Christmas Shopping

Michael (a.k.a. The Husband) recently put on his hero hat again and surprised me with a new
Hamilton Beach Food Processor - 70590. The hat became a crown when he said, “This isn’t an early Christmas present, I got it for you just to get it for you.” My shopping prince!

I started scouring all of my cookbooks and food magazines for humus recipes, pico de gallo recipes, and other opportunities to play with my new toy. I sort of flashed back to when I’d get a new Barbie for Christmas and I’d run around the house looking for new things for her to get into.

I got my ingredient list together and we headed off to Kroger. When we got back, I made a chunky Guacamole spread as well as my first attempt at humus. I used more garlic than the recipe called for…I guess years and years of watching Emeril has rubbed off on me. I also used a little bit more lemon juice (fresh from the lemon, of course) and actually substituted Organic Peanut Butter for the Tahini Paste. I read in more than one publication that many people (and even restaurants) substitute Peanut Butter because they prefer the taste and the cost.

Basically, I processed three cloves of garlic until they were minced nicely, then I added about 1/2 cup of loose curly parsley leaves - no stems were invited. I used the pulse method of processing until the parsley and garlic had mingled. Then I added two DRAINED cans of Garbanzo beans (also known as Chick Peas). I processed it until I got the consistency I needed, then added the juice of 1 very, very large lemon and some Olive Oil - enough to cover the top. Be sure you use the juice from a lemon and not lemon juice concentrate - it simply lacks the lemony goodness of the real thing. And, believe me, Garbanzo beans need a healthy dose of lemony goodness, without it, they just don’t have much personality or pop.

At this point, I removed the lid and used a handy little rubber spatula that came with my new culinary toy. I got the food off of the sides of the bowl and brought it back to the center where the action was. Then I added between 1/2 and 1 cup of peanut butter - closer to 1 cup.

If the humus is too thick, you can always add a little more Olive Oil - which I did, because…well, the peanut butter was way closer to 1 cup.

Add a little salt and pepper, remove the humus to a great-looking container, and you’re good to go.

At the time I served it with sliced wheat pita bread, untoasted. It was delicious, but I imagine that I’ll toast it first next time. Humus would be delicious served inside a hollowed out Sourdough bread bowl - wheat or regular - and served with crunchy vegetables.

For the chunky Guacamole, I processed two avocados with the juice of a lemon (the same lemony sermon above goes for Guacamole, too). Then I added about little about a tsp of chopped jalapeno - most wouldn’t want it this hot. However, my taste buds appreciate a good challenge. I also added a little minced garlic for good measure.

It was delicious, too. My tortilla chips were honored to take a hot little dip. They like a good challenge too.

I plan on experimenting with pico de gallo and salsas today. My taste buds are very much looking forward to it!

A few more quick tips:

I know that a lot of times I say things that make most of you seasoned cooks say, “I can’t believe she’s telling us that…” But keep in mind that there are lots of men/women/girls/boys who are new to the kitchen. I remember when I was new to the world of cooking, I’d get frustrated because the books would tell me, “Knead 10 minutes..” but wouldn’t tell me exactly how to do so. They seemed to be written with the assumption that I had a clue what I was doing. They couldn’t have been more wrong! So, that’s why you’ll often read things like the lemon sermon or “Use butter…not margarine..” - things that you may have learned by now. Reason? Not everyone has.

So, I want to point a few things out. First of all - a clove of garlic is one of the wedge-shaped portions that make up a head of garlic. It can be kind of confusing if you read “clove of garlic” and it can be kind of gross if you make the mistake in a recipe. Unless you’re cooking for Emeril, of course!

Second of all, always always always read through a recipe first. You don’t want to get halfway through and find that you need to chill the dish for 12 hours - when you were supposed to have it on the table in 30 minutes! Along that line of thinking, always be sure to get the ingredients you’ll be needing out on the counter before you begin. This way, if you have run out of something….a-hem…. that you could have SWORN you had….a-hem…you will know before you….a-hem a-hem….get in the middle of making your humus in your new Hamilton Beach Food Processor and have to run to Kroger for Olive Oil. Not that this has happened to anyone I know or anything.

