What Shall We Bake Today?

Food 1 Minute

Today’s entry in the cookie parade is Oatmeal Raisin Cookies! I like my oatmeal raisin cookies soft and chewy and my tip below ensures they will be!

Ingredients

1 ¼ cups butter, softened to room temperature

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups flour 

1 teaspoon baking soda

3 cups old-fashioned whole rolled oats

1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350*. While the oven preheats, soak the raisins in very hot water (doesn’t have to be boiling).  Before you add them to the dough, strain the water off the raisins and use the back of a spoon to squeeze any excess water from the raisins.

Cream the butter with the sugars.  Add the egg and the vanilla. Mix the flour with the baking soda. Then add to first mixture.  Stir in the oatmeal and the raisins.  Bake for 8-9 minutes.

ENJOY!

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Published by pat frederick

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115 thoughts on “What Shall We Bake Today?”

    2. OK, how did they get hold of Wheezer ’cause that cat is the spitting image! Oh, wait….Wheezer is sitting on my patio right now! His twin, I guess!

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Good Morning, Pat and Filly,

    What a coincidence – I’ve been on an oatmeal raisin cookie binge, looking for the perfect oatmeal cookie, while Sally was in the hospital and ever since.

    The hospital had a pack of 3 and I guess I ate 3-4 packs while we were there that week.

    Publix Greenwise oatmeal raisin cookies are pretty good – made with real butter and natural ingredients.

    Pepperidge Farm Soft Baked are awful – limp and made with oils and have an off flavor.

    I bought Tate’s thin and crispy last and they are tasty, made with butter, but few raisins and no pecans.

    I still yearn for the homemade ones – may bake some for Christmas if I have time.

    My Christmas baking may be slim this year – no yeast bread coffee rings that I made for many years – but I promised Sally’s Dad I would make his favorite cookies that were his Mother’s recipe slice and bake pecan cookies – promised Sally I would make her some almond flour low carb chocolate chip cookie bars (recipe below) which were good too.

    I like ’em crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside. I always made the recipe on the Quaker box with chopped pecans. One of my cousins added chocolate chips and man those were good too.

    ——————— 

    LOW CARB CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

    Adapted from Toll House package recipe.

    INGREDIENTS:2 cups Almond flour1/2 cup plain flour2 Tbsp ground flax seed (optional)1 tsp baking soda1 tsp salt1 tsp vanilla1-1/4 cup Monk fruit sugar substitute (erythritol)1/4 cup brown sugar1 large egg12 oz package chocolate chips1-1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans – mix half in batter, sprinkle half on top and press in with rolling pin

    DIRECTIONS
    Set oven at 325-350º
    Spray jelly roll pan with Pam
    Mix all dry ingredients together
    Add butter and eggs
    Mix thoroughly
    Add chocolate chips and half the nuts
    Put dough into pan and spread out.
    Cover with plastic wrap
    Roll out with rolling pin under parchment sprayed with Pam
    Remove wrap, sprinkle remaining nuts evenly
    Recover with plastic wrap and gently roll the nuts into the dough
    Bake 20-30 minutes until tester comes out clean.
    For soft bars bake lower temp – less time – for crispy bars, bake higher temp – longer.

    Other options – Add 1/2 cup lightly chopped oatmeal and 1/4 cup plain flour to dry ingredients and 2/3 cup raisins to make Cowboy Cookie Bars.  

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Found the recipe – these are awesome – the cream of tartar makes the difference!

      Mama Smith’s Pecan Refrigerator Cookies

      Beat together:
      1-1/2 cups butter
      1 c. brown sugar
      1 c. white sugar
      2 eggs

      Whisk together:
      4 c. flour
      1 tdp baking soda
      1 tsp cream of tartar
      1/2 tsp salt 

      Mix sugar/egg and flour mixtures together.
      Add 2 c. chopped pecans.

      Roll into logs, wrap with plastic wrap or waxed paper,  refrigerate for a couple of hours or store in freezer until needed.

      Slice and bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Morning GA!
      these sounds delicious, but I have to ask an embarrassing question. most sugar substitutes give me gas–does anyone else find that too or am i a freak? lol
      I used all butter in everything i make for the last year. i used to use margarine in stuff till i saw what the heck margarine was.
      you can’t beat the taste of butter!
      and those slice and bake pecan cookies are now a family favorite as well!!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. For Sally’s low carb diabetic cookies I use part Monk’s fruit sugar… have you tried it? Some of the other fake sugar reviews said they were harmful.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. haven’t found that anywhere near me yet…but anything–even sugarless gum gives me gas so i avoid it.
          i would rather eat less of something awesome, than more of something so so.
          I am done with all my holiday baking–we had our family Christmas the weekend of your birthday. (it was the only weekend we all could get together.) I made a dozen different kinds of cookies and passed most of them out to family and friends.
          I still have some in my freezer for us.
          the only thing i didn’t make and will make just for us is homemade cinnamon buns. I’ll make those Christmas eve.

          Like

    3. FORGOT during my oatmeal cookie binge – at the Village grocer, I bought a couple of packs of Bud’s Best tiny oatmeal cookies that used to be pretty good – lots of raisins, made with oils, but this time they were so dry and hard and most of the cookies didn’t have any raisins. I even wrote the company and complained.

