Happy New Year 2011 - Auld Lang Syne ( lyrics)

Merry Christmas!!!....vintage Frosty The Snowman

Happy National Coffee Day!!

Dang! I can't believe I almost missed this!
Yep, today is the day to celebrate the joys of drinking coffee.

I personally celebrate coffee everyday but today I've been drinking my favorite chicory coffee. I made it so strong that I swear it's starting to fight back.

In celebration of the day, why not read up on the history of coffee or check out the National Coffee Day info on Facebook.

National Nanny Recognition Week 2010 ......September 19 - 25

 

 Happy National Nanny Recognition Week! I received this via email today. I love their description of a Nanny! Read it carefully.......

 

To all the wonderful nannies out there who are so much more than "just a nanny".

 

 All the best during this wonderful week of National Nanny Recognition!

PROUD TO BE A NANNY!!!

Nanny (nah-nee) n. childcare provider, activities director, teacher, dresser, beautician, nutritionist, chef, hygienist, janitor, nurse, dramatic reader, performer, entertainer, costume-maker, arts-and-crafts instructor, dance partner, chauffeur and stroller pusher, personal shopper, secretary, historian, detective, confidant, companion, counselor, coach, body-guard, self-defense instructor, tutor, cheerleader, appreciative audience, hugger, boo-boo kisser, potty trainer, learner, listener, helper, arbiter, peace-keeper, honorary extended-family member, life-long influence, shaper of the future. 

 

From,

The Central Florida Nannies Support Group

 

 

 If you need any ideas, here are a few.....

Ways to Appreciate Your Nanny

♥ Say Thank You ♥ Tell your friends good things about her knowing she will hear them back ♥ a surprise day off ♥ Have the children say Thank You ♥ Treat your nanny to breakfast or dinner made by the family ♥ a card and framed photo of the family ♥ Membership fees to a local nanny support group or other Professional Organization ♥ Pay for conference fees to Nannypalooza or INA with paid professional days to attend the event ♥ Tuition for college courses ♥ CPR Training ♥ Pay for dinner out with friends ♥ a raise ♥ an IRA ♥ gift basket of favorite treats ♥ gift certificates to favorite stores ♥ movie tickets ♥ gift certificate for manicure/pedicure or massage ♥ gym membership ♥ handmade card or gift from the child/children ♥ frequent flier miles to travel home ♥ 

 

 

 

Another Book List

There are lots of lists on the internet.
Many of them are supposed to be the top 100 books that we should read. I've looked at quite a few of those book lists and usually have read about 25 to 40 of the books but never all of them. Many of the books I agree with... meaning that I agree that more people should read them. But some of the books held no interest for me and I suspect not a lot of interests for other folks either.
I also think a lot of the lists cheat by counting an entire series of books...like the Harry Potter series or Phillip Pullman's Dark series... as one book. One list has the entire works of Shakespeare as one item. Totally not fair!

I like the list I've decided to put up here because it's made up entirely of free books you can find online. I love it! Books that are easily accessible to everyone. Many of the books are free because they are classics and in public domain. Some of the books, I have no idea where they are from and why they are free but hey, who am I to complain?
I've marked the books I've read completely with orange writing and the ones I've read partially with red writing.
Hmmm....interesting, I don't seem to have read any of the books in the finance, business or economics sections....surprising??? I think not ;-P

BTW, I found this list at the blog for BestCollegesOnline.com


****************************************************Classics
The Internet can be a great place to find some of the most important works of literature from the past few hundred years. Here are just a few works that have made must-read lists that you can access for free.

1. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer: Pilgrimages were a major part of medieval life and you can enjoy several different perspectives as Chaucer’s characters travel to Canterbury Cathedral.
2. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain: This well-loved novel follows the hi jinks of young Tom Sawyer, full of humor, adventure and fun.
3. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert: French bourgeois life in all of its soul-crushing triviality is explored through the character of Emma Bovary in this novel.
4. Moby Dick by Herman Melville: Follow along with this book as Captain Ahab tracks down his arch-nemesis the legendary white whale.
5. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo: Full of tragic characters, this novel explores life from its beauty to its horror.
6. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky: Is murder ever justified? This novel explores through its main character the student Raskolnikov.
7. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne: This sci-fi novel is full of adventure as a group of sailors try to track down a deadly sea monster.
8. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: This story explores the many difficulties associated with marriage and morality in 18th century England.
9. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre follows Jane, an orphan, throughout her life providing readers with a compelling story full of love, social criticisms and many elements characteristic of the Gothic novel.
10. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens: Get a more personalized tale of life during the French Revolution as the monarchy is replaced by a regime responsible for terror and numerous executions.
11. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy: Many know little of this novel other than that its long, but the story takes readers through the impact of the Napoleonic invasion of Russia through a vast and varied cast of characters.
12. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas: Treachery and lost love form the basis for this novel by Three Musketeers author Dumas.
13. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: This novella takes readers to the depths of the Congo to find the mysterious Kurtz, along the way exploring ideas of imperialism.
14. Ulysses by James Joyce: The classical Modernist novel, Ulysses follows the story of the Odyssey through stream of consciousness writing that’s been called everything from brilliant to obscene.
15. Siddhartha by Herman Hesse: This novel parallels the life of the Buddha, employing Eastern philosophy in a beautiful and poignant tale of a quest for enlightenment.
16. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Set in the years following WWI, this book explores the life of Princeton student Amory Blaine as he struggles with greed, morality, status and more.
17. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells: When the Victorian scientist at the center of this story propels himself forward in time he discovers a world that may not be all that it’s cracked up to be.
18. Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe: This abolitionist novel helped fuel the movement towards the end of slavery in the United States.
19. Little Women by Louise May Alcott: Follow along with the young women in this novel who come of age in this 19th century setting.
20. Don Quixote by Cervantes: This famous Spanish novel follows the often absurd travels of Don Quixote and his faithful squire Sancho Panza.
21. The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce: Originally published in a magazine, this collection of definitions is entertaining, enlightening and controversial.
22. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson: Readers will be familiar with the title character in this novel who leads a double life as the unpredictable Mr. Hyde.
23. Dracula by Bram Stoker: With all the hubbub about vampires these days why not read the classic vampire novel about the most famous vampire of them all?
24. The Turn of the Screw by Henry James: This psychological short story will have readers questioning their own judgment about what’s real and what’s imagined.
25. Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis is one of Kafka’s most famous short stories, transforming traveling salesman Gregor into a horrifying cockroach.

