Friday, September 28, 2007 

Flickr Photo Friday


Giving the bronx cheer
Originally uploaded by santa barbarian.

"Giving the Bronx Cheer...Horsie style"
(note the cute pink tongue hanging down!)

Want more fuzzy fun? Go see the Friday Ark at The Modulator.

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Thursday, September 27, 2007 

With a name like TAINTED, INC.

It might have been a clue.

Four people were charged in Oakland federal court today with growing marijuana that became the not-so-secret ingredient in treats resembling popular candy bars and other packaged food, including barbecue sauce.

Authorities say the four were connected with an operation known as Tainted Inc. that made marijuana-laced candies, cookies, ice cream, peanut butter, barbecue sauce, granola bars and brownies. - SFChron

Pot laced ice cream? Ah...no.

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Tuesday, September 25, 2007 

Iron Chef Cat Cora

lives in Santa Barbara? Who knew? A little blurb to highlight the "Viking Classic" and things other than golf to partake in....

Jackson native Cat Cora is the first and only female Iron Chef on the Food Network's Iron Chef America, and she is executive chef of Bon Appetit magazine.

With advice from her famous mentor Julia Child, Cora attended New York's Culinary Institute of America. Her education continued in Europe, and after learning from some of the best chefs in the world, she made her debut in 1999 as co-host of Food Network's Melting Pot with Rocco Di Spirito.

Cora is president and founder of Chefs for Humanity, an organization founded in response to the 2004 Tsunami disaster, and she is the nutritional spokeswoman for UNICEF.

Her second book, Cooking From The Hip: Fast, Easy, Phenomenal Meals, was recently released. She lives with her family in Santa Barbara. - Clarion Ledger

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Franken Suger coming to a market near you

Talk about sugar shock.
American Crystal, a large Wyoming-based sugar company, who ironically have launched an "organic" line of their sugar,and several other leading U.S. sugar providers have announced they will be sourcing their sugar from genetically engineered (GE) sugar beets beginning this year and arriving in stores in 2008. Like GE corn and GE soy, products containing GE sugar will not be labeled as such.

Since half of the granulated sugar in the U.S. comes from sugar beets, a move towards biotech beets marks a dramatic alteration of the U.S. food supply.

...Meanwhile candy companies like Hershey's are urging farmers not to plant GE sugar beets, noting that consumer surveys suggest resistance to the product. In addition the European Union has not approved GE sugar beets for human consumption. - Organic Consumers Association
Take action. Let the CEO of American Crystal, David Berg, to reconsider their action...HERE.

Why go toward GM beets when they have to plow under crops due to overproduction?

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Sunday, September 23, 2007 

Note to self....

Stay away from the Annual Planned Parenthood Booksale.

Ooops. Too late. $1 - Great Green Chili Cooking Classic (New Mexico's Prized Recipes from the Albuquerque Tribune)

How could I leave it there in the stacks and stacks of books at that price? And, yes...they DO have recipes with green chili!

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Hope you visit my advertiser!

There's a banner ad on the right hand side there, thanks to Google. You never know who might be showing up in that "rent-a-space". I noticed yesterday that we have a delicious sounding advertiser these days, Big Island Candies. I clicked by and saw some mighty delicious sounding things! Mocha, Hibiscus, Dark Chocolate, Yuzu and Coconut truffles! Wow!
Big Island Candies was established in 1977 to manufacture and market fine quality macadamia nut candies and cookies using 100 percent Hawaii-grown macadamia nuts and Kona coffee, island eggs, real butter and high-grade chocolate. Since its founding, Big Island Candies has continuously introduced new and imaginative products that “wow” both the eyes and taste buds of its growing legion of fans.

All of our products are made with pride at our chocolate factory, gift shop, and headquarters in Hilo, Hawaii.

...If you can't come in person, you can still experience our Aloha Spirit and share it with others by ordering from our catalog or from this Web site. Mahalo, thank you, for visiting bigislandcandies.com!

Stop on by their site. Take a look. They have their Fall Selection available. If someone you know has a special occassion coming up, send them a little "aloha!"

Personally, I'd like to personally pick out some goodies there in Hawai'i. I'm a BIG fan of macadamia nuts. Of course, it would take a while to make up my mind so I would have to spend quite some time there in the 50th State!

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Saturday, September 22, 2007 

After about 5 Months....

Rain makes a debut in Santa Barbara and SoCal.

