Our July 4th. Homage to the Movie, DICK

Our July 4th. Homage to the Movie, DICK

 

Old Glory

Happy 4th. of July

Let’s get this holiday started!

Welcome to My Homage to the Movie, Dick

Me, getting into character to blog about Dick

(Photo top, is my homage to Arlene and her love of Dick, Richard Nixon.)

Shoe Box Full of Hello Dollie’s For the President

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This year, 2017, given our political climate and shades of Nixon in the Trump era, I couldn’t help but look back on my 70’s childhood.  I also turned to this movie, DICK.  After all, life reflects art.  I grew up in the Nixon era. 

Nixon/Agnew

Gordon found the bumper stickers when he went back home to Virginia to help his parents move.  They were actually Gordon’s.  He has a sticker collection from his childhood.  I was thrilled as they are perfect here!

Oh, and we also found the missing 18 1/2 minutes of the tape.  🙂

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I also turned to the food that I ate in the 70’s and wanted to recreate some of it.

McDonald’s Hamburger, French Fries, and a Coke

I can  remember watching the Watergate Hearings on t.v. at school.

Oh hey, Hot Dog?  Anyone?  They smell delicious!!  🙂

Dick, is a spoof of the “real” Deep Throat.  The movie was made in 1999 before the “real” Deep Throat was revealed to the world, Mark Felt.   I love comedy, I love politics, look to the comedians in this time, they not only entertain you, they educate you.

The arts, artists, writers, bloggers, designers, actors, chefs/cooks, comedians, will elevate the times to greater heights so as to be seen, understood, and enlightened.  Support the arts and the artists that will educate you to a higher plane of learning.  They are the true hero’s.

They educate you without your even knowing it, through entertainment.

I love this movie, it is a time capsule of my youth.  The character that I relate the most to is Arlene. 

After all, she loved Dick.

And I love this Hot Dog!

Our Hot Dog Spread

Turkey Burgers, Hot Dogs, French Fries……

Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Cheese, Sweet and Dill Pickles, and Corn Relish

Don’t forget the Ketchup and Mustard

Grilled Buns, and Coca-Cola

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Our 4th. of July Dinner

Ginger Beer, Ginger Ale BBQ Chicken, Julie’s Red, White and Blue Potato Salad, Julie’s Red, White, and Blue Deviled Eggs, and simple Lettuce, and Tomatoes, and corn muffins.

Our Delicious 4th. of July

An Outside Celebration

Deviled Eggs, and Potato Salad w/ Slices of Red and Green Tomatoes

The 4th. Just Doesn’t Taste Any Better Than This!

Julie’s Dinner Plate

So Delicious!!

Coca-Cola

Coke was my beverage of choice growing up.  My hometown of Rome, Georgia has a major Coke plant.  As a matter of fact, Rome is the largest consumption of Coke nation wide. 

My Great-Grandfather’s Chair

(Means a lot to me.)

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Coke Floats

(Yet another thing I grew up eating)

Simple, just vanilla ice cream and Coke.

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Julie’s Trump’s Toast, Cause he’s Toast  🙂

(With Artificial Orange Coloring and Flavoring)

Trump’s Toast

Served with tiny Clementines, Orange Juice, and Russian Tea

Children’s cutlery will do fine with eating the Trump’s Toast.

p.s.  French toast was invented by an American by the name of Joseph French who lived in New York. 

It is NOT French.  It’s all American!

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My Polaroid Camera and Some Very Old Film

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Watergate Salad

Doing my best version of a 70’s housewife.

Richard Nixon’s Watergate Gave us the Watergate Salad

(Originally called Pistachio Delight)

The Watergate Salad was Served at the Watergate Hotel

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(Recipe’s Below, at the bottom of this post.  Also more content.)

Footwear, Always Optional…

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June, 2017

45 Years Ago This Week…..

45 years ago this week I was living in Roanoke, Virginia with my mother, step-father and 2 of my 3 little brothers.  (Ben was yet to be born.)  The big news at the time was the break in at The Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C.

