Paqui Gourmet Tortilla Chips
Some of the most basic simple foods are the hardest to make. Consider tortilla chips which are primarily made of three ingredients: corn, oil, and salt. How hard can it be to make really great tasting crunchy tortilla chips? Well, according to many tasters who have snacked on the mass market commercial offerings, the answer is “pretty hard.”
The secret to great tasting tortilla chips is to use high quality fresh tortillas fried in oil hot enough to cook them to a perfect crisp but not so hot as to darken the chips. If the oil is not hot enough, the chips will be greasy and if the oil is too hot, the chips will be overdone making the corn flavor an afterthought. Read more 
Introducing Ben and Jerry’s Non-Dairy “Ice Cream”
Be one in a million.
Ben & Jerry’s of Burlington, Vermont recently started making “ice cream” with almond milk instead of dairy products which has shoppers scavenging for pints that give new meaning to the word “ice cream.” Dairy-free, vegan, non-GMO, and Fair Trade certified, Ben & Jerry’s new frozen desserts are disappearing off the freezer shelves as fast as they can be restocked. Read more
The Makers Apron
Most people don’t get too excited about aprons but I do because an apron not only protects clothes but also helps keep things – measuring spoons, spatulas, a tissue, or scissors – close at hand.
Years ago I read a cookbook (Vegan Chocolate by Fran Costigan) that gave me some invaluable advice: gather all your ingredients on the countertop before starting a recipe. The second great piece of advice that I had to learn through trial and error was to always use an apron that is functional and fashionable. Although the second aspect is arguably trivial, there’s no doubt a fantastic piece of clothing makes us feel happy and that’s what a Maker’s Apron does. Read more
Panniello Sun Dried Vegetables
The right amount of seasoning can always take a pasta dish from good to great but figuring out the right herbs and spices to give a dish that zing is often perplexing. More oregano? basil? garlic? Instead of trying to figure it out, consider using Panniello sun-dried vegetables to add flavor and complexity to your next pasta dish. These packets of dried vegetables and spices are wholesome and natural with easily recognizable ingredients that make a robust addition to almost any sauce. Read more
DeLallo Roasted Red Pepper Bruschetta
Bruschetta (pronounced “bru sketta”) is an Italian appetizer made with toasted or grilled bread brushed with bit of olive oil, salt (and often garlic) and then topped with chopped tomatoes mixed with onions and basil or chopped roasted red peppers mixed with herbs and spices, or beans and more. Technically, bruschetta is both the bread and topping but in the USA, bruschetta is often referred to as the topping. Read more
Crunchy Rice Rolls
Jayone Foods, Inc. – a California-based company – has been supplying high quality Korean food products to the general public since 2000. Although the company offers more than 700 food products including tofu, noodles, grains, sauces, seasonings, kimchi, seaweed, dumplings, drinks, and snack foods, two of the most popular new products are the Crunchy Rice Rolls: crispy popped rice rolls lightly sweetened with natural cane juice, rice syrup, and agar. Read more
Starburst vs Lovely Fruit Chews
At a recent theater show during intermission, the refreshment stand had a stack of Starburst – the square-shaped fruit flavored soft chewy taffy-like candy – sitting on the counter. Although tempted to purchase a stick of this childhood favorite, one look at the ingredients list made me change my mind and wish there was an alternative.
My search led to the Lovely Candy Company which makes Lovely Fruit Chews – square-shaped fruit flavored soft chewy taffy-like candy made with real fruit and no corn syrup, gelatin (from animal bones), artificial flavors or colors. Read more
Asian Salad with Ginger Soy Vinaigrette
The Farmer’s Table restaurant in Boca Raton, Florida serves a Mandarin Chopped Salad with Ginger Soy Vinaigrette that is remarkable for its flavor, texture, and color. Filled with chopped cabbage, red bell peppers, carrots, broccoli florets, mandarin oranges, and candied cashews tossed in a Ginger Soy Vinaigrette, the Mandarin Chopped Salad is a showstopper and one of those dishes that made me wish the salad bowl was bottomless. In other words, I had to figure out how to make a version of this salad in my own kitchen. Read more
New England Corn Chowder (Vegan)
A large bowl of hot soup is hard to beat on a cold dreary day. Providing warmth and satisfaction, soup nourishes our senses in so many ways. The aroma draws us to the table while our eyes are seduced by the steam drifting up above the bowl. And, then there is the flavor and texture: usually a combination of earthy vegetables that come together in a broth that can be enjoyed in its simplicity. Add a crusty loaf of bread and a green garden salad and the meal is complete. Read more
Penne Pasta With Vegetables
Looking for protein, fiber, and great flavor? Try making Penne Pasta with Vegetables, a tasty main course dish that can be made in less than 30 minutes. Simply choose your favorite penne pasta – I used TrūRoots Ancient Grain Penne Pasta, a gluten-free pasta made of all organic ingredients: brown rice, quinoa, amaranth, and corn. With 4 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber per 2 ounce serving, this Ancient Grain Penne Pasta is wholesome and especially delicious when combined with steamed broccoli florets and stems, green zucchini, bella mushrooms, a bit of olive oil, and seasoning. Read more
Paddock Post 