BOBA FETT?! BOBA FETT WHERE?!!?

One of the best things about working for a college is that over the Christmas break, I can sleep late, watch Futurama reruns, and drink coffee from a Boba Fett Mug.




breakfastgroove:
MC Chris - Fett's Vett
Supernova - Chewbacca
John Williams - Imperial March

It's a Marshmallow World...

Yeah, it's been 20-sumpin' days and no word from me on life in general. So, allow me to catch you up:

First of all, being employed drained what was left of my working-renegade soul.



But there was this:


...And this:


Plus this:


Which lead to this:


And this:


So to summarize: Catering. Food. Christmas. Engaged.

I am excited at the prospect of being married, it's just hard for me to muster any energy at this point. The Thanksgiving-Catering-Christmas Spending-Smokey & The Bandit Style Traveling-Gauntlet has taken it's toll. I am, however, looking forward to a nice New Years Eve at home. Wine, a nice meal, and a fire in the fire-place.

Thanks to all for the congrats and hospitality over the past week. I like you all very much.


holidaygroove:
Dean Martin - Baby it's cold outside
John Williams - Carol of the Bells
Winton Marsallis - Linus & Lucy
Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra - It's a Marshmallow World (Live)
Annie Lennox & Al Green - Put a little love in your heart

Everybody knows...

Yesterday was the first official snow fall of the 2007 Fall\Winter season.

I have now come to grips with the fact that I DO actually like the winter weather. That's saying a lot seeing as I LOVE San Diego and Las Vegas. But being a chef, or a cook, or whatever the hell it is that is fashionable to call us now-a-days, has made it's impression on my soul. I've come to love the winter months and all the cooking possibilities that come with them. Just like Darth Vader, It's too late for me...

The thing about Spring/Summer vs Fall/Winter is that, naturally, cooking habits change. The Summer is for grilling and spicy Southern dishes and drinking Tequila in the stifling heat. But the Winter... The Winter is a perfect excuse to cook heavy stews and soups, get a fire roaring in the fireplace, listen to some Leonard Cohen and drink Scotch Whiskey in the frigid cold.

Yesterday was that day... Sort of.

I came home to a catastrophic computer failure of unknown origins. (mup.sys?!? WTF!!!) Thankfully Kerrie and I have a pretty good backup plan so it was basically just a routine re-install of the OS and hardware and all was well. It would have been better if I could have had that evening in front of the fireplace drinking Scotch but duty called...

Nonetheless, Kerrie and I still had to eat. And dinner was exactly how I had imagined it would be: Jack Daniels Chicken Soup with Grilled Cheese



1 lb. Boneless Chicken Thighs, cut into bite size portions
Olive Oil, 1-3 Tabelspoons
1 Medium Onion, chopped
2 Ribs Celery, diced
20 Baby Carrots, sliced in half and chopped
Jack Daniels
6 Cups Water
Salt & Pepper to Taste
Fresh Chopped Parsley

Heat olive oil in a stock pot.
When hot, add the Onion, Celery, and Baby Carrots. Cook until soft and starting to brown. (You want to brown them, NOT burn them...)
Deglaze pot with Jack Daniels and allow to come to a boil and reduce by 3/4. (How much you add is up to you, but make sure you reduce it down. I did about 1 Cup and a little extra for good measure.)
When Whiskey has reduced, add the water and bring to a simmer.
Add the chicken and keep at a simmer for about 1 hour.
Finish with Salt and Pepper and top with fresh chopped Parsley.

---


snowdaygroove:
Leonard Cohen
- Everybody Knows
- I'm your man
- Anthem
- Waiting for the Miracle