Open Thread – One Down, 364 to Go.
2 01 2010Well, 2010 has begun. The day had a less than auspicious beginning when I discovered that I was totally out of coffee, and was ultimately (after much wailing and rending of garments) forced to use yesterdays coffee grounds, still in the machine, to brew up a pot. I was not impressed. Let’s just say I would prefer a pot of coffee I can’t read a newspaper through.
But despite that, it was a great day. And to make up for the less than stellar morning beverage, I decided this evening to Go Rogue.
That delicious treat was a little present from Spouse acquired on a business trip and smuggled into the house! Gotta love it. And it’s WAY better than the other Rogue.
Hope everyone began the year well. Enjoy the open thread!
January 2nd, 2010 at 11:06 AM
So pleased that you were able to make up for the coffee with a treat from Oregon!
January 2nd, 2010 at 11:32 AM
I own 4 espresso shops in Alaska, so I know a little bit about coffee and have sampled the liquid gold in every shape and form from all over the world. The finest coffee I have tasted anywhere is actually roasted in Alaska and can be found at ravensbrew dot com. Not only is the coffee amazing (try the Pearls French Roast if you really want to wake up or the Resurrection Blend for what I think is the best cup of coffee you can find anywhere) but it also has a true Alaska flair to it. All of the artwork for the coffee is done by a very famous artist up here named Ray Troll and each bag has a unique story to tell
Ha! Yes, the organic version of the French Roast is my favorite, and the one I tried the second pass on the grounds. I wholeheartedly agree with your analysis. :0) AKM
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Will gross you out.. but oh welly
So I also leave a few cups of coffee left in my pot… for that just in case moment.
If I do not have any more coffee.. rather than nuke or reheat (but good idears!) .. this is what I do
sorry.. but
I just pour the pot back in the coffee maker (where you should be putting fresh clean water!) … leave the old grinds where they are and just press on
It comes out hot .. a wee stronger … not bad
One thing.. when leaving extra cups in the pot… just make sure you turn the burner off so that coffee doesn’t sit there for long.. you will get that nasty burned taste.
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:12 PM
For those of you who like to partake of the vino… I will share a little bit of my experience with you. ( especially if you like the Reds )
I worked for a Wine Distributor as a salesman back in the late 70’s, early 80’s.
One of the companies we represented was “Bolla” wines and we had a Holiday party where they foot the bill at a nice Italian restaurant for reaching a sales goal. They felt that if we were going to sell and represent them… we needed to know their whole product line. Even the higher priced wines which might be for a special occasion.
( the typical line price at the time was about $ 4.49/bottle- these sold easily)
They had the restaurant open a few bottles of Bolla ” Amarone ” so we could taste it. This was in the $25-$35 back in the 70’s. Comparable to a nice CA Cabernet Sauvignon in price…. and the taste was just soooooo fine. Mmmm!!
Now… continue to support our CA wineries but if you want something different sometime for variety… try this type of wine. If you have never tried it… don’t experiment for the first time at a restaurant. Typical mark-up on the wine list is about 100%. Buy a bottle retail at some beverage store to see if you like it. Then you might might order it at a nice Italian restaurant at a later time for something special.
FYI: Amarone is made from some of the same grape variety blend as your typical Valpolicella region wines which are made to be drunk young and fresh. Amarone is aged in barrels like you would a Cabernet Sauvignon so it compares to a Cabernet. ( quote from webpage below )
“Valpolicella is a medium-weight wine meant for consumption with lighter fare with in its first 3-5 years, Amarone is a much more robust wine that is perfect with game birds or other such sturdy fare over the course of 7 to 15 years. ”
http://www.wineloverspage.com/italwineguide/amarone.phtml
That website is also advertising a CA wine map on the top if you want to see where some of the wineries are located. Look it over… with a nice glass of wine.
Cheers!!
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:14 PM
I’ve never developed a taste for blue cheese but these photos make me wish I did or could ! ( However, I desire one of those crackers, please) Ottoline @3 – Rogue Roque cracked me up.
Boodog @35 – I’ll remember to ask for tea if ever visiting, just in case!
