31, 2010 at 2:52 PM
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Recently all of the Del Taco restaurants in Colorado Springs, Colorado were seized by the City of Colorado Springs due to a failure on the part of the franchise owners to pay local sales and use taxes. The city now faces an extreme shortage of Macho Nachos (a Del Taco menu item) and 39-cent tacos. I am trying to hunt down an exceptional nacho supplier in Colorado Springs. I would prefer a recommendation for a nacho supplier that can provide 24 hour support, but exceptional quality can override availability.

image

Links to local Del Taco Coverage:

  1. News First 5 Del Taco Story
  2. Gazette Del Taco Article
  3. KKTV Del Taco Story

Colorado Springs BBQ Questions

Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 9:27 AM
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Speculative inquiry:

After the initial move to Colorado Springs back in 2006 a local barbeque (BBQ) tasting program was initialized. Based in part on location it seemed easier to try restaurants from the east side to the west side of town. Recently, the project has slowed down and needs to be rapidly reinvigorated with epicurean adventures!

What local BBQ restaurants are highly recommended?

More or less today will involve developing a game plan.

At some point today might involve a trip to the local Best Buy and the acquisition of some type of BBQ.

Could this all be related to watching Adam Richman take on Kansas City barbeque?

Does anyplace in Colorado Springs sell burnt ends?

Salsa Gordo Perezoso del Hombre

Saturday, July 3, 2010 at 4:12 PM
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Salsa Gordo Perezoso del Hombre Revisited

Test kitchen recipe update v7.03

The current test kitchen version of the salsa includes:

5 scotch bonnet habanero peppers,
20 serrano peppers,
25 jalapeno peppers,
20 sweet peppers,
6 bell peppers,
3 poblano peppers, and
3 Anaheim peppers.

Other than the wide variety of peppers,

1 whole onions,
4 garlic cloves,
1 tablespoons salt,
1 cup of finely chopped cilantro,
1 cups of distilled vinegar, and
79 ounces of peeled whole tomatoes.

This recipe yielded about 5 quarts of glorious salsa.

Basic Salsa Preparation Instructions

1. Make sure you have all of the ingredients and about three hours of free time to complete the cooking process. This batch included the use of a food processor.

2. In multiple food processor batches combine the diced pepper mixture with a chopped up onion and the garlic in a large mixing bowl.

3. Use the food processor to process the peeled whole tomatoes and store them in a separate mixing bowl. In the tomato-mixing bowl, pour one cup of distilled vinegar, two tablespoons of salt, and about half a cup of finely chopped cilantro.

4. Bring all the ingredients for the salsa to a boil for about an hour or simmer the salsa for two hours.

5. Of course, the salsa has to be canned, refrigerated, and stored for about a day before it is ready for consumption. Some people do not boil the salsa and just can the salsa cold, but I have found that it never has exactly the right taste without proper boiling or simmering.

Notable Previous Test Kitchen Versions

The May 31, 2009 batch of test kitchen salsa included 4 scotch bonnet habanero peppers, 15 serrano peppers, 25 jalapeno peppers, 20 sweet peppers, 4 red bell peppers, 2 poblano peppers, and 2 Anaheim peppers. Other than the wide variety of peppers, the salsa included a whole onion, 3 garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons salt, one half cup of finely chopped cilantro, a cup of distilled vinegar, and about 50 ounces of peeled whole tomatoes. This recipe yielded about five quarts of glorious salsa.

The April 24, 2006 batch of salsa included the following peppers: 4 scotch bonnet habanero peppers, 12 serrano peppers, 25 jalapeno peppers, 2 green bell pepper, 1 yellow bell pepper, 1 red bell pepper, 1 orange bell pepper, 5 dried chili peppers, 2 poblano Pepper, 2 hot yellow peppers, and 2 Anaheim Pepper. Other than the wide variety of peppers, the salsa included a whole onion, a whole garlic clove, 2 tablespoons salt, half a cup of cilantro, a cup of distilled vinegar, and about 16 ounces of boiled peeled tomatoes.

The April 15, 2006 version of the salsa recipe also known as the “Salsa Gordo Perezoso del Hombre Extreme,” included the following peppers: 12 Scotch Bonnet Habanero peppers, 12 Serrano Peppers, 24 Jalapeno Peppers, 2 Green Bell Pepper, 1 Yellow Bell Pepper, 1 Red Bell Pepper, 1 Orange Bell Pepper, 5 Dried Chili Peppers, 1 Poblano Pepper, and 1 Anaheim Pepper. Other than peppers, the salsa included one whole onion, one whole Garlic Clove, 2 Tablespoons Salt, half a cup of Cilantro, a cup of distilled vinegar, and about 12 to 24 ounces of boiled peeled tomato.

The August 10, 2005 salsa Gordo Perezoso del Hombre version included the following peppers: 2 whole Habanero, 12 whole Serrano Peppers, 12 whole Jalapeno Peppers, 1 Green Bell Pepper, 1 Yellow Bell Pepper, 1 Red Bell Pepper, 1 Orange Bell Pepper, 5 Dried Chili Peppers, and 1 Anaheim Pepper. Other than peppers, the salsa included one whole Onion, one whole Garlic Clove, 2 Tablespoons Salt, half a Cup of Cilantro, a Cup of Vinegar, and about 24 Ounces of Boiled Peeled Tomato.

Vegetarianism Experiment

Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 9:29 AM
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After the conclusion of the vegetarianism experiment, I thought it would be a good idea to centralize all of my commentary related to the project.

