Only in Bucks County: 5th Annual Uncle Dave’s Ice Cream Jog ‘n Hog

 There's an event that I photograph every July that's so unique I can't find my own words to describe it. It's called Jog 'n Hog, and runners from all over Pennsylvania and New Jersey gather to run two miles, stop and hog down an entire quart of ice cream, then take off and run another two miles. Some wear tutus. Some wear pig costumes. Others bring sprinkles and syrup. Registration begins today!

Here is some information straight from the Jog n' Hog website, since they say it best:

 "The third Sunday in July is National Ice Cream Day. Some people celebrate by going to the local ice cream stand and maybe getting a free one-scoop cone. Here at Jog ‘n Hog, we’ve supersized the celebration. Coming back for its fifth installment, the Uncle Dave’s Ice Cream Jog ‘n Hog will take place on Sunday July 17, 2016. Over the past four years we have served over 200 gallons of Uncle Dave’s finest vanilla ice cream, which comes out to over 1.3 million calories!

The gastrointestinally brave can register in the “Whole Hogger Division,” which involves eating one quart of ice cream at the race’s halfway point. Those who are less confident in their eating ability can register in the “Half Hogger Division,” which involves eating one pint of ice cream."

Here are some of my photos from Jog n' Hog 2015. Will I see you at Jog n' Hog 2016?

        

Girls just wanna have fun!

So do the guys.

                                                          "I thought they said RUM."

If you want to PIG OUT like these ladies did, you can find more information

 and a link to register for Jog n' Hog here. The race takes place at Shady Brook Farm in Yardley, PA and features Uncle Daves Homemade Ice Cream's number one seller, Vanilla Beanie.

Prized Pig Trophies

Only in Bucks County: One Cup Joe

 Today I visited a new store in Newtown/Langhorne by the name of OneCupJoe. Since my blog is generally about unique experiences in Bucks County and I'm a huge fan of shopping small and supporting local, I think it qualifies as a post.

 

Got a Keurig? Well then, do I have the place for you!

 

Introducing... OneCupJoe

OneCupJoe is a unique concept in coffee-selling developed by two local businessmen. The original store in Bensalem is celebrating its one year birthday, and I had the pleasure of spending some time with co-owner Jeremy Zevin at the six month old Newtown location. Here is what I learned:

OneCupJoe sells only single-serve coffee pods. Not only are there interesting types and flavors you can't readily get in one place, get this... YOU CAN MIX AND MATCH. 

 

Walk in to the brightly lit store, grab a specially made orange "K-cup" holder, and choose 24 of your own personal favorites from 265 different types of coffee and tea for just $14.99. (I did the math.) (It's 62 cents a cup.) 

 

 

 

                              Store Supervisor Jenny helps stock the Newtown shop.

 

Again, these guys aren't just offering the same K-cups you see for sale at the big-box stores. They're innovators in researching and obtaining the newest and very best in the industry. For instance, Lavazza, the icon of fine Italian coffee, finally brought their 100+ years of roasting to a K-Cup... and OneCupJoe began to carry it the very next week! 
And when Tim Horton's (Canada) new medium-roast French Vanilla coffee became available... they grabbed it and stocked that too. 

OneCupJoe also sells K-cups from Brooklyn based micro roasters Brooklyn Beanery, boasts an organic line of coffee pods by Marley, and they just began to carry the only loose leaf tea available in individual brewing cups. Plus, if you're a fan of The Food Network like me, there are some really bangin' flavors put out by Emeril, Wolfgang Puck, The Cake Boss, and one of my secret crushes, Guy Fieri. (swoon)
 

 

 

 

 This time of year it's all about the Pumpkin Pie and Maple Sleigh!

In summer, Green Mountain's Island Coconut is one of their best sellers.

 

Celebrate One Cup Joe's birthday weekend and get a scratch off ticket with your purchase through Sunday Oct. 12.

                   With so many Decaf drinkers out there, they have a huge allotment of Decaf cups. 

 

                                                               Best gift under $20 including tax EVER.

 

I had a blast making up a gift box for my best friend Kathy. I chose 22 coffees and 2 loose leaf teas.

Tried some Cinnabon flavored coffee while I was there too. 

                          Picked these out for a male friend. Yeah, they have flavors for dudes too.

Interested in visiting OneCupJoe?

Their addresses are:

 

12 Summit Square Shopping Center
Langhorne, PA 19047

or

 

Bensalem Plaza Shopping Center
2090 Street Road
Bensalem, PA 19020

 

 

Click here for their website!

Obligatory Blooper shot of Jenny and Jeremy.

"I'd rather take coffee than compliments just now.”

~Louisa May Alcott, Little Women 

 

 

Ahhhh.... now I can rightfully dream of Guy Fieri while having my morning coffee...

Only in Bucks County: The Rosina Post

Fluffy, savory Matzo Ball Soup.... sweet Noodle Kugel... tangy Brisket with carrots and onion.... homemade Gefilte Fish... chopped Chicken Liver with celery and crackers on a fancy plate with a sterling silver spreader. And the best apple pie you've ever tried!

These are memories from my childhood- and all the delicious favorites your Jewish Grandma made too... right? You may be surprised that in my family these holiday treats were made by a church-going woman from the South. Yup. The best food I've ever eaten was made by my grandparents' live-in housekeeper, Rosina. These are her recipes. And this is her story.

ROSINA AND HER BELOVED YORKIE, BAMBI OUTSIDE THE FAMILY HOME

Rosina was born in Virginia in 1925. The daughter of a college professor, Rosina also went on to graduate from the University of Richmond. With her degree in English, she chose to teach. But poor Rosina! Her first job was to teach high school students. Teaching kids who were just a few years younger than her, coupled with her mild, almost meek personality, proved to be too much for her. Unfortunately, Rosina failed at her first teaching job and instead of trying again, she packed her things and came to Philadelphia, looking to offer domestic help.

Rosina took a job as a live-in housekeeper with my grandparents when my father was eight years old. She has been a member of, and the guiding light for our small family ever since. My dad loved having her in his family, and I adored every second I spent with her as a kid. Rosina taught me a lot about loyalty, manners, and as I got older, how to be happy. She sacrificed things in her own personal life to remain a part of our family and continued to give us her love through two generations. When my grandfather passed away in 1981, Rosina chose to stay with my grandmom as more of a friend than an employee. They moved from their large house in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, to a penthouse apartment in Wynnnewood PA, and lived together until my grandmom passed away.

ROSINA IN THE 1980's

It's been six years since my grandmother died. Rosina is alive and doing pretty well for her 86 years. She's living in a house that she inherited in Chester County, and she has plenty of support. She probably doesn't have a reason to make her delicious Brisket with Kugel and fancy appetizers any longer, but she is still one of the most cheerful people I’ve ever known, and she’s still baking all kinds of sweet treats, including those wonderful apple pies that I grew up with!



MY POP-POP AND GRANNY, WHEN I WAS
VERY, VERY  YOUNG

OUR 65 YEAR OLD FAMILY KUGEL RECIPE!!

YOU KNOW YOU WANT SOME!

I'VE NEVER MASTERED ROSINA'S APPLE PIE, BUT I SURE LOVE TO EAT IT!

“Dining with one’s friends and beloved family 

is certainly one of life’s
primal and most innocent delights,

One that is both soul-satisfying and eternal.”

~Julia Child