Son of a monkey…looks like my entry into the “BLT from Scratch Challenge” just took a header.

See for yourself in TDB’s first vlog post.

Two problems:

A) You were right Rob (SHOUT OUT)!  I should have done more to protect those plants and

2) trying to find room in between what are now monster corn stalks to grow the lettuce was wishful thinking.

Lessons learned.

I’m still pressing forward though.  My niece just so happens to be growing some lettuce and doing quite well.  It might be time for Uncle Mike to go play farmers market at her house.

It’s been three weeks since my last update on my progress with “The BLT from Scratch Challenge” and those three weeks have been like watching paint dry.  It’s really a waiting game this month as the tomato and lettuce plants continue to grow.

Here’s a shot of the garden as of last Sunday:

The corn has taken off nicely…and on the other side, you can see the MUTANT cherry tomato plant that is essentially taking over the entire garden!!  We have had to trim the plant twice already, just to allow sunlight to get to other plants on that end of the garden, including my beefsteak tomatoes.  I have no idea what has caused this little plant to go crazy, I just hope we get a ton of fruit off it.

But I digress…

This is where we stand just six weeks from the Labor Day deadline… [Read more →]

You (my 10′s of readers) may recall a few weeks back when I opened our fridge and found something so foul that it sent me recoiling backward in horror while I let out one of my best Jaime Lee Curtis in “Halloween” screams…

There it was…a box of pre-cooked pork!  How did this get into our home?  What kind of cruel and sadistic trick was this? What did I do to tick Better Half off to the point that she would purchase this???

I can tell you my friends, I stared at the box for a long time. Finally I gave in.  I was going to do a comparison.  I had some bacon left from a Sunday breakfast and I decided to make BLT’s for dinner, one with my home cooked premium bacon and the other with this…at least that was the idea… [Read more →]

I’m not typically a “Arlo ’N’ Janis” fan, but this kinda of struck close to home this morning…from today’s “Detroit Free Press”

Have a great week everyone!

BLTfSC?  What the h-e-double hockey sticks does that mean Baird?

It’s my official short hand for “The BLT from Scratch Challenge” and right now I am in full on grow mode!!  I have until Labor Day to develop all the ingredients for my BLT to enter Chef Michael Ruhlman’s contest.

So, here’s my progress so far… [Read more →]

Oh my goodness…this little nugget came across two days ago and I am just now getting to it!

Chef Michael Ruhlman has issued a CHAL’LANGE (shouted in a faux french accent).

A collective challenge for all of you who really love to cook: Make a BLT from scratch.  No, this does not mean raising a piglet for the bacon or growing your own wheat to grind into flour.  Yes, extra credit for either, but I want this to be a challenge that everyone can accept, whether you live in a Manhattan walk-up or rural North Carolina, Alaska or suburban splendor: make a BLT from scratch, photograph it and send the photo to me.  If you blog, blog about it (and please link back to this post to encourage others to accept the challenge).

[Read more →]

This could come in handy down here in New Orleans…might have to beta test it… 

Bacon sandwiches cure hangovers!!

Researchers claim food also speeds up the metabolism helping the body get rid of the booze more quickly.

Elin Roberts, of Newcastle University’s Centre for Life said: “Food doesn’t soak up the alcohol but it does increase your metabolism helping you deal with the after-effects of over indulgence. So food will often help you feel better.

“Bread is high in carbohydrates and bacon is full of protein, which breaks down into amino acids. Your body needs these amino acids, so eating them will make you feel good.”

Ms Roberts told The Mirror: “Bingeing on alcohol depletes neurotransmitters too, but bacon contains a high level of aminos which tops these up, giving you a clearer head.”

From the “Telegraph“ Click for the rest of the article.

Ah, a late afternoon bacon time-waster!

bltbaconlettucetomato - click thru for link.

How many BLT’s can you make?  It’s harder than you might think.

Developed by Game Jacket.