Smorgasbite

Not Blogging All Over Myself: 4

Hilary — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:02:13 +0000

Ideas in Food is a blog where the ideas are neither boring nor predictable, like this puffed cilantro.

Aki Kamozawa and H. Alexander Talbot are bloggers as well as authors, chefs, consultants, scientists, innovators, caterers, photographers and teachers.

Kind of makes me feel lazy.

_______

Not Blogging All Over Myself Series:

1: Hilarious real estate listing photos

2: Tales from a Peace Corp Volunteer in Cameroon

3: Swedish recipes and sketches

Chandelier Sticker Decal

Hilary — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:54:10 +0000

I kind of want one of these chandelier decals above my dining table.

By Cincinnati-based Single Stone Studios on Etsy.

Earl Grey Cookies

Hilary — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:47:46 +0000

Earl grey tea leaves in crispy cookies make for a delicious and unconventional afternoon snack!

Earl Grey Tea Cookies
Adapted from The Kitchn’s recipe

What I Changed (Reflected Below): Whole wheat pastry flour instead of white all-purpose flour for nutrition; Succanat instead of white sugar for nutrition; Pulverized tea leaves before adding to other dry ingredients to ensure tea flavor was distributed evenly.

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup succanat (sugar)
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon Earl Grey tea leaves (emptied from 3 or 4 tea bags), pulverized in spice grinder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon water
1/2 cup unsalted butter

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Pulse together all the dry ingredients in a food processor until the tea leaves are pulverized.

2. Add vanilla, water, and butter. Pulse together until a dough is formed. Form the dough into a log onto a piece of wax or parchment paper. Wrap the paper around and roll the log smooth. Freeze now, or chill for at least 30 minutes.

3. When chilled, slice the log into 1/3 inch thick pieces. Place on baking sheets, keeping room for spreading. Bake until the edges are just brown, about 14 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

Makes ~20 cookies

Serving Tray, Self-Balancing

Hilary — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:11:49 +0000

“Honey, can you walk the drinks around the block?”

“I walked the drinks last night, isn’t it your turn?”

Self-balancing serving tray via A+R Store, $60

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Detox Diet

Hilary — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 23:14:49 +0000

The latest installment of GOOP, Gwyneth Paltrow’s health and lifestyle e-newsletter, deals with New Year’s Detox.

While I find it hard to believe that she needs to lose a few pounds, she does have some nutritious and tasty-sounding recipes including: Broccoli and Arugula Soup, Blueberry and Almond Smoothie, and Teriyaki Chicken.

Happy 2009! What are your resolutions?

2008 Smorgasbite Index

Hilary — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:03:42 +0000

2008 Smorgasbite Index

142 posts divisible by 12 general categories

Dad’s Ham, Olive and Tomato Sandwiches

Hilary — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:01:30 +0000

Ham, olive and tomato sandwiches (H.O.T.s): The new B.L.T.s!

Recipe by Dad

1. Make a B.L.T just like always except:

Swap leftover Christmas ham for the bacon;

Swap pimento-stuffed green olives for the lettuce;

Keep the tomato;

Add mayo or mustard to a bun

2. Assemble and devour.

Note: This tastes best when eaten in the company of your dad. Especially if your dad loves leftovers as much as mine.

Eden Organic Yellow Mustard

Hilary — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:10:29 +0000

I enjoy the Eden Organic brand of yellow mustard.

Ingredients: Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Water, Organic Yellow Mustard Seed, Eden Sea Salt, Organic Turmeric, Organic Paprika, Organic Garlic.

It has a strong mustard taste and a bright yellow color. A little goes a long way so I’ll probably have this jar for awhile.

Dwarf Orange, Lemon, Lime Trees

Hilary — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:24:36 +0000

A citrus tree would be a great buffer against the letdown that generally comes after the holidays. January and February are loooong months, even in non-Leap Years.

Unfortunately they’re only recommended for planting in Zones 8-11, which are least affected by Seasonal Affect Disorder. And are home to the tannest people. Unfair.

Varieties available: Meyer Lemon, Clementine Mandarin, Trovita Orange, Yuzu and Mexican Lime.

Sur La Table, $60

Birdie Napkins

Hilary — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 20:25:18 +0000

Lace Birdie Napkins are 100% cotton and made from Amy Butler fabrics.

Atlanta-based artist Bella Bee sets a good looking table!

