Sick Day

 It's day off with hot soup and a glass of iced Pepsi.

That Fizzy Stuff

It's warm weather time and with it comes thirst.Nothing beats that old school classic, a bottle of frosty Coke.Or a tall glass full of ice and whatever fruity Fanta you love.

Here's the question of the week what is your favorite soda? Mine is diet Pepsis however bad that is for me.I just discovered Poppi a prebiotic good for you soda.I like their cherry lime flavor and want to try the others 

So what's your favorite fizz? Let us know here

Diner Favorites

 New Jersey is the state of diners. Although we don;t have as many as we used to , they are still the eatery of choice for so many New Jerseyans. Yet no matter where you are there is some kind of diner that offers up loaded potato skins,gigantic slices of French toast or shrimp scampi 24/7. 

The question is what's your favorite diner food?Mine is a turkey burger with a shareable  plate of crispy golden fries.There has to be a tall icy Pepsi with those too. What do you like at your favorite diner? The lemon meringue pie with that giant puff of meringue on top. A large bowl of chicken noodle soup? Or some thing reflecting many diner owner's heritage - Greek food - moussaka or dolmades stuffed grape leaves. Let us know.

Indulge In Dr Pepper Cotton Candy

 Imagine combining your two favorite things. That's what it is with Dr.Pepper Cotton Candy. Cotton candy is special but adding this soda flavor elevates it to an epic level.

This is what I discovered today on a a fun trip to my local Five Below.

It was my two favorite things - the marriage of Dr. Pepper with cotton candy. They also had a Mike and Ike flavor which looked kind of interesting although it's not my favorite candy. Five Below is a store that has tons of cute stuff ,from tee shirts to toys to make up and bath gear to books and home furnishings to candy - lots and lots of candy.Imagine a funky sweet shop where you ca get everything from giant candy dots to all sorts of bubble gum. There are also savory snacks like flaming hot Taki sticks and Funyuns too.Yet it's. the candy that shines though.

Of course I could not resist this.It ;s that deep cherry red that  Dr Pepper is. Did it taste extra sweet with the soda flavor added?

It was super sweet as any cotton candy would be. Yet the soda's flavor came through perfectly. it was a fun once in a great while treat. I'm a big fan of freshly spun cotton candy, especially if it's down the shore yet this is a nice alternative. I do wonder if there will be a Coke,Pepsi  or Fanta flavored cotton candy next.Would I buy any of those? Maybe.

If you want a different treat then try Dr. Pepper flavored cotton candy.It's just a fun summery treat. Enjoy it like you would a icy glass of the soda.!

Wading Through The Soda Stream

 One of the best kitchen gadgets to have right now is the Soda Stream. This takes ordinary water and turns it into healthy plain or flavored seltzer as well as the base for homemade sodas. To be honest it took me a few years to actually get into mine. I'm sorry I came to the party late , wasting money on commercial sodas and seltzers.

This is the Soda Stream machine.

It's a long hollowed out canister with the charger being hooked up in the back. The machine itself ranges from $80.00 to an electric version costing $117. on sale. There's also the more deluxe version at $144.00 again on sale.  I bought mine at Target.All models come with a carbonating cylinder which lasts about three to four months, depending on how much you use it.  Bring back the empty to any store and you 'll receive a free replacement.  All come with a bottle or a carafe for the fizzy water.

You fill it with tap water and then set it into the canister.

My model has a large button on top and then it's just pressing so carbonation shoots (and I mean shoot - water does splash out of it) into it.  You can see the bubbles there. 

Afterwards it's then adding (and only adding afterwards) the flavors. 

I bought Soda Stream's cola flavor at my local Acme. I use only half a cap which give it a nice , light cola taste (and much better tasting than Coke or Pepsi.). I shake it up to mix and then pop into the fridge to chill. There are other flavors, like Dr Pete's which is a riff on Dr. Pepper along with their ginger ale. The company recently added Buble seltzer flavors - a definite must buy on my next Target trip. They also have fruit essences too - another must buy. Another plus  - I'm helping the environment by not buying all those cans and bottles. It's just one metal canister every few months.

Homemade soda is really the best. Get Soda Stream for a more refreshing take on soda and seltzer. Buy one today as an early Valentines' day gift for yourself. Then enjoy the fizz and bubbles.

Overbuying

The pandemic has made us all hoarders. Now it seems we buy much more than we need. The result? More wasted food. Can we break this newly acquired habit? Or will it be a new part of our lives?

That's the question many home chefs are asking themselves. I find myself wondering why I bought what I did.  It  eventually gets left  for the wildlife that frequent my backyard. It seems I've been over buying all sorts of things, from soda to produce, from snacks to sides.It stems from a few months ago when shopping trips were limited and we had to buy in bulk. Thanks to this mentality I now have twenty-four packs of Pepsi in my hallway. Yes, they were bargains with buy two, get the third free at my Stop & Shop, but now realizing I'll have them til September. The same for snacks. I've had to get rid of everything from pretzels to half eaten bags of tortilla chips. Then there's the Well Yes soups which we loved but now deem too much . I overbought them and we're stuck with four or five cans. There is cherries that are drying out too quickly along with peaches and oranges that are greening with mold. These will also have to be chucked. You can't save rotten fruit.

