Tag Archives: food

May 10, 2012 · 3:54 pm

I can sandwich that*

The words, “I can sandwich that,” are heard almost daily in my house. I’ve found that my complete lack of cooking skills is made up for by my creativity. I can turn leftovers into lunch the next day pretty easily. (Although sometimes I turn them into dinner as well, if we have enough left.) Here are some recent examples:

- Prime Rib. We had prime rib one night last month, and had enough left over for dinner the next night. I sliced the prime rib as thin as I could without cutting myself, trimming off most of the fat as I went along before tossing the meat into a baking pan along with the remainder of the au jus (that was poured into the same bag as the meat the night before to keep it moist.) I baked it on 300 for around 20 minutes before slapping it onto some toasted sandwich rolls and throwing slices of provolone on top. Instant dinner!

- Josh’s awesome BBQ chicken. My husband makes an awesome BBQ sauce. (I can’t give away the recipe, as I don’t know it.) We had BBQ chicken straight from the grill one night. The next evening I ripped the rest of the meat off of the three giant chicken breasts, then dunked all of the meat into the sauce container to coat it thoroughly. It went into the oven to warm up before being made into sandwiches. No cheese required, this time. :-) It looked like this:

BBQ chicken goodness

- Leftover spaghetti sauce. (Okay, this isn’t a sandwich.) I made a “Mandy’s Mega Meaty Pizza” one night with leftover spaghetti sauce. The sauce already had ground beef in it, but I added pepperoni and salami to the pizza anyway. I took a ready-made pizza crust, spread a thick layer of sauce on it, then added slices of mozzarella and provolone cheese – enough to overlap all of the slices, leaving no section un-cheesed (if that’s not a word, it is now.) Then I topped that with a layer of pepperoni and salami, and a shredded mozzarella and provolone blend. After I pulled the pizza out of the oven (I think it only had to bake for around 15 minutes) I sprinkled parmesan on top. It wound up being around an inch thick. Maybe I should rename it “Mandy’s Mega Meaty and Cheesy Pizza?”

And no, I really can’t cook. My repertoire consists of mac n cheese, creative leftovers, and all things deep-fried. I do have a few baking skills, thanks to 8th grade home ec, but you can’t live off of cookies and brownies. Trust me, I’ve tried.

 

*This headline was inspired by Portlandia’s “We Can Pickle That” sketch.

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April 3, 2012 · 7:19 pm

Tasty Easter dinner recipes

If you’re still flummoxed over what to serve for Easter dinner, check out these recipes, both courtesy of Ronco.com.

Boneless Ham with Brown Sugar Pineapple Glaze

1 (16 ounce) can crushed pineapple

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 4 pound boneless fully cooked ham

In a small saucepan stir together the crushed pineapple, brown sugar and dry mustard. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Insert the spit rods evenly through the ham and brush with some of the pineapple mixture. After 45 minutes of rotating, brush with pineapple mixture again. Rotate an additional 10 or 15 minutes, or until the ham reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees. Serve sliced ham with some of the pineapple mixture on top.

Dijon-Garlic-Rosemary Rubbed Lamb Roast

Serves 6-8

1 clove garlic, cut into slivers

1/2 cup Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 leg of lamb (4 1/2 – 5 pounds), boned and tied

Combine the garlic, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, rosemary, ginger and olive oil in a small bowl.

Add lamb and turn to coat with marinade. Cover and chill at least 6 hours or up to 1 day turning meat over several times.

Rotate the lamb on the spit rods for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 135 to 140 degrees for medium on the thermometer, basting several times during the last 10 minutes. Untie, slice and serve!

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February 11, 2012 · 3:16 pm

Photo of the day: A colorful dish

The trick to making awesome stuffed peppers (or, what my husband insists on calling Spanish rice)? Including yellow and orange peppers alongside the green ones. I like to toss in a red sweet pepper, too, but didn’t grab one this time.

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December 21, 2011 · 8:25 pm

Check out the Let’s Eat! Android app

I don’t know about you, but when I’m hungry I need to eat asap — or else someone’s going to lose an eye (or worse.) My husband will testify to that: he’s been on the receiving end of that disaster in progress. Add that fact and the road trips that we enjoy together, and you’ll have the makings for a disaster of epic proportions, especially if I’m both tired and hungry.  But then I discovered the Let’s Eat! app.

That’s what’s cool about the Let’s Eat! app that I just downloaded onto my (Android, thank you very much) phone. Instead of having to wander through reader reviews and 10,000 menu options to find something nearby, I just have to let the app find my location and then everything within 1km, or around .62 miles, pops up. With the help of Google maps, it even gives me directions on how to get to the restaurant, diner or gas station of my choosing. Yes, I’m not above eating a gas station hot dog. Most of them are quite tasty. But, I digress…

The graphics on the app are simple and straightforward. You don’t need any flashing or blinking icons, or any annoying restaurant reviews when all that you want to do is find something to eat before your wife starts beating on you. (Right, Josh?)

