Tasty Care Packages

 Kids are going off to college ,some of the for the first time. They may not like what the school cafeterias have to offer. What to do? Create a care package. This could be sweet or savory, depending on what the college kid likes/

As much as young adults love to snack and nosh.m keep in mind that they also need good hygienic products and nutrition. Pack a few tubes of their favorite toothpaste and bottles of mouthwash.(why a few? they like to share with their roomies)> Also have cough lozenges and medicine along with aspirin. Pack vitamins too.They re usually too busy with studying and sports to even think of adding a few nutrients to their diet. Dried fruit is another good choice.These are perfect for late night cramming and just noshing with friends. The healthiest types to eat are dates,aprocots raisins and figs.They have high levels of antioxidant,s potassium and fiber. Every grocery store sells them. Sun Maid has their new charcuterie package which has dried cranberries blueberries and apricots, The cranberries and blueberries are also chockful of antioxidants.Craisins, dried, cranberries are popular and tasty , They're also perfect in a bowl of corn flakes and Cheerios.Pack a few bags of them too,.

There's are also the fun add ins Homemade cookies are a must. They've been in college care package for decades. Classic chocolate chip is the cookies of choice. There are so many different ways to make them. You can go with the classic which has brown sugar and milk or bitter chocolate chips.  You could make the equally classic M&M cookies and have both little and big candies in the dough. Add walnuts or almonds for the nut lover. Totally mix  it up by using mint chips in a chocolate cookie dough ro even peanut butter  chips. Shortbreads are both easy to make and easy to send, The recipe is just mixing confectioner;s sugar, butter and flour together to form a stiff dough.To make them special, dip them in melted chocolate. You can pack the cookies in homemade popcorn. Keep the  popped kernels plain and add flavorings to flavor later. Also pack microwave popcorn or plain kernels with a whole host of sprinkle on flavorings. Kernel Seasons has some great flavors like movie theater and nacho cheddar. Pack in a few before shipping.

College care packages should be fun.Have them packed with good for you and good snacks. The dorm student will appreciate it.

A Different Kind Of Cookie

 This is the time of year for cookies. It's usually the same kind. Chocolate chips, Oatmeal Rasin, every kind of butter and sugar. Yet imagine turning th cookie tray upside down with  new twists and new recipes. Sunday's New York Times did just this.  The have an insect loaded with all sorts of interesting sweets.

They offer all sorts of interesting treats in a colorful pull out.They're are triangles of mint chocolate chip cookies that have an Andes mint vibe to them.There's a buttery and silky peanut brown butter cookie.They're even nuttier thanks to rolling the dough balls into first egg and then chopped peanuts. POpcorn bucket cookies have everything from the popped thing to Raisinets M&M's Kitkats and Reeses Pieces.

There is a take on the Dark and Stormy cocktail, which is redolent with cinnamon cloves and cayenne, the last not a typical Christmas cookie ingredient. For something fun and unexpected there are the mortadella cookies, with the pink meaty color being supplied by dried strawberries. These add to the already almond-y, nutty flavor. Coconut lovers will love munching on coconut cake cookies., dipped in rich glaze and then dried coconut.. There is even a brownie recipe made with the added kick of espresso to liven up the taste buds.It also has a kicky coffee glaze too.

These are not the average Christmas cookie. These are fun and zingy. Try them to add some zest to  a bland cookie table.

Outdoor Movie Night

Summer movies are a big thing.They could be scary  , romantic or exciting .Unfortunately the era of the drive in is well over with  and with it goes all those fun foods , from ice cream sodas or hamburgers. yet movies can still be projected in our backyards  .with it we can still  have fun foods to enjoy our favorite stars under the stars.

Yes popcorn is a must for any movie indoors and out. The buttered sort is always good except it does become greasy when it's cold.a better idea is popping the kernels in a light olive oil and then seasoning with rosemary and sea salt.it still has a lush flavor but there's no worry of slippery and slimy corn. if you di want a flavored corn then think about cheddar cheese powder to sprinkle on.caramel corn is another fun movie night treat. You can make the caramel by hand, using butter, brown sugar , cream of tartar and baking soda. Light corn syrup is added to give the caramel that silky texture. an easier route is melting Kraft caramels with two to three tablespoons of butter and water. The popcorn is then mixed in to this until every puff is completely coated.Nachos are another much loved movie snack. You can just serve them with hot queso poured on or create a platter of loaded nachos. These are loaded  with ground beef or turkey  and topped with not just queso but also salsa, sour cream and guacamole. sliced olives and jalapenos top it off. It;s usually cut in squares and put on plates.

