Signers: Delaware and Georgia

There is a new restaurant open now in Washington DC.  It is called Declaration and it is located in the North Shaw neighborhood. (well that's great there, Brave Astronaut, but why do I care?)  If you choose to dine at Declaration, you can order your very own "Signers-created Pizza."  So below, and from here on out, I will tell who what pizza you can have it you are fond of a particular signer.

Today's post concerns the First State and the southernmost colony.

Delaware

• George Read (1733-1798), a lawyer initially voted against the resolution on independence as proposed by Richard Henry Lee, but later joined with the majority in signing the Declaration.  In 1776, Read returned home to Delaware to chair the new state's Constitutional Convention.  In 1777 he became the emergency governor and led the state through the Revolution.  The final office he held before his death was Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court.
• Caesar Rodney (1728-1784), had no formal education, but served as a clerk in Delaware which exposed him to politics.  An ardent patriot, Rodney was a strong voice for independence.  Following the signing of the Declaration, Rodney returned home to serve as President of the State of Delaware and also served as a commander in the Delaware militia.  He suffered a number of physical ailments and was never in good health.  He died while serving as Speaker of the Delaware Assembly.
• Thomas McKean (1734-1817), served multiple states and jurisdictions over the course of a long political career.  Among many roles, McKeon served as Governor of Pennsylvania, President of Delaware, and was a Colonel in the New Jersey militia.  At Declaration, you can order the "Thomas McKeon," a pizza with ricotta, parmesan, fresh mozzarella, sausage, idiazabal cheese, brussels sprouts.

Georgia

• Button Gwinnett (1735-1777), an ardent revolutionary, Gwinnett represented Georgia but had political enemies at home.  Hoping to head Georgia's militia following his signing of the Declaration, the position instead went to his political rival.  Gwinnett challenged the man to a duel and Gwinnett was shot and died three days later at the age of 42.
• Lyman Hall (1724-1790), Dr. Lyman Hall came to the Continental Congress initially undecided on independence.  He was for it, but the residents of Georgia weren't so sure.  He ultimately signed the document and paid for it when the British burned his home in Georgia and he was forced to flee to South Carolina and later Connecticut.  At Declaration, the Lyman Hall pizza features roasted celery, carrot, onions, oven roasted amish chicken, mushrooms.
• George Walton (1741-1804), Walton was also a devout patriot in Georgia, and was closely aligned with Gwinnett.  After signing the Declaration, he returned to Georgia, serving in the Georgia militia.  He later served as Governor and Chief Justice in the Peach State.

Pecan Pie Bites

OK.  Now we have a problem.  I pretty much love everything that the Pioneer Woman puts out there - but I'm just going on record, Mrs. BA's Pecan Bars ROCK.  These might be good - but Mrs. BA's would be better, I just know it.  From a Land O' Lakes recipe via the Pioneer Woman.

Pecan Pie Bites
40 min. prep time 
1:25 total time 
36 cookies 

Cookie

• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 

Filling

• 1 cup finely chopped pecans 
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions 
Heat oven to 350ºF. Spray 36 mini muffin pan cups with no-stick cooking spray; set aside.

Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar, butter, egg yolk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat at low speed until well mixed.

Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls; place each into prepared mini muffin pan cups, pressing dough onto bottom and up one-third sides of each cup, creating a shallow cup.

Combine all filling ingredients in bowl; spoon 1 teaspoon filling into each cookie.

Bake 13-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 10 minutes in pan on cooling rack.

Remove cookies from pans by running small knife around edge of cookie. Place onto cooling rack; cool completely.

Nutrition Facts (1 cookie) 
Calories: 80 
Fat: 5g 
Cholesterol: 10mg 
Sodium: 25mg 
Carbohydrates: 10g 
Dietary Fiber: 0g 
Protein: 1g

Another Way for Salmon

Well, dear readers, if you were here last week, you saw my PSA for serving crepes on Candlemas / Groundhog Day.  Upon serving them up on Tuesday, LBA asked about how to make them.  I explained they are relatively easy to make, with just four ingredients in equal proportions.  SoBA contemplated this and quickly asked, "then why don't we have them more often?"  A fine question, indeed.  By virtue of the calendar, crepes will again be on the menu tomorrow night for Mardi Gras, the night before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent in the Catholic calendar.  But it would seem that crepes need to appear more than twice a year, in the same month.

