National Cherry Festival July 2-9, 2011

The Grand Traverse region, known for its world-record tart cherry harvest, bursts with visitors eager to savor the flavor of cherries tucked into everything imaginable.  Each day Festival goers find cherry delights along with parades, family and kids events and entertainment.  In all, there are more than 150 events along the shores of Lake Michigan & Grand Traverse Bay.

 The Festival has been named in USA Todays top ten festivals for several years running. Visit the website National Cherry Festival for more information.

Now if you need Cherries…..we got em! Even have a Slice of Cherry Pie from Old World Christmas!

Choice Cherries Inge-Glas

This Choice Cherries Inge-Glas Christmas ornament just arrived yesterday! Red long stemmed cherries with green leaves. Very luscious looking.

Piece of Cherry Pie

This Piece of Cherry Pie ornament from Old World Christmas looks just like a slice of cherry pie with sugared lattice top. The Hang Tag Reads: Wild cherries are indigenous to the North American continent making cherry pie a truly American dessert. To show off the colorful filling, the cherry pie is usually made with a lattice crust. The crust looks like basket weaving with its fancy, sugar frosted criss-crosses.

The Piece of Cherry Pie ornament makes a great gift, especially with packaged with a nice pie plate or a copy of your favorite cherry pie recipe….or maybe even a real cherry pie……that’s what I would want…….just saying…..

Taste of Chicago June 24 - July 3, 2011

Taste of Chicago is the nation’s premier outdoor food festival showcasing the diversity of Chicago’s dining community. The delicious array of food served at Taste of Chicago is complemented by music and exciting activities for the entire family. Every summer since 1980, Chicago’s beautiful Grant Park on the city’s magnificent lakefront has been home to the world’s largest food festival.

My favorite Chicago food…..is Chicago Pizza….truly the BEST pizza in the world!

Wikipedia: The Chicago-style “deep-dish” pizza was invented at Pizzeria Uno, in Chicago, in 1943. This pizza is far from the roots of an original Italian pizza. It does not include thin crusts or delicate toppings, but rather it is made with a heavy, thick crust and large amounts of cheese, sauce and ingredients.

The pizza begins with a thick layer of dough made with olive oil and cornmeal laid into a deep round pan and pulled up by the sides, then parbaked before the toppings are added to give it greater spring; the pan is oiled heavily in order to create a fried effect on the outside of the crust. The crust is covered with cheese (generally sliced mozzarella) and meats, usually in a solid layer or patty, just above the crust. Italian sausage (a Chicago staple), as well as vegetables such as onions, mushrooms and bell peppers are also used. A sauce, usually uncooked, made from shredded or puréed tomatoes is added.

The Old World Christmas ornament is more of the thin crust style Pizza. The Chicago Thin Crust pizza has a bit more of a crunch to it, not like the New York style thin crust pizza.

Very good……you must have Pizza in Chicago!

Give a Gift of Hot Chocolate!

Give a gift of hot chocolate this Christmas season. Found some great hot chocolate gifting ideas that you can put together to astound your friends and family. I take no credit for the beautiful creations, my only suggestion is to put a Christmas ornament with your gift to make it everlasting.

I was browsing on Tip Junkie and ran across the neatest idea for hot chocolate. Hot Chocolate on a Stick! Yes, a chunk of chocolate with homemade marshmallow…..looks delicious!

Heather at Whipperberry.com created this most unusual treat. She has more photos that are stunning and recipes for both the chocolate chunk and marshmallow that look easy to follow. She even has a free printable label for packaging this sweet treat.

You’ll want to visit whipperberry.com and plan on spending some time there……she has some great ideas, recipes and crafts.

