Mailboxes ~ Bizarre Vegetables ~ Boston Cream Pie Poke Cake ~ Funny Sign ~ Joan Petit-Clair

Good 41º foggy morning. 

And yes, I slept in! Well, not really, got up at the usual 6:45 time, just the time has changed and it felt like I slept in! 

 

Yesterday we didn't get much sun here, stayed pretty cloudy. 

Today the prediction is for 70º. OMGOSH! I hope so. That would be nice!! 

 

As for the drunk hitting our mailboxes yesterday morning at 4am, the posts that hold up the mailboxes were destroyed and a couple of the mailboxes destroyed. Mine was smashed, but Frank (my neighbor) said he could fix it. I talked to my insurance agent (my son) and he said to get a copy of the report and get someone out to give an estimate for repair and we'd get it paid for by the drunk's insurance. Joy. I called the Sheriff's office and talked to a nice gal. She said it would be best to wait until Monday to make sure the report is ready. I told her about my background and we had a nice chat. Her boyfriend used to be a Montebello officer! ( http://www.montebellopd.org/ ) Then I called my other neighbor, Maria Deruyte, and since her son is in construction asked if he could give an estimate for repair. The posts have to be secured in the ground with cement. These heavy key lock mailboxes cost anywhere from $80 - $200 for one that will hold a weeks worth of mail....

 

 

 

Here's the last of the bizarre vegetables...

 

Emo carrot......

Evolved radish.....

Foot radish.....

Mother and child carrots.....

Long faces eggplant....

 

 

 

 

 

Boston Cream Pie Poke Cake

Here is a modern day way to serve up a classic dessert.  Boston Cream Pie Poke Cake features everything you love about Boston Cream Pie, including yummy yellow cake, creamy filling, and a layer of homemade chocolate glaze. This easy poke cake will quickly become one of your favorites!

 

Ingredients:

• 1 (15.25-ounce) package yellow cake mix, batter prepared according to package directions
• 1 (4-serving size) package instant vanilla pudding and pie filling mix
• 2 cups milk

 

• Chocolate glaze:
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 ounce (1 square) unsweetened chocolate
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Add batter and bake according to package directions; let cool. 
2. Using the end of a wooden spoon, poke holes about 1-inch apart all over top of cake. 
3. In a medium bowl, whisk pudding mix and milk until slightly thickened. Pour mixture into holes and spread evenly over top of cake. Chill 1 hour. 
4. To make Chocolate Glaze, in a medium saucepan over low heat, combine sugar, cornstarch, water, and chocolate; cook until chocolate is melted and mixture is thick and smooth, stirring constantly.
5. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Allow to cool, then spread gently over top of cake. Chill 2 hours or until ready to serve.

 

This sign was on FB and it cracked me up...

 

 

 

 

Today is a special birthday, my traveling pal Joan Petit-Clair is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOAN!!! I hope your day is GREAT and sunny!!!

 

 

 

Historically this date.........

1945 – World War II: The Empire of Vietnam, a short-lived puppet state, is established with Bảo Đại as its ruler.

1946 – Rudolf Höss, the first commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp, is captured by British troops.

2011 – An earthquake measuring 9.0 in magnitude strikes 130 km (81 mi) east of Sendai, Japan, triggering a tsunami killing thousands of people. This event also triggered the second largest nuclear accident in history, and one of only two events to be classified as a Level 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale.

 

And births this date include....
1934 – Sam Donaldson, American reporter

 

1936 – Antonin Scalia, American Supreme Court Justice (d.2016)

 

1956 – Joey Buttafuoco, American criminal

1965 – Jesse Jackson, Jr., American politician

There you go..... good old Chicago politician!!! How to make your daddy proud: In 2012 federal prosecutors and FBI agents in Washington, D.C. investigated Jackson for alleged financial improprieties, including possible misuse of campaign funds. Jackson resigned from Congress on November 21, 2012, citing mental and physical health problems, including bipolar disorder, clinical depression, and gastrointestinal problems. On February 8, 2013, Jackson admitted to violating federal campaign law by using campaign funds to make personal purchases. Jackson pleaded guilty on February 20, 2013 to one count of wire and mail fraud.

 

Later dinner was Schwans Pork Potstickers with a sweet soy sauce and some sweet potatoes.... OMGOOD!!! 

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Johnny Appleseed Day

 

 

** JohnnyAppleseed is said to have worn a tin pot on his head to cook his meals in while on his journeys. While this claim is legend, he did frequently travel with a pot in his belongings and a satchel full of seeds.

