Duck Cupcakes

  I love to bake.  I'll bake just about anything and cakes and cupcakes are two things that are extremely fun to bake.  There are so many choice when baking cakes and cupcakes.  You get to choose the type of cake and the type of frosting and how you are going to decorate them.  I recently made the duck cupcakes from the What's new Cupcake book by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson.  They were really fun to make and not too difficult either!
First you pick out the kind of cupcake you want to make, I chose a homemade brown sugar (one of my favorite's! I definitely recommend it!) and a homemade chocolate sour cream cupcake and you bake them. While the cupcakes were cooling I made the frosting.  You can do any type of frosting that can be dyed.  I made a homemade cream cheese frosting.  Next, we lightly frosted each cupcake. We then took a marshmallow (roasting size) and cut it in half diagonally.  On one end of the cupcake you put a little blob of frosting and stick on the marshmallow and this will be the tail.  For the other half of the cupcake we cut donut holes in half and stuck them on with a little frosting and this will be the head.  We took the cupcakes and put them in the freezer to chill for a while so that the donut and marshmallows would not fall off.  The next step is to color a portion of the frosting yellow and to melt it in the microwave.  Then take the cupcakes and while holding them from the bottom, dip them in the melted frosting and allow the excess to drip off.  You now have a yellow duck, he just needs a face!  After you allow the cupcakes to chill awhile in the freezer you can pipe two white dots for eyes and stick on mini brown M&M's.  For the bills you can take orange fruit flavored tootsie rolls, cut them in half, and mold them into a duck bill shape.  Use a little frosting and push the bill slightly into the donut hole on the cupcake so that it doesn't fall off.  If they need it, stick them in the freezer one more time to let all of the frosting and decorations harden.  You know have a duck cupcake!

Supplies:

-Either homemade or box-mix baked cupcakes of any flavor
-Any frosting that can be colored (need about one large batch)
-spatula or spreading knife
-mini M&M's
-Fruit flavored tootsie rolls
-donut holes (any flavor should work I did vanilla glazed for my brown sugar ones and chocolate glazed for my chocolate cupcakes.)
-piping bag (optional for eyes---can use a Ziploc bag too.)
-yellow food coloring
-microwavable bowl

Picture from:
http://www.weddingbee.com/2011/04/12/hello-cupcake-books/

St. Patrick's Day!

Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day and every where I went I saw people in green (including myself). Many people also celebrated the day by going to the parade and watching the floats while snacking on the candy that was being thrown out to them.  But why do we celebrate St. Patrick's day, when did it start?

    Saint Patrick was born in the 15th century and actually isn't Irish.  He was born in Roman Britain and was kidnapped and became a slave in Ireland when he was 16 years old.  He did later escape, but he also returned to Ireland later in his life.  Saint Patrick has been honored in Ireland with a feast on March 17th, but the Irish were not the first people to hold a parade in honor of St. Patrick.  Americans were.  On March 17, 1762 Irish soldier marched through New York City with music and helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish heritage.

    in 1848 a bunch of new York Irish Aid Societies decided to join together to form one large parade on St. Patrick's day. That parade is the worlds largest civilian parade today and is also the largest in the United States.  The parade takes more than 5 hours!
    St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in all different ways.  In Chicago they turn the river green with green vegetable-dye and it stays green for several hours.  In Ireland, St. Patrick's day was originally a religious holiday and until 1995 pubs would be closed on that day. Beginning in 19995 though, they started using St. Patrick's Day to increase tourism and to show Irish culture to the rest of the world.

Information from:
http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day

Picture from:
http://www.fanpop.com/spots/saint-patricks-day/images/13177257/title/happy-st-patricks-day-photo

Nutritional drink review

    I have a stomach condition known as Gastroparesis.  This is where your stomach has delayed emptying and this causes feelings of premature fullness, bloating, pressure and discomfort.  It can come and go and is often triggered by a virus.  This is my third flare up of the disease and my first time of figuring out what i actually have.  When it flares up eating solid foods is difficult and i got very sick for a while and was in the hospital.  My doctor put me on a liquid diet to help me keep my weight and nutrition up until my stomach starts to function normally again.  Being on a liquid diet isn't all bad.  I've been drinking a lot of nutritional drinks and I thought I would review the ones I've tried.
     I'll start off by talking about Boost nutritional drink, which is made by Nestle.  I drink the Boost high protein vanilla.  I particularly enjoy this nutrition shake.  The consistancy is very nice it's similar to milk and is not too thin and not too thick.  I think this would be a great thing to drink after a hot summer run because it will replenish your body with nutrients but isn't too hard to swallow.  The taste is also very nice.  It's sweet and very vanillay, but doesn't taste fake.  Boost has 15g of protein which is great for building tissue, but it does contain 23 grams of sugar which may cause some people not to want it.  It also contains 26 essential vitamins and minerals.  Boost tastes best when it is very cold and also comes in the flavors of chocolate and strawberry.  I have not tried these flavors, but my aunt loves the chocolate.
   I just recently tried the Boost Calorie Smart.  Right now I need to gain weight, but once that is stable I still want to continue drinking nutritional shakes because I am a very active person and these are a great way to keep up your nutrition and to have something light and healthy before running.  I really like the Boost Calorie Smart.  I had the vanilla flavor and it only contained 4 grams of sugar! Usually low sugar drinks taste very bad and have an icky after taste, but this one tasted pretty good.  It also contained 16 grams of protein and 24 essential vitamins and minerals!
   Another brand of drinks I have tried are the Ensure nutritional drinks.  I have tried the Ensure nutrition, Ensure muscle health, and the Ensure plus clinical strength.  These also taste well and I had the vanilla, butter pecan and homemade vanilla flavors.  The regular Ensures are a little thinner and the ensure plus is a little on the thicker side but both are not hard to stomach.  The Ensure plus is higher in calories and is for gaining weight, but all of them help to build up nutrition.  Ensure muscle health and Ensure plus clinical strength contain revigor which helps to build up tissues in the body.  Again, these drinks taste best when served very cold and you can even freeze them to make them more like a slushy or shake.
   I have also tried the Special K chocolate shake as well.  I liked this one and this is another option for a protein shake if you do not need to gain weight.  These ones are thick, so its best to drink them very cold, which I feel cuts down a little on the thickness of any nutritional drink.  These shakes have a slight after taste but the more you drink them the better they start to taste and eventually they may hook you. :) These shakes contain 10 grams of protein as well as other vitamins and minerals.
   Usually when people here stuff like ensure or protein shake they think, "eww gross" or "I don't want to drink that"  but personally I think that there are a lot of good tasting nutritional drinks out there.  I sometimes have to drink 6 to 8 a day and I'm glad i have found one's that I like, in fact I just ordered some cookies and cream flavored ones of the internet for something new to try!

