A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-15,16,17-06....T.G.I.F. at the Finest

15 December 2006 | billie

[DollyCali]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, Dolly Cali, GodBlessUSA, JustAmy ~

Welcome to TGIF at the Finest!   We hope you've been having as much fun as we have with our essays and/or spotlight on various FReepers. From the beginning, we've been kicking back on Saturdays and Sundays and simply reviewing the features of the week; our weekend threads now start on Friday and continue through Sunday. If you missed seeing any of this week's threads and want to say hello there now, just click on the link for that particular day. If you'd like to drop in and out of this thread today through Sunday, please feel free to do that also. One of us will try to be around to see the welcome mat is still out, put the coffee pot on, and maybe even bring fresh flowers for the table. : )

~ Billie, Dutchess, Dolly Cali, GodBlessUSA, JustAmy ~



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"Getting to Know You"

THIS WEEK'S THREADS


12-11-06 ~ Military Monday
By Billie
Presented by The Mayor

12-12-06 ~ Christmas Music
By God Bless USA

12-13-06 ~ Warm Fuzzy Wednesday
By Billie
Presented by Just Amy

12-14-06 ~ My Two Cents, JH2 ~
2006 Major events in Year that Almost Wasn’t
By JohnHuang2
Presented by Billie

Have a wonderful weekend!

10-01-06 ~ Hall of Fame #17

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

"Wear Red" Friday

You will soon see a lot of people wearing Red on Fridays. Here's why..... The Americans, who support our troops, are the silent majority. We are not "organized" to reflect who we are, or to reflect what our opinions are. Many Americans, like yourself, and all their friends, simply want to recognize that Americans support our troops. Our idea of showing our solidarity and support for our troops is starting Friday and continuing on each and every Friday, until this is over, that every red-blooded American who supports our young men and women, WEAR SOMETHING RED.

Word of mouth, press, TV -- let's see if we can make the United States, on any given Friday, a sea of red much like a home football game at a University. If every one of our memberships share this with other acquaintances, fellow workers, friends, and neighbors, I guarantee that it will not be long before the USA will be covered in RED - and make our troops know there are many people thinking of their well-being. You will feel better all day Friday when you wear Red! So let's get the word out and lead by example; wear RED on Fridays.

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE. FOR US, THEIR BLOOD RUNS RED!! GOD BLESS AMERICA.

I received this in my email June 10th, the author is unknown.
I am wearing red today and every Friday ~ Billie

[DollyCali]

"Disappear"??? What on earth are you talking about? You can't disappear. LOL.

Please Lori, don't tell me you are one of those who does NOT beieve in alien abductions..what kind of Californian are you anyway?

[DollyCali]

Oh, boy...the pressure is on...I KNOW I saved the christmas ornament..but where or where did I put it ? (yea, already checked the multiple Christmas files)

[Mama_Bear]

LOL! The aliens snatched it, I bet. ;-)

[DollyCali]

[DollyCali]

didn't find it...just used My brain for a change!

[Mama_Bear]

ah.....there it is! Yours is my second favorite. My purple one is my favorite. :-)

[Aquamarine]

I had to go find mine and it's still in Billie's storage, thought I had saved it but don't know where I put it.

Loved Billie's hostess graphic with everyone in their gorgeous red dress and wrote to Billie to tell her that I would do some Posts in 07 to actually earn my position to be in such graphic. Just letting everyone else know. :)

[JustAmy]

Another beautiful Billie creation.

[JustAmy]

Love your aqua ornament, Aqua.

Looking forward to your posts in '07.

[MEG33]

Hugs,Kitty Mittens..you're welcome!
Cute picture of Chachi,Mama Bear.
Love all the Billie ornaments.
Happy Saturday! It's in the 70s here today!

[DollyCali]

so...where are you this year, our fine elf?

