One thing I miss about living in Jackson, MS is Kiefers. But mostly just because of the Feta dip. I've eaten as several other Greek or Mediterranean restaurants but I haven't had anything else like it. So I set out to see if I could make it, and I came pretty close.
The Pita Mozz is pretty easy. It's basically a grilled cheese (or quesadilla) with pita bread and mozzarella. Just take two pieces of pita bread, rub a little olive oil on them, put a munch of mozzarella cheese in between and cook on a skillet until done.
The feta dip is easy to make, just has a lot of ingredients:
feta cheese (use a container of the crumbles)
sour cream - 1 teaspoon
milk (or heavy cream)- two splashes
mayo - 1 1/2 teaspoons
garlic powder - 1/4 teaspoon
pepper - 1/4 teaspoon
onion powder - 1/4 teaspoon
worstershire - 1/8 teaspoon
olive oil - 1/8 teaspoon
red wine vinegar - 1/8 teaspoon
Dip the Pita Mozz into the feta dip. It's good.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
I Don't Understand "Christmas"
My wife wanted to put up the Christmas tree the other day, why? Why do we put up a tree?
Why do I have to make a list of stuff I want? Why do I have to spend hundreds of dollars on gifts for my family to celebrate Jesus' birthday?
My in-laws save up money all year to have a big Christmas. They spend equal amounts of money on all their kids and grandkids, even me, an in-law. Each Thanksgiving we are supposed to put about five things on a list that we want for Christmas. I struggled to think of anything I would want, and only came up with two things - a stick to scratch my own back with and work pants. My mother-in-law called my wife the other day and asked her what else I might want because they haven't reached the amount of money they were going to spend on me yet.
This is irritating to me. Just give the money to the poor. Give it to the church. Give it to someone who needs it. I do not need anything. I have a home, food to eat every day. Clothes to wear. I have a wonderful wife and a beuatiful baby girl. I've got parents that are still alive and healthy, a couple of brothers, a niece and nephews. I haven't made a bunch of money this year or been able to buy anything that I want, but that doesn't mean I need to get anything for Jesus' birthday.
Santa Claus, and gift-giving, seem to be in competition with the real meaning of Christmas - Jesus Christ.
There's no doubt, we as Americans place more emphasis on giving gifts, and getting gifts, than focusing on Jesus. This is understandable for a casual, or cultural Christian. But for someone who claims to believe, to live their life according to His will....someone like myself, I just can't bring myself to accept what I am doing to Christmas.
What would Jesus do if he were on the Earth today? Would he be buying gifts for his family and friends? Or would he be taking that money and buying gifts for the poor, or donating it to charity or the church? Wouldn't he be more focused on helping others than helping ourselves?
I've got more than enough. I don't need anymore. I've always felt dirty getting gifts on Christmas. I just don't like it. Of course, I married someone whose 'love language' is receiving gifts. But gifts are fine, I just don't like them for Christmas. I don't want to have to make holiday plans around opening them, and put all the emphasis in the month of December around buying them.
When Christmas day is over, what do you have? You spent Christmas Eve celebrating Jesus, but Christmas day celebrating yourself. Did you spend any of December 25th thinking about how God sent his only son to save us? Or did you unwrap a bunch of stuff that you don't need, eat some dinner and fall asleep?
I don't want to be a Scrooge. Just the opposite, I rather celebrate the season by giving to others. I want to turn Christmas around and put the focus on Jesus' goals, not my own.
Why do I have to make a list of stuff I want? Why do I have to spend hundreds of dollars on gifts for my family to celebrate Jesus' birthday?
My in-laws save up money all year to have a big Christmas. They spend equal amounts of money on all their kids and grandkids, even me, an in-law. Each Thanksgiving we are supposed to put about five things on a list that we want for Christmas. I struggled to think of anything I would want, and only came up with two things - a stick to scratch my own back with and work pants. My mother-in-law called my wife the other day and asked her what else I might want because they haven't reached the amount of money they were going to spend on me yet.
This is irritating to me. Just give the money to the poor. Give it to the church. Give it to someone who needs it. I do not need anything. I have a home, food to eat every day. Clothes to wear. I have a wonderful wife and a beuatiful baby girl. I've got parents that are still alive and healthy, a couple of brothers, a niece and nephews. I haven't made a bunch of money this year or been able to buy anything that I want, but that doesn't mean I need to get anything for Jesus' birthday.
Santa Claus, and gift-giving, seem to be in competition with the real meaning of Christmas - Jesus Christ.
