Hotdog Octopus with Seaweeds were a favorite of my kids when they were younger. This meal was usually served on special occasions only, which made it extra yummy and fun when I did serve it. As an amusing part of a children’s birthday party, or for any occasion with children involved, you are likely to get smiles and giggles from excited kids. The green noodles and the hotdog resemble a happy octopus sitting on top of seaweed. If you do try this recipe, I would really appreciate a quick comment with a star rating (option found immediately under each recipe). It helps me out tremendously! Thanks in advance! I originally found this recipe in Taste of Home years ago when my kids were little. I have made some minor changes to this recipe, but either way will work just fine. This recipe is very easy to make; in short, you prepare Ramen Noodles, adding green food coloring to make them resemble seaweeds, and slit a hotdogs to look like an octopus. (ETA: It is now many years later, and one of my readers pointed out that you can now find naturally green noodles, eliminating the need for green food coloring. This is obviously a much better alternative, instead of using artificial colorants. In addition I believe there are also natural dyes that can be purchases; I have never tried these, but that too would be a much better way […] Read more »

Growing up in Norway, front loading washing machines were extremely common. In fact, to my knowledge, they were the only machines available in our area at the time, and I believe them to be the norm in several other European countries even today. These front loaders would usually take an hour or more to complete a cycle, and the water was heated by electricity. You could heat the water as high as 90 degrees C (194 F), which is 10 degrees C away from boiling (212 F). When I moved to the United States, I was surprised to find that not only could the water not be heated as high, but the cycles were typically done in a half hour. For me, that just doesn’t cut it for certain loads, like bedding or underwear. When my husband and I moved to a new house and had to purchase a new washer, we decided to get a front loader. The reasons behind this decision was past experience, and information we found through research. The pros we found with front loaders, were: Front loaders often have the option of much longer cycles than top loaders, which can help significantly in getting a load clean. They clean better as a result of the position and design of the drum. The drum sits in a vertical position rather than horizontal, so clothing spins and drops down into the water as they reach […] Read more »

Hot Dog Octopus & Seaweed, a Kids’ Party Favorite!

Front Loading Washing Machines, Pros & Cons