Taquitos ~ Dee's Salsa ~ Guacamole ~ Edda GloW John and Jackie

Good 50º morning

93º yesterday. UGH.

Historically and famous births....

1933 – The Diexi earthquake strikes Mao County, Sichuan, China and kills 9,000 people.

...9,000!!!!!

1944 – World War II: Paris is liberated by the Allies.

1989 – Voyager 2 spacecraft makes its closest approach to Neptune, the outermost planet in the Solar System.

And births this date include....

1913 – Don DeFore, American actor (d. 1993)

... "Thorny" in Ozzie & Harriet and "Mr. B" in Hazel.

1916 – Van Johnson, American actor (d. 2008)

.... one thing I remember about him is that he always, always, wore red socks!

1930 – Sir Thomas Sean Connery, Scottish actor

....My favorite! Mmmmmmmmmm.......

1933 – Tom Skerritt, American actor

1949 – Gene Simmons, Israeli-born musician (Kiss)

1958 – Tim Burton, American film director

.... He directed on of Kristen's favorite films... The Nightmare Before Christmas....

 

1961 – Billy Ray Cyrus, American singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist (Shudda done a better job raising that nutcase half naked bootie wiggling tongue wagging daughter of his!)

1968 – Rachael Ray, American chef and television personality

(....if only she could keep her open palms in her pockets instead of waving them all over and in front of her face when she's talking and brushing back her hair! But, I guess it's impossible since she's Italian, but also she NEVER stops talking. Even interrupting special guest (all guests!) Tom Selleck! She cooks great, but wish she'd shut up and keep her hands DOWN! Also, she needs to quit saying (in lyrical style) "I know.")

Yesterday afternoon I made taquitos. Warm corn tortillas on a dishtowel in the micro, cover when warm, roll raw ground hamburger (or chicken or turkey or sausage) into tortillas. I added in some onion and cilantro. Fry over med high heat until lightly browned on outside. Stack in warm crockpot if transporting or eating later.

I made Dee's salsa mixed with grated cheese for taquito dipping. So good!! Mix 1 jar salsa with equal (or more) amount of cheese.

Guacamole with finely diced tomato, lemon/garlic seasoning, sea salt and pepper. I was very unhappy with the avocados I got at Ray's. 2/3 of each was ok, but the rest was brown and with lots of stringy stuff. ICK!

Then headed to GloW and Johns place at Jump Off Joe Creek.

This is GloW and John's pup Jackie. Sweet boy!

GloW made yummy rice. Edda made great carnitas. We put them in warm tortillas. 

We had wine and chatted. NICE afternoon! Thanks guys!

I am experimenting with WD-40 and the bear. I sprayed the cans I keep the birdseed etc in and we didn't have a return visit from the bear as of yet. Since bugs, rats, mice, skunks don't like the smell of WD-40 and it keeps them away, I'm hoping this will also work with Mr. Bear!

 

OMG PICTURE of the day............. (look closely!)

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

August 25th

Whiskey Sour Day

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/whiskey-sour-recipe.html#!

Napa Earthquake ~ 360º Paris View ~ Slow Cooker Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta ~ Edda GloW John ~ Cat Wants In

Good 52º morning. Got to the high 80ºs yesterday.

 

Around 3am a 6.0 quake struck north of San Francisco.

http://abc7.com/news/60-magnitude-earthquake-hits-n-california/278694/

Here are pictures of damage to buildings in Napa...

My friend Linda's son and family live there so have an email in to her to find out how they are. If the email doesn't work, a phone call a little later this morning. Apparently the hospital in Napa is treating 70 people for injuries. 36 after-shocks...... Power outages throughout the whole area...

 

Here is a really neat 360º view of Paris France from the top of the Eiffel Tower.... sent to me from George Collins (LASD ret) Thanks George!

http://www.gillesvidal.com/blogpano/paris.htm

Betty Crocker has again tested the limits of my drool button! This sound sooooooooooooo good I can't wait to try it.

Slow-Cooker Bacon-Ranch Chicken and Pasta

1 lb chicken breasts

6 slices bacon cooked and diced

2-3 cloves garlic finely chopped

1 pkg (1 oz) ranch dressing and seasoning mix

1 can (10.75 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

1/2 t. pepper

1/2 cup water

8 oz spaghetti, cooked*

Spray 4 qt slow cooker with cooking spray. Place chicken in cooker.

In medium bowl mix remaining ingredients except spaghetti. Pour over top of chicken.

Cover and cook on Low for 6 hours or on High for 3-4 hours.

15 minutes before end of cooking time, cook and drain spaghetti.

Just before serving, shred chicken with two forks and toss creamy chicken mixture with cooked spaghetti.

*Or any pasta of your choice.

