Rain ~ Soup ~ Alice Reardon ~ Mashed Potato Casserole

Good 44º raining morning. Got 1/2" over night and still coming down.

Yesterday I was tired, so enjoyed a belated Goof Off Day. When I had my car windows tinted I didn't get home til nearly 8:30pm and was too tired to even fix dinner. So, yesterday I got out the corned beef/veggie soup I made and added in a can of peas (including liquid) and more chicken stock. 

SUPER good!!!! Loved it for lunch AND dinner!! When I heated it for dinner I added in a big handful of fresh baby spinach. OMGOOOD!!!

Friend Alice Reardon (wife of the infamous Pat Reardon LASD ret)

fell off a ladder the other day and broke her hip. POOR THING! She had surgery yesterday and Pat said she's doing really well. Was going to hook up with them in Laughlin this year for the LASD reunion, but they won't be going.

Historically this date...

1882 – Robert Koch announces the discovery of mycobacterium tuberculosis, thebacterium responsible for tuberculosis.

1900 – Mayor of New York City Robert Anderson Van Wyck breaks ground for a new underground "Rapid Transit Railroad" that would link Manhattan and Brooklyn.

1934 – U.S. Congress passes the Tydings-McDuffie Act allowing the Philippines to become a self-governing commonwealth.

1944 – Ardeatine Massacre: German troops kill 335 Italian civilians in Rome.

1958 – Rock'N'Roll teen idol Elvis Presley is drafted in the U.S. Army.

1989 – Exxon Valdez oil spill: In Prince William Sound in Alaska, the Exxon Valdez spills 240,000 barrels (38,000 m³) of petroleum after running aground.

1998 – Jonesboro massacre: Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden, aged 11 and 13 respectively, fire upon teachers and students at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro,Arkansas; five people are killed and ten are wounded.

Click on the "massacre" link and it is an interesting read. Sick puppies, both...Golden more so.

And births this date include....

1930 – Steve McQueen, American actor (d. 1980)

1944 – R. Lee Ermey, American actor

Born in Emporia, Kansas, Ermey enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1961. Ermey was a drill instructor at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California, and Parris Island, South Carolina from 1965 to 1967. In 1968, Ermey arrived in Vietnam where he served for 14 months with the Marine Wing Support Group 17. He then served two tours of duty in Okinawa, Japan, during which he rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6) and was medically discharged in 1972 for several injuries incurred during his tours

1954 – Donna Pescow, American actress

1976 – Peyton Manning, American football player

Here is an easy GOOD mashed potato casserole.....

Mashed potatoes always offer stick-to-your-ribs comfort, and our Mashed Potato Casserole is a new twist on a family favorite side dish recipe. Our spuds will never be duds if we make 'em this way!

What You'll Need:

5 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons minced onion

2 eggs

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper 

1 (2.8-ounce) can French-fried onions, coarsely chopped

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Coat a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
    
2. Place potatoes in a soup pot, add just enough water to cover them, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and cook 12 to 15 minutes, or until fork-tender; drain.
    
3. In a large bowl, with an electric beater on medium speed, beat potatoes and cream cheese until smooth. Add onion, eggs, flour, parsley, salt, and pepper, and continue to beat until well blended.
    
4. Spoon potato mixture into prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle with French-fried onions and bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until heated through and edges are golden.

Last night while it was chair, wine, and TV I had some great phone conversations with pals...

Then it was Cops Reloaded, Blue Bloods, and Chicago Fire.

All I know. Nuff said. Happy TGIF. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

March 24th

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE COVERED RAISIN DAY

Raisins coated in a shell of either milk chocolate or dark chocolate have their special day of honor each March 24 on National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day.

Chocolate covered raisins have been popular with moviegoers for many, many years and they continue to be.  They are also a conventional bulk vending item across the country.

In some countries, chocolate covered raisins are known as Raisinets. Raisinets were the earliest and one of the most popular brands of the product.  Currently made by Nestle, they are the third largest selling candy in United States history.  The Blumenthal Chocolate Company introduced the Raisinets to the United States in 1927, and then in 1984, the brand was acquired by Nestle.  There are also a large number of other brands of chocolate covered raisins on the market. 

Raisins are an excellent source of calcium, potassium, iron, fiber and vitamin B.  When you combine the raisins with dark chocolate, you have a great tasting, healthy snack.