food | Gunsmoke and Knitting

Posts Tagged ‘food’

What am I munching?

July 27, 2012

Pop-Tarts – introduced on this day in 1964. I think it is interesting that Pop-Tarts are sold in the US, Canada, England and Ireland, but have been discontinued in Australia. These cardboard-like toaster items (I think “pastries” is too strong a word to use in this instance) have been the focus of news and lawsuits over the years from their fat content, leading to low-fat Pop-Tarts, to allergy recalls, and toaster fire warnings.
As with creme brulee, I think Pop-Tarts are best plain – no frosting, no sprinkles. I prefer brown sugar cinnamon or strawberry, but I am willing to give the s’mores flavor a chance sometime.

Paula Poundstone on Pop-Tarts:

Here’s a list of flavors available from the Kellogg’s website via Wiki:

Pop-Tarts come in 29 flavors.

Frosted flavors

Apple Strudel
Blueberry
Blueberry Muffin
Brown Sugar Cinnamon
Cherry
Chocolate Chip
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Chocolate Fudge
Cinnamon Roll
Wild Berry
Wild Watermelon
Cookies & Creme
Gingerbread
Hot Fudge Sundae
Raspberry
S’mores
Strawberry
Strawberry Milkshake
Vanilla Milkshake
Ice Cream Sandwich
Wild Grape
Rainbow Cookie Sandwich
Salt Water Taffy
Wildlicious Wild Strawberry

Unfrosted

Strawberry
Brown Sugar Cinnamon
Wild Berry
Apple
Blueberry

Mini Crisps

Frosted Chocolate
Frosted Strawberry

Pop-Tarts Splitz

Chocolate Vanilla
Strawberry Blueberry
Chocolate Strawberry
Maple Brown Sugar
Strawberry Lemonade
Baby Bits

Limited edition

Dulce De Leche (2008–Present)
Guava Mango (2008–Present)
Chocolate Banana Split (2009–Present)
Orange Cream (2009–Present)
Choc-o-Lantern Frosted Chocolate Fudge (Halloween 2010–Present)
Pumpkin Pie (Thanksgiving 2010–Present)
Gingerbread (Every Christmas)
Wild Berry Bloom (Easter 2011–Present)
Cherry Turnover (Summer 2011–Present)
Confetti Cake (Summer 2011–Present)

Printed Fun

Knock Knock Jokes Wild Berry
Barbie Sparkleberry
Barbie Wildberry
Hot Wheels Cinna-Match Brown Sugar Cinnamon
American Idol Blue Raspberry
Indiana Jones Brown Sugar Cinnamon
NFL Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon
Pictionary
Nix Family Laffy Taffy Flavors
Nascar Brown Sugar Cinnamon
Brown Sugar Cinnamon
Chocolate Fudge

Wild Berry
Cherry Berry Rick Pip
Whole Grain
Pokemon Cherry

Flavors in the UK

Chocotastic
Strawberry Sensation
Cherry
Choco–mallow (Identical to the American S’Mores)

Discontinued

Dutch Apple
Frosted Concord Grape
Chocolate Vanilla Creme
Pancake Syrup Blueberry (German)
French Toast
Wild Tropical Blast
Frosted Caramel Chocolate
Frosted Double Berry
Mint Chocolate Chip
Low Fat Frosted Chocolate Fudge
Disney Princess Jewelberry
Hello Kitty Meowberry
Vanilla
Wild Magic Burst
Unfrosted Cherry
Apple Cinnamon
Strawberry Cheese Danish
Chocolate Graham Cracker
Wild Bubble-Berrry
Peanut Butter & Jelly (Grape)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged breakfast, food, history, Kelloggs, Paula Poundstone, Pop-Tarts, snacks, whimsey | Leave a Comment »

What was for breakfast this morning?

July 26, 2012

Doughnuts again – and they were so photogenic, I just had to take their picture. They are all gone now because I took them to work.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged breakfast, doughnuts, food, photograph, photography | Leave a Comment »

What am I celebrating?

July 21, 2012

National Creme Brulee Day – July 21. How terrific is that – a dessert with its own holiday. . . and one of my favorite desserts to boot! This is one of the dishes that I try whenever I find it on the menu. And I have rules – just give me straight creme brulee. It does not need mango, or key lime, or chocolate, or anything else.
One of the best creme brulee I have had was in a little bistro in Paris off the Place d’Etoile. (Enough showing off.)

The absolute best creme brulee is made by my friend, Betty, who has the little white ramekins and the long-handled iron that she heats up on the stove in order to brulee each creme individually. She does not make these often enough.

There are a lot of different stories about the origin of this dish. Here is one of them.

And here is a recipe from Alton Brown:

Ingredients

1 quart heavy cream
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
1 cup vanilla sugar, divided
6 large egg yolks
2 quarts hot water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Place the cream, vanilla bean and its pulp into a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, cover and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean and reserve for another use.

In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar and the egg yolks until well blended and it just starts to lighten in color. Add the cream a little at a time, stirring continually. Pour the liquid into 6 (7 to 8-ounce) ramekins. Place the ramekins into a large cake pan or roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake just until the creme brulee is set, but still trembling in the center, approximately 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the ramekins from the roasting pan and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.

