Healthy Rueben so they say.

 So I posted my ingredients for breakfast and the google ai came up with Rueben...hmmm I used to eat Rubens but they were 1. Huge calories 2. Somewhat greasy. 3. Never considered healthy. Here's my breakfast this morning. There will be more to follow including pictures, as soon as I make another sandwich. lol

This meal provides approximately 450–550 calories, featuring high protein (~30g), high fat (~30-35g), and moderate carbohydrates (~20g). It is a nutrient-dense, savory meal high in iron, zinc, healthy fats, and probiotics from the kimchi, while the A2 dairy offers easier digestibility for some. 

Estimated Nutritional Breakdown:

• 1 Slice Sourdough Toast (with 1 tbsp A2 Raw Butter): ~200-220 calories, 10g fat, 25g carbs, 4g protein.
• 3 oz Grass-fed Chip Steak: ~180 calories, 11g fat, 0g carbs, 20g protein.
• 1 Slice A2 Dutch Reserve Cheddar: ~100-110 calories, 9g fat, 0g carbs, 7g protein.
• 1/4 Cup Kimchi: ~10-15 calories, 0g fat, 2g carbs, 1g protein. 

Key Nutrients:

• Protein: ~30-32g (Primarily from grass-fed steak and cheddar).
• Fat: ~30-35g (High in CLA from grass-fed butter/beef).
• Carbs: ~27g (From the sourdough bread). 

Geez it's Spring Blueberries Treat

 

Well it's officially Spring and I managed to NOT post since Thanksgiving. I wanted to but...I may need an assistant or staff for the techie stuff. So I've been using AI Google to answer my nutrition questions about things I create. My after brunch snack/dessert to add protein to my diet. Put ingredients in the microwave 30 seconds mash with fork. Toast tortilla. Simple and all organic.

Based on the combined nutritional data for the ingredients listed, this meal is high in healthy fats, fiber, and plant-based protein. The estimated total nutrition is roughly 300–350 calories, 10–12g of protein, 20–25g of fat, and 12-16g of net carbs, depending on the exact size of the tortilla. 

Here is a detailed breakdown of the components:

1. 1 Cup Blueberries (Raw)

• Calories: ~84
• Carbs: ~21g (15g sugar, 3.6g fiber)
• Protein: ~1g
• Fat: ~0.5g
• Key Nutrients: High in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and Manganese. 

2. 2 Tablespoons Hemp Seeds (Hemp Hearts) 

• Calories: ~90–110
• Carbs: ~1-2g (usually <1g net carbs)
• Protein: ~5-6g (complete protein)
• Fat: ~6-9g (Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids)
• Key Nutrients: Rich in Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, and Potassium. 

3. 2 Tablespoons Crushed Mixed Nuts (Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios, Macadamia)

• Calories: ~100–110
• Carbs: ~3-4g (1g fiber)
• Protein: ~3-4g
• Fat: ~9-10g
• Key Nutrients: Good source of healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. 

4. One Quarter Einhorn Tortilla

• Note: Einkorn (Einhorn) is an ancient grain wheat.
• Approximate Nutrition (for 1/4 of a standard 8" tortilla):
  • Calories: ~40-60 (based on a full tortilla being ~160-200 calories)
  • Carbs: ~8-10g
  • Protein: ~1-2g
  • Fat: ~1-2g
• Note: If a specialized low-carb Einkorn tortilla is used, net carbs will be lower. 

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Einhorn Tortillas from:

  www.Dutchmeadowsfarm.com           Paradise  PA

Who eats Chili for Thanksgiving?

 

A few weeks ago Taylor was in the kitchen cooking chili. Typically she has a recipe and special ingredients she bought. I had a bowl of it and it reminded me of my Mom's chili, a staple on Halloween and every Fall weekend. I thought what was the spice profile? Mom's was a bunch of outdated McCormik bottles in the cabinet. Ingredients for both her and Mom were Walmart or the Jewel Store.

So for Thanksgiving meal I asked her to reprise the chili. My ingredients organic kidney beans, tomato sauce and Thomas Farms 85/15 grass fed ground beef. Later I find out it's from Australia. Got it from Rouses Biloxi. I prefer my Dutch Meadows ground brisket more but they are sold out most likely due to tailgaters in the local Philly PA area. lol Today they are sad as Da Bears beat them yesterday.

