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Nutella-stuffed Sea Salt Cookie Recipe

January 10, 2019 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

If you love Nutella like I do, these cookies combine the best of everything.

Belle (my daughter) LeBow’s Nutella-stuffed sea salt cookies

My daughter, Belle, has inherited both my sweet tooth and my love of baking. Nutella is her favorite food of all time and, when she was looking for something new to try, she came across a recipe that she tweaked a little (again, shades of her mother). Below is the result and they are reaaaaaalllllly good!

Belle LeBow’s Nutella-stuffed sea salt cookies

Refrigerate a jar of Nutella (at least ½ a cup) and set out a bit of sea salt in a small bowl.

Melt while whisking constantly:

1 cup (1/2 lb.) butter in a pan over medium heat. Once it begins to brown, pour into bowl to cool for about 5 minutes.

In a standing mixer, combine:

Cooled brown butter

1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

Add and beat til combined:

1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 tablespoon plain or vanilla Greek yogurt

Add and beat til combined:

2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1/8 teaspoon of salt

Add and mix by hand til combined:

¾ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate morsels

½ cup milk chocolate chips

½ cup butterscotch morsels

Divide dough into 2 balls and chill at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350.

Take out one ball of dough and roll into balls (about 1 ½ tablespoons of dough per cookie.

Flatten each and place 1 teaspoon chilled Nutella in center. Fold edges of cookie back in to reform ball. Return Nutella to the refrigerator.

Bake cookies 9-11 minutes. Sprinkle with sea salt as soon as they come out of the oven.

Cool on wire rack. Repeat with other dough ball and Nutella!

This recipe is adapted from one posted on Ambitious Kitchen.

The Philadelphia Home Show 2019

January 10, 2019 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Need some imaginative suggestions for your next project? Dreaming of your perfect home? Come to the Home Show!

The Philadelphia Home Show

If you are looking for inspiration for a specific house project or type of space, make it a point to visit the Philadelphia Home Show. Trying to figure out how to make the most of a small space? Wondering how to best organize your pantry or closet? This event will provide plenty of ideas. It’s also great for more specific product shopping. For example, if you would like to peruse the newest styles in engineered wood flooring or bathroom paint, you’ll see samples, demonstrations and find plenty of experts happy to discuss their products and your projects.

Vendors

This year, the vendors will be setting up their booths at the Philadelphia Convention Center on two consecutive weekends (January 11-13 and 18-20). They will include experts on appliances, patios and decks, interior finishes, home decor, exterior materials, pools and much more. Kitchen and bath designers are always well-represented and you may find some great show specials. Many exhibitors will also provide coupons for services or products purchased soon after the show.

Logistics

Remember that parking at the Convention Center can be steep. I’d recommend public transportation, or a ride-share service if you’re not coming from far away. There will be typical food offerings; nothing too fancy, but enough to stave off hunger, though there are plenty of great dining options within a few blocks. Keep in mind that Chinatown is right there as well as plenty of other restaurant choices. Finally, I’d recommend bringing a reasonably sturdy tote bag to carry any samples you may want to bring home. I hope you find plenty of great ideas!

Reading Terminal Market

January 9, 2019 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Philadelphia Main Line Relocation — Reading Terminal was just voted the number one farmers market in the nation. Come see why.

Reading Terminal Market: History

Reading Terminal was just named the best farmers market in the U.S. (To see the others on the list, click here.) Reading Terminal Market is a beloved institution and a mainstay of Philadelphia. Natives of the city as well as transplants laud it as one of the best destinations for tourists and locals alike. It is well over a century old, with a fascinating history. While not the oldest market in the country (that honor is held by the Lancaster Central Market about two hours west of Philadelphia), farmers markets have been popular in the city since its founding. There were many outdoor food markets, but, due to health concerns, the trend in the late 1800s was toward indoor venues. In 1890, the Reading and Pennsylvania Railroads (yes, like the spaces on your monopoly board) bought the land to build a new terminal. This space had been where two outdoor markets had been. The vendors refused to move and set up their stands beneath the tracks–and the original Reading Terminal Market was born.

