From Denny: Here's a sampling of what is happening over at The Social Poet this Saturday, enjoy! I just love editorial cartoons; they really capture the mood of the country. It's fun to look back over the year to see what was happening politically in a society as the cartoons often speak more truth than all the news articles which are often funded by some lobby. At the very least cartoons give us the public reactions to what our politicians are doing - or claim to be doing. :) Take a look:
*** For the full post of a slew of funny cartoons, pay a visit to The Social Poets where I park them every Saturday, go here.
*** THANKS for visiting and hope you had a great holiday!
26 December 2009
24 December 2009
Original Christmas Poem Story: The Night Before Christmas
From Denny: This fun poem has a lot of riff off imitators that make us smile too! Here in Louisiana there is the Cajun version that follows.
The Night Before Christmas
By Clement Clarke Moore
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN! On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"
Cajun Night Before Christmas
By J. B. Kling, Jr. (1973)
Twas the night before Christmas an' all t'ru de house,
Dey don't a ting pass Not even a mouse.
De chirren been nezzle good snug on de flo',
An' Mama pass de pepper t'ru de crack on de do'.
De Mama in de fireplace done roas' up de ham,
Sit up de gumbo an' make de bake yam.
Den out on de by-you dey got such a clatter,
Make soun' like old Boudreau done fall off his ladder.
I run like a rabbit to got to de do',
Trip over de dorg an' fall on de flo'.
As I look out de do'in de light o' de moon,
I t'ink, "Mahn, you crazy or got ol' too soon."
Cux dere on de by-you w'en I stretch ma'neck stiff,
Dere's eight alligator a pullin' de skiff.
An' a little fat drover wit' a long pole-ing stick,
I know r'at away got to be ole St.Nick.
Mo' fas'er an' fas'er de' gator dey came
He whistle an' holler an' call dem by name:
"Ha, Gaston! Ha, Tiboy! Ha, Pierre an' Alcee'!
Gee, Ninette! Gee, Suzette! Celeste an'Renee'!
To de top o' de porch to de top o' de wall,
Make crawl, alligator, an' be sho' you don' fall."
Like Tante Flo's cat t'ru de treetop he fly,
W'en de big ole houn' dorg come a run hisse's by.
Like dat up de porch dem ole 'gator clim!
Wit' de skiff full o' toy an' St. Nicklus behin'.
Den on top de porch roof it soun' like de hail,
W'en all dem big gator, done sot down dey tail.
Den down de chimney I yell wit' a bam,
An' St.Nicklus fall an' sit on de yam.
"Sacre!" he axclaim, "Ma pant got a hole
I done sot ma'se'f on dem red hot coal."
He got on his foots an' jump like de cat
Out to de flo' where he lan' wit' a SPLAT!
He was dress in musk-rat from his head to his foot,
An' his clothes is all dirty wit' ashes an' soot.
A sack full o' playt'ing he t'row on his back,
He look like a burglar an' dass fo' a fack.
His eyes how dey shine his dimple, how merry!
Maybe he been drink de wine from de blackberry.
His cheek was like a rose his nose a cherry,
On secon' t'ought maybe he lap up de sherry.
Wit' snow-white chin whisker an' quiverin' belly,
He shook w'en he laugh like de stromberry jelly!
But a wink in his eye an' a shook o' his head,
Make my confi-dence dat I don't got to be scared.
He don' do no talkin' gone strit to hi work,
Put a playt'ing in sock an' den turn wit' a jerk.
He put bot' his han' dere on top o' his head,
Cas' an eye on de chimney an' den he done said:
"Wit' all o' dat fire an' dem burnin' hot flame,
Me I ain' goin' back by de way dat I came."
So he run out de do' an, he clim' to de roof,
He ain' no fool, him for to make one more goof.
He jump in his skiff an' crack his big whip,
De' gator move down, An don' make one slip.
An' I hear him shout loud as a splashin' he go,
"Merry Christmas to all 'til I saw you some mo'!"
*** THANKS for visiting and have a great Christmas Day!
Original Christmas Poem Story: The Night Before Christmas
From Denny: This fun poem has a lot of riff off imitators that make us smile too! Here in Louisiana there is the Cajun version that follows.
The Night Before Christmas
By Clement Clarke Moore
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN! On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONNER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"
Cajun Night Before Christmas
By J. B. Kling, Jr. (1973)
Twas the night before Christmas an' all t'ru de house,
Dey don't a ting pass Not even a mouse.
