I’m baaack. And I survived my two flights. Perhaps a little bit more gray hair…and warped nails after removing them from the armrest. But I’m alive.
Relocation and all that it entails is and will continue to be an utter drag for a while, but the trip wasn’t dreadful. This was mostly due to the fact that I stayed with sister Jen, her husband, and their two dogs (whom I affectionately refer to as “The Horse” and “The Moose” because of their gigantor size.) After a visit with them, my belly sticks out a little more than usual, my thighs rub together a little bit more than usual, and for a few days, I ask myself “Did I really need that 2nd 3rd helping?”
Most importantly, I did find a house to rent temporarily, and what I think is going to be a fantastic preschool. So I accomplished what I set out to do. That’s all I could ask for…well, except for a decent book and a good movie.
NOT BECOMING MY MOTHER
My girlfriend Jude, and fellow foodie, gave me Not Becoming My Mother for my birthday last December. Projecting ahead that I would be traveling, I saved it. Perfect diversion for the plane. Interestingly enough, it’s not really about food, which is what someone might expect from Ruth Reichl of Gourmet Magazine fame (R.I.P.) It’s really more a memoir about how she grew up and the difference in her generation and her mother’s generation.
There was a lot of criticism regarding the length of this book, coming in at only 128 pages. I definitely agree that it reads more like a long article or essay, not a memoir. But, for me, that worked. At times the writing feels hollow, but mostly I thought it was honest and candid, retracing her mother’s life through letters she had written – a real treasure for a daughter to discover. The writing style is simple and easy. I know a lot of people were deeply disappointed, some almost hated it. It held my attention, though, and occupied me from MSP to SFO, so I can’t complain.
JULIE AND JULIA
I never use the word delightful. Does anyone? It feels good rolling off my tongue, though. And it’s the word that comes to mind when I think of this movie. Filling a two hour gap in our day, Jen purchased this baby for a well spent $5.99 from On Demand. Criminal that I hadn’t seen it yet, considering the topic.
Julie and Julia is based on the true story of Julie Powell’s commitment to cook all 524 recipes from Julia Child’s book Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume I…and she’s going to do it in only 365 days. She also blogs about it and gains huge buzz from her readers and the media.
Meryl Streep delivers a great performance, capturing the positive nature and energy of Julia Child, and Amy Adams does an equally great job of portraying Julie Powell as very human and fallible.
This movie isn’t gripping, or amazing, or profound. It’s just a cute, witty story that made me giggle and put a smile on my face for a couple of hours.
THE GIVEAWAY
I know, I know…the book was released almost a year ago. And the movie came out last August. Reminder: I have two kids under the age of five. It’s a miracle I shower every day. Sadly, books and movies are a rarity for me right now. Assuming there are still a few of you who haven’t already experienced them, I have a copy of both the book and movie. Leave a comment if you’re interested in either one, and two random winners will be drawn on Saturday.
We sold our house. Finally. It’s amazing what can happen when you lower the price drastically. In hindsight, we could have avoided the four-month agony had we priced it aggressively to begin with. But who wants to lose gobs of money?
The reality is, however, it’s a buyer’s buffet out there right now. And the only way we could move our house, was in fact, to take a drastic loss. So, we walk away with our tails tucked, licking our wounds.
Somehow, we’re okay with it. It’s done. And now we can move forward.
My two-week wave of crazy emotion and twitching has mostly stopped, and now I’m coherent enough to start planning our relocation. This begins on Wednesday when I travel out to California and search for a place to live and a preschool for Haley.
Oh, and did I mention that I am deathly afraid to fly? No joke. I need drugs to get me through a flight, no matter what the length (this one being 4 hours 12 minutes – mercy!)
Luckily I will have these balls to take with me (insert joke here.)
Story goes, my Mom and Dad were out for a walk one day and they met a lady. She happened to be carrying a delectable chocolate treat with her (as any respectable neighbor would) and kindly shared (as any respectable neighbor would)…and, no, they do not live in Mayberry. All my Mom could remember is that it had oreos and cream cheese in it, and dipped in chocolate.
I Googled for “oreos+cream cheese” and what do you know, there’s a recipe. Here, here, here, and several others. Gotta love the internet. There are a gazillion variations, so I combined what I liked from a few and added my own touch. Crunchy on the outside, and soft, rich, and decadent on the inside, just like a truffle. So incredibly easy to make and I think they keep in the frig for a few weeks…as if they’d last that long.
Print this recipe.
