Will Work for Tiramisu

These are probably the same low lifes that put books down on deck loungers first thing in the morning. I don't think walking the plank would be too extreme - or force them to eat a stiff cardboard hamburger....

UK Jeff - In your picture, the crust looks wonderful - airy & nice structure, is this sourdough? I note the little bit of char on the crust, which pizza aficionados appreciate. The combination of heat from the stone, and the hot air does a wonderful thing - the stone cooks the dough for a nice crust, and the toppings cooks via the air. One of humanity's great achievements! Thanks to the Italian forefathers and foremothers; probably sponsored by mozzarella makers. My DW & I like one with EVOO, garlic, lotsa anchovies, partly sun-dried tomatoes in oil, pepper flakes & grana or feta. At a lower heat (like 700F) the anchovies have time to melt into that wonderful umami goodness. Heavens! Pour me a glass of that Sangiovese Red!

I, too, drank a glass or four of wine and ended up ordering an Ooni wood fired pizza oven last year; it was a "birthday present" for my DW. Like when as a young sprout you buy your mom a skateboard as a present and ask her if you can "borrow" it... One of the better wine-influenced decisions I've made. I use fir and hardwood scraps & some charcoal, and can get up to 950F in about 20 minutes, although I'm learning that depending on the dough and toppings, there are some arguments for a little lower temp. But, indeed, a pizza is done in no more than 90 seconds. There is a LOT to learn, but every time I make another batch, I understand how to cook a pizza a little better. With the wood fired, it is hotter at rear, near the fire, so you have to rotate the pie to cook evenly. There is a cast stone bottom, and I use a laser thermometer to monitor the temperature of it, as well as a built in thermometer that tells you ambient (air) heat. A fun thing for entertaining, we provide our dough and toppings, and let people compose their personal pizza.

Mr Wavelength - If I recall from reading liner notes on English Invasion LP's from back in the day (ie Rolling Stones), isn't a "stone" about 14 lbs.? based on your above statement, I fear you are wasting away, without benefit of being in Margaritaville! If cruise lines, including SS, are in fact going to adopt same food service as gas stations, perhaps there IS a new marketing opportunity - "Cruise with us and Starve!" Lots of folks are looking to drop a few lbs/kilos, so this is bound to be a success!

Actually, we were pretty deep into a Muse cruise from Barcelona to S Hampton, here stopping in Bordeaux; one of my favorite ports - up the river and tied up in town. Bordeaux is a pleasure to walk in, and the Wine Museum is over-the-top interesting - like a window into the French soul.... The cruise fare and beverages had not succeeded in raising my waist line, despite my best efforts. Of course, perhaps I was subconsciously trying to channel 1991 BB style.

Your Waviness - I think they might be in posterior position, holding up my shorts, which are clearly rather de classe with regard to length. Alternately, my dear departed daddums lost both his forearms and his sight to a landmine, as a sapper in WW2. Perhaps I had him in mind...

Takes one to know one....

We are sailing on Muse out of Anchorage in June. My agent at SS said we should expect to see a package in the mail that would include info on our transfers to and from Seward by the scenic choo choo about 30 days out from sailing. We are not doing pre cruise hotel; she says that pax who are going to do the SS train to the ship meet at the Egan Center in Anchorage, a public conference facility, and take bus to the train terminal to board. I assume if you are doing pre cruise hotel with SS, they will pick you up at hotel. (Maybe picks you up first, then swings by Egan to pick up all us cheapskates who got our own hotels.) The train station in Seward is located a short walk to the dock, where Muse awaits. For those returning to Seward, the train goes to the station located across street from the airport.

We had about 25% cover in Oregon, still fun to see. When last we had near totality, it was interesting to see birds getting really confused! Chickens went in to roost, just get settled in, then all of a sudden it is morning again. What the heck?!?

Since "retiring" have been making bread regularly. Having done baguettes lots of diff ways, recently tried a ridiculously simple recipe on back of a Bread Flour bag - mix yeast and water in bowl of Kitchen Aid mixer, add other ingredients, and thrash it with the dough hook for 10 minutes. Let rise, divide and roll out, put in loaf pans, rise again, pop in ye olde oven. This is whole wheat (about 30% WW, balance unbleached white). Cooked in convection oven, with pan in bottom with water, for steaming. We also have a Gaggenau steam oven, which works well, and you can control steam with a dial. I increased the recipe to get these four loaves; I keep one out to eat, freeze the others, or hand out to older neighbors. We use honey from our hives in this bread, and the smell when baking is wonderful. It isn't flashy bread, but toasted it is mighty tasty, and I like the "Grandma Called It Roughage" aspect of the WW. Perfect for a tuna sanny...

Striking a nautical note, I suggested they take a long walk on a short pier....🤪

Your Waviness - Some bad news and some good news. Indeed, some people on left side of the pond do, indeed, nuke cups with water & God knows what abominations have been substituted for proper English Breakfast. It happens - get over it. I'm happy to report that our family has an electric kettle, and tea is made in proper manner - notwithstanding that the ladies prefer all manner of exotic botanicals & such. During years of my being in business, when I would set up a first meeting to discuss with potential clients us building a house in exchange for fleecing them of all spare cash they had lying about, I would tell them "We'll put the kettle on." It set a civilized tone, I thought. I'm reminded way back in the day, when I would do three day cross country ski trips around Crater Lake in Oregon, mid winter, at high elevation snowy camping spots in the dark stormy nights 50 miles from nearest warm pub, we would visit other tents and ask if they would like some tea. We had a little white gas stove, and would do it up proper. No tents were burned down, btw. For certain members of the general population, we would also have a flask of Drambuie, just in case. Just because you're in the wilderness doesn't mean civility has to be abandoned...

When I was but a young sprout, my family would spend a few weeks every other year in New Brunswick, in the summer. (Father was from there.) I was a Serious Fisherman (having read The Compleat Angler), and had my way with many a small stream full of brook trout. The mosquitos were unrelenting. A local person told me the trick was to smoke cheap cigars. So, I would buy like Swisher Sweets or Havatampa, and smoke 'em whilst wandering up little nameless creeks, catching fish in every successive beaver pond. I survived. Too bad I didn't know then about beekeepers hats with the mesh! I tried bug spray - fuhgeddaboudit!!

This fashion suggestion from a popular song from 1959: "He wore, tan shoes and pink shoelaces, A polka dot vest and man-o-man, He wore, tan shoes and pink shoelaces, A big panama with a purple hat band". I'd like to show up at a SS dining venue in that get up!

Well, it started as a cold, snowy Saturday morning in western Oregon. At such times, one's thoughts turn to a nice warm loaf of bread. (Jug of wine and thee beside me, singing in the wilderness - comes later...). So, cranked out some whole wheat honey loaves (using honey from our bees). Caught early afternoon sun for final rising of the loaves (under a towel). Then into the oven, with a pan of water in the bottom for steam. After baking, I check them for internal temp of 205F, then onto the rack. It is the baker's prerogative to take the first slice, slather with Normandy butter and some Bonne Maman Blueberry jam. The determination: Starvation will be narrowly averted!