Nelson's Golden Glow Sauce

For those of you in Northern Indiana, you may remember the awesome smells to be had when driving past a Nelson Golden Glow's chicken smoker. Well, I recently came across the recipe for the sauce. I'll be trying it out this weekend and will post an update to let you know how accurate it was.

 

Nelson's Port-a-Pit Barbeque Sauce or Marinade

Serves/Makes:1 qt. approx.

Ingredients

• 1 lb (.5 kg). butter
• 1 cup (225 ml) water
• 1 cup (225 ml) vinegar
• 4 tbsp (60 ml) salt
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) pepper
• 4 tbsp (60 ml) Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 oz (28 grm). Accent

Preparation

Boil together. This will store well in the refrigerator.

Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency

President Bush will seek to comfort victims of his presidency as they try to make sense of the destruction he has caused.

This could, quite possibly, be the best fake news story ever presented by The Onion.

McCain Vows To Replace Secret Service With His Own Bare Fists

From the Onion, "Lookout Obama, you may have met your match".

230 Years Old - Time to Grow Up

In response to an article in the 'Ville Voice titled "Today’s Ridiculous Charge from the Southside Crusader"

 

I've been keeping tabs on the construction plans for the bomb storage facility in South Louisville. A necessary evil, yet what has the local constituents riled is that the mayor wants to locate the facility atop the city's main water supply at Cardinal Hill. According to the mayor and other officials, there is absolutely no risk in locating the facility there. Tabling the safety discussion for the time being, I'd like to address another side of the issue - transparency.

We arrive at yet another issue where, irregardless of the right or wrong of the topic, those who govern Louisville obscure and obfuscate. We want so desperately to be that progressive city of business, commerce and culture, yet it seems that every week we find out that our leaders take it on themselves to “slide something through”.

If public hearings are held, we're told that the decisions have already been made and there's no point in discussions. From the awarding of demolition contracts for the new arena to the construction of bomb storage facilities, the building of bridges to the desire of the community for something other than freeways across our great waterfront parks (86/64), the philosophy of, “Just shut-up and let us make the decisions” seems to reign.

I don’t know whether the bomb disposal facility has any risk or not. That's not the point. Letting citizens feel that they are a part of the process is.

Listening to the will of the people is definitely less efficient. I know, Mayor Abramson, that you have a lot to do and a short time to get things done. I'm a big fan of yours and was part of the movement to get you back into office. When you are open with your constituents and allow them into the process, then we end up with a city that all of us are a part of, that we all helped to build. The city becomes more than just the place we hang our hats.

I just know that too many projects in this town are handled under the table. Time to grow up Louisville. It’s 2008.

Transparancy is in.

 

In the words of one of my heroes, that's just my own opinion. If you don't like it, sue me. Just don't try to slide it under my table.

Best Bread? No Need to Knead

The best bread I've ever made? Also the easiest. The no knead bread recipe developed by Jim Lahey is super easy to follow and makes some of the best "crust and crumb" that I've ever managed to put out. The secret? Super hot cooking in a Dutch Oven (large oven-safe pot for those of you unfamiliar with the Dutch Oven).

 

Here’s the original article on No Knead Bread. And, here's the recipe they talk about in the article.

Tips and Tricks

• I’ve found that the 1 ⅝ water the recipe calls for can make the dough a little slack (or watery). I know it’s not a huge difference but between 1 ½ and 1 ⅝ seems to work best for me, depending on what other ingredients I may have added.
• Also, they talk about folding the dough several times. This is not necessary, I’ve had great luck using a floured bench scraper to form it into a round and pull the slack underneath to give it that nice tight top.
• Don’t use a towel to put the dough on and to cover – you’ll have trouble with it sticking. Parchment paper works great. When the dough is ready, just pick it up with the parchment paper and pop the whole ball right into the Dutch Oven. Easy, no mess.
• The best place I’ve found to let the dough rise is in the microwave. Keeps the dough nice and warm in a confined space (as long as you can stand to not use your microwave for 12 hours)

Another article, published about a year after the NYT article

http://steamykitchen.com/blog/2007/09/10/no-knead-bread-revisited/

Here’s a video of Mark Bittman interviewing Jim Lahey at Sullivan Street Bakery where they actually make the loaf and Jim explains some of the science and “why’s”

http://steamykitchen.com/blog/2007/09/10/no-knead-bread-revisited/

Here’s the proportions and method I’ve been using

• 3 cups flour (unbleached, unbromated all purpose or bread flour)
• ¼ tsp active dry yeast
• 1 ¼ tsp salt
• 1 5/8 cup warm water

Mix the ingredients in a large mixing bowl until blended. It's not necessary to knead the bread - the yeast will be doing all the work for you. Cover with saran wrap and pop it in the microwave for 8-12 hours (yes, you leave the microwave off).

