ModernGear Food: Purple Asparagus

I truly love Sundays, and wait all week for this wonderful day to come - not for the sleep-in or the relaxation, but for the Farmers Market! I go to the Long Beach Farmers Market at the Marina, though I started to only recently. I had no idea what I was missing out on since moving here! For those of you from Vancouver, it's like the Granville Island fresh market, only less expensive.

A rainbow of fruit and veggie delights greets you:

Carrots, $1.50 a bunch. I am steaming these, then dressing with a little butter and dill tonight.

Baskets of berries, one of each kind, for $10. If you've seen the price of berries in the store lately, you'll know what a steal this is. I bought one and it's already gone!

A rainbow bag of potatoes. I missed out on these this time but will get next week.

Gorgeous asparagus - $3 a bunch! I had my eyes on these but then spotted...

Purple asparagus. I'd never prepared these beauties before so I decided to use a fallback recipe I make with green asparagus and see how the two compared.

INGREDIENTS
asparagus
olive oil
salt
pepper
grated parmesan

DIRECTIONS
1. Snap ends off of asparagus. The purple asparagus was a bit softer, and wasn't as pleasant to snap as their green counterparts, so I ended up cutting some of the ends off.

2. Place asparagus in baking dish, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Place in the 350 degree oven and bake for 4-5 minutes.

3. After those 4-5 minutes, pull pan out and sprinkle top of asparagus with parm.
And back in the oven she goes, for another 4-5 minutes. Keep your eye on it - you want nicely melted parm.


In a kind of boring dinner, I served the asparagus with a veggie burger patty:
And ya know what? It was kind of underwhelming. So I guess you ought to consider this an un-recipe. I wouldn't say hey, DON'T make this - but just don't expect your socks to be knocked off. And I am not sure I'd make it for guests either. The look of it is so much more interesting and exotic, I suppose, but green asparagus tastes much more flavorful, and I also think has a better texture.

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ModernGear Food: A healthy sweet treat

Working at home is wonderful - when you get a little peckish, you can make your way into the kitchen and nosh on whatever you can scrounge around and find. Hopefully that's something nutritious and delicious, but that's up to you when you're at the grocery store stocking up on supplies! The fact is, if you buy potato chips and Oreos, that might just be what you grab when your tummy starts to growl. I always try to keep this in mind when navigating the store aisles.

Now that I am transitioning from working at home all the time into working at an office half-time, I am having to put a lot more thought into how to pack my handbag for the day. If I don't grab at least an apple and a protein bar, I'm done for. There's a Pinkberry down the street and its siren song has lured me in a few times, and there's a cheap sub shop downstairs. But sometimes, and in fact, most times, all I need is just a little pick-me-up.

I recently found something special, that has been my mid-afternoon slump snack of choice lately: sweetriot's 100% cacao nibs.

They're billed as "'peaces' of intense yum, 1-2 calories per 'peace'". Each little nib is about half the size of a chocolate-covered raisin and has a crunch closer to a chocolate-covered espresso bean, without that caffeine kick.

I don't know if you're into dark chocolate, but I've developed a real taste for it, and it doesn't hurt that it's incredibly healthy and provides a powerful antioxidant punch as well. WebMD says so, Longevity.about.com says so, Dr. Weil says so. One thing they all say, though, is that like a lot of things that are healthy in moderation (red wine, olive oil, etc.) to limit your portion size.

If you have the sort of self-control where you can allow yourself a small taste of something and feel that it satisfies the craving, then sweetriot's cacao nibs are perfect. I carry a baggie of almonds with me, and pop a handful of nibs and almonds into my mouth for a few moments of pure bliss.

Here are some quick facts from their web site:
140 calories
12 - 14 carbs
11 - 12g fat
6 - 10g sugar
3 - 4g fiber
2g protein
0mg sodium
3 points WeightWatchers
And my own fact: 100% flavour!

My only caveat is that if you don't have much portion control, then you might eat the whole small canister in one go, and that wouldn't be so good. I'd say mine lasted about a week and a half...

You can choose between:
'flavor 50', which has 50% dark chocolate
'flavor 65', cacao nibs covered in 65% dark chocolate (these are the ones I chose, and they're YUH-MEEE!)
and 'flavor 70', lightly roasted cacao nibs, covered in 70% dark chocolate with a hint of espresso. Oh yeah, these are the ones I am going to try next time.
For a small 1 oz. (28g.) canister, they cost $3.99. I found mine at Whole Foods, but you can also order online (and in bulk, hello!) on their web site, and you can also find other bricks-and-mortar retail locations here. You can collect and re-use the artwork-covered tins, too, for breath mints, spare change, hairpins or anything else that would fit.

I love their other products like the unBAR, and I am definitely going to have to try their baking "peaces" for chocolate chip cookies.

