Weather ~ Throw Back Thursday ~ Picture of the Day ~ 3000 Year Old Honey ~ Pull-Apart Cheese Bread ~ Oregon's Secretary of State Dennis Richardson ~ National Chocolate Souffle Day

 

Good 32º dark cloudy morning. Snow still lingering on the ground.

 

 

Happy Throw Back Thursday.... Jerry and I "dancing" at a LASD Chili Cook-off ... back in the 70's......

 

Picture of the Day...

 

 

 

 

Interesting about honey...........

 

 

Honey is something of an oddity, in that, unlike most foods, it doesn’t spoil over time. In fact, the oldest known sample of honey, found in an Ancient Egyptian tomb and dated to approximately 3000 years ago, was still perfectly edible.

Honey is magic. Besides its delicious taste, it's pretty much the only food that does not spoil while in an edible state. But why, exactly, doesn't honey go bad?

Honey has a lot of pretty incredible properties. It's been used and investigated for medicinal properties for a long time, especially as a treatment for open wounds. Herodotus reported that the Babylonians buried their dead in honey, and Alexander the Great may have been embalmed in a coffin full of honey.

Pots of honey dating back over 5000 years have been found in tombs in ancient Egypt and have been determined to be just as safe and edible as honey bought at the local grocery store. Because of its unique properties, being high in sugars which are naturally hygroscopic, very few bacteria and microorganisms can live in the resulting low-moisture environment. Further, honey has a high acidity with a pH between 3.26-4.48 which kills off any microorganisms trying to make their home in the honey.

The primary reason honey has such a low moisture content is thanks to its makers: bees. The flapping of their wings helps the moisture in the nectar evaporate. After they gather the nectar, the way bees get it into the honeycombs is by vomiting. As gross as it sounds, the chemical content of bees stomachs contains the enzyme glucose oxidase which remains in the nectar after it is regurgitated. The enzymes mix with the nectar to create gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide which is also excellent at preventing bacterial growth.

While honey does not spoil, it can crystalize over time. Crystalized honey is not spoiled and heating it slightly will dissolve the crystals and return the honey it its natural liquid state. Honey most quickly crystalizes at temperatures between 50-59 degrees F so avoid refrigerating to help prevent crystallizations.

Infants under a year old, whose gastro-intestinal tracks aren't fully developed, should never be given honey.

My maiden name being Laney, these are cousins who have their honey company....

https://laneyhoney.com/

You can order from them on line. They have some amazingly good honey!!! Picture above.

 

 

 

From Mr. Food....

Our Pull-Apart Cheese Bread is great for a movie night at home with some friends and family. That's 'cause this pull-apart bread is made with delicious and irresistible ingredients, like two kinds of melted cheese and yummy buttermilk biscuits. Just don't blame us if this recipe steals the show!

 

• 2 (16.3-ounce) packages refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
• 1 1/4 cups shredded Colby and Monterey Jack cheese blend
• 1 1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained

 

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Separate biscuit dough into 16 biscuits. Cut each biscuit into 6 pieces and place in a large bowl. Add cheeses and chilies; toss until well mixed. Place in baking dish.
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden and cooked through. Pull apart and serve.

**

When tossing the biscuits with cheeses, make sure to separate any biscuits that stick together. This will help make sure that there is cheesy deliciousness in every bite!

 

 

 

Historically this date............

1935 – DuPont scientist Wallace Carothers invents nylon

1954 – The first color television sets using the NTSC standard are offered for sale to the general public.

1991 – The first Gulf War ends.

1993 – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents raid the Branch Davidian church in Waco, Texas with a warrant to arrest the group's leader David Koresh. Four BATF agents and five Davidians die in the initial raid, starting a 51-day standoff.

1997 – An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 in Armenia and Azerbaijan kills around 1,100 people

1997 – An earthquake in northern Iran is responsible for about 3,000 deaths.

1997 – The North Hollywood shootout takes place, resulting in the injury of 19 people and the deaths of both perpetrators.

2001 – The Nisqually Earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale hits the Nisqually Valley and the Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia area of the U.S. state of Washington.

And births this date include....

