Wednesday, December 22, 2004

it's good to have goals

I picked this up from Very Big Blog:
50 foods to eat before you die from BBC. I’m almost there! Hog heaven, here I come!

1. Fresh fish
2. Lobster
3. Steak
4. Thai food
5. Chinese food
6. Ice cream
7. Pizza
8. Crab
9. Curry
10. Prawns

11. Moreton Bay Bugs
12. Clam chowder
13. Barbecues
14. Pancakes
15. Pasta
16. Mussels
17. Cheesecake
18. Lamb

19. Cream tea
20. Alligator
21. Oysters
22. Kangaroo
23. Chocolate
24. Sandwiches
25. Greek food
26. Burgers
27. Mexican food
28. Squid
29. American diner breakfast
30. Salmon
31. Venison

32. Guinea pig
33. Shark
34. Sushi
35. Paella

36. Barramundi
37. Reindeer
38. Kebab
39. Scallops

40. Australian meat pie
41. Mango
42. Durian fruit
43. Octopus
44. Ribs
45. Roast beef
46. Tapas
47. Jerk chicken/pork

48. Haggis
49. Caviar
50. Cornish pasty

how ‘bout you?

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Visions of Sugarplums

A day late…but we must be forgiving during the holidays, right?. This week’s theme is of course holiday foods! How festive!

Everything you ever wanted to know about chestnuts but were afraid to ask.

Japanese Christmas dinner

Celebrating Festivus with the Costanzas? May I suggest some Ben & Jerry’s Gingerbread Cookie Ice cream? Why? Because this flavor was formerly known as Festivus. It’s only available at scoop shops, though.

Tamales are a Mexican Christmas tradition. Just don’t do what Crafty Chica did when making them. Ouch!!

Sicilian Christmas cookies. yum!

I’m gonna have to try some Madeira for the holidays.

Monkey makes fruitcake.

Tips on how not to gain that holiday 5 lbs.

And to all a good feast!

Monday, December 13, 2004

Ichiban-tastic!

Friday Night Jack and I, on a whim, decided to go for sushi at our favorite place, Ichiban. It’s on the way home from work, and close to a Kohl’s where we had some clothes shopping to do. Sushi is so wonderful. Somehow, we didn’t go overboard this time, each ordering a few Nigiri pieces and 1 roll each (I got a basic tuna roll and Jack got Salmon skin roll…yummm). With that in mind, I bring you some sushi links!

First some basics:

Japan Guide is a great source for Sushi information, as well as lots of other info about Japan.

A Sushi glossary.

Sushi etiquette.

Some Sushi nutrition info. (Not to be snobbish, but who needs cream cheese in their sushi anyway?)

A little bit on fugu, the deadly sushi.

Sushi Fun:

Sushi Fortune teller

Sushi trivia (I got 7 out of 10!)

Keaggy has a great Sushi desktop here.

Mock Sushi recipes:

Rice Krispie treat sushi.

Twinkie sushi.

Irish sushi?!?!

Sushi Stuff:

Wind-up sushi. ca-ute!

Sushi jewelry. fabulous!

Sushi candles, and more!

Enjoy! Domo arigato!

Monday, December 06, 2004

kitchen ambition

Although I have a food blog, I really don’t play around in the kitchen much. I’ve really had my eye on some recipes to try lately. Most of them look pretty easy and they all, of course, sound very tasty. They also, I think are perfect for winter.

Soups, I’ve mentioned before, are a winter must. I’ve never made a soup with fish before, but I bet it’s yummy. Also this winter, I’ve been wanting to incorporate sweet potatoes into my life, so I may try this weight watchers recipe. (more WW recipes here!) Cabbage is an old fave of mine, and it’s also ver nutritious, especially when it comes to winter illnesses. This recipe for cabbage soup includes 2 cups of ketchup, which kind of scares me, but I’m not totally ruling out giving it a try. Although this one looks more appealing to me.

Some new and exciting ways to cook Tofu, Cauliflower, and Chickpeas!

It may be wrong to use canned croissant dough to make baked Brie, but it seems so right.