Yesterday Edda, GloW, and John visited for a couple hours to get the "cook's tour". We had a good chat. Dude is always happy to have company visit.... GloW and John have a dog and so Dude enjoyed a "sniff fest" on John!  

 

Historically this date and births this date:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_24

 

1814 – British troops invade Washington, D.C. and during the Burning of Washingtonthe White House is set ablaze, though not burned to the ground; as well as several other buildings.

1932 – Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the United States non-stop (from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey).

1981 – Mark David Chapman is sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for murderingJohn Lennon.

1989 – Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose is banned from baseball for gambling byCommissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti.

And births this date include....

1955 – Mike Huckabee, American politician, Governor/Presidential candidate

1958 – Steve Guttenberg, American actor

1960 – Cal Ripken, Jr., American baseball player

1976 – Alex O'Loughlin, Australian actor

Mmmmmmm..... Hawaii Five-O

OMG this cat is a riot (you can get rid of the ad by clicking the X in the top right corner of it) Thanks PattyK for sharing this!!

http://www.flixxy.com/chat-with-a-cat.htm?utm_source=nl

Yesterday early Edda, GloW, and John came over. Edda wanted to see my place.

PICTURE OF THE DAY... (can you figure it out?)

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

August 24th

Mt. Vesuvius Day

http://wonderfulworldreview.blogspot.com/2011/08/mount-vesuvius.html

Vesuvius Day marks the date in 79 A.D. that Mount Vesuvius exploded.

August 24, 79 A.D. was an historic date for the world. This was the day that Mount Vesuvius erupted in a huge explosion. It was one of the largest volcanic explosions in recorded history.

This deadly volcano destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae. They were buried by volcanic ash and pumice. An estimated 3,360 people died in the volcano's eruption.

Mount Vesuvius also exploded a second time in 1631. At that time, it killed approximately 3,500 people.

Barn ~ Squirrel ~ Cliffie ~ Eggplant & Veal Patty ~ Edda ~ My Maggie Girl ~ Bear!

Good 48º morning. Only hit the 80ºs yesterday. Better!

 

Here are photos of what Chad and Darin were/are doing Thursday...

See all the bird poop .... ugh. At least this will keep them out now!

Jack was here Thursday morning putting out traps for the ground squirrels. Then yesterday when Dude and I were down there at the barn, a ground squirrel was in the trap.... I called All Natural Pest and Jack came and got him yesterday. There apparently is some place he releases them... not in populated areas.

 

Our good buddy Cliff Kuehl (pronounced 'keel') is celebrating his 83rd birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLIFFIE!!! ♥  (with his PattyK)

Historical haps and birthdays.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_23

1912 Gene Kelly, 1929 Vera Miles, 1931 Barbara Eden, 1933 Pete Wilson, 1949 Shelley Long, 1976 Scott Caan, 1978 Kobe Bryant,
 

Dinner ... fried/baked eggplant and veal patties....

1 eggplant

2 beaten eggs

dried bread crumbs or Panko mixed with salt and pepper and I used some of the garlic/lemon seasoning too and dried basil

( http://www.thespicehouse.com/spices/trinidad-style-lemon-garlic-marinade-seasoning )

olive oil

marinara sauce

mozzarella sliced or grated

Parmesan cheese

Wash eggplant, cut crosswise into 1/2" slices. Sprinkle salt on both sided of each slice and put in colander to drain excess moisture for about 30 minutes. Dry with paper towels.

Dip in eggs, dredge in crumbs.  Heat oil in heavy skillet, fry eggplant on both sides, drain on paper towels. Spread marinara sauce in baking dish, add eggplant, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Dollop more sauce on top. Bake 350º for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. At the same time I fried some Omaha Steaks Breaded Veal patties..

Awesomely GOOD!!!!

Yesterday afternoon I headed to GP and to Staples and Safeway then to the Laughing Clam for Happy Hour with John & GloW and Edda (my friend from Diamond Bar and sister to GloW). 

Wine is a good price, but Happy Hour on Friday is wayyyyyyyyyyyy too noisy! Anyway, had a good time and fun to catch up with Edda. Been about 3 years since I had seen her. She came up here on the train from LA. Left from Union Station. 

Took two days. She said it was enjoyable, but she didn't sleep. She was one tired girl when she got to Eugene. 

 

A year ago today, my sweet baby girl Maggie The Poopsie Do passed away at age 15. I still miss her every single day. Such a love. Oh darn, I cry every time I see her picture. Doin' that now!

This morning before the sun even thought of coming over the mountain (about 5:45) I heard a loud noise. Got up and there was this little black bear who had lifted the big trash can on the back porch that was filled with cracked corn and tipped it over and he was inside eating! The flash scared him off!

Knew one was around. Saw bear scat down by the barn the other day....filled with berries! Always something! LOL

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

August 23rd

National Sponge Cake Day

http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/featherlight-sponge-cake-recipe-del0312