Two Really Cool Guys & A Casserole

Tom, Jerry, and Pat Plenda

Made my Brussels & Gouda Casserole Recipe!

This makes me so happy!  I happened to be awake very late last night and with a final check of facebook, received the above photo.  What a pleasant surprise! 

This is doubly sweet, as this is from a childhood friend of mine, Stacey Plenda, whom was my VBFF until we moved away when I was 10. (Waaaah!) 

 I have just recently reconnected with her (sooooo happy that I almost cried), and cannot wait to meet up with her again...hopefully, soon!  

Apparently, her lovely Mom follows this blog :)

(Thank you, Mrs. Plenda, I am honored!!)

Naturally, I assumed that Mrs. Plenda had made the casserole, but as it turns out it was Tom (husband) and Jerry (son), whom try to help out in the kitchen as much as possible. 

Way to go guys!!  (We women love that!) 

Here is a note I received from Stacey about the event and the dish:

"They did make it with the brussels (and they were delicious)! My dad added mushrooms, because my mom likes mushrooms with everything, and onions because you have to have onions to give the mushrooms flavor, lol.  It turned out really great and we can't wait to have it again.

 As my brother says "IT WAS GOUDA"!!! 

Thanks again for trying my recipe "guys", and again I am sooooo impressed with your ability, especially in making the Bechamel~ that takes some finesse`!

I believe I will have to think up some more complicated dishes and test your skills further!

That would be fun!

Thanks for sending in your picture and your comments :)

Be Blessed!

oxoxoxo

Shakespeare & Company-Paris, France Picture of the Week

(Monnier, Unknown, Beach & Ernest Heminway)

**Reposted from earlier 2012**

With my interest peaked by the new course I am taking about Paris in the 1920's, I give you the original Shakespeare & Company Bookstore on Paris's Left Bank!   Opened by Sylvia Beach on 17 November 1919 at 8 rue Dupuytren, before moving to larger premises at 12 rue de l'Odéon in the 6th arrondissement in 1922.  During the 1920s, it was a gathering place for writers such as Ezra Pound, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce and Ford Madox Ford.^[1] It closed in 1941 during the German occupation of Paris and never re-opened.

Sylvia Beach was an American ex-patriot that helped other ex-pats achieve their artistic ambitions.  Where other bookstores did not want the likes of the poor lingering about, they found safe haven in her shoppe, where they ate and drank cheaply, and she lent them books for free.   She single-handedly funded the publishing of Ulysses, by James Joyce, when all other English and American publishers refused to do so, because of it's content. In fact, she went broke doing so and had to close the doors of the store to fund the last expense of the book.

(Here is a link to a very sweet & fun blog about Sylvia Beach and Paris :)  http://leblog1815.blogspot.com/2011/03/sylvia-beach.html

Another bookstore  "Le Mistral" was opened in Paris by George Whitman, and in Sylvia Beach's honor, he renamed it in 1964 to "Shakespeare & Company".  It is located at 37 rue de la Bûcherie, in the 5th arrondissement.  You may have seen this recently in Woody Allen's movie Midnight in Paris.    

Today, this is a true destination point in Paris, with visitors coming from all around the globe to see where the creators of classic literature of the modern era dreamt.  There is nothing like a good cup of French Java and the sweet smell of the Seine to set you right back to the ethereal desires of the 1920's...

Oh...If only Paris did not exist, I could feel more settled in my own life...

A Conspiracy in Your Corn-Human Population Reduction & More...I Have NOT Lost My Mind.

I apologize, as this may take a few minutes to read, but I AM ASKING YOU TO READ THIS as it will fill you in on several things happening in the world around you, at once.  It may awaken you to a whole new world and prompt more of your own sense of curiosity and concern for the general well being of all-everyone-even you and your family.  As you know I like to write about happy things and making a good life.  But, as this is Life, there is sometimes bad that comes along with the good.  It does us NO good, to ignore the bad, and the only right thing to do is face it square on.  The best way to do that is through education and action. 

Previously, I have touted my concerns about this big "conspiracy" of elitist groups to rid the planet of "excess population".  I hate that this concept could even be thought of, not to mention remotely true, and I realize that this sounds far-fetched and a bit "Hollywood".  Especially, to those of us raised in such a safe American life-never having experienced true war on our land, or government hostility;  we are not trained to think otherwise.

But having worked closely over the years in my career with the higher-ups at large chemical (Dow, Dow Corning, Eli Lilly, etc.)  and food companies (Kraft, Dawn Foods, Monsanto, etc); Plus, having witness to talks by persons like Bill Gates (at Harvard U), and other world "leaders" through University Channels, such as University of Michigan and Harvard University Political Science Institutions) I am becoming increasingly alarmed at the events that are unfolding that seem to be  bringing these speculations to fruition.

 I must tell you that whether or not they have their facts of dire consequences for the planet with "overpopulation" correct, they (Gates, Obama Administration, UN diplomats, world leaders and the wealthy elite) are pursuing life-altering agendas world-wide to accomplish their goals of reducing the base population. Included in those measures are propagating mass adult and childhood vaccines that will contain harmful and deadly toxins, promulgating wide scale infanticide and abortions and modifying the food chain to ensure the timely death and population reduction-of the masses.

