12/14/2005
12/13/2005
Day 8 /12 days of cookies -Food Network
Sherry Butter Nut Drops Recipe courtesy Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh
Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 90 cookies
User Rating: No Rating
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
3 1/3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup dry sherry
1 cup ground pecans
2 egg whites, beaten
Pecan halves, optional
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer until fluffy. In a separate bowl, combine the flour and salt. Mix the flour into the butter mixture, alternating with the sherry, making sure to finish with the flour. Stir in the ground pecans.
Drop by the teaspoonful onto a cookie sheet and roll each portion between your palms to make smooth, even balls. Press each one into the cookie sheet and brush with beaten egg white. Using a fork, knife or another tool, press a design into the top of each cookie, or press a pecan half, right side up, into each ball or dough. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, let cool a few minutes and remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Cool and let cookies sit overnight to ripen. Serve or store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Snowman Soup
I was told you've been real good this year.
Always glad to hear it.
With freezing weather drawing near, You'll need
to warm the spirit.
So here's a little Snowman Soup, complete with
stirring stick.
Add hot water, sip it slow, It's sure to do the
trick!
1 package hot chocolate
3 candy kisses
1 candy cane
15 marshmallows
With love,
Frosty the Snowman:)
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Xmas Baaaaarmy Sheep...
THIS TOTALLY ROCKS,
I love it so do the kids,
G-man thinks we have all gone insane:)
I don't care I need funny....
A FLOCK of real singing sheep from the Lake District are taking on the Crazy Frog this Christmas in the battle to become the novelty song of 2005.
The Crazy Frog’s Christmas single - Jingle Bells - gets its first airplay on Thursday December 1 and is widely tipped to become Christmas number one.
But the “Baarmy Sheep” of the Lake District are launching a pre-emptive strike by releasing a free version of Jingle Bells the day before on Wednesday, November 30.
The single and a hilarious sheep pop video can be downloaded free from the website of Cumbria Tourist Board at www.golakes.co.uk/xmasbaarmysheep
There’s also a Baarmy Sheep Christmas megamix featuring their rendition of Good King Wencelas, Hark The Herald Angels Sing and While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks By Night!!
Eric Robson, chairman of Cumbria Tourist Board, said: “Christmas may be the season of goodwill to all men – but not Crazy Frog’s!
“Visitors from all over the world love the Lake District and our sheep on the snow-covered mountains at this time of year, so we’re confident people will prefer our version.”
“Who knows, a winter break in the Lake District might be the only place to escape the Crazy Frog and the general stress of Christmas this year.”
The Baarmy Sheep version of Jingle Bells and the video was launched at the 17th century Yew Tree Farm, Coniston
The Baarmy Sheep first took on the Crazy Frog in June when they released a sheep ringtone Jerusalem - in response to the animated cartoon’s growing domination of television, airwaves and mobile phones.
To see the real Baarmy Sheep perform live this winter come to Cumbria - The Lake District! With our snow-covered mountains, award-winning accommodation, family friendly attractions and superb places to eat and drink, it's a great place to spend Christmas and the winter months. To find out more about breaks in this area click on "stay" at the bottom of the page to choose where you want to take a break.
12/12/2005
Santa's New Contract For 2005
A new contract for Santa has been negotiated...Please read the following carefully.
I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will no longer be able to serve the Southern United States on Christmas Eve. Due to the overwhelming current population of the Earth, my contract was re-negotiated by North American Fairies and Elves Local 209. I now only serve certain areas of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. I also get longer breaks for milk and cookies, so keep that in mind.
However, I am certain that your children will be in good hands with your local replacement that happens to be my third cousin, Bubba Claus. His side of the family is from the South Pole. He shares my goal of delivering toys to all good boys and girls; however, there are a few differences between us. They are as follows:
1. There is no danger of a Grinch stealing your presents from Bubba. He has a gun rack on his sleigh and a bumper sticker that reads "This sleigh insured by Smith & Wesson".
2. Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Claus prefers children to leave RC cola and pork rinds (or a moon pie) on the fireplace. And Bubba doesn't smoke a pipe. He dips a little snuff, though, so please have an empty spit can handy.
