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SIMPLE FOODIST QUICK TIP / LEMON ZEST IN BURGERS
Add the zest from a small lemon to burgers for a great taste, you’ll never want to make burgers without it again. Promise. When you’re preparing the meat to make the patties, just be sure to mix well.
Zest is the outermost rind of citrus fruits (usually lemons and oranges). The white portion of the peel under the zest is unpleasantly bitter and generally avoided by limiting the peeling depth.
To remove the zest from the lemon, you can use a utensil called a zester (if you have one), a sharp paring knife or vegetable peeler. I don’t own a ‘zester’ so I actually used a small hand cheese grater with thin holes to grate off the yellow portion of the rind. (See picture above).
(Photo taken with an iPhone 4S)
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Gifts for everyone! Love to cook, eat, drink coffee or tea? (2011 Gift Guide)
PANTRY ESSENTIALS - BOURBON STYLE
Bourbon Barrel Foods uses old bourbon barrels (hence the name) to impart a sweet, smoky flavor to otherwise predictable pepper, sea salt and paprika. Owner Matt Jamie also uses the barrels for his small-batch soy sauce that is fermented naturally — not bad for a Kentucky boy. Certain Top Chef contestants are rumored to keep a stash of his Bourbon Barrel Aged Worcestershire Sauce to create their own sweet and smoky culinary magic.
TURNTABLE KITCHEN PAIRING BOX
The Turntable Kitchen Pairings Box is a curated food and music discovery experience, delivered to your door. $25/month.
You’ll get a limited-edition, hand-numbered 7-inch vinyl single featuring a pair of tracks by one of TK’s favorite artists/bands. An exclusive, downloadable TK-curated digital mixtape. A collection of three completely original, seasonal, themed recipes for you to try. You won’t be able to find them anywhere else. 1-2 premium dried ingredients for you to make 2-4 servings of each dish or drink (depending on each month’s theme).
SEASONAL VEGETABLES AND HERBS
Squash, sage, leafy kale: there’s no doubt, winter is around the corner and it’s time to start planning a cozy feast. With more than 600 types of edible flowers, vegetables, micro-greens and herbs, The Chef’s Garden farm grows some of the most sought-after ingredients in the country. This CSA-style basket will arrive teeming with produce grown in the rich Ohio soil near Lake Erie. Consider it the ultimate grab bag.
PRE-SEASONED CAST IRON 8 INCH SKILLET
Seasoned, ready to use. A kitchen’s most essential item. The even heating of cast iron is necessary for golden, tender, perfectly pan-fried chicken. What other cookware can rival the heat retention, versatility, value and durability of cast iron.
PRE-SEASONED CAST IRON 10 1/2 INCH ROUND GRIDDLE
An even heating cast iron griddle is essential for big breakfasts, tortillas, quesadillas, roasted vegetable, grilled sandwiches and pancakes. Pre-seasoned ready to use.
PRE-SEASONED CAST IRON CAST IRON GRILL PRESS
Seasoned and ready to use rectangular grill press is designed to improve your stovetop and outdoor grill favorites. Great for eliminating curl from bacon or ham and improve the presentation of many other foods. The grill press effectively holds heat in grilled sandwiches and “presses” out unwanted fats in burgers and other meats. The heavy-duty cast iron base has a unique hammered finish and features a safe “cool-grip” spiral handle.
CUISINART STAINLESS STEEL CORDLESS ELECTRIC KETTLE
Fast heating, this electric kettle brings up to 1-2/3 liters of water to a rolling boil in a matter of minutes. Better than that, it offers six different preset heat settings, which allows for steeping tea or boiling water for coffee at just the right temperature depending on the variety.
FLAME RETARDANT OVEN MITT
Use this elbow-length, quilted flame retardant mitt to avoid hazardous kitchen accidents Pull out oven racks or handle hot pans without fear of being burned. Extra long mitt protects you all the way to the elbow; much more coverage than your standard oven mitt.
SILICONE MINI PINCH BOWLS, 4 PIECE SET
Mini Pinch Bowl Set - A set of 4 miniature pinch bowls each measuring 2.5” x 1.5” are ideal for prepping cooking ingredients or serving condiments. Made of flexible hi-heat resistant silicone that doesn’t absorb tastes or odors.
