Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

8 Funny Posts 4 A Grin From Dennys Blogs - 30 June 2010

*** When times are tough what do you do? Laughter is the best stress reliever! Here are 8 posts from this week's posts at Denny's blogs for you to enjoy.



Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr


From Denny: Between Colbert and Stewart, well, let's just say they have BP's shenanigans covered. Nothing gets past them!

In my ongoing effort to provide stress relief when the national conversation is so depressing - because of the BP Gulf Coast oil spill, a fragile economy and politicians who continually refuse to do right by the American people - we all need to keep laughing our way through these times until they get better. Trust that times will get better and they will. Until then, while we are in transition, we must develop coping skills for managing daily stress like making sure we are laughing often.

This is one of those times when it is true that "the pen is mightier than the sword" for the right kind of writing can bring relief to thousands in one moment over the internet. Pretty cool when you think about it. How many people can accomplish so much out of thin air? :)


Funny Smile Quotes - Cheeky Quote Day - 30 June 2010

Roundup of Late Night Funnies: BP Oil Spill, McChrystal Firing - 28 June 2010

Funny Video: Colbert Says McChrystal Had To Have Been High

Funny Video: Stewart Nails Republicans As Flip-Floppers On BP Escrow Fund

Funny Video: Colbert Lampoons Barton's BP Apology

Funny Video: Stewart Lampoons McChrystal's Balls For An Honorable Discharge

5 Funny Shorts: What Kids Think About Love and Life

Funny Video: Surfing Group Known as The Radical Rodents


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Cake Tuesday: Red, White and Blue Independence Day Cake


*** Bake an unusual and patriotic attention-getting cake to wow your friends and family this Fourth of July!  Please help support Warriors Pearl Foundation, helping homeless female military veterans come home at Denny Lyon Gifts from Cafe Press.  Come see what's new!




Photo from White Lily Flour


From Denny: We eat with our eyes before we eat with our taste buds. This pretty patriotic cake sure gets your attention! Red, white and blue layers of cake are slathered with Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting and decorated with summer fresh blueberries and strawberries.

For a beginner baker - or if you are pressed for time and don't want to fuss with a difficult icing - this easy cake is for you. The cake layers are made from scratch and use buttermilk for great taste and texture, much like using sour cream in a cake or muffin.

When you finish icing the cake and have to wait a few hours before serving, hold off on the fruit garnish. With cakes like this I like to garnish with fruit as I serve the slices. That way you don't have to be concerned about the fruit starting to break down its juices and start to run watery all over your perfect cake and icing, sliding off like some summer park water slide! :)

Have a great Fourth of July weekend and thanks for visiting!

Update, July 2014:  Since this cake recipe published four years ago, many bakers have moved away from manipulated fats (think Crisco and similar offerings).  I prefer unsalted butter as at least you know what is in the product.  No mystery labeling here! :)

Also, many have moved away from the traditional red food coloring offered in the standard grocery store as most were made from crushed beetles (serious yuck! factor), some toxic chemicals, and known to contain carcinogens.  The substitute natural red food coloring that is more palatable as is offered from grocery stores like Whole Foods, Amazon and other online baking sites does not color as deeply but sure tastes better!  

           * * * Listed below are some sources for finding natural food coloring. * * *

So, however you choose to make this patriotic fun cake:  enjoy your efforts and celebrate our country's birthday!


Celebrate America iPhone 5 Case

Celebrate America iPhone 5 Case


* * *  Support Warriors Pearl Foundation - helping homeless female military veterans come home.  Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  - see what's new!









Independence Day Cake


From: White Lily Flour and The J.M. Smucker Co.