Date When Celebrated : March 11th and/or September 26th. Why two dates?......read on

Johnny Appleseed Day honors one of America's great legends. Johnny Appleseed was a real person. John Chapman was among the American settlers who were captivated by the movement west across the continent. As Johnny Appleseed travelled west, he planted apple trees along the way, and sold trees to settlers. With every apple tree that was planted, the legend grew.

A Little About the Legend:

• John Chapman (aka Johnny Appleseed) was born on September 26, 1774.
• He was a nurseryman who started out planting trees in western New York and Pennsylvania.
• During the life of John Chapman, the "West" was places like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.
• John Chapman was a deeply religious person He was known to preach during his travels.
• According to legend, Johny Appleseed led a simple life and wanted little. He rarely accepted money and often donated any money he received.
• It is believed that he died on March 11, 1845, from what was referred to as the "winter plague". The actual date of his death has been disputed.

There is a lot of "legend" in stories written about Johny Appleseed. By it's definition, over the years, legends grow bigger than life. It also appears that there is some link between Johny Appleseed and very early Arbor Day celebrations.

Celebrate today with an apple rich menu. Include fresh apples for snacks, and some applesauce or apple pie for dessert. And, make plans to plant an apple tree.

---

Origin of "Johnny Appleseed Day":

There is plenty of documentation to support claims for Johnny Appleseed Day on March 11th and on September 26th. We found no one who claims to have created this special day.

So, here's the skinny on the two dates:

• John Chapman was born on September 26, 1774. This date is undisputed.
• It is believed he died on March 11, 1845. However, his date was not formally recorded and the date of death is disputed.

Here is how we come out on the debate: This day should be celebrated on the day of his birth. His birth date is undisputed. His birthday coincides with the season of the apple harvest. A birth is a more positive day than a death.  We think Johnny would agree.

Spring Ahead ~ Mailboxes ~ Crock Pot Easy Chicken & Dumplings ~ Bizarre Vegetables & Fruit ~ Tooth Cleaning

Good 41º cloudy morning.

 

Tonight's the night.... set your clocks ahead 1 hour before you get in bed!!!

Some interesting facts:

https://www.almanac.com/content/when-daylight-saving-time

 

 

I had a call at 5:20 this morning from a Deputy. He said he was down by my mailbox that had been hit by a drunk and smashed. The drunk, a female, had been arrested. He gave me his name, phone number, and the case number. He told me to give the information to the other neighbors I share the mailbox holder with.  More on that later after I go check out the damage. Here is the Google street view of our mailboxes..... 

 

 

 

Crock Pot Easy Chicken and Dumplings

 

3 cans of cream of chicken soup (10.5 oz each)

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

water

3 tubes of refrigerated biscuits (12 oz each)

 

1. Put your soup in your crock pot.
2. Add in your chicken, followed by enough water to just cover your chicken.
3. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
4. About 45 minutes to an hour before serving, turn your crock pot on high.
5. Use two forks to shred your chicken into bite size pieces.
6. Cut your biscuits into quarters, add to your crock pot and mix well.
7. Cover again and cook until your dumplings are done (approximately 35 minutes).
8. Stir and serve.

 

Bizarre Vegetables and fruit.... evil onion, terrified green and red peppers, and a strawberry butterfly.....

 

 

Historically this date.......

1876 – Alexander Graham Bell makes the first successful telephone call by saying "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you."

1933 – An earthquake in Long Beach, California kills 115 people and causes an estimated $40 million dollars in damage.

1945 – The U.S. Army Air Force firebombs Tokyo, and the resulting firestorm kills more than 100,000 people, mostly civilians.

1977 – Rings of Uranus: Astronomers discover rings around Uranus. your anus? :o()

 

 

 

And births this date include...

1940 – Chuck Norris, American actor and martial artist

 

1940 – Dean Torrence, American singer (Jan and Dean)

 

1958 – Sharon Stone, American actress

 

 

 

Yesterday was "tooth" cleaning day. Liz is my hygienist. We always have a fun chat. So now, that tooth is all shiny !!

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo 

 

What better way to start March 10th then with National Blueberry Popover Day? Popovers are airy rolls that puff up when baked, popping over the edge of the tin.  They are light and crispy on the outside while the insides are warm and often hollow.  They can be filled with custards, creams and fruits for a sweet treat, especially blueberries.   

