The Winning Super Bowl Get Together

 A Super Bowl party can either  be a winner or loser ,like everyone's favorite teams. A successful one starts with a plan and good foods. These are the backbone of  memorable and tasty get together ( along with a great half time show and successful team).

New contributor Ben Mims,a James Beard nominated cookbook author gave some excellent tips in today's New York Times Wednesday Foods section. His recommendation, as with any party buffet is pread it out throughout the evening. After all its going to be a long night. Guests will go through waves of hunger. One good idea is cook fully ahead of time.Every hot dish should be cooked ahead of time and reheated when need be. Take chicken wings for example. Cook them earlier in the day  and then blast them in a hot oven ten minutes before guests start to arrive. As they reheat take the time to prepare or heat up sauces. then transfer them to a large bowls. It's here when the wings are tossed in and them coated with the sauces ,ready to eat. (although the wings can be served "naked"and allow guests to do their own saucing and dipping). Making that Super Bowl classic chili is always done ahead of time.It only gets better as it sits, especially the crockpot kind. Ribs can be cooked long before the big do, even on Saturday. As with the wings add the glazes the day of and reheat.

What about burgers? Ubdercok them slightly at first. That way when they're popped back into the oven, they're  perfectly ready to go to sheet pan to bun. Reheat with a slice of cheddar on top. Make all your own dips. Homemade is always better. Cold dips do require a day to more or less marinate and get more flavor. Store them in their serving vessels  and., cover with Saran wrap. This way they'll be good to go when the party gets rolling. A very good tip from  Mr Mims is stagger the roll out. Don;t overwhelm guests with a plethora of food. Have the cold snacks like popcorn, chips and pretzels along with the cold dips. this will keep guests fed d out for the kitchen asking when the wings will be ready. During the second quarter, serve the hot stuff.Bring out the appetizer like foods. They could be potato skins or brick layer nachos or just nachos with hot cheese sauce.  Just before half time heat up those heavy hitters. These are the ribs wings, chili  and burgers to be eaten during the third quarter. The fourth quarter is dessert (if they're still hungry). Get out the brownies and cookies . (All grocery stores are featuring football cakes and cupcakes for the big game).

Don't fumble this Sunday's party. Its an easy spread with easy food. ENjoy it and root for  your favorite team.

A Warm And Cozy Dinner Party

A dinner party doesn't;t have to have elegant fancy food t be a success. You can also serve hearty, rib sticking food especially during these frigid nights. It just has to be good Everyone will appreciate a tasty meal that warming to the heart and the soul.

One of the easiest heart warming dinner dishes t serve is crockpot chili. Unlike fancier roasts this can be started in the morning and  slow cooked all  day. This gives any host enough time to get the house cleaned and other groceries bought. If you want to make it a bit more glamorous, then think about subbing in chopped filet mignon.Surprisingly enough there is a lobster chili made with the white version. This  has white beans , corn and squash along with white onions.It's a different take and sure to be a crowd pleaser at any party.Would a stew be dinner party appropriate? Yes, if' its the rich < French duck and pork one called cassoulet. This is a hearty spoonful of the two meats slow cooked with added meats such as pork and mutton along with white beans, garlic and herbs. It can be served with a simple salad and crusty , warn French bread.The simple yet delicious shepherd' pie could also make a dinner party main course.Thus hearty British dish can be made elegant by topping the savory meat, veggies and gravy  not with mashed potatoes but with sliced ones arranged  in a fancy pattern,

There are two fun and filling dinner party dishes to think about. They are the Piedmontese bagna calda and the Swiss fondue. Both require a fondue pot (which can be had from Amazon at $23 for the least expensive and $84 for a deluxe stainless steel one) > Bagna calda or hot bath starts out with a base of olive oil , butter and garlic simmered in a fondue pot. Anchovies are melted into this to create a savory, unami rich sauce ,. Usually Savoy cabbage, torn into bite sized pieces are dipped in by each diner and then cooked. however it can also be made Paterson NJ style with the addition of cubed m, par boiled London Broil. Doing it this way will give the sauce added oomph thanks to the red meat. It's hearty elegance at its' best. Fondue is another ribsticking and completely fun dinner party choice. It;s melting Gruyere and Emmenthaler cheeses with garlic ,white wine and a splash of kirsch. Usually chunks of a baguette is dipped into this but you can also use boiled and peeled potatoes and cabbage too.

