All Posts Tagged With: "lazy"

It’s hard not to be lazy when it’s this freakin’ hot. Yesterday it hit 106. Today’s not supposed to be much better. Even if you work indoors mostly, this kind of heat can still get to you because you still have to get to and from work and to and from the house as you run various errands or whatever. It just plain zaps your energy… and your willpower to do anything constructive. It’s so oppressive that you try to do anything to avoid being outside — or at least I do.

However, yesterday I braved the extreme heat to cook some pork chops on our gas grill. Between the 500-plus degree heat emanating from the grill and the 100-plus degree heat bearing down on me from the atmosphere, I was baking almost as thoroughly as the pork chops. Several times I had to come inside because I was feeling very faint and about to pass out. But I can tell you — and the rest of the family will agree — it was worth it! The pork chops were amazing.

I was using a recipe from Anne Burrell from Secrets of a Restaurant Chef on The Food Network. It was Brined Pork Chops with Soft Parmigiano Polenta, served with Sauteed Swiss Chard with Bacon. OH. MY. GOSH. It was absolutely amazing… I don’t think I’ve had better pork chops in a five-star restaurant. Seriously.

The key to the success, I believe, was brining to the pork for at least three days. The recipe called for three days, but we actually waited an extra day (because we weren’t ready to do it on Saturday). The pork chops were amazingly tender and very juicy. Amazingly juicy. And the pork chops had a wonderful flavor without adding any sauces or anything else to it after the brining of it. I mean, if Ashley, who’s not a big meat eater at all, rolls her eyes in delight and says, “oh my gosh, this is amazing,” then it had to be extra special.

This was the first time I’ve ever brined pork. In the past, I’ve brined turkey and chicken, always with great success. I’m a big believer in and passionate proponent of brining. Now I can add another meat to my list of incredible brining success! We will definitely be doing this again!

So, despite the oppressive heat, it was all worth it in the end. But, because of spending that time in the extreme heat and because of the incredibly satisfying meal, I was pretty much worthless the rest of yesterday afternoon… and evening… doing my part to define what it means when people talk about “the lazy days of summer.”

(This idea was stolen from inspired by an email from fellow Okie blogger and friend Brit’ Gal Sarah.)

[Cue Award Show music]

Time for the International Husband of the Year Awards. And the nominees are…

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From the United Kingdom

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It never ceases to truly amaze (and utterly annoy) me.

I’m commuting to or from work, or I’m driving somewhere around town, and I see someone roll down their window and discard a piece of trash. Sometimes it’s a plastic wrapper. Sometimes it’s a piece of paper or a fast food wrapper. Often it’s a used cigarette. Most don’t even try to hide it; it’s as if there’s nothing wrong with littering.

How would those people feel if I just came over to their house and dumped my trash in their front yard?

Unfortunately, since we live on a corner lot, we see that as well. Other people’s trash litter our lawn — on a daily basis. Plastic pop bottles, empty beer bottles and beer cans, empty beer cases, empty cigarette packages, fast food sacks and wrappers, and assorted other trash is thrown (or blown by the wind) into our yard on a constant basis.

It completely boggles my mind that people are so lazy, so careless and so [CENSORED] rude. It demonstrates just how self-centered so many in our society have become. They simply don’t care enough to care at all about anyone but themselves.

If you want to live in your own filth, fine. But don’t share your filth with those who certainly don’t invite it. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” If you don’t want people dumping their trash into your front lawn — or, better yet, your living room — then don’t dump your trash on the land we all share (and especially on MY yard). It really isn’t that hard to throw your trash into a trash can.

Grow up and clean up after yourself!

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[And that concludes today's rant/soapbox/public service announcement.]