KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

1. Launch /Applications/Utilities/Terminal and enter
• sudo chmod o+w /Library/Preferences
• defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.AppleShareClient afp_host_prefs_version -int 1
2. Now restart your computer.
3. From Finder, select an AFP server, or use “Connect To…”.  This will cause the AFP Client to create the full preferences file
4. Launch Terminal again and enter
• sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.AppleShareClient afp_disabled_uams -array “Cleartxt Passwrd” “MS2.0″ “2-Way Randnum exchange”
• sudo chmod o-w /Library/Preferences
5. Now restart your computer.

Never have been a huge pot pie person but saw this and it looked amazing and with the herbed buttermilk biscuits that kick its comfort level up to new heights. Don’t hesitate to make the filling in advance if you like; then simply reheat and top with the biscuits before popping it in the oven.

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
1½ teaspoons salt
¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 3 tablespoons melted
1 pound button mushrooms, stemmed and quartered
1½ cups small-diced onion
¾ cup small-diced carrot
¾ cup small-diced celery
1 tablespoon minced garlic
¼ cup all-purpose flour
4 cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth
8 ounces Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed and diced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
½ cup fresh or frozen green peas
1 recipe Tarragon Biscuits (recipe follows)

1. Set a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.

2. In a large bowl, combine the chicken thighs with 1 teaspoon of the salt, ½ teaspoon of the pepper, and the olive oil. Place half the chicken in the pan and sear, stirring occasionally, until the chicken begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside in a separate bowl while you cook the remaining chicken. Place that cooked chicken in the bowl as well.

3. Add the unmelted butter to the pan and, when melted, add the mushrooms and the remaining salt and pepper. Cook until the mushrooms are well caramelized, 3 to 4 minutes, then add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly caramelized, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the stock, browned chicken, potatoes, and thyme.

4. Preheat the oven to 475°F.

5. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat so that the sauce just simmers, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken and potatoes are tender, about 35 minutes. Gently stir in the peas and then remove the pan from the heat. Place the biscuits on top of the chicken and gravy, with 8 biscuits around the edge of the pan and the remaining 4 biscuits in the center. Be sure the biscuits do not touch. Brush the tops of the biscuits with the melted butter and bake until the biscuits are golden brown and flaky, 14 to 15 minutes. Allow the pot pie to cool briefly before serving.

About 6 servings

TARRAGON BISCUITS

1½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 cup cake flour
1¼ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons sugar
1½ teaspoons salt
5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves
1½ cups buttermilk

1. Sift the all-purpose flour, cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt into a large bowl.

2. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, work the cold butter into the flour until the pieces of butter are pea sized. Add the tarragon and buttermilk and, with your hands or a rubber spatula, stir just until the milk and flour come together to form a dough.

3. Sprinkle some of the extra all-purpose flour on a work surface and place the dough on top of the flour. Use your hands to press the dough into a ½-inch-thick disk about 9 inches in diameter. Using a 2-inch round cutter dusted with flour, cut out 12 dough rounds. Be sure to press straight down when cutting the dough—a twisting motion will prevent the dough from rising.

4. Place the biscuits on top of the pot pie and bake as directed (see Note).

12 biscuits, 6 servings

Note: Should you desire to make the biscuits on their own, brush the tops with 3 tablespoons of melted butter and bake at 475°F on a large ungreased baking sheet, with the biscuits spaced evenly apart, for about 15 minutes.

So I got an email today that I expect to be pretty big news in the Church IT circle. After Google took Places of Worship off the eligible list for Google Apps for Non-Profits the middle of last year, they have now come back and thankfully changed their mind it seems. Places of Worship and some other 501c3s are back on the accepted list as long as they meet the other requirements, here’s the email so you can read it with your own eyes.

Hello,

We are always evaluating ways to improve the Google for Nonprofits Program and we’re excited to share some new developments with you related to our eligibility guidelines for the program.

Organizations under the following categories may now be eligible for the Google for Nonprofits Program:

• Places or institutions of worship
• Programs requiring membership and/or providing benefit solely to members
• Websites with a primary focus on selling goods, products or services
• Car, boat, and real estate donation websites
• Consumer credit counseling

All other Google for Nonprofits eligibility guidelines must be met to participate in the program. As always, your organization must have 501(c)(3) status and have received a letter of determination from the Internal Revenue Service to be eligible for Google for Nonprofits. To learn more, please visit GuideStar.

We will be rolling out the updated eligibility guidelines over the next few days. If you believe your organization meets the updated eligibility guidelines for Google for Nonprofits and are still interested in receiving program benefits, you can log in to re-apply here.
Sincerely,The Google for Nonprofits Team

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcqBWJmddC8

Next up was the Old Post Office, this was recommended by a good friend so we had to check it out.  It also didn’t hurt that Shana’s father worked for and retired from the Post Office so it was neat to get to see this early Post Office Building.  The bell tower of post office has one of the best views of the city and strangely enough is considered a National Park and has rangers in it to guide you.  Check out the panaromic views for the capitol, Washington Monument and everything else in DC.

 After the Old Post Office we headed over to the National Mall which strangely had no shops but still had a ton of people all over the place, while there we stopped at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Everything from Oceans, Dinosaurs, and the Hope Diamond are all available to see free of charge at the Museum.  As with most of the things in DC there just doesn’t seem to be enough time to do it all at once.  And that’s just one of the Smithsonian Museums, there are a total of 19!  After that we made the ride on the Metro, our way around for the day while in DC, to Arlington National Cemetery.

Arlington is one of those places that no matter how many times you go, I think it affects you differently each time. The beautifully manicured grounds, everything lined up, nice and neat and organized, but then you remember that each of these grave markers is someone who has lost their life to allow us the freedoms that we each enjoy everyday often with thanks and even worse with a sense of entitlement.

We finished the day up at a restaurant that is DC staple and we had recommended to us multiple times.  Well, they recommended Ben’s Chili Bowl but the line was out on the sidewalk and to the street so we went to Ben’s Next Door. The food was absolutely delicious and we will be going here EVERY time we come to DC.  The Pesto Pasta was amazing and the Fried Chicken is some of the best I’ve ever had, and this isn’t even the place that was recommended.

We finished dinner, rode the Metro back to our car and then made the 3 1/2 hour trip back to Williamsburg, our home for the trip.  And that was just day 1.

1. Register for Groupon.com
2. Go to http://www.groupon.com/deals/donorschoose-org-1 and get your donation code
3. Go to www.donorschoose.org/mrs.berg to make the donation
4. BONUS: Receive thanks from lots of cute kindergardeners

I thought I would share what our menu is this year for Thanksgiving:

• Turkey number #1: Herbs de provance and citrus turkey (Shana’s)
  
• Turkey number #2: Brown-sugar brined smoked turkey (Derek’s)
  
• Emeril’s Bourbon and Coke Ham
  
• Coconut sweet potato casserole with praline pecan topping
• Amazing fruit cup and sauce
• Southern-style Green beans
• Homemade mashed potatoes
• Best Gravy ever
• corn casserole
• baked pineapple
• cranberry salad
• 2 apple cheesecakes
• pumpkin pie
• rolls
• stuffing

So what are you having for Thanksgiving and what is favorite Thanksgiving memory?