Gloom ~ Picture of the Day ~ Eiffel Tower ~ Southern Potato Bake ~ Jerry & Sue's Wedding Anniversary ~ Flag Day ~ US Army Birthday ~ National Bourbon Day

Good 51º dark cloudy morning.

Yesterday we started out with the dark clouds......

Then occasionally during the day we'd get a view of the sky.




Picture of the Day... LOL, true! 

Interesting about the Eiffel Tower....

The Eiffel Tower, construction began in 1887 and finished in 1889 as the entrance to the worlds fair, initially criticized by some of Frances leading artists and intellectuals for its design, but it has become a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The Eiffel Tower is 1,063 ft tall.

The Eiffel Tower is the most visited paid monument in the world attracting around 7 million people per year and is the tallest structure in Paris.

A world renowned-landmark of France, the Eiffel Tower is commonly associated with being an architectural wonder and an icon to represent the city of love and lights. It is hard to imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower, but if everything had gone according to the original plan, the center of Paris would be bare. The Eiffel Tower was originally intended for Barcelona, but Spain rejected the project. This proved to be a costly mistake for Spain who missed out on being the home of this iconic landmark.

From Mr. Food

If you're looking for a timeless Southern recipe then you have to try our Southern Potato Bake. Dish up hearty portions of this hot and hearty potato casserole and enjoy it with the whole family.

 

• 1 (10-1/2-ounce) can cream of broccoli soup
• 1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
• 8 ounces shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
• 1 stick butter, melted, divided
• 1 (32-ounce) package frozen southern-style hash browns
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups corn flakes, coarsely crushed

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Coat an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine soup, sour cream, cheese, onion, and 1/2 stick butter; mix well. Stir in hash browns, salt, and pepper; pour into baking dish.
3. In a small bowl, combine corn flakes and remaining butter; mix well. Sprinkle over potatoes.
4. Bake 55 to 60 minutes, or until heated through and golden brown.

Today is a special day, my wedding anniversary. Jerry and I married this day in 1975. Kristen was the flower girl and Brian was the ring bearer....

Historically this date....

1775 – American Revolutionary War: the Continental Army is established by the Continental Congress, marking the birth of the United States Army.

1777 – The Stars and Stripes is adopted by Congress as the Flag of the United States.

1900 – Hawaii becomes a United States territory.

1937 – Pennsylvania becomes the first (and only) state of the United States to celebrate Flag Day officially as a state holiday.

1947 – Roswell UFO incident A supposed UFO crash lands in Roswell, New Mexico

1954 – U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a bill into law that places the words "under God" into the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance.

1959 – Disneyland Monorail System, the first daily operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere, opens to the public in Anaheim, California.

1994 – The 1994 Stanley Cup riot occurs after the New York Rangers win the Stanley Cup from Vancouver, causing an estimated $1.1 million, thus forcing 200 arrests and injuries. One person is also left with permanent brain damage.

2017 – in Alexandria, Virginia, Republican member of Congress and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana is shot while practicing for charity baseball.

And births this date include....

1916 – Dorothy McGuire, American actress (d. 2001)

1919 – Gene Barry, American actor (d. 2009)

... met him once... pompous arrogant narcissistic ... !

1932 – Joe Arpaio, American law enforcement officer

1946 – Donald Trump, American businessman, television personality and 45th President of the United States

                  .

1961 – Boy George, British singer (Culture Club)

All I know. Nuff said. Happy Flag Day. Happy Birthday Army. Happy Bourbon Day. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

On June 14th, National Flag Day honors Old Glory and commemorates the adoption of the United States flag on June 14, 1777.

The holiday is a day that Americans show respect for the U.S. Flag and what it represents. Representing independence and unity, the Star-Spangled Banner has become a powerful symbol of Americanism and the flag is flown proudly. 

While Betsy Ross has been given credit for stitching together the first American flag, there isn’t any sound evidence supporting the story. At the same time, there isn’t any to disprove it, either. Part of the conflict is there were several designs in consideration at the same time. There were many flag makers and more than one claim to the first. During Ross’s Revolutionary time, several standards were carried bearing red and white stripes and varying symbols where the blue field and stars now reside.

Another who laid claim to the first design was Francis Hopkinson. His request for compensation for his design was denied because others contributed to the design final design. 