Remove the creme brulee from the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes prior to browning the sugar on top. Divide the remaining 1/2 cup vanilla sugar equally among the 6 dishes and spread evenly on top. Using a torch, melt the sugar and form a crispy top. Allow the creme brulee to sit for at least 5 minutes before serving.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged baking, cooking, creme brulee, custard, dessert, food, Paris, travel | 7 Comments »

What am I craving?

July 20, 2012

I’m still thinking about my doughnut, bacon, maple post from last week.

I was recently on a road trip and stopped (twice) at a doughnut shop (Dunkin Donuts) and was dismayed at the poor quality of the product. These shops advertise that they offer quality goods, (mostly) twenty-four hours a day. Not this time. The donuts were stale.

A bit later, on another trip, I encountered a stellar doughnut shop, on my way to the airport in Roanoke, Virginia (Krispy Kreme). It was all one could expect – friendly, white-haired ladies in aprons at the counter, a bright, clean shop, a wide selection of fresh, fresh doughnuts, a wonderful aroma. Doughnut heaven.

I know this is a frivolous post and doughnuts are nutritional instruments of the devil, but oh they can be so good. We don’t have many doughnut shops where I live. Ich ben wanting ein berliner.

Jelly doughnut ref: Serious Eats

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged doughnut shop, doughnut shops, doughnuts, Dunkin Donuts, food, ich ben ein berliner, jelly doughnuts, Krispy Kreme, travel, whimsey | 2 Comments »

What am I celebrating today?

July 14, 2012

Today is the 222nd anniversary of Bastille Day.

Read about it here. Then go eat some cake.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged anniversary, Bastille Day, cake, food, France, history | Leave a Comment »

What is voodoo doughnut bacon maple ale?

July 12, 2012

I just saw this title in an email message. I don’t know what it is, but I feel faint.

Doughnut bacon maple, doughnut bacon maple, doughnut bacon maple.

This may replace “Om” for me.

Forget the voodoo and the ale.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bacon, doughnut, doughnuts, food, maple syrup, voodoo | Leave a Comment »

What is there about the Strip?

June 5, 2012

Visiting the Strip District in Pittsburgh makes for a pleasant day trip from my abode. These photos are from a recent trip.

We started at Wholey’s. There we found fish, meat, produce, condiments and more. I loved the display of jam, jelly and honey in lovely glassware and I had to buy some. The good luck brass pig was in the doorway on the way out (too bad he is out of focus.)

Traveled on to Wholey’s Kitchen store . . .

Then to Fortune’s coffee roasters.

Across the street is Pennsylvania Macaroni (and cheese, and bakery) . . .

We enjoyed the street scenes . . .

Then wandered over to Station Square and caught a ride on the Monongahela Incline . . .

Here is a sign we saw on the way out . . .

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged coffee, coffee roasters, food, Fortune's, kitchen, market, Monongahela, Monongahela Incline, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, produce, road trip, travel, Wholey's | 4 Comments »

What had me in stitches?

April 12, 2012

Reference to this article in Embroidery. Thanks to Kevin at the Oregon College of Art and Craft for finding the link.

I loved the interpretation of commercial packaging in fabric – a new way of looking at everyday objects much in keeping with traditional handcrafts for the home.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, craft, fabric, food | Leave a Comment »

Where am I shopping this time?

March 7, 2012

Several places, actually. Started out with breakfast at Big Al’s – home of the awesome corned beef hash, beloved by Cleveland’s Iron Chef, Michael Symon.

This is not corned beef hash, but it is a typical Big Al’s breakfast with hash browns made with fresh – never frozen – potatoes and a huge omelet. The coffee is great, too. And the servers.

Next stop Penzey’s. I don’t know why I love Penzey’s so much. I have to go through the store and smell everything – like a dug addict – I have to get my hit of cinnamon (5 kinds), vanilla (3 varieties), curries, barbeque seasoning, herbal blends, spice blends, cocoa and hot chocolate, mulling spices. I covet the $50 bottle of double strength, Madagascar vanilla, but made do with the 4 oz. bottle. Scored some Fox Point seasoning, mulling spices, dried ginger for marinades, Italian salad dressing blend, and Mural of Flavor herbal blend. In addition to being an addict, I usually act as a pusher when I am in the store, encouraging other customers to try my favorites. My other favorite is the Turkish seasoning – I still have some left from the 55 gallon drum of it I purchased earlier.

After Penzey’s, shopping continued at Miles Farmers Market, home to model fruits, vegetables and meats, wine, exotic cheeses, 10,000 kinds of olive oil, prepared foods, fancy bakery, samples, and some strange things – see below.

I’m going to get out my colored pencils and make a drawing of this.

I just don’t understand this one.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Big Al's Diner, corned beef hash, food, fried peanuts, herbs, Michael Symon, Miles Farmers Market, Penzey's, restaurants, shopping, spices | 4 Comments »

Smoke and Chickens

July 22, 2011

What are you smoking? Last weekend Cousin (Cooking Guru) Brian came over and taught me how to smoke a chicken on my Weber kettle grill. A chicken…and some shrimp…and some sausage…and some more sausage…and pretty much everything else in the fridge that was smoke-able.

Shared dinner with friends – see the excellent pasta salad contributed by Breda. Grill bread and more was contributed by William the Coroner. Judy brought the beer. In the lower picture, the chicken is still wearing its cheesecloth protection device.