A winter dinner party can also good , hearty food. The dishes don;t have to be elegant. They just have to be delicious and filling. It's a perfect way to celebrate on a cold January night.

Hearty Quick Meals For Dinner

 Everything is more or less back to normal. There are no more vacation days where everyone is home. Yet it's still cold. Everyone needs a hot dinner to come home to. This is where hearty and quick come in.

A hot dinner is a comforting relief when everyone comes home from a full day of school and work. Yet there's always not enough time to create a full  meal. This is where frozen food and shortcuts come in handy. Take advance of your frozen food section. Frozen lasagna comes in handy and it can be heated up quickly in the microwave. There are two types. the red with meat and the white ,usually with veggies. Lidl has both and both are great for an enjoyable hot supper. Stouffer's is the classic that everyone grew up on and it doesn't;t disappoint. ut;s still meaty and saucy. For a more authentic taste then buy Rao's which comes format eh restaurant of the same name. Have hot rolls and butter along with a simple tomato and lettuce salad as sides. Chili is another hearty and quick meal that just requires a few opened cans and a crockpot. This also can be made with it's to red, depending on taste. The white is usually made with turkey or chicken while the red is almost always made with beef pork or even plant based meat. Add a few beans such as kidney and red for a tasty spoonful. Tomato sauce is always needed for the red. You can add a can of fire roasted tomatoes too.

An easy hot stew can be rustled up in a few minutes thanks to a crockpot. Pick your meat. Toss in a few veggies along with broth and spicings and  in a few hours you have a great ,hot meal with leftovers that can be heated up for the next day. A beef one is especially rib sticking.Use  a good cut such as sirloin or brisket cut into cubes. Sliced Yukon potatoes are a great addition because they thicken the sauce. Carrots and peas add not only color but nutrition and flavor too.As for flavoring a dash of garlic powder does a lot but you can also add a chopped white onion, first sauteed in butter and oil. Again a simple salad is a great side and have warmed up slices of sourdough bread for dipping into your bowls. Chicken stew is an easy make .It's the same as the beef except you add some chicken stock.If you want a thicker stew then make a slurry of cornstarch and water. Add some homemade dumplings which is a simple mix of flour, baking powder, milk and butter.The dough is added to the top of the stew where it' bakes over the bubbling stew.The dumplings  are ready when a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean. This stew doesn't;t need bread or rolls but consider a salad on the side.

Hearty and quick are the requirements for January dinners. They provide nutrition and flavor while keeping stomachs filled and bodies warmed. They are perfect for these chilly nights ahead.

The Spicy Way TO Warm Food

 It's January . It's cold. We need to be warmed up. It's easy to put on another sweater or  a pair of fuzzy socks. Yet, the warming should come from the inside. not the inside. This means having dishes and drinks that give a certain amount of heat. How todo that? Use warming spices.

What are warming spices? They are usually tropically grown spices that add heat to dishes. They're vital to warmer climates, creating dishes that produce sweat to act as a natural cooling. However, they're just as vital here in the Northen Hemishere warming up people until winter days are over.Of course  the most obvious is chili powder , a blend of dried and ground ancho peppers, paprika and cayenne. Sometimes cumin , oregano and garlic powder are added in to , for flavor. Chili powder, of course, can be used in both white and red chilies. Make yours a three alrm one or five if you can stand it. Also add plent of beef or turkey (depending on the type of chili you;re making) along with beans , onions and wither fresh or canned tomatoes. To amp up the heat try jalapemo cornbread. This is the classic that studded with tiny minced pieces of f the pepper(keep in mind that a square slathered with butter also makes a great snack). Chili powder can be added to pasta sauce to create an arrabbiata-type sauce. It can even be added to pizza sauce too and lasagna for something different and spicy.

