Ron's Log

Gathering Friends

Food Now Chili Cook-Off Photos

Photos by Michael Ray Burke of the event last Saturday:

Food Now Chili Cook-Off - February 25

Saturday, February 25, 2012, 2-6 PM
Dillon Roadhouse, 64647 Dillon Road, Desert Hot Springs, California 92240

$15 - All proceeds to benefit Food Now

Info and tickets - call 760-329-4100 ext 231.

What they neglect to tell you on this flyer (besides the address of Dillon Roadhouse) is that the chili will be prepared by celebrity chefs. Some of the cooks will be local celebrities (Adam Sanchez will definitely be bringing his best), but maybe there will be some more widely known celebrities too. We've got our share of the world famous here in DHS. Everyone who attends gets to vote on their favorite chili, which will determine the winner of the cook-off.

In the process of looking up the address for Dillon Roadhouse I found this site which is the right place, but it hasn't been updated in a long time and still identifies it as being in North Palm Springs. If the new owners have a new domain name, I couldn't find it.

Drunken Udder

Alcoholic ice cream currently available at only two locations (if their website is accurate): Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks and the W Hotel in Westwood. There are more choices in the flavors than the distribution sites.

We're Going To Need A Bigger Jar

Simple guide on how to make pickles.

Variations.

Chinese Chicken Jerky For Dogs - Warning From The FDA

Last week the Food & Drug Administration issued an alert about chicken jerky dog treats made in China.

Chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are intended to be fed occasionally in small quantities.

FDA is advising consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to watch their dogs closely for any or all of the following signs that may occur within hours to days of feeding the products:

• decreased appetite;
• decreased activity;
• vomiting;
• diarrhea, sometimes with blood;
• increased water consumption; and/or
• increased urination.

If the dog shows any of these signs, stop feeding the chicken jerky product. Owners should consult their veterinarian if signs are severe or persist for more than 24 hours. Blood tests may indicate kidney failure (increased urea nitrogen and creatinine). Urine tests may indicate Fanconi syndrome (increased glucose). Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports to the FDA have involved dogs that have died.

FDA, in addition to several animal health diagnostic laboratories in the U.S., is working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs. FDA's Veterinary Laboratory Response Network (VLRN) is now available to support these animal health diagnostic laboratories. To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. FDA continues extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not identified a contaminant.

The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem and its origin. Many of the illnesses reported may be the result of causes other than eating chicken jerky. Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with pet foods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their state or go to www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Waggin Train Chicken Jerky Tenders have been sold at Costco and seem to be causing health problems in dogs. I can't find the product now at Costco.com, so they may have pulled it from their inventory. Amazon has 67 1-star reviews of this product which include reports of the illness and even death of pet dogs.

Take It Easy On Thanksgiving

Sort of in the style of Julia Child. Pink champagne and pinot noir [not mixed] seem to be the key.

Probably a little late for today, but here are her Thanksgiving recipes.

Spaghetti Dinner, December 14

Desert Hot Springs Senior Center

A Taste Of Italy

Spaghetti Dinner

Wednesday, December 14, 2011
5:30 PM

$8 per person
$7 for ages 60+

Must purchase tickets in advance

Carolers & Raffle

Tickets available at the Senior Center
11777 West Drive in DHS (behind the library)
760-329-0222

Al proceeds go directly to the Desert Hot Springs Senior Center Program and Activities

Pepper HP22B

Ed Currie of Rock Hill, South Carolina, has bred a pepper he calls "HP22B." It may be a record breaker. He is trying to breed peppers with higher levels of capsaicin as a way possibly to fight cancer. "'The first time we tried it, out of the six of us…four puked. So I knew I was on the right path, you know,' Currie says." I think they need to do research on other ways of getting capsaicin into the body. A video of a test taste:

Food Photography

What's it look like to you?