nwaFoodie

Redefining “comfort” food. {traveling post}

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:43:00 +0000

Hello Tuesday. How’s it working out for you?

Yesterday I took this show on the road and penned a few very deep and insightful thoughts over at themightyrib, a Little Rock food blog that just happens to have columnists contributing from throughout the country, including moi.

I know, “deep and insightful” doesn’t happen every day from me. Yet I have been thinking about comfort food lately and why we eat what we eat, when we eat.

I’m ready to rethink comfort food and wondering if you are, too.

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Five foodie-finds for Friday, May 10th.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 10 May 2013 23:13:00 +0000

Allow me to answer the question you may have rolling around in your head right now: “No, No I am not going to rename this blog as nwafoodiefindsforfriday.com.”

While my life lately has been re-prioritized due to job deadlines and jaunting to Mississippi, California, and Ohio these past three weeks, well, a girl can only do what a girl can do. Friday’s foodie finds consist of browsing the Internet, looking for intriguing foodie items to covet. Now THAT I can definitely work into my schedule!

I find it is a self-indulging treat. Perhaps you feel the same reading it?

Speaking of treat, today’s foodie finds are all related to treat of the sweet-tooth variety. Get ready to brush your teeth after checking them out; you’ll need to swish the sweetness away.

Smokin’ hot cashew brittle. Brittle made from cashews, yes please. Throw in a little habanera for heat? Now we’re talking!

Chestnut spread. Life is too short to add a squirt of Hershey’s syrup to your ice cream or bowl of freshly whipped cream. What do you think about a sweet chestnut spread with a hint of vanilla? Add a mint leaf to top it off. Magnificent!

Salted caramel macaroon. Described as the makers of the best macaroons in the universe (aka NYC), these coconut macaroons are kissed with salted caramel. My mind, heart, and pocketbook say yes, yes, yes.

Picnic cookies. Awhhhh… isn’t this sweet? Picnic time is supposed to be non-fussy time. Don’t spend hours baking in the kitchen, buy these adorable cookies adorned with classic picnic items. It will be a hit of the picnic and all of the other picnic-ers will be jealous. That means you’ll need to buy two of these so you will have plenty to share.

Mint flavored chocolates. There is a store in NYC close to the Flatiron Building called Eately. To call it a store is an injustice, truthfully. It is layers and layers of all things Italy and shipped from Italy: produce, meat, seafood, pantry, wine, gelato, pasta, cheese, breads, oh my, it IS a delight. These mint flavored chocolates from the Piedmont region in Italy can be ordered straight from Eately’s online site. It’s like having NYC and Italy in the palm of your hand. Ciao.

Do you have a foodie find that you would like to share? Drop me a note at nwafoodie (at) gmail (dot) com.

Happy Friday!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Five foodie-finds for Friday, May 3rd.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:28:00 +0000

My favorite campy joke when I was a kid goes like this: “If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?”

Hold for the drumroll…….. pilgrims!

C’mon. You know that’s cute!

Since it is May and the trees are pushing their leaves towards the sun and flowers are ready to burst, today’s five foodie finds celebrate May’s claim to fame.

King Arthur perfect pasta flour blend. New to making pasta and confused whether to use all-purpose flour, durum flour, or semolina flour? Don’t fret. King Arthur is to your rescue with its perfect pasta blend using all three. Make this the year you take the step and master making your own pasta.

Crystallized edible flowers. Nothing says spring more than organic edible flowers sprinkled in your salad or dessert tray. Because these are crystallized, they are non-perishable. Except when you gobble them all up.

Confit of flowers. Who needs a candle if you have one of these flower essence jellies sitting on your countertop? These French beauties have a clean and subtle taste. Merci me!

Dandelion chocolate bar. Fooled ya. These aren’t really made of dandelions but are made by the San Francisco chocolate company called Dandelion Chocolate. Small, hand-batched chocolates made of the finest quality and roasted, cracked, sorted, winnowed, ground, conched and tempered from small batches of beans and then mold and package each bar by hand. If your passion is chocolate, put these on your chocolate bucket list.

Bernard Michaud 1000 Flowers Honey. Gathered from a family owned business from the Pyrenees, this buttery honey is infused with acacia, lavender and orange. Honey is my obsession, is it yours?

Do you have a foodie find that you would like to share? Drop me a note at nwafoodie (at) gmail (dot) com.

Happy Friday!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Five foodie-finds for Friday, April 26th.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Good morning, my friends. How are you on this beautiful Friday morning?

Today’s five foodie finds are all over the board. You don’t mind, do you? It’s the one-day of the week where I can just go willy-nilly and share completely random foodstuffs with you.

It makes me all giddy inside.

Enjoy!

Rustichella D'Abruzzo Anchovies. There is something alluring about an anchovy. Expand your fish repertoire with these anchovy beauties from the Adriatic Sea. Fleshy pink, these fish are cured in salt and skinned before being packed in olive oil. Deeeeeelightful.

Let’s Bake teal May Books. Are you notebook freak like I am? These little 5x8 soft canvas 80-page books are completely customizable. A perfect gift idea for your best baking buddy or c’mon, let’s be honest, for your very best friend… yourself!

