Archive for Behind the Scenes

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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Helping Our Local Church on Thanksgiving

Monday, November 21st, 2011

Howard Rosenthal signature Helping Our Local Church on ThanksgivingThanksgiving Howard RE Helping Our Local Church on ThanksgivingBeing surrounded by lots of great food is nothing new to any of us in the Test Kitchen. We know that is not the same for everyone around the country. Yes, we appreciate that we are blessed.

So as we have been doing for the last 4 years, the Mr. Food Test Kitchen Team once again will be rolling up our chef coat sleeves as we run the kitchen at a local church to feed over 1,200 people who aren’t as fortunate.

For us, this is what Thanksgiving is all about, and we’re thankful to have the opportunity to give back to our community through food, which is what we love most.

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Home of the Best Potatoes in the World

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
Idaho 1855 RE Home of the Best Potatoes in the World

Art & I at Bronco Stadium

Howard Rosenthal signature Home of the Best Potatoes in the WorldIf you love potatoes like I do, I bet you would have loved to tag along as Art and I (a.k.a. Mr. Food) went to Idaho this past week. Yep, Idaho…where the best potatoes in the world are grown. We went as part of our quest to learn more about foods that are grown in the “good ol’ USA.”

While we were there, we went over to the Idaho Potato Commission’s office to find out just what makes their potatoes so unique. And although the answer is really more complex than I want to share here, it all comes down to the rich soil they grow in and the ideal growing climate.

Making Hummus with Art

Friday, October 7th, 2011

IMG 0276 300x225 Making Hummus with ArtSarah Schiear1 signature Making Hummus with ArtFriday is a super-fun day at the Mr. Food office.

Then again, every day is a fun day working here. What’s not to love? I’m surrounded by great people and great food all day. More importantly, I am surrounded by great people who love great food. It’s nice to be around people who like the same things as you do, isn’t it?

I think so. And food is an extra-special love to have in common with someone, because food is best when shared.

Are you wondering what’s so special about Fridays here at Mr. Food?

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Family Values and Amish Living

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Howard Rosenthal signature Family Values and Amish Livingwhoopie pie RE Family Values and Amish LivingArt and I recently had the opportunity to visit Pennsylvania’s Amish Country. Since our schedules were pretty tight, we had a lot to see and do in a very short time.

As you can see from all the video (just click here to get to this week’s TV recipes, where you can view video for each recipe) we shot, we took in a lot. We rolled up our sleeves and helped make jams and jellies, got to can Amish Chow Chow and were even the official taste testers when it came to making sure the whoopie pies were up to our high standards.

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That’s the Way the Cookie Crumbles

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

Patty in kitchen OR 300x225 That’s the Way the Cookie CrumblesPatty Rosenthal That’s the Way the Cookie CrumblesIt was just another typical day in the Mr. Food Test Kitchen. Well, now that I’m thinking of it, there are no typical days in our Test Kitchen… icon smile That’s the Way the Cookie Crumbles

I wanted to share a little story that happened the other day when I was testing some new desserts for the website and our TV segment. I made a batch of chocolate chip cookie cups that I was going to  fill with various fillings.  The idea was that you could put just about anything in a cookie cup and it would taste good.

Anyway, the timer went off, I grabbed a pot holder and as I was taking the mini cookie cups out of the oven, the pan slipped out of my hand and and fell onto the oven door. Well, so much for that batch! And so I spent the next 20 minutes cleaning up my mess.

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Our Trip to Kennett Square, Mushroom Capital of the World

Friday, September 2nd, 2011
Mushroom 9305 300x200 Our Trip to Kennett Square, Mushroom Capital of the World

Art at Kennett Inn with those great dishes...

Howard Rosenthal signature Our Trip to Kennett Square, Mushroom Capital of the WorldIt’s National Mushroom Month, and if you love mushrooms like I do, then I bet you wish you were part of our recent trip to Kennett Square, PA - Mushroom Capital of the World.

What a visit it was… Just pulling into town felt like we were rolling back time. Our first stop was the Kennett Square Inn, a quaint restaurant nestled in downtown Kennett Square. There we tasted the best stuffed mushrooms I ever had. They were brimming with crumbled sausage and topped with a light cream sauce, yum yum yum. Then the chef brought out a  filet of beef smothered, yes I mean really smothered with all sorts of exotic mushrooms that were sautéed. Another home-run in our book.

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