Friday Funnies

Maybe you’ve heard of the 1943 book by Betty Smith, later made into a 1945 film, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Maybe so, but in Tabor, NJ, there’s a tree that 's been growing through a porch.

The homeowners periodically enlarge the hole to accommodate the tree’s expanding girth. They must have the shadiest porch in town.

Honey-Lime Chicken Marinade

Chicken is one of our favorite meal ingredients due mostly to its versatility. Along with fish, it's what's usually on The Frog & PenguINN dinner menu. And, the easier meal prep is the better, especially in summer time.

So, here's an easy chicken marinade that uses ingredients that may already be in your fridge or pantry. I used it for bone-in chicken breasts that Grenville later grilled; it can used for boneless chicken breasts too. Feel free to experiment with more or less of each item, depending on your likes.

Honey-Lime Marinade

• 3 TBSP soy sauce
• 1-2 TBSP honey
• 3 TBSP lime juice (fresh limes, if possible)
• 1 tsp dried garlic or
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cilantro
• 1/2 tsp paprika (smoked, if possible)

Blend ingredients in shallow container. Place chicken into mixture OR better yet, put both the marinade and chicken in a large plastic bag which makes turning the chicken in the marinade much easier. Refrigerate for up to 3 hours (or longer). Turn pieces several times while marinating. Remove from marinade, then discard marinade and grill chicken.

Our dinner was served with a side salad and glasses of fresh brewed ice tea.

(THANKS for your comments on the Supreme Burger recipe post. If you try it, hope you enjoy it as much as we did.)

A(nother) Graduation Celebration

Last month was a special month with 2 graduations in our family. We celebrated grandson's kindergarten graduation in RI earlier in June. Then, at the end of the month, we were in NJ to celebrate niece Jamie’s NJ high school graduation. We took road trips for both events. 

Jamie is a lovely and poised young lady who will be attending college in NJ this fall. Her career path is to become a medical assistant.

There were lots of family photos with her dad and grandmother (my brother and mother), myself,  sister Julie, and Uncle Patrick.

Road Travellers More or Less

Weekend travel along US Route 13 shows some interesting sights in the way folks travel to and from vacation trips. On Friday, folks are usually headed south to beach areas; then on Sunday those travelling north usually are heading home.

Many travel with several bikes, one for each family member.

Others with lots of beach chairs.

Some travel lightly.

Still others bring several modes of transport, including lodgings.

There are those who just hang out and enjoy the ride.

We usually take one of our Jeeps loaded with luggage and "stuff" to be delivered to family members along the route from produce to furniture and tools.

How do YOU travel on a road trip?

Supreme Burger

As posted recently, I spent the very small sum of $1 for this Betty Crocker Good and Easy Cookbook at the library sale table. then posted about Betty Crocker.

It's HOT now and outdoor grilling is best. Checking the book's Grilling section I found a new (to me) burger recipe. The ingredients had an item I'd never used in burgers, but the recipe was easy, all ingredients were on hand, so it was worth a try.

Supreme Hamburger

• 2 lbs. chopped meat
• 1 package onion soup mix
• 1/2 C bread crumbs
• 1 C sour cream
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1 TBSP Worcestershire Sauce (my addition)

Mix all ingredients together and shape into 6 to 8 hamburgers, depending on your size preference. of course, if you like REALLY large burgers, you can make fewer. Grill and enjoy.

WHO knew that sour cream would be great in burgers? These were very moist (trust me). Grenville called this recipe “a keeper” which is high praise for a first-time recipe. I know we'll try more “quick and easy” recipes too; here's some listed on the back cover. Looks like this summertime weather is gonna stick around awhile.

Firecracker Book Sale

What’s become an annual event in our area started several years ago. That’s when the Friends of the Eastern Shore Public Library decided to hold their major book sale to coincide with the local July 4th parade. A previous post had photos from that event.

Well before the  9 a.m. start, folks lined up outside the library.
There’s a lot of colorful attire. Many stop in for the sale, walk in the parade, then return to check out any books they might have missed.
Sale books come from donations throughout the year. Library staff  save the best gently used ones for the sale which includes fiction and nonfiction books, cookbooks, craft books and children's’ books.
Buyers know that the 50 cents to $2 prices are real bargains and stack up on summer reading — the old-fashioned way with a book.
There’s was something for everyone.
Friends of the Library, including ourselves, unpack books the day before the sale, set-up on sale day, and box up books after the sale.

Where’s Waldo Grenville in these photos?

What’s to Celebrate ?

Everyone usually likes a parade . . . even a short one, which perfectly describes the county’s annual July 4th celebration in this part of the VA Eastern Shore — short and very quiet too.

