First up, one of the many frigate birds who keep watch over our coastline, day in and day out.
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| One of the Many Frigate Birds |
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| One of Our Scavengers - A Vulture |
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| A Pooped Gibnut |
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| One of the Iguanas Hanging By the Canal |
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| Another Shot of This Feller |
27 June, 2011
Some Critters Around The Joint
Our neighbor, Regina, has been active photographing some of the local denizens who hang around here.She was kind enough to let me post them. I thought you might find them interesting.
First up, one of the many frigate birds who keep watch over our coastline, day in and day out.
Next, one of our many vultures. They are very beautiful and graceful on the wing and ugly as all get out when they're walking around on the ground. They do provide a valuable service however. There's one who seems to delight in swooping low over our place, which drives Cindy just crazy each time.
This poor little gibnut was pooped out and somewhat bloody by the time Regina took its picture. It had gotten trapped inside their fence and bloodied its face and was thoroughly exhausted. They had a gate open for it to escape but it kept trying to go through the fence. Finally, just after the picture was taken, it managed to find the gate and made good its escape.
One of our big boys who hang out on our canal dock, usually in the afternoons in the sun and warmest part of the day.
Here's another view of the same guy. He's about four-feet long too and is just sure that he owns everything in sight.
Thanks for sharing, Regina. I appreciate it.
First up, one of the many frigate birds who keep watch over our coastline, day in and day out.
26 June, 2011
Dang Technology
My weather station is infected with gremlins. For a while now, I've been trying to keep it on the straight and narrow - that is, providing good, reliable information.
Unfortunately, it seems to have other ideas. For example, the two items in particular that are being extremely obstinate are monthly total for rainfall and yesterday's high winds.
Rainfall for the month is listed as 198.35-inches. I know we get some rain here and, it is the rainy season... But, come on, sixteen and a half feet of rain? I don't think so.
And the high winds, yesterday's at 70.9 KTS (knots) or 81.59 MPH? or the wind of a couple of days ago 97 KTS or 111.63 MPH? I really don't think so.
So, I hope you'll bear with me. I am trying to track down the problem and correct it. I've been going through the data files the program creates, but apparently I have yet to fix the right file. I don't have a clue why these errors are appearing. They're not consistent - except in the tally.
For now, if a reading seems a bit weird, look at the readings on either side of it and if it seems like a spike, that might be what it is. Especially, if we've gotten nothing in the way of warnings, etc., from the National Hurricane Center, or Belize Weather Service.
I'll keep whacking away at the problem. Sooner or later I'll find the solution and get it fixed.
Keep your weather eye peeled.
Unfortunately, it seems to have other ideas. For example, the two items in particular that are being extremely obstinate are monthly total for rainfall and yesterday's high winds.
Rainfall for the month is listed as 198.35-inches. I know we get some rain here and, it is the rainy season... But, come on, sixteen and a half feet of rain? I don't think so.
And the high winds, yesterday's at 70.9 KTS (knots) or 81.59 MPH? or the wind of a couple of days ago 97 KTS or 111.63 MPH? I really don't think so.
So, I hope you'll bear with me. I am trying to track down the problem and correct it. I've been going through the data files the program creates, but apparently I have yet to fix the right file. I don't have a clue why these errors are appearing. They're not consistent - except in the tally.
For now, if a reading seems a bit weird, look at the readings on either side of it and if it seems like a spike, that might be what it is. Especially, if we've gotten nothing in the way of warnings, etc., from the National Hurricane Center, or Belize Weather Service.
I'll keep whacking away at the problem. Sooner or later I'll find the solution and get it fixed.
Keep your weather eye peeled.
17 June, 2011
The Other Side of the Coin
A little while back, I wrote a bit about some Belizean coins that are not readily available - ones that have 'British Honduras' on them (http://winjama.blogspot.com/2011/05/for-numismatists-among-us.html). Obviously, these were minted before Belize gained its independence in 1981.
How about a coin minted shortly after independence was gained?
