An Omelet and Fried Potato Breakfast!

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Now, really! Ask yourself – “Who doesn’t love fluffy omelets and fried potatoes?” No one that’s who! Problem is, if you aren’t under the age of 40 (which regretfully I ain’t), the meal pictured above would normally not be a good thing nutritionally! Too much salt and way too much cholesterol!

But, just hold onto your horses, everyone! Kindly take a gander at the nutritional panel below:

Click on to enlarge

 The secret of the improved nutritional score (perhaps obviously) was the use of egg beaters (no cholesterol) along with less oil (1 tablespoon) in the making of the fried potatoes. Also, the fillings used in the omelet (a cherry tomato and some left over mushrooms and other veggies) contribute almost zero calories. Note: I seasoned the potatoes using a salt substitute along with regular black pepper. This held the overall sodium to just about 344 milligrams.

Voila, a hearty half pounder meal that comes in just over 300 calories (I added a glass of tomato juice – @41 calories at the last minute along with a pat of margarine – @ 27 calories) and one which doesn’t violate the heck out of a low cholesterol and low salt diet.

Those summertime gifts to treasure!

Somewhere long about mid July, as gardens all over the area are in full production with loads of tomatoes, cucumbers and 'whatnots', the creative among us get to storing, freezing and canning all that extra produce. And, when there’s some left over, good-natured folks like Ray and Pat always seem to show up with something to share with friends and associates.

Recently, they presented me with a container full of cucumber slices in a vinaigrette that was absolutely out of this world. If you’ve never tried this combo please make a point of doing so. It’s a wonderful way of utilizing excess cucumbers and onions in such a way that they will keep for a long time. While I’m not sure what Pat does to make her tasty and tart batches, here’s a simple recipe I gleaned off a Civil War Cooking Blog.

Twenty one injured while walking on hot coals!

Fire officials said 21 people at an event hosted by motivational speaker Tony Robbins suffered burns while walking across hot coals, and three of the injured were treated at hospitals.

The injuries took place during the first day Thursday of a four-day event at the San Jose Convention Center hosted by Robbins called "Unleash the Power Within." Most of those hurt had second and third degree burns, said San Jose Fire Department Capt. Reggie Williams.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/21-treated-burns-robbins-event-16826432#.UAseh6DFmSo

My take on this: Duh! I’ll make a side bet that every one of these idiots were Democrats!

Critique: Smart One’s Beef Pot Roast!

Whenever I see a package labeled with the word ‘smart’ I just know they’re referring to moi! After all, I is the smartest person I know! (OK, so maybe that’s just because I hang out with only the mentally challenged). But, seriously, anything made by or for Weight Watchers just has to be investigated. At $2.50 for this 190 calorie meal, I wanted to see if this product which is actually made by Heinz was up to snuff.

Almost anyone who is over the age of forty more than likely had parents who made a pot roast on a regular basis. I can remember my mom bring out a large platter that was filled to over brimming with morsels of beef, carrots and potatoes. The whole lot was covered with a wonderful gravy; the source of which I never discovered. (Young boys are like that, all stomach and little, to no curiosity). Back then, I’d sit down and gorge myself and then run outside to play with my friends before the sun set. By the time I got back inside, I’d burned all the calories from the meal and was ready for more. Today, I get to sit down to a lousy 190 calorie meal and then will hobble over to the sofa for a quick nap before bedtime. How times change.

Making this TV dinner in the microwave is pretty much a snapola. You take the meal out of its box, peel back a corner of the film to vent and nuke it on high for 4 minutes. After the dinger dings, you stir everything up and recover the corner with the film and heat again for about a minute (see note below). That’s all there is to it, (which also explains why I eat so many of these darn things)!

As is usually the case, the reality of what you get is a far cry from the artwork on the front of the box. And, as is also often the case, I’ll ruin the whole ‘diet concept’ by artistically adding a few ‘sides’ of my own (as in a few beers and some potato chips). With some really awful looking meals, I’ve found it useful to close my eyes, on occasion, as doing that improves the overall eating experience. In this case, however, that wasn’t necessary. The food was cooked properly and the taste and smell was exceptional.However...

