Marshall, Will, and Holly, on a routine expedition . . .

When I was a kid my favorite Saturday morning television show was the groovy Land of the Lost.  True the special effects weren't all that special or believable, but it was engaging all the same.  Especially scary was in the opening sequence went the tyrannosaurus rex's puppet mouth came at the scream in a roar.   

The lizard-man sleestak were really creepy . . . with their camel toe fingers and exaggerated breathing . . . pretty frightening for an impressionable youngster.  This, of course, was before horribly graphic video games and violent TV shows.  Now could have totally done without the little cave-dude Cha-ka . . . he was just annoying  but I loved the "pet" baby dinosaur dubbed Dopey cuz he was so cute.

For those of you who may have lived in a cave during the mid-70's . . . The premise of the show is that Rick Marshall (the dad) is a park ranger who takes his two kids, Will and Holly, on a rafting trip down a river. During the trip, an earthquake occurs which somehow opens up a rift in time, propelling the Marshalls into a land populated by dinosaurs, ape-men, and the dreaded Sleestak.

It wasn't particularly realistic, there was no intense drama . . . it was just good clean Saturday morning fun.  It went well with a bowl of Cheereos and sliced banana.

Firewater Friday - Jealousy is all the fun you think they had

It’s not easy being green . . . or so Kermit says.  It’s even harder when you’re struggling with the green-eyed monster who feasts on the flesh of jealousy.  Kermit doesn’t seem like the jealous type . . . perhaps he was green with envy.

Why is green the representative color of such fierce emotions.

Shakespeare told of the green-eyed monster in Othello “O! Beware my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-ey’d monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on”

 . . . and again in The Merchant of Venice.   "How all the other passions fleet to air, as doubtful thoughts and rash embraced despair and shuddering fear and green-eyed jealousy!"

Shakespeare, however, did not make the first association with the color.  That goes back much, much further.

Sappho, a seventh century B.C. poetess Sappho uses the color to describe the face of a stricken lover. After that, the word was used freely by other poets to denote jealousy or envy.

My eyes are dead to light, my ears

pound, and sweat pours over me.
I convulse, greener than grass . . .

The Greeks who believed that jealousy was accompanied by an overproduction of bile.  The bodily fluids or "humors" were said to lend a yellowish-green tinge to he who was jealous.

You should note that I say “he who was jealous” . . . he.  That is because men have a stronger tendency towards jealousy than the fairer sex.  How do I know this?  It’s evolutionary, my dear Watson, evolutionary. 

It is a fact that males . . . not females . . . risk the possibility that their offspring could potentially be those of another . . . of a rival male.  Therefore men often suffer from “paternity insecurity" . . . the focus of jealousy is generally pointed directly the would-be (or could-be) physical infidelity of his chosen mate . . . whether real or imagined.

“Jealousy is that pain which a man feels from the apprehension that he is not equally beloved by the person whom he entirely loves”

  

There is no evidence that the tongue is connected to the brain

Speaking of tongues . . . one of the worst and most traumatic meals of my childhood was when my mom served us a beef tongue . . . there it was in front of us on a serving platter . . . a giant, nasty tongue.

Keep in mind that when my mom made a meal you ate whatever it was she made . . . no arguments . . . or you didn’t eat.  Or worse, you sat at the dinner table until you DID eat it no matter how long it took.   

I once lasted until well after midnight once when she served up a yucky dinner of liver and onions.  I eventually smothered bite size bits wretched congealed liver in cold mashed potatoes and pretty much swallowed all of the pieces whole.  Ugh.

So, you didn’t argue with mom when it came to food.  You ate it because she made it.  End of story.

Except this one time . . . she took one bite of that hideous lolling tongue and we got a reprieve.  Even she wouldn’t eat it. 

WOOT!

I don’t remember what we ate for dinner that night but it wasn’t that  . . . thing.

** No recipe for this one . . . 
          who wants to eat after seeing that??

Sterling Silver and Swarovski Crystal Tree of Life

The Tree of Life symbol meaning represents different qualities/virtues like wisdom, strength, protection, beauty, bounty and redemption. It is also considered to be the symbol of 'Creator'. The tree is associated with the Creator because it provides protection and supports abundant fruit production; thereby, generation. This analogy can also be used to describe the life of humans. We as humans develop 'roots' of our beliefs, 'branch out' by means of wisdom and the 'trunk' (mind & body) keeps them connected. The Tree of Life meaning as perceived in different faiths, belief systems and cultures, resonates with a simple and strong message of unity. The Tree of Life symbolizes that all forms of life are connected through a cosmic energy and that we as humans should live in harmony with rest of the living beings. 


