Shannon Austin, Author at Lehigh Valley Marketplace's Posts

Stargazer Cast Iron

Stargazer Cast Iron

Any home cook with a cast iron pan has a world of versatility in one mighty tool: roast, sauté, and sear; braise, bake, and broil. Equip yourself with a high quality version, and you’ll be set for life. Enter Stargazer Cast Iron, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Peter Huntley, a professional kitchenware designer, started Stargazer Cast Iron in 2015 to create a better prod... »

Ain’t Nothin’ But A Groundhog

Ain’t Nothin’ But A Groundhog

Groundhog Day is known as February 2: the day an unassuming groundhog has the ability to forecast the next six weeks of weather (and, to many, a classic movie from the ‘90s starring Bill Murray). Although the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club calls it “a day to take everything a little less seriously,” there is surprisingly some logic behind how this annual event started. As Feb... »

Sweet Talk: The Original  Conversational  Candy

Sweet Talk: The Original Conversational Candy

The candy company Necco, or New England Confectionary Company, was founded in Boston in 1847 by a man named Oliver Chase. The first confection candies were in the shape of sea scallops. Instead of messages printed on them, they contained a message inside much like a fortune cookie. Other shapes that made up Necco’s assortment of confection candies included baseballs, horse... »

Where Did The  Heart-Shaped Box Originate?

Where Did The Heart-Shaped Box Originate?

Although Valentine’s Day can be traced back to Roman times, the tradition—or some would argue, requirement—of giving chocolate to a loved one on this holiday is a much more recent idea. Up until the early 1800s, chocolate was primarily consumed as a drink: think hot chocolate. However, at this time Europeans were starting to get over chocolate due to its greasiness, until ... »

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