Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

That meeting sounds like a shotgun wedding between a shitshow and a clusterfuck.

Fear or fury? The choice is ours.

The lights are all blinking red.

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

American history and black history cannot be separated.

The gop is a fucking disgrace.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

No one could have predicted…

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

“Alexa, change the president.”

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

This really is a full service blog.

the 10% who apparently lack object permanence

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

Text STOP to opt out of updates on war plans.

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

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Steelers Open Thread

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Went to the big city to get some gas and kitty litter, and I stopped at the smokehouse and got a rack of ribs for my folks and a bbq Cuban and some mac and cheese, slaw, and baked beans for myself, because I was not in the mood to cook.

I have no idea what it is, and trust me, I like the so-called finer things in life (road kill stew, ramps, corn jelly), but there is just something about a good sammich that hits the spot every now and then. This had pulled pork in a homemade wet sauce as the base, then a typical cuban sandwich on top of that, and then a boatload of pickles. And it was awesome. I’d planned to have half before the game and half at halftime, but ended up standing over the oven eating the whole damned thing out of the styrofoam container.

Sometimes a good sandwich fixes everything for a while.

GO STILLERS!

Reader Interactions

177Comments

  2. 2.

    Betty Cracker

    A proper Cuban sammitch has Genoa salami, boiled ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, mustard (yellow, not fancy), mayo and 2 pickles on CUBAN bread. Period.

  11. 11.

    MikeJ

    @Omnes Omnibus: How could eggs and oil be evil? Do you find vinaigrette evil? Good mayo is good. Bad mayo is bad.

    I wouldn’t put mayo on everything, just like I wouldn’t put chocolate or crème anglaise on everything.

  13. 13.

    SteveinSC

    The best Cuban I ever ate was at Mrs.T’s in Nags Head. She was a WWII Jewish refugee who, with her family, first landed in Cuba where she learned how those bitches are really intended to be made. Kosher?, what the fuck! Her family then moved to the U.S. and thence lost their way and ended up in North Carolina. She was actually used to some Jack-booted asshole yelling “Ihr Papier, Bitte!” way before it was fashionable in the Tar Heel State and mercifully she passed away before it came to pass again.

    Ramps? They have a fucking ramps festival here in SC to go along with the Salley chittlin’s festival. Them fuckers stink to high heaven, but the fried ones are pretty good.

  14. 14.

    geg6

    @Betty Cracker:

    This.

    Mmmmm, a Cuban sounds lovely. But we’re having burgers from the grill, which are also quite lovely. With a nice bottle of red, not sure what kind. But it’s French. Surrender monkey wine!

    And Cole? This game is gonna be painful. It’s going to be all third stringers, playing to save their NFL lives. Ugh. I plan to watch only until Burn Notice and Elementary come on.

    And I have to confess…I know I’ve talked about how my John and I are definite dog people. But there is a little skinny marmalade that’s been hanging around in our yard. Last Friday, we went out for fish dinners and brought home some leftover fish. We put it out under the bench that the cat seems to favor and the next morning, it was gone. That night, we saw the cat hanging around the bench, quite bold in that we were out with the dogs and the cat just sat and stared at us as if to say where’s my fish? So the next day, we were grocery shopping and picked up some inexpensive cat food (10 for $12) and we’ve been putting out a can every night in the same spot. She (we think she is a she) is now completely ensconced under the bench. We can’t see a collar or tags on her but we haven’t really gotten very close yet.

    But I have a horrible feeling we’re about to become cat people. Fucking Cole and Balloon Juice. Look at what you’ve done to me!

  15. 15.

    the Conster

    WTF are the Pats going to do with Tebow? I just don’t get it. I can throw better than him.

  16. 16.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @MikeJ:

    How could eggs and oil be evil? Do you find vinaigrette evil?

    By combining to be mayo. Vinaigrette is just fine with me.

  17. 17.

    Craigo

    @cathyx: Yeah, I’m not sure what it means in this context. I know of a couple good places to get a cuban in Pittsburgh, but if he knows somewhere closer that’s great.