The date was June 17, 1972.

At around 2:30 a.m. five men, James W. McCord Jr., Bernard Barker, Eugenio Martinez, Frank Sturgis and Virgilio Gonzalez were arrested on the 6th. floor of the Watergate by police called to the scene by a security guard by the name of Frank Wills.

President Nixon’s attempt to prevent the investigation into the break in, and the subsequent cover up leads to the end of his Presidency.

The scandal unraveled the Nixon Administrations multiple abuses of power which led to his impeachment and his resignation on August 9, 1974.  The scandal also resulted in the indictment, conviction and incarceration of dozens of Nixon’s top administration officials.

There have been many movies made on the Watergate scandal but my favorite one is………..

197$

The movie was made in 1999 and stars Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Will Ferrel, Dan Hedaya, Teri Garr, Dave Foley, Harry Shearer, Ryan Reynolds, Ana Gasteyer, and an excellent cast of actors and characters.

Oh, Fudge!

1972

(Remember white-out?  Know who invented it?  Bette Nesmith Graham.  Michael Nesmith’s mother. 

You know Michael as Mike, from The Monkee’s.  If there was a contest on trivia, I would win!  I’m not bragging, I’m just stating a fact.)  🙂

Arlene and Betsy

(Michelle Williams and Kirsten Dunst)

  It is a parody of Deep Throat, and it is hilarious!  The movie starts out with Arlene and Betsy typing a letter to the ‘Win a date with Bobby Sherman’ contest.

(I believe that I also entered that same contest at the time, having lied about my age.  I was probably 11 at the time.)

Arlene in Love With Bobby Sherman

Julie Do Ya Love Me

(The Greatest Song Ever Written)  🙂

Come on, you know it is!

(I too, was madly in love with Bobby Sherman.)

My Bobby Sherman Record

(I even have the index card that came with my record case and what you see written down are my records.  Both my mother and I kept up with it.  It has both our hand writings.)

And that would be Elvis and The Partridge Family

How many of you still have your old record collection?

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Me, Always Being Active

A Very Unprofessional Handstand

Yet it never mattered to me.  I was always thrilled with whatever I did.

Photo Below, Me and My Little Brother, Johnny

I was very goofy.  I miss that goofy girl.

(I was fun and entertaining.  I hate that my mother was always so critical of me.  There was nothing wrong with me.  I just wasn’t your average person.  I was different.  There is nothing wrong with different.)

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The very first emoji, the smiley face from the 70’s.

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Democratic National Committee’s Office

In their attempt, Betsy and Arlene, to sneak out of the apartment and mail the letter to Bobby Sherman by the midnight deadline and without Arlene’s mother seeing them, Arlene lives in the Watergate, the girls encounter the break in.

WHO ARE YOU???

G. Gordon Liddy

G. Gordon Liddy discovers the girls in the stairwell and starts to question them.

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The girls witnessing the arrests.

Thanks to a security guard who called the police about the break-in, the cops arrived.

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Of course, hilarity ensues.  The girls end up going on a field trip to The White House with their class the next day and they end up meeting the President and becoming the ‘Secret Youth Advisers’ to the President and the ‘Official Dog Walker’s’ to Checkers the dog.

Field Trip to The White House

They also encounter one G. Gordon Liddy whom they saw the night before in the stairwell of the Watergate Hotel but do not recognize him when they see him at The White House.

“Are you the guy that sells corn dogs at the mall?”

                                                                         Betsy Jobs

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Gordon Making Corn Dogs

“Are YOU the guy that sells corn dogs at the mall??”

It wouldn’t be the 70’s without a good corn dog.

Delicious Corn Dogs

Although I have to admit that my very first corn dog that I ever ate was right outside the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco with my grandparents when I was 6.  That was in the 60’s.  I also saw my very first hippie there.  I had never seen a boy with long hair before and I was intrigued.

 

Just a bit of retro here.  Nothing says the 70’s like an ice cold Coke. 

