April Fools ~ Picture of the Day ~ Toilet Paper History ~ One-Pot Chicken and Vegetable Skillet ~ National Sourdough Bread Day

Good 33º cloudy morning...

Sorry, no blog today.

APRIL FOOLS!!!!

April Fools' Day or April Fool's Day (sometimes called All Fools' Day) is an annual celebration commemorated on April 1 by playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes. The jokes and their victims are called April fools. People playing April Fool jokes often expose their prank by shouting "April fool(s)" at the unfortunate victim(s). Some newspapers, magazines and other published media report fake stories, which are usually explained the next day or below the news section in smaller letters. Although popular since the 19th century, the day is not a public holiday in every country. Little is known about the origins of this tradition.

Aside from April Fools' Day, the custom of setting aside a day for the playing of harmless pranks upon one's neighbor has historically been relatively common in the world.

Here are a number of April Fools pranks with photos...

https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-april-fools-pranks/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic

Picture of the Day... LOL! 

Interesting about toilet paper........

The first references of people using toilet paper dates back to the 6th century AD in the Chinese Imperial courts and amongst the other wealthy citizens of China.  This eventually spread throughout China and by the 14th century there was an annual manufacturing of around ten million packages of toilet paper in the Zhejiang province alone.

This however, did not catch on with the rest of the world for some time.  Indeed, a Muslim traveler to China in the 8th century noted “They (the Chinese) are not careful about cleanliness, and they do not wash themselves with water when they have done their necessities; but they only wipe themselves with paper.”

We would have to fast-forward all the way to the late 19th century before toilet paper would be introduced in America and England and it wasn’t until the 20th century that toilet paper would catch on with the masses.

This brings us to the question of the hour- what did people use for wiping before toilet paper?

What was popular depended greatly on region, personal preference, and wealth.  Rich people often used hemp, lace, or wool;  poor people, on the other hand, would often simply poop in rivers and clean off with water, rags, wood shavings, leaves, hay, rocks, sand, moss, sea weed, apple husks, seashells, ferns, and pretty much whatever else was at hand and cheap or free.

Fast-forwarding to more modern times, America’s favorite wiping item tended to be things like corn cobs and other such plant items, and, later, the pages of Sears and Roebucks, Farmers Almanac, and other catalogs.  The Farmers Almanac even came with a hole in it so it could be easily hung in bathrooms for just this purpose. Reading and wiping material in one.

In India and other middle eastern countries, the preferred method was, and in some cases still is, to wipe using nothing but your left hand and water and then, of course, wash your hand well afterward and don’t handle any food or the like with your left hand.

For seaman, the common thing was to use old frayed anchor cables, a bit of seawater for rinsing,  or other such things readily available.   The Inuit’s and other peoples living in frigid regions tended to go with clumps of snow to wipe with, which, other than the coldness factor, is actually one of the better options it seems compared to many other of the aforementioned methods.

Around 1857, Joseph Gayetty came up with the first commercially available toilet paper in the United States.  His paper “The greatest necessity of the age!  Gayetty’s medicated paper for the water-closet” was sold in packages of flat sheets that were moistened and soaked with aloe (about 130 years ahead of his time as it wasn’t until the 1990s that toilet paper companies started doing this again).  Gayetty’s toilet paper sold for about 50 cents a pack (about $14 today), with 500 sheets per package.  This wasn’t terribly popular, presumably because up to this point most people got their wiping materials for free from whatever was at hand and didn’t find anything weird or gross about the way they were doing things.

Around 1867, brothers Edward, Clarence, and Thomas Scott, who sold products from a push cart, started making and selling toilet paper as well.  They did a lot better than Gayetty, presumably because their original toilet paper wasn’t coated with aloe and moistened, thus was much cheaper. Whatever the case, their product was just rolls of somewhat soft paper (though including splinters as manufacturing wasn’t awesome at this point. Of note here on this, in 1935, Northern Tissue boasted a “splinter free” toilet tissue in an advertisement, which would seem to imply that it was still somewhat common for toilet tissue to have the occasional splinter before that.)

Things really picked up steam on the toilet paper front though thanks to indoor plumbing.  This was both because there was nothing really to grab in an indoor bathroom to wipe with, unlike outdoors where nature is at your disposal.  And, of course, the age old Farmers Almanac and similar such catalogs also were not well suited for this purpose as in indoor plumbing the thicker paper tended to clog up the pipes.

• Speaking of Toilet Paper shortages, Johnny Carson once caused a near month long toilet paper shortage in the U.S. in December of 1973.  In his show, he said, “You know what’s disappearing from the supermarket shelves?  Toilet paper… There’s an acute shortage of toilet paper in the United States.”  Americans promptly went out and bought up every piece of toilet paper they could find.  Supermarkets tried to ration it, but to no avail.  By noon the next day, pretty much all the nation’s supermarkets were sold out.  After several days of toilet paper shortages due to this hysteria, Carson went on the air to try to explain it had been a joke and apologized.  But because the shelves were almost always empty of toilet paper at this time, whenever some would come in, people would buy it all and hoard it.  This toilet paper shortage lasted a full three weeks.

