Holiday hot stuff: fire pit inside

 

Did someone say fire pit? I’m there. How about smore’s inside? And simple rubbing alcohol for fuel? Colsen Fire Pits has a smallish round pit that you can burn at your indoor table and I’m sooooo pleased. There are several precautions for this “instant ambiance of a real fire.” Mainly don’t blow it out, don’t add more fuel while it is burning, use a long lighter and don’t burn your ceiling. Be cautious and be amazed. I could watch this for hours. Cozy has come and I’m not letting it go. And come summer, take it outside and mix with citronella to avoid unwanted bugs. www.colsenfirepits.com

 

Sage has its moment in holiday stuffings. Smudgers use it year-round and Magnificent 101 presents a Pure Sage energy cleansing soy wax candle where you write what you welcome into your life as a done deal. Label it joy or confidence or whatever. Your’e the boss of this sage. Relax with the aroma then work on focusing on good stuff, what you are grateful for, etc. Easy, right? www.magnificent101.com has “freebies” as in checklists and coupons to print.

 

Mary’s Mixers – Don’t get scared, the Mary’s Mixers site says. Mary on the label has horns an maybe some extra eyes on her. Is that a carnivorous plant in of those photos? But they mean don’t be scared to go beyond Bloody Mary mixers like celery, green olives and cocktail onions to something more attention-getting, such as shrimp, a chicken wing, bacon or a slider. Go big with ideas from www.marysmixers.com, an award winner of the International Drunken Tomato awards. They are “bringing sprits back from the dead.” I mixed the spiciest version with Mexican beer for a snap-happy cocktail. I have a friend, Mary, who tipped me off that this sort of mix is good in meatloaf. She was the second person in a week to mention that, but my Mary’s has a specific intended use that’s for after dinner, thank you.

 

 

Cut Above – For those adding alcohol to their fire pits only, www.drinkcutabove.com will impress. I’ve tried these non-alcoholic gin and mezcal versions that satisfy because of attention to botanical detail. Natural flavorings include Mexican and Persian lime and chipotle extract. There are plenty of reasons to experiment with zero-proof concoctions and getting to and through 2023 safely is one. The mezcal is going in my next cranberry relish.

 

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie relishing quiet and cozy nights of Advent as we wind down 2022. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

The Garth House works for Les Enfants

 

The Garth House works for Les Enfants

Super Heroes with tools from fire axes to stethoscopes adorned Pour Les Enfants, the annual Garth House benefit. Child trafficking does exist and the Interstate 10 corridor means it can and does happen around here, Marion Tanner, Garth House executive director, said. The Garth House is a safe place for children to communicate their stories and Tanner said there have been plenty over the stressful times of Covid isolation. She urged locals to keep supporting this group to help children overcome.

This elegant silent an live auction dinner is under a tent at the Old Town Beaumont headquarters and it’s wonderful to see locals bidding on fun donated packages and dining in tented elegance.

 

As for the foodie aspect, the salad was abundant and flavorful. Here’s how the program listed the fall salad composition: kale, romaine, dried fruit, feta crumbles, candied pecans dossed in a Dijon vinaigrette. 

Make those bubbles last. Kloveo  may be designed for people like me, who could be fine with sliding into bed right after the ball drops on New Year’s Eve. But what if you crave Champagne early, then desire that ceremonial toast later, Kloveo’s chrome-plated stainless steel hinge uses Pascal’s Law, a physics principal I’m not prepared to discuss whilst enjoying Champagne. Clamp on this hinged stopper after opening and you’ll have bubbles for days, featuring the ceremonial pop. This after-pop has made this the top seller of such products in Italy and France. I’ve heard they like their bubbles, too. Why does it work? www.kloveo.com

 

Joyus sparkling wine is for “sober-curious” and other folks who want bubbles with no alcohol. It’s award-winning and the best of its kind I’ve ever enjoyed. Rose, red and white versions will make your holidays joyful in so many ways. There, that’s it. www.drinkjoyus.com

 

Nutty, citrus and caramel are notes on some Pure Origin coffees that come with photos of the growers and videos on how their communities – from Honduras, Congo, Peru, etc. – are benefitting from proceeds from medical testing to clean water. The flavors are deep and the causes are good. Get to know these farmers and products at  https://www.pureorigincoffee.org/

 

Tea Runners Club pumpkin alert – Stocking, sure but you should consider www.tearunners.com for a gift subscription. Salty Caramel Pumpkin Black could come with Wu Liang Tea and such all you want. My fave new blend is Genmaicha green tea with rice. You can see it through the package. Brown tea rice gives off rich and nutty sweetness. Tea is still revealing itself to us.