Etsy, $28 for 4

Wine Bottle Labels: Funnier than I

Hilary — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 01:02:50 +0000

My crazily-talented friend Ellie designed wine labels for her design company, Flywheel, to give away for holiday gifts.

I’m full of indecision. Whether I could justify becoming a client-quickly!-to get a leftover bottle of this awesome wine.

Whether I’d choose the wine that complements beef or duck or pork.

Whether I could ever be as funny as the backside of the label:

Merry Christmas!

Hilary — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 21:04:32 +0000

May your day be jolly and the food delicious!

(Wrapping paper makes a quick tablecloth.)

Spiced Peach Cranberry Compote

Hilary — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 15:14:31 +0000

Spiced jarred peaches and cranberries come together for a delicious warm compote. Perfect for Christmas morning or… even Christmas Eve morning!

Spiced Peach Cranberry Compote

Recipe by Hilary

1 28-oz jar Rosie’s Spiced Peaches*

1 bag frozen or fresh cranberries

Dash of cinnamon

Sugar to taste

1. Drain syrup from jarred peaches into heavy medium saucepan. Add cranberries and stir. Heat on medium, covered, stirring occasionally, until cranberries pop.

2. Think about how large you want your peaches to be in the compote. If you’re serving the dish on its own plate, perhaps you want to keep the peaches as halves. Or, maybe you want them to be smaller, in which case you should cut them now. Also, discard the couple of cloves from the jarred peaches- they’ll be difficult to remove (and to remember to remove) from the final dish.

3. Add peaches to cranberries and stir. Sprinkle the dash of cinnamon (being careful not to let it get clumpy) and stir again. Add a bit of sugar and taste. Then continue adding sugar until you’re happy with the level of sweetness.

4. Serve warm.

*I was very pleased with Rosie’s Spiced Peaches (Stello Foods) in this recipe. The peaches are beautiful and the spices add a wintry flavor and aroma to the compote. You could also use your own canned peaches and spices. Fresh peaches technically could work, but fresh peach season doesn’t align with hot-fruit-compote season so well.

Croutons Homemade by Mari

Hilary — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:06:11 +0000

As a kid I ate only croutons from a salad. Now I love salad and eat everything in them but the croutons since they usually taste old and bland.

Leave it up to my friend Mari to bring over homemade croutons that leave me loving them again. Crispy with olive oil and garlicky, they’re lovely on her velvety chestnut soup or any salad.

Mari’s Croutons

5-6 slices white bread, crusts removed

1 tsp crushed garlic

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lay one bread slice flat, cut 1/2″ strips lengthwise, then 1/2″ strips crosswise (resulting in small cubes). Repeat with remaining slices. You should have about 3 cups of bread cubes. Put them into a large bowl.

2. In small bowl, whisk garlic into olive oil. Pour over bread in large bowl, tossing quickly to evenly distribute among cubes. Don’t get too much oil onto any cube or it will turn out soggy.

3. Spread onto baking sheet and bake, turning frequently, for 7-10 minutes or until golden brown on all sides.

In Mari’s words, “Crunchy Fun!”

Chicken Feet Salt & Pepper Shakers

Hilary — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 01:57:33 +0000

Gobble, gobble… no wait, that’s turkeys.

Cockadoodle doo! But isn’t that just roosters?

(…Google search turns up Burger King Ad….)

What do chickens say? How ’bout some salt and pepper?

Sigh. A holiday away from New York should do me good.

Perch! Design via Cog & Pearl, $48

Smorgasbite

Not Blogging All Over Myself: 4

Chandelier Sticker Decal

Earl Grey Cookies

Serving Tray, Self-Balancing

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Detox Diet

2008 Smorgasbite Index

28 Recipes:

23 Products:

9 Happy Hour:

10 Produce/Ingredients:

17 Foodware/Tableware:

10 Kitchenware:

9 Blogging/Websites/Technology:

4 Book Club:

7 Gifts not encompassed by above categories:

Entertaining/Decorating not encompassed by above categories:

8 Holiday not encompassed by above categories:

13 Truly Miscellaneous:

Dad’s Ham, Olive and Tomato Sandwiches

Eden Organic Yellow Mustard

Dwarf Orange, Lemon, Lime Trees

Birdie Napkins

Wine Bottle Labels: Funnier than I

Merry Christmas!

Spiced Peach Cranberry Compote

Croutons Homemade by Mari

Chicken Feet Salt & Pepper Shakers