Great Food Discoveries of 2023
2023 has been a banner year in my kitchen with 8 really great plant-based food discoveries made throughout the year including ice cream, chocolate, soup, cheese, granola, nuts, and salami. All 8 of these companies deserve a food Oscar for their healthy and delicious creations. Read more 
Reine Vegan Cheese
Plant-based cheese (or vegan cheese) has been growing in popularity in recent years with growth expected to increase at an annual rate of 16% over the next 7 years, according to a market research report by RationalStat (a company that does market research, analysis, forecast and trends).
The growth is being fueled by turophiles (cheese lovers) who want the savory creamy texture of dairy-based cheese without the lactose, and for those seeking a healthier alternative to animal-based products. Read more
Nairn’s Oatcakes
An oatcake is a cracker made primarily from oats. A Scottish creation, the oatcake is to the Scots what a Ritz cracker is to Americans, a Rosca to the Spaniards, and what a TUC cracker is to the French: that is, a traditional cracker that is often used as a chariot for a topping with bold flavor. Read more
The Pili Nut: The Chosen One You’ve Never Heard Of
The pili nut (pronounced “peeley”) is probably the nut you’ve never heard of because pili nuts are not native to North America or Europe. Grown in Southeast Asia and primarily in the Philippines, the pili nut is often called “the chosen one” because of its nutritional value (high in magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, zinc, Vitamin B1, vitamin B6, folate, copper and 8 essential amino acids).
Shaped like an almond in the shell and a pine nut in the raw, the pili nut tastes like a creamy mild macadamia nut, although a friend says “a pili nut tastes like the offspring of a macadamia nut and a pine nut.” Like most nuts, you can do many things to it: dry, sprout, roast, mill, candy, caramelize, and even turn it into nut butter. It’s that versatile. But, like most nuts, the quality of a pili nut varies depending on where and how its grown. Read more
The How Not To Die Cookbook
When the groundbreaking book, How Not To Die was published in December, 2015 by Dr. Michael Greger, MD, who had no personal financial stake in book sales because all of the proceeds are donated to charity (www.nutritionfacts.org), the public took notice putting the book on the New York Times Bestseller List instantly and keeping it there for more than a year. Read more
Tarallini, Racioppi, and Chianchette
Agricola del Sole is an Italian company based in La Murgia, an agriculturally diverse territory in the Puglia (southeast) region of Italy (known as Apulia) that specializes in making traditional Italian foods including Tarallini, Racioppi, and Chianchette – small crackers made with durum wheat semolina, olive oil, white wine, and salt.
These crackers are typically served as appetizers with tapenade, olives, roasted red peppers, and various antipasto dishes but they are also an ideal snack as is. Read more
Garden of Eatin’ Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips
In the Garden of Eatin’, no one cares about the apples because it’s all about the chips. Made with organic yellow corn, expeller pressed oils (canola, safflower or sunflower) and a touch of sea salt, Garden of Eatin’ Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips are simply delicious. With a big yellow corn flavor, these classic chips (what they look like on the bag is exactly what they look like in the bag) can be enjoyed au naturale, in nachos, or with salsa and guacamole…or, all of the above! Read more
Norwegian Knekkebrød: Crispbread
On a trip to New York City, my daughter suggested we go to the Norwegian Christmas Fair at the Norwegian Seaman’s Church on East 52nd Street. Held annually in mid-November over a 3-day period, the Norwegian Christmas Fair offers handmade blankets, sweaters, hats, gloves, ornaments, candles, and a wide variety of Norwegian food products including a Norwegian crispbread called Knekkebrød (pronounced “knockie broad”). Read more
Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP® Light Kettle Corn
Kettle corn – crunchy popcorn that is both sweet and salty – is without a doubt an incredible invention but the problem with most types of kettle corn is the fat and sugar content (way too high) so kettle corn is not an everyday snack for most people. Until now. Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP® Light Kettle Corn is a classic lightly salted (with sea salt) popcorn with a little cane sugar thrown in. Read more
The Ultimate Pistachio or Olive Server
Pistachios and olives make great appetizers and snacks but the question always seems to come down to what to do with the shells or pits? I often stand in the kitchen and eat pistachios right out of the bag holding the empty shells until my hand is full and then toss the shells in the trash can. Or, I enjoy the olives but then have to find a casual way to dispose of the pit so that no one sees what I’ve been gnawing on. An empty bowl can be placed alongside the bounty but this is often less than ideal because who wants to look at an olive pit that’s been munched on or a pile of empty shells? Read more
Paddock Post 