This just in from the Carnegie Science Center:

PITTSBURGH, November 9, 2009 – Carnegie Science Center is pleased to announce that its popular Miniature Railroad & Village^® exhibit will reopen for the holiday season on Friday, November 27. New to the exhibit this year is a scale replica of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, often referred to as the most unique home in the world.

Intrigued by Frank Lloyd Wright’s enlightened ideas and unorthodox tastes, Pittsburgh department store owner Edgar Kaufmann, Sr. commissioned Wright to build the family’s weekend home in 1936. The Kaufmann family’s love of nature inspired the architect to envision a residence where they would not only be able to see nature, but actually live within it. Among the many unusual attributes of Fallingwater are its terraces, floating stairs that lead to pools; and beams that were re-shaped to move around trees. Voted the most important building of the 20th century in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects, Fallingwater was entrusted to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy by Edgar Kaufmann, jr. in October 1963.

Take a look at the zombies who’ve taken over Garrett County, Maryland! It was all for charity… they raised $30,000 for Thrill the World.  It’s an event where people all over the world perform Michael Jackson’s famous dance at the same time.

Here’s the information from the Thrill the World website:

22,923 people danced in 32 countries and broke the Record Holders Republic! Volunteers in 278 events around the world Thrilled The World in 2009 raising over $85,000 USD for 80 charities! Official list of TTW 2009 Participant NumbersPDF will be made available soon. Start planning for 2010: Sunday, October 24 @ 04:30am GMT/UTC which is Saturday in some parts of the world. Event Registration will be open in the new year.

If you want to see what it might have been like for the crew of Christopher Columbus back in 1492 …. head down to the North Shore. (watch my story tonight at 5:55)

Right between the two stadiums along the river… you can hop aboard the closest replicas ever made to the Nina and the Pinta. (The Santa Maria didn’t make the voyage … her mast it too tall for our bridges! and she’s part of another foundation anyway)

It took three years of research in Spain for The Columbus Foundation to get what they needed to design the ships… and then several more years to build. The crew in Brazil who made it didn’t use any electricity …. it’s all handmade just the way they would have done it during Columbus times.

They’ll be here until November 15th …. It’s open from 9-5 daily. $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for children, and kids under 5 are free.  You can get aboard and see what the crew had to put up with for 33 days as they sailed across the ocean.

I just got off the phone with a beautiful young mother who’s dying from cancer. On Wednesday she’s coming to Pittsburgh hoping a procedure pioneered at the Hillman Cancer Center (Interleukin-2) will help extend her life.

Kaleena is just 25. Her daughter, Hailey is six months old.

She lives in Canada but the treatment she needs isn’t offered there. So she and her husband and baby girl are coming to Pittsburgh on Wednesday hoping a procedure pioneered here can help extend her life. Four years ago she was diagnosed with melanoma. She had a small mole removed from her arm and didn’t have any trouble. But two months after Hailey was born, doctors found the cancer in her lymph nodes, stomach, lungs, chest, arm and neck.

I hope you can see my story which airs tonight at 6:15. If you are in a position to help Kaleena with her expenses click here. I will be following Kaleena’s progress and my thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.

Here is a recipe with 3 ingredients but requires a slow cooker—good for future reference!  Place a beef brisket in slow cooker (size of brisket depends on size of slow cooker).  Spoon 1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce over the top and smear over the brisket with back of spoon.  Sprinkle one packet of DRY onion soup mix over the cranberry covered brisket.  DO NOT ADD WATER! Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.  Serve with buttered noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes.  Enjoy! – Dawn

From Sherri:

2 cups cut-up fresh vegetables (green peppers, zucchini, broccoli, carrots) 2 Tbsp.  olive oil 1 pkg. (6 oz.) OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Grilled Chicken Breast Strips 4 oz.  linguine, cooked, drained (about 2 cups) 3 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese Make It
COOK and stir vegetables in hot oil in large skillet on medium heat 5 min. or until crisp-tender.

ADD chicken and linguine; cook an additional 2 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

STIR in the cheese.

I know that you were asking for only 4 ingredients but I don’t consider olive oil or parmesean cheese ingredients.  I consider them necessities!

This looks cool! Click here to get to the movie’s website.

VOLCANOES OF THE DEEP SEA PREMIERES AT CARNEGIE SCIENCE CENTER’S RANGOS OMNIMAX THEATER

Plunge 12,000 feet into the Atlantic to explore the greatest underwater mountain chain on Earth

PITTSBURGH, PA— An ancient species that lives 12,000 feet below the surface of the ocean. Animals that thrive on thermal vents. Life where daylight never shines? These may seem like elements of a sci-fi novel, but they exist today and come alive in Volcanoes the Deep Sea—premiering Friday, November 20, at Carnegie Science Center’s Rangos Omnimax Theater.

Volcanoes of the Deep Sea follows the story of two scientists aboard the submersible Alvin as they plunge into the deep Atlantic to explore astounding volcanic habitats on the crest of the Mid-Ocean Ridge. Miles below the ocean surface, this world looks like a science fiction writer’s imagined inferno. Here, audiences explore some of the planet’s hidden treasures—completely unknown until just a few decades ago—and possibly even reveal the key to understanding life on Earth.

As they travel from dramatic Spanish sea cliffs to deep-sea sites and even into space, audiences discover the unique characteristics of the greatest underwater mountain chain on Earth, its connection to our evolving planet, and its profound influence on life on Earth.

(click here for the cookbook)

Sandy just sent me this … and it’s just what I’m looking for!

