Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Shop at our New Puppy Up! Store

Fall is fully underway and 2 Million Dogs has a new Puppy Up! Store for your shopping pleasures.  

Here you'll find cold weather apparel, bandanas for the fur babies, custom made jewelry, and a whole host of other accessories like this awesome 2 Million Dogs decal (pictured nearby and hey, this is the first time I've seen this and it's frikkin awesome.  Thanks Toki Poki!).  

You can also pre-order the Cancer Can't Keep a Good Dog Down Calendar there but I'll post a separate blog about that because it's a beautiful homage.  

Get your Shopping On!

Friday, October 26, 2012

The Homeless Chef: Rustic Rosemary Roast Stew

I've only been in the kitchen a couple of times during the Summer of Murphy tour and it was time fer me to get back in there and make a sammich damnit!  

Except it was chilly in Connecticut at Dawn's house and I was in the mood for a hearty, savory, rustic stew.  Here's what I worked up:

Fry a half pound of bacon, remove, then add a stick of butter to the grease to sear the pork roast on all four sides.  reduce heat and saute garlic and onions in the pan with the roast.  

Fill the pan up with beef stock and bring to a boil.  I would've made my own if I had time but I used Swansons a base and built the stock up from there by adding maple sugar, Sriracha, red wine, and a few other savory seasonings like cumin and cayenne pepper.  Remember, when it comes to sauces it's all about sweet and heat.  

Next, add fresh rosemary and lemon thyme sprigs to the broth and simmer for a couple of hours depending on how many pounds the pork roast is packin.  About an hour out from serving time, add mushrooms, carrots, and fingerling potatoes to add to the heartiness of the stew.  

I'm always trying to build up layers of flavors you can saute the mushrooms in wine and butter first and I also recommend roasting the potatoes and garlic, too.  Just didn't have the time for that.  

I think next time I make this I'm going to use roasted autumn veggies like butternut squash and brussel sprouts for the stew... Until then... Puppy Up and Chow Down!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Hand on Balls

Some of you know I have a thing about heights and it's been put to the test countless times on our travels - bridges, gorges canyons, ravines, and even skyscrapers (Top of the Rock when we were in NYC for the Today Show).  But the South Rim took em all.

I won't waste your time with descriptors about the Grand Canyon... no writer should.  Either you've been there or you haven't and neither words nor pictures will do it justice.  It was my first time and an unscheduled detour between Albuquerque and Las Vegas.

Back to my acrophobia.  It's my only fear and by fear I mean holy effin sh*t scared I am of heights.  And it's nothing I can control.  It's a physical and physiological reaction that's non-negotiable and down and outright absolute.

For reasons completely unknown to me, it starts in my private region and radiates outward.  And NOT in a good way.  When I was a boy, I tried to describe it to my father in, well, childlike terminology.  I said, "Dad, my Popo tingles".

Coming in from the Flagstaff side of the Canyon you're kinda caught off guard.  It's a pleasant enough drive with scenic vistas and then it's like you're ten feet from a 2,000 foot drop off and certain death.

But it's strange that the 'Popo Tingling' isn't just limited to me.  Tish was taking photos near the edge and vicariously, I felt the danger in my loins.  But the Murphy Mobile was a safe place for me and it was there I found my 'safe' word or words.

Hand on balls

If you're anxious, just say it and you'll feel better.  Even if you don't even have em.

Hand on balls