A Heimgemacht Oktoberfest

 October means one thing- Octoberfest. It;'s a big deal in the major cities like New York and Chicago. Some smaller towns and restaurants have their own version. However what do you do when there's not one celebration in your area? Make your own  heimgemacht as the Germans would say.

German food is heavy and it does vary from region to region. However there's one thing they can agree on and that's beer and wurst.  The most popular is Pilsner, a hoppy smelling brew popular all over the German republic. Your local liquor store should sell such top quality ones as Bohemia and Hacker PSchorr Weisse.As for wursts, the Schaller and Weber brand is the best Try to pick up a variety of them. Bratwurst is about the best because of its;' flavor and the way it grills up nicely. Hot dogs or frankfurters for the kids can also work.If you want more fancier fare then think rouladen which is beef rolls stuffed with spinach. Some add bacon and pickles to it but the spinach inside is very tasty and doesn't need anything else. Schnitzel and spaetzel is also very good.  Schnitzel is  any pounded piece of meat that's then dipped in beaten egg and breadcrumbs. Most Germans opt for pork because of the intense flavor and because it is traditional. Spaetzels can be bought or homemade. The ingredients are simple - flour eggs and water. You will need a spaetzel board which looks like a giant cheese grater to cut them into bite size drops. From the grater, they're plopped into the water and boiled like pasta.

One of the biggest dishes in Deutchland is sauerkraut. Yes , you can buy a big jar or can of it at your grocery store. However nothing beats the homemade kind. Keep in mind that it does have to be fermented for one to four weeks.You will need a large head of cabbage and salt. The cabbage has to be shredded, then salted and then massaged. Keep kneading it as it's poured into a very clean glass jar. (any impurities can cause bacteria to grow).Tightly screw on a plastic lid and let it ferment at room temperature. After the fermentation process you can then store it in the fridge. Oktoberfests are known for their pretzels too. These are the large soft, chewy kind that can also be used for bread or dipped in mustard or melted cheddar. They can be home made , with a yeast based dough. They do have to be boiled in either a baking soda or lye. Lye is the better bet here because its' the reason pretzels are golden brown and crisp on the outside. Plus it gives them that unique flavor too. after a quick lye bath, brush them with beaten egg and sprinkle on coarse salt. They're baked for  ten to fifteen minutes.

A heimgemacht Oktoberfest is the best thing in the world You can celebrate with wurst and homemade sauerkraut or schnitzel mit spaetzels.. Try a pretzel with mustard or have a plate of rouladen. Enjoy this month with good food from the heart.

Getting IntoThe School Lunch Groove

 It's been almost a year and a half away from school. There are going to be a lot of catching up and remembering what to do. That also applies to school lunches too. What to do? Take a crash course in mid day meals.

Some kids are pretty steadfast in their culinary likes and dislikes. If they were into peanut butter and jelly sandwiches then. they;ll still be into them now. Maybe change it up a bit by putting the age old combo on a bagel or croissant. Kids may also want the traditional bologna or ham sandwich.This is good save for the cold cuts, Try putting them on healthier whole grain or brown breads. Use vegan mayo or mustard for healthier condiments.Stick in some slice.Add some sliced bell peppers or grape tomatoes instead of potato chips. A few pretzels would also be appreciated too. What about what to drink? Tropicana has Farmstead Tropical Green orange juice that's a refreshing sip. There's also Ocean Spray's No Sugar Added  cranberry juice. The classic brand WElch's has a superberry one, sure to be a fast favorite,

What about those young food snobs? They've got to eat too. Think about a healthy and fun kale salad mixed with shredded rotisserie chicken and extras like almonds and walnuts. If all they want is pizza compromise. TRy a plum tomatoes and mozzarella on Italian bread. Drizzle with olive oil and dust on some oregano.The taste is more or less the same but much easier to carry. If they're super snobs, then think croissants with Brie and some grapes for dessert,.Toss in some baby carrots and broccoli florets. Let them pick out or create their own dressings.If they've gone vegan, then shop with them to pick out soy cold cuts. Don't scoff at their choices. Encourage them.What if they bemoan those babyish juice boxes and want to bring soda ? Again compromise with cans of flavored seltzer and eco friendly straws.

