September 29th, 2008

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Gadget: Seltzer Maker by Soda Stream

Monday, September 29th, 2008

There are two types of people: those who love bubbles in their beverages and those who don’t give a rip.

I’m a carbonation lover but on most occasions avoid soda. The regular versions make my teeth feel like they’re disintegrating into a sticky mess, and the diet versions make me feel… well, guilty. My preferred source of carbonation is seltzer water, which is to New Yorkers what milk is to Midwesterners: a tonic from an early age and, a couple of generations back, delivered to your doorstep.

I would love to drink seltzer daily but hate lugging it back from the grocery store. A year ago on a trip to Vermont I made my fiance (who was a mere boyfriend at the time) go to a supermarket and load up the trunk with seltzer since we had a CAR (rented) and driving it back 6 hours to our doorstep in NYC seemed too good an opportunity to pass up. We didn’t get engaged that weekend.

Enter Soda Stream, which just came to my local coop. Imagine: carbonation in my daily life without without the weight OR the trip to Vermont (not to mention without the sticky teeth OR artificial-sweetener-induced guilt). I’m going to have to see how much it costs.

Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Granola

Monday, September 29th, 2008

There are two types of people: those who eat breakfast and those who don’t.

Thankfully, this recipe works for both types. Granola is tasty with milk in the morning but is also good in the afternoon or as a midnight snack.

There are a lot of granola recipes out there but I have to admit that most just don’t cut it for my no-nonsense, minimal-fuss and, perhaps most importantly, dishwashing-avoiding priorities. Melting butter, mixing things in various bowls, etc etc… and by then I don’t even read the rest of the steps.

Apple Cinnamon Granola the Easy and Healthy Way

Recipe by Hilary

2 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup demerara sugar mixed with 1/4 cup water

1 small gala apple

1/2 Tbsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400F. Put parchment paper on the biggest cookie sheet you own. Spread rolled oats evenly on top and pour sugar/water mixture on top. Sprinkle cinnamon. Cut apple (with skin) into little pieces and add. Bake for 20-30 minutes, stirring every 5-10 minutes, until oats turn golden brown. Apples will be a little shriveled.