Maytag Blue Cheese
When most people think of blue cheese, they think of a strong pungent cheese such as Roquefort Cheese – a blue cheese made from sheep’s milk that hails from the south of France. Maytag Blue Cheese of Newton, Iowa is a blue cheese made from cow’s milk that is tangy – almost lemony – with a moist and crumbly texture; a semi-soft cheese loved by many who give it a chance. Read more 
NaturAlmond Butter
NaturAlmond Butter is an almond butter spread that contains exactly two ingredients: almonds and sea salt. Located in Chamblee, Georgia (just north of Atlanta), the company selects the finest California almonds and slow roasts the nuts in small batches to ensure quality, freshness and flavor. The almonds are then ground to a smooth consistency which releases the essential oils of the nuts. A touch of sea salt is added to enhance the flavor before being packaged in a 12-ounce jar in their peanut-free commercial kitchen. Read more
“Where’d You Go, Bernadette”
“Where’d You Go, Bernadette” by Maria Semple is a hilarious story about a family that lives in Seattle, Washington. Bernadette Fox is an architect who moves from Los Angeles, California with her husband, Elgin Branch whose animation company was acquired by Microsoft. Bernadette and Elgin didn’t have to leave sunny California but after she experiences a career crisis (which she refers to as the “hideous event“) and a strong recommendation to come north from Big Brother (the author’s affectionate name for Microsoft), the couple decide to pack up and relocate to “Rain City.” Read more
Bola Granola
“Como mola” (meaning “how cool”) is what my daughter would say in Spain when something impressed her and those are the first words I thought of when I tasted Bola Granola – the crunchiest granola I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. Bola Granola has a catchy name that is fun to say but the real joy is the super crunchy granola in the bag.
One bite of this all organic grain granola brings a cornucopia of flavors: a mildly sweet and salty blend of toasty oats and nuts. Made with organic rolled oats, almonds, brown sugar, pumpkin seeds, water, canola oil, wheat germ, organic wheat flour, organic flaxseed meal, wheat bran, vanilla extract, salt, and vitamin E, Bola Granola is a delightful blend of what granola should be: delicious and healthy. Read more
Remembering Janet Alonso
Eleven years ago today – September 11, 2001 – our world was forever changed with the terrorist attacks. We all know that nearly 3,000 people died that day but because of the magnitude, most of us don’t put a face to the number. One of the faces of 9-11 was a 41-year old woman named Janet Alonso – a wife and a mother of two young children who perished on the 97th floor of the north tower at the World Trade Center. Read more
Enstrom’s Almond Toffee
Almonds, butter, sugar, chocolate, and salt are the five ingredients of Enstrom’s Almond Toffee – a traditional candy that is still made by hand using only the finest ingredients available. Few candies taste as delicious as a piece of almond toffee from this Colorado-based confectionary. Crunchy and buttery on the inside, enrobed in milk or dark chocolate and sprinkled with crushed almonds on the outside, Enstrom’s Almond Toffee is positively addicting. Read more
The Pen/O.Henry Prize Stories
The art of the great short story is well presented in “The Pen/O.Henry Prize Stories” – a collection of twenty short stories chosen annually by a Series Editor (Laura Furman has held the position since 2003). The criteria? All stories had to have been written originally in English and published in an American or Canadian periodical. Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious awards for short fiction, the Pen/O.Henry Prize Stories offer readers some of the finest examples of short fiction written in any given year. Read more
Decorative Chocolate for Desserts
For those who never tire of decorating baked goods or pastries with chocolate, there is a website called www.pastrychef.com that provides customers with top quality decorative chocolate toppings. Opened in 1997 as an internet website, www.pastrychef.com is based out of Boca Raton, Florida with sales limited to on-line or catalog/phone. Advertised as a baking and pastry superstore, www.pastrychef.com offers a wide variety of chocolate decorative ingredients (and other ingredients and tools) to both home and professional bakers. Read more
France Luxe Hair Barrettes
One beautiful hair barrette is sometimes the perfect accessory and few companies make high quality barrettes as beautiful and functional as France Luxe. The company has been manufacturing hair ornaments – barrettes, combs, ponytail holders, sticks, jaws, bobby pins, and headbands – for more than a century at their factories located near Geneva, Switzerland.
High quality hair barrettes are scarce in the United States – most tend to break rather easily – which makes France Luxe barrettes stand out as they seldom break (I have some that are 20 years old and work just as well as the day I bought them) and there are no gobs of glue on the back holding the clasp onto the hairpiece. Stylish, colorful, and exquisite in design and function, France Luxe barrettes are timeless. Read more
Ortiz Anchovies and the Caesar Salad
I wouldn’t hesitate to order a Caesar Salad in a restaurant and yet, for years I was reluctant to make a real Caesar Salad at home because of the raw egg yolks and anchovies – neither of which appeal to me on their own. However, it is possible to make a really good Caesar Salad without raw egg yolks but not without anchovies, freshly grated parmesan cheese, homemade croutons, and crisp romaine lettuce. Read more
Paddock Post 