Showing posts with label best. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best. Show all posts

Monday, December 3, 2018

Au Gratin Potatoes with Kielbasa

Hillshire Farms Smoked Kielbasa

  • My recipe has a few unique tips to make it the best you have ever tasted! Don't just take my word on it~ Several years ago my wife asked me to make something special for her Artist's Night Out. She told me it had to be "Super Special" because she didn't want to be "embarrased!" Whatever was made had to be very, very special. I asked her to give me a number of people that would be there and she told me at least 50~ I asked if it was a Potluck and she almost threw up in her mouth. We talked and I assured her I would make her something everyone would love. So the night of the event I took her to the oven to show her what I made and she freaked out! She said, "that's peasant food!" I told her "don't take it then, but everybody loves potatoes!" She came home later and and said "you could have made 10 of these and they would all be gone, the Art Center Director was scraping the pan! Thank you so much! It was the star of the event!"
  •  Fresh Russet Potatoes
  • Fresh Sweet onions
  • Whole Milk
  • Super Sharp Cheddar
  • 2 Pounds Kielbasa
  • 2 boxes  Betty Crocker AU Gratin Potatoes
  • Duke's or Hellman's Real Mayonaise
  • 9x14 Deep Dish Casserole Pan
  • 1/4 pound LOL butter
Tomorrow we'll show you how to make it, make sure you got the stuff first~
Finished Product

Friday, July 25, 2014

Our 10 Days Near Detroit, Visiting the Family...

This video was made in Southgate Mi. just a few miles from Detroit. We were just on Fort St. last week on our way to my Father in laws house. a.k.a. Papa Jack. Detroit is what it is, but this is what is really going on there in the "Burbs" Nice people enjoying real life. This is the real Michigan. Enjoy the Video.
I'll be posting tid bits about our trip in the coming days, and believe it or not it's mostly positive and funny, except one incident. We were going through Ohio and we drove past a nuclear plant, and I asked my Grandson Corgan if he knew what it was and he said, "if it blows up we will all be killed!"
 Detroit's problems began decades ago with corrupt mayors and crooked unions. I was in the UAW, though I did not choose to be, I had to be. I worked at the Fisher Body plant in Ypsilanti, Mi. Yes, this is a real place, just outside Ann Arbor. The attitude of the workers in the plant was pure hatred and disdain for the company. They would do anything they could to impede production, or stop the line. I really didn't get it. I asked one guy," if we get more cars out the door isn't that a good thing". He told me to shut up, if I knew what was good for me. That was forty something years ago, and what happened in Lansing is the work of "paid thugs". You ask where are the cops?  Did you know that this type of union activity is not against the law? Google it! The car companies were Detroit and the Unions got anything they wanted or they went on strike and stopped production. The cars were crap but we all bought American back then. Now the #1 car company is Toyota.
Guess what, that was in 1968, since then almost a million people have left Detroit proper, and about a 1000 families a month are leaving currently. Michigan used to depend entirely on the auto industry to run their economy, not so today. Detroit as a city is just about finished, the latest idea floating around is to make it into a "Zombie Land Theme Park"  An added note, they added Casino gambling several years ago , with the usual promises, rebuild the city, improve education, blah,blah, blah. The real problem with Detroit is that all the taxpayers have left. The biggest Liberal City failure, ever is on its way to bankruptcy. This video is an example of what is happening in Greece. It's in the beginning stages here.
The City of Detroit, 1962
Play both videos at the same time
the effect is haunting.

The City of Detroit, 2014 Some homes can be purchased for less than a $100. but you have to live in them and take care of the property. This is a video of what's available. Copper plumbing, not included.
 
What's goin' on?
 

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

We got a New Puppie, Her name is Katy!

 
 


Katy's Big Day At PetSmart!

Australian Shepard, sweet and smart
with the all desired "Off Switch"

 
Katy, Christmas Eve 2012 at PetSmart

 
 
Loose leash 100 dogs and
pet parents in the place,
remarkable
My wife is a dog trainer, one of the best in the country, I might add, and she thinks as far as smart and sweet, that Katy is the "Mother Load." More pictures and comments, to come, stay tuned. The house is full of family! One thing about these pictures, is that a heart shape between her front paws? Interesting! She just turned 4 months and two puppies have been spoken for from her first litter. we just picked her up a week ago. Hey, what's going on down there? Can I play? Be patient, Katy, be patient!


Look at all the videos and see what's coming!


Tuesday, March 5, 2013

My Favorite Women Blues Artists

Of course Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Janis Joplin, Mamie Smith, Ida Goodson, Koko Taylor, Rory Block, Janis Joplin have all made their mark on blues history. These are just my favorites.
Bonnie Raitt
The first time I heard this lady on the radio, WRIF Detroit home of Ken Calvert, I heard a songbird. Effortless and unique, a lady who would rather sing than talk. I've added two of my favorites, one from her very first album, 1973, I think, and one selection from her latest album coming out in April. Her father was John Raitt, he did a lot of Broadway musicals and movies. Pajama Game, and Carosel were some of his work. They sang a duet together on TV back in the early 90's. He's gone now, but they were very close.
Look at her version of a Jerry Rafferty song, outstanding. Next post, a real surprise, a blues singer from right now, passionate and compelling. Stay tuned~

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Yorkshire Pudding, Simple Food, Family Loves It!

Made These Thanksgiving Day
Growing up in Boston, we were taught about the British Red Coats, Paul Revere, the Minutemen, the Boston Tea Party all the events that led us to become a "Free United States". Some customs left with the "yankee" culture, drinking tea instead of coffee is  favored among locals. Za-rex instead of Kool-aid. Dinner is called "suppa"and the bathroom is called the "pissa" which is the second word in describing something fabulous. Something fabulous in Boston speak is of course, "wicked pissa"

I remember every Sunday, my mother would make Sunday dinner. She timed it just right,  home from Mass, a beautiful roast beef with roasted potatoes, baked Italian tomatoes and Yorkshire pudding. It was named after Yorkshire, England, I would guess, with a pat of butter and beef gravy, the stuff is to die for. One thing we always did was save the salad for last, almost like dessert. The reason that made the most sense to me, some of the heavy duty Italian meals, spaghetti and meatballs for example could use a little help in the digestion process, the roughage that salad provides, makes sense. I've looked at a lot of video concerning the proper way to make Yorkshire Pudding, this one came the closest. I'll let you watch it and then I'll give you my recipe, which is similar but with a few Boston tips. He's very close. My little secrets are add an extra egg or two, measuring is unnecessary. Batter should have the consistency of pancake batter, Whisk until all lumps are gone. I use Jumbo cupcake tins . Preheating the pan, #1 most important, Preheat oven to 425 degrees, I use melted butter to grease the cups. Fill  cups 3/4 full. Butter should be almost smoking when the pan is hot enough. If you want the pudding cups darker in color add a drop or two of Kitchen Bouquet seasoning sauce. Oven roasted potatoes were also part of our Sunday tradition. Happy Holidays to you all and enjoy or endure you families for the holidays! I'll put up the roasted potato recipe for you.