Neocon Sweat

Now that John McCain is the presumptive Republican nominee, many evangelical conservatives, along with the Fox News brainwashed, who broadly I'll refer to as Neocons, are forced now to make some very tough choices. Politics, like most things, works as a pendulum. In the past eight years, that pendulum has swung way, way too far into the Christianist right. (Christianism is a term coined by Andrew Sullivan meaning those who believe that the separation of church and state is not important, and wish to mold our government into a Christian moral entity.) Though I am Christian, I abhor Christianism and all forms of zealotry and moral legislation.

So, as I was saying, evangelical conservatives have some tough choices ahead. The pendulum has swung back, and moderates are having their say. John McCain is bringing his big momentum into Super Tuesday, and the Neocons are sweating.

How can they support a man they once labeled as a "RINO" (Republican In Name Only), as a "liberal," and at their most melodramatic, even as a "traitor?" (A traitor?! I mean really! Let's get some perspective folks! The man's a war hero!)

Well, they're going to have come to terms with McCain, or sit it out at the polls. And that latter decision could be disastrous for them.

The Democratic race is now shaping up to be a photo finish between the not-to-be-underestimated Hillary Clinton (Or should I say, the Clinton Dynasty, since they're both running in this campaign?) and the charismatic juggernaut of Barak Obama. If Hillary Clinton makes the nomination, either as presidential candidate or even as the veep, the Neocons will come out in droves, even if Mickey Mouse was their nominee. McCain is very lucky in his present situation, because it's his best shot for presidency ever, and probably his last chance at it.

But if Obama becomes the Democratic nominee, things could be very different. Many of the Neocons would probably sit home without a Hillary to hate and without a strong Christianist candidate to support. NPR estimates the Christian evangelicals to be about 13-14% of the voting population (comparable with the Latino and Black vote, and larger than the union vote). A loss of these votes on the Republican side gives Obama a BIG advantage in the presidential election, and the Neocons will be essentially handing the presidency to perhaps the most liberal candidate in the past 40 years. That, and they'll be essentially putting a black man in office, which I think would be remarkable, and deliciously ironic.

Whatever is the good Christian Evangelical to do? Well, Rush Limbaugh and Fox News are no help. They're still reeling from the fact that McCain is still the Republican they love to hate. Gentlemen, get your crow ready. It's suppertime!

Whatever happens, ultimately, I think the country is destined for a very overdue, and very healthy return to the center. Nut-job Giuliani is out. Likable but still Christianist Huckabee isn't viable and will soon be out. And though I have some very big concerns about the Clinton campaign, I don't think she'll win against the mobilization of the Republican armies against her. Obama has said that she's too polarizing, and he's right. She's Karl Rove's wet dream Democratic candidate.

Who remains then are McCain, Obama, and even a remote chance for Romney. And ultimately, any of these three gentlemen would restore honor and moderation to the Presidency of the United States.

This has been long overdue.

So, Neocons, what are you going to do?

Burns Party -- The Videos

I will say right here from the start, if you watch only one of the nine videos below, you simply MUST watch the last one. That one is GOLD!

As the Robert Burns Night supper started, Leslie got things going right away with this wonderful poem and gift to the host (me!). Thank you again, Leslie and Scott!


Before dinner could start, we had to officially present and toast the haggis. This year, I tried stuffing my own haggis, which worked amazingly well! Since sheep stomachs were not available, I opted for a salami casing, which rendered a rather cylindrical and uniform haggis. Honestly, it looked more like a munition than a piece of meat!


After dinner, we had the customary Toast to the Lassies followed by the Toast to the Laddies. The men all had nice toasts to their lassies, but the women stole the show. Becky started the lasses off with an original piece. I loved it!


Then, Pam gave a reading of two of her favorite poems. They weren't Burns poems, for that Scots language can be a little hard to bear, but they were lovely poems indeed.


Then, Sharon gave her special Ode to Desi. Quite PG-13! You can see Desi trying to sink into the wall behind him.