It's easy to get back into the school lunch groove. Pick what you kids like and will eat. Ask them their preferences too. It makes for a meal eaten and a tasty midday break. 

Cookbooks To Carry You Through

One of the most trying things about this confinement is coming up with meal ideas and plans.what do you make? Is your family getting tired of all the bean dishes they've been eating? Are you tired of making the same three or four recipes every week? Not to fear. There are some good cookbooks to get you through these tough times.

The New York Times Food section devoted most of today's issue to some of the best cookbooks and included recipes too. The staff made the selections , keeping the quarantine in mind along with the reason why some people read other literature. Even cookbooks offer learning, exploration and escape.Everybody weighed in  from Julia Moskin to Melissa Clark and Tejal Rao. The books can take you to Russia, the South and Korea. One of the most interesting is Beyond The North Wind: Russia In Recipes And Lore  (Ten Speed Press) by Darra Goldstein. Hers isn't the usual borscht pickled herring dishes. Vodka is spiked with birch buds and crisp mushroom hand pies spiced with caraway. There are also stories and traditions explained.  New contributor Vaughn Vreeland reviewed Bitter Honey Recipes and Stories from the Isle of Sardinia (Hardie Grant) written by London chef Letitia Clark. The recipes rely on high quality ingredients and the leisurely lifestyle Sardinia is known for. Another travel destination cookbook is My Korea: Traditional Flavors, Modern Recipes (W.W. Norton & Company) written by chef Hooni KIm. Chef Kims gives us everyday noodles in meaty black bean sauce along with  homemade (!) tofu with perilla leaf soy sauce.

Then there are the comfort food books. Check out Procrastibaking :100 Recipes For Getting Nothing Done In The Most Delicious Way Possible (Atria Books) written by Erin Gardner. Kids and adults will get a kick out of the recipes ranging from baked Alaska ice cream cones to mall pretzels along with chocolate pudding pie. Opera singer and chef Alexander Smalls gives us Meals, Music and Meals:Recipes From My African American Kitchen (Flatiron Books) are grouped by not surprisingly musical genre.Yet's it's also comfort food, from devilled eggs to Gullah dirty rice to chess pie. His potato salad made with pickled sweet relish made a fan out of reviewer Krysten Chambrot. Vegans also get their due with the cookbook Vegan JapanEasy : Classic and Modern Vegan Japanese Recipes to Cook At Home (Hardie Grant) by Tim Anderson.It's an easy read with the writing being conversational. Chef Anderson urges readers to cook holistically  with rehydrating shiitake mushrooms and curing them in soy sauce. There's also a simple vegan stock recipe that probably can be repurposed into a dozen dishes.Other cookbooks are Chicano Eats:Recipes From My Mexican-American Kitchen (Harper Design) by food writer Esteban Castillo that features a mac and cheese fundido with mushrooms along with Dime Times ( Karma Press) written by the famed cafe's owners Alissa Wagner and  Sabrina De Sousa and Yasmin's Fahr's Keeping It Simple : Easy Weeknight One Pot Recipes ( Hardie Grant), These last two are both comfort food recipes along with being easy ones.

It's a time of both reading and cooking. Why not order one or a few of these cookbooks to get you through this quarantine. You'll enjoy learning and cooking new dishes.

World Health Day A Day To Eat Healthy

Today is World Health day where we celebrate nurses and midwives around the world. We could also take the day to consider our own health and eating right. We have been indulging in too many snacks and too many pre Easter goodies It's time for a healthy infusion of vitamins and minerals.

A lot of us have been living off of canned food.Let's face it. It's easy to store and easy to heat up. It's not time consuming to make, especially in these days of endless Zoom meetings and home schooling.Many soups are high in sodium ,plus preservatives. Most  soups are high in salt. A better bet is homemade soup. If you have chicken or turkey bones boil them into a stock. You can also use leftover meat and the  skin for a richer flavor. There should also be celery, onions and carrots for more taste. Use all of the celery, including the leaves and the tops. You should also have parsley too along with salt and pepper. Simmer for about four hours. Chicken stock can also be cooked in an Instapot and crock pot too. You can put whatever you want in it, from  ditalini to orzo along with sliced tomatoes, more onions and celery.  Shredded chicken or turkey is always good too.  As for chicken itself, it's tempting to buy up the frozen fried chicken, but a better choice would be chicken cutlets if you can find them (you can always get frozen) and bread them yourself using a light egg wash and a dredging of spiced flour. Fry in the air fryer for a lighter but still crispy crunch.

