Happy New Year: Sugar Free Week Challenge

Happy New Year, RoodonFooders.

Been a long time. Maybe too long. I hope everyone is faring well during this very long pandemic. 

After indulging quite a bit with Christmas cookies, chocolate and oh-so-tasty fatty foods during the holiday season we decided to start the year off strong with a long run. It’s actually become a tradition to do at least 10 miles. Even my Garmin agrees (via badge) that a run at the first of a year is a “strong start”.

Our (highly recommended) route was the Beach to Bluffs trail to Golden Gate Bridge to Crissy Field to the Presidio and back to B2B. In the course of the run we got to enjoy beautiful ocean views, seasonal birds like Puffins, the frigging Golden Gate Bridge, super happy doggies, eucalyptus forest, and surprisingly no naked people (who occasionally sun on the beach). 

(http://sfbayimages.blogspot.com/2012/07/san-francisco-bay-area-seabirds-tufted.html)

In keeping with this idea of detoxing we’re taking a week off of added sugar. For our version this means we’re not consuming anything with sugar as an ingredient. We tried this same exercise last year. Here are a few things we learned:

• Added sugar is in unexpected foods. For example: Wheat Thins? So keep your eyes peeled even if it’s a savory snack.
• These challenges are useful because reaching for candy, processed sweets is habitual. (I frequently think of it hand in hand with coffee). But the habit can be broken.
• Fruit can be just as satisfying as sweets. (We stocked up on fruits, oranges, and bananas).
• Peanuts and other nuts often help provide a better alternative to many of the chips we buy.
• Avocado is a satisfying fat source that can be used in a million ways (on burgers, as guac, in tacos etc).
• Meal planning is key when and if hunger hits.

Beyond the sugar challenge we’re also doing a dry January that is to say, no alcohol. This test will be a whole lot easier as we probably average a drink or two every few weeks at most.

Are any of you doing a food challenge? If so, what is it? Have you tried sugar free? What did you learn from it? 

Watermelon Margarita

Watermelon to me always says “summer”. Being the cheapskate that I am, I sprung for the buy one, get one watermelon deal. Suppressing the urge to only eat it as fruit like a sucker, I turned them into the easiest margaritas ever. The mint helps add a bit of brightness to it. If you don’t have triple sec, a touch of other citrus helps. Salt of course, is optional.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups watermelon (chopped)
• 1/2 cup tequila
• 2 oz triple sec
• A few pinches of dried mint

Method:

1. Throw everything into a blender.
2. Taste and adjust booze and mint amount to your liking.
3. Yields 6 margaritas

Buckwheat Pulao

Buckwheat Kasha Pulao

This buckwheat pulao recipe came as a result of needing a break from rice and potatoes while fulfilling my craving for South Asian spices. If you’ve never tried kasha, it’s a nutty grain common in Eastern European cooking. It provides fiber and doesn’t spike blood sugar the way rice and other grains do. The nutty flavor is delicious and here it’s balanced with some brightness. As tested in this recipe – it works great with Indian flavors like garam masala. I also suggest pairing it with cranberry or other chutney. For those with allergies it’s also gluten free.

Ingredients:

2 cups Kasha (uncooked)

1 whole onion

Peas

2 carrots, chopped into discs

2 plum tomatoes, chopped small

Several ounces TVP/Soya Chunks

2 bay leaves

4 or 5 cloves

2 cinnamon stick

1 t garam masala

1 t turmeric

1 t chili powder

Salt

 

 

Bruh! You Got Columbus-ed: Chopped Cheese Sandwich

I’ve lived in New York for a number of years but heard about the famed Chopped Cheese sandwich just a few months back. Known mostly in Harlem, Bronx and some of Queens, it features ground beef, peppers, onions, lettuce, tomato, American cheese and seasoning served on a hero. The beef is chopped up and mixed with the cheese while it’s cooked. It’s a bodega staple and goes for an affordable $4-$5. Naturally, it was jarring when Whole Foods gave it the Columbus treatment and starting selling it for $8. I can imagine the horror for those who claim it as their own. Much has been written about the origins here and here.

