Month: August 2022

August 3, 2022 – YouTube Blast

Over the course of the last couple of weeks, I have been creating very short videos with tips on siding. I don’t know what it is going to amount to, but I was looking and my nail gun repair video got 41 views in the last 24 hours (when I am writing this). So, that platform is getting some degree of engagement. That means I am taking the cheap route here and linking to my recent YouTube work.

I think that you get the idea. All of them I am putting into a single playlist. You can find that here if you want to keep up or watch them all at once.

End Your Programming Routine: There is that saying ‘the heart wants what the heart wants’. I have often thought that if something that I work on ever takes off, I would need to shift from writing or doing whatever I want to something more focused (more like a job). I know that siding tips are not everyone’s cup of tea but it makes sense to foster something that is getting engagement like YouTube.

August 2, 2022 – Pasta Sauce From A Jar?

I know, this is one of those convenience things. Real sauce takes some time. But I will give a secret, I almost always doctor sauce from a jar in this way as well. So, I really don’t have anything to gain from using jarred sauce.

First, lets talk about jarred sauce. I find it to be lifeless and bland lacking the zest of herbs, the sweetness of vine ripened tomatoes, the tang of garlic, that is a surface issue. To go deeper, we will look at the ingredient list, why is corn syrup part of the recipe? Then we have the alphabet soup of preservatives. The only thing redeeming is the price point, hence we get what we pay for.

What is the purpose of sugar with tomatoes? This technique helps mellow the acidity of the tomato which balances the overall flavor profile. I typically use a teaspoon to a half tablespoon of brown sugar for an entire batch of sauce, say enough for four people.

Have you ever bought the ‘garden’ variety of sauce? I think there are a dozen mushroom slices and green peppers in the jar. I certainly taste no difference. I like a generous amount of onion, half a green pepper, four mushrooms, three cloves of garlic and probably a tablespoon of basil and salt to taste. With this proportion, I would add one or two cans of plain tomato sauce. This is a good place to throw in leftover pizza sliced or taco diced tomatoes as well (I used hamburger sliced tomatoes from my sons birthday in the picture above).

That is just as fast as doctoring jarred sauce. Instead of sauce, you could start with crushed, diced or even whole tomatoes. When using those types of ingredients, start with reducing the tomatoes first and add the vegetables to the sauce rather than the other way around.

End Your Programming Routine: I don’t always add this many vegetables. In fact, we do not eat that much pasta, I don’t care for it much. But, I promised my son that I would make vegan spaghetti and we would use his plant based meatballs. By the way, those things are disgusting, also not real food. Despite that, I remain open minded and inclusive of his choice. So, skip the prepared sauce and do it yourself. It can literally be done while the water is heating up to boil the pasta.

August 1, 2022 – Music and Memoires

I am keeping short and sweet again. Listen to hear what I am saying! The playlist that accompanies my podcast can be heard here.

End Your Programming Routine: Every day things get a little bit better. I find that certain songs have the capability to appease anger and transition to a better mind state. Find your inner peace and be that rock in the storm. It definitely isn’t easy, I keep praying for resolution.