Steak Maverick: Redefining Steak SKILL

Alright, I'll bite ... literally. My new adventure is going to be How to Cook the Best Steak of Your Life. Boyfriend will be the (hopefully LUCKY) recipient ... official Fearless Taste Tester or he might want to have a Taco Bell run as Plan B.

Cooking a steak can be pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it ... but I don't know that I have tried to cook one in the past three years. So, let's rediscover the simple joy of cooking one ... but add some new twists.

My 5 steak recipe ideas:

---Marlboro Man Steak. My recipe will have a rugged cowboy vibe ... capturing the campfire but on the stovetop. Rustic and full of character. It is going to be medium rare. One side will be slow cooker Cowboy Beans (but with less sugar than a recipe usually calls for ... I find the one I have done way too sweet and I want savory).
---Marbled Romance Steak. Leaving a bit of fat on the edges and getting a nice sear. With some sort of swirled(marbled) sauce ... lighter buttery sauce with a balsamic reduction is the first thought. Definitely a swirled cheese cake for dessert! Candlelight is a must.
---Kyrtonite Surprise .... doesn't that sound comforting? Hee.Hee.
A nod to Christopher Reeve. I have to experiment with a green sauce as I want a unique flavor and shade. Arrugala and tarragon? A slightly pepper kick from the arrugala and a little bit of sweetness from the tarragon... hmmm.
---Steak Under Glass. Basically, this is chemistry. I am going to sautee the herbs on the stove and then stick them under glass right before serving ... hopefully, it will be a cool aromatic reveal.
---"Brewed" Steak with Spuds. This will have an overnight marinade that incorporates Budweiser. I will have to choose a tender cut and haven't fleshed out anything about the potato side yet.

Just a few degrees off and a steak is not where you want it. Maybe I should invest in the game changer of a really good meat thermometer! I forget how he said he likes steak ... and am glad he answered my text. I will develop the recipes and see if medium RARE or medium WELL is happiest for the plate ... perhaps a mini taste test trying a smaller piece of the chosen cut EACH way.
Topic: Did you toss more than the average number of steaks on the stove during Quarantine?

I have made Taste of Home Steaks with Shallot Sauce. It was a good quick dish for after guests left.

-----"Every Way to Screw Up Steak"

Something I can tell my kids, who are a little squimmish about the idea of riding a train, Amtrak has come a long way. I can sit with my coffee cup in the tiny rim on the tray, right next to my laptop, and it is going to go NOWHERE...the gentle loll of the train is just that... gentle.

Earth & Hearth Pea Blend(Side dish to serve with steak)

Ingredients

• 16 oz green split peas
• 16 oz yellow split peas
• 8 tablespoons Burman's Original Whipped Dressing OR mayonnaise (added gradually while mashing)
• 3 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 4 tablespoons McCormick Salt Free Garlic & Herb Seasoning
• 1 tablespoon melted Blue Bonnet (or skip it entirely—see note below)
• Lime juice, adjusted slowly to taste
• 5 drops liquid smoke
• 1 teaspoon honey
• McCormick Black & White Peppercorn Grinder, to taste (freshly cracked for best flavor)
• Salt to taste

Instructions

1. Cook split peas until soft, keeping all liquid to maintain creaminess.
2. Mash gently with a potato masher while adding mayonnaise, integrating it smoothly.
3. Mix in smoked paprika, seasoning, Blue Bonnet (if using), honey, and salt.
Honey is just to balance flavors ...not to make this sweet ...definitely use less if you use Burman's, which has sugar.
4. Add 5 drops liquid smoke, stirring well to distribute the flavor.
5. Slowly add lime juice, tasting as you go to find the right balance. I use a squirt bottle.
6. Grind fresh black and white peppercorns into the mix, adjusting to taste.
7. Let sit for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to allow thickening.
8. Garnish with parsley, if desired. Serve warm.

_________________________________

Note

Blue Bonnet is a vegetable-based spread rather than true butter. It's free of trans fats but contains processed oils like soybean and palm. It’s not necessarily worse than butter, but if you're aiming for a more natural alternative, olive or avocado oil-based spreads might be worth considering.

