Vegans, crawfish lovers and kitchen cleaners

I admire both the discipline and creativity of the vegan lifestyle. This Culinary Thrill Seeker is not ready to convert, because I admire the crawfish lifestyle as well. This week’s column has tips for all y’all who do either of that, from the most clean and stylish kitchen you can have.

 

But can you find another vegan? If you had eggplant, lentils and pomegranate, would you think of combining them into one dish? How about a Caribbean twist on okra with sweet potato, coconut milk, cilantro and Scotch Bonnet? I’d try that, a chickpea salad sandwich and Taco Tuesday with jackfruit. Vegans take a lot of heat, especially in meat-loving Texas. The dishes in “Vegan Cooking For Two” have 200+ mouth-watering ideas, including fig streusel and other desserts. So say you are bold and for your health or what have you find a black-eyed pea salad with peaches and pecans to your liking, the situation could be, can you find the second vegan to dine with? Hey, just call me. I’ll help you. America’s Test Kitchen has produced another winner with “make it a meal” and “level up” notes and explanations on why these combos will work for you.

Butter Boards

Decadent butter boards had their moment, which was maybe a whole week. I never got to try one. I knew it would be too dangerous to make my own. And yet, I have a pretty good idea for the Port Arthur area Cajuns who love their crawfish. Here’s an idea for your crusty loaf of French bread:

• Mince up crawfish tails, Cajun seasoning, maybe some fresh green herbs and onions with a bit of lemon juice and work them into softened butter – or cream cheese. Spread it on French bread and stand back.

 

Luxury Towels and Clean Cups

I’d never considered I could up my kitchen towel game. I mean they are there for what they need to do. But what is that? Drying, cleaning and maybe covering dough? Towels do the work. My friend hosts family parties with a dishtowel on her shoulder. They’re fashion accessories as well as potholders for her. When Thyme & Sage informed me, I got it. The Cleaner, The Cook and The Multitasker come in sets and I’m loving the elderberry. The most-textured cleaning towel has thirsty loops for counter maintenance. The Cook has a finer weave for jobs such as lining bread baskets, wringing out vegetables and putting between the pot and lid while cooking rice. Wait, do you do that? Does anyone in Southeast Texas or nearby Louisiana cook rice that? Please let me know if you do, because that was a product suggestion.  Anyways, the multitasker has two sides, but you’ll be one-sided pleased with all the colors and designs at www.timeandsage.com 

Kuppy  is so genius you’d wish you’d thought of it. The simple perforated silicone piece sits on your counter waiting for a hand-washed water bottle or wine glass to top it. Bam, you have a sleek drying rack. Keep it up and you’ll be a pro at regularly washing those hydration bottles so the gunk doesn’t build up at the bottom. Summer is coming and Texans need to drink up. Kuppy is your friend: www.getkuppy.com

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who has her crawfish days, her vegetarian days and her salad days. #culinarythrillseeking, darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Try something a little different

 

Giving things up and/or making positive changes is a Lenten thing. Maybe eat a little less and donate a little more. Try simple foods or try new things. Kale should be big. And maybe rice and beans. And oatmeal. But if you’re going to indulge, here are some healthier picks to get headed in the right director.

 

The Marsh in Marshmallow – Maybe you never thought about how marshmallows are made. Hearthy Foods makes some sweet square babies from grass-fed gelatin. What a huge difference this makes. You can snack on the French Vanilla variety that is also gluten and soy free and halal. Pink Himalayan salt makes the rest of the amazing difference. Hearthy Foods Inc., www.hearthyfoods.com is bringing a line of good stuff to consumers.

 

Crunchy Loops – You’ve probably never had baked red lentils the way Harvest Snaps does ‘em. Crunchy Loops are satisfying little circles of flavor that top my childhood fave of another crispy round which shall remain nameless. These are both “fun” and delish and I’m a little less guilty about enjoying the gluten-free plant protein snacks in Kick’N BBQ and Sour Cream & Onion. They impressed some health nuts I know. I was glad to share and glad there was plenty left over. Get your own from www.harvestsnaps.com 

 

It's still chocolate – Would you pick up a sweet dark chocolate bar with the words “not a low calorie food” on the label? Consider it if you are an adventurous diabetic craving sugar-free yum made with fermented mushroom extract. I enjoyed my second bite even more than the first one and my husband enjoyed more than the one block I offered him. Maca, lucuma, vanilla, monk fruit and cinnamon make Macalat bloom into “gentle caramel-like sweetness.” So it is sugar free, but not calorie free, because you simply can’t have it all. But have this treat from www.macalat.com

