Blessings
Grant me a sense of humor, Lord, 
The saving grace to see a joke, 
To win some happiness from life, 
And pass it on to other folks. 
Irish Proverbs
May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart and home
Jokes
When Clinton visited the Pope, he noticed a red phone on a small table in the corner of the office.
After several minutes of conversation, Clinton asked the Pope what the red phone was.
The Holy Father told him that it was a very special phone with a direct line to God. However, the Pope told Clinton he rarely used it because it cost $20,000 a minute from the Vatican.
Clinton accepted this explanation without another thought.
Later, when Clinton visited Ireland, he saw another red phone in the Archbishops office. Being curious, Clinton asked the Archbishop what it was used for.
The Archbishop told Clinton it was a direct line to God, and he used it whenever he had a puzzling question or concern.
Clinton asked if the calls were quite expensive since the Pope had to pay $20,000 a minute when he used his red phone in the Vatican.
"Oh no," replied the Archbishop, "In Ireland it's a local call."
 

 
Chocolate Bread Pudding with Strawberry Sauce
Ingredients
  • 5 ounces dark chocolate
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons superfine sugar
  • 1/4 pound unsalted butter cut into small pieces
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 4 eggs; separated
  • 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
  • 1 1/4 pounds strawberries; hulled
  • 2 tablespoons brandy
Method

Finely chop chocolate in a food processor. Heat cream in a heavy saucepan until it begins to bubble. 
With the motor running, pour hot cream over chopped chocolate and process until smooth. Add 1/4 cup sugar, butter, vanilla and egg yolks one at a time, processing after each addition until mixed thoroughly. 
Combine bread crumbs and chocolate mixture in a bowl. 
Preheat oven to 350°F. 
Butter bottom and sides of an 8 inch soufflé dish or deep cake pan. 
Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar. 
Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, beating until glossy. 
Gently fold whites into chocolate mixture until combined. 
Transfer to prepared pan and place in a larger roasting pan. 
Pour in enough hot water to come halfway up sides of cake pan and bake 45-50 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean when inserted in center. 
Cool in pan 10 minutes before turning out on a serving platter. 
Prepare strawberry sauce by combining half the strawberries with 2 tablespoons sugar and brandy in a blender until smooth. 
Transfer to a saucepan over low heat and bring to a simmer. 
Remove from heat and stir in remaining
strawberries. 
Cook gently until warmed through. 
Serve bread pudding with strawberry sauce. 

Yield: Serves 8 people. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

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