Random Thoughts

Had one of those "mark it down in the mental rolodex" days last Saturday: Completed my first triathlon that morning, and accomplished all 3 of my goals: 1) Don't drown, 2) Don't crash the bike, and 3) Don't look like a schmuck crossing the finish line ... a great thrill, made even better by having my family there for support...
The afternoon was topped off with my sweet Princess Lindsey's Princess Tea Party to celebrate her 4th b'day. She was in all her glory, and my wife outdid herself with everything from the invites to the decorations and everything in between...

John Hughes passing is the loss of the most influential cultural touchstone of my generation. I could recite The Breakfast Club verbatim at one point in my adolescence. That movie poster hung in my childhood bedroom, alongside the one declaring "Leisure Rules," from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Hughes was funny, provocative, but most importantly, dead on in his depiction of every teenage paradigm we can all, in ways large and small, relate to... Most of us never heard of or will ever visit Shermer, Illinois...but damn if it didn't remind us of where we grew up...

I've now secured a spot as co-host of a Sunday, weekly sports talk show (thanks, Steve Kyler). Every time I think the sports side of my career is exiting stage left, or on extended vacation, at least, it seems something else pops up to keep the embers glowing in me...
Check out http://www.thegameradio.com/, if you care to...

Finished 5th overall in the Home Cooking Star online reality cooking series, and no sooner do I chalk it up to a fun, learning experience, than I see in my latest edition of Food & Wine touting its very own Home Cooking Super Star contest (www.foodandwine.com/superstar)!! So, here we go again...!

The Week(end) that Was...

Survived the onslaught of obligations of the week before. Everything turned out great: Bunco Night, family in town, baby shower, etc. etc... the kids were simple awesome. Art shows, interacting with their relatives. I am truly blessed.
I'll be posting 2 scrumptious (one of my favorite food words) recipes from the Baby Shower Brunch menu in due time, one from yours truly, the other from a friend, but it's too late, & I'm too tired (took the mom & bro-in-laws to the airport at 4:30am) to delve into that at present. Plus, I have to wake up for me swim in the early AM. Which leads me to...

My One Big Thing: I officially registered for the Top Gun Sprint Triathlon, slated for August 1st, and picked up my new bike today (a hybrid, not a legit race bike, but enough to get me through the 10 miles necessary for the race, and still have a sweet ride for tooling around the 'hood with the kids), so there's no turning back now. (Editor's Note: I am doing this against my closest family members' better judgments). Here's the thing: I need this challenge. It will keep me focused, driven (and sane) during what promises to be a wonderfully challenging next few months, what with Baby Boy Hollenberg due in T-10 days and my work month of June shaping up to be rife with travel.
I know when it's all said and done, this accomplishment will be among my proudest, and that's motivation enough for me (that and seeing my family's faces when I finish)...
Good night...

OH! How could I forget?!?! My wife, all 38 1/2 pregnant weeks of her (bless her heart) got BANGS. I capitalize for emphasis because apparently this is as earth-shaking an event as Jason the Bachelor dumping his girl in live TV (Ladies, are you with me?)... She looks really dynamite with her new 'do, and she handled Hair-gate '09 with a calm and grace that I admire... even if she had to go back twice to get them adjusted...

Some Recipes, Some Rumblings

A couple of family-friendly pasta recipes are forthcoming, but first, two minor musings...

Dateline: Sunday: One of the best Triathlons in the country takes place this time every year, and just so happens to run (literally) right past the Hollenberg Hacienda. It's a chance for us to spend time outside in the St. Pete sunshine, cheer on the racers, and enjoy some bagels, coffee, the occasional mimosa or two with friends and neighbors in our yard. For years, I've had the itch to train to be on the other side of the fence (again, literally -- my house has a white picket fence around it), and compete. Well, my body hasn't been able to cash the checks my heart and/or head care to write (see also: 2 degenerative discs; double inguinal hernia) recently, as it did a decade or so ago, when I ran the NYC Marathon twice. But, my discovery of yoga and one hernia surgery later has me thinking swim/bike/run again, albeit not on the other side of my fence.
Instead, on the suggestion from a good buddy of mine, Rob Dickinson (calling him out by name so he'll feel guiltier if he dropped out), we've tentatively decided to train for an August "sprint" triathlon -- 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike, 3.1 mile run -- at nearby Ft. DeSoto Park.
There, I said it. I remember once in an interview with Emmitt Smith, he told me he was taught to always write down his dreams, because it was only then that they became goals. Didn't turn out too bad for him.
May the force be with me...

The other big interesting thing in my life as HOD: I happened upon an opportunity to put some of my recipe-mongering to good use, and dovetail it with my TV career. Turns out a smart lady named Bernie Day has created an online reality series, "Home Cooking Star," celebrating just that, home cooks. No formal training allowed! Think "American Idol" (you go, Danny Gokey!)meets "Top Chef" (Fabio was my man!). LOVE IT! As it turns out, instead of using this blog to solicit voters to support my entry and become the inaugural Home Cooking Star, as I originally thought, I may be the face of the show! Discussions are taking place; nothing more just yet. But regardless, I applaud Ms. Day for recognizing the increasing viability for internet and TV to meld into one. More and more, the on-camera work I am contracted to do is steering toward three letters (WWW) than two (TV).... Stay tuned, and you can check it out more at www.homecookingstar.com ...
Season one focuses on the best BBQ recipes, but still, an ample segue ...


TEMPT 'EM WITH TEXTURE

I like meals with varied flavor profiles, but also complimentary textures. This pasta dish uses a couple of basics along with a couple of pleasant surprises, the outcome being sweet, salty, and sensational. Thanks to Real Simple for this one...

1. Cook 1 box Rigatoni (texture!) while toasting 1/4c pine nuts (texture! toasty!) until golden brown (I always use my toaster oven, not a conventional one).
2. Heat 1 tbsp. olive oil in a saucepan. Saute 4 (sliced/chopped) garlic cloves until golden.
3. Add 1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes (sweet!), 1/3c golden raisins (sweet!), 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper. Simmer until slightly thickened (approx. 10 minutes).
4. Stir in 2 tbsp. capers (salty!).
5. Toss pasta with tomato mixture and stir in pine nuts.

Once again (like a previous pasta dish I've listed) -- no sauce, but still sweet and flavorful.

Now here's one more that's one the more traditional side, but definitely one the kids should especially love...

BAKED SPAGHETTI PIE

1. Cook 1/2 lb. spaghetti. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Mix 2 beaten eggs, 1 (15 oz.) container ricotta (I always use part skim), & 3/4 c grated parmesan cheese.
3. Add pasta to mixture and pour into a greased 9" pie plate.
4. Top with 1 c marinara sauce. Layer on 3/4 c shredded mozzarella cheese & 2 extra tbsp. parmesan (Editor's note: I always prefer MORE cheese than any recipe ever calls for; that's always factored in to what you'll read here)
5. Bake for 25 minutes; let stand for 10 more, for easier serving.

Before I go, a shout out to my Internet Nanie: she tried my Tilapia recipe I posted, and she and Papa Harry loved it... woo hoo! A first for the HOD blog!