Merry & Happy
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all our KHT friends and families. Enjoy this wonderful time of year filled with good tidings and cheer. All the best always.
-The gang at KHT
Holiday Cookie Crunch
/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve KowalskiOK, I’ll admit it. I LOVE the holidays. Family festive atmosphere, gift giving (and receiving), music, decorations … and especially all the food. One thing I never tire of is Christmas/holiday cookies. I like the classics of course – frosted butter sugar cookies, peanut butter Hershey kiss drops, snickerdoodles, hello dollies (weird name), and of course gingerbread. To get some “new idea” recipes I thought I’d venture on to the internet and find what’s out there for this year. YIKES! The web is loaded with websites and videos filled with ideas – “68 Best Ever”, “101 Must Haves”, “45 to Die For” and more. I knew I had to share something with you, so I chose a smaller number – “34 Recipes to Try This Year” – (it’s from 2023 – I hope that’s ok). Below is the link, along with just some of my favorites. As always, if you have an incredible family recipe, please share it with me (skowalski@khtheat.com). I’m sure Jackie would help me give it a go or just push me out of the kitchen (again). For some reason, she is always less than happy with me when I snitch one of the cookies just before she puts them in the oven! I also included one of our family favorites. Although I do love the classic Snowball cookies (so good – so messy!), my absolute favorite comes with a story. When Jackie and I were first married we had really nice older neighbors. Since I’ve always been an early bird, I would shovel their drive before heading off to KHT. As a thank you, Rose (our neighbor) would bake these incredible cookies for us (ME!!) Jackie would joke with her that I loved shoveling their driveway just for the cookies! The recipe is below – be sure to give it a try! Enjoy, and thanks to foodnetwork.com for the info.
Rudolph
/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve KowalskiAs we come closer to the holiday season, get our decorations up and mail our last minute cards to friends and family, a certain TV show always brings back wonderful memories for Jackie and I year after year – the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer television special. Since its debut on this day in 1964, it has graced our TV screens every year (making it the longest running television Christmas special), with quirky animation, the unforgettable voice of Burl Ives, and a wonderful song soundtrack. Based on the original book written by Robert May in 1939 as a gift to his daughter, the tv special was adapted using stop-animation, I can remember watching Rudolph with my brothers and sisters, continuing to watch with Jackie and our girls, and now with the grandkids, it’s even more fun. Here’s some fun trivia for you to share with friends. Thanks to Wikipedia and Google for the info!
Three Squares
/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve KowalskiYou are likely reading this email in the comfort of your home, thinking about the delicious meal yesterday, and also trying to decide just how much and when you are going to jump into the leftovers. If you follow my blog posts, you know by now I’m a big “foodie.” To be honest, I’m not sure what that really means – but for me, it means “I love to eat” – pretty much everything. And I’m guessing, like you, we all follow the traditional “three meals a day” cycle – a good breakfast, a filling lunch, and an exceptional dinner. (unless of course there is a fridge full of yesterday’s food. With my often unpredictable schedule, I don’t always have time to “sit and eat”, but for the most part, I do my best to stay hydrated and fed to keep up. I checked into the “3 a day” habits of people and learned three meals a day is not universal even today. How many times have you skipped a formal lunch, and “snacked your way” through the day? (I propose 4 a day, especially on Black Friday!) Even now, we might eat just two meals and call them brunch and dinner. So, I did some research and found some info to share. Thanks to Wikipedia, runnersworld.com, phrases.com, and youtube.com for the info. Enjoy!
Thankful
/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve KowalskiWe at Kowalski Heat Treating want to say “Thank You” to all our customers, suppliers, community partners, neighbors, and hardworking staff. May God bless you and your families. Enjoy the blessings of family and friends at your dining table next week on Thanksgiving.
