Matt in the Middle: OK - I Believe You!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

OK - I Believe You!

cue the music
Thirsty already? where has the week gone? I guess I am a little Thursday; plasma day always leaves me a bit parched. Forgive me if this goes astray today. Never mind, that's what this always does. So, forgive me if this doesn't go astray but I am multi-tasking and my noodle is ill-equipped for such tasks. I am going through some of the old shows that I did on Jimmy Buffett's Radio Margarita looking for a couple of specific songs. I did two different shows there (about 25 or 30 hour-long shows) - The Mattgarita Happy Hour and Cheeseburger Radio. I am sure you have heard of them...they're household names. They were at our house anyway.

Yesterday while working at the job fair I was called: Hon, Honey and Doll; that's a lot better than being called Mitch like I was last year. These names were not being sprinkled on me by older women either (no, not by guys). I wasn't offended. In fact, I guess I was flattered but I cannot imagine calling a stranger Toots or even Hon or Doll. Why does it seem wrong when a guy does it but it's okay when a woman does it? Maybe I answered my own question before I asked it - "I wasn't offended, in fact, I guess I was flattered." You gals know we cavemen love to have our egos stroked (no joke comes to mind here).

Ready to be "aired" out April 1, 2011

I am shooting for a launch date for the Dirty Laundry podcast of April 1st, 2011. I think it is appropriate for obvious reasons and if I don't get it up that day (TWSS) I can just use the best excuse for lying ever..."APRIL FOOLS!" "I forgot" is a pretty good one too if it's not April 1st. So far there have been a deluge of stars requesting to be on the premier episode of Dirty Laundry so, as not to offend the ones that we don't choose, there probably won't be any big stars on the first podisode (patent/copyright/trademark).

I found out that the Matt In The Middle blog has become somewhat of a wedding planning site. One of the most faithful of MITM followers (though I am happy that there are a lot of you) is going to have her wedding reception at one of the places blogged about on this blog. She told me that the blog is the reason that she chose this particular place. I am so flattered that she took my blog to heart...literally. I am pretty sure I will be asked to sing at the wedding but I will decline right now but remember that I was going to be asked. I would be willing to become an ordained minister and perform the ceremony if necessary, however. Blog will find a way!

I can't wait for the podcast because I have so much to blog about but if I keep going this is gonna be a mile long (TWSS). If it were a podcast I could just talk faster and get it all in. I write so many notes in my blogbook that I never use. what a shame because everything I write is blog-worthy. April Fools!

The President of Pop Culture

Oh, I do have to do one more thing today because I promised. The Popchips review and the reason for The Quest for the Popchips! My friend Debbie in South Carolina sent me a link for a the Popchips search for a Vice President of Pop Culture. The job pays $50,000 and the person they choose will assist the president, Ashton Kutcher, in promoting the chips. I was all set and excited to do this but then I tasted the chips and they taste way too chemically for me; I cannot represent a product I don't believe it. (in all fairness I only tried the one type though) I heard that Florence Henderson is running for the job too; how would I have a chance against Carol Brady anyway? You can hit that link up there if you want to take a crack at it and I will support you instead. Maybe I could be your Popchip Pop Culture Blogger. Thanks Debbie for the heads up. Debbie was also the person who turned me on to becoming Alicia Keys' blogger which I did apply for but was denied. I can't wait until Ms. Keys wants to be on Dirty Laundry "airing" April 1st! I am a forging person and would welcome her with open arms. But the first question would be "WHY?"

Bananas in Pajamas are very appealing!

I have enough left for three more blogs and I am sure I will write a bunch more before tomorrow. Thanks for hanging out with me today. By the by...I bought a bunch of bananas today and am going to wait for them to "ripen" and then I am making banana bread because of last night's banana bread talk on Facebook. Dole didn't let me know it was National Banana Bread Day yesterday until too late...how about a heads up on important days like that one...now I look like a monkey (and I smell like one too) beacue I didn't get my Banana Bread Day cards sent. Don't worry Jay, I will get some strawberries for your banana bread. Blog to you tomorrow dolls. TTTT...MITM (ooh, ooh, aah, out)

1 comment:

DebFebruary 24, 2011 at 9:57 PM
:)Debbie From South Carolina.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

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!