Fudge Brownies From Scratch - Of Course They're Easy!

I know every time I go food shopping to make sure I'm "tanked up".  You know, have a snack first? 

Never shop on an empty stomach, you just end up buying "crap".

But... I was surfing on an empty stomach.  I had hit that dreaded hungry zone an hour before a meal.

Then this recipe showed up.

It's a basic brownie recipe, and it looked really quite simple.  

Melt the ingredients.  Bake the ingredients.  Eat the ingredients, er, results.

I did all that and I have to say, I will most definitely do it again.  I did not add nuts last time and I want to try it with Pecans.  Pecans are my Go-To nut when I'm baking anyway.  They cook up soft, have more flavor than Walnuts, and don't overpower like Peanuts.  If the timing is right, I'll toss in some mini marshmallows and make Rocky Road.

My own personal history with baking brownies is long.  There was a home-ec class we all had to take in 7th grade.  Since I have a scientific mind, I took to the whole baking thing quickly.  Baking is more like chemistry than cooking a roast is.  If you get the proportions wrong, it turns out badly, and in some cases a recipe could be quite fussy.

Think anything with Meringue.

But this particular recipe?  Simple.  Literally toss the stuff into a bowl and warm it.  It can be done in the microwave, but I suggest a Bain Marie or Double Boiler.  It's a wee bit more trouble but worth it.  Just a bowl floating on top of some simmering water and you get the right amount of heat.

The whole thing is simple.  (Hmmm, Where did I hear that before?)  Get your ingredients to room temperature first.  Just melt your butter and chocolate chips in the bowl.  If you are using the Bain Marie, put the butter on the bottom of the bowl so it melts first.  Stir it around and when it is smooth and melted, remove it from the heat and fold in the other ingredients.  Whisk it smooth, then put the batter in the prepared pan.

Preparing that pan made it perfect.  Oil the 8 by 8 baking pan.  Cover that with parchment paper.  I gave the paper a quick once over with some more cooking oil.  It all just popped free.

Bake until the toothpick comes out clean.

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces good chocolate chips
• 6 Tablespoons Butter (Room Temp!)
• 1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons Sugar (3 ounces)
• 1/4 cup Brown Sugar (baby!)
• 2 Eggs (Room Temp!)
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
• Confectioners Sugar for dusting (Optional)

Process:

• Gather all ingredients and get them warmed to room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 350F/180C
• Oil the 8 by 8 baking pan generously or use non-stick spray.
• Line the bottom and sides with Parchment Paper. 
• I oiled the parchment paper and the recipe just fell off the paper perfectly.
• Set glass or stainless steel bowl on top of a simmering pot of water for your Bain Marie.
• Add Butter, then Chocolate Chips and stir until everything is melted and smooth.
• Remove Bowl from the Pot and carefully whisk in the sugar and brown sugar.
• Whisk in or Mix in an egg at a time followed by the vanilla extract and flour.
• Whisk the mixture until the batter is well combined and smooth.
• Transfer Batter to the 8x8 Loaf Pan
• Bake for 35-40 minutes at 350F/180C. 
• It is done when the toothpick can be inserted in the center and comes out clean with few crumbs.
• Allow the brownies to cool for 30 minutes before transferring to the refrigerator.
• Allow the brownies to cool in the refrigerator for 2 hours before cutting into pieces and serving.
• Optionally dust the brownies with confectioner's sugar to serve.

Recipe was adapted from PBS Kitchen Explorers

Homemade Butter Pecan Ice Cream Recipe from Eagle Brand

So my regular readers aren't disappointed, you'll get my blather at the top.  Complete with hints.  If you just want the recipe, page down.

Butter Pecan Ice Cream.  It was my first "Grown Up" flavor favorite.  I've always had a soft spot for a good Butter Pecan.  Not overly sweet.  Not bland.  Basically, Yes, Yes, I shall have some!  Please?

This is a dangerous recipe.  It may not need an ice cream freezer, although I used one.  The way I made the ice cream is to make whipped cream, stop the mixer, then fold in the ingredients, mix it a couple turns around the bowl.  Freeze.  I do strongly recommend a stand mixer with a whisk to make the whipped cream and the ice cream base.

Yeah.  Dangerous.  It is THAT good and THAT easy. 

You're in trouble.

I was baking.  Specifically I was making some Explosively Good Caramel in the crock pot one day and the label fell off the Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk can.  I looked at the back of the label and it had a recipe for my favorite.  I looked at it, passed it around the house, and got the ingredients.  The recipe went onto the fridge with a magnet and would sit there for more than a year while I muddled how tough it would be to make Toasted Pecans.

Hey, Dummy!  It wasn't that hard!  Go make the damn treat!

Get a non stick skillet.  Heat it to medium.  Number 5 on the electric stove, right in the middle of the heat. 

When warm, dump the Pecans onto the skillet.  No oil, no additives at all.

Stir occasionally so they don't scorch.

When the pecan bits began to bubble a little oil out onto the surface, and some of the nuts had began to change color, pour off into a glass or metal bowl.   The glass or metal will draw out the heat and let them cool quickly.

You're done.

So you wanna make some ice cream?  This is truly, hands down, the Absolute Best Butter Pecan Ice Cream I have EVER had.

Ever.

EVAR!!!!1!

Ever.


Yum.  (Shhh, calm down Beavis!)


Ingredients:

• 2 cups Heavy Cream (Should be as cold as you can get it and have it still liquid)
• 1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk  (Should be cold)
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups Toasted Pecans
• 3 Tablespoons Melted Butter (Room Temperature so you don't shock the cream)
• 1 teaspoon Maple Extract (We omitted this)

Process:

• Whip heavy cream to stiff peaks in stand mixer. 
• Combine sweetened condensed milk, toasted pecans, butter, and Maple Extract in large bowl.
• Mix Well.
• Fold in Whipped Cream.
• Pour into 2 quart container and freeze for 6 hours or until firm.

To toast nuts:

• Place Nuts in Dry Non Stick Skillet heated to Medium.
• Shake the nuts occasionally until lightly brown.
• To avoid overheating remove the nuts to a cooling bowl or plate when done.

Roasting Garlic Needs No Gadgets And Adds Flavor

Who knew it would be so easy?  This is more of a Kitchen Hack than it is a Recipe.

The whole thing in four lines:

• Snip the top off the bulb of garlic.
• Coat the bulb with Olive Oil.
• Wrap the bulb with Aluminum Foil, adding extra Olive Oil before closing the wrap.
• Cook for 30 minutes at 400F or until tender.

That's it.

Now, you know my recipes, there are always back stories and reasons why I do things.

I tried this because it sounded tasty.  That's the simple summary of it all.  Roasted Garlic, done this way, will spread like butter, if a little chunky.  The flavor becomes sweet and not so harsh.  You get the Garlic flavor that your recipes call for but it isn't quite so "violent".

The added sweetness will be welcome when you add it to a Pizza Sauce, since most of the best ones really require that.  Add some to a jarred sauce and tell everyone you made it from scratch.

Yeah.  That's it.  I made it from 'scratch'.

No you can't hear the quotes.  I won't tell.

