Beet Lollipop

[Lou... 3,118]

I have just as much distrust of regular castmembers as you do. 

 

Do you trust irregular CMs?

[drafthorsecrazy 10]

Carrot cake cookie is available at the Writers shop near the Muppets!

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Do you trust irregular CMs?

depends on exactly what is irregular about them?

 

are they short?

are they tall?

are they cranky?

Are they nice?

are they schmuck faces?

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

I have just as much distrust of regular castmembers as you do. I only trust those who actually make decisions.

 

 

Do you trust irregular CMs?

 

LOL!  CM's are just regular people.  And like regular people. they like to spread rumors.  Since they work at WDW, it stands to reason that they hear a lot more rumors than a guest hears.

 

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how many CM's there are who know so little about where they work.  For example, I once heard a guest ask a life guard at the Meadow pool if there was another pool a the Fort.  And the lifeguard told him no, but that there was a pool at Wilderness Lodge which Fort guests were welcome to use.  That was bad information from the CM.  But, since there are no lifeguards at the cabin pool, this kid didn't know about it. 

 

I enjoy listening to the CM's gossip.  Sometimes, but not often, they have accurate information to share.

 

 

Carrot cake cookie is available at the Writers shop near the Muppets!

 

True.  And that's the only place I've ever seen them.

 

Someone (cough, cough DaveInTn) reported that they also were sold in the place next door to Starring Rolls.  I have not yet confirmed that information.

 

TCD

[DaveInTN 3,247]

 

True.  And that's the only place I've ever seen them.

 

Someone (cough, cough DaveInTn) reported that they also were sold in the place next door to Starring Rolls.  I have not yet confirmed that information.

 

TCD

 

I have purchased one there at least twice in the past. 

[shoreline99 137]

Here's a recipe for apple cider salted caramels that we make every now and then; they are AMAZING and don't last long. You've got me in the mood to make some now.

 

Apple Cider Caramels
From The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook

Apple cider (sometimes called sweet or “soft” cider), as I’m referring to it here, is different from both apple juice and the hard, or alcoholic, fermented apple cider. It’s a fresh, unfiltered (it has sediment), raw apple juice — the juice literally pressed from fresh apples. It’s unpasteurized, and must be refrigerated, because it’s perishable. In the Northeast, I usually find it at farm stands and some grocery stores. I occasionally find vacuum- sealed bottles called apple cider in the juice aisle, but none of the bottled varieties that I’ve tried has the same delicate apple flavor as the more perishable stuff sold in the refrigerator section.

4 cups (945 ml) apple cider
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons flaky sea salt, such as Maldon, or less of a finer one
8 tablespoons (115 grams or 1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into chunks
1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (110 grams) packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup (80 ml) heavy cream
Neutral oil for the knife

Boil the apple cider in a 3- to- 4- quart saucepan over high heat until it is reduced to a dark, thick syrup, between 1/3 and 1/2 cup in volume. This takes about 35 to 40 minutes on my stove. Stir occasionally.

Meanwhile, get your other ingredients in order, because you won’t have time to spare once the candy is cooking. Line the bottom and sides of an 8- inch straight- sided square metal baking pan with 2 long sheets of crisscrossed parchment. Set it aside. Stir the cinnamon and flaky salt together in a small dish.

Once you are finished reducing the apple cider, remove it from the heat and stir in the butter, sugars, and heavy cream. Return the pot to medium- high heat with a candy thermometer attached to the side, and let it boil until the thermometer reads 252 degrees, only about 5 minutes. Keep a close eye on it.

(Don’t have a candy or deep- fry thermometer? Have a bowl of very cold water ready, and cook the caramel until a tiny spoonful dropped into the water becomes firm, chewy, and able to be plied into a ball.)

Immediately remove caramel from heat, add the cinnamon- salt mixture, and give the caramel several stirs to distribute it evenly. Pour caramel into the prepared pan. Let it sit until cool and firm—about 2 hours, though it goes faster in the fridge. Once caramel is firm, use your parchment paper sling to transfer the block to a cutting board. Use a well- oiled knife, oiling it after each cut (trust me!), to cut the caramel into 1-by-1-inch squares. Wrap each one in a 4-inch square of waxed paper, twisting the sides to close. Caramels will be somewhat on the soft side at room temperature, and chewy/firm from the fridge.

Do ahead: Caramels keep, in an airtight container at room temperature, for two weeks, but really, good luck with that.

 

 

It came from this blog and post:

http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2012/10/apple-cider-caramels-the-book-is-here/

[BuckeyeFortMama 43]

Do you trust irregular CMs?

 

Lou....of course! My favorite CM's are definitely irregular and magical all at the same time!

[Lou... 3,118]

 

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is how many CM's there are who know so little about where they work.  For example, I once heard a guest ask a life guard at the Meadow pool if there was another pool a the Fort.  And the lifeguard told him no, but that there was a pool at Wilderness Lodge which Fort guests were welcome to use.  That was bad information from the CM.  But, since there are no lifeguards at the cabin pool, this kid didn't know about it. 

 

 

Just like some of the other non-Fort managed services like entertainment, food and beverage, transportation, and security, I believe that the lifeguards are not Fort CMs and work for WDW Recreation, so they may be bouncing around from resort to resort and may not know everything about any of them. When asked, they should say I don't know, instead of repeating an unsubstantiated rumor.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Just like some of the other non-Fort managed services like entertainment, food and beverage, transportation, and security, I believe that the lifeguards are not Fort CMs and work for WDW Recreation, so they may be bouncing around form resort to resort and may not know everything about any of them. When asked, they should say I don't know, instead of repeating an unsubstantiated rumor.

