Matt in the Middle: Visions of Turkey Danced in His Head

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Visions of Turkey Danced in His Head

Visions of food danced in my head again last night. There was a time that my dreams were about women and then there was about twenty years where I didn't remember my dreams at all and now I am dreaming of food. Not pancakes this time.

This time it was Thanksgiving dinner with our friends who live in Charleston, IL. It was a lot of fun...thanks for having us over last night guys. It was nice to see you (in my dreams) again...

Yesterday, after I wrote the blog and said I eat too much now but I don't gain weight I weighed myself and found that I actually lost one pound - down to 188. I guess I need to write about not gaining weight in my blog and the power of Bloggestion (first time this word have EVER been used by anyone) makes me lose weight. Don't underestimate the power of Bloggestion. Someone else will steal this word and take credit for it - the dude in the Middle rarely gets credit. Remember me when they add it to the dictionary. (bloggestion could mean something suggested in a blog coming true like power of suggestion or someone actually understanding, or digesting, a blog).

I listened to the radio yesterday for news of the shots I heard in DekalbStone. There was no mention of shots yesterday but they did report that police were dispatched the night before for shots fired but they did not find evidence any shots having been fired.

I went into our Census meeting yesterday and I am officially on hiatus until the regular Census begins - in a week or two. I have to hope I get a call from a new crew leader to continue. I feel like one of those soldiers that came home from Vietnam without a parade and got spat on.

Yesterday, during the meeting, my stomach started growling. That hasn't happened in a while. I think it's because I'm eating all of the garbage food that I've been eating lately and it wants more. I didn't eat breakfast before the meeting and I'm sure that's really the reason.

Stomach growling is like an alarm telling you it's time to eat. There's no snooze button so all you can do is eat to turn off the alarm. Why do we always grab our stomach when it growls? It doesn't hurt. Maybe we just want people to know that the noise they heard came from our stomach and not stomach's neighbor that lives in the rear apartment?

I can't read a note in my notepad...must have been writing and riding my bike but I'm sure this is great advise so I will write it as I can read it..."Willing in book people llamas." That's great advise and I recommend you heed it and do it today. If I read it later and figure it out I will blog it. Maybe we should have a contest to guess what "willing in book people llamas" means.

I wish I was someone just a little more funky.

I rode my bike a bit yesterday and coming back on the bike path near our subdivision I ran into (not literally) one of my Facebook friends who has been reading Mattinthemiddle (a faithful Middleian). It's very gratifying that people are reading and enjoying my blog. She is doing the same stuff I am doing; watching what she eats, going to the YMCA, walking and biking...to get and be healthier. She also mentioned that she's hungrier now too that the weather has turned nicer. It's nice to know that we're not alone and there are others battling the same battles we are. It was also surreal talking about my blog like it was Good Housekeeping or something.

Today I will: be doing laundry (may even hang some laundry outside against our neighborhood's Association Agreement), digging up an area in the yard for Sugar Momma, burning some brush, gotta work out, back to looking for a job...

a huge list I am behind on. If you're bored come on over. Maybe we can ride our bikes for fish tacos or somethin' gnarly like that.

If I didn't shower everyday I'm sure I'd be a little more funky.

I figured it out / remembered. "Willing in book people llamas" actually says "writing in book makes people curious." I write in my little red notebook all the time for this blog and with script ideas (I'll write about that tomorrow) and I know people are looking at me thinking "what in the heck is that idiot writing in that little book?" They are finally correct....I AM WRITING ABOUT THEM!

Tomorrow is Earth Day Eve! How about a surprise party for her? Maybe she reads my blog and it won't be a surprise?

(images pilfered from: turkey - eviljwinter.files.wordpress.com, stomach growling - highlightskids.com, yard work - clipartguide.com)

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Matt In The Middle Blogssary

