Category: MISC

Worth sharing – LET US PAUSE TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED FOR FREEDOM

LET US PAUSE TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED FOR FREEDOM

DEAR ABBY: Memorial Day is not about war; it’s about people. It’s about those dedicated individuals — most of them young — who died serving their country and their fellow Americans as well as future generations. In other words, all of us.

We Americans are at our best when we come together bonded by a noble purpose. And that’s the reason for the National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day.
Abby, your patriotism and compassion have helped us in our effort to unite the more than 311 million Americans who live in this land of the free and home of the brave. Please remind your millions of readers to come together by pausing for a moment at 3 p.m. local time, wherever they are, to acknowledge the sacrifice of our fallen.
Unfortunately, too many of our citizens forget to remember. I am determined to find ways to help America continue to pay tribute to the nearly 2 million men and women who have died for us. Our freedoms should remind us of their sacrifice and our debt to them.
It is our duty to never forget them, to keep them in our hearts and in our actions. They were the best of the best — the pride of the USA. We owe them the commitment to reflect on what they did and to put remembrance into action. This means to give back to our country and to live honoring them every day, not just on Memorial Day.
Thank you for all you do to honor America’s heroes. — CARMELLA LASPADA, FOUNDER, NO GREATER LOVE
DEAR CARMELLA: You’re welcome. I hope readers will heed your request to offer a silent tribute this afternoon to the men and women who have given their lives in the service of this country. Considering the magnitude of their sacrifice, it’s the least we can do.
To all of my friends out there — please join me, as well as the iron workers, sheet metal workers, firefighters and painters unions and thousands of AFL-CIO members who have supported the Moment since its inception, in a moment of silence at 3 p.m. Today, as in the past, major league baseball games will stop, customers and staff will pause in more than 30,000 grocery stores throughout the country, and, of course, personnel serving in the military around the world will observe it, too. To learn what others are doing today, visit www.ngl.org.
May our fallen rest in peace; may our country once again live in peace as well.

BANANA BUNDT CAKE with PEANUT BUTTER BUTTERCREAM GLAZE ~ Save Room for Dessert

I brought this cake to work for a meeting, a breakfast meeting, and it was gone in moments.  To me peanut butter and banana have a wonderful affinity for each other.  If you want to really pump it up, toss in some chocolate chips to the cake batter…whatever you choose to do, be sure to save room for dessert, even if it’s 9:30 am…
Banana Bundt Cake with Peanut Butter Buttercream Glaze
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature.
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
4 very ripe bananas, mashed, about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups
1 cup sour cream
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Spray or generously butter a 12-cup Bundt pan (After a disastrous cake inversion, I now use this)
  • Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
  • Beat butter until creamy; add sugar and vanilla, beating until fluffy.
  • Add the eggs one at a time, beating for about 1 minute after you plop in each egg
  • Unless you want to be splattered with batter, reduce the speed to low and add the bananas.
  • Then, add in half of the dry ingredients, the entire cup of sour cream, and then the rest of the dry ingredients.
  • Pour batter into prepared Bundt pan and smooth the top.
  • Bake for 65 to 75 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean. During the baking time, check after about 30 minutes, and if it is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with foil.
  • Transfer the cake to a rack and cool for 10 minutes before inverting to cool completely.
  • Pour on Peanut Butter Buttercream Glaze or just dust with powdered sugar.

Peanut Butter Buttercream Glaze
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup milk, or more
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-2 cups powdered sugar
Pinch of salt

  • In a microwave safe bowl, heat butter and milk until butter melts.  Add peanut butter and vanilla, stirring until mixture is smooth.
  • Add 1 cup powdered sugar, mix well.  Add more powdered sugar or milk to achieve desired consistency.

Cake recipe adapted from Dorie Greenspan’s Baking: From My Home to Yours

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE BEACH STAYS AT THE BEACH

A while back Martha over at Menagerie hosted virtual blog parties every Friday night,  It was BYOB (you fill in the blank, you know booze, blog, bbq, etc…)  and link up to say hello to old friends and make some new ones also.  She has started them again with a fun theme:

She made a pizza for us tonight and I’m bringing the Strawberry Margaritas.

