Christmas at Club 6*6

We cheated. Not really but we still like to think so. We celebrated out christmas early as Karen and Joe are not going to be here on 1225. So we made the big dinner and Santa came (Nice enough to stop by during his busy season) and we did presents. If santa turns up again while Karen and Joe are gone we will gladly accept their booty in their absentia. Yes absentia, this is the mister, can't you tell? expect more words like magmanious or cacaphony when ever i write. Laura makes fun of my SAT words, but if you don't know them get a dictionary. so since i'm writing, did you miss me and my plethera of nutritional information and galacial vocabulary. (hehehe) couldn't help myself. back to more pressing matters. We hope that you all enjoy your christmas/hannukah/kwanza season and expect to hear from all of you in the new year

Toodles

THE KC'S
PS if you see joe, ask what "bananaflage" is!

Brrrrr…it’s chilly here in the South!!! Its clear and 32 degrees!
I guess I have to put away the scadals this week...

So winter has arrived just in time for the Christmas holiday.

"Cold" is a relative term. Use the handy list below to overcome the confusion.
Degrees (Fahrenheit)
65 - Hawaiians declare a two-blanket night
60 - Californians put on sweaters (if they can find one)
50 - Miami residents turn on the heat
40 - You can see your breath
- Californians shiver uncontrollably
- Minnesotans go swimming
32 - Water freezes
25 - Floridians weep pitiably
- Minnesotans eat ice cream
20 - Miami residents plan vacation further South
0 - Alaskans put on T-shirts
-10 - Eyes freeze shut when you blink
-15 - Miami residents cease to exist
-20 - Cat insists on sleeping in pajamas with you
- Politicians actually do something about the homeless
- Minnesotans shovel snow off roof

So How's your holiday seson treating You!!!
Well my is crazy!!!
Running around for a bazillion people making sure they get feed. Have you ever seen what turkey for 750 people looks like? Can you imagine the amount of cranberry sauce?? To put it simply I think I have overdosed on turkey. The smell of stuffing makes me want to gag. You think that’s crazy, I know you do. I think if I see one more five gallon bucket of turkey gravy I might begin to lose my mind. But that's the life of me..enough complaining and on to the fun part of the holidays.

I was in the grocery store the other day. And here an example of why I think people in Jax aren’t the brightest!!
A lady was pawing through the frozen turkeys at the , but couldn't find one big enough to feed her large family. I wonder why she just didn’t get two, was her family that big. She was bitchin’ and all that stuff that makes a person look hind of scary. This the part where the story gets really funny.Annoyed, she asked the stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?"The startled stock boy replied, "Heck no, ma'am, they're all dead." Well duh!!! Sometimes you just have to hold back…from bursting into laughter. I high taled it down another isle, so I could let out a huge laugh. I can only imagine the end of that conversation. But that was the best thing that happened to me that day. So lesson of the day is laughter is the best cure for all. I know it’s not nice to laugh at others, but if your that stupid..I can’t help myself.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst...for they are sticking to their diet!

Today's Tips:

What's your nutrition IQ?

Nutrition information comes from all types of sources. A lot of the information is true, some isn’t.
How does your nutrition knowledge measure up?
Choose whether the following statements are true or false:

· If I eliminate all visible fat from meat and discard the skin from poultry, I’ll get rid of most of the cholesterol

· Meat labeled 85 percent lean is a healthy choice·

.Ounce for ounce, green peppers have as much vitamin C as oranges

· Tomatoes and carrots provide more nutritional value eaten raw

If you answered false on all four, consider yourself nutritionally well-informed. If you missed one or more, don’t worry! A dietetics professional can help give you the straight facts on nutrition and develop a personalized eating plan that is right for your and your family.


Fight Back with Phytonutrients

December 9, 2004
Phytonutrients are bioactive compounds in food that promote your health by helping to slow the aging process or reducing the risk for many diseases. Phytonutrients may protect against some cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and other chronic health conditions. In addition, they might work to enhance immunity, detoxify carcinogens and serve as antioxidants.
Research shows that most fruits and vegetables contain phytonutrients. Plants produce these substances naturally to protect themselves against viruses, bacteria and fungi. They also provide color, aroma and flavor to food.
Some have a remarkable variety; one orange contains over 170 different phytonutrients! These substances work together with other nutrients and fiber for good health.

Produced by ADA’s Public Relations Team

What a Great birthday !!!!!!

I had an awesome birthday celebration, not just one day but, a whole weekend. It really started last wednesday night. After getting off of work I jumped down to St. Augustine to have dinner With maw-in-law Linda, Greg, And the newly engaged Karen and Joe. After dinner we shared yummy chocolate cake, it was a combo birthday/ engagement cake. Then Friday my folks came up from tampa to continue with the celebration. Sat we hung out and played all kinds of games. All kinds of chit-chat, snacks and all that fun stuff. Later we partook in a fun dinner at the japenese resturant. It always fun to watch them flip there knives and spatula around, along with much of the food. And our Grill Chef was pretty funny too! Then later we had apple pie a la mode. Yummy! Then presents...yes they let me open them earily ..Sun...we did Church and lunch. Thanks for coming up it was great fun!!!! Oh.. i know what your saying..sounds like fun...Then mon. my real birthday.. I went out to lunch with my very pregnant friend, Bridget, looks like thursday with be the big day! Then I took a nap...then Karen and Greg came home and made cake and dinner. Then presents. And think I heard about a dozen happy birthday songs, from all over via the good all phone. So I want to thank every one for all the goodies, and birthday spirirt!!!! We do that again next year!!!


Birthday History...anyone???
The earliest birthday parties were held because people believed evil spirits were particuarly attracted to people on their birthdays. At first it was only kings who were recognized as important enough to have a birthday celebration. To protect them from harm, friends and family would to come be with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to ward off the evil spirits. As time went by, children became included in birthday celebrations. The first children's birthday parties occurred in Germany and were called Kinderfeste.

What's up with that cake?
One theory about the origin of the birthday cake is that is originated with the Greeks, who baked round cakes representing the full moon for their moon goddess, Artemis. They placed candles on the cake to make it glow, like the moon. The Germans are also credited with the first cakes and candles. They used a sweet, layered cake and they put a large candle in the center of the cake to represent "the light of life." Some people believe the smoke from extinguished candles carries their birthday wishes up to heaven.

Is a STRAWBERRY made of STRAW?

Is a GRAPEFRUIT a big, yellow GRAPE?
Are HAMBURGERS made of HAM?
Are SANDWICHES full of SAND?

No, of course not. But let's see how these foods got their names.

STRAW FRUIT
Strawberry plants have long stems that grow along the ground. These stems look like straw. Because the juicy, red berries grow on a plant that looks like straw, they are called strawberries.
BUNCHES OF SUNSHINE
Grapefruits are citrus fruits, like oranges and lemons. But unlike other citrus fruits, grapefruits grow in bunches on trees.
An interesting thought for the day

X-Box-alicious…that’s right!!

Greg and I went early Christmas shopping for each other, and ended up getting each other an x box video game machine. It’s really cool!!! I know it sounds silly and childish, but it should, Christmas is a time for fun and games. For those of you not familiar with this system, many of it’s games are to mature for children. But needless to say we have been having a blast so far.

Over the holiday we hosted my future bro-in-laws family, we had a blast. Thanks for coming to share turkey and all the fun that goes with it. And for any of those folks that didn’t hear the news…. That’s right folks my younger sister Karen and her sweet heart are engaged. I know what your thinking….boy time fly’s. We ‘re all growin’ up so fast. So the lesson of the day is Don’t blink your eyes to much, or you might miss something really good.

Important news on the food front! If you are still eating turkey and leftovers from last Thursday…if they are not already frozen then they need to be tossed out! The exception to this rule is cranberry sauce.

Ode to Thanksgiving
To our national birds

The American Eagle

The Thanksgiving Turkey

May one give us peace in all our states

And the other a piece for all our plates

Turkey Tips- Rookie or accomplished home chef, everyone can use some pointers before tackling a holiday meal

Roast your turkey and stuffing separately. Turkeys are large birds and take a long time to cook, four to five hours for a 12-16 pound bird. Stuffing the turkey before roasting adds 45 minutes or so to the total roasting time.

The flavor of the stuffing is largely unchanged by warming it inside the bird. The meaty quality of stuffing is enhanced by using reduced defatted chicken broth. If you prefer the presentation of a stuffed bird, (for all you super traditional folks) heat the stuffing separately and then spoon it into the cavity of the finished roasted turkey before serving. That's really only useful if you carve it at the table. I'm not a big fan of that because it's messy, that's if your bird is as juicy as mine. But if you follow these directios you too, will want to carve your turkey in the kitchen!

Roast your turkey in a shallow roasting pan, making sure that oven air can flow completely around the bird.

