Eating Rant

We are constantly bombarded with propaganda from all sides on what foods are good and what are bad. I'm hardly telling you anything new, it's been going on for decades. 

I remember when we were told that eggs were bad. Then they were good. Then Ok or maybe bad depending on how you chewed or something equally brilliant. I have no earthly idea what iteration we're on now. I'm old enough to remember a bit on Carson (oh so many years ago) where some expert diet group announced their evil and angelic food lists. Pasta was supposed to be a goodie back then. Later not so much. Again, I don't know where the current argument places carbohydrates but I'm betting you can find someone on both sides of the argument with little effort. I'm just too lazy to do any actual research.

The latest I am aware of involves caloric intake. The idea is that restricted diets lead to longer lives. It's science and it's settled with starving monkeys and everything so stop eating so much all you fat bastards! Except when it's not. Great Ghu am I tired of this exercise is Nanny Statism on the part of people who seemingly cannot definitively  answer any food questions except that eating anything that actually tastes good is verbotten. Everything would be fine if only all of you people would just shut up and do what you're told. And forget what we said last week. We have always been at war with Eastasia and X has always been good/bad for you.

I get my diet information primarily from my daughter, The DO, who does do her research. I'm not saying I always (or even usually) take it but I do listen and heed because I know her and trust her. I know she always has my best interests at heart. And that's the difference here. We've seen it in the AGW debate. Scientists have an agenda and it usually doesn't involve your welfare. Food researchers want to make a living just as the climate scientists do. They're very interested in their next paycheck and a broad invocation of the old 'The Food Pyramid is a good rule of thumb and let's just let it go at that' won't get the bureaucrats and stake holders on their feet, throwing great wads of money at you. None of these folks actually has your personal welfare as their number one priority. There's generally a sliding scale of indebtedness and yours truly will invariably be found somewhere near the bottom. I'm not saying don't read and listen but consider the source and ask yourself what their true motivations might be.

Now I'm not one of those guys who complains without offering an opinion. Most emphatically not an educated opinion but still, how much worse could I do? Think 53 years of anecdotal evidence from a man in his late middle age and still going reasonably strong and take it for what it's worth.

We try and eat as fresh as possible. We have canned and boxed and folded/spindled/mutilated items and eat it whenever but I honestly think fresh is better for you. Then again pesticides, so there.
I read an old power-lifter's saw years ago about "it takes beef to build beef" and I followed it when I was lifting heavy. I still think it holds water. I eat a lot of beef. I mean a lot.
I try and limit my sugar intake, mostly because I'm fighting incipient old guy pot belly. Though I do like me some Mountain Dew. The real stuff, not that diet crapola.
I don't eat too late in the evening and I believe in the idea that if you clean your plate only so as to not waste food that food will go to your waist (aren't I clever? I totally stole that from someone but since I also suffer from CRS Syndrome I can't remember who. Let's just pretend it was me Ok?)

That's about it. Other than those things I eat exactly what I want, when I want and in the quantities I want. I ask no permissions nor do I offer any excuses. Beef, chicken, sourdough bread, milk, cold cereal, potatoes, eggs, bacon, pizza and pasta are my basic food groups. Frankly, my eating habits would probably send most nutritionists into instant anal apoplexy. I have no idea what that means I just really liked typing it. Anal Apoplexy. Insert 9 year old boy giggling here. Lu and I fry and scorch and bake and boil and cook with fire. We eat what sounds good at the time and don't really give it a lot of thought. Denial? Maybe, but man is it ever a tasty trip down the river. I may indeed have to pay for my eating habits one day but this is not that day.

And for the food Nazi's out there giving their expertise to a nation that really doesn't seem to want it I have this message. Please leave the opinions out of your findings and just give us the basic facts. If you know something by all means do share. I promise to listen to good science. If you're just guessing or inferring or angling for another fat grant from the government please shut up. You have been exactly 180 degrees wrong so many times now that I have zero confidence that any of you 'experts' are in the game for anything more than a paycheck and self aggrandizement. I know, I know. That sciency stuff is so hard! In the meantime I and others like me will continue to ignore your ignorant and contradictory mouth farts and get our information from sources we trust. Like my daughter.

And we'll probably continue to eat exactly what we want, when we want and in the quantities we want. And if Brigid is cooking I can pretty much guarantee I'll eat myself into a happy food coma with absolutely nary a guilt in sight.

Because I can, that's why.

Now if you'll excuse me I smell something tasty frying.

Six

Bacon, Summer And Angus. A Love Story.

