Best Non-Dairy Milks

Posted on April 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

Got (non-dairy) milk? At most grocery stores, the answer is now a resounding yes! Whether you keep kosher, have an intolerance to dairy, or like to shake up your morning routine, you’ll surely love some of the many non-dairy milks at grocers nationwide.

For Everyday with Rachael Ray Magazine’s January/February 2012 issue, I tried 87 such products! Five, including So Delicious Chocolate Coconut Milk Beverage (Best Chocolate), Silk Original Soy Milk (Best Soy), Pacific Natural Foods All Natural Hazelnut Original Non-Dairy Beverage (Best Nut), Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Vanilla Almondmilk (Best Vanilla), and Rice Dream Organic Original Rice Drink (Best Rice), scored highly and made it into the magazine’s pages.

Here are some of the other products that impressed me during the process:

Soy Milk: Soy Dream Non-Dairy Original (Enriched Organic) and Eden Soy Original (Organic). Soy milk is my personal everyday go-to, and has made it into my cereal bowl, smoothies, and green tea lattes.

Nut Milk: Silk Pure Almond Original, Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Original, and Pacific Almond Low-Fat Original. I love to use almond milk in farro porridge, and stir in toasted chopped nuts to gild the lily.

Rice and Other Milks: Pacific Organic Lowfat Oat Original and Good Karma Flax Milk. Rice milk is sweet and has a thin texture similar to skim milk.

Vanilla Milk: Pacific Hemp Vanilla (a super-sophisticated must try for foodies!) and Soy Slender Soy Milk Vanilla. These heavenly drinks are delicious plain, or paired with chocolate desserts. Try them instead of non-dairy creamer in your coffee and in desserts (when you can get by with a thinner texture).

Chocolate Milk: West Soy Chocolate Peppermint Stick Soy Beverage and Silk Pure Almond Dark Chocolate. Wow – prepare to swoon! Try offering these to your kids as a relatively healthy dessert–that is, if you’re willing to share!

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Best Flavored Crackers

Posted on March 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

Years ago, our cracker choices were few. As a child, I remember reaching for Melba Toast or Triscuits when I was sick or felt virtuous; Nabisco or Ritz when I wanted something buttery; and Carr’s when I was in the mood to feel fancy (or when my parents had company).

Now, it’s a different story. Consider this: I tried 124 different flavored crackers for “Taste Test: The Best Crackers” in the November 2011 issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray Magazine.

Here’s the article, with descriptions of the five winning crackers: Milton’s Everything Multi-Grain Crackers; Triscuit Cracked Pepper & Olive Oil Crackers; Sensible Portions Pita Bites, Black Olive Feta; Koyo Organic Brown Rice Chips, Tamari; and American Vintage Wine Biscuits with White Wine, Shallot & Cayenne.

The runner-ups included:

Nut/Seed: Keebler Wheatables Nut Crisps, Toasted Pecan; Sensible Portions Bagel Tops Everything; Wasa Flatbread Sesame; 34 Degrees Sesame; TLC/Kashi Honey Sesame

Herb/Onion/Garlic: Jennifer’s Homemade Rosemary Flatbread; Wasa Thin and Crispy Rosemary Flatbread; Mediterranean Crackers Leek and Onion; New York Style Bagel Crisps Roasted Garlic; Health Valley Organic Garden Herb Multigrain Crackers

Oddball: Milton’s Cornbread Crackers; Mediterranean Crackers Roasted Tomato and Basil; Castleton Crackers Middlebury Maple; Wheat Thins Sundried Tomato and Basil; Culinary Circle Vegetable

Spice/Spicy/Pepper: Jennifer’s Homemade Salt and Pepper Flatbread; Health Valley Cracked Pepper; American Vintage Chianti, Oregano, Crushed Red Pepper; TLC/Kashi Zesty Salsa Pita Crisps

Cheese: Trader Joe’s Roasted Gorgonzola Crackers; Mediterranean Crackers Feta and Oregano; Triscuit Thin Crisps Parmesan Garlic; and TLC/Kashi Country Cheddar

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Posted in A Food Writer's Life, Feeding Kids, Shopping, Snacks

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Cheap Foodie Thrills

Posted on December 13, 2011 | Leave a comment

In this time of economic austerity, splurges (over-the-top vacations, frequent meals out, all-you-can-eat organic produce, seasonal wardrobe refreshers) are off of the table for most of us.