  19. 19.

    JPL

    @MikeJ: Although I live in a burb outside Atlanta, there are a lot of Sox fans. The first time they won the series, a young man who was volunteering (cuz he had to) where I volunteer willingly, told me it was the only time he saw his father cry. He asked me if I cried and I said of course.

    It would be nice if the Falcons won one preseason game, btw. What would be nicer is if Brian Banks had a good game. It would be great to have him in the NFL at least one season.

  20. 20.

    geg6

    And can I just say that I’m not crazy about Bob Pompeani and Edmund Nelson calling the game? I miss Myron.

  21. 21.

    JPL

    @the Conster: hmm. My guess is that he won’t make the team and the tea party evangelicals will have something else to bitch about, rather than Obama.

  23. 23.

    giterdone

    I see Wr0ng W@y Cole is FINALLY starting to be honest about his true feelings about Obama.

    Don’t hide it Cole. Let your Greenwald freak flag fly you fokin sheithead.

  24. 24.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    So Notre Dame is going for the chrome Oregon look for their helmets, and so is Indiana. Why Wisconsin switched from white/Red W to Red/white W is a mystery unless Snotty Walker had something to do with it. One more question, which NFL team will tank to draft Jadaveon Clowney?

  26. 26.

    raven

    @Mr Stagger Lee: If he sucks air all year like he has in this half it may not be the greatest thing ever! The Dawgs are gonna roll these bums. Their secondary is weak weak weak.

  27. 27.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    @raven: Saw `Tennessee’s schedule, they can easily 1-5 and there will be howling from Rocky Top.

    Saw the drawing for the Champions League, Manchester City and Bayern Munich, also Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund….sexy!

  32. 32.

    lamh36

    Watching Nic Cage in National Treasure. I do love this movie. I liked the 2nd move too. I’ma neat Bruckhemier and Cage to get it together for the 3rd installment. It’s not like Cage is busy right now, plus don’t he still owe the guvm’t taxes on his island or something?

  35. 35.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    @cathyx: Mayonnaise and Bacon sandwich a combination made in heaven. And I confess when I was in Germany I was into French Fries and mayonnaise, I may ended up having to turn in my American citizenship and my man card for that. ;-)

  37. 37.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @cathyx:

    ‘scuse me while I throw up in my mouth. However could you be so cruel, cathyx? I thought we were friends.

  40. 40.

    MikeJ

    @Mr Stagger Lee:

    And I confess when I was in Germany I was into French Fries and mayonnaise, I may ended up having to turn in my American citizenship and my man card for that.

    I caught it while working in the Netherlands.

    You know what’s really good on fries? Curry mayo.

  41. 41.

    lamh36

    now watching Austin Powers:International Man of Mystery. So what’s up with Mike Myers lately I wonder? I’m guessing he’s just sitting back and collecting the Austin Powers and Sherk residual checks as they come rolling in!

  48. 48.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Roger Moore:

    But dipping things in it is what it’s made for.
    Mmmmm. Artichoke.

    NO!!! Are you insane?? That’s what BUTTER is for, sheesh!!

  50. 50.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Not to come across all Little Boots, but I knew you’d be on my side in this.

    The Great Balloon Juice Mayonnaise Wars.

    Fuckin’ Epic.

  57. 57.

    raven

    @Omnes Omnibus: Sorry. I have switched back to butter on rare occasions. Last night I grilled mahi, avocado and pineapple and basted the pineapple with butter and honey.

  58. 58.

    cathyx

    @SiubhanDuinne: Clearly there are plenty of mayonnaise lovers on this board.

    Yes to artichokes, lobster, frenchfries, any vegetable, every sandwich, and all ten fingers.

  60. 60.

    raven

    @jeffreyw: I’ve had this weird experience, I did a low country boil and I’ve gotten two thank you notes in the mail and several on the facebook!

  66. 66.

    MikeJ

    @NotMax:

    Mixing a bit of wasabi paste into the tuna and mayo takes it to a whole new level.