Reading Terminal Market Vendors

What will you find at Reading Terminal Market? Some of the best food vendors in the city. From butchers to fishmongers to produce purveyors, there are plenty of places to pick up fresh ingredients for dinner. There are prepared foods to enjoy as well (and hundreds of people go to the market regularly for lunch). If you’re looking for dessert, between Mueller’s chocolates, Famous cookie booth, Bassett’s ice cream and Beiler’s Donuts, you won’t go hungry. Many of these booths feature local foods (including Philly Fair Food and many Lancaster County businesses) so it’s a true Philadelphia experience. There is a wonderful cookbook seller, a satellite Head Nut store and lots of other booths to visit. For a map of all the vendors and more info, click here.

Visiting Reading Terminal

There are several parking lots in the area, but, remember: the market is in the space adjacent to the rail terminal, so, depending on where you are traveling from, you might opt to take the train–you’ll want Jefferson Station. Click here for the SEPTA schedule. There are also special events held regularly (including frequent “Taste of Philly” days). To get the most out of your visit, take the vendor map with you so you don’t miss anything.

If you are relocating to the Philadelphia/Main Line area, please go to my blog page and search for posts using the relocation tag. Contact me to discuss your Philadelphia area relocation! jen@jenniferlebow.com/610 308-5973

Moving to Penn Wynne?

December 18, 2018 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Philadelphia Main Line Relocation Penn Wynne Wynnewood — Should you consider a move to the Penn Wynne section of Wynnewood?

Should you move to Penn Wynne?

If you are relocating to the Main Line/Philadelphia suburbs, you might consider moving to Penn Wynne. Penn Wynne is actually not a town in its own right; it’s actually the southern section of Wynnewood. It is located near route 1 and is about a mile from the Overbrook train station. The Penn Wynne neighborhood is convenient to shopping, services and some restaurants (mostly family-friendly as opposed to fine dining). Many of the streets have sidewalks and lots of people jog or walk dogs, so people get to know their neighbors. Penn Wynne is one of the more affordable sections of Lower Merion Township, and Penn Wynne Elementary is extremely popular with local parents.

What is Penn Wynne Like?

This micro-area has a very distinct feel with mostly modest homes on fairly small lots and an active civic association. The demographics are diverse with different ages, ethnicities, religions and family styles. While most of the homes are singles, there are also several twins. Besides the well-loved library, there are multiple parks and playgrounds in Penn Wynne. It is a community with lots of local pride, where you’ll see plenty of decorations up for Halloween and strong participation in group activities like parades, library fund raisers and snowy day sledding parties.

Activities and Events in Penn Wynne

Again, the playgrounds, parks and tennis courts in Penn Wynne see a lot of activity and Manoa Park is known for its sledding hill. As previously mentioned, the just-remodeled library is extremely popular and hosts many well-attended events including an annual fund-raising craft sale as well as guest speakers and readers. The annual 4th of July parade is a great tradition in Penn Wynne and the community is very involved in the civic association‘s annual 5K run/walk. They also sponsor an Earth Day celebration and a family-friendly New Year’s at Noon event.

If you like the idea of moving to a suburb that offers a strong sense of community, excellent public schools and easy access to retail and other services, Penn Wynne may be for you. If a modest sized house on a small lot meets your needs, you probably want to consider this area. Depending on where you work, if the location is convenient, it’s hard to beat.

Best Museums in and around Philadelphia

November 28, 2018 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

It can be challenging to find the best museums in and around Philadelphia since there are so many. We have some wonderful art museums, several museums that celebrate our country’s history, much of which took place in Philadelphia, and some that are focused on very particular or unusual collections or experiences. This is not an exhaustive list, but it does contain the majority of the larger museums in the area.

Art and Artifact Museums

The Philadelphia Museum of Art (home of the “Rocky steps”) is one of most visited art museums in the world and is an incredible building in its own right.

The Rodin Museum houses the largest collection of Rodin sculpture outside of France.

The Barnes Foundation was the private collection of Albert Barnes and consists mostly of impressionist, post-impressionist and modernist paintings. All the paintings are displayed within the strict arrangements Barnes mandated.

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts is the oldest art school in the country and is contained within a spectacular Frank Furness building on Broad Street.

Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill is a mansion on beautiful grounds that collector Charles Knox Smith purchased in order to display his collection.

Brandywine Museum of Art occupies a lovely setting and features a large collection of Wyeth paintings.

