Top ten wild animals that will attack pets: Special warning for Ashburn and Northern Virginia area Loudoun County pet owners and companion animal residents

Brambleton, Loudoun County Parkway residents, and Dulles Technology Corridor neighbors, read on. PR Newswire has released a report about the top ten animals likely to attack pets. With so many wooded areas nearby, by food sources growing more and more scarce sue to development, it’s likely that everyone will encounter a wild animal at some point or another — even more so at night while walking dogs in our area. As such, be careful to keep your pet leashed and close in order to prevent an accidental bite from an undesirable non-domestic animal kingdom stranger that crosses your path. Be conscientious while visiting local Virginia and Maryland beaches as well, as swimming dogs are just as likely to come across sea life that can cause injury as adult humans and children are while playing and cooling off in the water.

BREA, Calif., July 20 /PRNewswire/ — Sometimes our pets go looking for a fight, but other times the fight comes to them–from land, sea, and even air. Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, recently reviewed more than 500 laceration/bite wound claims in search of animal-inspired incidents to determine which wild animals most frequently attacked and injured companion pets in 2008. In addition to the usual suspects–snakes, coyotes and raccoons–VPI received claims for pet injuries caused by a squirrel, scorpion, javelina, porcupine, ground hog, skunk, rat, goat, beaver, woodchuck, black bear, mountain lion, hawk, rabbit, sea urchin, and jellyfish. Following are the 10 animals aside from dogs and cats that were most responsible for pet injury claims in 2008:

Top 10 Animals To Attack Pets —————————– 1. Snake ————- 2. Coyote ————- 3. Raccoon ————- 4. Squirrel ————- 5. Scorpion ————- 6. Javelina ————- 7. Porcupine ————- 8. Ground Hog ————- 9. Skunk ————- 10. Rat ————-

Wild animal attacks typically result in pet insurance claims for treatment of lacerations, bite wounds, puncture, and soft tissue trauma. Snakebites may require antivenin and scorpion stings may cause allergic reactions requiring antihistamines. Treatment protocols vary depending on the severity of the attack and costs can range from hundreds of dollars for bandages or stitches to thousands of dollars for surgery for damaged organs or broken limbs.

Though animal attack claims came from all areas of the country, javelina and scorpion claims were exclusive to the state of Arizona. Javelinas, or peccaries, are feral pig-like omnivores native to the southwestern United States. They have been known to viciously attack both pets and people. For a detailed account of a javelina attack on a VPI-insured pet, visit http://press.petinsurance.com/pressroom/267.aspx.

“Whether in urban or rural areas, pet owners should be aware of the danger posed by wild animals,” said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “VPI’s data reveals that not all members of the animal kingdom observe backyard fences, or appreciate the curiosity of a pet that may enter their territory. Always make sure that a pet’s rabies vaccine is up to date and if you know that potentially dangerous wild animals are present, or you’re in an unfamiliar area, take extra care to keep your pet close and secure.”

About Veterinary Pet Insurance

Veterinary Pet Insurance Co./DVM Insurance Agency is the nation’s oldest and largest pet health insurance company and is a member of the Nationwide Insurance family of companies. Providing pet owners with peace of mind since 1982, the company is committed to being the trusted choice of America’s pet lovers and an advocate of pet health education. VPI Pet Insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Optional Pet Well Care Protection for routine care is also available.

Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than 2,000 companies nationwide offer VPI Pet Insurance as an employee benefit. Policies are underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and in all other states by National Casualty Company, an A+15 rated company in Madison, Wisconsin. Pet owners can find VPI Pet Insurance on Facebook or follow @VPI on Twitter. For more information about VPI Pet Insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.

ODD NEWS: Michael Jackson wanted to play a transformer car in his own feature film

In a 2004 interview with Playboy Magazine, filmmaker/actor Kevin Smith revealed the weirdest script he’s ever been asked to direct was to star Michael Jackson, honest to gosh, as a man who morphs into a car that drives around with a young boy at the wheel inside.

It’s not an urban legend and the car business is not making this up. MJ apparently had a thing for cars, with his own car collection numbering more than 75. The desire Jackson expressed to play a car character where he was the driver and car of his own vehicle but relinquishes control to a young boy is riddled with symbolism.

Read on to learn more about the Michael Jackson Car Movie project and why the idea never made it to film. The proposed movie title? “Hot Rod”… seriously (and not meant disrespectfully).