Philosophy and Religion
These famous works will help you get a better understanding of religious and philosophical theories from around the world and through many different periods of time.

26. Voltaire’s Philosophical Dictionary: This series of essays is highly critical of French life during the 19th century and takes aim at the government, society and religious institutions.
27. Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes: This 17th century book on social contract theory explores the nature of legitimate government and the structure of society.
28. Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche: This book deals with ideas such as the "eternal recurrence of the same", the "death of God", and the "prophecy" of the Overman, themes expanded on from earlier writings.
29. Beyond Good and Evil by Freidrich Neitszche: This work expands on Thus Spoke Zarathustra, attempting to move beyond traditional definitions of good and evil and tries to gain a better sense of the nature of knowledge and the condition of modern man.
30. Discourse of a Method by Renee Descartes: This philosophical and mathematical work is essential to understanding modern science and thought.
31. The Tao Te Ching by Laozi: Written in the 6th century, this text is fundamental to the Taoist school of Chinese thought and has had influence throughout the centuries since its creation.
32. The Bible: Even if you’re not a Christian, the Bible will help inform your understanding of numerous aspects of Western society from great art to historical motivations.
33. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses: Breaking with the corrupt and indulgent Catholic Church of the Baroque era, this work marks the beginnings of Protestantism.
34. The Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant: Regarded as the most important work by this German philosopher, The Critique of Pure Reason investigates the limitations reason itself.
35. The Sayings of Confucius: With lessons on morality, social relationships, justice and society at large, these teachings form the foundation of Confucianism.
36. The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell: This book is an attempt to create a more accessible guide to the issues of philosophy.
37. Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome by E.M. Berens: The mythology of ancient Greece and Rome is a part of any complete reading of Western history.
38. The Golden Bough by Sir James George Frazer: This study of mythology and religion takes a logical approach to understanding the place of these in modern society.

Politics, Economics and History
Check out these free books to learn more about some important political and economic ideas.

39. The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels: Even if you don’t agree with the tenets of socialism you can’t argue about the importance of this work that’s essential to understanding political and philosophical thought in the 19th and 20th centuries.
40. Common Sense by Thomas Paine: Those looking to learn more about American history will appreciate this work that encouraged colonists to pursue freedom from British rule.
41. The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith: Scottish economist Adam Smith’s well-known work explores the intricacies of the economics at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.
42. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli: While today Machiavelli’s name bring negative connotations, this Italian work is essential reading for those interested in politics and the maintenance of political entities.
43. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair: The burgeoning industries of the U.S. brought about many positive changes but some pretty negative ones as well, and this novel was one of the first to expose the seamy underbelly of turn of the century factory work.

Plays and Poems
While novels are a great source of learning, plays and poems shouldn’t be neglected if you want to be well-rounded in your knowledge of literature. These free selections can be a great place to start.

44. Selected Poems of Emily Dickinson: Get a good background in the works of a great American poet though this free collection.
45. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: With this complete collection of works, you’ll be able to pick and choose the plays and poems you find most interesting.
46. The Complete Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley: Learn more about the works of this Romantic poet through this large collection of his works.
47. Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw: While many people may have seen the film adaptation of this play in My Fair Lady, the written version is just as full of wit and charm.
48. The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri: Explore the depths of hell through this highly important work of Italian literature.
49. Paradise Lost by John Milton: This epic poem follows the fall of Lucifer and his subsequent seduction into sin of the human race.
50. The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe: One of the most well-known poems ever written, this work by Poe is essential to any reading list.
51. Hedda Gabler by Heinrich Ibsen: In this play, a bored housewife dabbles in the lives of others with disastrous results.
52. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: With plot twists and turns about mistaken identities, love triangles and romantic affairs this play is an entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
53. The Poetical Works of William Wordsworth: The works of this English Romantic poet helped bring about a new style and approach to literature in 18th century England.
54. The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot: This influential modernist work deals with death, grieving and coming to terms with loss.

Ancient Writings
Go old school with your reading by taking a look at these important texts. You’ll find ideas and stories that have influenced people in the thousand-plus years since they were written.

