Showing posts with label Wilton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wilton. Show all posts

Sunday, April 17, 2022

Eggs with ease



There’s variations of an egg dish with just a few ingredients: Eggs, jalapeno peppers and cheese. Sometimes there’s flour. It’s easy to make, serve and eat. I’ve used a new blue Texturra Performance non-stick bake pan for every version and it it’s been a pleasure to not clean the pan. A simple rinse and wipe prepped it for the next experiment each time. A “unique texture” encourages airflow and structural rigidity with even heating and “excellent release.” Sounds like therapy, right? Please DO follow instructions to prevent scratching, staining, etc. Mine is still new and I’m still loving it. www.wilton.com can set you up. The egg dish got a boost on my second styling with Better Body Foods Whole Grain Organic Oat Flour Blend. I didn’t even measure. I just scooped out a couple of spoon’s worth and blended into my pepper eggs with great results. Use 1-1 replacement for muffins, etc., but it’s not recommended for yeast breads. www.betterbodyfoods.com


War Pig BBQ – It was the name, SNAFU, that got me. Apparently my dad played a character, The Great SNAFU, during his military days. He was a ham, but War Pig, a veteran-owned and Houston based group of barbecue lovers, knows what do with hams. Situation Normal All Fowled Up is their chicken-fowl sauce. FUBAR, For Use on Butts and Ribs, is another fun title and great flavor. These are good, these are fun and they’re from people who don’t mess around with their barbecue. Ham Grenade is a rub to be reckoned with. This group earned an H-E-B Texas best ranking. www.warpigbbq.com

 

Liberty Beans – I hope it’s okay I’ve got my Liberty Beans Freedom Blend in a travel cup. While the patriots at www.libertybeanscoffee.com believe in in God, family and friends AND that coffee should be consumed black and from a mug. But, no judgements, they add. I’m good with all of that plus the amazing aromas and deep flavors. Jim the chef and Diane the chemist are married to each other and a fun/serious coffee production out of Cherry Hill, N.J. Mugs clinking to  their continued success!

Plant Junkie – Remember Elaine’s  “big salad” from “Seinfield?” I had a friend who ate the same home version of a big salad daily. Classic romaine, tomatoes, red onions and a ton of olive oil. Great for the body, but I have the “culinary thrill seeking gene,” so I like to try different textures and mix ins. Canned corn and black beans are some faves right now. And how to dress these works of art in a bowl? Plant Junkie is making it fun. This line offers plant-based creations with natural stuff and Caeser is a newbie. Avocado oil makes it snap. But hey, Thai Peanut is also calling my name. Chipotle Ranch makes you kick up your carrot sticks. I really enjoy this line and what it stands for. My OCD likes me to finish one bottle before opening another. But Blue Cheese makes be go for the crunch. Join me in my salad joy at www.plantjunkie.com

Without a Trace – You’ve got a pinky promise from a family that kids, being super heroes and rock stars in the making, won’t have to be left out of snacking on account of food allergies. They are now speaking from and baking for experience. I’m truly impressed with plant-based sea salt crisps that are “All of the Awesome. None of the Compromise.” www.withoutatracefoods.com has lots of dates, oats and other combos that are fashioned into chewy granola bars, cookies, and power bites that taste good and fruity. If you must be carful what you eat, you can spend more time enjoying it with this line.

 Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who spent most of her life not realizing how good an egg can be for breakfast. Share your stories with her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Saturday, April 9, 2022

Honeys, sprinkles and rule breakers


Bees work so hard. But don’t feel guilty enjoying their labor. Plant natives to keep the bees busy and consider these options in honey news:



Runamok is maple famous and now this Vermont company is sweet on honey. My favorite adventures are with peppers and listen to these options: Chipotle Morita Infused, Chile de Arbol Infused and Szechuan Peppercorn Infused. These title-specific names hint at what you are getting in for so now it’s time to get creative. Roasted nuts, fried chicken and broccoli have gotten my hot and sweet endorsement. www.runamokhoney.com

 

Tea Honey - A dear friend likes honey in his tea and he flipped when he saw Adagiobees raw honey collection samplers. Golden hues from Manuka and Rooibos to fruit tisanes and garden herbs beckoned. He went straight for the Tupelo. From mild to earthy, fruity to floral, these bees have been working it. Just a little bit of honey makes a cup sweeter. Go natural at with www.adagio.com.  

 

Sprinkles - Do you have a sprinkle collection? Is it… dated? As color trends, shapes and expiration dates change, consider what’s on your nibbles. I saw a trendy cupcake dispensary, as in a vending machine, that stocked beauties. You can make your own with help from Wilson and the Pastel Egg Sprinkles Mix. Just looking at these treasures makes you think of little kids posing with baskets. www.wilton.com suggests these are also attractive for baby shower treats.

 

Sweet Diane’s Granola is so good it doesn’t really need all the inspirational quotes on the package, but I like them anyway. “Healthy Eating Happy Life” and “Food is Joy” is not so subliminal messaging on resealable packages in flavors such as orange cranberry reminding you that eating healthy is not a chore. If you’ve been getting your granola in squashed bars from the bottom of your bag, get clean again with plant-based comfort foods from Sweet Diane’s. Organic rolled oats, pecans and maple syrup are the kind of ingredients you’ll find in these bags. www.sweetdianes.com




Sweet Snack Saves Water - Watermelon Seeds, dates, oats, maple syrup and other fruits make Forca  Foods Energy Bites stand out. Vegan stuff is environmentally friendly and energizing. Keep some in your desk drawer. www.forcafoods.com 

Rule Breaker – If the phrase “plant-based” doesn’t get you in snack mode, skip to “deliciously soft-baked strawberry shortcake.” Bottlecap-sized bites are delish and if you can keep to the 3-to-a-serving suggestion, you’ve got 100  calories of good stuff This is a limited edition from www.rulebreakersnacks.com


Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who is all honeyed up for spring. Share your foodie experiences with her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com