A ring of water vapor forms as an F/A-18F Super Hornet piloted by Navy fliers Lt. Justin Halligan and Lt. Michael Witt breaks the sound barrier over Jones Beach in Wantagh, N.Y., during the New York Air Show.  Photo by Reuters

Hello Nite Liters,   I happen to be married to an excellent cook…so I thought I would share some of his incredible recipes with you.  Bon Appetit! Click on audio button for some spicy sounds!    Fran~     hot-barbecue-edit-2.mp3

Tom’s Grilled Chicken Hot Wings

I came up with this recipe years ago. Everyone who has tried these wings loves them (including people not used to hot sauce). The meat is infused with the flavor of the hot sauce and the smoke! If you’re not used to hot pepper sauce- don’t worry- it’s not too hot for your palette! The only warning I can give you is that they’re addictive. Happy grilling! Tom~

Large packet of chicken wings 

32 ounce bottle of hot sauce (Texas Pete or Crystal) 

(1) 2 1/2 Gallon jumbo zip lock bag 

Wood chips (hickory or mesquite) soaked in water  

Maryland seasoning 

Place large packet of chicken wings in a 2 1/2 gallon zip lock bag. Pour entire 32 ounce bottle of hot sauce in bag, squeeze out excess air and seal. Manipulate the wings so all are covered in hot sauce. Place bag in refrigerator and marinate for THREE DAYS (this is important for the flavor). Turn bag twice a day while marinating. After 3 days start charcoal in your grill (preferably a grill with a lid). Soak a big handful of wood chips in a bowl of water for a half hour. When the charcoal burns down to a hot ash grey, place the drained chicken wings on the grill. Put wet wood chips on the hot charcoal and cover. Make sure the vents on your grill lid are open. The wood chips will smoke and give the wings a nice smoky flavor. Turn wings several times while grilling and add wood chips as needed till wings are done. Serve hot and sprinkle with Maryland seasoning. I like to serve these with chips and salsa and corn on the cob! Enjoy!   Tom~

Hello my Fellow Gardeners~    I can’t take credit for these beauties. Here’s just a small sample of Tom’s bonsai trees. Bonsai, which means “Tree in a Tray”, is not for those seeking instant gratification. Many take years of training and constant care. They’re displayed in our garden on benches and pedestals. What’s growing in your garden? Fran~

School’s out for summer, but that doesn’t mean “learning” has to go on vacation.  Perhaps you’ll be visiting our fine city this summer~ it’s helpful if you can speak the language.  Here’s this week’s vocabulary lesson. Click on audio button next to the words to hear the proper pronunciation. Check back weekly for more learning fun!   Fran~

Socko…  Alfred Hitchcock thriller    socko.mp3   

Roont…  Ruined    roont.mp3   

Varse…  makes you sick    varse.mp3

Now that Summer is here it’s a great time to check out many of Maryland’s fun attractions and events. Here are some things happening this month~

Fourth of July Fireworks in Maryland    http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/4thofJuly_2.htm

Nevermore 2009
January - December 2009
Baltimore is celebrating the life and works of Edgar Allan Poe with a yearlong citywide festival.     http://www.nevermore2009.com/events.php

J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake
July 15, 2009
Quintessential Maryland cuisine: crabs, clams, fish, corn on the cob, and watermelon - it doesn’t get any better than this! (Cristfield, Eastern Shore)    http://visitmaryland.org/Events/Pages/JMillardTawesCrabandClamBake.aspx
 

Assateague Island National Seashore     Want to live on the edge? Visit a place recreated each day by ocean wind and waves. Life on Assateague Island has adapted to an existence on the move. Explore sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests and coastal bays. Rest, relax, recreate and enjoy some time on the edge of the continent. http://search.visitmaryland.org/visitsearch/vmattraction?attractionNumber=0&attractionID=201286

Outdoor Movies
June 3- August 28, 2009
Watching an outdoor movie is a perfect way to spend a summer evening! http://visitmaryland.org/Events/Pages/OutdoorMovies.aspx

Hello Nite Liters~   I just wanted to thank you for all your calls on Thursday night’s Michael Jackson Tribute. Your response was overwhelming. His music will live on.   Fran~

Hello Friends~    Tom and I recently visited Tudor Hall, the home of John Wilkes Booth. For decades, the home was privately owned. It is currently owned and operated by Harford County and is open for tours. I’ll let Tom give you a little history of the house.   Fran~

Tudor Hall is a big piece of Maryland history. It’s the house John Wilkes Booth grew up in with his mother, brother, and two sisters. Just outside Bel Air, Maryland, Tudor Hall is a one and a half story Gothic Revival style cottage built by the famous Shakespearean actor Junius Brutus Booth.