This one gets only a 6 on a scale of 10. Note: You have to be very careful with the plastic foil – when you try and stir the meal prior to the last minute of cooking, it tends to bunch up. In addition, the veggies tasted not that very well done. Specifically, the carrots and potatoes could have used some more time.

 At two and half bucks (one sale), I feel this one is a little too expensive to find a permanent place in my freezer. Overall, a rather poor creation from the folks at Heinz. My personal recommendation…look elsewhere.

Mrs. Wages Hot Salsa Mix!

 For anyone who finds themselves saddled with an excess of tomatoes, making Salsa is not only easy but it’s also a great way to save your excess produce for up to a year if you elect to freeze or can them!

If you’re like me, you want to do things right and so I use a commercially prepared mix like Mrs. Wages ‘Hot Salsa’ to help take the guesswork out of the process. All you need are six pounds of fresh tomatoes, ½ a cup of vinegar and the mix and you good to go. The directions on the package guide you through making fresh salsa, freezing and canning. I choose to can my tomatoes up as I happen to have the required canning equipment already on hand. In my case I used ½ pint Ball Jelly jars. These small guys hold just the right amount of salsa which I like to take to a local bar when I’m meeting friends. Once there I order up a large bowl of tortilla chips and a couple of small bowls for the salsa and everyone is good to go.

Assad has been found!

OK - Now what do we do with him?

A herbal roasted chicken throw down!

If you knew me, you’d understand the temptation I experienced when I sampled the Lean Cuisine Herb Roasted Chicken post from a few days ago. I wondered if I could create something similar from scratch that would rival this $2.50 packaged product in terms of taste, appearance and calories! No small undertaking as I was about to find out!

First off, let me list the major ingredients found in the packaged product:

A formed chicken breast (?)

Broccoli pieces

Potato chunks

Red bell pepper

A few sliced mushrooms

A tangy herbal white sauce

All of these ingredients were presented as a 128 gram portion that contained only 170 calories! Yeah, that was going to be a challenge alright. I figured that the hardest part was going to be coming up with the herbal sauce, as I had no real idea of what they used for ingredients. So, I came up with my own and here it is….

My herbal sauce

• 1 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1/3 cup chicken broth
• 1 tsp minced chives
• ½ tsp minced fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon minced fresh basil
• ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

These ingredients were simply added to a pan and brought to a brief boil and then were allow to simmer for a few minutes before being ladled over the entire presentation.

The chicken breast was placed into a Foreman grill and cooked until done. This allowed me to add those cute grill marks to the meat. After allowing the meat to stand for about five minutes (this helps retain the juices), I cut the breast into 35 gram portions.

The mushrooms, bell pepper and broccoli pieces were steamed together for 16 minutes in a steamer.

The russet potato chunks were first placed in the microwave set to high for 45 seconds and then they were transferred to a hot skillet that contained two tablespoons of butter. After browning, they were placed on a paper towel and lightly salted.

Once everything was cooked, I assembled all the ingredients onto a plate (see picture). The total weight of this creation came in at just 107 grams! Estimated calories were about 126 and the taste was just as better than the packaged product. Oh, and the cost was $1.75 per serving. Not bad at all!

Historic drought to bring higher food prices, experts say

The historic drought baking the nation's breadbasket is about to hit American consumers where it hurts most -- the supermarket checkout.

"Prices are going to go up," Justin Gardner, assistant professor of agribusiness at Middle Tennessee State University, told the Christian Science Monitor. "The only question is when."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/17/historic-drought-conditions-can-lead-to-higher-food-prices-experts-say/#ixzz20vGiat5L

My take: Where or what exactly is the Obama Administration doing on this issue. Wait. Sorry! This is, after all,  an  ELECTION YEAR. He's too busy trying to get elected!

Critique: Best Choice Scalloped Potatoes!

