There is one good thing about being sick, if you are well enough to be up to it and that is the chance to catch up on your reading. Being home with a cold this week, I have managed to get some books off the shelf and through the reading list. I can hear the snickers now, what does "Smilin' Paul" read? Well I just finished "The Fighter Boys, The Battle of Britain 1940" which an anthology of stories compiled by Patrick Bishop. This book brings a personal look into the lives of the "few" who defended England against Nazi domination in that summer of 1940. I also managed to finish "Ain't No Rag, Freedom, Family and the Flag" a collection of essays by noted country musician and fiddle player Charlie Daniels. Now I'm working on "Castles of Steel, Britain, Germany and the Winning of the Great War at Sea 1914-1918" by Robert K. Massie. This one is not for the faint hearted.
Now I want to thank my readers for the incoming mail and contributions. Some of them will find their way into WKWR sometime and some may not. I want you all to know that I appreciate any contributions though, be it useful e-mails, links, jpegs, gifs or anything we can use to further the conservative message. Also, keep the questions coming. I know I owe a response to a couple of you. Reader Larry Smith of Boulder City, NV. asked some poignant questions this week and I promise an answer as soon as I get caught up around here.
I have also been taking some hits from other readers like J. Topoian, Reno NV and others who want more sporting commentary. Truth to tell though, this has been such a dismal football season in regards to the NFL that I haven't given much thought to it. Besides the horrid performance of the Bay Area teams, my beloved A's are making trades and deals that make my head spin. I am struggling mightily to maintain some semblance of faith in Billy Beane and his vision for the future but we've lost an all-star catcher, an MVP shortstop, our best starter down the stretch last year and our closer. All this and I'm just supposed to think everything is hunky-dory in Athleticsland?
And unfortunately, while the reading front has improved, the blogging has taken a back seat while I fought the cold and sadly at a time when the Party of Sedition seems to be imploding. The President was first attacked by the dems for his handling of the economy which has been steadily coming back, reducing that argument. Next, they attacked the President for their perception that after less than a year in Iraq we are trapped in a quagmire. What happens? Saddam Hussein is captured, so the dems are forced to attack the President for other foreign policy decisions with which they disagree. What happens? Libyan dictator Moammar Qaddafi is caught red handed attempting to develop nuclear weapons. Knowing the jig is up, he figures he's better off giving up the attempt rather than his freedom like his brother Saddam. Qaddafi pledges to stop his WMD program and to allow UN inspectors. All in all a bad week for democrats already lacking in ideas on how to attack a President whose popularity is surging in the wake of all the good news.
This is of course cause for countless apoplectic fits in DNC headquarters as well as socialist EUtopia. I just saw a dem talking head on Fox News spewing the latest dem talking point. President Bushs' foreign policy is a failure because he isn't adored the way IMPEACHED ex-president Clinton was when he went overseas. According to this demwit, we need to be more engaged and willing to subordinate American policy and interests to internationalist, socialist and yes...FOREIGN agendas. In that way, we become less hated and then President Bush could be greeted by adoring crowds instead of angry protestors. They just don't get it...Americans want their President to represent OUR interests, not the interests of the EU or the Red Chinese. Americans don't give a plugged nickel for the EUtopian ideas of french snakeoil salesmen pitching a socialist paradise and therefore we will not bow to the demands of a throng of ill-informed, agitators pursuing a left wing agenda. Any American President who conducts policy by the popularity of his decisions in Paris, London and Beijing should be immediately tried for treason. Oh wait, that was the manner of policy conducted by a certain IMPEACHED ex-president. It doesn't work.
One thing that does work however is this week's recipe. With Christmas just days away, I thought it would be a good time for me to post my recipe for Prime Rib. Actually, this is a Rib Roast, it is choice and not prime but we make do where we have to. I have to give props to Alton Brown from Food TV's Good Eats for this recipe. I used it last Christmas to prepare a four bone rib roast and it was the best beef I've had this side of The House of Prime Rib or the Saltgrass Steakhouse. It has been my preferred method for rib roasts ever since. Now you don't have to go to all the trouble of finding a clay flower pot to fit your oven. I used this recipe in my roasting rack and pan in our standard oven and it worked fine so enjoy....
