Sunday - The Day to Celebrate, well, Yourself

Every guy knows that there is nothing better than finding that perfect night when it's just you celebrating you. No one else matters that night.... Just your music, your food, your needs. Now, whether you decide to just veg out with your favorite movie and the best chinese take-out in town, or grab that page-turner that lets you free yourself from the oppressive misanthropic boss at work, or just take care of yourself, in other words...Regardless of all else, it's your night to be a man, your own man. So, take a day, maybe once a week, once a month, take a day to reaffirm all the things that make you who you are. One day to recharge and take stock of what the week and coming week holds. And while you're at it, go out on a limb. Try something you never have before, because hey, it's just going to be yourself that you face in the morning.

Here's just a few things that can make just another old lonely day in the house one of those days to start looking forward to in the week:

 The Harmony: Coltrane's Sound by John Coltrane.

Although not widely considered Coltrane's most popular record, Coltrane's Sound showcases Coltrane and his quartet in their most infant of recordings. Tracks such as "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" and "Central Park West" will bring you into another world, and spark the "cool" deep in your soul, setting the tone for a man's perfect night.

The Lyrics: The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac

Jack Kerouac represents a part of every man. The need for adventure      and a whimsical, but well-worked "pick up and leave" lifestyle is something that every man desires one time or another. While reading Kerouac's sharp, scrolling lyrics (to the beat of Coltrane's Sound), a man can truly put himself in Ray Smith's shoes, thanks to Kerouac's intense and vibrant imagery. The extreme duality represented by Ray Smith in The Dharma Bums will always be an internal struggle of man, and there is nothing better than reading a book that you feel was written for you.

The Finale: Chimay Red Ale with Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp and Scallops from Rachael Ray

This one's easy. The perfect beer with the perfect meal. For that night when you just don't feel right busting out another cold $8 a pack brew, Chimay's Red Ale will add a whole other level of sophistication to that sharp night. The sweet fruity aroma of Chimay Rouge Premiere will make the main course taste even better...

Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp and Scallops: What more can you want?

Just add bacon, and throw it in the oven...The meal fit for a man.

 Ingredients

• 12 jumbo raw peeled deveined shrimp, 16 to 20 count per pound
• 12 large sea scallops, trimmed and well drained
• 1 lime, juiced and zested
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon grill seasoning or coarse salt and black pepper
• 1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
• 12 slices center cut or applewood smoked bacon, cut in 1/2
• Toothpicks
• 3 scallions, very thinly sliced on an angle

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Place shrimp and scallops in a shallow dish or bowl. Dress seafood with lime juice and zest, a generous drizzle of sesame oil, grill seasoning and hot pepper flakes. Wrap each shrimp and scallop with a half slice of bacon. Wrap each shrimp working from head to tail, pulling bacon snuggly around the shrimp. Wrap the bacon around the outside of each scallop. Fasten bacon in place as necessary with picks.
Arrange the shrimp and scallops on a slotted baking pan, such as a broiler pan, to allow draining while bacon crisps. Bake shrimp and scallops 10 to 14 minutes, until shrimp is pink and curled, scallops are opaque and bacon is crisp. Shrimps may finish before the scallops.
Arrange cooked seafood on platter and sprinkle with chopped scallions.


So there you have it...A Man's Night in Paradise. All without the slightest bit of effort...because, hey, that's what it's really about.

~ Enjoy ~