Odds & Ends

As I was reading the blogs that I have in my feeds, I came across a book that someone had just purchased. It was entitled Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare? Like any other genealogist, my reaction was that I would have much preferred the book without the subtitle. It would have been much more interesting if it had been a probate court dispute.

I've been reading on Facebook and on blogs about the UPS man visiting all my friends who pre-ordered the iPad. So far, most seem to be opting for WiFi but not WiFi + 3G. I will admit that I'm a little envious! As I read some of my newspaper feeds and saw photos of folks standing in line awaiting their iPad, I was certain the folks who pre-ordered theirs were smarter!

One of the blogs I read is entitled Mystery Lovers' Kitchen. Yesterday, they had the most marvelous family story and recipe for Easter Pie Palmiers. The story and recipe were shared by Cleo Coyle, author of a series of books set in coffee shops. I thought all my genealogy friends would appreciate the story!

Speaking of food, I love lemon. I love blueberries. I love scones. I may just have to try these.

Old Recipe Ingredient: Pastry Stick

I took my Mom to the used bookstore today. While we were there, she got an old DAR cookbook that had a recipe by one of her first cousins. The recipe called for a "pastry stick." I asked what that was. She said that they used to sell them and that they looked a lot like butter sticks. Mom had never used one. I decided to try to search the Internet to see if I could find what they were. I can find recipes for puff pastry sticks. I can find pastries that have a filling and are stick-shaped that are called pastry sticks, but I can find nothing butter-like or a dough that is to be shaped like a pastry that is called it (at least so far). What would be used instead of a pastry stick in the modern kitchen? Does anyone remember these old pastry sticks?