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We all scream for ice cream. Remember that? I think it was a commercial, way back when. One of my favourite foods in the summer time is ice cream. In the winter it's too darn cold here so I stay away from it, but summer - all bets are off! I don't think I've ever had a flavour I didn't like, although there are some that I like more than others.

My favourites seem to fluctuate, and currently my favourite is mango ice cream. Mmm mmm! It's so refreshing, it's just finishes dinner off superbly. However, with my blood pressure being as high as it's been, I've been staying away from any foods that are high in sugar or salt. Darn, eh?

The good news? My blood pressure is down to normal the past few days, and was just slightly elevated last night, no doubt due to the heat. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's why it was so high when the doctor took it - it was the hottest day we've had so far this summer. I don't do well in the heat, and have a tendency to hide indoors when it gets really hot.

Yes, I know I could opt for frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, but there's still a lot of sugar in any frozen dessert. Then I remembered I have an ice cream maker that I purchased a few years ago and how delicious the ice cream was, using erythritol instead of sugar. I've retrieved the ice cream maker from the nether regions of my cupboard and have decided to make lemon ice cream as my first dip back into making it.

The base is freezing as we speak, and I figure by the time I return home from yet another bike ride, it'll be ready for me to add the ingredients. Along with some fresh blueberries, lemon ice cream sounds pretty enticing. But then, I think any ice cream would.

Lemon may be my new favourite ice cream, unless I make some mango ice cream of my own. But then again, there's chocolate, mocha almond fudge, and on and on. Decisions, decisions.

Thanksgiving dinner:
Baked chicken
Corn on cob
Seasoned rice
Mashed potatoes
Gravy
Rolls
Deviled eggs
Stuffing
Peach pie
Red velvet cake
Sweet potato pie

My house help is here today and was in a very down & quiet mood, so I asked her what is wrong, but she said nothing is wrong.
I proceeded to give her the food not needed in the house anymore, as I do every time she is here, and she effusively thanked me for it. Immediately I realised that they don't have food at their flat, where she is a single mother of two adult boys, and a little girl. I immediately asked her if they have food at home, and she said just some rolls given to her by someone else she worked at during the week.
I proceeded to give her all my extra in the cupboards in the kitchen, including coffee, tea, milk, sugar, soup, tins of all sorts, breakfast cereal, and lots else. She said it was enough for about 3 months, and thanked me. They don't eat much then, I deducted.
I did it out of the bottom of my heart, as I cannot see them going hungry, when I have so much.

My Nespresso machine finally came For anyone not familiar, its basically an espresso machine you use at home. I just had a cup of glorious wonderful caffeine loaded coffee goodness

Who wants an espresso?

I take issue with oil.
Not petroleum based oil or oil/fat derived from animals.
My issue is with plant or 'vegetable oil' and that includes nut oils used on foods for eating (or cooking) and not oils used in cosmetics or paint products.
There are lots of oils in the marketplace.
If I want olive oil, it states it on the label 'Olive Oil' and some come from virgins.
Some olive oil is blended with other (read: cheaper) oils to get olive flavor at less expense.
Peanut oil is a favorite for some who cook in a skillet or wok as it has a higher smoke point and can be used successfully for frying.
Corn oil, nice color and sweet taste.
Sesame oil is used in many Oriental dishes and has a distinct flavor.
Sunflower oil for cooking
Safflower oil is often used for roasted nuts.
Coconut oil from coconuts
Cottonseed, Rageseed and Canola for cooking.
There are bunches of more exotic oils too numerous to mention.

So the issue? Vegetable Oil... WTF is in vegetable oil?

Every brand and every bottle I checked was... 100% Soybean Oil.
That's right. I found you cannot buy bottles of soybean oil because all the soybean oil is marked vegetable oil.

How deceitful is that? Why can't they sell soybean oil for what it is... soybean oil.


Next, I'll be checking bottles of Baby Oil as I have my suspicions that too is incorrectly labeled.

I'm a picky eater. I know what I like and I know what I dislike.
If I had to make a list, Tofu would be near the top of the list of foods to avoid.
It's made from bean curd. I have no problem with that but it looks like Plaster of Paris.
I've never eaten plaster but I'd wager plaster and Tofu have a similar taste.


I took a lesson from someone who cooks Tofu very often and I'm getting it a few times a week now.

First things first: Tofu is spongy and packed in water. Rinse it several times and squeeze out the excess water.

Pan fry it with something else, meat or fish preferred and it will absorb the flavor of whatever it's cooked with!

Take fresh ginger and slice it in 1/8" (3mm) strips. Fry that with the Tofu and meat. It adds an amazing flavor to the meal.

This is not a complaint blog. It's an observation and a question. I live near Pittsburgh, PA. On the 4th of July my son went to the store to pick up a few dinner items. I rarely have a craving for hotdogs, but that's what I wanted to make for our Independence day dinner. As my son was in town I asked him to pick up a few things, including hot dog relish which is like a finely diced sweet pickle with mustard. No hot dog relish to be found. In fact he'd never heard of it. As I said we rarely dine on hotdogs. They had regular sweet relish. That's it. I thought surely he must have failed to look properly. After the holiday I went to the store and no hot dog relish to be found. Apparently it's not a thing in the Pittsburgh area. Days later I still can't get over it. Yes, absolutely there are far greater (and real) problems in the world than the fact that people where I live fail to recognize the awesomeness of hot dog relish. To be honest, I usually prefer to drown my dogs with yellow mustard and diced raw onions.

Anywhoo...that got me thinking. In the hotdog-eating world, what is the standard of excellence of toppings? Anyone who mentions ketchup gets ignored.

I live in a 55 and older community that started out predominately Jewish. There are 2 synagogues and New York bagel style restaurant within the village. The grocery store across the street has a large ethnic section of foods typical of the Jewish religion/culture.

The bakery there often has seasonal items like Mondel bread that is baked as a loaf and cut with the appearance of Biscotti. The main difference is the Mondel bread texture is softer, similar to a chocolate chip cookie.

Last week something new (to me) appears in the bakery section... Babka.
The description is a sweet bread that has folded layers. I've seen two flavors. Chocolate and Cinnamon.

$6 for a loaf is pricey in my book, but I was curious.
Finishing the last slice tonight, it's doubtful I would try it again.



Maybe cinnamon rolls would be a less expensive choice.

Okay, I sold my house that had possibly the best mangoes in the land and I didn't have a clause in the contract granting me free mangoes for the next 50 years. Very sad about this, I am.

However, another source came up as someone with a large tree and a commercial duty food dehydrator. I'm getting fresh mangoes and a bag or two of dried fruit strips.

It's mango season!

One of my coworkers from a previous job raved about the Miami mangoes and offered to pay me for some. I refused to accept money. After moving, haven't talked to her in more than a year. I sent a text Mangoes? and she replied "sure" so we met up in the parking lot of a local pharmacy and under the lights I held out a bag of mangoes as she pulled up.
With a Hispanic accent I said: "You got da money?... I got da stuff"



I got home and a few minutes later she texted: "OMG!!! They are so sweet, thank you so much :-)