For someone who is still on a diet (me), I’ve some how been emotionally shanghaied by the desire to eat and critique more of the many variations of packaged potato offerings that are out there. Today, I’ve undertaken to write a post about this offering from the folks at Associated Wholesale Grocers (www.augbrands.com). The 140 gram contents supplies about 100 calories per half cup prepared (there are 5 of these portions per box). That’s the same number of calories as a recent post I did on a similar product made by Idahoan; a similar scalloped potato dish that came in at just a little bit more money and which offers up only 4 - ½ cup servings. Ah, I see some savings here! The thing is I’m not trying to pit one company against the other for just the difference of a few cents! What I am doing is hoping to catch a ‘comfort food’ that makes sense. (For the record, this box cost me $1.79 on July, 2012. It was purchased in Forsyth, Missouri and has an expiration date of May 30, 2013). Ultimately, I want to do a comparison between commercial boxed preparations versus homemade with respect to cost and nutrition.

The instructions on the plain Jane box were pretty straightforward; preheat your oven to 400F, add 2 cups of boiling water along with 2 tablespoons of butter and ¾ cup of milk into a 1.5 quart baking dish. Next, stir in their little packet of ‘cream sauce’! Whatever that is??  Next, you add them dehydrated potato slices and stir the whole thing up. Bake this in a quart and a half oven proof container, uncovered, at 400F for 35 minutes or until them tatters are tender. (Note: if you live in the mountains; set your oven to 425F)! Side note: This package does have directions for the microwave and stovetop, but trust me, just do the oven deal if at all possible…

After baking, here’s the result! Very pleasing to the eye and the taste was on a par with most everything else I’ve tried. Gave this one a score of 8 and due to the extra quantity for a cheaper buck would recommend it to all.

Critique: Lean Cuisine’s Herb Roasted Chicken!

Talk about a tale of two cities. Whereas my review of the Glazed Chicken offering from the folks at Nestle (no longer exists as of 2015) was less than sterling, this meal was a horse of a different color! I was so very pleasantly surprised that I made the decision to buy more of this at the store while it was still on sale for $2.50. But, before I get to gushing too much, let me cover one oddity.

When you prepare this in the microwave, you are instructed to make a slit in the plastic covering (no biggie) then place it in the microwave and cook it AT HALF POWER for nine minutes! Say what! I wasn’t even sure how to set the power on my microwave. Heck, I didn’t even know there was a power setting. But, after I finally figured it out it was no problem. What I don’t quite understand is why the dish need such treatment. Perhaps I’ll write the company to find out.

Back to the taste. This mix of chicken, potatoes and other veggies is offered in a white cream sauce the combination of which is very similar to a meal my mom made when I was a child. Total comfort food here. Also, at only 170 calories, I could enjoy some additional sides without messing my diet up too much. Bonus points for that!

I give this meal a 9 on a scale of ten and urge everyone to give it a try!

Update: Here is the response from ConAgra concerning the need to use 50% power: "
Thank you for taking the time to contact us about LEAN CUISINE® Herb Roasted Chicken. We welcome questions and comments from loyal consumers such as yourself and appreciate this opportunity to assist you.

We have read your email. This is how we tested this particular product for the best quality. With some microwaves, 50% power is synonymous with power level 5, medium, medium-low and in some instances, defrost. If your microwave only has a high setting, you can cook the product on high power for half the amount of time. If the product is not thoroughly cooked in that amount of time, continue cooking on high but check after a minute or so to prevent overcooking."

Update: In 2015 the cooking instructions had been changed to simply, place in the microwave and cook for 6 1/2 minutes!

Critique: Lean Cuisine Glazed Chicken!

Seeing as this TV meal deal was a ‘Chef’s Pick’, I just had to avail myself of the opportunity to purchase one. At $2.50 for a 240 gram meal which yields only 240 calories or about a calories per gram, I thought it just might live up to the company logo. (by way of contrast, potato chips yield close to 5 calories a gram).I felt if I could make this the major part of a dinner, I could get myself back on track to losing some weight!

