Dean Martin's Burger Recipe

(you can click on the image for the full size recipe)

From The Celebrity Cookbook (by Dinah Shore), Dean Martin proves that he’s not just a great singer– he’s the ultimate manly cook. Something tells me that to properly make this recipe you should have a cigarette dangling from your mouth and another 2oz of Bourbon in hand.

New Makers Mark

We all know that I love Bourbon — after all, there’s a Fat Freddy Says page dedicated to the subject. Although Yeni has put a nix on my cigar smoking, I do still enjoy a good Bourbon whenever I get the opportunity. I also try to share my love of Bourbon with all, which genuinely works out very well for me (and Yeni’s Bourbon infused buttercream frosting is a great benefit). But enough about me, let’s talk Bourbon.

Maker’s Mark recently announced a new Bourbon, titled simply Maker’s 46. The difference between Maker’s 46 and Maker’s Mark Bourbon happens after the regular distilling process, in four steps:

1. Fully matured Maker’s Mark is removed from its barrel. Top hoops are removed from the barrel, and the barrel head is pulled.
2. Ten wooden staves are then affixed to the inside of that barrel.
3. Searing the staves caramelizes the sugars in the wood, adding a unique flavor that finishes on the front of the tongue.
4. The fully matured Maker’s Mark is then put back in the barrel and aged several more months. When it tastes exactly right, Maker’s 46 is removed from the barrel, bottled, corked and dipped.

Simple as pie. Maker’s 46 is 96 proof and supposedly has a hint of caramel flavor… I might need to get a bottle of this asap.

(By the bye… when Yeni adds a little bit of Jim Beam Red Stag to her cakes, it’s out of this world)

More information:

• Maker’s Mark
• Maker’s Mark to uncap first new bourbon since ’50s (Associated Press)

Fred visits Jim Beam in Kentucky

If you haven’t done so… check out my article on Fat Freddy Says about the difference between Bourbon vs. Whiskey.

Hey... I thought it was Spring!

So, last night Michael and I caught up over a few Bourbon’s at a TGI Friday’s down the road. The last time Mike and I visited Friday’s together? 1989. Anyway… as the evening wore on, the window showed us something I thought I wouldn’t be seeing again for a while — snow. And we’re not talking “oh just a little white powder” here, we are talking big, huge, white flakes. Big ones. Coming down like the ground was Macy’s and it was a 90% off sale.

The snow continued throughout the night leaving 4 – 7 inches on the ground (depending on which paper you believe). All I know is that Yeni had to break out the winter boots (She said, “Oh, Winter Boots I thought I would not see you again… but here you are.”) and I got to de-snow the cars yet another time this year.

I will say this though… Looking at snow is nice. Dealing with it, not so much. There’s more pictures below…

Starting the morning

View from our living room

Campus

Near the Lab

It is cold!

Downtown Ann Arbor