Dandelions And Other Blooms For YourTable

Spring is the time when garden become riotous with color. The blooms are so pretty that we instantly pick them , either pressing them in books or making lovely bouquets. Yet flowers can also be used for dinner or dessert as well. They make a fascinating and colorful addition to any main meal, along with cakes and cupcakes. Best of all some have the same properties as fruits and veggies, giving you a much  needed dose of antioxidants and vitamins.

Dandelions are every forager's go to . Nothing quite says Spring like a dandelion salad. You can serve the greens by themselves(make sure they're well washed if you picked them from your yard) or with a medley of Spring greens. The spiky yellow tops , or dent de lions from whence the flower's name comes from can be dipped into a batter and fried. These can b made sweet or savory. Another flower , perfect for salads - and  brightening up omelets is the nasturtium,Their flavor is peppery and slightly sweet. Calendulas can be used to sub in for saffron when making risotto Milanese or paella.

Of course flower, whether the petals or whole look enchanting on cakes and cupcakes. You could even add a cup full of petals to the batter Violets or roses are perfect in a delicate white or yellow cake. Nothing says beautiful like multicolored petals decorating the cake's exterior. The new May issue of In Style Magazine has a cake recipe that is covered with edible flower petals. It's simply beautiful and probably enhances the flavor of the plain cake.  You can also use petals as a surprise filling for teacakes. These would be the show stopper at any bridal shower.

It's Spring and that means the gardens are in bloom. You can always go the traditional route and place your flowers in a vase. However be daring and experimental.Use those blooms to perk up a salad or in fritters. Try them as a new spice or simply to make a cake or cupcake breathtaking. It's the season for tasting flowers and trying new recipes with them.

Make Your Brownies And Blondies Healthy

Nothing beats a homemade brownie or blondie , especially as an after school treat with a glass of cold milk (or soy or rice)> Yet these treats are loaded in bad stuff from refined sugar to refined flour. This can bring on everything from plaque to fat. How to avoid this and  still enjoy these classic treats? Make them healthier.

I was inspired by reading Melissa Clark';s Good Appetite Column in Wednesday's New York Times Dining section. Her blondies are richly decadent, with a buttery chocolate bottom topped off by an even richer top loaded with bananas and rum (think Bananas Foster) I would sub in whole wheat flour for the refined white one along with using only one whole egg instead of the requisite two
You do have to add butter and sugar but try unsalted and use Stevia instead of brown sugar.(although the taste may not be as rich , thanks to omitting the last).

Brownies can go from sinful to healthy too. Usually most brownie recipes call for rich cocoa , cups of melted butter and refined white sugar. These create just decadent treats however they can be high in calories and cholesterol. Brownies can be made healthy. For one thing you can sub in carob for chocolate. It has the same flavor more or less as real chocolate. You can add nuts such as almonds to get the same nutty flavor along with walnuts and pecans. Honey can be used for a healthy sweetener along with whole wheat flour or spelt flour.

Brownies and blondies are great after school treats as well as being tasty desserts. Make them not only good tasting but good for you by subbing in healthy ingredients. They're still sinful but not as much  as the originals

Labriola Pretzel Rolls The Best Roll Ever

There's nothing as tasty as a pretzel roll. As the character , "Max" on the hit CBS TV show "Two Broke Girls"says about them"Are they a pretzel? Are they a roll? No matter what they, are they're the bomb!" She is right! They combine the best of both  just with butter or as a sandwich.

I had the good fortune of trying Labriola Pretzel Rolls , a Chicago area favorite. These are pure heaven , especially when they've been toasted for five minutes in a toaster oven. They have the  crunchy, crackly dark exterior of a pretzel and that special pretzel taste .Inside is a melting chewy inside,that is sweet and yeasty. Even though you can use them as slider rolls, the best way is eat them is hot out of the oven , split open and slathered with butter. They were also good, used as sandwiches too.

The owner of the company, Rich Labriola is considered Illinois ' top baker . He combines Italian, German and French baking styles mixed with his own. I would love to visit his Neopolitan pizzeria and bakery in Oak Brook, Illinois(another reason to visit the relatives in Glen Ellen)just to indulge in his famed pizzas and cakes. Luckily, for us fans, the pretzel rolls are  sold  in CostCo's all over the country right now . I would buy them almost weekly and serve them with sliced knockwurst and sauerkraut.  They could also be used  as  the base for my family favorite zuppa montana, They would be perfect cooked in a chicken broth and covered with Swiss cheese.However I still love them hot, and split open, dripping with melting butter.

If you're in Illinois, Northern Indiana or Michigan, then go to your grocery and buy these amazing rolls.Hopefully Rich Labriola will make these gems a nationwide treat. They are too good to be hidden from the rest of America.

