Best Sports Movies

Mom & I were watching the American Film Institute's "Top Ten Best Movies" tonight. Categories included Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Westerns, etc. When we got to "Sports". the results were pretty predictable; "National Velvet", "Hoosiers", "Rocky", and so on.

The # 7 Best Sports Movie ever made was.....(drumroll,);


"Caddyshack".

A moment of silence, please, in honor of this fine film.

Whence the amphibian?

The tension between the frog and the slalamander has reached the boiling point, prompting NARB to demand and eviction/relocation of said frog. Where did the critter go to live?

Crossword Puzzle Clue

Greetings, offspring and recently acquired relatives.

Mom & I are in SV and wouldn't you know it, we are doing crosswords and other puzzles.

Here's a clue that had us going:

"Second person in the Bible."

Have at it. First correct answer wins slightly undercooked pancakes with real syrup at the earliest opportunity. We wanted to make it worth the effort.

Jazz Fan Confusion

A cartoon on the front page of the HJ today illustrates Utah's inability to deal with the Jazz.

It shows a guy in a suit with a paper bag over his head. The caption:

UTAH CONFESSIONS

"I prayed for the Jazz to get homecourt advantage."

Go Jazz!

The Mystery Family

Please look at the March 1, 2008 Church News and see if you can identify the frolicking family on the cover. The father's knit cap should be a giveaway. The words, "Publicity Hound" have been used in connection with that picture, but I wouldn't go quite that far. Well, maybe.

Also, I now have a reason to wear my "UMBC" T-shirt proudly. Go, Retrievers!! Too bad the Irvine Anteater cap has to stay in the closet.

The Fate of the Salamanders

As you are aware, we are remodeling. These things expand in scope, and unforeseen challenges appear. The latest involves the family of salamanders that live in the window well outside Ryan's old room.
It started when Sheldon Coburn said we had to replace the window in the wood room - it couldn't be opened. Since the room will be finished and it now matters to NARB what the view out the window looks like, she has mandated that gravel be placed in the window well for visual appeal.
This concept has been expanded to include ALL window wells. But what of the salamanders? We have discussed several options:

1. Kill the salamanders outright by any means necessary.

2. Just put down a weed barrier and bury them under many pounds of gravel, letting the salamanders figure it out.

3. Flush the little creatures out of their holes with a hose, attempt to catch them and release them at a location to be determined later.

4. Leave that window well as it is and leave the salamanders alone and happy, accepting the less-than-attractive environment.

We are posting a poll to help us make this momentous decision - please assist us by voting.

Chant Outlawed in Spectrum

Yet another hallowed Aggie tradition bites the dust: The WAC commisioner, Karl Benson, has ruled that the phrase "You Suck" is "outside the guidelines of sportsmanship". USU AD Randy Spetman was told by the head of WAC officials (refs) that the chant "borderline offensive", and decided to go the commish.

The game officials can now award technical fouls, have offenders ejected, or even empty the building.

Apparently the problem started at New Mexico State, where the students would chant after a made free throw, "Nice shot, A-hole!"

The Aggie students, not to be completely squelched, did come up with a couple of pretty good signs. One, referring to the criminal element that makes up a fair share of the NMS team, showed a flip-over calendar turned to Day 6, and the caption, "Days since last arrest." The other said "New Mexico - not much different than the old one."

Pineapple Upside-Down Cornmeal Cake.

My culinary experience tends to stay close to the grill - I don't bake and never make desserts. However, I was intrigued by a recipe I saw on TV by the venerable Alton Brown for Pineapple Upside-Down Cornmeal Cake and made it for Christmas. Haven't tasted it yet, but there's nothing in it I don't like. It was easy and turned out exactly the way it was supposed to. You need the requisite 10" cast-iron pan, well-seasoned. Here goes:

3/4 C Whole milk.
1 C coarse-ground cornmeal
4 oz. (1 stick) unsalted butter ( I used salted and didn't add the salt later)
1 C packed dark brown sugar
6 slices canned pineapple, in heavy syrup, reserve syrup
6 maraschino cherries
1/3 cup chopped, toasted pecans
3 T. reserved pineapple syrup
1 C all-purpose flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
3 whole eggs
1/2 C. canola oil (I used Crisco Oil)
3/4 cup granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a microwave-safe dish, bring the milk to a boil. Stir in the cornmeal and let soak at room temperature for 30 minutes. Set aside.

Melt the butter in a 10" cast-iron skillet over medium. When melted, add the brown sugar and stir until it dissolves, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully place one slice of pineapple in the center of the of the pan. Place the other 5 slices around the center in a circle. Place a cherry in the center of each slice. Sprinkle the nuts evenly over the slices. Drizzle the reserved syrup over the top.

Sift the flour, salt and baking powder into a medium mixing bowl and whisk to combine.