Der Schattenhändler (The Shadow Dealer)

Der Schattenhändler (The Shadow Dealer)

The Shadow Dealer is a ballad woven in layered echoes, shifting between English and German to create a rhythm that carries its weight throughout. It unfolds like a folk tale, moving steadily without repetition, every verse carrying the weight of the story forward.

It begins not with fire or steel, but with silence, illusion, and stolen grace—a figure who leaves no scars but still manages to crumble everything he touches. The imagery builds with each verse, tightening the grip of his quiet deception until the ghosts arrive.

The Bridge

The ghosts—the unseen witnesses—do not forget, do not fade. Their whispers press close, a reckoning gathering in the shadows.

Final Verse - Irish Blessing Cadence

Spoken like truth rather than condemnation:

"Let him sink beneath the weight, let him drown within his hand."

It doesn’t curse. It doesn’t rage. It simply allows consequence to arrive.

Closing Lines

These lines don’t linger in the wreckage. They lift upward, beyond the grasp of shadows.

I am still brainstorming music ideas.
Next is improving me saying the words, recording and adding imagery.

---

Der Schattenhändler (The Shadow Dealer) - Full Ballad

Prologue - English & German

English: He does not strike with sword or fire, but with a lie that breathes, with hands that take.

German: Er schlägt nicht mit Schwert oder Flammen, sondern mit einer Lüge, die lebt, mit Händen, die rauben.

English: He does not haunt with shadows deep, but with silence spun, with stolen grace.

German: Er jagt nicht mit dunklen Schatten, sondern mit gesponnener Stille, mit geraubter Schönheit.

English: Yet every step he leaves behind turns love to ash, turns light to dust.

German: Doch jede Spur, die er verlässt, macht Liebe zu Asche, macht Licht zu Staub.

Verse 1 - English

He moves where truth and silence blend, never feared, never shunned, but felt too late. His voice is gold, his words are light, but what he touches loses weight.

Verse 2 - German

Er schleicht, wo Wahrheit und Stille ruh’n, nie gejagt, nie gemieden—doch gefühlt zu spät. Sein Mund aus Gold, sein Wort aus Licht, doch was er berührt, verliert sein Gewicht.

Verse 3 - English

No scars, no shattered form to bear, no jagged mark, no blade unkind. Yet all he claims as his to keep will rot, will crumble, will turn blind.

Verse 4 - German

Kein Zeichen trägt er auf der Haut, kein Schnitt, kein Mal, kein Flammenarm. Doch jede Spur, die er erschafft, macht Wärme kalt, macht Freude arm.

Bridge - English & German

English: His kingdom built on stolen stone, but sacred love was never his.

German: Sein Reich erbaut aus fremder Zeit, doch heilige Liebe war nie für ihn bestimmt.

And still, the ghosts do not slumber, nor do they drift away— they circle, whispering, pressing close, never forgetting his name.

Final Verse - English

Let him sink beneath the weight, let him drown within his hand. For what was meant to rise in light was never shaped by his command.

Final Verse - German

Er soll versinken in seiner Last, verloren in seiner Hand. Denn was bestimmt war, Licht zu sein, lag niemals in seinem Land.

Closing Lines - English & German

English: Though shadows stretch and voices fade, we will rise, untouched, unstained.

German: Auch wenn die Schatten weiterziehen, wir werden aufsteigen—unberührt, unbefleckt.

Honor & SpringHarvest Medley 2025 Memorial Day Asparagus Side Dish

A vibrant, flavorful medley of asparagus, zucchini, and spring onions.
Today, we honored the profound sacrifices made for our freedoms and embraced the bounty of Spring.

Ingredients:
Fresh asparagus, trimmed into bite-sized pieces
Zucchini, diced
Spring onion bottoms (all) and a good amount of tops, chopped
Grapeseed oil, for sautéing and steaming
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
Grated Parmesan
Red pepper flakes, for a hint of heat
Minced garlic
Onion powder


Step 1: Lightly Sauté the Spring Onions
In a small pan over medium-low heat, add a small amount of grapeseed oil.
Toss in all the bottoms of the spring onions and a good amount of the tops.
Gently sauté until softened and aromatic—not browned.
Set aside for later steaming.