1906 – Bugsy Siegel, American gangster (d. 1947)

 

1931 – Gavin MacLeod, American actor

 

1934 – Willie Bobo, American jazz percussionist (d. 1983)

........good thing I didn't marry him!! for more than one reason.

1940 – Mario Andretti, Italian-American race car driver

His winery in Napa makes awesome wine!!!

 

 

On Tuesday, February 26, at approximately 9:00pm, Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson’s courageous battle with brain cancer came to a close. Dennis passed away at his home surrounded by family and friends.

From his service in Vietnam as a combat helicopter pilot to his 30-year legal career and 19 years in public service, this father of nine and grandfather of 31 found great joy in serving and taking care of others.

I was privileged to get to know Dennis and Cathy. Super people!

I posted this in 2016...

Yesterday my friend Dennis Richardson was sworn in as Oregon Secretary of State. That office has been held by a Dem for the last 30 years! YEAH Dennis!!!

 

Dennis swearing in with his wife Cathy. Dennis was born in Los Angeles, grew up in Southeast LA, Viet Nam veteran, and has 9 children. Great guy!!! And his wife Cathy is a doll!!!

 

His birthday was July 30, 1949

Dennis and Cathy at one of our Jackson County Republican Women's Barbecues....

 

 

And.... last night there was a little color in the sky... for about 3 minutes!!

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo 

 

A delightfully delicious dessert is observed each year on February 28th as it is National Chocolate Souffle Day.

The word souffle is the past participle of the French verb souffler, which means “to blow up” or more loosely “puff up” which describes a souffle perfectly.  A souffle is a lightly baked cake made with egg yolks and beaten egg whites that are combined with other ingredients to make the dish either a savory main dish or a sweet dessert.

Two essential components make up every souffle.

1.  a French creme patisserie base/flavored cream sauce or puree

2.  egg whites beaten to a  soft peak meringue

A souffle gets its flavor from the base, and the egg whites provide the lift to puff it up.  A variety of cheeses, jams, fruits or chocolates can be baked into the base of the souffle.  Many souffle bakers like to puncture the top of the souffle after removing it from the oven. Then they pour mouth-watering sauces onto it, such as chocolate, vanilla or for a savory flavor cheese and herbs.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Take the challenge of a souffle and try one of these recipes:

Heavenly Chocolate Souffle CakeMexican Chocolate Souffle CakeFlourless Chocolate Souffle with Raspberry Cream

 

Snow! ~ Schwans Order ~ Picture of the Day ~ Law West of the Pecos ~ Shortcut Blueberry Muffins ~ Roads ~ National Kahlúa Day

 

Good 33º snow covered morning!

 

 

Yesterday we stayed cold (30ºs) and before noon it started snowing.

 

Then by mid day we had a LOT of snow......

 

 

My Schwans order came yesterday....

Chicken & Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo...

 

Roasted Turkey and Vegetables with Gravy....

single serve....

 

Family-Size Meat & Four Cheese Lasagna....

 

Chicken Florentine Skillet Meal....

 

Roasted Sweet Potatoes.......

 

 

 

 

Picture of the Day.....

 

 

 

Interesting about "law west of the Pecos" ....

 

Phantly Roy Bean, Jr. (c. 1825 – March 16, 1903) was an eccentric U.S. saloon-keeper and Justice of the Peace in Val Verde County, Texas, who called himself "The Law West of the Pecos". According to legend, Judge Roy Bean held court in his saloon along the Rio Grande on a desolate stretch of the Chihuahuan Desert of southwest Texas. After his death, Western films and books cast him as a hanging judge, although he is known to have sentenced only two men to hang, one of whom escaped.

In 1896, Bean organized a world championship boxing title bout between Bob Fitzsimmons and Peter Maher on an island in the Rio Grande because boxing matches were illegal in both Texas and Mexico. The fight, won by Fitzsimmons, lasted only 1 minute and 35 seconds, but the resulting sport reports spread Bean's fame throughout the United States.

As he aged, Bean spent much of his profits helping the poor of the area, and always made sure that the schoolhouse had free firewood in winter. He died peacefully in his bed on 16 March 1903, after a bout of heavy drinking in San Antonio. He and a son, Sam Bean (1874–1907), are interred at the Whitehead Memorial Museum in Del Rio.

