18 March – Sequester

Tags

chicken curry, cooking, crossfit, fighter pilots, humor, spiritual

Vote for LIKEAFIGHTERPILOT.com starting March 22, 2013 at 11:00 am EST.  LIKEAFIGHTERPILOT.com is in a global cooking competition. Our post goes up on March 21st on RANTINGCHEF.com.

Sequestered!
Photo by TSgt Sean White

Mind – se.ques.ter | səˈkwestər | verb [ with obj.]

1. isolate or hide away (someone or something): Tiberius was sequestered on an island |

2. take legal possession of (assets) until a debt has been paid or other claims have been met: the power of courts to sequester the assets of unions.|

– legally place (the property of a bankrupt) in the hands of a trustee for division among the creditors: (as adj. sequestered) : a trustee in a sequestered estate.

This week is Pentagon Wars Week; no better way to kick it off than with sequester shenanigans. Me and my fellow Pentagon Pawns have been churning on questions late into the evening, “What happens if you cut out 18% from the budget?” Simple, “You have to do 18% less!”

The first definition is kind of funny. What is being hidden? The American people’s money? Not really sure.

I find the second definition ironic, “Placing the property of the bankrupt into the hands of a trustee.” Who are the bankrupt?  Congress, or the American people? Both? Who is the trustee? Not really sure here either.

If there is any reason to hit the gym this has got to be it.

Take care

AJAX

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Body – Strength

Photo – By CrossfitChicks

Wingman

Work on squats and core strength.  If there is one exercise that I would say does more for your total body than any other…it is squats.  Don’t injure yourself, start light, do air squats if required (meaning no weigh, just you) but focus on good form. Eyes up, feet slightly wider than shoulder width, core tight, back naturally arched, chest up, lower until thighs parallel.

Flight Leads/Instructors

Arnie’s Leg routine

5 Sets, 8-10 reps

Abs

Good Mornings/ Any Lower Back

Squats

Lunges

Straight leg deadlift

Hamstring curls

Calf raises

Weapons Instructor Course

2000m row less than 7:30

Arnie’s Leg routine

5 Sets, 8-10 reps

Abs

Good Mornings/ Any Lower Back

Squats

Lunges

Straight leg deadlift

Hamstring curls

Calf raises

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Recipe of the Day 

 

Thai Chicken Curry

Recipe from Bon Appétit Jan 2013

Photo by AJAX

Serves – 4

Prep time – 30 minutes active, 45 minutes total

Nutrition – 260 calories, 14 grams fat, 3 grams fiber

Ingredients

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 4-ounce can or jar yellow curry paste

3/4 pound carrots, peeled, cut into 1/2″-thick rounds

1 medium onion, chopped

1 red bell pepper, cut into 1″ pieces

1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes (about 3), peeled, cut into 1/2″ pieces

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1″ pieces

1 13.5-ounce or 15-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk

Chopped fresh basil and cilantro

Directions

1) Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add curry paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add carrots, onion, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 10 minutes.

2) Add potatoes, chicken, coconut milk, and 1 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through and potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Divide curry among bowls and top with herbs.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Thai-Chicken-Curry-51140410#ixzz2NjLai2Td

MackNBee taste rating 3 out of 4

AJAX ease of prep rating 3 out of 4 – Add some salt pepper and hot madrass curry powder

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Spirit – The Love of God – Attributes of God by A.W. Pink

“God is love” (1 John 4:8). It is not simply that God “loves,” but that He is Love itself. Love is not merely one of His attributes, but His very nature.

© 2013 by LIKEAFIGHTERPILOT. All rights reserved.

9 March – Booty

Tags

cooking, crossfit, fighter pilot, Nutrition, rugs, silk rugs, spiritual, turkey

Silk Rug – Nazmiyalantiquerugs.com

Mind – Sequestration is a pain in my booty! But that’s not the kind of booty I am talking about.  A deployment to Turkey was an absolute blast not just for the hilarious pranks we played, reference the 14 January post “Now that’s funny,” but because of the cool stuff you can get in the Turkish bazaars. Rug shopping was the most fun and is a ritual in Turkey. The vendors would send out little kids to usher you into their stores, sometimes not so nice on the outside, but once on the inside we discovered rooms stacked to the ceiling with the most amazing carpets on the planet. The process began once seated on comfortable recliner chairs after being greeted by the owner like family returning from a long trip. The little kids would bring cold beers and food while literally the red carpets were rolled out. These stores had rugs from all over the world made by some of the finest craftsman.  My favorites are hand made silk on silk Bukhara rugs. These salesmen were good and once they found the rug you liked the back and forth over price began, and it was a lot of fun. Everybody walked away feeling pretty good with the bargain that had been reached, but in reality, it wasn’t the rug or the deal that made it good. By far the best was interacting with someone with a totally different culture than your own, but realizing we are not really that different after all. It is amazing what sitting and talking can do to bring people together.

