Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Coffee Makers ~ 30-Minute Beef Stroganoff ~ National Bird Day

  

Good 43º morning. 

 

 

Yesterday we had a lot of high winds in the afternoon and we topped at 58º.

 

 

Picture of the Day...perfect timing

 

 

Interesting about coffee makers........

A coffeemaker, coffee maker or coffee machine is a cooking appliance used to brew coffee. While there are many different types of coffeemakers the two most common brewing principles use gravity or pressure to move hot water through coffee grounds. In the most common devices, coffee grounds are placed into a paper or metal filter inside a funnel, which is set over a glass or ceramic coffee pot, a cooking pot in the kettle family. Cold water is poured into a separate chamber, which is then boiled and directed into the funnel and allowed to drip through the grounds under gravity. This is also called automatic drip-brew. Coffee makers that use pressure to force water through the coffee grounds are called espresso makers, and they produce espresso coffee.

 

Types

Vacuum brewers

Main article: Vacuum coffee maker

On August 27, 1930, Inez H. Peirce of Chicago, Illinois, filed her patent for the first vacuum coffee maker that truly automated the vacuum brewing process, while eliminating the need for a stovetop burner or liquid fuels.

Cafetiere

A cafetiere (coffee plunger, French press in US English) requires coffee of a coarser grind than does a drip brew coffee filter, as finer grounds will seep through the press filter and into the coffee.

Because the coffee grounds remain in direct contact with the brewing water and the grounds are filtered from the water via a mesh instead of a paper filter, coffee brewed with the cafetiere captures more of the coffee's flavor and essential oils, which would become trapped in a traditional drip brew machine's paper filters. As with drip-brewed coffee, cafetiere coffee can be brewed to any strength by adjusting the amount of ground coffee which is brewed. If the used grounds remain in the drink after brewing, French pressed coffee left to stand can become "bitter", though this is an effect that many users of cafetiere consider beneficial. For a 1⁄2-litre (0.11 imp gal; 0.13 US gal) cafetiere, the contents are considered spoiled, by some reports, after around 20 minutes.

Single-serve coffeemaker

The single-serve or single-cup coffeemaker had gained popularity by the 2000s.

 

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

Easy, beefy, and hearty? This 30-Minute Beef Stroganoff will have you in-and-out of the kitchen in a flash, leaving you more time to sit down and enjoy this stick-to-your-ribs favorite!

 

 

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless beef top sirloin steak, thinly sliced across the grain
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, cut into 1/2-inch slices
• 2 (12-ounce) jars beef gravy
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 pound wide egg noodles, cooked according to package directions

 

1. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add steak, onion, salt, and pepper, and cook 5 to 7 minutes or until steak is browned, stirring occasionally.
2. Add mushrooms and cook 4 to 5 minutes or until tender.
3. Reduce heat to low, stir in gravy, and simmer 10 minutes or until heated through. Stir in sour cream, and cook 1 to 2 minutes. Serve over warm noodles.

 

 

 

Historically this date......

1759 – George Washington marries Martha Dandridge Custis.

 

1846 – The United States House of Representatives votes to stop sharing the Oregon Territory with the United Kingdom.

 

1933 – Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge begins in San Francisco Bay.

 

And births this date include...

1855 – King Camp Gillette, American inventor (d. 1932)

 

 

1914 – George Reeves, American actor (d. 1959)

 

1917 – Jane Wyman, American actress (d. 2007)

 

 

 

1931 – Robert Duvall, American actor

 

1946 – Diane Keaton, American actress

A Santa Ana High School graduate who used to babysit my nieces and nephew.

 

 

1975 – Bradley Cooper, American actor

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Nature lovers, bird lovers, and bird watchers across the country annually recognize National Bird Day on January 5th. It’s also one of several designated holidays celebrating birds.

Born Free USA emphasizes the importance of National Bird Day and lists it as a day to shine a spotlight on issues critical to the protection and survival of birds, both captive and wild.

According to Born Free USA, nearly 12 percent of the world’s almost 10,000 bird species are in danger of extinction.

Join over half a million avian admirers celebrate National Bird Day through a bevy of activities.

• bird-watching
• studying birds
• educating others
• other bird-related activities
• A particularly important National Bird Day activity is bird adoption.  According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper article, many bird enthusiasts celebrate by adopting birds on this day and educating future bird owners about the special issues involved with taking care of birds, including the “proper care, cleanup, noise and biting, feeding, diet and their need for daily interaction.”

There are approximately 10,000 species of birds.

HOW TO OBSERVE

There are several ways to celebrate this day.

• Pick up a bird identification book. It will help you to learn about species in your area and identify those frequenting your bird feeders.
• Enhance the attraction of your backyard. Add feeders, shelter and more. Learn what birds in your area like to eat and watch them flock to your sanctuary.
• Donate to a bird sanctuary or aviary dedicated to improving the survival of endangered birds.
• While you’re learning about all the amazing species, visit an aviary. A botanical garden, zoo, or conservation area may offer close up viewing of some of the more exotic species you’ve never seen before.

NATIONAL BIRD DAY HISTORY

In 2002, Born Free USA in coordination with the Avian Welfare Coalition launched the first annual National Bird Day to promote avian awareness.