mizchef

30Jan

National Snack Food Month

Hi, all. I hope everyone’s sage and warm in the latest wave of winter wonderland-ness that’s hitting various parts of the country and the world. All I have to say is, “BRRRRRR.” This is the kind of weather that sends people running to comfort food, stuff that’s warming and that reminds us of our childhoods. Of course, comfort food means something different to everyone.

Which brings me to my topic for this week: February is National Snack Food snacks Month! Now, snack food is not necessarily comfort food, but for some, it is. And it’s particularly appropriate that I’m writing about snack food today because I’m craving it for an entirely different reason, and it is a source of comfort for me during those times. I think you know what I mean. Moving on…

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Filed under: Food Around the World, Food Holidays, Healthy alternatives, New Food, Recipes, Uncategorized
Tags: national snack food month, pita chips, snack food, snacks
No Comments

30Oct

Gourmet on the Go (TM)–Product Review

Hi, gang. I decided to do a product review this week because I enjoy trying new (or new-to-me) products on the market, and when I encounter something that could be useful to others, I like to share.

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Filed under: Miscellaneous foodie stuff, New Food, Uncategorized, alcohol
Tags: Gourmet on the Go, St. Dalfour
2 Comments

16Oct

Mountain Pies

When I was 16, my parents took me on a European tour. It was one of those bus tours, where you travel with a bunch of people for two weeks from place to place. We hit London, Paris, Lucerne, Venice, Florence, and Rome. I wish my palate had been more sophisticated then, because that’s a foodie’s dream. But, since I was only 16, don’t expect some European food manifesto.

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Filed under: Miscellaneous foodie stuff, New Food, Regional foods, Road food, Uncategorized
Tags: Beau Jo's, mountain pie, New York pizza, pizza, prairie pie
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28Aug

Kasha and Knishes

Hi, gang. First thing’s first: I want to remind all my fellow writers out there that there are only a few days left to submit to Skulls and Crossbones, the female pirate anthology. Quick, polish up those stories and send them in! Make sure to follow the guidelines and send them to pirateanthology@gmail.com.

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Filed under: About Food, Ethnic food, New Food, Recipes, Regional foods, Uncategorized, cooking
Tags: kasha, kasha and bows, kasha and bowties, kasha varnishkes, knish, Yonah Schimmel's knish bakery
1 Comment

15Aug

There’s Always Something New

Hi, all. This past month has been a constant sampling of new and differennt foods and beverages (well, they’re new to me). Just this past week alone, I tried two jars of salsa that I picked up in Virginia. They were locally made and there was nothing in them but fresh produce and some cane sugar. One of them was a vidalia onion-peach salsa that was absolutely fantastic. The other was a summer garden salsa, with all sorts of minced veggies in it. It was such a treat to eat something that wasn’t filled with preservatives and all kinds of things that I can’t pronounce, and I was glad to support a small business.

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Filed under: Ethnic food, New Food, Recipe Tests, Regional foods, Uncategorized, baking, cooking
Tags: Ancient Harvest, buckwheat, buckwheat raspberry cake, buckwheat raspberry muffins, celiac disease, DeBoles, gluten-free, local products, Lundberg, Russian soda, sun-dried tomatoes, Tinkyáda, wheat sensitivity, wheat-free
2 Comments

02Aug

Muffulettas, Beignets and Throwed Rolls

Hi, everyone. Just got back from a two-week road trip Friday afternoon. My fellow road warrior, Andi Marquette, and I hit 14 states! We started in Colorado on Sunday, July 19, headed southeast through Oklahoma and Texas, then drove along the Gulf Coast through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, then down to Orlando by Thursday for a writers’ conference. (Andi, by the way, won an award for Best Mystery Novel.) On Sunday, we headed farther south to Ft. Lauderdale to visit a couple of friends of mine, then hit the road again on Tuesday, heading north. We went through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and finally New York.

The adventure begins…

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Filed under: About Food, Ethnic food, Food History, New Food, Regional foods, Road food, Uncategorized
Tags: beignets, Cafe du Monde, Central Grocery, chicory coffee, deep-fried peanuts, Gulf Coast, Lambert's Cafe, New Orleans, Road food, throwed rolls
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19Jun

Using Ingredients in Unusual Ways

Hi, gang. I’ve been a cooking fool lately. I am determined to finish the testing of the recipes for my cookbook-in-progress within the next few months. I don’t have a full-time job, so if not now, when?

Part of this testing is about stepping outside of my comfort zone and cooking with ingredients and methods that I am not accustomed to (i.e., that I grew up with). And since I’ve been working on this book since 2002, I’ve been doing that for quite some time. So, I really think nothing of taking an ingredient and using it in an usual way.

Let me explain…

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Filed under: Cooking Tips, Culinary Experiments, Ethnic food, New Food, Recipe Tests, Uncategorized, cooking
Tags: bunuelos, cheese patties, pear soda, skulls and crossbones, unusual products
1 Comment

01May

Tempeh

Hi, gang. Hope everyone’s doing well. We had some pretty kooky weather here in New York—92 degrees on Tuesday! In April? Crazy, man. Global warming is starting to freak me out.

Today, I’m going to talk about tempeh. People often ask me what it is and I tell them it’s a soy product. “Oh, like tofu?” they ask, understandably. Well, yes and no. It is related to tofu in that is is made with soybeans but it differs completely in taste, texture, and production.

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Filed under: About Food, Culinary Experiments, New Food, Uncategorized, cooking
Tags: tempeh
2 Comments

National Snack Food Month

Gourmet on the Go (TM)–Product Review

Mountain Pies

Kasha and Knishes

There’s Always Something New

Muffulettas, Beignets and Throwed Rolls

Using Ingredients in Unusual Ways

Tempeh

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