Giuseppepaolo

I have a thing for freezer jam. A lifetime love affair actually. If my taste buds had them, they'd drop to their knees with each bite. It's the fresh fruit flavor that gets me every time because freezer jam is never heated which means the fruit isn't cooked. You mash, dice, mix and pour. The only heated ingredients are the water and pectin. And it's super easy to make. No special equipment needed other than your clean sterile jars. Peaches are in season right now....juicy and bursting with flavor. Perfect for making jam. Add a bit of ginger and you've taken things to a whole new level. Fresh, sweet and zingy. Did I mention easy? (just want to make sure that sinks in). Wash and peel your peaches and you're ready to roll! Here's a little ginger tip before you get started. Use the edge of a spoon to scrape the skin off your ginger. Want another tip? Keep your ginger in the freezer. Not only does it prolong the life, but frozen ginger grates super easily! Ginger...

Happy Father's Day! I'm dedicating today's post to my daddy. He lives too far away for me to celebrate him in person so I've made a dish that represents him, and where he came from. A special connection that has always been important to me. My dad grew up in a small town in Northern Alabama called Geraldine. He moved to California and pursued a successful music career and raised a family. Despite his claim to fame, he has always remained the down to earth, funny, and wonderful man that he was raised to be. Some of you might recognize him Growing up, my summer visits to Alabama made such a huge impact on me. Connecting with my dad's side of the family and his childhood, remains to this day a special part of who I am. I am, and will always be a daddy's girl. I am proud of my dad and proud to be his daughter. Today, in honor of my dad and his roots, I am sharing a dish my grandmother used to make. The ingredients are simple and few. The quantities are subject to ta...

Spring is almost over and summer is approaching fast. This was supposed to be a spring announcement, that VOSS released two new flavors. But in my life, spring arrived and change sprung. My computer was sick as a dog, I sold my house, packed 29 yrs worth of accumulation and moved. Now I'm in a new place, missing my old kitchen with all it's counter space, and adjusting to new things. I'm not settled into my new home quite yet. Actually far from it. But to be honest with you, I needed to turn my back on all those boxes, even just for a little bit, and focus on something other than "where am I going to put this?!" So, back to my purpose. VOSS Water and their new unique, refreshing, sparkling water flavors. If you're not familiar with VOSS, let me just give you a brief introduction. VOSS Water comes from Southern Norway and was founded by 2 boyhood friends who recognized the purity of the water from their small yet environmentally pristine nation. They take thei...

Boulder Organic Soup and Crusty Italian Bread I love soup. Not the typical canned soups with bland broth and high sodium. I rarely purchase processed soup. I rarely even go down the soup isle at the grocery store. Good soup is quick and easy to make and very versatile. It's the perfect answer when needing to clear out the veggies from your fridge. However, there are times, when you need something on the go, you're rushed, or you just don't feel like cooking (or don't enjoy cooking, although if you're reading a food blog, I doubt that's the case). If you find yourself in any of these predicaments, don't grab the can. Go into the deli section and find yourself some real soup. Find yourself a container  Boulder Organic Soup ! I had the pleasure of trying a few of these delicious, organic, gluten free soups. Talk about YUM factor! Each container is about 3 servings, and paired with some good bread, makes for the perfect meal when time is against you! Or take it ...

These gems are bursting with flavor....tender, juicy and a bit spicy. We have here some Blackened Chicken, a Cajun Salsa, some delicious Cajun Dip drizzled all over it....all wrapped up in a pita. Pure yum factor going on here. The inspiration for such a diverse concoction comes from the tahini I used in the dip. Sesame King Cajun Tahini to be more specific. I had no idea there were flavored tahini's out there....so cool! They currently have Garlic, Honey, Cajun and Olive Oil flavors. All of which would be great in so many recipes. Hummus of course (how fun to have various flavor themes), dressings, sauces, dips. Before  Sunshine International Foods sent me some of their tahini, I had only used it in hummus. They have unknowingly guided me to expand my ways. Cajun Dip 6 tablespoons Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon Sesame King Cajun Tahini 1 1/2 teaspoons cilantro, finely chopped 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning Salt and pepper to taste (about a pinch) Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl,...

The holidays are here and time is precious. We have shopping to do, parties to attend and families to feed. This is the best time of year to break out the trusty ole slow cook (aka crock pot if you wanna get all old school on me). This is where Stubb's BBQ can be your best friend. I know you're familiar with their bbq sauces, but did you know they also have Cooking Sauces?! This is just 3 of the varieties that they offer. Look how cute the packaging is!! The chili pack came with everything I needed, but the meat. Of course you can add extras, such as peppers, onions, whatever your favorite add-ins might be. I chose to keep it simple, although I did brown my stew meat before hand, and then added some onions. After that, it was all up to Stubb! Pour in the spice pack (it's really spicy, just so you know) and the sauce Can you see how rich those spices are?! And for those who need to know, it's gluten-free.  With only a minimal amount of prep time, and 2 additional ingred...

Back in the day, before we thought too much about what we put in our bodies and what we fed our families. Back in the day when we were inundated with commercials boasting convenience, sophistication, new and improved and, in an ignorant (maybe?) manner.... good taste and nutrition, complete with (wait for it.....wait for it.....) THREE vitamins! We sure have come a long way in the past several decades. Especially in the most recent 10 yrs. Consumers voices and dietary needs are being heard and responded to. Which is great! But do you ever miss some of your childhood favorites? Even though you knooooow they weren't and still aren't good for you? Well guess what.... Van's Simply Delicious must've read our minds! They've just added two new whole-grain, gluten-free cereals to their already wonderful line-up, Van's has given us adults a guilt-free way to enjoy the flavors from our childhood with Blissfully Berry and Cocoa Sensation cereals. Oh sure, you can also f...