Step 2: Preparing the Vegetables
Trim asparagus into bite-sized pieces for easy eating and even cooking.
Dice zucchini to absorb seasonings and create a smooth texture.

Step 3: Steaming the Vegetables
Place asparagus, zucchini, and the lightly sautéed spring onions in the steamer basket.
Season directly in the steamer with salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, minced garlic, and onion powder. Mix to ensure even absorption as the vegetables cook.
Drizzle grapeseed oil over the vegetables before steaming to infuse them with flavor and prevent dryness.
Cover with a lid to trap steam and ensure even cooking.
Bring water to a boil in the pot beneath the basket.
Once boiling, turn the heat down to maintain a gentle, steady steam.
Steam for 3–5 minutes, until the vegetables are tender yet still slightly crisp.
Near the end of steaming, sprinkle grated Parmesan over the vegetables, allowing it to gently melt without burning or scorching.

Vegetable Highlights
Each veggie brings its own character to the dish:
Asparagus – Tender but crisp, with a fresh, slightly earthy flavor.
Zucchini – Mild and slightly sweet, absorbing seasonings beautifully.
Spring Onions – Aromatic and subtly sweet after a gentle sauté, deepening the dish’s complexity.

A Final Tribute > "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." > — General George S. Patton

---Seeing that there are reports of people going out an damaging the Tesla vehicles of others.

Waiting on the train back to that place ...

A brief getaway ... Mexican-ish food with my kids, my favorite bookstore, looking at old electronics and a deli and natural co-op market. And a train ride will bring me back for a "special project" build which I volunteered for in the morning. A quick stop at the store once I get in to get a loved one with cracked fingers some handcream and then to sleep for a way earlier than normal get up.

I was able to get my kids 4 books! My daughter had read half of one of hers by the end of the day and also had one that she had thought wasn't available yet (Google said it wasn't out yet but the bookstore had it).

---I ijust glimpsed some article that says you should take a shot of olive oil every morning. I would assume to keep regular?

Most overhyped foods in London?!

The Borough Market is huge. It is about a 6 minute walk from London Bridge.

Of course, I am going to try making some of these myself. Or, at least, something inspired by them.

----------London"s Viral Chocolate Strawberry
~~~Apparently, the quality of the strawberries is important. That is an issue for me as I mainly have access to strawberries from Aldi's and Walmart. Hmmm.
~~~I don't own a double boiler(though do have access to one). Believe it or not, I also don't own a microwave ... a lot of my friends don't either.
-----Such a simple thing. I will enjoy making it for Hombre de Oro this weekend.

-----Hainan Chicken Rice
Goal: To make mine not bland.
Goal: To find a recipe of a similar vein from Singapore.

-----Is there a copycat recipe for Tacos Padre fish tacos??


-----I can't imagine a Honey-Truffle sandwich. I will explore the idea of honey and truffle together. The one in the video has loads of roast pork and aged parmesan.