1 (4-bone-in) standing rib roast, preferably from the loin end
Canola oil, to coat roast
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to cover entire roast
1 cup water
1 cup red wine
4 fresh sage leaves
Remove any plastic wrapping or butcher's paper from the roast. Place the standing rib roast upright onto a half sheet pan fitted with a rack. The rack is essential for drainage. Place dry towels loosely on top of the roast. This will help to draw moisture away from the meat. Place into a refrigerator at approximately 50 to 60 percent humidity and between 34 and 38 degrees F. You can measure both with a refrigerator thermometer. Change the towels daily for 3 days.
Place a 16-inch round azalea terra cotta planter into a cold oven. Invert the planter to become a lid over a pizza stone or the bottom of the planter. The oven should be cold to start, to avoid any cracking in the terra cotta pieces. Turn the oven to 250 degrees F.
Remove the roast from the refrigerator and rub with canola oil. Remember to rub the bones with oil, as well. Once the roast is completely coated with oil cover the roast with kosher salt, about half a teaspoon per bone. Next, rub with freshly ground pepper to coat the surface. Place the roast over a glass bake-ware dish slightly smaller than the length of the roast. This will catch the drippings needed for the sauce. Finally, place a probe thermometer into the center of the roast and set for 118 degrees. Put the roast and the bake-ware dish onto the pizza stone, cover with the terra cotta pot, and return to the oven. Turn the oven down to 200 degrees F and roast until internal temperature is achieved.
Remove the roast and turn oven up to 500 degrees F. Remove the terra cotta lid and recover with heavy-duty foil. Allow the roast to rest until an internal temperature of 130 degrees F. is reached. Place the roast back into the preheated 500 degree F oven for about 10 minutes or until you've achieved your desired crust. Remove and transfer roast to a cutting board. Keep covered with foil until ready to serve.
Degrease the juices in the glass pan. Place the pan over low heat and deglaze with 1 cup of water. Add the wine and reduce by half. Roll the sage leaves in between your fingers to release the flavors and aroma. Add to the sauce and cook for 1 minute. Strain and serve on the side.
Smilin' Paul Villa U.S. Senate 2004
cyber-Congressman, R-Reno
Proud Member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy and 2 SUV Family
Now I want to thank my readers for the incoming mail and contributions. Some of them will find their way into WKWR sometime and some may not. I want you all to know that I appreciate any contributions though, be it useful e-mails, links, jpegs, gifs or anything we can use to further the conservative message. Also, keep the questions coming. I know I owe a response to a couple of you. Reader Larry Smith of Boulder City, NV. asked some poignant questions this week and I promise an answer as soon as I get caught up around here.
I have also been taking some hits from other readers like J. Topoian, Reno NV and others who want more sporting commentary. Truth to tell though, this has been such a dismal football season in regards to the NFL that I haven't given much thought to it. Besides the horrid performance of the Bay Area teams, my beloved A's are making trades and deals that make my head spin. I am struggling mightily to maintain some semblance of faith in Billy Beane and his vision for the future but we've lost an all-star catcher, an MVP shortstop, our best starter down the stretch last year and our closer. All this and I'm just supposed to think everything is hunky-dory in Athleticsland?
And unfortunately, while the reading front has improved, the blogging has taken a back seat while I fought the cold and sadly at a time when the Party of Sedition seems to be imploding. The President was first attacked by the dems for his handling of the economy which has been steadily coming back, reducing that argument. Next, they attacked the President for their perception that after less than a year in Iraq we are trapped in a quagmire. What happens? Saddam Hussein is captured, so the dems are forced to attack the President for other foreign policy decisions with which they disagree. What happens? Libyan dictator Moammar Qaddafi is caught red handed attempting to develop nuclear weapons. Knowing the jig is up, he figures he's better off giving up the attempt rather than his freedom like his brother Saddam. Qaddafi pledges to stop his WMD program and to allow UN inspectors. All in all a bad week for democrats already lacking in ideas on how to attack a President whose popularity is surging in the wake of all the good news.
