Freezing For Fall -Storage For Your Garden

Now is the time to start harvesting whatever is left in your garden. You can simply free dry or turn fruits and veggies into jams and aspics. It's up to you.

If you have a lot of herbs you can easily pick and dry them . oregano, basil and rosemary all travel well from plant to jar and are great over any kind of roast. For basil remember to wash in cold water and then pat dry with a paper towel. basil can also be blended into a pesto sauce to be served with pasta or gnocchi later on in the season.

Now is also a good time to use these for your sauces. If you;re lucky to have an over abundance of tomatoes, then turn them into sauce. There's nothing the like home made kind warming you up on a cold rainy October or November day. Also think about cooking and freezing your squashes and zucchini. These can easily be thawed out after and served as a quick side.

The second raspberry season is just around the corner. If you're lucky to go late summer picking , then think about making your own jam. This can be tricky if you're not careful. One wrong move in canning and you can kill off your whole family. make sure equipment and jars are properly sterilized before you do anything. Also have help when preserving because it is a long and involved process (albeit a fun one). Raspberries can also be frozen for later use in desserts and cakes.

This is the season to harvest and prepare for the fall and winter ahead. Do what you have to do to to make your fruits and veggies last.

Your Write To Foodie Pantry

Ok readers (well all three of you) let's hear your summer time of 2008 stories. Are there any recipes you'd like to share? Any comments? A review of your favorite summer eatery?

Let me know This blog is open for discussion.

Liz

Cereal Killers

I hate to put the buzz kill on these last few summer days but school is just around the corner. Now moms across the US should be thinking of what to feed their young first thing in the morning. For a smarter kid, think about nixing the quickie cupcake and soda along with the heavily sweetened cereals.

What makes good breakfast? Something that's going to stick to your kids' ribs and keep them alert for most of the day. Try oatmeal with dried fruit such as blueberries or cranberries. Also oatmeal and fresh cut apples are another good day starter. Cereal is fine so long as it's not the ones that are like ninety per cent sugar. Give Junior Cheerios or Rice Krispies to start off with. If you have the time to cook in the morning, then whip up some pancakes or eggs or both. having a hearty breakfast with these along with any breakfast meat (like Canadian bacon, bacon or sausages)a cup of tea and a glass of juice is going to make everyone feel more alive and awake, ready to do battle with whatever comes that day. Also think about bagels or English muffins or even making these into breakfast sandwiches. At least you know your family won't be eating the grease laden kind from the local fast food joint.


Unfortunately I was never and still am not a big breakfast person. My first meal comes at lunch. I wish it could be different but it's hard for me to eat anything before the prime meridian. Horrible but true.

Just think I might have been a great food writer if I only had my breakfasts before 10 AM.

Last Of The Summer Harvest

It's sad to think that the summer is practically over. At least we still have our harvest from farms and gardens. Even if we're preparing for fall, whether it be for school or work ,we can still enjoy the taste of sun ripened fruits and veggies.

Tomatoes are still growing during this warm season so take advantage of them. Luckily they're versatile to cook up in a variety of ways. You can make enough sauce for your winter meals and store in a freezer or make some very good tomato sandwiches. Squash and zucchini are growing in abundance in some gardens right now. Take advantage of these by cooking them in butter and garlic or as part of a ratatouille. Basil growth is also in overdrive around this time. Use your leaves to make into pesto sauce and freezefor later dishes in the fall. You can also cut and dry chives, rosemary and oregano for dishes either being made right now or for later.

As far as fruit, the berry season are winding down but you can still get and grow peaches and plums. These are perfect for snacking or just for a light healthy dessert. If you're still craving fresh fruit, remember that apple and raspberry season usually start in mid September.

Even though this season is ending you can still get a taste of it. Enjoy what the farms stands still have to offer. Harvest what you can from your own gardens. Make the summer last with the fruits and veggies of summer.

Good Luck With Casino Dining

The one thing about Atlantic City is that you can never go hungry. Every casino has a variety of different restaurants from high end gourmet to fast and fun deli. My favorite place Harrah's recently expanded its' list of restaurants.

