Smoke/Fires ~ Kristen's Pups ~ Picture of the Day ~ Blue Whale ~ One Pot Jambalaya Pasta ~ My Mountain ~ National Wine & Cheese Day

 

Good 60º not as smokey morning. We topped at 103º yesterday and probably the same for today.

 

 

Yesterday was another stay in day because of the smoke. I did clean out a cupboard and got rid of a bunch of "stuff". Again because of the inversion layer, the smoke stayed down on the ground! 

 

 

Here is a pup that my daughter Kristen has taken in to foster. She was found on the street in So. LA. NOT a good neighborhood! Her age is unknown and she weighs 4 pounds. How she survived is amazing! Her name is Rosie.

 

This is Rosie with Rico.....

 

 

This is napping Jasper....

 

Kristen also fostered Rico and Jasper, and then she adopted them.

 

 

 

Picture of the Day

Apropos, considering what today's special day is....

 

Interesting ... Blue Whale:

 

At 98 feet in length and 180 metric tons or more in weight, the blue whale is the largest known animal to have ever existed. The Blue Whale’s tongue weighs around 5,952 pounds, about the size of an average Asian Elephant and its heart weighs about 1,300 pounds and is the largest known in any animal. Not only is the heart similar in size to a mini-cooper car, but it is also comparable in weight. By comparison, the largest known dinosaur of the Mesozoic Era was Argentinosaurus, which is estimated to have weighed up to about half the weight of the largest blue whales.

 

 

Helpful Tips to make One Pot Jambalaya Pasta:

• You can prep the ingredients in advance.
• Adapt the recipe to fit your taste by adding more cajun seasoning if you like even more spicy cajun flavor. Add an additional 2 ounces of cream cheese if you like it creamier. Or omit the cheese and sauce all together to make it dairy free. You can even substitute some tomato sauce for the cheese to add additional flavor.
• You can omit the shrimp, if desired. 
• This pasta tastes great (if not better) as leftovers so save some for later and reheat just prior to serving.

 

 

1/2 pound chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces

2 to 3 tablespoons Cajun seasoning

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup diced yellow onion

1 tablespoon minced garlic

6 ounces Andouille sausage

2 1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta

1 cup chicken broth

1 small red bell pepper, seeds removed and sliced into thin strips

1 small green bell pepper, seeds removed and sliced into thin strips

1 large tomato, chopped

1/2 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 ounces cream cheese

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Sliced chives, for garnish

 

 

 

1. Season chicken with one tablespoon Cajun seasoning; set aside.
2. In a 12” pan or skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and stir until soft, about 3 minutes. Add chicken to pan and cook until brown on both sides. Stir in garlic and sausage and cook one additional minute. Add uncooked pasta, chicken broth, sliced peppers, tomatoes and remaining Cajun seasoning. Stir then bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir, add shrimp to the pan, recover and simmer an additional 7 minutes. Uncover and cook until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 5 additional minutes. 
4. Remove from the heat, stir in the cream cheese and cheddar cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.
5. Garnish with chives and serve immediately.

 

 

 

Historically this date........

1866 – The United States Congress passes legislation authorizing the rank of General of the Army. Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant becomes the first to be promoted to this rank.

1868 – Wyoming becomes a United States territory.

 

1946 – At Club 500 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis stage their first show as a comedy team.

 

1956 – Forty-five miles south of Nantucket Island, the Italian ocean liner SS Andrea Doria collides with the MS Stockholm in heavyfog and sinks the next day, killing 51.

 

1978 – Louise Brown, the world's first "test tube baby" is born.

 

2010 – WikiLeaks publishes classified documents about the War in Afghanistan, one of the largest leaks in U.S. military history.

 

 

And births this date include.....

1894 – Walter Brennan, American actor and singer (d. 1974)

 

 

 

 

1915 – Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., American lieutenant and pilot (d. 1944)

 

 

1923 – Estelle Getty, American actress (d. 2008)

 

 

1967 – Matt LeBlanc, American actor and producer

 

 

 

Later last evening about 7:30 I looked out and I could see my mountain!!!  

 

And a little color in the sunset.....

 

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Happy Hump Day. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

On July 25, we celebrate the ultimate pairing, wine and cheese. National Wine and Cheese Day provides an opportunity to sample some of our favorites.

The pairing of wines and cheese has been a regionalized tradition.  Across wine-producing cultures, many pair their local wines with local cheeses. For example, the French Brie region noted for its tannic wine varietals. Their Beaujolais pairs well with the Brie produced in the area. That doesn’t stop a sommelier or cheesemonger from making other recommendations to their clientele.  

Although regional preferences may take precedence in distinct areas, don’t hesitate to accept a sommelier’s suggestion. Sommeliers understand a developing palate. Through experience and skill, they guide those new to wine tasting through the basics. In addition, sommeliers keep sophisticated wine lovers abridged of the latest varietals.

Equally important is the knowledge of the cheesemonger. They’ve developed a knowledge base going beyond mold and yeast. Because cheese is more than a topping on a burger or a salad, cheesemongers stay updated on the latest cooking and wine trends. Their highly developed palate leads cheese and wine lovers to the best pairings and satisfying results.

HOW TO OBSERVE:

National Wine and Cheese Day encourages us to try wines and cheese in combinations we’ve never tried before; we can step away from our ordinary bottle and learn something new. Sampling the complexities in sweetness and acidity and comparing them at a tasting makes for an enjoyable experience. When we add friends to the adventure, National Wine and Cheese Day becomes a celebration, too! Find a favorite wine and sample it with some of your favorite cheeses.  Post photos of your favorite pairings on social media.

 To learn more about Wine and Cheese pairing, visit Wine Folly :

https://winefolly.com/tutorial/6-tips-on-pairing-wine-and-cheese/

HISTORY

National Wine and Cheese Day has been observed since 2014.