Eating with Amy

It’s baaaack…The Return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte

Amy — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:17:35 +0000

There are only a few things I look forward to as summer turns to fall. It sure isn’t the raking of the leaves…no, I let those lay where they fall. Nor is it the brisk, cool mornings…those make me want to stay in bed and attempt to get completely dressed, including putting on deodorant, under the covers (don’t knock it til you’ve tried it).

No, it’s the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks! I love this darn thing. You wait all dang year for this thing to come out and it’s only around for so long (although it’s Christmas season cousin, the Gingerbread Latte, is also worth the wait). I love pumpkin pie spice on just about anything, which I find sort of funny since I’m not a total fan of pumpkin pie.

My only lament is that the taste (like many Starbucks drinks) depends on who makes it. Unlike McD’s, who have mastered the art of putting out food that tastes pretty much the same wherever you go, Starbucks is dependent on the talent of its Baristas. And in my case, that means Pumpkin Spice Latte near my house = lusciously spicy, perfectly blended steaming cup of pumpkiny goodness, while Pumpkin Spice latte near my work = yeah, not so much. But, I suppose even the worst Pumpkin Spice Latte is still a bit more magical than your average cup o’ joe.

Kitchens of India Butter Chicken Curry Paste Review

Amy — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:32:46 +0000

Perhaps it’s because I spent 4 hours at the Next Food Network Star casting call sitting next to an Indian chef who was talking about butter chicken, but I had a HUGE craving for Indian food all weekend. When I went shopping on Sunday, the Kitchens of India Butter Chicken Curry Paste happened to catch my eye. At first, butter chicken curry paste sounds like some sort of odd invention for that kid is school who used to always eat the school paste (NEVER understood that). But, turns out, it’s simply a spice paste mix that you dump in a pan with chicken, water, and some butter. I was still skeptical because these things never seem to turn out like you hope, but I was still having a massive hankering for Indian food. Lo and behold, this stuff rocks! It really is that easy and it tastes fantastic! I knew it was a good sign when I was staring at the rows and rows of Kitchens of India boxes all indecisive and not 1, but 2 people came up and grabbed some. It’s well-seasoned with a medium sort of heat - a kind of spicy that lets you know it’s there, but doesn’t make you immediately run for a drink. I’ve often wondered if the people who make packaged foods really taste their food because I’ve had some pretty gruesome/bland/odd packaged foods in my day, but this is NOT one of them. Finally, someone gets it right!

They have tons of other foods - curry pastes, vegetable and bean dishes, and rice dishes. Some are bases that you have to add foods to (like chicken or vegetables), while others are ready-to-eat meals that you just reheat. They’re also pretty inexpensive! I’m going to be checking out the rest of the choices so stay tuned for more reviews.

Paula Deen Signature Collection

Amy — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:07:41 +0000

I just got an email that Paula Deen’s Signature Collection cookware is now at Linens and Things. I clicked through to check it out. It’s a little ho-hum for my taste look-wise, with the exception of the casseroles and baking sheets. Her pouring saucepans with a shape that makes it easy to pour are a good idea but still not enough to make me want to run out and get one (unlike Mr. Ramsey who had me driving all around Northern Virginia looking for his cookware). In Paula’s defense, she’s selling it as “classic” styling (read sort of boring, safe, and something your mother would probably love because it’s tasteful). But, hmm, no butter dish…yet!

NFNS Season 5 - Here I Come!

Amy — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:51:05 +0000

I just checked the Food Network site and they’ve got details on auditioning for the Next Food Network Star Season 5. Time to start working on my audition tape! I’m changing up my game plan from last year a bit. Last year, I think I rambled on too much, so this time - more focus on the cooking! I think last year my focus on my weight loss (even though it was related to cooking) hurt me, so this year it’s all about the food (besides, I’ve lost my weight - that’s old news LOL). Last year, my culinary point of view was not well-defined so this year I’ll be sure to make that clearer. I just watched last year’s audition tapes from Lisa, Aaron, and Adam and while I may have thought I was high-energy last year, I think I need to kick that up a notch too! This year, I think I’m also mailing in my tape versus uploading it to the web site. So I’ll be kicking it old school with UPS! They’re due by Oct. 31st so I better get a move on!

Secrets to a Great Salad

Amy — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:28:06 +0000

Have you ever wondered why restaurant salads taste so great and the ones you make at home are just a bit blah? Let’s face it, most of us throw a bag of prewashed bagged lettuce into a bowl, throw a few baby carrots on top, top it with some bottled dressing and dig in. But making a great salad doesn’t have to be hard! With a few bold ingredients, you can take your salad from blah to wow in no time.

