Tag Archives: Food

Impossible!

12 Saturday Jan 2019

Posted by in Epicurean, Travel

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The Impossible Burger

Well now, that’s impossible — a plant-based burger?  Yes, indeed, the Impossible Burger was introduced at CES 2019.  CES is the Consumer Electronic Show, held every year in lovely Vegas (there’s a tinge of sarcasm in there re: Vegas…and the whole plant-based burger thing).  I did some sleuthing for the best travel and food related products.  From what I can tell, the following are some of the more innovative food and travel products introduced into the marketplace:

Travel is Fun – The Brunswick Inn

Travel Stuff:

  • Ovis Autonomous Suitcase – This is cool, it follows you around in the airport (and, assumingly, elsewhere) eliminating the need to physically carry your luggage.
  • The Nomad Plug Travel Adapter – Rather trite, but if you travel internationally, needed.  ‘They’ say it’s the closest thing to a ‘universal adapter’ as there is.
  • Thinkware Q800 Pro Dashcam – If you’re a driver and into the whole dashcam thing, this is interesting.  Something to consider, also, if you’re taking a road trip, it has a built in GPS for embedding speed, time and location data into videos.
  • Volterman Travel Smart Wallet – Hmmm, a smart wallet, I ponder skeptically.  This one has a built-in powerbank, distance alarm, global GPS tracking, worldwide WiFi hotspot, and anti-Theft camera and may be worth checking out.
  • MWA Cylo Cannonball ‘Floatable’ Speaker – Who doesn’t need a floatable speaker?  These are fun and are also sand and dirt resistant – Cape Cod, look out!  I have beach worthy speakers!!

Foodie Stuff:

As I was researching the show’s foodie announcements, I stumbled across an eater.com article that hilariously described those innovative kitchen products we all just can’t live without. A humorous roundup of CES culinary ‘gadgets’, the article is written with a certain kind of snark that I love.  And, I decided I would let Deputy Editor Erin DeJesus do the talking for me.  Check out her article, even if for the chuckle (note, I do feel that the GE Kitchen Hub is worth it if you make a living in the kitchen; unlike myself doing this epicurean thing with my thousands — err, hundreds; err, dozens; yeah, that’s it, dozens – of followers).

The Jammy

As a final nod to my husband, before I sign off for the evening, the Jammy – or, a version of the Jammy — was introduced – an electric guitar with a collapsible neck, granted Tony would be more excited with a regular guitar.

That’s it for this evening. I’m going to jump in bed shortly, hoping for visions of Kohler’s Sensate Touchless Kitchen Faucet dancing in my head. Until my next missive, I wish you all safe travels, smooth sailings, and, of course, bon appetite.

Peter & Tom Sitting in a Tree

02 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by in Christmas, Epicurean, Holidays

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Growing up, there was a Thanksgiving song we would sing, “The Turkey Ran Away.” Well, I think Tom the Turkey and Peter the Rabbit ran away; and, now they’re sitting in a tree laughing at the woes of one Paula Rivera.

Goffle Road Pultry

I called my poultry guy (true confession, I don’t yet have enough of a relationship with them to refer to them as my ‘guys’), Goffle Road Poultry Farm, to order a rabbit for Christmas. I could hear the guy smirking as he kindly explained, ‘we’re sold out of rabbit.’ Sigh. What to do for Christmas, get a turkey; order a hen; chicken for my friends? All dismal thoughts (only dismal as we eat these things regularly). So I went for the duck. Yes, daffy duck was the menu for Christmas.

In finding a recipe, I went to all my standard books, Fannie Farmer, two Gourmet cookbooks, and even my Spanish and French books. But, alas, it was Burt, good ol’ Burt Wolf, who came to my rescue.

Taiwanese Duck #Yummy

My husband was lobbying for a crispy duck and that, ultimately, what I would have liked to have made. The goddess of time was not swayed to favor me this Christmas season. The one recipe I found for ‘crispy duck’ was in the Gourmet Cookbook. It was a two day recipe that involved a fan and the duck’s cavity. Burt’s recipe on the other hand only involved four hours of simmering. Yes, simmering. I thought I was cooking the effing thing in the oven and discovered my faux pas early Christmas morning providing enough angst to throw my entire day off.

All worked out well the day’s menu started with stuff clams, shrimp cocktail, cheese, olives and bread, and some Greek apps; duck, turnip and mushrooms, and acorn squash with spinach (again, thanks Burt and #Yummy), followed for the main meal. Dessert consisted of an assortment of chocolates and a selection of cordials to top off the evening.

I’m beginning to plan our winter and spring travels and have determined that I need a winter ‘things to do’ list which I plan to put together over the coming week(s). I’ll keep you updated as the days progress — which are getting longer. Until then, I wish you safe travels, smooth sailings and, of course, bon appetite.

Newark, NJ…Really?

