Philly Love: 4th St. Cookie Co. in Reading Terminal Market

Okay, so I have this Love/Hate relationship with the city of Philadelphia. I love its history & culture and sometimes I hate its culture and the 'city folk'. Growing up in the south we all mostly learned some manners. Although you might get the most fake "Hey Darlin', how's yer day goin?" You'll at least get that common courtesy of a smile and a "Thank you, have a nice day". One example of my dislike for the city is when I was going to Temple U. I was driving down Ogontz Ave waiting to turn onto Broad St. I looked over to my left and a guy in an SUV opened his door and put some trash on the street. It's not like we were on some side street that wasn't highly traveled. It's a common cross street to get to Broad. And it's two lanes in both directions so when I say he put the trash on the road, it wasn't like it was off to the side near the sidewalk. No. It was on the dotted lines between the two lanes. Hmm...was it a burger wrapper? NO! It was an entire BAG of McDonald's trash AND a cup holder with empty cups in it!! I instinctively gave a dirty look of disgust and immediately corrected myself when I saw his return glare of "What you lookin' at?" I wasn't interested in becoming a victim of road rage or any other type of rage. Anyway...this is what I am talking about, an utter lack of respect for others around them. No manners or common courtesy. Now, I know Philly gets a bad rap sometimes. So I must say that not ALL Philadelphians are this way. There are just as many that aren't. Do they have the Southern Hospitality that we have? No, but they still are kind decent people. They just have their 'walls' up until they get to know you. I just miss the small town southern politeness where the cashier smiles and people say hello as you pass on the street. Anyway...that being said, I still have lots of fun in this city which I have called home for over a decade. So, although I may have dogged the city, I must make up for it in my Philly Love posts. Here's the first of many :) 

So my high school friend whom I haven't seen in 12 years was up for a work conference for a few days. I decided to ride the train down to Market Street and give her a condensed tour of the city. We started off at the Reading Terminal Market where we went to the Famous Fourth Street Cookie Company where they make homemade chocolate chip cookies freshly dipped in chocolate. Talk about a chocoholic's dream! Here's the two of us enjoying...I think next time I'll see if they can warm them up because the first time I had them they were just out of the oven and I have been dreaming about these cookies ever since! If you are ever in town, head on over the the Reading Terminal Market at 12th and Arch (only a couple blocks off of Market St). They have any kind of food you can think of! You won't be sorry! 

Movie Monday: To Save a Life

Okay, so I have my next movie recommendation for y'all! You need to watch To Save A Life! It was loaned to me by a friend and after months and months I finally found time to watch it while I was flying to Michigan for a cousin's wedding. (gotta love portable DVD players!) This movie suprised me for being a 'B' movie. I ended up crying in the airport baggage claim waiting for my parents and aunt to arrive. This movie is about what it's like in high school for kids who aren't 'popular'. Many people don't realize how our actions affect those around us and how reaching out to someone can change their lives. People want to feel accepted and just because they don't fit into the cookie cutter mold of what they should look like or act like doesn't mean they aren't valuable. The differences in others is what makes life exciting. People can add things to your life that can be unexpected. Take my husband for example. You couldn't find two more polar opposites! Sorry eharmony but you'd have never matched us up in a million years. But guess what? We are what makes the other a whole. He is what I am not and I am what he isn't. Though it makes for some knock down drag out fights...ha ha...we have broadened our horizons so to speak because of what the other has taught us. This goes with friends. Don't be afraid of what others think because when you 'grow up' those things don't matter any more. Get outside your box of comfort and reach out to those who could use a friend. Don't forget, while you're thinking "If they wanted to talk to me they would" they're thinking the same of you. So YOU make the first move! It's hard, but can change a life, including yours.

She-crab Soup

Okay, so here's a recipe I found from Hurricane Mo's, a restaurant on the island I grew up on. I found this on the OBX cookbook and changed it a little bit. Technically, she-crab soup is made from female crabs and gets the pink color from their eggs. However, this recipe just used picked claw meat instead and old bay. I don't know what it is, probably a mental thing, but I don't like the idea of eating crab eggs...lol. Needless to say, I am not a big caviar fan either. Anyway...I freeze this in portions like the rest of my soups and I enjoy it months later. If I don't eat them sooner. We would have this with dinner some time if anyone in my family wasn't afraid of change, but since they are meat and potatoes people...I get to enjoy it ALL by myself. Hey, at least I don't have to share! :)

1 stick of unsalted butter

1 small onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

1/2  red bell pepper, chopped

1 T. parsley

1 T. Old Bay

1/2 tsp white pepper

1/4 cup + 2 T. sherry (divided)

1 cup flour

½ gallon whole milk (divided)

1 cup cream
2 T. Texas Pete

1 lb picked claw crab meat

Saute onions, celery, and red pepper in butter until tender. Don't skimp on the butter people! No margarine, please.

Add parsley, Old Bay, and white pepper.Add 1/8 cup sherry and reduce for 20-30 minutes.Do not scorch.

Thicken with flour and stir roux until well blended.Add 1 quart milk and texas pete and cook on lowest possible flame and stir constantly until thickened.Add 1 more quart milk and keep stirring periodically until thickened

.When thickened, finish with cream, remaining 2 T. sherry, and crab meat. I got my crab meat from Walmart in the refrigerated section where you'd find other seafood. It was surprisingly pretty tasty. Although I haven't had fresh crab meat in years, so I'm sure there is a big difference. It was still delicious for those of us who don't live by the ocean anymore.

Serve it up with some oyster crackers and enjoy!

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