55. The Iliad by Homer: This epic poem about the Trojan War is one of, if not the oldest, work of literature in the Greek language.
56. The Odyssey by Homer: Homer’s other epic poem, the Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus and his long, problematic journey home.
57. The Art of War by Sun Tzu: The Art of War was written in the 6th century and contains explanations about military strategy and tactics that can still be useful today in any competitive field.
58. The Works of Aristotle: Aristotle’s writings influence writers in the centuries following his life and are still part of philosophy and liberal arts educations today.
59. Symposium by Plato: These speeches by Plato explore love and passion.
60. Apology, Crito, and Phaedo of Socrates by Plato: Socrates was executed for his supposed corruption of young minds, and Plato expands upon the ideas of this great thinker through this series of writings.
61. Aesop’s Fables: From simple morality to classic tales you’ve likely heard before, this collection of fables is full of humor, wit and insight into human nature.
62. Beowulf: This ancient epic work is full of manly fights, hideous, bloodthirsty monsters, revenge, action and adventure that is at your fingertips after you learn to get past the Old English writing.
63. The Aeneid by Virgil: This epic poem tells the story of Aeneas, ancestor to the Romans, and his travels from Troy to Italy.
64. Poetics by Aristotle: Aristotle’s theory of poetry is a classic work that lays out terms you may already be familiar with from catharsis to mimesis.

Technology and Business
Learn more about the basics of business online and off with these free online texts.

65. How to Speak and Write Correctly by Joseph Devlin: Learn how to improve your communication skills from this book, helping you go further in many aspects of life.
66. Professional Customer Service: If you own a business the customer is the real boss, so learn how to provide efficient, high-quality customer service from this ebook.
67. Fail As Fast As You Can and Other Contrarian Business Secrets: Don’t want to run your business into the ground? Check out this online book to learn how to avoid that fate.
68. Beginners Guide to the Internet: Whether you’re trying to get your business on the web or just want to learn to navigate it a little better, this text can give you the information you need.
69. Web Marketing Success: Web marketing is an essential for most businesses today and you’ll get the basics from this ebook.
70. Art and Science of Obtaining Venture or Angel Investor Capital: Need some capital to get your business off the ground? This text can help you find great investors in your business.

Finances
With an economy on the decline, you should be aware of where every cent you have is going. These free texts can help you make sound financial decisions even in tough times.

71. What Women Need to Know About Retirement: This text is a great read for women who want to make sure they’re well-prepared for their golden years.
72. ID Theft: What It’s All About: Worried you might have your identity stolen? This short book will help you understand what happens in ID theft and what you can do to prevent and recover from it.
73. Estate Planning: Make sure your loved ones are well-provided for even if you’re not around with some careful estate planning. Check out this book for tips and advice.
74. Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future: You worry about getting your body in shape why not your finances too? In this book you’ll find some ways to pump up your savings and investments.
75. Get the Facts on Saving and Investing: This book will give you the basics on saving and investing for newbies in the financial field.
76. Building a Better Credit Report: From getting the free credit report to which you’re entitled to helping improve your credit score, you’ll find loads of helpful advice in this government produced text.
77. Consumer Action Handbook: If you feel like you’ve gotten ripped off you may be able to take action against the perpetrator. Find out more by reading this ebook from this government consumer action group.
78. Taking Control of Your Finances: Feel like you’re going in financial down spin? This text can help you get a handle on your spending, increase saving and deal with a variety of other financial issues.
79. Banking Basics: Learn how to use your bank the right way from this ebook.
80. Know Before You Go: To Get a Mortgage: If you’re thinking of buying a new home this guide can help you make sure you don’t make any big blunders.

Not Just for Kids
While many of these books are today considered children’s literature, their enjoyment is hardly limited to the youthful.

81. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll: Take a tumble down the rabbit hole into the topsy-turvy world of this classic book.
82. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams: The stuffed rabbit at the center of this story wants nothing more than to become real through the love of his owner.
83. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie: The iconic character of Peter Pan saw his beginnings in this well-received story.
84. Grimm’s Fairy Tales: With evil witches, beautiful princes, enchantment, adventure and more, these stories will keep adults and children engaged for hours.
85. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: Anyone who’s ever really loved an animal will appreciate this simple, touching story of the life of a horse.
86. Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame: The collection of animal characters that form the cast of this book wander about on the river, ultimately pursuing storylines that provide valuable moral lessons.
87. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson: From swashbuckling on the high seas to hidden treasures, this novel explores themes often uncommon in children’s literature like the ambiguity of morality making it a work that holds up for adult readers as well.
88. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum: While many are familiar with the film version of this classic, the original book is well worth a read at any age.
89. Beatrix Potter Collected Works: Beatrix Potter wrote and illustrated many well-loved children’s stories that appeal to adults and children alike in their simplicity and charm.
90. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift: From the diminutive Lilliputians to the giants of Brobdingnag this book provides plenty of adventure with a little satire on human nature as well.

Miscellaneous
From great biographies to essential historical writings, these varied books are well-worth your time to check out.

91. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: One of the best loved founding fathers, this story tells about the life of Franklin in his own words.
92. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Here you’ll find an epic success story of the child of slaves who grew to be a great intellectual and public figure.
93. The Education of Henry Adams: This book records the experiences of Henry Adams as he comes to terms with the changing and modernizing world in his old age.
94. The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci: Explore the mind of one of the greatest artists and thinkers through his many notebooks.
95. Concerning the Spiritual in Art by Wassily Kandinsky: This modernist painter explores how painting affects the viewer in this theoretical work.
96. Lives of the Artists by Giorgio Vasari: Often regarded as the earliest art historian, Vasari writes about the lives of the artists that play an important role in the Renaissance and the years leading up to it.
97. On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin: While it may not make for the most exciting reading, this book is essential for those who want to understand the origins of modern biology.
98. Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson: From advocating the rights of women to speaking about the joys of nature, this collection of essays is great non-fiction reading.
99. Walden by Henry David Thoreau: Get some inspiration on moving closer to nature in this classic work.
100. The Kama Sutra by Vatsyayana: Keep your relationships spicy by checking out this ancient text full of advice on the art of lovemaking.

Today is the 90th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment

What is the 19th amendment?

The Nineteenth Amendment stated that no state can deny the right to vote based on gender. Controversy came up about the 14th amendment and whether or not it should apply to women as well. The time in which women fought for their rights was called Women's Suffrage. On January 9, 1918, the president at the time, Woodrow Wilson, announced his support of the amendment. It was proposed on June 4, 1919 and ratified on August 18, 1920.

(information found at Wikihistoria )

I've found numerous places on the net that can tell you all about the 19th amendment and those who fought for it.

Washington Post's article on 19th Amendment Anniversary

Actual copy of the 19th Amendment with information


Women's History/Suffrage at About.com

But my fave piece of educational material is the School House Rock video from their America Rock series. Check out Sufferin' 'til Suffrage at the end of this blog.

A Relationship???

“A relationship, I think, is like a shark, you know? It has to constantly move forward or it dies. And I think what we got on our hands is a dead shark.”

 

Woody Allen from "Annie Hall"

August is National Panini Month!

 Soooo....some folks might be saying to themselves, "what is a Panini? "

A panini is basically a grilled sandwich made on Italian bread.
A traditional panini is made with two slices of dense bread filled with meat, cheese and vegetables. The outsides of the bread are usually  brushed with extra virgin olive oil to give it a crispier texture and then the sandwich is grilled on a two sided panini/sandwich grill. Paninis are usually made with a Panini Press but if you don't have one, you can get around it.
You can place the sandwich in a pan and cook it like you would any "grilled" cheese sandwich, using a spatula to press down on the sandwich , of course you won't get those lovely grilled lines, but the sandwich will still be good.
Both  How to Make a Panini without a Panini Press from eHow  and,  PaniniHappy.com  have good suggestions on making paninis without a press.

Types of bread that work well for paninis: foccacia, ciabatta, sourdough also thick cut italian or  french

All types of meats are good on a panini but they have to be cooked before you put them in the sandwich.

Feel free to experiment with your cheeses...try mozzarella, asiago, provolone, brie, goat cheese, cheddar, etc.

And don't forget the veggies! Roasted peppers, tomatoes, basil, spinach, red onions, eggplant....whatever comes to mind. Oh, you can also try fruit...some sliced apples, pears or strawberries might be delicious.

Oooooo.....I almost forgot the absolutely fabulous dessert panini. A Chocolate Strawberry Panini made with pound cake for bread and using nutella as the chocolate....yummy! The video on how to make this treat is at the end of the blog.

For some interesting ideas for paninis, check out this Page A Day Recipe Calendar that Sargento cheese put out in 2009 to honor August as Panini Month. It's packed with 31 yummy recipes.


Okay, I am soooooo hungry! I guess I'll go make something to eat.......hmmm I wonder what??


This is a fab video from Food Network. Giada makes a couple of delicious looking Paninis.



And here is Giada's yummy Chocolate Strawberry Panini.

Celebrate National Drive Thru Day!

July 25th is National Drive Thru Day. 
I have absolutely no idea who proclaimed this to be a holiday but who cares?! Let's admit it.....we love drive thrus. You can find drive thru liquor stores, coffee shops and even a drive thru wedding chapel (Las Vegas, of course). 

According to Wiki:

A drive-through, or drive-thru, is a type of service provided by a business that allows customers to purchase products without leaving their cars. The format was first pioneered in the United States in the 1930s but has since spread to other countries.
Drive-throughs have generally replaced drive-ins in popular culture, and are now found in the vast majority of modern American fast-food chains.

 I just found this great vid about National Drive Thru Day......

Gummi Worm Day!!

".....so I guess I'll go eat worms, big fat juicy ones, itty bitty skinny ones, see how they wiggle and squirm!"

Remember that song? Yes, I know it's kind of gross but , hey, what can you expect from a kids song??

Normally, none of us would think of eating worms (I hope!) but July 15th is Gummi Worm Day. The perfect day to make and eat worms!

Homemade Gummi Worms much simpler to make than you would think. You need:

12 tbsp sugar
1 1/3 cup orange juice
8 tbsp corn syrup
8 tbsp unflavored gelatin
Food coloring, optional
Superfine Sugar for coating

Preparation:
1. Prepare an 8x8 inch pan by wetting it lightly with water.

2. Place gelatin in 1/2 cup cold water to soften for about 5 minutes.

3. Place the juice, sugar (regular not the superfine) and corn syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat and stir until sugar dissolves.

