Food Lush

Just in Time for the London Olympics: My Favorite British Foods

by Caitlin

If I had a giant bugle (trumpet?) I would be blowing it JUBILANTLY right now!

Turn it up!

 

AMERICA!

It's no secret that I'm slightly obsessed with Britain. I'm hardly over the Diamond Jubilee and now we're on to the Olypmics! And not just any Olympics (it's a 50/50 shot, calm down) but the SUMMER Olympics, which are the best kind! And they're in London! If you've got a touch of the anglophilia and gleefully track the British royals' every move, and also love the Olympics, life is pretty good for you (me) right now, is what I'm saying. Which reminds me, have you been introduced to What Kate Wore? Or better yet, Kate Middleton FTW?

Right, but this is Food Lush, not Style Lush.

Let's talk about favorite British treats. And how if I had planned better and were not felled with yet another sinus infection (let's not talk about that), I would've loved to throw a little British Olympics themed viewing party for the opening ceremonies. That's not happening, but we're still going to talk about the food. It's what we do, and we love some British food around here.

I mentioned in a previous post that Zach and I have some wonderful British friends with whom we share a love of food. The great thing about having food-loving friends in other countries is that you can swap care packages full of delectable and exotic treats. This is especially useful after you've, say, visited those same friends in England and they introduced you to all the wonderful British products that are hard or impossible to find in America.

Without further ado (I'm good at ado), here are some of my favorite British treats:

1. Tunnock's!

Zach and I love both the caramel wafers (wafer cookies sandwiched between layers of caramel and covered in chocolate) and the teacakes (a graham/shortbread/something cookie with a dome of creamy marshmallow, all covered in chocolate). Because hello:

I mean come on. Luckily we're starting to see them in the States.

2. Strongbow cider. I love this cider and can get it stateside but my knowledge of British ciders is embarassingly small and I know there are probably a ton out there that I'm missing. I am willing to study and do my homework though, because I care about education.

 3. Char teas.

photo from charteas.com

A lovely little tea shop that our friend Bridget took us to in Winchester, England. We'd been drinking their delicious products at our hosts' house, and couldn't resist buying up a bunch. The good news is that you can order online and have it shipped to the States. Drink it cold in the summer months, or hot in the winter, but when you do, think of this favorite phrase I picked up from Bridget, as she put on the kettle for the 30th or 40th time (I lost count) in a day: "Tea is the answer. What was the question?"

Highly recommend the Earl Gray Supreme and the Lady Winchester.

4. Shout out to Irn Bru, a soda my husband was turned onto by our Scottish friend Adrian (bridget's husband), and which I can enjoy about a sip of, because it tastes like liquid bubblegum. You can get this in the States fairly easily.

Photo from http://www.leftoverqueen.com

5. You didn't think I'd go through this post without mentioning Haribo, did you? Namely, Starmix. It's not  specifically British but reminds me of our trip to London last year so it's British to me. You can't find this type of Haribo here, which I think is what makes it so special. That and the fried eggs, which disgusted me for so long. Gummy fried eggs, I'm so sorry I doubted you.

It also has a rocketship on the package, which is something I always look for in my gummy candies.

6. Other British food thing I can't get enough of: Traditional pubs that are somehow also Thai restaurants. The first sit down meal Zach and I had on our trip to London last year was at such a place (called the Lemon Tree, in Covent Garden). We had Fish & Chips alongside Pad Thai, and washed it all down with some ice cold Strongbow. It doesn't get better than that. Unless there's Haribo for dessert.

7. Bacon rolls. Delicious British bacon (thicker, chewier, and heartier than American bacon) on the softest roll imaginable, with a little butter and Hp Sauce. Perfect breakfast.

 

8. Cadbury Chocolate. All of it. And these: Maltesers. I'm not traditionally a fan of Whoppers, and though these are sort of similar they're much milder and thoroughly enjoyable. Available at World Market!

