Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Sami ~ Coffee Cups ~ Garden Quiche ~ National Anthem Day

  

Good 32º morning. Snow and rain predicted.

 

 

Yesterday it snowed again. We went from 32º to 45º.

 

 

Picture of the Day ...perfect timing😊

 

 

Yesterday Granddaughter Sami and family went to Eugene Oregon for a gymnastics competition. Sami did awesome, she got 1st place on the floor and 2nd place all around. Congratulations!!!

 

 

Interesting about coffee cups.........

 

A coffee cup is a container, a cup, for serving coffee and coffee-based drinks. There are three major types: conventional cups used with saucers, mugs used without saucers, and disposable cups. Cups and mugs generally have a handle. Disposable paper cups used for take-out sometimes have fold-out handles, but are more often used with an insulating coffee cup sleeve.

 

Coffee cups and mugs may be made of glazed ceramic, porcelain, plastic, glass, insulated or uninsulated metal, and other materials. In the past, coffee cups have also been made of bone, clay, and wood. Disposable coffee cups may be made out of paper or polystyrene foam (often mistakenly called Styrofoam).

History

Coffee cups, along with other coffee ware, originated in the Middle East. In the 17th century, coffee was consumed from small handle-less bowls, "Turkish cups". The cups were manufactured in Japan and China; the same cups were frequently intended for coffee and tea. In Europe, Meissen porcelain cups appeared around 1710, with large exports of "Turkish cups" to Turkey in the 1730s. These cups were tall due to the habit of drinking the liquid layer at the top, with the preparation sediment left at the bottom. As the drip coffee, invented in France in the 18th century, gained popularity, the need for tall cups disappeared, so the Sèvres porcelain signature cups were short.

 

The porcelain handles first appeared on the Meissen tall cups in the 1710s (some Oriental cups had handles, but these were made from silver). Handles became common by the 1730s.

Shapes and sizes

Espresso  

The Italian Espresso National Institute recommends serving espresso in a white china cup holding 50−100 ml, usually served on a saucer. In the US, espresso cups are sometimes called demitasse cups. The espresso macchiato, made with a shot of espresso and a dash of steamed milk, is also served in a demitasse.

Cappuccino

The Italian Espresso National Institute recommends serving cappuccino in a china cup holding approximately 160 ml, usually served on a saucer.

Gibraltar or cortado

Some shops serve a cortado in a 4-ounce Libbey Gibraltar glass, calling the drink a Gibraltar.

Sini

Traditional Ethiopian cups are called sini. These are small, pottery or porcelain cups, slightly larger than a demitasse, used to serve coffee from a jebena.

Cafe drinkware

Cafes use various sizes of coffee cups to serve mochas, lattes, and other coffee drinks. They are typically 225, 336, 460, and sometimes 570 ml. These cups are made of porcelain and shaped to encourage and aid in creating latte art.

Shape innovation

NASA designed "Space Cups" for use by astronauts in the International Space Station. The specially-shaped coffee cups are 3D printed and are used by sucking the liquid out of a bag. The sharp inner corner of the Space Cup allows the liquid to flow toward the drinker's lips through capillary flow. Data from experiments conducted with Space Cups can be used to design better fluid systems used in space, such as toilets, oxygen, air conditioning, and water coolants. The data can also be applied to societal uses of fluid systems on Earth, such as improving the design of portable medical blood testers for infectious diseases.

Materials

Porcelain and ceramic

Porcelain and ceramic cups are widely used for coffee. Ceramic is sturdier, cheaper than porcelain, and retains heat better because it is thicker.

Paper

Paper cups are usually lined with wax or plastic to prevent leakage. A famous design of a paper coffee cup is the Anthora, which has become symbolic of New York City's daily life.

Bamboo

Reusable bamboo coffee cups, promoted as a "natural" product, are made of powdered bamboo fibres suspended in glue containing melamine and formaldehyde. The German consumer group Stiftung Warentest raised concerns that these substances constitute a health hazard when used for hot drinks.^[10] The cups are also not recyclable. The UK Food Standards Agency advised retailers in June 2023 to withdraw bamboo cups, making further sales unlawful.

Polystyrene

Polystyrene, sometimes known as styrofoam (not actually Styrofoam), is used mainly because of its insulating abilities.

Accessories

Coffee cup lids

Usually made of plastic, the first patent for a coffee cup lid design was filed in 1967 and focused on creating a tight seal between the cup and the lid to reduce leaking and a vent hole to allow steam to escape. However, there was no opening for drinking, and the consumer would have to tear into the lid. In 1986, the Solo Traveler lid was created; it is found in the Museum of Modern Art's 2004 exhibit "Humble Masterpieces". Recent lid designs like the Viora have improved on Solo Traveler's design, which has too small a vent to allow sufficient air to enter while drinking. Louise Harpman, co-owner of the world's most extensive collection of coffee cup lids and co-author of the book Coffee Lids (Princeton Architectural Press, 2018), suggests that coffee cup lids "represent a major shift in American 'to-go' culture".

Coffee cup sleeve

Coffee cup sleeves are roughly cylindrical sleeves that fit tightly over handle-less paper coffee cups to insulate the drinker's hands from hot coffee. The coffee sleeve was invented and patented by Jay Sorensen in 1993 and is now commonly utilized by coffee houses and other vendors that sell hot beverages dispensed in disposable paper cups. Coffee sleeves are typically made of textured paperboard, but can be made of different materials.

Environmental issues with disposable cups

The United States uses about 120 billion disposable coffee cups annually, almost all of which end up in landfills. Polystyrene foam cups have the reputation of not being recyclable, non-biodegradable, a major part of marine litter, and has various health risks. It is banned as a food and drink container in several U.S. cities including Portland, Ore., San Francisco, Calif., and Amherst, Mass. The doughnut company and coffeehouse chain Dunkin' Donuts has been criticized for continuing to use styrofoam cups. The company has argued that there is no other material that is as insulated, and has an official statement about their foam cups on their website. However, in 2013 they began phasing in doubled-walled paper cups designed to look like their signature foam cup.

