Oreos — I Just Can’t Say No

I’m kind of a foodie. I love fine dining. I’m generally a big proponent of quality — organic, unprocessed, etc. However, I also have a total weakness for Oreos. Double Stuf Oreos, in particular. It’s a little ridiculous — they are so processed. I’m not even sure what the white paste in the middle is. I probably can’t name more than a few of the numerous ingredients. They are kind of the antithesis of everything we’re supposed to be eating.

A Lovely Bakeshop

Lovely: A Bake Shop

I lunched yesterday at Lovely: A Bakeshop, a little bakery right around the corner from my apartment, as I had a Groupon needing to be used.

I started with a pain au chocolat. Although it was smaller than I would have liked, it was delicious. Flakey, buttery, that crisp outer layer — this was no cheap supermarket croissant; this was the real deal. The chocolate was dark and actual chocolate, not that grainy, oversweet paste found in substandard chocolate croissants.

Pain Au Chocolat from Lovely

I Love Ice Cream

 

DQ Reeses Peanut Butter Cups Blizzard

When I was little, my dad insisted that we get the ice cream with the vanilla bean specks. Then, we’d put Hershey’s syrup on it and call it “mud on snow” (looking back, it doesn’t sound particularly appetizing, but I liked it at the time). My dad was a purist — only vanilla ice cream, ever, and then he’d add toppings (usually chocolate syrup). Sometimes, I’d put peanuts on my ice cream; I think I got that from my mom (salty-sweet is a great combination). I’d then add malt powder and mix everything together like a spoonable, slightly chunky shake (well, malt). Very yummy.

The Minnesota State Fair: The Great Minnesota Get-Together

I love the Minnesota State Fair. Of course, for me, the State Fair is all about the food. Well, maybe the baby animals as well (the Miracle of Birth station? Adorable!). I’ve been going to the State Fair for as long as I can remember, although I didn’t go last year because I was in Chicago already. I’ve even worked at the State Fair — for three years with Pita Gourmet (which has since been replaced by Big Fat Bacon) and for one year at Sweet Martha’s.

Makes Me Smile: Busch Cookies

Share something that makes you smile.

I love cookies. Crunchy cookies, cakey cookies, chewy cookies — all kinds of cookies make me happy. Some cookies, however, are not only delicious but are also close to my heart for sentimental reasons. Busch cookies are a prime example. 

Favorite 10 Dishes of 2010

1. Le Cellier Mushroom Filet Mignon — with wild mushroom risotto, white truffle and herb butter sauce — Le Cellier at Epcot (Disney World)

2. Florida Yellow Tomato Gazpacho — Citrus-infused Lump Blue Crab, Grape Tomatoes, and Chive Oil — Citricos at the Grand Floridian (Disney World)

Food for the Potluck!

I can bake! More importantly, I can bake bread! I was a little worried — I haven’t made bread in ages, and it would be really embarrassing if I spent all this time making it . . . and then it didn’t rise, or it tasted bad, or it just looked really unappetizing.

This Whole Vegan Thing

I’m really trying to eat a more vegan-influenced diet. Or rather, I’m trying to cook in a more vegan-influenced way, since it hasn’t really affected how I eat outside of the apartment (not that I’ve done a terrible lot of that). I think the hardest things to avoid are cheese and ice cream (and, to a lesser extent, butter). And sugar and such things — I haven’t bothered figuring out whether such things are okay, given that I’m still eating meat when I’m at restaurants.

I sort of wonder where this is going. I’m not really doing it for animals rights issues (otherwise, I would have be avoiding meat full-stop), although I recognize that there are plenty of those. I suppose part of it is almost because it’s a challenge, to see if I can. A little of it is for health reasons. Also partially because I’m still job-searching, and meat is expensive, as are eggs and dairy products.

Largely, I think the reason why I’m at least trying it out is that I think eating lower on the food chain is better for the environment.