YoCrunch Greek Nonfat Yogurt

Today, I had the chance to try the Strawberry YoCrunch Greek Nonfat Yogurt for the first time. To be fair, I had never had any Greek yogurt before. It was much thicker than I am used to, but it helped that they included lowfat granola right there in the lid. If that granola had not been there, I don’t think I could have made it through the entire 6 oz cup.

The other thing that I should point out is that this is a fruit on the bottom yogurt. While I was mixing it up, I couldn’t find any chunks of strawberry of a good size. There were a couple there, but they were tiny. It seemed to be more of a strawberry jelly than anything else. Which, when I tasted the yogurt before adding the granola, tasted pretty good to me. Once I added the granola, though, I tasted a bit of a bitter taste, which I wasn’t too fond of.

That being said, there are some pretty good benefits to this Greek Yogurt. I was reviewing the nutritional facts. There are 11 grams of protein in the one serving, which is 22% of your recommended daily allowance. That is about a third of what is one chicken breast. It also has 25% of your daily Calcium, which, while not the most of any yogurt, isn’t too bad.

* The thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Nobody tells me what to say...ever. YoCrunch did provide the yogurt free of charge, though.

Homemade Ginger Ale!

A couple weekends ago my husband and his teammates took part in a huge training weekend in preparation for fencing national championships.  One of the families was kind enough to hold a barbecue for the fencers and their families after the first day.  Knowing one of our friends loves ginger, I decided to try a recipe I found for homemade ginger ale!

I used this homemade ginger ale recipe from Joy the Baker.  It was wonderful! Sharp and spicy, sweet and bubbly!

I cooked the syrup down a little further than she recommended and was left with an amazing sweet/spicy syrup, to which we added club soda.  It was really easy to make, just a little time consuming.  The trickiest part was straining the syrup - I highly recommend using cheesecloth as she suggests!  I've since bought cheesecloth so I can give this another try. :)

The adults added Domaine de Canton, a ginger liqueur.  This made an even stronger ginger flavor and a bit of a kick!

It's absolutely delicious and definitely something you should try if you love ginger ale!

Review and Giveaway! A White House Garden Cookbook

A White House Garden Cookbook: Healthy Ideas from the First Family for Your Family by Clara Silverstein is a fun, family-friendly cookbook that help you and your children learn about growing and eating fruits and vegetables.  It also contains some other White House favorites!

This book is chock-full of information.  It has recipes from the White House as well as community gardens all over the United States, including serving suggestions.  It has tips about growing and using different vegetables as well as some fun trivia facts - did you know President George W. Bush didn't care for broccoli and that the ancient pharaohs in Egypt loved radishes?  It also has lots of information about the White House garden, including a diagram of the spring vegetable garden.

Most of the recipes in this book are simple and could easily be cooked with your kids.  There are some more involved recipes but they still use simple techniques.   There are recipes for almost anything you could grow in your backyard garden, from tomatoes to herbs to berries.  Most of the recipes are relatively healthy, containing minimal added butters or oils.  The flavors come from the fresh ingredients!

The recipes include:

• Thai Style Confetti Crunch Cucumber Salad
• Barack Obama's Chili
• Salsa Verde
• Martha Washington's Great Cake
• Swiss Chard Pesto and Eggplant Pizza

This book has lots of pictures, although I so with it had a few more pictures of the recipes themselves.  It shows lots of pictures of kids getting involved in cooking and gardening!  I think this book would be easier to read if it were printed on bigger paper, which would allow more space between the sections.

A White House Garden Cookbook: Healthy Ideas from the First Family for Your Family is written in a style that will be easily understood by children.  The writing is engaging and may encourage kids to try new vegetables or ask if they can grow something in their backyard.

Win It!

One lucky winner will receive a copy of A White House Garden Cookbook: Healthy Ideas from the First Family for Your Family

How to Enter

Tell me what you would love to grow in your yard!

Additional Entries

Do any of the following and post another comment telling me you’ve done it.

• Leave a relevant comment on any non-giveaway blog post! I love comments!
• Promote this giveaway in some form (suggestions: Twitter, a Mr. Linky, your blog, etc.)
• Become a fan of A Self-Confessed Foodie on Facebook!
• Sign up for the A Self-Confessed Foodie email or RSS feed! (you must activate your subscription!)
• Follow me on Twitter!
• Follow me publicly via Google Friend Connect
• Add my button to your blog or blogroll (grab the code from the sidebar!)

Contest closes Sunday August 21, 2011 at 7:00pm CST and is limited to those 18 and over in the United States!