I never knew you could make your own microwave popcorn until I saw Alton Brown do it last week! I love popcorn and this excites me more than it should.

And for dessert, I’ve been wanting to attempt Nigella’s Pavlova for a long time. It kind of scares me, though. I don’t think I have all the proper equipment for fluffing it up. Someday…..someday.

Had your eye on any recipes lately? Please share!

Monday, November 29, 2004

think thin

Thanksgiving is over, but we’re still in full holiday swing. When the food is plentiful…and so is the guilt and extra weight-gain. Today’s links are all over healthy eating & weight-loss tips.

First things first, put down the donut, and back away slowly.

Drink lots of water.

I like soup as a healthy but comforting meal. Today I had split-pea soup from the cafeteria that was mighty yummy and perfect for this cold cloudy day. For some soupy inspiration, check out this list of movies that feature soup.

Obviously, an American-style diet ain’t gonna cut it. Check out how people around the world eat. Lots of good tips in this series of articles.

Speaking of tips, here’s some about how to avoid binge eating during the holidays. Speaking of holiday eating, check out some of these healthy holiday recipes. yum.

Instead of just trying to diet, maybe you should reflect on relationship to food.

Or get spiritual and artsy with your healthy self with diet inspiration from Our Lady of Weightloss. Check out her greeting cards. Pretty.

A glossary of diet pills and weight-loss terms for the studious dieters. And while you’re nerding up your diet, might as well use a calculator!

For healthy lunches, this company makes really cute compartmentalized lunch boxes, much like Jaapanese bento boxes, except more tupperware-ish. Their website has lots of great ideas for healthy lunches.

For those who read this but don’t give a crud about eating healthier, I’ll just come full circle (pun intended) and end with a link to tips for eating donuts.

Let’s get physical!

Monday, November 22, 2004

gobble gobble

Gee, what could I possibly post about this week? Is there anything special going on in the world of food?

Oh, I know! I just found out it’s National Games week, and I just found out there’s an Iron Chef boardgame!

Oh, and there’s that Thanksgiving thing. Are you thankful for the internet? I am. A few reasons:

Cooking for Engineers’ guide to turkey.

Fun turkey facts & History. Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird!

Tofu Turkey.

Tips for a gay thanksgiving.

Tips on choosing wines. I usually stick to my favorite reds, ‘cause I can drink red wine with almost anything. Last year, we brought a big bottle of Pieporter Riesling along to share, because my family is the oober-sweet Beringer white zinfandel type (yuck!), and we thought we’d introduce a better sweet wine. It was a big hit.

I will overeat.


Pie!

Monday, November 15, 2004

the unthinkable

Not my proudest food moment, but I thought I’d share anyway.

So I go out with some family and friends to this lounge at a local casino, heard some live cover songs, did some girl-talk, and drank too many Fat Tires. How do I know I had too many? Well ‘cause on the way home Jack managed to talk me into stopping by White Castle for some late-night chow. I have never liked white Castle… not one little bit. I don’t like smelling up the car with it, and I don’t like the taste nor texture of "slyders." But Jack insisted I would like their new chicken sandwiches, which are all real breast meat. He was paying…and driving, so I caved. The sandwiches were pretty good...

My fear of the crave started early in life. I saw a t.v. show one time, like a today-show type format. They had a guy on who wrote a book of top-secret recipes, and for the show he was making White Castle hamburgers. Here’s the yucky part…one of the ingredients was beef baby food! Yummmm. Kind of like This recipe. But apparently everyone and their mother has their own way of making them. Even Alton Brown. I don’t think I’ll be trying any of them soon.

I’d kind of like to see This movie though.

you look delicious

I’m not really a fashionista or anything. But lately I’ve come across a few things that have inspired me to do a post about fashionable food and food fashions.

For the chef, these aprons are so cute. And don’t forget your wine!

For the stylish little girl in all of us, doll cakes are like playing dress-up and easy bake oven at the same time! Doll cake supplies, anyone?

Have a shoe Fetish? Having Cake? Here’s everything you’ll need. Cake stand. Cake server. Plates.

