 |
| Queso with blue corn chips. |
Jessica Cramer, Vegan
I know Whole Foods carries this product, but check out Food for Lovers Web site for more locations and information.
Food for Lovers
www.food-for-lovers.com
512-909-6157
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Queso for VEGANS and lactose interolant folks, too!
Jessica Cramer, Vegan
I know Whole Foods carries this product, but check out Food for Lovers Web site for more locations and information.
Food for Lovers
www.food-for-lovers.com
512-909-6157
Thursday, August 9, 2012
One pan, one chicken sausage and one sweet potato..
...easy as pie!!!!!
Heat your pan on high, throw your uncooked sausage into the pan (for this dish I used an apple-cinnamon chicken sausage), brown on both sides, pour one generous cup of red wine into the pan ( you may want to take a couple of sips of the red wine to make sure it is to your liking). Allow the wine to reduce for about five minutes. Cut up the sweet potato (skin on) and peeled onion roughly cut, toss them into the pan, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and let simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the sausage, potato and onion from the pan, pour the remaining liquid over it, then top it off with a scoop of Greek yogurt. This is fast, simple and really tasty.
Just a note, I did not use oil or butter in the pan.
Heat your pan on high, throw your uncooked sausage into the pan (for this dish I used an apple-cinnamon chicken sausage), brown on both sides, pour one generous cup of red wine into the pan ( you may want to take a couple of sips of the red wine to make sure it is to your liking). Allow the wine to reduce for about five minutes. Cut up the sweet potato (skin on) and peeled onion roughly cut, toss them into the pan, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and let simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the sausage, potato and onion from the pan, pour the remaining liquid over it, then top it off with a scoop of Greek yogurt. This is fast, simple and really tasty.
Monday, August 6, 2012
A pie in the hand is better than....
two desserts baking in the oven. A fact that came into full focus in the Menil parking lot last week. Porch Swing Desserts is the reason. As I held the chocolate ice box pie in the palm of my hand, I wondered how such a small pie could satisfy my overwhelmingly large sweet tooth.
"No problem" was the response from the pie. As I processed the first lip-smacking bite, alarm bells went off in my brain, "Danger, Danger, consumption will only make you want more." And in fact that is what happened. Satisfaction, delight, taste bud pirouettes, yes this little pie made loud happy music to my sweet tooth. The savory crust is flaky and light, the filling is rich, thick, dark chocolate topped with fresh whipped cream. A perfect combination.
When I made my pie selection I was torn between the chocolate pie and the lemon pie. Both are favorites, but chocolate won out. The only solution is to go back to Porch Swing Desserts and try the lemon, I know that I will not be disappointed. The banana cream looked pretty good, too.
Other offerings by Porch Swing Desserts include seasonal pies (I just missed peach season by a week), cupcakes, cookies and cakes.
Jennifer Diaz is the owner and master baker of Porch Swing Desserts. She learned her art and cultivated her passion for quality desserts in the kitchens of her mother and grandmother. I love that she has brought that homemade tradition to the streets of Houston.
A little dessert poem:
I'll obey them in the winter when the doctors say to me
I must give up ham and spinach, and obedient I'll be.
To relieve my indigestion in December they can try,
But there's none of them can stop me when it's time for cherry pie.
~Edgar A. Guest, The Milwaukee Journal, 1935 May 29
Porch Swing Desserts
www.porchswingdesserts.com
 |
| Fits in the palm of your hand. |
 |
| Look at that flaky crust. It is a thing of beauty and tastes heavenly. |
"No problem" was the response from the pie. As I processed the first lip-smacking bite, alarm bells went off in my brain, "Danger, Danger, consumption will only make you want more." And in fact that is what happened. Satisfaction, delight, taste bud pirouettes, yes this little pie made loud happy music to my sweet tooth. The savory crust is flaky and light, the filling is rich, thick, dark chocolate topped with fresh whipped cream. A perfect combination.
When I made my pie selection I was torn between the chocolate pie and the lemon pie. Both are favorites, but chocolate won out. The only solution is to go back to Porch Swing Desserts and try the lemon, I know that I will not be disappointed. The banana cream looked pretty good, too.
 |
| Lemon Meringue, Banana Cream (bottom) Chocolate Ice Box Cream Pie |
Other offerings by Porch Swing Desserts include seasonal pies (I just missed peach season by a week), cupcakes, cookies and cakes.
Jennifer Diaz is the owner and master baker of Porch Swing Desserts. She learned her art and cultivated her passion for quality desserts in the kitchens of her mother and grandmother. I love that she has brought that homemade tradition to the streets of Houston.