Orange giraffe child set. How can you not love a giraffe? Or, love a giraffe on an orange plate? Does it get any better than that? If you have extra cash lying around and figuring out what to do with it, this is it. You’re welcome. I am here for you.

Table sweeping set. Are you fascinated with the little table linen sweeper gadget in an ultra fancy restaurant? Me, too. This little beech wood brush has built-in magnets that adhere to the stainless steel dustpan for easy storage. Think of how much this little gadget will improve your lives! Think how much it will help you clean up during your next dinner party!

LED silicon grill light. You know that grillin’ time is here and here to stay for a while. Are you ready? You may have the charcoal, propane, and the food, but don’t forget the light.

Do you have a foodie find that you would like to share? Drop me a note at nwafoodie (at) gmail (dot) com.

Happy Friday!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

#bean2blog: Day at the Farm giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:46:00 +0000

This is big.

Reallllly big.

The second annual #bean2blog event is happening in May at P.Allen Smith’s Moss Mountain Farm near Little Rock. Twenty plus Arkansas bloggers are going to attend and spend a day touring the home, grounds, and gardens and will learn about the Arkansas soybean industry.

I am thrilled to return this event and would love to see one of you come join us.

Would you like to attend?

There is one more open spot for a lucky someone + a friend.

Maybe it will be you!

You have to act fast.

Friday is your last day to enter for your chance to attend this one-day event. Go to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board’s facebook page or send a tweet to @ArkansasSoybean about what you love about soybeans.

It’s that simple.

Hope to see you there!

Please check out what #bean2blog is all about and what last year’s attendees’ thought about it.

I know you will be impressed.

I was.

Happy Monday!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Five foodie-finds for Friday, April 19th.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 22:40:00 +0000

All five of today’s foodie finds are all foodstuffs. No gadgets.

What can I say, I am hungry!

White balsamic vinegar jelly. This vinegar is described as “deliciously light and subtly sweet.” That sounds perfect, thank you. I will have mine atop an olive oil grilled hard bread smeared with mashed avocados.

French supreme sauce with tarragon. Hmmm… why wouldn’t you want to try this? Word on the street is that is excellent on poultry and pasta.

Black winter truffle peelings. These peelings are the real-deal from real Périgord truffles. They add the perfect touch to sauces. Use it when you aren’t in the mood for #2.

Coffee creamer No. 12. There is also a German name for it: Bärenmarke Der CremigeTraum Nr.12. Annnnnd that is why I call it coffee creamer No. 12. I also want to call it mine since it had me when I discovered that this gem is condensed milk with an“improved with a twist of finest cream.”

Bavarian pretzel. Sorry Snyders, it’s time for a real Bavarian pretzel actually made in Bavaria. These are baked from a centuries old recipe dating back to the 1700s. Yeah, the 1700s.

Do you have a foodie find that you would like to share? Drop me a note at nwafoodie (at) gmail (dot) com.

Happy Friday!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

What’s your favorite snack?

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 03:41:00 +0000

Dennis and I went on a road trip to the Biloxi/Gulport this week... this is our snack bag for the road trip!

The oddest thing happened to me the other day.

Facebook turned on me. I call it #snackattack.

It kept repeating one of my posts (thankfully, it was a good one). I wanted to know what your favorite snacks were.

Now I know forty of your favorite snacks.

Thank you, facebook. I’m inspired to expand my snacking repertoire.

Are you?

“My kids are big fans of Clif bars so I at least feel like they are getting some nutrition.” – RachelP

“Cookies!” – SueO

“Almond butter or peanut butter (Justin’s brand) on celery!” – VickiW

“Plantain chips. Yum.” – StefanieR

“100 calorie snack packs to keep things in control! I like baked Cheetos, Smart Food, Ritz mix, yogurt covered pretzels to name a few.” – KerryanneM

“Cream cheese on tricuits, or sliced swiss, basically just cheese and crackers. OR, an avocado!” – LauraL

“Cheetos white cheddar puffs!” – LeeE

“Almond butter with sliced “pink lady” apples.” – DeneenS

“Plain chips but I can’t keep them in my home or I will eat an entire bag!” – ClaudineS

10.

“Low fat string cheese and a handful of almonds.” – MaraC

11.

“Extra sharp cheddar cheese.” – AlisonE

12.

“Only one??? There are so many!” – BonnieM

13.

“Probably chocolate… yeah, most likely chocolate.” – SueO

14.

“Almonds and bananas.” – KellyP

15.

“Cheez-its. I’m addicted to them. LOL.” – AnnN

16.

“Don’t say cheese-its cause now I NEED some.” – StaceyP

17.

“Popcorn with coconut oil.” – JenniferC

18.

“The new BBQ Sun Chips. I have a problem.” – KevinS

19.

“Salt & vinegar potato chips. Or snickers when I crave something sweet.” – MattM

20.

“I prefer edamame, or broccoli dipped in spicy hummus. Mmmmm…” – TomR (fun tip: if you are new to edamame, check out P.Allen’s Smith’s virtual recipe book of all things soy, including edamame!)

