Weather ~ Throw Back Thursday ~ Picture of the Day ~ World's Smallest Fox ~ Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad ~ Jim & Dawn Forbus ~ National Eggs Benedict Day

Good 35º clear sunny morning.  

Yesterday clouds started rolling in early....

and then it got dark and gloomy......

by the end of the afternoon we had some sun coming through the clouds and we warmed to 77º. 






Throw Back Thursday... Cary Grant and me 1981... when I worked for Fabergé and he was on our board of directors.... He was the nicest man you'd ever meet!!! 

Picture of the Day ....

Interesting

The Canidae (fox) family includes 14 genera and 34 species, according to the University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web. With such variety, it is easy to see why there are so many different sizes of dogs. According to the University of Edinburgh, the smallest canid is the Fennec fox. It is only 9.4 inches high and weighs only 2.2 lbs. , but its large ears, measuring 6 inches, appear to be on loan from a bigger relative... 

The fennec has a life span of up to 14 years in captivity. Its main predators are the African varieties of the eagle owl, jackals, and other large mammals. Families of fennecs dig out dens in the sand for habitation and protection, which can be as large as 1,292 sq ft and adjoin the dens of other families.

Precise population figures are not known but are estimated from the frequency of sightings; these indicate that the animal is currently not threatened by extinction.

Bacon Ranch Tortellini Salad from the Slow Roasted Italian

• 1 (15-ounce) bag cheese-filled tortellini pasta
• 16 ounces grape tomatoes, halved
• 2 bell peppers (1 orange and 1 yellow), cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 English cucumber, cut into spears and then sliced
• 1/2 medium red onion, rough dice
• 1 (4.25-ounce) can sliced black olives
• 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, cubed
• 1 cup bacon crumbles (1 pound cooked, cooled and crumbled)

 

Easy Ranch Dressing...

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons dry ranch salad dressing mix
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 cloves minced garlic (or 1 teaspoon garlic paste)
• 1 teaspoon course ground black pepper

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook tortellini according to directions on the package (do not add salt to the water). Drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, prepare the salad dressing: In a medium bowl whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, and milk. Add remaining dressing ingredients. Place in refrigerator until ready to dress the salad.
3. Combine tortellini 1/2 of salad dressing and toss to combine.
4. Add remaining salad ingredients in a large bowl, toss until combined. Reserve the remaining dressing.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.
5. When ready to serve, pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss with salad tongs until well coated.

DONNA'S NOTES

1. The salad is excellent the next day. When making ahead, use 1/2 of the dressing when preparing the salad and reserve the remaining dressing to pour over the salad before you serve.
2. It is important to not overcook your tortellini otherwise it will fall apart when tossed.
3. After pasta is rinsed and drained, immediately add it to a large bowl then toss it with half of the dressing to keep it from sticking.
4. If you prefer your salad more vegetable heavy, add 1 more orange pepper, 1 yellow pepper, 1 cucumber. Follow the instructions for the remaining steps.
5. For the cheese, I prefer to use sharp cheddar, cut into bite-size pieces. If prefer you can substitute any sliceable cheese.

Special 37th anniversary today, Jim and Dawn Forbus (Jim retired from Washoe Co. Sheriff's Dept and one of our "kids" from the days back at Temple Station and aka 'The Busses'!). HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KIDS!

Historically this date...

1818 – The United States Senate ratifies the Rush-Bagot Treaty, establishing the border with Canada.

1945 – More than 7,000 die when the German refugee ship Goya is sunk by a Soviet submarine torpedo.

Good Lord! 7,000!!!!!

1962 – Walter Cronkite takes over as the lead news anchor of the CBS Evening News, during which time he would become "the most trusted man in America".

1990 – The "Doctor of Death", Jack Kevorkian, participates in his first assisted suicide.

And births this date include...

1889 – Charlie Chaplin, English actor and filmmaker (d. 1977)

1924 – Henry Mancini, American composer (d. 1994)

1927 – Edie Adams, American actress (d. 2008)

1935 – Bobby Vinton, American singer

1947 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, American basketball player

I liked him as Lew Alcindor better!!!

1952 – Bill Belichick, PATRIOTS football coach

1954 – Ellen Barkin, American actress

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

On April 16th, National Eggs Benedict Day celebrates a long favored breakfast or brunch dish. Eggs Benedict consists of poached eggs with Hollandaise sauce and Canadian bacon or ham on English muffin halves.

There are two different stories as to how Eggs Benedict came to be.

• In 1894 stockbroker Lemuel Benedict ordered “buttered toast, poached eggs, crisp bacon, and a side of Hollandaise”  at the Waldorf Hotel. They were so impressed with the dish that they put it on the menu substituting ham and English muffins in place of the bacon and toast.
• In the early 18th century, Pope Benedict XIII liked an egg dish so much that he requested it time and time again. It is also believed that Pope Benedict XIII had an illness which added to his desire for this particular egg dish, hence the name Eggs Benedict.

Some restaurants serve their own versions of Eggs Benedict. Mix it up by substituting the ham for salmon or corned beef. Add sliced tomatoes or steamed asparagus. Replace the English muffin with thick, crusty toast or thin, crisp bagels. There are so many ways to be creative in the kitchen. The important elements with Eggs Benedict are properly poached eggs and a perfect hollandaise sauce. When the yolk and sauce blend with all the other ingredients, this meal is divine. 

HOW TO OBSERVE

Treat yourself to a delicious breakfast of Eggs Benedict at home. Learn how to poach the perfect egg. Then whip up a delicious hollandaise sauce, too. It’s one of The Seven Mother Sauces used in cooking. Find out more about the types of sauces used and how to make them. Try making the recipe below. 

Eggs Benedict