tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-313250982024-03-13T22:49:54.539-04:00Pike SpeakA vehicle for creativity, expression, commentary, journaling, and gratuitous self-promotion.Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.comBlogger437125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-31909981788753448642012-12-27T09:38:00.000-05:002012-12-27T09:38:51.619-05:00"Not Guilty by Reason of Celebrity"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been enjoying this series of excellent reportage on the issue of David Gregory and his illegal possession of an empty AR-15 magazine on TV. It is amusing and relevant in a number of ways. The comments are enlightening and entertaining as well.<br />
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<a href="http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/12/the-importance-of-prosecuting-david-gregory-if-he-violated-d-c-s-gun-law/" target="_blank">Here</a>, <a href="http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/12/nbc-news-stonewalls-inquiries-regarding-david-gregory-and-active-investigation-by-d-c-police/" target="_blank">here</a>, and then <a href="http://legalinsurrection.com/2012/12/if-david-gregory-were-not-david-gregory/" target="_blank">here</a>. I think the observation that if David Gregory were not a celebrity journalist he would already have been arrested is spot on. I was not a fan of his before this dust-up, but I am even less so now.<br />
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As a bonus, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2012/12/25/newtown-sandy-hook-reflections/1787477/" target="_blank">here</a> is a great follow-up article by Glenn Reynolds on the Newtown, CT tragedy from USA today.</div>
Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-85262248743391751202012-12-14T11:02:00.000-05:002012-12-14T11:02:02.398-05:00Connect The Dots<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Government entities with totalitarian tendencies understand correctly that the control of content and access to information is vital to the suppression of individual liberty and societal freedom. And that the suppression of liberty and freedom is what is required to maintain and expand power.<br />
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<a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/middle-night-un-conference-slyly-introduces-resolution-gain-some-control-internet_666391.html" target="_blank">United Nations Conference Introduces Resolution to Control Internet</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2012/12/12/Chaffetz-Benghazi-State-Dept" target="_blank">US State Dept. Isolates Benghazi Survivors</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/12/gov-dossiers-on-us-citizens/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=Google+Reader" target="_blank">US Atty. General Secretly Authorizes the Federal Government to Collect and Store Information on Innocent Citizens</a><br />
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Three different articles on different topics, but all offend in the same way.</div>
Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-72525707192407855122012-01-05T14:41:00.000-05:002012-01-05T14:41:15.093-05:00Salsa Roja<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OGLDBGmw0CU/TwX4qnx1z8I/AAAAAAAACac/fgGxw8xZslQ/s1600/Jars+of+Salsa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OGLDBGmw0CU/TwX4qnx1z8I/AAAAAAAACac/fgGxw8xZslQ/s320/Jars+of+Salsa.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Barry’s Salsa Roja</b></span><br />
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8 Roma tomatoes, whole <br />
1 medium sweet onion, sliced <br />
1 Jalapeno/Serrano pepper, whole, cored<br />
1 medium bell pepper, quartered, cored<br />
3 whole garlic cloves <br />
3 tbsp olive or canola oil<br />
1 tsp chili powder<br />
2 tbsp lemon juice <br />
1 tbsp cilantro (fresh is best!)<br />
1 beef or chicken bouillon cube, crushed<br />
1 tsp salt <br />
1 tsp pepper<br />
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Trim tomatoes and peppers. Heat olive oil in large skillet.<br />
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Saute the tomatoes, garlic, onion, and peppers at medium high heat until they began to blacken. <br />
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Put vegetables into food processor or blender and puree until desired consistency (not too much or it will be soupy). <br />
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Once blended, return mixture to skillet. Add remaining ingredients, sautéing until sauce thickens. Serve immediately, store in refrigerator, or preserve in jars.<br />
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If making a lot of salsa for canning, pour from the food processor into a large stew pot (instead of back into the skillet), then add in remaining ingredients. Make additional skillet batches to get to the quantity you want, mixing them in the large pot. Can them using the same "hot-processing" instructions as you would if you were canning tomatoes.<br />