----------I must do some "crumbles" for breakfast.
~~~Apple and Berry Breakfast Crumble

_________________________________ 24 British Foods the Rest of the World Thinks are Weird

Place for me to armchair travel next: Mexico!

Eat more carp because it's invasive! Apparently, it makes good dog food.

Daughter: Staring contest! Mommy: You blinked. Daughter: You blinked, too. Mommy: Why didn't you tell me? Daughter: I didn't see it.

-----Kevin Bacon details his experience of trying to be a regular person for a day. "This sucks."
~~~The interview was for Vanity Fair. I haven't read one of their articles in a while! Maybe I should take up a subscription.
~~~At least, maybe, he had fun wearing the elaborate disguise?
~~~He's been a movie star for four decades!
~~~He has a horror flick that came out today. I am not really into those ... especially since it is described as a "slasher." I wonder how you say the
title.... "MaXXXine."

Tonight I am looking at the work of German expressionist painters(20th century). On the list: - Ernst Barlach - Max Beckmann - Heinrich Campendonk - Lovis Corinth - Otto Dix - Lyonel Feininger - Rudi Feld - Conrad Felixmüller Expressionism= bold and expressive use of color, line, and form. Exploration of themes like spirituality, emotion, and the human condition.

-----Carne Asada Tacos. Flank steak.

Life Lately ...

-----I am on the lookout for new light pasta recipes!

-----Goal: Go on a solo brunch date at least once a month.
-----I don't have a teddy bear to put on my bed or sit on furniture. I must remedy this.
-----Hombre de Oro(Man of Gold) dresses nicely for Church. I, sadly, don't really have dresses. I asked him what color I should get. He looked at me thoughtfully and declared "yellow." That's cool as mustard yellow is my favorite color!

Things I need to research for the kids' St. Patrick's Day Scavenger Hunt ...

-----Leprechauns are a type of fairy.
-----How to do some Irish jigs. Leprechauns are said to dance so much that they wear out their shoes!
-----Leprachauns are the bankers and shoemakers of the fairy world?
-----History of leprechaun sightings. It goes back to the 13th century! -----Leprechauns orginally wore all RED.

Well, I will just start with a Monday and add to this until Friday. Today is March 4th.
I have a very physically tiring job ... so I get a lot of excercise that way. I guess that helps with minimal fitness maitenance ... I have thyroid problems have also been gaining weight from menopause.
Goals: To look nice in a yellow dress for Church. I asked Hombre de Oro (Man of Gold) what color he would like to see me ... a modest, yellow dress. Mustard yellow is my favorite color!

Now I don't necessarily expect make it ... but I will try for a noble goal. 150+ Lest you should be impressed, I am mainly going to do books on my physical TBR/TBRreread. That goal seems more necessary than impressive. :-)

-----Tom Smothers, one of The Smothers Brothers, has passed away. He was in his 80s.

People must really like casseroles lately ... with cold weather approaching. I see links popping up. I should raid my mother's recipe box/books (that I inherited). I like retro casseroles.

My 2024 Goals

-----Do research on the history of Extreme Poverty and what it has led us to.
Start compiling what the Bible says about poverty and truly think about it.
-----Pray for someone I thought I knew ... who let there financial hardships and worries eat them up.
-----Make more salads!I especially want to do stone fruit salads (maybe not plums, so much). Did you know that olives are a fruit (and a stone fruit)? ----'Write a lament.

This is a list in progress. :-)

-----Corned-Beef Salad with Thousand Island Dressing and Rye Croutons
The description given for the dressing:
.....the real old-fashioned kind with “islands” of pickle relish, hard-cooked egg, and chopped scallion.

-----Corned Beef Sandwich Spread
-----How it became Irish American to have corned beef and cabbage. Instead of bacon(ham).
And this is where canned corned beef is likely most popular.
-----Corn Beef with White Sauce. Wasabi white sauce.
-----There is such a thing as Corned Beef Spaghetti. Does that even sound good?
-----Corned Beef Coleslaw. Hmmm.

"Maine shooting: Lewiston police were warned about Robert Card weeks before massacre"
He made veiled threats. Were these threats to other reservists. It seems like he has been a concern for about a month.

Saying a prayer for:
At least 18 people dead! Also 13 wounded.

And was Robert Card, the shooter, was a Reservist ... currently?
///" after he threatened soldiers at a southern Maine National Guard Base in Saco."
Currently ... he is diseased. And found by a dumpster ... that's not very typical. Okay, that explains it. He used to work for a recycling plant.

Memories

I am different from 2009:
----I don't enthusiastically play ANY games that are on Facebook. No Farmville or Cafeworld or ... whatever. Do you have any recommendations for an enjoyable game on Facebook??
-----I still grow Christmas cacti but the current one is at a loved ones house. They asked me to leave it there for them to enjoy ... as I am pretty much always working. I wish I could get them to consider forcing it to bloom like I have done with cacti in the past.
-----My dog used to try eating the papers from the many muffins I made. I must look up new Lemon Poppyseed and Triple Berry recipes. I don't even own a muffin tin!

-----If you were going to catch your own shellfish for dinner, what would you catch? Prawns, langoustne, lobster? Would you aim for getting some seaweed, too? I am hungry!

-----"Shrimp scampi is a garlicky, buttery delight"
-----Think about the best crusty bread you have ever had ... would it go well with Shrimp Scampi? Do you know where to get a good crusty bread??
-----Small personal goal: fidn a twist on Corned Beef and Cabbage that I haven't tried yet.
-----Fear less and live more. :-

Weiner Melange will happen.

-----Minor goal: Make a Weiner Melange (coffee drink similar to a cappucino).
~~~Then make one that is lactose-free for my son. Speaking of milk, TasteAtlas describes a Weiner Melange as being more like a cafe latte.
I have seen Melange mentioned in books ... sipping a Melange at an Austrian cafe. Maybe I will live long enough to do that! :-)

