Category Archives: Food

Love Applebee’s Recent Christmas Commercials

Posted in Advertising, Food by

It’s true. Oddly and rarely, it always ends too soon for me. It has all the good stuff. From the instant it is on the screen, I started getting hungry. Then there were all the Christmas decorations. Someone put a lot of work into that.

The music wasn’t my favorite, it was very appropriate and, as I said, it too ended too soon.

And then the train. As I said before, I love trains. In this case, it brought back memories. I had a train set like that.

Good job. For whatever it’s worth, you have my approval.

The Well Trained Staff

Posted in Fast Food, Food, Safety by

We had gone to Huey’s on Goodman in Southaven. We had the shrimp and fries. When they first arrived, we could warm our hands from the heat coming off of our dinner. The waiter cautioned us. It was a needless gesture. I had burnt my tongue on the food there before. Still, it was a good idea. I mean McDonald’s did get sued over the hot coffee.

When I had just taken my last bite and I still had a full mouth, the waiter asked if we wanted a Diet Coke to take home. Now that is how you tell a well trained waiter. I know the man was off to the side waiting for me to have too much food in my mouth to reply and then, in that instant, he jumped out and asked me that question.

They practice that, you know. It is a well honed ability and it does not come natural.

Well, of course the food was good and the last bite of fries were still warm. I paid the bill and left a tip. I would have left more, but as I have said so many times before, we are basically living off Social Security. He understood. I would have explained but he knew us and he has heard the explanation before.

Now. If I could just figure out how they make those fries so good and hot.

As an aside, you want to wait for your food, go to McDonald’s. On the other hand, you will rarely do much waiting at Huey’s unless they are really busy. I suspect, if they maid Big Macs, it would not take them 15 minutes to get it to you.

I Like Pizza

Posted in Food, Pizza by

That in itself won’t surprise many. What might confuse a few is that one of my most favorite places to get pizza is Subway. About every 10th visit, I will order one of the personal size pizzas.

Certainly, the biggest advantage is that if there are 10 of you, each can have their pizza made to order, or of course, a Subway sandwich. The pizza will be burn your tongue hot. In my youth, I would have enjoyed two of them. These days I do well to finish one.

My wife hates onions and bell peppers. At Subway, I get to have both on my pizza while she need only tolerate the aroma.

Oh, did I mention. Hardly any wait. Far less than a Big Mac.

Incidentally, sometimes I enjoy a good tuna salad. It does more than look good.

My aapologies if I’ve made you hungry. Just figured you should know.

Hamburgers

Posted in Food by

What food would you say is your specialty?

That’s right. I cook them medium well and put them on a bun. Sometimes, instead, I just put them in a plate aside mashed potatoes and put gravy over both of them. (Generally, store bought. I can’t make gravy as hard as I’ve tried.)

Maybe it’s not fancy, but then, I never did say I have fancy taste. So far, I’ve had no complaints. Then again, I haven’t fixed them much for others, that is, besides as a cook in a restaurant.

An Especially Lazy Day

Posted in Fast Food, Food, Pizza by

This evening, I sat down at the computer and ordered pizza from Domino’s. Being as I do jump on places for especially poor service, I feel it only right to compliment good service. In this case, they actually managed to surprise me. It arrived good and hot in less than 20 minutes.

However, I do have one complaint. My wife kept stealing the pineapple and pepperoni from the pizza. Next time I will order 2 separate pizzas.

I would complain to my wife, but that bovine has already escaped. No sense waking that grizzly.

Practice Makes Perfect

Posted in Food, Gun Safety, Safety by

From my early youth, I have heard the expression. Yet, today I can attest to one and all that it is not completely true. How many times do you suppose an infielder, since his days in Little League practiced the throw to first base. Then, even in the pros, he throws one so high the first base man can’t reach it. Maybe practice makes a person good at something, but even then, only if it is practiced properly. Invariably, one thing many have trouble with is to unlearn the bad habits, both in baseball and in life, which they learn in their youth. And, by the way, the bad habits are well practiced.

