Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Crock Pots ~ Asparagus and Artichoke Breakfast Casserole ~ National Take Our Sons and Daughters To Work Day

  

Good 44º cloudy morning. 

 

Yesterday we started with some dark clouds... and geese sitting atop my barn.... 

 

Soon the dark clouds all left 

We topped at 69º.

 

Picture of the Day...Sandhill Crane and her baby...

 

 

Interesting about Crock Pots......

 

A slow cooker, also known as a crock-pot (after a trademark owned by Sunbeam Products but sometimes used generically in the English-speaking world), is a countertop electrical cooking appliance used to simmer at a lower temperature than other cooking methods, such as baking, boiling, and frying. This facilitates unattended cooking for many hours of dishes that would otherwise be boiled: pot roast, soups, stews and other dishes (including beverages, desserts and dips).

 

Slow cookers achieved popularity in the US during the 1940s, when many women began to work outside the home. They could start dinner cooking in the morning before going to work and finish preparing the meal in the evening when they came home.

 

The Naxon Utilities Corporation of Chicago, under the leadership of electrical engineer Irving Naxon (born Irving Nachumsohn), developed the Naxon Beanery All-Purpose Cooker for the purposes of cooking a bean meal. Naxon was inspired by a story from his mother which told how back in her native Lithuanian town, his grandmother made a traditional Jewish stew called cholent which took several hours to cook in an oven.SA 1950 advertisement shows a slow cooker called the "Simmer Crock" made by the Industrial Radiant Heat Corp. of Gladstone, NJ.

 

The Rival Company from Sedalia, Missouri, bought Naxon in 1970, acquiring Naxon’s 1940 patent for the bean simmer cooker. Rival asked inventor Robert Glen Martin, from Boonville, Missouri, to develop Naxon’s bean cooker into a large scale production model which could cook an entire family meal, going further than just cooking a bean meal. Martin also designed and produced the mass-production machines for Rival’s manufacturing line of the Crock-Pot. The cooker was then reintroduced under the name "Crock-Pot" in 1971. In 1974, Rival introduced removable stoneware inserts, making the appliance easier to clean. The Crock-Pot brand now belongs to Newell Brands.

 

Other brands of this appliance include Cuisinart, GE, Hamilton Beach, KitchenAid, Magic Chef, West Bend Housewares, and the now defunct American Electric Corporation.

 

Slow cookers achieved popularity in the US during the 1940s, when many women began to work outside the home. They could start dinner cooking in the morning before going to work and finish preparing the meal in the evening when they came home.

 

Other brands of this appliance include Cuisinart, GE, Hamilton Beach, KitchenAid, Magic Chef, West Bend Housewares, and the now defunct American Electric Corporation.

 

A basic slow cooker consists of a lidded round or oval cooking pot made of glazed ceramic or porcelain, surrounded by a housing, usually metal, containing an electric heating element. The lid itself is often made of glass, and seated in a groove in the pot edge; condensed vapor collects in the groove and provides a low-pressure seal to the atmosphere. The contents of a crock pot are effectively at atmospheric pressure, despite the water vapor generated inside the pot. A slow cooker is quite different from a pressure cooker and presents no danger of an abrupt pressure release.

 

Basic cookers, which have only high, medium, low, or keep warm settings, must be turned on and off manually. More advanced cookers have computerized timing devices that let a cook program the cooker to perform multiple operations (e.g., two hours high, followed by two hours low, followed by warm) and to delay the start of cooking.

Because food cooked in a slow cooker stays warm for a long time after it is switched off, people can use the slow cookers to take food elsewhere to eat without reheating. Some slow cookers have lids that seal to prevent their contents from spilling during transport.

 

Slow cookers are less dangerous than ovens or stove tops due to their lower operating temperatures and closed lids. However, they still contain a large amount of foods and liquids at temperatures close to boiling, and they can cause serious scalds if spilled.

 

 

 

Asparagus and Artichoke Breakfast Casserole

 

 

A light, healthy and tasty summer breakfast casserole with asparagus, artichokes and plenty of cheese! Serves 6

 

• 10 eggs
• 1 cup cottage cheese (or ricotta)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into bit sized pieces
• 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed

 

Mix everything and place in a greased 9x9 inch baking pan and bake in a preheated 375º oven until the eggs have set and the top is a light golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.

 

Reheat leftovers in microwave for a few seconds.

 

 

Historically this date....

1789 – Mutiny on the Bounty: Lieutenant William Bligh and 18 sailors are set adrift and the rebel crew returns to Tahiti briefly and then sets sail for Pitcairn Island.

