Those Little Lunch Extras

 School lunches can be boring. School days can be stressful. How to ease both? By putting some fun lunch box treats that'll brighten the day and meal. Kids will love this and that you care.

A simple treat is just a Hershey 's Kiss. They now come in a variety of flavors form the original milk to dark chocolate. There's also the milk chocolate ones with almonds as well as white chocolate birthday cake ones., cookies and creme, ones with caramel and a white chocolate and milk chocolate blend called Hugs. Buy a few bags for these and vary them in the lunch box. There are some cute mini bars from Hershey's  as well that feature such classics as Mr. Goodbar loaded with nuts and Krackle. Another fun candy add in is miniature Tootsie rolls.  Two or three of these can go a long way in making a memorable lunch box treat. If you want the kids to eat healthy then grapes are a fun treat that are just as sweet.Another fun I love you treat is apple slices with a small cup of caramel such as Marzetti's individual caramel cups. you can do the same with sliced pears too since they'll be in season You can also go the savory route by adding some string cheese (always a kid favorite) or a handful of pretzel sticks or pretzel twists.

If you want to really show them some love, then think about baking. Of course cookies work every time.Slice and Bakes are handy if you don;t have time to get all the ingredients or have the tie to mix and bake. Add some red or pink icing hearts on them to let  the little ones know you love them.Scratch cookies are a fun weekend project that can  result in treats for the week(if they're not all gobbled up first). Some recipes are very easy and only require three ingredients like a brown sugar one. You only need salted butter, brown sugar and flour . That's it.  A sprinkling of cinnamon sugar can add another layer of flavor an d make them look decorative. Chocolate chip cookies are a classic and liven up any lunchbox or backpack. The recipe can be varied .Use almond flour to make them gluten free o r oatmeal for an earthier taste. Vary the chip size. One batch could have giant chips while the next could feature the mini ones. Snack cakes are another great treat that'll bring about a smile. There are so many different varieties. A square of chocolate or banana i s the perfect lunchroom dessert. You could add frosting to make even more special.

Add some love along with a sweet message or origami figure to your student's lunchbox it'll make a stressful day less stressful. It 'll make lunch tat much more interesting.

Vegan Chemistry

 It is tough trying to cook and bake a variety ina vegan household. There are a lot of good recipes that require some kind of meat or fish. The question is howto turn a dish into a vegan one.It requires a lot of thought and vegan chemistry , adding certain ingredients to get an exact taste.

Certain dishes are more or less easy to recreate.A lobster roll can have any kind of sub in in. I like  a chopped tomato and mayo. Yes, it's a fancy take on a simple tomato and mayo sandwich but serve ti on a brioche hot dog roll and it becomes elevated.

I could also try to make it with hearts of palm which can be chopped up to look like lobster meat and then added Old Bay Seasoning, leom juice , herbs and lemon juice. This is easy vegan chemistry,.

The problem is that I want to make a vegan bagna calda. This is the savory and highly delicious anchovy sauce that cabbage and London Broil is dipped into . The base is anchovy fillets which are strictly off the table for any vegan or vegetarian. How then to get that briny, fishy flavors that's also blended with garlic , butter and doil? (The butter part is easy  - vegan butter like Melt can be used)? I've looked at the various recipes out there.One calls for walnuts which I just can;t see using. One recipe caught my eye.,It has seaweed powder which could work along with red miso. Could this work? The problem is trying to find out what the seaweed taste would be like. would a teaspoon do or more? If I can;t get it then what? According to the web Kalamara olives can be subbed in. Anchovies have a rich unami flavor so I may have to find that in Japanese ingredients such as umeboshi paste which is made from salty pickled plums.This could work but would it have a slightly fruity flavor from the plums? Would adding a teaspoon of Worcester sauce and amd miso give me the same salty ,briny flavor? This is going to take some serious calculating. This is vegan chem . 

The perfect vegan bagna calda can be created. It will be shown here.it may take a lot of mixing and tweaking . HOpefully the effect will be worth it

The Olive OIl Guide

 Olive oil is a vital staple in any home chef's kitchen.It can equally be used in cooking and baking, hot and cold dishes. Yet the right one makes all the difference. It also helps to know how to properly use and store it too.

New contributor and chef Andy Baraghani addresses this in the Cooking 101 article in today's New YorK Times Wednesday Food section along with providing three olive oil rich recipes.Many just pick up a bottle , not really knowing what they're getting. That shouldn't be the case. Look for bottles labeled extra virgin.Keep in mind that there are no globally enforced standards as to what can be labeled "extra-virgin". The oils can be lab and taste tested but that does not always guarantee greatness. That actually depends on the olives. yet Chef Baraghani writes this is a great place to start. Another must is look for a dark container. Usually the ones with a dark green glass bottle is the best. A clear bottle will let in light which will degrade the olive oil. However if the oil is in a clear glass one then just store it in a dark cabinet.Also store it away from the heat which can also affect the taste. The oil needs to be fragrant and fresh so it can release a wide range of flavors when cooked. They should be fruity peppery or grassy.