FAN CLUB NOTE: New photos of Michael Jackson with Cars can be seen here through the slideshow located at the bottom of the article….

CLICK HERE to read full article

News that is not so strange anymore: Columnist Chuck Shephard from ‘News of the Weird’ now omits these common odd storylines from his reports

Classic humor is easy to find in everyday life, especially when it involved hearing about strange and unusual news. Odd news writer Chuck Shepard is not really odd — he just writes weird news. Taking his headlines and tidbits from various arrest reports, court records, live news feeds, and local newspapers around the globe, Shepherd has kept the fans of his column “News of the Weird” is stitches laughing over the years.

As society has progressed (or regressed) over the years [depending on your perspective], some news news stories that used to draw laughter and shock value have become so commonplace, Shepherd had to officially declare them not weird news. Compiling the list back in 2003, the off beat reporter’s column has continued to find news stories that perpetually leave our jaw’s gaping and our sense of humor in awe.

To read current “News of the Weird” stories, click this odd website link. The site features current articles and an extensive archive of past odd and unusual news reports from the last 21 years.

If you are interested in knowing what’s not so strange in the world of pop culture news any more (according to the expert and weird news pro, read on for a sample of the types of stories “News of the Weird” columnist Chuck Shephard used to report.  Thanks for keeping us in the loop all these years with the pop culture news! The Pulitzer Prize really ought to go to you… simply for all the mounds of research articles you have to read through.

NO LONGER WEIRD

by Chuck Shepherd

Copyright 2003.

Updated: August 1, 2003

The following kinds of stories were formerly weird, but they now occur with such frequency that they must be retired from circulation: 1. an old, widely-advertised phone-sex number is reassigned to a church/charity 2. suspicious package thought to be a bomb, turns out to be something stupid 3. robber leaves his ID [wallet or appointment card for probation officer or etc.] at the scene 4. peace/brotherhood conference erupts into violence 5. robber on getaway accidentally hails unmarked police car 6. political candidate dies but still wins the election 7. family thinks he’s dead, but he’s not and attends his own funeral 8. hunters shoot each other 9. funeral home owner neglects/mixes up bodies 10. “victimized” drug buyer complains to police that someone sold him weak or bogus drugs 11. some countries prohibit giving children certain names 12. in middle of an obvious drug raid, customer wanders up and asks cop if he can buy some drugs 13. shoots himself while supposedly demonstrating gun safety 14. global warming caused by animal methane 15. burglar gets stuck in vent or chimney 16. courthouse visitor/defendant inadvertently places contraband on the x-ray tables at entrance 17. burglar falls asleep during job. 18. family accidentally leaves behind a kid at a highway rest stop 19. driver’s license applicant crashes into examiner station before or during test 20. [Oops! It’s about the same as number 15] 21. overdue-library-book scofflaws actually go to jail 22. DUI tickets for “driving” a bicycle [or horse or riding lawn mower or etc.] 23. starts fire because can’t stop smoking even though hooked up to oxygen machine 24. gasoline thieves check quantity in tank by using a match or lighter to peer inside 25. older teacher/younger boy relationship 26. firefighter with an arson habit [to keep in practice or to feel wanted or etc.] 27. local election ends in tie, settled (by law) by coin flip or draw of cards 28. Japanese men committing suicide because of overwork 29. angry customer drives car right through store’s front door 30. heating-oil delivery to wrong house, resulting in flooded basement 31. postal worker hoards mail because he’s behind in delivering it 32. bank robber hails taxi or municipal bus for getaway 33. the annual student cheating riots in Bangladesh 34. criminal on the lam goes on national tv talk show and mentions that he’s wanted 35. dog steps on gun, shooting the master 36. pack of animals breaks into liquor cabinet or fermenting vat, get drunk 37. a loved one died at home, but the relative never gets around to burying him or her 38. school zero-tolerance policies for “weapons” that are purely, obviously ornamental 39. amateur videographers set up miniature cameras in restrooms 40. animal-hoarding (mostly of cats) women 41. carjackers who never learned to drive stick shift and must abandon the car 42. criminal suspect evading police, jumps in river to escape, and drowns 43. young-looking adults impersonate teenagers and return to high school 44. African nation’s rumors of people with power to make penises disappear 45. humongous abdominal cysts removed in surgery 46. unlabeled urn with loved one’s ashes mistakenly stolen or sold at yard sale 47. husband takes his wife back even though she just tried to kill him 48. judges punish young people by forcing them to listen to [classical or polka or etc.] music 49. hit-and-run driver drives on and on with body or bicycle in grille or windshield 50. criminal, cornered by police dog, bites the dog 51. burglars leave footprints in snow, directly to their homes 52. [Oops! It’s about the same as number 48] 53. video shoe-cams or smoke-detector-cams to spy on women 54. Japanese making many silent hang-up telephone calls against former lover or business partner 55. robber smashes store’s surveillance “camera,” but it’s only the lens, and it captured his face 56. inadvertently tries to cash a stolen personal check at the store [bank] where his victim works 57. accidental bombing of house by airliner’s “blue ice” 58. elderly citizen trying to convince bureaucrat that, contrary to records, he’s not really dead 59. elderly motorist makes wrong turn, gets lost for days 60. bands of criminals videotape their entire crime sprees for kicks, but makes it easy for cops 61. parents frolic while their small kids are left home alone 62. people trying to outrun police while driving slow-moving vehicles 63. combining jellyfish gene to produce another plant or animal that glows 64. imposter cop has car with flashing light, stopping motorists, accidentally stops real cop 65. parents who leave their small kids locked in hot cars while they frolic 66. inmates who advertise innocently for penpals on lonely-hearts pages on the Internet.

