Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ World's Largest Spider ~ Enchilada Pasta Bake ~ National French Bread Day

Good 32º clear sky morning. 

Yesterday was another beautiful clear blue sky sunshine day....

We topped at 75º!!!

Picture of the Day ... shared by friend Steve Voors (LASD ret)...

Interesting.... the world's largest spider...

The Goliath birdeater belongs to the tarantula family "Theraphosidae". Found in northern South America, it is the largest spider in the world by mass and size, but it is second to the giant huntsman spider by leg span. It is also called the Goliath bird-eating spider; the practice of calling theraphosids "bird-eating" derives from an early 18th-century copper engraving by Maria Sibylla Merian that shows one eating a hummingbird. Despite the spider's name, it only rarely preys on birds.

Unlike other species of spider/tarantula, females do not eat the males during mating. Females mature in 3-6 years and have an average lifespan of 15 to 25 years. Males die soon after maturity and have a lifespan of 3-6 years. Colors range from dark to light brown with faint markings on the legs. Birdeaters have hair on their bodies, abdomens, and legs. The female lays 100 to 200 eggs, which hatch into spiderlings within 6-8 weeks.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org 

Enchilada Pasta Bake

1 1/2 cups medium pasta shells, uncooked

2 t. oil

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

1 1oz pkg Taco Bell Taco Seasoning Mix

1 14.5oz no salt added diced tomatoes, undrained

2 cups Oscar Mayer Flame Grilled Chicken Breast Strips

1 15.5 oz can no salt added black beans, rinsed

3 green onions thinly sliced, divided

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided

1 8oz pkg Mexican Style Shredded Four Cheese

Heat oven to 375º.

Cook pasta as directed.

Heat oil in large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add onions and peppers, cook 3-5 minutes, until crisp tender, stirring frequently. Stir in seasoning mix and tomatoes. Cook and stir 3 minutes. Add chicken, beans, and half of each green onions and cilantro. Mix well, remove from heat.

Drain pasta. Add chicken mixture. Mix lightly. Pour into 13x9 baking dish, top with cheese.

Bake 20-25 minutes, or until pasta mixture is heated through and cheese melted. Sprinkle with remaining green onions and cilantro.

**Serve topped with sour cream or salsa

Historically this date........

1857 – An earthquake in Tokyo, Japan kills over 100,000.

1928 – Charles Lindbergh is presented with the Medal of Honor for the first solo trans-Atlantic flight.

This man may have been brilliant but he was a sexual nut case! He was married only to Anne, having 6 children, but then was with Brigitte and had 3 children, with Marietta (sister of Brigitte!) he had 2 children, and with Valeska had 2 children. 13 children in all!

1935 – Shah Reza Pahlavi formally asks the international community to call Persia by its native name, Iran, which means 'Land of the Aryans.'

1965 – Martin Luther King, Jr. leads 3,200 people on the start of the third and finally successful civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

1980 – US President Jimmy Carter announces a United States boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan.

1999 – Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones become the first to circumnavigate the Earth in a hot air balloon.

And births this date include....

1910 – Julio Gallo, American vintner (d. 1993)

1946 – Timothy Dalton, British actor

1962 – Matthew Broderick, American actor

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National French Bread Day bakes up a delicious celebration enjoyed by millions across the United States each year on March 21st.

French bread, also known as a baguette, is a long thin loaf made from basic lean dough. Its length and its crisp crust define it. Over time, French law has established what is and what is not a baguette. In 1920, a labor law prevented bakers from starting their day before 4 a.m. Bread makers know that bread making is a tactile industry. The kneading and resting of the dough are just as important as the ingredients. When the law limited their day, the bakers knew their product so well they adjusted by re-shaping their loaves of bread. The long, narrow loaves baked more quickly and evenly. As a result, patrons found the new loaves more convenient for slicing and storing. 

These sturdy loaves make delicious sandwiches, but they also go well with any soup. Any leftover bread makes delicious French toast, too!

The French are known for their high standards where culinary arts are concerned. To preserve quality in their bread, laws were passed requiring minimum quantities of certain quality ingredients in each loaf of bread.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Spend some time in the kitchen and fill your home with the smell of homemade French bread. While the effort may be time-consuming, the results are worth it. We even have a French bread recipe to share with you. If the task seems a little daunting, be sure to visit your local bakery and pick up a loaf or two. Make some bruschetta or serve it with your favorite pasta dish.