Yes people there is a new hero in the House of Licorice! Dawn Fraser

Dawn, you totally rock my world! I hope that the Red Cross or some Org. gets you to teach people basic safety moves. Wow. 4 Olympic Golds or this at 71- equally impressive and important- fantastic job!

If you don't know who Dawn Fraser is you will now. She won four Olympic gold medals for Australia along with four others and is considered one of the best women swimmers of all-time. She has always been fun. During the 1964 Tokyo Olympics she tried to steal a flag from the front of the Emperor's palace during a middle of the night dare. She was arrested but given the flag later.Well, the other night a guy tried to rob her house. Umm, bad idea. Dawn, who is 71 was walking into her home when a man grabbed her at the front gate."This guy came out of the gate and grabbed me and I grabbed him by the ear and I kicked him in the groin. So he had to let me go. He threatened my life and I got really annoyed about that and just grabbed him by the ear and the hair."Dawn, along with a neighbor who came to help sat on the burglar until the police arrived.

I said in advance of this post.. Enty this woman kicks booty and her story deserves so much exposure that I'm borrowing it. Please visit the awesome site

http://www.crazydaysandnights.net/

This is a "senior moment" I like to hear about!

Marina Market carries Sweet and Salty real Black Licorice drop Lakrid, salmaik lakritz, salmiakki liquorice, from Holland, Germany, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, England, Australia, Indonesia, Italy, Canada, Ireland and the United States.

Asian Home Gourmet Thai Aromatic Chicken Spice Paste

I made this chicken and shrimp dish in about 10 minutes.

I stir fried rice with one of the portions of shredded carrot and zucchini that I had frozen a couple of weeks ago. And I cooked the chicken tenders with the spice paste and added the shrimp in for the last 2 minutes, covered the pan and took it off the burner. I let this sit while I got about 1/2 cup of water and added it to the pan so it had a bit of 'sauce' because I like that with rice.

It was so good! I think this would be great with pressed tofu or beef, not just chicken!

Buy Asian Home Gourmet Thai Aromatic Chicken spice paste.

Fazer dominates my tastebuds with chocolate licorice bars

These two chocolate bars by Fazer are pure Finnish delights! The first contains chewy licorice taffy nuggets in the fresh milk chocolate that Fazer is famous for. No dried milk makes Fazer chocolate .. well think of the tongue feel between cream and non fat. Enough.

This is an example of what I was teased with a sample of and what is indeed a glorious bite of chocolate and salmiakki pillows of soft goodness.

I love you Fazer!

We are entering 'talks' with the company about the chocolate/licorice.

I envision myself as a smaller Princess Kong holding on to the last bits of these bars (from Finn friends) saying "Please may we have more!!" lol! Well I'm finally getting Product from Norway again: Nero bar, Knott, Skipper, IFA and Sour sigeman.

Global Warming true of false? 9 out of 10 say ...

August 17, 2009

I'm not a climate scientist per se, but I am a senior Australian scientist (biologist) with interests and expertise in environmental science. Reading Miranda Devine's piece ( ''Bring it on, Labor, pull that trigger'', August 15-16), it occurred to me that in the climate change debate there are serious misconceptions about the way science actually works. So let's shift the context from climate change to medicine.
Your health declines. You see 10 specialists and nine tell you that you have a serious, complex medical condition that requires surgery.
The 10th says you are fine and there is no need to do anything. You follow the advice of the 10th and do nothing for a year. Your health does not improve. You go back to see the specialists, and nine tell you that the condition is worse and you need the surgery urgently. The 10th still says you don't need to do anything and in fact argues that the condition is not real. What would you do?
This is exactly the state of play in climate science. The vast majority of specialists in the field say we have a major problem, that it is caused by humans, and it is probably getting worse. This is not the same as ''proof''. It is difficult if not impossible to ''prove'' complex environmental (or many other) scientific theories. Climate change science is not a high school geometry problem.
Instead what happens is that evidence is gathered that supports a theory, alternative explanations are considered and discounted on the evidence, and a consensus view emerges. As a consequence of this process the overall consensus on human-induced climate change is now quite strong among experts in the field. Thus comments by Senator Fielding or others of like mind who deny climate change, or the need for us to act, on the basis that ''the science is unproven'' or ''science does not work by consensus'' are misleading. They do not reflect how most science actually works.
I suspect my comments may actually be used to argue against the reality of climate change (''Senior scientist says climate change not proven!''). In response I go back to my parable. Your health or even your life is on the line and nine of 10 specialists propose a diagnosis and subsequent course of action. What would you do?
Professor Peter Steinberg Mosman

Celebrate Indonesia's Independence Day also known as it's my Birthday too!

