Monday, January 24, 2005

food love

Valentine's Day. Yeah, it's kind of a silly hallmark holiday, but the food involved makes all the heart-shaped stuff and glittery teddy bears worth it.

There's wine, of course. I can't think of many things much more sensual than rich red wine. Here's a good guide to choosing wine.

A couple of romantic food books that look quite interesting; Intercourses and Aphrodite.

If you're not up to reading, and would rather snuggle up to a romantic movie, how 'bout a romantic food themed movie? I recommend Chocolat (mmm, Johnny Depp) and Like Water For Chocolate.

Um, yeah guess that brings us to a very important valentine food: CHOCOLATE! Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate, and more Chocolate. And a review of the last one's masala chocolate bar. Sounds interesting, and yummy.

How about a nice date? Find out the most romantic restaraunts in your neck of the woods.

And if you offer to take me to White Castles, all you'll get from me is a paper napkin and some bittersweet heart candies. I mean I'll admit the White Castles candle-lit dinner is a quirky idea, but it's still stinks in there.

Speaking of those heart candies, here's a candy heart generator. fun!

Valentine's traditions around the world.

Back to food:
"The Aztecs called the avocado tree "Ahuacuatl which translated means "testicle tree". "...and other interesting aphrodisiac info.

Oh, and this might just be the ultimate romantic food...bread, chocolate & olive oil...all together. I'm yours!

So light some candles, throw on something a little more comfortable, pop the champagne, and read mushy love poems. Even if you're spending this one alone, there's still all that chocolate, so don't be sad...Celebrate the holiday that celebrates some fabulous food!

Be mine,
steph

curried lentil soup

This weekend I decided to make lentil soup. I looked through some recipe and found this Curried Lentil Soup recipe on epicurious.com. Of course I had to modify it a bit because, well, that's just how I am. I used the whole bag of lentils, so as not to waste any, so I added an extra can of broth, another potato (I have a major thing for curry/potato combo...perfection) and one more carrot. I also added lots more curry powder and cayenne pepper, plus some garlic powder & turmeric.

It's an easy recipe and it turned out really yummy, and there's lots of it (and it cheap!). I'll probably have to freeze some, because apparently Jacks' not into lentil soup, and I'd have to eat it 3 meals a day for a week to finish it. Even though I do adore the stuff, I think that might get a bit old. Anyway, perfect winter cooking. It's hearty and spicy and rich...really warms you up, and makes your home smell wonderful. And with that little bit of olive oil as the only fat, very healthy, too!

Monday, January 17, 2005

edible art

Food nourishes your body, art nourishes your soul. When you combine the tow, great things can happen. But not always ;) My theme today…."eat your art"

These cakes are unbelievably cool. I especially like the Wine box one, and of course, the sushi cake.

An artist who does amazing things with caramel and pastry.

Ever read a book so delicious you could eat the pages?

Sugar Art. Wow.

Gummy bear necklaces, A map of Iraq made of crackers, cupcake poetry…must be "eat art 6!"

Sushi is an artform in itself, but here it’s taken to another level.

Paintings done entirely with coffee.

Spam carving (not for the sqeamish.) That reminds me, I’ll have to post my "Ode to processed meat products" here sometime.

This woman does beautiful things with eggshells.

Now I’m definitely inspired, but I have to figure out whether it’s to eat or to create.

Monday, January 10, 2005

where've ya bean?

Even though my stomach disagrees, I think that Beans are one of the earth's perfect foods. Healthy, versatile, yummy, cheap. Beans are great!

In fact, they are the theme for the next "My Blog is Burning," which I may have to participate in this time. Here's the info, plus some fantastic bean puns from Too Many Chefs. Bean Martin. that's classic.

Here's a can of beans that's traveling all over the world.

Beans & Crockpots are true soul-mates.

Who doesn't love a good bean tale? A Jack & the Beanstalk database with different versions and illustrations.

Mexican jumping beans jump because they have moth larvae in 'em. ew.

Speaking of ew, we all know beans are the "musical fruit." Blame it on oligosaccharides. But don't fret. There are precautions you can take to lessen the sound effects.

A favorite gulity pleasure (guilty in that it's cheap fast-food) is actually pretty healthy. Taco Bell Bean Burrito Fresco Style. Now, making burritos at home is even better....healthier and probably cheaper, and of course yummier. My favorite way to make them was inspired by the gi-huge-ic burritos at Tomatillo's. All you do is make plain white rice, and when it's done you add chopped up fresh cilantro and jalepeno (about one bunch's worth of cilatro leaves and 1 or 2 peppers, depending on their heat) and mix thoroughly. pile some in a large tortilla, add beans (I like black beans...from a can...flavored with cumin, garlic powder, mexican oregano and hot pepper flakes) and any other burrito fare you desire (cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, etc.). Since you're getting bulk from rice and beans, you can make a dozen burritos easy...burritos for a week!

Vanilla Beans are sexy.

The Bean Bible. Bean praying?

The Powamu Festival is a Hopi Indian celebration of the bean sprout. The Bean sprout represents fertility. and there's flogging!

Jelly Bean art.

Bean art.

Bean fortune telling.

Chocolate covered beans. Coffee beans that is. *drool*

Well, that's enough beans to power a submarine, i think. It's bean real, it's bean fun! (sorry, couldn't help myself.)

Monday, January 03, 2005

over-stuffed

Now that the holidays are over, everyone's making thier New Years resolutions. Heck, I made some. But I thought this post-New Years post should go in a different direction...eating lots, excess & gluttony. that's the theme for today.

Eat like a Sumo wrestler. Man those recipes look good. And healthy, too!

While we're in Japan, gotta mention competitive eating, a sport which the country seems to excel at (without getting fat...WTF?). And yes, I said sport.

Planning some excess drinking? Follow thses tips for a feel-good tomorrow.

Excess cooking.

Excess Americanized Mexican dining (and Cartman likes it, too!)

Excess chocolate? no such thing...but this comes close. *drool*

Just want to feel big? Eat little foods.

Want inspiration to actually get bigger? A database of weight-gain stories.

Ananova's list of stories about world record food.

Speaking of which, Have you seen the Discovery Channel's show "Big?" The replicate everyday objects to huge scale. They've done a blender, a pop-corn popper, a bbq grill, a toaster and an espresso machine...plus some non-food related stuff (but who cares about that stuff, eh?).

Sure gluttony is one of the 7 deadly sins. But heck, I guess I'm a glutton for punishment (harr harr). So, go overboard once in awhile! You can live a big life but have a big heart at the same time.