But seriously that's it.  The garlic was a "throw in" item when I made the chicken pot pie recipe a while back.  Just prepped it and tossed it in on a corner of the cookie sheet.

Yes, really, that easy.

Ok, ok, I'll stop with that, but really even non cooks can do this one.

I wasn't kidding about the pizza sauce either.  I took about a half of the bulb since roasted garlic is more mild than regular garlic, and "smooshed" it into a paste.  Adding the paste to the sauce, I then made a pizza which was noticeably better than the last time I used the same sauce.

If you are doubting me, you can find a pound of garlic in the warehouse stores for about three bucks.  Try one and if you hate it forget that I suggested it.

But you really don't need that expensive one purpose gadget, just some aluminium foil.

Campbell's Chicken Pot Pie Recipe is Easy and Tasty too

I've been on a Pot Pie kick lately.  Mind you, being from the Delaware Valley and Philadelphia region,
apparently we have a different way of doing this.  You folks think that a Pot Pie - chicken, beef, pork, what have you, should be a pastry shell covered with a filling inside that is soupy and savory.

Nope.

In Philly, they make it thick.  It should be roughly a pudding consistency.  It may run out, but slowly.  Think of "regular" yogurt (not the Greek kind), or a good vanilla pudding.  Not solid, but not liquid.  Gelatinous almost.

That's what I wanted.   After getting some of those 95 cent single serving microwave pot pies and being disappointed in them, I decided to make a Proper Pot Pie.

I also wanted a roast chicken dinner that weekend, so we had that first.

You see, the filling in a pot pie should be cooked properly first.  Well done, but tender.   Cooking a roast chicken with stuffing to 165F internal temperature was perfect.

Then after it has been enjoyed, pull off all the meat.  Separate and reserve 2 cups of chicken chunks for the filling then go to the store.

So here is how to go about the rest - easily!   What makes it so easy is that I'm using precooked and already prepared items to make this.  Basically you are "assembling" it more than cooking it!

Like I said, EASY but you do have to head to the supermarket for some items.

You will need some mixed vegetables.  Traditionally it is Carrots, Potatoes, Peas, String Beans, and perhaps Onions.  I found a can of the stuff and thought that would be great.  Mixed Vegetables.  You see, if they aren't precooked, then you may find yourself having crunchy vegetables in your pot pie.  That's never good - so get yourself at around 12 ounces or one can of either frozen or canned mixed vegetables.  Your choice.

Make sure you have 1/2 cup of milk in the house.

Next, find yourself some proper soup for the filling.  The recipe says condensed Cream of Chicken Soup.  You want that to be thick right? It can be fat free if you prefer, and it can also be low sodium.  We went that route since I simply don't prefer a lot of salt in my meal.
Pick up some pre-shredded Cheddar Cheese for the filling.  I always look for the lowest salt in this too, again that is my own preference.  Make sure that it is at least 1 cup in the bag, although most packaged shredded cheese packs are 2 cups.

Finally, since we said easy, we need one box of refrigerated pie crust.  The Pastry kind that comes with two crusts per box.  Making pie crust is really quite easy and takes a little time and care, but this is "bachelor chow" - so easy that anyone can do it.

The preparation of this is a lot more simple than you would think, but you do have to make that pie crust.

Trust me it's just as good the second day.  It's a great way to use up leftovers, and works well with turkey or even tofu if you can find a vegetarian creamed soup and want to experiment.

Per Campbells soup, here is the recipe:

Ingredient list:

• 1 package (about 14 ounces) refrigerated pie crust (2 crusts) at room temperature.
• 1 Can (10 3/4 ounces) of Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup or Condensed Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1/2 cup Milk
• 2 cups cubed cooked chicken - can be canned or leftover.
• 1 package (12 ounces) frozen (or canned) mixed vegetables, thawed.  Carrots, Green Beans, Corn, Peas etc.
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese (about 4 ounces by weight)

Process (Per Campbells):

• Heat oven to 400F.
• Line the bottom of a 9 inch pie plate with one pie crust. Trim excess.
• Stir the soup, milk, chicken, and vegetables in a medium bowl.
• Spoon the chicken mixture into the pie plate.
• Sprinkle with 3/4 cup cheese.
• Place the remaining Pie Crust over the filling.
• Trim any excess.
• Crimp the edges of the top and bottom crusts together.
• Using a sharp knife, cut several slits in the top crust.
• Bake for 35 minutes until the crust is golden brown.
• Sprinkle the crust with the remaining cheese.

Some Helpful Hints on Selecting an HE Washer and Dryer

This is actually the second front loader we have ever had.  

This one is a Bosch Nexxt 700 Series washer, and it's been crowding me out in the laundry room for about 5 years now.

What this blatant boosterism is all about is that my sister asked a question about these things on Facebook.

Quote:  "I'm interested in buying a High Efficiency washer and dryer and I'm wondering if anyone could please let me know if they have one and how do you like it."

Yes, Pat, we like it.  In fact we have been using one here and one before it in Philadelphia since around 1999 plus or minus a couple years.  We won't do without one.

The one I had before it was a Maytag, and while we did have some teething pains until we learned that you have to keep the door open or else you would get mold or mildew in the thing, we have been very happy with them.

My only problem with the ones here is that I'm physically broader at the shoulder than the room we crammed the things into.  But that isn't the washer's problem is it.

When looking for a washer there are quite a few things to look for.

The rubber rings should not be white.  They will discolor in any washer, and if you don't leave the lid shut, you will get mold on them.  Mine are a battleship grey.  Not my favorite color, but a good compromise.

Make sure the washer has a timer on it.  You will be surprised how well you will enjoy being able to load the washer and set it for a timed wash to be ready when you come home from work or when you wake up in the morning.  Nobody likes to twiddle their fingers waiting on a washer that is running on your time.  I can silence my beeper on the washer and set the thing to be done an hour before I wake up if I like.   Usually when I do that, I wake up at that time anyway but that's my own little mental problem.

You will want an extra hot cycle.   My hot water is set for 125F here, that is per the British National Health Service recommendation.  The NHS recommendation means that the water coming out of the tap will be hot enough to sterilize clothing so be careful.  But on top of that my washer will heat the water to "ungodly hot".  Somewhere above 140 if I remember right, although it could be warmer than 160.   Perfect for when you have house guests or little brats staying with you.  You never know what they're going to get into, do you?

I always use HE soap.  That was an education for me.  I had to look for the logo and now I just buy the stuff in bulk at the wholesale store when I have a coupon.  I now have back-stock for about a year of laundries.

You will use less soap and much less water.   I have paid for the washer by now with the savings on both soap and water.  My utility bills dropped immediately by about $25 a month from the old school top loader that was beyond inefficient.   The cups for the detergent are quite small.   You will use about 1/4 cup of soap per load.  I remember being taught to dump about a cup (8 ounces) of soap "back in the day" by Mom when I learned to do my own laundry.

It will be an adjustment because you will have to learn how to load clothes.   A front loader isn't what we grew up with.  If it fits you can wash it.  Don't cram it in, clothes will need "room to dance" but basically if it fits in there without being stuffed full, you should be good.