Salsa Gordo Perezoso del Hombre

Salsa Gordo Perezoso del Hombre

  1. (Vegetarianism experiment day 1/40) Breakfast was difficult today; I had to avoid the fast food rush after an early dentist appointment. #
  2. (Vegetarianism experiment day 2/40) The big test today will be the drive home from work. #
  3. (Vegetarianism experiment day 2/40) Dinner tonight included a roasted potato taco and a spicy bean burrito. Tomorrow should be exciting! #
  4. (Vegetarianism experiment day 3/40) Tonight my work week will conclude without a celebratory taco. The weekend will be difficult. #
  5. (Vegetarianism experiment day 3/40) Special thanks should be extended to the Chipotle Mexican Grill for providing a vegetarian burrito. #
  6. (Vegetarianism experiment day 4/40) Today started with an early morning trip to the donut store for a dozen mixed. #
  7. (Vegetarianism experiment day 4/40) @andyphelan45 Yes the donut run included bear claws, cinnamon twists, and chocolate glazed donuts. #
  8. (Vegetarianism experiment day 5/40) Will the snowstorm this week inspire a vegetarian chili rendition? Anybody got a recipe? #
  9. (Vegetarianism experiment day 6/40) This may be a tough week. I think working extra long hours will not support a healthy vegetarian diet. #
  10. (Vegetarianism experiment day 7/40) Nobody really sells vegetarian fast food on the way home from the late shift. #
  11. (Vegetarianism experiment day 8/40) I really wanted a celebratory cheeseburger, taco, or steak for the IRB news, but alas… #
  12. (Vegetarianism experiment day 9/40) Friday night at the end of the week always seems to be the prefect time for a burger… #
  13. (Vegetarianism experiment day 10/40) Apparently, Burger King sells a veggie burger; so that Friday night burger and fries happened… #
  14. (Vegetarianism experiment day 11/40) Revisiting the Burger King veggie burger seems like a good idea… #
  15. (Vegetarianism experiment day 11/40) The Chipotle Mexican Grill makes a fantastic vegetarian burrito; however, they close far too early… #
  16. (Vegetarianism experiment day 12/40) Last night around midnight the Burger King veggie burger did not come with fresh fries… #
  17. (Vegetarianism experiment day 13/40) Last night involved a bean and rice burrito; it seems vegetarianism requires making a commitment. #
  18. (Vegetarianism experiment day 14/40) After two weeks of vegetarianism research both breakfast and lunch seem easier to handle than dinner. #
  19. (Vegetarianism experiment day 15/40) The first two weeks of the vegetarianism experiment are complete. Does that call for a tofu taco? #
  20. (Vegetarianism experiment day 16/40) A few beers and a complete bar food menu @The_FoxandHound just might test my vegetarian diet… #
  21. (Vegetarianism experiment day 17/40) The key to the vegetarian diet seems to be early morning protein supplements (and coffee). #
  22. (Vegetarianism experiment day 18/40) I need to break my routines. Eating the same series of foods every week seems monotonous… #
  23. (Vegetarianism experiment day 19/40) Avoiding meat is the easy part; however, going completely vegetarian requires understanding food. #
  24. (Vegetarianism experiment day 20/40) For some reason locating an order of nachos seems to be at the forefront of food considerations today. #
  25. (Vegetarianism experiment day 21/40) Friday night normally involves tacos; tonight might include a quesadilla, tostada, or bean burrito. #
  26. (Vegetarianism experiment day 24/40) The drive to break my vegetarian diet barely exists anymore; I may have turned the corner. #
  27. (Vegetarianism experiment day 25/40) Should vegetarians take additional vitamin supplements? #
  28. (Vegetarianism experiment day 28/40) Most snacks devoted to the current March Madness are not vegetarian… #
  29. (Vegetarianism experiment day 29/40) Today and throughout the week a major point of interest will be avoiding energy drinks. #
  30. (Vegetarianism experiment day 31/40) Vegetarian sandwiches always seem like a great idea; however, rarely do they ever provide satisfaction. #
  31. (Vegetarianism experiment day 34/40) Today will involve vegetarian burritos from Chipotle and DVR episodes of Pawn Stars. #
  32. (Vegetarianism experiment day 35/40) The homestretch seems almost illusory. What are the best vegetarian multi-vitamins or supplements? #
  33. (Vegetarianism experiment day 38/40) Only two days left in the project. Unfortunately, last night my celebratory nachos lacked jalapeños. #
  34. (Vegetarianism experiment day 40/40) Some experiments turn out to be more difficult and complex than expected… #

Coffee Rediscovered

Friday, January 15, 2010 at 11:41 AM
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As the truth would have it that single morning cup of coffee stands out above the rest. That first cup of coffee stands almost as a monument to the splendid reality of the day. Maybe possibility and possibility alone brighten the entire day. Perhaps, it could be said without that first cup of coffee the outlook for the entire day becomes slightly dimmer if not less resolute.

Nescafe Instant Coffee

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 10:39 AM
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A cup of water entered the microwave at room temperature. Two teaspoons of instant coffee grounds now reside in the heated cup of water. Overall quality of the Nescafe instant coffee has increased significantly over the years. For those people who simply do not have the time to wait for the coffee maker to produce viable results instant coffee provides a viable alternative.

