Awakenings

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Kick Assitude & Southern Pecan Pie

What a combination! I know you are wondering about the connection of Kick Assitude and good ol' Southern Pecan Pie. In actuality, a party is about to happen and it is in celebration of the release of two new books.

Having a Ball (by Rhoda Baxter) and Kick Assitude (by Trish Jackson) are both to be released on the 15th of March. The two authors got their heads together and decided to have a Trans Atlantic Pot Luck Party to Celebrate. The party is on Facebook. Click HERE...

EVERYONE WHO COMES TO THE PARTY, POSTS RECIPES, OR LIKES A POST WILL BE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING TO WIN A FREE DOWNLOAD OF ONE OF THE BOOKS. WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED ON 15TH.

Note from the authors: At this stage, we're each giving away one download, but if we get more than 50 definite attendees it could be MORE!

So, without further adieu, Southern Pecan Pie is my contribution to the party BUT not without a little history and touch of nostalgia first...

en.wikipedia.org

How did this succulent dessert get its start? I was hoping to find some significant tidbit of trivia but unfortunately nothing juicy about this delicacy's origin other than its mouth-watering taste.

Its place of origin is the United States making it uniquely American but tradition holds it was invented by the French in New Orleans, thus its southern roots. No recorded recipes have been found earlier than 1897. Even well-known cookbooks such as Fannie Farmer and The Joy of Cooking did not include this dessert before 1940.

The dish was popularized by none other than Karo Syrup who has its own ideas about the "discovery" of pecan pie.

My recipe has been in the family since... who knows when? All I know it is old, it is EASY and it is awesome!

Southern Pecan Pie

Prepare crust for single-crust pie and set aside.

Preheat oven to 400° F.

Ingredients:

3 eggs, slightly beaten

½ stick butter

1 C light corn syrup

½ C granulated sugar

1 tsp double-strength vanilla

1 ¼ C chopped pecans

6-8 pecan halves

Sprinkling of salt

Directions:

Slightly beat eggs and set aside in large bowl. Place corn syrup, sugar and butter in sauce pan and bring to a slow boil. Remove from heat and pour hot mixture into the eggs beating constantly. Let cool slightly. Stir in vanilla and pecans.

Pour into unbaked 9" shallow pastry shell. Decorate center with the pecan halves. Sprinkle top with a little salt.

Bake at 400° for 10 mins. Reduce heat to 375° and continue baking for 25-30 mins.

Do you have a unique Pecan Pie recipe, perhaps one with an addition of chocolate or bourbon whiskey? Ah-h-h-h! The possibility of variation...how sweet it is!

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Barbie

This Day in History: March 9th 1959 - Barbie Debuts

The Barbie doll, what an iconic figure! Yet, amidst her beauty has definitely been her share of criticism. Comparatively speaking, with a figure of 39-21-33 if she were a real woman, it is no wonder this little beauty led to a lot of controversy. Many felt Barbie provided little girls with an unrealistic and harmful example thereby fostering a negative body image.

Did you know?

Bild Lilli Doll en.wikipedia.org

Barbie was fashioned after the German fashion doll, the Bild Lilli Doll, produced from 1955 to 1964, based on the comic-stip character Lilli. The comic strip was about a "gold diggin' broad always on the hunt for a wealthy man." In the cartoon, "Lilli was post-war, sassy and ambitious and had no reservations talking about sex."

See any resemblance?

Barbie debuted in 1959 when she was introduced by Mattel at the American Toy Fair in New York City. Barbie as we know her was created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler. Ruth, however, got her inspiration from the German Bild Lilli Doll. One rarely hears or reads about Barbie's true origins and the details reveal the look of a miniature German hooker. Read more HERE...

*****************

Barbie has become a global icon of many faces with some body changes throughout her career. She remains, however, a fashion doll, unlike her predecessors, the baby dolls.

en.wikipedia.org

The first Barbie doll was introduced

in both blonde and brunette in March 1959.

http://todayinhistory.tumblr.com/

The Barbie Evolution: A comparison of the 90s to the 00s Barbie - butt, waist and boobs

Barbie D oll History: Barbie's face underwent major changes from 1959 to the 2000s.

