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Miscellany |
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Cooking Little is a kitchen shopping and tips blog for urban dwellers and anyone who cooks in a small kitchen. Beyond the kitchen, we feature diversions such as culinary travel spots, classes and tasting events. |
Recently in Miscellany Category (Psst. Stock Up for Shower Season) Right now, Sur la Table and Cooking.com are holding some serious sales. A never before thing, Sur La Table has discounts on many Breville Electrics, like the Ikon blender, a Cooking Little favorite. Some of the sweetest deals at Cooking.com are on Andrew Weil cookware, Le Creuset stockpots and a double-deal on Le Creuset baker dishes that gets you a discount on the first baker, includes a smaller matching baker for free. (The crafty will probably add free shipping on top.) Sure these are winter sales, but it may be a shrewd move to stock up on a few classic kitchen pieces for the upcoming shower and wedding season. Come spring, the sales may not be as inspiring. And, hey, sticking to the registry is sooo 5 stock market dips ago. 20-60% off AT SUR LA TABLE Miscellany
 Farmland Fundraiser Just as more people nationwide are eating more local food, farmland is increasingly at risk for development. Applewood Restaurant, a delicious spot in Brooklyn, is acting locally with a fundraiser featuring a silent auction. Cocktails will ply the bids and the hors d’oeuvres served will be made
with produce from Lucky Dog Organic, the fundraiser beneficiary. Where the money goes...New York State is considering a development rights easement grant for part of the land where
Lucky Dog Organic farms. Money raised from this fundraiser and others will help pay the portion of the easement grant not paid by the New York State.
Admission is $20. which includes hors d’oeuvres. The party is Sunday, February 8th at 6 pm. There will be a cash bar. If you can't make the fundraiser and want to help save a patch of land in upstate New York, checks can be sent to the Applewood Restaurant mailing address made out to Farm Catskills, an advocacy group assisting with the cause. $20.00 AT APPLEWOOD RESTAURANT Miscellany
 And a sustainable way to get them home Best Wishes for a Peaceful New Year Miscellany
 Chocolate snobbery almost caused us to miss these intriquing spiced chocolates from Fredericksburg Virginia. Each hand-made batch (less than 1.5 lbs.) mixes 54% cacao dark chocolate with spices and herbs. Flavors include grapefruit-lavender, apple-coriander, lemon-basil, celtic sea salt and black pepper. Vegetarian and vegan friendly. More... $24.99 AT AMAZON.COM Miscellany
READ MORE ON Chocolate En Fuego.
 This is one sexy beer glass. Make that two. The Stella Set by iitalla, designed by Elina Joensuu is handsome to hold and is kind to the beer’s aromatics. $49.60 AT AMAZON.COM Miscellany
 There are busy weeks when food is simply fuel. String too many of these together without a civilized weekend meal and the spirit fades. This weekend’s attempt to restore a summer-like pace started with ceviche two ways and cold cucumber and zucchini blossom soup. The first ceviche recipe is owed to El Buen Diente, a Peruvian blog that unfortunately seems dormant. Their version features traditional Peruvian ceviche as an entrée. This appetizer version balances the budget with smaller portions but uses all the flavors from the entrée. see all RECIPES HERE Miscellany
READ MORE ON Monday. The Case for Sunday Dinner..
 Superior quality cold brew iced green tea is now available in America thanks to the lovely folks at Mellow Monk. Each 100 gram or 15 infuser package makes nearly 4 gallons of icy health green tea, with no boiling water needed. $12.95 AT MELLOW MONK Miscellany
READ MORE ON Cold Brew Green Tea.
 If the phrase live food probiotics conjures up images of the winning entry at the science fair, it’s understandable. However, the condiment line we tasted from Zukay Live Foods is pure county fair winner material. Tasting notes... find a store AT ZUKAYLIVE.COM Miscellany
READ MORE ON Zukay Live Foods.
 Half-sheet pans are ideal to use and store in small kitchens. Stacking them at 45 degree angles creates a layered prep area to make complex recipes possible in limited space. Choose high-side versions for the most utility. $17.00 AT WILLIAMS SONOMA Miscellany
 Use a cooling rack with the half-sheet pan to increase uses even further. Cook bacon in the oven, make crisp fries, as a glazing or frosting tray, maybe even as a make-shift crumb catcher for bread. This one fits the half sheet pan featured. $5.95 AT AMAZON.COM Miscellany
READ MORE ON Cooling Rack.
 What makes pureed soups in fine restaurants so velvety? Straining and generous amounts of butter and cream. In a small kitchen a mesh sieve smoothes out soups, sauces and more. $29.95 AT CRATE AND BARREL Miscellany
READ MORE ON Wire Sieve.
 The simple masher in the hand of Jacques Pepin is an entirely new tool. In his book, Fast Food My Way, he mashes tuna, incorporate vegetables and olive oil, flips the masher about, fills a tomato and lunch is done. More on Jacque and the masher... $12.99 AT MACY'S Miscellany
READ MORE ON Anolon Potato Masher.
 Easy to overlook, think about these flat-bottom storage bowls (usually with lids) as a work surface paired with the potato masher. Jacque did... $15.95 set AT COOKING.COM Miscellany
READ MORE ON Glass Storage Bowl.
 Small Kitchen, Small Apartment? It doesn't matter. Warm weather means we leave all that behind and cook and entertain outdoors. Since so many city people haven't always been, we picnic and BBQ with a vengeance. And any patch of green will do. Just remember: enjoy, don't destroy. Miscellany
A delicately colored wine that stands up to spicy or complex fish & seafood dishes. Elegant flavors of raspberry and cassis, it is 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah. The wine is made from the first bleeding off of juices after a cool maceration of hand picked grapes. $15.99 AT BEACON WINES Miscellany
READ MORE ON Chef Wine Pick.
 If you picnic on a smaller scale, how about a water proof cooler bag that doesn’t look like a cooler? This freestanding cooler bag has carry handles and a shoulder strap, outside pockets and qualifies for a carry-on. It’s a home and away bag $80.00 AT eBAGS Miscellany
 If you are already missing the red in salads try this one. With the OXO hand-held slicer a whole lot of thin cukes are ready in no time. (A paring knife is probably a safer way to slice the berries.) Recipe follows. Miscellany
READ MORE ON Strawberry Cucumber Salad.
 It took three trips to find this wine, but each wine seller said it was worth the effort. And it was. A polished wine with fine clarity. This established vineyard has been converting to organic over the last few years. The screw cap makes it eco and easy for al fresco. under $20 AT WINEACCESS.COM Miscellany
Chef Campbell suggested using pineapple sage with chicken or duck by inserting a good amount under the skin, then roast or grill. To build this flavor, he recommends a pineapple salsa using additional pineapple sage. Recipe follows. Miscellany
READ MORE ON Pineapple Sage?.
 A dry New Zealand Riesling, and a perfect summer wine choice. Under $20 AT WINE.COM Miscellany
 Just as you step out the door with picnic goodies in hand, the skies open up. Salvage the evening by spreading the blanket on the floor and watching the 1955 classic movie Picnic with William Holden and Kim Novak available to watch instantly from Netflix. Watch Instantly AT NETFLIX Miscellany
Two amazing iTunes collections for $3.99 each, Volume 1 & 2. Not a stoned soul picnic. More like a rock-altered picnic with folk and new bluegrass overtones. Get Matt Wertz, The Be Good Tanyas, Griffin House, Venus Hum and more. $3.99 AT iTUNES |
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