Frozen ~ Dark Clouds ~ Blue Sky ~ Rain Prediction ~ Omaha Steaks Order ~ Picture of the Day ~ Best Restaurants in the USA ~ Sue's Trip Advisor Posts ~ Loaded Potato Bites ~ National Date Nut Bread Day

Good 31º frozen foggy morning. 

Yesterday started out dark cloudy and high fog. In a bit we started to see blue sky.... and we warmed to 49º.

Rain coming and through Christmas...............

I had to make a run to Medford, and was soooo happy it wasn't pouring rain like Thursday.

While I was out running errands and shopping my Omaha Steaks order arrived..... marinated salmon filets (OH SO GOOD!!), sirloin steaks, and raspberry swirl cheesecake..... 

Picture of the Day... speaking of clouds......... wow!

The Best Restaurants in the USA  2018 (not one in Oregon! :o( ) Of course most of them are in NY!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Restaurants-cFineDining-g191

I have posted a number of travel places and restaurants on this site

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Profile/OregonSue?fid=5c938139-bae7-4dad-91a3-cf21aa2e4cdc

After you click on one of my reviews on the site and want to see more, click on the back button...........

These rich and creamy Loaded Potato Bites are everything you love about a loaded baked potato! What a super change of pace to team with your main dish favorites!

• 3 cups prepared mashed potatoes, warmed (see Note)
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup bacon bits
• 2 egg yolks, beaten

 

1. Preheat oven to 400º. Coat a large rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, cheese, scallions, and bacon bits. Using your hands, roll the mashed potato mixture into 1-inch balls. Flatten slightly and place on prepared baking sheet. Brush tops with egg yolk.
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve immediately.

 

Note...

You can used leftover mashed potatoes, make a new batch, or just use instant. Just remember to season them the way you like them!

Historically this date.......

1864 – Savannah, Georgia falls to General William Tecumseh Sherman, concluding his "March to the Sea".

1937 – The Lincoln Tunnel opens to traffic in New York

1944 – World War II: Battle of the Bulge – German troops demand the surrender of United States troops at Bastogne, Belgium, prompting the famous one word reply by General Anthony McAuliffe: "Nuts!"

1956 – Colo, the first gorilla to be bred in captivity, is born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio.

1963 – The cruise ship Lakonia burns 180 miles (290 km) north of Madeira, Portugal with the loss of 128 lives.

1964 – The first test flight of the SR-71 (Blackbird) took place at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.

2001 – Richard Reid attempts to destroy a passenger airliner by igniting explosives hidden in his shoes aboard American Airlines Flight 63.

And births this date include....

1912 – Lady Bird Johnson, First Lady of the United States (d. 2007)

1936 – Hector Elizondo, American actor

1945 – Diane Sawyer, American journalist

1948 – Steve Garvey, American baseball player

OMG.... "Mr. Clean" became Mr. LayMultipleWomenandHaveChildrenWithAllofThem!! What a story.

 

1949 – Maurice Gibb, English musician (The Bee Gees) (d. 2003)

1949 – Robin Gibb, English musician (The Bee Gees) (d.2012)

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National Date Nut Bread Day is observed each year on December 22 and by some sources also on September 8.

Dates

Believed to have originated around Iraq, dates have been a staple food of the Middle East and the Indus Valley for thousands of years. They have been cultivated since ancient times from Mesopotamia to prehistoric Egypt, possibly as early as 4000 BCE.

The Spaniards introduced dates into Mexico and California in 1765.

Dates provide essential nutrients and are an excellent source of dietary potassium.  In ripe dates, the sugar content is about 80% with the remainder consisting of protein, fiber and trace elements of boron, cobalt, copper, fluorine, magnesium, manganese, selenium and zinc.

Nuts

Many nuts are good sources of vitamins E and B2 and are also rich in protein, folate fiber and essential minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and selenium.

Several studies have shown that those who consume nuts on a regular basis are less likely to suffer from coronary heart disease. (CHD)  It was in 1993 that nuts were first linked to protections against CHD.   Since that time, many clinical trials have found that consumption of various nuts such as almonds and walnuts can lower serum LDL cholesterol concentrations.

When mixing up the batter for quick bread loaves, add dates and nuts and your National Date Nut Day celebration will be ready to go! 

HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy the following Date Nut Bread recipes.

Date Nut Spice BreadDate and Walnut Bread1947 Date Nut BreadOrange Date Nut Bread