 

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who believes the joy of the holidays is both in the giving and the receiving. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Gather the family, always

We think of Thanksgiving as the time to round up the family. We used to do that at nearly every evening meal. You can “ad-rib” a spontaneous dinner, hear about the kids’ school days, play with flavors and create, with a little planning. In “Eating Together, Being Together” Julian C.E. Clauss-Ehlers and and Caroline S. Claus-Ehlers combine recipes, fun and great relation tips. Tips and fun facts help future foodies get curious about how that food got to their homes and how it will turn up on their plates. There’s a bunch on salad and why some people think they don’t like it. Who would not like their “Salad with Bits?” They can consider how cheese tastes at various temperatures, practice saying the colors of their food in different languages an watch their avocado pit grow. Are you disguising foods to trick eaters? (Some times but it’s for a grown man.) This family prefers choice over deception and has tips on how to get a kid curious enough to try new things. I’d join this family for dinner any day.

Sisters are Doing it For Themselves. Maybe you remember that ‘80s beat. The Painterland Sisters pose in flowy dresses on a tractor while enjoying their organic yogurt with billions of probiotics. I was sold on that fun spirit. Thick and creamy Icelandic style skyr invites you to “honor nature” from their sustainable farm to your bountiful table. Or to your on-the-go lunch box. I think I feel more refreshed by the third spoonful. Meadow Berry is my top pick of 5 great flavors. www.painterlandsisters.com

If your Thanksgiving prep wipes you out, retire to a great night’s sleep with LectroFan Micro2, a sleek portable cylinder ready to relax you with “fan” and ocean noises. Think you know white noise? This portable baby has pink and brown noise, too, and you can travel with it. Visiting family who like the TV cranked? Say hello to your little fan. I’m a true fan. www.soundofsleep.com 

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie ready for Thanksgiving abundance and joy. Share ideas with her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Does this taste funny to you?

 I was drinking Nope while watching “Nope.” Cans of the fruit/herbal non-alcoholic alt-tails are for the “sober curious” and hangover haters. The movie is a neo-Western science fiction horror film. Got all that?  Mango Margarita with Jalapeno is my top pick of the line at www.drinknope.com. This lead to a round up of great goods with unusual names and uses. See if these “taste” funny to you:

Label-wise, I could have chosen the cute fox on the lavender scent, but I chose scary Krampus essential oil incense for the “winter aroma of frankincense, woods and holiday spice.” Sea Witch Botanicals is impressively natural and committed to the environment. We invited an incense connoisseur to”breathe plants not plastic” with us and he picked up on the clove and patchouli in this small batch blend and went right to www.seawitchbotanicals.com to dive in.

Chop too many onions for the big family dinner? Dig till you drop in the garden? Those hands need some balm. You’ve had, and you need, Week From Hell. It’s a funny name for a serious cracked skin salve. There’s other good stuff in the lWalton Wood Farm line to transform your skin and attitude. Rough hands, you’re going down. www.waltonwoodfarm.com

Leather Honey cleaner and conditioner goes on smooth and has made it fun to restore my favorite wallets and I’m moving on to purses and furniture. New to me, this has been on shelves since 1968 and was tested on postal carrier soles. The treated one lasted twice as long. Heirlooms, you’re getting supple for the holidays. www.leatherhoney.com

A mushroom flashing me the peace sign is not how coffee was once marketed. If you want a cup that does “wunders,” try some gut refreshing, anti-aging mushroom coffee from Wunderground. The tone is light, the aroma and flavor are great and the message is healing. Little stickers of creatures enjoying the coffee are whimsical. That octopus may want more than one cup. Several flavors await at www.wundergroundcoffee.com and if this is already too much change, don’t worry about the non-fungible token. Just enjoy the mushies.

