Happy Memorial Day!

Rest assured, the Brave Astronaut Clan is poolside for the Memorial Day Holiday.  It's sure to be a great summer.  If I were to make these, I could bring them to the pool, right?  There's no glass in them or I'll just maintain they are the kid-friendly ones. From A Spicy Perspective via BuzzFeed.

Vodka Gummy Bears Pops 
Yield: 10
Prep Time: 20 minutes (active time)

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup vodka 
• 1 1/4 cup gummy bears 
• 3 cups Sprite or Ginger Ale (or Fanta!) 
• wooden popsicle sticks 

Directions

1. Pour the vodka in a bowl. Add the gummy bears, cover, and allow them to soak for 24-72 hours. The longer the gummy bears soak, the more vodka they absorb. They also grow in size! 
2. Once the gummy bears have soaked to your liking, stir to separate them. They strain one-third of them out of the vodka and place in the bottom of 10 popsicle molds. Pour Sprite over the gummy bears until just covered, about one-third full. Then place in the freezer for 60-90 minutes. 
3. Once the first layer is frozen, add the popsicle sticks and add a second layer of strained gummy bears and soda. Freeze again and repeat a third time. The total layering/freezing process should take around 4+ hours. 

NOTE: For a kid-friendly variation, omit the vodka and soaking process.

Signers: Massachusetts

In today's post, we look at the state that gave us the President of the Congress and it's most vocal supporter of American Independence.

Massachusetts

• John Adams (1735-1826), already covered in the post on the Declaration Committee, was likely the most influential member of the Continental Congress.  After the Declaration, he was appointed Minister to France and helped to negotiate the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War.  After serving as Washington's Vice President, Adams was elected as the nation's second president.  He died on July 4, 1826, within hours of his ally and later rival, Thomas Jefferson.  At Declaration, you can order a "John Adams" pizza with lobster roll”, celery, chives, and old bay mornay.
• Samuel Adams (1722-1803), cousin to John Adams, Sam was more of a firebrand, if that were possible.  After leaving the Congress, he returned to Massachusetts and was later elected as the state's governor.
• Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814), was a merchant who turned to politics, serving in the state legislature.  He later attended the Constitutional Convention, but did not sign that document as he did not endorse its ideals.  He later organized a redistricting effort in Massachusetts to benefit his own party, leading to the term, gerrymandering.  He later served as Vice President, dying in that office in 1814.
• John Hancock (1737-1793), was a successful merchant whose ships were stopped outside Boston, leading Hancock to organize the Boston Tea Party.  After leaving Congress, he also served as Governor of Massachusetts.
• Robert Treat Paine (1731-1814), was not as fervent as the other members of the Massachusetts delegation, yet supported the Declaration and signed the document.  He went on to serve as Attorney General of Massachusetts and later served on the State Supreme Court.

Patty Melts

I'm a sucker for the Patty Melt.  And I love the Pioneer Woman.  I'm sure to love these.  Plus, if I make her Onion Straws?  Bliss.

Patty Melts
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 stick Butter 
• 1 whole Large Onion, Halved And Sliced 
• 1-1/2 pound Ground Beef 
• Salt And Pepper, to taste 
• 5 dashes Worcestershire Sauce 
• 8 slices Swiss Cheese 
• 8 slices Rye Bread 

Instructions
In a medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Throw in the sliced onions and cook slowly for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden brown and soft.

In a medium bowl, mix together the ground beef, salt & pepper, and Worcestershire. Form into 4 patties.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a separate skillet over medium heat. Cook the patties on both sides until totally done in the middle.

Assemble patty melts this way: Slice of bread, slice of cheese, hamburger patty, 1/4 of the cooked onions, another slice of cheese, and another slice of bread. On a clean griddle or in a skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter and grill the sandwiches over medium heat until golden brown. Remove the sandwiches and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Turn the sandwiches to the skillet, flipping them to the other side. Cook until golden brown and crisp, and until cheese is melted.

Slice in half and serve immediately!

French Silk Pie

Why haven't I had this before?  Recipe from Cup of Jo, via a BuzzFeed post about Chocolate and Pretzels hanging out together.

No-Bake French Silk Pie 
By Tieghan Gerard of Half-Baked Harvest

What you’ll need:
For the Pretzel Crust

• 1 ¾ cups crushed pretzels 
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted 
• ¼ cup honey

For the Pie Filling

• 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips 
• 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened to room temperature. 
• 1 cup granulated sugar (add ¼ cup more if you prefer sweeter) 
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract 
• 4 whole eggs

Instructions
Grease an 8 or 9-inch pie plate or spring form pan.

In a medium bowl, mix the melted butter and honey together until smooth. Add the crushed pretzels and mix until combined. Press mixture firmly against the bottom and sides of your pie plate. Place in the fridge.

In a small microwave safe bowl melt 6 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate on 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth (about 1-2 minutes).

In a large bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the butter and sugar until fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the melted chocolate and the vanilla extract. Whisk the mixture thoroughly until combined.

Turn your mixer to medium speed and over a period of 15 to 20 minutes add in the four eggs, one at a time, leaving about 5 minutes between each egg addition. Once the pie filling is well mixed, pour it into the pretzel crust. Smooth out the pie filling and place the pie in the refrigerator to chill for at least two hours or overnight.

Add a cup or two of whipped cream and garnish with a few chocolate curls if desired.