Pour out the dough onto a well floured surface. Using a floured dough scraper, form the dough into a round ball. Flour the top of the dough and using the dough scraper to help, grab it and place it on top of the parchment paper. Put the parchment paper on a cookie sheet and back into the microwave to rest while you start to heat the oven.

Put your Dutch Oven into the oven and heat to 500 degrees for 30 minutes. Take the bread out of the microwave and with a very sharp knife, score the top of the loaf so that it has room to expand as it cooks. Take your Dutch Oven out and remove the lid. BEWARE: 500 degrees = instant burns.

Fold up the corners of the parchment paper and use it to lift the dough into the Dutch Oven. Replace the lid and back into the oven and turn the temperature back to 425 degrees. After 30 minutes, remove the lid from the Dutch Oven and allow to bake for another 20-30 minutes.

Take the loaf out of the Dutch Oven and place on a wire rack to cool. As tempting as it is, don't cut into the bread for 20-30 minutes. It has to cool on its own to finish developing that internal structure.

Mmm...

 

Of course, every project needs a playlist. Here's one to listen to while you let the bread finish...

Send me an email and let me know how your bread turned out.

You KNOW you're from "Louisville" when...

• You're still bitching that Dillards took over Bacon's.
  You still refer to Bashford Manor Mall and it has been gone for 7 Years.
• Your "International" airport has only one passenger flight that actually leaves the 48 contiguous U.S. States and is also the size of an average mall.
• The in-state sports rivalry is paid more attention to than the national championship.
• You live in an area that occasionally gets considerable snowfalls, floods, and tornadoes... But has no capacity to deal with any of the above.
• You pronounce the name of your city different than anyone else you've heard.

• You think the rest of the people in Kentucky sound like hicks.
  When you think " Kentucky ' you don't automatically think horse racing or fried chicken.
• You ask your doctor for an allergy cure and he tells you to "move"
• You've shoveled 10 plus inches of snow and worn shorts in the same week.
• When people ask what school you went to, they don't mea n Vanderbilt, Yale, or Harvard; they mean Ballard, Male, Manual, Trinity or St. X.
• You know what the Bambi Walk is.
• Your last ten vacations were in Panama City or Destin.
• You make an emergency run to Kroger for bread and milk at the first sighting of a snowflake.
• You've lived here for years, yet somehow you get hopelessly lost each time you attempt a shortcut through Cherokee Park .
• You're convinced turn signals are useless options on a vehicle.
• You've built a shrine to Rick Pitino in your basement.
• You hold up traffic to let a motorist you don't know into your lane.
• You give directions based on landmarks that no longer exist or street names that have changed, but your directions never confuse any of the other Louisvillians
• You have never been to the Derby , but wouldn't miss the Oaks.
• You call in sick to attend the Oaks and spot your boss - who also called in sick - at the next betting window.
• You think all the REAL hicks live in New Albany IN.
• When introduced to another life-long Louisvillian, you spend the first part of the conversation finding out how you are connected. It's never as many as six degrees of separation - usually three will do it.
• You think a pervert is someone who would rather have sex than watch basketball.
• You can read about Rick Pitino in at least three different sections of your newspaper.
• You think the rest of the world knows what Benedictine spread is.
• You think the rest of the world knows what a Hot Brown is.
• You have never eaten fish that wasn't fried.
• You think the whole world puts spaghetti in chili.
• You want another bridge built over the Ohio River , just so long as it doesn't cut through YOUR neighborhood.
• You've experienced a "salt storm" after a two-inch snowfall.
• You think the only thing Southern Indiana is good for is buying pumpkins.
• You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Louisville .

Office life getting you down?

Why not spice things up a little with a round of faceball?

 

 

What? You've never played faceball? You, my good friend* have never lived (at least within the confines of things to do in an office when your brain is about to explode from boredom).

 

What do I need to play?

Two players, two chairs, something to measure ten feet, one inflatable beach ball, one sheet of paper to keep track of scoring and one pen.

I assume there are rules?

Setup the chairs ten feet apart. The two opponents each sit in a chair. Take turns throwing the beachball at your opponents face. Each time you hit your opponents face, you earn one point and the right to throw again. After five rounds, the player with the most points is the winner.

Louisville Area Farmers’ Market Locations

Bardstown Rd Farmers’ Market (Deer Park)
April 5 - Dec. 20. Sat. 8am-Noon
June - Oct., Thurs. 4-6:30pm
Flowers, festivals, prepared foods, produce, meat, cheese, eggs.

1722 Bardstown Rd.
502-287-8206

Beechmont Open Air Market
June 14 - Sept. 29, Sat. 8am-Noon
Vegetables, fruits, cut flowers, herbs and more

Southern Parkway and Wellington Ave.
502-367-2652

California Farmers’ Market
June 2- October, Saturdays Noon-4pm
Produce, meat, eggs, flowers, barbecue

Victory Park, 23rd and Kentucky St.

