Ann Clark Cookie Cutters

With the Holidays fast approaching cookie making is at an all-time high. If you want cookie cutters that are sturdy, cut cleanly and have more variety than any other, you want Ann Clark Cookie Cutters.

Ann Clark started small, at a Philadelphia trade show, and is now one of the most well-known cookie cutter makers in the country. In fact, I pass by one of the Ann Clark Ltd. racks when I shop at Wegmans and I have to stop, each and every time, to look at them or add to my collection. Not only are these cookie cutters still made here in the USA - in Vermont - they are some of the cutest and most varied designs I have ever seen. Each cookie cutter comes with a tag that was designed and created by Ann Clark herself.

I have 3 cookie cutters that I received to review and each cut cleanly, held shape, cleaned up easily and the kids loved helping me use them. We used the cookie recipe that came with the cutters and it was so good that my kids asked me to make a second batch - right away!



Here's the recipe:

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cup sifted flour

Directions:

Cream together: 1 cup butter 2/3 cup sugar
Beat in: 1 egg
Add: 1 Teaspoon vanilla 1/2 Teaspoon salt 2 1/2 cups sifted flour
Mix until all ingredients are well blended. Chill dough 3-4 hours before rolling Preheat oven to 350. Roll out 1/4" thick and cut. Bake about 8-10 minutes or until barely colored. Remove from cookie sheets and cool on wire racks. Cookies can be frosted and decorated or eaten just plain. Enjoy!

There are traditional tin cutters, copper cutters, entire sets, contemporary designs and so much more! You can find Ann Clark cookie cutters and more at the company website, www.annclarkcookiecutters.com and you can also read Ann's blog at Make More Cookies - now run off to check it all out and tell them the 'other Anne' sent you!

Where's the Beef?

...or chicken, or cupcakes or anything for that matter? I know I'm slacking off here, but I have a valid explanation for it. I don't mean to ever leave my readers hanging high and dry, but my dear hard drive crashed a few weeks ago and I've been too busy to attempt a retrieval of any information from it.

I have a brand new shiny double-sized hard drive and double RAM, but it won't take the place of the many photos and writings I had stored on the other that hadn't been backed-up. Once all those lovely photos were gone (it happened so quickly there wasn't even time to back-up) I lost a bit of my desire to repeat any of what I had already done, and so my dear blog has been forsaken. I will attempt retrieval in the next week or so, and if I ever do get it all back, you'll be inundated with deliciousness, I promise!

I have reviews to post, and while I count on them myself when making purchases, I don't know of anyone who wants to read nothing but review after review, and as I have no new material for my personal blog, here it is ... sad and lonely.

I have a plethora of new posts at Family.com and they can all be found in my sidebar to the right along with any posts I've done at A Thousand Soups, my soup blog. In fact, there is a brand new page done for me at Family.com (http://family.go.com/food/pkg-low-cost-recipes-from-a-real-mom/#)- go check that out ASAP! Fear not, I'll be back in the swing of things shortly ... until then, grab a cup of something warm and check out the 4 years of yummy archives I have.

Natural Brew Sodas

I don't drink soft drinks as a rule, but once in a while I'll give in and have one that's off the beaten track. I'm not overly fond of cola and the lemon-lime type don't usually do it for me, either. Mostly, it's just too sweet, too fizzy and lacking in any real depth of flavor - and I can't see loading up with completely empty calories in such a lackluster way.

That being said, when it comes to fall and winter holidays, I usually concede and purchase ginger ale or root beer. I like that they aren't so sweet and the flavor is different than the standard sodas. So, when I was offered a full round of Natural Brew, I opted to check them out, knowing that our annual harvest party was in the near future.

I served them up with our fare of pumpkin-everything and pork products galore and the kids and I all really ejoyed them. This isn't your usual cola, and it isn't even the usual for root beer and ginger ale, these are robust in flavor and very different than all the other ginger ales, root beers, colas and creme sodas I've ever had.

These drinks fit in with my way of thinking - they're hand-crafted in small batches (think micro-brewing), and they're also produced with natural ingredients, using no artificial colors, flavors or additives. WOW!

These are really worth a try, I absolutely love their Draft Root Beer and the Outrageous Ginger Ale? Oh, not only does it taste like it's got the freshest just-grated ginger in it, when I wasn't feeling so good last week, it was just the ticket to settle my tummy. The kids loved it all, too and they can be picky, even when it comes to sodas.

Natural Brew comes in six delicious flavors:

Draft Root Beer – Brewed the old-fashioned way using only the finest ingredients from nature for a classic flavor. No need for anything else.

Outrageous Ginger Ale – We start with the zestiest ginger and add a splash of sweetness to create the brisk zing of our Outrageous Ginger Ale.

