tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290690112012-02-16T01:50:14.242-05:00Reviews and tips for the discriminating cook.Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5561100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-61333314462845703012010-08-07T19:54:00.002-04:002010-08-07T19:54:21.416-04:00

And can I just mention how much I love having 2 mixers? I have this new snazzy Breville one which made awesome icing and my bright aqua Kitchenaid I've had for years. I might have an old, 1930s era, strangely laid out kitchen but I love having great equipment to work with. It made making  cupcakes a breeze and I didn't have to stop in the middle to wash out bowls or beaters. It felt

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-6748781709412721102010-06-01T00:12:00.002-04:002010-08-02T21:08:48.081-04:00

Back in August!

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-31638797901063013562010-03-04T13:42:00.000-05:002010-03-04T13:42:55.138-05:00

I had the opportunity to attend a media dinner at Milan, a new restaurant in Little Italy. The space is beautiful, very modern and white and seems intimate for the large space. They have some interesting menu items in their extremely ambitious menu, the most striking, the Italian sushi. We were told that some of the rolls would be rotating out so we ordered the crudo, sashimi with Italian sauces

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-12350633433260553112010-02-19T13:40:00.000-05:002010-02-19T13:40:00.591-05:00

I am hosting a food blogger meet up/happy hour at the Blue Hill Tavern. RSVP here.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-1000146821784689922010-02-17T07:01:00.000-05:002010-02-17T07:01:25.698-05:00

I wish Williams-Sonoma had come up with a better name for it  but this heart-shaped pocket pie mold I got for Valentine's Day is cute and functional.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-77392969939100172812010-02-02T08:55:00.000-05:002010-02-02T08:55:02.443-05:00

Vote to give this idea 50K: Provide farm fresh food to Baltimore families who live in food desert.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-8854639223650145692010-01-31T14:37:00.001-05:002010-01-31T16:20:11.370-05:00

Become a fan! Baltimore Food Bloggers

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-10500321305659570802010-01-25T14:38:00.000-05:002010-01-25T14:38:35.951-05:00

My cookbook has been available for pre-order for some time now but it now is appearing on Amazon with a cover! The countdown to publication continues.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-78722111741423891452010-01-24T20:33:00.000-05:002010-01-24T20:33:15.121-05:00

Matt ordered this Norpro Tortilla Keeper. I was a little skeptical, but apparently it keeps the tortillas warm for a long time. We just made fajitas recently and by the end the tortillas were cold. We always foil wrap but that doesn't seem to be enough. Hopefully this will be the solution to our problem. I am also intrigued by the suggestion of keeping pancakes warm in it. It is always

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-42800100231656842342010-01-15T18:21:00.000-05:002010-01-15T18:21:55.643-05:00

 How cute are these mini pedestals? Anyone want to buy me one for Valentine's Day?

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-49179088994517413252010-01-13T08:20:00.000-05:002010-01-13T08:20:37.134-05:00

My mom bought me a subscription to the Food Network Magazine after getting a really good deal. It is actually pretty entertaining, lots of recipes, some of which I'd never make but many are well thought out and are of a wide range of styles and ease. It is odd to get the magazine when you do not watch the Food Network at all, I have no idea who these people are! But I don't think I am missing

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-63871176857661076492010-01-06T23:34:00.000-05:002010-01-06T23:34:26.604-05:00

I read this yesterday and while it is a tale of a brother and sister, it is also a tale of apple growing in America because the brother is a lawyer turned apple farmer. Lots of information about apple growing and apple varietals that some how I already knew (without trying) but still enjoyable and informative. I love when a book I don't think is going to be about food has a good food thread

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-83836910486798868482010-01-03T16:18:00.000-05:002010-01-03T16:18:26.122-05:00

I  received this cool Le Creuset Stoneware Petite Berry Casserole Set. They super cute and functional. I can't resist things in the shape of other things. The only drawback is that the blueberry is slightly bigger than the other shapes but that can be worked around. I wish berries were in season so I could make some mini cobblers in them.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-5780127377667900692009-11-29T09:39:00.002-05:002009-11-29T09:43:54.204-05:00

