How to Survive Cold Weather: Eat Chocolate Banana Rolls

How to Survive Cold Weather: Eat Chocolate Banana Rolls

Reblogged from http://fashionfoodandflirts.wordpress.com/

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This Week in Science (January 24, 2014)

Yes, boys and girls, geeks and nerdlings… scientists the world over have come up with some pretty neato stuff this week!

Excellent stuff, for sure!

Read more at the links below!

Black holes: http://bit.ly/M1dPva
Mantis shrimps: http://bit.ly/1n2GT3N
Cancer genome: http://bit.ly/1ggGtGv
Dolphin: http://bit.ly/1e7ZB6l
Cosmic web: http://bit.ly/M1eeh9
Supernova: http://bit.ly/M1e610
Shark extinction: http://bit.ly/1cj0TLp
Ceres: http://bit.ly/1fghjF4

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Website: http://www.iflscience.com/

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I Love Nerd Humour (2)

I know it’s stupid. I know it’s childish and nerdy but…

This cracks me up.

I mean, really.

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What if Polar Ice Caps Melted?

What if the polar ice caps melted. What would the world look like?

This National Geographic maps gives some indication as to how our world would change.

(Spoiler Alert: Goodbye Netherlands, Florida, the entire U.S. Eastern Seaboard and Bangladesh!)

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How & When Did We Get Here (Literally)

For those of you who are curious as to how and when we (and by we, I mean anatomically modern humans) got to where we are.

This is a map that sets out the migration pattern of modern humans out of east Africa and across the world.

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Minka (民家) Wooden Homes, Japan

In response to my last blog about log houses, a Japanese friend of mine – Mustang.Koji – recently mentioned the wooden homes of Shirakawa-go, Japan.

This was my introduction to the Minka wooden homes of Japan.

The term Minka (民家 literally “house of the people”)  covers houses that traditionally accommodated a wide variety of people such as farmers, artisans, and merchants (i.e., the three non-samurai castes).

My understanding is that these homes are traditionally made completely of wood. No nails used in construction!

(Gasshō style roof – farmhouse)

The Gasshō-zukuri (合掌造) style minka have vast roofs that are a large form of the sasu structural system. Their name derives from the similarity of the roof shape to two hands in prayer. They are frequently found in Gifu Prefecture.

(Honmune style house with birdlike decoration on the gable)

Honmune-zukuri (本棟造) literally means “true ridge”. The style has a nearly square plan with a gabled roof that is board covered. The gable end of the house is particularly impressive with its composition of beams, eaves and braces. The gable is topped by a birdlike ornament called a suzume-odori (雀踊り). Houses of this type can be found in Gunma, Nara, Yamaguchi and Kouchi prefectures.

(Traditional Japanese hearth – irori [囲炉裏)])

These houses fascinate me!

(Gasshō-zukuri, Ogimachi Village)

Thanks to Mustang.Koji for bring this style of architecture to my attention… and to yours.

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Log Homes

Those who know me extremely well also know that I have this thing for log homes.

And when I say ‘log homes’ I don’t mean cosy little one-room log shacks.

I’m thinking of a big log house.

Actually, more along the lines of a log lodge.

A log chalet is basically what I’m thinking.

Ever see those honkin’ big homes that look not unlike exclusive ski lodges.

That’s what I’m talking about.

Giant A-frame ceilings over the living room and kitchen.

Walk-in fireplaces.

Kitchens that could churn out enough food to feel a lumber jack crew.

That sort of thing.

Not sure I would be so wild about staying there in the summer…

But I could easily spend the fall, spring and especially winter in one.

My idea of a glorious time.

*happy sigh*

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Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na….

Batman!

Batman made its television premiere on this date (January 12) in 1966. The series ran until March 14, 1968.

The show was aired twice weekly for its first two seasons, resulting in the production of a total of 120 episodes!

Who remembers watching it?

My family had a black and white television in those days. I remember a friend of mine who’s family owned a colour TV set. He told me that Robin looked like a Xmas tree, he was so colourful!

I had the pleasure of seeing Adam West last summer when he appeared at Comic-Con Niagara Falls. Old but still spry, still witty, still charming.

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Are You Old Enough to Get This Joke?

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Cheesey Mushroom Pull Apart Bread

Thanks to the amazing Tamar [1] for bringing this BeanTownBaker.com recipe to my attention!

Mushrooms and cheese make this pull apart bread so delicious you won’t be able to stop picking at it!

Perfect for Super Bowl!

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I’m just going to come out and say this bread is AMAZING. Seriously. If you are looking for ideas for the Superbowl, MAKE THIS BREAD. Actually, you should make it this weekend to test it out and play with what flavors you want to use as a practice run. Then make it again next weekend to share with your friends at the Superbowl.

But be warned, it’s quite addictive. In fact, maybe you should plan to bring two to your Superbowl party. It’s seriously so gooey from the melted cheese. The butter, green onion, and poppy seed sauce on top really takes this bread to the next level.

When I saw this recipe, I was instantly thinking of other flavors you could stuff into the bread. Anything that works on pizza would be great here. I went with provolone and mushroom this time.

[TREYF ALERT!] I’m sure it would be great with pepperoni and mozzarella, bacon and cheddar, or just plain old cheese. If you guys make this, you have to come back and let me know what flavors you made. (For all you gentiles out there!) 

Yield: serves 6-8

Ingredients:

For the Mushrooms
12 oz sliced mushrooms
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme

For the Bread
1 unsliced loaf sourdough bread
12 ounces Provolone cheese, thinly sliced
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup finely diced green onion
2 teaspoons poppy seeds

Directions:

For the Mushrooms
Heat a medium skillet on medium. Add the butter.  Once the butter is melted, add the mushrooms. Cook 4-5 minutes until they start to sweat. Add the thyme and continue to cook another 2-3 minutes.

Set mushrooms aside and allow to cool.

For the Bread
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut the bread lengthwise and widthwise without cutting through the bottom crust. This can be a little tricky going the second way but the bread is very forgiving.

Place loaf on a foil-lined baking sheet.

Insert cheese slices between cuts. Pour the mushrooms between the cuts. Use your fingers to push the mushrooms down into the loaf.
Combine butter, onion, and poppy seeds. Drizzle over bread. Wrap in foil; place on a baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Unwrap the bread and bake 10 more minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Recipe adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything.

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[1] My lovely friend Tamar! One of the most amazing young ladies ever. See more of this remarkable woman at the Vampyre Fangs blog article, Tichel, Tichel, Tichel!

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