Wanting Winter In Spring

 It may be late Spring but you can still crave wintry dishes like gnocchi. You just have to make it the simple way possible and that means a box of Lidl's mushroom gnocchi. It's a simple cook but tastes like an elaborately made meal.

I saw this the other day on my weekly LIdl haul. There was also pesto and four cheese but I love anything mushroom. This appealed to me. Gnocchi is a wintry dish , best eaten and made. on a cold, blustery day. 

I knew it was going to be good. It's Lidly after all.It  is so easy  to create which is a plus during the warmer weather. It comes with the sauce packet and a packet of gnocchi that serves four (or two people going for seconds). 

It's also so simple .It just adding a cup and a half (I added two but that made it too soupy) and boiling it .When the water reaches a boil add the two packets and stir. Let it boil for a few minutes longer and then simmer for about ten minutes until the sauce thickens. The gnocchi should be tender by now.

I would definitely buy this again. The gnocchi were so tender and perfect with the sauce.The sauce was  creamy, rich and flavorful with portobello bits. The instructions said you could add cheese and butter but to be honest it's truly delicious without them. I definitely plan to try Lidl's pesto gnocchi yet and get two packages for a more substantial dinner. 

Don't worry if you want a wintry dish like gnocchi during these warm days. Just buy Lidl's gnocchi with sauce.It's satisfies that craving without any work.

Picnics For Pennies

 This is picnic season.Yet with the price of food it's hard to have a good time , enjoying the park or the beach. What to do ? Shop wisely.

Most would head to their local hero shop to get a sandwich for an outdoor feast. The problem is this can be costly . Despite their combo meals Jersey Mike's can be expensive, especially if you have a group to feed. Even a simple ham and cheese or roast beef sub can run high. Add in a bag of chips and a soda or water and you have fifteen dollars gone Times that for a family of five and its's a good seventy five dollars gone, more if the kids want extras like cookies. You could go to your grocery store. Both Acme and Shop Rite make very good heroes for a lot less and give a lot more sandwich. The grocery stores also allow you to buy bigger bags of chips and soda twelve packs  too. Smaller shops may be cheaper than the sub sandwich chains but not by much. It doesn't pay to bring fast food  hamburgers along . You can easily pack a cooler with patties and buns and make your own of you really want to cook. Keep in mind that some beaches do not have any braziers and frown upon visitors bringing their own.

A better choice is making your own picn. That way everyone gets to have their favorite sandwiches, drinks and snacks. You can also slip in fruit and vegetables for a healthy bite.Stores such like Ldl have delicious freshly baked rolls for  as low as seventy-nine cents. These are perfect with any kind of filling. Think ham and Swiss with a dab of mustard or a turkey one with an avocado slice and tarragon mayo. It's always not advised to bring store bought egg or tuna salad  on an outing yet it's fine to make it at home and then bring it. You know it's freshly made and its hans't been left out too long. Make it right before you leave. wrap it tightly in Saran wrap and place in a cooler. You could also vary this and make a chicken or ham salad to bring too. Bags of potato chips are always welcomed but you can also try the healthier Sun Chips or everyone;s favorite Pepperidge Farm goldfish. Kds love nibbles and with a self packed picnic you can toss in some grape tomatoes along with baby carrots. Carry small containers of dip for dipping. Bright fruit too. Peaches are a great take a long and they're in season Also also bring small bags of strawberries and blueberries.

You can have a lavish picnic  for a lot less. It's just creating your own sandwiches and bringing a long snacks that are good for your budget and family.It's easy to picnic for less.

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. 

Picnic For One

 If you want to have something indulgent this summer try a picnic for one. This can be your favorite foods in your favorite outdoor setting wither the park , the beach or the backyard. It's time to treat yourself to some good food and good rest.

