It's March! Time to Celebrate Irish Food!

It's March!  March is Irish-American Heritage Month.

Wishing you a happy holiday in advance.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
 

● ● ● ● ●

© Photographer: Anna Maslikova | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Food Blog Spotlight: Dinner Ideas: Duck with Star Anise Broth – Chef Kevin Ashton

Have you ever tasted duck?  I have only had one food-tasting experience with duck. Wish I could have had more. Nevertheless, that one experience was more than enough to condition me. Now every time I even see a duck recipe or cooking video, I start salivating.

My Facebook Memories reminded that I shared this recipe with my network of followers several years ago.  It's an awesome duck recipe from a food blog published by a chef based in the UK.  He uses star anise, one of my favorite exotic spices.

Duck with Star Anise Broth
– Chef Kevin Ashton

English: Ilicium verum, Schisandraceae, Star Anise, Atar Aniseed, Badiane, Chinese Star Anise, fruits. The dried ripe fruits are used in homeopathy as remedy: Anisum stellatum (Anis.) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The spice star anise is distilled to make star anise oil (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SPICE SPOTLIGHT: Star Anise

Widely used in Chinese and Indian cuisine, this whole spice resembles anise in flavor. Some stars may be broken and not entirely whole.

See also: SPICE SPOTLIGHT: Peppercorns

* * *

MORE FROM KEVIN'S FOOD BLOG

Related or Similar Content

• 8 of the UK's most famous chefs share exactly how to make their signature dishes(businessinsider.com)

  ---

• You’ll Love Making These 5 Super-Easy Duck Recipes – Center of the Plate | D'Artagnan Blog(https://center-of-the-plate.com)

  ---

Inexpensive Meals: Lentils are Hearty, Healthy and a Small Bag Can Feed a Crowd

LEBANESE RECIPE: Mujaddara

I did not start eating lentils until I got married back in the 70s. It was never served in my mom's house. I learned how to cook them because my husband liked them. I usually seasoned them with smoked turkey and added diced carrots, onions, and celery. Learned that lentils are a common dish in the Middle East. They are legumes and they come in different colors: black, brown, red, and yellow. They can not be eaten RAW. Also, you don't have to soak them before cooking.

Mujaddara is a dish of cooked lentils together with groats, generally rice, and garnished with sautéed onions.

• Here is a recipe: Mujadara (Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions) -Cookie and Kate  

“Mujadara is served across the Middle East in various forms and goes by differing names, depending on where you are. It has many spelling variations: mujadarra, mujadarah, majadra, mejadra, moujadara, mudardara, and megadarra.”

• More Info: What Are Lentils and How Do You Cook Them? | Cooking Light ~ 

The good thing about lentils is that they are very inexpensive and one small bag (16 oz.) can make a big pot to feed a lot of people.

Original source

Grilled Peach Salad / Solata s pečenimi breskvami (Reblog)

I love peaches and I especially love them in salads. I love this food blog because it shares wonderful recipes like this one. Grilled Peach Salad / Solata s pečenimi breskvami

Archived posts date back to 2012. Check out more content from this blog:


*

Foodie Friday: Childhood Memories: COTTON CANDY!

Cotton candy is a treat that I only used to eat whenever carnivals came to town. I found this article and it provoked some nostalgic thoughts. It also shared some food history.

CottonCandy: a traditional sugary treat gets a new spin - Glutto Digest

~ Cotton candy originated in Italy in the 1400s.

~ In the mid 18th century, spun sugar was used in the U.S. and Europe but cotton candy was only available to wealthy people.

~ In the late 19th century, confectioners John C. Wharton and William Morrison created a special machine that would quickly melt sugar and generate a centrifugal force to shoot it through a screen.

~ In the 1920s, this sugary snack was officially known in the US as “cotton candy.”

~ In the USA, two national food days are dedicated to cotton candy: July 31 and December 2.

I can't remember the last time I had cotton candy. It's been so long. Carnivals don't come to town like they used to. When was the last time you had cotton candy?

