Week 54 Thursday (1/22/15)

Recipe Review                      

Today’s Recipe and Location:           Chocolate Mint Shooters

Found in: The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays

                  Pages:  374 - 375     Copyright:  2013  Harper Collins

I figured out that there are 121 calories per serving, if 20 servings are made. (Please note that the calorie counts vary depending on the specific brands of ingredients that you choose to use.)

This looks like we should dive in right now

         I totally blew this recipe. It called for a cup of coffee, and I absolutely hate the taste of coffee, so I thought I could just add a little whole milk and solve the problem. It did become thick after awhile, but I also had to add more chocolate chips. I decided to leave the chocolate chips small, so that when you tasted the dish you add some small pieces of chocolate in each bite. I also took the easy route and added The whipped cream in a spray can to make my life easier. Sorry, Ree. I really did a number of your recipe.

Random Reflections

         The Chicago Tribune put out a list of some major stars, from my past, that have died in 2014.

         The star’s name that brought a smile to my face was Shirley Temple Black. I loved her movies as a child, and still own many of them today. Of course, I loved Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938). Could it be the name?  Other favorites included Capt. January (1936), Bright Eyes (1934), The Little Colonel (1934), Curly Top (1935), Wee Willie Winkie (1937), The Little Princess (1939), and the Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer (1947).

Shirley was a gifted dancer and I loved to see her sing and dance with Bo Jangles. Many of her movies began in tragedy – she seemed to always lose a mother of father. She was a gifted little actress. I love that we still have her movies to remember her by.

         On a totally different note was Ann B. Davis. Yes, we lost Alice from the Brady Bunch last year. Without Alice the Bradys would have been in trouble. She came to St. Charles when I was in my 20’s. She was at Pheasant Run. Hollywood came to the burbs.

         Of course, everyone talked about the loss of Robin Williams. I was first introduced to him on the silly 70’s show Mork and Mindy. I had never seen anyone like him. He was truly funny. Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) would never have been the same without Williams. We learned about the war, and yet Williams antics eased the stress. I loved Robin in Toys (1992). In this movie, Robin was the wacky son of a Toy maker. It was a really good movie. To this day, I love Mrs. Doubtfire. Robin dressed as a woman was hysterical. I enjoyed him in Jumanji (1995), Jack (1996), and Night at the Museum (2006). He played the straight man to Nathan Lane’s humor in The Birdcage (1996). The one that jumped out at me was Patch Adams (1998). I loved the role of a creative doctor who helped his patients find joy as they suffered through various illnesses. I will truly miss his genius.

         It is sad to read about the passing of these stars who have impacted my life. I will always remember them with a smile on my face, as they filled my life with laughter and happiness.

      

Irksome Ideas and Images

         Spring clothes are coming out in the next month, and it makes me crazy. Why do holiday sales starting months earlier than the actual season?  Valentine’s Day is a month away and yet the aisles are full of cards and candy. That’s just great. In a month the candy will be old.  Who wants old candy?  Oops – with all the preservatives we wouldn’t know how old it really was anyway. Oh well – I can’t change it so I will ignore it.