Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food

25 December 2014

Dennys World of Quotes: Christmas: Funny and Thoughtful Christmas Quotes and Short Poems





Dennys World of Quotes: Christmas: Funny and Thoughtful Christmas Quotes and Short Poems: From Denny:  Well, now that we have finished Christmas breakfast at our house it's time to roll out these fun Christmas quotes and Christmas poems for you and yours to enjoy!

Oh, how rude of me not to give you the Christmas breakfast menu:  a Dutch Baby Oven Pancake with spiced cooked apples and a side of Honeysuckle Italian style ground Turkey made into a sausage which I spiced up extra with some seasoned brown rice, smokey paprika, garlic and extra virgin olive oil before shaping into small patties and cooking on the stovetop.  Yeah, it's a tough day at our house all right. :)

And, yes, I made the roast turkey yesterday since we like to celebrate Christmas Eve as well so that pressure is non-existent.  Made a wonderful wet rub for the turkey that sat a day uncovered in the fridge to marinate:  rubbed under the skin and on top with a mixture of red moscato wine, extra virgin oil, and lovely spices and herbs like marjoram, rosemary, sage, ginger, sea salt, black pepper, smokey paprika, garlic powder, a touch of lite soy sauce and more.  Blanched the green beans earlier in the week so all that needs to be done today is to heat them up in clarified butter and some spices as a side dish.  All the cooking left is to bake the Louisiana sweet potatoes which are a divine dish in themselves they are so sweet! .... Click on the title link above to view the funny quotes at my quotes blog...

For plenty of holiday recipes and recipes for the entire year you can check out my four food blogs where I collect the best of our local cooks, my own recipes and variations, as well as the news and food networks:







Joyful X 2 Rectangular Canvas Pillow

Inspire: Keep your Joy up and flowing to attract order and harmony into your life all year long!  Available in t-shirts for men, women, kids and baby along with bedding, pillows, dining, entertaining and technology like for your latest phone case!  Phone cases listed here.

Oh, and the ads are for my Cafe Press store, Denny Lyon Gifts, where the proceeds go to the local food bank, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank - and to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital



19 November 2014

Holiday Recipe: Ashleys Overnight Breakfast Casserole

Advocate staff photo by HEATHER MCCLELLAND -- Gourmet Galley, Overnight Breakfast Casserole
2TheAdvocate.com photo by Heather McClelland 

From Denny:  The hectic holidays are almost upon us and it sure comes in handy to have a few easy dishes like this to bake when people gather for any reason from the holidays to Saturday night football!  Breakfast casseroles come in handy when you have a house full of family and you need something you can just pop into the oven while you make coffee and slice some fruit.

This casserole comes from Dr. Ashley Lucas who was thoughtful enough to give it as a hostess gift to a friend who hosted a football night gathering.  That hostess sure was delighted to find a ready to go breakfast waiting in the refrigerator that all she had to do was bake and serve the next morning.  A great idea as Christmas food gifts too!

Fat Elf Christmas Suede Pillow

"Delivery: 1 fat elf stuffed full of good cheer!"  Since Santa is such a popular guy this fun design also available:  in earrings, bracelets, necklaces, key chains, silver charms, compact mirrors, round jewelry case, greeting cards, 3 sizes of bedding, blankets, pajamas, teapots, mugs, Christmas ornaments for your tree, coasters, throw pillows, aprons, shower curtains, cocktail plates and platters! 

Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  

17 November 2014

Easy Fall Recipe: Make Your Grandmothers Pot Roast With Red Wine

Advocate staff photo by CATHERINE THRELKELD -- Use a slow cooker to prepare Marti's Old-fashioned Pot Roast With Red Wine.
Photo: Catherine Threlkeld/2TheAdvocate,com/Baton Rouge, Louisiana newspaper
From Denny:  Here is an easy recipe perfect for those busy work days as much as it is for special gatherings like Sunday dinner and the holidays that is a crowd pleaser.  This easy long time American favorite comfort food recipe comes from Marti Didier who works full time yet she still creates time to give community service.  

Didier proudly comments she "come from a family of old-fashioned, traditional, good cooks, and, as a result, has always taken time to embrace the old-fashioned way of cooking."  Didier often gives out this recipe for bridal gifts and also shares it at wedding showers in addition to smart cooking tips for new brides.

