peskypippi.comBecause I have a lot to say…

Dear Crock Pot,

People may make fun of you. You have a history steeped in Americana cooking. Stew. Sauces made with cream of mushroom soup.

You are on sale this time of year to keep mashed potatoes and gravy warm for Thanksgiving.

But today at my house, my friend, you are simmering chicken in Indian korma sauce.

Congratulations…you have gone global!
XO,
Pippi

Cookie recipes have been flying in as a result of a little, global cookie contest. Tasters have voted. Here is what they said:

‘Tis the season of sharing. So here is my recipe, y’all:

Pesky-Pippi’s-Best-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies-on-Earth Recipe

• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) brown sugar
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
• 3 cups chocolate chips (I like half semi-sweet, half milk chocolate…then you can use the rest of the bags for nibbling.)
• sea salt

1. 1. Sift together dry ingredients and set aside.
2. 2. Cream butter and sugars together for 5 minutes.
3. Add eggs and vanilla.
4. Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
5. Mix in chocolate chips.
6. Drop onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet in a preheated 350 degree oven.
7. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown. (I like mine chewy and a little undercooked. I also like raw dough, so there you go.)

Enjoy! Peace out,

Pippi

I am becoming a global traveler—making connections with the locals—all through Twitter. Oh and if you are visiting Alaska from any other part of the United States, passports are not required, Silly. If you do visit, check out Erin’s blog at www.AKontheGo.com/, the resource for all things family travel in Alaska, or follow her on Twitter @akonthego. She is a witty one, I tell ya.

Oh, and if you’re really traveling to Alaska (not virtually like me): the six months of snow has already begun. So pack a jumbo parka and some boots. But not the furry mukluks because those scream “tourist.” Erin says so.

So, here we go, continuing with Pesky Pippi’s highly popular interview series. I asked Erin to tell us a little bit about her favorite state.

Pippi: Is that a totem pole or are you happy to see me?

Erin: Totem poles tell an incredible history of southeast Alaska Native tribes. Sitka National Historical Park is excellent.

Pippi: Do all Alaskans wear mukluks?

Erin: Mukluks are big, clumsy, but they work in the Arctic. If you wore them here in Anchorage, people would talk. And stare. And laugh.

Pippi: (Note to self: must return mukluks. Pronto.)

Pippi: Do you own a Husky dog?

Erin: I used to own a Husky/Golden Retriever. Mushers race hybrid dogs now, hardly anyone uses Huskies. Sled dogs are scrawny running machines.

Pippi: Do you live in an igloo?

Erin: No igloos. Not even among the Eskimos. They have dug into the hills of their homeland and lived fine that way, thank you very much.

Pippi: (Disappointed.)

Pippi: Do moose walk through your neighborhood?

Erin: Moose are everywhere. They were outside last week eating my leftover Jack-O-Lanterns. They all prefer expensive shrubbery.

Pippi: Do all Alaskans work on the pipeline?

Erin: Tons of folks work for BP, ConocoPhillips, Alyeska pipeline. Dark, cold, isolated work; good pay though.

Pippi: Do you drink Alaskan Amber Ale? I do.

Erin: Alaskan Amber, Midnight Sun, Panty Peeler, Sockeye Red. Yep. Beer snobs, we are. Oh, and I make a mean crowberry cosmo.

Pippi: (Note to self: must Google “crowberry.”)

Pippi: Does everyone in Alaska go to the Iditarod?

Erin: Most Alaskans stay away from the Iditarod, at least, the start of it in Anchorage. Too crowded, too full of out-of-town volunteers. I go to the ReStart in Willow, all-business. Mushers are kick-ass ready for 1,100 miles of Alaska wilderness.

Pippi: Final question, for today at least. Can you really walk to Russia from Alaska?

Erin: Not unless you are Jesus or Sarah Palin. But sometimes the folks on Little Diomede Island can see Russia from their houses.

Pippi: Thanks so mush (I mean much) for participating, you, Snarky Alaska Girl, you.

Blogging and Twitter are global, y’all. And I’m meeting so many wonderfully awesome people.

This kicks off my new series of posts, whereby I “interview” my new friends from around the globe. Here’s hoping y’all will enjoy our light chatter and learn a little something new about somewhere else.

Meet Bernie. She’s from Queensland, Australia. Follow her on Twitter at @TheBernieBrand and check out her very-cool blog: http://theberniebrand.com/

Pippi: Do you have a koala for a pet?

Bernie: No way man!! Koalas are highly dangerous animals that kill thousands of people (mainly tourists) each year! They do like to eat eucalyptus leaves during the day, but at night, they turn carnivorous and will drop on people and attack…hence their true name, ‘Drop Bears’ – true story!

Pippi: Are there kangaroos hopping around your neighborhood?

Bernie: No silly!! But we did buy one for each of the kids last Christmas instead of buying them bikes. Now they just ride their kangaroos to school every morning!

[Here’s a photo of Miss 11 with her Kangaroo, Skippy!]

