Student-Run Gourmet

At Columbus State Community College where I teach English, Christopher's Restaurant is a student-run restaurant serving gourmet food every Thursday.  Today I enjoyed a  lovely bowl of French onion soup and followed by a beautiful plate of pork tenderloin au Poivre topped with a creamy green peppercorn sauce and side of braised red cabbage.

For less than $9, I felt like I was eating like a king.  The chefs and servers in this program have a lot to be proud about!

Simple Cheese Fondue

For Valentine's Day this year I decided to try making cheese fondue for the first time.  A recipe posted on the Food Network by Tyler Florence was really easy to make, had a smooth consistency, and was delicious.  Pretzel rolls are a perfect bread for dipping in this indulgent fondue!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/cheese-fondue-recipe.html

Food Pope Tips:

• I purchased blocks of swiss and gruyere cheese, placed them in separate ziplock bags and placed 1Tps of cornstarch in each bag.  Shaking the bags thoroughly coats the shredded cheese with cornstarch.
• I didn't have a really dry white wine available, so I used a Riesling which worked great.
• If you don't have cherry brandy as the recipe calls for, a sweet port works really well to.

Light, Healthy and Delicious

When perusing the frozen foods aisle at my local grocery store I came across Morningstar Farms veggie burgers.  Lightly fried on each side and served with chipotle mustard, onion, and sliced avocado on local sourdough bread, they were delectable!

When considering a burger that is healthy, tasty, and environmentally friendly, why not try a veggie burger?

https://www.morningstarfarms.com/products/burgers/spicy-black-bean-veggie-burgers

Chicken Penne Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes

For a quick and easy recipe that's really tasty, consider chicken penne pasta with sundried tomatoes tonight!

I use whole wheat penne pasta to add some fiber and a more rustic flavor.

http://juliasalbum.com/2014/10/chicken-mozzarella-pasta-with-sun-dried-tomatoes/

Massive Lobster Tails

As I perused the seafood section of my local grocery store I gazed upon three massive, beautiful Caribbean lobster tails.  Each appeared to be approximately a foot in length, and as my mouth watered, I couldn't help but also wonder how much longer these beautiful denizens of the deep would swim the warm waters of the Caribbean.

If ever in doubt over the sustainability of a seafood option you're considering, always check Seafood Watch.  Click on the state you live in for the best seafood options that are healthy, sustainable, and delicious!

Beverage Droid

My lovely wife couldn't have gotten me a more suitable drink holder than this wonderful beverage droid fashioned after a certain famous Star Wars R2 unit.  Thanks Lindsay!

Mr. Tea

In addition to the A-Team's B.A. Baracus, another formidable "Mr. Tea" can be found in this lovely silicon infuser who takes a dip in your mug and brews a perfect cup of tea.