For Ash Wednesday, Catholics are requested to abstain from meat (and also give something up for Lent), so maybe we will have salmon for dinner.  Here's a recipe for Salmon with Brussel Sprouts (which I think are coming in the box tomorrow - along with more snow overnight).  Recipe from Diethood via BuzzFeed.

One Sheet Pan Garlic Roasted Salmon with Brussels Sprouts
Serves: 6 Servings
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Total time: 30 mins

Ingredients 
FOR THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS

• 2 pounds brussel sprouts, ends trimmed 
• 3 tablespoons STAR Garlic Flavored Olive Oil
• ½ teaspoon salt 
• ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper

FOR THE SALMON
2 pounds salmon fillet, skinned and cut into 6 portions
1 tablespoon STAR Garlic Flavored Olive Oil
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt fresh ground pepper, to taste

Instructions 

1. Preheat oven to 450F. 
2. Lightly grease a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside. 
3. In a large mixing bowl combine trimmed brussel sprouts, olive oil, salt and pepper; mix until well combined. 
4. Transfer brussel sprouts to previously prepared baking sheet; arrange in a single layer and bake for 15 minutes, stirring once or twice during cooking. 
5. In the meantime, prepare the salmon. 
6. Drizzle salmon with olive oil. 
7. Evenly divide and press minced garlic on top of each fillet. 
8. Season with oregano, salt and pepper. 
9. Remove baking sheet from oven; move the brussel sprouts around, making 6 empty spots for the salmon fillets. 
10. Place salmon in empty spots and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until salmon is cooked through.
11. Remove from oven; let stand 2 minutes and serve.

Signers: The Declaration Committee

On June 11, 1776, the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee of five individuals to draft and submit to the Congress for its approval.

The five individuals were:

• John Adams - firebrand member of the Congress, chief advocate for independence, representative from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  Adams had made a name for himself prior to joining the Congress as an attorney in Massachusetts.  He would, of course go on to serve as the 2nd President of the United States.  Upon his death on July 4, 1826, he outlived by a few hours, his successor as President, 
• Thomas Jefferson - The epitome of the American Renaissance man, Jefferson was the primary scribe of the Declaration of Independence, serving as a delegate from Virginia.  After losing to John Adams in 1796, Jefferson won the presidency in 1800, going on to serve two terms as the 3rd President of the United States.
• Benjamin Franklin - the elder statesman of the Congress, representing Pennsylvania, brought gravitas to the Committee of Five.  After the establishment of the United States, Franklin served as the country's first Postmaster.
• Robert Livingston - from New York, served on the Committee of Five, but was recalled by New York before he could sign the Declaration.  Livingston went on to serve as the nation's first Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the forerunner of Secretary of State.  It was Livingston that administered the Oath of Office to George Washington, inaugurating him as the first President.
• Roger Sherman - was one of the most active members of the Continental Congress, serving on many committees, including the Committee of Five.  He was also very active outside his congressional duties and was later very involved in the Constitutional Convention.  At the time of his death in 1793, Sherman was serving as one of Connecticut's first Senators.

Bonus:

Meet the President of the Continental Congress, John Hancock, of Massachusetts.  No signature on the Declaration of Independence is more prominent than Hancock's.  Hancock was the first to sign the document and opted to sign large enough, "so King George can see that without his glasses" though it is more likely that since he was first, he had an entirely blank space in which to sign.

Lamb and Phyllo Cigars

First of all - a PSA - tomorrow is Candelmas / Groundhog Day - don't forget to make your crepes!

In the Food Section of the Washington Post on January 20, I spotted this recipe.  I might need to work on getting these to the Launchpad table.  Hey I now own a deep fat fryer!

Lamb and Phyllo Cigars
"Frying phyllo almost guarantees a shatteringly crisp crunch; the payoff here is split between the spiced, savory lamb­ and ­pine­nut filling and the sumac­ mint yogurt dipping sauce. You'll need an instant­ read thermometer for monitoring the oil."

