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Dish it Out
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The Gazette food blog is a forum for Eastern Iowa to share ideas and discuss all aspects of food. The blog is maintained by Angie Holmes, food writer at The Gazette.
Posts from December 2008 through June were written by Cecelia Hanley during her tenure as food and fitness editor at The Gazette. Posts from February 2008 through Nov. 20, 2008, were written by Anne Kapler, former food editor at The Gazette.
‘Man v. Food’ host talks culinary history in Iowa City
Posted on Nov 20, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
Culinary rock star Adam Richman made a grand entrance into the Englert Theatre last night by dancing through the crowd and giving fist bumps and high-fives to his fans. Known for his eating challenges on the Travel Channel’s top-rated show, “Man v. Food,” Richman showed his serious, intellectual side. “Tonight is not about ‘Man v. Food’, it’s about you and me and our culinary history,” he said. “The language of food is what we all speak. This is what binds us.” With a ...
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Ben Halperin of Augusta in Oxford named a top chef
Posted on Nov 19, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
OXFORD — Ben Halperin, chef and owner of Augusta Restaurant in Oxford, has been named one of the top 40 chefs under for in the U.S. by the journalists at the environmental Website Mother Nature Network (MNN). MNN was founded in January by Chuck Leavell, the celebrated eco-activist who for 27 years has anchored the Rolling Stones on keyboards. The site examines everything, from the environment to local food to raising a family who appreciates clean air, good food, and a ...
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PEEPS Fest planned Dec. 30-31 in Pennsylvania
Posted on Nov 17, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
Get your sweet tooth ready. The first-ever PEEPS® Fest is set for Dec. 30-31 in Bethlehem, Pa. At PEEPS® Fest, children and their families are invited to celebrate participate in a variety of music, art, interactive displays and family fun. A few of the many highlights include live musical performers, PEEPS® Olympics, fun kids’ crafts, photos with the PEEPS® mascot, images of work by Washington D.C.-based PEEPS® artist David Ottogalli, glassblowing demonstrations, ice sculptures, s’more making and shopping in the Just Born ...
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Nestle announces Libby’s pumpkin shortage
Posted on Nov 17, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
Nestlé Baking today announced that it expects a shortage of LIBBY’S® Pumpkin on store shelves as the country enters the holiday season. Heavy rains persisted throughout the 13-week harvest in Morton, Ill., frustrating efforts to pick the entire crop. As a result, less pumpkin has been picked and canned, leading to an anticipated shortage of LIBBY’S pumpkin products as the holidays approach. "Our calculations indicate that we may deplete our inventory of canned LIBBY’S pumpkin as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday,” Paul ...
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‘Man v. Food’ star excited about Iowa trip
Posted on Nov 17, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
“Man v. Food” star Adam Richman wants Iowans to gain a sense of pride over the contribution their state makes to the nation’s food supply. Richman will kick off his speaking tour Thursday at The Englert Theatre, 221 Washington St., Iowa City. “It will be an entertaining night at the theater,” he says during a phone interview from his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. His performance won’t include an eating challenge like the ones he has become notorious for on “Man v. Food.” Instead, ...
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New Pioneer Co-op hosts Holiday Sample Fair
Posted on Nov 13, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
CORALVILLE – New Pioneer Food Co-op, 1101 Second St., invites you to sample Iowa foods and meet local vendors at itsannual Holiday Sample Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15. Learn how to set a local holiday table this season when you taste delectable treats from more than 20 local producers. Featured vendors include Oasis Falafel, Iowa Farm Families Pork, Grass Run Farms Grass-Fed Beef, Cheryl’s Fresh Salsa, the Red Avocado, Fair Grounds, Gluten-Free Breads from Anna and more. Sample holiday fare ...
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Impress your friends at the next potluck
Posted on Nov 13, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
As the high school fall sports season comes to a close, many potluck dinners will be held in gyms, fire stations and community centers throughout Eastern Iowa. I have been to many of these events as a student and as the wife of a coach. After stuffing yourself silly, you get to listen to the coach talk about the season and say something about each athlete. It can make for a long evening, so be sure to try out all the ...