A book about fashionable food through the years. And an article about Japan’s chic food of the moment.

You can use your fashion for food purposes , or go crazy and use food for fashion purposes. Mmmmm…chocolate.

A little style in your eating is a good thing, but this is taking it way too far. brrr. What’s next? Chanel Croutons and Louie Vuitton mustard?

Chic appetit!

Monday, November 08, 2004

It's just "different" is all...

I consider myself pretty open-minded...especially when it comes to food. There aren't many things I won't try. But today, I'm dedicating this post to the worst recipes ever.

This Fruit Cocktail-SPAM Buffet Party Loaf is wrong in soooo many ways. It even has Miracle Whip in it...and if you know me you know I'm totally nauseous right now.

So that was very 50's. The 70's are notorious for strange food. These 1974 Weight Watchers recipe cards kill me! Fluffy Mackerel Pudding....yum.

Take a tour through fascinating old cookbooks and food ads at Lilek's Gallery of regrettable food.

And, along those same lines is Cate's Garage's Food section. The Scandalous food section especially makes me giggle!

This site takes a more international approach to "different" foods and recipes. Some look like mighty fun Halloween ideas, while others are just plain scary.

Speaking of international, here's some Questionable Drinks from far away lands.

For dessert, how's about a cool, refreshing meat shake?

Whew. I need a drink!

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

coping

A special election edition of food links, designed to help us get through this dark time.

First let me say that we're all doomed. So let's start preparing for the worst.
How to dry foods in the Sun.

How to make a solar oven from a pizza box.

Some solar oven recipes.

Until then, we can quell our fear and disappointment with Comfort foods.

Nigell'a's Roasted chicken sounds like a big warm blanket.

But Chocolate and Ice Cream are the all-time go-to favorites for making life seem rosier.

Or maybe you should familiarize yourself with Canadian food.

Monday, November 01, 2004

House of Yum!

Friday Night I met some friends at House of India at Delmar and I-170. I adore Indian food, but have only been to a couple of restaurants. I've heard that House of India is very good, and it's true! The service was good, like at all Indian restaurants I've been to. We had a big table of people, so service was affected by that a bit, but overall no major problems.

I tried my friend's Mango Lassi, which I've never had. Those things are fantastic...at least for a huge mango fan like myself. We got and appetizer sampler platter. Being one of the 2 meat eaters in the crowd, I tried some kind of tubular lamb sausage and tandoori chicken. Both very flavorful.

For dinner I order #73-Chana Alu, which is "Chick peas and potatoes cooked in curry sauce with fresh tomatoes and onions." It sure was tasty. I have such a weak spot for potatoes in curry sauce. They are just the perfect couple. House of India has wonderful rice, too. Basmatti rice comes with most of the meals, but it's not just plain ordinary rice...It's delicately flavored with, I think, cinnamon, maybe lemon, maybe cumin? Like I said, subtle but it makes a positive difference. I tried my friend Kristen's homemade cheese with spinach dish. It was good, too, but not as flavorful as I like...very simple.

Mine was only $8, and I even had a little left over to bring home a sample to Jack! Oh, and when you get a to-go box, they supply you with some fresh basmatti rice! How nice is that?

4 cups of fame

Today’s link category is "Cooking with Famous People." It’s a theme with real star power (insert laugh track here).

Even though Halloween is over, I think we can enjoy Elvira’s recipes all year long! I espeically like the Honeymoon Salad recipe:
-lettuce alone
-dressing optional

Speaking of famous spooksters, did you know that Vincent Price was a gourmet? Here’s his recipe for Pork roast.

Who’s tight with more stars than Oprah? Her website has a food section, with a whole page of
celebrity recipes! Tom Cruise’s Carbonara looks quite tasty.

And it looks like Oprah’s good pal Dr. Phil is one of the illustrious contributors to this New book of star food.

Even though I’m not familiar with any of them, I bet these Jamaican celebrities cook up some yummy dishes, mon.

Isaac Hayes not only plays a chef on tv, He’s in the restaurant business, too! Here’s his crab cake recipe.

