Impoverished Gourmet » Crumbs

Growing your own

Robbie — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:59:48 +0000

New York Times, slowly catching on to the trends we pioneer here, has an article up about urban food gardens. Very interesting, if you can get past the “recession fill-in-the-blank” meme.

On the topic of recession gardening, though, I’ll mention a book that every impoverished gourmet should read - Lean Years, Happy Years, by Angelo Pellegrini - essentially a manifesto for downturn inspired reconnection with food sources. Get it for free from your library or buy a used copy.

Bulgur Breakfast

Robbie — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:10:11 +0000

Inspired by the Minimalist Mark Bittman’s New York Times column a while back, I’ve been experimenting with bulgur as a hot breakfast cereal. I find it a little quicker and more painless than oatmeal, but still amazing with brown sugar, a little milk, and fruit of your choice. 1 part bulgur, 2 parts water, boil, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes or until the water is gone. No stirring, no clumps, delicious breakfast. Plus, if you have leftovers, it makes a wonderful savory side for dinner.

Tiramisu is not the Irish afterlife

Robbie — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 04:16:46 +0000

Tiramisu is not the the Irish afterlife; in fact, tira-mi-su is an Italian phrase that literally means “pick-me-up”.
(everyone knows the Irish afterlife is a delicious drink made of eggs, cream, rum and nutmeg)

Green Beer made from sunshine and dirty hippies

Tyler — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:06:10 +0000

A year ago Lucky Labrador Brewing Company out of Portland, Oregon invested $70,000 in a solar hot water system, received $64,000 in tax credits and incentives and now saves $3,000 yearly on their gas bill. Proving beer can be green from more than green food coloring and spirulina.

Penance…

Nathan — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:22:37 +0000

With all of the talk of bacon around here lately, I thought I’d throw a crumb to our vegetarian friends. 101 Cookbooks has posted a delicious-looking recipe for Carmelized Tofu. Go forth, yea veggies, and eat soy.

Gourmet Kitchen on a Shoestring

Nathan — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:46:02 +0000

The ever-wonderful Wisebread has a guide to putting together the kitchen of your dreams on a tight budget. They hit on, among other things, buying bulk spices and growing your own herbs in pots, two things that will not only save money (as they mention), but give you better quality, fresher ingredients as well.

They recommend Ikea as a good source for good-quality pots & pans and utensils on a budget, which can be true, but they’re forgetting the best place of all: your friendly neighborhood kitchen supply shop.

Twelve Under-$20 Ways to Snack Well on New Year’s Eve

Nathan — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 20:56:30 +0000

The Washington Post offers up Twelve Under-$20 Ways to Snack Well on New Year’s Eve. Sounds right up our alley.

Via Slashfood.

Balsamic Glazed Almonds

Nathan — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:31:51 +0000

Coconut and Lime has a delicious-looking recipe for Balsamic Glazed Almonds. Haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but honestly if you glazed cardboard with balsamic I’d happily eat it.

Pretzel Praline

Nathan — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:26:33 +0000

Just in time for the holidays, Ideas in Food is featuring a delicious-looking, easy to make Pretzel Praline recipe. Anything that combines sweet, salty, and yeasty cannot possibly be bad.

Balsamic Onions and Goat Cheese Quesadilla

Tyler — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 01:26:46 +0000

I discovered Meghan’s blog, Tales of a Culinary Novice, through a comment she left here recently, and she’s got some super swanky recipes up. One in particular caught my eye while I was there: Balsamic Onions and Goat Cheese Quesadillas. Mmm. I’m going to go make a few of these right now.