Damn you Zingerman's

As if I didn't spend enough on the Michigan retailer's website with its selection of varietal honeys, they go along and come up with this.

Strangely, even as a child, I've been able to resist the siren's call of candy. Give me the choice between a potato chip and a chocolate coated something-or-other, I'll take the former every day and three times on Sunday. This holds true with almost every variety, except one. For years, the Snicker's bar has some sort of svengali-like hold over my taste buds. Every Halloween, I routinely pilfer each and every one that my son receives in his goody bag.

So damn those Michiganders up in Ann Arbor. Zingerman's has begun offering the Zzang bar, a Snicker's bar on crack. Honey nougat made from natural peanut butter, rolled in a lusciously-smooth muscavado sugar caramel and topped with butter-toasted peanuts. All of this decadence is enrobed in bittersweet Equadorian chocolate. Thank goodness, it's exorbitantly expensive ($7.00 for 2.5 oz. and worth every penny) or I'd be buying it by the case.

Available online at Zingerman's or at Whole Foods.

Pictures From Cheese, Glorious Cheese

A special thanks goes out to Jennifer Khatchatrian, a.k.a. ecochicorganizer for snapping the following from my recent demo at Green City Market during cheese month.



Pimento Cheese

Makes a little over 2 cups

INGREDIENTS:
1 small red pepper
10 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 ounces goat cheese softened
½ cup mayonnaise, either homemade or best quality commercial
1 pinch of cayenne
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
3 grinds of freshly ground pepper

METHODS: Roast the pepper by charring it over an open flame or by broiling it. When the skin is blackened, remove the pepper and put in a bowl. Cover the bowl and set aside until cool enough to handle. When cooled, remove the skin, stem and seeds. Roughly chop. Combine the pepper, cheeses, mayonnaise and seasonings in the bowl of a food processor. Mix until smooth. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight to develop the flavors. Serve with saltine-style crackers or brioche toasts.




Cheddar-Bacon Popcorn

The bacon-cheddar popcorn is made simply by coating air-popped popcorn with strained bacon grease to taste. Sprinkle on Spice House cheddar powder and fine sea salt to taste.



Cheese Wafers

Makes approximately 70

INGREDIENTS:
10 ounces hard cheese like cheddar or parmesan, grated

METHOD: Preheat oven to 350° F. On a silpat or parchment-lined baking sheet, scoop out teaspoons of grated cheese to make 15 circles. If you want your crackers to be neater, use a 1 ¾ -inch biscuit cutter. Set the cutter on the lined baking sheet and fill with a teaspoon of cheese. Repeat. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until crisp.