Third of all, always use the freshest ingredients possible. The people who work in Kroger know me pretty well - I’m in there just about everyday, so they should. But I want my meat and produce to be as fresh as possible….plus, they’ve recently opened a Starbucks inside the store, so….

Finally, experiment! First, try a recipe the way it’s presented online or in the book/magazine, or on Food TV. Then, get crazy and substitute ingredients and amounts - make it your own. I’ve said it before, but my favorite recipes are ones I have come up with on my own or recipes I saw and “made” my own.

For example, one of the dishes I’m most known for is my Spinach-Artichoke dip. I actually first saw a similar recipe in an issue of Cooking Light. I thought, “That’d be good if all the Lows” and “Frees” were erased and if more cheese was added. So I tore the recipe out and headed to the store. I took the general idea and made an amazingly delicious recipe. I substituted the things that looked like they were on a diabetic’s doctor’s orders with things that looked like they were on Paula Deen’s shopping list. Then I threw in a little more of this and a lot more of that. In the end - Heaven!

Yes, as a matter of fact, I did take a healthy, lowish-calorie dish and fatten it up. I took good, common sense and turned it into Joi’s version of common sense. I did, indeed, go there.

That sort of thing defines me.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Hamilton Beach Food Processor. It’s easy to use, fun to use, and delicious to use!

The beauty above is the
KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer KSM150PS, MAJESTIC YELLOW and she’s number 2 on my list of Best Holiday Gifts for the Kitchen. I absolutely, positively love KitchenAid and all they represent. If one of their Stand Mixers ran for President, she’d have my vote. I’d plaster support stickers on my vehicle, put signs up in our front yard….sure, people would talk, but I wouldn’t let it deter me.

From Shop.com:

The KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer features a tilt-head for easy access to bowl and beaters! Holiday Special Offer! Free Gift Packaging on this item through 2pm EST December 12th. To get this offer, please select gift wrap for this item during checkout. Gift wrap charge will be removed upon checkout completion.

The tilt-head feature and generous 5-quart capacity make the KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer the ultimate in user-friendly design. Features 10 speeds and KitchenAid’s unique planetary mixing action, driven by a powerful 325-watt motor. Rugged all-metal construction ensures long life and quiet operation, and rubber feet anchor it securely while in use.

The Artisan has a 5-quart stainless steel bowl, with ergonomic handle and clear plastic pouring shield, but it can also accommodate the 3- and 4.5-quart bowls. Model: KSM150PS.

Product Features :

Tilt-head mixer style for clear access to the beater and bowl.

All-metal construction ensures long-life.

Direct drive transmission for durability.

Pouring shield minimizes ingredient splash-out and messy floor-itis.

10-speed slide control ranges from a very fast whip to a very slow stir.

High-performance, 67 point planetary mixing action insures ingredients are thoroughly mixed without frequent scraping or rotating bowl.

9-cup flour power 5-quart mixing bowl capacity with contoured bowl handle.

Multi-purpose attachment hub.

Made in USA

1yr free of charge warranty

Includes Professional wire whip.

‘C’ dough hook kneads yeast dough for bread and pizza recipes

Clear, two-piece pouring shield with enlarged chute for easy addition of ingredients

Instruction book and 26 full-color recipes.

Read more about the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer by clicking the link. The Majestic yellow is probably my favorite color, but they’re all pretty amazing. The yellow just stands out and looks so original - you gotta love its confidence.

Yahoo! has put together a great Top 10 Kitchen gifts list. I went through the list thusly, ‘”Need it, need it, need it, need it, I have my beloved Braun Tassimo Coffee Maker, Have something similar, I have Wolfgang Puck’s, want it, no use for it, have it.” Four needs, one want, Four have its, and one no thanks. Not bad!

Here’s the link to the list, see how you fare: Top 10 Kitchen Gifts from Yahoo! Shopping

Now for my very own Get Cooking List of Top Kitchen Gifts!

Since the room of the house I live in the most is the kitchen, I think I’m 110 percent qualified to make my own little list of Kitchen Gifts!

I’ve heard from quite a few (at least 10) of you who have bought the Braun Tassimo Coffee Maker because you read my recommendations -thanks for the vote of trust! I totally agree - it is amazing.

This beauty is available online (by clicking the link above) - or at Target or Macy’s. I honestly don’t believe they’re sold anywhere else. Other versions of the machine are, but not the one and only Tassimo.