Make Ahead: The dipping sauce (without the pomegranate molasses drizzle) can be refrigerated up to 1 day in advance.
SERVINGS: 7 servings, makes 21 cigars

INGREDIENTS FOR THE DIP

• 1 cup plain low­fat Greek­style yogurt 
• 2 tablespoons low­fat milk 
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 
• 6 fresh mint leaves, stacked, rolled and cut into thin ribbons (chiffonade) 
• 1 tablespoon ground sumac 
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 
• Pomegranate molasses, for drizzling

FOR THE CIGARS

• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped 
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt 
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander 
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 
• 1 pound ground lamb 
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 1/2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses 
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts 
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped flat­leaf parsley or cilantro 
• Peanut or canola oil, for frying 
• 7 sheets phyllo dough (14 by 18 inches), defrosted 1 large egg, beaten

DIRECTIONS

For the dip: Whisk together the yogurt, milk, lemon juice, mint, sumac and salt in a medium bowl until well blended. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use (and up to 1 day). 

For the cigars: Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium­high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring several times, until it’s lightly golden.

Add the garlic to the skillet, then the salt, black pepper, cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg and cayenne pepper; cook, stirring, for 1 minute, then add the lamb, breaking it up with your fingers as you go. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the lamb loses its raw look and the spices are evenly distributed. 

Clear a spot at the center of the pan; add the tomato paste and spread it a bit; cook for 2 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat. Add the pomegranate molasses, pine nuts and the parsley or cilantro, and stir to combine. 

Pour about 3 inches of peanut or canola oil into a deep saute pan; heat over medium-high heat to 350 degrees. Seat a wire cooling rack inside a rimmed baking sheet.

Meanwhile, unroll the phyllo sheets and stack them; cover with damp paper towels. Place one sheet of the phyllo on a clean work surface and coat it with a light application of olive oil cooking spray (or brush lightly with olive oil). Repeat this step to build and coat a second layer. 

Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the sheets in half lengthwise, then cut each of those halves horizontally into 3 rectangles of equal size, so you have 6 rectangles total. 

Use the beaten egg to brush three edges of each phyllo rectangle, leaving one long side plain. Spoon a tablespoon of the lamb mixture an inch inside the unbrushed edge, in a line parallel to the edge, leaving a 1/2 ­inch margin at either end. Roll the dough over the filling, tightly. Once it's rolled, use your fingers to gently push and fold in the sides of the roll. Keep the cigars covered with a damp paper towel. Repeat to use all but 3 tablespoons of the filling, forming 18 cigars.

Spray/brush the last of the phyllo sheets with oil, then fold it in half lengthwise; cut the fold, then cut the folded phyllo into 3 equal rectangles. Repeat the egg­wash, filling, rolling, sealing, spraying and covering steps, so you have a total of 21 cigars. Check to make sure the seams of the phyllo are tightly sealed; if not, brush with more of the egg. (Discard any leftover egg after you're finished frying.) 

Working in batches, gently drop the cigars into the hot oil; fry the cigars for about 3 minutes, turning so they’re evenly and lightly browned. Use tongs to transfer them to the wire rack to cool. (If the cigars open a bit along the seam, you can cut or pinch off that bit.)

Just before serving, drizzle some pomegranate molasses over the dipping sauce. Serve warm or at room temperature, with the sauce.

New Thursday Series: Signers of the Declaration of Independence

It's time for a new list series!  2008, I covered Presidents of the United States. In 2012, I did a series on the States of the Union.  In 2014 it was Countries of the World (UN Member States).  Here in 2016, when we will elect a new President in November, and to commemorate the 240th Anniversary of the Republic - I have chosen to look at the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Now those of you who have been paying attention will note there are only 52 weeks in a year - so 56 signers doesn't work out uniformly.  There was at least one signer from each of the 13 colonies - so one state a month doesn't work out either.  I guess I could do two at a time, which would amount to 28 weeks, which leaves some play in the calendar as well.  Well, I'll figure it out.  We could also abbreviate the run to coincide with Independence Day, some twenty-two weeks away.

Next week, I'll start with the Declaration Committee.  That will get five out of the way right off.  Any guesses before next week?  While you ponder that here's a list of "awesome founding father facts" from BuzzFeed.

