Dennys Food and Recipes: Appetizer: Berried Brie

Dennys Food and Recipes: Appetizer: Berried Brie: From Denny: Need a simple appetizer during the holiday season and you don't want to stand over it to practically hatch it? This is so simple you will fall over laughing! It's so easy your children can make it for you.

All you need is a round of brie cheese, some canned cranberry sauce and fresh pecans. Throw it into a slow cooker for a couple of hours over low heat and you have instant magic without a lot of fuss. It will leave you time for wrapping all those gifts and giggling with the kids.

Best Spiritual Posts: Music: Oh, Rejoice By Hillsong

Best Spiritual Posts: Music: Oh, Rejoice By Hillsong: From Denny: While my husband was dashing into a convenience store to pick up a few items I was waiting in the car, seeking on the radio stations. I landed on one talk show where a man was discussing the Christmas season shopping frenzy - and often violence - that breaks out when people fight for the best deals.

It's like the Christmas holiday season has been reduced down to this greedy fever pitch shopping season. Big Business has clearly hijacked what should be a holy season. The essayist continued saying how business changes their cashier greeting (Walmart) to try and sound like they are dispensing goodwill as if that will suddenly cement a good relationship with the customer, making up for the rest of the year.

Well, it should be a goodwill season. During this time of year, he said, you often see strangers relax a little and make more of an effort. But here's the real question, Did Jesus really come just to make our December's better or did He come to make our entire lives better?

Then the program featured this song and I smiled as my husband put the groceries in the car and we drove back home listening to the reason for the season.

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: How Does Solitude Clear Our Perception?

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: How Does Solitude Clear Our Perception?: From Denny: Meditation and deep prayer is all about first quieting the monkeys of the mind - those daily "To Do" lists that crowd out deeper consideration of the thornier issues in life. We all know how imperative it is to go to a relaxing place in Nature to quiet our emotions from stress.

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The Social Poets: Bigger Scandal: How Big Banks Bailouts Scammed Trillions Not Billions

The Social Poets: Bigger Scandal: How Big Banks Bailouts Scammed Trillions Not Billions: From Denny: $7.77 trillion is how much the Big Banks leveraged from our taxpayer TARP bailouts of only billions. How did they get the federal government to give them more than the original bailout? Read on and line up an early appointment for your anger management class. Trust me; you are so going to need it.

Romancing The Chocolate: Awesome Chocolate Pecan Tart

Romancing The Chocolate: Awesome Chocolate Pecan Tart: From Denny: This easy tart combines two of my favorite flavors - chocolate and pecans. Louisiana Bergeron pecans are wonderful if you can get them where you live. If not, just look for the freshest ones, even asking your grocer when a new shipment is due.

Pecans exude such a wonderful aroma when roasting in the oven that is hard to resist. Make sure you slightly warm the dessert when you serve it for the holidays. That's how we like it at our house! :)

Romancing The Chocolate: From Silver Palate Restaurant Sheila Lukins: Sticky Toffee Date Cake

Romancing The Chocolate: From Silver Palate Restaurant Sheila Lukins: Sticky Toffee Date Cake: From Denny: Dates are loved around the world. In the Middle East they are a traditional part of the culture, offered as a sign of hospitality. Dates are served with strong black coffee and sometimes yogurt to balance the intense sweetness.

We love them in America too, especially here in Louisiana, and we never miss a chance to check out a cake recipe featuring them. One beautiful characteristic of dates is that cakes like this freeze well and can be enjoyed months later.

This recipe is from a long time famous food writer, Sheila Lukins. Read on to find out about her many cookbooks she has authored as she has worked for Parade Magazine and co-founded the restaurant takeout shop at the Silver Palate Restaurant.

The Social Poets: Jon Stewart Interview: Prez Clinton Talks Fixing Global Economy, New Book

The Social Poets: Jon Stewart Interview: Prez Clinton Talks Fixing Global Economy, New Book: From Denny: President Bill Clinton sits down for in-depth interview with Jon Stewart on what it will take to revive the American economy and create jobs. His new book, "Back To Work," (Why We Need Smart Government For A Strong Economy) lays out specific plans for doing just that, recommending several strategies to current President Barack Obama.