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the sugar and whisk to combine. Add the canola oil and whisk. Add the cornmeal mixture to the egg mixture and whisk to combine. Add this to the flour and stir until just combined. Pour the batter over the fruit in the skillet and bake for 35-45 minutes or until a cake tester (Toothpick) comes out clean. Let cool for at least 30 minutes and set a platter on top of the skillet and carefully invert the cake.

Ours came right out of the well-seasoned pan and looks really pretty - we'll eat it on Christmas and pass judgment.

Merry Christmas to All!!!

Dad

We may have a winner

I have never been satisfied with the Navy Bean Soup recipe we have - always like the restaurant stuff better. Alison made some the other day and said it wasn't that wonderful either. I ran across a recipe on the net the other day that is much better. Here it is:

1 lb. small white beans - navy or great northern
1 lb. smoked ham hocks ( I used two, wanting more ham)
1/4 cup bacon drippings or olive oil
2 C chopped onion
1 C carrots, diced small
2 T minced garlic
1 14-1/2 oz. can whole tomatoes, chopped
4 fresh thyme sprigs
8 C chicken broth.

Soak the beans in cold water overnight, drain and rinse well.
Simmer the hocks in at least 6 cups water ( to cover) in a saucepan, partially covered for 1 hour, skimming foam as needed. Reserve 4 cups of the cooking liquid.

Heat drippings / oil until hot but not smoking in an 8-quart pot over moderate heat. Cook onions, carrot & garlic , stirring, until the onion softens. Add the tomatoes and thyme and cook 1 minute. Add the beans, broth, hocks and cooking liquid and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally until the beans are tender, about 1 hour.

Remove a cup or so of the beans and mash them or puree in a food processor, and return them to the soup - this thickens the soup. Remove the hocks, shred the meat and return to the soup. Put the soup in the fridge or freezer until he fat can be skimmed off. Season the soup with salt, pepper and a little Tabasco if desired.

Note: I found the soup too thin - next time I'll cut the liquid by at least 2 cups. The recipe also calls for 1 lb. arugula to to be added just before serving. Spinach could be used, too. I didn't use either.

I'd be interested in your reactions.

Happy cooking,
Dad

leaves and elderberries

Hello!
We went on a ride yesterday, up Cub, through Hull Valley, down to Birch Creek. The road was the worst it's ever been, but we'd never seen the leaves so beautiful. We looked for elderberries along Birch Creek and found almost none. After going up and down Emigration for more than an hour, we found enough to bring home for what we thought was a batch of jam. Wrong - not quite enough. We have to go to Logan today, so I guess we'll go up Logan Canyon to get what we need. I think this jam will top the cost of doves in time and gas spent!
Mom

Another New Arrival

Hello to All:

Two days of living without a grill, however underpowered, motivated us to make the trip to Logan today. After much unsolicited advice from everyone I know regarding grills, I decided to trust the Lowe's guy. I asked about infrared burners. He said, "Well, if you want to be a connoissuer (using the term as if it were a dirty word)..."
I decided I didn't, so we picked one out. He then whispered, "If you want a display model, you can get 25% off."
"Display Model" means it has been sitting outside chained to other misbehaving grills all summer, getting coated with dirt and its owners' manual had been pretty soggy more than once. Perfect.
No one thought it would go into the Explorer assembled, but we just squeezed it in!

So, please welcome the Perfect Flame Norbert 2000 Meatblaster Grill to the family. Its maiden dinner will be, fittingly, Korean shortribs this evening.

Dad

The Passing of a Family Icon

It is my sad task to report the passing of a Bosworth Family icon. Alas, the Cheapie - Deluxe green Char-Broil grill which has graced our deck for so many years has, I'm afraid, scorched its last short rib. Not even the gentle touch of the Elder Wand and the word REPARO can help it this time.

Held in high regard by some of us (Beatta, for sure), disparaged by others (Ryan), it sat silently out there, in wind, snow, rain and sun, ready to perform its task. Through thick steaks and thin chicken breasts, through High School Dances and wedding receptions, it uncomplainingly fulfilled the measure of its manufacture.

Interment will be in an undisclosed part of the Franklin County Landfill. The owners ask that, in lieu of flowers, donations in the form of Lowe's gift cards be sent.

Spatulas and tongs at half-mast, please for a moment of silence.

Thank you.

Dad

White Pine Lake

Guess where Boz and Narb went today!? Do you recognize it? Nowhere new for Narb, but a first for Boz. No lightning, no moose, but we did see a deer, a pine hen, and a squirrel jumping from branch to branch in a tall pine tree. We also saw NO ONE at the lake. Amazing. Also, I used to think this was a big hike - we were there in 1 hour 45 minutes and back in less than that.

If you know where we went, change the title!

Mom