47% Rule - Matt in the Middle is 47 % estrogen
53% Rule - Matt in the Middle is 53% testosterone
Agitator (the) - Matt's podcast name (revealed in blog and podcast number 2
B. S. - blog stuff
Big Sexy - Jay Cole's drink of choice (Jack and Coke) - doesn't necessarily have to be Jack
Blogcast - our podcast (Dirty Laundry)
Bloggestion - now in Urban Dictionary meaning something suggested on a blog or taking a few minutes to understand (like suggested or digested)
Blogging Suit - like a NASCAR driver's racing suit with all of the sponsors patches
Blogssary - blog glossary
Blogisodes - episodes of this blog
BWAK - blogged with a kiss
Ca-Ching - the sound of the cash register as I try to gain sponsors that will never actually happen (I'm not really that delusional) - same as ka-ching
Cha Cha - revealed to be Sugar Momma's new name on premier podcast
Cheese & Quackers - our resident ducks. she is cheese and he is quackers
Ciaoloha - MITM's new mega-word "discovered" on Columbus Day 2011. It combines "hello," "goodbye," "love," "podcast" and "blog" into one happy little package!
Copyright - something that I think is clever and original that needs to be protected as original intellectual material (like it would really hold up in court)
Dirty Laundry - our podcast/blogcast launched 4/1/11
Discomboobulated - a word Bret Michaels used on Celebrity Apprentice when he meant discombobulated though discomboobulated is an actual word
Fabio - the name my son preferred being called on the blog (the artist formerly known as Sparky)
Judii - the sister I never had but wish I did (my unofficial sister)
Ka-ching - the sound of the cash register as I try to gain sponsors that will never actually happen (I'm not really that delusional) - same as ca-ching
Kajunkles - used for people who don't know how to run correctly. Body parts moving against one another rather than together for the common goal of running (could be a noun, proper noun or a verb). Trying to accomplish something against seemingly impossible odds.
The Lost Sock - Cha Cha's brother (and my brother-in-law). One of the best people I have known in my life.
MADYM - One of my very good friends - Mary. She was given this name based on an acronym of her name by one of my other very good friends Stacee. Together they came up with the MITM theme song idea. She was also our maid of honor or matron of honor (I don't know the difference).
Middle - anything average or center (Middle of the country, Middle of life, average intelligence, a regular joe (or joan)...)
MITM - Matt In The Middle
Ms. Peabody - Maisy (our dog) because of Mr. Peabody
Nature Girl - Another very good friend- Sue. Given this name because of being a combination of Diane Fossey, Caroline Ingalls and Danielle Boone (lady Daniel)
Patent / Patent Pending - something that I think is clever and original that needs to be protected as original intellectual material (like it would really hold up in court)
PFT - Plasma Fun Time - donating plasma - twice a week.
Roz - my pink/fuchsia i-pod nano. Named for Roz Kelly who played Pinky Tuscadero on tv's Happy Days. She goes with me everywhere to play my life's soundtrack and measure my steps with her pedometer.
Sparky - my son's blog pseudonym (see also Fabio)
Splenda - my daughter's blog pseudonym
Sponsorship Patch - when I mention a known product to try to get sponsorships and want to put a patch on my blogging suit
Stacee - a friend from high school that is a great inspiration to me continuously. The Cosmos keep bringing us back together electronically (MySpace, Facebook, Blog...) even though we haven't "seen" each other for nearly thirty years.
Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheels theme song of MITM. Idea suggested by MADY and Stacee
Sugar Momma - my wife, Jill
Trademark - something that I think is clever and original that needs to be protected as original intellectual material (like it would really hold up in court)
TTTT - Ta Ta 'Til Tomorrow
TWSS - that's what she said
WTF - why the face?

Potato Soup

Ingredients Needed:
1 - 32 oz. box Vegetarian Vegetable Broth (I used Swanson's)
can substitute with chicken broth if you wish
1 - package of Country Gravy Mix (I used McCormick's)
okay to use sausage gravy mix if you wish
1 - 26 oz. package of frozen hash browns

Cook hash browns in a large pot. Cook potatoes until slightly browned stirring often so as not to burn the hash browns. While the hash browns are cooking prepare the country gravy mix as directed on package. Once the potatoes are done to your liking slowly pour the broth into the pot with the potatoes and reduce heat and simmer until hot. After the potatoes and broth are hot add the gravy mix and continue to simmer until thickened. Serve and eat.

** special note...I like it extra spicy so I add an extra package of county gravy mix to the finished mixture and whisk and heat.

Just like I always say - add whatever you want (peas, onions...) and make it your own. And, as always, ENJOY!

Sangria Wine Recipe (reposted from 4/22/10)

I also made Sangria yesterday to honor Earth's goodness (truthfully so I could get lit). I am not a wine drinker because most wines are too dry in my opinion and I am not a big fan of cotton-mouth. I liked the movie "Sideways" though so I want to like wine. I was watching Planet Green a couple of days ago while I was cleaning the kitchen and folding laundry like a real man and Emeril Lagasse was making paella on "Emeril Green". He also threw in, as an after-thought, Sangria so I hit the record button. Well he did it very fast and didn't say measurements or anything but he gave the basics so I came up with my own recipe and I think it turned out well though I made A LOT! Sugar Momma says I am a man of excess - isn't that what "man" means? Anyway, here's my Sangria recipe but I suggest you might want to cut the volume down unless you are having a small country over for dinner:

ingredients (I would suggest cutting the liquids in half)

3 liters of inexpensive Shiraz (Frontera Mendoza 2009)
1 cup of Grand Marnier
1 cup of brandy
1 cup of lime juice
3 limes
3 lemons
2 granny smith apples
2 large oranges
12 oz. sugar
33.8 oz sparkling water (Pellegrino)
64 oz. orange juice
ice

In a HUGE bowl slice the fruit and cover with sugar, mix. Add Shiraz and stir. Add ice to hold the fruit under while it drowns in the wine. Add Grand Marnier and brandy and stir. Add lime juice, orange juice and sparkling water and stir. Let sit for awhile so the tastes blend. Taste and add ingredients to taste (I added a little more lime juice and sugar). Find the biggest vessel you own for storage (mine is a pot like they used in those headhunter movies to cook people which is now sitting on our stove). Sweet and fruity just like me. Share with your friends/neighbors and your boss at review time.

Caprese Paninis

Ingredients you will need:

good loaf of bread (I used Italian bread)
mozzarella cheese
pesto sauce (I used jarred Classico brand - found by pastas)
fresh basil leaves
extra virgin olive oil
tomatoes

And here we go:
slice the bread and brush extra virgin olive oil on both sides of each slice. Clean and separate basil leaves. Slice tomatoes. Grate Cheese. Lightly grill one side of each slice of bread. Flip the bread when lightly toasted. After flipping the bread spread pesto on the toasted side and top with shredded cheese while the other side toasts. Once the second side is toasted and the cheese is starting to melt remove it from the

grill and top with two slices of tomato side-by-side and put a basil leaf on each tomato slice. Remove another slice of the toast with the pesto and cheese mixture from the grill and place it cheese/pesto side down on top of the tomato and basil'd toast to form a sandwich. (They could just as easily be done in a frying pan or on a George Foreman Grill...)

Done! Very simple and delicious!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Visions of Turkey Danced in His Head

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