Benghazi left in the shadow of Syria . . .

We have a anniversary, today. It's been exactly one year since the attack in Benghazi. Sad to say, the liberal media has yet to demand answers and hold the Obama administration accountable for unanswered questions. Americans died horribly in an American Embassy while the powers that be either neglected or ignored the protocol required and necessary to resolve the situation. The American people still have a right to answers about this. The American people are still not getting these answers.

Why did Hillary Clinton, head of State Department, continue to blame the attack on a video when the documents revealed that it was confirmed to be a terrorist attack within a couple of hours of the attack?

Shouldn’t the Secretary of State Clinton have been further questioned by the Accountability Review Board regarding her acceptance of ‘full responsibility’ for the attack?

Help was within reach yet commandos were denied permission to go to Benghazi and help fellow Americans under siege. The attack lasted for hours.

The Foreign Emergency Support Team was denied permission to go into Benghazi as conditions were too dangerous . . . yet, Americans were left to die there.

To this day, we have yet to really hear from survivors about those hours under siege and you have to wonder why. How often have tragic events seemingly immediately been made into ‘made-for-television’ movies . . . but things are strangely quiet about this one.

Today, the president is schedule to talk to the American people about the crisis in Syria . . . on the anniversary of the tragedy in Benghazi? Makes you wonder if this was a manufactured event to overshadow the deadly events of this time last year.

Hazelnut Chocolate Cookies - Two Ways!

We eat gluten-free so when I see I recipe that appeals to me, I have to study it a bit to see if I can turn it into a gluten-free version. Success today! This is the recipe in it's original 'format':

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/chocolate-hazelnut-cookies-recipe

In order to make it edible for my gluten-free husband, I had to omit the flour and substitute. I took a leap of faith in myself and used the recipe, as is (except for the wheat flour) and added a couple teaspoons of xanthan gum powder to the mix and used the gluten-free flour mix from Nuts.com. I've tried many brands and this has become my go-to flour for baking these days.

The cookies didn't turn out as thick as shown in the picture on the link but they are thin and chewy . . . which is what I like in a cookie. The mixture of hazelnut spread, unsweetened cocoa powder, and some powdered espresso provided a very tasty cookie.

So, you see, this is a 'two-way' cookie! If you are avoiding wheat products, it is possible with this recipe. If gluten-intolerance isn't a problem for you, just follow the recipe as stated.

Where Does Wheat Hide Out?

As I've mentioned before, my family decided to go wheat and gluten-free the first of this year. Although my husband is the only one with celiac tendencies, the whole family joins in the new diet. Much to our surprise, it is relatively easy, we still get to enjoy our favorite treats and such with the necessary tweaks to avoid the gluten, and all feel better. One problem that we have learned to contend with is reading and then re-reading product labels as wheat and gluten can hid under many names. I looked around, did some research, and found this link which is very detailed and even surprised me with some of the items listed. For all the gluten-free readers, I'm happy to share the following:

http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/resourcespre.php?id=52

Alarming Find of the Day . . .

After a summer out and about in the sun and dealing with the passing years, many of us consider using a skin whitening lotion to lighten sun spots and uneven skin tones. I was browsing through some sites that offered a variety of the stuff and there are two ingredients that keep showing up in the ingredient list - Hydroquinone and Clobetaso. I assume these two items must work in the lotions but decided to investigate further. Found out some worrisome facts.

Hydroquinone is a carcinogenic agent which can cause cancer when used excessively or over a long period of time. The more pigment in your skin, the higher the risk. Eventually, it can cause permanent problems or disfigure your skin.

Clobetaso is a strong corticosteroid usually used in treating psoriasis and eczema and over seen by a doctor.

Reading this made me much happier with my uneven tan marks. Finding out that over 100 such lotions on the market do contain one or both of these ingredients is shocking. The world would like to deprive us of  free choice in what we eat or drink yet let companies continue to use potentially harmful ingredients in non-prescription products.

Thought I'd share my finds of the day. The more I consider things, the happier I am to stick with the uneven tan marks I've been blessed with over the summer.

The world gets crazier every day . . .

http://www.lifenews.com/2013/09/06/republican-chairman-blasts-democrats-who-prayed-for-abortion/

I'm finding it difficult to understand why people would pray for abortions and abortionists as evidenced recently in the news. I can see people praying for someone to not kill a living baby and save his or her life for the plan God has in mind for them. However, to pray that babies continue to be murdered in the womb astonishes me. When these pro-choice people bow their heads in prayer, what do they exactly pray for and to whom? According to God's Commandments, 'thou shalt not kill' so how would one phrase a prayer to God that is in direct opposition.

A contradiction that needs no explaining . . .

A Smile for the Day . . .

Travel Plans for 2013-2014

I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I've also never been in Cognito.  I hear no one recognizes you there.

I have, however, been in Sane.  They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there.

I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much into physical activity anymore.

I have also been in Doubt.  That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.

Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.

One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense!  It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart!

I may have been in Continent, and I don't remember what country I was in.  It's an age thing.  They tell me it is very wet and damp there.

(shared by a friend via e-mail)