Snacks are also a big concern right now. How many of us have ripped into endless bags of chips right now. They are tasty, especially if they're served with a rich sour cream dip. Yet you can make them healthier by buying bags of the baked chips along with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. You can flavor the dip with onion or garlic powder or even chopped scallions for a different kind of flavor. Another healthier indulgence is pretzels. They're salty and crunchy but without all the calories. Plus pretzels can be put into all sorts of fun treats too, from sundaes to topping cupcakes. Tortilla chips and salsa are another good for you bite. Salsa can also be home made with sliced tomatoes, onions and jalapenos. Add fresh pineapple for a tasty different spin.A second healthy dip is guacamole, and again to give it an entirely different flavor, try cherry tomatoes instead of plum tomatoes to blend with the avocados. Sweet snacks are everybody's downfall right now. Yes, we all love those sandwich cookies, but try fruit  - even if' it's just an apple a day  with some cookies. Have fun fruits like grapes for the kids. These are fun nibbles , especially after a hard day of home schooling. Strawberries and pineapple chunks are also good and fun - especially if you have a vanilla Greek yogurt dip.

It is World Health Day, and we should honor all those brave nurses and midwives especially right now. Yet we should use the day to remind ourselves to eat healthier during this time inside. We'll feel better with better food in us.

B Nutty Peanut Butter B Good

Can peanut butter be improved? Surprisingly yes. A new company out of Indiana has come up with gourmet peanut butter.that not only honey roasted peanuts but such yummy addins such as blueberry, chocolate, caramel and even pretzels.

I decided to try B Nutty since I like crunchy all natural peanut butter. 

The first was the blueberry flavored one, made wit real berries and has a PB &J flavor.

This is the blueberry which also has milk chocolate added. It's good on a sweet bread or bun like a brioche roll. The blueberry flavor is strong and it makes for a good lunch.

I also ordered pretzels and white chocolate

This has large bits of gluten free pretzels mixed in along with white chocolate.It's good on a sweet bread but even better as a dip for pretzels and Social Tea cookies.

These are the bits of  pretzels. Imagine dipping pretzel rods in this.

Then there is toffee, milk chocolate and almonds.

Again, it's good slathered on brioche bread, but also good on pretzels too. It would be a great layer in brownies too. B Nutty also has plain and one loaded with cranberries. There are seasonal ones too such as Cinnamon sugar cookie and Peppermint Brownie ???.

BNutty amps up peanut butter a few notches. It's a neat spin on an American classic. It will also make you never want just plain old peanut butter again.

Just One Little Bake Sale

What's been happening along our borders has been on everyone's minds lately. Many of us feel helpless, wondering what we can do. A check sent here to the ACLU  - American Civil Liberties Union  or to church groups helps a little. yet we need to make a bigger impact. We need to have a bake sale.

The idea may sound trivial or even a bit cutesy - twee - as the British call it but a large bake sale with several home bakers participating can raise a substantial amount.Since the schools are closed for the summer, the best place to hold one is in your house of worship. Many churches, temples and mosques would be willing to help in setting one up.Then comes the meting out of who is going to bake what.Have as many different kinds of sweet and savory treats you can think of for it.No sweat if you're not a great baker. . You can whip up a batch of Rice Krispie treats using only your microwave. For extra money bake whole cakes, from crumb to Bundt and sell them along with cake slices. Savory bites such as pretzels and cheese twists are also big sellers. Bread bakers can show off their skills by contributing artesenal bread to the sale.The loaves will definitely bring in sales and more money because no one can resist homemade bread.