Barbie, Fashion Icon of the 60s: Barbie's evolution physically 1959 to present

What are your experiences with the iconic Barbie doll?

American Red Cross Month

March is American Red Cross Month. Having been established in 1881, the Red Cross has served across many divides since its inception. Thanks to Clara Barton (1821–1912) and her involvement in the work of the International Red Cross during the Franco-Prussian War the American Red Cross was founded.

Clara Barton was a teacher who performed humanitarian services during the American Civil War, a war that took its toll on American families. Clara traveled abroad to Europe for a much needed restful vacation and it was during this time she became involved in the International Red Cross and was determined to bring the organization to America. The bloody battlefields of civil war left their mark in history and no one envisioned anything like the Civil War ever happening again. Yet, Clara had a vision that the Red Cross could provide services in other times of crisis, not just during war time, and kept the hope of the Red Cross expansion moving forward.

Of course, that was just the beginning and the annals of history are filled with accounts of relief provided by the American National Red Cross. From the Great Fire of 1881 (Thumb Fire) in the Thumb region of Michigan to the Johnstown Flood in Johnstown, Pennsylvania through World War I, World War II, Korean Conflict, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and tens of thousands of natural and man-made disasters, the non-profit organization of America's Red Cross has reached out and responded overwhelmingly.

From the National Archives...

Red Cross Nurses Uniform Hats from WWI are

carefully preserved in archival boxes.

This WWI Canteen Worker hat, 1914-1918,

is made of blue wool with red hand sewn trim.

The hat is shown before the inside is padded

with cotton stuffers and non-buffered

abaca fiber tissue.

Embrace the Past...

Footsteps of History

It is a sad day when events provoke attacks that set brother against brother and father against son. How heart rendering that must be; yet, it is a decisive turning point in America’s history. Take a myriad of steps back in time

When brother fought against brother An era that terrified the country Every father, every mother

Unimaginable circumstances
Sent sons of one nation into battle
Internal war raging unmercifully
Bore conflicts that to this day still rattle

Family, friends, loved ones
Separated or parted forever
Thousands suffered and died
All on behalf of freedom’s endeavor

Soldiers hungry, ragged and dirty
Fell exhausted from heavy artillery
Freezing, drizzling, miserable rains
Contributed to life’s daily misery

Away from the battlefield
A sense of calm lulled
Within panoramic views
Thoughts lingered and mulled

In the wake of faint dawn
Soldiers shared last desires
Snuggling close to stay warm
Beside the bivouac fires

Walk in the footsteps of history
Relive vivid stories that do declare
Tales of morbid pain and suffering
As well as humor in times of despair

Sharla Lee Shults

Connecting the past to the present…

“I am passionately interested in understanding how my country works. And if you want to know about this thing called the United States of America you have to know about the Civil War.” —Ken Burns (1953–Present)

Did you know?

The American Red Cross is a charitable organization, not a government agency. It depends on volunteers and the generosity of people like you to perform its mission.

Historic artwork of a Red Cross nurse flanked by members of all of the lines of military service

Friday, March 8, 2013

Happy International Women's Day

A tribute to women and the power of a single individual to change the world. Each of us has something we can contribute—to others and ourselves.

"The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights."

—Gloria Steinem

Happy International Women's Day!

International Women's Day has been observed since the early 1900s. This recognition occurred during a period of unrest and turbulence amongst women. The fight for equality and emancipation has been a long and arduous journey. While many positive achievements fill the history books, women are still plagued with a number of negatives: women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.

Embrace the Past...

Utopia?

Early Modern Period—Seventeenth Century (1600–1699)

The role of the woman was strict obedience to her husband—bound to serve, love, and obey with work revolving very much around the home. Time away from the home was limited to church.

A bird locked in a cage

Has no room to fly

All sense of adventure

Tucked away to die

Swinging back and forth

No expanse of its wings

What message is relayed

When this little bird sings?

Plenty of water

Seeds always abound

No worries, no frets

Feet never touch ground