Makes: 12 servings

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray (or a Tablespoon of soft butter)
3-1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 tsps. baking powder
1-1/2 tsps. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1-1/4 cups buttermilk
1-1/4 cups all-vegetable shortening or unsalted butter (2 sticks + 1/2 stick)
5 large egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract
1 Tbl. red food coloring
1 Tbl. blue food coloring

Sources for all natural gel food dyes and colorings:

AmeriColor @ Amazon
NaturesFlavors (made from red beets)
India Tree @ Amazon (less intense colors producing more pastels and unenthusiastic reviews but at least it's all natural and no toxic chemicals)

Garnish:

Fresh blueberries and strawberries, optional

Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting:

2 cups butter, softened
2-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. almond extract
1 (13-oz.) jar marshmallow cream

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat three 8-inch round pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper, cut to fit. Coat paper with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in large bowl. Add buttermilk and shortening. Beat with electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes. Add egg whites, vanilla and almond extracts. Beat an additional 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl as needed.

3. Pour ont-third (about 2 cups) of batter into prepared pan. Divide remaining batter into 2 medium bowls. Stir in food coloring to make one red and one blue batter. Pour batter into remaining pans. Tap pans on counter several times to remove air bubbles.

4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes before removing from pan. Remove cake and cool completely on wire rack.

5. For frosting, beat butter in a large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Gradually beat in sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until fluffy. Beat in almond extract. Stir in marshmallow cream until well blended.

6. Place blue cake layer on cake plate and generously frost top. Stack white layer and generously frost top. Add red layer, frosting top and sides of entire cake. Garnish with fresh blueberries and strawberries, if desired.


Celebrate America Woven Blanket

Celebrate America Woven Blanket




*** Check out more recipes: Muffin Monday and Cake Tuesday

*** For more Fourth of July posts see also:

63 Quotes About Freedom and Liberty: Happy Birthday, America!

How Do We Live Freedom and Liberty? Libations Friday - 2 July 2010

Fourth of July When Life is Simple poem - Libations Friday 25 June 2010

Cake Tuesday: Red, White and Blueberry Shortcakes

Dennys Photo Gallery: Fourth of July Watermelon


* * *  Support Warriors Pearl Foundation - helping homeless female military veterans come home.  Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  - see what's new!


Subscribe in a reader to Unusual 2 Tasty

* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my other 20 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place.  A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. * 

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Muffin Monday: Egg, Ricotta Cheese, Sun-Dried Tomato Breakfast Muffins

*** Enjoy an unusual muffin: a small baked omelet!





From Denny: The versatility of the simple egg is to be celebrated! How this photographer chose to display this egg is amusing. What's better is this recipe is basically a small baked omelet and so easy to do. It's also a good recipe for diabetics or those who avoid gluten in their diet.

Exploring all these bed and breakfast muffin recipes has been a lot of fun. Discovering new inns in different parts of the country made me think how promoting small business is a way to help the economy! Muffin Monday was born to help celebrate muffin recipes and travel across America and Canada.

This Arizona inn is a golfing resort where you can enjoy the rustic Southwest charm of architecture and setting. This is the first bed and breakfast inn I've found with a video on YouTube to give you a tour!





From the website: Relax on our red rock view patio, or step out the back gate and hit some balls at our secluded range of Sedona Golf Resort. Enjoy a glass of wine in front of your in-room fireplace, soak in your private whirlpool tub, or walk up to Cucina Rustica, possibly the finest restaurant in Sedona and Arizona. Step into the Great Room with Mexican saltillo tile floors and a wall of windows overlooking the Red Rocks and the manicured golf course, where you will enjoy breakfast outside on the flagstone courtyard next to the fountain in the warmer months, or inside the dining room during the winter. Mornings feature our two-course breakfast, which changes daily.

Come and experience the warmth of Southwestern hospitality in true Sedona style. At Adobe Hacienda Bed and Breakfast, you'll feel the rustic charm of old adobe architecture, peeled lodgepoles, 100-year-old Oaxacan doors, authentic saltillo tile and hand painted Mexican sinks.

You'll feel pampered with the finest comforts, gourmet breakfasts, elegance and amenities in each of our five guest suites. From 400-thread-count linens to thick luxurious oversized towels, even complimentary in-room drinks, movies and long-distance calling, no detail has been overlooked.






