Another long day of getting shit done, unlike this fucking guy:
I wonder how it is that these guys are so clueless about how they really are seen by the world. That white male shit mus be good stuff, I should get some. Who the fuck am I kidding? Were I born black and poor somewhere I would have been doing hard time the amount of bullshit I pulled. I can think of about 50 things I did before I even turned 18 that would have had a black kid in jail well into his 20’s. But by the luck of the color of my skin I got life on “just the story” while other dudes were on “insanity” mode from the get go (those were gaming references for you olds).
At any rate spent the day working while taking breaks to do things around the house. Got the kitchen about 2/3 of the way done, and next I am gonna work on the sun room/dog room.
Joelle is feeling down so I just texted her “gravy” and she said “yes,” so I put a little mozz on the leftover risotto and baked it, then breaded some chicken breasts and pan baked them. I was going to just bake them, but the breasts were so uneven I would never get both of them done at the same time, so I basically took the two breasts and whittled them into little cutlets/tenders. Made a roux and whipped up some gravy, and then made some a veggie side. She’s on the couch recovering now.
Speaking of Joelle, she’s still adjusting to life with an ADHD adult. She gets less annoyed when I leave the room mid sentence, do something (well probably 5-6 somethings as they catch my eye) for ten minutes somewhere else, come back and finish my sentence. That has to be aggravating for her, although 99% of the time were people to stop talking to me mid-sentence and then fuck off out of the room and my area of operation, I’d probably be fucking thrilled.
She’s also learning how to teach me. I’ve been doing the laundry and she has been folding and putting things away since I don’t know where things are, and that means I have to hunt for anything I want to wear. Yesterday though, when she folded and put away my overalls and various long sleeve shirts, she put them in a drawer she had not used before, but cleverly left the drawer partially open with an overall strap dangling from it. I walked in after a shower and started to think “Where are my overalls it’s 36 degrees out)” and I saw the strap.
Thought that was pretty clever of the lady and told her how much I appreciated the trail of bread crumbs to my knickers. So that’s about it.
Wisconsin is in the News
Raoul Paste
Dean who?
Gin & Tonic
I’m not accustomed to happy John Cole.
bbleh
Aw he’s just whining to get attention. And when I think about it, it’s just another aspect of the attitude of entitlement. I’m quite sure he’s been this way since he was a young boy, which is why he’s behaving like one. (See also a recent former President.)
&btw, just sayin’ I’d trade conversational interruptions for that kind of cooking, not to mention the maintenance work. But I spoze mileage varies …
Chetan Murthy
John, I think you’ve misrepresented things. You have a *much* higher chance of winning than Dean McFailson has. I mean, we’d all vote for you, and THERE ARE DOZENS OF US! DOZENS!
Joelle
JG fried me chicken and gave me cheezy risotto and fed me my favorite food “gravy” and now I’m his love slave for the rest of my natural life as long as he keeps dolling out his fried chicken to me in 7 herb n spiced methodone doses.
BeautifulPlumage
This is a great test run for full-on marriage. I don’t recall if we have the whole plan, but this AZ trip is just for several months & then you hit WV again? Don’t need details.
Hi Joelle! 👏
billcinsd
36 would be heaven it’s -11 here in SD
BeautifulPlumage
@Joelle:
  you guys seem to be a match! 😸😸😸😸
Mr. Bemused Senior
Would John run against Baud? It might split the BJ vote.
[ETA I wish you both much happiness. John and Joelle that is, Baud can look out for himself.]
moonbat
@Joelle: Sounds like a good deal to me too! Lucky woman.
cain
@Joelle: ha! But does he make you cocktails (even though he doesn’t drink?? ) :D
RaflW
Dean’s the scion of the Phillips Vodka family. Inherited wealth fucks people up (not always, but often).
