Some Stuff is Better in Brooklyn

Sometimes i don;t care if i have to get online to order something from out of state. It makes me feel special, curious,etc. How often can one say they ate a marshmallow from Brooklyn today? Anyone? So let me introduce you to Whimsy and Spice.

do you like biscotti?

brownies?

have you ever had a REAL handmade marshmallow?

you can order goodies online.

perphaps a deluxe sampler gift box (shown below) for $48

or homemade marshmallows made in six different flavors?

whatever tickles your sweet tooth perhaps you should spoil yourself with a lil bit of Brooklyn? dontcha think?

BENTO boxes

What is a Bento lunch you ask?

Well according to Wikipedia ....."  Bento (弁当, bentō?)[1] is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container. Containers range from disposable mass produced to hand crafted lacquerware. Although bento are readily available in many places throughout Japan, including convenience stores, bento shops (弁当屋, bentō-ya?), train stations, and department stores, it is still common for Japanese homemakers to spend time and energy for their spouse, child, or themselves producing a carefully prepared lunch box."

"Bento can be very elaborately arranged in a style called kyaraben or "character bento". Kyaraben is typically decorated to look like popular Japanese cartoon characters (anime), characters from comic books (manga), or video game characters. Another popular bento style is "oekakiben" or "picture bento", which is decorated to look like people, animals, buildings and monuments, or items such as flowers and plants. Contests are often held where bento arrangers compete for the most aesthetically pleasing arrangements."

So where can you get a Bento box? try http://bentosets.com/. Also there's or Laptop Lunches and  buyasian4life. You can even get a playset for your little one. I kinda think they're perfect because they are just the right amount of food. A little protein, a little starch.Here are  some more places to buy a bento set:

• http://www.jbox.com/TOPPROD/BN#BENTO138
• http://home.pronto.com/mpm/shop/boxes-bento/c-v1_4_49_266/psz-0/?adid=1201561759-6460469-0_gs&creativeid=3183823870&ref=boxes+bento&site=
• http://korin.com/s.nl
• http://www.plasticashop.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=P&Product_Code=BNTOBX&Category_Code=KF

It's so amazing how they REALLY get into this. Check out the Hello Kitty bento lunches below: ( not somehting i imagine you men taking to work...LOL)

How Do You Want Your Eggs?

So i was trying to make breakfast for my "boys" (collection of guy friends) and when i asked them how they took their eggs I Just expected to hear "scrambled" but i got "sunny side up", "fried hard", and "poached". Say wuh? I must admit i take pride in being a woman who knows and loves how to cook but i must say i don't know how to cook the full range of eggs. For anyone else out there who doesn't let me enlighten is. LOL
SUNNY SIDE UP: eggs are fried on one side only, with the yolk remaining runny.

FRIED HARD:(BELOW)eggs are fried on both sides with the yolks broken until set or hard...also called "over well" or "over hard".

OVER MEDIUM — cooked on both sides; the yolk is of medium consistency and the egg white is thoroughly cooked.

OVER EASY, also called OVER LIGHT RUNNY— cooked on both sides; the yolk is a thin liquid, while the egg white is partially cooked. "Over easy" fried eggs are also commonly referred to as dippy eggs or dip eggs by Marylanders and by Pennsylvania Dutch persons living in southern Pennsylvania, mainly due to the practice of dipping toast into the yolk while eating.

SCRAMBLED EGGS: when the yolks and whites are beaten together and then cooked.

POACHED EGGS (my dad's favorite)- an egg that has been cooked by poaching, that is, in water. No oil or fat is used in its preparation

they even have special pans to get them just right (see below)

There is also an art to making a perfect omellette. it's all in the timing. My friend Ruli, owner of Ruli's International Kitchen in downtown El Paso, has mastered the art of making the perfect omellette. So if there are anyother ways i have missed out on please comment below and share it. In the meantime my boys are quite happy now that i can accomodate making their various style of eggs. Spoiled brats. LOL