Info from:
http://www.boost.com/nutritional-drinks/boost-calorie-smart
http://www.specialk.com/protein-shakes/chocolate

Picture from:
 http://www.shopping.com/Ensure-Technologies-Ensure-Clinical-Strength-Revigor-Homemade-Vanilla-Shake-8-Ounce-Pack-of-16-Ensure-Technologies/info

Pets are good for your health :)

  Everyone who has a pet would probably agree that the pet not only has become there best friend but is a member of the family. Pets are wonderful and make you happy, but they can also make you healthy too!
Within 15 to 30 minutes a cat or a dog can lower your stress levels. Your body will begin to produce more serotonin and produce less cortisol (a hormone associated with stress), putting you in a much better mood.
Many tests have found that pet owners also have a lower blood pressure, and one test even showed that children with hypertension had a lower blood pressure while petting their dog.  Pets may also be linked with lower cholesterol levels.  Studies have also shown that people who own cats or dogs are also less likely to die from a cardiac disease.
  Pets are also great therapy for people who struggle with depression.  Pets don't judge and care about their owners. Pets also give the person something to care for and think about, rather than focusing on how they feel.
  People who own pets are also likely to be more active, being that dogs need to be walked.  Walks will benefit both the animal and the owner and will help you meet your exercise goals leading to a healthier life style. 
  It has also been found that people who own cats are less likely to have a stroke.  This could be because the calming effect that cats have or because they help their owners not to focus on stressful thoughts.
   It has been shown that it is good to have pets around while children are growing up because these children tend to have a stronger immune system from the exposure to animals.  Animals could also help infants that are likely to develop asthma to not get it. 
   One cool way that a dog can help a person with diabetes is that they can alert them about there blood sugar dropping early enough before it gets dangerous.  The person with the dropping blood sugar gives of a scent that the dog can smell.
   Animals are often used in therapy and can help kids, who for instance could have autism, with sensory integration.
   Dogs can also help people who have epilepsy, they can sometimes alert the person of a seizure before it happens or alert parents of a child having a seizure in another room or they may lie up against the person having a seizure to prevent injury.
  Dogs can also be trained to give a person a better quality of life and help those with diseases such as Parkinsons or people who are blind.

Pets are amazing and help people in so many different ways.

Info from:
 http://pets.webmd.com/ss/slideshow-pets-improve-your-health
Picture from:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peterwedderburn/100112823/stray-dogs-and-cats-should-the-taxpayer-pay-the-bills/

Pets!

    I am definitely an animal person, and if I had to give myself a label I would say I'm a dog person; although I do like cats too.  I have two pugs that I absolutely adore. tthey are my babies and I love spending time with them.  We play together, walk together, eat together, and cuddle together.  There are a lot of people that don't want pets and I understand that we are all different in this world, but I think a lot of people feel that a pet is just work, when really a pet gives back to you as much as if not more then what you give to them.  Sure, I will admit that dogs do take a lot of time and energy.  You have to walk them, bathe them, feed them, pick up after them, take them outside, and take them to the vet.  But, they are so worth it.  They give you so much and they care about you; they become your best friend and part of the family.  Sure you have to walk them but personally, walking my dogs has become one of the best parts of my day; it's fun and it's a healthy activity to do.  Pets are so worth it.  They make you laugh a lot.  My little pug makes me laugh all the time because he is so small and everything he does is so cute. Pets also just want to make you happy.  My older pug hates to see me upset and will always run over to me right away and give me kisses and lets me pet her tummy (she thinks that since tummy rubs feel so good to her and make her happy that giving tummy rubs must make me really happy, she's so sweet :) ).

    When you have had a  long or hard day there is nothing like coming home to animals that love you and just want your attention.  Playing with your pet can really reduce your stress and turn a rough day into the best day.   Another favorite thing to do with my pet is curl up with them on the couch and snuggle with them after a busy day.  It's so relaxing and they are so cute and sweet.
   I personally feel that a pet can benefit your health, whether your sick with the flu or struggling with a serious illness.  Pets care about their owners and can sense when they are not well.  My pug will lay with me for hours when I'm sick and even will check on me throughout the night to make sure I'm ok.  Seeing a friendly animal can also greatly reduce your stress which in turn leads to a healthier you.  Lastly, you have to walk your dog and this is good for both the owner and the dog.
   A pet is a wonderful addition to almost any family.  They don't judge and are super forgiving.  They thouroughly care about their owner, make them laugh, and become their best friends.

Picture from:
http://thebestvacuumforpethair.org/

Daylight Savings Time

    The sun is starting to shine more, the weather is warming up, the flowers are starting to bloom, the trees are growing new leaves, people are coming out of hibernation in their homes, Spring is on its way.  This also means that daylight savings time is here.  It started at 2:00 a.m. on March 11 and we sprung ahead an hour. This brings happiness for some people because the days will be lighter longer which means that you can spend more time outdoors, but others aren't so happy about losing an hour of sleep.  Why do we have daylight savings time? And, who thought of it?

    The idea of Daylights saving time was thought of by a very famous man, Benjamin Franklin.  Benjamin Franklin realized that people could make better use of daylight and save a lot of resources such as the oil burned in lamps.  The idea of Daylight Saving time really took off during World war I, when Germany became the first state to adopt it.  By doing this they saved a lot of coal for the war effort.  The United States set up a federal law for the start and end times of Daylight Saving Time in 1918, but it was not mandatory for states to participate.  Today, Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Marianas Islands don't recognize Day Light Savings.  However, during World War II, Daylight Saving Time was mandatory for the whole country in order to save resources for the war. During world War II Daylight Saving Time was recognized year round. After the war, Daylight Savings went back to being optional.

    Does Daylight Saving Time really save energy?  Studies have been done that support both sides of this argument. Some studies have shown that since and hour is added to the evening when it's warmer the use of air-conditiong cancels out the amount of electricity saved.  Other studies have shown that Daylight Saving Time does save electricity.  other factor such as location and climate are thought to have effects on whether or not energy is actually saved.
    Some studies have also shown that Daylight Savings leads to an increase in people doing active activities such as jogging and a decreased amount of time watching TV.  Other Studies have shown that Daylight savings can be harmful to health because it messes with a persons circadian rhythm.  one study even found that the risk for heart attacks increases in the beginning of spring after the time change. 
    Daylight Savings Time has both positives and negatives.  Some people love it and other don't.  Whether you like it or don't just don't forget to set your clock ahead so that you don't show up late to your next event! :)

Info:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/12/120309-daylight-savings-time-2012-what-time-is-it-spring-forward-nation/
Picture:
http://newperspectivesradioshow.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/clock-goes-forward-one-hour-tonight/
 

icream

What of you could go somewhere and create your own ice cream right on the spot at a super fast speed?  Well at icream in Chicago you can!  I've never actually been there but I've read about it and seen it on TV.