At first glance, I found the concept of a glazed chicken somewhat distasteful. Glazed, in the manner of which they are speaking, generally refers to some sort of sweet marmalade that covers the meat.  In this case, they are referring to a ‘savory lemon tarragon sauce’ which doesn’t sound too bad. Also, as I looked at the package cover, I’m guessing those little green sprigs were supposed to represent the tarragon. Rounding out this presentation, we have white rice, green beans and cashew chips.  (Sounded absolutely yummy to me). So, onwards to the preparation.

Assuming you have a microwave (you do have a microwave don’t you?), the directions are as simple as can be; take the meal out of its box, throw it into the microwave and nuke it for 5 ½ minutes on high. (Something even I couldn’t screw up)! After the dinger dinged, I removed the meal, sat it in front of me and stripped off the plastic cover and prepared to eat.

This meal made by Nestlé (you know - the chocolate milk people) tasted only so-so. Frankly, I was disappointed by the experience. The chicken was chewy and the rice tasted undercooked. Overall, I gave this meal a sad score of 6 on a scale of 10.

As the drought worsens, the cost of food to increase!

It’s mid July, (only mid July!) and already over 1,000 counties across the Midwest are being labeled ‘natural disaster areas’. As of Tuesday July the 10th , 61% of the lower 48 states were experiencing drought conditions -- stretching from Nevada to South Carolina -- the highest percentage in the 12-year record of the U.S. Drought Monitor. And, it was stressed by the National Weather Service, that these conditions could be expected to worsen before they improve. Also the prognosis for farmers and their crops, especially corn, looks grim as fields and pastures increasingly dry up according to the National Climatic Data Center.

Citizens can expect that many products at the local grocery store will suffer price increases and shortages of corn and corn related products begin to make themselves felt. Likewise, count on dramatic increases in the already high cost of meats and meat products as the wholesale cost of cost used to feed cattle increases.

This is what you can expect if Democrats remain in power!

Video "trackers" are a mainstay on the campaign trail nowadays. Dispatched by candidates to shadow their rivals, they lurk in the crowds and the receiving lines waiting for the opponent to slip up, then capture the embarrassing moment on camera and post it online.

But this season, Democrats are taking the practice to a new and, some say, uncomfortable level by recording the homes of some Republican incumbents.

Whoa! Sorry, the below link was removed by your soon to be Socialist State.... 

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/12/democrats-tape-post-videos-where-house-gop-incumbents-live/#ixzz20Qx3KCgZ

Holder tells NAACP Texas voter ID law harmful!

Attorney General Eric Holder on Tuesday reinforced his opposition to Texas’ new voter ID law, saying during an NAACP convention in Houston that it hurts minorities and that politics is the driving force behind the issue.

Holder called Texas the “center of our national debate” on voting-rights issues and vowed the Justice Department would “aggressively” fight to enforce those rights.

“We will not allow political pretext to disenfranchise American citizens of their most precious rights,” he said.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/10/holder-tells-naacp-texas-vote-id-law-harmful-to-minorities/#ixzz20FmjYzNG

My take: What can you expect from a man who flaunts both the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Yet another example of how sick this current administration has become. Come on people! This issue is so transparent that were it TP, I couldn't use it.

Critique: Idahoan Scalloped Potaotes

I’m not sure just where I picked up this box of Scalloped Potatoes. The company that makes them; Idahoan Foods out of Lewisville Idaho, was new to me. Their web page is pretty cool and I was surprised at the wide number of potato orientated products they offer. And, of course, them taters of theirs are all from Idaho; a state which boasts an almost perfect growing climate for spuds.

The package directions include making this side dish either in the oven or on the stovetop. One would assume that if one wants the golden top on this dish, one would use the oven method. I’d made scalloped potatoes from scratch before, and was curious as to how much better this commercial offering might be. (I did a You Tube Video on making them and am still convinced that that is the way to go nutritionally). However, if I’m pressed for time, these boxed products ain’t too shabby.

Preparation is pretty much a snap. You set the oven to 450F and then grab a small 1 ½ quart baking dish. Into it you whisk 1 ½ cups of boiling water, ¾ cup of milk, the dried potatoes, cheese packet, and about 1 ½ tablespoons of margarine or butter. This gets baked, uncovered for about 25 minutes. How easy is that when you’re talking true comfort food?

