Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food

30 June 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

29 June 2010

Cake Tuesday: Shenandoah Apple Cake

*** Enjoy an easy to make old-fashioned cake with links to 2 more similar recipes!




This is an apple and pear cake with the link to the recipe after the post


From Denny: Apple cake is one of those first cakes a beginner baker learns to make because it is so tasty for breakfast, a weekend brunch or an afternoon snack with a cup of coffee or tea. At our house we like fruit desserts like fruit pies and fruit cakes.

Also, on the health side, when you eat fruit in a sugary dessert the fruit helps minimize the effects of sugar causing that roller coaster ride for the blood sugar that can leave you depleted of energy a few hours later. So, if you like sweets - but have some issues breaking away from too much sugar in your diet - this fruit in a sugary dessert helps you work your way out of it. If you don't have any issues with too much sugar in your diet, just enjoy! :)

When I make apple cake in the summer I like to add 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg to the cinnamon. When I make this cake in the fall I add 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves to the cinnamon. Nutmeg is lighter and fresher to the senses just perfect for the spring and summer. Cloves as a spice is mysterious and warm in sensation.

It is an extremely strong spice so don't add more as the spice can take over the flavor of a dish. Using cloves as a background hint does wonders for more than baked goods. I use it in marinara and spaghetti sauces and even when I make oatmeal for breakfast. Here in Louisiana we use ground cloves in our seafood boil seasonings too. There is more to the clove spice than just studded in the fat to bake a ham! It's sweetness is versatile when used with a very light hand.

In my ongoing effort to promote small business over Big Business I'm featuring this Virgina bed and breakfast inn today. Considering that the Fourth of July is this weekend, what could be more patriotic than to remember the earliest history of America? This inn dates back to 1740! It once stood on the American frontier and has been restored to 12 guest rooms for gracious comfortable country living.





Restored inn from Colonial times on the Shenandoah River in Virginia

From the website of The Inn at Narrow Passage: Our historic 1740 Shenandoah Valley bed and breakfast is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty and history of the Valley of this special location between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Alleghenies.

Once a haven against Indian attacks on the Virginia frontier and later Stonewall Jackson’s headquarters during the Valley Campaign of 1862, our Shenandoah Valley inn now welcomes travelers looking for comfortable lodging and friendly hospitality.

On Route 11 (the Old Valley Turnpike), only two miles from Interstate 81 at Woodstock, our Virginia Bed & Breakfast inn has a real country atmosphere. We are located five private acres along the Shenandoah River. The Inn offers 12 guest rooms, a well-equipped meeting room for small executive retreats, many common areas, and lovely grounds to host your wedding.

*** Recognized for "Excellence in Preservation 2007" by the Shenandoah Preservation League

*** Selected by National Geographic Traveler as one of 150 hotels and inns in North America that "Celebrate their Sense of Place" (April, 2008)






This is an apple and pear cake with the link to the recipe after the post



Shenandoah Apple Cake

The Inn at Narrow Passage
Ellen and Ed Markel, owners and innkeepers
50 Chapman Landing Road (P.O. Box 608)
Woodstock, Virginia 22664

Email: innkeeper@narrowpassage.com
Phone: 540-459-8000 ~ Toll Free: 800-459-8002


Shenandoah Apple Cake

Ingredients:

5 apples, pared, cored, and thinly sliced
5 tbsp. granulated sugar
2 tbsp. cinnamon
4 eggs
2 c.sugar
3 c. flour
1 c. oil
3 tsp. baking powder
2 + 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Juice of one orange (1/4 c.)

Directions:

Mix first three ingredients together and set aside.

Beat eggs with sugar, add oil, flour, baking powder, vanilla, and orange juice.
Beginning with batter, alternate layers in a greased and floured ring pan, ending with batter.

Save some apples to decorate the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hr. and 10 min. Cool on a wire rack and remove from pan. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar before serving, if desired.


