Idiom Factory

Communism is a great idea…. on paper.

Although it seems to be an ill advised political platform, Communism has some tenets that do resonate with me.  “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”

I have the ability to make these delicious sandwiches…. you guys need to try them!

Cuban Sandwiches

• hoagie rolls or Italian bread
• yellow mustard
• baked ham, thinly sliced
• roast pork, shredded
• bacon
• provolone cheese, thinly sliced
• dill pickle slices
• minced garlic
• unsalted butter, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice the bread horizontally in half. Mix the butter and minced garlic. Lay the bread open and spread one side with garlic butter and the other with mustard. Stack the sandwich with ham, pork, bacon, cheese, and dill pickles. Wrap sandwich tightly in foil and place in oven for 15 minutes.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Today Piping Hot from the Idiom Factory goes on sale! The initial offering of my first literary work will be on sale in the Patterson Companies cafeteria starting at 8:00am. Proceeds from today’s sales will go towards the Grins for a Good Cause fundraiser, supporting The Hope Chest.

Top 5 Reasons to Purchase Piping Hot from the Idiom Factory :

1. You like to read.
2. You think Louise is a great author and want to own a first edition so you can sell it and put your grandchildren through college someday.
3. You found an extra $8 in your fall jacket when you pulled it out of the closet last week.
4. You’ve been looking for a new coffee table book to stimulate conversation with your knitting circle.
5. You’re in need of a unique, interesting and thoughtful gift for a loved one this holiday season.

Piping Hot from the Idiom Factory will be on sale to the general public starting tomorrow.

Fall is here and although the Indian summer we are having in Minnesota does not warrant it, I’ve started making some of my favorite cool weather recipes. Squash is probably my favorite fall food. Albeit one of the ugliest foods known to man, I like to apply the old adage that beauty is on the inside. The beautiful color and amazing nutritional value make this a very appealing food. The curvaceous shape,  the fervid color and the savory flesh makes butternut squash almost a hedonistic experience.

Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 pounds of butternut squash
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 6 cups chicken stock
• Nutmeg
• 2 tbsp honey
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Halve the squash the long way and brush the flesh of the squash with a little butter. On a sheet pan lay the squash flesh side up. Roast for about 40 minutes or until the flesh is nice and soft. Allow to cool and remove seeds.

Add onion and butter to a large pot and cook until onion is translucent. Scoop out the flesh from the squash and add to the pot. Add chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and about 15 to 20 minutes. Puree the soup with a stick blender or place soup in a blender and puree and then return it to the pot. Stir in honey and season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper.  If you enjoy a more creamy soup, add ½ cup heavy cream.



Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson & Neil Peart packed the grandstand and the “Great Minnesota Get Together.” From the super fans with their StarMan tattoos prominently displayed on their forearms to young teens at their first concert, everyone was pumped to see the aging rockers. The steam-punk stage design kept true to the tradition that Rush is one of the most bizarre bands in history and their pre-taped skits and on-stage antics gave every indication that they have no intention of changing that perception.  Geddy Lee’s stage presence and awkward falsetto, highlight the fact that he’s a child at heart. Lee wailed and hopped around stage for all 3 hours, like a true rock legend. Lifeson, who celebrated his 57th Birthday at the show, was a consummate professional and almost never cracked a smile except for when his band mates had the gift of a foot long corn dog delivered to the stage.

Neil Peart is otherworldly. I mean that I literally saw him grow 6 extra arms and casually spend 10 minutes slamming out some outrageous beats on his ~4,000 head, 360 degree, revolving drum kit.

The evening ended with a fireworks display which was far less awe inspiring then the concert, but it was a nice way to cool down a very excited crowd.

In a universe as vast as it is delicious, a small but powerful force has existed for centuries. Protectors of tenderness and flavor, they are called the Condiment Corps. A brotherhood of marinade warriors is sworn to keep intergalactic food from tasting bland. But when a new enemy called Overkoox, threatens to destroy the happiness of taste buds in the Universe, their fate and the fate of Earth lie in the hands of their newest recruit, A1.

A1 is a gifted and cocky dipping sauce, but the condiments have little respect for simple sauces, who have never harnessed the infinite powers of the marinade. But A1 is clearly the missing piece to the condiment puzzle, and along with the encouragement of fellow dipping sauce and childhood sweetheart Heinz 57, A1 may prove to be not only the key to defeating Overkoox…he will become the greatest condiment of all.