Secret Ingredient

Yes that Carol Shelby, he was great at vintage sportscars pretty good at Chili spice kits. Not sure how he got Mom's recipe lol. No wait she never wrote anything down. He was lucky I guess.

Just Delicious!

Here's the finished product in my 9" Churchill Stonecast coupe bowl. Delicious. Had leftovers and froze a small container.

Hmmm how did this get in here? Chicken Salad Chicks cracker packets made and distributed by Kelloggs Battle Creek. Most likely standard private label restaurant variety. Might as well get your condiments free from restaurants and grocery stores. I did.

Thanks Taylor, your becoming quite the Chef/Baker coming a long way from the Homemaker kids kitchen stove and garage full of Hospitality Place samples.

Jay's Potato Chips "can't stop eating them"

 

Jay's potato chips had this sign on the expressway to Chicago. We didn't drive by it much as kids but when we did. I would scream "named after me". Lol my Mom would buy us Lay's and we would get a little baggy full. Some Tuesday's a nickel bag of Peerless from the bowling alley in our brown bag lunch. Mom said Jay's was too greasy...lol Oscar Mayer too (we had Eckrich). Now they've both been sold. The girls bought this bag online from Target. It was very thoughtful.

 Not the same. I've moved on to Kettle Chips ironically owned by Campbell Soup since 2018. When original recipes and companies sell to conglomerates and profit is the motive over taste and experience. Not the same. 

Peerless Potato Chips once made on 11th Ave in Gary IN...permanently closed. Maybe maybe not.

Hidden on the Gulf Coast... Sugar Pop Baking Co.

So first the backstory. The girls were shopping Saturday and planned to buy me pastries for early Father's Day celebration. They are taking next week off to see the Savanah Bananas Baseball team play at home. The bakery they were going too closed before they got there so they stopped at Sugar Pop Bakery Co. in Waveland MS. It's owned by Renee and Darren Loranger. Renee has been a winner on the Food Network Halloween Baking Championship Season 7 and Finalist on Season 6. I got to meet her yesterday. Saturday the girls bought me the Chocolate Eclair, Caramel and Chocolate Cupcakes and we split the Fruit Tart below. Renee gave them the fruit tart as they were closing soon and couldn't store the remainder product. They are closed on Sundays. But today is about sandwiches. This weeks special the Cuban, BLT and Smashburger.

 

First up the Cuban. Darren explained to the girls he researched the popular Florida sandwich and tested it repeatedly. He thought he got it right. I judged it perfect and it beat my favorite from Bracato's in Tampa. Granted Bracato's typically had off season professional baseball players there for lunch but we're talking sandwiches. Each bite you tasted mustard and pickle. The pork soft fleshy goodness, lightly salted ham and melted cheese. Thumbs up Chef.

The BLT was also perfect, the premium bacon extending the sides of the sandwich and crisp. The bread toasted and the sauce and condiments plentiful. 

Smashburger a "homerun", soft perfect sized sesame bun two huge patties of delicious burger meat, cheese, sauce lettuce pickle tomato. All over the plate tasty.

The sandwiches came with Kettle Chips...a ton of them. The cost more than reasonable and we'll probably get 9 meals out of my three sandwiches and chips for a week.

It's rare that I don't find something that I would change but nope those 3 sandwiches were/are superbly done. When I was Edward Don's National Account Manger for Rich Melman's Lettuce Entertain You, Richard sent his crew to Mexico for the Summer to get authentic recipes for the Hat Dance Restaurant on Huron Ave Chicago. I even sent the Pullman trash cans out to be painted at a local body shop to get the color right. So when Darren told the girls he researched the Cuban...I had to have one. Job well done Chef.

PS I did take pictures myself but the ones I got from sugarpopbakingco.com were much better. I did like mine though a typical culinary mess in my 9" coupe bowls spread across the countertop.

