May 27, 2009: Why is today significant?

Today is the last day of our Wall Street Journal subscription. We love it when we have time to read it, but more often, it piles up unread.
The WSJ always has the most interesting stories, those ones from the famous middle column on the front page. The one about how a woman arranged to have a favorite baseball player meet her husband at a gas station on the Turnpike comes to mind. There are countless other, saved in boxes around the house, exemplifying the WSJ ability to get just the most interesting story and share it with the world. I will miss those, though they are still available online....just not sitting on my coffee table. For one thing, I know I personally will never read it. Maybe a Kindle or e-reader version; not sure on that one yet.
My first subscription to the WSJ was free in 1974 when I was getting my MBA at Kellogg Business School. I progressed to a student rate and, since then, for 33 consecutive years, have gotten the WSJ. In some places, it arrived in the mail; others it was delivered. I have learned so much from this newspaper, and will sincerely miss its daily arrival.
Why are we not renewing our subscription? Well, mostly it is finding the time to read the entire paper, but, truthfully, it is the cost is high if we don't get to read it everyday. I personally love the Saturday WSJ and the "Weekend Journal" section (there are many of those piled around the house) but, I cannot only subscribe to get the Saturday paper.
So, for now, my last standout story today is about dandelion greens. And I totally identify with Sue Shellenbarger's engaging report about retaking the SAT 41 years later (that's when I took it, too! I can relate as we have a high school junior currently dealing with the SAT challenges.)
WSJ -- we have come a long way together. Thank you for all the thinking that you have stimulated.

Pete Seeger Turns 90

I didn't know that I knew so many Pete Seeger songs. I sang them at camp and the recent sing-a-long in Madison Square Garden in honor of his birthday sounds like it was an amazing evening. I guess that I know many of the protest folk songs without even knowing it --"Where Have All The Flowers Gone" is a favorite.
If he has a 95 year birthday sing-a-long, I will want to go and sing really loud and really off-key.

Dom Deluise Recipe

In honor of Dom Deluise's passing today, I must acknowledge a favorite recipe from his cooking video.
My husband and I have prepared this recipe many times and it is great hot, and even better cold!


Dom Deluise Mama's Lemon Chicken:

6	pounds	chicken, whole	two whole birds, cut up
1	cup	lemon juice	fresh
1	x	parsley leaves	chopped
1	large	onion	coarsely chopped
2	cups	bread crumbs	seasoned
2	tablespoons	parmesan, parmigiano-reggiano cheese, grated	grated
1/2	cup	olive oil

Directions

Place bread crumbs in large plastic bag, add 2 Tbls chopped parsley.

Dip chicken pieces in lemon juice.

Put chicken pieces (3 at a time) into bag with bread crumbs.

Close bag and turn to coat chicken pieces.

When coated remove from bag and place in glass baking dish which has been coated with a thin coating of the olive oil.

Sprinkle chopped parsley and chopped onion on top of the coated chicken.

Drizzle olive oil over the chicken pieces.

Bake uncovered in 350 degree oven for about one hour.

Remove from oven and drizzle more lemon juice on top of chicken before serving.