The color of cooked turkey is not always a sure sign of its degree of doneness. Roasting guides posted on the side of frozen turkey packaging should be used for planning only. Use a meat thermometer, and be sure to roast until the internal temperature of the turkey reaches 165 degrees F in the breast and in the thigh. Do away with those silly self timers that pop out of the bird. Yes your bird will be done...but most likely overdone. They don't usually pop until they hit 180 degrees. That's higher then needed.

When planning your meal, allow one pound of uncooked turkey per person. Larger turkeys have a larger proportion of meat to bone, so if you require a bird larger than 12 pounds, figure on 3/4 pounds of uncooked turkey per person.

Be safe and thaw a frozen turkey in the refrigerator. Thawing at room temperature increases the turkey's exposure to bacteria.

HINT:A whole frozen turkey may be stored in your freezer for up to a year, so when your local grocery store has a great deal on turkey — no matter what time of year — stock up and save!

Rapidly thawing a turkey can be accomplished by placing it in cold water while sealed in its original wrapping. A good rule of thumb is to allow 30 minutes per pound and change the water every 25 to 30 minutes.

After the turkey is fully roasted, allow it to stand for 10 minutes at room temperature before carving. Not only is it easier to handle the bird once it has cooled a bit, but the juices have a chance to distribute throughout the turkey. Because we don't want to waste any of that juice.

The "Joy of Cooking" says that the term "stuffing" was thought improper in Victorian England. That's when the term "dressing" began to be used.

Get an early start on your feast — prepare your side dishes ahead of time and freeze them (this a great option if you have a large group) . Or even the night before.

Every second counts on the big day, so set the table in advance.

Be organized. Take the time assign each of your food dishes a serving bowl or plate. This way, you won't get stuck with a side dish without a bowl. This is something we do in the professional world for our buffets. Finding out at the last mininute that your short on these items in a problem.

When someone asks if they can prepare a dish for the meal — always say "Yes!" That's one more thing off your plate.

Be sure you have enough dishes, glasses and silverware to serve all courses of your meal.
Pro's Hint: If your turkey is fully roasted and it is still several hours before serving time, remove the turkey from the oven and allow it to stand for 20 minutes. Carve the breast meat, and the legs and thighs. Place the slices in shallow oven-safe baking dishes or pans, cover and refrigerate. About thirty minutes before serving, sprinkle with the turkey with a little broth, cover with foil and heat in a 325ºF oven. Stuffing can be heated alongside the turkey.

P.S. 911 only but i don't recommend this!!!If you thaw your turkey in the microwave, cook it at once. Some areas of the turkey may become warm and begin to cook in the microwave. Additionally, any bacteria present would not have been destroyed in the microwave, yet may have reached temperatures where they can grow.

Turkey — Complete with all the trimmings
It's the fall and it's a great time to make stuffing it's not just for holidays anymore. Yum!! Most will agree that stuffing can make-or-break a turkey dinner. Load a bird with apples and sage, cornbread and oysters or wild rice and cranberries, and let the feast begin! Don't be shy, I took some time compiling all these goodies for you. So after thanksgiving on a cold winters night, go ahead and try these out.

Now remember recipes may vary according to personal taste and cultural preference, but whether you like your stuffing moist or dry, herbal or fruit-filled, chunky or smooth, the way it is prepared remains fundamentally the same. Flavorful ingredients, like onion, celery, sage or curry are cooked until they release their aroma. A bulk ingredient, such as moistened bread or boiled rice, is added and the stuffing is cooked until the ingredients become tender, after which a garnish of dried fruit or fresh herb can be incorporated.

Canned ingredients offer a quick and convenient way to add variety to your stuffing. The following recipes offer a wide range of dressings — from bread stuffing to mincemeat. Be sure to look for the variations that follow each recipe. Don't be scared, trust me it's super yummy and fun! So get printer ready, they are really Great recipes!

Apple Bread Stuffing
1 cup minced onion
2 celery ribs, sliced
1 tablespoon butter
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced
1 teaspoon rubbed sage
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Pinch of nutmeg
4 cups toasted bread cubes, croutons or stuffing mix
1 can (15 ounces) applesauce
1 can (14 ounces) chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
Cook the onion and celery in the butter over moderate heat until soft. Add the apple, sage, parsley, thyme and nutmeg. Cook another minute.
Add the toasted bread cubes, applesauce and chicken broth. Mix to moisten and season liberally with salt and pepper.
Use to stuff 2 chickens or 1 turkey.
Apricot Rosemary Stuffing Variation: Follow preceding recipe, replacing the sage with rosemary and the apple with 1 drained can apricot halves; use 1/2 cup apricot nectar in place of the applesauce.

Maple Walnut Stuffing
4 slices bacon
1 cup minced onion
2 celery ribs, sliced
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crumbled
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
3 cups toasted bread cubes, croutons or stuffing mix
1 can (14 ounces) chicken broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup canned maple syrup
Salt and pepper to taste
In a large, deep skillet cook the bacon until crisp. Remove, crumble and set aside.
Cook the onion and celery in the hot bacon fat over moderate heat until soft. Add the walnuts, rosemary, parsley, and thyme; cook another minute.
Add the reserved bacon, toasted bread cubes, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce and maple syrup. Mix to moisten and season liberally with salt and pepper.
Use to stuff 2 chickens or 1 turkey.

Garlic Stuffing Variation: Follow the preceding recipe, substituting toasted hazelnuts for the walnuts, mincedHazelnut and garlic for the rosemary, 1 teaspoon ground fennel seed for the thyme and orange juice for the maple syrup.

Brown Rice Fruit Stuffing
1 1/2 cups diced onion
1 tablespoon minced ginger root
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
2 minced cloves garlic
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups brown rice blend
1 quart canned chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cans (15 ounces each) chunky mixed fruit, drained
In a large sauce pan soften onion, ginger, coriander, thyme and garlic in butter. Add brown rice and toss well. Add chicken broth, stir once, cover and simmer gently for 40 minutes until all of the stock has been absorbed. Season with salt and pepper and mix in the fruit.
Use to stuff 2 chickens or 1 turkey.

Prosciutto and Fig Stuffing Variation: Follow the preceding recipe substituting a can of figs for the mixed fruit. Add 1/4 pound finely chopped Prosciutto along with the fruit.

Crab and Cornbread Stuffing
6 chopped scallions
2 cloves minced garlic
1 1/2 pounds canned crabmeat, cleaned
The finely chopped zest and juice of 1 large lemon
1 pound crumbled cornbread or cornbread stuffing
1 can (10 ounces) clam juice
Salt and cayenne pepper to taste
In a large bowl combine all of the ingredients.
Use to stuff 2 chickens or 1 turkey.

Corn bread and Smoked oyster: Follow the preceding recipe using 1 can smoked oysters that have been drained for 1/2 pound of the crab meat.

Cranberry Cornbread Stuffing
1 onion, finely chopped
2 ribs celery, diced
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon rubbed sage
2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crumbled
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound corn bread, cut in large dice
Grated zest of 1 orange
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 cup canned orange juice
1 can (15 ounces) whole berry cranberry sauce
Sauté onion and celery in butter in a deep skillet or large saucepan, just until softened. Add the sage, thyme, rosemary, pepper flakes, salt and pepper and cook another minute.
Add half of the bread, orange zest and parsley. Cook another minute, stirring frequently. Add orange juice and cranberry sauce. Bring to a simmer, adjust seasoning and remove from heat. Stir in the remaining bread.
Use to stuff chicken or turkey or serve as a side dish.
Yields 8 portions, or enough to stuff 2 chickens or 1 small turkey.

Dried Cherry Cornbread Stuffing Variation: Follow preceding recipe substituting a drained can of cherries (chopped) for the cranberries and tarragon for rosemary.

Sauerkraut, Apple and Potato Stuffing( you got to try this one!!!)
1/4 cup apple cider
1/2 cup white wine
2 cans (14 ounces each) sauerkraut, well drained
2 tart apples, peeled, cored and diced
1 tablespoon caraway seed
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cans (14 ounces each) new potatoes, drained and quartered
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
In a sauce pan combine apple cider, wine, sauerkraut, apples and caraway. Simmer until all of the liquid has been absorbed or evaporated about 15 minutes. Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook potatoes in vegetable oil until golden brown, about 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the sauerkraut mixture and toss to combine.
Yields 6 to 8 portions, or enough to stuff an average turkey or large goose.
Apple Mincemeat Stuffing
1 onion, finely chopped
3 apples, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped
2 ribs celery, peeled and finely diced
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cans (9 ounces each) mincemeat
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
In a large, deep-sided skillet sauté onion, apple and celery in butter until softened. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir in the mincemeat and vinegar.
Use as a stuffing for 1 turkey, 1 goose or 2 chickens.
Makes 8 to 10 servings

Turkey Quiz

How well to you know your Thanksgiving Trivia???????

