Thursday, February 25, 2010

Tortilla Soup






All recipes posted here are a composite of random recipes found online, in various cookbooks, taken from family, friends, neighbors and dishes/creations I have tried and/or made myself. Any similarity to people's personal or unique family recipes is purely coincidental, and no one actually owns the rights to any food combinations if you think about it. No matter how unique. Food for thought?!




INGREDIENTS:

1 dried Pasilla chile
2 T vegetable oil
1 medium yellow onion, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 garlic cloves, peeled
15 oz diced fire roasted tomatoes
8 cups chicken broth
1/2 t dried epazote
kosher salt/Regular Salt
1 lb boneless chicken, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 c spinach leaves, roughly torn
grated cheese, something that melts well like cheddar or Monterey Jack (Mexican Blend cheese will do as well)
corn tortilla chips

Toast the chile over an open flame or in a hot pan until it starts to release its aroma. Let cool & then remove the stem & seeds. Set aside.

Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion & garlic. Cook until the onion starts turning light brown. Remove with a slotted spoon to a blender. Add the toasted chile & diced tomatoes including the juice. Process until smooth.

Reheat the soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the sauce from the blender & cook while stirring until thickened, about 6 minutes. Add the chicken broth & epazote. Reduce the heat to a simmer & let cook for 15 minutes. Add salt as needed.
Add the chicken & cook through, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in the spinach until wilted.





Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Tiger Woods & the Adventures of his amazing Putter!



I really have no interest in Golf whatsoever and would go as far as to say I cannot stand the sport in general. I find the whole thing drawn out and incredibly boring to watch; something that only old people or business men trying to make a deal play. As such I have never followed Tiger Wood's career with any real interest, nor cared what he does on or off the Golf course. Personally I don't think he sounds strange, didn't mix very well and looks weird as hell to me! Which is why I find it especially annoying now, that Tiger Woods is absolutely everywhere you look! From magazines covers to tell all books, to television shows and radio, everyone and their mother seems to want to know what is going on with him, his (soon to be ex) wife, his kids, his endorsement deals and so on. And it's all utter nonsense and a waste of everyone's time. We all have better things to do and think about then where Tiger Woods likes to stick his Gold Clubs! Plus people initially watched Tiger Woods because he is (apparently) an excellent golfer, and not because of the escapades in his personal or private life. But now that it has come to light what a complete sex freak he is, everyone wants a piece of him now and it's ridiculous!


Who cares how many women he's stuck his putter into, as it doesn't change the fact that he is an amazing athlete. Though truthfully I do not really consider Golf a true sport mind you, since all you do is walk around and hit a ball with a stick like a monkey. But still he is genuinely acknowledged to be the best at what he does, that should be the only thing people should concern themselves with. Not his infidelities and all the women that he has apparently had sex with! Which is not to say I am defending him in anyway! For I sincerely think that anyone, man or woman who cheats on their respective mates is a complete and total scumbag! But the fact of the matter is that Tiger Woods is famous and celebrated because of his prowess in Golf and not his prowess in bed. It's that simple and people seem to forget that. If he wants to run around like a Man-Whore sticking his penis into anything with a pulse, then by all means let him run around and make a fool of himself. Impregnate more and more women as well as get himself a venereal disease, which I am surprised has not actually happened yet. Well the pregnancy thing has actually happened at least twice, but we haven't heard of him coming down with VD yet ( Though you never know, as he could simply have taken care of that on the sly). Regardless the guy's still a total scumbag, but he is a talented scumbag. As such people should either continue to enjoy his work as a golfer, or abandon ship altogether because of his numerous infidelities. Either way I just don't want to have to hear about him anymore!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Dream a Little Dream: Part 5