Another hot chocolate gift idea was found at The Craft Nest. These little packages of hot chocolate mix are perfect for teacher gifts. Our teachers get so many gifts each year from their students that I think it’s better to give something disposable……I mean there are just so many knick-knacks that a teacher can keep….Give them something they can eat, drink or use up and be done with it)))

The Craft Nest used a purchased hot chocolate mix but spruced it up a bit with miniature marshmallows, chocolate chips and even mini peppermint candy canes. Ingredients were placed in 4″ clear cello bag and wrapper created with cutout window. Instructions are on the site and look simple to follow.

If you’d like to make your own Hot Chocolate Mix here’s a great recipe from the Food Network.

Hot Cocoa

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup cocoa (Dutch-process preferred)
• 2 1/2 cups powdered milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or more to taste
• Hot water

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and incorporate evenly. In a small pot, heat 4 to 6 cups of water.
Fill your mug half full with the mixture and pour in hot water. Stir to combine. Seal the rest in an airtight container, keeps indefinitely in the pantry. This also works great with warm milk.

If you decide to make your own mix, just be sure to add a little tag with the instructions on how to reconstitute.

Old World Christmas Cup of Cocoa

Top off your hot chocolate gift with a little bunch of Peppermint Candy Canes for stir sticks.This post is making me yearn for cold weather!

Raspberry Festivals

Raspberries are plentiful this year as are the festivals! Here’s a few we found:

Northwest Raspberry Festival at Lynden, WA July 15-16, 2011

Hopkins Raspberry Festival at Hopkins, MN July 9-11, 2011

Bear Lake Raspberry Festival Days at Garden City, UT August 4-6, 2011

Raspberry Festival at Cottonwood, Idaho August 7, 2011

I’m sure there are more festivals this summer and plenty of farms to pick your own fresh raspberries…..great outdoor activity for the little ones……just be careful of the chiggers!

Here’s a recipe from Betty Crocker’s 1950 Cookbook for raspberry pie. The pie is actually Berries and Cream Pie and you can choose to make it with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, or even peaches…….same delicious result.

Berries and Cream Pie

Make Pastry for one 9″ pie  (or do as we do in the Pence household.... buy one….)

Place 4 cups fresh berries in pie crust

Mix together and pour over berries:

2/3 cup sugar

4 tbsp. Gold Medal flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup cream (30%)

Bake until crust is nicely browned and filling set. Serve slightly warm.

Temperature; 400 degrees (a moderate hot ove)
Time: Bake 35-40 minutes

Now, if you need a Christmas ornament to make picking raspberries, attending a festival, baking or eating a raspberry pie a sweet memory……we have an ornament for you! Merck Family’s Old World Christmas Raspberries.

This Old World Christmas ornament is retired…..we have only a few left in stock so don’t let it slip by!  Cluster of purplish red raspberries with green leaves. Ornament measures approximately 2 3/4″ and is made of mouth blown, hand painted glass.

The Hang Tag reads: Raspberries are a symbol of kindness in Christian art. Their red juice signifies the heart where kindness originates. Raspberries are a delicate fruit, so they symbolize fragility as well. Raspberries are thought to have medicinal benefits, especially associated with pregnancy and childbirth.

Visit us at Trendy Tree and see of collection of over 800 styles of Old World Christmas ornaments!

The Gilroy Garlic Festival Starts July 20th!

The Gilroy Garlic Festival is a three day event starting July 20th. Sounds like they have three days fully packed with entertainment, cookoff, children’s activities and even a Miss Garlic!

To learn more about this interesting festival, visit the Gilroy Garlic page. In the meantime, I think I’ll settle for collecting more of the less savory buds……these don’t smell one little bit)))

Interesting Garlic Facts:

China is the largest producer of garlic.

In the U.S., garlic is grown in every state but Alaska.

Garlic is mentioned in the Bible.

Its use in China was first mentioned in A.D. 510.

In the 12th century it was recommended as a palliative for the heat of the sun in field labor.

In the early 20th century, it was used to treat tuberculosis.

It was used an antiseptic and to prevent gangrene during WWI and II.

