Acorns Aren't Just For Squirrels Anymore

Pumpkin Acorn Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting

Yes, it's true, acorns aren't just for squirrels. They're for people too. I was reading a cupcake blog the other day and came across a recipe for acorn cupcakes. Yes, that's right, acorn cupcakes. Must admit I'd never heard of them.

Out of curiosity I googled the term. It seems that some of the cupcakes are simply decorated with acorns on top (fake ones of course) like the photo above, while still others are make using acorn flour. See the photo below.

Acorn Cupcakes With Honey Buttercream Frosting

Acorn flour? Hmm... guess it adds a nutty flavor, sure to please all the squirrels if your family doesn't like them. Also acorn flour is that great buzz word "Gluten Free." Aficionados suggest mixing it half and half with another type of flour to get the best taste.

Seriously though, it seems you can grind your own acorn flour using acorns from your yard that you wrest from the paws of those rascally little rodents before they can bury them in your front yard. You grind them between two rocks. Too primitive for your?

Actually according the cupcake blog, Cupcake Project, acorn flour was originally made by Native Americans and is the best way to eat acorns. It has a walnut-like flavor, a nice change from your white flour. Unfortunately, it can take three days to grind your own.

However the good news is you can also purchase it in your local Korean supermarket, this would be my option. Or you can buy it online at Sue's Acorn Cafe and Mill.

But if you are looking for a long term family project that your kids will enjoy, let them help you gather and grind the acorns, perfect for little Pilgrims and Indians at Thanksgiving. Learn how to make your own acorn flour here. It will make great family photos of all of you working together to create part of your Thanksgiving feast.

Cupcake Project is one of the most creative blogs out there. If this project doesn't appeal, they have dozens of other great ideas that are fun for bakers at every level. And even if you don't bake but just like to read about food, it's a great read.

Let me know if you decide to make some acorn cupcakes. Would love to know how your grinding turns out. I'm going to go the easy way, and order the flour online.

Presidential Politics and Pizza

Decision 2012. Did you help decide the outcome of the Presidential election in 2012? If you live in Drexel Hill, two of the local polling places reported almost half the registered voters had already voted by 4PM. And the 'after work rush' was still to come. Poll workers and voters all seemed in good spirits, there was no arguing in lines over partisan issues. Actually the workers moved voters through so seamlessly that there were little or no lines at the times I was there.

What made the difference in your decision to vote? I talked to a variety of people who all reported having voted tonight when we talked to them after the polls had closed. This unofficial poll, conducted chatting with the other diners at one of my favorite restaurants, Bertucci's in Springfield PA, showed a split down the middle almost equally between the President and Mitt Romney.

But what was impressive was only one person said they had not voted. It was good to see that people had taken the initiative to get out and vote. If for one reason or another you did not get out to vote in this election, be sure to register the next time you renew your drivers license this year, it is so easy, just click 'yes.'

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...traffic that is. This weekend I was on Baltimore Pike in Springfield and I realized Christmas shopping has already started! Yes, the shoppers were out, ready to put a dent in their holiday shopping. Drivers were nudging their cars in without using blinkers, going crazy at Best Buy, and coming out of Kohl's carrying huge bags.

Fortunately, I didn't go down as far as the mall, I suspect it was just as bad down there. Even if the rest of the mall isn't too busy, Target is mobbed!

Personally, I was out doing some last minute wedding shopping (my daughter is getting married this winter, not doing any Christmas shopping, but I could tell when I stopped for lunch and saw the Hallmark bags filled with wrapping paper that people are getting into the swing of the holidays. (Those long rolls of wrapping paper are dead giveaways!)

My personal Christmas shopping? I do a lot of it online. And I never leave home for my brick and mortar shopping without a specific plan for exactly where I am going and knowing why I am heading to each store. And like many other Americans, I am leaving my plastic at home--no credit card bills!

But as important as hitting the sales is saving on gas and saving my sanity by spending as little time in stores at Christmas as possible. And as little time on Baltimore Pike!

So save your sanity, stay home and boot up your computer to shop. I hate to take the business away from the local stores but when I weigh the choice between sanity and being stuck in Baltimore Pike traffic, I'll take sanity any day!

