If you have no one to treat this St Valentine's Day then treat yourself. Go out and buy yourself that box of chocolates or bottle of champagne. It's an indulgence that's meant just for you and only you. Splurge one something you haven't had or would like to try. Go made for your favorite whether from the gourmet store or the grocery store.
Even if you;re on a diet you can treat yourself to a little something. There's nothing wrong with gobbling strawberries if you love them . If you're a citrus nut buy some grapefruit and oranges for yourself to feat on. A little more decadence? Then dip bananas or cherries in chocolate syrup or apples in caramel . If you really want to indulge pick up a box of your favorite chocolates. I love Butlers and wouldn't mind either either a box of their creamy chocolates or buttery toffees for Valentine's Day. Stop by your local bakery and get either a big heart cookie or a couple of the themed cupcakes. Nothing beats these along with a hot cup of tea and a good book or magazine to read.
If you really want to treat yourself go for a dinner out. Most restaurants may be booked and you may have to make last minute reservations. If not treat yourself to a past love such as burgers and fries or an ice cream soda at your favorite diner or drive in. You could also cook for yourself, splurging on lamb chops or steaks or a rich pasta dish with shrimp or lobster. After all you're gifting yourself. make it special and fun. Add a bottle of champagne or fine wine and really turn it into a luxurious meal.
This Valentine's Day give yourself a favorite food or snack. Don't think of it as a guilty pleasure . Just think of it as an "I love me. I want to do something special for myself day". You'll enjoy it even more.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Mood Food
Yesterday's New York Times Dining section featured an article about aphrodisiacs. There are certain foods and aromas that we associate with love and romance . There are some obvious answers and some surprises as well in the article written by Sarah Kershaw,
Aphrodisiacs as the article explains, have been around since ancient times. The early Greeks and Romans as well as those living during the Medieval period relied on certain dishes to rev up the libido. They believed that honey, saffron olives grapes basil and pine nuts were the key to a successful night of lust and love. Nowadays we tend to gravitate towards aparagus, avocados along with figs and cucumbers.Garlic is surprisingly considered an aphrodisiac/ Keep that in mind when your'e ordering either Italian or Chinese this Sunday night. Chocolate is also powerful aphrodisiac Both it's taste and its' smell can drive people wild.
Food aromas are also big as Ms. Kershaw explains . There is a restaurant, the Fat Duck, in Bray England where the chef fills the air with steamed hay. Yes, hay, because its' aroma is reminiscent of romantic autumn hay rides.according tot he chef, Heston Blumenthal It gets his diners in the mood for some of the restaurants more romantic offerings. However men andwomen also love the smell of licorice. The aroma of the popular licorice candy Good N Plenty drives both sexes wild as doe s the aroma of doughnuts for men and cucumbers for women (I'll let the Freudians dissect that one)
If you want to make Valentine's Day exciting go the aphrodisiac route. There's all sorts of foods and scents out there that'll take the romance a step further. All you need is love and a few Good and Plentys
Aphrodisiacs as the article explains, have been around since ancient times. The early Greeks and Romans as well as those living during the Medieval period relied on certain dishes to rev up the libido. They believed that honey, saffron olives grapes basil and pine nuts were the key to a successful night of lust and love. Nowadays we tend to gravitate towards aparagus, avocados along with figs and cucumbers.Garlic is surprisingly considered an aphrodisiac/ Keep that in mind when your'e ordering either Italian or Chinese this Sunday night. Chocolate is also powerful aphrodisiac Both it's taste and its' smell can drive people wild.
Food aromas are also big as Ms. Kershaw explains . There is a restaurant, the Fat Duck, in Bray England where the chef fills the air with steamed hay. Yes, hay, because its' aroma is reminiscent of romantic autumn hay rides.according tot he chef, Heston Blumenthal It gets his diners in the mood for some of the restaurants more romantic offerings. However men andwomen also love the smell of licorice. The aroma of the popular licorice candy Good N Plenty drives both sexes wild as doe s the aroma of doughnuts for men and cucumbers for women (I'll let the Freudians dissect that one)
If you want to make Valentine's Day exciting go the aphrodisiac route. There's all sorts of foods and scents out there that'll take the romance a step further. All you need is love and a few Good and Plentys
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Sweets For Your Sweet
This is the week for chocolate buying. The conundrum is what to buy for your sweetie? You can go the splurge way and buy the most decadent gourmet candy around or be a cheapskate and head over to your local chain drugstore. The thing is even the less expensive brands are pretty good these days so there is a big variety to choose from.
