Blustery Day

Today is Week 3 of the all-day Breaking Bad Marathon — two Saturdays to go.

We’re at the point in the saga where Walter White aka Heisenberg is no longer the criminal nice guy but an unlikeable criminal bully.

Since I had business outside the area planned for today, I’d previously set today’s 14 episodes to record for later viewing and head out.

The cold dreary blustery weather precluded all that, so it was TV, needlepoint and trying out a recipe I’d seen on Food Network last week.

One of the things I miss, from all the MANY things I can no longer eat because of my gut issues is turkey dogs. The ingredient of garlic and onions can and does cause distress.

I looked high and low for hotdogs that do not include those ingredients, but no go. Even the vegan brands include garlic/onions. I’ve not enjoyed a hotdog of any kind in the last five years.

Then this kid on Top Chief Family Style was tasked, on the Quickfire Challenge, with creating a dish that could go viral.

He took carrots, peeled them down to the size of a hotdog, marinaded them in some stuff, roasted, slapped into a bun and VOILÀ! — a Carrot Dog.

I eat a lot of carrots — raw, carrot soup, roasted so last time at the market I picked up gluten-free buns and put the recipe on my list of things to do when there was time to test out.

Today was that day and lo and behold it was a WINNER.

The carrots I chose were about the correct size as is, so all I needed to do was peel and cut off the ends.

After marinating the carrots in olive oil, vegetable broth, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, liquid smoke, stevia (as a substitute for the recipe calling for maple syrup, which is also no longer allowed), roasting 30 minutes in the oven covered, 15 minutes uncovered, I ended up with the best hotdog I’ve ever had.

Seriously.

The best.

Did it taste like a turkey dog?

Believe it or not, it actually did.

The bun is causing some minor difficulty because, though it was labeled "gluten free" my gut detected traces of (not permitted for me) soy protein and cornstarch.

I hollowed out and tossed most of the bready part but, in future, I'll be trying a safer vehicle than a bun — a corn tortilla perhaps.

Looking at the ramifications of Will Smith resigning from the Academy, insofar as being consequences for his actions, I don’t see any consequences.

He keeps his Oscar, he can still get invited to future Awards ceremonies, he can still be nominated for future consideration. It seems the only thing he can’t do is vote as a member of the Academy.

Big Whoop!

With his own production company, he doesn’t need membership in the Academy. So, looks like his consequences will be the shame of knowing the whole world has seen this previously hidden side of him, the loss of respect from his peers and perhaps less support (ticket sales) for future films projects.

Inasmuch as Jada is now catching so much heat, doesn’t necessarily need him, has previously demonstrated she doesn’t respect him, I’m wondering if she’ll drop him like a hot potato — the “D” word.