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American Culinary Federation shares Thanksgiving recipes
Posted on Nov 08, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
Just in time for the holidays, the American Culinary Federation (ACF) offers five Thanksgiving Day recipes created by ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative of the U.S. in national and international culinary competitions Butternut Squash “Consommé” with Flan Serves 4 Consommé and Flans: 4 butternut squash, peeled, halved and seeds scraped out 4 cups vegetable stock ½ cup maple syrup 2 large egg yolks ½ cup heavy cream Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 1 teaspoon curry powder Garnish: 2 slices smoked bacon, finely diced 1 zucchini 3 cups vegetable stock (reserved ...
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Tips, recipes for deep fried turkey
Posted on Nov 07, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and the outdoor cooking experts at SmokeInDaEye.com are offering some recipes and tips to make sure your turkey is extra special this year. Deep fried turkey is great, as long as you exercise caution when cooking. Here's 10 tips to a perfect fried bird. Safety first. Place the fryer well away from the house and anything flammable like a wooden deck in case the hot oil spills. Test the oil levels. Adding 15 to 20 pounds of ...
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Mediterranean diet linked to decrease in depression
Posted on Nov 06, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
Hobart, NY – Reuters reports that researchers from Spain’s University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of Navarra have linked the Mediterranean diet to a decrease in the risk of depression. By eating more vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and fish, the patients who followed the Mediterranean diet in the study of 11,000 people were 30 percent less likely to be at risk for the disease. The exact reason for this decrease in risk is not known, but ...
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Moving proves to be treasure hunt in kitchen
Posted on Nov 03, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
For the life of me, I can’t come up with a logical reason why I found a bottle of apple cider vinegar with an expiration date of July 2002 in the back of my cupboard. Since 2002, this bottle has traveled with my family through two moves, including one across state lines in 2004. It wasn’t a special brand; just the generic name of the grocery store in Leavenworth, Kan., where I was living at the time. This was one of many mysteries ...
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Formerly a pet, chia seed in nutritious cereal
Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
The tiny chia seed is no longer relegated to pop culture nostalgia. It turns out that the little seed many people associate with green “pets” and the ’70s is nutritious. According to the FDA’s nutrient database, chia (Salvia Hispanica L., also marketed as Salba) contains more than 4 1/2 times more calcium than milk, 16 percent protein and more Omega 3 than salmon. It is also a great source of trace minerals. “But what got my attention”, said Ruth Shamai, president of Ruth's Hemp ...
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Interactive site shows ‘How Wheat Works’
Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
PARKER, Colo. – The Wheat Foods Council launches How Wheat Works, an interactive, online multimedia program that delivers a farm- to-fork education on wheat, enabling a better understanding of its nutritional value. At http://www.howwheatworks.com, participants of all ages can virtually grow, harvest and mill their own kernels to create their desired wheat food. For each participant, the Council will donate 2pounds of flour, up to 90,000 pounds, to Operation Homefront, a non-profit that provides assistance to needy U.S. troops and their ...
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Ace of Cakes star to judge contest in Des Moines
Posted on Oct 29, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
DES MOINES - Global Spectrum has announced an addition to the lineup of celebrities for the Iowa's Premier Wine & Food Expo on Nov. 13 and 14 at Hy-Vee Hall. Mary Alice, Duff Goldman's sidekick and general manager of Charm City Cakes in Baltimore, will be included on a panel of judges for the local Cake Contest. New to the Expo this year is the cake contest. The contest has had an overwhelming response as space is sold out for the ...
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PBS releases ‘Chefs A’ Field’ season 4 DVD set
Posted on Oct 28, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
With the DVD release Nov. 3 of season 4 of the award-winning culinary series, "Chefs A’ Field," PBS audiences will follow some of America’s most renowned chefs as they step out of the kitchen to travel across the U.S. exploring the country’s finest, healthiest foods available for cooking. From a pair of cousins who revitalized their family’s oyster business to a paraplegic farmer of the freshest organic ingredients around, this unique series offers memorable personal tales of triumph as well as ...
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‘Man v. Food’ star to speak at Englert
Posted on Oct 26, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
IOWA CITY - Adam Richman, star of The Travel Channel's highest-rated show ever, "Man v. Food," will bring his speaking tour to The Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City, at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19. Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for seniors, students and adults. A very limited number of on-stage VIP seats are also available for $50. Described as "foodie talk for the cheeseburger set - but that caviar eaters will enjoy," Richman's show will include stories, insight and pictures ...