Garlic supplementation in rats, has been shown to increase testosterone levels…..just what we need….macho rats!

Garlic has been shown to be superior to placebos to lower systolic blood pressure.

The sticky juice inside the cloves is used as an adhesive in mending glass in China.

Yes, when eaten it does exude through the skin.

Garlic is know for causing …..halitosis……..you’re kidding…..

Sipping milk while eating garlic can help with the smell.

High quantities of garlic and garlic supplements can cause an increase in bleeding risk.

And my favorite……it wards off vampires, werewolves and demons.

Georgia Peach Facts

Georgia Peach to us at Trendy Tree .....means the delicious peaches we get from Cherry Creek Orchards in the summer time that our grandchildren love so well and the Christmas ornaments we have in stock from Old World Christmas.

But, there are other uses and meaning of the words "Georgia Peach."

Ty Cobb, the American Major League baseball player was nicknamed "Georgia Peach."

"Georgia Peach" refers to beautiful Southern girls.

There are 40 different varieties of sweet Georgia peaches grown across the state of Georgia, producing 130 million pounds a year! It is the official state fruit of Georgia.

The Georgia Peach Festival in Peach County, GA is June 4-11, 2011

The Georgia Peach Award highlights and promotes the development of cooperative school and public library services for young adults in Georgia of high school age.

The Georgia Peach Shuttle operates out of the Atlanta airport.

Georgia Peach is an album released by female rap artist Rasheeda. (There are lots of songs out there titled Georgia Peach.)

The Georgia Peach is a restaurant and lounge at underground Atlanta. One of the menu items features fried green tomatoes served with Feta cheese and drizzled with a roasted red pepper, garlic and basil sauce......hmmmmm.

Georgia Peach is the color of a Heuchera villosa hybrid....more commonly known as the perennial Coral Bells.

Georgia Peach is a Ben and Jerry's ice cream. (Actually it's Peach Cobbler)

All this reviewing makes me want to look more closely at recipes with Georgia peaches......see y'all later!

National Hoagie Day!

Well, a little bit late, but according to some internet research, yesterday (May 5, 2011) was National Hoagie Day!

According to Wikipedia: The sandwich originated in several different Italian American communities in the Northeastern United States from the late 19th to mid 20th centuries. The popularity of this Italian-American cuisine has grown from its origins in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts to spread to most parts of the United States, and with the advent of chain restaurants, is now available in many parts of the world. In Europe it would simply be known as a baguette, or a ciabatta, named after the type of bread being used. Both types of bread are traditional breads in use in France and Italy for centuries.

Wikipedia Image

The Hoagie is also called a Submarine, Po-Boy, Grinder, Hero, Torpedo, Blimpie, Bomer, and Zep (had never heard of that one myself). Typically the deli style sandwich is made by splitting an oblong roll of French or Italian bread, filling with hot or cold meat slices, meatballs, oysters, cheese slices, assorted vegetable slices such as onion, lettuce, tomato, pickles, peppers, and all types of condiments. Specific areas of the country call their sandwiches by different names.......the Po' Boy is found in Louisiana. The Louisiana Po' Boy is filled with fried shrimp or oysters, roast beef and gravy, hot sausage, etc. Many restaurant menus are built around the Po' Boy ......and if you haven't had one.....you must try it)))

If you are a Hero, Sub, Hoagie or Po'Boy lover.....or have someone in your family or friend that can't live without them....we have the Christmas ornament for you!

The Deli Sandwich by Old World Christmas is a perfect keepsake for the Hoagie lover! The Deli Sandwich ornament is a large ornament measuring about 4" in length......about a "half size" hoagie I'd say by experience)))

The hang tag note says: Named after the 4th Earl of Sandwich in 1762, sandwiches have been a favorite food for centuries. Known as a sub, submarine, grinder, hoagie, or hero, a sandwich made to order fresh from a deli is one of the best. Delicious and convenient, a deli sandwich is a great snack or meal anytime.

