Peter Piper Picked a Potato...

....I know, I know he picked a pepper. But this post is about potatoes, not peppers, so there!

When I was a kid one of my favorite things about holiday meals was my grandmother's potato wedges. They were golden and crispy on the outside, and perfect on the inside. I've never been able to duplicate those potatoes, and sadly Grandma isn't around to tell me her secrets, but recently I found out that I was using the wrong potato!

With football season in full swing, and potato skins on coffee tables everywhere, Thanksgiving with mashed potatoes right around the corner, and Christmas dinner only 11 weeks away, let's get this potato thing straight so we all have perfect appetizers and side dishes.

Russet Potatoes should be your choice if you're making baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, or potato skins. There high in starch and fluffy on the inside, perfect for scooping and mashing. These are the kind I used to make Grandma's potato wedges, which is why they didn't turn out.

Red skin potatoes are the kind I SHOULD have used. They are waxy, hold their shape well, and are low in starch. Perfect for roasting. It's super easy too. Pre-heat your oven to 450 degrees. Cut your large red-skin potatoes into wedges, toss with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. (Or adobo seasoning if you happen to be making them for me!) Spray a baking sheet with olive oil spray and place potatoes sliced side down. Roast for 20 minutes, then flip and roast for another 15.

Yukon Golds are actually pretty good all-purpose potatoes. They bake and roast well, have a medium starch content, and are creamy. If you are inclined to make your own gnocchi, use Yukon Golds! Personally, I've only made gnocchi once in my life, and it was a time-consuming failure. I didn't use Yukon Golds! If I ever muster up the nerve to make my own gnocchi again, I'll use them. Until then it's packaged for me!

Wishing everyone a happy, potato filled holiday season! If you have a favorite potato dish, drop me a line and tell me about it!

If you are looking for the perfect wine to pair with your holiday dishes, visit me over at Wine Decadence

More Cheese Please!

Remember eating string cheese as a kid? I do! It was in my school lunch, my camp lunch, just about any lunch. I loved the heck out of it. Come to think of it I feel that way about pretty much any cheese.

You don't have to be a kid to enjoy Armenian string cheese! Seeing as I'm Greek, you may be wondering how I came across this version of string cheese. My uncle is Armenian, and this was on the table during appetizers at pretty much every family holiday I can remember.

It's made like mozzarella, except nigella seeds are added (they add a mild nutty flavor), and the cheese is braided.

To serve it, simply shred it up and put it in a bowl.

It goes great with other finger foods like olives, pepperoni, and veggies and dip. Or put it on a cheese board with other international cheeses. And it's unique! When you tell your guests it's Armenian string cheese they are sure to look at you in awe for you exotic tastes. Unless of course they've been to one of my uncle's holiday meals, in which case you have a lot to live up to.

Most supermarkets stock it in their international cheese section by the deli. If yours doesn't have it, get a new supermarket! Just kidding, ask a manager. Once they start stocking it it'll fly off the shelf faster then they can reorder!

Fried Pasta!

Normally when I made pasta, I'd put the leftovers in a container in the fridge, and there it would sit until I got sick of looking at it and threw it out, or it started to grow something, in which case I'd pitch the whole container in the garbage.

I found a much tastier and less wasteful way of dealing with leftovers....fried pasta! It's actually way healthier than it sounds, and it's delicious!

Coat a pan with olive oil, add the pasta, and minced garlic (I used dry, I just gave it a few shakes). I also added adobo seasoning, because I put that shit on everything!

Over medium high heat, stir the pasta until it starts getting browned and crispy. I like mine pretty crispy, if you like yours less so, just stir until it's heated through.

When it's cooked to your liking, plate and serve!

You can make it your own with any of your favorite add ins. Try frying up your pasta with some of these combos:
-chopped onions and peppers
-frozen peas and chopped bacon
-pine nuts and chopped broccoli
-anything that strikes your fancy!


Comfort food at its finest! Make it a real treat and pair it with a chardonnay if you like white, or a cabernet if you like red. Fried pasta, and a glass of wine, I can't imagine a better meal for a cool fall evening!

For more wine pairings with your favorite foods visit me over at Wine Decadence!

These Cookbooks Should Be in Your Kitchen! My Top 3 Favs

I love cookbooks. I sit in bed at night and read 'em like they're novels. I actually rehearse in my head making some of the recipes. Wait...does that make me weird?

There are a few criteria cookbooks need to meet for me. They need to be colorful and show pictures. The recipes need to be fun, easy, and healthy, or easily "cleaned up". There also needs to be some kind of story woven into the recipes. I want to hear the writer's story...their voice. And the last thing, I don't want some long list of crazy ass ingredients I need to buy. Simple, colorful, fun, and healthyish. That's it!

