International Waffle Day

I don't make this stuff up . . .

Belgian Waffles: photo by Cliff Hutson

. . . and if I have a photo I am going to run. with it.

A fairly reputable source says that waffles are from Sweden and led to March 25th being International Waffle Day. I can't argue with that, but the only waffles I have ever encountered are "American" and "Belgian".

Something a Bit Different

 

BBQ Ribs and Waffles: photo by Cliff Hutson

Most people in America have heard of chicken and waffles, if not having actually eaten them. Riffing on that, one night I made barbecued ribs and waffles. I am probably not the first, so I am not going to trademark it or anything.

Irish Soda Bread

 Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day (and Any Other Day)

Yesterday was Saint Patrick's Day which gave me an excuse to dig into my Irish heritage and live it up a little. One manifestation of this was going to the local farmers market and buying an Irish Soda Bread.

Soda bread is an Irish tradition that can be eaten any day of the year. But, here in the USA it is mostly baked in droves in the lead up to Saint Patrick’s Day and seldom seen outside of that window of time.

While the traditional recipe calls for just four ingredients - soft wheat flour, salt, baking soda and sour milk (buttermilk is more commonly used today), Americanized Irish soda bread adds sugar and is filled with raisins or currants and caraway seeds. Sometimes, it is almost cake-like.

The loaf I picked up is clearly from the latter school. It is large enough that I will be eating it for several days. I like it heated and spread with butter - Kerrygold, of course.

There is one more Irish inspired indulgence that I did not exercise yesterday. That is having a Guinness Float. I intend to rectify that this afternoon. 

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission. 

National Napping Day

March 11, 2024, is National Napping Day

Power Napping: photo by Cliff Hutson

The day after the day we change to Daylight Saving Time (DST) has been designated as National Napping Day since 1999. The impetus was due to the belief that that most people are tired and sleep deprived after moving the clock up an hour. 

Taking a nap today is supposed to help you recuperate from the “spring forward.” 

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Reading Log: February 2024

 The books that I finished reading in the month of February 2024

February 2024 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"The Left Hand of Darkness," Ursula K. Le Guin

"A People's Guide to Orange County," Gustavo Arellano et al.

"Bombs Away: The Story of a Bomber Team," John Steinbeck

"Lives of Weeds: Opportunism, Resistance, Folly," John Cardina 

Cliff's Notes

"Darkness"

A story based on the proposition that truth is a matter of the imagination. And, science fiction is a genre that allows one to imagine that things can be very different. Most current reviews stress that this book is a study of gender, However, it also speaks to government, psychology, sociology, and human emotions. I highly recommend it.

"Orange County"

I grew up in Southern California during a time when Orange County was known as a land of oranges, oil, and opportunity for white people. This explains how and why it was, and is, much more than that. 

"Bombs Away"

Watching "Masters of the Air" reminded me of this book on the shelf with my collection of Steinbeck works from the Penguin Classics series, which I read quite a few years ago. So, I took it out and reread it.

Written in the early days of World War II, it is a description of how the U.S. Army Air Force recruited and developed a bomber team. It also describes the two planes that they would be flying. Reading it in conjunction with watching the streaming series gives one more insight into role that each crew member fills and the capabilities of the Boeing B-17. (This plane is also known as the Flying Fortress, but I notice that show usual just refers to it as a "Fort".)

Some refer to this work as a piece of propaganda, however I see it as worthy bit of journalism. It is not of the caliber of his novels, but is well worth reading as a part of history.

"Weeds"

Some, unnamed, history professor supposedly suggested that some kinds of problems could be fixed by understanding how they came to be. This book informs us that if there is going to agriculture, there are going to be weeds. This book explains why that is and how we might come to terms with that.