Last night rather than actually cooking, I ate Chinese take out and played Cook or be Cooked, a new game for the Wii where you virtually cook actual recipes. Now, as someone who cooks in real life an awful lot, I wouldn't say that pretending to cook was the most relaxing way to spend an evening but once we got the hang of it, it was fun. The game play is more realistic than it is in the Cooking

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-51461614891093556812009-11-21T00:11:00.002-05:002009-11-21T00:11:54.612-05:00

The LA public library website has vintage menus available for viewing. Very fun.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-79745432995095895942009-11-16T08:58:00.000-05:002009-11-16T08:58:25.718-05:00

I bought this spoon rest that is shaped like a pillow and it is great! Easy to clean and the spoons don't slip off. Our old spoon rest was bigger but ceramic and one day Matt dropped it or bumped it off the rack and because of the odd shape, it fell on an angle and it broke. Since they do need to be cleaned rather frequently, it made sense to get one that if dropped, wouldn't break. This one

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-3013017510601058912009-11-11T16:16:00.000-05:002009-11-11T16:16:44.427-05:00

My entry into the NaMooSte Giveaway is my delicious herb potato salad. Oikos yogurt is a favorite of mine and works well in so many recipes. Ingredients: 1 1/2 lb red skin potatoes, cubed 1 1/2 lb purple potatoes, cubed 2 stalks celery, diced 1 bunch scallions, greens and white parts, diced for the dressing: 150 g (5.3 oz) Greek yogurt 3 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/3 cup chives, cut into 1/4

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-92042869326672367012009-11-09T13:03:00.001-05:002010-01-26T07:38:00.583-05:00

When I first lifted this travel mug out of the box I couldn't quite see what made it special. Then I looked carefully and realized that it is designed to allow you to pull the tea bag through a hole in the lid after the tea is done seeping, squeezing it and keeping it out of the tea you're drinking. No more too strong tea or having to wait for your tea to seep before you pour it into a mug to go

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-33746795298961086622009-10-17T21:45:00.003-04:002009-10-17T21:46:51.285-04:00

You can now subscribe to Coconut & Lime on your Kindle. Just click here.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-24639232315243708482009-10-03T11:14:00.003-04:002009-10-03T11:19:49.589-04:00

I finally tried Greg's Bagels today. I had heard great things so I hoped for the best. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed. The "colossal" bagel (their version of the "everything" bagel) tasted solely of cumin. Cumin has no place on a bagel. The texture was off as well. In retrospect, I should have know it wouldn't be very good; what kind of bagel shop has chocolate chip bagels on their menu

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-91102455008501750732009-09-15T14:48:00.001-04:002009-09-15T14:49:48.822-04:00

Excuse my absence, we've been in Belgium for most of September. We had lots of fun and even had a cooking workshop with a chef! Pictures are here if you are interested.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-78809485993470936552009-09-04T14:38:00.003-04:002009-09-25T17:53:16.155-04:00

I had the opportunity to dine at the new B & O Brasserie downtown recently and let me tell you, it was an experience to remember. While it is in a hotel, the restaurant doesn't have that generic hotel restaurant vibe, it was simply yet stylishly decorated and had great, comfortable seating that felt intimate despite the size of the space. The best part was the food and drinks. The drink menu was

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-17547198828280122242009-08-24T12:51:00.001-04:002009-08-24T12:53:16.846-04:00

I have been a little salad crazed this summer. Part of it is that I have been working on a huge recipe development project that not only takes up a lot of time but leaves me with a lot of main courses to eat. The other part is that the weather here in Baltimore has been so humid and so changeable, I swear it has ruined my appetite for anything other than cold salads.What are you craving this

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-56330756534089129022009-08-12T17:31:00.003-04:002009-08-12T17:56:57.224-04:00

I recently acquired a Dolce Gusto single serve coffee maker. So far, we love it! It has been a little warm for hot beverages (they have an iced cappuccino flavor I am looking forward to trying) but the mocha, cappuccino, latte macchiato (frothy milk with a shot of coffee) and the chococino (hot chocolate) are all very good. The milk is actually frothy and tastes like fresh milk. They don't have

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-59243301839393603132009-08-05T22:54:00.003-04:002009-08-05T22:58:31.279-04:00

