Open Thread
By request.
BTW- I think I want to mull some cider tomorrow. Any tips or suggestions or advice?
November 27, 2009 3:57 pm
Posted in: Open Thread
46 Comments
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46 Responses
licensed to kill time - November 27, 2009 | 4:00 pm · Link
Let me mull it over…
MTmofo - November 27, 2009 | 4:00 pm · Link
Pittsburgh vs West Virginia tonite. Who ya got?
licensed to kill time - November 27, 2009 | 4:03 pm · Link
Buy the way, what do you request we buy? ;-)
ScottRock - November 27, 2009 | 4:04 pm · Link
Orange, cinnamon, cloves. For a quart of cider, try four slices of orange, one stick, and maybe ten cloves. Throw in cider and boil; serve quickly.
Try toasting the cinnamon and cloves in a dry pan over medium heat prior to putting them in the cider (you’ll know they’re done when the cloves inflate to twice their size).
Just Some Fuckhead - November 27, 2009 | 4:05 pm · Link
I got nuthin.
JenJen - November 27, 2009 | 4:12 pm · Link
Make some cider, sure, but for merrier guests, make Glühwein!
erlking - November 27, 2009 | 4:14 pm · Link
@ScottRock:This and
add Calvados or rum, preferably Calvados.
sj - November 27, 2009 | 4:14 pm · Link
Simmer cider w cloves, whole allspice berries and cinnamon sticks. If you’re feeling daring, a couple of slices fresh ginger.
Serve w a grating of nutmeg and slug of Meyer’s dark rum.
John Cole - November 27, 2009 | 4:17 pm · Link
@MTmofo: Pitt is the better team, but a home game for WVU with a hostile crowd. I’m locked in my house and not venturing out (other than potty breaks for Lily) until the mayhem ends tomorrow.
SiubhanDuinne - November 27, 2009 | 4:19 pm · Link
Doesn’t the phrase “Buy request” more appropriately belong in your earlier shopping thread?
jeffreyw - November 27, 2009 | 4:24 pm · Link
Because there is never enough dressing.
MikeJ - November 27, 2009 | 4:25 pm · Link
Ugh. I’m logey from turkey leftover lunch. Too drowsy to put wheels on bike.
Last night in the middle of the night, I decided to see if I could lay my hands on the animatronic hamster, thinking 1am would be a time with fewer crazed people and I could get it, if it existed, in relative peace.
The Toys R Us had been open for over an hour by the time I got there. The line to check out ran completely around the interior perimeter of the store. And they were out of the toy anyway.
Of course I had made up my own name, zuzu the magic rat, and have for several days been singing the jingle that I made up, which in each iteration adds new special powers to the rat that could fly. Zuzu the dancing rat. Etc.
My version is now much, much better than the actual product that runs in a wheel and drives a car. Of course it is theoretically possible to get the one that is on commercial offer. This however is not really an issue for muchkins that decide they now want sing, dancing, flying, magic rats.
So if you would like to disappoint your children, I can, for the price of an animatronic hamster, come over and sing the jingles and tell the funny stories about the magic rat and make them want something that doesn’t exist. Then you can teach them how hard life is.
The Bearded Blogger - November 27, 2009 | 4:27 pm · Link
HOW DEMOCRATS GAIN SEATS IN 2010, WIN IN 2012 AND BEYOND
Step one is Barack Obama starts casually mentioning how he is in favor of commonsensical, death-preventing measures, like so:
“The best thing I ever did was to quit smoking”
“I guess a large helping of bacon once in a while is okay, but I certainly wouldn’t eat bacon every meal”
“We liberals care for life, that is why we look both ways before crossing the street, wear seatbelts, and respect speed limits”
The rest of the process is left to Beck, Rush and the teabaggers, may they rest in peace.
