Citrus Chicken Salad Sandwich

Yet another recipe from the latest family cook-off.

My sister Corinna mixed up this zesty chicken salad sammich' that was a surprise shorty after your first bite.

I am not the chicken salad type, but this will change your mind. Give it a try before the summer turns to Autumn, but come to think about it, it would be good then too.

Here's how to make it

Ingredients:

5 Cups cooked chicken breast, shredded

2 Stalks celery chopped fine

1/4 Cup red onion finely chopped

1 Handful chopped almonds

2 Tablespoons freshly chopped tarragon

1 Handful of dried cranberries

Dressing:

2 Tablespoons honey

Zest of one orange-'bout a tablespoon

Juice of one orange-about 2 tablespoons

1 Cup Mayo

1 Tablespoons poppy seeds

Salt and pepper to taste

Red leaf lettuce

Provolone cheese

Ciabatta rolls, sliced in half and some of the insides gutted.

Directions:

Mix first 6 ingredients in a bowl, in a separate bowl mix the dressing, add first bowl to second and mix to combine. Prepare lettuce and ciabatta rolls. Scoop ingredients onto roll and top with provolone and red leaf lettuce.

Enjoy ! Thanks Corinna.

G.I. JOE "Rise of Cobra"

G.I. JOE did not disappoint, watch unreleased trailer HERE to set the mood.

Everything was intact in this movie to make it a success. It included more that my required tri-fecta for an action movie;

1. Shit Blowin' Up

2. Chase Scene

3. Hot Women with guns

GI JOE kicked it up a knotch by adding the ultimate fighters "on planet Earth" . . . . Bad Ass Ninjas. One good, and one, evil pitted against each other many times in the movie for some serious, but not over done fighting. Snake-eyes even uses a pistol now and then when it gets a little too hairy for a knife fight. Smart move.

The effects in the movie are great and the action is non-stop. This was well worth seeing in the theater, as much, or more than seeing Star Trek in the theater.

Excellent cast, Dennis Quaid is the General Hawk, Channing Tatum plays Duke, then there are the ladies. Oh my the ladies. Sienna Miller plays the evil Duchess, and a spicey red headed Rachel Nichols plays Scarlet.

Put this one on your "To-Do" list boyz, this movie will not disappoint. It's either this or watching Dancing with the Stars with your wife soon, and I don't think your going to see anyone get blowed-up on Dancing with the Stars.

"GO JOE !"

DISTRICT 9 - The Movie

District 9 - The Movie

Trailer Click HERE

After watching the trailer you are ready to lay down your $8.50 for a ticket, and another $4.50 for corn, and $3.50 for a small drink.

Awe this looks great ! and I am not here to argue that. The effects, and CG in the movie are excellent. But when did Star Wars the Original movie come out 1977 (the start of computer special effects in movies) My point is that if enough money is spent the technology is there to make any movie CG effects look awesome today. The fact here is the movie producers probably spent more on the special effects than the actors.

All the actors in this movie are unknown here in the United States, while the acting was good it was not great. This would be mostly due to the story, and there was a LOT of story.

Jeez-is Keerist, there is a lot of story.

Some poor working class dope (pictured left) get a promotion in the corporation to head up the removal of the aliens that have be in held in Nazi concentration style camps for the last 28 years, and move then down the street a few miles. (teach then to show up to Earth without means of destroying and over taking the place)

Anyway, . . . this working class fool follows his corporations core values to prove he is the man for the job. He is totally believable as a morals dope, but why some alien doesn't snap his neck in the first fifteen minutes is beyond me, and it would have improved the action in the movie. Can you believe 45 grueling minutes of story before something blows up, or someone gets shot. In fact when I was watching it in the theater when someone finally got shot the audience applauded. (pathetic)

Some say that this was the launching platform for compiling a group of people to create the long awaited HALO movie that has never appeared. Tell the Master Chief about it, the war is over and the poor bastard could use a paycheck.

