Tom Colicchio and Celeb Chefs Cook for Taste of the NFL

"At the Taste of the NFL event, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary of cooking up a dinner of regional specialties, talking football, and raising funds for hunger-relief organizations. (So far, "Taste" has given local and national food banks more than $10 million.) This year's bash, to be held on February 5th, at the Forth Worth Convention Center, features chefs and players who have been with Taste of the NFL from the very beginning: "Top Chef" judge Tom Colicchio Olives' Todd English (above right) and "father of southwestern cuisine" and James Beard Award winner Stephan Pyles, among them."

Read more: http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/25/tom-colicchio-and-celeb-chefs-cook-for-taste-of-the-nfl/

An Inspired DIY Valentine's Day Decoration Idea

With Valentine's Day just around the corner I am constantly trying to think up fun new ways to decorate my home and being the woman that I am I want to keep the traditional but still find exciting new ways to keep things fresh.  Which is why I am so excited to share this beautiful folded heart tutorial from My Creative Departure.  The best part is that it is super easy to make and should end up costing you less than $5! Now isn't that the deal of a lifetime.

Calling All Molecular Gastronomy Enthusiasts

At last, someone has come out with a basic kit that includes all of the things that the budding molecular gastronomist needs to start their culinary adventure. Thanks to Think Geek the enthusiast can elevate their cooking from the "everyday drudgery of boiling, straining, chopping, and roasting to spherification, gelification, and emulsification!"

This kit includes:

• 5 sets of food-additives:
  • Agar-agar - 10 sachets of 20g each
  • Calcium Lactate - 10 sachets of 20g each
  • Sodium Alginate - 10 sachets of 20g each
  • Soy Lecithin - 10 sachets of 20g each
  • Xanthan Gum - 10 sachets of 20g each
• 1 set of tools:
  • 1 syringe
  • 5 pipettes
  • 3 lengths of 18" silicone tubing
  • 1 slotted spoon
  • 1 set of measuring spoons
• 1 DVD with 50 recipe demonstrations included

Puppy in Lion Hat

Everyone that knows me knows that I love two things: puppies and trivia. Which is why I get so excited every time that Mental Floss posts one of their adorable Puppies Wearing Hats Eating Bacon Sharing Facts posts. The most recent one is about roller coasters and I've posted one of my favorite pictures below. For the whole story click here.

Salted Chocolate Brownie Recipe

In my official Sulpice Chocolat blog I love including the occasional recipe or two and this one just happens to be one of them. What I love is how chocolaty, chewy and wonderful this recipe comes out. It is perfectly balanced by a touch of sea salt.  This is one of my favorite combinations. In fact, I am in the process of developing more dark chocolate bars and milk chocolate bars that incorporate a bright hint of salt.  The following recipe was inspired by Food & Wine magazine.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 sticks butter
• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cocoa
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
  

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly butter the foil a 9-inch square cake pan.  In a large saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate chips on low heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and whisk in the cocoa powder and vanilla until smooth. Add the sugar,eggs, salt and flour being sure to whisk thoroughly after the addition of each ingredient.  Pour batter into the prepared cake pan.  Bake the brownies for 35 minutes or until the edges are set and the middle has a lightly crackled crust.  Let cool at room temperature for 1 hour.  Serve at room temperature.

Vegetarian Chili Recipe

Like many people, my New Year's resolution is to eat better. So, I've been looking for more and more recipes that feature beans or lentils as one of the main ingredients. These little guys are packed with nutrition and really fill you up without packing on the pounds.  While scouring the internet for amazing bean recipes I found the Whole Foods recipe center and on it they have a delicious recipe for lentil chili. 

Ingredients

8 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 teaspoons salt-free chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 (16-ounce) package brown lentils (about 2 1/4 cups lentils)
2 (15-ounce) cans no-salt-added diced tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Method

Bring 3/4 cup broth to a simmer in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic and cook about 8 minutes or until onion is translucent and pepper is tender. Stir in chili powder and cumin and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add lentils, tomatoes and remaining 7 1/4 cups broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, 30 minutes or until lentils are almost tender. Uncover and cook 10 minutes longer. Stir in cilantro and serve.

Nutrition

Per serving : 120 calories (5 from fat), 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 180mg sodium, 21g total carbohydrate (7g dietary fiber, 6g sugar), 6g protein

How is Your Home State Defined by Food?

Each state in the US has its own unique relationship to food. This results in each state having its own defining food. Everyone knows the more common ones such as deep dish pizza for Illinois and Washington apples, but how about some of the lesser known state foods like Arizona fry bread.  The pictorial below put out by, My Food Looks Funny, attempts to list each state and the food its most known for.

Let us know if there is a food you think better signifies your state's defining food.

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Rachael Ray's Search for the Best Undiscovered Burger Chef

Rachael Ray is a huge burger fan and who can blame her. They are juicy and delicious. As part of her love for the All-American food, she has started a search throughout America for the best undiscovered burger chef. In conjunction with her magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray, a search has begun.

Over the past several weeks, readers have submitted their choices for best new burger chef and the finalists have been selected. Paul Malvone, Tommy Up, and Mauricio Oliveros will prepare their burgers on the Rachael Ray show later this week. Only one will be chosen to bring his burger to Rachael Ray's Burger Bash at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival in February.

Brew Your Own Kombucha

I love attempting to make my own homemade items.  So, when I found that the DailyCandy posted how to make kombucha, I was really excited.  Kombucha "a Chinese fermented tea made with a culture of bacteria and yeast that purportedly kick-starts immunity and restores overall balance." 