You can either create your own Ice cream, frozen yogurt, milkshake, ore even hot pudding!  The create the ice cream using liquid nitrogen machines  that freezes it within seconds.  You can customize everything!  You get to pick your milk which ranges from soy to whole, you pick your flavored syrups, and you even can pick the colors so you could have pink colored mint flavored ice cream if you want! The mixture is then put into the mixer and the worker selects the size and base and then it is mixed with the liquid nitrogen.  They have a bunch of flavors including cake, chocolate, vanilla, cheesecake, mint, strawberry, and many more.  They also have a wide range of candies, cookies, and fruits to add in to the ice cream!

Check out their page for more information and to watch a video about the store :)
http://www.icreamcafe.com/about/

Mclovin it!

    When your craving a big and juicy burger, crispy and tender chicken nuggets, or the crunchy on the outside soft on the inside salty fries where do you go?  McDonalds of course! :)  It is definitely not hard to fin one these days, there everywhere!  Everyone knows there name and almost every one had eaten there.  When di it all start though? Well, here's a little information to help answer that question.

   In 1940 Dick and Mac McDonald open the McDonald's barbeque restraunt in San Bernardino, California.  It was a drive in restaurant that featured a wide ranged menu.  in 1948 Dick and Mac McDonald shut down their restaurant for a few months due to some alterations and when it reopened in December of 1948 it had definitely changed.  It was now a self service restaurant with a menu of nine items that included hamburgers, cheeseburgers, coffee, soft drinks, milk, potato chips, and pie.  The main item on the menu was the hamburger and it was sold for only 15 cents!  In 1949 the famous McDonalds french fries replace the potato chips on the menu and the triple thick milkshake is born.  In 1954 multimixer Ray Kroc visits the McDonalds restaurant and becomes very interested when he finds that the McDonald brothers are looking for a nation wide franchising agent.  in 1955 Kroc opened his first McDonalds in Des Plaines, Illinois.  The building had the famous gold arches and they attracted a lot of attention. Kroc made $366.12 on the first day in sales. In 1956 Kroc hires a man named Fred Turner to be a counter person, Turner would later become the chairman for McDonalds.  In 1958 Mcdonalds sold its 100 millionth hamburger and in 1959 its 100th restaurant opened in Wisconsin!   

   In 1961 Hamburger University opened in the basement of the McDonalds in Elk Grove, Illinois. In 1962 the Denver, Colorado McDonalds provides the first McDonalds with indoor seating.  In 1963 the 500th restaurant opens in Ohio.  McDonalds celebrates its 10th anniversary in 1965 and offers public stock for the first time.  In 1966 McDonalds has its first televised commercial and it features Ronald McDonald.  In 1967 Mcdonalds becomes international and restaurants are oopened in Canada and Puerto Rico.  In 1968 the famous Big Mac is created.  In 1969 the logo is revise to feature the two golden arches.  In 1971 the characters of Hamburgler, Grimace, Mayor McCheese, Captain Crook, and the Big Mac are created. 
    In 1973 the quarter pounder is added to the menu.  The first Ronald McDonald house opened in 1974.  The Egg McMuffin was created in 1975 and McDonalds now served breakfast.   The McDonalds All American High School Basketball team started in 1977.  In 1978 the 5,000 restaurant opened in Japan.  In 1979 the happy meal was created and the 25th anniversary is celebrated in 1980.  McDonalds celebrates its 30th anniversary in 1985 and salads are added to the menu in 1987.  In 1988 Fortune Magazines states that McDonald's hamburgers are one of the 100 things that America makes best. In 1992 a McDonalds opens in Warsaw, Poland and breaks the opening day sales record. In 1996 McDonalds.com launches.  The Happy meal celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2004 and in 2005 McDonalds celebrates its 50th anniversary.  In 2006 the snack wrap is introduced.  In 2009 the McCafe Coffee line is added to the menu and in 2010 smoothies and frappes are added to the menu. In 2011 McDonalds added the Chipotle Barbeque burger and snack wrap to their menu.

McDonalds Facts:
-McDonalds has more than 33,000 restaurants worldwide
-1.7 million people are employed at McDonalds
-McDonalds is in 119 countries

Informatioin from:
http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company/mcdonalds_history_timeline.html
http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company.html

Picture from:
http://thestamp.umd.edu/food/mcdonalds.html

Crazy for Orange Leaf!

  I looove Ice cream and I eat it all of the time.  I love almost any ice cream that has Oreos in it, I mean what can't be better with Oreos? I know right! Well, during the winter I've been eating a lot of Dairy Queen, but recently a new place opened in town and it's called Orange Leaf.  Orange Leaf serves soft serve frozen yogurt instead of ice cream.  At first, I was a little skeptical because I've heard that frozen yogurt can sometimes have a sort of bitter taste, but I still wanted to give it a try.  One day about a week ago some friends invited me to come with them and it sounded like a lot of fun so of course I said yes.  At first I wasn't going to eat due to not being very hungry because of a few health issues but after watching every one make their creations I couldn't resist getting a bowl to go.  It was the most amazing thing I think I've ever tasted!
   The atmosphere of the place is really cool.  You walk in and the whole place is painted in bright colors like bright orange and lime green.  They also have a lot of bright and lighted up pictures.  Orange Leaf is set up really nice there is a tiled wall in the back with all of the yogurt machines, a toppings bar, and then the check out.  The rest of the place is filled with tables that have really cool curvy chairs and couches for you to sit on and hang out with friends while enjoying your delicious concoction.
   When you walk in you immediately go to the back of the restraurant and pick out the size of bowl you want, either huge or huger :). Then you move on to the yogurt machines.  They have a bunch of flavors to choose from and you can get as many and as much or little as you want.  Some of the flavors include cheesecake, vanilla, chocolate, brownie batter, white chocolate, mango, strawberry, cookies and cream, and my personal favorite birthday cake!  Next you move on to the toppings bar where you get to select what you want from and ocean of choices.  There is a bunch of stuff to choose from including cereals, M&M's, candy bars, Oreos, cookies, fruit, candies, and much, much more!  Then you put your creation on a scale and you pay by the ounce.  I felt the price was pretty reasonable, about 33 cents per ounce.  The worker then gives you the most amazing spoon that is orange and shaped like a mini shovel (I saved mine).  It is now time to enjoy the most delicious and personalized creation! Yum!  I would definitely give this place 5 stars and recommend it!

Picture from:
http://www.bargainez.com/deal/frozen-yogurt-at-orange-leaf-frozen-yogurt/

Marshmallows!