Here are my 3 current favorites.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime by Ree Drummond

I love anything Ree Drummond does. Her show, her books, her line of kitchen tools, serve ware and textiles at Wal-Mart, everything! Like her other cookbooks, this one gives us a view of her life on her family's cattle ranch, and an anecdote about each recipe. Step by step pictures show you how to do what the recipe instructs, and they totally meet my colorful requirement!

The book is broken up by type, salads, soups, comfort foods, etc, and my favorite; breakfast! I love breakfast for dinner! The recipes are all family friendly, I made the black bean burgers, and even my meat loving Mr. liked them.

Put this one on your wishlist. But don't get it on kindle. You need the actual book in your hands. That's part of the fun!

The Seasoned Life by Ayesha Curry

I was recently reading an article about the top food magazines, and the writer made the assertion that the cookbook genre was dead. Not if Ayesha Curry keeps writing them! Her recipes are creative, elegant, and easy, and all come with a back story. Parents  with young children will appreciate being able to get a delicious meal on the table in less time, and kids will enjoy helping out with recipes geared towards cooking with children. There are healthy recipes, indulgent ones, and some fall in between.

 I am absolutely terrible at making biscuits, yet succeeded with her cast iron skillet biscuits. I made egg cups for my Mr. to bring to work, and his co-workers were jealous. My son now eats jam and bread that I made from scratch from this book.

This one has actually changed the way I think about cooking. I love this book and Ayesha is an awesome role model for home cooks. You need this book. Go get it!

Vegan Planet by Robin Robertson

Once upon a time I was a strict vegetarian. I was never able to go completely vegan, but this book has a ton of easy, tasty, healthy recipes even meat eaters will love. There is a Risotto with Peas and Scallions recipe that I have made countless times, vegan brownies that my uncle who swears if it doesn't have real butter it ain't any good liked, and a whole chapter on vegan pizzas. That one came in handy since pizza was one of my obstacles to veganism.

Even if you eat meat, this one is worth picking up. Whether you have "meatless Mondays", or have to go meatless for religious observations, or just want to incorporate some plant based meals into your regular rotation, you'll have a lot to work with here.

What's your favorite cookbook? Let me know! I always like trying out are recipes! If you are looking for the perfect wine to pair with what you're cooking tonight, check me out over at Wine Decadence. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Rooney's Oceanfront Dining: A Review

Restaurants at the Jersey Shore are a dime a dozen. They all feature a "fresh catch of the day" and try to capture the essence of the shore. In trying so hard, most of them fail.

I had the opportunity to dine at Rooney's Oceanfront Restaurant recently and was so pleased with my experience I couldn't help but write a review. I've driven past this restaurant for years, and to be honest, when it was suggested that we go there for lunch I thought, Well...ok. I walked out that day with a much more enthusiastic impression!

Rooney's opened 20 years ago, and today is led by Chef Thomas Schoborg. Their goal is to provide and innovative menu, and seasonal dishes, and they succeed. The menu has a lot of depth in terms of offerings, but is so clearly organized with dishes clearly explained that it's not hard to make a decision. Well.. actually everything sounds so good that it isn't easy to make a decision either. I chose the fish tacos, grilled mani mani with chipotle mayo, Baja slaw, black beans, tortilla chips. Now I always see fish tacos on menus when I go out, and, not being a big seafood eater, always skip them. I decided to give it a try and it was delicious. The fish had a pleasant flavor, wasn't too "fishy" and blended well with the chipotle mayo. 

Dining out with children? Now here's one of my favorite things about Rooney's. If you want a fancier dining experience, but still a laid-back, family friendly environment, this is your place. I mean, just because you have kids doesn't mean you should be stuck at Applebee's for the next decade, right? The layout of the dining room is open and airy, and that includes the space between tables. We fit comfortably with a high chair, and when my little guy suddenly decided to throw his Thomas train we had enough space between tables that no one got hit.

If you live near Long Branch, NJ, go here. If you are traveling to the area, go here. Heck, make it a point to travel to the area just to go here. You'll enjoy the food, the environment, and of course, this view.

Peace Love Food Wine

I know it's not advisable to change the name and domain of a blog, but big things are happening, and I decided that I needed to update my blog to reflect that. Country Gourmet Home, the company who's food I love and represent is merging with another company, Wine Decadence. So now, not only can you get easy to prepare, made to order food mixes, you can also get the perfect wine pairing. You can host an in home wine tasting, on online wine class, or order up the perfect gift for the upcoming holiday season. (That gift can totally be for yourself....I won't tell)

For the time being, you can visit my Wine Decadence site and take a look at their offerings. Over the next few weeks, the most popular Country Gourmet Home products will roll out, followed by more later on.

