the Allen Family One Skillet Paella

I was asked about my cooking the other day. I’m not big on recipes, but this is how we make Paella.

First, you need a large, deep skillet. Then add lots of meat, olive oil, and garlic. We’ve settled on smoked sausage and chicken breast.

Then add a bunch of veggies. Peppers, onions, green onions. You can add mushrooms, chickpeas, green beans. I wouldn’t recommend corn.

add a couple cans of diced tomatoes. If you want a little heat, use one can of diced tomatoes and a can of Rotel.

Keep draining it. And when it looks good to you, add Paella seasoning (available anywhere) extra Saffron, some Italian seasoning, salt/pepper. Add a carton of Chicken Broth or Stock and a cup of Arborio rice

Bring it to a rapid boil, then simmer until the rice has absorbed the broth.

Keep stirring to avoid any sticking and when the stock is absorbed…..

Good Stuff.

Mamacita Caliente Birthday

The best thing that ever happened to me is my lovely and longsuffering wife.
This is her through the years…..this is Lola Resendez at 38 years old


And this is her at 48 years old…


58 years old….


68 years old……


She married me not once….

But twice…..I think she screwed that up


And……Mama at 72 years old

It’s been a long road, Mama.
But I can’t see doing it with anybody but you. Much love to you, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

New Gun Day

I took the new model 25 to the range.

255 Grain loads at about 1200 fps seems like a sweet spot.

That sucker can shoot. I’m convinced, if it can shoot this well without a spring kit.
I definitely need a spring kit.

S&W M&P with a bunch of stuff done to it. I swapped out the slide from the red dot (I just can’t get used to it)

Not bad at all. 147 Grain LE rounds

Celebration Gun, S&W Model 25-15

Finally going back to work. The lovely and longsuffering Mamacita Caliente says to celebrate going through the knee replacement, PT, and recovering so well.
“I could buy a new gun!”
after ‘that look’ I said “Just a little one”
as “little one” is a relative term…S&W Model 25-15, 6.5 inch, 45 Colt, high polish blue.

took it to the range today.
here we go…

Not bad at 10 yards. This is 230 grain Armscor loads. I’m going to start reloading for it (it’s a little big for carry) since the only thing really available are full blown hunting loads or mouse fart cowboy loads.
it needs a spring kit or maybe shot a thousand times (which is more fun anyway)

Remember this one? The Freedom Arms model 97. It doesn’t like 125 grain very much.

158 grain, 357 Magnum is much better.

I took the red dot off the S&W 627PC because I just don’t like it. Getting it sighted in again.

Every day shooting is better than a day at work.

Single Action Range Day

nothing but the single action guns today
10 yards all

Remington 45 Colt clone (Uberti) box stock with a nice action.

pulling left a little bit, fixed sights, groove and flag. Nice groups though.

A little Kentucky windage. Them old cowboys had something.

Freedom Arms Model 97. 357 Magnum, 4 inch barrel. Full blown custom build.

Anniversary present from the lovely and long suffering wife.

Not bad, it doesn’t like 125 grain bullets. I need to reload some 158 grain loads.

The heavyweight, 44 Magnum. Used to be a 7.5 inch Ruger Super Blackhawk.
Heavy as a brick, but you need it for the caliber.

You need gloves for the 240 grain loads, shoots great though. (That’s a casing under the hammer, I didn’t pull any shots. LOL, Six on the target)

Mothers Day 2024

Four of the five daughters asked to have Mothers Day on Saturday. As they are all mothers and have plans on both sides.
And since we had plans for Sunday anyway, I played it up and reminded them that I could never turn them down.

So five of the five daughters wants to cook for Mama. So I told them “sure, the kitchen is yours”

Pork Loin, don’t cut the fat off the top. Egg wash and after cooking bacon and crumbling them up, mix it with some Panko bread crumbs and spread it in top. Rosemary and Tyme on the side olive oil around to help with the flavoring.

Breasted Potato wedges. Mixture of Paprika, Onion Powder, Chili Powder, Italian Seasoning. Make a mix with Olive Oil, just enough to make it like a thick syrup. Cover them, and mix in a bowl till covered.

This is when the five daughters disappeared. Playing with the dog in the backyard, “girl talking”, etc

Looking good

Came out great.

The best part, a house that looked like a Disney Princess convention. And the lovely and long suffering wife.

I do NOT deserve this amazing woman

Another 45ACP range day

took three of my favorite 45s to the range today.

All at 10 yards, Winchester 230 grain FMJ

my blacked out Kimber Custom Pro. Very light, great for carry.

This is why it’s great for carry

My very first 1911 (that wasn’t issued) is a Springfield Armory Target Model that I shot slow fire bullseye with at our local range, then used it for a test gun for 45 reloads. It was falling apart when I sent it off to be rebuilt. Back to awesome.

My “school gun” is an Sig P-220 Carry model. It has a double action (DAK) trigger feels like a nice long revolver trigger. The only gun I take to self defense/shooting school. It’s tight, shoots everything well, reliable, and it’s not flashy. I like it.

This is why it’s my “School Gun”
Let’s try the playing card.

5 shots at 10 yards on a playing card and you should be able to “make the shot”

When I get back to work, there is going to be a lot less of this……damn.

You haven’t cooked in a while

the lovely and long suffering Mamacita Caliente said this to me…..it has been a while. Knee replacement and all.

Breaded Veal with some chunky pasta salad with veggies. Lemon slices are great with veal.

1911 45ACP

I took the small 1911s to the range. All of them are 45ACP, all 230 grain, 10 yards.

Colt CCO. I don’t know how old this is, I got it used and had it reworked so much that the only thing original is the frame and slide. Officers size (small)

5 rounds on a playing card at 10 yards is the tactical standard. I pulled one low.

Para Ordinance LDA. This one is from the early 2000s. Nicely centered, another Officers size (small)

Springfield Armory Lightweight Champion Operator. I’ve shot this one so much, I had to put a new recoil spring set in it because it was getting loose…..looks like it worked.

this one is a little different, full Government size aluminum frame (large) with an officers slide (small)

it was a good day.

I’m Catching Up on Range Days

My lovely and long suffering wife, Mamacita Caliente, says to go to the range as much as I can now. I’ll be back at work soon. So…….

I did some work to this one, I changed the hammer to a double action only and a spring job. Very smooth and a different feel, I’m still getting used to it. Remembering the old Defense Standard, 5 shots on a playing card at 10 yards
I’m getting back to it, if I wouldn’t have been a little to the right, I would have pulled one off the card.

Double taps with it.

One of my old favorites, an HK P7 Sqeezecocker. Very accurate.

The Grail Gun. A Springfield Armory Custom Shop Professional model.
No wonder the FBI love these things.

Everything was 10 yards, standing (slightly leaning on the knee) unsupported.