Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Six sticky sucker sticks
Some interesting reading
_The_Worst_Food_in_America_of_2009
(Whats wrong with what we eat)
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=5YkNkscBEp0
"Mark Bittman is a food writer known for his simple recipes and no-nonsense style. A self-proclaimed home cook, Bittman is not a trained chef but developed an interest in food through his career as a journalist. He is the creator of The New York Times cooking column The Minimalist (now in its eleventh year), accompanying web videos, and his daily blog, Bitten. He's the author of several cookbooks and he appears regularly on both commercial and public television."
Pressing the 'reset' button
But sometimes it is easy to overlook that. Or at least develop a complacency.
As silly as it sounds, occasionally I forget that we are living life in the slow lane complete with vegetable patches, miles of hedgerows and an abundance of wildlife all around us.
Perhaps it is something to do with the weather. During the spring, summer and even into autumn I spent a significant amount of time outside. Digging over the soil to make room for vegetables. Sat in the sun eating a fresh salad for lunch. Lying on the lawn and writing. Picking blackberries from beyond the sharp thorns of the brambles or scrumping apples from the abandoned orchard next door.
But come the chill of winter, the rain, the frost and the wind, spending time outside has not been an appealing option. The world seems to have narrowed to the point that, now that January is here, the only thing that really exists are the four walls of my office.
Then something will happen to remind me why we moved here in the first place, something presses my reset button and allows me to open my eyes for a brief moment and actually see.
I was in the kitchen making some breakfast when I heard a faint knocking at the back door. Too quiet to be a neighbour or the postman I looked out of the window to see that the hens’ run was empty.
Sure enough, there they were, the three of them waiting by the back door for handful of something tasty – dried fruit or some seeds.
I sent them on their way with a handful of chopped dates whilst I made do with a toasted hot cross bun and a mug of steaming tea, consumed in the garden with the sun just beginning to peep over the skeletal trees. Certainly worth braving the cold for.
ROCKY ROAD FUDGE RECIPE - Valentines Delicious Recipe
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 cups miniature marshmallows, divided
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
1/4 cup margarine or butter
1 (12 ounce) package semisweet chocolate pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (10 to 12 ounce) can mixed nuts
How To Prepare ROCKY ROAD FUDGE
In 2-quart glass measure, microwave sugar, 1 cup marshmallows, evaporated milk, and margarine on High for 4-1/2 to 6 minutes until marshmallows are melted, stirring once during cooking. Stir; cook for another 1-1/2 minutes.
Stir in chocolate and vanilla until smooth. Fold in nuts and remaining marshmallows.
Spread in foil-lined 8x8-inch baking pan.
Refrigerate until firm. Cut into 24 pieces.
This is a microwave recipe.
BLACK AND WHITE CHOCLATE FONDUE RECIEPE - Valentines Special Recipes
1 cup (250 mL) whipping cream
10 oz (280 g). semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 tbsp (30 mL) Grand Marnier, Kahlua or other liqueur
2 oz (56 g). white chocolate, chopped
things to dip: fresh strawberries, sliced bananas, orange segments, cubed pound or sponge cake, biscotti, cookies
How to Prepare:
Bring cream just to a simmer, then remove from heat. Add the semisweet chocolate and stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in the liqueur.
Transfer mixture to a small ceramic fondue pot over a tea light candle.
Sprinkle the chopped white chocolate over the dark chocolate mixture, let stand for a minute or two to allow it to melt, then gently run a spoon through two or three times, just until marbled.
Serve with an assortment of fresh fruit and chunks of cake for dipping.
Servings: Makes about 4 servings
BROWNIE PIE RECIPE - Valentines free Recipes
1 (20 ounce) package chocolate brownie mix with pecans
1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup milk
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1/4 cup shaved semisweet chocolate, for garnish (optional)
How to Prepare Brownie Pie:
Make brownies in a 9x13 inch pan according to package directions. Bake and cool.
In a small bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Whisk until smooth. Allow to set up 5 minutes, then spread over cooled brownies. Spread whipped topping over pudding layer. Garnish with shaved chocolate and crushed chocolate wafers immediately before serving. Store leftovers in refrigerator.
CHOCLATE CANDY HEARTS RECIPE - Valentines Day Recipes
Plastic heart-shaped candy mold
Red, white and cocoa colored candy melts
Sandwich bags (zipper, not pleated)
Scissors
Spoon
Wax paper
Plate
Wooden skewer or clean craft paint brush
RECIPE FOR VALENTINES DAY CHOCLATE CANDY HEARTS
Put a handful of candy melts into an open zipper sandwich bag.
Microwave candy in bag for 30-40 seconds or until melted.
Cut one corner of the bag with scissors to squeeze melted candy through.Caution: Bag may be hot, so use paper towel or a pot holder to handle it.
Gently squeeze chocolate out of bag and into the molds.
Tap the side of the mold tray to knock out any air bubbles and flatten chocolate.
Place in refrigerator until set.
Pop out of molds and serve.
DECORATION
Polka dots - Use the flat end of a wooden skewer or a clean craft paint brush to dip into melted chocolate. Dot onto molds, then refrigerate. Remove mold from refrigerator when solid, then add contrasting color according to directions above.
Drizzles - Use a spoon to drizzle melted chocolate across the molds by sweeping a spoon back and forth and allowing chocolate to fall in streams. Refrigerate until solid. Add contrasting color according to directions above.
3D Drizzles - Use the spoon method above, however this time drizzle the chocolate over solid candy that you have already made and let set, rather than drizzling into the molds.
For More Valentines Recipes Click Here
Irish blog awards
Thank You Kindly .
This blog has been Nominated for the Best food and Drink Blog.
Bord Bia Sponsor the Food and Drink award .
- Here are the list of Nominated blogs (I have to say I do like many of these way more than mine )
Best Food/Drink Blogs
Ruth's Kitchen Experiments: justaddeggs.blogspot.com
Well Done Fillet: welldonefillet.blogspot.com
Sour Grapes: sourgrapes.ie
Italian Foodies: italianfoodies.wordpress.com
Forkncork: forkncork.com
Cheapeats.ie: cheapeats.ie
Ifoods.tv: ifoods.tv/blog
Food Culture West Cork: foodculturewestcork.wordpress.com
Food And Drink: foodanddrinkireland.blogspot.com
Bubble Brothers: bubblebrothers.com/blog
Ice Cream Ireland: icecreamireland.com
The Good Mood Food Blog: thegoodmoodfoodblog.com
The Daily Spud: thedailyspud.com
Curious: The Curious Wines Wine Blog: curiouswines.ie/blog
A Food Journey In Korea: macs-foodkorea.blogspot.com
Olliesplace: olivermoore.blogspot.com
Little Bird Eats...: littlebirdeats.wordpress.com
Cookzors: cookzors.com
Messy-chef » Recipes And Reviews: messy-chef.com/blog
Robert Francis Wine Review: robertfranciswine.ie/wordpress
The Other Black Stuff: theotherblackstuff.ie
Tast.ie: The Spicendipity Irish Food Blog: tast.ie
Bibliocook: All About Food: bibliocook.com
Lidl Treats: lidltreats.com
Eater's Regret: eatersregret.wordpress.com
Cully And Sully: cullyandsully.ie
Vals Kitchen: valskitchen.com