July 20, 2011 11:44 am
If you’re not a chocolate lover, I would suggest you stop reading this right now. Actually, keep reading because this might just change your mind. To me, chocolate is the one food group (yeah, I said it—food group) that, the second it touches the tongue, turns me into an addict. Once separated, the swirly, sugary, melty, crunchy, sweet, salty world of cocoa has me licking tables, napkins and even a hand or two for just one more crumb. But the problem is, sugar and I are just not friends. We fight all the time; I leave and say I’ll never be back; I come back, and in return, I get fat. It’s quite the relationship; let me tell you.
The concept of “life changing food” is something I’ve encountered only a few times in my life. And the day I come in contact with a life changing food is, as I’m sure you can imagine, a great day. Well, today is a great day, as I’ve recently discovered; a term that has probably never crossed the lips of any nutritionist, doctor or trainer—healthy chocolate. Gnosis Chocolate prides itself on being the World’s most nutritious chocolate. You heard me, nutritious. Gnosis uses entirely organic, raw cacao, raw superfoods, low-glycemic sweeteners, fruits and herbs from every corner of the world. And let me tell you, it’s fantastic. Each ingredient is specially picked, paired and put into Gnosis’ Cacao bars, OrigiNib bars and truffles, ensuring that every bite is full of health-benefiting herbs and flavor-packed superfoods. With out-of-this-world ingredients like blue-green algae, Siberian ginseng and Burdock root—to name a few, each bar has a specific function, ranging from enhancing cognitive function to aiding digestion to protecting your body from free-radicals and literally everything in between.
I was incredibly lucky to be able to try a variety of flavors; flavors that made my taste buds hop from one cloud of smile-inducing chocolate to the next. My first venture into one of Gnosis’ creations was the Coconut Almond cacao bar. I broke the silence of a quiet room with, “Oh my gosh,” prompting jealous heads to look up and stare at me as I closed my eyes, smiled and I think even danced a little. The sweet, distinct taste of the coconut was reminiscent of my trips to the Caribbean—minus me shaking from a sugar overload—and the almond added a crunch and homey feel that blended insanely well with the smooth chocolate. Each bar is rich and creamy, but somehow light and airy all at once. The quality of the chocolate could be tasted in the first bite, immediately putting anything made with sugar and in a factory on my “never again” list. I made my way through Aphrodisia, Fleur de Sel, SuperChoc and Pomegranate Açai, literally giggling to myself about how good the chocolate was, attracting resentful chocolate lovers to eye me down. But I wasn’t done. The Bali, Grenada and Madagascar OrigiNibs were each special and spectacular, bursting with so many detectable flavors I wasn’t exactly sure what to do except continue giggling with chocolate smeared all over my face like a four-year-old. And good news, the chocolate is finally off my face, I’ve stopped receiving dirty looks, I feel smarter and more energized, and I’ve officially become a chocolate snob. I told you it was a great day.
Photo credit: Gnosis Chocolate
— Written by Zoee Silber
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Tags : Zoee Silber, Gnosis Chocolate, Organic, Raw, Chocolate, Product of the Day
July 8, 2011 4:23 pm
You know that feeling of waking up, walking to your kitchen and having a great cup of coffee waiting for you? Neither do I (I make my own coffee, thank you very much). I just get tired of the same, boring coffee that is starting to lose its ability to make me shut my eyes and drift into sweet coffee bliss for a few morning moments. As someone who craves sweets but doesn’t often indulge, I usually make my morning cup of joe (first and last time referring to it as that, I swear) pretty sugary (naturally, of course), and was looking for a way to enhance my morning routine without enhancing my waistline. I dabbled in sugar-free syrups, but it just didn’t feel or taste right. Then I had my a-ha moment; flavored coffee.
From the moment I picked up my bag of Melitta Hazelnut Crème Brulée, I knew I was in love. The sweet smell of caramel, vanilla and hazelnut filled my nose immediately, and I just couldn’t wait to taste it. Just as I thought—the delicate flavors all complemented each other perfectly with a hint of unexpected burnt sugar at the end. Though I wouldn’t consider myself a coffee connoisseur, I was able to taste the complexity that came along with this nutty brew and appreciated its subtly.
Dessert for breakfast? Don’t mind if I do.