    One of the great things about mayo is its ability to be a vehicle for other flavors. It is incredibly difficult to get the correct amount of wasabi spread spread appropriately around a dish without a carrier sauce.

    It is also very popular for carrying garlic, in which case we call it “aïoli”.

  69. 69.

    raven

    @jeffreyw:

    With your silhouette when the sunlight dims
    Into your eyes where the moonlight swims
    And your matchbook songs and your gypsy hymns
    Who among them would try to impress you?
    Sad-eyed lady of the lowlands
    Where the sad-eyed prophet says that no man comes

  70. 70.

    MomSense

    The ultimate for french fries is roasted red pepper and garlic aioli–and not difficult to make at home. My youngest calls it the “better than ketchup sauce”.

    @JPL:

    I like mayo lobster rolls but an alternative is a little melted butter with chives and lemon juice. It is delicious.

  72. 72.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I guess I am of the view that mayo is a decent ingredient (thoroughly mixed into things) but horrible as a stand-alone (spread, dipping sauce, etc.)

    At the other end of the equation, I love raisins as a stand-alone food, straight out of the little Sunmaid box the way the gods meant them to be eaten, but I loathe, detest, and abhor raisins as an ingredient. Especially in cookies. And rice pudding. But especially in cookies. (Expecting chocolate chips and getting raisins just plays merry hell with trust issues.)

  84. 84.

    lamh36

    Lord I really don’t like mayonnaise. When I was younger, I never touched the stuff. Now-a-days, I still don’t like it, but I don’t totally hate it anymore, still don’t prefer it at all.

    Still hearing you all rave about it reminds me of this scene from Undercover Brother: Undercover Brother – Mayonnaise

  85. 85.

    Manyakitty

    @NotMax: What? Raisins in stuffed cabbage? Not the way I make it. Filling of hamburger, rice, salt, and pepper. Sauce of crushed tomatoes, brown sugar, salt and lemon juice. Bake slow for 8 hours. Will blow your mind.

  88. 88.

    PurpleGirl

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Spring is sprung,

    The grass is risen.

    I wonder where the birdies is’un,

    The birds is on da wing!

    Isn’t that absurd, I thought the wing is on the bird.

  90. 90.

    JPL

    @Manyakitty: Try making horseradish sauce with yogurt and a tad of lemon. You can add as much horseradish as you want.

    How about those Steelers…

  95. 95.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @PurpleGirl: Did you learn that from a parent? I’ve recently been trying to collect some of the silly routines my mother used to do, things that would just crack us up as kids (the paper napkin thing of the maiden, the villain, and the hero; the lengthy shaggy story of Herbert the Family Pet; and her over-the-top performance of “Don’t Go In the Lions’ Cage Tonight, Mother Darling”). She also had a fine repertoire of old English ballads and such that she used to sing as bedtime songs — “Lord Lovell” and “The Minstrel Boy” and “The Dismal Swamp” and “Down By the Haunted Spring.”

  96. 96.

    Felonius Monk

    Sometimes a good sandwich fixes everything for a while.

    Unless, of course, it’s a shit sandwich which, even when it is well made, is usually hard to digest.

  99. 99.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    It’s legal to BBQ Cubans in West “By God” Virginia? I’d think they’d be too lean and a bit salty from the swim.

  101. 101.

    BruceFromOhio

    Gaia strike me down where I stand, the pre-season Browns look precisely, painfully like the regular season Browns: down by 10, stalled mid-field, throwing on 3rd and short and dropping it, flagged on 4th down, punting. May as well call it a 4-12 season now and skip the injuries, and wait for the feds to bust the owner.

  109. 109.

    JPL

    @Manyakitty: Just taste and adjust the flavors to your liking. My son, who is 34, recently saw a chef on tv doing something similar and asked how I started that. My mom would always use mayo or sour cream and decades ago, since I had neither, I tried yogurt. I’m sure the chef my son saw on TV started the same way.

