Grammy’s Seasoned Pepper

This is Aly’s mom’s seasoned pepper recipe.

We don’t always have all the spices on hand but here is how we’ve made it:

  • 80g Peppercorn mix
  • 24g Smoked paprika
  • 10g Trader Joe’s Soffritto Seasoning Blend
  • 3g Allspice
  • 2g Ground/dry mustard powder

Coffee Time

Helpful links we wanted to bookmark so we can find them again.

https://honestcoffeeguide.com/coffee-grind-size-chart/

Honest Coffee’s guide allows you to compare grind size settings between different grinders.

https://prima-coffee.com/learn/article/brewing-guides/comparing-chemex-recipes/33027

Prima Coffee’s collection of Chemex “recipes” are great for someone starting out.

https://prima-coffee.com/learn/video/brewing-guides/how-brew-clever-coffee-dripper/31771

Clever Dripper instructions.

Amtrak tools

Photo by C. Davis.

These tools are useful when traveling by Amtrak.

Train Trackers

https://amtraker.com/

https://railrat.net/routes/TexasEagle/

Maps

Amtrak national route map (July 2025)

https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/Maps/Amtrak-System-Map-081325.pdf

Amtrak “day/night” route map (2003). It’s old but much of the system remains on the same schedule.

https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/tm1103-amtrak-day-night.pdf

Well-Oiled Mai Tai

Ingredients

  • 2 oz Caribbean blended rum, aged
  • 1/4 oz Falernum
  • 1/2 oz Orgeat
  • 3/4 oz Lime juice
  • 2 dash Ango bitters
  • Garnish: Mint spring and upside down lime shell
  • Glass: Rocks glass

Method

  • Shake with ice
  • Strain into rocks glass, add extra ice as needed
  • Garnish with mint sprig, upside down lime shell, and straw

Notes/Source

Works well with homemade Falernum that has clove notes.

From: Reddit (r/cocktails)

Knife Sharpening Case

I noticed Wicked Edge introduced a hard case for their Wicked Edge Go knife sharpening system, but it was expensive for just a case. I checked online and the case size was pretty standard as far as hard cases go and Pelican Cases that size were … $150! A quick check of Harbor Freight and Northern Tool found an on-sale case from Northern Tool for 20% of the brand name case price. Score!

Continue reading “Knife Sharpening Case”