This Sunday morning I brought along a small bag of my homemade biscotti on my walk to Starbucks. A friend of my challenged me to bring some since I was raving about the recipe that I made with pistachios and Sumbuco. I dropped a half a dozen of these gems in a zip lock and headed on my walk.
When I arrived, the people who challenged me were not there. I knew there was a chance that this was going to happen.
But. an elementary school counselor was there with his boarder.. a PHd student from China. They both had one along with their coffee. The counselor wondered why he had never had one made of pistachos.
He had some interesting comments about the part time counseling business that he has in Merced after his school hours. The Chinese student had some interesting comments over the solar business comments by Zaharias in the most current Time magazine. They left soon after as they had their little pooch outside on a string this morning.
My friends who are a kindergarten teacher and a GATE 4th grade teacher took their places in the only two soft chocolate colored upholstered chairs at Starbucks. They both thought that they would like to try my biscotti. One of them suggested that I might like to try dry cranberries in them. We had some interesting conversation about backing up her laptop to a hard drive. I suggested two hard drives. She said her life was contained on the laptop and didn't see how she could recover if she lost the information on them. There was also some comment over the turnerover we see in our student population in the schools here. She had 14 different student in her Kdg class than when she started. Half of the 14 had not been enrolled in any school prior to attending her class.
My friend the former bookstore tech manager came in. He is now working transportation and parking up at the UC Merced. He enjoys his new job. The GATE teacher asked about how it was to come from the person everyone love to the one that they all hated... parking citations and logististics. He said that his greatest challenge was to get the higher ups to do what needed to be done as far as making changes in parking to accommodate the construction industry without totally selling out the mission of the University due to the growth of the school. He is enjoying the challenge of the of the job and its pieces. I told him I was interested in how universities had accommodated parking. SF State and UCLA are interesting examples. I recommended one of the books that I bought for Linzi when I was down at UCLA called Free Parking about planning for parking and urban sprawl. He thought that he would like to look that book up. He is always in our Starbucks getting a cup of Joe for himself as well as getting a cup for his wife to go for home. I am sorry for his wife because I am sure that she has to drink a lot of cold coffee.. because he likes to talk like I do. It doesn't make for good take out.
My barista and shift manager took one when I offered her one. She guaranteed the best dupio machiato espressio I had ever had. I did not quite meet that kind of hype, but I appreciated the gesture.
I had to eat one of the biscotti so that my friends would know that they had met my approval.. so there went the 6 biscotti. It was well worth packaging them up for the morning walk.
I am blessed with so many conversational partners. I know they are essential to my retirement.
: ) Pat
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Biscotti---Andrew Carmellini's Mother's
I bought this new book after Linzi recommended me try the recipe in his American taste book on biscuits. She was amazed at the life he was able to get with regular ingredients. She thought that the recipe that she got on Andrew Carmellini book was a significant improvement over the recipe that she has been using and the techniques that came with the instruction at the knight's flour company lessons she had in Vermont.
I bought the books and while looking for a interesting recipe.. I was looking for a recipe to replace the biscotti I bought at Costco.
This recipe used shelled pistachios. I have a nice bag of them left over from the Christmas party. So it was a win win.
This recipe calls for some interesting ingredients and then he portions some of them out (I made the first with 3 eggs instead of 2. One needed to be reserved for the egg wash before the first bake. ) some of the ingredients he lists in the ingredients pile but really doesn't utilize them in the narrative. I can understand that.. but really in such a nice graphic cookbook this shouldn't happen.
Mom's Biscotti
Preheat oven to 350
Ingredients:
3 eggs... (use 2 for the batter and one for egg wash later on)
1 cup of sugar
Zest of 2 lemons
4 Tablespoons of melted butter
2 Cups of Flour
1 Tablespoon of baking powder
1 Tablespoon of Anise seed
2 Tablespoons of Sambuco (an Italian liquor) that took me an hour and a half to locate in Merced
3/4 cup of shelled pistashios
Use a Kitchen Aid mixer. Whip the eggs and the sugar for 15 minutes on medium with the whipping attachment to the mixer. The color should change to I lighter yellow and the liquid should double.Add the zest of two lemons, and the melted butter in the last two minutes of the beating.
Switch to the paddle on the mixer.
Add the baking powder, flour, anise seed, and the Sambuco.
Mix on slow until all is incorporated.
Add the pictachios and mix for 30 seconds on slow.