  110. 110.

    raven

    30 minutes AFTER the lightning stops! On to Nashville.I took tomorrow off so I could stay up and watch football, let’s go!

  115. 115.

    Steeplejack

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    What? You scared me for a minute. They’re still up 3-1. I’ve been bouncing around various channels and was away from that game for a while. Basically killing time until Elementary comes on.

  116. 116.

    tybee

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    the Zenmaster then hands the vendor a $20 to pay for the hotdog.
    the vendor puts it in his pocket and turns to the next customer.
    Zenmaster says “where’s my change?”
    and the vendor says “change must come from within”.

  117. 117.

    Manyakitty

    @JPL: Excellent. Let me share you back a versatile dip and dressing:
    Red Curry Mayo.
    Adjust amounts to taste:
    Mayo, roasted red pepper, red curry paste, sea salt, a little sugar, pickle juice. Blend until smooth. I use an immersion blender, but it would whizz together fine in a regular blender or food processor.

  118. 118.

    geg6

    @raven:

    Low country boil done right is this atheist’s idea of heaven.

    I once made it on a trip from here to Cincinnati on a yacht with friends. We are still legends for the smells we trailed behind us as I cooked it up and we traveled upriver and docked somewhere about 50 to 60 miles from Marietta on our way back home. The restaurant at the marina we stayed at that night was pissed about the aromas coming from our boat. It smelled better than anything they were serving.

  125. 125.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    So I wonder, if the New England Patriots will wait for the Friday afternoon news dump to cut His Holiness, the Baby Jesus Tim Tebow? Will Skip Bayless commit seppiku on TV while Steven A Smith’s head explode?

  126. 126.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Steeplejack: Okay, either I’m losing my mind or I’m losing my mind. One.

    I havent been paying close attention tonight (otherwise occupied), but would swear on a stack of Obamacare prescription pads that the TV across the room (muted) was showing a 3-0 Cleveland lead. At least, the 3 was above the 0, I swear, and I knew it was a home game. Anyhow, it seems to be better now, 3-1 Atlanta, with the numbers where they belong. I should pay more attention to the action on the field and less to the graphics.

  129. 129.

    elmo

    Discovered this totally by accident, when I wanted to make tartar sauce but didn’t have any pickle relish – mayo and those chopped hot peppers you get from Wegman’s (the red and yellow ones in oil, not the giardinaria or whatever the hell that vinegar pepper stuff is called). OMG as a dip for tater tots it is to DIE for. (Probably literally, between the mayo and the tater tots…)

    +0 because I’m still at work at 9:45 Eastern after being here since 0800. FML.

  130. 130.

    geg6

    @raven:

    Yup, that’s exactly how it should look. Next time, if you like them, add some crab legs to it. In a part of the Outer Banks that we (me and my ex) used to go to, it was called Frogmore Stew. Fabulous. Just slurping it up as if we had no sort of manners or self-control. So delicious.

  135. 135.

    raven

    @geg6: Yea, with the shrimp shortage it was not possible to go beyond $9 a lb for shrimps so the crab had to go. As it was I drove 120 miles to get nice shrimp and those tiny red taters. Ever have that Apple Ugly at the Orange Blossom in Hatteras?

  137. 137.

    Jane2

    @NotMax: Wow! I’ve never seen a stuffed cabbage recipe like this. I’m used to the Ukrainian/Polish/German variety, which would not have the sweetness of that recipe. However, I’m maybe a tad little open minded, and would try this.

  138. 138.

    Jane2

    @geg6: Kitty litter, stink eye for wet food (dogs can’t even compete), owning the furniture, hairballs…embrace it!

  141. 141.

    Steeplejack

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    I lived in Atlanta for 26 years and am a big Braves fan. Had a friend who had a share of some season tickets, and I would go to six or eight games a season with her. I don’t get to see them as much as I would like up here in D.C., so I’m always glad when they show up on TV. Oh, for the days when TBS dutifully aired every game!

    I had been thinking about getting tickets for the Braves’ last series here against the Nats, but I checked the dates (September 16-18), and that’s the one time I will be out of town. Dagnab it.

