I was born in Raleigh, NC and I was raised on country ham. Often, country ham or fat back was the only meat on the table. Sometimes Uncle Sidney would come back from the coast with a bushel of oysters – he tonged them himself - and sometimes we’d have a roasting hen for Sunday dinner, but it was often country ham. Eastern North Carolina was hog country. Many families in the country or outskirts … [Read more...]

One drawback of being a high handicap golfer such as yours truly is the propensity to spend lots of time in the high grass and along wood edges looking for wayward balls. Two weeks ago, I was doing just that when my left forearm came in contact with a three-leaf monster called poison ivy. I usually don’t get poison ivy, or if I do it’s a mild case. But I had been scratching at that arm for several … [Read more...]

Many do not know that I have a medical degree from Duke University (total BS). The reason I am not practicing today is that right after I became a doctor, I developed a unique patch, which helped people who had stopped smoking to start back up again. The tobacco companies thought it was a great idea, but my fellow docs kicked me out of the profession. Jealous of my ingenuity, I … [Read more...]

Nancy and I are blessed with a sprawling, tree-shaded patio in our backyard. Since the grass wouldn’t grow among all the tree roots, we poured concrete and created a nice outdoor room, which we thoroughly enjoy. But! Here comes summer and 90 degree weather, which makes sitting outside – even in the shade – not so enjoyable. Last Christmas, Nancy had the good sense to put an outdoor fan on … [Read more...]

  Not all ocean liners offer smooth sailing. The first cruise we took in the Bahamas was non-eventful as far as rocking and swaying. You really couldn’t tell you were on a boat at sea. But when you go to Hawaii in the winter season – now – the winds and seas are against you. Our ship, Pride of America, sent pedestrian passengers bouncing off the walls as they approached their rooms. It was … [Read more...]

  I went to my local fishmonger, Whole Foods, this week. They haven’t had flounder in a while and I was looking for alternatives. The clerk recommend a fish called Plaice (pronounced place) and said it was very much like flounder, so I bought 4 filets. It was fresh, not previously frozen, I fried it up and it was as good as advertised. Delicious. They catch Plaice off the coast of … [Read more...]

John Koss has been in the sauce again. Actually, he’s into the sauce every day. That’s what John does. He makes Koss Sauce, a barbeque sauce, and it’s quite good. I find that most barbeque sauces at the store taste exactly the same. They are all super sweet and heavy. I’m not crazy about sweet sauces on roast pork for a barbeque sandwich. I like vinegar and pepper sauces for that. But I enjoy a … [Read more...]

Hams make a great Christmas gift, and there will be lots of them exchanged later this month - Kite Hams, Turner Hams, Smithfield and the like. But the best ham of all in my opinion, and the most reasonably priced, is a Gayle’s Ham. I wouldn’t trade a Gayle for any of the above. I discovered Gayle’s Hams a number of years ago in my travels to and from the Harrisonburg area. Gayle’s Market is a … [Read more...]

I have always been a little leery of Omaha Steaks. If you get on their mailing list, they will pester you to death to buy their products. Sure, their steaks are good, but it always seemed like a bait-and-switch deal, buy a few steaks and they toss in all the cheap stuff. Well, I changed my mind. What I thought was the “cheap stuff” turned out to be the best of all. For Fathers Day, my son … [Read more...]

  Is there anything that smells more delightful than a big pot of green beans cooking on a stove? Hardly. But I think I have happened upon the best seasoning ever for green beans. String beans are good with just a little salt and pepper, but a splash of bacon grease or a slab of fat back makes the flavors come alive. Still, both those seasonings can be a little greasy and sometimes … [Read more...]