I can tell you this, the HALO movie will have more action than District 9 guaranteed! And it would cover the tri-fecta that guarantees a good action flick, Bombs, Boobs, and a good Chase Scene. None of which make a command appearance in District 9.

If I had to rate this movie based on items used in Halo, I would have to give it 1 out of 5 Battle Rifles or 0 (zero) outta 5 Sticky Grenades. It wasn't a flop, some will like it, but it ain't no action movie, it is damn near a chick flick with aliens in it.

Really, pass this one up, or wait until it is available on DVD and watch it where the popcorn is cheaper, and you can turn it off.

This weekend I will try to redeem my manhood by seeing the new G.I. JOE movie, "Rise of Cobra" even the title has a sexual reference in it, we are off to a good start already. "GO JOE!"

Seitz Family Throwdown Cook-Off

This is bit of a late post but let me tell you it will be worth the wait. Every month for the past two months we have had a Family Cook Off. We pick a dish and then you have a month to present your one dish to the rest of the participants for judging. The first month was Dinner Crepes, and this month was Sandwich.

The first cook off Corinna posted a "W" with her Wild Rice Crepe, filled with Chicken, Spinach, and Cremini, then topped with a Red Pepper Sauce. This month I was the favorite with a Beef Chimichuri Sandwich that was served on homemade grilled flat bread that I mad on my BBQ, but let me tell you this month was exceptional. Everyone that participated "Brought It" to the competition, so I will post all the sandwich recipes for everyone to enjoy.

We'll start this post with the Beef Chimichuri Sandwich.

This Sammich' is a smack in the mouth, and does not qualify as a snack. Pair it with your favorite beer and enjoy.

First off you'll need to create the chimichuri marinade.

Chimichuri

6 Cloves of Garlic

2 Jalapenos

1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt

1/4 C White Wine Vinegar

1 Tablespoon Dried Ancho Chili Power (or finely chopped whole dried)

1/2 C Fresh Cilantro (chopped)

1/2 C Fresh Parsley (chopped)

1/4 C Fresh Oregano (chopped)

1/3 C Olive Oil

Place all ingredients in food processor or blender and process until smooth.

Thinly slice 1 lb of beef top round, or Sirloin and place in 1 gallon size Ziploc bag, pour Chimichuri on top remove as mush air as possible and seal. Using both hands mix the Chimchuri into the beef. Place Ziploc bag on a plate and transfer to refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours and as much as 24. I like to marinate for 24 to get the most out of my ingredients.

Flat Bread (from Bobby Flays book Boy Meets Grill)

1-1/2 C Warm Water

1/2 Teaspoon Dry Yeast

4 C All-Purpose Flour

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

Mix the water and the yeast in a bowl and let stand (bloom) for 15 minutes. Slowly add 2 cups of flour while stirring the mixture. Stir for about 1 minute until the mixture is spongy, let it stand covered at room temperature for 45 minutes. Put the sponge in the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the dough hook mix in the salt and olive oil, then add the remaining 2 cups of flour 1/2 cup at a time while mixing to form a soft dough. Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface and knead until the dough is satiny, sprinkle with a little flour to keep from sticking, about 5 minutes.

Place dough in a large clean, oiled bowl, covered with plastic wrap and let rise (proof) in a warm place for about 2-1/2 hours or until it has doubled in size. Punch down the dough and divide into 4 balls, place on sheet pan cover and let rise again 30-45 minutes. Roll, pat, and stretch each ball into a small flat round or rectangle. Preheat grill to med-high (350-400 degrees) brush each round with olive oil, and place oil side down, brush top with olive oil while cooking.

COOKS NOTE: Now, walking away right now would be a very bad idea, you have time to go get a beer and a spatula, but come right back. Don't get distracted by the wife asking you to do some trivial task, your attention is needed at the grill. Oh and that's an import beer better bring a bottle opener too.

