Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 23 May 2010

Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr


From Denny: Thanks for visiting all my blogs! It's amazing how much the web has changed in only 18 months. Now people can read blogs without ever physically visiting - just read the posts in a reader.

At the top of the list here for each blog are the most recent posts. I've included many of the most popular posts you've enjoyed the past few weeks too.

I've just started up yet another interest blog for posts and news on music and art. Thank you for the great response! I had no idea people would respond so well to those couple of posts so quickly.

And special thanks to the folks who posted the Jazz Music poem up on social sites this week. Apparently, there are a number of music fans out there! :) Thanks for visiting The Social Poets!




The Social Poets:


America This Week: World Politics Cartoons and Commentary - 22 May 2010

Jazz Music poem - Libations Friday 21 May 2010

Funny Poet: Guy Wetmore Carryl

Funny Volcano and Weather Quotes - Cheeky Quote Day 19 May 2010

Scientists: New Airport Scanners Not Safe

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 17 May 2010

Funny Video: Stewart Skewers Conservatives 4 Obama-Bush Comparisons

Funny Video: Colbert Lampoons Kagan Confirmation Hearing

Posts Roundup This Week at Dennys Blogs - 16 May 2010






Dennys Global Politics:


Political Cartoons: Local and World Economy

Actor Kevin Costner Pitches Solution to BP Headache, Intelligence Head Resigns, Why Kagan Elitist Good - News Headlines 20 May 2010

Russia Furious With America Over Afghan Drugs, Terrorism Financing Un-Islamic, White House Food - News Headlines 19 May 2010

Sticking It to Iran, Obama and Jobs Creation, Survey Goes Against New Oil Drilling - News Headlines 18 May 2010

Airport Scanners Safety Questioned, Iran Skirts Nuke Sanctions, Sex Criminals Indefinitely Detained - News Headlines 17 May 2010





The Soul Calendar:


Ground-Breaking King of the Lab: Venter Creates Synthetic DNA

Video: Check Out the River Monsters Swimming Near You


Bloggers: Get The New Google Buzz Buttons

Neuroscience: Want Your Man to Better Understand You? Try Empathy Nasal Spray



Beautiful Illustrated Quotations:


Sometimes What You Sideline is a Good Thing

3 Quotes: Have You Validated Yourself Recently?

3 Positive Attitude Quotes to Help Shape Your World

Are You Stuck in Life Not Knowing Where to Go Next?

Mothers Day Quote From Rose Kennedy

How Can You Help Your Child Keep Their Balance And Yours?

Mothers Day Quote: The Funny Stages of Motherhood

4 Special Quotes to Anchor Your Dreams




Humor blogs - Dennys Funny Quotes, Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd:


Dark Humor: BP Oil Spill Cartoons - 22 May 2010

Outrageous: Graduation Debt Cartoons - 22 May 2010

Funny Video: Colbert On BP Oil Containment - No One Knows What The Flock They're Doing

Funny Video: Cartoonist Mocks Tea Party Hypocrisy

Funny Video: Betty White On SNL Monologue

Funny Video: Betty White, SNL Golden Girls Lampoon Lawrence Welk Show

Funny Video: Cover Up Your Sex Scandal With A New Batch Of Euphemisms

Terrorism and Times Square, Immmigration Cartoons - 15 May 2010

Hunh? Funny Political Cartoons 15 May 2010

10 Funny Odd Photos - cute animals and crazy dressed people!

Funny Video: TV Anchor Falls off Chair




The Healing Waters:


Controversial Successful New Treatment 4 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Injuries During Sex, Miracle Baby, Bad Drug Ad Snitches Wanted - Health News Stories - 14 May 2010

Funny Wall Street Political Cartoons - 15 May 2010




Food blogs - Romancing The Chocolate and Comfort Food From Louisiana:


Simple Summer: 2 Super Easy Spaghetti Sauces

Easy Recipes: 4 Versions of Crawfish Pie

Triple Chocolate Toffee Brownies

Elegant Cheap Dishes From Manhattan Chef: Chicken With 40 Garlic Cloves, Salad and Dessert

Sweet Breakfasts: Caramel Pecan Buns, Sweet Blueberry Drop Biscuits, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Tradtional Sandwiches Updated: California Tuna Melt, Egg Salad