When busy with a career the usual choice for cooking is to start several dishes before you leave the house, turning off the stove, then return hours later after work to finish the cooking.  This is where a slow cooker sure comes in handy so you don't have to jump through so many hoops just to get a quality inexpensive meal on the table for your family...



Rockin' Christmas Frameless Wall Clock

Have a rockin' great Christmas, complete with dancing reindeer!  Many sizes and prices of clocks available.

Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  


Fat Elf Christmas Suede Pillow
Delivery: 1 fat elf stuffed full of good cheer!  Since Santa is such a popular guy this fun design also available:  in earrings, bracelets, necklaces, key chains, silver charms, compact mirrors, round jewelry case, greeting cards, 3 sizes of bedding, blankets, pajamas, teapots, mugs, Christmas ornaments for your tree, coasters, throw pillows, aprons, shower curtains, cocktail plates and platters! 

Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  


03 November 2014

A Truth Journal: VOTE! Political Fails, Missteps, Midterms, ISIS, NFL: Late Nite Jokes





A Truth Journal: VOTE! Political Fails, Missteps, Midterms, ISIS, NFL: Late Nite Jokes: From Denny:  Make sure you VOTE! to get your voice heard above the lying political campaign ads.  If we want to change out our politicians who refuse to attend to the needs of the American people and get this country going again, then VOTE! even if you did not intend to vote until 2016 for the presidential campaign.

Make sure you have a valid I.D. like a driver's license or other state issued I.D.  Republican legal teams will be out in full force nationally to challenge voters at the polls, intent upon throwing out millions of votes or preventing millions of voters from being able to exercise their right to vote at all.

Even here in Louisiana the Republican brand is so disliked by voters that the candidates refuse to acknowledge they are Republicans on all their yard signs and political literature.  The public may be almost as angry with the Democrats but less so than with the Republicans who are too lazy to work but 13 percent of the time in Congress.  Why are we paying these lazy fools $168,000 annually anyway?  Part time work should be rewarded with part time paychecks and no health care plans since they are temporary workers.  Works for me.

Meanwhile, enjoy the political jokes, poking our most greedy and clueless politicians.  Get out and VOTE! and create a tsunami to overwhelm Congress with how the middle class wants real change and real change now...



Holiday Message Greeting Cards (pk Of 10)


The perfect holiday season message: "may you have a happy, merry holiday season"
Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new! 


Funny Normal Is Boring 15 Inch Laptop Sleeve


Check out this funny saying promoting the human race!
Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!






A Christmas Post: Holiday Recipe: Fig and Toasted Almond Scones


Recipe photo
Photo: King Arthur Flour

A Christmas Post: Holiday Recipe: Fig and Toasted Almond Scones: From Denny:  Autumn is here - and so is daylight savings time this Sunday when we "fall backward" one hour - so don't forget to set your clocks back one hour!

For some reason I've been enjoying the vegan scones over at Whole Foods the past couple of weeks now that the weather has cooled.  So, that sent me on The Scone Recipe Chase to see what is out there in recipe database land.  Found these little autumnal gems over at King Arthur Flour.

Figs are quite popular here in Louisiana where many a backyard grows a fig tree.  Almonds are popular in California where they supply the nation! This is the time of year when the nation's nut orchards are releasing their bountiful harvest of pecans (Louisiana and Texas), almonds, walnuts and macadamias so we are all tempted to start our holiday baking early! At least I believe that's their marketing strategy to sell more nuts. :)

Scones are an easy way to try out some fruit and nut combinations to see how the family and friends enjoy the idea.  While I love my blueberry and lemon scones of the summer it's time for something different for the fall season so we wanted to try these fig and almond scones at our house.  Of course, if figs or almonds are not your preference, know that you can always try figs and walnuts or cranberries and almonds or whatever grabs your fancy this baking season.

Don't feel like the extra effort and time of slicing the scone dough into proper triangles?  Try the method the King Arthur Flour bakers suggest:  bake them into rounds just using 1/4 cup of dough for each scone, leaving 2 inches between them.  That amounts to the idea of a drop scone, much like a drop biscuit...

Holiday Message Potholder

Holiday Message Potholder

Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!