This morning I woke and remembered most of the dream I had last night, which in itself was somewhat odd. I haven't dreamed as much as I use to in awhile, now have I been able to recall them accurately. But last night I dreamed about being in a house, taking Japanese lessons from the teacher I just had this past semester. Apparently the classes were taught my my professor's house, which I'm sure looks nothing like my former teacher's actual house ( I have never seen my teacher's house). In this dream an old co worker of mine named Travis was having the usual problems with his girlfriend, another person whom I have never met and do not know what she even looks like. But she was in the dream just like he was, which was odd since I almost never dream about people I actually know. Plus there is not really a valid reason why I should have reamed about this person as I have not seen or heard from them in several years. The only thing I can think of is the fact that I was just in New Orleans and met a lot of Southern people there, and the person I dreamed about is originally from the South as well. So maybe that is why. Either way there was a lot of dialogue in my dream, but of course I can't remember most of it. I do know that Travis was sleeping in my professor's house, possibly on the sly which wold be very strange in real life. He was also having problems with his girlfriend and I was offering advice, which seemed to upset him. And that is about all she wrote in terms of what I can meaningfully recall. Just more random weirdness.


Saturday, February 20, 2010

Shrimp Po Boy






All recipes posted here are a composite of random recipes found online, in various cookbooks, taken from family, friends, neighbors and dishes/creations I have tried and/or made myself. Any similarity to people's personal or unique family recipes is purely coincidental, and no one actually owns the rights to any food combinations if you think about it. No matter how unique. Food for thought?!




INGREDIENTS:




SHRIMP:

1 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons creole seasoning
1 3/4 lbs peeled fresh shrimp
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2-1 cup vegetable oil
4 French rolls, split
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup shredded lettuce

CREOLE SAUCE:

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 green onions, diced
1 tbp creole seasoning
hot sauce (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Creole sauce:.
Stir together mayonnaide, green onions and creole seasoning; cover and chill (makes about 1/2 cup).

REMOULADE SAUCE:

4 ounces mayonnaise
1 tablespoon horseradish
1 tablespoon pickled relish
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons lemon juice

SHRIMP:

Combine flour & creole seasoning ( Remember you can use Zatarans or whatever they sell at your local store). Dip shrimp in egg and dredge into the flour mixture.
Pour about 2 inches of Oil into a Dutch oven and heat over medium-high heat.
Fry shrimp in batches for 1-2 minutes or until golden ( you can just spot this visuaully). Spread cut sides of rolls with butter and place on a baking sheet.
Bake at 450 for 5 minutes, spread with creole sauce or remoulade.
Place lettuce and shrimp on bottom halves of rolls and sprinkle with hot sauce if desired ( I am not a huge fan of hot sauce) top with roll top.





Sunday, February 14, 2010

Let's see, New Orleans is not what I thought it would be but it's still dirty fun. I found 20 bucks in the street, sn drinks are free for me. I normally find money, so that is nothing special. It just makes the evening more special. My entire life I have found money, in the streets. Clubs or in bars, pretty much without fail. It's my nice little super power. That an attracting perverts it seems, which is also not sot so bad at times. More on this topic la

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Right now there is a somewhat elderly man yelling at a woman whom I can only assume is his wife. He is screaming at the top of lungs that she is stupid, lazy and fat. Apparently she didn't clean the bathroom or something to his liking. From their uerbal exchange I can assume that he may even beat her. If the yelling continues I will have to call the front desk or something. Just another fine example of marriage & another reason 4 me 2 never get married.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Waiting list to get divorced?



While flipping through channels here in my Hotel room in New Orleans, I came across a program focusing on divorce in the US (or possibly just the States of Louisiana). Apparently there is someone (or some group) out there trying to get a bill passed that would make it necessary for couples who wish to get divorced to wait 2 years before they could actually be granted a divorce. Even in cases where the divorce is as trouble free as a divorce could possibly be. Which to me is just insane, forcing people to stay married who don't want to be married is almost criminal and in some cases potentially deadly! Plus the bill is disguising itself as a way for tax payers to save money, which I don't actually see as happening. Divorces actually generate money for the state, rather than cost money as a whole. With attorney fees, court fees, paperwork filing fees and so on. Hence it's no wonder that the supporters of such a bill real motivations are religiously based.

