Why the word “brunch” should be used with caution

“Let’s meet for brunch this Sunday.”

Let it be known, I am suspicious of anyone who uses the word “brunch.” If you are British royalty or perhaps dear Martha then the word “brunch” is suitable for your vocabulary. I have no trouble listening to Martha speak of brunch. She could talk about brunch for ten days straight and I wouldn’t have a problem with it. I do, however, have trouble listening to others use the word. Like my new sister-in-law, D, who arranged a family brunch this Sunday. She may not know this but my family doesn’t do brunch. We do breakfast, lunch and dinner, and that’s it. Napkins? Fine china? Eating with utensils? Don’t expect these fancy features, either. When we eat as a family it’s more like a primitive feast, complete with belching. Everyone talks over one another to the point of numbness. Scraps of food end up scattered about the table and floor. There is no etiquette or form of civilized manner. In short: family meals tend to be loud, eccentric and ultimately exhausting.

So, the notion of introducing brunch to a pack of wolves? Good luck with that one.

Serious eating from the BBQ

First, I had a hot dog...


Then I moved on to this juicy hamburger...


I like my toppings. Don't you?

Coffee in ice cream form

Recipe for coffee ice cream. Nate's family makes homemade ice cream (with success) all the time. Maybe I should this recipe their way.

Trials at cooking

At times I like to cook. Usually such cooking takes place when Nate visits. Otherwise, I tend to ignore the kitchen. Maybe I should take pleasure in cooking for one but the appeal hasn’t reached me yet.

My latest cooking was a batch of chocolate chip and banana pancakes. They were incredibly tasty and because of the chocolate there was no need for syrup. Knowing the timing and flipping ratio for pancakes can be challenging. Also, I can only focus on one pancake at a time. So I make a pancake, pass it off to Nate. Make the next pancake, eat it quickly. Make the third pancake, pass it off to Nate. The process continues.

In the future I plan on moving on to crepes. My favorite crepes of all time would be from Le Village Buffet at Paris in Las Vegas. The crepes (and other food items) are superb!

The Whole Foods debate

"Since opening its first store in Austin, Tex., in 1980, Whole Foods has grown from a small business to a mega-chain with 193 stores, capping its rise last week with a deal to acquire the 110 stores of its largest rival, Wild Oats."

Click here for the full article: Is Whole Foods Straying From Its Roots?

I shop at Whole Foods but not for completely environmental reasons. I enjoy being inside the store. Browsing their gourmet and specialty products. Eating from their deli or hot pizza bar. I also love their chocolate and tea aisle (which is the same aisle at my Whole Foods), where I spend the most time in the store. I don’t go to Whole Foods in order to save the planet and I think this makes my trips there easier for me. But I do listen to the Whole Foods debate. It will be interesting to discover what the future for Whole Foods holds.

Also, on a side note the customer service at Whole Foods tends to be terrific but the customers inside the store tend to be a little wound-up. Okay, maybe wound-up isn’t the word I’m looking for. It’s rude. The customers tend to be rude. I’m not the only one who has noticed this and I don’t entirely get it. Shouldn’t buying organic, cage-free eggs be enough to make anyone happy?

A new addiction?

Forget coffee drinks. I've been spending more and more time on campus and as a result have become addicted to Freshëns smoothies. I'm a fan of the Strawberry Sunrise (which is 153 calories). Mmmm. I don't add what they call "boosters" to my smoothies because I'm not sure if I need them. Although I tried an energy booster once, and was buzzing with alertness for the rest of the day.

Chocolate lover

I spotted this a few days ago and have been meaning to the post the link here: 25 gourmet chocolates were tested and the results are in. (Link found at Megnut.) I am the kind of person who loves chocolate. My favorite might be Chocolove, which I pick up at Whole Foods for $2.

Staying warm in January

Looking for healthy restaurant options is not an easy task. However, the local Zoup! seems to be a little better than most places. It’s been a cold January and so enjoying a hot cup of soup with the company of my oldest sister, T, is a perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Here is a description of how the soups are made from the official site:

These hand-crafted soups always start with stocks made from triple-filtered water, to which we add only the freshest and highest-quality vegetables, meats, herbs and spices (but never any additives or MSG). Each small batch is then cooked and simmered to the perfect level of doneness, and quick-chilled using an ice-water-bath method used in French cooking since the 1800s. This chilling method stops the cooking process at the peak of freshness and helps marry the flavors of the various fresh herbs and other ingredients. Just prior to serving, the soup is gently double-boiled, resulting in robust, flavorful, fresh and nutritious fare.

According to their official site, they have 200 soup selections. Very impressive.

Reconsidering lunch selections

I had a tuna sandwich for lunch, which means I now smell like tuna. It’s a horrible, horrible smell. Maybe I should reconsider the foods I select for on the go.