Cashew Caramel Shortbread

I like cashews.  I like caramel. I like shortbread.  Mrs. BA, can I get some of these? From bakerita via BuzzFeed.

Cashew Caramel Shortbread Bars
Prep time 20 mins
Cook time 40 mins
Total time 1 hour
Serves: 16 bars

Ingredients
For the shortbread

• ⅔ cup butter, softened 
• ¼ cup white sugar 
• 1¼ cups all-purpose flour 

For the caramel

• ¾ cups sugar 
• ½ cup heavy cream 
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, roughly cut into pieces 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• ¼ teaspoon salt 
• 1¼ cups salted roasted cashews

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. 
2. In a medium bowl, mix together ⅔ cup butter, white sugar, and flour until evenly crumbly. Press into a 9 inch square baking pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven but keep it on. Let cool while you prepare the caramel cashew layer. 
3. Place sugar in a nonstick saucepan over medium high heat. Let stand until bottom layer of sugar begins to melt, then start stirring, continuing to stir until sugar has turned light brown in color and smooth in texture. Pour in heavy cream, being careful of it splattering. Stir constantly until mixture is smooth again, about 5 minutes. Turn down heat and stir in butter, vanilla, and salt. Take mixture off heat and stir in cashews. Pour mixture into pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the caramel is all bubbling. 
4. Let cool completely before cutting. Cut into 16 bars.

That's Great - But Where are the Archives?

I would be remiss if I didn't post where you could find out more about these brave men who forged the document that guarantees our freedom.

All of the signers are linked to a website from "ushistory.org."  The landing page is here.  I have linked the states to my blog series on the States of the Union.

If you are interested in learning more about the signers, please consult their archives:

1. John Adams (MA) - at the Massachusetts Historical Society.
2. Samuel Adams (MA) - at the New York Public Library.
3. Josiah Bartlett (NH) - there is a Bartlett Museum in Amesbury, MA, and there is an online finding aid for some Bartlett family papers at the Library of Congress.
4. Carter Braxton (VA) - there's a body of papers scattered across several repositories, here's a list.
5. Charles Carroll (MD) - primarily found at the Maryland Historical Society.
6. Samuel Chase (MD) - there is an extensive essay found at the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
7. Abraham Clark (NJ) - a small collection of Clark's papers exist in several repositories, here's a list.
8. George Clymer (PA) - there is a small collection of Clymer correspondence at the American Philosophical Society.
9. John Dickinson (PA) - there is a collection of Dickinson papers at the college named for him.
10. William Ellery (RI) - at the Rhode Island Historical Society.
11. William Floyd (NY) - a limited collection, but you can visit the Floyd family home on Long Island.
12. Benjamin Franklin (PA) - Franklin's papers are available online through a collaborative project between the American Philosophical Society and Yale University.
13. Elbridge Gerry (MA) - on microfilm at the Massachusetts Historical Society.
14. Button Gwinnett (GA) - a very small collection of correspondence is scattered across several repositories, here's a list from the Congressional Biographical Directory.
15. Lyman Hall - a very small collection of correspondence is scattered across several repositories, here's a list from the Congressional Biographical Directory.
16. John Hancock (MA) - at Harvard University.
17. John Hart (NJ) - a very small collection - here's a list.
18. Benjamin Harrison (VA) - There's a collection of Harrison's papers at the Library of Virginia.
19. Joseph Hewes (NC) - scattered across several repositories, here's a list from the Congressional Biographical Directory.
20. Thomas Heyward, Jr. (SC) - no major body of papers exists for Heyward.
21. William Hooper (NC) - there is a good biography of Hooper at the North Carolina History Project.
22. Stephen Hopkins (RI) - bits and pieces across several repositories, see this list from the Congressional Biographical Directory.
23. Frances Hopkinson (NJ) - a finding aid is available online from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania for the Hopkinson Family Papers.
24. Samuel Huntington - a scattered, small collection is listed here.
25. Thomas Jefferson (VA) - two extensive bodies of papers exist for Jefferson, at the Library of Congress and the University of Virginia.
26. Richard Henry Lee (VA) - there's a collection at the American Philosophical Society.
27. Francis Lightfoot Lee (VA) - a small scattered collection exists - here's a list.
28. Francis Lewis (NY) - a very limited collection is listed here.
29. Philip Livingston (NY) - there are materials on Philip spread across many repositories, here's a list.
30. Robert Livingston (NY) - at the New York Historical Society.
31. Thomas Lynch, Jr. (SC) - like the man itself, who vanished, no body of papers appears to be extant for Lynch.
32. Thomas McKean (DE) - some materials at the University of Pennsylvania.
33. Arthur Middleton (SC) - there is a collection of Middleton's papers as well as the family's papers at the South Carolina Historical Society.
34. Lewis Morris (NY) - a small scattered collection, here's a list.
35. Robert Morris (PA) - there is a sizable collection at the Library of Congress.
36. John Morton (PA) - you can read this essay on Morton at the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
37. Thomas Nelson, Jr. (VA) - there's a collection of gubernatorial papers at the Library of Virginia.
38. William Paca (MD) - a finding aid of Paca's papers at the Maryland State Archives may be found here.
39. Robert Treat Paine (MA) - at the Massachusetts Historical Society.
40. John Penn (NC) - a essay on Penn is at the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
41. George Read (DE) - a scattered collection, here's a list.
42. Cesar Rodney (DE) - some correspondence exists at the New York Public Library.
43. Benjamin Rush (PA) - a prolific writer, there are Rush papers at several repositories, including the University of Pennsylvania and the American Philosophical Society.  Here's a complete list.
44. Edward Rutledge (SC) - there is a small collection of materials at Duke University.
45. Roger Sherman (CT) - the majority of Sherman's papers are at Yale University.
46. James Smith (PA) - the majority, if not all of Smith's papers were destroyed in a fire.  Here's an essay on Smith from the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration.
47. Richard Stockton (NJ) - there is a collection of the Stockton Family Papers at Princeton University.  Here's a finding aid.
48. Thomas Stone (MD) - no significant body of Stone papers have ever been located, here's a list of Stone material appearing in other collections.
49. George Taylor (PA) - another obscure delegate with little "backstory" - here's an essay from the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration.
50. Matthew Thornton (NH) - a very small collection is listed in the Congressional Biographical Dictionary.
51. George Walton (GA) - a manuscript collection is located at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
52. William Whipple (NH) - another small collection is described in the Congressional Biographical Dictionary.
53. William Williams (CT) - there is a manuscript collection at Yale University.
54. James Wilson (PA) - there's a collection of Wilson papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
55. John Witherspoon (NJ) - a collection at Princeton and the New Jersey Historical Society.
56. Oliver Wolcott (CT) - there is a collection of Oliver Wolcott papers at the Connecticut Historical Society.
57. George Wythe (VA) - a small collection of Wythe's papers are at the College of William and Mary.

