Hot Dogs, aka "Real Food"

I find it sickeningly ironic when hungry customers approach my popcorn trailer asking if all I sell is popcorn and they shake their heads in disappointment when I confirm their suspicions.

(Uh, we're called Popcornopoly for a reason.)

"So... No hot dogs then?"

"Nope, just popcorn!"

"What else besides popcorn?"

"Hot cocoa, cider, and sodas."

When I ask if they'd like to try a free sample and they reply with,

"No, I'm looking for some real food. Where can I get a hot dog?"

it drives me nuts. I want to ask what their definition of "real food" is.

Here's the ingredient list for your average hot dog:

Meat by-products and fat (pork, beef, poultry)

Sodium erythorbate and sodium nitrite

Cereal or soy fillers

Salt and garlic

The caloric ratio of an Oscar Mayer wiener is 2% carbs, 14% protein, and 84% fat.

My point is that hot dogs often have high sodium, fat and nitrite content, ingredients linked to health problems. The Cancer Project group filed a class-action lawsuit demanding warning labels on packages and at sporting events because the high amounts of sodium and nitrate are believed to cause colorectal cancer. How "real" can something be if it has to be regulated more aggressively than the public transit system in Downtown Nashville? Hot dogs have been the center of debate for years, often referred to as the product made from the "lips and assholes" of the meat industry.

So why not top yours with mustard? You'll need it.

Σπανακόπιτα, My Love

Simply put, there is nothing better

than a big, warm bite of Spanakopita

being carried by a fork

en route to my mouth.

There's something nostalgic about the combination of the earthiness of wilted spinach and salty feta,

almost oozing out of the flaky,

buttery phyllo dough crust.

It reminds me of Summers spent at my Thea Panajota's house,

sneaking an extra piece

before leaving the dinner table, 

never feeling less than stuffed or satisfied.  

Nashville's Metro Officers

I got pulled over the other day, and the motorcycle officer laughed when he got to my window. He said, "Well, hot damn! I got the motherload!" and proceeded to chat me up. He complimented my "Got Camping?" sticker on my window & told me my tags were over 2 months expired. Oh yeah, and I was totally speeding, too. I guess it pays to be talkative with them when they stop by the popcorn trailer every night.

I love my job.

               

In Country Music,

you just don't say

 

(I love Hank Williams Jr.)

You should've stayed out of the dog food...

I'm sorry you had to go this way.

Obviously, I need to work on my humane-treatment of varmints.

I know this experience sucked for you.

You live and you learn,

and sometimes you die.

And Tomorrow's Forecast is as Follows:

                    

                      6pm                7pm              8pm              9pm               10pm          11pm           12am

Rain.

My ENTIRE shift.

*sigh*



Shredded Paper Bird Nest Project

What you will need:

4 sheets of colored heavy-weight paper, 12" square
3 sheets of colored heavy-weight paper, 12" square
2 sheets of colored heavy-weight paper, 12" square

(Instead of using different colored card stock, this is the perfect opportunity to make something out of shredded office paper, newspaper, take-out menues, etc. The bowls will end up looking more rustic with the different colors of paper and typographic elements on them.)
Paper shredder or scissors
White glue
Water
3 different size bowls (nesting)

Paintbrush
Cling wrap, enough to cover the outer area of the 3 bowls

Instructions:

1. Shred the paper using an office crosscut paper shredder. If using a regular paper shredder, cut the strips into lengths of about 11/2". If no paper shredder is available, use scissors to cut strips of paper that are 1/8" x 1/2".

2. Prepare a solution of glue and water that is 2 parts of glue per 1 part water. Don’t add too much water, or the paper will not hold together. Each bowl will require at least 1/2 cup of the drippy glue solution.

3. Wrap the large bowl with cling wrap, and place it upside down on a surface covered with plastic wrap.

4. Place the shredded paper into another bowl, and sprinkle with some water (no more than 1 tablespoon to dampen the card stock.

5. Start by brushing the bottom of the cling-wrapped bowl with some of the glue solution. Add a small clump of paper (about 4–6 strips) in random fashion, and brush or dab more glue solution over them until they are damp enough that they lay flat and adhere to the bowl.

6. Continue adding clumps of paper strips, brushing the area they will cover with the glue solution and then brushing the glue solution over them. Cover the bowl until you’re about 2" from the top edge of the bowl or the work surface. The bowl should be covered by at least 3 levels of paper to ensure stability. The edge of the bowl needs to be generally even, but keep it ragged by making some of the strips on the final row point downward, perpendicular to the work surface.

Tip: It’s important that the consistency of the 2 parts glue to 1 part water should resemble liquid soap. As you apply the glue solution, keep in mind that the more layers of paper are added the stronger the bowls will be. Allow drying time between layers. Note: Don’t worry about covering the surface completely. Part of the charm of the bowls is to leave some small spaces, no larger than 1/8", between some of the strips.

7. Place the bowl in a dry and well-ventilated area, and let the surface dry completely. This process may take a day or two. If you’d like to speed it, place the bowl close to a fan. Once the surface appears dry to the touch, carefully remove the bowl from the cling wrap and let it air dry face up until the inside of the bowl is completely dry as well.

8. Repeat the same process (steps 1-7) for the medium bowl using one one colored paper and the smallest bowl using the last colored paper.