Talk To Me

Image Source: Newsday

Do you watch daytime or late night talk shows? Who is your favorite TV talk show host? Well, today we observe National TV Talk Show Host Day, which is celebrated on the birthday of Johnny Carson (October 23, 1925-January 23, 2005) who is best known for the successful thirty-year run of “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

Talk shows make us think, talk about and react to the subject matter that is discussed, no matter how bizarre the topics may be. From TV pioneers like Jack Paar and Johnny Carson to David Letterman, Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall, Phil Donahue, Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Springer, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and James Corden just to name a few, like them or hate them they are definitely a part of our entertainment culture. Even though talk shows feature the most recognized personalities and current events, you may also see those occasional, hilarious wild animal kingdom segments that will leave your mouth open from the unrehearsed snafus.

TV Talk Show Host

Here’s a topic, grab a chair, let’s sit and chat
we may laugh, disagree or even get into a spat
monologues, news and jokes to entertain
from serious topics to sometimes the insane

comedians, politicians, and well-known celebrities
public figures, athletes and recognized personalities
in the morning, afternoon or on late night TV
without TV talk show hosts where would TV be?

© Kym Gordon Moore

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Drink to Autumn with a Pumpkin Spice Latte

Image credit: collegecandy.com

Tis the season for all things pumpkin. One of the most popular pumpkin-flavored beverages for this time of the year is Pumpkin Spice Latte. If you are unable to get out to your favorite java brewing joint to grab you one of these seasonal spiced drinks, why not whip up one of your own.

Today we are featuring a super easy recipe for Pumpkin Spice Latte from the kitchen at College Candy.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

What you’ll need: 1 cup of milk, 2 tablespoons of pure pumpkin puree, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, 1/4 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, 1/4 cup of hot espresso or strong brewed coffee, sweetened whipped cream

Directions: Combine the milk, pumpkin puree, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and vent with a small hole. Microwave 1 to 2 minutes or until milk is hot. Whisk for about 30 seconds until the milk mixture is foamy. Pour the espresso or coffee into a large mug and add the foamed milk. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. Cheers!

Have a #FoodPornFriday Pumpkin-licious day!

Content Among the Discontented

Image credit: Lisa Runnels

Are you a content person?

We live in a society where the concept of being successful is based on “more”…more expensive, more impressionable and an overabundance of stuff you have. Choosing to simply be content with essentials, seems to carry a sentence for appearing to mean complacency, sadness or incompetency when you can’t do any better. Far be it from that.

Learning and accepting to be content, takes witnessing those who are left with little or nothing at all, and who are unable at the time to do something about it. Being content does not mean you don’t set goals, seek continued education, upgrade to better quality items, find happiness or improve on self-improvement. Today is Evaluate Your Life Day and as we think about the devastating images resulting from the recent hurricanes, wildfires and earthquake disasters, I always say we need to pause and be grateful for what we have, and that includes our loved ones. These heartwrenching images show thousands of people who are left without simple things like food, water, and clothing.

Whether or not you’ve given any thought about being a content person, reassess your gratitude meter and then see how you would honestly answer and compare yourself to the question, “Are you a content person?”

The Art of Language: What Do You Speak?

Photo credit: Minna Sundberg

The art of one’s vernacular is fascinating. Simply listening to multilingual, multicultural conversations, even when you don’t understand a word that’s being said is an intriguing experience that invites you to learn more about it.

While there is no definitive count of the total number of languages spoken in the world, the Ethnologue catalog of world languages, which is one of the best linguistic resources, currently lists 6,909 living languages. About 6% of them have more than a million speakers each and collectively account for 94% of the world population.

Amid genetically distinct cultures, many languages are becoming a dying art, especially as the older generation passes away. For instance, immigration brought the influx flavor of many languages and cultures to the USA, way before the country’s declaration. Although English was voted the official language in the United States, Native American languages such as Sioux, Quechua, Navajo, Cherokee, Nahuatl, Papago, Cree, Crow, and Hopi were among the country’s native vernacular. The fear of linguistic annihilation has brought on the proliferation of greater exposure through education to preserve these languages.

