Give Mom what she wants on "her" weekend

 

What if Mom doesn’t want indulgence on Mother’s Day? Maybe she wants the family to clean out the garage. Can you handle that? Ask what she really wants, then listen! But hey, I’m down with these “traditional” selections that have brought me joy:

What’s a Whimsey Piece? – It’s a “puzzle” why we don’t relax more. I had the best time challenging my brain to assemble “On the Shelf,” Crissie Snelling’s image of a cat lounging on a bookshelf, along with cat figurines. And the whimsey pieces (Victorian throwback phrase) are cut into cat shapes. It’s cat on cat on cat with this Nautilus Wooden Puzzle. I know plenty of puzzle fans who would appreciate this well-made, boxed gift set. It’s a pleasure to open, unbag and snap those tricky pieces into place. Non-puzzlers may scoff, but soon admit to the addictive challenge. It was a textual and visual pleasure:  www.nautiluspuzzles.com 

The “Basic” unicorn wears a plaid button down. I like Shabby the Narwhal but you’ve got to watch out for Glitter Tornado, Rainbow Aura and Double Dutch. Unstable Unicorns is just a game, but you can build an army and betray friends. www.unstablegames.com will fill you in on what you’ve been missing if you’ve been sticking to Old Maid. What’s that behind you? It’s sparkly.

Beauty stuff:

Ambered Ember – Apricot oil we know. But I got a quick lesson on silica from the earth when trying the great smelling, light plumping serum with the stuff. L-Arginine is also a main ingredient in this little bottle that seemingly reconnects one with the earth. I feel very special when I take a moment to use and appreciate this plump.  www.amberedember.com

Sweetwater Labs 

d they’ve healed me.  I’m keeping a jar of eucalyptus shower steamers by my meditation chair. These pure white, sparkly chunks are to be thrown in your shower so you inhale that good steam. Healing vapors are doing me right. What else are they doing over in those labs? Rose oil, rice water and cucumber are foodie ingredients for your face. Look here. 

“The pharmacy’s mixture” of Sweden evolved into the feel-good compounds at www.acoskincare.com. Apotekens Composition since 1939 is still trusted. Renewing face oil and daily cleanser from this line offer “nourishment” and “purifying effects” from bottles printed with multiple languages, so women have been coming back for how fresh it makes them feel. Coco&Eve offers a host of body products boasting cruelty-free and vegan care in attractive packaging. I received a generous sample of the product I’d be least likely to use: Bronzing face drops in dark tan. I tried some on my leg with actually good results. I may get a little more experimental. 

Style on the Go – Stash your liquid product right in the handle of the Sisi Spray N’ Style brush you can take on a plane or carry around to look good for dinner with friends after work. A mom created this wide-vented-curved brush with boar and pin bristles to calm her child’s sensitivity, and adults are way into it, too. Not every product works the way it claims to, but the sisibrush.com does, for me. Just the brush alone goes through my thick curls, but the “secret” is a refillable spray bottle tucked inside the handle. Detangle kids’ hair or style your own in a breeze. Thanks, mom. 

 

Give Mom a day back. Donna McGeorge’s book asks readers to consider how they’d like to be remembered on their 80^th birthday and how we can be less busy. “The One Day Refund” challenges to take back time and spend it wisely. Tip: You probably really do make your best decisions in the morning, so get on it!

 

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie and mom to one little Jazzy. And I’m proud of her. darraghcastillo@icloud.com

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

If you like Cinco de Mayo...

 

Maybe you are compelled to sing “If you like Cinco de Mayo” to the tune of “If you like Pina Coladas” each time the season rolls around, I salute you. This Taco Tuesday fan is ready for the hot stuff mentioned below from Mexican and other cultures.

 

Holy Mole –  Mole is a personal favorite and I think of all the traditional gathering and grinding of so many components each time I open a modern jar of the paste. I’ve used the same jar brands for years, as they are easy to access from the market. Now I’ve been exposed to something new that tastes very “ancient,” in the best sense. Hernan Mole Poblano is based in Del Rio and it comes from a line of pride. The founder’s back story includes fashion, trade and flavor at www.hernanmexico.com. The succinct part of what I’d like to convey is the ease of preparing what comes from these jars into your pan and forming it into a divine sauce for chicken or whatever else is on your stove. One version combines four kinds of chiles with raisins, nuts and sesame seeds, cacao, plantains and raw cane sugar. Another has a pumpkin seed focus that is green from epazote and spinach with other earthy flavors. They’ve made a favorite even better.

