Spending Frenzy Day – Magic Leftovers

Today is a “”tough one” out here in the wilds of East Texas.  Oh, the weather, while turning cold is OK.  Our house guest /consigliere has had a good time. Even got a case settled Wednesday afternoon.  Ah, the magic of MagicJack VOIP, multiple monitors, and Starlink.

Yeah, all that stuff is fine.  And the Turkey I did?  Why amazing, of course. Tons of leftovers though done a little earlier (and drier) than planned.  Still, a damn fine meal.  We hope yours went as well?  All of us were stuffed and crashed by 7:30 last night.

But That Gets Us to Black Friday

Shopping Tip #1: I’ve been doing a little “free spending” already.  But the spending was done mindfully.  If you want, here are my “secrets of dopamine and cash flow.”

First, understand that shopping is a “hormonal event.”  The brain unloads dopamine in response to “spending.”  You likely already know that “Dopamine can increase the motivation to put in cognitive effort by amplifying the perceived benefits of a task relative to its costs. This can make people more willing to take on challenging tasks.”

What you may not be clear on is the science behind this. Before you go shopping today, read how science is working “Toward a Unifying Account of Dopamine’s Role in Cost-Benefit Decision Making – PMC.”

Shopping Tip #2: 

Your Life, first.  Shopping for it, second.

This means rather than raw impulse buying, have a good sense of your goals and (non-shopping) desires and outcomes you’re after BEFORE getting online.  Try to think about where you want to be next year.  

Then SCORE EVERY EXPENDITURE  on how much it will move you toward your goal.

For example, when I begin to dial-back the writing for the web in 2025 (when I hit 76 next year …I mean a fellas got to retire sometime, right?), I will be buying and reselling used (tube type) ham radio equipment.  That’s where the heart strings are tugging. In case no one has told you yet, people get into troubles and can land in a miserable life when they don’t “follow their heart.”

Today, for instance, I bought what’s called a “variac” for my electronics bench. This is a device that let’s you apply line voltage by manually turning up the voltage going from the wall into the radio.  Helps to prevent further damage to a radio.

This has been on my shopping list for a long time. When I found one at a reasonable price (regardless of whether it’s Black Friday, or not), into the cart it went.

Shopping Tip #3 – Use Online Reviews

We get very good value for our money because of a method to spending.  One of our (unstated) rules is “Don’t buy shit.”  Your money is good, so get the best you can for a price.

Since other people have already posted Reviews (with stars), here’s our use of Reviews in the shopping process.  I will write this in a “coding” kind of way to keep it simple:

NOTICE ITEM

• IF no product reviews (or less than 10 today) SKIP (to next item)
• IF product reviews >10 count, apply CRITERION
• IF [criterion = OK add to Cart] ELSE [SEEK new item]
• ON “none” SKIP to Next Item (or) Next Category

CRITERION (subroutine)

• #REM: 5 stars +4 Stars = Top Ratings
• #REM: 2 STARS+1 Stars = Bottom Ratings
• ADD (5 stars + 4 stars) as OK
• SUBTRACT from OK (2 stars + 1 star) as SUBTOTAL
• DIVIDE  [Subtotal] by [Top Ratings] as SCORE
• IF SCORE > 75 percent, OK to buy, ELSE >Skip
• RETURN [Notice Item]

This process will remove huge amounts of grief.

ADVANCED TIP; 

On Amazon, not on consider reviews which are NOT from “verfied purchasers.”

Because other sellers (and a few shitheads) can put up reviews without purchase.  So when you see, for example, a bad review of one of my books, remember product reviews with 1 or 2 stars (and aren’t verified purchases”) are likely from shitheads and pricks with issues.

Reviews with A 3, or higher, at OK.

Tip #3: Throw Everything in the Cart

Enjoy the dopamine rush of doing do.

Tip #4 Be BRUTAL at Check Out

Before hitting the “Purchase now” ask yourself the hardest questions you can think of:

• “Can I afford this?”
• “Will it make my life better and simpler or harder and worse?”
• “Does this get be along On Plan to my next adventure in life?”