Fortunately, we can still indulge in gourmet food. After all, a few $6 chocolate bars, $5 fig preserve jars, and swoon-worthy cheeses won’t break the bank. Here are some ways to treat and nourish yourself in this stressful period:

  1. Dalmatia Fig Spread: Not just any jam, this dark, seed-studded spread has an intense flavor reminiscent of brandy and dried fruit. Try it alongside a cheese plate, on toast, swirled into yogurt, dolloped atop vanilla ice cream…(about $5/jar)
  2. TCHO Chocolates: I recently tried the company’s new SeriousMilk bars: “Classic” and “Cacao,” and was completely blown away. Milk chocolate perfection: a rich and creamy texture, with serious cocoa flavor and a slight tang. For all of you milk chocolate skeptics, head over to the TCHO Web site (www.tcho.com), and order a bar. You won’t be sorry. (About $11/2 58-gram-each bars)
  3. Groats: With a name like “groats,” you’re probably far from tempted. But this unrefined form of oats becomes perfectly tender after an overnight stint in the slow cooker (rather than overcooked, as with steel cut oats). Purchase the steel cut variety of groats, add some flavorings, and wake up in the morning to a comforting, aromatic bowl of goodness. (Just a few dollars, buy in bulk at health food stores or Whole Foods Markets)
  4. Pecorino Cheese: Made with sheep’s milk, Pecorino is arguably as delicious as Parmigiano-Reggiano, but much lower in cost. Try this snowy white, salty cheese with a rich, meaty taste grated over pastas and stirred into meatballs. (around $5/half pound)
  5. Seasonal Produce: If you buy produce in season (one example: persimmons right now), you’ll glean the best product for the least amount of dough. Lately, I’ve been buying less organic–but more seasonal–produce, and doing so has made a large dent in my grocery bills.
  6. Lindemans Fruit Lambic: For those who don’t like beer, try this fizzy, fruity, sweet-but-not-saccharine product. The raspberry flavor is the perfect accompaniment to chocolate, such as TCHO SeriousMilk. (around $9/large bottle)

Do you have any other budget food and drink favorites? Let me know – I’d love to hear about them!

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Posted in Chocolate, Desserts, Fruit, Gifts, Shopping, Snacks

Ultimate Foodie Gift Guide 2011

Posted on November 28, 2011 | Leave a comment

Many women angle for jewelery, others make-up. For me (no shock here), it’s all about food and drink (and some minor home improvements)! Below, find the edible presents I’m hoping to receive or own and heartily recommend this season (I know, I know, some of these are a bit extravagant, but I can dream!):