 

TWANG – You can take things slow, or you can Twang them. A whole new world of beer salt opened up to me and I am… intrigued. It’s a big dill, as in dill pickle seasoning is trending. That’s just one option. In addition to Michelada cocktail mixes in several ranges, you can rim your glasses and beer bottle necks with intense salts in lime and unexpected flavors. Twang-A-Rita is a thing. Paloma Love, Clamato, Safari Spice and other blends would be talked about at your next gathering. Mango Chile Twangers are intriguing topping fruit salads are adorning fruit on the side of mocktails. Rimming salts make it all look and taste “extra.”  I enjoyed lime salt on popcorn. Do your own Twang.  Www.twang.com

Black Garlic – Just get hot for Cinco de Mayo, but you can accent from other cultures. West African peppers go into Hot N Saucy Black Garlic N Peri Peri  sauce. I love that this pours out in such a deep, dark color you could artistically paint a corner of your plate with it for culinary décor. Proudly Black-owned, this business Maybe sweet potato and habanero is more your thing. These are all my thing. @hotnsaucy.co

Smoke + Honey – More heat from other cultures: Rainier Foods is a family business in the shadow of Mt. Rainier and they’ve surprised me. I’d never have guessed they like the heat as much as we do here in the south. When I heard of combos such as Smokey Honey, Blackberry Smoky Honey, Gochu with roasted garlic and chilis and The Essentials, with sea salt, garlic and pepper…. I thought these would match my husband’s passion for Sunday afternoon ribs. While I learned cook new stuff on Korean Gochugaru chilies, my instinct was right on: the blackberry heat is my fave of faves. Here’s to the heat!  www.rainierfoods.com

 

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie ready for the next Taco Tuesday. Share with her at darraghcastillo@icould.com

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

Culinary quotes are nourishment

When good food is linked to nourishment for the soul, a prayer and a blessing, we are getting back to basics. There was a time when a whole family set out to gather the grains for their daily bread and cast a net to get fish on their table. A book of thoughts on this matter includes some written before dinner was driving to a window to pay for a plastic box of… what have you.

“A Chef’s Book of Favorite Culinary Quotations: An Inspired Collection for Those Who Love to Cook and Those Who Love to Eat” is small, and hugely full of wisdom. You could keep it by your table to reference in prayer or toasting meaningful occasions. The quotes collect us and recall a gratitude for those who make the food and enjoy it. They haven’t left out the humor.  Please enjoy these with me:

·          “The preparation, cooking and eating of food is a sacrament. Treating it as such has the potential to elevate the quality of our daily lives like nothing else.” – Karen Page & Andrew Dornenberg

·          “Cooking is like love; It should be entered into with abandon or not at all”. – Harriet Van Horne

·          “Fish, to taste right, must swim three times: in water, in butter and in wine.” – Polish Proverb

·          “I come from a family where gravy is considered a beverage.” – Erma Bombeck

·          “The only two things I don’t eat for breakfast are lunch and dinner.” – Unknown

Dill Pickle Lentils? Just think of the pitch meeting Farver Farms of Montana had to create excitement for little ol’ lentils. I’m glad they nailed it.  These guys have main dish ideas, but I’m talkin’ about Lentil Crunchers, crispy tidbits in hickory, dill pickle, and chipotle ranch. Salty little guys crunch up eggs, salads and my peanut butter snacks. You can only get more crazy your experiments. Just think of the pitch meeting the creators had. www.farverfarms.com

Olive&Linen – Imagine moms working from home and their work is weaving lush, fringed towels. Imagine these women in Turkey are creating such beautiful cloths that women in America are considering re-doing their kitchens to feature these towels at café curtains. Go, Olive&Linen, a company germinated from a mother tired of bulky wash loads. Benefits of Turkish towels for bath and beyond are many. I’ve never experienced such soft, thin towels that rise to the task, looking glamorous all the way. Large bath towels have subtle loops for quicker drying and elegant display. www.oliveandlinen.com

 Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who strives for mindful eating with tiny forks. Share your culinary adventures with her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com