Here's a twenty-five cent piece, called a 'shilling' here in Belize. This side looks about the same as any other shilling currently in circulation here in Belize.
Then you flip the coin over. Wow! Does this look different. Plain and ugly. I'm not sure the motto does much for me either. This side of the coin looks like a carnival token or something similar. I guess there is something to be said for esthetics - even when designing coins. You can sure tell when it's absent.
I found this shilling and another British Honduras shilling by simply going through my spare change bowl. Kind of a boring process, but now and then, you do find something of interest. I thought you might enjoy seeing this.
How about a coin minted shortly after independence was gained?
Here's a twenty-five cent piece, called a 'shilling' here in Belize. This side looks about the same as any other shilling currently in circulation here in Belize.
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| This Side Looks The Same |
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| Now, This Is Different! |
16 June, 2011
I Can See Clearly Now
Last year sometime, we all got whipped into a frenzy. The Government of Belize (GOB) had just issued new regulations on window tinting, driven because of the problems of crime.
So, here we are in June of the following year, and I just got my Isuzu's windows re-tinted.
The Department of Transport begins in a week or so to finally enforce the new law. I took the trusty vehicle down to the Corozal Transport Office yesterday to have my rear side and rear window tinting checked with their new tint measurement meter (I don't know what it's official name is).
Turns out, my back window registered an 'eleven on their meter. It should reach a 'twenty'. Oops. That meant I was going to have to have the windows re-tinted or face a fine up to $500 BZD. And they won't issue just a ticket either. They're going to issue basically a bench summons - where you have to appear in Magistrate's Court. You can guess how that would go down.
The Front windscreen has to be at least a 50% VLT (Visible Light Transmissibility) measurement. Front side windows, Rear side windows and rear windows must be at least 20% VLT.
Here's a diagram I cranked out to try to explain the above. I hope it makes sense:
Our front and front side windows are sans tinting. I removed it shortly after I bought the car. It made nighttime driving worse than it already is here in Belize.
I ran some errands this morning and stopped by In and Out Auto Parts. They're located right in front of the Corozal Police Station. That sounds really native Belizean. I'll interpret for you. They're located right across the street from the Corozal Police Station. How's that?
Their awning space was open, so I whipped in, just intending to find out what it would cost. The owner told me $140.00 BZD to do the rear sides and rear windows and that it would take about an hour. Cool. I jumped out and let them get to work.
Figuring I had an hour to kill, I drifted over to Chon Kong and had an ice-cold bottle of water. There was no charge for that either. I'm such a good customer! After that, I strolled over to Lydia's Gift Shop, looking for some Rubbermaid or Tupperware-type salt and pepper shakers. You know, the kind with the snap-on lid so the salt doesn't absorb too much humidity. Nope. All they had was the old-fashioned ceramic ones.
From there, I thought, since I've got time to kill, I'll just stroll over to BTL (Belize Telemedia, Ltd.) and register our phone numbers. That way if we lose a phone or it gets ripped off, you still get to keep the same phone number. Otherwise, you have to get a new number when you get a new SIM card.
That service used to cost $11.00 BZD. It's now free. Of course, you have to have your phone in hand to get the number registered. I could do mine, but not Dianna's as her's was at home.
While I was there, I also picked up a new 2011 BTL phone book. Woo hoo!
After that, I strolled across the lower side of the market, back to In and Out. It had been slightly over an hour. One window was done. Oh well. It worked out well. I got to talk to one of the bucket brigade of car washers here. Nice guy. Well spoken and very humorous. I also met the draftsman who works upstairs from the auto shop. Walter Flowers (Flores). A nice guy also. Used to play in a band in his younger days (or his squad, as he called it). He was also a classically trained musician, studying the pianoforte. I'll tell you, the people you meet here are astounding. Their stories would fill a book, or several.
Anyway, after a couple of hours, it was done. A very nice job and for $145.00 BZD. You can't argue. And now I'm legal.
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
I can see all obstacles in my way
-- Johnny Nash
So, here we are in June of the following year, and I just got my Isuzu's windows re-tinted.
