Comments on: Praying Panties & Sparkles the Alligator

By: Birdofparadox

Birdofparadox — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:47:13 +0000

So sorry to see Suburban Habitat went out of business: was going to look into a flock of ladybugs or somesuch!

By: Colette

Colette — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 05:18:54 +0000

I moved to Florida 4 years ago, from California. In that 4 years, I’ve studied everything I could Google on alligators; fascinating animals! But dangerous, for sure. Your boys look so cute by the lake, but please have them stay farther back from the water’s edge. They are in striking distance. Janie Melsek, who died in an alligator attack a year or two ago, was gardening 15 feet from the water’s edge. Granted these beasts like to sneak up on prey, but they will also attack head-on. Please don’t take any chances at all with your boys. Alligators lose their fear of people just by being around them; not as fast as being fed by people, but you never know if it’s going to take them 6 weeks or 6 years to lose that fear.

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 04:36:26 +0000

Oooh, gators in your backyard and kalamasi limes. My great aunt makes absolutely killer braised pig trotters with kalamasi limes, chiangkiang vinegar, garlic, ginger and dried chillies. And kalamasi lime juice mixed with sugar and water on crushed ice is terrific when it’s broiling hot out there. A splash of vodka would not go amiss in that either.

I love your blog, by the way. Those no-knead recipes for sticky buns will be the downfall of my resolution to eat healthier this year.

By: Al

Al — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 04:46:21 +0000

I’ve never used Kalamansi limes, just Persian limes (oh, Publix, why won’t you cater to the exotic?) but my mojito recipe has been very well received. Keep in mind we’re talking college students here, so as long as it tastes better than beer and “gets ya’ drunk” they consider it ambrosia.

Al’s Mojitos:
Throw one ounce of simple syrup, 9 medium sized mint leaves, and the juice of one lime in a highball glass. Muddle it up, get those minty flavors extracted. Fill the glass with ice. Add one and a half ounces of light rum (I tend to use Captain Morgan, what with the whole poor college student thing, but any light rum will do. I’ve even used Bacardi 151, at least I think I remember using 151…) and then top off with club soda. I only use Publix brand soda, because I’d swear Ritz soda tastes funky. Stir and enjoy with a straw. If you feel extra fancy, put a sprig of mint on top, maybe a wedge of lime.

Al’s Simple Syrup:
Bring two cups of water to a boil. Add one and a half cups of plain old sugar. Stir until you don’t see any undissolved sugar on the bottom of the pot, and then let it cool.
I’d pour it into a nice container, like one of those glass olive oil containers. In the real world it might not be necessary, but after the twentieth time of someone asking “uh, what are you putting in my drink?” I had to find a way to make it look more like an ingredient than roofies.

Try is with Persian limes first, and if you like it move on to those exciting Kalamansis. If you do give it a shot, tell me what you think of it. I’d love to see what constructive criticism someone with more discerning taste buds can come up with.

By: meeso

meeso — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:26:56 +0000

Wow, cool pics and how neat to have an alligator pond in your backyard!