*** See Also from Smitten Kitchen: Mom's Apple Cake

*** See Also: Here's what you do when you only have 2 apples and some pears to make the same cake, go here.

*** See Also: Muffin Monday and Cake Tuesday recipe links

*** Photo of apple and pear cake by joyocity @ 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

28 June 2010

Muffin Monday: Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins

*** Chocolate and cheese together in one muffin. Does Life get any better?




From Denny: This muffin is a star any time of day. It has sweet goodness, chocolate awesome and the protein of cheese. Color me into the breakfast corner with this winner! :) And its versatile: For this muffin you can use ricotta cheese or small curd cottage cheese if the ricotta is not easily available.

It's been fun to explore the bed and breakfast inns behind these recipes. Each one is a surprise from the last one visited. I've been thinking about how to help the economy with blogging about these inns. Muffin Monday is quickly becoming a brain child for stimulating and growing our economy. By promoting these bed and breakfast inns, who are small businesses, we can help our economy because it keeps jobs here. Small business is the engine upon which the economy has traditionally run. Keep them strong, rejecting the big businesses whenever possible, and we can restore our healthy economy.

Just because the politicians have sold out to Big Business does not mean the regular American has to follow their wrong lead. So, next time you are traveling for business or pleasure, take a little time and find a bed and breakfast inn instead of the usual hotel. The prices are comparable, many times they are a better buy. And it certainly is a more sociable and welcoming atmosphere than the usual impersonal hotels. Try a little social consciousness along with a great recipe! :)

This innkeeper has a sense of humor and names their rooms: The Hide N Seek, The Spelling Bee, The Graduate, The Honor Roll, The Schoolmaster, The Schoolmarm, Miss Edna's, The Prose, Dick & Jane's, The Show 'n' Tell, and, of course, Teacher's Pet.





From the website: Located in the quaint village of Rocheport, Missouri, the School House Bed and Breakfast Inn provides premium accommodations in a restored historic 1914 building that served as Rocheport's public school from 1914 to 1972.

The School House Bed + Breakfast has ten distinctive guest rooms, each decorated in beautiful antiques with luxury sheets, spa-quality linens, goose down duvets and featherbeds. Light from the large schoolhouse windows, covered with plantation shutters, softens shades of pinks and yellows and dramatically deepens bold plums and greens. Each room in the bed and breakfast is accented with a few reminders of the building's simple past. First- and second-floor rooms have 13-foot ceilings with original hardwood floors, eight-foot windows and ceiling fans.

The B + B's two secluded third-floor rooms, created from the school's original attic, have gothic doors and skylights for star gazing.


School House Bed & Breakfast Inn
504 Third Street (Third & Clark Streets)
Rocheport, Missouri 65279

Phone: (573) 698-2022
email: innkeeper@schoolhousebandb.com

'Stay in Class!' at the School House Bed and Breakfast in Rocheport, Missouri.



*** Remember to support small business in your area and when you travel. Why stay at a Big Business hotel as you travel when you can stay in a more home like atmosphere of a bed and breakfast inn? The prices are comparable, the people friendlier and your stay will be memorable.


Chocolate Cheesecake Muffins

From: School House Bed & Breakfast Inn

Yield: approximately 18 muffins

Ingredients:

2 1/3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup ricotta cheese (or small curd cottage cheese)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/3 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup canola oil
Cooking Spray


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin tins with cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, chips, cocoa, baking powder and salt.

In a medium bowl mix cheese with eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Whisk in milk and vanilla until blended. Fold cheese mixture and oil into flour mixture until just blended. Spoon approximately 1 cup batter into each muffin cup.

Bake 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans immediately and cool on a wire rack. These are delicious and moist, like cheesecake.



*** More Muffin Monday recipes:

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

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

Muffin Monday: Sour Cream Walnut Cinnamon 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



*** Photo of Starbucks version of the chocolate cheese muffin by Kaunokainen @ 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

27 June 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

26 June 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

23 June 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!

22 June 2010

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

*** Two delicious chocolate fudge cake recipes for the price of one post! :)




Clever creatively photographed Chocolate fudge cake with fork impression by truth82 @ flickr


From Denny: Is this not a clever way to photograph your favorite slice of chocolate cake or what? It sure amused me so I just had to share it with you so you can get a grin too. I wasn't successful in finding a photo of this cake with coffee, toffee and fudge in it. These bed and breakfasts have yet to post photos to go with their recipes. People eat with their eyes first and if they post these delicious photos people will be booking rooms in speedy time!

