And today is a brand new day...

Just back from NYC...will have some food reviews to post. Also, its CSA day! Will post tonight.

Her Competitive Nature Comes Out

I am itching for a fight. No...a showdown...NO a Dinner Impossible episode!!!!!!! I have thought about competitively cooking for a while. Visions of me in a white apron holding that fabulous pie/cake/entree/appetizer and humbly accepting that WHOPPING check while my fellow contestants look on with seething envy.

"How does she do it? It tastes like pure heaven. Bitch.", they mumble under their breath.

Of course, I am there just for the pure joy of cooking - the money and the admiration are nothing next to the satisfaction I feel from just nourishing my fellow human beings. *sigh*

Of course those who know me are now crying BULLSHIT and they would be right. I have a mean competitive streak. Even the other night it lead me to tormenting a 12 year old after wiping up the floor with him at UNO. Hey, he was the one that started talking smack first. But I digress...

Cooking contests...I am ready to join in on the fray. I have won one contest for some Thai spiced nuts - insert Keith Carradine joke here - I will post the recipe later on. But I need more...maybe the country fair in the fall...but that is too far away. I am scouring this web site for possible options. Anyone got any they think I should go for?

The Dressing Makes All the Difference

So since receiving these lovely (though I have to admit also gritty) salad greens, it has felt a bit...um...sacriligious to put regular goopy store bought dressing on their delicate leaves. Inspired by my step mother who has a famous old Grey Poupon jar that doubles as a salad dressing maker, I make a fabulous EASY dressing for almost any type of salad.

Honey Mustard Dressing by Yours Truly (psssst...thats me)

1 TB Grey Poupon Country Dijon mustard (yes yes I have tried others including the REAL french ones and NOPE not even close)
1/4 c. apple cider vinegar
1/4 c. olive oil
1/2 tsp. fresh chopped garlic
2 tsp. honey
pinch of salt and pepper

Now all of these measurements are subject to your personal taste. I say add all the items and then start adding more and tasting along the way. Some people like a more tart taste - more vinegar. Others - more sweet hence more honey.

If you are really fancy - blend them all in a blender for a really creamy dressing. I prefer a jam jar and the old "shake" method = less dishes to wash. I can also keep the extra in the fridge for the next day.

I encourage you to dress the salad as opposed to just pouring it over the greens and eating. Greens really don't need a lot of help to taste good. So go easy and toss the greens lightly with some dressing. Soggy leaves are nasty - even if its with this fabulous dressing.

Enjoy!

A

First PickUp from Bread and Roses

What a lovely way to close a day. I arrived just at the tail end of pick up. Here is the list of delights that I picked.

• 1/2 pd. Arugula


• 1/2 pd Mixed greens


• 3/4 pd Spinach


• Radishes
  
• Turnips


• 1 huge bunch of Choi


• Does Leap Goat Cheese


• Jerico organic eggs
  
• Garlic Chives

Last night's dinner: Adam's 7 seed bread, Does Leap goat cheese, garlic chives, Malden Smoked Salt flakes and a lovely mixed greens salad.

Maybe a roadtrip down south - y'all?

As I looked over the last few postings I noticed a trend my posts...BBQ. Here is an article from the NY Times on South Carolina BBQ. Mmmmmmm.....

Scott’s Variety Store and Bar-B-Q in Hemingway, S.C.

Oh this must be my problem!

http://consumerist.com/5285728/take-currency-symbols-off-the-menu-restaurant-patrons-spend-more

Westford Farmer's Market Opens Tomorrow!

I am so excited my town's farmers market opens tomorrow. My neighbor Mark is the local bread supplier - Mollybean Breads - named after his precocious daughter Molly. That little blond girl walked right up to my door and invited herself in. I have cats you see. :-)

Also, Bread and Roses CSA will be there. I signed up for the small share with the weekly dose of Doe's Leap Goat Cheese. Consuming more goat milk than cow's milk nowadays.

Come on out! Then off to the Burlington Farmers Market on Saturday. I am in heaven!

Westford Farmers Market - Friday 3:30pm - 6:30pm

The Quest for BBQ

I have loved BBQ since I was little. My grandmothers were from North Carolina and they made that delicious peppery-vinegar BBQ. Top it with some coleslaw on a squishy white bun and you were in heaven. My grandmothers have both passed but my mother carries on the tradition but with her own flair - gourmet buns, more hot sauce then my grandmothers would have thought proper and her own stellar coleslaw.

