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October 4, 2009 in main course, sandwiches, shameless plug5 comments

basil-garlic mayonnaise on a blt

blt with basil-garlic mayonnaise

Neat, this made Foodie Views of the day! They gave me a pretty button to go with it:

Have I ever mentioned that the last thing I gave up when going vegetarian was bacon? Beef: I never liked it anyway. Nearly the same with chicken. Fish: next to last. I like me some canned tuna.

yes, that is bacon. used in a perfectly normal, bacony way. dammit.

I’m not going to wax poetic about bacon, though. That’s so 2008. Are you as tired as I am of candied bacon, bacon smoothies, bacon popcorn, and bacon ice cream? I’m sure they’re wonderful, but all of the swooning over bacon is becoming a tad unseemly. Let’s be seemly, shall we?

an even closer look. that sandwich is gonna bite you.

Suffice to say

But have you ever had one with basil-garlic mayonnaise?

basil-garlic mayonnaise on toast, ready for bacon

It elevates the humble BLT to a thing of beauty. The fresh basil complements the tomato, the garlic enhances the bacon, and a few drops of hot pepper sauce add little heat but a lot of flavor.

ooh, free bread!

Now, the nice people at Nature’s Pride sent me a couple loaves of bread: 12-grain and 100% whole wheat. Since they sent me free stuff, I’m likely to say nice things about it, so be forewarned. They make their bread with all natural ingredients and no HFCS, which is a big plus for me. When my cousin and I were making the sandwiches, he asked what kind of bread I had, and stipulated, “No whole wheat.” I gacked, because I don’t keep anything but whole wheat around. He had to get whole grains anyway, in the form of the 12-grain loaf.

He survived, and said the 12-grain was really good. Whether he was being polite or not I’m not sure. Either way, I don’t care. My sandwich got validation. Read more on basil-garlic mayonnaise on a blt…

July 18, 2009 in shameless plugno comments yet

help strawberry buttermilk shortcake win a contest

I’ve entered the strawberry buttermilk shortcake recipe and pic in a contest at Mixing Bowl.

Help me win the $250 prize and I’ll buy a neat little cooking gadget to give away!

Read more on help strawberry buttermilk shortcake win a contest…

i-can’t-believe-it’s-meatless tomato sauce

red wine tomato sauce

Hello, my pretties. We’ll be quick today in honor of tax season. I have a zillion e-mail records to go through (the bane of online work) and missing 1099s to calculate by hand. My tax preparer, who also happens to be my best friend from grade school, is in 90 degree-plus Virginia this week, so I really can’t say which of us has it worse.

mmm, red wine

This red wine tomato sauce recipe can be subbed for a jar of any red store-bought pasta sauce. I like to double or triple the recipe and freeze it because hey, if I’m going to the work of making my own sauce, I may as well have some for next time.

sautéed onions, coated in the spices

But is it really work? Read more on i-can’t-believe-it’s-meatless tomato sauce…

roasted red pepper and kalamata olive pasta sauce

nom nom nom

Sis and Mom were thrilled with the dinner party. “You can do this anytime,” they cooed conspiratorially, and they began plotting holiday schedules. “Thanksgiving, Christmas…no, Mom will still do Christmas…Easter….”

calm before the PARTY STORM

I hadn’t hosted an event of this magnitude before. A bit over a month ago my sponsor, Foodbuzz, contacted me with the offer to host a pasta and wine-pairing dinner party using free coupons supplied by Buitoni Riserva. That shit’s expensive, so I jumped at the chance. Read more on roasted red pepper and kalamata olive pasta sauce…

February 7, 2010 in shameless plugno comments yet

strawberries iphone app, and horseradish winner

strawberries iphone app screenshot

A few months back, Jodi from the California Strawberry Commission told me they were creating an iPhone app comprised of 50 strawberry recipes, and could she have permission to include my strawberry and feta salad recipe. After I picked myself up off from the floor, I said, go for it. Read more on strawberries iphone app, and horseradish winner…