Behind the scenes of the demolition – the original (1907) fireplace
Paul is currently remodeling our front living area (where the new fireplace is). One of the features that we are keeping – apart from using the century-old bricks from the original fireplace – is the mantle that was on the fireplace. We don’t know if the mantle was original to the house or if it was added during a later remodel.
Looking at the mantle straight on, you’d never know there was anything “wrong” with it.
I’ve always loved this song – this is without a doubt one of the loveliest versions of it that I have ever heard:
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That’s Jean Louisa Kelly from the wonderful movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus“.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
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There’s a little football game going on today, so I thought I would share some funny football jokes:
An NFL team had just finished their daily practice session when a large turkey came strutting onto the field. While the players gazed in amazement, the turkey walked up to the head coach and demanded to be given a chance to play at tight end.
Everyone stared in silence as the turkey caught pass after pass and ran right through the defensive line. When the turkey returned to the sidelines, the coach shouted, ‘You’re superb. Sign up for the season, and I’ll see to it that you get a huge bonus.’
‘Forget the bonus,’ replied the turkey, ‘What I want to know is, does your season go past Thanksgiving Day?’
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There’s a little football game going on tomorrow, and the fans of one team have taken to calling themselves “The 12th Man”.
Fine.
They can call themselves that all that they want, but they will never be THE 12th Man – that tradition was started long ago at a little cow college in Texas.
That “little” college has grown over the years to become one of the largest universities in the country, but the spirit of her fans has never quit. And to signify their willingness to be there for their football team, the students stand at all times – and in all kinds of weather – during home games, to embody the spirit of what E. King Gill did back in 1922.
With the big game coming up on Sunday, I thought I would share a yummy “party food” recipe that’s bound to be a hit with any crowd – if it ever makes it to the party 😛
I found this recipe in the newspaper while visiting family one Christmas, and made a few adjustments to fit our family’s tastes. I substituted raspberry-chipotle sauce for adobo sauce, and really liked the sweet and slightly spicy (but not too spicy!) zing that it added.
You may have to double – or triple – this recipe so that you don’t run out:
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Nonstick cooking spray (or bacon drippings/grease)
Parchment paper
Rolling pin
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 T raspberry-chipotle sauce (or adobo sauce from can of chipotle chilies)
1 cup pistachios or pepitas (or 1/2 cup of both)
1/2 cup roasted peanuts
1/2 cups roasted cashews
4 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
1) Spray 2 large baking-sheet size pieces of parchment paper with non-stick cooking spray (or coat with leftover bacon grease); lay one piece flat on countertop, set other piece aside for use later.
2) Combine sugar and water over high heat, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Continue cooking, unstirred, until sugar reaches a golden syrup-like color, approximately 4-6 minutes.
3) Cook an additional 1-2 minutes while gently swirling pan over heat until sugar reaches a darker color. (Koch’s note: There is a fine line between slightly dark, a little bit darker, and “Oh, sh** – what did I just do?” – monitor your mixture carefully 😛 )
4) Remove pan from heat.
5) Stir in bacon and nuts to coat (you can warm the nuts in the microwave to give you a little additional “working” time).
6) Stir in raspberry-chipotle (or adobo) sauce and mix well.
7) Pour brittle mixture onto piece of coated parchment paper. Place other piece of parchment paper, coated side down, on top of mixture.
8) While brittle is still warm, use rolling pin to flatten out into uniform layer.
9) Let brittle cool completely; break into pieces. Can be stored in airtight container or given as gifts.
Enjoy!
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Tonight is the annual State of the Union address – today I thought I’d include a few “Presidential” songs. Even though no official music is played at these addresses, I wanted to mark the occasion. Since most of us will never attend any events where this music might be played, I thought it would be nice to give these songs some air time. They’re not very long, but they’re pretty cool.
The group is the U.S. Army Band – also known as “Pershing’s Own“; I hope you like these selections!
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Every once in a while, The Thing That Will Not Die rears its ugly head:
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Continue reading
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Well, I went playing on YouTube again, and this time I ran across several versions of one of my favorite orchestral pieces, George Gershwin’s quintessentially classic American composition, “Rhapsody in Blue“.
I’m used to the big symphonic version – it’s the one that most people are familiar with – but a few weeks ago, I ran across an amazing Big Band arrangement that brought a big smile to my face. And yesterday, I ran across the “original” jazz band version, which I found I like very, very much.
The complete piece is 16 minutes long, so if you don’t have time, don’t feel that you have to listen to all three; you might want to sample a bit of each one and come back to them later when you have more time. I think you will probably find that, like me, you end up enjoying all three of them on their own merits.
When I was growing up, my dad liked the Kraft Spaghetti that came in a box. The box contained spaghetti noodles, a spice packet, and a packet of Kraft Parmesan Cheese. You had to add your own tomato paste and anything extra that you wanted in your sauce (Mom would brown some hamburger meat and add to it).
I never knew anything else.
When I became a young bride, I tried out my limited culinary repertoire on my new husband. Paul had never had “box” spaghetti; the one time that I made it for him, he was NOT impressed. I had just landed the man – I wasn’t about to lose him over something as simple as spaghetti! So, I set out to find a recipe that he might like.
Many years ago, when the girls were much younger, I ran across a wonderful book called “Many Moons” by James Thurber. It is the story of a young princess who falls ill one day after a “surfeit of raspberry tarts”. The Royal Physician sends for her father the King, who tells her that he will get her anything that her heart desires. The princess tells the King that if she can have the moon, “I will be well again”.
The Fat Lady Has Sung
Koch's Tour 