But as I grew older the saucy BBQ of Texas also caught me. That lovely beef with a slight carmelization and then doused with sweet and tangy sauce. Um....um...where am I? Oh yeah BBQ.

Vermont has amazing food. We do. Local...fresh...tasty. But a little lacking in spice. So when I heard of a new BBQ place in Waterbury opening up - I convinced M to take a ride. (it was really hard I tell you - "Hey want to go for BBQ?" *his eyes glazed over and he reached for the keys*.

The name of the place escaped me...I mean Waterbury ain't that big. The place proclaimed to have excellent BBQ and southern sides. We traveled to Waterbury and no luck. Thanks to M's web phone we found LocalFolk Smokehouse in Waitsfield. The place was a lovely dive for bikers. $2 dollar drafts - a bonus for M and quick service.

The menu read like a typical Smokehouse. Combo plates of ribs (pork), pulled pork, BBQ chicken. Sides - mac and cheese, baked beans, slaw. The decor was very divish and rustic - as they should be though my chair was a bit rickety and seeing as I was about to consume large amounts of BBQ made me nervous.

We started with grilled andouille sausage. M is a big sausage fan and for me it is a guilty pleasure after reading Upton Sinclair's The Jungle one too many times. "How many workers lost fingers in the making of this sausage?" The sausage was ok but I wanted more spice in mine. So - Grade C.

We ordered the Pork Ribs and the Pulled pork with Mac and Cheese, Baked Beans and Slaw. I missing one side and maybe M will help me out. Can we hear the WAWAHHHHH please?

No carmelization on the ribs or the pulled. The sauce was ok - tangy like I like it. But the ribs were tough not fall of the bone as is expected. The pulled pork was the better part of the meal but still lacked those lovely crispy bits. The side were poor. Greasy mac and cheese, so so baked beans, slaw that had NO seasoning - the cardinal sin!

We left disappointed. Good dive bar for a good beer and fun location but skip the food.

Luckily I found the name of the bbq place in Waterbury - Cider House BBQ. Stay tuned for Thrusday night's bbq adventure.

On the menu at home tonight - stuffed chicken breasts with goat cheese, baby spinach, sun dried tomatoes over salad greens.

A

The Dead Have Arisen!

And they have risen in Burlington, Vermont. Hi all....its been a while. But I am ready to start blogging again.

I won't go over the last 6 months in detail. The bare facts are...I live in Westford, Vermont in a beautiful, cute saltbox house in the woods. I have a newly planted herb garden and I am now starting to cook regularly.

So we are off....tonight since there is a dearth of good Mexican food I will be attempting healthy chicken enchiladas!

Wish me luck... A

Maple Syrup anyone?

So its official...my new title is to be Alise Brasch - flatlander. I will be moving to Vermont in mid-October. Home of Green Mountains, the Fresh Network, City Market, American Flatbread and the very patient M. Look for a change in scenary for the blog. And thanks to everyone for the well wishes and support.

The Omnivore's One Hundred - A challenge

Ok. Some of the items on this list are a bit daunting - others a no brainer. The UK blog Very Good Taste has issued a challenge. Are you up for it?

Here’s what I want you to do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/ linking to your results.

Here is my list.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison - yes. Tom Bennett's house in college. They told me it was steak then Tom leaned over and whispered "How's Bambi?

2. Nettle tea

3. Huevos rancheros - spicy morning goodness - like my eggs scrambled please

4. Steak tartare - Fritzls in Lake Zurich - shared it with my uncle. I loved the spicy mustard and shallots that came with it. Come to think of it - I love ANYTHING with mustard and shallots as a side (pate!)

5. Crocodile

6. Black pudding

7. Cheese fondue - ohhhhh one of my favorites. Started at Geja's at the age of 14 - its been downhill ever since!

8. Carp

9. Borscht - Miss Brandy's borscht - sitting in her lovely abode and slurping her bright pink soup.

10. Baba ghanoush - not loving the eggplant

11. Calamari

12. Pho - Tank Noodle on Argyle.

13. PB&J sandwich - WHO doesn't love it?

14. Aloo gobi1

5. Hot dog from a street cart - I keep breaking my 1 hot dog a year rule. I love hot dogs.

16. Epoisses

17. Black truffle - yum

18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes - Blueberry wine from Vermont.

19. Steamed pork buns - WOW BAO and long walks in the blue city

20. Pistachio ice cream

21. Heirloom tomatoes - the only tomato I like

22. Fresh wild berries - sweet strawberries

23. Foie gras - Le Francais for my grandfather's 90th. I would rather eat pate.

24. Rice and beans - like mine soupy and in New Orleans

25. Brawn, or head cheese - I think I accidently ate this in Germany. It was cold and nasty.

26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper - do I dare?