Chocolate Wonders: Kentucky Derby Pie, Make-ahead Chocolate Soufflé

Easy Moist Chocolate Mayo Cake From Bon Appetit

Video: Louisiana Chef Makes Crawfish Etouffee

5 Easy Recipes 4 Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

2 Crowd Pleasing Easy Casseroles: Mexican Lasagna, Turkey Tetrazzini

Awesome Cajun Barbecued Shrimp — New Orleans Style

Yummy Homemade Coconut Cream Pie

Awesome Sauces 4 Louisiana Seafood

Spring Into Grill Season: Mouthwatering Steaks

Chef Rocco Dispiritos Cheap Yet Healthy Comfort Food

Kid Friendly Recipes: Chocolate Quesadillas, Very Best Fudge




Visual Insights, photo blog:


Political Cartoons: Memorial Day - 22 May 2010

Supreme Court Nominee Political Cartoons - 15 May 2010

Dennys Funny Photo Gallery: The Nose Knows

Dennys Photo Gallery: Garden Views

Dennys Photo Gallery: Life is Just Plain Funny

Dennys Photo Gallery: How to Know Its Spring

Funny Odd Couples: Cats and Their Weirdo Friends

Dennys Photo Gallery: Spectacular Sunrises

Dennys Photo Gallery: Beautiful Blues in Our World

Photography, Beautiful Metaphor for Life: 17 Boats

Only White Theme: 26 Photos

Photo History: 1st Lady Gowns, Michelle Obama Donates Hers




Dennys Art Santuary:


The Stones, Otis Redding, Ronnie James Dio - Arts and Music News 17 May 2010

Featuring Marilyn Monroes Jazz Pianist Hank Jones - Arts and Music Headlines 18 May 2010


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Check Out 2 Funny Posts 2 Get U Thru the Work Week

British Petroleum giving "face" to President Obama about paying for their oil spill


From Denny: Check out some funnies and hike on over to one of my other blogs, The Social Poets, for some mid-work week fun!


Funny Volcano and Weather Quotes - Cheeky Quote Day 19 May 2010 - Funny volcano and weather quotes, jokes, political cartoons and funny video all designed to make you laugh til your boss fires you for "excessive merriment."

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 17 May 2010 - Chock full of funny video clips from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert and Betty White on SNL as well as the late night show jokes and quips.


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Easy Recipes: 4 Versions of Crawfish Pie

Crawfish pie in New Orleans, Louisiana by Matt Lancashire @ flickr


From Denny: Crawfish pie is a fav in south Louisiana when the crawfish boils end. We start making crawfish versions of etouffee, stews, pastas and crawfish pies. You can make this simple pie with a filling of shrimp, fish or whatever your heart desires. Seafood is a favorite around here.

Because they are so ridiculously easy to make we use them for appetizers, brunch, lunch or dinner. Traditionally, they are made simply with onions, bell pepper, celery (the Holy Trinity) and lots of crawfish fat to flavor it.

Crawfish fat is usually not available so we flavor the pies with all kinds of creativity from canned soups, tomatoes and rice to help create a base for the filling.

One recipe filling for the pie featured here is made with a golden roux and two pounds of crawfish. Another recipe has no traditional roux but rather is thickened with the easy way of using cornstarch. Cornstarch also gives a cleaner direct flavor than a flour thickener which can tone down spices and meat flavors.

The Aunt Genny Hebert recipe is from a 90 year old lady from Breaux Bridge for popular individual crawfish pies. She used cream of shrimp soup and evaporated milk in her filling. Over the years this has proven to be a most popular recipe during crawfish season and all the gatherings associated with celebrating the season.

You can make your own crust or purchase pre-rolled pie crusts in the refrigerated section of your grocery store which many Louisiana cooks do routinely. The frozen food section also offers ready-to-bake pie crusts.

Most of these recipes finish the pies with fresh chopped green onions and fresh parsley.

The Drunken Crawfish Pie recipe is chock full of two pounds of crawfish to the point it's worth it to make your own pie crust just to contain all the goodness! :) The light roux also contains delicious brandy and heavy cream.





Individual Crawfish Pies From Aunt Genny Hebert

From: Genny Hebert of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, is provided by niece Kara Hebert

Makes: 15 or 17 individual pies


Ingredients:

1 stick margarine or butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (10-3/4-oz.) can condensed cream of shrimp soup
1 tbl. cornstarch
1 small can (5-oz.) evaporated milk
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 lb. crawfish tails
Salt and cayenne pepper, to taste
15 to 17 (3-inch) frozen pie shells (I used Dutch Ann brand 8-per-box from Calandro’s Supermarket.)


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium saucepan, over medium heat, melt margarine or butter and sauté onion until tender. Add soup. Stir often.

2. In small bowl, add cornstarch and slowly stir in evaporated milk. Stir until well blended. Stir milk mixture into onion and soup mixture in saucepan. Continue to cook until everything is blended.