During a recent trip to the Northwoods of Central Park for my boo’s birthday we happened across it at Felo Deli, (23 W. 100th St). It was very tasty- just not $8 tasty. Like many other food items that get-turned high-end, I hope Chopped Cheese for regular people can co-exist with the versions favored by fancy people. Do you have a favorite place to get the sandwich? Is there something similar that exists in your area?

Twin Peaks: Food Highlights

After a 26 year hiatus, it’s time again for a damn fine cup of coffee! Twin Peaks premieres tomorrow on Showtime. The surreal drama centers on FBI agent Dale Cooper (Kyle Mclachlan) investigating the murder of Laura Palmer. If you haven’t seen the show yet, begin your cramming session now.

Food was both in the foreground and background through the show’s two seasons. At the local diner, Cooper frequently partakes in homemade pies and perhaps most famously enjoys “a damn fine cup of coffee”.

And always so many donuts. For a few episodes, the number of donuts shown keeps growing. First with a plate and then stacked. Luckily, someone with a fair amount of time on their hands put together this supercut of donuts:

Then of course there were the cravings the show gave me for something I never tried: Brie and butter sandwiches.

For the premiere I will tailgate in earnest, first with pie and coffee. And probably donuts for new episodes. Are you doing a Twin Peaks premiere party? What are you making?

 

Montreal: Poutine Edition

If you’re not based in Canada, Seattle or maybe Burlington, Vermont sadly there is a good chance you didn’t grow up with poutine. Montreal’s signature food is a simple combination of French fries and gravy with cheese curds on top. In the U.S, disco fries aka fries with gravy exists but pales in comparison. You see – poutine is as much a part of the culture to this city as pizza slices are to New York. Practically every other restaurant offers a version. South Asian places offer versions featuring chicken curry on top. There are high-end versions with toppings like lobster.

We decided to check out one of the most famous spots, La Banquise who offer both vegan (vegan cheese+ vegan gravy) and regular versions. In fact they offer scores of variations and toppings ranging from chopped corn dogs, jalapenos, creamy cabbage(?), smoked meats, mushrooms etc. I tried out two versions in two trips: the classic and the most exciting, General Tso’s.

The classic version didn’t disappoint. The curds on top give a pleasant squeaking sound as you bite it which is not unlike mozzarella. It was very satisfying though heavy. I can only imagine how tasty it would be after some drinks. The vegan version was just as good featuring a vegan cheese and a mushroom gravy. Bonus points to them for explicitly labeling what was vegetarian and vegan. On the second visit, I checked out General Tso’s which was pretty fun. It was clear that they used some cut up chicken patties versus the deep fried chunks of chicken found at Chinese places. Still, it was tasty with a mildly spiced pineapple sauce. If I ever return to Montreal this is definitely the first place – I’ll go after drinks.

Montreal: Bagel Edition

Years ago, I had a roommate from Quebec who spoke highly of his home city of Montreal. When complementing New York City he would say things like “New York is almost as cool as Montreal” which in his book was high praise. I’ve read similar things about the way Montreal views its bagels. Recently, we got to sample the holed treats up north. New York bagels are known for being large, doughy and chewy with a modest hole in the middle. Cream cheese and lox are common additions.

In Montreal they do it slightly different. They boil their bagels in honey-laced water to impart some sweetness. Baking in wood fire ovens imparts a bit of crunch. They are a bit smaller and denser in texture then Gotham’s bagels. We checked out the most famous shop called St. Viateur which as luck would have it, had no line at all. Eating it in-house they offer options like cream cheese, and the new-to-me pesto cream cheese. Sliced into five pieces, they provided a little fruit too on the side.

I enjoyed the chewiness of the bagel and the honey does come through. The pesto cream cheese though was the star. I make forth a motion that this same type of cream cheese should be available at bagel shops in the States as well. The bagel though wasn’t quite as satisfying as what I’m used to. Then again, I think they view them as snacks rather than breakfast. Montreal’s bagels are a respectable cousin in my book. Anyone from Montreal or familiar with it have suggestions for places to try? How do you like to eat your bagels if you’re come Canada?