In fact, just recently the Obama political hacks, Axelrod and Plouffe, met with President Clinton in the hopes to help the 2012 campaign. Yes, the same political hacks that have F'd up this economy by advising Obama to cater only to the Republicans and ignore Democratic principles to help the middle class. Those same guys that the Democratic Party should throw from the train.

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Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious and Odd: Close Encounter Planes Fly Over Your Beach Vacation

Image via Wikipedia

Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious and Odd: Close Encounter Planes Fly Over Your Beach Vacation: From Denny: Check out just how low these planes are when they come in for a landing over Maho Beach at St. Maarten Princess Juliana International Airport in the Caribbean. People actually go to vacation here just to experience the dangerous jet blasts from the landings.

In the second video you will see people falling down on the sand and get blasted by what looks like a mini sand storm. Be sure to bring your safety glasses with you when you go to experience this new cheap thrill for tourists! :)

Comfort Food From Louisiana: 2 Recipes: Coffee Cake and Apple Cake Topped with Pecan Streusel

Comfort Food From Louisiana: 2 Recipes: Coffee Cake and Apple Cake Topped with Pecan Streusel: From Denny: Lots of tasty pecans throughout this dense coffee cake, perfect for breakfast or an afternoon snack with a great cup of dark coffee. Here in Louisiana we love Bergeron pecans! Find the freshest pecans you can and buy them in large pieces as they will still retain more of the flavor.

Of course, we cake folk all know how delightful it is to use sour cream in any cake or muffin. The tenderness and full flavor can't be matched by anything else except maybe a high quality yogurt.

While searching for a photo to go with this post I happened upon a Rick Bayless recipe on flickr that is so unusual you just have to take it out for a foodie spin: Apple Coffee Cake with Pecan and Bacon Streusel.

Romancing The Chocolate: Flourless Chocolate Cake and Mocha Buttercream Icing

Romancing The Chocolate: Flourless Chocolate Cake and Mocha Buttercream Icing: From Denny: Check out this all time favorite - the flourless chocolate cake. This time it's paired with another favorite flavor - the all important coffee! Somehow, I just have to figure out how to grow coffee beans in my back yard. Can you imagine how sweet that would be to pick your own beans and then roast them? While we are dreaming we might as well include our own cocoa plants, right? Hey, "Go BIG or go home!" :)

Happy Holidays and thank you for all your support this year!

Romancing The Chocolate: Black Raspberry Chocolate Macadamia Cookies

Romancing The Chocolate: Black Raspberry Chocolate Macadamia Cookies: From Denny: Who doesn't love raspberries for the holidays? This cookie is dripping with butter, chocolate goodness, black raspberry liqueur and chock full of macadamia nuts. Not a lot of sugar and flour either to make them.

It's a rich cookie - but easy to make - to impress your family and friends. Of course, that's if they ever get a chance to taste them! Beware of the kitchen cookie gremlins. They lurk in the most unexpected places. :)

Romancing The Chocolate: Decadent Chocolate Cake

Romancing The Chocolate: Decadent Chocolate Cake: This chocolate cake uses high end chocolate, just perfect for the discriminating tastes for the holidays.

Dennys Food and Recipes: Thanksgiving: Bourbon Cornish Hens, Mushroom Stuffing

Image via Wikipedia

Dennys Food and Recipes: Thanksgiving: Bourbon Cornish Hens, Mushroom Stuffing: Here, in the South, bourbon is part of the holiday festivities. Why not try using it for the hens?

Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 17 Nov 2011

Cover via Amazon

From Denny:  Check out blog posts on photography, arts, food, news, politics, a huge amount of humor - especially the political pundits, poetry, astronomy, quotes, music, spiritual and just about anything else that catches my eclectic interest.  Can you tell that 140 characters just doesn't work for me? :)

The last posts roundup I did was back in June and we sure are overdue like a long pregnancy.  Be sure to bookmark this post as you will enjoy endless hours of laughing while you absorb some good information.

