Having Friends for Dinner? Try This!

Liv and Belle,

Last night when we had some friends over, my mom asked me to make dinner and suggested "Tiny Tuna Melts" from your website. It was a great idea, since we had a LOT of English muffins on hand, but my friends and I weren't quite in the mood for plain old tuna salad. So I thought it might be cool to try putting "Hot Tuna Salad" (also from your website) on the English muffins instead. My friends loved it. It was delicious!

-Isabelle

Magic Soup Essay Winner - Part 4

ala cazam ala cazoop what am i going to put in my soup? a cat and a dog and maybe a frog. a hoop and a loop and a little bit of moop. my brother my mother and my little sister. how about a giant twister? a shoe and a zoo i think i'll invite you. A bee and a sea but of course not me. I'll invie mandy and sandy and i'm thinking about randy. i'll put in candy and my favorite word quandy! i think thats enough or we'll have to much soup. i'll add 1 last thing.... a giant hoop!

Alicia, 10 from New York

Magic Soup Essay Winners - Part 3

Here's an essay from Rosie, our youngest winner. Rosie is holding a picture she drew to go along with her essay. Here's what she wrote:

If I could make magical soup, I would call it "Garden Soup". And I would put in rose petals, and daisies. I would put in honey that bees made, and I would put in fairy dust. I would also put in mint leaves that I picked from my garden. And I would cook it in a pot made of tree wood. I would cook it by the fairy tree, where all the fairies lived. I would serve it in cups made out of lily flower petals, with tiny spoons made out of flower stems. And I would serve it on the top of the mountain in a big tree, where fairies have tea parties. The spoons and bowls are so tiny that I couldn't use them so I decided to give them to fairies. They had rose petal wings and had tiny purple flowers for crowns, and they used mini daisies for wands. Then I would fill their bowls of soup and all the fairies would take a sip of it and each one of the fairies said it was the best soup they had ever tasted! The End!

Rosie, 8 from Utah

Magic Soup Essay Winners - Part 2

Here's another winning essay from Carly in California:

I'm standing at the base of a massive oak tree; in its sturdy branches there sits a beautiful old tree house. This is where I'll cook my magical soup. The twisting staircase teeters as I climb up into the homey tree bungalow. I survey my kitchen space. It's a big kitchen with everything needed to make magic. I start boiling the vegetable stock; animals from all around come and sit on the beams of the house, watching me curiously. My close friend comes to help me; we throw into the pot of bubbling broth: kidney beans, spinach, salt, pepper, noodles, tomatoes, basil, thyme, and sizzling turkey bacon. We dip our heads over the soup and breathe in the savory scents. It smells delicious! But we forgot something! Love, gratitude, laughter, kindness, happiness and the most special ingredient...an secret spice that will wipe all your worries away! After we add the special ingredient, a new kind of smell comes over the whole tree house. Do you know what it is? All the feelings that we added are mixing together, blending into the soup. I look at my friend-we know that it's the best batch of magical soup we've ever made.

Magic Soup Essay Contest Winners - Part 1

The judges have decided! And we have the winners of the Magic Soup Essay Contest.

The panel was made up of 3 young people: Belle, Liv and Liv's friend Jasime and 3 adults: Gaylon Emerzian and Heidi Umbhau, our producers and Mark Farne, our Community Outreach Coordinator.

We judged 90% on originality and creativity and only 10% on spelling and grammar. The essays were a variety of funny, witty, and heartfelt. So were real recipes, other were complete fantasy. It was really tough to make a decision because there were so many great entries.

We'll be posting the winners as we receive permission from their parents.