Crescent Hill Farmers’ Market
June 1 - October, Fridays, 6:30am until sold out
June 16 - October, Mondays, 6:30am until sold out
Fruits, vegetables, plants, cut flowers.

201 S. Peterson Ave. (Frankfort and Peterson)
812-968-3693

Heart of St. Matthews Farmers’ Market
Mid-May until the end of Sept., Sat. 8am-Noon
Produce, eggs, flowers, herbs, baked goods, cheese, bread, plants

Beargrass Christian Church
4100 Shelbyville Rd.
502-896-1161

Jeffersontown Farmers’ Market
May - November 3: Saturdays, 7:30am - Noon, Tuesdays, 2-5pm
Vegetables, fruits, starter and bedding plants.

Jeffersontown Pavilion, near the intersection of Watterson Trail and Taylorsville Road
502-267-1674

Middletown Farmers’ Market
June 3 - September, Saturdays 8:30am-Noon
Produce, bread, eggs

Village Square Shopping Center, 11800 Shelbyville Road.
502-845-2117

Ninth Street Farmers’ Market
May - Christmas Eve, Wednesdays-Saturdays 10am-7pm
Produce, smoked meats, homemade ice cream, flowers

912 W. Chestnut St.
502-561-6370

Old Louisville Farmers’ Market
June 6 - October, Wednesdays 3-6pm
Vegetables, fruits, flowers

Walnut Street Baptist Church parking lot
(Third St. and St. Catherine)

Meadowview/Hikes Point Farmers’ Market
Open Fridays 3-7pm, May 9-October 31

Located in parking lot of Meadowview Presbyterian Church at 2944 Breckinridge Lane

Phoenix Hill Farmers’ Market
April 22 - October 28, Tuesdays 3-6:30pm
Vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, baked goods, plants, and cut flowers

829 E. Market St.
502-583-7133
[updated 4-2-08]

Portland/Shawnee Farmers’ Market
June 10 - October 28, Saturdays 9am-Noon
Vegetables, melons and flowers.

Portland Baptist Church parking lot
(38th and Market St.)

Rainbow Blossom Farmers’ Market
May 20 - October, Sundays, Noon-4pm
Produce, herbs, locally-produced meat, eggs and native plants

3738 Lexington Rd.

Rowan Street Farmers’ Market
June 1 - October 15, Monday - Friday, 8am-4pm
Fruits and vegetables

Corner of 18th and Rowan Street

Smoketown Farmers’ Market
June 9 - October, Saturdays 9am-Noon
Vegetables, melons and flowers

Meyzeek Middle School (corner of Preston St. and Breckinridge St.)

St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church Market
June 2 - October, Saturdays 10am-1pm, Tuesdays 4-6:30pm
Fruits, vegetables, plants and cut flowers, goat milk and honey products.

Wolf Pen Branch Road at US Hwy 42
812-968-3693

St. Matthews Farmers’ Market
Mid-April - October, Thursdays 2-5pm
Late summer - October, Mondays 2-5pm
Fruits, vegetables, plants, and flowers.

330 N. Hubbards Lane
502-222-9504

Temple Farmers’ Market
April - November, Tuesdays and Thursdays 3-7pm
Fruits, vegetables and flowers

5101 US Hwy 42 (corner of Lime Kiln Lane)
502-423-1818
[updated 4-2-08]

Southwest Farmers’ Market
June 7 - Fall, Saturdays 8am-Noon

Valley High School
10200 Dixie Highway
502-649-4970 or 502-569-2344.

Norton Commons Farmers’ Market
Open Saturdays 8:30 am-noon, starting May 17th

Open Thursdays 4-7pm, starting June 7th

Located at the corner of Meeting St. and Norton Commons Blvd.

 

Taken from http://five0two.com/farmers-markets

To be or not to be?

So, first off, what an awesome thing it is to have fun with family*. One of God's true gifts (when everybody's feeling it) is to spend time with those we love.

 

Today was awesome. A truly beautiful day in the Ville. Sunny, cool, nice breeze and an awesome day at the park. I love this town and I love those with whom I get to share it.

Plus, there was the interesting fun of getting to see all sorts of people (and by that I mean ALL) at Hogan's Fountain. Wow, wanna see a slice of the Ville? That's the spot to be.

(yeah, I've been playing with the camera and taking zoom shots)

All in all? What a wonderful spring day! So wonderful that I supplanted what was going to be my post with this green tangent.

Peace

 

*Oh, by the way, my definition of family is pretty broad and covers a lot of people I'm not biologically or legally related to.

