I was going to make some ham and cheese sliders. Certainly I didn’t need a whole ham and I’m not crazy about the sliced, preserved ham in packages. I saw a pack of ham from Kentucky Legend, neatly sliced, but it was about ten bucks, more than I wanted or needed. Then, I came across a package of Spiral Ham Pieces and Slices from Farmland. It was just $2.67 a pound, so I bought a small … [Read more...]
Steam ‘em or Go Home
One of my least favorite thing to do in the kitchen is to boil and peel eggs. It’s no big deal if you’re going to chop up the eggs for egg salad, though those chiseled yellow and white blobs are a little grotesque. But if you’re trying to do deviled eggs that need to appear presentable, that can be tough. I have heard dozens of secret tricks to make sure hard-boiled eggs come out more or less … [Read more...]
Front Pocket Wallets
For Christmas this year, Nancy gave me a new billfold. It’s supposed to fit in your front pocket. It’s thinner than a cell phone, nice and compact, and it indeed fits in a front pocket. But how in the world was I supposed to put all my stuff in that tiny wallet? My current wallet is much like that of George Costanza on Seinfeld. It has more stuff inside than a sixth grader’s school backpack. … [Read more...]
Nice and Juicy
Capt. Steve Chaconas of National Bass Guide Service says that if you want to increase your odds of catching fish in cold water, give ‘em a little juice. Juice as in Jack’s Juice. Jack’s Juice has been around for quite a while. Virginian Woo Daves helped put them on the map by winning the 2004 New York Citgo Bassmaster Northern Open. Woo was a strong believer in using scents and believes they can … [Read more...]
Mauna Loa For Christmas Gifts
Looking for a great Christmas gift for that person who has everything, or for someone you’re not quite sure what to give? May I suggest some goodies from Mauna Loa? Last spring when Nancy and I went on a cruise to Hawaii, we stopped at a macadamia plantation, Mauna Loa, where we were able to tour a massive macadamia operation, one of Hawaii’s key exports, and we also stopped by the company … [Read more...]
Koss Sauce for Roast Beef – Wow!
Earlier this year, Sherman Shifflett from Louisa sent me a bottle of Koss BBQ Sauce. Sherman’s friend, John Koss, had begun production of his own creation, Koss Sauce. I tried some on some ribs and it was very good, not gooey sweet like most store-bought sauces. However, a week ago, I did an eye of round roast and sliced it thinly for sandwich leftovers. I had a couple packets of … [Read more...]
Egglettes? They Work
I like an occasional hard-boiled egg in a tossed salad and I dearly love deviled eggs. What I do not love is trying to get a hard-boiled egg out of the shell in something resembling one piece. Not long ago I had hard-boiled a dozen eggs and set about the task of shell removal. One of the eggs – a unique talking egg – said there was no way in hell he was coming out without a … [Read more...]
Neat Stuff: SkRaprs
A year or so ago we remodeled our kitchen and bought new appliances. We wanted them white to match the cabinets. I also insisted on a ceramic stovetop to replace the outdated burner tops. Bad move. As we would quickly discover, white ceramic stovetops show everything – black, ugly marks appeared if the heat got even a little high and it was a pain to scrub and clean the tops – my job, since … [Read more...]
Other Things To Do
The Outer Banks is pirate country and the site of the Lost Colony. Thus, there is lots of history and places to visit and a trip to the NC Aquarium at Manteo is always a family favorite. The aquarium tanks hold hundreds of species of fresh and saltwater fish – plus a fan favorite, a pair of frolicking otters. It’s a nice place to visit on a rainy day. The historic town of Manteo is another popular … [Read more...]
A Return To Bamboo
I caught my first fish on a cane pole. It was a 10-foot stalk of ordinary bamboo that had been aged on the side of a tobacco barn. At the tip of the rod, my great aunt, Sister Wall, had attached about 15 feet of ten-pound test, a cork bobber, two split shot and a size 6, long shanked hook. This simple piece of equipment was a fishing machine. The reason? For children, especially, it’s much … [Read more...]