Las Vegas Wedding

This past weekend we went to Las Vegas for a wedding, not mine, but my sisters wedding.  It was a fun time.  The wedding was really nice, it was not done by a midget Elvis, or at the drive through wedding chapel.  It was on a balcony overlooking the Bellagio's water fountain, and when they kissed, the water show started.  

As far as fun family outings, we found several G rated activities, which included the indoor amusement park at Circus Circus, Riding the Deuce, dinner at the Rain Forrest Cafe, the Shark Reef at Mandalay  Bay, and finally, the taxis'.  I had a very memorable conversation with one driver about the economics of Energy, and oil.  

Las Vegas is like a melting pot of ideas, thoughts, desires, love, hate, and risk.  It is the only place I know, where you can get married, in the same manner you get a bacon cheese burger from Sonic.  Additionally, it is a place with some very beautiful buildings to walk in/through and admire, all while sucking in second hand smoke.  One of the best signs that I saw said, "The restroom facility is non-smoking," while you had to contend with second hand smoke at the Monte Carlo food court.  It is a city of irony, with thousands getting married their each year, but the city's motto is, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas..."  which is a little contradictory in my mind.  

One place I forgot to go by while I was there was the "In-and-Out Burger".  I saw it on the taxi ride back to the airport, and thought, shoot... I missed that one.  

Congratulations to Natty and Kale!!!

Cookbooks

When I first started looking around at cookbooks, I used The Joy of Cooking, probably not the best place to start my culinary adventure.  To be honest, I really only cooked a couple of recipes out of that cookbook, yet I still have it.  It has a substantial number of recipes in it, however, there is not story to connect some if not all of the recipes back to the cook.  Since the Joy of Cooking days, I have greatly expanded my viewing of cookbooks, along with my cooking ability.  I must point out that some of the first things I cooked, were family recipes, which you never quite find in a cookbook.  A few years ago my mother and sisters were raving about The Pioneer Woman Cookbook.  I wanted to check it out with out purchasing it, so I went to the library website to request a copy.  I was shocked to find out there was a 12 person waiting line to get their hands on this book.  (Which puts it in parallel to some of the New York Times Bestseller books I have requested.)  I got it, looked it  over, thought that it was nice, and a couple of Christmas' later, Amy or I got it as a Christmas present.  As I understand the evolution of the cookbook, it started out as a blog titled, The Pioneer Woman.

Yesterday, I went to the library and was looking at cookbooks, and found the Texas response, or possibly precursor to the Pioneer Woman.  The cookbook is The Homesick Texas Cookbook.  Now I am not sure if this started out as a blog, however, the author, Lisa Fain, does have a blog, which is titled, Homesick Texan.  I flipped through the book and decided to check it out, only to find that it has some great recipes, including my personal favorite mexican food dish, Stacked Enchiladas (although in this book they are name "West Texas Stacked Enchiladas.")  I think that my friends, and wife from New Mexico may disagree that the Stacked Enchiladas were devised in West Texas, instead of New Mexico.  They are best, with two fried eggs on top, cooked over easy.  While I have made then a couple of times, without a recipe I may try this one out to see how it works.  Additionally, it has recipes for corn and flour tortillas, and tamales.

Tonight, partly inspired by the cookbook bloggers, I took a couple of kitchen pictures, while I made a dish that was out of a completely different cook book.  During this process I learned that capturing the blue flame of natural gas, requires patiences, no flash, and either a tripod or kitchen counter.

Gas and Cast Iron Griddle

Tortilla and Yellow Fiesta with Pork Chili Inside

Fat Tuesday

This week host a couple of unique days within the secular and Christian calendars.  First off there is Mardi Gras, also know "Fat Tuesday".  The last day of feasting prior to Ash Wednesday, and the start of lent.  It is a unique coupling of celebrations, like a smoker going through a carton of smokes the night before he quits.  While I have never been to a Mardi gras feastivle, what I have seen on television, the news, and other media about the New Orleans celebration leads me to believe these reavelars are not preparing for a period of fasting.  Much like St Patricks Day, the secular society has used it as a reason to drink green beer in excess, and over look the fact that it is a day to honor a saint.

The season of lent itself is interesting.  It is supposed to be representative of Jesus' 40 days of fasting, yet tradition says that we can break the fast on Sundays.  In realitily it is much more a representation of the humans and their battle against temptation.

When I first started observing lent, I gave up things that I did not eat anyway, like watermelon.  I am ashamed of my lack of knowledge in the subject during my first years of observation.  It is more than just giving sometime up, one can sacrifice their time, and spent more time reading the bible, or praying.  I have some friends who fast, and know several Catholics who observe the no meat on fried, and eat fish (which is still meat).  For around 10 years I almost always gave up Dr. Pepper, the in 2010 I went to the dr during lent, and was informed I was getting fat.  (I did not need an individual with an advanced degree, and special training to tll me that.)  However, I did swear off Dr. Pepper, and have not had one since.

If you are struggling with what to give up, try something new, and pick up a bible study, the bible, volunteer work, or a commitment to pray and seek God out during the day.

Hook'd Bar & Grill

During the past few weeks, I have had a desire to return to a view like the one below.  It is a vey of the City Park Pier, in Panama City Flordia, from a seat at Hook'd Bar & Grill, which was a neat place to eat.  When we had dinner there, it was followed by a short walk to Kilwin's Chocolates for desert.  

 

Ground Hog Day

Today, being a Saturday, meant that my normal schedule of listening to NPR's Morning Edition, did not happen.  I did not realize that it was ground hog day until the middle of the afternoon.  At which point, I had been in the back yard picking up in my shorts and sandals.  It felt very spring like today, and I hope that there is not 6 more weeks of winter.  All of the beloved Christmas decorations are in the attic, with the exception of this hideous snowman/Santa Christmas ball which will become property of the city's sanitation department Monday.

I was in high school, when the movie Ground Hog Day came out with Bill Murray.  It was a fun show, and an interesting concept.  My life would not be going very fast if I had to go back and start each day over if I did not get everything correct in that day.  There are several days, however, that I would not have minded a do over.  The one thing those days almost always have in common, is the failure to engage the mind, prior to engaging the mouth.

So to all of the overgrow squirrels out there, Happy Groundhog Day!  ...does anyone know if he saw his shadow?