Mom's Breakfast Choices

 Tomorrow is Mother's Day and that means one thing - what's for breakfast? Will it be savory or sweet?A combo of both?Traditional or something new? It doesn't really matter as long as it's delicious.

Many kids (and husvands) go for the traditional route of waffles and pancakes.. new York Times regular contributor Yewande Komolafe gives us three from wednesday's food section. You could make mom Ms. Komolafe's decadent chocolate waffles served with a side of strawberries and whip cream or maybe her savory one filled with toasted seasame and scallions. This may be good topped with an egg sunnyside up and a side of Canadian bacon. Another route is trying her blueberry buckwheat ones . Then there 's those stacks of pancakes.You can easily fo for the easy Bisquick ones and add what you want. Ambitious little cooks and their dads may want to try making scratch ones.  These have baking powder and baking soda to make light ,airy ones, perfect with a large pat of butter and syrup. If you're into something fancier, think French toast. Make an extra rich by using brioche bread intead of the regular white or whole wheat. An easier breakfast is  croissants from your local bakery , with a small sampling of jams.

A savory breakfast route is just as doable. Omelets are easy and can be made to suit mom's tastes. Try a yummy spinach and mushroom loaded one or that classic Denver style omlet. This is one made with ham peppers and cheddar cheese. Scoop it up with buttered toast. Mom may like  something simple like a scrambled eggs or a sunnyside up one. These are perfect with just a side of crispy bacon. What you can do with that is borrow a page from another New York TImes Food section contributor,Melissa Clark. Dip the bacon strips in maple syrup and give them a light dusting of chili powder. It's a fun way to jazz up any egg dish. Another idea is creating a strata which satisfies the whole family. This is a casserole which sort of ressembles a giany savory bread pudding It's layers of sliced bread , followed by either sausage patties or ham. Any kind of cheese is added, form sharp, tangy cheddar to a smoky Gruyere.An egg  - milk or cream mix is poured over it and then its baked for half an hour. It's a great way for the family to sit down and enjoy a meal together before any Sunday activity.

Any kind of breakfast is the perfect one for mom. Go sweet or try savory. As long as it's made with love and care it's a gift mom will enjoy.

Hot Day Cool Cooking

 Right now it's in the mid eighties here in the New York City area. It's tough to cook , epsecially in a hot kitchen. what to do ? Combine leftovers with alreafy made ingredients for a tasty and simple meal.

This was my mantra today as I suffered through a steamy day. It was easy enough.I had leftover rice cooked in vegetable broth, along with a fajita mix of chopped onions and green, red, and yellow peppers. Stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce were added for more color and to give the mix a smooth texture.

 The veggies and sauce were cooked in a blend of Melt butter and olive oil saute,.I added a good amount of oregano and garlic powder for flavor along with salt and a hearty dose of black pepper for some heat

it was an easy cook. I added the rice after ten minutes of simmering . The mix only took

fifteen minutes at most to fully cook up. You should stir the rice so it fully absorbs the liquid.

I loved this! It was so flavorful and reminded me of the Cajun rice my Mom used to make from scratch. You can add chciekn, shrimp (which would have been great here) or cut up steak. Even though it was hot outside, and the kitchen itself was sweaty , this hot meal was perfect. I loved the melding of the flavors and how the rice soaked up that tasty sauce.

If it's hot then think a simple meal using leftovers and precut veggies. The end result is delicious. It's worth turning on the stove on a steamy day.

Are You Looking For A Pizza Pop Up

 It was going to happen eventually  - the pop up pizzeria. The planet's trendiest food center New York City is where it's happening .What's best about them is that these pizzas are variations on the traditional pies. They're innovative as they are tasty.

Long time restaurant critic Pete Wells wrote about them in yesterday's New YorkTimes Food section.Pop ups across Manhattan and its' boroughs are not that unusual. There are tacorias and ice cream parlors along with pop up bakeries and coffee shops. Pizzerias are not that common though, especially ones that have unusual and new toppings. How is this phenomenon happening? It's due to the ovens .There is the electric Breville Pizzailo, a  small, portable brick oven and several models by Ooni. The last can be powered by wood pellets, carcoal and gas and cost between and  $299 and $1,000 These were made for home use but are quickly becoming popular with chefs who have to be on a budget.Most commerical deck ovens cost many times as much). These devices have allowed a batch of self taught makers to storm a traditional , family owned business, The most traditional ones are owned by men. Now thanks to the new pop up trade , two of the most avidly followed are run by women.

