Monthly Archives: August 2015

Roasted Turkey Recipe

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This week, my contribution is a recipe I have used to create the best roast turkey I have every had, and my go to meal at Thanksgiving. As I recall, the original recipe comes from America’s Test Kitchen, and was based upon an old recipe. The key is the pork salt, which moistens the turkey breast throughout the cooking process, whereas oil or butter only have a temporary benefit, while also not imparting to the turkey the smoked taste of say bacon.

For Roasting Turkey
• 2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
• 2 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
• 10 Roma Tomatoes
• Cheese cloth to cover turkey
• 1 package of Pork Salt
• Beef broth
• Water

Cooking of Turkey
Cut onions, celery, carrots, and tomatoes in half after trimming ends. Spray olive oil on roasting pan, and place around wire rack.
Cut Pork Salt into slices
Fold cheese cloth into a 18″ square. Put folded cheese cloth into large bowl with 4 cups of water and 1 cup of beef broth. Let soak for 2 minutes.
Tuck wing underneath turkey, and make sure legs are held together. Remove neck, and giblets from rear. Put sage, rosemary, and thyme in cavity of turkey, and place turkey on wire rack.
Prick turkey breast and leg tops with fork. Place Pork Salt on breast and leg tops of turkey, use toothpicks to secure. Put soaked cheese cloth over Pork Salt. Make sure back of turkey is covered with cheese cloth. Pour some liquid from bowl unto cheese cloth and into pan. Cover cheese cloth with tented aluminum foil, make sure back is covered, but cavity and some of legs can be exposed.
Preheat oven to 325degrees, and place turkey in oven until breast temperature reaches 140 degrees. Should be 2-3 hours depending on bird size. Remove cheese cloth, pork salt and foil, and increase oven temperature to 425 degrees. Remove vegetables from pan, and set aside. Put back side of turkey into oven. Finish cooking the turkey until the breast reaches 170 degrees and has brown color.
Remove turkey from oven and let turkey rest for 30 minutes. Use pan drippings for sauce.

Online Dating — Red Flags, Observations, and Commentary

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Disclaimer: My online dating experience has primarily been through Match.com, and my comments below reflect a male point of view, but I am sure that many of the same issues would exist from a female viewpoint.

Since around 2012, after I reached my weight loss goal, I became more focused on trying to find a companion for the second part of my life. However, in baseball terms, I would say that my batting average has been very low, 0.100 or less. While there have been a few connections that lasted a while, and have been quite rewarding, more often than not, it was either one date and out, or unanswered e-mails, the latter occurring around 98% of the time, by my estimates.

While I have tried to meet women playing tennis, going on hikes, and attending classes, my main source of possible connections has been online dating, particularly, Match.com. Although I am well aware that I am no authority on how to attract women, I do believe I have a some insights, and know of some warning signs, which are part of online dating. As for some other online dating sites, like eHarmony, I tried it, but did not like it, particularly since you do not see any pictures of person you might be interested in.  Just think about it, in daily life, men look at women and are, or are not, attracted, to them, plus we gauge a person by how they dress, what activities they do, the company they keep, etc., and without any pictures, I believe eHarmony put a person looking for a date at a distinct disadvantage by not providing these insights.

So here are some of my observations, red flags, and comments about online dating:

  • If there is a text number in the woman’s online screen name, it is a scam and stay away, huge red flag. Also, stay away from woman from China — for some reason, I get many e-mails from women in China, even though my profile distinctly states a specific and very limited geographic region in Eastern USA
  • Around 70% women lie about their age, particularly in their 30’s and older. So I assume that if a woman lists her age as 39, she is in her 40’s, and if she is listed as 49, she is in her 50’s.  The justification is usually they are doing it for search purposes, but for me, not being truthful about one’s age is a bad way to start off a relationship.
  • Woman are generally truthful when they describe their body type as “Slender” or “Athletic and toned”, however, if they describe themselves as “Average” or Curvy”, they are usually heavy.
  • Woman are generally truthful about their height, but from what I have heard, this is an area where men tend to lie.
  • If a woman’s profile has only one picture (or no picture), and/or does not contain much information, I tend to stay away, as it raises a red flag that they may not be whom they seem.
  • If you are interested in a woman, write an e-mail that shows you have read their profile, and do not bother with winks, likes or favorites.
  • Should a woman write to you, and you are not interested, you can do three things, — ignore the e-mail, press a button that you are not interested, or send a reply e-mail. If a woman spends time writing me an e-mail that shows she at least read my profile, I will write back to her, thanking her for her e-mail, but saying I just do not think we are a good fit. Should she respond back asking why, I do not respond, since in my experience, that line of correspondence deteriorates rapidly.
  • Usually the best first dates are for dinner, brunch, or after-work drinks. But I always remember the advise I got about dining or drinking during interviews, avoid dishes with sauces, soups, carbonated beverages, or getting drunk. Also, I am old school, so I think the man should pay, even if the woman protests.

Well, that’s about all for right now. I am sure I will be providing more about this subject in the future. Good luck to everyone, and me too.