I wash blankets in my home washer every week.  Clean linens are nice, but sterile linens are something I still notice after all this time.  When our Aunt Betty was still here, she had a big comforter that she was going to take to the laundromat to clean for the "next season".   We took it to our house, tossed it in the washer by itself, set it for ultra hot, and sipped some port wine by the pool.  A rather civilized way to do wash I would say.  But the comforter came out sterile clean.  We all were quite pleased.   You can ask Aunt Betty about that.

Finally, we did get the 10 year warranty.  Since I live in South Florida, the electric power coming into the house is full of power pops and more surges than a menopausal woman.  I lost more desktop computers than I care to count as a result of that, and went over to a laptop as a result years ago.  You will have to decide whether this is good for you or not.  I will say that all the problems we had with ours were in setting the thing up and we put a power filter on the washer, dryer, and the house in general as a result.

I can ramble on about this thing, basically since you didn't ask about a "Specific Model" I am not raving about my washer so much as talking about the technology.  But do your research.  A Bad Washer is a nightmare, and you can avoid that by looking at review sites online.

We're quite happy with ours, can you tell?

LED Lighting at Gables Wilton Park - Picture

You are probably familiar with my favorite view of Miami.   It's actually Miami Beach, but there's a spot just off shore that shows the skyline of Ocean Drive where all those wonderful old Art Deco hotels are lit up.  They show off the colors of the buildings and turn them into a line of wedding cakes standing by the ocean glowing in the evening.  Centered on the Colony Hotel, this is a rather famous view used in many places such as the old Miami Vice TV Show.

Lighting these buildings is a tradition that will begin to show more often in the future.  The reason is that the cost to operate similar lighting installations will get much more cost effective with the advent of LED Lighting.  Being in South Florida, LED Lights also have the benefit of not being visible to Mosquitoes, and nobody wants to draw attention to themselves by those pests.

A typical LED lamp will burn a quarter of the power, on average, than a comparable Incandescent light bulb.   Since they are all considered low power, they may more easily be controlled by computer installations which will allow differing displays based on the whims of the owners.   Color shifting lights, flashing messages, and many more attention grabbing displays will become popular in the future as we learn how to use these lights.

I was considering putting in a line of LED lights under the eaves of my own house when I realized that it would burn less than 20 watts and light the entire front yard.

Large buildings looking for attention would be the more obvious choice for this sort of thing, especially in an Arts and Entertainment district such as our own Wilton Drive.  The largest building collection on the Drive is the Gables complex called Wilton Park.   Gables has a reputation for being forward thinking and when they're here, they're here to improve the cities they choose to place their apartment complexes.

It didn't surprise me when I started seeing changes to the facade of the building.  I didn't know what they were going to put there, but with their reputation, I knew that it would be interesting.

First there showed up a 12 foot-or-so LED tree that graces NE 21st Court overlooking their entrance to the community and visible from Wilton Drive and City Hall.   Now we have the long light strips of white LEDs that are lighting up a diffusing stripe.   They add a touch of class to an already impressive address that we will all appreciate once they are officially turned on.  The additional light on Wilton Drive will serve to enhance the block and the city and make Wilton Park a much more desirable place to open your business.  

"Oh my office is in the Heart of Wilton Manors at the Gables.  Just look for the building with the light stripes!"

These light strips are apparently not "officially" turned on at this moment, but last night on my walk around town, I made it a point to have the camera when I took this picture.   This is only the first or second change to the facade of the building, and there will be more changes since they swapped out the bougainvillea that were there for some smaller plants and installed power drops for future installations. 

They are here to stay and they're making the most of Wilton Drive and Wilton Manors.

Mai Kai Grotto - Picture

When the family comes in from out of town, get off your high horse and do some touristy things.

Here in Fort Lauderdale, there's a One Of A Kind gem of a restaurant called Mai Kai.  It's one of the last few large scale Polynesian themed restaurants in the nation.   They were all over the place in the years after the Second World War, but faded away.  Tastes changed, and it's labor intensive to do it right.

Mai Kai does it right.  Complete with stunning Polynesian dancers in grass skirts.   The food is simply put, amazing.   I have a speed bump on their menu since I always get their Pork Tenderloin - I just can't get past that pork!  I also have a rule that I will not order a meal in a fine restaurant that I can make at home as well as they can.   Their pork melts on my fork which is why I have it.

When Cousin Bill arrived from Nebraska, we were sitting around debating where to go for dinner that night.  We wanted to go somewhere that you just can't find anywhere else and absolutely no chain restaurants.   Mai Kai absolutely fit the bill.  Or the Bills since there were two of us. 

The thing is that when you are in a restaurant that has tropical gardens that are strewn around water features, tiki torches, icons and statues, and a "Chinese Oven" that cooks your food in a wood fired chimney you will want to bring your camera. 

When we go, we always sit outside.   The show is amazing, but the idea of being able to sit next to a waterfall and watch the skies go from blue to black over the palm trees is a rare show that you should not pass up.   It's also much more private since the gardens are not what the place is known for.

It is easy to get obnoxious with a camera.  To get the pictures "right" in low light you really do need a tripod.   On the other hand, since it's dim in there half of the challenge is seeing the scene and setting up the shot.  That makes the actual picture secondary.

After all, your dinner will be waiting once you get back to the table and that is why you came.   Try the pork tenderloin.  It's amazing too.

1000 Published Posts

When asked about this blog, I am most frequently asked why do I write?

Dunno, felt good at the time.
Gives me an outlet for creativity.
I like to share my thoughts.
It helps keep my Sister up to date with what's going on.
I can do my Technical Writing here.
It is entertaining to me.
It can be entertaining to others.

All of the above.

This is my 1000th posting.  That's a lot of writing.

I've done a post a day, every day since September 13th, 2009.  Who knows how long I will keep this up?  Someday my priorities will change, I'll find my time used up by other things.  This typically takes about a half hour a day on average to do.  I don't write every single day since I do tend to post jokes sent to me on Saturday and Sunday.

Since I've never actually gotten paid for any of this writing, I could easily walk away with a shrug.  It wouldn't be the first time that I volunteered for something I found interesting and stayed with it for a long time.  My own personal philosophy is find something you enjoy and look for the long term results.   When I got into inline skating with everyone else back in the 1990s, I continued until I skated 21,000 miles. 

Long term.  Besides I enjoyed that as well.

In any of these round number pat on the back posts, you always have a list.  

Here's my top 10 postings of all time.

1. Gold Medal Flour Extraordinary Biscuits.
2. Morning Rain Brings Barky Showers.
3. Hotmail Annoyance - Turn Off Keyboard Shortcuts.
4. Willie T's Bar Key West Picture.
5. New Post, New Month, Last Picture.
6. Merry Xmas, Here's Your Sign!
7. True Story - 2 Duck Hunters in Wisconsin.
8. Parking Hours Discussed at the City Commission.
9. GFS Marketplace Review.
10. Ikea Poang vs La-z-Boy Barnett Reclina-Rocker Review.

Seems like people like Biscuits, My Dog, are annoyed with Hotmail, Like Willie T's (I've got to go back), Jokes including City Commission, GFS, and my Chairs.

Dannon Oikos Yogurt - Close But Not Greek

Earlier this week, I hit the wholesale club.  I had to buy some of the weird things that I had ran out of that were only available there.  I also had a thick stack of coupons.  $25 worth actually.

