Category: Food


One Night in Colorado Springs

Filed under: brewery, Communications, craft brewery, Food, Music, Songwriting, travel, writing — Leave a comment
January 24, 2025

By Dan Roark

The tour began on a Friday in August at Oskar Blues Grill and Brew in Colorado Springs. A guy from a group of people at a table between me and the bar began to drift around the empty space in the middle of the tables, dancing to my songs like someone on acid at Woodstock.

If you’ve heard my music, you wouldn’t immediately think that it was danceable music. But it happened for the first time that year in July at Townhouse Sports Grill in Manitou Springs. A couple was dancing to my song, Poet and the Lady.  Which I could kind of see. Particularly slow dancing.

But the guy at Oskar’s was dancing to everything. I was amused, and flattered in a way. It certainly made it interesting. Another guy came up and asked if I could play a song. He showed it to me on his phone and it was The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot. That’s out of my style.

Then a woman who was apparently the significant other of the birthday boy came up and ask if I could say Happy Birthday to him on the mic. I was just happy she didn’t ask me to sing Happy Birthday. Then she asked if I knew Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash. Well, no. Then – get this – she asked me if I knew anything by Journey. Hell, I could have faked Ring of Fire. But Journey? Are you freaking kidding me?

I kept talking about my new CD at the time. How would that suggest to you that I take requests? But the crowd over all was very receptive and appreciative. It was a good, albeit interesting, evening. But some people are oblivious to anything outside their own head. They just want to hear the song in their head, regardless of the style of music being played on the stage.

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

Paypal.me/danroark

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It’s Just The Way You Do It

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Food, writing — Leave a comment
January 23, 2025

by Dan Roark

When you’ve been doing something the same way for years, chances are it would be difficult to get you to change. It’s hard for anyone who’s been doing something for a number of years to learn “new tricks.” Not just “old dogs.”  Take folding t-shirts, for example. I’ve been folding shirts the same way for years. I can’t tell you why I fold them the way I do – see picture (not my best work). My mother is the only one who folded my shirts before I did and I don’t think I fold them the way she did.

I think Cyndy folds t-shirts the way my Mom did. I don’t know how my daughter by my first wife, Jennifer, folded her t-shirts, even if she did, before she passed away. And I have no earthly idea how her mother folds t-shirts – to my recollection, she didn’t. Mostly because she didn’t wear t-shirts. But her sons by the husband after me I’m sure wore t-shirts. But I don’t know how she folded them.

Of Cyndy’s and my three boys, Cameron folds his shirts like my Mom, I think. He wishes his wife, Julia, would fold t-shirts like he does. As the three boys were growing up, to my recollection, folding wasn’t required. As far as I remember, the boys just shoved their shirts into a dresser drawer.

The point is, none of us will ever change the way we fold shirts. And, among other things, we all grill differently, too. We grill the same meats, just our methods and spices differ. Even Cyndy and I grill differently although we aim for the same basic results. However, we’ve been using the grill my parents gave us years ago that was old at the time. It is just a basic charcoal grill.

Now we have Cameron’s grill/smoker because he got a more advanced smoker he could operate with his phone. But we haven’t been able to use it because, for one thing, the weather has sucked. That, and J.D. lived here until he moves completely into his new apartment, so his grill/smoker is also in the back yard. He grilled more than we did while he was here.

Our oldest son, Conner, lives in Des Moines, Iowa, so grilling isn’t really a thing for him. But if he did grill, it would be different from the rest of us. Cameron and J.D. don’t eat each other’s barbeque. Cyndy and I will gladly eat barbeque from any of our sons, but, like them, we prefer our own.

There are any number of other things that we all either learn, or just do, differently that it will be tough to get us to change, whether it would be more efficient to change or not. But chances are that we’ll never change.

What do you do, in your own way, every time you do it (and have been doing it for years)?

_____________________________________

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

Paypal.me/danroark

 

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Red Wine Vinegar or White Wine Vinegar – Pardon Me?