Signers: New Hampshire and South Carolina

Next up for the Signers of the Declaration are the Granite State and the Palmetto State.

New Hampshire

• Josiah Bartlett (1729-1795), the ancestor of fictional President Jed Bartlet, was a physician as well as a politician.  He was the second person to sign the Declaration, following John Hancock. Following the Revolution, he was elected President and then Governor of New Hampshire.
• Matthew Thornton (1714-1803), was also a physician, like his colleague Josiah Bartlett.  He arrived late to the Continental Congress, but in time to sign the document on behalf of New Hampshire. At Declaration, Thornton possibly has the most unique pizza concoction on the menu, with turkey confit, idiazabal cheese, cranberries, and maple gravy.
• William Whipple (1730-1785), was born in what would become the state of Maine and served in the Continental Congress as well as the Continental Army. General Whipple led troops against General Burgoyne at the battles of Stillwater and Saratoga.  He died in 1785, having suffered from a heart ailment for several years, falling from his horse while traveling his court circuit.

 South Carolina

• Thomas Heyward, Jr. (1746-1809), after signing the Declaration, he returned to South Carolina to serve as a judge.  Imprisoned by the British during the Revolution, he returned to the bench following the war. The Heyward Pizza at Declaration contains shrimp, sweet peppers, bacon, lemon confit, spinach, and romesco.
• Thomas Lynch, Jr. (1749-1779), fell ill shortly after signing the Declaration and retired from the Congress.  In 1779, he and his wife sailed for the West Indies and the ship vanished.
• Arthur Middleton (1742-1787), was captured by the British when Charleston was overrun in 1781.  Imprisoned for over a year (along with Heyward and Edward Rutledge), his fortune was destroyed during the Revolution, but he remained active in politics until his death in 1787.
• Edward Rutledge (1749-1800), the youngest member of the Continental Congress, Rutledge, along with his brother John, were both very active in South Carolina politics.  He left the Congress after signing the Declaration to help defend South Carolina from the British.  He later returned to the state legislature and was elected Governor, but he died at the conclusion of his term, at age 50.

Shrimp Quesadillas

On those occasions when the Brave Astronaut Clan visits a Mexican restaurant, I will often order the fajitas with shrimp.  When we order Chinese, I almost always order shrimp with broccoli.  I like shrimp - and recently we've learned that so does LBA.  SoBA, not so much.  But he does like quesadillas.  Maybe I can sneak these past him.  Recipe from my culinary love, The Pioneer Woman

Quesadillas de Camarones
September 29, 2009
Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Servings: 6 Servings

Ingredients 

• Flour Tortillas 
• 12 whole Large Shrimp, Peeled And Deveined 
• 8 ounces, fluid Mexican Red Sauce 
• 1 whole Large Onion 
• 1 whole Red Bell Pepper 
• 1 whole Green Bell Pepper 
• 2 cups Cheese, Grated (Monterey Jack Is Best) 
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil 
• Salt To Taste 

Instructions

Pour red sauce over shrimp. Set aside.

Chop vegetables into large pieces. Heat skillet over high heat and add olive oil. Cook vegetables over high heat until they start to get brown/black. Remove from skillet and set aside.

Return skillet to high heat, then dump in the shrimp with the sauce. Cook, stirring only occasionally, until shrimp is opaque. Add in a little water if the sauce gets dry. Remove from skillet and chop into bite-size pieces.

In a separate skillet, heat butter. Place a tortilla in the skillet, then layer on ingredients: cheese, vegetables, and shrimp. Top with a little more cheese and a second tortilla. Cook on both sides, adding butter before flipping to the other side so the tortilla isn’t overly dry.

Remove from skillet and slice into wedges. Serve with rice, beans, salsa, sour cream, guacamole—whatever you’d like!

Is it 5:00 yet?

Thursday is Cinco de Mayo (I was reminded of this from the post from where this recipe comes).  Cheverly Day is May 21, where there will be kick-ass fireworks.  The pool opens in less than a month marking the unofficial start of summer.

Therefore, it's time to drink! From Creative Culinary via the above linked post from Liquor.com

The Firecracker - Watermelon, Lime and Cucumber Cocktail
Serves 2

Ingredients 

• 4 oz Prairie Cucumber Vodka 
• 4 (1-inch) cubes of seedless watermelon 
• 2 limes, diced 
• 2 oz simple syrup (boil 1/4 cup water and sugar just until sugar dissolves. Add 1/4 cup ice to cool - refrigerate leftovers) 

To Garnish:

• Lime Rim (equal amounts salt and sugar combined with some fresh grated lime) 
• 2 Watermelon Slices 
• 2 cucumber slices 
• 2 small mint sprigs 

Instructions
Combine vodka, watermelon and lime in a cocktail shaker. Muddle all ingredients well. Add simple syrup, fill with ice, cover and shake until ice cold.

Rim the glasses with a cut lime and dip in the lime rim mixture.

Fill the glasses with ice and pour the ingredients from the shaker into the glasses.

Garnish with a watermelon slice, a cucumber slice and a mint sprig.

Notes

• No Cucumber Vodka? No problem. Simply add a couple of slices to cucumber to the watermelon and lime and muddle them together; use regular vodka of your choosing. Enjoy!

Signers: New Jersey / Connecticut

For today's Signers post, we look at the Garden State and the Nutmeg State.

