Thursday, December 30, 2010

Skype for iPhone updates to 3.0, adds video calling

In a move that's sure to make users stand up and say "Hallelujah," the latest update to the Skype app for iPhone finally adds video calling.

it seems like this will be one of the stories to follow in 2011. the rapid adoption (or not) of video calling. I would have to vote it will take off at this point.

Key barriers so far being mobile 3g calls being prevented for the defacto standard iphone and facetime. Here the leader in PC based calls, get that barrier removed for mobile calls.

Let's hope we can avoid "net neutrality" from killing this.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Christmas Goodie, and Top Secret Ohio Recipe, Buckeyes

Several of you have requested the recipe for the buckeyes I made this week. 
I make them every year, and they are usually well received.

step one make the middle part:
Combine:
4 sticks of butter,
4 cups of peanut butter 
in a pot over medium low heat.
stir until all are melted together.

pour mixture into large mixing bowl and fold in 
2 lbs of confectioners sugar.

that completes the middle portion of the buckeyes.
set that aside for the moment..

Step two make the chocolate coating
in a double boiler
melt 1 bag of chocolate chips
with 1 block of parafin wax

Step 3 make batter into ball shapes
the product from step one should have the consistency of fresh playdoh about now.
if not mix in more butter or sugar carefully to get the right texture
once the texture is right
set out sheets of wax paper
form the dough into small approx 1 inch diameter balls.
and set on the sheet.

this takes a while.

Step 4 coat in chocolate.
for this step some people use a tooth pick,
I prefer to use "corn on the cob" holders.
spear a ball from the wax paper
and dip the lower two thirds into the chocolate
then place it on the paper to cool.

this step also take a while, and you may need to put the chocolate back over the heat to keep the layers from getting to thick as you go

Step 5 chill or eat.
they are pretty much ready to go
these will hold up to room temperature pretty well.

This size batch makes A LOT, you could get away with 1/2 or 1/4 of this for a smaller group.
I think this yields about 200-300 buckeyes.

If you do make a batch or two please post pics.

Enjoy.

peanut butter and butter combined

melting the parafin and chocolate in the double bolier

Folding in the powdered suger

final dough ball prior to laying out on the wax paper.

all the dough waiting for chocolate coating.

Finished product.. super yummy!

Saturday, December 04, 2010

Concho art and crafts, San Angelo

Nothing says Christmas like 80 degrees and a dust storm. That and a five foot wide set of steer horns, and a purse made from a dead frog.

Fort concho telephone exhibit

Fort concho gingerbread houses