Rain Rain Go Away




Currently I am New Orleans, very, very close to the French Quarter and it is raining almost non stop! My first time in the Big Easy and it is a cold wet mess! Almost no one was out and about last night in the French Quarter and I saw absolutely nothing in terms of the drunken behavior New Orleans is famous for! I was most upset and hope it was just because Thursday is typically a slow night, although it is a few days before the actual Mardi Gras, so one never knows. Either way while my hotel is rather nice, and the free breakfast is an added bonus, I do not want to be stuck in my room all week long! I came here for the New Orleans culture, food, music, night life, and most of all drunken nudity! Which I do not think I will see if it is too cold to get naked in the first place! Hopefully since tonight is Friday there will actually be something worth seeing going on. I will keep everyone informed.


Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Mardi Gras in New Orleans



As you read this I will be New Orleans for Mardi Gras for the very first time! I am so excited and really looking forward to experiencing everything that Mardi Gras and the French Quarter has to offer! Like the food, music and of course naked-drunk debauchery! I just have to watch how drunk I get or else I could end up on some dubious web site or worse!

Arrived safely in New Orleans after 2 short connecting flights, both rather boring & filled to the brim with travelers anxious 4 the revelry of Mardi Gras. Now I'm stuck waiting 4 a few hours until I can take a bus 2 my hotel in the French Quarter. It was almost $40 cheaper than a taxi or airport shuttle. Money better spent on food or drink, rather than a ride across town. Tomorrow will b spent exploring town, sightseeing, taking pictures & eating as much

DARE



Recently I saw the indie film DARE, which I have to admit I rather enjoyed, though the film was not your traditional Hollywood fare. One of the main reasons why I enjoyed it so much, as it's not what you expect to see when you usually go to the movies. So in other words it was rather refreshing, as indie films usually have to rely more on actual acting and story, rather than Hollywood movie magic and flash in the pants movie stars.






What a wonderful way to start off my trip. I got up very early today just so I could run some last minute errands, mail a mistaken double order back to Amazon.com and have something to eat. All before my 2:30 Flight to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. But as I paid for a mailer at the 99 cents store, I noticed I didn't havd my ID on me. So I went all the way home only to discover that my ID was in another part of my wallet. Now I'm running around trying to do

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Movie Hopping: Tooth Fairy-interesting to see the inner workings of the Tooth Fairy relm, a Single Man beautifully shot, well acted but with superflous imagery, didn't really go anywhere and depressing, It's complicated, funnier than I assumed it would be, could relate to it as a child of divorce mysele, and lastly from Luc Besson, From Paris with Love-90 minutes of pure mindless entertainment yet still entertaining. Usually don't sit through 4 movies in

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

SAW: Torture Porn?



I found the first SAW film featuring the Jigsaw killer to be rather interesting, or at least I liked the initial idea behind the film(s). That the Jigsaw Killer wasn't exactly a murderer in the traditional sense of the word. He specifically choose his victims based on decisions they made themselves and their respective immoral behavior. Usually said behavior didn't just affect them, but other innocent people around them as well. Such as a lawyer who doesn't care if their clients are innocent or guilty and just wants to make a quick buck, or an insensitive Doctor who doesn't see his patients as people anymore, thus affecting their quality of care. Hence the Jigsaw Killer gave his victims a chance at redemption by giving them a choice between realizing their mistakes and accepting the consequences for their actions, or failing and thus dying a gruesome death.


Though in later films (A new one comes out every Halloween time each year) the Jigsaw Killer seemed to pick people who hadn't actually done anything all that bad. Or at least not anything worthy of being ripped asunder by metal blades or having spikes driven through their skulls. yet that is exactly what has been happening the more recent films, people are being killed for the smallest of infractions or personality defects. Which I think makes the entire SAW genre of films nothing more than torture porn. A worrying trend on movie making that has gained more popularity in recent times. For while there is nothing wrong in a good horror film, even a particularly bloody one. But films bathed in bloody gore for the sake of bloody gore are just a little too much for my taste.