Even though Halloween is still a couple of weeks away, signs of the Christmas holiday are starting to pop up in stores. It's never to early to plan, I suppose, especially if you want to get Advent calendars. People are snatching up the most anticipated calendars of the seasons, including a £112 affair from Meghan Markle that features chocolates inspired by her Montecito, California home. The article offers alternatives (for UK shoppers) that are much more reasonably priced.
Cooking is an amazing hobby because there is no end to learning about new ways to make a tasty meal, whether it's discovering new ingredients, recipes, or techniques. I read a lot about food, but I manage to learn something new every week. This week it's the idea of cooking rice in beer. Apparently the malts in beer give the rice a nutty undertone. Has anyone tried this?
Food plays a role in all of life's special occasions, even the sad ones. Felicity Cloake recently lost her beloved dog Wilf, and she noted how people rallied around her, bringing her food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. She calls these "SOS meals", and notes how they both convey feelings and make the sad times bearable. Bonus: she has recipe recommendations for perfect meals to take to someone in need.
It's not often that a new potato variety comes to market, so news about the Poulette potato is worth mentioning. The Poulette is a cross between a rare French heirloom potato and US breeding stock managed by Cornell University. The potato has a savory flavor that chef Dan Barber says is reminiscent of roast chicken. Not only does it taste good, but the Poulette is disease and pest-resistant and produces good yields even when grown organically. The potato is currently only available in select Whole Foods in a few northeastern states, but the hope is that as more farmers start to grow it, the Poulette will become available nationally.