Monday 20 July 2009

July 20th

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1738 – North America: French explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de la

              Vérendrye reaches the western shore of Lake Michigan.
1871 – British Columbia joins the confederation of Canada.
1903 – Ford Motor Company shipped its first car.
1921 – Air mail service begins between New York City and San Francisco.
1921 – Congresswoman Alice Mary Robertson became the first woman to preside

              over the US House of Representatives.
1938 – The Justice Department files suit in New York City against the motion picture

               industry charging violations of anti-trust law. The case would eventually result

               in a break-up of the industry in 1948.
1960 – Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) elects Sirimavo Bandaranaike Prime Minister,

              the world’s first elected female head of government.
1968 – Special Olympics founded.

356 BC – Alexander the Great, Macedonian-Greek king and military leader (d. 323 BC)
1822 – Gregor Mendel, German scientist, father of modern genetics (d. 1884)
1893 – George Llewelyn-Davies, English Peter Pan character model (d. 1915)
1924 – Thomas Berger, American novelist
1924 – Mort Garson, Canadian composer
1926 – Lola Albright, American actress
1930 – Chuck Daly, American basketball coach (d. 2009)
1930 – Sally Ann Howes, English-born singer and actress
1933 – Buddy Knox, American singer and songwriter (d. 1999)
1933 – Cormac McCarthy, American author
1938 – Natalie Wood, American actress (d. 1981)
1939 – Judy Chicago, American artist
1942 – Pete Hamilton, American race car driver
1942 – T. G. Sheppard, American country music singer
1945 – John Lodge, English musician (The Moody Blues)
1945 – Kim Carnes, American singer and songwriter
1947 – Carlos Santana, Mexican-born American guitarist
1948 – Muse Watson, American actor
1950 – Tantoo Cardinal, Canadian actress
1958 – Billy Mays, American pitchman (d. 2009)
1964 – Terri Irwin, American naturalist; widow of Steve Irwin
1964 – Kool G Rap, American musician
1964 – Dean Winters, American actor
1966 – Stone Gossard, American musician (Pearl Jam, Mother Love Bone, Brad)
1966 – Enrique Peña Nieto, Governor of the State of Mexico (2005-present)
1967 – Reed Diamond, American actor
1967 – Courtney Taylor-Taylor, American musician (The Dandy Warhols)
1968 – Jimmy Carson, American ice hockey player
1968 – Michael Park, American actor
1974 – Bengie Molina, Puerto Rican baseball player
1978 – Will Solomon, American basketball player
1978 – Elliott Yamin, American Idol contestant
1988 – Julianne Hough, American ballroom dancer
1988 – Stephen Strasburg, American baseball player
1999 – Princess Alexandra of Hanover, daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco



    ~Judee ~

Bricks. Tip to give your brick wall a facelift

If your brick is looking a little rough, give it new color using this tip. Use a gallon of

hot water and an ounce of glue. Add about half a cup of alum, half a cup of venetian

red paint, and a cup of brown paint. Mixed into hot water, mix all the colors completly

in the water and then use a paint brush and wash down the brick entirely.

Tips for Preparing Bell Peppers:

Before coring and/or cutting the pepper, wash it under running water.

If the pepper has been waxed, you should also scrub it well.

Use a paring knife to cut around the stem and then gently remove it.

Peppers can be cut into various shapes and sizes. To easily chop, dice

or cut the peppers into strips, first cut the pepper in half lengthwise,

clean out the core and seeds, and then, after placing the skin side

down on the cutting surface, cut into the desired size and shape.

Peppers can also be cut horizontally into rings or left whole for stuffed

peppers after carefully removing the seeds from the inner cavity.

GARLIC & HERB SAUTEED BELL PEPPER STRIPS
This garlic and herb sautéed bell pepper recipe can be used as an

appetizer, as part of an antipasto platter, or a colorful side dish.

The bell pepper strips cook up quickly, and are at their sweet and

avory best paired with the garlic and herbs. This sautéed pepper

ecipe is a great way to enjoy this nutritious summer vegetable.

Makes 8 Servings Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 6 minutes
Ingredients:
•3 tbsp olive oil
•2 large red bell peppers, seeded, cut into half-inch strips
•2 large yellow bell peppers, cut into half-inch strips
•2 cloves finely minced garlic
•salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
•1 tbsp red wine vinegar
•1 tbsp chopped basil
•1 tbsp chopped Italian parsley
•toasted Italian bread to garnish, optional
Preparation:
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over high heat.

