Genius food hack

I saw this video on another blog I read and had to share this. If you try this at home, be sure your knife is nice and sharp, otherwise you’ll be left with half-sliced, banged-up tomatoes. And, after you slice all those teenie-tiny tomatoes, may I suggest you roast them in the oven and serve them on a toasted baguette slice with some fresh basil. It’s the perfect snack (or appetizer) anytime of the year.

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes //

Cherry tomatoes
Olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Toss the sliced tomatoes in olive oil on a sheet pan. Generously sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes until soft and tender. Serve as a side dish (great with grilled meats) or on toasted baguette slices with some fresh basil and additional olive oil.

1May2014

Everything you wanted to know about the Kentucky Derby, but were afraid to ask

Posted in Odds & Ends by Emily | Bites & Pieces

Photo by John Athayde via flickr

“The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” is this weekend and I wanted to learn more about the traditions and history of America’s longest-running continual sporting event and how to decipher horse betting jargon. I did some research and learned a few things that will hopefully help me hang with the big boys at my Derby party this weekend while I throw back some delicious minty cocktails.

The Kentucky Derby was first run in 1875 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky and is held annually on the first Saturday in May. The race is 1-1/4 miles long and is composed of up to 20 3-year-old thoroughbreds. This year marks the 140th Kentucky Derby and is the first leg of the Triple Crown – followed by the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. A horse has only one shot to win the Triple Crown because the Derby, Preakness and Belmont stakes is restricted to just 3-year-olds (apparently age is more than just a number). If you want to show-off and win over your party crowd, here’s a fun fact. Only 11 horses have won the Triple Crown and none since Affirmed in 1978, although many have come close. 50 horses have finished one win shy, including I’ll Have Another in 2012.

About the origins of those wacky Derby traditions.

1. Mint juleps. The Kentucky whiskey and mint concoction was a popular drink at the Derby from its start. It became a staple, the legend goes, when a famous Polish actress, Helena Modjeska, ordered the drink at a pre-Derby breakfast at the track and loved it. Churchill Downs began serving it in its current souvenir glasses in the late 1930s, in part, because clubhouse patrons were stealing their regular glasses.

2. Big hats. The ornate hats worn by women to the race is a relic of the past, a popular fashion at the Derby’s start and now almost a costume for today’s event. “It really goes back to England, and the Kentucky Derby was patterned after a race in England, the Epsom,” says Ronnie Dreistadt, a curator of education at the Kentucky Derby Museum. Nevertheless, it was used by race promoters to market the Kentucky Derby to women and make it a see-and-be-seen event.

3. The roses. The beautiful blanket of 564 roses placed on the winning horse traces its roots to a strain of roses introduced to America in 1870s. Churchill Downs founder Meriwether Lewis Clark used them for decorations at a post-Derby party and by the 1890s, they became a prop in the post-race presentations, first as bouquet, then as a garland for the winning horse. Bill Curom, who went on to be the president of Churchill Downs, coined the term “The Run for the Roses” in 1925.

4. “My Old Kentucky Home.” Stephen Collins Foster wrote the anthem in the 1850s, stirred by Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” But it was not until the 1920s that it took off in popularity, when a mansion was thought to be identified as the song’s inspiration (though no evidence exists that Foster ever actually saw the house). Within a few years Winn replaced the National Anthem with “My Old Kentucky Home” to kick off the Derby, and today it is performed by the University of Louisville Marching Band.

Now, about the bets. This part gets confusing, but I think I have the basics under my belt. If you’re a rookie like me, to simplify things, there are two kinds of bets – betting on just one horse and betting on a few at once.

Win: This one’s easy. Put your money on the horse you want to win. Why not put a few bucks on the longshot?
Exacta: You have to pick the two top finishers. You can “box” it, which means the top two horses can come in either order. If you win, you’ll only get half the moolah, but as they say, “may the odds be ever in your favor”.
Trifecta: Top three finishers. You get the idea.
Superfecta: If you’re really feeling lucky, try picking horses 1 through 4. From what I gather, if you hit, you’ll be able to upgrade from that spot on the infield next year.

Phew, that was intense. I think I’ll stick to what I do best, who wants to join me for a mint julep? Speaking of mint juleps, here’s a recipe from Food & Wine for a fruitier version of the classic cocktail.