A great meal that came in at just over 200 calories!

As you can see, the result is rather appetizing. A small ½ cup serving will set you back about a hundred calories, but what’s that among friends? I served this side as part of a regular meal that consisted of BBQ chicken, green beans and steamed carrots!

 I’d score this one a solid 8 on a scale of 10. It was easy to throw together, bake and serve.

Nutritional information on weights and calories in this pictured meal:
Chicken 78 grams 105 calories
Green beans 70 grams 20 calories
Scalloped potatoes 85 grams 73 calories
Carrots 35 grams 23 calories

Eating Pringles! A good idea?

 

By now I think most everyone understands that the Pringle chip is not actually a potato chip at all. The company that makes Pringles starts with a slurry of rice, wheat, corn, and potato flakes and presses them into shape. So, technically this is not a potato chip in the most puristic sense of the word. Perhaps it would be better to think of it as a technochip.

I purchased one of the cute little eight packs that offer the consumer eight small containers that each hold 11 (or about a hundred calories worth of) ‘chips’. The container is made out of polypropylene (look for the number ‘5’ on the plastic container inside the little triangle) and so is considered safer than other plastics now in common use. (This plastic is routinely recycled although the truth be told we humans would be better off if the stuff wasn’t used to hold our food). Covering each tub is a piece of foil. All the little tubs are contained in a carton made of paper. So, that what I purchased for $3.15 not counting tax. That makes the contents (168 grams) worth about .53 cents per ounce. Pretty expensive snack, that!

My real problem with not only Pringles, but all the other ‘stackable’ chips is the enormous cost of making the elaborate mix of plastic, foil and paper that are required to contain them so that they don’t break! For the same amount of money, I could go out and buy a five pound bag of potatoes and make my own chips. Not only would I be getting far more for my money, but I’d also be doing a lot less damage to the environment!

California's High Speed Rail will not succeed!

A plan to build a high-speed rail network in California is moving ahead, as state legislators voted to raise $4.5 billion in capital by selling municipal bonds approved by voters. The muni bond sale includes $2.6 billion to build the first 130-mile stretch of the high-speed rail network in California’s Central Valley, according to an AP report.

See the entire story here!

My Take: This project has lose lose plastered all over it. As long as any government entity has anything to do with an enterprise (AMTRACK comes to mind), it is destined for abject failure. Like the ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ this enterprise could well become a ‘Black Hole’ for a state already on the verge of bankruptcy!

Late breaking news: By a bare majority, the California state Senate voted to approve initial construction on the state’s $68 billion high-speed rail project, ending months of intense lobbying and uncertainty in the Legislature.

The approval was a major legislative victory for Gov. Jerry Brown, who lobbied lawmakers before the vote and celebrated with Democratic legislative leaders off the Senate floor immediately after.
The outcome was uncertain as recently as hours before the vote. With all 15 Republican senators opposing the measure and several Democratic lawmakers wavering, the California High-Speed Rail Authority and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg scrambled to muster at least 21 of 25 Democratic votes.

Twenty-one Democratic senators voted “yes.”

Here's some more 'Change' for you. 2013 to see massive tax hikes?

Click to increase size

or....

Go to the Heritage. org page to see the interactive map!

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Missouri Senator calls for Special Session to opt out of Healhcare!

JEFFERSON CITY – State Senator Brad Lager, a candidate for Lt. Governor, announced today that he has sent a letter to Governor Nixon, calling upon him to convene a special session of the Missouri General Assembly, so that Missouri can formally opt-out of the mandates and expansions of Obamacare.

Senator Lager also sent a letter to Speaker Tilley and to President Pro Tem Mayer calling on them to convene a special session, in the event Nixon fails to call a special session, so that the legislature can take the action necessary to opt-out of the mandates and expansions of Obamacare.

