AN AMAZING 1961

As you are aware, we old folks do a lot of day dreaming about the “Good Old Days”.  It's so much better than remembering the “Bad Old Days” and screwing up our dreams.  During one of my remembering the good old days I have no idea why, but my thoughts went to the year 1961.  I think it might be the result of looking at all the commercials for beautiful cars and then checking out some of the current prices.  Yes, even old guys like me think about buying one of those beautiful new machines.  My thoughts, however, jumped to my first ever brand new car in my life.  At the ripe old age of 25 I purchased a pretty, dark blue 1961 Plymouth Valiant.  I paid a whopping $2,400.00 for it.

That was the start of a very momentous year.  I heard that a house on our street was going to be sold at auction.  I was intrigued and decided to go.  Just in case I wanted to open my mouth at the event I needed to have $1,000.00.  I didn’t have it but knew where to get it….a loan from my uncle.  Armed with the needed deposit I went to my first ever auction and unbelievably ended up buying a house. Marge was not involved in my crazy venture so I was able to go home, open the door, and pull what could have been one of those “LUCY I’M HOME” guess what I bought skits?  By the way, I bought this, my first house, at auction for the grand total of $12,500.00.  Even paid my Uncle off with a quickie home improvement bank loan.  If I remember correctly the monthly mortgage payment for house and loan was something like $109.00.  Prices have certainly escalated haven’t they?

1961 continued to be momentous, since I had also recently taken a new job with Bowman Products selling Bolts and Nuts and thousands of other automotive and industrial items.  In thinking about these times, I can’t believe I either lacked the brains of had some very large b___s to make these moves.

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Recipe for today’s Blog:    I love Swordfish if prepared properly.  I’ve done this recipe and was very happy with it.  Unfortunately this recipe can feed four or more so I don’t have many occasions to make it.  Marge and I can’t handle two pounds of fish, not even in our prime but the left overs go well in next day’s salad.      

SICILIAN STYLE SWORDFISH

3 ounces raisins

5 tablespoons olive oil

1small onion, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 pound ripe tomatoes, diced

10 green olives, pitted and minced

2 ounces pine nuts

¼ cup capers

2 pounds swordfish steaks

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Soak raisins in lukewarm water for 30 minutes.  Drain and set aside.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

 

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan or skillet over high heat.  Saute onion and garlic until soft.  Stir in raisins, tomatoes, olives, pine nuts and capers.  Cover pan, reduce heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes.

 

Season steaks with salt and pepper.  Place in a lightly oiled baking dish and cover with cooked sauce.  Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until steaks are firm.

 

 

 

 

 

Back with a Bitch

After having written 192 Blogs to date I thought I was pretty well out of any decent blogs to invade your computer.  I figured that most of you  had seen just about all of my popular bitches and did not want to begin reading repeats.  But I missed doing the blog and believe it or not a few of my readers missed seeing them.too....hard to imagine, huh.  

While sitting  around thinking about a way to begin this long awaited Blog entry, a few crazy thoughts entered my mind: How many elderly seniors go hungry every day because they were unable to put together their tool kit.  I'm sure you're thinking, Bill, what the hell are you talking about?  But think about it.  The senior must have a razor knife or some type of sharp knife, a pair of pliers, scissors, maybe a screwdriver and of course bandages in case of tool misuse.  Now he or she would be prepared to attack the sometimes impossible task of removing the food from it's overly secure container.

Don't laugh, it's even become a major chore to rip open the cereal bags and God forbid  you need a snack and need to rip the potato chip or pretzel bag.  How about opening that pickle jar....it's easy, all you need is a huge knife to beat the shit out of the lid.  Then you're a hero when the lid slides easily to expose the briny delight.  Those items packed in one of those hermetically sealed heavy plastic boxes defy destruction.  Those should merely be thrown away since only explosives well get you the prize.  

And make sure your fingers are in good shape.  You'll need to rip one of them off to get at your milk or orange juice.  Oh, I forgot a pretty important bitch.  Remember the scare created when some wacko began poison the pills in Tylenol bottles. Problem was solved though......you can't open any pill bottles without good eyesight to show you the needed lineup of the top lid and bottom container.  Kraft Salad Dressings they get to me every time....I really wonder why I keep buying them. The tops are an nightmare to prepare for the escape route of dressing.

I guess you get the idea of this Blog by this time. I truly wish the so-called design engineers should have to field test their on paper creations.

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Today's Shared Recipe:   This is a fabulous appetizer my daughter Mary Ann prepare for many family events.  They won't last long on the serving tray.

SAUSAGE APPETIZERS

1 pound ground beef         1 pound sausage

1 pound Velveeta cheese, cubed

1 tablespoon oregano       1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 loaf cocktail bread

 Brown beef and sausage, drain fat.  Return to pan.  Over low heat add cubed Velveeta, oregano and Worcestershire sauce.  Cook, stirring, until cheese is melted.  Spread on bread slices.  Can be put in freezer on baking sheets at this time and then stored frozen in zip lock bags until use. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until tops are browned.