★~♥~♥~★~ El Morno! ♥~★~★~♥ ~
October 4, 2014
★~ Today’s Quote: I believe that if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade… And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party. ~ Ron White
★~Taco Day:
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/93162468[/vimeo]
Last year Americans ate over 4.5 billion tacos.
For a dish so widely available, the history of the taco is mostly unknown. But according to taco expert Jeffrey M. Pilcher, the word originates from the silver mines in Mexico in the 18th century, when taco referred to the little explosives workers used to extract the ore. These were pieces of paper wrapped around gunpowder and placed into holes carved in the rock. “When you think about it, a chicken taquito with a good hot sauce is really a lot like a stick of dynamite,” says Pilcher in an online article at Smithsonian.com. “The first references [to the taco] in any sort of archive or dictionary come from the end of the 19th century. And one of the first types of tacos described is called tacos de minero—miner’s tacos. So the taco is not necessarily this age-old cultural expression; it’s not a food that goes back to time immemorial.”
Still others claim tacos predate the arrival of the Spanish in Mexico in the 16th century. Anthropologists say there is evidence suggesting inhabitants of the lake region of the Valley of Mexico ate tacos filled with small fish. The fish were replaced by small live insects and ants in the states of Morelos and Guerrero, while locusts and snails were favorite fillings in Puebla and Oaxaca.
Taco Bell is believed to have pushed the widespread popularity of Mexican food in the U.S. Founded in California in 1962, the chain of fast-food restaurants serves up a variety of Tex-Mex foods to more than two billion customers in 5,800 restaurants in the U.S. alone.
The hard-shell taco was invented long before Taco Bell, a discovery that would increase the taco’s popularity across North America (I don’t exactly know why) The U-shaped version is first noted in 1949 in a cookbook by Fabiola Cabeza de Vaca Gilbert. A device that would hold the taco in its U-shape as it deep fried helped in the mass production of this product.
There really is a taco expert!
Planet Taco: A Global History of Mexican Food
★~ Toot Your Flute Day:
Admit it, you’re an awesome and wonderful person. And you look fabulous. It’s true! So make sure everyone knows it, because frankly, you earned it by being so ridiculously great!
FYI: If you send a SASA envelope to You Are Beautiful they will send you free stickers. Click to read more.
★~ National Vodka Day:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/iX8Hzxu7C1g[/youtube]
Vodka, accounts for almost 20 to 25 per cent of spirits sold today in North America, making it our most popular libation, a feat that occurred in the 1970s when it outpaced bourbon as America’s favorite spirit.
Vodka Doesn’t Have to be Odorless & Tasteless – Yes, there is a U.S. regulation that says it must be “without distinctive character, aroma, or taste,” but aside from Tito’s and Skyy, how many American vodka brands can you name? You think Russia follows our rules?
Premium Vodka is a Real Thing: There isn’t a huge disparity in quality/enjoyment because it’s all still getting distilled to 190+ proof, but the premium juice tends to retain some flavor from the grains. Something like Elyx Vodka actually tastes like wheat bread because they haven’t stripped everything out of it. This process costs a little more money, hence the premium. (I have no idea why you would want your Vodka to taste like wheat bread. I’ll have to ask a Vodka drinker- I know a few)
Absolut created the first designer bottle, 30 years ago, when they commissioned Andy Warhol to do a piece using their bottle. The result was legendary. He went on to suggest many other artists they should use, including Keith Haring.
For 98% of people, there’s no reason to spend over $20 on vodka. Most people are mixing, and at that point purity is the only thing that matters. Grab a bottle of Tito’s or robot-favorite Svedka and call it a day. The Vodka on the Rocks crowd can push a little higher, but even something like Purity (the brand not the adjective) only costs $40.
The McNuggetini Exists (see video ^) Cocktail superheros Alie & Georgia dominate the internet drinking world today, but it all started with the McNuggetini. Scientists suggest it’s the world’s best vodka cocktail. (until I wrote El Morno, I had no idea who these girls were but they look like they have fun)
Slainte!
★~ Today in History:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/LpFX_E3Q0LA[/youtube]
♥~ 1881 – The player piano was invented by Edward Leveaux of Sussex, England, who received a U.S. patent for it this day.
♥~ 1957 – History changed, when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. The world’s first artificial satellite was about the size of a beach ball (58 cm.or 22.8 inches in diameter), weighed only 83.6 kg. or 183.9 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path. That launch ushered in new political, military, technological, and scientific developments. While the Sputnik launch was a single event, it marked the start of the space age and the U.S.-U.S.S.R space race.
♥~ 1957 – Leave It to Beaver premiered on CBS-TV. “…And starring Jerry Mathers as the Beaver,” Hugh Beaumont (Ward Cleaver), Tony Dow (Wally), and Barbara Billingsley as Mrs. June Cleaver. The Cleavers lived a surreal-American life. June even did the housework in three strands of pearls, fashion plate dresses, makeup and high heels. Life was so grand!