Of course you could have more sophisticated fare. Charcuterie is an easy and fun way to serve people. There also is a wide variety for guests to choose from. Salami works well along with prosciutto on hot nights. Any other meats may go bad. Don;think of serving a sea-cuterie, full of seafood that could go bad quick. stick to the cold cuts a long with different cheeses like Brie, GOuda and Cheddar along with different crackers. Have rows of wheat Thins and Ritz crackers as well as saltines. Also olive go well here as do Italian and French bread loaves. The last make for easy sandwiches with the cold cuts and cheeses. Have cruets of olive oil and vinegar out too. Grilled food is always welcome. Think hamburgers and hot dogs under the stars. set up a fixings bars for both. Have it loaded with squeezy bottles of ketchup and mustard along with small bowls of pickles and relish. A few squeezy bottles of different barbecue and hot sauces can add some zing. Barbecued chicken wings are also a fun movie night munch, have them plain or with a lemon garlic marinade.Iced cold drinks are needed to wash all of this down. Lemonade and different sodas are a good choice. Mocktails are a fun addition too.

It's outdoor movie season. every film deserves fun snacks. It's the best way to enjoy your favorites in a hot summer night.

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.

Food On The Go Good Or bad

 We are a nation of snackers.we gobble munch and slurp even on the go,. Yet what's a good quick nosh> Do you want something tasty?Or good for you?

Most people tend to eat the wrong stuff. Sure, ut's great to eat potato chips , especially the many different flavored ones these days, Across the board nutritionists and doctors agree these are bad for you. They're fried carbs with salt added. A better choice is popcorn. You can buy smaller bags of the olive oil popped kind even in vending machines nowadays.it has high fiber content while also having increased satiety.This means you can eat a small amount and still feel sated. What about pretzels? They 're not as low calorie as popcorn but they are lower in saturated fat than potato chips. One serving of pretzels contains only one gram of fat while potato chips have ten grams. Another plus is that pretzels also have a quarter of the sodium needed for a daily dose.If you still want a bag of chips to keep you full during a road trip or picnic, then try Utz,These are not cooked in the heavy oils and still have a good flavor. Pop Chips are another brand that  is' good for you and worth trying too.

These snacks  are great if you're on the good. At home you can indulge in fruit and veggie platter either bought at your local grocery or made at home.Think carrots and celery dipped in a lemony vinaigrette this is the perfect snack for a mid afternoon boost. Grape tomatoes are another quick bite. They're good on their own on on skewers interspersed with mozzarella, You could also make a small bowl of panzinella or Italian bread salad Use small torn pieces of Italian bread soaked in olive oil, Add small chunks of the mozzarella and sliced tomatoes. This also makes for a great lunch too or a quick dinner. Fruit is a must. This is strawberry season so have a few with honey drizzled on them. You can also top a blob of cottage cheese with them or the other stars of the season, peaches and blueberries.Its a nice mix of savory and sweet and will satisfy both cravings. Iced water is the best to keep hydrated. Iced green tea is another good choice too. You could also make an iced black tea too.

We are a country of snackers. Yet that's bad. Snack healthy and you'll feel better. 

Lighten Up For Summer

 Memorial Day means one thing - it's time to eat light to fit into last year's shorts and bathing suits.After a winter and part of Spring eating heavy it's important to eat light especially in hot weather. it could be changing up your diet or even some recipes.

As much as we all like to snack, it's time to really look over what we've been snacking on. Most of us go for potato chips, After all they're fun to eat and that mix of oil ,salt and potato is too much to resist. Yet it's time to look into lighter fare. You may then want to reach for those tortilla chips and fresh salsa.Don't !!!! These have ten times the transfat as potato chips. A better choice is a place of already cut veggies. even grocery stores such as Acme and Stop &Shop have trays of broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and grape tomatoes. Some throw in celery too. These are the best nibble to eat if you're craving a crunchy snack. You can ignore the dip that comes with it and make your own light olive oil and red wine vinegar vinaigrette. A classic and always tasty low calorie snack is popcorn. Buy yourself a Colonel Popper.This is a silicon microwave popper that lets you make a big bowl of corn in in only a minute or two. Add olive oil, rosemary and sea salt for more flavor. what to drink with it? Diet soda works but a better choice is flavored seltzer .It's just as refreshing and full of bubbles as any cola.

Meals can also be lightened up too. You can still have pasta and pizza but don't add high calorie ingredients. Spaghetti sauce doesn't;t have to have sugar added. Use a tiny drizzle of honey to sweeten.Also try to use fresh veggies like grape or cherry tomatoes for a tasty burst tomato sauce or add some cauliflower and chopped bell peppers for a delicious spin on primavera sauce.even the rich Alfredo sauce can be turned into a light dish. It's just subbing in Greek yogurt for the heavy cream and using skim milk and broth as well to emulate the cream's consistency. What about a low calorie pizza? Yes it can be made!use baking soda flour and salt mixed with Greek yogurt for a thin crust.. As for the cheese sub in the vegan version .Vegan mozzarella has less fat and protein. Another must is having all vegan toppings. Think broccoli, and spinach fro a nice green spin or sliced baby Bella's and vegan pepperoni for something a bit heartier. As  for the sauce use a homemade one made with crush tomatoes, olive oil garlic and crushed basil. Again keep the sugar out of it As for fried foods, its time to use the air fryer, Try to eat air fried Impossible Burgers with air fried caulilfower instead of fries.

