Thursday, March 31, 2022

School Lunch!

While teaching at a Worthington, Ohio high school yesterday, I realized I had forgotten my lunch and stopped by the cafeteria for a delicious and cost effective dining option.

The meal was very different from what I remember when I was in high school: and included a lot of fresh veggies and other light and healthy ingredients.

This General Tso's Chicken was a mere $3.75 and was DELICIOUS!



Sunday, March 27, 2022

Amish Country Ohio's Colorful Cookery

While visiting Ohio's Amish Country, my wife Lindsay, son Finley and I visited The Colorful Cookery based on a tip Lindsay read online.

The pizza and bubble waffles were AMAZING!  The pizza crust was light, crispy and delicious and the bubble waffle we tried was loaded with delicious ice cream, chocolate and peanut butter sauce, and an array of tasty toppings.

If visiting or passing through Berlin, Ohio, don't forget to stop at The Colorful Cookery!

https://www.facebook.com/colorfulcookery/



Thursday, March 3, 2022

Power Bowl

What do you make when all you have on hand are some chic peas, onions, corn, oil, and spices.  A power bowl of course! The chick peas provide protein, onion and corn texture and flavor, and spices a delicious kick.

Start by cooking some onions in a cast iron pan, then add your remaining ingredients to cook for a few more minutes.  If you'd like, you could also add an egg for extra protein.




Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Quick and Easy Homemade Pretzels

Making pretzels at home can seem like a daunting task, but the below recipe makes the process simple with outstanding results.

My pretzels didn't look amazing, but their flavor rivaled any pretzel from a professional bakery or mall chain.  Please see the attached link for the recipe:




Friday, February 18, 2022

Chinese New Year

 Chinese New Year is a time of celebration and anticipation of the excitement of the coming year.  This year, despite snow on the ground, I fired up the grill to prepare chicken and pork.

After grilling I sliced the chicken and tossed in a skillet with soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and sesame oil.

I removed the pork from the skewers I cooked it on and added peanut sauce and honey roasted peanuts.

With a pot of brown rice and some pre-made dumplings, the feast was complete!








Monday, November 25, 2019

Peeps: An Amazing Tradition for Any Time of Year

What is a Pennsylvania steel town to do when its major industry and source of revenue begins to wane?  Invent a creative marshmallow confection and market it for any time of year of course!
I was first introduced to Peeps (link to company website here), a wonderful treat still made in Bethlehem, PA, by my mother as a child.  Every Easter several boxes of the cute little marshmallow chicks extruded from a machine and dusted in yellow sugar would rest in my sister and my Easter baskets.  They were delicious as is or plopped in a cup of hot chocolate.
Today, Peeps come in all shapes and are marketed to excited connoiseurs for any time of year. 
While doing some holiday shopping I found a new wonderful treat: Gingerbread Peeps.  Excited to try a box, I took them home to sample.

On a plate and microwaved for 5-7 seconds, they are absolutely wonderful.  A distinct flavor reminiscent of pumpkin spice combines with the molten marshmallow for a heavenly combination.  Have a wonderful start to the holiday season and don't forget to pick up a few holiday Peeps to enjoy!
-The Food Pope

Friday, November 22, 2019

Fruitcake: A Wonderful Holiday Tradition

As we rapidly approach the holidays, I enjoy sampling the range of wonderful flavors associated with the season.  One unique delicacy that I didn't like for the majority of my childhood is fruitcake.  While perusing the holiday aisle at Wally World last week, I found a small section that contained Claxton Fruitcake (link to company website here).  I had never tried one before, and was curious if the $2.69 would be money well spent.  It certainly was!


Rich pieces of candied fruit adorn a lovely mixture containing pecans, walnuts, and what appears to be fairly traditional bread dough.  If you're looking for a unique treat to enjoy this holiday season, I'd recommend seeking out a tasty fruitcake that combines the flavors of yesteryear.  You might just find that your tastebuds take a trip back to a simpler time when fruitcake was a rich and flavorful delicacy containing all manner of wonderful hard-to-find ingredients that are commonplace in modern times.  Even if they don't, a slice of fruitcake is absolutely divine with a strong cup of coffee or tea.