It is times like this I wish I was a person who liked beverages more. It is just so hot and humid, I feel like drinking something cool but end up feeling waterlogged from club soda overload. I don't want summer to be over but I wouldn't mind less humidity. It really hasn't been terribly hot but the humidity has been pretty bad every day. Cooking has become excruciating.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-75378853346749388332009-07-31T11:36:00.003-04:002009-07-31T12:01:05.369-04:00

I read Novella Carpenter's book Farm City yesterday. It was a fascinating look at a woman's quest to create an urban farm in Oakland, CA. She went from just fruits and vegetables to adding poultry, bees and then eventually rabbits and pigs. I like how it was realistic without being graphic although I have to admit the dumpster diving for food to give the various animals made me a little queasy. I

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-4271436131834727912009-07-15T14:15:00.002-04:002009-07-15T14:16:13.179-04:00

I had an excuse to get one of these fancy, detailed gelatin molds made.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-68740043644649367512009-07-13T15:05:00.002-04:002009-07-13T15:19:07.219-04:00

I have to admit that I was first attracted to the book not because I have been to the Big Sur Bakery but because the name "Big Sur" always stuck in my mind from references to it in books particularly Helter Skelter which describes Manson driving around Big Sur. But I digress. The cookbook, although murder and cult free, is well written, focusing on the workers and producers of the food they sell

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-44111788427530318282009-07-06T13:16:00.002-04:002009-07-06T13:44:24.212-04:00

MojaMix is a custom, build-your-own cereal. You pick a base then other ingredients like dried fruit, nuts and seeds to mix in. It is a lot of fun and while it is more expensive than say buying a box of cereal at the grocery store it is super fresh and of course, since you picked everything out yourself, you are bound to like it! I do think that if you were to source all of your ingredients

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-15163443773018517502009-06-30T12:51:00.004-04:002009-06-30T12:55:29.452-04:00

This is really a fun book. While the recipes that are included are pretty basic, there are a ton of great decorating tips and descriptions that could transform even the plainest cupcakes into something special. Even if you don't follow the directions exactly, there are a lot of ideas that can be adapted in different ways to make the perfect cupcake.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-49299487286213959592009-05-14T16:30:00.002-04:002009-05-14T16:40:52.607-04:00

I have never canned but have accumulated quite a number of books about canning. Maybe this will be the year? This particular book is interesting because it is a combination of canning directions/recipes and recipes that use the items after they were canned. Now I just need to get some equipment and the nerve to can.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-52413798880461716882009-05-10T16:45:00.003-04:002009-05-10T16:50:20.774-04:00

If you are my friend on GoodReads, you will recognize this review, I am posting it here in case you missed it! Let Me Eat Cake: A Celebration of Flour, Sugar, Butter, Eggs, Vanilla, Baking Powder, and a Pinch of Salt by Leslie F. MillerI wanted to like this book more than I actually did. The concept was certainly compelling (a book celebrating cakes rather than simply being about making them) and

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-68769881209439838242009-05-05T16:00:00.000-04:002009-05-05T16:01:59.932-04:00

I complied over 70 of my favorite songs about food here. Do you have any to add?

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-44944276304398071532009-05-01T15:31:00.003-04:002009-05-01T15:41:24.178-04:00

Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It: And Other Cooking Projects is the type of book I wish I had written. It is sort of a cross between a DIY book and a traditional cookbook; full of recipes for homemade versions of pickles, marshmallows, jam and cured things like salmon that most people just buy at the store. The instructions are all very clear and the pictures are lovely.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-43115900729694964492009-04-23T14:19:00.002-04:002009-04-23T14:19:56.620-04:00

I have a 4 qt Rival that I love but I was wondering if anyone has any experiences with larger or smaller slow cookers. Any recommendations?

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-73880126640148159702009-04-08T18:31:00.002-04:002009-04-08T18:32:46.823-04:00

I was cleaning out the cabinet the other day and thought I'd snap a picture of what (most of) my spice collection looks like. What does yours look like?

