This is one of favorite desserts, but because I'm the only one in my household that likes Mississippi Mud I don't have it that often. But one of my aunt's made some for Thanksgiving and I made a pig of myself with it and had two helpings. So I thought I would post a couple of recipes for it. One of them uses nuts in it, but because there seems to be a lot people allergic to nuts I'm including a recipe that uses Graham crackers instead. I have had it both ways and I think they both taste good. But then with chocolate involved... and the thing is I'm not all that crazy about chocolate or pretty much any kind of candy for that matter. Anyway if any of you try the Mississippi Mud I do hope you enjoy it.
MISSISSIPPI MUD PIE #1
1 3/4 Cup of flour 1 stick of butter, softened 3/4 Cup of chopped pecans 1 Cup of powdered sugar 8 oz cream cheese, softened 12 oz Cool Whip 2 (3.9 oz) packages of instant chocolate pudding mix 3 Cups of milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C)
In a medium bowl, combine pecans and flour. Mix well, then stir in softened butter. Stir until mixture forms a ball. Press into the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Then bake for 20 minutes or until golden brow.Remove from the oven and let cool.
Make chocolate pudding according to directions on the box. Let sit for 5 minutes before spreading on top of cooled crust.
In a large bowl, whip softened cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in powdered sugar until mixture is smooth. Then fold the Cool Whip into the cream cheese mixture. Spread over pudding layer. Garnish, if you like, with chocolate candy bar shavings or miniature chocolate chips. Serve chilled.
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MISSISSIPPI MUD PIE #2
2 Cups of Graham cracker crumbs
1/4 Cup of white sugar
1/2 Cup of butter, softened
1 12 0z container of frozen Cool Whip, thawed
3/4 Cup of white sugar
2 small packages of chocolate pudding mix
3 Cups of milk
Thoroughly blend Graham cracker crumbs, 1/4 cup of sugar and butter. Press firmly into the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan or onto the the bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie pan.
Blend together half of the Cool Whip,3/4 cup sugar and the softened cream cheese. Spread onto top of pie crust.
Whip together the pudding and milk and spread on top of cream cheese mixture. Top with remaining Cool Whip. Put chocolate sprinkles on top for garnish.
I would think that a storebought Graham cracker pie crust would work in a pinch instead of making it yourself.
This is Misha's Blue first official holiday and I would like to thank everyone who has come and visited my blog.
I know that my blog is a bit scatter-brained, but then I happen to be REALLY scatterbrained, but in spite of the shortcomings I really do hope you have enjoyed my blog. I have strived to make this an enjoyable stop on your web surfing maybe you have been informed about and enjoyed a song that you may not have heard of before or maybe forgot about but may have brought back a fond of memory. Then again you could have enjoyed the sports section (so to speak) and maybe my rants about the NBA, which I hope I have kept you informed in a way in which you can understand ( me being scatterbrained). For whatever reason you have visited my blog, I thank you for your kindness and for visiting, because without you my dear friends I wouldn't have a blog.
So may you all have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving. For those that do not have Thanksgiving, I wish for you happiness and the best in life. Again Thank You everybody.
Saint Cecilia(Latin:Sancta Caecilia) is the patron saint of musicians,composers,instrument makers, music( especially Church music) and poets. The name Cecilia means blind and so, although it is not known for sure if she could see or not, she is also the Catholic patron saint of the blind. Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of music because as she was dying she sang to God. It is also written that when she was forced to marry Valerian, a pagan, she "sang in her heart to the Lord" as the musicians played. Her feast day is November 22 . She is one of seven women, excluding the Virgin Mary,commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass.