Of course, the added bonus of searching a database is to find something else interesting that catches my eye. There it was, smiling back at me, this old recipe that pulled up the fondest memories of living in Atlanta, Georgia, when I used to bake these fun tunnel cakes. My other fav tunnel cake was the chocolate cake with a tunnel of cream coconut. That was a real OMG moment of explosion of perfect flavors.

For all my sugar-holic friends and blog fans out there in online land, these blow-out-the-calories sweet chocolate cakes are for you! When you bake one of these darlings, save a slice of chocolate goodness for me, done with great reverence - of course. And, then, think better of it to share - and instead woof it down in proper chocolate etiquette homage. :)


From London House Spa: With the Ottawa River at our door, our Country Inn guests can take time to relax beach side, walk through old growth forests on walking trails with beautiful perennial gardens that surround the spa and London House Inn.

Located just one hour west of Ottawa in the heart of the Ottawa Valley. Just minutes away from Renfrew, Pembroke, Cobden, Arnprior, Beachburg and Westmeath. The London House Spa offers professional treatments in a spectacular country setting.






London House Inn & Spa
P.O. Box 179
Beachburg, Ontario
K0J 1C0

Email: info@londonhouseinn.com



Coffee Toffee Fudge Cake


Ingredients:

7 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (200 g)
1/2 cup butter, cut in pieces (125 mL)
1/4 cup coffee liqueur (50 mL)
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules (15 mL)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (125 mL)
4 eggs, separated
2/3 cup all-purpose flour (150 mL)
1/4 teaspoon each salt and cream of tartar (1 mL)
1/4 cup granulated sugar (50 mL)
4 bars (each 39 g) milk chocolate-covered toffee, finely chopped

Chocolate Glaze

1/4 cup whipping cream (50 mL)
2 tablespoons coffee liqueur (25 mL)
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules (10 mL)
5 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (150 g)

Directions:

In saucepan, heat semisweet chocolate, butter, liqueur and coffee granules over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. Remove from heat; whisk in brown sugar until dissolved. Whisk in egg yolks, one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in flour in three additions; let cool for 5 minutes.

In bowl and using electric mixer, beat together egg whites, salt and cream of tartar until soft peaks form; gradually beat in granulated sugar until stiff peaks form. Whisk one-third into chocolate batter; fold in remaining egg whites. Gently fold in half of the chopped chocolate bars.

Pour into well-greased 8-inch (750 mL) round cake pan. Run knife through batter to remove air bubbles. Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven for 45 minutes or until top is firm to the touch and crust has formed. Let cool on rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool completely.

Chocolate Glaze: In small saucepan, bring cream, liqueur and coffee granules to boil over medium-high heat. Immediately stir in chocolate; remove from heat and whisk until smooth. Let cool to room temperature. Pour over cake, letting some drip down sides. Garnish with remaining chopped chocolate bar. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until glaze is set. (Cake can be covered and refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 1 week.)







Tunnel of Fudge Cake by hfb @ flickr




Tunnel of Fudge Cake

Serves: 16
Prep Time: 35 min (Ready in 4 hr 30 min )
From: Pillsbury

Cake:

1 3/4 cups or 4.2dl sugar
3,5 sticks or 400g margarine or butter, softened
6 eggs
2 cups or 4.75dl powdered sugar
2 1/4 cups or 5.5dl all-purpose flour
3/4 cup or 1.75dl unsweetened cocoa
2 cups or 4.75dl chopped walnuts (NOT optional)
Glaze:
3/4 cup or 1.75dl powdered sugar
1/4 cup or 3/4dl unsweetened cocoa
4 to 6 teaspoons milk


Directions:

Heat oven to 350F/190C. Grease and flour 12-cup/28dl Bundt® pan or 10-inch/25cm tube pan. In large bowl, combine sugar and margarine; beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar; blend well. By hand, stir in flour and remaining cake ingredients until well blended. Spoon batter into greased and floured pan; spread evenly.

Bake at 350F/190C. for 45 to 50 minutes or until top is set and edges are beginning to pull away from sides of pan. (Since this cake has a soft filling, an ordinary doneness test cannot be used. Accurate oven temperature and baking times are essential.) Cool upright in pan on wire rack 1 1/2 hours. Invert onto serving plate; cool at least 2 hours.

