Surly's Soap Box

Pork Loin with Ginger Peach Glaze

First, you really need to get one of these:




Cooking to temperature guarantees cooked to perfection. If you don't have a digital meat thermometer, it's worth the investment ($15.00 on up).

If you really want to be cool, you can get on of these.

On with the recipe:

1 3 1/2-4lb Center Cut Pork Loin (not tenderloin)
5-6 sprigs of fresh thyme. You can use a tablespoon of dried, but fresh is preferred.
1 tablespoon chopped garlic. If that's too much garlic, cut it down to 3 teaspoons.
olive oil
salt and pepper
1 teaspoon butter
2 teaspoon chopped garlic
2 cups (1 jar) Peach preserves
2 teaspoon dried, powdered ginger
2 teaspoon soy sauce


Preheat oven to 425°

1. Rub the loin with salt, pepper, thyme, and olive oil. Salt is really hard to judge because everyone's taste is different, so you kind of have to use your experience. I'd say 2 good healthy pinches, or a teaspoon. The olive oil is necessary to 'pull' the flavor into the meat.

2. If you have a roasting pan with a rack, place loin on rack fat side up. You want to cut (score) through the fat cap about a quarter of an inch so the fat, along with salt, pepper, and other seasonings, can penetrate into the meat. Think 'crosshatch', about an inch apart. Place meat thermometer probe into the thickest part of roast and set the alarm for 150°

3. Once roast is in the oven, heat the butter in a sauce pan over medium heat. Once the butter is foaming, turn down to medium low and add the garlic. Cook until tender, about 5 minutes. If the garlic starts spiting or popping, just take the pan off the stove and left it cool for a couple seconds.

4. Once the garlic is done, add the rest of the ingredients. Once the preserves are bubbling, turn down the heat to low. Preserves pack a lot of sugar, sugar burns easily, so be careful not to burn it.

5. When the buzzer goes off, brush glaze onto the pork loin. Use about a third of it because you want to use some for sauce. No brush? Just spoon it on. Back in to the oven for 5 minutes. At 425°, it should caramelize (crust up) pretty good.

Pull it out, cover with foil and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. This lets the juices redistribute and temperature even out. Buy the time it's done, the internal temp will be about 160°. Don't remove the probe until you are ready to carve.

Serve with a caramelized leek mashed potato (Recipe coming soon) or mashed sweet potatoes (I guess I can give up a recipe for that as well sometime.)

Wine? Go for a Chardonnay, like Frei Brothers.


Food
Wine
Recipes

It's pretty obvious who made the Bastard Report this week:


Hillary
Iran and Syria
Jimmy Carter

Let's see...

T-Bones... *check*
Charcoal... *check*
Opinion section from the Red Star Tribune...*check*

The opinion section burns pretty quick because there is nothing of substance in it, so I'd better add some paper from the old classifieds.

Yup, grilled some steaks tonight. No particular reason, just happened to have some in the freezer, and it was a good excuse to buy a bottle of wine. Rodney Strong 2002 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon, in fact.

It was a pretty good wine paired up with a salt/garlic/pepper encrusted t-bone. Note to the buyer: This is one you want to open and let breath for at least a half hour. I think I would recommend decanting it, though I didn't. I just kept the wine moving in my glass, and the tannins mellowed quite well.

Tannins are that oaky, dry taste. Some wines, like classic chardonnay, are aged in oak, and the flavor is part of the character of the wine. In other wines, like what most people can afford, the wine is actually aged in plastic barrels, and the tannins come from the stems attached to the grapes. Yes, they toss the whole bunch in there, not just the grapes. The tossing in of the stems is something they do every were, so don't feel your getting ripped off.

Like hops in beer, tannins in wine are a natural preservative. The more tannins, the longer it takes a wine to mature. Reds traditionally have more tannins, so they generally take 3-5 years to mature, while whites are 1-3. Some people who collect wine get into those special bottles that sit on the shelf for years, but if you are just a casual drinker, looking to drink the bottle the night you buy it, good news: The wine at the local liquor store is ready to drink when it hits the shelf. If you buy in bulk, by the case or are part of a wine club, they while give you advise on the proper storage.

On a more personal note (now I'm checking to see if people really read my blog), I have been rather, err, surly lately. I am surprised at how viciously I went after the Muslims in my posts the last few days. Whether Islam is a evil religion or if there are a lot of evil people in Islam is a question people more qualified than I are trying to answer these days, and my responding in the same sort of anger that they are acting in solves nothing.

