Extreme Grill Cleaning

Fixing America

Fixing America

a poem by Daigneault

Veins of ice, sweat on brow, a crawling clock, skin on fire

Corporate pusher with Clonidine, Adderall, Suboxone too

A century ago the Brits bought china, a million yellow-men on the pipe

When they said no, the armada sailed, guns and walls, babies dead

It was smack and the mob, then the Japs found meth

The flood gate broke and the market licked it’s chops

            

Junkies, junkies… we need junkies

Percodan to Percocet to Vicodin, to Demerol

The cops chase the competition, an industry is born

Everybody needs a pill, mom, dad, junior too

Preschool Ritalin, Adderall for test, cough syrup Fridays what about the poor

Get insurance, come along, no insurance drugs a crime

Junkies, junkies… we need junkies

Valium, Tramadol, Seconal and Ambien

Like a pit bull on beefsteak we ate it up, we’ll cry tomorrow, yes cry tomorrow

Junkies, junkies… we need junkies, pill press runs day and night

Tired, take a pill, sleepy, take a pill, hungry, take a pill, full take a pill…

Junkies, junkies… we need junkies, need the jobs, the market soars

Oxy, Oxy we need Oxy

Junkies, junkies… we need junkies

Wholesale seduction of the entire world, Junkies, junkies… we need junkies

Prison, full, rehab full, doctors full, Patients empty

The more they take the less they sleep, the less they feel, the less they live

But profits up, so do the research, another pill around the bend.

Nervous system side effects have included mental and respiratory depression (particularly in the elderly), stupor, delirium, somnolence, and dysphoria. Muscle rigidity (involving the respiratory musculature including the glottis) may also occur and further aggravate the respiratory depression. A case of severe hemiplegic migraine attack has been reported.

Cases of seizures have occasionally been reported, but some investigators have suggested that the seizure-like events reported may have been episodes of drug induced-rigidity.

Other side effects have included withdrawal symptoms (agitation, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, tremor, abdominal cramps, blurred vision, vomiting, and sweating) after either abrupt cessation or fast tapering of narcotic analgesics.

Cardiovascular side effects have included hypotension, bradycardia, and arrhythmias rarely. Gastrointestinal side effects including nausea, vomiting, and constipation have been reported to have occurred commonly. Dental decay of varying severity including dental caries, tooth loss, and gum line erosion have been reported. Choledochoduodenal sphincter spasm has been reported rarely.

Respiratory side effects have included respiratory depression which has been frequently observed acute noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Coughing has been reported following administration for anesthesia induction.  Dermatologic side effects have included pruritus which has been reported frequently. Localized rashes and, less commonly, systemic rashes have also been reported. Hypersensitivity side effects including anaphylaxis have been reported rarely.

Immunologic side effects including a case of recurrent herpes simplex infection have been reported following epidural administration has been reported to increase natural killer cell cytotoxicity and circulating CD16+ lymphocyte levels.

Metabolic side effects including a case of syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone have been reported

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: New Years Day Passion Fruit Mimosa

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: New Years Day Passion Fruit Mimosa: New Years Day Passion Fruit Mimosa If I want a drink, I usually have a shot of Bushmill’s whiskey or good tequila over, ‘store bought...

New Years Day Passion Fruit Mimosa

New Years Day Passion Fruit Mimosa

If I want a drink, I usually have a shot of Bushmill’s whiskey or good tequila over, ‘store bought’ ice.  I like some champagne now and then but a glass is about as far as I get.  If we have people over, for New Years Eve, they usually bring champagne and so the dilemma. 

How many of us have a bottle or two of modest quality, champagne sitting in the back of the fridge?  And it might sit there for a few years.

Why not make a delicious and refreshing drink… the Passion Fruit Mimosa.

Here’s the basic recipe

Champagne, chilled

Passion fruit juice or OJ or a combination of both, chilled

Garnish;

Fresh Strawberries

A slice of orange

Fill a champagne flute, half full with champagne, slowly top with Passion fruit juice or OJ, taking care not to over-fill.  Depending on glass size and presentation, garnish appropriately.  Some like crushed ice added before the champagne.  If the kids are there you can make virgin Mimosas by using 7-up or Sprite in place of the champagne.

I quote Spock, “Live long and prosper!” 

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Grill Roasted Sonoran Beef Wellington

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Grill Roasted Sonoran Beef Wellington: Around our house we eat Beef or Salmon Wellington on New Years Eve.   They are elegant and so easy to make.   The addition of grill roas...

Grill Roasted Sonoran Beef Wellington

Around our house we eat Beef or Salmon Wellington on New Years Eve.  They are elegant and so easy to make.  The addition of grill roasting and the poblano chile, adds a new depth of flavor to this already amazing dish. Give it a try and Happy New Year to you and yours!

Grill Roasted Sonoran Beef Wellington

Also try salmon, pork or chicken breast Wellington.

1 Tenderloin of beef

2 C   Sonoran Duxelle

1 TBL Extra virgin olive oil

1 LARGE SHEET Puff pastry

2 Eggs, well beaten

Black pepper

Kosher salt

1. Rub the olive oil into the exterior of the tenderloin.  Salt and pepper to taste.

2. Grill over high heat until the internal temperature is 128∞.  Remove from heat and fully cool in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.