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-76150058450502945812009-04-06T13:22:00.000-04:002009-04-06T13:23:21.430-04:00

"Sweet Dreams" from Kirsten Lepore on Vimeo.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-77847901797194333572009-04-03T17:26:00.003-04:002009-04-03T17:32:00.664-04:00

I've been toting this book around as my "purse" book-something easy to pick up and read when unexpectedly trapped somewhere with nothing to do- but I've been tempted to take it out and read it ahead of the dozens of library books I have out right now. It is a really interesting mix of essays about food and eating by some of my favorite authors. Totally worth picking up.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-8662657312881756552009-03-23T14:31:00.001-04:002009-03-23T14:31:48.468-04:00

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-42243189059798767892009-03-21T00:10:00.003-04:002009-03-21T00:13:03.907-04:00

I was happy to see that there is going to be a garden in the White House lawn. I've also heard that seed sales are up 200%. Are you planning a garden this year? Did you last year? I've always grown vegetables from plants, not seeds, but I have since I was a child. Last year we concentrated on about 10 tomato varieties but I missed growing zucchini and eggplants so I might go back to more of a

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-71461880481999667222009-03-17T14:11:00.000-04:002009-03-17T14:12:25.632-04:00

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-43095513069442240502009-03-12T14:53:00.011-04:002009-03-31T18:56:40.593-04:00

I have gotten a lot of emails lately asking me for my tips on saving money on groceries. Generally I am pretty frugal food shopper and rarely have any food waste. I also only grocery shop once a week, some times less.1. I read all of the local store ads and decide where to shop at by which store has the best deals on meat, seafood and staples.2. I buy large quantities of meat when they are on

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-54173179127193172792009-03-03T16:05:00.002-05:002009-03-03T16:09:27.344-05:00

I know I have mentioned this before but I love my Vitamix. I am not a smoothie person (I am not a beverage person in general) but this blender makes me want to start drinking them. The peanut sauce I made was so smooth and frothy I honestly was at a loss for words. So, you helped me via comments and email re: the mandolin and now I want to know: what are you making in your blender? I want to use

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-45268354307282146102009-03-02T15:19:00.003-05:002009-03-02T15:27:07.784-05:00

I bought a small hand held mandolin back in December. I've used it occasionally but I'd like to use it more. Do you have one? What do you use it for?

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-19830835500703231722009-02-16T12:48:00.001-05:002009-02-16T12:50:34.756-05:00

How cute is this new Threadless shirt? I wish it came in a color other than brown though.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-48539032395208883652009-02-11T12:43:00.004-05:002009-02-11T13:08:30.184-05:00

Cooking for Two: Perfect Meals for Pairs is a super cookbook full of meals that have been paired down for two. There is quite a variety of foods presented, everything from seafood to paella to chili to desserts all with clear instructions and beautiful pictures. I like this book because nearly every meal I cook is for two and I know how tricky it is to get proportions correct in smaller batch

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-31329433413840480762009-02-04T18:15:00.002-05:002009-02-04T18:18:11.884-05:00

What do you order for take-out from a Chinese restuarant? Do you get the same thing each time or do you alternate between favorites or work your way down the menu? Thanks!!

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-34729807574160028772009-02-04T03:29:00.001-05:002009-02-05T13:43:37.726-05:00

I've been trying the new (to me, anyway) Halls ProHealth Defense tabs. They come in a 18-dop box and each drop is only 15 calories. It comes in blueberry or citrus-pomegranate and both are pretty tasty. I also have been trying to eat even more vitamin-rich vegetables and foods to ward off what seems to be a constant cold threat. Even though I have been sick more this year than I have in a long

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-65891402971225817302009-02-02T16:06:00.002-05:002009-02-02T16:09:32.666-05:00

Belgian food blogs. Anyone know anyone blogging from Belgium or about Belgian food. Thanks!

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-76559925753641606402009-01-27T03:17:00.000-05:002009-01-27T03:17:00.572-05:00

As I said last few weeks, I've recently tried a bunch of the 110 calories or less dessert flavors Yoplait offers. Another flavor that I've enjoyed it is the Lemon Cream Pie flavor. As I found with the the key lime pie flavor, the smooth and creamy texture really adds to the experience. It is like eating spoonfuls of pie filling or a sweet variety of lemon churd. Like the others this flavor has

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-5444384192728799032009-01-23T12:09:00.004-05:002009-01-23T12:14:56.120-05:00

Three people can win the above prize! All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what your favorite recipe using chicken broth is and your email address so I can contact you if you win. You have until Monday at noon to enter!