So, how do you feel about all this?

Reading about the many things Mr. Trump is in court, or going to be in court, for. He answered ALL the questions about his finances at the second indictment, as he has always said he would ... and did not go for the 5th amendment (this time). BUT being accused of so MANY things ... always makes you wonder about the accused and accusers. Then there is also the prospect of moving into an age where our leaders have multiple convictions staining their recent past!

A MAN CALLED OTTO - Official Trailer (HD)

Coming ro 2023 ...

You know it's the thinking about Life and THE FUTURE season.
Without going into it, much of my 2022 has been heartbreaking. So, I want to start anew and introspect ... from small to large.

Some things for 2023:
1. People have "giftings" and, to truly share them, the actions have to be freely given. Think of that what you will and think deeply (it has multiple layers of meaning for me).
2. I want to remember that I value vibrance,strestrength, determination and PEACE!

Spirtual Writing

From Inspiration to Publication

2nd Edition

Inspiration & Personal Growth, Publishers & Publishing Industry

Date Published: 12.05.2022

Publisher: Micro Publishing Media

 

iSpiritual Writing from Inspiration to Publication 2nd Edition is an inspiring, motivating, and captivating look at the spiritual life and the falling to write. It is based on the premise that there are writers who write because they want to and those who write because they have to. Spiritual writers are drawn to the process by a sense of mission. However, the spiritual writer’s mission and the realities of publishing are often at odds. This unique book provides the nuts and bolts and dos and don’ts of how to get published in this often-misunderstood arena. The author updated this second edition to include the digital world and the expanded opportunities this brings for nontraditional publishing.

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Tomorrow Seemed Impossible

Self-help - Memoirs

Date Published: 10-25-2022

Publisher: Rope Swing Publishing

From childhood well into her adult life, Keeley Brooks struggled quietly with trauma and the very dangerous effects it took on her physical, mental, and emotional health. In her late teens, Keeley was diagnosed with four mental health challenges and an eating disorder after suffering extreme panic and anxiety at a young age.

Struggling with crippling feelings of isolation, unworthiness, desperation, and fear, as well as the inherent urge to heal, she turned to writing. Now offering her human truths and personal experiences on how she navigated them, survived them, then healed and has grown from them, Keeley shares in graphic detail her deeply personal perspective on trauma, mental health, and side effects while bravely giving readers an intimate peek behind the curtain at the functioning of a mind rooted in trauma and riddled with fear, anxiety, panic, depression, shame, and silence.

About the Author

Keeley Brooks is an author, writer, poet, and editor. She's a contributing author to the #1 bestseller My Labor Pains Were Worse Than Yours and in May 2022 released her first poetry collection Poetry from an Isolated Soul. With a decade's experience in entertainment journalism, she currently writes health & lifestyle articles for Modern Grace Magazine and is an arts & entertainment writer and managing editor at Mixed Alternative Magazine.

Keeley has just published her first creative nonfiction book, which details her deeply personal struggle with trauma and mental illness, as well as their effects on her mind, body, and spirit. She also offers an intimate peek behind the curtain at the functioning of a mind riddled with fear, anxiety, panic, and depression, then she shares how she has healed and grown from it all and has found the balance needed to reclaim her life.

Keeley is currently focused on several literary projects, including a collaborative fiction novel with three additional authors and a women's self-care book with her integrative health practitioner.

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