Lager said, “On August 3, 2010, 71 percent of Missouri voters supported Proposition C and rejected increased government control of healthcare. The people of Missouri did not need the Supreme Court to tell them that our President’s healthcare plan was nothing more than the largest job-killing tax increase in our history—we already knew it.

“The only way we can pay for Missouri’s share of the President’s plan is to enact the largest job-killing tax increase ever in Missouri’s history.  Missourians have spoken; we would rather have jobs for our families, friends and neighbors than another broken-down government program.

“Politically motivated lawsuits and high-priced lawyers are not going to solve the problems in our state.  What we really need is for our state’s elected officials to get to work and lead. It is time for Missouri to notify Washington that we are opting out of Obamacare.”

Brad Lager is a small business owner and job creator.  In 2010, Lager was re-elected to represent the 12^th Senatorial District in the Missouri General Assembly.  Brad and his wife Stephanie reside near Savannah with their two children Addison and Andrew. Lager is also a proud graduate of Northwest Missouri State University.

Living under a Dome of Heat!

Eleven very hot days - Thank God for the AC!

After eleven days of 100 degree plus heat and little to no rain, my carefully manicured lawn has transformed itself into Death Valley. And those raised beds I was so proud of? All those great vegetables! Forget about it. This heat wave from Hell put the kibosh on all that!

Dormant or Dead?

Now, my days are spent mostly indoors (especially after mid morning when it begins to get really hot). Lately, I’ve been trying to get up extra early so I can go outside and take a walk and water what’s left of my parched garden. A few pepper plants and a lone tomato vine are still hanging in there. Everything else, including the romaine lettuce, cucumbers and beans have all long since given up the ghost.(Maybe this fall I can try again)....

The Weather Service informs  me that ‘we all need to just sit tight and get used to it. This is what you get for messing with Mother Nature', they say, and stress that worst times could be ahead. Huh! I sure don’t like the sound of that!  Here it is just the start of July and there’s a whole summer stretched out before me. Ya mean I gotta plan on spending all of it indoors? No way José!

There is some relief coming, however. On or around day 14, a blessed cool front is forecast to move through southwest Missouri. With it comes the chance of rainfall (only a chance?). Personally, I'm hoping for a real 'frog strangler' rain, but I'll settle for whatever God's deems fit.

Iran makes a threat to the US. And, we respond?

TEHRAN, Iran –  Iran declared Wednesday that it can destroy nearby U.S. military bases and strike Israel within minutes of an attack on the Islamic Republic, reflecting tensions over Iran's suspect nuclear program.

The veiled threat came during a military drill that has included the firing of ballistic missiles. The elite Revolutionary Guards, conducting the war games in Iran's central desert, said that the missiles were aimed at mock-ups of foreign military bases.

Israel and the U.S. have hinted at the possibility of military strikes against Iran if sanctions and diplomacy do not rein in Iran's nuclear development program. The West suspects Iran may be aiming to build nuclear weapons. Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/07/04/iran-threatens-swift-retaliation-on-us-bases/#ixzz1zhRqh5vV

My Take: OK. How about we just level the playing field. Better yet, how about we just level you?

Happy Fourth of July!

Go ahead Iran - Launch those missiles!

A member of the Revolutionary Guard prepares for launch!

Iran states it is prepared to launch missiles at US bases throughout the Gulf within minutes of an attack on the Islamic Republic, according to a commander of the country's Revolutionary Guards.

In an apparent response to reports that the US has increased its military presence in the Gulf, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' air force said on Wednesday that missiles had been aimed at 35 US military bases in the Gulf as well as targets in Israel, ready to be launched in case of an attack.

"We have thought of measures to set up bases and deploy missiles to destroy all these bases in the early minutes after an attack," said Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

Critique: Banquest's Swedish Meatballs!

Just what is it about those Swedes and their meatballs? Do those folks at Banquet know something the rest of us don’t? I’ve always thought that a good meatball was more the domain of the Italians!  Am I wrong here? OK, let’s take a gander under the hood of this creation by the chefs at Banquet.