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VERY IMPORTANT: This salsa is ALWAYS best served warm. Microwave briefly before serving.<br />
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Note: For more bite, don't core the jalapeno before grilling.<br />
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</div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-78074797858539242142011-06-05T11:16:00.000-04:002011-06-05T11:16:52.376-04:00The Pizza Chronicles - Special Edition 6/5/11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Watch this 16m documentary about Dom DeMarco, pizzaiolo. It's about art, pizza, family, and the American dream. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"The Best Thing I Ever Done" </span></div><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/16077855?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/16077855">The Best Thing I Ever Done HQ</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3826757">Margaret Emily MacKenzie</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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h/t Slice: http://slice.seriouseats.com/<br />
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</div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-77274277440073273652011-04-12T22:44:00.000-04:002011-04-12T22:44:59.182-04:00The Pizza Chronicles 04/12/11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ny04L0Hpnzs/TaULlhzUqWI/AAAAAAAACaU/KOQn08QUh4k/s1600/0412112110a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ny04L0Hpnzs/TaULlhzUqWI/AAAAAAAACaU/KOQn08QUh4k/s400/0412112110a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Shrimp and Asparagus</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Look, I'm fully aware that in Italy, it is rare and usually inappropriate to comingle cheese and seafood on a pizza pie. But, in some cases I have found that a judicious use of mozzarella and ricotta works and works very well. When did I claim to be a purist? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-48037050398467215452011-03-23T10:31:00.000-04:002011-03-23T10:31:21.585-04:00Urban Evacuation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/health/22prepare.html?_r=2&ref=science">This is a real problem. </a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HZ0Kihj43H4/TYoD2_nKVEI/AAAAAAAACaQ/8ceWz8SpgNw/s1600/Traffic+Jam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HZ0Kihj43H4/TYoD2_nKVEI/AAAAAAAACaQ/8ceWz8SpgNw/s320/Traffic+Jam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-12960469573879212612011-03-18T21:48:00.000-04:002011-03-18T21:48:50.333-04:00Points of Interest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">1) Nancy is going on a missions trip to Haiti. It is an exciting time and a remarkable opportunity. She's pretty pumped. Please pray for her, if you feel so led.<br />
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2) As we get older, we all wage our own personal war against Gravity. This particular law of physics is relentless, insidious, and certainly no respecter of age. However, here is an interesting article from Popular Science about a man who declared war on Gravity and even won a couple of battles. Check out <a href="http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-03/gravitys-sworn-enemy-roger-babson-and-gravity-research-foundation">this story about Roger Babson's Gravity Research Foundation</a>.<br />
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3) Here's a great article by Michael Ruhlman about <a href="http://ruhlman.com/2011/03/how-to-cook-dried-beans.html">cooking dried beans</a>. It's really interesting. Really. Go read it and thank me later. Preferably a couple of days later, if you know what I mean.<br />
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4) I bought one of these for some beloved family members. I think you should consider it, too. Especially if you or someone you care about lives in a city. Because, if/when we see <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/TEOTWAWKI">TEOTWAWKI</a>, it's going to be drastically worse in the cities than it is in the country. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Quakehold-70280-Grab-n-Go-Emergency-2-Person/dp/B000FJQQVI">Here's the link, check it out. </a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s8kUgJc0-ZY/TYP9e-0QM_I/AAAAAAAACaM/NaNFDwWTe_c/s1600/Grab-n-Go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s8kUgJc0-ZY/TYP9e-0QM_I/AAAAAAAACaM/NaNFDwWTe_c/s320/Grab-n-Go.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I was considering doing this even before the current horrific disaster in Japan. Yet, the need for this kind of preparedness, and even for much, more more, cannot possibly be highlighted with any greater clarity. It is foolish...no, just plain abject stupidity...to think that such a disaster could not happen here.<br />
