While putting up our Christmas tree, pulled out a CD of Rock and Roll Christmas Spectacular. Haven’t been able to see them for a couple years, but the music is always enjoyable.
RRXS is a group of professional musicians from the St. Cloud area who put together a series of holiday shows each year. There are shows next weekend in Chanhassen; otherwise it’s quite a drive to get to them, but still worth it.
Here’s their website and schedule.
Their performance includes original lyrics to traditional holiday songs, and sometimes a combination of melodies and lyrics you wouldn’t expect.
Without giving too much away, my favorites are Little Drummer Boy/Wipeout, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen to the tune and beat of Aqualung, including the flute solo.
If you can possibly see RRXS, I highly recommend it.
Mouth-watering Omaha Steaks
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Recipes: homemade french dressing
Some time ago, I came across an old cookbook from the days when people used to cook from scratch.
Among the recipes in it, there was one for homemade french dressing. I especially like it because it is cheaper than buying store brands. Here’s what I turned it into:
1 can tomato soup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
2/3 cup vinegar
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cayenne
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 1/2 tsp. celery seed
Combine all indgredients in a jar with lid, and shake well. Refrigerate to store.
Of course, you can modify any recipe to personal taste. As you can see, I like celery seed.
Among the recipes in it, there was one for homemade french dressing. I especially like it because it is cheaper than buying store brands. Here’s what I turned it into:
1 can tomato soup
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
2/3 cup vinegar
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cayenne
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 1/2 tsp. celery seed
Combine all indgredients in a jar with lid, and shake well. Refrigerate to store.
Of course, you can modify any recipe to personal taste. As you can see, I like celery seed.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Thanksgiving: we are thankful for . . .
On this holiday, we have much to give thanks for:
• the promise of eternal life with our savior Jesus Christ. In the meantime, time marches on irregularly – arriving slowly and passing quickly for situations we eagerly anticipate, while coming around often and lasting long for those we would prefer to avoid.
• family and friends to love and be loved.
• health: despite the nicks, bruises, and prescriptions, most of us have a pretty good deal on the physical front.
• resources: similarly, our societal lifestyle is way beyond what we need. Walk up to a big-box store and the door opens for you – not only is this expected; we don’t even notice it anymore.
• Now. Yesterday has slipped away; tomorrow may not come. Right now, what we have is . . . right now.
• the promise of eternal life with our savior Jesus Christ. In the meantime, time marches on irregularly – arriving slowly and passing quickly for situations we eagerly anticipate, while coming around often and lasting long for those we would prefer to avoid.
• family and friends to love and be loved.
• health: despite the nicks, bruises, and prescriptions, most of us have a pretty good deal on the physical front.
• resources: similarly, our societal lifestyle is way beyond what we need. Walk up to a big-box store and the door opens for you – not only is this expected; we don’t even notice it anymore.
• Now. Yesterday has slipped away; tomorrow may not come. Right now, what we have is . . . right now.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Sports: Vikings, Packers, oops
We hosted an early Thanksgiving Sunday for family, which meant football on TV, which meant I ended up seeing part of a Vikings game for the second time this season.
Last time, my prediction was perfect (See here.)
This time, when the Vikings surprisingly scored to go ahead 23-7 late in the third quarter, I made my move and announced “24 to 23.”
Everybody knew what I meant. Worse yet, nobody dared disagree. Even the most loyal Vikings fan knows deep in his heart that no lead is ever safe.
As it turned out, I was only partially right this time. The Vikings did blow the lead, but only to the point of tieing the game, not losing, which was a victory in itself.
I was a victim of Green Bay’s strategy of trying to clear up the losing margin in two 8-point pieces instead of the traditional NFL route of simply kicking extra points. There was plenty of time for two touchdowns and a field goal, which proved to be the case and would have been successful had the Packers followed the proven format for coming from behind to defeat a Minnesota team.
It’s nice to see other teams make mistakes, too.
Last time, my prediction was perfect (See here.)
This time, when the Vikings surprisingly scored to go ahead 23-7 late in the third quarter, I made my move and announced “24 to 23.”
Everybody knew what I meant. Worse yet, nobody dared disagree. Even the most loyal Vikings fan knows deep in his heart that no lead is ever safe.
As it turned out, I was only partially right this time. The Vikings did blow the lead, but only to the point of tieing the game, not losing, which was a victory in itself.
I was a victim of Green Bay’s strategy of trying to clear up the losing margin in two 8-point pieces instead of the traditional NFL route of simply kicking extra points. There was plenty of time for two touchdowns and a field goal, which proved to be the case and would have been successful had the Packers followed the proven format for coming from behind to defeat a Minnesota team.
It’s nice to see other teams make mistakes, too.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Restaurant review: Kaffe Stuga, Harris MN
Just a stone’s throw off the I-35 freeway to the east is the little town of Harris, just a little north of North Branch.
Kaffe Stuga (that’s “coffee house” in English) is your classic local cafe.
Went simple with a cod dinner and sirloin tip hoagie. The side salad was just a small bowl of lettuce with a cucumber slice, but for perhaps the first time in my life, I was given more salad dressing than I needed for the proportion of the salad. Usually, I end up trying to stretch the dressing as far as I can to cover the remaining lettuce.
The cod was perfectly cooked, and the accompanying fries was a generous portion. Best of all, two meals were barely over $15, before the tip.
You know what you’re getting from the chains, but the local places have their own charm and variety, even when you order the same food.
Kaffe Stuga (that’s “coffee house” in English) is your classic local cafe.
