info@3QuartersToday.com

Cohen Christmas Version of Hallelujah

December 1, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Leonard Cohen Christmas Hallelujah

Welcome to my 25-day countdown to Christmas. I kick it off with Leonard Cohen Christmas version of Hallelujah and I hope I will be able to post every day during the month of December and throughout the holiday. I even downloaded the Cloverton version of the Christmas Leonard Cohen mp3 classic.

As you can see, I’m very addicted to Christmas songs and carols and love this version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. It is similar to the Easter version I posted earlier this year. I absolutely love this melody and I’m so glad Christ is playing a central role in the song during cover versions.

Pretty Floral Piano Music Tote Bags
by Music4LifeLLC

Hallelujah Christmas [Accompaniment/Performance Track]Hal Leonard Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen arranged for piano, vocal and guitar

I do have a rule for Christmas music, it can’t be played until December 1st, I don’t like going into a store around Halloween and hearing Holiday music, I want to enjoy the fall holidays, celebrate Thanksgiving and then jump into December with gusto. My Pandora list is set on Classic Christmas music and I take out my piano sheet music to get ready for Advent services on Wednesday night.

Piano Music Tote Bags for Piano Players
by Music4LifeLLC

With that being said, I kick off the Christmas season today, December 1st with this version of Hallelujah for Christmas. Enjoy

Cloverton Christmas Christmas Hallelujah

If you want to play or sing the Cloverton Christmas Christmas Hallelujah song here are some options. I’m sure it’s going to be a very popular Christmas choral piece with many choirs.

Hallelujah Christmas [Accompaniment/Performance Track]A Hallelujah Christmas (Cloverton Inspired) for solo and band. Leonard Cohen Parady A Hallelujah Christmas (Cloverton Inspired) for solo FULL ORCHESTRA. Leonard Cohen A Leonard Cohen Christmas

Bo Pelini Fired, It’s All About the Money

November 30, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

As far as sports go, I’m not a sports fan, or a big football fan. I like and respect team character, integrity, teamwork, leadership, and the people behind the plays. That is why I like Bo Pelini. It is also why I don’t like what happened this Sunday morning on November 30th. I’ve always been with BO, he loves the game, he loves his players, and they love him.

For Nebraska Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst to announce to the players the firing of their coach and leader, Bo Pelini in an email is cowardly and unprofessional. What was so pressing that couldn’t wait until the players were gathered together in a meeting where they could vent, get mad, grieve together and figure out how support each other during this time period.

Regardless of what the press wants the fans and viewers want you to hear or know, the players love Bo Pelini. I know family members of a local player and I’ve been told they players would go do anything for this man. He sincerely cares about them as people, not numbers on the field, not X’s and O’s and certainly not as dollar signs.

But, this is what it comes down to isn’t it. The almighty dollar? Somewhere, someone, with political pull or clout thinks the Huskers are not winning enough National Championships. Well I’m sorry, ok, maybe I’m not, but when did going to college become all about winning a National Football Championship? How many of these young men will play professional football anyway? A few, many former Huskers are playing professional football right now, and they were not on a National Championship Football team.

Bo Pelini Announcement in an Email

What a way to find out your coach got fired. In an email. Who really even checks their email on a regular basis anymore, especially college students. So many of the players found out via text when their phones blew up with messages from team mates, friends and family.

Nebraska Football Players informed Coach Pelini fired in an email

If college football is a business, like many would like to convince us, then let’s look at this from a business perspective. Do you announce the firing of the boss in an email to employees on a Sunday morning at 10:30 am? Or, do you wait until Monday morning, when all the employees arrive at work, have a meeting and then communicate in a professional setting where emotions and questions could be expressed in a controlled setting?

Announcing the firing of Bo Pelini from behind a computer screen is cowardly and unprofessional. Players responded with shock and took to social media, resentment and emotions on both sides are hot and heavy. They took to Twitter Sunday (read them here) and showed their support of Coach Bo, something they did NOT do when Callahan was fired in 2007. Shoot, I’m writing about this and I don’t even bleed red. This is BAD public relations.