      So, I’ve been stuck on oatmeal raisin cookies for a while.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. OATMEAL RAISIN PECAN COOKIES

    https://aredspatula.com/oatmeal-raisin-pecan-cookies/

    1 cup softened butter

    1 cup brown sugar

    ¾ cup granulated sugar

    2 eggs

    2 teaspoons vanilla

    1 cup all-purpose flour

    ½ cup whole wheat flour 

    2 ¼ cup regular oats

    1 teaspoon cinnamon

    1 teaspoon baking powder (or half baking powder or cream of tartar, half baking soda)

    ½ teaspoon salt

    1 ¼ cup raisins

    1 ½ cup chopped pecans

    Optional – dark chocolate chips, chopped coconut, cranberries, etc.

    INSTRUCTIONS

    In a small bowl, mix the flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Set this aside. 

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

    Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. You don’t have to do this, but it makes cleanup so much easier. 

    In your stand mixer (this can also be done by hand), mix butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. 

    Mix for about 1 minute on medium speed, the mixture should be light and fluffy. Go 2 minutes if you need to. 

    Add in eggs and vanilla, then mix to combine. Next up is the flour mixture, pecans, and raisins. Mix again to combine. 

    Scoop onto your baking sheet. They will spread, so give a few inches between the cookies. I baked 12 per sheet pan. 

    Place in the preheated oven and bake. If you used the medium cookie scoop as I did, they should take about 12 minutes. You will want them to be just barely browned around the edges. 

    Bake as you like:

    Soft, chewy cookie – 12 minutes. 

    Chewy cookie – 16 minutes

    Crisp cookie -18 minutes. 

    Remove from oven. With a spatula, carefully move them from the pan to the cooling rack.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. hmmmm..i never put chopped cranberries in anything before. what kid of flavor do they bring? they seem hard in the store–do i soften them? chop them like i would nuts? or do i find them chopped in the store?

      Like

      1. I’d probably chop them. There are some Kitchen Sink Cookies at Fresh Market that have oatmeal, raisins, cranberries, coconut, white and dark chocolate chips, maybe nuts. You could go crazy and use caramel chips too…

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Morning All!

    we are sitting at 2* !!!!!!!

    we have errands to run this morning sometime–get a tree, maybe a seed feeder where we’re buying the tree. hubby lamented the chickadees are eating his ritz crackers…LOL

    then we’ll bring in firewood this afternoon when it’s supposed to be warmer.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Morning, Pat! I’ve got 28 on the thermometer and there is a thin (thankfully) sheet of ice over everything, with fog. Never did get any snow. Wheezer never showed yesterday but was waiting when I got up today.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Morning Filly!
        hubby says it will be warmer in the afternoon so we’ll be leaving soon to get the tree and stuff…maybe lunch. then home in the afternoon to load the truck with firewood and then stack it in the garage.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. HB and I visited Santa Claus Land in Santa Claus, IN when she was 4 years old. She had spent the summer in NE with my parents and we would always meet in IN to make the exchange for her to come home. On the trip back, we hit this place and then visited the Kentucky Horse Park on our way thru KY. I’ve got a bunch of pics still. I guess we visited at just the right time because later that year, the park was expanded and it became “Holiday World.”

        EXCERPT: “…So, What Happened To Santa Claus Land?

        As the park’s success continued to grow, so did the park.

        Knowing that they could celebrate more than the spirit of Christmas, the park expanded in 1984. Sections of the park opened for Halloween and 4th of July. With the new expansion came a new name, Holiday World….”

        https://holidayworld.com/2023/12/07/whatever-happened-to-santa-claus-land/

        Liked by 1 person

  8. These are really good cookies!

    GLORIA’S JAN HAGEL COOKIES

    Ingredients:

    1/2 lb – 2 sticks butter softened

    1 cup sugar – can use 1/2 brown sugar

    1 egg yolk

    1/2 tsp cinnamon

    2 cups plain flour

    1 egg white

    1 cup chopped pecans or sliced almonds

    Optional – 1/2 tsp almond flavor when using sliced almonds.

    Directions:

    Mix first 5 ingredients together and pat into jelly roll pan lightly greased with butter

    Brush with beaten egg white

    Sprinkle with nuts

    Bake 375º – 15-20 minutes until lightly browned

    Cut into squares or rectangles while warm.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. These are amazing cookie bars. Sold out every week at a friend’s restaurant.

    GRAHAM CHEWIES – PECAN BAR COOKIES

    Note: Adapted from “Celebrating With Julienne” by Susan Campoy. Campoy writes, “I adapted this recipe from one of my favorite books, ‘Nantucket Open-House Cookbook,’ by Sarah Leah Chase. I love watching people’s expressions when they bite into these bars for the first time. The textures and flavors — rich toffee, a chewy center and a crunchy bottom — make everyone smile. The secret is not to over-bake the crust. Serve them at room temperature, so the flavors meld together.”

    Crust
    3 cups graham cracker crumbs
    3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
    1/4 cup sugar
    2 tablespoons flour

    Topping
    2 1/2 cups brown sugar
    4 extra-large eggs
    2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
    1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    3/4 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon baking powder
    1 cup pecans, chopped
    Optional – chopped coconut flakes

    1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar and flour until moist and well-blended. Press the mixture firmly and evenly over the bottom of a 13-inch by 9-inch baking pan. Bake until the crust is golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes.