Copyright 2003 by Chuck Shepherd

Twitter Profit House and Club Cash Secret scam: Fleecing telecommuters for profit seems to be the work from home secret of the profit earning companies — but money is at expense of workers not Twitter click target clients

Rip-off Reports recently posted an article about a work at home idea that is advertising heavily on line right now.  Here’s their story:

AOL News recently had an article on an easy way to make money from home using the internet. They interviewed a woman who used the (1) Cash Secret Club (cashsecret.com) and (2) Twitter Profit House (twitterprofithouse.com), and also insisted that profits would only be made using both of these websites.

Neither one of these programs is honest. Both say they will charge you less than $2 and (1) send you a kit or (2) give you access to a website that will assist you in your profiting endeavors.

What neither of them say [in large print] is that they are both only 7 day trials and will begin to charge you (1) $81.32 or (2) $99.99 PER MOTH after that time. In addition, they share your contact information with other companies and automatically sign you up for other scam programs.

Hurray for the report calling it like they see it and declaring the sites *Bullshi*, and shame on AOL News for putting such a deceptive article into media circulation to tout the con.If you are looking for ways to make money at home, paying for booklet information that will then begin to repeat bill you nearly $100 per month is NOT bright.

In a difficult economy with high unemployment rates, it’s sad to see companies like these working so aggressively to rip people off. They are using deceptive advertising practices to hire workers — making people think TWITTER is hiring. Then, after submitting personal information, they bill your credit cars ad infinitum and sell your private information out.

How unethical… and more so, how unfortunate for folks hoping to make telecommute jobs legitimately possible for the masses.

Read the complete article from Rip-Off Report HERE

Looking for help with IT Marketing and SEO?

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2009 ‘4th of July’ Weekend in Loudoun County: Fireworks schedule and more from the Loudoun County Parks and Recreation Service

PRCS SPECIAL EVENTS IN JULY 2009

LOVETTSVILLE INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
(All ages) Celebrate Independence Day early in Lovettsville with a hometown parade, followed by activities at the Community Center ball field. Live music, food, refreshments, and awesome fireworks add to the fun! This event is sponsored by the Lovettsville CC Advisory Board. Advance tickets are $3.00. Call 540-822-5284.
Location: Lovettsville Community Center, 57 E. Broad Way, Lovettsville, VA
$4/Ages 13 & up, $3/Ages 3-12, Free/under 3
Friday 7/3 5:30P- 9:30P

JULY 4th OPEN HOUSE AT HERITAGE FARM MUSEUM
(All ages) The Heritage Farm Museum is a great place to spend the Independence Day holiday with friends, family, and out-of-town guests. Celebrate the contribution of Loudoun farmers during WWII with a “Heroes on the Home Front” exhibit that provides opportunities for sharing family histories, making crafts, and learning about your local community. The museum will offer special holiday hours. Call 571-258-2800.
Location: Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling, VA
Free event
Saturday 7/4 Exhibit hours: 11:A-12:00P, Museum Hours:10:30A- 3:00P

OL’ TIME 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
(All ages) Celebrate an old-fashioned July 4th with pony and wagon rides, music, crafts, “Reptiles Alive,” nature exhibits, family style games, and historic tours. Please use the Loudoun Park Lane entrance. Call 571-258-3700.
Location: Claude Moore Park , 2154 Old Vestals Gap Road, Sterling, VA
$5/suggested family donation
Saturday 7/4 10:30A- 3:00P