For high end dining the hotel /casino has the famous McCormick and Schmick' s Seafood which specializes in all sorts of seafood as well as chicken and steaks. Harrah's has also revamped its' Italian restaurant. The casino also has a great steakhouse, featuring various New York cuts and filets. Of course every casino has an all you can eat buffet. Harrah's is no exception with its almost sumptuous restaurant filled with everything from soups ot desserts. Unfortunately the lines ar long and sometimes diner's don't sit down til 9 PM to eat

My favorite is Harrahs' new food court. This small strip of fast food stops is located by the new indoor pool and spa. Here you can get paper thin crust pizza at Walt's along calzones and Sicilian style pie. Ben and Jerry's is also there along with a small candy section selling fudge. At the end of this is Sack O Subs where you can get Philly cheese steaks along with quick burgers and fries. The cafe Reflections is also over that way. It's less expensive than the other restaurants yet serves up gourmet and hearty American dishes.

Craving something heartier. Then head over to Harrah's Deli, which is on the path to the jitney stop. Here you can get all sorts of deli favorites. My favorite is the hearty and vegetarian mushroom barley soup. This is a whole bowl , of rich soothing goodness, perfect after a day of fun. The Deli also has a good sampling of deli sodas like Dr Brown's.

If you're at Harrah's then go for good fortune in their many restaurants. There's always something whether you've just won or lost a bundle.

Good Eating In Brigantine

North of Atlantic City is the island of Brigantine. This long sandy spit doesn't have the glamor or glitz of its' neighbor. Its' fun activities include biking and swimming as opposed to gambling. Yet it does share one thing in common with AC - food. This is an island where you can buy fresh fruit at the local grocery store or settle into a pizza at one of the Brigantine's many small cafes.


My favorite place to eat is the Pirate's Den Restaurant. This is a charming little place located right across the way from the beach front.It's situated at the northernmost tip of Brigantine Boulevard, located in an area of summer homes. Locals flock here and there 's a sense of family as waitresses know right off the bat what their customers want. Pirate's Den serves breakfast lunch and dinner, with all sorts of classic sandwiches and seafood. My Mom and I usually come here after the beach (and it's the best beach in the state with sand like powdered sugar and clear, calm waters. Forget the Caribbean,- come here to Brigantine). This time we ordered steak sandwiches This was thinly sliced mounds of steak served on a hero roil. The meat was tender, and almost shaved. Our sandwiches were so huge that we barely could finish them. We also had a generous serving of fries along with the chips that come with lunch. The potatoes were classic, Jersey shore fries - crisp and golden. We were too stuffed to get dessert although Pirate's Den does have some good ones.

Brigantine also has a variety of pizzerias and seafood shacks. I have yet to try them and probably will on my next trip down. The island also has some ice cream stands as well for quick cones and shakes.

If you're in Atlantic City , venture over the bridge to the magical island of Brigantine. This is a relaxing, refreshing fun place where the beaches are dreamy and the food is heavenly.

The Flying Cloud Cafe - Atlantic City's Best Kept Secret

Mention Atlantic City dining to anyone and they'll tell you all about the great restaurants in the casinos. This is true. Recently AC has lured some big names such as The Old Homestead, McCormick and Schmick and Wolfgang Puck. However there is a perfect little gem situated on Brigantine Bay in North Atlantic City. It's called The Flying Cloud Cafe, named after one of the fastest schooners in the 1800's.

First of all the atmosphere is charming - certainly not what you'd expect in this gambling mecca. Located in a small circle of crafter's booths and restaurants, The Flying Cloud Cafe is isolated from all the glamour and glitz. It's more like a spot in Old Cape Cod or Cape May. Masts sway back and forth, gulls cry as they swoop down on the docks. There is the smell of the ocean here along with the aroma of good food. Of course The Flying Cloud specializes in seafood. My Mom and I had two wonderful dishes. She ordered the fish and chips while I had the broiled crab cake. The portions are generous, The fish doesn't have that usual cloying fishy taste associated with seafood. Her breaded tilapia was sweet and light while my crab meat was delicate and tender. We also received a large side of julienned fries which were perfectly crisp and browned. The Flying Cloud Cafe also gives this awesome cole slaw made with horseradish. This is not the usually sugary stuff but a crunchy mixture of sliced cabbage , dressing and zing. We saw other diners who enjoyed seafood salads and one who had a whole, perfectly boiled lobster.

Usually seafood restaurants have meager desserts. Not The Flying Cloud Cafe . We split a wonderful chocolate cake laden with warm fudge , caramel and walnuts. It was flanked by two chocolate drizzled clouds of whipped cream. This was a decadent end to an already rich lunch.

The Flying Cloud is located at 800 North New Hampshire Ave Number 3. (you can't miss it really),directly to the west of the Atlantic City Aquarium. Don't bother with the car. Take the number 3 jitney over there for a day of relaxation and good food.