It's shorts and bathing suit season! It's time to fit into them!You can do this by eating right and healthy.

An Oscar Party For One

 The Oscars are a big deal. The Oscar parties are not - really. It's is fun to sit with friends but it's even nicer to sit in your jammies and enjoy goodies alone in front of the TV set. Ther'es nothing like a good old fashioned party for one. Eat what you want .Drink what you want. It's all up to you .

Surprisignly you can indulge on a budget.If you;re craving lush food but don't have the budget , try Lidl. The store features frozen lobster tail for around $14.99. Add some butter and grill some asparagus and you have a Hollywood worthy meal.LIdl also has excellent deals on shrimp and scallops too if you want something a little less rich. You could also get wings and nuggets and just pop them into your air fryer. Serve with a variety of different sauces, from ranch to barbecue. You could also buy  a rotisserie chicken, eat what you want and save the leftovers for either Monday's lunch or dinner. Buy a side of macaromi salad giardniera , pickled veggies for a tasty late supper. A simple pizza for one can also work. You can easily whip one up using already made dough and sauce. Toppings can be anything from spinach and onions to pepperoni and salami. a smaller version is an English muffin pizza, easily baked in a toaster oven.  One can satisfy anyone with a small appetite. You could also whip up a mini hero too, using your favorite cold cuts and cheese along with  sliced tomatoes and lettuce.

Of course an Oscar party means indulging on snack food too. You could use the air fryer again to make your own potato chips. It just takes Russet  potatoes  - use these because they are the best for not maintaining moisture). olive oil  and seasonings.After the slices have been soaked and  drie coat them in olive oil and air fry for twenty minutes at 325 degrees Farenheit.  A simple onion dip is perfect here.It;s just emptying a packet of French onion soup into sour cream ro plain Greek yogurt and stirring.If you use the Greekl yogurt for dipm you don;t have to worry about extra calories.Loaded nachos are another fun Oscar night snack.It;s just ouring queso cheese on nachos and then topping them with sliced jalapenos, black olives and tomatoes Microwave for a minute or two for the cheese to get all melted. Add some kidney or black beans for protein. Open a Corona and enjoy. If these are too much, then stick with that movie classic - popcorn. It pays to have a microwave popper like Colonel Popper to give you a better type of kernel without all those additives. Melt butter to drizzle over and enjoy.

It;s your Oscar party. Make the foods you love , sit back and root for your favorites to win. Enjoy any of these treats while you sit on the couch .

All Those Easter Leftovers

 The day after Easter means ones thing -- leftovers. what do you do with all that ham, lambs and sides? What about that extra candy and sweets? Get creative ? THere's a ton of new recipes you can try with all that food.

Ham can be turned into tasty hot Croque Monsiurs or a cold, refreshing salad. For the French classic, you can cut the ham extra thick for a heartier sandwich.It would also go well in a grilled cheese too.As for a ham salad, prepare it like you would  a tuna salad. Add mayo along with chopped celery and onions. For added flavor serve on Hawaiian rolls. Their sweetness will offset the ham's saltiness. You can also turn it into a main meal by combining it with rotelli or elbow macaroni. Add peas, chopped carrots and broccoli florets to round it out. As for the dressing you can stick with just mayonnaise or create an Italian dressing to pour over it. What to do with that leftover lamb? Shepherd's pie is a nice way of repurposing it. You can even use those leftover mashed potatoes as the crust. Fill it with chopped carrots and onions along with celery and thyme. A lamb curry is also a great recipe for what's left of that roast leg. It's a great time to experiment that garam masala and curry powder. Serve with warmed naan and yogurt for a different spin on dinner.

You probably also have all that leftover candy too. it may sound strange but you can add chopped jelly beans to a cookie recipe. You could also incorporate them into a fudge if you like a super sweet bite. What about those other super sweet Easter treats - Peeps. A really neat idea is Peeps popcorn balls. This is melting down those chicks and adding plain salted popcorn. To make them even more fun, put  a lollipop stick in them and have a new kind of treat. What about Peeps s'mores? Use that leftover chocolate along with the Peeps on a skewer(think rotisserie Peeps, heated to gooiness over a stove top. Serve on either plain or chocolate Graham crackers. You could also heat just the bottoms and place on cupcakes for a different kind of topping. if those bunnies and eggs  haven't been completely devoured, break them into little bits and serve over anything and everything. They're fun mixed in with hot oatmeal or cold cereal. A layer of them is an extra kick in an ice cream parfait or sundae.

Those holiday leftovers can be repurposed into new and exciting meals and desserts. it's a fun way to reuse them and enjoy them a second time.  Try them  to still celebrate the holiday in a new way.