Finally, forced to go last by those not wishing to be upstaged, Leslie gave another shining example of her poetry with her Toast to the Laddies:

Leslie's Toast

Seems hard to believe that only a year has passed
Since we spouted poetry round this table last

And here I sit all broken hearted
Because until this week, my poem I'd not started

The invite for this night arrived last September
A bit premature, but we all must remember

Our host -- not our hostess
Has this Burns' night obsess
But before I digress........

A toast to the laddies -- our wondrous men
Lassies, where ere we begin?

First we give them all credit for selecting their wives
The most fortunate and remarkable choice of their lives

All through each day and night of the year
We're safe and sound as our men have no fear

They set up tents in the dark
At obscure state-run parks

Protect their families from bears
While expanding their collections of camping cookwares

Rest assured that your lassies who sit here in plaid
Feel oh so lucky and loved and not the least bit sad

We adore our laddies, and we're not afraid to admit it
Our men wear skirts, and we don't care on bit, damnit!

TO THE LADDIES!

During the course of the night, our guests were still getting to know one another. Dan and Judy (our neighbors) were new additions to the party this year, and though they've been married for over 30 years, and have five kids and countless grandkids between them, neither of them wears a wedding ring. This proved entertaining...


Later, I sang my best version of "A Man's a Man for A' That". This is Burns' great ode to humanity, and my personal favorite of all his works. I tried to do it justice...


If there was one performance that I would rate as my favorite, it has to be Desi singing "William McBride". This sad and lilting song, an anti-war song, sung with Desi's Irish tone, brought several of us to tears. It was really a masterpiece!

And with that, we bring to a close the Burns Night supper and party. It was another great year, and I just want to thank everybody for coming and having fun.

I can hardly wait for January 25, 2009! I better get started on those invitations now!

Burns Party -- The Food

The food, oh the food!!

Our menu for the Burns Night Supper started with an appetizer of Cock-a-Leekie soup.

After the soup, we piped in the haggis, and moved on to the main course, consisting of roasted leg of lamb, neeps, tatties, and haggis. Of course, Becky insisted upon a green salad!

Complimenting the meal was my selection of whisky. For those preferring grape to grain, we served a Bonny Doon Le Cigare Volante 1999 and a Hop Kiln Generations 2004 Pinot Noir.

We finished it all off with a beautiful chocolate Cranachan topped with raspberries.

Here are those luscious recipes:

~~~~~

Cock-a-Leekie Soup
Eva Chesteen

1 frying chicken
3 qt. water
3 onions, sliced
4 bouillon cubes
4 parsley sprigs
1 bay leaf
1 Tbsp. poultry seasoning
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
8-12 leeks (split, washed and sliced)
½ c. uncooked rice

Boil chicken and onion in water until chicken is fully cooked. Cool and debone chicken, removing fat and skin. Add chicken pieces back to water and add other ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes covered. Remove bay leaf if you can find the darn thing.

~~~~~

Haggis
Scott Harris

This recipe assumes, like me, you cannot get real haggis. If you live outside the U.S.A. and can obtain real haggis, of course, use that instead!

2 (14-ounce) cans of Scottish haggis (unless you're feeling adventurous enough to make your own)
1 large casing (stomach, fibrous salami casing, tube-sock, whatever you can find!)

If using fibrous casing, soak the casing in warm water for 30 minutes.

Remove haggis from the can. Heat haggis in the skillet until it is uniformly browned and fragrant. Allow to cool slightly.

Spoon the haggis into the casing, tapping it down to make it compact. Tie off the casing. Ten minutes before serving, microwave the haggis for two minutes, then transfer to a warm oven until time to serve. Be sure to prick the haggis before serving to avoid scalding sprays of hot grease. (Yum!)

~~~~~

Lamb Marinade
Sandi and Scott Harris

2 crushed garlic cloves
½ tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. spicy mustard
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1½ tsp. dried rosemary
2 Tbsp. lemon or lime juice
1 Tbsp. whisky
plenty of cracked pepper

Combine all ingredients with a whisk. Marinate the lamb for at least two hours.
(This recipe is for a 2½ lb. roast. Double it for a 5 lb. roast.)