My favorite smaller food-related news stories and products that made it in under the radar:
Men who like cupcakes. For manly men.
Cheese sculptures.
Sushi on small trucks.
Dawn Wells (the gal from Gilligan’s Island) on a clever way to peel a potato…or you could do it in one minute by ACTUALLY PEELING THE POTATO! (2 minute video)
Food consumption and obesity visualization maps.
Brushing your teeth in 2010 just isn’t as manly as it used to be – whiskey toothpaste.
A serious case for cutting coupons.
Food-Related Super Bowl Ads.
Heinz Dip & Squeeze marks the first ketchup packet makeover in 42 years.
Chiquita Banana redesign.
Is your kid truly allergic? Tests add to food confusion.
Announcing BlogHer Food 2010.
This is worth my thighs rubbing together – S’Mores Oatmeal.
Selleck Waterfall Sandwich. Creepy, no?
The timing of recess and eating makes a difference in a child’s health and behavior.
This is like an old friend. A good one. But one that you haven’t seen in ages. You almost forgot about her. Then something sparks your memory and you decide to pick up the phone and see how she’s doing. After an easy and delightful conversation, you’re reminded why you were friends to begin with. And you vow never to lose touch again.
Cranberry Chicken goes waaay back to my teenage years. My mom used to make it. I had forgotten all about the recipe until a few months ago when I needed something simple to make for a friend, that also freezes well (prior to cooking.)
At first glance reading the ingredients, you find yourself thinking, “Hm. Really?” But then you taste it and you think, “Oh. Ya. Really.” The chicken turns out moist, a little sweet and a little tart, with an overall rich flavor.
Best part – all you need is a mixing bowl, casserole dish, and an oven. Win. Plus, the entire meal can easily feed a (small) family for less than $10. Easy to make, easy to clean up, cheap, and tasty. It’s like a dream.
I’ve made it several times now. Paul even refers to it by name, instead of “that dish with the chicken and the sauce.” Honestly, I think he’s grown tired of it, so I should probably shelve it for a while.
Make it. And then make it again. Let your family grow tired of it, too.
Print the recipe.
78 degrees, sunny, with a slight breeze.
Leaving work three hours early.
Sleeping in on a Sunday morning.
A huge scoop of Dulce de leche ice cream.
…All good, right?
Add these pancakes to the list. I wrote about them a long time ago, but I believe they deserve some extra attention. My parents have been recipients of these gems. So have my sister and brother-in-law. And this past week, I made them for Haley’s birthday dinner…by request. Tell me my daughter doesn’t have good taste. (Although, they’re really more like a dessert, so what four year old wouldn’t like them?)
They remind me of something you would be served at a quaint bed and breakfast. After gobbling them down, you would have no choice but to beg the hostess for the recipe. Light, fluffy, sweet, and filling, they are truly sublime. And purdy, no? Go easy on the lemon curd; you really only need a tablespoon or so with each stack, otherwise it overpowers their delicate flavor.
Ah, to be four again – boundless energy, being excited over flavored toothpaste, wearing 10 barrettes in your hair and still looking cute, and getting these pancakes for dinner.
Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
Print the recipe (adapted from The Kitchn)
In terms of illness, what’s worse than the stomach flu? If I wasn’t afflicted with it just this past week, I could think of lots of things. However, since it’s still so fresh in my mind, I’d have to say nothing. Great balls of fire, people. NOT FUN. Add insult to injury – Haley got it, too. But wait, there’s more! Paul was out of town on business (which was cut short, due to my inability to function and feed our kids.)
It is at this time I would like to thank my friend Christy for listening to me die a slow death on the phone, and a huge thanks to Cathy for the speedy market run and Ginger Ale that followed.
48 hours later, life went back to normal. And just in time for Haley’s 4th birthday party, which I think went off without a hitch (other than the ringing in my ears.) Anyone?
Anyway, this was the first thing I made upon getting my appetite back. It’s from one of the special edition Cooking Light magazines that sister Jen sent me a while back. It was also highlighted with a color-coded sticky, including notes (tell me we’re not related…)
Beans? Check. Corn? Check. Tortillas? Check. Parsley? Check. Monterey Jack with Jalapenos…uh…where the hell do you find that? How about Pepper Jack instead? Check. Leftover rotisserie chicken? Well, of course. Check, check.
Easy and fast. Sweetness from the toasted corn and some heat from the cheese. Delish. And honestly, I preferred it without the chicken.
Print this recipe.