21.

“Organic dates – nature’s best candy – either whole or chopped/formed then rolled in coconut or almond slivers.” – TimM

22.

“Raisins.” – JeffH

23.

“Popcorn!” – AngieA

24.

“Give me a spoon and a jar of Biscoff spread and I’m set.” – BlakeC

25.

“Crackerjacks.” – ForresteM

26.

“Plain Greek yogurt. Sometimes a little honey or Splenda if I need something sweeter.” – AmyJ

27.

“Blueberries for the blood pressure! So I can make myself believe I deserve pizza later” – Bentonville Marriott Courtyard

28.

“Mine is no-grain granola, greek yogurt and fruit.” – DebbieA

29.

“Walnut and almonds. I buy those 1oz packets and sometimes keep in my purse.” – Leslie

30.

“We always have KIND snacks on hand! Office fave. Carrots. Apples. Nuts. The ultimate fastfood.” – FeedFayetteville

31.

“Fresh vegetables seem to be a common fave a the @feedfayviille office. Also KIND Snacks.” – Edible Ozarkansas

32.

“Apple, orange, or possibly a baked goodie (muffin).” – ShannonB

33.

“Berries in the morning, an apple in the afternoon and some dark chocolate in the evening.” – StephanieM

34.

“Lately it’s roasted almonds. Usually apple slices with Nutella. I will eat anything dipped in Nutella though!” – RhondaB

35.

“Governor chicken salad from KylaT.” – WhitneyS

36.

“GREENS!!!!! Every green you can think of!!!” – SaraJ

37.

“Strawberries.” – RachelleM

38.

“<whispers: spicy slaw!>” – RickiC

39.

“Anything I can make from Farmers Market goodies!” – StephanieB

40.

“If it’s chocolate, snacks are worth repeating.” - JackieP

Happy snacking!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Five foodie-finds for Friday, April 12th.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 23:10:00 +0000

Today’s foodie finds are all recommendations from readers, friends, and also family.

Spaghetti tower. Store your leftover spaghetti noodles in this rooster topped cylinder storage tower. The cap has a clever twist and snaps open four different ways. Each of the four snap openings delivers a neat and organized serving amount. Thanks to Beth over at The Food Adventuress for sharing this!

Karato sharpener and peeler. Immediately after reviewing the spaghetti tower link I had to browse around a bit. And there it was… I quickly found your next kitchen tool! This little unique tool can peel, sharpen & curl ribbons of carrots, zucchini, cucumbers, and other similar shaped vegetables. Why would you want to do that? Ummmm, why would you not?

Moustache bag clips. It is time to replace your ridiculously worn out chip clips. These moustache bag clips arrived via parcel post this week as a mid-week-surprise from my awesome sister, Stacey. Don’t you also want clips that make you smile? Befriend Stacey and maybe she will send you some. She is that awesome.

Chefs Essence spray. Have you ever seen anything like this? These little spray bottles contain essence of spices and herbs infused in a corn alcohol base. Super foodie BlakeC sent this link to me along with ideas of how awesome and useful these little spritzers could be, such as… bourbon with a spray of mint, margarita with a spray of blood orange, and gin and tonic with a spray of lime. Me? I would like the cumin simply because cumin rocks.

One Click Butter Cutter. This is for those of you who are in search of the perfect slice of butter. This little smooth operator is dishwasher-able, takes up very little space, and comes in a myriad of colors. Your life will be complete. Thanks to BlakeC for discovering this little gem.

Do you have a foodie find that you would like to share? Drop me a note at nwafoodie (at) gmail (dot) com.

Happy Friday!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Five foodie-finds for Friday, April 5th.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:25:00 +0000

Friday. Friday. Friday. Hello lovely beautiful Friday. Your Friday is going to get even lovelier because you are going to want to buy every single one of today’s foodie finds.

It’s okay.

You are worth it.

French copper bowl for Kitchenaid mixer. This unlined copper bowl is made in France as an exact retrofit for your Kitchenaid mixer. This is for the ultimate foodie who wants a perfectly whipped egg or absolute perfection when candy making. Scratch that, forget perfection… look how gorgeous that shiny copper bowl is! This is going on my wish-list right (after I buy a Kitchenaid mixer). Wouldn’t you just love one of these?

Fox's U-Bet Chocolate Syrup. Craving chocolate? Fox’s U-Bet chocolate syrup has been made in Brooklyn by H. Fox & Company since 1895 and was and is the preferred syrup used in both fountain and home made egg creams in the New York area. That’s a serious claim by Yankees who are serious about their food.

Organic orange zest. My super friend VickiW excitedly told me about these adorable little packets of spices that come in handy teaspoon sized packets. On Saturday she gifted me a packet of orange zest and lemon zest so now I am always a pantry-length away from any recipe that calls for it. C’mon, a foodie must always be prepared and ready to wow. Thanks VickiW!

Hand-painted pantry cabinet knobs. These make me smile. It also makes me wonder who would put these on their cabinets. I think I would want to be their friend.

