Thursday, May 22, 2008
30 ways to be a good guest
Next time you're headed to a bbq, and you offer to bring a dish and then panic...
Check this out!Labels: Recommendations, Sides
Posted by Jeannie ::
11:28 PM ::
0 comments
Post / Read Comments
---------------oOo---------------
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Pantry Predicament
I think there are two responses to reading a new recipe.
you scan a recipe.
you notice it has more than 4 ingredients.
you:
#1 go buy every ingredient and end up using it once (maybe twice) and then you have 25 different vinegars, 7 different mustards in your fridge, and 9 different opened boxes of rice and flour products.
OR
#2 you throw your hands in the air and say "this is why I will continue to make my 6 favorite dishes until I die!"
If money grew on trees and I had endless pantry space, I would always be a #1. But I think we should find a balance. I have contemplated studying this further and contracting myself out to houses across the nation as a "pantry stocker expert." Until then, I'll offer from our Food Section this morning, a feature article about what to do with "the biggest pantry -clogging culprits."
In the article was a GREAT resource that I wanted to pass along about spices:
How do you know how old they are? Your nose can often be your guide, but some spice companies are also stepping in to help you analyze and decide. At www.spicecheckchallenge.com, McCormick lets you enter a code from old spice jars that can help you decipher their use-by date. (It also offers other clues: Unless it's black pepper, any McCormick spice in a tin jar or with "Baltimore, MD" on the label is at least 15 years old.) At www.spiceislands.com, Spice Islands lets you register any of that company's products and then get recipe ideas plus an email reminder when that spice is set to expire.Labels: Recommendations
Posted by Jeannie ::
9:27 AM ::
1 comments
Post / Read Comments
---------------oOo---------------
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
WEDNESDAYS!
yes, it's Wednesday. I've never embraced the term "Hump Day" not to mention, I've never embraced living for the weekend. And just in case you didn't know, Wednesdays are quite a big day in the world of food. why you ask?
1) weekly specials...for those of you on a budget, and really who shouldn't be on a budget?...Check out the weekly specials at your favorite grocery stores on Wednesday mornings. (Either in your newspaper inserts or online.) Almost every store runs their sales Wednesday - Tuesday evening. Have you ever been grocery shopping on Tuesday night and wondered why pickings are slim? I like to check various stores' prices on Wednesday morning for meat and produce and get some ideas for what fun meals are in store. It's better than wandering around the stores letting random cravings guide your buggy.
2) the Food section! The food section is printed on Wednesdays of almost every major newspaper that I know. Recipes, restaurant reviews, food happenings in your area, the list goes on! That also means that the NY Times food section's online clips (like The Minimalist) gets posted on Wednesday mornings.Labels: Recommendations
Posted by Jeannie ::
9:20 AM ::
0 comments
Post / Read Comments
---------------oOo---------------
Friday, February 01, 2008
gadgets
A perfect way to start February...a deep chill in the air (but not the raw cold that inhabited January), rain that rushed through the gutters along the street reminding me that spring will come, and a fire at home. My confession: I'm making the carrot soup again right now. Get ready, I might start a slight obsession with cilantro. I have no new recipes to share right now; however, after tomorrow night (I'm cashing in my Christmas present from my husband and going to a restaurant that I've been lusting for since before it opened) I'm hoping that my palate will be invigorated.
Until then, I thought a winter day would be a great time to share just a few favorite gadgets.
Zester wonderful for lemons, Parmesan, and ginger
Bowl keep batters in this if you're not ready to use immediately
pastry scrapper Yes, a random tool. Not sure where I got the one I have, but this one is similar. I love using this to cut bars and brownies, as well as slicing edges of crusts and biscuits when I roll them out.
Pastry blender can not remember life before this fork (thanks, mother)Labels: Recommendations
Posted by Jeannie ::
5:54 PM ::
1 comments
Post / Read Comments
---------------oOo---------------
Thursday, January 17, 2008
no recipe attached...
No recipe. just suggestion.
My father once admonished me to stop wallowing around in self-pity, "get up, get out, sing, and do something for someone else." There's a lot of truth in those simple words.
So, if you happen to be struggling with ever changing moods, discouragement, and all of the changes of this life, take a break and do some baking with a friend. I invited my friend (who happens to be a four year old with an adorable British accent) for an afternoon of baking cookies and sipping on warm milk.
I couldn't stop smiling. My little friend ended up snoring and drooling. 
Labels: Recommendations
Posted by Jeannie ::
4:03 PM ::
2 comments
Post / Read Comments
---------------oOo---------------
Friday, December 14, 2007
once again, a must watch: The Minimalist
Can't recommend enough. In a world where recipes and cooking shows make cooking and life seem so complicated this guy brings sanity to it all.Labels: Recommendations
Posted by Jeannie ::
8:46 AM ::
0 comments
Post / Read Comments
---------------oOo---------------
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
some new links on the sidebar...
If I don't blog often enough, you can always check out the links of my friends who have delicious recipes!
Flavorful Finds...the creation of Caroline (Shaw) Motley.
for a healthy twist on things, try PanKates...the creation of Kate (Gusmer) Cole.
and then there's Daily Offerings from London. I don't know Somer personally, but she's in London now with my uncle and aunt (and her family.) I've grown to love her recipes, suggestions, and photos.
I've included a great site for those of you who need help with DC restaurants!Labels: Recommendations
Posted by Jeannie ::
4:31 PM ::
0 comments
Post / Read Comments
---------------oOo---------------
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Garlic
Just a short post on garlic, since I use it daily. I read this article a few weeks ago and was shocked that China produces 75% of the world's garlic!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/19/AR2007061900423_pf.html
D.C. doesn't make time for Tupperware, Mary Kay, and Pampered Chef parties. But next time you're sitting at your friend's house with Pampered Chef accessories thrown before you, my absolute favorite item is their garlic press.
http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/catalog/product.jsp?productId=239&categoryCode=KWLabels: Recommendations
Posted by Jeannie ::
8:52 AM ::
0 comments
Post / Read Comments
---------------oOo---------------
Monday, June 25, 2007
The Minimalist
NY Times food columnist, Mark Bittman, has become a favorite. (My husband discovered him.) Check out this article (and video) on how to put together a cheap kitchen. Some things (like dark chocolate, wine, a good vegetable peeler, and onion goggles) should be a splurge (in my opinion.) But like Mark suggests, more expensive doesn't always mean better.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/dining/09mini.html?ex=1336449600&en=270a01b651410dd7&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
A No-Frills Kitchen Still Cooks
By MARK BITTMAN
Published: May 9, 2007
Gorgeous, name-brand pots, pans and gadgets sure are nice, but are they necessary? No, and here’s how a good cook can outfit an entire kitchen for under $300.Labels: Recommendations
Posted by Jeannie ::
9:37 AM ::
1 comments
Post / Read Comments
---------------oOo---------------
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Need a recipe?
If there's a particular type of dish that you're anxious to find an easy and tried recipe for, let me know and I'll work on it.Labels: Recommendations
Posted by Jeannie ::
4:48 PM ::
2 comments
Post / Read Comments
---------------oOo---------------
A perfect way to start February...a deep chill in the air (but not the raw cold that inhabited January), rain that rushed through the gutters along the street reminding me that spring will come, and a fire at home. My confession: I'm making the carrot soup again right now. Get ready, I might start a slight obsession with cilantro. I have no new recipes to share right now; however, after tomorrow night (I'm cashing in my Christmas present from my husband and going to a restaurant that I've been lusting for since before it opened) I'm hoping that my palate will be invigorated.