AMX #13188 45 Years Later

 

I was researching as I do every few years... googling my old cars by Vin number or in this case of the 1969 AMX by dash plaque number 13188. Well it turned up last night 45 years after I bought it on the AMX Registry. Below is the dash plaque picture the current owner posted along with the car today. (current owner photos)

These current pictures were taken at a local Car Show on the East Coast. To see all photos go to Americanmotorsinfo.com click on search and enter 13188.

My part of the 1969 AMX #13188 story begins around 1978. I was attending Michigan State Hotel School. I found out about this 1969 AMX. I was more of a MOPAR guy and still am but my buddy Gene Nawrocki, where I worked fresh out of high school had a 304 Gremlin. I tried to buy a new Javelin back then but the dealer pricing fell through. This AMX opportunity probably came from the Lansing State Journal ads.

I drove out to Charlotte MI just south of Lansing and bought it, bringing it home to my apartment in Okemos. Pictured below is the AMX with my 67 Camaro and 71 Cutlass Supreme. I bought a house in Lansing shortly there after with a 1 car garage. I rented 2 rooms out to buddies, one had a 71 Z28 and I had traded the Camaro for a chopped 73 Triumph Bonneville Motorcycle by then. Still in school and working at Frandor Mall and then Lansing Mall in the Sears and Wards Auto Centers part time.

Over a period of a couple years I began work on the AMX. It was originally a Alamosa Aqua (irid 68A) with White stripes Go Package car. 390 cubic inches and a Hurst 4 speed. Basically a racing package schooled in Kenosha WI by the likes of Mark Donahue and crew. While in the Army (1973-1977) I saw Mark race at Nurburgring Germany, the last Gran Prix of Germany held there and his last race. He was killed in practice the following week in Austria. He was a great racer and AMC guy (his name sake javelin).

A friend of a friend recommended I get the heads done by the engineers at the Oldsmobile plant in Lansing. Ported and polished, new guides. I replaced  the clutch with American Perfection parts and added headers. My dentist's son owned a body shop and he did the body in Black with Gold stripes. Painted bumpers and carved the rear quarters into the existing curvature (big tires) and the interior was completely redone in Black/Charcoal. Gold Cragar Supertricks rounded out the package. The AMX was "GO FAST" and sparsely decorated. lol FYI everyone in MI were racers. 

 

Finished restoration pictured in Atlanta. 

About that time I graduated, sold the house and went to work for Edward Don and Company setting up the new Atlanta Office as their district manager. The moving package included my stuff and the AMX packed in the semi trailer. It was pretty cool unloading it in ATL. The car was covered and parked on a concrete pad behind the rental house on Drew Valley Rd. Yes some street racing was done on weekends. Finally it became my daily driver as the Don HR people kept asking me to chauffer them around ATL when they came down to recruit. The AMX was my excuse, lol sorry only two seats. So I sold my Buick Le Sabre Chocolate colored coupe. Hey it was the 80's. 

When my stent was up in Atlanta I headed back to NW Indiana rejoining Edward Don's National Account Office in North Riverside IL. On the way I spent the summer doing specialized sales in Cincinnati. I raced the AMX once at Tri County Dragway there. I sold the AMX to a guy who lived in Highland Indiana in the mid 80's. 

Next up was this 1988 Mustang 5 liter ironically faster and more modern in the logistics, electronics and chassis set up than the AMX. Ordered to be converted to drag racing by a customer at the Ford dealer in South Holland IL I got it for about $13,000 and put 250,000 miles on it. I traveled the midwest in sales mainly MI, OH and KY. The company compenstated me for the mileage. It paid for itself 4 times over. It would easily run 137 MPH on the Indiana Toll road.

Now my daughter and I have matching 2011 Dodge Nitro Heats. Vintage with less than 80,000 miles. We belong to the MOPAR club out of New Orleans and enjoy the annual cruising the coast celebrations.

It was pretty cool to find the AMX again and remember the fun times and the one time I ran out of gas in East Lansing. Steve (work buddy) and I pushed it to the gas station. Oh and once I took it to a meeting in Grand Rapids and the throttle cable broke. I fabbed a replacement on the spot from my suit coat hanger. Replacing it of course when I got back. You could do that in those days. Craftsmen Tools.