The Philly Soft Pretzel
In the culinary world, Philadelphia is known for the Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich (sliced beef and melted cheese on a soft Italian roll), Italian Ice (frozen flavored ice) and the Philly Soft Pretzel: a soft tan-colored pretzel that is usually connected to another pretzel in the baking process (to ensure the softness of the sides) . Believed to have been brought over by the Germans and re-created by the Pennsylvania Dutch, the Philly soft pretzel was popularized by the Italians in the south end of the city, where most of the pretzel bakeries are located. Made throughout the night and distributed early in the morning to street vendors, shops, and bakeries, the Philly soft pretzel is found on virtually every street corner in Philadelphia and in more recent years through on-line vendors. Read more 
The Coconut Macaroon
Most people have strong feelings about coconut and for those who possess a deep passion for this tropical fruit, there is the coconut macaroon cookie. Different than a typical sugar or butter based cookie, the coconut macaroon is both crunchy (on the outside) and chewy (on the inside) with a moist creamy texture. Read more
How Luke Found Me
There are two things in this world that I have deep compassion for: children and animals. Both are vulnerable to the neglect and abuses the world hands out to them and require a lot of love and understanding. Three years ago, my daughter went to a summer camp outside Binghamton, New York but when I received a phone call from the nurse at the camp saying my daughter had the swine flu and was quite ill, I went to her. Upon learning she was being given cough medicine to help her sleep and suppress a cough (not a good medication to give an asthmatic) and that she was vomiting in her sleep without waking up, I packed up her things and decided to take her home to recuperate. Read more
TFW: The Fucking Weather.com
When I need to add some humor to my day, my go-to website is www.thefuckingweather.com (although the site is often referred to as TFW for those less inclined to drop the F bomb). People talk about weather all the time and it’s a safe topic to discuss when there isn’t anything else to have a conversation about because the weather is relevent and people have either a sense of curiosity, wonder, or disgust with it on any given day. And, of course there is always the looming weather disaster somewhere in the world which generates chatter. But, if you simply want a more humorous take on the weather go to TFW – one of the most hilarious weather websites ever created. Read more
Maytag Blue Cheese
When most people think of blue cheese, they think of a strong pungent cheese such as Roquefort Cheese – a blue cheese made from sheep’s milk that hails from the south of France. Maytag Blue Cheese of Newton, Iowa is a blue cheese made from cow’s milk that is tangy – almost lemony – with a moist and crumbly texture; a semi-soft cheese loved by many who give it a chance. Read more
Bola Granola
“Como mola” (meaning “how cool”) is what my daughter would say in Spain when something impressed her and those are the first words I thought of when I tasted Bola Granola – the crunchiest granola I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. Bola Granola has a catchy name that is fun to say but the real joy is the super crunchy granola in the bag.
One bite of this all organic grain granola brings a cornucopia of flavors: a mildly sweet and salty blend of toasty oats and nuts. Made with organic rolled oats, almonds, brown sugar, pumpkin seeds, water, canola oil, wheat germ, organic wheat flour, organic flaxseed meal, wheat bran, vanilla extract, salt, and vitamin E, Bola Granola is a delightful blend of what granola should be: delicious and healthy. Read more
Remembering Janet Alonso
Eleven years ago today – September 11, 2001 – our world was forever changed with the terrorist attacks. We all know that nearly 3,000 people died that day but because of the magnitude, most of us don’t put a face to the number. One of the faces of 9-11 was a 41-year old woman named Janet Alonso – a wife and a mother of two young children who perished on the 97th floor of the north tower at the World Trade Center. Read more
Enstrom’s Almond Toffee
Almonds, butter, sugar, chocolate, and salt are the five ingredients of Enstrom’s Almond Toffee – a traditional candy that is still made by hand using only the finest ingredients available. Few candies taste as delicious as a piece of almond toffee from this Colorado-based confectionary. Crunchy and buttery on the inside, enrobed in milk or dark chocolate and sprinkled with crushed almonds on the outside, Enstrom’s Almond Toffee is positively addicting. Read more
France Luxe Hair Barrettes
One beautiful hair barrette is sometimes the perfect accessory and few companies make high quality barrettes as beautiful and functional as France Luxe. The company has been manufacturing hair ornaments – barrettes, combs, ponytail holders, sticks, jaws, bobby pins, and headbands – for more than a century at their factories located near Geneva, Switzerland.
High quality hair barrettes are scarce in the United States – most tend to break rather easily – which makes France Luxe barrettes stand out as they seldom break (I have some that are 20 years old and work just as well as the day I bought them) and there are no gobs of glue on the back holding the clasp onto the hairpiece. Stylish, colorful, and exquisite in design and function, France Luxe barrettes are timeless. Read more
Who Is The Better Presidential Candidate?
At my core, I am a social liberal and fiscal conservative which makes the choice of whom to vote for very difficult. Always reminding myself not to be a single issue voter, I compiled a short list of issues that are important to me and then thought about which candidate would be a stronger supporter of each issue (in parenthesis): Read more
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