I'll obey them in the winter when the doctors say to me
I must give up ham and spinach, and obedient I'll be.
To relieve my indigestion in December they can try,
But there's none of them can stop me when it's time for cherry pie.
~Edgar A. Guest, The Milwaukee Journal, 1935 May 29
Porch Swing Desserts
www.porchswingdesserts.com
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Hot Doggies to the Rescue, go Hot Doggies go....
...to Good Dog Hot Dogs Food Truck!
The hot dogs are all natural, made in Texas with condiments lovingly crafted from the owner's grandmother's recipes and then all stuffed into artisan buns. (not artist's buns) The potato chips are crispy and handmade. Nothing comes out of prepackaged bags.
I ordered the Globby Slaw Dog and added chili. The slaw is made from sliced apples and shredded cabbage, mixed together with horseradish mayo sauce. Globby good, is what it is. So memorable, that on a road trip this weekend I had a taste for something and as I thought back on the flavors and tied them to the food, it was the Globby Slaw Dog that registered. I was 100 miles from Houston, with no way to get one, but I savored the memory of it and that appeased my taste buds somewhat.
The owners and operators are Daneil Caballero and Amalia Pferd. I asked Amalia why a food truck and why hot dogs. She said that the start up costs are low and the resale of the truck is very close to what you pay for it and that she loves hot dogs.
A little hot dog history from Wikipedia.
www.gooddogfoodtruck.com
twitter.com/gooddoghotdogs
facebook.com/gooddogfoodtruck
The hot dogs are all natural, made in Texas with condiments lovingly crafted from the owner's grandmother's recipes and then all stuffed into artisan buns. (not artist's buns) The potato chips are crispy and handmade. Nothing comes out of prepackaged bags.
 |
| When you see this truck. STOP and have a GOOD DOG!!!! |
I ordered the Globby Slaw Dog and added chili. The slaw is made from sliced apples and shredded cabbage, mixed together with horseradish mayo sauce. Globby good, is what it is. So memorable, that on a road trip this weekend I had a taste for something and as I thought back on the flavors and tied them to the food, it was the Globby Slaw Dog that registered. I was 100 miles from Houston, with no way to get one, but I savored the memory of it and that appeased my taste buds somewhat.
 |
| Chips and Globby Slaw Dog. The Chili is under the slaw. Really memorable. |
The owners and operators are Daneil Caballero and Amalia Pferd. I asked Amalia why a food truck and why hot dogs. She said that the start up costs are low and the resale of the truck is very close to what you pay for it and that she loves hot dogs.
 | ||||
| Owners/Operators Amalia Pferd and Daniel Caballero. (Sorry Daniel that I caught you in mid blink.) |
Good Dog Hot DogsSomehow or other a frankfurter and a roll seem to go right to the spot where the void is felt the most. The small boy has got on such familiar terms with this sort of lunch that he now refers to it as "hot dog." "Hey, Mister, give me a hot dog quick," was the startling order that a rosy-cheeked gamin hurled at the man as a Press reporter stood close by last night. The "hot dog" was quickly inserted in a gash in a roll, a dash of mustard also splashed on to the "dog" with a piece of flat whittled stick, and the order was fulfilled.—Paterson Daily Press, Dec. 31, 1892, pg. 5
www.gooddogfoodtruck.com
twitter.com/gooddoghotdogs
facebook.com/gooddogfoodtruck
Friday, July 20, 2012
Wild Salmon Burger caught doing the Watusi at...
... the Field of Greens Healthy Cuisine Restaurant or was that me doing the Watusi after eating the Wild Salmon Burger. Either way it's a great sandwich. I go there specifically for it. I crave it, I want it, so I go get it. I can feel my booty and feet moving just thinking about it.
The wild caught salmon patty is grilled perfectly leaving it moist yet firm. Served on a sprouted grain Ezekiel bun, it comes with a choice of soup, salad or fries. I usually get the salad, because it is such a nice companion to the burger.
This casual restaurant offers Vegetarian, Vegan and Raw menu items as well. To be honest I have only had the Wild Salmon Burger. I vow that I am going to try something else, but that never happens. Let me know if you try something else. I bet it will be good. I did notice that they use Gluten-Free pasta and they put a notice on their menu to please notify them of any food allergies. They are clearly looking out for our best interest.
I snagged this description from Wikipedia in regard to the Watusi.
In the classic Watusi, the dancer is almost stationary with knees slightly bent, although may move forward and back by one or two small rhythmic paces. The arms, with palms flat in line, are held almost straight, alternately flail up and down in the vertical. The head is kept in line with the upper torso but may bob slightly to accentuate the arm flailing. The dance, which became popular in the American surf/beach sub-culture of 1960s, may be enhanced if one imagines that one's feet are on sand.