Your Oscar Party Lush Or Simple

 The Oscars are this Sunday, March 27th and it's time to celebrate. Will you have a lavish Hollywood type of do or one that without all the drama? Will  it be a party for many or for one and two? either way , you can have a fun night ,full of delicious foods.

Even though prices have gone up, you can still have create a lush spread. Just cut down on the variety. You can have shrimp or lobster but not both. Pick the one you know your guests will enjoy more. Another fun bite are steak sliders.This is just cutting up grilled steak and  placing the cutlets on toasted brioches.What about sides. Stuffed artichokes would be a nice idea or asparagus drizzled with lemon butter.A fun idea for a cold dinner is the classic charcuterie platter.Have boule, those crusty rounds of bread instead of the usual baguettes.Also have a variety of crackers or savory shortbread.This is an easy bake with omitting the sugar in the recipe.Cheese and herbs are added in instead.As for the meat, think prosciutto, thinly sliced ham and dried salame.,You can also include black and green olives along with cornichons. Cheeses can be a richy runny Brie or a tasty Gruyere. Cheddar slices also work here as well.Have wine and champagne for drinks along with mock tails for those who don't drink.

What about when it's just you and another film buff? Think small but tasty.Homemade French bread pizzas are always a fun treat.It is also an easy make.Just split a baguette, hollow out the loaf and add olive oil, sauce and mozzarella cheese.Top with whatever you want. Try veggies like broccoli and peppers or meats like pepperoni, ham or even bacon. You can even do this with bagels or English muffins too.Homemade chili over cornbread is another fun dinner and best of all you can have the leftovers through the week.Another idea is air fryer chicken wings or nuggets. Serve these with ramekins of different sauces like honey mustard and barbecue.Keep in mind that you can also do this with batter dipped cauliflower too.Use your air fryer or toaster oven for making kale chips too.Of course popcorn would also be good too. Think about one popped in olive oil and sprinkled with dried rosemary.Cheddar corn is a tasty treat too. Finely grate a good ,solid cheddar over the cooked popcorn. Add bacon for a kind of a loaded snack. What to drink?Go with what you want. Beer, cider or even an ice cream soda woeks.

Celebrate lavishly or comfortablIty.It s the Oscars . Enjoy them with a good bite.

A,

What Happened To Longevity

 Years ago appliances lasted forever. You could keep a stove or fridge for decades, Not anymore. Now it's considered lucky if they last five years. What's happened? What's going on with our kitchen ware?

This is what I have been thinking ever since my Magic Chef microwave billowed out  black smoke last week. I only had it for two and a half years.It was only a little ways past its' warranty. What happened? This was a brand that my mother picked for a stove that lasted close to sixty years. I thought for sure this was the case for the microwave. a long life for a microwave. I used it often but not every day.It was cleaned so there were no clogged vents to cause any problems. It seems that Magic Chef just used inferior materials. Yet what does that say about their other products? Will their fridges go on the fritz after two or three years of use? I wonder if these newer generations of ranges will last as long as the one we had.My microwave was replaced with Walmart's Home Essentials brand.

It looks the same as the Magic Chef and actually works better. It cooks and reheats better and in less time too. It's perfect for popcorn, leaving less unpopped kernels than the other.

It may not have the roomy height of the other but it does the width  which is perfect for my larger microwave pots. I just hope this one lasts more than two years. It does make me wonder about my fridge  which I've had for eight years and my oven for just over five. It could be that manufacturers are making inferior grade models so we can go out and  buy new ones every few years.

Why aren't today's appliances lasting like they used to? It's due to manufacturers seeming to want us buy new ones every two or three years. It's not quality anymore.It s how long will they function before they die on us,.

A Different Spin On Empanadas

Empanadas in North America are not quite like the original ones from South America. Something is lacking. Surprisingly an ingredient from the US is making empanadas better tasting and better to fry. The ingredient? Popcorn!

The great chef J.Kenji Lopez-Alt wrote about this and gave the recipe plus a filling one for yesterday's New York Times Food section. He was able to get the truest recipe thanks to chef  Carlos Gaviria in Bogota, Columbia. he and his Columbian born wife, Adri had visited Chef Gaviria, who's also a food professor at the University of La Sabana. He's also written two cookbooks, the first is Tecnicas Profesionales de Cocina Colombians or Professional Techniques Of Colombian Cuisine  which is an in depth guide to the country's regional cuisine' The second is Arepas Colombianas, an entire book dedicated to Colombia's staple food corn cakes or empanadas. The best dough for them? One that comes from everyday popcorn kernels. Chef Gaviria realized it was also the easiest to find in American markets. He boiled them in a pressure cooker and them passed the softened kernels through a hand cranked grain mill. They're  then kneaded with a bit of water to form masa. Chef Lopez-Alt claims that the flavor and texture were outstanding, with the right crunch and corny flavor.

