“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

What is new is old, what is old is new, rinse and repeat. Vegetarian cooking waxes and wanes over the centuries for various reasons. Sometimes vegetarian lifestyle are for for religious reasons, other times for health and often forced by economics. I find it interesting in our current economic model in the United States a vegetarian diet is considered more expensive than low cost animal sources of protein.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

Every year I seem surprised at how much time and energy it takes to irrigate, control weeds and do the general spring/summer work. About June is when I start dropping other obligations, which at time has included writing here. My diaries may be a bit short and not every comment responded to the same day, but I plan to slog through this summer and continue contributing.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

Been a fan of masks since discovered as a small child I would not loose my place by the campfire if the t-shirt collar was pulled up to cover the nose when the smoke drifted in my direction. In severe smoke related events covered the eyes. NOTE - SHOULD NOT WALK OR RUN WHEN EYES COVERED BY SHIRT.

I have been advocating the use of a mask for several months and will continue to use one when it fits my criteria.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

Rules, regulations and the price of bread are part of our Anglo/Saxon legal traditions. Laws formulated to control the price of bread and limit the profit of baker appeared during the time of of King John, thirteen years prior to the Magna Carta. In 1266 The Assize of Bread and Ale regulated the price, weight and quality of the bread and beer manufactured and sold in towns, villages and hamlets in high medieval England. The law was modified periodically and not replaced until 1863.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

The right or ability of an individual to obtain or refuse a medical treatment is being severely threatened. For most of my life the arguments have been based around reproduction rights, use of illegal drugs, informed consent of medical experiments, alternative medicine choices, medical privacy and universal availability of quality treatments. The current trend of two tiered system of the COVID vaccinated and vaccinated is formalizing medical discrimination and enforcement by third parties.

It appears business owners and employees in Oregon will once again have the risk of confrontation confirming vaccination status of individuals. As we head into a two tiered system of privileges based on compliance to a medical treatment.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

Today I am going to indulge in gossip/discussion about problem behaviors. A new problem showed up yesterday. A note on the front door mentioned I had two extra cattle in my field and pre-thanking for my patience, which is running thin at the moment. Yep, two young Angus heifers in the field, from the tracks they had been chased all around the buildings, various equipment and through the orchard. Some panel fencing used to protect the water pump and plastic pipes were moved to block the heifers in an area by the corral, gates had been left open in several places between various fields and several sections of fence was damaged by the heifers when jumping the fence and not clearing it completely.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

Good morning - Drinking good coffee is one of the luxuries of life I am very serious about. Discovered the pleasure of fresh ground whole beans and flavored roasts about 40 years ago at college when on a tight budget. The local roaster I used for years shifted to providing large volumes of products to the grocery stores. As availability increased, freshness decreased and amaretto is not available for small volume purchases.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

One of my favorite food information sites is available again - The Food Timeline (scroll down a bit to view the timeline). Today's diary would have been much longer if time had not been spent jumping from link to link.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

Rice one of the most popular grains in the world. The varieties available in the local market keeps expanding. White rice is stable in storage for significant time and is one of the bulk foods I keep in the pantry.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Djc5ZVUyUw]

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

Welcome to party. The subject is onions. If you are sensitive or working with strong onions may need to cut under running water or wear eye protection to prevent crying. I generally only cry when grinding the 5 pounds needed for a favorite relish.

Learning to master individual ingredients and the full flavor profile available with different cooking techniques provides culinary freedom. Below is a selection of video primarily on onions. The focus is on simplicity. The next step is adding additional foods, spices and herbs from around the world or the local growing enviornment to tantalize the taste buds and satisfy the soul.