GT Express

Hello long lost friends, I have returned to you to blog about yet another excellent product. I know you have missed my adorable wit, so I shall now regail you with tales of something called The GT Express 101. I know everyone has bypassed this informercial which generally plays on lazy Sunday afternoons. For most people this is just a program on the television that you flip past (much like spanish soap operas and money making pyramid scheme shows), however, I assure you that the GT Express informercial far surpasses the quality of many television programs that Bravo dares to call "shows". As a regular infomercial fan, I regularly watch the ones concerning food, you know The Magic Bullet and the GT Express being my favorites. I always wondered if they worked as well as they claimed. To my surprise, and delight, my roommate Katherine brought home the famous GT Express and as we squealed with excitement, we began to make our first GT meal. We decided upon smart dog cresents, as mentioned below. Of course the GT performed splendidly! It far surpassed my expectations for quality, speed and efficiency. Granted, we did have to turn the dogs manually because even though they claim to heat from the top and bottom, it did not work as effectively as advertised. But, it is tv, they can lie, apparently. So friends, I encourage you to try this great product, but don't throw out all other appliances, despite what the infomercial says, it can't do EVERYTHING. Have a delicious day!

Woman's Best Friend - The Smart Dog

On occasion, I enjoy a hot dog, on the 4th of July or nestled in a layer of doughy deliciousness. However, I have been on this new kick recently where I try to eat less meat, thereby decreasing my evironmental impact. I have debated buying these smart dogs before, mainly because they are significantly more expensive then regular dogs (probably because soy costs more to make than animal by-products). I was also hesitant to purchase them because I could not be sure if they were tasty or not, and since I hate wasting food, I would have felt so guilty I would have had to eat all of them regardless. But this week, Smart Dogs were on sale so I decided (with some help from my roommate Katherine) to take a chance and buy them.

The packaging said to boil them, but I disregarded that suggestion because every true hot dog lover knows real hot dogs are grilled. I grilled the Smart Dog, and my bun, covered it in dill relish and ketchup, the way I eat all hot dogs and took my first vegetarian step. ..

I found the dogs to be flavorful and have an identical texture to authentic hot dogs, which qualify them to be an excellent alternative to eating unhealthy, heart-clogging hot dogs. Another advantage to eating these instead of real hot dogs is the lack of fat content, 0 grams. No fat, trans fat, saturated fat, and only 45 calories a dog versus the 300 calorie, 10 grams of saturated fat in a real hot dog. And what for, meat that has been processed, shredded and squeezed out ? I think I will stick to my Smart Dogs and not purchase a real hot dog again. Because they do have a different taste, I think I will try to use a different recipe to incorporate these 45 calorie, meatless dogs into another meal. Maybe a pig-in-the-blanket type recipe...

When I was little, my mom and I would make this version of pig-in-a-blankets using hot dogs. We would take the dogs, make a slit down the middle horizontally and fill it with cheese. Then we would take Pillsbury cresent roll dough and roll the hot dog up into the cresent and bake it in the oven. Once we pulled out those rolls you could smell the wonderful aroma of our homemade (almost) pig-in-a-blankets, and you just new they were going to be delectable. This is to be my next experiment with the dogs, I will report back soon..

The Next Food Network Star!

For the past few Sunday nights at 9/8 central I could be found in front of my television anxiously following the Food Network's summer reality series "The Next Food Network Star". Right from the beginning, I pegged Jeffrey and Melissa to be the final two. I was pulling for Melissa because she seemed so happy to be in the kitchen and she had no formal training so that naturally made her an underdog. Regardless, she won, and got her own show called $10 dinners, its all about how to make cheap, delicious meals at home. Her four-step guide to making dinner is super easy and definitely something I will be trying at home.

I do not have any food experiences this week, as of yet, however, I am planning on making cake pops later this week. Yes that is right, they are cake lolly pops. I will keep you posted. . .

The Magic (Taco) Bus

Photo Courtesy of Jessica (Pickles) Faulk, my friend and co-worker.

This summer I am living in Sherman and to break the monotony of chain restaurants, my friend Sarah and I made a pact to try all the local eateries which we never before dared to enter. One of which included the locally acclaimed "taco bus", yes you read correctly this fantastic fare is found inside a school bus. Upon pulling into the parking lot, shared with the liquor store next door, we saw a sign that "open, come inside." I won't lie, I almost did not dare to enter this uncharted territory. But with Sarah's encouragement, I went up the stairs of the bus and to my surprise found the most delightful restaurant inside. Where seats used to be, were counters so that patrons could look out the window while eating authentic Mexican dishes. In the back of the bus is the kitchen, where I eagerly placed my order for a chicken burrito, they asked if I wanted green sauce, to which my answer is always, "YES!" I sat in a chair, staring out into the abyss of liquor store patrons which passed by the window with their brown bags while I waited anxiously, for about 5 minutes. Sooner than I expected, my order was complete and I hardly believed the bag that was being handed to me was mine, the burrito was 18" long! We quickly paid for our food, ($6 a piece!) and left the bus to rush home and eat, to our delight the burrito was absolutely scrumptious! It was made with fresh ingredients, and huge, large enough for two meals, with green sauce. The green sauce deserves its own place on the menu, it comes in a small baggie which is not the most accessible for putting on burritos, but I soon discovered why it was packaged as such. Fire erupted on my palate, the green sauce is only for those accustomed to eating particularly spicy mexican fare or those prepared to dose their mouths with water. In short, don't judge a bus by its outer shell, for it may prove to be a ride full of delectable flavor.

