Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Fortune Cookies ~ Slow Cooker Shortcut Chicken and Dumplings ~ National Hairstylist Appreciation Day

  

Good 50º raining morning. 

 

 

Yesterday was cloudy and sunny and we topped at 70º.

 

 

Picture of the Day... perfect timing!

 

 

 

 

Interesting about the fortune cookie....

 

A fortune cookie is a crisp and sugary cookie usually made from flour, sugar, vanilla, and sesame seed oil with a piece of paper inside, a "fortune", usually an aphorism, or a vague prophecy. The message inside may also include a Chinese phrase with translation and/or a list of lucky numbers used by some as lottery numbers. Fortune cookies are often served as a dessert in Chinese restaurants in the United States, Canada and other countries, but they are not Chinese in origin. The exact origin of fortune cookies is unclear, though various immigrant groups in California claim to have popularized them in the early 20th century. They most likely originated from cookies made by Japanese immigrants to the United States in the late 19th or early 20th century. The Japanese version did not have the Chinese lucky numbers and was eaten with tea.

 

As far back as the 19th century, a cookie very similar in appearance to the modern fortune cookie was made in Kyoto, Japan; and there is a Japanese temple tradition of random fortunes, called omikuji. The Japanese version of the cookie differs in several ways: they are a little bit larger; are made of darker dough; and their batter contains sesame and miso rather than vanilla and butter. They contain a fortune; however, the small slip of paper was wedged into the bend of the cookie rather than placed inside the hollow portion. This kind of cookie is called tsujiura senbei and is still sold in some regions of Japan, especially in Kanazawa, Ishikawa. It is also sold in the neighborhood of Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine in Kyoto.

 

Makoto Hagiwara of Golden Gate Park's Japanese Tea Garden 

in San Francisco is reported to have been the first person in the U.S. to have served the modern version of the cookie when he did so at the tea garden in the 1890s or early 1900s. The fortune cookies were made by a San Francisco bakery, Benkyodo.

David Jung, founder of the Hong Kong Noodle Company in Los Angeles, has made a competing claim that he invented the cookie in 1918. San Francisco's Court of Historical Review attempted to settle the dispute in 1983. During the proceedings, a fortune cookie was introduced as a piece of evidence with a message reading, "S.F. Judge who rules for L.A. Not Very Smart Cookie". A federal judge of the Court of Historical Review, from San Francisco themselves, determined that the cookie originated with Hagiwara and the court ruled in favor of San Francisco. Subsequently, the city of Los Angeles condemned the decision.

 

Seiichi Kito, the founder of Fugetsu-do of Little Tokyo in Los Angeles

, also claims to have invented the cookie. Kito claims to have gotten the idea of putting a message in a cookie from Omikuji (fortune slip) which are sold at temples and shrines in Japan. According to his story, he sold his cookies to Chinese restaurants where they were greeted with much enthusiasm in both the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas, before spreading.

 

^{There are approximately 3 billion fortune cookies made each year globally, the majority of them consumed in the US. The largest manufacturer of the cookies is Wonton Food, Inc., headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. They make over 4.5 million fortune cookies per day. Other large manufacturers are Baily International in the Midwest and Peking Noodle in Los Angeles. There are other smaller, local manufacturers including Tsue Chong Co. in Seattle, Keefer Court Food in Minneapolis, Sunrise Fortune Cookie in Philadelphia, and Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory in San Francisco. Many smaller companies will also sell custom fortunes.}

 

 

 

 

 

I posted this a couple of years ago....

 

From Mr. Food

 

 

Slow Cooker Shortcut Chicken and Dumplings....

Cure your comfort food cravings with our Shortcut Chicken 'n' Dumplings recipe! Thanks to shortcut ingredients, we can put together a creamy dinner full of savory chicken, veggies, and plump dumplings in hardly any time at all! It'll really hit the spot!

 

• 2 cups pulled rotisserie chicken
• 2 (10-3/4-ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 (16.3-ounce) can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits, quartered (8 biscuits)

 

1. In a 4-quart or larger slow cooker, mix all ingredients except biscuits. Gently fold in biscuit pieces.
2. Cover and cook on LOW 4 hours or on HIGH 2 hours, or until biscuits are firm; serve immediately.

 

• What makes this recipe so easy is that we can take advantage of so many of our market shortcuts. The chicken is pre-cooked, the frozen veggies are farm-fresh, cleaned, and cut, and the refrigerated biscuit dough is ready to just add. 
   

