Bacon, Brass and Buddies - Brigid's Bachelor Cooking

You don't have to be single to appreciate "Bachelor cooking", those things that can be made with simple ingredients and a well stocked spice cupboard.

Getting a hold of an easy meal doesn't have to involve anything frozen, a pizza or a clown. If you are cooking for 1, 2 or a unexpected crowd hungry from some time at the range, this can be on the table in no time and won't break the bank.

With a few leftovers and some inexpensive cheese picked up at Aldi on the way home, this was in the oven in about 15 minutes and on the table in another 25.  And it got a BIG thumbs up from the Rangehands even if it wasn't chock full of cow.  So wash off the GSR,  pair it with salad and an adult beverage and it's good enough for company.

It tastes just like lasagna, but with a porky kick and the outside of the bun crisps just right in the oven, while the middle stays all soft and pairs perfectly with the cheese and sauce.

The "Porkinator" - Sausage  Lasagna in a bun (easily cuts in half or doubles)

1/3 of a jar of store bought pasta sauce (roughly 1 and 1/4 cups)
1/2 of a roll of Jimmy Deans SPICY breakfast sausage (sage flavor would also work)
1 heaping teaspoon chopped garlic (fill that puppy up)
a slice  or two (ahem) of chopped bacon

Mmmm.  Bacon.  You you need a couple slices for the recipe, eat any extra.

Cook meat and drain fat:

stir into sauce and add:
1/2 tsp oregano
a shake of crushed red pepper (OK I used 3 or 4 but we like spicy)
3 dashes of Jane's Krazy Mixed Up Salt (or your favorite mixed salt)

Simmer just until it's bubbling

While the sauce  heats up, in a bowl mix:

1 cup grated mozzarella
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup  Parmesan

Set aside about 1/2 cup of that mixture

To shredded cheese add:
1 cup of ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon of egg (white and yolk mixed up and measured out, save rest for breakfast)
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1'2  teaspoon dried parsley
a pinch of cayenne
Mix well.

Get six bratwurst or other larger sized sandwich rolls and scoop out the middle third (save that for meatloaf later), leaving enough at the bottom it holds together, like a sub-shaped bread bowl.

Place a big spoonful of meat sauce inside, top with a couple spoonful's of the cheese mixture, leaving a little open space for the sauce to bubble up through.

Cook in 350 F. oven, covered lightly with foil for 20 minutes.  Remove foil, sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake another 4-6 minutes, until cheese on top melts.

That's it.  No time at all in the kitchen.

For when squirrels gather, they have more important things to do.

Hot- Like a Cow on Fire!

For Secret Squirrels or any other kind (yes, some of you are going to get the reference) this is a great spicy stir fry that uses an inexpensive small bit of round steak, and will provide a meal that will match any dinner at a Thai or Chinese place (and you don't have to tip!)

• Cow on Fire Stir Fry

If you are prone to fainting, heatstroke or Victorian "the vapors", please reduce the crushed red pepper by half or if you are Midwest Chick, double it. Peas are optional , Old NFO :-)

 - Brigid

Steampunked - ePostal Match Time

It's time for the June ePostal Shoot Out, which originated over at Mr. Completely 's blog. You can visit his site for the history of this fun event, but Partner in Grime has a target created for the June event, and our household will be tabulating the scores to see who wins bragging rights while Mr. C. is on the mend from some surgery.

I've done them before and they are a blast.  The one below involved  hitting anything BUT the flies, which was a lot of fun, especially with the use of Mr. B's Ruger 10-22.

Partner in Grime was trying to come up with a target for the June event, and finally just put some gears on it and called it "Steampunk!" (click on the picture below to download or print out the target).

Then I had a new camera, so pictures were in order.

Scoring: Each shot counts once as the highest zone touched. 10 bonus points for scoring on all 4 gears.

Looks like fun but it's not just shooting at the gears.   The points (also marked on the target) stack up like this.  You get 10 points for hitting a key, 9 points for hitting a shaft, 7 points for hitting a tooth, and 3 points for hitting anywhere else on the gear.   You get 10 shots at 10 yards (standing unsupported) which you can aim anywhere you please. However, if any of you are thinking about skipping that troublesome partial gear on the left, we'll throw in an extra 10 bonus points on any target where you score points on ALL FOUR GEARS. Each shot scores only once so this gives a (highly unlikely) perfect score of 110 points.

Details:

Target size: 8.5x11

Range:  10 yards (or as close as possible at your range)

Number of shots: 10

Position: Standing unsupported

Time limit: None

Scoring: Each shot counts once as the highest zone touched. 10 bonus points for scoring on all 4 gears.

Classes:

1 – Iron sight rimfire
2 – Iron sight centerfire
3 – Optical sight rimfire
4 – Optical sight centerfire
5 – Open class: Anything else.

Pistol or rifle are both welcome. If is unusual then shoot a target and send it in.  Send a picture too…if you and your gun look “steampunk enough” you will get extra points out of it!

Email scans or photos to engineeringjohnsonatgmaildotcom by the end of June.

Barkley Memories - Chances are Remote

Mom, he better not be messing up my TIVO of Animal Planet!