Celebrities Who are Vegan

It's the New Year.  Everybody is thinking about making changes to their diet.  Right?  Well!   Most people are thinking that.  Sharing a link to an interesting article.

Plant-Based and Loving It! Here Are 50 Celebrities Who Went #Vegan (and MightInspire You to Do the Same)

Frankly, I could never become vegan. But I have cut down on meat and I am eating lots more fruits and veggies these days. I don't know about where you live but Where I live food prices are going up and the grocery store shelves are kind of bare. You could say my change in diet was simply adapting to whatever food is available and reasonably priced.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends eating a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables a day to lower the risk of serious health problems. They say you should eat That's 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day. A portion of fruit or vegetables is 80g.

** Do you follow the “5 a Day” rule? 

This year I am going to try to DRINK my fruits and veggies, using my blender and making smoothies.

** Do you have a favorite healthy drink recipe?

Food Blog Spotlight: Vegan and Vegetarian Blogs: The Flaming Vegan (UPDATED Jan 2022)

Many celebrities have gone the way of the vegan. Common and Miley Cyrus to name just two (see "Links of Interest" below). Taking the leap and plunging myself into a vegan diet would be unrealistic. Taking baby steps toward modifying my diet to incorporate vegan food into my meals is a much more reasonable and sensible approach. That's why it gives me great pleasure to shine the spotlight on:

UPDATE:  Jan 2022: Sadly this domain name has expired and is now parked. Courtesy of GoDaddy.  Broken links below in this post have been replaced with archived links or suitable substitute links from other food blogger.

The Flaming Vegan (Domain parked free)

* * *

The publishers describe their site as a “vegan and vegetarian blogging extravaganza”. Not only does this food blog provide recipes, but also answers to questions that didn't even cross my mind. Should have asked. Just didn't know any better. 


Below are few selected posts that ought to get you curious to know more. You may end up scratching your head and wondering why you're not already converted. Somebody preached the vegan gospel to rappers and they're repenting! :)

The Best Vegan Holiday Cookies. Seriously.

The Best Vegan Holiday Cookies. Seriously.

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 12 minutes Nothing says fall like pumpkin. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin bread, pumpkin popcorn, pumpkin flavored nuts, ice cream, oreos, granola bars; you name it! How about some vegan marshmallow stuffed pumpkin cookies? We usually go to Trader Joe's once a week.

 

Our 8 Favorite Vegan Online Resources - Purple Carrot

 

How Does The Change of Life Affect Vegan Women?

How Does The Change of Life Affect Vegan Women?

I am sure it won't be news to anyone following a purely plant-based diet that this regime benefits your health in numerous ways. However, there is one particular health perk of being vegan which may be quite a surprise to most people, as it was to me...

 

4 Fantastic Ways to Get All the Vitamins You Need

4 Fantastic Ways to Get All the Vitamins You Need

Whether you are a vegan for ethical reasons or dietary concerns, the bottom line is that you would like to be the healthiest vegan that you can. There is a common misconception that those who follow a vegan diet do not get enough essential vitamins and...

 

Your Quick Guide to Vegan Baking Substitutes

Your Quick Guide to Vegan Baking Substitutes

This article is designed to help new vegans and anyone else interested in reducing their consumption of animal products. It presents easy and effective alternatives to common ingredients such as dairy products and eggs in baking. If you are new to ...

 

Getting Picky Eaters to Eat with the Rainbow Method

Getting Picky Eaters to Eat with the Rainbow Method

I don't know about you, but I have picky eaters in my house. Oh, they're better now than they used to be, but back when they were small, mealtimes were battles to be fought. Many parents today face the same issue and it can be a big one. At one point...

 

Links of Interest: Common's Super-Healthy Diet Makes Us Feel Like Gluttonous Swine  Miley Cyrus Vegan Diet | POPSUGAR Fitness Vegan Celebrities – Famous Celebrities who Choose a Vegan Diet New Trend Alert: Rappers Are Going Vegan

A Large Order of Jupiter Fries, Please!

