Spring is a time to retire the heavy stews that kept away the winter’s chill and celebrate the season of the sandwich and nothing says comfort food like pimento cheese. Now if your experience with pimento cheese involves picking up a pot of the processed grocery store stuff, then I can understand your lack of enthusiasm, store-bought spreads are like the movie adaptation of a book, they often share a name and precious little else. Likewise, if you are reading this north of the Mason-Dixon line then there is a good chance you are unaware of this delicacy and therefore “don’t know what you are missing”. It seems hard to believe, to anyone raised in the South, that this ubiquitous potluck dinner/church social/picnic/afternoon tea/school lunch staple is a “regional” dish. To the rest of you I am preaching to the choir, but stick with me and maybe I’ll find some scripture you haven’t heard yet.
Month: March 2009
When March rolls around and Spring begins peeking at us from behind the trees, I begin to long for fields of green. Soon enough the flowers begin to raise their heads from their long winter naps and the signs of the turn of the season become impossible to ignore. It is about this time that one of my favorite holiday’s rolls around, when everyone gets to put on the green and pretend that they are one of the blessed people, if only for a day. For me, St. Patrick‘s Day is not about drinking and carousing, although I have been known to do my fair share of that, it is really about the change of the year, a celebration that we have made it through another winter and that the time of bounty is ready to begin again, the polar opposite of Thanksgiving, if you will. A time to consider what lies ahead and what this new year will bring. Of course, if you would like to celebrate that with a raised pint, well as long as the beer is black and stout, then who am I too judge.
Big Agnes Encampment +15° Sleeping System
$159.95 @ REI
When it comes to your sleeping arrangements, you can’t be too careful when it comes to climbing into someone else’s sack. This is especially true, out on the trail, where your choice of sleeping arrangements can be the difference between life and death, or comfort and discomfort in my non-mountaineering world. I have searched far and wide for a truly comfortable cold-weather bag at a reasonably backpackable weight and I now own a rack full of failed contenders. They are all great bags, but they fall short somehow. My 6’3″ more than amply padded frame requires more space than most off the shelf bags allow for, so it has been a challenging search at times. Like a trailbound Goldilocks I would go from bag to bag, this one was roomy and warm but too heavy; that one is lightweight but too constrictive and not warm enough. So the search continued until I finally found one that is, just about right.
It is often said that the best projects come from scratching an itch you have and that is certainly the inspiration for this one. My wife and I love to cook, and we are both gear heads, subsequently we have way more pots and pans than we need, or than our small farmhouse kitchen can store. We considered cutting back on our gourmet accoutrement, but just could not bear the thought of parting with our fajita griddle, extra No. 6 cast iron skillet or monkey-shaped baking pan, so a new storage option was in order. A quick survey of the kitchen revealed that we had some unused space along the wall under our kitchen table so we set out on a quest for a new pot rack. We searched high and low, but could not find anything that used the available space well, except for a $200 dollar model from Williams-Sonoma. So we abandoned that quest and headed over to Lowe’s for some lightbulbs. While picking up a pack of spiral CFL’s, suddenly a metaphorical lightbulb went off and we decided to make our own Pot Rack, custom designed and built for our available space.