Lettuce Sandwich Recipe: Wait! Don’t Go!

I wrote about My Grandmother’s Ravioli a few months back. It’s a show featuring Mo Rocca where he interviews sweet G-Ma’s for their prized recipes. This sandwich was inspired by an episode in New England about Lobster (of course) and oddly, lettuce sandwiches. Wait! Come back! They’re actually pretty tasty.

The original recipe which can be found here, uses white bread, iceberg lettuce, salt and pepper. We fancied ours up a bit using romaine. Also, we decided to chop the lettuce deli style + mayo + bread. If you have a good tomato, that’s a nice addition as well. That’s it. The crunch is oddly satisfying.

Ingredients:

1/4 Romaine lettuce heart, chopped small
2 pieces of bread of your liking
Mayo/veganaise to taste
Optional: Slice(s) of chopped tomato

Method:
Chopped ¼ Romaine hard into small, bite size pieces. Toast bread to your liking. Apply mayonaisse or veganaise to your liking. Add on lettuce. Close sandwich and enjoy simplicity.

Tortilla Espanola Recipe

Tortilla Espanola

I love omelettes but wanted to try something a little different. I don’t normally watch Master Chef, the long running amateur cooking contest but one fortuitous bit I did catch was the making of a Tortilla Espanola. Despite the name, no tortilla is in it. It’s similar to an omelette but includes cooked potatoes inside. When done well it’s like a quiche without a crust. Originating in Spain, it always includes potatoes, eggs and onion but other ingredients can vary. My version uses spicy sausage. Additionally, rather than stovetop, I cooked it in the oven on a cast-iron pan.

Servings: 2
Cook Time: 30-35 minutes

3 eggs
1 spicy sausage, chopped bite size
1 potato, chopped small
1 oz bell pepper, chopped small
½ onion
Cheese to taste (suggested: sharp cheddar, parmesan or gruyere)
A couple of florets of broccoli chopped small
salt
pepper
cayenne
garlic

Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. First, the potato, bell pepper and broccoli need to be cooked (as they won’t cook fully in the oven). Add a bit of oil to a pan, add seasoning, potato, bell pepper, onion and broccoli in. Cook on medium-low heat for 15-20 minutes till fully cooked. While this is cooking, crack the eggs in a bowl. Add a touch of milk. Add seasoning to your liking. Whip it well for a few minutes. Set aside. Oil cast-iron. When potatoes are done place in place in pan along with sausage and cheese. Spread them out evenly. Pour egg on top. Place in oven for ~5 minutes. Egg should be solid and browned on the edges. It’s should be easy to cut out a slice. Serve hot with bread and salsa.

There are bagels and then there are bagels….

On a Tuesday, in a half-full subway car I was seated next to a scholarly, older Jewish man. As frequently occurs, a musician boarded to play a mariachi-style song in Spanish. My seatmate quipped “oh I was just thinking of that song”. I’d noticed the man early into the 30 minute subway ride because he ate not one but two poppy seed bagels….. with nothing on them. Normally this type behavior is a red flag indicating crazy guy but he seemed to enjoy them.

I carefully pointed out his egregious behavior and asked if he had any places to recommend. He paused and said “No not really. What you really need is a slight hardness to the crust but a soft inside. Don’t fall for those places that are basically selling bread with a hole in it. Also, look out for those selling poppy seed bagels with like four poppy seeds on them.” He then went on to make a solid point “New Yorkers have opinions on three things: Pizza, Chinese Foods and Bagels”. As I did a mental tally of the other things New Yorkers care about, I realized he had mentioned the three most important. With that he got off at his stop (Broadway-Lafayette).

The next day, I stopped by Bagel Factory in Park Slope to pick up a bountiful bagel. Hopefully this one meets his stringent criteria.