Your friends at KHT
Razor Sharp
/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve KowalskiI’m always fascinated by the bravery, insights, and determination of inventors. And I’m lucky enough to be part of our problem-solving team here at KHT – thinking, testing, trying, and retrying until we can “get it right” and solve your challenging PIA (Pain in the @%$) Jobs! Today marks a milestone in the history of another visionary American inventor. Back in 1904, an aspiring businessman named King Camp Gillette patented what he called a “safety razor”, which to this day still bears his name. Born in 1855 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, he grew up in a period of rapid industrialization in America, inspired by his boss at the time who had invented the disposable bottle cap (King sold the cork in the cap). Realizing there was an opportunity to sell a razor handle that could hold a “replaceable blade”, he set out to change the faces of America and eventually throughout the world. Here’s a recap of his story, and some fun facts you may not associate with shaving. Enjoy, and thanks to Wikipedia, Gillette.com, Google and allure.com for the info.
Nast(y) Animals
/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve KowalskiHopefully, by now, everyone has come to terms with the results of our most recent elections. Whether you voted for or against the eventual winner, congratulations on voting! (I wrote this before election day, so I don’t know any outcomes — guessing winners and losers can be real PIA (Pain in the @%$) Jobs). For the most part, for decades, our elections have been dominated by two major parties, Republicans and Democrats, the reds and the blues — or better yet, the elephants and the donkeys. These iconic animal symbols of our two major political parties have become widely recognized (red and blue with stars), but their origins and the stories behind them are less well-known. I did some digging, and found out a political cartoonist named Thomas Nast, working for Harpers Weekly at the time, was the originator and catalyst behind these images, Here’s a deep dive into the history and fun trivia about these political mascots. Thanks to amazon.com, thomasnast.com, smarthistory.org, nyhistory.org, youtube.com, and Wikipedia for the info.
Happy Anniversary Michelangelo!
/0 Comments/in Art, Friday Afternoon /by Steve KowalskiToday marks a fun day in history – Nov 1, 1512, when Michelangelo invited folks to finally view his amazing work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. Can you imagine being a local resident, knowing he had worked on the project for four years, and finally walking in to see this masterpiece? Talk about a PIA (Pain in the #%$) Job! – WOW! So much more than “just another local art show,” Michelangelo and his work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling are considered iconic symbols of the Renaissance, embodying one of the most remarkable achievements in Western art. I’m amazed at how beautiful the images are – especially from a guy who struggles drawing stick figures. I researched the project (tons has been written) and tried to pick info I think you’ll find interesting and enlightening. Special thanks to Wikipedia.org, google, YouTube.com, and pivata.com for the info – enjoy! And if you’ve had the chance to visit firsthand, please share your experience (it’s on my bucket list).
Pumpkin Spice
/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve KowalskiPumpkin spice. It has become synonymous with autumn, evoking images of cozy sweaters, falling leaves, cool nights, and warm drinks. I thought I’d search out the origins and history of this beloved spice blend, and found out it stretches far beyond recent association with trendy lattes seasonal baked goods, and craft beers. The origins of Pumpkin Spice, or the flavor/blend known as “pumpkin spice” actually date back to the culinary traditions of colonial America. I think I remember the first time I tasted it – in a cookie, and realized it was not good! Full disclosure, not everything needs or should have pumpkin spice added!
Wine About It
/0 Comments/in Friday Afternoon /by Steve KowalskiAs summer gradually draws to a close, farmers nationwide are focused on harvesting – major crops like corn and grains, soybeans, all sorts of apples and of course grapes, not only here in the US, but throughout the world. This annual ritual marks the culmination of months of careful cultivation and anticipation, marked by intensive activity in vineyards, where growers aim to harvest grapes at their absolute peak ripeness. Knowing when things are “just right” takes experience, science and expertise, to be sure the grapes have fully developed and can become part of a wonderful harvest. (Talk about a PIA (Pain in the @%$) Job! – wow. Here at KHT, so many of our processes involve the right temperature and the right timing – come to think of it, I’m sort of a thermal processing “vigneron”, carefully managing time and temperature to make your parts we process “great”… (wonder if my wife Jackie agrees?). I dug into the fall harvest of grapes and found some really fun and interesting facts and trivia I think you’ll enjoy. For those reading after hours, be sure to pour yourself a glass of wine, and celebrate along with the wonderful people and industry that makes this possible. Enjoy!
