So I was shopping a couple of years ago at an outlet mall and ran across this product that claimed to chop veggies extremely well with out pureeing them. I had bought a mini food processor a few months before and was not all that impressed with the results of chopping tomatoes and peppers. I picked this one up at the outlet and had it for about a year until the lid was mistakenly put in the dishwasher and ruined the pull mechanism.
This product can be found on Amazon.com and it is where I bought my second one, after I ruined the first one by no ones fault but my own.
Check it out here
What is it and how does it work?
This product is very simple in design. It is simply a clear plastic bowl with a mount in the center where three blades sit. The blades can be removed very easily for cleaning and emptying the bowl. The lid sits on the bowl and is sealed. It also connects to the center blade. Inside the lid is a spinning mechanism that spins the blade with a lanyard and loop that you pull on. It looks like you are trying to start a chainsaw but this thing works great. The best part is, you are completely in control of what you are chopping. I don't think there is a better product for making fresh salsa.
I would buy one of these just for making fresh salsa and guacamole. Below are two recipes which I use for making both. Simply combine these ingredients in bowl after chopping each one up. FYI, when chopping a cilantro or chives I usually combine these with peppers, onions or tomatoes. The other mass in the chopper allow the greens to hit the blades better.
Salsa:
4-5 roma tomatoes (remove seed and most pulp)
2 bell peppers (one green and one yellow or orange)
fresh leaves of cilantro to taste
1/2 a red or vidalia onion
1 jalepeno
2-tbsp. of Penzey's Salsa Seasoning
juice from 1/2 a fresh lime
Guacamole:
2-3 ripe avacados
1 jalepeno
fresh leaves of cilantro to taste
1/2 a red or vidalia onion
2-tbsp. of Penzey's Salsa Seasoning
juice from 1/2 a fresh lime
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Jason's Deli
I know I mentioned earlier in my first blog and my profile that I really enjoy mom & pop restaurants, but I checked out Jason's deli in Indianapolis this past week. I really enjoy a good sandwich! I have to say, this place can put together a hell of a sandwich! People who don't get excited for sandwiches should even check this place out.
What did I have? I went with a good friend of mine, and we both ordered a different sandwich and shared half of our sandwich with each other. I ordered the Big Joe, and my friend ordered the Chicago Club. Bold Statement ahead, the Big Joe was the best sandwich I have ever had in my life. The complex flavor complimented each other so well.
So what was on the Big Joe?
Toasted herb focaccia with turkey breast, asiago, roasted tomatoes, basil-pesto with pine nuts, mayo.
Many times when I have focaccia bread, I find it somewhat stale and I am disappointed with it. Not this time, you could tell the bread was baked fresh everyday, and smelled wonderful. The turkey breast was extremely tender and a slight smokey flavor. I really do think that the roasted tomatoes made the sandwich! The process of roasting tomatoes concentrates the rich tomato flavor in to each piece of tomato. Now couple this with a basil pesto and mayo and you have a flavor explosion in your mouth. Overall, I believe that there was a trifecta of flavor that made this sandwich so good. Combine roasted tomato, with basil pesto, and the herb focaccia bread and the flavors just melt in your mouth!
I ate this sandwich half first, then proceeded to the Chicago Club. I am not going to lie to you, after the second bite I was really thinking about taking my other sandwich half back. Now I am not knocking the Chicago Club, however it wasn't on the same level of the Big Joe! I would have never thought twice about how good the Chicago Club was if I hadn't had the Big Joe first. The Big Joe was just on another level!
What was on the Chicago Club?
Herb focaccia with smoked turkey breast, bacon, provolone, smoked red pepper-cilantro aioli, organic spinach, roma tomatoes.
So here again the focaccia bread was right on point! It was fresh and just made my mouth water. The same turkey breast was on this sandwich and was great! Now to the high notes. Bacon makes everything better! You could put bacon on anything and I truly believe it will taste better! Provolone cheese was a great addition to this sandwich, but maybe a sharper flavor would have brought the sandwich up a notch. There was something on this sandwich that I hadn't ever experienced before. They made a smoked red pepper-cilantro aioli. Yeah thats right, red pepper and cilantro. What a great combination of flavors and to make aioli out of it, GENIUS! The spinach was a good call, it gave you some greens, I might try to throw some sprouts on it if I were to get it again.
