Monday, November 26, 2012

Italian Ravioli Kale Soup

Most people don't associate Italy with cold weather but in the north you have those wonderful snow covered alps. The food is also a bit different. When you come in from a day of skiing nothing is better than a hearty bowl of soup and a crusty loaf of bread.

This dish can be made from scratch making your own Raviolis (that will be it's own blog at some point but not now) while cooking down some chicken broth. Another quicker solution is to use some canned broth and grocery store raviolis which you will find in the refrigerated section. You can do cheese ones but I prefer the sausage ones.
The heart of the dish is fresh kale. After washing it cut out the heavy stem and discard that.  Take the green leaves and cut it up. Boil them in the chicken broth.  I put in some chopped onion and garlic. Tinker with it until it tastes yummy and the kale is cooked tender. Now you can add the pasta and cook until they are tender and hot. Don't overcook the pasta or they will start falling apart. This is a great soup and so simple.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

No Party is Complete Without A Police Visit and Every Holiday Needs A Fire!

Holidays are a fun time for enjoying family and friends. Relaxing and reminiscing about all the past good times and even dreaming of the future ones. Decorations and seasonal music and the sweet aroma of A FIRE!!!!
We started a new tradition at thanksgiving and that is the burnt offering of food.
The truth is we don't always pray for just the meal but we offer a burnt offering unto the Lord.  Not a bad idea to also pray for our safety as things get hectic around the holidays what with company and all. Have you noticed alot of those stupidest videos where people do dumb stuff are shot with a Christmas tree in the background?

This actually occured last year but the sentements are still the same.  Be careful as you cook for the hollidays!!!!

It's good to keep in mind even the best chefs will make mistakes.  I always like to keep a box of baking soda handy to dowse the occasional oven fife

It's also a good idea to have brilo pads available!!!!   Please don't attempt this trick in your own kitchen.                        (No don't do it someone elses either!)









Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Potato Chips

When I was a little kid we pretty much had plain potato chips with either ridges or not. Then a little later on there were also sour cream and onion or bar-b-Que. aside from potato chips there were Fritos and Cheetos.

Doritos came on the market making snacking even have more variety. First came the plain ones and then they expanded into the nacho flavor. Now they make many variations of which I eat little.

I remember back in 1985, I experienced my first kettle fried jalapeno potato chip. It was love at first bite, I was addicted. They are so good. Now you can find several brands of these little treasures.

Well of course one of the joys of traveling the world is going to the grocery stores and looking at the differences. The chip isle is one of my favorite places to check out.
Here you can really see marketing differences. Take Lays brand for instance, a US company, but different products for different countries. My latest favorite flavor (well aside from the jalepeno flavor) is the balsamic vinegar carmalized onion. Wow are they good!!! Not marketed in the US but I found them in Belgium. Can't wait to go back. Too bad they get crushed in a suitcase.

A couple of years back I was really into the mushroom flavored chips. I found these in Kiev Ukraine. Sorry we longer fly there and haven't seen them since.

Whether you are a chip conasour or just a couch potato don't be afraid to branch out and try a new flavor. That is something to be said for our modern world. Variety.


The grand Platz in Brussels. Just a couple of blocks from here not only can you get Belgium Waffles, Belgium chocolate, but also Lays potato chips!!!