Tag Archives: blogging

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Smoking Cheese- A New Hobby

Recently my wife has been experimenting with charcuterie boards and making snack trays for birthdays or when we have friends over. One thing I’ve always enjoyed is Smoked Cheese and crackers. So, I’ve decided to attempt smoking cheese- a new hobby. Or, a disaster, it’s yet to be determined

Smoking cheese- a new hobby

The first batch seems to of turned out well. I did three types of cheese. Colby jack, Sharp Cheddar, and a White Sharp Cheddar. I wanted to do some Gouda but they didn’t have any blocks.

The method was simple. Find a large disposal aluminum tray and fill it with ice.

Next place the cheese on either toothpicks or a small wire rack, and place it in a smaller tray. A tray that will fit nicely into the larger iced tray.

Smoke on a low heat at around 150 to 200. After one hour, flip the cheese, add some more ice if necessary, and smoke for another hour.

Last, wrap the cheese in parchment paper and place in the fridge for at least 48 hours.

Simple method, and probably the cheapest thing I’ve ever smoked.

So smoking cheese- A new hobby? Most likely.

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A Quick Word on Resting

My mind has been a little foggy over the last few days. I’ve come down with some upper Respiratory Infection. COVID Test were negative, so that’s a plus I guess. Regardless trying to piece together words on a page is rather difficult when one doesn’t feel good. So progress on projects have been lacking this week. However, let me take this time to just say this: Rest is essential. Take time off and toss the to do list aside and just REST. I tried to do that this weekend. I listened to audiobooks, watched some Netflix, and played video games. I still had things to get done, sure. But I had to set them aside until I could muster the energy to tackle them. The only problem is: I think my wife caught what I had.

clear glass teacup with coffee beverage
Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com
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My Wife, Her Bread, and Her Life

My wife grew up cooking. Her love for the kitchen began at a young age, shortly after her father and brother passed. Throughout our time over the last 20-something years, I’ve seen her take on the role of family chef.

My wife made biscuits

That love led her to culinary school, where she became a certified chef, to serve at a church on staff for fifteen years running food service, and now back home to her favorite place- the family kitchen. One would think that you would eventually burn out when you’ve used your gifts to serve people who were often ungrateful and, at times, undervalued you as a person.

Not so.

Growing up, my grandmother was my biggest hero. And I see a lot of my grandmother in my wife—someone who always puts her family’s needs, desires, and well-being above her own. Through February, my wife has set a personal goal not to buy bread products for the month and to bake it all. I loved this idea because her bread is always perfect and tastes much better than store-bought bread. The smell brings back memories of my grandmother working in the kitchen. And that’s a smell I want my kids to remember.

My wife made baguettes

We often need to remember that heroes and legacy aren’t those with big followings. Many of us seek to make significant impacts, be known, and change the world with one TikTok at a time. But that’s not how the world is changed.

I hope my children don’t see the YouTubers they enjoy as their heroes. I hope they see them as entertainment. I hope they remember the sacrifice and love their mother pours out over them, the little things, the small points in life that seem minor but have a lasting impact.

Because that is what a hero does.

For me, it was watching my grandmother make french toast with a fresh loaf of bread she had just baked.

I’ve learned that for my wife, her bread, and her life, are all about serving the ones she loves. That’s a lesson I, my kids, and I hope you, can learn.

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I’m a Slow Reader

Here is a little confession: I’m a Slow Reader. 

I always have been. I used to envy people who read quickly, devouring books in a single day or thick epic fantasy stories over a weekend. But it’s okay that I’m slow, and there are many reasons why. 

eyeglasses on opened book beside cup of coffee on table
Photo by Oziel Gómez on Pexels.com

1) Time. With ADHD, I struggle to sit and stay focused for long periods. I get distracted easily, and the slightest thing can pull my mind away. 

2) I’m just slow. My average reading pace with proper comprehension is about 171 words per minute. Most people come in at around 250 words. That means if I read for a full hour, I can get through about 10,260 words. So a typical 100,000-word novel will take me about ten dedicated hours of reading time. 

3) Priority. I have a lot going on in life and wear many different hats. So sitting down to read is much more complicated than it was fifteen years ago. 

However, I’ve learned a few tricks to help me read more. 

1) I’ve learned to read in ten-minute chunks, which has helped. If I can carve about ten minutes here and ten minutes there, I’ve seen a vast improvement in the number of books I can consume. 

2) Audiobooks. I had to learn to listen to books. It didn’t come naturally. A great narrator can hold me for hours if need be. But I stress the “Great Narrator” part. I can consume more through audio than I used to. So I tend to devour them more now. I want publishing to get it together and learn to bundle ebooks and audio at a discounted price. They would make a fortune.  

3) Stop worrying about how much everyone else is reading. Reading isn’t a sport, it’s entertainment, it’s for enjoyment, it’s for disconnecting from an already chaotic world. I don’t need to keep up with everyone else. So, I don’t care if so and so has read ten more books than me this year. Good for them. 

I’m a slow reader. Maybe you are too. Guess what? That’s okay. Just dive in and learn to enjoy. 

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Mid-Week Rant: I Don’t Have to Enjoy What You Enjoy

Listen, I’m about to go on a Mid-week Rant: I don’t have to enjoy what you enjoy. And no, it’s about my friend Jason Joyner continuing to send me memes of Boise State beating the Sooners in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. That’s a different rant for a different day.

photo of the road
Photo by D0N MIL04K on Pexels.com

As an author, I’ve had my share of bad reviews. Heck, I’ve had many people, not like Iggy & Oz. Most of these are adults and/or other writers. They often leave an adult critique for a book that is basically Pulp for boys who hate to read. And guess what- Their criticism is mostly true. It ain’t literature, after all. It’s not pretty writing. 

Still, many people love Iggy & Oz, and that’s who I write for.

I had to learn this the hard way. I had to learn many of the things I enjoy in my life, other people will think is strange.  

Listen, every story, YouTube video, RPG, drawing, TikTok, painting, camping trip, vacation, IG post, reel, and even-prepped food, needs to be seasoned with your voice, heart, and difference. 

We live in a society that pushes generic living and removes the individualistic nature of many. 

Seth Godin is one of my go-to Bloggers every day. He wrote this recently.

Most people want you to make something cheap, write something short, share something funny, and fit in.

But the people you serve… they might want something else.

The few people you need to thrive in your work might want you to write something they’ll remember for a long time, or to take them on a journey that’s thrilling and challenging and unique.

Or perhaps these are the people that want to buy something that costs a lot but is worth more than it costs.

It’s okay to say, “it’s not for you,” to most people.

In fact, that’s the only way to do work that matters. 

This is my Mid-Week Rant: I Don’t Have to Enjoy What You Enjoy