Notice the Coke napkin dispenser?

I do miss the retro!

Ketchup, or Mustard?

You’ve heard of a Chili Dog?  Well, how about a corn dog with chili?

(Corn dog recipe below.)

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The President, who tells them to call him, Dick, asks them to be the Official White House Dog Walker’s to Checkers in order to keep them close so that he can keep an eye on them.  Dick knows that they witnessed the break in at The Watergate.

I have PTSD when I watch this school bus scene with the teacher scolding them for being late.

(I know this character was based on my 6th grade teacher Mrs. Bear.)

SCARY CHILLS!!!

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French Fries!  French Fries!  French Fries!

Lunch at McDonald’s

Hamburger, French Fries, and a Coke

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The White House

Walking Checkers, The Dog

Hello Dollies Recipe

Embroidered by Kay Jobs (Betsy’s Mom)

As a thank you gift for the President, Betsy and Arlene decide to make him Hello Dollies cookies.

They are initially turned away from The White House, but devise a plan to see the President and end up becoming Checker’s dog walkers each day after school.

(I like how Arlene evolves from the plainest of the duo, to the sexiest of the duo.)

Of course Nixon loves the cookies the girls bring to him every day, unbeknownst to Betsy and Arlene, there is a secret ingredient in the walnut jar and it is not walnut tree leaves, but Betsy’s brothers secret stash.

  Could that be why Nixon was so paranoid??

Everyone enjoying the cookies.

Peace Ensues

Arlene quickly falls out of love with Bobby, and falls in love with Dick.

Arlene’s Scrapbook of Dick

My Dick Scrapbook

Goodbye Bobby, Hello Dick

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Arlene dreaming of her, and Dick.

The Sandcastle Dick Made for Her

(In her dream)

Me, dreaming of anyone but Dick.  🙂

(My tribute to Arlene).

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The girls find the tape recorder in Rose Mary’s desk and decide to leave Dick a message.

Arlene proclaiming her love for Dick for 18 1/2 minutes on the tape, only to find out when replaying the tape that Dick is “not a nice man”.

The Tape Recorder

(My grandparents had one just like this).

Arlene Destroying her Dick Memorabilia

After Hearing his Rants on the Tapes

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Betsy and Arlene at Betsy’s House

Which leads Arlene and Betsy to make a prank phone call to The Washington Post to talk to the “radical muckraking bastards trying to discredit the President”.

I have a photo album from the 70’s that looks just like Arlene’s shirt, above.

Julie’s Photo Album

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Prank Call To The Washington Post

Woodward and Bernstein

(Hey, great reporting in the 70’s!  Too bad you two took the rest of the century off).

Woodward, portrayed by Will Ferrel, convinces his ‘source’ to meet him in the parking garage across from Garfinkles.

BTW:  It is being torn down now.  How sad!  Such a landmark.

Meet Deep Throat

This movie is a time capsule of my youth living in Virginia in the 70’s.  I can remember watching the Watergate hearings on television in school.  Watching the news with my family every night and hearing all the details and revelations into the Watergate scandal. 

At least now it comes in sugar free.  🙂

Even eating green jello.

Arlene and Betsy eating green jello while watching the news.

My family and I went to D.C. a few times while we lived in Virginia.  Saw The White House, The Watergate Hotel, The Smithsonian, The Air and Space Museum, The Washington Monument, Embassy Row, The Mall, and of course, The Capital.

Arlene and Betsy at School

(Arlene daydreaming about being Mrs. Arlene Nixon.)

I can remember many a Saturday roller skating, I was actually pretty good too.  Listening to this music, wearing these kinds of clothes, peace symbols all over everything I owned.

I can also remember sleeping in these pink foam rollers many a night.  (I still have them too).

This movie is my childhood.  Whenever I watch it it’s like going back in time.  Sometimes I would love to be that silly giggling girl again.  I miss having a best friend to tell my deepest, darkest secrets to.  I miss crushing on Bobby Sherman.  I miss roller skating.  I miss the Jackson 5, Labelle, Blue Swede, Grand Funk Railroad, Stories, and Carly Simon’s, You’re So Vain.

