Banana Bread w/Orange Zest

Yum, this turned out very good and it was so purdy it had to be captured. :)

Recipe follows.







2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbl baking powder
1tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed, about 1 cup mashed banana
2 tsp grated orange peel

Grease and flour 5x9x3 inch loaf pan. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.

In a mixing bowl, cream butter or margarine with sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until fluffy.

Stir in flour mixtue, alternately with mashed bananas. Fold in pecans and orange peel (may substitute 1 tsp vanilla for orange peel).

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake at 325 for 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until golden anbd a wooden toothpick, when inserted in center, comes out clean.

Cool in the pan for 10 minutes; turn banana bread out onto a rack to cool completely. Make this banana bread a day ahead of time for best flavor.

Mine didn't last till the next day before trying. Excellent.
From Diana Rattray, Your Guide to Southern U.S. Cuisine.

Army Exceeds Goal for June

Did you hear about it? Doubt it.

Army reverses series of recruitment shortfalls

PENTAGON After months of declining enlistment, the Army has more than met its recruitment goals for the month of June.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers announced the turnaround during a "town hall" meeting this afternoon at the Pentagon.Myers did not provide numbers, nor did he indicate how far above the recruitment target the enlistment number is.Going into the month of June, the Army had failed to meet its recruitment goals for four consecutive months. Officials blame a strong economy and the continuing carnage in Iraq.Just last night, during his speech on the situation in Iraq, President Bush urged Americans to consider joining one of the service branches during this time of war.

Just wondering why I didn't hear THAT on the news. Arrgh

Springtime Flowers

Just learning how to insert pictures and I liked this one at home.

The President Speaks

He hasn't yet, as of this writing - the press will say there is nothing new, and in fact I don't expect anything new. Should anyone be curious, I will guarantee I can find quotes from the president immediately post 9/11 where he said... this war will go on for along time. It is different than any war ever before fought in this country.

Alas, nobody listened. Did he 'or' his administration expect this insurgency to be as tough as it is? I doubt it, but... for every freaking bomb they blow over there trying to get us out... it is one less they are setting off here. Simple thinking? Perhaps - I just know this and not much more.

The President of these United States has been honest about the tough job from the beginning... the people just don't want to hear the truth. Sad but true.

The Folding of The Flag

I meant to post this on Memorial Day - I forgot - I think it is a beautiful tribute to our flag.

Flag Folding Ceremony

The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our country was originally founded. The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing the states our veterans served in uniform. The canton field dresses from left to right and is inverted only when draped as a pall on a casket of a veteran who has served our country honorably in uniform.

In the armed forces of the United States, at the ceremony of retreat, the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle, and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nations honored dead. The next morning it is brought out and, at the ceremony of reveille, run aloft as a symbol of the resurrection of the body.

The first fold or our flag is a symbol of life.

The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.

The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks, who gave a portion of his life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.

The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens, trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in time of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.

The fifth fold is a tribute to country, for in the words of General Robert E. Lee, "Do your duty in all things. You can never do more. You should never wish to do less."

The sixth fold is where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in the valley of the shadow of death, that we might again see the light of day.

The ninth fold is a tribute to mothers; for it has been through their faith, love loyalty, and devotion that the character of the men and women who made this country great has been molded.

The tenth fold is a tribute to fathers, for they too have given sons and daughters for the defense of our country.

The eleventh fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The twelth fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The thirteenth fold is a symbol of our thirteen original colonies.

When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God We Trust."

When the flag is completely folded and tucked, it takes on the appearance of a colonial hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by us, their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today.

Deep Throat

I'm not even going to mention his name - all I want to do is point out the absurdity of people and how one can rationalize 'anything'.

The man was number two in the F.B.I. - he was [ convicted ] of an illegal wiretap back in those days. Can you imagine if this were to come to light today (especially were it during the dreaded John Ashcroft era), specifically during the current administration? Why the civil libertarians would raise cane to high heaven. And, in fact they did then, but to a dastardly government man, NOT Deep Throat.

Today? He's a hero to the left. No matter he broke the law. Naaa, it's OK as long as they are taking down a sitting president they don't like. I don't really have a dog in the hunt - my feelings have never changed over Watergate. It is a proven fact the other side was trying to do the same thing, they just could not penetrate the security. Had President Nixon had the foresight to burn the tapes nobody would have known the difference. So I guess I never did really care. Phooie on me I guess.

I just find it so very interesting to see the way the left makes the event precisely how they want it to be.... as for me? Deep Throat is a crook. Not Woodward and Bernstein - they were doing what sleuth reporters try to do although not so much today.

And all because he (Deep Throat) did not get his promotion to the 'Top Job', 'The Director of the F.B.I.'