Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Daughters, City Chicken, Christmas Visit
Well, it’s been a week now since my two daughters, new son-in-law, and the other daughter’s boyfriend visited with us at the Inn. It was our Christmas with them since they could not come down during the Holiday Season. We did a simple Christmas. I told the girls, we are going to just give you a card with money, and you guys can just take Doris and I out to a restaurant for a nice dinner and buy all the beer for those 5 days.
Dan, Erin’s husband, had foot surgery on both feet a couple days before arriving, so he was not as mobile as he normally would have been. But he got to rest and relax. Diana’s boyfriend, Joe, came to Raleigh for the first time. So Diana took he around to see some of the sights and downtown.
We went to J Betski’s for our Christmas dinner on last Thursday, which was grand. Ate at home for a couple of nights, and also went to Sitti for a wonderful dinner on last Friday evening. On Saturday evening the girls and I made city chicken. One of our favorite dishes that I learned from my mother growing up in Michigan.
City Chicken??!! No one down here in Raleigh knows about this wonderful food. Go to the meat market and ask for city chicken sticks and the butcher looks at you like “what the hell are you talkin’ about.” Yes! It has its very own sticks!!
City chicken is made with veal and pork, usually the stewing kind. You get a city chicken stick and skewer the meat alternating pork, veal with basically two veal pieces to three pork. After that, you season the meat with a little salt, pepper, and maybe garlic powder. Dust it with a little flour to make sure the egg dip sticks. For my egg dip, I just use a about five eggs and ½ cup of milk or half and half for about 40 sticks which is made from about 3 lbs of veal and 5 lbs of pork… lean stewing pork…. There has to be some fat for flavor and tenderness, but too much can be too fatty.
After the you dip in egg, roll the city chicken in your seasoned breading. My mother used to always grind up Corn Flakes and season with salt and pepper. I do the same but also add some garlic powder. Season to taste. Yes, try a little to see if it is too salty, or whatever. Add more ground up Corn Flakes if necessary.
Bread the city chicken and then fry them in about ¼ to ½ inch of hot vegetable oil. Fry until the breading is cooked which is a golden brown; don’t fry to cook the meat. You fry to just brown the breading! Now put the fried city chicken sticks in a greased cooking pan WITH A LID. Put about two layers and the cover. Put in a 350 to 375 degree oven and cook for about 1.5 to 2 hours or until the meat is very tender to a fork. It you put another third layer in the pan or more, it will take longer to cook. If that is the case, the bottom ones will get more burnt, so be careful. The great thing about the bottom layer is that it gets a little of that very dark “burnt” gooey stuff on them which gives the bottom layer a wonder taste. My younger daughter, Diana, loves… simply loves the bottom ones! The great thing is that city chicken is very good cold or the next day, or the next day, or the next day….
It was a great time cooking with both of my daughters, Erin and Diana. Erin and Diana skewered the meat, seasoned, floured, and breaded them. I just had to fry them… and to be honest; the both of them could have done it all. Actually, I know for a fact, that Erin has made this dish many times. She does very well… Grandma J would be proud! Erin and Diana, both are good cooks, but I think Erin cooks more than Diana. It was a great time cooking with both of them. I loved it and very proud of them knowing how to prepare a wonderful meal. Erin also made a dish of cauliflower and carrots lightly breaded and sauté with some butter and seasoning. Very simple but very good… great flavor.
We had a fabulous meal and then “opened gifts”, and then sat outside with drinks and talking, and then later played a little on the Wii. We had a great visit.
Dan, Erin’s husband, had foot surgery on both feet a couple days before arriving, so he was not as mobile as he normally would have been. But he got to rest and relax. Diana’s boyfriend, Joe, came to Raleigh for the first time. So Diana took he around to see some of the sights and downtown.
We went to J Betski’s for our Christmas dinner on last Thursday, which was grand. Ate at home for a couple of nights, and also went to Sitti for a wonderful dinner on last Friday evening. On Saturday evening the girls and I made city chicken. One of our favorite dishes that I learned from my mother growing up in Michigan.
City Chicken??!! No one down here in Raleigh knows about this wonderful food. Go to the meat market and ask for city chicken sticks and the butcher looks at you like “what the hell are you talkin’ about.” Yes! It has its very own sticks!!
City chicken is made with veal and pork, usually the stewing kind. You get a city chicken stick and skewer the meat alternating pork, veal with basically two veal pieces to three pork. After that, you season the meat with a little salt, pepper, and maybe garlic powder. Dust it with a little flour to make sure the egg dip sticks. For my egg dip, I just use a about five eggs and ½ cup of milk or half and half for about 40 sticks which is made from about 3 lbs of veal and 5 lbs of pork… lean stewing pork…. There has to be some fat for flavor and tenderness, but too much can be too fatty.