The Department of Transport begins in a week or so to finally enforce the new law. I took the trusty vehicle down to the Corozal Transport Office yesterday to have my rear side and rear window tinting checked with their new tint measurement meter (I don't know what it's official name is).
Turns out, my back window registered an 'eleven on their meter. It should reach a 'twenty'. Oops. That meant I was going to have to have the windows re-tinted or face a fine up to $500 BZD. And they won't issue just a ticket either. They're going to issue basically a bench summons - where you have to appear in Magistrate's Court. You can guess how that would go down.
The Front windscreen has to be at least a 50% VLT (Visible Light Transmissibility) measurement. Front side windows, Rear side windows and rear windows must be at least 20% VLT.
Here's a diagram I cranked out to try to explain the above. I hope it makes sense:
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| My Interpretation of the VLT Ruling |
I ran some errands this morning and stopped by In and Out Auto Parts. They're located right in front of the Corozal Police Station. That sounds really native Belizean. I'll interpret for you. They're located right across the street from the Corozal Police Station. How's that?
Their awning space was open, so I whipped in, just intending to find out what it would cost. The owner told me $140.00 BZD to do the rear sides and rear windows and that it would take about an hour. Cool. I jumped out and let them get to work.
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| Adding Tinting To Rear Side Window |
From there, I thought, since I've got time to kill, I'll just stroll over to BTL (Belize Telemedia, Ltd.) and register our phone numbers. That way if we lose a phone or it gets ripped off, you still get to keep the same phone number. Otherwise, you have to get a new number when you get a new SIM card.
That service used to cost $11.00 BZD. It's now free. Of course, you have to have your phone in hand to get the number registered. I could do mine, but not Dianna's as her's was at home.
While I was there, I also picked up a new 2011 BTL phone book. Woo hoo!
After that, I strolled across the lower side of the market, back to In and Out. It had been slightly over an hour. One window was done. Oh well. It worked out well. I got to talk to one of the bucket brigade of car washers here. Nice guy. Well spoken and very humorous. I also met the draftsman who works upstairs from the auto shop. Walter Flowers (Flores). A nice guy also. Used to play in a band in his younger days (or his squad, as he called it). He was also a classically trained musician, studying the pianoforte. I'll tell you, the people you meet here are astounding. Their stories would fill a book, or several.
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| Finishing The Left Side Rear Window |
We're Reduced To Actually... Reading
Yesterday, about 4:00 PM, or so, our pleasant and mostly mindless TV watching came to an abrupt halt. Yep, Star Choice or Shaw Direct or whatever, according to rumor and actual fact, pulled the plug on satellite boxes physically located outside of Canada.
Not for everybody, I guess. Some of our neighbors still have the ability to watch hockey and F1 (Formula One for the great unwashed) and cooking and remodeling and the Cubs. I guess they must have 'shared' connections. That is, an account up north and an additional box or two that they've brought down here to paradise.
Anyway, we're re-discovering this wonderful thing that you actually do with your hands and eyes and inside your brain where there's this wonderful undocumented feature called imagination. Where, if you're skilled enough at 'reading', why, it's almost like watching a movie, complete with color, sound and action. Unfortunately, there's no advertisements - Oh, wait. That is a benefit not a problem.
So, this means that I'll probably finish 'Rise and Fall of the Third Reich' in the next day or two, and then, actually have to explore some of the almost 600 other books that I have on my eReader, and some of the many other actual books that we have virtually all over our house.
In all reality, this is actually a boon. We suddenly have much more time to devote to one of our favorite activities - reading. What a joy!
We are actually missing some of the shows I mentioned above. Well, maybe not the hockey or F1, although some of my neighbors are hooked on those sorts of programs. We'll keep plugging away at this 'reading' thing and let you know how we adjust over the next few days and if a solution to the satellite thing becomes apparent or not.
I wonder what my next book is going to be. I can't wait! Just my luck. This'll probably be the year the Cubs go all the way!... (in my dreams).