Dear Readers,
Remember me? Tuna fish. I used to have those really great commercials back in the 70’s, with the catchy jingle “Yum yum Bumble Bee, Bumble Bee tuna.” I was fun. I was popular. You loved me.
I miss those days.
Now it seems I just sit on the grocery shelf, day after day, waiting for you to stop, pick me up, and place me in your cart. But, alas, few of you ever do.
I’m starting to develop a complex. What is it? Am I not pretty enough? Do you have a thing against using a can opener? My odor too strong? I’ve heard that Matthew McConaughey smells, but nobody seems to stop using him.
Listen, I’ve been misunderstood. I know I contain some mercury, and so, ya, I’m not entirely safe for pregnant women, nursing women, and young children (in large amounts, anyway.) But what about the rest of you?
Don’t you know that I’m 1) high in protein, with almost no fat, 2) contain essential amino acids that the body requires for growth and maintenance of lean muscle tissue, 3) a good source of heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, 4) super inexpensive – ideal for today’s depressed economy, and 5) just like cookies, perfectly fine consumed in moderation.
Okay, I realize mentioning myself in the same sentence with cookies is a stretch, but I’m desperate.
Check me out in this incredibly tasty grilled sandwich. I’m loaded with personality, combined with cannellini beans, mayo, onion, and topped with cheese, leafy greens, and tomato.
Come on. Let’s hang out. For old times sake.
Hopelessly, Wishfully, Respectfully,
Tuna
Print the recipe (adapted from Heart-Healthy Living)
My favorite smaller food-related news stories and products that made it in under the radar:
Comical Flowchart: You dropped food on the floor. Do you eat it?
Funny McDonald’s job application.
Coca-Cola “Happiness Machine” (2 Minute Video) – swap the Coke for Pepsi & it’s a regular afternoon at my house.
‘Willy Wonka’ Characters: Where Are They Now?
The 9 most terrifying attempts to improve popular foods.
How long past the expiration date is food safe?
Waffleizer, a blog completely devoted to waffles.
The McNugget meltdown—and 6 more fast-food freakouts.
100 Cupcakes Game – how many can you get right?
Need to dry out your cell phone? Try uncooked rice.
How to get a man excited about chicken: It’s the presentation.
A lot of death: Taco Bell founder at 86, McDonald’s Quarter Pounder creator at 81, and Pez exec at 87.
Food Product Find: Animal-Themed Chopsticks for Kids.
Food Product Find: Now your kids can eat the crayons. And you can, too – Luxirare’s Edible Crayons.
Food Product Find: Mix Stix, if you like music and mixing food.
Food Product Find: Hanger Tea, teabags in t-shirt shape with tiny clothes hangers.
Food Product Find: Herb-Saver, keeps herbs fresh for 3 weeks.
Food Product Find: Helvetica Cookie Cutters.
On my first date with Paul, he proclaimed his undying love… for Old Dutch Dill Pickle Potato Chips. He yammered on about how they’re the best chip ever and how he couldn’t find them anywhere in Sacramento. I, of course, was smitten, and wanted to impress him. The next day I went online, and lo and behold, found a place that would ship out an entire case. Shortly after receipt of this amazing bounty of chips, he actually proclaimed his undying love for me. So, thank you Old Dutch.
Another thing – he loves dill pickles, in general. And so do I. Warts and all. And like most of my hand-held food victims, I like to chew off all the skin, until I’m left with an uneven mess, and then devour the remains. My sister, Jen, does the same thing. Paul thinks we’re both disturbed.
What does this have to do with the featured recipe, you ask? Well, not a whole lot, except it includes dill pickles. The flatbread also has Caesar salad dressing, pastrami, onion, and swiss cheese. Sounds sort of gross? Oh no, no, no. So not gross. So good. So very, very good.
Print this recipe (adapted slightly from Raley’s)
Good: eating peanut butter right out of the container with a spoon.
Bad: discovering your child has a peanut allergy.
Ugh.
Yep. Haley’s allergic to peanuts. Instead of boring you with all the details, though, and droning on about how much it stinks, and how concerned we are, I will just say we’re dealing with it and life goes on.
To prevent me from turning fully gray overnight with worry, my friend Christy gave me a dose of perspective with this: “at least she doesn’t have a debilitating disease like Cystic Fibrosis.” Very true.
She also told me about SunButter. It’s sunflower seed spread, just like peanut butter, but made from roasted sunflower seeds. Who knew? (Well, apparently everyone but me. I really need to get out more.) Oh, and it turns out, it lives on the same shelf as peanut butter…which is also next to the cashew and almond butter. (It’s like I stumbled upon the land of pureed nuts!)