New Jersey

• Abraham Clark (1725-1794), was a self-taught lawyer (as many were in that time period).  An active member of the Continental Congress, he was later selected to attend the Constitutional Convention but was unable to serve.  Clark Township in New Jersey is named in his honor.
• John Hart (1711-1779), was a farmer in New Jersey.  Born in Connecticut, his family moved to New Jersey where he inherited the family farm.  He actively supported the American army, allowing the troops to encamp on the farm, which had been looted by British troops earlier in the war.  He died in 1779 at the age of 66.
• Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791), was a lawyer, who was "a man of extraordinary talent and charm."  He was appointed by President Washington to serve as Federal District Judge for New Jersey in 1790.  He died the next year of an epileptic seizure at 53.  There is some controversy surrounding Hopkinson, as he maintained that he was responsible for the design of the American flag.  He also was involved in the design for the Great Seal of the United States.  The pizza dedicated to Francis Hopkinson at Declarations features sliced tomatoes, basil pesto, and reggiano parmesan
• Richard Stockton (1730-1781), another lawyer, had developed one of the largest practices in the colonies.  After being appointed to the Continental Congress, he listened to both sides regarding independence before agreeing to sign the Declaration.  In 1776, he was captured by the British and imprisoned for several weeks and his property and belongings in New Jersey were destroyed.  Stockton later donated land that became Princeton University.
• John Witherspoon (1723-1794), was a Reverend who held a Doctorate degree and was President of the College of New Jersey (Princeton) prior to his appointment to the Continental Congress.  He and the other delegates from New Jersey arrived shortly before Richard Henry Lee made his proposal for American independence to the Congress.

Connecticut

• Samuel Huntington (1731-1796), was a lifelong public servant, serving in the Congress and as Governor of Connecticut.  There are some who maintain that Huntington is actually the first President of the United States, as the Articles of Confederation were ratified while he was President of the Congress.
• Roger Sherman (1721-1793), was previously covered in the Declaration Committee post. The Declarations pizza for the "simple cobbler from Connecticut" has meatball, housemade ricotta, san marzano tomatoes, and roasted peppers on it - and it might be my favorite of all of them.
• William Williams (1731-1811), arrived at the Congress too late to vote for independence, but signed the Declaration.  Williams had replaced Oliver Wolcott, who had fallen ill (but also later signed the document).
• Oliver Wolcott (1726-1797), was the son of the Royal Governor of Connecticut, Roger Wolcott.  Upon graduating from Yale, Wolcott was a Captain in the American forces during the French and Indian War.  As a result of this service, Wolcott was involved in Indian affairs during his time in Congress.  He later served as Governor of Connecticut.

French Apple Tart

Last week I posted about my aunt's Beef Stroganoff and the memories that it evokes.  Similarly, my grandmother lived with my aunt in her later years, though also spending the summer months in a big house in Maine, where the extended family would descend for weeks at a time.

Often, my grandmother would break out her French baking skills and make a tarte, though usually with plums, peaches, or some other summer fruit.  But this picture looks a lot like what she would make.

French Apple Tart
from Saveur via BuzzFeed
Serves 8

Ingredients 

• 1 1⁄4 cups flour, plus more for dusting 
• 12 tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed and chilled 
• 1⁄4 tsp. kosher salt 
• 7 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and halved 
• 1⁄4 cup sugar 
• 1⁄2 cup apricot jam 
• Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, for serving

Instructions

1. Combine flour, 8 tbsp. butter, and salt in a food processor and pulse until pea-size crumbles form, about 10 pulses. Drizzle in 3 tbsp. ice-cold water and pulse until dough is moistened, about 3—4 pulses. Transfer dough to a work surface and form into a flat disk; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Unwrap dough and transfer to a lightly floured work surface. Using a rolling pin, flatten dough into a 13″ circle and then transfer to a 11″-tart pan with a removable bottom; trim edges; chill for 1 hour. 
2. Heat oven to 375º. Working with one apple half at a time, thinly slice into sections, keeping slices together. Press sliced apple half gently to fan it out; repeat with remaining apple halves. Place 1 fanned apple half on outer edge of the tart dough, pointing inward; repeat with 7 more apple halves. Separate remaining apple slices. Starting where the apple halves touch and working your way in, layer apples to create a tight rose pattern. Fill in any gaps with remaining apple. Sprinkle with sugar and then dot with remaining butter. Bake until golden brown, 60–70 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, heat apricot jam in a small saucepan until warmed and loose; pour through a fine strainer into a small bowl and set aside. Transfer tart to a wire rack; using a pastry brush, brush top of tart with jam. Let cool completely before slicing and serving with whipped cream.  

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff is one of those dishes that has a deep connection to my childhood.  I have vivid memories of traveling to my aunt's house in New Jersey for a visit and there would be Beef Stroganoff for dinner.  My aunt made a really good stroganoff.  I can get a passable version at Noodles and Company but I always say I would like to make this at home and so here comes my cooking girlfriend, the Pioneer Woman with a recipe.

Beef Stroganoff

Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Servings: 6 Servings

Ingredients 

• 1 pound Sirloin Steak, cut into cubes 
• Kosher Salt and Black Pepper to taste 
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil 
• 1/2 whole Large Onion, finely diced 
• 2 whole Carrots, finely diced 
• 8 ounces, weight Cremini or White Button Mushrooms, stemmed and halved 
• 1/2 cup Brandy 
• 2 cups Beef Stock 
• 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch 
• 1/4 cup Sour Cream, room temperature 
• 1 teaspoon (heaping) Dijon Mustard 
• Cooked Egg Noodles, for serving 
• Minced Parsley, for serving 

Instructions
Season the steak with salt and pepper, then heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium high heat. Add half the meat to the pan and brown it quickly, about 2 minutes. Remove the first batch to a bowl and cook the rest of the meat. Remove and set all the meat aside.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan and add the onion, carrots, and mushrooms. Cook until the mixture is deep golden brown, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the brandy and add 2 cups of the stock. Stir, scrape the bottom of the pan, and turn the heat to medium-high. Cook to reduce the liquid by about a third, 3 to 4 minutes.