1. Two days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the delegates of the Constitutional Convention threw a party where they consumed 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, 8 bottles of whiskey, 22 bottles of porter, 8 bottles of hard cider, 12 bottles of beer and 7 bowls of alcoholic punch.
2. Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776 – John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Pretty much everyone else signed it on August 2nd. 
3. The Founding Fathers thought Independence Day would be celebrated on July 2nd. John Adams wrote a letter to his wife that said “the Second of July, 1776, will be the most memorable in the history of America.” 
4. Benjamin Franklin wrote an essay encouraging scholars to find a method for “improving the odor of human flatulence.”
5. At 16, Benjamin Franklin regularly published editorials under the guise of Ms. Silence Dogood, a middle-aged widow character he created. 
6. Benjamin Franklin was not allowed to write the Declaration of Independence because everyone thought that he’s try to slip a joke into the document. 
7. Benjamin Franklin wasn’t very good at math. Most of his experiments with electricity relied on trial and error.
8. Benjamin Franklin coined a number of electrical terms we still use today. These terms include: battery, brush, charged, condense, conductor, plus, minus, positively and negatively. 
9. Benjamin Franklin was an early supporter of abolishment. He tried to abolish slavery in 1790 with a petition to congress. 
10. Benjamin Franklin enjoyed “air baths” – reading or writing in his house completely naked. 
11. Benjamin Franklin thought the Bald Eagle was a bad national symbol because it was “a bird of bad moral character that does not get his living honestly.” 
12. He felt the Turkey would be better because it was a “Bird of Courage”, and “would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards.” 
13. Benjamin Franklin purposely misspelled “Pennsylvania” on the state’s currency. He did so to deter counterfeiters. 
14. Benjamin Franklin thought America should use simplified English spellings. He said words such as “though,” “through,” and “night” should be spelled “tho,” “thru,” and “nite.”
15. Benjamin Franklin was the first to bring tofu into America. 
16. It’s said that about two-thirds of Philadelphia showed up for Benjamin Franklin’s funeral in 1790. 
17. John Adams had a dog named Satan. Satan lived in the White House with the president. 
18. John Adams was the only president from the first five to not hold any slaves. 
19. Alexander Hamilton wasn’t born in the American colonies. He was born on the island Nevis in the West Indies.
20. When he was orphaned at age 13, Alexander Hamilton lied about his age, claiming he was 11 years old in order to make himself a more desirable candidate for a business apprenticeship. Historians still can’t agree on his true age. 
21. Alexander Hamilton founded the New York Post.
22. Coincidentally, Alexander Hamilton was also the first American politician to have his career ruined by a sex scandal. 
23. Alexander Hamilton famously died in a duel with Aaron Burr in Weehawken, NJ. His eldest son, Philip, also died in a duel just three years earlier, also in Weehawken, NJ. 
24. Thomas Jefferson thought the Constitution should have been rewritten every 19 years. 
25. While in England, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams visited William Shakespeare’s house together. They vandalized a chair by chipping off chucks to keep as souvenirs. 
26. Thomas Jefferson could read and write in six languages: Greek, Latin, French, Italian, Spanish, and English. It’s thought that he might have known Arabic, Gaelic, and Welsh too. 
27. Thomas Jefferson introduced macaroni and cheese to the United States. 
28. Thomas Jefferson told Lewis and Clark to keep an eye out for giant sloths while they were on their expedition.
29. Thomas Jefferson donated his own collection of books to start the Library of Congress. He was paid $23,950 for 6,500 of his own books, which he had been collecting for over 50 years. (That’s about $250,000 in today’s money.) 
30. Despite popular belief, Thomas Jefferson probably didn’t smoke marijuana. 
31. James Madison was the smallest President ever. He was 5’4” and only weighed about 100 lbs.
32. Contrary to a rumor started online, James Madison did not appoint a Secretary Of Beer. 
33. When George Washington died in 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte gave a eulogy and ordered a requiem that would last ten days. 
34. George Washington currently has over $300,000 in overdue library fines.
35. George Washington’s wooden teeth were actually partially made from human teeth, which he got from his own slaves. (He paid the slaves for their teeth.) 
36. When he was elected president, George Washington owned the largest whiskey distillery in the country. 
37. George Washington didn’t know that Chinese people weren’t white. He was surprised when he first encountered a Chinese person. 
38. When George Washington found a lost dog during the battle of Germantown, he returned the dog across enemy lines to the dog’s owner, his opponent from the battle, General Howe. 
39. George Washington was afraid of being buried alive. In his will, he asked not to be buried until three days after his death. 
40. It’s Paul Revere, not Sam Adams, on the label of Samuel Adams beer.
41. The Boston Tea Party wasn’t really a protest against over-taxed tea. In fact, the Tea Act actually made legal tea cheaper. It was actually a protest led by smugglers of Dutch Tea, led by John Hancock, who couldn’t compete with legal tea prices. 
42. John Jay didn’t sign the Declaration of Independence. He is thought of as a Founding Father because of his contributions to the framing of the document. 
43. Jay Street in Brooklyn, NY was named for John Jay.
44. Francis Hopkinson was most likely responsible for designing the first U.S. flag. For his work, he asked the government for “a quarter cask of the public wine” as a “reasonable reward” for the job. They never gave it to him. 
45. Robert Morris, Jr. died shortly after attempting to clear a blockage in his penis caused by a urinary tract infection with a whalebone, likely taken from one of his wife’s corsets.