It is believed that Saint Cecilia was born in the 2nd or 3rd century A.D. A religious romance telling the love story of Saint Cecilia and Valerian appeared in Greece in the 4th century A.D., and there is a biography of Saint Cecilia from the 5th century A.D. She is said to have been the daughter of a wealthy Roman family, a Christian from birth, who was promised in marriage to Valerian. Cecilia, however, had vowed her virginity to God and wore sackcloth, fasted and prayed in hopes of keeping this promise. Saint Cecilia told her husband of her wishes on their wedding night. She also told him that an angel watched over her to guard her purity. He wanted to see the angel, so Saint Cecilia sent him to Pope Urban Accounts on how and when Valerian saw the angle vary, but one states that Pope Urban baptized him and upon his return to Saint Cecilia, he saw her praying in her chamber and an angel by her with flaming wings, holding two crowns of lilies and roses, which he placed on their heads and then vanished. Another version says that Valerian's brother, Tibertitus, sees the crowns and is also converted.
After their conversion, the two brothers made it their mission to bury the martyrs that were daily being put to death by the prefect of the city, Turcius Almachius ( there was no prefect of that name). When the prefect heard of the brothers doings, he had them arrested and brought before the prefect, when Valerian and Tibertitus refused to sacrifice to the gods, they were executed by the sword. In the meantime, Saint Cecilia continued with making conversions of 400 people, who Pope Urban immediately baptize. She also prepared her home to become a church at her death.Then she was arrested and brought before the prefect.He ruled that she should die by suffocation in the baths. She was shut in for a day and a night and the fires were heaped up and made to glow and roar to their utmost, but Saint Cecilia did not perspire through the heat. Since she was still alive she was the ordered to be beheaded, but the executioner struck Saint Cecilia 3 times without severing her head and she would not die without receiving the Holy Communion. This left her mortally wounded and survived for 3 more days. In this time Saint Cecilia made more conversions and people came to her cell to soak up her blood with cloths and sponges. When she died the people by her cell knew she was destined to be a saint in Heaven.
Martyrdom of Saint Cecilia, by Stefano Maderno, ca. 1599-1600
There is in Rome a church, Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, in Saint Cecilia's honor that dates from around the 5th century. Tradition holds that the church was built over her house. Her relics are believed to have been found by Pope Paschal I in 821 A.D., in the cemetery of Saint Celestas. The remains were exhumed in 1599, when Cardinal Paul Emilius Sfondrati rebuilt the Church of Saint Cecilia, and was said to be incorruptible. It was also found at this time that one hand Saint Cecilia had 2 outstretched fingers and on the other hand just a single finger, denoting her belief in the Trinity.
Facade of Santa Cecilia, a 1775 project with a 12th century belltower
The second track from Led Zeppelin Iv is "Rock and Roll" with a guest appearance by The Ian Smith, Rolling Stones pianist. The song is based on one of the most popular structures in rock 'n' roll, the 12 bar blues progression (in A). "Rock and Roll" is one of the bands most well known songs. "Rock and Roll" was released on March 21,1972.
Jimmy Page said that "Rock and Roll" was written in a spontaneous jam session, while the band was trying to finish "Four Sticks". John Bonham played the introduction to Little Richard's "Keep a Knockin' " and Jimmy Page added a guitar riff. The tapes were rolling and 15 minutes later the basis for the song was down.
"Rock and Roll" is one of the few songs in which all four members share composing credit.
When performing the song Plant would usually switch around the second and third verses.
"Rock and Roll" was a key component of Led Zeppelin's set list at their concerts from 1971 on. A first, Robert Plant referred to it on stage as "It's been A Long Time", which, of course, is the first line of the song. It was elevated, in 1972, to the opening number of all concert performances and it stayed that way until 1975. For the bands 1977 North American tour "Rock and Roll" became a part of a medley encore with"Whole Lotta Love" and in 1979 and 1980 it became an encore in its own right.
"Rock and Roll" peaked on US Billboards Hot 100 Singles Chart at # 47; US Cash Box Top 100 Singles Chart at # 42: and US Record World 100 Tops Chart at #38.
( I'm wondering if hind-sight is 20/20 with Zeppelin songs, because it seems that there weren't too many, I guess mainstream people liked them and their songs).
ROCK AND ROLL
It's been a long time dince I rock and rolled
It's been a long time since I did the stroll
Ooh let me get back, let me get back,
Let me get back,mm baby, where I come from.
