Reader shares tips and (seed) buttering up Culinary Thrill Seekers

Sharing foodie ideas, perhaps over a meal, is the good life to me. I always invite Culinary Thrill Seeking readers to share and this week we get two quickies from “ J h.” I love it when something may sound way out there at first and then you think of those salty/sweet ratios and realize, hey I want to try this. Here they are:

 

·          Balsamic and vanilla ice cream is a must. You have to try it.

·          Another fav is cayenne on peanut butter.

 

J h, I’m into both of those ideas. I’ve heard of the first in gourmet circles and the second makes sense as in Asian peanut sauce with spice, so why not try it on a cracker. Thank you! Readers, let me know if you try it. 

 Next Topic: Tahini

 Usually, a bowl of creamy hummus dusted with red paprika is my trusted presentation. Recently a waiter placed a dish of the chickpea spread in front of me with a small well in the center. Green olive oil and some whole garbanzos filled indentation and made a spectacular centerpiece with puffed pita. In future, I will always plan to reserve a few peas to pop on top of my hummus.

Or, on top of my chickpea dip, which is what I call it I simply empty the contents of a can of chickpeas into the blender with seasonings. I know, that is not authentic hummus, as explained by my Lebanese friend, so I call that a dip.

Once Again Nut Butter offers a Creamy Sesame Tahini with Lemon made with seeds sourced from Mexico, Peru, Africa and Nicaragua. Yep, this is the nuance my chickpea dip was missing. Now I can serve authentic hummus with pride.

               Hummus is so easy when using a blender because you can double the amount and have some leftover for lunches. It’s easy to pack and fills you up. Remember to pack veggie dippers such as carrots, cucumbers, bell pepper and celery.

               In a pinch, or on purpose, you can use peanut butter in your hummus, but I think we’re getting back into the “good-but-not-authentic” category. I’m adding cocoa powder and sweetener to make a chocolate hummus for fruit and graham crackers. Remember to recycle your empty jar for culinary experimentations and attractive pantry storage.

 

On a date! - This one is for their great-grandma. She was diabetic and loved sweets and dates, so brothers Noah, Aaron, & Jonah, founded Bahamii for clean eating. Their American-Iranian culture already worked with a sweet date background and they designed these bars in flavors such as chocolate almond, honey and cinnamon and coconut vanilla. Sooo good. The Farsi word 'Baham' means 'together, like on a date, (main ingredient) and the two "i"s on the end are like two people in a date. Athletes, kids and snackers will want to go on this date. Bahamii Date & Almond Bars | Low-Glyemic Date Bars

 

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie waiting to hear your reader tips. Help others eat like you! Share at darraghcastillo@icloud.com

Mighty Sesame meets Caulilini

            Confess: have you ever played with sesame beyond the hamburger bun topping? What do they taste like by themselves? How many of those tiny little suckers would it take to feel satisfied? I have a jar in the pantry that could last for years. When I do remember to toast some a pan with a little olive oil I love to experiment with eggs and vegetables. But then I forget again. Tell me you have tried tahini to top your foods. This rich, nutty sesame sauce now comes in squeeze bottles thanks to Mighty Sesame. The convenience and possibilities are there before you. Open Sesame. (I’m sure all the food reviewers just have to go there.)

            Traditionally this stuff would squeeze right on carrots, falafels and sandwiches. Now it’s an easy squeeze into exciting dips and marinade and salad dressing… Let’s keep going. Try it for your next PUMPKIN season fix.

            How easy is it to keep around to squeeze onto crackers or apples? If your lunch is a Bento box, reserve a space for this tahini. You can quickly whip up hors d’oeuvres for a party now, too. I love the flavor alone and how you can altar it with lemon, pepper, etc. into something new and fun. (vegan, keto friendly, dairy and gluten free) The company has TahiniBars, that are also in amazement to me. Little snack bars have a delightful sandy texture that melts in your mouth and get this: Flavors are vanilla, pistachio and cocoa nibs. It is very much on the healthy side but does not come off like health food.

Caulilini

CAULILINI® baby cauliflower is dinner and a show, as it the stems go very green when cooked. But I like this Asian-style variety raw. It’s flashing uslong edible stems and blonde, open florets that are sweet. I get that they'd put you in the mind of broccoli. Some people love their veggies, especiallly when they're this fun. Mann Packing reps sent me  CAULILINI® Baby Cauliflower to promote a variety of prep options, including plant-based tacos for your next Taco Tuesday. Why wait? Try them as soon as you can with tahini.
Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie deep into the pumpkin spice season. Share your ideas and questions with her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com