Appetizer/ Cocktail Party

Second Annual Appetizer / Cocktail Party
(Click on the Title for Video)

Thanks to all that attended my appetizer / coctail party at the end of January for my birthday. Attached is a spectacular video that my nephew filmed, edited, and posted on Vimeo.com. He took a average event and made it very special for me, thanks Jesse Tobler for a wonderful gift.

What make's it special ?

He happened to capture what I try to achieve when planning a get-together with family and friends. A comfortable atmosphere where people can gather, converse, and enjoy good food, community, and drinks.

Everything was perfect, from all the appetizers everyone personally made and brought, to the beverages, and company. I will definetly do it again next year, it has always been a good time.

There was lettuce wraps, cream cheese and veggies wrapped in ham, smoked salmon and cream cheese served with jalepeno jelly, deviled eggs, pulled pork wrapped in tortias, crackers and sausage . . . must I go on. Yes then there was the beverages, lemon drop, and cranberry martinis, bourbon and soda, and soda pop and french roast coffee. Well never made it to the coffee did we, the intent was there though.

Make an attempt to gather your friends and family around you once this year. Try not to impress them, but make them comfortable, and you will have a really good time. Cheers !

~Pleasant Hill Billy~ 

Chore - Wood Miser

During your childhood I am sure your parents burdened you with some medial task that was designed to make life easier on them, while teaching you a valuable lesson. Mine was the trash, once a day, and scrubbing the trash can out once a week with Comet, or Ajax.

My son's job is making firewood in the Summer, and fetching it in the Winter. Hey the woods gotta come from somewhere. Additionally he has trash detail, and yes and the Comet, or Ajax are part of his repertoire'.

I cut, or purchase wood in 8' lengths (here we are cutting peeler-cores from doug-fir trees, (a by-product of making ply-wood in this area of the world) and it makes for the best firewood in he world. Well next to split and dried oak, which I concider to be a resource much like depleated uranium.

Anyway back on task. Keeping you children busy with a task about the home doesn't only free up more time for you, it teaches them the value of completing a meaninful task that is important to sustaining a civilized existance.

Without a wood miser in the group many of us would freeze in the winter, or it might lead you much worse things, like turning on the electric heat, costing the family hundreds of dollars each month. So you can see the added value of having a wood miser in you household. This person can save you money, and add value by keeping you warm. (I love being warm)

Additionally this task keeps them busy. I never realized the amount of spare time I had when I was a young man until I had a son of my own. The things I could have accomplished only if I had realized it sooner. At almost every turn while I am doing something for my family I find that my son is idelly sitting on his ass with nothing to do. It is truely appalling.

I could have easily turned my spare time into a full time job making thousands of dollars to pay for a good university education in the future when I was young, only if I would have used my spare time wisely. I bet you I could have even earned more if the internet was invented before then.

ZOMBIELAND

Zombieland

Now I am not one for zombie movies, the undead, vampires, or horror flick in general, but when I seen the previews for Zombieland in the theater I turned to my son and said, "We gotta see that!"

Woody Harrelson (Cheer's, Natural Born Killers, Indecent proposal, Whaite men can't jump . . . ) Jesse Eisenberg (The Education of Charly Banks, The Village, Cursed)
Emma Stone (Super Bad, House Bunnies) all around hottie, and Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine, My Sisters Keeper, No Reservations, The Ghost Whisperer, The Santa Clause )

Excellent cast as you can tell, all have been acting for some time, and Abigail Breslin has as an impressive list of movies she has been in as Woody Harrelson. I loved Little Miss Sunshine. So the acting in the movie is excellent, and the writing was done just as well. There is no part in the movie that slows down enough that you think, I can go to the bathroom now. My Son held 32 oz of soda throught the whole movie because he did not want to miss a second of the action.

People on earth have been infected by a virus that is turning everyone into zombies, and if your not infected be prepared to defend yourself. This quartet of actors are thrust together during the course of the movie and find that since none of them have any family left, their little group is the closest thing they will have since the nation is in ruin. Each character in the movie goes by their hometown instead of their name, Woody (Tallahassee), Jesse (Columbus), Abigail (Little Rock), and Emma (Wichita), which adds a secret club feel to the movie.

There are excellent special effect to make you jump, but everything has a really light hearted feel to it that makes it very funny at times. Every character has a very unique quality to add to the movie that you will connect with at times, but Jesse Eisenburgs character is the one I connected with the most. He is the geek, just trying to make it in this new world of survival, and has made a list of rules to now live by. As the movie progresses the rules pop up on the screen, and 30 minutes into the movie you find yourself mentioning the rule to live by before it domes up on screen.

I highly recommend you go see ZOMBIELAND, it good enough you should see it twice.

~PleasantHillBilly ~

Follow up on the steak blog below with a video from my favorite Food Network Chef, Alton Brown.
In this video he will explain steak, whats a good cut, and how to cook it. Check it out.

