cooking: le creuset

27 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by eat-drink-fly.com in food & cooking Tags: ,

in my dream world/fantasy kitchen, all my cookwear is le creuset and in the caribbean blue colour and it’s fucking awesome.
in reality, my kitchen consists of mismatched cookwear that i’ve assembled over the years… some is high end, some is cheap just to “get me through” whatever i had to make…
the long term plan is to piece by piece upgrade my collection.
it’s a slow process.

i stumbled up on the le creuset outlet store yesterday and i was so excited i may have peed a little.  (no, i didn’t, don’t worry – but really, how did i *not* know this existed?!)
to make things even more enticing, there was a scratch & save promotion where you could get another 25-35% off… and i scratched the highest amount of 35% off.  so clearly, it was ON.

i could have spent hundreds here, but i used restraint and tried to only buy what i needed and what i use a lot of.
the number one choice was this pot.
i’ve coveted it for a while and it retails for $110 or more and i picked it up for $40.
and it was the very last one they had in my colour.  i bought it off the display.  (whew, what would have happened if i couldn’t get it in the right colour?)

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this mixing bowl was a bit of a luxury item… i have one in melamine and it’s in perfectly good condition, but i use it a LOT.  so i figured it was a good choice for upgrading.

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and the rest was casserole dishes.
i selected the smallest one for things like asparagus and small side dishes… and then the larger blue one for everyday use… and then the guy working there gave me a red one for free because i spent over $100.

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all in all i spent $120 there and got over $250 in merchandise.
so i felt pretty freaking good about my life decisions.
and my coworkers laughed at me because i was so excited.

next up on my to-buy list is the following:

the kettle… my current kettle was $5 at a dollar store and desperately needs replacing… it’s a piece of junk.
and clearly, this one is superior in every way.

and the butter dish:

i do have a super awesome butter dish currently, but my husband dropped the lid last week and chipped it… so in the not so distant future, it will need replacing.

and then i pretty much just want everything else in the caribbean blue collection to make my kitchen complete.
that’s not too much to ask, is it?

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food & travel: the crab pot, seattle

27 Feb 2012 2 Comments

by eat-drink-fly.com in food & cooking, restaurants & dinning out Tags: , ,

we ate some fine meals in the fair city of seattle over the weekend… but my favourite one was here:

it’s called The Crab Pot and it’s certainly not fancy, but it was delicious and fun as hell.

www.thecrabpotseattle.com

i had first seen this place on Man VS Food, so clearly i was already sold… but it was AWESOME.

basically, this is your plate…

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and then you get a bib…

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and then they dump a giant pile of seafood infront of you and you literally get cracking.

this, my friends, is fucking spectacular.

so basically if the clip from Man VS Food on the Crab Pot website doesn’t sell you… and these pictures don’t sell you… well, i just can’t help you.

i actually have nothing else to say about this.  i feel like i could eat every meal here for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy.

travel: seattle

24 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by eat-drink-fly.com in travel Tags:

seattle may not seem like an overly exciting destination for travel… especially when you live in vancouver (aka – seattle’s cooler & better looking sister) but it can be fun for a weekend.
or so i’ve heard.

truth be told, i’ve been to seattle 3 times.
that’s it.
once in grade 12 for a photography day trip (1997).  once with sony music to see franz ferdinand overnight (2004) and once for an incubus show overnight (2007).
i’ve also been in their airport transiting twice… does that count for much?
oh, and one time i ate by the university in seattle on my way to portland…
for someone that’s lived just 2.5hours north of it for my whole life, it’s definitely not a lot.

while i know it’s a beautiful fun city, it’s just so much like vancouver that i haven’t been overly motivated to cross the border, spend american money, drive several hours and pay for a hotel to enjoy it.
and on the other hand, i haven’t really had the opportunity to do so… it’s not like the seattle invites come fast and furious attcha every weekend.

but this weekend, it’s care of my boss.
we’re heading down this morning and will be back on sunday.  effectively doubling my seattle time in my life up to this point.

the schedule is fairly fixed, but will allow for a little free time tomorrow morning and i’m hoping to either get in some shopping or maybe even to the science fiction museum.
it will factor greatly on my hangover.

but mostly i’m looking forward to wandering and exploring.  so i sure hope the rain stays away.
i’m guessing either today or tomorrow we’re doing an epic scavenger hunt.  my boss loves those things.
so there will be lots of photo opportunities i imagine.
and you know, even if the weather is no good, i’m taking my waterproof camera, so i should be able to get some fun pictures.

we’re staying at the beautiful fairmont olympic.  which i’m also excited about… although my last stay in seattle was at the W, so i’ll have high expectations.

