calvin and hobbes

By far my favorite comic is/was calvin and hobbes. I realise that the creator, Bill Waterston, discontinued the strip in 1995, but I still get it emailed everyday.

Here is my favorite:

The juxtaposition of modern fighter planes with prehistoric dinosaurs is brilliant! I laugh every time I see it. Only the mind of a child could come up with that... wait... or Waterston!

One of the best parts of calvin and hobbes to me is the unclear nature of Hobbes. Is he just a stuffed animal and a product of Calvin's imagination? Or, as in the play/movie Harvey, is Hobbes' true (supernatural) nature only seen by Calvin? I favor the latter. In rare interviews, Waterston has been vague on the subject... which I appreciate.

Art, as in humor, loses something special if explained...

Red Iguana Mole Verde

HOW TO SERVE MOLE:
This mole can be served with any mexican-style meat such as carne asada and carnitas.  It can also be used to smother burritos and enchiladas. You could even just eat it plain or with some chips like a chip and dip.

Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 5 cups

Ingredients:
3 fresh Chile Poblano
1 Jalapeno
1/2 cup Sesame Seeds
1/3 cup Pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1 cup fresh Basil, loosely packed
1 Onion
6 leaves Romaine Lettuce
1/2 Zucchini
1 Avocado, pitted
1/2 cup Chicken Broth

Instructions:

1. Roast the poblanos and jalapeno over an open flame (if you have a gas stove or a grill) or under a broiler until the skin is blackened and beginning to separate from the flesh.  Once blackened on all sides, put in a plastic bag and set aside.  This will allow the skins to easily be peeled off.
2. Toast sesame seeds in a large skillet over medium heat until golden, stirring occasionally.  This will take 5-10 minutes.
3. Add in pepitas and continue toasting until the pepitas start to pop, about 2 minutes.
4. Add in the basil, onion, lettuce, zucchini, avocado, and chicken broth.
5. Blend until smooth.

Margaret's Squash Casserole Recipe

Ingredients:
Yellow Squash, 2 lbs cut course
Onions, 2 medium cut fine
Stuffing, Pepperidge Herb 1 pkg
Cream of Chicken Soup, 1 can
Sour Cream, Lg Carton
Water Chestnuts, 2 cans diced
Butter, 2 sticks
Cheese, Extra Sharp Cheddar 2 cups

Directions:
Cut & Cook squash, onions, and water chectnuts until tender.
Lightly Mash and Drain, but leave chunky.
Mix in Cream of Chicken Soup, Sour Cream, 1 cup cheese.
Season to taste (Salt, White Pepper, Garlic powder)
(This can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until needed)

Melt 2 sticks of butter, Pour over bread crumbs and stir.
Line dish with 1/2 bread crumbs.
Pour mix over bread crumbs.
Put remaining bread crumbs on top.
Sprinkle 1 cup cheese on top.
Bake at 350 degrees in over for 60 minutes (golden brown on top)

Greek Avgolemono Soup Recipe

Avgolemono, pronounced ah-vo-le-mo-no, refers to the tasty Greek sauce from which this chicken soup gets its name.
Avgolemono sauce is a silky and fragrant sauce made of eggs, lots of lemon, and warm broth.

Ingredients
4 cups Chicken broth
1/4 cup uncooked Orzo pasta
Salt and pepper to taste
3 eggs
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 pulled chicken (optional)
Makes 4 servings

1. In a large saucepan, bring the broth to a boil.
2. Add the Orzo pasta and cook until tender but still al dente, about 7 minutes.  Season with the salt and pepper and reduce heat to low; simmer.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and lemon juice until smooth.
4. Ladle about 1 cup of the hot broth into the egg-and-lemon mixture, then whisk to combine.
5. Add the mixture back to the simmering saucepan. Stir just until the soup becomes opaque and thickens as the eggs cook, 1 to 2 minutes.

Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

Sausage Bolognese Sauce

Ingredients:
6 qt Crockpot
4-5 lbs Ground Mild Italian Sausage or Ground Beef
54 oz Tomato Paste
29 oz Tomato Puree
1 lb Cherry Tomatoes
2 Onions, large
2 Bell Peppers
2 cups Red Wine
1 cup Olive Oil
1/2 cup Worcestershire
1/2 cup Red Wine Vinegar
4 cloves Garlic
4 tbl Oregano
4 tbl Basil
1 tbl Pepper
Salt

Directions:

1. Brown and drain the Sausage.
2. Dice the Onions, Peppers, and Herbs (if fresh).
3. Add everything except the Wine, Cherry Tomatoes, and Salt to crock and stir.
4. Add enough Red Wine (or water) to fill crock, then stir.
5. Cook 8 hours on low.

1 hour before cooking is finished:

1. Add Cherry Tomatoes cut in half
2. Add salt to taste
3. If too sweet add more vinegar (sour) and/or Worcestershire (bold) to taste.

Serve over Pasta with Parmesian Cheese.

White Bean Chicken Chili Recipe

Ingredients:
8 cans White Beans (Goya Cannellini), rinsed and drained
6 cups Chicken Broth
6 pounds pulled Chicken Breasts, diced
3 diced Poblano Peppers
2 medium Spanish Onions, chopped
2 cloves Garlic, chopped
4 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoon Adobo
1 tablespoon dried Oregano
1 tablespoon White Pepper
2 tablespoon ground Cumin
1 teaspoon Anise
4 tablespoons Flour (if needed to thicken)
Fresh Cilantro (optional)
Sour Cream (optional)
Oyster Crackers (optional)

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in 6 qt. Crock Pot
Cook 6-8 hours
Add water as needed
Add Flour to thicken
Top with Cilantro, Sour Cream, and Oyster Crackers

Nonnie's Red BBQ Sauce Recipe

This is a BBQ Sauce tha my grandmother, Jerry Roberts, made.
Goes great on chicken and pork!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Ketchup
1/4 cup Water
6 tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
3 tablespoons EV Olive Oil
4 teaspoons Worcestershire
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt

Directions:
Bring to a boil and let cook for 3 minutes.
Let cool.
Bottle and refrigerate.
Gets better with age!