3. Bubba's sleigh is pulled by floppy-eared, flying coon dogs instead of reindeer. I made the mistake of loaning him a couple of my reindeer one time and Blitzen's head now overlooks Bubba's fireplace.
4. You won't hear "On Comet, on Cupid..." when Bubba Claus arrives. Instead you will hear "On Earnhardt, on Wallace, on Martin and Labonte. On Rudd, on Jarrett, on Elliot and Petty."
5. "Ho, Ho, Ho!" has been replaced by "Yee Haw!" And you also are likely to hear Bubba's elves respond "I hear'd dat!"
6. As required by Southern highway laws, Bubba Claus' sleigh does have Yosemite Sam mud flaps with the words "Back Off". The last I heard, it has other decorations as well. One is a Chevy logo with lights that race through the letters and the other is a caricature of me (Santa Claus) going wee-wee on the Tooth Fairy.
7. The usual Christmas movie classics such as "Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life" will not be shown in your viewing area. Instead you will see "Ernest Saves Christmas" and "Smoky and the Bandit IV" featuring Burt Reynolds as Bubba Claus and dozens of state patrol cars crashing into each other.
8. Bubba Claus doesn't wear a belt. If I were you, I'd make sure that you, the wife and the kids turn the other way when he bends over to put the presents under the tree.
9. Don't look for the traditional stocking items this year either. Instead of chocolates and candy canes, children in the South can expect to find beef jerky, Vienna sausages and a can of Spam.
10. Toys will be assembled by Bubba Claus's elves in his Freedom Homes doublewide workshop.
11. And finally, lovely Christmas songs such as Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" will be replaced. "Bubba Shot the Jukebox" and "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" will be played repeatedly on radio stations all over the South.
Sincerely yours,
Santa Claus
For Don Mo: much respect...
Christmas Italian Style
Twas the night before Christmas,
Da whole house was mella,
Not a creature was stirrin',
Cuz I had a gun unda da pilla.
When up on da roof
I heard somethin' pound,
I sprung to da window,
To scream, "YO! Keep it down!"
When what to my
Wanderin' eyes should appear,
But da Don of all elfs,
And eight friggin' reindeer!
Wit' slicked back black hair,
And a silk red suit,
don Christopher wuz here,
And he brought da loot!
Wit' a slap to dare snouts,
And a yank on dare manes,
He cursed and he shouted,
And he called dem by name.
"Yo Tony, Yo Frankie,
Yo Vinny, Yo Vito,
Ay Joey, Ay Paulie,
Ay Pepe, Ay Guido!"
As I drew out my gun
And hid by da bed,
He flew troo da winda
And slapped me 'side da head.
"What da hell you doin'
Pullin' a gun on da Don?
Now all you're gettin' is coal,
You friggin' moron!"
Den pointin' a fat finga
Right unda my nose,
He twisted his pinky ring,
And up da chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh,
Obscenities screamin',
Away dey all flew,
Before he troo dem a beatin'.
Den I heard him yell out,
What I did least expect,
"Merry Friggin' Christmas to all,
And yous better show some respect!"
Ficticious Characters
Just before Christmas, an honest politician, a generous lawyer and Santa Claus were riding in the elevator of a very posh hotel. Just before the doors opened they all noticed a $20 bill lying on the floor. Which one picked it up? Santa of course, because the other two don't exist!
Santa In Texas
Santa Claus needed a vacation. He decided to go to Texas because it was warm and he had heard that the people were friendly. As soon as he arrived in town, people began to point and say, "Look! The big red one! Isn't he someone famous?" Santa thought, "Gee, I'll never get any rest if people start asking to sit on my lap and try to tell me things they want." So he decided to disguise himself. He bought a cowboy outfit complete with cowboy boots and cowboy hat. "No one will know me now-- I look just like everyone else!" He thought happily. As soon as Santa started walking down the street people began to point and say, "Look! It's that famous Christmas personality!" Santa rushed around a corner to hide. "It's my beard!" he thought. "They recognize me because of my long white beard!" So Santa went to a barbershop and had his beard shaved off. "I really look like everybody else now!" Santa thought. So he walked down the street with a big smile on his face. Suddenly a man shouted "It's him! It's him! Look everybody!" Santa couldn't believe it. He was sure that no one would recognize him. So Santa walked up to the man and said, "How did you recognize me?" The man looked at Santa and said, "You? I don't know you-- but isn't that four-legged guy with the big red nose behind you Rudolph?"
