Shoes Are Not Fattening

Don't you just love those quick little nibbles we grab to eat in the car while we are in between shopping destinations? Somehow there is less guilt involved with this type of nibbling ritual. It may be due to the fact that shopping has the same physical benefits as any workout at any gym, with much less stress and far less persperation. Come on ladies, it takes between 40 to 60 minutes of cardio to get your heart pumping and only a mere glance at a pretty outfit or a stunning pair of shoes to do the exact same thing. So indulge in one of these chunky, buttery, chocolaty, nutty, crispy, chewy cookies in the car as I did without feeling guilty. All you have to do to burn it off is glance at a dozen pair of shoes and about six outfits! It's the most sensible way to keep the chunk in the cookie and away from your hips!

White Chocolate Chunk Macadamia Nut Cookies

2/3 c. butter (10 tbsp. plus 2 tsp.), at room temp.

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1/2 c. packed dark brown sugar

1 lg. egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1 jar (3 1/2 oz.) macadamia nuts, chopped coarse (about 3/4 c.)

2 bars (3 oz. each) white chocolate, chopped in 1/2 inch pieces

Heat oven to 325 degrees F.

Lightly grease two 17x14 inch cookie sheets. In large bowl of electric mixer beat butter, sugars, egg and vanilla at medium-high speed until fluffy. Reduce mixer speed to low, add flour, increase mixer speed gradually and beat just until blended. Stir in nuts and chocolate. Drop heaping tablespoonfuls dough 2 1/2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake 1 sheet at a time 17 minutes or until edges of cookies are lightly browned and tops look dry. Cool on sheet on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove to rack to cool completely.
Makes a little less than 2 dozen cookies

Weekends at Rubino's

I use to go to an Italian Deli called “Rubino’s” on the weekends with my aunt and my grandmother. I loved the smells in that place;” Big hanging sharp provolone cheeses and salamis” filled the air with their strong biting aromas. My aunt Mimi would always get a chunk of extra sharp provolone, some Genoa salami and those wrinkly black olives. Throw in a crusty loaf of bread and some kind of fruit and we had lunch.
My grandmother on the other hand always had to get a couple pounds of their olive salad. She would make herself sick she would eat so much of it, it really was addictive.
My special treat waited at the checkout. At the end of each checkout they had big glass canisters with little boxes of Torrone (Italian nougat). They had vanilla, lemon and orange all with almonds. I would always get one of each. Those not only were great times, they were also very tasty times.
I like making olive salad myself these days, it’s easy, it keeps a long time, and you can vary the ingredients and seasoning to your liking, plus it make s a handy impressive snack to have for family and friends when they stop by. Goes great with an ice cold beer or a glass of wine.

Olive Salad

3 jars Green olives, drained (get at least one pimento stuffed)
1 pound Kalamata olives, pitted
1 can of ripe black olives
1 medium jar of roasted red peppers
5 to 6 med. cloves of garlic, minced
2 bell peppers, chopped
1 sm. head celery, chopped (leaves included)
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
3 tbsp. Italian seasoning, crushed
3/4 cup olive oil
¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper
Does not need any salt

Mix all ingredients together and marinate at least 24 to 48 hours before serving.

Big Stuff, Big Food, Big Fun

Supersize fun without the calories. This is a great catalog. The jumbo wristwatch makes a great wall clock. The giant cup and saucer makes a great centerpiece for the dining room table. These giant hamburgers make great chairs for the kids to sit on.

Some great gag gift ideas. Who doesn't love.......

"Great Big Stuff".

