Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for December 04, 2012

And here I thought he was getting ready to party at the Tiki !

… and Ginger seems to appreciate it, too!

“Eeeny, meeny, miney, mose… got a rocket up my nose.”Eh, Fred?

He’s just got to be careful that he doesn’t poke his eye out, or jam one of those rockets up his nose.

Fred wants to boldly go.

Good night all. I’m kipping early tonight. I am exhausted ! Don’t worry Bev. I’ll go easy on the Passion Fruit.See you all on the flip side. Sweet dreams !

I got nuthin’

I am hungry ! Snickerdoodles please, dirty beans and rice….home fries and cornbread….food!!…man, I need to eat…Linguist, ??….dont ya have a little gumbo in the fridge?…have a little snorer left for a snorer?…..you and a shot of glefiddich would do a girl well….especially the Glenfiddich…

Very cool!

Fred concocted his lounge cap after one too many night caps.

BUT!!! ….wait til Fred sees what Gene’s wearing this morning…

(…that’s not the Sheriff’s badge that Gene has on, is it????)

Well, Balardeers, it’s Taco Tuesday at the Tiki. I’m going to bring the fixings for two types of tacos this evening. One traditional Mexican and the other contemporary.The traditional : Tacos de Puerco y Papas al Guajillo ( Guajillo-Spiked Pork and Potato TacosThe contemporary: Tacos de Pollo en Ensalada Enchipotlada ( Chipolte Chicken Salad TacosThe traditional filling I made a few of days ago ( it actually improves after a day or two ), while the contemporary is best made fresh and eaten that day and I’ll make it this afternoon.Come on down and tackle the tacos and wash them down with some of my world famous margaritas.

@Linguist

I so-o-o love tacos, but need something softer now! D’ya think I might just get by with the fillings….and, oh! maybe double margaritas?

To Linda Dean, Linguist, SusanSunshine, beviek and all who sent their good wishes for a speedy recovery my way …

Thank you all so much! It didn’t go quite as smoothly as I had hoped it would (I metabolized the anesthesia too fast to the point where they couldn’t give me anymore. Was awake for most of the 4-hr. procedure. I’m still numb today after several quarts of novacaine! lol), and need to go back in 4 months for additional surgery. Drat. Doc says I have a really good liver, hence the glitch with the anesthesia, so I guess that means I’ll have to spend more time at the Tiki!!

I’m still feeling “yucky” on and off, so my stops on Ballard St. may be a little sporadic for the next few days, but HEY! THE WORST IS OVER !!

Just don’t go anywhere near him during a full moon.

@Linguist

“Sure, just remember my caveat, a recipe is only a guide not the gospel. Each cook or bartender brings their own personality to the dish or drink. That’s the fun !”++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++I totally agree! I’ve always been the type of cook who tweaks a recipe to my own liking. It’s definitely a creative process!

“Hey Stel,

Gene’s sense of fashion has a certain flavor."+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Indeed. Gene and Flavor Flav have that timeless style all buttoned up!

Linguist ~ Tacos, yum! I was thinking of them just yesterday ~ Lunch!I do eat them a little differently, I mix the meat, beans, cheese etc together then use it as a dip with tostitos scoops. Less messy, sort of.

Hahahaha…..she certainly looks better than I do at the moment!!!

For those of you who can’t make it to the Tiki today but have a craving for tacos, here’s the recipe for Chipotle Chicken Salad Tacos. Easy to fix and makes about 4 cups ( 12 to 16 tacos ):Ingredients :2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar ( doesn’t have to be the best stuff )1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil2 canned chipotle chiles en adobo, finely choppedSalt1/2 head Napa cabbage, thinly sliced ( approx. 21/2 cups )1 lrg. carrot, peeled and chopped into 1/4 inch pieces1 small red onion, thinly sliced1/4 cup cilantro1 1/2 cups coarsely shredded chicken, preferably grilled, roasted or rotisserie chicken ( can you say supermarket deli ?)1 large ripe avacado, peeled,pitted and cut into 1/4 inch cubes1/3 cup coarsely grated Mexican queso anejo or other dry grating cheese like Romano or Parmesan12 to 16 warm, fresh con tortillasDirections:In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar,olive oil and chipotles. Season generously with salt ( a generous 1/4 teaspoon ) or substitute for plain salt, Adobo seasoning with pepper, in same generous amount.Add the cabbage, carrot, onion, cilantro, and chicken. Toss everything together and let stand for 15 minutes. Taste and season additionally, if necessary.Scoop filling into a wide shallow serving bowl, dot with cubed avacado and dust generously with cheese. Serve with warm tortillas for roll-your-own tacos.