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Friday, September 21, 2007 

Flickr Photo Friday


San Ysidro Ranch Blood Orange Margarita
Originally uploaded by santa barbarian.

BLOOD ORANGE MARGARITA

I N G R E D I E N T S
1 cup fresh-squeezed blood orange juice
3 tablespoon granulated sugar
8 ounces premium tequila
7 ounces triple sec
1 Blood orange, sliced for garnish.

I N S T R U C T I O N S
Make a blood orange simple syrup by combining the sugar and blood orange juice in a small sauce pan; simmer over low heat until thick and syrupy. Allow to cool.

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. To prepare a drink, pour 6 ounces into a shaker filled with ice. Pour into margarita glass, garnish with a blood orange slice.

Serving glass: Margarita glass

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Legislation for National Food Safety Framework

There ARE SOME members of Congress working on serious issues that affect us all...
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced legislation to establish an effective national food safety framework for all fresh produce. The bill comes one year after a large-scale outbreak of food-borne illness caused by a virulent strain of E. coli in fresh bagged spinach sickened more than 200 people and killed three. Since then, U.S. consumers have been bombarded with repeated cases of contaminated food – everything from peanut butter to seafood to pet food. Just this week, there was a recall of a Dole bagged salad product because of E. coli contamination.

“It seems these fresh-produce recalls have become the rule rather than the exception in the United States – and that is unacceptable,” said Harkin. “It is increasingly clear that the Food and Drug Administration lacks the resources – and the authority – to ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply. The American people need to have confidence that their fruits and vegetables are produced and handled in a safe and wholesome manner.”

The current produce oversight system is a patchwork of state and federal regulations. For example, California and Florida have different mechanisms for certifying the safety of leafy greens and tomatoes, respectively. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also has its own mechanisms to ensure the safety of produce; however, an Associated Press report last week noted that establishments that grow and process leafy green produce are inspected only once every 3.9 years.

...the bill would also require rulemaking to ensure that imported produce has been grown and processed with the same standards that we will have in the u.s.- Tom Harkin's website
Inspected every 3.9 years? I agree with the Senator...THAT'S gotta change. And, I whole heartedly agree with the Senator on the same standards for imports. Next step, Country of Origin Labels (COOL) on everything.

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Wednesday, September 19, 2007 

Aaarrgggh. Me nearly forgot what day 'tis, Mateys.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Yer better get yer Pirate Name, ya scallywags! I got me own menacing moniker.

Your Pirate Name Is...

Pegleg Mistress of Death

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Food Section Wednesday

Let's take a look at some bit-size food biz news today, shall we?

First there was $2 Buck Chuck...Now $15 Smackers Martha...
Home diva Martha Stewart, who has stamped her name on all things domestic from sheets and towels to pots and pans, will be serving up another edition: wine. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. said late Friday that it forged a partnership with E.&J. Gallo Winery to develop a brand of wines under the label "Martha Stewart Vintage" to be offered in six cities (Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte NC, Denver, Phoenix, and Portland OR) beginning in January. The wines will sell for about $15. - AP
Kicking the coffee can...right to court.
Procter & Gamble Co. on Friday asked for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit it filed against Kraft Foods Inc. to stop the company from manufacturing and distributing a coffee container it claims infringes on its patent.

The lawsuit, filed Aug. 27 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, alleges that a new plastic container in which Kraft is marketing its Maxwell House brand infringes on patents for a container it introduced in 2003 for its Folgers coffee brand.In its motion for the injunction, Procter said that its Folgers brand faces "irreparable" harm from the continued distribution of the Maxwell House containers. - Bizjournals
Locavore Nation?
Americans feel better about buying food produced in the United States than overseas and believe food grown locally is healthier than food shipped from across the country, a new survey shows.

The poll released last week by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University found that 85 percent of Americans have confidence in the safety of their local and regional food systems.

But only 12 percent expressed confidence in the safety of food from anywhere else in the world. - AP

Mars just says NO.

The maker of M&M's and Milky Way bars says it would be a mistake to mess with its chocolate.

Mars Inc. said Monday it will continue to use 100 percent cocoa butter in its U.S. chocolate products, bucking an industry campaign to allow cheaper vegetable oils to be substituted.