This next part is hard for me to admit and please don't judge me! Jason's deli has a free ice cream bar, and I did not partake! I was so full from the sandwiches that I couldn't bring myself to eat ice cream and make myself miserable. Who has a free ice cream bar?!?!?
Overall if I were to rate this restaurant on a scale of 1-10, I would give it a 9.5-10. The service was nice, food was amazing, and the place was clean. This is a chain so if you are headed somewhere you may want to see if there is one on your route. I know when I go to visit my brother in Saint Louis I will be making a stop at Jason's in Indy from now on!
What did I have? I went with a good friend of mine, and we both ordered a different sandwich and shared half of our sandwich with each other. I ordered the Big Joe, and my friend ordered the Chicago Club. Bold Statement ahead, the Big Joe was the best sandwich I have ever had in my life. The complex flavor complimented each other so well.
So what was on the Big Joe?
Toasted herb focaccia with turkey breast, asiago, roasted tomatoes, basil-pesto with pine nuts, mayo.
Many times when I have focaccia bread, I find it somewhat stale and I am disappointed with it. Not this time, you could tell the bread was baked fresh everyday, and smelled wonderful. The turkey breast was extremely tender and a slight smokey flavor. I really do think that the roasted tomatoes made the sandwich! The process of roasting tomatoes concentrates the rich tomato flavor in to each piece of tomato. Now couple this with a basil pesto and mayo and you have a flavor explosion in your mouth. Overall, I believe that there was a trifecta of flavor that made this sandwich so good. Combine roasted tomato, with basil pesto, and the herb focaccia bread and the flavors just melt in your mouth!
I ate this sandwich half first, then proceeded to the Chicago Club. I am not going to lie to you, after the second bite I was really thinking about taking my other sandwich half back. Now I am not knocking the Chicago Club, however it wasn't on the same level of the Big Joe! I would have never thought twice about how good the Chicago Club was if I hadn't had the Big Joe first. The Big Joe was just on another level!
What was on the Chicago Club?
Herb focaccia with smoked turkey breast, bacon, provolone, smoked red pepper-cilantro aioli, organic spinach, roma tomatoes.
So here again the focaccia bread was right on point! It was fresh and just made my mouth water. The same turkey breast was on this sandwich and was great! Now to the high notes. Bacon makes everything better! You could put bacon on anything and I truly believe it will taste better! Provolone cheese was a great addition to this sandwich, but maybe a sharper flavor would have brought the sandwich up a notch. There was something on this sandwich that I hadn't ever experienced before. They made a smoked red pepper-cilantro aioli. Yeah thats right, red pepper and cilantro. What a great combination of flavors and to make aioli out of it, GENIUS! The spinach was a good call, it gave you some greens, I might try to throw some sprouts on it if I were to get it again.
This next part is hard for me to admit and please don't judge me! Jason's deli has a free ice cream bar, and I did not partake! I was so full from the sandwiches that I couldn't bring myself to eat ice cream and make myself miserable. Who has a free ice cream bar?!?!?
Overall if I were to rate this restaurant on a scale of 1-10, I would give it a 9.5-10. The service was nice, food was amazing, and the place was clean. This is a chain so if you are headed somewhere you may want to see if there is one on your route. I know when I go to visit my brother in Saint Louis I will be making a stop at Jason's in Indy from now on!
My palette range!