If you’re going to go high end there are a few good chocolatiers to choose from. If you’re in or near the Garden State Plaza in New Jersey, drop into Butler’s This is my favorite hoplite shop and they offer a rich array of chocolates You can have the sweet salty sea salt caramel s or their luscious Irish creams fill candies. I just love anything they offer , even their buttery toffees. Another top quality one s Godiva’s found in almost every mall. Here you can buy a ballotin of truffles for your love. Their caramels and cremes are quite good too.
For those of you watching your wallet there’s Russell Stover and Walt Whitman sampler boxes. don’t turn your nose up at these Both brands have just as good an assortment as the high end brands. In fact I think they have more variety and stick to more traditional bonbons such as the coconut cups and nut clusters. M&Ms is also having a special valentines; Day box as is Reeses; The last is featuring a heart filled with peanut butter cups This is perfect for any candy aficionado and fun too.
This Valentine‘s Day you can either splurge or scrimp on your beloved. it’s up to you. Either way you’ll still wind up with a wonderful box of candy that hopefully will be shared.
If you’re going to go high end there are a few good chocolatiers to choose from. If you’re in or near the Garden State Plaza in New Jersey, drop into Butler’s This is my favorite hoplite shop and they offer a rich array of chocolates You can have the sweet salty sea salt caramel s or their luscious Irish creams fill candies. I just love anything they offer , even their buttery toffees. Another top quality one s Godiva’s found in almost every mall. Here you can buy a ballotin of truffles for your love. Their caramels and cremes are quite good too.
For those of you watching your wallet there’s Russell Stover and Walt Whitman sampler boxes. don’t turn your nose up at these Both brands have just as good an assortment as the high end brands. In fact I think they have more variety and stick to more traditional bonbons such as the coconut cups and nut clusters. M&Ms is also having a special valentines; Day box as is Reeses; The last is featuring a heart filled with peanut butter cups This is perfect for any candy aficionado and fun too.
This Valentine‘s Day you can either splurge or scrimp on your beloved. it’s up to you. Either way you’ll still wind up with a wonderful box of candy that hopefully will be shared.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Loving From The Oven And Stove And Fridge
A fun and sweet thing to do this Valentine's Day is to whip up something yummy for your beloved. It could be cooked, roasted baked or even frozen. Nothing says "I love you" than having a favorite dish made just for him or her.Forget the fancy bonbons and roses , sometimes a slab of meat loaf or cupcakes from your oven are the best gifts of all.
A neat idea would be creating a sweetheart's favorite childhood food. You can ask directly but a better way is asking mothers grannies , siblings or best friends. That way the meal is a complete surprise. Meat loaf is usually the number one favorite food and it;s easy to whip up . Even though it's not a fancy lobster tail it's a comfort food and a link to a happy time. Other childhood faves are spaghetti and meatballs pulled pork sandwiches and a simple hamburger with homemade fries. There may even be some ethnic dishes like dolmades or fufu thrown in. Don't be afraid to try some of the more exotic recipes. Ask for help from his or her family. A mother or grandmother will always be amenable to help and also grateful you;re taking an interest in the family's culture.
Of course anything sweet is also appreciated. Nothing says a simple "Je t'aime " than homemade chocolate chip cookies. Again these s are easy to make and if you haven't the time, then go for the slice and bake logs. If your beloved likes cake then bake one using his or her favorite flavor and add homemade butter cream icing . Sprinkle some red hot cinnamon hearts on it for a fiery kick. Another popular dessert are cupcakes Again , you can just take a cake mix and make them up quick, A real comfort treat is ice cream. You can even make a banana split or hot fudge sundae for two. If you're sticking with the whole childhood faves then think about making a bowl of pudding that can be topped with Cool Whip and sprinkles.