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION IN MIDDLEBURG
(All ages) Celebrate Independence Day in Middleburg. The Community Center pool will be open from 11:00A-6:00P. The evening features music, games, contests, food, and fireworks at dusk. Call 540-687-6375.
Location: Middleburg Community Center, 300 W. Washington Street, Middleburg, VA
Free event
Saturday 7/4 6:00P- 9:00P

JULY 4TH CELEBRATION AT FRANKLIN PARK
(All ages) Celebrate America’s Independence Day while enjoying the local folk group, The Polka Dots, along with bluegrass sensation and headliner, Acoustic Burgoo. Food and concessions and fireworks at dark add to the celebration. Call 540-338-7973.
Location: Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville, VA
$5.00/carload
Saturday 7/4 6:00P

ART EXHIBIT: “LENS ON LOUDOUN”
(All ages) Life in Loudoun is the subject of this juried photography exhibition of local and regional photographers. An artists’ reception will be held on July 10 from 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. This exhibit is presented by the Friends of Franklin Park Arts Center. Call 540-338-7973.
Location: Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville, VA
Exhibit runs 7/10-7/31

OUTDOOR MOVIE IN THE TOWN GREEN
(All ages) A family-friendly movie begins at dark. Bring chairs and blankets. Co-sponsored by the Town of Lovettsville and Lovettsville Community Center. Call 540-822-5282 or visit http://www.loudoun.gov/lovettsvillecc for movie title.
Location: Lovettsville Town Green, 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Lovettsville, VA
Free event
Friday 7/10 7:00P-10:00P

MISSION IMPROMPTU
(All ages) Catch the hilarious antics of the Leesburg Theatre Company’s improvisation group. Light refreshments will be available. Call 571-258-3400.
Location: Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville, VA
Donations appreciated
Wednesday 7/8 7:30P- 9:00P

THE GROWING STAGE CAMP: THE WHO’S TOMMY
(All ages) Young drama campers present Peter Townsend’s tale of a young boy’s journey from pain to triumph in an electrifying evening of rock and rolle. Call 540-338-7973 to reserve your seats.
Location: Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville, VA
Free event
Thursday 7/9 7:00P
Friday 7/10 1:00P

PARENTS NIGHT OUT

(Ages 3-11) Children will be treated to dinner and lots of fun activities while parents enjoy a night on the town. Call 540-338-5882.
Location: Philomont Community Center
$20.00
Friday 7/10 5:00P- 9:00P

COMMUNITY YARD SALE
(Ages 18 & up) The space rental price includes a general ad in local classified section. Free admission for shoppers. Table rental is available for $5. Call 703-771-5913.
Location: Douglass Community Center, 405 E. Market Street, Leesburg, VA
$10.00
Saturdays 7/11, 7/18, 7/25 8:00A- 2:00P

JULY BOOK SWAP
(All ages) Swap books for your summer reading. Children’s and adult books on tape/CD, music CDs, VHS/DVD movies are all welcome. Books and magazines in large print are needed.
Location: Claude Moore Community Center, 46111 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling, VA
Free event
Saturday 7/11 10:00A-12:00P

CHEERLEADING MINI-CLINIC
(Grades 1-6) This special summer clinic is presented by the Loudoun Valley High School cheerleaders for all levels/abilities. Session covers stunts, tumbling, motions, and dance, and ends with a five-minute performance. Participants should bring beverage and lunch. Call 571-258-3400.
Location: Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville, VA
$20.00
Saturday 7/11 9:00A-12:00P

SUMMER KICKS SOCCER TOURNAMENT
(Ages 4-6) Join Douglass Community Center’s third annual soccer tournament. Practice on Thursday; play on Friday. All players receive a T-shirt. Register in advance. Call 703-771-5913.
Location: Douglass Community Center, 57 E. Broad Way, Leesburg, VA
$10.00
Thursday, Friday 7/16-7/17 6:30P- 7:30P

GYPSY
(All ages) A cast of talented local teens and adults present this award-winning musical. Join Rose, June, and Louise in their trip across America in the 1920’s, when vaudeville was dying and burlesque was born. Call 540-338-7973 to reserve your seats.
Location: Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville, VA
$15/Adults, $12/Students/Seniors
Thursday 7/16 7:00P
Friday 7/17 7:00P
Saturday 7/18 2:00P & 7:00P
Sunday 7/19 3:00P