It's true or false, let me know how you faired!!!

It's the honor system so no cheating!!!

1) The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by Pilgrims and Native Americans in colonial New England in the year 1621.

True

2) The day before Thanksgiving is the "official" start of the Christmas shopping season.

False. Most consider the day after Thanksgiving as the "official" start of the Christmas shopping season.
3)Thanksgiving is also celebrated in Canada.

True. North of the boarder, Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday in October.
4)John Adams was the first president to proclaim a "National Day of Thanksgiving.

"False. George Washington first made the proclamation in 1789 and then again in 1795.
5)Although observed most years, Thanksgiving was not an official holiday until 1827.

True. Magazine editor Sarah Josepha Hale is credited with leading the campaign for an official Thanksgiving holiday.
6)The thigh bone of a turkey is often used in a good luck ritual.

False. It's the wishbone.
7)Pilgrims ate turkey at the first Thanksgiving feast.

False. Some reports say they actually feasted on clams.
8)Only 12 Native Americans attended the first Thanksgiving.

False. As many as 91 Native Americans joined the English settlers.
9)Not all turkeys gobble.

True. It's a guy thing. Only toms gobble. Hens make a clicking noise.
10)When on the run, wild turkeys can reach speeds of only 10 miles per hour.

False. Turkeys can actually reach speeds of 25 miles per hour.
11)Turkeys originated in North and Central America and evolved more than 10 million years ago.

True.
12)If you have a group of turkeys, you actually have a gaggle of turkeys.

False. A large group of turkeys is called a flock.
13)Turkey dinners have been eaten in space.

True. When U.S. astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin sat down to eat their first meal on the moon during their 1969 voyage, their foil food packets contained roasted turkey and all the trimmings.
14)Three towns in the U.S. are named after the turkey.True. Census data shows that Turkey, TX has a population of 494, Turkey Creek, LA has 356 residents and Turkey, NC boasts 262 residents. This is a bit of a trick question because there are also 11 townships around the country named "Turkey," three of them in Kansas.
15)In 2000, the average American consumed 13.6 pounds of turkey.

True. No doubt a good bit of it was eaten during Thanksgiving time.

I Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!!! I want to raise a drum stick to all my family and friends because I have much to be thankful for!! Cheers!!

Has this ever happened to you???

Your looking through old photo’s and you say hmmm? The question being why are so many faces covered up. And who are all these people and this is a digital picture so why did I even save it??? The answer is I really don’t know. As I went through discs of my photos tonight I noticed I have quite a few of these pictures like this. i have enough that i could have a special weekly feature...name body. Am I the only one thinking about this silly matter. And if you think that’s a slightly bizarre thought then how ‘bout this….

It was in 1966 that America's Thomas J. Bayard invented a
vibrating toilet seat, acting on the belief that physical
stimulation of the buttocks is effective in relieving
constipation. How about trying some bran muffins??

on another un related note, i got feed back from my dad saying he checks my blog everyday!! That's because he's the coolesy dad ever!!!

And on a holiday note:
It is that time of year again. Little hands are traced onto colorful paper and made into gobblers to hang upon refrigerator doors. We are all thinking about traveling or travelers, cooking and family. Unfortunately I will be working one again. Thanksgiving is more than just a "Turkey Day," though. It is a grand opportunity to teach each other many things -- gratitude being the first among those things.
So in the net few days I going to give you a few background notes about thanksgiving...of course there will be recipes silly. So stayed..trust it will be very interesting!!

Is any one still out there?
I don’t know if any one checks my blog anymore? I have been so distracted lately, I don’t really know why. So I guess I will have to bring everyone up to speed…so where did I leave off??? Oh yeah after the election…
There’s nothing like living a free of political commercials to make me happy. I think my level of stress from that alone sucked the silliness right out of my. You say is that possible …I guess anything is?

So here’s what been going on. ..readers digest version. I know in this day and age our attention span sucks. So here it goes. A couple of weeks ago my sister had a nasty cold, then my in-laws came to visit, including Bro-in-law and girlfriend, I had a great time. Unfortunately I had to work all the days they were visiting, that’s know fun at all. Then my husband has contracted the evil plague that my sister had. He’s still sick, so were trying all the know cold remedies…so hopefully he be well soon.As far as myself goes..nothing exciting, work, sleep, and eating.
So here’s the recap: sick, family visit, sick, work, Blah
So now that we are all caught up..we can move on to other business

Its Over!!!!

No more political ads...thank goodness...
I hope everone got out there a did the vote thing. And for those of you who didn't...i don't want to hear apeep out of you for the next four years! So it's time to move on...

So on to more important things...that's right! In the up coming days I will be back on the humor of life, oh heck, I think I will start now!!!

Here's a silly joke for you..

A German tourist walks into a McDonald's in New York City and orders a beer. (In Germany and many parts of Europe, McDonald's actually does serve beer.) The local guy in the line behind him immediately gives him the jab: "They don't serve BEER here, you MORON!" The German fellow felt pretty stupid, but suddenly turns to the New Yorker with a surprised look, and begins to chuckle. "And what's so funny?!?" the New Yorker demands. "Oh, nothing really, I just realized that you came here for the food."

I love to bash fast food places, because the stuff they serve is pretty nasty!!! Hee he hee

Here's one lame joke...

What's the difference between roast beef and pea soup?

Anyone can roast beef.

So in the upcoming entries...there will more food discussions, and in the next month there will also be turkey humor and all that good stuff...so stay tuned!!!

Why is the AC on …it’s Halloween????

A few weeks ago I was just getting in the mood for soup and stew and a nice glass of Irish crème. Then it happened…you may be wondering what I would be talking about….the hot humid, nasty thing I like to call the weather. It’s November 1st and it’s going to be 85 degrees. Yuck. I guess for now it’s back to popcicles and frozen yogurt. That’s all I have to saytoday….oh by the way I didn’t over do the candy eating this year. I know your wondering how I did it? I can only say I have no idea. So I hope everyone had a fun and safe candy day…because we did. Also if you have left over candy you don’t know what to do with, I be glad to take it off your hands. Really I don’t mind. That’s all the news for now….

Chicken Noodle soup.

That’s right folks…. If you can only make one soup, this should be. But if you can make this one, you really can make any soup. It really is that simple. The full recipe is the one I recommend. But if time is short. Cut out the first part of the recipe and use can chicken broth. Make sure to compare brands, not by cost but for sodium. The cheaper brands also tend to have less. Two reasons this is important…1) You can always add more salt 2)the less salt in a product the better quality it is. Sodium is a preservative first and foremost.


Chicken Stock … step one
3 to 3 1/2 lbs. chicken
1 onion cut in half
2 celery ribs chunked
2 carrots cut in 3 inch pieces
If you have add 2 bayleaves

Place the chicken in a 5-6 qt. pan and cover with water. Add vegetables. Cook about 30 minutes over medium heat until chicken is done.Try not to boil, simmering is better. The chicken will not be tender, but chewy. Remove chicken from pot and cool chicken. When chicken can be handled take the meat from the bones and add bones back to pot and cook 1/2 hour more over medium heat. Chill chicken pieces.

Prepare:
The Soup step two
2 celery ribs diced
3 carrots diced
Dice the chicken into bite size pieces.
Strain stock and return to pan. Add 2 cups of water, chicken and prepared vegetables. Cook another 20-25 minutes until vegetables are cooked. Add 4 ounces noodles to the soup and cook 10 minutes. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper. If your not eating right after you cook the soup, you may want to cook noodles separately and add to bowl when eating. Pasta soaks up liquids, not only will your broth will disappear , the noodles will become soggy.

Happy Soup making……..if you have any questions regarding this recipe or any other….drop an e-mail. If there are any cooking questions I would love to answer them, too!!!

There's nothing worse then burning your mouth. But finally I have found a positive solution.  

hAPPY, hAPPY, joY, JOY............

That's right folks guess what great event is happening today????

If you guessed it, Today 32 uncut episodes of the one the only super wacky cartoon...Ren and Stimpy is being released on DVD today. So all you crazy folks like me...who have been fans since the very beginning....go pick yourself up a copy.

And In Other News,
Back to the old grind for me...I have been back since sat. It's always nice starting off a new work week with an 11 hour day. No big deal unless you have been on vacation for the past 2 weeks. Can i say my feet are very unhappy with me at the moment. Oh...well they will get over it.

So have a great day and take care of your feet because they will love you....and remember when your feet are unhappy....you are unhappy...

Is this what they mean by a drrink a Day...if so sign me up...hehehe!!! 

Soup…Glorious…SOUP!!!!!