SMR @37 – I was also going to post about the Keurig and I join you in high-fives . I only drink 4-5 cups a week but really do love when it’s a good one . I have a french press that I like very much but it’s such a pain to clean. The Keurig is great because it gives you so many choices, there is no clean up, and really – it’s just a great cuppa coffee. ( SMR, LiladyNY & I receive no compensation from Keurig for our accolades. However, some of us may indeed be on the Obama Admin payroll. But that is entirely different!)
Buffalo & WNY folks – Here’s hoping our region moves on to a new level in 2010.
KateinMT@45 – My son was here today and told story of being the only one at the party with a bottle of good champagne instead of a bottle of Canadian beer. I’m not sure it worked in his favor after the fact but I chuckled at the image, especially because there was a pool table involved.
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:22 PM
As per my earlier post just above…( about Amarone ) here is another website with FYI info and some do’s and don’ts.
———————
“One of the most beloved and famed Italian wines, Amarone is big, rich, dark and dry, and will knock you over (in a good way) with its full bodied-flavors. Once you try Amarone, it will be love at first sip.”
http://www.ehow.com/how_2064194_pick-amarone-wine.html
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:31 PM
A day without coffee is like a day with s’error palin. It’s painful but us coffee nuts manage to get thru it.
The only thing I got more of for this xmas than s’error palin stuff is coffee. 8 lb of beans.
As for wine, I gave away over 20 bottles of pennsyltucky’s finest to various relatives living in other states. Of course, due to pennsyltucky’s stupid wine laws, the relatives only get to collect if they stop by the house.
I heard there’s a Harrison Vineyards somewhere in the Russian River Valley of CA. Anyone ever hear of them or know what purveyor uses their grapes in wine? Perhaps they make their own but label it under a different name?? I’ve heard their offerings are supposed to be really good.
The Three Blind Moose label follows a recent trend used by numerous “new” wine makers: unique and clever names. Two Red Bicycles, Red Truck, Blue Truck, Humping Dogs (a pennsyltucky niagra), and a number of Aussie brands follow this trend. Used to be that german reislings and Blue Nun (a terrible wine) were the only clever names out there. Not anymore. TBM Merlot is decent but I will never again buy their savignon blanc.
AKM… if you need some fresh coffee beans sent your way, just leave the particulars in my email. I promise it will not be Starbucks.
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:40 PM
My favorite red is Adelsheim’s Pinot Noir. It’s made in Oregon – the vineyard is surrounded by hazelnut farms -I’m sure the hazelnuts (filberts) add the body I like to the wine.
Adelsheim’s Pinot Grigio is pretty good, too, costs about half as much as the Noir.
I also like Gnarly Vine red.
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:43 PM
liLadyNY… I bought a bottle of Three Blind Moose Merlot for a Christmas Eve open house party I went to! GMTA
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:54 PM
#27 Cronopio Says: January 2nd, 2010 at 8:32 AM …my dad swears no one can tell the difference … he also thinks Scarah would make a fine president…
*******
Wacko!! My dad reuses grounds and is a Palin Rebublican!!
AKM: It’s a slippery slope – watch out – reusing grounds then voting for Palin!!
Ohhh Noooooooo!
January 2nd, 2010 at 1:17 PM
My dad passed away 3 years ago and he might not have liked President Obama but he would never have voted for mcCain/palin/never and to his dying day he did not believe we had a man walk on the moon.He thought it was all filmed in the west. LOL I know a lot of the elderly thought that. 30 below and I thought 15 was cold which is what we have right now.
January 2nd, 2010 at 1:51 PM
Hawk @50: I love Ray Troll! (I’ve even bought 2 of his tee shirts to give as gifts, but ended-up keeping one for myself!)
Gonna hafta’ check out that coffee now….
January 2nd, 2010 at 1:51 PM
Drinking coffee (my second pot) right now with some sharp cheddar and a great little sourdough boulet I found for $1.64 at the chain grocery, of all places! Sorry, AKM! But hope you got to the store. Your blue cheese (fond of the dressing, not the cheese by itself) reminds me of the limburger my dad used to eat over 50 yrs ago. Talk about stinking up the entire refrig!
BTW, if you like a slightly sweet, very fruity wine, you should try the muscadine and scuppernong wines from NC, among others types. One brand even puts out a “Christmas” wine. NC is developing a pretty good variety of small vineyards in this area; even Biltmore House has a line of wines, also low cost for the most part.