Since 1777, the design of the flag has been officially modified 26 times. For 47 years, the 48-star flag was in effect. In 1959, the 49-star version became official on July 4. President Eisenhower ordered the 50-star flag on August 21, 1959.

Seventeen-year-old Robert G. Heft of Ohio designed the 50-star American flag. His was one of the more than 1,500 designs that were submitted to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

HOW TO OBSERVE

Many people have died protecting our country. On National Flag Day, raise the flag and fly it proudly. Spend time learning more about U.S. flag history, too. 

NATIONAL FLAG DAY HISTORY

On May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation deeming June 14th as Flag Day. President Wilson stated, “It is the anniversary of the day upon which the flag of the United States was adopted by the Congress as the emblem of the Union.” He also wrote, “On that day rededicate ourselves to the nation, ‘one and inseparable’ from which every thought that is not worthy of our fathers’ first vows in independence, liberty, and right shall be excluded and in which we shall stand with united hearts.”     

And........ today is also......... Thank you to all who served!!! 

Every year on June 14th, the United States Army celebrates its creation in 1775.

Formed from amateur troops of volunteer soldiers defending colonies against British tyranny, the oldest military force in the United States began before the U.S. formally existed. Their forces consisted of mostly inexperienced militiamen commanded by independent colonial armies. According to battlefields.org, there were never more than 48,000 Continental soldiers at one time. Today, the United States Army consists of over one million active-duty service members and an additional 800,000 National Guard and Reserves members.

The enduring history of the U.S. Army means they have been integral to many of the United State’s military, peace-keeping and humanitarian efforts. During the Army’s Birthday, these and many advancements will be recognized through events and ceremonies.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Wish the Army a Happy Birthday and learn about the history of the oldest branch of the U.S. military. Let those who serve in the Army how important their volunteer service means to you. Other ways to salute the Army’s Birthday include:

• Share memories of your military service in the Army.
• Buy an Army veteran a meal or drink.
• Donate to your favorite veteran’s organization.
• Volunteer your time with a veteran’s organization.
• Raise the Army colors at your home or business.
• Exercise your right to vote.
• Offer an Army veteran an interview when they apply for a job at your place of business.
• Offer an Army spouse an interview when they apply for a job at your place of business.
• Show support to a military family through deployments, moves, and transfers.

ARMY BIRTHDAY HISTORY

On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress created a Continental Army of existing militias (some that still exist today) to protect the Northern colonies from British troops.

And....... it's also.......

On June 14th, National Bourbon Day recognizes the Official Spirit of America.

Like Scotch, Cognac, and some other spirits, Bourbon must meet certain standards and be produced in a specific geographical region to earn its name. Bourbon is a whiskey that is only so when it’s distilled in the United States. To legally classify Bourbon, it must be 51 percent corn, stored in new (not aged) charred-oak barrels and distilled no more than 160 proof. Finally it must be barreled at 125 proof.

This particular whiskey derives its name from the Kentucky county, which was established in 1785 and was a large producer of corn. Back then, once the corn was distilled, it was put in barrels and stamped “Old Bourbon” and shipped down the Ohio River.

In 1964, a Congressional Resolution designated Bourbon as America’s native spirit. Since then, there is nowhere else in the world that can make a whiskey and call it Bourbon.

Bourbon’s deep roots start with the immigrants who would homestead in Kentucky. With an abundance of corn, these pioneers set their stills to work, producing a whiskey that lives on today. They also put their own stamp on the quality and flavors into their whiskey. From the oak barrels to the rich soils, Bourbon’s character continues to grow throughout the years.

HOW TO CELEBRATE 

Pour a glass of Bourbon.

Jerry used to love Wild Turkey and "Jack In The Black"... Jack Daniels!! 

 

Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Albert Einstein ~ Hot Dog Kebabs ~ Rob & Laura Wilkinson ~ Charlean Allen ~ National Kitchen Klutzes of America Day

Good 49º dark cloudy morning.

Yesterday the clouds were super dark and gloomy.... We stayed that way all day and had quiet a bit of rain. 

Picture of the Day ....

Interesting about Einstein...

“Even on the most solemn occasions I got away without wearing socks and hid that lack of civilization in high boots.” So wrote Albert Einstein to his cousin and second wife Elsa, during a visit to the University of Oxford.