Egg Muffins

From: Adobe Hacienda Bed & Breakfast
Sedona, Arizona

Toll Free (800) 454-7191
Local (928) 284-2020
Fax (928) 284-0247

Ingredients:

8-10 eggs
Splash of Half and Half
Lots of spinach that is drained well
Sautéed onions
2 pinches of garlic garnish
2 spoons of ricotta cheese
Sun dried tomatoes
Parmesan cheese
Pinch of nutmeg

Directions:

Mix everything but the eggs together and fill muffin cups to the top with mix.
Pour whipped eggs into muffins.

Bake 30 - 40 minutes at 350 degrees F. till they rise and set.



*** More Muffin Monday Recipes to enjoy:

American Revolt: How You Can Break Big Business, Big Banks, Big Insurance, Big Oil, Big Lobbyists

Muffin Monday: Sour Cream Walnut Cinnamon Muffins

Muffin Monday: Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins

Muffin Monday: Pina Colada Muffins

Muffin Monday: Polynesian Bread or Muffins, Gluten Free Pineapple Muffin

Muffin Monday: Savory Feta, Roasted Pepper Basil Muffins From Sur La Table

Muffin Monday: Banana Praline Muffins, White Chocolate Banana Bread


*** Egg yolk photo by Pixel Addict @ flickr


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Posts Roundup of Dennys 14 Blogs - 27 June 2010

*** Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science and health news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.




Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr





The Social Poets:


Dark Humor: BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 26 June 2010

Fourth of July When Life is Simple poem - Libations Friday 25 June 2010

Pentagon Junkyard Dogs Bow to Obama Pressure

Funny Lawyer Quotes and Jokes - Cheeky Quote Day 23 June 2010

Gen. McChrystal Out For Crudely Dissing The President

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 21 June 2010

Funny Video: Colberts The Word, Stay the Course

Funny Video: Colberts Simplified Version of Obama's BP Oil Spill Speech

Funny Video: Colbert Examines America's Strained Relationship With England

Funny Video: Stewarts Take On America's Oil Dependence

Funny Video: Stewart Calls Joe Barton A 'Disdainful A--hole'

Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 20 June 2010




Dennys Global Politics:


American and World Politics Cartoons - 26 June 2010

Unemployed Americans Screwed by the Republicans Again - News Headlines 24 June 2010

McChrystal as Dems Political Disaster - News Headlines - 22 June 2010





The Healing Waters:


Living Art Exhibit: Public Play at NY Times Square Pianos

Exploding Number of Young Widows in the World

Good News: Kids Sell Lemon Aid 4 Pelicans Hurt in the Gulf





Poems From A Spiritual Heart:


An Audience of One

10 Funny Posts For a Laugh - 23 June 2010

Life is About Everything

Stepping Through Life

Hope Transforms

Jazz Music




The Soul Calendar:


Big Oil Nixs Competing Aviation BioFuel: NASAs Project OMEGA




Romancing The Chocolate:


Cake Tuesday: Coffee Toffee Fudge Cake, Tunnel of Fudge Cake

Muffin Monday: Pina Colada Muffins




Unusual 2 Tasty:


Muffin Monday: Polynesian Bread or Muffins, Gluten Free Pineapple Muffin

Muffin Monday: Savory Feta, Roasted Pepper Basil Muffins From Sur La Table




Comfort Food From Louisiana:


Cake Tuesday: Fresh Peach Coffee Cake

Muffin Monday: Banana Praline Muffins, White Chocolate Banana Bread




Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Funny Legal News Story: The Case of a Contraceptives Misstaken Use

Funny Cartoon: What to Wear For Employee Review




Dennys Funny Quotes:


Funny General McChrystal Cartoons - 26 June 2010

10 Funny Signs and 10 Funny Short Jokes




Visual Insights:


Dennys Photo Gallery: Fourth of July Watermelon




*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Posts For This Weeks Cartoons, Funny World Soccer Cartoons - 26 June 2010

*** Check out the fun world soccer cartoons and click on more links to funny cartoon posts for this week!





From Denny: Come check out the best of this week's political cartoons, lampooning politicians, Life and sports. Instead of paging through 50 websites pages to look at one cartoon at a time, I've embedded a dozen or more per post to enjoy easily. Can you tell I find it annoying to load page after page just to see all the latest cartoons? :)

These were only a few world soccer cup cartoons available for embedding. To see more just click on the link under the cartoons to take you to the cartoonists' sites. It seems like every night on the TV news we would hear those vuvuzela horns making their joyful noise while they blew out everyone's eardrums. Cartoonists had a lot of fun with that cultural icon.