Grill'n Barbecue Branch Skewer. This skewer had me when it said, “holds twice as much as a traditional skewer.” This is a manly tool and a perfect gift to give when your copper Kitchenaid mixer bowl arrives on your doorstep. You’re welcome.

Happy Friday!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Five foodie-finds for Friday, March 29th.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:26:00 +0000

Helloooo Friday! Are you home from work and kicking back today? Kick up your heels and check out today’s foodie finds. I think they are extra fun because all of them are from etsy.

Vintage yellow plates from the 80s. These are like, so totally rad, like, ya know? Like, totally. If you had these plates gracing your family dinner, I guarantee your dinner will never be boring.

Gourmet dried figs. These dried figs are produced without sulpher, chemicals, sugar, or the “middle man.” Perfect for snacking or rehydrating to add to ice cream and baking dishes.

Handpainted wooden serving tray. Doesn’t this tray just SCREAM summertime? Picture this will a nice refreshing flight of ice-cold drinks with an itsy bitsy swivel stick with orange slices. You want it.

Waterproof picnic blanket. Did you determine that you would go outside and play more in 2013? Fulfill that desire by taking more picnics! Etsy is full of handmade picnic blankets yet this one appeals to me since it is handmade in Kenya.

Eat-more-salad hand stamped salad servers. Be the coolest kid on the block with these at your next potluck, Sunday dinner, or well, every night! These are stamped on vintage silver tongs so yours will be unique to you.

Keep coming back every Friday for more foodie finds.

Happy Friday!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

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Huntsville Pantry is just a hop-skip-jump away.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:27:00 +0000

I was trolling around through my photos the other day and realized I had yet to share with you a fantastic little pantry store located here in Northwest Arkansas called the Huntsville Pantry.

Have you been to the Huntsville Pantry yet?

For those of you new to the area or have yet to venture outside the Bentonville/Rogers/Fayetteville metro area, Huntsville is twenty-nine miles east of Springdale off of Highway 412. Before the new bypass was completed, we had to actually drive through Huntsville to get to Harrison or Branson. Remember that? Huntsville is a tiny little town with three well-worth-it things to do: (1) eat at Grandma’s Kitchen and eat fabulous fried chicken (they even have a gluten free option!) (2) eat at the Crossbow Restaurant which has been around forever and mostly to people watch and (3) shop at the Huntsville Pantry.

The Huntsville Pantry has a Dutch-Amish-Mennonite theme to it but they aren’t an Amish chain. Actually, that would be an oxy-moron to be Amish and a chain, right? Technically, they are operating in the “bulk foods” retailing channel.

The Huntsville Pantry bulk foods offerings are broad and their prices are astounding.

The following photos will give you a taste of the offerings and prices available at the Huntsville Pantry. Take a close look at the prices… seriously, table salt for .20c a pound or wheat germ flakes for .58c a pound? Who can’t afford that? It makes me feel good inside to know that even those who are income-challenged have the ability to eat well by shopping here.

These photos will give you a good feel of what is available. Next steps? Check it out for yourself and let me know what goodies you discovered… you know I love a good discovery.

this small store has aisles and aisles of bulk foods of all kinds... just waiting for you to discover

steel cut oats and rolled oats are both just .61c a pound

Troyer roll butter made from the first cream, not the whey... it has a nice creamy taste

seriously inexpensive salt

a two-pound+ bag of wheat germ for $1.25

bulk spice section

bulk flours of every type and size

bulk gluten-free flours, right on!

bulk sugars of all types are available: white, dark brown, pure cane, sugar substitutes

organic whole buckwheat and buckwheat groats

located across the street from the Crossbow Restaurant (home style country cooking)

Open everyday of the week except for Sunday

Happy pantry loading!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Five foodie-finds for Friday, March 22nd.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 22:27:00 +0000

Hellooooooo... it is Friday and you have been holding your breath all day, waiting for today’s five-foodie-finds, right?

Your patience paid off… here you go.

Mild chili threads. These extremely thin dried strips of chili peppers would make a gorgeous garnish, don’t you think? Lightly toast in a dry skillet to bring out a deep smoky flavor and then pile it on for a show-stopping finish. Wowza.

Campfire open-flame popcorn popper. There are many who think that popcorn is boring, dull, and outdated. Not so, says I. Gather your friends and family and use this long handled enameled coated steel popper that will liven up the night with a crisp * snap * crackle * pop * pop * pop!

Dog biscuit canister. Admit it. Your little puppy is a little foodie, too. Why else would he beg and beg and beg and beg? Put the little guy’s biscuits in this adorable tin and reward his efforts in style.

Carved wooden muddler. I cannot say enough about muddlers and their importance when stocking your bar. This one is made out of sheesham wood with gorgeous lines. Skip the plastic and rubberized muddlers and stick with wood. You won’t regret it.

Poire-Nectar Imported Italian Beverage. One sip and your mouth will forever hold the memory of the most perfect sip you will have ever had in your entire life. I purchased this pear puree drink while on vacation in Italy and left a small 3oz bottle in my carry-on. While trading planes in Amsterdam the gate agents decided it had to go. Their reasoning? The bottle was too big. My thought? They just wanted to drink it for themselves. No silly, of course I didn’t toss it out… Dennis and I savored every last drop right before getting on that plane. You know it.