The Most Versatile of All Fruits

Tomatoes. Some hate these red, under appreciated fruits/veggies, however, there is more than meets the skin of this juicy crimson delight. Whether it is through the vein of ketchup, raw to compliment a main course or my personal Southern favorite, fried green tomatoes, almost everyone inevitably has tasted a tomato. However, new studies have shown that the lycopene found in tomatoes can also be good for the skin. I recently read that applying a undiluted tomato paste as a mask, once a week for 5 minutes, can actually improve your skin. Apparently, tomatoes are number one when it comes to anti-aging products. Another beauty tip of the friendly tomato: restoring natural hair color after multiple trips to a chlorinated pool. Simply use undiluted tomato juice, apply to hair, wait five minutes and rinse. Who knew that there was more to tomatoes than just ketchup?

BBQ Bacon Cheddar Roastburger

For many years I have discriminated against Arby's on the unfounded belief that the chain was gross. Any food establishment that claims fake cheese sauce as a main condiment could not be worth my time. Well yesterday, I was proven wrong, I went to Arby's on the pretense of getting a free roastburger with the purchase of a small drink. I figured the worst that could happen was I would not enjoy it, or I would die, but that latter was not very likely. Plus, I had been secretly wanting to try the roastburger, but refused to admit it (until now) and would not pay for it. Now was my opportunity, Arby's Wednesday deals allowed me to literally have my roastburger and eat it too... for free! After ordering my drink, the person at the window asked which kind of roastburger I would like for free, BBQ Bacon Cheddar, All-American and Bacon & Bleu. Since I was with Brooke and Kate, we each selected a different one so that we could try them all.

Conclusion to this epic food excursion: bleu was by far the best, all-american is for those who want a mayo-covered burger but don't want the fried, gresy patty and finally, the bbq bacon cheddar tasted like a bar-b-que sandwich complete with sauce and even dill pickles.

A Certain Bleu Hue

Tonight on the food network, one of my favorite shows "Unwrapped" featured blue foods. I found one segment particularly grabbed my attention, it described the process from which springs one of the most pungent of stinky cheeses. The middle child of the cheese world. The unloved, misunderstood bleu. Many dismiss this stinky cheese purely on the basis of the smell, strange coloring and unfortunate reputation which inevitably follows. Well, if you are one of those misguided souls, I encourage you to try bleu; because bleu cheese is one of those foods you eat and instantly fall in love with or immediately regret putting into your mouth. While stinky, its bleu flavor envelops your mouth and provides a delicious, creamy sensation unlike most others in the cheese family. Bleu can be paired with wonderful aromatic fruits, wines and various meats to bring out subtle flavors. So, in short this is my advocacy on behalf of the under-appreciated bleu. Try something new, try bleu.

The Best Hot Sauce Known to Man (or at least me)

It is a common misconception that Frank's RedHot is the best hot sauce. Many love it's spicy taste and versatile uses, it is great for dipping, topping and flavoring just about any dish. Even the fast food chain Jack in the Box has jumped on the band wagon by featuring this hot sauce on their new mini chicken buffalo ranch sandwiches. However, I disagree with all of these people; they just have not discovered the dazzling hot flavor of Valentina Hot Sauce. Coming in at a mere .79 cents, these bottles pack a punch of flavor and are particularly delicious when accompanied by Lays Baked Chips. You can find this hot sauce in any major grocery store, next to the other hot sauces. So I recommend jumping off the wagon and onto the flavor-town train. Plus, if you don't enjoy it, you have spent less than 80 cents, I have more change than that in my couch cushions. Don't deny it, until you try it!

Heavenly Peanut Butter Dream Bars

Photo from Cook Yourself Thin

I have found heaven on earth, in the form of "Cook Yourself Thin" peanut butter dream bars. The bars are surprisingly easy to make and absolutely delicious. I purchased this "Cook Yourself Thin" cookbook in the effort to drop a dress size while still eating the foods I love; which is the motto of the book. One of the only problems I encountered while making this delectable dessert, after of course checking the ingredients list and purchasing the lacking items. Naturally, I did not read how to make these bars so when it came time to use an electric mixer, which of course, I don't own, I came to the realization that I would have to whip the cream cheese myself. I bought the silly book because it advertised simple, low calorie recipes and so I assumed that I would not need any real kitchen tools, wow was I wrong. Instead of the 7 minutes on high power it would have taken me to mix the ingredients, I had to whip them myself. It was then I realized how spoiled technological gadgets have made me. But besides this mishap, the dream bars were delicious, and were (mostly) made with ingredients that I found in my cabinet and fridge already. So wish me luck cooking myself thin!

Pros: Delicious dessert, simple to make, low in calories

Cons: Lack of pre-reading before attempting to make the bars, lack of electric mixer, soreness from hand whipping ingredients

Pickled Picayune

For my first entry, I thought I would properly introduce myself as a lover of all things food-esque. I chose "Pickled Picayune" as the title of this literary endeavor because it is the antithesis of my food preferences. I rather enjoy pickles, dill are my personal favorite to say the least. Pickles are so versatile, they can be served at dinner parties, are an excellent accessory to cheeseburgers; they can even stand alone in appetizers such as fried pickles! I am even an advocated of pickle and peanut butter sandwiches (sounds wierd but I swear it is delicious). Don't knock it until you try it, you might actually like it.