The Accomac (non-motorized) July 4th parade started at 10 a.m. right on time. And, as always, it began with a color guard. The drums were the only instruments —there are no marching bands, horns, and especially NO smiling politicians waving from convertibles.
Instead, there are LOTS of walkers, cyclists of all ages and skaters.
Bicycles decorated in red, white and blue with colorful attire.
And, other forms of transport too.
What’s not here are any cars or trucks, except a couple of fire trucks at the parade’s end, but no sirens are blaring.

Did I mention how short this parade is? It all ends very soon as you can see — 15 minutes from start to finish. The end spot is the county courthouse for a reading of the Declaration of Independence and ice pops.

No, we didn’t walk in the parade as we were at the county library helping with the Firecracker Book Sale (more on that later) and we had a great view.

Happy Birthday to U.S.

The above is excerpted from Adams' famous letter of July 3, 1776 in which he wrote to his wife Abigail his thoughts about celebrating the Fourth of July.

 

Adams (1735-1826) was instrumental in negotiating in favor of independence at the Continental Congresses (1774-78) and signed the Declaration of Independence. He and Thomas Jefferson, only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents (2nd and 3rd) died on the same day — July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.

And, James Monroe, 5th President and Founding Father, but not a signer of the Declaration of Independence, also died on July 4 in 1831. He became the third President in a row who died on this day. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872, and, to date, is the only President born on Independence Day.

July 4th memorable dates . . .

• In 1777, gunshots (13) were fired in salute at morning and as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, RI.
• Philadelphia celebrated the 1st anniversary in a manner familiar even today: toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks.
• In 1778, General George Washington marked July 4 with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute.
• In 1781, the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.
• In 1791, the first recorded use of the name “Independence Day” occurred.
• In 1820, the first Fourth of July celebration was held in Eastport, Maine which remains the largest in the state.
• In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees, but in 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.

Happy Birthday U.S.A

Ice Cream & Music

One of the nicest things about small-town living is summer holiday celebrations that bring folks together especially when they include patriotic music and ice cream.
Last night we attended what has become an annual event in the neighboring town of Onancock in the past few — an old-fashioned Ice Cream Social and Band Concert that’s held outdoors on the town square, always on July 3.
Folks bring lawn chairs, blankets and many picnic before and during the concert. There’s a Kids Painting area where budding artists can create and then take home their artwork.
This event is sponsored by members of the Onancock Business & Civic Association, which provides and scoops the free ice cream and seconds are always encouraged. Music is provided by the volunteer CommUnity Band.

Tomorrow, July 4th, is the annual non-motorized holiday parade and the Firecracker Book Sale at the county library. We’re helping out at the sale, watching the parade, then going to a friend’s home later.

How are you spending the holiday?

Favorite Celebrity “Cook”

Years ago, chefs were only found in restaurants and a cook was in your own home, usually your mom.LONG before there was Ms. Deen or other celebrity chefs, the US had a favorite cook rated as the second most famous and popular woman just behind Eleanor Roosevelt — and she wasn’t even a real person.

Betty Crocker never existed. Aside from being a cultural icon, she is entirely fictional. She originated in 1921 when a Minneapolis milling company, Washburn Crosby Company, wanted a way to personalize answers to consumers baking questions. The name Betty was considered warm, friendly and all-American; Crocker was after William Crocker, a retired company executive. Betty’s replies were signed and her signature was by a company secretary who won a contest. It’s still used on products today.

In 1924, Betty Crocker made her radio debut with the nation’s first cooking show, featuring 13 actresses working from radio stations across the country. The Betty Crocker School of the Air became a national broadcast, airing for 24 years.

Betty’s first portrait appeared in 1936 and while changed over the years always accommodated General Mills’ cultural perception of the American homemaker as knowledgeable and caring. The widely circulated portrait reinforced the popular belief that she was a real woman. An artist brought together women in the company’s Home Services Department “blending” their features into an “official” likeness.
Betty’s portrait has changed over the years. No one has ever  posed as a model, rather the image is a composite of many women.

Betty’s face was recreated 8 times over the past 75 years. In 1955, she became younger and in 1980 thru 1986 became a “professional” woman. In 1996, “Betty” became multicultural acquiring  a darker, more “ethnic” look. The current image is a combination of 75 women of diverse backgrounds and age. Betty is only shown in head shots and never seen from the shoulders down.


The impetus for this post was finding a copy of Betty Crocker Good and Easy Cookbook on the local library’s sale table last week. It seems that the 1996 publication date was older than books the staff reserves for major book sales (like the Firecracker Book Sale this week). The $1 shown is the price paid — SOLD!

Even though we’re downsizing cookbooks, some things, like favorite recipes don’t go out of style, just get revised or updated.
 
I still have my original Betty Crocker Cookbook in the 3-ring binder. It was bought after moving into my first apt and still in use today, over 25+ years later.

In my mind, certain things go together like cooking and Betty Crocker. Sorry, Paula, Rachel, Ina, Giada, Alton and others, but she has a lot more years of popularity in her favor, even if she’s only a fictional character.

What about you — favorite chef or cook ?