If you’re in the mood for some music, whether it be rock, jazz, classical, or the Mummers, Philadelphia has plenty to offer. Until I checked the schedule, I didn’t realize that this was going to be the last passion blog post for the year. While I’ve had fun writing these, I’m not going to lie…
Passion
Hollywood Comes to Philly
Although it’s nothing compared to New York City or LA, Hollywood has still showcased a variety of landmarks across the greater Philadelphia region. From recognizable places in center city, to suburban neighborhoods (some not far from my own hometown!), Philly has had its share of the silver screen. This week, I am going to explore…
Reading Terminal Market
One place that must absolutely go on your bucket list if you are visiting Philadelphia is Reading Terminal Market (RTM). It’s located next to the Pennsylvania Convention Center and near City Hall. Reading Terminal is a huge, indoor market that is home to over 80 different merchants that sell a wide variety of foods and…
Pretzels: A Philly Classic
Pretzels, both hard and soft, are a staple snack for many and a tradition of Philadelphia. Who hasn’t been to a party or watched a sports game without a tray of pretzels and mustard on the table? But have you ever wondered how this salty treat became so popular? Well, whether you’ve been curious or…
Historical Facts About the City of Brotherly Love
Since my last passion blog post, the Eagles did end up losing the Super Bowl, which was disappointing, but in my unprofessional opinion, it was at least an exciting game to watch. Moving on from the Birds, I thought for this week’s post I’d take a deeper look into the rich history of Philadelphia that…
Fly, Eagles, Fly!
In case you are unaware and don’t follow professional sports (like me usually), the Eagles are going to the Super Bowl! Originally, I was going to make this passion blog post about Philadelphia’s history, but I thought I’d save that and discuss the Eagles instead due to the upcoming game. Philadelphia is one of the…
Welcome to Philadelphia!
Hi everyone! Welcome to my spring semester passion blog about all things Philly … and the surrounding area because that’s where I’m from 🙂 . For this week’s post, I’d thought I’d start out with a basic introduction to/overview of Philadelphia. It’s not the most exciting information, but I feel it’s necessary to have this…
Desserts from Around the World
Before we leave to enjoy fall break, before we all decide to sleep in past noon, before we start hearing Christmas songs nonstop until Dec. 25, I’d thought we move away from the typical American desserts this week. It’s about time to look at some delicious desserts from around the world (aka 6 countries because…
The Benefits of Baking Therapy
As we head towards the final few weeks of the fall semester, I think it’s important for us to take a step back and reflect on our mental (and physical) wellbeing. This is a stressful time of year, and for me, I’ve always found that baking calms me down and simply lets me enjoy life.…
The Origins of 4 Popular Desserts
Have you ever wondered where some of your favorite desserts originated from? How long have they been around, and how have they grown into the classic American bakes that we have today? Well, in this week’s post I will be exploring the history of some common American bakes. Chocolate Chip Cookies It turns out that…
Baking Myths and Misconceptions
Based on a suggestion from a two weeks ago, this week’s topic is on debunking common baking myths and misconceptions. The first myth is that salt does not matter in baking. Hint: it does! Despite the fact that many recipes only call for a small amount of salt, sometimes just a pinch, it still helps…
Three Iconic Cakes from Movies
I know I asked for suggestions last week, but I felt like writing a fun post about some iconic cakes that are seen in movies. 1. Matilda (1996) One famous cake scene is in the movie Matilda (1996) where the boy Bruce Bogtrotter is punished for stealing a slice of the nightmarish headmistress Miss Trunchbull’s…
The War of Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder
Some of the most common ingredients seen in almost every recipe are baking soda and baking powder. Both are white powders that act as leavening agents, meaning that they help with the rise of your bakes in the oven. They are the fraternal twins of the baking world; they may appear identical to the eye,…
Burned, Flat & Everything in Between
Charred cookies, flat cookies, or perhaps a mix of both are common problems that many bakers experience, including myself. “I followed what the recipe said, so why did my cookies come out differently?” Truthfully, there are various reasons why, so to begin answering that fateful question, we are traveling back in time to the youthful…
The Essential Baking Equipment (Part 2)
Welcome back to part 2 of the Essential Baking Equipment! This week, I will add a few more items to the list of essential baking tools that I established last week, starting with baking pans. Depending on what you are baking, you’ll want to have the following: Baking sheets for cookies Cake pans for, as…
The Essential Baking Equipment (Part 1)
Who hasn’t watched those baking TV shows where people create elaborate six tier wedding cakes with three different flavors, decorated with fancy, intricate flowers and swirls, and thought, “where would I even start to learn how to do that?” Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s as easy as simply getting the proper tools.…
Passion Blog Ideas
Typically, I take forever to think of ideas to write about, so when I heard about this passion blog that we have to write, I knew that I had to start thinking right away. One of the first ideas that popped into my head was a blog about baking. I enjoy baking as a little…