Chicken and Bacon? Sign Me Up

I'm always on the lookout for new ways to make chicken (in the family cookbook - chicken by far has the most recipes).  Someone showed me a way to incorporate bacon AND brussel sprouts AND mashed potatoes!  From a list of chicken recipes from BuzzFeed, this recipe is from Vodka&Biscuits and I am grateful.


Roast Chicken Breast & Brussels Sprouts
Serves 4
Prep Time 25 min
Cook Time 35 min
Total Time 50 min


Ingredients 

• 4 chicken breasts 
• 4-8 pieces of bacon 
• 1 lb. brussels sprouts 
• 1 leek 
• 4 garlic cloves 
• 3 lemon slices 
• 1/2 c. chicken broth 
• salt and pepper 
• 3 sprigs of thyme 
• canola oil as needed 
• 2 T. olive oil 

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 
2. Prepare the brussels sprouts by cutting off the stem end then cutting each in half. 
3. Prepare the leek by cutting off the stem end, then slicing the leek into rounds using the white and light green parts only. Add to a bowl of water to rid any dirt, then dry and transfer to a baking dish with the brussels sprouts. 
4. Drizzle the vegetables with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Set aside until needed.
5. Add enough canola oil to coat a saute pan, then heat to medium. 
6. Sprinkle each breast with salt and pepper then transfer to the hot oil. Allow to brown 3-4 minutes on each side. 
7. You can wrap the bacon before or after this step, totally up to you, just allow the chicken to slightly cool if you're doing it after browning. 
8. Transfer the bacon wrapped chicken to the dish with the vegetables. Add the garlic, lemon slices, thyme, and chicken broth. A splash of wine wouldn't hurt either! 
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until your meat thermometer reaches 160. If you want your bacon to be extra crispy, crank up the broiler and allow to cook under the broiler for a few extra minutes. 
10. Serve over creamy mashed potatoes and enjoy! 

Notes
To help get the bacon super crispy you can wrap it around the chicken before browning, you may just need a toothpick to hold it together!

If you want to make this a true one-dish meal, just add the vegetables, wrapped chicken, and remaining ingredients to the pan and throw it in the oven. The baking time will increase about 20 minutes. You don't have to brown the chicken prior!

Snowzilla 2016 by the numbers

The DMV was slammed with a major snowstorm this weekend.  We got two seasons worth of snow in two days.

100 - the amount of dollars it cost me to get the driveway shoveled.  The best money I ever spent.

41 - the number of Twitter / FB posts during the storm duration.  3 were not storm-related.

36 - number of hours that it snowed, at least.  From 1;15pm until 1:15am Sunday.

23 - the number of inches recorded on the table on the deck - recorded at 11:00pm on Saturday night.

17 - the number of inches recorded at National Airport, the official recording station for the DMV - the number is under scrutiny as they feel they may have not measured correctly.

8 - the number of hours I teleworked on Friday - when the government opened and then closed at noon.

8 - the number of storm-related photos that I posted, 5 from the apocalypse-emptied Shoppers on Thursday night, 1 of knee-high snow, 1 measurement, and 1 of the new deep fat fryer that was purchased to ride out the storm.

5 - the number of times LBA and SoBA went out to play in the snow.

4 - the number of shovels used in clearing the Launchpad.  2 were my own, 2 were brought by the nice folks who came to shovel me out.

4 - the number of onions used to make onion straws on Friday night in the aforementioned new deep fat fryer.

3 - and counting, the number of snow days for LBA and SoBA.  They were off on Thursday after the mini-storm on Wednesday night, then Friday, and school has been canceled for tomorrow.

0 - the number of hours we lost power at the Launchpad, Thanks be to God.

Donut Holes

Today is the day set aside for the "Federally Mandated Playdate" in which several friends and their families come to the launchpad for dinner - today's menu - Chili!  We have dessert - but I would make these - if I had a deep fat fryer, which I still don't.  via BuzzFeed.