Cumin and coriander are other warmng spices. Both are added tosavory foods like curry and sweet like the fudge like confection barfi. Cuminis great in a chicken curry.It adds flavor and colring along with giving off a warm feeling when eaten. Coriander is such more versatile.It's actually cilantro and can be used in all sorts of dishes from tacos to masalas.It can give heat to guacamole along with color to simple rice. Turmeric is another must use warming spice during these chilly days.It can be sprinkled into scrambled eggs for more flavor or added to hash browns to give them a rich ,golden hue., Chicken goes well with mostly all of the warming spices so create a dish using cutlets and a turmeric sauce.Use heavy cream and white wine to round out the saucealong with chicken broth.Cilantro and onion are used to give more flavor.It's a great fish to have with a bowl of steaming basmati rice. Of course there are cinnamon and nutmeg, two must add ins to cappuccinos and lattes. They're also wonderful in the spicy Indian tea, chai and even can be used to zing up plain hot cocoa.It's also the season to bake cinnamon buns. Add the spiciest kind of cinnamon you can for a hot morning bite.

Frigid days require hot foods. Use warming spices to zing up every day dishes and drinks. You'll feel toastier when the temps drop.

Hot Foods For Cold Days

 The temps are freezing in most parts of the country and the world right now.There's nothing like a spicy Mexican hot chocolate or a Berber spiced laced Ethiopian stew to warm the blood right now. These drinks and food are perfect for starving off that chill feeling.

Here s the question - what fiery foods or drinks do you like to heat up? Is it Szechuan cuisine, rifw with zingy pink peppercorns? A five alarm chili? Jalapeno poppers? To me nothing says fire and spice than a chili (a two alarm in my case. I can't handle a five a alarm spice fire). Of course ti has to have a good bed of rice or crumbled cornbread underneath to absorb some of that zest.

What is your body warmer? Let us know . 

Plotting For The Next Big Dinner

 As we're finishing off the Tahnksgiving leftovers our minds turn to - the next big meal or party. it seems almost too much. Yet  December First is just around the corner.It's going to be Christmas Chanukah and Knwanzaa before we know it. Throw in parties and tree trimming get togethers and then it really is time to come up with  menu plans.

It pays to map out the month ahead. Keep in mind people will be busy with finishing up semesters and getting ready for their office parties.It's good to plan parties and dinners on Saturday and Sundays. If people are occupied on Saturday night, then think a holiday brunch on late Sunday morning.Another must is figuring out what people will eat. Take into account that you may have  vegans and vegetarians invited.One idea is having both meat and meatless options like nuggets . You can get Tyson and Gardein or Impossible plant based chicken. These are great with all sorts of dipping sauces from ranch to barbecue.Impossible Meats also has plant based ribs for a fun appetizer.A great tree trimming meal is chili .This can be made quickly and it can have all sorts of ingredients in it.It could have beef turkey, beans and even tofu.It could be as spicy hot  as you and your guests want or comfortingly mild. Serve with crackers or cornbread.This last could be homemade or bought at your local grocery store. Finish with Mexican hot chocolate.

Hosts must also choose between sit down dinners or buffets. Sit down dinners require more planning. the other requires more food. What do you order for a sit down dinner? Is this also for Christmas? Do you serve turkey or ham? What about the sides? Will it include elegant vegetables along with a first course of soup or salad?Will guest have to dress up to enjoy this meal along with cups of punch? Buffets are much more informal but require a good choice of dishes, both savory and sweet. Here's where planning has to come in. A buffet lunch or dinner can be made easier if everyone is assigned a recipe. Make sure that there's an equal balance of savor and sweet along with hot and cold. You don't want ten guests to bring salads or variations of baked macaroni and cheese. Assign what each home chef is good at. If there are dupes then ask them what their second go to recipe is and they can make that. (you may have to have them go to their third and fourth dishes in some cases or switch them from savory to sweet and vice a versa if too many have the same specialty).

Is it time to plan so soon after Thanksgiving? Surprisingly yes! Start now for a month of parties and dinners. All that planning will pay off when you have a good dinner or party.

A New Form Of Food Chain

 It's is beyond tough  to maintain a pantry nowadays. More and more do our family and friends need help in getting proper foods  alongwht proper nutrition.It's time to create a new kind fo food chain, one where we cna help family and friends and they us when we need help.