Photo credit: The Wic Project
— Written by Zoee Silber
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Tags : Zoee Silber, Melitta, Coffee, Product of the Day, Creme Brulee
June 10, 2011 11:16 am
I like to consider myself a healthy eater, but sometimes I just have to have those “drop-everything-and-stop-the-world” moments when I can’t resist a dish sitting on the table in front of me. I try not to let my “episodes” turn into a full-on binge, but sometimes I can’t help it. After spending a few years fighting the college-fifteen (let’s face it, it’s not just freshmen that gain weight; no one can resist troughs of food), I decided to limit myself to a few slips a month. Two months ago, while making lasagna, I’m pretty sure I overdosed on cheese before the lasagna was even put in the oven. But when is too much cheese actually a bad thing? Never. But the lack of energy and unfortunate muffin top on my jeans the next morning was traumatizing enough to stop my seemingly endless binge. So, when I came across this jaw-dropping (then closing) dish, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try something great. Without further adieu, I bring you Truffle Gorgonzola French Fries courtesy of Chef Anthony Sicignano of The Breakers Palm Beach. If you’re going to indulge, do it right.
Truffle Gorgonzola French Fries
Serves 4-6
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
8 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons white truffle oil
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
1. Reduce cream by half and pour hot cream over Gorgonzola Cheese.
2. Fold in truffle oil and season with salt and pepper.
3. Toss with hot, well-done fries and serve immediately.
Tip: If you're not a fan of Gorgonzola, try Fontina for a less pungent cheese.
Photo credit: The Breakers
— Written by Zoee Silber
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Tags : Zoee Silber, Dish of the Day, Truffle Gorgonzola French Fries, Chef Anthony Sicignano
June 8, 2011 3:53 pm
Picture this: you're casually strolling through a cookware store with sixteen more products than you planned on buying. With ladles and spatulas hanging on for their lives, you slowly creep to the register. But somewhere between cookbooks and knives you panic. You have no more storage space.
Now, if you have ever found yourself in this situation, fear no more. It might not be the cutting board you were clutching, but Microplane has come out with a new compact, cone-shaped, dual-sided grater. The beauty behind the Microplane Twist N Grate design is the ability to deconstruct the appliance and store it neatly in your already overstuffed cabinet. The two Microplane blades will grate your cheese, zest your lemons and live in your kitchen virtually unnoticed.
Photo credit: cloettafazer.com
— Written by Zoee Silber
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Tags : Zoee Silber, Microplane, Twist N Grate
June 8, 2011 12:36 pm
For those who don't consider themselves picky eaters, most would agree that when it comes to pasta sauce, persnickety and protective tend to emerge as common personality traits. But what everyone can agree on is that pasta sauce is oh-so tasty--not just good, but great! Most think of pasta sauce as the finishing touch to their comforting bowl of linguini or a layer in a heavy plate of chicken parmesean, but we're here to tell you that pasta sauce and dense meals are no longer our friends. (For the summer, that is).
We have good news! La Famiglia DelGrosso makes a line of healthy pasta sauces that will satisfy your Italian-tooth and all summer (and year!) long. Use this sauce and you'll discover why the DelGrosso family makes the oldest family-owned pasta sauce in the US.
Here is one saucy summer recipe to keep you and your family happy and healthy throughout the summer.
Grilled Sausage, Peppers & Onions
Serves 6
Ingredients
6 large precooked turkey sausages
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 red bell peppers
1 yellow bell pepper
1 medium onion
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
Salt and black pepper to taste
6 hard Italian rolls
La Famiglia DelGrosso's Chef John's Tomato Basil Masterpiece
Directions
1. Preheat grill to medium-high.
2. Cut peppers and onions lengthwise and toss in bowl with olive oil.
3. Grill sausages and prick with a fork, turning them, until golden and heated through.
4. Grill peppers and onions until slightly charred and soft.
5. Remove peppers and onions and lightly coat with balsamic vinegar.
6. Slice open rolls and place ingredients inside.
7. Top with tomato sauce as the finishing touch.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Tip: Not in mood for Tomato Basil Masterpiece? La Famiglia DelGrosso has seven other flavors for a wide variety of tastes!
Photo credit: Tatum's Family Reviews
— Written by Zoee Silber
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Tags : Healthy pasta sauce, Zoee Silber, La Famiglia DelGrosso
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