Hi Michelle,
I collect cookbooks and have about 175. One that you could use is the “4 Ingredient Recipes for 30 Minute Meals” by Barbara C. Jones. It has 100 menus with recipes, short cuts and grocery lists for each meal. It can be ordered at www.cookbookresources.com Enjoy, Sandy

I should have known I’d get something like this…..ask a simple question ….LOL:

Here’s a quick and easy recipe that’s good any time of the day. I like to call it “toast.”

Ingredients:

-          Two slices of bread (more if you’re REALLY hungry)

-          Butter

-          Optional: cinnamon, jelly, jam, marmalade, cream cheese or any combination of the aforementioned

1. Insert two slices of  your favorite bread into a toaster. Set toaster dial to desired level of darkness and pull lever down.

2. While bread is toasting, retrieve butter or margarine from refrigerator. You’ll also need a butter knife so you may as well get one of those while waiting for the bread to toast.

3. Remove toast from toaster when the toasted bread pops up and move to a plate. Be careful because that toast will be hot!

4. Spread butter (or other topping from list) on hot toast with butter knife and enjoy!

TIP: Wipe your butter knife on a napkin before getting more butter so as to avoid getting unsightly toast crumbs in your butter dish.

Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs
Bake frozen fully cooked meatballs according to package directions, and prepare frozen stir-fry peppers and onions. Stir into heated spaghetti sauce and serve over cooked and drained pasta. Top with Parmesan or Romano cheese.

Creamy Chicken And Asparagus
Cook fresh or frozen asparagus and add to bottled Alfredo sauce along with shredded Swiss cheese and frozen cooked, diced chicken. Heat over low heat until hot and serve over cooked fettuccine.

From Jane:

Hi Michelle,

Easiest recipe in my box:

-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

-Good Seasons Italian dressing mix
-1/2 cup parmesan cheese
-1 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix dry stuff together and coat chicken in it.  Spray glass baking dish with PAM.  Place chicken in dish and bake 20-25 minutes at 350 dg.  Perfect everytime and everyone loves it.  If you need to stretch it to cover another breast add more parm.

###

From Linda:

Hi Michelle! I really feel your pain with your dinner situation-hope this idea helps! My kids LOVE it and its easy!

Frozen ravioli-defrosted, frozen spinach-defrosted, jarred spaghetti sauce, parmesan &shredded mozzarella cheese:  Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish; throw the spinach in a skillet with a coating of olive oil and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder…now pour enough sauce in bottom of baking dish to coat and start layering (like lasagna) the ravioli, spinach, cheese and more sauce….on a day where you have more time you can add peppers, mushrooms,pepperoni, meat sauce or whatever else your kids will eat.  The only other thing you need is a loaf of bread! I hope this helps you!!

I subscribe to a magazine called Simple & Delicious.  Lots of easy recipes with limited ingredient lists.  You would probably enjoy it.  How about simple tomato soup and toasted cheese for a simple supper. – Dolly

###
Easy chicken and pasta in about 40 minutes.
Defraust chicken breasts in fridge during work day or day before.  cut into cubes and cook in frying pan with olive oil until cooked all the way. While chicken cooking in separate pan use 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 2 cups water, bring to boil, add 1/2 box pasta rotelle or shells and frozen bag of florentine veggies.  Cook for about 10-12 minutes.  Add chicken and top with parmesan and basil. Serve with butter bread.  A quick family
favorite in our household! – Camille

###

From Kathy:  Pork chops with oven roasted potatoes and green beans.

5 med. red skinned potatoes
Salt & Pepper
1 tsp. dried rosemary
1/2 tsp. garlic powder.
Olive oil

cut red skined potatoes into 1/2 in.slices.
Salt & peppper and add dried rosemary flakes and garlic powder to potatoes that you have placed on a cookie sheet. Drizzle the potatoes with olive oil and mix well. Bake potatoes @ 450 degrees for 30 minutes.
Put a small amt. of oil in a frying pan.  Fry the chops that have been seasoned with salt, pepper & rosemary and remove from pan when done. Open canned green beans and drain off half of the liquid.  Heat beans and  half the liquid in the frying pan and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Drizzle pan sauce over chops.  Enjoy!

My easy receipe is called omahasteak.com. Over the years we have had a  lot of illness and little time to cook so I took this route.  The best time to order is when they offer free shipping and discounts.  I placed and order on Tuesday for chicken in pastry, stuffed baked potatoes, pub style cod, coconut shrimp with apricot mango wasabi sauce and sole almondine.  It came to $85. and about $7. per person per meal. Cheaper than McDonalds. Looks like you are paying alot but you don’t need buying additional ingredients.  The chicken in pastry is fantastic.  Simply heat and eat!

-Pat

Send in your recipe: must be able to prepare in 30 minutes or less… and have four or fewer ingredients!

Send me your video of you making the dish or explaining the dish and I’ll post your video here!

Hi, Michelle -

Here’s some easy recipes.

Catalina Chicken – Cut up boneless breasts into bite size pieces.  Saute in Catalina Chicken.  I serve it with brown rice or buttered noodles.

Meatballs & noodles.  I heat up frozen meatballs in 2 jars of Savory beef gravy.  Boil package of wide noodles.  Mix together.

Both are very easy and my kids love them.

Hope you like them!
Jennifer

Again, send me a short video of you explaining your recipe or even cooking it (no more than eight minutes please) and I’ll post your video here!

Chicken-Tortellini Soup – by Ann

2 or 3 large cans of chicken broth
1 bag frozen tortellini (cheese)
1 bag baby spinach
1 or 2 Giant Eagle roasted chickens skinned and deboned.

Boil tortellini in a separate pan – drain.

Add to the above and you will have a great filling meal.