Have been reading about the possibility of growing vegetables on other planets? Saw a preview of that movie which starred Matt Damon, “The Martian” (2015), where he was growing stuff in a place where nothing grows. I dismissed the notion because it was a science fiction movie. I mean … it's “fiction”. Not science.  :)

However, there are some scientists who are serious about pursuing this endeavor. Researchers want to and have been experimenting with plants growing in soil similar to kind of dirt one would find on Mars or Jupiter, for example.

*

As a non-scientist, I would not completely write off farming on Mars or Jupiter as an impossibility.  But I will say the scientists were very smart in choosing the potato as the test crop.  As my late non-scientist sister with a green thumb once told me: "If you can't grow a potato, you can't grow anything."  :)

According to a 2012 BBC News report, food futurologists are looking into the kind of food we may be eating in 20 years.  But they are only researching food available here on earth like insects, algae, lab-grown meat, and sonic-enhanced food (???).

Who knows? Fries from Jupiter might be quite tasty. :) But I bet they'll be expensive.  :)

* * *

References:

Flook, Jamie. "Could Foods Taste Better On Other Planets Than They Do On Earth?" Popular Science. A Bonnier Corporation Company, 22 Sept. 2015. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. ( http://www.popsci.com/could-food-taste-better-other-planets ).

Schneibel, Andrea. "SPACE: Scientists Try to Grow Peruvian Potatoes on "Mars"." Scientific American. A Division of Nature America, Inc., 2 Feb. 2016. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. ( https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scientists-try-to-grow-peruvian-potatoes-on-mars/ ).

Jean-Louis, Lawrence. "Life on Mars? For Potatoes Maybe…." Cook, Mix, Mingle. N.p., 3 Feb. 2016. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. ( http://web.archive.org/web/20161118063714/http://www.cookmixmingle.com/food-recipes/growing-potatoes-on-mars/ ).

Winterman, Denise. "Future Foods: What Will We Be Eating in 20 Years' Time?" BBC News Magazine. BBC News Services, 30 July 2012. Web. 08 Feb. 2017. ( http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18813075 ).

♦ ♦ ♦

Recipe Sharing: Chili Cornbread Salad (Guest Post)

In Texas, chili is a big deal! In the South (Southern states of the USA) folks love cornbread. I am from the South and currently live in Texas and I found a recipe that is a winner! I have no doubt that this dish will show up a church fellowships and other happy gatherings.

Chili Cornbread Salad ~ Recipe found here.

INGREDIENTS:
1 package (8-1/2 ounces) cornbread/muffin mix
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, undrained
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
Pinch rubbed sage
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix
2 cans (15 ounces each) pinto beans, rinsed and drained
2 cans (15-1/4 ounces each) whole kernel corn, drained
3 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup chopped green onions
10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

METHOD:
Prepare cornbread batter according to package directions. Stir in chilies, cumin, oregano and sage. Spread in a greased 8-in. square baking pan. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool.

In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream and dressing mix; set aside. Crumble half of the cornbread into a 13x9-in. dish. Layer with half of the beans, mayonnaise mixture, corn, tomatoes, green pepper, onions, bacon and cheese. Repeat layers (dish will be very full). Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

How Bread Dipping Oil Can Save Your Next Impromptu Gathering (Guest Post)

No one would argue with you if you claimed to have never thought about bread dipping oil outside of certain Italian restaurants. Then again, why would you? We’ve come to know this little tasty treat as something to help tide us over while we wait for our main course, and in some cases, the dipping oil was much more satisfying. The thing is that bread dipping oil is starting to make a name for itself in home entertainment as a way of jazzing up the snack game. No longer are big bowls of chips and dip acceptable as snacks for guests (actually, who are we kidding — they are). Even if you have surprise guests, the expectation of having a nice snack on-hand is enough to start making bread dipping oil very chic nowadays.

The fact is we are also a very social species that hates to disappoint. If you have family or friends come by your place without prior notice, it can be a little unnerving, but you still want to be a good host. Then again, maybe it’s more than just someone dropping by. Maybe you’re out with the gang and someone calls your place for the after-party. Everyone is stoked, and even though you’re “high-fiving” everyone, deep down, you’re terrified because you may not have enough Vienna sausages for a group.

