Apple Cider Donuts Holes Recipe

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup white sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch nutmeg
Pinch salt
¾ cup apple cider
2 eggs, beaten lightly
3 Tbsp oil
1 tsp vanilla
FOR TOPPING:
⅔ cup cinnamon sugar
4 Tbsp melted butter

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Liberally grease a 20-cavity donut hole pan or mini muffin pan with cooking spray and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugars, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Stir in the apple cider, beaten eggs, oil and vanilla and gently mix to combine. Mixture will still be lumpy; this is normal and do not continue to overmix as it'll lead to tough donuts.
Using a cookie dough scoop, portion batter evenly among the donut hole cavities/muffin tins. Bake for approx. 8-10 minutes or until donuts spring back lightly when touched. Cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then gently flip onto a wire rack.
Brush the tops and bottoms of the donuts with the melted butter using a pastry brush, then dredge the donuts in the cinnamon sugar mixture, coating completely. Serve immediately, or store airtight for up to 2 days.

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Make Your Own Spiderwebs from Pretzels and White Chocolate

48 mini pretzel rods
2 ounces melting white chocolate

Start by carefully breaking the pretzel rods in half, using 4 for each web.
On a silicone baking mat, or a piece of parchment paper, lay out the webs by placing the pretzel rods in a snowflake shape with the broken ends meeting in the middle.
Melt the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl in 15 second intervals until it is melted.
Allow the chocolate to cool so it is safe enough to touch, and then transfer it to a resealable ziplock bag and cut a very narrow tip at the corner.
Pipe the chocolate in the center of the pretzel web to connect the pieces, then drizzle in a circular motion to make the web. Each web will use about 1½ teaspoons of melted chocolate.
Allow to harden, then gently pop them off of the surface with a flat metal spatula

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Keep Smiling

World Smile Day is celebrated the first Friday of October. This year, 2017, World Smile Day occurs on October 6. World Smile Day was coined and initiated by Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester Massachusetts. Smile Face holiday was created in 1963 and first celebrated in 1999. The holiday has been hosted each year since then.

Smiling can do great for your immune system. Good moods and smiles can boost your immune system. Smiling can also help relieve stress by releasing endorphins.

It takes more muscles to smile than to frown. It can take up to 53 muscles to smile Babies are born with ability to smile but not frown Some of the many reasons I keep smiling

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History of The Jack O Lantern

Most everyone who has fun at Halloween will decorate a jack-o-lantern of some type. I have seen scary ones, and funny ones and even ones that help tell the story of Christ on the cross. One of the reasons we may not see as many as we used to is the prank of kids stealing them and smashing them. While they think it is "fun" for those who the Jack-O-Lantern belonged to it is not so fun it is vandalism.

The Jack O Lantern has its own story to share:

History of the Jack O'Lantern

The Irish brought the tradition of the Jack O'Lantern to America. But, the original Jack O'Lantern was not a pumpkin. The Jack O'Lantern legend goes back hundreds of years in Irish history. As the story goes, Stingy Jack was a miserable, old drunk who liked to play tricks on everyone: family, friends, his mother and even the Devil himself. One day, he tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree. Once the Devil climbed up the apple tree, Stingy Jack hurriedly placed crosses around the trunk of the tree. The Devil was then unable to get down the tree. Stingy Jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died. Once the devil promised not to take his soul, Stingy Jack removed the crosses and let the Devil down.

Many years later, when Jack finally died, he went to the pearly gates of Heaven and was told by Saint Peter that he was too mean and too cruel and had led a miserable and worthless life on earth. He was not allowed to enter Heaven. He then went down to Hell and the Devil. The Devil kept his promise and would not allow him to enter Hell.

Now Jack was scared and had nowhere to go but to wander about forever in the darkness between Heaven and Hell. He asked the Devil how he could leave as there was no light. The Devil tossed him an ember from the flames of Hell to help him light his way. Jack placed the ember in a hollowed out turnip, one of his favorite foods which he always carried around with him whenever he could steal one.