And finally, check out Cooking with Christopher Walken. "I think these brownies need something….Yeah, they definitely need more cowbell."

Cut! That’s a wrap!

Monday, October 25, 2004

Thoop!

This post from Maganda.org reminds one that with the falling of leaves comes soup season. In honor of that, I present this weeks list of "Soupy" Links.

I really want to try and make more soups this winter. Over the weekend I saw Michael Chiarello make this poached garlic soup, which I definitely want to try. And, while we're on the subject of my favorite Food Network boys, here's some soup recipes from Jamie Oliver.

Check out the history of the spoon.

Soup is good for the body and the soul. Chicken soup has been known in many cultures to have healing powers. Here's a recipe for Chinese ginger chicken soup. I'll have to try that when I get sick.

Soup quotes.

No Soup For You!!

*Slurp*

Legendary

Jack made this dip/spread for a dinner party earlier this year, and it was a huge hit. When I went out Friday with some of the same folks who were at that party, I found out that the stuff is legendary. So I thought I'd share the recipe (written by Jack):

Blue Cheese Spread

Ingredients:

1/3-1/2 pound Blue Cheese or Gorgonzola
2 8-ounce packages Cream Cheese
1 stick (4 ounces) butter or margarine
1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)

Bring all ingredients to room temperature prior to
mixing. Mash the blue cheese to a semi-smooth
consitancy. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
Garnish with additional pepper or with whatever you
think goes well with the spread.

If you like your spread chunkier, crumble the blue
cheese while it's cold and then immediately mix in the
cream cheese and butter.

We like it on top of warm, crusty bread the best.

The spread strengthens in flavor with age, so make the
spread a day or two in advance for best flavor.

Note: This dip is made with an "average" quality blue
cheese. The amount of blue cheese may vary if you are
using a stronger blue like Stilton or Maytag. Other
veined cheeses may also be used, however, we haven't
tried any others as of yet.

That's it... not hard at all.

I (steph) would like to add that using 1/3 less fat cream cheese does not hurt the flavor or texture at all. In fact that's what Jack used in the batch for the dinner party. So if all the butter and cheese is just too much, that's a way to cut the fat a little. Enjoy!

My weekend food

Friday Night I went out to this restaurant called The Edge for my friend Scott's birthday. The place is in Lafayette Square, and it's a pretty cool joint. There's a really nice dining room for fancier dining, a brick and wood bar area for drinking and dining with your fellow Mafia members, a room for parties (that's where we were) and I think there was another more casual bar/dining area off the main dining room. They were pretty accommodating considering 12391234894 of us showed up...without a reservation. They were able to do separate checks and bring everyone the right food.

I had the "Rigatoni a la Edge," which was rigatoni in a red meat sauce with mushrooms, peas and prosciutto. It was good...and there was a HUGE amount of it. Enough left over for almost 2 lunches! Came with a house salad (Mel said it was pretty close to Pasta House's salad), and Cheese garlic bread. I had a couple of glasses of the House Chianti, which I thought was so-so...It was pretty fruity and tangy...I like a more buttery wine. I should have tried their house Cab, but things were just too hectic.

Then most of us headed over to this piano bar up the street called The Heights. It's a really cute bar, patronized mostly by gay men (but anyone should feel welcome there). I just had a couple of Gin & Tonics. The bartender was very good. They have food there, but obviously I didn't try any that night. A couple of my friends love the Brunch they have every Sunday...I'll have to join them some time.

Saturday night, before going to a trivia night, we went over to my aunt's house. They had ordered Stefanina's Pizza. St. Charles dwellers know the place well. They do have really good pizza. It's kind of along the lines of Imo's, but heavier on the toppings, and the cheese seems gooier.

Sunday night we stayed in and had one of my favorite types of meals...Warm bread, olives, Fontinella cheese, Lebanon Balogna and Mortadello. I love eating this way...an Olive oil dip here, a slice of cheese there, an salty olive followed by a swig of fruity, rich red wine. Heaven.

Monday, October 18, 2004

Lost in the Supermarket

Happy links day, everybody! Today, I thought I'dd share some grocery store related links, since I do in fact work in the grocery business!