5. Stir in the gelatin and continue stirring until gelatin dissolves.

6. At this point add food coloring if desired.

7. Pour into prepared pan and leave until completely set, 4-6 hours at room temperature or 1 to 2 hours in the refrigerator.

8. When set, turn out of pan and cut with a sharp knife into long, thin strips to resemble worms.

9. Roll your worms in the superfine sugar.

Now go out there and eat some worms!!!!

Love this video! Waka Waka....this time for Africa

This is the official 2010 FIFA video. I'm not really into soccer or Shakira but this is a fabulous video.
Enjoy!

Happy Independence Day!!

Which Chicken Wing Day do you celebrate?

Did you know that there are two holidays celebrating the chicken wing?

Yep, there's International Chicken Wing Day which is July 2nd and National Chicken Wing Day which is July 25th. I figure since both days are celebrated in July, it doesn't matter which day you celebrate.

Anyhoo, what really matters it that these holidays are the perfect excuse for cooking and eating a whole mess of chicken wings!! (as if we really need an excuse)

To help some of y'all come with a few new recipes I've found 6 really fun ones. Enjoy!!!





Caramelized Baked Chicken Wings
* 3 pounds chicken wings
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1/2 cup soy sauce
* 2 tablespoons ketchup
* 1 cup honey
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Place chicken in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Mix together the oil, soy sauce, ketchup, honey, garlic, salt and pepper. Pour over the chicken.
3. Bake in preheated oven for one hour, or until sauce is caramelized.






Cranberry Barbecued Chicken Wings
Ingredients -
18 Chicken Wings
1 can Jellied Cranberry Sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons packed Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Prepared Mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

Preparation:
1. Place chicken wings in casserole dish or medium mixing bowl
2. In medium saucepan, combine cranberry sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard.
3. Stirring constantly, heat over low, until smooth. Allow sauce to cool.
4. Pour over chicken wings.
5. Cover and refrigerate several hours.
6. Remove chicken from marinade and grill directly over medium heat, until chicken is cooked through.




Taco Chicken Wings
Ingredients -
1/2 cup Flour
1 package Taco Seasoning Mix
3 pounds Chicken Wings
6 tablespoons Butter
1 cup crushed Corn Chips

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. In medium mixing bowl, combine flour and taco seasoning.
3. Toss wings in seasoning mixture to coat.
4. In shallow bowl, place crushed corn chips. Toss wings in corn chips to coat.
5. Melt butter in large non-stick baking dish or casserole dish.
6. Spread wings evenly in dish.
7. Bake 45 minutes.

May 23 is National Taffy Day

Does anyone remember taffy pulls? No? Actually I don't remember having any either. But I do remember reading about them and thinking how fun they sounded. My most vivid memory is the Taffy Pulling story from a Raggedy Ann and Andy story book. Boy did that sound like fun!

Well, here's your chance to make a few fun taffy pulling memories of your own.. May 23 is National Taffy day. 
What is taffy? According to Wikipedia:
"Taffy is a type of chewy candy. Taffy is made by stretching or pulling a sticky mass of boiled sugar, butter or vegetable oil, flavorings, and coloring until fluffy. When this process is complete, the taffy is rolled, cut into small pastel-colored pieces and wrapped in wax paper to keep it soft."

An interesting video about taffy making and pulling.



Try this old-fashioned taffy recipe from the 1920's

• Two cups granulated sugar
• one-half cup water
• two tablespoonfuls vinegar
• one tablespoonful butter
• one teaspoonful vanilla
• one-half teaspoonful cream of tartar
• Cup of cold water for testing the candy
• Well buttered cookie sheet or platter
• Wax paper
• Scissors

Directions:

1. In a medium sized saucepan with a heavy bottom, cook the first 5 ingredients.
2. Stir with a wooden spoon over a low heat until the sugar dissolves.
3. Increase the heat, and cook without stirring until the mixture begins to boil.
4. Watch carefully so that it does not burn.
5. Test readiness by dropping a few drops of the mixture in cold water.
6. If the drops crack then the mixture is ready.
7. Take the taffy off the heat add the cream of tartar and pour onto the buttered cookie sheet.
8. Let the mixture cool before you start pulling.
9. When the taffy is cool enough, grease the your hands with butter.
10. Give each child a lump of taffy to pull or they can pull a piece between them.
11. Pull and stretch the taffy until it is light and slightly firm.
12. Using scissors, cut stretched candy into bite-size pieces.
13. When completely cool, wrap each piece in waxed paper.

Hmm....a recipe for Salt Water Taffy

Wow!! Today is Pacman's 30th Birthday!

Okay is there anyone who didn't loooooove playing Pacman when it came out?
Of course not!! I mean it was sooo cool and so much fun! I'm not into computer games but I really liked pacman. I don't know about you guys but I used to get so angry with those darn ghosts!
Oooo, I wonder what the birthday is of my other fave game.....Pong. Now that was a fun game.

Be sure to check out Googles homepage today. They have a really cool playable pacman game in the shape of the words Google. You can also find the google pacman game at this link.

May 14 is National Chicken Dance Day!!!

"There ain't nobody here but us chickens....."


I'll bet you didn't know this.....May 14th is National Chicken Dance Day!
That's right! It's the day officially, well maybe unofficially, put aside to do that ever popular at weddings dance... The Chicken Dance.