That’s right folks it’s almost that time of year again. Where there’s a chill in the air and there’s nothing like a hot bowl of home made soup to make you smile. And for those folks up north these recipes have reached you in perfect time. I no what your saying …”I don’t have all day to make soup”…Well first you don’t need all day to make all day to make a yummy fresh soup. And second it’s quite simple…so get your printers ready because below I have some excellent simple soup recipes. Don’t be shy, if you have any questions…send me an e-mail.

Tomato-Corn Chowder
1 qt milk
2 cups cooked corn, canned or fresh, or frozen
1 cup tomato puree
Salt & pepper to taste
2 leaves basil
2 stalks celery, chopped med size
chopped 2 potatoes, peeled & chopped

Combine milk, tomato puree, basil and celery in soup kettle. Simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Do not boil. Remove from heat and strain. Return liquid to kettle; discard solids. Cook potatoes in separate saucepan in boiling water 15 minutes or until tender. Drain. Add potatoes and corn to liquid in kettle, season with salt and pepper, and heat. Do not boil. salt and pepper to taste


Roasted Butternut Squash
Soup Servings : 8
2 large butternut squash -- (4 pounds)
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cups chicken stock, Canned stuff works great!
2 cups water
1 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried tarragon or oregano or what ever herbs you like, you can you a comination of a few

Cut the squash down the middle and scoop out the seeds and pulp with a spoon. Place, cut side down, on a roasting pan brushed with olive oil. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until tender. Scoop out flesh with a spoon and place into a large mixing bowl.In another large mixing bowl, stir together water and stock. Puree squash in a blender or food processor (in batches) adding enough of the liquid as needed, until smooth. Pour pureed squash into a deep pot and bring to a low boil. Season with salt, pepper, onion power and tarragon. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook over very low heat 1 hour, stirring every quarter hour. Before serving check seasoning!!

Lentil Soup
ham bone or/some ham/ or bacon
lentils (about 1 and 1/2 cups)
cubed potatoes
2 cans diced tomatoes
diced carrots
diced onions
water to cover
combine all in a pot with a lid, bring to boil, lower heat and simmer until lentils are cooked and potatoes and carrots are soft. Yummy!!! Salt and pepper Can it be any simpler!!!You may need to add water during the cooking process.

So there you have it folks the first offical batch of fall recipes. Guys and Gals i encourage you to get cooking because there's nothing like the smell of soup on a cool fall evening. There will be more to come so keep your printers, and pots, and pans ready! because you never know what creative ideas might come your way.

I'm Back!!!!

For those of you wondering where the heck I was and why haven't i been blogging here's the answer:

I was on vacation...and went up north to visit my family. I had a great time staying with Aunt Broccolli ( Aunt Pat) and Drink Master B (aka Uncle Tony). Thanks for letting us stay at your lovely aboude. And can't wait till i have the chance to see all you folks again. I have to say my trip was very delicious (spiritually and the food also). The produce up there is awesome...and very reasonable. How to you like them apples... I thought they were yummy too.

I still have several days before i have to go back to the old grind... so i think I'm going to have to have some more fun... And coming to a blog near you fall recipes, that will make your mouth water by just reading them!

Here is some mindless humor.
Have you ever thought about different ways too...

How Shall I Call Thee Stupid?
( i got on the internet to see how many i could come up with) i found quite a few i didn't include them all...really you don't have to thank me.

Shooting an empty gun.
Hunting in an empty forest.
A few walls short of a complete house.
A few crumbs short of the cake.
His porch light is flickering.
No grain in the silo.
Receiver is off the hook.
Slinky's kinked.
Too much yardage between the goal posts.
Not the sharpest pencil in the box.
About a half a bubble off level.
Skim it Quick if you like!!!

Not the brightest crayon in the box.
A few gunmen short of a posse.
Missing some of dots on his dice?
Only got One Oar In The Water.
Not the quickest bunny in the forest.
The porch lights on, but nobody's home.
Too much chlorine in the gene pool.
Not the brightest bulb on the tree.
Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
The cheese has slipped off the cracker.
You don't have to read them all.....
Not the brightest star in the galaxy.
Not the sharpest tack in the box.
I.Q. of two, but takes three to grunt.
Thinks the Hard Rock Cafe is a restaurant for boulders.
Tried to read a book "between the lines."
A few chocolate chips short of a cookie.
A few tantrums short of a toddler.
A couple gallons short of a swimming pool.
IQ lower than your average rock.
A couple apples short of a bushel.
Several aliens short of a UFO.
A few CDs short of a jukebox.
Elevator doesn't go all the way to the top.
One brick shy of a fireplac

Really you don't have to read them all!!!!
One bubble short of a bath.
Wheels are spinning but the tires are off the ground.
One eye closed and can't see out of the other.
One tree short of a hammock.
He thinks the Mexican border pays rent.
If he blew up a balloon his head would deflate.
Two slices of bread shy of a sandwich.
A few clowns short of a circus.
A few fries short of a happy meal.
An experiment in Artificial Stupidity.
Dumber than a box of hair.
A few peas short of a casserole.
The wheel's spinning, but the hamster's dead!
One fruit loop shy of a full bowl.
A few feathers short of a whole duck.
Body by Fisher, brains by Mattel.
Warning: Objects in mirror are dumber than they appear.
Are You still reading this crap!!!
Couldn't pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel.
He fell out of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down.
An intellect rivaled only by garden tools.
As smart as bait.
Sharp as a marble.
Doesn't have all his dogs on one leash.
Elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor.
Forgot to pay his brain bill.
Some of them are really funny!!!
Her sewing machine's out of thread.
His antenna doesn't pick up all the channels.
His belt doesn't go through all the loops.
If he had another brain, it would be lonely.
Missing a few buttons on his remote control.
It's done ...I really mean it!!!!

I won't tell anyone that you were looking at my stupid list if you don't....this is just between you and I....and cyberspace

Quote of the day: Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddah

signing off from a very unproductive blog entry. My apologies...the substance just did't make it today... Cheero!!!

Here's a laugh for you!!! Have you ever hit your head on something stupid! Then you say something like this *#@* , Who hasn't? Well I compiled from talking to all kinds of crazy people!!

A tomato. Unfortunately in a can.( fllow kitchen crew member)

A chicken(former stupid intern)

A golf club(my bro-in-law Roy)

Another head(sis karen)

A horseshoe. Yes it did hurt. I had a shaved head at the time.(Guy at work, i think it would have hurt with hair too.)

Metal bar on t-bar ski lift. (After I had fallen down and been run over by 3 skiers using me as a speed bump. this was me over listening at a buffet at work)

A paper airplane with its tail set on fire and covered with glue. My hair was nearly all burned off. ( I made this one up...hehehehe)

My husband head-butted me in the middle of the night while he was still asleep. He didn't have a clue what he had done it until in the morning when he said that his head hurt. I then told him what he had done. (The K-C's)

A burnt refrigerator biscuit - As a newlywed, (crazy lady in house keeping) I forgot about the biscuits in the oven for dinner. I remembered them when the oven started to smoke. The biscuits looked like hockey pucks. My husband started laughing really hard, so I threw one at him. He ducked and it put a dent in the wall. He tossed it back to me and it hit me in the chin.

When I was a kid my friend and I got into a fight, and he hit me on the head with his fist. Then he fell down in extreme pain. He had forgotten that he had just had a cast taken off his arm that morning. He broke his wrist in the same place. ( kitchen crew member))

while fishing my cousin caught a rather large bass and whacked me in the head with it. I couldn't get the smell out for a few days.( one of my bosses, I cannot disclose)

Car( this would be me and my own car)

A frying pan! My youngest daughter started watching that Dinosaurs show!(I made this one up too)

Mini Blinds (and they broke when they hit me in the head!!!)

A bee at 80 mph. Moral - never ride at speed with your helmet visor up.( dumb guy at work)

Last but not least...A dinner plate....You guessed it right it happened to me.

So folks watch your head, because we are all a little nutty. Hmmmm...maybe that's why. We got smacked in the head a few to many times....sounds like it could be one reason.

What’s Your Hurry?
Why are we always in a hurry? We get up in the morning( some early some late) and hurry to get ready for work even if it means falling over the big shoes and drinking instant breakfast on the road.

Of course, every one on the highway is in a hurry. Why are they in such a hurry to get to work? They must like working a whole lot better than I do. But I have to hurry even if I don't want to go to work, to avoid getting rear-ended or dirty looks at me to get out of the way. I'm already going fast enough! Speed is often accidents happen. But we speed, risk traffic tickets, accidents, and injury just because we are in a hurry. it really doesn't make sense does it? And where are all these people going? They all can't be going to work...?

