Me vs. The Menu

Links, Links, and More Links (Up To 10)

Surfing the web while I watch Forgetting Sarah Marshall (not too bad I will admit)...

1.  This guy stole the Colonel's secret recipe and wears a chef's hat around the house.

2a.  Krispy Kreme recipes.  2b.  Official recipes.  2c.  Paula Deen's donut recipe (note:  the recipe says english muffins, but her description lists a donut as an alternate).

3.  Speaking of Paula Deen, this article lists the "Butter Queen's" five healthiest selections.

4. Strawberry & Honey Mojita recipe from the television in my building's elevator.

5.  How to make ice cream when you go camping this summer (note:  when I was in the Boy Scouts we used to use a quart-sized coffee can inside a gallon-sized one).

6.  A pocket guide to Dim Sum that goes in your iPhone, then into your pocket.

7a.  The ten "coolest" barbecue grills (according to this guy).  7b.  Inexpensive, small grill for the fire-escape.  7c.  Even smaller grill.  7d.  This one folds up like a notebook.

8.  The BEST Food Movies EVER according to Esquire and according to Peggy Vincent, "author AND reader."

9.  2009 StarChefs.com salary survey.

10.  Best chefs in NYC you haven’t heard of (unless you read New York Magazine last December)

The New (Improved?) Food Pyramid

The wonders of the internet - a thought that I might be able to find something on the "evolution of the Food Pyramid" via Google yields over 130,000 results in 0.12 seconds.  An image search yields the following (and saves you from reading a bunch of articles like this or this):

This is a version of the Food Pyramid I could live with:

(Update:  found a great looking version of the bacon pyramid on Flickr)

Wowsers!

I've recently discovered some free software for keeping my blog updated and I wanted to pass along a real quick review. As you'll see in the footer of each post, I've come across Zoundry Raven (the footer note is optional by the way - nice touch for a free program). I've been using it for about a week and couldn't be happier.

It automatically sets up blogs for most formats (Blogger, Typepad, etc.) and even imports previous posts if you've already started with one of the services or your own URL. One of my favorite parts is that if you happen to have multiple sites, you can actually post to both at the same time. Inserting images is simple and straight forward, and adding links is simple - if you already have the URL in your clipboard ZR automatically inserts the link when you click on the "insert link button." You don't even have to hit paste - easy cheesy.

Another neato feature is the spell check which actually has loads of different dictionaries to download if you don't just blog in English (Canada, Great Britain, and United States). Anyway, I thought a quick note proclaiming the initial greatness would be in order and I'll keep updating as I find new features / things I like.

By the way - breakfast this morning was a collage of leftover proteins and veggies in a quick omelet.

Powered by Zoundry Raven

Technology Rulez

This isn't a food post per se, but it's my blog and I'm kind of fooded out this morning.

As I sit here in Bryant Park typing away on my latest toy and listening to Jose Gonzalez on my iPod, I am once again reminded how absolutely fabulous technology can be. I recently purchased an ASUS 1008HA Eee PC under the public decree that I wanted a netbook for when I travel (however limited that is). Truth is I wanted another toy. This thing is great! In the three plus weeks I've had it I've been able to install the latest beta of Windows 7, three different versions of Linux, and re-format the entire thing to start all over again. I'm an Apple guy, which explains why the "mobile mini" is white, and to tell you the truth Windows isn't that bad. I've downloaded some add-ons which make the appearance more Mac-like, but other than that (and a good anti-virus / firewall software suite) I've made little changes. There are some great free programs I can use to keep this blog updated - one of which I'm using now, Zoundry Raven. Besides, I'm able to experiment with different browsers (Google Chrome is pretty nice, especially in full screen mode, hit F11 if you trust me) and the usual websites are available for searching through recipes & restaurant reviews. All in all, I'm very satisified and an even bigger nerd.

Here's a recent photo of the "set-up" at the house:

(pictured from left to right: MacBook 13 sitting atop MacBook Pro 15, 24-inch iMac, ASUS EeePc, apple bluetooth wireless mouse, logitech 3-button mini-mouse, Brother network laser printer, LaCie Rugged 250GB portable harddrive, various cables, and Canon Pixma Color Inkjet)

I'll get back to food posts when I return to Bryant Park for lunch. Speaking of lunch, I have a homemade falafel with homemade taziki sauce, spinach, and cucumber slices for lunch. I also have some sliced mango for dessert - yummy. There, now it was a food post. Happy?

Powered by Zoundry Raven

PantryHacker

I just came across these sites via LifeHacker:  To search for recipes based on what's in your pantry check out RecipePuppy or RecipeMatcher. For recipes to satisfy your cravings, check out CookThink.  Finally, In case you are interested there is a recipe equivalent for your home bar, check out ExtraTasty.

I'm all about the links tonight, so click off!