If you have any “NO” answers, crap-can the item and move along.

Be realistic about your goals and needs.  Here’s my shopping list so far today with a note on each.

1. Variac for the electronics bench
2. Outside wood stove rain cap for chimney pipe.
3. New meat thermometer (replaces old)
4. Air fryer and liners (replaces old)
5. FTA satellite receiver (replaces old)
6. USB HDMI capture card (functional replacement due to migration to mini PC from desktop with an Aver-Media capture card).

See?  Logical.  Probably threw out 5 or 6 tools.  Didn’t need them.  (Hands were shaking over the DEL key…)

Did I almost buy a much bigger drone?  Icom 7300 ham radio? Why, sure, of course!  But do I really need them?  Got two drones and a ton of ham gear. So no.

Fin-News Marches On

Financial items: STOCKS CLOSE AT 1 PM TODAY.

FUTURES are up slightly, but doesn’t seem likely to take out the highs of last week.  Which means Monday could be our next leap of faith point.

BITCOIN has still not busted above $100,000 and was under $97k earlier. Failure to go higher could set up a retracement to the $75-85K region.

FED has a balance sheet due out at the close.  Look to this for any “adjustments” because there’s a kind of Deep State tradition that agencies (and pseudos) slip things out (hoping them will not be noticed) int he frenzy of Black Friday (or around Christmas, New Years, etc.)

News, General

Pea-brain Joe and the War Party just don’t get it.  Remember, Biden is the Commander of the Ukrainian divisions which are making deep strikes inside Russia.  So when you read Biden criticizes Russian missile strikes on Ukraine, reaffirms US support, help yourself to a barf bag.

Meantime, there’s a betting row open on whether Vlad Putin can chill out until after January 20th: Putin Praises Donald Trump as ‘Intelligent’ and ‘Experienced’. But, he’s not in the Oval for almost two-more months, yet.

Seeing Trump and Biden trade jabs (and soon jobs) reminds me of the long history of this kinda of thing: Ancient footprints reveal two hominin species coexisting 1.5 million years ago.  Why, just like D.C. today, huh?

Taiwan Tick-Tock gets louder:  China urges ‘utmost caution’ by US ahead of Taiwan president’s Hawaii trip.  Taiwan pres. flies Saturday morning, Taiwan time (late tonight, our time).  So a weekend night move by Taiwan is possible.  Good weather to if you check and this leaves my consigliere asking whether China is ready to go, or not.  Windy.com, by the way, has already labeled the place “Taiwan Province.”

Say, and how about that cease-fire?  Israel launches first strike on Lebanon since ceasefire after saying Hezbollah violated the truce.

And if you need another dollop of Armageddon, might we recommend: Muslims March Through the Streets of Bangladesh, Calling for the Slaughter of Hindus (Video)?  That could get ugly.

News, Slop

Only a few, we expect: Amazon workers plan strike between Black Friday and Cyber Monday in major cities around the world

England is losing even more of their semi-free speech: UK is about to implement Islamic blasphemy laws. UK is now a dictatorship.

Passings: Racing pioneer ‘Motorcycle Mary’ McGee dies at 87.

At the Ranch: Magical Leftovers

By Popular Demand we re-run the “How to” article on the SST Sandwich/Hot Brown recipe that has been one of my favorites for almost 3/4’s of a century:

ATR:  Spectacular Leftovers 2022

(ATR= Around The Ranch)

For almost 10-years now, we have offered the highest and best use of leftover turkey ever invented.  Here’s the 9th annual turkey leftovers recipe we prize more than the old Lexus.

Originally posted as our Ode to 13 Coins’ SST Sandwich column from 2013. It has been hopelessly updated annually.

I don’t remember if Gale, the daytime bartender at the ‘Coin’s place across from the Seattle Times had retired yet, (Yes, he did in 2015, or so – g) or not…might have.  Great guy and always poured me a “hard-day-for-the-editor-sized drink” back in my news-chasing days… ‘Coins was kitty-corner from the Seattle Times plant on Fairview back then. A.P. Bureau was across the street north.