3. Add green onion, crawfish tails, salt and cayenne. Continue to cook 10 minutes. Fill pie shells and bake 25-30 minutes until golden brown.





Drunken Crawfish Pie

From: Mark Beridon

Serves 8. Recipe is from “Recipes to Bank On” 1990 Food Focus booklet. This recipe, submitted by Mark Beridon, won the Louisiana competition in the Crisco American Pie Celebration contest.


Ingredients:

Crust:

2-1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter-flavor
shortening
1/2 cup water

Filling:

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1 onion, chopped
2 tsps. finely minced garlic
1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper
3 tbls. finely minced fresh parsley
2 tbls. chopped celery
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onion tops
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 tbls. brandy
2 lbs. crawfish tails


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. To prepare crust: Combine flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or two knives until mixture is uniform. Add water about 1 tablespoon at a time. Stir with a fork until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough into two equal parts.

3. On lightly floured surface, roll bottom crust into a circle 1/8-inch thick and one inch larger than an inverted (9-inch) deep-dish pie plate. Gently ease dough into pie plate, being careful not to stretch the dough. Set aside while preparing filling.

4. To prepare filling: Melt butter over low heat in a large skillet. Gradually add flour and cook slowly, stirring constantly until a light roux forms (about the color of caramel). Add onion, garlic, green bell pepper, parsley, celery and green onion tops. Continue to stir until vegetables are all very soft.

5. Add salt, black pepper, heavy cream and brandy. Mix gently but thoroughly and cook for 3 additional minutes over low heat.

6. Add crawfish tails and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool.

7. Spoon cooled filling into unbaked pastry shell.

8. On a lightly floured surface roll out top crust the same as bottom crust. Gently place top crust over filled pie. Moisten and seal edges. Flute as desired. Cut 6 slits in the top crust.

9. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

10. Cool 5 minutes and then serve.






Crawfish Pies (with rice in the filling)

From: Shelley Boudreaux

Makes: 2 (9-inch) pies. This was the crawfish pie her mother made. The following recipe calls for 2 pounds of crawfish tails and makes 2 single-crust pies. The pies have a nice thick filling. Serve one tonight and freeze the other one or share it with a friend.


Ingredients:

2 pie crusts
1-1/2 sticks butter
2 onions, chopped
1 bunch green onions, washed, dried and chopped
1/2 bunch fresh parsley, washed, dried and chopped
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tbl.)
2 lbs. crawfish tails
Tony Chachere’s Original Creole Seasoning or salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper, to taste
2 (10-3/4-oz.) cans cream of mushroom condensed soup
2 (10-3/4-oz.) cans cream of celery condensed soup
2 to 3 cups cooked rice


Directions:


1. Prepare pie crust in bottom of 9-inch pie dish. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In large skillet, melt butter and sauté onions, green onions, parsley and garlic until onions are soft.

3. Add crawfish tails and season to taste. Cook, uncovered for about 10 minutes.

4. Add cream of mushroom and cream of celery soups. Cook another 5-10 minutes.

5. Remove from heat and gently stir in at least 2 cups of cooked rice. You will have to judge if it looks too soupy, and if so, add more rice. Allow the filling to cool slightly.

6. Spoon into prepared pie crusts. Crimp top edge of pie or gently fold it over the pie filling.

7. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes or until pie crust is nicely browned and pie is heated through. If after 15-18 minutes pie crust is getting too browned, cover top edges with strips of foil to prevent burning. Cool about 5 minutes before serving.






Crawfish Pie

From: Corinne Cook, 2theadvocate.com food writer

Serves: 4 to 6


Ingredients:

2 unbaked pie crusts (I used the Just Unroll Pillsbury Pie Crusts)
1/2 stick butter
1 onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
1 lb. crawfish tails
2 tbls. cornstarch
1 or 2 tbls. water, if needed (if filling is too dry)
1 small bunch green onions, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt, black pepper and red pepper, to taste


Directions:

1. Place unbaked pie crust in bottom of 9-inch pie dish and set aside.

2. In large skillet, melt butter and add onion, celery and bell pepper. Sauté over medium heat until vegetables are soft. Stir often to prevent burning.

3. Add crawfish tails and stir to mix. Stir in the cornstarch. Stir until smooth and well mixed. Mixture will thicken slightly. If mixture appears too dry, add 1 or 2 tablespoons water. You don’t want it too soupy; mixture will thin during baking.

4. Add green onions and parsley and season to taste. Pour filling into pie crust.

5. Top pie with second pie crust. Crimp both edges of pie together. With the tip of a sharp knife, cut three or four slits into the top of the pie crust.