A bake sale can be expanded to include  refreshing drinks too. Homemade lemonade and lime ade are always popular and thirst quenching on a hot day. Now there are cold brewed teas that can be easily be made and served alongside cookies and cake. The same goes for cold brewed coffee. Make sure you have plenty of cups along with sugar and creamers, both non-dairy and regular for those who want them.This is also a good time to create brochures and literature explaining what is going on at our borders. Look, there may be opposition from the less enlightened. Ignore them. Explain that it's just a bake sale and not some kind of political or anti-government rally. If you know any immigration lawyers invite them to explain along with clergy and clerics. to calm down any tense situations. What matters is that you're helping in some way for  families  to reunite.

It's just a bake sale = but it's a bake sale with weight. Those chocolate chips and slices of devil's food will help in alleviating a horrible situation. It's a start - one filled with sweetness and hope

How Green Is Your Kitchen

Earth Day is tomorrow and people all over the world will be evaluating what they can do to reduce their  carbon footprints. It's also time for home chefs to examine their kitchens and see if they need to make any "green" adjustments.

One of the most used resources in any kitchen is water. We need it to wash fruits and vegetables , along with our plates and utensils.It quenches our thirst  when we're thirsty and is often an ingredient in both savory and sweet recipes. Yet do we respect it? How many times do we just let it run as we seek the exact temperature? This is one of our worst habits. If you're hand washing dishes, use a small plastic basin like what you'd use for leftovers to wash the dishes. Then do a quick rinse to get the soap off. Don't let the water run. As for dealing with a parched throat, the best bet is put ice cubes in a glass before you fill it with tap water.  The ice will instantly chill it. and that way  you're not wasting water.As for cooking , get the exact measurements - not that you're throwing away any overage. washing fruits and vegetables are always a must however this also creates water waste. Use a large bowl for any kind of produce washing however scrimp on the water. Due to the pesticides used, you can't repurpose the water. It does have to be dumped down the drain.Another idea is using vinegar to clean skins and even rinds.Wipe down with a towel afterwards.

Paper and plastic are big components of a home kitchen. Our food comes in both. What to do with those boxes and containers afterwards? Any box should be put in the recycling paper bin or bags.This includes cereal and microwave foods boxes along with any cookie paper bags or pie boxes. Those paper bags from the grocery can be repurposed to hold the flattened boxes along with newspapers. Milk and ice cream cartons, made of wax coated paper do need to be thrown out with the regular trash. The plastics lids, however ,can be put into the plastics. As for plastics, whether they're bottles or cupcake holders, they all belong in the plastic recycling bins. You can repurpose  your water bottles by refilling them with tap water. Any straws can also be used for a second and even third time.. Just wash and dry them. What about those cracked plastic and glass containers? Do you just toss them or use them for a different purpose? Small ice cream bowls can hold dry snacks such as nuts pretzels or potato chips. The larger ones can be used as fruit bowls or even to hold rolls for dinner.The same principle goes for cracked glass , although this last does come with a caveat. If there are sharp edges, then you'll have to throw it out. A jagged edge can produce a nasty cut on the fingers.Just remember to toss the glass into the plastic bin. Many towns recycle the two together.

Is your kitchen as green as you want it? Use this Earth Day weekend to re-valuate your family's habits. Changing them may help save the planet in a small but very important way.

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

Lose That Holiday Fat

The worst thing about January is dealing with all that post-holiday fat and bloat.The best thing is making a resolution to eat better and healthier. It's just  matter of adjusting and making wise choices.

We're probably all cookied and candied out. After all, our nibbling involves every kind of holiday cookie, from sweetly decorated sugar cookies to homemade chocolate chip with maybe a few shortbread and oatmeal types thrown in. It's tempting to continue this, for dessert or snacking. Resist. Thanks to the wonder of importing, we can buy all sorts of fresh fruit, from blueberries to pineapples. Finish a meal with some watermelon or cantaloupe chunks. Snack on some blackberries or grapes.If you don;t want to deepen your carbon footprint by buying any of these imports, then think about canned fruit in water or a light syrup. Also, a cup of hot cocoa,is only one hundred fifty calories. Have it with low fat whipped cream for a decadent dessert Better yet , consider yogurt as a nice alternative. Yoplait has those mousse like Whips which taste and feel like a more decadent dessert.Chobani has the fun flips, a mix of yogurt, nuts and chocolate or fruit. It's a way to indulge that sweet tooth without gaining a  pound.