Religiously, I, as a Christian, disagree with Islam. I believe that the followers of Islam are misled, that Allah is a false god, and that they need Jesus. I can't reach out to them with rocks, stones, and vicious words. Their actions in the world today are hardening peoples hearts against Islam; I don't want my actions to harden a Muslims heart against Jesus. I have two Iraqi families living across the alley from me. I don't lie awake at night fearing for my life. I don't feel stares of hate coming from them. My daughter has even played with their kids. I'd trust the teens to baby sit. How can I so easily divorce my perception of reality from my experience? My experience shows a loving family caring for their kids, grilling out on their deck. I've seen the husband sneak a beer and smoke a cigarette while I was puffing on a stogie and flipping burgers. I'm confident an adult beverage was at hand.

Today, I was driving through North Minneapolis and happened to drive by a mosque. Nothing special, looked like an old store front. Like everything else in the neighborhood, the building looked run down. In the parking lot, up close to the building, was the classic-oil-barrel-turned-BBQ-grill-on-wheels. Similar to ones I've made and used over the years.

There is common ground here. While we live in a society where walls are erected as quickly as we can take a look at someone, we all have to eat. In my catering business, I go out of my way to respect the religious requirements of my customers. No pork, no mushrooms, true vegan dishes: I don't want to anyone to stumble because of my carelessness, or even malice. But we all have to eat.

Maybe this spring, I'll toss leg of lamb on the grill and have the neighbors over. True society is formed over food. Friendships as well. We'll just have to see what happens.


Christianity,Cooking,Food,Islam

Okay. I get a little worked up. The Muslims swarming into the streets, burning cars and buildings, killing people, it just drives me nuts. Don't they have jobs?

**breath**

**relax**

Alright.

Captain Ed points to a blog called "We Are Sorry", set up to apologize for the "Cartoon Mayhem".

Opening Statement:

"In the middle of all the mayhem surrounding the Danish cartoons controversy, a group of Arab and Muslim youth have set up this website to express their honest opinion, as a small attempt to show the world that the images shown of Arab and Muslim anger around the world are not representative of the opinions of all Arabs. We whole-heartedly apologize to the people of Denmark, Norway and all the European Union over the actions of a few, and we completely condemn all forms of vandalism and incitement to violence that the Arab and Muslim world have witnessed. We hope that this sad episode will not tarnish the great friendship that our peoples have fostered over decades."

Further down the page:

"When confronted with such a situation, we deplore the use of violence in all its forms, as well as threats of violence and derogatory and racist remarks being thrown in the opposite direction. We condemn the shameful actions carried out by a few Arabs and Muslims around the world that have tarnished our image, and presented us as intolerant and close-minded bigots." (italics mine)

Good. It's a start. Someone is trying to make headway. A moderate voice perhaps. They make other points, such as the paper that published these cartoons have a history of goading people. I'll give them that. They also make a point that the media tends to focus on extremist, and they get the air time. Looking at our own media and seeing the fruit cakes they parade out as representatives of our society, I see they're point. But where is the outrage? Why isn't the Islamic world 'up in arms' to stop this sort of radical behavior?

The comment section raised some good points, some pro, some con:

From

"Sorry, but I don't believe a word of it. When I see ALL of you rise to the streets and supress what you deem as a "few" radicals who have hijacked (no pun intended) your religion, I'll believe it. And I mean all three BILLION plus of you worldwide. Otherwise you are as responsible and as cowardly as the people you claim to distance yourself from. Another people learned this back in the 1930's. They silently stood by while madmen took over their country. Millions of innocents died back then because their people stood by and did nothing. Where are your leaders standing up and speaking out? Where are your clerics? Where are your millions of citizens taking to the streets and speaking out? Nowhere is the correct answer. Because Muslims are simply manipulating the world media to achieve your goals. Apologize my arse. When I see the above mentioned I'll take your apology seriously.

You Muslims started this war officially on 9-11. I suggest you rise up and deal with these people you deem radical and quickly. Otherwise be warned. You started this, but we sure as hell will."

And this:

"Nice to see moderate Muslims trying to be sensible. However, it's my feeling that moderate Muslims are becoming an ever smaller group. You guys better get that radical side of your religion under control and soon. The whole non Muslim world is slowly turning against Muslims because of the violence preached and perpetrated by Muslims."

And of course someone who doesn't even try to get the facts straight:

"it's good to see that someone can put things in perspective and realize that some christian fanatics in a magazine no one in norway have heard of does not represent the view of all citizens in this country, and that some jokemaker in denmark tried to be funny(he did not succeed though, the jokes sucked) and didnt(at least i think he didn't) know that drawing the prophet was some kind of horrible thing to do, as Jesus have been in jokes "forever". Anyway, i think people should leave the judgement for this jokes up to their respective god to make judgement over, and not to take things in their own hand, and start violent behaviour, which really makes things a lot harder for muslims all over the world, and especially in europe.

hopefully the majority of muslims understand that this was a harmless joke( and i really think they do, to bad some rotten apples destroys for the whole bunch(that goes for christian fanatics as well))"

I would have put links to their individual sites but they changed their guest book format as I was writing this.