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California, I'm talking to you. Scientists tell us, with near unanimous certainty, that it is not a matter of if, but <u>when</u>, there will be a catastrophic earthquake on the West Coast. And, guess what...there is no truly safe place. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1812_New_Madrid_earthquake">The second largest earthquake</a> in North American history chose New Madrid, Missouri as it's epicenter. Remember New Orleans, after all, and then consider even the difficulties suffered by many people during the harshest days of this past winter. And while it is certainly true that, at the appointed hour, we are all going to face our earthly demise, it is my belief that for as long as we are able, we should choose life. In the future, I believe it is not the strongest who will have the greatest chance of survival but, rather, those who planned well.<br />
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5) What you believe is important. Not merely that you believe something deeply or with great sincerity, but that you believe the right things, the true things. It is important to remember, too, that just because you don't believe something, it doesn't mean that it is not true. And so, with that in mind, here is that sad, interesting, and unfortunate interview of Rob Bell by journalist Martin Bashir:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Vg-qgmJ7nzA?rel=0&hd=1" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe><br />
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</div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-28704363079307982832011-03-18T20:33:00.000-04:002011-03-18T20:33:54.353-04:00The Pizza Chronicles 03/18/11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XC_VmDMqtb0/TYP3zkOhkJI/AAAAAAAACaI/JfJkDTV3-aw/s1600/jpeg_reencoded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XC_VmDMqtb0/TYP3zkOhkJI/AAAAAAAACaI/JfJkDTV3-aw/s400/jpeg_reencoded.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Rihm's <b><u>FRESH</u></b> Italian Sausage, </div><div style="text-align: center;">with Baby Spinach, Green Pepper, Mozzarella, and Parmigiano-Regiano. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yeah, fresh sausage makes a big difference.</div><div style="text-align: center;">--------</div></div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-73162032164303815262011-02-28T23:58:00.003-05:002011-03-01T00:01:49.819-05:00In Which I Indulge in a Very Brief Lament<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Oh, for crying out loud...PikeSpeak, has devolved into what is, essentially, just a food blog. Where is the insightful commentary, the thoughtful prose, the whimsical (and yet manly) poetical musings, the incisive critique of contemporary culture, the music reviews, the deep spiritual philisophicationisms, or the gratuitous self-promotion? Ummm...okay, maybe we have that last one... <br />
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Next, I'll probably be posting pix of the "Spaghetti Dinner for 150 People" thing that I'm doing on Family Night this Wednesday at church. That one IS big fun, though, with the all the women from Nancy's Small Group helping out. Actually, "helping" is not really the right word since, without them, it really wouldn't happen at all. I think I may take some pictures of that.<br />
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I like spaghetti. It's the best. With garlic bread. If you don't agree, then you clearly weren't raised right and your opinion is wrong.<br />
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</div></div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-14321218317313814532011-02-28T23:32:00.001-05:002011-03-01T07:20:32.542-05:00The Pizza Chronicles 02/28/11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">If I were more diligent, there would be a Pizza Chronicles update at least once a week. But I'm not, so here's one now.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Peppered Ham", Artichoke Hearts, Greek Olives, and Mozzarella pizza. </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The "Peppered Ham," purchased at my local Krogers, is advertised as Canadian bacon. It's really not, but it is still pretty good on a pizza. They should just call it what it is and not be pretentious about it. </div><br />
And, if you're not making your own pizza dough, you're not doing it right. If you need a good, fast, simple recipe, let me know...I'll get you going.<br />
