We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
A pal of mine cooks a big dinner of venison Stroganoff for friends each late winter because it is such a good use of his venison scraps, shoulder, etc. He probably makes a gallon of it, then served on pappardelle. The thin strips are tender.
Dr. Anthony Fauci Cannot ‘Recall’ Much About COVID Origins, Pandemic Responses. Fauci, who can’t remember the origins of the “6 feet” rule of social distancing, now says the lab leak origin is credible.
Moms show their love for their families by cooking, especially those gooey, bland, rib-sticking comfort foods in the winter. They make everybody feel loved, and they're all in Fanny Farmer's cookbook if you have one around.
Mommys of America winter foods are cheap and easy to make. Cheaper than McDonald's, but probably less "healthy" than McDonald's. Whatever "healthy" means.
Here's a classic Mommys of America dish, Creamed Chicken with Peas, best (I think) on top of white rice but it works on toast, mashed taters, and egg noodles. Lots of ground pepper on top.
For one extra Mom point, serve it on Basmati rice. For two extra points, on a brioche. For three extra Mom points, use the pheasant Dad shot instead of chicken because she deserves it for marrying a guy who goes out and shoots the family's food.
Got any favorite Mommys of America dishes? This is first of a sentimental, anti-gourmet, re-posted series.
Having been raised a New England Yankee, I was raised on lots of Clam Chowder. On Cape Cod, we kids would be sent out with a clam rake and a couple of buckets, and return covered with mud with buckets of big quahogs. I've had lots of good Clam Chowders, and a few which were inedible. The best Cod Chowder I've had was on Grand Manan Island. Forgot to get their recipe, but it was thick.
I suspect that CHAUDRON, CHAUDRÉE, CAULDRON, CHOWDER - and Chowda - are the same word. Technically, it seems to mean a seafood soup or stew which includes potatoes and some cream or milk.
Mrs. BD recently made a chowder with haddock - a Frenchy version - Seafood Chowder. She included chunks of lobster.
Why and Where the Working Class Turned Right - A new book documents the lost (and pro-Democratic) world of Pennsylvania steelworkers and how it became Republican.
Yes, I love Black Bean Soup. I used to dump it on a pile of (white) rice, but now I like a glob of mashed taters in the middle of the bowl.
Everybody has their own recipe, but I just wing it. What's wrong with this recipe is that it's too low on the beans and garlic, and has no jalapenos. Furthermore, I prefer to just mash a bunch of the beans and leave some intact. I think of it as a meal more than a soup.
Oh, also, I can't eat cilantro. Most can, but not me.
Lunges are a functional calisthenic. Legs, core, and some cardio. I do walking lunges with kettlebells because my trainer boss makes me, but on my own I just do body-weight walking lunges until it hurts. With the kettlebells it's much more difficult, more strength-oriented, and it is a bitch.
The muscle groups challenged with lunges are similar to those of squats, but best to incorporate both in a conditioning program.
North America has two species of Kinglets. I had a Ruby-Crowned flitting around shrubs this morning. I've rarely seen that ruby crown though. It takes sharp eyes to notice them even though they are not uncommon, especially in winter. Maybe you need to be curious about birds to see them.
Our two Kinglet species have quite different habits. Tiny birds, but impressive egg-layers.
1:4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
1:5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
1:6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
1:7 He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.
1:8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
1:10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.
1:11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
Free will vs. Determinism is a fun college dorm topic. Of course, we all know that it is a false dichotomy.
However, in our world it seems to be useful to human dignity to give people credit for some choices in life, for better or worse. Yeah, I get that unconscious forces, genetic tendencies, talents, flaws, luck, etc have huge power in everyone's life, but Will and Choice is a good, if high, standard. High standards are good and make life better for everybody.
Sometimes I wonder whether this is mainly a Western Civilization concern.
A pal of mine cooks a big dinner of venison Stroganoff for friends each late winter because it is such a good use of his venison scraps, shoulder, etc. He probably makes a gallon of it, then served on pappardelle. The thin strips are tender. 
The Root 
Moms show their love for their families by cooking, especially those gooey, bland, rib-sticking comfort foods in the winter. They make everybody feel loved, and they're all in Fanny Farmer's cookbook if you have one around.