 

 

 

 

 

Historically this date.....

1789 – On the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City, George Washington takes the oath of office to become the first elected President of the United States.

1803 – Louisiana Purchase: The United States purchases the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million, more than doubling the size of the young nation.

1812 – The Territory of Orleans becomes the 18th U.S. state under the name Louisiana.

1900 – Casey Jones dies in a train wreck in Vaughn, Mississippi, while trying to make up time on the Cannonball Express.

1927 – Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford become the first celebrities to leave their footprints in concrete at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

 

1945 – World War II: Führerbunker: Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun commit suicide after being married for one day. Soviet soldiers raise the Victory Banner over the Reichstag building.

1947 – In Nevada, the Boulder Dam is renamed Hoover Dam a second time.

2009 – Chrysler files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

And births this date include....

1877 – Alice B. Toklas, American companion of Gertrude Stein (d. 1967)

... a very interesting read!

1908 – Eve Arden, American actress (d. 1990)

1926 – Cloris Leachman, American actress (d.2021)

1933 – Willie Nelson, American musician

Busy life, wives/children/marijuana.....

1938 – Gary Collins, American actor (d.2012)

.... the boy has racked up quite a few of mug shots over the years for DUI and dine and dash....

1943 – Bobby Vee, American singer (d.2016)

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 Each year on April 30th, National Hairstylist Appreciation Day honors hairstylists everywhere who make artful hairstyles possible. A talented hairstylist will not only make you look good but also make you feel good. This day also celebrates the uniqueness of all styles of hair.

Hairstylists receive training that gives them experience with a variety of textures, styles, and colors. No matter your style, your hairstylist knows the latest cuts and fashions to make your favorite looks come true. They also know how to keep your hair healthy and manageable, too. Whether you like it short, piled high, or sassy, stylists spend their days honing their skills so you look your best.

You know it’s time to make an appointment when this holiday comes around! Make the call and let your hairstylist know how much they are appreciated.

HOW TO OBSERVE

We know how much you love your stylist! They make you feel amazing with each transformation. Celebrate your hairstylist by thanking them for their kindness or lending ear. Their morale-boosting, confidence-building and self-esteem-building talents allow us to look our best. 

 

Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Basketball History ~ Fiesta Pull-Apart Bread ~ National Arbor Day

  

Good 39º cloudy morning. 

 

 

Yesterday we had some rain and topped at 60º.

 

 

Picture of the Day... This is interesting... how to make someone look like they are floating....

 

 

 

Interesting about basketball history....

In December 1891, James Naismith, a Canadian professor of physical education and instructor at the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School (now Springfield College) in Springfield, Massachusetts, was trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. He sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students occupied and at proper levels of fitness during the long New England winters. After rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he invented a new game in which players would pass a ball to teammates and try to score points by tossing the ball into a basket mounted on a wall. Naismith wrote the basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto an elevated track.

 

Naismith initially set up the peach basket with its bottom intact, which meant that the ball had to be retrieved manually after each "basket" or point scored. This quickly proved tedious, so Naismith removed the bottom of the basket to allow the balls to be poked out with a long dowel after each scored basket.

 

 

Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. These round balls from "association football" were made, at the time, with a set of laces to close off the hole needed for inserting the inflatable bladder after the other sewn-together segments of the ball's cover had been flipped outside-in. These laces could cause bounce passes and dribbling to be unpredictable. Eventually a lace-free ball construction method was invented, and this change to the game was endorsed by Naismith. (Whereas in American football, the lace construction proved to be advantageous for gripping and remains to this day.) The first balls made specifically for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use. Dribbling was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by the asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling was common by 1896, with a rule against the double dribble by 1898.

 

^{To read a whole lot more about basketball history, go here:}

^{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball}

 

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

We've got a pull-apart bread that's got a tasty twist, and it pairs perfectly with an ice cold margarita! Our Fiesta Pull-Apart Bread has a flavorful combo of cream cheese, taco seasoning, and green chilies that will have your taste buds dancing in delight! It's a perfect treat for celebrations, and easy enough to make anytime you want it.

