Now is your chance to go investigating for yourself with the Society of the Haunted! We are holding a public event! This was the place where we caught a disembodied voice singing a song. I posted an article about evps which include this song. Go check it out here
http://www.hauntedchef.com/2011/10/03/catching-evps/

From Wimgo website
Today’s Deal: $20 for Paranormal Investigation with Society of the Haunted ($40 Value)

Paranormal stories form an important part of a town’s history, explaining why locals shy away from a particular mansion and who is collecting people’s recycling on alternate Wednesdays. Investigate unexplained phenomena with today’s Wimgo Deal: for $20, get a ticket to a paranormal investigation and tour on November 4 with Society of the Haunted, a $40 value.

Society of the Haunted has over 25 years combined experience and have appeared on Animal Planet’s The Haunted television show. On November 4 from 8 p.m. to midnight, join the Society on an investigation and tour of Hennessey’s historic Ranch Room, originally built in 1893. Skeptics and believers alike will tour the saloon, investigating and learning techniques from real paranormal investigators. Together, you’ll use specialized equipment to try to track down any apparitions or unnatural occurrences during a fun and potentially hair-raising evening.

With only 20 available tickets, capture today’s Wimgo Deal before it disappears into thin air.

http://www.wimgodeals.com/deal/oklahoma-city/20-paranormal-investigation-society-haunted-40

This is the icing that was used on my lemon cake recipe I posted not long ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 cups confectioners sugar
1 cup butter (softened)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 tsp lemon extract

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zest the lemon then juice it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Put the ingredients into a bowl and mix just until just blended at a low speed. The more you whip the more air bubbles you will incorporate. See the air bubbles in this picture? They all need to be popped in order to make a satin type finish on a cake. Some people like the light and airy look though. If you do like air bubbles then crank up your mixer and let it go for a few minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here it is on a cake. This icing is a thin consistency which can be difficult to work with but is yummy as it is. To make it thicker you just need to add more confectioners sugar.

Go check out the lemon cake recipe here
http://www.hauntedchef.com/2011/10/26/lemon-cake/

Basically simple syrup is dissolved sugar. It is used to sweeten or thicken cocktails, iced tea or coffee and to make fresh lemonade. It is also used to make fruit sauces and toppings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 cup water
1 cup sugar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add sugar in a saucepan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add water into the saucepan and stir to dissolve. Bring to boil then take off heat and let cool

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Refrigerate until needed

The Society of the Haunted was featured in the Norman Transcript

Who You Gonna Call?
Oct 28, 2011
by Kendall Brown

Read the article on pages 13 and 14 of the viewer but was actually printed on pages 14 and 15 of the paper

http://normantranscript.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Ghosts and Legends of Oklahoma’ showcases haunted history
By Mick Ross
For The Oklahoman
Published: October 25, 2011

The jury is still out for me. I’ve searched many places for ghosts. I’ve felt chills from being in the dark as my mind played tricks on me. But so far, no ghosts, no moving objects and no disembodied voices.

It’s not that I don’t want to believe; I am waiting to believe.

That’s why I so enjoyed “Ghosts and Legends of Oklahoma” by Mike Ricksecker, 37, of Yukon.

I met Ricksecker when he came to work with me as a programmer. I was surprised when he mentioned he investigated hauntings with his team, Society of the Haunted.

I found myself asking him likely the same questions he’s heard 100 times before: What have you seen? Scariest incident? He happily answered with a knowing look in his eyes.

A recent transplant to Oklahoma, I know little about the state. That’s why some of my favorite parts of Ricksecker’s book are about Oklahoma’s history. The author includes a history lesson for each place the team researched.

The stories in “Ghosts and Legends of Oklahoma” illustrate Oklahoma’s distinct times of prosperity, periods of decline and some of its darker days. Many of those dark times led to the stories and legends of the supernatural that Ricksecker writes about in his book.

Whether you believe is your choice.

Read the rest of the article here
 

http://mood.newsok.com/ghosts-and-legends-of-oklahoma-showcases-haunted-history/article/3616875

As the mother of a blind child anytime I hear a story related to blindness it touches me. Yesterday I found out about a blind dog named lily and her guide dog Maddison.  Both are in need of a home. The manager of Dogs Trust Shrewsbury UK Louise Campbell has stated she has been inundated by over 200 callers in since the story about the dogs first aired. They have been at this location since July where people would just walk by lily and Maddison’s cage. Perhaps they were intimidated by taking care of 2 large dogs?

When Lily was a puppy she had a disease called entropion which causes the eyelashes to grow inwards. The condition forced the vet to remove her eyes thus leaving her blind. After the surgery a dog named Maddison developed a special relationship with Lily. They have been best buddies and inseparable for the last 5 years. Maddison actually acts as Lily’s seeing eye dog so these two are a package that should not be separated. Even with all of the calls they have not yet gone to their forever home.

 

 

I have tried to locate Lily and Maddison but it seems the dog trust has removed their pictures and information from the website. Perhaps they feel that they have had enough interest to find a suitable home.