Also, they could use some marketing help, IMO. This dreck is classic corporate speak: “Phillips Distilling Company has been at the forefront of next-generation drinking for over a hundred years. Our history provides to us a depth of experience, but longevity has not dampened our aspiration to be the leading innovator of preferred spirits brands in the Heartland. We are brand builders, using a consumer-centric approach as we strive to satisfy consumer needs, preferences, and ever-changing tastes. And, we’re proud to note the results, evident in the quality products we create across a myriad of spirits categories spanning the globe.
Sounds to me like a company that chases fads and doesn’t have a core product like Absolut or Stoli might. Not that I’ve had a drop of any of that stuff for nearly 22 years now.
BeautifulPlumage
Comments seems borked…visual doesn’t react, text is weird.
Scout211
TMI, Joelle!
But seriously, if you’re happy then Cole’s happy and if Cole’s happy, then the whole damn blog is happy. So it’s all good. 😊
Chetan Murthy
Does breading and pan-baking work? I mean, does it come out as tasty as fried chicken? I ask b/c I have an aversion to deep-frying, and so never make fried chicken. Never. Which …. I do miss it. But if pan-baked breaded chicken comes out as good, geez, I should start!
HinTN
@Joelle:
😂 omfg, that’s perfect.
NotMax
Based on the kitchening involved, presumably the house has a dishwasher?
Joelle
@cain: actually he DOES make me cocktails and buys and uncorks wine for me. He vicariously puts as much into the alcoholic dinner beverage as he does into the dinner. I’ve had some bangin cocktails and wine pairings with the Cole fare.
Joelle
@NotMax: barely
HinTN
@Chetan Murthy: It’s “air frying” before that term was invented, so yes.
Chetan Murthy
@BeautifulPlumage: OK, you made me look *grin* ( https://phillipsdistilling.com/ ) and I don’t see any brand that I recognize. Now, I’m not exactly a drinker these days, so maybe Da Yoots would recognize these brands ? Or is the company basically a bottom-shelf distiller ?
P.S. They name Trader Vic’s rum (and cordials): I’d think that being the provider of a house-brand rum for a restaurant *chain* would be ….. not exactly prestigious ?
HumboldtBlue
Can we get some dancing? I understand Cole has the rhythm and footwork of a rock, but damn, people, it’s Friday night!
Joelle
@moonbat: I’m tellin ya I’m wolfing down the man’s fried chicken like a Tasmanian devil in front of him and thinking, “just what kinda honey hole have I fallen into here?”
HumboldtBlue
And when we get hungry…
Omnes Omnibus
@HumboldtBlue: Move one thread down.
Gretchen
@Chetan Murthy: I had a recipe that had you toast bread crumbs in olive oil, in the microwave until brown, and then bread the chicken cutlets with the toasted bread crumbs and cook it in the air fryer. It came out nicely crunchy. Unfortunately it’s a paywalled America’s Test Kitchen recipe for air fryer chicken parmesan, so I can’t share, but that’s the technique. Toss panko with oil in bowl until evenly coated. Microwave, stirring frequently, until light golden brown.
Nukular Biskits
The problem with being a former lurker and occasional commenter here is that I have completely missed out on most of the Saga of Cole.
Does anyone have a quick ‘splainer thread on this?
On second thought, I’ll wait for another day. On travel in SAN again. And sick with some kind of crud. Hitting sack early.
Y’all have fun and be sweet to each other.
Parfigliano
@RaflW: What the hell is Phillips Vodka?
Omnes Omnibus
@Parfigliano:
Rail vodka in midwestern bars.
Lyrebird
@Joelle: All this is awesome. AND YOU found a swishy hotel that would accept all the pets.
Best to ya both!
HumboldtBlue
Make your own ranch dressing, restaurant style.
Pink Tie
@Chetan Murthy: It doesn’t. And every December, my aunt tries to convince me that you can cook latkes in the oven using Pam. No, no, no.