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| Boring Movie, Not Much Action |
Anyway, we're re-discovering this wonderful thing that you actually do with your hands and eyes and inside your brain where there's this wonderful undocumented feature called imagination. Where, if you're skilled enough at 'reading', why, it's almost like watching a movie, complete with color, sound and action. Unfortunately, there's no advertisements - Oh, wait. That is a benefit not a problem.
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| A Little Bit Of Our Library |
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| My Sony eReader |
In all reality, this is actually a boon. We suddenly have much more time to devote to one of our favorite activities - reading. What a joy!
We are actually missing some of the shows I mentioned above. Well, maybe not the hockey or F1, although some of my neighbors are hooked on those sorts of programs. We'll keep plugging away at this 'reading' thing and let you know how we adjust over the next few days and if a solution to the satellite thing becomes apparent or not.
I wonder what my next book is going to be. I can't wait! Just my luck. This'll probably be the year the Cubs go all the way!... (in my dreams).
13 June, 2011
Timely, No Matter How Long It Takes
This morning, June 13, 2011, a little after 8:33 AM, I got this email from the US Peace Corps:
Dear Peace Corps Applicant,
Now, I suppose a little background information would be nice to bring you up to speed.
At least two or three years before we moved to Belize, around 2004, Dianna and I got the idea of applying for the Peace Corps. The thought, in part was to let Uncle Sam pay for our grand adventure somewhere exotic in the world. Oh, sure, we wanted to help folks less fortunate than us and all that. We weren't interested in learning a new trade, per se, but we were more than willing to learn whatever the Peace Corps had to teach us and we were looking forward to passing that and our own experiences on. For example, they asked me if I was willing to learn bee keeping. Of course, I had said yes.
So, anyway. We made it through the online application process, the medical clearance process, the legal process, the three references process, and so on. Actually, during this time, we had also sold our house, looking to the day when we would get our invitation letter, so there would be fewer things holding us back. We lucked out and sold the house at just the perfect time at the height of the market, entirely by accident, I assure you.
The Peace Corps had asked us where we wanted to go (three choices, just like in the military). We asked for Africa, Central America, or anywhere warm. That was our main criteria. The Peace Corps folks eventually told us when we were invited that we would probably be sent to Africa. Fine with us. We really didn't care, as long as it was warm.
There were several hoops we had to jump through in the medical application process, partly I'm sure, due to our age, and other potential issues we may have had. We did get clearances to proceed from our doctors with no reservations or restrictions for anything we might be tasked to perform.
We finished the application process about the end of 2005 and began to wait for an assignment. And we waited. And we waited. We also called and emailed the Peace Corps more or less on a monthly basis to inquire how things were going and when we might hear something, that we were still very much interested, etc., etc.
Finally, it began to get a little old - waiting, that is.
About February of 2007, we went to Florida to visit some friends who had a condo in Ft. Meyers. Just about that time, Dianna had retired from the non-profit association she worked at. I was still working. While we were there, we decided it was time to get on with our lives and our dream before we got too old and decrepit to do something exciting. We talked about this place called Belize, that we might start there, spend some time, see what it was like, and if we didn't like it, check out Panama, Costa Rica and the rest of Central America.
While we researched things on the Web for our niche in paradise, this place called Belize kept popping up. During one of the orientation meetings for the Peace Corps that we attended, the Regional Director at that time had done his PC experience in Belize City, doing outdoor adventure programming for inner-city disadvantaged youth. His experiences very much piqued our interest.
And, at about this same time, I decided it was time for me to retire too. I pulled the plug a couple of months after we returned from Florida. Then we booked a flight from Seattle to Belize City, fully intending to travel throughout Belize for 30 days and return.
We flew down to Belize in May 2007 and fell in love with the country at first sight. So much so, that we didn't follow any of the advice people give. We bought our property after we had been here for three days and our Isuzu after another two. We found a house to rent for six months through the people we bought the property from, and moved in there within a week or two.
