Your Coronation Meal

 Next week Great Britain gets a new monarch. You can celebrate Charles III whether you support him or not. The question is what do you make?

One of the most classic dishes comes from his  mother 's Elizabeth  II's coroation, coromation choicken. this is a relic from post war Britain.it';s chopped poached chicken cooled and then mixed with mayo , curry ,raisins and mango or apricot chuney.It suspiciously sounds like a Southern country clib lunceon dish to be served on lettuceleaves or white toast. The curry is a nod to the queen's father George VI who loved curry as did her great great grandmother Queen Victoria. I would revamp this by getting rid of the rasins, maybe adding apples and only adding a small pinch of curry.Yes,I'd serve it on toast, as you would with any chicken salad.

What can you make? Try beans on toast. I may butter the toast first and add a layer of Morningstar Farms bacon to it fo crunch and more flavor. Then there's the English fry up breakfast.(The coronation starts at 5 AM New York Eastern time next week!!!! )Many will be waking up to seeing a king get crowned. A fry up breakfast consists of fried eggs,bacon sausages,. fried tomatoes and beans. There's usually fried bread with it to mop up the egg. If it's a bit too much , then just have eggs and bacon on toast. You coul;d also just have an Englsih muffin with butter  - or turn it intoa breakfast sandwich to celebrate. A breakfast scone would be good too along with a steaming strong cup of English breakfast tea.

How will you celebrate the coronation of Charles and his queen Camilla? That's up to what you want to eat. Have a hearty breakfast or a lunch of coronation chicken salad.Be the ruler of your kitchen.

Easy Cooking Easy Eating

 If you want a quick and delicious meal, think Di Lallo Risotto. This a a quick dinner or even Sunday lunch meal that's as tasty as it is quick to make.

Right now my  physical adeptness in the kitchen is limited. I have to cook easy and have ingredients that are pre chopped or pre made. This mushroom risotto filled the bil.

I add two cups of cold water and two packages of rice (about sixteen ounces each) and cooked for half an hour after the initial boiling. I added two heaping yablespoons of Melt plant based butter at the end for more flavor and smoothness.

The end result was a creamy, muchroom packed bowl of goodness.It was perfect on this chill April FRiday. There was very little stirring and prep time. I could add somepeas or broccoli to the next batch. However ths was perfect.

If you want a good meal, thinbk Di Lallo Risotto.It;'s a quick way of having a sophsiticated dinner in now time. It really is perfect.

Doughnut Land

 LA is many things, Home of the stars and fancy restaurants. it's known for In and Out Burgers and taco trucks> It's also a mecca for doughnut shops too.

Regular contributor Tejal Rao wrote abouth Los Angeles dougnut culture in yesterday's New York Times Food section. There are several right now , all popular , all offeringa wide variety of textures and flavors

Holey Grail ,a Hawaiian onehas tropical influeces in theirs. Colorado Donuts have a old fashioned vibe but uses bright colpr and flavors to sell theirs. Newer generations like Mochi Dochi pull a aprt ones. like mobhi onesThere is even Alice Gu's movie Doughnut KIng which highlights the LAS pastry scene.

Doughnuts are fun. Imagine them in a glam setting like LA. They're even more fun.

Corona Plaza A Weekend Treat

If you're looking for something different to do thos Spring then think about  the Corona Plaza Market in Queens new York. This is the place to go for a taste of the familiar and exotic It's worth the car bus or subway trip out.

Rrgular contributor Priya Krishna wrote about it in today's New York Times Food section. It'sworth the trip out You can try prok skin crackles over warmed potatoes or a tprtilla filled with sliced beef and onions.Blame the pandemic on this area. Many vendors lost their jobs and couldn't go back to their old jobs. They created new food and drink oriented ones.

It paid off. This area is popular with all sorts fo people, from hipsters looking for a new flavor to Latinos searching for a taste of home.The in gredients are fresh and seasonal. Freoilan and ZChristina Garcia not only make fresh tacos and totillas but also agua fressca, the refreshing water based drink. They use market boiught cucumbers and lime for it. Their corn flour based drinks have fresh peanuts and walnuts. Not allof it its rosy however. There have been raids where ,local cops take their gear and they have to retrieve it. This can be costly.

Still if you want to try Corona Plaza Market do so,It's a fun and tasty getaway It's a day trip worth taking.

Vitamin Plus

 Should it just be kids who take viamins. If your answer is yes, think again.Adults need them much more than kids and taking them is a good habit to get into.

I got into takin multivitamins thanks to the results of a blood tesr, My doctors recommended them after my panels showed I had a slightly lower white blood cell count. This is alarming because a low amount ,means a tougher time of fighting off infections. I went with Walgreen's multivitamin gummies, due mostly to their addition of  folate and B-12. This brings up the white blood cell or wbc count.Two a day does it and they are fun to eat, The flavors are pretty good, peach, orange and a combo of the berries.

Can you get this many vitamins with a healthy diet. Yes, but that means eating a lot of veggies and fruots. This is a good habit but sometimes you don't have the time or even the money to get fresh produce and meats. Let's face it too, a healthy diet can be a boring one too. Sometimes you want empty calories and junk food. 

Take those vitamins. Pick out what works for you. Gel cap, pill or gummy. You'll feel better and be better with a daily dose.

Slightly Ajar

 This blog is back - sort of  .I'll be writing shortened versions of it every day. 

Yesterday the New York Times put out their one hundred greatest Manhattan and borough restaurants guide. There are some good ones listed, ones that I'd like to visit and write about.It just bings to mind how important restaurants are , especially when you can't cook. i;ve relied on them in the last couple of weeks. 

Don't get me wrong. I miss cooking. I miss my spices and olive oil. I love tweaking a recipe I've just discovered. However even chain eateries like Blaze and Taco Bell have come in mighty handy lately. Celebrate your local places and if you can;t cook, then eat out. There's something fun about ordering your faves or eating the leftovers a day later.

Until The End Of Asparagus Season

 Foodie pantry will be taking a short break - probably until the end ofasparagus season - or maybe this week.

I am having , yet and yet again - surgery this time  yet again on my arm. COoking will be hard for now. Baking is out of the question. This is my last night to really cook so it's asparagus again  -yum - and plant based fish sticks from Good Catch.

I plan on writing about Good Catch as soon as I can. This is an intriguing company and I'm looking forward to try their products.

See you soon. Iwill be returning with some new recipes and products to try.

A Picnic Of Leftovers

 With Easter comes leftovers. Everyone right now is inundated with ham and hardboiled eggs , not to mention Spring potatoes and soem kind fo veggie side. What to do? Use them on an Easter week picnic. Everything cna be repurposed in a tasty outdoors dish.

Of course there is ham and with it comes all sort of leftover ideas. The best for a picnic is slices on a good sourdough or baguette. You can layer it with slices of Gruyere along with either mustard or mayo.A ham salad is also a smart repurpose. This is a mix of cubed ham, mayo and chopped celery. Some add a  tablespoon of chopped dill o sweet pickle for tang and bite. That's up to you as is the addition of mustard. The best seasoning for this is simply  freshly ground pepper (skip the salt because th e ham has it). You could add celery seed which gives it a fresh green undertaste.Devilled ham is another picnic food you can easily make wth the leftover meat.Blend chopped ham with any oil or mayo. You could add celery for color or carraway seeds for a more robust flavor. Some add Worcester sauce to get that unique  Underwood Devlled ham flavor.Again it's up to you tastewise. Devilled ham is great on Hawaiian rolls but would also be good on thin slices of Italian bread too.

All those Easter eggs can  be repurposed too. A plain one with some salt is a nice simple appetizer in any picnic basket. You could also turn them into devilled eggs by peeling them and then cutting thm in half. Mash the yolk with some mayo and ketchup (or mustard ) and then refill the whites . Add a dash of paprika for some color. How to transport? You can use a silicon muffin tray or even an ice cube tray . Make sure they're at the top fo the cooler or have some kind of solid lid so they're not squashed. What's a picnic without egg salad sandwiches? This is a simple make with just the hard boiled eggs and mayo. As with ham salad you can add other ingredients like chopped green onions or mustard if you want. You can make the sandwiches at home or bring a container and rolls and wait until you hit the park or the beach. Those left ove veggies can also be turned into yummy salads too.Add a vinaigrette to those green beans or broccoli florets , mix and pop into a carry all container Slice leftover Spring or new potatoes, add some mayo and chopped celery and you have another tasty picnic dish.

It's the week for sunny picnic and good food. REpurpose those Easter leftovers into a tasty out door lunch. It's a fun way to njoy that ham and Easter eggs a second time.

Holy Saturday Traditions Breaking

 Usually Holy Saturday is the day I frost my lamb cakes. This year I am taking a break.

I have a lot coming up and that includes cooking tomorrow's Easter dinner. I relied on the excellent bakers at my local Acme to provide ne with a Easter dessert  - mixed chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with gobs of brightly colored icing on top along with plastic symbols and toys ( a rabbit ring!) on top.

Have a blessed and joyous Easter full fo treats , and sweets. Count your blessings for family and a good life.

Good Friday Traditions

 This Good Friday ,remember  the traditions that make this day holy and somber .Many give up meat ,.A few even forgo dairy and eggs. It's up to you on how you want to observe.

I relied on a family recipes noodles with eggs,  from my Swabian German American grandfather's family.It was always made on Good Friday and was a filling dinner after visiting the church.I made it vegan by using Just Egg and then took a traditional route by subbing in spaetzle. It's served with peaches , as many German dishes are served with fruit instead of vegetables.

Today is a day full of somberness and prayer. Pray for those around the world that they can have an Eastrr weekend full of traditional foods and rites wherever they are.

Australia's Easter Treat

 Hot cross buns have alwasy been a Lenten treat. In Australia they're more than that. They're a passion and a harbinger of not only the Easter season but autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. These flavorful rolls are the perfect introduction to cooler days ahead.

Australian writer and Melbourne native Doosie Morris wrote about this Down Under passion in yesterday's New York Times Food section.In most countries hot crossed buns usually appear around Ash Wednesday. Not so with the Australian version, popping up as early as December 26th - Boxing Day.aussies have always had a soft spot for them however the pandemic supercharged the need for them. People want the comfort scent and flavor of citrus and spice. Then there's popping them in th e oven to warm up and slathered with butter and sprinkled with salt which makes them comfort food according t bakery owner Kate Reid.It also aligns with the changing weather. unlike Christmas where turkeys are roasted in mid summer, This British inheritance sort of lines up. with the changing season and the chill that comes with it.They're perfect with a hot cup of coffee or tea  and work as a breakfast or a snack, Melbourne's Falco's bakery had sold a whopping five thousand buns within an hour four days before the holiday.

How did they become so popular and part of the Australian diet? They came over with the British, first being commercially baked at Australia's oldest operating bakery, Maldon Bakery  ninety miles outside Melbourne.Their  first hot cross buns came out 170 years ago when Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire. The recipe hasn't changed according to owner  Rebecca Barnett, and if it had  she and her team would be "drawn and quartered " by the locals for doing such. It hasn't changed since the 1850's with the same  mixed spices, vine fruits and citrus peel. There are some bakers who do experiment with the recipe. Kate Reid of th famed Lune Croissantrie in Melbourne has creaed the  hot cross cruffin, a croissant muffin hybrid. it has the same flavor yet a different shape and mouth feel. There are even cereals and ice cream with the distinctive flavor along with even protein powder. The Aussies are so crazy for them that they have have hot cross bun scented candles, body butter, beard oils and even puppy probiotic!!!

Hot cross buns are a lovely way to celebrate Lent. Down Under they're so much more. They're a much beloved comfort food that not only welcones the Easter season but also fall.

The Milk Wars

 Does any one really drink cow's milk anymore? There seems to be between it and this new crop of plant based ones. Who will win? That's a good question.

Regular contributor Kim Severson wrote about this in today's New York Times Food section. Dairy milk consumption seems to have decreased thanks to Generation Z the group that were born between 1997 and 2013.THey prefer wither milk alternatives or just bottles of water. Last yeat they bought twenty  per cent less milk than the national average according to the consumer market researc company Circana. Even Masani Bailey who created a nostalgic "Got Milk" series of Titok videos has even pointed that out. There is a lot of baggage that comes with drinking real ro cows milk.Most of this has to do as more and more immirants arrive here and with that their intolerance to anyhting with lactose. Then there's the cows huuting the environment with producing methane gas. There is also the increasing skepticism about the dairy industry and the humane treatment of them as well. Social media is helping to spread this and turn many against the idea of drinking whole milk. 

FUnny enough other dairy products like cheese , yogurt and ice creams. These sales haven't suffered. However this is not enough to bring up numbers. Yes milk is selling. Last year milk sales were around $15.7 billion while all plant based milks garnered only 2.4 billion. However it's just not selling to the demographic who spends the most and creates the trends.That is changing though thanks to campaigns and new milk based products. Marathoner Yvonne Zapata has been chosen to promote milk as an energy drink for Gen Zers.The MIlk Processor Education Program has signed her to their 26.2 project , an ambitious effort to provide training and gear to every woman running a marathon in the US this year. Her portrait is going up on the Gonna Need Milk website. The only problem, - she really doesn;t drink it, preferring the nut milks instead. Then there are new milk based products. People still drink chocolate milk. There is a new one called Spylt  which has it caffeinated (although chocolate has plenty of caffeine in it to begin with ) thanbks to Shark Tank like contests creared by the dairy industry.

Can milk ever regain its popularity? The dairy industry is betting on it. People still need it and some love drinking it. It's here to stay.

Ready For Easter Brunch

One of the most fun and delicious traditions is Easter brunch.It's a great way for family and friends to gather.Yet it does require a lot. The key is to be ready and well stocked for it.

One of the most important things to dois make a list of who is coming along with their likes and dislikes.If you have vegans coming remember to buy products like Morningstar Farms soy bacon and Just Egg egg substitute. Keep in mind that this last can also be used in baking. Also take into consideration kid's allergies. Keep the brunch free of nuts along with products that were processed where there were nuts.Gluten free is easy to get and create. There aremany gluten free flours so you can make everything from waffles to cupcakes .Once you have your list , ask yourself if the weather is nice enough for outdoor dining. You could set up tables and folding chairs set in various spits in the backyard or just have one set table. THis is also time to air out the good Spring linen tablecloth and napkins for indoor dining. Should there be a kid's table? Yes, They'll be a noisy , excited crowd after an Easter egg hunt fueled by chocolate eggs  Have fun favors you can get at your local dollar store or FIve Below or small cupcake liners filled with a Peep and jelly beans.

As for the food, you can easily ge tthe ham now along with any of the canned sides.Canned pineapple is a must have in many an Easter dinner so get it now before the stores sell out. Do you want to have an omelet bar? Try to buy eggs in the next few days, despite everyone using them for dying. Wal-mart has a good deal with eighteen eggs for only $3,13. You could get two containers with saving some for decoration.If you're planning on making egg cups make sure you have the right muffin pans for them. You  may have to buy a second one to accomodate a large crowd.If it's a true brunch , then it 's time to check your griddle to make sure it's working. the same thing for your waffle maker.That brings up the question do you have enough flour or Bisquick for waffles and pancakes? As for dessert , do you let guests bring their own creations or do you bake for the enire crowd? Now is the  time to buy the cake mixes , Dream Whip if you're making a lamb cake and confectioner's sugar for frosting. Also now is the time for buying the extras for baking like coconut and marashmallow for grass and bunny tails. Make sure your food coloring is usable and you have enough.

Easter brunch is a great way to celebrate the holiday. Make sure you're ready for it.Preparedness will go a long way in making a memeorable meal.

Matzoh Savory and Sweet

 Matzoh is one of those Passover essentials that can be used in a variety of different ways.It is a bread substitute as well as a flour one. It can be used for both savory and sweet recipes, all adding to the seder.

Matzoh is eaten during the entire Passover  and can be served soft like pita or crispy like crackers It has to be made from one of the five ancient grains, wheat, spelt barley rye or oat. Some sephardic communitiies allow it to be made with eggs ot fruit juice.it not only symbolizes redemtion and freedom but also humbleness , being called poor man's bread. It also commemorates when the Jews had to flee Egypt  and couldn't wait for their bread to rise. it can be used in all sorts of recipes. One of the most traditional is matzoh brei, an egg and matzo combination.This makes for a good breakfast or even a light lunch.It's  a mix of crumbled sheets of crumbled matzohs , caramelized onions and eggs. You can add chives if you want for more color or flavor. Of course there is matzoh ball soup, These are made with matzoh meal, eggs , chicken stock and schmaltz or chicken fat. If the last is too fatty for you then use kosher vegetable oil.  The're shaped into ping pong ball sized rounds and thne dropped into lightlly salted water to cook. They're then transferred to chicken broth for a satisfying light dinner.

Matzoh can do double duty as a base for sweet recipes. Keep in mind that matzoh brei can also be made sweet.It's still the same egg and crumbled matzoh base but orange water and a pinch of sugar are added.It's cooked in butter and served garnished with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Kosher apple sauce or jam can also be served with it.Matzoh is becoming popular in holiday candies. There is the famed matzoh crack which is homemade butter toffee evenly spread over four sheets Dark chocolate chips are scattered on top to melt over the hot toffee. Use a spatula to spread the chocolate over the sheets and top with chopped pecans and sea salt. Place the entire pan in the fridge to set and chill for forty-five minutes. Cut into squares and serve.Surprisingly enough matzoh can be turned into an ice box cake. Layers of matzoh are interspersed with vanilla or chocolate pudding mixed with Cool Whip. It's topped with a mocha ganache icing and then chilled.It can even be turned  into tiramisu . Soak the matzohs in a good strong brew and layer with a chocolate creme. Top with a chocolate ganache and sprinkle with espresso.

Matzoh can be in both savory and sweet dishes Try it as a savory lunch or a delicious dessert. It's versatile anyway you use it.

Vegan For Holy Week

 Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, the beginning of the Christian Holy week. Some fast while ohers just observe Good Friday. However if you want to observe but not fast so muc then think about going vegan for a week.It's an easy practice for avoiding meat and other indulgences.

Home chefs can take a page from the Greak Orthodox. They forgo all meat , dairy and egg for their Lenten period which started on February 27th. Their's is a  strictly vegan until  their Easter Sunday which is a week after ours. it is an easy to do thanks to all the vegan products that have exploded on the market in the last few years. You can easily make both red and white chili using soy crumbles or plant based chicken strips.The crumbles cna be used to make a vegetarian Bolognese too, perfect with penne or spaghetti. Kids will love the chiocken nuggets that both Gardein and Morningstar Farsm sell. You may want to try the last's Veggetizers, small fun bites in such flavors as pizza and popcorn chicken for a quick weeknight meal.  Tey also have plant based taquito bites chorizo nacho bites and buffalo chicken wings.Their bacon is excellent , especially when served with Just Egg's egg substitute. This last is perfect for scrambles  and makes for a good breakfast or even breakfast for dinner. It can even be used in baking too.

Holy Week is also a good time to forgo dairy too. Again this is easy thanks to all the plant based milks out there. There are even chocolate versions sold in handy boxes with straws.Keep in mind that oat milk has the highest calories with 120 a cup. You may want to try almond or soy milk for lesser calories. What about ice cream, whipped cream and cheese.Again there are so many to choose from thanks to people going vegan. even Ben and Jerry have their own line featuring some of the best loved flavors like mint chocolate cookie and Colin Kaepernick's Change The Whirled. That ice cream giant Breyer's also sells  non dairy version of their most popular flavors. You can make your own using coconut milk maple syrup or cane sugar and vanilla extract. It will have a coconut taste but you can off set this with fruit juice to create a sorbet or  chocolate bits. THere is also vegan whipped cream thanks to Reddi Whip  producing both a coconut and almond version of their original. as for cheese, try Chao's . Theyy have both sliced  and shredded that are perfect for grilled cheese or in salads.

You can do some fasting for Holy Week by forgoing meat, dairy and eggs. It's easy nowadays, thanks to all the different products. You may continue it even after Easter.