Michener Art Museum celebrates Bucks County artists and is a local favorite. Native James Michener, a lifetime supporter of the arts, had wanted to open an art museum since the 1960s and was happy to lend his name to the establishment.

Rosenbach Museum specializes in rare books and manuscripts and is houses in two beautifully maintained period Philadelphia townhouses.

University Of Pennsylvania Museum is one of the oldest archaeological museums in the country. It occupies an architecturally significant building located across from Franklin Field, where the Army-Navy football game is played.

Mercer Musuem in Doylestown is not your average museum. Henry Mercer built a state-of-the-art (at the time) building to showcase his collections of Americana before the industrial age erased them from memory. He designed rooms intended to replicate (for example) what a blacksmith’s shop, apothecary or dairy barn would have looked like.

Wharton Esherick Museum in Malvern is the preserved home and workshop of this gifted and untraditional wood artist and sculptor. It is small, but so unusual, it’s worth the trip.

Historical Museums

Independence National Historic Park and the National Constitution Center are the start of a great history lesson in the city of many of our country’s “firsts” happened. Created to be very walkable, this set of buildings and the historically-garbed interpreters make the past come alive.

Museum of the American Revolution is the only museum dedicated to preserving and explaining the history of the birth of the United States as an independent nation.

African American Museum of Philadelphia is dedicated to sharing the life and work of African Americans in this country. It was the first institution of African American heritage to be built by a major city and is located in the historic district near Independence National Historic Park.

National Museum of Jewish History seeks to share the culture and heritage of Jews in America. It strives to educate both Jews and non-Jews about the Jewish-American experience.

Science Museums

Franklin Institute is a wonderful, hands-on science museum in a beautiful building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It offers great electricity exhibit, Sir Isaacs’s Loft, the Sports Zone, the Fels Planetarium and much more, but it’s the giant heart that will always be the most loved exhibit.

Academy of Natural Sciences, owned by Drexel University, is focused on education and research of bio diversity and environmental science. Visitors can see live butterflies as well as replicas of dinosaurs and many animals in between.

Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion is located north east of the city in an area where you might not expect to find a 7,000 sq. ft. area dedicated to butterflies. There are also two floors of museum space teaching about and celebrating the world of insects

Specialty Museums

Please Touch Museum is a museum created for children which encourages learning through experience. The supermarket is always a popular attraction as are the water play area (called River Adventures), Alice’s Wonderland and Imagination Playground. The Please Touch Museum is houses in Memorial Hall, built for the 1876 World’s Fair and the lower level has a scale model of the buildings at the fair with information about the exhibits.

Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum is a (previously private) collection of antique and rare racing cars. Each car’s history and significance is detailed in a placard next to it. A must-see for a racing enthusiast.

American Helicopter Museum, located in West Chester, is about an hour west of Philadelphia, but if you are a fan of rotary winged aircraft, it’s worth the trip.

Eastern State Penitentiary was the most expensive public building ever erected in America at the time of its completion. It was a testament to prison reform stressing rehabilitation vs. punishment and its architecture was intentionally designed to promote penance. It is most visited during October when Terror Behind the Walls brings Halloween ghoulishness to a new level with a haunted house experience unrivaled anywhere.

Mutter Museum might be your favorite if the macabre fascinates you. This institution, owned by the American College of Physicians, is a collection of medical history. It features some of the oddest, most disturbing anatomical specimens, historical medical equipment and even Einstein’s brain! It is not for the faint of heart.

Mummer’s Museum is an unapologetically Philadelphian institution. It is the repository for the costumes that are worn in the annual Mummer’s Parade, the oldest continuous folk parade in the country. These costumes can take nearly a year to create and are on display alongside information about history of the parade.

This list is by no means complete, but I hope it’s a good start! If there are museums you think I should add, please just drop me a note at jen@jenniferlebow.com.

Delaware County Tax Reassessment

November 20, 2018 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Delaware County residents: you may have noticed, over the past year, white vans trolling the residential streets and taking pictures of houses. Don’t worry, they weren’t casing the neighborhood. Although you could have another reason to worry, as those pictures are the first layer of information to be gathered toward the goal of a county wide property reassessment. The data is till being collected and will be collated for the 2021 tax year. So you still have some time before any changes take place. The pictures are designed to not only replace the poor quality (relative to what can be captured today) images that the county has on file, as well as to correct any inconsistencies in addresses which will be useful for emergency service calls.