We never did tour around the country like we intended. We just explored Corozal. At the end of our vacation, we flew back to Olympia, had a garage sale, selling off some of the things we didn't think we'd need, and packed up everything else. We rented a truck to haul all our stuff to Los Angeles for shipment on to Belize, packed up the kitties (14 and 18 years old at the time - no spring chickens there either) and the four of us flew back to Belize via Cancun. We arrived in Corozal, June 10, 2007, and have lived here ever since.
So, that gets us back to today, when I got that email from the Peace Corps. Something like five years late they want to find out why we withdrew from the application process. Hmmm, could timeliness be connected somehow? You think?
Now, having said all that, are we negative toward the Peace Corps? No, not at all. All things being equal, we would do it all over again. I just wish that the next time, we would have gotten an assignment out of the deal. Would I advise anyone else to apply to the Peace Corps? Absolutely! It would be probably the grandest adventure you'd ever embark on in your life - short of moving to Belize, of course.
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| Peace Corps |
Thank you for your past interest in the Peace Corps. We understand that you have not continued with the Volunteer application process.
We strive to make the introduction to the Peace Corps as informative as possible for potential future Volunteers. Please help us make this process even better by responding to the questions in our short survey. It will only take 20-minutes to complete and all responses will be viewed in aggregate. The survey is designed to be completed in a single session. Your input is voluntary and very important to us.
Please click on the link to enter the survey: (Link removed by me)
If you have any questions about this research or need technical assistance, please contact: (Email address also removed by me)
Thank you!
Linda Isaac
Office of Communications
Peace Corps
We strive to make the introduction to the Peace Corps as informative as possible for potential future Volunteers. Please help us make this process even better by responding to the questions in our short survey. It will only take 20-minutes to complete and all responses will be viewed in aggregate. The survey is designed to be completed in a single session. Your input is voluntary and very important to us.
Please click on the link to enter the survey: (Link removed by me)
If you have any questions about this research or need technical assistance, please contact: (Email address also removed by me)
Thank you!
Linda Isaac
Office of Communications
Peace Corps
Now, I suppose a little background information would be nice to bring you up to speed.
At least two or three years before we moved to Belize, around 2004, Dianna and I got the idea of applying for the Peace Corps. The thought, in part was to let Uncle Sam pay for our grand adventure somewhere exotic in the world. Oh, sure, we wanted to help folks less fortunate than us and all that. We weren't interested in learning a new trade, per se, but we were more than willing to learn whatever the Peace Corps had to teach us and we were looking forward to passing that and our own experiences on. For example, they asked me if I was willing to learn bee keeping. Of course, I had said yes.
So, anyway. We made it through the online application process, the medical clearance process, the legal process, the three references process, and so on. Actually, during this time, we had also sold our house, looking to the day when we would get our invitation letter, so there would be fewer things holding us back. We lucked out and sold the house at just the perfect time at the height of the market, entirely by accident, I assure you.
The Peace Corps had asked us where we wanted to go (three choices, just like in the military). We asked for Africa, Central America, or anywhere warm. That was our main criteria. The Peace Corps folks eventually told us when we were invited that we would probably be sent to Africa. Fine with us. We really didn't care, as long as it was warm.
There were several hoops we had to jump through in the medical application process, partly I'm sure, due to our age, and other potential issues we may have had. We did get clearances to proceed from our doctors with no reservations or restrictions for anything we might be tasked to perform.
We finished the application process about the end of 2005 and began to wait for an assignment. And we waited. And we waited. We also called and emailed the Peace Corps more or less on a monthly basis to inquire how things were going and when we might hear something, that we were still very much interested, etc., etc.
Finally, it began to get a little old - waiting, that is.
About February of 2007, we went to Florida to visit some friends who had a condo in Ft. Meyers. Just about that time, Dianna had retired from the non-profit association she worked at. I was still working. While we were there, we decided it was time to get on with our lives and our dream before we got too old and decrepit to do something exciting. We talked about this place called Belize, that we might start there, spend some time, see what it was like, and if we didn't like it, check out Panama, Costa Rica and the rest of Central America.