This nugget came to light when 1400 of his letters were donated to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel by Einstein’s stepdaughter Margot.

Albert Einstein (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist. He developed the theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum mechanics). Einstein's work is also known for its influence on the philosophy of science. Einstein is best known by the general public for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2 (which has been dubbed "the world's most famous equation"). He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect", a pivotal step in the evolution of quantum theory.

Einstein published more than 300 scientific papers along with over 150 non-scientific works. Einstein's intellectual achievements and originality have made the word "Einstein" synonymous with "genius". An outspoken pacifist who was publicly identified with the Zionist movement, Einstein emigrated from Germany to the United States when the Nazis took power before World War II. He lived and worked in Princeton, New Jersey, for the remainder of his life.

If you want to read more about Mr. Einstein, go here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein

From Mr. Food

For those of you who like to barbecue....

Now that summer is here, let's start using that grill to make these amazing Hot Dog Kebabs! Not your usual kebabs, these Hot Dog Kebabs are fun and colorful, and they taste great too. You'll love the flavor-packed sauce over bite-sized pieces of hot dogs, bell peppers, corn, and onions for a sure-fire hit with the kids and everyone else too!

• 1/2 cup chili sauce
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons deli mustard
• 1 (16-ounce) package quarter-pound hot dogs, cut into 16 pieces (see Note)
• 2 ears fresh corn, cut into 1-inch slices
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into 12 pieces
• 1 small red onion, peeled and cut into half-moons
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into 12 pieces
• 4 (12-inch) metal skewers

 

1. Preheat grill to medium heat.
2. In a medium bowl, combine chili sauce, brown sugar, and mustard; mix well and set aside.
3. On each skewer, thread a piece of hot dog, corn, green pepper, onion, and red pepper; repeat 2 more times and end with an additional piece of hot dog.
4. Brush skewers with half the chili sauce mixture, then grill 4 to 5 minutes. Brush with remaining sauce, then turn kebabs and grill 4 to 5 more minutes, or until vegetables are tender and hot dogs are heated through.

 

****

• We like to use quarter-pound kosher franks for this recipe because their size works well on the skewers and their taste teams perfectly with the zippy sauce.
   
• We don't know about you, but we've just gotta have baked beans when we're eating hot dogs of any style!

Special Anniversary today, our former Temple City neighbor Rob and his bride Laura Wilkinson are celebrating their 39th Wedding Anniversary. Happy Day kids!

 

Rob used to babysit my children. He is retired from LA.Co. Fire.

Also today is a special birthday, Charlean (Gottesman) Allen (LASD ret and worked with Jerry at Temple) is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE!

                              ^Charlie with her family...

Historically this date.....

1893 – Grover Cleveland undergoes secret, successful surgery to remove a large, cancerous portion of his jaw; operation not revealed to US public until 1917, nine years after the president's death.

1934 – Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini meet in Venice, Italy; Mussolini later describes the German dictator as "a silly little monkey".

1966 – The United States Supreme Court rules in Miranda v. Arizona that the police must inform suspects of their rights before questioning them.

2005 – A jury in Santa Maria, California acquits pop singer Michael Jackson of molesting 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo at his Neverland Ranch.

And births this date include...

1918 – Ben Johnson, American actor (d. 1996)

1926 – Paul Lynde, American actor (d. 1982)

1953 – Tim Allen, American comedian and actor

 

1986 – Ashley Olsen, American actress, fashion designer, producer, and author

1986 – Mary-Kate Olsen, American actress, fashion designer, producer, and author

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

June 13th honors those who would like to cook and be in the kitchen, but it just doesn’t seem to work well for them. After all, it is National Kitchen Klutzes of America Day.

Klutz:  most commonly referred to as a clumsy person.

Kitchen Klutzes are the people who set out with the intentions of being like Gordon Ramsey or Julia Child as they open up the cookbook. As they place the mixing bowl and ingredients on the counter, they imagine knife cuts as swift as Wolfgang Puck or Bobby Flay. However, reality quickly dissolves all those dreams as smoke billows from the oven, and they mistake salt for sugar. Those knife cuts turn bloody, and cookies and fingers are burnt. The Kitchen Klutz has struck, and visions of spilled milk are pitifully cried over.  

It may be necessary to keep a first aid kit and fire extinguisher handy when Kitchen Klutzes are around. Be ready to call 911 and have your favorite take out ready as backup if you’re still hungry.