This valentines' Day give your beloved something yummy. There's nothing as satisfying as creating a well loved dinner or dessert . There's also the reward of seeing the happy look on their faces as well when they bite into the best gift ever.
A neat idea would be creating a sweetheart's favorite childhood food. You can ask directly but a better way is asking mothers grannies , siblings or best friends. That way the meal is a complete surprise. Meat loaf is usually the number one favorite food and it;s easy to whip up . Even though it's not a fancy lobster tail it's a comfort food and a link to a happy time. Other childhood faves are spaghetti and meatballs pulled pork sandwiches and a simple hamburger with homemade fries. There may even be some ethnic dishes like dolmades or fufu thrown in. Don't be afraid to try some of the more exotic recipes. Ask for help from his or her family. A mother or grandmother will always be amenable to help and also grateful you;re taking an interest in the family's culture.
Of course anything sweet is also appreciated. Nothing says a simple "Je t'aime " than homemade chocolate chip cookies. Again these s are easy to make and if you haven't the time, then go for the slice and bake logs. If your beloved likes cake then bake one using his or her favorite flavor and add homemade butter cream icing . Sprinkle some red hot cinnamon hearts on it for a fiery kick. Another popular dessert are cupcakes Again , you can just take a cake mix and make them up quick, A real comfort treat is ice cream. You can even make a banana split or hot fudge sundae for two. If you're sticking with the whole childhood faves then think about making a bowl of pudding that can be topped with Cool Whip and sprinkles.
This valentines' Day give your beloved something yummy. There's nothing as satisfying as creating a well loved dinner or dessert . There's also the reward of seeing the happy look on their faces as well when they bite into the best gift ever.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Chocolate Dipped Love
If you want to impress your love dip something in chocolate.(even yourself but that‘s another entry on a whole other blog) You can have fun presenting an entire array fo goodies dipped in different chocolates. Besides it’s more fun that just baking a cake or cupcakes. Homemade sweets are also cheaper than going to a candy store and plunking down thirty bucks for a few bonbons.
The big question is what to dip. If your love is into the whole sweet savory you can try chips pretzels and yes, even bacon. I’d stick with the first two for a more traditional gift. Bacon could work if its’ crisp enough and it’s given that day. Another choice are cookies. Yes, you can buy chocolate dipped ones at your local bakery and there are even chocolate dipped Oreos however if his (or her) favorite isn’t chocolate then do it. Lorna Doones are wonderful for dipping as are Pepperidge Farms’ Chessmen. You can also try fruit. Strawberries are the best bet and easy to handle but you can also use bananas cherries , and pineapple.
The next question is what chocolate. Do you want a dark bitter to compliment the taste or a creamy milk or white? Bitter chocolate works well with fruit and cookies. It heightens the others taste. For the savories such as pretzels and chips then go with the milk chocolate. If you’re intent on dipping bacon then go with a very dark, bitter chocolate like Valrhona.
This Valentine’s Day give your love hand dipped goodness. Take his or her favorite treats and wrap them in a layer of chocolate and affection. They’ll appreciate it and so will you!
The big question is what to dip. If your love is into the whole sweet savory you can try chips pretzels and yes, even bacon. I’d stick with the first two for a more traditional gift. Bacon could work if its’ crisp enough and it’s given that day. Another choice are cookies. Yes, you can buy chocolate dipped ones at your local bakery and there are even chocolate dipped Oreos however if his (or her) favorite isn’t chocolate then do it. Lorna Doones are wonderful for dipping as are Pepperidge Farms’ Chessmen. You can also try fruit. Strawberries are the best bet and easy to handle but you can also use bananas cherries , and pineapple.
The next question is what chocolate. Do you want a dark bitter to compliment the taste or a creamy milk or white? Bitter chocolate works well with fruit and cookies. It heightens the others taste. For the savories such as pretzels and chips then go with the milk chocolate. If you’re intent on dipping bacon then go with a very dark, bitter chocolate like Valrhona.