Holiday Message Dinner Placemats

Holiday Message Dinner Placemats - design also available in cloth napkins, teapots, mugs, coffee travel mugs, aprons, serving trays, wine chillers, cocktail shakers, cocktail plates, cutting boards, cookie jars, flour and sugar canisters, dog food bowls, dog t-shirts, dog hoodies and much more! Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!


Holiday Message Large Serving Tray

Holiday Message Large Serving Tray

Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!

* * *  Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home.  Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  Thank you to all those who are supporting this cause.  You rock!




* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my other 24 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place.  A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. * 


16 October 2014

Dennys Food and Recipes: Thanksgiving: Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake


Photo provided by Betty Crocker  --  Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake will be a welcome treat any time during the holidays.

Dennys Food and Recipes: Thanksgiving: Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake: From Denny:  This is the perfect holiday table dessert!  It's so showy it's sure to impress.  Three layers of tasty goodness are the gingersnap cookie crust as it's sturdy foundation to hold the spiced pumpkin cheese layer that is marbled with a vanilla layer.

Like most big cheesecakes, this one should be baked in a springform pan, where the cake cools in the pan for several hours before you remove the sides of the pan.  If you have never used a springform pan, it's so easy it will make you laugh, definitely nothing to be intimidated about at all.

Like any tasty cheesecake, this one is rich in calories too, so a small serving would be welcomed by most.  At a dinner party I like to cut a normal to small sized slice, placing it on one plate and then encourage couples to share so people don't have to feel guilty about busting their diet plan.  After all, the whole point of entertaining is for people to enjoy their tasty treats!...


Geaux Wear Pink! Apron



Help support women on their journey to wellness and hope for a cure!

Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  

Also, please remember that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, keeping these women in your thoughts and prayers.  Here's my latest Denny Lyon Gifts design (at Cafe Press) to honor all the fabulous women and their supporters fighting this disease.

This design first started off as one of my photos of those favorite hot pink azalea blooms, in addition to many other filters, employing a kaleidoscope filter to create this abstract medallion effect. This design reminds me of how our beauty is always there, no matter what form it takes.  Of course, here in Louisiana, we take creative "French" license with English spellings. :)  The thought bubble is to remind others to support these women on their journey to wellness.  Lots of other styles of t-shirts and other products to enjoy too.  The link takes you to the page of all the products featuring this design.  Thanks for visiting!

14 October 2014

Dennys Food and Recipes: Fall Recipe: Breakfast Or Dessert Enjoy Spiced Golden Apples



Advocate staff photo by HEATHER MCCLELLAND -- For an extra-special breakfast or dessert, offer Golden Spiced Apples warm from the oven.
Photo: Heather McClelland/2TheAdvocate.com

Dennys Food and Recipes: Fall Recipe: Breakfast Or Dessert Enjoy Spiced Golden Apples: From Denny:  It's Autumn and time to enjoy cooking apple dishes!  What smells better than apples baking in the oven?  Talk about making the house smell good.

This is an easy dish to make for your family, one they will request often.  Our house prefers dark brown sugar in place of the usual white sugar, your choice, because both taste good.

Saigon cinnamon is quite an awesome choice too.  Found that at Whole Foods locally but I'm sure it's available at other stores in your area.  Just take the time to check.  Saigon cinnamon has more of the "cinnamon" taste and smell we all love, better than the generic cinnamon offered by most spice companies.  You will be familiar with it if you frequent coffee houses.

How much do you know about all the new varieties of apples?  Have you tried any of them?  Seems like there is always something new to explore at the grocery store.  Many of the new apples are crosses between two really outstanding varieties.  Hey, more is better, so why not!  Try picking up two new varieties on each grocery visit and then compare them for taste and texture. While there are over 100 apple varieties in the United States, we only see the best sellers at our grocery stores...


Geaux Wear Pink! Women's All Over Print T-Shirt

Help support breast cancer awareness and hope for the cure! Design available in many t-shirts styles for men, women and kids and on other products like mugs, coffee mugs, blankets, pot holders, hoodies too!

Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  

Also, please remember that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, keeping these women in your thoughts and prayers.  Here's my latest Denny Lyon Gifts design (at Cafe Press) to honor all the fabulous women and their supporters fighting this disease.

