PopBetty

A Love Letter to Pop Culture

Last Minute Halloween Links

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PopBetty - Halloween Pumpkin

A big thanks to all the people who linked or pinned my Halloween posts! My traffic tripled last week, and while it’s a temporary boost, it’s encouraged me to keep blogging (and to do Halloween Week posting next year). Here are some last minute Halloween links I thought you’d enjoy:

And some nice, non-Halloween blogger news I’ve been waiting to squeeze in:

Have a great Halloween!

To Try: Stroopwafels, or Dutch Caramel Wafers

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In high school, I went to Holland on a school-sponsored exchange program. One thing I discovered was the delicious stroopwafel, a treat made from two crisp wafers held together by spiced caramel.

Stroopwafels are traditionally placed over a hot mug of coffee or tea. Not only do they act as mug snugglers, but the steam from the beverage softens the wafer and the caramel inside. In other words, they are perfect cold weather treats. 

Daelmans caramel wafers1

Stroop waffle unboxing-1

Stroopwafel on mug

Stroopwafel close-up

I found these at Cost Plus World Market, and recommend the brand (each box contained 8 wafers and cost $4). People in larger cities should also check in the international sections of their grocery stores or at local bakeries. You can buy stroopwafels online at Amazon or from The Vermont Country Store as well, although prices can be steep. 

Have you eaten stroopwafels? If so, what did you think?

Art Pick: Ji Yong-Ho’s Recycled Menagerie

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Ji Yong-Ho's Mutant Mythos
I love Korean sculptor Ji Yong-ho’s “Mutant Mythos” series. It’s an arresting collection of real and imaginary beasts, all kinetically realized in recycled black tire rubber. Yong-ho has multiple reasons for using tire rubber: he was attracted to its flexibility & organic qualities, to the potential monstrousness of its dark, leathery appearance, and to the environmental message sent by using recycled materials. Also, the evolution of the tires themselves (from tree sap to tire to sculpture) echoes Yong-ho’s mutation theme.

The collection was first exhibited at Gana Art in New York in 2008, and has since been exhibited around the world. Read more/see more at Ji Yong-ho’s site, and at Designboom, Theme Magazine, & Yangshung’s Blog.

Fall Frame of Mind: 7 to 9

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Just as Miss Moss had to psyche herself up for summer, I’ve decided to do a series of posts to get myself and readers psyched for fall. Think of it as a to-do/photo inspiration list. Here are items 7 to 9:

PopBetty Fall Inspiration - Apples
Clockwise from left: crockpot apples from Skinny Chef; easy apple tart by Pioneer Woman; apple cider cups by BusyMommy.

7. Eat apples: If you can, try to get some local farm apples (for Atlanta residents, I can recommend Farmers Fresh CSA). Eat them raw or cooked (I’ve made that easy apple tart twice in three days). Also, if you have any tips for making apple cider that isn’t mouth-curlingly sweet, please share them with me below.

PopBetty Fall Inspiration - Soups and StewsAll photos by me; the two left images (brunswick stew with paprika & minestrone) have related posts, while the other two recipes are not yet posted (links to come).

8. Make soup & stew: Soup is healthy, it’s tasty, and it’s total comfort food. Now that temperatures have gone down, it’s a lot more fun to eat, too.

PopBetty Fall Inspiration - Fluffy Beds
Clockwise from left: Rachel Thurston‘s place via Design*Sponge; Ten Broeck Cottage via A Cup of Jo; photo of my own bed.

9. Snuggle under a down comforter: I know of nothing more lush and delicious when it’s cold out than burrowing deep into the folds of a down comforter. Getting out of bed can be a problem, though.