Smoke (still) ~ Moon Walkers ~ Picture of the Day ~ Cheesy Mac & Chicken Casserole ~ National Avocado Day

Good 57º smokey morning. 

The smoke yesterday was awful again. My mountain was barely visible ....

And in Grants Pass you couldn't see the mountains either...

I went into town to the pharmacy, post office, and grocery store. Not many people out. Everyone hating this smoke.

Interesting.....

In total twelve people have walked on the Moon. Besides Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin – who were the first two astronauts to leave their boot prints on the Moon — there were also Pete Conrad, Alan Bean, Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, David Scott, James Irwin, John Young, Charles Duke, Eugene Cernan, and Harrison Schmitt. Only four of the 12 Apollo moonwalkers still alive today. Still living are Apollo 17's Harrison "Jack" Schmitt; Apollo 11's Buzz Aldrin; Apollo 15's David Scott; and Apollo 16's Charles Duke. All of the men are now in their 80s.

Picture of the Day

Cheesy Baked Chicken Macaroni & Cheese

This twist on traditional baked macaroni and cheese gets its main dish appeal from the addition of chopped cooked rotisserie chicken. It's a great all-in-one weeknight meal. Pick up a rotisserie cooked chicken from the store.... makes this so easy!

 

• 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 (10-3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
• 1 (2-ounce) jar diced pimiento, undrained
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups chopped cooked rotisserie chicken
• 1/2 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs

1. Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions; drain.
    
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Stir together pasta, cheese, and next 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Spoon into a lightly greased 7- x 11-inch baking dish.
    
3. Bake 15 minutes. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs; bake an additional 10 minutes or until golden.

Historically this date........

1498 – On his third voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to discover the island of Trinidad.

1790 – The first U.S. patent is issued, to inventor Samuel Hopkins for a potash process.

1941 – Holocaust: under instructions from Adolf Hitler, Nazi official Hermann Göring, orders SS General Reinhard Heydrich to "submit to me as soon as possible a general plan of the administrative material and financial measures necessary for carrying out the desired final solution of the Jewish question."

1964 – Ranger program: Ranger 7 sends back the first close-up photographs of the moon, with images 1,000 times clearer than anything ever seen from earth-bound telescopes.

2007 – Operation Banner, the presence of the British Army in Northern Ireland, and the longest-running British Army operation ever, comes to an end.

2012 – Michael Phelps breaks the record set in 1964 by Larisa Latynina for the most medals won at the Olympics.

And births this date include....

1929 – Don Murray, American actor

1932 – Ted Cassidy, American actor (d. 1979)

1939 – France Nuyen, French actress

1965 – J. K. Rowling, British writer

Later it was 

           

   and    

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo 

Ripe for the picking, add this delicious superfruit to your menu to join in National Avocado Day on July 31!

Guacamole is grand, but don’t settle for just the chips and dip on this food holiday.  Clear the table for everything from the appetizer and main dish all the way to dessert.  On National Avocado Day, this tree grown fruit has them all covered!

Avocados have become more than a staple food in the American diet; they have proven to be a key ingredient in recipes for both inside the body and on the body! According to the Hass Avocado Board, as of 2015, avocado consumption in the United States doubled since 2005 and quadrupled since 2000. In fact, a whopping 4.25 billion avocados were sold in the U.S. in 2015. That’s four point two five billion of this amazingly beautiful food.

Super Food

There are many reasons to celebrate National Avocado Day. Targeting insulin resistance with heart-healthy fats and fighting Alzheimer’s with its Omega 3 fatty acids, the avocado also prevents and repairs damage due to its source of Vitamins C, E and K.

One of the secret weapons in an avocado is the high oleic acid content. This moisturizing fatty acid helps keep skin soft and hydrated but also supports regeneration of damaged skin cells reducing redness and irritation. Eat more of this superfruit or cook with avocado oil if you have this type of skin issue.

Beauty

Ancient Aztecs used the avocado to beautify their skin topically with masks, and in the early 20th century the cosmetic industry discovered the benefits of its oil in creams, lotions, facial cleansers and other products that required a smooth application. The practice continues today.

Avocados have found their way into every meal of the day and even into dessert.  The creamy texture replaces calorie-laden oils with healthful fats so we can indulge without the guilt.  What better way to celebrate National Avocado Day than to indulge a little?

HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy an avocado and try a new recipe. 

Avocado Cupcakes from Will Cook for Smiles
Avocado Brownies from Jody Duits on Buzzfeed