From that day onward, Stingy Jack roamed the earth without a resting place, lighting his way as he went with his "Jack O'Lantern". On all Hallow's Eve, the Irish hollowed out turnips, rutabagas, gourds, potatoes and beets. They placed a light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. These were the original Jack O'Lanterns.

In the 1800's a couple of waves of Irish immigrants came to America. The Irish immigrants quickly discovered that pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve out. So they used pumpkins for Jack O'Lanterns. (History source:  http://www.budget101.com/) 

Halloween Peanut Butter Spider Cookies Recipe

Halloween Peanut Butter Spider Cookies Recipe

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar for rolling
48 miniature Reese's cups unwrapped and frozen
96 candy eyes
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375.
In a large bowl, beat together shortening, peanut butter, egg, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and milk.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
Gradually add dry mixture to wet mixture and beat until blended.
Form into 1" balls.
Roll in sugar and place a couple of inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden.
Immediately, gently press an upside down frozen peanut butter cup on top of each cookie and move to wire rack to cool.
After placing and moving all of the cookies on the wire rack, put in place the candy eyes while chocolate is still slightly soft.
Place in refrigerator for 10 minutes to allow cookies to firm.
Put chocolate chips in the corner of zippered sandwich bag.
Microwave for 20 seconds, knead and repeat until chocolate has melted.
Clip tiny piece off of the corner of bag to allow for piping and draw eight legs on each spider cookie.
Place in refrigerator for 10 minutes to allow legs to set.

recipe source here 

Rhode Island

In the lineup of the 13 colonies, National Rhode Island was added to the union on October 5th 1636. Roger Williams established the Rhode Island colony when he left the colony of Massachusetts where he had been persecuted for his beliefs. The colony was created to help those seeking religious and political freedom.

Rhode Island was the first to renounce British rule. A representative from Rhode Island was not present at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Rhode Island requested a bill of rights be added to the Constitution before signing. After the constitution was ratified after the threat of taxation and was ratified by nine other states that Rhode Island became the 13th state.

Rhode Island found riches when in the mid 1800s that Samuel Slater founded the first textile mill. Producing cloth would become a lucrative national and export business for Rhode Island . Rhode Island is the smallest state of the 13 original colonies. It is over 400 miles of coast line in the 1212 square miles of the state. Numerous public and private beaches can be found in Rhode Island with amazing ocean views as well

If you have visited or live in Rhode Island is there anything you would love to share about the State. Would love if you would share it in comments

Apple Brown Betty

Apple Brown Betty

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing the baking dish
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 pounds (about 4 medium) apples*
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3 cups soft white bread crumbs
1/3 cup light or dark brown sugar, firmly packed
2 teaspoons apple pie spice or ground cinnamon
Vanilla ice cream, for serving

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 13 X 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with butter, and set aside.
Cut butter into 4 pieces, and place in a microwave-safe measuring cup or small dish. Microwave, covered with paper towel, on high, until melted, about 45 seconds to 1 minute. Set aside.
Squeeze lemon juice into a medium-size mixing bowl. Peel and core apples, and cut into bite-size chunks. Toss apples in lemon juice as you add. When apples are cut, add granulated sugar and stir well. Set aside.
In another medium-size mixing bowl, mix bread crumbs, melted butter brown sugar, and apple pie spice. Stir until most crumbs are coated with butter. (If not all are coated, this is fine.)
Spoon half of apples into buttered dish. Top with half of bread crumbs. Repeat with remaining apples and crumbs.
Bake, uncovered, until apples are tender and top of Betty is crisp and brown, about 45 to 55 minutes. Remove from oven, and cool 15 minutes. Serve in dessert bowls, topped with vanilla ice cream

The one thing that is in apple "betty" that is not in apple crisp is bread crumbs.


recipe source here


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Halloween Treat: Chocolate Halloween Spiders

Cover a baking sheet with waxed paper.  In a small saucepan over low heat, melt chips. Stir until smooth.  Remove from heat.  Stir in butterscotch flavor, noodles and nuts until coated.  Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.  Press on 2 white chocolate chips  to make the eyes.  Chill 15 minutes or until firm. Remove from refrigerator.  Store loosely covered in a cool place.