And now for the fine print:

Open only to those 18 and over residing in the United States. Contest closes August 21, 2011 at 7:00pm CST. I will randomly select winner(s) shortly after and notify those people by email. Winner(s) have 48 hours to contact me with their mailing address. If a winner does not contact me within 48 hours of notification I will choose an alternate winner.

 

The product reviewed was provided to me free of charge. I am in no way being compensated for my review. I am allowed to keep the product. This review is entirely my own opinion and has not been influenced in any way. The prize is being offered courtesy of the sponsor and is the sole responsibility of the sponsor, not this blog. Links may be affiliate links. For more information see my disclosure.

The Hardest Part...

The hardest part of being a food blogger is keeping a steady stream of recipes going!  Between busy weeks, traveling for work and recipe flop it can get tricky!

Let me give you an example!

Recently I attempted what sounded like a great dish in my head.  I had it all planned out...and then screwed it up royally.

In a dish with fewer than ten ingredients I managed to:
     - Burn bacon
     - Burn garlic
     - Undercook fish (did I mention I picked the wrong type of fish?)
     - Overcook fish
     - Undercook green beans
     - Fail to make enough sauce
     - Over do it with the lemon juice

If ever there was proof that I'm human, you've just had it. :)

I still stand by my concept.  Despite all the issues I've listed above, it didn't taste horrible.  It needs a little work before it's ready to share but I'll figure it out!

Oransi Ionic Air Purifier for Refrigerator Review and Giveaway

Photo from Oransi.com

Scott and I recently had the opportunity to try out the Oransi Ionic Air Purifier for the refrigerator.  It's a little device that you put in your refrigerator to clean the air and reduce the odors in your fridge.  It's also supposed to kill bacteria, sterilize the fridge and prevent food spoilage and mildew.

I knew it was a small device but I didn't realize just how small until it arrived!  It's only 4" high and about 2.5" wide.  It operates on 2 AA batteries, which are supposed to last for approximately 90 days of use.  It's really easy to use - there is a power button and that's it!

The Oransi Ionic Air Purifier runs for 30 minutes the first time you turn it on and then 5 minutes every two hours.  It's one of those things you can just set and forget - the light on the front will blink constantly when the batteries start to run down but otherwise you'll never notice it's there.  It doesn't use a filter so it's incredibly low maintenance.

It's absolutely silent, which I love!  The air purifier makes no noise whatsoever - the only way I could tell it was running was by holding my hand over the top and feeling the air it put out.

Oransi Ionic Air Purifier at Work

I put the Oransi Ionic Air Purifier in the refrigerator after we'd been gone for a long weekend.  I gave it a good sniff when I put the air purifier in while it didn't smell bad, it had a definite scent.  I smelled it again a few hours later and again the next morning.  It really did smell a lot less!  I was impressed - this tiny little gizmo really works!

It sounds like this could also be used in a closet or other small space.  If you have teenagers who put sweaty stinky clothes in a hamper in a closed closet, you might want to give this a try!

Win It!

One lucky winner will receive an Oransi Ionic Air Purifier for Refrigerator!  (Retail price $39!)

How to Enter

Go to the Oransi website and tell me what other product you would like to try!

Additional Entries

Do any of the following and post another comment telling me you’ve done it.

• Leave a relevant comment on any non-giveaway blog post! I love comments!
• Promote this giveaway in some form (suggestions: Twitter, a Mr. Linky, your blog, etc.)
• Become a fan of A Self-Confessed Foodie on Facebook!
• Sign up for the A Self-Confessed Foodie email or RSS feed! (you must activate your subscription!)
• Follow me on Twitter!
• Follow me publicly via Google Friend Connect
• Add my button to your blog or blogroll (grab the code from the sidebar!)

Contest closes Sunday August 14, 2011 at 7:00pm CST and is limited to those 18 and over in the US!

And now for the fine print:

Open only to those 18 and over residing in the US. Contest closes August 14, 2011 at 7:00pm CST. I will randomly select winner(s) shortly after and notify those people by email. Winner(s) have 48 hours to contact me with their mailing address - no PO boxes. If a winner does not contact me within 48 hours of notification I will choose an alternate winner.

 

The product reviewed was provided to me free of charge. I am in no way being compensated for my review. I am allowed to keep the product. This review is entirely my own opinion and has not been influenced in any way. The prize is being offered courtesy of the sponsor and is the sole responsibility of the sponsor, not this blog. Links may be affiliate links. For more information see my disclosure.

Mango Thai Cafe

One of the things I hate most about being a “critic” (and I use that term loosely) is when there are some good things about a restaurant, and some not so good. I ran into an instance of this when I got takeout from Mango Thai Café the other night.

It was a gorgeous night, one of the few that we have had recently, and as I walked up, I noticed many people dining outside, and I found myself wishing that I could be one of them. Unfortunately, I was just there to pick up takeout.