There fluffy and sweet, almost like eating a cloud; marshmallows! Everyone loves a good marshmallow and there are so many ways to enjoy them. In the winter you can put them in a warm cup of hot chocolate where they melt and add a creaminess to your delicious, chocolaty drink. In the summer you can roast them over a campfire and either enjoy them plain, burnt or golden brown, or you can put them between two graham crackers with a piece of chocolate for a delicious and sticky s'more. You can also use marshmallows in baking to create tasty rice krispie bars or some delectable fudge. The marshmallow is used a lot in our society but where does it come from? Well, lets find out.
Would you believe me if I told you that marshmallows originally came from a plant? Well, they did! Marshmallows came from a sweet sap produced by the mallow plant found in marshes and is native to Europe and West Asia. Hence the name marsh-mallow. This plant was originally used for medicinal purposes such as curing inflammation and sore throats and didn't become a yummy treat until the 19th century.
The French found that if you mixed the mallow sap with egg whites and corn syrup a moldable substance was formed; the marshmallow was born! Eventually, the plant extract was replaced by gelatin. This way of baking produced the same fluffy concoction but took a lot less work. In the 1900's marsmallows were sold in tins as penny candies and also during this time period the mallow cup was created by the Boyer brothers. Marshmallows really grew in popularity during the 1920's and many treats were created such as the moon pie.
Marshmallows continue to be a classic treat and are enjoyed plain, in fun shapes such as peeps, inside of candy bars, in frostings, and in many other treats!
Marshmallow facts:
-the first known s'mores recipe came from a Girl Scout cook book in 1927
-Americans buy 90 million pounds of marshmallows a year (about the same amount of weight as 1,286 gray whales!)
- In 2003 the largest s'more was made and it used 20,000 marshmallows, all toasted, and 7,000 chocolate bars. It weighed 1,600 pounds!
-more than 50% of marshmallows sold each summer are roasted over a fire
-The term s'more is thought to stand for "gimmie some more"
-Americans spend about 125 million dollars on marshmallows each year
-Ligonier, Noble County, Indiana is the marshmallow capital of the world

Information from:
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/2011/01/its-a-marshmallow-world/
https://boyercandies.com/mallowhistory.php
http://mallowmaster.com/Marshmallow%20facts.htm
http://www.candyusa.com/FunStuff/FunFactsDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=973

Picture From:
http://www.bigoven.com/glossary/Marshmallow

Groundhog's Day

    Every February 2nd we wake up and want to know, did the groundhog see his shadow?  If he did we sigh as there will supposedly now be six more weeks of winter and if he didn't we get excited and anticipate an early spring.  Isn't it funny that we let a groundhog predict our future weather as if it is trained in meteorology?  How did this tradition come to be?  I looked online and found out a little more about this holiday.

    Groundhog's day is February 2nd because this is Candlemas day for Christians.  On this day in Europe the Christian clergymen would hand out candles to people for use during the winter and they would also offer blessings.  The Europeans believed that if it was sunny on Candlemas day that this would mean six more weeks of winter.  The Germans then added the idea of an animal being scared of its shadow would lead to six more weeks of winter and at first they used hedgehogs not ground hogs.  In the 18th century, when Germans brought this idea with them to America, they started using groundhogs because they were abundant in America. 

    in America we celebrate groundhogs day with the famous Punxsutawney Phil, who of course lives in Punsxutawney, Pennsylvania.  People will go each year and watch this groundhog emerge to either see or not see his shadow.  Punxsutawney Phil was started by a local newspaper editor and has predicted the weather for 126 years!  He has seen his shadow 99 times and not seen it 16 times (9 years of data is missing).
   Groundhogs day is a fun little celebration to brighten up the winter and since its started there have been many groundhogs trying to predict the weather including one who bit the New York City mayor.

Information from:
http://www.local10.com/weather/History-of-Groundhog-Day/-/1717142/8581658/-/ywv6ybz/-/

Picture from:
http://www.local10.com/weather/History-of-Groundhog-Day/-/1717142/8581658/-/ywv6ybz/-/
  

Preparing for a New Furry Friend

    One of the best experiences in a persons life is getting a new pet.  You get all excited and can't wait for the day to arrive when you get to pick out your new furry little bundle of joy.  For the days before you just dream of what their personality is going to be like and how much your going to love and dote over this little dog.  Then if you already know they type and gender of your dog you get to make the most exciting trip to the pet store.  You pick out matching bowls, a little puppy collar and leash, toys, food, and a soft dog bed for the puppy to nap on.  I'm excited to say that next week a new pug will be joining our family.  I have the most wonderful pug right now and she is so much fun, so we decided to add a new little friend to our lives.  But, when getting a new dog how do you prepare for it, especially if it is a puppy? Well, here are a few tips!

    The most important thing is to decide on the type of dog you want.  I personally wanted a pug because they are a great family dog.  They love to cuddle and play and they always make you laugh.  It's important to look at your life style and to find a dog that matches the amount of time you can put in and the activities that you enjoy doing.

   Next, it is time to find a dog.  You can look in your local paper, research online, or check your local shelter or rescue groups in you area.
   Once you have a dog picked out you should puppy proof your house.  Puppies love to chew! make sure to keep small things that they could choke on off of the floor and to avoid having many electrical cords exposed.  Also, you may want to consider getting baby gates to bocok stair ways until  the dog is big enough to safely go up and down the stairs.
   Now it is time to go to the pet store.  This is one of the most exciting parts of getting a new dog.  You get to pick out all of the new toys, food, bowl, collars, leashes, and other accessories for your dog.  It is important to get chew toys for you dog since puppies love to chew, especially when they are young.  also, you should get a variety of toys so they don't get bored.  There are a lot of foods to choose from and you could consider doing some research to figure out what ingredients you do and don't want in your dogs food.  You might also want to consider getting a doggy tooth brush because it is important to keep a dogs teeth clean.
   After you've gotten everything ready for your furry friend it is time to go and pick him or her up.  This will be the very beginning of your new friendship!

Picture from:
http://petandbaby.com/2011/cute-pug-puppies/

Ketchup

   When you think of one thing in your kitchen that you never want to run out of what it?  one thing that I think of is Ketchup.  Americans love ketchup. We eat it on almost everything including burgers, fries, hotdogs, onion rings, chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks, and some people even eat it with grilled cheese and mac and cheese.  A good old burger anf fries just wouldn't be the same without this delicious tomatoey sauce!  I did a little bit of research and found out the history of this delicious condiment.
    The original Ketchup actually came from China and was called ke-tsiap.  This Chinese ketchup was nothing close to today's ketchup though, it didn't even have tomatoes in it actually.  Chinese ketchup was a pickled fish sauce, it was salty and similar to a soy sauce.  Seventeenth century English sailors discovered this sauce and brought it west where the name and ingredients began to change.  The first time catsup was mentioned in print was in 1690 and ketchup in 1711.  In Britain people put in the ingredients of oysters, anchovies, and mushrooms. The first recipe for ketchup was printed in 1727 in The Complete Housewife, but it still did not call for tomatoes.  It wasn't until 85 year later that the first tomato ketchup recipe would be made in Novi Scotia.  Ketchup was sold nationwide by 1837 and became a huge success in 1872 when Heinz began selling ketchup in their product line.  Heinz Ketchup hasn't changed and is still the same today. 
 