One of the things we learned in the Marines on the rifle range was to practice, practice, practice. However, every second, they had a PMI standing over me correcting me the instant I started to practice something wrong.

I used the rifle range example for two reasons. A bad practice can mean missing the target, but a bad safety habit can lead to wounds or even death. It might seem a simple thing, but the first thing I was taught was to keep my rifle pointed downrange. That way, even if I should make the mistake of not following some other safety rule, no one will get hurt.

It is a practice that I hold to this day over all these years, even though it was years since I left the Marines. If I never point a weapon where it might hurt someone, then it won’t hurt anyone should it go off. Well, it mostly works. I can tell of examples where it didn’t. That is why they have other safety rules, like don’t play fast draw with a gun, loaded or not.

Actually, I have gotten way off of my intended subject. It was a subject that was brought to mind today as I saw a woman, likely a little older than me, coughing like crazy. I watched to make sure she recovered. In a while she was okay and back to normal.

However, it did remind me. The woman had likely swallowed and choked. We all do it. I do, and I have had an awful lot of practice. I have been swallowing for 73 years and it seems I get it wrong more frequently now than when I was 40.

It is something we don’t think about much, but we all swallow no telling how many times a day. Certainly we swallow our food. However, from time to time we swallow just because we feel a need to. We have all practiced it so much that we do it without thinking. Then, when we mess up and do it wrong, we are reminded that we need to do it right. Maybe, from time to time, we need to remind ourselves to, not only practice, but practice it right, especially while eating.

Now that I am done with this, I need to go out and practice some more… the battle with the weeds.

A General Sort of Reply

Posted in Food by
Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite types of foods?
View all responses

I did think this one over for a while and came to the conclusion that I can only answer in generalities. Mostly, I do not like most fancy food. If someone else is paying the bill, I still would not order lobster and steak. I rarely order steak. Mostly I prefer the simple foods. A hamburger or chili-dog will make me happy. I will be happy with chicken or turkey, especially with dressing.

This subject does remind me of an instant about 4 years ago. I was in a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant at the buffet. As I plopped a large helping of mashed potatoes on my plate, I spoke to myself, “I could make a whole meal out of mashed potatoes and gravy.”

Some woman behind me was obviously eavesdropping on the little conversation I was having with myself because she spoke enthusiastically, “So could I.”

Of course, no matter what, everyone knows gravy does make everything taste better. However, I never tasted any chicken gravy better than the at chicken restaurant at Knott’s Berry Farm. It is but one of many things I left in California I wish I could have brought with me.

When I was stationed for a while in Japan, I discovered I like fried rice. I didn’t know that before. it is something of a torture now. My wife flat does not like it so I seldom get a chance to eat it now. When I do get a chance, I overdo it and then I am uncomfortable for a while.

There is a restaurant in Southaven that generally has Turkey and dressing just before and a little after the holidays. Almost every time I go in there I complain to the management that it is not year-round. I don’t understand it. All they do is laugh at me.

I must admit that I like most pork based food, bacon, sausage, ham, etc. I don’t know why, but here lately I don’t eat much of it anymore. Generally, when I eat breakfast out, I do order sausage but I can’t remember having any other pork products for a while.

I am not a fan of hot food. You put just a little pepper in something and I’d just as soon not have anything to do with it. Oddly, I do like Mexican food… Americanized as I explain to most waiters in Mexican restaurants. They smile and seem to know exactly what I mean, even in the restaurants that advertise genuine Mexican food.

Actually, I like a lot of McDonald’s food, especially for breakfast. It just is I’m tired of being ignored. I do like Big Macs but I do not like waiting 15 minutes for them. Oddly, I really like their cheeseburgers, but they seem to have little or no regard for the customers that want to come in and sit at a table.