While there was recently a person posing as a tax assessor in order to gain entry into people’s homes, be assured that images will only be of the exterior, will not include any homeowners or other people in them and the data collection will not entail access to the interior of your home. Furthermore, the white vans will be clearly marked as the property of Tyler Technologies, Inc., the company supplying the images.

Many of the more northern townships including Haverford, Radnor and Marple have already been photographed and the southern boroughs should be completed within the next year and a half. So how can you predict whether your taxes will go up or down? The prevailing theory is that certain townships are underassessed, including Radnor, where the estimate is that properties are assessed, on average, at 79% of their value. Others, especially near the industry-heavy airport corridor are said to be paying taxes at roughly 150% of value. Part of the issue is that different communities appreciate or depreciate at different rates over time, which is why these reassessments are crucial to maintain a “fair” tax balance. The county expects that there will be residents who would like to appeal whatever their new assessments are, and have indicated they will be prepared with a hotline set up so that residents can learn about the procedure. To find out more, call the Reassessment Hotline at (610) 891-5695.

Turning Silverware into Sculpture

November 18, 2018 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

See how this artist transforms common flatware into stunning sculpture.

I’m a big fan of frugality (ok, my family says I’m just cheap) and I also tend to celebrate (and be humbled) by creativity, especially in art. To create something where there once was nothing is a special skill. Then, to choose the materials and method to actually build or make a piece of art once the idea is there requires an additional level of talent. So, when I hear about artwork that is made from recycled materials, I am already halfway sold. I’ve recently discovered a few artists who work in the same recycled medium and produce quite varied sculpture–I think they are all terrific.

At any flea market or jumble sale, you’re bound to find plenty of old, mismatched silverware. I actually bought some recently for my daughter at a fund raiser for the local fire department. She’s just going to use the sundry forks, knives and spoons in her dorm room and maybe in an apartment she is considering for next year. Some people, though, scour these sales with much loftier goals in mind. I was undeniably impressed by British artist, Ann Carrington’s amazing “floral” arrangements that are made completely out of silverware. Other artists, like Gary Hovey, repurpose eating utensils into richly detailed metal animal sculptures. Another animal sculptor uses the same “raw materials”, but produces wildly different art. A judge by day, Ken Law (yes, really) is also a devotee of creating incredibly detailed metal animal sculptures of of silverware (as well as a few other commonly found metal tools and utensils).

Philadelphia Wage Tax

November 14, 2018 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

What is the wage tax?

As a relocation specialist, I am often asked about the Philadelphia wage tax. Equally often, I find myself educating unsuspecting buyers about this tax. I don’t want them to be unhappily surprised when they receive a “light” paycheck. While Philadelphia is not the only municipality to levy a wage (or “earned income”) tax, the city’s is higher than most. If you reside and work in Philadelphia, you will pay 3.88% in wage tax. However, if you live outside of the city, but you work in the city, you will still pay 3.46%, as well as the local earned income tax where you live, if there is one. Some municipalities don’t have any (like Lower Merion), while many have between .5 and 1%. The city wage tax has long been an issue of contention. Read here (disregard the outdated figures) for its history.

What other taxes should I consider?

If you are considering where to purchase their new home in the Philadelphia metro area, look carefully at the earned income taxes. Make sure you understand what, if any, your municipality (if living outside the city limits) charges. If you have a choice whether to work in or out of the city, this tax is clearly something to think about. Additionally, our real estate taxes can differ widely from township to township, so pay close attention to the property taxes of different homes you consider. There is state income tax as well as sales tax (a bit higher within the city limits than outside). It’s important to have the full picture of taxes when budgeting.

Mitigating factors

While this city tax certainly affects total take-home income, it’s wise to keep a few things in mind. The most important mitigating factor is that, as a large east coast city, Philadelphia is much more affordable than its peers. The cost of housing is appreciably less than cities like Washington, New York and Boston. As a result, even groceries and other purchases cost less because the businesses supplying them have lower rents. One other bright spot: as the BYOB capital of the country, dining out can be way less expensive than in other cities.