While we researched things on the Web for our niche in paradise, this place called Belize kept popping up. During one of the orientation meetings for the Peace Corps that we attended, the Regional Director at that time had done his PC experience in Belize City, doing outdoor adventure programming for inner-city disadvantaged youth. His experiences very much piqued our interest.
And, at about this same time, I decided it was time for me to retire too. I pulled the plug a couple of months after we returned from Florida. Then we booked a flight from Seattle to Belize City, fully intending to travel throughout Belize for 30 days and return.
We flew down to Belize in May 2007 and fell in love with the country at first sight. So much so, that we didn't follow any of the advice people give. We bought our property after we had been here for three days and our Isuzu after another two. We found a house to rent for six months through the people we bought the property from, and moved in there within a week or two.
We never did tour around the country like we intended. We just explored Corozal. At the end of our vacation, we flew back to Olympia, had a garage sale, selling off some of the things we didn't think we'd need, and packed up everything else. We rented a truck to haul all our stuff to Los Angeles for shipment on to Belize, packed up the kitties (14 and 18 years old at the time - no spring chickens there either) and the four of us flew back to Belize via Cancun. We arrived in Corozal, June 10, 2007, and have lived here ever since.
So, that gets us back to today, when I got that email from the Peace Corps. Something like five years late they want to find out why we withdrew from the application process. Hmmm, could timeliness be connected somehow? You think?
Now, having said all that, are we negative toward the Peace Corps? No, not at all. All things being equal, we would do it all over again. I just wish that the next time, we would have gotten an assignment out of the deal. Would I advise anyone else to apply to the Peace Corps? Absolutely! It would be probably the grandest adventure you'd ever embark on in your life - short of moving to Belize, of course.
08 June, 2011
Weather Web's Tentacles
Ever since my weather station went live (http://winjama.blogspot.com/2010/10/oldfartitis-moves-in-for-kill.html), I've always wondered how to connect with the Belize National Meteorological Service (http://www.hydromet.gov.bz/), so that some of the weather information my station works so hard to produce can be put to good use.
For a couple of days, I looked at their website and didn't see any way to let them know I had a station and was willing to share information. Finally, I thought, "Hmmm, why don't I write them and see if there's a way to share the data with them?" So, I did.
I emailed Mr Dennis Gonguez, Chief Meteorologist, and asked him that very question. I also gave him the technical information for my station, so they could find it's information on the Internet, and asked if they had plans in the future to utilize stations such as mine.
After wishing him good luck with the current hurricane season, I hit the send button.
I was pleasantly surprised when, the very next day, I got an answer from Mr. Gonguez thanking me for the information on my station. He told me they would use the data from it to supplement their other observations.
He also asked if I knew how to contact the other weather station up in Consejo Shores.
Finally, Mr. Gonguez provided a link for several other weather stations around Belize.
Apparently, they do fold in the data from all these stations into the weather product they produce for the whole country.
So, along with the Consejo Shores station and Winjama Weather Station... well, the coverage isn't fantastic, as far as amateur stations go, but it's far better than nothing.
Hey, it's nice to know that we're doing our bit to help with hurricane preparedness in Belize.
You can see the current and historical information for Winjama Weather by clicking on the Weather Underground link on the right column of this page. Enjoy.
For a couple of days, I looked at their website and didn't see any way to let them know I had a station and was willing to share information. Finally, I thought, "Hmmm, why don't I write them and see if there's a way to share the data with them?" So, I did.
I emailed Mr Dennis Gonguez, Chief Meteorologist, and asked him that very question. I also gave him the technical information for my station, so they could find it's information on the Internet, and asked if they had plans in the future to utilize stations such as mine.
After wishing him good luck with the current hurricane season, I hit the send button.
I was pleasantly surprised when, the very next day, I got an answer from Mr. Gonguez thanking me for the information on my station. He told me they would use the data from it to supplement their other observations.
He also asked if I knew how to contact the other weather station up in Consejo Shores.
Finally, Mr. Gonguez provided a link for several other weather stations around Belize.
- Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico
- Grand Caribe in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
- Ladyville, BWB, Belize
- WishWilly, Calabash Bight, Roatan Island
Apparently, they do fold in the data from all these stations into the weather product they produce for the whole country.
So, along with the Consejo Shores station and Winjama Weather Station... well, the coverage isn't fantastic, as far as amateur stations go, but it's far better than nothing.
Hey, it's nice to know that we're doing our bit to help with hurricane preparedness in Belize.
You can see the current and historical information for Winjama Weather by clicking on the Weather Underground link on the right column of this page. Enjoy.
04 June, 2011
Happy Hour Dip
At the last happy hour, I had a hankering to put together an avocado dip. I'm not particularly a big fan of avocados - I've always linked avocados with mayonnaise for some reason. I've always been of the school that if the Man upstairs wanted you to use mayo, he wouldn't have invented mustard.
So, anyway, back on track with the avocado dip. This recipe started off as a recipe from Michael Smith's website (http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/Appetizer/Herbs/recipe.html?dishid=8668).
I changed it somewhat. Instead of two ripe avocados, I used six; instead of fresh or frozen corn kernals (I forgot to go back to the market), I used a can of fiesta corn that I happened to have on hand. Drain it first; I couldn't find jalapeno peppers here (no one in the market had them. Must be out of season locally). I used eight to ten healthy sprinkles of Marie Sharpe's Hot Habanero Pepper Sauce instead; I used the juice from two fresh limes that I cut in half; I used a big handful of fresh finely chopped cilantro; Instead of one small onion, I used two peeled and finely chopped medium yellow onions and didn't rinse them after chopping. I wanted the pungency front and center. I used about a pinch of salt and went fairly heavy on the black pepper.
Here's the list easier to read:
It was a hit at our last happy hour get together. I hope you enjoy it.
So, anyway, back on track with the avocado dip. This recipe started off as a recipe from Michael Smith's website (http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/Appetizer/Herbs/recipe.html?dishid=8668).
I changed it somewhat. Instead of two ripe avocados, I used six; instead of fresh or frozen corn kernals (I forgot to go back to the market), I used a can of fiesta corn that I happened to have on hand. Drain it first; I couldn't find jalapeno peppers here (no one in the market had them. Must be out of season locally). I used eight to ten healthy sprinkles of Marie Sharpe's Hot Habanero Pepper Sauce instead; I used the juice from two fresh limes that I cut in half; I used a big handful of fresh finely chopped cilantro; Instead of one small onion, I used two peeled and finely chopped medium yellow onions and didn't rinse them after chopping. I wanted the pungency front and center. I used about a pinch of salt and went fairly heavy on the black pepper.
Here's the list easier to read:
Six ripe avocado'sDirections
One can of fiesta corn, drained
Eight to ten healthy sprinkles of Marie Sharpe's Hot Habanero Pepper Sauce
Juice from two fresh limes, cut in halves
A big handful of fresh finely chopped cilantro
Two peeled and finely chopped medium yellow onions; no rinsing
A pinch of salt and black pepper
- Scoop the avocados and put into a large mixing bowl. If you haven't done this before, it's easy. Hold the avocado in one hand and using a sharp knife run it around the avocado from the top (where it attached to the tree, down to the pit and just run your knife on around the avocado till you end up back at the top. Put the knife down, grasp both halves of the cut avocado and twist slightly in opposite directions and pull apart. You should be able to grasp the pit and simply lift it out.
- Take a tea or soup spoon and starting with the avocado with the narrow end of one half in your palm with the broad end pointed away from you, start scooping with the spoon in a circular motion around the broad end and just continue through the narrow end and you'll end up where you started. the meat of the avocado should just about leap out of the skin into your bowl. Then you can scrape the rest of the green stuff off the inside of the skin and put that into the bowl as well. You've got 12 chances to get this technique down, so next time,you'll look like a real pro.
- Using a dinner fork (or whatever you want) mash the avocados until they form a smooth paste.
- Dump in the chopped onion, corn (yes, the whole can), and the chopped cilantro.
