I used my candy thermometer for the first time and added a new sweet to my repertoire. As usual, I was inspired to make this particular thing because I happened to have peanuts lying around. And what's a better treat made with peanuts than peanut brittle?
For a first attempt it was damn near perfect. I think the only thing I might do differently is use raw peanuts or add the peanuts later in the cooking. The taste was great and the texture was crunchy that melted into sticky-smooth. It also didn't linger on your teeth like candy likes to do, which was an unexpected bonus.
I found so many recipes that equated peanut brittle with Christmas. It's not part of my holiday memories, but it might be this year.
GOLD WOMEN NECKLACE
GOLD NECKLACE FOR WOMEN AT HALF PRICE
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Almond Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
Double leftovers. I made some cupcakes to use up the egg yolks that I had from making a meringue-based frosting for different cupcakes and to use up the leftover frosting itself.
I substituted almond extract for vanilla for something different. I cut down the recipe since I had 5 egg yolks, but it still made 12 cupcakes and 2 heart-shaped ramekins.
I substituted almond extract for vanilla for something different. I cut down the recipe since I had 5 egg yolks, but it still made 12 cupcakes and 2 heart-shaped ramekins.
Suspension
My mom got the DVD box set of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century for Christmas and we watched the first two-part episode today. I remember watching the show as a kid, but I don't know whether I've ever seen the pilot. What I do know is that I was completely taken by surprise when the theme song started and the familiar tune had lyrics!
When the end credits rolled, I found out the song was sung by Kipp Lennon, who has a website with audio clips available for download. Do yourself a favor and download Suspension (Theme from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century) immediately! It is awesome.
When the end credits rolled, I found out the song was sung by Kipp Lennon, who has a website with audio clips available for download. Do yourself a favor and download Suspension (Theme from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century) immediately! It is awesome.
Monday, October 7, 2013
And the Oscar Goes to...
Picks in all caps and bold
BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
I really hope Slumdog wins because it was my favorite of the five.
BEST ACTOR
Richard Jenkins
Frank Langella
Sean Penn
Brad Pitt
MICKEY ROURKE
He's been cleaning up for playing a faded wrestler, plus his dog just died and he needs to thank her again.
BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway
Angelina Jolie
Melissa Leo
Meryl Streep
KATE WINSLET
Holocaust + accent + aging makeup = Oscar
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin
Robert Downey, Jr.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman
HEATH LEDGER
Michael Shannon
Oh c'mon!
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
AMY ADAMS
Penelope Cruz
Viola Davis
Taraji P. Henson
Marisa Tomei
Hard one to call. If Amy doesn't get it Taraji will although I liked her better in Hustle and Flow.
BEST DIRECTOR
DANNY BOYLE (Slumdog Millionaire)
Stephen Daldry (The Reader)
David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon)
Gus Van Sant (Milk)
Same reason as Best Picture
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Frozen River
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
MILK
Wall-E
I think they'll throw Milk a bone here.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
I heard it was a hard adaptation.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
I think it's between Slumdog and Changeling, but I hope Slumdog cleans up most of the categories for which it's nominated.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Baader Meinhof Complex
The Class
Departures
Revanche
WALTZ WITH BASHIR
It's been playing at the art houses for a while, and I don't know much about the others
ANIMATED FEATURE
Bolt
Kung-Fu Panda
WALL-E
I hear they won't go back until they've kissed a girl.
EDITING
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
This one usually follows best picture, doesn't it? Milk better not win this because I totally saw a boom mic in one shot.
ART DIRECTION
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
THE DUCHESS
Revolutionary Road
I'm going with the most periody of the choices. Benjamin Button might get more love than I think.
LIVE ACTION SHORT
Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
SPIELZEUGLAND (TOYLAND)
Holocaust movie.
ANIMATED SHORT
La Maison en Petits Cubes
Lavatory -- Lovestory
Oktapodi
PRESTO
This Way Up
If Wall-E doesn't win Presto might not win.
COSTUME DESIGN
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road
Same reason as Art Direction unless they give it to Australia to make Hugh a happy host.
MAKEUP
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
I liked the makeup more than the movie itself. I particularly liked the chins on the old people.
