THE BIG WIENIE

Costco used to have the best hot dogs in the world and they were huge! But, they have switched brands and now Sam's Club has the best hot dogs in the world! Portillo's jumbo beef is a very close second, and their fries are wonderful.

I love hot dogs. Always have; always will. Don't try to scare me or influence me otherwise; I remain unmoved. While my condiments have changed over the years, my love is true.

The perfect hot dog has Dijon or brown mustard, chopped onions, and sweet pickle relish--no ketchup, no sauerkraut, no celery seeds, tomatoes, or cucumbers. But, if you must remain sociable you can skip the onions and still savour the experience.

There are many really bad hot dogs. Probably the absolute worst hot dogs were those served on a corner near my growing up home at The Velvet Freeze. They were 5 for $1.00 and they were bland and served on a squishy white tasteless bun.

Ballpark dogs have the reputation of being a necessity, but the best ballpark food has to be in Baltimore's Camden Yards. It's a spectacular stadium and they have BBQ ribs and crab cakes and the best lemonade! We visited during the last days of Nolan Ryan and the stadium was packed. Even my die-hard Cub fan had a wonderful time.

Corn dogs! I almost forgot corn dogs. So hot they burn your tongue and dipped just in mustard. You have to go to a state fair to really experience a corn dog. We've tried them at home and at shopping malls, but it is no contest. It takes the heat and raunchiness of a state fair to give corn dogs their appropriate flavor and ambiance.

Bagel dogs? Forget about it! Those are not bagels! And, the hot dog in the middle is just not good.

Keep it pure and make it a Best Kosher or Vienna Beef and you really have something worth the risk!

BEING THE TEMP, part 5

They have asked me to work two 20-hour weeks! Since I have been actually working less than 20-hours a week since I began this assignment, it will be interesting to see how many hours I can fill in a 20-hour week. I took the time to check my calendar and train schedule before agreeing. I can work a 9:00am - 3:30pm, six-and-a-half hour day without lunch, so I signed on.

I can tell that my energies are waning... Just the wear and tear of the commute and length of days is taxing. My creativity has been low and I miss it. I have projects to complete before our November 22nd departure for Europe and places to be and people to see...

I want to bake 5 or 6 different kinds of cookies to give to friends for the holidays even though we leave before Thanksgiving--Monster Cookies, oatmeal raisin, shortbread, peanut butter shortbread, and pecan tassies. Not a Christmasy assortment, but some of my best recipes. I will package like kinds separately and freeze in Ziplock bags. RvH shines with presentation, so there is no need for me to arrange.

The promised pillow covers are still just an idea. While I did cut out the first, good thing I remembered that I had purchased yardage for a table runner, too, before I cut any more. First we need to buy a 50cm square pillow for at IKEA--tomorrow--and then I can plow forward.

Next weekend we go to central Illinois to visit family and the following to Omaha to deliver Christmas gifts and begin planning the little baby girl's room. Can hardly wait! The little squishy guy will have a baby sister soon. He is such a loving and intentional little guy--mommy and daddy's little helper, I am sure.

FINANCIAL TIMES

My best friend is distraught over the economy and the state of her investments. I have investments. I should be distraught. I'm not stupid, but I am not over-wrought. We are ALL in this boat together. This crosses all boundaries--national, international, socio-economic, etc.

I realize that I need to stop reassuring her. She deserves to vent her frustrations and fears. I thought, "What do I know?" Then, I read through a recent message by John Ortberg and was reassured... Not that all my money will be there again soon, but that it really doesn't matter.

I’ll give you the best investment advice you will ever receive, and you are not likely to hear it from Warren Buffet, and here it is: You’re going to die. You are going to die, rich or poor.

All the money in the world cannot change that, so do not buy the myth that enough money can ever make you one iota more secure than you are right now. You have to build your life on something stronger than that. The reality is housing values will go up and down. Bank accounts rise and fall. Financial conditions ebb and flow. I can't build my life on that stuff. What is more solid? I think what Jesus, the smartest guy about money who ever lived, would say today is build your life on what never changes and what never changes is the character and the power of our God.
I was thinking about how there’s a ticker that everybody pays attention to these days on the floor of the New York stock exchange—what’s up; what’s down; what’s unchanged. I was thinking, if there was a ticker for the kingdom of God…
What matters most is the character and the competence of our God. Here’s how that ticker would read:
God’s character today: Unchanged.
God’s patience today: Unchanged.
God’s commitment to justice today: Unchanged.
God’s heart of mercy today: Unchanged.
God’s love for you: Unchanged.
God’s moral compass: Unchanged.
The market has dropped, but nothing in Heaven has changed today. God is still sovereign. Jesus still sits on the throne at the right hand of His Father. He is our rock. He is the anchor in the storm. He is our only hope. He is the North Star that alone we can be guided by.
By the way, Congress does not get to vote on this, and by the way, the next president will not need to cobble a deal to make arrangements for the kingdom of God.
By the way, the kingdom of God will never need to bail out from the US Treasury. It’s doing real well. So don't buy the myth that money can make you secure. Get your security someplace else.

Where is God During Financial Melt Down

John Ortberg

Menlo Park Presbyterian Church

10/19/08

COOKING TOGETHER

Since DM is home from Europe for a few days, we decide the three of us will cook together our favorite cuisine--New Mexican. And, since one of my favorite bloggers recently won the Whole Foods Market Budget Recipe Challenge with one of our favorite recipes, we head for Joseph's to gather the ingredients for Sweet Potato & Black Bean Enchiladas from Karina Allrich's Karina's Kitchen.

And, no New Mexican meal would be complete without Border Grill's Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger's guacamole recipe.

3 ripe avocados, preferably Haas
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1/2 med. red onion, diced finely
3 jalapeños, stemmed, seeded, and finely diced
3 T. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tsp. salt (or less)
1/2 tsp. pepper

1. Halve avocados; remove seeds. Scrape avocado into mixing bowl--sprinkle with lime juice.
2. Dice red onion and jalapeño; chop cilantro.
3. Mix all ingredients together.
4. Serve immediately.

Technique: The simplest and best way to remove the avocado from it's skin is to cut cross-hatches through the meat of each half without piercing the skin. Then, squeeze the avocado by holding the outside skin in the palm of your hand. The good stuff comes out with just the right combination or mashed and chunks.

These are standout recipes--better than you can expect to get in most restaurants. Share the fun and draft a sous chef or two to bring this meal together in less than 30 minutes. It always goes faster if you take the time to prep--squeeze the limes, chop the onions and jalapenos, mince the garlic and cilantro. Then, call in the troops. Everyone feels they have had a part and too many cooks don't really spoil anything!

Just for fun we roasted some sweet corn in a dry skillet on top of the stove and put it in the bowl before scooping the guac on top. We all agreed the corn is a great addition. Think "complete" protein. Fresh, filling, and satisfying. It doesn't get much better.

INTERNECINE

Ediburgh, July 2007

internecine - adj. deadly; mutually destructive

"This is becoming internecine..."
Knots & Crosses
by Ian Rankin

Again, a U.K. author. Detecting with a British/Scottish twist. Rankin writes a good novel. Interestingly his main character DCI John Rebus is an earthy man who dialogues with and about God...

Love the references to Edinburgh. We spent one day there in July 2007--marking it as a city to revisit. A very walkable and beautiful city with great pubs and flower-filled gardens and window boxes even on commercial streets.

It does rain! But, just carry an umbrella and bring it out when necessary.