At work, we hurry though the day. No matter how much we have to do there is never enough time. I always would like to add an extra hour to my day...but i would end up with more to do. We hurry through our "to do" list to get to the next task, and then hurry through it as well. Work related stress increases chance of stroke, and heart attack, but we don't have time to worry about that as we are in a hurry.

Maybe we are in a hurry to get to lunch. For those who have a noraml career where you get a lunch time. And those those of us who spend all day feeding everyone else forget to feed ourselves! We didn't eat much breakfast because we didn't have time. So were hungary and in a hurry, not a good combo.

The same people that are in a hurry to get to work in the morning are also in a hurry to get back home at night. And we thought they liked work. But it seems they love being in a hurry. Traffic is a nightmare with everyone rushing to get home. What do they have to do at home... Probably nothing. It's like those that leave church early...for what ??? I just don't get it.

We usually don't want to take time to cook dinner. By the time i get home it's to late...so a bowl of cereal is just great. If we cook, it is most likely some of the convenience foods that are at least partly prepared in advance, or come out of a box. These are better because we can fix them fast and get the food ready in a hurry. We can no longer imagine life without a microwave to fix food in a hurry.
What if we are in too big of a hurry to cook and decide to eat out? If the wait is too long, we look for another place. If the food doesn't arrive quickly many mumble and complain because it is taking too long. Good service has come to be just as important as good food, and good service means timely service for busy people in a hurry. What a shame, people think it should be like the Mc Burger Hut.

We live life in the fast lane, always in a hurry. We use email and send instant messages. We don’t have time to answer the phone so we let the voice mail get it. We have rush hours, express mail, jiffy lubs, instant rebates, and overnight delivery. Why? Because we are in a hurry! We live in a fast age, information flies, and so do we. In spite of all the time we save, we never seem to have enough. Sometimes it makes my head spin while i try to keep up.
And that’s why I’m going to quit now. I'm in a hurry. And you ask where I'm off to.. To bed of course....

That's my little rant for the day ....I apoligize if I made your head spin, toooo.

What is Vegemite?
Vegemite is considered as much a part of Australia's heritage as kangaroos and the Holden cars. It is actually an Australian obsession that has become a unique and loved symbol of the Australian nation.

A Vegemite sandwich to an Australian kid is the equivalent of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to an American kid - but the taste is QUITE different!( That's what I heard)

Vegemite is one of several yeast extract spreads sold in Australia. It is made from leftover brewers' yeast extract (a by-product of beer manufacture) and various vegetable and spice additives. It is very dark reddish-brown, almost black, in color, and one of the richest sources known of Vitamin B. It's thick like peanut butter, it's very salty, and it tastes like - well let's just say that it is an acquired taste! (That's what a friend told me)
Australian children are brought up on Vegemite from the time they're babies. It is said that Australians are known to travel all over the world with at least one small jar of Vegemite in their luggage, for fear that they will not be able to find it.
History of Vegemite
In 1922, Fred Walker (1884-1935) of Melbourne, Australia decided to try to make a special "yeast extract" that would be as delicious as it was nourishing for his Fred Walker Cheese Company to sell. The chief scientist in the company Fred owned was Dr. Cyril P. Callister, and it was Dr. Callister who invented the first Vegemite spread. He used brewer's yeast and blended the yeast extract with ingredients like celery, onion, salt, and a few secret ingredients to make this paste. In 1912, a national competition and a prize of 50 pounds was offered to the winner or winners to name the new product.. The name ‘Vegemite’ was finally chosen from the entries by Fred’s daughter Sheilah .( i Still Don't want to try it)

With its unusual and unique flavor, Vegemite was not an immediate success and sales were slow. In 1928 Vegemite was renamed and registered as Parwill in an attempt to boost its sales and to attract customers of the rival spread Marmite (an English yeast spread that dominated the Australian market sinc 1910). "If Marmite...then Parwill" was the rationale behind Walker's strategy to carve a niche in the market for his spread. The name Parwill and Walker's play on words didn't catch on. It was only sold as Parwill for a short time in Queensland. The name was withdrawn in 1935, and the original name was reinstated.

Earlier, in 1925, Walker had arranged with the Chicago, Illinois firm of James L. Kraft to make processed cheese in Australia. A company called the Kraft Walker Cheese Co. was established alongside Fred Walker and Co. In 1935, Walker used the success of his processed cheese to launch a new campaign to revive Vegemite. The company launched 2-year coupon redemption scheme whereby a jar of Vegemite was given away with every purchase of other products in the Fred Walker Cheese Company. Australians tried the product and loved it. Vegemite was well and truly on the road to success.
In 1935, the recipe and manufacturing methods was sold to Kraft Foods and has been wholly owned and made by American companies. (isn't that interresting)In 1939 Vegemite received endorsement from the British Medical Association which allowed doctors to recommend it as a Vitamin B-rich, nutritionally balanced food for patients.
In World War II, soldiers, sailors, and the civilian population of Australia all had Vegemite included in their rations. Soldiers’ Vegemite came in three sizes: seven-pound tins for the platoon, eight-ounce tins for soldiers on the go, and half-ounce rations for behind enemy lines. This war-time demand meant that civilian were limited. Hence, advertisements were run to explain the situation: “Vegemite fights with the men up north! If you are one of those who don’t need Vegemite medicinally, then thousands of invalids are asking you to deny yourself of it for the time being.”
The main change to the original recipe in recent years has been to reduce the salt content from 10% to 8%.
Did You Know?
22.7 million jars of Vegemite are manufactured in Australia every year - that's 235 jars per minute.
30 jars are sold in Australia for every one exported.
Vegemite is in nine out of ten pantries in Australia.

So there you have it folks...thats the story and i'm stickin' to it!!!!!

Next ....coming to a blog near you... The History of Vegemite..that's right....what is it...where is it eaten..and what it tastes like...

Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches

Abstract:
Strawberry Pop Tarts may be cheap and inexpensive. Toasters which fail to eject Pop Tarts cause the Pop Tarts to emit flames 10-18 inches in height.
IntroductionLast year, an article by well-known newspaper columnist Dave Barry noted that Kellogg's Strawberry Pop Tarts (SPTs) could be made to emit flames "like a blow torch" if left in a toaster too long. Given previous work in the field of food-entertainment , it was obvious that this was a new frontier that requires further exploration.

Do you want to know what could happen? Was Dave Barry pulling our legs. Well my distinguished associates and I looked into the matter ourselves.

Summary and Recommendations:

In summary, overcooking the SPT did produce a good size flame. The effect was not as pronounced as the researchers had hoped, but was satisfying nonetheless. The research assistant noted that the flames produced did appear to have some color variation. We believe that frosted SPTs may successfully produce even larger torches. Further research in this area is warranted.
We did desire to repeat the experiment with the remaining five SPTs, but we could not do so because the powers that be said reaserch was over. Instead, the remaining SPTs were sacrified over the course of the next several days in private, undocumented consumption experiments.

Please do not try this at home, unless supervised by a skilled professional.

This science experiment was brought to you by Liesol for deodorant, If it can make your toilet smell like a summer rain just think what it can do for your feet???

...Testing..1...2...3....The a Test of the emergency blog system... This is only a Test

Hello All From Jax...where the grass is green and the swimming pool is mighty full.

Yes we too have had our share from that nasty hurricane, that one's over and so it's back to our regular scheduled programming. I had been off work for five days due to the nasty weather. I can't say that i missed being there because i really didn't miss it. I did miss getting up in the morning and having something to do!!! And my feet are ticked at me for standing on them for a solid eight hours, unlike the prior days when I was partaking in some couch fishing.
So I wrote this little ditty about my barking dogs:

Feet
ouchie, ouchie, ouchie
three hours have gone by
I wish the other five would fly
toes, toes, toes
We are grumpy and sad
The way she treats us we feel bad
The left says to the right
I want cry with all my might
The right says to the left
quite your gripping it's almost over


So folks listen to your feet, because if you don't, they will force you to.
So I hope every one has a ordinary day. Because all this drama brought to you by mother nature is wearing me out.....Seeya next time at same blog time, same blog address......................

There IS life after the Olympics!!!!

I guess I have to move on with my life. I hope every one got there fill of the games for a while. I know I did, though I could watch more if it was still on. But that's ok I can make for the next seventeen months...that's right a count daon to winter games has offically started.

Here are my top reasons for my Olympic addiction:

8) Pole vault.. It's super cool...

7)Super fast slow motion...replays

6) trying to pronounce the names of the atheletes from other countries

5) All the unnatural noises that were made during the shot put, and other field games

4)The use of windex( you know you saw it at the closing ceremony...you know the big fat greek wedding.)

