Bacon...Enough Said

I am by no means a lover of bacon, but recently I have been a little obsessed about it, and I am not sure why. I normally don’t have bacon in the house, don’t like the grease spatter when you cook it, or the clean up after it’s done, but love the taste and love the smell even more.

 The last time I went crazy with bacon, it didn’t last too long, and my boys were quite upset…they love bacon! But they did get to try our bacon brownies, and have been asking me to make them ever since. There is nothing like the salty taste of bacon and the sweet chocolaty awesomeness of a brownie.

OK so on to my new quest of what else I can do with bacon, and can I challenge myself to have something with bacon for every course, like the television show Iron Chef….Lets see.....

So far the dessert is covered, now on to the appetizer.

For an appetizer I chose bacon wrapped water chestnuts, I would have preferred scallops, but where everyone is trying to save money, I went with the water chestnuts, my version of poor man’s bacon wrapped scallops.

Then I found this great idea for a salad…where else but the Internet and made bacon cups that I promptly filled with lettuce and cherry tomatoes and topped with a ranch dressing…like a BLT’s without the bread.

Onto the main course. I decided to make something that is a hit with my boys, spinach and bacon carbonara.

Cannot forget a drink hmmmmm…..the kids will be having a maple bacon frappe (or milkshake as the call it almost everywhere but New England, or a cabinet if you live in Rhode Island) and the adults will be having a chocolate bacon martini

***all recipes are just a scroll away***

Bacon Brownies

The recipe is easy…box of your favorite brownie mix, some cooked and crumbled bacon, mix the brownie mix according to directions, pour half of the mix in pan top with crumbled bacon, and then remaining brownie mix and bake according to package directions. YUMMY!

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

1 lb sliced bacon

2- 8oz cans whole water chestnuts, drained

½ c brown sugar

½ c mayonnaise

¼ c chili sauce

Cut bacon strips in half. Cook bacon until almost crisp. Wrap each bacon piece around a water chestnut and secure with a toothpick. Place in an un-greased 13X9 baking dish.

Combine the brown sugar, mayonnaise, and chili sauce: pour over water chestnuts. Bake uncovered @ 350^ for 30 min.

Bacon Cups

Flip a large muffin tin over and cover with aluminum foil, the larger the muffin tin the better ( I used a popover pan). 

Wrap the bacon around the muffin tin in a basket weave and use at least 2 pieces for the sides and 2 pieces for the top.

Set the muffin tin on top of another pan (to catch the drippings, unless you want the smoke detector to go off) and bake at ^400 for approximately 30 min or until bacon is crisp, but not burnt.

Let cool and then carefully remove bacon cups from foil.

Fill with lettuce ( I used arugula) and cherry or grape tomatoes sliced in half.

Top with dressing of your choice just before serving ( I used a ranch dressing)

Spinach Carbonara

1/2 lb bacon, cut into ½ in chunks

1 lb spinach fettuccine or regular fettuccine

1 whole egg, plus 2 egg yolks, at room temp

1 c grated Parmesan

2 t black pepper

2 c baby spinach leaves

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over med heat, and salt generously.

Cook bacon until crisp

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, whisk the egg and the yolks, 1 c cheese and pepper together in a small bowl.

When pasta is ready, return the skillet with bacon to med heat. Using a ladle, slowly whisk ½ c pasta cooking water into the egg and cheese mixture until loosened. Reserve some additional cooking water. Drain the pasta and add to skillet.

While tossing, slowly drizzle egg mixture over pasta until completely coated. Add more cooking water if pasta seems dry. Add the spinach leaves to the pan and toss until combined.

Chocolate Bacon Martini

Bacon infused vodka

Godiva chocolate liquor

Splash of cream

Amounts are up to your tastes!

Maple Bacon Frappe

Vanilla Ice cream

2 T Maple syrup (the real stuff)

Cooked crumbled bacon

Milk

Put ice cream, milk, maple syrup, (1 T of the bacon fat if desired) and some crumbled bacon into blender, blend until smooth, adding milk as desired. I never measure the amounts of milk or ice cream; I just eyeball it to my liking. Serve with crumbled bacon on top.

I know this...In My Life..."Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon"~ Doug Larson

It's All About the Cats

I have had pets all my life. As a child we had cats, kittens, dogs, and chickens. (hey that rhymes)

Some of us are cat people and some are dog people, I am both, although currently I only have the dogs, but I do enjoy cats.

I am amazed at the difference between cats and dogs. Most cats are very independent, and do not want to be bothered, they will seek you when they want attention. Most dogs feel that they need to be by your side at all times, (apparently for your own good) and do not like to be left alone for any extended period of time.

