gifts / WINE FOR THE DESIGN LOVER

With the myriad of great wine choices out there, for gifting I like to limit my selections to the ones with stark, graphic labels. These two natural wines from Spain stood out at a recent wine tasting. Made of Tinot Fino grapes, they were exceptionally full-bodied, glass-staining dark, and intensely delicious. The Wines of Telmo Rodriguez, Ribera del Duero, are in the process of getting organic certification. Matallana 2005 is aged in French oak for 15-18 months, the MB 2005 for 14 months. The labels were designed by Spanish graphic designer Fernando Gutiérrez, known for Benetton’s Colors magazine. Don’t waste your time trying to choose between the two, bring both.

gifts / TSP SPICES FOR THE COOK

What cook wouldn’t appreciate individually wrapped spices in pre-measured 1 teaspoon packets? Tsp Spices’ founders Katie and Sara, a.k.a. The Cardamoms, developed this line to eliminate waste and maintain optimum taste in the spice pantry. For gifting, they offer 3 themed boxed collections: Spice Basics, Sweet Basics and Green Basics. The Greens boxed set is a safe pick for just about anyone—featuring basil, dill, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, thyme. These organic spices come neatly housed in aluminum tins,12 to a tin, and stay absolutely fresh until used--making it a fantastic choice for a weekend house.

organicspamagazine.com

JUL/AUG 09 ORGANIC SPA MAGAZINE ARTICLE
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BE ASKED BACK:
A good guest knows what to show up with...

MY GARDEN / exciting news

My tomato plant has ONE red tomato (so far...). No, the plants have not drowned yet, and there may be a crop after all, on the 19th floor. Keeping my fingers crossed...

BETTER SNACKS / Noble Organic Juices

Choosing these juices is a no-brainer. Even the bottle is earth-friendly and can go right into your compost. Try the organic Orange Tangerine made with only juice from tree-ripened fruit, eliminating the need for added sugar or water. Get nostalgic with Old Fashioned Lemonade, which is sweetened with organic agave and cane juice. Their “gentle” pasteurization method lasts just long enough to kill organisms without affecting the taste that nature intended. Noble, indeed.

BETTER SNACKS / Raw Revolution's raw evolution

What kid won’t be fooled by punk-rock packaging of this bar? It’s one of the best raw bars that I have tasted, by far, and comes in 10 flavors, including Raspberry & Chocolate, Spirulina & Cashew, and Coconut & Agave Nectar. Raw Revolution was developed by a mom, turned off by sugary, processed snacks, who applied her talents as a natural foods chef with a passion for raw foods. Once the kids in the neighborhood got a taste, the raw revolution had begun.

BETTER SNACKS / Mary's Gone Crackers twiggy treats

Sticks & Twigs—this wacky name totally defies its goodness. Mary Waldner used her problems with celiac disease as a catalyst to create these award-winning snacks. A special mix of whole grains—brown rice, quinoa, amaranth and millet—along with toasted flax, sesame and chia seeds, add up to a taste sensation, and definitely cancel all crunch cravings. Add hummus or peanut butter for a more substantial treat. Mary’s Gone Crackers also has a line of gluten-free crackers, and CRUMBS for gluten-free coatings and mixtures.

BETTER SNACKS / Salba Chips: energy up

Next time a kid comes along hankering for a snack, slip them a bag of these tortilla chips. They add a grain called Salba, which is derived from plants the ancient Aztecs used to maintain their energy on long journeys. Salba contributes more omega-3 than flax or salmon, more antioxidants than blueberries or pomegranates, more iron than spinach and more calcium than milk. Read more about this grain’s nutrition and clinical tests here. Salba can also be purchased in whole or ground form, and added to salads, cereals, and used in baking. Salba Smart has created a whole line of healthy and tasty chips, pretzels, and salsas. and they all taste great. I like the small bags, who’s chips are kid-sized and portion controlled.

organicspamagazine.com

MAY/JUNE 09 ORGANIC SPA MAGAZINE ARTICLE
"better snacks for KIDS and the KID in YOU"
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On the cheesboard: Rustic Bakery flatbreads + crostini

Rustic Bakery The beauty of these crisps is only surpassed by the flavors, specifically designed to complement cheese. Each label lists the best pairings, so depending on your offerings, you might be attracted to Olive Oil & Sel Gris Flat Bread, which is neutral and can also work as a palate cleanser, or Pepper Polenta, great with creamy cheeses. They also make crostini which are loaded with fruits, nuts and seeds, like the Cranberry, Rosemary & Pecan. Rustic Bakery uses only organic flours and grains and ingredients from local organic farms. Bring some to your host or hostess next time you visit, gourmet treats are always appreciated.

On the cheesboard: Crisps

Crisps These terrazzo-like crisps will look like little works of art on your cheese board. Their fabulous combos lean to the sweet side: Cranberry Pumpkin, Date Walnut, Caramel Apricot Almond, and Goji Berry Pistachio. Crunch down on some for a healthy snack, or if feeling decadent, crumble some into ice cream. Best of all, they are freezer friendly, so you can keep them around long after opening, that is, if you can resist eating them all!