Visit the Field of Greens Healthy Cuisine
The Field of Greens
2320 W. Alabama
Houston, TX 77098
713-533-0029
www.fildofgreenscuisine.com
I snagged this description from Wikipedia in regard to the Watusi.
In the classic Watusi, the dancer is almost stationary with knees slightly bent, although may move forward and back by one or two small rhythmic paces. The arms, with palms flat in line, are held almost straight, alternately flail up and down in the vertical. The head is kept in line with the upper torso but may bob slightly to accentuate the arm flailing. The dance, which became popular in the American surf/beach sub-culture of 1960s, may be enhanced if one imagines that one's feet are on sand.
Visit the Field of Greens Healthy Cuisine
2320 W. Alabama
Houston, TX 77098
713-533-0029
www.fildofgreenscuisine.com
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Friday the 13th at the Queen Vic was a very good day....
...for my birthday celebration.
High Tea, cocktails and good friends added to the merry making. Thank goodness for friends, thank goodness for the Queen Vic. I think going for afternoon tea is one of the best things to do.
That probably started when I was just a little girl, living in Kansas, having afternoon tea with my mom. She made it fun. I would go out the back door and come around to the front, knock, she would invite me in as if I was her long lost friend. We would sit and have tea and PB&Js, with the crust cut off and talk and laugh. The tea was probably Lipton and that was good, too.
At the Queen Vic we had a choice of finger sandwiches and organic teas, served with fresh berries, vegetable chips, cream, jam and a lovely pineapple carrot cake.
My sandwich was made with cucumbers, cilantro and chutney, crust off, of course. It was really good, as was all the other things on my plate. We talked and laughed. It felt like home.
The celebration continued after the tea pots emptied and cocktails arrived. A toast to a wonderful year was made and I am a glad for it.
Thank you Flora for thinking of afternoon tea. Thank you Cath for joining in the celebration.
Quote of the Day: "There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea." Henry James
Tea is served at the Queen Vic on Fridays from 3 to 5pm.
The Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen
2710 Richmond Ave.
Houston, TX 77098
713-533-0022
www.thequeenvicpub.com
High Tea, cocktails and good friends added to the merry making. Thank goodness for friends, thank goodness for the Queen Vic. I think going for afternoon tea is one of the best things to do.
That probably started when I was just a little girl, living in Kansas, having afternoon tea with my mom. She made it fun. I would go out the back door and come around to the front, knock, she would invite me in as if I was her long lost friend. We would sit and have tea and PB&Js, with the crust cut off and talk and laugh. The tea was probably Lipton and that was good, too.
At the Queen Vic we had a choice of finger sandwiches and organic teas, served with fresh berries, vegetable chips, cream, jam and a lovely pineapple carrot cake.
|
| This is the cucumber, cilantro, chutney sandwich. |
 |
| This sandwich is made with Brie, walnuts and figs. |
My sandwich was made with cucumbers, cilantro and chutney, crust off, of course. It was really good, as was all the other things on my plate. We talked and laughed. It felt like home.
The celebration continued after the tea pots emptied and cocktails arrived. A toast to a wonderful year was made and I am a glad for it.
Thank you Flora for thinking of afternoon tea. Thank you Cath for joining in the celebration.
Quote of the Day: "There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea." Henry James
Tea is served at the Queen Vic on Fridays from 3 to 5pm.
The Queen Vic Pub & Kitchen
2710 Richmond Ave.
Houston, TX 77098
713-533-0022
www.thequeenvicpub.com
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Asia Society of Houston is a place to lunch...
...in a pleasing dining venue with fresh salads, soups and sandwiches. There is art, too!!!
My initial introduction to the Asia Society was by chance.
I had heard of it, but had never ventured there. A friend invited me to join her for a Tai Chi class taught at the Asia Society by Henderson Smith. I jumped at the chance. I had been taking Tai Chi from Henderson at Rothko and any additional instruction was a bonus for me. He really is a marvel. The Asia Society has a perfect space for Tai Chi, wood floors, a wall of windows looking out onto a garden. Really nice. Long story short, before class started I was invited to look around the building. It is quite beautiful. It was during this mini tour that I discovered the dining area. I instantly knew that I would have to come back and give it a try. As I found out, the name of the restaurant is The Jade Stone Cafe and lunch is the only meal served from 11 am to 2 pm daily. The menu consists of two soups, which they are expanding to three starting next week, five salads and three or four sandwiches. With every new place I try, it is always a pleasant chore deciding what to eat. I opted for the soup and sandwich combo, figuring that I could at least try two out of the three menu groupings. The soup was chicken and wild rice with chopped summer squash and carrots. The sandwich, chicken curry salad with chutney on whole wheat. The sides were potato chips and a red cabbage and carrot slaw tossed with sesame oil and cilantro. I was very pleased with my lunch. It was tasty, all the flavors complimented each other, melding in my mouth, making for a happy belly.
