ThisNext Blog - *Food/Drink

when birthday cakes go wrong

VMA — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:24:36 +0000

Everyone attends a few birthday or celebratory parties each year. You know the routine - banners, presents, the occasional clown, cake with candles, off-key singing, etc. Typically, these events go off without a hitch, but every now and then, you get a botched cake. Courtesy of the Cake Wrecks blog, here are a few:

mac & cheese on a stick

VMA — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:31:33 +0000

We didn’t wanna believe it, but it’s been confirmed…this is indeed a real product. Microwavable macaroni and cheese with chilli sauce and beef bits served push-pop style. Other pasta dishes and even eggs are also available. This is part of an effort by parent company Breakstone Foods to dumb down dinners into a convenient and utensil-less, albeit offensive, meal.

Eat Like a Champ: The Michael Phelps Diet

VMA — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:16:10 +0000

As the world watched Michael Phelps break Olympic record and win 8 gold medals this summer, we couldn’t help but wonder…WHAT DOES HE EAT?? Try around 12,000 calories of food per day. How is that even possible? Well, to give you one example this is what he eats for breakfast alone: three fried egg sandwiches with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions, and mayo, one five-egg omelet, a bowl of grits, three slices of French toast with powdered sugar, three chocolate chip pancakes and two cups of coffee. What is even more fascinating is he has been quoted saying that he has trouble gaining weight. He seems too look JUST FINE to me.

Phelps continues to shock the world with his ability to come back from behind and steal races at the last minute, and for his pure determination to win. With that, we are all thankful that we get to watch him swim amazing races instead of watching him eat his three daily meals.

See more of the Eat Like a Champ: The Michael Phelps Diet list by DLP at ThisNext.

You are invited to my Tea Party!

VMA — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:00:45 +0000

I secretly want to be Alice In Wonderland… and have tea with the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts and all that. But actually I just love tea - especially British tea. Okay, I’m a bit of a snob and I will turn my nose up at Lipton. And some of the most fun of tea parties are the tea pots and dainty cups and the scones and cream and - well, everything is fun. So put on your kid gloves, cut up some cucumber sandwiches, try out your British Accent (we shan’t make fun) and have a spot o’ tea with me!

See more of my Mummy, I want to have a Tea Party! list at ThisNext.

californians, kiss trans fats goodbye

VMA — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:25:49 +0000

Californians, say goodbye to trans fats. The state with a long-standing commitment to consumer advocacy enacted legislation to phase out the use of these partially hydrogenated oils in restaurants. The law mandates that trans fats be removed from restaurant products by 2010 and from all retail baked goods by the following year. Similar bans have been adopted in New York City and Philadelphia, but adopting the measure in the most populous state is a clear victory for health and wellness proponents.

Trans fats are mainly the result of an industrial process called partial hydrogenation that modifies oils to extend their shelf-life. They raise levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and lower good cholesterol (HDL) levels increasing one’s risk of heart disease. In fact, Harvard nutritionists estimate that trans fats contribute to 30,000 premature coronary deaths per year. To truly understand the threat of trans fats, one statistic ties a 2% increase in their consumption over time with a staggering 25% jump in the likelihood of developing coronary heart disease.

There are trace amounts of naturally occurring trans fats in foods like cabbage, pomegranates, and milk, but consumption of such small quantities is not believed to have a deleterious effect.

Opponents to the ban argue that alternative oils are more expensive, a cost which will ultimately be passed on to the consumer, but many will counter that the premium is well worth the effects on our health. Further, a healthier population will ease health care demands and perhaps help to adjust prices downward over time.

The Perfect Margarita

VMA — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:04:04 +0000

I don’t know about you, but a refreshing margarita is my idea of a perfect way to start my weekend. Or my Tuesday night (kidding). But why go out to get a delicious margarita when you can make one at home? After years of making margaritas, I know exactly what you need to make a kick-ar*se drink for you and your friends to enjoy. Or just you, if you prefer.

Here’s the recipe for the Perfect Marg:

1 shot of tequila (1.5 oz to be exact)
1 oz of lime juice
1/2 oz of Cointreau
* add 1 tablespoon of Pomegranate juice for a summery Pomegranate Margarita!