Microwave Coffee

Monday, January 11, 2010 at 10:13 PM
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In the first part of 2010, the coffee moratorium ended; one cup of Starbucks instant Columbian brew just enjoyed some time in the microwave. After giving up coffee in principle since 2006, I can safely say the nature of the experience has not changed.

Thanksgiving Favorites

Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 10:03 AM
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Right now the list of Thanksgiving meal items has started to come together. The whole idea of payment schedules for working during a holiday seems somewhat stunning. Thanksgiving and Christmas are the two holidays that provide at least some degree of continuity and stability within most family environments. Perhaps the combination of football and food brings people together within a festive environment.

1. Honey baked ham slices
2. Mashed potatoes
3. Green bean casserole
4. Roasted carrots
5. Sage sausage stuffing
6. Dinner rolls
7. Pumpkin bread muffins
8. Pecan pie

Oven Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 9:38 AM
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Does adjusting to daylight savings time require the purchase of donuts? Halloween brings the fine art of pumpkin carving to the forefront of the public mind. Pumpkin carving creates the possibility of roasting pumpkin seeds. The process for roasting pumpkin seeds remains fairly simple. During the entire pumpkin carving process the seeds should be collected in a separate container. Here are a few instructions for information purposes only on how pumpkin seeds were roasted on the evening of October 31, 2009.

Oven Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipe

  1. Preheat the oven to about three hundred and five degrees ferinheight.
  2. Wash the pumpkin seeds with cold water before drying the pumpkin seeds with a towel.
  3. Spray a baking sheet with a layer of foil or without the foil with cooking spray.
  4. Evenly spread out the pumpkin seeds before applying a second coat of cooking spray followed by the application of seasoning. The pumpkin seeds roasted this Halloween received a liberal coating of Emeril’s Essence a prepackaged seasoning blend created by New Orleans celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse.
  5. Roast the pumpkin seeds for about one hour or slightly longer for crunchier pumpkin seeds. Today the pumpkin seeds roasted for about seventy five minutes at an altitude of about six thousand feet above sea level.

Halloween Preparation

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 8:27 AM
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This year Halloween will occur during a Saturday night. Two large bags of name brand Halloween candy are sitting on top of the refrigerator. Amazingly enough, the work experience does require attendance during the weekends. Initially, the job required waking up at zero three hundred hours. Something about getting up before general society awakens for the day seems peaceful. Some jobs require taking part of the job home. Other jobs encourage a complete dichotomy between work and play.

On a completely unrelated topic, laptop prices are starting to decrease at a rather substantial rate. Finding a new laptop seems a somewhat daunting task. The basic parts configurations for laptops typically remain constant. Prices for those basic part configurations vary greatly throughout brick and mortar stores or online outlets.

Nonfiction Wine Books

Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 8:05 PM
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Over the last few months, the idea of reading nonfiction books about wine has become an insatiable indulgence. After making a purchase at a well known online bookstore the computer interest matching software suggested reading a book entitled “The Billionaire’s Vinegar.” After thoroughly enjoying the subject matter of the book, an interest in the history of both winemaking and the wine industry slowly developed. Given this newfound awareness about wine, a chance encounter provided the opportunity to view the movie “Bottle Shock” (2008) on DVD. If you have an interest in wine, then consider renting or purchasing “Bottle Shock” (2008) on DVD. In any event, a large amount of literature exists about wine. Slow updates will occur to this list as various nonfiction books about wine are discovered, read, and considered worthy of recommendation.

The following books are ranked in order of preference…

1. Wallace, Benjamin. (2008). The Billionaire’s Vinegar: The Mystery of the World’s Most Expensive Bottle of Wine. New York: Three Rivers Press.
2. Tabor, George M. (2005). Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting that Revolutionized Wine. New York: Scribner.
3. Siler, Julia Flynn. (2007). The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty. New York: Gotham Books.

Wine Scoring

Sunday, August 23, 2009 at 7:10 AM
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The following prose represents a few initial notes on the development of an independent wine scoring system. Development of this system remains a necessary formality to compare wine tasting experiences over time. Moving toward some degree of empirical research will provide consistency and reliability. After considering a wine tasting project a single reality become apparent. Without question, a connoisseur can rank wines by preference during the course of a single year. Sorting wines into a list requires an expression of preference. A higher order examination would require developing a formal wine scoring system.

Please consider that the following wine preference scoring system exists for reference and informational purposes only and does not represent any endorsement: financial or otherwise… Rating is relative to personal preferences within a yearly representative position of memorable wines compared to other wines from the categories of red wine and white wine. A wine tasting, especially a tasting at a winery, will not constitute a scoring event.

100 Point Wine Scoring System

Part One: Pour the wine

1. Visual examination (10 Points)
2. Olfactory examination (10 Points)

Part Two: Taste a small amount of the wine

3. Evaluate the initial tastes (20 Points)
4. Evaluate the second wave of flavor (20 Points)
5. Evaluate the third wave or aftertaste (20 Points)

Part Three: Reconsidering

6. Second olfactory examination (10 Points)
7. Refined second tasting (10 Points)

Example: 100 Point Wine Scoring System

92/100 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars; Artemis, Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (Napa Valley, CA)
August 14, 2009 at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time Kansas City, Kansas

1. Visual examination (9/10 Points)
2. Olfactory examination (9/10 Points)
3. Evaluate the initial tastes (20/20 Points)
4. Evaluate the second wave of flavor (18/20 Points)
5. Evaluate the third wave or aftertaste (17/20 Points)
6. Second olfactory examination (9/10 Points)
7. Refined second tasting (10/10 Points)