~~~~~

Roasted Leg of Lamb
Scott Harris

1 (5-pound boneless, 7-pound bone-in) leg of lamb
¼ c. fresh rosemary
salt
pepper

Marinate the lamb for at least two hours using the Lamb Marinade. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut sixteen ¾ in. slits into the lamb, eight on each side. Chop the rosemary into small pieces and press into the lamb, including the slits. Drizzle remaining marinade onto the lamb, including the slits. Coat liberally with salt and pepper.

Roast in the oven on a broiler pan for 1½ hours or until thermometer reads 140 degrees (medium-rare) or 155 degrees (medium). Remove and let rest for 15 minutes before slicing into thin slices.

~~~~~

Neeps

3 large rutabagas
butter
salt and pepper

Peel and chop the rutabagas into 1 in. cubes. Boil the rutabagas until they are soft. Strain and then mash with butter, salt and pepper.

~~~~~

Camembert Mashed Potatoes
Cooking Light
(our tatties for the evening)

1½ (8-ounce) rounds Camembert cheese
11 cups cubed peeled Yukon gold potato (about 4½ pounds)
½ c. 1% low-fat milk
¾ tsp. salt
¾ tsp. freshly ground pepper
chopped fresh chives (optional)

Cut cheese into 6 wedges. Carefully remove rind from cheese; discard rind. Chop cheese; let stand at room temperature while potatoes cook.