Here's two of the winning essays:

Mine is a real soup I have been making for years now. Mom says it was my Grandmas recipe and I really miss her. Its simple but good and everyone loves it. Just did out Grandmas old kettle, its the only one you can use for this soup. The fill with water and add a bunch of diced potatoes. Boil for a half hour or so while talking to Mom or watching TV. Then add some onions and boil another half hour. Sometimes there are two really good TV shows on. Next add spices but don't really look at what you add. Make sure to talk to other people so you don't really pay attention. Now butter and go for the real stuff. Mom says its too expensive to use everyday but Grandma would roll in her grave if we used the fake stuff for the soup. Next the secrete, add some sour cream and mix to no lumps then fill the pot with milk. You can taste it here but its not done. Last of all mix some flour with some more milk so there are no lumps then add to soup so it gets thicker.Then you get to eat but you have to eat with people you like and tell stories about Grandma. Its the best!

Andrew, 14 from Mississippi

My soup is called "Hot melted pepper jack, cheesy, chili, chicken soup." Here is what is in my soup. I put 2 cups of melted pepper jack cheese, 1 1/2 cup of chili, 1/2 cup of garlic, 12 jelly beans, 1 1/2 cup chicken, 1/2 a box of make your own noodles out of dough, 1 cup hot sauce, and 3 cherry flavored stones. You are probably wondering who I am eating it with, or where that person and I are eating it! Well, I will eat it with whoever is staying here at my house. I will eat it in the sky on a big cloud. I will eat it without my family, they are not famous. My family are people I love. I would also serve it on the Eiffel tower, it is a famous building. It would be in a familiar place that I wish to go to soon. My magic "Hot melted pepper jack, cheesy, chili, chicken soup" would give special powers, it would make you fly. We would fly over the city after we eat the soup.

Larry, 12 from Mississippi

Congratulations to all the winners! Thanks to everyone who participated.

Team Spatulatta

Spatulatta's Top Ten Picks from the International Home and Housewares Show 2009

This year we don't have a video report because most of Team Spatulatta was laid up with the flu. Liv and Belle were down for the count and Miss Heidi, their mom, was trying hard to stay on her feet while tending to the girls. So I was on my own with a still camera and a pad of paper.

My first impression was vibrant color. Color was popping everywhere. Even OXO with its signature black and white had added color to their spatulas. Here's our TOP TEN PICKS:

1. Chef'n PalmZester

Looks like a Power Ranger bracelet but really goes on your finger tips. With a few quick strokes this zester makes quick work of a lime or lemon. Chef'n CEO and inventor, David Holcomb, has gone the extra mile once again. The citrus zest is neatly stored in a flip open compartment rather than being shot all over the kitchen! Fabulous design and dishwasher safe.





2. Chef'n Four-Sided Grater

Always on the lookout for knuckle-saving devices. This is variation on the traditional box grater but it has a genius finger guide to keep your digits away from the super sharp blades. It also has a bottom so you're not grating directly onto the counter or having the grater slide around on a plate. The bottom comes off for easy access and cleaning.









3. ISI Flex It Measuring Cups

We've found over the years that children need practice pouring and until they get the coordination to stop the liquid, they have a tendency to overpour. These flexible measuring cups are great for putting oil or milk back into the bottle. Give these measuring cups a little squeeze and they make the perfect shape spout.

They are especially good for getting liquids into a running stand mixer. The flexible cup can be squeezed into a perfect shape for maneuvering into the area between the motor and the bowl. ISI also has flexible bowls that do the same magic for dry measure.








4. Zyliss Apple and Potato Cutter

We're always looking for cutting implements that keep children's hands away from the blades. The Zyliss Apple and Potato Cutter works like a traditional apple corer but it also has a replaceable blade that will cut potatoes into fries.








I could see all sorts of uses for the potato blade. Making small, relatively uniform cubes is a big challenge for small people. We could use it on jicama, squash, maybe even carrots. The child has both hands in plain sight and can use her or his full weight to press down on the implement.

When the cutter makes it through the veggie it gives a satisfying "thunk." Suddenly your 7-year old has done the work of a sous chef.







5. Playful Life French Cooking Set

I'm always rooting for women entrepenuers and I was glad to see a number of them at the show this year. Liz Rossilli was a teacher for years before she started her business. She draws on her knowledge of early child development in her products.

