The "Tell Me It Ain't So!!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just finished our evening meal of crab cakes and garlic buttered potatoes.  The crab cakes were purchased this morning at a local supermarket as was the bag of garlic butter potatoes.  We usually have a main dish, vegetable and starch, but the crab cakes we bought are very large and the bag of potatoes looks as if it was meant for 4 people, so we chose just the crab cake and potatoes which tonight acted as both the vegetable and starch.   Great meal and after we finished I asked what was for dessert.  Carol replied, "You can have some of the tapioca pudding you bought yesterday or we can have a pack or two of the Tastykake treats we purchased a few days ago at another store.  Love 'em both, so I decided to have a small helping of tapioca and a pack of creme-filled chocolate tasty cakes.  To me, a meal is not complete unless you have a dessert at the end of it.  Actually some days I make my entire meal my dessert; such as when we have home-made apple dumplings.  But, I recently read an article published by The NPD Group which said that Americans appear to be losing interest in dessert.  The NPD Group is a leasing global information company.  So, who is this NPD and what do they know.  When we travel to the Jersey Shore for vacation during the summer or a bit further away to the Caribbean, we always are asked what we will have for dessert after our main meal is devoured.  I know they make more money when serving a dessert, but the meal wouldn't seem complete if I didn't have dessert.  The study by The NPD Group found that for the past 30 years, those having dessert after their meal has declined 24% in that 30 year period.  So, they surmise that by February 27, 2054, the last dessert will have been served.  Yeah, right!  Not if I'm still alive (which probably won't happen)!  So, what can I do to change that?  I decided to start my own Group and do my own study checking on how many of my friends eat dessert with every meal.  I checked with my three children, brother, sister-in-law and a few close friends and all but one of them said they eat dessert with every meal, except perhaps breakfast.  The NPD Group didn't say how many people they surveyed, so I'm assuming a dozen people is enough for my survey. One of the main reasons for not having a dessert in the study was that it made the meal too complicated.  Now, how complicated is it to open a pack of Tastycakes?  I don't have to have some fancy-schmancy dessert all the time, just so it is sweet and I can dunk it in milk.  Even a cupcake with icing and a snicker's bar on top would work for me.  Then, I read that the top three desserts in the survey were fruit, cake and ice cream.  How complicated is it to scoop ice cream into a bowl or slice a peach in half?  Now, the cake...that can take a bit more time to make, but once it is made it can supply me with desert for at least two days.  Last part of the report said that older Americans, adults over 65, are the heaviest dessert eaters.  I sort of agree with that, but remember it didn't say heaviest adults.  This group tends to eat dessert twice as often as any other age group the report said.  Boy, they never saw my 14-year-old grandson eat dessert at my house after the main meal was complete.  He can devour half of a nine-square inch pan of his Amah's banana-split dessert in less than 10 minutes.   The report claimed that those over 65 ate 76 desserts per person per year at home.  The same report taken four years ago said that number to be 104, so by doing some weird calculations, they were able to come up with that date in 2054 as the final meal with dessert.   Now that's 34 years from now and I'll be 109, so maybe they'll allow me to eat that final dessert for everyone. I'm laying claim to that final dessert right now!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

My last dessert?  Tell me it ain't so!

The "Have You Ever Had A Krispy Kreme Donut?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Recently found out what I just missed out on this past Saturday.  Seems that Krispy Kreme donut shops were giving out free ring-shaped glazed donuts that are now stuffed with a Chocolate Kreme or Classic Kreme that you normally find in their classic filled doughnuts.  If you have never had a Krispy Kreme donut...how come?  Is it because you don't have a shop in your town?  What other good reason could you possibly have for not every having a Krispy Kreme donut?  I just read about the free donut and about the new stuffed ring donuts.  They look great and I can hardly wait to eat a few.  I'm sure they would be good for dunking in a glass of milk or even coffee or tea if you must.  

