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wanna lose weight, then think about food!

the ultimate Beef Wellington CLICK on the picture to see how it is made!

Psychological researchers have taught us that thinking about food actually keeps us from indulging. I know this to be true because I have planned my holidays meals out to New Years Day!

Like most men, I enjoy beef prepared in many ways and always always in a portion that most women say is ‘too large.’ However, it really isn’t about those who don’t eat meat or eat little, it is about the needs of the rest of us! Frankly, I haven’t made   Beef Wellington   all that many times. I’ve mostly helped others make it. I really didn’t know what I had missed by not tackling this simple dish myself… it is wonderful

My advice for this time of year is to make those purchases before the big holiday rush comes as you may find availability to be more of an issue than price. Meat prices can go on sale and I’d watch for them. A year or so ago, I tweeted a manager’s special on Prime Rib at a local Ralph’s that had our local chef’s scrambling ($50 rather than $150 dollars was worth the trip wouldn’t you say?) Okay, it wasn’t Prime or Choice, but I can deal with that in the preparation. I filled a freezer. If you have a real freezer, you can buy when the deals come out and you are guaranteed availability when you want it.

So, I have to wait, loose more weight and then celebrate! This is not a bad plan! 😉

 

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when Facebook Censors

Too 'Racey' for Facebook?

There are a lot of reasonable things in the world to censor. I did review what my children were reading when they were young, but they did a good job of picking out what interested them. However, I do get concerned when entities — like Facebook — apparently, accidentally and ‘in error’ censor a political message. Mark Z. can love our President and that is his right, but allowing everyone to speak their mind makes for a good exchange of ideas, and ultimately, a better world. Facebook eventually apologized… but here is what the gutsy Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona wrote on her Facebook site about the issue:

“After I posted the following statement and photo yesterday, Facebook censored the post and removed it because the photo apparently violated their “Facebook Community Standards.” Before it was removed, it had received over 10,000 likes and comments.Regardless, I’m reposting the photo and statement. I think many of you will agree with me – – Obama’s backdoor amnesty plan violates American standards of following the rule of law and the US Constitution.

Please click “like” and share with your friends.

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The Obama administration cannot get its amnesty schemes through Congress, so now it has resorted to implementing its plans via executive fiat. There’s simply no other description for today’s announcement that the federal government will not pursue the deportation of individuals who are in the country illegally but meet certain criteria.

This plan amounts to backdoor amnesty for hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of illegal aliens. Especially disturbing is that it comes in the wake of the Obama administration sanctioning the sale of weapons to Mexican drug cartels – even as border states such as Arizona come under threat from those same illicit organizations. With this announcement, the President is encouraging more illegal immigration at the exact moment we need federal focus on border security.

Just last month in speaking to the National Council of La Raza, President Obama rejected the idea of bypassing Congress and imposing immigration reform. He said, “Now, I know some people want me to bypass Congress and change the laws on my own. And believe me, right now dealing with Congress, the idea of doing things on my own is very tempting … But that’s not how our system works. That’s not how our democracy functions. That’s not how our Constitution is written.”

President Obama got it right last month and got it really wrong today.

Over the next 15 months, I’m certain we’ll hear a lot of talk from the Obama administration about its concern for border security. Those of us who truly care about the rule of law will remember the President’s actions of today. We need to remind President Obama that we elected a president that serves beneath the law and did not anoint a king that is above the law.

 

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aging prime rib

The perfect 3 week aging of Prime Rib at the Arroyo Grande Meat Company

I have talked about the Arroyo Grande Meat Market before and I have been going there … like, forever!  However, I wanted to start putting aside something rather special for the holidays and I found it in a Prime Rib that they aged for me for 3 weeks.

Although I know my way around a meat counter, I am not quite ready to try my hand at aging beef. It’s kinda like being a Sushi chef preparing   Fugu.  As the Japanese folk song says, “I want to eat fugu, but I don’t want to die!” I guess I could test the results on a few friends… but then, I kinda like them. This is something, for the time being, I am leavng for those who have the experience and equipment to do it right.

HOW to age beef

So, one meal down for the holidays!

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the right biscotti takes the edge off

almond biscotti
Happiness is a full Biscottie Jar. This is the 199 calorie variety. CLICK on the picture for an alternative.

This is my mid afternoon snack almond Biscotti that I take with me down to the coffee shop! I don’t know what it is about it, but it takes the edge off my appetite and that’s how I make my diet plan work.

You can check the basic recipe by clicking on the picture but this plan is a bit different as I make only one roll that produces 16 or 17 full size Biscotti bars. Here is the basic set of ingredients”

  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups confectioner’s flour
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon spice blend ( I have an egg nog blend I prefer)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
Remember it's a snack and not a meal replacement!

Anyway, any diet is easy if you include something to keep you on track! This works for me!

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Putting the energy back into California

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY6-YVFvtFQ&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Here is a YouTube video I found — in of all places — on a California Local Government site. Here is some of the big take aways from this video:

1) For those who don’t remember, Jerry Brown was governor then, too. California  ‘bailed out’ our local cities with ‘our money’ but claimed that this would only cover that year, because there would be no fund for the next year. Time has proven otherwise.

2) A UCLA Economic forecast predicted that over 450,000 jobs would be lost. As Howard Jarvis predicted, the economy rebounded… until our state and local governments started turning the screws.

3) At the time, the State of California offered their own Prop 8 to try to beat down Prop 13, but the ploy didn’t work with the voters. Even though Los Angeles Teachers received pink slips before the election, the results showed strong support for prop 13.

4) Pay attention to the very modest home shown in the news report that was paying huge taxes in 1978. Many reports from the time exposed the high property tax rates were forcing many retirees and young families from their homes.

Since then, there have been a multitude of studies that have shown how Prop 13 has continued to help the taxpayer of California, in spite of the growth of state and local governments through increases in water, sewer and what Prop 26 supporters last year referred to as ‘hidden taxes in the form of fees.’

We are a one party state from top to bottom… and who really believes this is a good thing?