The Times They Are A Changing

Sarah Palin, Vice President or Not

After much guessing about who John McCain will choose for his Vice President candidate, it is rumored a charter plane, from Alaska, just landed in Middletown, Ohio.
Sarah Palin is presently the first woman governor of Alaska. Will she be the first woman Vice President of the United States? Does McCain believe he can replace Hillary Clinton in the eyes of voters?

Sarah Palin, born February 11, 1964, is most well known because of her whistle blowing of the Republican Party Leaders for ethical violations. She follows Geraldine Ferraro as the second woman to be chosen as a Vice President nominee. Not a stranger to beauty pageants, she won Miss Wasilla and later won second place in the 1984 Miss Alaska pageant. She holds a degree in journalism with a minor in politics. Palin and her husband have five children, the oldest, Track Palin, who is currently in the military. She just gave birth to her second son on April 18, 2008. Anyone who can handle that many children, including a new born, and consider the role of Vice President of the United States must be a real “super woman.”

You’re the Only One - Eric Benet

Halle Berry’s Ex-husband is out with a news single. “You’re the Only One” is Eric Benet’s new song. The Grammy Award winner will perform October 11 in Fletcher Hall at the Carolina theater. It has been speculated this new song is a tribute to Halle. He recently recorded a video singing the song with his daughter, India, in the background.

Eric Benet (Jordan), born October 15, 1966 in Wisconsin is a platinum-selling R&B singer who was nominated for a Grammy for his song, “Spend My Life With You.”
His musical interest was inspired by his father who died of cancer. His personal tragedy expanded when his girlfriend and mother of his child, India, died in an automobile accident in 1993. Benet also did some television acting from 1998 to 2000 as well as acted in Glitter with Mariah Carey in 2001. He continues with a part in MTV’s “Kaya.”

Tisdale’s Leg Partially Amputated

Bone cancer prompted a partial removal of Wayman Tisdale’s right leg. The former NBA player went under the knife Monday. However, after surgery everything was reported to have gone well.

In February of last year, Tisdale had a fall, breaking his leg. It was at this time a cancerous cyst was found below his right knee.

He was born in Tulsa, Okalahoma in 1964 and went on to the University of Okalahoma to play basket ball. Today he is married with four children. After spending 12 seasons in the NBA, Wayman Tisdale is now an award-winning jazz musician. His debut CD is called Power Forward. He played for the Indiana Pacers from 1985 to 1989 and the Sacramento Kings from 1989 to 1990. He averaged 22 points per game.

Wayman Tisdale’s progress will be watched carefully by basketball fans everywhere. He is a remarkable man that can create two huge careers for himself.

Kevin Duckworth

The Trail Blazers and their fans mourn Kevin Duckworth today. The 7 foot All-Star passed away while running a basketball clinic on the Oregon coast. He died Monday, August 25th at the age of 44. The cause of death is not currently known and will be determined by a medical examiner.

Duckworth grew up in Chicago and attended Eastern Illinois University where he was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in 1986. He was then traded to the Trail Blazers where he had great success. He also played for Washington, Milwaukee, San Antonio and Los Angeles during his basketball career.

This well known basketball player stayed in the Portland area after his retirement taking on various ventures as well as doing the things he enjoyed, hunting, fishing and woodworking. Kevin will be remembered as a big hearted, giving individual as shown in his work in his most recent work in a free basketball clinic.

Minestrone Soup

3 tablespoons oil
1 cup baby carrots
1 cup potato, chopped
1 cup zucchini, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
½ cup celery, chopped
1 tablespoon garlic salt
2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 8 oz can kidney beans, drained
1 - 14 oz tomatoes, crushed
1 - 14 oz can beef broth
1 cup water
1 cup elbow macaroni
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a large pot, sauté in the oil, carrots, potato, zucchini, onion and celery until for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, beef broth and water. Bring to a boil. Then, lower and simmer for 25 minutes, uncovered. Stir in the macaroni and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and cook until macaroni is tender.
Serve with crusty Italian bread grilled with butter and Parmesan cheese. Serves 4 - 5.

Variation: Replace any of the vegetables with ones you prefer. Kidney beans may be replaced with garbanzo beans and past may be exchanged for any on hand.