Congrats go the USA soccer team as they made us proud. It was an amazing run with upset after upset. We got some bad referee calls when it was obvious the gambling syndicate phoned in how they wanted the game to be called. America's team still went forward to win after win. This week it was Ghana's turn to win against America and knock us out of the race for the world cup.

America's team went into this competition with little hope and fewer expectations. As far as Americans are concerned our team was a Cinderella team. They succeeded in winning our hearts and ignited a huge interest in this country for the game of soccer. From my corner of the world, I'd say your game was well played, guys!


*** See Also more cartoons of the day: Dark Humor: BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 26 June 2010

*** See Also more cartoons of the day: Funny General McChrystal Cartoons - 26 June 2010

*** See Also more cartoons of the day: American and World Politics Cartoons - 26 June 2010



























*** Photo by Tansan @ flickr

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

*** Come by for a visit and check out my other blogs:

The Social Poets
Dennys Global Politics
The Soul Calendar
Visual Insights
Beautiful Illustrated Quotations
Poems From A Spiritual Heart
The Healing Waters
Dennys Art Sanctuary
Romancing The Chocolate
Comfort Food From Louisiana
Unusual 2 Tasty
Dennys Blog Feeds
Dennys Funny Quotes
Ouch Outrageous
Obnoxious And Odd

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

10 Funny Posts For a Laugh - 23 June 2010

*** Links to funny posts from several of Dennys blogs this week!





From Denny: I just love the enthusiasm of this funny dog running full tilt, tongue flailing out and slapping his face. He is undeterred and happy anyway. If only we humans could live in the moment like this dog. Well, not to worry, I've found some funny things on the web this week and posted them: jokes, funny quotes, funny photos and funny videos. Knock yourselves out. And, hey, make sure to send me photos of you laughing - and having a good time falling off your chair. :)


Funny Lawyer Quotes and Jokes - Cheeky Quote Day 23 June 2010

Funny Legal News Story: The Case of a Contraceptives Misstaken Use

10 Funny Signs and 10 Funny Short Jokes

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 21 June 2010

Funny Video: Colberts The Word, Stay the Course

Funny Video: Colberts Simplified Version of Obama's BP Oil Spill Speech

Funny Video: Colbert Examines America's Strained Relationship With England

Funny Video: Stewarts Take On America's Oil Dependence

Funny Cartoon: What to Wear For Employee Review

Funny Video: Stewart Calls Joe Barton A 'Disdainful A--hole'



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Muffin Monday: Polynesian Bread or Muffins, Gluten Free Pineapple Muffin

*** Muffins to enjoy in the summer heat!




From Denny: On my trek to find bed and breakfast recipes I ran across this one today using pineapple, coconut and carrots. That certainly qualifies for the unusual combinations all in one muffin! This is a large recipe set up for making bread loaves. Just use the same batter and make into muffins. Because of the pineapple that can be very wet, you might need to bake a test muffin to check how much more time is needed to bake it than the usual 20 to 25 minutes for a normal muffin.

Included is a little bit about the bed and breakfast with a link to their website. This one is in Florida and they listed the latest news about the oil spill impact. According to them, as of today, they have not been affected on their beach area. This is quite the awesome place where you can rent normally priced rooms all the way up to swanky villas by the day or the week.

It seems none of these bed and breakfast recipes come with any photos. While I was searching for a photo over at Flickr this photographer also included a link to a gluten free pineapple muffin. You might want to try the recipe and see if you like baking wheat free.