Photo from http://www.britishdelights.com

 

So that's it! Highlights of my favorite British treats! If only next time I can enjoy them while getting a private tour of Buckingham Palace from ole Bill and Cathy Cambridge. Ah well. I did recently have a dream that I was Kate's illegitimate half sister. And I was THRILLED about it. So. DREAM BIG.

 

Do you have any favorite treats from Britain? What's your favorite Summer Olympic sport? ...What's your favorite HARIBO?

Photos by me unless otherwise noted.

Mascarpone, Strawberry & Basil Toasts

By Tara C.

Inspired by Pinch My Salt's Strawberry Bruschetta, I made these little appetizers last weekend. The biggest change I made to her recipe was the addition of mascarpone cheese. They were tasty, summery, and very simple to make.

You need:

• Baguette bread
• Mascarpone cheese
• Strawberries, sliced
• Fresh basil, chopped
• Balsamic vinegar

First, slice a baguette 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick and toast the slices. I simply toasted them in a toaster oven, but you could also put them on a grill or toast them under a broiler for a minute or so. Next, spread each slice of toast with mascarpone cheese and top with sliced strawberries. I used an egg slicer to slice the strawberries. Finally, sprinkle chopped basil over the top and drizzle them with balsamic vinegar.

Ready to eat!

(photos from: me)

More Hummus Talk

By Jennie

I think I've rattled on about hummus often (here's a hummus round-up, here's my favorite hummus, and here's a delicious hummus to try when you visit Portland) but I have one more to suggest to you today.

Sabra Tuscan Herb hummus

(Photo from sabra.com)

I think this is a new flavor, just popping up at my local grocery store and in bulk at Costco. It's also crazy delicious, inching just past my previous Sabra favorite: roasted pine nut hummus.

What's your favorite hummus flavor?

Zucchini time!

by Elsha

The first year we had zucchini in our garden (when I was a kid) my parents planted something like 6 zucchini plants. If you've ever grown zucchini you're now laughing hysterically because 6 zucchini plants? SO MUCH ZUCCHINI! Those plants pretty much took over the garden. Also, we were forever discovering giant zucchini that we would have SWORN weren't there the day before. If you'd like to feel good about your gardening skills, plant some zucchini.

Anyway, we've definitely never made that mistake again, but even with 2 plants (which is what we have now) we end up with a lot of zucchini. As a result we've been eating it often. So far, we've had it steamed, grilled, sauteed, raw, on kabobs, in pasta, as a side dish, and in one unfortunate incident, pureed into a disgusting cold soup. (It sounded good! It was NOT good.) 

This is our stash from last week. Those small looking ones on top are about the size of the ones you get in the grocery store. It's easier to eat it all if you can pick them consistenly at that size.

Anyway, next up on my "zucchini recipes to make" list is one of my favorites: 

Tempura zucchini:

Beat together 1 cup sifted flour, 1 cup ice water, 1 slightly beaten egg, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Mix until all ingreadients are just well moistened (there will be some lumps in the batter). Keep the batter cool by putting a few ice cubes in it.

Dip zucchini slices (I just slice it like a cucumber, but you can cut it into chunks if you prefer) into the batther then fry in hot oil (around 360^o). Drain and enjoy! 

Do you have a favorite zucchini recipe?

World's Best Chicken?

By Ariel

I saw this pin via Rachel Shultz on Pinterest a week or two back and of course I had to try it. World's Best Chicken? That's a lofty remark, right?

And the ingredients list? Minimal. Dijon mustard, maple syrup, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper. The original recipe calls for a sprinkle of Rosemary after baking, but I subbed that and mixed about half a teaspoon of Cayenne pepper into the mustard mix instead for a little kick.