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:22 PM
#57 @R’ipley in CT
GMTA indeed. LOL
I haven’t had the Cabernet, but I really like their Merlot.
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:30 PM
OMG. I heard this on NPR today (Wait. Wait. Don’t tell me). It is hysterical.
Enjoy,
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=122098268&m=122098236
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:39 PM
@boodog, no I haven’t tried Stella’s, but I’m not in Seattle that often. Oldest daughter and I stumbled on an internet coffee shop in Capitol Hill though. Very cool, and the coffee (mocha) was tasty, especially on a cold blustery day.
Now, back to Kansas basketball. Ah, tis my favorite sports season, finally.
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:51 PM
LiLady, that was the funniest thing yet on Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me. I love that program anyway, but that was priceless, beginning to end. Thanks for the link – I had missed that one.
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:59 PM
That NPR piece is priceless. My favorite line….. Sara Palin speaks as if she is narrating her own acid trip. Hilarious!
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:22 PM
I’m poking around on Wordpress, trying to change my avatar photo. I found this old quote someone posted from HuffPo. It’s so funny I had to share.
“The McCain/Palin campaign and the GOP is one big car wreck and Palin is the hub cap that’s still rolling down the street”.
January 2nd, 2010 at 3:36 PM
Take a fork and mash together a block of blue cheese + a block of cream cheese, spread it into celery sticks. Nummers!
January 2nd, 2010 at 4:14 PM
Cronopio @ #18 — Do you own a hammer & a few thicknesses of paper or plastic bags? Grinder, shminder. I haven’t drunk coffee in years (still enjoy the aroma); white jasmine tea is my (mild) caffeine source. Happy 2010 to all. C U in chat.
January 2nd, 2010 at 4:31 PM
I have this feeling, someone else mentioned it upthread……it’s been 3 days of quiet on the Crazy Woman front. You know how a volcano gathers its steam before the big blow?
Just a feeling.
January 2nd, 2010 at 4:43 PM
LiladyNY, that NPR link was hilarious! LMAO! I always enjoy that show, but haven’t listened to it in awhile.
For a very smooth and cheap Merlot – try Sutter Home. Beats most of the more expensive brands. It is my wife’s favorite. When I waited tables I was more into wine. Now I prefer having a Mexican beer.
January 2nd, 2010 at 4:48 PM
LilLadyNY..oh how choice..I had missed that! Many thanks.
January 2nd, 2010 at 4:50 PM
@ #50 hawk
LOVE the Ray Troll art – Tshirts & Coffee Covers!
Favorite: something about a three-pecker billy goat
January 2nd, 2010 at 4:54 PM
Perhaps at some point one of the moderators can go read the submissions for the I heart mudflats posts? I submitted one over a week ago. Pretty soon it will be so far after Christmas that the post will be pointless.
I submitted the full post plus I requested a temporary account to do the posting myself. Haven’t heard a thing either way.
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:01 PM
Seagull -
Kinda quiet huh ?? Ricky Reese didn’t come thru with the party favors for all of Wasilla. Shooters is walking distance to Casa de Palin.
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=11754814
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:30 PM
Look @AKM’s twitter >>>>
Go to the link – political carnival
January 2nd, 2010 at 6:06 PM
Grandma68@61 Says:BTW, if you like a slightly sweet, very fruity wine, you should try the muscadine and scuppernong wines from NC, among others types. One brand even puts out a “Christmas” wine. NC is developing a pretty good variety of small vineyards in this area; even Biltmore House has a line of wines, also low cost for the most part.
* ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** * ** *
Ditto on the muscadine grape wines. San Sebastian Winery (St. Augustine Fla) makes several blends with them. Different but nicely different.
Also, gotta visit the Saint Augustine if you are anywhere near it in Florida. Charming, historic, lots of places to walk around, beaches if you want them …. oh yeah, and the winery with a free (as I recall) wine tasting!
January 2nd, 2010 at 6:26 PM
Thanks to Kelly, Jennifer and Belynda. My donorschoose project is funded!
I know at least one of you hangs out on this blog.
I’m not sure when the books will arrive, but shortly thereafter my students will be reading all three and voting on their favorite.
And to think, in 2012 they’ll be voting for president.
Start them young.