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Family, Food, writing — Leave a comment
July 30, 2024

By Dan Roark

Since I have looked for recipes online before, I am now getting emails with recipes. Some of them are variations of other recipes someone has borrowed and made their own and given stupid names. Under the misguided impression that calling it Barbara Walters bake will entice people to try it and other recipes of theirs so they can put out a cookbook that’ll look good in their kitchen, but won’t sell. They can show all their friends the book and sign a few copies, but they’ll fall far short of their cooking show goal.

One of the recipes I received earlier this week was for something called Cowboy Caviar. I couldn’t help but look to see what the hell it was. I think the name is still crap, but the recipe was close enough to the corn salad I have been trying to recreate from where ever the hell I had it once, or at least what’s in my head, to use as a base recipe.

Which is what Cyndy and I would ordinarily do when the same old same old becomes tiresome. We find a recipe to give us ideas and then do whatever we want – none of this, less of that, no way do I need to do that much work, type of thing.

This particular recipe called for white wine vinegar. Which sounded right for the result I was looking for so I bought some. We only had red wine vinegar.

I made the corn salad and it turned out rather well. It was not like the recipe I received in my inbox. Which made me all the more happy, because there’s no way I was going to vocalize the words, “Cowboy Caviar.”

But here’s the deal. I don’t think it would have made a big difference if I had gone ahead and used red wine vinegar. Now we have a bottle of white wine vinegar to add to our bottles of red wine vinegar, cooking sherry, and so forth that we only use once in a blue moon or even less often.

For one thing folks, it’s all freaking vinegar. Any sort of wine trace gets cooked out or fades out if used cold. The only way you could tell the difference is to drink it from the bottle. The dominant flavor would still be vinegar. The red wine vinegar might have more of a brisk flavor out of the bottle, but who wants to drink it out of the bottle?

Either way, I’ve got a corn salad recipe that’s pretty damn good. If I make it again, I’ve got both white wine and red wine vinegar, and I can use either one I want. I challenge anyone to tell the difference in the end result.

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

Paypal.me/danroark

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The New Flavor of Potato Chips

Filed under: Current events, Food, writing — Leave a comment
June 24, 2021

In the last few years, there has been a plethora of new flavors of potato chips. Obviously, the flavor in the picture is not new. But it is appropriate. The idea, I think, was to throw out different flavors and see which ones stick with popularity. Then there were the obvious novelty flavors. A lot of the flavors never stuck. Then there were the flavors that I might have thought were novelty flavors that are still offered. Jalapeno was an obvious choice and not bad. Dill pickle, not so much. But then, I didn’t think dill pickle sunflower seeds would take off – thinking it would be a novelty flavor. I was wrong.

But back to potato chips. The one flavor I thought was obvious never happened. When I eat a bag of potato chips, I look for chips that are cooked more than the others. I’ve always called them the “burnt” chips. That was why I liked the Cape Cod russet potato chips that they don’t make any more. I don’t know why – I bought the store out of bags on several occasions.

And that is the new flavor I want to suggest – an entire bag of “burnt” chips. I’m sure the chip companies have lost money on the flavors that didn’t fly – so to speak. So why not try this one? I doubt anyone in authority at a chip company will see this, but it would be nice. But if wishes were horses….well, nevermind.

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

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World’s End Tour – Feeling Grateful Department

Filed under: brewery, Communications, craft brewery, Current events, Food, friends, live, Music, Songwriting, Sound, travel, writing — Leave a comment
November 25, 2020

No matter how long I’ve been playing music, I’m still amazed when someone goes out of their way to show their appreciation. I was already grateful that Tom Martinez and his staff at World’s End Brewing in Canon City, Colorado, invited me back in October and November, after months of no shows for either of us. Not only that, it was a safe and enjoyable environment for all concerned.

The October show went well, but last week’s show went especially well. The staff was great and the audience was responsive and appreciative. Our friend, Sally (Cyndy’s best friend), was with me and sitting at the bar. We stay with her when we’re in Colorado.

After my third set I packed everything up. I came back from one of my trips to the van. As I walked in the door, a guy sitting in the alcove on the other side of the door from the alcove I was playing in, stuck his head around the wall.

“Thanks for playing tonight. We really enjoyed it!”

I smiled and said thank you. In a non-covid situation I would have shaken his hand and given him a card. This time the smile and thanks would need to suffice. Before I turned completely around, he continued.

