Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Spain's Tomato Fight ~ Easy Baked Churros ~ Ellen (Naugle) Pantalone ~ National Fast Food Day

  

Good 34º scattered clouds morning. 

 

Yesterday we had some rain sprinkles and we topped at 62º.

 

 

Picture of the Day... momma swan and babies

 

 

Interesting about a "tomato fight" ~

 

 

La Tomatina (Spanish pronunciation: [la tomaˈtina]) is a festival that is held in the Valencian town of Buñol, in the East of Spain 19 miles from the Mediterranean, in which participants throw tomatoes and get involved in a tomato fight purely for entertainment purposes. Since 1945 it has been held on the last Wednesday of August, during a week of festivities in Buñol. The event has been cancelled since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. In 2021 the event was again canceled.

 

La Tomatina Festival started the last Wednesday of August in 1945 when some young people spent time in the town square to attend the Giants and Big-Heads figures parade. The young people decided to take part in a parade with musicians, Giants and Big-Heads figures. One participant's Big-head fell off, as a result of the festivities. The participant flew into a fit of rage, and began hitting everything in their path. There was a market stall of vegetables that fell victim to the fury of the crowd, as people started to pelt each other with tomatoes until the local forces ended the fruit battle.

The following year, some young people engaged in a pre-planned quarrel and brought their own tomatoes from home. Although the local forces broke it up, this began the yearly tradition. In the following years, the young boys' example had unwittingly made history for thousands of people.

La Tomatina was banned in the early 50s by Francisco Franco due to the festival's lack of religious importance, however, this did not stop the participants, who were arrested. The people protested the prohibition and the festival was again allowed with more participants. The festivity was again canceled until 1957 when, as a sign of protest, a tomato burial was held. It was a demonstration in which the residents carried a coffin with a huge tomato inside. The parade was accompanied by a music band that played funeral marches. The protest was successful, and La Tomatina Festival was finally permitted and became an official festival.

 

 

The city council follows a short list of instructions for the safety of the participants and the festival:

1. Do not throw anything but tomatoes
2. Do not tear clothes
3. Squash tomatoes before throwing them to avoid hurting others
4. Keep a safe distance from trucks
5. Stop throwing tomatoes after the second starter pistol shot
6. Follow the directions of security staff
7. Only throw tomatoes to a target you can see, to avoid hurting others
8. Do not throw tomatoes directly at buildings
9. Have a great, fun time!

 

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

Are you ready for a party in your belly? These Easy Baked Churros are the recipe to make it happen! These are delicious and ALWAYS a favorite. Give them a try and get the party started!

 

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (12-ounce) can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

 

1. Preheat oven to 400º. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
    
2. In a small bowl, combine sugar and ground cinnamon; set aside.
    
3. With your hands, roll each biscuit into a 9-inch rope.  Dip in melted butter, and coat with sugar mixture.Twist several times, and place on baking sheet.
    
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden.

 

 

 

 

Special birthday today... Ellen (Naugle) Pantalone, former neighbor on Stockbridge Avenue and Wilsonite is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLEN!!

 

 

 

Historically this date.....

1914 – The Federal Reserve Bank of the United States officially opens.

 

1973 – U.S. President Richard Nixon signs the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act into law, authorizing the construction of the Alaska Pipeline.

 

 

And births this date include....

1907 – Burgess Meredith, American actor (d. 1997)

 

1928 – Clu Gulager, American actor

 

 

1950 – David Leisure, American actor

 

 

1958 – Marg Helgenberger, American actress

 

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

On November 16th food lovers get a dose of their favorite convenience food on National Fast Food Day. Whether they use the drive-thru, dine-in or get it to go, fast food will grill up, fry up and broil up menu staples.

 

First popularized in the United States in the 1950s, fast food is considered any meal with low preparation time and served to a customer in a packaged form. The meal makes for quick dine-in, take-out or take-away. Most fast-food restaurants offer drive-thru service.

Merriam-Webster dictionary first recognized the term “fast food” in 1951.

Following World War I, automobiles became popular and more affordable. At that time, restaurants introduced the drive-in.

Much like today’s food trucks, Walter Anderson first began selling hamburgers out of an old streetcar body at a Wichita intersection. While the menu was limited, the hamburgers were a crowd-pleaser. When the popularity of his hamburgers grew, he partnered with E.W. Ingram and opened the first White Castle in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas. The enterprising restauranteurs were the first in the fast-food business. They sold hamburgers for five cents each.

The United States has the largest fast food industry in the world.  American fast-food restaurants are located in over 100 countries.

Fun fact: The first Happy Meal was served in June of 1979.

While fast-food began as sandwiches and sides, the menus expanded over-time. Today fast-food includes fish, a variety of fried chicken, tacos, pizza and a wide selection of sides. Sodas quench the thirst and desserts sweeten the menu. From ice cream and shakes to pies and cakes, fast food delivers.

As times changed, restaurants added breakfast items to the menu, too. Expanding their hours increased their workforce and their menu options, as well. However, not all fast-food chains offer breakfast.

Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Pony Express Information ~ Two Boys Casserole ~ Carol Nasca ~ Brian and Jen Pendleton ~ National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day

  

  

Good 48º dark cloudy, foggy morning. 

 

Yesterday, as it has been, we started dark, cloudy, and foggy. We stayed dark and cloudy and topped at 56º.

 

 

Picture of the Day...funny business name!

 

 

Interesting about the Pony Express....

In the mid 19th century, if you wanted to get a letter or package to California you're options were limited and lengthy. The Pony Express option took an average of just 10 days but was a very expensive $5 per ounce, about $130 in today's value.

It  operated from April 3, 1860, to October 26, 1861, between Missouri and California in the United States of America.