Verdict?  I think this could very well be a best.  The mixture is quick, easy, and you probably have everything on hand. I'm glad I added the Cayenne because I am a lover of spice, but it would easily be fantastic without. No marinating is involved, just mix and pour over raw chicken. The original recipe called for 40 minutes on 450 degrees, but I thought that seemed like a bit much, so I did 50 minutes covered on 350. It turned out perfect and juicy and goes really well with corn casserole. This is a fantastic weeknight dinner option and I just love how easy it is. The flavor is fantastic and I can't wait to play around with it a little more. I think next time I'll roll the chicken in the mixture and then coat with breadcrumbs or panko for a crispy dish. Another win for Pinterest and stumbling across a recipe I might not have found otherwise.  Poor Food Network hasn't been visited in ages.

What's your best chicken recipe?

Silicone Oven Mitts

By A'Dell

I've kind of had it with my oven mitts. They look super tatty after being run through the washing machine a few times and they only protect my hands for a few seconds before panicky, BURNY, thoughts start to run through my head. 

I want new oven mitts and goshdarnit, I want GOOD ONES this time. 

My friend Morgan recommended the silicone kind. You know, the rubbery, floppy ones? I have to admit, I've been fascinated by all the silicone baking items, (HOW DOES IT WORK?), but I'd never given the hotpad version a second thought. Mostly, I was intrigued by Morgan's mention that she puts them IN THE DISHWASHER to clean and, well, hot-diggity-dog, that sounds nice and simple and EASY. 

Oxo Silicone Oven Mitt, $15

This red beauty is heat-resistant to 600-degrees. It has a fabric lining (so, no dishwasher for this one I'd guess, but I could run it under the sink) and I like the grippy lines on the hand.

Mini Oven Mitt, $10

Does scare the pants off anyone else!? It's far too small! I'd burn my wrist in a second with this wee thing!

Red Grid Potholder, $8

They CLAIM this is going to protect your hand to 575-degrees but aren't those HOLES in it? Or maybe it's a waffle-like pattern, with no actual holes? Hard to tell from this photo. I like that this one can be used as a trivet AND it even says it's dishwasher-safe.

(Photos from: Oxo, Crate&Barrel, Sur la Table)

Campfire Chicken Bundles

by Tara

My husband's family did a lot of camping when he was growing up. I am an indoor kind of gal, though, and we have never been camping in 10 years together (we were going to go once but the campground got rained out; not my fault!). I have learned a bit about outdoor cooking, however, and here is my favorite meal that Jim's family made around the campfire that I cook on the grill or in the oven (but you could totally actually take to go camping):

Campfire Chicken Bundles
makes 6 bundles (about 3-4 servings)

Ingredients:

-1.5 lbs Chicken*
-1 packet of onion soup powdered mix 
-Butter 
-1 cup rice (I used quinoa in the photos below and it was fine)
-Cooking spray (I used my Misto filled with EVOO)
-Aluminum foil (not an ingredient, but necessary nonetheless)
-Grill or oven 

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 or preheat grill for indirect cooking (or, you know, start your campfire)
-Boil chicken for ~30 minutes or until cooked through
-Cook rice (or quinoa or whatever).
-Cut squares of foil and lay out on a counter and spray with cooking spray
-Spoon rice evenly onto all foil squares
-Slice a pat of butter onto rice, and sprinkle with onion soup mix
-Lay chicken on top of rice, top with another pat of butter and sprinkle with more soup mix.
-Fold up foil around mixture and twist top to secure
-Cook for 10-15 minutes in oven or on top rack of grill (or around edge of campfire), or until heated through
-Open and enjoy!

(Photos by me!)

Serve with corn on the cob or a simple veggie dish, and you've got a great and uncomplicated dinner! 

It would be really easy to prep this if you're really going camping and need an easy dinner. Just boil the chicken, cook the rice, and assemble the bundles before you leave and toss them into your cooler or hot/cold bag.

*Vague, I know, but you can really use anything here, bones or without; I prefer breasts (insert joke here), but my husband likes legs and wings, so whatever.

What's your favorite camping recipe?