- Shake in cocktail shaker, rim your margarita glass with kosher salt, pour into glass, serve, & ENJOY!
- For added tropical effect, include some Jimmy Buffet music playing softly in the background.

See more of my The Perfect Margarita list at ThisNext.

The ONLY Hot Sauce

VMA — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:42:42 +0000

As summer continues, so do the BBQ’s. What is my one necessity? A little bottle of hot sauce that goes by the name of Tapatio. It is spicy but does not bring tears to your eyes and adds excellent flavor to everything you put it on. I literally go through a bottle a week. No joke.

Let’s take a little trip into the history and culture of Tapatio. The company was started in 1971 (can you believe this sauce has become such a necessity in only 30+ years?) by Jose-Luis Saavedra Sr. in Southern California of all places. Tapatio actually is the name given to people from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico which is where Saavedra Sr. is from. Lastly, did you know Tapatio enthusiasts believe leaving an unopened bottle in the sun for up to 3 weeks enhances the flavor? That’s serious dedication to one’s hot sauce.

Sinful Indulgence

VMA — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:33:48 +0000

The legend has yet again resurfaced, making an appearance in the Google cafeteria in New York. Whisperings of this barely edible abomination had emerged years back, but like the Loch Ness monster, there were few credible sightings. What is it? Clearly the world’s unhealthiest burger and the bane of any human’s cardiovascular system. It’s a bacon cheeseburger sandwiched between a sliced glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut. Though it might tickle your taste buds, there’s no escape from any nutritional no-no’s here; the dish exceeds 1000 calories, has 45 grams of fat and is also high in carbs and cholesterol. If you’re up to the challenge, you can also find it being served just outside of St. Louis at a Gateway Grizzlies minor league baseball game. You can dump this one in the same category as all of those taboo carnival treats like deep-fried Snickers bars that were thought of by some evil genius.

Dress it up however you want, but it still is what it is.

Just fake it: Baking cookies

FashionKitty — Fri, 23 May 2008 17:07:43 +0000

I really like cookies, no wait, I freaking love cookies. I love cookies so much that I put myself on a one-year ban from them. Yes, I banned myself from cookies. The next cookie I have will be April 11, 2009 (yeah, I know the date). Anyways … just because I can’t eat cookies doesn’t mean I can’t share my cookie secrets with you.

I bake. Well I “fake-bake”. I always use the Betty Crocker’s cookie mix that comes in a bag. Slice and bake cookies taste like they came out of plastic tube. Those plastic tubes are great for eating cookie dough raw (yeah, I do that too) but for tricking people into thinking you spent hours in the kitchen — not so much.

A favorite of mine is Betty Crocker’s sugar cookie mix because you can turn them into pretty much any kind of cookie. I like to crush up pistachios and add dried cherries to the mix when I make cookies, which equals deliciousness! Betty Crocker had a baking mix contest earlier this year and the contestants came up with some delicious recipes … not that I tried them but the do look delicious. Check them out here>>

Balance 100 Calories Bars are Delicious

FashionKitty — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:36:05 +0000

I think you all know this by now but I will say it again for those who don’t … I am a big fan of energy bars. I constantly recommending them on ThisNext (heck, I should put a list together … think I will).

Anyways …

I was at Trader Joes today and I stumbled upon these Balance 100 calorie bars. Now I enjoy a good Balance Bar, some of the flavors taste pretty good but many of those flavors have about 220 calories, ouch. So I was delighted to see a bar for only 100.

My excitement almost made me buy 10 of them but I controlled myself and got one. Um, should have got 10. These things were good. Like too good to be an energy bar good. It kinda tasted like candy but candy that is only 100 calories. I am going to order a box to keep at my desk because really isn’t 100 calories better than 220?

Want to learn more about energy bars (the ones that don’t suck?) Check out my Energy Bars That Don’t Suck list on ThisNext.

Tangy-Sweet Phat Beets

Cory — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:31:39 +0000

I’ve you’ve ever experienced a home-pickled cucumber (or pepper, bean, or beet) from someone who has put a little thought into the project, you know it’s a science that mass-production just can’t replicate. The handcrafted, slightly-idiosyncratic touch of the home-pickler will offer you flavor combinations and an overall quality of freshness that cannot be matched. Of course, the right combination of creativity and a sense for what makes a good-old-fashioned pickle is key.