Trick or Treat alternatives to Candy Ideas

When we speak of Halloween one of the first things to come to mind is Trick or Treating and all the great candy that is to be had. There were candy bars, lollipops, bubble gum and so much more great candy to gather. Now days the goal for many is to find out other trick or treat goodies as alternatives to candy. The reason behind this is the fear of "childhood obesity" There are many organizations that will make deals with children over their Halloween candy. Around here I have seen places even pay per lb for all the candy that a child can gather. The candy is then sent to those such as soldiers. 

While we know that it is not healthy for a child to sit alone with a plastic orange pumpkin full of sweets. What about an overflowing bag full of candy?? Excess candy is not great for teeth, belly, skin or brain. But don't disallow all candy by saying no. Candy that is forbidden often becomes a temptation. Unless your child suffers from extreme dietary restrictions due to health then do not set a definite "no"  but do make limits. Decide how many pieces of candy your child can have each day. 

Yet another idea is to swap your child their candy for a toy. The choice is there, the size propotion is there size. The more they give the bigger the toy. As I stated before the idea of buying back the candy is not new but still a valuable idea. You can pay money, books or even the opportunity to do something special. You can put a price on the candy and how much each item is. 

If you choose to not give candy for Halloween trick or treaters make sure your treat is something that the children will enjoy. Here are some great ideas

Non-food options:

• Temporary tattoos 
• Stickers
• Playdoh
• Pencils
• Small pads of paper
• Fancy erasers
• Pencil toppers
• Crayons
• Coins (pennies, nickels, dimes)
• False teeth
• Superballs
• “Slime”
• Kazoos or other small musical instruments
• Tiny decks of cards
• Origami paper & instructions
• Bubbles

Healthier food options (buy organic if you can afford it):

• Granola bars
• Cereal bars
• Pretzels
• Glee gum
• Packets of instant hot chocolate
• Raisins
• Fruit leathers
• Prepackaged trail mix
• Prepackaged cookies

Most of all let your kids be kids. It is one night a year.  Allow them to have fun. Do you remember what it was like to go trick or treating?? If you have any great suggestions I would love to hear them 

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Time To Twist

Chubby Checker long known as the king of "The Twist" "Rock & Roll" icon.

Ernest Evans in Spring Gully South Carolina was born October 3, 1941. He grew up in projects of South Philadelphia. Evans demonstrated great talent at an early age and formed a music group at age of 8. He would take piano lessons at Settlement Music School during high school days in South Philadelphia. He would practice vocal impressions of artist such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino.

During the late 1950's he worked at the Italian Market as well as entertained all that entered the shop. He scored a contract with Cameo Parkway Records while working at the market. Summer of 1960 introduced "The Twist" The song there after became a smash hit, a great dance craze. There after Checker would rise to superstar status.

The song "The Twist" hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 not only once but twice as a single. In 2008 Checker's version of the song was named the biggest chart hit of all time by Billboard magazine. Checker would sing many songs during his career but he was famous for "The Twist"



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Great Ways To Get Fruits and Veggies in Your Diet

Doctors have long said get more fruit and vegetables into our diets. Fruit and vegetables have been shown to help reduce risk of cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and macular degeneration. High in vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants and more fruits and vegetables are made up of good things.

Get More Fruit and Vegetables In Your Diet:

Make up an apple sandwich using peanut butter and chocolate chips in middle

Drinking 100% fruit or vegetable juice, or eating homemade fresh fruit cocktail with breakfast.

