Happy July 4th!

Blueberries!   Strawberries and Yogurt Covered Raisins!   A big-time dessert put together by one of my graphic design daughters!   Enjoy your day!

'Soup Ladies' are making a difference!

"We just thought it was wrong that the First Responders were just left out there to fend for themselves with MREs and whatever they could stuff in their pockets. So we wanted to find a way we could serve First Responders. We wanted to do it right. So we all got our Incident Command System training through FEMA and we're all background checked and fingerprinted. We know how to conduct ourselves on an incident."

The Soup Ladies have been serving about 250 people a day, on average, since Saturday's mudslide.

More detail about this good news story at: mynorthwest.com

Pipcorn is still Poppin'!

Just ask Oprah!   Pipcorn was one of her favorite things back in 2012 and it's back again in 2013!

"One of my favorite snacks is popcorn sprinkled with truffle oil, so I'm thrilled that Sabatino has created this dream kit.   It contains Pipcorn (hulless popcorn, one of last year's Favorite Things), black and white truffle oils, and truffle salt."

Check out Pipcorn at this years' Oprah's Favorite Things!

Once a cook! Now a Chef!

OK...everyone who knows him...knows this boy can cook!   He's one of my sons-in-law and he can cook his *ss off!   I'm talking serious eats here folks!   Now the boy has gone to this exclusive culinary academy in London, and among other things, threw these desserts together!   Goodbye cook!   Hello Chef!

Iced praline and white chocolate parfait, tempura fig beignet, cardamom and port syrup.

Grilled pineapple, yogurt crackle ice cream, black pepper and pine nut tuille, aged balsamic, toasted pine nuts.

Hope to visit my "chef" son-in-law and my daughter in London next spring and I will make sure that he has these on the table!

Dean & Deluca is doin' da' Pipcorn!

OK folks...I've been tellin' y'all 'bout Pipcorn.

You betta' get you some!.   It's over the top!   Here's what Dean & Deluca has to say about Pipcorn!

"This all-natural, preservative-free, hulless popcorn is popped in small batches with olive oil and seasoned by hand. Because the popcorn has virtually no hulls it has a delicate crunch, is easy to digest, kind to the teeth, and is a trendy spin on a traditional favorite. An artisan wooden crate comes filled with four fabulous flavors: Sea Salt Pipcorn, Signature Rosemary Pipcorn, Sweet and Salty Pipcorn, seaside spicy-ish Crabby Pipcorn."

Take it from me...it's awesome!   Rosemary is my favorite!

Chicken, Race & Racism in America!

Y'all can can say what you want to say about Mrs. Paula...but her "Lady & Sons' Chicken in Wine Sauce" kicks *ss!   It's a family favorite!

Ingredients:

• 4 large skinless boneless chicken breasts
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted, plus more for casserole
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 6 ounces (about 8 slices) Swiss cheese
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 cup herb-flavored stuffing mix, crushed

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add the chicken to a shallow buttered casserole and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Layer the cheese slices on top.
• In a medium bowl, add the soup and the wine, season with salt and pepper and pour over the cheese.
• Sprinkle stuffing mix on top and drizzle with melted butter.
• Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve.

Video is here...unless the Food Network takes it down!

Forbes Magazine is Pimpin' Pipcorn too!

"Pipcorn of Brooklyn is another new-style popcorn company selling mini popcorn made from hull-less kernels.   It comes in hand-stamped, simple paper bags."
Source - Forbes Magazine:

Things are always popping at Pipcorn and Pipsnacks!

CNN is "Pimpin'" the Pipcorn!

15 seconds of fame on CNN!   Check out Jen & Jeff Martin at 1:19 into this video...at Smorgasburg!   Actually they're much more famous than this 15 seconds!   They were featured in the New York Times and were selected as one of Oprah's "100 Favorite Things"!   Their Pipcorn is over the top!

Spring Cleaning! It's just a beginning!

The Good news!
We cleaned out the pantry today!   (Heh...we're happy that we even have a pantry!)

The Bad news!
Had we done this a while back...we may have been able to contribute the "haul" to a local food bank.   Unfortunately, all that we discarded had expiration dates of long ago!

And the winner is?
Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie Mix!   Expiration date...20FEB06!   Yes that's February 20, 2006!   We gotta do this pantry thing more often!

The major culprits were...

• cake mixes
• black beans
• canned soups
• coconut milk
• pitted black olives
• "Stove Top" stuffing mixes

Next...the attic, the garage, the closets and all that "stuff" underneath the sink vanities!   UGH!

Pipcorn is in the New York TImes!

Ok folks…now my extended family at Pipsnacks (Pipcorn) has made it into todays' New York Times   The NEW YORK TIMES people!   This is good stuff.   Told you so.   You better go get you some!   That way you can say I knew them when...

