Saturday, December 31, 2011

Spicy New Years Black-Eyed Peas & Pork

Ingredients:
1 can chipotle chili peppers in adobo sauce (7 oz) [Processed to sauce consistency]
5 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 pound carrots cut 1/4 to 1/2 dice
2 medium onions (abt. 1 lb) cut 1/4 to 1/2 dice
3 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder or country-style pork ribs - (to 4 lbs) trimmed, and
cut into 1/2 cubes (you may substitute combinations of chicken pieces)
1/2 pound dried Black-Eyed Peas, presoaked according to package directions and drained [Or blanched]
3 cups chicken broth or more as needed
2 cups canned tomato puree
1 1/2 teaspoons salt or to taste
1/4 cup sugar
Instructions:
In a blender or mini-food processor, puree the chipotle peppers and sauce until smooth. Set aside.
In a 6- to 8-quart pot, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat. Add the carrots and onions and cook until the vegetables have softened and the onion just begins to turn golden brown, about 10 minutes.
While the vegetables are cooking, add about 3 tablespoons oil to a large skillet, enough to coat the bottom of the pan generously, and heat over medium-high heat. Add some of the diced pork, taking care not to crowd the meat in the pan. Sauté the meat until it is no longer pink in the middle. Transfer the meat to a large platter lined with paper towels to drain. Continue cooking the remaining pork in batches, adding additional oil as needed.
Transfer the cooked pork to the pot with the carrots and onions along with the chipotle puree, beans, chicken broth, tomato puree, salt and sugar. Stir to combine, adding more chicken broth if needed to fully cover the meat and vegetables. Bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low so the liquid just barely simmers. Simmer the chili until the meat is tender and the beans are fully cooked, 2-4 hours. Low & slow is always best!
This recipe yields 10 to 12 servings.
I sometimes use Chorizo Sausage for a portion of the Pork. Other times, I use a full pound of beans & cut back 1/2 pound on the pork. Depends upon my mood that day :-)







Sunday, December 25, 2011

Love of Country

Love of Country, Love of God, Love of Family, the Pledge of Allegiance, saying your prayers, loving one's neighbor as thyself, honoring your parents, following the Commandments are not partisan, nor should they be. Serve your Country, Love your God, Family, Neighbors. It does not cost you a thing. Merry Christmas, Peace on Earth, Good Will to Mankind.

Quang Nguyen at Freedom Rally in Prescott, Arizona

On Saturday, July 24th, 2010, the town of Prescott  Valley , AZ, hosted a Freedom Rally. Quang Nguyen was asked to speak on his experience of coming to America and what it means. He spoke the following in dedication to all Vietnam Veterans. Thought you might enjoy hearing what he had to say:
35 years ago, if you were to tell me that I am going to stand up here speaking to a couple thousand patriots, in English, I'd laugh at you.. Man, every morning I wake up thanking God for putting me and my family in the greatest country on earth
I just want you all to know that the American dream does exist and I am living the American dream. I was asked to speak to you about my experience as a first generation Vietnamese- American, but I'd rather speak to you as an American..
If you hadn't noticed, I am not white and I feel pretty comfortable with my people.
I am a proud US citizen and here is my proof. It took me 8 years to get it, waiting in endless lines, but I got it,and I am very proud of it.
I still remember the images of the Tet offensive in 1968, I was six years old. Now you might want to question how a 6-year-old boy could remember anything. Trust me, those images can never be erased. I can't even imagine what it was like for young American soldiers, 10,000 miles away from home, fighting on my behalf.
35 years ago, I left South Vietnam for political asylum. The war had ended.. A t the age of 13, I left with the understanding that I may or may not ever get to see my siblings or parents again. I was one of the first lucky 100,000 Vietnamese allowed to come to the US . Somehow, my family and I were reunited 5 months later, amazingly, in California . It was a miracle from God.
If you haven't heard lately that this is the greatest country on earth, I am telling you that right now. It was the freedom and the opportunities presented to me that put me here with all of you tonight. I also remember the barriers that I had to overcome every step of the way. My high school counselor told me that I cannot make it to college due to my poor communication skills. I proved him wrong. I finished college. You see, all you have to do is to give this little boy an opportunity and encourage him to take and run with it. Well, I took the opportunity and here I am.
This person standing tonight in front of you could not exist under a socialist/communist environment. By the way, if you think socialism is the way to go, I am sure many people here will chip in to get you a one-way ticket out of here. And if you didn't know, the only difference between socialism and communism is an AK-47 aimed at your head. That was my experience.
In 1982, I stood with a thousand new immigrants, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and listening to the National Anthem for the first time as an American. To this day, I can't remember anything sweeter and more patriotic than that moment in my life.
Fast forwarding, somehow I finished high school, finished college, and like any other goofball 21 year old kid, I was having a great time with my life. I had a nice job and a nice apartment in Southern California . In some way and somehow, I had forgotten how I got here and why I was here.
One day I was at a gas station, I saw a veteran pumping gas on the other side of the island. I don't know what made me do it, but I walked over and asked if he had served in Vietnam . He smiled and said yes. I shook and held his hand. The grown man began to well up. I walked away as fast as I could and at that very moment, I was emotionally rocked. This was a profound moment in my life. I knew something had to change in my life. It was time for me to learn how to be a good citizen. It was time for me to give back.
You see, America is not just a place on the map, it isn't just a physical location. It is an ideal, a concept. And if you are an American, you must understand the concept, you must accept this concept, and most importantly, you have to fight and defend this concept. This is about Freedom and not free stuff. And that is why I am standing up here.
Brothers and sisters, to be a real American, the very least you must do is to learn English and understand it well. In my humble opinion, you cannot be a faithful patriotic citizen if you can't speak the language of the country you live in. Take this document of 46 pages - last I looked on the Internet, there wasn't a Vietnamese translation of the US Constitution. It took me a long time to get to the point of being able to converse and until this day, I still struggle to come up with the right words. It's not easy, but if it's too easy, it's not worth doing.
Before I knew this 46-page document, I learned of the 500,000 Americans who fought for this little boy. I learned of the 58,000 names scribed on the black wall at the Vietnam Memorial. You are my heroes. You are my founders.
At this time, I would like to ask all the Vietnam veterans to please stand.. I thank you for my life. I thank you for your sacrifices, and I thank you for giving me the freedom and liberty I have today. I now ask all veterans, firefighters, and police officers, to please stand. On behalf of all first generation immigrants, I thank you for your services and may God bless you all.
Quang Nguyen
Creative Director/Founder
Caddis Advertising, LLC
Notice that he referred to himself as an American, NOT Vietnamese - American. How good it would be here in America if all of the immigrants---no, EVERYONE--- felt like Quang Nguyen.















Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Funniest Funny of 2011


Funniest funny of 2011: Our teacher asked what my favorite animal was, and I said,

"Fried chicken." She said I wasn't funny, but she couldn't have been right, because everyone else laughed. My parents told me to always tell the truth. I did. Fried chicken is my favorite animal. I told my dad what happened, and he said my teacher was probably a member of PETA. He said they love animals very much. I do, too. Especially chicken, pork and beef. Anyway, my teacher sent me to the principal's office. I told him what happened, and he laughed, too. Then he told me not to do it again. The next day in class my teacher asked me what my favorite live animal was. I told her it was chicken. She asked me why, so I told her it was because you could make them into fried chicken. She sent me back to the principal's office. He laughed, and told me not to do it again. I don't understand. My parents taught me to be honest, but my teacher doesn't like it when I am. Today, my teacher asked us to tell her what famous person we admire most. I told her, "Colonel Sanders." Guess where I am now...[Stolen from Susan :-)]

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Shattuck, Oklahoma on Obama

In Oklahoma there is a town called Shattuck, where some of its citizens still speak a form a German, which was the language of many of the area pioneers. One day, a local rancher driving down a country road noticed a man using his hand to drink water from the rancher's stock pond.

The rancher rolled down the window and shouted: "Sehr angenehm! Trink das Wasser nicht. Die kuehe haben darein geschissen", which means: "Glad to meet you! Don't drink the water. The cows have shit in it."

The man shouted back: "I'm from New York and just down here campaigning for Obama. I can't understand you. Please speak in English."
The rancher replied: "Use both hands."

Obama on Departing Iraq

Son of a Bitch had the nerve to send me an email this morning:  Friend--Early this morning, the last of our troops left Iraq. As we honor and reflect on the sacrifices that millions of men and women made for this war, I wanted to make sure you heard the news. Bringing this war to a responsible end was a cause that sparked many Americans to get involved in the political process for the first time. Today's outcome is a reminder that we all have a stake in our country's future, and a say in the direction we choose.
Thank you.
Barack

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Friends Are Like Panties

FRIENDS are like panties. Some crawl up your butt. Some snap under pressure. Some don't have the strength to hold you up. Some get a little twisted. Some are your favorite. Some are holy. Some are cheap. Some are naughty. And some actually cover your butt when you need 'em to.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep; Guide us through the starry night, and wake us with the morning's light. I ask not for myself alone, but for thy children—everyone.

Monday, December 12, 2011

150 Years of Spurious Case Law

150 years of spurious case law does not amend the Constitution; there is a clear pathos provided for, in the Constitution itself, to accomplish that. Constitutional Convention, which has never been done or, Ratification of a proposed amendment, passed by Resolution, in Congress, by 2/3 vote, & agreed to by 3/4 of the States, usually within 7 years. That's it!