The traditional ring donut by Krispy Kreme.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is an American doughnut company and coffee- house chain that was founded by Vernon Rudolph who had bought a yeast-raised recipe from a New Orleans chef by the name of Joseph LeBeouf, then rented a building in 1937 in what is now historic Old Salem in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and began selling his donuts to local grocery stores.  In 2000 the company went public which proved unprofitable and 16 years later became a private company once again.  His first store was located in North Carolina in a rented building on South Main Street in what is called historic Old Salem.  The first store located other than in the south was opened in Akron, Ohio in 1939.  

Krispy Kreme donuts stuffed with classic Kreme.

Two years ago the company moved their corporate head- quarters to Charlotte, NC while their World Head- quarters remains in Winston-Salem.  Company advertising was primarily by word-of-mouth, but in 2006 they moved to television and radio advertisements with the "Share the Love" campaign with heart-shaped advertisements.  In 2007 Krispy Kreme began selling the Whole Wheat Glazed donuts in an attempt to appeal to the health conscious.  That donut had 20 calories less than the original.  You can usually find Krispy Kreme donuts at  Walmart and Target stores.  I'm anxious to give the new ring-shaped filled donut a try.  Hope I can find one and I hope you too can find one so you too can give it a try.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "My Brother Steve: A True Friend" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just dropped off my latest framing job at my brother Steve's house in nearby Ephrata, Pennsylvania.  Steve is five years younger than me, but also five inches taller than I am.  If I had to describe him it would be: handsome, athletic, funny, helpful, a bit crazy, caring, a good dunker and most important, a great brother.  

Phillies poster and team from their Championship year.

The latest job that I just framed for him was a 40 inch by 32 inch collage which featured a large Boston Red Sox poster and 26 individual baseball cards from their 2004 World Series Championship season.  Fun job to frame, but very challenging since one card was extremely small while others were close to a quarter of an inch thick.  Steve knows someone in Ephrata that is a Red Sox fan who happened to see one of the Philadelphia Phillies posters I did for Steve and asked him if he could do one for him featuring the Red Sox.  

My brother Steve and myself.

In no time Steve was online and within a few weeks had obtained all the cards from the Sox.  Some cards are auto- graphed, some are metal and one even is a real collectible being that it is #1 of 10.  Most cards are vertical, but four of them were horizontal making it a tougher job to lay out.  I designed the job on a computerized mat cutter at Grebinger Gallery where I work part-time.  The result was stunning with the blue and red team colors and the large poster in the top center of the job.  I'm not sure what he was going to charge the person who wanted the job done, but some of the cards had to be very pricey.  To the new owner I'm sure it will be priceless!  I did the work for my brother for no charge since we will spend a week at the shore with he and his wife at no cost to Carol and me.  Check out the photos of my brother and myself as well as the finished Boston Red Sox poster.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Another poster I did for him of Richie Ashburn with poster and baseball cards.

The latest poster of the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox.

Handsome brother Steve on the right at his son's wedding.

Highschool photo of Steve's championship form. Holds the school record with 42 points in a game, and that was when there wasn't a 3-point shot.

Steve and LDub enjoying a dunkin' cookies session.

His crazy side when we had our ears pierced before his son's wedding.

  

The "Breakfast In The Rain" Story

Central Market in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

It was an ordinary day.  Market day and today historic Central Market in Lancaster, PA is serving breakfast.  Lancaster's Central Market at Penn Square in downtown Lancaster is America's oldest public market and since the early 1700s farmers have been bringing their meats and vegetables to the market for sale to residents of the county as visitors alike.  

Market vendors have stands available for breakfast.

Every year on the first Saturday in October for more than a quarter-century, rain or shine, stand holders take their baked goods, cooked items and drinks outside along Market Alley for what is called "Harvest Breakfast."  Event runs from 8:00 am until noon and the place usually gets packed.  

People line up to buy their favorites.

Hard to find a parking place in any of the nearby lots unless you arrive early as I did this morning.  Today will be one of the biggest selling days for the vendors in the market being they are holding breakfast as well as Lancaster County harvest season being in full swing this time of year.  Only bad part this year is that it's raining.  

These three college students are enjoying french toast
made with cinnamon bread and sausages.