Chobani also has saviory yogurt mixes, perfect for those of us who still crave holiday party chips and dip.Their new Meze style dip is a smart combo of veggies and Greek yogurt. Best of all they 're only twenty-five calories  and have only ten fat calories. The flavors range from roasted red pepper to chili lime to three peppers to Parmesan onion. Dip the ever low calorie Triscuit in them for some crunchy fun. Pretzels also make a good low-calorie snack too as does popcorn, During the holidays we tend to reach for sodas or mixed cocktails to celebrate. All that sugar will only add on an extra jeans size. Go back to water and seltzer. They 're also much more refreshing, even on a chilly day.Go for refreshing and calming herbal teas after a season of pumpkin spice or peppermint lattes. After three months of ingesting basically liquid cake,a soothing cup of chamomile or green peppermint is a nice way to end a busy day It's also a good time to go back to eating, healthier meals, Instead of continuing with gravy laden holiday roasts. Think a lower calorie ratatouille instead of roast beef or turkey with gravy. if you want still want roast, think of a chicken with rosemary and no gravy.

 The holidays were culinary  fun  but it's time to get back to decent eating again. This means better and wiser choices with nutritious foods and drinks. Not only will you feel better but lighter too,

HOmemade Candy That Other Holiday Sweet

Homemade candy gifts are often ridiculed which is silly. Nothing beats homemade fudge or chocolate covered pretzels.It's also more exciting thank just a plate of snickerdoodles or chocolate chips. everyone gets excited over a  tin of fresh dipped  pretzels  or blocks of rocky road fudge.

Candy making is somewhat of an art but the best thing about it  is that there are levels of expertise . Any beginner can make a festive pyramid of haystacks. The recipes on these vary but all it takes is a bag of chocolate chips, preferably semi sweet some butter and coconut. Melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave for a minute or two . Add the flaked coconut, You can toast the coconut for extra crunch. Mix together and , using a greased tablespoon drop on a greased cookie sheet. Haystacks can also be made with chow mein noodles and almonds although, to be honest , the coconut kinds taste the best. Chocolate covered pretzels are another fun treat. The easiest to dip are the rods. They're also the less messiest to eat too. You can dip the ends in white, milk and dark chocolate and then roll in green and red sprinkles or blue and white for more fun. You can also do a first dip in caramel for added decadence.

Fudge is one of the most made and most asked for holiday gifts.It does take a knack however novices can do well with easy recipes.One simple one involves the chocolate chips and condensed milk. Just melt in a sauce pan , add some vanilla and walnuts and you can have a yummy fudge gift in seconds. To me fudge isn't fudge with out butter.One good recipe has four tablespoons of butter mixed with sugar and milk. This is the old fashioned creamy type you buy at the Jersey shore.For variation add a few drops of mint extract or orange extract. Walnuts are always the preferred nut to add , but you can also toss in almonds or pecans, For a yummy Rocky Road throw in coconut and mini marshmallows , Be generous with them because this is what makes Rocky Road what it is.Divinity fudge has always been an American classic for the last century,This is made with egg whites instead of chocolate for that snowy white color and is more like a merengue than actual fudge.Christmas Divinity  fudge has chopped red and green cherries added to it, but this may be too sweet. Try pecans or walnuts instead.

Nothing beats a tin of homemade candy.It;s always fun and delicious, a perfect holiday gift. whip up a batch for the special people in your life.

Snow Food in The House!

Even though it's mid November, many regions around the world are snowed in. Some even are iced in due to plummeting temps. If your area are under that threat , then there's one thing to do  - food shop.It pays to be ready  as well as prepared to be stuck in the house for a few days. Be well stocked . Be on the alert. Just don't be hungry.