This is of course cause for countless apoplectic fits in DNC headquarters as well as socialist EUtopia. I just saw a dem talking head on Fox News spewing the latest dem talking point. President Bushs' foreign policy is a failure because he isn't adored the way IMPEACHED ex-president Clinton was when he went overseas. According to this demwit, we need to be more engaged and willing to subordinate American policy and interests to internationalist, socialist and yes...FOREIGN agendas. In that way, we become less hated and then President Bush could be greeted by adoring crowds instead of angry protestors. They just don't get it...Americans want their President to represent OUR interests, not the interests of the EU or the Red Chinese. Americans don't give a plugged nickel for the EUtopian ideas of french snakeoil salesmen pitching a socialist paradise and therefore we will not bow to the demands of a throng of ill-informed, agitators pursuing a left wing agenda. Any American President who conducts policy by the popularity of his decisions in Paris, London and Beijing should be immediately tried for treason. Oh wait, that was the manner of policy conducted by a certain IMPEACHED ex-president. It doesn't work.
One thing that does work however is this week's recipe. With Christmas just days away, I thought it would be a good time for me to post my recipe for Prime Rib. Actually, this is a Rib Roast, it is choice and not prime but we make do where we have to. I have to give props to Alton Brown from Food TV's Good Eats for this recipe. I used it last Christmas to prepare a four bone rib roast and it was the best beef I've had this side of The House of Prime Rib or the Saltgrass Steakhouse. It has been my preferred method for rib roasts ever since. Now you don't have to go to all the trouble of finding a clay flower pot to fit your oven. I used this recipe in my roasting rack and pan in our standard oven and it worked fine so enjoy....
1 (4-bone-in) standing rib roast, preferably from the loin end
Canola oil, to coat roast
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to cover entire roast
1 cup water
1 cup red wine
4 fresh sage leaves
Remove any plastic wrapping or butcher's paper from the roast. Place the standing rib roast upright onto a half sheet pan fitted with a rack. The rack is essential for drainage. Place dry towels loosely on top of the roast. This will help to draw moisture away from the meat. Place into a refrigerator at approximately 50 to 60 percent humidity and between 34 and 38 degrees F. You can measure both with a refrigerator thermometer. Change the towels daily for 3 days.
Place a 16-inch round azalea terra cotta planter into a cold oven. Invert the planter to become a lid over a pizza stone or the bottom of the planter. The oven should be cold to start, to avoid any cracking in the terra cotta pieces. Turn the oven to 250 degrees F.
Remove the roast from the refrigerator and rub with canola oil. Remember to rub the bones with oil, as well. Once the roast is completely coated with oil cover the roast with kosher salt, about half a teaspoon per bone. Next, rub with freshly ground pepper to coat the surface. Place the roast over a glass bake-ware dish slightly smaller than the length of the roast. This will catch the drippings needed for the sauce. Finally, place a probe thermometer into the center of the roast and set for 118 degrees. Put the roast and the bake-ware dish onto the pizza stone, cover with the terra cotta pot, and return to the oven. Turn the oven down to 200 degrees F and roast until internal temperature is achieved.
Remove the roast and turn oven up to 500 degrees F. Remove the terra cotta lid and recover with heavy-duty foil. Allow the roast to rest until an internal temperature of 130 degrees F. is reached. Place the roast back into the preheated 500 degree F oven for about 10 minutes or until you've achieved your desired crust. Remove and transfer roast to a cutting board. Keep covered with foil until ready to serve.
Degrease the juices in the glass pan. Place the pan over low heat and deglaze with 1 cup of water. Add the wine and reduce by half. Roll the sage leaves in between your fingers to release the flavors and aroma. Add to the sauce and cook for 1 minute. Strain and serve on the side.
Smilin' Paul Villa U.S. Senate 2004
cyber-Congressman, R-Reno
Proud Member of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy and 2 SUV Family
posted by Smilin' Paul Villa | 8:46 AM
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