Life is Very Short, And There's No Time, For Fussing My Friend

Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast

Two new finds happened on this plate.  I've stuffed lots of chicken breasts but thought it might be cool to wrap them in bacon.  Dinneratthezoo.com had a great easy recipe but you don't need it, just add a little brown sugar to your regular crowd of seasonings.  But it did make the difference.  Not too much, just balance it with the salt to get more of a bbq potato chip flavor mix.  30 minutes on 350 and the breast is majorly juicy and a quick two minutes under the broiler will crisp up that bacon.  All good things.

For the barley risotto, I steeped the stems of mushrooms in chicken stock, garlic, onion and thyme.  Before adding the liquid, I slightly toasted the barley and mushrooms in a bit of oil, then brought it to a boil and cooked it like rice, covered for 45 minutes.  Afterwards I added a bit of almond milk along with a pat of butter, lots of fresh cracked pepper.  It did resemble a constantly stirred risotto. Or, you could follow this recipe from Taste of Home.  Barley is a whole grain and is still super cheap unlike Quinoa.

Classy, Bougie, Ratchet

Oregano Olive Chicken recipe 

It's been a few days but I keep thinking about that Grammy performance by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.  First of all the Grammy's were so great this year.  I loved the way they put artists together in clusters and that it was full of real musicians.  We're all starved for live music, so to see full production performances was a treat.  The tributes are always tricky and I've said before, we can't leave it up to the award shows to properly honor these amazing souls that passed on because there are too many of them.  Instead we need dedicated TV time, a full show.  But I appreciated the John Prine song from Brandi Carlile. Lionel Richie made me cry, Bruno Mars is too good and Brittany Howard is no slouch.  Eddie Van Halen, I actually liked the solo video with the guitar shown.  It was concise and honestly, who can 'cover' his style?  That's right, no one. 

Oregano, olives, garlic, capers pimento lightened up these Chicken drums.  Apple, red onion pepper and cabbage with cilantro and red wine vinegar  made a nice side slaw.

Too similar to those popular singing competition shows, they filmed a little biography piece where you got to know the artist's story before their performance.  So, after hearing Megan Thee Stallion's strong support system background, along with her desire to keep it positive, I anticipated different.   Disclaimer:  I came entirely ignorant of her huge rising star.

No one I asked had watched the show, so I was left to form my own opinions, until this morning when many media outlets chimed in.   I'm less interested in the political side of the argument.   I was shocked initially by Megan's first song, which was catchy and the choreography and production was top notch.  Clearly, she worked hard and held a presence that I didn't feel from that Dua Lipa.  Maybe seeing someone so well put together physically (damn girl!), is why it felt so racy?  I couldn't help but feel like Megan was selling herself a little short.  Is she ratchet?  Because they just convinced me she was raised well, smart and focused.  Clearly she is young, fresh and gorgeous.  If I were her, I'd take a good look at Cardi who is only 2 years her senior.   Cardi has mutilated her body, and she's already made her giant platform stage bed.  She is who she is, love it or leave it.  Megan, could have it all quickly, but I hope she goes another way.  I say that lovingly, like I wish I had a nice Aunty that gave me advice back when, not as a judging prude. Their joint performance felt Ugly, Vulgar, Nasty!  

I was put off by the song's sentiment, sex for money, money equals power.  Yawn!  I see how that might feel empowering to someone who has felt no other means, but we've come a long way baby!  Strap on that guitar instead of a dildo Stallion!  You've got Beyonce in your pocket!  That is worth more than all the skank you can buy! 

Yes it's true, we wouldn't be talking about it if they didn't bump uglies and say and do so many vile gestures.  On the other hand, that's all sensationalized art performance made to get our chonies in a bunch.  For me the real musical awesomeness was, Harry Styles. That hook in Watermelon Sugar was so reminiscent of a Sade or a Steve Winwood vibe.  

Beautiful Boy!

"Cause I Speak of the Pompatus of Love

Recipe from Taste of Home

I had a customer yesterday that came in with a list that his wife gave him but it was unclear exactly what she needed so I asked him if he'd call her to verify.  He immediately got tense and started mumbling frantically.  It became clear he was scared to death of his wife!  He was a serious man, about 35 I'd say, Caucasian, bad shorts, a little conservative.  He seemed perfectly capable albeit a bit beaten down in confidence.  He said things like she made it super easy for me, she doesn't trust me, she wouldn't give me anything complicated.  Can't you just look again on your computer, I don't want to have to call her.  I said, I'm sorry is she at work or something?  No, he tells me she's home.  Okay, so what's the problem?  I became curious to know what makes a man frightened like this.
I halfway felt sorry for him but was also slightly irritated.  Where's your spine boy?!!  Don't take it lying down like that!  You're scared to call your own wife?!  I felt like Foghorn Leghorn coaching him on.

And don't you know he handed the phone to me when she picked up.  She was perfectly nice, but sighed a lot and I could tell he might take a tongue lashing when he gets home for botching it up and inconveniencing her.  What was the big deal?  I tried to give him a little pep talk in the two minutes it took to ring him up.  But also make him aware that this is not a good look for a grown man, or woman. 
After he left I thought to myself how lucky I am in some respects to have a kind, but strong, mutual partner.  Neither one of us takes much shit from the other at least.  We're far from perfect but if we ever were treated like that man, I can guarantee we'd walk away. 

So I'm riding home on my bike stopped at the intersection and I see this super huggy couple all intertwined like a pretzel on the corner.  He was giving it all, the constant reassuring stroking of the back, unnecessary kisses, the whole nine yards and then I notice he's carrying her purse too!  It wasn't a big purse and she didn't have any other bags.  Really?  Ewww! I snapped a picture.  Most people would probably say 'Awwww, that's so cute!' Not me, I wanted to throw up.  Right before the light changed I yelled 'Hey is that where she keeps your balls?!'.   Because you know, I'm 14. Actually, I didn't yell it but I thought it and looked to my right to try to share a smirk with the car next to me hoping he was catching this ridiculous PDA display but instead he was getting ready to gun it at the light to cut me off and turn left.  Like everyone else, he probably hates bikers. So the joke was on me.

The lesson here, don't make fun of people, ever. Even when they're ball-less candy asses.

Made a great Shrimp, Avocado and Corn salad with Black Rice.  A refreshing lighter meal for a 88 degree day like today.