In the interest of full disclosure, I stole this recipe from my friend Rick Bayless who is an extraordinary gourmand, chef , and genius on all foods Mexican !

Thanks, Red ! I just might indulge and have a few margaritas tonight at the Tiki. I’ll (hopefully) see you there!

I’ll be the one whose face looks like a tank rolled over it! lol

I have always loved that song!@ Essex, Lingquist and Bev, the Taco Salad is ready…and Home Made Tapioca for dessert… There is tea, both hot and cold and sweet. If you want unsweetened Ice Tea, I will surely make you some. Enjoy!(that really is lunch today..lol…)

Thanks, Linguist and Essex ! I think one candle should do it, so that we can at least see where we’re goin’ and not fall flat on our faces — which is what got me in this mess to begin with! lol

ok, that picture of the girl with a squid on her head weirded me out….who in their right minds thinks of stuff like that?…oh, never mind…we do…lol….

@ EssexNo?

.How ’bout this?

ah, yes…perfect lighting for all of us more than likely…lol….

That was the retirement package from NASA.After all they did they get the hat for memories.

Whoa….Who turned out the lights???

Oh… it was for Stel!Glad to see you here!Hope you don’t feel like you lookI mean…um… hope you’re feeling OK, Stel….But you guys…OMG…. so much food…. everything smells great….But….Oh gosh…. it’s ….I don’t know what to say….I was supposed to be here last night, but I was suddenly taken rather ill…sorry…so… I just….hate to say anything but I’ve GOT to remind everybody….(it’s my job….)

This is the Monkey’s bar!He’s the most kind and generous bar owner ever…but let’s make sure we don’t drive away the paying patrons…

I gotta turn up the lights just a wee bit….and turn down the music a wee bit…fire up the smoker….and the daiquiri grinder…..and make sure the kitchen isn’t a HUGE mess…just a normal mess…

Cos he’ll be coming back, and I don’t want him to have to run himself in….or fire me….not that he would fire me… I hope.Ess, he always has his guitar here. He owns the place!But wow those tacos look good…Thanks everybody.Oh, Fenton…. you’re still here?What a good dog…. sorry I didn’t show…you can go home and sleep… no, of course you can stay if you want to… you and Linda seem to be having a good time. Have a taco…..I’m hopin’ to have abig ‘ol batch of yak ribs ready by 6…(that’s West Ballard time, a bit late for you East Ballarders but I couldn’t help it.)

Oh Stel that hat is beee-ooo-tiful.I like his first hat (in the comic) too.

Ginger obviously admires his good taste…and sound decisions.

And Happy…. I LOVE that wall thingy.Steampunk meets Magritte!

Walking slowly toward The Tiki, pondering the eternal question….Taco’s or Yak Ribs, that is the question, whether tis nobler to honor our illustrious owner, or partake of the nectar of the true south….aye, theres the rub…the grub of a Pirate or the grub of a Primate….but hark, thru yonder window, there I see, a Taco and a Rib there in front of me…ah, Fenton, you waited on me…you are such a sweetie…let me rub behind those gorgeous ears of yours….and tell whoever to give you all the yak ribs you want, on me of course…oh you do make me feel like a cougar….no sweetie, not a big cat…I wouldnt do that to you…but there is a cat in my life you know…Fenton? Where are you going? Fenton?….

OK, this one (as Ling said) is entirely up to interpretation.Breakfast Bars1 cup whole wheat flour½ cup milled flax seed1 cup rolled oats¼ to ½ cup hulled sunflower seeds¼ cup oat germ1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon baking powder4 Tablespoons of ground cinnamon4 Tablespoons of wheat germ4 Tablespoons of chia seeds (opt)Mix those dry ingredients together and hold.In a food processor: pulse 1 cup of walnuts (save for last) 3 organic apples cored and pulsed (mini processor can do a whole apple at one time)½ cup raisons soaked with at least 2 Tablespoons of Vencedora vanilla (Vencedora is my fav- and is certified REAL vanilla – not the stuff that some Mexican vanilla has)Beat 3/4 stick of room temp butter and add apples and 3 eggs while beating.Then gradually add dry ingredients and then raison/vanilla mix, and 1 cup chopped walnuts.Mix only until no dry portions and flatten into a greased rectangular baking pan. It is very thick so allow time to smooth out. Be sure to flatten evenly across the pan.Start preheat just before greasing pan and should be hot just about when it is flat.Bake at 350 for 25 min.Cut into 12 bars (or 16 for smaller appetites) when cooled. I keep frozen in a box/bag and heat each briefly in micro before eating. Vencedora http://leosimports.com/lavencedoravanillamexicanpurevanilla3179floz.aspx comes in approx. quart bottles and is $10-12 plus shipping. .I sometimes use 30 min and usually use gala pples with pretty redness when I find them organic. Lately I always cut in 16 and I bake in the flat square pan (I have those red silicone ones).