Harvest Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients

1 - 15 oz can pumpkin
½ cup white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1 - 12 oz can evaporated milk
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 - 18 oz yellow cake mix
1 cube butter, melted
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup milk chocolate chips
Whipped topping or whipped cream

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, white sugar, brown sugar and eggs. Stir.
In another mixing bowl, combine the evaporated milk and pumpkin pie spice. Add to the pumpkin mixture.
Pour the pumpkin mixture in to a greased or foil lined 9X13 inch baking pan.
Sprinkle the cake mix over the top of the pumpkin mixture. Pour the melted butter over the cake mix, evenly. Sprinkle the pecans and chocolate chips over the top.
Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean.
Cool completely. Serve in squares from the pan or invert onto a serving dish.
Garnish with whipped topping or whipped cream.
Serves 16.

One-Dish Creamy Baked Chicken Dinner

Ingredients

3 cups cooked white rice
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup canned kidney beans, rinsed
½ cup salsa
6 chicken breast halves, skinless and boneless, cooked
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1 cup tomato, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 cups cheddar cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, combine the rice, corn, kidney beans and salsa. Place in a lightly greased 9X13 baking dish and spread evenly.
Place the chicken pieces over the rice mixture.
In a saucepan, combine the cream of chicken soup and the sour cream. Heat over medium/low until the mixture is smooth. Pour the sour cream mixture over the chicken.
Top with chopped tomatoes and onion. Bake for 30 minutes.
Sprinkle cheese over the chicken dish and bake an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve with warmed flour tortillas. Serves 6.

Note: The chicken can be sliced into long strips before placing it on the rice. This can make for easier eating and can feed more people in case you need to stretch the dish. Also, you can add a dish of heated black beans or refried beans to stretch the food to feed 8.

Tahitian Cream Pie

Ingredients

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cube butter, melted
1 large package instant vanilla pudding
Milk
3 bananas, sliced
¼ cup lemon juice
1 - 20 oz crushed pineapple, drained
1 - 8 oz container whipped topping

Directions

In a mixing bowl, combine the graham crackers and butter. Pat into the bottom of a 9X13 inch baking pan.

Prepare the instant vanilla pudding with the milk as directed on the package.
Spread the vanilla pudding over the graham cracker crust.

Dip the banana slices into the lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown.
Layer the bananas over the pudding. Refrigerate until serving. Serves 20 to 24.

Variations:

Use different cookies to make the crust (Oreos, sugar cookies, vanilla sandwich cookies, shortbread cookies, ginger snaps.

Use different kinds of pudding (pistachio, lemon, chocolate.

Use different kinds of fruit (strawberries, peaches, raspberries, blueberries) - (pie filling).

Use coconut or nuts to garnish.

Leftover Cereal Cookie Bars

When you look in your cupboards and there are several boxes of cereal with only a small portion at the bottom, not enough for a bowl full, this recipe will use them up. This is a twist on the old rice crispy treat recipe.

Ingredients

¼ cup butter
1 - 10 oz package miniature marshmallows
5 cups mixed cereal
1 cup M&Ms

Directions

Grease a 9X13 inch baking pan with spray oil.

In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and marshmallows. Heat in a double boiler or in the microwave oven for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds.

Add the cereal to the marshmallow mixture and stir. Press the mixture into the greased pan. Cool for approximately 2 hours. Cut into bars or squares and serve.

Variations

Exchange the M&Ms for chocolate chips or butterscotch chips.
Exchange the M&Ms for peanut butter chips and exchange half of the butter for peanut butter.

Simplest Fruit Cobbler
Last minute guests? Keep these simple ingredients handy and you’ll have dissert in a jiffy.

Ingredients

1 - 21 oz can (no sugar added) apple pie filling (any fruit flavor you desire)
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 - 18 oz package spice cake mix
1 - 12 oz can lemon-lime carbonated soft drink

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Spread the pie filling over the bottom of a 9X13 inch greased baking pan.
Sprinkle the cinnamon and cake mix over the pie filling and the pour the soda over the top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Serves 8.
This is great with whip topping or ice cream served on top of warm cobbler.

Variations:

*Use a chocolate cake mix with cherry pie filling. Sprinkle white chocolate chips over the pie filling.
*Use a can of peaches instead of the pie filling.
*Use a yellow cake mix with any pie filling.