3. Bring the puff pastry to room temperature.  Lightly flour a flat working surface.

4. Place 1 sheet of puff pastry dough on work surface.  Spoon the duxelle across the of the pastry --  about 4" from the bottom edge and about 3" from the sides.  Spread into a shape 1/2" thick, about the size of the tenderloin.

5. Place the tenderloin on the duxelle. At this point sort of think of this dish as a fancy burrito. You're going to wrap the tenderloin and duxelle in puff pastry.   Fold bottom edge up and egg wash seams, trim any excess dough.  You're looking for about 1/2" overlap.  Fold the sides up and then top edge, egg washing and trimming as you go.

6. Place the Beef Wellington seam side down in lightly greased sheet pan and egg wash the top.

7. Place pizza stone on grill; light burners and turn to low.  Allow grill to slowly heat to about 400∞ then turn off burners directly below pizza stone and adjust heat to maintain approximately 400∞.

8. Place sheet pan directly on pizza stone and grill-bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until deep golden brown.  Remove from heat and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Serves 8.

Sonoran Duxelle for Wellington

a main component of any Wellington dish.

1/2 LB Crimini mushrooms, cleaned and chopped fine

1/2 LB Assorted mushrooms, cleaned and chopped fine

2 Shallots, minced

2 TBL Sweet butter

1 Poblano chile, roasted, peeled and minced

Table salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste

1/2 TSP Fresh-ground nutmeg

A few drops of White truffle oil

1. Sauté the mushrooms and shallots in the butter for 5-6 minutes.  Add Poblano and spices and stir well.

2. Spoon into wire strainer and drain well.

3. Cool down in refrigerator in a covered glass bowl.  Add white truffle oil and stir well before using in Wellington.

4. Makes 2C, (enough for 1 Beef Wellington.)

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: New Years Day Black-eyed Peas

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: New Years Day Black-eyed Peas: New Years Day Black-eyed Peas or Getting Lucky at my Age! Every New Years day we have our traditional “lucky” foods.   Black-eyed ...

New Years Day Black-eyed Peas

New Years Day Black-eyed Peas

or Getting Lucky at my Age!

Every New Years day we have our traditional “lucky” foods.  Black-eyed Peas are always a big favorite.  And looking back on our lives I have to say they’ve worked well!  Best to you and yours!

Black-eyed Peas

1 LB dried or fresh Black-eyed peas, in your grocer’s produce section, today… while they last. (fresh peas, skip step 1)

1 Tbl. White vinegar (for soaking the dried peas)

2 carrots, chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

½ sweet onion, chopped fine

2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1 Tbl. Sweet butter

1 large Ham-hock

1 jalapeno, or chipotle, chile, chopped

1 14 oz. can *diced tomatoes (*if living in Texas, Rotel)

Either a few tsp. of fresh thyme or oregano, or 2 tsp of Italian seasoning.

Water to cover by about 1.5 inches

Salt & pepper

1. Remove any rocks or foreign material from peas and rinse well.  Soak overnight in a bowl of water with 1TBL white vinegar.  Drain and rinse.

2.Saute the carrots, celery, onion and garlic, in the butter until soft but not browned.

3. Place peas in croc-pot or large heavy stock pot with lid.  Add all ingredients, and salt & pepper to taste.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat and let burble (my father’s term for just slight of simmering), until tender, for at least a 3 hours.

Serve with fresh homemade cornbread and ice cold beer!

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: A Bright Note

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: A Bright Note: A Bright Note Political infighting… murder in our streets… unheard of natural disasters… the rich get richer and the poor… well afte...

A Bright Note

A Bright Note

Political infighting… murder in our streets… unheard of natural disasters… the rich get richer and the poor… well after my last post you may be thinking, ‘what’s the use, we’re all doomed.’  And I must admit there are days when I feel like we are all getting crushed under the foot of this fast-food, throw away, life we are being spoon feed, one commercial at a time.

And then it happens, someone that is young enough to understand, that even in this world, life is still what you make of it.

I’m so proud to announce that my niece Stephanie and the world’s best mother has decided after a successful stint in the corporate world to stay home and spend the time with her kids.  But that’s not all she has always loved food and as I’ve said in the past, “she’s a darn fine cook! (I think it’s in the genes ((not a double entendre fat joke))”

She started a food / mom at home / life with kids / all things family blog and the writing is very good.  Please go check her out at Conference Calls to Meatballs  

Personal note, Stephanie I started working from home when Katie Rose went to preschool.  I walked her to school and walked her home every day.  I went to the school at least once a month and got one of the kids and took them to lunch… maybe just a sandwich, sitting on the tailgate of my truck.  But I was there and got to catch them growing up.  Too many parents trade more dollars for this precocious time.  Although there is a cost, you will never regret this decision.

Lots of love, happy blogging.

Uncle Joe

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: What’s at Steak Every now and...

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: <!--StartFragment-->
What’s at Steak
Every now and...: What’s at Steak Every now and then modern life just pisses me off.    Case in point, the modern definition of steak.   Now I know th...

What’s at Steak

What’s at Steak

Every now and then modern life just pisses me off.   Case in point, the modern definition of steak.  Now I know that the dictionary says;

steak |stāk|

noun

high-quality beef taken from the hindquarters of the animal, typically cut into thick slices that are cooked by broiling or frying : he liked his steak rare.

I could disagree with this portrayal of a steak. To me a steak is a tender cut of beef (non-locomotive), grilled to perfection and served medium-rare. 