Kneading it is the same as kneading dough for flaky pastry .It's a smearing motion onto a board known as the fraisage method. Chef Lopez-Alt uses a wok and a slotted spoon to fry them up. A Dutch oven also works. As for the filling he give a traditional beef and potato one.It's first cooking the cubed and peeled potatoes and then sauteing ground beef or even pork with onion, scallion and paprika, granulated chicken bouillon is added (Just smash a bouillon cube with the back of a spoon). A grated, ripe beefsteak tomato and its' juices are added at the end. stir until the mixture is quite dry for about five minutes. Spread it out on a large plate. Season if you need to with salt pepper and more bouillon grains if you want, then put it into the fridge. The masa dough should already be madeand the texture of Play-Doh . The masa is divided into twenty-four golf ball size balls. Place one ball at a time into a sandwich bag, and press into a three inch circle. Use your skillet for this.After they've all been flattened , put two teaspoons of meat inside each and seal the edges together. It's then frying them in canola or peanut oil. Chef Lopez-Alt also give the recipe for aji, Columbian style salsa. It's just scallion , onions and cilantro mixed with a grated beefsteak tomato.Lime juice, water and kosher salt is then added and then everything is mixed together.

It takes a North American classic to create the best South American one. Popcorn gives the right crunch and flavor to empanadas, elevating them several notches.  Try this for the most authentic tasting corn cakes.

Thank You For The Food

As we become more and more woke - we need to give thanks where's it much needed - the indigenous people. They fed our earliest settlers and received only racism and loss of land in return.We need to be grateful for not only their sacrifices but also for their  contributions to our varied  American table.  They showed us  how to grown and collect squash, corn and maple syrup, They gave us salmon and wild turkey, tomatoes and potatoes, cocoa , avocados and coffee.

Yes, we should be thankful for having food on our tables and leftovers in the fridge. We should also be thankful for the first Thanksgiving and what the indigenous tribes generously gave us.

A  happy and thoughtful Thanksgiving to all, whether here in the States or those Americans around the world.

Marshmallows Those Sweet Summer Treats

Marshmallows are the ubiquitous summer ingredients. They 're in salads, desserts and treats, in pies and on sticks . How did these little puffs become a summer staple? Is it because they're fun  or  because they add a certain sweetness to a variety of different dishes.

Marshmallows have been with us since ancient times.They are derived from the mallow plant that grows in marshy areas - hence the name. The Egyptians used the sweet fleshy roots in both rituals and medicines. The French had the idea to whip the sap into a fluffy candy mold.The molds were filled with starch to give them shape. Then the Americans took over with a way to mass produce them. it involved an extrusion machine which gives uniform , perfectly cut puffs. As soon as marshmallows hit our shores , they were in such desserts as banana fluff, a dish you can easily make today. End a barbecue with this mix of mini marshmallows, banana pudding and Cool Whip.Marshmallows in salads may have come from cookbooks and magazines, maybe in the 1930's. It was a different salad, that could be served as a side or dessert. It was also an easy make during hot summer months spent in  stuffy  kitchens.  You could definitely make as a retro dessert with hamburgers and hot dogs.Mix Cool Whip with sour cream (???), maraschino cherries and mandarin cherries. Mini marshmallows and almonds along with vanilla extract give it flavor. Coconut flakes are added  as well.

This may be a side but what about a summery marshmallow dessert? The most obvious is s'mores. It's  a classic layering of graham crackers, toasted marshmallows and a square of Hershey's milk chocolate. Zing it up by using chocolate graham crackers and a dark rich chocolate such as Lindt's 80 % dark chocolate. It's a more adult spin on the classic kid treat. Of course just plain toasted marshmallows are a nice end to a cook out.You could make them naughty by turning them into shot glasses for different liqueurs like Bailey's Irish Cream or Kahlua.Popcorn and marshmallow are a perfect marriage, and a fun dessert at an outdoor movie party.It's melting eight or nine big marshmallows with half a cup of brown sugar and a quarter cup of butter.Cook for twenty or thirty seconds, stir to make sure everything's melted and then pour over the popcorn (which can be bought or home made. Toss in some peanuts for a Crackerjack kind of crunch.Toasted marshmallow could also top an after dinner iced coffee. Float two or three toasted marshmallows on top of the coffee.

Marshmallows are a must have summer cooking ingredient. Try them in a sweet tangy side salad or as a fluffy topper to an icy cup of java. Either way, they're a fun bite.

Your Super Bowl Shopping List

With  the Super Bowl less than a week away ,it's time to plan your game day shopping list. Will you go the appetizers only route or plan a winter barbecue with ribs and burgers? It now the time to decide.