Example: 100 Point Wine Scoring System

79/100 Hogue Cellars, Late Harvest White Riesling 2007 (Prosser, WA)
August 25, 2009 at 6:05 PM Mountain Standard Time Colorado Springs, Colorado

1. Visual examination (8/10 Points)
2. Olfactory examination (8/10 Points)
3. Evaluate the initial tastes (17/20 Points)
4. Evaluate the second wave of flavor (15/20 Points)
5. Evaluate the third wave or aftertaste (15/20 Points)
6. Second olfactory examination (8/10 Points)
7. Refined second tasting (8/10 Points)

Updated on August 23, 2009 by Nels Lindahl
Last updated on August 25, 2009 by Nels Lindahl

RMNP Tour Notes

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 10:35 AM
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The following prose represents a few Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) tour notes from Saturday August 1 through Monday August 3, 2009 trip. This year the third time shifted wedding anniversary vacation weekend involved traveling to RMNP. Without question or argument, every American should time the time to visit RMNP. The National Park Service provides Americans with access to truly beautiful surroundings. The scenic vistas and glorious natural spender of RMNP are truly without question a real national treasure.

The advent of digital photography has transformed the technology people utilize while touring national parks. For example, the current panoramic photography project endeavor involves attempting to visit every national park. In response to the demands of the project, several national park tours have involved amassing hundreds if not thousands of digital photos during the past few years.

Each national park tour has unique merits. Based on personal preference and informed observation one national park stands above the rest. Tours of this particular national park have been more frequent than any other park under the current panoramic photography national park tour project. RMNP located just outside Estes Park, Colorado is within driving distance of Boulder, Colorado. With good traffic conditions, a responsible driver can travel from Boulder, Colorado to RMNP in about one hour. The proximity to Boulder, Colorado probably helps drive traffic to this national treasure.

Before the vacation, it seemed like a good idea to visit at least one Colorado winery. During the recent trip, two wineries in Colorado received consideration. First, the Snowy Peaks Winery and tasting room resides within the borders of Estes Park, Colorado. Second, located in Lyons, Colorado the Ciatano Winery resides between Boulder, Colorado and Estes Park, Colorado. Both winery tastings went well. Colorado wines are interesting and the process of growing grapes in Colorado merits further study.

Without question, RMNP provides scenic visits within reasonable hiking distances. Colorado residents have noticed the recent heavy rains throughout the state. Some of the trails throughout RMNP were very muddy and the streams and lakes were very full. Joni thought it would be a good idea to hike to a few lakes including Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, Lake Haiyaha, and Bierstadt Lake. The switchback hike from the Bierstadt Trailhead to Bierstadt Lake was surprisingly panoramic. Strangely enough, the park service has noted, “Temporary closures may occur at picnic and trailhead parking areas as park staff remove trees killed by an outbreak of native pine beetle.” The native pine beetle could really damage the natural splendor of RNMP. I hope the National Park Service is able to combat and defeat the native pine beetle.

After visiting the Ciatano Winery, it seemed like a good idea to visit the Wings West chicken wing emporium to get an afternoon snack in Estes Park, Colorado. During the middle of the afternoon, very few patrons were frequenting the establishment. The BBQ wing sauce was mild and pleasant. The habenero flavor in the Super Hot wing sauce provided a slow burning aftertaste following the flavorful initial rush of spicy chicken wing sauce. Overall, the Wings West experience probably would be better during happy hour to get the full fledged chicken wing experience.

After visiting the Ciatano Winery and Wings West, it was time to get ready to visit the Twin Owls Steakhouse.

Review of the Twin Owls Steakhouse

Dinner at the Twin Owls Steakhouse in Estes Park, Colorado provided to be entertaining when the sprinkler system caused a marmot to run by the dining room window. For a Sunday night during the peak of the summer vacation season, the Twin Owls Steakhouse was remarkably slow. I had made the reservation about one month in advance. Keep in mind the Twin Owls Steakhouse typically only takes reservations starting at one month before the reservation.

Joni and I decided to forgo appetizers. After reviewing the menu, none of the appetizers seemed well appetizing…

In terms of entrees, I ordered a very decent, but not spectacular New York strip steak from the menu with a ranch house salad. The chef decided to put a few craisins on the salad. The New York strip steak preparation involved a combination of black and green peppercorns blended into a bourbon sauce served with mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Joni decided to order and was very pleased with the stuffed pork tenderloin. The chef stuffed the pork tenderloin with asadero cheese, black beans, and a very interesting green chili stuffing. Combined with mash potatoes and seasonal vegetables, several slices of the pork tenderloin were plated with a creamy sage sauce. Joni had and enjoyed the chef recommended Carmel Road Pinot Noir with the stuffed pork tenderloin.

Dinner concluded with dessert. In this case, dessert involved a classic raspberry cheesecake.

Overall, the Twin Owls Steakhouse is located within beautiful surroundings in Estes Park, Colorado. The food was very good, but the preparation and style feels somewhat old-fashioned. However, given that the dinner was scheduled as part of a wedding anniversary weekend getaway vacation everything was perfect.

Brisket Smoking Questions

Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 7:43 PM
By

After asking the question, “What is the best method for smoking a brisket?” something funny happened. Arguments quickly developed around the question, “How do you smoke a brisket?” How does the best available research related to brisket smoking answer the question? Apparently, barbeque/barbecue/BBQ represents a unique epicurean art form defined by a combination of practice and patience.