One of them was for Yogurt.  I tend to have yogurt on top of dry oatmeal.  Mix it up into a paste and it brings some flavor back to the food. 

Wallpaper paste is not pleasant for long.

I really do like the taste of Activia Vanilla and had a coupon for that - or for Dannon Oikos.  It's the same company.  

Oikos is their attempt to make an Authentic Greek Yogurt.   I think they came close to making third generation Greek yogurt.  In other words, sure, the grandparents might have been Greek, but that kid wasn't really culturally Greek.

Maybe I'm mixing my metaphors.

You see, I prefer a "proper" yogurt.  It should not be a sweet "pudding".  There should be a slightly acid tang to it.  The places you will find that is either in a health food store, if you make it at home, or Greek Yogurt that was... well, imported from Greece.  It is a different process to make Greek Yogurt as we call it here, it basically is strained to thicken it more.  On the other hand, yogurts made in different areas will taste differently just like Sourdough bread made in San Francisco will taste different than bread made from the same culture in a different part of the world.

I don't get the imported kind often, it's a bit too expensive to justify plopping on top of the half cup of dry "Quick Oats" in the morning but when I do, there is that taste I remember.  Thick, very creamy, almost like cream cheese and a nice little bite to let you know you're not eating pudding that was made from a box.

Today I cracked the first of the Oikos open.  Blue and White tub to evoke the Greek Isles, a hint of "classical Greek" art on the wrapper and when you open it a thick plug of creamy goodness floating on top of a layer of black cherries.

Stirring the mix up I stuffed the spoon into my mouth, swirled it around and ... Meh.  So-So.
Try again.... Meh.

Yep, Corporate America has taken another wonderful ethnic food and dumbed it down for the masses.   It was to Greek Yogurt as Mc Donalds is to Hamburgers.  Food, yes, but not as we know it.

I'll finish the pack and we'll go back to the Real Deal, the Fage that we got before when we need a Greek Yogurt.   I'll switch back to the Activia for my oatmeal.  Like I said, they do have an excellent Vanilla!

Why I Will Not Buy Another Bosch Product

Water Heaters are a conceptually simple device. 

Bring water into an area, add heat, and bring it out once it has gotten "hot enough".

We have been building these things for centuries.   First it was called a kettle or cauldron and sat upon a fire in a hearth.  Then someone got the bright idea to containerize the lot and you have the familiar tank that sits in many homes as a result.  They don't necessarily need electricity, but they do need a source of something to produce heat. 

When I moved into this house it had an ancient washing machine, creaky dryer, and a frightening water heater.

The Water Heater used no electricity at all.  I am in a hurricane zone and this would have allowed hot water and comfortable showers assuming that there were actually water being pumped into the house - which I understand is not a given.   It also was rusty and looked as if it would die at "any second".

What went first was the Washing Machine.  This threw a coupling and could be fixed at a cost greater than a new washer.   All the mechanicals were broken as a result of the coupling breaking and left the carpet in the laundry covered by some rather soapy water.

We went out and bought a Bosch front loading washing machine.  The idea was that we'd get the most water and energy efficient machine we could find and save on water and electricity despite the greater cost. 

There was a problem.  Bosch in their wisdom went with a computer controlled washer.  Their programming was typically German Precise.  Perhaps a bit too precise as if you put too much soap into the machine, it will happily rinse out the extra soap for you.  It will do so by running an intermediate rinse - over and again until it determines that the soap is all washed out.  IT also requires this "HE Detergent" which has the benefit of being in big bright colored containers and costs more. 

Once the clothes have been washed, then spun at 1200 RPM and sounding like a distant Jet Engine threatening to fly them off to Boschland or where every flying washing machines go, it leaves them glued to the inside of the drum to be pealed off and put into the dryer.

The dryer seems to work well if you like to come back to a giant ball of clothes that is an illustration of how not to dry clothes.  Dry on the outside you reach the damp or wet center and put them back in.

This is particularly evident on Thursday Mornings.  I should say Afternoons as last week I pulled the bed apart and started the laundry at 6AM.  XXSanitary mode meant it was run through the hottest water I could provide, then heated electrically to something nearer steam, then washed thoroughly.  Over and Over until it is spun down to give me a wet ball of blanket, sheets, and pillowcase.

Needless to say this wretched machine needed a number of extra spin cycles and didn't finish until 12:30 PM.

6 and one half hours of laundry for "one load" of linens.

Then onto the dryer which knowing that it has a penchant for turning things into a progression chart of wet, I put half the linens into then pressed the button.

The Dryer has a helpful time display of 1 hour and 8 minutes allowing me to count down the time until I have to unroll the ball and put them back in for another cycle.

The bed was finally made at 2:30 in the afternoon.  8 and a half hours for one load - two sheets, a pillow case, a light blanket all washed after being "Extra Rinse Foam"ed and spun until a wet sodden blob.

Once those two pieces were replaced we then bought a Bosch AquaStar Water Heater.  Tankless thing, I have a laptop brief case that is smaller than the heater.  Model number ag 250 sx lp

My contempt for this Water Heater knows no bounds.  AVOID this Water Heater!

It saves Propane by turning itself off with a helpful "E0" error code.   We really are not sure what that means, nor is the internet since the going wisdom is to turn it off then back on to reset the code.

I'm hoping for when the Washer launches to BoschLand it takes that bloody tankless water heater with it.  Right out of the wall and off to what ever dump it ends up in.

You see, while it uses on the order of a quarter of the Propane that the old beast of a water tank used, it doesn't stay on when you need it.  Run the dish washer (thankfully a KitchenAid and very dependable and NOT a Bosch Product) and the water heater model ag 250 sx lp turns itself off.  There's that E0 code.

Go take a shower.  It's a crap shoot whether you will complete it without taking a cold shower as it will turn itself off at least twice a week.   So two in every seven showers are a rude surprise.

Today, it was more cantankerous than usual.   Today this beast of a water heater turned off five times in a rushed 10 minute shower.  It took two people to perform the shower.  When the water ran cold, reset the water heater, then jump back in washing what ever body part is needed and quickly because it would run cold again.

E0 anyone?

So my bottom line recommendation is to avoid Bosch Products.  When these go, I will NOT be replacing them with another Bosch Product.  German Precision aside, these things are not "Suitable for Purpose" as we learned.  The Water Heater came with a 12 year warranty which is a good thing since it hasn't worked right since day one.

Kevin is now saying that they have some sort of fix that he can perform with a voltage meter himself.   This should be entertaining, and at least I Know CPR.

Skype the vacation away

A while back, I was consulting for a start up.  Interesting situation, I helped out with some light Web Development and QA for a small group up in Philly and kept it up while I moved here.  The whole time I had a constricting 600 minutes a month on my T-Mobile contract.  The first month here, I blew that out and ended up with a $120 charge instead of my usual $40

We figured out a way to telecommute via Skype, and continued onwards. 

I used Skype to teleconference with people on Windows, Mac, and Linux on every sort of connection from Dial-Up (Yes, people use that still) to cable modem broad band.   It's an amazing piece of software and completely free to use on the web.