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Hot chili warms up fans on gameday
Posted on Oct 26, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
What better way to warm up on a brisk fall day than with a hot bowl of chili? Mariah Betz Andrews of Cedar Falls features hearty, healthy recipes on her blog, Green Swamp Soup, http://greenswampsoup.com/ She loves football season because it makes her husband happy, therefore giving her plenty of time to make homemade chili. This gameday chili can be prepared in the morning and slow-cooked all day. Andrews used to make her chili with habaneros and jalapenos, but has toned it down ...
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Using food as a learning tool
Posted on Oct 20, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
Last week I had the privilege to return to my grade school, Lutheran Interparish School in Williamsburg, and speak at the fifth grade’s annual Iowa Heritage Dinner. Shortly after I started as The Gazette’s food writer this summer, I received an e-mail from my second-grade teacher, LaVonne Sandersfeld, inviting my parents and me to the dinner. Mrs. Sandersfeld started the heritage dinner 31 years ago — the year I was in her second-grade class. “I feel there is a strong connection between our ...
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Celebrate National Pork Month with tasty recipes
Posted on Oct 19, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
DES MOINES – Pork producers take pride in producing a food they feed their own family, as well as many families worldwide. Shoppers looking for ways to stretch their food dollars will find that, pound for pound, pork continues to be one of the most economical buys in the meat case with average retail prices down slightly from a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In celebration of the hard-working producers who help put delicious and affordable pork on ...
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BrewNost a merry time for beer lovers
Posted on Oct 17, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
CEDAR RAPIDS - Hundreds of patrons enjoyed international beer paired with tasty appetizers Friday night at Brew Nost at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. The annual event is a fundraiser for the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids. The museum was severely damaged in the Flood of 2008 and is in the process of recovering. Here is a slide show from BrewNost 2009: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gazettefood/sets/72157622479544563/show/
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Cookbook benefits Catherine McAuley Center
Posted on Oct 14, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
CEDAR RAPIDS - The Catherine McAuley Center has put together a collection of more than 650 recipes to create the cookbook, "Welcome to Our Table." With the help of friends, community members and area restaurants, "Welcome to Our Table" is filled with culinary creations from all over the world as well as favorite down-home favorites. This soft-cover, three-ring binder cookbook contains two special sections created exclusively by the center. The “International Fare” section contains a range of recipes. Paella – a Spanish ...
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Pick a pie pumpkin to make pies
Posted on Oct 13, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
Not all pumpkins are created equal. Some are meant to be jack-o-lanterns and some are meant to be in pies. Any pumpkin can be cooked, but pie pumpkins are generally sweeter, less stringy and meatier, says Dick Olson of Hillcrest Garden Market near Marengo. Pie pumpkins are usually 2 to 4 pounds and have darker skin and a thicker stem than decorative pumpkins. The mini pumpkins are about 3 inches in diameter and delicious, Olson says. He suggests taking the stem off, poking ...
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Handful of pecans may help reduce risk of heart disease
Posted on Oct 09, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
ATLANTA – A recent study shows more than 92 percent of all Americans are at some risk for developing heart disease. The report, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, notes that the continuing U.S. obesity epidemic may bear much of the blame. As harvest season approaches, the National Pecan Shellers Association (NPSA) is recommending all Americans enjoy a handful of pecans each day, as part of a balanced diet and along with regular exercise, to help fend off ...
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Faces of Kiss rock band now on M&Ms
Posted on Oct 09, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – Mars Direct Inc., a division of Mars Snackfood US, announced the launch of the MY M&M’S® KISS® Blend – a rockin’ partnership between the candy brand and one of rock’s most prolific bands. For a limited time, the KISS® Blend will take each of the members’ iconic faces and put them on colorful MY M&M’S® Chocolate Candies, creating a delicious collector’s item for any fan. “KISS has always been and will continue to be all about the fans,” said Paul ...
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Extension provides simple, nutritious recipes
Posted on Oct 06, 2009 by Angie Holmes.
Iowa State University Extension offers nutritional education programs for low-income adults and youth in Linn, Black Hawk, Polk, Scott and Woodbury counties. In Linn County, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program assistants Julie Mather and Tina Dice provide in-home services as well as programs at area agencies. The Extension program has teamed up with the Salvation Army to provide Cookin' with Candie & Company classes at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays through Dec. 10 at the Salvation Army, 1000 C Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids. Salvation Army kitchen ...
