Omelet

Mom always said that if she could teach her boys to make an omelet and a hamburger they could survive. Well, I've been living off both for the past 24 years. There are always new tricks to learn, but I feel I've got cooking an omelet down pat. It's always been a Sunday tradition for me to make an omelet. I used to do so back home, then for my Uncle's family when I worked in Montana, and now again after Mass as a priest. 

This first step is a good non-stick pan. Mom gave me this pan when I left home. I think her final words were: "I've done all I can, good luck son."

I used to make myself a six egg omelet. Since then I've toned it down to three. To make your eggs fluff up, add a little water. 

You want the pan hot before you pour in your beaten eggs. I always spray it with Pam as well. 

This sears the bottom. Once poured in, turn the heat down to about half.

The greatest trick is to pull the sides in once the eggs have cooked a bit. This allows the batter to flow in behind. By doing so you can cook all the eggs without over cooking the bottom. I do this several times to make sure all the eggs are cooked. 

Then I add chopped ham and salt and pepper.

Cheese as well.

Flopping it over is a trick that takes both hands. Do set yourself up for success by aligning the fold with the handle.

This makes flopping onto the plate a breeze. Don't horse around though, give it a good flip. 

Wallah! 

Beer for Sunday brunch is always acceptable. Homemade grape jelly and toast complement an omelet as well. 

I love a good Sunday omelet. Cooking it is a good way to debrief from the two Masses that proceed it. Once enjoyed in the company of the our Blessed Mother, then it's nap time. After a little siesta, then I'm ready for my third and final round of the day. So far I'm surviving. A good omelet not only keeps me well fed, but it keeps me enjoying life too. Thanks Ma!

 

Die No More

In marriage one dies to self to live for the other. But not in Heaven.

           https://youtu.be/hQioQdlQp7Q         

Heather the Charitable

Go out to the peripheries and proclaim the Good News.

           https://youtu.be/D67OYABEcS8         

Big Happy Family

Here's to all the saints!

           https://youtu.be/81L_k0_QauE         

Backstrap

The backstraps of any critter have to be the most popular cut of meat. But especially on a cow; this is where you get your choicest steaks. It doesn't take much training to locate them. There's two, one on each side of the backbone. Cutting them into steaks, now that's just plain fun. 

If I don't T-bone the six steaks closest to the pelvis, I can get about 24 steaks out of one full backstrap. 

Like catching 20# Bass, pulling a full backstrap out of a cow is quite a feat. 

It is located right along the vertebra. I didn't get a real clean split on this cow, which took away the T part of the T-bone, which is why I decided to just steak the whole strap. It can be easy to damage the meat as you're removing it from the rib cage. So I like to ride the ribs with my knife. As you get to the front third of the strap, it really dives down. If you're not on the ribs, you'll cut the ribeyes in half.

Once pulled, I remove the cap from the front third, which is where part of the shoulder blade is and the tougher muscles surrounding it. Then I cut the strap into 1 1/4" steaks. Imagining folks enjoying these beauties really makes a guy take pride in his cuts. 

I basically divide the strap into thirds. The back third are New Yorks. 

The middle section is what I simply call Rib Steaks.

And the front third are Ribeyes. 

Ribeyes are definitely the most popular cut on a cow. I've had super good luck on these grass fattened critters. This cow was a sale barn heiferette who we ran in the Black Hills for the summer. She has been aging for three weeks. 

Looks like a good time to me.

Cutting steaks makes my day. There's a few other places on a cow with tender cuts, but nothing beats the backstrap. Not only do you get a tender cut of meat with no gristle, you also get a good amount of fat to go with it. At Lungren Brother's Cattle Company we not only help America stay strong, we help fuel her fun.

Dinner Time

Inviting Jesus to dinner.

           https://youtu.be/JYGEg3jqfag         

Grandpa

On Saturday, October 29, Grandpa Edward Schmeltzer would have turned 100. Grandma and he have been gone for twenty years now, but we still decided to throw him a birthday party. No better way to do so than with a Mass followed by a party.

Mary Jane and Ed Schmeltzer. Mom's mom and dad. 

After Mass and brunch, all the kids and grandkids that could come spent time telling stories. That was a pretty comical hour. 

Grandpa built this barnyard. The land was part of my great-great grandfather Neiber's homestead. Grandma's dad had a feed yard for sheep down here at one time. But Grandpa started fresh when they bought the ground and set it up. I feel pretty close to them all when I work down here. 

Grandpa always liked to see men at work. He appreciated being tired at the end of a day's labor and he enjoyed watching people do their job well. Here's to you Grandpa. Thanks for your witness of faith, family, and fun.

Happy Place

If you find yourself lost, put yourself in a place to be found.

           https://youtu.be/SnJMqTXEMSY         

The Gate

Jesus is the narrow way.

           https://youtu.be/jzRaiWy9hSc         

 

Hypocrisy

Practice what we preach.

           https://youtu.be/oOod3xt2Ar0         

 

Gnosticism

Avoid self-righteousness.

           https://youtu.be/dgyKfZ09G3c         

Good Ride Cowboy

Paul had been bugging me saying, "You ain't no cowboy unless you trail cows off of the Bear Lodges with my buddy Ray." I told him, "I ain't scared." Friday was the day. Ol son swung by the rectory with his saddle ready for Chief and we hit the trail by 6:00. I ain't gonna lie, it was a good time.

Paul and Ray have been ranchin together in these parts north of Sundance for the better part of 20 years. 

The ranch ground we were riding on was part of the old GUN Ranch which was established before Wyoming was even a state. 

The cows were scattered about, but they were no match for this posse of riders. 

Scrub oaks are pretty in the spring and summer, but a bear to trail cattle through.

Fortunately, Hank showed up to lend a hand. 

We did some cross countrying and this mountain proved to be a challenge. Mollie really did good today. 

The flip side made the push worth it through. Ray and his three year old knew right where we were going. 

Lake from Hawaii and her two year old red roan made for some interesting conversations. She just hung up her spurs from the Ranch-bronc riding circuit. A cowgirl that's hard to be throwed, she is known as the Flyin' Hawaiian. 

Once we hit the main road, the 10 mile or so drive to the overnight pasture was pretty easy going. 

The cattle were pretty good about obeying the traffic regulations. 

We stopped on the down hill side for a little pick-me-up.

I was a little embarrassed when Paul took a call in the middle of the drive. YANC.

Arrived.

We ducked them across the highway for the night. The boys will gather them and head to the home place in the morning, a 15 mile drive or so. 

After a good day of ranching, we all swung into the Longhorn for a burger and beer. 

Giddy up. 

Well I'll admit, that was a fun ride. Beautiful country and good people. I love cowboying. And when it's alongside a good buddy it's even funner. Thanks for the good ride, cowboy. That's another notch carved on my gun.