There's no doubt, we as Americans place more emphasis on giving gifts, and getting gifts, than focusing on Jesus. This is understandable for a casual, or cultural Christian. But for someone who claims to believe, to live their life according to His will....someone like myself, I just can't bring myself to accept what I am doing to Christmas.
What would Jesus do if he were on the Earth today? Would he be buying gifts for his family and friends? Or would he be taking that money and buying gifts for the poor, or donating it to charity or the church? Wouldn't he be more focused on helping others than helping ourselves?
I've got more than enough. I don't need anymore. I've always felt dirty getting gifts on Christmas. I just don't like it. Of course, I married someone whose 'love language' is receiving gifts. But gifts are fine, I just don't like them for Christmas. I don't want to have to make holiday plans around opening them, and put all the emphasis in the month of December around buying them.
When Christmas day is over, what do you have? You spent Christmas Eve celebrating Jesus, but Christmas day celebrating yourself. Did you spend any of December 25th thinking about how God sent his only son to save us? Or did you unwrap a bunch of stuff that you don't need, eat some dinner and fall asleep?
I don't want to be a Scrooge. Just the opposite, I rather celebrate the season by giving to others. I want to turn Christmas around and put the focus on Jesus' goals, not my own.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Why Don't BBQ Makers Put the Sauce on the Pork when they Serve it?
This past Friday my wife wanted BBQ. It sounded good so naturally I was all for it. We went to a new place that just opened up and it was really good. And of course I ordered too much pulled pork so I had plenty of leftovers for lunch on Saturday and Sunday.
Well, sure enough, we go to a wedding on Saturday and they serve BBQ for dinner. BBQ and only BBQ. So since we had eaten the leftovers for lunch that day it was 3 straight meals of BBQ, which wasn't bad - I love BBQ.
But every time I had to put the sauce on myself, and I wondered: why don't BBQ makers put the sauce on for you?
I've never tried to smoke by own pork shoulder so I don't know. But I do really really enjoy a good steak and if I have a good cut of beef or I seasoned and cooked it to perfection and someone douses it in A-1 I want to strangle them. Are BBQ chefs the same way? I would think so right? They spend all this time injecting the pork with this, seasoning it with that, smoking it for ___ hours all for the perfect taste. Then they come up with their signature sauce....but they don't put the sauce on it for you.
Pork is a different animal from a steak. A good steak shouldn't need any sauces. But pork does, if for nothing else to add some moisture to it. So these guys make their own sauce - like the guys I baught from on Friday night, they had a North Carolina style and Memphis style sauce. Still, you don't want someone to go crazy on the sauce and mask the flavor of that pork you worked so hard for, right?
Why don't BBQ chefs blend in what they believe to be just the right amount of sauce to enhance the flavor of their meats when they serve it? Why leave so much up to the consumer who may use too much or not enough?
Well, sure enough, we go to a wedding on Saturday and they serve BBQ for dinner. BBQ and only BBQ. So since we had eaten the leftovers for lunch that day it was 3 straight meals of BBQ, which wasn't bad - I love BBQ.
But every time I had to put the sauce on myself, and I wondered: why don't BBQ makers put the sauce on for you?
I've never tried to smoke by own pork shoulder so I don't know. But I do really really enjoy a good steak and if I have a good cut of beef or I seasoned and cooked it to perfection and someone douses it in A-1 I want to strangle them. Are BBQ chefs the same way? I would think so right? They spend all this time injecting the pork with this, seasoning it with that, smoking it for ___ hours all for the perfect taste. Then they come up with their signature sauce....but they don't put the sauce on it for you.
Pork is a different animal from a steak. A good steak shouldn't need any sauces. But pork does, if for nothing else to add some moisture to it. So these guys make their own sauce - like the guys I baught from on Friday night, they had a North Carolina style and Memphis style sauce. Still, you don't want someone to go crazy on the sauce and mask the flavor of that pork you worked so hard for, right?
Why don't BBQ chefs blend in what they believe to be just the right amount of sauce to enhance the flavor of their meats when they serve it? Why leave so much up to the consumer who may use too much or not enough?
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Fredi Gonzalez: Manager of the Year
The question of whether or not Fredi Gonzalez is an adequate manager for a franchise that spent the previous 20 years under one of the greatest managers of all time has surely been answered in 2013. The Braves have had injury after injury and players under-performing that should have derailed their season, but he has kept this team moving along without skipping a beat.