Popovers are similar to Yorkshire pudding and can also be served with savory combinations.

Most popover recipes are made using mostly eggs, milk, flour and salt.  When making popovers, using eggs and milk that are at room temperature produces the best result. The resulting batter is thin but has enough air it that when it bakes the steam expands the batter, causing it to puff up and pop over the tin.  The egg proteins help the pastry hold its shape and eventually the crust turns flaky and golden.

** 1850 – The oldest known reference to popovers in a letter of E.E. Stuart.

** 1876 – The first cookbook with a popover recipe was Practical Cooking by M.N. Henderson.

Wind ~ Rain ~ News Photo ~ White Barbecue Sauce ~ Bizarre Vegetables & Fruit ~ Ike Saben ~ Wendy Harp ~ Leah Marmorato ~ Jan Kundert ~ Omaha Steaks Order ~ Crabmeat Day

Good 46º raining morning. 

Yesterday we had quite a bit of wind and some dark clouds.

The wind was wild and blowing from the south and then from the west. My Acuweather said it was 21 mph and on the nightly news they said we had gusts of 25-35 mph! It scared Dude and Bruiser!

Rain was slated for the evening and I heard it in the middle of the night.

Famous again.... my photo of the rainbow was on the 6 o'clock news. Thank you Adam Colpack!

Normally when I think about BBQ sauce I think of a sweet and spicy tomato based, red, sauce but there are other kinds of BBQ sauce like this white BBQ sauce. This sauce has a base of mayonnaise along with vinegar for tang, mustard and horseradish for bite, garlic and Worcestershire sauce for flavor, paprika for a bit of smokiness, salt, cayenne and plenty of fresh cracked black pepper! It only takes a few minutes to whip up your own white BBQ sauce and it tastes great slathered on chicken, as a dipping sauce for chicken bites or fingers or mixed in with pulled/shredded meat for sandwiches or salads....

A creamy and tangy white BBQ sauce with bite!

• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar (or cider vinegar)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon creole mustard
• 1 tablespoon horseradish
• 2 cloves garlic, minced/grated
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (omit for vegetarian)
• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
• salt and cayenne to taste

Mix everything and enjoy!

Here are some more of those bizarre vegetables and fruits....

a cucumber duck and a tomato duck and an owl apple.........

OMGOSH, 5 special people celebrating today...

My pal Ike Saben is having a birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY IKE!! ox

Catalina Island pal, Wendy Harp is celebrating her birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY WENDY!! xo

My "hair girl" Leah (Moran) Marmorato is celebrating her birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEAH!! xo  (with Kyle) 

And a wedding anniversary celebration for Jan (niece) and Ben Kundert is happening. HAPPY 38th ANNIVERSARY KIDS!! xo

               My Kristen with her cousin Jan^ (no photo of Ben)

Historically this date....

1842 – The first documented discovery of gold in California occurs at Rancho San Francisco, six years before the California Gold Rush.

1916 – Pancho Villa leads nearly 500 Mexican raiders in an attack against Columbus, New Mexico.

This picture was taken in 1910 in Cananea Mexico. These are Pancho Villa's men who came to my grandparents home and told them since they weren't Mexican citizens they must leave. My Mother on the left with some kind of bandage on her head, my Uncle Lloyd in the middle, and my Aunt Agnes on the right.

1945 – The Bombing of Tokyo by the United States Army Air Forces began, one of the most destructive bombing raids in history.

1959 – The Barbie doll makes its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York.

2011 – Space Shuttle Discovery makes its final landing after 39 flights.

And births this date include...

1902 – Will Geer, American actor (d. 1978)

1921 – Carl Betz, American actor (d. 1978)

I am expecting my Omaha Steaks order today....

Special for customers ....
4 top sirloins

roasted turkey breast

corned beef and cabbage crock pot meal

pub style cod

poblano chicken and rice skillet meal

boneless chicken thighs

Free shipping and a free smoked boneless ham and an extra $15 off.

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

Observed annually on March 9th, National Crab Meat Day (also National Crabmeat Day) is an American food holiday.  This day is for all crab meat lovers to celebrate their favorite crustacean.

Crab meat is a healthy choice until you add all that melted butter.

There are 1.5 million tons of crab consumed every year around the world.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Boil or steam some crab.  There are a variety of ways crab can be used. Or, give one of these recipes a try:

True Maryland Crab Cakes

King Crab Appetizers