In other news (apolitical thread)...

[betarhoalphadelta]

In other news, I did my taxes this morning and filed.  Turbotax has really upped the charge they charge.

Yeah, I'll probably do mine next week. TurboTax is annoying af. They've been emailing me and texting me nonstop since the end of the year. 

In a similar note, I ended up doing the credit freeze thing with the three bureaus a few months back, and Experian is the same. FFS, how many emails do they think I need a week trying to upsell me on crap? 

[Cincydawg]

My email does a pretty solid job sending burfle to the burfle pile.  I check on it every so often to see if anything is there.

I ended up owing the Feds $900 something and getting a few bucks back from the state so my withholding was pretty spot on this past year.  It is painful to take money out of my IRA and see the number drop by 30% at times.  I'm getting close to RMD time, I did a projection this morning which looked "OK".

I'll have the condo paid off later this year, that will be an expense going to zero, but my condo HOA keeps climbing of course.  

[betarhoalphadelta]

Fair bit of cooking been goin' on this weekend... 

Friday was pasta sauce and meatballs. 

Saturday I woke up and got a big pork shoulder into the crock pot. I had vacuum sealed and frozen one of the two that I bought at Costco as the previous usage was also crock pot and not on the smoker. I had to thaw it out to make pork chile verde on Tuesday, so the remainder not used for that was put in the crock pot, shredded, and vacuum sealed to go into the freezer for other use. Then portioned out 3# of ground beef from Costco (out of 7# total) for Tuesday's tacos while vacuum sealing the remainder and freezing it for future use in meat loaf. Dinner was pretty simple though... Tilapia fish tacos and a black bean corn salad. 

Today I got the smoker running. First on is about 8# of tomatoes that will be sealed and frozen for future use in smoked tomato bisque. Then putting on about 10# of cured pork belly that well then be bacon. Finally going to do 3 racks of baby back ribs for dinner tonight, to go along with cole slaw and broccoli cheese casserole. 

How 'bout you guys?

[847badgerfan]

Seared off a pot roast this morning and now it's in the crock.

[Cincydawg]

I made beef stew yesterday.  It was decent.  

[MrNubbz]

Made a Pork Tenderloin in the roaster with spuds,onion,carrots,celery Friday, 8 that for 2 days. Making BLTs with bacon cured/cut by the local guy tomorrow. And my 2nd batch of the season of Chilli on Tuesday

[FearlessF]

Well it's 33° right now,might reach a balmy 37° so the 1st time above freezing for quite a spell. Might wash the car later maybe wait until Monday when it gets over 40°

I drug my hose outta the frozen garage into the sunshine on the driveway - if it thaws out, I might wash the car tomorrow afternoon
expected 52 degrees tomorrow

[FearlessF]

chili is in the pot - rollin stones on the jukebox

not competition texas red, just poor dirt farmer chili soup with two types of kidney beans

picked up a 10# chub of 80/20 ground beef last week @ $2.88lb
about 2 1/2 pounds of that and a pound of pork sausage in the chili

[Honestbuckeye]

Living vicariously through you chefs.  

Just rehabbing the left knee full replacement done Friday.    

[FearlessF]

tough duty, but worth it
keep up the good work

[bayareabadger]

Went to a restaurant and had rotisserie chicken. Was pretty good. 

[OrangeAfroMan]

i had some grapes earlier.

[MrNubbz]

in bottle form preferably

[FearlessF]

cheap chili w/beans was good
right amount of heat
plenty of Budweiser to quench the thirst