.... shared on FB by friend Phil Santisteven (LASD ret.)...
as I was doing some yard work across from them" 
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Alaska (/əˈlæskə/, officially the State of Alaska, is a state in the United States. It is in the Northwest corner of the continent of the United States West Coast. Alaska does not touch other US states. It has borders with Canada, the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Bering Sea, and the Bering Strait.
Alaska is the biggest state in the United States. It is the 3rd least populated state. It has the lowest population density of all the states. About half of the population of Alaska lives in the Anchorage metropolitan area. As of the 2011 census, 722,718 people live in Alaska.
The United States bought Alaska from Russia on March 30, 1867. This was called the Alaska Purchase. It cost $7.2 million. Today, that would be $120 million. The price was about $0.02 per acre. Alaska became an organized (or incorporated) territory on May 11, 1912. It became the 49th state on January 3, 1959.
The name Alaska comes from the Aleut word alaxsaq. This means "the mainland" or "the object towards which the action of the sea is directed." The land is also called Alyeska, which is another Aleut word that means "the great land." The Russian name was Аляска.
Alaska mainly exports seafood, primarily salmon, cod, Pollock and crab. The oil and gas industry is very important in the Alaskan economy. More than 80% of the state's revenues is from petroleum extraction.
The capital city is Juneau,
but the biggest city is Anchorage.
Alaska has many glaciers, some of which are can be seen from passing cruise ships. Some are coastal, and others are not by the ocean. It is a popular tourist destination, as there is a very rich culture along with beautiful scenery. There are many wild animals in Alaska. Some of them are the brown bear, the moose, and the wolf.
There are some important industries in Alaska, like oil, fishing, mining, and forestry. Oil is the biggest industry in Alaska. Most of the oil is very far north in the Alaskan arctic. A very long pipeline starts at the northern coast of Alaska and runs to the southern coast. It is over 800 miles (1,300 km) long. There were many gold rushes in Alaska.
Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States can be found in Southeast Alaska.
- State Motto: North to the Future
- Nicknames: "The Last Frontier" or "Land of the Midnight Sun" or "Seward's Icebox"
- State bird: Willow Ptarmigan, decided by the Territorial Legislature in 1955. It is a small (15–17 inches) Arctic grouse that lives among willows and on open tundra and muskeg. Feathers are brown in summer, changing to white in winter. The Willow Ptarmigan is common in much of Alaska.
- State dog: Alaskan Malamute, since 2010.
- State fish: King Salmon, since 1962.
- State flower: wild/native Forget-me-not, decided by the Territorial Legislature in 1917. It is a perennial that is found throughout Alaska, from Hyder to the Arctic Coast, and west to the Aleutians.
- State fossil: Woolly mammoth, since 1986.
- State gem: Jade, since 1968.
- State insect: Four-spot skimmer dragonfly, since 1995.
- State land mammal: Moose, since 1998.
- State marine mammal: Bowhead Whale, since 1983.
- State mineral: Gold, since 1968.
- State song: "Alaska's Flag"
- State sport: Dog Mushing, since 1972.
- State tree: Sitka Spruce, since 1962.
You won't need a passport for our Tuscan Chicken One Pot. The heavenly aroma and succulent taste will make you feel like you're sitting at sidewalk bistro in Tuscany. It's the marinara sauce and white wine that really takes this easy chicken dinner recipe to the next level. And one pot recipes are known for their easy clean up, so it really will seem like a vacation in your very own home!
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 1 (3- to 3-1/2-pound) chicken, cut into 8 pieces
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 green bell peppers, thinly sliced
- 1 large onion, cut in half then thinly sliced
- 1/2 pound fresh sliced mushrooms
- 1 large tomato, chopped
- 1 (7.75-ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
- 2 to 3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed from stems
- 1 (24-ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup white wine (optional)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- In a shallow dish, combine flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; mix well. Dip chicken into flour mixture, coating evenly.
- In a Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat, heat oil until hot. Add chicken and brown on all sides.
- Add remaining ingredients to chicken (including the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper), except for the heavy cream; mix well. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook 40 to 45 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink in center.
- Remove chicken to a serving bowl. Stir heavy cream into the sauce and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes or until warm, but not boiling. Spoon sauce over chicken and serve.
1924 – Sheila MacRae, singer & actress (d.2014)
1930 – John W. Young, American astronaut (d.2018)
1936 – Jim Henson, American puppeteer (d. 1990)
1941 – Linda McCartney, American singer and photographer (d. 1998)
On September 24th National Cherries Jubilee Day serves up a tasty dessert. Smitten with this simply elegant dessert, cherry lovers celebrate this sweet holiday with delight.
Auguste Escoffier receives the credit for the Cherries Jubilee recipe. Since he knew Queen Victoria’s fondness for cherries, Escoffier prepared the dish for one of her Jubilee celebrations. However, his original method didn’t include ice cream. Instead, the chef poached the cherries in a simple syrup and poured warm brandy over them. Then just before serving, dramatically set the alcohol aflame.
Later recipes added the liqueur Kirschwasser and ice cream.
The word jubilee means many things. However, in reference to the vibrant dessert featuring plump cherries, it means a celebration. As we all know, desserts often accompany celebrations. And cherries jubilee is no exception. The excitement associated with the grand presentation accentuated the event, too.
Escoffier had a knack for simplicity and elegance. He also created the Peach Melba in honor of Nellie Melba. The famous chef even named a macaron after Sarah Bernhardt. (Though there’s no day on the calendar for it, yet.)
HOW TO OBSERVE
Find a restaurant near you that serves cherries jubilee. As part of the celebration, order dessert first. Or, try making it yourself. Try this delicious Cherries Jubilee recipe. At the same time, be sure to share a photo of your masterpiece!