Ditch the Iceberg lettuce: Yes, it’s cheap. But it’s also bland, bland, bland. At the very least, try some red or green leaf lettuce or romaine. Farmers markets are a great place to find great lettuce at an equally great price, but hurry, because most farmers markets in the area close in late October to early November. If you’re feeling brave, try the Spring Mix (sometimes called Mesclun Salad Mix) that combine baby lettuces with greens, curly endive (also called frisée), and radicchio. Some local stores will sell it loose, while others sell it prepacked in bags or cartons. Choosing flavorful greens is the beginning of a great salad.,/p>

Add some protein: Whether you choose chicken, shrimp, beef, pork, or even beans and legumes, adding protein to your salad makes it more satisfying. Sure, if you are in a hurry, you can use lunchmeat or strips of chicken pulled off a store-bought rotisserie chicken, but if you want a better salad, grill your meat. It doesn’t take that long to throw some marinated chicken breasts on the grill, but it will increase the flavor of your salad ten-fold.

Don’t skip the fat: Many people don’t like salads because they aren’t satisfying enough. Adding a bit of fat to your salad will make it heartier. Top it with some toasted pecans, toss in some avocado slices, or sprinkle it with cheese. Don’t go overboard - add just enough to give your salad some flavor.

Proper toppings: If you like veggies, you can add whatever you have laying around, but you may want to focus on just a few key ingredients to create a balance of flavors. One of my favorite salads is just Spring Mix, pears, and blue cheese with a simple vinaigrette. You may want to pick your topping first (e.g. pears) and then build the rest of the salad around that key ingredient.

Best-dressed: Homemade salad dressings are so easy and have so much flavor, you’ll never go back to the bottle. Start with basic oil and vinegar and build from there. Add a bit of Dijon mustard, herbs, and a pinch of sugar (or sugar substitute) to sweeten it up a bit. I’ve even used maple syrup in vinaigrette. Trust me, it tastes great!

Brownies for Anal People

Amy — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:00:18 +0000

Today, I’ve got two bakeware solutions for anal people. One is for the super anal person who doesn’t want ANY inner brownie pieces. The other is for the super dooper anal person whose brownies must be exactly the same size and not get squished in the cutting process. Are you anal? Then, read on.

No more fighting over the edge pieces! The Edge Brownie Pan is the first (and only) brownie pan specifically designed for chewy edge lovers. Personally, I like the mooshy, gooshy center pieces, but I also hate frosting so what do I know! It’s sized to work with box mixes and most recipes calling for 9″ x 9″ and 9″ x 13″ conventional pans. It’s also non-stick so your fancy, schmancy edgey brownies won’t stick to the pan. As an added bonus, it comes with a recipe booklet and a custom nylon spatula.

Moving on…have you ever thought to yourself, “I wish every single brownie were the same size and didn’t get all smooshed when I cut it?” Yeah, me neither. But, somebody must have had this thought. Introducing, the Precut Brownie Pan Set. It has a built-in sectioner. When you remove it after baking, you have 18 presliced, perfectly sized, brownies. The pan also has a removable bottom that somehow assists with brownie-removal. Hey, that’s no fun! Even the description is anally-worded:

“After removing the sectioner you place the entire pan, centered, on the included wire lifting platform. In doing so, the removable bottom stays on the rack and the outer pan drops underneath allowing for you to easily use a small turner to remove the brownies!”

If you ask me, someone has made the joyful art of brownie-making about as much fun as a root canal! Ironically, one of the complaints of this product on Amazon was that it didn’t have enough edge pieces - they were mislead into thinking the sectioner would create a herd of corner brownies, but no such luck. Looks like someone could have used the Edge Brownie Pan!

Tivo Alert - Kitchen Nightmares on Tonight!

Amy — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 22:20:53 +0000

I love me some Gordon Ramsey so I’m so happy the new season of Kitchen Nightmares is starting tonight. 2 hours worth - woo hoo! Kitchen Nightmares is like a gruesome car wreck you pass on the road - you know it’s probably going to turn your stomach, but you just can’t stop looking! I’m sure this season will be full of the usual moldy food, vermin infestations, poor hygiene, clueless restauranteurs, and of course, Gordon’s oh so foul mouth. Fuck yeah! It starts at 8 on FOX.

Beat a Better Batter

Amy — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:40:50 +0000

BeaterBlade+ has a patented BeaterBlade+ wing-system design that acts like a wiper blade that continuously scrapes the sides and bottom of your bowl as it mixes. No more stopping the mixer to scrape down the sides! BeaterBlade+ has different models for KitchenAid, Cuisinart, Viking, and DeLonghi stand mixers. Most of the reviews on Amazon are glowing (although one negative reviewer noted that a few of the reviews were written the same day leading him to wonder if they were written by the same person). After reviewing all the videos below, BeaterBlade+ does appear to scrape the sides of the bowl better than a regular standard mixer (you can see it best in action in the video that compares a regular beater to the BeaterBlade+). You can get the BeaterBlade+ at Amazon or ChefTools.com.

From a cooking.com video interview with the inventor:

More videos (produced by the company) are at:

Regular beater vs. Beater Blade:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_lSWHgVZEA

Various Beater Blades in use:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7jbPxO1HUQ

p.s. Thanks to Lee for passing this along to me!

