Check out this totally awesome CAKE!

Okay, okay, I know wars are bad. But cooking art is cool! Especially this masterpiece. I shouldn't be celebrating this image, but I just can't help myself about how awesome it is. Where would you start cutting it? You'd have to eat the frosting mushroom cloud first or it'd fall over!

Thanks to Jen @ CakeWrecks.

Tomato Mushroom Pesto Penne

I guarantee, this tasty pasta dish will not fail to satisfy your hunger. Even if you're not a fan of Pesto (I'm thinking about your comment, Single Betty), I think you should try this anyway! Makes four servings, so invite some brave friends.

Ingredients:

• Garlic (4 cloves)
• Onion (1/4 cup)
• Olive oil (2 tsp.)
• Butter (1 tsp.)
• Flour (2 tbsp.)
• Milk (2 cups)
• Salt (1/2 tsp.)
• Pepper (1 tsp.)
• Grated Romano cheese (1/2 cup)
• Grated Parmesan cheese (1/4 cup)
• Fresh / jarred Pesto (1/4 cup)
• Roma / plum tomatoes (2)
• Penne pasta (1/2 bag)
• Optional: Substitute Roma tomatoes with sun-dried tomatoes

Instructions:

1. Mince the garlic and onion. Set aside. Cut the tomato into thin wedges, or diced pieces, set aside.
2. Pour your milk into a measuring cup, and add the flour. Add salt. Whisk well until dissolved. Set aside.
3. Begin a pot to boil pasta in.
4. In a large sauce pan, heat the olive oil and butter.
5. When the oil/butter is hot, add the garlic and the onion. It should sizzle lightly.
6. When the garlic is golden brown, add the flour and milk mixture.
7. Heat the milk and flour mixture until hot. Do not allow it to boil! Whisk every 2-3 minutes.
8. When the white sauce begins to thicken, add the parmesan and romano cheese. Make sure you stir very frequently, the cheese must be well mixed.
9. Add the pesto. Mix well, again.
10. Your pasta pot should be ready... add the penne to the boiling water.
11. Allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes, depending on desired thickness. I like to play on the 8 minute boundary.
12. When the pasta is at desired tenderness (Al Dente is to my liking) strain and combine in the large saucepan.
13. Toss well with the sauce. You want to make sure you coat the penne with the pesto sauce.
14. Add the tomato and serve!

Youser Generated Content

(Photo by Nick DiZazzo)

I was born with a computer in my hands. Okay, nooot really, but you won't ever find me without one. That being said, I think I am one of the select few people who can boast that they've been using the public internet since it was dubbed the "World Wide Web" in 1991 (that makes me an internet user at age 6) and when the HTML protocol was devised. Back in the good ol' days, you had to connect to it with the trusty AT modem commands:

ATZ
ATD

.. and when you're done ...

ATH

So what have I witnessed in the span of time since the Web was in its infancy until today? I've seen:

• The birth and death of tacky HTML websites
• Watched countless Meme's be created
• Logged infinity hours on Newgrounds, back in elementary school.
• Probably damaged my vital organs laughing hysterically at Photoshop Phridays.

Some of those sites are the foundation of what and why the Internet is the way it is today. They pioneered the concepts of posting "user generated content", even if they didn't implement it right away.

Speaking from my own personal experiences, what many people today who talk about online social networking don't realize is that the evolution of social networking started on private "Bulletin Broadcast Systems" (BBS's). These were created in the 1970's and you needed one of these to get onto one:


I bet all you kids are asking "what in the hell is that?!". That, my friends, is an analogue modem. A non-technical explanation is that it was used to send signals between computers... aka, talk.

Anyway, online social networks moved to Internet Relay Chat (IRC), and then transformed into forums (or, bulletin boards). Forums were the very first way for users to actually change content that was ON the internet.

After forums were born, something new started happening. Within the last 5-7 years, social networking platforms emerged, and:

• I WATCHD WHOEL NEW LANGUAGEZ BE MAED
• I watched social networking explode.
• And spent many hours watching videos on YouTube, rather than studying.

The "Coles Notes" version? I've visited every corner of the Internet and watched it permute its self from state to state.


Since I answered the "how" question of social networking, this leaves the "why". Sadly, this is where you should stop yourself from making a mistake, by asking me. There are many more smart people out there who have gone to the trouble of figuring it all out. Like this guy. Michael Wesch.



Wesch has produced several works which explore the dynamics of social interaction via online networking platforms. Out of all of them (and yes, I did take the time to go through the rest of his online videos and writings), this video is the most interesting:



An important point that he brings to the table, is that through YouTube, people are rediscovering community. They're rediscovering their own voices. Via a new medium, they're rediscovering what mankind once had.

As a result, they're discovering for the first time, and in a new way, how to remix their lives with the culture that surrounds them and embrace the creations of others.

YouTube has become a medium which can bridge gaps between people of the world. Every time a new video is added, our world expands a tiny bit; but at the same time, our world gets a whole lot smaller.

Check out my nuts!

We're supposed to use attention grabbing titles, aren't we?

Anyway, I've recently taken an initiative to eat less unhealthy snack foods (notice I explicitly avoided 'eat more healthy'). That still doesn't help the fact that I have cravings for them, and I'm sure you're the same way. I've finally decided on a fairly good alternative that gives you the crunch of chips, but without the greasy fingers and bloated stomach. Forget that soy crap, check out these nuts!

ONES THAT COUNT

Walnuts

When it comes to their health benefits, walnuts definitely are not a hard nut to crack. This delicious nut is an excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, a special type of protective fat the body cannot manufacture. In addition, walnuts contain an antioxidant compound called ellagic acid that supports the immune system and appears to have several anticancer properties.
(Taken from: Whfoods.com)



Hazelnuts

Consuming hazelnut is very important for healthy life. Eating only 25 gr hazelnuts a day can be a very good protection against many diseases including cancer and heart diseases. According to results of a research, people who consume hazelnuts or hazelnut oil, have 50% less risk of dying because of hearth attack when compared to those who never consume hazelnuts.
(Taken from: Home Remedies)



Cashews

Not only do cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts, approximately 75% of their fat is unsaturated fatty acids, plus about 75% of this unsaturated fatty acid content is oleic acid, the same heart-healthy monounsaturated fat found in olive oil. Studies show that oleic acid promotes good cardiovascular health, even in individuals with diabetes. (I don't really know what any of that means, but it sounds good.
(Taken from Whfoods)


Almonds

A high-fat food that's good for your health? That's not an oxymoron, its almonds. Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats, the same type of health-promoting fats as are found in olive oil, which have been associated with reduced risk of heart disease.
(Taken from Whfoods)


Getting these at a grocery store is not a good idea. A small tub of cashews will run you six or seven dollars!

ONES THAT DON'T COUNT YOU CHEATER

• M&M Peanuts
• Chocolate Covered Cashew
• Beer Nuts

disclaimer: I am in no way responsible if you discover that you're allergic to nuts AFTER you've read and tried my suggestions regarding nuts.

Have you used any recipes from my blog?

I'm curious as to how many of you actually use or have used recipes you've found on my blog. I've added a poll on the right-hand side for you to place your vote on.

I'm interested in an accurate count of how many people are using the posted recipes, so if you haven't yet gotten around to cooking one or two of them (I know you will!), please answer honestly.

The point of the poll is to determine what types of posts I should be focusing on for you, my loyal readers! So if the results come back and lots of people have made recipes from here, I'll happily keep posting more. Otherwise, I'll try to increase the amount of list posts and "top tens", as well as "popular food" types of posts.

Thank you!