Duplicitous

Just a reminder. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), remains a masked paramilitary unit that can kill with near absolute legal impunity; non-citizens and citizens alike. There has been no public investigation much less a trial for the agents who murdered two citizens in Minnesota, murders that were filmed. Or for those agents who have killed other citizens and non-citizens in other locations around the country, 

 

ICE agents go about their business without ID using unmarked vehicles without license tags.

 

Some of you readers may find me over-dramatic.  

The Trump boosters among my circle of acquaintances generally support ICE and a few of them bask in the reflected glory of violent apprehensions and an occasional shooting from time-to-time. One of them had the poor taste to post on Face Book that a lesbian with blue hair and a nose ring deserves to die.

 

I don't know about you but that seems dramatic. 

Naturally, we already know the universal truth. 

 

If the Dems were in power and doing the same thing; MAGA heads would be exploding.  

 

Any rational individual doesn't support unidentifiable federal paramilitaries. Why? A rational individual knows there is too much room for abuse whether or not you are a D or an R or an exile like me in between. 

This deviation from the law enforcement norms we've long grown-accustomed-to over decades erodes trust. It is truthfully that simple.

 

Some days the insincerity in the world is more than knee deep. It is duplicitous. 

The Red Rocket

When this girl joined our family three years ago I hadn't any advance knowledge of the variation found within the golden retriever breed.  Our dog was just a pup.  At the first vet visit the doc correctly identified Ruby as a red golden retriever; also called a field trial golden or simply a field golden.

What I've come to learn is that this subset of the golden family is a dog bred for athleticism, endurance with a strong prey instinct and desire to retrieve.  As a previous Labrador retriever household this has been a terrific fit. 

Unlike the larger, fluffier, blockier-built show line goldens our Ruby is leaner, lighter-boned and smaller; weighing-in as a 48 pound female.  She's outfitted with a shorter, denser  double coat with less feathering to collect cockle burs and stickers.  She's also less "golden" and more mahogany-red.  

Our black lab had a narrower skull along with a longer muzzle typical of an English lab; while her niece, our blonde lab, sported a square face; she was a block head.  Ruby exhibits more of the former physical attributes unlike the heavier-boned, broader-headed show goldens.  While they are the exact same breed, they have split into two distinct lines.

None of the foregoing is to suggest that show goldens are couch potatoes and field goldens are hyper; both excel in their intelligence and skill set for which they've been bred.  And they make for terrific family members.  

Meanwhile, at almost three and a half years of age our Red Rocket continues to burn-up the trails...

 

 

Friday Music

We all know who the assholes are; and they have a right to be an asshole.  That's what makes America great. 

This catchy tune speaks volumes and speaks for itself... 

When You Have Tomatoes...

...Make Tomato Pie.

This was dinner a couple of evenings ago.  Served with fresh greens from the garden and a Take And Bake baguette.

 

It's kinda putzy as far as recipes go, but you can perform all the prep in-advance.  Assembly and final bake is the relatively short part of the process

While you should seed your tomatoes; you don't have to bother peeling them.  The two most prolific tomatoes in my raised bed garden repertoire this year include San Marzano and Korean Long - both are high in the flesh department and low in seeds. If at all possible use fresh basil prepared in a chiffonade.    

Tomato Pie

Classic Southern tomato pie, a savory summer pie with seasonal tomatoes and basil topped with a creamy cheese mixture and baked until golden brown in a flaky pie crust shell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prep Time 30 minutes mins Cook Time 55 minutes mins Total Time1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Ingredients

● 1 9-inch frozen deep dish pie shell
● 3 large ripe tomatoes, cut into chunks about 3 to 4 cups
● I cup chopped onion - caramelized
● ¾ cup good quality mayonnaise I like Duke's
● 2 cups grated cheese - sharp cheddar, Gruyere, mozzarella and Monterey Jack
● Large handful of fresh basil, chopped or thinly sliced (chiffonade) about ¼ cup
● Frank’s hot sauce or Tabasco to taste
● Kosher salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400º.
2. Follow package directions to bake pie shell; prick bottom all over of sllghtly thawed shell, bake for 10 to 20 minutes until browned.
3. Meanwhile, place tomatoes in colander and sprinkle with salt. Let drain, tossing several times. Then with paper towels, press down to blot up even more of the liquid.
4. In small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and cheeses until combined well.
5. Turn oven down to 375º .
6. Layer baked pie shell as follows: onions, tomato, basil, salt and pepper, mayonnaise-cheese mixture and spread evenly over the top.
7. Bake in center of oven for 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown on top. Cool at least 20 to 30 minutes or longer. Slice and serve, warm or at room temperature.