In order to achieve this remarkable speed, company owners William H. Russell, William B. Waddell and Alexander Majors set up a string of nearly 200 relief stations across the Midwest and California. Riders would go in between stations as fast as possible, changing horses for fresh ones every 10-15 miles. Every seventy five to one hundred miles, a new rider would take over.

In March of 1861, Pony Express riders carried the inaugural address of Abraham Lincoln from Nebraska to California in just seven days and 17 hours, the company’s record.

Despite the legend and folk tales, the company never made a profit during the year and a half it operated, if fact it lost an estimated $200,000.

Pony Express riding was not the safest job around, at the time the official newspaper advertising was “Wanted: Young, skinny, wiry fellows. Not over 18. Must be expert riders. Willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred.” However, according to the National Park Service six riders died in the line of duty during the entire history of the Pony Express, in fact more employees died at the transfer stations, mostly due to Indian attack.

The riders were paid $100-150 a month, equivalent to about $1,900-$2,750 in today’s money.

 

If you want to read a lot more about the Pony Express, go here:

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

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

Angela, in Texas, has two boys with big appetites for casseroles, so she came up with this recipe for Two Boys Casserole. It combines all of their favorites into one meaty and hearty dish. We bet everyone at the table will be pleased to find the creamy, beefy goodness underneath that layer of crispy potato tots!

 

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 (12-ounce) package frozen peas
• 1 (10-3/4-ounce) can cream of celery soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese, divided
• 1 (30-ounce) package frozen potato tots, thawed

 

1. Preheat oven to 375º. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook beef, onion, salt, and pepper until meat is browned. Add peas and stir. Add soup, milk, sour cream, and 1 cup of cheese; stir to combine.
3. Place half the potato tots in baking dish, top with meat mixture, then remaining potato tops. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
4. Bake 25 to 35 minutes, or until the potato tots are cooked through and golden.

 

 

A special birthday today...

 

Carol Nasca (former Wilsonite) is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROL!

 

 

 

And, today is also a special anniversary... my son Brian and his Jen are celebrating anniversary 18. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KIDS! ox

 

 

Historically this date....

1859 – The first modern revival of the Olympic Games takes place in Athens, Greece.

 

Stadium was built in 566BC, renovated in 329BC, 1869, 1895, and 2000. I was there in 2009.

 

1939 – In Washington, D.C., US President Franklin D. Roosevelt lays the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial.

1969 – In Columbus, Ohio, Dave Thomas opens the first Wendy's restaurant.

1979 – A package from the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski begins smoking in the cargo hold of a flight from Chicago to Washington, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing.

1985 – A research assistant is injured when a package from the Unabomber addressed to a University of Michigan professor explodes.

2007 – Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh, killing an estimated 5000 people and destroyed the world's largest mangrove forest, Sundarbans.

 

And births this date include....

1905 – Mantovani, Italian-born composer (d. 1980)

Oh, the music he made!!!

 

1929 – Ed Asner, American actor (d.2021)

 

 

1932 – Petula Clark, English singer

 

1940 – Sam Waterston, American actor

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day on November 15th encourages us to prepare for the upcoming holidays. Get together a soap and hot water-filled bucket, disinfectant, a sponge, and a garbage bag. Then you will be ready for the day!

With family gathering and a large turkey waiting to be roasted, cleaning out the refrigerator makes sense. Not only will we need room before the meals, but we also need space for all of the upcoming leftovers. Many dread this job. However, it is an important task nonetheless.

Due to our hectic and busy lifestyles, the cleaning of the refrigerator gets neglected. Hence the creation of National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. There may be a surprise or two found at the back of the shelves. Things are often pushed back as new food is put in the front and gets forgotten.

Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International found that the meat and vegetable drawers were the dirtiest spots in our kitchens – well with regards to causing disease.

However, those who clean their fridges more often tend to waste more food. There’s plenty of advice available on the frequency of fridge cleaning. Understanding food labels and the meanings behind “sell by” and “best by” dates are also important. These labels don’t necessarily mean a product has gone bad, but that the quality is best by the date on the label. However, “use by” leaves some of us wondering.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Some suggestions for your refrigeration cleaning are:

• Empty each shelf.
• Completely wipe down the inside of the refrigerator.
• Wash drawers and underneath the drawers.
• Throw away all expired food.
• Throw away any moldy food.
• Get rid of anything that you do not use.
• Vacuum condenser coils.
• Vacuum out under the refrigerator.
• Restock shelves and drawers with good food.
• Enjoy your nice, clean, organized refrigerator.

 

NATIONAL CLEAN OUT YOUR REFRIGERATOR DAY HISTORY

The home economists at Whirlpool Home Appliances created National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day in 1999 to encourage people to clean out their refrigerators in advance of the upcoming holidays. At that time, the company even had a toll-free hotline that people could call into for cleaning tips.

Refrigerator FAQ

Q. How often should I clean out my fridge?
A. Clean your fridge every week or two. A good rule of thumb is to clean the fridge before you go grocery shopping. This habit not only makes room for the new groceries but prevents you from over shopping. While you’re disposing of any science projects, take a hot soapy rag and wipe down the shelves and doors. Take stock of the cheese, eggs, and butter. That ranch dressing should last another week and the mayo, too.

Q. Things are always getting lost in my fridge. How do I fix that?
A. Those items that get shoved to the back are easy to forget. Did you know that many of the shelves on today’s models slide forward for easy inspection? That’s right. Just lift up and pull forward. Other tricks include see-through, labeled containers, lazy Susans, and dividers.

Q. What temperature should I set my refrigerator?
A. According to the Food and Drug Administration, 40°F or below is the ideal temperature to keep food safe and chilled.