The list of impact players that have been on the D.L is incredible: Jason Heyward (twice), Jordan Schafer, BJ Upton, Reed Johnson, Freddie Freeman, Paul Janish, Tyler Pastronicky, Brian McCann, Remiro Pena, Dan Uggla, Evan Gattis, Gerald Laird, Brandon Beachy, Tim Hudson, Paul Maholm, Luis Ayala, Jonny Venters, Jordan Walden, Eric O'Flarerty and Cristhian Martinez.
Out of those 20 players, six of them went down with season-ending injuries.
These are key players - three of the best relievers on the team, the staff ace, every catcher, and another handful of starters. Not to mention that BJ Utpon and Dan Uggla have had horrible years.
The September collapse of 2011 was an unsettling end to Fredi Gonzalez' first year at the helm, but he has made up for it with a postseason appearance in 2012 and with what he has accomplished with this year's team. The Braves will not only win the NL East but are currently leading for the best record in baseball. It's a credit to Frank Wren's stockpile of players and Gonzalez' ability to manage this group with whatever card he's dealt.
The list of impact players that have been on the D.L is incredible: Jason Heyward (twice), Jordan Schafer, BJ Upton, Reed Johnson, Freddie Freeman, Paul Janish, Tyler Pastronicky, Brian McCann, Remiro Pena, Dan Uggla, Evan Gattis, Gerald Laird, Brandon Beachy, Tim Hudson, Paul Maholm, Luis Ayala, Jonny Venters, Jordan Walden, Eric O'Flarerty and Cristhian Martinez.
Out of those 20 players, six of them went down with season-ending injuries.
These are key players - three of the best relievers on the team, the staff ace, every catcher, and another handful of starters. Not to mention that BJ Utpon and Dan Uggla have had horrible years.
The September collapse of 2011 was an unsettling end to Fredi Gonzalez' first year at the helm, but he has made up for it with a postseason appearance in 2012 and with what he has accomplished with this year's team. The Braves will not only win the NL East but are currently leading for the best record in baseball. It's a credit to Frank Wren's stockpile of players and Gonzalez' ability to manage this group with whatever card he's dealt.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Weekend Menu - Week 2
Saturday - Had the grill going during the game with some chicken breast and corn on the cob. My wife made some wild mushroom sauce to top the chicken and also some green beans.
Sunday - Crab cake sandwich for dinner. Had a side of buffalo dip, but without the chicken. Cream cheese, blue cheese, Frank's red hot and ranch dressing - throw it in the oven for about 10 minutes and it's really good.
Sunday - Crab cake sandwich for dinner. Had a side of buffalo dip, but without the chicken. Cream cheese, blue cheese, Frank's red hot and ranch dressing - throw it in the oven for about 10 minutes and it's really good.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Weekend Menu - Week 1
I always like to eat good, especially on the weekends. So I thought I'd throw out the dishes I ate eat week during football season.
It's Labor Day Weekend so an extra day to enjoy food.
Saturday - Crab cake sandwich. This is really good if you put it on a croissant role and include avocado. Homemade sauce with mayo and spicy mustard.
Sunday - My wife bought some steaks, she said they were $6 for 3 of them. I wasn't too excited but they turned out to taste great. I had already resigned myself to putting some blue cheese crumbles on the steak to enhance the flavor and it was awesome.
Monday - Hambergers which I put Frank's Red Hot and blue cheese crumbles on - it was awesome. I also had some onion rings and made blue cheese dressing to dip them in.
It's Labor Day Weekend so an extra day to enjoy food.
Saturday - Crab cake sandwich. This is really good if you put it on a croissant role and include avocado. Homemade sauce with mayo and spicy mustard.
Sunday - My wife bought some steaks, she said they were $6 for 3 of them. I wasn't too excited but they turned out to taste great. I had already resigned myself to putting some blue cheese crumbles on the steak to enhance the flavor and it was awesome.
Monday - Hambergers which I put Frank's Red Hot and blue cheese crumbles on - it was awesome. I also had some onion rings and made blue cheese dressing to dip them in.
Monday, August 26, 2013
2013 SEC Predictions
EAST
1. South Carolina, 11-1 (7-1) - I think the Gamecocks get back to Atlanta. Their schedule sets up a little better this year as Arkansas appears to be down and that's a game they always struggle in. This isn't a spectacular team, but they are solid and have been used to winning.