Manta Sleep knows a good night’s rest is a game changer and their wide array of sleep masks show that. I’m trying their stylish blue-light blocking glasses while working at the computer and I just learned you can watch TV at night with them to help transition to a better sleep. Get the melatonin flowing. I’ve heard people rave about them and I’m seeing why. Reviews on Manta (like the devil ray) can be found at www.mantasleep.com

Hemp has popped up in my socks and soap. We could talk of butter of triphala, but maybe it’s more interesting to mention the hemp seed oil that helps give Hemp & Herbs such a smooth, natural feel and scent. This block feels natural and earthy good. www.santhigramherbals.com

If you’re only into Arvin Goods to say your stylish, comfy socks contain hemp biofiber then you’re some kind of …. Friend of the people? That’s what Arvin means in Arvin Goods. Sure it’s funny to say you have weed socks, but hemp fibers aren’t new. These socks are rocking it with great fit and it looks like they’ll hold up a long time. Made for you, worn for good is the “designed in Seattle” company’s deal. See what they’re up to at www.arvingoods.com 

Also in sock news: Pear makes compression socks kinda sexy, even if you’re pregnant. When healthy meets style, you should get a pair – or a Pear. See, funny name. I love they support me and the “Be Kind” stitched right in these designed in Canada and made in Italy pieces at www.pearcompression.com

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie out for new experiences. www.darraghcastillo@icloud.com

 

What's in your Astros cup?

I’m going all Astros for the second week in a row. It’s been fun to see people in their jerseys around our area and Houston supporting the team in the World Series. Through a relative, I actually got to attend the World Series opener and that was crazy fun. This week, Culinary Thrill Seekers, let’s talk about what you can put in your Astros cup:

Scapegrace Premium Black Gin – A friend recently introduced me to the subtle botanicals of gin. People tend to associate “clear” gin with a light feeling. And now for something completely different: Scapegrace Black Gin gets coloring from extracts including Aronia Berry, Saffron, Pineapple, Butterfly Pea and Sweet Potato. But hang on: It fades from black into reds and purples when you mix it with, say, tonic water and a slice of green apple for a signature serve. Is this crazy? Well, it’s a conversation starter, for sure. I can’t wait to share what I’ve already enjoyed. The sleek bottle design is a keeper.  think they can say it better than I can, so here it is, from the New Zealand makers:

Palate: Full bodied florality with a menthol like crispiness, naturally chilling with a balanced citrus freshness and a hint of spice.

Aroma: Resinous with Juniper and dry earthy notes, slight tropical sweetness swooping towards the end of the breath. 

Finish: Candied sweet potato and pineapple finish, mouth feel is luxurious and velvety and full of natural citrus oils. www.scapgracedistillery.com 

Fire Grounds Coffee Co. – It’s from first responders, and from Dallas, and I was right about the Bubba Brew. Texans ought to love it. Fragrance and body are also found in Rescue Roast and Bury Up Black. Count on this Firefighter and Veteran-Owned company to come through with what you need at all hours. Subscribe to the Caffeine-A-Station if you are as serious as they are. Challenge on for the good stuff. www.firegroundscoffeecompany.com

Fruit Forward – Watermelon is the fruit focus of a kosher blend that dropped this June. Down south we’re always down for this flavor and MYX Fusions Watermelon Moscato is my favorite-so-far experience with Moscato. It’s light, fresh and effervescent by my description. It’s crisp with a clean finish, according to the experts. It puts me in mind of bridal parties. www.myxfusions.com

Italian Style – Oat Barista is a thing, but I’m currently trying organic almond, coconut an almond coconut plant-based milks with extreme success. Koita blends are a product of Italy and I’m enjoying cool flavors by the carton. I don’t usually indulge in these dairy-free products but when they come my way, I’m all about it. Italian almonds are giving the body and flavor. www.koita.com

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie ready for cups overflowing with abundance. Tis the season to be grateful. darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Astros snacking

 

I’m hoping that by the time you read this, my Astro’s snacking tips are still newsworthy. Not noted for my sporting knowledge, I can certainly get behind fan support and of course, the goodies. I actually went to an earlier church service so I could see more of this past Saturday’s game. The popcorn was ready to go at my house with a nice Parmesan topping and I made cocktails in orange and blue. I sliced up orange bell pepper to tie it all together.

Readers, if you’re willing to share the hits at your house on game night, I’d love to give our readers here. Type them up and send them to my e mail, below. Let’s get thrill seeking!

