Stop! Please don’t store your tomatoes in the fridge.

Do mealy, mushy, and messy tomatoes frustrate you?

Are you fooling yourself by saying, “But it is wintertime, not tomato time.  It is nature’s way. What else should I expect?”

Okay, technically it IS wintertime and not tomato time, yet you should EXPECT more.  You know I just want the best for you.  I want you to have the freshest, cleanest tasting, ripest, and most delicious food experience each time you open your mouth.  Unless you have a greenhouse, I know you are not able to buy fresh off the vine tomatoes that are bursting with flavor right now.  Even the “fresh off the vine” tomatoes aren’t rocking your boat at the present. 

Maximize your slow cooker by adding… layers!

Let’s continue our slow cooker series. Earlier we talked about which size slow cooker was right for you and today you are going to learn how to maximize your slow cooker to reach its fullest and deepest potential.   

Let me explain.

Ever been frustrated by slow cooker recipes where everything turns out as one big unidentifiable mush?  Or, ever been proud of yourself that you preplanned a slow cooker dinner only to remember that you still have to prepare the side dishes? 

Today you are going to incorporate something new in your life by adding layers in your slow cooker.

Five foodie finds for Friday, February 22nd.

Hello my foodie friends, here are five more foodie finds for you to enjoy.

1.

Beige ladle rest. Are your spoon rests currently letting you down?  Mine work fine when it comes to the wooden spoon and a spatula, but for my ladle?  Forget about it.  It’s like playing utensil gymnastics and is all fun and games until the ladel hits the counter.  If you are like me, this ladle rest is intriguing for its shape and the interior ledge to hold the ladle in place.  Great price, too.

Up your French Press experience with Le Creuset.

If I were a woman of leisure, each morning would begin with a steaming hot French press cup of coffee.  Ideally while lounging in an Adirondack chair watching the wood ducks dive for their morning meal.  I wouldn’t have a care in the world, no agenda for the next two hours, and the moment would be shared with a loved one. 

There is something about a French press that inspires that kind of experience.  Whether your dream-coffee-moment occurs in the cafes of France, sitting in front of a campfire, or only when someone drops by for a social visit, a French press brings your coffee experience up a notch.

Make French Onion Soup and awaken your senses.

Hello Monday.  It is mid-day and your sky is darkening. The pitter-patter of your raindrops are picking up to a thunderous roar and the dark shadows from your clouds have tripped off my floodlight on the porch. 

Dark and stormy afternoons like these are actually quite romantic.

Know what else is romantic? 

French Onion Soup. 

Five foodie finds for Friday!

Hello my foodie friends, here is something fun for you to discover today.  Make that five.

No-grain-ola.

Whether you are on the Paleo diet, adding healthy living into your every day life, or simply enjoying delicious foods, this is your granola. 

Scratch that. 

This is your NO-grain-ola.

Which size slow cooker is right for you?

Are you looking to replace your old slow cooker or wondering whether or not to add a new size to your collection?  Walk into any Walmart, Target, or Sams Club and you may quickly find yourself scratching your head, wondering which size slow cooker is right for you.  Do you go with the large oval shape?  The medium round one? Oh man, there is a banquet size one tempting you, do you need that also? Or, do you simply go with the size you had before instead of trying something new?

The answer is yes.

And no.

With a little bit of maybe tossed in.

Here is a good rule-of-thumb to help you decide which size is right for you.

Drop off chicken soup to a sick friend.

You made all that soup last month for National Soup Month, right?  And your best friend is sick.

What to do. What to do.

I know! 

They need soup. And oranges. And love. Lots of love.

Lamb shanks are not as difficult as you might think.

You have to wonder why lamb shanks are not cooked more often by home cooks or why this succulent dish doesn’t make it to the choice location on a fine restaurant dinner menu.

It can’t be because it is difficult to make.  It is so simple and failproof.

It can’t be because it isn’t pleasing to the eyes. It’s gorgeous and a sight to behold.

Savory roasted beets with goat cheese crumbles.

Stop boiling your beets.  That was so yesterday. 

We are foodies because we like learning new ways to improve flavor, presentation, or simply enjoying the food experience more, right?  Well, it is time for us to step it up when it comes to beets. Thankfully, this method is less work than boiling and brings out a deeper, richer, and meatier beet.

Ready to learn with this Savory Roasted Beet with Goat Cheese Crumble dish? Serves four as a side dish or two as a meal.

10 snack ideas for your Super Bowl party.

if you have never eaten a roasted radish, you are seriously missing out

Hi there. Can I help?

I figured you are deciding what snack foods to make for Super Bowl this Sunday. Here are ten snack ideas from various nwafoodie posts throughout the years.  Some are good enough to make it to the potluck table.  All will help you balance out those cheetos.