Author: rob

3T’s Fathers Day Shoot

The 3 T’s coordinated a shooting extravaganza in the desert for Fathers Day.  3 Generations were there giving the younger folk some safety training.  A good variety of tools were available for all to try out.  The 110F heat really made it interesting.

The new Benelli kicks like a mule but I discovered that is because I was using 1600fps ammo.  They say to drop it to under 1200fps for best results.   Remington makes a lower recoil 1000fps slug for target shooting.  Who has this in stock is the big question

The manly men of Shooting Group T
The original founders of Shooting Group T
The tent could use some air conditioning next year
Shooting from the ground to keep things steady

Zen Curry House

Everyone knows about Indian Curry.  Few know about Japanese curry houses.  We have a few in town and this is Zen over on Spring Mountain.  You have sticky rice instead of basmati.  The curry sauce is similar to masala and you can pick your spice level.  Then you build your own plate adding katsu, shrimp, eggs, or any of a dozen other options.  It is interesting and visually appealing.

Personally, I like Tomoko’s home made curry much better.  She adds lots of veggies and it has a different consistency.  Similar to how you can make a much better spaghetti sauce at home than at a restaurant by adding lots of ingredients.

It is worth a try if you want a change of pace.

Fried Shumai (like a potsticker with pork and shrimp)
Pork Katsu, boiled chicken, and fried egg
Fried Shrimp, oysters over brown rice

 

More Lulu

Feeling cute – Might take another nap
Pillows are too soft, I will sleep on the gravel
Jenga style firewood pile from LHC
Hiding from the birds
Memorial garden stones

China Bistro 1

The wonderful China Bistro re-opened this week.  We had our post wedding ceremony dinner there last year.  They were carryout only since the Fauci-funded-Wuhan-engineered-virus lockdown days.  Food loses a lot of panache when sitting in a sad styrofoam box so going in person is a real treat.  This gets my vote as best restaurant in BC.  We have literally had everything on the menu many times.  They also make many things not listed on the menu – just ask.

The only bad thing about China Bistro is you cant order Chinese food from anyplace else.  I travel a lot and when I order Chinese take out it is always a let down.

Hostess Angel just retired but Jennifer is now running the show with the same crew that knows how to make magic.

Spring Rolls: (summer rolls)
Singapore Noodles with curry and pork
Mongolian Chicken  (I have ordered this a hundred times)
Smokey Oil Chili Sauce

 

Cast Iron Moussaka

Everything tastes better in cast iron
Smells good

Cast Iron Moussaka

Easy one pan dish

  • Cast Iron Skillet
  • 1 lb Beef or Lamb (ground or finely chopped)
  • 1 Onion (chopped)
  • 2 Zucchini (1 cm cubed)
  • 1 Eggplant (1 cm cubed, soak in salt water first)
  • 3 Tomato, Roma (Large cut)
  • 1/2 can Olives, Black, Sliced
  • 1 cup Parsley (chopped)
  • 1/2 lb Mozzarella Cheese (Shredded / chopped)

  1. Cook Onion / Meat: Season with Bull Powder (onion/garlic/pepper/salt), Tarragon, Oregano

  2. Mix: Mix all other ingredients except cheese. Add more salt, pepper, herbs as desired

  3. Bake: Put in Skillet, cover with cheese, throw on grill at low heat (2 of 3 burners) on clay heat buffer (I still dont have an oven in the house)

  4. Server: Over rice, With Pita, With chopped parsley, With lime wedges

Main Course
Greek

Hachi – Japanese Yakitori Izakaya: 2

It was ‘somebody’s’ birthday so we went back to the wonderful Hachi.  The binchotan grill really gives everything a fabulous aroma.  We got the same salmon sushi, takoyaki balls, eggplant, and shishito peppers.  We tried a few more things from the grill. I really need to find some of this charcoal for my grill.

Tamago: Thin layers of egg/fish broth with grated radish. Sounds weird but it’s good.
Shrimp: with a tartar sauce glaze. Next time order more
Grilled Scallops: Get a lot more of these too next time.
Tomato: wrapped in a very thin bacon. Get more of these too next time
Corn: grilled with butter. Yum
Takoyaki: Such a photogenic dish. Nice and crispy
Shishito peppers: Those blackened ones are the best

Mavis’s Cooking Class

Mavis is a dear neighbor put on an Indian cooking zoom class today.  She lives a few blocks away and we have gone out to various Indian Restaurants in the area pre-pandemic.  She has her own cookbook and everything.  Today she taught a couple dozen attendees how to make 4 wonderful dishes.   I am always amazed at what Indians can do with simple ingredients and spices.

– Dal:  Lentils with squash and leeks

– Aloo Gobi:  Potatoes and cauliflower

– Lemon Rice:  Aromatic rice

– Patriani Maci:  Salmon baked with Chutney

Cooking with Friends: Mavis Rangan
Mavis in action. Teaching over zoom is SO MUCH HARDER than teaching in real life. She and her daughter kept the dialog going the whole time.
Rice and Beans: The house smells so good with these two
Aloo Gobi and Fish: Next time swap out the potatoes for squash and peas. Glad we have left over chutney for more fish.
Finished product: Could eat this every day

 

Poke Poku

Poke is a great mid priced dinner you can have that is very high on the ‘not bad for you’ scale.  Everyone knows what sushi is and is familiar with Japanese sushi rolls.  Hawaiians will take the sushi and make a rice or salad bowl with similar ingredients.  The salad is the low-carb solution but most people get rice.  I always get the salmon but there are other fish options.  The fun part is picking out a dozen or so other ingredients and sauces.  Nobody ever craves for salad or gets too excited – but this is an exception.

Yum
More Yum
How did Lulu picture get in here?

The Pad

Finally had a chance to visit The Pad in Henderson.  It is the closest climbing gym in the area.  It has been WAY too many years since I have been climbing but I dug up my old harness and went.

It is a very big warehouse with lots of bouldering walls and a medium sized rope climbing wall.  They have 7 auto-belays.  They have a weight and excercise area along with some specialized climbing training items.  The staff is super helpful and the customers range in all ages and skill levels.

The walls are not as amazing as the wonderful Vertical Endeavors in MN but better than most gyms.

I need to really work on my hand / forearm strength and strength:weight ratio.  I need to be more like Magnus.

For 23$, it is not a bad way to spend an afternoon

My equipment bag
Boudering wall
Sport Climbing wall

Coffee Cup

There are a handful of good breakfast places in BC.  They get really busy on weekends so get there early.  Coffee Cup is known for having Guy Fieri from DDD on the food channel visit.   We have had everything on the menu and it’s all good.  The huevos rancheros, papa-con, chili verde, and chicken fried steak are ginormous and require a nap afterwards.  Below are 2 lighter options.

Croissant, egg, cheese, ham
Sourdough, Egg, Tomato, Swiss