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who would love to hear from readers. #culinarythrillseeking darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Serenity Now! Gather for game night, but no double dipping

 

The show about nothing turned into a fun trivia game night when a friend brought over a “Seinfeld trivia game. I was on team Festivus and game answers included catch phrases from marble rye to airing of grievances. We thought about serving a big salad and pretzels that make you thirsty, but ended up with hummus and cheeses for a good old time. Our friend’s hummus recipe included turmeric for a lovely golden hue. Grab your friends and remind yourself of how much fun an old-fashioned game night can be. No double dipping!

 

Tea from what? – Olive leaf tea sounds exotic. The concept is ancient and I didn’t think I’d get the chance to try it. Steep Echo of Santa Barbara is a family olive oil and tea business with videos that make you imagine the very olive they’ve harvested into the nets they hold went into you salad for dinner. I enjoyed tea of such fragrance I thought about putting some bags in my linen drawer. Curated boxes in blue and gold paper look as luxurious as the teas they hold. Offerings include Repose with passionflower, rose petal, chamomile and linden, for “stolen moments.” Other combinations are Tend with mango and Ascent with monk fruit and vanilla. All feature olive leaves. Cut 1886 is the family’s “oil bizness,” www.steepecho.com  

 

Here’s the beef – I love how sandwiches become regional favorites. I just learned Chicago Italian Beef is a thing and Buona, a local pick, is so famous now that they can ship you a package to make some at home. A thick French roll soaks up the gravy from thin-sliced beef. An “optional” that is a must for me is gobs of Hot and Spicy Giardiniera olive salad. Does this put you in mind of a NOLA muffuletta? Not quite. Seems like the Italians of Chicago went a different way. The olive salad is the link. If you want to try how they do it up north, go to www.buona.com 

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who would never double dip. #culinarythrillseeking darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Valentines who like bacon are in luck

 

Heirloom tomato resembles a heart… kind of? Darragh Doiron/Special to The News

Hey Valentines and Galentines, be good to yourself. February is American Heart Month, so we eat well for our health. But you know, treat yourself, too.

I found a beautiful heirloom tomato that looks kind of like a heart and made it a meal. But then there’s some of this that your Valentines may appreciate:

Do you smell bacon? Or baking? – I want to kitchen skateboard with Molly of Molly Bz Gourmet Cookies, like she is doing on her site. But we’re having The Bossman after. That’s her loaded white chocolate/maple frosting/smokey bacon cookie. My instincts were right before I read the package: it’s even better after a pop in the microwave. The heavy Straight Fire s’mores version is as fun as The Tea with Earl Gray and lavender. Hot Mess ha mango, white chocolate and a blast of flamin’ hot cheese dust. I’m not making this up. Molly Bz is. She’s in-your-face funny with a Cinnipuns merch area. How about a “All or Muffin” T-shirt? The combos are delish and you can’t help but smile when you go to her site, www.mollybz.com which, by the way, has “cookies.”

Bacon Chocolate Bar – Upgrade S’mores with TBJ Gourmet’s 58 percent cacao Bacon Chocolate Bar that needs no review. But I’m giving you one: Sooooo good. I can’t figure why anyone who likes both components to find this anything other than the next step in Culinary Thrill Seeking. Make that Valentine feel loved by checking into www.tbjgourmet.com out of Pennsylvania. I’ll bet you’d figured a Texan came up with this.

Rest up – Give your sweetie a good night’s sleep and sweetie may wake up feeling like serving you breakfast in bed is a great idea. Those cutesy sleep masks never worked for me. The Manta Sleep Mask with amazing eye cuffs and earphones so you can play some deep sleep music and wake up a better person. They truly feel good, no amazing. Like otherworldly trippy and reassuring, even for side sleepers. Long story as to why I was up at 4:20 a.m., did some housework and then decide to try the freshly-charged new mask at 5:30 a.m. for a quick nap. More than three hours later I popped awake in my firm, dark cocoon. Manta makers say they want you to sleep, but are also excited about what you can accomplish after you wake up well-rested. Check out this well-made product, and the add-ons: www.mantasleep.com/upgrade

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie with a heart for connecting people to good food and fun finds. #culinarythrillseeking darraghcastillo@icloud.com