I was a little sad today when my last order came from Country Gourmet Home.

I love the company and the products, and it's always a little scary when change happens.  I'm looking forward to this new venture though, and I hope you'll join me!

Give a Gift For a Good Cause

It's October! We're all enjoying the cooler weather (unless of course you live in a hot climate!), looking forward to Halloween, and enjoying all the fall flavors (pumpkin everything!). But the holidays will be here any second now, so shopping for gifts should be somewhere on your radar.

Looking for the perfect gift for your favorite foodie? Don't worry I found it! I went to Williams-Sonoma the other day. Super dangerous, I could do some major damage to a credit card in that store. But I had a gift card, so I decided to venture in, and saw a display of the cutest spatulas. Yes, spatulas can totally be cute, and what's even better is that these spatulas support a great cause: No Kid Hungry, an organization that works to end child hunger in America. Celebrities and celebrity chefs like Ayesha Curry, Trisha Yearwood, Jimmy Kimmel, and Danica Patrick designed their own spatulas. I had to pick one up, so I got the one designed by Ayesha Curry.

Proceeds from your purchase go to support this worthy cause, making it the perfect gift!

Veggies and Dip With a Kick

The veggie platter is my favorite part of any appetizer spread. I love raw veggies, and I love dip! When I was strictly vegetarian, one of the things I missed the most was buffalo wings. Really though, it wasn't the chicken I was craving, it was the kick of the buffalo sauce! This dip is the best of both worlds, and like all of Country Gourmet Home's mixes, it's super easy to make.

All you need is 2 cups of sour cream. Have you ever looked at the ingredients in sour cream? Some brands have a ton of fillers and additives that take away from the real flavor. My favorite brand?

Shoprite (of course) 

You may not live near a Shoprite, but before you buy sour cream, look at the ingredients. It should say milk, cream, and enzymes, and that's it!

Anyway, measure out 2 cups of sour cream.

Pour in the mix and combine.

Arrange on a platter with fresh, chopped veggies. Make it pretty!

If you want to make a meal out of veggies and dip, add some cheese and crackers to your platter, and pair with a Riesling to balance the heat of the dip. 

Interested to see what else Country Gourmet Home has to offer? Visit the website and get ready for the re-launch!

Taco Night

There's really never not a good night for tacos. It's perfect for a busy weeknight dinner, and also for a fun Friday night meal. Kids love putting together their own tacos....so do adults for that matter.
Check out our most recent taco night!

Step 1: Combine water and seasoning packet to create the taco sauce.

Step 2: Spray a pan with cooking spray. (If you haven't yet, you will soon learn about my deep, abiding love for Shop Rite. I have a problem, I know!)

Step 3: Brown your meat. I used ground turkey, but you can use ground beef, chicken, or even make it vegetarian friendly with veggie crumbles.

Step 4: Combine the sauce with the meat and stir to combine.

Step 5: Cover and simmer for 5 minutes to soak in all that taco-y goodness.

Step 6: Serve with your favorite taco toppings! Now really make the night festive by opening up a bottle of Spanish Garnacha wine!

To learn more about Country Gourmet Home click here. And stay tuned for the re-launch of CGH to order up your own taco night!

It's Soup Weather!

I love summer. The beach, not having to put on a billion layers before going outside, the long days, not freezing my tush off when I get out of the shower, all aces in my book. There are a few things I like about cooler weather, and soup is one of them. I love soup, but just don't like having it when it's hot outside.

It's finally not a million degrees here in NJ, so I broke out a packet of my favorite Country Gourmet Home soup mix for dinner the other night.

Wild rice in anything is good, and this soup is seriously easy to cook and get on the table before your toddler can start hollering that he's hungry! Well....almost.

Step 1: Combine soup mix and 4 and a half cups of water in a pot, and bring to a boil.

Step 2: Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, assure the toddler lurking in the background that dinner will be ready soon.

Step 3: Serve! That's it! You're eating already! This soup goes great with a hunk of crusty Italian bread, and a glass of Pinot Noir. Then again, just about anything goes well with bread and wine.

Be sure to put this on you CGH wish list! They will be up and running and ready to take orders very soon! In the meantime, check out the website here.