Watch and Learn - Click HERE

Alton is kind of goofy, but understand he wrote and produced commercials before becoming a chef, so each episode is a little artsy but very informative. I love it.

Here is the second half the episode. - Click HERE

~Pleasant Hill-Billy~

Grillin' and Chillin'

(Your guide to grillin' a perfect steak)

Okay listen up bachelors this one is for you.

I know gettin' a good meal cuts into your beer fund, and entertainment unless your dining at Mom and Dad's, but if your going to make it in this big ol' world here are a few thing that you need to know.

1. Good food is obtainable from your local grocer, and at a much cheaper price than at a fast food

joint.

2. Your grocer also carries beer, national brands to local favorites that are much cheaper than in

a restaurant.

3. You can do this, and it is well worth the effort and time. (it will also impress you friends)

Ingredients:

2 ea. Rib Eye Steaks (one for you, and the other in case you fuck up)

(let me give you some pointers on this because there are Rib-Eye Steaks, and there

are Rib-Eyes that are crap "cut too close to the end")

Note; A good Rib-Eye Steak has a noticeable edge of fat on one side, not to thick about

3/16" of an inch is just right. Then look at the meat itself, you should see fine marbling

inside the structure of the meat. This marbling will add flavor and assist you in creating

great steak by lubricating the muscle tissue while it cooks to keep it moist. (Also fat taste

good.)

Rib-Eye is one of the best steaks for beginner cooks because it contains plenty of

intramuscular fat and so feel juicy, in the mouth, even if cooked a little too much.

(nuff said)

Cooking selection: Look not all of you have nice gas or charcoal grill at home, this doesn't mean that you can not cook good tasting steak. To tell you the truth boyz the best method for cooking a Rib-Eye Steak is to pan fry it. (Gospel there, it's even in the red letter text, check it

out)

But what you do need is a skillet that can take the heat, and we are talking about cast iron. Yes, head down to your local department store and pick up a 12" beauty to do you biding. Bring it home and season it in the oven by pouring a table spoon of vegetable oil in it and putting it in a 400 degree F oven for 30 minutes. (turn on the fan you'll need it) what you'll end up with is a pan with a natural like Teflon coating, and mass to volume ration that is perfect for cookin' steak.

Okay your ready to get some groceries down you neck I understand, but you need more than a steak for ingredients . . . . read on.

1 ea. Clove Garlic (minced) I mean fresh garlic and as fresh as you can git it.

1 ea. Teaspoon kosher salt. (iodized salt is good, but get yourself some kosher salt boy, damn)

1 ea. Tablespoon Fresh ground black pepper (if you don't have fresh pepper corns then go git some at the local market, bulk is cheapest) Grind 'em, crush 'em with a hammer in a plastic bag, whatever, but fresh is best.

1 ea. Tablespoon olive oil. (vegetable oil is fine)

Your close don't give up now mister. (Glory awaits)

Place the steak on a plate and let come to room temperature for 1 hour, yes it will be okay. Cover with a paper towel to keep the flies off.

Rub steak with olive, or vegetable oil, season with salt, pepper, and minced garlic.

Remove cast iron skillet from oven (450 degrees F) and place on med. high burner.

Place steak in pan and sear on each side for 1 minute, "Do not move steak while cooking". (time it).

Once complete on each side, place pan and steak in oven for 2 minutes on each side. (Flip with tongs) Remove, steak from oven, interior temperature should be no more than 140 and no less than 130 degrees for medium rare. (That's right scooter you need a meat thermometer)

Serve this bad-boy (10-16 oz) with an ice cold beer, and a baked potato, oh and corn on the cob if you have it.

Now if you need any assistance with this PLEASE contact me, and I will come over and lay claim to that second steak.

Enjoy !

~Pleasant Hill Billy~

Confessions of a Wood Whore

My training for being a first class Wood Whore started in my prepubescent years when my Father would ask me if I would like to take the guns into the woods for and afternoon of shooting. My eyes would gloss over and I would have envisions myself laying on top of a cache of ammo plinking at distant targets until my trigger finger was sore, and my eyes were tired from looking into the distance through iron sights.

An enthusiastic, "Yes !" was all that ever escaped my lips. What young boy would ever pass up the chance to wield a weapon for sport or pleasure. I was excited to say the least.

The next morning, before dawn, my Father would fix us breakfast while the rest of the family slept. It was ritualistic in a way, then he would pack us a sandwich and an apple each, and pour the rest of the coffee he made for himself into a thermos.

We would drive far into the woods, along roads he had traveled many times before, but they were all a mystery to me. My excitement would grow deeper the farther we traveled into the woods.

"Are we getting close?" I would ask.

"Not much further." Dad would reply.

"Oh boy I can't wait!", I would say in jubilation.

