Author: Joseph McMahon

I'm a blogger just getting started out. I live in suburban Detroit and raise chickens. I haven't quite picked a blog theme yet, so I'm throwing pasta at the wall to see what sticks!

COFFEE CAKE RECIPE

On By Joseph McMahonIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

The (amazing) coffee cakes shown above were baked by my grandmother, who passed the recipe along to me and now I am passing it along to you. These things are great for any occasion, not just brunch.

For two cakes as shown, you will need:

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 cups flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 3 eggs
  • Strawberry Jam

There’s a topping for it, too:

Topping ingredients:

  • 3 teaspoons butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup pecans

These are designed to be baked in loaf pans.

Directions:

  • Cream* butter, sugar and vanilla.
  • Add eggs
  • Add flour mixture (flour, baking powder, baking soda)
  • Add sour cream
  • Prep loaf pans with cooking spray
  • Place 1/4 of above mixture into each loaf pan, for 1/2 of mixture total
  • Spread strawberry jam on top
  • Add remaining 1/2 of mixture to both pans
  • Top with……………..topping
  • Bake for 50 minutes at 350 degrees

*I did not know this was an action, rather than the ingredient cream itself and had to call later for clarification.

Try these out and enjoy! You won’t regret it!

Do Not Allow Your Fear To Control You

On By Joseph McMahonIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Just don’t. Whatever pops into your head, act on it.

I was reading a book not 20 minutes ago and the idea for a post title occurred to me. That was all, I only had the title in mind. You are now reading that post.

It took LESS than five minutes, from conception to waiting for my computer to boot up so I could write this, for the fears and doubts to creep in. “What if nobody likes it?” “Hasn’t that topic been done to death?” Fuck all of that, if you have an idea that won’t land you in prison, do it. (While I was waiting for the computer to boot up, I grabbed pencil and paper and started making an outline, by the way. This really did help me shoo the fear away.)

Example: yesterday it rained heavily and afterward, I noticed the concrete pad in my backyard was flooded because the neighbor’s gutter was overflowing. All day, I wrestled and wrangled with how to bring it to their attention without being an asshole. Later that evening, while cutting the grass, I saw said neighbor relaxing on his porch doing whatever on his iPad. I figured it was now or never and they’re (the household is comprised of three or four young guys renting) really cool. So I just walked over there and told him what was going on. I even offered to climb up there and fix it myself. He said no no, he’ll let the landlord know to get somebody out there ASAP. Simple. Today, I have no idea what I was so afraid of yesterday.

It can be, and often starts with, something as simple as telling your neighbor their gutters are overflowing. It probably won’t be perfect but you’ll have done more than the vast majority of people. If you can think it, you can do it. So go do it.

Amelia!

On By Joseph McMahonIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

34345892_1895569160494524_4163318722947186688_n I submit for your interest my youngest bird.

Her name is Amelia and she is a Red Junglefowl, which is an ancestor of modern chickens. She is 12 weeks old and about the size of a Robin, if not slightly larger. I named her Amelia shortly after my friend, the breeder, dropped her (a tiny baby chick) off, as she was already trying to fly, even with no feathers!

Amelia enjoys sitting on my hand, flapping, pooping on everything (if you look closely, she’s made one specially for this photo!) and making weird noises. She has had limited contact with my fully grown Dominique hens, as they are much larger and bird acclimation is a difficult, often dangerous process. So, for the time being, she lives in a plastic tub in my home office, the only place in the house safe from the cat.

I will chronicle her growth, life and times here, on this very blog!

Saturday Morning Pro Tip

If you’ve got a coffee pot (and frankly I don’t know why you don’t, the Kuerig (sp?) doesn’t make coffee fast enough to disassociate yourself from your body and vibrate out of this plane), drop a cinnamon stick in the pot right before you brew. This is a neat trick and I wish I remembered who told me about it so I could give them credit here.

EDIT: It was, in fact my grandmother who suggested this to me.

 

Anyhow, enjoy this by yourself or jazz up your next brunch!

On By Joseph McMahonIn UncategorizedLeave a comment
On By Joseph McMahonIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

1495298207163

I wrote this piece as part of the application process for a gig at [REDACTED], one of those high-falutin’ firms trying to send people to a certain red planet. (They still haven’t gotten back to me, THE FOOLS!) I could have written a bit more, but the requirement was ~500 words and what am I going to do, write a thesis on an obscure car for a job application?