Go check out their website

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/default.aspx

This is my sons favorite cake. I love it as well

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 1/4 cups white sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons lemon extract
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1 cup milk
1 lemon juiced

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 8 inch round pans or use parchment paper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really like parchment paper the best

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zest and juice one lemon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a mixing bowl add the flour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the baking powder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the salt and mix then set aside

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a large bowl add the butter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the sugar and cream together until light and fluffy. This really means beat it on medium for a long time. You really should use a mixer because it should take about 5 minutes or more with a mixer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is still grainy and not done yet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting there

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When it is ready beat in the eggs one at a time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stir in the extract, lemon juice and lemon zest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stir in the flour mixture alternately with the milk. Do not over beat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep alternating the flour and milk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When everything is mixed together the batter will be done

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pour batter into prepared pans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Then invert onto wire racks to cool completely. Do not ice the cake until it is completely cool or your icing will run off the cake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Split the layers and fill with lemon buttercream or lemon curd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tada……. lemon cake completed and yummy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doesn’t this lemon curd look yummy on the cake! Go see the recipe for lemon curd here http://www.hauntedchef.com/2011/10/25/easy-lemon-curd/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was Taylor’s 18th birthday cake and lemon is his favorite flavor. We are all singing him the happy birthday song right now…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He is getting ready to blow out the candles but he said he has nothing he can think of that he wants because he has everything…. awwww

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the last candle going to go out…. cake was yummy!

I love lemon curd! You can use it on bread or scones in place of jam, filling for cakes and for lemon meringue pie. I needed this particular batch for Taylor’s birthday cake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 1/4 cup white sugar
4 eggs
1 cup fresh lemon juice
3 Tablespoons lemon zest
1/2 cup unsalted butter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You need about 6 lemons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zest the lemons. You only want the bright yellow part of the rind. That is where all the good flavor is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cut them in half

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juice the lemons with a reamer or juicer. You will need 1 cup of juice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a microwave-safe bowl, whisk together the sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest and butter. Microwave 2 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temper the eggs by pouring some of the lemon mixture into the eggs and mix (to bring the eggs to the cooked temp) then pour back into original mixture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Microwave at one minute intervals and stir after each minute

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep running microwave for 1 minute at a time and stirring until it thickens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The mixture is done when it is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remove from the microwave and pass the mixture through a fine sieve to remove the little bits of cooked egg that may be in the mixture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pour into small sterile jars and store in the refrigerator for a week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can use it between cake layers for a yummy filling

6925 Cypresswood Dr.
Spring, TX 77379

 

We decided to try out Gringos on Cypresswood the other day and I was pleasantly surprised that I really liked the food and the service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The atmosphere is upscale casual which is a little different from the run of the mill Tex-mex type of restaurants. I felt a little under dressed in shorts and a blouse.

 

 

 

The parking lot was packed where we thought it would be a long wait. We actually only waited for 10 minutes which really isn’t bad. The waiter took our drink orders right away and then out came the chips and dips that are the normal fare for Mexican restaurants. One of the dips was something creamy with avocado in it which was bland but fixed with a little salt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The waiter came back exceptionally fast with our drinks and took our order. One of our drinks was recommended highly by our waiter turned out to be really good. It is called citrus tea which is a blend of tea, orange juice and lemonade. They refilled the citrus tea all night with no extra charges

 

 

 

We ordered queso with meat which also turned out really good! I was really impressed that they served this dip in a deep fried tortilla bowl with shredded salad mix and pickled and fresh jalapenos on the side. I was thinking if they do this for the queso then what will they do with everything else they bring out? I could come in here for just the queso for lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I ordered the presidente for my entrée which is two cheese enchiladas, a bean chalupa, queso chip, beef taco, guacamole, Mexican rice and got boracho beans instead of refried beans. I know this sounds like way too much food but I was really hungry and this entrée was only 9.59. Of course my eyes were bigger than my stomach as they brought everything out to me on 3 plates. haha!! Everything tasted good

I did take food home to my son who said OMG yum!!! I am sure we will all be eating here again soon

 

This historic theater designed by architect George Kadane in Frederick Oklahoma was originally built in 1929. James Beard named the theater after his daughter Ramona Beard Ayers. James was also known as J.B. and was the local bank president.

When it was opened as the Ramona the Kasane family acquired the rights to cotton queen pageant. The Ramona then became the official home of this pageant from 1930 until world war II. At that time it moved to Nashville and was renamed the national “Cotton Maid” pageant. Back in the day the theater was also used for minstrel and vaudeville shows. Today the theater is still in operation with it being used approximately once a month or more for events.

According to historic paperwork, the Ramona was built on the site of an earlier theater named the A-Mus-U. I do not know if any part of the original structure from that building is still standing as a part of the Ramona. They did acquire funding for construction of the current theater through stock sales to investors. The building was built in the Spanish Colonial style that was popular in 1915-1940.

It is interesting that I was able to find a reference to numerous theaters being built in that time frame that would fit the earlier building being named the AMUSU. At the time of this writing I am not sure which version is correct the A-Mus-U or AMUSU. If this was the originally AMUSU then it could have begun its history from a man named Allan Tom. He had a dream where he took to the road with silent movies in a Traveling Picture Show. I cannot confirm this at the moment but will continue to explore what may have been originally located here.

The theater still contains the original fixtures and details except the second floor balcony which was changed to the current marquee in 1949. When it was opened in 1929 it was hailed as the “Showplace of the Southwest”. This jewel of the past has given some of the workers reason to pause and think they were not alone or think they may be going crazy. These stories prompted our group to be the first to investigate for paranormal activity.

We really enjoyed being in the Ramona with all of its rich history. You could almost feel what it was like to be back in 1929. Our investigation was productive in that most of our team had some sort of personal experience while there. It wasn’t until we went through our footage and audio several times that we realized we actually captured something. We were able to get evidence that there is something unexplainable going on inside the theater. We captured numerous evps on our investigation. Some of the evps seemed to be of an intelligent nature and not just residual. I will be uploading the evidence to the society of the haunted website soon.

Go check out the gallery for this investigation
http://www.hauntedchef.com/1960-2/the-ramona-theater/

The Lawton Constitution wrote an article about us coming our to investigate. You can read about that article here

http://www.hauntedchef.com/2011/10/04/who-you-gonna-call/