The announcement comes amid a push by a dozen food industry groups to change long-established federal standards to allow for replacing cocoa butter with another vegetable fat, up to a level of 5 percent. - AP
It's not Libby, Libby, Libby on the label, label, label...it's the country of origin.
New labels that consumers will see attached to meat, produce and peanuts beginning next fall could shed light on something many food producers would rather leave in the dark — the national origin of the food Americans buy, reports The Detroit News.

A federal mandate now working its way through the regulation process requires all beef, lamb, pork, produce and peanuts to be labeled with what country the products were grown or produced in, starting in September 2008. Among the countries supplying Americans with meat are Uruguay, New Zealand and Mexico. - Gourmet Retailer

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Tuesday, September 18, 2007 

Wheat prices...taking the cake

Get ready for some "sticker shocks" when you go to the store...
From pastries to pasta, the price of just about everything made with wheat is going up.

Blame the trend on a biblical bout of bad weather -- drought, freezes and floods -- that has decimated wheat crops and created shortages around the world.

Wheat futures hit a record of $8.87 a bushel in Chicago trading last week before retreating to $8.75 on Monday. Still, that's a huge jump from $3.95 a year ago.

"This is a historic level. There is no way we can cut costs fast enough or deep enough to handle this type of huge increase in wheat," said Bill Nictakis, president of the fresh bakery division at Sara Lee Corp.

...Shoppers in Rome are threatening pasta boycotts to protest rising prices. In Lanzhou in western China workers are complaining about paying more at the industrial city's 3,000 noodle shops. - Latte Times

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Monday, September 17, 2007 

Ginger the injured chicken


Ginger the injured chicken
Originally uploaded by santa barbarian.

This weekend I met Ginger. She was thought to have been attacked by a coyote and was being cared for by a volunteer at the Retreat center. She attended classes with us, albeit, in her little cardboard box.

She also had lunch with us...casually wandering the grassy area in the dining area chomping on lettuce.

Thought immediately I needed to get a photo of her for Rurality!

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Friday, September 14, 2007 

slightly random flickr foto friday


Santa Barbara, CA: Sunset
Originally uploaded by -wh-.


Well...I'm heading off to a retreat this weekend. In order to keep sane, I had to quit my job. Nothing like being belittled everyday to help the self esteem.

I'll be back on Sunday...with hopefully some insight into life, love and the pursuit of a new job....oh, yeah. And some recipes!

La Casa de Maria

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Monday, September 10, 2007 

Still recovering from my BDay Dinner

I took myself up to the newly renovated San Ysidro Ranch's Stonehouse on Saturday...and my, oh, my. Spent too much. Ate too much. But oh, so worth it.

I'll have pictures up soon. Blood Orange Margarita. Heirloom Tomato Salad. Portabello Ravioli. Whiskey Bread Pudding accompanied by a candle in a little raspberry and "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate on the plate.

Delish.

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Saturday, September 08, 2007 

Happy Birthday to Me!

Some (other) highlights of this day....

1504 - Michelangelo's David is unveiled in Florence.
1565 - Pedro Menéndez de Avilés settles St. Augustine, Florida.
1900 - Galveston Hurricane of 1900: a powerful hurricane hits Galveston, Texas killing about 8,000 people.
1930 - 3M begins marketing Scotch transparent tape.
1935 - US Senator from Louisiana, Huey Long, nicknamed "Kingfish," is fatally shot in the Louisiana capitol building.
1951 - Treaty of San Francisco: In San Francisco, California, 48 nations sign a peace treaty with Japan in formal recognition of the end of the Pacific War.
1966 - "The Man Trap", the first episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek airs
1971 - In Washington, DC, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is inaugurated
1974 - Watergate Scandal: US President Gerald Ford pardons former President Richard Nixon for any crimes Nixon may have committed while in office.
1974 - Evel Knievel's attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon at Twin Falls, Idaho, fails after a parachute prematurely deploys on his "sky cycle."
1986 - The first Oprah Winfrey Show airs.
1998 - At Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, Mark McGwire breaks Roger Maris' 1961 record of 61 home runs hit in a single season.

Others who share this birthday...

1157 - King Richard I of England (Richard the Lion Hearted)
1841 - Antonín Dvořák, Czech composer
1897 - Jimmie Rodgers, American singer and composer
1922 - Sid Caesar, American comedian
1922 - Lyndon LaRouche, American politician
1924 - Grace Metalious, American novelist
1925 - Peter Sellers, English actor
1932 - Patsy Cline, American singer
1937 - Sam Nunn, American politician
1941 - Bernie Sanders, American politician
1954 - Mark Foley, American politician
1957 - Heather Thomas, American actress
1960 - Aimee Mann, American musician
1971 - David Arquette, American actor
1981 - Jonathan Taylor Thomas, American actor

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin is kept on September 8.