Bred from a youth spent pickling, Rick’s Picks walks a fine line between respecting tradition and pushing its boundaries. Sliced dill pickles with garlic (“Slices of Life”) and zesty pickled asparagus (“Whup Asp”) share space on Rick’s roster with green beans in a soy-wasabi brine (“Windy City Wasabeans”) and pickled beats in a rosemary-scented brine (“Phat Beets”). Recipes incorporate vegetables and herbs produced local to the brand’s New York City home, where Rick’s Picks has set up shop since 1997.

The recipient of a variety of pickling awards, including the Rosendale International Pickle Festival’s “Best in Show” honor in 2001 and 2002, Rick’s Picks has never strayed from its original goal of handcrafted, personalized pickling. In fact, you can stop by Rick’s Picks Lower East Side headquarters any day of the week and say hello to Rick himself.

Senseo Single-Serve Coffee Machine

Cory — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 10:41:43 +0000

These days, there’s absolutely no reason you can’t find a stylish coffee maker that visually matches the design-savvy tone of your kitchen. The real trick is tracking down a machine that creates a cup that is as satisfying as the device that produces it. Enter the Senseo Coffee Pod system.

The emphasis is on the individual cup of coffee with this machine, as it is designed for single-cup use. The pouring mechanism pours cleanly, extending directly over your cup, which rests on a handy warmer. For further convenience, the system utilizes single-serving coffee packets, which resemble tea bags and do away with the mess of coffee grounds and filters. A water reservoir in back holds up to 32 ounces of water and uses only enough for one 4- or 8-ounce cup at at time.

The Senseo is as quick, tidy, and easy as any coffee machine you’ll use, and it produces a tasty, frothy cup. The only potential drawback is that you are tied to the Senseo brand coffee packets. Assuming you like the brew, this machine makes a morning cup of coffee remarkably convenient.

White Castle Valentine's Day

andrea — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:55:42 +0000

Say what you will about their burgers - though it’s a challenge to think of something they haven’t said about themselves already - but White Castle’s branding and marketing departments deserve an award.

As they have done every year for a while now , White Castle will be serving candlelit dinner from 5-9pm on Valentine’s Day, complete with pink tablecloths, the Cupid Crave Kit, and BYOB bottle service - perfect for you and your totally chill significant other (especially if their name happens to be Kumar).

Photos of happy couples are posted to their website (consentually, of course) the next day. There’s nothing more romantic than a cheap date that makes you laugh. Genius!

You scream, I scream, we all scream for yogurt

Jacqueline 'Jax' — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:00:48 +0000

I recently saw this on the Food Network and I fell in love… Personally I hate the taste of yogurt - some are too sweet- too bland - and some, well they just suck ass. So in the desire to stop paying other people making your yogurt - make your own! I swear this idea is far more exciting at 3am, when I was hung over or on my way to being hung over.

Back to the machine, Salton makes two versions… one cup serving and 7 cup serving... you can add your own fruit into the mix or add whatever flavor you want. Personally, I’d like to know if you can throw some candy in there to make yogurt more…. health-esque- as in not very healthy but we’ll pretend it is.

So no matter your reason of why you want to make your own yogurt-

Health

Money

Boredom

Here’s to making 2008, a healthier one.

(almost) DIY Valentine's Day

andrea — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:53:26 +0000

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. You’re serious about this one, so drugstore chocolate in a heart-shaped box won’t cut it, but you definitely want to treat your girlfriend like a lady - problem is, you’re something of a tramp in the financial sector. What to do? Easy; whip up a romantic, DIY-style Valentine’s Day dinner with a twist. This little kit is sure to blow her mind and preserve your wallet - and save you the time it would actually take to do it yourself.

Step 1: Make a date for 2/14.

Step 2: Throw together those unbelievable Barefoot Contessa brownies (clockwise, from left) in the All-Edges Pan (yum).

Step 3: Put the Beach House record on repeat.

Step 4: Switch on a little rose-tinted mood lighting - and yes, that is flowers, candles, and a gift in one (plus hot cheap design - didn’t I see the same thing at Moss for $5k?)

Step 5: Soak in praise.

Step 6: You’re welcome.