Bo Pelini Accomplishments

Put Nebraska in the National spotlight with the Team Jack touchdown (no one will ever be able to forget a touchdown a 7 yr old made)
One of the nations most successful coaches over the past six seasons. One of only three coaches in the BCS to win nine games their first six year during their first head coaching position. (taken from www.huskers.com which I’m sure will get taken down soon)

Bo Pellini matched the performance of much admired and loved Coach Osborne during his first seven years
In 2013 had 30 student athletes named to the Academic All-Big Ten team. Not a feat very many schools can touch.
An impressive 123 of 130 players on track to earn their degree from the University of Nebraska.

Isn’t that what a University is supposed to do, graduate students and prepare them for a successful future? The college student athlete, their experience is multi-faceted, players are thrust together from all walks of life, from all over the country, poor, rich, urban, country, and must come together as a successful team. These are 18-19 year old-young men, many of them with egos the size of a house, all with the attitude of something to prove.

Ameer Abdullah Said it Best

During the 2014 student-athlete speech at the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon Ameer Abdullah really wraps up my feeling on why I admire Bo Pelini. Everyone who is not an athlete, or sports fan should listen to this speech. During these eleven minutes this football player shows what college football is all about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6U4_TvJN0Q

“I have come to realize that life is bigger than football, and that my chances of long-term success in life will be greatly enhanced by completing my college education,”

So here ends my rant, as my husband says “Stick a Quarter in you and you’re wound up” yes, some things I am passionate about and the loss of character in the University of Nebraska football program is indeed a loss. Not for the fans, but for the players. Bo Pelini I will miss you, yes, even your side line and press conference rants. It shows you have passion.

I'm With Bo Shirt — I’m With BO! shirt on CafePress

More Response to the Firing Of Nebraska Football Coach Bo Pelini

Bo Pelini fired: @FauxPelini Twitter account…

Fake Bo Pelini, aka @FauxPelini, has more than 152,000 followers on Twitter. Since the account’s creation, it’s handler has created a series of hilarious interactions with everyone from Bo Pelini himself to rival players and even police department …

Nebraska players, Faux Pelini react to Bo Pelini firing

Nebraska’s players woke up Sunday morning to find that head coach Bo Pelini was fired. And few, if any, embraced the change. Many took to Twitter to express their anger and frustration. Here’s a snapshot of those reactions: …

Why Bo Pelini Should Not Have Been Fired by Nebraska: Compare Him to Tom …

Pelini served as head coach of Nebraska for seven seasons, being hired by Tom Osborne at the end of the 2007 season. The decision appears to have been made by Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst, who said the program is looking to move in a “new …

Nebraska players and recruits not happy with Bo…

Nebraska players and recruits not happy with Bo Pelini’s firing · Troy Machir @TroyMachir · Email RSS. November 30, 2014 1:11pm EST. facebook; twitter; googleplus; tumblr; pinterest. Email. Gmail; Yahoo Mail; Outlook; Native Client. On Sunday, Nebraska …

Nebraska QB Zack Darlington shocked by news of Bo Pelini firing

“He asked me if I had seen the e-mail and so I read it and … yeah, I did not see that coming,” Darlington said of the news that Nebraska had fired coach Bo Pelini after a 9-3 season that most Cornhuskers players saw as a positive looking toward the …

Players learn of Pelini news via email, offer reaction on social media

Nebraska football players were informed of coach Bo Pelini’s firing via an email from athletic director Shawn Eichorst on Sunday morning. Defensive lineman Jack Gangwish shared a portion of the email on Twitter, and he and other players voiced …

My Favorite Turkey Stuffing Recipe

November 23, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Some foods I cook from scratch, other have a little bit of help, and I deviate from the script. My favorite turkey stuffing recipe varies every year, depending on what I have in my refrigerator and cupboards. But regardless, it always comes out delicious and there is never enough for left over “turkey plates.”

How to Dress up your Turkey Stuffing — Start with Stove top Stuffing as a base

Start with Stove Top Turkey Stuffing Mix

Yes, it’s cheating in a way, but I’m brand loyal and Stove Top stuffing has amazing flavor, the seasonings are already mixed in so I don’t have to guess. But I don’t stop there, I chop 3-4 of the following added ingredients and add them to the pot.

Just follow the ingredients on the box.