Most of the blog posts are at my flagship blog that spun off into the other 20, The Social Poets, where the news crashes into humor.  I even manage to write a few in-depth news posts, slicing and dicing the BS that passes for truth these days on the airwaves.

And to think I do all this in my spare time... Hope you enjoy!

Links begin here:

Visual Insights: Photo of the Day: Awesome Abstract Eiffel Tower

Visual Insights: Photo of the Day: Awesome Abstract Eiffel Tower

Visual Insights: Photo of the Day: Still Time

Visual Insights: Photo of the Day: Still Time

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: How Does Prayer Change Your Life?

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: How Does Prayer Change Your Life?

Visual Insights: Awesome Room Rentals From Queen Elizabeth II For Olympics

Image via Wikipedia

Visual Insights: Awesome Room Rentals From Queen Elizabeth II For Olympics: From Denny: Just how far will it set you back to rent some of these glorious royal rooms in Buckingham Palace during the Olympic Games? Rumor has it the Queen is asking $50,000 for the privilege.

Now there's a way to earn some cash to alleviate the burden of the royal salaries on the country's treasury. This Queen is known for her frugality of turning off unnecessary lights around the palace. Now she's got some marketing sense as well! :)

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: What Exchange Happens During Prayer?

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: What Exchange Happens During Prayer?

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: How Close Is God In Prayer?

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: How Close Is God In Prayer?

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: Do You Really Believe Your Principles?

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: Do You Really Believe Your Principles?

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: 12 Funny Quotes About Prayer

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: 12 Funny Quotes About Prayer

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: Funny Attitude Quote

Beautiful Illustrated Quotations: Funny Attitude Quote

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Primordial Dragon

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Primordial Dragon: From Denny: What is it with humanity's fascination with winged beings, be they angel or dragon? In an online writing group there was a challenge to write about dragons. What fun! Everyone wrote about dragons as evil vicious beasts as from the Western mythology.

Well, I spent most of my high school in Asia where the mythology is far different, Chinese mythology, that is. Come on; it seemed every time I turned around there was a street festival with the lion and dragon dances performed for good luck and prosperity!

The Social Poets: Jon Stewart Interview: How Your Employer Is Screwing Your Pension Fund

Image via Wikipedia

The Social Poets: Jon Stewart Interview: How Your Employer Is Screwing Your Pension Fund: From Denny: Ellen Schultz, an investigative reporter, discovered that Big Business has taken the private pension plans for millions of workers - to the tune of 44 million people - and, instead, "turned them into profit centers for their companies." As a result, the plans are severely underfunded.

Did you know that as recently as 10 years ago, these same retirement plans were so flush with cash that they experienced a quarter of a trillion dollar surplus?

How did they drain that surplus? Big Business did the following:

Dennys Funny Quotes: 37 Funny 2012 Election GOP Photos

Dennys Funny Quotes: 37 Funny 2012 Election GOP Photos: From Denny: What ever did we do before photoshop came along to skewer our presidential candidates? Life is never so much fun as it is now. The political artists among us had a wild time expressing their opinions about the GOP candidates this year.

And every one of these photos is based upon facts about the candidates. Which is more outrageous - the photos or the candidates? You decide. After all, it's Tuesday and we all need a good laugh to get us ready for the work week Hump Day of Wednesday, right?

The Social Poets: A Protesters Poem: For Love Of Country

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeThe Social Poets: A Protesters Poem: For Love Of Country: From Denny: Recognizing all those who display the courage to raise their voices against tyranny and greed. Dedicated to the global Occupy Wall Street protesters and the Middle East Arab Spring protests.

Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious and Odd: Funny Jon Stewart: Rick Perry Gaffe Gifts Joy Boners to Comedians

Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious and Odd: Funny Jon Stewart: Rick Perry Gaffe Gifts Joy Boners to Comedians: From Denny: When the GOP presidential candidates screw up on national television, let the comedians count their blessings. Jon Stewart continues to be amazed - and thankful - for all of the Dope Moment gaffes from the Rick Perry campaign.