But, it seems, every time a TV commercial for a fast food restaurant comes on the air, it’s mentioning that they now offer “steak” in their already poorly prepared dishes.  W have tacos with shaved beef and cheese whiz,  breakfast burritos with shaved beef and egg product, and then sub sandwiches with shaved beef and processed cheese.

Incase you’re not familiar with shaved beef it’s best known as the steak on a Philly Cheese Steak.  Our parents knew it from the military, a sandwich made with white bread, canned beef gravy and shaved beef, they called it “Shit on a Shingle”, maybe they were just a little more honest. 

Here’s my beef, (get it?) as with all things in this modern age, the old way of doing and making things gets thinner, tighter, mass produced, and soon the average American starts to call steak what our parents called shit!

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Things Change

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Things Change: Okay… this is a little hard for me… I have a confession.   No I meant a confession… CONFESSION!   Look, I was raised, by a Pentecostal...

Things Change

Okay… this is a little hard for me… I have a confession.  No I meant a confession… CONFESSION! 

Look, I was raised, by a Pentecostal mother and a Catholic father.  Mom took us to her church but we knew that Catholics confessed their sins, and to a priest at that. 

So you may be asking, what sin?  Sloth… lacking ambition… not a self-starter… for the love of God, I’m a lazy bastard!

So how did I, at the ripe old age of fifty-five, come to this self-abasing conclusion?

I started off innocently enough.  I was posting an answer to a question, on a discussion group, I belong to, on Linked-in.  A question about which smoker, a member should buy after his was destroyed in a storm.  I gave my two cents worth and that was that… or so I thought!

A few days later, posing as an innocent offer, Jim Van Buskirk, from Green Mountain Grills, sent me an email;

Hey Mad,
Can I get you hooked up with a grill to try out?
Jim

Jim?  He signed it Jim, good old Jim, and like a lamb to slaughter, I foolishly said, Sure.

With that one little word… sure, things changed.  And not just a little. But I digress.

I’m thinking about my next book and I have two titles in mind.  One on the baking of Artisan breads and the other on 50 years of cooking with fire.  As I said in my first book “The Sonoran Grill,”  I believe that cooking with fire is deeply ingrained in our DNA.  Some hidden code that was developed, when those that ate meat cooked over a fire became stronger, faster, more able to meet women!

Likewise, as a young man I found that food cooked over a fire was nurturing, delicious, it brought people together.  I could be good at something and so I put a large amount of my attention to learning and then developing my natural talents as a grill cook, a few short decades later and I had a name for myself. The press called me a “Grilling Guru!”

But back to good old Jim, he arranged for me to pick up a Green Mountain Grill at The Barbecue Island it south Tempe, Arizona, about an hour from my home.  The staff was great and there was even a rep form the company.  Looking back now I see I was like the mark getting those free drinks in Las Vegas.  They got me all hooked up, explained everything about pellet smokers… what?  Didn’t I mention pellet smokers yet?  We’ll the Green mountain Grill is a pellet smoker.  The idea is this, a side hopper holds different varieties of wood pellets, oak, mesquite, pecan… what have you. A screw drive feeds a small fire chamber, which in turn creates smoke and heat at a well thought out rate.  All of which, is controlled by a small computer, that keeps the smoker at a very precise temperature.  

Jason, the sales rep (and evil minion of good old Jim) even had the balls to offer me the remote control model which allows a person (me), that once had pride in their ability to control a pile of burning wood and craft it into an amazing meal (really amazing), to sit on their ass watching television reruns, while the smoker does all the work for you.  It even has a meat thermometer, so with one touch I can not only see what the internal temperature of the meat is I can also see what the internal temperature of the smoking chamber is, and with one more touch, I can raise or lower that temperature to speed up or slow down the cooking process, or even raise the temperature enough to sear and finish if need be. 

I once had a friend that was a resident of the state for 5 years for implementing an import scheme that violated several Federal Statutes.  While a guest of the state he read the entire DOS manual.  Upon regaining his freedom he felt ready to conquer the computer world as a well-trained tech, but a funny thing happened, The Macintosh computer and Windows.  The world no longer needed a guy that knew several hundred shortcut key commands, they could just click on the command from a drop down menu.  I remember him saying, “What next?  If this doesn’t change anyone will be able to use a computer… even children.”  Being a friend I assured him saying, “ what’s the chance of that happening?”  And so I thought, well what do you expect.  And that was okay but now this is happening in my world, with these pellet smokers, busy housewives can turn them on (clearly lighting the grill is a man’s province), toss the meat on the grill and walk away.  While doing other things she (yes boys, I said she) can produce fantastic, ribs, tri tip, and even the hallowed, brisket, while chatting with her mom… Ahhhhh no it’s too cruel, CHATTING WITH HER MOM!  Oh the humanity!

And once they know this (remember the garden, the snake, the first woman, and the tree of Knowledge,) will we, be able to stand out by the grill with our buddies drinking beer, Beer that I might add creates jobs, saying to her every time she needs us to do some little chore,  I can’t honey I’m watching the grill.  She might even say it’s okay honey I’ve already got the grill going and the ribs look great, so you can vacuum before my Mom gets here.

