A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
|
What's Your Favorite Dessert ?
Or if you're a Fewdie, like so many of us are, what's your best dessert ?
I've had dessert on my mind for a week or so now. It all started when I was watching TV. We have this old folks' channel here, well two of them actually. They show old movies, free, over-the-air, along with ads for old folks' type products, health related mostly and reverse mortgages. In the last couple of weeks we've watched The Quiet Man with John Wayne, The Oultlaw with Jane Russell, hubba-hubba, and The Bridges at Toko-Ri. The late Mickey Rooney was good in that one. We were watching that timeless classic Gentlemen Prefer Blondes last week when this ad came on:
This just cracked me up, "dump and bake ?" Especially since I grew up spent my early years in Southern California. Everybody who's spent any time at all in SoCal knows who Andy Gump is, or was. He's famous because his name is on nearly every Porta-Potty you ever see. He was a Porta-Potty tycoon, an old-fashioned entrepreneur who made his pile with a product that people actually need. "Take a dump with Andy Gump," we always used to say. His real name was Massena, not Andy. He changed it to match the name of the main character in a classic old cartoon strip. Here's his obituary, from the L.A. Times. The business still exists, run by his son, and you can still see Andy Gump facilities at outdoor events and construction sites all over the Southland.
So I got to looking around and it turns out Dump Cakes are a thing. I had no idea. Here's a Dump Cake recipe from allrecipes.com and here's one from about.com. In fact, if you Google Dump Cake recipes you'll find pages and pages of the damned things. Even Ree Drummond, the doctor's daughter and USC grad who markets herself as "The Pioneer Woman," makes Dump Cakes.
Me, I've never had, or made, a Dump Cake and I don't intend to start. It looks like something Sarah Palin would do. On my birthday I sometimes get a simple chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Ever 5 years or so my wife will make me one of her mom's Apple Cakes. This is probably my favorite dessert, a delicious thing with grated apple, crushed walnuts and a cream cheese frosting.
As for the desserts I make, they are usually pretty simple. I've already spent too much time and energy on the main dish and I'm not that into sweets. Often it's just macerated strawberries or blackberries over vanilla ice cream. If I've grilled, and the coals are still hot, I might grill some pineapple slices and serve them over ice cream with a reduction of orange juice, honey and tequila. I've done Bananas Foster a time or two. Flambés are always fun. Most often it's fancy coffee, what I call Café Azteca.
Most Mexican restaurants down here do version of this. We had it at a fancy place in Nogales once. It was quite a production. Our mesero, an older guy, dignified and quite professional, brought a cart to our table with a Bunsen burner and the coffee cups. He heated the cups inside and out, poured in some Kahlúa and swished it around. Then he heated the cups again so that there was Kahlúa glaze all around the insides of the cups. Then he poured in the coffee, real coffee I might add, a rarity in restaurants in Mexico. It was delicious and a fitting end to a fine dinner. Mine is simpler, and a little stronger.
Café Azteca
1 shot tequila
1 shot Kahlúa
strong coffee
Pour tequila and Kahlúa into cup.
Put in a stick of cinnamon and stir.
Add coffee.
Garnish with whipped cream and ground cinnamon.
Well that's all I got today. What's your favorite dessert? What dessert do you make when you really want to make an impression? What else is on your mind this fine Tuesday morning?
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Dump Cake.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
by Azazello ♥ for Baja Arizona Kossacks
The Baja Kossacks just had their 4th Annual Picnic at the home of Mr. and Mrs. sneakers563. The group is shepherded by Azazello, an official member of DKos since 2009. From his diary and about his state:
More and better Democrats is always a popular subject for debate here in Baja AZ, especially in an election year. Against the charge that Arizona is an incurably red state I often point out that 5 of our 9 US Reps are Democrats. This is true but it doesn't tell the whole story. While we in Tucson are justifiably proud of Raúl Grijalva (Wikipedia HERE) whose first elected office was board member for Tucson Unified School District #1, most of Tucson and all of Cochise County are now represented by Ron Barber (Wikipedia HERE) who is a very Blue Dog indeed. For an example of this Blue Doggedness see this article at Alternet ☛ 5 Million Dirty Reasons for Record Deportations.