6. Place in preheated 350-degree oven for about 25-35 minutes or until crust is browned and filling is bubbly.






*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Simple Summer: 2 Super Easy Spaghetti Sauces

Fresh tomatoes photo by epSos.de @ flickr


From Denny: This chef, Guiliano Hazan, suggests simple dishes of the freshest food for an easy summer meal. Read that as you don't spend a lot of time slaving over a hot stove in the heat of summer. He uses the food processor to create a raw veggie puree as a sauce that is simple and bursting with fresh flavor. He does suggest peeling the tomatoes and the bell pepper and demos how. If you are worried about pestacides - and who isn't? - this might be a good idea. He shows us how easy it is to do and is about the only thing about these recipes that could be found to be somewhat time-consuming.

The second sauce uses fresh tomatoes, fresh herbs and yummy mozzarella cheese that you toss into warm pasta and then set aside with plastic wrap over the dish to melt the cheese. What could be easier?

What's good about large bowls of pasta is it provides a casual simple and easy way to entertain without too much heat or effort in the kitchen. This chef's book has over 100 easy pasta recipes that are worth the read! Click on the cookbook title link to go to the review of his new book to find out more about this award winning famous chef.






To check out his book, go here:"Giuliano Hazan’s Thirty Minute Pasta"

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Spaghetti all checca

From: Giuliano Hazan, "Giuliano Hazan’s Thirty Minute Pasta"

Makes: 4 servings

From Chef Hazan: I originally discovered this classic, refreshing Neapolitan summer dish at a restaurant called Cambusa in Positano. It is an uncooked sauce where the ingredients are simply scalded with hot oil before being tossed with the pasta. Use tomatoes whose flesh is firm and flavorful. Plum tomatoes are a good fall-back if nothing else seems suitable.


INGREDIENTS

• 2 pounds fresh tomatoes
• 8 ounces fresh whole milk mozzarella
• Salt
• 1 pound spaghetti
• 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 6-8 fresh basil leaves
• 4-5 sprigs fresh oregano
• 3-4 springs fresh thyme
• Freshly ground black pepper


DIRECTIONS

Fill a pot for the pasta with about 6 quarts of water, place over high heat, and bring to a boil.

Peel the tomatoes, remove the seeds, and cut into small 1/4-inch dice. Put the tomatoes in the serving bowl you’ll be serving the pasta in.

Add about 2 tablespoons salt to the boiling pasta water, put in the spaghetti, and stir until all the strands are submerged. Cook until very al dente (about 30 seconds less than you normally would).

While the pasta is cooking, put the olive oil in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Heat until the oil begins to smoke then remove from the heat.

While the oil is heating, cut the mozzarella into small 1/4-inch dice. Coarsely chop the basil. Chop enough oregano to a medium fine consistency to measure about 4 teaspoons. Finely chop enough thyme to measure about 1 teaspoon. Add the herbs to the bowl with the tomatoes and season well with salt and pepper. When the oil is hot, pour it into the bowl and mix thoroughly.

When the pasta is done, drain well, and toss it with the ingredients in the serving bowl. Add the mozzarella, toss again, then cover the bowl and let stand for about a minute to allow the cheese to melt a bit. Uncover the bowl, toss one last time, and serve at once.






Spaghetti with raw peppers and tomato

From: Giuliano Hazan, "Giuliano Hazan’s Thirty Minute Pasta"

Makes: 4 servings

From Chef Hazan: Saucing pasta with raw sauces is not uncommon and makes for a great refreshing summer dish. Some require a period of maceration but this one is best soon after it is made.


INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound fresh tomatoes
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 3-4 sprigs flat leaf Italian parsley
• 1 tablespoons whole milk
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound spaghetti
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil


DIRECTIONS

Fill a pot for the pasta with about 6 quarts of water, place over high heat, and bring to a boil.

Peel the tomato and remove the seeds. Peel the pepper, core it, remove the seeds, and cut away any white pith inside. Put the parsley leaves, tomato, pepper, milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a light grinding of black pepper in a food processor. Run the processor until you get a smooth puree.

When the water for the pasta is boiling, add about 2 tablespoons salt to the boiling pasta water, put in the spaghetti, and stir until all the strands are submerged. Cook until very al dente, about 30 seconds before they are done.

Transfer the sauce to the bowl where you will be serving the pasta. Add the Parmigiano-Reggiano and olive oil and mix well. When the pasta is done, drain well, toss thoroughly with the sauce, and let stand for about 2 minutes before serving.






To check out his book, go here: "Giuliano Hazan’s Thirty Minute Pasta"


*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!