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Body – Endurance

Photo by crossfit intrepid

Wingman

Run 1 mile <10 minutes

Flight Leads

Run 3 miles <24 minutes

Instructors

Run 5 miles <35 minutes

Weapons Instructor Course

Run 7 miles <49 minutes

Eirik Forlie – photo by motivational tumblr

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Recipe of the Day 

Roasted Chicken Thighs with New Potatoes and Peas

6 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (about 2 1/4 pounds)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 475°F. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 12″ cast-iron or heavy nonstick skillet over high heat until hot but not smoking. Nestle chicken in skillet, skin side down, and cook 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high; continue cooking skin side down, occasionally rearranging chicken thighs and rotating pan to evenly distribute heat, until fat renders and skin is golden brown, about 12 minutes.

Transfer skillet to oven and cook 13 more minutes. Flip chicken; continue cooking until skin crisps and meat is cooked through, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer to a plate; let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Mashed Potatoes

Boil potatoes for 12 minutes or until soft, crush with a ricer or press. Add 4 Tbsp butter and 1 Tbsp salt to taste.

Frozen Peas

Microwave per instructions, usually 4 minutes.

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Spirit – 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

© 2013 by LIKEAFIGHTERPILOT. All rights reserved.

7 March – How do you use this thing?

Tags

cooking, crossfit, fighter pilots, Fitness, spiritual, tennis

Poopy Suit – Note the “Jaws of Death”

 

 

Mind – Poacher’s poopy suit story must be told. We were about to deploy for our very first time which meant flying across the Atlantic. Crossing the pond requires wearing bulky and uncomfortable anti-exposure suits previously described in the Poopy Suit post. The front access zipper is known as the jaws of death because of its rigidity and sharpness of the teeth located in close proximity to the groin. For the most part the zipper is useless, especially when flying in fingertip formation through the weather at night…standard conditions for crossing the pond. In order to overcome this limitation some genius came up with a “Texas Catheter”, which is nothing more than a hose and collection bag hooked up via a condom with glue on the inside. I won’t even discuss the removal since it is too horrific. Once fully dressed with the all the gear required, the Michelin man looks down right anorexic compared to most pilots, especially Poacher, a big twelve sandwich eating Norwegian from Minnesota. Not more than 20 minutes into the flight Poacher decided to try out his new-fangled device connected to his Anthony Weiner.  Imagine being in total darkness, dense fog, and 3-6 feet away from the wingtip of another airplane in flight when you hear a loud cry of despair. Poacher had just discovered the principle of siphoning, or lack thereof. Being a guy that does everything with vigor Poacher decided let the dam break, and unfortunately for him the feedback he needed was a little late. Instead of filling up the collection bag, he filled up the inside of his suit…with 12 hours remaining until we landed. What’s the lesson? Execute with vigor, but if given the time and luxury, caution is sometimes warranted.

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Body – Sports Day

 

Wingman/Flight Leads/Instructors/Weapons Instructor Course

 

Squash, Racquetball, Tennis

 

Andrea Petkovic

 

 

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Recipe of the Day

 

Lisa’s Chicken Enchiladas

 

3 cups cooked chicken

8oz of cream cheese

2 cans of cream of chicken soup

4oz can of chilies (if you have roasted hatch chilies use these)

1/4 cup of milk

1 tsp of cumin

1/4 cup of chopped yellow onion

8 flour tortillas

12 oz Monterey Jack cheese

 

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix chicken and cream cheese. In a separate bowl combine cream of chicken soup, chilies, milk, cumin and onions, mix well.  Fill tortilla with 1/8 of chicken and cream cheese mixture, then drizzle soup mixture in and sprinkle with cheese.  Fold tortilla together, lay into a greased pan.  Once all the tortillas are in the pan, pour the rest of the soup mixture and cheese over the top of enchiladas. Bake covered for 20 minutes, uncover for another 20 until slightly toasted on the top.

