Bringing the World Closer with Twitter

It's amazing to see what today's technology can do. Sure we have been using our iPod's for a few years now. Some of us have even owned two or maybe three of them. Years ago, we played with ICQ chat, then moved onto Yahoo IM, over to MySpace and now socializing on Facebook with family and friends...while Twitter has opened up a whole new world of actually bringing the entire world closer together in 140 characters or less.

When I heard about Twitter, I was like you. Twitter? What the heck is that? I don't have anything to say to people I don't even know! For those who are addicted to Twitter, many will either post links to articles they think you may be interested in or to say they are having coffee on their patio while watching the dog chase the cat. You know, interesting stuff.

Well, Twitter has also brought people together, not just virtually but in reality. Yes Facebook can be fun conversing with your friends, but what I find more interesting than Facebook is Twitter. To connect with people you don't even know, become virtual friends and even one day meet them in person. So the case here...

As many of you know, I started my Tip of the Fork Blog to share with you what I do in the kitchen. My love for cooking and my dislike for fast food. Many of you do not know this, but my blog came by a recommendation of a Twitter friend, @writer_sheri who thought I what I had to say was interesting enough to blog about. Guess she was right! Well, as I read other followers posts and began to interact with them, I became friends with many in the virtual world. I would never have thought that I would actually end up meeting a couple of them in person! The key to Twitter is conversation, communication and not posting links or quotes from dead people. But to interact with those who you do not know and eventually become friends, very possibly lifelong friends.

Celebrity TV Chef Debbie Frangipane of Florida and Home Chef Donald Bond of Texas

Barry talking to the President. He decided to call during lunch.

A couple of virutal friends I would exchange banter with is @dolcedebbie and @barryfrangipane of Florida. By having simple conversation, I found out Debbie lived in Houston for many years, has a sweet tooth for Cherry Pop Tarts (the things you found out on Twitter!) has family here and just happened to be visiting them during the Thanksgiving holiday. To make a long story short, all three of us met along with my two boys for the first time in Houston, Texas this past Sunday! At the Cadillac Bar in the Heights for some great Mexican food and most of all, laughter, conversation in the real world!

Debbie surprised with her favorite, Cherry Pop Tarts!

Yes from the virtual world to the real world. How awesome is that? I say pretty darn awesome! From just a few months ago, not knowing what Twitter was to posting one-liners and making friends for life...I'd say that caps off a Thanksgiving that is more memorable than a homemade brewery exploding over the top of a Thanksgiving turkey....Yeah, that's another story!

Breakfast: A Simple Gesture

I've always enjoyed breakfast, especially when I go on a vacation. It's been several years, if not decades that I've even ate breakfast on a daily basis. Probably never. Breakfast for me is saved for the slow pace of a weekend.

Getting up this morning...an hour earlier because of Daylight Savings Time has ended for now, it's a perfect time to prepare breakfast for my youngest son and I. Being a self-proclaimed home chef, you'd figure that I would have all that I need to prepare a breakfast. Well it came down to having no eggs, something I forgot at the store last night. My son (13) and I went to the store this morning to get some large eggs for the blueberry muffins and of course to prepare a couple of hearty omelets! My oldest son wasn't here, so it was a great opportunity to have some one on one time with my other son.

I enjoy cooking. As I've said many times before, the kitchen is a place for fellowship with friends and family. Guess that is why many Baptists have a weight problem, too much fellowship in the kitchen! I can laugh because I'm Baptist and God knows I'm right. :) I'm sure other congregations have the same problem!

It's a nice quiet morning here, my sons always enjoy when I cook. Fast food and restaurants are never spoken here. We have a good time together and at times my kids will show me a thing or two in the kitchen. I'm proud that I have inspired my two teenage sons to cook when they are here. I'm sure it is rare these days, a father and his kids swapping recipes or "Let me show you what I came up with!" A great feeling of accomplishment to see a simple gesture of kindness spurs creativity in the kitchen of the younger head-phone wearing, Xbox playing skateboarding crowd.

