Wednesday's Hodgepodge

 Visit Joyce and join the fun!

1. When did you last have to interact, either by phone or in person, with someone in a government run agency? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the experience? (10 being fabulous and 1 being pass the Tylenol)

Just yesterday I had to call the tax department of our town to ask a couple of questions.  I would rate the experience a 10.  The two women I spoke to were so kind, friendly and helpful. 

2. The current governor of Wisconsin is considering a run for President next time around. Walker attended Marquette University, but never graduated. In terms of any candidate running for the office of President (not asking here if you agree or disagree with Scott Walker's politics) would the lack of a college degree influence your vote or no? Would that be a factor in your support of any candidate running for public office, even a role less weighty than President?

No, the lack of a college degree would not influence my vote.  There are many intelligent people that have not gone to college.  I would take into consideration the intellect of a person running for office but wouldn’t pay too much attention to their degree. 

3. When did you last visit a place or site named for George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, and what was that place or site?

Well, does it have to be named for them or can it be a place they traveled?  I’ll go with the second.  We live about ½ mile from a road that George Washington traveled on in the 1790s in a horse- drawn carriage tour to thank his Long Island supporters and spy ring for their help in winning the American Revolution (www.discoverlongisland.com).   There is also a side road we often drive on that is said to be named because George Washington ate bread and cheese on that road.  I couldn’t find any sites to confirm that though. 

4. February 16th was President's Day in the US, but did you know it was also National Almond Day? I didn't think so : ) Do you like almonds? If so, what's a food/dish/recipe you enjoy that contains almonds? 

I didn’t know that, but do like almonds.  I eat them raw by themselves or mixed with a few raisins and chocolate chips.  I use almond meal/flour for baking and almond milk in place of milk in other recipes.  Here is a new favorite that I recently started making for Vegan Rice Pudding.  I am not vegan but I often look for vegan desserts because I know they don’t contain milk or eggs which are food intolerances for me. 

Vegan Rice Pudding

7 cups of almond milk (I use reduced sugar vanilla)

1 cup of rice

½ cup of sugar

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

2 pinches of salt

Put rice and milk in saucepan and bring to boil.  Then lower to medium-low heat and simmer, stirring often, until it is very thick and is mostly rice with hardly any milk visible.  This will take about 35-45 minutes.  Remove from heat and add other ingredients and mix well.  Let cool and pour into container of your choice.  Cover and refrigerate (they recommend plastic wrap but I don’t like using plastic on anything hot).  Refrigerate until well chilled (overnight is best).  Serve with cinnamon. 

*I also like this warm, served right out of the pot. 

5.The television program Saturday Night Live celebrated it's 40th anniversary this past weekend. Were/are you a fan of the show? If so what has been your favorite (or one of your favorite) skits, sayings, or characters that came out of the program?

I used to like the show when I was younger and would stay up that late on a Saturday night.  I don’t remember much about it except that it was funny.  I probably wouldn’t enjoy that same humor now.  I don’t think it would be good, clean fun. 

6. Anything purple within ten feet of you? What is it?

A big Happy Birthday gift bag. 

7. Back in December I asked you to submit a question for a future HP as part of a giveaway I was hosting. I grabbed this one from those entries, submitted by Zoanna who blogs over at Penchant for Pens. Thanks Zoanna!

She asks, "How often do you make your bed, and how do you like to make it-pull the covers all the way up over the pillows, tuck the covers in around the pillows, or place all the pillows on top of the covers?" 

My bed is made every day.  Depending on the day, either my husband or I make it, whoever gets up last.  We pull the covers all the way up over the pillows and then place another set of pillows with shams on top of that. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

How can clothes come out of the washing machine looking worse than when they went in?  This happens to me every so often and I can't seem to figure out what it is.  There are random spots and just a bit darker than the material they've stained.  I know it's random but I always think I bet someone on the Hodgepodge knows the answer ;)  So, any ideas on what can be causing it or how to get the marks out?  

Thanks.

~Theresa