Sloppy Joes…

Just in case you aren’t seven years old anymore attending summer camp, this is a time to reminisce about foods long forgotten.  The messy, delicious foods you loved as a kid. Unless you were brought up vegan or vegetarian (and for that I’m sorry) you definitely ate sloppy joes. I first remember them at a camp with my elementary school.  The messy goodness stuck with me forever.  However, it’s not something that comes to mind when I’m thinking of what to make for dinner. But last week when scrounging around at the grocery store looking for deals on meat, I saw some ground chuck marked down.  I immediately thought of sloppy joes for some reason.

Holiday Panettone…

Here’s to another thing included in the Christmas baskets, Panettone.  I’m sure you’ve all seen the cheesy “imported from Europe” Panettone loaves at the stores.  It seems exotic because we don’t have it year round.  News flash, it’s European fruitcake. Except for one thing, it’s good and people don’t use them as doorstops. I made it for the first time this year and thought to include it in the baskets for the heck of it.

 

Chocolate Crinkles…

It’s that time of the year again.  I’m referring to the tortuous slave-powered factory that churns out sweets every year.  I’m talking, of course, of my mom’s kitchen during the Christmas season.  Every year, we make literally thousands of cookies and seal them for Christmas delivery.  And you thought elves had it bad.  At least they’re happy about their jobs.  It’s a family tradition that everyone work for the cookie corporation.  Okay, so I’m bashing it a bit, but it did decrease my excitement about Christmas forever. Still love ya though, mom.

Somen Salad…

I arrived back in Hawaii the other day to spend the holidays with family. This also gives me the freedom to make whatever I desire.  First thing on my mind was somen salad after seeing some buckwheat soba noodles on sale at the store. I prefer the buckwheat soba to the white noodles because of nutritional reasons.  However, the buckwheat variety is also the traditional type, so stick with it if you’re going for a traditional Japanese dish.  They are served hot in soups or cold like I’m doing here.  They have a nice nutty, rich taste.

Have a Little Heart…

As the holidays approach, everyone should have some heart. Of course I mean showing love for others and eating heart.  I’m not trying to get all savage and cannibalistic here.  Beef heart is a forgotten feast. For some years now, there has been a slowly growing movement of foodies that make the most of any animal.  Now, this has been going on for thousands of years, but Americans have gotten stuck in this “chicken, pork, or beef” attitude neglecting the “odd cuts” not often seen at grocery store meat departments.  Liver, heart, cheeks, etc are all savored in Europe, but turned away here.  We’re committing culinary crime people! These are great cuts of meat and should be enjoyed.