If anyone is going to be a regular reader of the crap I post on here, they should probably understand what my tastes are. What easier way for me to let you know, than make a list of what I really enjoy, and then a list of what I don't enjoy so much. (Not in any particular order, however an *asterisk denotes that I really enjoy these things over the others)
Enjoy
-mediterranean, mexican, italian, BBQ, sushi, red meat, sauteed onions, bacon*, cheesecake*, carrot cake, all that is breakfast, sandwiches, the other white meat, chicken, quiche, ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, beer*, basil, cilantro, roasted garlic, dutch apple pie*, coffee cake, peach pie/ cobbler*, yogurt, peanut butter, coffee, wings, donuts, cinnamon rolls*, christmas cookies, fish, seafood, oysters, venison, buffalo, german cooking, sauerkraut*, bratwurst*, cole slaw, cabbage, kielbasa, STEAK*, wine, diet coke, diet canada dry, diet root beer, all beans, asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, wine, feta, olives, peppers, pickles*, burgers, hot dogs, gyros*, popcorn, and many more!
Not so much
-Vegetarian meals, mushrooms, raw onions, runny eggs, fennel seed, mustard, tofu, sweet tea, peas, port wines, balsamic vinegar, fruit in my salad, coriander, liver, pate, sardines, sweet italian sausage, and a few others.
Now the food listed under enjoyable is pretty self explanatory, however I should explain to you why I don't like the foods listed under "Not so much."
I am a carnivore, I love meat. There is a reason the Lord put animals on this earth, and a good reason why they taste so darn good! Every time I have something vegetarian I am left with the desire to have some sort of meat added to it, and if not meat, definitely cheese! Mushrooms, I will eat them, I just don't desire their flavor or their consistency cooked or uncooked. Raw onions in the right setting are okay with me, I just really don't enjoy the taste of them for the 5 days after I eat them. Uncooked eggs, I really think this is just a mental block with me, because sometimes I can eat them if they are combined with the right food. Fennel seed and coriander, I simply don't like the flavor. Balsamic vinegar normally doesn't appeal to me, I'll eat if it is put in front of me, however I would never order it or use it in a dish if it is at the forefront of flavor. Liver and pate, gross! Enough said. Sardines, I can't bring myself past the look or odor. Here is the deal with sweet italian sausage. To often I feel as though the sweet italian sausage you buy in the stores is disgusting and packed full of to much spice and I don't think you can actually taste the sausage.
Hopefully this gives you an idea of what my tastes are and where I am coming from when I give you my opinion on a meal or recipe.
Enjoy
-mediterranean, mexican, italian, BBQ, sushi, red meat, sauteed onions, bacon*, cheesecake*, carrot cake, all that is breakfast, sandwiches, the other white meat, chicken, quiche, ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, beer*, basil, cilantro, roasted garlic, dutch apple pie*, coffee cake, peach pie/ cobbler*, yogurt, peanut butter, coffee, wings, donuts, cinnamon rolls*, christmas cookies, fish, seafood, oysters, venison, buffalo, german cooking, sauerkraut*, bratwurst*, cole slaw, cabbage, kielbasa, STEAK*, wine, diet coke, diet canada dry, diet root beer, all beans, asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, wine, feta, olives, peppers, pickles*, burgers, hot dogs, gyros*, popcorn, and many more!
Not so much
-Vegetarian meals, mushrooms, raw onions, runny eggs, fennel seed, mustard, tofu, sweet tea, peas, port wines, balsamic vinegar, fruit in my salad, coriander, liver, pate, sardines, sweet italian sausage, and a few others.
Now the food listed under enjoyable is pretty self explanatory, however I should explain to you why I don't like the foods listed under "Not so much."
I am a carnivore, I love meat. There is a reason the Lord put animals on this earth, and a good reason why they taste so darn good! Every time I have something vegetarian I am left with the desire to have some sort of meat added to it, and if not meat, definitely cheese! Mushrooms, I will eat them, I just don't desire their flavor or their consistency cooked or uncooked. Raw onions in the right setting are okay with me, I just really don't enjoy the taste of them for the 5 days after I eat them. Uncooked eggs, I really think this is just a mental block with me, because sometimes I can eat them if they are combined with the right food. Fennel seed and coriander, I simply don't like the flavor. Balsamic vinegar normally doesn't appeal to me, I'll eat if it is put in front of me, however I would never order it or use it in a dish if it is at the forefront of flavor. Liver and pate, gross! Enough said. Sardines, I can't bring myself past the look or odor. Here is the deal with sweet italian sausage. To often I feel as though the sweet italian sausage you buy in the stores is disgusting and packed full of to much spice and I don't think you can actually taste the sausage.