Refrigerate for 20 minutes with a piece of plastic wrap over the bowl.
On a baking pan with a piece of parchment or a silicon mat, form 2 logs.
Coat with the egg reserved in a wash on each of the logs.
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Reposition pan and bake until overall lightly tan another 10-15 minutes.
Reduce oven temp to 325.
Pull each log off and cut into 3/4 diagonal slices. Put on another backing pan with a piece of parchment or silicon mat. These cross sections will then enter the oven for an additional 15 minutes..as they crisp up.
It really is a lot easier than this description suggests.
These cookies are great for dipping in espresso or hot chocolate.. for vin santo like the real Italians
Give them a try!
: ) Pat
I bought the books and while looking for a interesting recipe.. I was looking for a recipe to replace the biscotti I bought at Costco.
This recipe used shelled pistachios. I have a nice bag of them left over from the Christmas party. So it was a win win.
This recipe calls for some interesting ingredients and then he portions some of them out (I made the first with 3 eggs instead of 2. One needed to be reserved for the egg wash before the first bake. ) some of the ingredients he lists in the ingredients pile but really doesn't utilize them in the narrative. I can understand that.. but really in such a nice graphic cookbook this shouldn't happen.
Mom's Biscotti
Preheat oven to 350
Ingredients:
3 eggs... (use 2 for the batter and one for egg wash later on)
1 cup of sugar
Zest of 2 lemons
4 Tablespoons of melted butter
2 Cups of Flour
1 Tablespoon of baking powder
1 Tablespoon of Anise seed
2 Tablespoons of Sambuco (an Italian liquor) that took me an hour and a half to locate in Merced
3/4 cup of shelled pistashios
Use a Kitchen Aid mixer. Whip the eggs and the sugar for 15 minutes on medium with the whipping attachment to the mixer. The color should change to I lighter yellow and the liquid should double.Add the zest of two lemons, and the melted butter in the last two minutes of the beating.
Switch to the paddle on the mixer.
Add the baking powder, flour, anise seed, and the Sambuco.
Mix on slow until all is incorporated.
Add the pictachios and mix for 30 seconds on slow.
Refrigerate for 20 minutes with a piece of plastic wrap over the bowl.
On a baking pan with a piece of parchment or a silicon mat, form 2 logs.
Coat with the egg reserved in a wash on each of the logs.
Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Reposition pan and bake until overall lightly tan another 10-15 minutes.
Reduce oven temp to 325.
Pull each log off and cut into 3/4 diagonal slices. Put on another backing pan with a piece of parchment or silicon mat. These cross sections will then enter the oven for an additional 15 minutes..as they crisp up.
It really is a lot easier than this description suggests.
These cookies are great for dipping in espresso or hot chocolate.. for vin santo like the real Italians
Give them a try!
: ) Pat
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Chicken Fricassie
It was 8:30 last night and Sue (my wife) decided that she was still hungry. I had a couple of high quality free range, boneless skinless chicken breast pieces in the the fridge. I had watched the Cook Illustrated version of Chicken Fricassie on the http://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/detail.php?docid=26295web site and through that the basic principles and concepts would work out for a half portion too. It looked pretty fast.. Sue said her hunger tolerance was a half an hour.. so away I went. It really worked and was really juicy.
Chicken Fricassie Cooks Illustrated ala Pat
2 chicken breasts pieces
1 sprinkle of salt
2 Tbs of olive oil
1 Tbs of butter
1 box of mushrooms.. could cut yourself if you wanted to or use different for the different flavor
1/2 chopped onion (better diced)
1 C of chicken Stock
1/2 C of white wine (I used a whole tiny bottle of chardonay)
1/2 lemon's juice from a fresh lemon
1Tbs of flour
2TBs of sour cream (mine also had chives in it)
1 Tbs of Thyme (whoops I forgot this)
I used my fake french enameled dutch oven for this...
Olive Oil in first.. medium high heat.. ad the butter.. swirl around and coat the bottom of the pan.
brown the chicken breast on each side (4 min each side)
Pull off the heat and tent the chicken
Add the onion and the mushrooms. When completely soft add the chicken stock and the wine
Put the chicken back in and cook for about ten min. coverd
Pull half the mushroom stock out and add the sour cream and the beaten egg to a seperate container.
Re incorporate this in off of heat along with the nutmeg and the Thyme.