Now on to an even bigger and probably more important question, “How do you make burnt ends?” Burt ends could be a part of a smoked brisket. Burnt ends typically describe the edges of the bridges. However, in theory any part of the brisket could be cubed and returned to the smoker with additional sauce for extra smoking.

Today for example, as an experiment a few large and small cubed pieces of brisket went into the oven with a small amount of sauce. After about an hour at two hundred and twenty five degrees Fahrenheit, the brisket pieces reasonably resembled burnt ends. Proper burnt ends involve a simple preparation technique involving careful preparation including initial smoking, cubing, storage in a pan, and a return to the smoker.

Unresolved BBQ smoker related questions…

1. How often do you add wood to a vertical smoker? (BBQ smoker wood addition frequency) Should a barbeque enthusiast add wood to a barbeque every hour or every half hour? During the initial barbequing endeavor, about five small chunks of hickory wood went on the coals every thirty minutes.
2. Do the smoker temperatures matter with respect to the smoke ring?
3. How many ingredients are included in the most complex barbeque brisket rub?
4. How often should barbeque enthusiasts replace the charcoal when using a vertical barbeque smoker?
5. What temperature should a vertical smoker sustain when cooking brisket?
6. How should a brisket be cooked in a smoker to avoid having to finish the brisket in the oven?

Brinkmann Smoker Project 2.0

Friday, June 26, 2009 at 10:52 AM
By

Saturday June 27, 2009 will mark the second attempted barbeque project using the Brinkmann square vertical smoker purchased from the Home Depot. During the previous Saturday June 13, 2009 Brinkmann smoker project significant problems occurred. Mastercool infrared temperature monitoring suggested the Brinkmann smoker failed to reach an appropriate internal temperature for smoking a brisket. Several internet forums devoted to Brinkmann smokers discuss temperature problems in detail. After significant consideration of the problem, the only solution appeared to be modifications to the charcoal pan. A larger number of specially drilled holes in the charcoal pan will allow ash to drop away from the charcoal. Charcoal ash collection will require storing an additional aluminum foil pan inside the smoker under the charcoal pan.

In preparation for the project, a combination of spices from the kitchen cabinet built a traditional style Texas brisket rub.

Traditional Texas Style Brisket Rub Recipe

  • 1/2 cup Paprika
  • 1/3 cup regular brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 3 tablespoons onion powder
  • 2 tablespoon dried oregano flakes
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

After the application of the traditional Texas style rub the brisket will rest carefully packaged in the refrigerator overnight. In the mourning, during the charcoal ignition process the brisket will rest outside the refrigerator returning to room temperature.

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June 27, 2009 live blogging notes

Developing a deep level of understanding related to the fine art of barbeque will require taking and reviewing notes during the entire June 27, 2009 live blogging session. At some point, the process of utilizing the Brinkmann square vertical smoker will improve. The result of the process will be amazing delicious epicurean adventures into the world of BBQ (barbeque/barbecue).

0640 —– The Brinkmann Smoker is coming up to temperature for the big nine hour brisket smoking session today in Colorado Springs. In preparation of the barbeque session, Joni purchased a digital cooking thermometer/timer from the local hardware store. Acquisition of all brisket temperature data will involve using the digital cooking thermometer. Temperature readings taken from the smoker will involve using the Brinkmann internal thermometer.

0715 —– To keep the charcoal from smothering itself in ash the charcoal pan now has a significant number of holes. Additionally, one of the bottom vents has remained closed to control the airflow across the top/bottom of the charcoal.

0818 —– The Brinkmann Smoker has reached brisket smoking temperature. Only seven more hours of brisket smoking left. Modifications to the charcoal pan have proven to increase the smoking temperature. If the Brinkmann Smoker only reaches an internal temperature of 175, then the brisket will have to be finished in the oven before dinner.

0834 —– Somehow the water pan for the Brinkmann Smoker was almost empty requiring the addition of an entire pitcher of water. Hickory wood has been providing an excellent and consistent smoke. With any luck, this brisket will take on a degree of most excellent flavor.

0945 —– Perhaps now would be a good time to work on developing a new article entitled, “Zen and the fine art of BBQ: How I learned how to stop worrying and love the smoker.” After about three hours, the initial batch of charcoal had diminished. A second round of charcoal briquettes reduced the overall temperature of the smoker, but the brisket temperature remained relatively constant.

1000 —– Can the process of smoking a brisket be defined by a single algorithm? Researchers could easily define the temperature range, timeframe, and fuel supplies as variables. Perhaps at some point this week deriving an algorithm would be a prudent investment of time and energy. Applied mathematics in this case would allow for numerical optimization of the brisket smoking process.

1100 —– The brisket seems to be smoking correctly. Getting the internal brisket temperature up will probably require removing the water pan toward the very end of the brisket smoking process. Alternatively, completing the brisket smoking could occur within the oven by wrapping the brisket in aluminum foil. Some people strongly advocate finishing briskets in the oven. Andy even advocates completing the brisket cooking process on a traditional Weber kettle style grill.

1135 —– A decision has finally been made about the brisket cooking procedure. At about 1300, the brisket will be removed from the smoker and wrapped in aluminum foil for the oven finishing procedure. Seven hours of smoking will probably give the brisket the desired flavor.

1300 —– Smoking using the Brinkmann is now complete. All of the remaining brisket cooking will occur in the oven. Heavy-duty aluminum foil will ensure the brisket cooking occurs properly.