But today, kind readers, we will focus on SunButter. It’s made in a peanut and tree-nut free facility, so if you, or someone you know, has a peanut allergy, this is a wonderful substitute. No, I am not suggesting you eliminate peanut butter from your cupboards. Just another option. Another wonderful option.
Let me be clear, however – just as peanuts are to peanut butter, sunflower seeds are to sunflower butter. If you don’t like sunflower seeds, you won’t enjoy this.
I love sunflower seeds…so pass me a spoon.
I used it on apples with granola. Mmm mmm.
…a S’more version. Heaven sent.
And a sandwich creation with toasted cinnamon raisin bread and bananas. Lick-your-fingers-good.
Want to try some? Well, I’ve got a truck load of sample packets to give away thanks to an inquiry by yours truly, and a very kind Justin who answered the call. Awesome.
Leave a comment by 1/24 at 9am (CST) and I’ll send you some.
UPDATE 1/26: The samples were mailed out today. (If you didn’t leave your e-mail address, than I was unable to contact you to get your shipping info!)
January 18th, 2010 in
Food For Thought,
Non-Dairy,
Products and Giveaways,
Salad,
Sandwiches/Wraps/Flatbread,
Treats,
Vegetarian | tags:
giveaway,
peanut allergy,
peanut butter substitute,
SunButter,
sunflower butter,
sunflower seeds |
45 Comments
I didn’t want to spend the money at Random.org for 33 contestants, so I had Haley draw names out of a hat. Real scientific, I know. But random, nonetheless!
I scored a second plate, so there are actually two winners. Surprise! The lucky ladies are Jessica and Andrea. Congrats!
Thanks to everyone for playing and coming up with such clever face ideas – I wish I had a plate for all of you. Truly.
Some random facts about Paul:
1. He can write legibly with both hands.
2. He has been using the same alarm clock for 21 years.
3. He was the lead actor in five college theater productions.
4. He will drink any kind of milk; whole, 2%, and skim.
5. He humored me by sitting through the entire DVD Brady Bunch television series. (Now, that’s love!)
and…
He is the best gift-giver.
No, not because the gifts are sparkly, or large, or expensive. It’s because the gift always has attention and careful consideration behind it.
Unemployment left our wallets pretty thin last year, so we made a pact not to exchange holiday gifts, and just make it all about the kids. Totally fine. But he got me a little something, anyway. And it’s THE greatest gift ever. I was about to get all up in his face for ignoring our agreement…but then three seconds passed and I went back to loving the Hell out of my gift!
It’s a Food Face plate – a high quality ceramic plate, mid-sized, food-safe, imprinted with a blank face to build upon. Plus, check out the box it comes in, adorned with 11 sample faces to inspire you and get your creative juices flowing.
These are some of the faces I made up over the last couple of weeks:
Heath, The Hippee
Gil, The Islander
Aldo, The Italian
Whitey, The Albino
Bert, The Crossdresser
And contributing to the silliness, my kids have made several. These are my favorites:
Haley’s:
Pete, The Teenager
And Trevor’s:
Pig-Pen
Fun, right?
Psst. Hey you…with the kids…grandkids…or young nieces and nephews – this is a fantastic way to try some new foods on the youngsters. I certainly wouldn’t have been so opposed to peas as a child, if I got to pretend they were someone’s hat first.
Now’s your chance to win one. I contacted the makers, Fred and Friends, to see if they would donate one for a lucky reader, and they much obliged. (A special shout out to Ulla Kyling at Anne McGilvray & Company, for her kindness and pointing me in the right direction. And an even bigger shout to Jason Amendolara, the man who designed this brilliant plate, for actually making it happen.)
Most importantly, if you don’t end up winning, you can still purchase this plate. For only $10! Click here for a list of retailers who carry it. And lemme tell you, there are so many other amusing products at Fred and Friends, that you should set some time aside to peruse their entire catalog. I already have a wish list started.
Which ingredient/s or cuisine would you use to make a face? Leave a comment on the blog by this Saturday, 1/16 at Noon (PST) and a winner will be randomly selected. Don’t want the plate, but still have something to say? All nice comments are welcome!
Update 1/17: This giveaway is now closed – the lucky winners are Jessica and Andrea. Congrats!
It was one year ago today that I joined the food blogging circus. In some ways it flew by, and in others, it felt like time stood still.