One  way to create a food chain is to have everyone with a garden to gather up their extra produce. It;'s still summer. There are still tomatoes peppers, squash and eggplant along with lettuce and herbs. to be gathered. everyone should bring these to one designated backyard. Then everyone picks out what they need. If you can have extras like bread crumbs and small bottles of olive oil ol for cooking these. Inexpensive varieties of  the oil  and breadcrumbs can  be found at Lidl , Aldo or Walmart. Fruit tree owners should bring any early harvest too.Another idea is  have a group go apple or pear picking. Split the cost of a bushel or basket  and let those who need it ,take more fruit than the others.An extra link in this chain is everyone getting involved in a baking fest where pies and tarts can be made and baked. Everyone can take home a pie and tarts or mini pies for the kids.Apple and pear cakes can also be made with everyone going home with a homemade dessert.

The food chain can alo be expanded by buying extra. Give the second to family and friends who need it. This can also apply to neighbors who are financially struggling too.Many groceries have buy one get one free or half priced. Take advantage of these.. That extra salad or box of cereal can go a long way for many families. A free package of cheese or bread will be able to fill a few lunchboxes.If you think this can be too embarrassing then get the family a gift certificate for the food store. It  does make for the perfect anniversary , birthday or holiday gift. They can even splurge on extras like certain seafood or beef for a special meal.Pot luck dimmers also make for an excellent way to add to the food chain. make foods that can be brought home for a second and even third meal.What wo9rks for this? A big pot of chili with homemade cornbread. pasta with meatballs and garlic bread,  a meat or veggie lasagna. One person who can afford it  can also make a turkey or a ham. These can be sliced down into left over dinners . This works well with the ham. SLabs can be taken home and turned into everything from sandwiches to  a hot meal.

We have to create a new form of food chain to help each other.These are tough times. we're all struggling. yet we can help each other with extra food and love.

Food Is For Everyone

 It doesn't matter who you love as long as you can produce a good  product. This also applies to anything in the food business.If it's tasty and makes cooking an prep time a breeze, then what matters is the integrity, love and spirit that goes into it.

One company is Diaspora, a spice company. The spices are all grown sustainably and they're a must for any home chef into cooking and baking. There are varieties of different masalas that add depth and layers to curries and roasted veggies.Try Nik's achari masala, or turmeric for a golden dish or even a chai. Keep in mind that the spices are top quality so that means a higher price that the spices you'd buy at your local grocery store.A tin of hot cocoa will coast twenty-five dollars while cinnamon is twelve dollars for a small tin. They do offer  the sometimes hard to find jaggery, the brown gritty sugar used in Indian baking and cooking. Hot sauce is a must for summer barbecues. Pick up a bottle of Shaquanda's Hot Pepper sauce created by drag queen and entrepreneur Andre Springer. This is a mix of fresh hot Chile peppers, ginger, onions and turmeric. adding more kick are mustard and apple cider.It would be perfect for  a zingy barbecue shrimp or chicken. There are also other hot sauces such a as west Indian curry  - a zippy ginger sauce with the fiery heat of Scotch bonnet and Oomami a fancier layered sauce made from caramelized onions, habanero peppers and balsamic vinegar.

A good bean can elevate any dish, from soup to chili. Try Rancho Gordo ones. They may be a bit more expensive but they are flavorful and perfect for any dish.Add their Santa MAria Pinquinot bean to chilis; for a thick, beefy flavor that will make the traditional dish stand out.Rancho Gordo also has both black and white garbanzo beans . The black ones have an earthworm nuttier flavor than their white counterparts and would make for an interesting chickpea salad or a hummus rich with flavor. The last can easily be made with just the beans olive oil and a bit of tahini for an interesting appetizer. The company also sells split peas perfect for soups and black eyed peas , ideal for a richly flavored Hopping John. For another legume there is the peanut butter company Peanut Butter & Company. The store has everything ,from peanut powder for making shakes to peanut butter (as well as maple almond butter cookies) Their peanut butters have not only the usual smooth and crunchy types to choose from but also peanut butters blended with chocolate, honey and cinnamon for a different spin. They also offer their version of Nutella, both light and dark chocolate as well as almonds butters.

It doesn't matter who you love.It matters what you love if you're a foodie. Celebrate all sorts of love and people with these brands, full of their own love and goodness.

