Winter cycling blahs

I haven't been out on the bike since the FBC ride on the 22nd http://fbcspokane.blogspot.com/ which wasn't a ride so much as a hop from one warm bar to another and with near record snowfall I don't think I'll be going on any long rides soon, altough I have been snowshoeing a couple of time so I guess that will have to make up for it.

Looking forward to some spring ride, long cold wet rides with a farm breakfast at the end.

Muffuletta

As the snow fell in near record amounts last night I put the final piece of 'The Sandwich' in place. For the last year or two I've have been playing with the muffuletta, this a New Orleans original created around 1906 in the Italian markets of New Orleans. I've never been there but having read mystery novels set there, where the detective always stops for a po'boy or muffuletta, I was fascinated and wanted to know what it was. I worked at a place that did a vegetarian Muffuletta served hot but I always felt like this wasn't quite what I was looking for and after a Google search I found the Gumbo pages http://www.gumbopages.com/ This a great resource for Cajun or Creole cooking. The bread was the last piece of fine tuning and Friday I tried a recipe that had been percolating in the back of my brain so here's the the result. These three Muffulettas fed 8 people with almost a whole one left, it was a nice evening with friends and family and Wii.

New Music

I pre-ordered a couple of CDs the other night, they both come out Feb. 5 and other then that I don't think they have anything in common.

The first is Chime Bells, it is suppose to be vintage cowboy yodel, some of it not available since it was released on 78.

The second is Kiss Kiss Kill Kill by the Horrorpops.

Here's a funny thing, since we got an Ipod in Apirl I've lost track of the number of new CDs I've bought. The previous few years I bought mostly from the used bin, letting chance and a good deal dictate what I purchased, now I'm finding obscure rockabilly, surf, 50's & 60's garagepunk, western swing, new country punk and pcychobilly, I've got 45+ record labels and online stores bookmarked... maybe if the major labels work at putting out good music instead of trying to protect an out dated business model... anyway enough of that rant

Winterhop reveiw

This past weekend (1/19-1/20) my wife and I travelled with friends to Ellensberg for their Winterhop Brewfest. Here are a few of the highlights to wet your whistle.

• http://www.lahtneppur.com/brews.html - Lapt Neppur had a Winter warmer, this was a Belgium style aged 3 months and at 9% is very full bodied. Their stout was tasty, but not as memorable. Lapt Neppur is located in Waitsburg near Walla Walla. We stopped there on Labour Day weekend last year and filled up a couple of growlers. This defanately a great little roadtrip destanatin, just make sure you make reservation at Whoop'en Up Hollow http://www.whoopemuphollowcafe.com/ for some good creaole cookin'.



• http://www.rogue.com/locations-issaquah.html - Rogue is practically an institution in craft brews, and I've tended to overlook their taps the last few years. I was pleasantly surprised by Bullfrog Ale, hoppy enough for me but not to hoppy for Robin. This beer is brewed in Issaquah and the gentleman behind the taps assured me they real frog.



• http://www.roslynbrewery.com/ - This is where we started and after waiting in line to get our wristbands and tasting mugs for 30 minutes it's hard to be subjective, but both the Roslyn Dark Lager and the Brookside Pale Lager were might tasty. The dark was smooth and malty without back of the throat grab I usually get from amber lagers, and the pale clean and bright.



• http://www.iron-horse-brewery.com/ - Ellensburg's hometown favorite, I discovered the Brown at Hill'shttp://www.hillsrestaurantandlounge.com/ and had also tried the Irish Death so I was looking forward to trying their other offerings, they did not disappoint. The Rodeo Pale was light and hoppy, while the Imperial Red was thick and hardy perfect to take the chill off.

Altogether Robin and I managed to try 21 beers from 11 breweries and only made it halfway through the list. The weather mostly cooperated with highs in the 40's and the sun peaking out from behind clouds. We will be looking forward to doing this very nice festival again.

trying this out

OK,not going to promise fancy prose or even proper spelling, this is a place for me to talk about the things I like to talk about, such as but not limited to beer, non-fitness bicycling, whiskey and very bad music. I like big beers, big tires and lots of reverb, so if you share any or all of these interests stop by when you have a chance.