The great thing about brewing your own at home is that you can re use the active cultures for your next batch and when a bottle goes for $5 each at the store why not try to make it yourself?  For information on your own diy kombucha kit go to kombuchabrooklyn.com

http://www.dailycandy.com/online/video/food-drink/77017/Its-Alive

Test Your Eat-Q

The New Years is all about resolutions and every year it seems as though eating better and losing weight is at the top of most people's lists.  Well, the James Beard Foundation posted a fun quiz about diets and weight loss throughout history.  Why not test your knowledge about dieting and food fads below.

1.  The “Sleeping Beauty Diet,” which promised dieters weight loss after they’d slept for several days by means of heavy sedation, was tied to which celebrity?

A)  Jack Nicholson
B)  Diana Ross
C)  Elvis Presley
D)  Judy Garland

2.  In the early 20th century, Horace Fletcher became famous for his weight-loss technique of chewing each bite of food exactly how many times, then spitting out the remains?

A)  53 chews
B)  32 chews

C)  107 chews
D)  66 chews

3.  Three of these answers are bogus--but can you tell which one of these squirm-inducing diets was quite popular in the early 20th century?

A)  The leech diet    
B)  The maggot diet

C)  The beetle diet
D)  The tapeworm diet

4.  In the 11th century, French royal William the Conqueror battled weight gain by locking himself in his room and consuming only this:

A)  Pea soup

B)  Alcohol

C)  Lemons
D)  Buttermilk

5.  Well before the Atkins fad, this diet promoted the effects of an all-meat-and-fat diet, with less than 2 percent of calories coming from fruit, vegetables, and other carbs:

A)  The Survivor’s diet

B)  The Yukon diet

C)  The Inuit diet

D)  The Ancient diet

6.    Followers of this diet ate dozens of this nontraditional edible every day, which are filling but low in calories:

A)  The Kleenex diet
B)  The cotton ball diet
C)  The q-tip diet
D)  The tissue paper diet

7.    The inventor of which popular snack food, believing that gluttony lead to sexual promiscuity and moral corruption, advocated a bland diet of vegetables and whole wheat flour?

A)  Graham crackers
B)  Triscuits
C)  Granola bars
D)  Rice cakes

8.    In 1857, Swedish doctor Gustav Zander invented this machine to help slim waistlines:

A)  A roll-on fat-blasting deodorant
B)  A portable weight-lifting machine
C)  A pressurized corset
D)  A belt-driven vibrating fat massager

9.    According to its manufacturers, which “ancient Chinese” product penetrates skin and breaks down fat, increases metabolism, and reduces cellulite?

A)  Seaweed soap
B)  Oolong tea lotion
C)  Preserved bamboo oil
D)  Jasmine-infused bath salts

10.    In 1988, Oprah Winfrey displayed a wagon filled with 67 lbs of fat on her talk show, representing the weight she had lost using which dieting plan?

A)  Optifast
B)  SlimFast
C)  Weight Watchers
D)  The Master Cleanse

Think you've got the right answers? Click here to check your eat-q score.

White Bean and Roasted Veggies Bell Peppers Dip Recipe

One of my New Year's resolutions is usually to eat healthier and this year is no different, which is why I jumped at the opportunity to make this dip that I found on YumSugar. Its the perfect combination of smooth, creamy and tangy and the addition of roasted bell peppers give it something special.  Its great with either crackers or veggies and serving it warm makes it extra satisfying.

From Lauren Hendrickson

Ingredients

1 (15 ounce) can of white cannelini beans, drained
3.5 ounces of goat cheese
1 clove of garlic, peeled
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 scallion, finely chopped
1 roasted bell pepper or 1/2 a jar of roasted bell peppers, finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. While the oven is heating, combine the beans, goat cheese, and garlic in a food processor. Process until completely smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil to the bean and goat cheese mixture.
3. Put the mixture in a small bowl and add 3/4 of both the roasted bell pepper and the scallion, and a generous sprinkling of salt. Mix well.
4. Place mixture in shallow ramekins and bake until warm about 15 minutes. If desired, use your broiler to brown the top. Garnish with remaining bell pepper and scallions, sprinkle liberally with freshly ground black pepper, and serve immediately with vegetables or crackers.

Serves 6-8.

6 Fun Facts about the New Years Eve Ball Drop

Happy New Year!  To celebrate I want to share some fun facts about the ball drop tradition posted by Jeanne Hopkins of the Hubspot blog. 

1. The tradition of dropping a ball started in England with the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.  They began the tradition of dropping a ball to observe time and it was then adopted by the naval industry as a way to mark the change of the hour.

2. There have been eight balls that have dropped in New York City's Times Square on New Year's Eve since 1907, when the ball dropping tradition began.  The previous four years had fireworks displays to bring in the New Year, also in Times Square.

3. The original ball weighed almost 700 pounds. It was made of iron and wood, but has since gone through many changes to become more lightweight and easier to maneuver.

4. Made of aluminum from 1955 to 1998, the ball was later replaced with Waterford Crystal and metal.

5. The ball was replaced by a giant apple in the early 1980's and was changed back to a ball after much debate.

6. The current ball, on duty since 2008, measures 12 feet tall, is embellished with 2,668 Waterford crystals, and has 32,256 LEDs to light its downward way. Too flashy for you?  Not in Times Square, where buildings are required to have at least one illuminated sign that stays lit until 1 a.m.