In a small pitcher, make a slurry by mixing the remaining 1/4 cup stock and the cornstarch with a fork. Pour the slurry into the skillet and cook until the sauce thickens, about 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off the heat. Stir in the sour cream and Dijon. Add the beef and stir over low heat until the mixture is nice and piping hot. Taste and adjust seasonings as you like.

Serve over cooked noodles and sprinkle with parsley.

Signers: Pennsylvania

This is the week that I am in Pittsburgh for the Spring 2016 MARAC meeting, so it's only appropriate to look at the state in which the Continental Congress sat (albeit on the other side of the state from
where I am) and the signers from the Keystone State.

Pennsylvania

• George Clymer (1739-1813), a merchant by trade was elected to the Congress in 1776 and served on the War Committee and was instrumental in bolstering George Washington and the Continental Army.
• Benjamin Franklin - for Dr. Franklin see the entry on the Declaration Committee.
• Robert Morris (1734-1806), also a merchant, like Clymer, formulated a plan for a National Bank and was appointed to serve as Financial Agent (the forerunner to the Secretary of the Treasury).  He went on to serve in the Pennsylvania Legislature, attended the Constitutional Convention, was appointed a Senator, and was later tapped by President Washington to serve as Secretary of the Treasury, which he declined, instead suggesting Alexander Hamilton.  Ironically, Morris died in relative poverty.
• John Morton (1724-1777), was a judge immediately prior to being elected to the Continental Congress.  He was responsible for submitting a report on the proposed Articles of Confederation, dying shortly after the report was presented to Congress.
• Benjamin Rush (1745-1813),was already a prominent physician in the Philadelphia area before becoming involved in the cause of American Independence.  One of the few blemishes on Rush's career was his criticism of a fellow doctor for the Continental Army.  The Congress and General Washington supported the other doctor and Rush resigned his commission.  He went on to serve as Treasurer of the US Mint.
• James Smith (1719-1806), a lawyer, has one of the lowest profiles of the members of the Continental Congress, holding few offices after the Declaration and given the circumstances that his collection of papers in his officers were destroyed in a fire shortly before his death.
• George Taylor (1716-1781), was an Ironmaster and was concerned with the production of iron for the majority of his life.
• James Wilson (1742-1798), was a lawyer and judge in Pennsylvania.  He was committed to the cause of independence but represented a colony that was not for independence at the time.  After a delay, Pennsylvania's delegates were swayed and Wilson voted for independence.

And while he didn't sign the Declaration, I would be remiss if I didn't include anything about, "Gentlemen of the Congress, I say ye, John Dickinson."  A lifelong opponent of American Independence, when the time came to sign the Declaration, Dickinson announced "I'm sorry, Mr. President. I cannot, in good conscience, sign such a document. I will never stop hoping for our eventual reconciliation with England, but... because, in my own way, I regard America no less than does Mr. Adams, I will join the army and fight in her defense, even though I believe that fight to be hopeless." (1776).  Dickinson College stands as one of Dickinson's legacies.

Another Side of Banana Bread

If you've been with me from the beginning dear reader, you will note that my "go-to" Banana Bread recipe is this one from Cooking Light.  I recently spotted this one and may give it a go the next time that SoBA can't keep up with the Banana Inventory.  From the Wholesome Dish via BuzzFeed.

Chocolate Oatmeal Banana Bread
Prep time 10 mins
Cook time 50 mins
Total time 1 hour

Ingredients 

• 3 overripe medium-sized bananas 
• ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
• ½ cup apple sauce 
• 2 large eggs 
• 2 tbsp. canola oil (or your preferred cooking oil) 
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract 
• ¾ cup all-purpose flour 
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
• 1 tsp. baking powder 
• ½ tsp. baking soda 
• ½ tsp. salt 
• ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats 
• Optional: an extra tablespoon of oats and semi-sweet chocolate chips for topping 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray. 
2. Place the bananas in a large bowl and mash with a potato masher or the back of a fork. There should be 1 cup of mashed bananas. 
3. Add the sugar, apple sauce, eggs, oil, and vanilla to the bananas. Whisk until well blended. 
4. Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the bowl. Mix just until all of the flour has been incorporated. Add the oats. Mix until just combined. Do not over mix. 
5. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Optional: Sprinkle the top of the batter with oats and chocolate chips. 
6. Place the pan on the middle oven rack. Bake for 50-60 minutes. A toothpick inserted near the center of the bread should come out with some moist crumbs, but no raw batter on it. 
7. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer the bread to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1/10th 
Calories: 198 
Fat: 4.6 
Saturated fat: 0.6 
Carbohydrates: 39 
Fiber: 3 
Protein: 3.9 

Baseball Answers

How'd you do?