Keep coming back every Friday for more foodie finds.

Now that I am officially back in the swing of things and life is resuming back to the way it was six months ago, I have several food posts ready to go. Keep coming back to nwafoodie.com!

Happy Friday!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Five foodie-finds for Friday, March 15th.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:31:00 +0000

Ready for five more foodie finds this week?

Dimension teapot bicycle bell. Spring is in the air and it is time to pull those bikes out of storage and air up the tires! This adorable teapot bell easily attaches to your bike and makes it unique. (pssst, there are also donut shaped and cherry-inspired bells available). Yes, open the doors and take your foodiness outside.

Asparagus made of chocolate. Sometimes you just need a little bit of ridiculous in your life. And, if you are a chocolate lover, it is prime time for eating more veggies to balance the sugar-index in your body. You can tell yourself that that asparagus made of solid, dark chocolate center and hand-painted in California’s Napa Valley by Woodhouse Chocolate is good for you. Just what the doctor ordered.

Do the dishes tomorrow tea towel. Cute. Cute. Cute. A must-have… unless you are OCD or living with someone who is.

Dizzy petals corkscrew. This quirky corkscrew provides plenty of leverage to get your cork out of your bottle lickity-split. If you are someone who likes to entertain with a bit of whimsy, then this is just what you need.

Yellow rustic melamine dinner plates. While I will be the first person to admit that paper plates have their place in outdoor entertaining, aren’t there times when you dream of just sitting on your deck or patio, enjoying the cool spring breezes with a few close friends and a nice meal? Ditch the paper plates on those occasions and pull out these rustic melamine ones and throw your oh-no-don’t-drop-and-break-the-fancy-plate cares away! Available in a variety of colors.

On a personal note, thank you for all of the well wishes and condolences from many of you this past week about my dad. In his own simply-stated words, “I lived a good life.” Life is short so let’s continue to make the most of it!

Happy Friday!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Five foodie-finds for Friday, March 8th.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:12:00 +0000

Hello beautiful Friday and you know what that means… it is time to explore five more foodie-finds! Each Friday I share five kitchen gadgets and foodstuffs that I think are interesting enough to crave.

Prime cuts dishtowel. This one is for all you carnivores out there who like quoting your cuts of meat. The only downside is that now your guests will know if you are telling the truth or not.

Copper hand strainer. Please don’t tell me that you have a cheap plastic pasta and vegetable strainer. If you have one as beautiful as this copper-plated stainless steel one, give yourself an A. If you would rate yours a C or below, replace it immediately! If you are at a B, perhaps it is time to put this on your wish list for the future.

Egg pasta flour. If you like the idea of getting more hands-on when it comes to your pasta dinners but aren’t quite ready to take the leap to getting a pasta machine, this may be your first step. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive, this pre-measured flour blend will get you that much closer to al dente. Simply mix according to directions, roll out on your countertop, and cut into strips. Dinner will be ready in no time… what time did you say for me to arrive?

White enamel-coated steal measuring jug. Be still my heart. This is beautiful and wow, what a conversation piece. Made by the Reiss family from Austria for over 200 years, this one-liter measuring jug is both functional and something you can leave on the counter. (Although, if I keep bringing you items each week that you can leave on your counter… you’re going to have to install a larger counter!) There is also a smaller measuring jug available, in pink.

Weiner dog oil and vinegar set. Never again will you have to pull out that ho-hum pair of oil and vinegar glass bottles. At fourteen inches long, these little guys will do the trick, and neatly too. Look at you, you will try anything to make that salad just a little more interesting. I understand.

Happy foodie Friday!

I am always on the lookout for foodietabulous items so let me know if you found something you would like me to share. Keep coming back!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Looking for a stainless steel water pitcher - not plastic?

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:29:00 +0000

Is there anyone else besides me who is sick-and-tired of boring, ugly, and plastic water pitchers? Please tell me why the Brita or Pur people cannot design one made out of glass? It is not like we don’t know how to hand wash or handle glass with care.

Rumors are all over the Internet that Brita has a glass pitcher in Europe but, alas, they are not bringing it here to the states. You gotta’ love a foodie-generated rumor.

Ever since my lab results two years ago showed high levels of styrene in my body I made the switch from plastics to glass and stainless steel. Mostly. After I recently dropped my plastic Brita water pitcher and limped it along, I knew it was time to make the upgrade to glass.

No dice. I couldn’t find one.

I lied. I did find a gorgeous Japanese water pitcher with its own louseki stones and Binchotan charcoal lava rock filters that I lusted after. Simply gorgeous! The price was a work of art too. Hubby made me pass.

Then I found the Reduce Vision Water Filtration Pitcher. It is only a few dollars more expensive than the plastic ones and can handle both Brita AND Pur filters.

This pitcher earns its spot on the countertop.

The Reduce pitcher is both handsome and functional. I love that it is huge (10 cup capacity) and can handle a lot of water in its filtering reservoir. Now, to be fair, not every bit and piece on this pitcher is stainless steel. There are obligatory pieces of plastic on the lid and where the filter drops in. But at least this gem will keep me going until somebody brings a glass picture with filtering capabilities to market.