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Spirit – Psalm 139:23 “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”

 

 

 

© 2013 by LIKEAFIGHTERPILOT. All rights reserved.

5 March – Hanging Bodies and Hanging Out

Tags

crossfit, fighter pilots, hunting, spiritual

Mind – Mountain Home was one of my favorite assignments, not because of the location, or mission, but because of the people I got to work with. Every assignment depends on the relationships formed with the people you serve with. Poacher and Homer made Mountain Home special, and we got up to plenty of shenanigans. Homer was the “T-bolt” intelligence officer and was named as such because he has a striking resemblance to Homer Simpson. Homer was the real deal when it came to being an outdoorsman, and he has hunted all over the world. He has stuffed all sorts of ridiculous things and is an accomplished taxidermist with rigid chipmunks perched around his house in odd positions to prove it. After one particular deer hunting trip in the mountains of Idaho, Poacher, Homer, and I returned to his house on base where Homer proceeded to string up our deer in his yard to butcher. Homer’s neighbors were a little peeved about the skinned bodies aging in the yard as the surrounding kids came home crying about the Friday the 13th scene playing out next door. The wing commander was a little upset too because Homer’s yard was in direct view of the main gate. Homer’s garage was the place to hang out and solve the world’s problems. We would sit in old lawn chairs with a Natty Light and just shoot the bull. Today how often do we sit around in the front yard, hang out, and talk to our neighbors? Not enough I would say…garage up, car in, door down, rinse and repeat. Imagine how nice the world might be if we all just talked a little more.

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Body – Power Quickie

Wingman/Flight Leads/Instructors/Weapons Instructor Course

Unknown – Tumblr

“Fran”

21-15-9 reps of

95 lbs Thrusters

Pullups

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Recipe of the Day

Buffalo Meatloaf Sandwiches on Ciabatta

Ingredients

Buffalo meatloaf cooked on Sunday

Cook and eat Ciabatta bread

Ketchup

Cook bread per directions to warm up.  Slice meatloaf cold and heat if desired.  Place on Ciabatta slices and top with ketchup.

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Spirit – Psalm 118 22-24 “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.”

© 2013 by LIKEAFIGHTERPILOT. All rights reserved.

01 March – Sequestration Stache

Tags

Ali, Boxing, cooking, cross fit, fighter pilots, Fitness, Robin Olds, spiritual

Robin Olds – Unknown

Mind – It is finally here the day the government shuts down! Who cares! What really matters for all fighter pilots around the world is the beginning of Mustache March. So my kids decided that they think I should combine the two events and grow the Sequestration Stache’.  I am not sure I want to go down this route, at least I know the month of March will mercifully pass and put an end to any wooly caterpillars growing on my lip.  At the rate congress and the President are coming together best case I end up looking like Chuck Norris and Einstein at worst. Either way, fights on, let the Manly Mustaches commence.  Calling all fighter pilots to send in updated pictures with the final day ending March 31st. Best mustache will be voted on be most likes of LIKEAFIGHTERPILOT fans. As for the sequestration, forgettaaboutit, the gym remains open.

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Body – Sports Day

Wingman/Flight Leads/Instructors/Weapons Instructor Course

Boxing – Federal Government…swing and a miss!

…Close

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Recipe of the Day 

Night out on the town – We went to Lauriol’s on 18th Street in downtown DC.  All I can say, from the crowd in there, either everyone was going big one last time…or the DC dough just keeps on flowing.

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Spirit – Mathew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

© 2013 by LIKEAFIGHTERPILOT. All rights reserved.

27 February – Top 10 Slang

Tags

cooking, cross fit, fighter pilots, Fitness, humor, spiritual

Top 10 Fighter Pilot Slang

 

Mind – I had a few foreign exchange guys in my squadrons over the years, Germans, Portuguese, French, Turkish, Dutch, Italians, and even a few Canadians and Brits.  Chief the Marine doesn’t count. They all spoke English fluently (except for the Brits and Canadians), but down to the last guy they always had the hardest times with our slang. Cookie, our one German pilot, was the exception who actually had a Texas accent.  Below are just a few of the ridiculous bouts of verbiage to close out the slang week. In all seriousness though, remember a kind word is usually all it ever takes to turn a bad situation around. So be kind, be funny friends.