After the you dip in egg, roll the city chicken in your seasoned breading. My mother used to always grind up Corn Flakes and season with salt and pepper. I do the same but also add some garlic powder. Season to taste. Yes, try a little to see if it is too salty, or whatever. Add more ground up Corn Flakes if necessary.
Bread the city chicken and then fry them in about ¼ to ½ inch of hot vegetable oil. Fry until the breading is cooked which is a golden brown; don’t fry to cook the meat. You fry to just brown the breading! Now put the fried city chicken sticks in a greased cooking pan WITH A LID. Put about two layers and the cover. Put in a 350 to 375 degree oven and cook for about 1.5 to 2 hours or until the meat is very tender to a fork. It you put another third layer in the pan or more, it will take longer to cook. If that is the case, the bottom ones will get more burnt, so be careful. The great thing about the bottom layer is that it gets a little of that very dark “burnt” gooey stuff on them which gives the bottom layer a wonder taste. My younger daughter, Diana, loves… simply loves the bottom ones! The great thing is that city chicken is very good cold or the next day, or the next day, or the next day….
It was a great time cooking with both of my daughters, Erin and Diana. Erin and Diana skewered the meat, seasoned, floured, and breaded them. I just had to fry them… and to be honest; the both of them could have done it all. Actually, I know for a fact, that Erin has made this dish many times. She does very well… Grandma J would be proud! Erin and Diana, both are good cooks, but I think Erin cooks more than Diana. It was a great time cooking with both of them. I loved it and very proud of them knowing how to prepare a wonderful meal. Erin also made a dish of cauliflower and carrots lightly breaded and sauté with some butter and seasoning. Very simple but very good… great flavor.
We had a fabulous meal and then “opened gifts”, and then sat outside with drinks and talking, and then later played a little on the Wii. We had a great visit.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
America - A Neutered Society
Over the holidays there were some comments made about political correctness in our society when it comes to holiday celebrations. I understand about keeping any religion out of our government and making sure our government does not invade or promote any specific religion. However, this country was founded by many Christians and they sort of kept some of those beliefs or thinking in establishing this country, although religion and government are separate as entities. God and our Creator are mentioned in the Declaration of Independence. “In God We Trust” appears on our money, and for decades we swore on a bible (which was of Christian origin) in our courts. I do not believe it was all done intentionally as to promote the Christian religion or beliefs, but maybe just to re-affirm to everyone that certain things were held in such high regard and since the majority of those creating the government and its rules were Christian, their beliefs leached out into their writing. I may be wrong. Maybe it was done purposefully.
The one thing that does seem to be occurring in America is that we worry about everyone’s feelings and do not want to offend, but in doing so, the majority seems to get offended. If I lived in China, I would tend to think that their beliefs, values and morals come from their religious leader. Same in Israel, and in India, etc. All of those things would prevail throughout their culture, and me being a Christian, I would be in the minority and would have to accept it. Hopefully, I would be able to find a place of worship. Their societies or cultures have a flavor, uniqueness, a personality because of their peoples’ beliefs and values. In the USA, we seem to be going toward a sterile or neutered culture where there is no predominant way of thinking or believing. We are required to accept all and act like all to the point that no one can feel left out or offended.
I don’t feel that is a good thing because we lose our character and our essence. Just because some belief predominates, like having a Christmas tree or Christmas party, it should not be forced on those who do not wish to participate. After all, if the Christmas tree or Christmas party is at that special time of year, then call it what it is. If you have it at Hanukkah, call it a Hanukkah party… call it a Hanukkah/Christmas party if it covers both holiday periods. Have a Christmas/Kwanzaa party at the office if wanted. The retailers started calling it the Christmas season after Thanksgiving to increase their sales. After all, Christmas is only two days, the 24th and 25th. Hanukkah is eight days of celebration, and Kwanzaa is 7 days after Christmas.
The United States feels like having a neighborhood of homes almost all looking the same, only minor variations. It comes across as boring, lacking imagination and uniqueness, and minus that character I mentioned. I live in a Victorian neighborhood, but we do have homes with styles from other eras, but we are still classified as a Victorian neighborhood because the majority of the homes were from that time period. The other homes are not outwardly acknowledged due to their difference, but then again not excluded by any means in promotions or discussions. They are a part of the Victorian neighborhood.
It would be great to honor all holidays of all our religions and nationalities. If we were lucky, we maybe would only have to work 5 days out of the 365 due to the paid holidays and weekends off! I am wondering if there are any other countries that seem to have problems with the politically correctness and religion out of government issues that seem to consume us in the USA.
The one thing that does seem to be occurring in America is that we worry about everyone’s feelings and do not want to offend, but in doing so, the majority seems to get offended. If I lived in China, I would tend to think that their beliefs, values and morals come from their religious leader. Same in Israel, and in India, etc. All of those things would prevail throughout their culture, and me being a Christian, I would be in the minority and would have to accept it. Hopefully, I would be able to find a place of worship. Their societies or cultures have a flavor, uniqueness, a personality because of their peoples’ beliefs and values. In the USA, we seem to be going toward a sterile or neutered culture where there is no predominant way of thinking or believing. We are required to accept all and act like all to the point that no one can feel left out or offended.