Rainy Day Eats

 April bring showers as the saying goes. Yet a rainy day is a perfect time to bake or cook(However not to make candy)> What's your favorite treat to make during a rainy April day? It could be baking cake or cookies for later snacking? Or making a crockpot full of homemade chili or sauce,

WHat is your favorite rainy eats to make? For me it could be a soup if the weather is chill enough or a croque Monsiuee loaded with Gruyere , ham and butter. et us know here.

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.

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.

Warming Spices

 How to make a dish even hotter? Add some heat. It could be sliced jalapenos or a heaping teaspoon of red pepper. This makes for a blood warming meal that will get you through the cold days ahead.

Of course chili is one of the hottest dishes to make. Many make it with just a one alarm rating yet it can be made to be super hot. A five alarm is a fiery change.This means adding more spices and peppers to your already established recipe. Jalapeno is added a long with teaspoons of chili powder ,cayenne pepper and red pepper. if it's too eye watering it can be cooled down with individual dollops of sour cream or guacamole. Another Mexican favorite mole sauce can also be spiked up another levelIt a dark chocolate sauce made with such cocoa .Usually made with cumin and tomatoes. it can be varied with a good kick of ground red pepper. It's usually serve with chicken or beef but can be good with vegetables too. if you want to add more heat then thick about jalapeno cornbread to any of these dishes. Add half a cup of fresh sliced one for an extreme bite or pickled ones for a lesser zing.

Pasta can be fiery too. Arrabiata sauce can bring in blood warming fire. It's a red sauce, rich with tomatoes and the extra kick of red pepper flakes. A teaspoon o them  toasted in butter should bring out the flavor and give the sauce the appropriate taste. If you want you can add any protein too to give it more oomph. Think chicken beef or shrimp. Keep in mind that pizza sauce can also be made arribiata. Add some spicy pepperoni too or ventricina ,a spicy Italian salami as topping.  for a really elegant hot dish , make lobster arrabiata . This is made with two three pound lobsters and four dry red Chiles. The lobsters do have to be roasted first and the meat and juice added to the creamy sauce. It's usually served with spaghetti but also works with any of the "long" pastas like fettucini and linguini.Indian food is also full of heat. Try a chicken curry that combines ginger - another biting spice and chili flakes to create a blood warming dish.Again ,if it's too spicy then serve with Indian flatbread like naan or roti.

If you want to be toasty hot during these cold days, then cook with heat. These dishes will keep you warm .They're not only not but also delicious.

A South Of The Border Twist

 Tomorrow is Cinco De Mayo and that means an abundance of good Mexican food. Yet any dish can benefit from a little salsa, or a slice of avocado.it's just adding a Mexican twist on things.

Beans can easily be spiced up with a variety of different spices.I made an all bean chili dish that had chili spices in the,.This is what I got on my Lidl haul and thought it would be a fun and easy dish with Lidl's instant rice. Cumin and cayenne are what give Mexican food it's unique flavor. You can easily use these in a day rub for chicken or beef. You could also create a carne asada. which is a mix if any kind of citrus juice with a splash of soy sauce. Rich spices such a as cumin, paprika  and chili powder are added for more flavor. Olive oil is added for smoothness. A typical marinade time for carne asada is around twenty four hours.

Adding anything with avocados to a dish s always a good thing. I cannot resist Lidl's Avocado Fritters.These are tasty breaded strips that can easily be air fired

The photo is  a bit dark but you can see the fries Yet avocado can also be added to a ciambatta with tomatoes and onions .This is a recipe from the famed British chef and baker Mary Berry.Adding avocado gives a creaminess and balance to an other wise tangy sandwich. You could also add a layer of guacamole to any chicken or turkey sandwich too for something different. Salsa, another Mexican classic can be mixed in to any tomato sauce or bruschetta for a zingy twist on Italian classics.

It's Cinco de Mayo.Yet the Mexican influence can be used all year round. Try adding a dash of chili powder a slice of avocado or a splash of salsa to any  dish.

A Half Priced Valentine's Day

 Prices have gone crazy and that may impact your Valentine's Day. What to do? Create a warm cozy meal for pennies.There's no fancy restaurant,s no dressing up. Just the two of you ,cozied up, with good food at a good price.

One fo these places is Lidl. I can't say enough about having a good meal - ones' that easy to make and easy t eat.I recently discovered their El Tequito  Avocado fritters. tehse are avocado fries that can be air fried in less than twenty minutes.