I walked in and noticed that the food coming out looked prettier than usual. There was height from the plate, the colors were bright and had good contrast, and there were people drinking wine with their Thai food, which I very rarely find. So, I placed my order (Potstickers, Massaman Curry, and Sticky Rice with Mango) all of which Jennifer and I were sharing.

Given the way things looked and smelled, I really wanted to like everything that we got. Unfortunately, I can’t say that there weren’t things that I would have changed if I were cooking. Let’s start with the potstickers. On their own, I really liked them. However, when I dipped them in the sauce that was given, I was overwhelmed by the amount of salt. That would be because the sauce was only soy sauce, as compared to the sauces that I have generally gotten with potstickers, which usually add at least vinegar, and often ginger pieces to it.

Then there was the Curry. The coconut curry sauce was both sweet and spicy, in the best combination possible. Unfortunately, though, the curry had large chunks of potato (ok – 3 large potato halves), which, as you may have guessed by what I have said so far, they were undercooked. Then there was the beef. Sadly, when I forked off a piece and tasted it, it was overcooked and dry. But, after I tossed the potatoes, the overall flavor was still great.

Finally, there was the sticky rice. I take full responsibility for not liking this dish, because as I had been finishing up my meal, Jennifer had gone up to take a bath, and by the time she came out, the rice had cooled down enough to be stuck rice. But, the mango, strawberries, and bit of sauce that came with it tasted great.

So, I guess that the real job of a critic is to recommend a restaurant, or not to. In the end, I would definitely give them another try. The flavors were spot on, while the execution of the basic things still lacked a bit.

Mango Thai Café

610 Selby Ave.

St. Paul, MN 55102

www.mangothaimn.com

Roasting Beets

I found some gorgeous beets for almost nothing at our local farmer's market this week! I paid $3 for probably 8 good-sized beets. I love roasted beets, especially on salads. They have a great flavor and a gorgeous, deep red or gold color.

Roasted Beets
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wash the beets, scrubbing them well to get all of the dirt off the skins. Cut off the tops of the beets.

Lay them on a large pieces of foil and drizzle liberally with olive oil, tossing to coat.

Fold the foil around the beets so they make a packet. Place the packet in the oven. (I put mine in on a baking sheet to make them easier to take out.)

Cooking time will vary according to the size of your beets. For small beets, as little as 20 minutes may be sufficient while large beets may take upwards of an hour. Some of my beets were pretty large, about half again the size of my fist. They took about 80 minutes to cook. The beets are done when they are tender and yield easily to a knife piercing their skin.

When cooked, remove the beets from the oven and allow to cool until you can handle them. Use your fingers to gently peel the skin off your beets.

Your beets are now ready to eat! I love chopping them and putting them on salads. They're great with such ingredients as goat's cheese, nuts, vinaigrettes, etc. Delicious!

Beat the Heat and Have Fun with Your Food!

A heat wave has been gripping the Midwest, pushing the mercury up in the thermometer and making us lock ourselves in the comfort of our air conditioning.

It's time to rebel and beat the heat! Here are a few suggestions for summer fun with food!

Want to go for a picnic but it's just too warm out? Make it a breakfast picnic and go first thing in the morning when it's cooler out. Pack fresh fruit, cereal or muffins, along with juice and your morning coffee. Bring it to the local park. You can all enjoy a lazy morning in the sunshine and the kids can play on the playground for a little while before it gets too hot!

Frozen grapes or blueberries make a fantastic snack on a hot day! Simply wash your fruit, pull off the stems and spread them out on a cookie sheet (try to keep them from touching!). When they are frozen, place them in a bag or plastic storage container for easy storage.

Make frozen fruit ice cubes with the kids! Simply wash fruit and cut it into pieces (small berries can be kept whole). Fill an ice cube tray with water and place a few pieces of fruit in each cube. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries would all be great! When frozen, serve in your favorite drink! They look gorgeous in still or sparkling water!

Too hot to go camping but still want s'mores? Enjoy s'mores in the backyard! Next time you make dinner on your charcoal grill, let the kids roast marshmallows over the coals when you're done! (Adult supervision required, of course!)

Make a chilled soup, like a fresh fruit soup or a gazpacho. They are a delicious and refreshing addition to your meal!

How are you going to enjoy food this summer?

Talenti's Cutest Moments and Gelato Memories

I’ve been asked to let you know about a new contest being held by Talenti Gelato e Sorbetto!

They are sponsoring the “Talenti’s Cutest Moments” photo contest on their Facebook page. It runs from July 26th until September 2nd so you still have plenty of time to enter!