If you are ready for an upgrade on your water pitcher, this may just be the one for you.

Happy eight-glasses-of-water-a-day drinking!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Five foodie finds for Friday, March 1st.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:01:00 +0000

Hello my peeps.

Today I took a field trip over to EvolvedMommy and posted this week’s five foodie finds for Friday over there.

I know that many of you are already a big fan of Stephanie McCratic’s technology blog… yet some of you may not have heard of her yet (gasp). She is an up-and-coming “it girl” and recently nominated (currently in 4^th place) for Circle of Mom’s top 25 tech mom’s recognition.

She is making Northwest Arkansas proud!

Do me a favor and check her out and take a moment to vote for her.

Have fun with today’s foodie finds. They are whimsical, fun, and as always, something a little different that will set you apart.

Happy foodie Friday!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Stop! Please don’t store your tomatoes in the fridge.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:19:00 +0000

Do mealy, mushy, and messy tomatoes frustrate you?

Are you fooling yourself by saying, “But it is wintertime, not tomato time. It is nature’s way. What else should I expect?”

Okay, technically it IS wintertime and not tomato time, yet you should EXPECT more. You know I just want the best for you. I want you to have the freshest, cleanest tasting, ripest, and most delicious food experience each time you open your mouth. Unless you have a greenhouse, I know you are not able to buy fresh off the vine tomatoes that are bursting with flavor right now. Even the “fresh off the vine” tomatoes aren’t rocking your boat at the present.

I understand.

However, there is something you CAN do to maintain tomato integrity… just keep them out of the refrigerator. Tomatoes do best when stored on your countertop at a comfortable room temperature. Keeping them in the cold refrigerator turns them to a mushy, mealy mess. Not pretty. Not tasty. If you have chopped tomato leftovers, store them in a glass container with a lid… and, yep you guessed it, NOT in the fridge.

This is an easy tip you will want to incorporate in your life right away because you will notice a big happy immediate difference.

Happy storing!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

PS :: If you are also storing your cucumbers on the counter, it is best to keep them away from your tomatoes, melons, and bananas. These all emit an ethylene gas, which cucumbers are sensitive to. I learned that tasty tidbit from rootsimple, a “back to basics” blog about all things homegrown. Check them out.

Maximize your slow cooker by adding… layers!

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:10:00 +0000

Let’s continue our slow cooker series. Earlier we talked about which size slow cooker was right for you and today you are going to learn how to maximize your slow cooker to reach its fullest and deepest potential.

Let me explain.

Ever been frustrated by slow cooker recipes where everything turns out as one big unidentifiable mush? Or, ever been proud of yourself that you preplanned a slow cooker dinner only to remember that you still have to prepare the side dishes?

Today you are going to incorporate something new in your life by adding layers in your slow cooker.

Yes, layers.

In the opening photo you will see beef ribs, Yukon gold potatoes, and canned Italian tomatoes nested together in my slow cooker. If I had left the tomatoes on the bottom of the crock and not in its own separate container, the slow cooking process would have left it a mushy mess, indistinguishable due to rib juices swallowing its tenderness.

Instead, this is how it turned out.

Nicely intact.

Next time your recipe calls for a deeper layer on the bottom, no worries… simply place a canning jar in the middle and use it as a stand for another layer. A poached egg holder is another excellent slow cooker layering support. Any ovenproof container will work great, just be sure there is enough air space at the top to allow circulating air to assist in cooking.

I hope this tip opens up a whole new world for you when it comes to planning out your next slow cooker meal.

Happy layering!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

PS:: Next time we will talk about how you can prepare a slow cooker meal ahead of time so your elderly parent or young child can easily have a hot meal ready for them.

Five foodie finds for Friday, February 22nd.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:38:00 +0000

Hello my foodie friends, here are five more foodie finds for you to enjoy.

Beige ladle rest. Are your spoon rests currently letting you down? Mine work fine when it comes to the wooden spoon and a spatula, but for my ladle? Forget about it. It’s like playing utensil gymnastics and is all fun and games until the ladel hits the counter. If you are like me, this ladle rest is intriguing for its shape and the interior ledge to hold the ladle in place. Great price, too.

Microplane pink Himalayan sea salt shaver set. Regular white table salt is so yesterday. It seems like everywhere you turn around a new type of sea salt hits you in the face… and they all intrigue me. How about you? If so, make the pure pink Himalayan sea salt your next choice and bundle it with Microplane’s specifically engineered grater than is built to handle the hardest of salts. Nothing says, “Wow, you’re a foodie” when you whip this tool out and deftly grate salt over your finished dish. Your guests will be impressed. Guaranteed.

Doodles at Breakfast placemat. Trying to get your kids to enjoy breakfast more? Scratch that, trying to enjoy it more yourself? Or, determined to be more light-hearted in 2013? This fun product can handle all three of those bucket lists. 36 tear-off placemats allow you to doodle and release the inner-child in you as you merrily munch your granola.