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-6324440312950052452009-01-20T00:18:00.000-05:002009-01-20T00:18:00.370-05:00

As I said last week, I've recently tried a bunch of the 110 calories or less dessert flavors Yoplait offers (Click here for a $1 off coupon for the yogurt.)and they are all pretty good. I think my next favorite is the pineapple upside down cake. While it certainly has a very different texture than an actual pineapple upside down cake it really tastes like the real thing. Like the others this

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-36138748296342869852009-01-17T01:13:00.001-05:002009-01-17T01:13:01.066-05:00

Lately I've been getting a lot of requests for healthy snack ideas. While you can buy those 100 calorie packs (or just pay attention to lables and serving sizes) of snack foods but there are other options that might be healthier and tastier!A stalk of celery+1 tablespoon peanut butter is about 100 caloriesA 1/4 cup of roasted pumpkin seeds is 75 calories. 1/2 cup of sorbet is about 100 calories

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-1828403537239671012009-01-13T02:04:00.000-05:002009-01-13T02:04:00.258-05:00

As I said last week, I've recently tried a bunch of the 110 calories or less dessert flavors Yoplait offers (Click here for a $1 off coupon for the yogurt.)and they are all pretty good. I think my second favorite is the apple turnover. My husband tried it as well and it is his top favorite out of the line up. While it certainly has a very different texture than an actual apple turnover (and a

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-76948864250427544042009-01-12T02:28:00.002-05:002009-01-12T10:33:04.960-05:00

Kraft has recently launched a pretty cool tool for home cooks. It is a widget that you can embed in your Facebook, MySpace or other social networking page so you can access your recipes from any computer. The best part is that while it is easy to include Kraft recipes and they have a recipe of the day feature, you can also use it to organize any recipe from any source. For example you could

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-33660539522368267532009-01-09T09:47:00.000-05:002009-01-09T15:25:53.305-05:00

Is anyone else obsessed with pretzel rolls? My mom goes all the way to PA periodically just to pick up a bunch of pretzel rolls made by Smitties Pretzels. They are amazing, not to dense and have a pretzel-y taste. I wish we could find some closer than Isaac's Deli in Hershey. Anyone have an alternative supplier?

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-91423101695249307872009-01-06T00:30:00.002-05:002009-01-06T00:30:00.770-05:00

Recently I've tried a whole slew of the new(ish) 110 calories or less dessert flavors Yoplait offers. The idea behind them is that rather than having the actual dessert you can substitute a the yogurt version. This works with varying success. The Key Lime Pie flavor works the best, since the pie is creamy and the yogurt is, of course, creamy it is almost like you are eating Key Lime Pie filling

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-66717422988075148282009-01-05T19:22:00.001-05:002009-01-05T19:22:34.798-05:00

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-35134440331094557052009-01-02T16:33:00.002-05:002009-01-02T16:38:58.041-05:00

Each year on New Year's Eve we have a night devoted to a different decade. First was '80s night and we watched '80s movies and made pesto pizza and poke cake. Last year was '70s movies, fondue and California rolls. This year it was the '60s which was great because a lot of party food came into existance during that time. The rule is that the food had to have been introduced or invented during in

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-26683997774487818882008-12-30T19:08:00.003-05:002008-12-30T21:13:01.124-05:00

I have a new favorite appliance. Don't tell the Vita-Mix but we use this rice cooker (Zojirushi NS-VGC05 Micom 3-Cup Electric Rice Cooker and Warmer) nearly every day. It takes a bit longer than making rice on the stovetop but it cooks an assortment of rice to the perfect texture and leaves a burner free on the stove; a major concern for us. Not only does it make perfect rice, it keeps it warm

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-83861345216050153982008-12-23T14:18:00.004-05:002008-12-23T14:56:49.726-05:00

I was recently lucky enough to be contacted by the VitaMix company asking if I would like to try out their new VitaMix 5200. Of course, I was thrilled. After getting it, I was even more impressed. It is not only a blender that gets things super smooth (check out Hannah's homemade rice milk and nutella!) but it due to friction it can actually make hot soup! In less than 7 minutes! On the other

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-39162087833432140142008-12-14T13:11:00.003-05:002008-12-14T13:18:05.777-05:00

