A New Favorite Thing

Last Christmas, Mr. Foodwhore surprised me with a mandoline.  I know most women would not be pleased with a kitchen appliance as a gift, but I am not most women. I assured Mr. FW that any kitchen items will be much appreciated and loved. And the mandoline is no exception.

It is wonderful for slicing, especially when uniform thickness is important. I use it to slice onions, squash, potatoes, cucumber, apple, pears, and so much more. It's great for slicing thin veggies for a pizza. And it limits the odds that I'll cut myself while doing prep-work.

I think this is a great tool for the lazy cook. I know most lazy cooks don't want to add anything else to their kitchen, but this really makes preparing foods so much easier.

My only complaint is that I can't get a good julienne cut yet. I'm still working on it. I think it's more in my technique than the functionality of the mandoline. I'll update when I've mastered it!

*Full disclosure: Mr. FW bought me this particular brand without my knowledge. I love it and fully recommend it. I've received no benefits from the company for saying that. I don't get any kick-backs if you buy this particular mandoline or any other brand. 

Meatless Monday: Why I Do It

I explained briefly before why I chose to eat a meat-free meal at least once a week. I recently discovered a website that explains the benefits way better than I could. Personally, I started it because I wanted to be a more conscious consumer (about the impact on my health and the environment). I don't have any intention of cutting meat out of my diet completely. Nor have I made a complete switch to all organic, local foods. But I do want to be more aware of the consequences of my actions and that includes what I choose to eat. Our food is what sustains us. It is the basis of our existence and what provides us with the energy to do all of the things we do in our lives. Little by little, I am incorporating better consumer practices into my life, starting in the kitchen. It's not a major over-haul, but if each of us took one little step, think of the impact it would make overall.

For more on the benefits of eating a meat-free meal every week, check out MeatlessMonday.com. The site has tons of resources, articles, recipes, and more.

Another resource that changed the way I look at food and the things I consume is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Kingsolver is one of my favorite authors, and I recently read her book on being a locavore for a year. Her family's experience changed the way I view food and inspired me to start my urban garden. The book was a little bit slow to get into, with lots of facts and scientific background at first, but past the first couple chapters, I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in food, gardening, farming, agriculture, the environment, cooking, etc . . . .

For more info on her book, please visit AnimalVegetableMiracle.com.

Note: I'll admit, when I first started thinking about all these changes, I balked at what it entailed. I envisioned wiping my pantry out and starting fresh. I cringed at the increase in our grocery budget if we switched entirely to organic local foods.  I am NOT doing that. While I have switched to almost 100% organic produce, and we are buying a local, farm-raised cow this summer, I still buy Stove Top stuffing and factory-farmed chickens when they are on sale. Baby steps, people, baby steps.

(swoon)

Being that there aren't any (naturally occuring) turquoise foods, I haven't mentioned my love affair with the color turquoise on this blog. But let me just assure you, I am obsessed with the color. I can't get enough of it. And now I have another item to lust after:

Be still, my beating heart!

The Farmer's Market, Delivered

I'm really excited about a new service we just signed up for from a local company called Fresh Picks. Each week we'll get a box of local, organic, in-season fruits and vegetables delivered right to our door! It's like the Farmer's Market is coming to us.  A couple of friends recently recommended it, so we signed up--and we're expecting our first box this Wednesday. We opted for the Veg/Fruit box for a little of each, but they have tons of options, even prepared foods!

I'm super excited because of all the fresh organic produce we'll be getting and also because we don't pick what we get--it's a big surprise. Well, it's not a total surprise becuase they post the list on their website, but it's sort of a surprise because each week it varies. This week we're expecting: Tangelos, Gala Apples, Grapefruit, Eggs, Spinach and Spring Mix Sprouts, plus Chard, Sweet Potatoes, Cilantro and Leeks.

I'm really looking forward to meal planning with our new Fruit/Veg box. I've never cooked or eaten chard before. And I imagine we'll be getting new (to us) stuff each week. I can't wait to try new foods and new recipes.

 Bon Appetit!
The Food Whore

My Stonyfield Yogurt Endorsement

[source]

Lately, I've been searching for a really good Greek style yogurt. I've had some good ones in the past, but I couldn't remember the brand. So I've been testing out different types. Well, I've hit the jack-pot: Stonyfield's Honey Vanilla Greek Yogurt!  It's the perfect blend of tart and sweet. It's thick and creamy . . . wonderful for icing the world's most perfect dessert!  Right now, my grocery store only offers the flavored varities, but I'm hoping to get my hands on the plain kind so I can use it as a dip for raw veggies.