27. Dulce de leche - from a spoon!

28. Oysters - Oysters Rockafeller after graduating from Clams Casino. Remember those summer motobike rides? Mmmmmm....

29. Baklava - Deb's baklava

30. Bagna cauda

31. Wasabi peas - make my nose run

32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl - I''ll take the bowl

33. Salted lassi

34. Sauerkraut - just starting to appreciate this sourness

35. Root beer float - pass on the root beer

36. Cognac with a fat cigar - I could get into this one but I will take hand rolled cigarittos please

37. Clotted cream tea - yum

38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O - New Orleans Bourben Street - '08

39. Gumbo - see above

40. Oxtail

41. Curried goat

42. Whole insects

43. Phaal

44. Goat’s milk - does cheese count?

45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more

46. Fugu - risk your life for this one?

47. Chicken tikka masala - Hema's on Oakley.

48. Eel

49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut - only warm they suck cold

50. Sea urchin

51. Prickly pear - prickly pear shakes

52. Umeboshi

53. Abalone

54. Paneer - again Hema's

55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal - Big Mac's are just TOO MUCH

56. Spaetzle - my family's comfort food

57. Dirty gin martini

58. Beer above 8% ABV

59. Poutine - really bad Poutine in the Montreal airport.

60. Carob chips - a little dusty but not bad

61. S’mores - i hate all marshmellows except burnt ones in this combo

62. Sweetbreads

63. Kaolin

64. Currywurst - Blue's favorite

65. Durian - smelled this in Thailand - reeked right out of the plastic. Heard it tastes like custard

66. Frogs’ legs

67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake - yes to all please

68. Haggis - I think Brandy loved this one

69. Fried plantain - these are so good with rice and beans

70. Chitterlings, or andouillette

71. Gazpacho - All kinds are wonderful. I remember watermelon gazpacho from that place.

72. Caviar and blini - salty and overrated

73. Louche absinthe - been dying to try this stuff

74. Gjetost, or brunost

75. Roadkill - does eating at the Roadkill cafe in Sturgis count??

76. Baijiu

77. Hostess Fruit Pie - apple.

78. Snail - chewy and lots of garlic and butter

79. Lapsang souchong - lovely tea

80. Bellini - not loving the peach

81. Tom yum - oh yes - just tried this in the last few years. I love coconut milk.

82. Eggs Benedict - scramble the egg

83. Pocky - I remember sharing pocky - could have gone through boxes and boxes. Like the almond chocolate ones.

84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.

85. Kobe beef - Top Australian chef at a lovely Thai restaurant

86. Hare

87. Goulash - Kuhn's for Sunday dinner

88. Flowers - almost too lovely to eat

89. Horse - almost in Montreal. Blue was up for it - I wasn't

90. Criollo chocolate

91. Spam - NO NO NO

92. Soft shell crab - freaks me out. Eating the endoskeleton. But I will eat eggs - go figure

93. Rose harissa

94. Catfish

95. Mole poblano - rain, centro, deserted restaurant. feet out windows

96. Bagel and lox

97. Lobster Thermidor - a version at Vermillion - not a big hit

98. Polenta - oh yes

99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee - not as great as I thought

100. Snake

New Orleans Roadtrip

I have always loved road trips. Something about touching 5 states in a small amount of time - whether by car or motobike has always thrilled me. In the car, it is the challenge of filling 14 hours with conversation and finding the best pie. Motobike gave me temperature changes and the ultimate test of how long my ass could hold out.

M and I decided to roadtrip down to NOLA for K and E's wedding. I loved the idea - M made faces about 14 hours in the car. We started out late on Wednesday after a lovely breakfast at Southport Grocery. A bit frustrating for me as they did not have my beloved peppadews. I believe I asked if they indeed had them, received an affirmative and then received a salad without them. M thought my frustration was very amusing.

We went straight to Memphis and arrived in time for dinner. As is totally uncharacteristic for me, I had forgotten all my research and we had no clue as to dinner locations. We did know we wanted BBQ - hey its Memphis! M did a quick search on the GPS and lo and behold there was Neeley's. Some of you know Neeley's from the Food Network - family does BBQ. So again I was excited. M was exhausted from listening to my mouth run for 7 hours. And you didn't think I talked much... *smirk*

We ordered the combination platter - brisket, pulled pork, and ribs. It also came with the lovely fatty sides - mac and cheese, cole slaw, etc. The brisket was dry - a disappointment after missing Miss N's brisket this holiday season. The pulled pork was yummy and the ribs were also good. A bit disappointing for so much hype. M and I both agreed we needed more sauce. Maybe its the northerners in us. I was craving the peach cobbler but felt overstuffed as is.