 

 

From Mr. Food

Shortcut Blueberry Muffins

 

No need to "sing the blues" about not having enough time to bake yummy muffins from scratch! Find out how you can still whip up a batch in a snap with this delicious blueberry muffin recipe!

 

• 2 cups pancake and baking mix
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 3/4 cup fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) blueberries

 

1. Preheat oven to 400º. Coat 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray, or line muffin tin with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, stir together all ingredients except blueberries, just until moistened. Gently stir in blueberries. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.
3. Bake 13 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown.

 

 

 

Historically this date......

1951 – The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution, limiting Presidents to two terms, is ratified.

1964 – The government of Italy asks for help to keep the Leaning Tower of Pisa from toppling over.

1973 – The American Indian Movement occupies Wounded Knee, South Dakota.

2010 – An earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale strikes central parts of Chile leaving over 500 victims, and thousands injured. The quake triggered a tsunami which struck Hawaii shortly after.

 

 

 

And births this date include...

1930 – Joanne Woodward, American actress

 

1932 – Elizabeth Taylor, British-American actress (d.2011)

 

1934 – Van Williams, American actor (d.2016)

"Williams, the Green Hornet, said goodbye to Hollywood around 1970 and followed his interests into a job in the actual world of law enforcement, spending 25 years as a reserve officer with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and also working at the San Diego Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department."

 

1940 – Howard Hesseman, American actor

 

 

 

I was planning some shopping today, but I really don't want to be driving out there....

 

 

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

February 27th recognizes National Kahlúa Day.  This day was created as a day for those, over the age of 21, to enjoy this creamy, rich alcoholic liqueur.  To celebrate, you may want to use Kahlua, a coffee-flavored rum-based liquor, to flavor your ice cream or another dessert such as cheesecake or cake.  It also tastes great in coffee, hot chocolate, creamy cocktails, as a shot or on the rocks.

Pedro Domecq began producing Kahlúa in 1936. In 1994, the company merged with Allied Lyons forming Allied Domecq. In 2005, Allied Domecq was partially acquired by Pernod Ricard which merged with the Swedish Vin & Sprit (V & S Group) in March of 2008. 

Kahlúa is made from coffee and rum, so it does contain caffeine.  Kahlúa is found to be used in a few notable cocktails, including the following:

•  B-52
•  Baby Guinness
•  Black Russian
•  Mudslide
•  White Russian
•  Espresso Martini
•  Caribbean Mudslide

Rain ~ Snow ~ Mike/Jennifer ~ Picture of the Day ~ Utah City Names ~ Fully Loaded Baked Potato Soup ~ Mark Moran ~ National Pistachio Day

 

Good 32º cloudy/foggy morning. 

 

 

Since Sunday we've gotten 3" of rain. It came down in buckets yesterday. Talk about a wet dog and cat after going out to do their "thing" !!!!!

Our I-5 on-ramp had a stream...

Roads all over our state were closed due to super heavy snow and rock slides.

My road was beginning to look like a stream!

 

And a stream of water was coming down my pasture....

 

Then early afternoon the temps were 36º and the rain turned to snow. The flakes were the size of your hand!

 

 

That didn't last too long as the rain came back.

 

 

I talked to Jennifer yesterday morning. Mike was going into surgery and he wanted to see her before the surgery. She went to the hospital and was there all day. Mike's surgery was at 1:45pm and according to his daughter-in-law "he came through with flying colors"!! He was awake and communicating and appeared in a good mood. Thank you for all your prayers!!! 

 

 

 

 

Picture of the Day .... oops!

 

 

 

Utah City Names.........

Utah

 

I’m sorry, Utah. You are just a very boring state. What? You already knew that? Well, did you know that your towns have very boring names as well? You did? Well, okay then.

 

Gusher

Whence Gusher? Well, some developer – one Robert Wood, to be exact – thought for sure he would find himself some oil riches nearby. (He did not.)
Mr. Wood must have been rather ambitious. There are no less than 10 city blocks in Gusher, only four of which are occupied. Gusher is in the northeast part of the state.

 Birdseye
No, this place wasn’t named after a sack of frozen peas. 
In fact, it was named after the birdseye granite that was quarried nearby. And that stuff got its name because it has lots of little o’s scattered about it (which, I guess – if you’re a really imaginative person, that is – might – on a good day – remind you – somewhat – of the eyes of a bird … maybe).

