Fire For Breakfast

FROM ITALIAN PIGS

Married To Chili Peppers

a celebration of capsaicin

AN NDUJA PIZZA - FOR BREAKFAST

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.. We've been on a chili pepper kick lately. It seems that capsaisin has a health benefit that will allow us to move our hands in a circular motion while holding the handle on a fly reel without falling to our knees from excruciating pain.

.. This home made pizza is based on the meat from the black swine of Calabria in southern Italy;  an indigenous variety, that are lean, free ranging, and love to eat chestnuts in the fall. They are the source of many fine sausages.

.. When their meat is combined with the historically recent chili pepper, (of the very fiery Peperoncino Calabrese variety,) it produces some very delicious and spicy sausages as well as the unique "NDUJA" a cured but spreadable sausage.

.. This pizza celebrates the heat of the nduja paste: - fresh cooked traditional tomato sauce spiked with nduja, fresh ground pork with the traditional spices + nduja, thin sliced Salsiccia Calabrese rubbed with nduja, mushrooms sauteed in a nduja suffused butter. Nice little home made square bread with an olive oil base, and a bit of paprika - just because.

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..  Our glory days of midge fishing are being overshadowed by some heavy clouds, colder weather, and satiation from catching giant trout on miniscule flies. Already the neighbors have switched from small bits of black fluff to the "Ghost Midge." It's a Cul de canard creation that exhibits some white for visibility in the gray moments between rays of sun and sports a long tail. The fly is reminiscent of the old-timey spider flies of our youth. It catches wary trout with regularity if fished in long gentle slicks.

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WALLPAPER:  THE GHOST MIDGE

TODAY IS THE DAY

TWEET FEST

Beer Flavored Jelly Beans

you can make your own

The effervescent and crisp flavor is packed in a golden jelly bean with an iridescent finish. Beer connoisseurs will find the flavor profile to be clean with notes of wheat and a touch of sweetness. The aroma is mildly bready

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/01/18/6083096/jelly-belly-serves-up-worlds-first.html#storylink=cpy

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.. It had to happen. Jelly Belly has released their beer flavored jelly beans. Beware your Twitter feed.
.. The Beeroness is hosting a Tweet Up at the 21st Amendment, 563 Second Street in San Francisco, today to introduce the new Draft Beer flavor to her beer-loving fans. Of course it's in California.
.. You now know what to carry in your kit bag into those dry counties in Misissippi and other repressed parts of the world.
.. Here's a recipe:

1 cup water, divided

 2 cups sugar, divided 

1/4 ounce gelatin 

1/2 cup juice with no pulp or your favorite beer or other beverage

(Note: If you use a mild juice flavor, you may want to mix it with lemon juice to make it more tangy. We like an actual margarita. If you use a margarita, or beer, or other cocktail, you’ll probably have some leftover to drink.)

1/4 teaspoon salt 

2 tablespoons cornstarch 

Non-stick cooking spray 

Food coloring (whatever color you’d like)  

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.. Jelly Belly is also releasing a chocolate covered Tabasco bean. What will they think of next?

News Releases: LINK.

JELLY BELLY SITE

 (10 pounds for $85.99 - click now)
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Déclassé Breakfast - Attention Kids

HARDLY HAUTE CUISINE

Great Taste Treat

great for a stream side sandwich

WALLPAPER: PB & J Crêpes

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.. Try these fine PB & J  crêpes for something delicious and different.They are easy to make, will keep in the refirigerator for a few days, and will make your fishing buddies drool.
.. They are not not quite the traditional crêpe, these are stuffed with creamy peanut butter and strawberry preserves. They are topped with dabs of the same as well as confectioners sugar and a light drizzle of honey.
.. A 25 second stint in the microwave smooths the innards and brings everything together very nicely. They'll keep for a couple of days in the fridge and can substitute for a sandwich tomorrow or the next day

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.. The recent spate of blindingly bright days have the snow flies indulging in mass sexual shenanigans along the Madison River between the lakes. You may have to post hole your way to the river - the pressure is light right now. Don't catch them all!