This design first started off as one of my photos of those favorite hot pink azalea blooms, in addition to many other filters, employing a kaleidoscope filter to create this abstract medallion effect. This design reminds me of how our beauty is always there, no matter what form it takes.  Of course, here in Louisiana, we take creative "French" license with English spellings. :)  The thought bubble is to remind others to support these women on their journey to wellness.  Lots of other styles of t-shirts and other products to enjoy too.  The link takes you to the page of all the products featuring this design.  Thanks for visiting!


12 October 2014

Dennys Food and Recipes: Easy Fall Recipe: Sauteed Red Cabbage With Apples


Advocate staff photo by HEATHER MCCLELLAND -- Now is the perfect time to try October Red Cabbage and Apple Sauté.
Photo: Heather McClelland @ 2TheAdvocate.com

Dennys Food and Recipes: Easy Fall Recipe: Sauteed Red Cabbage With Apples: From Denny:  Red cabbage is both a pretty color for the table and an easy vegetable to cook up quickly.  Red cabbage, like regular green cabbage, is great for your skin, an added health benefit!  Who wants wrinkles?  Dine regularly on chicken and cabbage and you sure won't need to bother with silly botox injections or face lifts.  We really are what we eat.  It helps when it tastes good too!

Now that many varieties of apples are in season you can enjoy your favorite apple paired with red cabbage.  All you do is first steam the cabbage. Then saute the apples with some onions in butter, adding the steamed cabbage.

Ahead of time I like to clarify the butter to remove the artery clogging milk fats and it also makes it easier to store at room temperature if you desire, once filtered of the milk fats.  I use a small tea strainer once it's cooled enough to go into a storage container.  I also prefer cooking with Vidalia sweet onions or red onions, sometimes called purple onions or Bermudas, but that's just my personal preference.  This recipe calls for yellow onions.  You decide what your family enjoys best.  Once the cabbage is just cooked through then stir in the cider vinegar and brown sugar mixture...


Geaux Wear Pink! Women's All Over Print T-Shirt

Help support breast cancer awareness and hope for the cure! Design available in many t-shirts styles for men, women and kids and on other products like mugs, coffee mugs, blankets, pot holders, hoodies too!

Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  

Also, please remember that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, keeping these women in your thoughts and prayers.  Here's my latest Denny Lyon Gifts design (at Cafe Press) to honor all the fabulous women and their supporters fighting this disease.

This design first started off as one of my photos of those favorite hot pink azalea blooms, in addition to many other filters, employing a kaleidoscope filter to create this abstract medallion effect. This design reminds me of how our beauty is always there, no matter what form it takes.  Of course, here in Louisiana, we take creative "French" license with English spellings. :)  The thought bubble is to remind others to support these women on their journey to wellness.  Lots of other styles of t-shirts and other products to enjoy too.  The link takes you to the page of all the products featuring this design.  Thanks for visiting!

10 October 2014

A Truth Journal: GOP AND Hillary 2016: Get Serious Or Step Aside, Middle Class Is Fed Up




A Truth Journal: GOP AND Hillary 2016: Get Serious Or Step Aside, Middle Class Is Fed Up:

From Denny:  Voters for the Democrats, and Republicans alike, are looking all around for a political leader who will, well, lead.  Fourteen years of unadulterated insensitivity and outright political inaction geared toward the majority of the country have all combined to create a ground swell of bitter resentment and grousing that hasn't been seen in decades in this country against both political parties, especially the Republicans.

The Middle Class is fed up with insincere speeches on economic progress, the drumbeat to go to war with ground troops yet again in the Middle East and lame political platitudes on every domestic issue. The Middle Class is disgusted and angry with Wall Street hand holding.  Voters of both political parties are angry with the gentle wrist slapping of cheap fines for business crimes instead of jail time.  Most of all The Middle Class is furious at the overt Good Ol' Boy Winks of government collusion that continues to create an environment of a stagnant U. S. economy and the constant evaporation of well paying jobs in favor of feeding The Beast of Greedy Corporate Profits while starving the people...


Geaux Wear Pink! Men's Fitted T-Shirt (dark)

Help support breast cancer awareness and hope for the cure!

Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  And a special thanks to those of you supporting this effort!  You rock!  Currently, proceeds go to Greater BR Food Bank and St. Jude's Children's Hospital.


Related Articles

Funny Whiner Russia To UN: "You Are Not The Boss Of Me!"

Chasing ISIS: Why Are Republicans And Pentagon Suddenly Forcing Iraq War Two?