One of the first items you should write down are sturdy paper plates. Chinet has the best and sturdiest paper plates that can stand up to the sauciest chili or ribs. If you're planning on a lot of different dishes, then get the plates with three compartments. Another must? Sturdy plastic utensils. Buy extra packs because a few knives and forks  will surely wind up in the trash or recycling bin. Napkins and wet wipes should also be right up there.You don't want to bring out the good stemware so have plastic glasses and cups for beer and if the party wants it - coffee and tea afterwards. If you want glasses that can last well after the Super Bowl, then go to Target. They have an excellent selection of tumblers from regular plastic to clear plastic tumblers that look like cut glass.Each glass is between 79 cents (!) and two dollars for the clear plastic.Parties produce trash so make sure you have plenty of hefty trashbags to handle the mess.Another should buy is plastic containers for any leftovers or take homes. Buy these in different sizes to accommodate however many leftovers there might be.

As for foods, ask yourself what do you and your guests want? Is it just going to be chili  and chips or something mor?. Even a dish like chili requires planning.Do you make one of the alarm ones or a mild one that people can add pepper flakes and hot sauce?Will it be ground beef, turkey or soy? Do you serve it over rice, polenta or tortilla chips?. If you're going for a more heartier spread, then there's the choice of meats. Do you go for the fun and sloppy  fare such as wings and ribs - or more contained foods like hamburgers and grilled steaks. If it's the last make sure you have enough charcoal or gathered twigs (which you can get on a walk through your local woods. Then there are the sides. Do guests bring them or do you provide all of them? What about the nibbles. Remember to include two or three flavors of chips,  and different kinds of tortillas, and pretzels. You can also write down popcorn, both plain and kettle flavors too. Always have soda on hand and seltzer too for those watching their weight or who just want a clean crisp, drink.as for dessert, ask yourself if you want to bake or just buy cake, If you bake, then get the mix and the ingredients for the icing along with the decorations.

Planning any party , including a Super Bowl one can be daunting. It helps to have a game plan to get you through the shopping. Then it's onto the store for the kick off of shopping.

Gourmet Gift Baskets The Perfect Gift

Even though Halloween is only two days away, it's not too early to think about holiday presents. One of the best one - even for Thanksgiving is a gift basket. There 's always a treat for everyone, from candy loving kids to cheese loving grandparents.A basket full of goodies is the perfect family gift.

What's the best place to go? Hands down, its's Gourmet Gift Baskets. This Exeter, New Hampshire family owned company has been shipping all sorts of sweets and savories for the last ten years. The company covers all events from the joy of a new baby to losing a loved one. There are even towers of food to celebrate newly wed couples and new neighbors.Another plus about Gourmet Gift Baskets is that you can even order flowers for Valentine's Day. along with several other occasions. The Thanksgiving  gifts are perfect, especially if you can't attend a family gathering. There are even apple and pumpkin pies which will be appreciated on a busy holiday cooking day. For a really lux gift send a bottle of Veuve Cliquot to a tired , over worked home chef. Even more impressive are their holiday towers. A perfect gift for any foodie is the $200 mega basket of every snack imaginable.There's chocolates, pretzels and even trail mix. This will last well into January .Another impressive present is the cookie basket. It has every sweet bite from chocolate chunk brownies to whoopie pies. Gourmet Gifts also sells healthy baskets too , full of low calories treats like wheat crackers and popcorn.


 I recently received their Halloween Witch's Baked Goods. Below is their chocolate chunk brownie

peanut butter and chocolate chip. The cookies were tasty and I liked the variety. The chocolate chip were buttery with a homemade taste as were the oatmeal raisin, that didn't have that many raisins. One of the best were the sweet, buttery butterscotch blondies were were a lovely blend of sweet and creamy. The peanut butter ones were also tasty - surprising for me  because I'm not overly fond of them. The cookies arrived , individually wrapped in cellophane so each bite was fresh. I also liked the box which will be used for either Halloween decorations or my embroidery and sewing gear.

What to get the food lovers and oenophiles in your life? Anything from Gourmet Gift Baskets. They have a wide variety of treats and drinks that can suit any taste. Put them high on your list when holiday shopping.

Hi Mountain Bacon Seasoning Making Bacon Better

Can bacon be improved? Are we not happy with the salty , smokey flavor? Surprisingly it seems we're not. That's where Hi Mountain Seasonings comes in with their latest creation  - flavor sprinkles for those strips in three exciting flavors.

Hi Mountain Seasonings is devoted to improving meat. They're more known for beef jerkies - which are amazing  - and marinades. Carnivores can also buy  the company's curing and smoking equipment such as aromatic cans to have highly flavored cuts. They came out with burger seasonings and it made sense that they should create one for bacon.I decided to try it, to amp up the flavor  of vegan soy bacon.

As you can see vegan bacon does leave a lot to be desired. The plus side is that's it not super soaked in its' own fat and  it is healthy for you. There are three flavors are Black Pepper & Brown Sugar, Sticky Bun and Pineapple Sriracha.

It's just liberally sprinkling on the flavorings and microwaving for two minutes.