So what makes Tassimo so special? My oldest daughter and I use our every single day. Our regular coffee maker serves us our morning cups, but when the afternoon or evening roll around, one cup is all we require. So, we turn to our Tassimo. We place our cup in the cup holder, put in the disc we’re in the mood for (whether it’s Espresso, Hazlenut, Starbucks House Blend, Chai Tea, Black Tea, Hot Chocolate, or any of the other countless coffees and teas. They’ve recently come out with an amazing line of Starbucks brand coffees - and, yes, we’re working our way through each one! They’re just like you get in a Starbucks coffeehouse.), wait a few seconds for the machine to warm up, push a button, and VOILA - a perfect cup of coffee!

The Braun Tassimo Coffee Maker would be perfect….make that, beyond perfect….for:

1. A college student. A Tassimo and accompanying discs would make you public hero #1 every day of the year for years to come. How cool’s that?!

2. Someone who lives alone. They can have a fresh cup of coffee anytime they want it.

3. Anyone who loves to have the newest, coolest things in their kithchen.

4. Busy individuals who come and go all day long. Sometimes they aren’t home long enough to drink an entire pot, but one cup would be just the thing to see them through the next leg of their journey.

5. An office. Coffee in a pot gets kind of…oh…I dunno…gross when it just sits there. But a Tassimo would give a perfectly brewed, fresh cup each and every time.

6. YOU!!!

More about the Tassimo Discs:
(from Macy’s.com)

So many beverages, so little time. Check out the ingenious T-Disc, designed to work exclusively with the Braun Tassimo machine, which provides you with all your favorite beverages with the same amount of work for all: next to none. Each T-Disc contains a precisely measured amount of coffee, tea, chocolate or concentrated milk, tightly sealed to protect the flavors inside. When you insert the T-Disc, the machine automatically calculates the amount of water needed, brewing time, and temperature to prepare the perfect beverage. Your beverage pours directly from T-DISC into your cup, so you can prepare different drinks, one after the other.

The hot chocolate discs make a heavenly cup of hot chocolate. Few things in the world pull me away from coffee or Chai tea lattes, but hot chocolate is one of them. Speaking of Chai Tea Lattes, there are discs for Chai Tea as well as discs of “Latte Milk Creamer.” When you brew the Chai Tea into your cup, then brew a disc of Latte Milk Creamer onto it —–Heaven in a cup! If you love Chai Tea Lattes, you’ll be over the proverbial moon at the prospect of being able to make one anytime you want it. No more running out to a coffeehouse at all times of the night.

There are also Cappuccino Foaming Milk discs that will turn any cup of coffee into a mind-blowing latte.

Okay, that was #1 on my list of Kitchen Gifts. The next post will be #2…and so on. I’ll post #2 in a little bit - right now I happen to be starving to death, so it’s time for a little nourishment. I’ve also talked myself into a Chai Tea Latte - so I’m going to run with the idea.

The gorgeous Elvis & The Beatles Collectible Salt and Pepper Shakers, above, would have any S&P collector shaking, twisting, and shouting. My mom always collected salt and pepper shakers and would have gone wild for these. The happiness wouldn’t have lasted long, thoug. Her sister/my aunt (who’s pretty obsessed with anything and everything Elvis) would have stolen the Elvis ones right in front of her and I definitely would have marched right off with the Beatles.

It would have been a sad ending to a happy story.

I’ve been thinking a lot about why Hollywood’s golden era and the musical icons of yesterday are so appealing. I think a lot has to do with the fact that they take us back to a MUCH simpler time. A time where there were no college tuitions, no mortgages, no lossed loved ones…basically, a time where the order of the day was to just enjoy it!

I remember when To Do Lists were something other people had to deal with. A time when the only To Do’s were what you were all ready doing. In honor of that whole line of thinking, and due to the fact that I have the Cold From Hell - I’m headed for the couch with a Keira Knightley DVD, a cup of coffee, and a smile.

And Kleenex, mustn’t forget the Kleenex.

As exciting and glorious as Thanksgiving and Christmas are, they’re also a little hectic. Buying this, buying that, getting this ready, getting that ready. I absolutely love it, but there’s a lot to be said for January 5th when all you have to do is sit back and look normal square in the eye.

