Etsy Blog Carnival
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My Favorite Food, August Blog Carnival Post
This post is easy. My favorite food, hands down, without hesitation is chocolate. I would eat chocolate everyday if I could. I love it dark, white, with nuts, without, cakes, pudding and ice cream. However, my favorite of favs are Nestle Toll House Cookies. Do you remember the ‘Friends’ episode where Phoebe tries to get Monica to make her French grandmother’s secret cookie recipe and they turn out to be Toll House? Anyway, they are my favorite and here is the recipe if you don’t already have it.
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
- 1 cup chopped nuts
Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 375° F.
COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
PAN COOKIE VARIATION: Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. Prepare dough as above. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. Makes 4 dozen bars.
SLICE AND BAKE COOKIE VARIATION:
PREPARE dough as above. Divide in half; wrap in waxed paper. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Shape each half into 15-inch log; wrap in wax paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.* Preheat oven to 375° F. Cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices; place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.
* May be stored in refrigerator for up to 1 week or in freezer for up to 8 weeks.
FOR HIGH ALTITUDE BAKING (5,200 feet): Increase flour to 2 1/2 cups. Add 2 teaspoons water with flour and reduce both granulated sugar and brown sugar to 2/3 cup each. Bake drop cookies for 8 to 10 minutes and pan cookie for 17 to 19 minutes.
NOW GO MAKE SOME COOKIES!
All About Hot Dogs, July Blog Carnival Post
I chose this topic because it was a chance to learn as much about hot dogs as I could. Let’s start with the basics, how they are made. A hot dog (frankfurter, frank, wiener, weenie) is a soft sausage which is completely cooked and, unlike it’s cousin bratwurst, can be eaten without cooking. There are a few countries that lay claim to the invention of the hot dog.
The word frankfurter comes from Frankfurt, Germany where sausages in a bun originated, similar to hot dogs, but made of pork. Wieners, refers to Vienna, Austria, whose German name is “Wien”, home to a sausage made of a mixture of pork and beef. In German speaking countries, except Austria, hot dog sausages are called Wiener or Wiener Würstchen (Würstchen means “little sausage”). In Swiss German, it is called Wienerli, while in Austria the terms Frankfurter or Frankfurter Würstel are used.
The city of Vienna traces the lineage of the hot dog to the Wienerwurst or Viennese sausage, the city of Frankfurt to the Frankfurter Wurst, which it claims was invented in the 1480s and given to the people on the event of imperial coronations, starting with the coronation of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor as King; the hot dog has also been attributed to Johann Georg Lahner, a 18th/19th century butcher from the Bavarian city of Coburgwho is said to have invented the “dachshund” or “little-dog” sausage and brought it from Frankfurt to Vienna.
But it was around 1870 on Coney Island thatGerman immigrant named Charles Feltman began selling sausages in rolls. Now we’re talkin! Grilled, boiled, baked or mixed with mac & Cheese they are one of my favorite guilty pleasures. you could even buy a Hot Diggity Dogger machine which cooks 2 hot dogs and buns in a toaster like machine. Or, if you are feeling crazy, how about the World’s Longest Hot Dog or the July 4th, Nathan’s Hot dog Eating Contest.
We Americans love our ‘Dogs’. And on the celebration of the day of our independance we Americans consumed 150 million hot dogs in one day. CRAZY!
Birthday Traditions, June Blog Carnival Post
What a fun topic for my birthday month! I just received my birthday present to myself. A shiny, brand new 50mm f 1.8. I LOVE IT! I always get myself a little something special for my birthday. Usually it is something I have been saving up for. I think it is important to treat yourself to something you really want on your birthday. It makes me smile 
My favorite tradition is to go to World’s of Fun which I have done every year since I turned 12. I love riding rollercoasters, eating corn dogs and dippin’ dots and screaming my brains out on a 250 ft drop down a steel mountain. There is no better way to celebrate another year of life than by reliving your childhood. It is the secret to life. This month, on June 19th, I will drag my 40 something friends off to WOF for some twirling, spinning, and laughter. My dream birthday, which I hope to fullfill, is to spend a weekend at Cedar Point, the Meca of the rollercoaster enthusiasts. I plan on making my pilgrimage next year. Until then I am looking forward to another year with friends, family and rollercoasters.
Cheers!
T
Art vs Craft, May Blog Carnival Post
The discussion about the merits of one over the other tends to start when we add the word ‘crafty’ into the mix. The word crafty conjures up visions of popsicle sticks, string art and crochet toilet paper holders. Today’s crafsters are more sophisticated than that. I am constantly impressed by the quality of work I see on etsy daily. Today’s crafsters are as inspired and creative as some artist I know.
Crafsters are willing to take risks, trying new materials and techniques, I find inspiration in their work and frequently incorporate those ideas in my own work.
To me the two words are connected and dependent upon each other.
When I think of the word ‘craft’ I think of a skillful person who has studied and cultivated a certain skill. Whether they be a woodworker, painter, seamstress or a professional athlete all have spent countless hours honing their skills to emerge at a different level.
When the word ‘art’ comes to mind I think of a person who has honed their craft in the field of artistic pursuits. Dancers, poets, writers, artist, and musicians all make art.
So maybe we should rid ourselves completely from the word ‘crafty’ when speaking of fellow creative people and replace it with the word ‘artisan’. Maybe we can save the word crafty for summer camp
Cheers!
Trina