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The Drinks
- Angel Face
- Red Needle
- The World…Reversed
- See No Evil
- Consensual Objectification
- End of the Road
- The Doctor
- Ashtray Heart
- Spirited Oaxacan Hot Chocolate
- Chef’s Kiss
- Rheinberg Sour
- Ward 8
- Negroni De Nubes
- 100 Year Old Cigar
- Brown Butter & Banana Old-Fashioned
- Don Lockwood
- Brace Position
- Espresso Martini
- Noble Beast
- Rabbit Hole
- Californian Margarita
- Yabba Dabba Daiquiri
- Spicy Schatzi-Rita
- Rum Rabbit Rum
- Hard Sell
- Umami Martini
- Barbados Cocktail
- Golden Dream
- Follow That Black Rabbit
- Conejo Tonto
- Easter Island
- Sandfly
- Johann Goes to Mexico
- Final Countdown
- Irish Old-Fashioned
- Autumn Ash
- Naked and Famous
- Hot Irish Toddy
- Coco No Coco
- Eye Opener
- First Time Caller
- Industry Sour
- Juliet & Romeo
- Bourbon Smash
- Al Amanacer
- Charles Dickens Punch
- Tom & Jerry
- Midnight Clear
- Gingerbread Snap
- Kir Royale
- Dark Hedges
- Italian Cookie
- Verte Chaud
- Peppermint Patty
- Coconut Eggnog
- Color in Your Cheeks
- Happy Huladays
- Dominicana
- Brandy Crusta
- Pumpkin Pie Martini
- Mull Again
- Mulled Wine
- Haberdasher
- Curveball
- Angel’s Tit
- Headless Horseman
- Dark & Smoky
- Witch’s Kiss
- Bitter Heart
- Cadaver Reviver
- Vampire’s Kiss
- Pink Squirrel
- Fernet Ramos
- Harvey Wallbanger
- Paper Plane
- Landmaster
- Imperial Bulldog
- Flannel Shirt
- Breakfast Martini
- Barracuda
- Smoky Worm
- JD’s Single Barrel Sweet Tea
- The Mastadon
- Doughnut Old-Fashioned
- Aperol Spritz
- Southern Scotsman
- Corpse Reviver #2
- Raspberry Donn Day Afternoon
- Trinidad Especial
- Tradewinds
- Summer Negroni
- Porn Star Martini
- Fantasticus
- White Witch
- The Patriot
- The Brazilian Smuggler
- Count Mast
- The Afterlife
- Tatanka
- Classic Daiquiri
- Daiquiri Noir
- Cinnamon Toast Crunch
- Scotch Violets
- That’s Hot
- The Waiting Room
- Flor de PB Jerez Swizzle
- Baie Du Galion
- Caipirinha
- Hotel Nacional Special
- Menthattan
- Flor de Jerez
- The Flying Nutsman
- Clandestine
- Eloté Cocktail
- Morning Man
- Brancolada
- Death By Morning
- Japanese Slipper
- Jubilee Punch
- Bananas Foster Manhattan
- Monte Carlo
- Yardbird
- Leche de Pantera
- The Eternal Optimist
- Earl Grey Sour
- Parasol
- Bela Lugosi
- Love in the South Pacific
- Cynar Sour
- The Queen’s Steeple
- The Sawyer
- Rainbow Paradise
- Lively Gus
- The Crushed Nun
- Mundo Perdido
- Widow’s Kiss
- PB&J Sour
- The Bitter Last Word
- The Mystical One
- Jersey Sunset
- Mexicillin
- Blue Lady
- Northern Lights
- The Corsican
- Champagne Daiquiri
- Otho’s BrunchaPuncha
- Lady Washington
- Death In The Afternoon
- Negative Space
- Violette Royale
- Death in Oaxaca
- Champagne Cocktail
- Old Jamaican
- The Seelbach
- Parisian Daiquiri
- Bonnie Prince Charles
- Fin de Siécle
- Key Lime Curd Margarita
- White Negroni Piña Colada
- The Brooklyn
- Randall Porter
- Death Flip