I can go deeper into that, but functioning as a CTO/CIO for a start up from here in Wilton Manors while the rest of the organization was around Philadelphia and NYC was amazing experience.  Too bad the organization folded.  The Republican Induced Great Depression that we're going through claimed another Small Business...

Right now, Kevin is up in Philly visiting Mom on vacation.  He's got Skype on his iPhone and an unlimited data contract.  I've got it here on my laptop with built-in web camera. 

We've always played with technology but this is a difference.  With his iPhone 4 and the two cameras on it, we decided to play and go with a video call.

So I was sending and receiving a crystal clear audio stream.  Sound was FM quality, maybe better.   I didn't have my headphones to judge, but Skype on my end blows away any cell phone call I've ever had except when I used Skype on the iPhone to chat with a friend in Key West.

What was amusing was what Kevin did next.  Video.

He was driving through the rolling green southern Pennsylvania countryside sending me "Quarter VGA" video in full speed.  It was blocky and grainy but it was utterly smooth.  We were laughing as he approached Mom's home and knocked on the door.

"Hi Mom, look, Bill's on the Phone in Video"
"Hi Mrs Mom! I bet you didn't expect to be on TV to Florida did you?"
"Hi Bill! No I didn't!"

I was then taken for a tour of a condo that I had been told so much about, saw her Orchids and the view through to the forest (or at least trees) behind the home and all the things that I had recognized from the visits to their home before I had moved to Florida.

The thing is that it's completely free to use it over the web.  They also offer services for a couple dollars a month to allow you to use your Skype Account as a phone with a phone number in the US and other countries. 

Basically we've all got some chat options, but when I find myself able to use Skype, it's what I prefer.   Doing Skype to Skype on two PCs is absolutely smooth. 

Last night I got a video Skype call from my friend in Key West, David. 

The video was full screen, and since we were on a "fast" cable modem connection, the video was better than Standard Def TV.  It may have been equivalent to 720p, I'm not sure, but it was stable as could be.

The thing is we both had older computers with web cams.  Mine is a Core2Duo processor - about 2 years old.  His was a 5 year old Mac Book on an old copy of OSX Leopard. 

You just don't need high end equipment to do something that "The Jetsons" considered normal any more.

Noise Canceling Headphones or Isolation Booth, You Choose

A while back, one of my "finds" was a pair of headphones.  When the List Price was 120, the "refurb" price was originally 60, and you can find them for 16 it's worth buying.   Especially since money is tight and I spend most of my day with headphones on and music in the background.

I picked up a pair of Sony MDR-NC7 headphones, put in the battery, flipped the switch and was immediately impressed.  Noise Canceling was not perfect but for $16 they didn't have to be.  Then I plugged in to the MP3 Player and noticed that I didn't have to run the volume quite as high to get the same effect.  Yes, a pair of noise canceling headphones can actually save your hearing.

For a while, I would walk around the house with the music off because the effect nulled out droning noises like the computers or the air handling units and I was transported from the Noisy Quirky Island of Wilton Manors to the inside of a library.  Once the novelty wore off, I took them for granted and used them like any other pair.  

Not outdoors, because if you were trying to cross the road, you may end up being road pizza.  Just enough silencing to be dangerous.

About two weeks ago, I was given someone's old iPhone 3GS.   Since I don't have ATT or a Data Plan on my cell phone contract, I use the thing like an iPod Touch.   It watches my professional email account, plays music, and allows me to do limited surfing.  Sure, all of that can be done on the laptop, but this slips in my pocket and I can listen to music too pretty much all day if I need to.

That would be one of the drawbacks.   I caught myself listening to this iPhone all day and didn't realize that the iPod applet had a nasty habit of resetting the volume.  I haven't gotten a good idea where it does the reset or why but I'm watching now.  All the sudden its volume slider is "in the middle" where someone at Apple decided it should be and not at 15% where I wanted it, and I'm listening to Armin van Buuren's dreamy trance music a bit louder than I'd prefer.

No, not that "Hey Get Off My Lawn and Turn Down That Noise" kind of volume, but more of a "you are enveloped in A State Of Trance and you can't hear a bloody thing" kind of volume. 

When the washer sounded off it's beeper, I didn't hear it.
When the phone rang, twice, in an hour this morning, I didn't hear it.

Only Armin. 

Or at least until I slipped off the headphones slightly bending over to pick up my cargo shorts after using "The Facilities" and I heard the phone in the other room sing out that I had a message.

Hmmm.... Not one but two I had missed... in 30 minutes.  OOPS!

Ok, I'll be more careful.  The music's back on, I've got on Armin van Buuren again and it's down where I like it, around 15%.

Gees, Mom was right!  I really should turn that damn thing down!

Anyway, the headphones are highly recommended.  You can find a pair for around $16 as a refurb, and if you pay more than $20 come here so I can tell you how you messed up.  The iPhone you'll have to get on your own.  Since it's locked to ATT (at least this one is) when they swallow up my T-Mo, I'll be able to use it there.  For now, it's a pretty good little iPod even if I am forced to use that horrendous iTunes.

Personally, I think iTunes should die a horrible death and I want to do a Dr Johnny Fever with a baseball bat on the source code of that piece of crap, but hey, WKRP in Cincinatti aside, it gets the job done.   Badly.

Why I Stayed with American Express

When someone does something wrong, Tell Them.
When someone does something right, Tell Everyone.

I've said that many times in my life.  Positive reviews on my blog are an illustration of that.  Being a Big Brother type, negative reviews are a warning, but that's a very different story.

We have all gotten used to horrendous support from companies.  The worst seems to be the technical sites like those from computer companies who have decided that in order to pay for upper management's ivory back scratchers, they lay off the US, UK, Canada, Australia or what have you based expert level support for a cheaper support based out of an emerging economy.  Nothing against the tech people in Bangalore, but when I hear That Accent, I have taken to asking them if they can forward me immediately to a US based group.  I have been almost universally sent back here to someone who has been able to give me the highest level of support that I could expect.

I have been a customer of American Express for years.  I have to say that being able to talk to someone who is much better than average is why I have kept the card.  I am talking to someone in the United States who knows what they're doing, and will be willing to do what it takes to make me happy.

Yesterday I broke down and made some Customer Support Service Calls.  I don't like doing that sort of thing, since I have functioned as a Customer Support Manager in a Call Center when I was the Lead Application Manager for a financial package.  I know what these folks go through from both ends. 

I literally wore out my AMEX Blue Card.  The stripe is worn with an even "clear" spot where the many reads of the card had eaten the magnetic stripe away.  The card has a neat dent in it where I took a center punch and a hammer and destroyed the RFID Chip on purpose.  It is now widely becoming known what kind of a "bad technology" RFID is for secure transactions so I won't go through it here. 

The lamination on the card began to peel up and the thing looks a mess. It got so that I was surprised when it would read instead of reject me.  Gas stations were reliable, the rest... nope.

So I called up American Express from the number on the card.  It was smudged so I got out the magnifying glass and turned up the lights and was able to dial out to them and got through to the call center in less than 5 minutes. 

I spoke with Tiffany.   If you are Tiffany I have to say thank you.  If you are Tiffany's Boss, you need to give her a raise or at least a bonus.  Tiffany was ... well, perfect at what she was doing.  We talked about how I had worn out the card, I mentioned that I use it for the vast majority of my purchases, and that she was happy to help me get a new card.

