What I Learned Today

Good point

2008-11-05T14:07:00.002-05:00

Today I learned that the following is a very good point per singer/songwriter Jason Mraz:

"Open up your plans, and damn, you're free"

So if you're finding you're too busy to do some of the things you want, take a look at your schedule and to-do's and ask yourself if it's something you 'really' want to do or if it can wait until later. Free up your time for you.

Homemade Bagels, what??

2008-04-08T22:16:00.005-04:00

I never imagined myself making bagels from scratch, but that was the project I took on this evening! It all started on Sunday...I really like bread, so I decided it was time I learn to make it from scratch. Don't get me wrong, my bread machine is nice to have around, but fresh bread made by hand is amazing. So I made my first wheat bread on Sunday, which came out well. Today was bagels, which was easier than I imagined it would be. I can't get a beautiful round bagel every time, but I'm sure that could come with practice. I found this recipe online, but next time I make them I'll need to experiment with some fillings and toppings! Sesame seeds seemed easy enough for this time around.

Next episode: I see Smore's Brownies on the horizon! :o) What did you cook today?

More Cookin'

2008-04-08T22:15:00.001-04:00

For the few of you that read my blog out there, I thought I'd let you know that this may turn into a cooking blog for awhile since that's been my hobby lately! If other stuff comes up, I'll let you know :o)

Gingerbread Cake - somewhat healthy

2008-03-16T19:03:00.004-04:00

Today I learned to adapt a high-fat gingerbread recipe to a low-fat one, which I must admit came out very well! There's a lot of flavor in gingerbread and the cinnamon and ground ginger in the recipe can help cover up some flavor loss of having less fat. One of the keys is a jar of fruit puree from dried plums and apples I bought at the grocery store for just this purpose. It's called Sunsweet Lighter Bake. What's nice is that it's fat free and you only use half the amount. For instance, if my recipe called for a 1/2 cup of shortening, then I would only need 1/4 cup of the Lighter Bake. However, I decided to change things up in my recipe by substituting light butter as well. I use Land O'Lakes made with canola oil. All and all, a serving of this cake from the cookbook would have 11 grams of fat per serving. With my recipe, it's probably just over 2 grams of fat per serving. Yay! Also, instead of using all-purpose flour for the entire recipe, I used half whole wheat flour. Next time I might use all whole wheat to see how that goes! Serve this cake warm with light or fat free whipped cream for a great treat!

Ingredients:
3/4 C. whole wheat flour
3/4 C. all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 C. Light butter/margarine
2 Tbsp. Sunsweet Lighter Bake (or maybe just use applesauce)
1/4 C. packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 C. mild-flavored molasses

Grease a 9x1 1/2 in. round cake pan (I used a pie plate because I don't have a cake pan); set aside. In a bowl, stir together flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, and baking soda; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter & fruit puree mixture with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar; beat until slightly fluffy (this will not fluff like regular fat and sugar would). Add egg and molasses; beat 1 minute. Alternately add flour mixture and 1/2 cup of water to the butter/fruit puree mixture, beating on low speed after each addition until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 30 minutes in pan on a wire rack. Serve warm if you can! Don't worry though, there's always the microwave. Here's one hint, if you're using a glass or dark-colored pan, try lowering the oven heat to 325 degrees and check the cake after 32 minutes of baking.

Enjoy this slightly healthy cake!!

What did you learn today?

Whole Wheat Pancakes

2008-03-02T13:08:00.004-05:00

Today I learned a Whole Wheat Pancake recipe that I actually enjoyed! It's right from my Better Homes & Gardens cookbook.

1 C. whole wheat flour
1 T. brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 beaten egg
1 cup milk
2 T. cooking oil

1. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside. Combine the egg, milk, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Add additional milk to thin batter, if necessary. Cook over medium heat.

I definitely suggest adding strawberries, bananas, or blueberries to this recipe. It makes a great pancake!

Ellie Krieger of the Food Network suggests this strawberry sauce to serve with whole wheat pancakes:

Strawberry Sauce:
16 ounces strawberries, fresh or frozen (unsweetened, thawed)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Puree strawberries in to a chunky puree. Heat them in a small saucepan over a low flame, until they are just warm. Stir in lemon juice and maple syrup.

What did you learn today?

Maple Glazed Walnuts

2008-02-13T21:41:00.002-05:00

Today I learned that I have a new favorite snack for the time being, thanks to Ellie Krieger of the Food Network. Maple Glazed Walnuts nuts are yummy and so easy to make!! The first time I used this recipe I didn't even have any walnuts in the house so I used hazelnuts instead, they were still great. So feel free to use anything you want, pecans and cashews would be another great addition. Best of all, it only takes about 5 minutes to make this. Here's the recipe!