CELEBRATE ICE CREAM DAY
(All ages) Celebrate National Ice Cream Day at historic Lucketts Community Center with an old-fashioned ice cream social. Call 703-771-5281.
Location: Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg, VA
Free event
Monday 7/20 12:00P- 2:00P

VIRGINIA DGIF HUNTER EDUCATION CLASS
(Ages 16 & up) This is a must class for all local hunters. Advanced registration is required. Both sessions are needed for certification. Lunch and refreshments will be sold. Call 703-771-5281.
Location: Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road, Leesburg, VA
Free event
Saturday 7/25 8:00A-5:00P
Sunday 7/26 1:00P-5:00P

PRINCESS FOR A DAY ICE CREAM SOCIAL
(All ages) Families will join the court of the Virginia Dairy Princess Program for princess lessons and ice cream at an old-fashioned social. Girls are invited to show off their new princess skills in a pageant beginning at 1:00 p.m. The first 100 children receive a tiara. Call 571-258-3800 to register.
Location: Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling, VA
$5.00/adult; $3.00 child
Saturday 7/25 12:00P- 2:00P

SUMMER THUNDER CAR SHOW
(All ages) Bring your best ride to the largest, single-day cruise-in show in Virginia! Car buffs, gear heads, racing fans, and anyone who loves driving or watching these special cars will enjoy a fun-filled, show-and-tell kind of day! There will also be food, entertainment, vendors, and – new this year – a kids’ area! Call 540-338-7603.
Location: Franklin Park, 17501 Franklin Park Drive, Purcellville, VA
Free event
Saturday 7/25 3:00P-7:00P

THE GROWING STAGE CAMP: PIRATES OF PENZANCE
(All ages) Young drama campers present this hilarious farce of sentimental pirates, bumbling policemen, dim-witted young lovers, dewy-eyed daughters and an eccentric major general – all morally bound to the often ridiculous dictates of honor and duty. Call 540-338-7973 to reserve your seats.
Location: Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane, Purcellville, VA
Free event
Thursday 7/30 7:00P
Friday 7/31 1:00P

Fourth of July dessert: Gluten-free Chocolate Chunk cookies fuel for the fireworks

Folks looking for gluten free dessert options that appeal to everybody this 4th of July should look no further than this recipe compliments of the Exotic Car Examiner Kae Davis. Featuring the one of the best chocolate chip recipes we’ve eaten in a long time, it comes as a surprise that these cookie treats are absolutely friendly to all tummies and taste buds equally — and can be eaten by those with Celiac disease related stomach sensitivities or wheat allergies.

Kae Davis is the Exotic Car Examiner shown here with her favorite red Maserati Quattorporte

Gluten Free Cookies Fuel the Exotic Car Examiner

Hello, Baltimore Washington DC Metro and Dulles Technology corridor  chefs and cooks! My name is Kae Davis, and I am the National “Exotic Car Examiner“. Dear friend Dara Bunjon, my favorite food writer here in the Mid-Atlantic region (a.k.a. the Baltimore Dining Examiner) and I got to talking the other day about the holiday ans what kind of goodies we’d be serving to friends and family at various picnics and potluck barbecues we’ll be attending. When she asked me what kind of treats and items I like to make and eat for Summertime fun or special events like the 4th of July weekend, the first thing I though of was my favorite cookie recipe.

Chocolate chip cookies have been a favorite food of mine since I was a little girl, and when delicious they never have ceased to put a smile on my face every time I eat them. Having found out this past few years that we have food sensitivities in our family that create problems for allergy sufferers, we’ve be put into the challenging cooking situation of learning to prepare as many recipes as we can that at “Gluten Free”.

Obviously, when you realize that you are supposed to avoid cooking with or eating anything that you would normally prepare with white flour, the immediate reaction is one of mourning. I thought my cookie fetish was going to suffer terribly — and I would lose my most portable car-friendly treat that I can take with me for snacking to any road rally and my most comforting “late night with an ice cold glass of milk at home for dipping (not drinking and driving)” treat.

That’s when the clever culinary skills of my son Drew and his avid foodie researching, what he calls “scientific investigation”, came into play. Searching out all of the gluten free pre-made products in stores proved expensive and frustrating, as so many cookie products tasted, for lack of a better or more expressive word, sandy.  That is, until we finally found a product we could work with and doctor up a bit in the kitchen witch process; by adding and subtracting, we finally came up with these delicious treats — well, more he than me. My job in the process is sidewalk supervisor and sampling bites of things exponentially when good or making faces and saying, “That’s not me” when, again, for lack of a better food critic word, icky.

