Lounge Cocktail: September Morning
Cocktail Psychology by Bryan Knox

Ingredients:
• 1 1/2 oz light Rum
• 1 teaspoon cherry Brandy
• 1/2 oz. Lime Juice
• 1/2 teaspoon Grenadine
• 1 egg white

First off, don't worry about the egg white. Drinking egg white is disgusting and although we never even tried this drink with an egg white in it, we are sure it will not make it better than it already is.

Wake up sometime this month and mix all the ingredients together in a shaker full of ice. Shake and pour into cocktail glass. Go see a movie.

Bumper Stickers:

I love animals, they taste great.

He who laughs last, thinks the slowest.

Give me ambiguity or give me something else.

I would not be caught dead with a necrophiliac.

We have plenty of youth.
How about a fountain of SMART.

Artificial intelligence usually beats real stupidity.

If you are psychic - think HONK.

Lounging at the movies: Brothers Grimm, Four Brothers
ooooooooooooooooooo and The Thing Below

Brothers Grimm
Starring Matt Damon and Heat Ledger.

Expecting the twistedness of Terry Gilliam but receiving an attempt to use the name of the world famous Brothers Grimm to hold up a fairly lame attempt to qualify the use of the name.

No matter how many times I see a tough guy scream like a girl I think it is funny but not enough to make sense of spending good beer money to see this film. For God's sake the Gingerbread Man was made from sludge that came from the towns well. What the heck is that. It is crap film making, that's what it is. Love Matt Damon, loved Good Will Hunting, loved Bourne Identity (both of them), Loved Talented Mr. Ripley but I would have to warn you to save your 8 bucks for the video release of Brothers Grimm.

Four Brothers
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson, Andre Benjamin, Garrett Hedlund and many others.

Finally a break from crap movies. We loved this film. Four brothers, all adopted from different misguided backgrounds come together to bury their foster Mom. After having some time to reflect they decide to find the gang bangers that killed her during a robbery gone bad. As they follow a path to the killers they find out that things are not what they seem. Borderline dark comedy with lots of action and story twists. 5 thumbs up and a round of tequila shots.

The Thing Below: Don't waste your time. Consider yourself warned.

Lounge Food: Shrimp Étoufée

Because the current weather in New Orleans we have decided to dedicate our food section to the food of Louisiana. One of our favorites is Étoufée. Étoufée means smothered in French, we think, but that is really not important. Étoufée is a delicious food and you can substitute shrimp with the more traditional Crawfish or even chicken but shrimp and crawfish are recommended.

1 stick butter
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 celery ribs, finely chopped
4 large onions, finely chopped
1 large green Bell pepper, finely chopped
4 Tablespoons chopped fresh garlic
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon or so of dry thyme
3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
4 cups chicken stock
4 cups of heavy cream
3 pounds of peeled shrimp
Salt and ground black pepper
Cooked white rice

In a skillet add the butter, flour and oil. Cook over low heat stirring continuously. This is a good job for somebody who would like to have a job that requires only one hand, leaving the other open for beer drinking. After 10-15 minutes this mixture, called roux (pronounces roo) will turn a light brown color.

This is when you add all the vegetables; celery, onion, green pepper and garlic. Keep stirring for another 5 minutes or so to soften the vegetables.

Add the bay leaf, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne and paprika.

Slowly add the chicken stock, still stirring, to incorporate ingredients into the roux. Slowly add the cream and then add the shrimp, stirring every so often.

Cover and drink for an hour while the Étoufée simmers over low heat (stirring sporadically or maybe occasionally).

Season with salt and ground black pepper. Simmer for another 5 minutes and serve over rice with crisp beer.

Drinks for the blond:
Buying drinks at a bar
A blonde, a brunette and a redhead went into a bar and ordered their drinks from the bartender.
Brunette: "I'll have a B and C."
Bartender:"What is a B and C?".
Brunette: "Bourbon and Coke."
Redhead: "And, I'll have a G and T."
Bartender: "What's a G and T?"
Redhead: "Gin and tonic."
Blonde: "I'll have a 15."
Bartender: "What's a 15?"
Blonde: "7 and 7"

Phobia Of The Month:
Cherophobia: Fear of gaiety.

We are not really sure what gaiety is.

Please send us your comments and we will consider them for future newsletters.

©Bryan Knox, 2005
Designed and developed at Knox Laboratory