An easy picnic would be getting a hero from any grocery store or Jersye MIkes. The last can customize the sandwich to what you want, whether you go for a vegan or an Italian one full of prosciutto and ham.With these you can easily grab an ice tea or soda and bag of chips. Take it to your favorite green or sandy spot with a blanket  and Kindle (or go old school with a book). Bring a sleeve of your favorite cookies too and maybe a thermos of iced coffee. Keep the mess both for yourself and for the environment down to a minimim.It's a sandwich so there's no need for plastic utensils. Throw all wrappings and empty bags along with cans and cups away too. Should you bring your favorite hamburger or chicken nuggets to the park?Or what about a salad?It's up to you but it can be messy. It helps if there are picnic tables nearby where you can sit and have a proper meal. If not, stick to the simplest and relax.

Of course you can indulge yourself in a backyard picnic. You can mess up as much as you want because your kitchen and garbage cans are near by. A mini version of a salad NIcoise is a great treat Make a small salad and add a half a can of tuna in oil (you could add the whole can if you really love the fish)along with one sliced hard boiled egg.Add tomatoes ,  an artichoke heart or two along with olives . Serve with a crust piece of french bread and olive oil and a chilled glass of white wine. Another indulgent salad for one is a panzinella or Italian bread salad. Take two vine ripened tomatoes and cut into slices. Add them to olive oil A small minced onion and a minced garlic clove will also add some flavor. Through in two torn pieces of Italian bread and stir. You can also  chill it for a more refreshing bite too.  A shrimp cocktail is the perfect meal outside . Cooked shrimp is an easy buy at your local grocery store.  Sit back under a tree, in your favorite lounger and enjoy. A shredded lobster or crab salad is another summer meal perfect for an indulgent meal  for one outdoors.

A picnic for one can be a relaxing meal time. You;re with your favorite foods in the fresh air.Try it and enjoy.

This Steak's Secret - Butter

 What makes for a good , well cooked and well flavored steak? Butter.It's been a long used ingredient in cooking up any meat .Not only that it adds such sweet flavor, melding well with the juices and the taste of the meat.

Regular contributor and chef Eric Kim wrote about this in yesterday's New York Times Food Wednesday section.He was inspired by Twelve, a waterfront restaurant in Portland Maine.everyone sits by the plancha station where the New York strips are prepared and cooked. The meat is first seasoned with salt and then the fat cap(Or fatty area on top) is seared holding it up with tongs perpendicular to the plancha.The fat bastes both sides of the meat before it's put in the oven.Butter  - usually two tablespoons of it (and here Kerry Gold is recommended) can give the same effect. Herbs such as thyme are used  a long with avocado or canola oil (again this is a personal choice olive oil also is good). The French have long used this method, calling it arroser or to baste. why use butter to cook a steak? Chef Kin states there are a lot of pluses.Butter basting helps the steak maintain an even rosy interior along with a mouth watering juiciness.Not doing this will create a distinctive red line in the middle along with undesirable hot and cold spots in the strip's interior. Another plus is that' it makes for a good sauce mixed with the juices for the asparagus Mr. KIm recommends  as a side.

What steak will work. Try to get a good boneless one pound New York strip steak with a fat cap or strip of fat along the top.The butter itself should;d be hot and foaming.If's its too watery, according to Twelve's chef de cuisine Hannah Rider, It needs to elevate the temperature within the steak. Another tip Chef Kim strongly recommends is hiding all the home's fire detectors You'll need a high heat to cook the meat and as Chef rider puts it "anything can set off." As for the thyme leaves you can add garlic which will be a good foil for the meat's flavor . Ginger also works here.Ginger leeches out the meats sugars giving the exterior a nice crusty edge, making the pan sauce shiny and sticky. You could also add a splash of soy sauce too. Reserve the pan sauce to cook the asparagus in. For the plancha effect , heat up a skillet and using tongs hold the cooked steak over the skillet's bottom. Carefully lay t down and search one side without moving. A nice golden crust should appear. Flip and brown for two to four minutes. Serve with the asparagus or better yet on long slices of crusty baguette.

A steak cooked in butter  is the best kind of meal. Baste and search for a perfect cut  inside and out. It;s worth the time.

