Hefty.

Food competitions based on geographical area are always entertaining. For starters, we all know Philadelphia is the only place on the planet you can get a real-deal, authentic cheesesteak. Imposters in other cities selling “Philadelphia-style” cheesesteaks are frauds and true Philadelphians know better than to even think of ordering the sandwich outside the area, otherwise you’re up for disappointment. New York claims their bagels are something special and even attempts to participate in the soft pretzel category. Personally, I don’t think that’s even worth arguing; Philly’s perfected soft pretzels, too.

We even have a good shot at the best pizza outside of Italy. Fishtown alone has some of the city’s best spots – from Pizza Brain, to Pizzeria Beddia, to the handful of other small shops the neighborhood has been home to forever –  I would say we are lucky enough to never have trouble finding a place close enough that they’ll deliver a quality pie to your door. Until recently, though, our city was not typically thrown into the mix when it came to the great pizza debate.  Read More…

Tuesday is, by far, one of the busiest days of the week. It’s still the beginning of the week so, not only do I feel like the day runs in slow-motion, it’s filled with activity too. I wake up early to head to work, try to cross things off my ‘to-do’ list at my desk, and head to French class at the Alliance Française at the end of the day. I get picked up at 7:30 p.m. and head home, my stomach growling in anger that I’ve neglected it since lunchtime. Typically I get home to a fridge that’s been emptied from weekend activity, and often wish there was a machine that existed that could have somehow prepare dinner for me while I was gone all day. By the time I remember there is, it’s too late and I have to settle for take-out.

Slow cooker to the rescue.

I’ve suffered too many Tuesday nights hungry or unsatisfied to forget any longer that the answer to my prayers is my trusty slow-cooker. It sits in a cabinet under my counter tops, so sometimes I forget it’s there to help me. Recently, though, it’s taken a more permanent role in my weekly meals and allows me to now let my busy Tuesdays get the best of me. This recipe takes very little preparation time and combines practical ingredients to make a diverse dish. Read More…

Did you ever eat something so delicious, you couldn’t erase it from your memory? You explain it to all of your friends, but with each descriptive word you salivate more and more. Anything else you eat in the weeks afterward is just mediocre, and you wish for every bite thereafter to taste like that tasty, memorable deliciousness in your recent past.

This happens to me all too often and, unfortunately, I don’t have the budget to visit my favorite restaurants for the extraordinary dishes I yearn for at my leisure. I do, however, like a challenge and find that it’s just as easy to attempt to replicate the dishes I crave at home. Typically, I identify the flavors and ingredients with attentiveness as I take in each bite. Restaurant menus aid in the process, and usually provide two to three integral ingredients in the item’s description.  Read More…

As someone lacking a green thumb, I am in awe of those with a natural passion for gardening. In our own neighborhood alone, it’s impossible to walk a block without spotting a beautiful window flower-box or an array of strategically placed potted plants. Our friends, TJ and Jenny, have a lush, backyard garden, and they put a lot of care into keeping it healthy and abundant. Not only is it an attractive feature of their home, it’s as functional as it is eye-catching.

Tomatoes from TJ and Jenny’s garden.

Read More…