In small bowl, combine all glaze ingredients, adding enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Spoon over top of cake, allowing some to run down sides. Store tightly covered.


*** See Also: Cake Tuesday: Fresh Peach Coffee Cake



*** 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!

21 June 2010

Muffin Monday: Pina Colada Muffins

*** Have a little fun in your muffins today!





From Denny: Here's a fun little recipe from a bed and breakfast down in Florida. It includes coconut and pineapple for a sweet moist muffin of sheer delight. It's also very easy to make because it employs a yellow cake mix. If you don't have any rum extract you can easily substitute vanilla extract in its place.


*** Remember to support small business in your area and when you travel. Why stay at a Big Business hotel as you travel when you can stay in a more home like atmosphere of a bed and breakfast inn? The prices are comparable, the people friendlier and your stay will be memorable.


Pina Colada Muffins

From: Magnolia Plantation Bed & Breakfast Inn
309 SE 7th Street * Gainesville, Florida 32601

Email: info@magnoliabnb.com

Makes: 24 Medium muffins.

Ingredients:

1 lb box of yellow or butter cake mix
1 tsp. pure coconut extract
1 tsp. pure rum extract
1 cup flaked coconut
1/2-1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
8 oz. can crushed pineapple, undrained

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cake batter according to package directions. Add remaining ingredients and mix for 1 minute. (Do not over mix.)
Fill greased muffin cups 3/4 full and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool on wire racks.



*** Check out:

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

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



Muffin collage photo by _Nezemnaya_ @ 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!

20 June 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!

16 June 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!

15 June 2010

5 Tasty Sweet as Candy Chess Pie Recipes

*** Taste a slice of Heaven of the most divine pie recipes to thrill your sweet tooth!




Lemon Chess Pie Recipe and Photo by little blue hen @ flickr


From Denny: Chess pie is an old time favorite in the South just like apple pie is across the country. This is a simple pie like our great-grandmothers would have made. You still find it in Amish country.

This is a sweet pie as Southerners do like sweet desserts. It is so rich and intensely sweet that you might wonder if you are eating candy instead of a slice of pie. So, for the calorie conscious you might want to serve this pie in small servings.

The foundation of this pie is the simplicity of eggs, butter and sugar. From there the variations jump off to tasty delights. The history of the chess pie dates back to when farm wives and busy homemakers had to get a good meal on the table without complication. Early farm wives had to use what they had on hand in quantity and butter and eggs were their products. Over the years, the recipes they created were handed down for generations in the families.

How did the name of chess pie come to be? Food historians like John Egerton, author of "Southern Food," speculates the pie may have derived its name from a similar one that was a British cheese pie. Egerton wonders if the name came from the old pie safe or pie chest in which the pies were stored before today's refrigeration. Maybe it was originally named "chest pie" that over time slid into "chess pie."

From the Louisiana perspective and Southern slang, Jody Harper Waggenspack of Houma, Louisiana, claims the name came from Civil War days. The story goes that whenever someone asked the family cook what kind of pie they were serving the answer was, "It's 'jes' pie" which eventually became spelled as chess pie.

Recipes for this pie generally use one stick of butter, almost two cups of sugar, three eggs and some vinegar as their common ingredients. Remember that baking times and addition of other ingredients can create the difference in how the pies taste and look.

A few pointers for great chess pie:

* Always check your milk products by smelling and tasting to make sure they are not about to turn sour as that will ruin a pie taste and texture.

* Always use pure vanilla extract. Skip the imitation product as it just doesn't work well in most baking goods, especially a pie like this based on a custard filling. Custard fillings have a way of amplifying a flavor so if the taste isn't simply divine, the custard will scream it and ruin all your hard work.

* If you have the problem of your chess pie puffing up too fast and quite high, then your oven temperature may be too high.

* Make sure not to over beat your eggs for the filling. What can happen when you beat too much air into the eggs is that the filling can become grainy and unpleasant in texture.

* To get the best flavor and texture for your chess pie, partially pre-bake your pie shell. The reason for this is that because it is a custard pie you can't cook this pie as long as others like a fruit pie. Usually, for a custard pie it is baked just barely until set in the center but not soupy. As it cools the center will firm up.