From: Harrington House Beachfront Bed & Breakfast Inn
5626 Gulf Drive • Holmes Beach, Florida 34217-1666
Phone (888) 828-5566 • (941) 778-5444 • Fax (941) 778-0527

From the Inn: Come savor intimate charm and casual elegance of Harrington House Beachfront Bed and Breakfast Inn, one of Florida’s most highly rated Bed and Breakfast Inns located on a tranquil bit of paradise known as Anna Maria Island. The stunning sunsets, soothing rhythm of waves on the white sugary sand beach, and warm hospitality – combine to create that perfect getaway.

Tropical surroundings and serenity top the list of amenities. Savor a new breakfast selection every day from our collection of recipes prepared by our own professional chefs. Relax in the living room, a gathering place where visitors become friends.

Anna Maria Island — Oil Free Beaches

We have had a number of calls about whether we have seen any impact from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and are grateful to report:

· There is no local impact from the oil spill.
· Our beaches and destination are open for business.
· We are in no imminent danger of being affected.


Polynesian Bread or Muffins

Makes: 4 Loaves

Ingredients:

5 Cups Brown Sugar
6 Cups flour
2 Teaspoons Baking powder
2 Teaspoons Baking soda
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
Dash of salt
2 Teaspoons Lemon juice
5 Eggs
1 Cup oil
1 Cup Sour cream
13.5oz Can of coconut milk
3 Cups of dried cranberries
4 Cups of crushed pineapple -- 2 Cups drained / 2 Cups not drained
3 Cups Shredded coconut
10 oz. Shredded carrots

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in the bowl. Spray non-stick spray on standard size loaf pans. Line just bottom of the loaf pan with waxed paper. Divide batter into each loaf pan. Cook for one hour -- 350 degrees Check after one hour by poking it in its center with a toothpick or piece of spaghetti (If the toothpick or spaghetti comes out clean it's done, if not, cook longer as needed.)



*** Even if you don't have a problem with gluten, wheat flour does tend to make us swell with excess water retention if we eat it three times a day every day. A nice break from the usual is to try a gluten free muffin.

Check out:

American Revolt: How You Can Break Big Business, Big Banks, Big Insurance, Big Oil, Big Lobbyists

Wheatless Wednesday: Fruit-Sweetened Pineapple Muffins Put the “Fluffy” Back in Gluten-Free

*** Check out: Muffin Monday: Pina Colada Muffins

Muffin Monday: Banana Praline Muffins, White Chocolate Banana Bread


Gluten free pineapple muffin Photo by cavitt @ flickr



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 20 June 2010

*** Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science and health news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.




Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr




The Social Poets:


Dark Humor: BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 19 June 2010

Stepping Through Life poem - Libations Friday 18 June 2010

BP Gets Their Moneys Worth From Apologetic GOP Texan Barton

Funny Quotes From Big Oil and BP Congressional Hearings - Cheeky Quote Day 16 June 2010

Foreclosure Violated Military Act: Yet Another Reason Not to Live in Texas

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 14 June 2010

Funny Video: Obama Embarks on AssQuest 2010

Funny Colbert Video: BP CEO Tony Hayward Is an Evil Box of Priggish Entitled Baking Soda

Funny Colbert Video: BP Perplexed Stock Value Sinks

Funny Video: Colbert Doles Out Advice For Helen Thomas






Dennys Global Politics:


BP Problems: Political Cartoons 19 June 2010

Kevin Costner Blasts Big Oil, GOP Apologizes to BP - News Headlines 17 June 2010

Obamas Oval Office Speech, CEO Weigh in on Obama, Reality of BPs $20 Billion Escrow - News Headlines 16 June 2010

BP On Hook for $75 Billion in Claims, 1-Man Mission American Ninja Faulkner Hunts bin Laden, News Headlines 15 June 2010

BP Nightmare Well, Congress Ready to Nail BP, Kennedy FBI Docs, Obama Gets Oil Spill Help - News Headlines 14 June 2010






Beautiful Illustrated Quotations:


How Does Tenacity Figure in Your Life?

Destress: 3 Great Encouragement Quotes

Have You Ever Thought About The Process of Success?