Vanilla Crème Soda – A soothing blend of the finest vanilla beans makes this classic a favorite for easy sipping.

Lemon Lime – Refreshing and bold, this lively mix of tart lemon and sweet lime will brighten your day.

Concord Grape – Reminiscent of childhood days, this authentic grape flavor will take you back to the soda fountain, summer time and baseball games.

Natural Brew handcrafted sodas are sold in 4-packs and available nationwide at natural food stores, the natural section of your local grocery and other select vendors for $5.49 per 4-pack.

Find a store near you that carries Natural Brew, because you will most definitely want to try it for yourself. Here in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas you can find it at the following retailers:

Queens Nutritional Products
1450 Pennsylvania Avenue
Allentown, PA
(610)691-6644

Shaffer's Health Center
Fairgrounds Market
Allentown, PA
(610)439-1013

Sign Of The Bear Natural Foods
514 N. Saint Cloud St.
Allentown, PA
(610)439-8575

Grahams Natural Health Source
750 South 25th St
Easton, PA
(610)252-7707

Nature's Way Markets
143 Northampton Street
Easton, PA
(610)253-0940

Healthy Alternatives
7150 Hamilton Blvd
Trexlertown, PA
(610)366-9866

Nature's Garden Limited
4290 Perkiomen Ave
Reading, PA
(610)779-3000

Cookbook Review: The Un-Constipated Gourmet

It's the thing nobody talks about but everyone suffers from at one time or another; constipation. You may think that topic has no business on a food blog and would be more appropriate for a health or medical blog, but try and remember, what goes in must come out, so starting with the source is one of those 'ounce of prevention' type deals. Yes, it's a funny subject, but fiber plays a very important role in our bodies, and not just for purposes of elimination. Fiber helps to keep cholesterol down, our hearts healthy and can reduce the risk of colon cancer, as well.

The Un-Constipated Gourmet by Danielle Svetcov deals with, in a very funny way, not just the subject of constipation, but the very best way to prevent it: what you're eating. Before you run away thinking this will be nothing short of a few recipes including bran muffins and prune whip, think again. Not only is there more to roughage than that, there's a lot more flavor involved, too.

Presented in a simple way, seven chapters and 125 recipes, each recipe is given a T.P. rating, the higher the score, the more likely you are to be hitting the potty in no time flat. I seem to be a number 8, having chosen recipes with that number more often than not. The recipe for Caldo Verde is shared at A Thousand Soups and the recipe for White Bean Dip with Cilantro is here. Danielle describes this as a Latino version of hummus, and my kids and I couldn't get enough of it. How did it, er ... work? Quite well - that's all I'll say here.

This isn't just a book for the colonically challenged, it's filled with just plain good recipes that you'll want to make anyway.

White Bean Dip with Cilantro

Serves 8 as an appetizer

3 (15 ounce) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

3/4 cup olive oil (maybe more)

1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3 garlic cloves

3 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons chili powder

Salt and pepper, to taste

Process all ingredients in a blender except for 2 tablespoons of cilantro, which are saved for garnish. For added 'go', serve with thick tortilla chips or homemade whole-wheat croutons (essentially thinly sliced, heavily toasted bread, with olive oil and garlic rubbed in).

Get your own copy of The Un-Constipated Gourmet at Powell's Books or Amazon.com.

Avery & Zazzle Recipe Binder Design Contest

Check this out - and do it NOW - this contest ends November 2, 2009 at 11:59 PM, so get your creative hat on and go submit an entry today! Post a link to your design here and one lucky WINNER will receive their binder FREE!

Here are the particulars:

Prizes:
Grand Prize = $2,000
Second Prize = $500
10 Honorable Mention Prizes = $25 Zazzle Gift Code

How to Enter the Recipe Binder Contest:

1. Create a Zazzle Account (It’s free!)
2. Create your Recipe Binder
3. “Post for Sale” your Recipe Binder with the tag zazzleaveryrecipecontest2009 in the Zazzle Marketplace (learn how to tag your product here)
4. You’re done, good luck!

Create an Entry | View Entries

Contest entries must be received by November 2, 2009 at 11:59pm PT

Contest Rules:

1. You may only submit one entry for this Recipe Binder Contest
2. Entries must be submitted between October 19, 2009 at 9:00 am PT, and November 2, 2009 at 11:59 pm PT, to be eligible.
3. Entries will be judged on uniqueness of design, overall creativity, and best use of the binder space.
4. Entering a contest is done by tagging your product with a specific contest related keyword (or “tag”). If you don’t know how to do this, please read the instructions here. You should also leave a comment under the contest announcement with a link to your product to give it more visibility.
5. Contest is for submissions by residents of the USA only. All other entrants will be excluded from the competition. Read the Official Recipe Binder Contest Rules.