My two boys have been picky eaters for years. I guess many kids are because baby boomers hardly take the time to cook anymore, which is sad. Frozen pizza and fish sticks isn't dinner, neither is fast food in a bag. I changed that about 6 years ago when I started cooking and introducing them to different foods...then it was onto seasonings and herbs. So far so good.

What I'm saying is several things in a short article. A simple gesture of breakfast brings families closer. A time for fellowship. Love and Laugh right? You bet. Taking the time to do something for some else speaks volumes.

If you haven't cook for someone in a while, try it. At times all it starts with is crack of an egg and the aroma of sizzling bacon.

Bacon Shrimp Omelet: Sunday Breakfast

I laugh when I see a drive-thru full of cars on a Sunday morning. It just kills me, that people think they are too busy to prepare breakfast for their family. Either they think they are that darn busy or just lazy, haven't figured out which one yet. I don't want to hear the excuse...talk to the hand! Mine has a spatula in it!

When it comes to a Sunday morning, why rush it? This past Sunday the sky was crystal blue, a light wind blowing and the temp around 65. SLOW DOWN AMERICA!...it's time to enjoy your family at breakfast!

This particular morning it was a omelet time! There is no science to making a perfect omelet, but I've been told I have the magic. So with that, I will share my magic.

I heat my 10" skillet to a medium-low heat about a 4 on an electric stove. I use a glass cooktop so cooking with gas is foreign to me. I'm stil waiting for Paula Deen to invite me and give me a private lesson on how to use one. While my skillet is heating up, I take two large eggs and crack them into a bowl...less shells. I add fresh cracked black pepper, mesquite seasoning (from Costco under the Kirklands brand), garlic powder, orgeno and whip it up! I spray my pan with a non-fat butter spray. Let it turn brown and pour your egg batter into the skillet.

Now before I actually pour my egg batter, I've got another small 8" skillet at a 5-6 (Medium) setting on my electric stove top for the shrimp. To prepare for three omelets, I cut up 9 medium to large size shrimp. Pour some olive oil in the skillet, place your shrimp in the pan and add some hot salsa, Worcestershire sauce, red crushed pepper, fresh cut garlic and toss them around. It's only going to take 2 to 3 minutes to cook them. By this time, I've poured my first omelet into the other skillet.

When the top of you egg stops doing the giggly dance, take a wide spatula and flip it over. Take a handful of Monterrey Jack cheese and spread across one side of the egg, add your fresh sauteed shrimp and don't forget the bacon! This time, I used the quick microwave bacon, 6 slices and then cut it up after it cooked for about 30 seconds. Liberally add the bacon, a little more cheese and fold over. Add a bit more cheese to the top, sprinkle some basil or oregano on top and place a large pot lid so it will help melt the cheese faster. I will turn my burner down to a 3 at this point or after the first flip.

Serve and eat! Add a glass of Cranberry juice and hot cup of coffee...you've got the perfect omelet. Takes less time than sitting in the drive-thru and yelling at the kids. Sit at the table before church and enjoy your family before worship or a Sunday day out.

How do you start a Sunday? With the perfect omelet. :)

Enjoy!

Week 5 Wine Review: La Noble Merlot 2004

Yes I've been behind on my wine reviews lately. Besides working alot on projects and for the main reason, I prefer not to drink alone, as wine is enjoyed with others!

The 5th wine out of my 13 Week Review comes from France, La Noble Merlot 2004. I decided on this red wine mainly because I had never tried it. As you see from my T-Bone Steak article this is the wine I paired such a wonderful meal with. I normally prefer a more robust Merlot, but the La Noble Merlot complimented my meal very well. It did not take away from the spicy flavors of the crawfish or the charcoal grilled steaks. A nice balance between them.

It's what I call a light and airy Merlot. Perfect those white wine drinkers who like it on the light side. With a nice aroma of plum and black cherries that fill the glass, slides down smoothly sip after sip.

It's inexpensive, about $9. Not corked but with a twist top. My juror is still out on twist top wine bottles.

It's a nice recommendation for those who do are not much of a wine drinker and like their wine on the light flavorful side.