After moving to America and living in Baltimore, Junius bought land in Harford County and built a log house. In 1822, Junius moved the log house to the present location of Tudor Hall. For the next 30 years, Junius added onto the log house until it evolved into the Gothic Revival house it is today. It is said Asia Booth, younger sister of John Wilkes Booth, named the house “Tudor Hall”.

Though famous tragedian Junius Brutus Booth died before the completion of the final additions to the house, he was a gentleman farmer on the property when he wasn’t acting. He was the first in the area to use bone meal as fertilizer for his crops. Two of Junius’ children followed their father into the acting profession—Edwin Thomas Booth and John Wilkes Booth. Edwin became one of the greatest actors of his time. Though John was a rising actor, he is known today as the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.

In her book, John Wilkes Booth, A Sister’s Memoir, Asia Booth describes the wonderful times she shared with her brother John Wilkes growing up at Tudor Hall. Another story circulating over the years about Tudor Hall is that when Junius gave his son John Wilkes a diamond ring, in a test to see if the diamond was real, John scratched his initials in the front inside window to the left of main entrance, which can be seen today.   Tom~

To schedule a tour of Tudor Hall, log onto:  http://spiritsoftudorhall.blogspot.com/

To hear a rare 1890 wax recording of Edwin Booth reciting Shakespeare’s “Othello”- click on audio button. It’s difficult to hear, but you can get the feel of what Edwin’s acting sounded like!       edwin-booth-1890-edit.mp3 

Hello Nite Liters~   I’ve been a star gazer ever since I was a kid. Learning about planets and constellations from my dad and watching satellites and shooting stars go by as I delivered the morning paper always fascinated me. And so my fellow Night Owls, I encourage you to look up and enjoy the beauty of the night sky. Here are some things to observe this week (weather permitting)  Click on audio button to set the mood!     Fran~

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June 29    Contrary to popular belief, the Moon is visible during the day as well as the night, and the next few afternoons are a good time to look for it. Today, the Moon rises around mid afternoon and is low in the south by the time the Sun sets.

July 1    Earth will reach its maximum distance from the Sun this week, roughly three million miles farther than when we were closest to the Sun in January. This point in Earth’s year-long orbit is known as aphelion.

July 2    The planet Jupiter is one of the brightest objects in the sky. Only the Sun, Moon, and Venus regularly outshine it. Right now it rises before midnight and stands well up in the south at first light. It looks like a brilliant cream-colored star.

July 4    The Big Dipper stands in the northwest at nightfall with its bowl spilling toward the horizon. Follow the two stars that form the outer edge of the bowl to the right to find Polaris, the North Star. Despite its reputation, Polaris isn’t very bright.

Check back weekly for more Celestial Fun!

MMMMMMM……  Does this picture say summertime or what?  Click on audio button and enjoy a blast from the past!    

natty-boh-spot.mp3

          big-kat-blog.mp3

Hello Loves~  Our good friend, The Big Kat has been a regular caller on Thursday nights at 10:30 for the past 15 years.  In honor of the Nite Lite’s 15th Anniversary, he is counting down our top 15 most requested songs.  Be sure to listen every Thursday night at 10:30 for the next 15 weeks as The Big Kat counts them down until we get to number 1.   Click on the audio button for a message from the Big Kat and check back every Friday on my blog for the latest entry.

At number 15~  (5-28-09)  “Amazed”  by Lonestar

At number 14~  (6-04-09)   “Shining Star”  by The Manhattans

At number 13~  (6-11-09)   “That’s What Friends Are For”       by Dionne Warwick and Friends

At number 12~  (6-18-09)   “Hero”  by Mariah Carey