English apple pie recipes go back to the time of Chaucer. Who would have very much enjoyed my associates, a motley crew of middle-class folk.

Apple Crumb Pie

2 tbsp. flour
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 egg, slightly beaten

1 c. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. thinly sliced apples

1 c. rum soaked raisins

9 inch pie shell (unbaked)

Sift flour, sugar, salt and nutmeg into large bowl. Stir in beaten egg, sour cream and vanilla. Fold in apples, spoon into unbaked pastry shell. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Lower heat to 350 degrees. Bake 30 minutes longer.

Crumb Topping: Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/4 cup melted butter in small bowl until crumbly.
Prepare crumb topping. Remove pie from oven. Reset oven to 400 degrees, sprinkle pie with topping.
Return pie to oven. Bake 10 minutes, longer or until topping is nicely brown.

Today I’m sporting my sweater of good intentions. Although I’m still frustrated that certain states get to opinionate about candidates before the rest of the country, I am applauding both parties in New Hampshire for their independent and unbiased voting. Not voting for front runners and Iowa causes winners has kept the debate going. I appreciate that New Hampshire did not appease the political pundits that had already started drawing up the ballots for November. As someone who does not get to vote in primaries until Feb. 5^th, I am thankful to get the chance for that vote to really matter.
As for the meager turn out of Republicans at the New Hampshire primaries, all I will say to that is, no matter who you are or for what party you wave your flag, it is your duty to maintain your ethics and uphold the status quo if it is working for you or to instigate change if it’s not. If you love your party, shout it from your rooftops. If you crave a change in your party’s policies, please be called to action. The vicissitudes of politics are too essential for our democracy to just have people sitting idly by and waiting for the high points and the fanfare.

“Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.”

-George Bernard Shaw  

I am disappointed that the people of the state of Iowa get the distinction to dictate my presidential choices. I am outraged that they don’t take this privilege seriously. Their ridiculous caucus rules lead to low interest and even lower voter turn out. It is evident to me that the state that brings us so much agriculture and natural resources, John Wayne and Captain Kirk and those wonderfully easy standardized tests, has no passion for their perpetual place in history.

They are those devastatingly handsome people who know it but never flaunt it; who want you but never need you and who love you and never tell you. Just the thought of them makes your stomach hot and empty; makes your skin cold and hungry and leaves your mind free and easy.
Wanting desperately for life to imitate…….American Graffiti. A slow ride in a candy-apple red, 1957 Chevy Bel-Air, developing a personal relationship with that mysterious man spinnin’ those records, killing me softly with all those wonderful songs…one of them perhaps being Ms. Flack.
It’s a good day for good friends

Intimacy in Barbeque

Is it in the equipment or is it in the spice? Much like sexual congress… everyone has their predilections.

Hot…Rich…Zesty…Sassy…Spicy…Sweet…

The romantic glow of blistering coals or casual flames tenderly satisfying the hunger of nectarous flesh.

The seduction of searing, smoldering, sizzling sustenance.

BBQ SAUCE

2 tbsp. butter
1 c. water
1 c. ketchup
2 tbsp. vinegar
1/4 tsp. ground pepper
1/4 c. onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard powder

Melt butter. Sauté onion until soft. Add remaining 8 ingredients. Simmer for 20 minutes. Makes about 2 cups of BBQ sauce.

Buffalo Bill’s
        defunct
               who used to
               ride a watersmooth-silver
                                        stallion
        and break onetwothreefourfive pigeonsjustlikethat
                                                         Jesus
        he was a handsome man
                             and what i want to know is
        how do you like your blueeyed boy
        Mister Death

-e.e. cummings