If you have a cook on your holiday list you must get them this knife! I have the Santoku with the stone handle and I love it. It is super sharp-so sharp I feel like I should only use it under direct adult supervision-and can cut through a giant winter squash like it was butter. It also chops vegetables and fish beautifully. I made coleslaw with paper thin slices of cabbage using this knife and it

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-55439531254769931092008-12-10T16:20:00.003-05:002008-12-10T16:35:46.810-05:00

This year I had some customized M&Ms in holiday colors made just for fun. They feature my face, "Food Maven" and "Happy Holidays". They are really too cute and everyone I've given them to gets the biggest kick out of them. I think my mom has given them to everyone she knows! I am sort of tempted to make cookies out of them-they would be a fun gift to give to family members. I also think these

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-68525322236318143622008-12-06T17:05:00.000-05:002008-12-06T17:06:03.106-05:00

Hansen's Mandarin Lime is really yummy. And clear.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-23880333358667796792008-11-25T20:17:00.006-05:002008-12-15T14:56:02.362-05:00

I really can't express how disappointed I am in the Parkside. We were so excited when it opened within walking distance of our house but a couple of visits made it pretty apparent that it was not going to be a regular spot for us. The first time I went for lunch I got a dry, uninspired sandwich. Both the turkey and the bread was dried out and the olive spread was bitter. However, it was the first

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-5400403341429349182008-11-22T12:17:00.001-05:002008-12-08T12:42:19.820-05:00

I am really not a cold cereal or granola person but even I enjoy this granola from Cascadian Farms. It has my favorite nut (almonds) and dark chocolate so it is not too sweet. Perfect for a morning on the go. I also am toying with the idea of using it in cookies or something, it is just that good. They also make some pretzel-peanut granola bars that Matt has been enjoying. All of their products

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-51386558575638346692008-11-15T22:36:00.005-05:002008-11-15T23:03:22.591-05:00

As people who know me know, the last 6 weeks or so have been rough as my beloved Grandfather has been in grave health. I haven't been cooking as much as normal. It is strange for me as I make 99% of what we eat from scratch. Lately I have relied a bit on the perfectly respectable Bertolli frozen meals for two. My favorites are the ones that you bake. They seem slightly saltier than homemade but

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-34488567233812787242008-11-10T17:38:00.004-05:002008-11-12T06:03:14.022-05:00

Yesterday I tried the Jenny-O Oven ready turkey. It was with some trepidation but it really was much better than expected. For $70 (online, in store it is more like $30) you get a turkey in a specially designed bag that lets you roast a fully frozen turkey safely and as quickly as a fresh or defrosted turkey. In 3 hours we had a fully cooked 11-13 lb turkey. I have no idea how this works, but it

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-64961562212104947222008-11-10T14:49:00.002-05:002008-11-30T14:53:57.785-05:00

I recently tried Starbucks' Thanksgiving blend and it was pretty tasty and went with both sweet and savory foods, perfect for the holidays.From the site: "Lush herbal accents of full-bodied Sumatra beans with the subtle spice and cocoa notes of Guatemalan beans from the famed coffee-growing region of Antigua." I think it would make a great Thanksgiving hostess gift for a Starbucks lover.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-38220017534255527832008-10-31T11:27:00.003-04:002008-10-31T11:38:12.048-04:00

So, what are you giving out to trick or treaters tonight? Assuming you are handing out candy. We don't get many trick or treaters, we have an enclosed porch that I think makes it difficult to tell that we are home and there are just a handful of kids in the neighborhood. So I bought a small bag of ghost Dots (my mom's favorite so I can always give any leftovers to her) and we have some other

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-13121094745857584732008-10-26T11:21:00.000-04:002008-10-26T11:26:26.820-04:00

Rachel Rappaport Coconut & Lime http://www.coconutandlime.com Sent from my BlackBerry®

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-4751566298594450102008-10-21T15:04:00.001-04:002008-10-21T15:05:59.084-04:00

I just started a community on Ning for food bloggers. If you are interested, sign up here and meet other food bloggers.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-17351443140156607132008-10-12T17:22:00.000-04:002008-10-12T17:21:18.029-04:00