Engaging in intimate, cross-cultural conversations can reveal how much we are more alike in any language spoken than we are characteristically distinctive. The beauty about such distinction shows how incredible our cultural diversity is and how we can amass continued education from an awesomely mixed floral bouquet of dialects.

What Turns You On?

Image Credit: Lynn Greyling

What turns you on? Now, don’t get freaky with me and think the thing I am referring to is that of a sexual or lustful nature, but to each his own if you do. As I speak with many people who do what they do or believe what they believe, I often wonder what makes them tick, what stimulates them…what turns them on. What motivates you, makes your juices flow and gets you excited?

What turns us on, I believe is the precursor to what we do, how we think and what we become. Our environmental influences can either be the predecessors that entrap us into complacency or encourage us to change for the greater good…exuding our best.

As I ask myself, what really turns me on, to make me become a well-oiled machine and create in me a frequency that will make the world around me better, I have to examine those things or people which influence me and helps me with my decision-making process. Trust me, it is an ongoing, ever-evolving development with many moving parts that switch me from off to on! So tell me, what turns you on?

Word of the Day: Dictionary

Ok, for all of you who remember that mammoth reference book containing alphabetically arranged words, pronunciations, derivations and definitions…raise your hands! For those who have no idea what I am talking about, that book is the dictionary. Today is National Dictionary Day, the unofficial holiday that celebrates the birth anniversary of American lexicographer, Noah Webster (October 16, 1758). In the writing community, we know how valuable this writing tool is in improving our vocabulary, perfecting our spelling skills, and is a leading source for unveiling how much words truly matter in our profession.

In 1806, Noah Webster published his first dictionary, A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language. In 1807, he began compiling an expanded and fully comprehensive dictionary that took twenty-seven years to complete called An American Dictionary of the English Language.

Image credit: Pixaby

A few years ago, there was a movement by some parents to ban dictionaries from schools and libraries because they contained language they felt was too racy for kids to read. I, on the other hand, felt this presented parents with a teachable opportunity to engage in a healthy dialogue with their children about words they may run across and not understand. Depending on the child’s age, I think being aware of the language of words, whether they are allowed to use it in their household or not is an educational enhancer. Who knows, they may be a contestant on Jeopardy one day! 

If you’re writing on the go, there are also dictionary mobile apps available for your convenience. So get your WORD groove on today and celebrate National Dictionary Day!

Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups Celebrating National Cookie Month

Image Credit: The Gunny Sack

Ahhh….cookies. What’s your favorite? The classic chocolate chip? Oatmeal raisin? Shortbread? Spiced chocolate molasses buttons? S’mores sandwich cookies? Peanut butter cookies? Classic sugar cookies?

We think about the GirlScouts selling them, about Cookie Monster on Sesame Street obsessed with them, and we think about those decadent smells coming from the oven baking during the holidays. I came across a cute, artistic and decadent Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups recipe from The Gunny Sack. This dessert is made with sugar cookie dough filled with hot chocolate ganache, has a pretzel handle and mini marshmallows on top!

Below are the instructions, but you can click here for more in-depth tips and recommendations on preparing this adorable cookie.

Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
14 mins
Total Time
34 mins
Servings: 24

Ingredients
1 package Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons hot cocoa mix
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
12 mini pretzels
1 cup Jet-Puffed Mallow Bits
*optional – granulated sugar

Instructions
*Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
*Put 1 tablespoon of the sugar cookie dough into 24 greased mini muffin tins.
*Update – an optional step would be to roll the sugar cookie dough balls in granulated sugar before putting them into the mini muffin tins to help prevent sticking.
*Bake for 12-14 minutes at 375 degrees. Allow the cookies to cool completely in the pan before gently removing them.
*Make the chocolate ganache by bringing the whipping cream to a boil.
*Stir in the hot cocoa mix.
*Pour the hot cream over the semi-sweet chocolate chips and let it sit for 3 minutes. Then, stir until the chocolate chips are melted and the ganache is smooth.
*Break off the loops on some mini pretzels to use as handles.
*Melt the white chocolate and use it to attach the pretzel handles to the cookie cups.
*Spoon the chocolate ganache into the cookie cups and top with mini marshmallows.
For best results, store the hot chocolate cookie cups in the refrigerator.

Happy National Cookie Month on #FoodPornFriday