Movie Credit Good – You stay past “the end” to watch movie credits, right? You’re often rewarded with a tease for the next edition of a story. At the bottom of a Sam’s Famous Salsa carton, I found this message: “See? We told you it may be addictive.” I’d eaten it all in one sitting, but that’s not behavior uncommon in Texas. It’s extremely fresh and satisfying on its own and you can also try it on: eggs, burritos, chips and guac with rotisserie chicken, chicken noodle soup, as a marinade, etc.  The family recipe is from the Tarahumara Indian Tribe with Hispanic, Latino and Native American flavors. Get yours at www.samsfamoussalsa.com 

Box of Fall – The Chief Gift Guru at Eku Box can handle the rest of the year for you, but I’m gonna share the secret. The “anatomy of these knock-out gift packages is “’use plus keep plus eat.” So For the Love of Olives includes keeper plates, a usable wooden board and the eatable oil. The list goes on and your set for gifting and hosting. I’m blown over by a fall box with cookies and candies and a lidded candle that looks like orange cut glass. It’s the keeper for me. Herbal sprigs and ribbon make it look over-the-top fancy and get this, there’s a note informing that even the bubble wrap is made from recycled content. www.ekubox.com to the rescue. 

I Do – The question is www.douoohlala.com.  A strive toward better health inspired Ooh La La Skin Care’s creator to incorporate fruit, green tea, honey, etc. into butters and cleansers that are “Made with Nature. Blessed by God!” Who doesn’t want that? One of those butters is saving my lips this season.

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie still trying not to say Super Bowl when she means World Series. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Isn't shrimp a treat?

 

Doesn't seafood mean a little something extra in our Cajun, coastal town? We spread out newspapers to catch shrimp and crawfish tails when it’s messy and we also dress up to dine out.

We go out of our way to get it fresh and take care with cooking and seasoning. Shrimp can be a light dish or luxuriously breaded, friend and served buttery or creamy. We can’t get enough.

Remember the shrimp festival on Pleasure Island and the famous shrimp calling contest? Call up your go-to shrimp favorites and share them with readers. Here’s what I’m craving: With the sensation of the viral butter board – spreading butter and topping it with various herbs to rake your warm bread through – here’s a shrimp twist. Cream cheese that board and top it with minced shrimp and garlic.

More life of luxury options:

Noa Lux – If you even understand the following sentence, you don’t need me to be telling you about luxury. Bundles of premium candles, face masks, etc. with good ingredients. Think of “The Waterboy” saying “high quality.” You know those silk pillowcases everyone raves about for good hair and stuff? Theirs are made with 100% 22-Momme OEKO-TEX 6A grade silk. I looked all that up and believe me, its fancy. It feels like a cool bit of heaven as you lie down for pleasant dreams. The candle will enhance your evening further. www.noaluxco.com

Clearly Good  - Fleuri –Enjoy a good artichoke? Wash up with some inFleuri Clear Gel Cleanse. A dermatologist created this line for long-lasting skin care. Japanese water, hibiscus rosa-sinesis leaf extract, some citrus and artichoke leaf extract are clear wash in this tube. Natural product lovers will enjoy the earthy stuff in this line that’s already famous in Japan. www.fleuribeauty.com

Moxi – My Moxi clarifying shampoo is also clear to remove nasty pollutants from natural, curly and other hair. Superfruits, science and nerve make up “fun” products. Moxy means pep, courage and determination are definitions for “moxi,” one of my favorite little-used words. Posted reviews show I’m not the only one who likes it.

Redneck  and Crans – For those who work hard, camo hard but don’t want to stink hard, give them The Redneck Bourbon and Oak soap, triple milled and small batch from Walton Wood Farm. Man, women will love it, too. It’s old-fashioned good soap that can laugh at itself. Want to make cranberries the new pumpkin spice? It’s a thing and Warm Cranberry Shea Butter Soap from the same company is on it. Their whole site is full of humorous, inspirational ways to present really quality items. Their backstory involves the Canadian wilderness, barn reconstruction and this soap includes inspiration from the Arctic Fox on pausing and breathing.

Dr. Wells – Dr. Sherian Wells was completing her Master’s Program in Aromatic Studies when her mom was prepping for knee replacement. She went to work on Dr. Wells’ Magic Cream. Now we can all share her line of holistic, natural, products “that actually work.” I’m sold already by trying just one product: Healing Skin Repair Wash with rose water and oil, tea tree oil, shea butter extract and Castile soap. www.drwellsproducts.com can close the deal for you. Healing is her family business. 

Henna Sooq - Khadija is your guide through Henna Sooq info on hair and body oils with organic amala, golden jojoba and camellia oils. Want to use henna to color your hair or adorn your body? Navigate to one video or the other but hey, she’s there for you to take care of natural and curly hair and soooo much more. This fall, experiment with the aromas and scents that have healed for centuries. Must I pick a fave? I confess, we have camellia here, but I’d never have thought that there was such use for the beautiful flower. But there is, naturally. www.hennasooq.com

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who loves the simple things. And the luxurious things. Share with her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com