The TP Team

When I was in high school it was common to find a house or two in the neighborhood covered with toilet paper after a Friday or Saturday night. Some times there were fun messages as people were doing it as some celebration, but in most cases it was meant with some form of negative intent. It was worst when things like shaving cream were used on outside walls, cars and sidewalks.

A girl I was dating for part of high school had a group of friends that called themselves the TP Team. This group of guys would hire out their services to TP a house. You bought the supplies, provided them with pizza, and came along and they would help you TP a house. One weekend she had recently had a public falling out with a friend and this girl approached the TP team to hit my girlfriend’s house. The Team accepted the assignment but secretly reached out and told us about it. It was then we plotted a counter attack.

A group of my friends (we were several years older) grabbed flashlights, rope and other tools and laid in wait. I was on the roof. Others were in the bushes or behind the gate. We arranged with the team that once they first started we would jump out and they would run (preserving their appearance of innocence) allowing us to catch the girls who hired them.

The night got dark and soon the appointed time was upon us. We stayed in the shadows as the team and two girls approached. They reached into bags and pulled out shaving cream and toilet paper. Just as the “decorating” started, a whistle blew and we ran out to get them. As arranged, the team got away (not before an older brother body slammed his younger sibling and member of the team to the ground), but we held tight to the girls.

We ended up tying them to a big oak tree in the front yard, covered them with their own shaving cream and then make them call their parents to pick them up (under threat of calling the police instead).

As an aside, while waiting I had a Klondike bar. The next morning I ended up with a severe stomach bug and for decades I couldn’t think of a Kondike bar without getting queasy, even though I knew they really weren’t related.

Chicken Scaloppini

Lots of flavor tied up in this dish!

Such a simple dish to make.

My typical “breading” containers.

Ready to be fried.

Getting nice and browned. Use thin sliced chicken so it cooks evenly and quickly.

Thickening the sauce.

A simple, yet delicious dish.

Chicken Scaloppini

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Servings: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half and about 1 tablespoon sauce) | Difficulty: Medium

Ingredients:

4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 large egg white
2 teaspoons water
1/2 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1/2 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Directions:

1. Place chicken between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Pound to 1/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or small heavy skillet.

2. Combine egg white and water in a shallow dish, stirring with a whisk. Place breadcrumbs in another shallow dish. Dip each chicken breast half in egg mixture; dredge in breadcrumbs.

3. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of chicken to pan. Cook 3 minutes on each side or until golden. Transfer to a plate; cover and keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining oil and chicken.

4. Add broth and lemon juice to pan, stirring to loosen browned bits. Cook, uncovered, over high heat 2 to 3 minutes or until reduced to 1/3 cup. Drizzle sauce over chicken.

Source: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=50400000104943