I recently brought O Organics White Tortilla Chips to a party. They were a HIT. Gone in minutes.
Was it the fact they are over 95% organic?
Was it because they are lightly fried to a perfect crispness?
Was it thanks to their perfect level of saltiness?
Or was it simply a good ol’ case of the munchies?
We will never know. But does it matter?
Clean Body: The Humble Art of Zen-Cleaning Yourself by Michael Dejong is the perfect book for both the product-averse and the product-obsessed-whose-bathroom-cabinet-can-hold-no-more.
According to the book, 5 kitchen staples–in various combinations–can cleanse, moisturize, exfoliate all parts of our bodies:
1. Salt
2. White Vinegar
3. Lemon
4. Baking Soda
5. Olive Oil
I’m interested in trying some of his “recipes” for body scrubs and face masks. I think I’ll stick with my usual shampoos, though!
I appreciate how Dejong keeps the book light and humorous– far from a militant, anti-consumerist rant, it makes me more willing to give his suggestions a whirl.
I have a friend who loves peanut butter and almond butter but never buys it for herself. Why? She’s afraid that she’ll eat the whole jar.
Now I know what I’m getting her for her upcoming birthday: Justin’s Organic Nut Butter Single-Serve Squeeze Packs!
The 1.15oz squeeze packs (~180 calories and 6-7g protein; full nutrition facts via the linked website above) come in 6 flavors. I’ve tried and loved all of them, but for interest’s sake I’ll rank them:
1. Almond Butter with Maple (very sweet and maple-y)
2. Peanut Butter with Cinnamon (not so sweet and, uh… cinnamon-y)
3. Almond Butter with Honey (um… kinda crystalized and honey-ey)
4. Peanut Butter with Honey (I suck at flavor descriptions)
5. Classic Almond Butter (#5 just since it wasn’t a new flavor for me)
6. Classic Peanut Butter (which, for many people, would be #1)
They’re sold at Whole Foods and many Starbucks. So convenient for throwing into your bag with some crackers, carrots or an apple so that you have a healthy, filling snack for later!
I have a new favorite vanilla. It’s Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract.
I also have a new favorite recipe for tomato soup. It comes from the cookbook pictured above: A Century of Flavor: Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. Guess what it has in it?
The exact recipe title is Fresh Basil-Tomato Soup with Vanilla. I made it on a drizzly night in late March, one of those nights when the apartment is chilly and you realize that your landlord has turned off the heat in your building since spring has technically arrived.
The kitchen filled with the smells of tomatoes, onions, basil, and italian seasoning. And then, a hit of sweetness: vanilla!
A new and welcome combination.
Happy hour was especially delicious last night thanks to LOFT Organic Liqueur– specifically, the Spicy Ginger Cello (pictured furthest left).
I made the following cocktail with it and it was delicious. Strong and not too sweet, which is how I like ‘em. If you like your cocktails sweet, add some simple syrup. And if you’re a lightweight, cut the recipe in half (or better yet, share).
I added ice cubes on top of the muddled limes before adding the alcohols, then stirred.
Spicy Ginger Caipirina
2 oz LOFT Ginger Cello
2 ½ oz cachaca rum
¾ of a whole lime cut into 8 pieces (about 6 pcs.)
Muddle lime before adding other ingredients. Do not strain. Serve in rocks glass.
My long absence from Smorgasbite has been sad, but three happy things came in its place:
1. I got married.
2. I went on a lovely honeymoon to the Mayan Riviera.
3. I started and finished a book for the first time in a very, very [embarrassingly] long time.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Natural Home Remedies (Penguin) had been on my list for a while, and I brought it along to Mexico over others on the list (War and Peace, The End of Poverty) for its ease of reading on the beach with margarita in hand. (Sadly, I couldn’t double fist since I had to hold the book.)
It turned out that this book was great honeymoon reading material for another reason, too. Because we were looking forward to how our lives would be different as a married couple, and because he ended up reading this book too (Germs, Guns and Steel isn’t the most fun honeymoon read, it turns out), we decided on a few things based on what we read.
1. Make a ritual of drinking tea.
2. Don’t be afraid of taking herbs!
3. Get out of the rut of eating the same 5 vegetables.
What wild and crazy newlyweds we are. Watch out New York!