Cook flat bread with the grill top open, pay close attention to the flames, and turn the bread often to ensure even browning. Once nice and golden brown accented by grill marks plate and head to the kitchen to get the beef.

Gillin' Continues . . .

After bread has been removed turn grill to high, remove beef from Chimichuri marinade and skewer for grilling.

Grill skewers for 2-3 minutes a side, remove from grill and let rest for 3-5 minutes.

White Bean Puree

2 C Cooked or Canned White Beans

4 Cloves Garlic

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice

1 Tablespoon Chopped Thyme

Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Puree all ingredients in food processor or blender, refrigerate 1 day.

Sammich Building . . .

The moment has arrive, (finally) to build your sandwich. Now if you have read this far you know you could do a lot of this prep work ahead of time, and on the day of your event your Sammich would come together much faster. With that said lets get to building.

Place you flat bread on the plate and use a generous portion of white bean puree as a spread, add freshly chopped iceberg lettuce, tomato, and onion if you wish, or some of the Chimichuri sauce that you reserved before adding it to the beef as a marinade (my choice). Fold Sammich over and cut in half, and enjoy.

Men left alone to there vices will always find something fun to do. Here are a few fine examples:

Extreme Chair Jumping - Alone in a dorm and all you money has been spent on tuitition what do you do for fun?

Slip-N-Slide - Engineering students with too much time on their hands. (my Favorite)

Office Rowing Team - You are all fired.

The Slip-N-Slide is INSANE !

SUMMER TIME COOL DOWN

Well we made it past the 95-105 degree weather and it has finally cooled down a bit. In fact this weekend was a dramatic change in the weather with the thunder head clouds moving in over the valley. This is the weather I can stand 70-75 degrees and partly cloudy. Unfortunately that means that it is comfortable enough to get outside and get some work done to prepare for winter, and there is always a lot of that type of

work to do.

At the end of June we had 11 bundles of peeler cores delivered to the house by a friend and neighbor of ours that we will process into fire wood the main source of heat for our family and Momma Zora (aka G-Ma) Additionally there were two oak trees where I work that were cut down, and employees could place bids to purchase it. Like a fool I bid the highest, and Levi and I spent Friday evening and Saturday morning hauling off JCI's grounds. (pictured is the first load Friday evening) Saturday morning we took out just a little less than you see here. Let me tell you, oak is fricken heavy, we had to leave some pieces there, they were just to heavy and we had no way to get them in the trailer. All and all though it was very worth the while. The 1-1/2 + cord of oak will burn more like 2-1/2 cords of Douglas Fir, and that is what keeps the woman happy.

Additionally this week Lynn took Wednesday off and took Jillian and Levi down to the coast for the day since it was Jillian's birthday. They went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and to the beach (girls favorite place) Then had lunch at Micky-D's. (another favorite). All and all everyone had a good time, and the Lynn said the weather was amazing. Not to hot, a slight breeze (unusual for the Oregon Coast) and there wasn't a huge crowd (always a plus).

During the Obnoxiously hot weather we made the best of it by starting to paint the inside of the house after a 12 year hiatus. He had done it once before about 5 years after moving in, but we painted it the same as it was, all white. Now with trendy indoor paint jobs all the rage I went to the paint store and picked up a dozen paint samples and got started by painting one whole wall for the wife to judge. The Living room is now complete, and we have everything now to get the rest of the house done, and it is going to look nice when complete.

At the end of this week we (my sisters and I) are continuing our cooking competition. This months dish is a single sandwich. Everyone has to make just one, and everyone gets to taste before judging.

Last month was Dinner Crepes, and Corinna was the winner with a simple crepe she called "Wild Rice Crepe w/ Chicken, Cremini, and Mushrooms served with a Red Pepper Sauce. It was delicious. Renee's was very nice too with a very delicate crepe filled with chicken and cheese topped with a very nice sauce.