Betsy’s Bedroom Window

I had a window in my bedroom in Roanoke that is similar to this one.  I loved it.  I could look out over the entire neighborhood from my window.

Betsy and Arlene, and Bernstein and Woodward, at the library.

Arlene:  ‘We have a school report due in two days on turquoise jewelry and we can’t find any books on it, and the President is having us followed.  It’s just too much pressure!’

(Turquoise Jewelry Report)

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Arlene and her Mother’s Apartment at The Watergate

Teri Garr Play’s Arlene’s Mother

(I love this 70’s apartment.  Remember shag carpeting?  We had a yucky green, and a yucky brown shag when I was growing up.  Unfortunately, Arlene’s mother reminds me of myself in this movie.  I’m always laying down.)  🙂

The Jobs Family Home was Broken Into

Nothing was stolen except the Hello Dollie’s Recipe from the wall.  Hmmmm…..

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Meanwhile Dick is in Seclusion

The President watching Love American Style

I LOVED that show too!

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The Nixon’s leaving The White House.

The helicopter flying past America’s first phallic symbol, (penis), other than our guns.

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FYI:  It is against the CODE OF THE FLAG to use it in a manner of decoration.  As in Bedding, Drapery, or Clothing.

However, in this scene I believe that Arlene and Betsy are reclaiming the flag since DICK has soiled it.

Betsy and Arlene Cutting up the Flag to Make Clothing

I can remember sewing in Home Ec class in Jr. High, and High School.  It was a requirement.  I sewed a vest and I made a Grade D on it.  It was that damn piping!

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Painting the Toe Nails RED

(You know there had to be a Barefoot in there.)

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Painting The Banner

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Dick In The Helicopter

Except Deep Throat has one last message for Tricky Dick.

“We look so fantastic.”

Betsy Jobs

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‘We have to hurry.’

YOU SUCK, DICK!

Love, Deep Throat

Dick’s Response

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Some of my own little 70’s memorabilia.  The red, white, and blue crocheted bag my Great-Aunt Margie handmade for me.  Still have it.   My Dick DVD and CD soundtrack.  According to my daughter I am the only person left that still has CD’s.  Oh, well.  Also pictured is the American Girl Doll named Julie from the 1970’s.  My mother got it for me a few years ago.  How appropriate.  I never thought I would ever say this but I miss the 70’s!!  I miss being that silly giggling, immature, awkward girl.  One of Nixon’s daughter’s was named, Julie.  I wonder if that is where they got the name to represent the 70’s in the American Girl series?

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Now for our Recipes!

French Fries! French Fries!

In the movie, the school buses are going to McDonald’s after the field trip to The White House.  Here is our version of French Fries from the 70’s.

Ingredients:

7-8 Red Potatoes

3-4 Russet Potatoes

1 Lg. Zip Lock Bag

1/2 Cup Olive Oil

3 Tbsp Garlic Powder

2 Tbsp Onion Powder

2 Tbsp Dried Dill

Worcestershire Pepper

Salt to Taste (We used Saindav salt)

1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese

Turn your oven to 400’F.

Slice your Red Potatoes in half then into thirds as shown below.

Once cut, place the potatoes into the zip lock bag.

Slice the Russet potatoes into 1/2 ” slices, then slice each slice in 1/2” long sections as shown below.

Place your slices into the bag with the other potatoes.

Now, toss in your other ingredients except the Parmesan Cheese into the bag.

Use as little or as much as you like of the spices.

Once all the ingredients are in the bag, close the bag and mix them well.

Place the seasoned potatoes onto a foil lined sheet pan.

Ensure they are all separated for even cooking.

You will likely need two sheet pans as shown below.  In a 400’F oven cook them for 20 min. then pull them out and toss them for even cooking and place back in the oven for another 20 min. or until done.