“We put something in your bucket for you.”

“Thanks again! I appreciate it.”

Then I was packed and Sally and I headed out. That’s when Sally told me what actually happened.

The guy had called the waitress over. He said he didn’t have enough cash for a tip and asked if there was an atm nearby. Then he walked down the street in cold, windy weather to the atm, got some money out, walked back to the brewery, and dropped money in my tip jar.

With all the shit that has gone on this year, and all the bills and such that he probably had to pay, he took time and money out to show how much he enjoyed hearing me playing my music.

Damned if I didn’t appreciate it! And feel grateful.

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

paypal.me/danroark

 

 

 

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Memorial for Mr. Troll (Danny Ramon Mallow)

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Food, friends, guitars, live, Music, open mic, Recording, showcases, Songwriting, Sound, writing — Leave a comment
November 12, 2020

The memorial for Mr. Troll (Danny Ramon Mallow) in the parking lot of Poor David’s Pub was enjoyable, successful, social distanced, and appropriate. There was a ceremony before the memorial in which they marked his spot in the cactus garden with his picture and bowler hat for the memorial.

I had the honor of starting the show following the host, Rob Case. Thanks to Anni Howe, I have pictures. You can watch the whole thing here. We were playing on the stage from Bill’s Records and Tapes. Which was appropriate considering Troll had showcases at Bill’s on that stage.

Speaking of Mr. Troll, and Poor David’s Pub, you can see a number of the performers from the memorial “live” on Monday nights at 7 p.m. CST on the Rob Case’s Open Mic – Poor David’s Pub Facebook page. It’s always a good show and donations split between Poor David’s Pub and the Kerrville Folk Festival.                                                                                                                     

And, in the spirit of shameless self promotion, I have a show at Poor David’s Pub on Friday, December 4. More information in the next post.

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

paypal.me/danroark

 

 

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Bison Beef and Other Products at Herd Wear Retail Store

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Food, Texas, travel, writing — Leave a comment
October 23, 2020

If you’re taking Highway 287 coming from Dallas toward Colorado, you pass a little stop in the road about forty miles before Amarillo called Goodnight, Tx. The only reason you would know you were there is the Herd Wear Retail Store and Goodnight Country Inn.

Goodnight, Texas is an unincorporated “community” in Armstrong County. As of 2000, the population was 18. The address is actually Clarendon, Tx. The town is named for Charles Goodnight and his wife who settled there and had a bison ranch. (We don’t have buffalo in the United States, we have bison, cousins to the buffalo on the other side of the planet.)

Charles Goodnight was one of the biggest cattle ranchers in the Texas Panhandle in the late1800s, having already created the Goodnight-Loving trail to move the cattle to market. He made and lost a fortune in Pueblo, Colorado, before moving to the Texas Panhandle and recreating his success with cattle ranching. While buying land with partners and enlarging the ranch, they had to push the bison back about fifteen miles. Which didn’t help relations with the Indians. Charles made a deal with Quanah Parker to give her followers two beeves (cows) every other day to keep peace.                                                                     

It was about that time that Charles began raising bison as well as antelope and elk. He tried creating a cattalo, crossing cattle and bison, but it wasn’t a huge success. When he quit working with the cattle ranch, Charles concentrated on bison, beginning with 250 head. Charles and his wife – who had encouraged him to raise bison and oversaw the younger bison – shipped bison to Yellowstone, Europe, and other places.

Which brings us back to Cecil Miskin and Darlene Wright at Herd Wear Store/Goodnight Country Inn. The store is smack on 287. If you’re paying attention, you can’t miss it. Back down the road from the highway you can see the Goodnight House. The Country Inn is a one unit bed and breakfast back of the store. Cyndy and I plan to go one weekend when we can see the museums we want to see in the area.

The Herd Wear Store has everything bison, plus more. Check them out on Facebook and the website. A lot of wonderful things. We’re getting stuff for Christmas from them. Best of all though, is bison meat. The kippered bison beef makes great tender steak sticks for snacking. We’ve also tried the bison bratwurst, the jalapeno cheese bratwurst, and the ribs. We still have summer sausage to try. The bison products are a little pricey, but oh, so freaking tasty. And Cecil and Darlene will work with you.