Vanderpump Rules Food

Any show that mentions housewives and reality rules these days.The Vanderpump family, a spin off faction from The real Housewives of Beverly Hills is no exception. two cast members have opened a sandwich shop.Is it real good? Maybe reality good would be a better term.

Regular contributor and chef herself Tejal Rao wrote about this in today's New York times Food section.The shop Something About Her  was created by two ;lesser stars of the show,.Katie Maloney and Ariana Madix. Fans of the show might know Ms Madix from the Scandoval episodes  in which her boyfriend Tom Sandoval was cheating on her with another cast member, Rachel Leviss. THeir loyalty for the jilted Ms. madix played into their visiting the shop and becoming customers.Some, such as KIm MYkitta drove two hours from her home in HUntington Beach to eat at the shop. She is a diehard fan who also runs Bravo Breaking News on Instagram.Her and other fans devotion are making Something About Her successful despite a dismal year for Los Angeles eateries. The LA Times even called the previous year, 2023 "as the year that killed restaurants." Dozens of them have closed, including the famed jeans -Georges of Beverly Hills and three of entrepreneur Nancy Silverman's places.

Perhaps it;s just the fan loyalty along with the chance to be seen in a reality show that's drawing the long lines.She's All Thar snakes around the block and the wait time for a table is long. Is the food that good though? The sandwiches and shops are named for actresses such as Reese ,Meg, Viola, Diane and Cameron to name a few.Are the bites out for the ordinary. The menu is basically the same as any upscale Manhattan sandwich shop, maybe with a few less choices.The Drew, named for Drew BArrymore has whipped chive infused goat cheese along with a mango jam. Prosciutto is extra which would be almost mandatory in a Soho or Greenwich Village eatery. The Reese is a chicken salad sandwich with mustard and gem lettuce.The Meg  is a Greek salad with tzatziki sauce and tomatoes but nothing else. There should also be feta and anchovies in it to give it some body.As for extras there's only potato chips and they're probably the packaged kind. The only hot meal is a grilled cheese .Unlike other sandwich shops there is a choice of beer wine ciders and even hard teas. That's perfect for a Sunday lunch but not for an everyday one.It seems Ms Rao is Ok with the sandwiches, their taste and presentation. A place like this is perfect in Hollywood.

She's All That is a Hollywood story and a Hollywood eatery,. That's about it. It can give good drama and seemingly good food.

Cold Comfort

 The heat is here and that means being cool whether by eating or drinking. Having chilled food and beverages is a great way of lowering your body temp and dealing with sweltering days. Just chill - literally.

I've found that cool drinks are a must during these steamy late Spring (and yes it is Spring until the twenty-second of the month).I've been at McDonald's almost  everyday buying their extra large frozen Coke. THis is perfect if you just crave sweet and frosty. There are several drinks other drinks.A warm Sunday can end with a decaf cappuccino from Dunkin Donuts. of course cold water is a must too and you should always have a fresh bottle in the car to hydrate. 

A homemade cool milkshake made in this would be most welcome on a steamy afternoon.I bought this malted cup on Amazon for only $7.99 i'ts just adding milk ice cream and malt powder.Mix and serve. YOu could edge the malted glass in chocolate and sprinkles if you want to be fancy.

Cold food is important in this weather too. A favorite go to of mine is the Spanish classic gazpacho.This is a simple blend of tomatoes onions cucumber and green peppers along with olive oil and vinegar in a creamy ,blended chilled soup. It's the perfect dinner for a hot June evening.Of course salads are a must . Try another Mediterranean classic- salad Nicoise from the French Riviera. It does call for hard boiled eggs, although you can microwave them instead of dropping them in boiling water. You could also sub in chilled shrimp from  your local grocery instead of the traditional tuna.It can also be made vegan with the addition of chickpeas to instead of the meat. A cold rice salad is always welcome too. Add peas to make it like the Italian hot dish rising bis and then mix in julienned slices of ham or mortadella.Pasta salads can go from side to main dish with the addition of  leftover or precooked steak or chicken.

It's hot. Chill out. Have a cold drink or dinner meal to lower your temperature.Keep coo. Eat cool.