Weather ~ Picture of the Day ~ Atlanta Braves ~ All-In-One Sausage Dinner ~ Mark Moran ~ National Pistachio Day

 

Good 37º cloudy/foggy morning. Predictions are for 80% chance of rain today. 

 

 

Yesterday started off cloudy and sunny on and off and we topped at 63º. 

 

 

 

Picture of the Day

 

 

 

Interesting about the Atlanta Braves...

 

The Braves, who played in Boston and Milwaukee before moving to Atlanta in 1966, trace their nickname to the symbol of a corrupt political machine. James Gaffney, who became president of Boston's National League franchise in 1911, was a member of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party machine that controlled New York City politics throughout the 19th century. The Tammany name was derived from Tammamend, a Delaware Valley Indian chief. The society adopted an Indian headdress as its emblem and its members became known as Braves. Sportswriter Leonard Koppett described Gaffney's decision to rename his team, which had been known as the Doves, in a 1993 letter to the New York Times: "Wouldn't it be neat to call the team the 'Braves,' waving this symbol of the Democrats under the aristocratic Bostonians? It wouldn't bother the fans." And it didn't, especially after the Braves swept the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1914 World Series.

 

 

 

From Mr. Food

 

Here's an all-in-one skillet meal that your family is sure to love! Our All-in-One Sausage Dinner is made with your favorite Italian sausage, along with some veggies, and yummy egg noodles. Everything cooks together in a homemade sour cream sauce for extra-goodness. And it only takes about 30 minutes!

 

• 1 pound hot or sweet Italian sausage, crumbled
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 pound narrow or medium egg noodles

 

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, combine sausage, onion, and green pepper. Cook until sausage is browned and onion is tender; drain off pan drippings.
    
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, sour cream, water, sugar, chili powder, and salt; mix well. Stir tomato mixture and noodles into skillet.
    
3. Cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally.
   
   

 

 

 

Special birthday today.... Mark Moran (Jackson Co Fire ret.) is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!!

 

^Rogue River Fire Department "back in the day" with Mark

 

^Mark with his bride Julie (Manager at Ace Hardware in Rogue River) and his daughter Leah (who was my hairdresser for 20 years!). Great family!

 

 

Historically this date.....

1919 – President Woodrow Wilson signs an act of the U.S. Congress establishing most of the Grand Canyon as a United States National Park (see Grand Canyon National Park).

1987 – Iran-Contra affair: The Tower Commission rebukes President Ronald Reagan for not controlling his national security staff.

1993 – World Trade Center bombing: In New York City, a truck bomb parked below the North Tower of the World Trade Center explodes, killing 6 and injuring over a thousand.

 

And births this date include...

1829 – Levi Strauss, German-born clothing designer (d. 1902)

Jerry's "uniform" daily was a pair of Levis 501 jeans and a JC Penny white t-shirt and in the winter also his camouflage jacket.

 

1846 – William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, American frontiersman (d. 1917)

1852 – John Harvey Kellogg, American surgeon and advocate (d. 1943)

1887 – William Frawley, American actor (d. 1966)

 

1916 – Jackie Gleason, American actor, writer, composer and comedian (d. 1987)

 

1920 – Tony Randall, American actor (d. 2004)

1928 – Fats Domino, American musician (d.2017)

 

1953 – Michael Bolton, American singer

1958 – Susan J. Helms, American astronaut

 

 

 

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

February 26th recognizes all things pistachio and National Pistachio Day is the day to celebrate! Pistachio lovers rejoice as they eat their favorite nut all day long. For those who do not eat pistachios, buy some and give them to someone who does. Crack them open and eat them up or enjoy them in ice cream or your favorite pistachio dessert!

 

Pistachios arrived in the United States sometime in the 1880s, but they have been cultivated in the Middle East since Biblical times.

The pistachio tree grows to about 20 feet tall needing little or no rain and must have high heat.  Amazingly, in Iran, they claim to have 700-year-old pistachio trees!  A new tree takes between 7 and 10 years to mature and bear fruit.