You should have a velvety sauce an a couple of chicken breasts that have reached 165 degrees
I added some fresh noodles and some Brussels sprouts to complete a rather quick meal with elegant proportions.
This looks pretty complicated.. but really it wasn't.
Sue and I ended up splitting one breast.. so we have another left over for today.
: ) Pat
Chicken Fricassie Cooks Illustrated ala Pat
2 chicken breasts pieces
1 sprinkle of salt
2 Tbs of olive oil
1 Tbs of butter
1 box of mushrooms.. could cut yourself if you wanted to or use different for the different flavor
1/2 chopped onion (better diced)
1 C of chicken Stock
1/2 C of white wine (I used a whole tiny bottle of chardonay)
1/2 lemon's juice from a fresh lemon
1Tbs of flour
2TBs of sour cream (mine also had chives in it)
1 Tbs of Thyme (whoops I forgot this)
I used my fake french enameled dutch oven for this...
Olive Oil in first.. medium high heat.. ad the butter.. swirl around and coat the bottom of the pan.
brown the chicken breast on each side (4 min each side)
Pull off the heat and tent the chicken
Add the onion and the mushrooms. When completely soft add the chicken stock and the wine
Put the chicken back in and cook for about ten min. coverd
Pull half the mushroom stock out and add the sour cream and the beaten egg to a seperate container.
Re incorporate this in off of heat along with the nutmeg and the Thyme.
You should have a velvety sauce an a couple of chicken breasts that have reached 165 degrees
I added some fresh noodles and some Brussels sprouts to complete a rather quick meal with elegant proportions.
This looks pretty complicated.. but really it wasn't.
Sue and I ended up splitting one breast.. so we have another left over for today.
: ) Pat
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Its over! We Send you Back to your Sundays
The 49ers lost their last game at the National Football League Championship.
It was a great game. It went to 10 minutes in overtime. A single kick between the goal posts sent the New York Giants to the superbowl and the 49ers home for the rest of the year.
It was a cold and rainy afternoon in San Francisco. I thought that I was pretty happy that I wasn't covering the game for the San Joaquin Sporting News. We used to cover games like this. It was nice to sit at home and go the bathroom without waiting in line. It was also great to see closeups of the play and rewinds of the questionable calls.
The 49ers were better this year than anyone had the right to expect. The 5 superbowl victories in the past were from a different era. They were from an era where "parity" was not considered. In this season any NFL team could beat any other team because of this parity. Players had a salary cap. There are "Franchise" players but most can move within 3 years to another team that will use their cap money to get players they need in the positions that they feel they are weak.
It will be interesting to see what will be the result of the latest negotiations of the contract.
So those 49ers fans will not see their team in the superbowl. Next year they all say. I hope so. Its been a good season. Our quarterback and the coaching staff seem pretty darn good.
It was a great game. It went to 10 minutes in overtime. A single kick between the goal posts sent the New York Giants to the superbowl and the 49ers home for the rest of the year.
It was a cold and rainy afternoon in San Francisco. I thought that I was pretty happy that I wasn't covering the game for the San Joaquin Sporting News. We used to cover games like this. It was nice to sit at home and go the bathroom without waiting in line. It was also great to see closeups of the play and rewinds of the questionable calls.
The 49ers were better this year than anyone had the right to expect. The 5 superbowl victories in the past were from a different era. They were from an era where "parity" was not considered. In this season any NFL team could beat any other team because of this parity. Players had a salary cap. There are "Franchise" players but most can move within 3 years to another team that will use their cap money to get players they need in the positions that they feel they are weak.
It will be interesting to see what will be the result of the latest negotiations of the contract.
So those 49ers fans will not see their team in the superbowl. Next year they all say. I hope so. Its been a good season. Our quarterback and the coaching staff seem pretty darn good.
The Steve Jobs Book
I bought the book in Hilo, Hawaii, on October 31, 2011.
It was a monster of a book to carry around, Roughly 534 pages, hardbound and bulky.
I just finished reading it. It was worth my time since I grew up in all the phases of Apple. It is pretty interesting to hear the "behind the scenes" battle that raged over the introduction of new products. It was great in documenting how some things progressed and the rationale for the various products and when they were introduced.
The author is a superb biographer. He has published biographies on Albert Einstein and Ben Franklin. They are detailed and interesting from a sociological and historical viewpoint. This book has a different flavor since the people that are described and interviewed are contemporary with the exception of Steve Jobs. It seems that there was nothing held back int his book.