IndyLib - November 27, 2009 | 4:37 pm · Link
Cooking up a Greek Thanksgiving a day late due to family situation – Dolmades with avegalemono, leg of lamb with garlic inserted in slits cut in the meat, basted in greek olive oil, lemon juice, and greek oregano, lemon rice pilafi, greek potatoes, fassoulakia yahni – greek green beans cooked with tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, sugar, and parsley, and pecan pie and homemade baklava. It will be done in an hour, can’t wait.
As far as mulled cider, if you use nutmeg, don’t use that ground crap in bottle, use real nutmeg nuts and grate it with a micro-plane grater. The taste isn’t even in the same universe.
freelancer (itouch) - November 27, 2009 | 4:38 pm · Link
@The Bearded Blogger:
You sir, are a master baiter.
Mnemosyne - November 27, 2009 | 4:39 pm · Link
If you’re lazy like me, you can actually buy mulling spices in teabags. I’m not sure where mine are at the moment, but I think they’re by Twinings.
It’s 1:30 in the afternoon and I’m still in my pajamas. I love long weekends.
Brachiator - November 27, 2009 | 4:41 pm · Link
Isn’t this why God invented the InterTubes?
Interesting crockpot cider recipe here:
Personally, I would just have the shot of brandy and leave it at that.
The Bearded Blogger - November 27, 2009 | 4:41 pm · Link
@IndyLib: Oh my god, that sounds amazing!
Mnemosyne - November 27, 2009 | 4:42 pm · Link
I think the Trader Joe’s stores closest to our gracious host are in Ohio, but you can also buy pre-made mulled cider from them if you’re feeling really, really lazy (and sometimes I am).
JenJen - November 27, 2009 | 4:46 pm · Link
@IndyLib:
Mmmmm… I can taste them right now. In my extended Greek family, we knew they were called “yahni” but would always refer to them as “Green Beans Unusual”. :-)
Hugh Batchaw - November 27, 2009 | 4:52 pm · Link
Homemade Cider:
http://thepauperedchef.com/200.....cider.html
Ed in NJ - November 27, 2009 | 4:53 pm · Link
As a Rutgers grad first and a Big East fan second, I have to put aside my usual rooting interest in West Virginia and hatred of Pitt. The Big East needs to shut up the naysayers and put two teams in the BCS this year, and to do that, Pitt needs to beat WV and perhaps Cincinnati next week.
Its sucks, but it is what it is. But with Pitt on the precipice of the BCS, I’m sure WV would love to pay Pitt back for ruining their shot at the NC in ‘07.
freelancer (itouch) - November 27, 2009 | 4:59 pm · Link
Okay,
I hate the bcs, so here’s what I’m praying for:
Alabama loses to auburn, but beats Florida in the sec championship.
Texas loses to Nebraska next week.
TCU and Cinncinatti play for the national championship.
I want a complete clusterfuck, and for Obama to say, “I told you so.”
burnspbesq - November 27, 2009 | 5:01 pm · Link
@Ed in NJ:
So here’s what needs to happen.
Pitt has to lose today and then beat Cincy next week.
Bama has to lose to Auburn today and then beat Florida in the SEC title game.
OU has to beat OSU.
Texas has to lose to Nebraska in the Big 12 championship game.
Georgia Tech has to lose – doesn’t matter whether they lose to the Dawgs or the Tiggers.
And, voila – TCU vs. Boise State for the National Championship.
freelancer (itouch) - November 27, 2009 | 5:09 pm · Link
And a pony, don’t forget the pony.
And a miata.
Shawn - November 27, 2009 | 5:19 pm · Link
Mull it and add a dash of The Captain. I was so surprised to find out how good spiced rum and hot cider are. Report your findings! Arrgh!
dr. luba - November 27, 2009 | 5:24 pm · Link
If you’re really lazy, all you need (in addition to cider) is Captain Morgan and some pumpkin pie spice. Add spices, mull (low heat in crock pot), and then pour in the rum near the end. You don’t want all the alcohol to evaporate. If you want to make it look like you slaved over the cider, toss in a couple of cinnamon sticks.