Country Gourmet Home

So my beloved Country Gourmet Home will be going on a brief hiatus. Starting Tuesday, September 27th, the company will not be taking orders for about 2 weeks, possibly a little longer. While we hope  they will re-open for business sooner rather than later, the bit of good news is that you still have time to order your favorite items to tide you over. They will accept orders until tomorrow, Monday, September 26th, 5 pm mountain time. Visit my CGH website to get your orders in. In the meantime, be sure to keep coming back to this blog for everything food related!

Pancakes For Lunch

I suck at making pancakes. I've tried many recipes from scratch, I've made absolutely positively sure I follow the directions to the letter, and I end up with flat, gooey, heaps of semi fried batter, and a whole lot of broken dreams. Now I know pancakes are supposed to be flat, but mine actually occupy negative space, if that's possible.

Enter Country Gourmet Home's Buttermilk Pancake Mix. I seriously go through withdrawal when I run out. I felt like pancakes for lunch the other day, so I whipped up a batch for me and my toddler, and my pancake dreams remained intact!

It's so simple, it's almost criminal!

Step 1: Measure out 1 cup of mix, and mix with 1/2 cup of water. (instructions for larger batches are on the back of the package)

Heat and grease a skillet (I like Shop Rite's Olive Oil spray). When it is hot, pour the batter using a 1/4 cup measure into the skillet. Be sure to wait until it's hot! I set my stove top to the hottest setting. When the pan is nice and hot, then I reduce it to medium.

When the pancakes start to bubble, flip, and cook for another minute or two on the other side.

Super simple and makes the perfect lunch....or breakfast.....or dinner for that matter.

If you love pancakes as much as I do, you'll want to head over to Country Gourmet Home, click "shop online" and scroll down to "pancake mixes". Besides buttermilk, they have a huge variety of flavors, from the traditional faves like blueberry and chocolate chip, to unique flavors like lemon lavender blueberry.

Goulash!

Before Country Gourmet Home, I didn't know what goulash was. Actually, I still don't really know, but I do know one thing: it's really good!

It's super easy to make, takes only about 20 minutes, is healthy, and will most likely please even your picky eaters, aka, the perfect meal!

Here's how:

Step 1: Coat a pot with olive oil (go Greek!) and brown your meat. I used 1 lb of ground turkey, but you could use beef, chicken, or even make it vegetarian with veggie crumbles!

I sprinkled a little Adobo Seasoning on the meat as it cooked. It's like powdered gold in this house!

Step 2: After the meat is cooked, add 4 cups of water, the pasta, and seasoning packet.

Stir well, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, or until pasta is ready. The mixture will thicken as it simmers.

Step 4: Plate your goulash, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, and serve!

One of my favorite things about this mix is that it only has 5 ingredients, and I know what they all are!

Put this in your regular rotation for easy weeknight cooking. Head over to Country Gourmet Home, click on "shop online", then scroll down to "pasta mixes" to get yours!

Eat Your Veggies

There are two things I love. Actually there are a lot of things I love, but today I'm going to write about 2 of them. My slow cooker, and vegetables. I love digging into a steamy plate of vegetables, and I love having dinner ready at 6 without having to rush around in the evening to get it done. Country Gourmet Home's Farmer's Market Medley is an awesome slow cooker mix that seasons your veggies while they cook, and makes your house smell amazing all day. I throw this one in the slow cooker while my little one is napping, and 4 to 6 hours later it's ready when we are!

Now you would think since I live in the country, I must have an expansive garden full of fresh vegetables to choose from when I make this meal, and you're right! My Mr. put a lot of time and effort into planting us a garden this year. Unfortunately the friend in the picture below took care of most of what was left in the garden before I could get to it.

We did manage to get a few green peppers before he had his feast, so I used those along with 2 bags of frozen veggies I had on hand.

Step 1: Wash, chop and prepare your veggies, toss in a bowl with a bit of olive oil, and the contents of the small seasoning packet.

Step 2: Put half the veggies in your slow cooker, top with half a can of diced tomatoes, and half of the bread crumbs from the mix.

Now repeat those layers one more time. Don't stir!

Step 3: Cover your slow cooker, set to low, and cook for 4 to 6 hours. I did 6 this time, and the veggies came out very tender. Next time I'd probably do closer to 4 to keep a little crispness.

Step 4: Open your slow cooker and inhale the aroma!

I served this over rice, with a little Bragg's Liquid Aminos drizzled on top. It's a like soy sauce, but minus the excessive sodium!

And that's it! A tasty, hearty, healthy, and easy meal. Visit Country Gourmet Home, click "shop online" and scroll down to slow cooker mixes to get yours before farmer's market season is over!