Crockpot Burgundy Beef ~ Hummers ~ Ground Squirrel ~ Tom & Del ~ Coast Guard Day

Good 57º gonna be in the 90ºs again day! UGH. Smoke coming in. Seems to stay out at night and drifts back in by morning....

You can just see it coming over the top of my mountain....

 

Yesterday I made my friend Judy Duvall's Crockpot Burgundy Beef. Here's the recipe:

1 boneless beef pot roast,  2¼-2½ pounds (I used a 4# eye of round roast)

1 can condensed Beef Mushroom soup

1 can cream of onion soup (I used French Onion)

1 cup sliced mushrooms (I re-hydrated dried mushrooms... and used a couple cups)

1 cup chopped onion (I used two large shallots)

Then I also added 6 stalks of celery chopped and about 2 cups of baby carrots....

1/4 cup Burgundy wine (I used 1 cup Cabernet Sauvignon) 

Trim and cut beef into 1" pieces. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Cover and cook 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low, or 6 hours on medium. (I cooked it 7 hours on high)

One hour before the end of the cook time I mixed 1/4 cup flour with about 1 cup milk in a jar and added in about 1/2 t. ground black pepper. Shook it up and added it in to thicken. Then I cooked some trottole pasta and served it on that. You can serve on rice or noodles....

I made a salad with baby spinach, one of Jeannie's cucumbers, and tomato. Brianna's Poppy Seed dressing... 

SUPER GOOD DINNER!!!!!

 

As for the wines...

Burgundy wine (French: Bourgogne or vin de Bourgogne) is wine made in the Burgundy region in eastern France,^[1] in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône River, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here—those commonly referred to as "Burgundies"—are dry red wines made from Pinot noir grapes.

 

Burgundy wines produced in the United States are usually inexpensive jug wines made from different grape varieties.  

 

Cabernet Sauvignon = Cabernet = Cab  

(or as my Darling pronounced it "Cabinet Sa-vig-nee!LOL) Pronunciation:  cah-burr-NAY  sow-vee-NYOHN     Cabernet Sauvignon grapes make a hearty, complex red wine that's especially good with roasted meats and heavy stews.  Domestic Cabernets are often excellent.   Substitutes:   Bordeaux OR Merlot OR Zinfandel 

 

 

We seem to have a big influx of hummingbirds. Probably be due to the fires. All feed spots are filled at times...

This little guy owns this feeder. He sits on the wire on a birdhouse guarding it and chases away any birds that attempt to drink his personal nectar...

 

 

And outside was this ground squirrel with an apple he stole from my garden..... he was happily eating away until he saw me with the camera, dropped the apple, looked scared, picked up the apple and ran!

 

Today is a very special anniversary.... Tom & Adelle (Easton...Wilson W'63) Graves celebrating anniversary 48! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KIDS!

.... with their Barkley~!

 

 

 

Historically this date....

1892 – The father and stepmother of Lizzie Borden are found murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts home.
1944 – The Holocaust: a tip from a Dutch informer leads the Gestapo to a sealed-off area in an Amsterdam warehouse, where they find and arrest Jewish diarist Anne Frank, her family, and four others.
1987 – The Federal Communications Commission rescinds the Fairness Doctrine which had required radio and television stations to present controversial issues "fairly".
HA! That never happened again!!!
1993 – A federal judge sentences Los Angeles Police Department officers Stacey Koon and Laurence Powell to 30 months in prison for violating motorist Rodney King's civil rights.
 

Births this date include....

1901 – Louis Armstrong, American jazz trumpeter and singer (d. 1971)

1944 – Richard Belzer, American actor and comedian

1955 – Billy Bob Thornton, American actor and writer

... weirdo

 

1961 – Barack Obama, American politician, 44th President of the United States, Nobel Prize laureate (HA!)

Fox New radio host Todd Starnes became just the latest conservative to blast President Obama for having the nerve to think he has a place on the golf course, even on his birthday weekend. Referencing the recent international terrorism alert, Starnes tweeted “There’s a worldwide terror alert, 21 embassies are shutting down – but Obama’s got time to play golf today,” and hashtagged another tweet about the outing with the hip-hop slang term “flossing,” which refers to an ostentatious display of material wealth.

 

 

1962 – Roger Clemens, American baseball player

 

All I know. Happy Sunday. Nuff said. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

August 4th

US Coast Guard Day

 

U.S. Coast Guard Day honors the military branch that protects our waters and shorelines. The U.S. Defense Department suggests that this day is largely an internal celebration for all Coast Guard personnel and their families, past and present. But, we'd like to encourage everyone to honor the brave members of this important branch of the military.

Celebrate U.S. Coast Guard Day by learning more about the responsibilities and functions of the U.S. Coast Guard. They are now playing an even  more extensive role in Homeland Security to protect our country.

We salute Coast Guard personnel today.

Oil Added ~ Lamb Chops & Couscous ~ Quail! ~ Vincents

Good 48º somewhat less smokey morning. Apparently the smoke is all blowing towards the coast. Stand by Patty and Cliff... they said on the news it was going to Gold Beach! Kept windows open last night here.... got quite cool. Going to be in the mid to high 90ºs through next week. YUCK.

A blonde putting oil in her car......OMGOSH, really????

http://i.imgur.com/gpALGIH.gif/

 

 

 

PICTURE of the day.........

...seems apropos at this time.... but I'm sure Steven Seagal's fingers were Photoshopped in!

 

 

 

Dinner: lamb chops and couscous with tomatoes and olives.

First I picked some fresh Rosemary, put it in the blender to chop. Mixed it with oil, garlic, and sea salt. Let it marinate 30 minutes at room temp.  

 

Chopped olives and added to rice cooker with couscous, water, tomato, and butter.