Cinnamon Donut Holes

• 150g flour
• 3 Tbsp sugar
• 3 Tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 55g melted butter
• 240ml milk
• 1 egg

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Add melted butter, milk and egg and whisk to combine.  Heat oil in skillet.  Using an ice cream scoop, drop dollops of dough into hot oil.  Turn over once browned on one side.  Remove from oil and place on paper towel.  Sprinkle with cinnamon / powdered sugar mix.

FUDGE! With Mashed Potatoes!

We have a saying at the Launchpad - "don't yuck someone else's yum." For those in need of gluten-free desserts.  Mashed Potatoes!  Who Knew?  From Saveur, via this list on BuzzFeed of gluten-free desserts.

Mashed Potato Fudge

Makes About 1 1/2 Pounds

Ingredients

• 3 oz. unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped 
• 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, plus more for greasing 
• 1 (1-lb.) box confectioners' sugar, sifted 
• 1⁄2 cup plain mashed potatoes 
• 2 tsp. milk 
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract 
• 1⁄8 tsp. kosher salt 
• 1⁄2 cup finely chopped walnuts 

Instructions
Place chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until melted, 3-5 minutes. Remove bowl from pan and let cool slightly. Stir in sugar, potatoes, milk, vanilla, and salt until dough forms. Using hands, knead dough briefly in bowl until smooth. Press into a greased 8” square pan; sprinkle with the chopped walnuts. Chill fudge 1 hour before cutting into squares.

On the Importance of Diners

What defines a Diner?  Growing up in New York, specifically on Long Island - diners were everywhere and everyone had their favorite.  More often than not, a Friday night at the movies led to me and my friends at the Syosset House Diner for a late night snack.  I even wrote a story about it - but I can't seem to find it.  We had our favorite waitress and the owner always greeted us warmly and most of the time by name.

Heading to a diner after church was a big treat, too - but that didn't happen all that often.  It was nice to be able to get breakfast at any time at the day.  There are no good diners near the launchpad and the few that are around are not good "New York Diners."

What constitutes a diner?  Ed Levine from Serious Eats offers a list (via kottke).

1. Operating hours - if it ain't open 24 hours, it ain't a diner.
2. A common menu - and it better go on for about 50 pages
3. A democratic reception - see my note above, a warm "Hiya Fellas" is essential
4. Quick service - too often, the diners around here have lines, why?
5. Low price point - again, non-NY diners didn't get this memo
6. Seating - I'm a booth kinda guy, especially if they have one of those jukeboxes
7. Familiarity - again see my note about having a favorite waitress and them knowing what you want before you order it
8. All-occasion places - anytime you go there, you don't have to be there for a reason, you're there for good food
9. Parking - have some
10. Culinary anonymity - you don't need to know the name of the guy making your eggs, in fact you may want to just take it on faith that he knows what he's doing

Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

Mrs. BA makes a mean chicken wing.  If she were interested, here's another variety that would be welcomed at the Launchpad on Wing Night.  From a whole list of Chicken Recipes via BuzzFeed, this recipe is from The Endless Meal.

Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

Ingredients

• 2 lb. chicken wings 
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil 
• 1 teaspoon sea salt 
• ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper 
• Cilantro and sesame seeds, for garnish 

For the glaze: 

• ⅓ cup honey 
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon finely grated ginger 
• 2 large garlic cloves, very finely minced 
• ½ teaspoon sesame oil 
• ⅛-1/4 teaspoon chili flakes

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. 
2. Place the chicken wings in a large bowl and toss them with the 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, sea salt and pepper. Place them on the prepared baking tray and put them in the oven for 35-40 minutes, or until they are crispy. 
3. While the chicken wings are baking, make the glaze. Add all the glaze ingredients to a small frying pan over medium-high heat. Boil rapidly for 3-4 minutes, or until the glaze has reduced to ⅓ cup. Remove from the heat. 
4. Once the chicken wings are crispy remove them from the oven and toss them with the glaze. Sprinkle some cilantro and toasted sesame seeds over top and serve immediately.

The 2015 Twelve Posts of Christmas #12

This year the Brave Astronaut Resolves:

1.  To yell less.  I work on this one every year.  It's possibly the hardest one.

2.  To work on the Launchpad.  I am proposing one room a month - and somewhere in there - working on the outside.  Check back here for progress updates.