Add water and butter to a large saucepan, bring to a boil.
Turn off burner
Add breadcrumbs from box
Remove from heat
Add 1-2 cups “EXTRA” ingredients and quickly mix with fork
Cover and let sit for 30 minutes

Stuffing Additives

Onions
Celery
Mushrooms
Dried cranberries
Apples
Dried cherries
Walnuts
Chestnuts

I normally add about a 1/4 cup of each ingredient to my turkey stuffing, notice I said ABOUT, I don’t measure I just chop until it looks good. If you don’t like apples, leave them out, but it does give a nice sweet flavor to the stuffing. They cook down soft, so most people don’t even notice.

Baking Your Turkey

Yes, there is a debate on whether you should bake your stuffing inside the bird or separately. This is mainly due to “safety” reasons. I bake my turkey with the stuffing inside, the turkey drippings add an amazing flavor which unmatched by just stove top cooking.

What is important to remember is to fully cook your turkey, then when you think he’s done, leave it in for 15 more minutes. Since I only use a giant roasting pan once a year I don’t own a “real” metal roaster. I buy the disposables at the grocery store and reuse them to make Chex Mix for the Christmas season. I do have a “real” metal baster though. Plastic turkey basters have a way of somehow touching a really hot service and getting a hole burned into the syringe. Then they don’t work.

Back to the stuffing. Use a large serving spoon and pack the stuffing inside the main body cavity and under the neck flab, just lift and tuck, lift and tuck. (Sounds like an exercise doesn’t it)

Butter Basted turkey — Place frozen pats of butter under the skin

Lift the bird and spoon the stuffing way down inside the body cavity. Pack it full. If the stuffing is sticking out the back end of the turkey, that’s ok. It will get nice and crispy and is perfect for snacking on when you take the turkey out of the oven.

After all of your stuffing has disappeared into the turkey, then proceed to season the outside, slip some butter under the skin and cover with bacon. Yup I make a bacon wrapped turkey. If you’re into that type of thing.

I should fix more stuffing throughout the year. Turkey stuffing isn’t just for Thanksgiving and there are a lot of recipes to use with chicken and pork chops. Maybe I’ll venture beyond just stuffing at Thanksgiving.

Kraft Stove Top Recipes The Ultimate Recipes for Thanksgiving Turkey – A Complete Guide on How to Cook a Moist and Flavorful Thanksgiving Turkey Every Time!

More Ways to Cook a Turkey

Looking for tips on how to bake a turkey for Thanksgiving? Don’t tell anybody …

Despite your unfounded fears to the contrary, baking a turkey for Thanksgiving is actually one of the easier chores you will have that day. Just follow the simple instructions and amaze your friends with your culinary prowess. (File photo). Print Email.

How To Cook A Turkey – How To Roast A Turkey – Best Thanksgiving Roast Turkey …

http://www.easycookvideos.com – How To Cook A Turkey. Discover how to roast a turkey. This is the best Thanksgiving turkey recipe & Christmas turkey recipe. It will show you how long to cook a turkey (Including turkey temperature, turkey cooking times …

Serve a Bacon Basted Turkey for Thanksgiving

November 22, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Butter and Bacon Wrapped Turkey Recipe

How to make a bacon basted turkey for thanksgiving

Given the time I love to cook, and Thanksgiving is the perfect time to break out traditional recipes like my Bacon wrapped turkey recipe.

I roasted my turkey with bacon way before bacon was cool. I watched my Dad obsess over his turkey when I was little and this started a family tradition.

Decorative Family Thanksgiving Medium Table Runner
by ndjmom

You can have your fried turkeys, slow cooker turkeys, and your precooked turkeys. I like my Thanksgiving turkey oven roasted and the whole process becomes an event.

I’ve even baked my Thanksgiving bird in a roasting bag a few times just to try it, but it’s not near as good. Thanksgiving was my Dad’s Favorite Holiday

You have to know that my Dad didn’t really cook much, but Thanksgiving was his holiday and he loved fixing and carving the turkey. I only bought a Butterball pre-basted turkey once, and that was enough, it wasn’t near as moist.

Fall Leaves Business Thanksgiving Postcards
by ndjmom

The Best Turkey Baste is a Combination of Butter and Bacon

The secret to a juicy turkey is lots of juice, basting frequently, and not letting the bird sit in the oven and get dried out. Eat it less than an hour after it comes out of the oven.

So grab your Thanksgiving apron, your turkey, butter and bacon, and let’s get to work.

