Thin Mints

Ingredients

Chocolate Cookie Wafers
1 (18 1/4 ounce) package fudge cake mix
3 tablespoons shortening, melted
1/2 cup cake flour, measured then sifted
1 egg
3 tablespoons water
nonstick cooking spray

Coating
3 (12 ounce) bags semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
6 tablespoons shortening

Instructions

Combine chocolate wafer ingredients in a bowl until well mixed. You may need to get your hands in there!

On a surface lightly dusted with flour, shape dough into two logs, about 1 1/2 inches (or about 4 cm) in diameter.

Wrap in plastic wrap, waxed paper or parchment and freeze for at least 1-2 hours, until dough is very firm and can be sliced into wafers.

Preheat oven to 375F.

Slice dough into rounds not more than 1/4 inch thick - if they are too thick, they will not be as crisp - and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.

These cookies are firm and will not spread very much, so you can put them quite close together.

Bake for 13-15 minutes, until cookies are firm at the edges. Cool cookies completely on a wire rack before dipping in chocolate.

For the coating combine chocolate chips with peppermint extract and shortening in a large microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl.

Heat on 50 percent power for 2 minutes, stir gently, then heat for an addition minute.

Stir once again, and if chocolate is not a smooth consistency, continue to nuke in 30-second intervals until smooth.

These taste best after they've been refrigerated for a day, but of course, I recommend trying some now, and saving some for the next day so you can be properly assured of this.

Store these in an airtight container in the fridge for a week or two. Or freeze them for up to a month! They're great right out of the freezer too. But once they're in the open air, they will start to melt, so nom fast!

We both wanted to thank everyone who attended the wedding, it meant a lot to be surrounded by our friends and faire family. Our relationship started at Pub Sing surrounded by rennies and it seemed only right that we should continue our relationship in the same fashion.
Rennies gave us reproachful looks when we shared our first kiss, they cheered for us we got engaged, and they cried with us when we married.
I cannot thank the people, who worked so hard to give us a fantastic ceremony and a beautiful reception, enough. You all went so far beyond anything we ever expected.
To all of the people who couldn't make it because of work, traffic or other issues, we thank you for tracking us down, even via email, to congratulate us. We really do understand and we appreciate the warm thoughts and sentiments.
I do want to thank one person by name, Fred thank you and the Court. You all made a very special visit and added a special something to the ceremony that caught us both off guard in a amazing way. We were even more surprised to have you stay for the reception as well.

Again thank you to all of friends, without you our day would not have been as special to us as it was.

Spicy German Mustard Recipe

Ingredients:
•1/4 cup yellow mustard seed
•1/4 cup brown mustard seed
•1/8 cup brown & yellow mustard seeds crushed (to be added at the end)
•1/4 cup dry mustard powder
•1/2 cup water
•1 1/2 cups cider vinegar•1 small onion chopped
•2 Tbsp. brown sugar
•1 tsp. salt
•3 garlic gloves
•1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
•1/2 tsp. ground allspice
•1/2 tsp. dried tarragon leaves
•1/4 tsp. turmeric

Preparation:
In a small bowl, combine mustard seed and dry mustard. In a 1- to 2-quart stainless steel or nonreactive saucepan, combine remaining ingredients. Simmer, uncovered, on medium heat until reduced by half, 10-15 minutes. Pour the mixture into the mustard mixture. Let mixture stand, covered, at room temperature for 24 hours, adding additional vinegar if necessary in order to maintain enough liquid to cover seeds. Process the seeds and mixture in a blender or food processor until pureed to the texture you like. Add in crushed mustard seeds. The mixture will continue to thicken. If it gets too thick after a few days, stir in additional vinegar. Scrape mustard into clean, dry jars; cover tightly and age at least 3 days in the refrigerator before using.
Makes about 1 1/2 -2 cups.