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WALLPAPER: HOME CANNED FLATHEAD CHERRIES - IN A PIE

Srirachapocalypse Averted

CULINARY DISASTER DERAILED

Resumed Production Guarenteed

texas wants the rooster

NO NEED TO HOARD THIS ANYMORE - BUT - BUY SOME NOW

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.. Last October, [LINK 1,] there was near panic in some well educated culinary circles as word spread that the Irwindale, (Rosemead,) California plant of HUY FONG FOODS came under fire by a citizen lawsuit and health concerns.
.. For a large segment of the culinary cognoscenti there is really just one chili sauce and it is the one with the rooster and the green pour top. It fits with many foods and many palates and is moving from a prime place in the cuisine of S. E. Asia and into the Mexican arena with lightning speed.
.. The very thought of losing this fine condiment was so pervasive in California that it was one of the top news stories in that state, [LINK 2.] When it was announced that limited production would resume there was a giant flood of traffic on TWITTER, [LINK 3.] Woeful tales were turned to cheers and the Boston Globe saw fit to recall it's doomsday predictions, [LINK 4.]
.. The impending disaster of no chili sauce brought an official invitation from Republican Texas state Rep. Jason Villalba who suggested that the tax advantages and lax food regulations in Texas would be to the benefit of Huy Fong Foods, [LINK 5.]
.. As recently as yesterday the celebrations continued in Los Angeles with free giveaways of bottles of the red goo, [LINK 6.]
.. This is not just a "foodie" phenomena. It's an indicator of the depth of American Culture. Huy Fong Foods does not advertise. They do not sell chili sauce with sex. You won't see a commercial at the Super Bowl. My, my, my.
.. Should you care to see how this lovely sauce is made check out this LINK 7. The animations are from a documentary about the search for SRIRACHA.

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.. Midges between the lakes = 16" to 22" trout. Pressure light. Neighbors having way too much fun.
.. Ice fishers scoring huge fish on Hebgen Reservoir in advance of the big tournament. Kids day on the ice was a big success and there were many fish caught by the little fishers as well as the big folks.

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WALLPAPER (LOAF #10): SOURDOUGH WITH YELLOWSTONE STARTER

An Ice Fisher's Breakfast

A TRAINING MEAL

Sourdough pancakes, bacon, egg, up & basted, rich butter. Looks fit to eat.

It's All Atypical

DIFFERENT STROKES

Not Soup To Nuts

but cheese to ice to flies

NOT A CORK BUT, A $500.00 ROUND OF BLUE STILTON CHEESE

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.. “Though this be madness, yet there is method in't.” . . . Thanks Will.
.. The growing midwinter madness is becoming very apparent in our little village. It's a time when diversions reach proportions seldom seen in rational humans.

RICH FOLKS VISIT YELLOWSTOME

.. Visitors are strewn from pub to pub. The most popular watering holes are those most easily accessed by snowmobiles.
.. Dog sled teams are running the trails and their enthusiastic yapping punctuates both day and night.
.. The very wealthy and very affluent visitors with large amounts of discretionary cash have reserved their guided visit to Yellowstone National Park.
.. At over $125.00/day/each person, (not counting food, lodging, souvenirs, or a night out with the family,) the park becomes an elitist retreat during the snow season.
.. On the other hand, our frozen reservoir is now populated with little clusters of dark specks. No, not penguins, but ice fishers: normal folks enjoying the outdoors and the bounty of introduced fish. There are tracks and trails frozen in the surface from snomachines on their errant travels. There are bits of humpy color that delineate shelters of all kinds: - tents to tarps to shanty's.

JIGGLE A STIFFY

.. The neighborhood fishers, (fly or otherwise,) are all checking their thrummin' rods, tip-ups, bobbles, and maggot supplies. Their taste buds are also undergoing a metamorphosis. Pizza, beer, burgers, and brats are giving way to Stilton cheese, mixed grills, quiche, and baked Alaska.
.. Two glorious rounds of Blue Stilton Cheese have arrived in our village. Wonderfully ripe and smelly as all get out, they are - yum! These will be shared at secret locations, augmented by sauteed pears, apples, walnuts, and shortbread - some Vintage Port and Tawny Port bottles have also made their appearance.
..This is the time of year when the rich folks pretend to be normal. The poor folks pretend to be rich. The average folks go about their business working hard and servicing both groups.
.. Ice hole fishing has been very good this year on Hebgen Reservoir. It has drawn quite a few of the neighbors. Even, it has indeed, sucked in a pile of normally sane fishers of the fly. Giant Whitefish are the prize. They smoke nicely and supplement the standard winter fare of canned fruits and vegetables.