  143. 143.

    Steeplejack

    @raven:

    Yeah, looking forward to that.

    The real reason I wanted to go to a game was so I could buy a “real” fitted Braves cap to replace the one I lost a couple of years ago. Don’t want to buy on line because I need to feel it on my giant melon-like head.

  145. 145.

    Felonius Monk

    @Manyakitty: Yes, sauerkraut. Cabbage needs more cabbage, the sauerkraut kind.

    Try it, you’ll like it. And then you’ll be back here sayin’: “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.”

  147. 147.

    lamh36

    Watching this Michael Jackson: Life of an Icon documentary on CENTRIC. They’ve got alot of the Motown artist and musicians and friends and acquaintainces commenting on MJ and the Jackson 5. It’s very interesting.

    In my mind, my hair looks like this circa “Who’s Loving You” Michael Jackson but it never looks this great when it’s picked out…no shape at all…lol

    twitter.com/psddluva4evah/status/373261567808122880

  149. 149.

    lamh36

    Watching this Michael Jackson: Life of an Icon documentary on CENTRIC. They’ve got alot of the Motown artist and musicians and friends and acquaintainces commenting on MJ and the Jackson 5. It’s very interesting.

    In my mind, my hair looks like this circa “Who’s Loving You” Michael Jackson but it never looks this great when it’s picked out…no shape at all…lol

    twitter.com/psddluva4evah/status/373261567808122880

  151. 151.

    Steeplejack

    @raven:

    I’m sure there is, but I’m too lazy to look. The great thing about the stadium is that the vendors outside carry all the stuff for the team the Nats are playing that night, so you can just pick one up (for big bucks) as you roll on in.

    P.S. And thank God you can still get a cap with a “narrow” brim. I hate the “Huey, Dewey and Louie” caps the players are forced to wear now. It makes them all look like Vanilla Ice or something.

  152. 152.

    Paddy

    @lamh36: Myers has been the butt of TONS of tabloid fodder. Mostly having to do with sexual interests that most of us don’t cultivate. Oh, ‘cept Senator VItter. He did remarry recently. (I have no clue why this shit sticks in my head)

  154. 154.

    raven

    @Steeplejack: When I lived in the ATL for a couple of years I’d get one of those $1 skyline seats, buy boiled peanuts outside the stadium, get a CL to read between innings and sign the designated driver pledges and get a free coke!

  156. 156.

    Paddy

    @Manyakitty: Pickle juice, the Polish answer to everything. My dad used to chug it straight from the jar*, and when I bar tended in college my Bloody Marys were legendary… due to my “secret” ingredient.

    *He would laugh and say “It kills the worms”. Polish humor, what can I say.

  157. 157.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Steeplejack: Jeez, even the Braves aren’t sure what the score is. Their FB page is rejoicing in a “3-0” win tonight but of course it was 3-1. Never mind, a win is a win and a sweep is a sweep.

    And I now think that when I was confused about score earlier, the TV might have been showing hits rather than runs. Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been confuzzled that way.

  158. 158.

    Steeplejack

    @raven:

    Good times. I, on the other hand, would have an overpriced beer and a hot dog. I shudder to think how they’re made, but nothing tastes as good as a ball-park hot dog.

    The Ted is a really nice, comfortable baseball park. My friend’s tickets were on the second level right behind first base. It was nice to sit there and look over downtown Atlanta as the sun went down and the city lights came on.

    And the old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium wasn’t bad either.

  159. 159.

    raven

    @Steeplejack: Yea, I got to go to the Olympic Track and Field there too. Saw Carl Lewis win the Gold Medal! We don’t get over there very much, I’ve wanted to take the pups to Bark in the Park sometime.

  160. 160.

    Jane2

    @manyakitty: I’ve had German ones made with sour cabbage, but never sauerkraut. No fancy stuff like raisins or apples…now, that could have been because the people who settled here were dirt poor and those are the recipes that have been handed down.

  161. 161.