- Bywater
- Ticonderoga Cup
- Bananarac
- Rescue Team
- Lorikeet
- Brandy Alexander
- Supreme
- More Supreme
- White Knight
- Penichillin
- Hot Penicillin
- Oliveto
- Irish Cocktail
- Nocino Sour
- El Coronel
- Mamie Taylor
- Braulio Sour
- Ce Soir
- Song of the Siren
- Rob Roy
- The Banana Stand
- Her Majesty
- Eeyore’s Requiem
- Double Lemon Gimlet
- Bananakin Skywalker
- Rum Walnut Alexander
- Montenegroni
- Dark ‘n Stormy
- The Castaway
- Two Boil Flip
- Moonlight Cocktail
- The Wild Card
- Brandy Daisy
- Three Milks
- Frozen Ice-olation
- Spruce Moose
- Saturn
- Coco Bitter
- Pearl Diver
- Port Royal
- P.S. I Love You
- Chartreuse Toddy
- 5th Amendment
- Amaretto Fizz
- Salame de Chocolate
- La Vida Nola
- The Godfather
- Wildest Redhead
- The Chanticleer
- DTC Coffee Tonic
- Drunken Fruity Pebbles
- Follow the Black Rabbit
- War of the Roses
- Groundhog Intervention
- Chocolate Orange Martini
- Rusty Nail
- Lemon Bar
- Coffee House
- Explorer Martini
- Red Light
- Gonzo
- Bobby Burns
- Old Vermont Cocktail
- Ramos Gin Fizz
- Queen’s Park Swizzle
- Stinger
- New Dawn
- Sedation
- La Florida
- Blue Corvette
- El Fiero
- Cameron’s Kick
- Set the New Year on Fire
- The Full Monte
- Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
- French Toast Flip
- The Unvanquished
- Nihilist Sour
- Scorched Earth
- Dirty Banana
- Scorpion
- Dumpster Fire
- Yule Love Amaro
- Horwich Hall
- Pom-Pimm’s Fizz
- Holiday Margarita
- Frosted Sugar Plum
- Boozy Orange Hot Chocolate
- Coquito
- Hot Buttered Rum
- Peruvian Christmas
- Lemon Syllabub
- Peppermint Martini
- Clyde Common Eggnog
- Drunk Uncle
- Milk Punch Two Ways
- Praying Mantis
- Midnight Stinger
- Between the Sheets
- Poet’s Dream
- Montenegro Sour
- Devilish Coffee Milk Punch
- The Last Menta
- Banana Calling
- Menta Wray
- White Lady
- General Harrison’s Nog
- Nuclear Daiquiri
- Mexican Breakfast Stout
- Autumn Sour
- Cranberry Spiced Whiskey Sour
- Pumpkin Flip
- Peas and Spank You
- Abstract Speed and Sound
- Tipperary
- Little Italy
- White Cloud
- Guardian Angel
- Montparnasse
- The Avenue
- DeGroff’s Harvest Moon
- Pignoli Alexander
- Buffala Negra
- Norwegian Paralysis
- Lake at Night
- Avenue Scotch Cocktail
- Lucien Gaudin
- Twentieth Century
- Mezcalita
- Irish Maid
- Fog Cutter
- Boulevardier
- Hanky Panky
- El Presidente
- Purple
- Stars Fell on Alabama
- Morning Dew
- Black Magic
- Vanished In the Dark
- In Cold Blood
- Haunted Graveyard
- The Poisoned Apple
- Satan’s Whiskers
- The Eternal Kiss
- Cereal Killer
- Witch’s Brew
- The Green Ghost
- Wolf Bite
- Blood & Sand
- Black Widow
- Wet Congress
- The Bijou
- Out of the Chaos
- The Mean Fiddler
- The Stiletto
- Thyme to Shine
- Upside-Down Martini
- Bitter Giuseppe
- Applejack Rabbit
- The Bitter Clipper
- Ice-Berg
- Lion’s Tail
- Blue Hawaii
- Tiki Peat
- The Racketeer
- The Preakness
- Apple Shochu Cocktail
- Neptune’s Wrath
- Pan American Clipper