 

From what I understand, the lifeguards at the Fort also work at Wilderness Lodge, and perhaps other resorts too.

 

The CM's at the Trading Posts likewise also work in the Wilderness Lodge gift shop. Which reminds me of another time when a guest in the Settlement Trading Post asked the CM behind the register there if it would be OK for him to drive his golf cart to Wilderness Lodge, and the CM said sure, no problem.

 

From what I have seen and heard, CM's never say they don't know.  They just make something up.  Thus all the incorrect information floating around.

 

TCD

[Lou... 3,118]

 

They just make something up.  Thus all the incorrect information floating around.

 

 

 

You don't really believe that, do you? Why would they do that?

I am not aware of CMs that I have worked with knowingly giving out made-up info.

I think CMs repeat what they've heard, right, wrong, or a rumor, and think it's correct.

Think about it. Do you think I, Dave Devores, or TJ, would mislead guests? 

[GOBA Mom Lynn 18]

Well, I have totally enjoyed another TCD trip report.  Thanks for writing them, and keeping us entertained.

 

Now, as far as the scale goes, I'm surprised that the highest ranking isn't simply: 

BEER!

 

That would be the FF way, would it not?

 

I hope they keep the food during Flower and Garden, at least through next year, as DH has said we may be planning a trip for next May. And I need to try some of that food!

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

You don't really believe that, do you? Why would they do that?

I am not aware of CMs that I have worked with knowingly giving out made-up info.

I think CMs repeat what they've heard, right, wrong, or a rumor, and think it's correct.

Think about it. Do you think I, Dave Devores, or TJ, would mislead guests? 

 

OK, I over-generalized.  There are plenty of conscientious CM's who are careful about what they say.   But there are a lot who do not stop and think about what they say.  It happens so much that I truthfully believed that somewhere in the training classes CM's are told to answer guests' questions as best they can.  Even if that means making stuff up.  Seriously, a trip to WDW does not go by where I don't personally hear a CM give out bad info to a guest.

 

Well, I have totally enjoyed another TCD trip report.  Thanks for writing them, and keeping us entertained.

 

Now, as far as the scale goes, I'm surprised that the highest ranking isn't simply: 

BEER!

 

That would be the FF way, would it not?

 

I hope they keep the food during Flower and Garden, at least through next year, as DH has said we may be planning a trip for next May. And I need to try some of that food!

 

You are right.  If I had to choose between beer and a salted caramel, I would choose the beer.

 

I hope they keep the food at the Flower and Garden Festival so you can try it next year.  Since this was the first year, I would think they will try it again at least for a few years.  I would expect some tweaks next year- like maybe having more choices that don't sound so weird.  That is probably bad news for beet lollipop fans.

 

TCD

[ºoºThomasclan85ºoº 8]

Beets = good

Cream Cheese = good

 

Beets + Cream Cheese = yuck

 

 

 

Yes please!  :)

 

I have to agree with ya! Am I the only one expecting something on a stick? :)

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

I have to agree with ya! Am I the only one expecting something on a stick? :)

 

No.  I thought I would get something on a stick too.  I thought it would be like a dried beet or, and actual lollipop made with beet juice.  Not real beats and cream cheese in a test tube.  How is that a lollipop?  But for $.99, who's going to complain?

 

TCD

[Heidi-meetsTCD@TSM 5]

TCD,

Thanks as always for another great trip report! I am sooooo behind on my fortfiends reading!!

Glad to know that I don't need to try the beet lollipops!!! I am another Yankee who has never had grits, maybe I will have to try them the next time I travel south!

Hope you have another trip coming up soon!

Heidi

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

TCD,

Thanks as always for another great trip report! I am sooooo behind on my fortfiends reading!!

Glad to know that I don't need to try the beet lollipops!!! I am another Yankee who has never had grits, maybe I will have to try them the next time I travel south!

Hope you have another trip coming up soon!

Heidi

 

Thanks for posting, Heidi.

 

Yes, try the grits.

 

If by soon you mean today, then you are in luck.

 

TCD

[alexwyattmommy 181]

I make Southern people cringe when I eat grits.  I love them with lots of butter and sugar. Lots of sugar.  Gritty grits.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

I make Southern people cringe when I eat grits.  I love them with lots of butter and sugar. Lots of sugar.  Gritty grits.

 

Cringe is right.

 

One of the first compliments I received from Mrs. TCD was that I did not put sugar on my grits like other Yankees.  If I had, who knows what would have happened.

 

TCD

[alexwyattmommy 181]

I put sugar on my corn bread too.  When my mother-in-law isn't looking. :)

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

I make Southern people cringe when I eat grits.  I love them with lots of butter and sugar. Lots of sugar.  Gritty grits.

That's the way I like my grits too!

[DaveInTN 3,247]

I like mine with butter and black pepper.  Not sure if that's appropriate or not, but I am a reformed Yankee. 

[Santa ... Shannon 160]

Now, as far as the scale goes, I'm surprised that the highest ranking isn't simply:

BEER!

That is a TERRIBLE idea! Beer covers a broad spectrum from the nastiest, wateriest, TCD-girlie beer that weighs in somewhere south of the MSEP to a nigh-on-heavenly ambrosia like White Street Brewing Co.'s Scottish Ale. Beer is completely worthless as a standard.

Shoot, even Zima was considered beer! I bet TCD drank Zima back in the day.