1.  Name the team that won a record 26 consecutive games (but finished fourth).

1. 1916 New York Giants

2.  Name the player among those with 3,000 hits, the player with the fewest home runs.

2.  Eddie Collins

3. Who is the player who led both leagues in homers and triples (not in the same season)?

2. Sam Crawford

4.  Who hit the only game seven World Series walk-off home run?

4. Bill Mazeroski

5.  Name the four players who hit World Series homers in three different decades.

1. Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Eddie Murray, Matt Williams

6.  Who was the first manager to lead three teams to pennants?

2. Bill McKechnie

7. Who, after managers Connie Mack and John McGraw, had the most consecutive years managing one team?

4. Walter Alston

8.  Who was the first player to hit 30 home runs, score 125 runs and steal 45 bases in a season?

1. Mike Trout

9.  Name the four hitters who, since World War II, had five or more seasons batting .350 or better.

4. Wade Boggs, Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, Ted Williams

10. Name the five hitters ranked in the top 25 in career singles, doubles and triples.

2. Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, Tris Speaker, Paul Waner, Honus Wagner

11. Whose 44 hits in his first month is second to Joe DiMaggio's 48?

3. Yasiel Puig

12. Who are the four Hall of Fame pitchers DiMaggio faced during his 56-game hitting streak?

4. Bob Feller, Lefty Grove, Ted Lyons, Hal Newhouser

13. Who was the youngest player to lead the National League in hits?

3. Starlin Castro

14. Name the three players to get two extra-base hits in an All-Star game before age 23.

3. Ken Griffey, Jr., Mike Trout, Ted Williams

15. Who played seven straight seasons with a .300 average, 20 homers, 100 RBIs and 100 walks?

1. Frank Thomas

16. Name the Hall of Famer who played most of his games as DH.

4. Frank Thomas

17. Who was the second player, after Ty Cobb, to have at least 221 hits, 46 doubles and 54 steals in a season?

1. Jose Altuve

18. Name the team that had five consecutive Rookie of the Year winners.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers

19. Who was the player who slugged .826 in a six-game World Series, with a record 10 RBIs, but whose team lost?

2. Ted Kluszewski

20. Which player had the most consecutive World Series hits (7)?

3. Billy Hatcher

21. What is the record number of games in a season in which a team homered?

4. 131

22. Who had the most career RBIs (1,903) without ever leading the league?

3. Willie Mays

23. Name the player who reached a base in a record 84 consecutive games.

4. Ted Williams

24. Name the most recent former Rookie of the Year elected to the Hall of Fame.

2. Mike Piazza

25. Which two pitchers pitched 27 World Series innings without yielding an earned run?

2. Christy Mathewson, Waite Hoyt

26. Who was the only player in the last 100 years who twice in a season scored four runs in a game without a hit?

2. Bryce Harper

27. Name the pitcher who won 107 games before age 23.

2. Bob Feller

28. Which pitcher was the first to have two 300-strikeout seasons?

3. Rube Waddell

29. Name the four pitchers to win at least two Cy Young awards, to win at least two World Series rings, and pitch a no-hitter.

1. Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax, Tim Lincecum, Jim Palmer

30. Who were the three pitchers who started five All-Star games?

4. Don Drysdale, Lefty Gomez, Robin Roberts

31. Name the team that had the highest American League season winning percentage.

2. 1954 Cleveland Indians

32. Name the team with the most wins in an AL season.

3. Seattle Mariners

33. Which NL team holds the best single-season winning percentage since 1900?

2. 1906 Chicago Cubs

34.  Which team that existed in 1900 took the longest to win a World Series?

4. Philadelphia Phillies

35. Name the youngest unanimous MVP.

1. Bryce Harper

36. Name the three pitchers to strike out 150 in each of their first nine seasons.

1. Hideo Nomo, Tom Seaver, Don Sutton

37. Who was the first infielder (other than first basemen) to hit 500 home runs?

4. Eddie Mathews

38. Name the manager of the AL team with a season-record 116 wins.

3. Lou Piniella

39. Who won a home run title with a batting average lower than that year's Cy Young winner, Steve Carlton (.218)?

4. Dave Kingman

40. Name the pitcher who retired 46 consecutive batters.

1. Yusmeiro Petit

Bonus question: Who said, "All of the Mets' road wins against the Dodgers this year occurred at Dodger Stadium."?

2. Ralph Kiner

Baseball Is Back, Baby!

To commemorate the return of America's Pastime - here is George Will's Annual Baseball Quiz.  How well do you know baseball?  Answers on Thursday - the day of the Nationals Home Opener.

1.  Name the team that won a record 26 consecutive games (but finished fourth).

1. 1916 New York Giants
2. 1935 Chicago Cubs 
3. 1998 New York Yankees 
4. 2002 Oakland Athletics 

2.  Name the player among those with 3,000 hits, the player with the fewest home runs.

1. Stan Musial 
2. Eddie Collins 
3. Rickey Henderson 
4. Pete Rose 

3. Who is the player who led both leagues in homers and triples (not in the same season)?

1. Albert Pujols 
2. Sam Crawford 
3. Fred McGriff 
4. Mark McGwire

4.  Who hit the only game seven World Series walk-off home run?

1. Joe Carter 
2. Jack Morris 
3. Mickey Mantle 
4. Bill Mazeroski

5.  Name the four players who hit World Series homers in three different decades.

1. Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Eddie Murray, Matt Williams 
2. Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, Bill Skowron 
3. Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Hank Aaron, Goose Goslin 
4. Babe Ruth, Matt Williams, Duke Snider, Frank Robinson