Preheated oven to 400º. Cooked lamb in oven-proof skillet for about 2-3 minutes per side. Put in oven for 10 minutes for med rare.

Served it all up on a bed of cut lettuce...

SOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!

 

 

Went to Medford yesterday. Our past Commandant of our Marine Corps League, Herb Robb, had 3 big bags filled with salt water taffy, Tootsie Roll candy, and boxes with pouches of Cheese-It's for our Casey who is in Afghanistan. Hope to get the boxes off next week.

Our smoke was lighter here in Rogue River, but it was nasty in Medford! There was a flashing sign that said, "Due to low visibility...Turn on your headlights"

... and in the trailer park where Herb lives as I was leaving this California Quail couple was walking across the street!

I get such a kick out of them. So cute!

 

 

 

Today is the 50th anniversary of some great folks, Bob and Marie Vincent, my neighbors from Temple City. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KIDS!! OMG, 50 years!  

 

Historically this date......

1934 – Adolf Hitler becomes the supreme leader of Germany by joining the offices of President and Chancellor into Führer.

1936 – Jesse Owens wins the 100 meter dash, defeating Ralph Metcalfe, at the Berlin Olympics.

1958 – The nuclear submarine USS Nautilus travels beneath the Arctic ice cap.

2004 – The pedestal of the Statue of Liberty reopens after being closed since the September 11 attacks.

And births this date include....

1926 – Tony Bennett, American singer

1951 – Jay North, American actor

1977 – Tom Brady, American football player

... WHOOT WHOOT! Go Patriots!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I find it odd that not one person commented on the couch/bunk bed on the blog yesterday! Oh well, when I get one you'll all be jealous and want one too!

 

All I know. Happy Saturday. Nuff said. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

August 3rd

National Watermelon Day

 

In honor of that, last night I made a watermelon martini!

Fires ~ Couch ~ Breakfast ~ HB Bruiser! ~ Potato Chips ~ Rosso's

Good 44º (wow, cold!) somewhat clearer morning. I even saw some stars last night! Fires still going like mad, but winds must be blowing the smoke somewhere else! Nice for a change, but it will probably all be back soon. Picture taken at 6:30am....

The fire near Glendale Or in Douglas County has burned 28,000 acres! The fires down here, near Galice, 3700 acres, and Cave Junction, 2000 acres. 

 

Picture of a Hellgate boat on the Rogue River....

Some parts of the river have been closed.

 

 

This from Deewayne Honneee P-berger:

WIFE: "There is trouble with the car. It has water in the carburetor."

HUSBAND: "Water in the carburetor? That's ridiculous."

WIFE: "I tell you the car has water in the carburetor."

HUSBAND: "You don't even know what a carburetor is. I'll check it. Where is the car?"

WIFE: "In the pool."    :o)

 

I want on of these!!!

http://www.bonbon.co.uk/clei/doc.htm

How cool would this be when you have visitors! Trouble is they probably only make them in the UK. If anyone knows where they are made in the USofA...let me know! I'm gettin' one!

 

 

Breakfast yesterday was good! I made some coffee using Turkish coffee (got it in Turkey when I was there... keep airtight and it lasts) and added in some of the new Bailey's Vanilla Brown Sugar coffee creamer. YOWSA!

 

Then cut up some tomato and added spoonfuls of Philly Spinach-Artichoke Spread.... salt and pepper.

I can't tell you how much I LOVE scrambled eggs with mayonnaise..... just a spoonful with two eggs all mixed up. I am crazy about the new Best Foods Balsamic mayo!!!

Then add in some garlic powder, pepper-orange seasoning

(Click here: Pepper-Orange Seasoning),

and cilantro. OMGOOOOD!!!! 

 

 

 

Three special birthdays today.... my pal Erika's hubby Spencer is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPENCE!!!

 

My neighbor from Temple City, Marie Vincent is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIE!!!

 

.....and I have designated the 2nd of August as Bruiser's birthday. I first saw him in 2008 in about March or April hunting in my pasture and seeking shelter in the barn by going under a stall door. So today is Bruiser's 5th birthday. He has taken over! LOL.

 

 

Looking for pictures of Bruiser I found this one of a crash in front of Dave and PJ's house in 2008 on 8-2 !!! Welcome to our curve in the road!!

 

Historically this date...

1776 – The signing of the United States Declaration of Independence took place.

1923 – As vice president, Calvin Coolidge becomes the 30th President of the United States after the death of Warren G. Harding

1934 – Gleichschaltung: Adolf Hitler becomes Führer of Germany.

1964 – Vietnam War: Gulf of Tonkin incident – North Vietnamese gunboats allegedly fire on the U.S. destroyers USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy.

1990 – Iraq invades Kuwait, eventually leading to the Gulf War.

 ..........my Brian joins the Marines!

 

 

And births this date include...

1924 – Carroll O'Connor, American actor (d. 2001)

 

 

1932 – Peter O'Toole, Irish actor

 

1945 – Joanna Cassidy, American actress

 

 

So.... I am at the store and these new Lay's Chips jump out at me...The Lay's guy was stocking shelves and I asked him about the Sriracha flavor. He said they "are very hot". Ok then. Bought some, along with the Cheesy Garlic Bread flavor. Then made the mistake of opening the Sriracha while sitting having wine in front of the TV. Next thing I know, the bag is EMPTY! OMG, they are SOOOOOOOOO good!!! Haven't tried the other one yet. A little afraid I'll eat that whole bag too. At least I bought the small bags!!!   

 

Ok, for you Grants Pass folks...here is the DEAL of the day...

Rosso's has GOOD food!

 

 

All I know. TGIF. Nuff said. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

August tooth....

National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

( I can taste it now! )