What else should be investigated when selecting a good olive oil? Chef Baraghani suggests to assess it's origins.When the bottle or label says "Product Of Italy" that doesn't necessarily mean the olives were grown there, only that the oil was processed there.At the store flip the bottle over and look for a single country of origin or a single processor which means the oil was made with a consistent batch of olives. Another must do is smell the oil. The odor can tell a lot about its' state.A great oil should smell green ,fresh and alive.. However even the most aromatic can lose that aroma after a while.If the oil smells bland, then it's best for sauteing, roasting or baking instead of  finishing a dish. Toss it if it smells rancid ro waxy. The recipes  Chef Baraghani gives are perfect for a good oil. There is the brunch perfect olive oil and chili fried eggs .This is an easy dish to make for any novice home chef. There's also olive oil poached tuna with a garlic aoili. The fish is aromatic with onions and chili. The confit from this is used to make a homemade mayo rich with garlic. There is also a  and olive oil honey miso dressing perfect for a salad loaded with grilled chicken.

Any and every home chef should know a good olive oil. It makes for better tasting recipes , full of flavor and aroma. Look for it the next time food shopping.

Crazy Times Eat Sane

 We;re heading into one fo the craziest times of the year ,followed by a holiday season full of all sorts of bad for you treat.s This can result in all sorts of problems from constipation to sleeplessness. Eat healthy and you'll feel fine until the New Year.

Crazy schedules can mean microwave ro take out foods. These are not always the best choices. yes, it's fun to have pizza every once in a while but not two or thee times a week.This also applies to those fat food dinners too. There's always too much salt or chemicals in them. This could lead to everything from constipation to migraine head aches. Also all that fried food  , especially that bucket of thighs and wings can lead to everything from added fat to high blood pressure. Then there's the foods on the go.  So many people love a latte and a doughnut but all that sugar - and caffeine might give you a rush and a boost to last until midnight but try to fall asleep with all that in you. Save the pumpkin doughnuts for one a week  like a Sunday snack.Candy is also another booster many turn to. while dark chocolate is excellent for you  - that's later  - milk chocolate isn't . There's too much fat  thanks to the milk in it. Even protein bars can be poison to the system. These are the ones that are loaded with sweeteners, colors and additives.

What do you eat during these crazy times when there's not enough time for cooking a good, decent meal.Salads work for now but what about those days when the temps drop and the family is craving a hot meal? You could make a hot salad with even warmed protein such as rotisserie chicken or warmed left over London Broil or round steak. Add steamed carrots and kale along with broccoli and cauliflower.. Use a regular vinaigrette to dress it.Another idea is to think about versatile veggies such as spinach and kale. Spinach can be perfect in crepes or in a salad. It makes an excellent side , and add flavor and color to any sandwich. Kale chips are a better choice than potato chips ande easy to make in the air fryer. You can spice them up with a dusting of hot pepper ro leave them plain. Cooked kale with olive oil and garlic makes for a perfect side but add rice and it;s a healthy and quick to make main course. what about a tasty main course. Try a sheet pan meal with broccoli and carrots gracing it. Just toss the veggies and meat in lemon  juice and olive oil. Fish too makes for a healthy meal. Think sheet pan with salmon and rosemary smashed potatoes for a healthy take on fish and chips. End the meal with good for you dark chocolate.

Eat sane during these crazy times. Have good food that won't mess up your system. You'll feel better and able to deal with fall's wild schedule.

Lidl' Dupes

 Everyone knows that Lidl can save home chefs and foodies tons of money. Yet many many not know that the store has so many dupes that are even better tasting than the original. Walk the aisles and you'll find all sorts of duplicates for the national and international brands.

I love LIDL for their wide array of international foods I can;t get anywhere else. However they have some pretty good dup's for everyday drinks and food stuffs too. I've just tried their take on Le Croix Sparkling Water.

They're thirty-two cents cheaper than LaCroix  at Wal-mart and the taste is much more refreshing and stronger. There are five flavors  such as the orange - so good  - along with lemon, lime passion fruit,cran raspberry and passion fruit. Have it during these lingering summer days in a tall ice filled glass.

ANother dup I love eis their takes on the Belgian classicLules Desptrooper's almond thins. These are buttery tuile cookies but they can be expensive. Then there;s/Lidl's Preferred Selection also made overseas. They taste exactly the same and are a dollar less than at other grocery stores.