Oprah is Pimpin' the Pipcorn from Pipsnacks!

Here's a video of the founders of Pipsnacks, Jeff & Jen Martin, as they appeared on Oprah's televised "Favorite Things" show.   Audio/video quality isn't the greatest...but you'll get to see all the excitement in this

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Jeff & Jen were included in a few other spots on the show!   I also recorded this via my cable provider's DVR.   Now I just need to figure out how to copy onto a DVD and edit!   That's my next task!

You say Popcorn...Readers Digest says PIPCORN!

A writer from Readers Digest endorsement:

"So what exactly is Pipcorn?   Basically, it’s mini-popcorn supercharged with flavor and a very delicate hull (translation: no more awkward popcorn hunks in your teeth).   It’s also vegan, gluten-free, popped in extra virgin olive oil and easier to digest than typical popcorn.   But most importantly, after you chomp down on Rosemary Pipcorn or one of their specialty flavors like Lemon Pesto, that alluring bag of White Cheddar Popcorn?   Pffft, Smartfood, seduce me no more!"

Check out the full endorsement here!

Me & Oprah! Pimpin' the Pipcorn!

Okay!   The few of you that follow my blog know I'm pumped about Pipcorn.   As you may already know...so is Oprah.   Pipcorn, the creation of Jen & Jeff Martin, was selected as one of Oprah's favorite things.   Check out Jen & Jeff on Oprah's show airing on Sunday, November 18th at 8:00PM.

Jen & Jeff got their start at Smorgasburg located in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York.   The men behind Smorgasburg, Jonathan Butler and Eric Demby, were featured in the "Metropolitan" section of the Sunday New York TImes (October 27th).

PIPCORN! One of Oprah's favorite things!

OK folks!   Yep!   Read that title once again!   And again!   And once again!

I've told many of you about Pipcorn (and the brother-sister team of Jeff and Jen) before.   Jeff and Jen are part of my extended family.   The dozen or so of you that follow my blog also know about Pipcorn.   Check out their website.   Check out Oprah's website.

Pipcorn has been selected as one of Oprah Winfrey's favorite things.   Check out page 92 of the December issue of O magazine!   Still don't believe it.   Jeff and Jen are expected to appear on Oprah's "favorite things" show on Sunday, November 18th at 8PM!!!   That's channel 180 on Cabelvision here in Connecticut!   Latest update…their PIPCORN will appear on ABC's "Good Morning America Show" tomorrow morning!

Go buy some Pipcorn!   How cool is this!   My head is about to explode!

Pipalicious Pipcorn from Pipsnacks!

People!   Things continue to pop at Pipsnacks!   First product out of the chute was Pipcorn.   They launched the business at Smorgasburg in Brooklyn back in April.   My grandson can give you his endorsement!

Now they're going bigtime. You can order Pipcorn at fab.com!   Awesome!

Friendship - Blessed? Fortunate? Lucky?

bless•ed [blest] adjective
divinely or supremely favored; fortunate:

• to be blessed with a strong, healthy body; blessed with an ability to find friends.
• blissfully happy or contented.

for•tu•nate [fawr-chuh-nit] adjective
having good fortune; receiving good from uncertain or unexpected sources; lucky: a fortunate young actor who got the lead in the play.
bringing or indicating good fortune; resulting favorably; auspicious: She made a fortunate decision to go on to medical school.

luck•y [luhk-ee adjective
having or marked by good luck; fortunate: That was my lucky day. happening fortunately: a lucky accident.

Friendship!
How would you describe it?   You decide.   Blessed?   Fortunate?   Lucky?   I won’t go there.   The few of you who follow this blog can guess which one to discard/eliminate.

Why this subject?
It was a great weekend with lifelong friends...that’s why!

For starters, it began early Friday morning.   I picked up my best friend and his bride as they disembarked from the QM2 (yes...I have friends that can do the QM2!) at the Clinton piers in Brooklyn and dropped them off at LGA.   It was a short but sweet visit...and the sweet outweighed the short!   They are the best.   I would do anything for them!

Then there are more life-long friends.   One flew in from Cincinnati and another recently lost his life-long partner of 38 years.   Another is going through a “Jerry Springer like” divorce.   We’ve all known each other for over 5 decades.   We grew up together...children of the South Bronx!

This weekend...we...the children of the South Bronx...we were all together again.   We ate my wife’s awesome sausage & peppers.   (She grew up with them too!)   We played bid whist...as we always did years and years ago.

We drank.   We laughed...no...we cracked up!   We reminisced.   We talked about Reverend Edler G. Hawkins and how he affected/influenced our lives.   It was awesome!

We are fortunate.   We are lucky.   We are friends!

A Cape Cod weekend!

Finally got the feet in the ocean (first time this summer).   Notice I said feet…not body!

Dove into Aunt Angela’s awesome Ackee & salt fish...

