Rosemary Liqueur or,

What do ya do with a quarter cup of rosemary that is languishing in your kitchen cabinet?

Back before our move to North Carolina I blended a new concoction at, what was, First St. Beverage Co-op. We had four or five sprigs of rosemary that kept sitting in the cabinet, we would forget we had grown some rosemary and reach for the commercial rosemary when cooking. Eventually, my brewing instinct kicked in. Speaking to me quietly, saying, "We can pickle that." The quiet voice became an overwhelming roar and I turned to the entree-net for help making a Rosemary Liqueur.

My primary sources for this project where Seth's Food Blog and Don Osborn's YouTube resource. I followed the directions from Seth's Blog because I was trying to make a rosemary flavored liqueur, I didn't want it very sweet and I didn't want an orange or lemon liqueur. Don O mentions that the Vodka cost $20 for a liter. I believe I paid $10 to $12 for 750ml of vodka. I don't recall which brand I purchased but I did avoid the stuff sold in plastic bottles.

Here is the process I used to infuse this liqueur:

• Place juice and peel from one lemon and one orange in half gallon glass container.
• I improvised, as I often do in the kitchen, and used the peel and a few pieces from an apple too.
• Add rosemary, about a quarter cup.
• Add 750 ml vodka to glass container and keep refrigerated for thirty days. 
• After 30 days in refrigeration remove all solids, citrus peel and rosemary. Add simple syrup made with 2 cups water and 1 cup sugar to the citrus and rosemary infused vodka.
• (I cut the sugar content in half to avoid too much sweetness in the final product.)
• Refrigerate for another two weeks, enjoy.  

Here is what the blend looked like after a month of refrigeration, before the solids were removed.

Now, I have to admit that the ended product was not a Rosemary Liqueur. It is a citrus liqueur without any noticeable rosemary flavor. I have enjoyed it and have shared it with friends and family and have less than a quart remaining in my refrigerator. It is certainly as enjoyable as any commercial liqueur available. As with all the projects from my secret laboratory, I'll keep working on it.

Internet food ideas: Ramen Fries

I made Ramen Fries,  for which the video is no longer available.

I used Maruchan Instant Lunch Cheddar Cheese noodles in which the flavoring is included in the packing with the noodles. Rather than having an individual pack for the flavor spices as in other Ramen noodle brands. After boiling and draining the water from the noodles, I used a zip lock bag too store the noodles in the freezer.

Unfortunately the kids, Brook and Abbie, were not crazy about the Ramen Fries. Thinking that they were distracted and that I had not served the "fries" with ketchup or Ranch dressing, I determined to try again.

I used the same cheddar cheese noodles but added some salt and pepper when I mixed the noodles and the egg. I also added about a tablespoon of salsa. The girls still didn't care for the Ramen Fries. I thought, they have potential as an occasional addition to a meal. However, it seems unlikely that I will prepare it for myself very often.

Here's my consolation:

"Coldest Beer in U.S.A."

This sign is outside of a, now closed, bar near my current home in Strawberry Plains, Tn. The bar was named Joann's when Sally and I moved here and we visited it one afternoon. They, supposedly, had Yuengling on tap, but the cooler had "gone out." They supposedly had Heineken but it was stored in the same malfunctioning cooler. I think we both had a Miller Lite and went home. 

When Joann's closed, the bar reopened, named Knuckle Bones or Lucky Bones or some such. Then, presumably, the management changed again and the name was changed to the Wolves Den. There are a few more of these road houses out here in Straw Plains, The Oak Lounge and B&M Lounge. I intend to visit them before we move out of town.

I can't really call the local beer culture "cultural decline" because a lack of progress doesn't signal a decline. Where Sally and I are moving, the Muscle Shoals Alabama community, there's no beer culture as we are accustomed to in East Tennessee. Here's a brief outline of the discrepancy of available beers in the Shoals.

Beer Brands available in Knox Co. Tn. not available in Muscle Shoals, Al. 

Depot Street Brewing, Jonesborough, Tn.

Foothills Brewing, Winston - Salem, N.C.

Greenman Brewing, Asheville, N.C.

Highland Brewing, Asheville, N.C.