Blackberry-Mint Julep //

Small ice cubes
1/4 cup blackberries, plus 1 blackberry for garnish
2 tablespoons mint leaves, plus 1 mint sprig for garnish
1 tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 ounces bourbon

Fill a rocks glass halfway with ice cubes. In a shaker, combine the 1/4 cup of blackberries, mint leaves, sugar, bourbon and 1/3 cup of ice cubes and shake well. Strain the drink into the glass through a coarse sieve, pressing on the solids. Garnish with the blackberry and mint sprig.

30Apr2014

My favorite budget-friendly Italian wine

Posted in Food & Drink by Emily | Bites & Pieces

I’m not a sommelier, but I drink a lot of wine. Fun fact: on our trip to Italy last year, I drank so much Brunello di Montalcino that I broke out into hives. Because I frequently enjoy a glass of wine or two with dinner, I tend to stick with “budget-friendly” wines (generally $8-12). I’ve uncorked a lot of bottles at this price point and have identified one versatile, food-friendly standout:

Banfi Centine, Red blend, Toscana, Italy, 2012 // $10.99 in PA liquor stores

A blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot, sourced from the picture-perfect hillside vineyards of Tuscany, this red wine is substantial for the price. Old World in style, this savory, complex wine boasts notes of dark cherry, spices, savory cured meats and dried herbs. Pairs perfectly with meats and aged cheeses. Great for sharing with friends or enjoying with mid-week leftovers.

What’s your favorite budget-friendly red wine?

Cheers!

29Apr2014

You’ve been ordering (and eating) sushi all wrong

Posted in Food & Drink by Emily | Bites & Pieces

Photo by Greg Williams via flickr

My sister brought this topic to my attention. She recently mentioned to me that she wanted to learn how to order sushi “like I just returned from a business trip to Tokyo.” I thought that was interesting and given that I eat sushi on a very regular basis, I wondered if she was on to something. I did some research and discovered that everything I thought I knew about sushi was wrong.

Here are 8 tips I pulled directly from a recent Thrillist article by Dan Gentile:

1. Sit at the bar
90% of a sushi chef’s work happens before the restaurant even opens. For a chef, the prep is the practice, and the service is the performance. It’s best to get a front-row seat rather than slumming it in the nosebleeds. You’ll get a stronger appreciation of the care that goes into your food, and no one has more knowledge of the menu and freshness of the fish than the chef. Also, a few friendly questions and a genuine interest will likely earn you free food.

2. Trust your server
It is their job to make sure you have a good experience, so don’t make it hard for them. If you’re feeling brave, then order “omakase” style (“I’ll leave it to you”) and let the chef make the decisions. But whether you’re ordering a la carte or letting the chef pick, offer your server suggestions of what you like in terms of texture and intensity. If you’re not into creamy, rich fish, you probably won’t want to end up with a mouthful of urchin genitals.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Odds are your server didn’t know anything about sushi when they started working in the industry, so don’t feel embarrassed if you don’t have a nuanced understanding of the difference between blue and yellowfin tuna, or don’t have three semesters worth of Japanese language classes under your kimono.

4. Don’t order everything at once
Rattling off a super-complex order of sashimi and nigiri might make you think you look like a pro, but it isn’t how pros actually do it. Order a few things at once, and your honest reactions will help guide your server to make sure you’re getting flavors that match your palate.

5. Don’t ask for soy sauce and wasabi if they’re not served
Most sushi chefs aren’t too into the idea of you giving their carefully made creations a bath in a pool of soy sauce. It overwhelms the flavors, and chances are the chef already gave it a delicate brush of soy. Wasabi and ginger are used as palate cleansers, not entrees.

6. Avoid flashy rolls
Rolls with lots of different kinds of fish or rainbow sauces are generally frowned upon by experts because it’s hard for the individual flavors to shine. The chef we talked to recommends basic tekka maki (tuna roll), umeshiso maki (a roll with plum paste and shiso leaves), or a California roll with real crab.

7. Seek out the specialties
Ask what the restaurant is known for, or if there are dishes that are particularly indicative of the restaurant’s style. It will be viewed as a sign of respect and also allow the chef to put his best foot forward.

8. When in a traditional sushi bar, sashimi should be ordered before sushi
This comes from Morimoto camp, so you know it’s ironclad. Work your way up to rolls: they’re considered the main course. And while it seems like you might want to start with a bowl of miso, traditional chefs would serve this last.