 

Polystyrene foam cups are easier to recycle than the alternative, paper coffee cups, which are lined with polyethylene to make them impermeable. The few composting facilities which do accept them produce plastic fragments, contaminating the environment, and biodegrading very slowly. Paper coffee cups also release trillions of microplastic nanoparticles per liter into the water during normal use.

Reusable cups

By 2019, coffee shop customers increasingly used reusable coffee cups as a sustainable option; shops were offering a discount as an incentive. Cups made of bamboo fiber, polypropylene, and other organic materials such as starch and paper pulp were used. Only 1 in 400 single-use cups were recycled in 2017, and media coverage encouraged consumers to look for alternatives.^[31] Use of reusable cups declined sharply to reduce the chance of infection with the onset of the covid pandemic in 2020, and as of 2023 had not returned to previous levels.

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

SERVES

6

COOK TIME

45 Min

You might want to take a peek into your garden for some of the ingredients needed for this Garden Quiche. It's made with a couple of fresh garden ingredients, like spinach and cherry tomatoes, which make this quiche perfect for a Mother's Day brunch or spring get-together.

 

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 6 cups fresh spinach
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 (9-inch) ready-to-bake deep-dish pie crust
• 1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
    
2. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add spinach and cook 1 minute, just until spinach starts to wilt.
    
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs and half-and-half until well combined. Add Monterey Jack cheese, Swiss cheese, onion powder, salt, and pepper; mix well. Stir in spinach and tomatoes and pour into pie crust.
    
4. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until firm. Let sit 5 minutes, then cut into wedges and serve.

 

 

 

Historically this date.........

1776 – American Revolutionary War: The first amphibious landing of the United States Marine Corps begins the Battle of Nassau.

1845 – Florida is admitted as the 27th U.S. state.

1931 – The United States adopts The Star-Spangled Banner as its national anthem.

1991 – An amateur video captures the beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers.

2005 – Steve Fossett becomes the first person to fly an airplane non-stop around the world solo without refueling.

 

And births this date include....

1847 – Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish-Canadian inventor (d. 1922)

 

1882 – Charles Ponzi, Italian criminal (d. 1949)

... ah ha! the ponzi scheme!

1911 – Jean Harlow, American actress (d. 1937)

 

1971 – Tyler Florence, American chef and author

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National Anthem Day commemorates the day the United States adopted “The Star Spangled Banner” as its National Anthem. Written by Francis Scott Key, the “Star Spangled Banner” became the National Anthem in 1931.

Oh Say Can You See Fort McHenry

The story behind “The Star Spangled Banner” is as moving as the anthem itself. While an attorney, Key was serving in the Georgetown Light Field Artillery during the War of 1812. In 1814, his negotiation skills as a lawyer were called upon to release Dr. William Beane, a prisoner on the British naval ship, Tonnant. Early in September, Key traveled to Baltimore in the company of Colonel John Skinner to begin negotiations.

While Key and Skinner secured Beane’s release, the British navy had begun attacking Baltimore. The trio waited at sea to return to Georgetown.

Fort McHenry is built on a peninsula of the Patapsco River. Just across the Northwest Branch is the city of Baltimore. In 1814, the population of Baltimore was roughly 50,000 people, hardly the metropolis it is today. The country itself was still young, and often families of soldiers lived nearby, providing support to their soldiers.

The Rocket’s Red Glare

The British navy abandoned Baltimore and turned their full attention to Fort McHenry on September 13th. As the 190-pound shells began to shake the fort, mother nature brought a storm of her own. Thunder and rain pelted the shore along with the bombs and shells. Throughout the night, parents, wives, and children in their homes could hear and feel the bomb blasts across the way. There were reports of the explosions being felt as far away as Philadelphia. It was a long night of fear, worry, and providing comfort to one another.

At sea, Key had a similar night. Being a religious man, one who believed the war could have been avoided, he watched the bombs bursting in air over the water and steadily pummeling Fort McHenry. It was undoubtedly a sight to behold.

For 25 hours, the star-shaped fort manned by approximately 1,000 American soldiers endured over 1,500 cannon shots. The Fort answered with their own with almost no effect.

Does that Star-Spangled Banner Yet Wave

In the early morning of September 14th, after Major George Armistead’s troops stopped the British landing party in a blaze of gunfire, the major ordered the oversized American flag raised in all its glory over Fort McHenry. Sewn a few months before by Mary Pickersgill and her daughter, the enormous banner replaced the storm flag, which had flown during battle.

As Key waited at sea for dawn to break and smoke to clear, imagine the inspiring sight in the silence of the morning to see his country’s flag fully unfurled against the breaking of the day and the fort standing firm.

Key was so moved by the experience he immediately began penning the lyrics to a song which were later published by his brother-in-law as a poem titled “Defence of Fort M’Henry.”

HOW TO OBSERVE

Sing the Star Spangled Banner.  Did you know there are three more verses to the original song? As a challenge, try learning them all.

NATIONAL ANTHEM DAY HISTORY

Nearly 117 years passed after Key penned “Defence of Fort M’Henry” before it became the national anthem of the United States of America. “Hail Columbia” and “My Country’ Tis of Thee” held honorary places as patriotic songs. But, the United States didn’t have an officially declared anthem until a congressional resolution, signed by President Herbert Hoover, until “The Star Spangled Banner” became the national anthem of the United States of America on March 3rd, 1931.

*Historical note: The spelling of “defence” in the original title of Key’s song is correct for the period.