If you haven't tried this yogurt yet, I highly recommend it.

*Stonyfield did not compensate me in any way for this endorsement. In fact, I don't think they even know I wrote this. But if someone at Stonyfield does read this and would like to thank me with copious (or even minimal) amounts of free yogurt, that would be wonderful!

Cookbooks

Do you use cookbooks?

I'm wondering because I have a stack of beautiful, coveted cookbooks, some brand new, some food-bespeckled family heirlooms, collecting dust on a shelf in my kitchen. Not to mention the two or three dozen glossy and slick food magazines also slipping and sliding out of their neat and tidy stack everytime I even look in their direction.  Sure, I pull them out from time to time to browse their pages. I'll plop down on the kitchen floor and before I know it, I've wasted an hour flipping through recipes, long having forgotten what I was originally researching. 

But for the most part, I do not use cookbooks. I love them. I want them. I collect them. But I don't use them. Most of my recipes come from my mom or from the internet. I'll see something posted on a blog or forum, and I have to cook it. Or if I'm in search of a specific recipe, I am more likely to search allrecipes.com or my favorite food blog before heading to my stack of cookbooks. Perhaps it's a generational thing. Whenever I have a query, I lunge for my laptop and google it. In seconds, I have 354,937 websites at my disposal to inform me that Judd Nelson is not dead, the Belmont bus picks up at 9:14 am, and pentatonic scale is the five notes commonly used in music. (What did we do before the internet?!)

I've only recently realized my cookbook-collecting-but-not-using tendencies because I am reading Julie and Julia and she constantly, of course, talks about Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It has made me envious. I want a copy of MTAOFC. Why? I'm not sure because it will certainly end up on the dusty shelf with my other neglected cookbooks. Nonetheless, I want it.

I think it's because cookbooks are like porn for me. I get all excited about looking at new recipes, seeing the way other foodies combine ingredients or complete recipes to create a delicious meal. And the pictures . . . well, those are just the bee's knees. I could look at food pictures all day.  Now, of course I could get all those recipes and pictures online, but it's just not the same. I like the idea of holding a book in my hands (and the smell--which is why I will never own a Kindle), especially a cookbook, especially the Joy of Cooking that I own that once belonged to my grandmother that was a gift from my mom to her. I like the history of that book. And though you can easily browse your internet history, it's just not the same as opening a book and seeing a hand-written Christmas greeting from your mom to your granny on the inside cover, dated years before you were born.

So anyway, those are my thoughts on cookbooks. I'm wondering if you use cookbooks or feel about them the same way as me or if you have a favorite cookbook?

Bon Appetit!
The Food Whore

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I've been busy with some non-food related aspects of my life and it's taken up a lot of my free time. Hopefully I'll be back in full swing soon. In the meantime, here's an adorable dessert that I found on Bakerella's blog. Can't wait for an excuse to try this:

For more pictures and a how-to, check out her blog here.

Bon Appetit!

The FoodWhore

Creativity in a Lunchbox

When I first saw these two blogs, I had mixed feelings. At first, I was in awe of the tiny containers, the pristine organization, the creative culinary art . . . my heart raced with joy. But then I thought, who the F has time to get up in the morning and make tiny, compartmentalized works of art for the kid(s)'s and/or husbands' lunches?! Seriously, get a life!? I have way more important things to do in the morning, like hit the snooze button until I absolutely have to pry myself from the tight clutches of my duvet. Finally, I realized my hatin' was all due to jealousy. I am insanely jealous that these women have the leisurely time to make these boxes of joy for their family members. I hope someday to be one of those classic stay-at-home-moms who makes fun stuff like this before sending their kids off to school and then sits by the pool sipping martinis and gossiping with the neighbors. Ahhhh. . . . the future can't come soon enough!

So here they are, my inspiration for my unborn children's lunches: Obento Baby! and Lunch Nugget. Someday, I will be this awesome.

Here's some of my favorites, for various reasons:

Kitchen Love

I have a very tiny kitchen. Very. Tiny. The oven and the fridge doors cannot be opened at the same time. Mr. Foodwhore can reach out and touch opposite walls. When we're both in there together, I want to strangle him, and I am certain he feels the same way about me. I think you get the picture I'm tyring to paint.

I day-dream about the kitchen that I will someday have. If there was just one room that I could custom-build, it would be the kitchen. I collect pictures of kitchens that I love. Recently, we made some upgrades to our kitchen, sadly they are only superficial. Our kitchen looks nicer, but it's no bigger or more functional than it was before. Someday, I will have the kitchen of my dreams. But in the meantime, here's a glimpse into my day-dreams...