6.  Who was the first manager to lead three teams to pennants?

1. Joe McCarthy 
2. Bill McKechnie 
3. Tony La Russa 
4. John McGraw

7. Who, after managers Connie Mack and John McGraw, had the most consecutive years managing one team?

1. Bobby Cox 
2. Joe Torre 
3. Sparky Anderson 
4. Walter Alston

8.  Who was the first player to hit 30 home runs, score 125 runs and steal 45 bases in a season?

1. Mike Trout 
2. Jose Canseco 
3. Gary Sheffield 
4. Ken Griffey, Jr.

9.  Name the four hitters who, since World War II, had five or more seasons batting .350 or better.

1. Barry Bonds, Rod Carew, Nomar Garciaparra, Roberto Clemente 
2. Todd Helton, Tony Gwynn, Roberto Clemente, Larry Walker 
3. Paul Hoover, Stan Musial, Albert Pujols, Barry Bonds 
4. Wade Boggs, Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, Ted Williams

10. Name the five hitters ranked in the top 25 in career singles, doubles and triples.

1. Tris Speaker, Ichiro Suzuki, George Brett, Pete Rose, Eddie Collins 
2. Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, Tris Speaker, Paul Waner, Honus Wagner 
3. Pete Rose, Hank Aaron, Cap Anson, Ty Cobb, Carl Yastrzemski 
4. Goose Goslin, Rod Carew, Paul Waner, Wade Boggs, Cal Ripken

11. Whose 44 hits in his first month is second to Joe DiMaggio's 48?

1. Steve Sax 
2. Mike Trout 
3. Yasiel Puig 
4. Ichiro Suzuki

12. Who are the four Hall of Fame pitchers DiMaggio faced during his 56-game hitting streak?

1. Hal Newhouser, Dizzy Trout, Bob Feller, Claude Passeau 
2. Mort Cooper, Bucky Walters, Dizzy Trout, Al Benton 
3. Dutch Leonard, Mort Cooper, Whit Wyatt, Bob Feller 
4. Bob Feller, Lefty Grove, Ted Lyons, Hal Newhouser

13. Who was the youngest player to lead the National League in hits?

1. Freddie Lindstrom 
2. Stan Musial 
3. Starlin Castro 
4. Vada Pinson

14. Name the three players to get two extra-base hits in an All-Star game before age 23.

1. Bryce Harper, Ken Griffey, Jr., Paul Konerko 
2. Mike Trout, Andruw Jones, Ernie Banks 
3. Ken Griffey, Jr., Mike Trout, Ted Williams 
4. Albert Pujols, Bryce Harper, Willie Mays

15. Who played seven straight seasons with a .300 average, 20 homers, 100 RBIs and 100 walks?

1. Frank Thomas 
2. Barry Bonds 
3. Babe Ruth 
4. Jimmie Foxx

16. Name the Hall of Famer who played most of his games as DH.

1. Paul Molitor 
2. Jim Rice 
3. Eddie Murray 
4. Frank Thomas

17. Who was the second player, after Ty Cobb, to have at least 221 hits, 46 doubles and 54 steals in a season?

1. Jose Altuve
2. Willie Mays 
3. Jimmy Rollins 
4. Stan Musial

18. Name the team that had five consecutive Rookie of the Year winners.

1. Oakland Athletics 
2. Atlanta Braves 
3. Chicago Cubs 
4. Los Angeles Dodgers

19. Who was the player who slugged .826 in a six-game World Series, with a record 10 RBIs, but whose team lost?

1. Gil Hodges 
2. Ted Kluszewski 
3. Lee May 
4. Lou Gehrig

20. Which player had the most consecutive World Series hits (7)?

1. Frank Baker 
2. Bobby Richardson 
3. Billy Hatcher 
4. Roberto Alomar

21. What is the record number of games in a season in which a team homered?

1. 108 
2. 117 
3. 127 
4. 131

22. Who had the most career RBIs (1,903) without ever leading the league?

1. Hank Aaron 
2. Ty Cobb 
3. Willie Mays 
4. Ted Williams

23. Name the player who reached a base in a record 84 consecutive games.

1. Joe DiMaggio 
2. Pete Rose 
3. Willie Keeler 
4. Ted Williams

24. Name the most recent former Rookie of the Year elected to the Hall of Fame.

1. Andre Dawson 
2. Mike Piazza 
3. Cal Ripken 
4. Ken Griffey, Jr.

25. Which two pitchers pitched 27 World Series innings without yielding an earned run?

1. Whitey Ford, Jack Billingham 
2. Christy Mathewson, Waite Hoyt 
3. Joe McGinnity, Babe Ruth 
4. Carl Hubbell, Joe Dobson

26. Who was the only player in the last 100 years who twice in a season scored four runs in a game without a hit?

1. Ted Williams 
2. Bryce Harper 
3. Rickey Henderson 
4. Jackie Robinson

27. Name the pitcher who won 107 games before age 23.

1. Walter Johnson 
2. Bob Feller 
3. Hal Newhouser 
4. Denny McLain

28. Which pitcher was the first to have two 300-strikeout seasons?

1. Sandy Koufax 
2. Nolan Ryan 
3. Rube Waddell 
4. Walter Johnson

29. Name the four pitchers to win at least two Cy Young awards, to win at least two World Series rings, and pitch a no-hitter.

1. Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax, Tim Lincecum, Jim Palmer 
2. Randy Johnson, Bret Saberhagen, Roger Clemens, Bob Gibson 
3. Pedro Martinez, Tim Lincecum, Steve Carlton, Greg Maddux 
4. Greg Maddux, Roy Halladay, Pedro Martinez, Tom Seaver

30. Who were the three pitchers who started five All-Star games?

1. Lefty Gomez, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux 
2. Roger Clemens, Jack Morris, Jim Bunning 
3. Greg Maddux, Jim Palmer, Whitey Ford 
4. Don Drysdale, Lefty Gomez, Robin Roberts

31. Name the team that had the highest American League season winning percentage.

1. 1927 New York Yankees 
2. 1954 Cleveland Indians 
3. 1998 New York Yankees 
4. 2001 Seattle Mariners

32. Name the team with the most wins in an AL season.

1. Cleveland Indians 
2. New York Yankees 
3. Seattle Mariners 
4. Philadelphia Athletics

33. Which NL team holds the best single-season winning percentage since 1900?

1. 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates 
2. 1906 Chicago Cubs 
3. 1975 Cincinnati Reds 
4. 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates

34.  Which team that existed in 1900 took the longest to win a World Series?

1. Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers 
2. Cincinnati Reds 
3. Pittsburgh Pirates 
4. Philadelphia Phillies

35. Name the youngest unanimous MVP.

1. Bryce Harper 
2. Ken Griffey, Jr. 
3. Barry Bonds 
4. Cal Ripken

36. Name the three pitchers to strike out 150 in each of their first nine seasons.

1. Hideo Nomo, Tom Seaver, Don Sutton 
2. Fergie Jenkins, Roger Clemens, Steve Carlton 
3. Justin Verlander, Fergie Jenkins, Lefty Grove 
4. Felix Hernandez, Walter Johnson, Hideo Nomo

37. Who was the first infielder (other than first basemen) to hit 500 home runs?

1. Alex Rodriguez 
2. Mike Schmidt 
3. Yogi Berra 
4. Eddie Mathews

38. Name the manager of the AL team with a season-record 116 wins.

1. Joe Torre 
2. Tony La Russa 
3. Lou Piniella 
4. Joe McCarthy

39. Who won a home run title with a batting average lower than that year's Cy Young winner, Steve Carlton (.218)?

1. Rob Deer 
2. Mark McGwire 
3. Tony Armas 
4. Dave Kingman

40. Name the pitcher who retired 46 consecutive batters.

1. Yusmeiro Petit
2. Mark Buehrle 
3. Zack Greinke 
4. Walter Johnson

Bonus question: Who said, "All of the Mets' road wins against the Dodgers this year occurred at Dodger Stadium."?

1. Gil Hodges 
2. Ralph Kiner 
3. Harry Caray 
4. Tom Seaver

Donuts

Donuts are one of those things that are easier to buy than make at home.  But these sound easy enough that they might be worth a go.  From "A Little Bit Funky" via a BuzzFeed post on desserts easy enough to make with kids.

Ingredients

• Can/tin of biscuits
• melted butter (4 tbsp per 8 biscuits)
• sugar and cinnamon mixed in shallow bowl
• vegetable oil for pan frying

Preparation
Heat oil on medium heat.  While oil is heating cut holes in biscuits.  Place donut in pan with hot oil.  Brown on one side then flip.  Remove from oil, let cool.  Dip one side in melted butter then cinnamon/sugar mixture, repeat for other side.

Enjoy!

Signers: New York and Maryland

This week's post concerns the state of my birth and the state where I live now.

New York

• William Floyd (1734-1821), was a successful Long Island farmer at the beginning and end of his life.  He served in the Continental Congress as well as the New York militia and was later elected to Congress.  In Suffolk County, there is a William Floyd School District as well as a Parkway named for Floyd.
• Francis Lewis (1713-1802), was a merchant, who lost all his property on Long Island when it was destroyed by the British. A resident of Queens, his legacy may be found in Francis Lewis Park, located under the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge; Francis Lewis High School, home of the Patriots; and Francis Lewis Boulevard, known by NYC commuters as the "Franky Lew."
• Philip Livingston (1716-1778), a successful merchant was elected to the Continental Congress and then to the State Senate, but died suddenly in 1778.
• Lewis Morris (1726-1798), was a farmer in Harlem before becoming involved in politics.  After the Revolution, he was appointed to the first Board of Regents for the University of New York.  He also abstains, courteously. The Lewis Morris Pizza at Declaration contains chive crème fraiche, capers, house cured salmon, shaved onion, arugula, tomato confit.

 Maryland

• Charles Carroll (1737-1782), served in the Continental Congress and was an early advocate of independence.  While in Congress, he was also creating a framework for the state government of Maryland.  He holds the distinction of the last signer of the Declaration to die, passing away at the age of 95 in 1832.  Carroll is also depicted in the film National Treasure.
• Samuel Chase (1741-1811), was a prominent judge at the time of his election to the Congress.  In 1796, he was appointed to the United States Supreme Court. The Declaration pizza dedicated to Samuel Chase has winter butternut squash, brown butter ricotta, crispy sage, truffle honey (but no kidney).
• William Paca (1740-1799), was elected to the Congress while serving as a Representative in the Colonial Assembly.  In 1779, he was appointed Chief Justice of Maryland and later served as Governor of the State.
• Thomas Stone (1743-1787), is the mystery delegate to the Congress.  He was known to be there, his name is on the Declaration and he was involved in the drafting of the Articles of Confederation.  He is reputed to have died of a "broken heart" in 1787, following the death of his wife.