The Sticky Bun flavor was sweet and full of vanilla. I can see it topping a French toast strata. As for the brown sugar and pepper, it would be great if you were serving pancakes or griddle cakes, with the strips on top. As for the pineapple blended with sriracha , think appetizers where the flavored bacon is wrapped around pineapple or mango chunks.If you're into snacking a bowl of bacon - as decadent as that sounds - then sprinkle the flavorings over it - or mix it with popcorn - for real movie time treat.

Can bacon be improved? Yes!Dash some Hi Mountain Bacon Seasonings on it for a new spin on a classic favorite.

The Most Perfect Pop

What's movie night without popcorn, especially popcorn that's been made on a stove top?There's nothing like it, with the fluffy kernels buttered and salted to perfection.Now it can be made even better - if that's at all possible.

Melissa Clark tackled this in her A Good Appetite column in yesterday's New York Times Wednesday Food section, She had been making stove top corn the way everyone has for decades, cook them in oil and then coat them in melted butter and salt. That changed when she had Jessica Koslow's recipe.Ms. Koslow is the owner and chef of the trendy Los Angeles eatery, Sqirl, She has a knack for taking the familiar and turning it into the extraordinary. Her toast is what put her on the map. Slices of brioche are toasted until burnt then  slathered with creamy ricotta and served in a puddle of homemade jam. Her tweaks are not for the faint of heart home chef - or family popcorn popper .She uses two to three times the amount of oil for cooking the kernels. Think half a cup of oil for one third of a cup of popcorn kernels.That much oil gives the corn a richness and the fluffy whites a sturdy extra crunchiness, what Chef Koslow calls "potato chip sturdiness"/Her way of seasoning is also different. Toss the kernels in dry ones before cooking. That way the fluffy whites aren't sogged down by the  seasonings .

What kind of popcorn and what kind of oil should be used? Ms. Clark doesn't give suggestions on the first. Some food blogs recommend Amish Country which you can buy on Amazon. An easier buy is Orville Redenbacher .from your local grocery store. As for the oil, Chef Koslow recommends grapeseed for its' high smoke point and clean flavor, but you can use another other oil such as sunflower, safflower, canola and corn. Ghee can also be used.Ms. Clark pops hers in a mixture of oil and butter for a buttery taste without the sogginess. She has also combined oils with low smoke point fats such as duck(!) and bacon (!).If you want flavored corn, then stick with dried seasonings such as ground spices, seeds, chiles, nutritional yeast,seasoned salts and dehydrated herbs. Stay away from anything with a high moisture content such as Parmesan cheese lemon zest and fresh herbs.They'll turn the popped kernels into mush. The recipes included are a spicy Pimenton or smoked paprika, a vegan cheesy one that has nutritional yeast filling in for the real thing, and one that's combines cane sugar with turmeric for a unique take on kettle corn. Any of the three is the perfect snack for movie night or or even as an appetizer at a barbecue.


A good movie deserves good popcorn. Pop them this new way with more oil for the ultimate snack experience. Just remember to make a lot. This flavorful new corn will be more of a hit than the movie.

Mush Mouth

Having dental work and oral surgery is annoying along with being painful. The worst part is that you're on a really strict diet for a few days.Luckily you can make it work and more or less have the same foods you normally eat.

Unfortunately I had a back molar pulled today and was promptly told what to eat and not eat. No chewy meats like steak. No crunchy foods  like pretzels and chips. I can eat guacamole but not the corn chips that accompany them. Another  taboo - hot food which can dissolve the stitches in my mouth.Foods have to be tepid, room temperature or better yet cold foods. No crunchy Smarties (which got me into this mess in the first place). No popcorn - another culprit that could have damaged the tooth that needed to be pulled. Soft squishy tomatoes  are fine celery isn;t unless it's chopped up.Forget hot chocolate - way too hot and sugary. Very sugary drinks such as it and even icy sodas should be avoided for at least a day or two. They can irritate the raw extraction site. Warm coffee is fine  as is warm water . It 'll be another twenty-four hours before I can satisfy my Panera  and Starbucks cravings,

Of course my meals will be slightly altered. Thankfully I can have my daily breakfast of flavored oatmeal. My hot herbal tea will need a few ice cubes now. I can still have scrambled  or soft boiled eggs at home or at my favorite diner. Omelets are on the list too. I just can;t have a side of bacon and home fries.Corned beef hash is OK with it so I may try this new combo./ As for meals, clear soups such as vegetable broth is allowed along with pureed or mushy foods.Mashed potatoes are high on the list. They can be enhanced with a huge knob of butter or a few tablespoons of gravy. Polenta is also on the list. Cheesy polenta is even better.It's soft, creamy and chock full of protein.Baked mac and cheese is not just the comfort food that will get you through this but it's perfectly fine to eat. Another mushy pasta dish is pastina, those little stars  mixed with melted butter.It's also allowed. Yay! if you want something more nutritious  them have pureed beans and rice along with pureed yams.Finish with Hagen -Daz mini cups .


Extractions are a pain, both literally and figuratively, The restricted diet that goes with it is evne worse. Just - grin - and bear it  - and embrace the mushiness.