Hope Transforms Our Lives in Tough Times






Romancing The Chocolate:


5 Tasty Sweet as Candy Chess Pie Recipes

8 Funny Posts to Enjoy

Muffin Monday: 3 Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipes



Comfort Food From Louisiana:


7 Simple Ingredients Brisket and Southern Corn Pudding

Muffin Monday: Mushroom Dill Muffins From Louisiana Mushroom Farm




Unusual 2 Tasty:


Muffin Monday: Savory Feta, Roasted Pepper Basil Muffins From Sur La Table




Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Funny Video: Colberts Sound Advice on How to Get a Job

Murphys 15 Laws About Sex





Dennys Funny Quotes:


Oops and Hunh?! Cartoons 19 June 2010

Funny Family Quotes

Joke: When A Bunch of Nationalities Are Stranded on an Island





Visual Insights:

BP Oil Slicked Animals: Outrage Cartoons - 19 June 2010





Poems From A Spiritual Heart:


Hope Transforms

Jazz Music




*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

8 Funny Posts to Enjoy

*** Your medicine today is to laugh!




From Denny: The world is full of funny, and, in these trying political and economic times, we all need to laugh as much as possible! These are some of the posts I've put up this week on The Social Poets and Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd blogs.


Funny Quotes From Big Oil and BP Congressional Hearings - Cheeky Quote Day 16 June 2010

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 14 June 2010

Funny Video: Obama Embarks on AssQuest 2010

Funny Colbert Video: BP CEO Tony Hayward Is an Evil Box of Priggish Entitled Baking Soda




Funny Colbert Video: BP Perplexed Stock Value Sinks

Funny Video: Colbert Doles Out Advice For Helen Thomas

Funny Video: Colberts Sound Advice on How to Get a Job

Murphys 15 Laws About Sex


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Muffin Monday: Savory Feta, Roasted Pepper Basil Muffins From Sur La Table

*** Try the unusual: a savory muffin for breakfast, lunch or dinner.





From Denny: We all love muffins. They are that little meal, that special little treat in the late afternoon. They are divine bits of Heaven. Sometimes, I would rather enjoy a savory muffin instead of the sweet.

The American breakfast can quickly become predictable with the usual suspects of eggs, bacon and toast. Banana bread with a little softened cream cheese is wonderful in the morning with eggs. But how about something totally off the wall different?

Feta cheese is a good protein source any time of day and mixes well with so many ingredients. You could even enjoy these muffins alongside those predictable eggs and bacon. This muffin has roasted peppers which are sweet of a savory kind. They would go well too with a soup or salad for lunch. Try them with roasted chicken for a dinner too.

For this recipe make sure to use only fresh basil as opposed to the dried version as they need the fresh oils to punch up the flavor of the muffin. If you don't have any fresh basil, the author recommends substituting a tablespoon of fresh thyme or a teaspoon of dried thyme in its place. Thyme tends to be a pungent herb even when dried.



Feta, Roasted Pepper & Basil Muffins

From: Sur La Table - The Art & Soul of Baking, Andrews McMeel Publishing, October 2008


Makes: 12 muffins

Ingredients:

2 cups (10 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup (3 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
½ cup (4 ounces) jarred roasted red bell pepper, patted dry and chopped into ¼-inch dice
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
1 cup (8 ounces) buttermilk
¼ cup (2 ounces) olive oil
1 large egg


Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375°F and position an oven rack in the center. Lightly coat the muffin tin with melted butter, oil, or high-heat canola-oil spray. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in the large mixing bowl. Set aside. In the medium bowl, stir together the feta cheese, roasted bell pepper, and chopped basil. Set aside.

Pour the buttermilk into the measuring cup. Add the olive oil and the egg and whisk together until well blended. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the well and stir gently with a spatula. Mix only until there are no more streaks of flour or pools of liquid and the batter looks fairly smooth. A few small lumps scattered throughout are fine—they will disappear during baking. Gently fold in the feta cheese mixture until evenly distributed in the batter.