You can find the Let’s Eat! app on the Android Market here, or search from your cell phone. For 99 cents, how can you go wrong?

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September 21, 2011 · 12:47 pm

Photo of the day: A weird yet tasty food combo…

Why yes, that IS a mac n cheese and Canadian bacon sandwich on toasted French bread. Got a problem with that?

 

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September 6, 2011 · 3:50 pm

Who wants some free Riceworks?

I admit to having a weakness for anything sugary. Chocolate doesn’t last long in my house. However, I do like salty things on occasion. The worst of them (that I LOVE) are Munchos. So, when I was given the chance to try Riceworks, I jumped on it. And now you can, too.

Riceworks crisps (not chips!) are made from brown rice. They’re wheat-free, gluten-free, vegan, and contain no trans fats. There are five different flavors to choose from: Parmesan Tomato, Tangy BBQ, Sea Salt, Salsa Fresca, Sea Salt & Black Sesame and Sweet Chili.

And now one lucky reader can try five flavors (whichever flavors they want) for free!

Just leave a comment below (along with your name and email address) describing your favorite snack or junk food weakness by Friday, September 9th at 5pm eastern time. The winner will receive five coupons, each good for a free bag of Riceworks.

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February 8, 2011 · 3:15 pm

Quick bits from around the web

 I’ve started a blog on Food Blog. Here’s my first post, A    quick introduction. It’s going to contain quick reviews of individual dishes, recipes, and my thoughts on food. I’m still going to keep the restaurant news and reviews for Examiner.com.

Also, I’ve taken the Goodreads 2011 Challenge. I’m going to attempt to read 100 books this year. I’ll keep you posted on my progress!

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· 1:48 pm

Updates and things

Well, so much for the grand Superbowl Pre-week that I had planned. I currently have two cookbooks and a watch to review that I didn’t have a chance to write about last week.

What happened?

My husband wound up in the hospital with pancreatitis and pneumonia. He spent three days there on a clear liquid diet with an IV stuck in his arm. Thankfully he’s home now, and okay, but it interrupted my work week and now I have a TON of catching up to do.

 However, I did learn that hospital food is good.  I had some excellent General Tso’s Chicken from the cafeteria for lunch one day that was better than the stuff I order from Hunan of Stow. And I also ordered in a room service “guest” meal one night. For $5 I wound up with meat lasagna, grilled vegetables (zucchini, squash, mushrooms and onions), a salad with ranch dressing, a roll with butter, plus a piece of cherry pie and some vanilla ice cream. Oink. Leave it to me to find tasty food even in a hospital.

So, coming up this week I have a bunch of book reviews and some pre-Valentine’s Day posts, along with multiple updates on my kittens and some other stuff. It’s going to be crazy!

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January 3, 2011 · 4:24 pm

Mmm…. Chocolate; Check out truffle truffle!

If I had to name my number one favorite food, the answer would be CHOCOLATE! And if I had to narrow it down further, I’d go with chocolate combined with other things, like pretels, cookies, peanut butter, and wasabi. Wait, wasabi?

Photo by Derek Hatfield

Yes, you read that right. I’ve tried it (and liked it) with pretzels, so why not with chocolate? Nicole Greene, the pastry chef and creative mind behind Chicago-based artisnal chocolate company truffle truffle has combined wasabi powder with white chocolate ganache for her Hot & Spicy collection.  

Here are the details:

Hot & Spicy Collection:

Inspired by ingredients used to heat up taste buds around the world, this unique collection of truffles and caramels incorporates spices from Mexico, India, Japan and everywhere in between. Explore the frenzy of flavors with your valentine with this sweet and spicy journey around the world.

 
truffles

 

·      wasabi: white chocolate ganache combined with wasabi powder

·      curry: milk chocolate ganache infused with a house-made sweet and spicy curry blend and a hint of coconut milk

·      spice: dark chocolate ganache infused with cloves, allspice, ginger and a pinch of saigon cinnamon

·       chili: milk chocolate ganache with ancho, chipotle and cayenne peppers in a milk chocolate shell

Photo by: Derek Hatfield

caramels

·      mole: truffle truffle’s original caramel recipe with a unique blend of chilies, spices, ground nuts and chocolate

·       spiced curry: house-made curry blended with the original caramel recipe and the addition of chipotle pepper

·      Thai peanut: caramels infused with the flavors of roasted peanuts, lemongrass, ginger and chili

