Memorable Tuesday #5: Savants, Sitcoms, and Slow Cookers

I have discovered that Memorable Tuesdays can be memorable for very simple reasons and also for very strange reasons…all in the same Tuesday!

THE SLOW-COOKER

On Tuesday February 3, 2009 I tried a new recipe. For Christmas my fiancé’s sister and brother-in-law gave me a new slow cooker cookbook called Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook. (You can buy the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Fix-Forget-Cookbook-Dawn-Ranck/dp/1561483397 ). Also for Christmas, my roommate very kindly bought me a new slow cooker. Just in case you’re like me and grew up calling “slow cookers” “crock pots” when I write “slow cooker” I am referring to a “crock pot”. I’m not sure if “slow cooker” is the Southern term for “crock pot” or if they’re completely interchangeable, but I thought I’d take the time to clarify in case someone out there was completely confused on what a “slow cooker” is.

Because I drive from Columbia, TN to Nashville, TN for work every day, using a slow cooker for dinner is wonderful since it takes anywhere from 45 min-2 hours to get to work (this is usually related to how much and what kind of precipitation is coming out of the sky because in Nashville precipitation is magical and evil and makes everyone forget how to drive). So when I woke up on Tuesday morning I quickly threw the following recipe into a slow cooker, plugged it in, and left for work:

Sharon’s Chicken and Rice Casserole
(The Sharon this casserole belongs to is Sharon Anders from Alburtis, PA.)
Makes 2 servings

• 10 & ¾ oz. can cream of celery soup
• 2 oz can sliced mushrooms, undrained
• ½ cup raw long grain rice (I used brown rice.)
• 2 chicken-breast halves, skinned and boned
• 1 Tbsp. dry onion soup mix

1. Combine soup, mushrooms, and rice in greased slow cooker. Mix well.
2. Layer chicken breasts on top of mixture. Sprinkle with onion soup mix.
3. Cover. Cook on Low 4-6 hours.

THE SITCOM

After driving to Nashville, working 8 hours, and returning to Columbia, I met up with my fiancé, Adam, at my house. Adam works nights at a hospital three days a week, so on those days (this Tuesday being one of those days) we at most get 2 hours together. So the first thing we did during these 2 hours was check out the new recipe. Note: When it says cook for only 4-6 hours…only cook it for 4-6 hours…not 8-9 hours. Luckily, it was still edible but the rice around the edges was definitely very crisp (aka burnt) and parts of the chicken breasts were pretty dry. Overall, not a bad recipe…just don’t overcook it like I did! Next we sat down to watch my favorite show in the whole wide world…the Office! Adam had to work on Super Bowl Sunday so he hadn’t seen the post Super Bowl Office episode yet. I had already seen it twice because it was the craziest and funniest thing I’ve seen in long time! I scream laughed during the first five minutes. If you’re also an obsessed and crazed Office fan like me then you know what I’m talking about. If not…please take a couple minutes to watch the opening scene of that episode here:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/55744/the-office-a-lesson-on-fire

THE SAVANTS

After Adam left for work I began TV surfing and came across one of the most interesting and strangest stories I have ever heard. On the Discovery Channel they were showing a special called “Extraordinary People” on two women, Flo and Kay, who are the world’s only female twin savants. I unfortunately only caught the end of this special so I had to do some research on my own to find out what exactly they were talking about. First of all, what is a savant? According to Wikipedia savant syndrome is defined as, “a rare condition in which persons with developmental disorders (including autism spectrum disorders) have one or more areas of expertise, ability or brilliance that are in contrast with the individual’s overall limitations”. From previous education I remembered that many individuals with autism (or other developmental disorders) can be very talented in one area. One little boy I volunteered to work with when I was in high school had autism and could hum on perfect pitch even though he wouldn’t speak. Flo and Kay’s specialty is remembering facts and dates. Unfortunately, the syndrome also creates obsessions for the twins. Their primary obsession is Dick Clark. They describe him as their personal savior and know everything there is to know about his game show the $100,000 Pyramid (even how many times the buzzer sounds in each episode). The sweetest part of the whole show was when they showed them getting to meet Dick Clark. For a synopsis of the show go here:

http://www.tvthrong.co.uk/extraordinary-people/the-rainman-twins

I also came across a blog about other famous savants: http://www.neatorama.com/2008/09/05/10-most-fascinating-savants-in-the-world/ . I think this syndrome shows not only how God works in mysterious ways but also how everyone matters and has abilities!