Archive by Author

Snoutz Food and Travel Adventures: Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour

travel adventureAre you looking for a travel adventure? If you didn’t know it already, this famous ice cream and frozen yogurt maker offers tours of their factory just outside Waterbury, Vermont. The tour includes information about its all-natural ingredients, many of which come from local family farms. Giant tanks of chocolate are part of the machinery, production equipment, and storage units on view. The best is the Flavor Room where visitors can taste the flavor of the day. The summer is a great time to visit with outdoor activities, cows in the pasture, the Flavor Graveyard, picnic areas, and more. Pipper and her pals are considering a visit during their vacation week next August. It’s Sidney’s sweet tooth suggestion. For help planning your travel adventure, check out Ben & Jerry’s website.

Pipper’s Recipe Recommendations: Putting the Egg Back Together Again

recipe recommendationHere is a recipe recommendation for you with an awesome, creative story to it! Pipper’s pal Archibald, design expert extraordinaire, was confounded when he read about an omelet recipe printed on an egg. An artist named Dan Newman used what he called the “Egg-Bot,” a 3-D printer that works on spherical objects, to print the recipe right on the eggshell. But Archibald said that once you break the egg, the recipe is broken in pieces too. Time to memorize! Here’s Pipper’s recipe recommendation for that famous Italian omelet, the frittata. You can break all the eggs it calls for and still have the recipe!

Market Frittata with Green Tomato Salsa

Serves 6
7 eggs 1 tablespoon water
1 teaspon each basil, thyme, rosemary
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
roasted potato wedges (approximately 6 small Yukon gold or creamer variety) quartered roasted cherry tomatoes (approximately a dozen)
1 medium red onion, slivered and pan fried in a little olive oil until caramelized
8 baby artichokes quartered or sliced and pan cooked in olive oil – or – 4 canned
artichoke hearts drained and sliced lengthwise into 4 slices each

With a pastry brush or paper towel, coat a 1/2 sheet tray or roasting pan with olive oil

Preheat oven to 350°F

1.    Whisk eggs with water, cheese, herbs, salt and pepper, until frothy.
2.    Empty mixture into prepared pan.
3.    Evenly arrange all the precooked ingredients.
4.    Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning pan midway.
5.    Serve with salsa, using a slotted spoon for the salsa.

Green Tomato Salsa (or use your favorite store-bought salsa)

6 small to medium green tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup (30 grams) chopped jalapenos (if from a jar, drained first)
1 medium red onion, chopped small
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped small
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup capers, drained of brine
1/4 cup olive oil
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

In a medium mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Season to taste.
Yield: 4 cups

Sophie’s Children’s Book Selections: Kids Ultimate Road Trip Atlas

children's bookPipper and her pals often pile in the car and head out on adventures when the BowWOW Bakery closes for vacation or special holidays. Sophie always brings along this children’s book to keep everyone excited and involved in where they’re going and busy playing games to speed the time until they arrive. The information below comes from Amazon.

Release Date: March 13, 2012
Age Level: 8 and up
Grade Level: 3 and up
Series: National Geographic Kids

Keeping kids entertained while on a long drive can be a challenge, but the National Geographic Kids Ultimate U.S. Road Atlas can help. This book includes easy-to-read, simple road maps of each state and Washington, D.C., and a map of the United States. State symbols, cool things to do, boredom busters, fun facts, wacky roadside attractions, and games accompany the maps and provide engaging information with stunning photographs that will keep kids engaged for hours. In the back matter, a comprehensive index makes it easy for kids to look up names and places. To top it all off, everything is presented in colorful NG Kids style, allowing kids to learn as they ride and have a blast doing it!

Sophie’s Children’s Book Selections: Honest Pretzels

children's bookBy Mollie Katzen

This is actually a children’s book that Pipper recommended to Sophie. Pipper loves Mollie Katzen’s recipes, most of which are full of nutritious natural ingredients. Mitzi tested some of the recipes and agreed they are good-for-you delicious keepers. And just because this is a children’s book doesn’t mean adults can’t help too! The information below is from Amazon.