Fun Facts:
-Ketchup is found in around 97% of American kitchens
-Ketchup can fight against cancer and heart disease

Information from:
http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/ketchuphistory.htm
http://www.essortment.com/brief-history-ketchup-21820.html

Picture from:
http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/04/words-that-should-be-words-disrespectchup.html

Twinkies!

     Every one knows the name  Hostess and just the thought of the name probably makes your mouth water.  One of everyone's favorite Hostess snacks is the Twinkie.  Twinkies are a soft and sweet sponge cake filled with a delicious and gooey vanilla cream filling.  When did these favorite snacks come to be though? Well, lets find out! 
    During the 1920's and 1930's Continental Bakeries sold snack foods under the brand name of Hostess. One popular treat that this company sold were called Hostess Little Shortbread Fingers. These treats were made with strawberries and therefore were seasonal.  The machines used to make these treats were only used for part of the year and Hostess wanted to come up with a product that could be made the other part of the year.  The Companies vice President, James Dewar, was the man to come up with the idea for a Twinkie.  He thought that they could make a sponge cake and fill it with a flavored cream filling, actually the original Twinkies were filled with banana flavored cream, not vanilla.  Dewar got the idea for the name "Twinkie" when he drove passed a billboard advertising twinkle-toed shoes, he just shortened twinkle to Twinkie. The first Twinkies were sold in 1930 and a pack of two was sold for a nickel. 
    During World War II there was a shortage in bananas so the company switched to using a vanilla cream filling.  The flavor caught on and Hostess never switched back to banana.  During the 1950's Twinkies really grew in popularity when hostess sponsored the Howdy Doody show, which included "Twinkie" as a character.
   There have been many misconceptions about the shelf life of a Twinkie.  It was said that the Twinkie would last for decades and could last through a nuclear war.  In reality, the original Twinkies had a shelf life of two days and they now have a shelf life of about twenty-five days. A cool fact about the Twinkie, though, is that president Bill Clinton put one in a time capsule!
    Twinkies have been around for some time now and they continue to be one of the most popular snack foods in America.  You can find twinkies in almost any store and sometimes you can even find them deep fat fried at a carnival.

Information from:
http://www.kitchenproject.com/history/twinkie.htm
http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/twinkie2.htm

Picture from:
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/01/twinkies-are-only-good-for-25-days/

Donuts

    Donuts are the perfect way to start every morning.  They are sweet and chewy and a fresh baked donut with a cup of coffee is a nice, warm, and easy way to wake up.  Donuts come in many varieties like glazed, chocolate, blueberry, cherry, sprinkled, and even jelly or creme filled.  But how did donuts come to be? Why do they have a hole in the middle? And when did Krispie Kreme's come around? These were all questions that I had about donuts and I did a little research to find out the answers.

    Fried dough has been around for many centuries and could be found in many different countries.  In the 19th century the Dutch were known for making olykoeks which means "oil cakes". In order to make these treats the Dutch would take balls of cake and fry them in pork fat.  The middle did not get as done as the outside so these olykoeks would often be filled with fruits, nuts, and other fillings.  These treats were brought with the Dutch as they immigrated to America and they continued to change and soon became more and more like the modern Donut.

    But how did the donut get its famous shape with the hole in the center?  This is thanks to an American ship captain named  Hansen Gregory.  In 1847 Gregory cut a hole in the center of the donuts before cooking them which allowed the oil to touch more of the donut and therefore cook it more evenly.
   The name "donut" is a very debated topic.  It is thought that the name could have come from the nuts that were put in the center of the dough-"dough-nuts" or it could also be derived from "doughknots", a popular shape of olykeoks.  A History of New York, published by Washington Irving in 1809 is the first written record of the word "doughnut".  In the 1900's "doughnut" was shortened to "donut" and today either spelling is used.
In 1920, Adolph Levitt, an immigrant from Russia, created the first automated donut machine and it was featured in the 1934 World's Fair in Chicago.  After this the donut became very popular all across America.
   now that we know more about the donut, lets see how Krispie Kreme's came to be. A man named Vermon Randolph bought the famous Krispie Kreme secret recipe from a French chef in New Orleans.  He then rented a building in North Carolina and began selling donuts to local grocery stores on July 13, 1937.  The wonderful smell of these fresh baked pastries would drift through the streets and soon people walking buy would ask if they could buy the donuts.  Randolph responded by cutting a hole in the outside wall and he began to sell fresh-baked original glazed donuts to people walking by.
    in the 1940's and 1950's Krispie Kreme's was a small chain of stores. They were mostly owned by families, they all used the same recipe, and all the donuts were homemade. Randolph wanted the donuts to be more consistent so he bought a mix plant and started delivering a donut mix to each of the stores.  After this Randolph built ,his own donut making machines and he then focused on improving everything.
    In the 1960's Krispie Kreme's began to spread all throughout the south east. In 1976 the company was sold to Beatrice Foods Company.  In 1982 a small group of Krispie Kreme's early franchisers bought the company back from Beatrice Foods Company and they really focused on the hot donut experience.  In 1996 they opened their first store in New York and in 1999 they opened one in California.  In 1997 Krispie Kreme's was noted as a 20th century American icon and company artifacts were donated to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.
    in 2000 Krispie Kreme's opened its first international store around Toronto in Canada, soon followed by the cities of Sydney, Australia and London, England. Krispie Kreme's now also has stores in Mexico, Asia, The Middle East, Puerto Rico, and Turkey.
   Donuts will always be a favorite treat and donut chains continue to expand and offer many new flavors and varieties of donuts.

Information from:
http://krispykreme.com/about-us/history
http://foodreference.about.com/od/history_myths/a/The-History-Of-Doughnuts.htm

Picture from:
http://www.alwaysfoodie.com/entry/krispy-kremes-whole-wheat-doughnuts-might-face-competition-from-gluten-free-counterparts/
  

Pizza!

  Pizza is a food loved by all and is definitely a staple here in America.  It is served at birthday parties, devoured at sleep overs, eaten during football games, and also on those hectic days where there is no time for cooking.  Pizza is such an easy food to like because it comes in so many different varieties and is easily customizable.  You can pick from thin or thick crust, a variety of cheeses like cheddar and mozzarella, and you can stop there or you can continue to add meats like pepperoni, sausage, Canadian bacon, or hamburger.  You can also top your pizza with vegetables, mushrooms, anchovies, taco toppings, and the list just goes on and on. I looked online and found out just a little bit more about this yummy food.
   It is agreed by many that the origin of a pizza like food goes back to ancient times.  Ancient Middle-Eastern cultures like the Egyptians and Babylonians were known to eat unleavened bread that was baked in mud ovens. The bread was often topped with olive oil and seasonings. The more familiar pizza was thought to have originated in Italy though. In the 18th century flat bread "pizza's" that were not topped with anything were sold and enjoyed in the markets and on the streets of Naples. These pizzas were very cheap and so they were often sold to the poor.  In the late 1880's Queen Margherita and her husband went on an inspection tour of Italy.  While on this tour the queen noticed many people eating the pizzas and had her guard bring her one to try.  The queen loved the pizza, which was a little controversial since it was considered a peasant food, but this did not bother the queen and she ate them every time she was among the people. The queen then summoned the chef of a pizzeria by the name of Rafaelle Esposito to come to her palace in order to make pizza for her.  The chef wanted to make a pizza to honor the queen and so he topped it with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil to represent the three colors of the Italian flag (red, white, and green).  The queen loved the new pizza and it was soon enjoyed by many Italian people.  After this pizza the world began to see new variations and ingredients like meat and vegetables began to be added. 
   Although Italian immigrants had been selling pizza for some time it wasn't until after World War II that pizza became very popular among Americans. Returning soldiers told about this delicious food after many of them tasted it for the first time while they had occupied Italian territories.