29 Thursday Nov 2018

Posted by in Epicurean, New Jersey, Portuguese, Travel, Williams Sonoma

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Homemade Mustard…#Yummy

I’m a bit of a crazed woman at the moment.  I recently read that as a content creator, yes, apparently, that’s what I’m trying to be, I need to publish at least one post a day — actually, the website I read this on the guy was saying multiple times a day. I’m down to 3 minutes left in Wednesday and the odds of this going live before midnight are slim.  I also wanted to write about my mustard, a recipe I was planning to share (and it takes a lot for me to share a ‘secret’ recipe), but I lost the bloody card w/ the recipe jotted down on it. 

I make great mustard.  It’s actually a recipe I adapted from a Williams Sonoma purchase (not really nor’eastern, but a fantastic store none-the-less).  A few years ago, while desperately scouring the one table in the store with ‘deep’ discounts I came across a make your own honey mustard kit.  Ripping open the ‘honey’ package, I realized I was about to dump a bunch of brown sugar into my mustard mixture; I tossed it instead.  While one might say I ruined the whole ‘thing’ I really made a fantastic discovery.  The flavorful mustard I created, which my spice-loving husband can’t get enough of, was amazing.  And, thankfully, for some reason, I jotted down how much flour was in the pre-packaged envelope and how much mustard seed was provided, thus creating my own recipe.  Of course, at this exact moment, when I have 3 minutes left in the day, I can’t find the effing little card the recipe is on. 

Welcome to…Newark Ironbound District!

With that, I’m going to share a cool blog, 
 The #1 Itinerary, I tripped across and an even cooler post. The #1 Itinerary folks have liked a few of my posts and I decided to meander over to the site.  As I was perusing it, I found a really informative write up about the Iron Bound District of Newark, NJ.  The thing about Newark is that it gives the rest of New Jersey a bad rap (yes, I know, everyone from Jersey says that).  But, it really does.  However, if you’re a traveler, it’s probably not uncommon to find yourself, at some point or another, going through Newark Airport.  And, if you’re going through the airport and have a few hours to spare, go to the Iron Bound District…just do it.  It’s a 10 minute cab ride (assuming all goes well with the traffic) and for the food alone, #Yummy, that 10 minutes will be worth your while.

Tales of Newark will be the subject of another post, when I’m not 1+ hours late in posting my ‘blog a day.’ 

Newark Airport

Thank you, as always, for visiting.  For those on the road, I wish you safe travels, smooth sailing, and, of course, bon appetite!

Surviving Thanksgiving

26 Monday Nov 2018

Posted by in Epicurean, Holidays, Massachusetts, New England, New Jersey, Thanksgiving, Travel

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A Thanksgiving Table

Well, we survived Thanksgiving; at least those of us who traveled during the peak Sunday travel period did.  24-hours later, the country is being assaulted by rain and snow.  In reflection, I’m glad to have gone home yesterday.  Ah, hindsight, you are indeed 20/20. 

A Thanksgiving scene from a flick that sticks in my head is Meg Ryan in The Doors (note, link to a great overview of the scene, albeit a bit light on the Meg analyzation). She performs Jim Morrison’s girl friend who has a melt down as she prepares Thanksgiving dinner, banging the duck on the ground, sobbing, “all I wanted to do was have a nice Thanksgiving” or something to that effect.

That’s usually how I feel at the beginning, mid point, and even end of each Thanksgiving we ‘host’ — OK, it’s only happened twice — like a crazy chick banging her bird on the floor wanting something just a bit better, something a bit nicer for the holiday.

The weekend was fine and I only had to deal with a meal for five; three of whom aren’t that picky.  After dinner — I swear the whole time I felt like poor Meg — we lounged about.  Saturday, my sister joined the festivities and hiked with the goats.  We walked through the woods — the cabin has about 80 acres to trudge through — and made a final meal over the fire, Bacalhau Assado.   

Bacalhau Asado 

As promised, we did take videos and I’m now figuring out how to use the software I purchased (which was to eliminate the ads among other actual needed tools — the ads are still there).  We did do a teaser video to send to his friend, included below for test purposes only.  It’s pretty good for the third video created that weekend and kind of amusing. 

For my husband, I’m including a clip I tripped upon while posting the Nor’east Epicurean video, it’s rather apropos as, indeed, the Maker’s Mark was flowing this past week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Q-B6KepX4

I’ll posts more thoughts about Thanksgiving dinner (OMG, the acorn squash thingy was so delicious), which, thankfully, ultimately turned out really great and will update you on our adventures over the coming days/weeks.  And, as  we enter the holiday season, I’m wishing everyone safe travels and, of course, bon appetite. 

The Turkey Ran Away

22 Thursday Nov 2018

Posted by in Epicurean, Holidays, Massachusetts, New England, Thanksgiving, Travel

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Upon Thanksgiving Day…they said they’ll make a feast of me so I shan’t stay….

Earlier in the week, a bunch of Toms ran through our yard.  On the most appropriate of days, here’s a picture of them running…for their dear lives. 

Wishing all my North American Friends the happiest of Thanksgivings. 

And, to all my followers, safe travels and bon appetite!