Release Date: October 13, 2009
Age Level: 8 and up
Grade Level: 3 and up

Get ready to help with dinner for real!

Are you a kid? Then this book was written especially for you. With it, you can become a fantastic cook and amaze your friends with Pita Spirals and Creamy Corn Soup or Cinnamon Swirl Sticky Buns and Best Hot Chocolate. Or you can fill your lunch bag with a wedge of Spaghetti Pie, a serving of Maple Yoghurt Fruit Dip, and a handful of Honest Pretzels that you made yourself.

Are you a grown-up? Then welcome to another very special cookbook by Mollie Katzen. In these pages she speaks directly to children through 65 fully kid-tested, illustrated recipes that require only a little adult assistance. It’s not just a cookbook full of yummy recipes–it also gives young cooks, ages eight and up, a chance to practice reading, math, and logic skills. And think of the sense of accomplishment they will feel as they grow into creative, confident chefs.

Henry reporting for kitchen duty

Henry is eager to become a master of the kitchen like Pipper!

Snoutz Food and Travel Adventures: Dog Agility Event

dog agilityDog agility can be measured in many events. Seesaws, ramps, tunnels, and hurdles–oh yes! There are all kinds of destinations for you and your dog to consider adventuring. In fact, in 2007 alone, 29 million Americans traveled with their pets in tow. If your dog is athletic and smart (of course your dog is smart) you might want to head to one of the many dog agility events popping up for pups all over. Check out the challenging feats at the major events in Camarillo, Calif., Palmyra, Pa., and Albuquerque, NM.
Photo credit : John Carl D’Annibale / Times Union

Is Dinner Ready Yet?

Franklin is hungry!

Pipper’s Recipe Recommendations: Speedy Special Carrots

recipe recommendationsRecipe recommendations for Fall bring a renewed focus to those comfort foods, root vegetables. Carrots are a star of the season. There are lots of varieties. If you see those deep maroon colored ones, grab them and head home to cook them. They have a robust sweetness and meatiness that spells satisfaction. Roasting carrots is as easy as 1-2-3 and this delicious Carrot Dill Sauce for topping them with can be done in a flash. The reward? A dish that tastes like you labored over it for much longer than it really takes. Pipper loves carrots—all year round!

Roasted Carrots
1 bunch carrots, peeled and trimmed
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
pinch of kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350°

Place carrots in a pan in one layer. Toss with the oil, and sprinkle with the salt.
Roast in oven uncovered for 30 minutes.

Carrot Dill Sauce
1 cup carrot juice
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup
chopped dill

In a saucepan over medium heat, cook the juice, honey and dill until the honey has melted and the liquid is hot.

Dog Stuff: Soccer Dogs

soccer dogsSoccer dogs are cool! Chance wants to be one of the soccer dogs! He is training as a goalie for the Fetchwood Fetchers. They were inspired after seeing some unbelievable moves made by the Soccer Collies. Groups of kids play the goal keeper position as the incredibly talented soccer dogs score goals. A lot of goals! This is a serious new sport challenging enough for professional players. It’s especially appealing for kids 4 to 12 years old. Want your own soccer dog? Check out the Soccer Collies at their website.
Image courtesy of HappyDogConnections.com.

Dog Stuff: Salukis on Show

salukisSalukis are one of the oldest dog breeds in history. Pipper’s Egyptian tour guide, Mr. Saluki, told her that his great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother appears on the wall of an Egyptian tomb. These dogs are highly regarded in Arabian culture. To pay tribute to this elegant dog, The Arabian Saluki Beauty Contest was held this past September at the International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition in Abu Dhabi. The Salukis were judged not only on the standard breed characteristics but also on the breed’s main purpose—hunting, chasing, and guarding—as well as evidence of  its brave and dominant behavior. We think the winner, Nuash, is a spitting image of Mr. Saluki. Maybe your dog is not one of these beautiful, multi-talented Salukis, but we’re sure she is a beauty. Be sure to enter our Snoutz in the Kitchen Contest and have a chance to win a free book!