Funny Thanksgiving Apron – Talk Turkey
by ndjmom

Best Roast Turkey Recipe Ever

Seriously, even people who don’t like turkey will love this, it is indeed the best roast turkey recipe ever!

Large Turkey
1 lb bacon
1 lb frozen butter (1-2 sticks under skin, 1-2 sticks for stuffing)
Powdered Sage
Poultry Seasoning
Seasoning Salt
Prepared stuffing (I always stuff my turkey and have the best turkey stuffing ever)

Bacon wrapped turkey — Lay Strips of Bacon on buttered and stuffed turkey

Turkey Roasting Instructions

Preset oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit
Rinse and remove the packaged giblets from inside the bird (neck & leg opening)
Place turkey in large roasting pan
Slide frozen pats of butter under the skin as far as you can reach on both sides (an inch apart)
Spoon stuffing into body cavity and under the neck flap (pack it in)
Season turkey with sage, poultry seasoning, and seasoning salt
Cover turkey with strips of uncooked bacon
Cover roasting pan with lid, or tinfoil
Place in oven and bake for 12 minutes per pound of turkey

Turkey Thanksgiving Paper Plates
by ndjmom

How Long to Cook a Turkey

There are a lot of rules of thumb on how long to cook a turkey, but like my Dad taught me, 12 minutes per lb at 350F.

Many cooking experts recommend 10-13 minutes per pound, but remember, I open the oven door a LOT for basting. So my 24 lb turkey will take about five hours.

Basting Instructions

Basting is very important to get a juicy and moist turkey.

When the turkey is about halfway done, or as the liquid starts to accumulate at the bottom of the roaster start basting. The bacon fat and butter will melt, soak into the turkey and collect at the bottom of the pan. What a waste.

Pull back the tin foil, and use a large turkey baster to suck up the juice and squirt it on top of the turkey.

Fall Family Personalized Thanksgiving Napkin ring
by ndjmom

Yeah, just suck up all the yummy buttery bacony (is that a word) goodness and pour it over the skin of the turkey, making sure to cover the breast, legs, and even the wings.

BASTE EVERY 30 MINUTES

This is important. Set the timer. You have to babysit the bird. This is when my Mom would start saying “The turkey is never going to cook if you keep opening the oven door!”

Well, the turkey cooks. You might have to add another 20 minutes to the time, but when the turkey is a nice brown, golden color and the bacon crisp and crunchy it’s done.

Family Name Thanksgiving Paper Placemats
by ndjmom

If you really want to know when your turkey is done you can use a cooking thermometer and when it reaches 160F it’s done.

My Mom’s way of telling is to “shake the leg”, if it shakes back it’s done, or if it falls off, it’s done. When the legs start to sag away from the bird it’s also done.

Homemade turkey stuffing recipe — Homemade stuffing with a twist

Doesn’t it look delicious!!

There is nothing better than a bacon basted turkey at Thanksgiving. Remember the cook gets to pick the bacon and turkey before it’s served.

Many turkeys have pop-up thermometers and you can use them as a guideline to when your turkey is done, but if it looks like the photo above, it’s done.

Funny Thanksgiving T-Shirts for Women
by ndjmom

Remove it from the oven and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. The meat will continue to cook and you when your biscuits or crescent rolls are done it’s time to eat. At my house we don’t eat at a certain time, we eat “around 1:00 pm” or whenever the bird is done. After opening the door several times for baking the aroma starts to draw people to the kitchen and dining room.

RSVP Endurance Stainless Steel Turkey Lifter, Set of 2 Great Gatherings 21 inch X-Large Oval Serving Platter for Turkey, Ham, Prime Rib with Embossed Friut aroung edge

You can then assign volunteers to set the table, place the mashed potatoes in bowls, and pour the drinks. Enjoy your Bacon Basted Turkey and if you have any Thanksgiving traditions I would love to hear them!

Where to Buy Your Turkey

I normally purchase my turkey from the grocery store, I get a plain turkey, not the Butterball variety or their copycats.

Occasionally I have purchased a local farm-raised turkey, but those actually tend to be too big for my oven. One year we had a 28 lb turkey!! Leftovers for months.