STAINLESS STEEL MIXING BOWLS
A bowl for every task. This set of six stainless steel mixing bowls with easy-grip rims, holds from 2 cups to 8 quarts of ingredients for mixing, prepping and serving. Freezer- and dishwasher- safe.
SERIOUS EATS / BOOK
Ed Levine and the editors of food blog SeriousEats.com bring you the first Serious Eats book, a celebration of America’s favorite foods, from pizza to barbecue, tacos to sliders, doughnuts to egg sandwiches, and much more. Serious Eats crackles with the energy and conviction that has made the website the passionate, discerning authority on all things delicious since its inception in 2006.
THE SILVER SPOON / BOOK
The Silver Spoon, the most influential and bestselling Italian cookbook of the last 50 years, is now available in a new updated and revised edition. This bible of authentic Italian home cooking features over 2,000 revised recipes and is illustrated with 400 brand new, full-color photographs. A comprehensive and lively book, its uniquely stylish and user-friendly format makes it accessible and a pleasure to read.
ETHICAL COFFEE
Hand-picked at Gus Santos’s family plantation in the mountainous cloud forests of northern Nicaragua, this high-grade, delicate Arabica coffee is then sun-dried (no artificial heating or chemicals) and processed at our quality-controlled partner coffee mill, Esperanza Coffee.
The coffee is smooth with nutty and chocolatey hints and no harsh aftertaste. Done in a dark-medium roast, it’s dark enough to make a great espresso, but still light enough to taste amazing as your morning cup of pot-brewed coffee.
COFFEE JOURNAL
33 Coffees is a coffee journal that provides an easy way to quickly record coffee tasting notes in a small, convenient notebook format. It’s perfect for coffee novices and pros alike. It’s perfect for coffee aficionados, geeks, nerds, layabouts and other fans of the roaster’s art.
CRAFTCOFFEE SUBSCRIPTION
INTELLIGENTSIA GIFT CARD
TONX COFFEE SUBSCRIPTION
Fresh roasted coffee beans delivered to your door twice a month, $35.
AEROPRESS
WAVE COMMUTER MUG
BODUM BISTRO ELECTRIC BURR COFFEE GRINDER
Ask any coffee connoisseur and they’ll tell you that in order for coffee beans to develop their full flavor profile, they must be ground right before coming in contact with hot water. This is where the bistro electric burr coffee grinder comes in and becomes part of the coffee making ritual. The Bistro is continuously adjustable - twisting the upper bean container determines how finely ground the beans will be. With over 14 settings from coarse to fine, you can deliver the ideal grind for any brewing method.
HARIO COFFEE DRIP KETTLE
Shaped like a beehive, this stylish stainless steel kettle is perfect for coffee dripping. A long, slender spout allows for a slim and smooth flow when pouring. It features a black easy-grip handle and a lid with three mini ventilation holes. “best new product” winner at world tea expo 2009.
HARIO V60 COFFEE SERVER
- Coffee server heat proof glass pot
- All of Hario’s V60 brewers will rest snugly on this server for clean, efficient brewing and serving.
- Thick glass retains heat longer and is more resistant to breaking.
- Entire server is microwave-safe.
HARIO V60 DRIPPER, SIZE 02
- Designed for manual, pour-over style coffee brewing.
- Brews one to three cups at a time.
- Works well with V60 size 02 paper or cloth filters.
- Very hands-on brewing, allowing you, the user, to control brewing time and temperature.
- Ceramic body is durable and helps prevent heat loss during the brewing cycle.
- Don’t forget the filters for it.
PLANETARY DESIGN AIRSCAPE
Planetary Design has revolutionized the century old art of brewing coffee and tea via French Press. Now Planetary Design has revolutionized the old problem of storage with the Airscape. Air is the enemy of many things, including numerous food items. Unlike canisters that lock the air inside with the contents, the AirScape is an innovative container that removes substance-eating air. Great for storing coffee, tea, brown sugar, cookies and much more.