He's on top of it and thanks to him for gathering Kossacks together to become stronger.
Here's the group photo:
L-R: Back row: pwoodford, DaNang65, Azazello, itzadryheat, rasbobbo
Front row: ItsAMathJoke, drnatrl, sneakers563, chloris creator, Desert Rose
Please visit Azazello's diary for many MORE photos including food pr0n! Enjoy! You can join Baja Arizona Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Azazello.
by Dave in Northridge ♥ for Los Angeles Kossacks
The LAKossacks welcome shanikka to their fair city. Many people attend. Here are few photos:
L-R: moore musings and shanikka
L-R: Former Chicagoan Now Angeleno and bruinkid
Please visit Dave in Northridge's diary for many MORE photos plus Food Pr0n! Enjoy! You can join Los Angeles Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Dave in Northridge.
by mimi ♥ for Virginia Kos
The DC and Maryland Kossacks welcomed Chaucounne on her visit to attend a conference in DC. It was a last minute meet-up pulled of by mimi.
Here's one photo:
L-R: mimi, kim (wife of olliegarkey), olliegarkey, webgenie and Chacounne
Please visit mimi's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy!
You can join Maryland Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to JamieG from Md.
You can join DC Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to NinthElegy.
by sidnora ♥ for New York City
Thank you, sidnora, for the great photo diary recap. So many terrific photos of our NYC Kossacks and all their food pr0n. It looks like everyone had a really good time. There's still time to rec her diary.
Here's only two photos of the many that belinda ridgewood, joanbrooker and Denise Oliver Velez provided:
L-R: the camera-shy Yasuragi (yes, she weally showed up!), belinda ridgewood, kathny, malloy, Miscweant, No Exit, Son of Broccoli, jfdunphy, mightymouse, plf515, sidnora, Mets102
L-R: Ian Reifowitz, plf515, sidnora, Denise Oliver Velez, Mets102
Please visit sidnora's diary for many MORE photos! Plus massive food pr0n. Enjoy! You can join New York City by sending a Kosmail to sidnora.
Four Kossack regional groups descend on the California State Capitol
to demand that Governor Jerry Brown ban
the oil and gas production process known as fracking
by navajo ♥ for Connect! Unite! Act!
Representing Northern California, the SFKossacks, Central Valley Kossacks, Paradise & Chico Kossacks and the Silicon Valley Kossacks gathered on the mall of our state capitol in Sacramento on Saturday, March 15th to protest fracking. Governor Brown has the ability to ban the environmentally destructive, water-intensive oil extraction practice known as hydraulic fracturing in California. The state is in a severe drought and the last place our water should go is into fracking. It is estimated the protesters numbered around 4000. We endured the hot sun which sent the temperatures into the 80s as we gathered midday to make a lot of noise and get the attention of the Governor.
Please note red arrow pointing to our Daily Kos banner to gather all us Kossacks together!
Please visit paradise50's diary for his terrific photos!
You can join SFKossacks by sending a Kosmail to navajo.
You can join Central Valley Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to tgypsy.
You can join Paradise & Chico Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to smileycreek.
You can join Silicon Valley Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Glen The Plumber.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, April 12th
Potential Boston Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Café Barada
2269 Massachusetts Ave • Cambridge
ORGANIZER: Send GreyHawk a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. GreyHawk
2. Hawk Wife
3. Knockbally
|
Maybees:
CwV
annieli |
Latest diary: Next BosKos Meetup - Sat 12 Apr at the Cafe Barada
Saturday, April 19th
Inaugural DC Kossacks Potluck Picnic on
the National Mall
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: National Mall
Exact location TBD • Washington, DC
ORGANIZER: Send NinthElegy a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. NinthElegy
2. mimi
3. barbwires
4. barbwires's spouse
5. webgenie
|
Maybees: |
From NinthElegy: We will meet on the third Saturday of each month at noon. Please note-- This regular Saturday meeting day and time is flexible. It was chosen as a starting point to be amended according to what is the best fit for the DC Kossacks group members. If it is not a workable regular day and time for you, suggest alternatives and let's see what we can work out.