Like everyone else around the world, I have to again rethink how I shop. I can see multiple buying essentials such as oatmeal and milk. Those are everyday foodstuffs that are eaten almost daily. Buying two or three containers of each is a good idea. They won't go bad either. As for produce. that depends on if you cook fresh or not. It may be tempting to buy those on sale chicken breasts or skirt steaks but ask yourself if you will use them. You could put them in the freezer however that's probably still full of the frozen veggies you bought in March.Maybe get one package, especially if you're not planning on using it right away. As far as fruits and veggies,again don't overbuy unless you're planning on making sauce with tomatoes. A big bag of baby spinach isn't really necessary for a salad. You'll only use half. Get the smaller bag instead. If you do buy the bigger bags plan other dishes such as using spinach and other greens for omelets or curries. Don't buy a huge bag of peaches or nectarines. These spoil quickly. Only take home two or three of them. Select a small bag of cherries if you want them. A bigger bag may mean ignored ones that can rot and dry out.

Once again, it's time to readjust our shopping habits. It's cutting back and cutting down. It means  not wasting food and buying what you need.

Medicinal Foods

Remember the old saying : feed  cold and starve a fever.It's true. What you eat can help or hinder your illness,whether it's a full-blown stomach virus or a slight sniffle.You need to be prepared since it's cold and flu season already.

One of the best elixirs I can recommend is that Jamaican classic ginger beer. It's great for taming a stomach virus along with helping to relieve gas and bloating.Many confuse it with its' milder cousin ginger ale. The beer is actually brewed and  another tummy settler - lemon juice - is added in.It's much stronger than ginger ale which is nothing more than fizzy water with ginger flavor added.The first was created surprisingly not in Jamaica but  in Ireland in 1851 while the other was created in 1907 by Canadian John McLaughlin. The company evolved into Canada Dry and they still make the mellow drink. Try to have one or the other (not many stores sell ginger beer,Stop &Shop has its;' own brand and Stewart's also makes it).Another must for virus season is any cola drink, whether it be Coke, Pepsi or a generic in house brand.Cola poured over crushed ice also helps soothe a troubled stomach, .All kitchen should have herbal teas, especially peppermint or chamomile.These not only help a stomach that's been ravaged by a nasty bug but great in calming a sore throat.Colds benefit from fresh pressed juices This is the time to get oranges along with apples and pears ad start juicing..

Boullion cubes should be in every kitchen. Individual cubes ca be turned into broths for one,They are a great bridge from not eating to be able to get down some food. It seems vegetable bouillon is the mildest. There's none of that slightly fatty aftertaste that you get with the chicken and beef kinds. They also make excellent bases for simple soups such as pastina, orzo and my all time favorite pompeist, the Piedmontese mix of broth, beaten egg and bread crumbs.Stay away from canned soup. They're not hat your stomach needs. Homemade is better. Have these with crackers and oysterettes.in fact these will probably be the only kinds of foods that you'll eat after a stomach virus. What about transitioning into regular food again.  Think dry as in sliced chicken or turkey.If you don;t feel like cooking a whole bird, remember that diners always have these two meats . Order a plain  no mayo sandwich from yours on toast.from your local one. The BRAT diet-bananas, rice, applesauce, toast  is a tried and true one for diarrhea. Bananas are chock full of potassium which will be depleted thanks to  it being forced out fo you. Rice with butter is another good transitional food. For more flavor cook the rice in broth as opposed to plain water. Use the applesauce if you're craving something sweet.


Be prepared this cold,  flu, and virus season with the right foods. These will help you get over those nasty bugs, sniffly noses and scratchy throats.Having them is your best for a speedy recovery.

Yup, It's Virus Season Again

This is going to be a short entry. It's January and that means virus season. Since I am a magnet for all things bacterial,I have fallen to the newest strain . It's been a RA diet, rice  and applesauce .A sleepless night was spent Googling all the foods I should be eating and drinking. at 2 AM I was quickly guzzling down hot peppermint tea and then finally got to bed.

This is a foodie nightmare.There are ao many things I would love to eat right now but can't . The thirst that comes with dehydration is awful  - luckily there is the tea and Pepsi(I shouldn;t have it, i know - extreme sugar and caffeine are off limits but a cold glass of it is refreshing and good on my stomach).

Ginger also helps, and thank heavens I have a few ginger chews to calm my innards., The spice  also aids in digestion so it;s highly recommended for  any stomach flu or virus.. Also take fresh  ginger root , slice and then steep in boiling hot water. Fresh ginger tea is excellent in soothing an irritated stomach wall. Also ginger ale, and preferably the much stronger brewed ginger beer is another must have.

Anyway, it's back to the tenth cup of mint tea. wish me well. This only the beginning of the trip through  scary stomach flu land

The Sugar Tax Controversy

As you've probably heard right now New York City i s instituting a sugar or soft drink tax. This is a few cents added onto sodas.It's supposed to get kids and even adults to kick their sugar addiction. According to Mayor Michael Bloomburg this will lead to less obesity and a city full of healthy kids.

To be honest it's not going to work. Kids will drink the sodas anyway. Once you're addicted to Coke and Mountain Dew, that's it. You'll be drinking these for the rest of your life. We can however teach children that water is the best alternative when they;re thirsty. Nothing beats a bottle of chilled them as opposed to any kind of soda , iced tea or even juice for these. Also teaching them about an all around healthy diet early on is also a deterrent in going for sugary drink as and snacks.

Another problem here is other foods can cause problems. Do we put a ban on hamburgers and fries? Forbid them to eat chili dogs? Restrict potato chips until they 're eighteen like we do with cigarettes? Do we make certain foods illegal ?What about diner food with its' unhealthy portions?. Even the kid's plate of something chicken nuggets or spaghetti can feed tow adults. This should be looked into as well and regulated/

Putting a tax on Coke and Pepsi is not going to change a kid's habits.Introducing him or her to healthy home cooked foods and locally grown fruits and vegetables will . Instead of tacking on a few cents onto a soda. , Mayor Bloomburg should think about having more farmer"s markets in his Manhattan. He'll get his dream of healthier thinner kids thanks to eating all the right foods found at their fingertips.