1869 – Chinese and Irish laborers for the Central Pacific Railroad working on the First Transcontinental Railroad lay 10 miles of track in one day, a feat which has never been matched.

1988 – Near Maui, Hawaii, flight attendant Clarabelle "C.B." Lansing is blown out of Aloha Airlines Flight 243, a Boeing 737, and falls to her death when part of the plane's fuselage rips open in mid-flight.

1994 – Former Central Intelligence Agency counter-intelligence officer and analyst Aldrich Ames pleads guilty to giving U.S. secrets to the Soviet Union and later Russia.

 

And births this date include...

1758 – James Monroe, American politician, 5th President of the United States (d. 1831)

1930 – Carolyn Jones, American actress (d. 1983)

 

1941 – Ann-Margret, Swedish actress

 

 

Ann-Margret has no children, but she was stepmother to the three children of husband Roger Smith, an actor who later became her manager. She and Smith were married from May 8, 1967 until his death on June 4, 2017. WOW, 50 years! Prior to this, she dated Eddie Fisher and was romantically linked to Elvis Presley during the filming of Viva Las Vegas in 1964.

 

1950 – Jay Leno, American comedian and talk show host

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

Each year on the fourth Thursday in April, National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day encourages parents to take their children to work.

This annual event is an educational program in the United States and Canada where parents take their children to work with them for one day. The day is designed to help children explore the workforce. It inspires children to see the different roles required to run a business or to build a project. They may find an interest in engineering, accounting, or art while spending the day with mom or day. Perhaps a child’s natural proclivity for order leads them into logistics someday. 

Children are observant and curious. Bring them into your work world so they can explore careers and skills. Empower them to set goals and create a path to their dream career. 

• Share with your children what a day in your work life is like.
• If you work from home create activities to simulate what your day might involve. Perhaps they can join you on a conference call.
• Share with them the skills and education your job requires.
• Describe the process for completing a project and how ideas are sparked.
• Visit the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation for more at-home project ideas and information.
• Employers are encouraged to invite employees to bring their children to work. 

NATIONAL TAKE OUR DAUGHTERS AND SONS TO WORK DAY HISTORY

Gloria Steinem and the MS Foundation for Women founded National Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day in 1993. It is the successor to Take Our Daughters to Work Day which, in 2003, expanded to include boys. Most companies allowed both girls and boys to participate from the beginning, renaming the day “Take Our Children to Work Day.”

Take Our Children to Work FAQ

Q. Do all employers participate in this event?
A. No. Some settings don’t accommodate children in the workplace. It is either unsafe or difficult to allow children in the workplace.

Q. Can children of any age attend an event like this?

A. Some workplaces will set a minimum age. Employers may also create a special time span for children to visit. It’s important to follow your employer’s guidelines.

 

Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Lawnmower History ~ Noodles Romanoff ~ Pete Loomis ~ National Prime Rib Day

  

Good 44º cloudy morning. 

 

Yesterday we got real cloudy and windy......

By noon we were still at 57º. Later we topped at 70º.

 

Picture of the Day ... I love my roommate!

 

 

 

Interesting about lawnmowers....

 

 

The lawn mower was invented by Edwin Beard Budding in 1830 in Brimscombe and Thrupp, just outside Stroud, in Gloucestershire, England. Budding's mower was designed primarily to cut the grass on sports grounds and extensive gardens, as a superior alternative to the scythe, and was granted a British patent on August 31, 1830.

 

Budding's first machine was 19 inches wide with a frame made of wrought iron. The mower was pushed from behind. Cast-iron gear wheels transmitted power from the rear roller to the cutting cylinder, allowing the rear roller to drive the knives on the cutting cylinder; the ratio was 16:1. Another roller placed between the cutting cylinder and the main or land roller could be raised or lowered to alter the height of cut. The grass clippings were hurled forward into a tray-like box. It was soon realized, however, that an extra handle was needed in front to help pull the machine along. Overall, these machines were remarkably similar to modern mowers.

 

Two of the earliest Budding machines sold went to Regent's Park Zoological Gardens in London and the Oxford Colleges. In an agreement between John Ferrabee and Edwin Budding dated May 18, 1830, Ferrabee paid the costs of enlarging the small blades, obtained letters of patent and acquired rights to manufacture, sell and license other manufacturers in the production of lawn mowers. Without patent, Budding and Ferrabee were shrewd enough to allow other companies to build copies of their mower under license, the most successful of these being Ransomes of Ipswich, which began making mowers as early as 1832.

 

His machine was the catalyst for the preparation of modern-style sporting ovals, playing fields (pitches), grass courts, etc. This led to the codification of modern rules for many sports, including for football, lawn bowls, lawn tennis and others.