I don’t feel that is a good thing because we lose our character and our essence. Just because some belief predominates, like having a Christmas tree or Christmas party, it should not be forced on those who do not wish to participate. After all, if the Christmas tree or Christmas party is at that special time of year, then call it what it is. If you have it at Hanukkah, call it a Hanukkah party… call it a Hanukkah/Christmas party if it covers both holiday periods. Have a Christmas/Kwanzaa party at the office if wanted. The retailers started calling it the Christmas season after Thanksgiving to increase their sales. After all, Christmas is only two days, the 24th and 25th. Hanukkah is eight days of celebration, and Kwanzaa is 7 days after Christmas.
The United States feels like having a neighborhood of homes almost all looking the same, only minor variations. It comes across as boring, lacking imagination and uniqueness, and minus that character I mentioned. I live in a Victorian neighborhood, but we do have homes with styles from other eras, but we are still classified as a Victorian neighborhood because the majority of the homes were from that time period. The other homes are not outwardly acknowledged due to their difference, but then again not excluded by any means in promotions or discussions. They are a part of the Victorian neighborhood.
It would be great to honor all holidays of all our religions and nationalities. If we were lucky, we maybe would only have to work 5 days out of the 365 due to the paid holidays and weekends off! I am wondering if there are any other countries that seem to have problems with the politically correctness and religion out of government issues that seem to consume us in the USA.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Another Year Ends Another Begins
And so it goes! 2009 finishes and not too soon of us. What a dismissal year for business.... 36% occupancy was compared to 42% in 2008 and 50% in 2007. The fiasco of Wall Street Economics certainly took its toll on us in the hospitality industry, especially in markets that depend on the business traveler. The bankers and those all connected with the real estate surge financially raped the rest of us. Every time someone stayed with us, I personally thanked them for stimulating the economy, because the banks certainly were doing their fair share. Every time any one of us spent a little money, we helped bring the economy back to normal. Someone rented a room and we in turn paid someone to clean it, someone to cut the lawn, someone to repair a toilet. Hopefully, those that were paid, spent some of it to others and on and on. That's how an economy is established... bartering and trading services and products. Those that hoard their money only hurt the economy from recovering.
It is really annoying for those that put us into this economic mess, are still the ones hoarding after receiving millions to assist them from economic failure and doom! That is life….those that have and those that have-not.... a war between the rich and poor, the affluent and the struggling. It has always existed in our societies and always, always will.
Looking on the better side of things.... just as in the past, the economy will make a come back, maybe not was strong or should I say, as prominent as a couple of years ago, but things will make a turn around. The issue is if you as a business can sustain yourself through the lower cash flow. Not making a profit is not the enemy of a successful business; not having an adequate cash flow to pay 85% of the bills is what will cause a business to fail.
The experts are saying that the hospitality industry will not see a major turn around until the third quarter of 2010. They also say it will not return to significant increases in occupancy rate and increased room rates until about late 2011 or early 2012. That would be expected as long as some other fiasco or catastrophe does not befall us. The cycles of economic affluence do not seem to last as long as they did in the 1950's, 1960's or 1970's. Hopefully that is also true of the economic turndowns.
As in the past, we will begin a new year with a new outlook and with new challenges. Hopefully, it will give us a year of positive outlook and provide a more stable financial future. It probably would be easier if we got rid of those who caused our demise in the first place... but that will never happen.
It is really annoying for those that put us into this economic mess, are still the ones hoarding after receiving millions to assist them from economic failure and doom! That is life….those that have and those that have-not.... a war between the rich and poor, the affluent and the struggling. It has always existed in our societies and always, always will.
Looking on the better side of things.... just as in the past, the economy will make a come back, maybe not was strong or should I say, as prominent as a couple of years ago, but things will make a turn around. The issue is if you as a business can sustain yourself through the lower cash flow. Not making a profit is not the enemy of a successful business; not having an adequate cash flow to pay 85% of the bills is what will cause a business to fail.
The experts are saying that the hospitality industry will not see a major turn around until the third quarter of 2010. They also say it will not return to significant increases in occupancy rate and increased room rates until about late 2011 or early 2012. That would be expected as long as some other fiasco or catastrophe does not befall us. The cycles of economic affluence do not seem to last as long as they did in the 1950's, 1960's or 1970's. Hopefully that is also true of the economic turndowns.
As in the past, we will begin a new year with a new outlook and with new challenges. Hopefully, it will give us a year of positive outlook and provide a more stable financial future. It probably would be easier if we got rid of those who caused our demise in the first place... but that will never happen.
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