Make up rainbow fruit skewers for snacks. They are easy to make and you can use whatever fruit you like

Make a fruit smoothie for breakfast or afternoon snack (even throw in some leafy greens, such as spinach, to add even more nutrients).

• 1 (7.4 ounce) container pre-cooked Asian sticky rice
• 2 tablespoons sweet sushi vinegar
• 1 strawberry, cut into thin slices
• 1 kiwi, cut into thin slices
• 1 small slice mango, cut into thin slices

Heat sticky rice container in microwave on high for 60 seconds. Open container. With slightly moistened hands, roll the rice into 8 one-inch rice balls. Place on a plate, drizzle with sushi vinegar. Top with a slice of fruit. Serve with chopsticks and enjoy!

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Autumn is a Great Time for Chili

Meat from 1 roasted/rotisserie chicken
2 cans (15.5 ounces each) Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped
1-1/2 cups chicken stock
1 cup apple cider
1-1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
Chopped apples, for garnish (optional)

In slow cooker, stir together chicken, beans, celery, garlic, bay leaf, onion, stock, cider, sage, thyme, chili powder, salt, pepper, paprika and cayenne. Cook on high 4 hours or on low 8 hours.
If desired, serve chili topped with chopped apples.

recipe resource here

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Country Ham and Red Eye Gravy Recipe

Country ham is mad by rubbing the raw meat of ham with salt. It is then hanged fro drying in a controlled environment at 75 to 80 degrees or higher. The ham will be firm and very flavorful. The color of the meat will be a dark burgundy. Country ham is often smoked and tends to be saltier than most hams.

I do not recall dining on country ham before meeting my in laws. I guess you could say they were a bit southern. O.k. they were a lot southern. They loved good food and made it too and while that is not a southern act they always put their own flare on it. This recipe helps me recall the early days with my mother in law

Country Ham with Red Eye Gravy

Country Ham, cured and thinly sliced
½ cup Coffee, black and strong
½ cup water
1 Tablespoon Butter
Instructions

Cut large ham slices in half for ease in cooking.
Cut slits in the skin and fat around the ham edges to prevent curling while cooking.
Place a skillet over medium heat on your stove top.
Add Butter.
Add ham slices.
Cook ham slices, turning at least once, until cooked as desired.
Ham should reach at least 165º surface temperature to be fully cooked.
Remove ham slices and place on platter.
Pour cool coffee into skillet, scraping pan to deglaze and loosen any ham bits.
Add the cool water. Stir well.
Let the gravy simmer and reduce for about 5 minutes. Continue to stir the bottom of the pan.
Serve red eye gravy over grits and the ham slices.
Enjoy!

Buffalo Chicken Muffins

8 Eggs
6 oz. Chicken – Cooked and Chopped
¼ Cup Blue Cheese Crumbles
3 Tbs. Buffalo Wing Sauce
2 Green Onions – Chopped
1 Rib Celery – Chopped
1 Clove Garlic – Minced
Sea Salt and Pepper – To Taste


Preheat oven to 350°. 
In a large mixing bowl, fork whisk eggs. To the eggs, add chicken, blue cheese crumbles, buffalo wing sauce, green onions, celery, garlic, sea salt and pepper. Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated.
Pour mixture into muffin tin. This should be enough to fill 8 spots.
 Bake 20 minutes or until fluffy and golden brown on top.

Look At The Leaves Day

The fall brings with it much color and beauty. Normally by this time the leaves have started changing color and are starting to fall. However, this year the leaves seem to be a bit behind times. Mother nature has allowed a few more warm days that normal this fall and it has slowed the coloring of the leaves. October 3rd each year has traditionally been known as "Look at the Leaves Day". You can look at the beautiful trees all over Southern Illinois but com back in a week or two when to me the beauty will happen like magic.