Fun Facts:
-February 9th is international pizza day
-According to the Guinness book of world record the largest pizza ever made and eaten was 100 ft and 1 inch across and was made in Havana, Florida
-The first pizzeria in North America was opened by Gennaro Lombardi in 1905 in New York City
-In 1930 the first Pizza Hut appeared in the United States
- Rose Totino created the first frozen pizza
-Pepperoni is the number one topping choice in the United States
-Americans eat around 350 slices of pizza per second

Information from:
http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/FOOD_IS_ART/pizzahistory.html
http://aboutpizza.com/page.asp?PageID=44
http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/pizza.htm

Picture from:
http://www.free-extras.com/search/1/pizza.htm

Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

    Reese's peanut butter cups are a candy that everyone knows and are almost everyone's favorite candy.  They are a delicious sweet treat with a decadent chocolate outside and a creamy peanut butter inside, in fact it's almost as if chocolate and peanut butter were made for each other.  Almost everyone could most likely agree though, that when they receive a bag they definitely cannot just eat one!  After some research I learned about the history of this very popular chocolate candy.
   The creator of the Reese's peanut butter cup was named Harry Burnett Reese.  He was born in Frosty Hill, Pennsylvania in 1879 to a farming family.  Harry was never very fond of farming and he moved to Hershey Pennsylvania in 1917.  He started working for Milton S. Hershey as a dairy employee.  Harry was very inspired by the success of the Hershey company and the wide variety of treats they sold and decided to start his own company, the H.B. Reese's Candy Company.  Harry then moved to Hummelstown and Palmyra where he sold Lizzie Bars, a caramel-molasses candy and Johnny Bars, a coconut candy.  Harry had some success with these treats but he ended up moving back to Hershey, Pennsylvania.  In the mid 1920's the H.B. Reese's Candy Company began making peanut butter cups.  At first these candies were sold in bulk, five pound boxes to be used in candy assortment boxes.  Then in the 1930's Reese's peanut butter cups were sold individually for a penny. During World War II, the company discontinued its other candy lines and focused on selling only peanut butter cups. In the 1940's and 1950's the Reese's peanut butter cup grew a lot in popularity and was sold to stores, vending machine companies, and wholesalers.  The bright orange and yellow packaging really helpde this candy to gain its popularity.  In 1957 the H.B. Reese's Candy Company opened a 100,000 square foot operating facility on Chocolate Avenue in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  Then in 1963 the Hershey Candy Company bought the H.B. Candy Company for 23.5 million dollars.  In 2004 D&D snack in the UK started distributed Reese's products and in 2008 Reeses pieces were added to the products sold in the UK where they have gained popularity.
   Peanut Butter cups continue to be a favorite candy of many people.  They are now sold in many sizes including, the mini cups, small cup, regular cup, big cup, and huge half-pound cup.  They also come in many varieties including ones with peanuts, ones coated with whites chocolate, Christmas tree shaped peanut butter cups for Christmas, pumpkins for Halloween, hearts for Valentine's day, and eggs for Easter. This candy is a very sucessful candy that is enjoyed by many.

Information from:
http://www.articlesbase.com/chocolate-articles/the-history-of-reeses-peanut-butter-chocolate-768114.html
http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/candy/old/history-of-peanut-butter.asp

Picture from:
http://freebiesformoms.net/2011/12/free-reeses-peanut-butter-cups-with-coupon-at-rite-aid/

Peeps

   Peeps are a marshmallow candy that you can find during the most exciting times of the year like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and  Valentine's day.  People either like peeps or they don't, but if you do you usually love them. That delicious first bite into the soft, fluffy, and sweet marshmallow treat with the little tiny bit of crunch from the sugar outside is so memorable and makes you crave more.  That box of peeps is probably gone pretty fast.  I decided to do some research and find out the history of this marshmallow treat.
   In 1953 the Just Born Candy Company bought the Rhodda Candy Company and acquired their marshmallow chick line.  These treats were each hand made and Bob Born loved the little chicks.  In 1954 Bob Born created machines that could make multiple candy chicks at a time and during this year the Just Born Candy Company became the biggest marshmallow candy company in the world. This is also when the candy obtained the name of peeps.  The original peeps only came in the shapes of chicks but in 1958 that all began to change when the pumpkin peep was introduced for Halloween. Soon to follow were snowmen and Christmas trees for the Christmas season in 1960. In 1975 peeps entered the sports zone and produced football shaped peeps.  In 1977 the teddy bear peep was introduced and in 1980 the giant peep marshmallow bunny was born. In 1995 the lavender chick peep was introduced and in 1998 the blue chick peep was introduced, before this they were only sold in the colors of white, pink, or yellow. In 1999 peeps reached the digital world and http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/ was launched. Also during this year vanilla peeps were introduced and these were the first flavored peeps on the market. 1999 really was a big year for the company because they also launched their first peep commercial on national TV. In 2002 peeps became musical and released a CD, the Marshmallow Peeps Sing Along which included 14 different songs. In 2002 peeps also introduced the marshmallow star for the summer season. In 2003 the successful candy celebrated their 50th anniversary.  In 2007 they introduced the sugar free peep and in 2008 they introduced peeps in the shape of the word "joy"-the first peeps to be word-shaped. In 2009 peeps had a huge achievement when they opened the peeps and company store.  In 2010 peeps introduced chocolate covered peeps.
    Peeps have been around for quite some time and although they started only as a marshmallow chick, which is still very popular and a classic, they have grown and added many new shapes and flavors.  Whether you like the flavor of these marshmallow treats or not, peeps are very cute and really do brighten up many holiday treat plates.

Information from:
http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/marshmallows_2.htm
http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com/about/history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peeps

Picture from:
http://puppybunnyguineapretty.wordpress.com/tag/peeps/

Oreo. Milk's Favorite Cookie!