3)Great photography of Greece

2) American athletes kick'in butt and taking names

1) The swim suit competition...hehehehe

Well i must move on with my life. seventeen months till the next winter games..I can't wait..you just gotta love curling...I always wanted to try that one

Polishing up the ole Resume....

that's right folks it's time time to update and make it pretty. It's something I need to do, I don't want to miss any opportunities. But remember folks if your working on yours there is a few things you may want to avoid...
RESUME BLOOPERS

How bad a mistake can you make on your resume?
"Education: Curses in liberal arts, curses in computer science, curses in accounting."
"Personal: Married, 1992 Chevrolet."
"I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse."
"I am a rabid typist."
"Exposure to German for two years, but many words are not appropriate for business."
"Proven ability to track down and correct erors."
"Personal interests: Donating blood. 15 gallons so far."
"I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely nothing and absolutely no one."
"References: None, I've left a path of destruction behind me."
"Strengths: Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining composer."
"Don't take the comments of my former employer too seriously, they were unappreciative beggars and slave drivers."
"I procrastinate - especially when the task is unpleasant."
"Qualifications: No education or experience."
"Disposed of $2.5 billion in assets."
"Accomplishments: Oversight of entire department."
"Extensive background in accounting. I can also stand on my head!"
Cover letter: "Thank you for your consideration. Hope to hear from you shorty

so you may want to avoid making thoughs big mistakes....the world is full of opportunity so keep your eyes open or you may miss out on something great!!!

Food trivia : (yes some more wonderfully useless info!!)
Some things are not what they seem. Did you know the following facts?

Rice paper does not contain one grain of rice - its made from either Rice straw, Bamboo, Hemp, Mulberry leaves, Wingceltis or Gampi.

Ten gallon hats only hold about 6 pints. (that's totally useless)

Refried beans aren't really what they seem. Although their name seems like a reasonable translation of Spanish frijoles refritos, the fact is that these beans aren't fried twice. In Spanish, refritos literally means "well-fried," not "re-fried."

The hamburger was invented in 1900 by Louis Lassen. He ground beef, broiled it, and served it between two pieces of toast. (sowhen when you have no buns and put it onbread it's the right way after all, huh?..)

The pound cake got its name from the pound of butter it contained. (I thought it was called # cake because it would make you gain them after eating it..)

The world's costliest coffee, at $130 a pound , is called Kopi Luwak. It is in the droppings of a type of marsupial that eats only the very best coffee beans. Plantation workers track them and scoop their precious poop. (Yummy, anyone want a cup?)

To determine the percentage of alcohol in a bottle of liquor divide the proof by two. (I'm sure most of you all ready knew that)

Spilling salt considered good luck in Japan.

The most recognized smell in the world is coffee.

About 8 percent of the weight in a box of corn flakes is corn.(what's the rest of it???)

Just some more useless information...

And coming soon to a blog near you..that's right...yep that's it.Ok i really have
no idea...I guess you will have to stop by yourself...

You Know U Have To Much Time on Your Hands When....

You spend time looking up this...


Jell-o Factoids
* Grapefruit, apples and pears will float in Jell-O; prunes and
maraschino cherries won't.
* When hooked up to EEG machine, Jell-O demonstrates movement virtually
identical to the brain waves of a healthy man or woman.
* Per capita consumption is highest in Salt Lake City.
* If all of the packages fo Jell-O gelatin dessert produced in one year
were placed end-to-end, they would stretch three-fifths of the way
around the earth.

Do You have a Case Of the Mondays????
That's right, it time to raise your cup of coffee to another exciting week...woohoo!!
....This just in. (Suburb) police have arrested a gang of mosquitoes breaking into to blood bank! Film at noon. I thought you should start your day with a good chuckle...and how do i know it's going to be a really hectic around here. Oops! I think I just put parsesan cheese in my coffee. just kidding!

Today's blog is brought to you by the exciting new Liquid Plumber Face Cream. If it'll unclog your sink, you know it'll unclog your pores.

Signing off ....The Crazy Mrs.

Imagine If you could have conversations around this cooler at work!!!! I bet the topics would be pretty interesting.


Warning:

Silly Food joke coming your way!!!!

THREE COOKS JOKE
Three cooks, one from Kentucky, one from California and one from Oregon were sitting on a park bench passing the time. Suddenly, the cook from Kentucky reaches under the bench and drags out a new bottle of bourbon, takes a big swig, tosses the bottle into the air and shoots it with a pistol.
"What did you do that for?" asks the cook from California.
"We got lots of bourbon in Kentucky" was the reply.
Next the cook from California takes out a bottle of fine wine, takes a huge swig, throws the bottle into the air and shoots it with a pistol.
"What did you do that for?" asks the cook from Oregon.
"We got lots of wine in California" was the reply.
The cook from Oregon takes out a bottle of Henry's Private Reserve beer, takes a humongous swig and shoots the cook from California.
"What did you do that for?" asks the cook from Kentucky.
"We got lots of Californians in Oregon" was the reply.


Have a great day i gotta run...Thats right it's shower time...then I have to get some shuteye...

I Bid Farewell to a Fabulous Culinarian
OBITUARY: NY Times
Julia Child, 91, Dies; She Entertained as She Taught Cooking
By REGINA SCHRAMBLING
Julia Child, whose warbling, encouraging voice and able hands brought the intricacies of French cuisine to American home cooks through her television series and books, died in her sleep three days before what would have been her 92nd birthday.

Julia Child was one classy lady, and she will be missed by all. I grew up watching her cook and thought to myself that is what I wanted to accomplish when I get older. Well here I am now, and as a dedicated culinarian making my way through the crazy world of food. She is one person I would have loved to have meet. I know she would be proud of my passion and enthusiasm. But I truly enjoy watching Julia cook, laugh, and especially her guests. Her lively spirit will always be in my heart and mind to encourage me to be just like her one day.. She is my ICON!!!! We MISS you Julia!

Back To Ye Ole Blog:

Now we resume our regularly scheduled blog!! Sorry about the hold up folks this past weeks been a little crazy...The hurricane and all. I have to thank my parents for coming up and visiting us up in Jax. We had a lovierly time. Thanks again and Happy Anniversary again. And for all you out there who were trying to get there hands on that lovely lighthouse painting, it's to late. I gave it to my parents as an anniversary gift. So if you feel the need to visit it you will have stop by their hooose.

Weekends Are Pretty Cool!!!!

That's right I was off on a weekend! I hear you saying it...wow! Well yes I did enjoy my weekend. Mingled with the monday thru friday crowd. Sat. night I ate out at a mexican joint. It was quite yummy, they had some Guy playing guitar, contempary rock stuff. He was pretty good for a solo act. The one thing about weekends that suck are the crowds on the roads and the stores have a million people buy this or that. It is kind of nice to see what it is like to have a weekend off...it not part of my usual routine.

So i hope all you mon thru fridayers have a pleasant ...And this one's for you!!!

A Friend's Prayer
May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the crotch of the person who screws up your day and may their arms be too short to scratch.Amen

How Ya'll Doing???

Only two more days to go till I get to be off from work. So today will be day 9. I know what your thinkin' ...that it sucks. Well it sure does. but enough of that shop talk. Onward...!!!


OF COURSE I'M TIRED
Yes, I'm tired. For a couple years I've been blaming it on iron, poor blood, lack of vitamins, dieting and a dozen other maladies. But now I found out, it ain't that. I'm tired because I'm overworked.The population of this country is 237 million. 104 million are retired. That leaves 133 million to do the work.There are 85 million in school, which leave 48 million to do the work.Of this there are 29 million employed by the federal government. This leaves 19 million to do the work.Four million are in the Armed Forces, which leaves 15 million to do the work.Take from the total the 14,800,000 people who work for State and City Government and that leaves 200,000 to do the work.There are 188,000 in hospitals, so that leaves 12,000 to do the work.Now, there are 11,998 people in Prisons. That leaves just two people to do the work.You and me.Boy Oh Boy..And you're sitting there reading this. No wonder I'm tired; I'm the only one working.

That's all folks. Look for another blogg entry at a computer near you

Food For Thought!!

Every day, birds eat 1/2 their own weight in food! So, why do people say that a poor eater "eats like a bird?" If this were the case, a 50 pound child would consume 25 pounds of food a day.


PEPSI AND COCA COLA in China--A Little Humor! PEPSI'S "Come Alive With the PEPSI Generation" Slogan, when translated into Chinese, means "PEPSI Brings Your Ancestors Back From the Grave." The COCA COLA name in China was first read as "Kekoukela," meaning "Bite the wax tadpole" or "female horse stuffed with was," depending on the dialect. COKE then researched 40,000 characters to find a phonetic equivalent. The new name is KOKOU KOLE, which means "happiness in the mouth."

As you can see I have to much time on my hands????
Here's a little hint for good health...