A Taste Of Rochester, New York

When my grandparents retired to Florida they learned that some of their favorite Rochester foods weren't sold in Florida. A huge favorite of theirs
“Zweigles Hots”
especially their white hots. These hots pop when you cook them and pop when you bite into them and they have a flavor like no other.
When my grandparents came to Rochester for a visit they would buy a box of Zweigles white hots and freeze them for their trip home.
Well now there is a place online that sells many of the foods that Rochester is known for and they will deliver them right to your door, anywhere in the world. The place is called; “NewYorkStyleDeli.com”
Living here all my life I sometimes take for granted all the wonderful foods that Rochester is famous for. If you are from Rochester or have ever visited you already know how great these products taste. For those who are unfamiliar with some of these local goods, give them a try. You will not be be disappointed.

My name is Julie and I eat Cereal

I don’t know about the rest of you but as much as I love all the food that we
Blog about. Sometimes all I really want is a bowl of cereal. Yes, I said cereal,
I love it so much I sometimes have it for dinner. These days I go for the healthier brands
Although I am a big fan of; Frosted Flakes, Apple Jacks, Fruit Loops, Corn Pops and let’s not forget Cinnamon Toast Crunch. But since I am trying to eat healthier which means cutting back on my sugar. I now choose a high fiber bran cereal which I then add dried cherries or blueberries and some almonds or walnuts to. If I need it sweeter……thank goodness for Splenda (I prefer the brown sugar blend).
The only problem with cereal is it’s usually hard to take with you whether it’s to the office or the park. Well not any more, check this out;” Cereal-to-go”. A truly great product for the cereal lover in all of us.

The Daily Grind

Plain old salt and pepper, think again. Salt and Pepper are as varied in colors and aromas
as are fine wines. They tease our senses and lift our palates to new heights.
This isn’t the salt and pepper that was on our family dinner table growing up.
The big decision use to be whether to serve red wine with meats or white wine with fish.
Now it could be red salt with meat or white pepper with fish. Do I want a smokier flavor or a more earthy taste. It’s not only flavor any more it is also texture. Certain salts don’t dissolve as quickly and leave a crunch others are flaked and melt instantly.
I like to put a little bit of coarse salt around the edges of my focaccia before baking. The soft dough and the crunchy salt are a nice combination.
Have fun, experiment the choices and combinations are endless.
Here are a few resources for your salt and pepper pleasure:

Pepper-Passion

Penzey Spices

Salt and Pepper Grinders

SaltWorks

Unicorn Peppermills

Egg Creams, no eggs and thats no yolk !

It isn't made with eggs, or cream it is actually a mixture of milk, syrup and seltzer water. If done properly the mixture is very creamy and frothy. The stories vary on how egg creams actually came to be but a lot of people are glad that they did. Egg Creams were something you always associated with New York City. I believe they originated in Manhattan. Over the years soda fountains started to dwindle along with those wonderful soda jerks who would whip up those egg cream masterpieces. Little by little soda fountains and egg creams are making a come back.
But if they are hard to find in your area, I found a place that makes a bottled version that might just ease your egg cream craving until a soda fountain comes to town.

EGG CREAM AMERICA, INC. - MANUFACTURER OF JEFF'S SODAS
In 1990's the founders of Egg Cream America developed their initial corporate mission - in simpler terms, to put the delicious fountain egg cream in a bottle for mass consumption.

Sweet Dreams

When a foodie settles down to sleep after a day filled with work, family and of course….food. What does a foodie dream about? Well, some of what they dream about is
probably none of our business. On the other hand, it’s pretty safe to assume that somewhere intermingled with their slumbering fantasies are glorious visions of…..no, not sugarplums dancing in their heads. More like, rivers of chocolate cascading through whipped cream mountains with little cheese soufflés floating by………………….
Oops, sorry was starting to drool (got caught up in the moment).
Anyhow wouldn’t it be wonderful for a foodie to lay down their sleepy little head on something soft and cushy that looks exactly like; pancakes, sushi, cupcakes oh my.
Even if you’re not a glorified foodie you need to check this place out.
It’s called; “The Sofa Garden”.
If you are into pillow accents this place has a great variety for every taste.