You say you've never done or seen the chicken dance??? Wow! Well, it's obvious that your dance education is sorely lacking. Never fear, I am here (ooo that rhymes) to help you! Well, okay, not just me. I have found a fabulous video made ages ago by , surprise, surprise....Lawrence Welks!
Yep, Lawrence and the gang show you how to do this marvelous dance so that you'll be ready for that next wedding or any other classy occasion!
Happy Dancing....cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck!

Happy Mothers Day and Happy Lost Sock Memorial Day, too

I hope everyone has a Happy Mother's Day!!
And, no, I did not make up the Lost Sock Memorial Day....it was probably made up by a group of Mother;s who were annoyed by all of the socks that get lost in the washer and the dryer. I'm not sure which machine actually eats them.
Anyway, y'all have a good day!!

National Nutty Fudge Day

 Whoopee!!
Wednesday, May 12 is National Nutty Fudge Day.
Truthfully, I'm kinda so-so about fudge but still any day with a sugary dessert as the star is a good day.
I really don't know the mechanics of fudge nor the history of it. Thank goodness for Wiki!
If you want that kind of info here's the link: Fudge .

Okay, now that the educational stuff is out of the way, here are 3 delicious and varied fudge recipes......

Chocolate Pistachio Fudge (recipe is from Nigella Express/Food Network)

• 12 ounces 70 percent dark chocolate, chopped or 12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 (14-ounce) can condensed milk
• Pinch salt
• 1 cup shelled pistachios

Directions

1. Melt the chopped chocolate, condensed milk and salt in a heavy based pan on a low heat.
2. Put the nuts into a freezer bag and bash them with a rolling pin, until broken up into both big and little pieces.
3. Add the nuts to the melted chocolate and condensed milk and stir well to mix.
4. Pour this mixture into a 9-inch square foil tray, smoothing the top.
5. Let the fudge cool and then refrigerate until set. 
6. Cut the fudge into squares.

Mocha Nut Fudge

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup evaporated milk
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

 Directions:

1. In a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, milk and corn syrup. 
2. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and mixture comes to a boil; boil for 2 minutes.
3. Remove from the heat; stir in chocolate chips, vanilla and coffee granules with a wooden spoon.
4. Continue stirring until mixture is smooth and thick, about 5 minutes. 
5. Stir in walnuts.
6. Shape into two 9-in. logs; wrap each in plastic wrap.
7. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight. 
8. Unwrap and cut into slices.  

Maple Nut Fudge

• 4 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup genuine maple syrup
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1 1/2 cups chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Butter a 9-inch square baking dish.
2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, butter, maple syrup, milk, and miniature marshmallows; cook, stirring occasionally, until the candy or digital thermometer reaches 235 degrees F. or until it forms a soft ball when a little of the mixture is dropped in cold water. 
3. Remove from heat.
4. Let cool to 115 degrees F; add nuts and vanilla extract. 
5. With an electric mixer at medium speed, beat until mixture loses its gloss and starts to harden around edge of saucepan. 
6. Pour into prepared baking dish. 
7. Cool completely.
8. Cut into squares.

May 1st is Beltane, May Day, Lei Day and Mother Goose Day

According to Wiki:

Beltane or Beltaine (pronounced /ˈbɛltən/, origin Old Irish) is the anglicised spelling of Bealtaine (Irish pronunciation: [ˈbʲal̪ˠt̪ˠənʲə]) or Bealltainn ([ˈbʲal̪ˠt̪ˠənʲ]), the Gaelic names for either the month of May or the festival that takes place on the first day of May.

In Irish Gaelic, the month of May is known as Mí Bhealtaine or Bealtaine, and the festival as Lá Bealtaine ('day of Bealtaine' or, 'May Day'). In Scottish Gaelic, the month is known as either (An) Cèitean or a' Mhàigh, and the festival is known as Latha Bealltainn or simply Bealltainn. The feast was also known as Céad Shamhain or Cétshamhainin from which the word Céitean derives.

As an ancient Gaelic festival, Bealtaine was celebrated in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, though there were similar festivals held at the same time in the other Celtic countries of Wales, Cornovii areas of England, Brittany and Cornwall. Bealtaine and Samhain were the leading terminal dates of the civil year in Ireland though the latter festival was the more important. The festival survives in folkloric practices in the Celtic Nations and the Irish diaspora, and has experienced a degree of revival in recent decades.

For information on Mother Goose Day click here

Hawaiian Lei Day Info

Wiki May Day Info

Have a Happy Beltane, May Day, Lei Day and Mother Goose Day!!!!!

What Every Storyteller Dreads Hearing.....

Okay, we want to hear the words just not the way the cat meant it :-P

A Little Feel Good Music

Patti Labelle and Joe Crocker singing "You Are So Beautiful" with Billy Preston on piano. I just thought I'd put up something fun. This vid always makes me happy!!

Earth Day Smoothies

Thursday, April 22nd is Earth Day!
I noticed a few days ago that Planet Smoothies are celebrating Earth Day, by giving the first 30 customers at each location a free, reusable MacDaddy Mug with the purchase of any 32-ounce smoothie. Planet Smoothie has smoothies for kids as well as smoothies for weight loss , energy and breakfast.