STRAWBERRY MARGARITAS  
2 cups crushed ice 
1/2 cup fresh strawberry puree
1 cup tequila 
2 limes, juiced 
Splash Triple Sec 
Splash simple syrup (equal amounts sugar and water heated until sugar dissolves completely and then cooled)
  • Combine in a blender, ice, strawberry water, tequila, lime juice, Triple Sec and simple syrup. 
  • Puree until smooth. 
  • Pour into rocks glasses, garnish and serve.

What will you bring?  Stop by and meet everyone over this holiday weekend.

STORY OF MY LIFE!

An old man, a boy & a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the donkey & the old man walked.

As they went along they passed some people who remarked “What a shame the old man is walking and the boy is riding.”

The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions.

Later they passed some people who remarked “What a shame…. he makes that little boy walk.” So they then decided they’d both walk!

Soon they passed some more people who remarked “They’re really stupid to walk when they have a decent donkey to ride.”

So, they both rode the donkey.  Now they passed some people who shamed them by saying “How awful to put such a load on a poor donkey.”

The boy and man figured they were probably right, so they decide to carry the donkey.

As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the animal and he fell into the river and drowned.

The moral of the story? If you try to please everyone, you might as well… Kiss your ass goodbye!

 ~ Have A Nice Day ~

UNCONSCIOUS MUTTERINGS

I say … and you think … ?

  1. Decoder :: Ring from a cracker Jacks box
  2. Cake :: and Ice Cream
  3. Sense :: and Sensibility
  4. Geek :: Nerd
  5. Cousin :: Friend
  6. Goggles :: Ear Flaps
  7. Social media:: time consuming
  8. Butterfly :: pretty
  9. Search :: and Rescue
  10. Manicure :: Pedicure

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

By Mike Elder of Black Sheep Custom Cakes
“I have no illusions about what little I can add now to the silent testimony of those who gave their lives willingly for their country. Words are even more feeble on this Memorial Day, for the sight before us is that of a strong and good nation that stands in silence and remembers those who were loved and who, in return, loved their countrymen enough to die for them.” – Ronald Reagan
And in honor of Memorial Day all you foodies go check out all the tribute cakes at CAKE WRECKS MEMORIAL TRIBUTE POST.

Mom’s Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Carrot Salad

This recipe is one of my mom’s best and one of our most favorite.  It is perfect for Memorial Day or any backyard BBQ!

Mom’s Broccoli, Cauliflower and Carrot Salad
1 head of broccoli
1 head of cauliflower
10-15 sliced carrots
1/2 diced red onion
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup mayo

Directions:  Wash vegetables.  Cut up broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and red onion.  Combine sugar, mayo and apple cider vinegar.  Pour the dressing over the vegetables, mix and refrigerate.

Wash and cut off stems from broccoli.  Cut into bite-sized pieces.
Wash and cut off stems from cauliflower.  Cut into bite-sized pieces.

Slice up carrots.  I used about 15 baby carrots.

Measure out 3/4 cup mayo, 3/4 cup sugar, and 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar.  Mix until the mayor is absorbed.
Dice 1/2 of a red onion and then pour the dressing over the veggies.

KRABBY CHICKEN CASSEROLE & ASPARAGUS with LIME BUTTER

KRABBY CHICKEN CASSEROLE
2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
1 1/2 cups flaked Krab
1 cup diced celery
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup milk
1 small can french fried onion rings

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Toss together the chicken, krab, celery and onions.
  • Whisk together the sour cream and mayonnaise.
  • Fold sour cream mixture and cheese into chicken mixture.
  • In a small saucepan melt butter.
  • Whisk in flour until golden.
  • Add milk and whisk until well blended.
  • Fold roux into chicken mixture.
  • Pour into a greased 2 quart episode.
  • Top with french fried onion rings.
  • Bake 30 minutes.