 

Gunlock
Would you believe this is after some guy? No, silly, there isn’t a Mr. Gunlock out there. “Gunlock” was some dude’s nickname. Here, let this local plaque explain:

William Haynes (Gunlock) Hamblin, Born Oct. 28, 1830 Salem Ohio. Married Mary A., and Betsy Leavitt. Died May 8, 1872 at Clover Valley, Nevada from efforts of poison given to him before he could testify concerning a silver mine he had discovered and was selling.

He was the father of 17 children, and was given the nickname ‘Gunlock’ by George A. Smith, Apostle for whom he drove wagon across the plains. He also worked for him as a gunsmith. Gunlock, Utah was named in his honor.

He got his fame for his great marksmanship. At 50 paces, he shot the bottom from a pipe bowl without touching the rim. He won a $50.00 bet.

 

Ticaboo

Any town name that rhymes with “peekaboo” is a winner.

It means “friendly,” in Paiute, by the way. The town is actually named after a creek of the same name. 

 

 

Shivwits

“Way to go, Shivwits!” “Bernie is such a shivwits.” “You shivwits!”

Of course it’s Native American! In fact, it’s the name of a branch of the Paiutes. The word itself means “eastern people.” Alternate forms are Shi'-vwits, Sübü'ts, and Sebit – as well as the wonderfully evocative She-bits.

This town is way back down in the southwest corner of the state. Shivwits is a couple of buildings (and some ruins) strung out on Old Hwy. 91 just west of the major metropolis of Ivins (7,000 people).

 

Mexican Hat

Could someone please tell these folks they’re called “sombreros”?

So, there’s got to be a good story behind this one, right? Well, would you believe we can put this one down to “descriptive.” And if you don’t believe me, just look below. Wow!

We’re in the southeast for this one. This town of 260 is, once again, surrounded by lots of natural beauty. In particular, there is the Valley of the Gods, Gooseneck State Park, and – of course – the Big Sombrero itself.

 

And a few more........

• Orangeville, Snowville, Honeyville, Sugarville, Wellsville, Circleville, Orderville
•  Roy, Francis, Grover, Dutch John, Faust, Elmo, Hiawatha
• Ghost towns – Kiz, Fruita, Telegraph, Boston Terrace, Duncan’s Retreat, Dragon, Dividend, West Dip, Highland Boy, Consumers, Devil’s Slide

 

 

 

Here's another soup for this wintry weather.... Fully Loaded Baked Potato Soup by the Slow Roasted Italian....

 

" Baked Potato Soup is rich and creamy and has all your favorite potato fixin's cooked right inside this luscious soup. It comes fully loaded with cheese, bacon, and sour cream! This dinner is utterly life changing. This simple recipe is incredibly popular and you are going to love it! "

 

 

 

• 8 slices thick cut bacon 
• 1 onion, diced 
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 
• 5 cups chicken stock 
• 5 russet potatoes, baked, peeled and smashed 
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 2 cups half & half 
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated 
• 1 cup sour cream 
• salt & pepper to taste 

1. In a large heavy bottom pot (or Dutch oven), cook bacon until crisp; remove bacon from pan with a slotted spoon and place on a plate. Crumble bacon and set aside. 
2. Cook the onion in the bacon drippings until translucent; sprinkle in flour, stir and cook for one minute, stirring constantly. 
3. Gradually add chicken stock. Cook the soup, occasionally stirring until thickened and bubbly. Add in the smashed potatoes and bacon. Stir to combine. 
4. Add parsley and half & half; cook for 10 minutes. 
5. Add about a cup of hot soup to a small 4 cup bowl. Add sour cream stir to combine. This step will help the sour cream incorporate into the soup without getting lumpy (a great tip from one of our readers). Pour sour cream soup into the pot. Stir in cheese and taste. Add salt and pepper as desired.
6. Serve and enjoy!

DONNA'S NOTES

1. Half and half is a dairy product found in the US. It is made up of half cream and half milk. You can substitute accordingly or substitute with one of the other. All cream will make the soup richer, and all milk will make it lighter.
2. You can substitute 5-6 cups of smashed/mashed potatoes for the five baked potatoes.

