Sun/Rain? ~ Picture of the Day ~ Magpies ~ One-Pot Taco Spaghetti ~ National Tortilla Chip Day

Good 27º clear sky frozen morning. 

Yesterday rain was predicted but then the clouds disappeared and we had blue sky and sunshine!! 

Then, before noon the dark clouds moved back in.....

Then we got some wild wind!! 

The sun and clouds altered all day and we never got the rain that was predicted. 

Picture of the Day ... just another one of those, perfectly timed!

Interesting about Magpies....

Magpies are birds of the crow family. The black and white Eurasian magpie is widely considered one of the most intelligent animals in the world and one of only a few non-mammal species able to recognize itself in a mirror test.

Magpies are generally found in temperate regions of Europe, Asia and western North America, with populations also present in Tibet and high elevation areas of India and Pakistan.

In East Asian culture, the magpie is a very popular kind of bird. It is a symbol of good luck and good fortune. The magpie is also a common subject in Chinese painting. It is also often found in traditional Chinese poetry and couplets.

In addition, in the folklore of China, all the magpies of the Qixi Festival every year will fly to the Tianhe River, set up a bridge, and the separated Cowherd and Weaver Girl will meet, so that in Chinese culture, the bridge often becomes a relationship between men and women.

The Korean magpie is a national bird and national symbol of Korea, sometimes referred to as the Asian magpie or Chinese magpie. Magpies have an important place in the birth myth of 'Ai Xinjue Luo Bukuri Yushun', the ancestor of the Qing Dynasty.

In European culture, the magpie is reputed to collect shiny objects, often in fiction things like wedding rings or other valuable or significant objects. Though recent research has shown that there is little truth in the legend, and that magpies are actually unsettled by shiny, blue, or otherwise unusual objects.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

One-Pot Taco Spaghetti ....

1 T. vegetable oil

1 pound lean ground beef

1 32oz carton beef broth

1 14.5oz can fire roasted crushed tomatoes

1 4.5oz can chopped green chilies

1/2 cup water

1 1oz pkg Old El Paso taco seasoning mix

12oz uncooked spaghetti (from 16oz box), broken in half

1 cup shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese

In a 5qt Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add beef, cook 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently, until no longer pink. Stir in broth, tomatoes, chilies, water, and taco seasoning.

Add spaghetti, heat to boiling. Reduce heat to simmer, cook uncovered 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently to keep the spaghetti from sticking, until pasta is tender. Top with cheese.

Serve with favorite toppings... green onions, cilantro, sour cream.

Historically this date....

1863 – Arizona is organized as a United States territory.

My aunt was born in 1907 in Cananea Mexico when my grandfather was working down there as a mining engineer. Later she could have said she was born in Arizona, since it was a Territory and they didn't start keeping birth records until 1912. But, she was honest and became a 'naturalized citizen' in later years, but did grow up in Arizona in Bisbee. My grandparents were still Scottish citizens, not American. He was a mining engineer for the Lavender Pitt copper mine in Bisbee after Pancho Villa's men told them they had to leave Mexico since they weren't citizens of Mexico.

1942 – The Battle of Los Angeles, one of the largest documented UFO sightings in history; the event lasted into the early hours of February 26, 1942. Interesting.

1968 – Vietnam War: The Tet Offensive is halted; South Vietnam recaptures Hué.

1980 – The United States Olympic Hockey team completes their Miracle on Ice by defeating Finland 4-2 to win the gold medal.

1989 – United Airlines Flight 811, bound for New Zealand from Honolulu, Hawaii, rips open during flight, sucking 9 passengers out of the business-class section.

And births this date include...

1921 – Abe Vigoda, American actor (d.2016)

1938 – James Farentino, American actor (d. 2012)

1940 – Pete Duel, American actor (d. 1971)

1941 – Joanie Sommers, American singer and actress

1955 – Steve Jobs, American computer pioneer (d. 2011)

1970 – Kienast quintuplets, American quintuplets

.......no public appearances in years, except for the following photo taken off the Oprah show ... The father committed suicide in the 80's.

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National Tortilla Chip Day, a day set aside for the crunchy snack loved by millions across the nation, is observed annually on February 24th.  

The tortilla chip is most commonly served with salsa, chile con queso, guacamole, cheese dips or other dips.  Tortilla chips are made from corn tortillas cut into wedges and then fried. The tortillas are made from corn, vegetable oil, salt, and water. Typically made with yellow corn, tortillas can also be made with white, blue or red corn.

Even though tortilla chips have always been considered to be a Mexican food, known as tostados, they were first mass-produced in Los Angeles in the late 1940s. It is said that the triangle-shaped tortilla chips were made popular by Rebecca Webb Carranza as a way to use the misshapen tortillas that were rejected from the automated tortilla manufacturing machine that she and her husband used at their Los Angeles deli and tortilla factory. 

Carranza realized that once the discarded tortillas were cut into triangle shapes and fried, they became a popular snack.  She then sold them for a dime a bag at the El Zarape Tortilla Factory.  Carranza received the Golden Tortilla Award in 1994 for her contribution to the Mexican food industry.

The United States is one of the primary markets for tortilla chips. 

Another favorite dish made with tortilla chips is nachos.  The dish was first created around 1943 by Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya. Nachos are tortilla chips served with melted or shredded cheese, and often additional toppings are added, such as meat, salsa, refried beans, tomatoes, diced onion, lettuce, olives, jalapenos, guacamole and sour cream.