Went simple with a cod dinner and sirloin tip hoagie. The side salad was just a small bowl of lettuce with a cucumber slice, but for perhaps the first time in my life, I was given more salad dressing than I needed for the proportion of the salad. Usually, I end up trying to stretch the dressing as far as I can to cover the remaining lettuce.
The cod was perfectly cooked, and the accompanying fries was a generous portion. Best of all, two meals were barely over $15, before the tip.
You know what you’re getting from the chains, but the local places have their own charm and variety, even when you order the same food.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Consumer finance: shortages and conspiracies
Friends, it’s too early to tell, but we may have survived the Great Oil Filter Shortage of 2013.
People laugh at me because of how much I stock up on certain products. But what I buy is only things that I know won’t spoil and that I am going to use.
Oil filters are one such product. I keep a few of each type on hand so that when a vehicle needs an oil change, I can do it at my convenience without being forced into a special shopping trip just to get supplies.
It’s a fluke, but I happened to be at three different Walmart locations in just over a week recently. Each time, I went looking to replace what I need, but two of the model numbers of Fram oil filters were not there.
On the next visit, however, there was one filter #10060 which I snatched up quickly, plus two of the other number I needed. So did I get the last filter after that number was re-stocked, or the last one that hadn’t sold yet?
Is the shortage over, or are they be setting us up for something like the Great Vanilla Wafer Conspiracy of 2009?
(Aside: remember when Subway first started its famous “5 Dollar Footlong” promotion? Do you remember also that most of the sandwiches were $4.60 then? It was advertised as a bargain but really a big price increase.)
Back to wafers. There was a time I used to take a small serving of them as part of my lunch. Unlike Nabisco’s brand-name rip-off at $4-plus a box, Walmart’s Great Value brand of vanilla wafers was just $1.00 a box, and actually tasted better than the high-priced counterparts.
Then suddenly, the price shot up to $1.07, a percentage increase exceeded only by health insurance. Next, Walmart’s vanilla wafers completely disappeared from stores for a couple months, leaving only the brand-name choice (conspiracy!).
When they did come back in a redesigned package, they were $1.27, and the price kept climbing from there. Eventually, I found an alternative off-brand at the grocery store, but it’s not like the good old days of $1 apiece. Now, we’re in the area of $1.68 for a “cheap” box of good wafers.
The only thing worse: a bag of Doritos costs most per pound than a good steak.
People laugh at me because of how much I stock up on certain products. But what I buy is only things that I know won’t spoil and that I am going to use.
Oil filters are one such product. I keep a few of each type on hand so that when a vehicle needs an oil change, I can do it at my convenience without being forced into a special shopping trip just to get supplies.
It’s a fluke, but I happened to be at three different Walmart locations in just over a week recently. Each time, I went looking to replace what I need, but two of the model numbers of Fram oil filters were not there.
On the next visit, however, there was one filter #10060 which I snatched up quickly, plus two of the other number I needed. So did I get the last filter after that number was re-stocked, or the last one that hadn’t sold yet?
Is the shortage over, or are they be setting us up for something like the Great Vanilla Wafer Conspiracy of 2009?
(Aside: remember when Subway first started its famous “5 Dollar Footlong” promotion? Do you remember also that most of the sandwiches were $4.60 then? It was advertised as a bargain but really a big price increase.)
Back to wafers. There was a time I used to take a small serving of them as part of my lunch. Unlike Nabisco’s brand-name rip-off at $4-plus a box, Walmart’s Great Value brand of vanilla wafers was just $1.00 a box, and actually tasted better than the high-priced counterparts.
Then suddenly, the price shot up to $1.07, a percentage increase exceeded only by health insurance. Next, Walmart’s vanilla wafers completely disappeared from stores for a couple months, leaving only the brand-name choice (conspiracy!).
When they did come back in a redesigned package, they were $1.27, and the price kept climbing from there. Eventually, I found an alternative off-brand at the grocery store, but it’s not like the good old days of $1 apiece. Now, we’re in the area of $1.68 for a “cheap” box of good wafers.
The only thing worse: a bag of Doritos costs most per pound than a good steak.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Christmas shopping: part 3 of it goes on and on . . .
This time headed to the 494 strip. Same stores (Sam’s Club, Walmart, Kohl’s), just different locations.
At this Sam’s, the clerk selling cable/satellite wasn’t as pushy. He graciously accepted my answer that I don’t pay for tv.
Picked up some nice gift baskets for the neighbors (hope they’re not reading this). At Sam’s, the tab always runs up quickly because of the large packages. Ended up checking out twice because we couldn’t fit everything in cart, $200 and $150. Somehow it just doesn’t hurt as bad as dropping $350 all at once.
Quick stop at Kohl’s. The difference between men and women shopping: after a buying decision is made, men go pay for it and leave; women keep looking.
Most important lesson of the day: the south and east exterior sides of Kohl’s at Southtown are identical. If you don’t leave through the door you went in, it will be very difficult to find your car.
At this Sam’s, the clerk selling cable/satellite wasn’t as pushy. He graciously accepted my answer that I don’t pay for tv.
Picked up some nice gift baskets for the neighbors (hope they’re not reading this). At Sam’s, the tab always runs up quickly because of the large packages. Ended up checking out twice because we couldn’t fit everything in cart, $200 and $150. Somehow it just doesn’t hurt as bad as dropping $350 all at once.
Quick stop at Kohl’s. The difference between men and women shopping: after a buying decision is made, men go pay for it and leave; women keep looking.
Most important lesson of the day: the south and east exterior sides of Kohl’s at Southtown are identical. If you don’t leave through the door you went in, it will be very difficult to find your car.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)