The manager of the cafe told me that the food is prepared by The Stone Kitchen, a catering company in Houston, owned by executive chef Elizabeth Stone and then transported to and then assembled to order at The Jade Stone Cafe. The tables are dressed in white linens, the room itself is unadorned, taking away visual noise allowing for a serene place to enjoy lunch. While I was sitting there a mist formed outside the window. It reminded me of being in the mountains.
When I asked at the information desk about it, they told me that the mist is released every 11 minutes from the reflecting pool on the second floor. The pool is a wonder all unto itself. I could sit and look at it for hours.
I am so glad that I was invited to the Tai Chi class. It opened the door to a new place to have lunch, meditate and view art. It doesn't get much better than that!!!
The Asia Society of Houston
1370 Southmore Blvd.
Houston, TX 77004
713-439-0051
www.asiasociety.org/texas
The Stone Kitchen
www.stonekitchencatering.com
If you want to learn more about Tai Chi, I find it relaxing and invigorating all at the same time, here is Henderson's contact information. He is an excellent teacher.
Henderson Smith
Living Well Therapies
713-412-2157
www.livingwelltherapies.net
henderson@livingwelltherapies.net
Quote of the Day: "The refreshing moon of the Buddha is traveling in the sky of utmost emptiness. If the pond of the mind is still, the beautiful moon will reflect itself in it." Thich Nhat Hanh
My initial introduction to the Asia Society was by chance.
I had heard of it, but had never ventured there. A friend invited me to join her for a Tai Chi class taught at the Asia Society by Henderson Smith. I jumped at the chance. I had been taking Tai Chi from Henderson at Rothko and any additional instruction was a bonus for me. He really is a marvel. The Asia Society has a perfect space for Tai Chi, wood floors, a wall of windows looking out onto a garden. Really nice. Long story short, before class started I was invited to look around the building. It is quite beautiful. It was during this mini tour that I discovered the dining area. I instantly knew that I would have to come back and give it a try. As I found out, the name of the restaurant is The Jade Stone Cafe and lunch is the only meal served from 11 am to 2 pm daily. The menu consists of two soups, which they are expanding to three starting next week, five salads and three or four sandwiches. With every new place I try, it is always a pleasant chore deciding what to eat. I opted for the soup and sandwich combo, figuring that I could at least try two out of the three menu groupings. The soup was chicken and wild rice with chopped summer squash and carrots. The sandwich, chicken curry salad with chutney on whole wheat. The sides were potato chips and a red cabbage and carrot slaw tossed with sesame oil and cilantro. I was very pleased with my lunch. It was tasty, all the flavors complimented each other, melding in my mouth, making for a happy belly.
 |
| The savory chicken curry was nicely offset by the sweetness of the chutney. |
The manager of the cafe told me that the food is prepared by The Stone Kitchen, a catering company in Houston, owned by executive chef Elizabeth Stone and then transported to and then assembled to order at The Jade Stone Cafe. The tables are dressed in white linens, the room itself is unadorned, taking away visual noise allowing for a serene place to enjoy lunch. While I was sitting there a mist formed outside the window. It reminded me of being in the mountains.
 |
| The mist is released every 11 minutes. |
 |
| Look through the glass and you can see the tables with white linens. |
When I asked at the information desk about it, they told me that the mist is released every 11 minutes from the reflecting pool on the second floor. The pool is a wonder all unto itself. I could sit and look at it for hours.
I am so glad that I was invited to the Tai Chi class. It opened the door to a new place to have lunch, meditate and view art. It doesn't get much better than that!!!
 |
| Exhibition thru October 7, Treasure of Asian Art: A Rockefeller Legacy |
 |
| Asia Society of Houston, 1370 Southmore. |
1370 Southmore Blvd.
Houston, TX 77004
713-439-0051
www.asiasociety.org/texas
The Stone Kitchen
www.stonekitchencatering.com
If you want to learn more about Tai Chi, I find it relaxing and invigorating all at the same time, here is Henderson's contact information. He is an excellent teacher.
Henderson Smith
Living Well Therapies
713-412-2157
www.livingwelltherapies.net
henderson@livingwelltherapies.net
Quote of the Day: "The refreshing moon of the Buddha is traveling in the sky of utmost emptiness. If the pond of the mind is still, the beautiful moon will reflect itself in it." Thich Nhat Hanh
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