The Vegan S’More
July 4th is right around the corner and for most people the celebration will include a barbecue, fireworks, and hopefully, a campfire. Traditionally, we sit around the campfire, roast marshmallows and either eat the gooey mess au natural or pile the partially burned white blobs on graham crackers with chocolate bars to make the classic campfire treat: the S’More. But, when you have a vegan in the family, making a S’More is a challenge. Read more 
“The Dinner”
That which falls is weak. That which lies on the ground is prey.
Several years ago I read a book called We Need to Talk About Kevin which was one of the most disturbing books I ever read. Written by Lionel Shriver, We Need to Talk About Kevin was about a little boy who grows up and commits unspeakable acts. The author – through the eyes of a mother – explored themes we rarely talk about: not loving your children enough, preferring one child over another, loving a spouse more than a child, and nature versus nurture.
So, when I picked up The Dinner by Herman Koch and started reading, I realized I was again reading a book that touched on the same mostly unspoken topics. Mostly unspoken because parents won’t admit they don’t love their children enough, or that one child is preferred over another, or that a spouse is loved more than a child..and most controversal of all, that parenting or genetics (or a combination of both) may have created a bad child. Read more
FoMu Alternative Ice Cream
FoMu is not an alternative to ice cream – but instead, an alternative ice cream or what the company describes as “a new take on a traditional favorite.” Dairy-free and vegan certified, FoMu is a hard ice cream made from either a coconut or nut blend base. The coconut base flavors are made with coconut milk – a creamy, natural and nutritious base that is sweetened with agave and unrefined cane sugar along with a trace amount of plant-based stabilizers (guar and xantham gum) whereas the nut blend base is made with almonds and cashews. Read more
Vegan Risotto with Asparagus and Mushrooms
Risotto is usually thought of as a wintertime dish because of its hearty nature but during the summertime, a light risotto with asparagus and mushrooms can be a refreshing change. Skip the butter and parmesan cheese; instead rely on a bit of olive oil, dry white wine, vegetables, a small amount of mild elephant garlic and broth to give the risotto body, flavor and texture. Tender and creamy but not heavy, Vegan Risotto with Asparagus and Mushrooms is especially delicious with chopped fresh parsley and a sprinkle of Himalayan sea salt added just before serving. Read more
Living the Sweetgreen Life
Last month, I took my daughter to Washington, DC for college visits and we discovered Sweetgreen: a restaurant known for sourcing local and organic ingredients from farmers they know to create wholesome made to order salads and wraps. With 17 current locations (10 in DC, 2 in Maryland, 3 in Virginia, and 2 in Pennsylvania) and 3 to open soon (1 in Boston at 659 Boylston Street this summer and 2 in New York City at 413 Greenwich Street in Tribeca and 1170 Broadway at 28th Street adjacent to the NoMad Hotel), there is no better place to go for a casual, healthy lunch when visiting these cities. Read more
“The Buddha in the Attic”
In the United States, we commemorate December 7, 1941 as the day Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese but we don’t recognize April 2, 1942 – the day nearly 120,000 US citizens and residents of Japanese ancestry were forced to leave their homes, property, businesses, and communities to live an internment camp – most of which were called Assembly Centers or Relocation Centers created by the US government. Read more
Weck Jars
Weck glass jars have become an obsession in our home where we use them for drinks (juices, smoothies, iced teas) and foods (parfait, pudding, granola, salad, gazpacho) because they display content so beautifully. What can be more eye-catching than the lovely hue of fresh squeezed juice with floating slices of lemon….. or layers of colorful berries between yogurt or ice cream and crunchy bits of granola….or a wide mouth glass jar filled with sliced sweet red and yellow grape tomatoes, chopped avocados, diced cucumber, sweet champagne mangos and cilantro? Read more
Mom’s Organic Munchies
Mom’s Organic Munchies – Krunch Bars, Choco Fit Bars, On The Go Bars, and the Cookies – will make you stop in your tracks, pause, and grin with delight because Mom’s Organic Munchies are the best tasting new snack bars on the market – not an easy award to achieve in a society where everyone seems to be packing a bar. I don’t just like these bars; I love them. And, I’m a bit ashamed to admit that I hide them in the refrigerator so no one else finds them. Gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and refined sugar-free, Mom’s Organic Munchies are a healthy but decadent snack bar. Read more
How To Make Cupcakes Meri Meri
Most cupcake bakers have two goals: to use the freshest and finest ingredients available to make the most delicious treats but there are also the bakers that have a third goal: to make their cupcakes especially pleasing to the eye by using liners and decorations. Presentation and packaging are very important and for the novice home baker, there is a company that provides a variety of unique baking products designed to add a touch of whimsy and beauty to your next cupcake project whether it be for a traditional birthday party or to celebrate the first day of summer. Read more
“Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk”
No matter their age or station in life, Billy can’t help but regard his fellow Americans as children. They are bold and proud and certain in the way of clever children blessed with too much self-esteem, and no amount of lecturing will enlighten them as to the state of pure sin toward which war inclines. He pities them, scorns them, loves them, hates them, these children. These boys and girls. These toddlers, these infants. Americans are children who must go somewhere else to grow up , and sometimes die.
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk is a book whose title so perfectly resonates reality that most readers will come to think they are reading a work of non-fiction. Written by Ben Fountain, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk is both the story of Billy Lynn and a reflection of American culture. Read more
Paddock Post 