A Redneck Christmas Joke
In a small Southern town there was a nativity scene that indicated great skill and talent in its creation. One small feature bothered me though. The three wise men were wearing firemen's helmets.
Totally unable to come up with a reason or explanation, I left. At a 'Quik Stop' on the edge of town, I asked the lady behind the counter about the helmets. She exploded into a rage, yelling at me, 'You darn Yankees never do read the Bible!'
I assured her that I did, but simply couldn't recall anything about firemen in the Bible. She jerked her Bible from behind the counter and ruffled through some pages, and finally jabbed her finger at a particular passage.
Sticking it in my face she said, 'See, it says right here, 'The three wise men came from afar.''"
The Legend Of Rudolf
A long time ago, in Communist Russia, there was a famous weather man named Rudolf. He's always had a 100% accuracy rate for his forecasts of the Russian weather conditions. His people loved him and respected him for his faultless foresight. He was particularly good at predicting rain. One night, despite clear skies, he made the prediction on the 6:00pm news broadcast that a violent storm was approaching. It would flood the town in which he and his wife lived. He warned the people to take proper precautions and prepare for the worst.
After he arrived home later that evening, his wife met him at the door and started arguing with him that his weather prediction was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. This time, she said, he had made a terrible mistake. There wasn't a cloud anywhere within 10 miles of the village. As a matter of fact, that day had been the most beautiful day that the town had ever had and it was quite obvious to everyone that it simply wasn't going to rain.
He told her she was to be quiet and listen to him. If he said it was going to rain, IT WAS GOING TO RAIN. He had all of his Russian heritage behind him and he knew what he was talking about. She argued that although he came from a proud heritage, IT STILL WASN'T GOING TO RAIN. They argued back and forth for hours , so much that they went to bed mad at each other.
During the night, sure enough one of the worst rainstorms hit the village the likes of which they had never seen. That morning when Rudolf and his wife arose, they looked out the window and saw all the water that had fallen that night.
'See,' said Rudolf, 'I told you it was going to rain.'
His wife admitted: 'Once again your prediction came true. But I want to know, just how were you so accurate, Rudolf?'
To which he replied, 'You see, Rudolf the Red knows rain dear!'"
12 Days of Cookies: Day Seven
Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 2 1/2 dozen cookies
User Rating:
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus more for coating baked cookies
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting hands
1 cup pecans, chopped into very small pieces
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Line cookies sheets with parchment paper.
Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar at low speed until it is smooth. Beat in the vanilla. At low speed gradually add the flour. Mix in the pecans with a spatula. With floured hands, take out about 1 tablespoon of dough and shape into a crescent. Continue to dust hands with flour as you make more cookies. Place onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 40 minutes. When cool enough to handle but still warm, roll in additional confectioners' sugar. Cool on wire racks.
12 Days of Cookies: Day Six
Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Medium
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 50 squares
User Rating:
Crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks), unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
6 tablespoons red current jelly
Filling:
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch fine salt
1 cup freshly squeezed clementine juice, about 6 clementines
1 lemon, juiced (4 to 5 tablespoons)
2 clementines, zest finely grated (about 2 teaspoons)
1 lemon, zest finely grated (about 2 teaspoons)
2 clementines or 2 blood oranges, sliced and cut into small triangular pieces, for serving, optional
Butter a 9 by 12 1/2-inch baking pan. Line pan with foil and leave about 2 inches extra on all sides. Butter the foil.
Whisk the flour, cornstarch, and salt together in a bowl.
In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or with a hand mixer, beat the butter with the sugar on medium, until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Turn mixer to low speed, add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not over work the dough.