PREMIUM LOOSE-LEAF TEA SUBSCRIPTION ($17 p/month)
THE STORY OF TEA / BOOK
BREVILLE ONE TOUCH TEA MAKER
The Breville One-Touch Tea Maker is a revolutionary tea experience. The fully automated tea basket moves down, then up, gently agitating the leaves to precisely infuse your tea. Push the basket button and watch the basket cycle in and out of immersion. Seeing is believing. Different tea varietals such as Black, Green, White, and Oolong require exact water temperatures and controlled brew times to allow their unique flavors and aromas to develop during brewing. The One-Touch Tea Maker eliminates the guesswork so you can enjoy a perfect cup of tea, every time.
SAMOVAR JASMINE PEARL ORGANIC GREEN TEA
One of my favorite teas.
SAMOVAR GLASS PITCHER
This glass pitcher is the ideal vessel for admiring the color of teas and herbal infusions. Use it with the black infusing basket… or without, if you want to experience the unfurling of the leaves in full view. It’s a beautiful pitcher, I have one myself.
INFUSING MUG
The Infusing Mug is functional, beautiful and super-sturdy Samovar favorite. Available in white and red, the infusing mug was designed as a clean, modern take on an Asian-style tea-infusing cup.
ARMED WITH TECHNOLOGY TEA INFUSER
Preparing a cup of perfectly steeped tea is always within reach when you’ve got this high-tech companion in your kitchen! Designed with a set of curving hinged arms that cling to the rim of your mug, this radiant robot makes sure the flavor is flowing through petite perforations on both sides of its futuristic metal frame.
GLASS TEAPOT WITH METAL INFUSER
TEA MASTER
The Teaopia Tea Master is truly the best tool for infusing loose leaf tea, because it allows the water to fully encompass the whole leaf, providing optimum flavour. The Tea Master brews perfectly clear tea every time. Tea will dispense when the Tea Master is placed on top of a cup. Lift it up and it stops pouring.
SANGRIA TEA
This summertime favourite has been transformed into a delicious Fruit Tea. Our Sangria consists of apple pieces, hibiscus, grapes, orange peel, papaya pieces, pineapple pieces, mango pieces, strawberry slices, lemon peel and lemongrass.
YUM.
TEAOPIA STARTER SET ($65.00)
The Starter Set comes with all the essentials you need to make the perfect cup of tea, including the Tea Master (BPA FREE), Perfect Teaspoon, Tea Timer, German Rock Cane Sugar, two Tea Tins and a gift box. Also included are two of Teaopia`s favourite teas: 50g of Pomegranate Green (Flavoured Green Tea) and 50g of Wonderful White (Flavoured White Tea). Our Starter Set simplifies the loose leaf tea process making it perfect for first time tea drinkers or connoisseurs. The Teaopia Starter Set is an ideal gift for anyone on your list.
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GRILLED SOUTHWEST CHICKEN WRAP
I felt like making wraps for dinner so I took some of my favorite ingredients and put them together with some shredded chicken, turns out it was a fantastic flavoring and took under 20 minutes to do.
INGREDIENTS (Serves 4)
- 3-4 Small Chicken Breast
- Southwest seasoning or chipotle seasoning
- 10 Slices of Bacon
- 2 Avocados
- 1 1/2 Cup Feta Cheese
- 2 Cups Shredded Cabbage
- 2 Cups Tomato Salsa
- Package of Tomato Basil or Tomato Herb Wraps
- 1 TSP Olive Oil
THE METHOD
- Grill plain chicken breast with a little olive oil
- Once you’ve got the grill going, start your bacon. When it gets nice and crispy, set aside to drain on a paper towel.
- When the chicken has been cooked, toss in a frying pan with your seasoning and some water for about 3-4 minutes to finish. (check the seasoning package for measurements)
- Put the feta, avocado, cabbage, salsa, and bacon together on the wrap with your chicken and serve!
Tip: Throw the wraps on the grill for a minute or two to get them a little crispy before serving. Makes all the difference!
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ARANCINI W/BASIL PESTO AND RED SAUCE
This meal is not light by any means, but in moderation makes for a tasty dinner. The recipe makes 4 large rice balls or 8 small ones. Accompanying the arancini with a side salad definitely balances out the starches. Great for a nice Sunday meal or served up as appetizers to be shared.