 How are the pizzas? They range from the unuusal to the traditional. Natalie De Sabato is leading this craze with her company Traze, She sells grandma (ones with thick crusts) to bars, breweries and other spots throughout the city.Her best known pie has crumbled fava bean squirted with halal-cart white sauce.I'ts put into into a counter top electric oven that's smaller than a microwave and baked.Mr. Wells declared it the best pizza he's ever had.Augie Russo of Tiny Pizza Kitchen creates a variety of traditional and different. He is known for his Margherita pizza with his black bubbles, airy interior and crusty rim. Then there's his Betty White which changes topping with the season.One night it had gooseberries, pomegranate seeds ,spiced butternut squash and sauteed leeks.It's decorated with edible flowers and herbs.His Farewell To Figs is redolent with the fruit.His pizza is tiopped with fresh  ones along with a spicy fig jam from a small batch reserve in California.salame ribbons, salted raw onions, charred cherry tomaotes and fice kinds of cheese top it.

Pop pizzareias are becoming more and more popular. They're a great outlet for creative chefs looking to break free from the traditional mold. They'll be around for a while.

There's Bounty In Drought

 Can a lack of rain produce jush plants and a bounty of veggies. Surprisingly yes.With the right management an overly dry environment can mean abundance.

Regular contributor Brett Anderson wrote about this in today's New York Times Food section. Arizona is one such state. It has little water resources yet draws in thousands of new residents per year.The sta te is experiencing serious water problems. The Colorado River, Arizoba's main source of water is dangerously low. This does not bode well for the state's farms and home gardens. Climate change is already parching soil and depleting aquifers, bodies of permeable rocks that can contain or  transmit water. This is bad fo the states' farm that provide lettuce and even hay , the last being sold to Saudi Arabia.Luckily there are solutions to combat this. Everyone from home gardeners to the larger farms are embracing old techniques and recycling in order to stay alive. There is even a gardening movement in PHoenix that is keeping city backyards verdant. Thanks to a company called Urban Far, Phoenix homeowners can learn to carefully  lay out their greenery , Vines cools off fruit and veggies, drip tapes als work as irrigators.

It's not just homeowners that are benefitting, Farms are too,. A primary goal of them is to restore land that has been damaged by synthetic fertilizers and neglect.There is a lot of composting which keeps food waste from rotting in land fills. NIna Sajover, a Slovenian immigrant atarted the Ajo Center in Sustainabie Agriculture on the Ajo reservation.She looks to the indigenous people of the area who have been growing crops in bad conditions for centuriesThey use dry farming techniques which relies on residual water to irrigate the crops instad of artificial means.It has proven successful with a variety of fruits adapting.Even cacti is growing well and is also being used in recipes. This will probably be the default way of farming for not only Arizona but parts of California, Texas <Nevada and Nw Mexico. Doing such means bossting up those states' economies.

Will this type of farming help in the future? It should. This is what Arizona's agri economy  will look like as climate change becomes more dire.

Eating For Summer

 Now that it's May it's time to start thinking of summer and bathing suits. It's also the time to start eating right to fit into last year's shorts and bathing suits.A few dietary changes can be a big help.

What to eat for a healthier diet? Protein and greens. fire up the grill for some grilled chicken and turkey breast. These are perfect for a simple dinner complete with any kind of veggie and maybe a scoop of herbed rice.Salmon is another great protein that can make up a light supper or even lunch. Grill with a sprinkle of lemon along with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. You could add soy if you want or Italian seasoning for something different.mA Sunday dinner or grilled veggies is a nice change up from the usual roast and gravy. what's good about the leftover meats and veggies is that they can easily be added to mixed greens the next day for a filling lunch or even for a second dinner.If you're tired of all those barbecue then think chili. This classic can actually help in losing weight.The ingredients can help to reduce sugar and fat cravings!!It's also filled with fiber and protein which keeps you satiated and not in need of snacks or a heavy desssert afterwards.

