Did You Know? Anna and the King of Siam.

I subscribe to How To Geek and every so often they come up with some information I find particularly fascinating.

In 1972, a young Serbian flight attendant, Vesna Vulović, fell 33,330 feet (10,160 meters) when JAT Flight 367 was ripped apart by a terrorist bomb. Although she suffered multiple broken bones, spent ten days in a coma, and was temporarily paralyzed from the waist down as she recovered from her injuries, she went on to live into her sixties. She holds the Guinness world record for surviving the highest fall without a parachute.

We watched Anna and the King of Siam this evening, I have seen it before, it was made in 1946 in black and white with Rex Harrison playing the King and Irene Dunne as Anna. I had forgotten how good it was. Although I have always loved the musical, The King and I, it was somewhat unrealistic and the early film conveys many years of Anna living in Siam and also covers the death of her young son. I read the book as a teenager and over the years have improved my knowledge by reading her own memoirs (a very Victorian lady) where her views of the Siamese people were somewhat prejudiced but typical of that era. I remember the first time I saw this older version of the story I was somewhat shocked seeing Rex Harrison as the King but he actually did an excellent job. Seeing it tonight I hadn't realised how much of the old film had been used for The King and I. Funny this is in colour but the movie was not.

My first game today at bowling was pretty lousy, however the other two were reasonably good. I hope I will be better on Monday, when it counts.

When I was in the Dominican Republic, I couldn't get enough of Fried Plantains. I tried to make them at home but it didn't work. From this recipe it would appear I should have flattened them. Having come across this recipe I thought I would share it.

Tostones (Fried Plantains)

"A Puerto Rican side, usually served with rice and beans in our family."

2 cups vegetable oil for frying
3 plantains, peeled and sliced into 1-inch pieces
salt to taste
garlic powder to taste

1. Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Place a few plantain slices in the oil, and cook until lightly golden in color, about three minutes. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining slices.

2. While the plantain slices are still warm, place them one at a time between two sheets of wax paper, and flatten by hand to 1/4 inch thick. Return flattened slices to the skillet, and continue frying until golden brown. Drain on paper towels, and season with salt and garlic powder.


Author: Melanie
Source: AllRecipes

Have a great day