Fifty bucks

Fifty bucks to fill up my car. I don't drive a 1972 Lincoln Continental, gas is just expensive. Oil hit $106/barrel this morning. It is sad and the oil producers are blaming the analysts, stating there is no problem with supply. How do we shut the analysts up? I don't drive much but this makes it really hard for the people who do have to drive.

Everything is more expensive. That $50 bag of groceries (yes, one bag) at Whole Paycheck is now $67. Food for my kitties went up by 10 cents a can and while 10 cents is not that much, it adds up. Price of beer is higher too due to a bad hops crop, up at least 1.50/six pack. Organic greens beans are $4.99/lb. I will not be buying those anytime soon. Cheese is more expensive too which is sad because, really cheese is about the best thing ever.

Time for a recipe involving cheese. This a variation of a Swiss dish called Rosti, apparently the "national dish" so to speak. The real recipe is a potato pancake.

Rosti
2-3 lbs. potatoes (I like Russet or Yukon Gold)
6 clove garlic, peeled and chopped
1 large yellow onion chopped
1 1/2 cups Gruyere cheese grated (big side of box grater)
Sea salt
1/2 c. butter (don't substitute)
1/2 c. milk or broth

Boil the potatoes until semi soft, not mushy, preferably 24 hours in advance.
Let cool
Peel and grate

Saute garlic and onions in a big pat of butter in a large heavy skillet until onions are translucent.
Use a wooden spoon for stirring.
Add potatoe and cook until soft.
Add cheese and cook until melty
Add broth or milk, very small amounts at a time just until potatoes are moist. You may not need to use all of it.
Watch your heat, cover and cook until potatoes are golden, stirring occasionally.
Serve immediately.

This dish is good for any meal, anytime. Especially for when that $65 bag of groceries is $85 bag. It is going to happen. Whatever the speculation, I am with Warren Buffet, we are in a recession. It is not going to be pretty. Stock up on those essentials and take some deep breaths.

Last night in my MySQL class the instructor mentioned that we are moving into programming now. One of the students says "there was nothing in the class description about programming". I fell out. How do you learn SQL without programming. I should have said "SQL theory is not offered this semester".

Yikes.