I would also like to point out sweetriot's even sweeter side. The company's values leave an even better taste in my mouth than their chocolate, if that's possible:
*use premium, high-quality, and all-natural ingredients
*practice fair trade with developing countries
*celebrate culture and diversity through their products
*create sweet experiences for customers, partners and employees
*are young at heart, energetic, down-to-earth and contribute to the greater good
You can read even more about why the company itself is worthy of your support, here.

I'm such a fan I'd even wear their t-shirt and show my love of the dark chocolate nib and sweetriot, across my chest!


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ModernGear Food: My Big Fat Greek Yogurt

Okay, okay. So it's the second yogurt post in a while - I recently extolled the virtues of Rachel's delicious desserty-yogurts and I wasn't lying, y'all, when I said they were delicious and desserty. But I got a little curious about Greek yogurt, and started to wonder if it was the yogurt of my dreams...let me explain.

In San Francisco there is a little Boulangerie in Cole Valley. When hubby and I are in town we often have breakfast there. I ALWAYS debate with myself over the jambon et fromage et beurre on a baguette and the granola. The granola used to come with fruit - usually a variety like sliced bananas and pears, strawberries and grapes, and then a side of milk. But some time ago they started serving the granola with a huge dollop of the thickest, most delicious plain yogurt ever, and a drizzling of honey. And I was hooked.

(Hubby gets the baguette so I pretty much get a sampling of both yummy dishes.)

Now, I have tried and tried and tried to find the thick yogurt. I have tried Brown Cow (pretty good), Russian yogurts of all kinds, French yogurt, everything. And yet, nothing. Not even close.
But last week, the Gods spoke.

The Greek Gods, that is.


I have been hearing about Greek yogurt for a few months now, it's sort of the trendiest of yogurts, it seems. And every time I'd look for it on the shelves at Whole Foods, it would be gone! They would have every other kind of yogurt known to man sitting fully-stocked, but no Greek Gods.

Once I did get my hands on the traditional plain, seen above, I realized that I found what I was looking for!

I really love the plain, with a drizzling of honey and a smattering of fruit chunks for breakfast. This yogurt is thick, with a very nice consistent consistency (I did mean to say that), and it's just so so creamy.

If I compare it to Rachel's, it has a lot less sugar and sodium, more protein, but more fat. The thing is, Rachel's is more of a dessert yogurt to me, but I want to have a more breakfasty yogurt in the morning. The problem is, since I tried the brand and decided it was my go-to yogurt of choice, I haven't been able to find it again - the store shelves sit empty again!

I lamented this fact to the dairy guy and he let me test out one of their smaller 6oz. containers that is honey flavored. Oh yeah, baby. SO good.


I just peeked at their store locator and am pleased that a lot more locations carry the Greek Gods yogurt in my city, so I should never run out again. You Canadian readers, can you get it there?

If it came in my size, I might get this jacket from the company...

And by the way, just before I started writing this post, I called the Boulangerie in SF to ask what kind of yogurt they do use...it turns out it's a type of cheese called Keeper cheese! Well I'll be snookered. If anyone knows anything about this cheese (I couldn't find anything in a quick search), please let me know. I think I'll just continue to look forward to it on trips to that city, but every morning will start my day with the Gods.
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ModernGear Food: A protein bar that tastes like it should be bad for you

I'm not a gym buff, but used to be a little more active in that department. That was back when protein bars were chalky-tasting, so that goes to show how long ago that was! Since then (lo, all those years ago!), science or cooking or industry has made leaps and bounds of progress, and protein bars actually taste really, really good now. Like, so good you'd think they're bad.

Here are a few of my favourites - these come in handy when I need a snack to get me through til dinner when my tummy growls mid-afternoon, and these days with my new job, as a meal replacement when I don't have time for lunch (with a banana and an apple to round it out).

I really love the original Clif bar, and my favourite flavour has to be Banana Nut.
It just tastes like a baked goody that you'd make at home - bananas, chocolate chips and walnuts - say no more. Wait, I'll say this: only 6g of fat - and no saturated fats at all.

I also like the carrot cake flavour:
Clif's also makes Luna nutrition bars for women. The Berry Almond bar is delicious, it honors the Breast Cancer fund, and it is packed with organic berries in all their antioxidant goodness.
I think next I'd like to try the Chocolate Peppermint Stick one - kind of the healthier version of a York Peppermint Patty.
My new favourite bars are by Balance.

The almond brownie bars taste exactly like their name - you would think that this is a just slightly healthier version than the ones you make at home. 14 grams of protein, 6 grams of soy protein, 9 grams of fat, and 23 minerals and vitamins makes for a bar I can get behind!
I get mine at either Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, and when I was shopping at Von's a few nights ago, they didn't have this flavour so I decided to try Chocolate Peanut Butter. I didn't notice that this bar was part of the Balance Gold series, ooh la la!

