Most people do not realize that you can't copyright a recipe the same way that you can claim copyright on a poem, song lyrics or photograph. I've seen numerous heated battles, by otherwise very nice, people get completely out of control on this issue, an issue which the U.S. Courts still haven't settled on a position. Typically the Courts have held that an individual recipe lacks sufficient creativity to qualify for copyright. This particular interpretation of Copyright Law holds that a recipe is really a process for creating some edible product, and not a creative expression of the sort copyright law is designed to protect. So what does that mean to you, the person who would like to reprint something from this blog? Here's the deal...
This blog represents a physical collection of my personal photographs, stories, craft projects and recipes that I have amassed in my years on the planet, as well as my thoughts/ponderings/musings on whatever happens to be on my mind on any particular day. Unless otherwise specifically noted you can use my recipes and craft instructions in any non-commercial way you would like as long as you credit it back to me/this blog. Photographs and graphics that belong to me may be used in the same way.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
FAQ
Whether it's friends, extended family or someone I have just met once someone has tasted my cooking or baking I am invariably asked the same questions over and over. Even though this blog is brand new (opening day 6/21/09) I thought I would start with the IRL questions I am asked all the time. As this blog (hopefully) grows I am sure there will be more questions and I will add them from time to time.
1.) Why do very few of your recipes contain "convenience food" items?
Simply put I did not grow up eating convenience foods. It was a rare day in Gram's kitchen when you would find things like Cool Whip or Campbell's Soup and you would never find artificial foods like Velveeta. That's not to say we didn't get the occasional treat of Spaghettios or McDonald's but those were more of a Saturday visit with my Dad thing than anything else. Prepackaged foods simply were not part of my culinary experience as a child. In fact, curious as it seems to some, the first time I ever heard about, let alone tried Kraft Mac & Cheese I was almost twenty years old! As I got older I tried and tinkered with many "convenience foods" and food items and they just aren't my cup of tea.
2.) Butter or margarine?
Butter butter butter butter butter! Why? It just tastes better.
3.) Do you craft or bake professionally?
Not at this time. In my late teens/early twenties (before the advent of the Internet) I had a roaming wearable art business. It was fun, it was rewarding but it was also a ton of work. Moving from venue to venue every weekend after spending the week creating handmade jewelry, clothing and other accessories (hats, shoes, etc.) was not an easy lifestyle. While I have toyed with the idea of opening a cafe/bakery since I was in my mid-twenties, I've never been at a place in my life where I could seriously consider doing it. That being said, if the opportunity were to arise I would absolutely jump for the brass ring!
Last updated 06/21/09
1.) Why do very few of your recipes contain "convenience food" items?
Simply put I did not grow up eating convenience foods. It was a rare day in Gram's kitchen when you would find things like Cool Whip or Campbell's Soup and you would never find artificial foods like Velveeta. That's not to say we didn't get the occasional treat of Spaghettios or McDonald's but those were more of a Saturday visit with my Dad thing than anything else. Prepackaged foods simply were not part of my culinary experience as a child. In fact, curious as it seems to some, the first time I ever heard about, let alone tried Kraft Mac & Cheese I was almost twenty years old! As I got older I tried and tinkered with many "convenience foods" and food items and they just aren't my cup of tea.
2.) Butter or margarine?
Butter butter butter butter butter! Why? It just tastes better.
3.) Do you craft or bake professionally?
Not at this time. In my late teens/early twenties (before the advent of the Internet) I had a roaming wearable art business. It was fun, it was rewarding but it was also a ton of work. Moving from venue to venue every weekend after spending the week creating handmade jewelry, clothing and other accessories (hats, shoes, etc.) was not an easy lifestyle. While I have toyed with the idea of opening a cafe/bakery since I was in my mid-twenties, I've never been at a place in my life where I could seriously consider doing it. That being said, if the opportunity were to arise I would absolutely jump for the brass ring!
Last updated 06/21/09
About Me
In my hear of hearts I am a simple girl. I am my Gram's girl. Everything good about me, everything that makes me a decent human is because of her, the woman who never drove a car. My Grandma had a kind word for everyone she met and everyone loved her but no one more than me. I was the apple of her eye and there wasn't a day that went by, from my first memory of knowing her until the end of her days, that she failed to not just tell me, but show me how very much I was loved. She took me to my very first MLB game. We watched The Muppet Show together. At night she would tuck me into bed with the blanket she crocheted me and sing to me. She instilled in me a love of reading, growing things, cooking and baking.
As a child I would sit at the kitchen table and watch her create the most fabulous food my little nose had ever smelled. Toll House cookies, Beef Rouladen, birthday cakes, cheese fondue, Chicken Kiev, blueberry muffins... There was nothing she couldn't make and everything always tasted amazing. And the best part? She always let me lick the spoon! My favorite birthday treat was her chocolate petit fours, each one in a lovely pastel shade of pink, blue or green. At Christmas there were more cookies than any family of four could ever eat. And her cheesecake? In all my life I have yet to find another that looks or tastes like hers! It was tall and melted on your tongue like cotton candy.