Place potatoes into a large Dutch oven; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 12 minutes or until tender. Drain in a colander; return potatoes to pan. Add cheese, milk, salt, and ¾ tsp. pepper; mash with a potato masher until smooth. Garnish with chives and additional pepper, if desired.

~~~~~

Chocolate Cranachan
Bon Appétit

2 c. coarsely grated bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate (about 6 oz.)
1 c. hazelnuts, toasted, husked, coarsely chopped (4½ oz.)
1/3 c. (packed) golden brown sugar
1 c. old-fashioned rolled oats (3 oz.; do not use instant)
1¾ c. chilled heavy whipping cream
1/3 c. crème fraîche or sour cream
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/3 c. whisky

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix chocolate, hazelnuts, and brown sugar in medium bowl. Spread oats out on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 7 minutes. Stir hot oats into chocolate mixture (hot oats will partially melt chocolate); set aside until chocolate firms, at least 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Or stick in the freezer to rush the process.)

Using electric mixer, beat whipping cream, crème fraîche, and sugar in large bowl until cream mixture holds peaks. Fold in whisky.

In each of six 10- to 12-ounce goblets, layer ¾ c. cream mixture and ¾ c. oat mixture; repeat layering.

Top each parfait with ¾ c. cream mixture and sprinkle with oat mixture. Cover parfaits and chill overnight.

Variations:
Instead of goblets, Becky served the whole dessert in a trifle dish, then she layered raspberries and mint sprigs on top for a final flourish.

Serves 6. (We doubled this recipe.)

Burns Party -- The Whisky

This was my whisky menu for the Burns Night Supper. Dan also brought over his Johnnie Walker Blue Label, an excellent blended whisky at about $25 per dram.

Second Annual Burns Supper

Malt Tasting Menu

Glenmorangie 10 year

Imagine yourself in an Italian fruit garden surrounded by geranium, nutmeg and wild bergamot, with breezes kissed by the sea.

Glenmorangie 12 year Port Wood Finish

The 'Quinta Ruban' is finished in ruby port pipes which impart its rich redness and make it a voluptuously smooth spirit with tones of chocolate, mint, and spice—an intriguing balance of smooth velvet and crisp, cooling textures.

Glenlivet 12 year

The original Single Malt Scotch Whisky, the great-grandfather of all whisky. This is a lively golden expression, playfully interlacing fruity and floral aromas in a perfect balance.

Jura Superstition

From the small island of Jura in the Inner Hebrides, smell the rich and nutty tones with whispers of treacle toffee, and then brace yourself for the peaty taste of roasted seaweed. A true island treasure.

Ardbeg 10 year

Perhaps the most peaty malt whisky in the world, yet beautifully balanced, layered and even sweet. An elegant and assertive whisky from the Clan Campbell territory of Islay. Beware! The Campbells are coming!

Macallan 18 year Fine Oak

European sherry oak casks impart a rich character with hints of dried fruits, spice and chocolate orange. American oak casks deliver delicate hints of citrus, coconut and toffee. Together, you have an extraordinarily smooth and delicate, yet complex, expression.

Scapa 14 year

From the remote islands of Orkney, a place so forbidding neither the Vikings nor the Celts can truly lay claim. These rough Orkneymen bring you a whisky married to the sea. In the dunnage warehouses, the whisky sleeps with the briny sea air to create a spirit with a salty tang indefinably different from any inland whisky.

Aberlour 10 year

The definitive example of a Speyside malt. Dry, fresh, fruity aromas of early autumn apples and pears are subtly enhanced with sweet notes of vanilla and mint toffee. Exceptionally smooth and creamy, with honey and warm spice.

Selection of Bushmills Irish Whiskey

For all the Scotch in the world, there are those who prefer the Irish whiskey. Thrice distilled for unparalleled smoothness with a distinct honeyed sweetness that comes from Eire itself.

Please help yourself to the whisky.

Enjoy with an open mind, a good nature, a clean glass, and not a trace of ice.

Burns Party -- The People

Oh, what a joyful time we had! Thank you to everybody who came and dined with us at our Second Annual Burns Supper. I believe this year was even more excellent than last year! The songs and the poems were quite well done and several people even composed their own toasts to the laddies. (Leslie, Sharon and Becky all producing original numbers!)

I've got enough material to post a few days worth about this wonderful party, and I just want to say how happy Becky and I are that we can play hosts to such a splendid group of friends.

Here are each of the couples, as they arrived at the party. In order, we have Desi and Sharon, Dan and Judy, Pam and Phil, and Leslie and Scott.





In some cases, kilts were provided for those who came without. "Take off your trousers and come upstairs" was heard more than once last night!

The kids all ate pizza and stayed mostly in the basement--except when Luke ran afoul of Gabi and Eddie's grand plan for a dance party and spent the rest of the time watching Mythbusters upstairs. Apart from that little fracas, the kids were really good all night.

We ate and we ate, and the food was excellent. (More about the food in another posting, including recipes.)


Toward the end of the night, Frank seemed to find his way onto everybody's lap.



Finally, and all too soon, it was time to say goodnight. So, we took one last set of photos before saying adieu for the night. I must say, these are some mighty fine looking women!