One-Pot Chicken and Vegetable Skillet

2 T olive oil

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1" pieces

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1 t. salt

1/2 t. Italian seasoning

1/4 t. pepper

1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 16oz bag frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken, onion, salt, Italian seasoning and pepper. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, turning occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink in center and browned. Reduce heat to medium.

Stir in tomatoes and frozen vegetables. Cover and cook 15 to 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender and heated through.

Historically this date.....

1891 – The Wrigley Company is founded in Chicago, Illinois.

1893 – The rank of Chief Petty Officer in the United States Navy is established.

1924 – Adolf Hitler is sentenced to five years in jail for his participation in the "Beer Hall Putsch". However, he spends only nine months in jail, during which he writes Mein Kampf.

1954 – President Dwight D. Eisenhower authorizes the creation of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado.

1976 – Apple Inc. is formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

And births this date include...

1929 – Jane Powell, American dancer, actress, and singer

1932 – Debbie Reynolds, American actress (d.2016)

939 – Ali MacGraw, American actress

1961 – Susan Boyle, Scottish singer and Britain's Got Talent contestant

The rain yesterday was on and off and finally quit in the afternoon. 

All I know. Nuff said. Happy April Fool's Day. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National Sourdough Bread Day on April 1st recognizes one of the world’s oldest leavened breads. 

Sourdough is produced through the process of long fermentation of the dough using lactobacilli and yeasts. The use of naturally occurring yeasts and friendly bacteria versus cultivated yeast causes the bread to have a slightly sour, but pleasant taste. 

Most likely the first form of leavening available to bakers, it is believed sourdough originated in Ancient Egyptian times around 1500 BC. During the European Middle Ages, it also remained the usual form of leavening.

As part of the California Gold Rush, sourdough was the principal bread made in Northern California and is still a part of the culture of San Francisco today. The bread was so common at that time the word “sourdough” became a nickname for the gold prospectors. In The Yukon and Alaska, a “sourdough” is also a nickname given to someone who has spent an entire winter north of the Arctic Circle. It refers to their tradition of protecting their sourdough during the coldest months by keeping it close to their body. The sourdough tradition was also carried into Alaska and western Canadian territories during the Klondike Gold Rush.

San Francisco sourdough is the most famous sourdough bread made in the United States today. In contrast to sourdough production in other areas of the country, the San Francisco variety has remained in continuous production since 1849, with some bakeries able to trace their starters back to California’s Gold Rush period. Many restaurant chains keep it as a menu staple. Sourdough bread is a great side to your soup, stew or toasted with your morning cereal.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Bake some homemade sourdough bread. Share a recipe or order some from your favorite bakery. Celebrate by tagging them and letting them know how much you appreciate them. We also have a recipe for you to enjoy.

San Francisco Sourdough Bread recipe.

Storm ~ PTSD ~ Picture of the Day ~ 6 Cars That Are Not Made Anymore ~ Stuffed Baked Potatoes Mexican Style ~ Gerard DeRuyte ~ National Tater Day

Good 47º raining morning. 

As for that severe rain storm that was predicted, we started getting a tiny amount of rain yesterday about 8am....Then sunshine between the clouds. Then it poured rain on and off all day and rained during the night last night. Still raining. We have over 1/2" so far. 

Brian and I were having a chat about this cabin fever so many are experiencing because of the virus. I told him I had read that a number of folks are getting depressed and some with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) I changed it to Pitiful Temporary Social Disorder!

Picture of the Day .... perfect timing

Interesting... 6 cars that are not made anymore...

Studebaker was an American wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 as the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the firm was originally a producer of wagons, buggies, carriages and harnesses. Studebaker continued to manufacture other diversified products after automobile production ceased in 1966.

Here are 5 more popular car brands that are no longer made...

AMC

Let’s kick things off with the company that gave us the Pacer, the Gremlin, and the Hornet. American Motor Corporation was established in 1954 through the merger of Hudson Motor Car Company and Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, making it the biggest corporate merger in the United States at the time. Unfortunately, as the automotive industry became more competitive, the company was unable to keep up and it eventually folded. The most well-known AMC model was the Javelin, which was produced between 1967 and 1974. AMC made the Javelin to compete against the Ford Mustang.

Plymouth

The 1960s were the glory years for Plymouth, thanks to insane muscle machines like the Road Runner (the horn really did go “meep meep!” when you pressed it), the Cuda, and GTX. Based in the United States, Plymouth was established in 1928 as the first brand under Chrysler Corporation to enter the low-priced market. Despite their lower cost, Plymouth vehicles had standard features that some of the competition didn’t have. By the 1990s, however, many Plymouth models overlapped in price and features with Dodge and Eagle models. After Daimler-Benz AG bought Chrysler Corporation in 1998, Plymouth became defunct in 2001.The most successful Plymouth model was the Duster, which was produced from 1969 to 1976.