Leaves help provide energy for trees and plants. They convert sunlight into sugars and starches during photosynthesis. Spring and summer months leaves appear green because of chlorophyll created through photosynthesis. Cooler weather when the sun is less and the days become shorter has the trees storing up energy from the leaves. This energy is needed in the winter. During this time period the chlorophyll breaks down. The energy is transferred to the trees instead of the leaves. The leaves in return change beautiful colors of orange, yellow, brown, red and even appear purple.

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Thanksgiving Day Declared In Proclamation of Abe Lincoln Oct 3. 1863

A day of  "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens" by Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln declared that Thanksgiving Day would be an annual event celebrated on the last Thursday in November. Thanksgiving has been celebrated as a federal holiday every year since 1864.

It's still a bit early to start planning Thanksgiving but before you know it that time will be here. I realize not everyone reading my blog may celebrate Thanksgiving and that is o.k. as the tips, recipes , etc... I share can be used for other special times as well.

The first steps of planning thanksgiving include:

• creating a list of guest that you plan to invite. This will help others as well. An early invite leaves them open to know where they have been invited for dinner. Many may get a few invitations.
• Know who will be helping you prepare the meal and what dishes they plan to make. Having a Thanksgiving menu to send in your invite will help determine if any special foods will be needed for guest.
• Now that the menu is planned create a shopping list dividing it between non-perishables and perishables. Include on the list those little extras that you will want including anything for taking pictures, batteries, matches or lighter to light candles if you plan to use and dont forget the beverages
• If you plan to go fresh this year you will want to order the turkey at the end of October to beginning of November. 
• Do you have plenty of dishware, silverware and glassware?? If you are not for sure take time and see what you all ready have. 
• Plan on using tablecloth and napkins?? Purchase them ahead of time and have that little chore out of way

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Taco trivia do you know, a great recipe for crock-pot chicken soft taco all to Celebrate National Taco Day

A taco is a traditional Mexican dish. A tortilla made of corn or wheat that has been folded or rolled around a filling

Taco's can be made with many different types of fillings. Fillings may include beef, chicken, seafood, vegetable and cheese. 

Normally taco's are enjoyed without utensils. Served on or along side of tacos are normally a variety of garnishes. These garnishes may include salsa, avocado, guacamole, cilantro, tomatoes, meat of choice, onions, lettuce and cheese. 

Most everyone likes tacos in one fashion or another because they can be made to suit the creators taste. The recipe I share today is a crock-pot recipe and comes from the website A Year of Slow Cooking where many great recipes can be found. 

Our recipe starts with the list of ingredients 

--frozen boneless, skinless chicken pieces

--can of tomatoes and chiles (and the juice)

--1/3 cup of water

--1 cup frozen corn

--can of beans (drained)--I had most of a can of kidney beans in the fridge that I used.

your favorite taco or burrito fixings, and shells or tortillas

Looking very common to many tacos that our family and possibly your family will love. The main meat ingredient is chicken. I like to use chicken as I can often purchase it more economically than other types of meat. 

--plop the chicken into the crockpot. I used frozen pieces. If you chicken is thawed, it will not take as long to cook.

--cover chicken with the tomatoes, water, and corn.

--cook on low for 7-10 hours, or on high for 5-6. Shred meat with forks and stuff into your favorite shell or tortilla.

TBB ASKS....... Fall

Favorite Fall Sweet that is a tough one I love fall from everything to the caramel apple's , mary jane candies and roasting marshmallows. Oh yes fall food is awesome

I would say a good yellow, red is swell as well, green is the one I do not eat a lot of

favorite fall sport to play?? I am getting a bit older to play I like to take walks, my grand-kids love to play soccer and I enjoy a good football game

best drink to me would be apple cider of course

favorite fall activity sitting around the bonfire with family and friends

must have fall purchase to me includes trips to apple orchards and pumpkin patches

I have purchased both types of pumpkins I really like taking family trip to pumpkin patch

I like the real pumpkins best but the fakes are getting better and look great as well if decorating

favorite halloween costume would be the one my sister wore when in grade school, it was a simple white sheet and of course she went as a ghost.