What should a kitchen have in stock? Milk ,bread and eggs, basically the ingredients for French toast.It does make a nice breakfast on a snow day, especially after shoveling. The pantry should be also stocked with stock for making soups or gravies. Canned foods are another must. Buy up a variety of veggies and beans. These are the most versatile and can be turned into everything from salads to side. Olive oil, another basic should be on hand  along with margarine and/or butter. Think about keeping two or three boxes of different types of pasta around too. Placate restless kids with a special lunch or dinner of spaghetti . Also have tins of Spaghetti-os along with lasagna and mini raviolis. These are easy to cook and  not at all time consuming (which is great especially if you have to telecommute). Buy bags of fries and Tater Tots along with frozen burgers like Bubba's or the veggie kind from Morningstar Farms. Also make sure you have enough cereal, both hot and cold, along with orange juice. The mornings will be brutal  so it pays to send the family off with a breakfast that will stay with them.

Snacks are all important for those days stuck inside. The easiest and healthiest is pop corn, of course. If you're lucky to have a fireplace, buy a popping basket (Amazon and Sur La Table carry this) so you can have fresh from the fire  fluffy kernels. If not , the microwave kind or even the old fashioned cooked on the stove is also good. Nothing beats a bowl of it during a movie or game. The unpopped kernels can be used to feed the birds. Pretzels are another healthy and fun snack. Have cheese and mustard around for dipping.Nachos with salsa are another fun snowy day munchie. The fresh garden  taste of the dip will bring back memories of warm summer days. Hot cocoa is a must . It a great reviver, especially after some serious snowball fights and fort building. Also flavored coffees and creamers are nice as are herbal teas.The last is perfect for anyone starting to sniffle or dealing with a scratchy throat. Snow days are also good baking days. Make up a batch of slice and bake chocolate  chips or do a rehearsal bake session with any of your Christmas cookie recipes.

Don't panic when the first heavy snow of the season comes. You should have a well stocked kitchen and pantry all set to go for cooking and baking. You don't have to go out . Stay in and enjoy good food and drink

PretzeLTwists

Nothing beats any kind ofretzel ,especially during this time of year.They're a holiday party staple as well as being a chill chaser ,eaten hot on the street.everyone thinks New York City owns this salty treat think again as competitor from Philly arrives on the foodie scene. It was the subject of an article in Wednesday's New York Daily News Now Foxus,Regular contributor,Jeannette Settembre wrote about Peltzer's Pretzels a new Brooklyn must go.Owner Leon Pelzer Kirkland and his wife,Barella, bring their version of the German classic to New York.This ISA different kind ,one that's twisted in to a knot with less salt.Philly pretzels are more about flavor than they are about size.Also they are free of those large sodium chunks everyone in the Metro area loves. what's sort of sad is that this city institution is losing some of its'street cred.City bakers are putting different spins on this centuries old recipe(the first pretzels were made in Bavarian monasteries by Priests.They were given to good children as a reward for learning their prayers)Baker Maury Ruben has created an equal Ly buttery and salty Croisszel ,a hybrid of the treat and a croissant.The average vendor sold pretzel is made en masse by J and J Snack Foods and given out to the 400 street carts.the only he comes from Pelzer's .They can bring this classic street food back to its'former glory. Is New York ready for some Philly style pretzels?Hopefully yes.If they take off ,New Yorkers may be seeing more of them on Manhattan's streets.

It's Octoberfest Time!

Every fall Germany and Germans around the world go crazy. Why?It's Oktoberfest! It's a time to enjoy the best Deutchland has to offer and it offers a whole cornucopia of yummy foods and drinks. It'sa perfect time to celebrate , with clear autumn skies and endless steins of beer!

Oktoberfest has its' origins in a wedding celebration that took place 200 years ago.Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.It actually started as horse race and then  eventually evolved into an actual festival. Small beer stands were set up to quench  thirsts back then, because it was more of a fair.  Now Germans around the celebrate it  , from parades and in German clubs to restaurants and even casinos. The foods are always delicious . Every kind of wurst is sold, from frankfurters to bratwurst and with it every and any kind of beer from weisse bier to  the darker, earthier brews.There are also spaetzle, the little flour dumpling that are excellent with a rich brown gravy.

The Germans are crack experts at baking and that reflects heavily at any Oktoberfest. Nothing beats a freshly made pretzel(or two or three) along with the many fantastic cakes.There is the heavenly Black Forest cake, a mix if dark chocolate cake, cherries and whipped cream. Sometimes shaved dark chocolate is sprinkled on it for added decadence.There's also the fruit cakes, such as plum and apple.These are more like tarts with a pie crust bottoms ,laden with fruit slices. Another treat is beesting cake or beinenstich, tasty mix of a honey butter cream, crunchy glazed almond topping and a fluffy spring cake.