    2. While the crust is baking, in a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and eggs to blend. Whisk in the graham cracker crumbs, vanilla, salt and baking powder until well-blended. Stir in the pecans and coconut if desired.
    3. Spread the mixture over the baked crust and return to the 350-degree oven until the filling is dark-golden on top and jiggles slightly when tapped, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and cool completely.
    4. Sprinkle a light coating of sifted powdered sugar over the pan if desired, and cut into 24 bars.  Wrap in plastic and keep at room temperature up to 1 day in advance of serving.   To keep longer – store in refrigerator or freezer.  

    Each bar: 247 calories; 2 grams protein; 36 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber;11 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 50 mg. cholesterol; 184 mg. sodium.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. My favorite cookie ever – tastes just like Almond Roca candy.

    ALMOND ROCA COOKIE BARS

    Ingredients
    nonstick cooking spray (i use bakers joy for this recipe)
    1/2 cup brown sugar
    1/2 cup granulated sugar
    1 cup unsalted butter
    1 large egg yolk
    1/2 tsp salt
    1 tsp almond extract
    1 cup all-purpose flour (see note in recipe intro)
    1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (note: a 12oz bag has about 2 cups chips, and i usually use the entire bag for more chocolate flavor, but the original recipe called for 1 1/2 cups of chips)
    1/2 cup finely chopped almonds

    Directions
    1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 11×15-inch baking sheet (or jelly roll pan) with nonstick spray.
    2. Blend brown sugar, white sugar, butter and egg yolk until well combined. Add flour, salt and almond extract, and mix well.
    3. Add dough to baking sheet, and spread into even layer. Bake in oven for 25 minutes.
    4. Immediately after removing baking sheet from oven, spread chips overthe hot cookie base. As the chips melt, use a spatula to spread the meltedchocolate evenly over the cookies base. Sprinkle the almonds on top whilechocolate is still warm and melted. Let it cool

    HINT – Double the recipe and use the leftover egg whites for these:

    FORGOTTEN COOKIES

    Ingredients

    2 egg whites 

    1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

    1 pinch salt 

    1/4 tsp cream of tartar

    1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 

    1 cup chopped pecans

    ¼ cup white sugar

    Directions

    Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C).

    Beat egg whites with the salt and cream of tartar until foamy. Slowly add sugar, one tablespoonful at a time, beating after each addition until the meringue stands in stiff peaks.

    Stir in vanilla and fold in chocolate chips and pecans. Drop by teaspoonfuls on a lined baking sheet and place in preheated oven.

    After 2 minutes, turn off oven. Leave cookies in oven overnight. Remove from pan and store in cookie tin lined with paper towel.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. oh my goodness!
      hubby told me about cookies his mom made and left int he oven overnight! we couldn’t find a recipe in her box when she passed that had those directions–this must be it!!!
      THANK YOU!!
      gotta try these for him!

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Morning, GA! Kinda reminds me of the water pie….I’ll bet there are all kinds of oldtimers’ tricks that have been lost to history.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. 6.5 MILLION people on SS who are 112 yrs old?????

    Feisty Hayseed
    Feisty Hayseed
    December 14, 2024 12:50 am

    $1.3. Billion to dead people
    

    You don’t have to be Euclid to figure out that when the government sends money to dead people, it’s fraud.

    But this abuse is easily solved. Here’s how: pic.twitter.com/DUURZlFVhf

    — John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) December 13, 2024

    Liked by 1 person

  15. interesting. this video claims to be a radar guy–knows what he’s talking about…etc etc etc
    the reason jd rucker (?) brings it is because after it was posted and some saw it, it was removed and the author of the video was removed. so make of it what you will…
    (spoiler alert–they think they’re “space force” drones and there’s gonna be a show…)

    https://rumble.com/v5yzqp5-25-year-radar-operator-claims-to-know-what-the-drones-are.html?e9s=src_v1_upp

    Liked by 1 person

        1. Oh, there’s NO doubt in my mind that it’s our government but there are sooooo many secret agencies/departments, who can say which one???

          Liked by 1 person

  16. This POS is one that I REALLY despise!!!

    “JUST IN: Joe Biden is “NOT READY” to order drone takedowns, John Kirby says

    Meanwhile, Trump says SHOOT DOWN THE DRONES if they can’t be identified.

    KIRBY: “We know people are afraid. We know people have concerns. We have those same concerns.”

    Kirby said not even drones that are stalking Coast Guard ships off the coast of the U.S. will be taken down. The messaging coming from the White House, FBI, DHS, and military on this issue is INCREDIBLY inconsistent.

    If they actually DON’T KNOW whose drones they are or what their intentions are… TAKE THEM OUT!”

    https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1867700665260323237

    https://redstate.com/wardclark/2024/12/13/still-more-on-the-east-coast-drone-saga-and-the-president-elect-chimes-in-n2183191

    Liked by 1 person

  17. hmmmmmm

    Bessie2003
    December 14, 2024 9:32 am

    This X post makes a good case as to why now for drones:

    The “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018” expires on December 20th of this year.

    So the Federal Government is literally using a terrorism drone mystery psyop against you to manipulate Congress into passing the new H.R.8610 (Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and…

    — Wyatt (@austerrewyatt1) December 14, 2024

    It says “The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018” expires on December 20th of this year.

    “So the Federal Government is literally using a terrorism drone mystery psyop against you to manipulate Congress into passing the new H.R. 8610 (Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act of 2024) which will include appropriations and enhanced government powers to control you, and they’re even going so far as to use it to push for acts of war against other countries.

    “This is directly related to the Smith-Mundt Act being repealed, which prohibited the government from broadcasting propaganda.”

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Oh, my! When you listen to the kid’s tone, it’s pretty clear she is stressing “Christmas,” as if to specifically counter Jill’s happy “holidays!”