I think the Balance 100 calorie bars would also be great to have in your bag in case of emergency - like when you have a craving for something sweet, your tummy is screaming "GIVE! ME! CHOCOLATE!", and you head towards the snack machine. Arm yourself for those moments with protein bars that are as good tasting as what you'd get from that vending machine or at the store.

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ModernGear Food: A drink with great panache

I was busy in the kitchen over the holidays - I baked Sugar Cookies
and Chocolate Crinkle Cookies,
made my first Borscht

We uphold the Polish tradition of putting money under the placemat at Christmas dinner -
to ensure good money for the next year!

and came up with a recipe for Chicken Corn Chowder that is to die for (I'll make it again and post here), but I didn't take many photos of the action. Instead, I was trying to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible (besides, I had to fight for work space!)

Mr. ModernGear TV and his Dad

Duane supervises

and more time with family, for our first California Christmas.
Besides, I am obsessed with my muse and the camera seems to be dedicated to him these days.

On the way to the dog beach

The happiest place on Earth for our pooch

Looking very regal, I think, with his stuffed Santa

And not-so-regal when gnawing on his little buddy

As well as a lot of good food, I also enjoyed some really nice drinks...Mimosas with breakfast and a lovely Coppola Diamond Collection Pinot were the highlights, but then there was the Panache, or as the French call it, Panaché.

We discovered this little beauty at a local creperie, and it's my go-to drink. Also known as a Shandy, my favourite way to drink it is half beer (Stella, Half Moon, or some other nice blonde will do) and half 7-Up or Sprite.

It might seem awfully pedestrian and maybe even a way to ruin a good beer, but I like it mighty fine. Try it! But not too many, or you'll end up like Duane after a long day:




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ModernGear Helpful and handy: never forget eggs and milk again

What do you run out of in the kitchen first? I think the answer can tell a lot about a person - is it pasta, or juice, olives or fancy pink sea salt? In addition to the standard milk and eggs, it seems we're always replacing olive oil, salt, flour and sugar (from all the pizza dough making and baking that goes on here...).

A really entertaining book called MILK EGGS VODKA grocery lists lost and found, is a collection of people's grocery lists left behind in carts and baskets and other places.

Milk Eggs Vodka: Grocery Lists Lost and Found, from $1.89 (used) at Amazon.

Also from the writers of the book that features some very funny grocery lists they've collected over the years, is a web site full of good info about food, and a handy downloadable grocery list. In an effort to be better organized and not forget the dish soap (as I always seem to do), I am going to print it up, stick it on the wall and fill it out whenever we run out of something.

But what if I forget to print another one up after I fill the first one out? Well, there's always this great ready-made one in notepad style from Knock Knock. The All Out Of Notepad is $6.99.

Of course if I am actually this organized, I won't leave behind any fodder for the next Milk Eggs Vodka book, either. Better that than leave something half-baked because I forgot the eggs, though.

A fun Christmas gift for the gourmand in your house might be this notepad, along with other goodies in a picnic basket. Or maybe a collapsible shopping basket like the ones I wrote about last week...


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ModernGear House and Home: Latte bowls from Anthropologie

For a while now I've been oohing and aahing over Anthropologie's latte bowls.

I have been reading about them at various blogs like Nie Nie's (and by the way, if you don't know the story of Stephanie and Christian, their family, their plane crash, and their continued recovery, then you ought to visit c. jane and go back in the archives, then back to Nie Nie. You will be filled with love and joy if you do.), and The SmartestFish.

I have been drawn to them for their vintage design and their homey-ness. I have known that I'd like to have 4 or 6 to stack on the shelf, to use for lattes and cereal and desserts, oh my! But I have not known what COLOUR to choose! Oh dilemma of dilemmas!

(They also have mini latte cups that I would also get.)

What to do, what to do.
I thought, it sort of depends on what colours we're using in the kitchen, in the house that we bought, that we haven't started renovating yet, in the country that we don't even live in yet! But then again, we've never really been people who "choose colours" and stick to a palette, so that doesn't really matter anyway. My husband said, "Get orange!" (He likes orange as much as I do...didn't I just say yesterday that I likes me some orange?!)


But I am not sure I want ALL ORANGE, after all, we've gone with all white for a long time in all of our other plates and bowls and such. So you might think, why not white? Stick with a neutral palette.
But, still, no. See my issue? My indecision? I do know that if I had to give a gift to a friend who loves France as much as I do, this would be the perfect formula - blue bowls, yellow bowls, dishtowel from Provence, wonderful book I am reading right now, called French Dirt: The Story of a Garden in the South of France!
I think in the end I am turning towards a RIOT OF COLOUR! A real celebration of colour. So what I think I'll do is grab my honey and get to an Anthropologie store, so we can pick them out together. Amen.

(Whew!)

Image borrowed from the NieNie Dialogues.

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