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Omnivore Food Blog By Suzanne Podhaizer

Vermont Products

April 24, 2008

If You Can't Take The Heat, Get A "HotHolder!"

Img_1761You may already have seen these in Patrick Mullikin's article called Kitchen Kitsch, but just in case you missed it, I wanted to call attention to these fun potholders by Vermont artist Sarah Green.

If you're tired of the standard options for keeping your hands burn free, you can head over to Etsy.com and put your mitts all over Oscar, Lars, Chad, Tommy or Steve. 

Seeing this potholder inspired me to search for other fun kitchen items, specifically aprons with similarly fun patterns or with sexy style, but I didn't really find much that worked for me. What did I find? Aprons with naughty slogans (Master Baster, and so on), lots of French maid costumes and "naked aprons." Ick. I did find a fun company called Carolyn's Kitchen that sells cute, vintage inspired aprons, but they weren't exactly what I was looking for. Finally, I headed back to Etsy where I found just the thing: the Tijuana Mama apron. That's hot!

It makes me want to bust out my sewing machine.

February 24, 2008

Cake from Sunflower Bakery

Img_4001 After I mentioned her home business in one of my articles, "Party On...Consciously," Sunflower Bakery owner Janet Makaris dropped off a gorgeous cake at the Seven Days office. It's made with spelt flour with a layer of lemon curd (one of my favorite things) and maple fondant on top. And as you can see, was decorated with a beautiful flower.

We'd never had a cake made with a non-wheat flour before -- Janet specializes in baking with alternative flours and sweeteners -- and my husband mentioned his surprised by how light it is. He associates spelt with dense, nutritious breads.

The fondant was very sweet, but the tang of the lemon curd provided balance. It was decadent so we had small pieces, and I can't wait to have another one tonight!

February 19, 2008

Vegan Treats at City Market

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a duo of products at City Market that I hadn't seen before: raw, vegan "egg salad" and "tuna" salad. At the time, I was seeking mass quantities of comforting cooked potatoes, so I abstained.

This morning, I noticed a some new products from the same company, Vermont Fiddle Heads, so I decided to try 'em. I came back to the office with a bag of raw spice cookies (dehydrated, not cooked) and balls of Super Mint Fudge. Both sweets are gluten-free and dairy-free.

As an omnivore who luxuriates in butter, cheese and cream from small, locally-owned farms, and who enjoys cooked products such as gingerbread cake and apple crisp, I'll admit that my palate may not be well suited to judging what might taste delicious to someone who abstains from such items. With that in mind, I tried a piece of the fudge.

The soft, dark brown ball felt soft between my fingers, and I resisted the urge to play with it as if it were Play-Doh. The aroma was dominated by mint extract, which made my sinuses feel nice when I inhaled. Like a more pleasant, edible version of Vicks VapoRub.

After biting into the ball, I was surprised to find it quite chunky -- seemingly with nut pieces and cacao nibs. The flavor had little in common with the product that I think of as fudge -- a smooth, creamy, sugar-y dessert -- but it was not unpleasant, and is certainly much healthier.

The sticky spice cookie was also dark brown but studded with nut bits. It had a mildly spicy aroma.  The most interesting thing about the cookie's flavor was the fact that every bite was a little different. One had more salt, another had a bitter edge -- perhaps from a piece of citrus zest. The spices were detectable, but not overpowering. 

Both tasted fine, but would I choose to eat them just for the pleasure of it? Maybe not. When I want what I consider to be a healthy snack, I often eat a handful of mixed nuts and dried fruit, fresh fruit with a piece of artisan cheese or some olives, all of which I love. Nix the artisan cheese and they're all vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free, too. But not all raw. And definitely not local.

On the rare occasion that I opt for something sweet, it has nothing to do with health. It's all about living a voluptuous, sensual life. To me that means downing an eclair, or something similarly decadent, every couple of weeks.

But if you're a vegan proponent of raw food, and enjoy slightly sweet snacks that you don't have to prepare yourself, I bet that these will be right up your alley!      


January 25, 2008

Chocolate Troubles (and a poll!)

Since my recent confession that I'm not as passionately entranced with chocolate as others seem to be, I've realized that I'm being punished by the chocolate gods. How do I know that there are chocolate gods? Because the Latin name for chocolate is Theobroma cacao, and Theobroma translates as "food of the gods. Duh!

I guess these sadistic deities are mad because I talked smack about their sustenance of choice, so they're punishing me by making sure that lots of diet-crushing, chocolate-y goodness comes my way.

Yesterday, I discovered a confection called a "peanut butter lust bar" at a local health-food store. How could I resist an item named after two of my favorite things? I couldn't. And the bar just happened to be drenched in...chocolate. (More on this when I actually eat it).

Then, this morning, a co-worker showed up with a lovely box of treats from Laughing Moon Chocolates of Stowe. I had a small piece of peppermint bark and a chocolate-covered caramel sprinkled with salt. Mmm. And that was before breakfast. Who knows what might appear this afternoon? Or how long this torture will last?

To appease my tormentors, I will say that I really enjoy chocolate. It's a delightful substance, and those who make truffles, bark and bars are lovely people. All I meant was that given a choice between chocolate and salty, fatty pork products, I'd take the pork. Perhaps I'm in the minority?

January 23, 2008

I Love Blackflower Chocolates

ImagesI have to confess that I like chocolate, but I'm not a chocolate fiend -- most likely because I don't have much of a sweet tooth (I do, however, have a fat, salty tooth).

However, I've been loving everything I can get my hands on from Blackflower Chocolates of Charlotte. Why? The chocolate is dark, smooth and complex without being bitter; the flavors are exciting; and the packaging is eye catching. Plus, I live in Charlotte, so buying the stuff makes me feel all warm and localvore-y.

Right now, I'm eating the subtle curry + coconut bar. I highly recommend that you go find one immediately. I've never tried the truffles, but as soon as I spy them at a store I frequent, you can be sure that I will.

* Photo from the Blackflower website

January 20, 2008

Millborne Farm Drinkable Yogurt

Images My lovely friend Devon clued me in about these tasty and nutritious yogurt drinks. I'd seen them on the grocery store fridges near the Odwalla juices and Nantucket Nectars, and hadn't realized that Millborne Farm is in Vermont: Shoreham, to be exact. The little bottles are everywhere...I've seen them at gas stations, health food stores and mom 'n' pop places.

What's so healthy about 'em? First of all, they're made from cultured whole milk that is free of rBST. Always a good start. Then, in addition to the cultures that actually turn the milk into yogurt, MF adds a few more strains that are particularly good for digestion. And they add inulin, a type of soluble fiber stored in the roots and rhizomes of plants (such as chicory and dandelion).  The end result is high in fiber -- but you'd never know it -- and has lots of vitamins and minerals.

Until recently, I'd only seen four flavors: vanilla, strawberry, pomegranate and orange. But yesterday, D. came home with peach, which was nice, too. Although I think the pomegranate may be my favorite.

* Pic is from the Millborne Farm website 

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