Category: San Luis Obispo

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all joking aside, lets talk about tofu

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Tofu is worshiped by vegetarians, vegans and others not too worried about its estrogen enhancing properties. Tofu is billed as a meat substitute when prepared properly, but I don’t think I’ll ever hear anyone from down under saying to ‘throw another on the barbee!” or a confused hunter announcing that he’s ‘gonna hunt some reclusive snipe or tofurkey!”

However, when flavored with a sweet and tangy sauce and diced into a salad … it makes a nice diversion… especially when you are on a diet… as I am now. The key to preparation is to find a very firm grade of tofu and extract part of the moisture through a low bake or pressure method ( a step-by-step process is given by clicking on a link below)  and then re-immerse the tofu in your favorite marinade! Some folks like a Chinese or Thai marinade… some even use a thinned barbecue sauce. Make the sauce as  you like it… this is roughly how I make it…

  • soy sauce
  • olive oil
  • brown sugar ( or grab some Agave syrup from your bar)
  • splash of vinegar and a little lemon

Here are some ideas:

tofu marinades

step-by-step directions

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I am reminded that meat would also taste rather bland ( some say like aluminum) without the process of searing ( which converts the surface to sugar) and the blood content… so tofu really needs an infusion to have wider appeal.

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now thats a bottle opener

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There are bottle openers and there are bottle openers. One type of opener I have admired is a simple 50 caliber shell turned into one. Simple, convenient and always raises a smile or opens someones eye. Some folks actually ask me if it is dangerous or will explode? I have to remind myself that I live near a university where ignorance abounds.

Here are a couple of places to buy such a great opener:

AMAZON.COM

NRA

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Last night, I attended a  Friends of the NRA  fundraising event in Paso Robles. There were a fair few folks who happened to drop by for a tri-tip, bbq’d chicken or ribs dinner. I didn’t win or successfully bid on anything this year, but I did walk away with a couple of bottle openers… which pleased me. Fun times!

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it was safer in the old west

People had been entering the Santa Maria (California) Gun show since 8am... it was 10am and we were have way back in the line!
People had been entering  the Santa Maria (California) Gun show  since 8am… it was 10am and we were half way back in the line!

I was looking for a little ammunition and I was a bit curious as to what — if any- rifles would be available at the Gun show this year. The truth is that they had a wide assortment, a lot of old ‘collectable’ pieces and some new hunting rifles and shotguns… even a few pistols from the 1860’s were on display. If you are familiar with a ‘Broom handle’ gun from the turn of the 1900’s (made better known by the last Sherlock Holmes movie)… there were even a few of these. Prices overall were high, but understandable given the high demand.

Contrary to what you might see at elbow throwing Costco or at Target’s grab bag… people at the gun show were polite, courteous and respectful and open to conversation. This stirred a question in my mind… Were these just good people or did the fact that various guns were hanging about keep them well mannered? Pardner, it was probably a little of both.

So, I decided to do a little scanning of history and it seems that the most violent and dangerous places on earth were the cities where existing prohibitions against self defense made life difficult for the common person. This encouraged opportunistic groups of men to prey on the unarmed. After a time folks looked for ways to even the odds, firearms were called an ‘equalizer” a way one person could defend themselves from multiple or stronger  assailants. Women today are the biggest growing group purchasing handguns… one little lady can make a mess out of a few men attempting to do dastardly things to her person!

I also ran across a quote by Mark Twain that raised a smile:

“I have carried a revolver; lots of us do, but they are the most innocent things in the world.” — Mark Twain

It doesn’t take a genius to see where the most dangerous places in America exist; they are where firearms are most restricted.

The most violent areas in America are those with the most firearm restrictions! (Yellow and black)
The most violent areas in America are those with the most firearm restrictions! (Yellow and black) New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Oakland are just a few of the deadly metro areas offering safe havens to criminals and the criminally insane.

So, was it really safer in the old west? I think so… when the bad guys have to worry about whether or not you are armed… bad things just don’t happen as much. So, if we are trying to make American’s ‘safer’, then the past can give us a suggestion… I mean we are trying to make people safer, aren’t we?

 

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national day of resistance or starbucks appreciation day

Gun ownership like democracy is uniquely American. Why would we like to be a slave like everyone else?
Gun ownership like democracy is uniquely American. Why would we like to be a slave like everyone else in the world?

It’s truly hard to start a discussion on how to address the problems of our economy or national defense of our country when those in authority at all levels are working so desperately to distract the citizenry with various contrived ‘crises.’ Nowhere is this more evident that the continued attacks on the 2nd amendment… that really should be a non issue.

In any event, since folks keep wanting to discuss our right to bear arms, there seems to be a lot of discussion. Nothing has brought people together more than the threats of an overzealous confiscatory government.

Here are a few of the recent issues that have caught my eye:

1)  There have been many companies targeted by governmental agencies for their either neutral or pro-gun views. I particularly was amused at how the support began to swell when anti-second folks tried to boycott Starbucks!

CLICK HERE to read more

2) President Obama has turned over his grassroots campaign to bring his fervent message of gun control and confiscation to the masses in the so-called “Gun Grabber’s Appreciation Day!”

3) Day of Resistance 2.23

The “Day of Resistance” was designed to defend the ownership of the American AR-15 rifle, which was coined as an ‘Assault Rifle”… whatever that is? The caliber is .223 so I guess they thought February 23rd was a good day to get together to support this famous rifle.

Article one

Article two

A underlying and disturbing tremor is running through the discussion with the federal government buying up every piece of ammunition and rifle they can get their hands on and passing them along to not only homeland security but also social security and the tax man… and I am sure among others.

One dark forecaster said that our federal government has enough firepower to shoot every American 100 times. Should we be concerned?

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Bake some love for your Saint Valentine

An assortment of yummy things is always in order... on the left is some wonderful Amarula Carrot cupcakes, traditional Baklava and then Pecan studded Brownies!
An assortment of yummy things is always in order… on the left is some wonderful Amarula Carrot cupcakes, traditional Baklava and then Pecan studded Brownies!

“Nothing shows loven like something from the oven!” went the old Pillsbury jingle… and so true it is! If turkey is for Thanksgiving , then chocolate, flowers and desserts are made for Valentine’s Day!

Carrot cupcakes are great for all your little Valentine’s out there.

For that special Valentine of mine, I am using a (gasp!) mix from Louisiana of which I am fond for a Red Velvet Cake!

AaAaah... Red Velvet Cake!
AaAaah… Red Velvet Cake!

There are many claims as to where Red Velvet Cake originated… but there is no doubt that wherever it came it has been adopted as a favorite of the American South!  This mix comes from Louisiana… the home of all great food. It’s tough to lay your hands on, but so worth it!

Traditionally, folks bake it up into a multilayer cake, but I plan to use a bundt cake pan as “nature and God intended.”

Can you taste the cream cheese frosting??
Can you taste the cream cheese frosting??

Make something sweet for those you love this Saint Valentine’s day!