First, my own contribution to “the turkey leftovers science.”

I baked the bird (2018) in a turkey bag (breast-up) as usual. But upon removing, I turned it breast down while the turkey rested (while I made gravy, etc…more wine, too, while Ure at it…).

Fall-apart moist – even Elaine said it was one of the all-time best-ever turkeys she’s ever had.  Better than baked breast-down…Just 10-15 min, breast down while resting in its juices before carving…amazing! (I adjusted steam holes to the central axis end of the bag to preserve juices! Don’t want liquid gravy basics leaking out.)  10-points for food science!

(From 2013)

Ode to 13 Coins:  The SST Sandwich

No doubt the one best way to use-up whatever is left in the way of turkey is based on a “sandwich” which used to be served by 13 Coins, a 24-hour restaurant in Seattle.  This served as a kind of Mecca for the broadcasters, writers, and theatrical types who made Seattle a happening place from the 1960’s, 1970’s and 80’s.   Before the commies took over local government up there.

‘Coins is still one of the top 5 late night food joints in the country and with good reason:  If you sit at the counter, you can watch chefs doing their flaming cooking on the big gas stoves (with a gas-fired broiler for browning) from high back bar chairs.  It’s the sort of setting people can only dream of having for entertaining in the home kitchen.

It was here that the SST Sandwich was developed – at about the same time Boeing was building a mock-up of what might have been an American SuperSonic Transport to compete with the Brit-Frog Concorde. I always wondered if the selection of turkey as its main ingredient a matter of taste or deep commentary on aeronautics or economics of the aircraft…

By far, the SST is the best use of turkey ever seen – and to my palate it is almost as good as fresh roasted turkey with all the fixing’s. Anyone can make good food in an unlimited kitchen with clean up staff.  When it’s me and/or Elaine and KitchenAid, it’s a different equation.  It’s cheaper to hire appliances than people.

The inventor of the SST used a Béchamel sauce (white sauce) but for those of us who scored higher in the laziness department, a can of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup (regular, not fat-free – what’s the point, right?) works almost as well as a substitute.

In the original SST, the toast points had the crust cut -off.  Again, this is additional work that could be dispensed-with.  An optional item if you’re trying to recapture the flavor of the original dish.

Butter the toast points?  That’s up to you and your cardiologist.  The sandwich was on dry toast points.  13 Coins made up for the lack of butterfat with their thumb-sized fries.  Exactly 13 of them stacked in Lincoln Logs fashion.

OMG, TDF!  Yellow potatoes with a spritz of Johnny’s Dock or Lawry’s seasoning salt.  A very lightly spiced ketchup on the side.

Oh…and fresh Parmesan from the Pike Place Market is nice, too.  But over the years I’ve used everything from Kraft “sprinkle cheese” to hand shaved aged Parmesan (plus various mixes) and I couldn’t tell much difference.

The Updated Recipe (for T2020)

You begin with a hot skillet.  On the edge of smoking but not quite.  Occasional beeps from the smoke detector are ignored.

Into this pan, you pour about a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and fire (or the electric-hellfire equivalent) until just smoking a bit.

Add one cup (roughly, per person) of freshly sliced mushrooms. Shake, toss, and worry it a bit. 4 mm wide slices.

Sauté and throw in a flammable liquid. Toss and flame. Tequila?  Brandy?  Whatever’s handy. Nothing too sweet.  A dry white  cooking wine is acceptable.  Flambe it a bit.  Preheating the booze makes it flame easier.

Flame longer if you have an audience; Foodery is theater.  If you are cooking over gas, this part is easy.  Electric?  Not so much.  Don’t set the kitchen afire.  After 2 or 3 good flareups, the flavors peak.  A clean brandy can also be used – by the Chef.

If you’ve got a range hood, like the big ones at 13 Coins, the third splash of whatever burns good (from the bar) with the oil, provides guests a photo-op, too.