Now that you’ve figured out to how order sushi, you need to learn how to eat it. Yup, you’ve been doing that wrong too. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Here’s an incredibly brilliant infographic from the Huffington Post to help you understand the dos and don’ts of eating sushi.

Image pulled from the Huffington Post. Original infographic via Visual News via Daily Infographic.

Now grab some friends, head to your favorite sushi restaurant and show off your new sushi knowledge and skills!

28Apr2014

Wedding registry checklist

Posted in Gifts & Gadgets by Emily | Bites & Pieces

Over the weekend my husband and I attended a friend’s wedding in south Florida. It was so nice to soak up some sunshine and celebrate the marriage of two wonderful people. Now that “wedding season” (generally April-October) is upon us, I began thinking about one of the main components of the wedding planning process, the wedding registry. The wedding registry is the chance for the couple to create the ultimate wish list for the beginning of their new life together. What could easily be considered one of the most fun and exciting parts of the wedding planning process, can turn ugly rather quickly if you haven’t planned ahead. I’ve been through this process myself and spent countless hours researching what the experts recommend. Trust me, you don’t need the panini press, you’ll never use it! To avoid a melt down over which plate setting to select, I’ve put together a best-of-the-best wedding registry checklist.

Take this checklist with a grain of salt – there are many factors to consider, such as:

1. Size matters. When storage space is at a premium, the bare essentials are best.
2. Different strokes for different folks. If you’re not into baking, you don’t need a KitchenAid on your list. You can always get one down the road if you decide to open your own cupcake shop.
3. When was the last time you were carded? If you’re getting married young, you’ll probably need a lot more of the basics. If it’s been a few years since you last showed your ID, perhaps you’re better off upgrading some current items or looking into some more unconventional options such as a honeymoon fund.

DINING & ENTERTAINING

Eating
– Dinner plates (8-12)
– Salad plates (8-12)
– Bowls (8-12)
– Flatware (8-12)
Drinking
– Mugs (8-12)
– High ball glasses (8-12)
– Old fashioned glasses (8-12)
– Juice glasses (8-12)
– Red wine glasses (8-12)
– White wine glasses (8-12)
– Champagne flutes (8-12)
– Martini glasses (8-12)
– Cocktail shaker
– Ice bucket and tongs
– Wine opener
Serving
– Large serving platter (1-3)
– Small serving platter (1-3)
– Salad bowl and salad tongs
– Chip and dip set
– Large serving bowls (2-4)
– Small serving bowls (2-4)
– Serving spoon and fork
– Butter dish
– Gravy boat
– Glass pitcher
– Cake stand

COOKING

Cooking
– Knife set
– Stainless steel cookware set
– Non-stick frying pan
– Dutch oven
– Grill pan
– 9×12 baking dish
– Mixing bowls
– Set of glass prep bowls
– Cutting boards
– Glass storage containers with lids
– Colander
– Cheese grater
– Salt and pepper grinder set
Baking
– Measuring cups
– Measuring spoons
– Rolling pin
– Whisk
– Wooden spoons
– Spatulas
– Baking sheets
– Muffin tins
– Cake pans
– Cooling racks

LINENS

Towels
– Sheet towels (4+)
– Hand towels (4+)
– Wash cloths (4+)
– Bath mat
Bedding
– Flat sheet
– Fitted sheet
– Standard pillows
– Standard pillow cases
– Pillow shams
– Bedskirt
– Blanket or quilt
– Duvet and duvet cover or down comforter
Kitchen
– Dish towels
– Cloth napkins
– Tablecloth or table runner

SMALL APPLIANCES

Cooking
– Crockpot
– Coffee maker
– Food processor
– Blender
– Toaster or toaster oven
– Stand mixer or hand mixer
Cleaning
– Vacuum
– Dust buster
– Iron

MISCELLANEOUS
– Luggage
– Throw blankets
– Camera
– Bathroom scale
– iPod sound system

True story, peel a head of garlic in 10 seconds

One of my good friends recently shared this video with me…mind blown. Roasted garlic anyone?

24Apr2014

Mother’s Day gift guide

Posted in Gifts & Gadgets by Emily | Bites & Pieces

Mother’s Day is just around the corner (Sunday, May 11). This year, skip the flowers and card and think of something special for mom. I’ve compiled a list of items under $50 (some under $25!) that will be sure to put a smile on her face.

1. Coco & Sandalwood Nourishing Body Lotion // Molton Brown // $42