Scout211
Marijuana meets criteria for reclassification as lower-risk drug, FDA scientific review finds
ETA:
satby
@Joelle Anyone who loves food as much as John does is always a hella good cook. Getting used to another person in the house when you’ve both lived alone is hard, exhausting work for both of you. Sounds like you’re managing well.
zhena gogolia
@Gin & Tonic: It’s quite something! I like it.
satby
When my kids lived at home that used to drive them nuts. Sometimes I’d stop in mid-sentence because I was already on to a different thought and my sons would wait a few beats before saying “WHAT.. FINISH THE SENTENCE!!”
wjca
To me, sounds like they had an AI write it. And a cut rate one at that.
RaflW
@Chetan Murthy: I have a cousin who drinks Kamora. It’s just a cheaper Kahlúa knockoff. I think you get the idea.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@Joelle:
You’re gonna have to face it,
you’re addicted to his chicken…
Robert Palmer it’s not but hey, neither am I!
RaflW
@Omnes Omnibus: When I moved to the midwest, I had no idea what a rail drink was. But yes, Phillips is a ‘well drink’ liquor, for those in that lexical region.
But I don’t doubt there’s profit in wells and rails, and ol’ Dean is one of those guys who Ann Richards might have said “He was born on third base, and thought he’d hit a triple.”
NotMax
@HumboldtBlue
“Hey, look at me, I’m dancin’!”
;)
NotMax
Continues to be chilly with intermittent soaking rain. Perfect time to start fixing a big pot of onion soup on the stove top.
Timill
@Pink Tie: See 3:15 in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P30ckBf1wk
cain
@Joelle: sounds like a winner to me ! Get some of those edible dried rose petals he can garnish the drinks with !
NotMax
Oh, it also drives?
Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea.
Another Scott
@Scout211:
Long past time.
Made me look… Drugs.com – Schedule III drugs. It looks like about 25% of them are various testosterone mixtures.
Hmm…
Cheers,
Scott.
karen marie
@Gretchen: That’s interesting – never considered toasting bread crumbs in the microwave. I have some chicken I was going to use to make a piccata but I’m so out of sorts I can’t be bothered to deal with the complexity – part of which is the bread crumbs.
I use the microwave in a similar way except with garlic and shallots to make crispy garlic and shallot chips (separately). I put enough oil in a small bowl to cover the thinly-sliced garlic/shallot, then microwave in 30 second bursts until it just starts to color. It’s terrific because then you also have garlic/shallot flavored oil to cook your veg or protein with.
Jackie
LOL! Judge denies TIFG’s attempt to postpone the E. Jean Carroll defamation lawsuit “due to his MIL’s death.”
Everyone knows TIFG wasn’t by his wife’s side supporting her during her grief. He was too busy ranting in court and later doing a Town Hall meeting on Faux the DAY AFTER HIS MIL died.
NotMax
@karen marie
Can also (although a bit time consuming) caramelize onions in the microwave.
How to Caramelize Onions Like the Lazy Badass You Are.
Chetan Murthy
@NotMax: Care to share your recipe? I’m always looking for onion soup recipes.
different-church-lady
Jesus that woman is a keeper.
different-church-lady
@Gin & Tonic: Neither is John.
NotMax
@Chetan Murthy
Basic, basic, basic.
Thin, thin layer of oil heated on medium in a stock pot.
Slice onion(s) into rings and drop them into the oil. Stir and cover.
Stir again after another 5 minutes. Cover.
After another 5 or so minutes, stir again and throw a wad of butter (~ 2 tbl.) into the pot. Lower heat below medium and cover again.
Continue stirring every 5 minutes or so until onions are completely softened but not yet browned.
Add a tsp. of chopped garlic, a healthy squirt of lemon juice, a pinch of salt and some cracked black pepper. Stir, lower heat to below medium and cover.
