OMG! Chicken and Dumplings

I am always slow to the game. Ground black pepper has always been my favorite everyday spice and last week I final tried a peppercorn grinder.

NEVER will I go back to already ground pepper.

I have also been hearing rave reviews on "Better than Bouillon" products, so I bought their roasted chicken base bouillon.

last but not least I have had some Barilla Mini Farfalle pasta in the pantry for so long (years) that I can not remember when and where I bought it. I had used some (do not remember when) but the box had been opened and the what was left was in a rip lock baggie and the box was well worn from our travels.

So I thought, "lets use up this crap and make room for something else". I add 2 teaspoons of the Better Than Bouillon Roasted Chicken Base to 2 cups of boiling water (I added no salt as bouillon is salty) and then added one cup of pasta. It said to boil the pasta for 7 minutes but I know from experience that really old pasta needs longer.

12 minutes later the bouillon water has nearly  disappeared and I remove it from the heat. I let it cool for about 10 minutes and the water was now absorbed but the paste was still very moist.

I stirred in a tablespoon of butter and  I course ground peppercorn. I think I have died and gone to heaven. This is like the best "chicken and dumplings" (without the liquid and actual chicken) .

Dirt cheap and easy to prepare, enjoy!!

Check in hand

     Insurance paid a nice fat check but upon further inspection, they failed to include my broken slide-out awning.
     I will have a mobile rv tech do the repairs on sight. I will have all three (2 slide-outs and porch) awnings replaced as 10 years is past their life expectancy.

DAMN!!

Sunday afternoon a tree came crashing thru our bedroom ceiling.
No one was hurt but it is not looking good for our beloved Cardinal.

My Dream Pickup Truck

If money were no object and I could spend any amount on a pickup.
     A new Super Duty Expended Cab Diesel... NOPE
     A new Ram Diesel... NADA
     A new Chevrolet.... HELL NO
     How about a new Toyota..... DON'T EVEN GO THERE

If money were no object I would BUY an honest truck.


A fully restored "Plain Jane" (bright grill and no other chrome) 1974 Ford F250 4x4, straight 300 I6, granny 4 speed, vinyl seat, rubber floor mat, power steering, power brakes, and a/c. Factory original including single stage paint (no clear coat crap). Heavy duty rear bumper (with dealers name and city stamped in it). Crank up windows and for all I care you can leave out the radio.

I got Fired?

     Yes, I got fired from my side gig. I made my client 32% for the year ( not a misprint, 32% ). This is actual cash in the account profit, not paper profits. I can understand ( not really but everyone has to do what they feel is best ) because I was managing an IRA and he was leaving the profits in the account and just paying me out of his pocket. My 3.2% (10% of the 32% profit) seemed excessive to him, but if I made him nothing I got NOTHING.

   He was a "buy and hold" investor for decades (with the steady albeit small gains) but has followed my tutelage and not thinks he is smarter than the teacher.

   Well it was a nice run while it lasted but at least I will have more time because I can no long dedicate 3+ hours a day on the phone with him.