Transfer dough to prepared pan, spreading it out evenly across the pan and pressing to make a 1/4-inch thick covering over the bottom of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap, then press and flatten using your hands over the top to smooth and even out the dough. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Remove the plastic from the top of the dough and prick the dough with a fork or a wooden skewer. Bake the crust until just golden, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt the jelly in the microwave until soft enough to spread, about 1 minute. Spread the jelly with a pastry brush or an offset spatula over the crust. Return to the oven and cook another 10 minutes. Cool crust completely on a wire rack, 1 hour.
Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, yolks, sugar, sweetened condensed milk, flour, and salt together in a medium bowl. Beat until thick and slightly pale. Stir in the citrus juices and zest, and whisk gently to blend well.
Pour the filling onto the cooled crust and bake until the filling is firm but still loose and wobbly in the center, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight before cutting.
Remove pan from refrigerator and dip the bottom of it in warm water to soften the butter and release the foil from the sides of the pan. Use foil to lift pastry out of the baking dish and transfer to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, cut into about 50 (1 1/2-inch) squares, wiping down the knife with a hot, wet towel between cuts. Top each square with a tiny triangular segment of clementine or blood orange (with the peel on) and serve.
Christmas Office Memo
To: All Employees
From: Management
Subject: Office conduct during the Christmas season
Effective immediately, employees should keep in mind the following guidelines in compliance with FROLIC (the Federal Revelry Office and Leisure Industry Council).
1. Running aluminum foil through the paper shredder to make tinsel is discouraged.
2. Playing Jingle Bells on the push-button phone is forbidden (it runs up an incredible long distance bill)
3. Work requests are not to be filed under "Bah humbug."
4. Company cars are not to be used to go over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house.
5. All fruitcake is to be eaten BEFORE July 25.
6. Egg Nog will NOT be dispensed in vending machines.
In spite of all this, the staff is encouraged to have a Happy Holiday.
To anyone that cares...
I had rather a bad day yesterday and a troubled sleep, I have resolved to muddle through, and try to get back to normal , what ever the hell that is?
I still hurt and miss my dogs- Beeb and Crystal. Coal and Bianca here , have been good nurse dogs and been with me constantly and giving lots of dog hugs and kisses...Xab is too little to really know what is going on, and Bup seems to have already forgotten....Scooby Doo Movie is on...they are watching that, I'm trying to wade through my email....
12/11/2005
to clarify
Beeb and Crystal were my Dogs up in Cananda, that my ex kept after our divorce. My dogs here are Coal and Bianca.
Sorrow
At 12:14pm PST today Crystal died, she was a wonderful little dog, I rescued her, and she was Beeb's sister,I Loved her very much. The picture is Beeb(apricot) and Crystal(white) in 1998 Christmas time snuggled up on my comforter that I still have on my bed now. Both my Babies are dead now, I Miss them very much, and I hope they wait for me, so I will see them again on the other side... Today totally sucks...::crying:::
Sunday the 11th
OK I have not been posting much, busy with Christmas stuff around the house and with the kids, today I got an email from My Ex, telling me my Dog back in Canada is on her DeathBed,Crystal, and is not expected to last long she has been ailing but recovered somewhat in the past few weeks. Today would not be good for this to happen it would really make me freak, today is the death date of Mah Guavah my poodle that G-man Bought for me when we first got together along with her son Bubba, Mah Died Dec 11th 2000,of heart failure, it was awful took a few days until I took her in to the vet to be put to sleep, that was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but she was in pain and I could not allow her to be in pain...anyway, today is not a good day for me. G-man thinks I'm an idiot for being so emotional about my Pets but they are more that animals to me, they are my family, and it is very hard when they die and leave us alone with out them....Yeah I'm crying right now...ok gotta go...
12/08/2005
this is funny , one of my favorite songs...
| Your 2005 Song Is |
 Feel Good Inc by Gorillaz "Love forever love is free. Let's turn forever you and me." In 2005, you were loving life and feeling no pain. |
S'More Rockin' Reindeer Ravioli -day 5 /12 Days of Cookies from the Food Network
Original recipe by Laura Stanke, adapted by Food Network Kitchens
See this recipe on air Thursday Dec. 08 at 9:00 PM ET/PT.
Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Medium
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 2 dozen
Filling:
5 graham crackers, broken into pieces
6 ounce milk or dark chocolate, or a combination, chopped
3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
Dough:
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
11/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup graham flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup heavy cream
For the filling: Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until crumbly. Add the chocolate and cream cheese and continue to pulse until crumbly but pasty.
Using the filling portion ('the bumpy side") of a 12-section ravioli mold, cover the indented side with plastic wrap. Pack some of the filling into each indentation, leveling each one so it's flush with the top of the mold. Remove and place on a plate. Repeat to make 24 fillings. Cover the filling with plastic wrap and refrigerate. (Eat the crumbs left behind.)
To make the dough: Combine the butter and sugars in a large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed, until fluffy and combined, about 2 minutes. Add the molasses and vanilla and beat until combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk both flours, the baking soda, salt and cinnamon together. Add flour mixture to butter mixture in 3 parts, alternating with cream in 2 parts, beginning and ending with flour. Be careful not to overwork the dough. Divide into 2 disks, wrap in plastic warp and chill until very firm, about 1 hour.
Lay out an 11 by 15-inch piece of foil on a clean workspace and sprinkle generously with flour. Place a disk of dough on top and cover with a large sheet of plastic wrap. Roll the dough between the two layers (Voila, no messy hands) until you have a rectangle measuring 10 by 13 inches, cutting and patching as needed. Repeat with the other disk of dough. Transfer each foil to a cookie sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
When chilled, remove plastic wrap from 1 flat of chilled and rolled dough. Spray the zigzag side of the ravioli mold with nonstick spray and sprinkle it with flour. Place the mold, zigzag side down, onto the lower half of the dough, making a slight indent in the dough. Take the chocolate filling from the refrigerator. Place a round of filling on the center of each square ravioli impression.
Using the foil to lift the top of the dough, fold it over the mounds on the bottom half leaving plenty of give to tuck dough between each mound. Gently press out the air around the mounds with wet fingers to keep the dough from cracking. Spray the zigzag side of the mold again and sprinkle the top of the ravioli with flour. Invert the press on the cookies, making another impression in the dough, and press very firmly to seal the 2 layers together and cut off excess dough.
To remove the mold, gently lift by pressing downward on the 2 mounds on the end. Lift up on the mold working your way across the dough slab. Use a dry pastry brush to brush off excess flour. Cut ravioli into individual portions, trimming away excess dough with a knife or fluted pastry cutter. Arrange on a baking sheet. Chill the molded ravioli in the refrigerator until firm to the touch, 30 more minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Bake the ravioli for 25 to 30 Minutes. Remove from oven and let sit on cookie sheet 5 more minutes, using a pastry cutter to cut in between the ravioli while warm, if desired. Then slide the slab onto a cookie sheet to cool. Eat 1 slab and freeze the other to keep it really fresh. Yummmmm!!!!
Merry Christmas Barney and Miss Beasley
CHECK OUT : the video of A Very Beazley Christmas, it is so cute, great for Adults and children alike, It shows how much President Bush and The First Lady ,Mrs. Bush Love their pets, there is even a " ca'meow" of Willie their cat :)
Presidential Pups Star in Holiday Video By JUAN-CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press Writer
Wed Dec 7,10:02 PM ET
WASHINGTON - How do you say "Merry Christmas" in Scottish terrier? Just ask presidential pups Barney and Miss Beazley.
First lady Laura Bush showed a home video of White House holiday life — from the first dogs' point of view — to a group of patients, their families and staff at Children's National Medical Center on Wednesday.
The video, "A Very Beazley Christmas," tells the story of a very jealous Barney, who hides presents meant for his more popular sister, Miss Beazley.
The president's chief of staff, Andrew Card, and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, as well as television hosts Nancy O'Dell and George Stephanopoulos, raise Barney's ire by heaping praise on the charming, photogenic and younger Miss Beazley.
After scolding Barney for playing hide and seek with Miss Beazley's gifts, President Bush chides a contrite Miss Beazley, saying, "I understand you've been a media hound."