2 cups walnut halves (unsalted & not roasted)
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
Preheat a dry skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the walnuts, maple syrup and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until syrup is caramelized and nuts are toasted, about 3 minutes. Let cool.

What did you learn today?

Music That Helps Your Day

2008-02-11T21:08:00.000-05:00

Today I learned that music can really help set my mood for the rest of the day. Instead of waking up to a blaring alarm clock, which is fairly annoying and frustrating, I chose to add one of my favorite songs as an mp3 to my phone and use that for my alarm each morning. The song I chose is Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow & What a Wonderful World. For those of you who haven't heard it, you have to!! It's starts slow and quiet, perfect to wake up to since it doesn't cause you to jump across the room with a sudden rapid heartbeat.

Music is one of life's wonderful things. We all tend to think that music is simply an audible pleasure, but let's not forget about those that enjoy it without hearing it at all. Here's what Wikipedia had to say.

"It is important to note that deaf people can experience music by feeling the vibrations in their body, a process which can be enhanced if the individual holds a resonant, hollow object. A well-known deaf musician is the composer Ludwig van Beethoven, who composed many famous works even after he had completely lost his hearing. Recent examples of deaf musicians include Evelyn Glennie, a highly acclaimed percussionist who has been deaf since the age of twelve, and Chris Buck, a virtuoso violinist who has lost his hearing. This is relevant as it indicates that music is a deeper cognitive process than unexamined phrases such as, "pleasing to the ear" would suggest. Much research in music cognition seeks to uncover these complex mental processes involved in listening to music, which may seem intuitively simple, yet are vastly intricate and complex."

What did you learn today?

Nice People

2008-01-31T13:21:00.000-05:00

Today I was reminded how nice it can be to be outgoing and friendly to people you encounter throughout your day. I was ordering some coffee at a local coffeeshop and just enjoying myself while chatting with the person at the register. It simply reminded me of how many nice people there are out there, which is hard to remember at times, such as when commuting to work. Just think about how many potential new friends there are out there, and wouldn't it be nice if they could help come up with ideas to write about on my blog?!

Take care.

What did you learn today?

Quicksand

2008-01-10T20:40:00.000-05:00

Today I learned about quicksand. Thanks to HowStuffWorks.com, I'll tell you about it.

Quicksand is rarely deeper than a few feet and can occur almost anywhere if the right conditions are present. Quicksand is basically regular sand that has been so saturated with water that the friction between sand particles is reduced. The resulting sand is a mushy mixture of sand and water that can no longer support any weight.

If you step in quicksand, any frantic movements cause you to dig yourself deeper into it. The human body has a density of 62.4 pounds per cubic foot and is able to float on water. Quicksand is denser than water (about 125 pounds per cubic foot), which means you can float more easily on quicksand than water. The key is not to panic, because if you fall in you're more likely to float especially the less you move. The best thing to do is try to slowly lay on your back and float on your back and "swim" to safety. The more surface area the better.

What did you learn today?

A Town in PA

2008-01-05T08:41:00.000-05:00

Today I learned about a town. I was reading a cookbook looking for a Pot Roast recipe when I noticed that the publisher was located in a town named Intercourse, Pennsylvania. What?? I thought it was pretty funny, so I decided to do a bit of research, carefully of course! I turned to the almighty Wikipedia for my information and here's what I found..

"Intercourse, Pennsylvania (pop. roughly 1,000) is an unincorporated village in Leacock Township, Lancaster County in Pennsylvania. As with the nearby towns of Blue Ball and Paradise, Pennsylvania, Intercourse is a popular site for tourists on account of its name, which in modern times has acquired sexual connotations. Sign posts for the town are frequently targeted by thieves. Besides its name, Intercourse is also famous for its Amish communities. For this reason the movie Witness was filmed in Intercourse and For Richer For Poorer was set there, though not filmed in Intercourse.

Intercourse was founded in 1754. The community was originally named Cross Keys, after a local tavern. Intercourse became the name in 1814, and there are various theories to explain this; one possibility is that the name derived from a race course, the "Entercourse", at the intersection of the town's two major roads. Another is that at the time, the word "intercourse" had commercial connotations relating to business transactions, and that the area was named "Intercourse" in hopes that it would become a center of commerce. "Sexual Intercourse" was a secondary, legalistic meaning of the term. As the more general use of the term fell out of popular usage, the narrower meaning became the term's primary connotation."

What did you learn today?