    EXCERPT: “….On Friday, the White House held a “Toys for Tots” event at the White House. That’s an event they have conducted for years as part of the Marine Corps Reserve campaign. So there were several dozen kids from military families, who were at the White House to be involved in the event to help sort the toys for kids in need. 

    Jill was waving and saying hello to the children, flanked by a Marine. But when she said, “Hello kids. Happy holidays,” she got a very loud response she might not have expected from some of the children.

    https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/1867623351562219970

    “Happy Christmas!” one child trumpeted, then a chorus of children chimed in.

    She seemed surprised, but responded, “Happy Christmas, yes.” But you could see her pursing her lips at the end of that clip, so she didn’t look exactly happy at the children’s response. That prompted many on X to laugh at the kids putting Jill Biden on the spot. 

    Jill Biden also got some criticism online over the carnival nature of some of the decorations…..”

    https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2024/12/13/watch-childrens-response-to-jill-biden-n2183185

    Liked by 1 person

  19. EXCERPT: “The annual “Shop With a Cop” Christmas event happened this week and will continue over the next two weeks, in cities and counties across America. In most instances, police departments and retailers have been collaborating for decades, and work to make each year better than the last. This partnership with local law enforcement and local business helps the needy and at-risk children in their community and is the subject of this week’s Feel-Good Friday. 

    Big thanks to our own “Salieri” who discovered this was a thing in his neck of the woods, and thought it should be replicated. Little did we know it was already!

    Shop With a Cop is a 501(c)3 organization that gives law enforcement an opportunity to be the face of charity and goodwill to children who otherwise would not have a very Merry Christmas….”  

    “Strike a pose! Officer Warner and his new partner in style bring the holiday spirit to #NLVPD’s Shop with a Cop event. Cuteness overload🥰”

    The events always start with the breaking of bread. In Cache Valley, Utah, the North Park Sheriff’s Office Explorers Post served breakfast to the cops and kids who were participating.

    There was a season full of smiles Saturday morning, as law enforcement agencies from throughout Cache Valley joined forces for their annual Shop with a Cop event. The yearly tradition gave 50 children the chance to choose Christmas gifts for themselves and their families, with the help of officers, deputies, and volunteers.

    North Park Police Chief Kent Goodrich was again the lead organizer of this year’s event and worked with the Family Place to select the children. He said the program not only helps families in need, but also builds friendships between the kids and law enforcement.

    “Some of these kid’s futures are bleak at times,” explained Goodrich, “with what they are going through, like medical problems or financial problems. It is so beyond what our normal day to day worries and struggles are, it just pales in comparison.”

    The kids who were chosen this year were invited to the Cache County Sheriff’s Office, where they were first partnered with a law enforcement member. They then had a chance to eat breakfast together, complete with scrambled eggs, waffles, bacon and hash browns, served by the Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post.

    Kitsap County, Washington, has been doing Shop With a Cop for 20 years, and created this congratulatory video featuring the chief of police and the local LEOs, as well as the children (now adults) who were blessed to be a part of the program in the past, sharing their experiences.

    WATCH: 

    It’s a worthy program which relies solely on donations from the community. In some cases, the abundance is so huge that police departments can increase the number of children who can take part– and even supply extras for the children’s families, as happened in Cache Valley, UT….”

    https://redstate.com/jenniferoo/2024/12/13/feel-good-friday-the-shop-with-a-cop-program-transforms-the-christmas-holiday-for-kids-in-need-n2183194

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Just The News: “Following through on a pledge she made months ago, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg on Friday announced her office was seeking the death penalty in the prosecution of two illegal foreign nationals from Venezuela now charged with the capital murder of a 12-year-old Houston girl.

    On June 17, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray’s body was found in a bayou under a bridge in north Houston. The cause of death was strangulation but her body was found bound, without clothing from the waist down. Forensic evidence was collected to ascertain if she was sexually assaulted. According to the assistant district attorney prosecuting the case, the perpetrators threw her body into the bayou to get rid of DNA evidence, The Center Square reported.

    At the time, Ogg said strangulation didn’t carry the death penalty sentence but if forensic evidence came back to “support a charge of sexual assault or should other evidence brought forward that supports the charge of kidnapping, both underlying offenses would make this capital murder and these individuals death penalty eligible,” Ogg said.

    Ogg this week confirmed the evidence proved Nungaray was sexually assaulted, amended the charges to capital murder and is now seeking the death penalty against Venezuelans Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and Franklin Pena.

    A formal notice was filed with both defendants and their attorneys and with Judge Josh Hill’s 232nd District Court of the intent to seek the death penalty.

    “Martinez-Rangel, 22, and Pena, 26, are each charged with capital murder and are being held in the Harris County Jail. According to the charges, the two men kidnapped, sexually assaulted and strangled the girl before leaving her partially nude body in shallow water below a bridge in the 400 block of West Rankin Road,” Ogg’s announcement states.

    Ogg also notes that the Venezuelans illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico and were detained and released by Border Patrol agents. At least one was still wearing an ankle monitor at the time of his arrest.

    “Jocelyn’s murder was as vile, brutal and senseless as any case in my tenure as district attorney,” Ogg said. “And it was made worse by knowing that these two men were here illegally and, had they been held after being captured at the border, they would never have had the opportunity to murder Jocelyn and destroy her family’s future.”

    Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican from Houston who leads the Senate, has said he will prioritize two legislative reforms next year. One includes bail reform and a constitutional amendment requiring bail to be denied to all accused of capital murder. The other is to amend state law to make the murder of any child under age 15 a death penalty eligible offense. Currently, the age specification in the bill is 10 years-old and younger.

    Ogg made the announcement after another Houston girl was allegedly killed by another Venezuelan man in the country illegally, The Center Square reported.

    Under the Biden administration, more than 1 million illegal border crossers from Venezuela have been reported, The Center Square exclusively reported, and a violent Venezuelan gang expanded in major cities in Texas resulting in a multi-agency operation to target them.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Strangulation doesn’t carry the DP? Why the h-e-double toothpicks not?!?! It still pisses me off that murderers live out their lives on the backs of the taxpayers! This is just flat out wrong!

      Here’s an idea: as a part of their sentence, all of the prisoners housed in any specific prison should be required to work….and I mean WORK…..to earn enough to operate that prison. No more taxpayer $$$’s!!! If that means chain gang-type scenarios, so be it! We need a BUNCH of Sheriff Joes!!!

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Just The News: “Another longtime Texas Democrat has switched parties, joining the Republican Party, this time in the border county of Webb. Webb County flipped red in November, joining other border counties that flipped red for the first time in over 100 years, The Center Square reported. The region has been a Democratic stronghold since Texas became a state in 1836. The majority of residents and voters in south Texas are Hispanic. For the first time in Texas history, nearly all border counties voted for Donald Trump, including Webb County.

    Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina this week announced he was leaving the Democratic Party, saying like many others before him that “the party left me, and the people of South Texas, behind.” In a Facebook post, he said, “As Webb County Judge, I have fought to protect our shared values here in South Texas – hard work, faith, family, and freedom. Unfortunately, the radical National Democrat party no longer stands for these values, and I want to be a part of a party that not only stands for these values but also protects them.

    “South Texas spoke loudly in the last election, with President Trump winning Webb County. Now and always, I am standing with my fellow South Texans, proudly declaring that I no longer want to be associated with the radical national Democrats. I will continue to fight for what matters most in our community in order to build a bright future for South Texas.”

    In response, Gov. Greg Abbott said, “This is excellent. Democrats in South Texas are switching to the party that aligns with their values – the Republican Party. South Texas Hispanics in particular are joining the party of faith, family, freedom & common sense – the Republican Party. Welcome!”

    In an interview with Fox News, Tijerina said he left the Democratic Party because over the years he saw it drift “further left, embracing policies that don’t reflect the values of our community,” adding that the “radicalization” of the party “pushed me away a long time ago.” Tijerina highlighted issues of importance to him and his constituents. “We need to have border security,” he said, in a county where law enforcement is participating in Abbott’s border security mission, Operation Lone Star.

    A recent poll found that the majority of Hispanic Texans surveyed want illegal border crossers deported. U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, a Republican from Edinburg, has long argued that President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party doesn’t understand Hispanic Texans living in border communities. “Parents want the best for our children, but under Biden everything is more difficult at the border,” she said earlier this year. “We see the disaster that Biden has caused. At the beginning of his term, he stopped enforcing the laws and now the cartels and many criminals enter our country. … What’s humane about allowing someone to kill our people? Republicans want to stop this.”

    Tijerina also took issue with the Biden administration attacking the oil and gas industry, saying, “The oil and gas industry has been threatened here in South Texas.” The industry is leading U.S. oil and natural gas production and job creation. Major projects in south Texas include expanding the port of Brownsville for liquified natural gas exports, extensive infrastructure and other support jobs for the industry in the region, The Center Square reported.

    Tijerina also pushed back against “the woke movements,” including boys playing in girls’ sports, which Hispanic Texans overwhelming oppose.

    The Democratic Party’s chair was forced to resign after devastating losses in November and after he argued the party went too far pushing a transgender agenda, The Center Square reported. Multiple high-level Texas Democrats also endorsed U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Houston Republican, also claiming the Democratic Party no longer represented their values. Texas border counties also overwhelmingly voted for Cruz.

    Tijerina joins former state Rep. Shawn Thierry of Houston, who left the Democratic Party in August and who also said the party left her and embraced a radical, far left agenda. Thierry took a stand against a medical industry profiting off of gender mutilation of minors, voting with Republicans to ban the practice in Texas.

    Last year, Dallas’s former mayor, Eric Johnson, also left the Democratic Party citing fiscal responsibility, as did State Rep. Ryan Guillen from Rio Grande City in Starr County. Starr County also flipped in November, voting for Trump, and for a Republican for the first time in 132 years.”

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Just The News: “A federal judge in Florida on Friday ordered President-elect Donald Trump to give an in-person deposition for his libel lawsuit against the ABC next week. Trump filed the lawsuit against the network earlier this year after ABC News Host George Stephanopoulos claimed on air that Trump raped writer E. Jean Carroll, despite him never being convicted of rape. Carroll did win a civil sexual abuse case against Trump last year, but the jury did not determine that Trump’s conduct amounted to rape.

    Miami-based U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid on Friday said Trump and Stephanopoulos will both give depositions next week, which will both be limited to four hours. But Trump is the only one who has been ordered to do so in person. Stephanopoulos’ legal team can decide whether its client will be in-person or virtual.

    Trump defamation lawsuit.pdf

    “The parties are reminded that the Court ‘has already granted a lengthy discovery period . . . and, with Election Day now behind us, there is no reason for any further delay,’” Reid wrote in the order. “The parties shall continue to meet and confer regarding their remaining discovery disputes.”