2009 dealt us unemployment (shock), trying to sell our house (continuing nightmare), and two deaths in the family (tragic.) Needless to say, we won’t miss last year. But Very Culinary – the little food blog that could – was a highlight that got me through some hellish days.
May seem silly, and even downright ridiculous, considering how much I have to be thankful for: adorable kids (biased), selfless husband (he really is), the most supportive family ever (for real), and everyone is healthy (whew.)
And I am thankful for all of that. Of course.
But what would a cake be without the icing? You all are my icing. Fo’ shizzle.
Thank you to everyone who follows me, who comes for a visit and returns for seconds, who leaves a comment, who sends me private e-mails with absolute heart-warming props, and thank you to everyone who passes my blog along to others.
I appreciate you more than you will ever know.
Sniffle. Sniffle.
Okay…ahem…. When you have a blog, sometimes it’s fun (and interesting) to see where your traffic comes from. I have an analytics program installed on the computer that allows me to do just that. Here is a recap of 2009.
The most popular recipe posts (based on page views)
1) Praline Crunch Bars 2) Balsamic Lemon Chicken 3) Sweet Potato and Corn Bisque 4) Potato Latkes
The most clicked on recipe posts (from search engine keywords)
1) Apple Cranberry Crisp 2) Prosciutto Wrapped Scallops 3) Halloween Brownies 4) Shrimp Stir-Fry
A few of my own personal favorites (due to subject, recipe, or both)
1) Sour Cream Peach Pecan Pie 2) Emma Krumbees Apple Orchard 3) Pumpkin Muffins with Cranberries and Pecans 4) Eggplant and Basil with Israeli Couscous
Most popular “Let’s Dish” discussion series
1) Early ‘Baby Seating’ at Restaurants 2) Will Work For Food 3) Hospital Food 4) Turning Chicken Shit Into Chicken Salad
What a long and wild ride it’s been. Here’s hoping 2010 brings us warmer weather, a sustainable income, lively conversation, and more great food!
My favorite smaller food-related news stories that made it in under the radar:
Colorful guide to when fruits and vegetables are in season.
California restaurants can’t use trans fat as of Jan. 1st.
StillTasty.com launches an Apple iPhone app.
Coco the Clown and the creator of Ronald McDonald dies.
Survival tools for the deskside lunch.
The reason Americans are so fat.
Have a surplus of backyard garden produce? Post a free ad to sell, trade or give it away.
General Mills reducing sugar in kids’ cereal (Well i’ts about time!)
Michael Ruhlman’s ‘Ratio’ becomes an Apple iPhone app.
Gordon Ramsay & the producers of The Biggest Loser, are casting amateur chefs for a new cooking show.
The 10 Craziest Food Phobias.
The 10 Best Cookbooks of 2009, according to Serious Eats.
Food Product Find: 3-Tier Oven Companion. Perfect for next year’s holiday feast.
Food Product Find: Odor absorbing Splatter Screen.
Food Product Find: Brownie Bites Mold.
Banana Accessories. Who knew? SLICER, CLIP, and BUNKER (for this last one, the comments might be better than the actual product.)
Happy New Year, everyone! Be warm. Be safe. Be good.
I swear I’m going to write about chicken, and fish, and soup, and pasta again. Promise. But I figure the holidays aren’t really over until the New Year. And what’s one more pound gained this season in the name of a really great cookie?
This was the first year we introduced Santa Claus to the kids, and while it went right over Trevor’s head, Haley embraced the concept immediately. She wasn’t scared to sit on his lap, wasn’t nervous about telling him what she wished for, and was so excited to help me make cookies on Christmas Eve. As the final batch was done cooling, I left the ultimate decision in her hands of how many cookies to leave out on the Santa plate. She deemed 11 the perfect amount. So, 11 cookies it was.
These are my new favorite, courtesy of Natalie’s Killer Cuisine. Super soft and sort of creamy, just the way I prefer. But what might appear as your basic chocolate chip cookies (yummy), actually have a secret ingredient that sets them apart – vanilla pudding mix (yummier.) Not only could we taste the vanilla pudding, but apparently the other added benefit is that it helps the cookies stay fresh longer. (I wouldn’t know. If anyone can make these last more than three days, I’d like to hear about it.)
I used a combination of semi-sweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips, which gave it another layer. Next time, I’m going to break into my stash of butterscotch chips. No doubt those will be awesome, too.
Curious what Santa thought about them? Well, all 11 cookies were gone when the kids woke up in the morning. Haley said, “Wow. Santa was hungry.”
Ya, that was it. Santa was hungry.
Print this recipe.