Just how many times can a candidate mess up like the gift that keeps on giving? Perry trots out on to the various talk shows to try and convince voters he was in on the joke from the previous night's debate. See? It wasn't really a gaffe like it looked. And who believes that sorry try? Well, no one - certainly not on The Daily Show set.

Worse, The Daily Show comedians all had to get in on the act to "display" their visual joy over the recent Rick Perry debate gaffe where he could not remember all three of the government agencies he claimed he would close down if he were in the White House. He managed to tick off the Commerce Department and the Dept. of Education but declared it an Oops! Moment when he experienced a brain freeze, OK, a brain fart to be truthful.

The Social Poets: The Heart Remembers: Veterans Day poem Libations Thursday 11 Nov 2010

The Social Poets: The Heart Remembers: Veterans Day poem: Honoring the life of others as well as our own.

The Soul Calendar: 2 Ideas: What Happened to Our Moons Magnetic Personality?

Image via WikipediaThe Soul Calendar: 2 Ideas: What Happened to Our Moons Magnetic Personality?: From Denny: Apollo missions astronauts landed on the moon back in the 60's and 70's, gifting Earth's scientists with loads of moon rocks when they returned from their harrowing journeys.

Scientists were shocked to discover those rocks displayed magnetic properties. How could that be?

They also figured out that some of those moon rocks could possess magnetic north and south as well as individual magnetic fields. That sure started some serious scientific head scratching as to how this could be a fact.

They knew magnetism was possible if the rocks were comprised of the right minerals and, under the right conditions, like the rock cooling while present in a magnetic field. Yes, it was possible the rocks could be magnetic.

How does a magnetic field occur?

Dennys Funny Quotes: Calling In Sick To Your Boss: 15 Funniest New Excuses

Dennys Funny Quotes: Calling In Sick To Your Boss: 15 Funniest New Excuses: From Denny: When you don't feel like going in to work, pull out your little Black Book Of Funny Excuses. Well, there is a new edition in town since a career survey was conducted.

During the colder weather of autumn and winter most people call in sick due to illness like colds and flu. Illness accounts for 39 percent of employees missing in action, according to the survey.

But then there are the creative types who just want an excuse to spend more time with their families. Others just want to spend more time in bed because the weather is too crappy to deal with. Or the procrastinators realize they need to get in some last minute holiday shopping.

So, what hilarious excuses are this generation of employees offering up as savory mind candy to their bosses? If I were their boss I would give them the day off just for creativity and the boldness to try to sell something so absolutely ridiculous.

Dennys Funny Quotes: 16 Hilarious Photos, Signs to Keep You Wondering

Dennys Funny Quotes: 16 Hilarious Photos, Signs to Keep You Wondering: From Denny: From the witty to the absolutely stupid, check out these funny photos and outrageous signs. Yep, with the human race there is never a dull moment. I wonder when aliens land they will get our sense of humor. Can it be that we are the only ones in the universe with the ability to laugh?

What if the universe was peopled with dull people who never found anything funny? Look at it this way, Planet Earth will become the universal travel destination for cosmic tourists in need of a good laugh! Cosmic tourism, now that should help our global economy...

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Dennys Guest Bloggers: Travels to India: Experience of The Walking Meditation

Dennys Guest Bloggers: Travels to India: Experience of The Walking Meditation: From Denny: Check out this post of a woman's travel back to her ancestors' homeland in India. She and her husband decided to practice the meditation known as Vipassana. The concept is that by focusing upon every action in the moment you end up clearing your mind of clutter and worries.

It also can be quite tiring as you learn to focus that deeply for long periods of time. Trust me; you do get better at it. It's like exercising a muscle; the more you exercise the stronger you get.

This writer, Chaya Parmessur, recounts her new experience with good humor as she travels on her spiritual path.