Potatoes should be golden brown when done.  While still hot, sprinkle them with the Parmesan Cheese.

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Yam and Sweet Potato Recipe

Ingredients:

1 Lg. Zip Lock Bag

3-4 Yams

4-5 Sweet Potatoes

1/2 Cup Olive Oil

Slice the Yams into 1/2″ sections just like the Russet potatoes.

Then slice the yams, into 1/2″ long wedges

Place the wedges into the zip lock bag.

Slice the Sweet Potatoes the same way as above.

Add your Sweet Potato slices to the bag then add your olive oil and toss them all well inside the bag.

Place your Yam and Sweet Potato wedges onto a sheet pan and bake at 400’F for 15 min., then turn and cook for another 5-10 min. or until slightly brown.

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When done, serve immediately.

Yummy!

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Turkey Burgers

Ingredients:

2 Lbs. of Ground Turkey

1 Pkg. Lipton Onion Soup Mix

This was another recipe from the 70’s that my mother would make.  Probably Lipton’s version of an ‘onion burger.’  At the time it was very popular (and still is for us), to mix a packet of the onion soup mix with sour cream to create an onion dip.

Just add one packet of the soup mix to the ground turkey and mix well in a bowl.

It’s easier to just knead it through with your hands.

This amount of ground turkey makes 8 burgers.

Just make them into patties and set aside.

Place the burgers onto wax paper for easy handling and refrigerate for 30 min. prior to cooking to help the burgers to set, and let the spices mix into the meat.

Grill the burgers until the internal temperature is ~158-160’F.

Letting them rest for 7-10 min. will carry over the internal temp. to 165’F as the super heated juices will flow back into the center of the burgers, keeping them juicy inside while cooking the meat further.

Our Turkey Burgers and Chicken Hot Dogs

You can also grill your hot dogs alongside the burgers being sure to move them to a different side as they brown.

Our Chicken Hot Dogs

Turkey Burgers and Chicken Hot Dogs

(Our version of hamburgers and hot dogs.)

Gordon always does everything good!

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Corn Dogs and a Coke

This was yet another food fad in the 70’s.  I loved corn dogs!  A hot dog on a stick wrapped in cornbread. 

Perfect!

You know of Chili Dogs?

Well, here is a corn dog with a side of chili with cheese.

 Mustard, Ketchup, a Retro Coke Napkin Holder

Some of our Corn Dogs

Gordon, the Corn Dog Guy

The Ingredients:

2 Pkgs. Johnsonville Apple/Chicken Sausages

2 Pkgs. Sweet and Smokey Mini Sausages

1 1/2 Cups Yellow Corn Meal

1 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1/4 Cup Sugar

1 Tbsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp. Salt

1 Egg, Beaten

1 1/2 Cups Buttermilk

1 Tbsp Vegetable Oil

1 Tbsp Honey

24 Wooden Skewers

Enough Vegetable Oil to fill your fryer

These Apple Chicken Hot Dogs are a Favorite of Ours.

We even opened a can of corn as an accent to some of the corn dogs.  Just be sure to drain, and let stand for about 30 minutes so that it can dry out a bit.

The Recipe:

We made 2 batches and the second batch we added hot Jalapeno peppers.

First, add your dry ingredients into a large bowl.

Gordon Adding the Yellow Corn Meal

Gordon Adding the All Purpose Flour

And the Granulated Sugar, and Baking Powder

Next comes the salt.

Beat your egg in a separate bowl.

Whisk the Egg

Now Add the ButterMilk

 

Adding your wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.

Milk and Egg

Now Whisk Everything Together

Next, Add the Oil and Honey to the Batter

Mix until just combined.

You may need to add a touch more buttermilk to make the mixture a little more runny.

Love This Batter!

Pending on the length of your sausage/hot dog, you may need to cut the skewer to fit it into the fryer.

Pour your mixture into a tall glass.

Dip your sausage into the mixture until fully coated.  This is an easy way to coat the hot dog.

