ROCK_O_BILIAS LATEST BUYING VENTURE!!!

Went on a great record buying expedition last weekend. We purchase our records many different ways. Perusing $1 record store bins is our most expensive way but is always a great family outing. Yes most families go to theme parks , ballgames or play board games. Not us. We drag Erin to dusty dirty record stores in search of vinyl gold. I don't think she minds it though. It was "HER" idea to start this store at the ripe old age of 15. Now shes off to college at San Francisco State leaving "ME" to run the wretched business. Honestly I have a love/hate relationship with Rock_o_Bilia. I do love working with the records but sometimes between my other store Dageland_curios and Rock_o_bilia I get overwhelmed. Its times like these however I realize I could still be working for the Man. This is much better.

Our first stop was Amoeba Records. This is a wonderful chain of 3 stores in California. They are in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Berkeley California. We have been to them all and each has their own eclectic flavor. The Los Angeles store is HUGE!!!! there are always a mix of hipsters, pre- post punkers, hip-hop etc etc etc. Great place for people watching and they have it all!!!! Vinyl, CDs, cassettes ( yes Melissa they have cassettes!), posters ,Dvds you name it. The San Francisco store is in the Haite -Ashbury area. Lots of street kids outside and a much more laid back crowd. The store is much smaller but does have great deals. Berkeley is much smaller and decidedly more collegy (is that a word?) . All of them also have guest appearances on a regular basis. Elija Woods was guest DJ last Sunday. Who knew he did that?

Very impressed with the Los Angeles Amoeba store last weekend. We purchased over 200 $1 albums and in the mess of checking our order they forgot to include Erin's $13.00 "Jawbreaker" album in our boxes. They not only shipped out the album in 2 days ,as we are an hours drive away, they also included 3 shirts and a bag!!! SCORE!!!! Talk about great customer service.

Plus they have the coolest elevator ever!!!!!

The next record store was Counterpoint Records in a tony part of Hollywood across from a Gelsons Grocery store. More interesting people watching. This store , also a used book store, was a wonderful shopping experience. Not alot of records but all of them were very clean and the store has a great ambiance. Something about shopping in a store packed with old books and records listening to Jazz made it the perfect wind down after the frenetic exuberance of the Amoeba Records. Their $1 section was quite small but it did not disappoint. We bought approximately 50 records in the best shape ever!!! Most were near mint. Not an experience found in most $1 record store bins.

I have saved the best for last. The Dages absolutely loved Record Surplus in a seedier part of L.A. The day we were there a homeless man was asleep on the sidewalk. It was one of those situations where you want to go up and poke him to see if he was alive but were afraid. I did see him move however so that made me feel better. Don't be surprised though if you see us on one of those hidden camera shows ignoring the poor homeless man.

Record Surplus touts themselves as "the last record store" . Although they are not as Los Angeles is full of record stores , they still are our favorite. It is just a HUGE open space full of mostly used vinyl. Very , very, good prices. they have an upstairs attic type space for 90 cent records. Not $1 but 90 cents. They also have special 3/90 cents weekend sales. We will definitely be there!!!

Here is Erik wearing his Ramones shirt perusing the soundtracks. That shirt has travelled the United states, Canada and Mexico.

This is the only record store with listening stations .They even have them in the attic.

Well that's it for our latest venture. All in all we aquired over 500 rock records for your buying experience. I will be sure to share other ventures with you later.

GREEN CHILE ROASTING TIME!!!!

Its green Chile roasting time!!! I do believe that no one ,with the exception of my daughter Erin , loves green Chile's more than I do. My father in law lives in Las Cruces New Mexico. It was there that I truly learned Green Chili appreciation. Growing up in California I have learned to appreciate good Mexican food. It is abundant here. The Green Chili however is not a big part of the cuisine. Sure we have Chili Rellenos and Green Chili sauce but they tend to be bland and somewhat slimy.

Not in New Mexico though. They put Green Chili's in or on everything. Eggs, hamburgers , hot dogs ,you name it Green Chili's go on it. Once you have eaten a freshly roasted Green Chili your hooked!!!! I started out buying Big bags of Green Chili's when we would visit New Mexico . I would bring them home and roast them. They freeze quite well.

I always shop at the Mexican Grocery store for my vegetables. Great prices and they are fresh, fresh, fresh. One day I noticed they carry Green Chili's. Honestly I'm not sure if the regular Grocery store carries them or not but I do buy them regularly and roast them .

This year while shopping for plants for my vegetable garden I got quite the wild hair. Not only did I purchase Eggplant and Artichokes, stories in their own right, I purchased peppers ,peppers and more peppers. All kinds of Peppers. Green Peppers, Red Peppers, Yellow Peppers, and of course the Anaheim Green Chili. To my amazement the Green Chili's took off. All of them have taken off.

Following is a tutorial on how to roast Green Chili's for my niece Melissa the self proclaimed foodie. But you can roast Green Chili's too !!! Its fun and self satisfying. Great thing to do with kids. My daughter Erin enjoyed helping me and shes 18!!

First you start out with firm fresh Green Chili's . Get your propane or gas barbecue nice and hot. Put your chili's on the grate and shut the top. In about 3 to five minutes you will hear a sissing and some pops . This is the Chili's starting to pop. Once the skin browns on one side and you can easily stick a fork in it turn the Green Chili's on their other side and let that side brown. Don't be afraid of burnt skin. This is a sign they are done .

This is what the Chili's should look like. The skins will start to peel off. They should still be firm enough to hold a shape and let a fork pierce easily. You need to let them cool a bit. You don't want to wait too long as they peel much better while they are warm.

This is how the skin should peel off. The Chili underneath should be pliable yet firm. Too mushy and you have roasted it too long. I don't recommend starting off with a large quantity as the roasting process is a learned one.

This is your end product. At this point you need to make a decision. As all the heat of a pepper is in the seeds, you can cut them open and get rid of the seeds or you can keep them in. The Green Chili flesh is a wonderful mild pepper .I keep the seeds in. After they defrost I can choose to keep the seeds or dispose of them depending on my heat preference.

I them will pop 2 chili's in a baggie and freeze them. As it is just my husband and I this is the perfect portion of Green Chili. If I need more for a recipe I will defrost more bags. Now all you have to do is take them out of the freezer pop them into the nuker for about 20 seconds and you have fresh roasted chili's. Perfect for eggs, quiche, hamburger topping ,Chili you name it!!! Erin and I have decided I need to take the next step. Chili Rellenos here I come. Wish me luck........