I’ve spent time talking with Cecil on two different occasions now – once with Cyndy and once this last trip on my mini tour. Cecil can tell you all things bison/buffalo and he’ll happily talk about Charles Goodnight and the ranch. They had to get rid of some of the bison in the past fifteen years, but they kept just enough to be able to call it a herd.

So the next time you’re going through, be sure to stop by and see Cecil and Darlene. They’d love to have you and answer any and all questions. They’ve got enough stuff to warrant a day trip just to go there. I know Cecil has enough stories to keep you entertained while you shop. Not to mention the many museums in the area.

Tell them I sent you and I’ll see them next time through!

_______________________________________________________

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

paypal.me/danroark

 

 

 

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Mini Tour Pt. 1 – Whataburger, Really

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Food, Music, open mic, showcases, Songwriting, travel, writing — Leave a comment
October 14, 2020

I didn’t play the cajon this time around so I took up less room.

I got  back yesterday from my Mini World’s End Tour this last weekend – the extended World’s End Tour was the tour I had to cancel earlier in the year and will hopefully schedule again next year. The mini tour consisted of four virtual events and one live, social distanced show at World’s End Brewing in Canon City, Colorado. Friday’s show had to be cancelled due to spotty reception. I thought I would start with an end of tour story first – for various reasons. The last show was the Poor David’s Pub/Kerrville Folk Festival Songwriters Showcase on Monday, donations during which are split between the two venues to support them in this difficult time we find ourselves in.

The show went very well for all of the songwriters. I was playing from my hotel room in Amarillo. You can find the show at Rob Case’s Open Mic – Poor David’s Pub Facebook page, as well as the donation links.

I woke up Tuesday morning and fixed coffee that was pretty passable for hotel coffee. I packed the stuff in the van and headed to Sam’s to get gas. After I got gas, I pulled into a parking space to place my order on the Whataburger app. There was a location not too far from Sam’s, but it was out of the way. I picked the location on I40 and Grand.

I ordered a biscuit sandwich with egg, extra bacon, and no cheese. I added an apple pie for later on the road. I picked the card I wanted to use to pay and tapped Checkout.

The next thing I saw on my phone was No Cheese not available at this location.

What else is there to say?

________________________________________________________

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

paypal.me/danroark

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Southern Plains: Nashville – Tuna Casserole Saga

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Food, friends, Music, Songwriting, writing — 7 Comments
August 27, 2020

[Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4] The picture is of tuna fish salad Cyndy made. I can eat tuna fish and tuna fish salad now. I haven’t had the impulse to gag when I smelled it in years…

….In the upstairs apartment at 916 Acklen Ave. in Nashville, we took turns fixing meals when we ate int. On one occasion when it was my turn, I decided to fix tuna casserole. It was pretty freaking good as I recall – as long as I’m not smelling tuna while I think about it. It received compliments.

After dinner we went out for drinks. We we got back, we drank beer and watched tv, among other things. The casserole dish – meanwhile – had been pushed to the side of the table in the kitchen. It got covered up by other things. With all of us actually working at the same time, as well as practicing and playing shows, the dish was forgotten, for a while.

But, it happened to be particularly warm for the next few days. We began to notice a smell. I don’t remember how long we looked, but obviously we found it. Which is when everyone looked at me and said, “you cooked it, you clean it.” So I did, alternately holding my breath and gagging.

Finally, it was over and I was seriously sniffing dishwashing soap. I will not describe it for a couple of reasons. One is because I wouldn’t wish the experience on anyone else. The second is because I don’t know if I could accurately describe it and not run to the bathroom. As it is, it will be a few hours before I can have any of the tuna fish salad.

____________________________________________

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

paypal.me/danroark

 

 

 

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Granola Bars

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Food, Poetry, writing — Leave a comment
August 21, 2020

 

Granola bars

are for people

who want to be healthy,

but cannot escape the munchies.

_____________________________________________

Keep writing the songs that are in your heart.

Peace be with you.

paypal.me/danroark

 

 

 

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