And here’s the worst part, like a junkie saying I’ll only try it once, then I’ll do every now and then, and soon you’re doing unspeakable things in a bad part of town just to get a fix.  I tried out good old Jim’s Green Mountain Grill.  I wrote him a nice thank you note.  But told my wife, “oh it’s okay, but I like working the charcoal, watching the meat as roasts, you know, a hands on approach!  But two days later we had a small dinner to cook and as always we were busy so I thought, why don’t I just save a little time and use the pellet smoker.  It’s been a few weeks now and my big grill hasn’t seen a fire since the Green Mountain Grill showed up.

Well there you have it, What did Patton say in North Africa, “Mechanized Warfare… no valor, no heroes, nothing reaffirmed, not for me, no sir!

Listen I gotta go, I have some vacuuming to do!

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Look with all the werewolves on tv and the movies ...

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Look with all the werewolves on tv and the movies ...: Look with all the werewolves on tv and the movies I'm worried about them sneeking into politics!

Look with all the werewolves on tv and the movies I'm worried about them sneeking into politics!

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Friends, Romans, CreekersSorry for not writing for...

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Friends, Romans, CreekersSorry for not writing for...: Friends, Romans, Creekers Sorry for not writing for the past several weeks.  Many family things going on.  The good news is I am servin...

Friends, Romans, Creekers

Sorry for not writing for the past several weeks.  Many family things going on.  The good news is I am serving as the officiant at the Carefree Inn for another Elrod Family Wedding.  This is my second with them and my seventh wedding ceremony.  I have also done one funeral service.

It's a wonderful thing to be a part of; a chance to witness life up close and maybe help it as it rolls forward.  As far as the cooking goes I'm baking one day a week and playing a little music which keeps the wolves away from the door!

Katie our daughter has bought a house for her and the love of her life, Israel.  Joey is engaged to Miranda and fishing in Alaska to prime the monetary pump in an effort to kick start their life together.

I'm proud of them both.

My life long partner and wife Kathy continues top bring a check home to keep our life straight and a always I so proud of her efforts and glad to be with her.

If you need recipes or advice on any of the many things I do just give a holler: I'll get back to writing soon

Warmly,

Mad Coyote Joe

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Wow! Now this is news.

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Wow! Now this is news.: Wow! Now this is news. Yesterday was our 33 rd Wedding Anniversary.   We went to see a movie and to get something to eat.   When we...

Wow! Now this is news.

Wow! Now this is news.

Yesterday was our 33^rd Wedding Anniversary.  We went to see a movie and to get something to eat.  When we started this new whole food diet we decided that we could have a treat on special occasions.  This being one we thought we could try some meat or fish.  After the movie we talked and settled on Sushi.  We started out with a soy roasted green beans… delicious.  Then it was Tempura Scallop Skewers no big deal… in fact the taste kind of put both of us off.  Next we had Roasted shrimp, again neither of us really liked the flavor, and last we had Caterpillar rolls which we both like.  I couldn’t eat them and Kathy ate the rice and avocado.   Hmmm!  What can this mean? 

Well, we both wanted to really enjoy this meal as it will be a long time until we have animal protein again.  On the way home we talked about how disappointed we both were with the meal.  Kathy suggested that I buy a really good steak and grill it myself, so I could enjoy that roasted meat flavor that we both were craving.

The news gets worse.

On the way home we stopped at our local Bashas’ and bought a beautiful, Black Angus, Ribeye, Beef Steak out of the case.  I took it home, let it come to room temperature and lit some pure Mesquite chunk charcoal.  When the coals were good and hot, I blistered two Poblano chiles and while they were finishing in a paper bag I grilled the steak to perfection!  After letting the steak rest for about 12 minutes I cut into the steak and it was just right.  I took a bite and thought, hmmm… no big deal.  After a few more bites I gave up and let my dogs have the rest of the steak.  This is quite a change for me as I have always loved a good grilled steak.  I have to admit my tastes are changing.  I enjoyed my oatmeal with a little honey and a few nuts this morning much more than anything I ate last night?

What it means… I’m not sure but it certainly is worth some extra thought. 

More to come, Mad Coyote Joe 

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: A Few Thoughts on Flavors, Tastes and Cravings and...

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog:Confessions of a One Time Meat Eater!  A Few Thoughts on Flavors, Tastes and Cravings and...: A Few Thoughts on Flavors, Tastes and Cravings and the use of Flavor Accelerators! I’m guessing that we have been eating a plant bas...

A Few Thoughts on Flavors, Tastes and Cravings and the use of Flavor Accelerators!

A Few Thoughts on Flavors, Tastes and Cravings and the use of Flavor Accelerators!

I’m guessing that we have been eating a plant based whole food diet for about a month now.  I’ve lost 15 pounds and Kathy is at about 12.   My energy is better than it’s been in a long time we are learning new tricks in the kitchen everyday. 

When this adventure started I was amazed at how delicious the different dishes we were coming up with tasted, but in the past several days I’ve been having a problem… if I eat the same thing for a few days I quickly tire of it’s taste, to the point of losing my appetite (now that’s a first.)

I’ve given this quite a bit of thought and I think I know what’s going on.  As a cook and food writer I’ve spent many years thinking about food, and how to make it taste great.  One of the first tricks I learned when I started cooking was the use of flavor accelerators.   What are flavor accelerators you might ask?  These are the ingredients and techniques that cause you to love certain dishes; they can cause you to overeat, even when it hurts.  Salt, sugar, fat, vinegar, alcohol, in combination and used in myriad ways; the crust on cobbler, the crunchy skin on fried chicken, the gooey, sticky BBQ sauce that has been caramelized onto hickory smoked pork ribs, are all extreme examples of flavor accelerators. 