Not a downpour, but the drizzle keeps the market from placing tables on Market Alley for the patrons to use for seating.  Many are standing under umbrellas attempting to eat their purchases or walk into the market proper where tables line the south wall of the market and a second floor balcony has a few stand-up tables.  

Sign in one stand inside the market telling of breakfast.

I snapped a few outdoor photos and headed inside to my favorite stand, Shady Maple Bakery where they have "made from scratch baking."  My favorite treat is the cream-filled "Long Johns" which are something like cream-filled donuts except stretched out straight instead of in a circle.  When baked fresh they are fantastic.  

High above the market stands are two guitarists
known as "Second Hand Suits" playing for the crowds.

Stopped last week and purchased a dozen to share with my wife, kids and grandson and ate the rest.  This week I only bought three to share with my wife.  Carol likes the chocolate covered while I like the peanut butter, vanilla, powdered and the chocolate.  They feel as if they weigh about a half-pound each and cost $1 each.  I hurried home to cut my peanut butter one and take a photo so I could eat it.  Boy was I disappointed when I cut it open.  No Filling!  Then I examined it more and realized they stuff the filling in from both sides and I happened to cut it where the filling stopped from each end.  Dunked it in a big cup of milk!!  Well, my day was a success and I got to see everyone enjoying breakfast even in the rain.  Waiting for my next trip to Central Market and another stop at Shady Maple Bakery.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

This young girl is preparing pumpkins for sale outside the market house.

Inside the maker a line has formed to get coffee.

Patrons line the aisles at the market house.

There is more than food for sale at Central Market.  Here is a stand selling Amish goods.

Another stand has T-shirts for sale.

This young Amish girl is eating her breakfast indoors.

This is my favorite stand in Central Market.  Some trips, such as today, it is my only stop.  Stand is called Shady Maple Bakery and sells plenty of stuff that certainly can't be good for you, including the cream-filled "Long Johns".

Once at home I prepare for my breakfast of dunking.

The "The More Goo and Icing ... the Better!" Story

Just Sue serving her sticky buns.

It was an ordinary day.  Visiting with our friends Jerry and Just Sue in State College and eating the best part of the meal Just Sue has prepared for us ... dessert.  Don't remember much about the main course, but I sure do remember the dessert.  The dessert today it is a rather unusual sticky bun that had a layer of apple as part of the topping.  Not sure if it would be classified as a real sticky bun, but to me it was and I should know since I have eaten many a sticky bun in my lifetime.  The sticky bun came into being in the Middle Ages when cinnamon became available to the average homemaker.  Then in the 1700's  German settlers brought their sticky bun recipe to the new world.  They settled northwest of Philadelphia in an area known as Germantown in the early 18th century and their sticky buns were known as "Schnecken."  

Good looking sticky buns!

The Pennsylvania Dutch was a cultural group formed by these early German speaking immigrants.  The Pennsylvania Dutch were mostly Lutheran and Reformed, but also Anabaptists who promoted a simple lifestyle.  The Anabaptists were also known as Plain people and in the area of Pennsylvania where I live they were either Old Order Mennonite or Old Order Amish.  And, can they bake a mean sticky bun.  Our local road-side markets as well as Lancaster's Central Market are laden with their sticky bun concoctions and I have tried many of them.  I love regular sticky buns, raisin sticky buns, sticky buns with extra goo .... get the idea.  

Sticky buns with a light coating of white icing.  I would
definitely need much more on my sticky bun.

At the end of last summer Carol and I made a visit to State College and spent an evening with Jerry and Just Sue at the Grange Fair in Centre County.  Had a fantastic large sticky bun that was covered with white icing.  If that wasn't enough, I asked for a cup of extra icing to pour over it.  And, of course, I had it with a cup of milk for dunking.  I'm sure everyone has their favorite recipe for making the sugary treat and also has their favorite place to buy them, but for me .... I enjoy just about any sticky bun from the one at the Cinnabon stand in the mall to the one sitting in front of me on Just Sue's dining room table.  And, she even knew to have a glass of milk for me.  Ah, dessert time now!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.