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

Taco Night is a big hit at the Launchpad, especially for LBA.  On those occasions when we go out to a Mexican restaurant, I will often order the fajitas, if they are on the menu.  Now I can make them at home!  From Cooking Classy via BuzzFeed.

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas 
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Yield: About 9 fajitas

Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast halves 
• 1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes with green chilies 
• 1 red, orange and green bell pepper, julienned 
• 1 large yellow onion, halved and sliced 
• 4 cloves garlic, minced 
• 2 1/2 tsp chili powder 
• 2 tsp ground cumin 
• 1 tsp paprika 
• 3/4 tsp ground coriander 
• 1 tsp salt 
• 3/4 tsp pepper 
• 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
• 1 Tbsp honey 
• For serving: Flour tortillas, sour cream, cilantro, salsa, guacamole, monterrey jack or cheddar cheese

Directions
Pour half of the canned tomatoes into the bottom of a slow cooker and spread into an even layer. Top with half of the peppers and half of the onions. Sprinkle garlic in. Top with chicken breasts.

In a bowl whisk together chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, salt and pepper. Evenly sprinkle half of the seasoning over chicken breasts then flip chicken and sprinkle in remainder. Top with remaining half of the tomatoes, then layer in remaining peppers and onions.

Cover and cook on HIGH heat 3 - 4 hours or low heat 6 - 8 hours, until chicken has cooked through and veggies are tender (note that if you want to be able to cut chicken into strips cook more near lesser time on HIGH or LOW, otherwise it will probably just shred, which is also fine).

Remove chicken, and cut into strips, or shred. Ladle out 1 cup of the broth in slow cooker (mostly tomato liquid) and discard. In a small bowl whisk together lime juice and honey and add to slow cooker along with chicken and season with additional salt to taste if desired. Gently toss. Sere warm in warmed tortillas with sour cream and optional guacamole, cheese and salsa.

Recipe source: Cooking Classy

Twix Cookies

LBA is fond of the Twix bar (it's one of the candies he can eat).  I think that Mrs. BA should whip up a batch of these for everyone's good. From This Grandma is Fun via BuzzFeed.

Twix Cookies

Ingredients

• 1½ cups softened butter 
• 1 cup powdered sugar 
• 3 cups flour 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• ¼ teaspoon salt 
• 15 oz caramel **See notes 
• 2 cups milk choc chips 
• 2 tsp shortening 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees 
2. Cream butter and sugar together. Add your vanilla, flour and salt. Mix well. 
3. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to ½ inch thick. 
4. To cut cookies you can use a biscuit cutter or I just used a small glass that was 2 inches wide. 
5. Place round cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet. 
6. Bake at 350 for 14-16 minutes. 
7. Let cookies cool. 
8. Melt caramel and spread the caramel over the cooled cookies. 
9. Let caramel cool completely. 
10. Add your shortening into the chocolate chips and melt in the microwave. Use a microwave safe bowl and watch so that the chocolate does not burn. 
11. Spread melted chocolate over cooled caramel. 
12. Let chocolate set before serving. 
13. Do not put in the refrigerator as it will discolor the chocolate. 