1600 —– The brisket finished cooking to an internal temperature of 190 degrees Fahrenheit in the oven. The brisket has started the one hour resting process under a towel in the kitchen.

Brinkmann Smoker Temperature Readings (DATA)

0615 —– Grill 050 —– Brisket 038 (Charcoal)
0700 —– Grill 100 —– Brisket 048 (Hickory)
0715 —– Grill 120 —– Brisket 055
0730 —– Grill 155 —– Brisket 073 (Hickory)
0745 —– Grill 165 —– Brisket 085
0800 —– Grill 170 —– Brisket 095
0815 —– Grill 175 —– Brisket 105 (Hickory)
0830 —– Grill 200 —– Brisket 115 (Water)
0845 —– Grill 175 —– Brisket 116
0900 —– Grill 175 —– Brisket 120 (Hickory)
0915 —– Grill 175 —– Brisket 125
0930 —– Grill 175 —– Brisket 125 (Charcoal)
0945 —– Grill 150 —– Brisket 127
1000 —– Grill 154 —– Brisket 128
1015 —– Grill 160 —– Brisket 131
1030 —– Grill 175 —– Brisket 134
1045 —– Grill 175 —– Brisket 139
1100 —– Grill 175 —– Brisket 139
1115 —– Grill 175 —– Brisket 141
1130 —– Grill 160 —– Brisket 143
1200 —– Grill 150 —– Brisket 145 (Charcoal & Hickory)
1230 —– Grill 150 —– Brisket 145
1245 —– Grill 155 —– Brisket 145
1300 —– Grill 160 —– Brisket 146

BBQ Temps

BBQ Temps

Best Kansas City BBQ Sauces

Sunday, June 14, 2009 at 10:07 AM
By

The following list of “The Best Kansas City BBQ Sauces” represents the personal barbeque sauce preferences of Nels Lindahl as of June 14, 2009. Moving from Kansas City to Colorado Springs has provided an ideal environment to research Kansas City BBQ sauces. For consideration in this unscientific study of personal taste preferences, the restaurant has to be located in Kansas City and commercially bottle the sauce for distribution. Transportation of each bottle of sauce involved an automobile trip from Kansas City to Colorado Springs.

1. Hayward’s Pit Bar-B-Que sauce
2. Fiorella’s Jack Stack barbeque‎ sauce
3. Zarda BBQ sauce
4. Gates Bar-BQ sauce
5. KC Masterpiece barbecue sauce

At some point, all of the BBQ sauce research will probably result in the creation of a unique homebrewed sauce. The homemade sauce will include only organic ingredients without any prepackaged components.

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Special weblog post update: Reader comment, “Jenifer: I heart your webpage. I just want to know if you like spicy Jack Stack better than the original or if it is original Zarda and not spicy or hickory that you most enjoy.”

Dear reader, the following revised and reconsidered list of “The Best Kansas City BBQ Sauces” represents the personal barbeque sauce preferences of Nels Lindahl as of June 16, 2009.

1. Original Hayward’s Pit Bar-B-Que sauce
2. KC Spicy/Hot Fiorella’s Jack Stack barbeque‎ sauce
3. Zarda KC Classic Original BBQ sauce
4. Original Fiorella’s Jack Stack barbeque‎ sauce
5. Gates Bar-BQ sauce
6. Bold & Spicy Zarda BBQ sauce
7. Original KC Masterpiece barbecue sauce
8. Extra Hot Gates Bar-BQ sauce
9. Gates Sweet and Mild Bar-BQ sauce

The list only contains preferred barbeque sauces. Consideration of other barbeque sauce variations occurred. Only sauces on the list received elevation to most favored barbeque sauce status. Naturally, further consideration through exposure to other barbeque sauces could substantially change the list.

Brinkmann Square Vertical Smoker Purchase

Friday, June 12, 2009 at 10:34 AM
By

Could today be Brinkmann Square Vertical Smoker acquisition day? Does anybody have any good brisket rub recommendations? Marinade or rub? Apparently, the fine art of smoking represents an epicurean adventure that only rewards patience. Practitioners of the fine art of barbeque (barbecue/BBQ) must demonstrate patience. The Brinkmann Square Vertical Smoker project will begin with a single question. The question is very important and deserves consideration. The question asks, “How to smoke a brisket.” Thanks to the glorious public commons of the internet, people have been engaging in discourse about the various methodologies associated with barbeque for years. Some of this knowledge will dictate the project’s first brisket smoking attempt.

In reality, the process will begin with the acquisition of the Brinkmann Square Vertical Smoker. Given the weight of the smoker, delivery from an online source would be expensive. Fortunately, the Home Depot sells the Brinkmann Square Vertical Smoker for a reasonable price.

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Application of the brisket rub occurred at five post meridiem Mountain Standard Time. Tomorrow, brisket smoking will commence promptly at ten ante meridiem Mountain Standard Time. The brisket weights four and one half pounds. Smoking the brisket will take between four and one half hours and six hours and forty five minutes. The brisket will need to reach an internal temperature of about one hundred and eighty degree Fahrenheit.

Traditional Texas Brisket Rub

  • 1/2 cup Paprika
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 3 tablespoons onion powder
  • 2 tablespoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Live Blogging Notes from Saturday June 13, 2009

The Weber rapidfire chimney starter began performing a very specific function at about eight thirty meridiem Mountain Standard Time. The charcoal will need to be ready to burn hickory wood at about ten ante meridiem Mountain Standard Time.