If you haven't been to one yet, go to an Octoberfest.It's a great way to experience all that wonderful German food. Enjoy a wurst and beef followed by pretzels and cake.It's the best eating experience in the world!

Healthy Teen Treats

Nowadays teens have so many options food wise. However they will be what they are -teenagers who go for everything and anything unhealthy How do parents get them to eat the proper food? Make all those veggies and fruits fun. They can still have great flavor but this time it comes with a lot of hidden antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.

All kids love crunch, They go made for anything that makes some kind of noise.Potato sticks and chips fit that description perfectly. The one problem - they're not good,thanks to all that salt, fat and starch.Think about making the healthier Brussels sprouts and/or kale chips. These are easy to make and they can be flavored with sea salt or fiery cayenne pepper for some jolt.Popcorn is another "safe" snack however researchers have found that  the air popped kind is the best because it doesn't have a coating of transfat laced product that most kernels have.Pretzels are good but instead of the regular kind think of serving whole wheat. The same for tortilla chips. Some brands offer whole wheat and with salsa, it makes the ideal snack.

What about meals? Teens have certain tastes as well, rooted in childhood favorites. Easy enough too. Think about changing over to whole wheat spaghetti and turkey meat balls instead of the regular " white "kind with beef meatballs.Pizza can be made as well with whole wheat flour. Sub in veggies as opposed to cheese for something different or even grilled chicken mixed with a rich tomato sauce. Mexican food is one of the healthiest cuisines and a teen favorite. Chicken or fish tacos are fun and easy to make.Just nix the sour cream and go easy on the guacamole.Add more of a choice of veggies like pepper strips or for something different asparagus spears. They get a fun meal but with more vitamins and antioxidants added.

Teens can eat fun and healthy at the same time.Introduce healthy foods in fun ways and they'll forget about the junk. Seriously. They will.

Junking Junk Food

Are those  chips and Cheez Doodles the same as cigarettes? Is cola like crack? Most definitely.Food can be an addiction , as bad as any serious one. The worst addictions are the junk foods.They're made so tasty  any cupcake or corn chip is hard to resist.Yet they can be as deadly as any other bad habit.

The first step in breaking the addicting is knowledge. Start reading every package and bottles calorie breakdown and ingredients. Become familiar with additives and the individual components of a snack or take out dish. If it's too "plastic" or questionable, then stop eating it. Also slowly switch over to better snacks.After chips it could be whole grain pretzels and then eventually kale or Brussels sprout chips. These last two are easy to make and fun to eat.As far as foods, don't think burgers and fries, wean into a grilled chicken sandwich on whole wheat with a side of salad. Replace soda with unsweetened ice tea or flavored seltzer.

Desserts and sweets are the hardest to give up. Let's face it  - who can not resist a chocolate chip cookie or red velvet cupcake? The problem is that these are too irresistible and bad for you. Sub in fruit chunks like melon for a sweet snack or dessert or try a tasty handful of hulled organic strawberries or blueberries.For the last two you can top them with a small squirt of whipped cream for a festive effect. As for carry along snacks , nothing beats a pear ,apple or banana, They're not messy to eat while the cores and peels are environmentally good unlike all those plastic and paper wrappings.. They're also good to carry around too as a mid morning , or even mid afternoon snack.

Junking junk food is  an easy and good thing to do. It's slowly getting rid of th e bad and replacing it with food that is not only beneficial but also tasty. The transition may be a bit hard but definitely worth the effort.

The Day After

Most fridges across America are still stuffed to the gills with yesterday's party food. It's always wonderful to have tables groaning with food and drink. It shows that we're good hosts who care for our guests. However what happens when those tables are still groaning afterwards when the party has ended. What do we do?