5-6 spears of asparagus per person
2-4 tablespoons butter

1 lime, juiced
  • Clean and snap asparagus.
  • Spray a flat cookie sheet with PURE.
  • Arrange asparagus in a single layer.
  • In a small bowl melt the butter.
  • Add the lime juice and whisk well.
  • Pour lime juice evenly over the asparagus.
  • Increase oven temperature to broil.
  • Broil asparagus until just done.
  • Turn off oven and serve both dishes immediately.
 Submitted to: 

    KRABBY CHICKEN CASSEROLE & ASPARAGUS with LIME BUTTER

    KRABBY CHICKEN CASSEROLE
    2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
    1 1/2 cups flaked Krab
    1 cup diced celery
    1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
    1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
    1/2 cup sour cream
    1/2 cup mayonnaise
    4 tablespoons butter
    3 tablespoons flour
    1/2 cup milk
    1 small can french fried onion rings

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Toss together the chicken, krab, celery and onions.
    • Whisk together the sour cream and mayonnaise.
    • Fold sour cream mixture and cheese into chicken mixture.
    • In a small saucepan melt butter.
    • Whisk in flour until golden.
    • Add milk and whisk until well blended.
    • Fold roux into chicken mixture.
    • Pour into a greased 2 quart episode.
    • Top with french fried onion rings.
    • Bake 30 minutes.

    5-6 spears of asparagus per person
    2-4 tablespoons butter
    1 lime, juiced

    • Clean and snap asparagus.
    • Spray a flat cookie sheet with PURE.
    • Arrange asparagus in a single layer.
    • In a small bowl melt the butter.
    • Add the lime juice and whisk well.
    • Pour lime juice evenly over the asparagus.
    • Increase oven temperature to broil.
    • Broil asparagus until just done.
    • Turn off oven and serve both dishes immediately.

    WEEKLY MENU

    Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie

    		 DATE BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER
    Monday 5/30
    		 YOGURT SANDWICHES SLOPPY JOS’ES
    Tuesday 5/31 TOAST LEFTOVERS CASHEW CHICKEN with SNAP PEAS
    Wednesday 6/1 YOGURT SOUP CHICKEN ALA KING
    Thursday 6/2 FRUIT CHEESE & FRUIT LEMON CHICKEN
    Friday 6/3 OATMEAL C.O.R.N. FIESTA CHICKEN & RICE
    Saturday 6/4 KAHLUA BENEDICTS
    		 leftovers CHICKEN SAUTE’ with SUGAR SNAPS & ASPARAGUS
    Sunday 6/5 COUNTRY BENEDICTS
    		 ???
    		 FIRECRACKER CHICKEN

    Veggie Tales by Kris: Smoothies!

    SMOOTHIE TIME! Smoothies are a great snack, small breakfast, and they make your skin look fabulous from all of those vitamins and nutrients! Get creative!

    Here’s my smoothie recipe!
    Very Berry Banana Smoothie:
    Toss the following into a blender: 1 handful blackberries, 1 handful raspberries, 1 handful blueberries, 6 large strawberries, 1 banana (cut into pieces first). Add 3/4 low fat milk or carrot juice for dairy free. Blend away then slurp up! You can add a little peanut butter too and then it would be like a PB&J Smoothie! For the adventurous… you can add 2 large handfuls of spinach or kale to the blender. You won’t taste it I promise. It’s a great way to get more fiber, vitamin c, k,  and iron!

    GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK – SHARING AN EMAIL THAT HIT HOME

    A young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience; with a raised glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, ‘half empty or half full?’….. she fooled them all… “How heavy is this glass of water?”, she inquired with a smile.

    Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

    She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that’s not a problem.  If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you’ll have to call an ambulance. In each case it’s the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “and that’s the way it is with stress. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won’t be able to carry on.”

    “As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.  When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden – holding stress longer and better each time practiced. So, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night… pick them up tomorrow.

    Whatever burdens you’re carrying now, let them down for a moment. Relax, pick them up later after you’ve rested. Life is short. Enjoy it and the now ‘supposed’ stress that you’ve conquered!”

    1 * Accept the fact that some days you’re the pigeon, and some days you’re the statue!
    2 * Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them..
    3 * Drive carefully… It’s not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker..
    4 * If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague
    5 * If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
    6 * Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won’t have a leg to stand on.
    7 * Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.
    8 * Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
    9 * You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
    10 * A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
    11 * Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today.