[Aquamarine]

Thanks Amy (hope I haven't forgotten how ) :)

[Billie]

I think our unofficial Hostess (who's definitely the Mostess) deserves her own personal ornament.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

A B-1B Lancer receives fuel from a KC-10 Extender flying over Afghanistan Dec. 14. The tanker is from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, home of the largest air refueling wing in Southwest Asia. Unit aircrews fly KC-10s and KC-135 Stratotankers in support of wartime operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Justin T. Watson)

An A-10 Thunderbolt II pulls away after receiving fuel from a KC-10 Extender flying over Afghanistan Dec. 14. The tanker is from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, home of the largest air refueling wing in Southwest Asia. Unit aircrews fly KC-10s and KC-135 Stratotankers in support of wartime operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Justin T. Watson)

061129-N-5169H-380 Camp Pendleton, Calif. (Nov. 29, 2006) - A U.S. Marine from Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment escapes a sinking modular amphibious egress trainer during annual swim qualifications. The swim qualification is designed for Marines to maintain amphibious operation readiness. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Marcos T. Hernandez (RELEASED)

061207-N-6536T-045 San Pedro, Calif. (Dec. 7, 2006) - The Fast attack submarine USS Los Angeles (SSN 688) pulls into the Port of Los Angeles for a namesake city visit. This is the first port call the Los Angeles has made to the city it was named after. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Elizabeth Thompson (RELEASED)

061211-N-7241L-006 Atlantic Ocean (Dec. 11, 2006) - A T-45 Goshawk trainer prepares to make an arrested landing during carrier qualifications (CQ) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The nuclear powered aircraft carrier is currently maintaining qualifications as part of the fleet response plan. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Laird (RELEASED)

[Billie]

Wait, Meg. Save this one instead of the first one. I actually made this ornament totally from scratch from a sweet little photo I made into a bubble and then gussied up with flowers and pearls. Decided to 'sign' it - didn't do that to first one. Only difference.

[Billie]

Okay, Ladies, I know that some of you like Starbucks' Caramel Macchiato Latte, right? Well, get ready to drool, cause I found this in my latest Southern Living Magazine:

Caramel Macchiato Cheesecake

4 (8 oz) packages Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp. heavy cream
1 1/4 tsp. instant espresso
Caramel Sauce, divided
4 large eggs
Garnishes: whipped cream, dark chocolate curls
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Stir together crushed cookies and butter; press mixture on bottom and up sides of a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven temp to 325 degrees.
3. Beat cream cheese and sugar at medium speed with an elect4ric mixer until blended. Add heavy cream, espresso, and 9 Tbsp. Caramel Sauce, beating at low speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition. Pour batter into prepared crust. Cover and chill remaining Caramel Sauce until ready to serve.
4. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour or until center is almost set. Remove cheesecake from oven; gently run a knife around edge of cheesecake to loosen from sides of pan. (Do not remove sides of pan.) Cool completely on a wire rack. Cover and chill 6 hours.
5. Release and remove sides of pan from cheesecake. Garnish, if desired, and serve with remaining Caramel Sauce.

Caramel Sauce:
Makes 1 3/4 cups. Prep: 10 min, cook: 35 min.

1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups warm water, divided
1 cup heavy cream
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
2 tsp. vanilla extract
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1. Cook corn syrup, sugar, and 1 cup warm water in a medium saucepan over high heat, stirring constantly, 3 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, brush down any sugar crystals on sides of saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 23 minutes or until mixture turns pale amber. Remove pan from heat, and carefully stir in remaining 1/4 cup warm water. Stir in cream, butter, and vanilla.
3. Cook mixture over medium-low heat 5 to 6 minutes or until sauce thickens and a candy thermometer registers 220 degrees to 222 degrees.

I noticed when I was typing this that there are no 'ingredients' for the cookie crust. Guess you could use a prepared one, or any recipe for a graham cracker crust?

Enjoy!

[USMCWife6869]

I subscribe to Southern Living, too!! I hadn't had a chance to read this latest issue yet. Yummy, I have GOT to try that.

[Lady Jag]

Howdy Mama!
That's a mighty cute puppy!

[Majie Purple]

Electricity & heat were out in my lil pocket of geography from 10:04pm Thurs. - 6:40pm Sat. Due to a gale force wind & rain storm that ko'd power lines and trees...No snow and ice though...thankfully. Just wanted to explain where I was & what happened...I'll do my best to backtrack & catch up answering Pings;Freeps & EM's I missed those days/nights! ThankYou Jesus power:/lights/heat/fridge/stove on again!!!!! I missed Y'all!

[Aquamarine]

Oh boy, all of my favorite things are in this recipe. Could you imagine this cheesecake with a good cup of coffee?!

Not sure if I've ever tried Starbucks' Caramel Macchiato Latte, but have sampled some of their frozen coffee drinks and none of them comes close to Dairy Queen's Cappuccino Moolattee. I will go miles out of my way to get ahold of one of these in the summertime.