The question also reminds me of when the Israelites ate manna in the wilderness and became tired of it and started complaining. The first time I heard the story, I told myself, I would never have complained about it. As I get older I realize I spoke without thinking. I suspect I would have been as bad or worse than the rest. It does seem to be a human tendency.

At any rate, regardless of what we eat, we do need to remember it is all provided by God and we need to thank Him for it. Also, it certainly doesn’t hurt to thank those in the restaurants who make our food. I try to and it generally surprises them. They don’t expect it. I can’t help but think it does make them feel a little better. Oddly, it makes me feel better too.

Nutrition Deficiencies

Posted in Food by

Many moons ago, a man who worked with me made quite a point of trying to convince me and world that if a person eats properly, he need not take any supplements. I disagreed with him and I explained why. Might I mention, this man made it a point to eat the right foods.

Well, about a week later, he came in complaining that the doctor wanted him to take some vitamins. I mean, he was making it a point that the world knew he was angry.

The fact is, as we get older, two things work against us in getting the proper nutrition. First, as we get older, we simply do not eat as much. My best guess, we are not as active. Our metabolism slows. And, believe it or not, our brain no longer burns as many calories. As a child, our brains use half the calories we take in. As an adult, that drops to 1/5. (Sort explains why it is that we pick up the weight after we reach our mid twenties.

Second, our digestion system does not work as well. I have come the personal conclusion that it collects the calories just as well, the vitamins and minerals, not so much. Now that I am over 70, I take a bunch of supplements, as does my wife. When I noticed my wife being really lethargic, I took her to the hospital. She was low on sodium and vitamin D. The multivitamin was apparently not enough. Moreover, the sodium really hit me. I mean every physician and his cousin is saying cut back on the salt. Well, she is different. Seems she can have all she wants.

Also, there was vitamin D in the multi-vitamin and it still was not enough. Moreover, with the China Virus, we find that we need more D anyway. More than strong bones, it seems to also help our immunity.

Every night, now, it is a ritual my wife and I. We have to take the prescription pills and the supplements.

So, you think you are getting all the vitamins and minerals you need from your food, if you are over 40, you just might want to check with your doctor. It seems to me as if that is when the deficiencies hit. Of course for some it will be earlier or later. Just please, don’t wait for a hospital visit to find out that you aren’t getting enough vitamin D.

My Two Favorite Nuts

Posted in experience, Food, Little known info by

It is an oddity, of sorts. The two nuts I like the very most, aren’t nuts, or so I’m told. The peanut is a legume. Never heard of legumes until a couple of decades ago. I can easily sit down and eat a couple of pounds in one sitting.

Then about two or three years ago, some one spoiled it for me for cashews. All the time I have been eating them and then they spoil it for me. They said cashews aren’t nuts either. I think of all nuts, or should I say of all not-nuts cashews are my favorite. It is a good thing they cost so much. I would make myself sick on them very regularly.

They, along with the real nuts are really very healthy. That means they are good for you. Don’t let the kids find out. Because of the fiber in them, they are very good for digestion. It’s true. The last few months, I have taken to eating them, a lot of them.

Since I was thirty-ish I have had problems with digestion. I have paid many doctors a lot of good money to help me. It didn’t work. There are some things doctors know not. Now, since I have been eating the non-nut nuts, I have been doing much better, thank you. I sure wished one of those doctors told me about nuts a long time ago.

Of course, not everyone can eat peanuts or cashews. I am told as many as 20 percent of people are allergic to them to some degree. That is a true shame because the non-nuts are good and they good for a person, I mean, even besides the fiber thing. They are good about helping with circulation and they keep cholesterol low. Though cashews are an expensive food, they are less expensive than a heart attack or stroke. I wish I knew about them before my heart attack.

I buy at least two bags of peanuts and a couple of cans of cashews now every time I go shopping. I buy the peanuts still in the shell. I’ve gotten pretty good at shelling them. It gives me something to do while watching TV. I try to put the shell in a container, but many end up in my lap or on the floor. That means cleaning up after.