Notes

● Make sure to drain the tomatoes, extracting as much juice as possible.
● Grate the cheese yourself, it melts better. That said, prepackaged shredded cheese will work, too.
● Serve warm or at room temperature, make sure to let it cool at least 20 minutes or longer.

American Culinary Dominance

For any of you regular readers you already know that from time to time I have been critical of many of the foods and certainly outdoor grilling during the 1960s.  But this vintage magazine ad from 1958-59 (or thereabouts) is actually appealing to me.  So much so I am inclined to try it out  Although the missus is going to ask me to leave the mustard out of her burger.

Click on image to read the recipe

Anyway, the pitch is:  Burgers Aren't Burgers Without French's Mustard.  Versions of this ad appeared in Life and Look magazine  featuring the distinctive red, white and blue Pure Prepared Mustard jar pitching mustard as an essential cooking ingredient.  

Whether you enjoy a plain hamburger or a fancy cheese burger mustard is not just something to put on top of the meat - you can incorporate it in the meat to enhance your culinary experience.

There's a detailed recipe explaining the mixing of butter, bleu cheese (Roquefort) and French's mustard into the beef.  Branding highlights the light and lively flavor, specific  blend of spices and quality of mustard seed making this uniquely suited to your needs where other mustards are not up to the task.  It is simple enough to appeal to a home cook looking for an entertainment recipe.

If I try my hand a building a better vintage burger, you can expect that I will opt for Dijon paired with Roquefort and possibly Dusseldorf and Swiss.  What could I pair with pizza mozz? 

The Russian Connection Surfaces Again

Over the years and from time-to-time I have mused and speculated about Russian influence over Donald Trump.  Yesterday we learn that Donald Jr.’s wedding celebration was funded by the Russians.

Russian businessman Umar Kremlev reportedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding festivities in the Bahamas, including renting a private island and paying roughly $70,000 for fireworks.

Kremlev appears to have met Trump Jr. only recently, yet he attended the larger post-wedding celebration with a sizable group of other Russian guests. The actual wedding ceremony was a much smaller, private family affair.

Some additional details: Kremlev is a former member and leader of the Russian nationalist Night Wolves motorcycle organization, has close ties to Vladimir Putin, traveled to China around the time of Putin’s visit, and has been personally sanctioned by Ukraine.

Artyom Geodakyan/TASS/ZUMA Press

Ukraine’s sanctions cite Kremlev’s connections to Russian security structures and Healthy Fatherland, an organization involved in the abduction and forcible relocation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

The Trump family has confirmed Kremlev’s financial role, describing the festivities as an extraordinarily generous wedding gift from a friend.

Such a sweet guy.

Trump Jr. and his wife have now publicly confirmed Kremlev’s contribution. 

Don, Jr. reportedly has a net worth of $300-$500 million, give or take. 

Whew!  Some days I'm grateful the Republicans don't want me around anymore.  With mobster friends like this; who needs enemies?  

September Astronomy

 

Venus will mathematically reach its greatest illuminated extent on Friday, September 18.  Nevertheless, it is still near its absolute brightest in our sky tonight. It will be piercingly bright. The moon is also at apogee, its farthest point from Earth.

Consequently, we’re also still seeing a fairly large fraction of its day side. It’s that combination – relative nearness and relatively big crescent – that makes Venus the most brilliant object in our sky. 

Because Venus is so bright, you can even attempt to observe it during daytime. Stand in the shadow of a building to completely block the sun, and carefully scan the clear blue sky roughly 38 degrees to the east (or to the left) of the hidden sun's position to spot the planet's brilliant white pinpoint of light.

I dare you. 

No matter where you are on Earth, watch for Venus as the blazing object in the west after sunset.