*** And be sure to try out this recipe from the photographer of the photo: Lemon Chess Pie Recipe and Photo by little blue hen @ flickr

Enjoy these recipes from many Southern families and handed down for generations to this day.






Homestead Chess Pie

From: “Pie: 300 Tried-and-True Recipes for Delicious Homemade Pie” by Ken Haedrich, published by the Harvard Common Press, 2004.

Makes: 1 pie

From Ken: This recipe from the famed Homestead Restaurant in Lexington, Ky., first appeared in the Louisville Courier-Journal. The pie embodies the genius I so appreciate about chess pies: that so few simple ingredients can make such a wonderful pie. I really am crazy about this pie, which can be served warm, at room temperature, or slightly chilled. Note: The recipe calls for a refrigerated unbaked pie shell, but Haedrich says that he often partially prebakes his pie shell. (Directions follow). If the pie shell is partially prebaked, it would not be refrigerated. He uses cider vinegar but believes that white vinegar will probably work, too.


Ingredients:

1 pie shell, refrigerated
3 large eggs
1-1/2 cups sugar
7 tbls. salted or unsalted butter, softened
1 tbl. fine yellow cornmeal
1 tbl. vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla extract


Directions:

1. Place the pie shell in the freezer for 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, combine all the filling ingredients. Whisk well to mix thoroughly, then pour into the chilled pie shell.

3. Place the pie on the center oven rack and bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Rotate the pie 180 degrees about halfway through the baking, so that the part that faced the back of the oven now faces forward. When done, the top of the pie will be a rich golden brown.

4. Transfer the pie to a wire rack and let cool for at least 30 minutes.


Ken Haedrich’s method of prebaking a pie shell:

1. Freeze the shell first. Then put a sheet of aluminum foil in the inside and fill the pan with pie weights or dried beans.

2. Put the pie shell in a preheated 400-degree oven on the center rack for 15 minutes to set the crust.

3. Without removing the pie, pull out the oven rack and gently lift the aluminum foil sheet and the pie weights. Take a fork and prick the pastry all over the bottom, seven or eight times, moving the fork to make the pricks a little bigger.

4. Lower the temperature to 375 degrees and continue to bake the shell for 10 to 12 minutes for a partially prebaked pie shell or 15 to 17 minutes for a fully prebaked pie shell.

5. Use the back of the spoon to gently press down any part of the shell that has puffed up.





Dussie’s Chess Pie


Makes: 1 pie.

From: Jody Harper Waggenspack of Houma, Louisiana. Dussie was her mother and this was her recipe.


Ingredients:

1/4 lb. real butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 tbls. mild vinegar
2 tsps. cornmeal
3 whole eggs
1 (9-inch) unbaked deep-dish pie shell


Directions:

1. In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter slowly. Add sugar. Remove from heat and cool.

2. Add vinegar and cornmeal.

3. Beat the eggs slightly and add to butter mixture.

4. Pour into an unbaked pie shell and bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 275 degrees and continue to bake until filling shakes slightly and is a little brown. Don’t overcook.






Chess Pie

From: Jane Winfree Flowers

Makes: 2 pies or 1 (9 x 13-inch) pie to cut into squares. Recipe is from Jane Winfree Flowers. Her mother, the late Winnie Winfree, got the recipe from the late Mary Lil Ford. “This pie has been such a staple in our home,” Flowers said.

Ingredients:

2 sticks butter
3 cups sugar
1 tbl. flour
2 tbls. white vinegar
1 tbl. water
6 large eggs
1 tbl. vanilla
2 (9-inch) unbaked, deep-dish pie shells or 1 (9x 13-inch pan) with pastry on bottom and sides


Directions:

1. In a saucepan over low heat, melt butter and add sugar, flour, vinegar and water. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar is somewhat dissolved and not so granular. Cool.

2. Beat eggs well until yellow but not foamy. Combine with cooled butter mixture. Add vanilla and blend well.

3. Pour into two unbaked pie shells or into the (9 x 13-inch) baking dish. Bake in a preheated 425-degree oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes. Cool before cutting.





