OCTOBER 20, 2011
BRUCE A. BRENNAN BLOG FROM THE WORLD AND MY MIND
The news as I see it and the views as I want them.
October 20 is … National Brandied Fruit Day
St. Louis Cardinals 3 – Texas Rangers 2; Cardinals lead series 1 game to 0.
Here is a Brandied Fruit Recipe. It was written to be made during picking season but you can use it anytime with store bought fruit. Brandy or Cognac can be used as long as it is a minimum of 80-proof.
Ingredients
This is a formula you can use for whatever amount of fruit you choose. The idea is to put up only fruit with outstanding flavor. It should be ripe and bruise free. Peeling or not peeling is up to you, but do try to use organic produce if possible.
Brandy or Cognac can be used as long as it is a minimum of 80-proof.
For every pound of fruit combine:
- 3 to 4 tablespoons sugar (depending upon the sweetness of the fruit)
- 1/3 cup water
- Peel of 1/2 lemon or 1/4 orange
- About 2 inches of a vanilla bean, split
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice or cinnamon, a piece of dried chile, a few black peppercorns, or other spices (all optional)
Bring to a simmer and cook until clear. Cool. Stir syrup and flavorings into 2 1/4 cups 80-proof brandy or cognac
Sterilize jars and lids in dishwasher by running through the short-wash and dry cycles.
Peel and slice 1 pound ripe fruit and sprinkle lightly with fresh lemon juice.
Pack fruit into sterilized jars, leaving about 1/2 inch head space. Pour in brandy mixture, adding a piece of the zest and vanilla bean to each jar. Seal and store in a cool, dark place for a minimum of 3 weeks.
Keep topping off jar with more brandy or cognac as you use the fruit. As long as it is submerged in the alcohol, it is safe to eat. Keeps well for 9 to 10 months or longer if stored in re
Give it a try and enjoy.
Herman Cain keeps repeating “Read my plan. Do you own analysis.” whenever he is pressed for the details of his 9-9-9 plan. He claims his analysis is correct and all others are wrong. He just repeats apples to oranges. His Ponzi scheme is getting old. He has been caught and does not get it.
Illinois has a 6% sales tax. After various local governments have added their own taxes, the Illinois consumer pays up to 9.5% in sales tax in parts of Illinois. Therefore, a $100.00 shirt costs $109.50 to purchase. This is just sales tax. It does not include the gasoline and road taxes incorporated into the price of a gallon of fuel. It does not include the toll you paid if you drove on a Tollway to get to the store. You called the store on your way to check if the store was open cost you a tax and a fee. You left your home that is heavily taxed by a property tax to get to the store that also pays a property tax. The utilities that heat or cool your home and provide electricity, phone and internet service have taxes built into the cost we all pay.
The real cost of the $100.00 shirt is well over the $109.50 you give the store clerk. Mr. Cain wants to add another 9% sales tax. That increases the sales tax by $9.86 bringing the total price we will pay for the $100.00 shirt to $119.36. This brief analysis does not include the inevitable increase in sales taxes local governments and State governments will add right before the Cain tax takes affect while blaming Cain.
A $100.00 shirt now costs about 20% more under Cain’s tax. Put the analysis on paper when you are looking at buying your newly built $300,000.00 house or that new $35,000.00 Chevrolet.
I imagine every business that has to collect this new Cain tax, file reports and follow other government regulations will not do this for free. These businesses will add a new fee into every transaction. That increases the price of goods that in turn increases the amount of the tax we will pay. This rewards the government for inflation. The government projects its budget with rose colored glasses on, always expecting the most income. It cannot keep on budget if prices go down, thereby decreasing the amount of tax revenue. This will put the United States Government in the unenviable position of becoming friendly with inflation.
Just a couple of thoughts I had and you should too or at least think about.
BRUCE A. BRENNAN
DEKALB, IL 60115
COPYRIGHT 2011
VISIT ANY OF THE SITES LISTED FOR REVIEW, RESEARCH, ORDERING MY WRITING PRODUCTS OR TO CONTACT ME.
Email: brucebrennanlaw@aol.com
Go to web sites below to buy books by Bruce A. Brennan. It is still a good time to purchase any of my books. The books are interesting and inexpensive reads. My third book is now available. The title is Public EneMe?
www.barnesandnoble.com (do a quick search, Title, my name)
www.smashwords.com Do a Title or author search.
Book Titles:
Holmes the Ripper
A Revengeful Mix of Short Fiction
Public EneMe?
"The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office." - Robert Frost
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