Use the large ice cream scoop or 2 soup spoons to divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the tops feel firm and a skewer inserted into the centers comes out clean. Transfer the muffin tin to a rack and let cool for 5 minutes. Gently run a thin knife or spatula around each muffin to free it from the pan, lift out the muffins, and transfer them to a rack to finish cooling (careful, these are tender while hot). Serve warm.

When completely cool, the muffins can be stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic or sealed in a resealable plastic bag, for 2 days. Reheat, wrapped in foil, in a 325°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until warmed through. The muffins can also be frozen for up to 1 month, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then sealed in a resealable plastic freezer bag. Thaw, still wrapped, for 30 minutes before reheating.


*** Check out how Muffin Monday started: American Revolt: How You Can Break Big Business, Big Banks, Big Insurance, Big Oil, Big Lobbyists

Photo by mccun934 @ flickr

*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 13 June 2010

*** Check out news, political opinion - serious and funny cartoons, recipes, science and health news, poetry, funny posts, photography, spiritual thoughts and great quotes.




Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr




The Social Poets:



Louisiana to NY Mayor Bloomberg: Shut the F Up! - BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 12 June 2010

Hope Transforms poem - Libations Friday 11 June 2010 - A poem about how Hope works to transform our lives.

BP Promotes Philosophy: The Minimum Acceptable

Roundup of Late Night Comedy - 7 June 2010

Funny Videos: Stewart and Colbert Lampoon Reporter Helen Thomas

Funny Video: Lampooning Racists Gone Wild Horrified Teaching Chinese Language

Funny Video: Jon Stewart Lampoons Glenn Beck About Exclusive Israeli Raid News



The Soul Calendar:


Effective Cheap Idea to Clean Up Oil Spill: Treated Cotton Fabric




Dennys Global Politics:


American and World Politics Cartoons - 12 June 2010

Speaker Pelosi, Residents Fire Upon BP - News Headlines 11 June 2010

Krewe of Dead Pelicans BP Protest Parade, Oil Spill Stories - News Headlines 8 June 2010



Beautiful Illustrated Quotations:


How Are Hopes, Dreams and Reality Related?

Where Does Hope Guide Us On Our Life Path?

Hope: Unborn Baby Grabs onto Doctors Hand in Surgery

Does Hope Touch Your Soul?




Poems From A Spiritual Heart:


Jazz Music - Get lost in the moment living a New Orleans night...

Angels Left Behind: Orphans of the World - Poem about remembering the children of the world need our help.

Water of Life - Have you ever wondered the messages Nature speaks to us every day, happening every minute all around us? Great Nature photos.

Peace Upon The Land - A Memorial Day poem to honor ourselves.




The Healing Waters:


Oldest Living Woman in World Now in Indonesia

12 Hidden Reasons 4 Fatigue and How to Fight Fatigue

Anti-Aging Summer Drinks From CBS and Health Magazine




Dennys Funny Quotes:


Ouch: Reporter Helen Thomas Career Ender Comments Cartoons

Funny Video: Upright Citizens Brigade Mocks BP Execs

Funny Video: Colbert Mocks Birthers Using Obama Rap Video Sighting

Funny Dance Video: Butt Face Slam From Brazil




Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Obamas Kick Ass Comments Cartoons

Funny Video: BP Creates Rich Fish in Gulf Oil Spill

Funny: Actresses Sandra Bullock, Scarlett Johannson Kiss at MTV Movie Awards - How a photo can look like more than it is.




Comfort Food From Louisiana:


New Orleans Food: G.Gs Stuffed Crab




Romancing The Chocolate:


Popular Kentucky Derby Recipes: Bourbon Ball French Toast, Kentucky Hot Brown



Visual Insights:

Dennys Photo Gallery: Wonderful Father Photos



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Posts Roundup at Dennys 14 Blogs - 5 June 2010

*** Check it out from the funny to the serious like lots of funny posts with funny ideos, BP oil spill news, political commentary, political cartoons, recipes, poetry, health news.