Supremacy Clause Has Limited Application

Supremacy Clause only applies if the federal government is acting in pursuit of its constitutionally authorized powers [Enumerated in Art. 1, Sect. 8], as noted by the phrase "in pursuance thereof" in the actual text of the Supremacy Clause itself. So suck it up & deal case law junkies!

Federal Government Is An Equal Partner with the States

Those who studied case law believe Fed Gov to be supreme. Those who studied the Constitution know Fed Gov is an equal partner to the States. The Supreme Power rests with the People. http://bit.ly/sONoxy

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

How Government Stimulus Package Really Works

It is a slow day in the small Montana town of Two Dot and the streets are deserted. Times are tough, everybody is in debt and living on credit.

A tourist visiting the area drives through town, stops at the motel, and lays a $100 bill on the desk saying he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs to pick one for the night. As soon as he walks upstairs, the motel owner grabs the bill and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher.

The butcher takes the $100 and runs down the street to retire his debt to the pig farmer. The pig farmer takes the $100 and heads off to pay his bill to his supplier, the Co-op. The guy at the Co-op takes the $100 and runs to pay his debt to the local prostitute, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer her "services" on credit. The hooker rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill with the hotel owner. The hotel proprietor then places the $100 back on the counter so the traveler will not suspect anything. At that moment the traveler comes down the stairs, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, picks up the $100 bill and leaves.

No one produced anything...
No one earned anything...
However, the whole town is now out of debt and looks to the future with a lot more optimism...
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how a "stimulus package" works.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Being from Oklahoma

I'm fixin' to tell you something about being from Oklahoma. Being Oklahoman doesn't mean that I'm not educated. I may say "ain't" and "y'all" and call you "Sweetie" or 'Honey" and I might "bless a lot of hearts" and I might even "piddle around". I'll greet you with a big "Howdy" or "Hey Y'all". All soda pop is "Coke" and if I ask for "sugar", it means I want a KISS. I'm polite and say "Ma'am..." and "Sir". And if you hear an Oklahoman say, "Oh, hell no!!" you'd better run. P.S. if you don't know where yonder is then you ain't from Oklahoma!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Obamaism--Where Anything Is Possible

I know that you are afraid, you are afraid of change. I don’t know the future. I didn’t come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it’s going to begin…a world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries. A world where anything is possible." I'll give you that last one Tater Tot; a world that elected you is a world out of control.

Obama: Besar Mi Culo

Obamaism: How embarrassing it is that Europeans are multilingual but we go over to Europe, and all we can say is merci beaucoup." Really? How's this: besar mi culo

Obamaism on Rising Oceans

Generations from now we will be able to look back & tell our children that this was the moment, when, among other wonders, the rise of the oceans began to slow." Actually no, you complete & total idiot. They'll look back & say our forefathers were on LSD - only salient explanation for electing a warm turd.

Bullying?

WTH! I never had any problem with it. I picked up the biggest rock or limb & split his head open with it. While he was writhing on the ground, I put a cowboy boot in each set of ribs & then stomped on his knee caps. Do it once & see if anyone is stupid enough to bully you ever again. Now, STFU about "bullying", Alice!

Obamaisms--Too Good to Be True

Ad playing with Obama and Franky Vallee, with Franky singing, “You’re Just Too Good to Be True”. Jeez! It's free entertainment out here in Obamaland. Barry, you are dumber than a box 'o rocks!

Obamaism--Afraid

I know that you are afraid, you are afraid of change. I don’t know the future. I did not come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it’s going to begin…a world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries. A world where anything is possible." I'll give you that last one Tater Tot; a world that would elect you is not only endless, but mindless!

Obamaism--Real Change

I am asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington, I’m asking you to believe in yours. Oh, S**T-for-Brain, I do believe in mine. I just don't believe you're capable of tying your own shoes, Velcro-Boy!

Obamaism--Epiphany

You will experience an epiphany.  You will say to yourself, I have to vote for Barack.
There just are not enough drugs on this planet of 57 states for me to take to vote for you - you are the essence of stupid!

Obamaism--The Moment

This is the moment…that the world is waiting for.  Actually, bird-brain, I was awaiting my T-Time in our 57th state!

Obamaism--The Light

I am going to try to be so persuasive in the next 20 minutes or so that a light is going to shine down from the ceiling." That would be the bulb in your teleprompter genius!

Obamaism--57 States

I’ve visited about 57 states. Where could this be?  Africa?  You mindless nymph!

Obamaism--10 Year Term

I am over here because I might have to deal with these people for the next 8-10 years. He is a veritable Constitutional genius!

Obamaism--The Plant Healer

This is the moment when our planet began to heal.  Really? Thank you my interplanetary grand wizard!

Obamaism--the Change

We are the change that we seek. Did someone poop their diapers?

Obamaism--the Wait

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. / Actually, no, I've been waiting on the bus to Poughkeepsie, you Idiot!

Obamaism--the Team

We are the team that we seek. / Now that is downright retarded!