  1. Custom spice blend from La Boite a Epice in Manhattan: The most recent issue of Food & Wine Magazine profiles Lior Lev Sercarz, the founder of this spice boutique in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen. I’m dreaming of my own customized mixture, or at least, a few of the already-created blends made for expert chefs, such as Ana Sortun of Cambridge, MA’s Oleana and Sofra Restaurants. www.laboiteny.com (price unknown)
  2. Hamilton Beach 6 Quart Programmable Stovetop Slow Cooker (33567T): Since beginning work on my slow cooker cookbook for The Taunton Press, I’ve fallen increasingly hard for slow cooking–and this new reasonably-priced appliance makes the technique even easier! Brown meats and saute aromatics in the stovetop-safe crock. No more dirtying an extra pan or losing precious fond (brown bits) on the bottom of the pan! www.hamiltonbeach.com, about $75
  3. Davao White Chocolate Bar + Pistachios from Askinosie Chocolates. I love the subtle tang that goat’s milk lends to chocolate, and am further tempted by the addition of gorgeous, rich pistachios. www.askinosie.com, $10.50
  4. Any treats, especially petit fours, from Valerie Confections in LA. A couple of years ago, I received a shipment of their petit fours, and was entranced. Now I’m itching to try the rose petal and ginger varieties. www.valerieconfections.com, $50 for 12 petit fours.
  5. A trip to my favorite (domestic) foodie destination: Northern CA. As always, I would make a pilgrimage to San Fran’s Ferry Plaza Market, try Cotogna Restaurant (the casual offshoot of Quince) and Manresa, and spend a few days in the Napa Valley, returning to Ubuntu and the Oxbow Public Market, and trying new restaurants that have cropped up since my last visit.
  6. Decorative painting of my tired kitchen cabinetry. I would love the nicked, farmhouse-y wood to be coated in a creamy off-white matte finish. There’s no better way to wake up a blah or outdated kitchen.
  7. A larger outdoor grill. We can’t cook burgers, hot dogs, veggies, and BBQ chicken rapidly enough with our standard Weber Genesis Silver B model.
  8. …And while we’re on the subject of outdoor entertaining, a standing heat lamp (to extend outdoor entertaining season in my neck of the woods: Southern New England), a large and attractive umbrella or awning, and a fire pit.
  9. An outdoor shower. I know it’s not food-related, but my husband and I are still dreaming of the one we enjoyed at Manka’s Inverness Lodge in California’s Marin County. Cue in bird song and the aromas of eucalyptus and redwood. Need I say more?
  10. Black truffle butter, the perfect complement to rib eye steaks.
  11. A selection of varietal honeys, including some I’ve never tried, such as California’s stir thistle.
  12. Sea urchin. I have yet to try it, and am eager to do so.
  13. A new fridge, preferably a Sub-Zero (told you I was dreaming!). The model I inherited is over 20 years old, and on its last gasp.
  14. High-quality tea (especially flavored black and green) and coffee, such as The Perfect Sip Allegro Coffee gift set available at Whole Foods Markets. www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/774
  15. Gift certificates to Dean & Deluca, Williams-Sonoma, Balducci’s…

Should I add anything to this list? Let me know, and have a happy and healthy holiday season!

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Posted in A Food Writer's Life, Chocolate, Gifts, Kitchen, Sense of Taste, Stores

Best Potato Chips

Posted on November 4, 2011 | Leave a comment

Some months, my work for the “Taste Test” column hasn’t been so enviable: imagine tasting 300 salad dressings! Not so with my assignment for the October 2011 issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray. I crunched my way through 130 different potato chips! Sour cream and onion, traditional, sweet and spicy, salt and vinegar, low-fat, and cheese, I tried them all!

You can read about the five winners (Utz Kettle Classics Reduced Fat, Trader Joe’s Hickory BBQ, Archer Farms Salt and Vinegar, Herr’s Creamy Dill Pickle, and Boulder Canyon Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper) in the October issue of the magazine or here. Read on for the finalists:

Traditional/Plain: Kettle Brand Krinkle Cut Sea Salt, Deep River Snacks Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt, Trader Joe’s Hawaiian Style, and Utz Wavy

Lowfat: Herr’s Reduced Fat Kettle Cooked, Michael Season’s Kettle Cooked Honey BBQ Reduced Fat, Laurel Hill Kettle BBQ Reduced Fat, Popchips Original Potato, and Kettle Brand 40% Reduced Fat Sea Salt

BBQ (other than traditional, the largest category): Utz BBQ, Lay’s Tangy Carolina BBQ, Wise Sweet Heat BBQ, and Deep River Snacks Mesquite BBQ

Salt and Vinegar (my own weakness): Utz Kettle Classics Salt and Malt Vinegar, Kettle Brand Salt and Vinegar, Herr’s Salt and Vinegar, and Wise Salt and Vinegar

Oddball: Deep River Snacks Sweet Maui Onion, Utz Red Hot, Herr’s Hot Sauce, and Hawaiian Chips Wasabi

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Posted in A Food Writer's Life, Sense of Taste, Snacks, Stores

Best Cheese Ravioli

Posted on October 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

A few months ago, my kitchen felt like a furnace. That’s because I’d kept several pots of salted water boiling all day to prepare 23 bags (!) of cheese ravioli for a “Taste Test” article in Everyday with Rachael Ray.