But first you want to pat dry your hot dogs or sausages so that the batter adheres to them.

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Add your oil to your fryer and heat to 400’F.

Place your Corn Dog into the oil touching the tip into the oil just enough to set the outer coating, then carefully place the rest of the corn dog into the oil.  Fry until golden brown, turning when needed so the corn dog cooks evenly.

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For the Second Batter Batch

Below, I cut the Jalapeno pepper in half then removed the seeds.  You can see I am using gloves as the juice of the pepper will burn under your nails or if somehow gets into your eyes.

Slice the pepper into small pieces.  Add the peppers to the mixture which paired well with the sweet mini corn dogs.

The different types of corn dogs all had great flavor and were fun to experiment with.

Gordon Chopping the Jalapeno Pepper and Adding it to the Batter.

Again, place the hot dog into the batter.

Now place into the oil to cook.

Here is an example of cooking the corn dog slightly before dunking into the oil entirely.

This is Gordon’s ‘Fry Daddy’ that my mother gave him many year’s ago.  We don’t use it very often, but it came in handy here.

Look at these beautiful corn dogs?

AND, Look at these beautiful corn dogs?

Cook Until Golden Brown

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For some of the corn dogs Gordon rolled it in the corn kernels for a different taste and texture before cooking.

Lumpy and Delicious

Cook the same way as before until golden brown.

Enjoy!

Great With Ketchup, OR Mustard

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My Message to Dick, er, I mean Don

You Suck Dick/Don!

Love, Deep Throat

(p.s.  My promise to the world is that I will never wear those American flag bell bottom leggings ever again.)  🙂

Goodbye, Tricky Dick!

Arlene and Betsy, a.k.a. Deep Throat

Sign Says it All!

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Watergate Salad

In keeping with my “Dick” memorabilia, Gordon and I made Watergate Salad.  I can remember my mother making this salad many a time in the 70’s.  This was our dessert many a night after dinner.  This salad was originally called Pistachio Delight, but a food writer that wrote for a Chicago paper coined the name “Watergate Salad” in order to get attention.  Later on a sous chef at the Watergate Hotel served the salad at brunch and at weekends at the hotel thus drawing attention to it.  It quickly took off what with the Watergate scandal and became very popular.

Watergate Salad and Green Jello

Ingredients for our Watergate Salad

Gordon and I made two versions.  The regular one, and a light one for me. 

The recipe is as follows:

1-can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple, in juice, undrained

1 pkg. (3.4 oz) Jell-O Pistachio Flavor Pudding (I used sugar free-fat free, for mine).

1 1/2 cups thawed Cool Whip whipped topping ( I used the sugar free version).

1 cup Jet-Puffed miniature marshmallows (I used vanilla yogurt).

1/2 cup chopped pecans (we roasted them in the oven on 350* for about 8 minutes).

Combine ingredients.  Refrigerate 1 hour.

Note:  First we made the pistachio pudding using a low fat milk and put it in the refrigerator for an hour.  We then added all the other ingredients to it and then set it back in the refrigerator for an additional hour.  Then we ate it.  It was delicious!

Julie and Watergate Salad

Oh, something to do while you eat your Watergate Salad, watch Dick!  (the movie)

Peace,

Julie

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Watergate Salad

Still eating that Watergate salad!!

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We Had the Hippie Van Growing up in the 70’s

We were a big family and we had the green and white hippie van.

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My Hippie Doll, Flower

I still have her.  Also some of her clothing from the 1970’s. 

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Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain

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Trump’s Toast

With Artificial Coloring and Flavoring

This is our Russian Tea Mix!

Below are the French Toast ingredients:

1 Loaf Challah Bread

1 Cup Half-and-Half

3 Eggs

1/4 tsp Grated Cloves

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

2 Tbsp Honey

1/4 tsp Grated Nutmeg

1 Tbsp Orange Flavoring Essence

1/4 tsp Allspice

Pinch of Salt

Cut the Challah bread in 3/4″ slices.

