Clear skies and two Valentine's Day recipes

Good Morning Augusta

This morning we have partly cloudy skies that will become overcast during the afternoon. High 28ºF. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight we’ll have partly cloudy skies followed by some snow showers later at night. Low 13ºF. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 40%.

The readings from my weather instruments in the North field are:

Humidity is 86%, the dew point is 8ºF, outside it’s -11.7ºC and 11.3ºF.

The wind direction is West Northwest between 1.3 MPH and 1.7 MPH, generating a wind chill of 11.1ºF.

The Peak wind gust recorded during yesterday’s storm at the airport was 49 mph.

The Barometric pressure is 29.86 / HPA 1011.3 and falling with a weather graphic indicating snow.

The UV rating is 0 out of 16, Sunrise is at 6:39 a.m. Sunset is 5:07 P.M. Moon rise is at 9:11 p.m., Moon set is 8:33 a.m. and the moon phase is waning gibbous.   

The RAW METAR reading from the airport in Augusta, Maine is:

METAR KAUG 141153Z AUTO 01008KT 10SM CLR M11/M14 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP112 T11111144 11067 21111 50006

Visibility is 10.0 miles / 16.1 Kilometers with clear skies so far.

We’ve received 24 inches of snow from yesterday’s storm. The strong winds cause very impressive drifting as well.  

Space Weather for this morning is:

Today’s Solar flux is 78, the solar wind speed is 311325 Kilometers per second and the chance of a solar storm is 1%.

For valentines day, why not pick one of the two following Whoopie pie recipes?

WHOOPIE PIES low fat version (the full fat version follows this recipe)

Serves:  12

1/3 cup shortening

1 cup Splenda

1 egg

1 cup low fat milk

2 cups flour

1¼ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

5 tbsp. cocoa--heaping

Filling

¾ cup shortening

¾ cup confectioners sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

½ jar marshmallow fluff

• Cream together 1/3 cup shortening, 1 cup Splenda, and 1 egg.
• Add 1 cup milk and 1 ½ tsp. vanilla and mix thoroughly.
• Mix 2 cups flour, 1¼ tsp. Baking soda, ½ tsp. salt and 5 tbsp. heaping cocoa and add to creamed mixture.
• Stir till very smooth.
• Drop by spoonfuls on baking sheet about 4 inches apart.  Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees.  Cool.
• Mix together ¾ cup shortening, ¾ cup confectioners sugar, 2 tsp. vanilla and ½ jar marshmallow fluff.  Mix well and then fill between two pies.

Exchanges:  1 carbohydrates, 4 fat

Calories:  269; fat:  20 g; protein:  4 g; carbohydrate:  19 g; fiber:  1 g; cholesterol:  18 mg; sodium:  236 mg

 

CINNAMON ROLL WHOOPIE PIES Full fat version

Bake refrigerated cinnamon rolls (like Pillsbury) as directed on package (at 375F 10-12 min. or at 350F if using a dark baking sheet), placing each roll separately on a baking sheet (not close together as the can directs).

When cool, slice in half horizontally.

Fill with cinnamon cream cheese filling, or a cinnamon buttercream filling.

Drizzle with glaze from the can of dough.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting

 

Ingredients

·         2 cups (4 sticks) butter, slightly softened

·         7 cups powdered sugar

·         1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

·         1 teaspoon vanilla

·         2 teaspoons cinnamon

Mix all ingredients until smooth.  Fill cinnamon rolls (a mini scoop works well).  For one tube of rolls, I found that one quarter of the filling was enough.  Larger rolls might take more.