The comments from Bill Gates, founder and CEO of Microsoft are not totally complimentary. The family life and his beginnings are interesting and provide an interesting annotation to his life. I could remember many of the moves that Apple made in the 80's and 90's. This book is pretty square regarding Steve Job's involvement in each of these phases. I thought much of the rivalry that came out of competitors philosophies were hyped at the time. It appears that they weren't. Apple thought that containing the closed system allowed for a better product. The others thought that an open product would lead to more acceptance. In a way both ideas were right. At the end of the book, Steve Jobs admitted as much to Bill Gates.
The personality of Steve Jobs is laid out for all to see. The take over by the board and the leadership under Scully were interesting chapters. I was supporting many Apple computers as a mentor teacher at the time. There seemed to be a myriad of macs that were coming out of Apple at the time. Some models came out with keyboards that completely messed up the memory. So we were all the time rebuilding the desktop so that the computer would not completely self destruct.
There was interesting mention of the "cube" macintosh that I once had. It was interesting how they got to the classic Moons over Miami mac that I bought one of my daughters.
Overall I found that this was a good read. I am willing to give it up to anyone in the family that would like to take it on.
: ) Pat
It was a monster of a book to carry around, Roughly 534 pages, hardbound and bulky.
I just finished reading it. It was worth my time since I grew up in all the phases of Apple. It is pretty interesting to hear the "behind the scenes" battle that raged over the introduction of new products. It was great in documenting how some things progressed and the rationale for the various products and when they were introduced.
The author is a superb biographer. He has published biographies on Albert Einstein and Ben Franklin. They are detailed and interesting from a sociological and historical viewpoint. This book has a different flavor since the people that are described and interviewed are contemporary with the exception of Steve Jobs. It seems that there was nothing held back int his book.
The comments from Bill Gates, founder and CEO of Microsoft are not totally complimentary. The family life and his beginnings are interesting and provide an interesting annotation to his life. I could remember many of the moves that Apple made in the 80's and 90's. This book is pretty square regarding Steve Job's involvement in each of these phases. I thought much of the rivalry that came out of competitors philosophies were hyped at the time. It appears that they weren't. Apple thought that containing the closed system allowed for a better product. The others thought that an open product would lead to more acceptance. In a way both ideas were right. At the end of the book, Steve Jobs admitted as much to Bill Gates.
The personality of Steve Jobs is laid out for all to see. The take over by the board and the leadership under Scully were interesting chapters. I was supporting many Apple computers as a mentor teacher at the time. There seemed to be a myriad of macs that were coming out of Apple at the time. Some models came out with keyboards that completely messed up the memory. So we were all the time rebuilding the desktop so that the computer would not completely self destruct.
There was interesting mention of the "cube" macintosh that I once had. It was interesting how they got to the classic Moons over Miami mac that I bought one of my daughters.
Overall I found that this was a good read. I am willing to give it up to anyone in the family that would like to take it on.
: ) Pat
Monday, January 16, 2012
Starting Out, Four people Under the Tree
Like my father, I am fascinated by the gigantic banyan tree in Lahaina, Maui Hawaii.
This Banyan Tree was first planted in April, 1873, and marked the 50th Anniversary of Christian missionary work in Lahaina. The tree was imported from India was only 8 feet tall. It now stands over 60 feet high, has 12 major trunks in addition to a huge core. It stretches over a 200-foot area and shades 2/3 of an acre.
In painting this scene,I have poured over the books. I have sketched and resketched. My moleskine is full of variations of the scene. The four people sitting on a park bench provides plenty of study as to painting in negative, some of the clothing on the people were white. Painting in shadow is an interesting challenge since they are every thing in the painting is in shadow. Reduction or simplification of the image is always an issue when working with real people and real settings.
My inital response was to crop in really close to get a since of how people sit on a park bench. The photo has two women sitting next to each other on one side of the tree. The other side of the tree has two men setting on a similar park bench. A banyan tree does not have particularly dark bark. It is rather smooth bark with nicks and bruises on it. Overall the banyan bark is dark silvery grey. As a banyan tree gows out but also sends down runners from its branches that when intersecting with the ground form roots and support the side to sid movement of the tree. The part that I am painting is not the core trunk of the tree put rather a piece of it that started as s "downrigger" that formed from the branches. It is now the size of a medium trunk of a tree. Its one of the 12 major trunks of the tree. What is interesting to me is that sprouts heading off the limbs produce trunks that are out of proportion to the size of the tree. So at first when painting this tree you think that the size of the branches are wrong. Then you have to figure in the fact that this is not the central trunk.