 My Tree of Life pendants are between 2" to 2 1/2" in diameter. Each piece is unique and varies with each design. Materials and handwork dictate the price. Custom orders are welcome - request your leaf type (glass bead, crystal, natural stone, etc. and favorite color(s). Chains are sold separately. 


If you're interested in buying one, visit my website or email me directly.

The tongue is the only tool that gets sharper with use.

Can you do this . . . roll your tongue into a tube?  I can / hubby can't . . . but it's fun to watch him try.  But even though I can roll my tongue into a tube I can't fold it . . . 


It's amazing the amount of research that has gone into find out why some people can and why some people can't roll their tongues into a tube. It was thought that tongue-rolling was a dominant genetic trait.  For decades, it has been thought to be a hereditary; if the child can do it then one of the parents will also be able to do it.  That's been debunked.  Is it genetic? Is there any reason for us to care?  

Is a tongue-roller able to do something . . . other than the obvious . . . that makes them better than a non-tongue-roller?  Is there an evolutionary advantage?  Maybe tongue rolling was important in our ancestors for eating, drinking or speaking.


Don't exert too much effort in attempting to fold your tongue. A lot of people can't and never will be able to.  Repeatedly attempting the exercise may cause your mouth to ache. 

The point is . . .  aren't there more important scientific expeditions to embark on?   Really?

Cher’s Unbelievable Yummy Bacon Beer Dutch Oven Pot Roast

Everything tastes better with bacon, right?  How about a roast cooked with bacon in beer that makes rich gravy to die for . . . mmmm, life is good!

5 Pound Pot Roast

1 Can of Beer

4 Potatoes

4 Cloves Garlic

Seasoned Salt

6-8 Slices Bacon

4 Tbsp Corn Starch

1/2 Cup Cold Water

Let the roast sit out to bring it up to room temperature.  Rub with the seasoned salt – I prefer TonyChachere Original Creole Spice, but you can use whatever you like – and place in the dutch oven (or heavy pan). 

Fry the bacon in a separate pan until crisp, reserving the fat.  Pour 3 or 4 tablespoons of the hot bacon fat over the roast.  Place the bacon on top of the roast.

Add one can of beer to the dutch oven.

Turn the stove to high just until the dutch oven warms up . . . just a few minutes . . . and then turn down to the lowest temperature.  Cover and let it cook for about 3 hours, turning occasionally

Peel and cut potatoes into quarters and put into the pot.  Slice the garlic thin and add to the pot.  Make sure the potatoes and garlic are covered in the juices.

Cook for another hour or until potatoes are soft.  Then remove the roast and the potatoes from the pan. 

Mix the cornstarch in the cold water then whisk into the pan juices.   Add additional seasoning to gravy at this time.  I add a pinch of kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper.  Turn up the heat to medium and stir occasionally until thickened. 

Slice the roast while the gravy is thickening.  When gravy is done at the meat and the potatoes to the pan and coat with the gravy.  

As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it.

Polenta is an ancient food, predating even bread.   It is easy, inexpensive and versatile. 

 Originating as a humble peasant dish, polenta began as nothing more than porridge of wheat or bean flour and water. Since the introduction of maize to Europe, the primary ingredient is now corn.  Its modest beginnings as merely a stop gap to starvation have evolved into the classic comfort food it is today.

 Polenta can be served in place of bread with butter and cheese, as a side dish to a meat dish, or as a main dish replacement for pasta.  It’s excellent as a leftover when it’s fried in butter and smothered in cheese. 

Polenta went from a lowly dish of the poor to an important staple. Its simplicity, texture and flavor make it a favorite of mine . . . one that I don’t make often enough.

Easy Polenta with Sausage & Tomato Sauce 

2 Cups Milk

2 Cups Chicken Stock

1 Cup Yellow Cornmeal

1 Cup Parmesan Cheese

2 Cups Spaghetti Sauce 

1lb Sausage Meat, Browned

1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch square baking dish.


In a large pot, combine the milk and chicken stock. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When it is at a rolling boil, gradually whisk in the cornmeal, making sure there are no lumps. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring constantly until thick, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese.


Pour the polenta into the prepared baking dish.  Top with sausage, spread spaghetti sauce and add cheese.


Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until sauce is bubbling.



Note:  Although it tasted good, I don't think mine came out right.  It's supposed to be a firm texture, mine was kind of mushy.  I'm not sure what I did wrong.