I have gotten these email joke several times and every time they give me a good laugh, they pretty much sum up the life of a cat. If you have never seen these before I hope you enjoy a chuckle or two.

How to give a cat a pill...

1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm, as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat’s mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop in the pill. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor, and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3. Retrieve cat from bedroom and throw away soggy pill.

4. Take new pill from foil wrapper. Cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force open the jaws and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl, and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees. Hold front and rear paws, ignoring low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand, while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat’s throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, and get another pill from foil wrapper. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth, and set aside for gluing later.

8. Wrap cat in large towel, and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force cat’s mouth open with pencil, and blow down straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill is not harmful to humans. Drink one beer to take away taste of pill. Apply Band-Aid to spouse’s forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10. Retrieve cat from neighbor’s shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage, and replace cupboard door on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of Scotch. Pour shot and drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check medical records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw away tee-shirt and fetch another one from bedroom.

12. Call fire department to retrieve the cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbour who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrapper.

13. Tie the little sob's front paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table. Fetch heavy duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth, followed by large piece of fillet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour two pints of water down throat to wash down pill.

14. Consume remainder of Scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room. Sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm, and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call in at furniture shop on the way home, to order new dining table.

15. Place “Free Mutant Cat from Hell” ad in local newspaper and ring local pet shop to see if they have any bunnies.

How to Give a Dog a Pill

1. Wrap it in bacon.

Excerpts from a Cat's diary:

DAY 752 - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and

the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another house plant. 

DAY 761 - Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair...must try this on their bed. 

DAY 765 - Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a

good little cat I was...Hmmm. Not working according to plan.

DAY 768 - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamy chemical called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a

liquid? My only consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.

DAY 771 - There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise. More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage. 

DAY 774 - I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured. But I can wait; it is only a matter of time......



I know this...In My Life a little laughter goes a long way

Thinking about....Molasses

I bet most of us that are reading this have a jar of molasses in their cupboard. But have any of us ever really thought about what it is? Here's the definition I found:
Molasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar cane, grapes or sugar beets into sugar. The quality of molasses depends on the maturity of the sugar cane or sugar beet, the amount of sugar extracted, and the method of extraction. 

I have made many a Christmas cookie with molasses, or baked beans, but molasses is also good for other things you may not have known about. 

Blackstrap molasses is a sweetener that is actually good for you. Unlike refined white sugar and corn syrup (stripped of virtually all nutrients except simple carbohydrates) or artificial sweeteners like saccharine or aspartame, blackstrap molasses is a healthful sweetener that contains significant amounts of a variety of minerals that promote your health. The difference between regular molasses and blackstrap molasses is the leftover syrup from the second boiling is second molasses, and so on. The more boiling you have, the less sweet molasses becomes until you get down to three or more boilings. By this time, the molasses known as "blackstrap" has almost no sweetness, but the highest nutritional value.

Iron For Energy

In addition to providing quickly assimilated carbohydrates, blackstrap molasses can increase your energy by helping to replenish your iron stores. Blackstrap molasses is a very good source of iron.

Just 2 teaspoons of blackstrap molasses will sweetly provide you with 13.3% of the daily recommended value for iron.


A Spoonful of Molasses Helps Your Calcium Needs Go Down

Blackstrap molasses is a very good source of calcium. Calcium, one of the most important minerals in the body, is involved in a variety of physiological activities essential to life, including:

The ability of the heart and other muscles to contract.
Blood clotting.
The conduction of nerve impulses to and from the brain.
Regulation of enzyme activity.
Cell membrane function.
Calcium is needed to form and maintain strong bones and teeth during youth and adolescence.
Help prevent the loss of bone that can occur during menopause and as a result of rheumatoid arthritis.
Calcium binds to and removes toxins from the colon, thus reducing the risk of colon cancer.
Because it is involved in nerve conduction, may help prevent migraine attacks.

Two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses will meet 11.8% of your daily needs for calcium.

Molasses is also an excellent source of:
Copper
Manganese
Potassium
Magnesium
Copper, an essential component of many enzymes, plays a role in a wide range of physiological processes including:
Iron utilization
Elimination of free radicals
Development of bone and connective tissue
The production of the skin and hair pigment called melanin.

Numerous health problems can develop when copper intake is inadequate:

Iron deficiency anemia
Ruptured blood vessels
Osteoporosis
Joint problems such as rheumatoid arthritis
Brain disturbances
Elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol and reduced HDL (good) cholesterol levels
Irregular heartbeat
Increased susceptibility to infections.

Using two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses to sweeten your morning cereal and the coffee or tea you drink during the day will supply you with 14.0% of the daily recommended value for copper.

That same amount of blackstrap molasses will also provide you with 18.0% of the day’s needs for manganese. 