one thing i’d very much like to do, that i don’t think will happen is visit the experience music project.
i’ve been wanting to go since it opened, but never had the opportunity.  no one that drives has been keen to do a specific trip with me for it, and my past seattle visits have been with purpose and no time/interest in deviations from the plan.
so, EMP will stay on the list of things to do “one day” when i go back to seattle… judging by my track record, that’ll be in about 5 more years, lol.

we’re being wined and dined this trip, so the restaurant selections will be out of my hands, as will pretty much every other decision, and that’s exciting to me.
since my seattle experiences are so limited, it’s like everything is brand new to me.  and the majority of my coworkers seem to know if very well, so i’m in good hands.
i’m really looking forward to making no decisions and just going where i’m taken.  rumour has it there will be some dancing at a gay bar tonight.  things with my work folks tend to get out of hand.  very quickly, lol.
full censored report to follow… have a great weekend!

food: paleo fried rice

22 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by eat-drink-fly.com in food & cooking, paleo Tags: ,

another day, another paleo cooking adventure…
today, i tackled the giant piece of cauliflower in my fridge.
no, it’s literally over 2kgs.  i got it at costco.  it’s a monster.

in the paleo cookbook world, i often see cauliflower “rice” mentioned.
apparently ricing or grating cauliflower makes for a decent rice substitute.
or so they tell me.
and i like cauliflower, and i miss rice… so i’m game.

but, a big old bowl of cauliflower isn’t much of a balanced meal (although, in truth i used to happily eat bowls of rice with butter, salt & pepper for dinner in my radio poor days and call that dinner, but i digress…)
anyways, in addition to the cauliflower monster, i also have to clean out my fridge… so i made myself some paleo fried rice.
basically i made it exactly how i would have made regular fried rice… which, let’s face it, is definitely a “cleaning out the fridge” recipe.

Paleo Fried Rice for 1

  • 2 cups of cauliflower, raw, grated
  • 1 – 2 cups of mixed chopped vegetables (i used broccoli & peas)
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/4-1/2 cup of leftover meat (i used chopped roast from dinner last night)
  • wheat free soy sauce
  • sesame oil
  • garlic, crushed
  • green onions, chopped
  • hot sauce to taste
  1. saute grated cauliflower & garlic (i used a little butter for this) until lightly brown over medium heat (5-7 minutes)
  2. add veggies and cook as desired (i like mine almost raw)
  3. add meat, heat through
  4. add beaten egg, mix well
  5. season with soy sauce, sesame oil & hot sauce
  6. finish with green onions

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you know what?
this was GOOD.
like, really really good.

my husband wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole, as his mortal enemies include cauliflower, broccoli and peas… but i thought it was awesome.
quick, easy and achieved the goal of cleaning out the fridge and not leaving the house for groceries.

i shall be trying more of this cauliflower rice… although it was a bitch to grate.  i’m getting myself a food processor very soon.

drinks: the grinder red wine

21 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by eat-drink-fly.com in booze & other drinkables Tags:

also on the “fun & delicious” list is this little gem called The Grinder.

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it’s very chocolaty and rich and i love it a lot.
in fact, it might be a new favourite.
and i know this because my husband went back and bought two more bottles today.

so, here’s the tasting notes from the BCLC…

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overall, i agree.
we enjoyed it tonight with a coffee rubbed grass fed bison roast and the resulting combination was pretty orgasmic.
dare i say, the perfect pairing.

food: paleo pancakes

20 Feb 2012 5 Comments

by eat-drink-fly.com in food & cooking, paleo, wheat free Tags: , , , , ,

monday is my sunday this week.
meaning its all about pajamas and couch love and a big breakfast.
and today, i had a hankering for pancakes.

i’ve been getting more brave about the coconut flour cooking.  and i came across a recipe that had great reviews for some coconut flour pancakes and figured i may as well give it a shot.

like all my recipes, qualification number one was that i had everything on hand in my pantry or fridge.
check.
so here’s the recipe… i’m not going to type out how to make a pancake.  if you can’t figure out how to make that go, then i’m not sure a recipe will help you in life.

Paleo Pancakes for 2 people

  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 1 tbsp coconut syrup (i used agave syrup)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  1. beat together eggs, milk, vanilla & syrup until frothy.
  2. add dry ingredients
  3. beat/mix until well combined with no lumps
  4. make pancakes

i served mine with sausages with blueberries & maple syrup inside.  (they came from costco and are a delight)

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the pancakes turned out quite lovely.  great texture and light coconut taste to them… myself & the husband really enjoyed them.
they’re definitely not an everyday food, but as a special treat every now and then, i give this recipe a gold star.

drinks: bear flag red wine

14 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by eat-drink-fly.com in booze & other drinkables Tags:

last week i was window shopping at the liquor store and saw this pamphlet for “Fun & Delicious” wines.
well… i like both those things, i said to myself.