One of my absolute favorite store-bought cookies is the Oreo.  I love the chocolaty cookie flavor mixed with the sweet flavor of the cream center.  There are many ways to eat an Oreo, you can just bite right into it or you can take the top off and lick off the cream before devouring the two cookie pieces, or even dip it in a tall glass of milk.  My favorite way to eat the Oreo cookie is to put into ice cream to make a delicious frozen ice cream and cookie treat.

   The Oreo was created by the National Biscuit company, or Nabisco in 1912.  It originally came in two flavors; cream (like what is sold today) and lemon meringue. The cookies looked similar to the ones sold today but had a different design on the top of the cookie. In the United States, the Oreos were first sold for 25 cents a pound in novelty cans. Cream was the most popular flavor and lemon meringue was discontinued in the 1920s. The Oreo that we know today with the Nabisco logo on it was created in 1952. 

    But how did this cookie get the name of "Oreo"? There are a couple theories to answer this question but it is not exactly known for sure.  Some of the Nabisco workers think it could of comrefrom the French word for gold which is "or" because gold was one of the main colors on the package.  Some believe that the name came from a hill-shaped version of the cookie because the greek word for mountain is "oreo".  Another theory is that the name came from taking the "re" out of cream and the two "o's" from chocolate and by putting the "re" in between the two "o's" creating the name Oreo.  Still, others just feel that the name was short and easy to pronounce and therefore that is why it was chosen.

   Over 362 billion Oreos have been sold since they were first created and they became the best selling cookie of the 20th century.  In 1975 Nabisco introduced the double-stuf oreo, in 1982 they introduced fudge covered oreos, in 1991 Halloween oreos were released, and in 1995 Christmas oreos were created.
   Oreos are a delicious cookie that continue to come in many new flavors such as: strawberry milkshake, mint, Oreo DQ Blizzard, and even heads and tails (chocolate and vanilla cookie with cream filling). 

Information from:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lots_of_m&m's.jpg
http://history1900s.about.com/od/1910s/a/oreohistory.htm

Picture from:
http://www.sodahead.com/living/what-oreo-cookie-flavor-do-you-like-best/question-1823881/?link=ibaf&q=&imgurl=http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/oreo100.jpg

M&M's!

M&Ms are a great type of candy to snack on. They satisfy that chocolate craving and the candy shell coating even adds a little crunch. They are even fun to look at since they come in a variety of colors. M&Ms are great by themselves, but they also make a great addition to an ice cream treat, cookies, and trail mix. I did a little bit of research and i found out more about this wonderful candy.

M&Ms are made by the Mars Candy Company and were introduced during World War II for the troops to snack on without having melted chocolate all over their hands. The name is an abbreviation of the two creators names; Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie. The candy originally came in cylinder shaped tubes and then in 1948 the company began packaging M&M's in the brown bags that are still used today. In 1950 the company began printing the famous "M" on each of the candies. At that time each bag of M&M's only cost 5 cents. 1954 was a big year for M&M's. Mars introduced peanut M&M's for the very first time, the slogan "melts in your mouth, not in your hands" was created and the M&M characters made there first appearance on television. In 1960 you could get these delicious candies in red, yellow, and green and then orange was added in 1976. In 1995 people got to vote on a new color to be added and blue was the big winner. They did another vote again in 2002 and purple was added to the mix. Today you can get M&M's in virtually any color, but the bags still come in the original red, yellow, green, orange, brown, and blue. They also offer seasonal bags that come in colors for Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. In 1980 the M&M started to be sold internationally to the countries of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the UK, Malaysia, Spain, and Switzerland. M&M's have reached many milestones and even went into space in 1982 and are now on every shuttle mission. They also became the offical snack food of the 1984 Olympics. In 1997 the famous green M&M character appeared on tv and also during this year M&M World opened in Las Vegas, Nevada. Another huge milestone for the M&M's occured in 1998 when M&Ms were named the official candy of the new millennium.

In 1999 when Crispy M&Ms are intorduced the orange M&M tv character makes his first appearance.
    M&Ms have been a very successful candy that continue to be a popular treat. They now come in many flavors including flavors like peanut butter, almond, pretzel, and even candy corn. You can also order almost any color of M&Ms online and have them personalized with pictures and messages.

Information from:
http://www.ehow.com/about_5079797_history-mms-candies.html
http://www.mms.com/us/about/mmshistory/

Picture from:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lots_of_m&m's.jpg

Dog of Week: The Puli

   The Puli is a medium sized and square shaped dog that can weigh anywhere from 20 to 30 pounds for a female and 25 to 35 pounds for a male.  Females tend stand about 14 to 16 inches off of the ground and males tend to stand about 16 to 17 inches off of the ground.  These dogs are pretty muscular in their build.  The Puli has a very thick and water-proof coat that almost looks like dread locks. They have a double coat so the outside fur has all of the curls and the inside coat is very soft.  The coat can come in a variety of solid colors including black, white, apricot, and gray.  The curly dred locks don't form until a puppy is about 6 months old.

    The Puli comes from Hungary.  Shepherds used different dogs very similar to the Puli for many years.  in the 17th century the then Puli interbred with German and French sheepdogs and the more known Puli was formed.  The Puli's were used to guard and drive herds of sheep.  The Puli was accepted for AKC registration in 1936 and in this country is used more as guards, watchdogs, and companions.

    The Puli is a very smart breed of dog that is also a lot of fun.  They maintain that pupy-like attitude for most of their lives and they love to play.  They are very active dogs and love to be outside and would definitely make great outdoor companions for activities like jogging, hiking, and camping.  They also do well in things like agility and herding competitions.  These dogs are very easy to train and are even used as therapy dogs.  They are very devoted and sensitive dogs that can detect emotions. They form a loving relationship with their owners and always want to please them and make them happy.  These dogs make great watch dogs and are very alert.  They also do very well with kids, especially if they grow up with them around.  These dogs don't like to be left alone for long periods of time and want to be included in what your family is doing.  The Puli does not shed much but does require some brushing and bathing which can take up a little time with all of that hair!  The Puli is a very sweet and intelligent dog that would make a great addition to an active family that loves the outdoors.

Information from:
http://www.justdogbreeds.com/puli.html
http://www.irishdogs.ie/puli---facts-you-must-know-before-adopting-a-puli.html
http://dog-breeds.findthebest.com/l/127/Puli
http://www.akc.org/breeds/puli/history.cfm

Picture from:
 http://www.petfinder.com/dog-breeds/Puli

Sundaes on Sunday!