3.  To do my jobs better.  Be a better husband, be a better father, be a better government worker.

4.  Lose weight.  My goal is to lose enough weight that my sleep apnea will not be an issue and I won't have to bring my sleep machine with me on the family trip to France, scheduled for May.

5.  Make a better daily schedule.  I'd like to start my work day earlier - which would lead to changes in how the home morning routine is managed - and then hopefully be able to get the boys from school earlier and not be having dinner at 7:30-8:00 each evening.

The 2015 Twelve Posts of Christmas #11

Remember those days when you would turn on the old transistor radio (or maybe that Panasonic clock radio, with the numbers that flipped) to listen to the top songs of the year played all day on New Year's Eve?  Yep, me neither :)

Here's an a capella version of the top songs of 2015.  It's pretty catchy.  These kids might have something here (via BuzzFeed).  Enjoy - don't overdo it tonight!

Of course, if music isn't your thing, the year end lists are everywhere. Here's one of the top 2015 movies (via kottke).

The 2015 Twelve Posts of Christmas #10

The Brave Astronaut is hosting an Open House at the Launchpad on New Year's Day!  Are you coming?  While we will be having appetizers and desserts, there is likely not going to be any homemade stuff - a factor of time, unfortunately.  But that is not to say that these might not appear at some point in the future.  From Land O Lakes (hence the emphasis on Land O Lakes products) via the Pioneer Woman.

Pecan Pie Bites
40 min. prep time
1:25 total time
36 cookies

Cookie

• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 
• 6 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter, softened 
• 1 Land O Lakes® Egg (yolk only) 
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 

Filling

• 1 cup finely chopped pecans 
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 
• 1/4 cup Land O Lakes® Heavy Whipping Cream 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 

Directions
Heat oven to 350ºF. Spray 36 mini muffin pan cups with no-stick cooking spray; set aside.

Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar, butter, egg yolk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add flour, baking powder and salt; beat at low speed until well mixed.

Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls; place each into prepared mini muffin pan cups, pressing dough onto bottom and up one-third sides of each cup, creating a shallow cup.

Combine all filling ingredients in bowl; spoon 1 teaspoon filling into each cookie.

Bake 13-15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 10 minutes in pan on cooling rack.

Remove cookies from pans by running small knife around edge of cookie. Place onto cooling rack; cool completely.

Nutrition Facts (1 cookie)
Calories: 80 
Fat: 5g 
Cholesterol: 10mg 
Sodium: 25mg 
Carbohydrates: 10g 
Dietary Fiber: 0g 
Protein: 1g 

On Bagels

The Brave Astronaut Clan is on Long Island this weekend for some Christmas visiting with the family.  I have long said - there are no good bagels outside the New York area (despite that it might be an urban myth - I'm pretty sure it's the water).  The clan will certainly stock up on our way out of town before heading home to the launchpad.

In case you were wondering, I am not alone in my thinking.  Here's an article from the New York Times Magazine.  And here's a shameless plug for the best bagels in the New York area - if you need one, you've got to go see the Boss.

The 2015 Twelve Posts of Christmas #9

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

I hope that all of you always hear the bell.  I still do.  As did Virginia O'Hanlon and Francis P. Church.  Remember, while he may not exist physically, Santa lives in your heart.

______________________________

Francis Pharcellus Church

Virginia O'Hanlon

Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897.

The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps - Read more

DEAR EDITOR:
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’ Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

VIRGINIA O’HANLON.
115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET. 

________________________________

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. 

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. 

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

The 2015 Twelve Posts of Christmas #8

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

NORAD's Santa Tracker Began With A Typo And A Good Sport
December 19, 2014 4:02 AM ET
NPR Staff

This Christmas Eve people all over the world will log on to the official Santa Tracker to follow his progress through U.S. military radar. This all started in 1955, with a misprint in a Colorado Springs newspaper and a call to Col. Harry Shoup's secret hotline at the Continental Air Defense Command, now known as NORAD.

The Santa Tracker tradition started with an ad for Sears, which instructed children to call Santa on what turned out to be a secret military hotline. Kids today can call 1-877 HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) to talk to NORAD staff about Santa's exact location.

Terri remembers her dad had two phones on his desk, including a red one. "Only a four-star general at the Pentagon and my dad had the number," she says.

"This was the '50s, this was the Cold War, and he would have been the first one to know if there was an attack on the United States," Rick says.

