Author Archive for Jodi

Jodi Flayman signature Easy Passover Brownies, Plus More Flourless Dessert RecipesFlourless Chocolate Cake 03 16 11 RE Easy Passover Brownies, Plus More Flourless Dessert RecipesLots of Passover recipes fly around this time of year as those of us who celebrate the holiday try to come up with something new and different to break up the monotony of the typical Passover food.

If you’re not familiar with the dietary rules of the holiday, there are many foods that can’t be eaten during the eight days it lasts. Generally, some of the basics that aren’t allowed are bread, rice, wheat, rye, oats, barley, pasta, corn, peas, beans, peanuts, and foods made with these items. Observant Jews do not even keep these items in their homes during the holiday.

So what is allowed? Fruit is always a safe bet, as are potatoes and other root vegetables, leafy greens, nuts, eggs, fish, dairy and meat (although, in accordance with Kosher laws, meat and dairy must be served separately).

Typically, Passover baked goods are dry, heavy and not very appealing because you can’t use flour. A few years ago, I found a recipe for Passover Brownies that my family absolutely loves, so I’ve shared it with you below. (In fact, my kids have been known to ask me to make them at other times during the year!) They are surprisingly moist and really good!

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Let the Good Times Roll…with Mardi Gras!

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Jodi Flayman signature Let the Good Times Roll...with Mardi Gras!Mardi Gras Beignets RE  1   Let the Good Times Roll...with Mardi Gras!Every year, around the middle of February, millions of people flock to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is traditionally the last day for Catholics to indulge (and sometimes over-indulge) before the beginning of Lent.

In New Orleans, they celebrate decadently with huge parades and throw tons of colorful beaded necklaces from floats. There are also lots of masquerade balls, with partygoers wearing beautiful and intricate masks.

Mardi Gras season has also inspired some pretty indulgent food. One of the most well-known Mardi Gras foods is the King Cake. (No, it has nothing to do with Elvis, though we have a cake for him, too!) King Cakes are often twisted or braided sweet dough, topped with a sugary glaze and purple, green and gold sprinkles. (Those are the traditional Mardi Gras colors.) Usually, a plastic toy or baby is baked inside and the person who gets the “king” toy in their piece of cake is supposed to host the next party.

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Get in on the Kale Craze: Learn How to Make Kale Chips!

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Jodi Flayman signature Get in on the Kale Craze: Learn How to Make Kale Chips!Kale Photo 300x225 Get in on the Kale Craze: Learn How to Make Kale Chips!You really can teach an old dog new tricks!

Okay, so I’m not THAT old, but over the last few years I’ve been teaching myself to like certain healthy foods I never liked before.

First it was sweet potatoes. Can you believe I never ate them growing up? Neither of my parents cared for them, so therefore I was never exposed to them. Several years ago, I started hearing about how healthy they were, and I was determined to learn to like them. I’ll admit…it wasn’t that difficult! Now I love sweet potatoes…mashed, baked, fried and even shredded. I especially love the Mr. Food recipe for Shredded Sweet Potatoes! (oh, and just for the record, my parents both love them now, too!)

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Birthdays, Mr. Food-Style!

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Jodi Flayman signature Birthdays, Mr. Food Style!Scotchie Surprise Cupcakes2 RE Birthdays, Mr. Food Style!I know it’s December and everyone’s mind is on the holiday season, but birthdays - no matter what time of year - should never go unrecognized! And, there’s also the fact that as we age, we tend to say we’d prefer to skip our birthdays – but deep down, we all like to have a special day.

Believe it or not, until recently, we hardly celebrated birthdays at the Mr. Food office! That’s all changed, thanks to our “Birthday Sombrero”! Everyone’s name went into the sombrero, and as each birthday nears, the person celebrating picks a name out of the hat. Whoever’s name is drawn gets to make a special treat of the birthday person’s choice!

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A Culinary Adventure in Napa

Friday, November 4th, 2011

Jodi Flayman signature A Culinary Adventure in NapaNapa 1 300x225 A Culinary Adventure in NapaA few weeks ago, my husband and I traveled to San Francisco for a family event. It was wonderful to see my extended family in one place, since we’re sprinkled all over the country.

Because we had traveled across the country, and it was just a few days before my birthday, my husband and I decided to extend the trip and drive up to Napa Valley for a couple of days. If you’ve ever been there, you know how beautiful it is! There are gentle rolling hills covered in grape vines, and many of the wineries have beautiful estate homes on the property.

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College Care Package

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Jodi Flayman signature College Care Package

care package 240x300 College Care PackageMy son has been away at college for about a month now, and I thought it was time for a care package from home.

When we moved him into his dorm, being the healthy-minded mom that I am, we went to the grocery store and picked lots of healthy snacks. Not exactly the kind of  stuff someone might expect to find in a care package for college kids!

So this time around I wanted to gather up some of his favorite snacks, which I thought would be comforting and helpful during those late-night study sessions. (Or, something to grab when he gets back to his dorm room after a night out!) I included chewing gum, candy, and easy-to-eat sweets like Rice Krispie Treats.

I also wanted to bake him something, to send him that little extra piece of love. I needed something that would ship well, and stay fresh for at least several days.

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Categories : Parenting

Food Truck Craze

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

As part of the Mr. Food team, I am into all things food related. I especially like to keep up with new restaurants &photo1 e1312488459361 225x300 Food Truck Craze food trends. Lately, food trucks have caught my attention. Word on the street is that the food truck craze is growing! Over the last few months, I’ve been hearing more and more about food trucks, especially on Facebook and Twitter, which seem to be the way food truck owners prefer to publicize their whereabouts. There’s even a food truck reality show starting soon on Food Network!

If you’re not familiar with food trucks, they are basically mobile specialty restaurants. They’re easy to spot, looking like brightly decorated delivery trucks. Usually, a group of them will congregate in an open area like a parking lot, and open their window for business. Each truck has theme, such as tacos, Asian, BBQ, grilled cheese sandwiches, cupcakes, ice cream, or shaved ice/snow cones. It’s a fun way to sample lots of different cuisines.

My husband and I stumbled upon a food truck event recently, and had the most delicious Greek food. We shared falafel sliders and a grilled chicken gyro, with rosemary roasted lemonade. Delish! (He also tried a hot dog from another truck, loaded with mustard and grilled onions – try our Pushcart Onion Sauce if you want to re-create something similar at home! ) Unfortunately, it was lunchtime and we were too full to try dessert. Next time, I’d like to go with more people so we can sample several different trucks.

Have you ever tried food from a food truck? If you haven’t yet, I hope you have the opportunity to soon!

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