You Know...

Mack Brown makes more money.

Stock It to Me

This ain't becoming no stinkin' food blog, but I must share another trend in my kitchen.

I am trying to recreate the flavorful broth that is the base for the (free bowl of) soup most Thai restaurants serve -- you know, the clear stuff with hunks of chicken and a few small pieces of carrot and green onions. However, I cannot determine the base.

So, when I ran across a photograph on another blog of a bowl of vegetable stock I thought I'd hit pay dirt. I haven't tried it yet, but I will very soon. Like maybe tonight because thinking about it is making me hungry...

I researched recipes for stock -- beef, chicken, fish, vegetable -- and found out that those meat stocks can take up to six hours on the stovetop to come together. Who has six hours to tend some simmering liquid??

I certainly hope the vegetable stock is the right one 'cause it's only supposed to take roughly an hour...keep your fingers crossed. Or, if you know the secret to Thai soup already, pleeeaaase share it!

Birmingham vs. Montgomery

I was asked a question the other night that I could not answer. Imagine that. Rare, huh? So I decided to practice what I preach and investigate why Montgomery is the capital of the state and not Birmingham. Here is what I could discern from all my research, in case you were wondering:

Montgomery was incorporated in 1816. Prior to that time, both banks of the river were inhabited by different Indian tribes. The river's presence allowed Montgomery to be a successful cotton trading town. The state capital was moved to Montgomery in 1846 from Tuscaloosa, a site chosen by the Legislature from several competing river towns. With the installation of the country's first electric rail system, Montgomery experienced a decline in residences in the downtown area, but maintained its presence as capitol of the state.

Birmingham, on the other hand, was not founded until 1871 at the intersection of two rail lines, almost 60 years after Montgomery. An abundant supply of coal, iron ore and limestone allowed the city to become a great industrial center in the South. With industrial growth came the need to sustain workers and their families and so the area grew and thrived. Although it was greatly affected by the Great Depression and almost completely wiped out, today Birmingham is sustained by the medical community associated with UAB and a strong business community.

My feeble attempt at an answer the other night when I was asked the question was on point...you have to look at both cities in a historical context and not what the cities are like today to get an accurate picture of why things are as they are. I wish I could say I really remembered all this from 4th grade Alabama History (Mrs. Hunneyman would be so proud if that were the case), but I cannot. I had to consult the Alabama Department of Archives & History.

Thank You CVS and My PA Friends

It's a good mail day when you're sitting on the sofa watching Food Network and the FedEx man brings a package from CVS with a make-up bag full of products -- shampoo and conditioner, lotion, Biore stuff, makeup brushes and a manicure kit. Sweeeet!

And when I thought it was already the best day ever, the postman brings a package from your friends in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Yes, there were kisses inside. But not just any kisses -- candy cane flavored kisses. They have some varieties up there that we can't find around here.

I just don't deserve it! Really, I wasn't that good last year.

Lights & Fire & Violins, Oh My!

Never really understood what a rock opera was until today. Still not sure I completely understand the whole concept, but Trans-Siberian Orchestra put on one heck of a show this afternoon.

They had lots of lights and lifts on stage...

Lasers...

Ladies in short skirts singing...

Fire...

An awesome female violinist on a floating stage...

A bunch of braniacs running the show from their computers...

And some goobers in the audience...

Rock on!

Tebow Cam

In case you missed it, for the Sugar Bowl coverage, some genius had the bright idea to institute a Tebow Cam. I thought we were going to get to watch the game from a helmet mounted camera worn by Tim Tebow (some of you are wondering who he is and I am wondering where you have been for the last four years...but just for you, through yesterday he was quarterback at Florida). But instead, the Tebow Cam was a camera devoted to following every step Tebow made. Every move, every throw, every high five or chest bump, even every step he took when a commercial was on television. Genius I say!


But a clear indication of the market that was targeted was the commercial you had to watch to see the Tebow Cam in action. It was an advertisement for Olay Ribbons Body Wash. I guess they figured anyone who was actually watching the game for the game itself was watching it on television. I'm gonna have a hard time believing they were hoping to sell super moisturizing body wash to diehard male Gator fans.

And for the record, someone needs to tell Riley Cooper (Tebow's good buddy and roommate and teammate) to get a haircut. He looks like he is stuck in the 80s with that parted down the middle, feathered back do. Please, Tebow, walk away from Riley. Too much (hair)do for the Tebow Cam.

New Year's Goals

I have decided not to make a new year's resolution for 2010. Why? Or, who really cares, right? Here's why: a resolution is a firm determination to do something. There is no definite action required to make such a resolution. Just do it. Or not. And the not is usually more likely to be the case. Oh, we all start off well enough. But by the time spring rolls around, we've long been off whatever wagon we climbed onto at the new year's beginning.

Let's set goals instead. I mean, a goal is the end toward which effort is directed. So why not set a goal and actually work toward it? 'Cause by choosing a goal, you know there has to be a concerted effort on your part to actually accomplish something.

I'm going to set the example and you jump onboard anytime you like. Just don't rock my boat and get me off track, 'kay? Here are my goals for 2010:

1) Finish Christmas stockings for Kevin and Madalyn. This is a big deal at our house, and I have put off finishing both for ten years...can you believe it? This will be the year. Those of you who like to give me heck about it, you just wait and see.

2) Learn to make Tyler Florence's Chicken Paillard. Who doesn't need a good paillard in their arsenal??

3) Go sky diving or Rocky Mountain climbing or bull riding on Fu Manchu. And sell you a sweet parcel of land on the Gulf Coast that is guaranteed to be hurricane proof. Come on, can't I stop at two goals? You can't imagine how hard I am going to have to work at those two.

Anyway, best wishes for a healthy and prosperous new year!