Just become a fan and post a photo of yourself or your family enjoying a Talenti product. It can be any type of picture you like - goofy, adorable, humorous or serious! Visitors will vote on the photos posted that week and the photo with the most votes in a week will get to be profile picture for Talenti for a day and be a finalist for the grand prize, a prize anyone with a sweet tooth will love - a four-pack of Talenti each month of a year!!

Drool.

Please read the complete contest details before entering - I’ve just provided a summary.

I don’t have a photograph to share but I thought I’d share with you one of my favorite gelato experiences!

I spent a summer in Germany and took care of the son of one of our professors a couple of afternoons a week. He was an adorable two-year-old with a passion for “Eis” (German for ice cream). There were a couple of great shops nearby with delicious ice cream and gelato. On nice days when Noah had been an angel we would walk down to one of the local shops.

While I picked my gelato by flavor, Noah picked his by color, choosing the brightest, most vivid blues and greens.

Thankfully his parents didn’t mind Noah coming home with neon blue or green lips and tongue and we always had a blast. It was great to be outside, eating gelato (which I couldn’t get at home back then!) and spending time with my little babysitting charge!

Hopefully someday I’ll be able to take my own children to those same little shops - and if I do I’ll definitely take pictures!



Disclosure - This is a sponsored post. I will be receiving a free container of Talenti in exchange for providing this information. 

Gin and Tonic

As anybody in Minnesota, or really, the country, knows right now, the overdue summertime temperatures have arrived. And with those hot temperatures, it is imperative that one has a go-to summertime drink. I have a couple of them, but one of my favorites is a gin and tonic.

The traditional Gin and Tonic (3 parts tonic, 1 part gin, lime, and ice) began, from what can tell, around 1825. It was used by British soldiers as a way to make tonic water, which contains the anti-malarial ingredient quinine, into a much more palatable form. Nowadays, the amount of quinine in tonic water has dropped significantly, which makes the gin less necessary for tonic intake

In the US, Gin is required to have 40% ABV – In the EU, it only needs 37.5%. The original gin was derived from fermented malt that was then re-distilled with juniper berries, which is the primary flavoring in gin. Some of the other flavors that are often included in gin are: Coriander seed, almonds, aniseed, cinnamon, ginger, and lemon.

There are many different types of gin on the market, each with its own secret recipe. I kind of like Tanquery 10 or Hendricks, but I am always willing to try something new, so if you have a favorite gin that I should try, let me know!

Roasted Herbed Red Potatoes

I found some gorgeous red potatoes at the farmers' market last week. One evening when Scott had to go out for a while, I decided to make myself a snack of roasted herbed red potatoes, intending to save the leftovers for Scott to eat when he got home.

But there was a problem.

I ate them. All of them.

They were soft and creamy in the middle and slightly crispy on the outside with a delicate herby flavor. These are so easy to make! They are perfect as a side dish or a snack!

Roasted Herbed Red Potatoes
4 medium red potatoes, cut into roughly 3/4 inch pieces
2 T. fresh herbs (I used sage and thyme)
Olive oil
Salt and Pepper

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a small baking sheet with aluminum foil (for easy clean up!).

Place the potato cubes on the sheet. Drizzle the potatoes with olive oil.

Sprinkle the potatoes with salt and pepper and add your chopped herbs. Toss lightly to coat the potatoes with the olive oil and herbs.

Place the baking sheet in the oven, stirring the potatoes every 10 minutes or so to allow all sides to brown slightly. Cook until potatoes are lightly browned on the outside and soft in the middle, approximately 30 minutes.

First Signs of a Foodie

Last night I was thinking about some of the places I went when I was a child.  When I traveled with my parents they always went to fine dining restaurants to eat - and they took me with them.  In fact, as a small child, my behavior in a restaurant was defined by the number of forks on the table.  We would count them when we sat down and my mother would remind me what was expected of me that evening.

In thinking about this, I realized that experiences like these were the first signs that I would grow up to be a foodie...

Another one that springs to mind is the fact that escargot was my meal of choice when dining out from roughly the ages of 4-8.  I would search the menu for it everywhere we went, then very clearly tell the waiter or waitress: "I would like the escargot, please".

Of course more often than not the waiter or waitress would turn to my parents and ask "is that okay?  Does she know what she's ordering?".

I did.  I loved it.  The tender morsels dripping with garlic butter, perhaps with a squeeze of lemon.

Yum.

I think anyone paying attention back then would have guessed I'd grow up to love food.  The signs were there early on and the influence of my parents made it even more certain.  They loved food.  They loved going out for dinner, trying new restaurants, new foods.

It's your turn - what was the first sign that you would turn out to love food?  Do you think your kids are likely to be foodies?