But normal’s still weeks and weeks away, so let’s enjoy the madness!

First up? Dishes! If you’re anything like me, you’re madly in love with dishes anyway. I could, honestly, fill an entire room up with dishes. Shelves and shelves of the beauties - assorted and arranged by mood and color. My husband had a silly moment the other day and showed me a set of rooster dishes from Kohl’s. Don’t you just love it when someone waves the red flag in front of your face? Charge!!!!!

Something has occurred to me, though. I need a larger set of matching dishes for the holidays. When it’s just us, I don’t mind pairing lighthouses, sunflowers, daisy’s, and rabbits. Yes, rabbits. But someone just outside of the family might think I’m mad as a hatter. (When they get to know me better they realize there isn’t any doubt.)

Linens ‘N Things has the gorgeous Gold Banded Dinnerware Sets of 12 you see above. The beauty of this type of dish is that, while I love the plates with Turkeys (no idea why I capitalized the t in turkey, I guess they’re feeling formal today), Christmas trees, and especially snowmen, they’re obviously limited in the number of times they can make an appearance. But, when the dishes are elegantly white with a gold band, they can go from Thanksgiving to Christmas, from New Year’s to Easter, and from birthdays to Anniversaries, etc.

From the Website:
Sets of 12 classically styled dinnerware pieces with platinum trim can fit any table setting. They are the perfect extras for parties and holiday gatherings. Made of porcelain. Do not use in microwave or oven. Hand washing is recommended.

These beauties are on sell, right now, and , I swear on my cookbook collection, they’re a lot less than you’d expect.

The website has a lot….make that A LOT…. of gorgeous, original things for your home. Just in time to get it all glitzy and shiny for company. Niiiiice.

I just created something I’m pretty excited about: The Buttermik Press Store. It’s in conjunction with the most trusted and highly respected online presence of all: Amazon. If you think about it, you never, ever hear a negative thing about Amazon. When you handle everything you do as perfectly as they do, you get the reputation you deserve.

I guess that’s true with everything in life, huh?

Anyway, The Buttermilk Press Store is now officially open! I’ve created a delicious assortment of Shops (or Categories) for you to browse through. There are too many amazing cookbooks to even count, of course, but I also included a section for healthy eating. If we’re going to eat (which we are!), we might as well do so in a healthy way. You’ll also find a section on Outdoor Cooking which features books for grilling, camping, and tailgating.

Books aren’t all you’ll find, though. There’s even a Grocery section - officially making grocery shopping easier and faster than ever before.

My favorite category, of course, is the one titled “Coffee, Tea, and Espresso.” Oh, yeah, that’s where the really, really good stuff is.

I don’t want you to buy anything you don’t want or need, of course, but when you shop through The Buttermilk Press Store, you help to support this website and blog. So, I humbly ask you this favor: When you (or someone you know) find yourself in need of a book or other product on Amazon - I’d love for you to use this store to jump over to Amazon. Even if you aren’t after one of the products in the store….just using it as a launch pad works wonders! I really appreciate it.

Thanks and enjoy!
Joi

I’ll let you in on a little secret if you promise not to call me names. Right about…oh….I dunno… NOW…I start thinking about the holidays. I’ve already started looking into Halloween candy recipes, Thanksgiving Dressing recipes, unique Christmas Cookie recipes, and I’m already pricing huge Christmas trees. The months between September and January find me smiling ear to ear 24/7 - I live for this time of year!

So, naturally, I start thinking early about Christmas shopping. It sneaks up on most of us every year - so why not sneak up on it when it least expects it? You guessed it - August!

I’ve made a category called “Christmas Shopping” that I’ll start filling with the coolest, most amazing items I can find. They’ll be geared toward people who love cooking, coffee, food, tea, gadgets, etc….which is just about everybody.

Needless to say, of course, most of the items can be enjoyed any time of the year and they most certainly don’t have to be bought for someone else! I know, for example, that this candle set would be to me, from me, for me. I’d put one in every room of the house and walk around in java bliss.

Like the Caddy Set in the last post, this 10 Pc Coffee Candle Set is also from Cafe Belmondo. This is one website I’m quickly falling in love with.

Sold!