These were fin, little fries that were  crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside.

They paired well with Lidl's vegan chili which as pant based beef crunbles.

Again this is the same as their pizza (ano9ther yummy Valentine's Day choice).it has everythign under the sun in in from beans and corn.

This was perfect with the avocado fritters and would make a perfect dinner for two. Add Corona beef followed by a dessert of spicy Mexican hot cocoa spiked with Kahlua and topped with whipped cream. You can also go to Aldi and buy theri vegetables at a much lower price than the average grocery store Whip up a delicious ratatouille.serve with French bread and a good French red. Buy meringues from Lidl  Acme , Stop and Shopfor a sweet, Gallic ending along with homemade truffles if you have the time to make them.

Don't btreak the bank this Valentine's Day . Create a tasty and easy dinner for two.You can still have a romantic evning but for much less.

Hot Or Cold Table?

 The Big  Super Bowl Game is tis Sunday and there are choices to be made. Do you have a hot table? A cold one? Or a little of both? What can be served to satisfy guests?

A hot table can be a buffet or a bg crock pot of something. The first question you should ask is what do your guests want  along with how much should you make. A buffet can range from three or four dishes Or a whopping ten.Popular hot dishes are anything with chicken , from nuggets to drumsticks and wings.This is broken down into flavors too. Not everyone likes super spicy Buffalo wings. Other flavors such as lemon pepper and honey barbecue should also be served. You could also serve chicken patties that can be turned into sliders. Chili is another Super Bowl favorite. Again make a mild and a fiery one  for those who love and don't love fire.Fire up the grill if you want too. Nothing beats a party full of hot dogs burgers and ribs. Set up a toppings bar  too.People can add everything and anything from pizza sauce to relish along with guacamole and sliced tomatoes.. Another fun dish are personal pizzas. Again guests and family can go wild with freating their favorites, from meat lovers to veggies and hot peppers.

What about a cold dish buffet? The most obvious answer is a charcuterie board. A classic ones includes an array of cold cuts like salame, ham , prosciutto and mortadella.Add dried figs, and breena nd black olives too. There should be a good choice fo cheeses from the deliciosuly runny Brie to a firm, buttery Edam. Have a sliced baguette along with a good variety of crackers, from Ritz to water to act as a base to all these foods. If you want to splurge have a sea-cuterie. This is a melange of chilled shrimp, crab legs, oysters and scallops .Make sure there are plenty of lemon wedges , tartar and shrimp cocktail sauces.Not into that fancy stuff? Then make hero sandwiches. You can use any kind of bread, from baguettes to those long Portuguese rolls. Add such tasty cold cuts as roast beef, sliced turkey and ham, along with such Italian sub classics as capicola and salami. Again these sandwiches demand cheese . have slices that match the meats. roas tbeef and turkey can go with a sharp cheddar or mild American. Ham works well with Provolone as do the Italian cold cuts. What goes with these? Large bowls of potato chips , Funyuns and all sorts of Doritos.

What 's the best choice? Your choice. Hot or cold , the food at any Super Bowl Party is bound to be fun and tasty.

It's Crockpot Season

 It's January and that means one thing :time to get out  the crockpot or start using the one you received for Christmas. There's so much you cna make using it. Be rady for , easy, ribsticking meals  that warm you from yoru head to your toes.

I got mine out after a few seasons of not using it.I love it, from Classic which I bought at Target six years ago./ The handle is broken and it's seen better days after six years but it still works beautifully.

I spent a rainy , snowy Sunday making homemade vegan chili.It's my Mom';s recipe that I tweaked. It  has a cuo of both kidney and cannellini beans, a cup of vegan soy crumbles, crushed pepper infused tomatoes and tomato sauce. A mix of cumin, chili powder, along with onionand garlci powders were added. You can add real meat and just the tomato sauce. A bowl of it was perfect on a frosty, chilly day. You can jazz it up your own recipe by adding a layer of mixed Mexican cheeses, and sour cream or a dollop of guacamole.