We enjoyed a drink or two or three or...
Notice a preference for rum!

The Life of Pi

This looks over the top!   From the director Ang Lee of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Brokeback Mountain" fame.   Two awesome movies...and the list goes on!   Pass the PIPCORN please!

Lady & Son’s Chicken in Wine Sauce!

As an unemployed boomer…I have some free time on my hands…especially if I’m not playing Grand-dad!   So one day I’m surfing the cable channels and came across this beauty.   I’m no cook…but 10 minutes prep (ok...maybe 20 to 30 at least for me)…and 45 minutes in the oven…and rated easy on the Food Network…I had to give it a try.   Made it that day, and it was totally devoured within 2 hours from emerging from the oven!   That was a few years ago and I've made it for the umpteenth time!   Made it again today!   It's become a family favorite.

You can find Paula Dean’s original recipe (and video) here...but here’s what I did in simple layman’s terms.   Like I said…I’m no cook…but I’ve got a few dishes up my sleeve!

The Ingredients:

• 1 package of Perdue’s "Perfect Portions" chicken breasts (there are 5 pieces in the package)…I'm told that they're a little expensive...but then again...little to no fat, thus little to no getting rid of the fat! 
• 1 ½ cans of Campbell’s Cream of Chicken soup. This time I used the “herbed” variety. 
• 7 slices of Swiss Cheese (if using the Perdue’s prepared chicken) 
• ½ cup of wine wine (I used a moderately price Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc…$.799…ok…a cheap bottle of Sauvignon Blanc) 
• 1+ cup of “herbed bread crumbs” (I used Pepperidge Farm's…both of my wife’s uncles worked there for decades!) 
• Kosher salt, pepper and garlic powder (you figure out how much…see the preparation below) 
• 6 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter

The Process:

• Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees 
• Cut the 5 Perdue pieces in half (don’t ask why…it just worked out better and I think stretches the serving size options) 
• Sprinkle the chicken with the salt, pepper and garlic powder on both sides 
• Spray a casserole pan (3 quart pan???) with “butter spray”…I used Pam
• Place the chicken in the pan 

• Add the 7 swiss cheese slices so that they cover the chicken 

• Mix the wine and soup together 
• Pour the wine/soup mixture over the cheese and cover all the cheese/chicken combo 
• Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the top 
• Sprinkle melted butter over the top of the breadcrumbs 
• Place in oven for 45 minutes

Viola!
Throw in some roasted small red potatoes, some steamed asparagus and the mandatory "jellied" cranberry sauce...and damn!   The leftovers (when there are any)…are over the top!

Postscript:
OK...so probably not the healthiest, especially if you're on a diet!   I'm not...but I definitely should be!   Butter, bread crumbs, condensed cream of chicken soup...and did I mention the Swiss cheese?   But still damn good!

PS: Next time I think I'll add a few more bread crumbs!

Happy Father's Day!

Yesterday, my wife and I were sitting at the kitchen table.   I think she was perusing through the newspaper’s various supermarket circulars…ie…what’s on sale this weekend.   I was looking out the window thinking about a lot of stuff and daydreaming.

I’m not that big of a fan on all the hoopla around Father’s Day (or even my birthday for that matter).   I like to fly under the radar.   So I was thinking…think ahead…if the Mrs. or my local daughter…as opposed to my foreign daughter (she’s in Germany)…asked me what I wanted for Father’s Day…my answer was going to be…potato salad.   Plain and simple!   No gifts…no dinner out…no nothin’…just potato salad…my all time favorite!   I knew sooner or later that question was going to be asked!   Again…at that very moment, I was just thinking and daydreaming.

Within the next 30 seconds…my wife looked at me and said “I’m thinking about making some potato salad for you for Father’s Day”!   I damn near fell of the chair!   I then told her what I was thinking about…at the time of her potato salad announcement.   Amazing!   That’s what 38 years will do!

OK…fast forward 24 hours and Happy Father’s Day!   She’s off to the supermarket, sales circulars in hand…and I’m thinking about the fatherless…and blogging.   It’s a very beautiful…cool calm day.   I got a call from both daughters and spoke to both son-in-laws.   What more could I ask for.   Just the way I wanted it…with no big hoopla!

So who could think that taking some of these basic ingredients; potatoes, eggs, celery and red peppers…

And throwing in some mustard, mayonnaise, vinegar, relish…and of course some salt and pepper and a dash of paprika and a few other of her secret ingredients…massaging it all…(yeah…I said massaging not mixing) and it turns into this!

Add some slow cooked ribs (in the oven…no less…not BBQ’d) and some jerked chicken wings along with some baked beans and grilled sweet corn and viola!   So what’s wrong with this picture?   The Mrs. says it needed some fresh tomatoes…for color!

I didn’t need any color!   And the good news…there are leftovers!

Happy Father’s Day!