Weather ~ Bought This House/Jerry ~ Picture of the Day ~ Mockingbirds ~ Simple Shredded Potato Pancakes ~ National Eat a Red Apple Day

 

 

Good 43º dark foggy morning. 

 

Yesterday the fog stayed and we topped at 49º. 

 

 

On this day in 1997 Jerry and I bought this Oregon house.

We moved from Temple City in 1998... Jerry almost immediately bought this 1940 John Deere tractor...

 

 

Picture of the Day...Design failure!

 

 

 

 

Interesting about Mockingbirds....

 

 

Mockingbirds are a group of 'New World passerine' birds from the family 'Mimidae'. They are best known for the habit of some species mimicking the songs of other birds and the sounds of insects and amphibians, often loudly and in rapid succession.

The only mockingbird commonly found in North America is the northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). The Greek word polyglottos means 'multiple languages'. Mockingbirds are known for singing late at night, even past midnight.

Although some birds learn their species’ song during their first year of life, others, including mockingbirds, continue adding to their repertoire as they grow older. Northern Mockingbirds can learn as many as 200 songs, and often mimic sounds in their environment including other birds, car alarms, and creaky gates. One theory is that if a female prefers males who sing more songs, a male can top his rivals by quickly adding to his repertoire some of the sounds around him.

Possessing a diverse assortment of songs may indicate he is an older male with proven longevity and survival skills–good traits to pass on to offspring. An older male may also be more experienced in raising young or may have access to better resources. According to one study on the Edwards Plateau in Texas in the U.S., mockingbirds with the largest repertoires have the best territories, laden with foods such as insects, wild grapes, and persimmons.

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

Potato pancakes are a symbolic and scrumptious treat commonly made for Hanukkah. Not only are they super crispy and really tasty, but thanks to the pre-shredded potatoes you can find at your favorite supermarket, these Simple Shredded Potato Pancakes are, well, simple to make!  And, even if you don't celebrate Hanukkah, these easy potato pancakes make a delicious side dish for breakfast or dinner any day of the week! It's a crispy, full-of-flavor way to satisfy your taste buds!

 

• 1 (20-ounce) bag refrigerated shredded potatoes
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup vegetable oil

1. In a large bowl, combine potatoes, onion, and egg; mix well. Add flour, salt, and pepper; mix until well combined.
2. Measure out about a heaping 1/4 cup of potato mixture and form it into a patty. (Yes, it’s ok to use your hands for this.) Continue to form patties with remaining potato mixture.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil until hot, but not smoking. In batches, place potato pancakes into oil and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side or until golden on both sides. Drain on a paper towel-lined platter; serve warm.

 

***If you prefer to shred fresh potatoes, you’ll need about 3-1/2 cups. You may have to add a bit more or less flour to the mixture based on the moisture content of your potatoes. We suggest cooking one pancake and tasting it to make sure the mixture is perfect before cooking them all. If it’s too thick, add a tablespoon or so of water, too thin, add more flour.

 

 

 

Historically this date.....

1824 – United States presidential election, 1824: Since no candidate received a majority of the total electoral college votes in the election, the United States House of Representatives is given the task of deciding the winner in accordance with the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

1885 – First serving of the soft drink Dr Pepper at a drug store in Waco, Texas (United States).

1952 – The New York Daily News reports the news of Christine Jorgenson, the first notable case of sexual reassignment surgery.

1969 – Vietnam War: The first draft lottery in the United States is held since World War II.

2001 – Captain Bill Compton brings Trans World Airlines Flight 220, an MD-83, into St. Louis International Airport bringing to an end 76 years of TWA operations following TWA's purchase by American Airlines.

And births this date include....

1913 – Mary Martin, American actor and singer (d. 1990)

1933 – Lou Rawls, American singer (d. 2006)

 

1935 – Woody Allen, American film director, actor, and comedian

1939 – Lee Trevino, American golfer

1940 – Richard Pryor, American comic and actor (d. 2005)

 

Raised in a brothel run by his grandmother where his mother was a prostitute beaten by his ne'er-do-well father; a victim of sexual molestation at age six; abandoned by his mother at age ten; a high school drop-out by 14; a father himself by 17... 6 wives, 7 children. Pryor set himself on fire after freebasing cocaine while drinking 151-proof rum. The man was a mess! Heart attack and multiple sclerosis.

1945 – Bette Midler, American actress and singer

1951 – Treat Williams, American actor

 

 

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Have a good Wednesday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

On December 1, National Eat a Red Apple Day encourages everyone to eat a red apple. As the adage goes, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” and today is a perfect time to put that theory to taste.

An apple is both delicious and nutritious. With over 7,500 varieties of apples and over 7.5% of the world’s production coming from the USA, apples are widely available.

When it comes to a difference in health benefits between red and green apples, it’s a close call. Both have their advantages. Green apples beat the red apple slightly in fiber content. They also have less sugar and carbohydrates. However, red apples tend to taste better eaten fresh. They’re already naturally sweet and don’t require added sugar. The red apple slightly edges out the green in antioxidants.

Most green apples are reserved for baking and preserves. Since most green apples are tart, the added sugar in recipes brings about a better flavor for eating.

HOW TO OBSERVE 

Sink your teeth into a delicious and juicy red apple. This time of year, apples of all kinds are plentiful. Pick up several and give a few to friends to enjoy, too. They make great snacks with a slice of cheddar cheese or with a small cup of yogurt, too. Sprinkle them with a little cinnamon.