No muss and no fuss. 

As we worked through the security procedures of giving her the old four digit code off the card and other details, at no time did I feel lost or confused.   Everything was amazingly clear and concise.

The order for a new card was placed and she asked me if there was anything else.   This was where I threw my curve ball at her - could I please have a card with no RFID chip in it. 

She wasn't sure and had to check.  I sat on hold for under a minute when she found the information and was able to "Turn Off" the RFID chip. 

I feel better about that.  The report about the whole RFID mess and how you can be "Electronically Pickpocketed" has gone viral.  There are a number of reports on You Tube but this one says it pretty well and even shows how easy it is to do the deed.   When I get my passport, I'll get a foil sleeve and leave the chip alone, but the credit cards have a date with a hammer and a center punch.

According to hackers, you can read an RFID Chip up to 160 feet away.  Around 45 Meters for those who are Foot-and-Inch-Challenged.  Half a football field anyone?

You can see the TV News Report out of a Dallas station on this link here.  At least until it gets pulled.

Anyway once all that happened on the phone, I left Tiffany feeling like everything was done and I forgot about it.  The next morning, 10AM (Now) I am sitting in my chair and I hear the UPS truck drive up.  The friendly driver gave the horn a tap and I went to the door as he got there.  It turned out that American Express sent via UPS Next Day Air a brand spanking new American Express Blue Card.  I now have a new AMEX card with a sticker telling me to please activate it.  From Omaha to me in one night!

So now, I've got a call to make ...

Simple Lemon Pie Recipe and Review

This pie is SO simple that it could become a treasured childhood memory as you make this with your elementary school child.

It is SO simple that someone who "burns water" can make this.

I mean it REALLY is simple.   Three ingredients plus a ready made pie shell and an optional topping.

Here are the ingredients:

1. 1/3 Cup Lemon Juice
2. 8 Ounces Cream Cheese
3. 1 Can (14 ounces) Sweetened Condensed Milk
4. 1 Graham Cracker Pie shell.  

That's all.... Oh how to "cook" this?  That's the beauty of this pie, you don't.

1. Mix together the ingredients in a big bowl until they're smooth.
2. Pour Ingredients into Pie Shell.
3. Chill in refrigerator until set.

Yes, you too can make a pie.

Now here's the review: 

I made this for Thanksgiving.  I was pressed for time after churning butter, making biscuits, cookie dough, lunch and some other things were tossed in the mixed the day before Thanksgiving.  I had some "backup" cakes in the refrigerator that were ready-made so I was safe if this turned out badly.  I wanted quick!

It took me all of 10 minutes and that was because I dawdled.   You can put it all in a blender to make the filling silky smooth.  Next time I will because I used low fat cream cheese and it clumped more than I like. 

I also used Meyer Lemons which are amazingly juicy but a milder flavor than "regular" lemons.  One lemon gave me 1/3 cup juice which is an awful lot in comparison with the "regular" lemons.  I'll use two next time and add a little cornstarch to thicken the mix a little more.

The pie's taste was like a Lemon Cheesecake.  It was rich, tasted like a no bake cheesecake that I've had before.  I will make it again, especially since it was so quick to make. 

The only draw back I found was that since it was a No Bake pie, it wasn't truly "firm".  The texture was a wee bit looser than I personally prefer, but it did set up perfectly.  When my piece was served, it was also warmer since it was sliced and set out on the counter for 30 minutes.  I recommend serving this cold.

Variations include more lemon juice, use lime or another citrus juice, add a meringue topping, add whipped cream, mascarpone cheese, and finally low fat cheese.

Don't forget the Cherry on top!  Enjoy and best of luck!

Crema D'Roma Restaurant On Wilton Drive Review

I finally made it there, and I'm glad I did.

I'm not a true Italian food fan.  I grew up with Mom's Home Made Spaghetti Sauce - a thick Marinara that she'd start cooking on Saturday morning for Sunday Dinner.  She'd start parts of it Saturday, assemble parts into this pot that you could bathe an infant in on Sunday morning, and perfume the house with the thick scent of tomato sauce cooking with garlic, spices, three kinds of meats.  I had it so many times that I got bored with it and stopped eating anything with red sauce in the 80s.

What a fool, I'd kill for some of her sauce now!   My sister had been making this same sauce after Mom died but knowing that I had enough of it, when I came by for a visit, the menu was changed and we didn't have anything even remotely like that. 

Lately, I've been on a search for something that "Tastes Like Home".  The food here is different, not bad, just different.   The bread tends to be a bit too pedestrian for my tastes, although I have not tried one of the local artisan bakeries that I'm friends with on Facebook.  I'm planning on it, I have this craving for a sourdough bread with a thick crunchy crust and I haven't had any decent sourdough since I moved to Florida.

We have a recipe here for a bolognese sauce that is good, but not quite the same.  I don't know what it is, but the sauce wasn't quite "right".  Good but not "right". 

When I sat down at the restaurant I began looking at the menu and noticed that the sandwiches were interesting.  They had a good collection of Paninis and sandwiches and "you could have it on a hoagie roll".  

Note the word "hoagie"... That is originally particular to Philadelphia and the region.  Comes from the sandwiches that the Italian families made when Momma would send Dad to Hog Island in and around the First World War made on a torpedo roll.  People from other places call it a "Torpedo" or a "Zepp".  Wrong.  Sorry, Hoagie.

Linguistics aside, I knew that I had the Real Deal.  I looked deeper and the owner came over and started talking about how we could have anything we wanted on that famed Hoagie Roll and I was intrigued.  Noticing that he had the real ingredients for a Real South Philly Italian Hoagie, I was ready to jump. 

On the other hand, I have a very firm rule.  If the owner of the restaurant chats with you about how great a specific dish, You Must Order That Dish.  He's a fascinating character, in the way this little island is stuffed with People of Character, and he was quite animated and excited... about his Lasagne.  

Describing the love that he put into the sauce, and how he got the Sausage from New York City because it wasn't quite the right spice mix here in South Florida, I was sold.   We talked about that perfect Italian Hoagie and how I wanted to try that some day but not today.   I ordered the lasagne. 

Rom went off to the food prep area and prepared two samples of the sausage, a dark brown meat that promised of the spices of South Philly or Brooklyn or Queens.  He was right, this was truly the best Italian Sweet Sausage that I had had in years.  It was also promised to be throughout the Meat Lasagne in chunks. 

If you're a vegetarian, you can have that variety but you'd miss that garlic and sage taste exploding all over your tongue in warm savory goodness.

He also brought by a basket of bread with some extra virgin olive oil sprinkled on it.  Bread with Olive Oil hasn't been my favorite, until now.  I'm the guy who makes his own unsalted butter to bake with, and bread just has to have butter.  Its traditional, but I'm learning that Rom was right.  This stuff was amazing!

There's a reason for that.  It's not made here.  Not even in Philly or New York.  This bread was made in Tuscany and flown in from Italy.  Yes, I had the Real Deal... Tuscan Ciabatta Bread.   Oh Holy Cow this stuff was good!

The Lasagne arrived, and I had to say to Kevin - this sauce is better than yours!