  An ice cream sundae is always a great treat and is almost like an empty canvas.  You start with just a plain dish of vanilla ice cream and then you can dress it up with any toppings imaginable; there's hot fudge, caramel, butterscotch, sprinkles, nuts, candy pieces, and so much more!  I looked up on the internet to see what the history of the sundae is and I found that it is not exactly certain where it started but there are three different theories.
  The first theory is that is that it originated in Evanson, Illinois.  In 1890 a law was passed that made it illegal to sell soda water on Sundays. The soda fountains in the area began selling their ice cream sodas without the soda on Sundays and this left just the ice cream with a syrup topping.
  The second theory is that the sundae originated in Two Rivers, Illinois by a soda fountain owner named Ed Berner.  A customer named George Hallauner asked to be served a dish of ice cream topped with the syrup used in the sodas. Berner liked the idea of this dish and began selling it off his menu for a nickel.  A competeing soda fountain owner by the name of George Giffy also began to serve this dish except at a higher price and only on Sundays, which is why it became known as the ice cream sunday.  when he saw the money this dish was making though he began to sell it every day and changed its name to ice cream sundae.
   the last theory states that the sundae originated in Ithaca, New York and was created by a drugstore owner named Chester Platt.  It is said that Mr. Platt prepared a dish of ice cream for a man named Reveraend Scott. Platt dressed up the dish with syrup and candies and served it to the Reverend. This took place on a Sunday so Reverend Scott named the dish after the day.

Information from:
http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/Sundae.htm

Picture from:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/three-sonorans/2011/04/02/would-arizona-have-banned-ice-cream-in-the-1800s/

Dairy Queen

    One of my favorite places to get a treat from is Dairy Queen.  I love their soft serve ice cream and they have so many things to choose from.  I like a lot of the things on the menu, but I was get the same thing and its my favorite thing off of the menu.  I love the mint oreo blizzard.  The ice cream is so smooth, creamy, and delicious.  The mint is soothing and always just the right amount and not too over powering.  And the oreos are so good because they get nice and soft after being in the ice cream but not in a soggy way.  Everyone has their favorites when they go to Dairy Queen.  There's blizzards that can be mixed with fruit, candy, or cookies; sundaes with a bunch of different toppings, dilly bars, buster bars, and even banana splits.  They also have ice cream flavors that coordinate with holidays; pumpkin pie blizzards for Halloween and Thanksgiving, reindeer blizzards and peppermint blizzards for Christmas, and mint oreo blizzards for St. Patrick's day.  I did a little research and found out about the history of Dairy Queen.

    It goes all the way back to the 1930's when a man named J.F. (grandpa) Mcullough and his son Alex were running a shop called the Homemade Ice Cream Co. in Davenport.  In the 1930's the pair bought a new factory in Green River, Illinois and this is where their ideas began to take form.  Grandpa Mcullough thought that the ice cream tasted best before it went through the final freezing because at such cold temperatures customers taste buds would be somewhat numbed by the ice cream and some of the flavor would be lost.  The two men decided to see if they could find a machine that would keep ice cream in this softer form and if customers would have interest in this form of the dairy treat. The Mcullough's talked to their friend and customer Sherb Noble who agreed to sell this product as a test in his store.  The sale was called the "all you can eat for 10 cents" and was held on August 4, 1938.  The sale was a huge success and after only 2 hours over 1600 dishes of ice cream were served. After one more successful test run at another ice cream store called Mildred's Ice cream shop the two decided to continue this idea.  By 1939 the Mcullough's found a freezer that with a few modifications would be able to serve this soft ice cream. Their idea was put somewhat on hold due to the out break of World War II, but soon after it really took off.  The first store was opened in Joliet and was soon followed by stores in Moline, Aurora, and Davenport.  The store was named Dairy Queen because Grandpa Mcullough believed that this new treat was the queen of all dairy products. In 1962 the international Dairy Queen Inc. was formed linking the Dairy Queens together to form a chain restaurant business.
Interesting DQ facts:
-The Dilly Bar was created in 1955
-The first national television commercial aired in 1966
-The Buster Bar was created in 1968
-Dennis the Menace became the spokes character for Dairy Queen in 1972
-In 1985 the blizzard is created and over 175 million are sold in just the first year
-in 2005 the worlds largest blizzard was created. It weighed 8,224.85 pounds, stood 22 feet tall, and was created in Springfield, Massachusetts.

information from:
http://www.dairyqueen.com/us-en/history/
http://www.qconline.com/progress98/business/prqueen2.html

Picture from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dairy_Queen

We All Scream for Ice Cream!

    My absolute  favorite treat to have is ice cream.  I can eat it all year round-summer or winter and I could eat it every day.  Ice cream is one of America's favorite treats and you can get practically get it anywhere.  It's sold at the grocery store, at restaurants, amusement parks, the movies, and there are even shops dedicated to selling ice cream as their main product.  The only hard part about ice cream is which flavor to choose because there are hundreds! from vanilla to cookies and cream (my favorite) to chocolate.  And then once you decide the flavor you have to decide if you want any toppings.  although it can be a tough decision once its made you get to enjoy one of the best treats ever made.  But, when was ice cream created and by whom?  Well, here are a few facts about the history of ice cream.
    Ice cream is thought to date all the way back to B.C times when Nero was emperor of Rome.  It is said that he would have his slaves retrieve snow from the mountains and mix honey, nectar, and fruit pulp into it for him to eat.  King Tang the ruler of Shang, China was another important historical figure who was known to mix things in with ice and milk to eat.  Another theory is that Marco Polo may have brought some of these recipes from Asia back to Europe with him. 
   Once ice cream reached America a lot of famous people served this treat at important events or parties. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson   served it to guests in the 1700's.  Maryland's Governor Bladen also was noted for serving ice cream to his guests. And Dolly Madison served ice cream at the inaugural ball in 1812.
    The first American Ice cream parlor was opened in 1776 and it was actually the colonists who came up with the name ice cream.  Ice cream comes from the word Iced cream which was a drink similar to iced tea.
   A man named Italio Marchiony is credited for  the waffle bowl, which was patented in 1903.  He started using these edible bowls to prevent customers from walking away with his dishes.  Another story of how the ice cream cone started happened at the world's fair in Saint Louis, Missouri in 1904.  An ice cream vendor apparently ran out of dishes and so he teamed up with a waffle vendor at the fair who rolled the waffles into cones for the ice cream to be served in.
    The ice cream float was developed by a man named Robert M. Green who served a drink that included carbonated water, flavored syrup, and cream.  One day he ran out of cream and substituted it with ice cream hoping that know one would notice the difference.  Well, customers did notice and it became a huge hit and his sales increased greatly.
    In 1843 the first Ice cream hand-cranked churn was created by Nancy Johnson who ended up selling her patent.  Jacob Fussell created the first ice cream plant in 1851 in Baltimore.
   Now what about those popular ice cream flavors, when did they come to be?
Cookies and cream ice cream was created in 1983 and became number five on the list of best-selling ice cream flavors and holds the name of being the fastest growing new flavor of ice cream in the history of the product.  Surprisingly, chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream wasn't invented until 1991!
Ice cream has really come a long way and continues to be a very popular treat for people everywhere!

Information from:
http://www.makeicecream.com/hisoficecrea.html
http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/ice_cream.htm

Picture from:
http://www.collegesurfing.com/blog/2009/07/22/carnival-of-college-admissions-32-blog-flavors-and-counting/