Posts Roundup This Week at Dennys Blogs - 16 May 2010

Cup of coffee from Brazil by il Quoquo @ flickr


From Denny: This sure has been quite the week with the drama unfolding out in the Gulf of Mexico with the BP oil spill off my Louisiana coast. The cartoonists have had great fun lampooning the various lies and finger pointing from the CEOs involved. The better news is that BP is finally making a bit of headway on corralling some of the oil for clean up, siphoning it into a tanker.

Some headway is better than nothing and at least it has slowed down the rate of gushing oil and natural gas for the moment. Definitely better than using an atomic bomb to blow up the well like the crazy Russians suggested. There's a plan. Nuke the Gulf of Mexico and irradiate the ocean waters for the next thousand years. Fortunately, BP and the government are contemplating lesser crazy options.

As a result of the oil spill there are countless great political cartoons and funny videos by the likes of Colbert to enjoy. And Betty White was the toast of late night TV on SNL after turning in some hilarious performances. She then proceeded to go out all night carousing with the SNL cast after the show. She's almost 89 years old and there's no time to waste for having fun! :)






The Social Poets:


BP Oil Spill Funny Political Cartoons - 15 May 2010

Love Gift Poem - Libations Friday 14 May 2010

3 Funny Videos: Hilarious Betty White On SNL, Cartoonist Mocks Tea Party

Funny Wall Street Quotes and Jokes, Stewart Lampoons Wall Street - Cheeky Quote Day 12 May 2010

One Million Homeowners Walked Away: Can It Kill Our Economy?

Video: The Case For Walking Away From Your Mortgage

Roundup of Late Night Funnies - 10 May 2010

Funny Video: Colbert Lampoons Conservative Preacher and His Rentboy

Funny Video: Stewart Slams Media, BP, And Hypocritical Politicians For Oil Spill Response

Funny Video: 2010 White House Correspondents Dinner with Prez Obama

See Cartoons by Cartoon by R.J. Matson - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Dennys Global Politics:


World Economy Political Cartoons - 15 May 2010

Russians Say Nuke BP Oil Spill, Hordes Leaving Facebook, Big Business Cheats, Obamas Tax Reform - News Headlines 13 May 2010

BP Found Cheating, Auto Dealers Sleazing Public, Voters Oust Porkers, Haiti Charities Stingy - News Headlines 12 May 2010

Hedge Fund Short Selling Caused Market Dive, Cameron New Brit PM, Govt Changes Approach to Oil Oversight - News Headlines 11 May 2010

Woman Chosen 4 Supreme Court, BP Sprays Chemicals into Oil Spill, Obscene Exec Perks - News Headlines 10 May 2010




Beautiful Illustrated Quotations:


3 Quotes: Have You Validated Yourself Recently?

3 Positive Attitude Quotes to Help Shape Your World

Are You Stuck in Life Not Knowing Where to Go Next?

Mothers Day Quote From Rose Kennedy

How Can You Help Your Child Keep Their Balance And Yours?

Mothers Day Quote: The Funny Stages of Motherhood

4 Special Quotes to Anchor Your Dreams




Food Blogs:


Triple Chocolate Toffee Brownies

Elegant Cheap Dishes From Manhattan Chef: Chicken With 40 Garlic Cloves, Salad and Dessert

Sweet Breakfasts: Caramel Pecan Buns, Sweet Blueberry Drop Biscuits, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

See Cartoons by Cartoon by J.D. Crowe - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Humor blogs:


Funny Video: Colbert On BP Oil Containment - No One Knows What The Flock They're Doing

Funny Video: Cartoonist Mocks Tea Party Hypocrisy

Funny Video: Betty White On SNL Monologue

Funny Video: Betty White, SNL Golden Girls Lampoon Lawrence Welk Show

Funny Video: Cover Up Your Sex Scandal With A New Batch Of Euphemisms

Terrorism and Times Square, Immmigration Cartoons - 15 May 2010

Hunh? Funny Political Cartoons 15 May 2010




Visual Insights photo blog:


Supreme Court Nominee Political Cartoons - 15 May 2010

Dennys Funny Photo Gallery: The Nose Knows




The Healing Waters and The Soul Calendar:


Injuries During Sex, Miracle Baby, Bad Drug Ad Snitches Wanted - Health News Stories - 14 May 2010

Funny Wall Street Political Cartoons - 15 May 2010



*** THANKS for visiting, feel welcome to drop a comment or opinion, enjoy bookmarking this post on your favorite social site, a big shout out to awesome current subscribers – and if you are new to this blog, please subscribe in a reader or by email updates!