Why Healthy Snacking Is Good for You and I. Healthy snacks can be a great way to get all the vitamins and neutriants our bodies need. I sometimes have noticed that I feel hungry a lot. This is natural for people of all ages. Small, healthy meals and snacks are a terrific way to satisfy that nagging hunger. But we need to pay attention to what we eat. Stuffing my face with a large order of fries after before a long busy nightmay give mea temporary boost, but a snack this high in fat and calories will only slow me down in the long run. And I don't need that...
To keep your energy levels going consistently - and to avoid weight gain - I steer clear of foods with lots of simple carbohydrates (sugars) like candy bars or soda. I look for foods that contain complex carbohydrates (starches) like whole-grain breads and cereals or eat protein-rich snacks such as low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese. There's nothing like a bowl of cereal..in the afternoon. It's quick and easy and will keep my energy level even until the next meal. So if you're on the late lunch plan but haven't eaten since breakfast at 6:00 AM,(i not speaking of me this is just an example) toss some fruit or trail mix into your backpack, purse, or breif case.That way you won't feel tempted to grab unhealthy vending machine when that hunger hits. Another plus that I have found with sncking, i don't over eat at meals. That's a big plus for me..Or should I say a Minus in the making.

I hope everyone has a happy healthy day...:')

SIGNS YOUR SWIMMING POOL NEEDS CLEANING :

It's summer time folks, and I look down into the pool behind our apartment..and see the ducks  swimming in like they own it. Sometimes it's kind of nasty!!  Or maybe some of the following may be sins that time to clean your pool:

- That green tarp covering your pool? You DON'T have a tarp on your pool.

- Neighborhood kids ask if they can jump on your trampoline.

-- Kids still pee in your pool, but they refuse to get in it first.

- Skipping rocks across it causes sparks.

- New algae species attract a Discovery Channel film crew to your backyard.

- Jello-like water slowing the pace of K's 500 race to unacceptable levels. (it's a family thing)

-- The Grim Reaper shows up in his Speedo.

- Dr. Kervorkian seen filling IV bottles at pool side.

- The amount of body hair found in the drain gives even Robin Williams a run for his money. (I know that's really gross)


Speaking of cleaning, I went nut's while doing the bathroom it's sparkling now. Nothing like shower doors that have no soap scum, and shiny faucets... 
Bathtubs
I'm sure I'm comparable to all of you folks out there. We all like a clean bathtub - don't we? It really makes for a more tranquilizing atmosphere for those long soaks when the tub is squeaky clean!
Now, I don't know about you, but I am particularly fond of dipping into my tub right after my daily 8 to tan hours slaving in the kitchen. The soak really does wonders for relaxing those poor achy muscles in my fingers and hands, relieves the backaches, and sure soothes the shoulders and neck.
But ... I was just wondering if there's a better way to clean the tub?
Those who clean tubs all know the scenario...
First you wet the tub ... uhhhhh, from-the-faucet-of-course!
Then you sprinkle down the tub with cleanser.
Now you bend over into that ever popular position ... Tummy teetering over the wall of the tub, with arms flailing wildly over the tub ready to scrub a dub, dub ... while your butt protrudes oh-so recklessly behind you!
Now as far as I'm concerned, this is the most undignified position to be found in be almost anyone.
There's just got to be a better way to clean that tub!
Any of you folks got any ideas?

How’s Life?
 
Well for me it’s business as usual. Fight with the alarm clock, no matter what time it is set for it’s never a good time for me. I tend to snooze a little to much on the average day. Everyone always tells me that I should set it later and I wouldn’t need to snooze. Yeah right, we are talking about me, right? Everyday I wake up wanting to throw the alarm clock out the window. Come on I know I am not the only one out there with these feelings. So finally I get my but out of bed, after much struggle. Run to the can, If you snoozed as long as I do you have to go pretty bad. Walk out sit my butt on the couch and flip through the 4 channels that we have and sigh….. I think about breakfast for a short second. Scratch my head than usually decide to eat. I love breakfast food but I hate the time of day this meal lands in. They always say breakfast is the most important part of the day. So if I’m eating breakfast at 10 pm, that counts right?  Enough of that for now for another interesting topic.

Do you ever have really stupid thoughts or questions?  I know I do…I know it’s hard to believe. So if your reading this, and thinking, man that’s stupid. That’s because it is!!

why are traffic lights red, yellow and green?
why not red, yellow and blue to match traditional primary colors? i would even be happy with red, green and blue, the primary additive colors. or cyan, magenta and yellow, which are the true primary subtractive colors.
were the colors for traffic lights chosen for metaphorical reasons? i’m sure there is a government conspiracy behind it, i just haven’t made the connection yet.
AND
Yo Gack
just because you can make yogurt taste like a mocha latte doesn’t mean that you should.
OK Just one more

Tasty Soap?
personal hygiene products seem to smell more and more like real food. You go to take a shower and you end up with the munchies??
froot loops-scented deodorant. (ok this was not a real one that I know of yet)
tangerine-scented face scrub.
coconut cream foot lotion
chestnut body bar
lemon butter cuticle cream
obligatory minty toothpaste
now all i need is some meat-scented shampoo and wheat floss to round out the food pyramid.

Alright I won’t keep going on this train of thought…No really you don’t have to thank me, really.. Have an most excellent day!!And if you have a stupid thought, share it with some one. You might get a good laugh or even a strange look. You know I am all for that!!

Spa Cuisine...It's not snobby..It's healthy!!!
 
"Spa Cuisine", an approach to eating that offers a comprehensive healthy balanced meal plan each day in the made up of delicious and satisfying entrees and snack
One of the challenges of healthy eating is to incorporate all the daily essential vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, fiber, and antioxidants into a reasonable number of calories per day. These essential nutrients comprise a large number, and it takes technique to cover them off each day without ingesting an enormous amount of food. It means that a menu cannot "waste calories"; that is, only foods that are efficient in delivering the essential nutrients can be included if you wish to maintain or lose weight, rather than steadily gain. The more I watch what I eat and how I prepare food, the more fascinating  this cuisine has become. Many believe spa cuisine is complex.. or even silly.  The more I look into it the more it makes sense.
 
Some of the principles of spa food also show huge benifits when combined with a healthy life style: 
Research and practice the things that seem to PREVENT weight loss and good health are: Inadequate breakfast, Inadequate water, Inadequate activity after the last meal of the day.Inadequate amount of fiber foods daily, and too many starchy foods (bread) Inadequate daily vegetable intake. Too much of animal product foods (especially high in fat)
The following are 4 simple principles to help start a program of weight loss and good health:

FOOD:- eat 25 grams of fiber per day. Minimum.-   a higher fat diet of plant foods(Remember veggies are in the carb catagorie) is much better than a lower fat diet of protein and starch products.( None whole grain processed starches are not that good for use) 
WATER:- pure water is the preferred and most effective fluid.- drink enough water each day to make your urine colorless.
MEALS:- breakfast should be eaten as soon as possible after rising, and contain 4 -12 grams of fiber.- lunch and dinner should contain a minimum of 1.5 cups of vegetables each meal.
ACTIVITY:- do something active every day, trying to incorporate different cardiovascular, flexibility, and strength exercise within a week.- do something active for 25 minutes after your last meal of the day.Take a walk after dinner.
 
Who know's i could be the next great Spa Chef. Look out world, ...The challenge is to find the best and tastiest foods in the most creative combinations. I would make food  fresh, organic, interesting, tasty, and satisfying. I could offer vegetarian, poultry and fish, and vegan (non-animal product vegetarian) it's all about options.
 
Have a happy healthy day. And i look forward to sharing spa recipes for the everyday cook, in the near future. Also I going to break down how you really only break down all foods into three catagories. I have Mr. K-C give my a hand at that. It's very interesting what I found out about my own diet.  I share that with you all soon.

  




 

Back In JAX:
 
Back to the grind. Unfortunately I had to return reality today. I know what your thinking, it is such a same. I do agree, No matter if you take one day off or five it's never enough. The bills have to get paid some how I guess?
I had a great time hanging out with the family. It was a blast, can't wait for the next time we get to hang out. It's amazing thatI ate and drank whatever i wanted and didn't gain weight...I lost a little. It must have been getting away from work . Those fresh baked pastries are deadly to my waist line.
Speaking of waist line here are some was to burn more calories...
 
I've always been fascinated by the various ways there are to burn calories to keep myself fit and trim.  There's a wealth of information on the internet for providing specifics on how many calories you can burn for routine exercise regimes, like weight lifting, aerobics and swimming.  Well if you're like me who has little time in their schedule to workout, then you'd wonder how many calories can be burned doing routine things in your life.  With that, I've compiled my Top 10 List Of Strange And Unusual Ways to Burn Calories. My Top Ten List is based on doing the specific activities for one hour for my weight which is ***  pounds.  Your results will vary, as the more you weigh, the more calories you burn and vice versa.
 
