Category: Food & Beverage

Sweet Hearts

BRING THEM DONUTS

If you are like me, you may think that Valentines Day is just a Hallmark holiday. It costs a lot of money, makes people who are single feel inadequate and adds some pounds to the midsection. But, Valentines Day doesn’t just have to be for lovers. It can be viewed as an opportunity to show people who help us everyday how much we love them. And there is no better way than by giving the gift of heart-shaped brownie batter-filled Dunkin’ Donuts. Oh yeah, baby! Today, Brooks delivered 11 to his school’s office for the administration. One managed to get “lost” along the way…hmmmm…

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BRING THEM DONUTS If you are like me, you may think that Valentines Day is just a Hallmark holiday. It costs a lot of mo...

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Dogs in the Park

GIVE AWAY EXTRA FOOD

Working at the Food Bank has taught me to focus on using EVERY MORSEL of consumable food, rather than throw anything worthy away. Yesterday, we were at a birthday party and there were a lot of hot dogs and cupcakes left over. Deanie, one of the other moms, suggested we take them around to the homeless folks in the neighborhood. We hopped into the SUV and made the rounds with her daughter, Mackenzie. It was amazing how many people rushed to the vehicle when they saw Deanie carrying a tray of food. What I found most interesting was that many of the homeless people turned down the cupcakes, stating that they weren’t healthy or that they were watching their weight. I wish I had that kind of willpower! I usually turn down the hotdogs instead.

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GIVE AWAY EXTRA FOOD Working at the Food Bank has taught me to focus on using EVERY MORSEL of consumable food, rather th...

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The Meal Appeal

COORDINATE A MEAL SCHEDULE

Clearly, I have gone from receiving phone calls about weddings and births to getting calls about aging parents, poor health and insurance policies.  I guess that is what getting older means.  My friend’s mother has been given 24 hours to live, so we are all waiting for the call to confirm that she is finally at peace in her forever home.  The last thing my friend needs to worry about right now is cooking for the crazy family members who have taken over her home, so one way to show we care is by coordinating a meal schedule for her.  There is a great website, Take Them a Meal, which allows you to invite friends and sign up for meal delivery.  This is great for not only funerals, but for single moms, new parents, new neighbors and elderly people who live alone.  Her mother loved my cooking, so it looks like preparing a pot roast dinner (her favorite) is in my future.

COORDINATE A MEAL SCHEDULE Clearly, I have gone from receiving phone calls about weddings and births to getting calls ab...

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The Jenny Chop

SHARE A RECIPE

I have been on vacation, enjoying cruise ship food and missing home cooked meals, so I thought it appropriate to Jenerously share one of my favorite everyday recipes.  If you are ever in a hurry and want to serve a fresh salad that can also double as an entrée, this is the recipe for you.  I am not promising that it will change your life, but it may come darn close.  It is the perfect blend of sweet, spicy and savory.  It is easy to make and you will get a TON of compliments for your salad-making skills.  Truth is…most people overlook making a good salad, so this one really stands out!

Here’s the recipe…and I am going to call out specific brands because BRANDS MATTER.  It is not “from scratch” like most of my recipes, but it is quick and easy.

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JENNY CHOP (serves 6-8)

2 bags of Triple Hearts lettuce (finely chopped)

2 Hass avocados, chopped

1 cup of Craisins dried cranberries

1 cup of Almond Accents – Honey Roasted or Butter Toffee

4 oz. crumbled goat cheese

1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined

Olive Oil

Newman’s Own Light Balsamic Vinaigrette

Emeril’s Original Essence

Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a sauté pan.  The bottom of the pan should be completely covered in olive oil, so adjust accordingly.  Wash shrimp, dry and coat generously with Emeril’s Original Essence…BAM!  Sauté for just a few minutes, remove from the heat and set the pan aside.  The spicy olive oil will serve as the base of your dressing.   Toss the lettuce, avocado, cranberries and almonds.  Add shrimp and oil from the pan.  Add the goat cheese.  If more dressing is needed, top off with Newman’s Own Light Balsamic Vinaigrette.  If you like toppings as much as I do, get creative!  You may want to add another texture or flavor to the mix such as grape tomatoes, blueberries, cucumbers, bacon crumbles, etc.  If you don’t like goat cheese, feel free to substitute bleu cheese or feta.  Make it your own creation…but may you always call it the “Jenny Chop”…Buen Provecho!

SHARE A RECIPE I have been on vacation, enjoying cruise ship food and missing home cooked meals, so I thought it appropr...

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Here’s a Tip for You

LEAVE A GREAT TIP

Tonight, my husband and I went to Ruth’s Chris and had an amazing dinner, as usual…

Joe, our waiter, suggested a killer Cab, made some modifications to the prix-fixe dessert of peanut-butter-something-or-other (yuck!) and even listened to my boring wine-speak (AHA!…finally some ‘good karma’ from yesterday’s AC incident).  Needless to say, Joe got an exceptionally good tip…

When calculating the tip, we begin by figuring out the percentage that correlates with the level of service.  And, servers start with 20% in mind…I know as I waited tables for WAY TOO LONG.  Anything above 20% IS a compliment.  So, I ask you to think about what an extra $10-20 really costs you when rewarding someone for delivering an amazing experience.  Since they measure the percentages closely to gauge your level of satisfaction with their performance, even a 5-spot would be rewarding.  Tip Away!

LEAVE A GREAT TIP Tonight, my husband and I went to Ruth's Chris and had an amazing dinner, as usual... Joe, our waiter,...

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