Text 2431, 144 rader
Skriven 2006-06-23 09:50:00 av DAVE DRUM (1:10/345)
Ärende: Hiatus
==============
To start off - I'd like to that several of y'all who e-mailed queries as 
to my health and well-being (and that of Georgia, as well).

No excuses for my absence from these pages - I just got busy with some 
other things and put off writing here ... although I did archive 
packets. Anyway the echo fell out of my time budget while I was hustling 
to make a living over and above the subsistence that Social Security 
(HAH!) pays. And building up an internet radio station (JAZZ @ Dirty 
Dave's After Hours Joint) - it takes a free software download to tune it 
in (http://www.streamerp2p.com/) and a broadband connection.

Also, I have been politicking quite severely trying to get a new 
governor (oddly enough for me, in this day and age - a Repuglican) 
elected ... as the current waste of oxygen wants to spend all his time 
in Chicago and away from the seat of (Illinois) government. Anyway, Ms 
Topinka will make a much better chief executive for this state as she is 
a much more able administrator and deal maker. Enough of politics - one 
of the reasons for not writing here more often is that I tend to let my 
politicking creep into almost all that I do.

I've also been devoting a lot of time to the local Freecycle group. All 
the stuff there is my favourite price ... FREE!!! If you have things you  
want to get rid of - and care about saving landfill space or not giving 
your trash hauler a hernia go to http://www.freecycle.org/ to locate a 
group near you.

I am reasonably well - no better or worse than the last time you saw me. 
Georgia, OTOH, is a mess. Her back has gotten worse, her job has run her 
off as not being able to do the work. And she cannot get declared 
"disabled" and thus eligible for SSDI and Medicare. Now, she has been 
experienced spells where she remains awake for up to 96 hours then 
sleeps 95% of the time for another three or four days. Going in a bit to 
a sleep clinic in St. Louis to see what if anything can be done. EEK! I 
don't know if she will be able to make it to the picnic this summer. 
We'll see. Her e-mail (if you want to drop her a line) is: ovalturns21 
at sbcglobal dot net.

When we were at the picnic at Burt's I was working for Advance Auto 
Parts. I was told fairly rudely that my services were no longer required 
there ("You're fired. Get The F___ Out!") by a manager who, as it 
happens was led from his store in handcuffs a few weeks ago. Seems I was 
only the first of the help he got rid of in a effort to get rid of all 
who would be able to catch him at his thieving. He forgot, however, 
about the company's internal auditor and shrink specialist - who nailed 
his arse to the wall. There _WAS_ much rejoicing in Muddville on that 
happy occasion. Although I told a couple friends who still work there 
that they should feel insulted that Richie didn't can them, too.  Bv)=

I went right across the street and got a job with the competition (Auto 
Zone) at the same money and more hours. The bennies aren't as good. 
Advance is the only place I ever worked that has vision and dental 
insurance for anyone, let alone part-timers.

Anyway, if at all possible I will make the picnic this summer. And if it 
can be done without jeapordising her health even further - I will bring 
G along, too.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06
 
      Title: Gumbo at Dirty Dave's
 Categories: Soups, Stews, Rice
      Yield: 5 Quarts
 
      1 c  Vegetable oil (or lard)
      1 c  Flour
  1 1/2 lb Andouille sausage
  1 1/2 lb Chicken hearts; halved
      1 lb Shrimp; deveined 60-71 ct
      2 c  Chopped onions
      1 c  Chopped celery
      1 c  Chopped green pepper
      2 tb Chopped garlic
      4 qt Simmering chicken stock
           Salt & fresh black pepper
      1 tb Cayenne pepper (or more)
      2 c  Chopped green peppers
           Bay leaf
           Thyme
      1 bn Green onions; tops only
           - chopped. White part added
           to chopped onion total
      2 c  Uncooked rice
      1 qt Water
           Sherry wine (opt)
 
  In a Dutch oven, pour in some oil and heat to frying temp.
  Remove andouille sausage from casings and brown, breaking
  up lumps over medium high heat. Remove and reserve cooked
  sausage. Add lard (or oil) to the pot.
  
  In a separate (heavy, thick bottomed) pot make a roux with
  the oil and flour to desired color - like peanut butter.

  Add onions, celery, green pepper and later garlic to the
  oil and sausage dripping in Dutch oven. Stir continuously
  until vegetables reach desired tenderness (wilted). Add
  roux and sausage in the stock pot and continue to cook;
  Reduce heat to medium-low and stir frequently. Add your
  stock one ladleful at a time, mixing in well after each
  addition of liquid.

  Coat the halved chicken hearts by shaking them in a paper
  bag with seasoned (salt and pepper) flour. In the heavy
  pot in which you made the roux melt some lard (or oil) 
  and brown the halved hearts. Cook in batches if necessary
  adding browned hearts to the gumbo pot as they are done.
 
  Bring mixture to a boil. Add peeled shrimp. Return to boil.

  Reduce to simmer, cover and cook for an hour or more.

  Season to taste.
  
  About 20 minutes before gumbo is done start the rice
  using your favourite rice cooking technique.

  About 10 minutes before serving, add green onions.
  
  Mound a scoop of rice (one cup) in a bowl. Cover with
  gumbo. File (fee-lay [powdered sassafras]) may be added
  at the table as a thickener.

  Sherry may be added at the table.

  Uncle Dirty Dave's Kitchen
 
MMMMM

ENJOY!!!
--------
UNCLE DIRTY DAVE'S KITCHEN --
Home of Yaaaaa Hooooo Aaahhh!!! HOT SAUCE and Hardin Cider
 
I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending 
too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree 
of it. T Jefferson

... A truly great wine should not leave you with a foam moustache.

LABOR UNIONS - The folks who brought you weekends!!!
þ CMPQwk 1.42 5653 þ

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