Overall, there are plenty of benches around this tree. It takes up a whole block and it provides at least a 15 degree drop in temperature for all of those that are under its wings. That is pretty welcome in the Tropical weather that is Hawaii.
This Banyan Tree was first planted in April, 1873, and marked the 50th Anniversary of Christian missionary work in Lahaina. The tree was imported from India was only 8 feet tall. It now stands over 60 feet high, has 12 major trunks in addition to a huge core. It stretches over a 200-foot area and shades 2/3 of an acre.
In painting this scene,I have poured over the books. I have sketched and resketched. My moleskine is full of variations of the scene. The four people sitting on a park bench provides plenty of study as to painting in negative, some of the clothing on the people were white. Painting in shadow is an interesting challenge since they are every thing in the painting is in shadow. Reduction or simplification of the image is always an issue when working with real people and real settings.
My inital response was to crop in really close to get a since of how people sit on a park bench. The photo has two women sitting next to each other on one side of the tree. The other side of the tree has two men setting on a similar park bench. A banyan tree does not have particularly dark bark. It is rather smooth bark with nicks and bruises on it. Overall the banyan bark is dark silvery grey. As a banyan tree gows out but also sends down runners from its branches that when intersecting with the ground form roots and support the side to sid movement of the tree. The part that I am painting is not the core trunk of the tree put rather a piece of it that started as s "downrigger" that formed from the branches. It is now the size of a medium trunk of a tree. Its one of the 12 major trunks of the tree. What is interesting to me is that sprouts heading off the limbs produce trunks that are out of proportion to the size of the tree. So at first when painting this tree you think that the size of the branches are wrong. Then you have to figure in the fact that this is not the central trunk.
Overall, there are plenty of benches around this tree. It takes up a whole block and it provides at least a 15 degree drop in temperature for all of those that are under its wings. That is pretty welcome in the Tropical weather that is Hawaii.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Snookered by Technology
Yes I am one of those viewers that they never count in the numbers. Why? Because most of my TV watching is done off of the DVDR HD.
A good one on me happened yesterday.
Sad as it is I missed the most important plays of the game between the 49er and the Saints in their playoff game January.
As I usually do, I set the game to record and ignored watching it until 45 minutes from the start. I turned the TV to the recorded part and watched the game.. zooming past the commercials, and the half time nonsense. In setting up the recording, I always agree to add 30 minutes to the game length so that if the game goes overtime (over 3 hours) which they now do when ever their is a passing team, I would be covered. This time, 30 minutes was not enough.
As I was watching my delay, the thirty minutes had expired at 2 minutes of playing time left on the game clock.
Those of you who watched the game, know that I missed the 2 most important minutes. My time machine had expired and there was no way to watch the last 2 minutes because when I went back to regular on air watching.. it was the post game show.. rats!
I had left the game when Alex Smith had moved the 49ers across the field and scored. What I missed was the Saints came roaring back and took the lead. I also missed the tension piece where a decision had to be made to go for the win or kick for a tie to send it all into overtime,
Where were the Buffulo Wings guys to turn on the sprinklers so that could still see the end? I wasn't at the right place at the right time... So I have to take your word for it... It was another memorable catch in the end zone for the 49ers that snatched the game from the jaws of defeat.
Oh well.
: )Pat
A good one on me happened yesterday.
Sad as it is I missed the most important plays of the game between the 49er and the Saints in their playoff game January.
As I usually do, I set the game to record and ignored watching it until 45 minutes from the start. I turned the TV to the recorded part and watched the game.. zooming past the commercials, and the half time nonsense. In setting up the recording, I always agree to add 30 minutes to the game length so that if the game goes overtime (over 3 hours) which they now do when ever their is a passing team, I would be covered. This time, 30 minutes was not enough.
As I was watching my delay, the thirty minutes had expired at 2 minutes of playing time left on the game clock.
Those of you who watched the game, know that I missed the 2 most important minutes. My time machine had expired and there was no way to watch the last 2 minutes because when I went back to regular on air watching.. it was the post game show.. rats!