While I do enjoy going out to get smoothies, they are after all delicious, fun and healthy. You can also make your own smoothie and your own smoothie recipes (also known as throwing in anything available).


A Berry Green Earth Day Smoothie
ingredients:
1 banana
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup of fresh spinach
1 peeled kiwi
1/2 to 1 cup of ice
some water if you think it necessary

directions:
Place all ingredients, ice and frozen fruits first, into the blender.
Blend until smooth.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie
ingredients:
1 cup frozen strawberries
2 cups orange juice
1 banana, frozen (it can be fresh if you like)
½ cup milk
2 tablespoons sugar

directions:
Add ingredients together in blender and blend until smooth.

Blueberry Fruit Smoothie
ingredients:
Carton of Blueberry yogurt
1 Cup of milk
1 Cup frozen or fresh blueberries, strawberries or peaches
½ cup ice cubes

directions:
Add all together in blender and blend until smooth.

Other simple smoothie recipes, which only require throwing all of the ingredients in the blender:

Strawberry Ice
1 cup strawberries, 1 cup orange juice, I cup crushed ice

Honey Melon
1 cup chopped honey dew lemon pieces, 1/4 cup apple juice, tablespoon honey.

Bananas and Fiber
1 banana, 1/4 shredded wheat cereal (or other high fiber cereal), 1/4 cup milk.

Happy Blending!!!

Barbershop Quartet Day

Apr 11th is Barbershop Quartet Day! Yea!!!
Yep I actually like Barbershop Quartets and the choruses.
I used to sing in a Sweet Adeline Chorus (in Vienna, Va) a few years back. That was FUN!!

Just for a little history of the holiday....it commemorates the gathering of 26 persons at Tulsa, OK, Apr 11, 1938, and the founding there of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America.

I know y'all wanted to know that:-P

Sweet Adeline Chorus



Who says you need for people for a quartet?


I love this movie! Buffalo Bills from the Music Man

Buddha Day.....a few words of wisdom and a story

Today, April 8th, is Buddha Day.
Unfortunately, I don't know why it's Buddha Day. I tried looking it up online but I haven't had any luck. (If anyone finds out the origin of Buddha Day, I'd love to know.)

Anyhoo, I thought that I'd put up a few Buddha sayings that I enjoy.


Ennui has made more gamblers than avarice, more drunkards than thirst, and perhaps as many suicides as despair.

"Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it."

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."

Words have the power to both destroy and heal.
When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.

"You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger."



The tongue like a sharp knife... Kills without drawing blood.

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky”

"He is able who thinks he is able."

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”

“Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.”
(hmmm...I should mention that I'm not that great at meditation but I ain't ignorant, much)

“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.”

And, of course, we need just had to have a story.......This is from a blog I put up on my The Stories La Tells blog


Advice from a Three Year Old or WWBD?
(What Would Buddha Do?)

Late last night as I was looking through a book of stories, this story caught my attention.
I thought it would make a good addition this blog.
Apparently my subconscious loved the story because even in my sleep and in my first waking moments the story was still with me.
So I have decided to "exorcise" it quickly.


There was once a famous artist who decided that he wanted to study the works of Buddha and attain enlightenment. He thought that the best way to do this was to seek the most famous and wisest teacher and ask him, "What was the most important thing that Buddha taught?"

The artist traveled to the other side of the world to find the teacher he sought. When at last he found the teacher, he asked him, "What was the most important thing that Buddha taught?"

"Do not harm anyone and only do good," was the teacher's immediate response.

"What?" shouted the indignant artist. "You are the most famous of teachers! You are supposed to be wise beyond your years! And this is all you can tell me? A three year old could have told me the same thing!"

The teacher, who had sat quietly through the entire speech, looked at the artist and said, "A three year old could have said the same thing but it is a very difficult thing to practice, even for one as old as myself."
(A Zen tale retold by LLL, Storyteller)


Yes, this teeny little story has been stuck in my head all night and half the day. Why? Aside from the fact that I like stories, I think that it's because it's so simple a truth…….but not so simple to practice.
Makes you think.

Love, Laughter, Peace and Blessings!

Blah Blah Blah Day

Seriously. I would not lie to you.
April 17 is Blah Blah Blah Day.

Now, I bet that, like myself, y'all thought it might be a day to not listen to folks just running their mouths endlessly or maybe it was a day to talk a lot.
But NOOOOOOOO!

The purpose of this day is to take care of the long list of household projects and boring chores that people have been nagging you to do.

Okay. Anyone else disappointed?
Who the heck thought of this day???

I think I need to start the anti-Blah Blah Blah Day.
Liiiiiike...maybe....Talk to the Hand Day??? No??
I'll work on it.

Tangible Karma Day

April 3rd is Tangible Karma™ Day.
What is karma?

Karma is a concept in Hinduism which explains causality through a system where beneficial effects are derived from past beneficial actions and harmful effects from past harmful actions, creating a system of actions and reactions throughout a person's reincarnated lives (wikipedia).... in other simpler words....the effects of a person's actions in this life determine his destiny in his next incarnation

What is Tangible Karma Day?
It's a day that celebrates giving.
The giving of your time, your love, your talents....whatever you can give or wish to give. Why? Because giving feels as good as receiving.

Nationwide, groups and individuals set aside 1 hour of this day to purposefully become aware of the needs of those they are in contact with and actively do something to help fulfill those needs.

