Tag Archives: popcorn

Kitchen tools, Shopping

Holiday Shopping Finds 2012

Black Friday. Small Business Saturday. Cyber Monday. Giving Tuesday. So many ways to spend your well-earned paychecks in the days following Thanksgiving and leading up to Christmas.

I thought I’d take a quick glance at some of the quirky foodie finds that you can find out there this year. All of these items were found at a local CVS pharmacy in the metro Boston area so you may not be able to find all of these in your area. I’ve tried linking to online shopping sites that carry the items, if you’re curious.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the foodie gifts…

super pretzel makerThe first item on our wish list is this Super Pretzel maker. Now, you can bring home that soft-baked pretzel taste from the ballpark. You can make five mini soft pretzels and warm up cheese for dipping. It also comes with a recipe book. In the store, it sells for $19.99. Buy online here.

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Places - Wisconsin, Shopping

All things bacon at The Machine Shed

Exterior at Machine Shed in PewaukeeI just came across some photos I took last fall when I visited The Machine Shed in Pewaukee, Wis., for lunch one day with my brother.

For those not familiar with the Shed, it’s a lot like Cracker Barrel except the food is a lot better and, many times, I find the Tchotchkes to be a lot more fun and entertaining.

I partially took these pictures because as a little gag Christmas gift in 2009 I gave Amber and Johnathan, our good friends and Milwaukee brunch buddies, a pack of bacon-flavored mints – purchased from The Machine Shed. To say the least, it was a heinous tasting gift that we got a good laugh from.

So, when I saw that they had even more bacon paraphernalia, I had to grab the camera. Here goes:

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Cuisine - American, Cuisine - Desserts, Places - Chicago

Destination Chicago: Garrett’s Popcorn

Garrett's Popcorn: Oprah special tin

Limited edition tin for Oprah's last season.

Oprah just placed it on her Ultimate Favorite Things List for 2010. No, not the iPad. No, not the 2011 VW Beetle. No, not the mini-croissants from Williams-Sonoma.

I’m talking about Garrett’s Popcorn from Chicago.

“It’s the best popcorn on the planet,” said Oprah as she gifted the $135 tin filled with heavenly caramel and cheese corn to audience members.

So, what’s better than starting off the holiday season than with a trip to Garrett’s location in Chicago’s Theatre District.

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Cuisine - Desserts, Disney, Disney World

A peek at Epcot’s Karamell-Küche

Entrance to Karamell-Kuche at EpcotI’m very happy to introduce this next guest blog. A few week’s ago I posted a video from Disney Parks that takes a sneak peek inside Karamell-Küche, or caramel kitchen, at Epcot’s Germany pavilion in World Showcase. This is the only free-standing shop for Werther’s, which is run by Storck.

My husband’s cousin, Ronna Larsen, just returned from a trip at Walt Disney World. She has some great photos and a quick review of this new destination!

Take it away, Ronna!

Before you even walk into Karamelle-Küche (The Caramel Kitchen), in the Germany Pavilion at Epcot, you are entranced by the sweet smell of caramel corn being made. Besides caramel corn, you can watch chocolate/caramel-dipped strawberries and a variety of caramel apples being made.

Making caramel strawberries.A Disney cast member makes chocolate and caramel-covered strawberries.

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Cuisine - American, Cuisine - Desserts, Places - Milwaukee

Col. Pops Popcorn Company sweetens up Tosa

Exterior of Col. Pops in WauwatosaSince October 2005, Paul and Stacy Cannariato have operated Col. Pops Popcorn Company in Wauwatosa, Wis. Located just a few blocks away from the Wauwatosa Public Library and Longfellow Middle School, and next to Daymakers Cafe, Col. Pops’ mission is to offer tasty treats while helping inspire change and community support.

A big part of the business has to do with community fundraising. Earlier in 2005, the Cannariato’s lost their son Vincent to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. Now, 5 percent of fundraising sales go to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin to help with SIDS research and memorialize their son. A portion of proceeds also go to an overseas orphanage.

“We’ve been inspired by the help and support we received during our tragedy, and knew we wanted to contribute and be on the supportive end for other families dealing with loss,” according to the Col. Pops’ website.

The store pops up more than 40 different varieties of popcorn from buffalo wing and bleu cheese to salsa verde cheddar cheese, and cinnamon bun to peanut butter and chocolate. You can also purchase popcorn kernels to pop at home. There are 12 different kinds on the website.

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