New Belgium Brewing, Ft. Collins, Co.

Old Hickory Brewing, Hickory, N.C.

Saw Works Brewing, Knoxville, Tn.

Schlafly Brewing, St. Louis, Mo.

Smokey Mnt. Brewing, Knoxville, Tn.

Thomas Creek Brewing, Greenville, S.C.

Beer Brands available in the Shoals which are not available in Knox Co, Tn.

Blue Pants Brewing, Madison, Al.

Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Good People Brewing, Birmingham, Al.

Left Hand Brewing, Longmont, Co. 

Rammer Jammer Beer Co., Birmingham, Al.

This is not an exact list and there are many more brands that will not be available in the Shoals. There is some crossover between the two beer communities. Thank the beer gods for Yazoo and Oskar Blues, brands that are available in both locations. It is difficult for me to believe that New Belgium is not available in Al. But, I strongly suspect that this will change in 2014. Left Hand Brews are occasionally available in East Tn. Lastly, The Shoals is, roughly, a two hour drive to Nashville, Tn. Sally and I will be making the occasional weekend journey to this more culturally advanced community.

Shiner FM 966 Farmhouse Ale

I really didn't know what to expect from this Shiner Farmhouse Ale and I'm still not certain about it. Shiner's explanation is that the style was produced by brewery workers in their spare time, or something like that?

A sniff provides a sour, vinegary smell. FM 966 pours with little carbonation and a lovely, light golden color. The first sip is light, as expected by the color, but hoppy. This might be a lawn mower beer except for all these hops, definitely reminiscent of a Belgian Farmhouse Ale.

The final sips have hints of wheat malts and banana flavors. I can not rate this one very highly at all.

2.5 our of 5 possible pints.

More beer on Sunday, marketing fail!

Here's a lovely image I took while shopping for beer recently. This is definitely and example of a communication breakdown, or something? They can label it wrong but I'm still not gonna shop on that end of the beer cooler.

 

Haffenreffer Private Stock

I have well established my weakness for off-brand beers, lesser known breweries and small regional labels. I've found another one of these while on vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Haffenreffer Private Stock Malt Liquor from Latrobe, Pa.

Private Stock pours into a hazy golden corn like body with a fairly typical foamy head. There are very noticeable floral, apple juice aromas flowing from this brew. The first sip is a surprising taste, much like cider, which returns with subsequent sips. This is a very sweet brew rather than the often dominant hops flavors more common in malt liquors. It is probably too sweet for most but I find it is a refreshing change from my usual drink selections. I'm sure that Private Stock is brewed with a blend of corn, rice, wheat and barley malts but they have a good recipe.

The Private Stock slogan is, "Malt Liquor with the import taste," and it does taste much like a hefeweizen. I can't really give Private Stock a very high rating since it is so unlike beer styles traditionally on my drink menu. But, I can give Private Stock a 3 out of 5 pints.

I also found some funny Photoshop work while searching for Private Stock images on the entree-net. Other Private Stock fans would have you believe that it is enjoyed by Sean Connery



and Christopher Walken.

No beer this Monday.

There's no beer review this Monday as I have sinus congestion which is not helpful when tasting and smelling things. In fact, I had a Firewater IPA on Friday night and it didn't seem too hoppy? I certainly hope to write about a beer for you all next Monday.

Michelob on Monday

Remember when Michelob came in a bottle like this? Of course Anheuser Bush has changed the bottle now. The new bottle is pretty standard with reinforced glass at the bottom of the neck. I can't understand why they would change the bottle since the old design was an icon of American beer culture and the new bottles is obviously manufactured exclusively for the Michelob line. Ah well, we don't drink the bottles do we, the packaging has very little to do with the product it contains.

I also remember the Michelob always had a very fresh taste too. The beer was less hoppy than Budweiser and, in fact, tasted more like Miller Lite. I was shopping for beer last weekend and was going to purchase a Yeungling twelve-but I noticed, the Michelob twelve-pack cost only fifty cents more than Yeungling. What the heck, let's relive the beers of the past!