I truly love our hometown high school football team, after them would come the college and then pro

I do more fall decor than halloween but there is a bit of all thrown in. Fall can be carried over past halloween so that is why I have more simple fall decor

I have always loved raking leaves. When I was older I could create an imaginary mansion using the leaves to form a border. Perhaps some of my happiest memories are of my parents and us kids raking leaves and doing fall chores

I personally could have soup, sandwich for supper every night til spring but I do not think all that live with me would enjoy that. My favorite soup is chili

There certainly are some awesome scents that I have found . I truly love the pumpkin pie scent

Love pumpkin pie spice, I recently shared a recipe where you can make your own pumpkin pie spice

I have always been a short bootie type of girl but not too short a bit up my calf but not to my knee

My favorite halloween candy, wow that is a tough one as I am not sure what my favorite is I like the ones made by Brach's many years ago that look like moon and pumpkins but like my daughter I also love the peanut butter mary janes as well

I'll pass on the latte but offer it to one of my daughters and they will take it gladly

I would rather the whole family be on a hayride than lost in a corn maze

I love all the classic cartoons that are on at Halloween time, while I have seen them many times before for the younger ones it may be the first time

Join in the fun and share your answers here

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International Coffee Day

Today, International Coffee Day, honors all those that are behind making coffee. This holiday celebrated on October 1st was started by International Coffee Organization in 2015. Members of this Organization include 98% of the world's coffee production and 83% of worlds coffee consumption. 

Coffee is the one drink that the whole world seems to value. It is a drink made from roasted and ground beans at the coffee plant. Coffee beans were first found in Ethiopia. Arabica beans are now grown throughout the coffee belt. The coffee belt lays between the latitude of 25 degrees North and 30 degrees south. Seventy five percent of the worlds coffee bean production is arabica. Other beans include robusta beans known as congo coffee beans. 

Coffee arrived in Italy in 1615 and France by 1644. The great Louis XIV in 1669 had the presence of the popular drink all around his kingdom. France was responsible for spreading the beans through the Caribbean Island of Martinque. This led to the plants growing through central and south America. The dutch are responsible for introducing the coffee plant to Indonesia and Java. 

The invention of coffee would lead to gathering places as well. In 1688 London opened a coffee house and the American colonies had one as well. The colonies would find a spike in coffee during the revolutionary war. Coffee would lose its popular vote after this due to its cost. However, in 1860 the American Coffee Corporation was formed and began buying beans straight from Brazil and Columbia this made coffee less expensive. Brazil is the place that makes up about a third of all beans throughout the world. Columbia is the words second largest provider of all coffee beans. .

Coffee became easier to get by creating coffee in the can in 1878. One of the more famous brands on the market is Maxwell House. Before being available in the can for home use Maxwell Coffee was sold in the Maxwell House hotel in Nashville Tennessee where Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed a cup in 1907. 

Decaf coffee became available in 1903. It was not a popular choice until around the 1930's Today Decaf Coffee makes up 1/4 of the coffee market. Roast coffee comes in a great variety as well.Darker roast is preferred in the United States coffee shops. 

There are many different types of roasts of coffee, and the rise in a preference for darker roasts in the United States was fueled by the proliferation of coffee shops around the country. This boom was started with the opening of Starbucks in Seattle in 1983. 