De chirren been nezzle good snug on de flo',
An' Mama pass de pepper t'ru de crack on de do'.
De Mama in de fireplace done roas' up de ham,
Sit up de gumbo an' make de bake yam.
Den out on de by-you dey got such a clatter,
Make soun' like old Boudreau done fall off his ladder.
I run like a rabbit to got to de do',
Trip over de dorg an' fall on de flo'.
As I look out de do'in de light o' de moon,
I t'ink, "Mahn, you crazy or got ol' too soon."
Cux dere on de by-you w'en I stretch ma'neck stiff,
Dere's eight alligator a pullin' de skiff.
An' a little fat drover wit' a long pole-ing stick,
I know r'at away got to be ole St.Nick.
Mo' fas'er an' fas'er de' gator dey came
He whistle an' holler an' call dem by name:
"Ha, Gaston! Ha, Tiboy! Ha, Pierre an' Alcee'!
Gee, Ninette! Gee, Suzette! Celeste an'Renee'!
To de top o' de porch to de top o' de wall,
Make crawl, alligator, an' be sho' you don' fall."
Like Tante Flo's cat t'ru de treetop he fly,
W'en de big ole houn' dorg come a run hisse's by.
Like dat up de porch dem ole 'gator clim!
Wit' de skiff full o' toy an' St. Nicklus behin'.
Den on top de porch roof it soun' like de hail,
W'en all dem big gator, done sot down dey tail.
Den down de chimney I yell wit' a bam,
An' St.Nicklus fall an' sit on de yam.
"Sacre!" he axclaim, "Ma pant got a hole
I done sot ma'se'f on dem red hot coal."
He got on his foots an' jump like de cat
Out to de flo' where he lan' wit' a SPLAT!
He was dress in musk-rat from his head to his foot,
An' his clothes is all dirty wit' ashes an' soot.
A sack full o' playt'ing he t'row on his back,
He look like a burglar an' dass fo' a fack.
His eyes how dey shine his dimple, how merry!
Maybe he been drink de wine from de blackberry.
His cheek was like a rose his nose a cherry,
On secon' t'ought maybe he lap up de sherry.
Wit' snow-white chin whisker an' quiverin' belly,
He shook w'en he laugh like de stromberry jelly!
But a wink in his eye an' a shook o' his head,
Make my confi-dence dat I don't got to be scared.
He don' do no talkin' gone strit to hi work,
Put a playt'ing in sock an' den turn wit' a jerk.
He put bot' his han' dere on top o' his head,
Cas' an eye on de chimney an' den he done said:
"Wit' all o' dat fire an' dem burnin' hot flame,
Me I ain' goin' back by de way dat I came."
So he run out de do' an, he clim' to de roof,
He ain' no fool, him for to make one more goof.
He jump in his skiff an' crack his big whip,
De' gator move down, An don' make one slip.
An' I hear him shout loud as a splashin' he go,
"Merry Christmas to all 'til I saw you some mo'!"
*** THANKS for visiting and have a great Christmas Day!
22 December 2009
New Austrian Zoo Photographer is Fruit Happy Orangutan
From Denny: This is pretty funny and downright humbling to those of us who enjoy taking photographs and fancy ourselves as artists! :) But hey! It's long been known many a "starving artist" will work for food and this one happens to love fruit.
*** THANKS for visiting!
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
*** THANKS for visiting!
Got holiday leftovers? Turn Them into Fab Breakfasts!
From Denny: Things are getting down to the wire for the holiday cooking and you would rather not run to the store yet one more time. Take a look at what Bianca Borges Henry offers us as inspiring ideas for holiday morning meals - from holiday leftovers or extra ingredients on hand!On the menu:
Breakfast strata
Cinnamon-orange baked french toast
Potato-crusted frittata
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Breakfast stratas are easy and always popular:
Breakfast strata
From: Bianca Borges Henry
Serves: 6 to 8
Bianca: This dish makes a perfect breakfast, particularly if you have house guests, for it can feed as many people as you've got! Make as little or as much as you want; use your leftovers; assemble it the night before and then bake it off in the morning while you make the coffee.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 tablespoon soft butter
• 8-9 cups of 1-inch cubed bread (any bread, even rolls, leftover or fresh)
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup white wine (if no wine, increase milk by 1/2 cup)
• 4 ripe tomatoes, sliced 1/3-inch thick
• Salt and pepper
• 1 cup pesto (store-bought or homemade)
• 4 cups arugula leaves, or other leafy green
• 12 ounces cheese, sliced or grated (pretty much any cheese, Cheddar, Gouda, blue, brie, Swiss, Gruyere, etc.)