So, how big a deal is bread dipping oil? Here are a few ways it can really save the day:

Simplicity to the Core — Good extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. That’s it. Have some nice bread available, and you’ve got all you need.

Keep Ingredients in the Pantry — Seasonings like salt and pepper are always a part of any kitchen, and along with these staples, you may already cook with olive oil. With such a perfect combination ready to go, it makes you wonder why you have some much other stuff in your pantry.

Save Money — There’s no need to order food or pilfer your fridge and freezer for snacks. And chances are that once you buy the ingredients you’d need for your dip, you probably won’t have to buy them again for a bit.

Can Set the Scene — Impromptu gatherings can sometimes come at the worst time because you’re just not up for it. Still, these are also the type of get-togethers that really turn into some happening parties. Your dip can play to each possibility.

Though the biggest selling point about bread dipping oil is its simplicity, you can really amp up the flavor in very unique ways. You can get a little crazy with the type of salt and pepper you use. Probably the biggest flavor bomb you can drop on your guests is using locally-sourced quality olive oil for the dip. Find the right bottle, and you can literally forget adding a single thing to the oil.

Texas Hill Country Olive Company in Dripping Springs, Texas has bread dipping oil that will make your next get-together the stuff of legends.

* * Article Writer: ALFRED MEARS

Image credit: Tuscan Herbs,Garlic, Basil, Truffle Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 8.5-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 4) by Grand'aroma

Desserts: "Yolka" with Mango and Passion Fruit Confiture (Guest Post)

Exotic fruits like mango and passion fruit can turn a dessert in a gourmet delight.  You are going to love this recipe.

  "Yolka" with mango and passionfruit confiture

Ingredients: ⠀

⠀ 📌Merengue:
Egg white 150 g
Granulated sugar 300 g
Lemon juice 1 tsp
⠀
⠀ 📌Cream mascarpone:
Mascarpone 150 g
Cream 33% fat 100 g
Powdered sugar 1 tbsp (optional)
Vanilla extract 1 tsp

⠀⠀ 📌Filling:
Mango jam - passion fruit 150 g
⠀
Preparation:

STEP 1. Meringue:
Heat the protein with sugar in a water bath, stirring constantly, until the sugar crystals dissolve. Remove the protein mass from heat, beat with a mixer until stable peaks. At the end of whipping, add lemon juice. On pastry parchment, draw 3 circles of the desired diameter, turn over and place on a baking sheet. Spread the protein mass with a silicone spatula (or spoon) within the circles drawn, making a small indentation in the center of the circle. Place the baking sheet in an oven preheated to 150 ° C and immediately reduce the temperature to 100 ° C. Bake for ~ 1.5 hours. The exact baking time and temperature range depend on the power of your oven. The meringue should not brown, but should have a hard crust. Cool the finished meringue cakes. ⠀

STEP 2. Cream mascarpone:
Using a mixer, beat the chilled cream with mascarpone and vanilla extract until stable peaks (add powdered sugar if desired). ⠀

STEP 3. Assembly:
Put the cream on the meringue cake, then add a layer of confiture. Repeat with the following cakes. Place the finished cake in the refrigerator for ~ 1 hour.

❗️ Notes: To prevent the pastry parchment from slipping on the baking sheet, grease the edges with whipped protein mass and glue it to the nasty. Bon Appetit!

*

World Cuisine: Exotic Fruits: Ackee Fruit

Always happy to learn about exotic fruits from around the world.  This post is about the ACKEE FRUIT.  Even though it is a fruit, it is cooked as a vegetable.  It is native to West Africa, but has been cultivated in Jamaica since 1778 when it was brought to the Caribbean by British slave traders.  The Jamaicans liked it so much they made it the country's national fruit and their national dish is ackee with saltfish (or codfish).

WARNING:  Do not eat this fruit in its unripened state as it is poisonous.  However, once ripe, eat only the yellow arilli  which is the edible portion.  The black seeds are always toxic whether the fruit is ripe or unripened.  