Although it's competition to my company, one of my favorite area grocery stores is the Global Foods Market in Kirkwood. I have so much fun there...perusing all the aisles. Each Aisle represent a couple different countries. I especially love the Asian and Indian areas. I'll have to see if my library has this book , so I can get more from the Indian Aisle. This is where we get our Sriracha chile sauce, wasabi peas, Mexican oregano, Korean red pepper flakes (most of our spices, really..they're cheaper here, and there's more of 'em). They also have a fun Produce section, with a few kinds of bananas, lots of mushrooms...oh I could go on and on. And the cheeses! Good god. We also get these flatbread they have which makes the perfect pizza crust. Okay, enough gushing over one place...you're bound to hear more about it in th future.

In other local news, I hear the STL is getting it's first Trader Joe's . I'm way excited about this. I hear they have an excellent wine selection, and lots of other cool stuff.

Staying with the International groceries, here is a fun gallery of Hawaiian Groceries. And if you're thinking of grocery shopping in Rome, Here's some tips!

Now, travel back in time, with this collection of vintage grocery store photos.

And I can't forget one of my favorite links, a collection of found grocery lists.

Thankyou for shopping at Ironstef. Have a great day!

Il Vicino

Friday Night Jack and I went to Il Vicino in Clayton with Julie & Scott. It's wood oven pizza, and it's delicious. That night it was "bumpin'" (Scott's word of the day!), but we only waited about 10 or 15 minutes to be seated. The setup is different than most restaurants. You order and pay (and tip) at the counter, then you are seated with a number and everything is brought out to you. The service was very good. Julie and Scott said it's even better on slower nights. I got the Da Vinci pizza and Jack got the Testarossa pizza. Julie and Scott both Got House salads and Margherita pizzas. Next time I'll have to get the salad...it looked yummy.
Oh, and the girl who took our order gave me a frequent pizza card, and gave me 4 stamps, even tough Julie was payng and had already gotten the 4 stamps! Bonus! Also, Jack and I tried the house beer, which was an amber. I think this may have been Jack's favorite part. We were very impressed with the beer. Complex flavor with a -believe it or not- Hazlenut aftertaste! yum. I'll be researching whether we can buy bottles of it somewhere.
Also, the food was cheap! I think it was about $47 for the 4 of us, including our 2 beers. Looks like I'll be using that frequent customer card!

Monday, October 11, 2004

sausage links

I love making lists of related links, you know, web zen style.

For my first one on this blog, I present "Meat is funny." (sorry vegetarian friends)

There are meat hats!

Online Museum of potted meat!

I wouldn't have thought eating bunnies was very funny, but this site kind of changed my mind. Poor Bunnies

Japanese meat sculpture A web classic.

One of the funniest comic strips ever.

Curry night

Last night Jack made curry. Just the normal golden curry-powder kind we all know and love. He made the sauce first, with onions, curry powder, black mustard seeds, Chicken broth, coconut milk, red chile flakes...that's all I know for sure. Our apartment (and the hallway outside) will smell like curry for the rest of the week, which is fine with me. Such a spicy, sexy sweet smell...warms me up.

Anyway, when it was time to eat, he stirfried chicken, sliced carrots, onions and potatoes (which he blanched first). After all of that was almost soft enough, he ladeled in some of the sauce, added green pepper peices and cashews, and heated everything through. Served over rice, It's one of my favorite meals.

Soon we hope to learn how to make Thai green curry and red curry. Here's a good source for all things Curry

Sunday, October 10, 2004

now arriviving in kitchen stadium...

Hello! This is my first entry in this blog. I've decided to have a blog dedicated to something that has a very special place in my heart and my life...FOOD. Besides being necessary for life, food has soooo many uses. It can be comforting, healing, sensual, uplifting, energizing, relaxing. Certain tastes and smells can make you relive treasured memories and moments with loved ones. Food is also strongly tied to culture. You can learn a surprising amount about the world just by exploring different tastes, ingredients and cooking methods. Food is my friend, and with this blog I intend to share that friendship, broaden it, and learn from it. chow down.
steph