Notes 
I use Peter's caramel which comes in a 5 lb block. You can just cut off what you need, melt it and it's ready to go. If you use the Kraft caramels, follow the instructions on the bag for melting.

Shortbread recipe adapted by Food Network

Signers: Virginia

For our last state in our series, we look at the Commonwealth of Virginia, producer of our first President, and several more after that.

Virginia

• Carter Braxton (1736-1797), was a farmer who lost most of his property and fortune in the course of the Revolution.  Braxton arrived in the Congress after the death of Peyton Randolph.  He invested heavily in privateers in the war and wound up in debt following the end of the war.
• Benjamin Harrison (1726-1791), was the patriarch of a political family - his son, William Henry Harrison served as the ninth President.  Benjamin Harrison also served as Speaker of the Virginia Legislature and Governor of Virginia.
• Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), was the author of the Declaration and served as the Third President of the United States. A true Renaissance man, Jefferson served in the Virginia legislature, the state's Governor, Minister to France, Secretary of State, Vice President, and President.  The Thomas Jefferson Pizza at Declaration features smithfield ham, arugula, lemon, olive oil, oven roasted tomatoes, fresh mozzarella.
• Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734-1797), was Richard Henry Lee's younger brother, the only brothers in the Continental Congress.  He was an avid proponent of independence.
• Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794), is the individual who proposed the resolution on American independence.  He later served as the President of the Congress while also serving in the Virginia House of Burgesses.
• Thomas Nelson, Jr. (1738-1789), was a farmer and military leader in the early days of the American Revolution.  He served in the Congress until 1779 until frail health led him to return to Virginia.
• George Wythe (1726-1806), was a prominent member of the Virginia delegation and made his greatest impact in the field of education.  An early abolitionist, Wythe provided for his slaves to receive a portion of his estate's lands in his will.  Upon learning of this, one of Wythe's relatives poisoned several of the slaves with arsenic, also killing Wythe in the process.

Chicken with Carrots and Potatoes

I'm always on the look out for new recipes, especially those that SoBA and LBA will eat.  Even though this has vegetables in it (carrots), even Mrs. BA might eat this.  And it's quick, which is a plus - I've found recently that I don't have the will to get started on dinner when I get home at night.  Via BuzzFeed.

Oven-Baked Honey-Dijon Chicken With Carrots and Potatoes
Recipe by Christine Byrne
Makes 2 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 breasts) 
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 
• 3 medium red bliss potatoes (about ½ lb), roughly chopped 
• 2 medium carrots (about ½ lb), peeled and roughly chopped 
• 1 Tbsp. canola oil, divided 
• 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary, thyme, or sage leaves, divided 
• 1 tsp honey 
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard 

PREPARATION
Remove the chicken breasts from the fridge, dry them with paper towels, and season them with salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Place the potatoes and carrots on a large sheet pan and toss them with ½ tablespoon canola oil, ½ tablespoon chopped herbs, a pinch of salt, and some freshly ground pepper.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the remaining canola oil, the honey, mustard, the remaining chopped herbs, a big pinch of kosher salt, and some freshly ground pepper. Dry the chicken breasts again with paper towels. Add the chicken breasts to the bowl and toss everything together to coat. Place the chicken on the sheet pan with the vegetables, spreading everything out.

Roast in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through with no pink in the middle. A thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast should read 165°F.

Let everything rest at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes, then serve.

Traffic Court

I am not the best driver.  I tend to speed, especially with the new Brave Astronaut space vehicle, with its V8 engine under the hood.  I also come by it honestly, my mother had a lead foot.  Back in December, I was stopped on my way to work for failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign.  It was an occasion where I was genuinely surprised that I was being pulled over.

I arrived at the intersection, where a car was making its way through the intersection, so I had to stop.  As I prepared to pull forward a cruiser arrived at the intersection to my right.  I proceeded straight and was pulled over by the same cruiser for failing to yield at the stop sign.  I accepted the citation and prepared to plead not guilty and request a trial.

And here's the moral of the story dear readers - ALWAYS plead not guilty.  And here's why.  First of all, your court date will be scheduled for some time later - as was in this case, I was pulled over in December and my court date was today, nearly six months later.  It is entirely worth your time to go to court and plead your case in front of the judge.

Secondly, if you go to court and the officer does not show up, your case is dismissed and you will be found guilty.  This was the case with me today (as was also the case for a speeding ticket I got last fall).  As I sat in the courtroom today, I did get to hear some good stories, including one gentleman who was stopped for doing 108 MPH on Route 50.  And even he got a reduced fine.  But what astonished me, was those individuals who had pleaded not guilty, requested a trial, and then didn't show up, FTA, or Failure to Appear, in the legal parlance.  If you're going to go through the trouble of pleading not guilty, show up for your court date - now those fine folks have more trouble on their plates.

Someday I might regale you with my other stories of traffic infractions and moving violations, but for today, Brave Astronaut beat the rap again.  And remember, ALWAYS plead not guilty.

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