Just before dawn we would reach out final destination. A logging landing that was high above the morning fog that looked like cotton candy filling the valleys below. Dad would pour a cup of coffee and we would listen to the radio until it got light enough to shoot. I was parking in the passenger seat quietly loading each clip with ammo anticipating the damage I was going to inflict on some innocent can, or better yet glass bottle.

Dad would finish up his coffee and say, "Welp, we better get to it before someone else shows up."

I had no idea what he was talking about, unless he was talking about someone else shooting our bottles. That wasn't going to happen I had waited to long for this, so I bail out the passenger door with ammo clips in hand.

I ask, "Do you want me to go out and set up the targets?"

Dad, as he reached into the back of the pick-up bed pulling out a chain-saw said, "Sure as soon as we fill up the truck with wood."

My heart sank. I looked at him in disbelief and said, "But I thought we were going to shoots guns."

Dad would reply, "We are son, as soon as we cut a cord of this fir that is staked here so nicely for us."

Anger welled inside of me, because I knew the time it would take to cut a cord of wood they day would be gone.

I'd show him, I would split and stack that wood so fast into the truck there would be plenty of time to shoot through a brick (500 rounds) of ammo.

Of course there was never enough time to shoot all the ammo, because we had to get home to unload the wood, and So it began.

So, now let me show you the classic signs of your typical Wood Whore so you may avoid getting caught up in the maniacal ways.

1. Note the over abundance of wood. (steer clear of this area it only will lead to work)

2. Trailers are good, if you see more than two you are in Wood Whore territory.

3. Rented equipment. (never a good sign)

4. Slave labor (this was me as a prepubescent teen)

Steer clear of these people as they will devour your weekend.

In the above picture you will see the aforementioned "Dad" and my prepubesent teen that I now use as Slave Labor to do my bidding. The inventory in the back ground is 2 cords of split oak and 11 units of fir peeler cores (the remanat of making plywood in the Northwest) The oak is the equivalent of depleated uranium in the wood burning game, you have to have a hard wood in the mix it burns hot and really slow.

Lastly, look out for the non-human companion. Every Wood Whore has one, and they hold these companions truer to their hearts than they do you. Mine is named "Jim", because Marlin Perkins had a "Jim" and who else better to lead your crew than someone as reliable a Jim T. Kirk.

So I hope you take some valuable tips away from this for making sure your weekend is a relaxing one. Steer clear of Wood Whores, as for your regular steet whores, I think your safe with those for making your weekend enjoyable.

~Pleasant Hill Billy~

Campin' w/ the Whole Famn-Damily

New Post

I promise to deliver even if it is boring details of my own life.

But when it comes to camping outdoors, (as apposed to campin' at the Hilton) there are a few things that are important to remember.

1. Cleanliness: The ability to appear that you are unsoiled while living in the dirt.

I am a tent camper for the most part, unless going with my Father who drags the whole house along to the camp site. It is Glorious. I like the effort that has to be put into tent camping. I will testify that my Brother-in-law and Sister are masters of the art of camping in the dirt. They have it all and will use it as a fine example of what to do when camping. As for myself, I will serve as what not to do. (any surprise there)

Back to the cleanliness, when it come to camping in a tent you cannot have enough "Wet-Wipes" they are used from cleaning out the coffee pot to cleaning you anus after falling into the fire Saturday night with you family watching in horror. (Lesson learned, a camp-fire needs hand railing around it, I am contacting the USFS about that now.)

2. Air Mattress: n; Bladder filled with air for sleeping on. DO NOT go camping without one of these. Yeah I hear all you hard-core campers that want to be closer to the Earth, "F-off" if a higher deity wanted us to sleep on rocks and twigs why did he create plastic bladders filled with air to sleep on. For $23 bucks you can get the best sleep of your natural born life, ask my wife, I snored so load all night when I woke in the morning there was a extra cord of wood in camp.

3. Family: (essential): Group of immediate relatives, Brothers, Sister, and their significant others. These people are very important to a successful campin' trip. I mean if you go by yourself who the hell are you going to talk to, play games with, fish with, tip over a canoe with. Common' have you ever tried tip over a canoe alone? Cannot be done.

4. Food: n; sustenance, grub, groceries. When you have family around you will never have to worry about what you forgot. Bread, eggs, pepper, or alcohol. When the whole gang is about, you are covered. We had doughnuts, biscotti, scones, ribs, eggs, ham, burgers, 30 lbs of tater salad, wine, beer, whiskey, and antacid tables (Don't forget these) and chips and salsa. What more could you ask for? I guess you could ask but your sit outta luck you in the fricken woods!

5. Flashlight: Now here's a bit of technology that once the sun goes down you will be happy you have brought along (be sure to pack fresh batteries or you might fall into the fire)

What ever you do this summer, get out. Try camping, trust me you will fail the first time you go out but the memories will last you a life time.

Good Luck.

Pleasant Hill-Billy

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!"