PAIRS WELL WITH
- Side Salad w/Oil & Vinegar
- A Dry White or Red Wine
INGREDIENTS (Serves 3-4)
- 1 TBSP Olive Oil
- 1 TBSP Finely Chopped Fresh Thyme
- 6-7 Fresh Basil Leaves Finely Chopped
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 Small Onion, Finely Chopped
- 1 Clove Garlic, Crushed
- 1 Cup Uncooked Arborio Rice
- 1/2 Cup Dry White Wine
- 3 1/2 to 4 cups Boiling Chicken or Vegetable Stock (I used vegetable)
- 2 ounces Cubed Prosciutto
- 1/2 cup Finely Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 Egg, Beaten
- 1 TBSP Milk
- 4 Ounces Mozzarella Cheese, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
- 1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Dry Bread Crumbs
- 1 Cup Vegetable Oil for Deep Frying
- *2 Cups Red Sauce
- **1 Cup Basil Pesto Sauce
THE METHOD
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook, stirring until onion is soft but not browned. Pour in the rice, and cook stirring for 2 minutes, then stir in the white wine, and continue cooking and stirring until the liquid has evaporated. Add hot chicken or vegetable stock to the rice 1/2 cup at a time, stirring and cooking until the liquid has evaporated before adding more.
- When the stock has all been added, and the liquid has evaporated, stir in the prosciutto. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat, and stir in the parmesan cheese, basil and thyme. Transfer the risotto to a bowl, and allow to cool. TIP: I suggest making the risotto the night before and allow to cool in the fridge overnight, this will make it easier to form the rice balls. Alternatively you can put the risotto in the freezer for 30 minutes if you are making the same day.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining egg and milk with a fork. Roll 2 tablespoons of the risotto into a ball. Press a piece of the mozzarella cheese into the center, and roll to enclose. Coat lightly with flour, dip into the milk/egg mixture, then roll in bread crumbs to coat.
- Heat oil for frying in a deep-fryer or large deep saucepan to 350 degrees. Fry the balls in small batches until evenly golden, turning as needed. Drain on paper towels. Keep warm in a low oven while the rest are frying. Top with red sauce and basil pesto.
—Adapted from Allrecipes.
*pesto and red sauce will be published in a future post-sorry kids! -
(Photo taken with an iPhone 4S)
JOEBEAN COFFEE ROASTERS
I dropped in to visit a local coffee roaster today and was pleasantly surprised by the vibe and the brewing process for each cup. You can pick from 3 different types of beans that have been freshly roasted and choose how you’d like it brewed.
I chose a fabulous cup of Rwanda Gisenyi Coopac brewed Hario pour over style.
If you live in Rochester, New York you should check out JoeBean Coffee Roasters on University Ave. If you don’t, I highly recommend ordering some beans from their site.
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HERB BAKED EGGS & MASHED POTATOES
PAIRS WELL WITH
- Medium Roast Coffee
- Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
- Toasted Brioche or 12 Grain Bread
INGREDIENTS
- 4 Cups Mashed Potatoes
- 4 Eggs
- 1/4 TSP Minced Fresh Garlic
- 2 Whole Cloves Fresh Garlic
- 1/4 TSP Minced Fresh Thyme
- 1/4 TSP Minced Fresh Rosemary
- 1 TBSP Freshly Grated Parmesan
- 2 TBSP Milk
- 1 TBSP Unsalted Butter
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper
- Toasted Brioche or 12 Grain Bread, for serving
THE METHOD (serves 2)
- Preheat oven at 375 degrees.
- In a small pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add in the 2 whole garlic cloves (crush the garlic slightly). Saute until the garlic starts to brown. Remove garlic cloves and pour oil into a small cup. Set aside until the egg dish is ready to serve.
- Combine the minced garlic, thyme, rosemary, and parmesan and set aside.
- Place mashed potatoes into a small baking dish and spread evenly across the dish.
- Place 2 tablespoons of milk and 1 tablespoon of butter across the dish and place in the oven for about 6-7 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
- Carefully crack 4 eggs (without breaking the yolks) across the dish and sprinkle evenly with the herb mixture, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place back in oven for about 15 minutes, until the whites of the eggs are almost cooked. (Rotate the baking sheet once if they aren’t cooking evenly.) The eggs will continue to cook after you take them out of the oven. Allow to set for 60 seconds, pour garlic oil across the dish and serve hot with toasted bread.
Adapted from Food Network.