Jon Bon Jovi and Friends Performing to Help Victims of Hurricane Sandy

Photo courtesy of NBC Universal

8 PM Tonight--Watch and Give as media and rock stars join together to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy. As the residents of the East Coast begin the clean up from the disaster left by Hurricane Sandy, NBC Universal and Matt Lauer stepped up to the plate and planned a disaster aid concert. The concert called "Hurrincane Sandy: Coming Together" will be broadcast on NBC, CNBC, Bravo, E!, G4, MSNBC, Style, Syfy and USA. Lauer will host the event that will air on Friday at 8 PM. Proceeds will benefit the Ameican Red Cross funds for Hurricane Sandy relief.

As we get closer to the event it is possible that all networks will decide to air it simultaneously. It will also be simulcast on Springsteen's E Street Radio on SiriusXM. There will be a tape delay for the West Coast.

If a decision is made to air the concert across all networks, it won't be unprecedented, in 2010 the telethon for the Haitian earthquake spearheaded by George Clooney aired on NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox and MTV, HBO, PBS and more. Hopefully everyone will join in again.

Artists planning on performing? Jon Bon Jovi (the face of Avon's newest fragrance, Unplugged), Christina Aguilera, Billy Joel (of Asbury Park fame, a town hard hit by the storm), and Sting are all scheduled to perform at the benefit. Jimmy Fallon and Brian Williams are also scheduled to appear, possibly performing together (although no announcement has been made, I'm just hoping!) Aerosmith's Steven Tyler just announced on The Today Show that they would be performing as well.

In case you've been living under a rock and  haven't heard any news in the last week, Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast. There is a massive need for aid in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and parts of Massachusetts and West Virginia. Also hard hit were Pennsylvania and Delaware.

Some people lost homes, others lost family members. There is a massive need for financial aid in all these areas to help individuals and businesses get back to normal. Hospitals say the need for blood donations is critical. So even if you cannot donate $$, you can make an appointment to donate blood. We all have that to give.

I saw shore communities where I spent my childhood happily playing on beaches and walking the boardwalks destroyed. Some of these communities are not just summer vacation communities but have year round residents who have lost their only homes. Often their businesses were also destroyed.
Many are still living without power.

If you gave when New Orleans was destroyed, or for other natural disasters farther from home, it's time to dig even a little deeper in your pockets and donate one more time to your friends and neighbors in need. Tune in to watch Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together and enjoy the music (and give) at 8 PM tonight.

Mother In Law MIA

During Frankenstorm (my favorite nickname for Hurricane Sandy) we lost my MIL. We can't find her. She hasn't called, hasn't texted and frankly we're worried. She lives near the Jersey Shore and they were hard hit by this most recent high powered storm. 

We are hoping she's headed to a local shelter with some of her neighbors. We tried reaching some of them but can't get an answer from their homes either.

We tried to get her to evacuate before the storm but she didn't want to leave her home. I understand, she's comfortable there. But since I remember a storm that hit in  '62 or so (when I was a child) and I saw the photos of the devastation then, I'm concerned.

I am hoping she didn't try to get in her car and drive to a shelter. I'm hoping her house wasn't the one I heard the governor talking about that was found floating down Highway 35 (which is a few blocks from her house). I know the statistical probability of that one house being hers is very low, but... still we worry.

This whole situation points up the reason we all need a network of people to contact in case of emergency. A contact manual or even just a cell phone loaded with emergency numbers.

I hope your family survived the storm. Better yet, I hope they didn't live in the areas affected by it. But just in case of a future emergency, consider putting together a manual of info they'd find useful if another Frankenstorm came along.

Hey Mom, phone home!

Charging In The Storm

Worried about recharging your cell phone battery if you lose power at home?  @NBCPhiladelphia tweeted and @Joshpt0 retweeted you can charge your phone using your car as long as you have a car charger (obviously!). Ingenious!

I never use my car charger but this would be a good time to dig it out! My phone is sure to need it!

Hate using my cell phone for internet/tweets etc. but it's a good way to keep it charged for emergency contacts. Thanks!

The Sky Turned Blue

If you live in Delaware County you  may have  noticed a blue light in the sky. No, it wasn't lightening, a transformer blew up in or near Darby PA. Unfortunately, this means the residents of parts of Darby will be without power. Not sure yet what this means to shelters in the area. Stay tuned, I'll update you if I find out anything new.

08:48 Signs of transformers blowing near Westbrook Park. Lights out on Oak Avenue in Clifton Heights. Residents report seeing signs of fried transformers all around the area.

Live from Drexel Hill