Gloom ~ Picture of the Day ~ Hostess Brand ~ Irish Potato Soup ~ National Indian Pudding Day

Good 35º slightly foggy morning. 

Yesterday started out gloomy and finally we got wind and the sun came through the clouds. We topped at 73º. 

Kristen said it was foggy down in the San Gabriel Valley area. 

Picture of the Day

Would LOVE to see a picture of the purse-snatcher when he opened it!

Interesting....

Hostess brand was founded in 1925 when Continental Baking Co. purchased Taggart bakery, the makers of Wonder Bread. Beginning in 1930 other products began to emerge including Twinkies, Sno Balls, Ding Dongs and Ho Hos.

As the popularity of sugar based food decreased, the company struggled with rising labor and commodity costs. It filed for bankruptcy for the first time in 2004.

In 2009, it came out of bankruptcy under the name Hostess Brands and attempted to introduce lower calorie products. But overburdened in debt with being a heavily unionized company with very high labor costs, the company again filed for bankruptcy in November 2012 and began suspending operations at all plants.

Hostess was purchased out of bankruptcy by Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Co (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Global_Management)

for $410 million and Twinkies returned to U.S. shelves on July 15, 2013.

From Mr. Food......

Irish Potato Soup

Irish Potato Soup is a traditional favorite that never goes out of style. Enjoy its goodness around St. Patrick's Day or any time.

 

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 6 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 (10-1/2-ounce) cans condensed chicken broth
• 2 cups plus 3 tablespoons water, divided
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

1. In a soup pot, melt butter over medium heat and saute onion and celery 3 to 4 minutes, or until tender. 
    
2. Add potatoes, broth, 2 cups water, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and pepper; mix well. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce heat to low and simmer 35 minutes. 
    
3. In a small bowl, combine remaining 3 tablespoons water and cornstarch; stir into soup and cook until thickened.

****If you'd like, top with thin slices of hard-boiled eggs and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley just before serving.

Historically this date...

1956 – The United States Supreme Court declares Alabama laws requiring segregated buses illegal, thus ending the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

1982 – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. after a march to its site by thousands of Vietnam War veterans.

1985 – The volcano Nevado del Ruiz erupts and melts a glacier, causing a lahar (volcanic mudslide) that buries Armero, Colombia, killing approximately 23,000 people.

 Holy cow!!!!

And births this date include....

1850 – Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish writer (d. 1894)

1917 – Robert Sterling, American actor (d. 2006)

(Played on Topper with his wife Ann Jefferies)

1924 – Linda Christian, Mexican-born actress (d.2011)

1932 – Richard Mulligan, American actor (d. 2000)

1941 – Dack Rambo, American actor (d. 1994)

1941- Dirk Rambo, American actor (d. 1967)

 

Dirk died from burns in an automobile accident and Dack died from AIDS.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6197

1947 – Joe Mantegna, American actor

 

1954 – Chris Noth, American actor

1955 – Whoopi Goldberg, American actress, comedienne, and singer

Gag Gag Gag....  Rude and DISGUSTING! Three quick marriages and a drug addict early on!

1967 – Jimmy Kimmel, American comedian and talk-show host

All I know. Nuff said. Happy Hump Day. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National Indian Pudding Day recognizes a cold-weather classic. On November 13th each year, serve up this traditional New England dessert that’s sure to wow.  

In the seventeenth century, English colonists brought hasty pudding to North America, transforming it. Although they initially made the pudding with wheat, due to a shortage of grain, the colonists eventually cornmeal. Since the colonists had learned to cultivate maize (corn) from the indigenous peoples, the crop was readily available. The colonists derived the name for Indian pudding from their name for cornmeal, Indian meal. They also replaced the water with milk. For added flavor, cooks add either molasses or maple syrup. Other ingredients they added include cinnamon, ground ginger, butter, eggs, raisins, and nuts.

They then slowly baked the Indian pudding for several hours. Baking transforms the pudding’s texture from the original porridge-like quality of hasty pudding to a much smoother quality which is more typical of custard.

• Before 1900, most American cookbooks included a recipe for Indian pudding.
• By the 20th-century, commercial puddings with an industrially perfect creamy consistency replaced the popularity of Indian pudding.
• The long cooking time required for Indian pudding did not appeal to 20th century home cooks.
• However, during the autumn holidays, Indian pudding some restaurants serve the dish due to its fall traditions.
• Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream pair nicely with Indian pudding.

HOW TO OBSERVE

While Indian pudding may take a long time to cook, it’s worth the wait. Try making some Indian pudding using this  Slow Cooker Indian Pudding Recipe.

Full Moon ~ Grants Pass High School Marching Band ~ Picture of the Day ~ Windshield Wiper Blade ~ Classic Scalloped Chicken ~ National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day

Good 40º dark cloud covered morning. Yesterday was a pretty day and we warmed to 74º. 

Be safe out there with the full moon! Driving especially!!!

Over the weekend my grandson Tucker's Grants Pass High School Band was in a competition in Seattle. They won!!! They are acing all these competitions!