Swissmar fondue set. Fondue is more than melted, calorie-laden, artery-clogging cheese. Have you ever had broth-based fondue with cooked meats? It’s fantastic and highly recommended. This fondue set is heavy cast-iron on the outside and enamel coated in the inside for easy clean up. Make this the year where you embrace the fondue-foodie within you.

Cooks Illustrated weekly free newsletter. You may know them from the PBS show called America’s Test Kitchen or the Cooks County magazine. I just know them as my favorite go-to online source for learning how to cook just about anything. Their online service has a fee yet their weekly newsletter is free. For example, today’s edition explains how to “hunt for the crispiest, crunchiest, crackliest fried chicken” and how to cook “easy caramel cake, spanakopita, and roasted butternut squash soup.” Sign up today, it’s free. But I am warning you... you will get hooked and subscribe. It’s inevitable.

Do you know of something that you think I should share for the next 5FFFF?

Happy Foodie Friday!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Up your French Press experience with Le Creuset.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:45:00 +0000

If I were a woman of leisure, each morning would begin with a steaming hot French press cup of coffee. Ideally while lounging in an Adirondack chair watching the wood ducks dive for their morning meal. I wouldn’t have a care in the world, no agenda for the next two hours, and the moment would be shared with a loved one.

There is something about a French press that inspires that kind of experience. Whether your dream-coffee-moment occurs in the cafes of France, sitting in front of a campfire, or only when someone drops by for a social visit, a French press brings your coffee experience up a notch.

A French press is a vessel where you put coffee grounds (or tea leaves) in and pour hot boiling water over and let steep. The press has a mesh sieve that you plunge through the water and offers a stronger flavored cup. A traditional glass French press is available, oh just about everywhere that has a coffee pot section.

I was perfectly content with my glass French press until sometime last summer when I chanced upon something unexpected from Le Creuset. They make a French press out of stoneware enamel in four gorgeous colors. Each one is hand crafted by skilled artisans and the stoneware holds in heat longer than glass. Immediately, my husband and I wanted it.

The price is hefty at $60 so this product went on our anniversary-gift list. When November came we happily unwrapped it and started a whole new coffee phase in our life. We love it and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves coffee, loves the sensory experience of coffee, loves the social aspect of coffee, and is looking for that something special that is good quality and long lasting (it has a five year warranty).

Yes, our days still start off with the ordinary percolated cup of coffee but when I entertain… my flame red Le Creuset French press steals the show. Can your dream-coffee-moment do that?

Happy pressing!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Make French Onion Soup and awaken your senses.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 21:17:00 +0000

Hello Monday. It is mid-day and your sky is darkening. The pitter-patter of your raindrops are picking up to a thunderous roar and the dark shadows from your clouds have tripped off my floodlight on the porch.

Dark and stormy afternoons like these are actually quite romantic.

Know what else is romantic?

French Onion Soup.

Have you ever noticed that French Onion Soup is often on the menu in romantic, linen table clothed, candlelit, and over-priced-but-worth-it fancy restaurants? It is one of those richly decadent dishes that are not overloaded with ingredients yet is overloaded in the complete sensory experience.

A really good French Onion Soup is in the pleasure-eating category. Done right and it awakens all of your senses, begging you for more.

You do not have to be a chef to make it yourself. All you need to do is engage your senses and give in to the luxury of this deeply rich and satisfying meal.

You know I would not bring it up if I didn’t think you could do it.

French Onion Soup

Source: nwafoodie

Serves: 2

Ingredients

1 medium size white onion

2 tablespoons butter

salt and pepper

4 sprigs of fresh thyme, removed from stem

2 cups beef broth

1 tablespoon corn starch

1 tablespoon of dry red wine

sourdough bread or other hard skinned bread

havarti or other semi-soft cheese

Instructions

Thinly slice your onions and separate into rings. Turn on stove to medium-low heat and add butter. Once butter is melted, add onions and toss until they are nicely coated. Add salt, pepper, and fresh thyme. You want the onions to nicely cook and not burn. Stir occasionally. The combination of herb, butter, and onions waft a delicious sweetness.

While onions are cooking, bring broth to a boil. Turn to simmer and slowly sift in cornstarch to have an ever-so-slight thickening. You want that thickening because it changes the lightness into something edgier and decadent.

Turn up the heat to medium-high on onions. Add more butter if you need it so you can get a rich browning effect. Add the red wine and turn off heat. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. The red wine adds a shock of stain to the onions as it hungrily drinks in the new addition. This is depth, baby.

Add onions to broth mixture and turn heat to simmer. Put the lid on, they need to get to know each other for a while.

Cut two slices of sourdough bread big enough to fit inside your soup bowl. Place in oven for 5 minutes until dry and flip over for another 5 minutes. Cut cheese to size of bread and turn on broiler. Keep on eye on it! Within a minute or two, turn off the oven. Without this step, you are just making onion soup. Cheese and bread brings out the French in it.

Spoon soup into bowls and place the cheese-laden bread on the top of each. Wait two minutes for the juices to soak and the two become as one.

Wait.

