Fancy Food Show 2012-Highlights

I have to say I was fairly impressed this year. I managed to avoid most of the scary, dye filled unpronounceable stuff, so I must say a hearty 'yay' to that! I came across more than one product that I would willing buy. Some of them are fairly well known and others totally new. I was also really excited to see so many people finally coming to the dark side of spices and using Cardamom! I have been a cardamom addict for years and so I adored Three Twins Cardamom Ice Cream (also really, their Lemon Cookie!), Helliemae's Cardamom caramels and Numi's Cardamom Pu-erh.

I know Lemonaise has been around for quite a while, but I honestly have never tried them before today. Now that I have, I can see this be a product I'd like to have around. I adore lemon so the richness and the lemon combined are a real winner for me. On the new product tip, I went out of my way to find the Almond water because I was quite curious. I agree with their own words: refreshing!

I had the chance to try the new Kerrygold premium butter, which is quite lovely. And for all you low fat fans, they have a reduced fat version which doesn't lack flavor. A highlight for me was the fun family behind SchoolHouse Kitchen. They actually engaged me on Twitter, which I loved, and when I showed up to see them they were so friendly and had super tasty offerings! I love their Ginger Lime Vinaigrette, the orange & Chili chutney and the Cherry Blackberry Jam. Mmmmm....jam.

Speaking of fruit filled goodness, I also loved the sunshine of Fran's1941 Apricot Magic from La Bonita and the jams from Tropical Fruit Stand, including the surprising (because I don't really like them) Banana, Passion Fruit and Pineapple.

I also adored Sonoma Brinery because pickles are a weakness of mine though I rarely buy them. These however may have a permanent place in my fridge alongside the pulp filled Blue Monkey coconut water. Fresh, clean and no bitter aftertaste makes this a good choice.

Last but not least, I was happy to see an old favorite roll out two new flavors. Plush Puffs has a mango marshmallow and a cherry chocolate marshmallow now and I gotta say, that chocolate cherry really hot the spot! I will be writing about some more good finds soon, so stayed tuned!

Kwanzaa

This month I had the chance to write not one but two articles on Kwanzaa and it was quite a learning experience. I figured out why my dad was so against celebrating, as it was clearly due to the usavory past of the holidays creator.

I also realize that may people I know try to embody the principles everyday, which I think we can and should. For example, cooperative economics, the act of creating and supporting local business should be paramount to our daily lives. As should exercising our creativity and doing our best for the community.

Here's a link to both articles which are different and yet on the same subject. Find your principles and live them everyday for a happy healthier you!

http://kwanzaaculinarians.com/2011/12/29/lunas-kitchen-magic-celebrates-ujamaa/

This one comes with a lentil recipe!
http://foodzie.com/blog/2011/12/a-taste-of-kwanzaa/

Monday Munchies

In September there was not a lot of cooking going on, as I prepared for my current classes. However, here are some of the bites we have recently had....

Phil's has great sliders, but you really don't want to miss the tater tots!

A pastrami & corned beef on kasier roll

the best onion rings ever

this is one fat sandwhich. we couldn't finish them!

Miller's East Coast has the best onion rings I've ever had. I don't say that lightly.

4 Reasons to Eat at Hash House

Want more? Hash House a GoGo!

Two Degrees: Helping To Get Food to Hungry Children

We are in serious trouble. Not just because the economy is in the tank or because so many people are out of work. We are in serious trouble because there are more hungry children in the world than there should be. To me, that means that there are any.

Last night my buddy Carina tweeted this: "..turn your attention to Somalia. 29,000 kids under 5 have died in last 3 months. Famine will rise without aid usaid.gov"

That is the kind of tweet that gets stuck in your throat. I know what is happening in Africa, wars, famine and their inability to live as nomads as in the past (so they could move on from illness to where there was clean water & seasonal food) has caused decades of strife and had far reaching affects on an entire continent.

But what the hell is our excuse in America? Per the stats on the Share Our Strength site, 15.5 million children live in poverty. In America. Enter the people behind Two Degrees. Children cannot function or thrive when they are hungry. They can't focus or play or live to the level in which children should, if they are hungry.

Two Degrees is working toward change by providing a nutrition pack to a malnourished child for every Two Degrees bar you buy. The company was kind enough to send me three bars to check out, but they also sent a nutrition pack and you know what? That pack had a huge impact. If I buy a bar, some child gets this? Wow.

We are in trouble and it is up to us to do more, to do better, to right by our kids. If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes the world to raise millions of them. Children are the future of the world and buy taking one simple step, we can help then along the path to healthy lives. You can buy Two Degrees bars online or at your local Whole Foods. Let's make those numbers no child hungry or malnutritioned. Let's make each child healthy, happy, active and whole!