Brandy was the lazy man’s choice – I could never get white wine to flame.  Certainly not on an electric range.  Maybe with oxy-acetylene.  Outdoor BBQ side burners do swell but remember wheel it out from under the roofline. Fireballs while cooking are fun but not under flammable ceilings.

When the flames die down, (the alcohol flares off if you use high enough heat) you toss in a cup, or more, of diced turkey (per person).  This has been sliced into 3/4-inch cubes.

This is all tossed around in the sizzling pan so the flavors get acquainted with one-another.  Flame again (third time) if using gas.  Mostly ‘cuz it’s fun.  Showy and entertaining.

Next comes the Béchamel sauce, or – if doing this at home hungover and lazy – that can (11 oz.) of regular (condensed) Campbell’s cream of mushroom works fine. NOT FAT FREE!

Reduce heat to a simmer while you:

*Prepare bacon and Toast points.  Two slices of each, per person.

Each serving will need a shallow (broiler safe) baking/serving dish, 3-slices for me, use a baking pan for more room.  Two slices for reasonable eaters, thanks. (No point getting healthy this weekend, though.)

* Two or three…OK…FOUR!  (long and lean) strips of crispy bacon are made.  Pressed so they don’t shrink too much.  You do have a bacon press?  Microwave bacon cooker works fine.  We’re eating healthy so lower sodium bacon.

Arrange as follows:

• Toast Points  (crusts on, or not)
• Atop this you pour a portion of turkey, sauce, and sauteed mushrooms flambeed.
• Add cheese* and melt under broiler.
• On removal, add bacon strips lengthwise.  (Originally it was two strips of incredibly long, thick bacon as an “X”.

*  1/3 cup (or so) of fresh-grated Parmesan (or you could use an Italian three-cheese mix with little difference, but the cheese should go off to salty a bit.)

Practice the finish if serving multiple guests (we’re not big on sharing this, lol):  Melt the cheese well.  Should have some medium  browning in places.

A few tablespoons of the cheese will dribble over into the happily bubbling sauce.  Right before moving to the next step. Which is?

Serve with the 13-Coins style fries (Big as your thumb.) and a glass of whatever libation suits you.

Wine pairing may be the hardest decision of the weekend.  My buddy (and fellow PNW rock n roll newser) Chet Rogers favored the Chardonnay (“…with a light buttery, and a smooth oaky finish…”).  Wife Elaine’s more the dry champagne type.  Me?  Half-gallon of Sutter Home White Zin (ice cold) and an IV bag will do.

Here on the north side of 70, I seem to be doing cranberry juice (with a splash of vodka), which works dandy, too.  It’s better for the liver, the FAA, and primary care physician confessionals.  “Oh yes, I drink cranberry juice now…“

A word about the fries (and why a 13-Coins visit is always on our Seattle agenda.  You can’t cheat on the fries.  They cannot be those wimpy little prefab wormy things like the “arches” use. Or what you buy in the frozen food section. You know the sort: mashed potatoes water-jetted from a square pastry nozzle.

A proper grown-up whole potato (Yukon Gold, very large) is whacked into coarse slices about the size of your thumb (bigger if you’re dainty, I hold my thumb up when Elaine is slicing, but stay out of range).  At least 3/4’s of an inch to a full inch.

Cold rinse them several times then pat dry.  A couple of hours in ice water is even better before drying.  Air fryer works if you toss the raw potatoes in a few teaspoons of EVOO and sprinkle well with a seasoned salt.  Johnny’s Dock – another favorite haunt. Lawry’s as a backup.

Finish the fries until a few shades darker than golden brown.  They are thick – this will take time.  Do this while guzzling booze and flaming things.  Yee haw!

We toss ’em in the air fryer nowadays.  I’m sure the Biden Administration will outlaw anything deep-fried, shortly.  Dems want to spoil everyone else’s fun but their own.

It’s a sacrilege to do so, but I will ask for ketchup and the staff doesn’t (usually) seem too offended by my epicurean gaffes.