Rachel Rappaport Coconut & Lime http://www.coconutandlime.com Sent from my BlackBerry®

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-19314877793276592382008-10-11T15:20:00.000-04:002008-10-15T15:34:22.584-04:00

You know what is cheap, tasty and filling? Starbucks' new oatmeal. From their site: Perfect Oatmeal is 100% whole-grain goodness finished with your choice of dried fruit, nut medley or brown sugar. Since I work from home, I rarely get out for breakfast but I happened by and was impressed. Sure it is probably cheaper and certianly easy to make oatmeal at home but finding a quick, healthy breakfast

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-63567153065186838892008-10-10T17:25:00.001-04:002008-10-10T17:25:03.082-04:00

Rachel Rappaport Coconut & Lime http://www.coconutandlime.com Sent from my BlackBerry®

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-82573953643273459212008-10-06T14:39:00.000-04:002008-10-06T14:38:53.788-04:00

Rachel Rappaport Coconut & Lime http://www.coconutandlime.com Sent from my BlackBerry®

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-53724978086055072942008-10-04T15:34:00.001-04:002008-10-06T15:52:29.570-04:00

I've been really into these mints lately. Even though they are sugar free* (made with Xylitol) they aren't fake tasting and have a cooling feeling on your tongue. They are a little bigger than regular Tic Tacs which is fun, I don't have the urge to eat 2 or 3 at a time like I do with regular Tic Tacs. I also like the packaging, you can slide the panel open or open the traditional window on the

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-54812399692176586452008-09-29T11:29:00.002-04:002009-09-29T16:35:45.355-04:00

Today is National Coffee Day and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf wants to help celebrate by giving away a $5 dollar gift card to one of my reader! Leave a comment here with the name of your favorite coffee drink and your e-mail address and I will randomly pick one winner tomorrow AM.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-9981812387769367152008-09-25T11:15:00.002-04:002008-09-25T11:17:29.878-04:00

Okay, so I finally sorted out the whole popcorn salt issue and now my hot air popper won't pop corn. Ugh. Anyone have a favorite hot air popper? While I know I can pop the corn on the stove, I really prefer air popped so I can drizzle it with butter. So, anyone have a popper that they love?

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-72747151500540059002008-09-19T12:28:00.002-04:002008-09-19T12:37:45.546-04:00

Just a reminder to the locals that Blogher DC is coming up on October 13th. I will talking as part of a panel discussion on using social media. You can check out the agenda here. If you want to come, I suggest registering as soon as possible, I've heard there are only about 40 tickets left. Since it is just a one day event it is only $100 which includes a cocktail reception and access to the

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-58719214022229175142008-09-17T11:07:00.002-04:002008-09-17T11:08:43.039-04:00

So hungry. Martha is going to shot an extra segement for the hot dog show next week.And we are getting HP wireless printers

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-54319455706607255462008-09-17T10:51:00.001-04:002008-09-17T10:51:20.997-04:00

Martha comes on at 11 AM in NYC and Baltimore if you want to tune in. Not too late.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-48305105028554568652008-09-17T10:40:00.001-04:002008-09-17T10:42:47.060-04:00

Talking about Palin. Blah. Martha called her Sharon Palin instead of Sarah. John McCain doesn't email or use the computer.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-54411789354621342662008-09-17T10:34:00.001-04:002008-09-17T10:36:07.518-04:00

Cute segement about making vintage-y crafts. Not really sure who Eddie Ross is..on Top Design?? No cable so I am out of the loop.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-16068140934706099752008-09-17T10:22:00.001-04:002008-09-17T10:23:25.512-04:00

Up now, he looks so cute! I love his look--more tv friendly than Perez's striped shirt.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-82776289949061943012008-09-17T10:13:00.001-04:002008-09-17T10:13:54.704-04:00

Wearing really shiny narrow pants. He looks better in person.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-8561454649467889872008-09-17T10:08:00.001-04:002008-09-17T10:10:17.214-04:00

Getting a cute calender from Cute Overload. Marthas talking about some book about taking pictures in the AM. We are getting a copy of that too--A year of mornings. Live twitting too...check it out.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-52813320368103593602008-09-17T10:04:00.000-04:002008-09-17T10:05:11.763-04:00