I had left the game when Alex Smith had moved the 49ers across the field and scored. What I missed was the Saints came roaring back and took the lead. I also missed the tension piece where a decision had to be made to go for the win or kick for a tie to send it all into overtime,
Where were the Buffulo Wings guys to turn on the sprinklers so that could still see the end? I wasn't at the right place at the right time... So I have to take your word for it... It was another memorable catch in the end zone for the 49ers that snatched the game from the jaws of defeat.
Oh well.
: )Pat
As suggested by my Sister Kelly
One of my loyal readers and sister, Kelly suggested that I goggle the snack on the next level up from Puppy Chow. It references what might be on the floor of the movie theater that you attend. Not to be confused with ABC gum or recycling in anyway from the floor of the movie theater.... this stuff has to be first class. Its what people pay big bucks to eat at such theater. So.. try this at home and not at the theater..HA HA!
The Movie Theater Floor Snack
Enjoy that game! or Movie.. or whatever! : ) Pat
The Movie Theater Floor Snack
- 4 cups popped popcorn
- 1/2 (10.5 ounce) bag corn chips (such as Fritos®)
- 1/2 (14 ounce) package candy corn
- 1 (10 ounce) can mixed nuts
- 1 cup jelly beans or other small candies, or as desired
- 1 (12 ounce) package white chocolate chips
Directions
- Mix popcorn, corn chips, candy corn, mixed nuts, and jelly beans together in a large bowl.
- In a microwave-safe glass bowl, melt the white chocolate chips on Low setting until barely melted, 1 or 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Pour the white chocolate over the popcorn mixture, and stir to coat. Allow to cool, and break apart into small pieces.
Enjoy that game! or Movie.. or whatever! : ) Pat
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Where Have I been? Puppy Chow mix?
Recently I have enjoyed the pre made party mix blends as I watch a little football. There are fewer calories than chips in these mixes. The original mix is pretty good I also enjoy the bold variety and lately I have found the cheese ones.
In the last batch I bought at the store the chex mix was in a smaller bag and was a little heavier than the normal big batch.
Tonight I opened them. OMG.. its peanut butter cups flavor combination all over in a chex mix. The label called them Muddy Buddies.
Reading the label, the Chex folks, whom are no longer Ralston Purina, are now part of General Mills could not use the old fashion name for these sweet snack wonders. They admit that many people were making them at home and calling them "Puppy Chow".
With the chocolate in them they are not appropriate for dogs to eat. So if the world is making this snack where could you find the recipe for this wonder?
The ignominious web provides a recipe for Puppy Chow that only people should eat. Here is the one version that I found:
In the last batch I bought at the store the chex mix was in a smaller bag and was a little heavier than the normal big batch.
Tonight I opened them. OMG.. its peanut butter cups flavor combination all over in a chex mix. The label called them Muddy Buddies.
Reading the label, the Chex folks, whom are no longer Ralston Purina, are now part of General Mills could not use the old fashion name for these sweet snack wonders. They admit that many people were making them at home and calling them "Puppy Chow".
With the chocolate in them they are not appropriate for dogs to eat. So if the world is making this snack where could you find the recipe for this wonder?
The ignominious web provides a recipe for Puppy Chow that only people should eat. Here is the one version that I found:
CHEX MIX PUPPY CHOW
Printed from COOKS.COM
9 cup Chex
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Put cereal in large bowl. Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.Pour over Chex cereal, put into a large plastic bag with powdered sugar and shake well to coat.
Spread mixture evenly on wax paper and allow to cool.
This might be kind of fun to try.. The homemade version looks pretty wonderful. It can bring some protein (from the peanut butter) into the world of sweet snacks! You can make them yourself... or just go find them on the grocery shelves as Muddy Budies..
: ) Pat
Spread mixture evenly on wax paper and allow to cool.
This might be kind of fun to try.. The homemade version looks pretty wonderful. It can bring some protein (from the peanut butter) into the world of sweet snacks! You can make them yourself... or just go find them on the grocery shelves as Muddy Budies..
: ) Pat
Live your Life
My next door neighbor passed away this week.
Its really a shock since he was only 6 years older than we are.
He had been working on some changes in his house with a contractor.
In recent months we had taken on a project to restore some dresser drawers.
He had even planted an apricot tree in front hoping that I would get some benefit out of a pollinator close by. He was one of those guys that did all of his traveling with the Army. His wife found a traveling friend and had been on several cruises and trips.
I always wondered why older people avidly follow the obits.
