Does the government really have to control everything we do? Seriously, being micromanaged makes me grumpy.  You know I review things on my blog. I will say, “so…xyz sent me a cookbook for review” …Honestly someday I would like to say “Lowes sent me an entire kitchen for review!” but so far it is a dream that dissipates with the cold light of day.

Because you read my blog, interact with me on twitter, are fans on facebook, and maybe even read some of my other stuff you know that I am not going to say I like something if I don’t. In fact, if you read Kettle and Cup regularly you know I am durn hard to please. The idea that I have to spend valuable minutes thinking about whether or not I have fully disclosed that an item was given to me free for review just irritates me. I write about 5-8 articles a day, each being about 650 words long. Do the math.  BLAH.

You also know that I despise big governments with lots of regulations and rules. To me people will do things because they are the right thing to do or they won’t. No, I don’t believe in government control of too much of anything.  Stay out of my business. Run the country, let the states run the states, let the city municipalities run themselves…micromanagement sucks the life out of people and governments.

If the government wants to really micromanage something they should start with the Congress.  Let’s just talk about full disclosure for a little bit, shall we? Special interest groups and corporations run our government not the people’s representatives. We vote them in and trust that they know what they are doing. Maybe some of them should use full disclosure and get a tattoo that says, ” I know….NOTHING”

You can’t protect people from their own stupidity. If I say:

You guys…I got this great new ingredient from ACME ..it’s called Cow Poop Marinade. It is awesome on steaks and burgers.

You aren’t going to be dumb enough to go out an buy it are you? And just because I say I liked something doesn’t mean you are going to like it anyway, right?

So now, we have more laws. Moses couldn’t get the Israelites to follow 10 laws and we have about a million, including laws about things the government has no business being involved with….Like blogging.

Don’t take anyone’s word for anything. Try it for yourself. Make your own choices and decisions and then if you make the wrong one? No whining, no victimization, no poor me…suck it up and move on.

Yeah…I am going to comply…I always have before there was a law. But I am doing it because I WANT TO…NOT because they TOLD me to. Just want to get that straight. If there is something reviewed on this blog I am sent the item, gratis, and I give you my opinion…also gratis. I have never been asked to send anything back..and I am not sure I would review something I did not get to keep. So..now you know.

oh and the image? I got it from Stock exchange. usually I make a note of that by writing the following (and they haven’t paid me at all):

image: sxc

Post from: Baking Delights

If you have been reading my blog for very long you probably know where I stand on that issue. I do it. If a manufacturer wants me to try something that I think might  be something you are interested in I will usually try it. I don’t accept everything. There was a first aide kit that was offered that I was like..thanks but no thanks. There have been some other things. Point is, not everything I get offered lands on these pages. I have to think that it is something that will be helpful or interesting.If I try something and I don’t like it I don’t feel compelled to be nice. If I think it is really awful I will say so. If I dislike it but think that other people would probably like it then I will say that, too. Accepting samples and review items from manufacturers allows me to try things and recommend them. I could not afford to do as much of that if I was having to buy everything I recommended. I would be reviewing boxed mac and cheese and hot dogs.

I love cooking and baking, and I love bl0gging but make no mistakes, this is a business for me not a hobby. When Marc became disabled blogging was the thing that the Lord used to provide for our needs. So while I am totally all about  trying to provide awesome recipes, awesome, images, and cool new trends…I am also about paying the electric bill and buying groceries.

I am writing this because I have read numerous statements of late knocking bloggers that accept review items. The funny thing is, I was an artist eons ago and you had the same mentality in “art-land”. Artists that make money are somehow not as pure as those who don’t. Maybe not but artists (and bloggers) that make money at it aren’t starving either. I know a number of bloggers that review…and I can’ t imagine any of them writing anything but the truth. For us, while food blogging may be our first love, the craft of writing is what keeps the food in the pantry ready to be blogged.

If you are a brand new food blogger and you are trying to decide whether or not to do reviews you should f0llow your heart on that. Of course you are always going to be honest. If you want to do reviews and try products that manufacturers offer you …well you should do so! Just always let people know.

And on that note..if there is any manufacturer reading this that is jonesing to do a complete kitchen restoration with their products..hey..I have just the kitchen for you. I am headed down to it right now to bake something to blog a little later…and MAYBE I will use a product that I was given to review…who knows.

I figure if Paula Deen can put her stamp of approval on something so can I….

What are your thoughts? Should bloggers review manufacturer’s products or not? Are you offended by it? If you are a blogger do you accept items for review? Why or why not?

image:sxc

Post from: Baking Delights

Keep checking her blog.. she may be out baking us all in that apron…

Post from: Baking Delights

Caramel Crunch Fudge Cake

1/2 c butter

2 oz unsweetened chocolate

1 c water

1 c rolled oats (old fashioed oatmeal)

1 c sugar

1 c brown sugar packed

1/2 c chocolate syrup

1/2 c cold coffee brewed strong

1 tsp vanilla

3 eggs

1 1/2 c flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

In large pan mix butter and chocolate. Melt…add water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in oats, sugars, syrup, coffee, vanilla and egg. Mix well. Stir flour, baking soda, and salt into mixture and mix well. Pour into a greased pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly.

Topping For Caramel Crunch Fudge Cake:

1/3 c butter

1/4 c whipping cream

3/4 c brown sugar

1/2 c coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts

As soon as cake comes from oven :

In small saucepan combine all ingredients for topping. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer 2-3 minutes or until slightly thickened. Pour over cake. Broil 4-6 inches from heat about 2 minutes or until browned.

 Just a couple of notes of interest. Check out A Slice Of Cherry Pie for this month’s In The Bag event. The foods to be used  are:

 Aubergines (eggplant to those of us in the US)

Peppers

Basil

  Read the blog for the details. I love these food events because they are fun and challenging and I end up thinking outside the box for a change!

  No recipe on Chocolaterie Wanders Weblog but ooooh! Check out the chocolates they have been tasting in DC!

  A new site (to me) that has been added to the Foodie Blogroll is Confabulation in the Kitchen written by Abby, a southern cook with a great eye for design. I loved the recipes on her site as well as the vintage look with all of the red she used in her design. I can’t help it – it is the artist in me!
Bake the cake, grab a slice while it is warm and gooey, pour some coffee and surf these sites for a bit…It is a wonderful way to relax and you deserve it!

Post from: Baking Delights