    Felonius Monk

    @manyakitty: There’s no wrong way to make stuffed cabbage. There are many different recipes representing most every eastern European country and all the various ethnicities therein. It’s whatever you like and what you are accustomed to. To me it’s fun to compare recipes — am always willing to try new things. Bon Appetit!

  162. 162.

    Felonius Monk

    @PopeRatzo: Yellow cake? Who the hell can make war when they’re eating yellow cake? Especially if it has chocolate fudge frosting!

  163. 163.

    Honus

    Fuck the Steelers exhibition game The pirates are in an actual pennant race and the cardinals are coming to town for three games this weekend.

  165. 165.

    Anne Laurie

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    At the other end of the equation, I love raisins as a stand-alone food, straight out of the little Sunmaid box the way the gods meant them to be eaten, but I loathe, detest, and abhor raisins as an ingredient.

    Dessert raisins I can take or leave — mostly leave — but a biryani or khorma dish just isn’t right without golden raisins!

    (Yeah, probably inauthentic, but I know what I like.)

  166. 166.

    Anne Laurie

    @? Martin:

    You obviously have not met my mom.

    We may be related. My mom once made a Thanksgiving turkey that our cats wouldn’t touch!

  167. 167.

    Jane2

    @Felonius Monk: So, I conducted some scientific research on stuffed cabbage recipes (called my friend of German ancestry), and yes indeed, sauerkraut was an integral part of his grandmother’s dish. It served to keep the cabbage rolls from browning and keep them moist…the sauerkraut would brown. He has fond memories of going into grandma’s basement to get a head of sour cabbage out of the barrel for his mom.

  168. 168.

    Suzanne

    I am late to the party, but…..yeah, mayo sucks.

    And the best fries are Greek fries: fries with creamy lemon vinaigrette, dill, and lots of feta cheese. Every time I eat that, which is nowhere near as often as I’d like, I swear it’s like my mouth has a G-spot and it just got a direct hit.

  171. 171.

    Calliope Jane

    @lamh36: I am very, very late to this thread but I just wanted to thank you for the link. I’m sure her daughters are enjoying these photos :). I love the White House Tumblr. They add “literally” as a tag for Biden.

  172. 172.

    seaboogie

    @PurpleGirl: Ogden Nash meets Mason Williams:

    Void is da woid

    Dat voids the concept

    Of da woid

    By being da woid

    Dat voids it

    (No boids, sorry….)

  173. 173.

    Radio One

    I think some of the scrubs on the Patriots, especiallly on the defense, played well enough in the preseason that Tebow is probably going to get cut this weekend

  174. 174.

    Death Panel Truck

    “… and baked beans for myself”

    If by “baked beans,” you mean Heinz Baked Beans, the greatest baked beans in the history of the planet, then great, otherwise, eww. American baked beans are nasty, and this is from an American who hates with a passion beans made with molasses and/or brown sugar and/or maple syrup or anything other than tomato sauce and nothing else. I buy HBB from Amazon, and I’m glad to pay the $25 it takes to get 12 cans delivered to my door.

    +6. Bridgeport Brewing Company’s “Hop Czar” IPA is really nasty. I’m a veteran of Seattle’s “Green Death” – Rainier Ale – and even IT was tastier than Hop Czar. 7.5 is too much alcohol, people.

    ETA: Sucks to live in the PTZ. Why can’t youse people stay up longer?

  175. 175.

    Manyakitty

    @Paddy: Ha! I had a friend growing up (still friends, but anyway) whose Polish great grandma always made her drink pickle juice. She said it would make her irresistible to boys.

  176. 176.

    Manyakitty

    @Jane2: I have no problem believing that the simplicity of my recipe (oops, forgot to mention some people add chopped onion to the filling and sauce) has to do with poverty. Many of my old family recipes use stale bread as a base (potato kugel is just NOT the same without soaked, squeezed, stale challah).
    @Felonius Monk: Fair enough. I saw a Martha Stewart recipe once that called for stuffing the entire cabbage instead of individual leaves.

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