What are you reading right now?
OFF TOPIC discussions
I am reading Pagans: The End of Traditional Religion and the Rise of Christianity. by James J. O'Donnell.
I am reading Pagans: The End of Traditional Religion and the Rise of Christianity. by James J. O'Donnell.
I am reading The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert.
I have never been very musically inclined. In elementary and junior high school I played a trumpet and then a Sousaphone/tuba in the school band. I learned to read music (badly) in that context. When I finished the eighth grade my musical involvement was over except for congregational singing in church, which I have always enjoyed. I also listen to music and enjoyed attending concerts. My wife died in 1998 and in 2001 I remarried. When I remarried I joined my wife's church and the choir. That was the first time I had been in a choir since childhood. About three years ago I decided to try to learn to play the dulcimer. Folk and country music have been a genres that I have listened to most of my life, so I guess that it was a natural choice. I play the dulcimer for myself. Right now, my only goal is to please myself. I play pretty much everyday when I am at home. I am slowly improving and look forward to improving more.
FOTMD has been great. I am not a very social person, yet I feel very much at home here. I am slowly learning to play, due in large part to the information and inspiration I get from the site. I recently bought a new dulcimer from Kevin Messenger, whose dulcimers I firsy saw here. I plan to post a recording with it here one day. Thank you FOTMD and everyone on it. You are all the best new thing to come into my universe in the last couple of years.
Steve- Thanks for the informative response. I am sure that I will enjoy visits to as many of the places that you have described as I can fit in.
I do not cook very much anymore, but here is my cole slaw recipe. This was my Mother's recipe. She was not much of a stickler for measurements, so adjust as desired. I guess that it is really not a recipe. It is more of a method. Just keep tasting as you add stuff.
Cole Slaw
1 head of cabbage - cut into quarters and then thinly slice each quarter
4 or so slices of bacon fried crisp in a large skillet (pour out most of drippings, but keep skillet coated)
mayonnaise
apple cider vinegar
As soon as you pour the bacon drippings out of the skillet (still on heat), toss the thinly sliced cabbage in the pan and stir until coated and very slightly wilted. I prefer stop too soon rather than too late. You do not want cooked cabbage. Dump the cabbage into a large mixing bowl. Crunch up and add the bacon to the cabbage. Add about 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise. Stir. Continue adding mayonnaise to taste. I like less rather than more. Add about 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Continue adding vinegar to taste. I like more rather than less. The cole slaw should not be wet when completed.
My oldest son includes a little sugar when he makesthis cole slaw. I do not complain when he does, but I really do not believe sugar, or any sweetener, should be included in cole slaw, barbecue sauce, or cornbread.
I am from North Carolina, as was my mother. Her parents were from NC and SC. I do not know where this type of cole slaw came from.