NOTE:  If you are unable to buy it fresh, you can also buy canned ackee to use in your recipe.  You can even find it freeze-dried.

 * Ackee and Saltfish Recipe | Serious Eats

* Ackee And Saltfish Recipe #TastyTuesdays | CaribbeanPot   

I was curious to know if there were any West African recipes with this fruit as a main ingredient, but discovered that even though the ackee fruit originates from there, in that part of the world, it is used mainly for medicinal purposes.

** West African Ackee Fruit • We Blog The World

“The ackee tree (Blighia sapida) is indigenous to the tropical forests of West Africa. Although it is not popularly eaten there, it is cultivated in the region for several nonfood uses: Immature fruits are used to make soap; the wood from the tree is termite resistant and used for building;  extracts from the poisonous seeds are taken to treat parasites and are sometimes used as a fish poison;  topical ointment made from crushed ackee leaves is applied to the skin to treat headaches and ulcers. And the Ackee leaves are also good as a fodder for goats.”

Since this food comes with a warning, you might want to know a little bit more.  Below are some additional links of interest.

Ackee - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

What is Ackee Fruit: How Do You Eat It + 4 Best Ackee Recipes

Ackee Fruit Information, Recipes and Facts | Specialty Produce

Ackee: Wiki facts for this cookery item | Cookipedia

THE POISON THAT JAMAICA LOVES AND AFRICA FEARS | beyondentertainmentblog

Make Sure the Saffron You Buy is Worth It

SAFFRON has been called "The World's Most Legendary Spice" [1]. It's not just legendary, it's expensive.  There are stories and myths about this spice from the Mediterranean to Arabia to India to Italy to Spain. If this spice could talk it could probably tell you of its interesting travels around the world. It has been used to dye fabrics, as medicine, as fragrance, and in cooking.

• IMPORTANT TIP: As stated this spice is very expensive, so don't get cheated. “If the liquid colors immediately, you have a fake on your hands. Authentic saffron takes about 10 to 15 minutes of soaking before it changes the color of the water.” [2]

For your information, since it is so expensive, you might want to know if you can grow it in your own garden. The answer is YES!! [3] The only thing that the flowers are so beautiful, you might not want to harvest them into saffron strands. [4]

♦ REFERENCES:

[1] “The History of Saffron: Mythology, Legends in Italy and Abroad.” CROCUS D'ORO, 2018, http://www.crocusdoro.com/en/history-of-saffron/.

[2] “Interesting Facts about Saffron.” Just Fun Facts, 2018, https://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-saffron/.

[3] Rhoades, Heather. “Growing Saffron: How To Grow Saffron Crocus Bulbs.” Gardening Know How, 1 July 2021, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/saffron/growing-saffron-crocus.htm.

[4] Grant, Amy. “Harvesting Saffron Crocus - When And How To Harvest Saffron.” Gardening Know How, 10 Oct. 2020, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/saffron/saffron-harvesting-information.htm.

• Saffron Market Outlook | Industry Statistics 2021-2027 | Global Market Insights

BR<>

Which Countries or Cultures Make the Best Cakes? Let's Discuss!

Which Countries or Cultures Make the Best Cakes? Would love to hear your thoughts on this foodie topic.  My husband says when it comes to baking, nobody beats out the Greeks and the Jews. Not that I'm a cake connoisseur, but I am tempted to agree with him; especially about the Greeks.  Did you know the Greeks invented cheesecake and that we have them to thank for the tradition of the birthday cake?

Sorry to say cake baking is not my forte. But I do love a great cake. It would be right to say that cake loving IS my forte.  💗

Honestly! If Queen Marie Antoinette had really said “Let them eat cake!” and I had been in earshot distance, I would have been “Where?!! Where??!! Where's the cake??!!”

Image credit:  Marie Antoinette | CheriesPit

Recently, I've been coming across recipes shared by my online friends from different countries and also from food newsletters that I subscribe to and it's got me dreaming and wishing I could enjoy all of these wonderful baked delights without having to concern myself with the possible ill effects of consuming too much sugar. Alas! There is diabetes in my family line and I just don't want to take any chances.

