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Critter Count, Thanksgiving 08

Now the Critter Count has become an actual travel game for us. It serves two purposes, 1) it makes us giggle and 2) it keeps your eyes busy, which helps you avoid road hypnosis.

Count from ATL to KnoxVegas and back (dead unless otherwise noted):

Deer 1
Coyote 1
Skunk 1
Cat 1
Dog 1
Unidentified brown critter (alive; beaver? woodchuck?) 1
Hitch Hiker (alive) 2
Unidentified Varmints 13
Road Pizza 9
Greasy Spot 2

Isn’t this fun? ;-)

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Critter Count 08

So, I’m back! Yay!

To amuse myself, I count things while driving: dead animals, live animals, hitch hikers, tumbleweeds, etc. When I started reading the list, it became funny to me, so I’d like to share Critter Count 08 (all are dead unless noted):

Coyote (alive) 1
Coyote 9
Dog (alive) 2
Dog 1
Cat 2
Skunk 2
Opossum 2
Deer 6
Hawk 2
Chicken (I SWEAR!) 1 (apparently crossing the road! Ha!)
Armadillo NONE! How weird is that?
Unknown Varmint 18
Unknown Bird 3
Road Pizza dozens
Greasy Spots dozens
Hitch Hikers (alive) 2
Tumbleweeds couple dozen crossing the interstate – not as many as you’d think!

And the game for tumbleweeds is to shout TUMBLEWEED!! every time one goes across the road.

Yes, I’m easily amused. :-)

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On the road again

I’m hitting the road today, folks. I’ll be back by the end of the week.

I’m available via email until I get back. :-)

Studio, here we COME!!! SQUEEEE!!!!!

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Marriage Rant (Rights for ALL!)

As most people know, Nick and I are married ONLY because we want the special rights afforded those who tie the knot. Yes, there are laws here and there for “domestic partners” but they are weak, not enforced and vary by COUNTY and even by COMPANY.

I think it’s hilarious that we felt that we had NO CHOICE but to get married to ensure that our finances and our healthcare decisions would be guaranteed to the other if anything happened to one of us. Not to mention the long list of discounts you get for having that piece of paper.

Personally, we think it’s fucked up that we HAD to get married. If we didn’t, we’d have to manually do contracts and tons of paperwork supervised by lawyers to ensure that the other person has full rights and controls if one is gravely ill or dies. I know a gay couple who did just that. They had piles of paperwork that cost thousands of dollars to create to ensure that they kept custody of their daughter, could administer the money or make health decisions for each other.

I just don’t see what the big fucking deal is with gay marriage. The big deal is that STRAIGHT people are discriminated against just as much if they don’t want to marry. Nick and I HAD to have the piece of fucking paper – don’t think that you get partner rights just because you’re straight – YOU DON’T. In MY opinion, WE have been discriminated against because there are NO domestic partnership laws.

You want equality? Let’s get DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP laws on the books. Marriage is an artificial social contract. It has never served any purpose other than to the church. It has evolved into a whole list of rights and privileges that have nothing to do with the act of marriage at all. It’s a social contract that grants SPECIAL rights to the participants. And it’s NOT FAIR.

You want to RAGE against something? Then RAGE against this whole society being rooted in silly Christian religious crap that affects straights, gays, blacks, everyone.

RAGE that STRAIGHT PEOPLE are expected to get married if they want the same privileges afforded the married. Want that insurance discount? Get married. Want to see your partner in the hospital? Get married.

If we put as much energy into EQUAL RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE as we do into railing about gay marriage rights, we might actually get somewhere.

Don’t-Call-Me-Mrs-Pratt-OR-Mizgala
It’s ANGELA.
MISAngela if you’re nasty.
:-)

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Dolmathes, Cyprus Style

dolmas and tzatziki
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Cyprus Style Dolmathes

This recipe was taught to me by a lady from Cyprus. She made hers with lamb and beef and they were considered a meal rather than just an appetizer. I make them vegetarian most of the time, but making them with meat is VERY delicious!
Course Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine cypriot, greek
Keyword beef and chicken chili, dolmas, dolmathes, lamb, lamb dolmathes
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 45 minutes
Servings 40 dolmas
Author misangela

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground lamb
  • 1 lb ground beef 90/10 (OR use all lamb)
  • 1 lg onion, small dice about 3/4 cup
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced about 1.5 Tbl
  • 2 tsp EACH S/P
  • 1 cup prepared rice basmati is my go-to, make sure to season with S/P
  • 1 14oz can tomatoes, any type drained
  • 1/2 cup fresh mint, finely chopped sub dry 3 Tbl, but fresh is best
  • 1 jar grape leaves, rinsed and separated most groceries have these in the ethnic aisle
  • 1 pkg lamb neck bones or shoulder chops about 1# or less
  • 1 8oz can tomato sauce
  • 2 lemons, zest and juice sub 1/3 cup jarred juice, but fresh is best
  • chicken stock as needed (have 2 cups or so on hand)
  • EVOO as needed
  • plain Greek yogurt
  • lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

  • There is a lot of prep for these. Assemble all your ingredients and take it step by step.
  • Prepare rice by package directions to yield about 1 cup and set aside. You can alter the rice to meat ratio here if you like. If you double the rice, you'll double the number of dolmas you make, keep that in mind.
  • In a large skillet over med hi heat, sauté lamb and beef with onions and garlic for about 8 minutes. It will be mostly cooked, but a little pink still. Season to taste with S/P - go a little salty here. The second cook will take out some salt.
  • Off heat, add tomatoes, lemon zest and mint to meat mixture, combine thoroughly. Set aside while you prepare the grape leaves.
  • In a large stock pot, arrange lamb bones or chops in the bottom.
  • Rinse and separate grape leaves. You may skip rinsing if you like the briny taste like I do.
  • Lay the leaf on the board with the stem UP, at the bottom. Trim stem if it's long. Put about 1 Tbl of filling at stem - do not overfill. Tuck in side leaves and roll like a burrito. (vegetarian filling shown)
    how to stuff dolmas
  • This recipe will make about 40 dolmathes, it depends on the leaves. Stack them seam side down, tightly in the stock pot on top of the lamb chops as you make them and drizzle each layer with EVOO. You should get a big pot of dolmathes from this recipe. Do not fill the pot over 3/4 full. If you have too many, either do two pots or freeze the extras.
  • Once the dolmas are made and in the pot, drizzle with a little more EVOO, then pour over the tomato sauce and lemon juice. Top with chicken stock to reach about 3/4 up on the dolmas.
  • Weigh down the dolmas with a plate and cook over med low for about 45 minutes.
  • Serve with Greek yogurt, EVOO and lemon wedges.

Notes

While labour intensive, dolmathes are truly worth it. I like them both vegetarian (Turkish) and with meat (Greek/Cypriot). 
Dolmathes freeze well! 

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