He patches up the dogs' differences by telling them, "You have to remember the true meaning of the holiday season."
The video is available on the White House Web site.
Laura Bush showed the video after touring the hospital with daughter Barbara and Miss Beazley, who was decked out in a holiday plaid collar, and reading "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," by Dr. Seuss, to a group of children.
The first lady took a few questions from her young audience at the end of the program. One young woman wanted to know, "Is there a menorah in the White House?" Yes, Mrs. Bush replied.
Five-year-old Diamond Moseley, in the hospital with chronic asthma, said the video was her favorite part of the day.
Samantha Melkonian, 12, guided Mrs. Bush on her tour. Samantha, who took in the festivities with her family, last year donated bone marrow to her leukemia-stricken brother.
"She showed so much care for the hospital," Samantha said. "For the kids who are here during the holidays, it's really special."
Every first lady since Jacqueline Kennedy has visited the hospital during the holidays.
___
On the Net:
The White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov
12/07/2005
Thinking...
We are watching Disney's Anastasia, about the princess from the last house of Russia...I studied Russian history and have had a life long interest in it, just looked up some pics to show Bup what the real Romanovs looked like, and found this site...
Ipatiev House
Well worth a look at if you are interested in Russian history...so sad, and tragic
Toasted Coconut Marshmallows/Day 4 - 12 Days of Cookies>Food Network
Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Medium
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 8 hours
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 20 to 40 marshmallows
User Rating:
7 ounces sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
1 recipe Homemade Marshmallow batter, recipe follows
Confectioners' sugar
Sprinkle half the toasted coconut in an 8 by 12-inch nonmetal pan. Pour in the marshmallow batter and smooth the top of the mixture with damp hands. Sprinkle on the remaining toasted coconut. Allow to dry uncovered at room temperature overnight.
Remove the marshmallows from the pan and cut into squares. Roll the sides of each piece carefully in confectioners' sugar. Store uncovered at room temperature.
Homemade Marshmallows:
3 packages unflavored gelatin
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and allow to sit while you make the syrup.
Meanwhile, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat.
With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Put the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly.
12/06/2005
Strange, new carnivore species sighted on Borneo
GENEVA (Reuters) - Environmental researchers are preparing to capture what they call a new, mysterious species of carnivore on Borneo, the first such discovery on the wildlife-rich Indonesian island in over a century.
Swiss-based environmental group WWF said on Monday its researchers photographed the strange animal, which looks like a cross between a cat and a fox, in the dense, central mountainous rainforests of Borneo.
"This could be the first time in more than a century that a new carnivore has been discovered on the island," said the WWF in a statement.
The mammal, slightly larger than a cat with red fur and a long tail, was photographed twice by a camera trap at night.
Locals and wildlife experts who viewed photographs of the animal, which has very small ears and large hind legs, said they had never seen such a creature before and were convinced that it was a new species, WWF said.
Researchers hope to confirm the discovery by setting cage traps to catch a live specimen, but warn that Indonesian government plans to clear the rainforest to create the world's largest palm oil plantation may interfere with plans, WWF said. The proposed plantation scheme, funded by the China Development Bank, is expected to cover an area of 1.8 million hectares, equivalent to about half the size of The Netherlands, said the WWF, formerly known as the World Wide Fund for Nature.
The potential new species of carnivore in Borneo would be the first since the discovery of the Borneo ferret-badger in 1895, the WWF said.
Pictures of the animal were first taken by WWF researchers in 2003, the photos kept unpublished by the WWF as research continued. The WWF decided to make public the photos with the release of a book about Borneo, to be published on Tuesday.
Bo's New CD
I tried to stay awake last night to see Bo on Jay Leno,
but I fell asleep and woke to Conan blathering about something
...damnit....G-man said he tried to wake me up, but...I guess it didn't work.
Bo Bice : The Real Thing...
Campbell's® Polynesian Pork Chops
This is sooo good my Mom used to make it , one of the only things she could cook...
Tropical flavors bring the South Pacific home for dinner with this speedy skillet supper.
Prep. time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 15 min.