Sriracha Recipe


Ingredients
1 pound red jalapenos
1 pound red chilies
1 pound habenero chilies
1/3 pound thai chilies
4 cloves garlic
2 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoon mirin
1/3 cup rice vinegar
Water, as needed

1. Cut the tops of all of the chilies and remove the seeds from all but the thai chilies.
2. In a food processor, combine all ingredients for 1 to 2 minutes until mixture is a rough purée.
3. Transfer the chile mixture to a glass bowl or jar. Cover with plastic wrap, and leave at room temperature for a few days, specifically until small bubbles have formed under the surface. If fuzzy mold forms on the top of the chili mixture, remove with a spoon and discard.
4. Over high heat, bring mixture to a boil, then lower the heat. Simmer for a five minutes before removing from heat to cool.
5. Transfer chile mixture to a food processor, blending until smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add water, if necessary, to mixture if it's too thick.

Mayo Recipe

Ingredients:
•2 egg yolks
•1 teaspoon Adobo
•1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash
•1/2 teaspoon powdered mustard
•1/8 teaspoon sugar
•1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
•4 to 5 teaspoons lemon juice
•1 cup olive oil
•1/2 cup flax oil
•4 teaspoons hot water

Preparation:
Beat yolks, salt, mustard, sugar, pepper, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice in a small bowl until very thick and pale yellow. (Note: If using electric mixer, beat at medium speed.) Add about 1/4 cup oil, drop by drop, beating vigorously all the while. Beat in 1 teaspoon each lemon juice and hot water. Add another 1/4 cup oil, a few drops at a time, beating vigorously all the while. Beat in another teaspoon each lemon juice and water. Add 1/2 cup oil in a very fine steady stream, beating constantly, then mix in remaining lemon juice and water; slowly beat in remaining oil. If you like, thin mayonnaise with a little additional hot water. Cover and refrigerate until needed.

1. Our professor just said "No class today, go get stoned." A guy seriously walked over and hugged him.

2. My dorm room is above a crackhead's. A LEGIT CRACKHEAD, he woke me up every morning this week asking me if I wanted to buy a mini fridge and some CDs. at 5 am, EVERY DAY.

3. The sun is out and the snow is finally starting to melt here... Vodka bottles keep popping up everywhere. Guess it's the college version of burying nuts for the winter.

4. Either seal the deal or get out of the room, I don't want to hide in this closet anymore.

5. I think you missed the wrong class. Im pretty sure we were taught how to buy cocaine.

Just in from the Brewers Association ... and your chance to make a difference.

---

Dear Maryland Beer Activists,

The Brewers Association of Maryland has requested that beer enthusiasts take action to oppose legislation seeking to increase the state excise tax on beer and other alcoholic beverages.

---

Maryland Beer Enthusiasts,

Maryland House Bill 832 and Senate Bill 717 would raise MD beer excise taxes about 12 fold, making MD among the highest alcohol beverage tax states in the country. Consumers would pay up to $4.50 more for a case of beer in Maryland.

Both bills are scheduled for committee hearings in the next two days - time for action is short!

The sponsors are passing this legislation off as a harmless proposal that Marylanders pay an additional "dime a drink" - which certainly sounds reasonable enough. But if you look a little deeper, the true impact could be to increase the cost of a case of beer at retail by about $4.50 per case - anywhere from a 15 to 25 % increase in cost to the consumer.

Also, let's not forget the inestimable benefit this tax increase will deliver to our good neighbors in Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and DC. Think of all the Marylanders who will flock to those states to buy beer, wine, and liquor - saving fairly large dollars and making sure that all that money goes out of state, and hurting Maryland businesses and jobs. We need to keep the playing field level!

This kind of legislation is more about small business rather than beverage alcohol. Those of us in this industry are an easy target - remember, they call it a "sin tax"! But just because we are an easy target doesn't make it either right, good business, or even more importantly, good tax policy.

We are collectively just now beginning to emerge from one of the most difficult economic times in our history. This is NOT the time to take this kind of action. Let MD small business get back on its feet, and then let's look at options for balancing the state budget correctly - with broad based initiatives rather than penalizing any one industry.

Please communicate to your state Delegate and Senator that you oppose these bills:

Click here: http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/

Enter your address and city and hit "Find Elected Officials"

The next screen will give you email links to both your State Senator and Delegates.

Send them an email today! Please be respectful, but tell them what you think!