Sally’s Chess Pie

From: Sally James

Makes: 1 pie. Recipe is from Sally James, given to her by her grandmother, the late Jean Curet.

Ingredients:

3 whole eggs
3/4 stick butter, melted, not hot
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbl. cornmeal
1 tbl. vinegar
1 (9-inch) unbaked deep-dish pie shell


Directions:

1. Mix eggs, butter, sugar, vanilla, cornmeal and vinegar in the order given. Pour into unbaked pie shell.

2. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and set in the middle.



*** 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!

14 June 2010

Muffin Monday: 3 Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipes

*** Enjoy 3 quick and easy recipes for chocolate and coffee all wrapped up and baked into the goodness of a muffin.





From Denny: Muffin Monday just seemed like a natural when writing about food. What a great way to start off our work week! I wanted to see what the Bed and Breakfast Inns around America offered up in the way of muffin delights and found a real treasure trove.

If you happen to live in the area of this inn, or will be traveling there soon, you can check it out. Whenever I travel I like to check the menus of the hotel, inn or local restaurants and plan my excursions around the local food. The local cuisine is half the learning experience when traveling and tells you so much about the culture.

I found the last two recipes while researching a Creative Commons usable photo from Flickr. My fellow photographers definitely like to eat well and enjoy posting many of their favorite recipes. Whenever I get lucky and run across them I try to post those recipes as so many of them are fabulous. Enjoy baking!


*** Remember to support small business in your area and when you travel. Why stay at a Big Business hotel as you travel when you can stay in a more home like atmosphere of a bed and breakfast inn? The prices are comparable, the people friendlier and your stay will be memorable.


Cappuccino Chocolate Chip Muffins

From: Deacon Timothy Pratt Bed and Breakfast Inn c.1746
325 Main Street
Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475



Email: betterbedbreakfast@pratthouse.net



Ingredients:

6 T. butter, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cup unsifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 T. Instant Coffee
2 T. coffee flavored liquor (optional)
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 6-muffin pan. In large bowl, beat on medium speed: butter and sugar till light
and fluffy. Beat in egg, vanilla, disolve coffee granuules, and coffee liquor until blended.

In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternating with
milk, beating just until combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Divide batter among muffin-pan cups.

Bake 25-30 minutes or until centers spring back when lightly pressed. Serve warm.







William Shatner’s Cappuccino Chip Muffins

From: William Shatner, star of the Star Trek TV and movie series

Makes: 8-12 muffins (when you fill the tins up to the top you will get 8.)

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg (room temp)
1 cup milk (room temp)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips or equivalent of other chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with flour-added cooking spray. For bigger muffins, spray 8 of the cups.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, espresso powder, cinnamon and salt.

In a medium bowl, whisk egg lightly. Whisk in milk, melted butter and vanilla extract. Make a well in center of dry ingredients and pour in milk mixture. Stir just until evenly blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

Divide batter among 12 or 8 greased muffin cups. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in center of muffin comes out clean.






Cappuccino Muffins

From: Taste of Home magazine

Ingredients:

Spread (filling)

* 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
* 1 tablespoon sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Muffins

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup milk
* 2 tablespoons instant coffee granules
* 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
* 1 egg, beaten
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips


Directions:

In a food processor (or using a hand mixer), combine the spread ingredients, cover and process until well blended.

Cover and refrigerate until serving.

For the muffins: In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. In another bowl, stir milk and coffee granules until coffee is dissolved.

Add butter, egg and vanilla; mix well.

Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

Fold in chocolate chips.

Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full (Sprinkle with raw sugar...)


Bake at 375°F for 17-20 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
I used 2tsp of expresso powder instead of the instant coffee and mixed it with the milk to dissolve, added a few extra shakes of cinnamon and extra choc chips. I also overflowed the vanilla flavoring, I baked at 370 for 18-19 mins … made 17 muffins. Very moist and delicious!

Serve with espresso spread.


*** Check out the origin of Muffin Monday recipes: American Revolt: How You Can Break Big Business, Big Banks, Big Insurance, Big Oil, Big Lobbyists

*** Photo by Laura HB @ 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!

13 June 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!
Blog Widget by LinkWithin

Ratings and Recommendations by outbrain

Photobucket