Honey I Love You

Your body is a marvelous machine that deserves optimum fuel everyday in order for it to perform its best. Why not take today, Valentine’s Day + treat yourself to sweet goodness. Yes, yourself. Treat yourself to something that's good for you. I'm thinking enjoying some honey - it's one of my top food picks.

Eat it local. it's so good for you, especially when made by your local bees. Much like how wines differ in flavor according to where the grapes are grown, so does honey. The benefits, in addition to building your immune system and an all natural aid to outdoor allergies; honey is one of the most precious all natural sweeteners on the market. 

Take good care of yourself + keep spreading the love. Happy Valentine’s Day!

sold out

13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one

$19.95

Buy Her Some Gold

Not so sure how well this will go over as a Vatlentine's Day present - but it could be accompanied by grilled steaks for two, a bottle of wine, candlelight + chocolates.

Circa 1932, New York's own Gold's Pure Food Products Horseradish is an important staple + condiment to have in the refrigerator. It can jazz up dressings, sauces and put a nice spin on a serving of mashed potatoes. Also it's great if you are committed to limiting the amount of butter to your meal portions. Horseradish also happens to be good for you too; it's fat free and less than 5 calories per tablespoon. If you don't have fresh horseradish on hand, the prepared version of grated horseradish is a great alternative.

 

The World's Gone Nuts

Origin, Italy. Main ingredient, hazelnut; hence the nickname hazelnut cream and not chocolate cream. You may be fooled thinking this tastes like more like chocolate, but there is actually less than 10 percent cocoa in the recipe. 

Nutella spread in its earliest form, was created in the 1940s by Mr. Pietro Ferrero, a pastry maker and founder of the Ferrero Group; today also the makers of the popular Tic-Tac mints. At the time, there was very little chocolate because cocoa was in short supply due to World War II rationing. Mr. Ferrero used hazelnuts, which are plentiful in the Piedmont region of Italy, to extend the chocolate supply. 

A fun little fact: Initially, the most popular glass containers were quite small, the size of a standard water glass; so they could be used as normal table glasses once the product had been consumed. Gotta love it, the Italians are so resourceful.

Nutella is a treat for people of all ages with serious fans around the globe. I like mine simply on a cornetti or croissant. How about you? For some inspiring Nutella recipe ideas. 

BTW-FEB 5th is World Nutella Day.

images; Ferrero Group, flickr/dennisandluba

Full Moon

What happens when you harvest olives is Spain during October's full moon? (Well, besides creating a brilliant marketing hook?) Spain's Pago Baldios San Carlos will say "absolutely the best olive oil pressed from Spain's arbequina and cornicabra olives." The Pago Baldios San Carlos Family has been in the agricultural biz since the 17th century, so they might have the hang of the pressing thing by now. Their view of their products continues to come from a more holistic or living well driven lifestyle + necessity, rather than desire for a luxury product to market. They have many years of evidence that their pressed oil is good for you too. Focus is on quality yielded and not quantity; acknowledging olive oil is only 3% of the world's vegetable oil consumption. A calming reality, I guess.

This award winning oil is also making it's way to the finest Michelin Chef kitchens around world. ImPRESSive. Pun intended.

Put Up Your Duke's

You know I have a soft spot for family owned and operated companies. Here's one more that deserves to be called GoodStuff. Duke's Mayonnaise home is Greenville, South Carolina - using the same original recipe since 1917. 

The formula for Duke’s includes more egg yolks than other brands of mayonnaise. It also has no added sugar. (It’s the only major brand of mayonnaise that can make that claim.) That combination gives the mayonnaise a tanginess Duke’s fans have come to love. 

Spread the love. It's no longer just available in the South.