Good 56º clear sunny morning.
Yesterday was the full moon. I hope everyone stayed safe. Also, we topped at 104º.
Picture of the Day... testing a bullet proof vest in 1923
Interesting
From a distance, the Great Banyan Tree in the Indian Botanic Garden appears to be a whole forest. It is only when you step into its shade that you see the connection of branches and realize it is one tree.
With a canopy that spreads over 155,000 square feet, the Great Banyan Tree is the widest tree in the world. From this span, more than 2,800 aerial prop roots descend down into the earth, appearing like individual trees. It’s the main draw of the botanical garden, and although no one knows its exact origin, it has been showing up in guidebooks since the 1800s.
It has taken over 250 years to reach this staggering size, and not without a few natural disasters that almost did in the whole giant arboreal wonder. In the 19th century, two cyclones hit the tree, breaking it open and exposing its main trunk which led to a damaging fungal attack. By 1925, the main trunk, which once measured over 50 feet wide, had to be removed. Yet as the sign at the tree states: “Interestingly enough, the tree now lives in perfect vigor without its main trunk.”
The average Walmart covers 105,000 square feet.
A soccer field is 100-120 yards X 60-80 yards: at the large end of the range, 360 ft X 240 ft equals 8640 square feet.
Floor area of the White House (total of 6 floors) is approximately 55,000 square feet.
From Mr. Food
If you love fajitas but you hate all the prep work that goes into making them, then you're going to enjoy our all-in-one shortcut that'll allow you to have ready-to-go fajitas whenever you want!
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 2 large onions, cut into 8 wedges each
- 1 large green bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch strips
- 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch strips
- 1 pound flank steak, cut into thin strips
- 2 tablespoons dry fajita seasoning
- 10 (7-inch) flour tortillas
- 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (1/2 pint) sour cream
- 1 cup salsa
- Preheat oven to 350 º. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons oil. Add onions and peppers and saute 10 to 12 minutes, or until onions are lightly browned; place in a large bowl and set aside.
- Heat remaining oil in the same skillet and add flank steak. Add fajita seasoning and saute 3 to 4 minutes. Return vegetables to skillet and cook 3 to 4 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Place 1/3 cup of the mixture into each tortilla and roll up; place seam-side down in prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese, then cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until heated through. Serve fajitas with sour cream and salsa.
**You can make these fajitas ahead of time. Just cover and refrigerate them after filling and rolling, then bake 20 to 25 minutes in a 350 degree oven before serving.
Historically this date....
1876 – Battle of the Little Bighorn and the death of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer
1950 – The Korean War begins with the invasion of South Korea by North Korea.
1996 – The Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia kills 19 U.S. servicemen.
2012 – The final steel beam of 4 World Trade Center is lifted into place in a ceremony.
And births this date include....
1925 – June Lockhart, American actress
1945 – Carly Simon, American singer-songwriter, actress, and author (Elephant's Memory)
1961 – Ricky Gervais, English comedian, actor, and writer
1963 – George Michael, English singer-songwriter, musician, producer, and actor (d. 2016)
All I know. Nuff said. Have a good Friday. Ciao.
xo Sue Mom Bobo
In the United States, National Catfish Day on June 25th each year celebrates the value of farm-raised catfish.
A diverse group of ray-finned fish, catfish are named for their prominent barbels, which resemble cat whiskers. These nocturnal swimmers don’t have any scales. Their smooth flesh makes it difficult for anglers to clean. In the United States, the most commonly eaten species of catfish are the channel catfish and blue catfish. They are also a good source of Vitamin D.
In 1986, catfish comprised the third-highest volume of finned fish consumed in the United States.
A favorite dish of many Americans, this fine finned fish can be prepared in many different ways. Traditionally, many catfish lovers coat the fish in cornmeal and fry it. While many people prepare only the filets when cooking fish, when it comes to catfish, others prefer the fish cooked whole. No matter the method, this tender whitefish comes delicately off the bone. Spices complement this freshwater fish, too. However, it is also delicious served with a milder touch. A little lemon and butter go a long way. Those who love it fried will eat the crispy tail right away to savor the crunch!
HOW TO OBSERVE
While baking and frying catfish may be the most common ways of enjoying this flavorful fish, they’re not the only way. Celebrate by discovering all-new recipes like soups, sandwiches, and appetizers. How about some catfish pasta dishes? If you’ve never tasted catfish before, #NationalCatfishDay encourages you to explore dishes bursting with flavor. Add a little catfish to your menu! We even offer several recipes for you to try, too!
NATIONAL CATFISH DAY HISTORY
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan designated June 25th as National Catfish Day by Presidential Proclamation after Congress called for the day to be established by Joint Resolution 178.