Most of the time, I enjoy cakes by just looking at them or maybe taste a teeny weeny sample. ☺

But some cakes are far too pretty and unusual to eat. Don't you think?  Like these incredible jelly cakes.

Stunning Edible Flower Jelly Cakes Blooming in Your Plate

These gorgeous jelly cakes came from 'La Floraison' in Sydney Australia. Like a Japanese rainbow cake these confections are almost too pretty to eat.

http://k-kyeopta-blog.tumblr.com/post/36270226635

Some cakes are not even cakes. They're masterpieces. Works of art!

• Like the cakes created by celebrated sugar artist Michelle Wibowo Seeing is believing!.

And then some cakes are dummy cakes. Dummy cakes? Yeah. Also called Fake Cakes.  New term I learned.  Apparently they have become popular at weddings as the wedding cake.  Check out this article in the New York Times about NY Cake.  Not edible but the artwork is incredible! 😆

But we all have our preferences and there is not one person in the world who can say that their specific food taste is “the right food taste”.

What about you? Do you 💗 cake?
If you were going to sing praises about a country or a culture that makes the best cakes what would your choice be?

I'd love to hear your picks. 
Do you agree or disagree with my husband? ☺

MARK YOUR CALENDARS.  

November 26 is #NationalCakeDay.

Custom Cakes by Rainbow Nourishments (Raw Vegan Cake Maker)

Foodie Friday: Dinner Idea: Chicken with Blackberry Salsa

In Texas people love their salsa.  They put it on everything!  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks!  But it's not the sweet salsa.  It's the spicy made with tomatoes and lime juice.  As I did more foodie research, I began to find that there are many variations for a salsa recipe.  For me, the spicy or the sweet recipe is fantastic!.  They make great condiments and really enhance the flavor of your meats.   If you like sweet and savory dishes you'll probably enjoy this recipe. 

Grilled Chicken With Blackberry Salsa Recipe
| Mix and Match Mama

The Ratio of Dry and Fresh Herbs (Guest Post)

Herbs are expensive to buy, but because they take so little space, they are also really easy to grow your own. If you purchase fresh herbs from the grocery store, you can extend the life of any fresh cut herb by wrapping the stems in a damp paper towel and place the entire bunch inside a bag for refrigeration. To deal with the excess before it goes bad, you can chop, add a little oil and freeze 1 tsp. or 1 tbsp. blobs on a sheet, and then bag for use later.

You can also dry herbs. Wash and remove leaves from the stem, simply place on a paper towel over a cooling rack, or use a dehydrator tray. Place where the air is warm and there is less light (sunlight will reduce the essential oils). Once dry, store in repurposed clean jars in a dark cupboard. If you are drying large amounts, keep the bulk of it in whole leaf form and only lightly grind the amount meant for storage in the kitchen cupboard.

Dry herbs? Fresh herbs? The answer is: either. The ratio of replacing dry herbs with fresh herbs goes like this:

• 1 tsp. dry herb = 1 Tbsp. fresh herb

However - IF the dry herbs are older than 2 years, increase the ratio to:

• 2 tsp. dry herb = 1 Tbsp. fresh herb

Some herbs such as bay leaf, parsley and cilantro, become quite mild after dehydrating, so cooks often double the amount:

• 1 leaf = 2 leaves
• 1 tsp. = 2 tsp.

If herbs have accidentally been ground into a powder, this fine flour is now more concentrated and this is the ratio:

• 1 tsp. fine ground dry herb = 1 Tbsp. dry herb

Hope you find these cooking tips useful!

AUTHORS:  Lillian and her husband Dave are the team behind Brummet Media Group, high-fiving cheerfully as they pass each other on the way from checking off one item or other from their long to-do list. Their business includes Dave's music studio and percussion accessory products and graphic design work, as well as popular blogs and numerous award-winning non-fiction books. 

- From One Small Garden, with over 300 delicious, nutritious recipes! 

Visit the Brummets @: http://www.BrummetMedia.ca

Original Source