Brinkmann Square Vertical Smoker Measurements: For information purposes only, all brisket temperatures are external measurements taken by a Mastercool infrared thermometer. Without opening the smoker, a side vent provides access to take infrared measurements. Each measurement documents the temperature of the top of the brisket. The Brinkmann Square Vertical Smoker has a temperature gauge that provides a temperature measurement. The Mastercool infrared thermometer provides verification of the Brinkmann smoker gauge measurement.

09:15 —– Grill 054 —– Brisket 084.7
09:33 —– Grill 075 —– Brisket 090.1
09:45 —– Grill 107 —– Brisket 106.5 (Hickory)
10:00 —– Grill 108 —– Brisket 110 (Extra Hickory)
10:15 —– Grill 111 —– Brisket 115
10:30 —– Grill 115 —– Brisket 120 (Hickory)
10:45 —– Grill 125 —– Brisket 122 (Charcoal)
11:15 —– Grill 140 —– Brisket 125 (Charcoal)
11:30 —– Grill 150 —– Brisket 130
11:45 —– Grill 150 —– Brisket 135
12:15 —– Grill 175 —– Brisket 138 (Charcoal)
13:00 —– Grill 160 —– Brisket 144 (Charcoal & Hickory)
13:15 —– Grill 160 —– Brisket 147
13:45 —– Grill 150 —– Brisket 136.4 (Charcoal)
14:00 —– Grill 130 —– Brisket 130

The unmodified Brinkmann Square Vertical Smoker cannot maintain the internal temperature necessary to smoke a brisket. Charcoal briquettes and hickory chunks could only fuel a fire of one hundred and seventy five degrees Fahrenheit. In response to this problem, Joni decided to check Lowes for solutions. The Lowes employees did not have any suggestions for resolving the problem. Internet discussion forums suggest drilling a series of holes in the coal pan to allow increased airflow. Instead of drilling holes, the first course of action involved lowering the coal pan from the rack to the bottom of the smoker. This course of action raised the temperature by thirty five degrees in thirty minutes.

14:30 —– Grill 165 —– Brisket 137
15:15 —– Grill 145 —– Brisket 135

The remainder of the cooking time will involve the use of a coal pan full of about twenty holes. Each of the holes involved the use of a one fourth inch drill bit. An aluminum pan now sits below the well ventilated coal pan for trash collection purposes. Perhaps this course of action will bring the internal temperature above two hundred degrees Fahrenheit.

15:30 —– Grill 150 —– Brisket 120.3 (Charcoal)
16:00 —– Grill 144 —– Brisket 135.4

Brinkmann Square Vertical Smoker brisket cooking abandoned in favor of a wrapped aluminum foil oven finishing technique.

Future BBQ Research Questions

1. How often do you add wood to a vertical smoker? (BBQ smoker wood addition frequency) Should a barbeque enthusiast add wood to a barbeque every hour or every half hour? During the initial barbequing endeavor, about five small chunks of hickory wood went on the coals every thirty minutes.
2. Does the smoker temperature matter with respect to the smoke ring?
3. How many ingredients are included in the most complex barbeque brisket rub?
4. How often should barbeque enthusiasts replace the charcoal when using a vertical barbeque smoker?
5. What temperature should a vertical smoker sustain when cooking brisket?

Salsa Gordo Perezoso del Hombre Recipe Update

Sunday, May 31, 2009 at 10:05 AM
By

Perhaps this Sunday is a good time to revisit the question, “How do you make your own Salsa?” You probably should accept the fact that making salsa that everyone likes is impossible. First things first, please understand, that naturally, this recipe is for informational purposes only for the sole entertainment of the writer without any warranty, certification, or guarantees. Regardless of much trust, you think recipes off the internet implicitly deserve remember to never make any recipe that cannot be checked against a trusted source. This recipe will make several quarts of rather spicy higher than restaurant quality salsa. Of course, after you make salsa for the first time you are going to want to take notes about what you want to change to modify the next batch. Making good salsa is an iterative process that requires attention to detail and experimentation.

Varieties of options are available for purchasing peppers including organic, greenhouse, or traditional. Part of the fun of making homemade salsa is distributing the final product to family and friends. Something about making salsa is exciting the first few times and then the process of canning starts. If you have not canned salsa, fruit, vegetables, or sauce, then you are missing out on some fun times in the kitchen. Next time you visit the grocery store take note of the sheer number of jars and cans preserving food. Certainly, an economic advantage occurs from the economics of scale associated with producing a large volume of salsa.

Current Salsa Version

The current test kitchen version of the salsa includes 4 scotch bonnet habanero peppers, 15 serrano peppers, 25 jalapeno peppers, 20 sweet peppers, 4 red bell peppers, 2 poblano peppers, and 2 Anaheim peppers. Other than the wide variety of peppers, the salsa included a whole onion, 3 garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons salt, one half cup of finely chopped cilantro, a cup of distilled vinegar, and about 50 ounces of peeled whole tomatoes. This recipe yielded about five quarts of glorious salsa.

Basic Salsa Preparation Instructions

1. Make sure you have all of the ingredients and about three hours of free time to complete the cooking process. This batch included the use of a food processor.

2. In multiple food processor batches combine the diced pepper mixture with a chopped up onion and the garlic in a large mixing bowl.

Salsa Peppers

3. Use the food processor to process the peeled whole tomatoes and store them in a separate mixing bowl. In the tomato-mixing bowl, pour one cup of distilled vinegar, two tablespoons of salt, and about half a cup of finely chopped cilantro.