Add the pepper strips, and sauté for 4-5 minutes, or until

the peppers begin to soften. Turn down the heat to low, and

add the garlic, salt and pepper. Saute for 2 minutes more.

Turn off the heat and add the vinegar and herbs. Toss to combine.

Transfer to a bowl and allow to cool to room temperature.

Toss again, adjust seasoning and serve with toasted bread if desired.

Japanese Morning Glory ‘Hatsu Arashi’
(Ipomoea nil)
Type of plant: Annuals, Vines and Climbers

Bloom color: Blue-Violet

Bloom time of year: Mid Summer

Sun requirements: Full Sun, Sun to Partial Shade

Cold hardiness: Not Applicable

Height: 6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)

Spacing: 12-15 in. (30-38 cm)

You just got a bunch of fresh apples, and you are afraid that they

are going to go bad.

You can make up a quick batch of applesauce that will keep in the

efrigerator for 10-12 days.

Wash 6-8 apples, then core and quarter.

Place the apples into a saucepan and cover with 1/4 cup water.

Bring to a simmer and cover until the apples have cooked to a mush.

Puree in a blender or with a food mixer and add sugar to taste.

Place in an airtight container and refrigerate.

TODAY’S NAUTICAL PHRASE

                 Hard and fast

                                            Meaning

              Rigidly adhered to – without doubt or debate.

Origin

This is a nautical term. A ship that was hard and fast was

simply one that was firmly beached on land.

The term must have been well-known by the early 19th

century as it was use in a figurative sense then. For example,

The [London] Times, January 1820:

"She was laid before the fire, at about a yard distance,

and was hard and fast asleep."

The Sailor’s Word-Book, William Henry Smyth’s 1867 nautical

dictionary, defines the term:

"Hard and fast. Said of a ship on shore."

Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no

common denominator, but among those whom I love,

I can; All of them make me laugh.—-W.H. Auden

          S.M.O.M.
                          The actual smallest sovereign entity in the world is the

Sovereign Military Order of Malta (S.M.O.M.).

It is located in the city of Rome, Italy, has an area of

two tennis courts, and as of 2001 has a

population of 80, 20 less people than the Vatican.

It is a sovereign entity under international law,

just as the Vatican is.



When blueberries are in season, what better to do
with them (other than eating them straight from the
basket) than make blueberry pie? Blueberries have
been found to be a "superfood", so good for you that
you should go out of your way to eat them.
They neutralize free radicals, protect your heart,
improve your vision, and protect against degenerative
brain diseases. Yet another good reason to make
and eat blueberry pie.

Blueberry Pie Recipe
Filling ingredients:

6 cups of fresh (or frozen) blueberries, rinsed and
stems removed (if using frozen, defrost and drain first)
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (for thickening)
1/2 cup white granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter (unsalted), cut into small pieces
Egg wash ingredients:

1 egg
1 tablespoon milk
Method

1 Prepare the crust. Roll out half of the dough to
1/8-inch-thick circle on a lightly floured work surface,
about 13 inches in diameter. Fit the dough over a
9-inch pie pan, and trim the edges to a 1/2 inch over the
edge all around the pan. Put into the refrigerator to chill
for about 30 minutes.

2 Gently mix the blueberries, sugar, flour, cinnamon,
lemon zest, and lemon juice in a large bowl. Transfer
them to the chilled bottom crust of the pie pan. Dot with
butter pieces. Roll out remaining dough to the same size
and thickness as the first. Place on top of the berry filling.
Tuck the top dough over and under the edge of the bottom
dough, and crimp the edges with your fingers. Transfer the
pie to the refrigerator to chill until the dough is firm,
about 30 minutes. Heat oven to 425°F.

3 Whisk egg and milk together to make an egg wash.

4 Remove the unbaked pie from refrigerator.
Brush the top with egg wash. Score the pie on the top
with 4 cuts (so steam can escape while cooking). Place
the pie on the middle rack of the oven with a parchment
paper or Silpat lined baking pan positioned on the lower
rack to catch any filling that may bubble over.
5 Bake for 20 minutes at 425°. Reduce heat to 350°F and
bake for 30 to 40 minutes more or until juices are bubbling
and have thickened.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Let cool completely

before serving.   Makes 8 servings.