It's been a long time, been a long time
Been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time
Yes it has.
It's been a long time since the book of love,
I can't count the tears of a life with no love,.
Carry me back, carry me back,
Carry me back, baby,where I come from.
It's ben a long time, been long time,
Been along lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time.
Seems so long since we walked in he moonlight
Making vows that just can't work right.
Open your arms, open your arms,
Open your arms, baby, let me come running in.
It's been a long time,been along time
Been a long lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time.
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The Battle of Evermore
"The Battle of Evermore is the third track on Led Zeppelin IV. It is a folk rock duet sung by Robert Plant and English singer-songwriter, Sandy Denny that was released on November 8, 1971. The Song is well known for its acoustic guitar and mandolin playing.
"The Battle of Evermore" tune was written by Jimmy Page while he was experimenting with a mandolin that was owned by John Paul Jones. In 1977 Pages aid that the song was made up on the spot by Both Plant and himself. Even though page had never played the mandolin before, he picked up Jones' and wrote up the chords and the whole thing in one sitting.
At the time Robert Plant had been reading Scottish folklore and it was inspiration for the song lyrics. Like some of the bands other songs, "The battle of Evermore" makes a reference to "Lord of the Rings". he also felt that another voice was needed to tell the story and for the recording, so English fol singer, Dandy Denny was invited to do a duet with Plant. Plant played the role of the narrator and Denny represented the town crier.
Sandy Denny, January 6,194- April21,1978
To thank her for her contribution to the song, Denny was given her own symbol on the on the album sleeve of three pyramids. This is the only song Led Zeppelin ever to have a guest vocalist.
The "Battle of Evermore" was played at Led Zeppelin concerts during the 1977 concert tour of America. For these live performances, John Paul Jones sang Denny's part with Plant and played acoustic guitar while Page played the mandolin. John Bonham would at times sing Denny's vocal part instead of Jones.In 1994, Page and Plant also recorded a version of "Battle of Evermore" for their album Four Quater: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded. British singer Najma Akhtar sang Sandy Denny's part.
BATTLE OF EVERMORE
Queen of the Light took her bow
And then she turned to go
The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom
And walked the night alone.
Oh, dance in the dark of night
Sing to the morning light.
The dark Lord rides in force tonight
And time will tell us all.
Oh, throw down your plow and hoe
Rest not to lock your homes.
Side by side we wait the might
Of the darkest of them all.
I hear the horses' thunder down in the valley blow.
I'm waiting for the angels of Avalon, waiting for the eastern glow.
The apples of the valley hold
The seeds of happiness
The ground is rich from tender care,
Repay, do not forget, no, no,
Dance in the dark of night
Sing to the morning light.
The apples turn to brown and black, the tyrants face is red.
Oh war is the common cry, Pick up your swords and fly.
The sky is filled with good and bad that mortals never know.
Oh, well,the night is long, The beads of time pass slow,
Tired eyes on the sunrise, Waiting for the eastern glow.
The pain of war can not exceed the woe of the aftermath,
The drums will shake the castle wall, the ring wraiths ride in black, Ride on.
Sing as you raise your your bow,
Shoot straighter than before.
No comfort has the fire at night that lights the face so cold.
Oh dance in the dark of night,
Sing to the mornin' light.
The magic runes writ in gold to bring the balance back.
Bring it back.
At last the sun is shining, The clouds of blue roll by,
With the flame of the dragon of darkness, the sunlight blinds his eyes.
You've heard of a woman scorned? I think the NBA Players Union and owners may feel a backlash of fans scorned. It was announced earlier today that the Player's Union have rejected the latest offer by the owners, a 50-50 split, and decided to decertify so that they can sue the owners for antitrust violations. The owners were not expecting this, they thought that if the players did not accept this latest offer they would back them into a corner and offer the players a 47% cut but the players essentially said "That's what you think and screw you". To an extent I can see things from the players perspective but they had opportunities to accept different proposals and let people get back to work. But I don't look for it to happen and I feel that there will not be a NBA basketball season this year.