In a Med. sized bowl, pour your Half-and-Half.

Add the three Eggs…Nice one-handed job Julie!

Mix well with a whisk.

Add your seasonings…

Fresh grated Nutmeg is really nice… but use it sparingly.

Let your bread soak up the mixture well, takes about 30 seconds.

In a non-stick pan on Med. heat, place 2 Tbsp. of butter.

Melt the butter well all over the pan…

and carefully place your well soaked Hallah bread over the buttered surface.

Sprinkle with more cinnamon if you like.

Turn after about 2 Min. or when the bread is golden brown.

When completed, place on a cooking rack.

Turn on your oven to 350’F and bake all the French Toast for 5-7 Min. to complete the cooking of the well soaked bread.

Nice Job JULIE!

Thank you Gordon!  🙂

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Our 4th. of July Dinner and Drinks

Gordon’s Red, White and Blue Cocktail

Me, with Veronica, enjoying our cocktail.

Gordon Making his Cocktail

The Ingredients:

Red Portion

3 Cups Frozen and Fresh Strawberries

1 1/2 Cups Sugar Free Strawberry Margarita Mix

4-5 Shots Dragon Fruit Bacardi Rum

White Portion

Reddi Whip

Blue Portion

3 Cups Frozen and Fresh Blue Berries

2 Shots Whipped Cream Vodka

3-4 Shots Blue Curacao

Place all red portion ingredients into the blender with about 6 ice cubes and blend until smooth.

Pour the red mixture into a tall glass about 1/3 the way up.

Remove the rest of the mixture and reserve for later drinks.

Clean the blender.

Pour your Blue Portion ingredients into the blender with ~6 ice cubes.

Blueberry’s, Fresh and Frozen, and Blue Curacao

Blend until smooth.  In a circular motion, spray the Reddi Whip into the glass, see below.

Now, pour the blue portion of the drink into the glass.

Use some festive blue or red straws.

Enjoy!

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Our 4th. of July Spread

Ginger Beer, Ginger Ale, BBQ Chicken, Corn Muffins, Julie’s Red, White, and Blue Potato Salad, Julie’s Red, White, and Blue Deviled Eggs, and beautiful Lettuce, and Tomatoes.

Corn Muffins that we purchased.

(Hey, not everything needs to be homemade.)

Julie’s Red, White, and Blue Potato Salad

Beautiful Red, White, and Blue

I really don’t have a written recipe for this.  Here I did use red and blue potatoes.  Just boil them until tender.  When you can insert a fork into them easily, then they are done.  Next, I let them cool, and then I cut them into chunks being sure to keep their skins on them.  Hence, the red,  white and blue potatoes.

I then placed them into a bowl and added mayo, yellow mustard, chopped yellow/Spanish onion, chopped celery, freshly ground black pepper, about 7 dashes of Tabasco sauce, some sweet pickle relish, and some sweet pickle juice from my bread and butter pickles.

That is about it.  Just eyeball the ingredients to your liking.

Make sure to sprinkle some paprika on top, more “red.”

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Julie’s Red, White, and Blue, Deviled Eggs

This was so much fun!  And so pretty, too!

I first boiled the eggs until done.  Then I cracked their shells, but I did not peel them.  And I placed them into zip lock baggies and added some water, and some red and blue food coloring.  Keeping them separate.  I placed them in the refrigerator overnight.

The following day I then made them into deviled eggs using my normal recipe.  But I did keep the red and blue separate so as not to get the colors mixed together.

To make the deviled eggs I just sliced them lengthwise, carved out the yellow middle and placed it into a bowl.  Then I added some mayo, yellow mustard, freshly ground black pepper, dashes of Tabasco sauce, some sweet pickle juice, and some sweet pickle relish.  Mix together and then place into the hollow shells of the egg whites.