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Friday, September 07, 2007 

Flickr Photo Friday


Octopus Birthday Cake. Originally uploaded by PinkCakeBox.

For more fun cake fun....check out Pink Cake Box Blog!
And if you're in New Jersey, order up some fun deliciousness at Pink Cake Box.

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Wednesday, September 05, 2007 

Food Section Wednesday

It looks like the food writers at the Los Angeles Times took a "field trip" up to Santa Barbara. They are just "oooozing" stories of our little "adobe Disneyland"

Restaurant Journal - For a wine and food mecca, Santa Barbara is usually pretty quiet on the restaurant news front. But as summer winds down, the scene has had plenty to buzz about.

News of Square One. - Around the corner and a world away from the mid-afternoon-margarita crowd on newly brick-lined, heavily touristed State Street, Square One is Tuley's oasis, with pale blue and ivory walls, high ceilings, a long travertine bar, tall vases filled with gladioluses and a single Julian Schnabel painting hung by the door.

News of Hungry Cat.- Getting into the Hungry Cat is the problem, since it has a confusing no-reservations policy. If you go at 7 or 7:30, you could easily end up waiting for a table for an hour and a half. Seats at the counter or tables for two seem to be in bigger supply than tables for four. The trick is to go at 5, when the restaurant opens, but if you're not used to dining early, this may not be so appealing. Otherwise, you can call ahead and ask to be put on the waiting list for a table. However, if there are any tables open, you can't get on the waiting list and have to take your chances that one will still be free when you get there.

News of the Region's "Terroir" - "The region has a lot of young winemakers looking for great fruit," says Kevin Merrill, vineyard manager for White Hawk Vineyard. "And you have a lot of rich guys coming here and buying vineyard land, hoping that they will develop the next Bien Nacido.

Thoughts on a Wine Country Picnic -
The dusky leaves of the gnarled live oaks undulate in the breeze, and acres of Syrah and Grenache and Sangiovese vines stretch out before you. A couple of cows make slow progress down the golden hills in the distance; there's the faint music of a fountain, a clink of glasses, a rustle of leaves. You break crusty bread, slice into a softly collapsing cheese. A plate of figs, a bunch of grapes, a glass of wine.

It's harvest season in Santa Barbara wine country, and the grapes are hanging fat and purple and heavy on the vines. It's the perfect moment for a picnic in the vineyards.

and news on the latest "grape gossip"

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Tuesday, September 04, 2007 

Take a look at what's on the "palate"

at the upcoming 25th Annual American Food & Wine Festival in Los Angeles on September 29!
Gino Angelini, Angelo Auriana, Paul Bartolotta, Matt Bencivenga, Thomas Boyce, David Burke, Mario Capone, Floyd Cardoz, Sam Choy, Tom Colicchio, Luis Diaz, Lissa Doumani, Todd English, Lee Hefter, Eric Klein, Stephan Lewandowski, Cameron Lewark, Paulo Luna, Rene Mata, Nobu Matsuhisa, Mark Miller, Michael Mina, Drew Nieporent, Frank Ostini, Mark Peel, Luciano Pellegrini, Charles Phan, Paul Prudhomme, Wolfgang Puck, Stephan Pyles, David Robins, Michael Romano, Ari Rosenson, Jimmy Schmidt, Matt Seeber, Piero Selvaggio, Julian Serrano, Lydia Shire, Nancy Silverton, Hiro Sone, Susan Spicer, Joachim Splichal, Cal Stamenov, Roger Stettler, Yuji Wakiya, David Walzog, Jasper White, and Alan Wong.
Au Bon Climat Winery, Beckman Vineyards, Beringer Vineyards, Bernardus Winery, Bonaccorsi Wine Company, Bonny Doon Vineyard, Brassfield Estate Winery, Bridlewood Winery, Casa Lapostolle, Chandon Sparkling, Chappellet Winery, Cline Cellars, Cobblestone Vineyards, Domaine Chandon Still Wines, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery, Flowers Vineyards & Winery, Francis Coppola Winery, Frank Family Vineyards, Green Point Wines-Australia, Havens Wine Cellars, Hitching Post Wines, Hoage Vineyards, Iron Horse Vineyards, The Icon Wine Company, J & H Selbach, Jordan Wines, Justin Vineyards & Winery, Kalin Cellars, Krupp Brothers Estates, Kunin Wines, Lang & Reed Wine Company, Lancaster Estate, Laeticia Vineyard & Winery, L’Aventure Winery, Malibu Family Wines, Melville Winery, Merryvale Winery, Miner Family Wines, Newton Vineyard, Peju Province, Pine Ridge Winery, Pride Mountain Vineyards, Qupe Wine Cellars, Ramey Wine Cellars, Rosenthal Winery, Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, Siduri Wines, Silver Oak Wine Cellars, Strange Wines, Summerland Winery, Terrazas de los Andes, Topanga Vineyards, Torres-Spain, Truchard Vineyards, Twomey Cellars, Vines on the Marycrest, and Zaca Mesa Winery.
Better get your tickets fast. The event benefits Los Angeles Meals on Wheels.