10. WTFO? – What the F**k Over? As in why are you doing that?

9. Let’s push – Time to leave.

8. Hit it – Let’s start doing X activity.

7. Get your shit together – Perform better.

6. Hornier than a 2 pecker goat – Really horny, as in 4 horns.

5. Pull you head out – Hurry up and figure out what is going on.

4. Easier than clubbing baby seals – The bad guys aren’t even putting up a fight.

3. Screwing the pooch – Totally wrong and messed up.

2. Cranium – As in your head, don’t ever say head without expecting pilots to burst into song.

1. Did I tell you I was a fighter pilot? Not really slang, just the favorite thing a fighter pilot likes to say.

COMING SOON …Ask a fighter pilot.  Great idea by Heather.  Ask those questions you have been dying to get answers for.  Like why do WSOs always wear floppy shoes? Or why do you always pick on DEZ and Bullet so much?

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Body – Power

Wingman

15-10-5 reps of

Thrusters DEMO http://youtu.be/4OhqIGYqELk

Kipping pull-ups DEMO http://youtu.be/-cTAJnIGm6c

Flight Leads

21-15-9

1. Thrusters

2. Kipping pullups

Instructors

21-15-9

1. Thrusters

2. Kipping pullups

3. 5 minutes rest

30-20-10

1. Deadlift

2. Push Press

Weapons Instructor Course

Poopy Pants courtesy of the Horsemen

21-15-9

1. Thrusters

2. Kipping pullups

3. 5 minutes rest

30-20-10

1. Deadlift

2. Push Press

3. 5 minutes rest

5 rounds of

30 seconds Jingle Jangles DEMO http://youtu.be/uLFF_jMOEPw

30 seconds of rest

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Recipe of the Day 

Chicken-Apricot Skewers

By Susan Spungen Bon Apetit August 2012

Photo by Christopher Baker

 

Ingredients

3/4 cup canned light unsweetened coconut milk

1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)

2 teaspoons (packed) light brown sugar

2 garlic cloves

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt plus more for seasoning

1/4 cup (loosely packed) cilantro leaves plus sprigs for garnish

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped jalapeño (about 1 large; with seeds for more heat)

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into twenty-four 1″ chunks

12 firm ripe small apricots, halved, pitted

Freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Lime wedges

Preparation

1.  Purée first 6 ingredients and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth. Add 1/4 cup cilantro leaves and jalapeño and blend briefly to combine. Transfer 1/2 cup marinade to a small bowl; cover and chill for serving (return to room temperature before using). Place remaining marinade in a resealable plastic bag; add chicken, seal bag, and turn to coat. Chill for at least 3 hours or overnight (the longer it marinates, the more flavorful it will be).

2.  Build a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill, or heat a gas grill to high. Holding 2 skewers parallel to each other and 1/2″ apart, thread 1 piece of chicken onto skewers, then 1 apricot half. Repeat with 1 more chicken piece and 1 more apricot half (using 2 skewers helps hold the meat and fruit together, preventing them from twirling around when skewers are turned on the grill). Repeat with remaining skewers, chicken, and apricots for a total of 12, each holding 2 pieces of chicken and 2 apricot halves. Season with salt and pepper. Brush apricots with some marinade from bag; discard remaining marinade.

3.  Grill skewers on one side until chicken is well browned, 3-4 minutes. Turn and grill until other side is well browned, 3-4 minutes longer. Move to a cooler part of grill. Cover grill and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer to a serving platter; sprinkle with cilantro sprigs and peanuts and drizzle with reserved marinade. Serve with lime wedges alongside for squeezing over.

Lisa rates it a U for USAT due to having to light the grill in pouring down rain.

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Spirit – Mathew 18 21-22 “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

© 2013 by LIKEAFIGHTERPILOT. All rights reserved.

