Happy Fourth of July!!!
Happy Fourth of July!
Today I had someone say that this was 'just any day' -- but Marilyn and I STRONG disagree with that. Even if you don't do something special on this day, it is a special day to Americans. Or it should be, anyway...
This is a special day for Marilyn and me. It always has been and always will be. We're very proud to be Americans.
That doesn't mean we can't appreciate that there are people in this country who aren't happy. No does it mean we don't appreciate other nations and support them. But we love this day. We honor this day.
Today we didn't do much of anything. Marilyn started her day by going to the track -- which is always a good way to start your day in our book! (No, I didn't go along. I've been asked that already. But I was having bad leg cramps again this morning... sigh...)
We ate our WONDERFUL banana muffins for breakfast. Yummy! With a nice pot of homemade coffee.
We watched a bunch of TV today. Including one of our all-time favorite movies, "The Great Escape." For those who might not know, this was a 1963 American World War II film based on a book, about a German POW camp and their escape attempts -- starring Steve McQueen, James Garner and Richard Attenborough.
Steve McQueen was WONDERFUL in this movie. Apparently his role was based on at least three pilots, David M. Jones, John Dortch Lewis and William Ash. He has been credited with having the most significant performance, but there were many wonderful performances and amazing characters that Marilyn and I love!
Critic Leonard Maltin wrote that "the large, international cast is superb, but the standout is McQueen; it's easy to see why this cemented his status as a superstar." McQueen served in the US Marines after WWII, and is credited for saving fellow Marines' lives during an Arctic exercise.
The Great Escape grossed $11.7 million at the box office with a budget of $4 million, and became one of the highest-grossing films of 1963 (despite heavy competition). Plus in the years since its release, its audience has broadened, cementing its status as a cinema classic. It was entered into the 3rd Moscow International Film Festival where McQueen won the Silver Prize for Best Actor.
We watched it BOTH TIMES it was on today -- and we were talking about it. It's so good that we can watch it over and over again. The characters are what matter to us! And these are so interesting...
Anyway, if you've never seen it, I highly recommend it.
I read the book years ago and enjoyed it. But the movie is actually BETTER than the book. Yes, the book is written based on actual events -- and much of the movie is fictional. But that does not detract from the film at all.
I went with my friend June to the Dollar Tree in the afternoon. We went to the one over at Lloyd Center, which is huge and has much more than our small local one (which I also like and shop at). I got a bunch of things and really enjoyed the trip.
June's car had a dead battery and Jim had to jump it before we could go...
I chatted with our friend Shari in the morning, which was nice. It sounded like she had some good plans for today (two picnics!).
After I got back, Marilyn and I took a nap. When I got up I made Mom's Hot Diggity Dogs.
Here's the recipe:
Gloria's Hot Diggitty Dogs
1 package hot dogs (we like Oscar Meyer all beef hot dogs)
In a flat bowl, mix mustard and ketchup (to taste -- whatever variety you prefer)
Using different kinds of mustard and/or ketchup change the flavor, so feel free to experiment!
In another flat bowl, fill with Kellogg's Corn Flake Crumbs (use a lot!)
(You can buy these ready made, or use Corn Flake cereal and crush it)
Preheat your oven at 350'.
Take a sharp knife and carefully cut the skin of each hot dog, one at a time. Go around like a barber pole (spiraling from end to end).
Roll each hotdog in the mustard/ketchup mixure, then immediately coat GENEROUSLY with a the Corn Flake Crumbs. The thicker the coating the better! This is a messy process, but you get better as you go along! As you finish each one, place it gently on a cookie sheet -- leave room between each hot dog.
Bake at 350' for around half an hour. This depends on your oven, but you want these to brown well -- and even get some spots of black. This depends on taste, but you're going for a crunchy exterior and juicy interior!
These don't require buns (but you can serve them that way, if you prefer). They don't require toppings (the mustard and ketchup are already on them!), but again, you can serve them with this.
Mom originally got the recipe from Kellogg's many, many years back. But immediately changed it from ketchup alone to the mustard/ketchup mixture. She also baked it longer than they did, which makes it very crispy (which we've always preferred).
Okay, that's NOT the 'official' recipe. We put it in the Centennial Cookbook back in 2007 -- but for whatever reason I can't find that cookbook! (Yes, I know I have it here somewhere!!!) But that's what I did today, so I just described it. I'll look for the 'real' recipe sometime, but it can't be much different! (smile)
You might not like hot dogs or want to try it, but I included it, just in case...
Marilyn's baked beans were DELICIOUS today. (Her 'secret' ingredient is a splash or two of Pendleton whiskey, by the way! Yummy!) So we ate a lot of baked beans and hot dogs...
Watched Macy's NYC fireworks (twice!), and the local fireworks over in Vancouver, Washington on TV.
Well, that's it for today! I'm off to bed. Wimbledon starts very early!!!
Sweet dreams.