Come to think of it......we have more ornaments to go with your Deli Sandwich - Olives, Pickles, Cheese, French Fries....Beer, Water. What a great gift idea! Place a red checkered cloth napkin in a small picnic basket and fill with "sandwiches." Just don't eat em!

Visit us at Trendy Tree to fill your picnic basket!

Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie is named after the small, tart limes from the Florida Keys. Since no refrigeration, fresh milk, or ice was available in the Keys till the 1930′s, sweetened condensed milk was used to give the pie its smooth creamy texture. It is the official state pie of Florida and absolutely delicious!
Here’s a great recipe for Key Lime Pie from Emeril and the Food Network:

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick butter) melted
• 2 (14-ounce) cans condensed milk
• 1 cup key lime or regular lime juice
• 2 whole eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon lime zest

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
In a bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter with your hands. Press the mixture firmly into a 9-inch pie pan, and bake until brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature before filling.
Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
In a separate bowl, combine the condensed milk, lime juice, and eggs. Whisk until well blended and place the filling in the cooled pie shell. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes and allow to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Once chilled, combine the sour cream and powdered sugar and spread over the top of the pie using a spatula. Sprinkle the lime zest as a garnish on top of the sour cream and serve chilled.

Gift Idea!

Serve a Key Lime Pie at your next dinner or party function and present each guest an Old World Christmas Key Lime Pie Ornament. Makes a great table favor!

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see more of the new 2011 Christmas Ornaments from Merck Family's Old World Christmas.

The Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

 Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich 3257 New for 2011

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is made with a layer of peanut butter and a layer of jelly or jam, usually between two slices of bread, sometimes eaten "open faced."

Wikipedia: A 2002 survey showed the average American will have eaten 1,500 of these sandwiches before graduating from high school.

Some variants add honey, chocolate or maple syrup, normal chocolate, the hazelnut-chocolate spread Nutella, marshmallows, raisins, bananas, butter, marshmallow fluff, potato chips (UK: crisps), cheese, other dried fruit, or another slice of bread. Other less common variations include slices of fresh fruit besides bananas such as apples or strawberries.

In the Pence household.....it's Peter Pan Peanut Butter with Welch's Grape Jelly.....two slices of bread, nothing more, nothing less.

Wikipedia Image - Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich

The Real Thing!

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see the new styles coming in for 2011! Huge inventory of over 800 styles of Old World Christmas ornaments!

French Fries

Ornament looks just like a red container of shoestring french fries from McDonald's!

French Fries are popular for their taste and convenience. They are a favorite side dish, especially with hamburgers. Millions of french fries are eaten in the U. S. each year! Whether found in fancy restaurants, fast food joints, or at home at the dinner table, French Fries are a universal favorite.

Who among us has not heard that famous question...."would you like fries with that?"

Recipe for French Fries

• 4  pounds  Idaho potatoes
• Vegetable oil
• Salt

Peel and cut Idaho potatoes into 1/2-inch-wide strips.
Pour oil to a depth of 4 inches in a Dutch oven, and heat to 375°. Fry potato strips in small batches in hot oil 12 minutes or until golden. Drain on paper towels. Salt to taste.

Tips: Once potatoes are cut, place in ice water for a while, drain well on paper towels before frying.

Tailgating with Old World Christmas!

Take a peek into the Old World Christmas Showroom and browse through the tailgating section......makes you hungry doesn't it!

Platters of Cheeseburgers, Hot Dogs, and Deli Sandwiches, Popcorn and Peanuts! Yummy! Look at the open box of Pizza in the corner.......

The Tailgating Zone has garlands covered with Footballs, Basketballs, Soccer Ball, all sorts of Collegiate Jerseys, Pennants, Snowmen and Wreaths. The Collegiate section is a huge new section at Old World this year. They started with just a few footballs last year.....and this year it has exploded!