Autumn Wheat: my favorite borning grown up cereal

by Katie

I love breakfast and brunch- eggs, waffles, breakfast burritos, oatmeal pancakes, bacon- I like it all. But as much as I enjoy variety, for me, weekday breakfast is a matter of routine. If I have to think about what I’m going to eat/make, I end up not eating.

So (confession time): I eat the exact same thing for breakfast. Every single weekday. And for 7 years, no exaggeration, what I ate was Heritage Flakes.




Oh man, these are delicious. They’ve got all kinds of interesting grains in there, don’t have too much sugar, they stay nice and crunchy in milk, and they were available for cheap at Trader Joes. Heritage
Flakes, man. They were my jam.

Then one day, I went to Trader Joe’s and they DID NOT HAVE THEM. I was bereft. I know TJ’s occasionally just stops carrying something, and I despaired to think it might be my beloved Heritage Flakes that had gotten the axe. I am happy to report that Heritage Flakes are back in stock at TJ’s now, but I must confess that in their absence, I have found a new mistress: Autumn Wheat:

This is like shredded wheat, with just the tiniest hint of sweetness built in. But unlike, say, Frosted Mini Wheats, where the sweetness is shellacked on in a disconcertingly enamel-like layer, the sweetness in
Autumn Wheat comes from organic sweetener that is baked into the biscuits. SO GOOD.

While I still buy the occasional box of Heritage Flakes for old times’ sake, I think Autumn Wheat may be here for the long haul. Sorry, Flakes. You had a good run. (And now I am super annoyed because Kashi
just changed the packaging so you’re getting less cereal for the same price. Sigh.)

Do you have a tried-and-true quick breakfast routine? Surely I can’t be the only one who eats the same thing every day.

(Photos fromNaturespath.com and Kashi.com)

Vegan Banana Bread, My Go-to Recipe

By Jessica

I have been slowly and I do mean slowly cutting back on my beloved dairy in the hopes that it will help my blasted sinus problems. I haven't been able to give it up completely because hello, cheese, but in baking I try to find vegan alternatives if I can. I'm a big fan of this recipe via Post Punk Kitchen and it has rapidly become my go-to banana bread. I make it nearly once a week and love to just have a couple of slices with some peanut butter for lunch. There is also a recipe for a marbled banana bread  but I am currently out of my favorite cocoa powder (the horror!) so that one is going to have to wait a bit longer. 

(Note: I change the original recipe by subbing the margarine for Earth Balance and sub half the amt required with applesauce. I also use coconut milk instead of almond milk.)

Do you have any favorite vegan baking recipes?

Champagne Wishes and Gluten-Free Cake Dreams

by Slynnro    

I haven't had my own birthday cake in years. The last time was in 2006, when Aaron purchased for me a delicious cake from a local bakery, Cretia's. My old employer used them for office birthday cakes, and I quickly became obsessed. Back in 2006, pre-gluten intolerance, I ate quite literally HALF of a cake in one day. I can still remember the "oh crap I'm gonna get fat" guilt associated with that indescretion. Of course, in retrospect I want to slap that guilt feelin' fool because HEY GIRLFRIEND. IT'S YOUR LAST GLUTEN BIRTHDAY CAKE. Your only error was not eating the whole thing in one day and then ordering another one and going to town on it.

That cake-related regret ended this past weekend, when I was gifted an amazing cake from local favorite Company Cafe. I had dined on a few different flavors of cake when eating dinner there a few times in the past, and my glee could barely be contained when presented with this beauty:

I swear y'all, the cake came with half my name missing.  It's like they knew I blog with a pseudonym.

Yep, y'all. Those are layers of CAKE. AND CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES.  

Between thick delicious layers of frosting. This cake was everything I dreamed a cake could be. And for the first time in ages, I was able to enjoy something THIS delicious without gluten guilt. Gluten-free deliciousness--it DOES exist! Don't give up on your dreams, is what I'm saying.