Pistachio Facts:

•  All pistachio shells are naturally beige in color.  Some companies dye nuts red or green if nuts are inferior or for consumer demand.
• California produces about 300 million pounds of pistachios each year, accounting for 98 percent of America’s production.
• Pistachio shells typically split naturally when ripe.
• The kernels are often eaten whole, either fresh or roasted and either salted or unsalted.
• In the Middle East, people call the pistachio the smiling nut.
• In China, people call the pistachio the happy nut.

“Pistachios are an excellent source of vitamin B6, copper and manganese and a good source of protein, fiber, thiamine and phosphorus.  Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as pistachios, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”  US Food and Drug Administration, July 2003

A Great Thing To Do — Recycle the Pistachio Shells!

The empty pistachio shells are useful for recycling in several ways.  If unsalted, the shells need not be washed and dried before reuse, but washing is simple if that is not the case.  Practical uses include as a fire starter; kindling to be used with crumpled paper; to line the bottom of pots containing houseplants for drainage and retention of soil for up to two years; as a mulch for shrubs and plants that require acid soils, as a medium for orchids; and as an addition to a compost pile designed for wood items that take longer to decompose than leafy materials (it can take up to a year for pistachio shells to decompose unless soil is added to the mix).  

Shells from salted pistachios can also be placed around the base of plants to deter slugs and snails.  Many craft uses for the shells include holiday tree ornaments, jewelry, mosaics and rattles.  Research indicates that pistachio shells may be helpful in cleaning up pollution created by mercury emissions.

Weather ~ Mike Hannan ~ President Garfield ~ New England Clam Chowder ~ Manhattan Clam Chowder ~ First Date with Jerry ~ Arlon & JoAnne Webb ~ National Clam Chowder Day

 

Good 32º cloudy ice on the barn roof morning. 

 

Yesterday we started off frozen at 25º and clear skies. The day stayed beautiful with lots of sunshine. 

 We topped at 62º.

 

 

Tuesday Mike came over and cleaned out my rain gutters and mowed the grass. Dude was extra happy to see Mike!

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting about President Garfield....

 

James Garfield, the 20th US President, was a brilliant man who could write Greek with one hand while simultaneously writing Latin with the other.

The last President to be born in a log cabin, Garfield was encouraged by his mother to overcome his humble beginnings. When he turned 17, she pushed him to quit working on the canals and begin his formal education. Already a voracious reader, who devoured every book he could lay his hands on, Garfield fulfilled his promise by shining as a student and dazzling everyone with his formidable intellect.

He held various menial jobs as he progressed through his academic career. He eventually became a teacher and President of Hiram College. He subsequently studied law and became interested in politics. During service in the Union Army, Garfield's abilities caught the attention of his Republican friends who urged him to run for office. His intellectual prowess didn't abate when he assumed office. During his Congressional tenure he developed a trapezoid proof of the Pythagorean theorem that was published in the New England Journal of Education.

Ironically, while of humble origins, he could be dismissive of others. Generally supportive of Abraham Lincoln, he marveled that Lincoln could devise the Emancipation Proclamation, calling him a "second-rate" lawyer. Although his admiration of him did grow with time.

James Garfield.  Garfield was Colonel of the 42nd Ohio Infantry, and quickly rose to command of a brigade; he would eventually be promoted to Major General.   He fought in Kentucky, at the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee and was Chief of Staff for Major General William Rosecrans during the Chickamauga Campaign.  Garfield, a Republican,  was also elected to the House of Representatives during the Civil War.  

Elected President in 1880, Garfield was shot by Charles Guiteau on July 2, 1881, dying on September 19, 1881.

 

 

 

Since it's National Clam Chowder Day, here's two recipes of chowder.....

