Tender at the Bone - Review

Jennifer sent me Ruth Reichl's Tender at the Bone: Growing up at the Table recently. I was predisposed to like it as I had read another of the author's books, Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise, after Dawn recommended it to me.

Reichl takes you on a journey - her story of the people and experiences that shaped her love of food and all things food related (cooking, baking, restaurants, wine, food writing, and of course eating and entertaining). Each chapter includes a recipe that is at the heart of what she's sharing - so not only can you travel along with her, you can cook and eat your way along as well! Let me tell you (without giving away anything) that her life growing up was a bit more exciting than most - her extended family being a bit eccentric (some of them in fact mentally ill) with a good deal of travel and time spent abroad.

This would be a great book to read while traveling (or during another activity where you are frequently interrupted) because each chapter can stand alone. I definitely recommend it and look forward to trying some of the recipes! (I'll let you know how they turn out.)

Berry Muffins

A long-time favorite in our house, this recipe comes from my Mom.

4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups fruit

Topping
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. In a mixing bowl cream sugar and butter. Add eggs, milk and vanilla: mix well. Stir in the dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in fruit. Fill greased or paper-lined muffins cups two-thirds full. Combine sugar and nutmeg, sprinkle over muffins. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Yields about 2 plus dozen.

The recipe was for frozen blueberries; we almost always use red raspberries.

Ecowatch.org launches in Cleveland

I learn the most interesting things reading Cool Cleveland and watching their videos. Last week I learned that Ecowatch.org launched in Cleveland because of its significance in the environmental movement. In an interview while he was in town, RFK Jr brings so many points from the struggle to protect the environment down to Earth. Definitely worth a watch to hear him lay out the issues involved so eloquently.
http://ecowatch.org/
@ecowatch on Twitter

Back from Hiatus

image source

Not sure what happened but I went a few months with very few posts! I apologize for my unplanned hiatus. I'm writing new posts and hope to get back to my regular six day a week schedule here on the blog. If you have questions or things you'd like to see me write about, give me a holler. xoxo and thanks for reading.

Meatless Monday

Quote of the Week

from Kerry's Kronicles via pinterest

Cinnamon Apple Chex Mix

This was recommended by CWRU Alpha Chi Omega who sold it at the Domestic Violence Awareness Week Bake Sale last month. Easy to make and mildly addictive (and high in fiber too!).

Ingredients
5 cups Wheat Chex® cereal
1 cup lightly salted whole almonds
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped dried apples
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt-covered raisins

Directions:

1. In a large microwavable bowl, mix cereal and almonds.

2. In a 2-cup (I used a 1-cup) microwavable measuring cup, microwave butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and cinnamon uncovered on High about 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until mixture is boiling. Stir.

3. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated. Microwave uncovered on High for 3 minutes, stirring and scraping the bowl after every minute. Stir in apples; microwave on High for another 2 minutes just until the apples begin to brown on edges. 

4. Spread mixture on waxed paper, foil or parchment paper to cool, 5-10 minutes. I stirred it occasionally to make sure it wasn't clumping together. Store in an airtight container.

Nutritional info:

1 Serving: Calories 220 (Calories from Fat 80); Total Fat 9g (Saturated Fat 3g, Trans Fat 0g);Cholesterol 10mg; Sodium 200mg; Total Carbohydrate 32g (Dietary Fiber 4g, Sugars 15g); Protein 4g from Chex.com

Update 11/8/l1: I altered the recipe to use the whole box on Wheat Chex. It was so annoying to have that little bit leftover.

1 14-ounce box Wheat Chex (about 7 to 7 1/2 cups of cereal)
1 1/2 cups lightly salted almonds (we use half plain raw almonds and have roasted salted almonds)
6 Tablespoons of butter (if unsalted, add a big pinch of salt)
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
3 Tablespoons light corn syrup
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cup chopped dried apples
3/4 cup vanilla yogurt-covered raisins

Follow the rest of the directions as written. It took about 30 seconds longer for the apples to start to brown on the edges but otherwise was the same and turned out great!