Hummer

AM General, the maker of the military Humvee, first established the Hummer brand in 1992 to offer civilians a version of the M998 Humvee. General Motors bought the brand name in 1998 and produced the H1, H2 and H3 models. The huge Hummer brand could not survive the Recession, and as part of a bankruptcy deal for GM, the brand was discontinued. However, in early 2020, GM announced that it would design and release an electric pickup under the Hummer name.

Saab

Founded in Sweden in 1945 by Saab AB, the Saab Automobile AB brand was very loved around the world and still has a cult following. Following one merger in 1968, General Motors took 50 percent ownership of the company in 1990 and then became the full owner in 2000. The company was sold again in 2010 to Spykers N.V. After insolvency problems in 2011, the company filed for bankruptcy, and the Saab brand became inactive. In 2012, National Electric Vehicle Sweden purchased the bankrupt estate. However, the new company doesn't have the necessary licensing to actually produce cars under the Saab brand.

Pontiac

Pontiac gave us cars like the Trans Am, GTO, and Grand Prix. General Motors created the Pontiac brand in 1926 as a companion to its more upscale Oakland brand. Pontiacs became more popular and entirely replaced the Oakland brand entirely by 1933. Marketed as a performance brand, Pontiac specialized in mainstream vehicles. However, financial problems and restructuring efforts at General Motors in early 2009 led to the brand being completely shut down by October 2010. The last Pontiac badged cars were built in December 2009, with one final vehicle in January 2010.

Stuffed Baked Potatoes Mexican Style 

6 large baking potatoes

3 T olive oil

3/4 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cups shredded pepper-jack cheese

2 11oz cans Mexican style corn, drained

2 4oz cans chopped green chile peppers, drained

Preheat oven to 400º.

Pierce each potato several times, rub generously with oil, bake about 45-55 minutes, until softened.

Meanwhile in medium bowl combine sour cream, cheese, corn, and chiles.

When potatoes are cooked, cut slit in top of each and squeeze or scoop out the flesh, leaving 1/2" thick shell.

Combine the potato flesh with the cheese mixture, mix well. Spoon the mixture back into the shells and place on baking sheet.

Bake 15 minutes, until cheese is melted and golden brown.

Special birthday today, my neighbor Gerard DeRuyte is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GERRY!! xo   Gerry with his bride Maria:

                                         

Historically this date....

1889 – The Eiffel Tower is officially opened.

1918 – Daylight saving time goes into effect in the United States for the first time.

1930 – The Motion Pictures Production Code is instituted, imposing strict guidelines on the treatment of sex, crime, religion and violence in film, in the U.S., for the next thirty eight years.

1951 – Remington Rand delivers the first UNIVAC I computer to the United States Census Bureau.

1992 – The USS Missouri, the last active United States Navy battleship, is decommissioned in Long Beach, California.

And births this date include....

1929 – Liz Claiborne, Belgian-American fashion designer (d. 2007)

1934 – Richard Chamberlain, American actor

1934 – Shirley Jones, American singer and actress (The Partridge Family)

1935 – Herb Alpert, American trumpeter and band leader

1943 – Christopher Walken, American actor

             ............ewwwww...............

1945 – Gabe Kaplan, American actor and comedian

1948 – David Eisenhower, American author and professor

.....David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower...

1948 – Rhea Perlman, American actress

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

If you like your spuds, National Tater Day on March 31st is for you! The day recognizes all kinds of potatoes which provide us with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Potatoes are quite versatile, which might explain why so many people like them. They are the number one consumed vegetable in the United States. And when you consider how many ways we can eat the over 200 different kinds of potatoes in the United States, you shouldn’t be surprised.

First off, we can bake them. Who doesn’t like a baked potato? Sit down in back. Plus those baked potatoes? You can bake them twice with all sorts of delicious toppings. Twice! Secondly, we can boil them. And from the boiled potatoes we can make soups, salads or make one of the world’s all-time favorite potato dishes – mashed potatoes. And did you know, mashed potatoes have numerous different recipes, too? You can’t have shepherd’s pie without mashed potatoes. Dice them and slice them and we can make scalloped, fried or even hashbrowns. And then, of course, there’s potato dumplings and pancakes. 

Beyond all the ways we can use potatoes, this day may have originally had a different meaning.  At the beginning of April, there is a celebration of the sweet potato (Tater Day) in parts of Kentucky. Sweet potatoes are one of the main cash crops in that area. Tater Day started way back in the early 1840s with the trading and selling of sweet potatoes. It is the oldest continuous trade day in the United States.

Worldwide, there are more than four thousand potato varieties. 

Since the time potatoes were shipped from Europe to the colonies in the early 17th century, their consumption has been a major part of the North American diet.