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Julie’s Quick and Easy Stove Top Baked Beans

I happen to be quite famous for my baked beans.  However, sometimes I am in a hurry and have to make short cuts.  Here is one of those times.  The secret is to have them simmer as long as possible on the stove top.  When you caramelize them, that is perfection!

I first open two can of Bush’s Gillin’ Beans.  I then drain them.  Then I place them into a saucepan on the stove top.  I then add ketchup, yellow mustard, a few dashes of Tabasco sauce, a handful of brown sugar, and some freshly ground black pepper. 

Bring them to a boil on the stove top.

Then add some Molasses.  Just to sweeten the beans.

Now you just want them to simmer and caramelize on the stove top.  Only then do you have perfection!

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Grilling the Chicken

I will not be doing the grilling.  🙂

Gordon Will!

Gordon’s Ginger Beer/Ginger Ale BBQ Chicken

On a Beautiful Bed of Lettuce

Gordon Making his BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Chopped Onion

1/2 tsp Turmeric

3 Garlic Cloves, Chopped

3 Tbsp. Olive Oil

15oz Can Tomato Puree

1 Cup Sweet Chili sauce

1 Cup Red Wine Vinegar

1/2 Can Ginger Ale

1/2 Can Ginger Beer

1, 6 oz. Can Tomato Paste

1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

1/4 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire Pepper

1 tsp Salt, or to taste

2 tsp Allspice

1/2 tsp Tabasco Sauce

In a large sauce pan place in the olive oil and chopped onion and saute until translucent.

Add the turmeric and garlic and cook for another 3 min.

Gordon Adding the Turmeric

Chopping the Garlic Cloves

Now, add the tomato puree.

Adding the Red Wine Vinegar

Add the Worcestershire Pepper and Allspice

Next add the white and brown sugar.

Now add the sweet chili sauce, and Tabasco, stir well.

Look How Pretty It’s Becoming!

Add the 1/2 can of Ginger Beer, and Ginger Ale

Stir all the ingredients well and cook for about 2o min. on med. heat until sauce is to the thickness of your liking.

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Chicken Breasts

Below right I am spraying the grill with non-stick spray made especially for the high heat of the grill.

I turned the grill up all the way to heat the grill to its maximum heat.

Doing this will prepare the grill for the chicken making nice grill marks.

Turn the grill down to Med. heat and place the smooth side of the chicken breasts down on the grill first and brush the BBQ sauce on the breast side showing.  You place the non-smooth side down first as the smooth side will be the side facing up which you will present to your guests.

Cook the breasts on the one side for about 8 min. turning part way through the cooking process to make nice grill marks.

Here I am brushing the BBQ sauce onto the breasts.

When you turn them over, brush them with more BBQ sauce and cook until the internal temperature reaches ~158’F

When the breasts rest, the super heated juices which are on the outside of the chicken, will go back inside the chicken finishing the cooking process.  The internal temperature will raise to 165’F.  This is why you always let the chicken rest before cutting into it because if you do, those juices will simply run out onto your plate.

Here we made a nice bed of red lettuce on top of the platter for the base of the chicken to rest upon.

The lettuce makes for a great presentation.

Enjoy!

So Delicious!

Check out our very pretty and colorful 4th. of July dinner.

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Re-Arrange The Leftovers

Julie’s Leftover 4th. BBQ Chicken Salad

Everything that we ate on the 4th. (minus the baked beans) are on this plate. 

The Beautiful Lettuce, the Delicious Leftover BBQ Chicken, the Red and Green Tomatoes, the leftover Red, White, and Blue Potato Salad, the Red, White, and Blue Deviled Eggs.  Just add a salad dressing and you have something that tastes different, yet the same.

We do love the leftovers!

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Unfortunately, every movie has an ending.  And this is one of my favorites.

 

 

Julie

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And it looks like this year we forgot our ‘Corn on the 4th. of July.’ 

We did remember it in the microwave at 9:03 p.m. that night.  🙁

Corn on the 4th. of July

Check out our 2016 July 4th. celebration.

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Peace Out,

Julie and Monk