Note to White House: Quit Killing Future U.S. Hostages








* * *  Please support Warriors Pearl Foundation - contributing to fund efforts to help homeless female military veterans come home.  Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  And a special thanks to those of you supporting this effort!  You rock!




* Check out Dennys News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food - a place where all my 24 blogs link so you can choose from among the latest posts all in one place. A free to read online newspaper from independent journalist blogger Denny Lyon. * 


27 September 2014

A Truth Journal: Funny Whiner Russia To UN: "You Are Not The Boss Of Me!"


Vladimir Putin and Dobby.
Fellow WHINERS: Russia's Putin and Harry Potter's Dobby The House Elf

A Truth Journal: Funny Whiner Russia To UN: "You Are Not The Boss Of Me!": From Denny:  The Russians are so amusing, forever entertaining us.  The Russians are so desperate to be taken seriously on the world stage yet are failing miserably every time they open their noisy lying mouths, whether Putin speaks directly or sends out pathetic surrogates.

Russia continues to behave like the naughtiest child in the global family, content to receive negative attention, harsh discipline like sanctions and head-shaking disapproving dirty looks.  Yeah, read that as the world community is collectively giving Russia "The Stink Eye..."

Get Respect Large Messenger Bag

Get Respect Large Messenger Bag


Available in other handbags, totes, wallets and coin purses:  go here.

Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  And a special thanks to those of you supporting this effort!  You rock!  Currently, proceeds go to Greater BR Food Bank and St. Jude's Children's Hospital - both groups do some really great humanitarian work.


Related Articles

Chasing ISIS: Why Are Republicans And Pentagon Suddenly Forcing Iraq War Two?


September 11th, Terrorism 13 Years Later: What Have The Saudis Done To Prevent Another?

Note to White House: Quit Killing Future U.S. Hostages







29 July 2014

Romancing The Chocolate: Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread


Photo provided by King Arthur Flour  --  No one will ever guess there's zucchni in this Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread.
Photo: King Arthur Flour

Romancing The Chocolate: Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread: From Denny:  Summer time and the zucchini are multiplying like rabbits in our gardens!  Zucchini bread is always welcome just plain but how about "gilding the lily"?  Add some cocoa, chocolate chips and espresso powder to put it over the top.

Quick breads like this recipe are always welcome for the holidays or when you want something special - but not complicated or too demanding of your time and effort.  Like most quick breads this one is an easy recipe to make.  While this delicious bread bakes just sit down, relax and tour through your favorite collected old cookbooks or breeze through some interesting online recipe databases.  Works for me!


Celebrate Chocolate King Duvet


Celebrate Chocolate every day as a holiday!
Design available in 3 color palettes:  additional bedding sizes, t-shirts, blankets, 
pillows, jewelry, stuffed animals, mugs, ornaments, 3 sizes of laptop sleeves, shower curtains
From Louisiana artist Denny Lyon
Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new! 

28 July 2014

Dennys Food and Recipes: Summer Slow Cooker: Strawberry Shortcake


Advocate staff photo by PATRICK DENNIS -- Have a red, white and blue treat with Slow Cooker Strawberry Shortcake.
Photo/Patrick Dennis @ The Advocate
Dennys Food and Recipes: Summer Slow Cooker: Strawberry Shortcake: From Denny:  Summer heat.  Bring on the berries!  If you enjoy fresh strawberries and blueberries - along with a side dish of easy to make dessert - then this recipe is for you.  Our local food columnist is a master at kid friendly recipes, quick recipes and less effort recipes for the working or busy parent.

So, when the summer heat gets you tired, think: what can the slow cooker do for me so I don't have to stand over the stove?

Julie Kay recommends this slow cooker recipe is best if you are home to make sure it does not over cook. In fact, it's one of those desserts that can be cooking while you serve dinner.  If you have any extra fresh blueberries in the fridge then feel free to add them after the shortcake has cooked.  This pretty dessert would be perfect for the Fourth of July holiday celebration too.


Morning Tangerine King Duvet


Morning Tangerine King Duvet - Wake up in a good mood with this happy bedding!  

text: "calm morning, good morning, quiet morning" 

This design available in several bedding sizes, pillows, pillow cases, shower curtains and more!

Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -  see what's new!  

More Recipes from Denny's blogs:

Blog Widget by LinkWithin

Ratings and Recommendations by outbrain