On the cheesboard: Patchwork Pâté

Patchwork Pâtés You will not be able to stop eating this once you’ve had a taste. Both the Chicken Liver with Triple Sec and Orange or with Bourbon and Blueberry were utterly addictive, with the creamy texture lending itself to dipping either crisps, celery, baby carrots or what-have-you. The original recipes were created by single mom, Margaret Carter in Wales, and are now lovingly manufactured here in Pennsylvania, using organic chicken livers. Unopened, the packs last quite a while, so are great for stashing for those surprise guests.

Perfect cheese mates: awww, honey, honey

Zambezi Organic Forest Honey This intensely flavored honey needs just a drizzle to complement an aged parmesan or tangy goat cheese. The bees who make this honey have 11,000 square miles of Zambian forest to cruise around in, which is one of the last remaining biologically diverse forests in the world. Founders Jenny and Keith Gelber, who met in the Peace Corps, keep their honey-making process simple, retaining more enzymes, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, and bee pollen than most other honeys. Bonus. Photos show honey straws on top, great for traveling...

Perfect cheese mates: The Virginia Chutney Co

The Virginia Chutney Co I love chutney, and use it as a shortcut ingredient in many things, including salad dressings and as a spread on sandwiches. (Think turkey.) As a accompaniment to cheese, you can’t go wrong. Try the Spicy Plum, whose spice comes from caramelized onions and ginger. Great with Brie or cheddar. If you are more attracted to a sweet juxtaposition, go for Sweet Peach which pairs ups with just about any cheese. I used a tiny spoonful of chutney in my recipe for Leafy Chicken Bites, see Expertise.

smile and say CHEESE: organic selections

Here are my picks for fantastic organic cheeses from around the world:

Coastal Cheddar Though this is not technically an organic cheese, it is made using ancient local methods—fresh milk from pampered cows who gaze out at the sea in the South of England. What sets this cheddar apart is a slightly milder and sweeter taste—and a crunch, from what appears to be salt but is actually a reaction of the cheese making process. The photo shows the cheeses maturing in a cave, which you can tour, if you are so inclined.

Latteria Perezin In the Middle Ages, farmers in Italy were obliged to give half of their produce to landlords for use of the farms. This inspired clever cloaking practices, like the hay shown here, and resulted in adding unique aromas and flavors. In my opinion, this looks marvelous plated. Called caciottona, it also comes wrapped in walnut leaves or with a peppery crust. It will last six months in its vacuum-packed state. This cheese is distributed in the US by Atalanta Corp, who carry an astonishing variety of excellent cheese, including the Parmeggiano Reggiano below.

5Spoke Creamery Did you know that only raw milk retains the enzyme that allows for more calcium absorption and digestion of lactose? That is just one of the benefits of the raw milk cheeses from 5spoke—besides their superior taste. Alan Glustoff, founder and cheesemaker sees cycling as the best way to see the world and thus named his company 5spoke. Try the Herbal Jack, which in addition to the chives and herbs has my favorite ingredient: garlic!
www.5spokecreamery.com

Casearia di Sant’Anna The family that started making this Parmeggiano Reggiano decided in 1959 that they were going to make their cheese with the best milk. So, they let their cows graze on the fields of three organic farms. You can really taste the centuries-old flavors in this traditional cheese.

organicspamagazine.com

MAR/APR 09 ORGANIC SPA MAGAZINE ARTICLE
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"the ultimate organic cheese board"

RECIPE / luscious LAMB

I adapted this recipe from Healthy Food, Healthy You, which is one of my go-to cookbooks, and jam-packed with unusual and intriguing combinations. Almost every recipe is accompanied by a photo, which is mandatory for my favorite cookbooks, which I end up using more as a visual stimulus than anything else. (Amazon, and Alibris have some used copies, get one!)
I tweaked the spiced lamb burger recipe, and loved the results. Into ground lamb I added:
small cubes of roasted butternut squash, mashed (make sure you have a sharp knife—it is a royal pain to cut because the squash is so hard, but totally worth the effort in the end.)
cumin
corainder
chile powder
cayenne
salt
pepper
minced onion
and lots of cilantro.
Fried the burgers up in a pan, with some olive oil.
Two serving versions: Place on top of mashed sweet potatoes with a green salad. Or, mix with whole wheat pasta and top with fresh fennel tops from baby fennel bulbs.

organicspamagazine.com

JAN/FEB 09 ORGANIC SPA MAGAZINE ARTICLE
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"unexpected taste combinations"

Hip Hostess NYC: NOW on Facebook

The Hip Hostess has a travel photo log on Facebook. See HipHostess Nyc for the full picture.

Good Earth COFFEE + Rowenta Coffee Maker / perfect pair

I love good design and I adore organization. This Rowenta coffee maker, designed by Jasper Morrison, defines both with its sleek and efficient design which puts all the necessary parts where you need them. I wish everything in life were like this. Under the lid are the filters, scoop and removable basket. All that’s missing is a good organic coffee. Enter Good Earth, the maker of great organic teas with a new line of organic coffees. My favorite, Mystic Blend, is a dark roast that has an extremely smooth, balanced flavor that will get you and your guests goin’!