There are a lot of people saying the same thing: The moderates need to step up to bat. Like the one commenter said, "You guys better get that radical side of your religion under control and soon. The whole non Muslim world is slowly turning against Muslims because of the violence preached and perpetrated by Muslims."

As for me, I'm laying off commenting on anything muslim for a while. I get too worked up. I get angry. I try to put the people in the streets in the context of criminals that need to be dealt with, but the more I look into it, the more I see their preachers as the instigators and the governments as the sponsors. It's a culture/religion in need of reformation, and it will undoubtedly be a bloody one.

I think I'll find some leftie-kook "social justice" commies to go after.



Current Affairs,Islam,Middle East,News and Politics

There is so much info out there on the Mohammad cartoon thing. Some of it really makes me angry because it really shows what we are dealing with here: Religious fanatics intent on destroying the free world. There is no other way to look at it.
This is not about misunderstanding or insensitivity.
This is not about poverty.
There are people at work whose intent is to, once again, destroy the free world. Like this guy (from Gateway Pundit):

Imam Ahmad Abu Laban, the man behind this whole Danish cartoon controversy, not only faked obscene cartoons on his trip to the Middle East, but also:

* Entertained the "Blind Sheikh" behind the first World Trade Center attacks
* Praised Osma Bin Laden after 9-11 Attacks
* Preached he "Shed no tears" after 9-11 Attacks
* Accused of giving Political support to Osama bin Laden's network
* Accused of giving Financial support to Osama bin Laden's network
* Joined with 225 Islamic Radicals to form Global Jihadist Group in 2003
* Said that Theo van Gogh - "Had it coming!"
* Called on his flock to Give Their Lives to Global Jihad for Palestinians
* Met with Sheikh Qaradawi in Saudi Arabia who has legalized the murder of American soldiers in Iraq

Imam Ahmad Abu Laban, the leader of the Islamic Society of Denmark toured the Middle-East to "create awareness" about the 12 cartoons that were published in Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, on September 30, 2005...

See, the original dozen cartoons that were published weren't quite provocative enough, so he came up with three others that were, well, disgusting. I won't print them here because it's not necessary. You can find them on other sites if you are committed to seeing them.

There is only one reason to do something like that: To cause trouble. This man is listened to in the muslim world. And they need to deal with him. Infact, if he did come up with these pictures on his own, he should meet the end he has prescribed for others.


Current Affairs,Islam,Middle East,News and Politics

What do you call someone running down the street with a Molotov cocktail? A target!

Unless they are in Europe and the Middle East. Then they are protesters to be feared. They are to be listened to and respected. Europe is in the midst of a revolutionary war, or perhaps a civil war, with a group of people to whom boundaries and borders mean nothing.

Months back, they let the Muslims rioted for weeks. Unanswered rioting. Rioting with out consequence because a criminal got himself killed. Millions and millions of dollars in property damage later, the smoldering wick of violence gets another breath of air with a bunch of silly cartoons in a Danish paper. Cartoons like this:





Yes. I can see the need for burning Europe and destroy embassies in Syria. Here is the entire collection:



I'll probably be on somebodies hit list now.

If so, I might as well go all the way. Listen here you backwards eighth century lunatics: Don't try this stuff in my backyard. Don't pull this crap in my city. I am a free American, a United States citizen, a veteran, a husband and father. I have a right to protect myself and my family, and I will. You may burn my house and my car, but you will be tripping over the bodies of the people who went before you. You have the right to practice your religion, even share it with others here, and even if I don't agree with it, as an American, I respect your right.

You have a right to peaceful assembly. You can march through the streets, even wave anti-american banners, but if you light a match, watch out. You may be the one getting burned.

The Europeans aren't going to make a stand against these people, and I am afraid that we will one day have this sort of violence here on our streets. My point is this: Once they cross the line from being a protester to criminal, there should be swift action and dire consequences.

Remember the riots in LA? Let's not allow that to happen again.

Update:It's closer than you think:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States backed Muslims on Friday against European newspapers that printed caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad in a move that could help America's battered image in the Islamic world.

Inserting itself into a dispute that has become a lightning rod for anti-European sentiment across the Muslim world, the United States sided with Muslims outraged that the publications put press freedom over respect for religion.

