"We have so much time and so little to do. Strike that, reverse it." ROALD DAHL, CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY In 1964, British author Roald Dahl published his children’s novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. According to Dahl, the inspiration from the story came from his childhood. In the 1920s, Cadbury would send test samples of chocolate to schoolchildren in exchange for their opinions. If the kids liked the chocolate, Cadbury would manufacture the sweet. Cadbury, a

That's right- PIG FACE DAY. It's one of my favorite feasts featured in our book, A Thyme and Place. You'd think this holiday was in celebration of someone unfortunate looking, but no. In the Cotswolds village of Avening, England, this day is all about pork! And it all began with Queen Matilda, the wife of William the Conquerer. In 1080 Queen Matilda of Flanders consecrated the Church of the Holy Cross at Avening, the only church ever to receive commissioning by a Queen of Eng

While all Crock Pots are slow cookers, not all slow cookers are Crock Pots. Confused? Well, think of it this way: "Crock Pot" is a brand name. Most like the use of the word Kleenex is to tissues. Though they both perform a similar function, the mechanics and how it applies to cooking are different. A crock pot is a pot that sits inside a surrounding heating element and has high/low-temperature options. The surrounding heat allows food to rise to a safe temperature quicker and

A circus, carnival, street fair, or amusement park would not be the same without this invention; spun sugar. Across the globe, the name changes, but it is still the same sweet delight. Called cotton candy in the US and Canada, candy floss in the UK and Southeast Asia, tooth floss in South Africa, papa’s beard in Finland, old ladies' hair in Greece, and fairy floss in Australia. The treat made up of 99.99% sugar, with a dash of food coloring and a sprinkling of flavoring,