In our new diet I find that flavor accelerators are what is missing.  It’s like listening to music very loud for years and then turning it all the way down, you need to retrain your ear.  

If you make a salad and put home made ranch dressing on it you can eat the same salad night after night.  We are making some very delicious dishes but without the flavor accelerators.  What this is causing seems to be that we need to keep creating new things and mixing it up at every meal. 

This is a real challenge but I think we’re up to it.  Another thing is happening, I’m no longer overeating.  When I’m full I just don’t want the extra food.  Now if the meal was dripping with a rich butter sauce or a cheese I would eat until I was very full and then some!  I think we’re on to something here we are eating more natural portions, which has to be a good thing!

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Mad Coyote Joe’s Vegan Update!

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Mad Coyote Joe’s Vegan Update!: Mad Coyote Joe’s Vegan Update! Okay… we’re about three weeks in.   In case you missed the last update, after reading “The China Stud...

Mad Coyote Joe’s Vegan Update!

Mad Coyote Joe’s Vegan Update!

Okay… we’re about three weeks in.  In case you missed the last update, after reading “The China Study” Kathy and I have decided that a plant based/whole food diet is the best thing we can do to insure our future health (even with the health problems I’ve had and continue to have.)  The goal is no meat, fish, foul, dairy, eggs or cheese and over time reducing and if possible eliminate refined and processed foods especially sugars, fats and excess oils.

The first few weeks were easy.  Lots of grains, nuts, grilled vegetables, Pasta with red sauce, black bean and corn salad, avocado and tomato sandwiches, oatmeal and fruit and fruit juice popsicles!  We’ve both lost about 10 pounds and are feeling better overall.  But as the days creep along the cravings get stronger and so we sat down and discussed it.  From my reading, I’m hearing that many people have to work through this drastic of a change.  Add the fact that most don’t understand cooking as well as we do and this can bee a struggle at best.  Kathy is adamant about not going backwards and I agree.  Here’s where we feel we are now.  As our palate develops and we get use to less flavor accelerators, heavy meat based meals, and all of the sour cream, butter, heavy cheeses, rich sauces and so on, we are allowing limited olive oil for roasting veggies and a few drops in different dishes to give it some of the punch that we are craving.  Also I’m using small amounts of Parmesan cheese and shaved bonito (a Japanese product that give tofu a wonderful flavor) and I’m using these as a seasoning not a main element.  That’s our main concession and we are working toward eliminating these.  We have decided if we start having cravings that are causing us to cheat on this plan we will simply go out and have a small portion of whatever, maybe a nice lamb chop or a small fillet.  If we are on vacation, say in Washington, we’ll have a small piece of, ocean fresh, halibut sautéed in garlic olive oil and white wine.  Oh and one more thing we are only having wine one night a week!

Tonight for dinner we had fresh pesto with light olive oil and just a touch of Parmesan cheese and oven roasted asparagus with kosher salt and a squeeze of key lime juice… it was delicious! 

So far so good,

Mad Coyote Joe

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: You won't beleive this!

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: You won't beleive this!: Into every life some rain must fall…   Oh SHIT!   What does a guy that has spent his entire life working on making grilled meats, fish a...

You won't beleive this!

Into every life some rain must fall…  Oh SHIT!  What does a guy that has spent his entire life working on making grilled meats, fish and foul delicious and then on chance picks up a copy of, The China Study, for some light reading and comes to the decision that the best thing the he can do to keep he and his lifelong friend, wife and partner healthy is to stop eating all animal based foods!  

That’s right we are in the process of giving up all meat, foul, fish, and eggs along with all dairy products while concentrating on a whole food, plant based diet.  And believe me no one is more shocked than we are! 

My parents aunts and uncles and grandparents have all contracted various cancers, along with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, kidney disease, and many other aliments too numerous to list here.  Kathy and I have had some of these or precursors to these diseases.  Take that issue along with the fact that 18% America’s youth are obese and many many more are severely over weight.  What I found in this book was that these diseases are not the normal way that people shut down as they age. There are parts of the world where doctors do not see heart disease, diabetes, most of the cancers we see so often and many other diseases that are now a normal part of getting old in America.

All of these ailments are on the increase and billions are spent every year keeping America sick, fat and medicated.  

The problem I have found with a plant-based diet is that the majority of the books on the subject (with the exception of The Moosewood Cookbook) have been written by doctors or people that are making healthy foods tolerable, at best.  Tolerable is no way to approach your diet and most people would rather be sick than to live like that.

Kathy and I are both very good cooks and so it is now our belief that we should be the ones to work on this type of recipes.  We are about a month into this process and have developed many delicious recipes that are just as good as the meat-based original.  Tonight I am working on Texas Red Chili and I’m glad to tell you It’s fantastic!

So I think that’s enough for this posting.  I’d love to hear your thoughts and as we get this a little further we’ll start posting recipes and techniques.

Warmly, 

Mad Coyote Joe

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Tabouli Salad with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce and Grill...

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Tabouli Salad with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce and Grill...: I went to coffee this morning, as usual I sat out front of The Cave Creek Coffee co and chatted with a few neighbors and friends. I had a l...