 

 

 

Today is a special birthday, Mark Moran (Jackson Co FD ret. and close buddy of Mike Hannan and husband of the infamous Julie) is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!!

^With his lovely daughter Leah (who used to do my hair but now has a new profession) and his bride Julie.

 

 

 

Historically this date...........

1919 – President Woodrow Wilson signs an act of the U.S. Congress establishing most of the Grand Canyon as a United States National Park (see Grand Canyon National Park).

1987 – Iran-Contra affair: The Tower Commission rebukes President Ronald Reagan for not controlling his national security staff.

1993 – World Trade Center bombing: In New York City, a truck bomb parked below theNorth Tower of the World Trade Center explodes, killing 6 and injuring over a thousand.

 

And births this date include...

1829 – Levi Strauss, German-born clothing designer (d. 1902)

Jerry's "uniform" daily was a pair of Levis 501 jeans and a JC Penny white t-shirt and in the winter also his camouflage jacket. After he found out the Levis were being made in Mexico, he quit buying them and bought Prison Blues, "made on the inside to be worn on the outside" at the Oregon State Prison in Pendleton Oregon!!

 

 

1846 – William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, American frontiersman (d. 1917)

 

1852 – John Harvey Kellogg, American surgeon and advocate (d. 1943)

 

1887 – William Frawley, American actor (d. 1966)

 

1916 – Jackie Gleason, American actor, writer, composer and comedian (d. 1987)

 

1920 – Tony Randall, American actor (d. 2004)

 

1928 – Fats Domino, American musician (d.2017)

 

1953 – Michael Bolton, American singer

 

1958 – Susan J. Helms, American astronaut

 

 Everyone is breathing so much easier now that Mike had his surgery and is doing well. Sigh............  I can't wait to visit him. Unknown how long he will be in the hospital. 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

February 26th recognizes all things pistachio.  It’s National Pistachio Day!  It is a day that has been set aside for all pistachio lovers to eat their favorite nut all day long.  For those who do not eat pistachios, buy some and give them to someone who does.  Crack them open and eat them up or enjoy them in ice cream or your favorite pistachio dessert!

Pistachios arrived in the United States sometime in the 1880s, but they have been cultivated in the Middle East since Biblical times.

The pistachio tree grows to about 20 feet tall needing little or no rain and must have high heat.  In Iran, they claim they have pistachio trees still living that are 700 years old!  A new tree takes between 7 and 10 years to mature and bear fruit.

Pistachio Facts:

•  All pistachio shells are naturally beige in color.  Some companies dye nuts red or green if nuts are inferior or for consumer demand.
• California produces about 300 million pounds of pistachios each year, accounting for 98 percent of America’s production.
• Pistachio shells typically split naturally when ripe.
• The kernels are often eaten whole, either fresh or roasted and either salted or unsalted.
• In the Middle East, people call the pistachio the smiling nut.
• In China, people call the pistachio the happy nut.

Health Benefits

“Pistachios are an excellent source of vitamin B6, copper and manganese and a good source of protein, fiber, thiamine and phosphorus.  Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces (42.5g) per day of most nuts, such as pistachios, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”  US Food and Drug Administration, July 2003

A Great Thing To Do — Recycle the Pistachio Shells!

The empty pistachio shells are useful for recycling in several ways.  If unsalted, the shells need not be washed and dried before reuse, but washing is simple if that is not the case.  Practical uses include as a fire starter; kindling to be used with crumpled paper; to line the bottom of pots containing houseplants for drainage and retention of soil for up to two years; as a mulch for shrubs and plants that require acid soils, as a medium for orchids; and as an addition to a compost pile designed for wood items that take longer to decompose than leafy materials (it can take up to a year for pistachio shells to decompose unless soil is added to the mix).  Shells from salted pistachios can also be placed around the base of plants to deter slugs and snails.  Many craft uses for the shells include holiday tree ornaments, jewelry, mosaics and rattles.  Research indicates that pistachio shells may be helpful in cleaning up pollution created by mercury emissions. 

HOW TO OBSERVE

Have a pistachio.  Have a bunch of pistachios.  

Try a pistachio recipe or two:

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

Pistachio Lemon Truffles