Been sitting here for a minute or 19 writing down witty paragraphs that kinda rambled around like a 3 legged duck on acid. After removing said paragraphs I'm happy to report I'm glad to see 2006 fade and lead us to another year, 2007 (It's sequential don't ya know).
Happy New Year to you all! Meathrenge rules.
xo, Biggles
While Biggles is off-planet for the moment, his good friend George steps in with General Tsou's Chicken. George and I go way, way, way back to the late 1980's. He's always been colorful character. Someone who maintained an operating computer retail storefront in an abandoned building to a guy who bought a shiny, metallic purple Thunderbird (the Purple Penetrator). We've kept in contact over the years and he's always had some tasty skills in the kitchen. I've offered to post a recipe of his anytime. Today is that day ... take it away George!
The last few days have been a little unsettling and the catalyst was this antique jar of bay leaves Creepy E found upstairs.
But Biggles, they're just bay leaves. Why get all torqued out over a jar of old bay leaves?
Excellent question, let me say this about that. I live and grew up in the San Franciso Bay Area. California Bay Laurel trees are all over the damned place. And I'll bet Berkeley wins the trophy for most trees of all. It's "common knowledge" that these are most certainly not the leaves you find in the bay leaf jars at the market. These bay laurel leaves are exceptionally strong, oily and can very quickly ruin your stew. It's irreversible and you're better off with a nice Mediterranean version. Or so I thought.
At some point in its history Spice Islands (based in San Francisco) decided to dry and sell the buggers. To me, it's kinda like selling bags of sand at the beach. For around here anyways.
What do you think of California Bay Laurel leaves in your food? I've never seen them for sale, here or anywhere. Have you?
Biggles
There's an aspect to blogging that authors get to enjoy, while readers most certainly miss out on. As a reader of a blog, you probably have your RSS thingy all set up and know when a new post has rolled in, off you go. But what about those posts in the past? The ones I did over 3 years ago, what about those?
"Why do I care Biggles? I read them already."
Yes, maybe you did. However, months and years later the comments are still rolling in. There are a small handful of posts here that get fresh comments weekly, years later. My point is, I recently received a comment from nearly the first post I did here, it's about carrots. This guy John stops by and says the carrots get wiggly cause they took on moisture. Fair enough, but his web site lists a carrot museum?
I just HAD to go see this, this, this, Carrot Museeeeyum.
I'm not going to go on about it, suffice it to say this is very well written and researched web site. As meat minded as I am, I do enjoy carrots. They're wonderful in a slow simmered pot roast and invigorating juiced up on a Sunday morning. Go have a gander, it's worth your time.
Biggles
ps -
Tybo says, "Ahhhh, moisture moisture moisture !!!"
Not a heck of a lot going on over here. Sorry about that.
Thank you to Kevin at Bacon Press for brightening my day yesterday with this Sign Generator. Then, an apology to my friends who've been receiving said signs from me over the last 24 hours.
Biggles
ps - rock me Amadeus
Yes, you read that correctly. And no, this isn't some huge-ass corporate mass marketing deal I ran across on the net. Meathenge has been hand selected by Alejandro through a kind mention from Elise of Simply Recipes. And it looks as though you only have until December 15th to order your 100ml case! The deal is you pay for the shipping, ooOoOOOoO. Can you handle it? I'm off to get mine right now.
Please click HERE for your special page. I receive nothing by spreading the good word. Only the warm knowledge that I've helped a friend of a friend further the promotion of their small company. I wish Alejandro, Michelle & Elise good tidings and superb health in the coming year.
UPDATE December 12, 2006: Woot woot! All 800 cases are gone. That's it, all done in 48 hours. Jeez, that was a whirlwind, eh?
Biggles
Alejandro & Martin Extra Virgin Olive Oil
As you can see, I went for the Piglet Roulade this last weekend. Ovened it up last night for dinner. Prolly a bit fancy and yet quite rich for a Tuesday evening after work's kinda meal. What the hell, eh? A Biggles has to eat.
If you look, you can see the skin was on, got all crunchy! The pork roast was filled with juicy flavors that it got from not only the fancy meat, but the peppery sausage kicked in and did its part too.
I think next time I'm going to give myself more time and knock the oven's temp from 350 to 325 and drag the time out a bit. And since they offered, have them wrap it up with the head included. Thank you team Fatted Calf!
UPDATE: December 6th 2006
Hey, check this out! A friend of Meathenge and obviously a consumer of Fatted Calf's fine goodies sends this over for our enjoyment. Remember that roast, up there? The piglet roulade? This is the optional head!
Dang, I wish I'd got all the options on my model. Mebbe next time. Thank you Stephen!
Biggles
Psyche !!! No post here. Nope, see? Look around, do you see any article for today? AHAHHAH, I totally had you. Face!
Well, okay. I did write a fancy article, but it isn't here. It's some place else. Robert from Get Your Grill On has kindly invited yours truly to join the Well Fed Network. So, during the coming months you'll find me over there laying down the meaty love.
But Biggles, you have Meathenge! Why diversify and spread yourself out all thinny?
I accepted the offer to get out farther on the net and broaden my daily walkies. I could use the exercise and am shooting for some more inspiration. I figure, this inspiration will not only make the world a better place, it'll improve Meathenge too. Years ago a good friend Murdock observed that Ed is like the rock in the center of the river, solid and unchanging. Himself is like the water, moving effortlessly through life, one with the universe. I however, was the guy in the kayak, upside down, broken oars, banging in to every rock and branch on my way down.
Here's my first article written just for them,
It’s cold, it’s windy, it’s December. Let’s cook outside!
Wish me luck!
Biggles