Great reasons to drink coffee:

• coffee helps with physical performance. Having a cup of black coffee about 1 hour before workout can help improve your performance. The reason is caffeine that increases adrenaline levels in your blood. It helps give the body a "fight or flight" boost and helps prepare for physical exertion.
• coffee may help you lose weight. Magnesium and potassium can be found in coffee. These minerals help the human body use insulin, regulate blood sugar levels and reduce cravings for sugary snacks.
• coffee can help keep you focus and alert. A moderate caffeine intake of 1 to 6 cups a day can help you stay focus and improve your mental alertness. 
• Studies have shown that coffee drinker's overall risk of premature death is 25% lower than of those who don't drink coffee
• Coffee reduces risk of cancer in studies. The risk of developing prostate cancer can be decreased by 20% and endometrial cancer in women by 25%.than those who do not drink coffee
• Enjoying between 2 to 4 cups of coffee a day has been shown to help reduce risk of stroke In addition coffee can help reduce risk of Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's can be reduced by 25% as coffee is believed to cause activity in the part of the brain affected by Parkinson's
• Coffee contains antioxidants that can help fight and protect against free radicals within your body High caffeine levels in your blood reduce the risk of Alzheimer disease and may decrease dementia as well. 
• Coffee has the ability to stimulate the central nervous system. The production of neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and noroadrenaline can elevate your mood. Two cups of coffee helps prevent risk of suicide by 50%.

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friday at fire station

National Fire Pup Day

Dalmatians have long served as mascots for fire departments. Why would fire fighters need a dog?? It seems that in the past dalmatian dogs helped keep rats away from fire houses. They also helped guide horse drawn fire wagons through city streets by keeping the horses stay calm. The Dalmatians also helped to guard the horses and fire equipment from vandalism and theft.

Dalmatians are well recognized with their white fur with black spots. It was important that the dogs be recognized so that others would know them as fire dogs.

Today fire dogs are still very present in the fire house. Fire stations across England and America keep dalmatians on site for fire house residents as well as mascots. Tasks for modern firehouse dog may include:

• Serving as companions for firefighters 
• firehouse must still be guarded
• Fire dogs still ride along to fires and stand guard over the truck
• dalmatians still act like fire company mascot

Does your fire house have a fire pup?? 

National Homemade Cookies Day Recipes Included

October 1st is a day that salutes those who love to bake those great smelling homemade cookies. If you are wanting to bake up your own home made cookies then October is the perfect time to do so. If you are wanting to find some individuals to test them more than likely it won't be hard. Package up some of those goodies and share them with family, friends, neighbors and even co-workers.

One of the best parts of making homemade cookies is the smell they create while baking. Peanut butter, chocolate chip, sugar and snickerdoodle are just a few that ideas that you can make. Whatever recipe you choose to mix up a great way to enjoy them is fresh from the oven with a cold glass of milk.

A few tips that may help next time you bake up a batch of homemade cookies:

• most cookies recipe ingredient list include butter or fat. Butter should be soft, and around room temperature. If you need to quickly bring your butter to room temp place stick butter in its wrapper in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high 10 seconds. rotate and microwave 10 more seconds, once again turn and test butter if the butter needs it microwave 10 more seconds
• Cream butter and sugar together to create a smooth, fluffy mix. This will not allow the mix to be too grainy. Eggs should be beat in seperately
• Make sure measurements are correct. When measuring flour spoon the flour into measuring cup and level off with edge of knife
• Metal baking sheets should be lined with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent the cookies from spreading too far. Using a baking stone can evenly bake cookies every time

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies (recipe source all recipes)

• 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter

• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.
2. Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well. Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.
3. Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

tip: freeze or chill the peanut butter cups will make them easier to insert into cookie 

Monster Chocolate Chip Cookies (recipe source Taste of Home)

1 cup shortening

1/2 cup butter, softened

1-1/3 cups sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

4 eggs

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon lemon juice

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup quick-cooking oats

2 teaspoons baking soda

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

4 cups (24 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

2 cups chopped nuts

1. In a large bowl, cream shortening, butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in vanilla and lemon juice. Combine the dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chips and nuts. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
2. Drop by 1/4 cupfuls 3 in. apart onto lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 14-16 minutes or until lightly browned and center is set. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks. Yield: about 3 dozen.

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