For more info on tangible karma check out www.tangiblekarma.com .

What can you do:
*Donate items to a good cause
*Volunteer at a shelter
*Help a friend

If you're just hearing about Tangible Karma Day, don't think that you're too late.
It's never to late to work on your karma or to just start giving and helping.

April is Fresh Florida Tomatoes Month.....sooooo

If life deals you lemons, make lemonade. If it deals you tomatoes, make Bloody Marys.

So, anyway, two great things came together to make this blog happen.
1. It's Fresh Florida Tomato Month and
2. I found the above quote and loved it!

Now really....this was obviously meant to be. Of course, I should also mention that I love Bloody Marys.
I mean, check it out, they are like the perfect food.
You have your tomato juice, although I like spicy v8, then you have potato juice...you know the vodka, then there' all those lovely veggies you can put in it. I like to use garlic stuffed olives, pickled okras, celery sticks and pickled string beans.
Course I don't always use all of that but I like to use a combination.

Anyhoo, check out the recipe below. Most likely I will come up with other recipes for the month so stay tuned!


click on the pic so you can read the recipe

12 Angry Men

Just watched, for the first time, the movie Twelve Angry Men, the black and white version produced in 1957.
Wow, that was really good. I love the old movies. Especially the black and white ones.
This movie was full of stars....Henry Fonda (who produced it), Jack Klugman (my man Quincy), Lee J. Cobb, E. G. Marshall, Martin Balsam, Jack Warden, John Fiedler, Edward Binns, Joseph Sweeney, Ed Begley, George Voskovec and Robert Webber.

For those of you who may not have seen the movie, it's basically about:

A jury made up of 12 men as they deliberate the guilt or innocence of a defendant on the basis of reasonable doubt. The story begins after the closing arguments have been presented to the judge. The question they are deciding is whether the defendant, a teenage boy from a city slum, murdered his father. The jury is further instructed that a guilty verdict will be accompanied by a mandatory death sentence.
The plot of the film revolves around their difficulty in reaching a unanimous verdict, mainly due to several of the jurors' personal prejudices.

(this info came from Wikipedia)

Anyhoo, I highly recommend this movie which, BTW, you can find on Youtube, of course.

Here's the movie trailer:

Here comes the sun!

Here comes the sun,
Here comes the sun,
and I say,
It's alright....
dah, dah dah dah, dah dah dah, dah dah dah, dah dah dah dah, daaaaaaah

Huh...it's hard to do those instrumental parts in writing....but I try.

Yes! Finally! At Last! The sun was really out there working today. It's been out now and again but not really warming me up til today. (Yes, yes, it's all about me.)

Today was breezy...okay maybe more like windy but the sun was out there in force.

'Course, you know, being human, I'll be kvetching about the heat when the temps get above....hmmmm..90degrees or so.
But for now...the sun is my friend!!!!

So let's sing (y'all knew it was comin') one of my favorite sun songs..Everybody SING!!!
The sun is a mass of incandescent gas.....

How sad.....

A Rose by any other name........

Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours.
Dale Carnegie

BORED:
Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: uninterested
Synonyms: blasé, disinterested, dull, fatigued, inattentive, sick and tired, spiritless, tired, turned off
Antonyms: enthusiastic, excited, exhilarated, interested

I try not to say that I'm bored. 'Cause usually boredom is not boredom. If you're bored with one activity, you can usually move on to another activity and dispel the boredom. But lasting boredom is generally something else.

Maybe I'm restless...in need of a new something...new job, new place to live, new craft activity (I really do NEED more yarn) or just new books to read.

Oh well, at least thinking about being bored keeps me from being too bored.
Go figure!

Me, too!

Is it cookie time??????

Serious question!

World Read Aloud Day

Yes, it's another day dedicated to reading, books and kids....well, you can read to adults too.

World Read Aloud Day

March 3, 2010 has been established as LitWorld's first World Read Aloud Day to celebrate and encourage the invaluable practice of reading aloud and to bring attention to the importance of literacy across all countries and for all of humanity.

info found at www.litworld.org

Here's a short tale about Nasreddin Hodja. Read it to someone today.

A beggar was given a piece of bread, but nothing to put on it. Hoping to get something to go with his bread, he went to a nearby inn and asked for a handout. The innkeeper turned him away with nothing, but the beggar sneaked into the kitchen where he saw a large pot of soup cooking over the fire. He held his piece of bread over the steaming pot, hoping to thus capture a bit of flavor from the good-smelling vapor.

Suddenly the innkeeper seized him by the arm and accused him of stealing soup.

"I took no soup," said the beggar. "I was only smelling the vapor."

"Then you must pay for the smell," answered the innkeeper.

The poor beggar had no money, so the angry innkeeper dragged him before the qadi(judge).

Now Nasreddin Hodja was at that time serving as qadi, and he heard the innkeeper's complaint and the beggar's explanation.

"So you demand payment for the smell of your soup?" summarized the Hodja after the hearing.

"Yes!" insisted the innkeeper.

"Then I myself will pay you," said the Hodja, "and I will pay for the smell of your soup with the sound of money."

Thus saying, the Hodja drew two coins from his pocket, rang them together loudly, put them back into his pocket, and sent the beggar and the innkeeper each on his own way.