Sears Auto is Dead to Me

I’ve been meaning to write a few posts on area businesses that I love. Looks like I’m starting out by writing about one that I don’t.

I work near the mall. When I need an oil change or a tire rotation, it’s super easy to drop the car off at Sears and walk back to the office. Last week, I took one of our cars in for an oil change and rotation. The guy told me that the tread on the rear tires were too low to rotate to the front.

Today, I took the car to Costco (better prices) to get the new tires. The guy at Costco was checking the tires and noted that the rear still have 70% tread life left and the front still have 80%! Glad I sought a second opinion. Thanks Costco – you rock! Four tires for the car in question is about $900 – that’s a lot whole lot of Hellhound on my Ale or at least one kick-ass guitar.

As for Sears, I’ll stop short of saying fraud. The words “dirt bags,” “cheats,” and “liars” come to mind though. Whatever Sears – you are officially dead to me.

SuperSecretSangria

I’m not sure when I first started making sangria – I’m guessing it was sometime late in the college years. I do know that I quickly became famous for my sangria (even though it’s a simple recipe that anyone can make). This concoction has led to countless hilarious quotes and pseudo catch phrases from friends and family. Susie and Jen – I’m looking in your directions especially! ;-) I’m guessing this is because it’s easy to drink but packs a healthy punch.

So without further ado, here you go.

Sangria
1 bottle of a fruit forward red wine - Spanish Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache) work well
2 oz. Triple Sec
1 oz. Agave Nectar
1 oz. Tequila (silver - 100% Agave - no mixtos up in here)
Juice from one lime
2 cups of chopped fresh fruit (oranges, grapefruit, peaches, lemons, pineapple, etc)

And here's a little Calexico...

HoCo Farmers Markets Open Today

Howard County farmers markets open this week! It’s still a long time until tomato season, but I’m excited to get some local produce. I'm planning to swing by the East Branch Library market on my way home from work on Thursday.

And while you are perusing the markets, think about this quote from Eric Schlosser (author of Fast Food Nation) in the Washington Post.

Three things American’s should be doing with regard to their food:

1. Educate yourself about your food, where it comes from, and the implications of eating it, not just for yourself and your family, but for everyone else.
2. Try to use your food purchases as votes for companies, farmers, and producers who are doing things the right way.
3. Get involved in community efforts and larger societal efforts to help build a new food system that's more sustainable and compassionate.

hocofood@@@

Sierra Nevada – Looking for a home on the East Coast

It appears that Sierra Nevada Brewing is looking to open a facility on the East Coast.

Call me crazy, but it also seems to me that Howard County, MD is a great (and centrally located) potential home for them. What with employees wanting quality of life and all. And let's not miss the fact that they are the number two craft brewery in terms of production. And we're the second best place to live. Let's be second together!

Somebody, anybody, please make this happen!

And consider this me applying for a marketing position at the new location…

Glissade – American for Beer

I picked up a six-pack of Sierra Nevada’s spring beer, Glissade last week. If there is one word I would use to describe Glissade, it would be basic. But that’s not a bad thing. It tastes like BEER. It’s has a perfect balance of hops and malt, just the right level of carbonation, a straw color, etc.

Remember that first illicit sip of beer you snuck on a summers day years ago? That strange flavor that was intriguing yet foreign? That’s Glissade. This is what I imagine the once great American beers tasted like before prohibition, before rice, before “Tastes great – less filling.”

I come from a family of non-drinkers. Maybe that explains my fascination (obsession?) with beer, wine, and spirits. However, in the summer, my father enjoyed a beer after he mowed the lawn. He always bought Michelob (in that strange shaped bottle).  Once he let me try a sip.

So crack open a Glissade, pour it into a glass, and close your eyes. And then maybe listen to some John Cougar Mellencamp.

Stink Bugs Pt 2

Give me a W! Give me a T! Give me an F! What do you get? Stink Bugs!
That’s right kids, we hit 80 degrees today, so along with creating a hankering for a Fever Tree gin & tonic, I’ve also seen the return of the stink bugs.

In the fall, I regaled you with stories of my great stink bug battles. So far, we only have a few of them on the screened-in deck. I’m sure they will be having a massive party pretty soon. Now to figure out if these guys over-wintered on the deck or if they are still finding a way in. Looks like I will be spending next weekend doing further foam and caulk sealing of the deck. Good times.

Oh about that Fever Tree G&T…

Oh, and here is an article from the Post about building DIY stink bug traps.

Mario Batali Veal Ravioli

Thursday. I want a decent meal, but the girls are restless and we’re running late as is. Luckily, Mrs. P90 picked up a package of Mario Batali veal ravioli and Cherry Tomato Marinara at BJ’s. We boiled some water, toasted some bread, and opened a bottle of wine. Voila – decent dinner in 20 minutes!

So, about the raviolis. They’re great. The pasta is firm. The filling is rich and delicate at the same time. And we only had one of those ravioli sacrifices (that is all too prevalent with home-cooked ravioli) where the pasta rips and water manages to break in and remove all of the filling. The ingredient list is refreshing as well - a blend of braised veal, fresh celery, onion, carrot, garlic, olive oil and red wine.

Given Mario’s stance on factory farming and his recent blog post for the Nature Conservancy, I was a little shocked to see that the veal in the ingredient listing doesn’t mention anything about being organic, free-range, grass-fed, etc. But baby steps (get it, veal, baby cow).

The P90 family is doing our best to get locally-produced and humanely/environmentally-raised food stuffs. I’m guessing these don’t fit that bill as well as we would like. But they are good. And they certainly work on a rushed weeknight.