Food & Dining

A Hardy Feast on Fathers Day

It is interesting that “Fathers Day” and “Hardy Feast” are anagrams of one another; that is, each phrase contains all the same letters in a different order.

In fact, the entire weekend – Friday the 13th, Flag Day and Fathers Day each featured a “Hardy Feast.” Patty Melts on Friday, a Seafood Bake on Flag Day and Surf and Turf with Beef Tenderloin Steaks (a.k.a. Filet Mignon) and Salmon Steaks served with a green salad on Fathers Day.

Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads, Granddads and Great Grandads out there. If there are any Great-Great Granddads left, then a special shout out to y’all.

Beltane – Celtic Feast Event

Celtic Beltane Feast — Click to enlarge.

We celebrated this ancient feast today with a traditional meal usually associated with our Irish ancestry: Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner with Low-Carb Veggies. Very tasty and filling, indeed. Happy Beltane!

From the LEO AI:

The Celtic Beltane Feast, also known as Beltane, is a traditional spring celebration marking the beginning of summer in ancient Celtic culture. It typically takes place on May 1st or May 2nd, corresponding to the spring equinox. During this time, the Celts would light bonfires to purify and protect their homes, livestock, and people from evil spirits. They would also decorate their homes with flowers, leaves, and other natural elements to welcome the arrival of summer. The Beltane Feast was a joyous occasion, filled with music, dance, and feasting, as the Celts celebrated the fertility of the land and the return of warmth and light.

Disclaimer: Our celebration of the Feast of Beltane in no way shall disassociate us with our firm belief in Jesus Christ and the Christian Faith.

Imbolc Weekend

Imbolc, also called Saint Brigid’s Day, is a Gaelic traditional festival. It marks the beginning of spring, and for Christians it is the feast day of Saint Brigid. It is held in early February, which is about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox (i.e. Cross-Quarter Day). Our ancestors (both of us) are western Europeans, many of whom were Celtic, Scottish or Irish. The actual day for Imbolc will be on the 3rd of February, but we’re going to start celebrating early by enjoying a weekend full of Celtic-like feasting.

First off, on Friday 01/31 we’re having Irish Beef Stew and Soda Bread. Then, on Saturday, it will be Irish Braised Chicken and Irish Coffee. On Sunday, it will be Corned Beef and Cabbage. I will come back to this post and put in links to the dishes we are preparing.


Compost Heap

In other developments, we seem to have lost our vermicomposting worms; they were in our outdoor compost bin behind the garage doing their thing, but when checking on them (which I apparently need to do more of), it did not appear that there were any active worms. So, just a while ago, I ordered 500 composting worms from Uncle Jim. They should be here in a few days.

One theory of why the worms are gone is that during our 2024 late summer and early fall, the daytime temperatures were usually in excess of 100°F. Since worms cannot survive in soil temperatures that exceed 85°F., we think that the increased soil temperatures might have done them in.

So, when the worms show up, we will stir up the compost heap and welcome them to their new digs. More on that later.

First Day of Winter 2024-2025

Today marks the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere. It is also the shortest day for us with only nine hours and fifty-six minutes of daylight.

In Wickenburg, we’re enjoying a nice sunny day and expecting a high temperature today in the mid-70s Fahrenheit. It is also The Sabbath, God’s Day of Rest. We will be preparing our feast of “Gumbolaya,” which is a combination of Gumbo and Jambalaya, two very favorite Southern (Cajun) stews. If we add okra to the Jambalaya, it becomes Gumbolaya.

Tomorrow, for Sunday Dinner, we will be having Crockpot Roast Top Round of Beef. Check the Food Blog for photos of the eats.

Clickable Image above: Waning Gibbous Moon over the big Saguaro Cactus in front of the Garage.

Happy Thanksgiving 2024!

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we gather around the table today, we are reminded of the countless blessings in our lives—our families, friends, and the love that surrounds us. May we take this time to reflect on God’s grace and the many gifts He has given us.

Let us give thanks for the strength of our bonds, the beauty of shared moments, and the joy that comes from loving one another. May this season of gratitude inspire us to live with compassion, generosity, and faith.

Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving filled with love, peace, and happiness!

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

— Psalm 100:4-5

Grilling Weekend

And here’s the stickers on the grill:

We’re running out of room on the cooler places of the backyard grill for decals identifying us as an Arizona Redneck – LOL. At any rate, it is a beautiful weekend with temperatures finally below 100°F. Very nice grilling weather. Today, we enjoyed a grilled pork loin filet drizzled with honey mustard sauce. Damsel prepared sides of broccoli salad and braised (in bacon drippings) Brussels sprouts (Rose Cabbage in some cultures). Delicious!

Tomorrow’s faire will include Beef Steaks – Hers a Filet Mignon and mine a Tri-tip. Damsel will prepare a green salad on the side. I may update this post with photos after tomorrow.

Click on either image to open the image viewer for larger size.

UPDATE: Steaks on the Grill.

Labor Day 2024

For us here at Casandro Castle, AZ, we’re celebrating Labor Day this year with a simple cookout of grilled Cheeseburgers on Keto Buns (thank goodness and Oroweat™ for those low carb buns). These photos are from a previous cookout, but I’m confident that Damsel will be able to repeat her past performances.

Click on either image to enlarge.

Labor Day for us, is in recognition to the hard workers that made this country what it is today; we’re talking about the pioneers in the industrial revolution, the pioneers who built villages and towns from hand-hewn lumber, the inventors of technologies and advanced concepts for better living and the hard-working Americans who funneled their industry and hard work to set America on the path to becoming the greatest Nation in history. We are specifically NOT talking about labor unions and the damage that they have done to our Nation in the 20th and 21st Centuries. (Thanks, in part, to Jimmy Hoffa, et al, where ever they may be.)

As we head into the fall and the imminent political season of a presidential election year, may we all be inspired by the men and women who made this country great and to Make America Great Again.

If you are a gun owner or a firearms enthusiast in Arizona (or anywhere else) get registered to vote, and then vote for candidates that will vote to keep the second amendment intact.

May God bless the true laborers in our Great Nation and keep them free and secure. Amen.

Keep your EDCs handy and watch your six over the next few months.