Use your crockpot to make all sorts of warming dishes. My next big recipe with it will be homemade tomato sauce. This is bascially the chili recipe sans the cumin and chili powder. I can see  it on top of penne or spaghetti with vegan meatballs. I can also just serve meat balls and sauce over Italoan bread for a hot hearty, hero. Keep in mind that crockpots can also be used to make Swedish meatballs and a variety of homemade soups. Imagine a good leek and potato one being simmered in it. If you have apples, cut them up with some granulated sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon for a chunky applesauce. 

It's crockpot season. Use yours to make hot , tasty meals. It's such an easy cook that produces warming dishes for cold winter days and night.

New York's Hottest Trend Fuchka

 New York and it's boroughs have always been food trend setters. Whatever comes from the city spreads first to the suburbs and then the rest of the world. This is true with fuchka - a Bengal street food that everyone can't get enough of to snack on.

 International contributor and sports writer (!) Andrew Keh wrote about this in the main section of today's New York Times. Fuchka  pronounced fooch ka, (sort of like the plant and the color) is a tasty Bengali street food. It's closest cousin could be pani pura and gol gappa.. Both are filled with potatoes , yellow peas, onion and cilantro. Chili flavoring gives them their kick. The mix is stuffed into semi opeend semolina shells and then deepf fired. A splash of tamerind sauce gives them their tangy sweetness. Shaved hard boiled egg slivers decorate it. There are recipes on the web if you want to try making them at home.

The idea of brining this to America is Naeem Khandaker who brought the idea from his native Khulna in southern Bangladesh. He saw that bengalis were not selling thier recipes but Indian recipes or Bengali foods under different names. This would not do for him. H eopened Tong in 2018 and within a few weeks had a steady stream of customers. Soon there were more food carts selling the delicious treat, ripping off his recipe.      Althought Mr. Khandakar  has opned up more food carts in the boroughs and even a restaurant in Jamaica Queens. There are fierce rivalries  which even result in calling in the cops. Yet the food unifies the growning Bengali population here in New York        

Hopefully there will be fuchka trucks and restaurants throught the metro area. This treat is too tasty to be kept to one neighborhood. The world should know about these.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Ovenless Cooking

 warm weather means a warm house. Factor a hot stove into that and you have an unbearably hot and uncomofrtable kitchen. Yet thereare ways to still have a hot fresh meal, Use your air fryer, Insta-Pot or crockpot for cooked or baked meals and treats.

One of the best inventions ever for the kitchen is the air fryer. This is great during those hot steamy days. You don;'t have to light the grill or turn on the stove. Hamburgers and hot dogs can easily be cooked and crisped in this.They're still juicy but with an extra crunchiness that just makes them sing. Use your air fryer for seafood too. You can easily make fried shrimp or even lobster tails in it. This is perfect if you're dying for a summery treat. The air fryer is good for snacks like onion rings and French fries to go with those burgers and dogs. Some also have the room to bake. You can bake anything and everything from pancakes to brownies. You just need parchment papper cut to fit the size of the basket. Another plu is that the  air fryer is an easy clean up, I'ts just the basket that needs to be washed and dried. That's it. No pots or pans. No messy stove top or oven interior to wipe and clean.

Insta-Pots and crock pots are your friends during steamy days too. Everything is basically a "dump and go" , perfect for when you're too hot and tired to cook an elaborate meal. Family can enjoy a tasty baked mac without having to turn on the oven.It's also great for baking lasagna. This winter classic can easily be created during a heat wave.Both Insta-Pots and crockpots are good for simmering scatch soups too. If you're craving a homemade celery or spinach one make it in either ones of these. Freeze the leftovers if you want a quick hot lunch or light supper. Chili is another perfect dish for these cookers and you can use ingredients form your garden like tomatoes , peppers and onions as the summer harvest season progresses.Not surprisingly your Insta-Pot is a bonus for creating desserts too. A  chocolate lava cake is an easy bake in one. Even cheesecake, usually reserved for Christmas or New Year's can be a summery dessert thanks to a bake in one. Add some fresh picked blueberries or strawberries on top. Again  like with the air fryer, these are easy to clean. No hassle. No mess. No worries.

Let your oven rest during this warm days. Use your airfryer, Insta-Pot or crockpot to cook and bake. It' makes for an easier time and a cooler kitchen.