Juiced Up

Fresh pressed juice is part of the modern diet. Let's face it ,it is good for you and devoid of all that sugar badness other drinks haves.What's even better is that more and more juice companies are spraining up , offering wholesome tastiness along with a daily dosage of antioxidants and vitamins. New juice companies were the subject of an article in today's New York Times Dining section.Written by Dining regular,Jeff Gordonier,it delves into the new industry of pure and wholesome juices.There have always been juice companies, such as Dole,DelMonte and Tropicana, however these and others tend to produce a product,laden with sugar and water, not unlike sodas.The newer breeds stick to cold pressing which means every drop of juice is pressed out leaving an almost dry pulp.They even have all their nutrients thanks to the method that there is no heat involved in the making .(however rotor blades used in the process do heat up, tending to also heat up the juice). The new brands are varied and many.There is Blue Print which is coming out of Queens, a borough usually not known for it's health foods.The web site gives you the blueprint for starting your own juice cleanse.Some are strictly vegetables while others are fruit.Blue Print even offers the famed lemon juice and cayenne blend, made tolerable with the addition of agave.For manhattanites .there is the chain Organic Avenue which also offers up kale and spinach enriched drinks along with carrot and a natural Ginger ale mix that includes lemon.La,capital of celebrity juice cleanses has the ever trendy Juice Served Here which offers cleanse and baked items.Most of these juice bars and companies have nothing but good organic veggies and fruits, pressed into good for you concoctions. Juices and juice cleanses are a great way of improving your diet and health.You can make your own if you're lucky to have a juicer.If not ,try the new breed of what's out there.They will be a gift to your palate and body.

Making The Classics Healthy

The classic dishes are always the best. There's nothing like fried chicken and greens or English muffin pizzas, However most of these delicious meals and treats can be high in all sorts of bad things from refined flours to fats to salts to heaven only knows what else.Yet our faves can be redeemed by subbing in healthy ingredients and cooking techniques.

As much as we loved fried food, we know that frying is bad for us. The grease used for frying is usually bad for our cholesterol (especially if it's corn oil).Try baking instead. Baked "fried" chicken  has all the flavor and crunch if its' deep fried cousin. The crunch comes in the form of corn flakes and you can also add flax seeds for additional flavor and texture. As for the greens, stick with them, but you can saute them in olive oil and garlic for a tasty side or bake too. Burgers can also be baked or roasted in an oven.This eliminates the fat and grease.

What about those faves that everyone likes - English muffin pizzas? For one, use the whole wheat version instead of the regular kind. Also use a low fat mozzarella along with healthy toppings. Think broccoli and onions as opposed to sausage and pepperoni. An extra dollop of pizza sauce is also good because even processed tomatoes are loaded with antioxidants. You can also do the same with homemade pizza crust, using brown flour instead of white. Baked mac and cheese can be made healthier with using spelt or whole wheat macaroni and low fat cheddar. Use skim milk instead of whole, nix the bacon and add a topping of flax or pumpkin seeds for crunch.

Classic comfort food is always tasty yet it's not always healthy. Change that by using healthier cooking techniques or ingredients. You can still have enjoyable food but now it's good for you.

Treats From Trader Joe's

Some supermarkets are just chock full of good food and yummy treats. Trader Joe's is one of those .it has a wide variety of different foods both healthy and decadent.It not only  makes grocery shopping but also menu planning fun. Going there can set the wheels in motion for a truly tasty and gourmet meal.

Trader Joe's started in the late 1950's in Southern California and named for its' founder Joe Coulombe. Originally called Pronto the store's name was changed to Trader's Joe's He sold it early on to Theo Albrecht of the small but boutique grocery chain Aldi. What makes the grocery different is that it  only carries about 4,000 items, mostly in house.Trader Joe's features a wide variety of different ethnic themed foods from Mexican to Italian to French to Italian.Like any other supermarket it has a good frozen and fresh produce departments too.

What is so great  about Trader';s Joe's is that they have healthy foods along with snacks. Of course they also have the sinfully rich desserts such as their buttery tea cookies and home made tarts. For lesser calories and still great taste opt for the mini angel  food cakes that are just delicious with fruit and whipped cream. For those who are concerned with health , try the fiery hot kale chips . These are air dried so they're not fried and are chock full of vitamins and anti oxidants.Another fun snack is the dried strong beans which are a crunchy blend of salty and sweet. There are also excellent whole wheat pastas as well as whole grain breads and cereals too.

Trader Joe's is just a great place to shop. You can buy tasty and original there. planning a unique menu , If you haven't shopped there in a while ,go, It's a fun place not only to buy food but get ideas for interesting meals and parties.

Artichoke Season

Springs brings a lot of fresh veggies but none more versatile than the artichoke. It can be served a variety of ways whether it's an adult or baby. Artichokes are delicious in any dish  fancy or plain.

One of the most delicate and elegant ways of serving them is simply with a lemon and oil dressing. Using adult chokes, boil and simmer for twenty minutes in hot water. Mix half a cup of oil with two to three tablespoons of fresh squeezed  lemon juice along with fresh ground sea salt and pepper.Dip the leaves in this mix and enjoy. Another way is the Southern Italian stuffed artichoke. Some make this with a mix of breadcrumbs, sausage and cheese. but a lighter way is without the meat. Use plain breadcrumbs an d grated Parmesan along with parsley garlic and olive oil. After pressing this mixture between the leaves ,simmer 20 to 25 minutes or until the heart is tender.NOTE all artichokes leaves must be trimmed to get rid of the sharp edges before cooking and eating.

Baby artichokes are also a Spring favorite right now. They are a huge staple in Roman cuisine during the months of April and May.,They are easy to prepare. Just snap off the darker green exterior leaves, exposing the tender lighter green ones. Trim the stem and cut lengthwise.You serve them as they do in the Eternal City, with lemon and extra virgin olive oil over a bed of arugula. Sprinkle shaved curls of Parmesan over them. Another way is steaming them and them drizzling melted butter. Baby chokes can also have a dash of hot pepper flakes for bite or fried, using a buttermilk and seasoned flour.

Take advatage of the plethora of artichokes this season. The larger ones  make delicate appetizers while the baby ones  are  delcious additions to salads. Whichever you use , artichokes are just a great plus to any Spring table.