Blueberry Almond "Good For You" Muffins

I know that "Good for You" is not exactly synonymous with muffins. This recipe however is loaded with protein, antioxidants, and tastes like happy - so hopefully it will make you think twice about the supposedly evil little muffin.

Longing to bake something in my new apartment last weekend with little more than some flour, eggs, and frozen blueberries at my disposal I whipped up (quite literally) these little guys. Substituting almond meal and protein powder for some of the flour in this recipe actually adds to the texture without compromising the flavor.

Pomegranate Applesauce!

So you go to the store, trying to be good, trying to follow that whole "apple-a-day" thing, and buy a sack of apples only to bring them home and find that they are mostly bruised, mealy, and unspectacular. Or, you've got some apples that have maybe been lying around a bit too long and fall into that unspectacular category. Well, in the spirit of waste not want not, when life give you crappy apples - make applesauce!

The Filthy Martini

By merely posting about Martini's I am creating (stirring up?) controversy. Controversy between the Gin Martini vs. Vodka Martini set, the shakers vs. stirrers. Vermouth lovers and haters. Even the amount and kind of olives used are debated amongst purists.

To this end I would like to defend myself by stating that I am neither a bartender nor master mixologist. I like what I like, and I like dirty, nay, filthy martinis. And garlic stuffed olives, and gin.

What makes this martini filthy is the liberal addition of olive brine, and yes, a garlic stuffed olive. This is less drink and more appetizer, and oh so good.

I refuse to lecture you on shaking vs. stirring, the benefits of a vermouth spritzer, etc. The following is an account of how I, prefer my martini, and I demand you enjoy it too~!

Return of the Fro-Yo

Which one of these trends from the 80's is back to haunt us:

A) FAME: The Movie
B) Big Hair
C) Frozen Yogurt Stores
D) The Soviet Union

Give up? Well, technically all of the above.... but I am here to deride the return of the novelty Fro-Yo movement. I will not give in. I refuse to condone any movement that involves the potential combination of green tea, fruity pebbles, and carob. No people, this is wrong. Light, fluffy, fun, and wrong.

Noah and I recently visited "yogurtland" (no, really, that's what it's called) on La Brea the other night, for a post-Indian Food cooldown. The people watching was FAR more enjoyable than the silly self-serve dessert. It seemed like every gay, asian, and fashionista (and a few gaysianista's) in a 15 block radius had turned out to cram their gob with 3 lbs of frozen yogurt.

A Note About: Immersion Blenders

photos and pricing courtesy Amazon.com

Few electric kitchen gizmos are as essential to me as the immersion blender (also known as a stick blender). It's a great tool for creating soups and sauces, as well as the occasional smoothie-by-the-glass.

There are a few key benefits to the immersion blender opposed to a regular blender:

For one, you can stick it right into the pot to puree hot foods without waiting for them to cool, or worrying about steam and puréeing in batches. For anyone who has tried to purée a hot soup in a regular blender, you know what a challenge it can be as the steam builds up and threatens to pop the lid right off.

Two, they are generally small, and can easily be stored in a cupboard or drawer rather than taking up valuable counter space.

And lastly, they are generally quieter and easier to clean than their bigger cousins.

The Karen Cookie

On a recent photo shoot I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to experience what must be the highest achievable form of chocolate chip cookie, as produced by a woman - nay - angel, named Karen. This chocolate chip cookie was soft - but not too soft, sweet - but not too sweet. The ratio of chips to cookie dough was something to be studied by mathematicians.

But the crown jewel that put it right over the top was a light dusting of sea salt over the top. Salty, sweet, chewy, and dare I use the word - moist. It was single-handedly responsible for an uncomfortable addition of poundage, what an assistant friend lovingly called her "hot-pockets".


Needless to say, when the shoot ended, I was left in withdrawal. I quickly turned to my kitchen and several chocolate chip recipes to try and unlock the mystery.

I learned much in my attempts, and lo and behold a month later much of what I had learned was confirmed in the April issue of Cooks Illustrated.

Puréed Wild Mushroom and Brussels Sprout Soup

This is like your favorite sweater in a bowl. A warm, hearty brew that's perfect for those last chilly nights in spring or those first fall evenings.

For those who are fearful of fat, this recipe uses no cream and only a small amount of butter for sautéing. For those afraid of brussels sprouts, fear not - sautéing them and blending them to a puree removes all bitterness and texture that might be a turn off to you.  For those afraid of ghosts... I'm afraid there isn't much here that concerns you.

This recipe does require an immersion blender, which is a kitchen gadget I could not live without and can probably be found for as little as $15 at your nearest drugstore (where I got mine).