2. Florida, 10-2 (6-2) - The Gators are good once again, although I think they take a slight step down on defense, with a slight uptick on offense. They win the world's largest outdoor cocktail party (because jawja ain't winnin' 3 in a row) giving them the tie-breaker for 2nd place.
3. Georgia, 10-2 (6-2) - UGA has done to them what they did to USC the last two years - win that matchup only to go on to lose two conference games and be overtaken in the standings. The schedule is much more difficult this year.
4. Tennessee, 7-5 (4-4) - The Vols aren't back yet, just back to a bowl game. That game at Oregon is no good but the schedule isn't terribly difficult.
5. Vanderbilt, 7-5 (3-5) - Not really a step down. I think they win the opener vs. OM and go on to another solid season.
6. Missouri, 5-7 (1-7) - There is a good possibility they will upset one of the east teams this year, and maybe even OM who they have a off week to prepare for, but I can't pull the trigger on one. Gary Pinkel gets fired after the season.
7. Kentucky, 3-9 (0-8) - Plenty of excitement, not enough guns in Lexington.
WEST
1. Alabama, 12-0 (8-0) - The 2-time defending national champs have been given a cake walk to an undefeated season.
2. LSU, 10-2 (6-2) - The Tigahs have a brutal stretch from Week 4-8, so I've got them dropping one even though they are probably better than all the teams they play.
3. Texas A&M, 10-2 (6-2) - If Manziel plays I see them getting to 10 wins. The Bama game will be really tough though, and I don't give them much of a shot at Death Valley.
4. Mississippi State, 8-4 (4-4) - I don't see State beating both Oklahoma State and Auburn, or losing both either, so I went with a win over OSU. The Arkansas game was a tough call, but I gave the Dawgs the benefit of the doubt.
5. Ole Miss, 6-6 (3-5) - The first 7 games are so tough, it will be tough to get out better than 2-5.
6. Auburn, 6-6 (2-6) - They will be much better this year, lots of close games.
7. Arkansas, 3-9 (0-8) - I can't believe this is what I'm coming up with for the Hogs, but I am.
SEC Champ: South Carolina - just because I don't want Bama to win yet again.
1. South Carolina, 11-1 (7-1) - I think the Gamecocks get back to Atlanta. Their schedule sets up a little better this year as Arkansas appears to be down and that's a game they always struggle in. This isn't a spectacular team, but they are solid and have been used to winning.
2. Florida, 10-2 (6-2) - The Gators are good once again, although I think they take a slight step down on defense, with a slight uptick on offense. They win the world's largest outdoor cocktail party (because jawja ain't winnin' 3 in a row) giving them the tie-breaker for 2nd place.
3. Georgia, 10-2 (6-2) - UGA has done to them what they did to USC the last two years - win that matchup only to go on to lose two conference games and be overtaken in the standings. The schedule is much more difficult this year.
4. Tennessee, 7-5 (4-4) - The Vols aren't back yet, just back to a bowl game. That game at Oregon is no good but the schedule isn't terribly difficult.
5. Vanderbilt, 7-5 (3-5) - Not really a step down. I think they win the opener vs. OM and go on to another solid season.
6. Missouri, 5-7 (1-7) - There is a good possibility they will upset one of the east teams this year, and maybe even OM who they have a off week to prepare for, but I can't pull the trigger on one. Gary Pinkel gets fired after the season.
7. Kentucky, 3-9 (0-8) - Plenty of excitement, not enough guns in Lexington.
WEST
1. Alabama, 12-0 (8-0) - The 2-time defending national champs have been given a cake walk to an undefeated season.
2. LSU, 10-2 (6-2) - The Tigahs have a brutal stretch from Week 4-8, so I've got them dropping one even though they are probably better than all the teams they play.
3. Texas A&M, 10-2 (6-2) - If Manziel plays I see them getting to 10 wins. The Bama game will be really tough though, and I don't give them much of a shot at Death Valley.
4. Mississippi State, 8-4 (4-4) - I don't see State beating both Oklahoma State and Auburn, or losing both either, so I went with a win over OSU. The Arkansas game was a tough call, but I gave the Dawgs the benefit of the doubt.
5. Ole Miss, 6-6 (3-5) - The first 7 games are so tough, it will be tough to get out better than 2-5.
6. Auburn, 6-6 (2-6) - They will be much better this year, lots of close games.
7. Arkansas, 3-9 (0-8) - I can't believe this is what I'm coming up with for the Hogs, but I am.
SEC Champ: South Carolina - just because I don't want Bama to win yet again.
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