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</div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-45977171001396981362011-02-27T15:03:00.000-05:002011-02-27T15:03:35.318-05:00Frittata con salsiccia, spinaci e peperoni rossi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_HOBFnPcg_U/TWqts3vTIII/AAAAAAAACaA/ZCNFKoW1Q2g/s1600/0227111342a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_HOBFnPcg_U/TWqts3vTIII/AAAAAAAACaA/ZCNFKoW1Q2g/s320/0227111342a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Or, as we call it around here, Sunday dinner.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>---- </b></div><br />
</div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-13398672286030683982011-02-23T23:05:00.001-05:002011-02-24T09:29:53.544-05:00A Casualty in the Kitchen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> This afternoon, I made one of the nicest looking, best tasting loaves of bread to date.<br />
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Sadly, after removing the lid to my Bread Pot so that the crust could finish, it slipped out of my potholdered grip, crashing onto the oven door, shattering into three large pieces and several smaller shards.<br />
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Bummer. But it could be worse. At least I'm not demonstrating in the square in downtown Tripoli. <br />
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Such is life. I'll have to order another Bread Pot soon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TU19FGTnVEI/AAAAAAAACZk/LpfaRA5EWsU/s1600/holytoast_648b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TU19FGTnVEI/AAAAAAAACZk/LpfaRA5EWsU/s200/holytoast_648b.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TU19FcCm7_I/AAAAAAAACZo/yH-yM5HsTIE/s1600/mixstix_648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TU19FcCm7_I/AAAAAAAACZo/yH-yM5HsTIE/s200/mixstix_648.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TU19F1UUd9I/AAAAAAAACZs/IITaXeb3mm0/s1600/ninjabreadmen_648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TU19F1UUd9I/AAAAAAAACZs/IITaXeb3mm0/s200/ninjabreadmen_648.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TU19GJkUSTI/AAAAAAAACZw/khHS3mzlxys/s1600/pizzaboss3000_648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TU19GJkUSTI/AAAAAAAACZw/khHS3mzlxys/s200/pizzaboss3000_648.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TU19mXQEkII/AAAAAAAACZ0/oCyirhIzFec/s1600/hacked_648b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TU19mXQEkII/AAAAAAAACZ0/oCyirhIzFec/s320/hacked_648b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"> ---</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.worldwidefred.com/home.htm"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">FRED & FRIENDS</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">-----</div></div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-41995277254303058032011-01-07T20:00:00.000-05:002011-01-07T20:00:05.654-05:00The Pizza Chronicles 01/07/11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TSe2eTs9Q-I/AAAAAAAACY0/dZSqgP3QTC0/s1600/Pizza+Patate+010711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TSe2eTs9Q-I/AAAAAAAACY0/dZSqgP3QTC0/s320/Pizza+Patate+010711.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pizza Patate</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">---</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-78679043057471823082011-01-03T21:42:00.000-05:002011-01-03T21:42:52.464-05:00BreadPotFor Christmas, Nancy gave me something super cool...a ceramic BreadPot. For a couple of months, I had been reading about various breadbaking techniques and ran across <a href="http://markbittman.com/on-forgetting-how-to-cook-part-ii">a helpful blogpost by Mark Bittman</a> that mentioned a handmade covered baking dish and a fabulous picture. Go check it out when you are done here.<br />
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I tracked down Judith Motzkin, <a href="http://www.motzkin.com/">her website</a>, <a href="http://breadbakers.blogspot.com/">her blog</a> and, after more reading, concluded that it would be just the thing. She and I corresponded a bit and she recommended this particular model, with a flatter bottom and deeper lid, because it suited the ciabatta-style bread that I have been making. Here is the first product from my BreadPot, a couple of whole wheat ciabatta loaves:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TSKANHRfNhI/AAAAAAAACYs/PGUjlqPSUs4/s1600/BreadPot+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TSKANHRfNhI/AAAAAAAACYs/PGUjlqPSUs4/s320/BreadPot+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TSKAQdMT5nI/AAAAAAAACYw/QfSF7M_tI4M/s1600/BreadPot2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TSKAQdMT5nI/AAAAAAAACYw/QfSF7M_tI4M/s320/BreadPot2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
The BreadPot is an appealing, rustic creation with a cheerfully functional aesthetic. It is simple, beautiful, and artistically made. I liked it as soon as I saw it, even before trying it out. Judith includes a bread recipe, indelibly inscribed in the lid, something she does with all of her pots. I will try it soon. She also has a rye bread recipe that I will find again and try soon, too.<br />
