Sunday, December 12, 2010

Joe Cooks a Meal

The weather here is currently pretty crappy. This wasn't the most pleasant grilling experience I've ever had. Luckily skirt steak only takes minutes to cook.

I started this meal by marinating skirt steak in a mixture of EVOO, sea salt, fresh ground pepper, and finely ground herbs de provence overnight:





I prepared the ravioli filling using pecan-smoked blue cheese, grated parmigiano reggiano, whole milk ricotta, and marscapone:

( I added some Lobster to some.)




I prepped the pasta dough using semolina flour:




Rolled out the dough and started forming the ravioli:





I stuck them in the freezer to firm up, while I started boiling some water and prepping the Weber.

I grilled up the skirt steak:



Boiling the ravioli:



Started browning some hickory smoked butter:



Dinner is served:
Grilled skirt steak and 4-cheese smoked ravioli, topped with smoked brown butter sauce, beef bacon bits, and freshly grated parmigiano reggiano:





The steak and the ravioli complimented each other perfectly. Excellent meal.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Joe gets a Neti Pot

I don’t know why I’ve been cursed with chronic sinus issue. I didn’t kick dogs as a child. I didn’t do drugs as a teenager. I stopped pushing senior citizens out into traffic weeks ago.

It doesn’t seem fair.

Usually I just drug myself into oblivion when I have sinus issues. I really do sort of have myself convinced that Nyquil is the ALL purpose medication. I drink it straight from the bottle. I have no use for that little plastic cup they keep insisting shows me the correct dosage.

Now, the only problem with my Nyquil addiction is this pesky need to be alert and upright for the majority of the day. Despite my best efforts to persuade my employer, I cannot pass out in my office and still keep my job. So I need alternative remedies.

Over the counter medications do nothing. Literally, no relief. The doctor isn’t much help either because he just wants to prescribe me an $80 nasal spray that doesn’t do anything except deplete my Little Debbie fund.

And we all know that’s not ok.

So in desperation, I bought this:

The “Neti Pot.”

As disconcerted as I am about the entire process and by the fact that no real drugs are involved, I give the neti pot two nostrils up. I wouldn’t say I feel 100%, but it doesn’t hurt to be alive anymore. I’ll take it.

And next time I’ll make sure none of the dogs are with me in the bathroom while I’m doing it. It’s sort of awkward when they try to drink from the stream that’s flowing from one of your nostrils. And by awkward, I mean completely disgusting.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Reasonings

Everything happens for a reason. maybe you don’t see the reason right now, but when it is fully revealed, it will blow you away.

Reasons happen for everything. You are here because this is where you belong. Right here, Right now.

I recall hearing a story about a girl who was fired from a major holding company and she was so furious that security had to escort her out of the building. That next day, sitting in her living room, eating breakfast, she watched the news as the two planes crashed into the World Trade Twin Towers in NYC. She had worked in the second tower…

Life is simple, yet so complex. Yesterday is a memory. Tomorrow is the future. Today is what you should be living. Live in the moment and be content with what is in front of you. We all want more and we want it now. Patience is possibly the hardest thing in our day-to-day lives. I know it is for me.

We all say it, “we are living for tomorrow.” What a stupid statement.

Now is the only time that makes sense to live. Yes, we can all plan for tomorrow, but both you and I know that plans change. Life can be one big interrupter to our plans. That’s when life sucks and is disappointing. But, who did that? You did. You made plans for tomorrow instead of living in the moment. I am thoroughly convinced that people who plan for the future are not happy with their lives. Young, old, rich, poor, we all do it.

We all meet people everyday, and some are subtle reminders and others make an impact that change us forever. What was the reason we met those individuals? We may not know exactly the reasoning at that very moment, but time tells everything. Stay focused and stay with it, and it will be revealed. Maybe a great friend is in store or the love of your life. Whatever it may be, live in it.

Everything does happen for a reason.