Serves: 4
Source: Tasty Tuesday Tip of the Week
Ingredients
4 boneless pork chops, 3/4" thick each
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. Crisco® Vegetable Oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can Campbell's® Golden Mushroom Soup
1 can (8 oz.) pineapple chunks
1/4 cup water
3 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. honey
2 cups cooked instant white rice
Sliced green onions
Directions
SEASON chops with garlic powder.
HEAT oil in skillet. Add chops and cook until browned. Add onion, soup, pineapple with juice, water, soy and honey. Heat to a boil. Cook over low heat 10 min. or until done.
SERVE with rice and garnish with green onions.
Tips
Serve with rice, steamed snow peas and carrots. For dessert serve mixed fruit salad.
For the Ginger bread fanatics among us...
Frosting Cement
2 egg whites
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
2 cups of sifted confectioners' sugar
food coloring (optional)
Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites with
cream of tartar until still. Gradually beat in one
cup of the confectioners' sugar.Beat 10 minutes.
Beat in second cup of sugar; beat 10 minutes
more. Druing the last few minutes of beating, add
food coloring for dseired color. While using or
storing frosting cement, press transparent plastic
wrap directly on top of frosting in mixing bowl
to prevent drying; lift wrap just long enough to
remove "cement" for each application.
12/05/2005
Rosemary-Cheese Spritz Cookies -day 3/12 days of cookies from the food network
Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Yield: about 4 dozen cookies
User Rating: No Rating
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 large egg yolk
6 tablespoons heavy cream
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup finely grated pecorino
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary leaves
1 teaspoons fine salt
Pinch freshly ground nutmeg
Special Equipment: Cookie Press
Bring all ingredients to room temperature.
Beat the butter and lemon zest with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth, about 30 seconds. Slowly beat in the egg yolk and cream.
Whisk the flour, pecorino, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, sugar, rosemary, salt, and nutmeg together in a bowl. Gradually add the flour mixture into the butter mixture while mixing slowly. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat on medium speed to make a slightly sticky dough.
Fill the cookie press with the dough. Assemble the press with the desired disk shape (see cook's note), and press cookies onto ungreased baking sheets leaving about 1-inch between cookies. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan and refrigerate cookies for 20 minutes.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Bake cookies, rotating pans half ways through, until golden, the cheese browns a bit, and the cookies smell nutty, about 20 to 25 minutes. Briefly cool the cookies on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool. Serve or store in a tightly sealed container for up to 1 month.
Cook's Notes: These freeze beautifully. Press the cookies out into desired shapes on cookie sheets and freeze. Transfer frozen cookies to a plastic bag, seal, and keep frozen for up to 1 month. When ready to bake, lay out frozen cookies on cookie trays and bake from frozen for 25 minutes.
Some disk shapes work better than others. Since this is savory cookie, we liked the cutters that result in a cracker shape cookie, like the ribbon, clover, and stars and snowflakes work, too
Well thats nice to know...
Ra: The God of Gods. You are powerful and brave.
You are adored and idolized by many. Don't let
it go to your head.
Which Egyptian God Are You? (pics)
brought to you by Quizilla
12/03/2005
Hazelnut Crunch: Noci Croccante Recipe -12 Days of Cookies -Food Network-Day 2
courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Medium
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 1 1/2 pounds
User Rating: No Rating
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/3 cup dark corn syrup
2 1/2 cups coarsely chopped toasted hazelnuts
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir the sugar, water, light corn syrup, and dark corn syrup in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to high and boil without stirring until a candy thermometer registers 260 degrees F, about 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Mix in the hazelnuts, butter, and salt (the mixture will be thick and nutty), and cook until the thermometer registers 295 degrees F, stirring constantly, about 15 minutes. Quickly stir in the baking soda. Immediately pour the caramel onto the prepared baking sheet, spreading it as thinly as possible. Let stand until hard.
Break the brittle into pieces and store in an airtight container at room temperature. If desired, serve over your favorite ice cream.
Fearing Hunters, Farmer Paints Animals
LOGANTON, Pa. - Friz Konieczka's farm is small but easy to spot — it has the orange-striped steer, horses, goats and dog.