I rarely watch TV shows, with the exception of NCIS,  Dr. Who and the occassional Top Gear and Mythbusters.  Frankly, I'd rather have a root canal than watch most of the reality shows out there(though I did enjoy the few episodes of Deadliest Catch that I caught).  Besides, I have a collection of classic sci fi, westerns and a few old horror flicks at the crash pad in case I'm on call and don't feel like starting a book (page 50 into a engaging read  is usually the first sign that the bat phone will ring).

In looking at some of the Reality shows out there lately,  it dawned on me that I could likely replace any of these shows with some of the old classics and no one would be the wiser.

Here's some that's been on TV in the not so distant past and what you could replace them with: 

Jersey Shore - The Horror of Party Beach
Real Housewives of Orange County - Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death
Piers Morgan - Buckaroo Bonzai, Across The Eighth Dimension.
Amish in the City - Children of the Corn
Ice Road Truckers - Mad Max 2, Road Warriors
The Real Housewives of New Jersey - Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Jon and Kate Plus 8 - Village of the Damned
Sister Wives - Stepford Wives
Kim and Khloe Take Miami -Killer Klowns From Outer Space
The Bachelor -  I married a Monster from Outer Space
Teen Mom - I Know What You Did Last Summer
Fear Factor - Alien

Hey, seriously, Animal Planet is on.

News Flash

Today was a good day. The Book of Barkley has finished the copy editing process and tomorrow will go to production. It's finally happening, to be in bookstores and online and e-book apps by early summer.

Even better, a box arrived in the mail for me.  I'd been wanting a fancier camera for some time.  I was so happy that my friend Keads gave me his little point and shoot when my little $80 camera died, it was so much better than what I had and he'd taken really good pictures with it.  But I'd got to play with my friend M's Canon EOS 7D and just loved it (it takes some dandy air show pictures).  But I just didn't want to spend the money as Dad's care is my responsibility and keeping him in his own home as he wishes, with a nurse, adds up, even with some insurance coverage. I am a firm believer that "savings" is for necessities in an emergency, not "wants", so I wasn't going to buy one for a while.

So I just pointed and clicked and would raise and eyebrow at Partner and say, "I wonder what I could do with the BIG camera". (Gentlemen, that's known as a  whack on the head with a "clue by four")

Today I will find out. But I have to say, I have the best husband in the world (even though when he proofed the Book of Barkley he grinned and said "needs more car chases and explosions :-)

I haven't even learned the settings yet and I'm loving it already.  (camera shy dog meet long range lens!) I took a few test shots before night set in, just to see what it could do with various textures and lights.  

You know, life deals you some blows, but when you have something to look forward to, it makes all the difference in the world.
-Brigid

Fifty Shades of Black - Morning at the Range

Morning comes early at the Range most days. But I love to watch the sun come in the many windows, the shine of it on all the wood around the house, as from downstairs coffee is ground on a 100 year old grinder. Everything here was either a beloved family piece or rescued by a curb or free on Craigslist and re-crafted. I've done the "buy a house full of furniture", spending thousands only to find even the "good" furniture store stuff was made of termite poop and Elmer's glue and started looking crummy in just a few short years.  I  don't care to do that again. I kept a couple room fulls for the crash pad, everything else was donated to AmVets. 

What we have is old, but it's well built and/or rebuilt, and even better, just about free. We've got a once beautiful hardwood Mission sofa being refinished. It had been a beautiful piece of furniture, but had seen several small children with the associated scratches and wear. It just  needed refinishing and re-cushioning and was had for a 12-pack of beer.  In it's place  for now, Partner's old Ikia couch frame from post college apartment with some quick cushions made up with yards of fabric and some foam and a bit of sewing.  It's not ideal, but it will function as a couch until the Mission frame is done and these cushions can be upgraded to custom fit it.  Provided I can keep the suede type fabric looking  nice.

Like the crafty chameleon,
 I have assumed the color of my background. 

 So why are you looking at me?

Driving Miss Abby - Dog Physics

You would think it would be just a simple drive. . . .

After almost two weeks at the crash pad, Partner coming on down last weekend so she could get used to one place a bit before uprooting yet again, it was time to take Abby home to the Range.

One of the traits I looked at, when picking a dog to adopt was "rides well in the car" as, like Barkley, she will commute with me.  The drive is several times a month and it's long, but we often see some really interesting things.  Like today, this "weekend woody" camper. 

I decided to leave in the morning, I was really tired from a long week and there was thunder and hail going strong as I left work.  I also I thought she'd be more relaxed driving in the early morning when she's still a little sleepy. We'd made a few short drives this last week and she took well to the harness system that allows her to sit and lay down in the back, but not move forward or turning into missile dog, in the event of the accident.  Saturday morning dawned with good weather, everything was packed up, this should be a breeze.

Until I got up to find her with her head in the food bowl, not the little one but the BIG one, the plastic container that holds 40 pounds  Apparently Miss Abby figured out that if Mom doesn't latch the top down tight, she can snoot the top up and have herself a little snack.

And she did, on top of her regular food.  There wasn't that much missing, and her belly wasn't hard, so I figured she'd be full but OK.