- Squeeze the lime halves all over the mix in the bowl. Squeeze hard and use all the juice.
- Sprinkle the Marie Sharpe's over the mix in the bowl.
- Season it with the salt and pepper.
- Now, mix it well with your fork (or whatever you used previously) so that everything is coated with the avocado paste.
It was a hit at our last happy hour get together. I hope you enjoy it.
02 June, 2011
You Ever Wonder?
Have you ever wondered why I have the comments set for moderation - that is, I have to approve each and every comment before it gets posted to the blog.
Well, here's a good example. 'Anonymous' (I'm assuming that's not his/her real name, sent a comment about a recent posting I made.
The comment read (more or less): "Lots of alcoholics, drug addicts, child molesters (and one or two other categories) still left in Corozal. I hope the FBI doesn't read this blog."
Needless to say, I rejected that comment. But then, 20/20 hindsight being so good, I thought, hmmm, why not at least comment about the comment? So, I reconstructed it as I remembered it and that's what you saw above.
You're probably thinking this comment is pretty mild for me to have to execute a preemptive strike on the comment before it could be published. You're right. If this was the only negative, wacko, threatening, demeaning, or derogatory comment this blog has attracted there would be no reason to moderate comments. However, over the four-plus years I've been running the blog... It's a good thing that I do moderate comments.
I've often wondered what I write about or how I write about what I write about that is so attractive to such oddballs and weirdos, and in a couple of cases, just downright dangerous minds? Do I write such provoking or salacious material that someone feels compelled to threaten bodily harm to me, my family, my home, and my dogs?
I know I write some scandalous stuff (he said tongue-in-cheekly), but jees, give me a break. I would much rather just let commenters post their comments to the blog as is, in fact for a couple of years, that's how this blog operated. Unfortunately, it hasn't been that way for quite some time now.
Unless I miss my guess, I'm betting that most blogs anywhere receive at least a cursory look-see from the various security agencies around the world. They'd be foolish not too. So, the commenter's point about the FBI is just plain naive.
One other thing to keep in mind, if you think anonymous commenting is just that - 'Anonymous', guess again. There have been several court cases over the past few years where ISP's have been ordered to provide IP address and subscriber information because of intimidating or menacing comments made to blogs and other sites. In this era anymore nothing is anonymous.
Well, here's a good example. 'Anonymous' (I'm assuming that's not his/her real name, sent a comment about a recent posting I made.
The comment read (more or less): "Lots of alcoholics, drug addicts, child molesters (and one or two other categories) still left in Corozal. I hope the FBI doesn't read this blog."
Needless to say, I rejected that comment. But then, 20/20 hindsight being so good, I thought, hmmm, why not at least comment about the comment? So, I reconstructed it as I remembered it and that's what you saw above.
You're probably thinking this comment is pretty mild for me to have to execute a preemptive strike on the comment before it could be published. You're right. If this was the only negative, wacko, threatening, demeaning, or derogatory comment this blog has attracted there would be no reason to moderate comments. However, over the four-plus years I've been running the blog... It's a good thing that I do moderate comments.
I've often wondered what I write about or how I write about what I write about that is so attractive to such oddballs and weirdos, and in a couple of cases, just downright dangerous minds? Do I write such provoking or salacious material that someone feels compelled to threaten bodily harm to me, my family, my home, and my dogs?
I know I write some scandalous stuff (he said tongue-in-cheekly), but jees, give me a break. I would much rather just let commenters post their comments to the blog as is, in fact for a couple of years, that's how this blog operated. Unfortunately, it hasn't been that way for quite some time now.
Unless I miss my guess, I'm betting that most blogs anywhere receive at least a cursory look-see from the various security agencies around the world. They'd be foolish not too. So, the commenter's point about the FBI is just plain naive.
One other thing to keep in mind, if you think anonymous commenting is just that - 'Anonymous', guess again. There have been several court cases over the past few years where ISP's have been ordered to provide IP address and subscriber information because of intimidating or menacing comments made to blogs and other sites. In this era anymore nothing is anonymous.
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