A New Year Just Begun

It is hard to believe that it is the eve of 2012. There have been many feasts this holiday season. One of my resolutions is to resume writing this food blog. Another is to write about dishes that are quick and easy to prepare and that are delicious and healthy, too.

We spent Christmas in Connecticut this year and I smoke roasted an 8-pound pork roast. The recipe will follow soon, but it was a cider-brined, apple-wood smoked pork loin roast. It was a success and worthy of sharing.

Well, here's to a new year. May it be a healthy and happy one for you, your family and your friends.

I Love My Rice Cooker

There are so many kitchen appliances to choose from these days. My rice cooker is my new favorite.

Let's start with some of the simple, useful features. There is a delay timer. Add rice and water in the morning, set the timer, and voila! Steamed rice after a long day at work.

Cleanup is easy with a non-stick surface. Wipe it down, clean the lid and it's ready for another round.

There are separate buttons for white and brown rice. Brown rice takes much longer. (I plan on measuring the actual time, but it seems longer than 2 hours.)  Rice cookers take the guesswork out of preparation. They use "fuzzy" logic to determine when the rice is perfectly cooked.

There are many varieties of rice. I plan on sharing a few of my favorite mixes in the near future, along with some of my own recipes. If you like rice and you don't have a rice cooker, it is easy to prepare it on the stove. Having a rice cooker will take some of the work out of meal preparation & we could all use time-saving techniques.

Lately, red and brown rice have been my favorites. If you enjoy barley, no problem, just use the brown rice setting.

Add any combination of raw or sauted onions, fruit (apples or pears) or nuts (hazelnuts, almonds or walnuts) for added texture and flavor.

If you already have a rice cooker, but don't use it, let this act as an inspiration.  If you don't have one yet, consider this as your next kitchen appliance.  You won't be disappointed.  Cheers!

Back with a Kick

I have a recommendation that will add kick to your food. Several years ago, I had a layover in Dallas. Always on the lookout for specialty food items and local favorites, I discovered Jardine's salsas and hot sauce in an airport gift shop! There were no free samples, so I had to wait until I got home to sample my purchases. I was not disappointed.

If you like hot sauces, you will enjoy Jardine's Texas Champagne. Just look at this bottle:

Texas Champagne and Tabasco are very similar. Both are made from aged cayenne peppers, vinegar and salt. Texas Champagne lists "timely aged cayenne peppers" first and vinegar second, while Tabasco has more vinegar than peppers. This is my go-to hot sauce.

Use this fiery concoction to spice up eggs, add extra kick to a mild salsa, or add heat to your favorite dip. I like to dip artichokes in a mixture of mayonnaise, Worchester Sauce and Texas
Champagne. This dip has a moderate kick.

You can order Jardine's products online and many specialty stores and some local grocery stores sell their projects. These products make excellent gifts. Check out the website for more information & ideas.  Until next time, spice it up!