When I close my eyes I can still see her standing in the vegetable garden, seersucker shorts and polyester, v-neck sleeveless shirt, gathering tomatoes for canning and sauce. She swore you got the best fruit by planting New Jersey tomatoes in Connecticut soil. There was lettuce, green beans, bell peppers, zucchini, pumpkins and more I have forgotten I am sure. Late afternoon we would sit on the porch under the wisteria and snap beans for supper. During Summer visits to her sisters we would always go crabbing with her gentleman friend, hit the farmer's market and no trip to Jersey was complete without at least one visit to Eat Gud Bakery for what I still affectionately call Chocolate & Vanilla Bread (which is really Marble Bread) and real cream doughnuts!
Now as an adult (and I use the term loosely) I like to think I am just like her. I cook, I bake, I garden and crochet. I always try to have something nice to say about everyone I meet. I know she would love my soul mate, she would keep his plate full and he would gladly clean it each and every time. No matter whose kitchen it is, if I'm in there cooking it becomes the heart of the home filled with love, laughter and lots of good food. Gram would be proud!
Welcome to No One Goes Hungry At Our House, I hope you stick around! Feel free to email with any questions about crafts or recipes or even just to say hi. There's always room for one more at our table!
Peace, Love and Butter,
6/21/2009
As a child I would sit at the kitchen table and watch her create the most fabulous food my little nose had ever smelled. Toll House cookies, Beef Rouladen, birthday cakes, cheese fondue, Chicken Kiev, blueberry muffins... There was nothing she couldn't make and everything always tasted amazing. And the best part? She always let me lick the spoon! My favorite birthday treat was her chocolate petit fours, each one in a lovely pastel shade of pink, blue or green. At Christmas there were more cookies than any family of four could ever eat. And her cheesecake? In all my life I have yet to find another that looks or tastes like hers! It was tall and melted on your tongue like cotton candy.
When I close my eyes I can still see her standing in the vegetable garden, seersucker shorts and polyester, v-neck sleeveless shirt, gathering tomatoes for canning and sauce. She swore you got the best fruit by planting New Jersey tomatoes in Connecticut soil. There was lettuce, green beans, bell peppers, zucchini, pumpkins and more I have forgotten I am sure. Late afternoon we would sit on the porch under the wisteria and snap beans for supper. During Summer visits to her sisters we would always go crabbing with her gentleman friend, hit the farmer's market and no trip to Jersey was complete without at least one visit to Eat Gud Bakery for what I still affectionately call Chocolate & Vanilla Bread (which is really Marble Bread) and real cream doughnuts!
Now as an adult (and I use the term loosely) I like to think I am just like her. I cook, I bake, I garden and crochet. I always try to have something nice to say about everyone I meet. I know she would love my soul mate, she would keep his plate full and he would gladly clean it each and every time. No matter whose kitchen it is, if I'm in there cooking it becomes the heart of the home filled with love, laughter and lots of good food. Gram would be proud!
Welcome to No One Goes Hungry At Our House, I hope you stick around! Feel free to email with any questions about crafts or recipes or even just to say hi. There's always room for one more at our table!
Peace, Love and Butter,
6/21/2009
Recipes
If a link isn't live yet, it means the recipe has not been published yet (but will be soon).
BEEF
Pot Roast
CAKES
Tye Dye Cupcakes (instructions only)
Crocodile/Alligator cupcake cake (tips only)
Boo-ter-fly Mini Cakes
Carrot Cake
BEEF
Pot Roast
CAKES
Tye Dye Cupcakes (instructions only)
Crocodile/Alligator cupcake cake (tips only)
Boo-ter-fly Mini Cakes
Carrot Cake
Pink Zebra Cake (instructions only)
CANDIES
Graduation Cake Pops
Cupcake Truffels
Candied Popcorn
Princess Lollies
COOKIES
Toll House Cookie Tweaks
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
FOOD CHEATS
Tomato Sauce
FROSTINGS & FILLINGS
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Cream Cheese Frosting
PASTA
Sausage Broccoli Pasta
Tortellini With Spinach & Mushrooms
PORK
Pulled Pork
Pork Scallopini
CANDIES
Graduation Cake Pops
Cupcake Truffels
Candied Popcorn
Princess Lollies
COOKIES
Toll House Cookie Tweaks
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
FOOD CHEATS
Tomato Sauce
FROSTINGS & FILLINGS
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Cream Cheese Frosting
PASTA
Sausage Broccoli Pasta
Tortellini With Spinach & Mushrooms
PORK
Pulled Pork
Pork Scallopini
Disclaimer
“We don't need a law against McDonald's or a law against slaughterhouse abuse--we ask for too much salvation by legislation. All we need to do is empower individuals with the right philosophy and the right information to opt out en masse.” ― Joel Salatin
A lot of what you will find on this blog is celebration and/or special occasion food. As of June 2012 I am going to try to feature more every day type dishes
I do not advocate people eating rich foods and sweets all the time but I do think they have their place on the family table. I don't think it's my "job" to tell people what to eat or how to eat. This is a personal blog and I am not a doctor or nutritionist.
If you don't like what you see here, don't come here. Don't send me emails telling me I am a bad person because I shared how I made my niece's birthday cake or chocolates.
A lot of what you will find on this blog is celebration and/or special occasion food. As of June 2012 I am going to try to feature more every day type dishes
I do not advocate people eating rich foods and sweets all the time but I do think they have their place on the family table. I don't think it's my "job" to tell people what to eat or how to eat. This is a personal blog and I am not a doctor or nutritionist.
If you don't like what you see here, don't come here. Don't send me emails telling me I am a bad person because I shared how I made my niece's birthday cake or chocolates.
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