Luckily some dishes like chicken wings and ribs can be reheated and recycled with some potato salad for the next day's dinner. Ditto the cold cuts and extra rolls plus they can also be made into tasty lunches too. Any sour cream based dip will last for a few days as long as it's covered and stored in the fridge. You can even have it again with veggies as a fun alternative to a regular meal. Extra veggies themselves can be cut down and made into soup or salad ingredients

You can also get creative with some of the other leftovers. Take pretzel, tortilla or potato chips and crush them finely for a different kind of bread crumb. Using them makes for much more interesting fried chicken and tempura. Cold cuts can be sliced up for a nice Cobb salad. Guacamole can be used as a spread in sandwiches or even used for taco or tortilla filling (note : guacamole's shelf life is only a day or two, try to use it within this time frame). Leftover pita bread can be baked into chips or used as a base for homemade pizzas.

Party leftovers needn't be so scary. You can use them recycle them in a variety of ways that your family will still enjoy. Just be creative and you'll have an empty fridge!

Sick Day Food

Every year around this time I write about food s for a sick day. I know it becomes tedious but ther'es a reason I write an entry like this. I'm a magnet for all sorts of germs and right now I'm fighting off the double whammy of a cold and a virus. The problem for me is what to eat without upsetting the apple cart (pardon the bad analogy). The thing is I'm probably not the only one with the question of what to eat when you' re sick.

Soup is always good. It calms a restless stomach and it;s easy to make. , especially the homemade kind. I always have to boxes of bouillon on hand for my family's recipe of pompeist. it;s Piedmonte version of chicken soup - a cure all for anything. That's made for any illness .it has gotten me through a lot of colds and viruses over the years. It'sa simple recipe of making chicken or vegetable broth. adding beaten eggs and then bread crumbs. Another good soup is pastina. You can make pastina soup thick or thin . It's better when there it's thick though, it's hardier and more nutritious.

Another problem is snacking. Of course no one wants to have guacamole dip after a bout of a nasty stomach flu (ewww, looks like soemthing you just got rid of anyway) however if you're hungry nibble. Thin pretzels or dry Saltines are fine. They're not greasy and satisfy your need for crunch. Have these with Coke or ginger ale . These last are perfect for helping sooth a stomach irritated by the ravages of a virus. A sweet snack is any Social tea or Lorna Doone cookie. Stick with plain bland, short breads and some hot lightly sweetened tea.Don't munch or fruit or ice cream until you feel your stomach is up to it. Wait a few days before heading back to old favorites.

The best bet for any cold, flu or virus is eat light but nutritiously . You'll still receive your daily dose of vitamins and minerals but in a lighter form.these will help you fight whatever nasty bug you;re battling and also keep you satisfied.

Target Foodies

It's no secret that I love Target. Almost everything that I have is from there including their food. They have two great divisions, Archer Farms and Market Pantry. Archer farms is the more upscale and "gourmet" if you will and offers interesting treats and sweets. Market Pantry is more basic, offering everyday staples. Together they bring in an extra fun factor at this store.

Archer Farms is the more upscale of the two. With their candy line , Choxie, Target brings gourmet treats at good prices. The brand is made with the best ingredients and there's no skimping on taste. I am madly in love with their Chai cookie, a buttery version of the German classic pfefferneuse. It's a rich blend of cinnamon, cardamon and clove mixed with premium butter and flour. I can finish a bag off in one sitting. The raspberry version comes a close second. I also love the Archer Farms chocolate chunk cookies. This is a yummy blend of crunch and bittersweet chocolate. For the savories try the sea salt and barbecue flavored potato chips or the salt and pepper pretzels. This last is a neat mix of traditional salt pretzels dusted with a fine coating of black pepper. They're like little fireballs but oh so good.

Market Pantry is the more down to earth version. They have everything from frozen pizza to eggs to popcorn. They're great for supplying you with pantry and fridge basics like cookies, crackers and soups. I'm a big fan of their popcorn and 100 calorie packs of cookies. The popcorn is by far the best of any fo the microwave kinds.It has a not too buttery taste and is lightly salted. Another plus is that the entire bag pops , unlike some other brands that leave you with half the pack unpopped. The cookies are great!!! My favorite are the cappucino ones but I'm duscoveringthe chocolate chips ones are pretty tasty too.

The next time you head to Target go straight to their food section. This company has a dazzling array of good and delicious in house brands. Try them. You'll then think twice about Target beging your go to store for clothing and appliences.