Tool of the Trade

If you know me by now you know that I'm a proud card-carrying member of the Nerd Society.  I love to be geeky sometimes.  My wife likes photography and I like technology.  I thought I would spend a few moments this morning discussing the tech of my blog.  First and foremost, I'm an Apple guy.  Right or Wrong, Chevy or Ford, Guys or Gals, Blue or Red State, and Apple or PC (or Linux as I'm finding out).  These are all decisions we have to make and sides of the field we end up standing on.  Beyond which operating system I use, there are a few tools I employee to bring you this humble little post every couple of days.  Rather than explain my long drawn out process (it is in fact some work as I am realizing more and more) I'll just give you a list with links:

Computer:    13" MacBook

Phone:          Apple 3G iPhone (mobile posting
                    and photography)

Websites:      TypePad (although I have registered
                    with others to redirect to this site)

                    Twitter - social networking

                    Flickr - photo posting

Software:     FireFox (best browser for posting - IMHO)

                    Blogo (desktop blogging software)

                    EventBox (news/info aggregator)

                    Scalaris (quick posting to Twitter)

                    Pixelmator (image editting)

                    Picturesque (quick image editting)

                                       

iPhone Apps:    TypePad App to post from my iPhone

                        SnapTell App to remember cookbooks

                        Tweetie to post to Twitter from iPhone

                        Urbanspoon (as discussed previously)

                        AirMe to post to Flickr from iPhone

                        *you should just do a search on iTunes for
                        the iPhone Apps listed above.

That's about it...although I did recently purchase a Dell Mini 9.  I am interested in Linux and seeing what this whole Open Source Movement is all about.  That's it.  Captain Geekoramis, OUT!

               

Super Quick Lunch

There's a Chipotle in the building next to mine near Bryant Park. It's a great location for me and for Chipotle. It's always packed. But you too can avoid the long lines and walk right up to the window to pick up a great meal. All you need to do is order online at least twenty minutes before you want to pick up your lunch. Everything available by waiting in line can be ordered online. You can even set up an account that will remember your last several orders and your payment information. I've done it so many times that the manager knows my first and last name. And I know his - Chris runs a fine shop and always has my order ready when I pop in. I have even heard rumors about a Chipotle iPhone app in the works. I'll have that one loaded the day it's made available.

Meat and Potatoes Guy

Here's a quick snapshot of my lunch. Picture and posting from the iPhone brings the geek level up a notch.

 

Shameless Wife Promotion

This just in - the wife has gone public with her website.  She's quite the spouse, but she's an even better photographer.  I gush with pride, and perhaps you'll gush with artistic inspiration after you check out the home of lightwashstudio.

In order to keep the food theme consistent on this post, I'll note that my wife doesn't like onions.  Not the taste of onions mind you, but rather just the texture.  We are constantly in a battle to hide the onions because almost as much as I love garlic and pickles, I love onions!  There.  Now this post wasn't just a chance for me to direct you to her website.

Have I mentioned this great new website I just found?  Check it out.

p.s.  Congrats Wifey - I am VERY proud of you!!!

Dorkville - Population 1

It's official - I have to be the biggest combination of cook and nerd in the free world.  I spent the train ride back from a trip to Beacon, NY playing with a few of the new iPhone apps that I had recently downloaded.  Here then, are my reviews of two:

The Betty Crocker Mobile Cookbook (clicking will open iTunes)

My manhood took a big dive on this one.  I must admit, I really liked searching through the recipes and found myself constantly clicking on the "Surprise Me!" tab in the lower left corner.  What's even better, you can do a general search or search by ingredient.  In the search by ingredient tab you can let the application know two items you have and what you would like to make (dinner, appetizer, sides, snacks, etc.).  The results are then selected based on those criteria.  I selected "eggs and flour to make an appetizer" which resulted in seven different recipes.  Once you click on a particular recipe you can scroll through the entire list of ingredients and instructions, read the nutritional information, save as a favorite, and even email the recipe to yourself.

Overall, version 1.0 of the application seems like a real winner.  With over 4,000 different recipes and at the super special price of "FREE" everyone should pick it up.

AllRecipes.com Dinner Spinner (clicking will open iTumes)

How many cookbook / recipe applications can one person have?  I don't know, but odds are if there's one out there I'm going to try it.  Those who know me, know I am a big fan of the AllRecipes.com website.  I find myself using it regularly so when I came across this application I downloaded it thinking it would be a "lite" version of the website.  As much as it is, it isn't.  The application is very similiar to several popular slot machine-type applications where you can leave three "spinners" unlocked and have a totally random selection or you can lock up to all three for a more defined selection.  The three categories areDish Type, Ingredients, and Ready In.  This app preforms really well and there's the option to save as a Favorite, but what I really wish was there was a quick way to find just one random recipe without have to spin, then tab to see the results.  Still, to me this is another application I plan on keeping on my iPhone.

Now, I'm off to go play a first person shooter on the Playstation while listening to the Deftones so my manhood isn't totally comprimised.  Maybe after that I'll save a kitten from a tree before I chop the tree down to build a deck or something.  Real men are tough!