Category: Points of interest

Did You Know?

OF COURSE, DO NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR THESE FACTS. READ AND CHECK IT OUT YOURSELF!!!

  • 66% of home based businesses are owned by women.
  • Insulating your attic reduces the amount of energy loss in most houses by up to 20%
  • President George W. Bush is related to all other U.S. Presidents!
  • Rain contains vitamin B12
  • Real diamonds can be made from peanut butter!
  • Rubber is one of the ingredients in bubble gum.
  • Sound at the right vibration can bore holes through a solid object.
  • The average person walks the equivalent of twice around the world in a lifetime
  • The largest diamond ever found was an astounding 3,106 carats!
  • You can tape a small mirror onto a cone speaker, play music and shine a laser on to the mirror and the reflection will look like a laser light show on your wall.

See the source image

See the source image

See the source image

Laugh a Little

Spinach Gratin

Spinach Gratin

Serves: 8-10
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 47 min

Ingredients

Gratin

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 medium-sized yellow onions, chopped
  • 1/4 cup unbleached flour
  • 3 cups organic whole milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 pinch of cayenne
  • 1 1/2 cups grated Gruyere cheese
  • 3 16 oz. bags of organic, chopped spinach – thawed
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (up to 1 teaspoon)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper (up to 1/2 teaspoon)

Panko topping

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 pinch sea salt, to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Squeeze the liquid from the thawed spinach, handful by handful. Set aside.
  3. Heat milk to simmer in saucepan.
  4. Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed pot. Add onions and cook until wilted but not browned, about 10 minutes. Add the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the hot milk and whisk the sauce until it thickens. Add the nutmeg and cayenne. Turn off the heat.
  5. Stir in the cheese and season with salt and pepper. Taste and correct seasoning. Add the spinach and mix in well.
  6. Pour into a 9X11 glass or ceramic baking dish. Prepare crumb topping.
  7. Melt butter in medium skillet. Add panko, sprinkle with sea salt and stir until lightly toasted. This occurs quite suddenly.
  8. Gently smooth the toasted panko on top of the gratin. Cook for 30-35 minutes until bubbling.

https://food52.com/recipes/3597-spinach-gratin

Tip

Walking in a scary dark area at night? download a police scanner app for your phone and listen to it on full volume Actual Advice Mallard

Soup/Homemade Chicken No-Noodle Soup

how to make chicken soup

 

Ingredients

    • 1 whole chicken
    • 1/4 cup white vinegar
    • 1 large yellow onion, peeled and chopped
    • 2 large carrots, washed and chopped
    • 2 celery stalks, chopped
    • 1/2 tsp whole peppercorns
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 5 cloves garlic, peeled
    • 2 tsp salt, divided
    • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
    • 2 spring onion bulbs

Directions

  1. Cut the chicken into 4 pieces, cutting first in half along one side of the spine and then cutting off the thighs. Place the pieces in a large pot and cover with cold water. Turn the heat to high.
  2. Add one carrot, one celery stalk, the onion, peppercorns, bay leaves, and garlic to the pot, along with one teaspoon of salt. Once the water boils, turn the heat to simmer and cover. Cook for 90 minutes.
  3. Remove the pieces of chicken to a cutting board and allow to cool enough to handle. Strain the liquid from the pot into a large bowl using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer.
  4. Place the strained stock back into the pot and add the remaining celery, carrot, and green onion. Add the remaining teaspoon of salt and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to simmer for 12-15 minutes until the carrots are tender.
  5. While the strained broth is simmering, remove the chicken skin and shred the meat. Return the shredded meat to the pot. Remove the pot from heat and add parsley. Cover and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Baked Italian Style Fish

BAKED FISH ITALIAN STYLE
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced (or 1 cup canned)
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 tbsp. sliced green onions
2 tbsp. minced fresh parsley
salt and pepper, to taste
4 trout (or other fish fillet)
4 tbsp. fine dry Italian style bread crumbs
lemon wedges
Oil or spray a shallow baking dish with olive oil non-stick spray. Add sliced mushrooms, onions, 1 tablespoon of parsley and garlic. Arrange fish in dish. Season lightly with salt and pepper; brush with olive oil and dot with a tablespoon of butter. Melt remaining butter and toss with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over fish. Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes, or until fish is tender, opaque and flaky and crumbs are lightly golden. Sprinkle with remaining parsley. Sprinkle with parsley, and garnish with lemon wedges.
Makes about 4 servings. Submitted by: CM

Laugh a Little

Tip

When microwaving pizza put a glass of water in with it It will keep the pizza from getting spongey - When microwaving pizza put a glass of water in with it It will keep the pizza from getting spongey Actual Advice Mallard