Hopefully this gives you an idea of what my tastes are and where I am coming from when I give you my opinion on a meal or recipe.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
All that is food...
So here I am writing my first blog! This could end up being the first of many, or I may decide this isn't for me and it will be my first and last! I am writing this on a recommendation from a dear friend who knows me really well and understands my passion for food!
Anyone who knows me well, knows that I LOVE food. Now I don't throw the "L" word around lightly in this day and age. However, food truly makes me happy! I love to cook it, I love to consume it, and I love to share it with others. In fact, there is no greater joy to me (outside of a loving relationship) than cooking a good friend dinner and seeing how happy they are when they consume what I have prepared!
Some people have called me a food snob, I don't consider myself a food snob. My palette will enjoy a diverse range of food. I could be just as happy entering a small diner or bar and ordering something deep fried and greasy, or making the effort of getting dressed up and enjoying a fancy dinner in a swanky setting. Likewise, I also enjoy almost every form of food that can be prepared and will try anything once as long as the smell isn't disgusting or it is still moving. There are a few things that I would not rather have in my food and I will list them later. There are also a few foods that don't sit well over time in my stomach and I'll will just avoid that conversation all together, after all we are talking about delicious food!
My first intention for this blog is to share my stories of good eats with you. When I go to a restaraunt and I am completely satisfied with the breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I will share it with you. Secondly, I will share with you recipes that I have made, and I have thoroughly enjoyed and will make again. Third, I would like to share with you some kitchen hardware, utensils, techniques, and gadgets that I really enjoy using.
Now having said this, here is my disclaimer. I am not a culinary expert, I have a passion for cooking and eating, thats all, I just hope I can share things with everyone that they will enjoy! Also, I am not an expert with grammar, don't judge! One last thing, I love craft beers! I am not a beer snob, however if you offer me a craft beer or bud light, I am going to pick the craft. Craft beers are the last of the truly American beers in this country, and I really appreciate them and will talk about them from time to time. I think a good craft beer can go with a dinner just as much as a fancy glass of wine!
Hope you enjoy, and happy eating!
Anyone who knows me well, knows that I LOVE food. Now I don't throw the "L" word around lightly in this day and age. However, food truly makes me happy! I love to cook it, I love to consume it, and I love to share it with others. In fact, there is no greater joy to me (outside of a loving relationship) than cooking a good friend dinner and seeing how happy they are when they consume what I have prepared!
Some people have called me a food snob, I don't consider myself a food snob. My palette will enjoy a diverse range of food. I could be just as happy entering a small diner or bar and ordering something deep fried and greasy, or making the effort of getting dressed up and enjoying a fancy dinner in a swanky setting. Likewise, I also enjoy almost every form of food that can be prepared and will try anything once as long as the smell isn't disgusting or it is still moving. There are a few things that I would not rather have in my food and I will list them later. There are also a few foods that don't sit well over time in my stomach and I'll will just avoid that conversation all together, after all we are talking about delicious food!
My first intention for this blog is to share my stories of good eats with you. When I go to a restaraunt and I am completely satisfied with the breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I will share it with you. Secondly, I will share with you recipes that I have made, and I have thoroughly enjoyed and will make again. Third, I would like to share with you some kitchen hardware, utensils, techniques, and gadgets that I really enjoy using.
Now having said this, here is my disclaimer. I am not a culinary expert, I have a passion for cooking and eating, thats all, I just hope I can share things with everyone that they will enjoy! Also, I am not an expert with grammar, don't judge! One last thing, I love craft beers! I am not a beer snob, however if you offer me a craft beer or bud light, I am going to pick the craft. Craft beers are the last of the truly American beers in this country, and I really appreciate them and will talk about them from time to time. I think a good craft beer can go with a dinner just as much as a fancy glass of wine!
Hope you enjoy, and happy eating!
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