TheSnackHound

Happy Pumpkin was a pattern introduced on Fiesta Ware, and by most sources it was discontinued in 2002.  The pattern sometimes pops up at this time of year from the vaults, meaning that sometimes you can order a few from Homer Laughlin.  You can also find it on the secondary market from private parties.    The smiling Happy Pumpkin is on actual Fiesta, not another Homer Laughlin style of dish.  It is available directly from the maker at $14.99 for the luncheon plate.   They are currently in stock, but in limited quantities.  Replacements, Ltd., also carries them.

What you might want to also look for are other pieces.  The various serving bowls do not have a pumpkin face on them, but feature a Trick or Treat theme featuring Halloween cats.   The other pieces typically have the motif shown below.  The exceptions are the round place and the round candlestick holders which have jack-o-lantern faces on them.

These pieces tend to easily get overlooked at clearance and estate sales because if you were not close to them, you would not even imagine that they were Fiesta unless you remembered some of the Christmas plates and how they also had designs on them.  Happy Halloween hunting on this pattern.  If you find any other good sources as far as physical stores or websites for this one, let me know by comment or email.

Help! The Beatles are trapped in this blog. Not really. You may need the help, though, but don’t ask the Beatles for it.

It has been brought to my attention that I use the phrases “addicted” or “addiction” a lot.  If I don’t use the actual term, I certainly imply them.  Of course, my main reference has to do with chocolate addiction, and the term is used somewhat humorously. The smell, the taste, and the whole set of circumstances the candy is usually eaten in adds to the enjoyment.  In fact, they say especially dark chocolate creates feelings of general well being or even an amorous feeling in certain individuals.

On a more serious note, there are people in the world, and maybe sitting at the desk next to you, or walking their dog down your street that have addictions that are not quite a laughing matter.  Of course, my addiction is not a laughing matter either, because I am dead serious about my chocolate, but for some folks their addiction is a matter of life or death.   Far stronger substances than chocolate, such as opiates and other drugs may be invading their life.

Of course, this may seem like “A Very Special Episode” of The Snack Hound or somewhat like an After School Special with a HUGE MESSAGE in comparison to standard fare, but it needs to come to light.    If you have an addiction to a substance and live in my state, there is a Michigan drug rehab referral list to a variety of treatment facilities and other options.   The idea of “rehab” has been in and out of the news with each new celebrity that enters through the doors, but perhaps it has served a purpose.  Perhaps it is less stigmatized and people who were once afraid to seek it out are getting help.  The key sometimes is removing people from forces that keep them addicted, such as friends who encourage their use, and keep them away from social circles until they can gather up some strength.

Unfortunately, I am extremely enabled by others in my chocolate addiction, but it is not something that is going to cause harm in my life.  If you have an addiction that is causing harm in yours or is making you feel powerless, please accept help.

Recently, I had the distinct pleasure of sampling Dove Promises of Hope.  What is the difference between the Dove Promises that they have at the store on a regular basis and Promises of Hope?  I will refer to Promises of Hope from here on out as the trendy sounding “POH.”   POH is a limited edition in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.   The package is specially marked, featuring the recognizable pink motif, as well as the wrappers.

Because the package is pink (for breast cancer awareness) and brown (for chocolate, of course), I had a bit of trepidation on how the make part of the species would perceive it as far as desirability of packaging.   Of course, they say real men wear pink, but will they buy pink.  To find out, I asked My Favorite Guy.

“What do you think?  Does it look too girlie?”
“No, not at all.  I would buy this.”

Well, that settles that.

Upon opening the bag, we were floored by the aroma.  The most magical, thick and heady smell of dark chocolate bursted forth.  I wondered if it was just one of those situations where the contents were concentrated and it would just go away after a few minutes.   On the contrary, on repeated smellings this was not the case, if “repeated smellings” is even proper English.   While the initial surprise had dissipated, the aroma still lingered after shoving the bag in our faces an hour, and even a day later.  We were also, once again, intrigued by the wrap of the individual candies and the machine that must wrap them.  Does the wrapper bind so tightly that the embossing on the chocolate is translated to the wrapper, or does the wrapping machine indent the symbol on the chocolate?  We are still trying to figure that one out.

The wrap on the candies was a bright, brilliant pink.  Instead of the usual thoughts to ponder, all the quotes were from actual breast cancer survivors from all over the country. While some of the thoughts were specific to Breast Cancer (“There is life after Breast Cancer”), there were inspirational quotes that could be applied to broader circumstances and challenges.   As an added bonus 10% of the sales of Promises of Hope will be directed to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.   Not only does chocolate make you feel good in general, you can feel even better about making a difference.  On a side note, studies have shown that foods rich in antioxidants, such as dark chocolate, may help prevent cancer.  How appropriate.