Visit Trendy Tree to see more ornaments from Old World Christmas. Hotty Toddy!

Zucchini Retired

Zucchini 28078

While most gardens are flourishing with Zucchini and other types of squash, I'm afraid we're down to our last one! The Zucchini ornament is retired from Old World Christmas.......so get one soon from someone before they are all sold out!

The name Zucchini comes from the Italian word for small squash, zucchino. First found in Central American, Columbus brought seeds back from his travels. The Zucchini is a jewel among the summer squashes. Its sweet light flavor and delicate texture make it a summertime favorite.

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see the new squash from Old World Christmas this year!

A Favorite Summertime Dessert - Lemon Meringue Pie!

Lemon Meringue Pie Blown Glass Christmas Ornament

32089

Measures approximately 3 1/2"
Merck Family''s Old World Christmas

Looks just like a slice of homemade lemon meringue pie with its baked crust and nicely browned meringue topping.

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" or maybe a delicious Lemon Meringue Pie would be even better! The lemon is prized for its vibrant flavor and brilliant yellow color. It has a sour taste, however, so the tart flavor of a lemon, like life itself, is enhanced and enjoyed with some sweetener.

Shop for more pie and cake ornaments from Old World Christmas at Trendy Tree. Over 700 styles of ornaments to choose from!

Peanut Christmas Ornament - Great Keepsake for Circus Trip

Peanut Christmas Ornament

28012
2 3/4"
Mouth blown, hand painted, glass Christmas ornament from Merck Family's Old World Christmas.
Peanuts symbolize mystery since their shells completely hide their contents. Called "treasures beneath the ground," nuts are also associated with wisdom because their contents are compact, sustaining, and enclosed within a single shell. Long ago peanuts were wrapped in gold or silver foil and used as Christmas tree ornaments.

Shop for more great Christmas ornaments from Merck Family's Old World Christmas at Trendy Tree!

Pineapple Christmas Ornament - Customer Product Review

Old World Christmas Pineapple

Upstate NY Lady

"I have two different brands of pineapples and this is the better for details and quality. A touch of sparkle adds to the dimension already created by the colors. Display it year round as a symbol of your hospitality."

Pineapples have long symbolized friendship and graciousness. They were hung on front doors or gateposts as signs of hospitality and welcome. People eventually began carving designs of pineapples into their doorways to welcome friends or even strangers into their homes.

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see more wonderful fruit Christmas Ornaments from Merck Family's Old World Christmas.

The Watermelon Wedge - Customer Review of Ornament

 Watermelon Wedge Glass Christmas Ornament

Upstate NY Lady

"I purchased this one to replace another. Lots of nice details. The seeds and the rind are perfect. Just the right amount of sparkle. Purchase with confidence from Old World Christmas & Trendy Tree."


Deliciously red with black seeds and green rind! Perfect keepsake for your summertime parties, picnics or kid''s party favors.

Ornament is 3 1/4 in. This traditional and beautiful glass ornament was carefully mouth-blown into a finely crafted mold. Then a hot solution of liquid silver was poured inside. Finally, it was delicately hand-painted and glittered for you to enjoy and cherish as a holiday heirloom!

Visit us at Trendy Tree to see more great fruit and vegetable Christmas ornaments from Old World Christmas! We have hundreds in stock!

Zucchini Christmas Ornament Product Review from Trendy Tree Customer

Zucchini Christmas Ornament 

Upstate NY Lady

"Ah the zucchini. What would a Christmas tree be without one? Buy one quick or you'll find out as this ornament's retired. Great details and quality as always with Old World Christmas. Purchase with confidence from the fine folks at Trendy Tree."

Fruit and vegetable ornaments are great for decorating small trees in the kitchen or dining area. Use raffia for a more natural look to tie the ornaments on to your tree, wreath or centerpieces. Some fruit and vegetable ornaments can be used as "picks" in centerpieces or wreaths by slipping the crown off, inserting a stem made of pipe cleaners, etc to give the position most suitable for the decoration.