• 8 eggs
• 8 ounces sliced ham, Canadian bacon or prosciutto, etc.
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
DIRECTIONS
Butter a casserole dish, such as a 9x13 rectangular or 10x15 oval.
Add the milk and wine to the bread cubes, and toss to blend and absorb. Pour into the dish and spread level.
Cover the bread with the sliced tomatoes. Season the tomatoes with a little salt and pepper.
Spread the pesto over the tomatoes.
Cover with the arugula leaves.
Distribute the cheese evenly over the arugula.
Whisk the eggs well, and pour over the layers, reserving about a cup.
Lay the ham slices over the top, covering the surface. More than one layer is OK.
Drizzle the remaining egg over the ham, and top with the Parmesan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
Remove dish from refrigerator and let sit for 30-40 minutes at room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake in center of oven for 40-45 minutes, until bubbly, slightly puffed, and light brown on top. Let sit 10-15 minutes before serving.
Cinnamon-orange baked french toast
From: Bianca Borges Henry
Serves: 6 to 8
Bianca: Another great assemble-ahead dish. If you're thinking you'd like to make french toast, then think of standing at the stove making one serving at a time. This will serve 6-8 people all at once, including yourself. It's delicious as is, eggy, moist and light, but carry on the tradition, and serve it with warmed maple syrup.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 tablespoons soft butter
• Bread, cut into 1-inch-thick slices (a mostly white bread is best, country, baguette, ciabatta, etc., crust and all)
• 12 eggs
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or scrape the seeds from 1 fat vanilla bean)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups half-and-half
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
For topping:
• 2 tablespoons sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
Spread the 2 tablespoons butter over the bottom and sides of a ceramic casserole dish, such as a 9x13 rectangular or 10x15 oval.
Lay the bread slices on their sides in the bottom of the dish in one layer, fitting them in tightly.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the cinnamon and vanilla and whisk to blend. Add the sugar, half-and-half, orange zest and salt and whisk to blend well. Pour over the bread and press down on the slices to absorb. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Remove dish from refrigerator and let sit for 30-40 minutes at room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar over the top. Bake in center of oven for about 40 minutes, until slightly puffed, and golden brown on top. Let sit 10 minutes before serving. Serve with warm maple syrup.
Potato-crusted frittata
From: Bianca Borges Henry
Serves: 6
Bianca: If you need something fast to make the morning of, this egg-based recipe is practically a whole meal in itself, with potato, vegetable, cheese and egg components. It utilizes leftovers and makes an impressive presentation.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 large Idaho potatoes, washed well and left unpeeled
• 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 tablespoon butter
• 8 eggs
• 1 cup chopped cooked vegetables (use leftovers: carrots, peas, broccoli, greens, mushrooms, anything)
• 1/3 cup sliced scallions (cooked or caramelized onions and shallots are great as well)
• 3/4 cup shredded cheese (Cheddar, Gruyere, Swiss, etc.)
• Salt and pepper
• 2-3 tablespoons grated Parmesan
• Chopped herbs or parsley, whatever you have around (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Slice the potatoes very thinly lengthwise. If you have a mandoline, use it.
Add the oil and butter to a 10-inch nonstick saute pan, and heat to medium-high. Add the potato slices one at a time, fanning them over each other. Place the slices so that one end is pointed toward the center of the pan, and the other end extends partly up the side of the pan. Continue around until the fanned circle is complete. If there is an empty space in the center, cut a piece of potato slice to cover it. Place another pan of the same size over the potatoes, or use a pie pan. Press the top pan down for a minute to flatten the potatoes. Turn heat to medium, and allow to cook for about 15 minutes, until soft. (Check with the point of a knife.)
While potatoes cook, whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Add the vegetables, scallions or onions, cheese and herbs, if using. Season with salt and pepper.
Remove pan from the top of potatoes, and add the egg mixture. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Carefully place the pan in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, until puffed and golden, and the center is no longer jiggly. Remove from oven and let sit 5 minutes. Run a spatula under the edges to loosen. Shake the pan to make sure the entire fritatta is loose.
Place a serving plate over the top of the pan, and flip both over together. Remove the pan. Cut the fritatta into wedges and serve.
*** THANKS for visiting and have a great holiday!
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