Michelob produced a good foamy head unlike most American style Largers. The carbonation also lasted ‘till the last sip. The beer tastes much as I remember but with a hint more hops. I suspect, due to the clean, less sweet taste, that Michelob has a bit more barley than a Budweiser. The big American breweries have made an art out of producing beer with a minimal amount of hops and barley which is the reason I mainly avoid the mega-breweries. The cold carbonated, sweet and sour qualities do make these great beers for the heat of American summers. This weekend I went back to my European Lager knockoff brand, Hollande. I'll be enjoying the full hops flavoring with no complaints. I enjoyed the Michelob too but I've had enough of that style for a month or twelve, or twenty-four.

-Near Beer Monday: Part 2-

I got an idea when I noticed the bill boards of Bud Light. The Bud Light ad theme is now "Here we go!" The plot of the t.v. ads seems to be; "We have some schwill, here comes trouble" or "Irresponsibility due to malted corn products." So, I thought, why don't they just call it "Here We Go" Beer?


Beer for people who just like to pee a lot.

Two more for T-shirt Tuesday

Here are two more of my old t-shirts. The one of the left is a t-shirt from Bonnaro 2004 which I attended with some of my old college buddies. Yes, we where old college buddies in 2004 too. The graphics of the shirt display some of the lyrics from the Grateful Dead song Tennessee Jed. Tennessee, of course, being the state where the Bonnaro festival is held. This shirt has various small holes in the front which I always manage to put in my shirts. I guess I snag the shirts on plants while I'm gardening?

You can see, the shirt on the right is a Budweiser shirt. I got this shirt from one of my stepsons when he was ready to retire the shirt. I don't advocate the consumption of beverages from the Anheuser-Busch breweries but it is an All-American brand and well represented on a t-shirt. The shirt is rather stretched and dirty and I had to wash it with bleach once after I wore it to mow the lawn. Lawn mowing is usually what I do in these old hand-me-down shirts.


These two are the last of the old and nearly worn out shirts which I have to share. Now we'll be getting into the old and well preserved or new and worn regularly section of the shirt collection. Six down; 359 shirts to go.

Margarita Monday, or not?

The FRI staff had our usual round of Margaritas this weekend. In fact, we had Margaritas last Tuesday, before our weekly rpg, when we went to dine at Senior Taco. There was nothing fancy to our Margaritas this weekend so I will not discuss the mix, I believe we used Jose Cuervo Martarita Mix and the Margaritaville Lime Tequila.

As will become evident with further posts, I'm a sucker for snazzy pack ageing and new ideas so, I just had to try the Smirnoff Blueberry Lemonade.

I know the idea of this drink creates images of wine coolers and the idea is justified. It's been years since I've had one of these, frou-frou, bottled drinks but the idea of mixing blueberry and lemonade intrigued me and the drink wasn't bad. This isn't to say I'm ever going to buy a pack of them but it really wasn't bad as an experiment. These drinks are marketed as malt beverages rather than wine coolers. As I understand they are made from malted corn and rice (the adjunct liquors of light beers.) This creates a whole new category for these former wine coolers, now they fall into the near beer category along with the MGD 64 I just had to try a few months ago.

My honest opinion of the Smirnoff Blueberry Lemonade is that it is not a bad drink. It tastes mainly like lemonade with just a hint of blueberry in each sip. I like blueberries but I wouldn't have thought of putting them in lemonade. If you don't like blueberries but you do like lemonade, don't shy away from this drink, the blueberry flavor adds just a bit of sweetness to the sour lemonade flavors. The drink could even be used in a Margarita mix and I'm likely to give it a try some time, maybe with more blueberries? Nah, I know that no one else would like a Blueberry Margarita.

A second product, that I noticed while in Colorado, is Frida Kahlo Tequila. I had never heard of this product and was intrigued by the image of Frida Kahlo on tequila packaging. This combination is culturally appropriate, in my opinion, but since I'm not Latin American I really don't get a vote. A brief internet search indicates that this tequila markets for $36 to $75 dollars and had, of course, created some protest associated with using Frida's image for marketing. I don't want to get involved in the politics of this issue. I'm just presenting the product to say, "Look at this." If you like modern art and you like adult beverages, here it is.