I still have chia seeds but they do not add flavor and are $, so last time I used twice the sunflower seeds instead, I like that more.

Heard a new Christmas song finally on the radio.It had a New Orleans musical style. Don’t know the name. It may have been Junkyard Band but not sure announcer said it too quick.Lyrics basically followed that Santa was unhappy. Santa before was Ho Ho Ho. But he looked around one day and only had Ho Ho Uhoh. Santa had lost a Ho. But the singer invited him down to have a good time any way. Two Ho Hos would be enough.Funniest song I have heard in years.

Exploration with that missile aimed up his nose.!Too bad it going to fall into a void.

text/termunkistan/skysat/uplink/remote/SMB/content/stop-————————“hey yall ahm still stuck in hoo nose no whare hitchin a bumpy ride in a jeepney not shur wen ahm gittin hom but ah miss yall hep yersef to awl teh ribs an dakeris hopin Stels doin guder an thnx SS an everbunny fur keepin teh tiki jammed up an jelly tite…. layder!!! munky out> ;())

We’ll wait for you Linda

<br.oh my,…color me embarassedly red…There simply wasnt that much damage when I was escorted out, I swear!

Fun comments today again and my best to Stel! Hope y’all enjoy that recipe which is totally my own (just mostly everything I could find for good taste and good health put in a mix that goes great with my breakfast whether it is just an egg over easy with a banana or a big plate of fresh ripe fruit with 4oz of Voskos plain original. Breakfast is one of my 2 main meals!

Going back to finish watching Iron Chef “gingerbread” – never liked it when it had to be for houses (tho I made one with lights inside and stained glass windows of spice candy).

Hullo Ess….(wiping hands on apron)….Just feeding the daiquiri grinder….That thing runs through bananas like crazy!

Can I get you one? Or some ribs?

Yeah, when you’re on Ballard St. it’s hard to mistake for anyplace else!

Hey, I was thinkin’ a guitar like that might be good for the Monkey.I mean, when you consider his feet.

Here’s a guy who sits in with his band sometimes….famous monkey guitarist ….if I could only remember his name….I’ve seen him get his feet in there sometimes….he can play really fast!

Oh Hi Bev…. you too….Daiquiri?Ribs?

Still some stuff left from this afternoon too.

Wow…. didn’t realise it was so late….

I gotta leave for a little while…

Hey…. is the sign on?Oh good…. it’s on a timer….

Oh Bev!Those guys are great!

I’m sure the Monkey would love to book them here at the Tiki.

And maybe the Linguist would book them for a party on the Rover….they could pick up a couple of gigs in Ballard County, and only make one trip.

Sure Bev…. Sheldon just left and the little monkeys are just setting up for their night shift…Fenton’s night off, you know….

It’s Tuesday…. the I mean your ….fireman should be here soon too, but he goes home before the day shift starts.

Meanwhile, I’ll make you a margarita before I go….not a pitcher cos I KNOW you’ll want the fireman to make some in a while….

Just got back from a 3HR Skype from my lover (discussing some politics, housing prices and sexual customs of odd countries and groups). He even mentioned what Hefner’s GF said about him. I’m glad it will not be so long before I see him again (and more glad that he never needs anything for that). Good night all ;-D

And just noticed Ling, Bob is also great in the kitchen. You would not believe all the variations we went through to make the perfect Belgian waffles!

Are there any yak “oysters” left?

Lounge cap? Is that a thing?

Claude’s cinnamon rolls would go perfectly with that theme.

https://cleoandcompany.net/december-4-2022/

Good morning Balladeers, (((((Plods))))) and Miss Susan.