Yes, it's finally soup weather. Although, it doesn't really feel like soup weather in northern California the past few days but we can pretend it's a chilly Fall evening.
I love homemade soup. Clam chowder is one of my all time favorite soups and I also love tomato soup. I'm a friend to all soups (however, I pass on all soups containing kernel corn. I have a strong aversion towards corn).
I usually like to eat other people's soup as soup making is a long process, especially cream-based soups. I attemped to make cream of broccoli soup last year and it was palatable. I had better luck with butternut squash soup (with splashes of nutmege and cinnamon) and I also made Whole Foods' black bean soup (you won't ever find a comparable black bean soup anywhere else). My version actually came out very close. This soup is great for vegetarians as well.
When I was younger, my mom would make a big pot of potato soup with chunks of bacon. She would make batches of homemade rolls and we'd warm our stomachs with steaming hot potato soup and rolls. It was an economical way to feed six kids and to fill our stomachs on a cold evening.
The one soup that I cannot stand eating anymore is lentil soup. Don't get me wrong, lentils are good for you but I ate so much lentil soup as a kid that I just don't like it anymore (that's right up there with my aversion to liver and canned corn).
The best soup I had last year was in Virginia. I was visting my brother in D.C. and we took a side trip to Alexandria. Between the crab cakes and the crab bisque, I was in nirvana. I had the most fabulous crab bisque soup. The flavors were amazing--hunks of real crab (not imitation), creamy rich tomato base with hints of sherry. Delicious!
Of course since I live in northern California and am not far from San Francisco, clam chowder is my most favorite soup. I love it served it a crusty sourdough bread bowl. That's what it's all about with chowder--the sourdough bread!
I love cream-based soups and one of my favorite soups is Trader Joe's Organic Creamy Tomato soup. It's actually very healthy (low fat) and it tastes homemade: a thick, creamy tomato soup.
I live off this soup during the winter months. I love dipping my grilled cheese sandwich in it or dipping garlic bread. It's fairly inexpensive as well.
I also stumbled upon a dry soup mix (just add water). It's a creamy potato soup mix and it tastes delicious served in a sourdough bread bowl. This is another great soup for vegetarians.
So that's my scoop on soup. I'm always on a mission to find a new "Foodie Fabulous" soup. If you have any recipes to share, please feel free to let me know!
Happy Slurping...actually, that's bad manners. It's better to sip daintily!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
My Obsession with All Pumpkin Culinary Delights--Happy Halloween
The leaves are crunching under my feet and the wafting smell of pumpkin pie hits my nose and I am succumbed once again by this member of the squash family. I love the Fall season because the Fall means that it's PUMPKIN time and Halloween. Yes, pumpkin--you know that orange thing we carve and scoop out its gooey guts.
I love any and all treats pumpkin. I inhale pumpkin scones (I will give the 'Bucks credit for their yummy moist pumpkin scone). I love pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and my famous pumpkin pie cake that I recently made because I was craving my pumpkin fix. Pumpkin pie cake is the best pumpkin dessert I've made over the years and I'm not what you would call a baker. I'm one of those fake Rachael Ray bakers. Even non-baking me can whip out this cake and everyone thinks it took me hours to make.
It's basically a pumpkin pie base (with canned pumpkin, spices, evaporated milk, etc) and then you sprinkle a dry yellow cake on top and drizzle with melted butter. Voila, after you bake for about an hour you get a rich buttery crispy top crust! You can top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (I love it warm).
My sister loves this dessert and every time I make it I think of her. She's also a foodie fabulous connoisseur and a pumpkin lover. If I could bake her one and Fed Ex it to her at the hospital (she lives in a different state) I know she would get on her knees and kiss the ground and weep with joy. She would probably hide away in a closet and eat it all in one seating and would shoot daggers at anyone who even tried to catch a crumb. Yes, it's that fabulous.
Now I know there are a lot of anti-pumpkin eaters out there in Foodie Land. For all those who are against this orange squash, please don't hate the pumpkin. It brings much pleasure to my tastebuds. Give it a second chance. How can you say no to a gooey pumpkin scone or melt in your mouth cinnamon-infused pumpkin pie?
Pumpkin is definitely FOODIE fabulous. I even love salted pumpkin seeds and pumpkin soup. So there!
I love any and all treats pumpkin. I inhale pumpkin scones (I will give the 'Bucks credit for their yummy moist pumpkin scone). I love pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread and my famous pumpkin pie cake that I recently made because I was craving my pumpkin fix. Pumpkin pie cake is the best pumpkin dessert I've made over the years and I'm not what you would call a baker. I'm one of those fake Rachael Ray bakers. Even non-baking me can whip out this cake and everyone thinks it took me hours to make.
It's basically a pumpkin pie base (with canned pumpkin, spices, evaporated milk, etc) and then you sprinkle a dry yellow cake on top and drizzle with melted butter. Voila, after you bake for about an hour you get a rich buttery crispy top crust! You can top with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (I love it warm).
My sister loves this dessert and every time I make it I think of her. She's also a foodie fabulous connoisseur and a pumpkin lover. If I could bake her one and Fed Ex it to her at the hospital (she lives in a different state) I know she would get on her knees and kiss the ground and weep with joy. She would probably hide away in a closet and eat it all in one seating and would shoot daggers at anyone who even tried to catch a crumb. Yes, it's that fabulous.