While his sauce isn't moms, Kevin's sauce is head and shoulders above anything I have had in a restaurant in a very long time. The sauce that Rom has at Crema D'Roma is simply better.   Chunks of Garlic, Tomato and spices and all of it baked with tender Lasagne noodles, cheeses and that amazing sausage.

Go there and try this stuff, it's wonderful.

Next time I go, we decided to try to re-create that South Philly Italian Hoagie.  He "Gets" that stuff.   The place actually has Proscuitto and Soppressatta on the menu in the listed ingredients.  This is the Real Deal.

A Classic Hoagie on a Honest To God Tuscan Ciabatta Roll?  Oh Heck YES!

When you walk by the place,  you'll see the collection of the Gelatis that he has on order, plus the desserts like German Chocolate Cake and a Cannoli that I remember from 7th and Sears in South Philly when I was a kid visiting Grandmom... I'll try the cannoli next time.

Crema D'Roma is at
2150 Wilton Drive
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
954-916-7242

Be sure to say hi to Rom Marchisotto the owner.  Rom will take good care of you.

Why I Didn't Buy Anything at Office Depot

Retail stinks. 

You go into a typically oversized building with typically loud "Mood" music that puts you into a sullen mood, rubbing shoulders with people who are always looking at what you're looking at, and you deal with people who are scraping by at the bottom of the Sales career ladder.

After all, why would someone choose to work in one of those places making a little over minimum wage and have to deal with the general public.  If they were truly GOOD at sales, they would be selling expensive items on commission and be driving a better car than you or I do.  Even in this lousy Republican Induced Great Depression, people NEED things. 

Monday Morning, Yesterday by my watch, I got into Kevin's car and we drove over to Office Depot on Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale.  New store, or at least newly redone, its one of those Big Box stores that we all love... or love to hate.  We were in there for about a half hour from start to finish and in a word I can easily describe the experience.

Indifferent.

I admit, it is a truly hard job to do Retail.  I did it for a while way back when I was in college.  It was fun for a while but it grew tired and I moved on.  I had the good luck to be able to do a job I wanted to do while I didn't actually have to.   Working behind the counter of a Radio Shack in Delran NJ, I got to meet some wonderful people, the customers.  I enjoyed their quirks when they were pleasant, learned how to watch them when they weren't and up to some no-good, and then I got to meet the people from The Home Office.  It gave me an appreciation for just how nasty some people can be and completely blew away any preconceptions I ever had about people from Texas being Nice.  Don't believe it, in those days the Tandy Corporation had some of the meanest people you ever had the misfortune to know and I avoided those stores for years after I left as a result.

But this is today, and that was back in the day...

Office Depot wasn't rude at all.  The Assistant Manager who was working the register was an amazingly nice person and helped us out with courtesy, respect and was genuinely helpful.

I went about my business as Kevin walked around looking for the goodies he needed.  I may not have intended to buy anything that day but I am one of those people who Recommend Purchases.  People look here, ask me directly and on email my opinion of products and if I like something I certainly will tell them. 

I am also very hard to hide in a store.   I am 6'4" and 225 pounds - a wall of a man.  I walk into a building and almost always someone notices.  I guess it is the Big Guy Syndrome, but if you see someone fill a doorway you'll pay attention.  I'm used to looking over things like displays and noticing whether they cleaned back "there" and where the back stock is.  If it's there, I'll find it.

I'm also a technology junkie.  If you are reading this and want me to do an impartial review send me the item and I'll do so but be aware if it is junk I'll say so.   There's this one pair of Noise Canceling Headphones that I want and would really like a pair to review...

Ok, I didn't think so - so enough "hinting".  The Bose ones are mindbendingly effective but at $300, I'll get the Sony MDR-NC7 instead and they're only $29 new at that link.

But that was what I was looking at - AFTER I spent a solid 15 minutes poking and prodding laptop computers.  The majority of the day I sit with one and have people comment that I spend my day on Facebook.  The truth is that I don't, Facebook is logged on, but it sits behind everything in the dust behind the endcap of what ever I am working on in the big box store of my computer.

Fifteen minutes standing in one aisle looking at laptops is a long time.

Fifteen minutes of being walked past by Office Depot uniform shirted employees trying to do their job is an even longer time. 

That's the beef.  I usually strongly dislike being asked my opinion while IN a store or whether I need help but after about 5 minutes of someone standing in one place with a glazed over look of awe at the next newest shiny toy, you would think someone would say something...

They didn't.  In fact one of those Office Depot Uniform Shirted Employees passed so close to me that their elbow brushed my shirt a-little-too roughly and all I got was a grunt - not excuse me just "unh" and the sound of shuffling feet moving quickly away.

I wasn't dressed well, I looked more like a tourist with a t-shirt and cargo shorts on.   I wasn't dressed like the third person in there was, in corporate drag of chinos and a polo shirt.  Maybe the employee, and I am being decidedly vague, thought "He's not buying anything so I don't have to care". 

I don't know but now I'm sitting here writing out a review as to why I will go to another store next time instead of looking at laptops at Office Depot.  Besides, there's a CompUSA just up the block...

Kevin came back, went off to get more goodies so I wandered a little more... now at 15 minutes or more, I'm actively wandering through the store and had to do a dance to get out of the way of Yet-Another-Office-Depot-Uniform-Shirted-Employee with a grunt on their lips.  I DO tend to take up most of the aisle, after all, because I have a 48 inch chest so I try hard NOT to get into people's ways, but don't GRUNT!  That was twice. 

I was wondering whether I'd run into Charlotte and her Web after all that grunting!

I did find the headphones I was looking for.  Sony MDR-NC7.  They're not terribly expensive at $49 at Office Depot - don't get them there you can find them at Best Buy cheaper at $39, and they're online new as of today at $29 and Refurbished for as low as $16. 

I stood there looking at the box on the shelf for a couple minutes not being grunted at and decided that if I was going to pry open my wallet, I'd wait for the next sale on the Refurbished one and do the shopping from my bouncy Poang chair.

Sorry Office Depot, I won't recommend people shop at your stores.  Best Buy for Consumer goods since you can tire kick and actually talk to someone without having to be grunted at and hunt for them.  CompUSA for Computer goods for the same reason.  Both stores have some VERY helpful people and seem to know when to back off.  In Fort Lauderdale, Both stores seem fairly well balanced between Jack Russell Terrier Bouncy Helpful Sales People and Professional Detatchment - if you don't need help thank them and they'll leave you be. 

But Office Depot?  You need some help.

Shoe-Goo Review

Despite sounding like a weird kid's show from the 70s, I'm talking about a product here.  It has a funny name but it works.   Amazingly well.  10 out of 10! what else can I say?

Shoe-Goo is a clear adhesive that comes in a big tube like toothpaste.  Basically this stuff is waterproof when dry, acts like glue and is very durable while in use.   It had been suggested to me back in the 80s for use in giving some favorite sneakers some extra life and it did that too.  Stick a blob of it on the sole of your shoe where your weight wear marks are and the shoes will last longer.   I've used it to coat the heel inside of a pair of sneakers since I tend to wear them out way before the shoes are gone and it helps.