I’ve actually been called a ‘meatball’ in the past. Not in very kind circumstance either! Truth is, growing up in a suburb of Chicago was pretty tough. My nickname, back then, was ‘Otis’, (no not that drunk on the Andy Griffith show). My friends were actually referring to Big Otis OK cereal made by Kellogg’s and which pictured a man with large biceps.
     

“Big Otis", Kellogg's virile, caber-tossing spokes-hunk, proudly flaunts the Scotch Tape clan tartan. I'd love to see this guy duke it out with the Brawny paper towel man.

True fact #1: Big Otis was eventually replaced by Yogi Bear, whose biceps were less intimidating to children.”

Old history aside; a good meatball, especially when combined with al dente pasta in a savory sauce is nothing to casually pass by. I wanted to see how tasty this $1 meal deal was...

First, a couple of random observations:

Has anyone ever noticed how often the makers (ConAgra) tell the consumer what a ‘Good Source of Protein’ their TV dinners are? I researched this and came up with an old movie called ‘Soylent Green’ where a somewhat dim-witted, but ‘gamey’ (tongue in cheek) populace of the future were encouraged to eat the government’s high protein wafer style offering (check out the trailer). Here’s an excerpt I doctored:

“In 2022, the population had grown to forty million people in New York City alone. Housing was dilapidated and overcrowded; homeless people filled the streets and line fire (?) escapes and stairways. Food was scarce; most of the population survived on rations produced by the Soylent Corporation, whose newest product was Soylent Green, a small square green wafer advertised to contain "high-energy plankton". Yum-yum! It was advertised as more nutritious and palatable than those other varieties; Red or Yellow, but sadly was in short supply, which lead to food riots.” (For those if you that never saw this production, Soylent Green was made from us humans)!

[Disclaimer needed here – Banquet does not use human flesh in any of its products as far as I know!]

And now, a catch-22 question. Does anyone who actually reads the nutritional label on any TV dinner really care about their health? (If they did, wouldn’t they be eating something, say more fresh or natural)? Just a thought….

Nutrition

If you have any concerns about your health, then I’d take a pass on this meal. Almost half of this dish is composed of fat and saturated fat at that! Also, the cholesterol and sodium amounts are pretty much through the roof! Not something you’d want to assault your body with very often.

Taste

That said; it is exactly those ingredients that make for a savory tasting, and dare I say it, addictive experience! I gave the overall taste of this product a solid 8 – it was pretty darn good. The meatballs, while somewhat diminutive in size, were very edible and who doesn’t like a little pasta in their lives! All said this ‘diet busting’ mouth watering entrée was all it could be for one measly dollar! [ Update May 2014 - still a buck a meal]

When a tax is not really a tax!

“The logic in the majority opinion (by the Supreme Court) is the jurisprudential equivalent of passing a camel through the eye of a needle. The logic is so tortured, unexpected and unprecedented that even the law's most fervent supporters did not make or anticipate the court's argument in its support. Under the Constitution, a tax must originate in the House (which this law did not), and it must be applied for doing something (like earning income or purchasing tobacco or fuel), not for doing nothing. In all the history of the court, it never has held that a penalty imposed for violating a federal law was really a tax. And it never has converted linguistically the congressional finding of penalty into the judicial declaration of tax, absent finding subterfuge on the part of congressional draftsmanship.”

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/07/02/vast-new-federal-power/#ixzz1zVD4xOnV

My take: Have any of you ever actually tried to shove a camel through the eye of a needle? Maybe it’s not all that hard! And, oh yes, all that gobbledygook about where a tax must first originate. I’m here to inform you (less than intelligent readers) that the tax laws come directly from Obama’s stash – exactly where all that 'free' money is coming from. So, get over it, let’s all move FORWARD and once He is re-elected, His Final Plan will become apparent to all!

Let's end the Mexican immigration problem once and for all!