This Valentine’s Day give your love hand dipped goodness. Take his or her favorite treats and wrap them in a layer of chocolate and affection. They’ll appreciate it and so will you!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Super Bowl Check List
Tomorrow is the biggest party day of all. This is where it’s crucial that you don’t run out of ingredients alcohol sodas and snacks. True, you can always run to the store. However you’ll either miss important plays or the halftime show . Worse you could go all the way to your grocery and find out that they’ re out of what you need.
What you should have already:
Beans for dip and chili
Rolls and bread (although you can buy these tomorrow morning if you haven’t already)
Lighter fluid if you re planning a cookout
Beer, soda, wine and cocktail mixers.
Crackers
Barbecue sauce or marinade
Disposable plates, cups,utensils, napkins and wetnaps
What you should buy today:
Avocados, tomatoes and onions for guacamole
Chicken wings. ribs, burgers, chopped meat and cold cuts
Sour cream or plain yogurt for dips.
Specialty cake or cupcakes
Pretzels, potato chips, tortilla chips and, mixed nuts for snacking
Cheese for quesadillas or tacos
Cheese for cheese and crackers
Print this out , let this be your checklist for these next two days. Then make your favorite dishes without any worry. It’s no fun running ou to the story and missing all the action.
What you should have already:
Beans for dip and chili
Rolls and bread (although you can buy these tomorrow morning if you haven’t already)
Lighter fluid if you re planning a cookout
Beer, soda, wine and cocktail mixers.
Crackers
Barbecue sauce or marinade
Disposable plates, cups,utensils, napkins and wetnaps
What you should buy today:
Avocados, tomatoes and onions for guacamole
Chicken wings. ribs, burgers, chopped meat and cold cuts
Sour cream or plain yogurt for dips.
Specialty cake or cupcakes
Pretzels, potato chips, tortilla chips and, mixed nuts for snacking
Cheese for quesadillas or tacos
Cheese for cheese and crackers
Print this out , let this be your checklist for these next two days. Then make your favorite dishes without any worry. It’s no fun running ou to the story and missing all the action.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Super Bowl Suds
'I’m sure everyone know what they’ll be eating Sunday but what will they be drinking? Beer is the obvious choice but what kind? There are so many on the market that it’s kind of hard to choose. Of course diehard fans will always have their Coors or Bud. Some may even choose an ale if they’re adventurous.
If you’re just having pizza whether delivery or homemade any lager will do. Rule of thumb is pizza is served with wine but even true Italians have it with pilsener nowadays. The same with chicken wings. It’s a go with for any kind of the bottled stuff. Everyone has their favorites and will either insist or bring over a six pack. (and probably not to share either). Of course for chili and quesadillas only go for Corona and have plenty of lime slices in a nearby handy bowl for your guests.
For the more adventurous there is ale. This subset of beer has been served since medieval times but still as modern as any drink. You can try Sam Adams or Bass for another variations.If you get the chance try it with the German Weiss beer. This is a sweeter, fruitier beer that‘s classified as an ale but packs a punch. It can go with anything from meatball subs to hot wings.
This Super Bowl Sunday eat, drink and root for your favorite team. Just make sure you and your guests have the suds at hand to get your through everything from half times to touchdowns. There's nothing like a great game accompanied by a great beer.
If you’re just having pizza whether delivery or homemade any lager will do. Rule of thumb is pizza is served with wine but even true Italians have it with pilsener nowadays. The same with chicken wings. It’s a go with for any kind of the bottled stuff. Everyone has their favorites and will either insist or bring over a six pack. (and probably not to share either). Of course for chili and quesadillas only go for Corona and have plenty of lime slices in a nearby handy bowl for your guests.
For the more adventurous there is ale. This subset of beer has been served since medieval times but still as modern as any drink. You can try Sam Adams or Bass for another variations.If you get the chance try it with the German Weiss beer. This is a sweeter, fruitier beer that‘s classified as an ale but packs a punch. It can go with anything from meatball subs to hot wings.
This Super Bowl Sunday eat, drink and root for your favorite team. Just make sure you and your guests have the suds at hand to get your through everything from half times to touchdowns. There's nothing like a great game accompanied by a great beer.
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