Day 32: Chili Corn Cakes...

Ten years ago I took a job down south. It wasn’t the kind of thing I usually do, but I was desperate for the cash, and I figured it would be easy bringing in the bounty on one Hugo “Brickface” MaCain. I followed him from Colorado Springs on horseback, thinking I’d find him pretty quickly, nab him and be on my way. They guy was notoriously large, and not a good rider. Neither was I for that matter, but a whole lot better than him.

Clearly I hadn’t expected how determined Brickface was at not getting caught. He ditched his horse not long after he figured I was on to him, and he jumped a train. I managed to keep up, but in the end we scrambled after each other through the New Mexico desert. I still remember bouncing all over the burning mesa like water in burning oil. I nearly lost my life on that job, but luckily what kept me going were these little corn cakes I stocked up on in Santa Fe. They keep for a surprisingly long time, not to mention tasty, and they keep you going.

How I Lost 30 lbs, or, “How I Look Better at 38 than 28.”

I have been physically active for nearly two years, and have gone through many changes. Some around me have asked how I did it, and in response, I have put to word many of the techniques and principles I have learned and implemented. It works, plain and simple.

Why have I posted this here? Because it's a food blog. Eating healthy for most people conjures up images of eating vast quantities of bland, tasteless lettuce. But because I have taken the time to learn how to cook, I can make a salad without dressing that kicks ass, and doesn't make you pine for the bag of doritos. I can eat healthy, and not give up taste.

So keep this in mind when you look over the food I make on this blog, because it's a slice of what I ate during my efforts to lose weight. If it helped me, maybe it can help you.

Day 31: Dirty Rubbed Salmon...

Do you dare to get dirty? If you do, you’ve gotta be prepared to rub it, and rub it good, until it’s covered and ready to heat up. You’re going to want to taste this one, because everyone who’s tried it have begged for more. Yup, they can’t get enough of this one...

All kidding aside, this salmon dish is actually famous in my circle of friends. I made it up on the spot, and I haven’t changed it since. It’s one of my sure fire successes that didn’t need modification.

Consider this testimonial from one Daniel Blaustein (Ph.D. - Department of Romance and Latin American Studies, at the University of Jerusalem) who was there at it’s inception. He said:

“Your salmon was not just a salmon. It wasn't either 'the' salmon. It was the Gates of Heaven. It was fucking Redemption. It was the Second and definitive Coming of the Lord ("coming" in the broadest sense of the verb). And I know, I do perfectly know what I am talking about because during the last 15 years I've been living in this humble mansion located just 10 minutes walking away from the Via Dolorosa and the Holy Sepulchre, where He (i.e., your Salmon) performed the first Ascension to the Skies almost 2,000 years ago. Amen.”

With recommendations like that, you want to try it now, don’t you?

Day 30 - Easy Sparkling Ice Tea...

With the summer heat still in effect, and cottage season in full force, having a nice cool and fun drink available is a must. Here is my own variation of a classic, ice tea. This recipe can be prepared in advance, kept in the freezer, and made when company arrives.

Enjoy, and here’s to the first 30 days!!!

Day 29: Keith’s Vietnamese Salad Rolls...

It’s another scorcher in the Capital today, and the last thing anyone without air conditioning wants to do is turn on the oven or stove. Don’t worry. I’m here to save you from yourself.

You know those little rice paper wrapped rolls filled with minty salad goodness you get in Vietnamese restaurants? Well now you can make your own, complete with peanut dipping sauce...

Day 28: Coconut Curry Salmon...

There are times when you have odd ingredients that just don’t seem to make sense, or that you at least doubt they’d go together, like chocolate, horseradish and beef...

Okay, that won’t work, but one time I had some salmon steaks and sweetened coconut flakes. The rest was history...

Day 27: Bacon Pie...

Did I ever tell you about the time I was possessed? No? Well I was, once. It all started about fifteen years ago when I had a week off from work and ended up doing 47 hours straight of crossword puzzles. Pretty soon all those random words started to make sense. They actually spoke to me! Before you know it, I was full on possessed. I was ranting, raving, levitating, watching TV judge shows, swearing, and speaking Esperanto (whatever that is!). In the end what saved me was that I left the TV on, and reruns of Star Trek came on. Hours of William Shatner as Captain Kirk became my Exorcist, and snapped me out of it.

Oh, and while under the influence, I seemed to have written this recipe...