MEXICO CITY –  Mexico's voters appeared poised to bring the old guard back to power on Sunday in a mostly quiet and orderly vote that was marked by a heavy police and troop presence in violence-plagued parts of the country.
The former ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, known as the PRI, led by telegenic former Mexico State Gov. Enrique Pena Nieto, has held a strong lead throughout the campaign. The party, voted out of the presidency in 2000 after 71 years in power, also appeared likely to retake at least a plurality in the two houses of Congress and some governorship.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/07/01/mexico-could-return-old-ruling-party-to-power/#ixzz1zQ1izZ85

My take: We need to annex Mexico as a colony of the United States post haste. The Mexican people would cheer this, while the Mexican government, drug cartels and terrorists would…go someplace else. In any case, it would be a win win for most everyone!

Someone please go and put these atheist idiots out of their misery!

A billboard along Interstate 30 in Texas that is calling for people to “Quit the Church” is upsetting Catholics in the area.

The billboard is part of a national atheist campaign by the Freedom from Religion Foundation and includes the message that the Catholic Church should put women’s rights over bishops’ wrongs, KDFW Fox 4 reports.

According to the station, Catholics see the billboard as a dig at dozens of federal lawsuits by Catholic dioceses, including those in Dallas and Forth Worth. They want to do away with an Obama administration mandate that requires employers, including church-owned institutions like hospitals, to provide employees insurance coverage for birth control, something that goes against church teachings.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/01/texas-highway-billboard-tells-faithful-to-quit-church/#ixzz1zPsS0C00

My take: You’ve got to be kidding me…OK, Perhaps God maybe dead or perhaps he never even existed for you and your kind. I put forth that these empty headed individuals, who declare that nothing is sacred, are the same group that would have you look down into the black hole of nothingness and who would ask you to despair. My thinking, they are pointless individuals living pointless lives.

Look you atheist dudes, I beg you, please go live your lives and then when you’re ready…just end it. Poof! You’re all gone. By your own admission, your existence accomplished nothing. We, the Children of a living God have a different path to follow. You might want to look at history for a glimpse of what is actually going on. Duh!

As an aside, I haven’t been in a church more than a few times in my life. That doesn’t mean I don’t pray to the Owner each and every day, and that doesn’t mean that I won’t pray for your souls. Hasta la vista baby!

What now America? Is it time to play the ‘R’ card?

You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
All right, all right

Beatles 'Revolution'

If you’re an average American and you have a bad feeling about the way things are going, trust me, you are so not alone. We all thank God that at least food is still affordable. Question is…for how long?

Right at the moment in our nation’s history when a fragile and extremely bruised economy is struggling against a host of problems, both domestic and foreign, now it gets slammed with what may turn out to be the single largest tax hike in history! Some experts estimate as much as 700 billion on up to a trillion dollars will be lifted from taxpayer’s wallets over the next ten years just to pay for the infamous Affordable Health Care Act. That’s assuming the health care industry even survives. When added to out of control spending by the Congress and the Fed's attempt to print our way out of debt (three trillion funny money dollars so far and counting), the financial future of the average American worker is sorely in doubt. Ya think?

But, as I said, as long as we all can afford to eat, things should stay relatively stable. Everyone in Washington knows this and if they are going to keep the ‘party’ going, they will need to keep everything balanced just so…right up to the time the whole shebang goes on over the cliff. At that point, the dollar will become basically worthless and Americans will find themselves back in Medieval times economically. Three words will describe the average life then; hard, brutal and short.

Meanwhile the rich politicians will have long since departed to their island of choice, leaving the mess they’ve made for others to clean up. Gosh, how so Far Leftish is that?

It’s NOT a Tax, White House insists!

The White House insisted Sunday the consequence for Americans not having health insurance is a penalty fee, despite the Supreme Court ruling that it is a tax and said the debate on the Affordable Care Act should finally end.

White House Chief of Staff Jack Lew said on Fox News Sunday that “when the Supreme Court rules” the country “has a final decision” and that the presidential campaigns should focus on the economy and jobs.

“What we need to do is go forward with the implementation” of the law, Lew said.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/01/white-house-says-health-care-penalty-not-tax-debate-is-over/#ixzz1zO1Dd93e

My take: Man oh man, for something that’s been settled, it’s amazing how this controversy has been re-ignited and is not too much unlike the wildfires raging in the West.