Did I just hear you say that you don’t think French Onion Soup is romantic or pleasurable? Who are you? Why are we even friends? Better yet… you gotta’ tell me what you think is your most pleasurable dish. You know, that dish you only wait to order when you go to a fancy-schmancy restaurant? Yeah, that one. What is it?

Happy eating!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Five foodie finds for Friday!

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Hello my foodie friends, here is something fun for you to discover today. Make that five.

Chestnut tree honey. Be still my heart. Who wouldn’t want 8.8 ounces of dark aromatic French honey, produced by the fourth generation of the Gabriel Perroneau family based in Burgundy, France? Get this, according to the website, “the beehives go "on vacations" to selected French regions and gather the nectar of specific flowers to produce over 30 different varieties of honeys.” Seriously? Okay, I’m drinking the Kool-Aid and the chestnut tree variety has won over my heart.

Washable produce bags. They are like having insurance for your fruits and veggies. You’ve heard me talk about this item before and they faithfully serve my household day in and out. Washable, reusable, and make your crisper look snazzy, too.

Hollowed candles. These are not your grandma’s candles. Neatly packaged in a box of twenty, these classic tapers (9 inch high) have five holes running down the length of the candle. Instead of dripping onto your table, the melted wax flows into the holes. Each one burns for about seven hours. With these you won’t have an excuse to not add a little candlelight to your dinner table each night.

Half-pint beer glasses. The British know how to respect their beer and now you can, too. At 10 ounces, they are ideal for serving smaller sized portions for yourself and your guests. Adorable too.

Two poached eggcups and two hard-boiled egg dishes. We are keeping it local, folks. The Homestead Flea Market in Rogers has this curious find just begging a Northwest Arkansas foodie to snatch it up. For $1 you can have two classic poached eggcups and two hard-boiled egg plates. First person to make it booth #69 is the winner.

Happy foodie Friday!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

No-grain-ola.

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:30:00 +0000

Whether you are on the Paleo diet, adding healthy living into your every day life, or simply enjoying delicious foods, this is your granola.

Scratch that.

This is your NO-grain-ola.

Why no grain? On Friday my friendly U.S. Postal Service Worker delivered a care package from my sister who lives in Pennsylvania. As I hungrily tore open the package I discovered a Ziploc quart bag filled with granola and a note. Scribbled in pencil was a note “Love U! Hope you like it!! PS – I eat this 4 dessert.”

My sister Stacey has taunted me with this no-grain-ola. On and on and on and on and on and on she has gushed about how delicious it is and how all of my niece’s college friends come over and gobble up the granola, oops, I mean no-grain-ola. Stacey was on the Paleo diet last year and now has morphed it into an all-things-wholesome diet. During the Paleo time she experimented and came up with this perfect blend.

What’s in it? The base is mostly slivered or sliced almonds and she always adds in a smattering of other nuts, like pecans and walnuts and ground flax seed. She mixes honey, coconut oil, vanilla, nutmeg and cardamom in a saucepan and brings to boil and then works in the nuts and seeds. Bake like regular granola on a sheet pan at 300 degrees until it is nicely golden. Remove it and mix in raisins and shredded coconut. Cool it down and bam! You’re ready to start snacking.

What makes the no-grain-ola different than regular granola? One word: chewiness. This snack is soft, tasty, and sweet with savory chewiness. For many people who suffer from the bloating that accompanies heavy digesting grains, this is your next favorite healthy treat. For the rest of us, yes it IS good enough for dessert.

Two words: make it.

Q: What is your person favorite ingredient in granola?

Happy no-grain-ola crunching!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Which size slow cooker is right for you?

noreply@blogger.com (nwafoodie) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 18:56:00 +0000

Are you looking to replace your old slow cooker or wondering whether or not to add a new size to your collection? Walk into any Walmart, Target, or Sams Club and you may quickly find yourself scratching your head, wondering which size slow cooker is right for you. Do you go with the large oval shape? The medium round one? Oh man, there is a banquet size one tempting you, do you need that also? Or, do you simply go with the size you had before instead of trying something new?

The answer is yes.

And no.

With a little bit of maybe tossed in.

Here is a good rule-of-thumb to help you decide which size is right for you.

1-quart = more for appetizers, like dips and dessert toppings

2-quart (small) = 2 people

4-quart (medium) = 4 people

6-quart = 6 people

8-quart (large) = perfect to bring to that church potluck

The most important thing to remember with a slow cooker is that you want to have plenty of air flow for optimum performance. They work best when filled two-thirds full, allowing the heated air from the crock to breathe. You know how it is best to have plenty of water when boiling pasta so the noodles won’t stick together? Follow that same principle with a slow cooker.

Over the years I have had the small, medium, and large size of slow cookers in my cupboards. One by one they were replaced or given away due to space constraints. I currently have an 8-quart and a 4-quart, which works perfectly for my lifestyle by allowing me to prepare full meals and a side dish simultaneously.

If you are just starting off, I recommend going with the 8-quart. Not only will it allow you to cook in abundance for a large gathering, it will also give you the ability to layer containers within it. Next slow cooker post I will share slow cooker layering tips and tricks.

Happy sloooooow cooking!

Lyndi

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.