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Adult Grape Juice Boxes

ah....wine in "juice boxes?"
...A lot of this innovation comes from eco-forward Australians and New Zealanders, the same people who were early adopters of plastic corks and screw-top caps. More than half the wine in Australia is sold in boxes, although that country has yet to catch up to Chile, where more than 50% of wine--basically, anything that costs less than $25--is sold in juice box--style containers. - Time
Hope parents don't mix up their "juice" boxes with their kids' lunch box variety.

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Monday, September 03, 2007 

Happy Labor Day!

It generally means BBQ time. Here in the Central Coast of California, BBQ generally means "Tri Tip Santa Maria style"
Santa Maria Barbecue has its roots in the mid-19th century, when the rancheros gathered to help each other brand their calves each spring. The host would prepare a Spanish style barbecue as a thank you for his vaqueros (America’s first cowboys), family and friends. Under the oaks of this serene little coastal valley they would enjoy a traditional feast that included beef barbecued over a red oak fire, served with Pinquito beans, bread, salsa and homemade desserts.

The present Santa Maria Style Barbecue grew out of this tradition, and achieved its "style" some 60 years ago when local residents began to string their beef on skewers and cook it over the hot coals of a red oak fire. The meat, either top block sirloin or the triangular-shaped bottom sirloin known as "tri tip," is rolled in a mixture of salt, pepper and garlic salt just prior to cooking. It is then barbecued over red oak coals, giving the meat a hearty, smoky flavor.

The traditional Santa Maria Barbecue menu features, of course, the barbecued sirloin, trimmed, sliced, and laid out in metal pans so that the diner may select the desired doneness. The only condiment for this tender and flavorful meat is a fresh salsa. With it is served grilled French bread dipped in sweet melted butter, perfect for soaking up every last bit of the flavorful meat juices. Also served on the side is a tossed green salad, and slow-cooked pinquito beans. For the most authentic Santa Maria Barbecue experience, select a robust Santa Maria Valley wine to accompany your meal. This tasty feast is finished with coffee and a simple dessert.

Once a well-kept local secret, word of Santa Maria Style Barbecue has spread around the world, enticing travelers to come by the thousands, seeking a taste of this local specialty, and it’s not difficult to find. On a typical Saturday, you will see clouds of fragrant smoke billowing through the air, leading you to numerous barbecues throughout the city. They range from outdoor feasts along Broadway sponsored by schools and local charities, to restaurants offering a more formal dining experience, to backyard cookouts where families enjoy their own recipes that have been passed down through the generations. It’s no wonder Santa Maria is called the "Barbecue Capital of the World." - SantaMaria.com
Mmmmm. BBQ. Santa Maria is also known for the strawberries. The California Strawberry Commission has some delicious ways to enjoy these little red bundles of goodness.

Moose's California Strawberry Granita w/ Marinated Berries

Granita
1 pound, 12 ounces sugar
4 cups Water
3 Cinnamon sticks
4 pounds, 12 ounces Stemmed California strawberries
1/4 cup lemon juice
Dash Salt

Cookie Cups
13 ounces Blanched almonds
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon Light corn syrup
6 1/2 ounces Butter
6 ounces Sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons Anisette
4 1/4 ounces All-purpose flour

Marinated Berries
2 pounds, 12 ounces Stemmed California strawberries
8 ounces Blueberries, raspberries or blackberries
4 ounces Brown sugar
2/3 cup Orange juice
1 /4 cup Cointreau
Sweetened whipped cream (optional) as needed

Directions

To make Granita: In saucepan combine sugar, water and cinnamon sticks. Bring to boil, stirring; boil 1 minute. Cool. Puree strawberries in food processor or blender until smooth. Strain out seeds in fine sieve. In chilled hotel pan thoroughly mix strawberry puree, lemon juice, salt and enough of the cooled sugar syrup to balance strawberry flavor. Place in freezer. As mixture begins to freeze, chip the frozen portion with the tines of a fork every 30 to 45 minutes until no liquid remains. Place in airtight container, cover and store in freezer up to 2 weeks.

