Ginger Beer

I am seeing a resurgence in the popularity of an 18th century beverage, ginger beer. Not to be confused with ginger ale, which is made with ginger extract. The original version of ginger beer was actually an alcoholic beverage originating in England, today really only available by the home brewer.

Today's commercial brands are classified as soft drinks/sodas; containing less than a half percent of alcohol. Fentimans of the UK, is a great example of a company that has been brewing ginger beer since the 1900s. The point of difference in their ginger beer vs. any other, is their original brewing process requiring a few days of fermentation compared to the limited production time of other ginger beers available today on the market.

Fentimans on their ginger beer:

Unlike other Ginger Beers our process starts with fermenting the finest chinese ginger root. This goes a long way to explaining the wonderful Ginger "Burn" that each bottle contains. If you like Ginger, you will love our Ginger Beer!


Fentimans: available in the US

Gone Bananas

After a few days of holiday entertaining, guests and any over indulgences - get through the midweek hurdle with my Banana Smoothy Recipe. 

Banana Smoothie 
recipe by George Hirsch | From George Hirsch Living it UP! TV series companion cookbook

Makes 2 servings, so share

1 cup frozen sliced bananas
1 Tablespoon low fat peanut butter
1/2 cup fat free milk
1/3 cup plain low fat yogurt
1/2 cup crushed ice

Place the bananas in a blender and puree. And the peanut butter, fat free milk, yogurt, and ice. Blend until smooth. 

enjoy!

image, firOOO2

Witbier

With the arrival of warmer weather it's timely for a refreshing ale to pair with that freshly grilled piece of locally caught fish. Here's my pick; Southampton Double White, my locally brewed boutique Belgian-style white ale. Frankly - any pick from Southampton Publick House gets my thumbs-up. You just have to try it. Have a look at the Living it UP! TV segment with Southampton's Brewmaster Phil Markowski.


Southampton Publick House

One of the most award-winning breweries in America— ranked in the top 20 for GABF medals won by a brewery in the last 10 years.

Living it UP! TV Segment

My Proline

Those that know me-know, I am not big on collecting kitchen gadgets. It might stem from my fierce culinary training. We were programmed to believe that you can't hide behind all the fancy kitchen accouterments. Frankly, there was no time to reach for the special doohickey for this or that; which explains why for many years I drank my coffee black - adding milk takes an extra 30 seconds. Well things have changed, somewhat. I now put milk in my coffee and have gotten used to a few good kitchen gadgets, my coffee maker, The KitchenAid Proline Coffee Maker. It is worthy of touting about. I know I am not alone, a good cup of coffee in the AM can help get you on the right foot for the day.

Other articles:

Coffee, Beyond the Brew

The Daily Grind

Manhattan Rye

Rye had not been produced in New York for over 80 years, but Tuthilltown Spirits’ HUDSON MANHATTAN RYE WHISKEY signals the return of the quintessential New York Whiskey. Tuthilltown whiskeys are the only legally distilled and aged grain spirits produced in New York since Prohibition. Imagine that. It's a great story with a nostalgic return of the classic American spirit; each 92 proof bottle hand filled, capped, waxed and numbered.

Tuthilltown Spirits even distributed in Europe.