·      cracked peppercorn: freshly-cracked pink peppercorns add a pop of spice and heat to truffle truffle’s salted caramels

If those sound too spicy for you, check out this collection:

Culinary Couples Collection:

Photo by: Derek Hatfield

Like Valentine’s Day itself, this collection celebrates the simple fact that some things are just meant to be together. Just as loving couples are better together than apart these classic combos of ingredients go hand-in-hand for the perfect marriage of flavors…in bite-size form!

truffles

·      peanut butter & jelly: a milk chocolate shell surrounds white chocolate ganache mixed with house-made raspberry preserves and organic peanut butter filling

·      cookies & milk: white chocolate ganache is combined with chocolate chip cookie crumbles and rolled in white chocolate

·      beer & pretzels: the original truffle truffle culinary couple, milk chocolate ganache is combined with American chocolate stout, enrobed in milk chocolate and rolled in crushed salted pretzels

·      coffee & doughnuts: a tiny doughnut hole is rolled in rich coffee buttercream, enrobed in chocolate and finished with cinnamon sugar

Photo by: Derek Hatfield

caramels

·      chocolate & peanut butter: a classic rich combination is even more decadent when combined with truffle truffle’s delicious salty caramel recipe

·      maple & bacon: the addictive combination of pure maple syrup and organic Applewood smoked bacon is ensconced in the smoky salted caramel

·      strawberry & banana: a tasty throwback to the childhood favorite of the perfect pairing of ripe bananas and fresh strawberries with the original caramel recipe

·      apple & cinnamon: the familiar & comforting notes of apple & cinnamon fill these chewy caramels

I don’t think it  gets any better than a strawberry and banana caramel and a peanut butter and jelly truffle. Do you?

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December 22, 2010 · 8:44 pm

Starting the new year with new tires

I received my Christmas present from my mother-in-law this past weekend. She asked me awhile ago what I needed, and I told her that I needed tires for my car, so that’s exactly what I got. Four Yokohama’s, an oil change, and a four-wheel alignment. Then it turned out that my right front tie-rod end was shot, along with the wheel bearings, so she paid for those repairs, too. Technically this counts as a gift for this Christmas, my birthday next year, and possibly next Christmas. :-)

 Now, for my New Year’s Resolutions: I’m making them early this year. (Christmas Resolutions?) I’m not going to make the standard stop procrastinating/send more birthday cards/ see more movies  resolutions, because I’m already working on those. This years are more career-oriented, with the exception of the first one. So, here we go:

Resolution #1) To eat healthier. I’ve already started this one. I’ve cut back on the junk food (except for today when I had a candy bar for breakfast) and am drinking more water. Rather than the sugar-laden Vitamin Water that I adore, I tried HINT water. It has just a little bit of fruit juice, hence the name “HINT” and is quite tasty. The fruity taste shows up a bit more when it’s warm, and it has no calories or fake sugar, so that works for me. So far the mango-grapefruit is my favorite flavor. I’ve also tried the Wings of Nature Organic bars, since those are way more healthier than the granola bars that have chocolate chips in them. The cranberry crunch bar was my favorite of those. I usually don’t like cranberries unless they’re dried and coated in sugar, so I was pleasantly surprised. I also enjoyed the Almond Raisin Bar. All of the Wings of Nature bars are soft and low in both calories and sugar. They’re certified organic, and believe it or not, are made in Canada. (You all know how much I love Canada!)  I haven’t tried the Espresso Coffee Bar yet, so I’ll have to keep you posted on that one.

Resolution #2) To work on my book. I started it last month, as part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), but am nowhere near completion. However, for non-fiction, all I need is a good book proposal to shop around to agents, so that is my goal for 2011: to get closer to having a book published. I’m not expecting lightning to strike, but if I can get the book finished and (hopefully) some sort of literary agent by the end of 2011, I will be happy.

Resolution #3) This one is more civic-duty minded. I’m planning on joining the Lorain County Civil Air Patrol sometime next year. Probably once the weather settles down. I’ve been told that they need help with their public relations, and that’s right up my alley. It’s an all-volunteer organization, and they need help. Also, I’ve already signed up to be a volunteer Watershed Steward for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I’ll be going to local board and planning committee meetings to make sure that they don’t approve anything stupid that will mess up the local waterways. I’ve been complaining about what other people call “progress” for years, and now I’m going to be in a position to do something about it. I’ll probably be doing more for the CVNP once the weather gets warmer and their other programs kick in, too. (And I’m dragging Josh in to both of those. He gets to join me.)

So, with 9 days left in 2010, I’m already off on the right foot. What are your New Year’s Resolutions?

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