Although all experience cooks they are all going to get their asses handed to them this month when I present my Sam'mich, one that will take your taste buds on a tour of Flavor Town in just one bite. I will post the winning recipe this moth for you all to enjoy, which will be easy since all I have to do is copy and post from my own computer.

Stay tuned, and check back often.

The Pleasant Hill Billy

CONTRAST

What is the difference between these two pictures? Kinda like one of the games you see in the kids HIGHLIGHTS magazine in the doctors office, but darker. I will give you a minute to ponder.

Don't think this is simple like a kids book, of course there are many items in the picture that are placed differently, or not there at all. Look for major differences that are not obvious.

Let me give you a hint, the picture on the left has a date, and the one on the right doesn't, WHY? Because I bought a new camera after kicking my old one up the retailers ass because Kodak builds crap digital cameras.

See it's easy. Now you find one.

Need another hint?

Look at the walls . . . . ah do you see it?

There a different color! Yes, very good.

Yes after 15 years of persistent nagging from my wife to paint over the golf cub marks I put in the ceiling I did what any good husband would do, wait a decade then passive aggressively sneak off to a paint store, picked out a color I would like, (without having to go through the whole discussion of what shade of white was appropriate) and painted it while she was shopping.

Call it what you like, but I call that a Win-Win. She waited long enough to get it painted she cannot possibly complain about the color now that it is finally done. A valuable lesson there boyz.

There is one more there, it's so obvious, like low hanging fruit on a tree, I cannot believe you didn't pick it first.

Have you got it yet, I'll give you a minute . . . . . . Okay, Okay it's killing me.

Although these picture where taken 5 weeks apart, my son is still parked in front of the computer during summer vacation. Granted we live on 152 acres without a neighbor that has boyz his age for miles, but what did you do when you were his age?

Keerist I was away from home so much by the end of summer my Mother almost didn't recognize me when I finally returned home to start school. All I remember was tossing down my books at schools end, not even changing out of my good clothes, and telling my Mom, "I'm going outside to play!" When the air started to get cooler in the evenings I came home, it was the end of August, my jeans were worn off into a pair of shorts, and my long sleeve t-shirt resembled a tank top with a few holes in it. Oh and I needed a haircut.

Kids today, and even the Gen-x'ers were all about living life virtually. When the gaming console came into existence it was so new and exciting that you forgot how to play, and your imagination was left up to other to create for you. No more Cowboys and Indian's, Cops and Robbers, or getting the gang together to play War, and if that game is played right someone is going home bleeding. Now the only injury that befuddles this next generation of kids is carpel tunnel syndrome.

Time to get cookin'

I promised you I would have recipes to share from time to time, so here is your first helping.

MEXICAN SUCCOTASH

This is a great summer-time side-dish that goes well with you favorite Mexican entree', or use it as a dip like salsa. When I made this last I took it to a BBQ where we were serving hamburgers and hot dogs, and it was a hit just as much as the potato salad. (Another recipe I will share later)

This bean and corn salad is a fresh smack in the mouth that is neither hot or spicy, but you think it is going to be with all of the classic flavors of Mexico in there. Take it to you next fiesta and share with your friends, and enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 ea. 15oz can of Corn

1 ea. 15 oz can of Pinto Beans
1 ea. 15oz can of Stewed Tomato (Mexican recipe)
1/2 C Fresh Cilantro (chopped)
1/4 C Fresh Parsley (chopped)
1/3 C White Onion
1 ea Garlic toe (minced)
1 T Kosher Salt

Directions:
Drain each of the canned goods in a stainless steel strainer. Place the corn and the beans in a mixing bowl, place the stewed tomatoes on a cutting board and give them a rough chop then place in mixing bowl.
Add the remainder of the ingredients to the mixing bowl and fold to combine.
Transfer mixture to a serving bowl, cover, then place in refrigerator for 1 - 2 hours to chill, or you can also prepare the night before and chill 24 hours.

Spicy Option: Additionaly add 1 ea. jalapeno (minced), 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and paprika to salad before mixing together.