    Trump previously claimed that “Stephanopoulos’ false, defamatory, and misleading statements about Plaintiff immediately spread like wildfire, as numerous third parties and media outlets repeated and reposted them to countless viewers.” 

    The case is just one of several libel lawsuits that Trump has filed against media outlets in the past four years. Trump can still decide to drop the lawsuits in order to focus on his upcoming administration, but a representative last week said the former president intends to continue with cases, according to Politico.”

    Liked by 1 person

  23. NF: IMO, we need more states to file such lawsuits to get this to SCOTUS. 10th Amendment, people!!!!

    Just The News: “Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday sued a New York doctor for allegedly breaking state law by prescribing medication for abortions to Texans through telehealth appointments. The lawsuit faces a tough legal challenge because New York has a shield law that protects doctors from prosecutions and investigations in other states if they prescribe abortion medication. But both surgical and medication abortions are illegal in Texas.

    Paxton accused New York physician Margaret Daley Carpenter of prescribing and sending abortion medication in a telehealth appointment to a 20-year-old pregnant woman in Collin County, Texas. The drugs later caused an “adverse event” that resulted in the patient needing a medical abortion.

    The patient was allegedly sent two boxes of abortion medication and instructions on how to administer it. The two boxes were of mifepristone, which stops the pregnancy from continuing and misoprostol, which causes cramping and bleeding to empty the uterus, according to The Hill. 

    The patient allegedly started to bleed heavily in July and asked the father of the unborn baby for a ride to the hospital, where the father was told the mother “was experiencing a hemorrhage or heavy bleeding as she ‘had been’ nine weeks pregnant,” according to the lawsuit. It is not clear whether the mother had any lasting issues from the abortion.

    Paxton is asking the court for an injunction that bans Carpenter from providing abortion care to patients in Texas, and for her to pay at least $100,000 for every violation of Texas state law. It is not clear how many times she violated the law.

    New York Attorney General Letitia James promised to protect the doctor from prosecution in a statement. “Abortion is, and will continue to be, legal and protected in New York. As other states move to attack those who provide or obtain abortion care, New York is proud to be a safe haven for abortion access,” James said. “We will never cower in the face of intimidation or threats.”  

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Sounds like a good idea to me – by the time Trump is sworn in on the 20th, they can have some bills already approved for signature.

    Just The News: “The House Freedom Caucus Board of Directors on Friday sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, proposing House Republicans pass two separate reconciliation packages early next month.

    The caucus emphasized the importance of passing President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda in the early days of the legislative year. Republicans will have control of the House, Senate, and the executive branch in January.

    The board said that the first priority needs to be on the border, in order to quickly start undoing the “damage caused by the Biden Administration.” But that a second larger package on Trump’s other policies should follow.

    “President Trump’s agenda will be enacted, and border security must move first – and then we should move forward to a second, larger reconciliation bill covering taxes, spending, energy, bureaucracy, and more,” the letter said. “The House Republican Conference should ensure President Trump can deliver on this critical America First agenda priority as soon as he is sworn into office.”

    The board claimed the suggestions would be a “critical first step” in their leadership next Congress. The House and Senate are expected to be sworn in on Jan. 3, while Trump will officially be inaugurated on Jan. 20. 

    The Senate will then have the important task of vetting and confirming Trump’s next administration.”

    Liked by 1 person

  26. “Four Pillars of Government Control: Are All Four Beginning to Crumble?”

    Erik Carlson, Dec 14, 2024

    EXCERPT: “In my opinion, the four pillars of government control include the health care system, mainstream media, the financial system and the election system.

    These four pillars support the structure that all Americans live under. Being confined to this structure means no one is truly free. Awake, asleep, wherever one may be in the process, we are all controlled to some extent by these systems. One pillar or even two pillars may not impact you as much as it impacts someone else, but there is no way of completely escaping the control of all four pillars.

    Maybe if you cut down trees and built a cabin deep in the forest somewhere and lived completely off of the land and off the grid, but obviously very few live their lives this way.

    With these four pillars firmly in place, the roof that all Americans live under maintains its structural integrity. If these four pillars start to crack, with visual signs of cracking and even audible signs, the people will no longer trust this structure that they believe gives them protection, and will quickly run from it, anticipating its collapse.

    In late 2024, this structure is not only showing signs of cracking, but the structure is beginning to shift. If I was to put an order to how these four pillars were built, I would start with the healthcare system, then the financial system, followed by the election system and finally the mainstream media. This isn’t to say that all four areas were taken under control independently, but rather there are defining moments where one can see obvious turning points in each system.

    For the healthcare industry, the turning point could be seen as when the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research was founded in 1901. For the financial industry, 1913 stands out, when the Federal Reserve, the IRS and income tax were implemented. In 1960, the US Presidential Election was stolen, and in the 1960s, the CIA started Operation Mockingbird, where they began funding media members to promote CIA talking points. One could argue that the control of the media goes back to 1911, when the first Hollywood studio was built, and I have no idea how far back election tampering goes—probably back to the very beginning.

    If anyone believes there was ever a time in America when propaganda wasn’t being used on its people, consider Benjamin Franklin.

    Franklin owned multiple newspapers and used various aliases and pseudonyms to put forth different and opposing talking points. In some cases, he even used aliases to argue back and forth with himself on subject matters. Franklin may have been the original Fed Boy, as we know, who went on to march in support of white supremacy, stormed the Capital on J6, and plotted the kidnapping of Michigan’s governor Gretchen Whitmer.

