Many Boomers lived in an era call BT. Before television. In the late 40’s and early 50’s, there were only a handful of TVs in the entire United States. I think the White House had one, and maybe Clark Gable, and that was about it. My family had a Philco radio. It was the center of our family and social life. We kept the radio in the kitchen so Mom could listen while she was fixing meals … [Read more...]
Goose Parmesan
I am a hunter, and I have always believed that if you kill a bird or an animal, you should eat it. Most of the game I have harvested through the years has been delicious – birds such as quail, pheasant, ducks, grouse and doves are delightful; likewise, venison, rabbits, squirrels and bear. Geese, though, are not among my favorites, yet I really enjoy a spirited goose hunt. Some of my … [Read more...]
Rivers Beginning to clear
So far this year, the James, Shenandoah and much of the New River have been simply unfishable. If it hasn’t been dumping 2-inches of rain in a day, it has been blowing hard, creating difficult conditions. The coming weekend (barring unexpected downpours) will likely offer the best fishing of the year. It’s the first of May, the smallmouth are ready to spawn and they are hungry. The water will … [Read more...]
Pasta Made Perfect
When Americans think of pasta, spaghetti with meat sauce and lasagna come to mind. That’s pasta, right? Some sort of noodles smothered in meat, cheese and sauce? That’s not what Italians think of when it comes to pasta. To an Italian, pasta is itself the focal point and the sauce is merely that - a sauce or compliment to the succulent pasta. In Italy, pasta is an entrée, served as an entire … [Read more...]
Cool, Clear Water
I went on a mini vacation last week. Four days of food and fun, along with multiple adult beverages. I was with my 4 amigos on our semi-annual retreat from reality. When I returned, the bathroom scales added 4 1/2 pounds to my person. It was time to get back to a healthy lifestyle and lose those dreaded pounds, but no crash diet for me. I have found ways to eat like a champ and still lose weight. … [Read more...]
Turkey Burgers! Yumm!
I went on a mini vacation last week. Four days of food and fun, along with multiple adult beverages. I was with my 4 amigos on our semi-annual retreat from reality. When I returned, the bathroom scales added 4 1/2 pounds to my person. It was time to get back to a healthy lifestyle and lose those dreaded pounds, but no crash diet for me. I have found ways to eat like a champ and still lose weight. … [Read more...]
Quick and Tasty Catfish Chunks
Catfish is one of my favorite occupants on a dinner plate. Fresh catfish is mild and sweet and goes down mighty easy with a dollop of tartar sauce. I catch catfish from time to time, and if they are 14-inches or better, and less than 5 pounds, I’ll skin them and fry them for dinner. I’m leery of larger catfish. If there are any contaminants in a body of water, the larger catfish are more likely to … [Read more...]
A West Point Getaway
Need a saltwater fix? If you’re in Central Virginia, the closest place is West Point, which happens to be one of my favorite places to catch croakers. A West Point getaway? Why not? It turns out that West Point is ideal as a home base for those who like to catch a few fish, see some beautiful countryside and enjoy some terrific food. West Pont is located on Route 33, about a dozen miles east … [Read more...]
Spatchcock Chicken
We eat a lot of chicken at my house—it’s cheap, versatile and good for you. But we are dark meat people—legs for me, thighs for my beloved and we’ll both choose a back over everything when available. We OD’ed on white meat with the creation of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. They were convenient, but you really had to do something special to them to make them taste good. Our kids prefer the … [Read more...]
Cooking The Perfect Hamburger
Anybody can cook a hamburger. Take a piece of ground meat, throw it on a grill, put it in under the broiler or on a griddle and cook away. When done, top it off with your favorite combination of condiments and you’ve got yourself a hamburger. If you’re totally satisfied with your burgers, read no further. But if you’d like to serve what I believe is the perfect hamburger at your next cookout, … [Read more...]