rachel

A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

Easy process from start to finish. First, I figured out where I needed to go about a month ago (why wait until the last minute... ) Long line at 6 am so I went back over my lunch hour and was in and out in five minutes. No big mean Democrat or Republican tried to hide all of the ballots from me...( although the Republican pollworker noticed my last initial is "W" and said "we could call you Dubya just like our next President!" I just blankly looked at her and wondered aloud if she knew the meaning of the word 'electioneering'....

B-)

Happy Birthday! Here's to beer.... ....and more beer.

We are back online, and the day is almost done (over here, anyway). Hope you had a great birthday (...washed down with some fabulous wine!)

Party on, maren! Happy Birthday!

I am a total jinx; it seems that whomever I root for out loud ends up losing... big. ..... go Pats.

Dances with Cock - whacka... I swear... glad my momma don't read this board...

This is great.... thanks for the heads up.

And no doubt, still tsk tsking.... oh no.... that's just a silly myth. I enjoy my libations in a stationary manner these days. Although I do admit to being a sucker for the Cabo Wabo almost as much as I'm a sucker for winking Italian men....

Like Catesta, I've had some kinda guardian angel riding around with me (no doubt tsk tsking during my driving-around-drinking-beer-after-school-phase). I rolled my very first car at age 16: a 1975 Vega. No seatbelts--fell asleep--not a scratch. I still shudder when I think about what could have been....

Of course! The green is a rather festive complement to the red eyes... He just looks a little misunderstood...

no, baby.... weren't gonna happen... not in Pittsburgh... with love, rachel (who grew up in the 'burgh with the Steel Curtain...)

shurrrr.... Edit to say: I believe you SS1; I just can't resist giving you a hard time. I've wondered where you've been all day....

Could you be... the most beautiful UBU in the world?

I have bona fide south-of-the-Mason-Dixon-Line kinfolk... I eat black eyed peas on New Years, too... (sans oysters--could never choke one of those down...)

BEER-BRAISED BRISKET WITH ONIONS Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 4 1/2 hr 1 (31/2- to 4-lb) boneless beef brisket, trimmed of excess fat 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 lb onions, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced lengthwise (6 cups) 1 Turkish or 1/2 California bay leaf 1 (12-oz) bottle beer (not dark) 1 beef bouillon cube, crumbled 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar Preheat oven to 350°F. Pat brisket dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 6- to 8-quart wide heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown meat well on all sides, about 10 minutes total. Transfer with tongs to a platter. Cook onions with bay leaf in fat remaining in pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer half of onions to a bowl. Arrange brisket over onions in pot, then top with remaining onions. Add beer, bouillon cube, and vinegar (liquid should come about halfway up sides of meat) and bring to a boil. Cover pot and braise in middle of oven until meat is very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Cool in sauce, uncovered, 30 minutes. Transfer brisket to a clean cutting board. Skim off any fat from sauce, then season with salt and pepper. Slice meat across the grain and serve with sauce. Cooks' note: • Brisket improves in flavor if braised 2 days ahead. Cool in sauce, uncovered, then chill, surface covered with parchment paper or wax paper and pot covered with lid. Remove any solidified fat before reheating. Slice cold meat across the grain and reheat in oven with sauce in a shallow baking pan, covered, 45 minutes. Makes 8 servings. Gourmet January 2003

HAM AND CHEESE SPOON BREAD 1 cup grits 1 1/4 cups boiling water 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 4 ounces) 1 tablespoon butter 1/2 cup diced smoked ham (about 3 ounces) 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 large eggs Preheat oven to 425°F. Butter 4- to 6-cup soufflé dish or casserole. Place grits in large bowl; whisk in 1 1/4 cups boiling water. Add cheese and butter; whisk until melted. Whisk in smoked ham and cayenne pepper. Season with salt and pepper. Mix in eggs. Pour batter into prepared dish. Bake spoon bread until set at edges but barely set in center, about 18 minutes. I'm now searching for my beer brisket recipe....

Around here the best way is chili-3-way ( ) Chili, spaghetti, and cheese (add onions and it's a 4- way, anything else is just a party...)

Well, if anybody would know...

Yup the clouds rolled in this afternoon and the temp. plunged. I'm loving it, too. I love cloudy, cool days. Had to bring some house plants back inside from being outdoors all summer... I don't know if I will be longing for sun in the winter, but I will be missing 60 degree weather when it's about 10 below.

...that absolutely perfect little nose....