Baseball Is Dead

It used to be the American Past-time. Now it is simply past it's time. Baseball was my favorite sport as a kid. While Ken Griffey Jr. is still my favorite athlete of all time, I am struck by the downfall of baseball as a whole.

Don't believe me?

1. Which team has the best record in baseball?
2. Who won the World Series last year?
3. Who leads the Major Leagues in home runs this season?

I think the saddest part about all of this is that it really makes the steroid era look like the best time in baseball.

Not that I wish steroids would make a come-back (it's not like they really left anyway). I just wish there was a reason to care about baseball. At least it's football season now, basketball starts in two months and baseball will be over in November.

Oh, and in case you were wondering about the answers to my little quiz.

1. Yankees
2. Phillies
3. Albert Pujols (Probably the best pure hitter in baseball)

Hummus - I'm Not Scared Anymore

One of the most frightening foods in the world. It is also one of the most typical foods used to describe hippies or health nut women (other than granola).

My wife and I decided to partake in our local Mediterranean cuisine - Restaurant Salaam, in Athens, Ohio. I must say, it was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. Our server/waiter, Matteo kicked ass, keeping up with my ridiculous water/tea consumption and describing the dishes he was bringing us.

The first thing we ordered was an appetizer platter that included hummus and baba ganousch with four dolmas (think egg roll with grape leaf replacing the egg).

Hummus had been on my 'to do' list for awhile. I decided to try some on the delicious house bread. As I spread the hummus on the bread I could almost feel my inner-ten year old soul screaming "It looks so gross!". Fortunately, I was able to keep focus and open my mind...and mouth to try this mysterious goo.

It was downright tasty. I would compare it to something in-between the texture of cream of wheat, with a taste that is all its own. I wish I could continue to describe the hummus for those of you that are scared to even look at it on a menu. If you have never had hummus, I highly suggest you cut some french bread into 1/2 inch slices and spread some hummus and get ready to experience food liberation!

Olive Oil, Hot Sauce and Sports - Three Things I Can't Live Without

As I was cooking spaghetti for dinner the other day, I realized that Olive Oil is one of the sole components of my cooking. Not that I put it in my morning cereal (although, I have been tempted... not really) but good lord, can you think of anything other than perhaps butter that can be so readily used in cooking almost anything? Next time you throw some pasta together, pour a tablespoon of Olive Oil in the water before you bring it to a boil. You can thank me later.

Tonight I realized that the other magical addition to food is hot sauce. Some people 'don't like' spicy food or anything 'too hot'. The problem is that they just don't know what they like. There are so many different types of hot sauce in the world that you are bound to find something that won't kill you or put hair on some strange part of your body (unless you actually want it there).

Here are some things to put hot sauce on -

• Hamburgers (combine it with your usual toppings and maybe even a little BBQ sauce)
  
• Hotdogs (Ketchup and Hot Sauce is amazing...don't use too much of either)
• Spaghetti
• Mexican food (green jalapeno hot sauce is usually my choice)
• Popcorn (don't use too much)
• Use your imagination... Pizza is also another good option for hot sauce

I grew up playing baseball, football and basketball. I was obsessed with reading the sports page by the age of 7. Say what you want about the value of sports, jocks and their usefulness in the world - there are a lot of people out there even crazier about sports than I am. Especially if you consider NASCAR a sport.
There is something about sports that brings people together and sets them apart at the same time. Ohio State and Michigan - one of the greatest if not the greatest rivalries in college football is evidence of how much sports means to people on a wider level than a simple 'sports thing'. It is regional, it is cultural and it is part of every nation in the world from soccer to curling and even... NASCAR.

Salsa and Pre-Season Football

When my wife and I drove up to my parents house for my dad's 50th birthday a few days ago it seemed like a simple enough task. Make some hot salsa, have a surprise party, watch Browns game on TV.
The party and the Browns game (finally) went well. The salsa was great for the most part.
The Salsa
My mom was awesome enough to hook us up with all the things we needed to make the salsa. I am a fan of spicy food, so I went ahead and started to cut up some jalapeno peppers for my salsa. The immediate reaction from my wife and mother was that I was putting perrhaps, too much jalapeno in my concoction. Since I was making enough salsa for 12 jars (we were canning it all, as well), I figured they knew better than I would, so I didn't add more peppers.
For the record, my salsa tastes good, it is a great consistency and there is plenty to go around. The problem is that it was not spicy enough with just 3-4 jalapenos. I suggest 7-10 jalapenos and 3-5 habenero peppers for those that love spicy salsa. Don't forget the lime juice, fresh cilantro and other great salsa ingredients.

The Game
Am I the only one that doesn't completely hate the NFL Pre-Season? Other than being a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan, the pain my team puts me through every year is nothing compared to the pain of no football.
Romeo Crennel is gone, Eric Mangini has taken over and the Browns actually scored an offensive touchdown, albeit against the Lions. Semantics!