Again after 5 or so minutes, give a stir and add 12 cups of beef broth. Once that just begins to bubble lower heat to simmer. Simmer as long as you feel comfortable doing, stirring occasionally . After 20 or even 30 minutes, add a splash (or two, if that’s your preference) of dry sherry and check if any adjustment of salt, pepper or liquid is needed.
Cover and simmer another 15 minutes or so.
.
Good straight from the pot, it’s even better the next day after being refrigerated by first skimming any excess butter that has risen to the top. Personally don’t much care for the cheese and croutons in the bowl route, like to ingest it straight, maybe along with pieces of rye bread or challah at the ready for dipping.
Hoppie
@billcinsd: In this SD (tendance Hillcrest) the current temp at 9:00 PM is 52. Sorry about that.
Chetan Murthy
@NotMax: Have you ever tried anything besides beef broth? I see these recipes that use beef broth, and …. well, even Better than Bouillon beef broth tastes foul to me. [I like lengua, so it’s not that I don’t like cow meat]
NotMax
@Chethan Murthy
You could substitute vegetable broth* or, I would guess, pork broth. Maybe even Better Than Bouillon mushroom base?
*A drop or three of Kitchen Bouquet should work as a colorant, I think.
Chetan Murthy
@NotMax: thank you for the suggestions! I have BtB mushroom base in my cupboard — I’ll try that. Also, I guess it couldn’t hurt to try chicken stock (I have the low-sodium BtB).
NotMax
@Chetan Murthy
Shall remain on the lookout for any reports back.
Incidentally, ever tried the BtB turkey or ham bases in any dishes (not talking about onion soup here)? I have not and curious as to their merit, if any.
rikyrah
Love hearing about the happenings in the new place, Cole🤗
SectionH
@Chetan Murthy:
@NotMax:
I love you both for that conversation, because yeah. And Max, Kitchen Bouquet? I almost lost it laughing. But yeah I love men who cook. I’ve been married to my Chef for almost 40 years.
I am of course his bottle washer. I don’t care.
Ramalama
One of my brothers, a white man, does this. Breaks a law all his white friends have broken, and then says aloud, “If I were Black or Mexican, I’d be in deep doo-doo.” He keeps a list to regale to me and other family members.
Example: had a truck at a friend’s driveway for more than a year. Truck had broken down. Plates expired. No insurance. Bonus: his own driver’s license had expired. Friend sold the house (how, with a junked up junker in the driveway, I do not know), so brother had to remove said truck. Because he wanted to keep it brother does something to goose the engine so it will run a bit and decides to drive it himself the one mile, at 2am, to avoid traffic and humans. Five minutes in, driving back roads, slow, since it’s coughing, a police officer pulls him over. The two of them start gabbing about that truck model and how the sump pump back hose dealie, once removed, dot the i, proudly gets 8 miles to the gallon. Officer, still not asking for documentation, offers to accompany him so as to safely get the truck to its final resting place. Lets my brother off with a wave when they get to the other place.
My brother likes to talk to all kinds of dudes, but most of his school friends have turned raging right. He keeps the list to tell the siblings during holidays, but I suspect he also likes to goose the white men in his life.
Miss Bianca
@Joelle: We love you, Joelle!
Joelle
@Miss Bianca: There’s going to be a lot more of me to love with Cole in my kitchen.
BigJimSlade
@Chetan Murthy: America’s Test Kitchen complains about beef broth tasting like the can, so they often use a little bit of it if deemed necessary, then use chicken broth for the rest (or for all of it) in a bunch of recipes.
Hamlet of Melnibone
Phillips Vodka was a staple of my college years. I considered it the best of the cheap vodkas. For reference, Smirnoff was the cheapest of the better vodkas. Absolute was Smirnoff with better marketing, and Stoli’s was what I drank when I was flush with cash.
My friends enjoyed this tidbit from the Phillips label at the time-
“Enjoy in moderation. Moderation means different things to different individuals. ”
We joked that meant that we should drink until we could no longer say moderation.