"These cartoons are indeed offensive to the belief of Muslims," State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said in answer to a question.

"We all fully recognize and respect freedom of the press and expression but it must be coupled with press responsibility. Inciting religious or ethnic hatreds in this manner is not acceptable."

Yup. It's only a matter of time before the sh@t hits the fan here in the US because somebody says the wrong thing in the wrong place, and the Nanny State will run to coddle the "offended", hand them the key to the city, and give them a book of matches.

The only thing that could make it funny is if Jullian Bond or Harry Belafonte are the ones to say it. Or Mama Sheehan.

Middle East, News and Politics, Current Affairs, Islam

Before I get to what a 3-year-old buy's for mom's birthday, let me just interject that, whilst Dave had a bummer of an evening on Friday night (see his post), I had a wonderful time with the gals. Could one expect anything less, when you take into consideration a wide assortment of libations, an amazing spread of appetizers, and a gaggle of giddy gals overflowing in effervescence? While I enjoyed myself tremendously ... I only had one Cosmo and one glass of wine over the course of several hours, and I was home by 10:30 (honestly, you can ask Surly).

Despite the late night, I was up with the daughter at 6:30 this morning and Dave had us all showered and dressed and out the door by 8 a.m. — quite impressive for a Saturday, if you ask me. Given that the daughter's love for all things pancake were unrequited, our morning started with a trip to The Egg & I (I managed to score an upgrade from IHOP, given that it's my birthday and all).

After breakfast, Surly surprised us with a trip to IKEA, which happens to be one of my new favorite "hundred-dollar stores". We bought a few affordably priced and equally fun things ... including of course some things for the daughter ... do we ever go anywhere without getting her anything? Anyhow, the visit was fun and fruitful.

Following our blue and yellow adventure, we stopped at my all time favorite "hundred-dollar store" for a few home essentials and a very specific mission on the part of the daughter ... mom's birthday present. While Dave and the daughter entered into her birthday present quest, I wandered the store in search of the home essentials which are often the reason for going into such stores and rarely then only item in the cart when one exits.

Soon, they caught up to me in the store and the daughter was grinning ear to ear. She could barely stand the anticipation of mom discovering what was in the brightly colored gift bag she bore. As we finish our shopping and head out of the store ... word of the contents of the mysterious gift bag leaked out of then daughter like cackles out of a magpie. "Mommy you can share your ... with me when you open it?" I pretend not to have heard the leak.

When we got home Surly had the daughter signed their birthday card and present the gift to me. She practically jumped out of her skin with excitement when I final extract the present from the gift bag.

"Why it's a My Little Pony Styling Pony Pinkie Pie" just what mommy always wanted? Oh thanks, I'm sure mommy (the daughter) will have hours of fun playing with it."

Seriously though, I'm sure that in her bright albeit practical 3-year-old’s mind there could be no better gift than one that she and mommy could enjoy together.

I love my daughter and I love being a mom ... and well, OK, I love being the wife of Surly, too.

Now about that trip to the jewelry store Dave alluded to in his post ... no little boxes for me to open yet, but we'll see. It had better be something good. It would have to be to out do my precious pony present.

Well, Sweeter Half had a party to attend with some gals from work, so tonight was going to be a special evening for the Surly one and daughter. Dinner at IHOP (Her pick: I couldn't talk her into sushi), trip to the big box electronics store, stop off at the jewelers for that special birthday gift for Sweeter Half (tomorrow is her b-day) and then home to watch a movie. I even took off of work a little early so we wouldn't be out to late.

We arrive at the IHOP, get a table and daughter throws up all over the place. We weren't there but 3 minutes.

Wipe her down, apologize profusely to the waitstaff (who sent a pancake home for the girl) and came on home. She was sad because she had her heart set on having a date with dad, but she wasn't heart broken.

The trip to IHOP is something we do, just her and I, every three months or so. Granted, she's only a couple months over three, but it's often enough that she knows what going on, and appreciates that I am marking out special time just for the two of us. She's also flexible enough to understand that sometimes things don't work out, and there is next time.

I think the main reason that it doesn't break her heart is that I spend time with her, well, all the time. Whether it's sitting with her watching cartoons, coloring, reading her a story, letting her strum the strings of the guitar while I make the chords, or playing hide and seek with her, she knows I will be there for her because I have been there for her.

I'm not always availible, nor do I hover around her, doating. There's time when I shoo her away, tell her to go and play. But she knows I'm in the next room, and I care for her and love her.

I have heard pastors and counselors say that children build their concept of God the Father based on their relationships with their earthly fathers. The things I do for my daughter are done out of love, not out of duty, but if it helps her develop a concept of God that is positive, that shows Him as being loving, attentive, caring, and available, then that's all the better.