New Products for 2007 "Stonewall Kitchen"

Welcome to Stonewall Kitchen

This place has some of the most unique condiment blends as well as delicious easy to make dessert and pancake/waffle mixes. It's a must for all us "Foodie Shoppers". You can also request a catalog be sent to your home.

No need to be good to get into Chocolate Heaven

Yes, even if you have a bit of the Devil in you........

Chocolate Heaven awaits.....the only condition is you must be good and eat every last bit of chocolate that you purchase or you are eternally doomed to share it with someone that you love.

Eating what bugs you.....

HOTLIX

I know.......you are thinking;"How disgusting"!

This isn't anything you'd ever find cooking in grandmas kitchen.

True, but luckily for me my parents and grandparents had very adventurous palates.

From the time I was little I was exposed to a wide range of delicacies. Granted I turned my nose up in disgust more times than you can imagine. But my family always told me I couldn't say that I didn't like something until I at least tried it. Then and only then if I did not like whatever it happened to be at the time such as;"calves brains, eel, turtle, tripe, snails, grasshoppers, rattlesnake.......the list seems endless" I never had to have it again.

Funny thing is as it turns out, I truly ended up loving just about everything. I still do to this day.

All I am saying is be open to the experience.......you may just end up liking all the things that "bug" you!

Flavorful Find(syrups, salted preserved fruits, fruit in wine and yes.....Chocolate sauces

Robert Lambert

"Inspiration for these products came from a family farm in northern Wisconsin, where grandmother Florrie began cooking at 13 in the logging camps of the early 1900’s. Extensive preserving by mother and grandmother was a fond childhood memory. When these memories met the ingredients of his adopted California home–wine, grapes, citrus fruit and ginger-–-his product line was born".

You will find some truly unique flavors and products here.

The White Ginger syrup makes a wonderful tea hot or iced.

After all that eating we've been doing, how about a nice classic soda to wash it all down

Let's head on over to; "The Soda Pop Stop"

This place has a huge variety to suit every taste. They even have a Kosher selection. For those of you "Peppers" out there who have noticed that your DrPepper just doesn't taste quite the same as you remember....... they have the original formula version of DrPepper.

Whatever your thirst needs are, you'll quench them here.

Garibaldi's and Green Goddess and Fizzies Oh My!

Do you remember Garibaldi’s? Those thin golden biscuits loaded with raisins, oh how I loved those as a kid.
How about some Seven Seas Green Goddess Dressing for your salad. I like it now because I can appreciate how good it tastes but growing up I’m pretty sure the biggest draw was that it was green.
To wash it all down how about a plain glass of water that you can magically turn into whatever flavor carbonated drink you like…….Plop, plop it’s Fizzies Tablets.
What fun just knowing this stuff is still out there. So many things we have enjoyed in the past are either gone or almost impossible to find. Well let me tell you if you want a shopping trip down memory lane just visit The Vermont Country Store. It’s not just the food; they even have clothes and apothecary items we can remember our grandparents using way back when.
You can shop and order online or have a catalog mailed to you (get the catalog).
A hot cup of tea, The Vermont Country Catalog, a comfy chair and reminisce, it’s good for the soul.

Products for Noshtalgic Tastebuds

Hometown Favorites

Here is a great source of hard-to-find favorites. This place has over 2000 old-time favorite foods.Their product selection is based on customer request; you tell them what you can't find, and they will try to carry it. Due to the large volume of requests, they must limit their products to non-perishable, non-refrigerated food items only. Hometown Favorites will even ship their goodies anywhere in the U.S. and beyond. This is a goldmine for those of us with Noshtalgic Tastebuds.

Unique Find

How clever is this! This cute little guy is called;" Luigi Spoonrest", you should

see his cute girlfriend; "Gina Pasta Fork". You'll really find some great novelty items.It's so hard to find something different to give to those we love, like, have to work with (you know who you are)!All kidding aside, even if you don't buy, it's just a fun online catalog to look through.

Just click on the picture of Luigi and....

Enjoy!