A Smallish Super Bowl Party

 Ask people what comes to mind when they think of a Super Bowl party and they'll usually say a big noisy do. There are buckets of wings.Endless pizzas and heroes. Kegs. Tthere's always has to be kegs. Yet supposed you don't want that.A smallish Super Bowl party may be your choice instead.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to celebrate by yourself or with one or two good friends. There's no set in stone law that says you can't have that. Besides the smaller the crowd the more you can splurge on food and drink. There's also no shortages on popular dishes like chili or chicken. Everyone can get an equal share. You can still have wings but maybe a dozen at the most  if there's three people. Another idea is just buying a rotisserie chicken with a couple of containers of different salads. like macaroni and potato.There may even be enough for leftovers to take home (or to make into a yummy chicken salad sandwich for work) If it;s just you and a friend celebrating then treat yourself to a shrimp plattter or crab legs. This last is an easy make. They can be either steamed or baked and served with melted butter or lemon.You could also get chopped lobster and make a tasty lobster toll to munch on while watching the game.If that's your game plan, then skip the beer and serve champagne with it. 

Chili is a another Supr Bowl food tradition.Yes,it's usually mde in great quantities to satisfy a large and hungry group. but you could make a lesser quantity. Just halve the amounts needed to satisfy one or two people. If you do wan t to make a large amount, thne freeze it for another dinner.Pizza is another game day classic . You can order smaller pies from Blaze .One small  can actually feed two people and they can throw in a salad and dessert too. Another idea is make your own. Think bagel or English muffin pizzas. This is an easy cook of just halving the bgels and muffins and then layering sauce and mozzarella on top. You can ask about topping or have guests add their own toppings. Put out sliced onions, black olive pepperoni slices , and assorted chopped veggies. French bread pizza is perfect for two people.It's a little more filling but still a great bite for watching half time since it's only going ro be you and possibly another , then open up a  bottle of good red wine. 

A small Super Bowl party is just as good as a large one. There can still be fun food and drink. Just perfet for a party of one, two or three,.

Food for The Souls

 Today and tomorrow the Christian world honors its saints and its souls. This is usually done through prayer but also through eating. There's a warm feeling reminiscing over a loved one's favorite dishes and recipes past down. Thye're not really gone if their food lives on through the generations.

Mexicans celebate Dios de Muertos -Day of The Dead. It's not a day of sadness but one of togetherness as families create such dishes as concha breads, taquitos and skull shaped cookies and candies.Taquitos are easy to make and they 're perfect to cook up all month long.It's just taking tortillas and first heating them. They're then filled with whatever you want , whether chicken ,beef or beans and then frying them in oil.They can be topped with cheese or guacamole. These can also be baked or air fried for a healthier , crisper bite. Chili is also served for the day. This is a definite cold weather dish as well. The Mexicans have always used ground beef but you can also make a white one. This involves chicken instead of beef and using creamy white cannelini beans instead of the usual kidney and pinto.Some recipes add broccoli and corn .That's up to you. Spicing is the same, with the usual bite of chili.The  memorial meal is finished with some kind of sweet. Bake skull  shaped brownies that can be either iced or just dusted with confectioner;'s sugar. You can also make the sweet concha bread, perfect with butter and Mexican hot chocolate.

Soul cakes are  another part of the All Soul's Day. If it sounds familiar Sting sang about them over a decade in his Christmas album. They're a big part of Samhain the Celtic holiday which Halloween derives from. Children went from door to door, much like trick ro treat, asking if homeowners would want a prayer said for the souls of their dearly departed. Payment was an apple, plum or these. The recipes goes back centuries, probably to the medieval period and the ingredients reflect this. They are egg yolks, butter, sugar and milk. Raisins and such spices as cinnamon, cloves nutmeg and gimger. A cross is made in them, similar to hot cross buns. You can modernize them with subbing in pumpkin spice for the spices and craisins or dried cranberries for the raisins. Soul cakes can also be made plain. They're usually baked in rounds and then dusted with powdered or granulated sugar. Some British chefs use saffron as flavoring and to give the cake a pale yellow color. Soul cakes are a nice contast to the rich holiday cookies on the calendar ahead.

These are the days when we remember our beloved who are gone. There are taquitos and cocnhas or soul cakes. Any of these are a lovely way to celebrate those lost.