Tabouli Salad with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce and Grill-roasted Babaganouj

I went to coffee this morning, as usual I sat out front of The Cave Creek Coffee co and chatted with a few neighbors and friends. I had a light jacket on and after a few moments I was getting very warm. It's that time of year again, when we go from keeping warm to keeping cool. Here in the Sonoran desert where we see summer temperatures in the 110-120f range, that's an art form. It means getting up early if you need to do anything in the yard, taking it easy during the midday heat and eating light.

When it comes to recipes dealing with lighter fare, I like to look to the regions of the world that have been dealing with living in the heat for centuries. There are many to choose from, but today let's look to the middle east and one of my favorites dishes tabouli. Good tabouli, served with Grill-roasted Babaganouj, a selection of olives, a pita bread and cucumber yogurt sauce is exactly what you're looking for when eating in the heat. It both refreshes and satisfies you without filling you up. If you must add meat think grilled lamb!

Tabouli Salad with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

Tabouli salad:

1 C Bulghar wheat, dry

1-1/2 C Water, boiling

1-1/2 TSP Kosher salt

Dressing:

1/4 C Olive oil, extra virgin

1/4 C Lemon juice, fresh-squeezed

1 TBL Lime juice, fresh-squeezed

2 CLOVES Garlic, finely minced

1/2 TSP Mint, dried

Finish

1 C Plum tomatoes, diced

1 C English cucumber, diced

1/2 C Scallions, chopped fine

1 BUNCH Italian parsley, chopped fine

2 TSP Kosher salt

Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Cucumber Yogurt Sauce:

1-1/2 C English cucumber, peeled

1/2 PINT Sour cream

1/2 PINT Yogurt

2 CLOVES Garlic, minced fine

1 TBL Mint, dried

Salad:

1. Pour the bulghar into a mixing bowl, then add the salt and pour in the boiling water.

2. Cover with plastic and let soak for 30 minutes.

3. Whisk dressing together and stir into the bulghur.

4. Allow flavors to blend in the refridgerator for three hours.

5. Carefully stir in finishing ingredients.

6. Taste to correct seasoning.

Sauce:

1. Shred cucumber with a cheese grater.

2. Combine all ingredients and allow to chill in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.

Grill-roasted Babaganouj:

By roasting this in your grill, you get the light smoky flavor of barbecues of the past.

2 Medium eggplants

1/2 C Tahini

4 CLOVES Garlic, minced fine

1/2 BUNCH Italian parsley, rinsed and chopped fine

Juice of 1 large lemon

3 Scallions, chopped fine

2 TSP Kosher salt

1 TSP Fresh-ground black pepper

1 TBL Extra virgin olive oil

1. Light the grill and turn one burner on medium. Adjust heat until temperature reaches 400 degrees.

2. Cut stems off the eggplant and pierce the skin in several places with a fork. Place the eggplant in an oven-safe baking dish and slow roast in grill over indirect heat for 45 minutes, or until the eggplant has wilted and they are totally soft.

3. Remove from grill and allow to cool. Separate the peel from the insides. In a mixing bowl, mash the insides well and stir in the Tahini, garlic, parsley, lemon juice, scallions, salt, and pepper.

4. Place in the refrigerator and chill well. Drizzle with a good olive oil before serving.

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Early Spring Minestrone

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Early Spring Minestrone: Looking out my window at the sky, I realize that even though it’s still chilly in the mornings, winter’s back has finally been broken. T...

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Early Spring Minestrone

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Early Spring Minestrone: Looking out my window at the sky, I realize that even though it’s still chilly in the mornings, winter’s back has finally been broken. T...

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Early Spring Minestrone

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Early Spring Minestrone: Looking out my window at the sky, I realize that even though it’s still chilly in the mornings, winter’s back has finally been broken. T...

Early Spring Minestrone

Looking out my window at the sky, I realize that even though it’s still chilly in the mornings, winter’s back has finally been broken. The ground is moist and ready to come alive with another beautiful spring here in the Sonoran desert. So I’ll get the weeds out of my yard and then till the garden. I love going over to the Home Depot and buying the little packs of baby peppers, tomatoes and so on. I garden just for the fun of it. If my mind gets occupied with other tasks I let the garden go long before I reap its rewards. My sister is a true master gardener. Which brings me to my point… Fresh Produce!

I was pleased to drop by a farmers market last weekend. I wish the readers could have seen the freshness and variety of greens and vegetables. I stop by on a regular basis. I like to see what’s available and then build a meal around those fresh vegetables. The Farmers Market is a fantastic resource for a community. Yes, I shop at my local grocery store for produce the rest of the week, but on Saturday morning it’s so nice to walk through the market. I get a cup of coffee, and then shop and chat with old friends and neighbors. Then I’m back home working out a meal plan using my fresh produce. Several years ago I came up with this recipe for a light variation on minestrone.

Early Spring Minestrone

I know Italian food purists will argue with this recipe. But there is a school of thought out there that says regional dishes follow the seasons. Winter minestrone is heavy with medium sized pasta and a beefier feel. As spring approaches, with so many fresh vegetable choices, I wanted to make a lighter and yet very comforting soup. This delicious recipe is a starting point rather than a strict road map. The flavors are based around the fennel, onions, garlic and pesto, with the other vegetables and pasta. Use whatever is fresh and whatever you have on hand. Serve with fresh bread, which is also available at the farmers market.