Picture of the Day ... LOL

Interesting....

Mary Elizabeth Anderson (February 19, 1866 – June 27, 1953) was an American real estate developer, rancher, viticulturist and inventor of the windshield wiper blade. On November 10, 1903 Anderson was granted her first patent  for an automatic car window cleaning device controlled from inside the car, called the windshield wiper.

Mary Anderson was born in Green County, Alabama. In 1889 she moved with her widowed mother and sister to Birmingham, Alabama. She built the Fairmont Apartments on Highland Avenue soon after settling in. By 1893 she had moved west to Fresno California until 1898 where she then operated a cattle ranch and vineyard. 

In a visit to New York City in the winter of 1903, in a trolley car on a frosty day, Anderson observed that a trolley car driver struggled to see past the windows because of the falling sleet.When she returned to Alabama she hired a designer for a hand-operated device to keep a windshield clear and had a local company produce a working model. She applied for, and in 1903 was granted, a 17-year patent for a windshield wiper. Her device consisted of a lever inside the vehicle that controlled a rubber blade on the outside of the windshield. The lever could be operated to cause the spring-loaded arm to move back and forth across the windshield. A counterweight was used to ensure contact between the wiper and the window. Similar devices had been made earlier, but Anderson's was the first to be effective.

In 1905 Anderson tried to sell the rights to her invention through a noted Canadian firm, but they rejected her application saying "we do not consider it to be of such commercial value as would warrant our undertaking its sale." After the patent expired in 1920 and the automobile manufacturing business grew exponentially, windshield wipers using Anderson's basic design became standard equipment. In 1922, Cadillac became the first car manufacturer to adopt them as standard equipment and other companies soon followed.

From Mr. Food....  Classic Scalloped Chicken....

We've got good news! You can stop worrying about what you're having for dinner tonight, because this Classic Scalloped Chicken is the best thing on the menu. There's no need to get jittery because this easy casserole recipe is ready in no time, and totally willing to be a part of your weeknight dinner plans. Get ready for something hot and delicious everyone will love! 

 

• 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 stick (2 tablespoons) butter, melted
• 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
• 1 (12-ounce) jar chicken gravy
• 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 (2-ounce) jar diced pimientos, drained
• 1 1/2 cups instant rice

 

1. Preheat oven to 400º. Coat a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Season chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter; sauté chicken 6 to 8 minutes or until no longer pink.
3. Remove from heat and add broth, gravy, mushrooms, peas, pimientos, and rice; mix well. Pour into baking dish, cover with aluminum foil, and bake 30 minutes.
4. Remove from oven, uncover, and stir well. Bake, uncovered, 5 to 10 minutes, or until rice is tender. Serve immediately.

Historically this date.....

1936 – In California, the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge opens to traffic.

1970 – The Oregon Highway Division attempts to destroy a rotting beached Sperm whale with explosives, leading to the now infamous "exploding whale" incident.

..... now you HAVE to watch this video. HILARIOUS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZhn28_Z9wc

1979 – Iran hostage crisis: in response to the hostage situation in Tehran, US President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all petroleum imports into the United States from Iran.

And births this date include....

1929 – Grace Kelly, American actress and Princely consort of Monaco (d. 1982)

 

1934 – Charles Manson, American cult leader and convicted murderer (d.2017)

1958 – Megan Mullally, American actress and singer

 

1961 – Nadia Comăneci, Romanian gymnast

1970 – Tonya Harding, American figure skater

 

1982 – Anne Hathaway, American actress

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

National Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day says to hold the fishes! Anchovy lovers move over on November 12th. All the other pizza lovers get their due and pile on their toppings. This annual pizza holiday gets the spotlight with olives, pepperoni, sausage, peppers, and onions. How about mushrooms, bacon, or pineapple? Approved! Just no fishy business on this national day, or no pizza for you!

Classified as an oily fish, Anchovies are a family of small, common salt-water forage fish. There are 144 species found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.  Anchovies are small, green fish. They have blue reflections caused by the silver longitudinal stripe, which begins at the base of the caudal fin.

Traditionally, anchovies are processed in a salt brine and then packed in oil or salt, resulting in a strong, characteristic flavor.  Optionally they may be pickled in vinegar, giving the anchovies a milder taste.

Pizza:

• In ancient Greece, the Greeks covered their bread with oils, herbs, and cheese. Some believe this practice is the beginning of the pizza.
• In Byzantine Greek, the word was spelled “πίτα,” pita, meaning pie. 
• The Romans developed a sheet of dough topped with cheese and honey. They then flavored it with bay leaves. 
• The modern pizza began in Italy as the Neapolitan flatbread.
• The original pizza used only mozzarella cheese. The mozzarella was produce in Naples and usually the highest quality buffalo mozzarella variant. 
• In 1997, the United States produced an estimated 2 billion pounds of pizza cheese annually.
• The first United States pizza establishment opened in 1905 was in New York’s Little Italy. 
• Americans love pizza. So much so, it’s one of our favorite meals.