Onto New Orleans....more to come.

Wish List: May Street Market

So how does a Maytag Blue Cheesecake starter sound? Heard great things about this place. Maybe next weekend.

May Street Market

Alternatives to the Lean Cuisine

Ok. I am not a huge fan of the frozen meal. But I have been known to eat a Mac and Cheese Lean Cuisine in an effort to not totally blow my diet and as a way to appease that fat, cheesy craving. I do, however, realize they really are crap and not a great way to fuel my body at work.

Finally, I have found some frozen meals I like and are actually good for me.

I am a fan of Amy's Organics. Her Tamale Pie and Shepard's Pie (vegetarian) are very tasty and low in fat. So check those out.

My favorite frozen meal is Kashi Frozen dinners.

You might know Kashi from their whole grain cereals. Fibery to the point of twiggy but a real hit with my Weight Watchers and health nut cohorts. They also make tasty frozen meals.

Lemongrass Coconut Chicken is very good. As is the Chicken Pomodoro. Lots of fiber as would be expected of Kashi but they also taste very fresh. Lots of vegetables - limited amounts of meat.

The only drawback is they are a bit pricey. Whole Foods have them for $4.99 - Target for $2.69 I think. I usually try to fix my lunch but these are great in a pinch.

Please let me know if you have tried others that you like. They also have pizza! But I think that would be just too much for me. Can you supersize this please?

Where or where are the Peppadews?

I love them...I can't find them. They have disappeared from my favorite salad at the Southport Grocery - Prosciutto Salami Fig Salad.

I had lunch there on Friday and waiting with anticipation. Oooohhhh that salty, spicy, sweet goodness! I like a bite that includes a pepper (only half), a small piece of cheese, and dipped in the tart fig dressing. It is the best. So I waited eagerly...the plate was set down and DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!! Just some limp roasted peppers.

WTF people! I don't ask for much. Just my damn Peppadews. Sorry we are out. Bait and switch - pout.

These wonderful peppers are from South Africa. Sweet and spicy and usually marinated in vinegar. I used to find them in the olive bar at Whole Foods. Then I saw a jarred version at Fox and Obel and then poof.

Please someone help me....where can I find the peppadews!?!??!

Cabbage Hash - Mom Style

So my mother recently came to visit me. I seem to have my food habits from my mother. We both love southern comfort - cut our teeth on it actually. But we both are a little too vain to just let ourselves eat to the point that they have to cut us out of the trailer. So we have this strange love/hate thing with food. We both make decadent food and then ask ourselves out of eating it. So during her last visit I asked her to help me make some healthy meals.

A side note: My mother is a fabulous cook. See past posts for more of her mighty tasty recipes.

Cabbage Hash: Simple, healthy but tastes so good!
1 head of cabbage, shredded
1 turkey kielbasa, diced
2 red peppers, diced
1 large sweet onion, diced
2 tsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Heat a large dutch oven and add 2 tsp olive oil. Add the turkey sausage and onions. Saute until the onions are translucent. Add red pepper and saute until softened. Lower heat to medium, Add cabbage and saute until soft cabbage is soft. Add more oil if the cabbage is slow to soften. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Lots of fiber - plus salty and a little sweet from the red pepper!

So its been a while...

My relationship with food has been a bit contankerous over the last few months so please forgive the hiatus. When one seeks food for comfort and to fill voids that really should be filled in another way...writing a food blog can be a bit complicated.

But I digress...in an effort to shift my experience of food I have focused on healthy options. There will still be plenty of yummy bad food too. ;-) But all things in balance...can you tell I am in therapy? LOL

This Christmas I received two wonderful food related gifts...

1. A delicious raw food chocolate pie from JB. I do not have his recipe but I think this is similar...don't be put off by the avocados. This is extremely decadent and amazingly healthy!

Avocado Chocolate Pie

2. And TIVO. How is Tivo food related? Almost all the programs I record are from the Food Network. I am now addicted to Nigella Express and Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger. Ellie has a fabulous new cookbook out. Highly recommended!

Later..my mom's healthy cabbage hash!

Sturgis Bike Rally - A food wasteland

Welcome back from the food wasteland that is Sturgis, South Dakota.