I've also found that Shoe-Goo works better than the normal Vinyl repair kits that supposedly vulcanize a patch to a Vinyl inflatable.   I've been using an inflatable bed for about 3 years now and they really aren't built for that purpose.   Very comfortable but about every other month it springs another leak.  Find the leak, clean off the vinyl, cut a patch to fit and goo up both sides.   I'm good for a while where the patch kit that came with the bed created patches that just didn't work.

I have tried it on various things that need a durable fix, especially since I'm big and tend to break things.   I have used it to waterproof surfaces including electronics since they don't seem to be effected by it and add some heft which may help.   I have an old Wifi "thumbdrive" network card that got broken.  I soldered that back together and used Shoe-Goo to make sure it wouldn't break again.

I only have one complaint.   Shoe-Goo is hard to find.   I have to go out of my way to find an old line hardware store to buy the stuff which I tend to forget which one I bought it at last time out.   As my sister and my partner will tell you, by the time something wears out and I toss it, I've repaired it a couple times, and Shoe-Goo does help.   Now, if I could only remember where that hardware store is, because I'm getting low again!

Shoe-Goo to the rescue!

If you find this interesting, useful or entertaining, feel free to click on an ad.  Heck, even if you don't... You'll make me happy when I look at the stats.  Thanks!

GFS Marketplace Cherry Pie!

Here is that Cherry Pie from the GFS article.   Yum!  Love a good Cherry Pie and GFS sells a wonderful Pie.   Too bad that was long gone huh?  You can't have any because we enjoyed it over four days!   I didn't even have to go to a restaurant to get it.

Those who know me, know I bake, and I bake a lot.   I got started again because the bread down here in South Florida is frankly rather weak and bland.   I'd love to get a fresh Amoroso's Roll, but there's no chance of that.   There are some good Philly Style Pretzels if you know where to get them from Philly Pretzel Heaven, but I've resigned myself to making Challah and Pizza Dough Bread whenever I need it.

It also gives me an excuse to go to GFS for baking supplies, as well as the other markets to be creative.

GFS Marketplace Review

In short, I like the place.   In fact I like it a lot.   I just finished a lunch of their Manicotti and have a Cherry Pie in the oven from GFS.  You will see the pie tomorrow.

I have been a snowbird for years, and finally moved here to South Florida in 2006.   I'd be driving around and would see their location on Federal Highway just south of NE 26th Street and would be intrigued.  That link was the building, behind the 45MPH speed limit sign.   Looking at the building, I had always assumed that it was a Wholesale Club or strictly To The Trade.   I'm glad that when I moved here I had checked it out and was wrong.

GFS Marketplace is here in Florida and through the midwest.   If you are near one, stop on in.  I'm also a member at BJ's Wholesale and was a member at Sam's Club and Costco before returning to BJs Wholesale and GFS as well as filling in the cupboards at other markets like the Publix that is within 1/2 mile walking distance to the house.  These days, to get your best value you don't stick with one traditional Supermarket, you pretty much have to shop around.   I do like Publix, I'm OK with BJ's, disappointed with Costco and Sam's Club, but I'm really quite happy I wandered into GFS.

I knew well of their competition Sysco because when I'd drive down to the Florida Keys, it seems like I'd be constantly trying to pass one of their trucks.   Seems like they have a strong presence down there, to the point where all the restaurants have one of their trucks parked unloading at some time of the morning.   I even wondered why should one even bother paying the prices at the high end restaurants when "All the food comes in on the same truck".  Not exactly a ringing endorsement since I've had some truly horrid meals in the Keys, but it certainly isn't the food service distributor's fault no matter who that distributor happens to be.

I started with Wholesale Clubs back in the 80s when a friend said you can get the commercial strength cleaning supplies and large scale frozen foods that some folks like when they go out to restaurants.   To this day, you still see some people who can't qualify for a commercial account at a larger food wholesaler hauling large flat trolleys of food and drink that will be used for tomorrow's sales at a retail restaurant.

GFS Marketplace allows people like me to walk in off the street and get large flats of Manicotti, Pork, and Chicken for example and load up my freezer with the same thing that the restaurants get.   I've seen GFS trucks at loading bays through the area and I know that the quality of the food those restaurants are getting will be excellent.  The way I know is that I buy it myself and cook it myself.   The cupcake picture from yesterday was baked with GFS's Chocolate Cake mix, some of their store brand chocolate chips, GFS chopped pecans, and icing that was mostly from their store brands and BOY was it good!  I'm also particularly fond of their commercial strength cleaning supplies and their frozen foods.

Past the frozen foods, the Staff at GFS Marketplace in Ft Lauderdale has always been, frankly, Excellent.   They are always engaging, open for questions, and seem genuinely happy to help you.   All too often you walk into a shop and are grumbled at by a surly person and I have never seen anyone at that shop in a bad mood.  Bill The Manager (and ALL of the other managers) there are always going out of their way to help you out and have frequently came over to me and offered free samples (try their Macaroni Salad, its great!) and had a chat.

Prices there are normally better than the local supermarkets for the items they have.   You can shop there but they are not a full service supermarket so you'll find yourself going here and there for odds and ends if you try.

This particular store has just undergone an upgrade and I'm looking forward to seeing it all sort itself out.   I was there this week in the midst of all the insanity, uproar, and boxes lying all over the place, and the folks who were on the crew there working to upgrade were watching out for us.   In fact, one actually asked me what I was looking for from a lift station about 20 feet from the floor while he was working on pipes for the new refrigeration plant.  Now *THAT* is what I call service!

Thanks, GFS, you won me over!  If anyone at Corporate sees this, your South Florida staff is excellent, and I include the folks from the adjoining areas of Hollywood and Miami in that.

(Hello Grand Rapids Readers...)

No Complaints At All!

Rollerblading on Schuylkill River Trail Review

Looking at this picture, its not a very pretty scene is it.   To me that is a view of fun.  What you're looking at is a section of the Schuylkill River Trail in Conshohocken PA.   

This trail runs roughly from the Art Museum in Center City Philadelphia at the Rocky Steps for 22 miles out through Conshohocken, Norristown, and Valley Forge to the Perkiomen Creek Trail in Montgomery County, PA.   I skated that trail for about 10 years, and a total of over 20,000 miles to date.   

The trail is continuous through the length and is a jewel for the region.   I was fortunate enough to be close enough to skate a segment of it whenever I wished.  No cars, few intersections to worry about, very few bad spots with gravel.   This was 22 miles of Black Ice.   There were a few rough spots where there was a sharp incline or a curve, and one hill in particular that was at a railroad style incline for about a mile.  That was my definition of fun, skating down that over 15 miles per hour with some Armin van Buuren "A State of Trance" podcast DJ set running on the head phones on a clear crisp day with little wind.

One of the days when I get back to Philadelphia, my plans are to drive back to my old parking area and skate this section again.   The trails here are nowhere near as long and comprehensive as this.   The best one I've found in Broward County was at Pompano Airpark and that one is only a 5 mile loop.  Every time I get a chance to speak with someone in command of a Parks and Recreation budget I put my two cents in for a "multipurpose asphalt paved trail of a minimum length of a mile".   Why not?  It's worth your life here to try to cross the street on foot let alone on Rollerblades 8 or 10 wheels.