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GARLIC OLIVE OIL PASTA W/VEGGIES
A simple and tasty 20 minute pasta dish. Prep time for the veggies is about 5-6 minutes, cooking time is around 15 minutes.
PAIRS WELL WITH
- Semi Dry Red Wine
- Italian Bread
INGREDIENTS (serves 4)
- 1/2 Pound Wheat Pasta
- 1 Red Pepper, Sliced
- 1 Yellow Pepper, Sliced
- 1 Small White Onion, Sliced
- 3 Cloves of Garlic, Minced
- 1/2 Cup Roasted Tomatoes, Halved
- Olive Oil
- 4 Cups Spinach
- 1-2 TSP Red Pepper Flakes (or to taste)
- A leaf or two of fresh basil for garnish
- Salt/Pepper to taste
- Parmesan Cheese
THE METHOD
Put the water on to boil for the pasta. Add the wheat pasta when the water comes to a boil and cook about 10 minutes or until al dente.
Add some olive oil to a hot pan and saute garlic over medium heat. After a minute or two (don’t let the garlic burn!) add in the sliced onions and peppers. Cook until semi-tender.
Add a little salt and pepper along with the red pepper flakes to the pan. Once the veggies are ready, lower heat to simmer and add in the roasted tomatoes. *If you bought roasted tomatoes in oil, drain the oil before adding to the pan, it would make your dish too salty! About 2-3 minutes before you plan to serve add the spinach to the pan and saute together.
Drain pasta and put it back in the pot. Add ingredients from the pan, mix together and add in some extra olive oil.
Garnish each bowl with parmesan cheese and chopped basil. Serve and enjoy!
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(Photo taken with an iPhone 4S)
HOW TO MAKE THE STARBUCKS ‘PERFECT OATMEAL’
It tastes exactly like it (ok, better in my opinion) and will save you money if you frequent Starbucks often for the oatmeal. Nothing can come close to getting out of the house and grabbing some coffee and oatmeal at your local store but now there’s an alternative.
PAIRS WELL WITH
- Dark Roast Coffee
- Espresso Macchiato
- Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
INGREDIENTS
- 1 1/2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons of chopped nut mix (see below for preparation)
- 1/2 cup of dry quick oats (Quaker tastes the closest)
- 3/4 cup boiled water
THE METHOD
- Take an even amount of Pecans, Almonds and Walnuts and chop them up using a chopper or grinder. You can store the mix in a plastic tub for many days of eating oatmeal :)
- Once the water is boiling, take 3/4 cup and pour over 1/2 cup dry quick oats.
- Stir then let sit for 1-2 minutes
- Pour in the remaining ingredients
- Enjoy!
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PROS
- Amazing coffee in under 60 seconds
- Cheap
- Easy cleanup
- No grittiness like a french press
- Smooth taste
- Light & compact, easy to travel with (bonus points for me on that)
CONS
If you’re looking for real Espresso, it won’t produce nice froth but will make a really strong ‘Espresso like’ cup of coffee.
THE METHOD
- Rinse the paper filter with hot water
- 2 scoops of Illy (scoop from the kit) *I used Illy’s espresso dark blend (fine grind) and plan to experiment with Lavazza. I enjoy both brands of beans.
- 180 degree water
- fill water to #3
- stir vigorously for 10 seconds
- press down slowly until you hear air (about 8 seconds)
- drink/repeat! Add more hot water if it’s too strong for your taste.
If you are absolutely against using paper filters (after rinsing, I couldn’t taste the filter), check out this Coava Disk
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CUISINART STAINLESS STEEL CORDLESS ELECTRIC KETTLE
I recently received this kettle as a gift. This has made my morning oatmeal & aeropress (coffee) ritual 10 times better. All you have to do is press one of the presets and you’re off and running.
HIGHLIGHTS
- 1.7-liter capacity
- 6 preset temperatures
- 30-minute Keep Warm option
- Memory feature allows kettle to be lifted off base for 2 minutes without shutting off or losing its place in the brewing process
- Auto shutoff and boil dry protection
PRESET TEMP CONTROLS
- Delicate (160°F)
- Green (175°F)
- White (185°F)
- Oolong (190°F)
- Herbal (200°F)
- Black (Boil – 212°F)
- French Press (200°F)
BUY IT NOW THROUGH AMAZON.
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