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Saturday, May 3rd
DKos Asheville Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: The Bywater
796 Riverside Dr. • Asheville
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. randallt
2. davehouck
3. Joieau
4. Gordon20024
5. SteelerGrrl
6. SteelerGuy
7. GulfGal 98
8. Otteray Scribe
9. flwrightman
10. people power granny
11. eternallyvigilant
|
Maybees:
Audri
Mr Audri
|
Latest diary: [Waiting for linked diary]
Tuesday, May 13th
SFKossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet
for LeftOfYou & Expat Okie
TIME: 11:00 AM, Early lunch!
LOCATION: Yank Sing
Rincon Center, 101 Spear St. • San Francisco
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. navajo
2. LeftOfYou
3. Expat Okie
4. side pocket
5. Justice Putnam
6. dharmasyd
7. Lorikeet
8. jpmassar
|
Maybees:
annieli
|
Wednesday, July 16th
Daily Kos Detroit VA Hospital Service Project
Sara R delivers 65 quilts, hand knit scarves and hats, books, 65 teddy bears, hand made greeting cards, and phone cards from the DK Quilt Guild, WAYWO, the Readers & Book Lovers, IGTNT and individual Kossacks to the nursing home at the Detroit VA Hospital. This is a wonderful project that many people can be involved with even if they don't attend the convention. If you care about veterans in a nursing home this is your project. Please volunteer to help.
DELIVERY TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Volunteer Office of the Detroit VA Hospital
4646 John R St. • Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R a Kosmail to participate in making the gifts and/or deliver them.
RSVPs to help deliver gifts:
1. Sara R
2.
3.
|
Maybees: |
Latest diary: DK Quilt Guild: What Inspires You?
Wednesday, July 16th
Annual Cheers & Jeers Dinner to Kick-Off NN14, Kossacks Only
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: TBD
[Address] • Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send Common Sense Mainer a kosmail to RSVP.
RSVPs:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. navajo
4. Meteor Blades
5. smileycreek
6. paradise50
7. side pocket
8. Mrs. side pocket
9. norm
10. maggiejean
11. Shockwave
12. a gilas girl
13. susans
14. Sara R
15. belinda ridgewood
16. sidnora
17. Mr. sidnora
18. thankgodforairamerica
19. brillig
20. mik
21. K1
22. loggersbrat
23. Dave in Northridge
|
cont.
|
Latest diary: Connect! Unite! Act! ATTN: DC, Tucson & Seattle Meet-up Info! +Q: Roll Call, Are You Attending NN14?
Plenary Session Tables during the rest of the Convention
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to have a seat reserved for you in the main ballroom of the convention center for the big events. These table will be there so we can all find each other as a group. The seating is not assigned. You can float from table to table. I'm counting to see how many tables I need to reserve.
Cheers & Jeers Table:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. brillig
4. mik
5. K1
6. loggersbrat
7. N in Seattle
8.
9.
10.
|
Cheers & Jeers Table II:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
SFKossacks Table:
1. navajo
2. Meteor Blades
3. smileycreek
4. paradise50
5. side pocket
6. Mrs. side pocket
7. norm
8. maggiejean
9. Jeff in CA
10. Mrs. Jeff in CA
|
SFKossacks Table II:
1. a gilas girl
2. justiceputnam
3. Sara R
4. DebtorsPrison
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
|
Los Angeles Table:
1. Shockwave
2. susans
3. Dave in Northridge
4. gmats
5. 714day
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. |
New York Table:
1. sidnora
2. Mr. sidnora
3. belinda ridgewood
4. thankgodforairamerica
|
Maybees:
kjoftherock, angry marmot, boran2, Turbonerd, northerntier, northerntier's SO
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.