Baked Beans Supreme

I just made some baked beans and they were terrific. So, I thought I'd post the recipe in case anyone needs inspiration for their own dish.

Start with a big can of "pork & beans". Mom used to like Showboat brand, but Walmart didn't have 'em, so I used Campbell's (I like them better anyway).

These days that means beans in a light sauce with a bit of bacon fat for flavoring. I haven't seen any pork in pork & beans for a very long time. I use a big can and make a big dish because mom always did it that way.

For flavoring add:

Mom liked...

a diced onion (as much as you like),

ground clove (lightly sprinkled on top and then stirred-in),

a dollop or two of catsup,

brown sugar or (I use) a few tablespoons of molasses,

I also like...

one dollop of your favorite barbecue sauce (not too much as it can overwhelm) and

Note: brown sugar is just sugar with molasses in it. As I don't eat sugar the straight molasses is good.

Mom used to put a few strips of bacon on top during the cooking, but if you're going to make Pork & Beans Supreme you must add smoked sausage (in small bite size chunks) or add a package of lil' smokies (which are about like small hotdogs with a bit of smokey flavor).

Stir it well.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 325-375 F for about 1 hour - 1 hour 30 minutes. Take a look to see when they have achieved the look you want (longer cooking and they get thicker). I wouldn't be surprised if you could fix them in a slow-cooker. I was tempted to do that, but didn't want to risk it on a dish I didn't want to experiment with.

The mixture of those flavors is wonderful and the sausage makes it a real dinner meal.

Enjoy!

Extreme Partisanship in Washington

The two parties are fiercely fighting and the Republicans are arguing President Obama's policy wrt ISIL is perhaps helping Iran. With this they're arguing he may not have any sincere desire to defeat ISIL or to stick to the fight for long. Another argument they're making along these lines is that his proposed AUMF (wrt ISIL) is too limited. Tjhen there is the recent letter to Iran by 47 Republicans in Congress, arguing Iran should be careful to not sign a deal with the president because the next president could overturn it with the stroke of a pen.

In this environment it would seem to me the Right would dearly love (despite public appearances of course) for there to be a terrorist attack on America, especially one labeled ISIL or Iran or even Russia. That would let them call the president feckless (though they already have) and incapable of leading America.

This (a terrorist attack) is something the administration should be on heightened guard to avoid.

Congress Wants to Aid Ukraine

It always amazes me to hear members of Congress begging for war. Haven't they checked with their constituents. Polls have showed for a long time the public doesn't want any part of war and "boots on the ground".

I know we have a Memorandum of Understanding which says we should defend them, so their argument Ukraine deserves support with defensive weapons is at least reasonable. It would certainly be easier if we weren't already engaged against ISIL in Iraq and if we weren't trillions in debt and if the problem in Ukraine weren't the nuclear power Russia.

Given all that it would behoove a leader to speak to the public about this issue. It's not enough to hear only Congress, who have other influences on them. It requires public discussion, like many many other issues today. If members of Congress are insistent, then they have to publicly discuss this and debate it with those who aren't eager to be that involved in Ukraine.

Public support can be built as the president has shown with out involvement in Iraq -- particularly if it's of a limited nature. Talk to the public and see if there is any support for this at all! I would also say the individuals who wish to become president after the next election could (and perhaps should) discuss their view on this issue.

Republicans Claim They Know How To Govern

I. Climate Change Deniers

Senator Coburn of Oklahoma brought a snowball to the Senate floor to "prove" there is no climate change. Senator Whitehouse replied: "rips senator snowball"

What I wonder is if the climate change deniers understand mathematical averaging. Do they realize that 95 and 31 do not average to 31, but to a higher number than 94 and 31? Climate change is slow and the highs may become higher and the lows lower with the average climbing very slowly: 97 + 28 may average the same as 95 + 30, but the higher highs and lower lows bring us dramatically worse weather.

If we have to bring a math teacher to these deniers it would be helpful to the world. But then, we know they aren't stupid -- they're just pretending to be on television.


2. Stealth Legislating

Republicans who have an agenda that's not actually appealing to the public have sometimes campaigned without admitting to their real goals. In Congress there has always been pork-barrel legislating where spending for the home district is snuck into someone else's legislation. Now they stuff the legislation with stealth agenda items. Republicans slip anti-abortion language into an EDUCATION bill.

3. Who's In Charge, John Boehner or the TEA partiers?

Steve Scalise was treated roughly in the recent race for House Speaker and he may be in the mood for some revenge. Did Steve Scalise just screw John Boehner?

4. What's Behind Republican Politics?

There has always been a race for campaign contributions, but now there are a few super rich individuals who are backing campaigns. The Koch brothers are but two. GOP race starts in lavish haunts of rich donors!

So, this is governing? I don't think they're doing a very good job of it. Is this what the public wants? No, they've said repeatedly they want everyone to work together to get important things done.

And, I'm not even bringing up the delay in funding for the Department of Homeland Security.