What happens when you unleash a bunch of belly dancers at the Minnesota State Fair?
You eat a lot of food, and get some honest opinions.
After performing 4 shows with the amazing Al-Bahira Middle Eastern Dance Theater in the International Bazaar at the state fair, I was ready to eat, and so was the rest of the troupe! Continue reading
Let me preface this by saying it’s really hard to eat a lot of food when it’s really stinking hot out.
We tackled our visit in the morning. I’m excited to say it was my first breakfast at the fair, and it’s really an enjoyable time of day to go. The heat and the crowds aren’t overwhelming, and you don’t face long lines to get your favorite treats.
Usually.
Unless you’re hoping to sample a Dough-sant. Then get ready to wait in not one, but two giant lines. Continue reading
In preparation for the state fair, I’ve been trying to up my daily vegetable intake.
Like if I over do it on the veggies now, all those cheese curds and doussants I’m going to eat will basically be canceled out.
Same theory as if I’m good all year, Santa will bring me presents, but as soon as Christmas is over, I’m allowed to misbehave a little bit until the next year technically starts. Continue reading
It’s a happy day in my apartment.
I unpacked the last box. I have a fully functioning kitchen. And blueberries are in season. Continue reading
Let’s talk about moving for a second.
How the heck are you supposed to pack your kitchen? Continue reading
This is a super belated post. I am like…2 whole weeks behind the times here.
But I have an excuse. I’m moving at the end of July! To an apartment with dishwasher!
And my haze of excitement (and the absence of an air conditioner) all blogging has stopped for the past 3 weeks.
But I can be silent no longer. I have to weigh in on the new foods coming to the Minnesota State Fair in my Try, Die, and Meh list.
Try
Minnepumpkin Pie – from Minneapple Pie
It’s deep fried pumpkin pie. What more do I need to say about that? Plus I am a huge fan of Minneapple Pies already, and I can’t wait to try their latest creation.
San Francisco has a lot of amazing food.
It also has a lot of hills, which is really very convenient, because when you’re traveling on foot, those two things cancel each other out.
I just returned from a lovely vacation in San Francisco, and basically ate my way through the city. And walked up a lot of hills. And rode a lot of cable cars. Always hanging on the outside – because I’m a tourist. Obviously.
There was absolutely no way I was ever going to make the slightest dent in the San Francisco food scene in just 4 days, but here’s a rundown of what I ate, and where you can find it. Spoiler alert: It was all incredible.
For those of you who know me, or really anyone who has read this blog ever, it will come as no surprise that the majority of my pre-trip research revolved around exactly where we were going to eat.
I already had a food truck round up and a farmer’s market on our itinerary before I added things like the Golden Gate Bridge, but really. Priorities. Right? Continue reading
I recently learned about a hot debate in the culinary community: What’s the best method for making brownies – cocoa powder based, or melted chocolate based?
Didn’t know this was such a contentious topic? Neither did I, but thanks to my love of chocolate, and all things sweet, it was a debate I felt fully prepared to take on.
The parameters were simple. Which is better? Brownies made with mostly cocoa powder, or brownies made with mostly melted chocolate? I selected two recipes from the same book, baked them in the same pan (at different times of course), and tested them out on the same sample group (my coworkers).
The results?
It seems like I am constantly coming up with new favorite recipes for rhubarb.
Cakes, ice creams, pies, rhubarb is heavily featured in my kitchen this time of year.
But I was amazed when I found this recipe for gingered rhubarb compote. This absolutely takes the cake. Literally. I’m usually all about rhubarb in sweet/dessert uses. Continue reading
Today, I’m revealing my fish cooking secrets.
How not to stink up your house with fish. How to not turn your fish into a dry, flakey mess. How to judge cooking time appropriately. Yep, I’m laying all my secrets bare today.
I’m super excited to announce that I’ll be a guest speaker on this week’s episode of 2 Pound Test and a Bare Hook. You all should definitely tune in. I can only imagine how interesting it will be to listen to me try to talk about catching fish when I’m really only qualified to eat it. Continue reading
The Culinary Capers 