26 February – The Left Pinky

Tags

cooking, cross fit, fighter pilots, Fitness, healthy, HOTAS, Nutrition, spiritual, Yoga

The HOTAS – Throttle…cutoff is #1

The Stick

Mind – Fighter airplanes have a phenomenal control system, known as HOTAS (Hands On Throttle and Stick), with about 16 switches and buttons that do hundreds of things depending on aircraft mode and display. The engineers were brilliant when designing the system because each button feels a little different and moves in the correct manner in relation to your hand. Pilots love it and the controls are easy to operate by muscle memory. On every flight pilots warm up their fingers by performing the “piccolo drill,” in other words they flip all the switches and buttons. Each finger has an operation to perform; so flying a fighter with missing fingers might prove a little difficult. One finger is considered almost useless in flight though—the left pinky. In an F-16, a single engine aircraft, I tell my students to consider the left pinky missing, except in an emergency, literally. The left pinky does nothing except actuate a mechanical cutoff that allows the throttle to move from idle to off when the throttle is rotated out and aft, another safety mechanism to prevent inadvertent engine shutdowns. Sometimes, like in an emergency engine restart, pilots may actually want to shut off the motor in flight, but 99.99999999% of the time, that finger is dead to us. Remember the callsign post on 8 February? One of my students got a little excited one flight, and in a moment of pinky epilepsy managed to operate the cutoff…and shutoff the motor. Fortunately he quickly realized his mistake and rotated the throttle back on, and the motor quickly restarted like it is supposed too. The only damage done was a severely bruised ego and a callsign hard to get rid of—“Chilly!” As in really cold. For the rest of us get to the gym and use that pinky.

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Body – Mobility/Flexibility

Photo by Sportress of Blogitude

Wingman/Flight Leads/Instructors

Yoga

Weapons Instructor Course

90 minutes bikram hot yoga

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Recipe of the Day 

Spinach with Chickpeas and Fried Eggs

Bon Appetit October 2012

Tasty by AJAX

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided, plus more

4 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced, divided

8 cups spinach, coarsely chopped

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

1 cup chopped onion

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

2 15-ounce cans chickpeas, rinsed

5 canned whole tomatoes, crushed

3 cups (or more) vegetable broth

4 large eggs

Preparation

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. When oil begins to shimmer, add 1 garlic clove. Stir until beginning to turn golden brown, 1-2 minutes. Add spinach to pot. Toss to coat; season with salt and pepper. Cook until spinach is wilted but still bright green, 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl; set aside. Wipe out pot.

2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in same pot over medium heat. When oil begins to shimmer, add onion and 3 garlic cloves. Cook, stirring often, until onion is softened, 3-4 minutes.

3. Add cumin and paprika; stir until cumin is toasted and fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Add chickpeas and tomatoes; stir to coat. Cook until tomatoes start to caramelize and chickpeas begin to brown, 8-10 minutes. Add 3 cups broth; bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan. Reduce heat to medium; simmer, occasionally mashing some chickpeas with the back of a spoon or a potato masher, until sauce is thickened, 15-20 minutes. Fold in spinach; simmer for flavors to meld, adding more broth by 1/4-cupfuls if too thick, 8 to 10 minutes.

4. Pour oil into a large heavy skillet to a depth of 1/8″ (about 1/4 cup). Heat until oil begins to shimmer. Crack 2 eggs into hot oil, spacing apart. Using a large spoon, carefully baste whites (not yolks) with oil until whites are set and edges are crunchy, lacy, and golden brown, 2-3 minutes (do not turn). Season eggs with salt and pepper. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining 2 eggs.

Spoon chickpea stew into bowls and top each with a fried egg.

AJAX note, top with Sriracha hot sauce.

MackNBee rating, 3 out of 4.  AJAX gives it a 4/4 due to taste and ease of prep.

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Spirit – Mathew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

© 2013 by LIKEAFIGHTERPILOT. All rights reserved.

22 February – The Drool Bucket

Tags

cooking, cool stuff, cross fit, fighter pilots, Fitness, health, humor, spiritual

F-35 Cockpit
Photo – Lockheed Martin

Mind – Fighter pilots call the multi-function displays prominent in the cockpits of most modern aircraft “Drool Buckets.” Today’s amazing airplanes collect and display massive quantities of information, the importance of relaying that information quickly and correctly cannot be overstated. Oddly enough, actually flying fighters is relatively simple, but interpreting information and making decisions about utilizing all of the weapons while fighting is the hard part. That is why the engineers made the airplanes fairly simple to fly. The problem with these displays is they can capture your attention for too long, in other words, rather than looking outside and checking six for bad guys, mishap pilots mis-prioritize and sit drooling while looking at the display. Of course this is an exaggeration, but sometimes 1 second is too long…unless you are a Whizzo then you have all day to drool.  That zinger is for Dez and Bullet, two kick ass Whizzos who provide good office humor.  They have been too quiet lately.

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Body – Strength

Wingman

15-10-5 reps of Curtis P’s.  These are a combination of clean, lunge, and push press. Demo  Weight as capable.