To make Cookie Cups: In food processor grind almonds medium-fine. Place in sieve; shake out dust. In saucepan over low heat combine corn syrup, butter and sugar. Stir until butter and sugar is completely melted. Remove from heat. Mix in anisette, and then flour to blend thoroughly. Portion rounded tablespoonfuls of batter onto parchment-lined sheet pans, spacing apart, and flatten slightly (each cookie will be about 5 inches in diameter when baked). Bake in 350°F oven about 6 to 8 minutes until evenly golden brown. Cool slightly; lift with spatula and shape into pointed cups in 6-ounce martini glasses. (If cookies cool too much to shape, return to oven for a minute or two to soften.) When cups are hard and cool, store in an airtight container up to three days.

To make Marinated Berries: Combine ingredients in bowl at least 15 minutes before serving. For each serving to order: Place Cookie Cup in martini glass; fill with 1/2 cup Granita and top with 1/3 cup Marinated Berries. Top with whipped cream, if desired. Yield: 24 servings



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Sunday, September 02, 2007 

Jessica's Biscuit (aka eCookbooks.com)

has updated their website! Go take a look! Jessica's Biscuit even has their own blog now - The Biscuit!

Better yet, go get great deals on some terrific cookbooks and deals (20%-70% off regular prices and free shipping on orders over $25!) I always like looking through the bargin bins at bookstores, and Jessica's Biscuit is no exception.

And, if it is not already in your library (or kitchen) I highly suggest The Silver Palate Cookbook. Still delicious after 25 years!

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Saturday, September 01, 2007 

Artisan Coffees and Pastries...with a Star Chef Twist

This could be an interesting combo....
This fall season, Starbucks is collaborating with renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson to give customers a taste of its new campaign, "Coffee is Culinary." Coupled with Samuelsson's epicurean expertise, Starbucks is introducing two new exquisite coffee blends — Starbucks Joya del Dia Blend and Starbucks Ubora Blend; delectable bakery items; and a cookbook exclusively offered in stores. For more information, visit www.starbucks.com.
Samuelsson is an intriguing choice to pair up with as he is originally from Ethiopia, the land of coffee.

Coffee blends with a caramelized apple pecan coffee cake or a chocolate cinnamon bread seem somewhat mundane, but recipes featured by Samuelsson are a bit more tantalizing.... Mango Couscous, Beef Stir-Fry, Pineapple Cashew Salad (pdf)

Seattleist notes...
In Seattle this week for the third stop in a 22-day, 10-city culinary tour, Samuelsson cooked up a Pan-African plate of spicy Ethiopean beef and aromatic Moroccan couscous while Linneman brewed some Ukora in a French press. The combination was astonishingly smooth and flavorful, with the coffee's floral notes providing a counterpoint to the fragrance and heat of the berbere chilies in the meat. Around the room (the Starbucks in Madison Park), nips and sips and sighs of shared contentment. Ubuntu at work. Who knew coffee could be so complex and enriching?

Starbucks knew
Frantic Foodie got into one of the tastings on the tour. 100's of people showed up at the St. Arbucks Hollywood & Highland.

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You've heard about From Farmer to Table...

But from Farmer to Hospital?

Improving hospital food: Direct sales from farmers to hospital food service departments are helping ill people eat better and recover faster. A new six-page brochure, Farm to Hospital: Supporting Local Agriculture and Improving Health Care, from the Community Food Security Coalition and the Center for Food & Justice (CFJ) at Occidental College addresses the ins and outs of developing partnerships between hospitals and local farms, looks at ways hospitals can improve the food they offer, tells how farmers can effectively market to hospitals, and provides case studies of successful efforts. To get the brochure, visit:
http://www.foodsecurity.org/F2H_Brochure.pdf.

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  • From Santa Barbara, California, United States
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