HAPPY AND HEADED FOR HOME

.. Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout over 18" are also kept for the smoker.
.. Much of the ice hole fishing is targeted at finding good places for the upcoming Cabela's NAIFC Tournament. This years event takes place next weekend.
.. In addition to the standard rigs that include meal worms, maggots, and hamburger bits, there is one fly making a good showing on the frozen lake = chartreuse green stiff hackle flies have brought to hand some real trophies.
.. These flies are fished by the true experts. They demand a skilled hand to impart the enticing action required to stab a 22" Brown Trout in the lip.
.. Over the past few years the response to this tournament has been so overwhelming that there is a limit of 150 teams this year. In addition to the nationally sponsored teams, each pub is sponsoring a couple of teams. Some restaurants and motels are sponsoring teams. Interestingly there are no church-sponsored teams.
.. At this writing, (like right now,) there are a handful of spots still open for the $14,000.00 to $21,000.00 pay out anticipated for this year's tourney.

KIDS OF ALL AGES ATTEND THE FREE ACTIVITIES

.. Check the Official NAIFC Site for details. Continuing and up-to-date reports about conditions and techniques, and other stuff is available on the Official NAIFC Facebook Page. Even the Montana Outdoor Radio Show is getting in on the act.
.. Of course it's not enough to have just an ice fishing tournement on the weekend. The West Yellowstone Fun Run for sled dogs is also on tap. Check the Official Fun Run Page for details. National and International teams are entered and the local pubs, restaurants, motels, and no churches are sponsoring our neighborhood teams as well.
.. Throughout the weekend will also be activities for the very popular KIDS 'N' SNOW events. There are ice hole seminars for the kids and free fishing gear as well.
.. Bring the youngsters and enjoy all the happenings: ice fishing, sled dog rides, ice skating, snow sledding, etc. Attendance and observation is free for all ages and all events - including the churches.

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WALLPAPER (LOAF #9): FARMHOUSE RUSTIC WHITE

Thinking Ahead

THE ORANGE STILLI

Winter Trials

just a lark - for now

 "ORANGE STILLI" : a favorite neighborhood still water fly.

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.. It's a tough proposition to test a summer fly in the dead of winter. We've been grudgingly granted permission to tell you about this purpose-built fly.
.. This is a backwater eddy, film-fished, pattern that demands frisky trout, warm days, still or slack water, and bright sun: rare indeed this time of year. It is fished with a long leader on a slack line and sinks slowly in the gyre produced in slack water whirlpools.
.. The neighbor kids are busy tying these for the upcoming summer. Many are needed because many are lost. Many of the gyres that the local kids fish are seasonal phenomena and depend on rate of flow and water depth. They come and go with river conditions. Many are behind snags and sweepers with sunken limbs and branches. Some are shore-side features behind mini-headlands where debris and trout accumulate.
.. Trout hang out in the slack water that is adjacent to the gyre and pick off tidbits of flotsam that slowly move about in the hydraulic "Lazy Susan."
.. This fly is designed to take advantage of the rotating gyre. Very long tail fibers balance the puffy body and allow the fly to respond to the complex, (albeit it slow,) cross currents of each gyre. The kids are constantly experimenting with the various components of the fly. How much wire? How long the tails? How puffy the body? The current fly design is successful and beginning to become standardized.

THE CURRENT SIMPLE RECIPE
Hook: 10 - 14
Thread: 6/0 black
Tail: Pheasant tail fibers,
Body: Orange Antron, (or wool.)
Rib: red or copper colored wire
Thorax: Tan Antron - combed out  puffy and trimmed
Wing case: Pheasant tail fibers
Head: thread

.. All elements are variable, particularly the length of the tail fibers and the amount of copper wire.

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WALLPAPER (Loaf #8): SIMPLE SOURDOUGH