Err...I mean hate. Once again, in an effort to keep blacks from thinking for themselves, to keep them on the plantation, a 'leader' has tried to strike fear and generate hatred because they lack any real vision or answers.

Civil rights activist and NAACP Chairman Julian Bond delivered a blistering partisan speech at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina last night, equating the Republican Party with the Nazi Party and characterizing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her predecessor, Colin Powell, as "tokens."

Ah yes, taking his lead from Harry Belafonte, tearing down people who have climbed up in the world through means other than as entertainers and lawyers. Remember: Hard work is not a virtue! Fame and Fortune can only be won through dancing, singing and acting, or through being a lawyer.

But there was a ray of hope:

The talk so infuriated at least one black family in attendance among the 900 in the auditorium that they got up and walked out in protest.

"He went on and on name calling," said Lee Wilson. "I walked out in the middle of his speech with my wife and three kids"

Maybe someday an entire crowd of blacks will stand up and turn their backs on scum like this. Then maybe people will quit booking them.



Current Affairs,News and Politics, Racism

Heading off to a Super Bowl party or hosting one, here are three easy appetizers.


Raspberry Chipolte Dip

1 bottle of Raspberry Chipolte Sauce, any brand. Refrigerated. Not dressing: Sauce.

2 8oz blocks of cream cheese (Not the 'nutfetzle', low fat variety: It has a sharp, lemon flavor that doesn't work here.)

1 box Wheat Thins (Large or Small, depending on the size of your group)

Directions:

About a 1/2 hour before serving, take one of the block of cream cheese out of the 'fridge to soften up.

Put the block of cream cheese on a large round plate, then cover with Raspberry Chipolte Sauce. Not the whole bottle, but enough too coat the out side of it, probably a quarter of the bottle.

Surround with Wheat Thins. Check on it once and a while: If the sauce is disappearing, add a little more. If it goes fast, you have another block on reserve.

***Don't let this sit out for more than 2 hours!!!***

Watch the clock. If it's out for two hours, pitch it and build another batch. It's good food safety.


Smoked Salmon Log

16 oz (2 blocks) cream cheese, cubed and softened
8 oz smoked salmon
1 teaspoon dill (fresh preferred, dry will due, just add a little more)
1 table spoon lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

1 cup crushed pecans

Assuming you have a food processor or stand mixer: Toss the cream cheese into the bowl of the mixer of your choice and turn it on to high.

Add the smoked salmon a little at a time. (You may want to stop half way and scrap down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.)

Add the dill and lemon juice. Shut it down once the lemon juice is incorporated.

Taste. Does it need a little salt? Pepper? Maybe a little more dill? Be careful not to over salt.

Now, lay out some plastic wrap or parchment paper on the counter. Spoon the salmon mixture out evenly in a straight line, then pull the wrap (or paper) over the mixture and roll it out like a log. If it is to pliable, toss in the cooler for a little bit to harden it up. Once it is rounded out, roll in the crushed pecans to coat. Chill (the log, not you. But you could if you wanted to.)

Slice off 'coins' and serve with your favorite crackers (other than the 'chicken and biscuit' variety).

***Don't let this sit out for more than 2 hours!!!***

Watch the clock. If it's out for two hours, pitch it. We are talking fish and dairy: Not notorious for lasting long periods of time at room temp.


Swedish Meatballs

1 bag of prebaked meatballs. (Sam's and Costco have the best)
1 small jar grape jelly
1 bottle chili sauce. The classic Heinz variety.

Cook meatballs as directed.

In a small sauce pan, heat up the jelly and chili sauce.

Put meatballs in a slow cooker, crock pot, or roaster and stir in the sauce. You don't need to float the meatballs, just coat. Set the heat to low and set out a bunch of tooth pics.

Mother arrested over baby in lake. If you haven't seen the video, it's one that shocks and breaks your heart all at once. Thousands of people out there would love to have the opportunity to adopt a healthy baby, and this gal goes and tosses one in the lake. The guys who rescue the baby are heros. The woman is a bastard.

The bastard UN has an ingenious plan "stick it to the man". Basically, it's making the free, democratic, prosperous nations pay up front for supposed future eviromental damage and explotation of the poor. Of course, they deliver their purposal at a 5 star Swiss ski resort in Davos.

Bastard Coleen Rowley allows her offical site to post a picture of Congressman John Kline Photoshopped to look like a Nazi.

Otherwise, Surly's been in a pretty good mood. Not much really getting to him week. Other than this picture of Hillary at the State of the Union Address: