Giving Up And Giving For

 Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of another Lent. The period before Easter is meant for sacrifice and fasting for many Christians. Yet this year it's also the time of giving up and this year it should be giving out and for as well.

Thanks to government cuts and jobs being lost across the private sector, more and more people are relying on help. This Lent instead of giving up - give out. Prices are high across the board and it;s hard for yourself to put together a decent meal yet if you can spare a few dollars or a few cans to friends and family in need do so. Also think about inviting them over. You don't have to make and elaborate roast and buy a splashy dessert. Something as simple as pasta or chili which is  inexpensive to throw together . As far as dessert, homemade brownies or slice and bake cookies can do the trick. If your kids ' friends families are having trouble with providing lunches , step in. Make a double lunch for your own and then have the kids share them. The little ones will love the idea and they can get together for meal planning. The same idea goes for  elderly neighbors too.Bring a simple lunch of soup  - which is inexpensive and a sandwich to share. They'll appreciate a hot meal and also the company.

Keep in mind that food pantries are bound to be cut and dismantled. Illinois is already experiencing this. Families will be in dire need of even basic staples. If you're a small grocery owner try to donate any overage to these if you can. Keep in min that church or community run food pantries and gardens are not state run and their budgets may only face slight cuts, depending upon donations. You would be better donating to them. Also this is the time when many community gardens start preparing their land for seeding . Volunteer when you can. Help them with planning where to plant along with the actual tilling and hoeing. Also help in pruning fruit trees if they have them. every year branches need to be cut to make way for new fruit bearing ones. Also help or donate any vital tools like hoses and spades, along with rakes and gloves.If there is a shortage of these and no money , organize either a bake sale or a Chinese auction to raise  money. Bang on doors, send out flyers to the community. too for others to donate whether time or money.

This is the time for giving up. Sacrifice what you have  - food , time or money to those in need. we need to help each other right now and this is the perfect time to do so.

Shrove Tuesday and Pancakes

 Today is Shrove Tuesday . You can celebrate with pancakes - of waffles for some. You could go wild at your own Carnavale - with Brazilian steaks and chips. Then there's Mardi Gras with etouffee and po'boys.

For me it's waffles - I really can;t stand pancakes. It's just a quirk,I know.

Mine was four!!!!!!!There;s is nothing like Eggo's drenched in syrup and blopped with butter. It's a quick meal on  crazy day. I usually like having the plant based chicken with it but that's another dinner for another time

Celebrate this day with the foods that bring you job. It could be steak.It could be spicy crawfish. Go wild before Lent starts.

Planning That Need Garden

 With March cones ideas and dreams of the perfect garden. This year, though ,will be  a little different. Due to rising prices, it;s not going to be what do we want to plant, but what do we need to plant.

Everything will be sky high in price in a few months. It's time to assess what produce you eat the most and use in recipes. Plan your gardens, if you can, around these veggie . That also includes herbs too.if there;s a lot of  shade both in your front and back yards then plant those all important greens. Spinach does well in cool, shady areas.It's also a versatile leaf that can add color to stratichella soup and omelets.Also nothing beats a fresh spinach salad. Carrots are another root veggie that can grow in shade. Again  like,spinach these are good cooked or raw, especially as a snack or hors d'ouevre with a good dipping sauce. Potatoes are also good in this type of situation. depending upon the variety they can ripen anywhere from a month to three months. These are incredibly versatile and can be turned into everything from soup to salads. They make great sides as well as being the star of the meal as well. New gardeners will appreciated the shade loving radish. They are the easiest veggie to grow. The tops are perfect for giving zing to salads while the top can be cooked like spinach.

What about sunny gardens? One plant that absolutely thrives is the tomato.Tomatoes  are  definite must grows . Talk about a fruit(and yes it is a fruit) that can sustain a kitchen through all four seasons. Yes, they amazing fresh , whether in  all kinds of salads and delicious white bread sandwiches , rich with mayo, but also in sauces. These can be made during the height of the summer harvest and then used for pasta dises in the fall, winter and spring. All they need is six hours of solid sunshine and warmth to thrive. Another plus is that you can plant different kids and have a whole slew of flavors and recipes.Peppers also thrive in  wam ,light filled gardens. Like tomatoes, they yield a good harvest and like tomatoes they are versatile. peppers may a colorful and sweet addition to any salad but they're also good as part of a kebab or stuffed with rice and ground turkey. Eggplants and onions are also sun lovers. Eggplants can get very big and one can easily be stretched to two meals. If you grow them and the onions with tomatoes you have fresh ingredients for ratatouille, the perfect summer dish.Corn can grow in direct sun but the stalks do need a lot of land. Plant them if you have a big sunny garden. The ears are perfect grilled but you can also use them in corn chowder too.

This year plant the garden you need. Prices are only go up and up. Combat them with your own home grown stash of veggies.

Food Fights

Yesterday's economic blackout sent a  message to the president and the big box stores. Did it work? it may be too early to tell.Should we do it again  to make a stronger statement? Absolutely!!!

The reason for the blackout was to honor companies that still maintained their DEI - diversity -equity and inclusion policies and to protest those that followed President's Trump new policies.Atlanta based pastor Reverend Jamal Bryant organized a forty day protest  through the website targetfest.com.It was supposed to start on Ash Wednesday - March 5th 2025 and continue for forty days during the Lenten period.Right before this plan Reverend Al Sharpton announced in late January of this year that it would identify two companies for ninety day  boycotts focusing on businesses that had abandoned diversity pledges. The reverend stated that while federal government might eliminate DEI programs it was ultimately the consumers retained the power of where they could shop and spend their money. Unfortunately many stores where we shop for food and kitchen appliances scrapped their DEI programs. Topping the list were Walmart,Target , Amazon and it's subsidiary Whole Foods. Certain companies like General MIlls and Nestle also got rid of their diversity programs.

What does this mean? Do we still shop at these stores and buy their products? That's up to you. However it pays to research a store's hiring policies. Both Aldi and Lidl, German based companies that have the European sense of fairness (as many European based companies do) hire on a DEI basis.Anyone is welcome to work in their stores and there is a very likely chance of promotion in their first year of work. American based grocery stores like Acme and Stop & Shop. Shop at these stores as much as possible. Ldl has delicious foods like Aldi and at cost. Lidl offers clothing and household goods like pots and pans along with linens so you don;t have to rely on Target or Amazon for everything. Another economic blackout might also call for avoiding such fast food chains as Chick Fil't and Starbucks. What do you do then? As the organizers suggest look to the smaller family ownded businesses. There are some good coffee shops that are privately owned. Many bakeries also offer coffee and places to sit. Their homemade treats area lot better as we all know than the mass produced muffins and doughnuts. The same is true with family owned restaurants. The food is always fresh and they can easily customize your food to the way you want.

Another economic blackout may be planned. Be ready and knowledgeable about where to shop and eat. Support the places that still strongly support DEI in this turbulent time.

Feasting After The Fast

 After  day of fasting the foods of Eid al-Adha  are not only nourishing but also delicious. They celebrate when the willingness of the prophet Ibraham to sacrifice his son Ismail. It is a holiday of sacrifice but there is also a side that shows love of family and heritage.

Fasting is one of the important factors of the holiday.It's an actor worship that brings Muslims closer to Allah.It's also empathizing with those who don;t have access to food. Charity is also a must .Muslims mist also share or give food to those in need. Not only is food not allowed but also water, and medicine (although this doesn't apply to the elderly and sick). At sundown the food comes out and there is feasting until daylight. lamb is very big during these night time dinners. Families can make a spiced lamb curry tat's ripe with apricot and saffron.There is also the Palestinian qurbani which can be beef , lamb or mutton. There is also the choice of kababs. A popular one is galouti which iOS made from minced meat, namely lamb. The shami one is Pakistani has dal or lentils added to it and made with beef. Masala flavoring is added to it.There is another kabak from Pakistan , the seekh and it is fried beef . lamb ro chicken mixed with onions and chili peppers for a hot flavorful treat.  Haruyali type of kebab has a green curry sauce on it and it's usually chicken.

Every meal ends with a sweet feasts of various desserts. Many home bakers will make ma'moul , a kind of shortbread ring filled with either pistachios, dates or walnuts.Some dinners will end with makrouta, a flaky cookie filled with dates. Cardamon and anise flavor the dough giving it a rich scent and taste. Stuffed dates are also a good dessert after the highly seasoned foods. These treats called Tamr mahshi throughout the Middle East are filled with different nuts like walnuts,pistachios and almonds. Chopped fruit and cream can also be used as fillings.A creamy rich dessert is Muhallibi, a mixture of milk and sugar thickened with cornstarch or rice.I's cooked and poured into molds to set.It can be topped with pistachios, shredded coconut, cinnamon or raisins.There is also a rolled cookie not only made for Eid but also for weddings.The dough is made with flour butter and yeast with fennel  and Nigella seeds for flavor. They can be filled with either walnuts or dates and both fillings are rich with cinnamon and cardomom along with butter for the dates.

The day is for fasting. The night is for celebrating. Both savory and sweet dishes make for a perfect Eid Al Adha meal.

Chefs' Legacies

 All great chefs are trailblazers, leaving behind legacies for the next generation of innovative cooks. This is none truer in the African-American community. Women chefs brought joy and history to their dishes , creating memorable recipes and memories for their patrons.

Regular contributor and accomplished chef  Korsha WIlson wrote about Black women who left an indelible mark on American restaurant cuisine in yesterday's New York Times Wednesday Food section. She covers chefs from three  decades, the Seventies ,Eighties, and Nineties. The restaurants are legendary, the cooks and dishes famed.Pamela Strobel was one of the first(there was Sylvia's started in 1962) owning and cooking for two restaurants ,Little Kitchen which was between 1965 to 1969 and Princess Pamela's Southern Touch which began in 1988 to 1998. She knew famous people such as Andy Warhol and even entertained her guests with bluesy songs. Her cooking skills came from her growing in South Carolina and featured simple meals like pork chops and collard greens. She created a sauce name for her mother who went by Beauty. This was [each preserved thinned with vinegar and has melted butter  and lemon added to it. The latest was B. Smith who ran the popular B Smith.Her food was distinctively Low COuntry with crab croquettes , potato salad and a remoulade. for dipping . She made kale salads topped with chicken and salmon long before anyone else did.

The next decades saw the arrival of the famed Alberta Wright  and Toukie Smith ,a celebrity in her own right.Chef Wright reigned from 1983 to 2007. She had the whimsically named Jezebel. Her restaurant was known for it's bright colored wall where equally bright art was hung,.She too was a South Carolinian who served Low Country specialties as crab soup laced with sherry, broiled red snapper stiffed with cornbread and oyster stuffing and  shrimp Creole with rice and okra. Her enthusiasm for cooking and treating guests like family infused the place. Of course Toukie Smith brought that same level of good cooking to her eatery . She was truly a star ,appearing on the  sitcom 227 and gracing the pages of Elle and Vogue . even though she is best known for these she also created Toukie's that lasted only four years, from 1994 to 1998. She was famed not only for her Black bottom pie, a decadent chocolate pudding filled pie but also for join tables and eat with guests.Those arriving were always welcomed with a kiss as she left a print of her signature red lipstick on them.

These women shaped not only Black culture in New York but  the way all New Yorkers ate. They brought ssignature family dishes and African American cuisine to the forefront. They shaped Manhattan's taste buds in memorable ways.

America;s Stockpile

 Tariffs affect the American people  among with the countries that sell us their goods. Many are stockpiling, anticipating that tt\heir favorites will be costing much more in the months ahead. Is this the right thing to do? Possibly.

Editor of the New York Times Food section Nikita Richardson sent out a question to New York TImes readers about what they would be stocking up on.Some of the results are in today's New York Times Wednesday Food section. More than two hundred and fifty readers responded from a question that started with an anecdote from a Cooking editor. A relative had bought four bottles of Cognac in anticipation of tariffs on imported good.It's not just fancy liqueurs that are being horded.Common foodstuffs are too.A coffee lover, Mary Corbett of San Diego California wnr out and bout sixteen(!) pounds of coffee at Costco.It was due to Columbia and other South American countries. She likes looking at it as ti makes her feel safe.It is a wise choice . Coffee consumption was at an all time high last year in 2024. Another component of a good cup is also under attack - oat milk - which comes from Canada. Barista Josh Orter of Brooklyn's Minor Figues has been sticking up on it.

Of course with this silly trade war with Canada, maple syrup will also be affected.Syrup lovers have also stocked up. Luckily because of its' high sugar content,. maple syrup in glass bottles can last for years. Freezing an opened container of maple syrup can also extend its' shelf life.Olive oil is another foreign product both home and commercial chefs need. Most come from Italy but there are brands being imported from Spain and Greece.Two readers offered suggestions. Denise Adams of East Northport ,New York suggests buying and saving.She has  five bottles on reserve while reader Marsha Gelt in Oakland California recommends buying it in smaller bottles. You get more out of it than form the larger ones because olive oil can only last at best three weeks after being opened. A good idea is buying it from Aldo and Lidl where its a few dollars cheaper than in full priced grocery stores. Home chefs are also stocking up on avocados and pantry goods. Mexican goods such as avocados also face a twenty-five per cent tariff.Many ,like Rebecca Lawton of Fort Worth Texas are buying them now , rock hard and letting them ripen.  are stocking up on dried goods like oarmeal and imported canned goods. These can last for years .

Unfortunately the tariff war will go o  for the next four year - maybe even longer. Does i pay to stockpile while the prices go up. The answer is yes, because who knows what will happen during this presidential term.

A Good Quick Meal

  What's your idea of a good quick meal It could be a grilled cheese? Or is it ramen soup with a rare and expensive egg?  Do you prefer Sunday leftovers on MOnday where' there's no prep but plenty of reheating

Le'ts hear your ideal quick meal. MIne would have to be ramen,  any soup for me is a good quick meal that's also hot and filling.

Dolmades A Tasty Treat

 The best mezzo or snack is dolmades or dolmas. These are grape leaves stuffed with rice and meat. These are a great way to be introduced to Greek and Middle eastern food.

YOu can easily make or buy them.I've found Eradanous brand grape ;eaves at my local Lidl. They also make vine leaves (Basically dolmades) stuffed with rice and pomegranate syrup.

This was a tasty snack but with a salad could make for a good, refreshing dinner.

Dolmades ca be made at home. Most stores do sell them but they also can be bought on Amazon too.A simple stuffing is rice but you can add leftover minced lamb or ground beef. Chopped onions are  another ingredient that will add more flavor to them. Uncooked rice and the other ingredients are placed atop whole grape leaves ,then rolled into little parcels. They're steamed in water for thirty to forty five minutes. They  can be eaten hot but they  r'e also good chilled , marinated in olive oil.

Dolmades are the perfect snack,appetizer or dinner. They 're bursting with flavor . Make them for a different kind of meal.

Mug Treats

 Mugs are usually used for that steaming cup of coffee or hot cocoa.Yet they can be used for making quick meals for one or an easy to make treat. It's surprising what a mug can hold.

If people are using mugs for meals, the first thing would be for soups. This is true. A mug of soup is a great lunch but it can be used for so many other dishes.Mug chili is a fun and easy hot  lunch or  Sunday supper. keep in mind that this only takes a fraction of the ingredients used to make a pot of chili.Its' three tablespoons each of corn , red kidney beans, finely chopped carrots Mix in one tablespoon of chopped onion or a small pinch of onion powder. You only need six tablespoons of tomato sauce along with one half tea spoons of cumin and chili powder. You can blend in a tiny pinch of red pepper flakes if you want, You can cook it that day or put it in the fridge for later use.It'll will hold up for two to three days.It's just a few minutes in the microwave and you have a hot, satisfying meal. Add corn chips along with avocado slices. You could even have a cornbread square with it . You can even make pizza in a mug!!! Take a slice of bread_ I'd go with Italian for a nice crusty bite - and cut it into cubes. Then mix  one teaspoon melted butter, with one tablespoon of pizza sauce  Also add a teaspoon of oregano and small cubes of mozzarella. Add a tiny bit of olive soil and then microwave for ninety seconds or until the cheese melts.

Of course mugs can be used for making a variety of sweet treats too. Ali Slagle came up with a mug version of sticky toffee pudding for the Wednesday New York Times Food section.This is making a cake like pudding in a mug and then dousing it with a homemade caramel sauce. it should be made in a bowl but you can make it in a large mug too.The actual cake has a quarter cup of flour and a quarter cup  baking powder like a full size cake along with chopped dates along with three tablespoons of heavy cream. It only takes a minute to make it. You can even spoon on jarred caramel sauce like Smuckers on top. Another sweet mug treat is a cinnamon roll in one. You do have to grease the mug with either, butter, margarine or a cooking spray. Its then taking a two or three tablespoons of pancake mix and a quarter teaspoon of baking powder and mixing them with  milk and maple syrup. Melted butter is added int give the cake moistness>its then swirling brown sugar and cinnamon on top for that classic cinnamon roll look. Microwave for about a minute.

Mugs are not just for coffee or hot cocoa. YOu can make quick amazing meals and desserts in them. Try a savory or sweet mug treat for a quick bite.

Hearty And Healthy

 Can a dish be both hearty and healthy? Yes! Many dishes can be both rib sticking and good for you.It's just getting a good mix of veggies and protein to create a dish thar's perfect for these frosty days. It doesn't have to be loaded with fat and grease to keep you satisfied.

Pasta is always a good filling meal. Many would go with a rich Alfredo sauce , rich with cream, butter and Parmesan cheese. Opt for a just as flavorful portobella mushrooms. and spinach. This blends is sauteed ina mix of olive oil and plant based butter. Minced or grated garlic is added for flavor. This is good with any kind of pasta.It's also up to you on how to create it.Mushroom lovers can put three or four chopped Bella's and just half a cup of spinach while spinach lovers can add two cups (it cooks down quickly) and two chopped Bella's or half a cup of sliced baby Bella's.Another idea is a simple chicken cacciatore which has chicken breasts or plant based chicken strips in a simple tomato sauce enhanced with red wine and a bit if anchovy for unami. The flavors are rich and also perfect with the lean cuts of chicken.A lemon sauce, usually made with olive oil and garlic as well also is a tangy and satisfying. Add chicken strips ,or seared salmon to make it heartier.

Stuffed veggies can be both hearty and healthy too.Everyone loves a warming dish of stuffed peppers. Two can make for a hearty healthy week day or Saturday night dinner. You can fill them with lean ground beef or turkey along with rice , chopped onions and tomatoes. Plant based beef crumbles are also a good healthy filling too. If you want some crunch, just add a light sprinkling of bread crumbs on top. Skip the cheese.Stuffed onions, popular in Italy, Greece, Bulgaria and France are another hearty yet healthy stuffed veggie.every home chef in Piedmonte has their own recipe for this. A simple yet healthy stuffy is the onion's middle minced with lean ground beef or turkey. A bit of garlic and oregano round out the flavor along with tomato paste.  Stuffed squashes are always a tasty treat and perfect for a dinner. Try the fun named carnival squash and stuff with rice and chopped pecans or walnuts along with minced bell peppers and onions. Quinoa also works well as a stuffing and it can be used don't only in squash but also in peppers and onions too.

A hearty dish doesn't have to be loaded with rich ingredients and calories. You can make a hearty and healthy meal that'[s rib sticking and tasty. It's just subbing in the bad ingredients with good ones.

The Dirt Candy Controversy

 What could a Texas farm and trendy Manhattan vegan eatery have in common? You would mayb e think thar veggies and fruit  grown on the farm were sent to the restaurant. However it's somewhat deeper - and darker.It all has to do with a name Dirt Candy.

Regular contributor Kim Severson delved into this battle in yesterday's New York Times Wednesday ZFood section. New York Dirt Candy,a popular vegan eatery on Manhattan's Lower East Side went up against an organic farm in Wimberly ,Texas located directly north of San Antonio.  The farm was started by husband and wife team Mitch and Tracey Cutler who wanted a better life. Although their restaurant  La Fondue in Saratoga California was doing well and receiving rave reviews .they wanted a simpler life. After suffering prostrate cancer Mitch embraced his wife's pure and ayuervedic way of life. Their children were also looking for a simpler life. They found the sleepy town of Wimberley and bought fifty-one acres .They came up with the name Dirt Candy  Farm after a night of brainstorming. The problem was Dirt Candy restaurant, owned by its' chef Amanda Cohen. She and her husband, the writer Grady Hendrix came up with the name. It would be perfect for a solely vegan restaurant with such specialties as  a kale and cabbage tasting menus. Chef Cohen is no stranger to name copyrights. Her famed fried dough , named Beaver tails, a specialty in her native Canada was challenged by Beaver Tails restaurant. They sent her a cease and desist notice. She no longer made them.

Chef Cohen did the same to the Cutlers. They changed the name to Dirt Candy Farms. They could lease the name from her for a nominal fee and no royalties. That worked - for a while. The question of Ms. Cohen approving artwork they may use on their farm - it's also a vacation spot with rental cabins - came up. The Cutlers hired a lawyer and tried to get a registered trademark. Their request was denied.They could still fight. After all they already spent $10,000 on legal fees, yet to continue would cost $40,000 more. Their son Sky  realized that forty grand could buy more farm equipment that they needed. After so many new names tossed around they changed their farm's name to Wild Candy Farms. It worked , yet not without some fall out.The story made it to local television stations as well as social media. Wimberley locals told Ms. Cohen to be kind on her Instagram. Facebook blew up with locals leaving kind comments about the Cutlers. LOcal farmers market who carried the Cutlers' produce fumed about the intrusion of an outsider. Vanessa Simpson who manages a local farmers market wondered why this ever happened. Many businesses shared the same name.

 Dirt Candy is more of a brand than a restaurant. It has been around long than WIld Candy Farm.It is a lesson for any entrepreneur to learn from.

Sweet Treats Tout Suite

 Sometimes there is a craving for a luscious sweet treat. Yet it takes too long to bake and ice cupcakes. It's too cold to make a quick run to the store just for a craving.What to do?Create something sugary and satisfying whether for dessert or just a fun snack.

Regular contributor Ali Slagle gives four tasty recipes in today's New York Times Wednesday Food section. There are some fun recipes to choose from. All are perfect for a night in or enjoying something sweet and quick after a favorite meal. They serve one or two people ,c an be made with out a mixer and bowls and best of it all - can be made in only five minutes to half an hour to whip up. What could be better than that? The first is an Aussie or New Zealand party favorite. WHile we give our little ones cupcakes with elaborate toppings ,, they give theirs fairy bread. Even the name is sweet and magical.All it is is buttered white bread covered with sprinkles or "hundreds of thousands" as the Austrailans and New ZealandersThis is a no brainer .Just butter good white bread and then press the slice into a tip plate full of sprinkles (or you could just pour them over the slice).If you want something a little more adult then try the super easy berry. crisp.The topping is a buttery , crunchy ,topping sort of like streusel with the addition of cinnamon. The bottom is a mix or just one kind  - blueberry , raspberries and blackberries that can be fresh or frozen (mor e likely frozen.) The topping is microwaved, the fruit is cooked with brown sugar and lemon  -or white vinegar in a skillet. Sprinkle the fruit with the topping. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Everyone thinks chocolate chips cookies can be a chore to make. Yet Ms. Slagles area dream along with being eggless and flourless! It relies on white miso and any seed or nit butter like peanut, almond or tahini. Also another traditional ingredient - brown sugar is nixed for the light brown variety.Dark brown sugar darkens the cookies exterior before the inside sets. This makes  about eight cookies so they're perfect for sharing or a long weekend in.Then there is the British holiday favorite - sticky toffee pudding cooked in the microwave this tome. Sticky toffee It's sort of like cake in the mug with the addition of quarter of a cup of flour along with a quarter teaspoon of balking powder for lift.The pudding is all about the date so add two chopped and pitted Medjool dates.There's an easy caramel sauce that goes over it , also made in the microwave. This is a mix of butter , brown sugar and cream. This is set aside and the cake is made. It's creating a base of th e baking soda, melted butter,dates and more heavy cream. It's microwaved at thirty second bursts and the dates have to be mashed down Flour and more brown sugar is added to this and the cup is cooked for forty five seconds to one minute. Spoon ice cream, or fresh cream over the top and add the caramel sauce.

A sweet treat can be had in as little as a few minutes.Make any of these for a fun dessert or snack. They're quick treats to satisfy any sweet tooth.

The Most Expensive Food

Prices are sky high these days. Roast beef is sixteen to seven teen dollars a pound Eggss are ten dollars a dozen. Its' not s supermarket anymore.It's a gourmet emporium. 

What have you seen that's so expensive.Let us know.Personally its the $17 dollars a pound London Broil at Stop & Shop that has rattled me. Although the $57.00 baby formula that really was the eye opener.

Chocolate Chili? Yes!

 A secret ingredient can boost any recipe. This happens with chili along with any saucy dish.  A special dollop of this or a drizzle of something so unexpected it can make your tasters gasp.The last actually can give new life to a tired dish.

I found this out when I was making chili. These are the ingredients I used a long with a cup of water.

There is Lydl's excellent chili starter along with two kinds of beans and diced tomatoes. There was a also a package of Morningstar Farms Plant based beef crumbles. - and yes,a drizzle of Hershey's syrup. That was the secret ingredient. I knew it was a daring choice but I needed something sweet after tasting a somewhat salty , somewhat metallic flavor. I glanced around  the kitche and came up on the Hershey's syrup. Could it work? Why not. The sweetness would get rid of the metallic tang while the chocolate brings forth  a mole flavor.

The chocolate - a drizzle that's probably just a teaspoon in measurement.blended well into the chili. It didn't darken the color or turn it into a dessert.It was a lucky guess based on previously making mole and it worked.

The flavor was really delicious , a good blend of tomatoes, spice beans, crumbles and chocolate. It worked and reminded me of the mole sauce I used to make for plant based chicken strips. It was a surprise ingredient that really wasn't a surprise,considering some form of chocolate is used in many Mexican dishes.

A surprise ingredient can be a good addition to any recipe. In this case a drizzle of  chocolate syrup added to ordinary chili.It was a great treat with a great treat in it.

Can You Diet In Winter?

 Diets are usually summer things, maybe even Spring or fall. Yet a winter diet?It's hard when everyone is pushing dense  meals, rich with sugar and starch . This helps in keeping you warm against frosty  arctic blasts. Yet what happens when you have to lose weight? Can veggies and fruit help when the temps drop.

It'sa good question and yes, there is an answer. Surprisingly roasts can be low calorie.Roast chicken and turkey can help in dropping pounds. A simple roast chicken with lemon, thyme and garlic is not only healthy but also flavorful.Use heart healthy olive oil to rub all over the bird. You can also use sunflower oil which has Vitamin E and antioxidants along with grape seed oil, also rich in antioxidants .It' also milk tasting so you don't have to worry about any "oily" flavor lingering on the chicken. Another good choice is turkey breast which is low in fat but big in protein.Any roasted turkey is a perfect meal, rich in taste. Don;t make the thick gravy that goes with it. Keep it to a thin one. Also rethink that side of mashed potatoes. They're made with a ton of butter and whole milk or cream.Try roasted potatoes that will pair well with the thinner turkey gravy.What about a roast beef dinner? If you buy an eye of round roast that low in fat but big in protein. It does have a caveat.The meat can be tough and chewy. To avoid this, slow cook the cut and cut against the grain for a more melt in your mouth piece.

Veggies and fruits play an important part in any diet. For veggies think the easy sheet pan. You can have fun creating different variations. You can even add meat, poultry or fish to them as well and cook everything at the same time. Try a mix of sweet potatoes, beats carrots and parsnips for a colorful and flavorful sheet pan dinner that can be a main or a side. A good drizzle  of  olive oil will help caramelize them and keep them from charring and drying out. To flavor them you could add cayenne pepper for some kick or if you want a citrus-y flavor them squeeze lemon or orange juice over them. For a more Italian vibe season with garlic powder and oregano. Salads are always important to any diet. Warm them up by adding leftover and reheated meat from your roasts.Chicken , turkey and beef can be cut up reheated and added to any salad. The same for any leftover sheet pan veggies. As for fruit, there's an abundance of bananas and oranges right  now.frozen fruits can also be added to a winter diet. They're still good for you and perfect if you're craving out f season ones like strawberries and blueberries.

Yes you can diet during the winter. It just means getting away from all those heavy  calorie rich foods and desserts. Stick to lean meats and produce. You'll feel better even if the middle of a chill season.

Marry Me Any Food

 Somehow its seems appropriate to mention "Marry Me Foods on today" the day of love. It/'s a trend that stretches from dinner to dessert. Are these recipes that good that they create a marriage proposal? That's up to the home chef.

It could have all started with Lindsey Fungen's recipe in Delish.com back in 2018 when she created a riff on vodka sauce.Chicken breasts were cooked in it.According to Ms. Fungen her videographer Chelsea took a bite and then declared "I'd marry you for that chicken!" It 's basically sauteed chicken cooked with chili peppers and oregano in sun dried tomato oil. The sauce is a mix of sun garlci , heavy cream and sun dried tomatoes.Parmesan is added as well fro more flavor. The chicken is removed from the pan to make the sauce and then added back in. Chef Eric Kim did his riff on it with salmon. This is a lighter version which doesn;t have garlic This is perfect with noodles or just a salad. Yes, there is a heartier version featuring steak. You just need to sub in beef broth for chicken stock and use New York strip steak. Add some pasta and it makes for a nearby, romantic dish on a winter's night. There is even Marry Me beans which subs in butter beans or chickpeas for a vegetarian version. I'm sure there will be versions featuring Impossible chicken and beef soon enough.

The Marry Me food  craze extends to desserts too.There are all sorts of sweet treats that can bring on a marriage proposal.There is a blueberry pie that All Recipes Magazine published.It is a simple, old fashioned one that was taken from JERKIE3 's grandmother. The crust is blind baked or prebaked for  super crispy crust. The filling is incredibly simple. Two cups of blueberries are mixed with  a cup of sugar, a quarter cup of flour , two tablespoons of butter , a  tablespoon of lemon juice and a pinch of salt.  It's one of those recipes that is simple but good. If you're looking for more of a decadent bite then check out blogger Amanda Rettke's Marry Me Bars from her I Am Baker blog. They're a Blondie loaded with both white and dark chocolate chips along with oatmeal and browned butter. It's a perfect dessert after any Marry Me meal. She also has a Marry Me cookie recipe which is what the bars are based on.These are perfect for any day  with their buttery ,oatmeal flavor . There is no Marry Me Ice cream recipe - yet but Publix Grocery store makes has an in house flavor  - Marry Me Strawberry which marries chocolate . strawberries and cream together.

Make any Marry Me dish today or this weekend for a romantic night in. There may be a proposal. what is guaranteed is a delicious meal or dessert cooked or baked with love.

The Perfect Valentines Day Gift

 What's better than to celebrate Valentine's Day with a homemade dish that starts off with "Marry Me -"? IN thos case - and there are many other "marry me" dishes" its. salmon, a healthy and elegant way to celebrate with your loved one. This is a riff on the famed "Marry Me Chicken", yet its till holds the impact of that dish,

Regular contributor and chef Eric Kim wrote and created this recipe for yesterday's New York Times Wednesday Food section. Delish.com writer Lindsey Funston created the original version using chicken in 2016. It went viral on Tiktok, The New York Times featured the recipe back in October 2023 and its'a riff on chicken Tuscan style.The name came about when her producer took a bite and proclaimed "I'd marry you for that chicken". She instantly named it "Marry Me CHicken,a creamy tomato sauce over chicken breasts. There have been variations. Some home chefs add a pinch of jerk spicing while others serve it with any kind of pasta. With Chef's Kim s recipe, it's salmon steaks bathed in a creamy sun dried tomato sauce.he adds a kick of oregano and red chili flakes. It has a broth of clam juice to give it a more seafood taste. He recommends serving it with a fluffy crusty bread and a green salad.It could also be accompanied by a favorite pasta dribbled  with the sundried tomatoes olive oil.

What kind of salmon is used for this? Use filets with the skin still on for the best results. Half a yellow onion is a must here to give the sauce a mildly sweet flavor. Do no t use garlic. It may work with Marry Me Chicken but its too overpowering with fish . Again chicken broth CNA be used here but clam juice give it a lovely briny taste(a tip he got from fellow Times contributor Genevieve Ko). Use a splash of heavy cream for a vodka sauce vibe .It's mostly pan searing the filets in the sun dried tomato oil and then gently and briefly poaching the flesh side to get the skin shattering to revel plush meat. This is a quick dish, allowing home chefs t spend the day creating an equally impressive "Marry Me" dessert. The filets are only pan seared for five to seven minutes or until the skin turns opaque in color.The heat is reduced towards the end and the filets are transferred to a plate. More sundried oil is added to the empty pan and then the oregano and chili flakes.The tomato paste is then added  followed by the splash of heavy cream.The salmon is returned to the pan and then simmered for a few minutes more. Serve with pasta or a simple salad.

Valentine's Day is a day for "Mary me : anything. Try this salmon dish to impress a mate. They will be pledging a troth in no time after tasting it.

Dairy Shaken Up

 Despite all the nut and oat milks Americans consume, the cow variety is becoming popular again. There are several factors behidnd  it . Although maybe the best reason is it does taste good and brings a sense of nostalgia to drinking it.

Regular contributor Julia Moskin wrote about the dairy phenomenon in today's New York Times Wednesday's Food section. Milk is being rediscovered by Gen Zers who were basically raise don plant milks. Tiktokkers like twenty-six year old Peggy Xu has filmed her self drinking glasses of it. she present s the old school version of the unhomogenized kind in traditional glass bottles. There even a layer of cream at the top. she does have to explain why this happens .Homogenization is the process that evenly distributes the cream through the milk. She also explains that pasteurization is the process that rids the dairy of bacteria, first done by the famed Louis Pasteur in the 1850's. Ms Xu found that people were curious. They genuinely didn't know what milk was anymore.Now raw milk, much touted by Robert F.Kennedy Jr. is also making its' way onto to Tiktok. Many like Ballerina Farms' the newly famed Hannah Neelman are giving their children raw milk to drink.

However raw milk can be tricky.. Yes, it's full of a lot of good stuff like probiotic bacteria which helps in gut health but it also can contain such life threatening bacteria such as salmonella E.coli, campylobactor and listeria. Now there is the added scare of contacting the H5N1 virus, a strain fo avian flu. through it.Many dairy workers wound up with the virus after handling raw milk. Raw milk proved to be a health threat in the 19th Century when it was responsible for the deaths of thousands of children in New York City.Even Yje Times istelf declared that raw, in pasteurized adulterated milk "was a danger becoming intolerable to civilized society." Luckily that all changed in the Twentieth Century when milk has to be both pasteurized and homogenized along with being infused with Vitamin D. People believed a steady stream if milk in the diet made Americans everything from stronger and taller to fitter to lead the new world. order. Now athletes are even drinking whole chocolate milk instead of manufactured Gator Ade fro better on field performance. There is also the idea of sexy milk made made famous by Ms Neelman as she milks her cows. She and fresh milk show off what everyone has always thought milk to be fresh and pure.

Is dairy milk the new drink of choice? Possibly, Yet drink it not for its' popularity but for its'; benefits. It 's just a good and tasty glass of nutrition.

Brother's Pizza Discount And Delicious

 It;s hard to eat out and find a dinner that is not only cheap but delicious. Somehow the two don;t go together. Yet there is one place Brother's Pizzeria that offers a great meal every day for only $5.95. 

THis is  local place for me, literally only around the corner on Rte 46 at the Saddle Brook Mall.

They're offering two slices of cheesey saucy pie and a small drink for under six bucks!!!!

I have a lot of Italian restaurants where I live (New Jersey has the best Italian food outside of Italy) but Brothers stands out. It was a popular go to on Superbowl Sunday, with people  even ordering ten pies to go. The restuarnat has a good lunch menu with sandwiches of all kinds being under eight dollars. They offer large soups for under four dollars and they are classic ones , from pasta e fagioli to chicken , perfect for a cold day. 

Brothers is a great place for a quick and filling lunch that won't break the bank. Stop into the mall, Stop at their place and enjoy good Italian food on a budget.

Brothers Pizzeriria is located at the Saddle Brook Mall, 189 US 46 West, Saddle Brook NJ

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Chocolate Works

 It's chocolate time - a time when everything chocolates will be baked , whipped or melted for Valentine's Day treats. Yet many are at a loss about when to use powdered cocoa or chocolate candy. Surprisingly it's easy to remember what to use for what sweet recipe.

Many novice home bakers ask what is cocoa powder.Is it the same as hot cocoa mix? No! It's a powder made from the dry solids of coca beans remaining after the cocoa butter is extracted.Keep in mind that there are two types. One, Dutch is not as bitter tasting thanks to being treated to an alkali to reduce the acidity without it cocoa powder can be bitter and acidic.What should you use? Either one will work in nay cake, cookie and cupcake recipe.Dutch chocolate will give baked goods a more chocolate-y flavor. while untreated coca powder will give a fruitier or slightly bitter flavor to the batter or dough.Baking with Dutch cocoa powder will also give the finished product a deeper richer color. What about frosting and glaze? Yes, Dutch cocoa powder will give the icing a rich fudgey look and taste.Don;t use regular  cocoa powder for your frostings (unless it;s the only one your store sells).It won.t give the icing that smoothness necessary for piping and swirls. You can  also use Dutch cocoa bars which are like candy bars. This creates a very silky texture.

Candy is a huge part of Valentine's Day, Homemade treats are always beloved. yet a lot of novice candy makers are in a dither as to what kind to use? Milk? Dark? White or pastel? The best chocolate to  use is a real chocolate or coverture. This is a chocolate that contains more cocoa butter than the chips used for baking.It gives the finished product a smoother finish and a glossier, shinier look.There's also a snap sound when it's bitten into.Most candy makers swear by GHradelli's melting wafers. You can get fresh strawberries and cherries right now so consider these for a luscious treat. Keep in mind that pretzels are also good dipped .Use the same chocolate - couverture -for dipping.A fun sweet is taking pretzel logs and then first dipping them in caramel and then chocolate. You could also use milk and white chocolate couverture for this too. After the logs are dipped in chocolate roll them in heart shaped sprinkles for added cuteness and appeal. A truly decadent gift are homemade truffles. Many home candy makers are put off by the recipe because they fear it's too hard.Yet they're relatively easy to create. They;re just ganache .You just need cream, butter and chocolate.warm a scant tablespoon of butter with a cup of heavy cream or  whipping cream. This is them poured over chopped chocolate and then stirred together. Refrigerate for two hours until the mixture is set. Roll into small balls and then roll in whatever your loved one loves. Try chopped pistachios for color or coconut flakes for more flavor. Have fun with them.

Baking  and making rich  chocolate treats is easy. Use the right cocoa powder or couverture to create mouth watering sweets. It'sa  fun way to celebrate Valentine's Day!

Hunt and Gather On A Budget

It isbecoming harder and harder to go grocery shopping these days. Despite all the campaign promises we still have sky high prices for everything. Forget eggs. Thanks to the avian flu and pricing , these are about as affordable as diamonds. What to do? As always  - shope wisely.

Doing all of one's shopping at one store may not be viable anymore. Home chefs may have to visit two or even three stores .The best ones with the best prices are Lidl, Aldi and Wal-Mart. Lidl' is probably your best bet. Not only do you receive decent prices , you also get really delicious food in the bargain. Some of their prices ave raised. Their olive oil has gone up by two dollars and their cookies have also gone up in price. Still they're the best buy.  Another plus about Lidl is ts that their wines and beers are also at a good budget friendly price. Aldi also has good prices . Frozen pizza is around five dollars. A bag of their chicken fries - always a fun meal is only $4.95, Roma tomatoes are nineteen cents a pound. A three pack  of green peppers is $3.85 . As for meat, again Lidl can't be beat. You can buy London Broil for $7.39 while Acme sells relatively the same cut for close to sixteen dollars. Lidl' also has Gulf shrimp for $7.99  This is a true bargain compared to Stop & Shop's version at $24.95

If course there is also Wal-Mart. One interesting aspect about their food section is that they sometimes acquire hard to get products like Dolly Parton;'s cake mixes and frostings when other stores didn't carry them. They also have a good array of holiday cake and cookie mixes  along with decorations.Another plus is that they have family sized boxes.. You can get good buys on everything from instant oatmeal to bread. This pays if you have a big family. Keep in mind that Wal-Mart probably has the best prices on kitchen appliances and gadgets too. Apps come in very handy too when you;re shopping on a budget. Keep track of all your digital coupons and use them when you can. Lidl' offers rewards when you spend over one hundred dollars and a special reward when you spend three indeed dollars. Be on the look out for BOGO sales, buy one get one either free or fifty per cent off. Most groceries like Acme have designated Tuesday as their senior discount day. People over the age of sixty receive ten per cent off their entire order. Shop on  these days for discounts.  Also Stop & Sop offers what;s known as reward gas points. They come in handy when you want to save at the pump.

For now it's hard to shop. Yet you can do it and save wisely, It just takes  shopping savvy to get discounted food.

A Snowy Superbowl Weekend In

 The East Coast is supposed to get six inches of snow this Super Bowl weekend. It's just a good two days to stay in and just nibble snacks and foods. It's a good weekend for baking and cooking.

It is not a good time for baking  tracookies and cakes thanks to the egg shortage. Yet you can bake buttery shortbread cookies and even turn them into sandwich cookies by creating a ganache filling. Shortbread only requires flour butter and sugar. They're an easy bake and you can have fun making them in the true Scottish fashion by pricking the dough with a fork to create fanciful designs. Keep in mind that there are recipes for eggless chocolate chip and sugar cookies.A nice bake is a pizza. Pizza dough  is relatively simpler o make.Its a combo of bread flour . olive oil, sugar and yeast. it can be made into calzones too for a perfect Super Bowl  meal. remember to have pizza sauce , mozzarella and whatever toppings or fillings you want. Have cans of olives, banana peppers, and mushrooms on the read along with pepperoni and ham. If you don;t want all the fuss then think French bread or English muffin pizzas.This is also a good weekend for baking a sourdough loaf. Use the bread for game day sandwiches too.

A good snowy day meal is also a good chili day.  Lidl' has an excellent chili starter than you can customize with all sorts of tasty ingredients. You can also make your own too. Chili is one of the simplest crockpot recipes out there.Its cooking tomato sauce, tomato paste and ground beef or vegan crumbles with a variety of spices. You can added sliced onions and garlic or use their powdered forms for a less intense taste. KIdney beans are a must along with red pinto beans Add a pinch of chili powder for a mild taste or more for a three or four alarm fire.. To make the dish  even more exciting bake or buy cornbread.This can be eaten on the side or have the chili poured over it.There is still room for barbecue treats like hot dogs and hamburgers. Just cook them in the air fryer for an all over crispness. Their buns ca be also air fried - usually for four minutes at 320 degrees Farenheit. Go wild with the fixings. Add cheese , chili and relishes. You could also use the air fryer for the accompanying fries and Tater   Tots. It's sort of like being in the stands but in the comfort of a warm house.Pretzel bites with cheese sauce are another fun snack . The pretzel bites can also be warmed in the air fryer while the cheese can be microwaved.

This is a good weekend to stay in and party. It's also a good weekend to stay in and indulge in fun foods. Enjoy a snowy Superbowl Sunday  with tasty food.

A Summery Blast Of Fruit

 Winter baking can be boring. You're tired of the tried and true flavors of chocolate, vanilla and some kind of spice. You long for something summery and fruity. That taste of summer baking can be had even on a wintry day.It;s just adding fruit into the mix.

Regular contributor Melissa Clark wrote bout this in her  A Good Appetite  column  in yesterday's New York Times Wednesday Food section.She is a jam enthiusiast from her earliest days , going for just the jelly i na jelly doughnut. As an adult, like many cooks, she appreciates a good jam. Any fruity concoction is a welcome relief during cold snowy days.Its brings back sun kissed orchards during July and August. She does recommend using only jams because they don't melt under high temps like jellies do. There''s also the plus of having real fruit bits laced among the crumb.she gives two recipes, ones for a light and airy lemon pudding along with a one bowl jam doughnut cake. Ms. Clark recommends using thick, dark hued jams such as blueberry,blackberry and raspberry to give a nice contrast to the pale yellowness of the cake. What about marmalade?It has a tendency to be like jelly, meaning the jelly itself will disappear once itsbake and will leave only the flavor and orange bits. 

The baked lemon pudding is a contrast in colors and flavors.Even though it is a pudding there is a quarter of a cup  of flour added  to give it body.  Two large lemons go into it. They have to be juiced and zested.Use three large eggs and separate ten. (Unfortunately egg substitute doesn't;t seem to work here.) the whites have to be beaten into a meringue almost and added to the batter. Again for the jam, you can use any flavor but the blueberry goes well with the lemon.Pour one half cup into a bowl to loosen it. Spread dollops of it over the batter once the batter is poured into a shallow buttered baking dish. It's baked in a 350 degree Farenheit oven for thirty to thirty -five minutes. Once cooled, then dust some confectioners sugar on top. Ms. Clark's cake recipe is more of a Bundt cake with a buttery glaze drizzled on top. The batter is a rich one producing a dense crumb thanks tot he three eggs, half a cup of melted butter and a quarter of a cup whole milk. There is   that cakey doughnut look and feel thanks to dusting the buttered pan with a cinnamon sugar before baking.The batter is poured in in two parts. After halfway filling up the ring create an indentation and then dollop in a quarter cup of blackberry jam, spreading it evenly thought out the trench circle.Bake at 350 degrees Farenheit for forty to fifty minutes. Brush with more melted butter and then a generous dusting of more cinnamon sugar.

These jam rich gems are perfect for brinigng back the taste of summer. Bake these cakes to enjoy them on a cold wintry day. A slice will liven up an afternoon with hot tea.

Giving Prison Food Clemency

 It a nasty comparison when people say a bad meal t astes "like prison food". This is true in most US incarceration centers where most are  basically owned by large  corporations. However that's changing in one famous prison - Riker's Island. Inmates are getting a chance to eat relatively decent food.

Regular contributor and chef Priya Krishna wrote this interesting piece in today's New York Times Wednesday Food section. Riker's Island has always had a bad reputation. It's essentially a jail  - not a prison - that holds local criminals.There has been all kinds of abuse there in recent years, from sexual to physical. If it can be called lucky, there is a small bright spot. Thanks to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a fervent vegetarian, the jail's menu is having an upgrade. Now inmates get two plant based meals a week and it will be upped to four a week in the near future.The loyal cooks there are excited about this overhaul.Much of their time is defrosting frozen food like pizza pockets and burritos - two meals they know detainees don't like.Janelle Anderson a Riker's cook for ten years claims that most of the food comeback uneaten. There is more waste than consumption.New dishes will include a baked macaroni and cheese with the addition of butternut squash  and a cheese and vegan sanocho, a beloved Puerto Rican stew. The last is being made by Hot Bread Kitchens , a non profit managing Rikers' kitchen.

Any jail time can be rough.However the RIkers cooks are devoted to their charges as they are to this new style of cooking.One,Luis Reina, who has been with the jail for twenty-nine years adds a bit of soy sauce occasionally to the meals to liven them up. (Mayor Mike Bloomberg mandated that there should be no salt in the dishes in back in 2012. He was striving for a healthier diet for all those associated with the city government).Mr. Reina also has detainees working for him. He doesn't delve into their pasts or the reason they're there. He just accept them for who they are ,After all these cooks provide the inmates with a rare shred of humanity - a meal. His co worker ,Tamara, Craddock agrees. This is their only connection to staying sane.It also isn't just humanizing she states but stabilizing. Shortages could be the fodder for prison riots.She cheers them up and even improvises a barbecue sauce bu blending ketchup with jelly for a makeshift barbecue sauce. Some like Kay Fraser, a pastry cook is tougher with them,Her attitude is gruff to them, ironic given her former position was making sweets for little girls at The American Girl Cafe.

Riker's Island has never really had a good reputation. It is hell for those who stay there. Yet eating decent and tastier  food is one way to alleviate the dismal situation. 

Your Party Rib Guide

 Ribs and Super Bowl parties go hand in hand. Yet many don't know what kinds of ribs to get fir a gathering. What works , What doesn't? How do you cook them. Don;t worry .There is a guide to help.

There are fifteen (!) kinds of ribs to choose from. For  a hearty mix you can serve three or four different types. Most home chefs buy baby back ribs. These are what smokehouses serve and try seem to be the least fattiest. They're also the most popular thanks to chains like Chilis promoting them. Why are they called baby backs./They don;t come from pigletss but it's because of the size of the ribs.They're located further up on the rib cage and are shorter and smaller than their longer neighbors.They have more loin meat which makes them perfect for hungry party goers. You can use a dry or wet rub before you cook them low and slow. They should be the first dish that's cooking.Another popular cut is St. Louis ribs. They come from the same part of the rib cage as spare ribs,There is more marbling here which , although they're half fat, makes for a tastier bite.If you are firing up the grill for the big game then consider country style pork ribs.They come from the upper shoulder part of the loin so they 're not really ribs. They're mostly boneless so they should be eaten with a knife and fork. These are the most decadent.

If you want a beef cut then think of short ribs.They get the name because they're  a few inches shorter than regular ribs.Depending upon the cut these can be cooked quickly or slowly.Use these for an elegant rib dish. Try simmering them in red wine based sauce and serve with a side of mashed potatoes. You could also quick cook them for a tangy and sweet Korean barbecue style ribs.Another good beef choice are the beef back ribs. They're located behind the shoulders from the same fatty part as prime rib roast and ribeye steaks.They can be cooked as a whole rack or cut into individual pieces for faster cooking.They can benefit from both a dry or wet rub along with sauces. (although they probably taste the best with just salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon on them. For something entirely different think lamb riblets. Lamb is very flavorful and would be a different dish to serve.mThey do have a layer of unctuous fat but also are delicious.You can make them with Asian dishes or better yet Middle Eastern.Think a rub of cumin, coriander, ,turmeric and allspice, Serve with pita to stop up the juices.

Super Bowl parties need ribs. Pick any of these for a delicious dish. Everyone will enjoy whatever you'll be serving.

Tamilitoz A Fun Zesty Taste Roller Coaster

 If you want candy with zing then try the roller coaster that is Tamalitoz a new Mexico City company. Their candie s are an exciting marriage of sweet, salty, tart and fiery. They're a fun treat with so  much flavor.

The company was started in Mexico City by couple Jack who is Mexican and Dec who is British. These follow the Britsih tradition of hard candy while going wild with flavors and hot peppers. They created a mouth watering popcorn too - Palomitaz that comes in such yummy flavors as chocolate and churros

It;'s caramel corn but much better. I fell for the sweet pineapple syrup over them and then the heat of chili pepper.It;'s a wonderfully zingy blend of sweet and heat. I also went mad for their Tamalitoz  Lip smacking mango flavor. This is a crazy blend of  sweet mango with a salty chili lime filling. 

Think a mango margarita in a hard candy. This makes all the other  one flavor  hard candies huge yawns. 

I also discovered their Chili Pops Chamoy.Whoa!

This is a play on Mexican shaved ice chamoyada where sweet and spicy zing such unusual flavors as cucumber and tamarind >Coconut gives it an undertone of sweetness. I love that the lollipops are studded to the core with tiny pepper flakes. These are fiery and fun to the last lick.

regular caramel corn and hard candies are boring compared to these Mexico City made treats. Try them for a fun zingy, flavor ride. They 're a different kind of snack.

SuperBowl Super Fun

 Next week it's the Super Bowl!!!  This means fun foods that are tasty and filling. This is an event that doesn't have a set menu.Anything you make or bake is good.

Salads usually don;t figure greatly in any Super Bowl party yet suppose it has pepperoni in it. A pepperoni salad is a fun way to bring veggies into the party.  Use a Spring mix along with banana peppers and cherry tomatoes Add diced cucumbers and chopped mozzarella cheese for more oomph. What about the dressing? A simple vinaigrette works  here. Keep the extra pepperoni for a massive charcuterie board. Charcuterie works well at any Super Bowl party. Also have slices of ham, salame and mortadella. Cheese could be anything from Swiss to cheddar. Yes you should have bread, a good Italian or French bread. Salty nuts like cashews and peanuts round it out. Bowls of olives are also good on a charcuterie board. Have both green and black out. A sea-cuterie board is also delicious if you want to splurge. This could could be tins of anchovies and sardines along with salmon and tuna. You can also buy a shrimp cocktail ring from your local grocery too. A lobster or crab salad works better than having whole lobster and whole crab legs. These can get a bit costly, especially if you're hosting a large crowd.

Dips are a must. One of the most famous and favorite is  artichoke dip.It's not just the artichoke hearts that give it the flavor,There are a variety of cheeses also. Add Parmesan, Romano and mozzarella for flavor and creaminess. The dip has to have mayonnaise to give it that famed silkiness. Of course there's spinach for color and more flavor. Use frozen or fresh.It;s up to you. Basil and garlic are also added as well as sea salt and pepper. The dip is famously served in a hollowed out bread bowl but a regular bowl can do too.Serve with bread chunks or even pita chips. Guacamole is another must make dip for any Super Bowl party. This is a super easy dish of mashed avocados, lemon juice and tomatoes. A drizzle of olive oil can be added to give the dip silkiness. Make a lot.This is one of the most popular dips out there and people go crazy for it. Queso is another Mexican dip perfect for any party. It can even be drizzled over tacos and burritos for extra flavor.It;'s made from a mix for shredded cheddar, evaporated and regular milk along with garlic, a small chopped white onion and chopped green chiles. Cornstarch or corn flour is used to thicken it. Serve warm for maximum flavor.

Happiness is a Super Bowl Party with good food being served. Try a;; sorts of dishes from seafood to meat for a tasty variety. Your guests and you will appreciated it.

A FEast For February

 February is the time for feasting - from Valentine's Day or the Super Bowl to finishing up celebrating the Lunar New Year. It's the month for Presidents Day - and cherry pie to honor George Washington (Although cherry tarts will do nicely)  Ir's the month of chocolate hearts and chocolate mousse, of yummy dumpling and spicy wings.

Here's the question of the week  - what are you looking most forward to in this upcoming month? A romantic Valentine's Day dinner? Ginger pork dumplings? A Super Bowl buffet? Cherry pie with cherry ice cream? Let us know.For me, maybe just some fun chocolates and those Necco candy hearts

Junior's Cheesecake Your Cheesecake

 One of New York City's institution is Junior's cheesecake. This treat is the signature dessert of the Juniors chain that many New Yorkers - and tourust's flock to. Now you don;t have to rush to Mnhattan or any of the other locations across the country. You can create this delight at home.

Regular contributor and chef Eric Kim wrote about this in yesterday's New York TImes Wednesday Food section. He creates his version of the classic cake, including their famed sponge cake bottom. Cheesecake has been a part of the city's cuisine since the mid 1800's when German immigrant brught the first recipes over. They were a bit different than today's with the cheese being cottage cheese and the bottom layer being pastry crust. Tis was the standard recipe for kasekuchen  - cheesecake until 1872 when William A.Lawrence a dairyman from Chester, New York in Orange COunty started manufacturing what he called "cream cheese" a variation of the famed  Nuefchatel a crumbly French cheese. He linked this new invention to the fine dairy being produced in Philadelphia which at the time was outstanding.Even today Philly Cream Cheese is being made in upstate New York. Fast forward to the late 1920's and early 1930's when Jewish bakers and deli owners started subbing in the cream cheese for cottage..It made the final product creamier .

Junior's took the recipe to another level. The original owner, Harry Rosen went all over the city ,trying and tasting variations of the cake. He finally created a recipe with his baker Eigel Peterson.It';s still made today , according to Rosen's grandson and current Junior's owner Alan.There is also Eileen's Special Cheesecake that has a similar recipe.It has the airy sponge cake bottom as opposed to the usual dense graham cracker crust one.It's not too lemony as to not overpower the cheesecake's delicate flavor.Preparing the etims can be labor intensive. The sponge cake ones do have to be buttered and then wrapped in foil to prevent water from the water bath seeping in. The whole cake is cooked in a water bath. For the filling use two large eggs and , of course ,Philly cream cheese.It does need a lot of sugar , around a cup and two thirds, almost two cups.  There is also a quarter of a cup of heavy cream added for body and cornstarch is added for binding.The spring form does have to be placed in a large roasting pan with an inch of water.Teenty minutes in the pan has to be rotated. Can you add extras like chocolate chips or coffee for a different flavor? It's best to stick to the original recipe. Serve fruit and if you want chocolate sauce on the side.

Happiness is a good cheese cake.Make Junior's version for a home baked slice of goodness.It's the perfect  dessert for a winter's day.

Welcoming Dumplings

 The Year of The Snake has arrived!It's time to celebrate with all sorts of goodies to ring in the  Lunar New Year! Think dumplings both sweet and savory to feast on.

REgular contributor Genevieve KO writes and gives all sorts of variations in today's Wednesday's New York Times Food section. For some Asians these gems full of flavor and happiness represent wealth and prosperity for the year ahead. Five contributors have given their best recipes. Keep in mind that these recipes also work for any time for the year. They're great for parties and even barbecues but they could also be a fun weekend meals in with family.Eric Kin gives his for the Korean New Year(all Asian countries celebrate at the same time) Seolail ones that are made with wonton wrappers.It is loaded with beloved Korean flavors like kimchi and gochugaru.Fish or soy sauce can be added for brininess and flavor. Vegetarians will love the CHinese Zhongshan Gok Jai .They are also called crystal dumplings because you can see through the skins the dough is a combination of wheat tapioca and potato starches instead of flour, hence the transparency. The fillings has two kinds of  mushrooms, shiitake and dried wood earm, alongside with carrots celery and water chestnuts. Tofu give its more solidity and weight.

For a different taste try Sue Li's chili oil wontons. These are highly flavorful, being packed with ground chicken or pork along with shrimp. Shaozing wine or sherry can be added for more flavor. The sauce here is the most important It;s made with garlic, scallions and red pepper mixed in vegetable oil. Bay leaf is added. The dumplings should be served with peanuts, peppercorns and scallions.Kay Chun gives her recipe for beef wontons  with zucchini and buchu, a highly flavorful allium. Tofu and garlic are also included for more weight and taste. The dipping sauce is unusual in the sense that it uses pine nuts which are mostly used in Southern European baking along with soy sauce, white sugar and white vinegar. Dumplings aren't usually sweet however Ms KO, a renown baker gives her spin.Her filling is a kind of ganache , made with a bittersweet or semi sweet chocolate bar or dark chocolate chips and quarter of a cup of condensed milk. Sesame oil is added for silkiness along with salt. The wrappers is more doughy than the average dumpling. Ms Ko uses glutenous rice flour and sesame oil. It has to be kneaded and rolled like bread dough and then proofed.It's then steam over water.

It's the New Year. Celebrate with these savory and sweet treats. They're perfect for ringing in the Year of The Snale!

Falafel Your Way

 Falafel is one of those great Arab dishes that can be adapted to anyone's tastes. It's can be traditional or varied. It makes for not only a great dinner but for a good snack too.

Falafel has been around for centuries. Some same the Egyptian Copts brought it to the Middle East while India also claims to have created it. Another story has British officers asking Egyptian cooks to make a croquette in the 1800s.It's most like;y have been invented in Egypt during the Phraraonic period.It can be made with fava breans for a more authentic flavor or chickpeas. An easy recipe calls for chickpea, tahini sauce various herbs such a as fresh parsley , cilantro and dill. Garlic is needed for kick along with cumin, cayenne and coriander. Baking powder is needed to give an airy fluffiness. You can add sesame seed s to give it a certain nuttiness. Purists insist in using dried chickpeas  as opposed to canned however if this is too much use canned. Saved the liquid for aqua faba a vegan sub in for egg whites.If you go the dried chickpea route, then soak the beans for twenty-four hours before using. Put all the ingredients in a food processor to pulse.This mixture has to be chilled before frying.

What should falafel be fried in? You can use olive  - your best bet - v=canola, grape seed or sunflower oil. Using olive oil creates a thick, crusty  crunchy exterior that prevents oil from soaking into the middle.. Make smaller patties for snacking or hors' d'ouevres. Make bigger patties for sandwiches and wraps. Falael's recipe can be varied. Keep in mind that it can be baked and even air fried, the last being the easiest.It only takes a few minutes. They need to be flattened into discs more than shaped into balls for a more uniform cook. A fun idea is creating rainbow falafel. For deep purple used a purple baked potato which can be a fun change up. If you want to get creative for upcoming Valentine's Day make pink heart falafel. The pink color comes from the addition of beet root.Buttternut squash and a good dose of turmeric give a lovely golden orange color. Make all these colors for a fun appetizers. Serve with blistered pita bread that you can char on the grill or in the oven.

Falafel is an easy meal and snack to make. Create a dish full of Middle Eastern flavor. It's a nice change up for a week night or weekend dinner or treat.

A Family Classic Redone

 Every family has a recipe for leftover mashed potatoes.It could be colcannon.It could be potato puffs. Whatever it is, the mash makes a good base.

I decided to recreate a family classic with leftover potatoes.The idea of fried potatoes with ketchup sounded too good to pass up. I thought it would be a tasty way to use up leftovers.

I knew my mom and Nonna refried them with butter, I also added oil.

A mix of butter and oil is a good mix to use for sauteing and frying. To give ti more body I added about two teaspoons of  flour/

This gave the potatoes the consistency of pancake batter. I feel it needed more of this and an egg binder. It was still good. with more of a soupy quality  better suited for colcannon.

Mashed potatoes can lend themselves to a variety of dishes. Try it this way or try it in anew recipe. mashed potatoes make a good base for many tasty dishes.

Taei Peruvian Mustard A Good Kind Of Hot

 What goes with a hot dog on a chilly day? Tari's Peruvian Hot Sauce ! This is a great condiment nor just for dogs and brat s but also for chicken and even pasta, pizza and chili.

I really like this mustard/ I enjoyed it on a tofu turkey sausage for lunch. There are two kinds of hot sauce. 

One is a more mustardy type , with a fiery bite. This is perfect on hot dogs and even hamburgers. The milder sauce (whichresembles Thousand Island dressing) has a milder creamier flavor.

Both sauces are pure Peruvuan (hence the very cute llama logo) and made with Peruvian peppers. They're unique to Peru, a bright yellow with a fruity spicy flavor. It works Wells in a sauce. I can see this on chicken tenders along with a great dip for fish and chips.You can add a few drops to tomato sauce and give some zing to pasta and pizza.I also planning on adding some to homemade chili too.

ANother Peruvuan who likes this is Paddington. He may have a fondness for orange marmalade but he may change his mind after tasting these sauces.

If you want to add some flavor to your cooking, then try Tari Peruvian Hot Sauce.It;s versatile.It can top hamburgers and hot dogs. It can be added to sauces. Try and enjoy the heat during these cold January days.

What Will You Give Up

 Prices are high. Oranges are ten dollar a pound in some stores.eggs are almost fifteen dollars for a dozen. There is going to be a time when we will have to give up some of our foods we like in order to Dave money. what are you willing to give up?

I know I won;t be giving up , almond, milk, fruits or veggies. These are vital to a healthy diet.I may just give up eating out in general with going to restaurants a twice a year deal. That's it. Candy may be on the list along with certain snacks.

what are you willing to give up and why ? Let us know.

The Fierce Force Of LA Restaurants

 There is one place a person can turn to in the middle of any disaster -a restaurant. Los Angeles restaurants have been the backbone for feeding the victims and helpers of the massive and destructive fires. Yet they can also be a problem to many of their workers.They can open and they can close. 

Regular contributor and Los Angeleno herself, Tejal Rao wrote about this in yesterday's New York Times Wednesday Food section. Restaurants, such as her favorite LASorted has stepped up and turned their restaurant into a staging area where food is made and delivered. They bring unique skills in making dozens of pies and other dishes for hungry evacuees and firefighters. They were able to mobilize and get several drivers via Instagram . These drivers go out and delivers carloads of pizza across the ravaged city. Restaurants have a greater sense of urgency about cooking for people and caring for them despite the logistical nightmares that may be involved. ON a daily basis it runs smoothly. Add in a disaster and two hundred or more spread across five locations will receive a hot dinner.There are so many restaurants involved that the LA TImes has actually plotted them on a map.Writer Emily WIlson has also tracked the various  resources they provided along with their fund raisers and calls for volunteers and donations.

Yet there is a flip side. Many restaurants ,due to either their proximity to the flames and air quality  are closing.The dining rooms have been empty, due to the lack of customers.Ms Rao figures that people are grieving and do not want to enjoy a meal out.However she and her colleague needed a night out. There is something about having a drink with friends and heading to an eatery to share food and conversation with friends. Enjoying a dinner - or any meal out - brings about a sense of community and also safety and resilience.People and restaurant owners should realize this .Silver Lake's Ruby Fruit closed  - at least -temporarily  - because of what's going on. Hopefully this poplar  wine bar with diner food will open, much to the delight of their fans. Restaurants closing affect not just their followers but their workers. Bills have to be paid, their families have to be fed. Even if they're open three or four days out of the week ,it would be helpful and buoy up a damaged community.

LA and its' restuarants are a powerful force. They are and should provide sustenance to evacuees and fire fighters. Their food is what keeps the city and its' people going.

A Non Partisan Haven

 It's no lie that this country is deeply divided politically.It's even worse in Washington D.C. Yet there is a haven where people can go and escape from this, It;s surprisingly called  Immigrant Food  a name that is surely could cause trouble .Yet it doesn't;t.

Regular contributor and chef and owner at Brown Sugar Kitchen  wrote about this interesting eatery in today's New York Times Food section.It is a go to in the nation's capitol as it offers not only tempting dishes but also an insight into the immigrant table.It may be one of the first of its' kind as it offers gastro-advocacy to support people who come to the US looking for a better life. Tea Ivanovic the COO and co-owner is adamant about this. She plans to continue with this, undaunted by the current administration. In many ways having a restaurant during Trump;s second term may be hard. She and other local DC restaurant owners are carefully monitoring the situations and proposals.Layoffs of government workers in the upcoming months along with mass deportations are going to affect the industry.There could be retribution from both sides in these politically charged times.

Yet Immigrant Food will charge on. Marcus Samuelssen will alo be on the bandwagon when he starts running a restaurant int he famed Morrow Hotel.  Another famed chef Nancy Silverton opened up a branch of her Osteria Mozza in Georgetown.Kevin MCNnally began a second Minetta Tavern in Union Market back in December. He has told Vanity Fair tat Mr Trump is welcomed at his eatery.Yet there have been a lot of push back from Brett Kavanaugh getting heckled to a manager at Beauchert's Saloon telling The Washingtonian magazine that she would never serve anyone in the Trump Administration .Immigrant Food ,it seems, will not tolerate this. They will try to remain non partisan. Their dishes are ,featuring  a wide array of recipes from Greece to Peru. There was even a dish honoring Kamala Harris' heritage - a turmeric rice and coconut chicken curry. These dishes could unite a fractious city.

Times are different now People need to stand with each other. They should adapt Immigrant Food;'s philosophy. It'll make for a better country.

Throw Anything Together

 There are days when you can;t go to the grocery and get everything you want. What to do when meal time rolls around? Use what you can to create a tasty meal.

In those times it;s good to rely on a semi stocked pantry  fridge or freezer. Beans can be used hot or cold in a variety of dishes.add them in a tomato sauce with garlic and chili powder and you have a quick chili. Any leftover onions can be chopped and add to it. A tasty hot dish is beans and rice,This makes for a good side or even a main course.In warmer weather a bean salad is always a nice side for a lunch or dinner. You could even make a cold beans and rice salad for a barbecue when the weather warms up. Serve it on toast for a British take.It makes for a quick lunch especially on a busy weekend. Another staple rice can be blended with anything. If you have leftover rotisserie chicken shred it and cook it with some butter and rosemary for a satisfying dinner. To jazz it up a bit add some saffron if you have it. If not try any spice from garam masala to adobo for more flavor. RIce can also be used to stuff peppers if you have them. Mix it with such chopped vegetables as cherry tomatoes, corm and even chickpeas.

Leftover are always great  for repurposing. Those left over burger patties can be broken up and stuffed into peppers or onions. mix them with breadcrumbs - which everyone has. Another ground beef dish -  leftover meat loaf can be sliced and made into hot sandwiches just by putting the slices on bread and then covered in gravy . If there's no gravy  you could use  barbecue sauce on it. Any leftover fowl can be mixed with noodles for a hardy dinner. Take turkey or chicken and chop. Add cooked egg noodles , mix and bake. Those slices of cheese? Shred them and use those as a topping.Can dessert be done this way? Yes!Mix in cereal with your ice cream for a fun twist. Add syrup for a sundae. Surprisingly melted ice cream can be used for milk in a cake. It will have a denser crumb than the average cake and a much more flavorful taste. It doesn't have to be vanilla, You could try chocolate .butter pecan or anything Dust with confectioners sugar if you have it.If you have milk then make a glaze to drizzle over it.

Ingredients can be put together to make a tasty and interesting meal or dessert. See what you have. Be creative . It'll make for a fun cook or bake.

Helping Each Other

 This is Martin Luther King Day, a day when we need to remember Dr King's words and actions. We will need this in the next four years and possibly beyond. Keep in mind people , family friends, neighbors will need our support.

Despite all the promises, food prices will not go down. Thankfully there are stores like Lidl and Aldi that offer good food at lower prices. Shop at them to save money. They, especially Lidl ,offer deep discounts on such expensive items as  eggs and milk. Wal.mart also has some good buys on various food stuffs and appliances too. Be judicious. Be smart. Another way is supporting small farms. These too will suffer in the upcoming years. Support them in the summer and fall when their harvests are ready to sell. Bring your family,friends and neighbors to shop and show them how they can save too if they haven't;t discovered these discount grocery stores.Another way to combat rising prices is start your own gardens. Start planning now for Spring planting. beginners should stick with easy veggies to grow. Think radishes and tomatoes along with carrots and peas. Fruit trees take a few years to mature and produce harvests. You can grow these if you;re patient enough. Remember to donate some fo your harvest to those who need it , whether family friends or neighbors. 

IN that same vein, some programs will most undoubtedly be cut.Veterans and the disabled will be needing help too. Again do what you can to donate to food pantries. If you own a restaurant, donate any overage to soup kitchen s .Another idea is do what rocker Jon Bon Jovi as done, His Soul Kitchens allow people to pay what they can or help out in the restaurants. This gives those struggling a chance for a night out which for some is a luxury.Also consider hiring these people too. They'll appreciate the job as well as whatever food they can bring home with them. Mentoring will also be important too. Any shop in the food industry or restaurant can do this, helping those who are struggling to get started with their own careers.Smaller shops like bakeries and meat markets can perhaps offer discounts on day old products and also offer discounts to students and veterans.These shops should also promote and sell small time artesans, those who make their own honey or baked goods along with kitchen items like towels and ceramics.

Today we honor Martin Luthr King. We should honor his principles and generosity too.It will make the next four years bearable.