Flight Leads

15-10-5

Curtis Ps

GHD Sit-Ups Demo

Ring Dips Demo

Instructors

15-10-5

Curtis Ps

GHD Sit-Ups

Ring Dips

Back Extensions Demo

Pull Ups

Weapons Instructor Course

“Bloody Nose” Courtesy of the Horsemen

5 rounds

3xDead Lift

3x Bench Press

15-10-5

Curtis Ps

GHD Sit-Ups

Ring Dips

Back Extensions

Pull Ups

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Recipe of the Day 

Dinner Out

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Spirit of Saint Louis Cockpit
Photo by Eric Long

Spirit – From inside the Sky, by Langewiesche. “What lies outside doesn’t matter. My world and my life are compressed within these fabric walls. Flying blind is difficult enough in smooth air. In this swirling cloud, it calls for all the concentration I can muster. The turn and bank indicators, the air speed, the altimeter, and the compass, all these phosphorescent lines and dots in front of me, must be kept in proper place. When a single one strays off, the rest go chasing after it like so many sheep, and have to be caught quickly and carefully herded back into position again.”  – Charles Lindbergh describing his historic instrument flying that kept him alive in his flight across the Atlantic.

Keep you eye on the ball.

Cheers

AJAX

20 February – Tumbleweed

Tags

cooking, fighter pilots, Fitness, food, humor, IRAQ, SAM engagements, spiritual

TumbleWeed

Always Tumbleweed…
Photo by Msgt Cheung

Mind – Think about a tumbleweed blowing in the wind with no direction, affected completely by the forces surrounding it. Hapless tumbleweeds blown onto the road are smashed to bits, such can also be the fate of tumbleweed fighter pilots. Tumbleweed is a communication term that means you have no idea what is going on, for example, “Bozo 04, tumbleweed!” Most of those in the formation already know the ill fated individual is tumbleweed and would recommend shutting up, staying visual, and saving the air time for those with higher situational awareness (SA). My friend Poacher would probably say tumbleweed is navigator standard, for those platforms that use navigators. Wives and girlfriends might say that’s how all the men in their life drive. The problem though is you have to have enough situational awareness to know that you are tumbleweed, and most of the time if you are tumbleweed, you probably don’t realize you are tumbleweed. One of my favorite quotes, “You have to have SA to know that you don’t have SA.” Fortunately I can laugh about the times I have been tumbleweed and that merely led to some good stories in the bar. Usually all it takes to immediately recage your gyros is well-timed radio call or tally-ho of the bad guys or some ground reference. Hopefully we all have good enough wingman and friends that help fill us in when we have no clue.

Good video of Gulf war F-16 SAM engagement, sometimes the shit hits the fan.

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Body – Power

 

Wingman

Learn how to perform a kettle-bell snatch. Demo

Flight Leads/Instructors

AMRAP in 15 minutes of

10x 95lb Thrusters, scale as required

10x 25lb Ball Slams, scale as required

10x 24 inch box jumps

Weapons Instructor Course

500 double-unders < 5 minutes

AMRAP in 15 minutes of

10x 95lb Thrusters, scale as required

10x 25lb Ball Slams, scale as required

10x 24 inch box jumps

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Recipe of the Day 

 

Veal Chops with Sherry Gastrique and Roasted Peperonata

Bon Appetit Dec 2010

By Selma Brown Morrow, photo by Patricia Heal

Sherry gastrique:

2 cups cream sherry

1 1/2 cups low-salt chicken broth

2/3 cup sherry wine vinegar

1/4 cup (packed) dark brown sugar

Veal chops:

6 1-to 1 1/4-inch-thick veal rib chops coarse kosher salt

1 1/2 teaspoons ground allspice

2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme

All purpose flour

2 tablespoons chicken fat or olive oil, divided

1/3 cup low-salt chicken broth

1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

Roasted Peperonata

5 large bell peppers (preferably 3 red, 1 orange, and 1 green)

3 tablespoons golden raisins

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 large garlic cloves, pressed

1 1/2 tablespoons drained capers

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

2 pinches of cayenne pepper coarse kosher sal

Char peppers directly over gas flame or in broiler. Enclose in plastic bag; steam 15 to 30 minutes. Peel, seed, and cut peppers into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Mix peppers, raisins, oil, garlic, capers, vinegar, thyme, paprika, and cayenne in large bowl. Season with coarse salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.