4. Bring all the ingredients for the salsa to a boil for about an hour or simmer the salsa for two hours.

Simmering Salsa

5. Of course, the salsa has to be canned, refrigerated, and stored for about a day before it is ready for consumption. Some people do not boil the salsa and just can the salsa cold, but I have found that it never has exactly the right taste without proper boiling or simmering.

10 Quarts of glorious salsa

Previous Test Kitchen Salsa Version

The previous version of the salsa included 2 scotch bonnet habanero peppers, 12 serrano peppers, 24 jalapeno peppers, 2 green bell pepper, 1 yellow bell pepper, 1 red bell pepper, 1 orange bell pepper, 2 poblano Pepper, and 2 Anaheim Pepper. Other than the wide variety of peppers, the salsa included a whole onion, a whole garlic clove, 2 tablespoons salt, one cup of cilantro, a cup of distilled vinegar, and about 24 ounces of boiled peeled tomatoes.

Notable Previous Test Kitchen Versions

The April 24, 2006 batch of salsa included the following peppers: 4 scotch bonnet habanero peppers, 12 serrano peppers, 25 jalapeno peppers, 2 green bell pepper, 1 yellow bell pepper, 1 red bell pepper, 1 orange bell pepper, 5 dried chili peppers, 2 poblano Pepper, 2 hot yellow peppers, and 2 Anaheim Pepper. Other than the wide variety of peppers, the salsa included a whole onion, a whole garlic clove, 2 tablespoons salt, half a cup of cilantro, a cup of distilled vinegar, and about 16 ounces of boiled peeled tomatoes.

The April 15, 2006 version of the salsa recipe also known as the “Salsa Gordo Perezoso del Hombre Extreme,” included the following peppers: 12 Scotch Bonnet Habanero peppers, 12 Serrano Peppers, 24 Jalapeno Peppers, 2 Green Bell Pepper, 1 Yellow Bell Pepper, 1 Red Bell Pepper, 1 Orange Bell Pepper, 5 Dried Chili Peppers, 1 Poblano Pepper, and 1 Anaheim Pepper. Other than peppers, the salsa included one whole onion, one whole Garlic Clove, 2 Tablespoons Salt, half a cup of Cilantro, a cup of distilled vinegar, and about 12 to 24 ounces of boiled peeled tomato.

The August 10, 2005 salsa Gordo Perezoso del Hombre version included the following peppers: 2 whole Habanero, 12 whole Serrano Peppers, 12 whole Jalapeno Peppers, 1 Green Bell Pepper, 1 Yellow Bell Pepper, 1 Red Bell Pepper, 1 Orange Bell Pepper, 5 Dried Chili Peppers, and 1 Anaheim Pepper. Other than peppers, the salsa included one whole Onion, one whole Garlic Clove, 2 Tablespoons Salt, half a Cup of Cilantro, a Cup of Vinegar, and about 24 Ounces of Boiled Peeled Tomato.

Salsa Time

Arharn Thai Colorado Springs Resturant Review

Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 7:15 PM
By

Arharn Thai is located near the Super Target at North Carefree and Powers in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Today Joni thought it would be a good idea to purchase some extra spicy food. Recently, the Colorado Springs Gazette penned a favorable review of the Arharn Thai Restaurant.

Nels ordered the traditional spicy Pad Thai with tofu, rice noodles, bean sprouts, ground peanuts, and green onions. This Pad Thai is representative of what somebody would expect from the culinary tradition of Thailand. Per instruction from the patron, the Pad Thai preparation involved spicy ingredients. Nels thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

Joni ordered the Arharn Thai Pad Prig Prow a delightful epicurean creation including broccoli, bamboo shoots, bell pepper, baby corn, and onions. Arharn Thai builds the spice level to order and Joni enjoys food Thai HOT. This dish was exceptionally spice, but very enjoyable.

Nels can officially endorse the spicy potential of interesting Thailand inspired cuisine being crafted by the chefs at the Arharn Thai restaurant. Everybody eating at the restaurant seemed to be having a good time. The seating area is relatively small compared to other restaurants within the area, but the flavor of the food always trumps the restaurants esthetics.

1. http://www.arharnthai.net/
2. http://www.gazette.com/articles/thai-52690-arharn-rice.html

A restaurant review written by Nels Lindahl on May 17, 2009.

Arharn Thai Restaurant

Outside Improvements

Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 12:33 PM
By

Early today a car ride through Colorado Springs involved a trip to the Home Depot. Joni seems to think the yard would greatly improve with the addition of flowering plants. Instead of thinking about purchasing plants, Nels thinks about dinner. Nels has a gift card from Applebee’s restaurant to purchase dinner. Dinner tonight will include at least one real burger the real fresh real deal burger. After careful reflection, Nels cannot remember eating dinner at an Applebee’s in the State of Colorado. Maybe years ago Nels had dinner at an Applebee’s in the State of Kansas, but never in the State of Colorado.

The movie theater in Colorado Springs sells burgers. With any luck, the real burgers from Applebee’s should be better than movie theater burgers. Joni enjoyed the Star Trek XI (2009) movie. Later this summer, two movies worth seeing will be premiering at the local movie theater. Both Terminator Salvation and Transformers Revenge of the Fallen will probably be major Hollywood blockbusters.

 

Peppercorn the dog outside

Peppercorn the dog outside

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