October 2008

Halloween has never been my favorite holiday. I don’t care for thrasher movies, I don’t like costumes, and I really don’t enjoy too many candies. My spirit was further broken a couple of years ago when I had to work on Halloween and decided to put the candy out in a basket on my porch with a “please take a handful sign.” I bet you can imagine how that went - twenty minutes later no candy, no basket.

I haven’t totally sworn off Halloween. I do enjoy a good pumpkin carving (although my sister is the carving star in my family), I like the sound of leaves crunching as you walk around town, and I think that is fun to see the kids all geared up and racing around. In an effort to try to get in the spirit I connected with a few friends to offer up some seasonal, whole-foods based holiday treats - perfect for munching on while you spend the night answering the door. [click to continue…]

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While I have pantry space dedicated to my slow-cooker, it spends most of its days living on the counter. It’s not that I am too lazy to put it away (well, maybe sometimes) but I actually end up using it every other day because it is just that handy. For example, yesterday morning I browned the meat, sauteed the vegetables and then chucked everything into the slow-cooker. When I got home, the house smelled great and dinner was ready to go - it doesn’t get any better than that.

This is a fun and simple recipe that was inspired by Kristin at the Kitchen Sink, who posted a great Beef Stew Recipe a couple of weeks ago. If you haven’t checked out Kristin’s website, zip over there and give it a look. I am always impressed by the variety of recipes she churns out, especially considering she is just starting off her law career! [click to continue…]

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You might recognize these as Sloppy Joe’s, but when I ran across a wiki article that mentioned that they are also known as Yip Yips I had to go with it. Yip Yips is just way too much fun.

Turns out what I have always called Sloppy Joe’s has a bunch of aliases: Yip Yips in southeast Illinois, Wimpies in northeastern Pennsylvania, and Slushburgers in the midwest. What do they all have in common? Ground beef, ketchup, seasonings, and a big mess. [click to continue…]

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On the final leg of my cross country trip I started off a great meal at Lolita (Cleveland, OH) with a roasted beet, fresh ricotta, and honey salad, it was delicious. I knew I wanted to give this salad a try when I got home and when I saw a colorful variety of beets at the Montpelier Farmer’s Market, it was a go.

What I enjoyed most about this salad is that the beets were lightly roasted so they still had a bit of a bite to them. Ricotta and honey are always a decadent match, but I was surprised at how well they worked with the beets, coating them with a rich, creamy texture. The lightly dressed arugula is a great contrast to the beets and ricotta; it offers a peppery and slighty bitter bite. The only thing this salad was missing was a bit of crunch, so the next time I make this I am going to add a toasted pine nut garnish. [click to continue…]

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When it comes to traveling, I am a planner. I like to know way ahead of time where I am going to stay, what I am going to do, and where I am going to eat. Some might say that this takes the fun and excitement out of traveling, that I miss out on those serendipitous experiences of stumbling upon a gem bed and breakfast, or discovering the best brisket ever. But to me, not planning is like playing the slots, where you pursue an elusive jackpot with the odds stacked against you.

Most of my friends and family spend some time planning their trips, usually booking the hotels and activities ahead of time. But they tend to go the gambling route when it comes to food and dining. When I am planning a trip I like to do a little bit of research and put together an eating itinerary, which helps take away stress during traveling, heightens my overall experience, and ensures that I get good value for my dining dollars.

planning for feelgood eating on the road

My first stop when planning an eating itinerary is Chowhound, which in my opinion is the most helpful restaurant resource on the web. The reviews on Chowhound are generally fair and the Chowhound members seem to really know their stuff. With an emphasis on narrative and description, Chowhound avoids rating systems that aren’t very helpful (if it is three stars for you, does that mean it is three stars for me?).

The rule of thumb with Chowhound is to search before you pose a new question/start a new thread - sometimes the hounds get aggravated with repeat requests. If you can’t find what you need through a search, then start a new post and be as specific as possible (not “heading to San Francisco-where should I eat?”). It’s considered good chowhound courtesy to follow the thread and thank those who respond. [click to continue…]

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I am a bit picky about nachos. When I’m at the movie theater or ballpark concession stand, I’ll pass on the stale chips smothered in bright orange velveeta. Ditto for the pub or taqueria where they erratically pile on the ingredients so that the chips on top end up overloaded and soggy, while the chips on the bottom have nothing to offer. The best nachos, by far, are built and crafted at home.

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last supper in berkeley: salmon with fruity mole

Like my friend Jim said, “It’s been a great run.” After two and a half years of California living, all of my gear is packed up and I have begun the trek back to Vermont. It’s not going to be easy trading in flip-flops and sunglasses for boots and a shovel but I am looking forward to changing seasons, rolling green mountains, and a slower pace. [click to continue…]

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