I guess it’s been a couple of decades ago, I drove south to the Gulf. By the time I reached Jackson, I started noticing signs, “Boiled Peanuts.” I had two thoughts, “You can boil peanuts?” and “What in the world do they taste like?” Well, I guess I did have one more thought, “Do I want to find out?”

I thought the thought revolting. I couldn’t imagine people ruining perfectly good peanuts and I certainly couldn’t imagine anyone would actually to pay for them. I mean, who wants to pay good money for a bunch of ruined peanuts?

Well, I guess there are a few folks who like to eat their legumes that way. Otherwise, why would anyone be selling them. I still have one more question. Are they boiled in or out of the shell? After all, anyone can boil nuts. It does, however, seem to be a thing a person should find out before they start heating the water.

Controllers

Posted in Abuse of Power, Biden, Cancel Culture, Cease fire between Israel and Gaza, Christian values, Communism, Communist Takover, Controllers, Deceit, Food, Liberals, Mayor Pete, Nadler, News media, Newsome, North Korea, Obama, Pelosi, Psaki, Religion, Salvation, Social Media, Socialists, The Clintons, Vietnam war by

I don’t exactly know why it is but there is always an element of society that likes to be in control. Throughout history, we have had our pharaohs, kings, tzars, emperors, casers and on and on. Invariably, they have two things in common. They say they have the good of the people in mind and they always have huge egos. In some cases, they proclaim themselves to be gods and frequently do all they can to live eternally. (Not with much success)

Well, actually, they have two more things in common. They love to have absolute control over the entirety of their realm, and they want their realm to include the entirety of world.

Hitler and Mussolini had dreams of world dominance. Naturally, had we lost the war, the three empires would eventually have to fight it out to determine if we all would speak German, Italian or Japanese. As controllers, they would have never been willing to share.

It seems as one controller goes down to defeat another stands ready willing and able to take over. Here lately, they’ve been coming at us in bunches. Even before Hitler, Stalin was ready to take his position in history. We finally deal with Hitler and Mao shows up on the world stage.

Then, there are the dozen, or so mini dictators who kept popping up. They showed up in Central and South America. They tried to seize control of Africa. Then, while we drive one dictator out of Cuba, we find out we just installed another. I’m sure the Cuban’s appreciated that. Of course, Castro said it was for the good of Cuban people. I think that was a lie and I suspect there are few Cubans that would agree.

Now, we have Putin, the man that snatched monarchy out of the immature democracy that preceeded him. At least the man is honest. He’s not doing it under the premise of creating a utopian society where all are equal. (You notice, always these utopias always have people who are more equal than others.)

All the folks like me just want to live out our lives in peace. The problem is that every time we turn around someone else comes along and starts a war with us, of course, promising peace and equality.

The Bible tells us that there will be a man who will be successful in taking total control of the world. He will promise peace and prosperity. For a while, there will be peace but not for long. The man will bring war, hunger and a horrible economy. The average family will not be able to purchase a loaf of bread. There will be disease and I would suspect riots. Not many will sit by under these conditions and do nothing.

For seven years the man will be the ultimate controller. At the end of the seven years God will put an end to it. He will put Satan and the man away for a thousand years. During that time, Christ will rule this world. The controllers popping up and taking control will cease. Jesus will see to it.

For sure, you do not want to be around to see those seven years. They will be the worst seven years on this planet.

There is a way to avoid it. Accept Jesus Christ as your savior. Before this all happens, Jesus will take those who are saved out of this world. We who are born into the Kingdom of God will be with Jesus through the whole thing. The suffering will only be for those who refuse to accept Jesus as their savior.

Maybe, possibly sounds like a good idea to accept Jesus as your savior, the earlier the better.

As for those controllers. They will get everything they have coming to them, including the devil. You certainly don’t want to be counted among them.