The picture links to an expat page for/on Indonesian Customs and Culture



The Simple Proclamation



PROCLAMATION
WE THE PEOPLE OF INDONESIA HEREBY DECLARE THE INDEPENDENCE OF INDONESIA. MATTERS WHICH CONCERN THE TRANSFER OF POWER AND OTHER THINGS WILL BE EXECUTED BY CAREFUL MEANS AND IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME.
DJAKARTA, 17 AUGUST 1945
IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF INDONESIA SOEKARNO—HATTA





While the formal preparation of the declaration, and the official independence itself for that matter, had been carefully planned a few months earlier, the actual declaration date was brought forward almost inadvertently as a consequence of the Japanese unconditional surrender to the Allies on August 15 following the Nagasaki atomic bombing. The whole wiki is here.



I have to wonder if this is the odd reason why I love this food so much- that although the Independence day was near my mothers birth year, it was on my birth date. If we clear our minds of self involvement and look at the world as a whole, it is a very small world. We should all be looking out for each other.


Apparently according to this birthday website most people born in this month are just a bit left of center, which is fine by me! I have incredible birth month and even birth day people that I celebrate as all being truly individual and true to their selves.

Historic moment captured

Source: www.google.com
President Barack Obama reaches around the head dress of Chief Joseph Medicine Crow to place a 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom around his neck, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Top Chef Masters Last Round Before the Finals!

Quickfire Challange Winner Is Michael C. Great job Chef!

I used to think that Dale was a good guy. Now I think he is a class A jerk. I guess everyone else thinks so too- BravoTV poll shows Michael to win over Dale at 74% in a fight.

Oh well Dale, when you pose like a JC Penny Catalog model for photos-what can we expect? I had the picture here but..eh.. deleted it over the disrespect. Seriously. I hope I never see Dale again.

Watching this episode made 'me' feel disrespected. It made me feel like I was watching Spike.
Spike-Again not a fan, At. All .Ever. Your family must have shunned you by now, so should I throw a bit of pity to the burger boy? Nah. I won't give a bully a break. Especially a jealous one.

I really don't like the editing on this episode. Bringing the "kids" brought all the crap that I don't like. The Drama does not help ratings on foodie junkie shows people!!

Chef Herbert Keller is a true class act. He is the epitome of intelligent cooking. Actually I think all of these final Chefs are true Masters of the Mind.

I think that this Masters version clears the way to see who will win.. It has always been a super calm and focused Chef.

Rick -21 and 1/2 stars
Keller- 22 stars WINNER! for Make a wish foundation
Anita - 17 stars
Michael- 19 and 1/2 stars

Goodbye Anita - I love your ideas and have a goal of eating your food someday!

Top Chef Masters Wrap up

Quickfire Challenge Winner Is Michael C. But who pull out the win and the title of Top Chef Master- Chef Rick Bayless! Elevating Mexican cuisine across the borders! I love that the Chefs all had their top person from their kitchen with them.

I also have to say that enjoyed watching each of these Chefs and learning more about them. This was a truly enjoyable show.

I used to think that Dale from the regular Top Chef, was a good guy. Now I think he is a class A jerk. I guess everyone else thinks so too- Michael to win over Dale at 74% in a fight.


Oh well when you pose like a JC Penny Catalog model what can we expect? I had the picture here but..eh.. deleted it over the disrespect. Seriously. I hope I never see Dale again. That made 'me' feel disrespected. It made me feel like I was watching Spike. Again not a fan. At. All .Ever.


I really don't like the editing on this episode. Bringing the "kids" brought all the crap that I don't like. The Drama does not help ratings on foodie junkie shows people!!


Chef Herbert Keller is a true class act. He is the epitome of intelligent cooking. Actually I think all of these final Chefs are true Masters of the Mind.

I think that this Masters version clears the way to see who will win.. It has always been a super calm and focused Chef
Anita - I love your ideas and have a goal of eating your food someday!

Butter Chicken

Butter chicken or Murgh makhani is an Indian dish from Delhi, during the period of Mughal Empire. It is a dish that you can make very mild or spicy, as you wish.



In the traditional recipes the chicken is marinated overnight in a yogurt and spice mixture (garam masala, ginger, garlic paste, lemon or lime, pepper, coriander, cumin, turmeric and chili).

To cook the chicken you can grill, roast or pan fry, depending preference.

Makhani, the sauce, is made by heating and mixing butter, tomato puree, and various spices, (cumin, cloves, cinnamon, coriander, pepper, fenugreek) and fresh cream. If you like a thicker gravy you can add ground cashew or candle nuts.