I enjoy almost any "free" trip - business or pleasure - regardless of the destination. It is a chance to enjoy a different location's delicacies - so I say send me anywhere!

As a last minute trip, I was sent to Sturgis to report back on my company's promotion for the Sturgis Bike Rally. Harley Davidson riders rejoice! I am a BMW girl myself. Indoctrinated into the cult by JB years ago. So the Harley scene was foreign to me as was South Dakota.

So good little foodie that I am, I did my food homework. Some suggestions in Rapid city (flew in there), then nothing. NOTHING for Sturgis. I should have known.

I headed out to Sturgis on sunday morning only to find myself stranded in the Denver airport. The Red Rock Bar was suggested for beer and so I headed there thinking alcohol. The trip was turning out to be a bear and I wanted a margarita. I also was starving and ordered bbq'd brisket. I am a huge fan of brisket since my step mom is a fantastic chef in the way of brisket.

Ugh - good margarita, run from the brisket. Chewy, nasty and too sweet. I wolfed it down anyways and staggered out to wait for my next flight out.

My trip was off to a bad start and it was not destined to get better. These eyes have seen sights and these tastebuds have tasted things that no woman should ever be subjected to at the age of 36.

Sturgis was a carnie's haven. Funnel cake, fried everything, The Famous "Infamous" Roadkill Cafe where yours truly ate Green Chile Buffalo Cheese Fries while watching a 16 year old with painted on stars for nipples and wearing a leather g-string that rode up in places that made me squirm.

The grocery store was anti-fresh fruit and whole grain. SD is beautiful - the food horrific. Rapid City lent some veggies and fresh fruit at one of the only slow food establishments. Portobello sandwich, fresh fruit, glass of Rose. I entered the Delmonico Grill and asked 2 questions.

Do you have vegetables and are they fried?

Yes and no.

I almost cried.

And so goes Sturgis, SD.

Off to Sturgis, South Dakota

I should have some great food stories from the Black Hills. Sorry about the lag time in posting. I have to work the event for work. Talk soon!

Vegging in San Francisco

So last weekend I headed out to see Mom in San Francisco. My parents have a great house on the canal in Foster City, Ca. I got to sit and read and sun my toes all weekend.

My mother has a great love of food also. So when left to our devices, we shop and eat. Pure decadence. My mother and I always agree on food. So we made reservations at our 2 favorite places. Greens and Millenium. One vegetarian and one vegan. Both are some of the best restaurants in the US.

Neither one of us are strict vegetarians but we love THINKING that we are eating healthy even if its just an illusion.

Saturday night was Greens. I made a reservation using Open Table. If you haven't joined, give it a try. I rack up tons of points by choosing the 1000 pt reservation times. The restaurants are never crowded and I get a keen gift certificate in no time. We arrived at 6:45, a perfect time to catch the sunset over the Golden Gate from a table by the window.

Saturday nights are prix fix at Greens. I ordered a sparkling Rose and mom had Might Leaf chamomile tea. (another fav!) We started with pickled vegetables and a cheesy rice cake with creme fraiche. Both were delicious. I am sorry I didn't take pictures but I didn't want to be distracted from eating.

For dinner, mom had a vegetable curry and I have the filo pockets stuffed with fresh vegetables, tomato sauce and cheese. Both were incredibly flavorful and not what you expect from a vegetarian offering. Too many vegetarians plates are bland and lifeless. The key to vegetarian cooking is spice and not overcooking the vegetables.

Dessert was a fromage blanco cheesecake for me and a Meyer Lemon layer cake for mom. Both were so rich we couldn't finish.

The next night was a trip to Eric Tucker's Millineum.

I started the evening with a Strawberry Mojito. Incredibly delicious and I love the strawberries in CA.

Here was our menu.

• Zaatar & Garlic Spiced Hand-Cut Frittes with whole grain mustard aioli - AMAZING I could just eat these.
  
• Grilled Asparagus Salad with little gem lettuce, creamy pink peppercorn "ranch", sun dried tomato relish, crisp spring garlic chip
  
• Strawberry Salad with pecans and red wine vinegarette
  
• Seared Emerald Rice CakeIndonesian red coconut curry with winter root vegetables, lemongrass tofu, bok choy & shiitake mushrooms, pineapple sambal, toasted peanuts


• Sesame Brown Rice for mom


• Chocolate Almond Midnight with almond cashew crust, mocha chocolate filling, raspberry sauce, white chocolate mousse


• Sweet Ending - assorted truffles & house-made cookies

Too much great food....good to see mom and good to relax.