Ritz crackers are good but Lidl's Sunny Day's version are better and two dollars cheaper too. I love these in soup and with vegan cream cheese. As you can see I also have Lidl's version version of the Parker aluminum tumbler. Mine was only three dollars over the summer and I use it at work and on trips to the shore. It;s also so cute with the oranges too.

Don;t bother with the real deal. Head to Lidl';s for better tasting dupes, You'll save money but gain flavor.

Are You A MAHA Parent?

 The MAHA - Make America Healthy Again is catching on like wildfire. A  lot of parents are jumping on RFK Jr/s train to a healthier child. Yet is this diligence worth it? Kids will be kids. They'll sneak what they want - no matter how good ro bad it is.

Some of the MAHA tenets make sense albeit the current administration is thwarting these ideas. The movement believes in a cleaner environment. Air and water pollution should be cut back so kids can breathe and drink without any sicknessThe problem is that the president is cutting the EPA by around twenty-three per cent to cut the fat.He  wants to make sure that the agency concentrates on getting rid of any environmental toxins that could impact a child's future. MAHA also wants to curb the amount of vaccines a kid receives and promote food as medicine., These are not new ideas . food as medicine can be traced back five hundred years.The ancient civilisations of Greece, China and India subscribed to this philosophy.It's basically nutrition will take the place for medicine as healing and preventing diseases. How does this work? The right foods will provide vital nutrients that promote cellular function, strengthening the immune system and supporting the gut microbiome or the microorganisms in a particular place in the body such as the stomach.

What foods the should MAHA parents feed their kids. One is any digestible that doesn't;t have artificial colors or flavors. This is the problem with Froot Loops coming before a Congressional hearing. The American version has three or four more dyes than the Canadian version. Yet what happens if your kid likes them? The best idea is to may introduce another kid. Cheerios has always been a kid favorite along with Kix , Wheat Chex and shredded wheat. Add fruits such as blueberries, bananas or strawberries (or all three) if they want a fruity flavor. The MAHA diet is basically what mothers have been pushing for centuries. It meals more fresh veggies and fruits , along with whole grains , legumes and seeds,Ultra processed foods should be limited or avoided.The usual foods are off the table. No candy, cake ice cream, all those good things that kids love. There are no potato chips or Doritos or trips to McDonald's or Burger KIng. The question is will the tweens and teens follow this? To be honest no. If they want junk food so be it. It pays to have a good diet at home so that it counterbalances the garbage eaten.

Let good judgement decide what you feed your kids. Indulge them every now and then in a salty snack or sweet treat. Just make sure they eat healthy the rest of the time.

Kitting Out YOur College Kitchen

 It's that time of year when the kids nmove into their dorms. Some have kitchens which is a blessing. yet many of these are bare minimum.It's time to remedy that and give the cooking area a n A plus upgrade.

A lot of parents and school officials feel that students could cause a disaster if there'sa kitchen in their dorms area. Yet it would come in handy as well as teach responsibility.Some schools such as Harvard have a communal kitchen area equipped with the most basic. There are stoves, ovens and fridges but that's about it.Manhattan based New York University,, or NYU actually have apartments with full kitchen, complete with the basics and cabinets for storing pots, pans and utensils. Some just allow a microwave and a mini fridge which are enough to make simple recipes and heat up frozen foods and leftovers. A good idea is that have half the  roommates buy one appliance like the microwave and the other half buy the mini fridge. What is the best microwave for college dorms? Try Hamilton Beach  which is also the best budget wise.it's 1.1 cubic feet capacity. It can defrost which is great for those frozen lasagna from mom along with having the usual buttons for popcorn, pizza and frozen veggies.panasonic and Whirlpool also offer good and budget friendly microwaves. 

To match this is the dorm mini fridge. Which ones are the best? A mid size ones that perfect for chilling water as well as keeping yogurt and other dairy products chilled. It should be about three cubic feet. some have extra space for a freezer to store ice cube trays and small ice cream containers.Black and Decker has a good model that also has room for liter bottles and a door that can go from right to left handed and vice versa. Frigidaire is another good model and it comes with a small freezer section for frozen food and frozen treats. If your student wants crisper , hot food without all the calories then buy an air fryer. These are perfect for heating up steaks ,nuggets and all sorts of veggies. it'll give the meals a more home cooked taste too. The Ninja AF101 Air fryer is a good choice.It not only air fries but also roasts, dehydrates and reheats. The control panel is a snap to use  and the basket slides out for easy cleanup. Cosori has a sleek air fryer that would work well with any dorm.It can fry evenly and cleans up like a dream. What else is needed?easy to wash melanine plates that are sturdy and easy to wash and dry. They're also easy to store. Knives and forks can be had anywhere. Check Dollar Tree or Dollar General for very cheap sets. 

It's time to move into the dorms. Outfit them with good appliances that will make eating easy. It'll make for good eating which will lead for good studying