Bottom line, when someone asks me what fuels my writing about exotic cars and all the pop culture in the auto news industry, my typical response is, “Cookies”. As such, I hope you’l enjoy preparing these to take with you in the car to any fireworks show and eating them lovingly with friends and family at any dining gathering. Don’t forget, when it’s late at night to sneak into the kitchen, pour yourself that little glass of icy milk (or soymilk), and have one for me. I recommend you eat them while reading auto news articles from my column the Exotic Car Examiner, which you can find easily by visiting http://www.autopopnews.com.

If you are looking to prepare a delicious home baked cookie recipe for friends and family over the 4th of July holiday weekend, here’s the list of ingredients and the recipe you’ll need to be “Gluten Free” while celebrating Independence day with red, white, and blue cookies.

INGREDIENTS to prepare 18-20 small chocolate chip cookies

1 — 13.6 oz bag of Pamela’s Products all-natural wheat-free and gluten-free “Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix”

8 tbsp butter, margarine, or baking substitute

1 large egg or prepare egg replacer equivalent

1-2 tsp all natural vanilla bean extract

1 tsp rum or rum extract (for flavoring)

OPTIONAL (favorite addition) — 1/2 cup pecans (walnuts are okay to substitute but not quite as good)

OPTIONAL HOLIDAY DESSERT DECORATION — red, white, and blue M&M candies found at holiday party and decoration locations like Party City or crafts stores with baking and cake decoration sections OR dried cranberries and blueberries assortment with white coconut flake

Easy Hand-Mixing Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Melt butter mixture and let cool.
3. Add Pamela’s Mix and egg and mix well with butter solution, followed by extracts of vanilla and rum.
4. Dough will appear dark and slightly crumble — don’t worry… this is A+!
5. Press together TBSP size scoops or dollops of cookie batter and place on GREASED cookie tin or baking sheet.
6. Take a spoon slightly flatten cookie into rough intended shape; if decorating for a holiday dessert option, slightly make a rounded indention into the raw cookie top with the bottom of the spoon to create a nest.
7. Fill dent with embed of hard shell chocolate candies or dried fruit option; if using coconut as decoration, use fork tines to gently secure flakes into the batter. Play with color or use red white and blue to decorate each cookie like you would a Christmas cookie; match or vary your decorations at your discretion.
8. Bake for 16 – 18 minutes, checking often until you are comfortable withe the recipe. Golden to light golden brown is a good rule of thumb.
9. Bake longer for firmer cookies, less for soft or chewey varieties.
10. Cool cookies THOROUGHLY. If served too warm they will fall apart before they even get to the milk. Cookies “set” during cooling process. [If you are a dunker, you’ll thank me.]

Best gluten free chocolate chip cookie recipe uses baking mix from Pamela's products says Exotic Car Examiner

As the year goes on, you can enjoy these gluten free treats during any season. Add oatmeal and raisins for a chocolate chip oatmeal raisin treat. Add chopped dates and extra pecans for a more savory cookie. Add cocoa powder and white chocolate chunks for a black and white “racing flag” cookie variety. Use icing, colored sugar, and rainbow sprinkles to let kids decorate the cookie for a birthday party activity. If you are hosting a party with an Italian car theme, change the candy decoration colors to red, white, and green! Make cookies a bit larger and make an ice cream sandwich using your favorite home-made or gourmet ice cream.

At the Finish Line

One final word of advice from a car girl: if you are planning to cook for a group or have a big family, you might want to plan to prepare a second of third batch separately. These cookies tend to go faster off the plate at any holiday gathering or out of the cookie jar in your home kitchen than the Ferrari F1 racing team — and they are great to dunk in all types of milk (skim, 1%, 2%, whole, soy) or coffee as an after dinner treat.

For more information about Pamela’s Products, visit http://www.pamelasproducts.com.

Baltimore area residents can find Pamela’s Products for sale at many Weis grocery stores. Check your local area stores in DC and Northern Virginia; if you can’t find the product line, order online. Harris Teeter in Brambleton Town Center is always open to ordering products on request, as well. Simply make your request to the grocery store manager.

To read more articles from the Dining Dish star writer Dara Bunjon, click HERE.