This trace mineral helps:
Produce energy from protein and carbohydrates
The synthesis of fatty acids that are important for a healthy nervous system and in the production of cholesterol that is used by the body to produce sex hormones.

Like calcium, potassium plays an important role in muscle contraction and nerve transmission. When potassium is deficient in the diet, activity of both muscles and nerves can become compromised. Potassium is an especially important mineral for athletes since it is involved in carbohydrate storage for use by muscles as fuel and is also important in maintaining the body’s proper electrolyte and acid-base (pH) balance.

When potassium levels drop too low, muscles get weak, and athletes tire more easily during exercise, as potassium deficiency causes a decrease in glycogen (the fuel used by exercising muscles) storage.

Simply by adding two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses to your morning smoothie, you can supply 9.7% of your potassium needs for the day along with a healthy dose of carbohydrates to burn.

Calcium’s balancing major mineral, magnesium is also necessary for healthy bones and energy production. About two-thirds of the magnesium in the human body is found in our bones. Some helps give bones their physical structure, while the rest is found on the surface of the bone where it is stored for the body to draw upon as needed.

Magnesium, by balancing calcium, helps regulate nerve and muscle tone. In many nerve cells, magnesium serves as Nature’s own calcium channel blocker, preventing calcium from rushing into the nerve cell and activating the nerve. By blocking calcium’s entry, magnesium keeps our nerves (and the blood vessels and muscles they enervate) relaxed.

If our diet provides us with too little magnesium, however, calcium can gain free entry, and the nerve cell can become over-activated, sending too many messages and causing excessive contraction. Insufficient magnesium can thus contribute to:

High blood pressure
Muscle spasms (including spasms of the heart muscle or the spasms of the airways symptomatic of asthma)
Migraine headaches
Muscle cramps
Tension
Soreness
Fatigue
In two teaspoons of blackstrap molasses, you will receive 7.3% of the daily value for magnesium.

Switching from nutrient-poor sweeteners like white sugar or corn syrup, or from potentially harmful fake sweeteners like aspartame or saccharin to nutrient-dense blackstrap molasses is one simple way that eating healthy can sweeten your life.

By no means is any of this information intended to stop you from any advice that your doctor has given you, but maybe will initiate a conversation between the two of you. 


I only found out this information from wanting to know what else molasses was good for besides cookies and baked beans, and maybe talking about the Boston molasses disaster of 1919, but that will have to wait.

I know this...In My Life doing a little research can change your whole day.

Easter and the Rabbit

OK so I have talked about Valentines Day, St. Patrick's Day, now it's time for the Easter Bunny.
What exactly does the Eastern Bunny have to do with Easter?
Well sit down boys and girls and we will have our history lesson of the month.

Eostre, the Goddess of Spring

The Easter Bunny is not a modern invention. The symbol originated with the pagan festival of Eostre, the Goddess of Spring. The goddess, Eostre, was worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons through her earthly symbol, the rabbit.  The Easter bunny has its origin in pre-Christian fertility lore. The Hare and the Rabbit were the most fertile animals known and they served as symbols of the new life during the spring season.

The Germans brought the symbol of the Easter rabbit to America.  The bunny as an Easter symbol seems to have it's origins in Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 1500s. The first edible Easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s. The first bunnies were not made of chocolate; they were made of pastry and sugar.

It was widely ignored by other Christians until shortly after the Civil War. Actually, Easter by itself was not widely celebrated in America until after that time.

As I said before, the Easter bunny was introduced to American folklore by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. The arrival of the "Oschter Haws" was considered "childhood's greatest pleasure" next to a visit from Chris Kringle on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good the "Oschter Haws" would lay a nest of colored eggs.

The children would build their nest in a secluded place in the home, the barn or the garden. Boys would use their caps and girls their bonnets to make the nests. Using elaborate Easter baskets would come later as the tradition of the Easter Bunny spread.

From the earliest times, the egg was a symbol of rebirth in most cultures. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf or, if you were a peasant, colored brightly by boiling them with the leaves or petals of certain flowers.

German settlers believed a white hare would leave brightly colored eggs for all good children on Easter morning.  Early American children built nests of leaves and sticks in their gardens for the Easter Hare to fill with colored eggs.  By the 19th century in America, the Easter Hare had become the Easter Bunny delighting children with baskets of eggs, chocolates, candy chicks, jelly beans and other gifts on Easter morning.

So there you have it. I hope you learned something new in this history lesson, and I hope wherever you are that Easter will have beautiful outdoor weather, and if not and the Easter Bunny has to hide the eggs inside, he gave you a map....it's no fun smelling rotten eggs in July!

I know this....In My Life Easter means different things to different people, and may not mean anything to some, but if the day is spent with family then it's a day well spent.