HOW TO OBSERVE

There several ways to celebrate this humorous holiday.

• Laugh at yourself. Share your mortifying stories of kitchen failure over take out Thai or pizza. 
• Give your favorite Kitchen Klutz the gift of cooking classes. 
• Watch your favorite cooking flops show.

Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ State of Washington ~ Fancy Fast Chicken ~ National Red Rose Day ~ National Peanut Butter Cookie Day

Good 60º dark cloudy gloomy morning. 

Yesterday we stayed cloudy and topped at 84º.

Picture of the Day ...

Interesting....

The area that makes up the State of Washington was originally known as Columbia, named after the Columbia River. Kentucky representative Richard H. Stanton found the name too similar to the District of Columbia, and proposed naming the new territory after President George Washington. The state was part of the Washington Territory which had been ceded by Britain in 1846 by the Oregon Treaty as a settlement of the Oregon Boundary Dispute. The territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington in 1889. Washington is the only U.S. state named after a president.

From Mr. Food

Want to impress your company with something fancy and fast? Here's a way to do it without a lot of extra work! Our Fancy Fast Chicken will get you rave reviews and you won't even break a sweat. When asked if it's your favorite recipe, don't be afraid to say it's at the top of your list!

 

• 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• 6 slices Swiss cheese (1 ounce each)
• 1/4 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced (optional)
• 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 2 cups herb-seasoned stuffing mix
• 8 tablespoons butter, melted

 

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Place chicken in prepared baking dish. Top each piece with a slice of Swiss cheese. Arrange sliced mushrooms over cheese, if desired.
3. In a small bowl, mix together soup and wine; pour over chicken. Sprinkle stuffing mix over top, and drizzle on melted butter.
4. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and no pink remains.

Historically this date....

1942 – Holocaust: Anne Frank receives a diary for her thirteenth birthday.

1994 – Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman are murdered outside her home in Los Angeles, California. O.J. Simpson is later acquitted of the killings, but is held liable in wrongful death civil suit.

And births this date include....

1924 – George H. W. Bush, 41st President of the United States (d.2018)

1928 – Vic Damone, American singer (d.2018)

Lots of wives!

1929 – Anne Frank, German-born Dutch Jewish diarist and Holocaust victim (d. 1945)

1930 – Jim Nabors, American actor (d.2017)

Personal life interesting. Closeted for YEARS!!!

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Each year on June 12th, people in the United States recognize National Red Rose Day. It honors the flower that is a symbol of love and romance, the red rose. The June birth flower is also the rose. 

Red roses were used in many early cultures as decorations in wedding ceremonies and wedding attire.  It was through this practice that, over the years, the red rose became known as a symbol of love and romance. The tradition of giving red roses as the strongest message of love is still practiced today.

And, today is also...

Baking up some goodness on June 12th each year, National Peanut Butter Cookie Day celebrates the only cookie holiday in June. The day allows cookie lovers and peanut butter lovers to step away from the pies and cakes to indulge in a little peanut butter and cookie therapy. 

Alabama’s American agricultural extension educator, George Washington Carver, promoted the peanut extensively. Well-known for his promotions, Carver compiled 105 peanut recipes from various cookbooks, agricultural bulletins, and other sources. In 1916, he created a Research Bulletin called How to Grow the Peanut and 105 Ways of Preparing it for Human Consumption. The bulletin included three recipes calling for crushed or chopped peanuts as one of its ingredients. However, peanut butter cookies were not one of them. 

It was in the early 1920s began to be listed as an ingredient in cookies. 

That may be because the peanut butter we know and love today didn’t become commercially available until the 1920s. In 1922, Joseph Rosefieldkept the peanut oil from separating from the solids through this process. He patented the process of homogenization and sold it to a company that began making a peanut butter called Peter Pan.

No one knows why we press crisscrossed fork marks into our peanut butter cookies before baking. However, homemade peanut butter cookies would just not be the same without the bit of decoration.

HOW TO OBSERVE 

The best way to celebrate this cookie holiday is with some homemade peanut butter cookies, a glass of milk, and a friend. We even have a recipe for you to try. You can also visit your favorite baker and give them a shout out. Let them know how much you appreciate their mad cookie baking skills!

Chunky Peanut Butter Cookie