Spendy verdict

I have a credit card that pays 5% cash back on all Amazon purchases. Every month, I'm always embarrassed. The amount I get in cash back is an indication of how much money I've paid Amazon this month and it's always shocking to me. Today, is payback day and this month it's $68! While I'm delighted to have the $, I hear the 'whoa! are you supporting Amazon on your own???' it feels like it. On the other hand. They have what I want and make it easy for me to get so maybe I should just be grateful.

My new recliner will be here on Friday. Official from FedEx.

I am for sure grateful for the brown leaves on The Tree That I Hate. There are not a lot yet but they are there and make me hopeful that the tree will be naked soon.

fansee has been walking and inspiring me. And hot weather is not longer an excuse. Laziness still works, excuse wize so I'm not going to burn the barn. But I am going to... every day, walk at least from there to the far corner of the stadium parking lot and back. It's not nothing.



I will walk in more of a straight line but Google maps said no. But, this is it - walk to that point and back every day. More if I want, but that's the minimum. Starting today.

Oh my word. They just announced that the MLB All Star game will be here in 2023. Wonder if I'll still be alive then. They had the 2001 game here and it was great fun - all the surrounding hubbub.

I think prior to my walk, I'm going to go take my Zappos returns to the UPS center not far from here. The UPS guy will pick them up but lately his substitute has been doing the route and he never picks up anything. The sooner UPS gets the box the sooner I'll get my refund and it's a fairly handy place to get to.

Also today there will be biscuits. The ones left in the freezer are small which is fine if you need small biscuits but I need some bigger ones. I may even make two batches. I have a new recipe to try but I love my old recipe. Heck, why not? As long as I'm going to be making a mess with flour.

I have stumbled on another strange and delightful book. I'm midway through it and I have no idea where it's going and I don't care. It's delightful. Something to Live For by Richard Roper.

Last night, when I moved into the bedroom to watch the rest of the game, I spied this:



And he wonders why I'm always laughing at him.

Biscuit Lab - clear results

I keep seeing 'highly recommended' biscuit recipes that are basically Bisquick. Either home made Bisquick or out of the box. Using whipping cream. "these are so simple and delicious!"

I'm here to tell you they are neither.

I made a batch this morning. And I made a batch of my regular biscuits. From beginning to end, my biscuits win. Totally.

Flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and heavy cream*. The dough worked together ok but did look different. They are the top three.(*30% milk fat - I learned from meowmensteen that this percentage matters!)



My biscuits - no sugar, no cream. Egg, butter and buttermilk. (The recipe comes from the NYT but they don't use the egg in the biscuits, they use it to brush on after. I put it in by accident and loved the results so I do it every time now.) You cut the very cold butter into the flour and use very cold buttermilk and very cold egg and, when it get mixed, you chill it. It's really not that much fussier than the 'easy quick version'.

One of these helps. I got mine at Goodwill for a buck.



400 degrees 12 minutes (probably could have done 15)



I'm not wild about the separation but taste is what matters. My biscuits taste flakey and buttery but hold up beautifully when sliced. I just had the one on top in the middle for lunch. It fell apart when sliced and tasted doughy. It is, sadly, going to have to leave the competition.

Now that we have a winner, we're going to be exploring additives... bacon, onion, cheese, sausage, etc Stay tuned.