Whole Organic Turkey 18-20lbs Branigan’s Woodland California Thanksgiving Free Range Turkey 20 to 22 Pounds with Brining Kit

You can, unbelievably buy an organic farm-raised turkey for Thanksgiving online and have it delivered right to your door.

For those who live in the city and don’t have a car, I think this would be ideal. I can’t imagine my son lugging a 20 lb turkey on the Chicago CTA train.

Family Thanksgiving T-Shirts – Stuff Till You Drop
by ndjmom

Thanksgiving Traditions

Each family has its own Thanksgiving traditions, often representative of their cultural and/or ethnic background.

Americans are proud of the fact that we can all celebrate the same holiday, albeit in different ways. What is your Thanksgiving tradition?

My Marine Mom Letter to the United States Marines

November 9, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Happy Birthday Marine Corps

I sit at my computer on the night of my youngest son’s Marine Corps Ball and reflect on the journey I’ve taken as a Marine Mom and want to say “Thank You.”

For four years I have been a Mother of two Marines. The first letter I wrote to the Marine Corps was more of a request. Two years later I have a different sentiment. Since then I have watched my sons grow into responsible, mature young men. The Marines have played a large part in developing the men they will be the rest of their life and I’m very proud of them both.

This year I was blessed to spend the longest quality, undivided, one on one time with my son. No competition with other siblings, no competing with friends, or capturing an hour here or there during a short military leave.

I was able to spend not hours, not one day, but several days in a row, getting to know my son on an adult level. The opportunity to stand back and observe, take them in and realize how much he has grown, how much I love him, and how proud I am of the man he has become.

So this year, my letter to the United Stated Marine Corps takes a little different spin.

A Letter From a Marine Mom

Dear Marine Corps,

I want to take this opportunity, on the Marine Corps birthday to thank you, from the bottom of this Marine Mom’s heart. A few years ago I loaned you my sons. You have treated them well and I am grateful.

Thank you for giving them clear expectations, with a clear set of guidelines and rewards when a job is well done. Thank you for teaching them to be aware of their surroundings, to defend themselves, to protect the weak, and stand firm against injustice. Not only against our enemy abroad, but in every day situations in life.

The Marine Corps taught my sons patience, tolerance, and the ability to adapt to changing situations.

Dealing with ever changing leave orders and plane reservations serves a purpose. It does carry forth to civilian life, especially when apartment plans, GI Bill delays, and schooling don’t go as planned. For this increased patience, thank you.

I have seen first hand the pride they take in being a part of a brotherhood. I’ve watched my sons interact with fellow Marines, not only with professionalism but respect.

It’s the everyday things that happen on a Marine base, the little things that mean a lot. The everyday event of colors and the national anthem played twice a day. While at the time this may not mean a thing, it gives them an anchor and pride in Corps and country in the future. A casual greeting of Semper Fi to a fellow Marine serves to remind each of them of the lifelong brotherhood they share and will remain “Always Faithful.”

Thanks to the Marine Corps, my sons had the opportunity to become leaders and volunteer in their communities.

They took advantage of continued education during active duty by taking classes. All this while becoming part of a long tradition of men and women serving their country.

This year I consider myself blessed to be a Marine Mom and I thank the Marine Corps for a few of those blessing.

Sincerely,

A Mother of Two Marines

The actual US Flag flown at Iwo Jima displayed at the National Marine Corps Museum

What changes have your seen in your son or daughter? I’d love to hear your insight on their experience.

More Marine Mom Marine Corps Birthday Letters

Marine Corps Birthday Celebrations

Happy birthday Marine Corps! Here are 37 powerful pictures of the Marine Corps …

US Marine Corps photoA Marine field cook stationed in Bermuda showing the cake he baked for the Marine Corps’ birthday in 1943. The Marine Corps, 240 years old on Tuesday, has served a role in every conflict in the history of the United States.

Happy birthday Marine Corps – Business Insider

US Marine Corps photoA Marine field cook stationed in Bermuda showing the cake he baked for the Marine Corps’ birthday in 1943. The Marine Corps, 240 years old on Tuesday, has served a role in every conflict in the history of the United …

The 240th Birthday Message From The Commandant Of The …

There has never been a more important time to join the NRA and now Daily Caller readers can enjoy special pricing and benefits. Defend Freedom & Join NRA Today. Tags: 1775, Marine Corps Birthday, November 10, USMC.