1 fennel bulb, stems and core removed and chopped fine

1 bunch scallions, chopped fine

2 cloves garlic, minced

5 Tbl. Extra virgin olive oil

8 to 10 cups of chicken broth (enough to cover by a few inches)

½ head cauliflower, cut into small pieces

6-8 stalks asparagus, woody stems removed and cut into 1-inch pieces

4 or 5 baby zucchini cut in half

4 or 5 baby crooked neck squash, cut in half

A handful of green beans cut into bite sized pieces

4 or 5 baby carrots

a handful of sugar snap peas

4 or baby corn

(I just walk through the market and get a little of what ever looks fresh)

1 14oz. Can redi-cut tomatoes

4 or 5 ounces of dried spaghetti or angle hair pasta broken into quarters

a pinch of good Greek oregano

Black pepper to taste

Over medium heat, in a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven, sauté the fennel, onion and garlic, slowly until soft but not browned. Add the chicken broth and then all other vegetables and the pasta, oregano and black pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve in big soup bowls with a dollop of fresh pesto (don’t you dare use the store bought stuff).

Serves 6 to 8

Fresh pesto

Also use this amazing condiment or fresh bread, homemade pizza, over pasta and with grilled meats, poultry and fish!

¼ cup pine nuts

2 cloves garlic, Minced

2 tsp. Kosher or sea salt

a grind or two of fresh black pepper

4 oz fresh basil leaves

1/3 of a cup of extra virgin olive oil

1/3 of a cup of fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Pulse the pine nuts, garlic, salt and pepper in a food processor, until it forms a coarse meal. Add in the basil leaves and oil and pulse until it forms a coarse paste. You will need to scrape down the sides of the food processor a few times in the process. Remove from food processor to serving bowl and stir in the parmigiano reggiano.

Make about 2 cups

Warmly,

Mad Coyote Joe

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Food and Film, Pork Pebil ala Robert Rodriguez

Tequila, Habanero Chiles, Guns, Bananna Leaves... Authentic Mexican CookingWhat More do you want!
Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Food and Film, Pork Pebil ala Robert Rodriguez: Food and Film, Pork Pebil ala Robert Rodriguez A few years back I got a call from my friend Bruce Jones. Bruce was the Operations Mana...

Food and Film, Pork Pebil ala Robert Rodriguez

Food and Film, Pork Pebil ala Robert Rodriguez

A few years back I got a call from my friend Bruce Jones. Bruce was the Operations Manager at CBS 5 in Phoenix. I met Bruce 15 years ago. He was working at ABC15 at the time. Bruce had come up with an idea for a grilling show, to be shot outdoors. A co-worker of his Don McClure had suggested me as the host. In our first meeting I suggested calling the project The Sonoran Grill. Over the next five years I met with Bruce at least once a week to go over the show.

The reason for Bruce’s call was to suggest I rent the Robert Rodriguez movie Once Upon a Time in Mexico. As an avid fan of the technical aspects of television and film, Bruce was very impressed with the film. All of the special effects were digital. In other words they didn’t blow anything up. Back in the studio they added the flames, explosions and so on. In the special features section of the DVD Rodriguez added a ten-minute film school and a ten-minute cooking school.

In the movie Johnny Depp’s character, “Sands”, a corrupt CIA agent, along with killing robbing and so on, is in search of the best Pork Pebil in all of Mexico. When ever he finds a worthy plate of this delicious slow roasted pork he kills the cook for some obscure artistic reason.

In the ten-minute cooking school Rodriguez gives his recipe for Pork Pebil, along with some good solid cooking advise.

Bruce was so impressed with the cooking school that he went out and got all the ingredients and made pork pebil. It was both delicious and easy. The recipe calls for banana leaves which work as a sort of flavored parchment paper. They can be found at Ranch Market, Food City or ordered at AJ's.

He transcribed the recipe from the cooking school and e-mailed it to me.

So the next time you have a lazy day around the house with family or friends coming over, give it a try. It’s delicious. This is good example of authentic Mexican cooking. The flavors are very complex and your house will be filled with a heavenly aroma.

We like to watch any of the El mariachi trilogy while we’re waiting for the meal. Like water for Chocolate is another great food related movie based in Mexico. And while we’re on the subject of food and movies Big Night, written, directed and starring Stanley Tucci is one of my all time favorite food movies. It truly reveals the soul of cooking.

Pork Pebil ala Rodriguez

Serve with any or all of the following; white rice, fresh corn tortillas, charro beans, chopped white onion, cilantro, avocado, roasted chiles, sliced cucumber, radish, tomato and ice cold Mexican beer.

Ingredients

2 lbs of banana leaves

2 5-lb pork shoulders

5 tablespoons of Achot`e paste

2 tablespoons of Cumin Seeds

1 tablespoon of Black pepper

8 balls of all spice

½ tablespoon of cloves

2 tablespoons of salt

Juice of 5 Lemons

3 Habanera Chiles seeded and veined

2 cups of Orange Juice

1/2 cup of White Vinegar

Splash of Tequila

Grind all dry ingredients (except salt) until very fine.

Blend with remaining ingredients (except pork and banana leaves)

in a blender until liquid and smooth. Cut pork into 2 inch cubes and place in a large Ziploc bag and pour your blender contents into the bag, seal and then coat all the meat in the bag.