Zuzu's Petals - November 27, 2009 | 5:25 pm · Link
No advice on mulling, but for anyone who loves tea, I recommend Da Cha Teas.
Disclaimer: I know the proprietors. They are incredibly knowledgeable and have fantastic taste.
IndyLib - November 27, 2009 | 5:28 pm · Link
@The Bearded Blogger:
Thank you, just taking it out of the oven. I hope it tastes as good as it smells.
@JenJen:
I call them sweet and sour green beans, I love ‘em.
Yutsano - November 27, 2009 | 5:30 pm · Link
@burnspbesq: As a BSU Alum, that would bring massive joy to my heart. I can only imagine the party on the Smurf Turf afterwards! Plus I have a friend who’s a fellow alum who’s also fairly well off who would be at that game in a heartbeat.
Yutsano - November 27, 2009 | 5:38 pm · Link
@burnspbesq: Point of interest: The last team to score for Alabama – Auburn is gonna win it. It’s gonna be one of those kinds of games.
BTW is anyone else being prompted to download WP after submitting a comment?
licensed to kill time - November 27, 2009 | 5:39 pm · Link
@Yutsano: Well, let me try….(BTW, that would scare me!)
licensed to kill time - November 27, 2009 | 5:40 pm · Link
@Yutsano: Nope. Weird!
tinat - November 27, 2009 | 5:41 pm · Link
My suggestion? Skip the cider and mull some wine!
A Beaujolais or even cheap chianti mulls well with all the spices listed above
ruemara - November 27, 2009 | 5:42 pm · Link
martinelli’s, cinnamon, ginger slices, orange slices, clove, nutmeg and love.
General Winfield Stuck - November 27, 2009 | 5:44 pm · Link
Netflix DVD delivery has turned to shit lately. That is all.
The Bearded Blogger - November 27, 2009 | 5:45 pm · Link
@freelancer (itouch): Should I give myself a hand?
Kirk Spencer - November 27, 2009 | 5:50 pm · Link
Sure, John, I’ve a few suggestions for mulling.
Suggestion one: get a clean quart jar into which you put your choice of mulling spices then fill with cider and put in the refrigerator. The next day fill a mug with the result and microwave it every time you’re thirsty.
Suggestion two is a hint – the spices don’t matter. Oh, they do, but what you’re doing is enhancing the cider. The masala set—cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, star anise, black peppercorn, and cloves—produces a great taste. (If, and only if, you like ‘hot’ add a bit of cayenne as well.) Pick some spices that enhance the fruitiness while cutting the cloying effect of the syrup.
Yutsano - November 27, 2009 | 5:59 pm · Link
Bama barely wins. Off to do housework. Have fun y’all.
burnspbesq - November 27, 2009 | 6:04 pm · Link
Duke up nine on UConn at the half. Me likee.
freelancer (itouch) - November 27, 2009 | 6:10 pm · Link
The sky outside right now is vivid pink. It’s surreal. I wish my digital camera hadn’t taken a dump on me.
Comrade Darkness - November 27, 2009 | 6:16 pm · Link
Interesting article in the Sydney Morning Herald about the human psychology (denial of death) around global warming denial. The phenomenon explains Palinista behavior well too, I think.
freelancer (itouch) - November 27, 2009 | 6:24 pm · Link
This kid Rex Burkhead is something to be reckoned with, even as a true freshman. If he avoids injury, he’s going pro, no doubt about that.
Notorious P.A.T. - November 27, 2009 | 7:02 pm · Link
Oh, John, tonight is part 1 of the two-part “Monk” series finale.
Quaker in a Basement - November 27, 2009 | 8:51 pm · Link
Do I understand correctly? You’re mulling mulling?
Ked - November 27, 2009 | 9:21 pm · Link
Leave that poor cider alone!
What did it ever do to you?