Now I know there are a lot of anti-pumpkin eaters out there in Foodie Land. For all those who are against this orange squash, please don't hate the pumpkin. It brings much pleasure to my tastebuds. Give it a second chance. How can you say no to a gooey pumpkin scone or melt in your mouth cinnamon-infused pumpkin pie?
Pumpkin is definitely FOODIE fabulous. I even love salted pumpkin seeds and pumpkin soup. So there!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
The Ultimate Comfort Sandwich--Grilled Cheese!
Who doesn't love comfort food during the Fall months? When I think of one of my all-time favorite comfort foods, I think of my favorite foods from my childhood. There is one sandwich I cannot live without in life: grilled cheese.
I work in downtown Sacramento and there are some funky hole-in-the wall diners that make some great old school food. I stumbled upon J's Cafe (1004 J Street) which has even a better grilled cheese sandwich than Denny's. It's like the Nirvana of all Grilled Cheese sandwiches. It's perfectly crisp with yummy, gooey American cheese melted in between toasty bread. The large steak fries that accompany the grilled cheese sandwich combo are seriously the best diner fries I've had in a long time and I'm a connoisseur of those fried heart attack potatoes. They are large wedges with just the right amount of salt (crispy and hot on the outside and soft inside).
I'm one of those freaky foodies who dip my grilled cheese in ketchup (if you have never tried dipping your grilled cheese in ketchup, than you have not lived the diner experience). I had a bout with that nasty flu bug that was floating around recently and when my appetite finally returned I was craving warm and fuzzy comfort food and hit J's Cafe for their infamous grilled cheese sandwich. One of my friend's (thanks Trista!) turned me on last month to J's Cafe and their grilled cheese sandwich and I'm a die hard fan of J's Cafe. This old school diner is one of downtown Sacramento's hidden gems amongst the trendy cafes and chain fast food restaurants dotting J Street.
Long live the grilled cheese sandwich and if you are ever in downtown Sacramento and are craving comfort food, I highly suggest ordering the tasty grilled cheese sandwich at J's Cafe.
Also, the grilled cheese combo comes with fries and a drink and is really inexpensive.
I would rate J's Cafe grilled cheese sandwich as FOODIE FABULOUS and then some! :)
I work in downtown Sacramento and there are some funky hole-in-the wall diners that make some great old school food. I stumbled upon J's Cafe (1004 J Street) which has even a better grilled cheese sandwich than Denny's. It's like the Nirvana of all Grilled Cheese sandwiches. It's perfectly crisp with yummy, gooey American cheese melted in between toasty bread. The large steak fries that accompany the grilled cheese sandwich combo are seriously the best diner fries I've had in a long time and I'm a connoisseur of those fried heart attack potatoes. They are large wedges with just the right amount of salt (crispy and hot on the outside and soft inside).
I'm one of those freaky foodies who dip my grilled cheese in ketchup (if you have never tried dipping your grilled cheese in ketchup, than you have not lived the diner experience). I had a bout with that nasty flu bug that was floating around recently and when my appetite finally returned I was craving warm and fuzzy comfort food and hit J's Cafe for their infamous grilled cheese sandwich. One of my friend's (thanks Trista!) turned me on last month to J's Cafe and their grilled cheese sandwich and I'm a die hard fan of J's Cafe. This old school diner is one of downtown Sacramento's hidden gems amongst the trendy cafes and chain fast food restaurants dotting J Street.
Long live the grilled cheese sandwich and if you are ever in downtown Sacramento and are craving comfort food, I highly suggest ordering the tasty grilled cheese sandwich at J's Cafe.
Also, the grilled cheese combo comes with fries and a drink and is really inexpensive.
I would rate J's Cafe grilled cheese sandwich as FOODIE FABULOUS and then some! :)
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Welcome to Foodie Fabulous!
No, you have not entered Ghetto Fabulous or the British comedy's Ab-Fab domain. My name is not Rachael Ray nor do I sport any chef bling. I do not bedazzle or bejewel my appliances or cooking utensils. This is a culinary journey of the taste buds. This is Foodie Fabulous where you will find all things fabulous or not so fabulous about FOOD and libations (more specifically my libation of choice--wine!)
According to Merriam-Webster's online dictionary, the definition of foodie is "a person having an avid interest in the latest food fads." The hot chefs of Australia like to call us food-lovin' Yanks "food tragics." Yes, Hugh Jackman, I am tragic about my food and I am quite proud of my culinary melodramas.
However, my journey will not only explore just faddish, trendy foods. I will delve into the nuances of food--the small details of food that make you scream out in foodie joy: "Oh Carne Asada, how your explosion of tantalizing spiciness burst inside my mouth."
Welcome to Foodie Fabulous and enjoy! Please feel free to post food or beverage-related comments, share recipes or just rap (no, do not compose food raps, please) about fabulous food.
Starring Ms. Troppo Siciliana Foodie - Therese
According to Merriam-Webster's online dictionary, the definition of foodie is "a person having an avid interest in the latest food fads." The hot chefs of Australia like to call us food-lovin' Yanks "food tragics." Yes, Hugh Jackman, I am tragic about my food and I am quite proud of my culinary melodramas.
However, my journey will not only explore just faddish, trendy foods. I will delve into the nuances of food--the small details of food that make you scream out in foodie joy: "Oh Carne Asada, how your explosion of tantalizing spiciness burst inside my mouth."
Welcome to Foodie Fabulous and enjoy! Please feel free to post food or beverage-related comments, share recipes or just rap (no, do not compose food raps, please) about fabulous food.
Starring Ms. Troppo Siciliana Foodie - Therese
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