From Mr. Food

 

Can't make it to New England for a bowl of cream-style "chowda" this week? No problem! Our New England Clam Chowder tastes like it came straight from a small seaside shack. Top each bowl with some oyster crackers and you're all set!

 

• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 ounces salt pork, diced
• 2 (6.5-ounce) cans chopped clams
• 1 (8-ounce) bottle clam juice
• 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
• 1 large potato, peeled and diced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream, divided
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)

 

1. In a soup pot over medium heat, sauté onion and salt pork 5 to 7 minutes, or until they begin to brown.
    
2. Add clams, clam juice, chicken broth, potato, salt, and pepper; cover and bring to a boil. Cook, covered, 12 to 15 minutes, or until potato is tender.
    
3. In a small bowl, dissolve cornstarch in 1/2 cup heavy cream; add to soup. Add remaining 1-1/2 cups cream and the parsley, if desired; cook 5 minutes, or until thickened, stirring frequently.

 

And....

 

From Mr. Food

When it comes to clam chowder, you either like it Manhattan-style or creamy like they make it in New England. Well, for those of you who never had Authentic Manhattan Clam Chowder, like this one, just wait until you take your first spoon full. With its tangy tomato base, combined with lots of chopped clams, what's not to love? What's even better? It whips up in just 20 minutes! The authentic flavor will leave your taste buds happy and your belly full!

 

• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 (6-1/2 ounces) cans chopped clams, undrained
• 2 (8 ounce) bottles clam juice
• 1 cup diced potatoes, uncooked (about 1 medium potato)
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf

1. In a soup pot over medium heat, cook onion, celery, and carrot in butter 5 minutes, or until tender. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
    
2. Reduce heat to low and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Remove the bay leaf before serving.

 

 

 

 

 

Today, February 25, 1974, 47 years ago, was my first date with Jerry. He treated me to steak and lobster dinner. We totally enjoyed the evening and each other. Instant love. From that day on we were always together. We married on June 14th the next year.

 

 

Yesterday was a special anniversary for friends Arlon and his bride JoAnne Webb. They celebrated their 59th!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KIDS!!

Arlon was a graduate from Woodrow Wilson High in El Sereno.

 

 

Historically this date.....

1919 – Oregon places a 1 cent per U.S. gallon tax on gasoline, becoming the first U.S. state to levy a gasoline tax.

 

1932 – Adolf Hitler obtains German citizenship by naturalization, which allows him to run in the 1932 election for Reichspräsident.

 

1964 – Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston, Ali took the title.

 

1991 – Gulf War: An Iraqi scud missile hits an American military barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia killing 28 U.S. Army Reservists from Pennsylvania.

.........Rest in peace soldiers. God Bless you.

 

And births this date include...

1913 – Jim Backus, American actor (d. 1989)

 

1929 – Christopher George, American actor (d. 1983)

 

1938 – Diane Baker, American actress

 

1943 – George Harrison, English singer and guitarist, member of The Beatles (d. 2001)

 

1971 – Sean Astin, American actor

 

 

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

xo Sue Mom Bobo

 

Each year on February 25th people across the nation have a bowl and spoon ready to be filled with clam chowder as they prepare to participate in National Clam Chowder Day.

A clam chowder in its simplest form is a soup or stew containing clams or fish. The most common type of chowder includes milk or cream as well as potatoes, though the Manhattan clam chowder has tomatoes.

The origin of the word “chowder” is up for a little bit of debate.  The French word for cauldron is “chaudiere.”  The English word “jowter” means fish peddler.  Both are on the hook for possible origins.

 In chowder, along with the clams, it is common to find diced potatoes, onions (often sautéed with pork or bacon drippings) and celery.

Following is a list of the basic clam chowder variants:

• New England clam chowder
• Manhattan clam chowder
• Rhode Island clam chowder
• Delaware clam chowder
• New Jersey clam chowder
• Hatteras clam chowder
• Minorcan clam chowder
• Long Island clam chowder
• Puget Sound clam chowder