Memoirs of London - 7

7.

The "Street's traders" were a microcosm in the West End.  They were all and everywhere: drivers, painters, musicians,  trumps,  preachers, mystics, sandwiches-men, artists, pimps, prostitutes, nobles decayed, clean-washers, interviewers, fake and real pushers, teddy-boys, advertisers, rock-punkers, adepts, dealers  and sellers of any kind and much more than that.

Everyone could meet them in that circular microcosm of twisted alleyways, avenues, secondary streets and main arteries, all mysteriously united as an osmotic network of communicating vessels where the rivers, streams and seas walk in a twofold direction, never stopping. 

A living body whose pulsating heart is the West End.

Inside there is an even more intricate series of streets and alleys that goes under the name of Soho, where pimps and prostitutes (in regular and authorized professional clothes) have their kingdom.

Prostitutes could only indirectly be regarded as "street workers". 

In the English mentality, in fact, a "bitch in the street" is totally inconceivable. In England everything can be done,  talking of sex, supposed  is not known around. Anyone can make anything  but he’s supposed  not to spread it around . This  attitude,  hypocritical and paternalistic,  is for  sure a Victorian legacy that even the liberation movements of the sixties had failed to sweep away.

Whoever works in the street is the pimp. The one who makes as a trait-union towards the paradise of the forbidden, well protected by the strands of the sexy-shops.


These shops, all  opaque windowed,  at the time totally unknown and banned in Italy,  were officially licensed for the sale and rental of hard-core video cassettes and magazines, but in fact, and everyone knew it, they were the venue of infamous business, ideal recipe for itchy and perverted watchers of all kinds, sado-masochistic  represses, provided on the ground floor of prostheses suitable for pleasure and sorrow (whips, vibrators, inflatable dolls and all sexy accessories of paraphernalia you can imagine) and reserved apartments, projection halls, erotic cells with peephole and much more on top floors.

7. to be continued...

How to Make 5 Trendy Treats on a Stick

Sweet treats on a stick are all the rage right now; however they usually come with a pretty steep price tag. If you’re interested in serving these trendy treats but have written them off because of the high bakery price, consider making your own instead for a fraction of the cost. Not only will you save money, but your treats will be the hit of your next party.

1. Chocolate covered Oreos on a stick.  For this treat you will need a package of double stuff Oreos, candy melts, long lollipop sticks, wax paper, and nonpareils.  Melt the candy melts according to package directions.  Have the melted chocolate in a tall vessel, wide enough to dip the cookie into.  If the chocolate seems too thick add a tablespoon of solid shortening and heat for another 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave, then stir.  Take the sticks and push them into the frosting part of the Oreo.  The double stuff allows enough room for the stick to go in without messing up the look of the cookie.  Dip the cookie into the melted chocolate until it’s completely covered.  Discard any excess chocolate by tapping the stick on the edge of the bowl.  Lay the cookie down on the wax paper and sprinkle with nonpareils.  Allow to dry and serve standing up in a glass, stuck in some Styrofoam, or lying on a plate.
2. Cake pops are all the rage.  Bake any type of cake in a 9×13 inch pan.  Once the cake has completely cooled break it up into chunks and pulse it in a food processor to make fine crumbs.  Add about 2/3 of a can of store bought frosting to a bowl and add the cake crumbs.  Mix these together until a dough forms.  Feel free to add a little more frosting if it seems too crumbly.  Using a small disher or scoop, roll the cake dough into about 1 ½ inch balls.  Place the balls on a lined cookie sheet and place in the freezer for about 15 minutes.  Melt some candy melts according to package directions, but add a tablespoon of solid shortening.  Place the melted chocolate or bark into a tall container to make dipping easier.  Bring the cake balls out of the freezer and dip the end of a lollipop stick into the melted chocolate and then into the cake ball.  Go about halfway into the cake ball.  Now dip the cake pop into the chocolate until the whole ball is covered.  Remove from the chocolate and remove the extra chocolate by lightly tapping the stick on the edge of the bowl and turning the cake ball so that you get a smooth finish. 
3. Cookies on a stick can go with any theme.  Make your favorite roll-out sugar cookie dough.  Roll the dough about 3/8 of an inch thick.  Cut out whatever shape you would like as long as there’s room to insert the stick without messing up the cookie.  Lay your hand gently on the cookie and insert the lollipop stick into the cookie.  Try not to let the stick poke out the bottom of the cookie because once it bakes it will break off the stick.  If you see that your stick has poked through the back you can take a scrap of dough and press it over the stick in the back.  Bake the cookies until they are golden brown.  Now decorate as you normally would and display these cookies by sticking them in some Styrofoam.
4. Marshmallows on a stick are making an appearance at many birthday parties.  These treats are so simple to do that the kids can help make them.  Take a lollipop stick and poke it into a marshmallow.  Get a bunch of the marshmallows on sticks ready to go so that everyone can grab and go.  Now melt several different colors of candy melts according to package directions.  Fill some other bowls with various sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, nonpareils, and mini M&M’s.  Allow everyone to dip their marshmallow into the melted chocolate about half way up the marshmallow.  Allow the extra chocolate to drip off for a few seconds and then roll the marshmallow into a topping.  Have a big chunk of Styrofoam ready to stick these treats into so that they can dry.  It won’t take too long for the chocolate to harden.  This process can be sped up by placing the treats in the freezer.
5. Pretzel rods get all dressed up.  Children can help with this project as well.  Melt different colors of candy melts according to package directions and set them out.  To keep the chocolate from setting up before you are done you can place the bowls on a heating pad turned on low.  Have bowls set up with various toppings, mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, sprinkles, and anything else that sounds good.  Dip the pretzel rods into the melted chocolate about 2/3 of the way up the rod.  Gently tap off the excess chocolate and roll into your desired topping.  Place these treats into tall glasses to serve once they have set.

 P.S. This post was  proposed to me for publication by Barbara Williams.  I'm therefore publishing it by her invitation and under her permission. See also the link below fore more information:
 http://www.findababysitter.org/blog/how-to-make-5-trendy-treats-on-a-stick/