Until I got out of the shower to find out she'd barfed on the only really expensive rug in the house. swore Barkley was somehow up in doggie heaven giving her pointers.

I got that cleaned up, and took her out to potty, but she really did't have to go, so we loaded up. I knew she was a little nervous as we loaded up, as the last time she made a long trip, she ended up in another strange place with very kind, but new people.  After several months in a shelter being treated for heartworm, that had to have been scary for her.

So I kept  my eye on her. Having owned a couple labs in my life, I know about the effects of overeating, mainly, dogrrhea. But she seemed just fine when we left the crash pad.

But as we hit every pothole on I-65 North, she started to get a little restless (attention State of Indiana, driving the right lane on the stretch between Indy and Lafayette is like driving on a pinball machine, and that first rest stop north of town has fissures in the pavement that have likely swallowed a Smart car).

Abby had been happily sleeping when suddenly she sat up, maneuvered and let loose an explosive spray from her back end that would have done a demolition team proud. 

I didn't think a little dog could hold that much.

We got off the road at a looming rest stop. I didn't scold her, she couldn't help it, but patted her and got her cleaned up as best I could (thank you paper towels and a garbage bag in the emergency road kit).  Then, I wiped down the seat and the floor (most of it hitting the floor and the back of my seat).  I then went into the rest rooms to get cleaned up. One woman wrinkled her nose at the smell (my jacket sleeve got it bad) and I just said "you should have seen the other guy!"

I called Partner and told him I'd be a little late. We took another walk, making sure she was completely empty before getting her some fresh water and a blanket. From there, she was all happy, no further discomfort though for the rest of the drive, though I was seriously tempted to stick my ear plugs up my nose, having left the Vick's in my ready bag.

We made our usual stop at I-65 Exit 240 (Lowell/Hebron) at the clean and friendly Arby's that's next door to a very nice Super 8 (even if I don't want a bite to eat, I'll stop there for a friendly hello and a coffee). By that time the truck had aired out, and she was definitely feeling better.

What is that? I smell cow  I love cow.  You gave me some last weekend.

It is! It's a bag of cow!  And it comes with some Cow Jus to dip the sandwich in.

Has anyone told you that large quantities of cow can restore an electrolyte imbalance caused by dogrrhea?

She didn't buy that line of bull.  I guess I'll just go back to sleep.

We're near the state line, you can tell by the cars.  Do you want to take a bet how good THAT is to drive during lake effect snow up here (don't drive that after Labor Day).

And what is this?  I think it's the "Red Green U-Haul, now with improved Duct Tape!

As I rolled into the drive, I knew Partner would be waiting for me with open arms.

And apparently a whole bunch of cleaning supplies.

 Still it was great to be home.

 Look Abby, Dad made you a paracord slip leash in U of I colors!

How about you two go for a long walk while I take a spray hose to the inside of the truck?

Happily coming up the steps inside, she settled right into the house, probably smelling us both there, and finding her favorite toy on the rug when she came inside to home, tail wagging furiously.

It's good to have a Lab back in the house, trying out every single comfy place to lay.  I can almost hear Barkley up above saying "Way to Go Agent Canine C-4, way to go".

Brigid

For Those of You Who Love Their Shop- A Thought

In watching what little of the Winter Olympics I saw, I was somewhat saddened that they didn't have a Nordic Putter event.
 - Brigid

Forget Simonized - It's Baconized!

 

When you've got something on your shelf called Molasses Bacon seasoning, you pretty much HAVE to baconize something, especially when two of the key ingredients are not bacon flavoring, or bacon like essence, but cooked bacon and bacon fat! 

Baconized Honey Mustard Chicken.

I can't really think of what else to call the recipe.  I'm not a fan of honey mustard (I just flat out hate the taste of mustard) but Partner loves it so I made some for him   It have to admit, it was good to the point that I ate a couple pieces as well.

It starts with a standard Honey Mustard recipe.  From there, it veers off the road, through the bushes, and down a whole other lane.

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Combine:
1/2  cup plus 2 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary
a pinch or two of cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon McCormick Grill Mates Molasses Bacon seasoning (if you don't have, finely chop 2 teaspoons of cooked, fatty, smoked bacon and a dash of onion and garlic powder and add to the other ingredients).

Line a 9 x 9 or 10 x 10 shallow pan with foil.  Place chicken pieces on top and pour sauce over the top and sprinkle with black pepper.  Bake in 450 F. for 30 minutes, basting sauce over the chicken at least once with a spoon.  When the 30 minutes is up, baste again and lower heat to 350 F. and cook another 8-10 minutes. My oven may cook warmer than yours, and chicken pieces can vary in size, so before you critique the cooking times, or burn your bird, I'd suggest getting a meat thermometer, that's the best method for perfect chicken. You're looking for 165 F., in the deep part of the meat near the bone, if it's not boneless)

I served it with pasta tossed with caramelized onion and garlic with broccoli, topped  with a little Parmesan plus a side of  Buttermilk Muffins.  

The Darker the Night - Photo of the Week

“The darker the night, the brighter the stars, 

 

The deeper the grief, the closer is God!” 
 

― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment