I normally make an Old Fashioned with bourbon, usually Jim Beam black label 8-year aged. I tried it tonight with Tullamore Dew and I liked the result. Here is the recipe.
Place in tumbler, or more specifically, an old fashioned glass:
1 rounded teaspoon granulated sugar
2 maraschino cherries
1 section mandarin orange, peel removed (2 if small)
1 teaspoon club soda (water will do in a pinch)
Muddle the mixture well (it is best to have a muddler, but the back end of an ice cream scoop can also work)
Add 3-4 ice cubes
Pour 2 oz. of Bourbon or Whiskey
Add 3 dashes of Angastura Bitters
Stir the mixture
Most recipes call for garnishing with an orange slice. I don't because I am too impatient to get the first sip.
Pictured at left is a stainless steel muddler.
I was thinking about looking for a different Christian men's group, but felt that I wouldn't be able to find one that I could see myself regularly attending. It got me thinking about what I was really looking for in a men's group. Here is a rough draft of that effort.
Three Chord Men’s Group
Ecclesiastes 4:12: “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
“All I got is a red guitar, three chords and the truth.” U2.
A men’s group should involve three categories of activities:
• Service
• Recreation
• Bible Application
Rotate the emphasis each week between the three areas and assign each man responsibility for organizing his week. Meeting doesn’t have to fall on same day every week. Some men might gravitate towards organizing events in one or two areas, not necessarily all three. God gives different talents to each man.
Service ideas.
Wounded warrior dinners.
Specific projects of limited duration for the church grounds.
Join Kiwanis or other service organization as a group to be able to find other projects.
Recreation (or learning that is fun)
Learning about beer styles and do a beer tasting. Similar effort for cigars.
Take shooting lessons on 9mm or similar pistol at gun range.
Go hiking or surfing.
Bible application.
Applying bible to specific problems men are facing. Example might include, money problems, issues with dealing with a difficult boss, or personal honesty about sin. Rotate responsibility for preparing the lessons.
General stuff.
The group should enforce accountability for putting together a good service plan, good recreation plan or good bible application. Criticism for poor preparation and performance and praise for good work is expected. Some of the efforts may require team preparation, so accountability for deliverables is also required. Honesty about one’s personal life is also enforced as men get to know each other.
Explanation for inclusion of U2 line:
Red guitar – Music and celebration of God, like David.
Three chords – Two men and the holy spirit or the Trinity.
The truth – The word of God.
Yes, this mixes the homonyms chord and cord. Tough. It helps makes my point and I like it.