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i chose two of them to take home.  because at under $14 a pop, that’s a good investment.
also, i have the aerator which saves even the shittiest bottle of wine.

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i found the bear flag to be a tasty choice.  and for the price point, definitely a winner.
usually i stay away from “animal wines”, but the bear is in reference to the state flag of california, so i’ll let it go.
this was a “nothing special” kinda red, but nice and drinkable.  the first glass was a little abrasive, even with the aerator, but after a few minutes it had mellowed out nicely.
i would buy this one again.

food: fudgy coconut flour brownies

13 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by eat-drink-fly.com in paleo, wheat free Tags: , , , , ,

well, i took the plunge tonight and attempted my very first paleo baking experiment.
it went much better than expected.

first off, i managed to find a recipe for something i actually wanted to eat… and one that actually had ingredients that i owned in my house already.
and that, my friends, is the only way i’ll bake.

i stumbled upon the recipe from this blog.
and of course, i changed a few things to suit what i had on hand.
below is my version, based on her version.

Fudgy Coconut Flour Brownies
1 cup coconut flour
2/3 cup good cocoa powder
2 squares of unsweetened baking chocolate
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
¾ cup butter
1/4 cup olive oil
3 extra large eggs
1/2 cup lukewarm water
2 tablespoons regular rum
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
¾ cup agave syrup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1.) In a large bowl, sift together the coconut flour, salt, cocoa, and baking powder. Set aside.

2.) Cut butter into chunks and place in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until melted then add the chocolate chips and mix just until they soften. Quickly remove from heat and continue stirring until everything is combined. Let cool.

3.) In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and agave syrup. Add the oil, rum, and vanilla. Followed by the cooled chocolate butter mixture.

4.) Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry. The coconut flour tends to suck moisture quickly so don’t worry if the batter clumps. Use the lukewarm water to loosen it up by drizzling a little bit at a time until it is all absorbed but the batter is still wet. If you need to, add up to ¼ cup more water.

5.) Pour the batter into a 9” square baking pan lined with parchment paper.

6.) Bake for 30 minutes until the top is dry to the touch and the batter is firm.

7.) Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before lifting the parchment paper to remove the brownies from the pan. Slice and eat right away for a warm, cakey brownie or let sit over night for a firmer fugier one (or have it both ways!)

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the brownies turned out pretty much exactly as described. fudgy and dense and very crumbly. but good. nice subtle coconut undertone and I liked the texture quite a bit.
definitely not health food, but a great lesson that there can indeed be treats!

food: coconut flour

10 Feb 2012 1 Comment

by eat-drink-fly.com in food & cooking, paleo, wheat free Tags: , , ,

i’ve said i before and it bears repeating…  i am not a baker.
following instructions to a T is not my strong suit.
but, i can do it if i have to.

about a month ago, i purchased a bag of coconut flour with intentions of baking with it.
or using it for something…
i’m actually not sure what i was thinking, it just seemed like one of those household staples for people that don’t eat wheat.

so it’s been taunting me from my cupboard ever since.
with it’s high price tag and promise of awesomeness.

i’ve been reading a bazillion recipes for paleo baked goods… but the problem is that a) i don’t really like baking and b) i don’t really care about baked goods anymore.

so i’m a bit stumped as to how to use it.

i did have a vision the other day of using it to “bread” a piece of fish and frying it so make a mock fish & chips.  in fact, i was even considering making a tempura out of it.  i have no idea if this is a “real thing” or if i’m just dreaming up wild ideas that this flour isn’t meant for.

i do know this; it’s super absorbent.  all the recipes i’ve read call for shockingly little coconut flour.  like 1/2 a cup to several cups of liquid/eggs/oil/ect.
which is warping my perceptions of what i know about baking.

this weekend i’m planning to hunker down and try out some recipes.  so i’d love to hear any experiences or suggestions or recipe ideas.  because, i frankly, have no idea where to start.

drinks: mon ami rascal

06 Feb 2012 3 Comments

by eat-drink-fly.com in booze & other drinkables Tags: ,

tried a new wine tonight.  mon ami rascal.
what can i say… it’s red, french and pretty affordable.
picked it up for $11.99 at the beer & wine store that is super tits awesome by moonbeam’s house.

i know its monday, but i had a tough day.  i deserve wine dammit.

but this liquor store has a section of top picks below $10 and top picks below $15.
and since i’m broke, but not cheap… i went for the top picks below $15 and grabbed this little guy.

it’s not like ridiculously awesome, but for the price point and once you run it through the aerator, it’s really quite tasty.
perfect choice for a monday night.
you know… when you need a glass of wine, but don’t want to open a $20 bottle.
that’s this guy.

plus, the cap made me laugh a little.  so that’s gotta be worth a couple bucks.

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