10. Raking The Lawn -  Something I don't have to do, but I thought you would be interested. So put those blowers down.  360 Calories Burned
 
9. Sitting -  I do this all the time as I spend most of my life in front of the computeror tv afterwork, plus I figure it's easy and most people can do it.  96 Calories Burned
 
8. Housecleaning -  Again something I hate to do but is a necessity (most of the time).  576 Calories Burned
 
7. Shopping -  Now here's one that I used to hate, but am starting to enjoy it more and more.  I'm sure most people would agree with me here.  216 Calories Burned
 
6. Bowling  -  I never thought that I'd be burning calories from something that I truly enjoy.  This may not work to your favor if multple beers are involved. 276 Calories Burned
 
5. Brushing Your Teeth  -  Something that we all do all the time (or most of us). My dentist has told me to brush after every meal, hell now that I'm looking to keep trim for the summer I'll brush 6 to 8 times a day. 228 Calories Burned
 
4. Kissing  -  Another favorite of mine.  I'll make some time to increase the amount of this activity any day. 96 Calories Burned
 
3. Watching TV  -  This is something that most people do on a daily basis.  Who would have ever thought you could burn calories with this favorite pastime. 96 Calories Burned
 
2. Playing Cards  -  This activity is high on my favorites list, (even though my mom beat me three times in a row recently) even higher now that I know I'm burning calories doing it.  My next card game I'll skip the snacks and stick to water and playing cards. (yah right!!) 156 Calories Burned
 
1. Sex  -  My favorite activity on the list!  Now this is one activity I'll find time for as I'm sure most people will also. Keep in mind the number of calories burned is for doing this activity for one hour.  Let's all get out there and burn some serious calories by partaking more in this activity!  384 Calories Burned As Always Remember To Lose Weight With Passion! 
 
I hope this list is helpful, interesting and quite humorous.
 

Hi all...from the west coast of fl!!!

Thank goodness for a few days off. That's right i have time to relax. So Sunday afternoon i packed my car an popped down my home town. It's fun just to hang out with the family!!! Wooo hooo!!!
Al those of you at work have a good time!!

FOOD TRIVIA
Licking a regular size, multicolor stamp delivers .007 calories. A larger commemorative, such as *Elvis*, has .014 calories.

Hershey's Kisses are called that because the machine that makes them
looks like it's kissing the conveyor belt.

Researchers at Harvard University, spurred by an urban myth, tested the effectiveness of Coca-Cola as a spermicide. The result: Diet Coke worked a little, but not well enough to qualify as a new form of birth control.

Survey: 14% of those responding make milk part of their sex lives.

Derrick Johnson of Newport Beach, California was fired from his stock clerk job in a supermarket because he talked to USA Today about his membership in the Poultry Bowling Association. Johnson and fellow clerks on the night shift used frozen turkeys to bowl over "pins" - two liter soft drink bottles.

In August of 1993, the Economic Evening News of Taiyuan, China, reported that a woman in her thirties, unidentified in the story, had eaten more than 800 rubber nipples from baby bottles in the last three years. A province health official said all family members apparently liked the smell of rubber.

The electric pickle is an experiment that was a tremendous success in freshman electronics class. You go to a deli, see, and get a big kosher dill pickle, seven or eight inches long. Then you cut the cord of an old electric appliance and strip the ends to expose two or three inches of split wire. (Unplug it first.) Get two two- or three-inch nails, wrap one strand of wire around each nail, and stick the nails into the pickle. Then plug in the cord. "After about ten seconds the pickle will light up, glowing and crackling. It's really quite bright. You can try it at home," says Franklin, "but don't touch the pickle."

cRAZY aBOUT FATTENING FOOD??
If I tell you not to think of monkeys for next 5 minutes, the first thought that will invariably come to your mind will be of monkeys!

Likewise, if you're attempting to follow a low fat healthy diet program, keeping away from fatty food becomes a challenge of a lifetime and can be very depressing. Here are some alternatives to high-fat fare that you may find helpful.

First of all milkshakes.. Don't we all love 'em? But the usual stuff is way too fattening to continue with while trying to lose weight. The healthy alternative is to make them with low-fat frozen yogurt and skim milk. It does the trick so incredibly well that generally you won't even notice the difference and your craving goes away as soon as you sip it!

Next up cream cheese.. especially for your bagel topping.. Try pureeing some low or non-fat cottage cheese along with fresh fruit, your favorite spice or flavoring or maybe some strawberry jam. This will provide you with creamy, delightful topping for your bagel without the added fat. Moreover go for store bought bagels rather than the Bakery bagels which tend to be more fattening. TRY WHOLE WHEAT THEY ARE BETTER FOR YOU AND I!!

Rain Rules! Thought for the day:
Today the sky dropped a ton of rain! It was great!!! I was standing in the kitchen and I heard some rumbling, so I peaked out side and there was a waterfall coming off the roof. I don’t why people complain about it. Everything is green, the air is fresh, and my car needed a bath. Rain just makes me relax. I want to tell those people there crazy. If your not a rain lover than you need to get over it. Try gripping about something you have some control over. And best of all it isn’t 9000 degrees when it’s raining. Woo hoo!!! Rain Rules!!

I'm Back!!!!And better than EVER!!!

First i would like to do a shout out to my AWESOME Dad!!!!
As you all know my computer was on the fritz, and over the holiday weekend my lil sis went home to visit our folks. So i sent my crazy computer home for it to get a check up with Dad. it was just what the doctor ordered....Now my computer is all tuned up and running great. Thanks Dad your Awesome!!!!

I hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend of fun and all the holiday trimmings. Of course i worked, nothing different than any other holiday, with the exception of a butt load of BBQ.

First of all, the word barbeque is misused. When you cook steaks, hot dogs and hamburgers (and whatever else you want) on the grill, well hello.....guess what? That is called Grilling!

Cooking meat over an open fire has been around since the cave man. But the cave man didn't BBQ. Why? Because he had no sauce. LOL! Actually, as far as we know, the cave men just grilled over an open fire.

So just what is barbequing? Now pay attention. It will probably end up being a question on "Jeopardy" someday!

To barbeque (going to use BBQ from now on since it's so hard to type) is slow-cooking meat at a low temperature for a long time over wood or charcoal. Not gas! Although, most of us without a discerning culinary palette don't know the difference.

BBQ began in the late 1800's during cattle drives out West. The men had to be fed (cowboys) and the boss (cattle baron) didn't want to feed them the good meat. So, other disposable cuts were used to feed the men. The main choice for this was Brisket, which is a very tough, stringy piece of meat. However, the cowboys learnt that if you left this brisket to cook for a long period of time (5-7 hours) at approximately 200 degrees (although I don't know how they knew the temperature over a fire?) that wha-la! A super yummie meal was to be had. Besides Brisket, other meats that they found to BBQ well, were pork butt, pork ribs, beef ribs, venison and goat.

The basic BBQ grill is a cooking chamber with an offset firebox or a water smoker. The average KMart gas grill is not for BBQ, but for grilling. Today BBQ is a hobby -- or passion with some -- and enjoyed by millions of Americans each year. I guess it's one of the things we as Americans can claim as "authentic" and part of our culture and not a cooking style that has been brought from another country.

To BBQ is to truly cook American.


You know what they say? "When in Rome...do as the Romans." This can apply to BBQ also. Different areas of the country have different meat priorities and preparations. For example, in the Southeast, pork is the preferred meat to BBQ. Digging a pit (to concentrate cooking heat and smoke) goes back to European culture. Then it was forgotten until the Jamestown colonists arrived. Since pigs were running around freely to fatten themselves up, (only to be captured and eaten later) pork became the sustenance meat of Virginia and later the southern states. This also was a blessing when crops didn't produce as they should for whatever reasons.

But, the sauce is what seems to define a BBQ chef or restaurant. In the South they seem to like thinner BBQ sauces, with a more vinegary tone. Other parts of the US prefer the thick, sweet, tomato BBQ sauce. But in Texas they season their beef with a dry-rub mixture of seasonings.

There are even quirky BBQ's in some restaurants or areas of the United States. In the early 1900's, New Yorkers loved turtle BBQ. I think that got replaced by New York pizza or cheesecake?

It's undeniable that BBQ is popular and well-loved in American society. But, BBQ tastes and cooking differ. Real BBQ purists claim that a restaurant that offers its customers a grilled piece of meat slapped with some sauce later isn't eating real BBQ at all. Others say it is, as long as the sauce is there, then it's BBQ!


(Information source for the above information on BBQ is from posts I read on the American Cooking Bulletin Board and my own personal experiences.)


I hope found this info fun and interesting. Remember folks its the summertime...thats right bbg season is offically here...so light some fires and get cook'in!!!!!!