What about those snacks and drinks? Everyone spent the winter gobbling all sorts of goodies and drink lush cappuccinos and lattes.it's time to snack light. A good change over is popcorn.it's not only low calorie but rich in much needed fiber. YOur best bet is getting a micorwave corn popper like Colonel Popper and buying the kernals. This gives you a an eight calorie bowl of snacking. Pop ir in olive oil for a better flavor and to add more nutrients. If you want it flavored then sprinkle on Kernel Seasons' flavorings. They have every flavor from kettle corn to butter and nacho cheese. Pretzels are another low calorie snack that are filling and can be taken everywhere. A bag of them in your office desk is a greatway to combat those afternoon munchies. Fruit is another good sanck. It provides the sweetness of a cookie or cupcake without all those sugar and fat. If you want something a bit more special then add a drizzle of chocolate syrup on top.

It's time to eat light. Switch over to low calorie ingredients and snacks. You'll feel better by eating lighter and less.

Kitchen Fun For Mother's Day

 What do you get the mother who likes to cook? Something dfferent. Something unusual.It could be a gadget,It could be a new spice.Just make it exciting and different. 

Gadgets are always fun and there are so many out there. If mom is into making cool fruit salads then think of the Yueshico stainless steel watermelon slicer.it seamlessy cuts through the flesh to make neat  bites. A real gift are the Dreamform non stick pizza scissors.These are a wild take on meat scissors use to spatchcock chickens .it makes it easier to cut slices without all the mess of  crusts splitting or toppings sliding off the pie.If mom loves her iced coffee then present her with the Maximaric Hyper CHiller.Its just putting hot coffee in , give it a shake and then you have a glass of cold icy brew.Bakers will love this  OXO 's Baker's wand.It's a tiny sifter that lets you dust cakes and cupcakes with powdered sugae ro cocoa.It's also perfect for dusting cinnamon on cappuccinos and cocoa on hot chocolate.what could use a dusting of powdered sgaur. A DASH mini waffle maker. I love mine and it's a great way to enjoy tiny ones , hot from the press.

If mom is into exotic  cooking and baking then think of a collection of rare and unusual spices. One company, My Spice Sage offers a wide array of different ones for cooking and baking. Get Mom their fnely ground cumin and turmeric if she's into cooking Indian cuisine.They also sell blends such as the Ethiopian Grains of Paradise, a mix of black pepper with cardamon and ginger. There's also a Jamaican jerk rub, perfect for barbecue season The company also has a variety of salts and peppers too along with giving out free  samples to try.Amazon also has a very good spice collection. You can easy buy Mom elaborate sets that contain as little as fours spices and many as forty-eight spices (the last is expensive at $239.99 but worth it for the gourmet cook mom). You can also include a spice cookbooks like The Spice Coobook by Avenelle Day and Lillie Stuckey. it will give momideas about how to use her spices and put them to good use. 

A Quiet Meal Al Fresco

 May brings warm weather and with it a chance t eat al fresco. There's nothing that beats a barbecue ro even a fancy meal in the quiet of your backyard. it pays ot make the backyard an outdoor dinign haven.

Of course you'll need a table and chairs. every brick and mortar and online store is selling some really pretty sets right now. Target has a six piece set that's only $165. It's a set of four chairs wiht a sturdy plastic table and umbrella in a greyish black shade.This is perfect for a family of four or just on your own to enjoy an iced coffee and a sandwich. The online home company Wayfair has a beautiful array of chairs and tables. This is like having an outdoor dining room set, complete with a table for twelve and comfy rattan and wicker chairs. You could also get a chair set and coffee table if you don;t want the expense or entertain much.  wayfair has sets ranging from $227 for a rattan couch,chairs and table. to only 135 for a six piece set. keep in mind to get covers for the fall and winter months and to buy water and weatherproof cushions too. These can be bought at Walmart or also ordered from Wayfair.

Out door dining requires sturdy untensils and plates. Kohls has fun and colorful sets of melanine plates that not only hold up well but wash well too. (you cna easily use these for indoor use too). Other stores like walMart have much cheaper versions that also hold up well.Pick some colorful ones that can hold up well to anything from pasta salad to hamburgers. If you are having alot of people over for a party ro a shower then go the traditional route and get paper plates and throwaway utensils. Drinking glasses should be a sturdy plastic too You don;t want glass outside in case one breaks. Check Amazon which has everything from plastic champagne glasses to colorful tumblers. what about a mug for outdoor breakfast coffee or tea? A good sturdy one, which everyone has. Just be careful with it. what about tablecloths? Go with a felt backed plastic one that can endure everything from spilled barbecue sauce to rain. Again wal-Mart is your best bet for this .Target may have them too.

A good meal outside needs a good table and chair complete with the niceties of indoor dining. Pick out a good set. Finish with nice tablecloth and place setting.