 

• 1 round loaf hearty white or sourdough bread, unsliced
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
• 1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained well
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 cups Mexican cheese blend
• Queso cotija cheese for sprinkling (see note)

 

1. Preheat oven to 375º. Tear a piece of aluminum foil large enough to loosely wrap the whole bread.
2. Using a serrated knife, make a series of parallel cuts in the bread about 1-inch apart and about 2-inches deep. Then rotate the bread and cut it in the opposite direction until you end up with a crisscross pattern (see photo). Place the bread on the foil, and set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients except queso cotija cheese; mix well. Evenly spread cream cheese mixture into all the bread cuts, being careful not to break the bread apart. If you get some of the cheese filling on the crust, wipe it off with a paper towel. Wrap the bread loosely in foil.
4. Place the wrapped loaf on a baking sheet and bake 15 minutes, then uncover it and continue to bake 10 to 15 minutes or until the cream cheese is melted. Sprinkle with cotija cheese and serve warm.

*****Not sure what cotija cheese is? Cotija is a Hispanic-style cheese named after the town of Cotija in Mexico. This hard, crumbly cheese is usually made from cow's milk. It is similar to feta which can be a substitute in the rare case that you cannot find this at your local market.

 

 

 

Historically this date....

1945 – World War II – Fuehrerbunker: Adolf Hitler marries his longtime partner Eva Braun in a Berlin bunker and designates Admiral Karl Dönitz as his successor. Both Hitler and Braun will commit suicide the next day.

1945 – The Dachau concentration camp is liberated by United States troops.

1945 – The Italian commune of Fornovo di Taro is liberated from German forces by Brazilian forces.

1967 – After refusing induction into the United States Army the day before (citing religious reasons), Muhammad Ali is stripped of his boxing title.

1986 – A fire at the Central library of the City of Los Angeles Public Library damages or destroys 400,000 books and other items.

1992 – Los Angeles riots: Riots in Los Angeles, California, following the acquittal of police officers charged with excessive force in the beating of Rodney King. Over the next three days 53 people are killed and hundreds of buildings are destroyed.

2004 – Oldsmobile builds its final car ending 107 years of production.

2011 – Wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Kate Middleton.

 

And births this date include....

1917 – Celeste Holm, American actress (d.2012)

 

1951 – Dale Earnhardt, American race car driver (d. 2001)

 

1954 – Jerry Seinfeld, American comedian

 

1958 – Michelle Pfeiffer, American actress

 

1958 – Eve Plumb, American actress

 

1970 – Andre Agassi, American tennis player

 

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Trees afford us many pleasures. In the spring, their buds let us know warmer weather is on the way. Their summer leaves provide ample shade on a hot day. Have you ever joyfully jumped into a pile of crisp colorful leaves in the fall? And in the winter, tree branches offer shelter to wildlife for our viewing pleasure. Each year in April, National Arbor Day encourages us to celebrate and plant trees. The observance takes place each year on the last Friday in April.  

Trees are more than signals of the changing season. They provide vital protection for the Earth’s topsoil from erosion, oxygen, and homes for wildlife. Trees also are a renewable resource that provides a variety of materials for building, fuel, and office supplies. When we plant trees in our yard, we improve our enjoyment of our outdoor living spaces and our overall quality of life. 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

• Celebrate the day by planting a tree today.
• Join a tree-planting event near you or organize one in your community.
• Consider the trees you plant, too. While you may look for fast-growing trees so that you may enjoy the tree during your lifetime, planting a slower-growing tree is an investment in the future. Generations to come will enjoy the shade and beauty of the tree long after we’re gone. And leaving something as precious as a tree behind is quite an investment.

NATIONAL ARBOR DAY HISTORY

On April 10, 1872, journalist and newspaper editor J.Sterling Morton established Arbor Day in the state of Nebraska with hopes that it would spread across the country. This first celebration challenged the people of Nebraska to plant as many trees as they possibly could. Since the pioneers missed the trees and forests of the east, they answer the challenge by planting more than 1 million trees that very first year. 

To learn more about the history of National Arbor Day, visit the website at www.nationalarbordayfoundation.com.

Arbor Day FAQ

Q. What’s the difference between deciduous trees and coniferous trees?
A. The trees with broad leaves that change color with the seasons are deciduous trees. Coniferous trees have needs, not leaves and stay green all year long.

Q. Should I plant a fruit tree or a shade tree?
A. Choosing the right tree for your space is important. Will you benefit from the shade? Will you enjoy the fruit or the wildlife that eats it? Cost and hardiness also are a factor. Visit Arborday.org for a guide to choosing the right tree for you.