2008 Presidential Race

2008-01-02T12:46:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!!
Today I learned about an unbiased website that is helpful in learning more about all the candidates running for President. It offers quotes and views of each candidate on many issues and how they have voted within Congress in the past. I'm not one that's thrilled to talk politics, but this year I want to be as informed as I can before casting my vote. The website is http://www.issues2000.org/2008.htm

What did you learn today?

Fuel Temperature Correction

2007-12-20T08:39:00.000-05:00

Today I learned that when oil is delivered to your house, it is required that they adjust the temperature of the oil before filling your tank. Because the oil expands when it's heated and contracts when it's cooled, this process is necessary. Here's a word from Hess:

"Industry standards require that it be priced at "net gallons" or the volume it would occupy at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature correction is the amount #6 oil is adjusted to equal its volume at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature correction safeguards you by ensuring that you receive the amount of oil you pay for."

What did you learn today?

Super Mario

2007-12-16T22:37:00.001-05:00

Today I learned that no matter which gaming system they come out with next, the old Nintendo games, well Super Nintendo, will always be my favorite! We received some Christmas money from my generous grandfather-in-law (Thank you Pep!) and decided that we would like to purchase a Wii. So my husband braved the blizzard this morning and waited in line at Best Buy to purchase one because they are in demand and stores only receive so many every week. He arrived there at 6:45 a.m. and was 40th in line!! The store didn't even open until 9, but they were nice enough to hand out numbered tickets and let everyone go sit in their cars to wait it out. We are now the happy owners of a Wii, and lucky me, I am able to download all my old favorite Nintendo games and play them through the Wii! Super Mario 3, here I come!

By the way, we received about 11 inches of snow today!

What did you learn today?

Snapping what?

2007-12-13T19:51:00.000-05:00

Today I went to the doctor and learned that I have something called Snapping Hip Syndrome. What did I do to get that? No clue!

Snapping hip syndrome is a condition in which you feel a snap on the outside portion of your hip as you walk or run. In my case, I just felt pain and didn't notice the snapping until I actually stopped to listen and feel it. Several groups of muscles cross the hip as they pass from the thigh bone to the pelvis, so the snapping usually occurs because of tightness in a muscle called the iliopsoas or tightness in a muscle called the tensor fascia lata. Since this problem usually occurs because some muscles are too tight and some muscles are to loose, the remedy is to perform exercises that both strengthen and stretch the hip and thigh muscles. So lucky me, I get to do silly exercises every night. I just hope it's not a sign of getting old!

What did you learn today?

Italian Wedding Soup

2007-12-11T20:41:00.000-05:00

Today I learned that I can trust the broth of my Italian Wedding Soup to cook the meatballs in no time! Of course I didn't believe this until a phone call to Mom. It's true, the raw meatballs will cook in 10 to 15 minutes no problem! About the time it takes to cook the orzo pasta for the soup. Though you do need to undercook the orzo a bit if you don't want it to end up mushy. It probably wouldn't be fair to my Italian grandfather to share the entire family soup recipe, but I will tell you at least some ingredients thrown in for the little meatballs. Ground beef (I use ground turkey when trying to cut down on the fat), parmesan cheese, egg, basil and parsely. The meatball recipe stays fairly simple since they will pick up the broth flavor while cooking. And there are still so many family recipes I have to learn! Sorry for not taking a picture of my own soup, but it already went into the fridge! I like to leave italian stewed tomatoes in mine, so it has more of a reddish tint to it. Yum! This is my favorite soup ever!

What did you learn today?

Mondays

2007-12-10T22:02:00.000-05:00

Today I learned that Mondays will always feel like Mondays... the only exception to this seems to be when you're on vacation!

This postcard, sent in 1907 and captioned "Monday Morning in N. Y. City", reflects the tradition of Monday as a day for clothes washing.

Birthday Fun

2007-12-09T18:25:00.001-05:00

Today I learned that gift giving to children can be so much more enjoyable than between adults. You work so hard to choose the perfect gift and then watch carefully to see the spark of interest in the eyes of a 1-year old. Young children go through a span of time when they have not learned to lie. When they enjoy something, they genuinely enjoy it, not "this is great, thanks".

Today at my godson's birthday party, I think his favorite gift was the little cake planet his mom made special just for him! And though the little guy might not care much yet for the hat we bought him, it was rewarding to watch his parents and family smile and enjoy it when he did wear it!

What did you learn today?

Razors

2007-12-08T21:12:00.000-05:00

Today I was reminded how to take better care of my shaving razors. After each use, or even if the razor blades became wet from the shower, I make sure to dry the blades of my razor to prevent any rusting. I buy Venus razors, because they last the longest and the razor burn is minimal, so it is worth trying to take care of them since they cost SO much.

