Fumbling Toward Culinary Talent: Disappointed Man Cocktail

I just made this cocktail, and I kind of like it. 

I'm going to name it what I am, a disappointed man. 

Ingredients

2 oz. of bourbon--I used Evan Williams, but I would prefer something stronger like Wild Turkey 101, Old Forester 100, Evan Williams Bonded, or Benchmark Bonded, et al. 

Ginger ale

Healthy dashes of bitters

Process

In a Collins glass, put in four ice cubes. Add the bourbon, refrigerated ginger ale, and few healthy dashes of bitters. 

Drink and feel your anxiety. 

Music Friday: "Halloween"

I shared the album video on social media yesterday because of the holiday, but here I'm also providing a live version. 

We need a new album from her. 

Soon...

Fumbling Toward Culinary Talent: Taco Seasoning

We got some homemade taco seasoning from a friend last Xmas. This is my modification of the recipe. I like using this stuff instead of those store-bought taco seasonings that have maltodrextin in it, which is a terrible ingredient. 

Ingredients

1/2 cup of chili powder

1/4 cup of ground cumin

1 tablespoon of smoked paprika 

3 teaspoons of regular paprika

3 teaspoons of garlic powder

3 teaspoons of onion powder

2 teaspoons of Penzey's Tuscan Sunset seasoning

2 teaspoons of dried cilantro

2 teaspoons of black pepper

2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes

2 teaspoons of kosher salt. 

Process

Mix up this stuff. 

After you've cooked the meat you're using for tacos, drain off the grease. Clean your skillet with a paper towel and return the meat to the skillet. Add 1-2 tablespoons of the seasoning and 1/2 cup of water. Simmer for about five minutes or so until thick. 

Sunday Hangover: Mizzou

It's been a while since an Alabama defense had a shutout. I'd like to see more of them. 

Sure, Mizzou had some guys out and the Tide knocked out their starting quarterback, but it was good to see a number of three-and-outs yesterday. 

I've always been an advocate of having a strong running attack, and that's what we got in this game with Alabama rushing for 271 net yards. Miller had two touchdowns, Haynes had a phenomenal run for a TD, and Milroe had a rushing touchdown. 

The passing game was more modest, and it seems Milroe is still trying to force it to Williams. Bernard had a solid game as the leading receiver with five grabs. 

The second bye week comes at a good time to get players healed up before the trip to LSU.  

Music Friday: "Reach Down"

This song was playing on the SiriusXM Pearl Jam radio channel when I drove to work this morning. 

Great album all around. 

Musing of the Moment: George Will on Immigration

I am decidedly a left-leaning person politically, but one of the many good aspects of having a subscription to The Washington Post is that George Will writes opinion columns for the newspaper. 

Sometimes I agree with him. Sometimes I think he's off his rocker because of his belief in traditional conservatism. 

Recently he had an interesting column that's worth your time. It talks the changing demographics in the world and how immigration, which he gets to at the end, is probably a good thing for the U.S. 

What a concept. 

Here's the article: "Amid Shrinking Demographics Worldwide, the U.S. Needs Immigration." 

Sunday Hangover: Tennessee

That is three frustrating games in a row in which the massive talent that Alabama has on its roster did not come through. 

Three is a row is a trend. 

Milroe, who was a Heisman hopeful, was inconsistent as Hell. The interception in the end zone was just, flat out, a bad throw. He should do better than that. 

While Bernard caught some passes, Milroe has to get other receivers involved other than Ryan Williams. 

The defense played well in the first half, but as we've seen before, after the half the other team made some adjustments, and the Tide didn't seem to do the same. 

I don't know what Alabama will drop down to rankings wise, but the coaching staff has to right the ship because all those penalties are inexcusable. 

Get it together. 

Of the teams I hate Alabama losing to, the Volunteers is one of the top ones. 

Music Friday: "Dear God"

I was doing errands this afternoon, and this tune came on the Sirius 1st Wave channel. The song that preceded it was "Kiss Me on the Bus" by The Replacements, a band I rarely hear played on any of the SiriusXM stations. 

But I've always liked this tune even though the band XTC is not a group I followed back in the day. Great tune though...

Sunday Hangover: South Carolina

Another game down to the wire. 

I don't know what to make of this team. I had a good bit of optimism about the Tide's chances this year, but if they cannot put away the Gamecocks, I don't know what to think. 

Sure, Carolina's two defensive ends are very good. However, we should have one of the best college offensive lines in college football who should be able to handle them. Carolina does have a good defense though. 

The safety of Milroe's making made him look like a freshman out there. 

The defense has to shore up what the hell is going on really quickly because they play Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday.

Music Friday: "Maktub"

I got the new album from Gary Clark Jr. when it came out, but I began listening to it more often this week after I watched his performance on Austin City Lights from this season, which is their 50th season. 

Here's the opening track from JPEG RAW. 

Sunday Hangover: Vanderbilt

I had a hell of Sunday and not just because Alabama had a terrible loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday afternoon. 

They simply had a great game plan they executed, and once again the adjustments in the second half by the defense were not good enough. 

It was a perfect time to play the Tide after a great win versus Georgia the Saturday before. 

The team was resting on its laurels and thought they would just steamroll the Commodores like they always have. 

As the cliche goes, "That's why they play the games." 

The honeymoon with DeBoer is officially over. 

Music Friday: "Wolves"

I've been listening to a lot Josh Ritter this week, especially "Thin Blue Flame." I'm sure I've featured that song before on a Music Friday. 

So I'm featuring this tune from The Animal Years, the second song on that album.  

Sunday Hangover: Georgia

What a roller coaster of a game. 

The picture above is the wheel route Jam Miller scored on through a perfectly thrown ball by Milroe. 

The Crimson Tide scored almost at will in the first half, and then Georgia adjusted. Alabama couldn't get a pass rush to disturb Carson Beck in the second half, and he picked apart the Tide's defense. 

Despite the shortcomings of the defense in the second half, Milroe and Williams were electric.

Milroe went 27 for 33 for 374 passing yards and ran 16 times for 117 net yards. He threw two touchdowns and ran for two touchdowns. 

Williams had six receptions for 177 yards and a crucial 75-yard touchdown to put Alabama back up for good although the pick by Brown at the end sealed the fate of the game. 

What I want to see is the Tide defense that played in the first half. 

But a win is a win. 

Next week the Tide travels to Nashville to take on the Commodores. 

Music Friday: "Another Generation"

Here's an old tune from a great band. 

Music Friday: "Rewrite Our Lives"

I have not listened to Ha Ha Tonka in a good while. Here's a good tune from their album Lessons.