(don't give pets alcohol!)
I’m one of the sixty-two percenters, which is probably why I’m also one of those people who like both beer and wine. I may not drink beer as often, but recently I was reminded that beer is just darn good at times.
As we all know, I’m an All Recipes.com junkie, and the other day I tried out a recipe that was called, “My Kid’s Favorite Pork Chops.” Let me tell you, folks—until you’ve had loin chops simmered in barbeque sauce, beer, and onions, you haven’t had down-home, fork-tender, lip-smacking pork chops. My family inhaled them in less than five minutes.
The bonus of the recipe is that since it called for a bottle or can of beer, I had reason to buy a six-pack. I usually don’t keep beer around—it’s far too user-friendly, and I’m always counting calories like most middle-aged moms. However, since I needed it for a family meal, well, there was justification for bringing home some ZiegenBock, which looked to be the best price-quality combination for cooking.
I was getting the chops ready, and I poured most of the beer into the skillet as directed, but I saved a few sips. As I drank that rare beer, I thought, “This is really good stuff. I should do this more often.” Therein lies the problem, you see.
I’ll never forget my first beer. I was under-age, watching speed boat races on the Brazos River, and my foolish male cousins went off and left me and my best girlfriend in possession of the beer cooler. In it was Miller, “the champagne of beers.” Kelly and I cracked the cooler, and at that moment in time, beer was absolutely the best beverage I’d ever had because it was hot as hell outside, and the beer was ice-cold and immensely delicious. A fan was born.
What does beer have to do with cats and dogs? Well, beer is sort of more like a dog while wine is more like a cat. Beer is always there for you, it’s approachable, and it goes well with moving day or a backyard party. Wine is mysterious, unpredictable, and somewhat snooty. Beer people tend to look askance at wine people and vice versa.
I do generally prefer wine, and I do have three cats and no dog, but I used to have one. Sometimes, I miss having that furry, slobbery, overly-enthusiastic bundle of canine love barreling toward me at the end of a long day. Our family’s much divided time and energy just doesn’t lend itself to the demands of dog ownership right now. Maybe someday.
Meanwhile, I’ll content myself with Chardonnay and a cat or two. Nothing against beer or dogs. Everything just has its own place and time.
(And, dear friends, remember this is all just a lot of foolish blathering. Let’s not start the great dog-beer-cat-wine conflict. However, lively discussion is fine.)