"Some people may say it's goofy. I don't think it is," said Konieczka, who paints his animals every bear and deer season to keep them safe.
Konieczka, 52, said he has been painting his animals during hunting seasons for eight years, using a paint he said does no damage and brushes out.
The retired auto mechanic said his farm is right next door to Bald Eagle State Forest, site of many hunting camps.
Joseph A. Kosack, a wildlife education specialist for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, said hunting is prohibited within 450 feet of buildings, and reports of farm animals being shot are rare.
"I can't believe a hunter can't distinguish between a deer and a dog or horse," Kosack said. "But you have to do what you have to do to protect your animals."
Ansie Biscotti
Makes about 48 cookies, 3-1/2" long X 2" high X 1/2 " wide
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup oil
pinch of salt
1/3 bottle anise extract (or better yet, 1/6 tsp anise oil)
1-2/3 to 2 cups flour
1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
Preheat oven to 350° F.
Beat the eggs well.
Add sugar, oil, salt, and anise flavoring and beat well.
Sift flour and baking powder together. Add to egg mixture.
Grease 2 bread pans (12" X 3 1/2" X 2 1/2") and line them with waxed paper (or parchment paper) about 17" X 3 1/2 " wide. (The extra ends will provide a handle to remove the loaves later.)
Ladle batter into prepared pans until about 1 inch deep.
Bake at 350° for 25-35 minutes. Remove loaves from pan and slice (about 1/2 inch thick).
Place slices on cookie sheets and return to the hot oven to toast. (DO NOT use insulated pans!) Be careful as the bottom of the cookie browns first. Turn them over and toast the other side.
Remove when both sides are toasty colored. Let cool.
Snowdrops- Cookie recipe.
Makes 54 cookies
1 cup butter
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar plus 1 cup for dusting
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup finely chopped almonds or pecans
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
Cream butter in a mixing bowl.
Gradually add sugar (1/2 cup) and salt.
Continue creaming until light and fluffy.
Add nuts and vanilla extract.
Blend in flour gradually. Mix thoroughly.
Shape into teaspoonful balls.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 325° F. for 15-20 minutes.
Sprinkle some of the confectioner's sugar over cookies while still on the sheet. Cool before removing from cookie sheet.
Place some confectioner's sugar in a Ziploc® Brand Storage Bag and place some of the cookies inside. Gently shake well so the sugar completely coats the cookies.
"These cookies taste best after sitting a couple of days. You can store them in the refrigerator, freezer, or at room temperature. Just make sure you clean up the powder trail!"
12/02/2005
Ginger Cookie -12 Days of Cookies from the Food Network.
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
5 cracks freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar, plus more for rolling the cookies
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
2 tablespoons ginger preserves (see Cook's note)
Whisk the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, mustard, salt and black pepper together in a medium bowl.
Beat the butter and the sugars with a hand mixer electric mixer on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and beat on medium speed until just incorporated, about 20 seconds. Add the molasses and ginger preserves and continue beating until the batter is an even light brown color, 30 seconds more.
Add the dry ingredients all at once, beating slowly to make a soft, smooth dough. Use a rubber spatula to make sure all ingredients are combined. Then beat again for 20 seconds. Cover the bowl with plastic and refrigerate the dough until firm, about 25 minutes.
Put about 1/2 cup sugar in a small bowl. With a cookie scoop or a small ice cream scoop, portion the dough into a slightly heaping tablespoon for each cookie. Roll the dough, by hand, into balls. Roll the tops of the balls in the sugar, and space them 2 inches apart on a nonstick or lightly oiled cookie sheet. Refrigerate until firm, about 25 minutes. (The chilling is what gives this cookie a beautiful, crackly crunch on top, and a soft, chewy center.)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Bake until the top is crackly, and the insides peeking out through are dark and moist but not raw, about 15 to 20 minutes. Briefly cool the cookies on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
Serve or store in a tightly sealed container for up to 3 weeks.
Cook's Note: Ginger preserves give lots of flavor without the hard chunks of crystallized ginger. It is found in most grocery stores.
Copyright 2005 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved.
12/01/2005
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