Book Signing Dates and a Blog Worth Checking Out!

Amy — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:58:56 +0000

I’ve become a huge fan of the Food Network Addicts blog. Jacob has a very interesting analysis of Aaron McCargo’s new show as well as the morphing of Paula Deen over the years (both shows are produced by Gordon Elliott).

While I was over there watching an old clip of Paula, I noticed he’s got book signing dates for Ina, Giada, and Rachel up so I’ll pass them along for you guys! Check with the store for more details. Pentagon Row is pretty close to my work so I might be able to hit the Ina signing!

Ina Garten

October 28, Time: TBD
Williams-Sonoma, King of Prussia Mall
King of Prussia, PA

October 29 12:00 - 2:00pm
Sur La Table, Pentagon Row
Arlington, VA

October 30 Time: TBD
Rainy Day Books, Unity Temple on the Plaza
Kansas City, MO

October 31 Time: TBD
Books & Books
Coral Gables, FL

November 10 Time: TBD
Williams-Sonoma
Natick, MA

November 11 Time: TBD
Barnes & Noble
Skokie, IL

November 12 Time: TBD
Borders
Roseville, MN

November 13 Time: TBD
Williams-Sonoma, Union Square
San Francisco, CA 94108

November 14 Time: TBD
Williams-Sonoma
Santa Monica, CA

December 10 Time: TBD
Williams-Sonoma, Mall at Short Hills
Short Hills, NJ

December 11 4:00 - 6:00pm
Crate & Barrel
New York, NY

Giada De Laurentiis:

10/2 at 5 PM at Barnes & Noble – US Route 1. Princeton, NJ
10/4 at 1 PM at Barnes & Noble – Memorial Drive. Houston, TX
10/6 at 5 PM at Barnes & Noble – Ridgehaven Mall. Minnetonka, MN
10/7 at 7 PM at Borders Books – 16th Street. Oak Brook, IL

Rachel Ray (new book out Nov. 5):
11/6 at 7 PM at Barnes & Noble – Union Square. New York, NY

Kewpie Mayonnaise…roo?

Amy — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:10:06 +0000

I fully intended to post about Anthony Bourdain, but seem to have gotten sidetracked. I’m watching No Reservations and good old Anthony is in Japan. He seems a bit calmer, not as cantakerous. Dare I say, I think he enjoys Japan better than the Egypt episode that preceded this one. He asked his host what he liked most about Japanese culture and the host replied - the attention to detail that is such a part of Japanese culture. As someone who has a hard time with details, I would agree. How many US moms (and dads) are out there creating adorable themed bento box meals for their kids? But I digress.

So I came on Amazon with the attention of posting the link to the No Reservations DVD or something and then I got sidetracked searching for Japanese cookbooks. Which brings us to Kewpie Mayonnaise. Please tell me that’s the brand name.

Kewpie Mayonnaise has really good reviews. Apparently, it contains MSG (and possibly kewpie doll parts! No, I am just kidding, of course). One reviewer states ” It makes everything it touches delicious.” Everything? Dog poo? Rotting garbage? Cat pukes of mysterious vintage that I found hiding in the spare room today? Another reviewer is not so sure - ” Kewpie mayonnaise has its own distinct flavor, I can’t exactly put my finger on what gives it its taste.” (hint: ground up kewpie doll parts - no! I kid again!). That reviewer states they will go back to Hellmans with the safe no kewpie doll infested packaging.

Even Amazon seems unsure. There is a suspicious legal disclaimer on the page:

Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and different information than what is shown on our website. We recommend that you do not rely solely on the information presented and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before using or consuming a product.

It then directs you to the full disclaimer, which states:

Disclaimer: While we work to ensure that product information is correct, on occasion manufacturers may alter their ingredient lists. Actual product packaging and materials may contain more and/or different information than that shown on our Web site. We recommend that you do not solely rely on the information presented and that you always read labels, warnings, and directions before using or consuming a product. For additional information about a product, please contact the manufacturer. Content on this site is for reference purposes and is not intended to substitute for advice given by a physician, pharmacist, or other licensed health-care professional. You should not use this information as self-diagnosis or for treating a health problem or disease. Contact your health-care provider immediately if you suspect that you have a medical problem. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Amazon.com assumes no liability for inaccuracies or misstatements about products.

I think someone got a few complaints about a certain product that may or may not contain kewpie dolls or parts there of. For the last time - I kid! If someone’s actually brave enough to try this stuff or uses it on a daily basis, let us all know. Everything tastes better with kewpies!

Postscript: While researching kewpies, I found this intersting fact on Wikipedia. The Kewpie is the current mascot of Hickman High School in Columbia, Missouri. It is the only known school in the world with a Kewpie as its mascot. (hmmm, I wonder why). That is seriously THE lamest high school mascot ever! Go, fighting kewpies, go! On second thought, that’s kind of cool. But not as cool as Kewpie Mayonnaise (also featured on the Wikipedia kewpie doll page).