Halloween Leftover Fun

This is the day and night when homes will be bulging with Halloween candy , whether gotten on neighborhood runs or left over at home. There's usually a lot to take in and eat. Sometimes all those extra goodies can still be around til the candy canes and holiday fudge appears. What to do with these leftovers? Repurpose! They can add some fun to any dessert or snack.

Chocolate based treats can be used in everything from cookies to icing to ice cream. If you have left over Hershey's Kisses or the bite size Reese's Peanut Butter cups, then make those peanut blossom cookies. This is a great way of getting rid of them and they make a fun treat with warm milk or hot tea on a cold day. Reese's pieces can be repurposed as chips in the famed treats with their name. This is a chocolate cookie studded with the bits. Remember, these can also be put into homemade brownies for a fun surprise. The popular Mounds Bar can also be used as a cookie ingredient,The dough, however isn;t the typical cookie one, but rather a stickier, more brownie like one, that has melted chococlate chips in it. Other candies that go well in a cookie are KitKats and Almond Joys. Forget Whoppers, those malted milk balls, The malted milk centers dry out and  turns to a  cement texture which  makes for a dangerous kind of snack.Another idea is chopping up the chocolates and adding them to either chocolate or vanilla ice cream for fun add ins. They can also be used for toppings too, especially if you're thinking about making an ice cream pie . Fold into cream cheese icing for a neat addition to any cupcake or cake frosting.

The chopped candies also can be used in salty snacks too. Try doing a popcorn crunch using them and freshly popped kernels. It's then laying both on a foil covered baking sheet and pouring melted chocolate bark over them.Let harden for ten minutes and then break into bite size pieces. Pretzels can be subbed in along with potato chips or Cheerios. These can also be made into balls with the addition of melted caramels and marshmallows  Famed Momofuku Milk Bar bakery pastry chef, Christina Tosi, creates a heavenly mix of leftover goodies , butter,milk powder and pretzels. It;s first mixing brown and white sugar and then melting the butter in a large bowl (use a microwave for this). These are combined along with the milk powder and broken pretzels. Spread this mixure on a lined baking sheet for twenty minutes at  This is then baked for about twenty minutes in a preheated 275 degree F oven. Afterwards, let cool and break into pieces. Toss them with whatever chopped candy you have and serve. Another idea is adding the pieces to Nutella or Hershey's chocolate spread and spreading on croissants for a fun snack. The candy can also be added to smooth peanut butter and served on bread or Hawaiian rolls for a sweet nosh.

Bowls of leftover candy? More like the ingredients of fun snacks. Repurpose those Halloween treats into new and fun treats for the whole family!

Prayers to those who suffered in the Manhattan Halloween attack today

Marriages

Columbus did a lot for food fusions despite  his many sins. The Americas opened up  world of different marriages on so many levels that could not have been possible on the other continents. Recipes were fused as nationalities mingled and married. It created a brand new cuisine.

Marriages are  the first places where fusion cooking occurs. Many Germans and Italians have intermarried in the last 140 years with them recipes. Italians learned how to make spaetzle, pasta's Teutonic cousin while Germans  experimented with brajole, rouladens's or beef roll's relative from across the Alps.Kids, hybrids, themselves had the joy of one of the most varied charcuterie's from landjager and teawurst to mortadella and prosciutto.Greeks , usually thought of being exclusive, married out and brought such diverse foods as corned beef and Yorkshire pudding into diets, rich with dolmades and pastisio. As more and more people came to both North and South America, intermarriage occurred. People from the islands came and fell in love with, not their new cities but the people in them. Rice and beans became  a side dish to such American classics as roast turkey and squash. New cuisines , such as Tex-Mex a combination of Texan and Mexican and Creole, a wide mix of French and Spanish recipes, but also influenced by Amerindians, African, along with Haitian, Italian, German and Irish.

The Columbian Exchange also brought another type of marriage. Ingredients from both sides of the Atlantic  were now being combined to create brand new dishes. Italians embraced tomatoes so much that it's hard to think of Southern Italian cuisine without them.Corn, another New World crop is the catalyst from turning polenta, that ancient recipe that first used barley , into pure heaven and a staple of Northern cuisine. Corn also brought that international snack favorite popcorn all over the globe. The South American tuber, the potato was all important in feeding both Ireland and Germany. It's big in Swabian German recipes like ,kartofelkloesse dumplings made with potatoes and zinged up with gingersnps. They're the chief component in potato pancakes or latke, along with the Irish boxties and English tattie fish. The Europeans brought  over the domesticated meats such as beef, chicken and pork. Without these Mexican cuisine would not have chicken tacos , beef flautas and pork chilis.
. The indigenous North Americans gave the world its' most famous bird, the turkey, used in every holiday dinner , both in the US and the UK.


Columbus ushered in the Age of Discovery . He also brought in marriages of diverse culture and fusion cuisines. The Columbian Exchange changed the world's lives and diets