The red phone rang one day in December 1955, and Shoup answered it, Pam says. "And then there was a small voice that just asked, 'Is this Santa Claus?'"

His children remember Shoup as straight-laced and disciplined, and he was annoyed and upset by the call and thought it was a joke — but then, Terri says, the little voice started crying.

"And Dad realized that it wasn't a joke," her sister says. "So he talked to him, ho-ho-ho'd and asked if he had been a good boy and, 'May I talk to your mother?' And the mother got on and said, 'You haven't seen the paper yet? There's a phone number to call Santa. It's in the Sears ad.' Dad looked it up, and there it was, his red phone number. And they had children calling one after another, so he put a couple of airmen on the phones to act like Santa Claus."

"It got to be a big joke at the command center. You know, 'The old man's really flipped his lid this time. We're answering Santa calls,' " Terri says.

"The airmen had this big glass board with the United States on it and Canada, and when airplanes would come in they would track them," Pam says.

"And Christmas Eve of 1955, when Dad walked in, there was a drawing of a sleigh with eight reindeer coming over the North Pole," Rick says.

"Dad said, 'What is that?' They say, 'Colonel, we're sorry. We were just making a joke. Do you want us to take that down?' Dad looked at it for a while, and next thing you know, Dad had called the radio station and had said, 'This is the commander at the Combat Alert Center, and we have an unidentified flying object. Why, it looks like a sleigh.' Well, the radio stations would call him like every hour and say, 'Where's Santa now?' " Terri says.

"And later in life he got letters from all over the world, people saying, 'Thank you, Colonel,' for having, you know, this sense of humor. And in his 90s, he would carry those letters around with him in a briefcase that had a lock on it like it was top-secret information," she says. "You know, he was an important guy, but this is the thing he's known for."

"Yeah," Rick says, "it's probably the thing he was proudest of, too."

The 2015 Twelve Posts of Christmas #7

As discussed earlier - it is likely there will be a New Year's Open House at the Launchpad soon.  An invitation is being drafted and should be circulated soon.  If you're in the DMV, consider yourself invited!

Now I just need to decide what to serve and where we will put everyone!  I do own two crockpots  . . . (recipes from a BuzzFeed post)

Mulled Ginger-Apple Cider
Serves 12

Slice 1 apple thinly crosswise (like, across the equator) so that the center forms a star pattern. Remove the seeds. In a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine the apple slices with with 1 gallon fresh apple cider (preferably unpasteurized), ½ cup roughly chopped fresh ginger, 3 cinnamon sticks, 10 whole cloves, 5 whole allspice, and 1 thinly sliced orange. Cook on high heat for 3-4 hours, or on low heat for 6-8 hours. Spike each serving with 1½ oz. dark rum.

Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip
Serves 12

Put 3 cups chopped artichoke hearts, 1 lb. cream cheese, one 10-oz. package frozen chopped spinach, 8 oz. shredded part-skim mozzarella, 1 cup each grated parmesan and mayonnaise, and 2 chopped garlic cloves in a slow cooker. Season with a teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours or high for 2 hours, stirring at the end. Serve from the slow cooker (set to “warm”) with crackers.

It's Brave Astronaut Day!

Today is the day set aside for me, the Brave Astronaut.  Feel free to wish me well.  If you're looking for gifts, here's a list of ways for me to show my Sagittarius pride (via BuzzFeed).

1.  A delicate bow and arrow tattoo - though I'm not the tattoo kind of guy

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/arrow-wrist-tattoos/

2.  This adorable embroidery

http://etsy.me/1ve2EmY

 3.  This print

https://www.etsy.com/listing/179492173/printable-sagittarius-print-zodiac-print?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=sagittarius

4.  A nice Sagittarius key chain

https://www.etsy.com/listing/223037585/sagittarius-constellation-hand-stamped?ref=shop_home_active_11&ga_search_query=constellation

 5.  This T-shirt with a Sagittarian personality

https://www.etsy.com/listing/212008533/im-not-quiet-i-just-dont-like-you?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=i%20don%27t%20like%20you&ref=sr_gallery_37&source=aw&awc=6220_1449084308_db0212e7549f87d7dd068e24cbd2fa7c&utm_source=affiliate_window&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=us_location_buyer&utm_content=181013

If all else fails, you can just send money :)

Thanks all for reading over the years.