Martha gave some Martha bloggers a camera. Where's mine?? :)

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-88556662426498895252008-09-17T10:03:00.002-04:002008-09-17T10:04:08.063-04:00

is out now, talking about blogging. Martha came out taking our pictures. I am sitting in the middle of the main row all the way in the last row, in a bright aqua sweater, typing on a Dell.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-81592265124684544882008-09-17T09:56:00.002-04:002008-09-17T10:00:02.065-04:00

So many people are here live blogging. Tons of food bloggers and wedding bloggers. Wondering how to give a standing ovation to Martha while holding a laptop. And they keep hinting we will get a good gift bag--what will it be??And staying over to film part of a hot dog episode.Martha plays a lot of rap music! Lil Jon!

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-83950557395735691212008-09-17T09:48:00.001-04:002008-09-17T09:52:04.487-04:00

Getting warmed up in the audience! The set is huge! I see the Cupcake Takes the Cake bloggers and Jess from Tattooed Mama & All things Cupcake!

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-26951599970886290032008-09-16T10:14:00.000-04:002008-09-16T10:15:01.168-04:00

Just a quick note that I be liveblogging here at Food Maven and livetwittering tomorrow at 10 AM from the all-blogger audience of the Martha show. It will be live so tune in if you can! They also show clips from the show online the next day. Click here for details about the show.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-39040908791009871882008-09-13T10:34:00.004-04:002008-09-13T10:40:14.657-04:00

I posted about Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow's road trip back when they were filming their show but now the book chronicling their adventures from Spain...On The Road Again is coming out. Check it out here.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-51645615604302890662008-09-12T14:57:00.000-04:002008-09-12T14:57:01.847-04:00

I wonder if it has any other uses beyond gumbo? I really enjoy filé powder (I use Zatararin's, which is pretty easy to find and because in New Orleans they jazz it up)because I also really love sassafras. I really enjoy adding this mix to my club soda and dream of making sassafras ice cream one day. There are a lot of sassafras trees in the woods near the place we call "down the shore", really a

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-75369646002539673362008-09-11T10:21:00.000-04:002008-09-11T10:23:19.122-04:00

About 5 seconds ago at Ocean City. I love vacation! Rachel Rappaport Coconut & Lime http://www.coconutandlime.com Sent from my BlackBerry®

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-88796846066586349872008-09-10T14:44:00.000-04:002008-09-10T14:44:00.934-04:00

Veev is a new açaí berry liquor which is so tasty you should run out and get some right now. Not sweet but fruity it is great in cocktails or in a little club soda. A dollar from every bottle sale is contributed to the Sambazon Sustainable Açaí Project, which works to ensure that the harvesting of açaí does not harm the environment. And I am sure the people of Veev will disapprove (their slogan

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-71880925727590026572008-09-08T14:36:00.002-04:002008-09-08T14:36:00.420-04:00

I recently had the good fortune to try Vignette. It is a soda that is made with the juice of California varietal wine grapes. You can pick between a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Rosé . It is non-alcoholic and has no added sugars or HFCS. I really like them because they are not too sweet and don't taste like straight up grape juice. It is a very grown up, sublte soda. Right now they are only

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-76594300251612203302008-08-31T12:36:00.008-04:002008-09-04T22:20:21.493-04:00

I am not quite sure why the Baltimore Sun's Elizabeth Large says Freda's Kitchen is a New York style deli because many of the hallmarks of a New York style deli were missing: no knishes, no matzo ball soup, no latkes; none of the usual Jewish-style sides common at even non-Jewish New York delis. Not to mention that they seemed stunned that we would want only mustard on our corned beef on rye.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-83143270318499481652008-08-28T16:17:00.002-04:002008-08-28T16:21:34.537-04:00

I have loved Greek yogurt for a while now, but today was the first time I tried one of the ones that came with fruit. It was pretty good. I normally don't like cherry flavored things but this was less sweet than I expected and the flavor was mild. Perfect for a quick breakfast or snack.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29069011.post-70429635500104289852008-08-25T19:04:00.003-04:002008-08-25T19:10:44.496-04:00

How much do I need this shirt? And it (along with all other shirts) is on sale for only $12.

Rachel Rappaportnoreply@blogger.com