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I cooked the bread at 425 degrees for 20 minutes like I normally do on my pizza stone, then I took the lid off, and cooked it for 10 more minutes to firm the crust. It worked perfectly, rendering a good texture, firm crust, and full flavor. It will take a little tweaking of ingredients and cooking time, I think, for it to be perfect, but I am off to a good start. Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-31552308508913855432010-12-29T18:06:00.000-05:002010-12-29T18:06:47.466-05:00Boomsticks<div style="text-align: center;">Sleeping in, shooting guns with buddies, BBQ for lunch...I must be on vacation.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TRu7eC-ef3I/AAAAAAAACYk/O_00hpmqVdM/s1600/Shooting+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TRu7eC-ef3I/AAAAAAAACYk/O_00hpmqVdM/s320/Shooting+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TRu7gIJ8ULI/AAAAAAAACYo/BhvLAMfvzD4/s1600/Shooting+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TRu7gIJ8ULI/AAAAAAAACYo/BhvLAMfvzD4/s320/Shooting+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span id="goog_1398665111"></span><span id="goog_1398665112"></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">In both pics, JP is holding Jeff's rifle, a Rossi replica of the .45, lever-action, short-barrel carbine that Chuck Connors used on <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051308/">The Rifleman</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rifleman%27s_Rifle">Very cool gun</a>. We blew through 300+ rounds of varying kind and calibre this morning. </div><div style="text-align: center;">---</div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-31594530436274864632010-12-12T22:45:00.000-05:002010-12-12T22:45:11.586-05:00Self-sufficiencyI was struck by the irony of the fact that when I typed "off the grid living" into Google's search engine, there were 5.3 million results returned in .16 seconds.Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-69209046784756154882010-12-03T21:45:00.000-05:002010-12-03T21:45:17.303-05:00The Pizza Chronicles 12/3/10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TPmqNGgXJrI/AAAAAAAACXs/c3IcMI9_ZNs/s1600/Pizza+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TPmqNGgXJrI/AAAAAAAACXs/c3IcMI9_ZNs/s320/Pizza+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Roasted garlic brushed crust, tomato sauce, Italian sausage, Ancient Sweets red peppers, mozzarella, and parmesan. </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-59689324573600096182010-12-02T23:42:00.001-05:002010-12-02T23:43:11.537-05:00Culinary Artwork<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TPhw0qB9IfI/AAAAAAAACXo/Pm181a3t4-Y/s1600/ciabatta1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TPhw0qB9IfI/AAAAAAAACXo/Pm181a3t4-Y/s320/ciabatta1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some work with oil paint, some throw clay or design ceramic masterpieces. Others mold artwork out of plastic, glass, and metal. Some create their own worlds with words in prose or poetry. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I prefer yeast, flour, and water. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And occasionally some garlic.<br />
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</div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-13814130258375001492010-11-26T23:26:00.000-05:002010-11-26T23:26:25.038-05:00Pizza 11/26/10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TPCHvx-Q_SI/AAAAAAAACXk/RzyJiYQRg40/s1600/Pizza+112610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TPCHvx-Q_SI/AAAAAAAACXk/RzyJiYQRg40/s320/Pizza+112610.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Chicken Sausage with Mozzarella & Goat Cheese, Bell Pepper, Campiano Tomatoes, and Artichoke Hearts.Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-17567039681454111862010-11-02T10:46:00.001-04:002010-11-02T10:47:57.959-04:00Meat Loaf Bundt with a Tunnel of EggNever before have I felt the slightest inclination to cook with a bundt pan. It's fine for other people and I do not judge, but most of the food I've seen come out of bundt pans are just not really my kind of thing.<br />
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This, however, is very much my kind of thing. <br />
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Behold, the Meat Loaf Bundt with a Tunnel of Egg:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TNAjUQ-wsrI/AAAAAAAACXY/mYLaxWXxcGU/s1600/Meatloaf+Bundt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TNAjUQ-wsrI/AAAAAAAACXY/mYLaxWXxcGU/s320/Meatloaf+Bundt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://foodlibrarian.blogspot.com/2010/10/meatloaf-bundt-with-tunnel-of-egg-day.html">Please go here</a> </span>to meet the originator of this masterpiece, The Food Librarian, and check out the recipe. This photo, in all of it's raging glory, also is the property of The Food Librarian - I hope she doesn't mind that I used it.<br />
----Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-6253613680495235202010-07-26T10:45:00.000-04:002010-07-26T10:45:53.645-04:00Progress!My official new favorite state, besides Indiana and Texas, is now Arizona. Not only is it beautiful there, if a little toasty during the summer and early fall, but they just seem to be doing a lot of good things lately. I like <a href="http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_359bccac-5dab-52dd-90f0-5cf903f5fa8e.html">the new gun law</a>, for example.<br />
----------Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-27487456036914575372010-07-15T21:38:00.000-04:002010-07-15T21:38:05.127-04:00Miles Davis: Cool Jazz Sound - April 1959If you don't have Netflix, you probably should. I loved watching this show from 1959 entitled "The Robert Herridge Theater." It is a 30m live concert featuring the Miles Davis Quintet, accompanied by an in-studio orchestra led by Gil Evans. This is a timeless jazz classic performance with cuts from "Kind of Blue " and "Miles Ahead," two albums which epitomize the cool jazz era.<br />
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It's cool to see the vintage mics, recording gear, and early television production techniques, too. Fascinating. <br />
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Go watch it. <br />
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http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/Miles_Davis_Cool_Jazz_Sound/70014499?trkid=1211018 <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TD-3pDjsVaI/AAAAAAAACXA/kShPhQpjxLI/s1600/Miles+KOB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_luK3zps3bQ4/TD-3pDjsVaI/AAAAAAAACXA/kShPhQpjxLI/s320/Miles+KOB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-12700284404520921262010-07-15T11:01:00.000-04:002010-07-15T11:01:34.899-04:00Shut up already and go DO something.The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naacp">NAACP</a>'s <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/14/naacp.tea.party/index.html?iref=allsearch">accusing</a> the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Party_movement">Tea Party Movement</a> of overt <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism">racism</a> is as clear a case of the "pot calling the kettle black" as anything I have ever seen. It is as ironic and darkly humorous as it is poisonous and hypocritical. There is no question that, historically, this storied organization has done much outstanding work in the the attainment of civil rights parity for ethnic minorities, principally African-Americans. However, much of their recent work is centered on institutionalizing racism through the same type of self-serving, sensationalistic, race-baiting-for-profit exercises that are routinely engaged in by the Reverends Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson Sr., and similar profiteers. <br />
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I guess, like everybody else, they've all got mouths to feed and bills to pay over at the NAACP. And shouting about problems that don't exist is a heckuva lot easier than actually doing something substantive these days. With all of the hopeandchange(tm) going on, plus the very real racism scandal going on at the Justice Department to avoid dealing with, they've really had to work hard to find some way to get themselves back in the news.<br />
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Yeah, these people make me a little cynical.<br />
---- Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31325098.post-86825594693877863402010-06-08T08:40:00.006-04:002010-06-08T10:38:52.227-04:00Theresa Andersson - MBPYNHOThe latest installment of Music By People You've Never Heard Of.<br />
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An excellent combination of solo performance and creative mastery of current musical technology. I really like this girl. Be sure to watch to through the scat solo all the way to the end.<br />
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<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GJkQvyoWJBk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GJkQvyoWJBk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br />
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<a href="http://www.theresaandersson.com/">Check her out here.</a> <br />
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And also this one. Crazy good...<br />
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<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ICuP4JGoAiA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ICuP4JGoAiA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br />
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----Barry Pikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417162275834989021noreply@blogger.com0