- Donnie’s Element
- The Final Ward
- Elote Old-Fashioned
- The Botanist
- Smoke & Mirrors
- Traveling Banana
- Gypsy Queen
- Coffee & Cigarettes
- Aromatherapy
- Dude, Sweet Chocolate Martini
- Eau de Lavender
- Sophisticated Savage
- Donna Maria
- Smoke on the Ranch Water
- Shochu-Jito
- Amaretto Sour
- Mad Hatter
- Horn of the Bulls
- Donn Day Afternoon
- Spicy 50
- The Grey Fizz
- Switchblade
- Artichoke Hold
- Earl Grey MarTeani
- Cable Car
- Aviation
- Rusty Switchblade
- Watermelon Beer
- One Love
- Banana Flip
- The Bluebird
- The Mojito
- Hurricane
- Easy Street Fizz
- Sunflower
- New York Sour
- Tequila Gimlet
- Revolver
- Tuaca na Nog
- Recoil
- Sun-Kissed Simian
- Banana Farmer
- Tia Mia
- Bastion Overproof Daiquiri
- Gin Basil Smash
- Piña Verde
- Miami Vice
- Last Man Standing
- Psycho Killer
- Marlin
- Angostura Colada
- Banana Daiquiri
- Ghosts of Black’s Beach
- Bow & Arrow
- Another Time
- Kaieteur Swizzle
- Swimming Pool
- Fernet Sour
- The Written Word
- Last of the Oaxacans
- Dublin Minstrel
- Original Strawberry Daiquiri
- Grasshopper 2.0
- Kråuter Sauer
- Dead Men of Whiskey Sour
- Hard Start
- Strawberry Daiquiri, Actual
- BBB-Q Cookout
- The Bishop
- Penicillin
- Three Dots and a Dash
- Notorious BHB
- Mimosa
- Corn & Oil
- The Red Queen
- Leg Spreader
- To Hell With Spain
- Pink Lady
- Honey Wall
- Old Cuban
- Chin Up
- Banana Boat
- Vesper Martini
- Enzoni
- The Lone Ranger
- Devil Went Down to Georgia
- Dr. Funk
- Firecracker
- My Shot : An Alexander Hamilton Cocktail
- Coffee, Tea or Me
- Mary Pickford
- Rattlesnake
- Aggravation
- Pimm’s Cup
- Bananas Pajamas
- Negroni
- French 75
- Midori Sour
- Cobra’s Fang
- Earl Grey, Not
- Bahama Mama
- The Curse of Jean Lafitte
- Grasshopper
- The Expedition
- Her Majesty’s Royal Marine
- Sidecar
- Jungle Bird
- Vieux Carre
- Bacon Old-Fashioned
- The Scofflaw
- Give Me a Dime
- Long Island Iced Tea
- Jet Pilot
- Army & Navy
- Navy Grog
- The Martinez
- 12 Mile Limit
- The Leading Role
- Monkey Gland
- Rubicon
- South Seas Sling
- Pain Killer
- Piña Colada
- Cosmopolitan
- Full Circle…
- Look for the Silver Lining
- Honey Bee
- Halekulani
- Salty Dog
- Pickled Surfer
- Zombie
- Jack Rose
- Peach Bourbon Smash
- The Verdant Lady
- The Last Word
- Lauwiliwilinukunuku’oi’oi or Speaking in Tongues
- Kamikaze
- Cucumber Gimlet
- Dirty Shirley & The Shirley Temple
- Caesar
- Cuba Libre
- Tom Collins
- Cardigan
- Gordon’s Breakfast Cup
- Oaxacan Old-Fashioned
- The Blinker
- Gold Rush
- Tequila Sunrise
- La Paloma
- Bee’s Knees
- Sazerac
- Mint Julep
- Olive Oil Vodka Martini
- Iron Ranger
- Gin Gimlet
- Vesta
- El Floridita Daiquiri
- Clover Club
- Corsair Daiquiri
- Moscow Mule
- The Suffering Bastard
- Pisco Sour
- Spanish Gin & Tonic
- Mai Tai
- Manhattan
- Whiskey Sour
- Whiskey Ginger
- White Russian
- Dead Rabbit Irish Coffee
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