Bon Appetit!

The FoodWhore

I Hit the Pasta Jackpot!

I'm a big lover of themes, so whenever I can make my food fit the theme of an event or party, I am especially thrilled. In the next couple of weeks I have two events that required some thematic cooking. As you can imagine, I was thrilled to find that they make pasta in just about every shape you can imagine. Pastashoppe.com is the pasta motherlode! They aren't paying me to say this, but I highly recommend you scoot on over there and check out the ridiculous variety of pasta that they have to offer.

And like I said, I picked out two for upcoming festivities. First, I snagged their Margarita Time Pasta for our pre-Jimmy Buffett concert tailgate this weekend.

And I also got the Florida Gators Pasta for Mr. Foodwhore's graduation party next weekend. I plan to order more for football season. I can't believe I've been missing out on this all these years.

Bon Appetit!
The Food Whore

This Makes Me Unreasonably Happy

I cannot wait to have a kitchen big enough to hold one of these. And the beautiful fun colors make my heart sing with joy. I know some women don't want appliances for their anniversary or Christmas, but Mr. FoodWhore, if you're reading this: I'm not "some women." It may not be cotton, but this would make a great 2nd Anny gift. (Hint, hint, nudge, nudge)

Kind of Makes Me Want Kids

So I've been a slacker lately. The reality of being back at work after a week vacation has just been too much for my feeble mind. That and I was cramming for the GRE up until this past Saturday. However, today I came across the most adorable Elmo cupcakes. I can't wait until I have kids (or at least some other excuse) to make these delicious little treats. Found these on http://www.hostesswiththemostess.com/

A Few of My Favorite Things....

It's been a pretty busy week in the Food Whore household. We've been knocking back some leftovers for a few days now. So to fill the void in the cooking action, I thought I would tell you about my favorite cooking utensils and appliances. But first, let me say this: I am in no way benefiting from promoting these products. In fact most of these items were given to me as a gift by my mom who enjoys cooking as much as I do. I love these specific products because I have found them to be easy to use and clean, and they are affordable. Not every cook loves the same products. Feel free to try out many different versions before deciding what works best in your kitchen.

There seems to be a great debate going on about pots and pans these days. Stainless steel, cast iron, non-stick.... who knew people could get so heated (pun intended) over a sautee pan? We bought these pans with some wedding money and I fell in love immediately. We were able to donate all our old mismatched pans and lids. It was great to simplify. These are Calphalon's Non-Stick line. It's wonderful.

I am anal. I love organizing. I also love miniature versions of everyday items, so this conveniently stackable, comes-with-matching-lids set of pyrex cookware was right up my alley. How can you not love ramekins? When cooking a complicated and long recipe, it's great to prep all your ingredients in little bowls and have them easily accessible....and then you can talk to your audience (read: dog) like you're Rachel Ray and just taping another show.

Confession: I am a killer of spatulas. I burn them. Chop them. Melt them. Break them. Lose them. Spatulas run in fear at the sound of my name. But not this wonderful Kitchenaid Spatula. Don't let the brand frighten you. I got this one for about $6 at Publix. I loved it so much that I bought a second one. And I might go back for a 3rd. I use this baby every time I walk in the kitchen.

One might wonder what a culinary genius (that's me) is doing with a dorm-room accessory. My mom bought this for me when I was in college (lazy). I love my Foreman. It still has a place on my over-crowded counter. I don't use it as much anymore, but I like it to be accessible. The Foreman is great for the non-cook. It's also great if you're in a hurry. You can cook a chicken breast in about 6 minutes.

Or if slow cookin' is more you're style, how 'bout this crock pot from Black and Decker? I've actually got two crock pots (a big one and a little one). This is another great item for the non-cook...just fill it up, turn it on and come back in 8 hours. Et voila, dinner!

What did I do before my food processor? Life was not worth living...ok, that's a bit extreme, but seriously, this thing has revolutionized the way I prepare food. 20 minutes of grating cheese by hand, risking scraped knuckles or arthritis? Not anymore. This baby cranks it out in about 25 seconds.

I shall call him Mini-Me. 2 crock pots and two food processors! Isn't that a bit over-kill, you're wondering. Why no it's not. This mini is wonderful for a quick processing job when I don't want to wash the big one. It's great for mixing dressing, chopping herbs or grating some carrots for a salad.

Well, that's a glimpse into my tiny and over-stuffed kitchen. These are the staples for me. But like I said, different strokes for different folks. Find what works best for you. Someday when I have the kitchen of my dreams, I may just have a few more crock pots.

Bon Appetit!

The Food Whore