They always laugh and say they are checking to make sure that their names are not there.
Really they are checking to see if their lives are not there.
When you outlive the life of your kids its pretty sad.
He was a junior high vice principal and an elementary school principal. I think that management in schools takes its toll. You have to be everything to everyone at all times.
There was no mention of an illness in our sporadic conversations.
The family is a pretty private one. I only know of his passing through my daughter who is connected in facebook with his son.
The neighbor across the street noticed that an ambulance had arrived at his house early last week and left with him in it.
When he was younger he was given the nickname of pescau. This means fish in Spanish. He always had a fishing boat in his front yard. Its been a long time since he went fishing.
I am hoping that he has found it again in heaven.
: ) Pat
Its really a shock since he was only 6 years older than we are.
He had been working on some changes in his house with a contractor.
In recent months we had taken on a project to restore some dresser drawers.
He had even planted an apricot tree in front hoping that I would get some benefit out of a pollinator close by. He was one of those guys that did all of his traveling with the Army. His wife found a traveling friend and had been on several cruises and trips.
I always wondered why older people avidly follow the obits.
They always laugh and say they are checking to make sure that their names are not there.
Really they are checking to see if their lives are not there.
When you outlive the life of your kids its pretty sad.
He was a junior high vice principal and an elementary school principal. I think that management in schools takes its toll. You have to be everything to everyone at all times.
There was no mention of an illness in our sporadic conversations.
The family is a pretty private one. I only know of his passing through my daughter who is connected in facebook with his son.
The neighbor across the street noticed that an ambulance had arrived at his house early last week and left with him in it.
When he was younger he was given the nickname of pescau. This means fish in Spanish. He always had a fishing boat in his front yard. Its been a long time since he went fishing.
I am hoping that he has found it again in heaven.
: ) Pat
Friday, January 6, 2012
Within One Generation.. Social Mobility
Born 86 years ago. Today! Happy Birthday Ken Brown!
Life was certainly different from ours in a number of ways.
His father was a agriculture consultant for rich people's "hobby farms" he was always on the move and never really appreciated a family. The family became itinerant when times got tough. Surviving the depression was not easy for them. My father claims that that he he had attended more high schools than the four years of high school could accommodate. His mother was a magazine saleswoman for a garden magazine that was sold through local garden clubs. When the garden clubs had reached saturation for subscriptions his mother and family had to move on. They traveled from one end of the California gold country to the other. He remembers Sonora, and Mariposa. His last high school years were in Escondido where he worked for a dairy milking cows for his keep.
He signed up out of high school to go to war for our country in the Pacific theater on the USS Montpelier, a light cruiser. He was barely old enough.
In retrospect this decision to use the GI Bill, which was what was provided for his service and to help the infrastructure of the country after war and allowed him to go the college was the single most important economic decision that he took to move out of poverty to the middle class. Many of his ship mates did not do this. His service gave him tuition and a means of support to go to college and become a teacher. He graduated from Western State College, in Gunnison, Colorado. He also had attended Ft, Lewis college in Durango. The navy sent him to school at Iowa State to learn what he needed to know about becoming an electrician on the ship. Education was important to him and his kids.
He has always been fascinated by technology and science. He is an avid photographer. He loves taking photos of people and scenic shots with people in them. It would be pretty hard to do this without the means.
Ken Brown, member of the "greatest generation" helped organize teachers to become a viable profession rather then a "second job" for the family that it was in the 50's. In the 60's teachers were on the forefront of collective bargaining. It allowed teaching to move into the middle class. Ken Brown was a leader in that movement. Again social mobility.
Its a little ironic that we both Ken Brown and his kids have "hobby farms" on our suburban lots. We are now the owners rather than the "help."
: ) Pat
Life was certainly different from ours in a number of ways.
His father was a agriculture consultant for rich people's "hobby farms" he was always on the move and never really appreciated a family. The family became itinerant when times got tough. Surviving the depression was not easy for them. My father claims that that he he had attended more high schools than the four years of high school could accommodate. His mother was a magazine saleswoman for a garden magazine that was sold through local garden clubs. When the garden clubs had reached saturation for subscriptions his mother and family had to move on. They traveled from one end of the California gold country to the other. He remembers Sonora, and Mariposa. His last high school years were in Escondido where he worked for a dairy milking cows for his keep.
He signed up out of high school to go to war for our country in the Pacific theater on the USS Montpelier, a light cruiser. He was barely old enough.
