Food and Wine – Carol's Notebook

Gelato

May 19, 2015 by Carol2 Comments

Tonight is the first church softball game of the season. David plays, usually as the catcher. He enjoys it and amber and I usually go and watch the games. Sometimes we go out for ice cream afterward. I kinda wish we could go out for gelato, but while they sell it at the grocery store, we don't really have a gelato shop locally. Gelato is a delicacy that has been a part of human history for more than a millennium. As far back as 3,000 BC, cultures in Asia began the custom of consuming ice that was crushed and topped with different flavorings. Flash forward five centuries into the future and Egyptian pharaohs were offering their guests crushed ice that was mixed with fruit juices. Later the Romans adopted this culture. They would collect ice from the volcano Vesuvius, and they would mix it with honey and serve it as a dessert. Gelato, as it is currently known, had start during the...

Review: Sous Chef by Michael Gibney

August 6, 2014October 17, 2014 by Carol6 Comments

Title: Sous Chef: 24 Hours on the Line Author: Michael Gibney Published: March 25, 2014 by Ballantine Books Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Add: Goodreads Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository | Audible The back must slave to feed the belly. . . . In this urgent and unique book, chef Michael Gibney uses twenty-four hours to animate the intricate camaraderie and culinary choreography in an upscale New York restaurant kitchen. Here readers will find all the details, in rapid-fire succession, of what it takes to deliver an exceptional plate of food—the journey to excellence by way of exhaustion. Told in second-person narrative, Sous Chef is an immersive, adrenaline-fueled run that offers a fly-on-the-wall perspective on the food service industry, allowing readers to briefly inhabit the hidden world behind the kitchen doors, in real time. This exhilarating account provides regular diners and food enthusiasts alike a detailed insider’s perspective, while offering fledgling professional cooks an honest picture of what the future holds, ultimately giving voice to the...

Friday 5

May 23, 2014 by Carol10 Comments

1. A breakfast sandwich is typically made with some kind of bread with egg, cheese, and some kind of breakfast meat. What’s the best variation on this theme you’ve tried, or what variation would you like to try? I like the simple scrambled eggs and cheddar on a bagel. I prefer them without meat, please. 2. A sandwich cookie is typically made with two thin cookies with some kind of sweet, creamy filling. What’s the best variation on this theme you have tried, or what variation would you like to try? Oreos are my favorite. Do they have mint ones, because those would be perfect. 3. A melt sandwich (such as a tuna melt) is typically some kind of bread with some kind of filling plus some kind of cheese, grilled or fried until the cheese is melted. What’s the best variation on this sandwich you’ve tried, or what variation would you like to try? I'm not a sandwich person really, but I have...

V is for Vegetables

April 25, 2014April 25, 2014 by Carol8 Comments

I don't like vegetables. That's not entirely true but that's what I say. There are some veggies I love - roasted cherry tomatoes, roasted carrots, eggplant, but most I can take or leave, usually leave. I hate peas and Brussel sprouts (yes, I've tried them). But the benefits of eating veggies far outweigh the "I don't like them," so I'm trying. Last night we had chicken and mushrooms and I served peas for David and Amber. Instead of just passing on the veggie myself, I microwaved up some baby carrots. I tend to like vegetables cooked but not overcooked. Summer's coming and pretty soon it'll be time to plant the garden. I find myself much more likely to use vegetables when I can just go out to the backyard and see what's ripe and plan the meal around that. We'll have cucumbers, zucchini, a couple types of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, broccoli. I'm not sure what else. In the meantime, Everyday with Rachael Ray...

B is for Bananas

April 2, 2013April 3, 2013 by Carol23 Comments

First, some banana trivia. The banana "tree" is not really a tree, but a giant herb. The banana is the fruit of this herb. The cluster of bananas sold in supermarkets is a "hand" of bananas, while the individual bananas on the hand are called fingers. It is believed by many experts that bananas were the first fruit cultivated by humans. Worldwide, bananas are the fourth largest fruit crop. Alexander the Great first came across bananas in India in 327 B.C. Bananas were introduced to the United States at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Celebration, where they were sold wrapped in foil for 10 cents each. The average American consumes 28 pounds of bananas per year. India is the #1 banana producer in the world. In Uganda, bananas are such a big part of the diet that the same word, matooke, is used for both "food" and "banana." The pejorative term "banana republic" was coined by American writer O. Henry. He used it in reference to Honduras, but the term...

Pinterest Contest Finalist and Baked Acorn Squash

November 28, 2012December 10, 2012 by Carol17 Comments

I was actually going to try a couple of recipes and include them all in one Pin It and Do It Post, but I need a little help. Before I talk about my Baked Acorn Squash (which was delicious!) I have to beg for your likes and repins of my Dream Theme Party Board. I'm a finalist in the contest and your votes count. "Like or Repin your favorite party!" The winners will be announced on December 5th and who wins is based on "your votes and the judges." My Dream Party Board - It's an Italian birthday party. On to my Pin It and Do It post. I made Baked Acorn Squash last night. Acorn Squash is one of those things you always see in the grocery stores in fall and to be honest, this year is the first year I've actually tried cooking it. Turns out I love it - at least with brown sugar and syrup. Of course, I...