It's gotten hot here. Hundred plus degrees hot. So it's time again for Angus' favorite Summer treat. Bacon Cubes. I've written about them before but I'll put up the recipe again for anyone who missed it the first time.

First. Get some bacon bits. Yes, these are Kirkland brand but I bought them before I knew Costco was run by hippies. I'll have to watch Angus after he eats these lest he suddenly start wearing sandals and carrying a 99 Percenter sign while complaining about the No Pooping In The House policy. 

Pour some water into ice cube trays and add in the bacon bits. I count out each bacon bit individually so as to ensure even distribution throughout the entire tray and avoiding those sad doggy eyes when one of them thinks the other got more bacon in their cube than they did. I hate those eyes. They make me feel like giving the ASPCA my life savings and moving to a mountaintop in New Jersey, there to meditate on the state of man in relation to nature whilst contemplating my collection of navel lint. Naked of course.

Anyway. Place the ice trays into the freezer. This is important now; make sure the freezer is set to Freeze. If it's set to kinda freezy or worse yet, not freezy at all the ice won't set up and the cubes cubes simply won't form and you'll get Soggy Bacon Mush and no one wants that. Well, Angus might but he eats cat poop so what does he know? I usually test my freezer by putting my head in and shutting the door as far as possible. If my hair snaps off after 15 minutes we're good to go. If not it may be time to check your temperature setting or perhaps your stylist. Make sure you're alone for this step as your significant other may take this as an opportunity to ridicule you or otherwise make fun of your gullibility.

When the water has set up you'll get something called an Ice Cube. Don't worry about that, it's just a Frenchy term we gourmet chefs use. Like Horse De Overs and Petity Le Foux Grass. But these Ice Cubes are different because they have bacon in them. See how we did that?

When finished it should look something like this.

I know the recipe is complicated and complex with a confusing number of technical steps and a vast array of ingredients and cookware needed for completion but don't let that put you off. If you follow the recipe exactly as I've laid it out, skipping no steps and paying particular attention to the small details, you too can turn out canine worthy Bacon Cube treats that will be the hit of the play date and the talk of the neighborhood. Except for those neighbors who say hurtful things like "Well, Duh", "That's It!? and "Margaret, call the ambulance, he's finally gone mental." Ignore them, it's just the jealousy talking.

These are your customers and the only ones whose opinions count. And I assure you that you'll be hailed as a conquering hero and slobbered upon incessantly when you bring those babies out. Not in this picture obviously. In this picture the dogs are recovering from a just completed wild celebration of All Things Bacony Cubey and are simply resting, conserving their energy until the next round of We Love Daddy. I swear. Would I lie to you?

Bacon Cubes. Simple treats from a simple mind.

Six

Sunday Kipling. Now With Bacon!

The other day I made the obligatory Costco run. One of the needed items was bacon. Hey, I always need bacon. Whilst perusing the offerings I saw this package. (Note: Like everything else in my life I paid good money for this offering and have received no compensation from Costco or anyone else for this review. Not that I'd turn down a couple of pounds gratis. That's a hint right there Costco.)

It's Costco's store brand bacon. How's it look? I'm glad you asked.

It cooks up nice and has a wonderful aroma. A little mapley with just a hint of smoke.

How's it taste? Fabulous. Mmmmm, bacon. Cost was $10.99 for 4 one pound packages. The Six clan highly recommends it. You're welcome.

With breakfast taken care of it's on to the day. Lu and I will probably rest and recuperate. The kids immediately jumped on their bikes and rode to the playground next to their school. Chrisi apparently has decided that sleep is a good thing on a lazy Sunday morning while Angus is already begging to go out and complaining that he didn't get to go with the kids and What's Up With That? I hope you all have a double helping of bacon kind of a day. Hey we're all neighbors in spirit.
Six

Neighbours

"Beauty Sports"
From "Limits and Renewals" (1932)

The man that is open of heart to his neighbour,
  And stops to consider his likes and dislikes,
His blood shall be wholesome whatever his labour,
  His luck shall be with him whatever he strikes.
The Splendour of Morning shall duly possess him,
  That he may not be sad at the falling of eve.
And, when he has done with mere living--God bless him!--
  A many shall sigh, and one Woman shall grieve! 

But he that is costive of soul toward his fellow,
  Through the ways, and the works, and the woes of this life,
Him food shall not fatten, him drink shall not mellow;
  And his innards shall brew him perpetual strife.
His eye shall be blind to God's Glory above him;
  His ear shall be deaf to Earth's Laughter around;
His Friends and his Club and his Dog shall not love him;
  And his Widow shall skip when he goes underground!