Photo of coffee from Brazil by Quoquo @ flickr



From Denny: This was a light week for writing as I spent so much time watching a lot of BP oil spill news from everywhere trying to catch details of what was filtered out of the mainstream copycat media. This is a shifting situation minute by minute as BP tries to twist the truth and manipulate the media to report their lies. It's like a giant shell game from a multinational corporation grifter.

Those of us living in Louisiana and others on the Gulf Coast are committed to holding our government AND most especially BP's mean little toes to the hot coals until they comply fully. The philosophy of "The Minimum Acceptable" from Big Business arrogance and cavalier handling of an environmental and economic disaster is unacceptable in America. If this was happening to the British shores I would be just as outraged and pushing back just as hard.




The Social Poets:


Cartoons: Obama vs. BPs Oil Spill - 5 June 2010

Water of Life poem - Libations Friday 4 June 2010

BP Phony Police: Threaten Reporters With Arrest If Report, Photo Dead Animals

BP Oil Spill News Updates - 2 June 2010

Funny Late Night Comedy Roundup - 31 May 2010

Funny Video: Colberts ThreatDown of Food Police, Jazz Robots, Pretty Girls

Funny Video: Colbert Mocks Surburban Backyard Clothesline Terrorist

Funny Video: Colbert Gives Domino Pizza Alpha Dog Award

Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 30 May 2010






Dennys Global Politics:


World Idiots: Israel Gaza Raid Mess, North Korea Cartoons - 5 June 2010

Why Not to Nuke the Oil Spill, Israels International Mess - News Headlines 2 June 2010








Dennys Funny Quotes:


Cartoons: Staycation, New Summer Trend 4 Middle Class - 5 June 2010

Help Create Funny Caption 4 Michelle Obama Photo at Comedy Central


Funny Video: Science-Gate by Cartoonist Mark Fiore

Funny Video: Colbert Instructs How to Ace Your ACTs





Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Tea Party Weird and Immigration Cartoons - 5 June 2010

Funny Video: Zeek the Dog Plays Piano and Sings





Dennys Blog Feeds:


Funny Fathers Day Cartoons - 5 June 2010




The Healing Waters:


Cartoons: Global Warming Al Gores Surpise Divorce - 5 June 2010

Michelle Obama Fighting Obesity: Chefs Moves to Schools Program

50 Simple Steps: Burn Some Excess Calories




Visual Insights:


Funny Summer Heatwave Cartoons - 5 June 2010

Just Plain Funny: Silly Animal Photos




Romancing The Chocolate:


Yummy Lemon Tea Bread From Southern Living


Unusual 2 Tasty:


New Popular Drink Trend: Sex and The City 2 Cocktails



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

New Popular Drink Trend: Sex and The City 2 Cocktails

*** Check out the latest popular trend in cocktails spurred by the sequel movie Sex and The City 2!





From Denny: A very short demo video clip showing off the beautiful new drinks. The first movie, Sex and The City, definitely popularized the Cosmopolitan cocktail. Here are the newest drinks from the movie with the recipes so you can get ahead of the curve with all your admiring thirsty friends.

Mixologist Gage Cass shows us two up-and-coming drink trends.



Watch CBS News Videos Online





"The Glamour Gal"

Ingredients:

2 oz Skyy vodka
0.5 oz Fresh lemon juice
0.5oz Fresh lime juice
0.5 oz Simple syrup or 1 tsp. sugar
Drop of Creme de Cassis

Directions:

Rim a martini glass with Creme de Cassis and sugar. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into the martini glass. Finish the cocktail with a drop of Creme de Cassis on top.

To rim the martini glass, first dip rim of glass in a shallow dish filled with Creme de Cassis and immediately place rim in another shallow dish with sugar, rotating the glass to ensure the whole rim is covered.




"The Mr. Manhattan"

Ingredients:

2 oz Skyy Infusions cherry vodka
0.5 Wild Turkey 101 bourbon
0.75 oz Cola

Directions:

Combine Skyy Infusions cherry vodka, Wild Turkey bourbon and cola in a cocktail shaker with ice and stir. Pour into a double rocks glass and garnish with maraschino cherry.


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!
Blog Widget by LinkWithin

Ratings and Recommendations by outbrain