In a store, you typically pay around $2 each for these blades. I wanted to try and find these blades for cheaper and came across the website, RazorsDirect.com. Here you can get 8 for $13.99 so about $1.75/razor. OR if you want to buy them 24 at a time, it's $34.99, which comes out to about $1.45/razor. I believe there are some options in between as well. And regular shipping from this website is FREE. :o)

What did you learn today?

Fraud alert

2007-12-07T22:42:00.000-05:00

Today I learned that there are some really good scams out there. My boss sat us down for a meeting to give us the heads up on a new credit card scam. Apparently there are people that have your credit card number, your name and address. They call posing as the credit card company and ask you to verify the information they already have on you, then tell you they are calling because they suspect fraudulent activity on your account. They ask if you made a purchase at "so and so jeweler" for example and then you say No. They explain that they will credit your account during the next statement period for the fraudulent purchase. At some point in the conversation they will try to get the CVC code from your credit card as well since that is the only the information they are missing.

So you decide to check your statement and see that you have a charge from "so and so jeweler" and assume that is the fraudulent charge you were told would be credited and don't do anything about it since you think it's taken care of. But really it was the scammers charging your card at the store they told you about on the phone. See why this is trouble? So don't take the phone call, and check your credit card online, or call your credit card company yourself.

Reporting credit card fraud - Wikipedia

If you lose or have had your credit card stolen, you should immediately report it to your card issuer. Once you report the incident, you are no longer responsible for unauthorized charges made on your card.
In the US, credit card fraud can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and to local and regional authorities. It is the standing policy of the FTC not to investigate reports where the value of fraud does not exceed $2000. Local law enforcement may or may not further investigate a credit card fraud, depending on the amount, type of fraud, and where the fraud originated from.

What did you learn today?

Yesterday

2007-12-07T08:48:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I learned how my Mom always knew when I was getting sick. When I was younger, sometimes Mom would look at me and say, "you're getting sick, aren't you?" And I always felt fine at the time and didn't know what she was talking about, yet I always seemed to have a cold the very next day. Well yesterday when I was washing my hands I looked up into the mirror and noticed these huge purple circles under my eyes, and finally realized what Mom had seen for all those years. (Did I never look in a mirror??) Anyway, I'm glad to say I have been drinking my OJ and taking my vitamin, I think I'll pull through this time!

The Economic Cost of the Common Cold - From Wikipedia

"In the USA alone, the common cold leads to 75 to 100 million physician visits annually at a conservative cost estimate of $7.7 billion per year. Americans spend $2.9 billion on over-the-counter drugs and another $400 million on prescription medicines for symptomatic relief. More than one-third of patients who saw a doctor received an antibiotic prescription, which not only contributes to unnecessary costs ($1.1 billion annually on an estimated 41 million antibiotic prescriptions in the United States), but also has implications for antibiotic resistance from overuse of such drugs.
An estimated 22 to 189 million school days are missed annually due to a cold. As a result, parents missed 126 million workdays to stay home to care for their children. When added to the 150 million workdays missed by employees suffering from a cold, the total economic impact of cold-related work loss exceeds $20 billion"

What did you learn today (or yesterday)?

Jingle Bells

2007-12-05T19:42:00.000-05:00

Today I learned that when the Salvation Army rings their little bell outside my office window for 9 hours a day, all I hear while trying to fall asleep at night is that darn little bell, it won't shut off!

By the way, "Jingle bells are produced from a single piece of sheet metal bent into a roughly spherical shape to contain a small ball bearing or short piece of metal rod. This method of production results in the classic two- or four-leaved shape."

What did you learn today?

My Christmas Tree

2007-12-04T21:57:00.000-05:00

Just needed to share a picture of the xmas tree for friends and family! I also created this fragrant little centerpiece from the trimmings!

Welcome to Daily Learnings by Manda

2007-12-04T21:15:00.000-05:00

Do you remember when you were a kid and your parents would always ask, "So...what did you learn today?" And as a young kid you were pretty excited to babble on for hours, but as you got older, maybe this simply became a shrug of the shoulders. As an adult I am still asked this question by my husband (he loves to learn new things!), but now being out of an Academic setting I'm not as quick to answer. Being at work 8 to 10 hours a day makes it easy to quickly answer about something job-related (if it's interesting I'll post it), but I'd like to look beyond my office time and observe the limited hours of the day when life can become another routine.

So this blog is not only for learning fun and useless facts, it's about taking the time to notice things in life and take a moment to learn something about them. You never know when it will come in handy!

Oh and by the way, today I learned that you can adhere powder-coating to aluminum by sending an electric charge through it (electrostatically!).

What did you learn today?