In retrospect this decision to use the GI Bill, which was what was provided for his service and to help the infrastructure of the country after war and allowed him to go the college was the single most important economic decision that he took to move out of poverty to the middle class. Many of his ship mates did not do this. His service gave him tuition and a means of support to go to college and become a teacher. He graduated from Western State College, in Gunnison, Colorado. He also had attended Ft, Lewis college in Durango. The navy sent him to school at Iowa State to learn what he needed to know about becoming an electrician on the ship. Education was important to him and his kids.
He has always been fascinated by technology and science. He is an avid photographer. He loves taking photos of people and scenic shots with people in them. It would be pretty hard to do this without the means.
Ken Brown, member of the "greatest generation" helped organize teachers to become a viable profession rather then a "second job" for the family that it was in the 50's. In the 60's teachers were on the forefront of collective bargaining. It allowed teaching to move into the middle class. Ken Brown was a leader in that movement. Again social mobility.
Its a little ironic that we both Ken Brown and his kids have "hobby farms" on our suburban lots. We are now the owners rather than the "help."
: ) Pat
Monday, January 2, 2012
The Christmas Party 2011 Part 3
NO FOG
The Christmas Day was bight and sunny. That was a god send because sometimes our climate is burdened with Tulley fog. It blankets the ground and causes significant delays in getting students to school and travelers to and from the events they plan. So no ground fog.
Lindsay and I arranged for rooms at the inn.. the Holiday Inn express for the party house guests. I did not want them to come and have to stay at some slease ball spot in Los Banos because the fog had become too dense. The Holiday Inn Express had changed locations since the last time I was in that part of the city. I thought I knew where it was but no.. it had moved further south and built a new hotel right next to the new Hampton. Using Hotwire, and choosing three stars instead of names we saved 30 dollars a room for stays in the new hotel. The family guests were pleased with the accommodations. A couple of them raved about the new pancake machine. They were happy with the service oriented people that were working there especially the breakfast manager with whom they chatted up.
Clean up Help and Post Party
The girls and their husband and friends dropped back home the next morning and we all went out to the Big Bear restaurant to have breakfast, since we didn't have connections with the hotel. They all came home and gave us an hour of clean up time. When multiplied by 5 workers it is amazing what can be accomplished.
Interest Groups An Evaluation
The interest groups beside the lovely lemon throw down were a success too. There were some great audio mixes that were shared by the participants. Dad and I brought photos to share and Cammie brought some photo cards to share for the photography trade out. The cosmetic share was a little more directed to people that they donors thought could sue the product rather than a pool for all of those into it to select what they want.
Kelly led a great stocking stuffer event. All those involved, which I think numbered 7 or eight brought small gift items that were wrapped. All those that wanted to be a part and brought could select at their turn an item from the stocking stuffer pile. The target was to make each item a low cost item. I characterized it as secret santa on steroids. There was a lot of merriment that occurred out of this event. The cookie interest group had a nice assortment of cookies to share. I think that next year the members (or at least I will) remember to bring some containers to take home the collection. I made some nutty jam prints. There were some people that combined the cookie group with their lovely lemon throw down entries. This made for some nice lemon cookies in the mix. The spritz were always a crowd pleaser too if for no other reason then the sentimental value of remembering them as a Christmas signature cookie within our family.
Some people remembered the pets in our families and added to the stockings the pet members. Some people brought take home gifts for the pet members.
There were a few interest groups that sort of died this year. While great in idea and could be revived for next year. People didn't make ity bitties in droves. An ity bitty was defined as a home made item that was less than 3 inches square. I think that there is great potential in this group but the home made portion fell apart as some members were burdened with other areas and focused on what they could do.
The bring a book group did not fall into organized shape. Some people brought books and some people took books so I guess in the long run this one was a success. I thought that there might some moderation for this group allowing people to share what they liked about a certain book they brought. This might be done through social media next year if there is interest. It might morph into a kindle group where people could line up after the review for books to be loaned through this device. There are lots of direction that this one could go.
Summary
The original thought was that these interest groups would move the group from a focus of gift giving on Christmas to taping our collective strengths and common interests which provide a gift of share to all its members. I think that we were highly successful in fulfilling this mission this year. This group is taking off in wild directions, We may even have a moleskine magic group next year. Bring and share your moleskine with others that have them too! Just a thought.
: ) Pat
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