The Playful Life French Cooking Set is a great example. Not only do you get the chef's hat and the child-sized implements but you also get 5 French recipe cards that teach a little geography along with how to make chocolate mousse. Perfect for a 3 or 4 year old's birthday gift.

Liz also has a line of place maps that would be perfect for 1 -5 year olds with mapes and counting games. For older kids she has the Playful Party Planner, with etiquette tips, creative ideas and list maker. The graphics are adorable.



6. Zanda Panda Silicone Heart Mold

Sandra Lira, the designer, started as a sculptor and used silicone for molding bronze. One day it dawned on her that she could put her skills to work in the kitchen. She observed that children would bicker over who was going to get the decoration on a cake so she decided to make the whole cake a decoration.

She has a number of designs of cake and chocolate molds some of which have hand sculpted unicorns. I especially liked the heart mold. It's perfect for shortbeard because it's deeply scored. You can easily divide the cake into 8 individual heart shapes. Sandra uses the mold for chocolate, painting red chocolate into the small hearts before pouring milk chocolate into the rest of the mold. She then uses edible Luster Dust to highlight the flowers and curlicues.

Molds are also great for crafts. They form plaster of paris or paper maché as easily as cake batter.


7. Precidio Buddy Measuring Cups

These measuring cups with extra large handles are eronomically correct for really little hands. They're also beautiful bright colors. The measuring spoons have a slight dip in their handles to accomodate kids' range of motion.

Precido has a complement of cute bowls, cute spoons, cute cookie cutters perfect for the 2 to 6 crowd.



8. Orka Toast Tongs

Orka makes silicone mitts, ice cream scoops, dripless ice pops in a variety of yummy colors. My choice this year are a pair of silicone toast tongs. You can fearless dig down deep into that toaster to rescue that artisan bread slice or half bagel. They also double as mini salad tongs but I'm sure there are many other uses.

Orka also makes an omelet pan with lower sides so instead of struggling to lift the omelet, it can be slid onto the plate.










9. Jo!e - Kitch Pizza Cutter

I saw a lot similar cutters by other manufacturers but this circular blade had a red plastic cover so you can see that the blade is covered when not in use. A child might need to use both hands on this tool and then need some assistance holding the pizza. But this tool will be much safer than the traditional wheel blade on a handle.

Jo!e has a whole line of too cute zesters and peelers with little faces. I was really intrigued by the double bladed carrot peeler. Do twice the work in half the time.


10. ISI Get-it Tongs

Bamboo tongs come with a red silicon stand that also keeps the tongs together so small people don't have to wrestle trying to get the implements at the right angle.

They kind of look like reindeer antlers and I can see all sorts of family pictures featuring these tongs.











Thanks to all the exhibitors for sharing

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Some cute (but disqualified) entries for the Magic Soup Contest

We got a kick out of these entries, especially since they were from adults entering the Magic Soup Contest. The age limit was 14-years old but that didn't stop some of our friends from wanting to tell us about their version Magic Soup.

Bob, 48 years old, from KY writes:

Claude's Louisiana Gumbo. You start with a roux of butter, flour and spices. Then you add fresh chicken, okra, tomato, green pepper, chili peppers and, of course, andouille sausage. You add the seafood for the last minutes only to avoid it getting rubbery.

Hazel, age 39, writes:

Right out of the can into the pot.

Susan, age 63, writes:

My magic pot of soup would be made with chocolate kisses. Yummy! :D

Shirley, age 73, writes:

Seek and dump. Start with a pot of chicken stock, then seek good stuff from fridge, freezer and pantry that tickles your fancy. Exotic and plain, sweet and sour, add some salt and pepper, put the lid on the pot and simmer for 2 hours sort of, tap occasionally with your magic wand and fingers crossed. The result is a magic soup. Never made a magic soup that everyone didn't like.

Maybe Bob, Hazel, Susan, and Shirley will inspire an "over 18" essay contest!

Thanks for sharing!