How to be pure and faultless, a primer

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" - James 1:27

What if I were to tell you that right now, in a specific geographic area, there are over 1,600,000 women and children roaming the streets, displaced from their homes and without hope? And, in addition, these women and children are seen every day by American citizens, not just on television, but face-to-face. Yet, in all our church services, where we pray for the safety of the troops, for the wisdom of our leaders, where are our prayers for those who need it more than all?

According to the Red Cross, there are over 2 million internally displaced Iraqis, 82 percent of whom are women and children under the age of 12.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" - James 1:27

What saddens me so much is the hypocrisy in the church. We sing "I want to be like Jesus" yet conveniently ignore his commands that make us uncomfortable, that challenge our view of the world.

If the discussion is too hard, if we can't stomach any more arguments over the legitimacy of the war in Iraq, can't we at least ignore that part and focus on the concrete things that we all agree on? The word of God -

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" - James 1:27

Taken mostly from - http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2008/03/i-never-saw-them-as-human-bein.html

Amazing Times, Part II

Snippets harvested from this article

Gee, it's too bad that the US can't be as up to date on these new medical techniques. Too bad that congress and El Presidente can't get their act together and get a bill passed funding research. (The first is too scattered, the second just vetoes everything)

 

Finnish patient gets new jaw from own stem cells

Scientists in Finland said they had replaced a 65-year-old patient's upper jaw with a bone transplant cultivated from stem cells isolated from his own fatty tissue and grown inside his abdomen.

Researchers said the breakthrough opened up new ways to treat severe tissue damage and made the prospect of custom-made living spares parts for humans a step closer to reality.

...

She told a news conference the patient was recovering more quickly than he would have if he had received a bone graft from his leg.

...

She said the team used no materials from animals - preventing the risk of transmitting viruses than can be hidden in an animal's DNA, and followed European Union guidelines.

Stem cells are the body's master cells and they can be found throughout the blood and tissues. Researchers have recently found that fat contains stem cells which can be directed to form a variety of different tissues.

The times, they are a-mazin'

Summarized from Science Daily - New Technique Makes Tissues Transparent.

Light scatters as it moves through an object. Even objects like our bodies allow a certain amount of light to pass through. The light is scattered by bumping into things. We're not translucent like jellyfish. Scientists have discovered, however, that if the light that emerges is recorded as it scatters and then sent back through the same pathways in reverse, it bounces back along the same pathways and return to the original source. This is similar to the scattering of pool balls on a table. If you can precisely reverse the path and velocities of the pool balls, you can make them reassemble themselves into a rack.

Hmm, may have to try that at the next Friday night pool

What does this mean? Light activated cancer killing drugs could be injected into diseased tissue. Play back the light path with a strong light source and the drugs would be activated.

Another possible application is using photovoltaic receivers to power implants like pace-makers, shrinking their size significantly.

Early Spring in the Mountains

It’s not raining so much as weeping.

Mist pours itself from every surface and I am at peace.

There’s something I find heartwarming in the

drab dampness of the morning.

 

The knowledge that spring is throwing the

Full weight of inevitability against the iron will of winter.

 

The passing of the season of darkness is written in the heavens and

Even the illiterate are learning to read.

 

I am securely bundled in my sweater and scarf.

A shiver of contentment makes its way up my spine.

 

It’s for days like this that I live.

 

Days when the anticipation of joys to come

press so intensely upon me.

Press on me not from above, weighing me down,

but from below, Propelling me upward on a

foam of laughter and delight.

 

All is right with the world and I am at peace.

Brother Man

A flash fiction piece I submitted to the Literary Leo contest.

 

Brother Man

Desperation wraps her steel arms around me, squeezing just so I know I’m still loved. It’s so cold and my feet are numb. I can’t remember my last meal and I just want to be warm. Maybe that place over on Jefferson can put me up. Anything’s better than sleeping in the bushes behind Kremer’s on a night like this.

Another squeeze reminds me that my belly is empty. It feels like a bag of rocks grinding together down there. If I hurry, I can get a buck from somebody outside of PT’s to get a cheeseburger. Score two bucks and I can get the hot apple pie with that.

As I stumble around the corner, I trip and bounce my head off a light pole. The sharp taste of blood brings me back just in time to see your eyes slide over me like the muzzle of a gun. Not a glance or a stare, but raw hate cuts through the neon glow from overhead.

The bouncers glare at me, daring me to come closer. I stand there clutching the post. In the knot on my forehead, I feel my heartbeat start dancing the tarantella. All this, and I think I’ve busted another tooth. I got to get warm. “Hey mister”, and that’s all I get out. You spin, and throw your words at me like rocks. “Fuck off and get a job”. With that, you’re in the safety of your car.

I die a little more inside even though there’s not much left. My life has come to this and I don’t even care. I’m all cared out. I start off down the sidewalk. You’ve lost the capacity to see anything between the bouncer and the limo and I’m here in the cold… brother.