And of course, one last look at the sexiest legs of the night. (Honestly, it's good a police car didn't drive by while Phil the Flasher was walking home.)

Obama's Greatest Thus Far

Pretty audacious!

That Guid Auld Scotch Drink

Thank you so much to Scott and Leslie, who so thoughtfully gave me this splendid calendar of the Malts of Scotland. I will have absolutely no reservation about hanging this particular "pin-up" calendar in my office! (Prohibitionists, beware!)

It really is quite a lovely calendar, and each month it features a different whisky. In order, they are Laphroaig, Highland Park, The Balvenie, The Macallan, Springbank, The Glenlivet, Edradour, Glenmorangie, Auchentoshan, Ardbeg, Glenfarclas, and Dalmore.

I've sampled six of these twelve malts, so I now have a goal of obtaining the remaining six! (Some poor body has to do it; I graciously submit myself.)



The calendar also came with a cute set of coasters, each with a pithy Scotch quote. I particularly enjoy the fact that one of the famed drinkers is, in fact, fictional.



The quotes, for all those lovely search engines out there, are:

"Whenever someone asks me if I want water with my scotch, I say I'm thirsty, not dirty." -- Joe E. Lewis

"Too much of anything is bad, but too much of good whiskey is barely enough." -- Mark Twain

"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite, and furthermore always carry a small snake." -- W.C. Fields

"The light music of whiskey falling into a glass--an agreeable interlude." -- James Joyce

"I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly..." -- Ron Burgundy

"I love to sing, and I love to drink scotch. Most people would rather hear me drink scotch." -- George Burns

Slainté!

Tis Burns Night Tonight

Today is the birthday of Robert Burns. The immortal poet of Scotland. What better way to honor him than with his own words:

My Native Land Sae Far Awa
by Robert Burns

O, sad and heavy, should I part,
But for her sake, sae far awa;
Unknowing what my way may thwart,
My native land sae far awa.

Thou that of a' things Maker art,
That formed this Fair sae far awa,
Gie body strength, then I'll ne'er start
At this my way sae far awa.

How true is love to pure desert!
Like mine for her sae far awa;
And nocht can heal my bosom's smart,
While, oh, she is sae far awa!

Nane other love, nane other dart,
I feel but her's sae far awa;
But fairer never touch'd a heart
Than her's, the Fair, sae far awa.

Tonight, we begin to prepare for our big Burns Supper on Saturday. The house will be cleaned. Lamb will be marinaded. The cranachan will be started. Whiskies will be purchased.

The final touches on the toasts to the laddies and toasts to the lassies will be made.

I'll give the one last practice to my songs for tomorrow, and I'll hope everyone arrives safely for another splendid and entertaining evening.

Photo of the Isle of Skye, © Copyright 2007, Scott E. Harris.
Portrait of Robert Burns and Highland Mary by Thomas Faed, Glasgow Museums.

Free the Haggis!

This one was brought to my attention by KennyG--Thanks!

I have personally struggled with this issue, unable to find my beloved haggis in any form other than canned. (The canned stuff is OK, but nothing like that wonderful Scottish haggis!) And finding a butcher who will sell you lungs, liver and heart directly is nigh impossible--something to do with USDA rules on selling organ meat. Bah! What do they know?!

So, please, for all the haggis lovers out there, write your congressman today!!

Haggis an offal burden?
Tuesday, January 22, 2008

LONDON (Reuters) - Scotland is considering lobbying the United States to lift a ban on haggis, hoping to boost sales of the sheep-stomach-based national dish.

The U.S. banned imports of Scottish haggis after Britain's outbreak of mad cow disease, which is linked to the human brain illness Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

Scotland's government insist its haggis -- which usually contains the heart, liver and lungs wrapped inside a sheep's stomach lining -- is safe and wants the ban lifted.

"The Scottish government will consider engaging the U.S. government on its haggis import ban ... It is safe or we wouldn't eat it here," said a spokeswoman. "We think there is a large market for it amongst expatriate Scots there."

She cited growing sales of tartans and the prevalence of Scottish clubs as evidence that Americans were taking greater interest in their Scottish heritage.

Haggis, a globally recognized symbol of Scotland alongside bagpipes, kilts and Scotch whisky, is an essential part of Burns night celebrations, which commemorate national poet Robert Burns and fall on January 25.

Burns was the author of "Ode to a Haggis."

(Reporting by Peter Apps; Editing by Myra MacDonald)

Musical Boys

The boys are progressing nicely in their piano and guitar practices. Both have been taking their practices very seriously, and I think the results speak for themselves.

This is Elephant Stomp, a clever little piece of music that Eddie is still learning.



And here is Luke playing Boulevard of Broken Dreams (by Green Day). This is the first part of the song, just the chords. (I can't recognize the song, but he plays the chords with such gusto!)

Pinewood Derby 2008

Another great year, another great bunch of cars! Here are some fun photos and videos of this year's pinewood derby races. Luke's car is the cheese car, and Eddie's is the Spongebob Squarepants car. Very original, boys!







Thanks to Clarence for this AWESOME second set of photos. Very nice!