The hubby and I were delighted to receive an invitation to a picnic with some fun neighbors of ours. Not only was it an exciting but manageable outing for me, but it was also a delicious meal of grilled lime chicken sandwiches, baked beans, couscous/quinoa salad, and homemade peach pie. Thank you Paul, Bonnie, and Ciel.
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In some totally unrelated and random news, I came across this map of the United States, which indicates what business each state is most known for. I'm not sure I entirely agree with it - I think Pennsylvania should be marked "PRETZELS" (please read here if you want to learn about America's first pretzel baking family), but I will concede that Hershey's chocolate is really pretty awesometastic too.
Anyway, then when I saw this picture pop up on my Facebook feed, I knew I had to devote a blog post to chocolate. This is my pastor and his wife during their recent visit to the Hershey's chocolate facility in Hershey, Pennsylvania. They were exploring the part of the plant where you can design and manufacture your own candy bar, from picking the ingredients all the way to designing the outer candy bar wrapper. Those two always seem to be able to find fun new adventures together.
I am amazed at how Hershey's Chocolate has increased its variety of chocolate candies over the years. I think I remember back in the dinosaur days when Hershey kisses just came in one variety - the ones wrapped in the silver paper with a white tissue tag out the top. Now kisses come in all sorts of flavors, with several additional specialty flavors coming out around the Christmas holidays, too.
Perhaps my favorite recipe that uses Hershey's chocolate is the one for making the classic Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies. Since it is quite possible you already have this recipe in your arsenal of killer cookie recipes, I will give you the quicky version, one to use when time (and energy) is in short supply.
Ingredients:
1 pouch Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon water
1 egg
2 tablespoons sugar
36 Hershey's Kisses, unwrapped
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix together the cookie mix, oil, water, and egg until dough forms.
Shape the dough into one inch balls, roll in sugar.
Place balls about two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until light brown.
Immediately press a kiss into the center of each cookie.
Cool completely.
Store cookies in a tightly covered container.
Enjoy!
I'm wondering if you agree with the designations of your state's CLAIM TO FAME in the picture above? If not, with what would you replace it?
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| Pastor Arlie and Sharon |
I am amazed at how Hershey's Chocolate has increased its variety of chocolate candies over the years. I think I remember back in the dinosaur days when Hershey kisses just came in one variety - the ones wrapped in the silver paper with a white tissue tag out the top. Now kisses come in all sorts of flavors, with several additional specialty flavors coming out around the Christmas holidays, too.Perhaps my favorite recipe that uses Hershey's chocolate is the one for making the classic Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies. Since it is quite possible you already have this recipe in your arsenal of killer cookie recipes, I will give you the quicky version, one to use when time (and energy) is in short supply.
Ingredients:
1 pouch Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon water1 egg
2 tablespoons sugar
36 Hershey's Kisses, unwrapped
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix together the cookie mix, oil, water, and egg until dough forms.
Shape the dough into one inch balls, roll in sugar.
Place balls about two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until light brown.
Immediately press a kiss into the center of each cookie.
Cool completely.
Store cookies in a tightly covered container.
Enjoy!
I'm wondering if you agree with the designations of your state's CLAIM TO FAME in the picture above? If not, with what would you replace it?
I like that map and it does seem to be correct. Of course I couldn't read Deleware, Rhode Island, Maryland, and D.C. But I figure D.C. was noted for its bull. . .
ReplyDeleteOoooh, lime chicken? Do you have a recipe for THAT? That made Wallene's eyes light up. She loves chicken and loves all things lime.
ReplyDeleteBut I do love the cookie recipe. That is by far easier than mine. Good for mass producing those suckers at Christmas, eh? I love them and could eat buckets of them.
Aol and Virginia? ehhhh, yeah, maybe - We also, actually are home to the headquarters of the NRA [go us? no.] At least I think that is what the 25 story building with NRA lit up on the top that I pass on the Beltway, is. :) Aol is a little outdated I think - because so few people I know of use them anymore, but boy they sure did make their money.
Oh, I think we have Geico here too. Amazingly enough they haven't been outsourced.
But for products - I don't know what else. Cool map tho'. And your friends are cute!