Pippi: What makes the Great Barrier Reef so great?

Bernie: Are you kidding me!? The G.B.R (let’s just abbreviate it, cause that’s how lazy I am) is one of the seven wonders of the natural world!! If you visit Australia, you totally have to go to Queensland (and I’m not just saying that cause I live there)! The G.B.R stretches over 3000 km or 1,800 miles almost parallel to the Queensland coast, from near the coastal town of Bundaberg, up past the tip of Cape York. If you do some diving, you’ll see amazing underwater attractions including the world’s largest collection of corals (in fact, more than 400 different kinds of coral), coral sponges, molluscs, rays, dolphins, over 1,500 species of tropical fish, around 20 types of reptiles including sea turtles and giant clams over 120 years old. The G.B.R has natural beauty, just like you Pippi   You won’t be disappointed – I pinkie promise!

Pippi: Have you ever encountered a venomous snake?

Bernie: Look, they are quite common in Australia, especially if you live in country towns, but they still like to surprise us city folk from time to time. I found a small brown snake on my washing machine a couple of years ago. Was I cool, calm and collected?!  Umm NO!! FAR OUT! I screamed blue murder! Come to think of it, we never did find that little sucker again; he probably just found his way back into the backyard where the kids play, so it’s all good!

[This is one that my Brother-in-Law found while we were on holidays – cute ay!]

Pippi: Do you really throw shrimps on the barbie?

Yes, we’ve been known to, but we call them prawns here. We love our seafood in Australia – and who wouldn’t, with that huge Great Barrier Reef to fish from!

Pippi: Do you use the words “G’day” and “Crikey” and “Blimey” and “Mate” every day?

Bernie: Ooh, I haven’t heard “blimey” & “Crikey” for ages – those words are probably more used by old blokes. I guess we say “G-Day” and “Mate” a lot…well I do anyway. (btw, “blokes” = “men”)

Pippi: Every family I know was heartbroken when The Crocodile Hunter (Steve Irwin) died. How about in Australia?

Bernie: Man Alive! That was the worst news EVER!  I don’t think there was a dry eye to be found! He was a legend – so passionate! Now, HE was a guy who said “Crikey” a lot!!

Pippi: Anything you’d like to share about why we should visit Australia or what makes your area unique?

Bernie: Ooh maaate, (see?) I live in Brisbane, Queensland, and we have so much to offer!! Where do I start?! We have yummy food such as lamingtons, TimTams, Meat Pies and Vegemite!

Australia’s a great place for taking road trips – there’s so much area to cover and so much to see! On a road trip up to North Queensland last year, we saw this poor fella on the side of the road. I tell ya what Pippi, when the Queensland Main Road’s Department mark white lines on the open highway, they ain’t stopping for nothin’!

In all seriousness, there is so much about Ostrayleeyah that you’ll love! We have amazing wildlife, outback adventures, beautiful islands, rainforests and reefs. Australia’s unique beauty is spread across eight states and territories!

We also have amazing attractions like the Big Guitar, the Big Pineapple, the Big Banana, the Big Prawn…you get the point…

[Miss 7 at the Big Guitar]

Pippi: Thanks so much for participating, Mate!

If I am driving in traffic. Or shuttling my kids. And they are already bickering in the back seat. The last thing I want is to hear Barney singing.

I know that Barney delivers a positive message. He is kind and loving and teaches kids to share. But I am actually a Barney hater.

But here are four children’s CDs I love to play in the car with the kids. Over and over.

• Free to Be You and Me is a classic. I loved it as a child, growing up in feminism-power times, and still love it. My kids and I love to sing this song in particular, at the top of our lungs: “Parents Are People.” The messages are still powerful: be yourself, gender equality, and breaking through stereotypes. Although some of the lyrics are a little dated about job equality because today, women are Secretary of State and men work at the MAC make-up counter. Talk about role reversal.

• Really Rosie is another classic from my childhood. Even though it was a vinyl record then. (Nostalgia, right?) The song we love love love to sing loudly is “Alligators All Around.” It’s snappy and it teaches the alphabet. I still clearly remember that  “H” is for “Having Headaches.” Maybe from listening to this song so many times. Play it. Over and over. And trust me, your young children will learn their letters and get an intro to phonics.

• Picnic Playground is by Putumayo and has upbeat songs in different languages. It exposes children to global traditions. And maybe your kids will pick up a few new words in other languages. I like the “Arroz con Pollo” song. Who doesn’t like chicken and rice for dinner? And the South African song “Beautiful Day” is simply beautiful and happy.

• Animal Playground, another CD in the global children’s collection by Putumayo. Every song is a winner. From “The Littlest Birds” to “Don’t Ever Step on a Snake.” And my favorite one that always gets a little tear from me is “Eagles.” About how Mothers need to let their children fly (roots and wings).

But until my children are ready to leave the nest, we will sing these songs at the top of our lungs as we fly down the freeway, late for something.