    The Healthcare System……

    The Financial System……

    The Election System……

    The Mainstream Media……”

    “….As we witness the rats jumping ship and the cockroaches scurrying to holes in the wall, they are not attempting to save the systems they represent, as those systems are unsalvageable, they are merely attempting to save themselves. Scratch and claw as they may, they will not avoid the punishment that awaits them.

    The healthcare, financial, media and election systems will be rebuilt, better than ever before. They will be rebuilt to serve Americans, not control them, which is something we’ve never known before. The best is yet to come.”

    https://badlands.substack.com/p/four-pillars-of-government-control

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Just The News: “Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s spokesperson on Saturday confirmed that she underwent successful hip surgery while in Germany.

    “Earlier this morning, Speaker Emerita Pelosi underwent a successful hip replacement and is well on the mend,” spokesperson Ian Krager said in a statement, according to The Hill. “Speaker Pelosi is grateful to U.S. military staff at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center at Landstuhl Army Base and medical staff at Hospital Kirchberg in Luxembourg for their excellent care and kindness,” the statement continued. 

    He added that Pelosi has been thankful for all the support and prayers.

    On Friday, Pelosi was hospitalized after sustaining an injury in Luxembourg during an event marking the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Her injury comes in the wake of former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sustaining an unrelated injury via a fall after a lunch meeting this week.”

    Liked by 1 person

  29. “The premier of the Canadian province of Ontario, suggested retaliating against possible tariffs that President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose on products from Canada.

    During a meeting on Wednesday with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers, Ford predicted that there is a “100%” chance that Trump will make good on his pledge to slap a 25% tariff on all products that are imported from north of the border.

    So, aside from maple syrup and some lumber, what else do we have to worry about if this guy does a quid-pro-quo?“

    Liked by 1 person

  30. “New Jersey’s largest utility has asked the feds to halt all air traffic over two of its nuclear power plants — after drones were spotted over the sensitive sites, The Post has learned. Congressman Fred Van Drew (R-NJ) confirmed to The Post that PSE&G filed the request with the Federal Aviation Administration on Friday. The rare appeal comes amid a spate of mysterious drone sightings across the Garden State as well as in parts of Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island.”

    “A Navy weapons station in New Jersey confirmed there have been “multiple” instances of drones entering its airspace as the mystery deepens over the origin of the flying devices. “While no direct threats to the installation have been identified, we can confirm multiple instances of unidentified drones entering the airspace above Naval Weapons Station Earle,” Bill Addison, public affairs officer for the naval station, told The Post.”

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Just The News: “President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday announced that TRUTH Social CEO Devin Nunes will be appointed as Chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.

    “I am pleased to announce that I will appoint Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes as Chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, which consists of distinguished citizens from outside of the Federal Government,” Trump wrote on TRUTH Social.

    Nunes is a former California congressman and currently is the CEO of Trump’s media group TRUTH Social. 

    “While continuing his leadership of Trump Media & Technology Group, Devin will draw on his experience as former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and his key role in exposing the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, to provide me with independent assessments of the effectiveness and propriety of the U.S. Intelligence Community’s activities. Congratulations Devin!” Trump’s post concluded.”

    Liked by 1 person

  32. “At the age of 86 when breaking the record, Quaas was a regular competitor in the amateur competition Landes-Seniorenspiele (State Senior Games) in Saxony.”

    When cars were easy to work on….

    Liked by 1 person

  35. “Bio-Military Drones”

    Clandestine, Dec 14, 2024

    “Food for thought: In 2022, Russian MIL claimed they found nefarious drones and plans at conquered Ukrainian military installations.

    The plans showed that the US/Ukraine were spreading disease via drones carrying pathogens in water particles, sprayed via 30L aerosol canisters.

    I have no evidence to suggest this is what’s happening in NJ, nor do I think this is what’s happening, but anytime I see odd drone usage, this is always lurking in the back of my mind. Governments, or even private NGOs, have the capability to easily spread disease, in the same way farmers spray their crops with pesticides, via aerosol drone.

    To be clear, I’m not saying this is what I think is happening, but just something to keep on your radar as a potential application of military drones.

    This evidence was submitted to the UN by Russian MIL, and oddly enough, they cite a CBC hit piece about me, as an example of the West trying to cover this up.

    CBC called it a “Qanon conspiracy theory,” but I got all the information from the official US embassy DTRA page.”

    Liked by 1 person

          1. my leather work gloves are great in the summer for wood, but they get cold and stiff in the bitter cold. i gotta look for better winter weather work gloves. when i came in, it felt like my fingertips were on fire and i know that’s not good.

            Liked by 1 person

  37. more thoughts on the drones

    Cadence calls

    Cadence calls

    December 14, 2024 1:34 pm

    Reply to  trapper

    Hpge gamma ray detection drones.
    They are deployed from the naval air base in NJ.
    They will be used to survey an area when a dirty bomb is used against us.
    And dirty bombs are a likely mass casualty weapon to be used on the CONUS.
    This is a test.
    Its why they fly with lights on and none are being taken out.

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969804323000301

    Cadence calls

    December 14, 2024 1:41 pm

    Reply to  Cadence calls

    The equipment is very heavy, and requires liquid nitrogen cooling.
    The article link shows smaller drones used in development
    The larger drones are being used because they can carry bigger batteries , loiter longer, and support the comm systems needed.
    Thats what they are

    Liked by 1 person

    1. zephyrbreeze

      December 14, 2024 1:33 pm

      Reply to  zephyrbreeze

      Here’s a clip of Mayorkas saying we can’t do anything about the drones unless the government passes legislation.