 

^{It took ten more years and further innovations to create a machine that could be drawn by animals, and sixty years before a steam-powered lawn mower was built. In the 1850s, Thomas Green & Son of Leeds introduced a mower called the Silens Messor (meaning silent cutter), which used a chain drive to transmit power from the rear roller to the cutting cylinder. These machines were lighter and quieter than the gear-driven machines that preceded them, although they were slightly more expensive. The rise in popularity of lawn sports helped prompt the spread of the invention. Lawn mowers became a more efficient alternative to the scythe and domesticated grazing animals.}

 

^{In the United States, gasoline-powered lawn mowers were first manufactured in 1914 by Ideal Power Mower Co. of Lansing, Michigan, based on a patent by Ransom E. Olds. Ideal Power Mower also introduced the world's first self-propelled, riding lawn tractor in 1922, known as the "Triplex". The roller-drive lawn mower has changed very little since around 1930. Gang mowers, those with multiple sets of blades to cut a wider swath, were built in the United States in 1919 by the Worthington Mower Company.}

^{If you want to read a whole lot more about lawnmowers, go here:}

^{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_mower}

 

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

This creamy and versatile egg noodle dish pairs great with just about any entree. Plus, they're so scrumptious we bet even your picky eaters can't resist. So, next time you're in need of an easy side dish pick our Noodles Romanoff.

 

• 1 (12-ounce) package wide egg noodles
• 1 (16-ounce) container sour cream
• 1/2 stick butter, melted
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

 

 

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Coat a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Cook noodles according to package directions; drain.
    
2. In a large bowl, combine sour cream, butter, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, the garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper; mix well. Add noodles and toss until evenly coated. Spoon into baking dish and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
    
3. Cover and bake 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

 

 

 

Special birthday today, Pete Loomis (aka Loom Loom and LASD ret) is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETE!!!

 

 

Historically this date......

1296 – Battle of Dunbar: The Scots are defeated by Edward I of England.

 

Dunbar is a family name, my Mom's mother's maiden name , and King Edward invaded Scotland because he was pissed that King John Balliol refused to support the English military action in France. He was a dork anyway, but caused battlefield losses. The Dunbar Castle is the remnants of one of the most mighty fortresses in Scotland. What it did look like and today the ruins...

 

1805 – First Barbary War: United States Marines and Berbers attack the Tripolitan city of Derna (The "shores of Tripoli" part of the Marines' hymn).

1993 – All members of the Zambia national football team lose their lives in a plane crash off Libreville, Gabon in route to Dakar, Senegal to play a 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Senegal.

2005 – The super jumbo jet aircraft Airbus A380 makes its first flight from Toulouse,France.

.......click on the Airbus A380 link for photos and more info.

 

And births this date include...

1822 – Ulysses S. Grant, American Civil War general and 18th President of the United States (d. 1885)

 

1899 – Walter Lantz, American cartoonist (d. 1994)

 

1922 – Jack Klugman, American actor (d.2012)

 

1937 – Sandy Dennis, American actress (d. 1992)

 

1939 – Judy Carne, British actress and comedian

... once married to Burt Reynolds ... addicted to drugs... (d.2015)

 

 

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

National Prime Rib Day annually recognizes this special meal favorite on April 27th each year. Sometimes known as the “King of Meats,” Prime Rib is a choice cut from one of the eight prime cuts of beef.

A rubbed-on seasoned and then slow-roasted prime rib will give you a deliciously tender, tasty main course. Find many recipes and helpful “how to cook prime rib” guides on the internet for all to use. Some of the most common seasons used include garlic, salt, pepper, rosemary, onion, oregano, and thyme.

Depending on your preference, you might choose to serve your prime rib with fresh vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussel sprouts. A variety of potatoes complement prime rib, too. Whether you like mashed, baked, or roasted potatoes, they will pair well with this hearty meal. Add a light salad or pasta dish, too. Don’t forget to serve your favorite wine or beer. Your guests will appreciate it. 

Finish off the meal with a fruit-topped dessert. It’s definitely a meal worthy of a celebration!

Here is my foolproof way to cook prime rib, perfect every time:

 

 

Make a rub of salt and pepper and garlic and/or onion powder and or any other type of herb you like and you can even mix it with butter or olive oil .... rub onto roast. Put in roasting pan, turn oven to 550º. When oven is ready put in the roast and cook it 5 minutes for every pound for rare, 6 minutes per pound for medium. Then turn off the oven and DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR FOR 2 HOURS! Done to perfection.