Baked Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

1 1/2 cups Elbow Macaroni or Cavatappi
3 tablespoons Butter
3 tablespoons All Purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 cups Whole Milk or 1/2-n-1/2
1/2 teaspoon Salt and White Pepper
1 cup melting cheese: Cream or Mascarpone or Monterey Jack or Swiss
2 cups of flavor cheese: Sharp Cheddar
Makes 6 servings

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil; add a generous sprinkling of salt the pasta.
• While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a pot large enough to hold the pasta.
• Add the flour and stir over medium heat until the mixture is lightly browned; 1-2 minutes.
• Add the milk and whisk to remove any lumps. Add the salt and pepper.
• Cook over medium-high heat until the sauce thickens and starts to bubble. About 6 minutes.
• Mix in Dijon mustard.
• Stir in 1 cup each of flavor and melting cheese. Whisk until smooth and melted. 
• Turn off the heat.
• When the pasta is almost done but still firm (undercook by 1 min), drain it.
• Stir the pasta into the sauce.
• Put in a greased 2 quart dish and cover with remaining flavor cheese
• Bake 20-25 minutes until browned and bubbly.

25 random things about Me

1. My first car was a 1972 Vega (used) that I drove until a wheel literally fell off.
2. My collage minor was Philosophy and I still love it.
3. I'm addicted to the History Channel and history in general, especially WWII European theater.
4. The most fun I've ever had was Snow Skiing.
5. I'm an Eagle Scout.
6. I was painfully bashful until my mid thirties.
7. My favorite music is Jazz for relaxing and Rock for driving. A good car stereo makes your car go 10 MPH faster!
8. I get anxious and depressed when I have nothing to look forward to (parties, vacations, Christmas, etc.)
9. At 7 I had my tonsils removed. In my early 20's I had an infection from my wisdom teeth extraction. In 2014 I had Triple Bypass surgery on my heart.
10. I have a Slinky™ on my desk that helps me think and relieves stress.
11. I HATE snakes; even dead ones.
12. I'd love to live in New Zealand, Fiji or Australia.
13. I once dressed in drag for a beauty contest. No, I didn't win 😛
14. My favorite thing to do is to hang out with friends "Just Talking".
15. I used to suffer terribly from depression and was medicated.  But now I'm great!
16. I like WWII era Pin-up girl art (no big surprise).
17. All my life I've suffered from Aeroacrophobia (Fear of open high places).  It's much better now!
18. I think the sexiest thing a woman can wear is a man's white dress shirt.
19. I hate eating out alone. When I must, I choose a Japanese Steak House where they put you at a table with other people.
20. I'm still 17 inside, just like every other (honest) man.
21. I love wrist watches, but rarely wear one... or any other jewelry.
22. I've actually witnessed a miracle healing.
23. The saddest thing to me is that we have lost the freedom to let our children freely roam the neighborhood.
24. I enjoy travel. I've been to Ecuador, England, France, Netherlands, and all over the USA.
25. God has blessed me with the most wonderful family and group of friends.  I often wonder what I did to deserve them and work hard to earn it in arrears.

Birthday Wishes

*UPDATE* This works for Christmas Too!

With my 56th birthday fast approaching (Nov. 10th), I started to put together my yearly birthday/Christmas list for "Geeks who are hard to buy for" (I know... don't end sentences in a preposition). See, I have a theory about presents... for the most part they should be frivolous... something you wouldn't normally buy for yourself because you might feel guilty about "wasting" money on something so pointless... (and that brings you so much joy).

Please don't think this blog post is a request to get me anything... but just in case... on to the list!

First is a really cool toy that I'll never get, but we can all dream!
It's a JetCat P-60 Gas Turbine Engine. It weighs slightly less than 2 pounds and produces 13 pounds of thrust with a maximum rotational speed of 165,000 RPM. It burns REAL jet fuel (like JohnEd's car) with a max consumption of 8 oz. per minute. With a pricetag around $2,495.00 I probably won't be getting one soon... much less 2, which would be needed for the A-10 Thunderbolt II replica I want to build. Imagine the look on the kids faces at our local R/C flyins!

Back to reality...

Next up is almost anything from ThinkGeek.com. Here one of my favs:


Star Trak Working Phaser. I had one of these as a kid, but it didn't really work... This one has lights and sound! Beam me up to the tree-house, Scotty!

Here's the rest of my ThinkGeek Wish List.



This is pretty cool too. It's air bubbles suspended in Lexan in the shape of DNA.

And last, but certainly not least is my Amazon Wish List Amazon Wish List with entries to fit any budget.

Project Management

Phantom of the Opera

Took the girls to see Phantom of the Opera today in Birmingham. What a great production! And the play still holds it's own even though it has that campy 70's sound in places.

Brazil Rocks!

My wife and best friends left today for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to spread a little Jesus with the natives. We're going to try using Skype to keep in touch while they're there.

Jealous? Nah! Have a Great Time!

* UPDATE * Skype works great and it's free!