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| BILL and his handcarved LOON |
Betsy "officially" arrived on the Hammer Song scene in 1985. I say officially because of benownst to me I had met my "Mountain Man" perhaps a year earlier at the same craft show that I would still be participating in 25 years later! and a funny thing happened when I did meet him.
I was helping my sister, Nancy Walz of Surreybrooke fame www.surreybrooke.com at the Waterford Craft Fair www.waterfordfoundation.org . In my down time, I walked up the village Green (the main drag) looking at craft booths along the way. My artistic sensibilities immediately attracted me to a free standing post and beam booth with a red tin roof that stuck out like a sore thumb. It was SO unique, I and every like-minded person was stopping at this booth. Not only was it different, their SIGN was hand painted! And different on both sides. WOW! On the one side:identical twins, bald-headed and in 18th century costumes reached across a candle lit table trimming each other's fire lit beards with scissors, while under the table , the pets and geese and pigs, cowered . On the other side: the two twins are sitting at the table making their cookie cutters and punched pots with contented pets (domesticated and wild) under the table legs. Like Ralphy in A Christmas Story, I could hardly contain myself! I RUSHED to the point of attraction to more easily see this massive sign, FELL down the hill and KNOCKED myself out!
I came to, barely a few minutes later to stare up from the ground at two identical twin brothers in costume with beards and a laugh on their faces. I looked from sign to the guys -trying to connect. Of course, I was fine, or they wouldn't have been laughing and after the initial embarrassment wore off, I was laughing. What man in his sane mind would wear knickers and long stockings with black buckled shoes in public? At least the shirt was open and a nice hairy, but not too hairy of a chest was exposed. My "Mountain Man" had a physique! With bulging biceps to boot! WOW! Like Ralphy, no , on second thought,not like Ralphy: rollercoasting down a hillside didn't sound too attractive to me anymore. With as much decorum and dignity as I could muster, I dusted myself off and walked back to my sister's booth.
That would have been that, but they were selling COOKIE CUTTERS! I had to see the cookie cutters. I tried to mingle and lose myself in the Hammer Song booth , but the wall of people waiting to purchase anything Hammer Song pushed me to the head of the check out line where I spied a CRAB cutter.
I attribute what i did next to the aftermath of my previous Hammer Song introduction - I must have had a concussion and wasn't thinking clearly!- For I was a proper, law abiding, Catholic schooled young lady (tomboy) , every fiber in my body crammed with the rudiments of politeness. I held up the crab cookie cutter and loudly and bluntly declared -well I'll leave you to quess what I said-something about its price-
For the life of me, I can't remember what happened next. I know that I didn't buy the cutter, but I married the cutter-making Mountain Man-BILL.
Next year at Waterford, I was part of the Hammer Song family selling cookie cutters.
I hope that you've enjoyed this tale-It's totally true. AH, HOW ROMANTIC!
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| HEART TO HEART, LOVE BIRDS, SWEETHEART, CUPID |
KILLER HEARTS
"Killer Hearts" is a seriously decadent cookie recipe for Valentine's Day. We use our HEART TO HEART cookie cutter for this one. If you want your significant other to dote on you the rest of the day, serve these for breakfast with some bubbly and watch him puppy dog follow you around all day. The baker is sure to get a kiss out of this, if not some bling-NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!
Recipe for Betsy's cutout SUGAR COOKIES (available on La Cuisine's website)
4 Oz. white chocolate (La Cuisine carries WONDERFUL white chocolate )
4 Oz. cream cheese, softened
1 jar seedless raspberry jam like Polaners
10x powdered sugar.
MAKE 1/16th inch thick cookie cutouts using the heart to heart cutter (Order from La Cuisine, www.lacuisineus.com or call 800 521 1176.) We recommend the DeMarle Silpat when rolling out these cookies. Let cool.
In the microwave at 10 second intervals, melt the white chocolate just until melted, stirring every once in a while. Remove from the microwave and stir until the chocolate is smooth. Let cool slightly.
Combine the white chocolate and cream cheese, stirring until the mixture is smooth.
Place half of the baked cookies on sheets of waxed paper. Carefully spread the chocolate mixture on one side of the cookie. Spread the jam on the other side. Top with the remaining cookies,pressing lightly together. Dust with the powdered sugar. Assemble cookies just before serving.
The inside heart that cuts out from the heart cookie is perfect for decorating with romantic sayings.
ENJOY!
Betsy