No, I don’t get any spiffs or deals for my semi-annual review of the SST.  The SST may not even be on the 13 Coins menu, but we assume you know about “secret menus” – the good stuff is for long-term customers.  You need to know to ask.

It wasn’t on the menu last time we were in Seattle.  But the kitchen was able to make one though I don’t know if they still can.  (Reports welcome on this point.)  Ask for the SST off the ‘secret menu.’

Is It the Best “Sandwich” Ever?

Weather at this time of the year in the Northwest is usually crappy:  Gray, cold, and rainy more often than not.  Which may have something to do with why Seattle has some really great places to eat.

Other cities do, as well, but even San Francisco (last time we were there) seems to have gone “touristy” and “institutional/commercial” even at Ghirardelli and the wharf, last time through.  I keep thinking about going back to see if anything’s as good as the food at Bertolucci’s in South San Francisco.  Color me skeptical.  Bertolucci’s was fab.

The main thing about great restaurants is they were usually started (or perfected) by great restauranteurs.  Families who somehow got the balance between hospitality, beverage, taste, performance, and consistency.  For me, the Ward family’s (13 Coins and el Gaucho back in the day), (Victor) Rossellini’s, and Ivar Haglund’s seafood joints -Ivar’s – were the family names in Seattle.  Lemonsakis and Gasperetti joints (Latitude 48 and the Roma Cafe, were top-flight too…there were lots of good hangouts. Ruby Chow’s before she got into politics.

Every city has such places.…it takes a little looking around to scout them out. Most people don’t focus on the search…too much hurry, too little time, yada, yada.  But like investing in a great partner, or stocks, finding a great restaurateur’s prize is the GI tract equivalent of finding Apple or Microsoft stock before their IPOs..

Along the way, be sure and ask questions and steal cooking ideas you can bring home, too.  Like this recipe.  You never know when you’ll have some leftovers that can be turned into real treats.

Or have to write a column about turkey leftovers that’s not plain stupid.

Award-winning chef daughter says I got the genealogy of the SST wrong.  It’s taught to young cheffettes as based on the “Hot Brown” and is popular ‘back east.’ (Remember, even Spokane is ‘back east’ from Seattle.)

Sure enough, you can find a damn-fine Hot Brown at (where else?) the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky.  Hell of a lot shorter-drive for us than Seattle.  874 miles vs. 1,900.  But fewer Indian Casinos along the way – which we enjoy, too.  Choices, huh?

The Hot Brown looks almost like the SST, but with fewer aircraft fasteners and a cheese-change.  I still think White Zin will fuel either nicely.  Maybe with a Kentucky local beverage or three as the warm-up.

A Thanksgiving (2014) Gift from Reader John K

Want some money?  Free?  The real deal here.  I didn’t have time yesterday to ask his permission to use his name (again), but a reader of ours, John, a wealth manager up in Nashville, who sent me a dandy email that could be worth your time to read:  (Pay attention Andy!)

Hello George,

To assist you in helping others and so you and your family may also find new wealth, enter your last name and or company name in the following Search engines to see unclaimed property. I conduct searches in support of Estate settlements, but you do not have to be dead to have unclaimed property. I have helped others find property of deceased relatives and forgotten security deposits from college. If you can provide proof of your name connected to the address (if it shows one), wa la, you’re in the money/property.

If the person is deceased, letters Testamentary, would also be required. Be aware the states often misspell names, so be on the lookout for property under similar spellings. If you can see the address, that usually helps verify the connection. If a person is deceased or you can’t remember all your past addresses, run a free credit report which shows all prior addresses (living and deceased people).

The first site seems more effective, and the second site is quicker, but less accurate.

http://www.unclaimed.org/

MissingMoney.com | Search for Unclaimed Property

Best of luck!

Happy thanksgiving!

John

And so, with that, off to the kitchen where three eggs, a slab of ham, and a little cheese cake to balance out all the protein awaits.

Have a grand by Deluxe day and write when you get rich,

George@Ure.net