Crock Pot French Dip

Yes, I know, Spring has sprung and it might be time to put the slow cooker away - but not necessarily.  Not before I make these. From Carlsbad Cravings via BuzzFeed.

Best Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
Prep time 5 mins
Cook time 6 hours
Total time 6 hours 5 mins
Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients 

• 1 3 lb. beef chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat*
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 6 French rolls or hoagie buns 
• 12 slices provolone cheese 
• Slow Cooker 
• 1/3 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce 
• 1 cup Coke, NOT diet 
• 2 10.5 oz. cans beef consommé** 
• 1/4 cup dry minced onions 
• 1 tablespoon beef bouillon 
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper 
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 
• 1 bay leaf 

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Using two forks or tongs to hold roast, sear on all sides until lightly browned. Add to slow cooker and top with all remaining Slow Cooker ingredients. 
2. Cook on LOW for 4 hours then remove roast to a cutting board. Thinly slice roast across the grain. Place sliced meat back in slow cooker and continue to cook on LOW for 1-2 additional hours.
3. When ready to serve, remove roast and strain fat from broth for dipping. 
4. Split rolls and line the bottoms on a baking tray. Top each half with beef followed by 2 slices cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F or until cheese is melted. Serve with reserved au jus. 

Notes
*   The beef can be more or less than 3 pounds, but 3 pounds is roughly the amount for 6 sandwiches. ** Beef consomme can usually be found in the canned section next to the beef broth. If you can't find it, you may substitute beef broth.

Chicken Fajita Quesadillas

The quesadilla is a good go-to option for LBA and SoBA when a quick lunch is needed.  In fact, the quesadilla often makes an appearance as leftovers in one of their lunches, if there was any left after those two growing boys are done.

I am partial to the Fajitas when I go to a Mexican restaurant.  This recipe combines the best of both worlds.  Via BuzzFeed.

Chicken Fajita Quesadillas
Ingredients

• 3 Chicken Breasts
• 2 Tbsp. Taco Seasoning 
• 2 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil 
• 1 Onion, sliced 
• 4 Cloves Garlic, sliced 
• 3 Bell Peppers, sliced 
• 1 Lime, juiced 
• 8 Tortillas 
• 2 Tbsp. Butter 
• 2 Cups Mexican Cheese Blend 

Directions

1. Slice the chicken breasts into strips, about an inch apart, and coat with taco seasoning. In a large skillet, heat 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil and cook chicken until no longer pink and slightly charred. Remove cooked chicken from the skillet.
2. Heat another Tbsp. oil, add onion and garlic and cook for a couple minutes until it’s slightly translucent. Add the peppers, and cook slightly, then mix in the cooked chicken. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. In a clean pan, melt a bit of butter. Add a tortilla and move it around until it’s buttery. Add cheese, then fajita mixture, then more cheese, then top with another tortilla and pat it down.
4. Flip the quesadilla over and cook the other side until it’s golden. Remove from pan and cut into quarters. Repeat these steps with the remaining tortillas.

• Optional - Serve with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. Enjoy!

It's Pi(e) Day!

From the Pioneer Woman

Strawberry Pretzel Pie
Prep Time: 4 Hours 
Difficulty: Easy 
Cook Time: 10 Minutes 
Servings: 8 Servings 

Ingredients 

• 4 cups Pretzel Sticks 
• 1 stick (8 Tablespoons) Butter, Melted 
• 1/3 cup Brown Sugar 
• 1-1/2 cup Sugar 
• 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch 
• 1 package (3.5 Ounce) Strawberry-flavored Jello 
• 1-1/2 cup Water 
• 3 pints Strawberries, Hulled And Halved 
• Unsweetened Whipped Cream

Instructions
For the pretzel crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Crush the pretzels in a large resealable plastic bag with a rolling pin. Mix in a bowl with the butter and brown sugar. Press into a pie pan and bake for 8 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool.

For the strawberry filling: Put 1 1/2 cups water, the granulated sugar, cornstarch and gelatin powder in a saucepan. Stir together and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook until it starts to thicken, about 2 to 3 minutes, then remove from the heat. Let the liquid cool for a good 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Put the strawberries in a bowl and pour over the sauce, gently tossing together. Allow to sit for 5-7 minutes, then carefully pile the coated strawberries into the cooled pie crust. Spoon over a little leftover sauce if needed, and refrigerate, uncovered, for 4 hours.

 Cut into slices and serve with whipped cream. (Unsweetened is nice because the pie is so sweet!)

Cookies AND a Brownie?

Hey Mrs. BA - isn't it time for March Madness Bakeoff? Via BuzzFeed

The Brookie

Chocolate Chip Batter:

• 10 Tbsp. softened butter
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/4 cup chocolate chips 

Brownie Batter:

• 10 Tbsp. softened butter
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 

For the chocolate chip batter, cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Blend in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the batter with the chocolate chips and mix. Cover and refrigerate while making the brownie batter.

For the brownie batter, cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Blend in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa. Add the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until combined.

Portion both sets of dough into teaspoon sized balls. Grab one chocolate chip ball and one brownie batter ball, press them together and gently form into a flat, but thick cookie shape. The dough will spread while baking.

Bake the cookies on baking sheets for 10 minutes at 375˚F / 190˚C. Remove from oven and let the cookies cool on a cooling rack.