For sherry gastrique:

Boil all ingredients in large saucepan until reduced to generous 2/3 cup, about 30 minutes. DO AHEAD: can be made 3 days ahead. Cool, cover, and chill.

For veal chops:

Preheat oven to 425°F. Sprinkle veal on each side with coarse salt, pepper, 1/8 teaspoon allspice, 1/2 teaspoon thyme; dust generously with flour. Heat 1 tablespoon chicken fat in heavy large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 chops. Sear until brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with remaining veal chops.

Place chops in oven and roast until cooked to desired doneness, about 5 minutes for medium-rare (135°F). Transfer chops to plates. Reserve baking sheet.

Meanwhile, stir broth and cornstarch in small bowl to dissolve. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon drippings from skillet. Add broth mixture, gastrique, and any juices from baking sheet to skillet. Bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Boil until sauce thickens to desired consistency. Spoon gastrique over each chop. Serve with peperonata and remaining gastrique.

What to drink:

This dish needs a red wine with good acidity. The HAGAFEN 2008 NAPA VALLEY PINOT NOIR is top tier, and it’s kosher. (California, $32).

Mack rates a 3, Bee rates a 4, AJAX 4 on taste but 2 on ease of prep for the sauces.

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Spirit – Mathew 13:16 “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”

19 February – Behind the Power Curve

Tags

cooking, cross fit, fighter pilot, Fitness, food, Nutrition, Scotsman, spiritual

Behind the Power Curve

Way behind the power curve

Mind – I am currently behind the power curve.  This is a term pilots use to describe a position of energy disadvantage. In other words, it doesn’t matter that the throttle is in full power, at the current conditions, the motor will not produce enough thrust to recover. It is also a slang term that means…trying to catch up.  I just started a new job, so I have a lot to learn, hence, I am behind the power curve when it comes to sending out the blog. Another term we use to describe this condition is “hanging off the trailing edges.” This also means everything is happening so fast, rather than sitting in the cockpit, you are 6 feet behind the aircraft.  Sometimes this does occur, but I have always found the best way to avoid this condition is proper preparation. Dedication to the mission is required, and putting in the time when others will just let it slide separates the professionals from the amateurs. Anticipating when things will go wrong or become intense is key to being prepared. Clearly I knew I had this new job coming up, but as we discussed yesterday, shit happens. This is when hopefully you can rely upon experience, but if you have none, this might describe a learning moment. If you find yourself behind the power curve, take your lumps, egress the fight, learn what you can, then buckle down for the next mission.

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Body – Strength

Wingman

Work on squats and core strength.  If there is one exercise that I would say does more for your total body than any other…it is squats.  Don’t injure yourself, start light, do air squats if required (meaning no weight, just you) but focus on good form. Eyes up, feet slightly wider than shoulder width, core tight, back naturally arched, chest up, lower until thighs parallel.

Flight Leads/Instructors

Arnie’s Leg routine

5 Sets, 8-10 reps

Abs

Good Mornings/ Any Lower Back

Squats

Lunges

Straight leg deadlift

Hamstring curls

Calf raises

Weapons Instructor Course

2000m row less than 7:30

Arnie’s Leg routine

5 Sets, 8-10 reps

Abs

Good Mornings/ Any Lower Back

Squats

Lunges

Straight leg deadlift

Hamstring curls

Calf raises

Gotta be a Scotsman
Photo by Savon Matossian

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Recipe of the Day 

 Pan Roasted Chicken Thighs, with mashed potatoes and peas.

6 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (about 2 1/4 pounds)

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 475°F. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 12″ cast-iron or heavy nonstick skillet over high heat until hot but not smoking. Nestle chicken in skillet, skin side down, and cook 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high; continue cooking skin side down, occasionally rearranging chicken thighs and rotating pan to evenly distribute heat, until fat renders and skin is golden brown, about 12 minutes.

Transfer skillet to oven and cook 13 more minutes. Flip chicken; continue cooking until skin crisps and meat is cooked through, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer to a plate; let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Mashed Potatoes

Boil potatoes for 12 minutes or until soft, crush with a ricer or press. Add 4 Tbsp butter and 1 Tbsp salt to taste.

Frozen Peas

Microwave per instructions, usually 4 minutes.

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Spirit – 1 Corinthians 1:28-29 “God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”

How we dealt with the Ducks