I have sampled a lot of different chocolate, due to my status as a chocoholic.  There are cheap candy bars and some chocolates that will cost you $10 an ounce.   I would go as far as to say Dove dark chocolate, in general, is one of the best values in dark chocolate out there.  It isn’t waxy, the ingredient list is short and pronounceable, the consistency is creamy, it is not bitter, the price point is affordable, and it is readily available at grocery stores and pharmacies.

“Why yes, Gladys. I told him the drapes do match the carpet…and the wallpaper…and my apron!  It was also all on sale. 

“Oh.  What was that?   You meant to tell me that there are only 16 days left until the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel’s Cooking School Weekend?  Well, my yes, I would love to go…but if I could only convince Ward and the boys.”

Gladys was absolutely right.  The Cooking Weekend in Branson begins October 16th, so you will have to book right away to get yourself a spot.

From the wine tasting to the seven course meal, you’ll learn to prepare everything that is served to you throughout the experience.   I think its a great idea to structure the instruction this way.   It is difficult sometimes to know if what you are making turned out if you never tasted the dish prepared by someone in the know first.  Also, you can get excited about making something you like.

On Saturday, you will learn to smoke meat, as you will have been served smoked rainbow trout and smoked pork loin the night before.  Brimstone Cheese Fondue also will be created, and fondue is one of my weaknesses.  Additional skills will be learning to plan seasonal meals and honing your arrangement skills with various cheese and appetizer trays.    Saturday, you will be treated to a scrumptious meal of Bison Short Ribs, Apple Normandy, and Berkshire Pork Porterhouse.  In my true style, I would probably be filling up on too much Harvest Salad and bread and would have no room for the main course. If you are following the trend, you’ll know that on Sunday, you’ll find out what Apple Normandy is and how to make it as well.

If you are registered for the event, or are now considering going, let me know!  It certainly seems like the place where you could take your kids and spouse if they aren’t participating in the class, as there is plenty to do in Branson.  If Gladys had her druthers about her, she would tell her friend that whenever she looked at event calendars, there seem to be so many art festivals, tours, museums, concerts, sales, and shows happening all the time.   There is even a car museum.  In other words, Ward and the boys will have plenty to do while the aspiring culinary genius is working her magic.   Your family will be far from being stuck in the hotel.   They may just be in such a jolly mood that they won’t mind Mom’s idea of them all opening a restaurant with her new found confidence in her Smoked Potato and Ham Soup.

Gather around and I’ll tell you the story about the very famous Cowboy who had Cashew for a head.  According to the tag that he came with, “Mom” bought him in Miami Beach back in 1940s.  Well, actually, I am reading into it.  Mom “brought” him from Florida.  We don’t know if the person’s Mom just found him and felt sorry for him and let him hitch a ride or what.  At any rate, someone had the strange idea that they should make a cowboy doll, since when tourists think of Miami, cowboys are the very first thing they think about.

Whoever made him in around 1940 didn’t have the money to buy a porcelain or wooden head from the store, so they just found a cashew nut lying around and used it.  The alternate story, and the one which I think might be preferable, is that someone found an unusual cashew that looked like a head.  Instead of being the person who found the Clint Eastwood Potato and just letting it speak for itself, they had to hammer the message in our heads and make a body for it, just so we would really be sure that we understood it looked like a head.

At any rate, at some point in time, Jeanne, who has a vintage shop on the internet, called VintageStoreFront found him toddling her way, and she offered it for sale.  A few folks decided it was the darnedest thing they had ever seen, and they Twittered it and Facebooked it around the web.Through the process, I met some gals on Twitter who thought he was just as odd, yet strangely endearing, as I did.   Even though Cashew Nut Head Cowboy sold, he has been not far from our conscious thoughts since July 30th.   @sewzinski (who makes some pretty awesome hand embroidered wallets, by the way), thought that myself and @chrissyjensen “Need to get ahold of urban outfitters. They have macrame owls when they should have nutheaded cowboys.”  We wondered for awhile, since he sold so quickly, if he was happy in his new home.  I guess there was no way to really know unless the buyer was also on Twitter and joined in on the dialogue.

The whole conversation started again when she thought of me, as she saw buckeyes on her walk.  I asked Jeanne if she had received any letters from the Nuthead about his wellbeing and she said no.  We just all hope he is very happy.   @sewzinski wonders if his preference for Endustis being satisfied, and @chrissyjensen suggested we tweet with a location so we might be able to create a local trend in the topic.

For whatever reason, we are now tagging our Cowboy Nuthead conversations on twitter with #cowboynuthead.  You can too!

Jeanne says: “Thanks for keeping him alive in everybody’s minds and hearts!”