ESPN talks about players have opportunities to play overseas in Europe, like Kobe Bryant. Now that's all well and good for Kobe Bryant.What about other players that do not have the marquee name? What are they supposed to do? Now I have heard of one working in Maryland, I believe it is, selling furniture. So what about other basketball players like him who don't make the big NBA money? Jobs are hard enough to come by for regular working people, are we supposed to step aside and let out of work NBA players have our jobs? Not all of them can be like Kris Humphries and marry a Kardashian and MAYBE have a chance at spousal support, because she'll be the one making an income, to see them through this mess. YES I said it, but how many of YOU have thought it?
Some of you may have realized that I am a Dallas Mavericks fan, mainly because of Dirk Nowitzki because of work ethic the rest of the team has followed his lead and also have a good work ethic, but now they have the possibility of not getting their championship rings, having their championship banner raised in American Airlines Center and whatever other celebration may have been planned, if there's no season. So yes I think that they're being cheated and it won't be the same if they do get their rings next year.
This being said here is a latest article from Sporting News:
NBA Players Reject Owners' Offer, Putting Season in Further Jeopardy
NBA players on Monday rejected the owners' latest contract offer, their union announced Monday afternoon.
Players Association chief Billy Hunter said the union has served a notice of disclaimer of interest to commissioner David Stern and will file an antitrust suit against the league.
"We've arrived at the conclusion that the collective bargaining has completely broken down. We've delivered a disclaimer of interest to the league", he said. "We've negotiated in good faith for over two years," he added. " The players just felt that they've given enough."
The disclaimer of interest that the NBPA will cease to function as a union. Instead, it will act as a trade association, a move that allows players to take legal action against the league.
Hunter said that disclaiming interest is a more expeditious process than decertification, which requires a vote of the membership. The players represented by attorneys Jeffery Kessler and David Boies - who represented the NFL players' lawsuit against that league last summer - will file suit against the league in a matter of days.
Union president Derrick Fisher said that the decision to take this step was unanimous among the dozen of players, with all 30 teams represented, who were at Monday's meeting in New york. Fisher added that players have been asked not to speak about the situation since it is now a legal matter.
The legal maneuver makes the prospect of a 2011-2012 season even more dim.
But when asked if a season was still possible, Hunter responded, "If a settlement is reached with the lawyers leading the charge anything is possible. I guess the NBA could open the doors... and let the players play."
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Stranger things have happened but I'll believe it when I see it
This past Thursday marked the 36th anniversary of the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. The S.S Edmund Fitzgerald was an American freighter that made headlines after sinking in Lake Superior on November 10,1975, 17 miles north-northwest of Whitefish Point, Michigan with the entire crew of 29 men going down with her. The crew consisted of the captain,the first, second and third mates, five engineers,three oilers, a cook, a wiper ( the junior crew member of the ship's engine room), three watchman, two maintenance men,three deckhands, two porters, a cadet, three wheelsmen, and a steward. Most of the crew were from Wisconsin and Ohio, ranging in age from the 21 year old deckhand Mark Andrew Thomas to the 63 year old Captain Ernest M. McSorely, who was planning his retirement.
When launched on June 8,1958, she was the largest boat on the Great Lakes and the Edmund Fitzgerald suffered a series of mishaps during her launch: it took three attempts to break the champagne bottle used in her christening, which is bad luck in and of itself, but then she collided with a pier when she entered the water.The ship was nicknamed "Fitz", "Big Fitz" and the "Mighty Fitz. The Edmund Fitzgerald still remains the largest boat to ever sink in the Great Lakes.
For 17 year "Fitz" carried taconite ( an iron-bearing, very fine-grained ,tough rock) from mines near Duluth, Minnesota, to iron works in Detroit, Toledo and other ports. As a "workhorse" she set a seasonal haul records 6 different times, often beating her own record. Her size, record-breaking performance and "DJ captain" endeared her to bota watchers. Captain Peter Pulcer was known for piping music over the ship's intercomsystem while passing through the Dtroit and St. Clair rivers and entertaining spectators at Sault Locks with running commentary about the ship.