      Oh, and he gaslights by saying that people are seeing small planes and commercial drones you can buy at a convenience store??? !!!!!

      Yah. Kind of like how there was also nothing he could do about giving more Secret Service protection to President Trump when he decided to DENY more protection when it was requested by Trump’s campaign?

      Alejandro Mayorkas is a criminal who belongs in prison. https://t.co/OGwCCCdW3v

      — Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) December 14, 2024

      Liked by 1 person

  38. “Iran’s New, Massive Tender Ship for Drones Left Port in November. Where Is It Now?”

    By Ward Clark | 2:51 PM on December 14, 2024

    AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File

    EXCERPT: “Iran’s navy is generally worth pointing and laughing at, compared to the United States Navy, even as diminished as that service has been over the last few years. But Iran has been leaning into drone technology lately – and we have mysterious drones buzzing around some of the states surrounding the nation’s capital.

    On Saturday, we learn that the Shahid Bagheri, Iran’s new, large drone tender ship, left port in November. Satellite photos spotted it in the Persian Gulf on Thursday. 

    The question is this: Where is it now?

    A newly minted and massive Iranian drone carrier was captured in new satellite images sailing in the Persian Gulf this week — the ship’s first reported sighting since leaving its home port for the first time in mid-November.

    The satellite images taken Thursday by commercial operator Maxar Technologies shows three Iranian drone ships in the waters off the country’s coast as theories have swirled in the US that Iran could be behind the mysterious drone sightings across the tri-state area, according to Business Insider.

    Iran’s new carrier — the Shahid Bagheri — is a converted shipping container that was outfitted to support drone operations and was last seen on Nov. 12, when it was captured by satellite imagery sitting in Bandar Abbas, the report said.

    Now, with regards to our own East Coast drone mystery: If this was indeed the Shahid Bagheri spotted in the Persian Gulf on Thursday, it stands to reason that Iran has not launched the mysterious drones – from this ship. But is it the only one?….”

    https://redstate.com/wardclark/2024/12/14/irans-drone-tender-ship-has-left-port-where-is-it-now-n2183218

    Liked by 1 person

  42. “On The Myriad Of UFO Reports Across The Country—Hysteria aside…”

    Jordan Sather, Dec 14, 2024

    Rumble video: UFO/Drone hysteria is turning people’s brains to mush

    EXCERPT: “Lots of activity in the skies these days – or at least that’s what it appears. Numerous drones (or something of the sort) seen over New Jersey, photos taken over Boise, pilots witnessing craft over the Oregon Coast – the last few weeks has created many new skywatchers peering at mysterious sky objects, yet we can’t seem to get any straight answers about them from… anyone. That may be because no one has any real clue what’s going on, or there are multiple operations in play all kept hidden from each other – not to mention the hysteria has people thinking they’re seeing things they aren’t.

    Let’s dive into the various aspects of this “UFOs EVERYWHERE1” scenario we’re seeing unfold, beginning with:

    1) More Reports Doesn’t Necessarily Mean More Craft….

    2) Misconstrued Sightings and Clickbait (Non-UFOs Perceived As UFOs)….

    3) New Craft Testing (Conventional Propulsion)….

    4) Foreign Drones or Space Force ops – Stories from Anonymous Sources (MSM & Alt)….

    5) Nuclear/EMP Sniffers….

    6) UFOs w/ Exotic Propulsion Systems – But Who’s?….

    7) Blue Beam….

    Final thoughts: So what in tarnation do we have going on here?

    Quite frankly I think, in my shitty opinion, what we’re dealing with are aerial platforms from a variety of different groups and/or programs. If one group starts testing some craft or running operations, it gives cover to other groups to start running their own tests or ops, even if these groups aren’t connected or in contact. We could have one group running basic tests of drones, another conducted more sensitives ops, and heck – maybe some of the flying saucers are getting into the mix, too.

    It’s notable that most of these sightings are taking place over New Jersey, but not all of them are. Then you add in the “nothing to see here” from our government and military, along with the confusion. That confusion may very well stem from the fact that, well, they are confused, because we could have multiple covert operations going on that don’t know about each other, and these government agencies don’t want to share information with each other.

    Another point to note is that we wouldn’t be seeing or hearing about these drones if the government/military didn’t want us to know about it. They want these things to be seen, or just don’t care if they are. But this is assuming that these craft are coming from our own military, which they may or may not be.

    If they are foreign drones, then the implications of that mean that some groups within our own government or military may be letting this happen. With all of our sophisticated equipment and satellite intelligence platforms, it would be odd that a “drone mothership” parked off the coast wouldn’t be spotted and dealt with by our military – unless they are purposefully missing it.

    All in all, it’s probably a mostly nothing burger story being used as a helluva distraction piece. Mostly VTOL craft being tested, with maybe a few other craft thrown into the mix. Media loves it because it offers good clicks.

    Although questions remain – what are they and who is piloting? What about the other sightings on the West Coast? Why is the government and military playing us for stupid? We may learn more, or we may not. We’ll see if it fades into oblivion – or if they ramp it up before the end of the year.”

    https://jordansather.substack.com/p/on-the-myriad-of-ufo-reports-across

    Liked by 1 person

  46. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

    Like

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