St. Patrick's Day Songs

My boyfriend wants me to learn a couple of drinking songs on the harp for St. Patrick's Day. I asked several musicians and this is the list that we came up with.

"The Wild Rover"
"Rosin The Bow"
"Black Velvet Band"
"Gilgarra Mountain"
"Star of the County Down"
"The Rakes of Mallow"
"Bridget O'Malley" -- she's a heartbreaker
"O Danny Boy"
"Finnegan's Wake"
"Carrickfergus"
"Mary Mack"
"When The Old Dun Cow Caught Fire"
"The Parting Glass"

Peanut Brittle

Superbowl Sunday - ok, the game was good, but I got bored somewhere in the middle of the game. I have been wanting to make peanut brittle for about 2 weeks, so I got out my cast iron Dutch oven and tried the peanut brittle recipe my parents brought home. That, in itself, is a story worth telling.

Mom and Dad were out shopping and tasted some of the best peanut brittle they have had in a long time. They purchased a little brown bag and the seller told them that the peanut brittle was in there. Well, it was, minus the corn syrup, sugar, water, and baking soda. But the recipe was there - and it was a photocopy from a spiral bound cookbook.

Finally I decided to make the peanut brittle. I had never made it before, so it was a new experiment for me. I got my cast iron Dutch oven, mixed the sugar, water, corn syrup, and peanuts. Within 15 minutes, from start to finished (not including cooling time) the peanut brittle was made. It was fun to make, and soooo delicious.

Here is the recipe:
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup white corn syrup
2 Tablespoons cold water
2 cups raw peanuts
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Mix sugar, syrup, water and peanuts in a deep iron skillet. Cook over high heat, stirring occasionally until peanuts start to make a soft popping sound and syrup begins to turn a light golden brown. Remove from heat and add baking soda. The mixture will foam. Pour out onto a heat resistant surface that has been buttered generously. Spread out mixture into 1 layer of peanuts. When cool, break into pieces.

Sunday Febrary 4, 2007 SUPERBOWL SUNDAY

OK, I know that Superbowl Sunday is NOT the normal night for a couple to go out for dinner, but we did. We went to Chicago's Pizza, he wanted to try it out so we did. Mom was visiting my Grandmother for the day, so I told Dad that I had been asked out for dinner. He didn't say much at the time, little did I know he was gathering his thoughts. I found out he didn't like my date's car, looks, interests, or history. Wow, that leaves very little for him to like. But I have come to realize this is a struggle that has been going on between fathers and daughters for centuries. Who am I to buck the system?

On to the good stuff ..... we had pizza, and watched the first half of the Superbowl. Lucky me, there was a TV at the table and I could tune it to the Superbowl. Not that I am an avid sports fan, it just irritates me when he is watching TV and I don't know what he is chuckling about. Besides, the commercials are suppose to be the best part of the Superbowl .... not this year. I must admit the auctioneer wedding was funny!

Mozzarella sticks, pizza, Coca-cola, and a nice dinner, what could be more enjoyable? It was a great evening, hopefully many more to follow. Time will tell!

Salad Spinner

I just purchased a salad spinner! My out-of-state dear friend gave me a gift card to Target. This week is my 'salad week' so I decided to get a salad spinner to make life easier. It works like a dream! Just put the salad in the strainer basket, rinse with spray nozzle, put basket in the larger bowl, adjust cover, and spin.


Now to test my new salad - European blend salad, feta cheese, cranberries, Mandarin oranges, and Marie's Asian blend salad vinaigrette.

Who turned off the heat?

Today it is freezing cold here in Georgia, and the forecast is for it to be cold all week long. Now I am glad to be sitting at my desk, looking out to a clear blue sky, my desk foot heater keeping me warm, and watching as people briskly walk to check their mailbox then back again to their office. Some days it is good to be inside, toasty warm, with a nice cup of tea.

All Caged Up

I have a wonderful job, it is very quiet, no back-stabbing or snide remarks. No catfights or vying for position. It is quiet and in a great location. However today I feel all caged up. It is a gorgeous day, a clear sky, calm weather, slightly cool, and I am stuck at a desk looking outside. I can see traffic moving up and down the road but I am here, inside, looking out.

Any suggestions?

Blah Blah Blah

What a night! We had to read Edwards this week, I couldn't even make it through the reading it was so boring. Finally the lectures are over. It is a bunch of mindless drivel about nothing! You see, it all started when Aquinas tried to say that there is a God. He said that it is impossible to have an infinite chain of events. He stated that there had to be a beginning, and that beginning was God. Edwards, 200 years later, begged to differ. He stated that it IS possible to have an infinite chain of events, but his main point was to disprove Aquinas' theory. It would have been an ok class if Edwards was making a point for his own theory but he wasn't. His point was to disprove Aquinas' theory. It was Edwards telling Aquinas and his followers the Thomists that their foundational beliefs were wrong but he wasn't going to tell them what was right and what they should believe. Edwards was arguing for argument's sake.

Needless to say, if you want something to read to put you to sleep, just read Edwards.