Shop Trendy Tree for more fruit and vegetable Christmas Ornaments from Merck Family's Old World Christmas. HUNDREDS in stock!

Piece of Cake Christmas Ornament Review

Piece of Cake 32038

Review from Julie P. NJ

I bought a slice of white cake with white frosting and the slice of chocolate cake with white frosting for my Christmas tree 2009. As soon as it came I hung it on the tree along with all the other pieces I bought here from Trendy Tree. EVERYONE who came to my house made a beeline for my tree & wanted to know WHERE I got such lifelike pieces. Sooo adorable! Looks like you cut it off your cake plate and hung it on your tree with added sparkles of course! ;-)Simply gorgeous. You cannot go wrong with Old World Christmas or the Pence Family behind TRENDY TREE! AWESOME people to deal with! Too bad I am in NJ and far away or I would trek to their farm for my Christmas tree! You WON"T be sorry. You cannot go wrong with anything by Old World Christmas!

Absolutely NO CONS except the ornaments are glass. So do without these beautiful heirlooms? NO WAY! Hang glass ornaments higher up and wrap a steel wire (braided fishing line slowly STRETCHES :-( )around the middle trunk of your tree in a 2 corner V-shaped wall held with a long screw if you have younger children or CATS in the family! I have BOTH!(I cover the 2 screws all year with a family picture strategically hung near the tree spot.) Taking a few extra minutes to secure my tree results in a very Merry Christmas with NO crazy cat/toddler plotted/schemed and giggly/giddily assisted disasters and ER/Vet visits on Christmas Eve! PRICELESS!!

Shop Trendy Tree for great ornaments from Merck Family's Old World Christmas.

Piece of Cherry Pie!

Product Review from Julie P, NJ


"Too bad there are no more than 5 stars for this! It needs 10!  Oh my GOSH! This is SO real it will have your family begging you to make a REAL one and after looking at this on the tree for a few days my family did! It's THAT realistic! I never knew there were GORGEOUS ornaments like this! I have searched for YEARS and found only plastic/glass poorly made and the reality factor left much to be desired!

Hand blown with the Merck Family pride and handed down through the decades to each new generation! I am FIRMLY HOOKED on Old World Christmas and the Trendy Tree site! Stop looking for breathtaking heirloom quality tree decor, it's HERE!! There is NO WHERE BETTER!

Trust me, I have spent 6 years searching and was thrilled to find this wonderful business. AWESOME family to deal with! I had a special need and Mrs. Jeannie Pence came through with an unexpected REAL TREAT of honest,old fashioned personalized customer service, the likes of which I have not seen in many, many years."





Visit us on Trendy Tree to see more great food ornaments from Merck Family's Old World Christmas!

Ice Cream Cone Review

By Julie P, NJ 

"This ice cream is a gentle reminder of days gone by for me.  I bought it for my 3 1/2 yr. old granddaughter as a "You are special to me"  because it is her NEVER fail love, love, love combination on a cone. Well even tho I LOVE Old World's Ornaments- I was NOT expecting the SUPERB coloring and craftsmanship that I unwrapped!! This pic is wonderful. Waaayy better than any other site would do and Ive looked! But folks- you have to SEE this in person to believe it! I SO WISH there were other combos in this cone because I would buy EVERY ONE! I really don't know how I am going to bring myself to put this away until next year and I might very well not! Trust me, its THAT GORGEOUS! All your childhood summertime "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream (!)dreams come to life in this breathtaking and deliciously charming, sparkling strawberry/vanilla treat!"


By Upstate NY Lady

"This double dip won't melt on your hand but it might melt your heart with the happy memories it brings. Great details and sparkling too. The cone looks amazing. Add this to a kitchen collection for year round enjoyment. High quality."

Visit us on Trendy Tree to see our huge collection of Merck Family's Old World Christmas ornaments!