I fully understand that you may feel I am paranoid, or am easily led to believe the fear mongers.  But, I only ask you to think about the matters at hand, watch for more of these type of government controls over health and food, along with the increased build up of domestic armed forces, the recent actions of 'Emergency Management' in many cities (Detroit, at the forefront-which overrules the constitutional rights of the citizens and allows military enforcement)  and the de-arming of American citizens-to prevent a massive rise-up against government authority. 

News Flash:  HIV is so rampant in Africa (funny, why only there really?) because the virus is INSIDE the Hep B vaccines, and it is doled out to them en mass.  HepB is grown inside Ape Organs in 3rd world countries-fact, as all vaccines are grown in live animal and human tissues-including aborted fetuses(thank you, Eli Lilly); it is an Ape Virus that transferred the species barrier when harvested from their organs to then put into humans.  DO NOT give this to your infants! **

More news ...MONSANTO GMO CORN is the main staple given to Africans by their government and causing widespread infertility. A good thing you might think, given the condition of their country.  (But, would their country be in such a pitiful state if it weren't for the corporate farms forcing the mass dependency on government foods and the HIV that started with the vaccines from American Bio companies in the first place!)  Read more about this countries corporate development, when you get a chance.  Something I learned in my International Political Science course at Harvard, is that 3rd world countries are MADE that way, by larger countries and corporations. This is important to understand.

I am not suggesting a revolt...yet. But, merely asking you to be aware of these things, make wise choices and don't be led like lambs to the slaughter...children in tow.  These things are on such a large scale with such powerful forces behind them, that I do not know how to suggest to avoid them. Nor, do I possess at this time the political access that could stand up against such things. Not yet.

Below is a video of Bill Gates in one of his Harvard talks, mentioning the population reduction via vaccines.  (I initially heard of this speech through internal campus talks).  Also, video of a local Midwest Farmer, that will explain (in very clear terms) what he experienced with his pigs and the GMO corn; as well as his interactions with Monsanto, the government, and the media.  This is nothing new, yet greatly unheard of.  You will NOT be hearing of any of this through major news channels.

There are many other sources and videos available on the subject via Google and others.  Remember also, that your ACCESS TO INFORMATION is reliant upon major corporations that are under the influence and control of government actions. RIGHT NOW Google and other search providers are facing terrible legal battles against those trying to squelch the access the public now has.  It is under the guise of a Monopoly suit, but as part of the restrictions in feeding information to favorites, will be government monitoring of published information and site feeds. 

Find YOUR OWN TRUE SOURCES of information, and stay tuned.  Some of the best information will come from independent sources that are too small to be on the radar.

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION VIA THIS SITE OR YOUR OWN.
 You must decide for yourself.

Canned soup linked to higher BPA levels | Harvard Gazette

Canned soup linked to higher BPA levels Harvard Gazette

Realizing there is more than JUST SOUP in the can.

BPA interferes with hormone regulation and more...

"Exposure to the endocrine-disrupting chemical BPA, used in the lining of metal food and beverage cans, has been shown to interfere with reproductive development in animals and has been linked with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity in humans. In addition to the lining of food and beverage cans, BPA is also found in polycarbonate bottles (identified by the recycling number 7) and dentistry composites and sealants."

Click through the link above to the Harvard Research Study.

Lasagna

This is a good one for the family-they love it and it is a good and hearty meal in itself!  Plus, there is so much food here in one pan, that it can be reheated for another few good meals!  There is nothing wrong with serving leftovers...and you can always change up the sides with salads and veggies.

You can omit or replace any of the meats or vegetables below, with whatever you prefer.  This is the recipe that I typically make at home:

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. ground sausage (turkey, or altogether optional)

16 oz Ricotta Cheese

16 oz Shredded Mozzarella

4 whole tomatoes-chopped

2 medium Zucchini

2 Yellow Squash

1 cup Mushroom

4 Tbsp Oregano

2 Tsp Basil

2 fresh cloves of garlic

2 tsp Salt

1 tsp Pepper

1 Onion

4 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 package Lasagna Noodles (no-boil type)

1 cup water

Brown: ground beef, garlic, onion, and sausage in olive oil on medium high-in cast iron or stainless steel skillet.  Chop and crumble the meat as it is cooking,  add 1 tsp each of salt and pepper. When meat is browned, turn heat down to LOW.  Stir in chopped tomatoes and water.  Let simmer on Low for 2-3 hours.  Keep covered, stir occassionally.

In medium mixing bowl, combine Ricotta cheese and 1/2 of the Mozzarella.  Stir in 2 eggs, 3 Tbsp oregano (save 1Tbsp for topping), 1 tsp salt and basil.

Clean and chop Zuchinni, Squash, Mushrooms, set aside.

When sauce is done, layer a 9x13 glass or stone pan with meat sauce, noodles, cheese mixture, veggies; repeat until pan is full. (Laying just a small amount of the sauce as the base layer will help to keep noodles from stickiing to bottom, yet still allow for a good base to lift sections out of pan.)

Finish off the top layer with the remaining Mozzarella cheese. Yum!

Bake at 350degrees for 1-1/2 hours, until ingredients are HOT all the way through and top is nicely browned. 

Again, serve with salad or your choice of veggie side; and makes for great leftovers for the next night...or two!  Easy on Mom..yay, we'll take it!

Mangia Bene!

oxoxox