Line roasting pan with layers of banana leaves and make sure there are no gaps. Pour entire contents of Ziploc bag onto the banana leaves and then fold them up and over the meat so that it covers the entire contents, sealing it up as much as possible. Cover the entire roasting pan with aluminum foil and seal it well so that no steam can escape.

Place the sealed pan into and oven/grill at 325 and roast for 4 hours. Discard the banana leaves and serve the meat over white or Spanish rice. The meat is very tender and we generally pull it apart for a pulled Puerco over white rice.

We have marinated in the bags overnight and it produces a somewhat deeper flavor.

A five pound roast will serve about 20 people.

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Spain

Mad coyote Joe's Blah Blah Blog: Spain: Spain I'm quite perplexed! I keep a good eye on my stats and for the past several months Spain has been the number 2 location in the world f...

Spain

Spain

I'm quite perplexed! I keep a good eye on my stats and for the past several months Spain has been the number 2 location in the world for hits to our blog. And the number of hits is growing every week. So why Spain? Hmmmm; if you are following this blog and located in Spain please send a message telling us how you found us and what drew you to this blog! We are very interested in this type of information from anywhere on the planet so if you live elsewhere, by all means talk to us.

Oh, and thanks.

Warmly,

Mad Coyote Joe

Early Spring Minestrone

Early Spring Minestrone

Living here I always think of spring as soon as we get into January. Yes it's still cold but this feels like spring so I wanted to share a recipe that works well in both late winter and early spring.

I know Italian food purists will argue with this recipe. But there is a school of thought out there that says regional dishes follow the seasons. Winter minestrone is heavy with medium sized pasta and a beefier feel. As spring approaches, with so many fresh vegetable choices, I wanted to make a lighter and yet very comforting soup. This delicious recipe is a starting point rather than a strict road map. The flavors are based around the fennel, onions, garlic and pesto, with the other vegetables and pasta. Use whatever is fresh and whatever you have on hand. Serve with fresh bread, which is also available at the farmers market.

1 fennel bulb, stems and core removed and chopped fine

1 bunch scallions, chopped fine

2 cloves garlic, minced

5 Tbl. Extra virgin olive oil

8 to 10 cups of chicken broth (enough to cover by a few inches)

½ head cauliflower, cut into small pieces

6-8 stalks asparagus, woody stems removed and cut into 1-inch pieces

4 or 5 baby zucchini cut in half

4 or 5 baby crooked neck squash, cut in half

A handful of green beans cut into bite sized pieces

4 or 5 baby carrots

a handful of sugar snap peas

4 or baby corn

(I just walk through the market and get a little of what ever looks fresh)

1 14oz. Can redi-cut tomatoes

4 or 5 ounces of dried spaghetti or angle hair pasta broken into quarters

a pinch of good Greek oregano

Black pepper to taste

Over medium heat, in a heavy soup pot or Dutch oven, sauté the fennel, onion and garlic, slowly until soft but not browned. Add the chicken broth and then all other vegetables and the pasta, oregano and black pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve in big soup bowls with a dollop of fresh pesto (don’t you dare use the store bought stuff).

Serves 6 to 8

Fresh pesto

Also use this amazing condiment or fresh bread, homemade pizza, over pasta and with grilled meats, poultry and fish!

¼ cup pine nuts

2 cloves garlic, Minced

2 tsp. Kosher or sea salt

a grind or two of fresh black pepper

4 oz fresh basil leaves

1/3 of a cup of extra virgin olive oil

1/3 of a cup of fresh grated Parmigiana Reggiano

Pulse the pine nuts, garlic, salt and pepper in a food processor, until it forms a coarse meal. Add in the basil leaves and oil and pulse until it forms a coarse paste. You will need to scrape down the sides of the food processor a few times in the process. Remove from food processor to serving bowl and stir in the parmigiana reggiano.

Make about 2 cups

Warmly,

Mad Coyote Joe

Who are you in 2012?

Who are you in 2012?

One of the great things about writing this blog is access to the statistical analysis, which the blog program tracks. It tells us; who is reading this blog, how long they stay on, where they are from, and which post they are reading.

Let’s take a look at the numbers. Below are two charts from my blog statistics page. The first is a chart showing the majority of page views over the two and a half year life of this blog. Our page has had, combined total number of 16,908 views. That’s an average of 528 views a month and 17 a day. But if we look at last month’s numbers, 1561 we have now grown to little over 50 hits a day.

If we look at the first chart, we have had 134 visits from Spain, 86 of which have happened in the last month. This begs that question what has happened to cause the rise in views from Spain. If you are following this blog and living in Spain please send a message and let us know what we are doing to attract your attention.

Another curious fact is, whenever I post poetry, I get several hits from Hungary. Someone there likes my poetry1

Our most read post is not about food or cooking, but about, Conex Box, also known as Shipping Container, building which as had 451 hits. Most of which are from Australia.

Once again we ask for you to tell us what attracts you to our site. And as always we’d love to answer any questions that you might have.

All Time Stats;

United States	12,032
United Kingdom	639
Canada	406
Germany	397
Russia	246
Australia	238
Malaysia	201
Slovenia	190
Spain	134
Latvia	112

Stats Dec. 2011

United States	1,070
Spain	86
United Kingdom	82
Germany	66
Russia	44
Australia	29
Canada	24
India	16
France	12
Netherlands	9