The winners included Pasta Prima Five Cheese (positively swoon-worthy), New York Ravioli Jolie Ravioli Mac & Cheezy (delicious for adults and kids), Seviroli Three Cheese Large (excellent, and a good price), Celentano Light, and Buitoni All Natural Quattro Formaggi Agnolotti. Other noteworthy products included:

Kids: Seviroli Microwaveable Mac-a-Roli Bite-Size Ravioli (genius and tasty), Rising Moon Organics Itsy Bitsy Cheese Ravioli, and New York Ravioli Jolie Ravioli in Cheese and in Pizza-Roli

Artisan/Luxury/Special Occasion: Bertagni Buffalo Mozzarella Ravioli

Budget/Everyday: Kirkland/Costco Cheese Ravioli, Buitoni Four Cheese Ravioli, 365 Organic Basil Parmesan Ravioli

If I was to be stranded on a desert island with a freezer and a stovetop (as if!) and could only bring two products–one for everyday and one for date night–I would choose Pasta Prima Five Cheese Ravioli and Seviroli or Kirkland Cheese Ravioli.

Once you’ve picked up your bag of frozen ravioli, what should you do with it? In addition to boiling the ravioli and topping it with sauce (marinara or brown butter with sage and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano), try frying it for an appetizer  or cooking it in flavorful broth for a soup.

Overall, I was impressed with many of the products. The only disappointment: at the time I worked on this article, there weren’t any whole grain cheese ravioli available in stores nationwide. Sounds like a great product idea to me, hint hint to pasta manufacturers.

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Posted in A Food Writer's Life, Cooking, Feeding Kids, Main Dishes, Sense of Taste, Shopping

Best Flavored Waters

Posted on August 24, 2011 | 1 Comment

Although plain-old tap water is my stand-by, I was beyond impressed by some of the products I tried for my flavored water “Taste Test” story in the August issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray. Among the roughly 79 flavored waters I tried, these (the winners, all featured in the article) truly stood out: Ayala’s Herbal Water Cinnamon Orange Peel, 365 Everyday Value Pomegranate + Polyphenols, Hint Strawberry Kiwi, Skinny Water Sport Shape Goji Black Cherry, and Bom Dia Coconut Splash Tropical Mango.

I do still turn on the tap when thirsty and regularly disappoint restaurant servers with requests for “plain old tap water.” Yet, now I’m tempted whenever I see the below finalists at the grocery store. My shortlist of absolute favorite brands: Coco Exposed, Hint, Ayala’s Herbal Water, 365, Aura, and two brands I didn’t try for the article: ALO Original and Taste Nirvana.

Finalists:

Coconut Waters: Coco Exposed Peach and Kiwi, Coco Exposed Passionfruit and Pineapple, Goya Sweetened Coconut Water, ONE Pink Guava, and ZICO Chocolate

Unsweetened: Ayala’s Herbal Water Ginger Lemon Peel, Metromint Goodberry Mint, Metromint Peppermint, and Trader Joe’s Lime

Lightly Sweetened: Aura Grapefruit Sage, Aura Orange and Basil, 365 Everyday Value Cranberry and Antioxidants, 365 Everyday Value Grape and Ginkgo, and SOBE Lifewater Pomegranate Cherry

Diet: Fruit 2/0 Peach, Propel Zero Kiwi Strawberry, Propel Zero Berry, Nestle Pure Life Orange, FUZE Slenderize Tropical Punch, and Aquafina Flavor Splash Wild Berry

If you want to make your own flavored waters, just toss slices of lemon, lime, orange, or cucumber and fresh mint leaves in a pitcher of ice water. To lightly sweeten and thicken the drink, add a bit of fruit juice or nectar. Let sit for a few minutes, and enjoy. You’ll feel as if you’re at a spa.

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Posted in A Food Writer's Life, Drinks, Feeding Kids, Sense of Taste, Shopping, Snacks