ORIGINAL SCORE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Wall-E
Hoping for a sweep!
DOCUMENTARY SHORT
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
THE WITNESS - FROM THE BALCONY OF ROOM 306
I'm going with the longest title.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
MAN ON WIRE
Trouble the Water
That crazy French guy was on the talk show circuit. Plus, it's the twin towers.
SOUND MIXING
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Wall-E
Wanted
I like the way the host said Millonaire. No "yun" sound
SOUND EDITING
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Wall-E
Wanted
Hmm. Wanted might pull an upset and sweep the sound categories but I'll stick with Slumdog.
VISUAL EFFECTS
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
THE DARK KNIGHT
Iron Man
Bat-pod!
BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
I really hope Slumdog wins because it was my favorite of the five.
BEST ACTOR
Richard Jenkins
Frank Langella
Sean Penn
Brad Pitt
MICKEY ROURKE
He's been cleaning up for playing a faded wrestler, plus his dog just died and he needs to thank her again.
BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway
Angelina Jolie
Melissa Leo
Meryl Streep
KATE WINSLET
Holocaust + accent + aging makeup = Oscar
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin
Robert Downey, Jr.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman
HEATH LEDGER
Michael Shannon
Oh c'mon!
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
AMY ADAMS
Penelope Cruz
Viola Davis
Taraji P. Henson
Marisa Tomei
Hard one to call. If Amy doesn't get it Taraji will although I liked her better in Hustle and Flow.
BEST DIRECTOR
DANNY BOYLE (Slumdog Millionaire)
Stephen Daldry (The Reader)
David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon)
Gus Van Sant (Milk)
Same reason as Best Picture
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Frozen River
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
MILK
Wall-E
I think they'll throw Milk a bone here.
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
I heard it was a hard adaptation.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
I think it's between Slumdog and Changeling, but I hope Slumdog cleans up most of the categories for which it's nominated.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Baader Meinhof Complex
The Class
Departures
Revanche
WALTZ WITH BASHIR
It's been playing at the art houses for a while, and I don't know much about the others
ANIMATED FEATURE
Bolt
Kung-Fu Panda
WALL-E
I hear they won't go back until they've kissed a girl.
EDITING
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
This one usually follows best picture, doesn't it? Milk better not win this because I totally saw a boom mic in one shot.
ART DIRECTION
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
THE DUCHESS
Revolutionary Road
I'm going with the most periody of the choices. Benjamin Button might get more love than I think.
LIVE ACTION SHORT
Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
SPIELZEUGLAND (TOYLAND)
Holocaust movie.
ANIMATED SHORT
La Maison en Petits Cubes
Lavatory -- Lovestory
Oktapodi
PRESTO
This Way Up
If Wall-E doesn't win Presto might not win.
COSTUME DESIGN
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road
Same reason as Art Direction unless they give it to Australia to make Hugh a happy host.
MAKEUP
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
I liked the makeup more than the movie itself. I particularly liked the chins on the old people.
ORIGINAL SCORE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Wall-E
Hoping for a sweep!
DOCUMENTARY SHORT
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
THE WITNESS - FROM THE BALCONY OF ROOM 306
I'm going with the longest title.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
MAN ON WIRE
Trouble the Water
That crazy French guy was on the talk show circuit. Plus, it's the twin towers.
SOUND MIXING
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Wall-E
Wanted
I like the way the host said Millonaire. No "yun" sound
SOUND EDITING
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Wall-E
Wanted
Hmm. Wanted might pull an upset and sweep the sound categories but I'll stick with Slumdog.
VISUAL EFFECTS
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
THE DARK KNIGHT
Iron Man
Bat-pod!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Up a Tree
This squirrel cracked me up the other day since he was running all around with an apple in his mouth. He ran up the tree in my front yard and then part of the way down. He was posed long enough for me to find my camera, turn it on and snap a few shots. Eventually, he ran down and onto the street and sidewalks. Lucky for me, he didn't try to get into my house.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street
stevie wonder on sesame street
View on Grouper.com | Add to Blogger Blog |
I love the brief glimpse of the kids groovin' to the beat.
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