Matt in the Middle: I'm Gonna Be A Good Deed Doer Today

Friday, February 11, 2011

I'm Gonna Be A Good Deed Doer Today

I'm sure 4-wheel drive will get you right outta there.

cue the music
Sorry if I smell kinda rank but I just got done working out and I haven't showered yet. I have to go to the store and thought I would blog before I showered so that you can read this while I am gone; gone but not forgotten. While I was out yesterday donating plasmatt I saw a casualty of last week's snowpocalyse so I took a photo. It is in a parking lot at our local Best Buy store. Do you suppose they forgot where they parked? I never even thought about it until right now but maybe I should have checked to see if there was anyone in the vehicle. Maybe when I am out I will swing by and check. I will seriously feel like an idiot if there is someone in there. Like everyone who has seen this buried car, I am sure none of them have thought to check. I will let you know what (hopefully nothing) I find.

I have been obsessing over the idea of doing a podcast. I obsess - it's one of my most endearing qualities. I have several podcast ideas; tell me what you think. How about a podcast ventriloquist show? Immediate co-host problem solved and I can blame all of the smart aleck stuff on the dummy (if that is the politically correct term). How about if I were a pod-casting mime? This next idea I got from my PortuGal Pal Jennifer...how about a podcast puppet show? Or a magic show? Okay, maybe the podcast ideas need a little work. I could still interview Dan Akyroyd and/or Burt Reynolds. Maybe I could have the dummy interview them. Very funny...I meant the other dummy. Dan or Burt...cast your vote at MIDDLE MOVIE REVIEWS now. Right now Dan is leading 2 - 0.

The Mattgarita Island special yesterday was Tilapia Ceviche

Yesterday I "cooked" a dish I have never made before. I made Tilapia Ceviche. If you are unfamiliar with ceviche it is a seafood dish from Central and South American coastal countries consisting of fresh seafood, spices and local vegetables. If you are familiar that's still what it is. I have been reading dozens of recipes and made my own amalgam from all of those recipes and several of my own adjustments/additions/subtractions. It took about ten hours for me to make it though the actual preparation was less than an hour. The fish "cooks" with citrus. I used both fresh lemon and lime juices to "cook" the fish. The reason I keep putting quotation marks on "cooks" is because the citrus does the cooking; there is no heat involved. Some recipes said to soak the seafood the the juice for a couple of hours or 15 minutes and some said up to ten hours. I didn't want anyone to get sick so I went with the long way. Sugar Momma and Fabio both loved it but I still felt it could be better. I will do it many more times before I am through tweeking it as I go (TWSS). It will be a great summer food on Mattgarita Island. I put the cilantro in at the end Trisha...I could put some aside for you before the cilantro. Hey, how about a cooking podcast? The Galloping Gourmet....who was that Graham Kerr? A Jeopardy contestant would know for sure!

Tell me I'm not adorable (and useful)

Three more people "liked" the Matt In The Middle Facebook page yesterday. Three in one day gets me through the weekend without having to shill for my "one-a-day" friends. Coincidentally, the three that liked me yesterday I have known longer than I have known my wife. We traveled around the country on buses as kids and made beautiful music together. I am not saying we were back-up singers for The Osmonds or The Jackson Five but I am not saying that we weren't. You're awesome Brian, John and Kim and I love you all!

I guess it's time to take a shower and head to the store and see if someone is in need of my help in that SUV. Too bad it wasn't a Chevy Avalanche (cha-ching). Or maybe a Toyota Tundra (double-ching). Maybe I will take a cask of brandy. Maybe they would rather have Bailey's and hot chocolate (or "cocoa" as Sugar Momma prefers)...that's what I would want. I will blog you again tomorrow before heading to Barrington for Fabio's basketball tournament. I think Sugar Momma and the dog (bigger and more fierce than a St. Bernard) will be home so don't even try it burglars casing the joint through the blog...I'm onto you. TTTT...MITM (to the rescue)! Geez - I forgot the V.D. dilemma (will have to wait until tomorrow I suppose - sorry).

cue the music, if you please Hal!

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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!

Friday, February 11, 2011

I'm Gonna Be A Good Deed Doer Today

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