For The Beer Lover in You

I love beer. No doubt about it and if my father was still alive he would be proud. In fact, we'd probably be at Ruli's every Tuesday night trying out all the amazing styles Ruli's carries. As much as i love beer i'll be honest that i don't know all my terms,styles, etc (shame on me). At first i didn't really know the difference between a pale ale and a lager. Now i do. How? One amazing site called THE BEER ADVOCATE. You can subscribe to their magazine, and my personal favorite you can check out where all the beer festivals are on their calendar, they even have an educational section where you can learn the styles,etc of beer. Check out this site. It is so worth making it a favorite if you're a beer lover like myself. CHEERS!!!

Ice Cream...You Scream

Ever hear people swoon and moan about the fresh homemade ice cream they had? Or see some special on the Cooking Channel that someone opened up their own icecream shop? They have evrything from savory ice cream, like a proscuitto flavor, to homemade bon-bons.
Check out Sweet Rose Creamery.

Doesn't it just make you wanna start creating your own ice cream? Ok, well for us foodies it challenges us. It then hit me i bought a Cuisinart Icecream maker at William and Sonoma and brought it with me in my suitcase (imagine that going through a checkpoint). It's been rated the easiest and most efficient ice cream maker around and i have yet to use it.

It's worth the $60 at William and Sonoma.
Or is you have one of those amazing-does-everything KitchenAid mixers there is now an attachment for it so you can make icecream

Ice Cream Maker attachment $65 at William and Sonoma. Best thing is they also have a video you can watch to see how it works. If you feel like you're an ice cream addict and need something more intense, or manlier, check out Cuisinarts Supreme ice creammaker

Want to step it up a notch and make your own waffle cones?

Waffle Cone Express $50 Have a love for popsicles? Try the Zoku Popsicle Maker Kit

If you have a sweet spot for frozen yogurt and sprinkles perhaps this mega station might do the trick?

Mix It In Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker For the pro try the Lussino Stainless Steel icecream maker

More of a gelato fan? De Longhi can hook you up for around $300

Prefer to get a bit of a workout with your ice cream? Try and Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker. You put your ingredients in a ball and kick it about until it's ready.

If you like to keep it old school you can always had over to Target and pick up an Aroma 4-qt machine

 And if you need recipes? Ideas? William and Sonoma has a plethora of them on their website. Also try these books:

The Ice Cream Bible

The Vegan Scoop (for the vegan..obviosuly) and lactose intollerant.

The Ultimate Ice Cream Book
Don't forget the Food Network also has quite a collection of recipes online from their various chefs.
So whether it be winter or summer...how can anyone say no to ice cream? and after all these resources i think it would be rude if you did! LOL :)

Taco Lover's of the World Unite!

i just realized all my guy friends must be laughing at the title of this blog and for that i will say shame on them.ANYWAYS! seriously though..i love tacos. I am never NOT in the mood for one. They're ingenius!
So simple! just a corn tortilla filled with the simplest ingredients and you can spice em up in a variety of ways..
turkey tacos,chicken tacos,shrimp,pork,sirloin,veggie meet,tuna,fishh...the lst goes on.
Add some pico de gallo, cilantro,asian chili sauce,Tabasco...the possibilites are endless. Believe it or not though i don't own a taco plate and a friend of mine just recently pointed that out. I usually overstuff mine and they spill out all over my plate which i then end up eating "morrocan style" byt he time i'm done.
And to think all the years my father was alive he neevr owned one either. My dad LOVED tacos. My mom would make her soft shell tacos and i swear i remember putting 12 of them on a plate and then on a tray with chipotle peppers and Tabasco and jalapenos,etc. My dad used to put different hot sauces on each one and i guess like daughter like father (or the other way around? i forget how it goes...LOL)...
So i thought i would share some of the ones my friends have suggested to me.
BELOW...someone so kindly invented the Taco StandUP

Or the oh-so cleverely named Taco Proper

i'm not sure i could keep a straight face with the Tito Chihuahua taco holder at Overstock.com for $27.99

or there's the Taco Solution holder but that would limit me to just two tacos..which probably is a good thing

Or for the more simple and elegant..go for the Walter Drake taco holder

or for the minimalist...the basic taco rack

or for the Southwest-obsessed..http://www.sageceramicgifts.com/Frames/Taco%20Shell%20%20Salsa%20Set.htm

If you know of any other holders that the rest of the world must see please feel free to leave a link to them!

Step Up to the Plate

I am in need of some serious dinnerware so whilst i was shopping about for some i came across quite a few interesting collections. Unfortunately i can't decide which one i want....check out these fabulous finds to seduce your table with...

K.F. Plate from CB2 only $4.95 each.

the Shrimp plate from the Oliver Appetizer plates at CB2

the Sushi Dunk plate from CB2 where you put your soy sauce in the center and lay your sushi around the center. $7.95

Dog Rectangle Dessert Plates for al lyou animal lovers out there from West Elm

the Soup and Sanwhich set $30 at Uncommon Goods

and i think my overall favorite...Mr. Food Face PLates $12

Vice Versa

I love food. I love to cook. Perhaps that's why i haven't blogged in so long? Ooops.
This new year has been quite impressive so far.
I stumbled upon these awesome cups in a local shop and was curious to see what else they had...dear god...please let me hold on to my paycheck..this is now my favorite cup to have tea from everyday...

this goes well for any of us that have dated any losers in our life and got "stabbed" in the heart with

this ought to make you think twice about what you eat perhaps the next time you have to weigh yourself?

make your baby standout with this hilarious bottle...

or the next time you spill something in your kitchen you might have a sense of humor when cleanign it up

or if you need your nuts cracked...

i find their goodies scattered throughout various stores but i am sure they'll be more than happy to hook you up with a list of stores that sell their stuff. it's so worth it.
VICE VERSA

Guilt-free Baked Goods..Even for the Vegan at Heart

So i saw a special on this bakery in New York called Babycakes. Like me, Erin Mckenna discovered she had a sensitivity to wheat,dairy,etc (although i am still stubborn and eat it). So she's created all these baked goods using everything from garbanzo bean flour and all natural sweeteners like agave nectar

She also put out a cookbook so you know what i am heading to the nearest Barnes for....

or click here to purchase So perphaps this holiday season you can feel a little less guilt, have a lot less allergies (thannnk God!!!) and make that Vegan in your life a little more happy. And if you wantt o know more about the ingredients that are used click here. Most of these can be found at your local Whole Foods or natural foods grocery store. Happy baking!

This Year's Thanksgiving Turkey

so honestly...i hate turkey...ok well i don't completely hate it but now that my father has passed it has never been the same to have a HUGE Thanksgiving feast for just me and me mum. Last year's Thanksgiving was me making Ina Garten's (the Barefoot Contessa's) fabulous version of turkey. It was just a boneless turkey breast with fabulous herbs and white wine.

this herb roasted turkey breast turned out soooooooooooooo delicious. This year though i knew Ina would come up with yet another fantastic way to make turkey interesting and this year i am attempting to make her Turkey Roulade....and of course i won't leave out the cognac gravy. Best thing is if there is just two of you it's the perfect size so you don't end up with a huge bird carcass in your fridge for the next few weeks.






COGNAC GRAVY
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter


1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (2 onions)

1/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Defatted turkey drippings plus chicken stock to make 2 cups, heated

1 tablespoon Cognac or brandy

1 tablespoon white wine, optional

1 tablespoon heavy cream, optional

Directions

In a large (10 to 12-inch) saute pan, cook the butter and onions over medium-low heat for 12 to 15 minutes, until the onions are lightly browned. Don't rush this step; it makes all the difference when the onions are well-cooked.
Sprinkle the flour into the pan, whisk in, then add the salt and pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the hot chicken stock mixture and Cognac, and cook uncovered for 4 to 5 minutes until thickened. Add the wine and cream, if desired. Season, to taste, and serve.