♥~ 1966 – It was, indeed, a Sunny day for singer Bobby Hebb, who received a shiny gold record award for his song.
♥~ 1981- History’s oldest gerbil, Sahara, died at age 8 years 4-and-a-half months. Sahara was owned by Aaron Milstone of Lathrup Village, Michigan.
★~Famous Birthdays:
♥~ 1861 – Frederic Remington artist: captured the American West on his canvases; died Dec 26, 1909
♥~ 1924 – Charlton Heston (John Charlton Carter) Academy Award-winning actor:
♥~ 1937 – Jackie Collins author: Hollywood Wives, Hollywood Husbands, Rockstar, Lady Boss, American Star; actress: Barnacle Bill, The Safecracker, Passport to Shame,Jackie’s Back!; sister of actress Joan Collins
♥~ 1941 – Anne Rice (Howard O’Brien Rice) author: Interview with a Vampire
♥~ 1946 – Susan Sarandon (Tomaling) Academy Award-winning actress: Dead Man Walking [1995]; Little Women, Atlantic City, Thelma and Louise, Lorenzo’s Oil, Witches of Eastwick,Bull Durham, The Client, Search for Tomorrow
★~ Pumpkin Spice Gallimaufry:
I love Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes. And I’m not alone. Starbucks has sold over 200 million Pumpkin Spice Lattes and kicked of a full fledge Pumpkin Spice craze. What lead me to this information was researching Vodka tidbits for El Morno. When I learned Pinnacle made a Pumpkin Spice Vodka, I thought this is so odd. And then I wondered about other products Pumpkin Spice infiltrated. I’ve commented on the one’s I’ve tried.
Starbucks Lattes: Delish. One of my favorite fall beverages.
At Least 677 Different Kinds of Beer (I had a sip of one, it took me hours for my taste buds to forgive me)
Almost Every Product Sold at Dunkin’ Donuts
Frozen Waffles: I’ve heard good reviews.
Peanut Butter: Not a natural pairing.
Yogurt: From Greek to Yoplait.
Pringles: I could eat just one.
Almonds: No. Pumpkin seed taste like Pumpkin. Almonds should taste like Almonds.
M&Ms; If you are a Halloween hater, hand out Pumpkin Spiced M&Ms. I had one and I’ll never have another.
Oreos: Not awful but nothing beats a double stuffed chocolate Oreo.
Milanos: Mint or chocolate Milanos rock. Pumpkin Milanos are nothing-muchers.
Hershey’s Kisses: Stick with Chocolate, trust me.
Thomas’ English Muffins: Not awful but pumpkin bread is so much better.
Bagels: No likey.
Pie (this last one has been around for a while.)
My favorite pumpkin spice pairing is the Fruity Licious Pumpkin Spice Halloween costume. Every little girls dream costume.
Have you tried any Pumpkin Spice product? Any opinions?
#
No water update yet. I’ll turn my water value on a couple times today so we can flush toilets, fill dog bowls, and take a showers. Hopefully, the utilities company will show-up today. I’ve already called them AGAIN. But Bubba is coming at my request on Monday morning and that is reassuring.
Hope everyone has a super Saturday. It’s cloudy and cold in Chicago. Hoodie weather!
Odd Loves Company!
Morno,
I’ll take my Pumpkin Spice in pie with whip cream on top. Tacos and Vodka. Perfect food and beverage day.
Golf this afternoon. It’s cool and dry in my neck of the woods.
Have a good one.
This is PERFECT football weather, and I plan on gluing myself to the TV to watch Ole Miss send ‘Bama rolling back home, and Notre Dame whupping up on Stanford. For starters. There are some good games this evening, too, and I imagine I’ll at least half-heartedly take in those. Sorry your water problem isn’t yet resolved — they’re sending Bubba to help on Monday? Well, now we know you’ll be up and running in no time, ha!!
I like pumpkin pie. I’ve never had a pumpkin Latte, just doesn’t sound right to me.
I went to Trader Joe’s yesterday and bought a bag of Beef and Broccoli, fixed it for lunch and was it ever good. Try it if you have the chance.
TTFN
MJ
SO—–I’ve been gone a long time. I know! But we moved. It’s Ecuador. And we just got our internet TWO days ago! LONGGGGGGGG story!
I’ve missed you, my friend! Sounds like you’re living in Ecuador–without water, and all!!!!!!
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
I was at a local fudge shoppe in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware on the weekend. Now I like pumpkin and I like pumpkin spice and I like fudge. But combine those into Pumpkin Spice Fudge – not so much. I had to buy an entire slice of Peanut Butter Fudge just to cover up the single taste of the PS Fudge. Live and learn.
Yuck. Sounds awful. I’m a fudge purist. Chocolate with nuts. Made by my Mom. Although, I’ve had great fudge from Mackinac island and Long Grove. Peanut Butter is always good. I might need to branch out but never PS Fudge. I do admire you for trying it tho and warning us all.