With McSorely at the helm that fateful day,the Edmund Fitzgerald embarked on her final journey from Superior, Wisconsin, on June 9,1975, to a steel mill near Detroit, Michigan. En route she joined another freighter ship the "SS Arthur M. Anderson". By the next day the two ships were caught up in a massive winter storm,with near hurricane force winds and 35 feet high waves. At about 7:10 pm the Edmund Fitzgerald suddenly sank in Canadian waters about 17 miles from Whitefish Bay, at a depth of 530 feet.Even though the ship had been having troubles earlier in her voyage no distress signal was ever made before she sank. None of the ship's crew bodies were ever recovered.
There have been many theories, books, studies and expeditions have studied the cause of the sinking, ranging from rogue waves, structural failure, being swamped with water entering through her cargo hatches or deck, damage to her topside to being shoaled (from what I can figure out, running up onto a sandbar) in a shallow part of Lake Superior. Investigations into the sinking have lead to changes in Great lakes shipping regulations and practices including mandatory survival suits, depth finders, positioning systems, increased freeboard ( the distance from the water level to the upper deck level) and more frequent inspections of vessels.
At the request of surviving family members of the crew, the 200 pound bronze bell of the Fitzgerald was recovered by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society on July 4,1995. This expedition was done by the National Geographic Society, the Canadian Navy, Sony Corporation and the Sault San Marie Tribe of the Chippewa Indians. The bell is now on display at the Great lakes Shipwreck Museum as a memorial to her lost crew. Personal note: I remember seeing a documentary about the recovery of Edmund Fitzgerald's bell. The ships bell that was brought up was replaced by another bell with the names of the crew members etched on it. The one thing that stuck with me the most is that a daughter of one of them saw a butterfly just as the replacement bell was being lowered, which is an odd thing because butterflies don't usually go that far out. Plus when the ships bell was coming to the water's surface the replacement bell broke from its rope and dropped into the water on its own.
Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot made it the subject of his 1976 hit ballad, "The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald". Lightfoot considers this to be his best work. It originally appeared on his 1976 album Summertime Dream and was later released as a single.The song hit #1 in Lightfoot's native Canada on November 20, 1976, almost exactly 1a year after the sinking of the ship that inspired it. In America the song went to #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks making it Lightfoot's second most successful single ( in terms of chart position) in that country. "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" peaked at #40 on the U.K. Singles chart. So the 35th anniversary of the song is approaching.
THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
of the big lake they call "Gitche Gumee'.
The lake it is said never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy.
With a load of iron ore weighing twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weigh empty,
That good ship and true was a boned to be chewed
When the "Gales of November" came early.
The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconsin.
As the big freighters go, it was bigger than most
with a crew and captain well seasoned,
Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland.
And later that night when the ship's bell rang
Could it be the north wind they'd been feelin'?
The wind in the wires made a tattle-tale sound
And a wave broke over the railing.
And ev'ry man knew as the captain did too
'twas the witch of November come stealin'.
The dawn came late and breakfast had to wait
When the Gales of November com slashin'.
When afternoon came it was freezin' rain
in the face of hurricane west wind.
When suppertime came the old cook came on deck sayin'
"Fellas, it's too rough t'feed ya."
At seven p.m. a main hatchway caved in; he said
"Fellas it's been good o know ya!"
The captian wired he had water comin' in
and the good ship and crew was in peril.
And later that night when he lights went outta sight
came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Does any one know where the love of God goes
when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
if they put up fifteen more miles behind 'er.
They might have split up or they might have capsized
they may have broke deep and took water.
And all that remains is the faces and the names
of the wives and the sons and the daughters.
Lake Huron rolls Superior sings
in the room of her ice-wter mansion.
Old Michigan streams like a young man's dream
the islands and bays are for sportsmen.
And farther below Lake Onterio
takes in what lake Erie can send her.
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
with the Gales of November remebered.
In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
in the "Maritime Sailor's Cathedral".
The church bell chimed 'til it rang twenty-nine times