Thank you,

Brewers Association of Maryland

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all 'cross the web
All the users were clicking, the big names and the plebs
MySpace was decked out in baubles and candles
And each tired nickname 'twas a new festive handle

As children by now we'd be snuggled in bed
But we now stay online and leave comments instead
Farmville and Farm Town have settled their spat
And holly and ivy surround every Lolcat

YouTube had new vlogs; a thousand carol singers
And on Dailybooth everyone's nice to the mingers
On 4chan, the people are friendly tonight
And LiveJournal emos see things looking bright

A long time ago we believed in old Santa
But now we recited a new kind of mantra
One by Rick Astley, that's our sort of humour
Days before Facebook were simply a rumour

Then up popped an ad: BlogTV saying, "Quick!
There's a new show just starting, by a guy called "StNick'!"
The Internet users, they clicked by the score
And once all in the chatroom, this fat man did roar:

"Off YouTube! Off Facebook! Off Skype, and off Flickr!
Off Tumblr! Off MySpace! Off Bebo and Twitter!
Tonight is a night for old-style celebrations!
So get off that forum about masturbation!"

The trolls and the haters they left nasty comments
While outside the snow began falling in torrents
"StNick' said, "I warned you", his fingers he snapped,
And every web user, as one, shouted, "Crap!"

Their connections had died, every single last one
Bleary eyed geeks said, "Now where'd we find fun?"
"StNick' sent a text telling all to go play
In the snow, in the real world, upon Christmas Day

So nervous, the nerds blinked into the light
And looked at the world that was buried in white
They'd heard of the "outdoors" in history classes
But they'd rather sit inside on their chubby asses

One made a snowball, so fluffy and round
He plugged in his headphones but it made no sound
The world was in 3D, something he didn't remember
But he doubted he'd ever forget this December

It took a few hours for the nerds all to settle
Unused to a world not in plastic and metal
They had snowball fights and hugged one another
The world came together, all sisters and brothers

They poked and they sang and great lessons they learned
And for most of the day, for the net, no one yearned
"StNick', he was happy, the iGen was moving
The sound of their laughter was pleasing and soothing

At the end of the evening, "StNick' said, "OK,
You've experienced life off the screen for one day.
I'll return your connections, on just one condition:
Leave your house once a day: that is your new year's mission."

The servers all lit up, and life was returned
The lesson forgotten, its message was spurned
For as soon as they sat down and lost use of their feet
Then every last one of them started to tweet.

You know things are shifting in America when Fortune magazine, the bible for business journalism, runs a cover story titled "Is pot already legal?". You also know it when Barack Obama's Department of Justice publishes a long-expected memo signalling that the federal government will no longer raid medical marijuana dispensaries if they are legal under state law. Marijuana for medical reasons -- to tackle chemotherapy-induced nausea or Aids-related wasting or glaucoma, among other conditions -- is now legal in 13 states, including the biggest, California. Next year, 13 more states are planning referendums or new laws following suit. Last week a California legislative committee held the first hearings not simply on whether medical marijuana should remain legal, but on whether all marijuana should be decriminalised, full stop. The incentive? The vast amounts of money the bankrupt state could raise by taxing cannabis.

In 1970, 84% of Americans supported keeping marijuana illegal. Today, that number has collapsed to 54%. The proportion believing that marijuana should be legal has gone from 18% at the end of the 1960s to 44% today.

The concentration of THC, the active compound, is much higher now than in the past. But since no one has ever overdosed on marijuana, it's difficult to say why that matters. Yes, if someone has a history of mental illness, it's not that smart to experiment with the cannabinoid receptors in the brain. But it isn't smart for such people to take any drugs -- or too much alcohol -- for that matter. For most people, stronger pot merely translates into a need for less of it to get the same effect. Too much and you'll likely nod off -- and wake up later with no hangover. If pubs served pot rather than beer, crime rates would plummet.

Those very helpful toast cards that the DoRT's use at the Shooter Service were made by me a few years ago. A few weekends ago a group of danes noticed the deck and thought it was really cool and wanted a deck for an upcoming wedding. Well, Prax did such a great job with the custom card backs for the wedding that they ordered 10 decks. The great thing is that this means the printer that I just started using has the masters for the cards and I can get DoRT Toast Decks printed to order.
I am really happy I found this printer and foresee much business with them in the future.