Anyhow, here’s

The Mercury Marauder
Joseph McMahon

A somewhat obscure, often misunderstood and mostly overlooked car, the Mercury Marauder remains an oddity in the automotive world. Those familiar with automobiles know of the 2003-2004 editions, based on Ford’s Panther platform. Less, however, are aware of the origins of the Marauder name.

In 1958, Ford’s Mercury division received a new family of V8 engines. Known as MEL (Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln), these engines, specifically engineered for those car lines, replaced the Lincoln Y-Block V8, which was introduced in 1952. First appearing in a Mercury with a displacement of 383 cubic inches (the smallest of the family), the Marauder name was affixed to this engine. In it’s first year, the Marauder was available with power outputs of either 312 or 330 hp. By 1960, the final year of production, the output had been reduced to 280 hp. Alongside the 383 Marauder was the option for a 430 cubic inch version, available in all Mercurys from 1958 to 1960. In top trim, with three two barrel carburetors and rated at 400 hp (the first American domestic engine to achieve this output figure), this engine, only available for 1958, was named Super Marauder.

In 1961, the Ford FE (Ford-Edsel) series replaced the MEL in Mercurys. These engines, in 331, 352, 390, 406, 427, 428 cubic inch configurations, saw widespread use across Ford products from introduction in 1958 through the mid 1970s. When installed in Mercurys, the 352 received the Marauder name. Rated at 220 hp, this engine was available until 1963.

1963 marked the first year Marauder appeared as a trim package, available on all full-size Mercury two- and four-door sedans. It included distinctive “notchback” or “fastback” styling, as opposed to the reverse-slant “breezeway” styling. This roof style also appears on Ford Galaxies of the era and was designed for top speed in NASCAR competition. The package also included bucket seats and a center console. Similar to the Mustang, this option was
introduced at midyear and the vehicles are sometimes referred to as “1963 1/2.” Powered by FE engines in 390, 406 and 427 cubic inch configurations, these Marauders were the pinnacle of early to mid 1960s Ford-Mercury performance, on the street, strip and oval. In 1966, the name was discontinued, as full-size performance fell from favor, replaced by the now familiar mid-size muscle cars.

1969 saw the return of the Marauder, this time as a standalone model. This Marauder was positioned as a personal luxury coupe, competing in that burgeoning market against the likes of the Oldsmobile Toronado and Ford’s own Thunderbird. This Marauder shared chassis and body parts with other Mercurys and Fords, notably the front clip (and interior trim) of the Mercury Marquis and the fastback roofline of the Ford XL. Engine options included the familiar 390 FE and newer 385 series 429. An upgraded variant, mainly consisting of cosmetic features, including rear fender skirts, the X-100, was also available. Production of this body style ended in 1970.

2003 brought the last ride of the Marauder. As in 1969, this Marauder was a separate model, based on many existing Ford parts. In this case, the then-ubiquitous Ford Panther platform, upon which the popular Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town car were built. This third generation Marauder carried on the legacy of the 1960s trim package Marauders, being a full-size Mercury sedan with upgraded V8 performance. Rather than the two-valve per cylinder, single overhead cam Ford 4.6 liter V8 common to the Grand Marquis, the Marauder was equipped with a dual overhead cam, four-valve 4.6 V8, also known as the InTech V8. This engine debuted in the 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII personal luxury coupe and was also installed in the 2003-2004 Mustang Mach 1. Featuring 300 hp, this engine was a marked performance improvement for the Panther platform, which had previously only seen power ratings as high as 239 hp. However, weighing in at nearly 4,200 pounds, the platform did not make the ideal partner for this engine, even with the higher than normal 3.55 rear gear to help improve acceleration. The Marauder was again sold for the 2004 model year with changes limited to new colors and a slightly improved transmission. A combination of this odd powertrain/platform marriage and little to no advertising bore dismal sales, resulting in the Marauder being cancelled after 2004, ending another chapter in the history of this name.

The Mercury Marauder, though short lived in each iteration, brought excitement and power to Ford’s Mercury division. Whether as an engine option, a trim package or a standalone model, Marauder constantly shifted features and styles to accommodate customer preferences, more often than not hitting the mark. As tastes moved away from full-size bodies with maximum power, Marauder lost its way. The last hurrah of 2003-2004 proved once and for all the classic formula had run its course. The cars themselves, however, live on as increasingly rare and valuable collector’s items.