I use the Asian Home Gourmet spice packets to make my Butter Chicken. Why? Because they are easy, taste Great and have no artificial junk in them -at all!

So tonight I used Costco chicken tenders which I think are more cost efficient than the frozen breasts. They dismiss less water and non of that icky hard to clean up white gel.

I didn't have the tomatoes the recipe calls for so I used a frozen tomato, mushroom, onion and fennel saute I made about a month or so ago. Not to traditional but it went well. I also steamed broccoli and cauliflower to go on the plate.

I also put in a Brown Cow cream on top Plain Yogurt into the pan with the cooked chicken and tomato mix. I put this on medium heat and let it simmer 5 minutes. Garnished it with a nob of butter.

For a garnish you can top with sliced green chillies and crushed fenugreek leaves to taste.

I served with both rice and Tandoori Naan bread, which I heated in the microwave for 35 seconds. It puffs up and makes a great 'hot pocket' filled with the Butter Chicken & rice. I will post photos of the Naan with the Chicken shortly.

TOP CHEF MASTERS -Dietary restrictions

RICK you seem to be ahead, but this is a total wild card challenge. I am learning so much- I have many of these allergies so I a SO happy for this challenge!

Farewell Art, I hope this is not the last time we see you!

Remaining Master Chefs: I love your food
Chef Anita Lo!

The Masters must prepare the perfect meal for an exclusive celebrity lunch thrown by actress and singer-song-writer Zooey Deschanel.

(I ) personally was vegan for 8 years, then a veg. for a few more until I became pregnant and I went with what my body started to crave.

Vegan, no wheat, no soy. Yea a Master Cooking Class

New Food Newtork Star will be Melissa for the Win!!

I really like both of the finalists! I hope they both get shows. Alton gave great advice, as usual.

The Ingredient Smuggler and Kitchen Survival Guide are both excellent one line concepts.

Seeing the outtakes was pretty funny especially the (classically trained) chicken dancing

hijinks's!

Melissa! Yea MOM's!

I have few Heros, Randi Rhodes is One.

The Health Care Circus29 07 2009
Ever wonder why we need healthcare reform so badly in this country? There are two ways to consider that question. One is “Why is this so necessary?” The answer is starkly illustrated in a great new NPR story. NPR reported about a mobile rural health clinic that’s currently visiting the Appalachians (source: NPR). I would say that the story and the pictures look like they’re from a Third World country, but I would get angry letters from people in Bangladesh and Ghana: “Hey! We don’t treat our people like that!” It certainly doesn’t look like it’s happening in the United States. Well, maybe in the United States in 1920. The clinic takes place at Virginia’s Wise County Fairgrounds—and I’m sure it’s the biggest circus ever to visit those fairgrounds. It’s hard to imagine this open-air temporary hospital is operating in Virginia today. It looks like the kind of emergency medical hospital that would be operating in Virginia in 1861… after the Battle of Bull Run. But it’s not the mid-nineteenth century. It’s 21st century America, and it’s a disaster scene. The disaster is our healthcare system; not a natural disaster, more of an unnatural disaster.
The second sense of the question why we need healthcare reform so badly in this country is “Why in the name of God can’t we get this done?” You may be tempted to blame the Republicans, and they’re certainly doing everything they can to wreck healthcare reform. But they don’t have the power or numbers to do it alone. They’re getting (hopefully) unwitting help from (hopefully) well-meaning, but misguided “moderate” Democrats known as Blue Dogs (source: The Washington Post). Blue Dogs are the price we pay for having a large majority in Congress (Blue Dog Members: Wikipedia) The only way to do that is to have an unruly majority. Blue Dogs are the living rebuttal to the saying “You’re either with us, or against us.” At times the Blue Dogs are both with us and against us. Still, the worst Democrat is better than the best Republican. Think of the Blue Dogs as domesticated Republicans in the same sense that dogs are domesticated wolves. It’s better to have a misbehaved Democratic Blue Dog in your home than to have a wild Republican wolf at the door. Unfortunately, on healthcare reform—it appears the Blue Dogs have gone feral. Until we can get them to behave, we’re going to have circuses like the one at the Wise County Fairgrounds.
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“Birthing” the Death of Health Care Reform
Time to Act on Health Care
Dodging the Issues
The smells of Jiuzhou

Personal note to Randi -Word Press is so Posh- what's wrong with Blogger? P.S. I found your comment re: the ed show very interesting- indeed why doesn't he have full control of his show content? And I love and support that you do!