Wild and crazy chicken soup.

Today's Tids Issue 3.531

Opening Stuff:

The death of Justice Anthony Scalia has the possibility of becoming a seminal event in America that would rival the numbing effects of a major recession or large terrorist attack.

Taylor Swift just keeps on creating winners. She tends to gain her fame through innovative excellence and not through promotional gimmickry. Last night she stood strong and according to most in the audience, “level headed”, as she made thinly veiled reference to past Kanye West disparagements by urging young women stand strong themselves against those “who would undercut your success and take credit for your accomplishments.”

Just for the record, as the harangue grows louder, In 1960 the democrat controlled senate passed a law that would forbid “Election Year Supreme Court Appointments.” Of course the Repubs were against it just as they are for it now. And of course Charles Schumer wanted to put a halt to GW Bush naming a SC justice in 2007. Despite the crazed Harry Read pronouncements, and similar rants by an “aggrieved” Hillary, the current debate is not an unusual situation, and an appointment in a lame duck year has been resisted before by both Dems and Repubs.

Today is 0216 2016. I like weird little things like that. I like chicken soup better.

Adele just learned what happens to you when you are mean to Republicans.

With the passing Of Judge Anthony Scalia, the run for the presidency is experiencing a new reality.

The Question:

“My Recipe” lists their 25 best loved Chicken recipes. Name the top five.

The Headlines:

--Dow Futures Up Strongly; EuroStocks Struggling As Oil Bounce Deflates; Daimler Lays Off 1,200 In North Carolina Plant

--Scientists Say Results Have Been Extraordinarily Successful Using Immune Cells To Target Cancer.

--Donald Trump Making Noise Again About A Third Party Run.

--Russia Backed Separatists Increase Skirmishes In Eastern Ukraine; Turkey Airplanes Violate Greek Air Space.

--South Korea Says NK Has Gone Too Far And Is On Brink Of Collapse.

--Russia Denies Its Planes Bombed Hospitals.

--Top Grammy Winners: Album Of The Year – Taylor Swift, 1989; Record Of The Year Bruno Mars, Uptown Funk; Best New Artist – Meghan Trainer; Song Of the Year – Ed Sheeren, Thinking Out Loud.

Chicago is a Happy Place, Department:

Later this week across the warmer climates of the USA, Pow!, Bam! and Poff! will echo through thesunlit skies, across dry desert plains, as young men with strong arms hurl darting missiles into soft leather mitts. And nobody should be happier with the arrival of the new Spring training season than Chicago fans. In the new USA Today predictions for the coming season, both the Cubs and the White Sox are predicted to win their NL and AL Central divisions. In fact The Cubs are projected to have the best record in baseball winning 101 games. The rest of the projected division winners are the Boston Red Sox AL East, Houston AL West, Washington NL East and San Fran NL West. The closest races are expected in the NL East, AL East and NL West. Interestingly, as good as The Cubs are projected to be, it appears that Saint Louis will be no slouch and is expected to battle Chi to the end, which will keep my friends in Chicago land on the edge for 6 months. Zantac anybody?

Marco Polo, Department:

While nobody was watching, a Train from China loaded with Chinese products arrived in Iran. It follows the old medieval trade route known as the Silk Road. While the West enjoys each other’s company and old tried an true alliances, other aggressive nations are putting together an impressive front that has the possibility of changing the economic and political balance in the world. Keep an eye this one.

Is Chase Eliot going to be the new powerhouse in Nascar?

If there were no personal injury lawyer ads, several Rhode Island media companies would have to shutter the doors. But, they would know plenty of lawyers.

Recipe, Department:

I like chicken with chicken gravy best. But this looks tasty too. It’s parmesan encrusted baked chic. Preheat oven to 350 and grease 9x13 dish. In bowl, blend 2 tbs OO and 1 clove minced garlic. In second bowl mix 1 cp dry bread crumbs, 2/3 cp grated parm, I tsp dried basil leaves and ¼ tsp ground pepper. Dip first of 6 boneless skinless chix breast halves into OO mix and then into  crumb/cheese mix, coating well. Arrange in dish, and bake for 30 mins. I might use the chix juices that run into the dish, reduce to make nice tasty sauce. I also might try to substitute melted butter for OO.

You got to figure that swingman Arthur Kennedy will be feeling a lot more pressure no matter what happens.

I see where Michael Jordan gave Kobe Bryant a full set of set of “Air Jordan’s” as a retirement gift. You have to wonder if beyond his acceptance smile, Bryant was thinking, why isn’t there a popular brand called “Kick-Ass Kobe’s” to commemorate my greatness?

I thought Trump sounded a bit like Rosy O’Donnell during the debates.

Have you noticed how many chicken dishes these days taste nothing like chicken, but only of the piled on ingredients. I like chicken that has on top gravy made of chicken juices.

If he wanted to tell the truth about 911, the Donald could have implied that Bush inherited a bad Clinton anti terror policy…that is, that ‘s what any good Republican would have said.

Let’s say that Trump goes third party and Bloomberg jumps in. Bernie would look around a think he could really win as a third party too. Then we would have five independent candidates running – Democrat, Republican, Socialist, Nannyist and Bombast parties. Welcomed to the new anything goes America.

Bernie is just the latest to advocate a ”Chicken in every pot”, but his chicken is way more expensive.

The Parking Lot: Chapter 46 continues…

    Richard removed his big wide brimmed hat and extended his hand up towards the rattled boy on the horse. The boy’s head turned looking at the family he was supposed to hate, and saw nothing but genuine feeling for his loss. Even the man who should hate his father most, Jeremiah who he had known since his youth, looked dismayed, and even caring standing there on his crutch. Tommy Howland came to start a war, and found the comfort he needed

   “What happened to your father, Tom.” And then, softer, “We feel for you boy.”

   Eliza Hicks moved towards the Howland boy, “Get down and come in, Tom. Maybe we can help, I have hot tea and coffee. You need to talk before you act. I can see the anger in your face and I understand,” She looked around, “We all understand”

   Inside, the boy started talking telling the gathered Hicks how his sister walking along the water’s edge found his father lying against the rocks , partially covered by water. He took a sip of coffee and continued. “My family was outraged and immediately blamed the Hicks. The picked me and told me the to ride here and declare that we blame you and it will be war. We will never even begin to work together.”

   Elizabeth felt her heart pumping inside as she remembered herself smashing into Big Howland. She got up and moved silently to Tommy, placing her hand on his shoulder as if a small penance. Jeremiah looked up at her.

The Answer:

Number one is something called King Ranch Casrole. It is followed by Herbed  Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Chicken Broccoli Casserole, Chicken Scallopine with morels and veggies, Sundried Tomato Chick Parm, Asparagus and Chick Carbonara, Kung Pao Chick, Green Chile Chick Casserole and Chicken and Summer Vegetables Tostados. Number 15 is Chicken and Wild Rice soup. Some others are traditional Mexican dishes with chix, Chicken Marsala, Chix wit Maple Mustard sauce, Chicken Tetrazzini and Chicken Corn Chowder. As you might have guessed the #1 King Ranch casserole is a southwestern style dish full of lots of stuff including peppers and Mexican chiles, held togtehrt with cream of chicken and mushroom soups.

My favorite chicken dishes are Chicken Francais, Grandmother-in-law’s West Virginia fried chicken and chicken fricassee with rich cream yellow gravy!

See you all tomorrow.