Make Coffee When Traveling
I need coffee within about thirty minutes of waking up. Two reasons: I've convinced myself that I function better after drinking it and, more importantly, I love the ritual of making coffee at home.
For a long time, this ritual was sadly disrupted anytime I would travel. You know the situation--a packet of instant coffee or, at best, some pre-ground beans and a Mr. Coffee machine.
And then I figured out how to ensure I drink good coffee wherever and whenever I travel. Good news: So can you.
BEANS
The biggest issue with making coffee when traveling honestly isn't with Mr. Coffee (thought there are better options that I'll outline here), it's with the beans themselves. Coming across great coffee isn't an issue theses days and there are more high quality roasters than ever (Stumptown, Parlor, Tim Windelboe, and Intelligentsia, just to name a few). So, assuming you're either nearby a retailer that sells great coffee or have access to the internet, bring your own coffee on your trip.
GRIND
So you get your hotel room, premium beans in hand, and have absolutely nothing to grind them with. While you could pre-grind enough for the duration of your trip before leaving, you won't be getting the freshest coffee possible, as beans should be brewed as soon as possible after grinding. The solution? I purchased a smallhand-grinder from Hario. For $35, this conical grinder yields a precise grind (as opposed to inconsistent blade grinders) and is extremely portable. Match your grind consistency to brew method with this handy guide.
BREW
Finally, you'll need something to actually make the coffee with. Electric kettles are commonplace in hotels and, while they don't typically have the goose-neck spouts that are ideal for making pour-over coffee, they'll get the job done.
My brew method of choice at home and especially when on the road is a simple ceramic Bee House dripper. Unlike v60 and other popular pour-over methods, the Beehouse doensn't require multiple, timed pours. For more on how to use the Bee House, head over to Stumptown Coffee Roasters' excellent education department.
Throw in a couple of #4 size paper coffee filters and that's it. You've got a perfect cup of coffee no matter where you are. You'll never have to settle for instant again.
Southwest Monster Taco
A while back, Jack in the Box introduced two Monster Tacos to their menu: Bacon Ranch and Nacho Cheese. Looks like they're welcoming a third creation to their lineup with the Southwest Monster Taco. If there was a month to drop more Monster Tacos, this is it.
The Southwest Monster Taco is made with seasoned taco meat and topped with shredded cheddar cheese, black beans, grilled onions, corn and a Southwest sauce. To fit all that Southwest stuffing appropriately, the ingredients are served in a slightly longer hard taco shell.
Customers can purchase the Southwest Monster Taco for $1.79 with prices varying depending on the region. The taco will be available for a limited time at all participating Jack in the Box locations.
Comfort Food Is A Myth
By Tom Jacobs
What's your favorite "comfort food"? You know you have one -- a treat you use to soothe bruised feelings following some distressing event.
Well, guess what: You're kidding yourself. A new studyfinds comfort foods are no more effective at lifting moods than any other foods -- or even sitting quietly without consuming a calorie.
"Negative moods naturally dissipate over time," writes a University of Minnesota research team led by psychologist Traci Mann. "Individuals may be giving comfort food 'credit' for mood effects that would have occurred even in the absence of the comfort food."
That tub of Haagen-Dazs may not have magical powers after all.
Mann and her colleagues describe four experiments, three of which were similarly structured. At an introductory session, participants were specifically asked "What foods would make you feel better if you were in a bad mood?", as well as other foods they enjoy but do not place into that category.
Then, during two sessions scheduled at least one week apart, groups of students (100 in total) watched 18-minute videos composed of film clips found to elicit "feelings of anger, fear, anxiety, and/or sadness." At one session, after filling out a questionnaire designed to determine their mood, they were given a generous portion of their self-described comfort food (chocolate being the most popular, followed by ice cream and cookies).
At the other, they were given either one of the non-comfort foods they enjoyed, such as almonds or cashews (Experiment 1); a granola bar, which served as a neutral food (Experiment 2); or nothing at all, meaning they simply sat in silence for three minutes (Experiment 3). Afterwards, all filled out the mood questionnaire for a second time.
"Participants' moods improved over time," the researchers report. However, they add, "this happened to the same extent regardless of which type of food they ate, or whether they at any food at all."
This finding held true no matter how much they consumed, nor how confident they were that their comfort food would be particularly effective. Belief in such foods' power is extremely widespread: After listing their favorites, 81 percent of participants either agreed, or strongly agreed, with the statement "I am confident that eating this food would make me feel better."
These findings have obvious implications for diet and weight loss. "We found no justification for people to choose comfort foods when they are distressed," the researchers conclude. "Removing an excuse for eating a high-calorie or high-fat food may help people develop and maintain healthier eating habits, and may lead them to focus on other, food-free methods of improving their mood."
In other words, we've just lost yet another rationalization for eating junk. That's awfully distressing, but it's good to know the feeling will pass -- with or without the help of a Hershey's bar.
8,000-Calorie Breakfast
If you feel guilty after inhaling a McDonald's Breakfast Platter, the UK has a morning dish that will definitely make you hang your head in shame. Mark Winder is the owner of the Bear Grills in Congleton, Cheshire. Inspired by "Man vs. Food," Winder came up with a ridiculous breakfast platter one might see in an animated cartoon. He calls it the Hibernator.
At about 8,000 calories, the Hibernator consists of eight pieces of bacon, eight sausages, four hash browns, four pieces of toast, four potato waffles, four pieces of fried bread, a four-egg cheese omelette, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes and large chips. Don't bother ordering a Diet Coke with your meal, however, as the platter also comes with a large milkshake to wash everything down.
Because of its high-calorie count, Winder requires all of his customers to sign a legal disclaimer before attempting the breakfast. Because y' know, death.
As with most food challenges, customers have the opportunity to earn their place in the restaurant hall of fame. If they are able to finish that mountain of starch and fat in a thirty-minute window, they can earn back their £19.95 ($25.18 US).
The monstrous meal is served on a turkey platter and weighs about seven pounds. According to Winder, no one has yet been able to finish the Hibernator in one sitting.
Honey Balsamic Glazed Salmon
We live a few blocks away from our neighborhood Immigration Market. It is so fun to take family walks there and get their famous gelato and snow cones. It is also nice when I run out of something for a recipe and need to make a quick trip to the store. But they have the best meats I have ever had. Nobody can compare with their quality. We love getting burgers to grill in the summertime. But their salmon. Wow. It is incredible. The guy helping me explained to me the different types that they had and the different benefits. I never had a clue what the difference in salmon was. He picked this one out for me and told me I would love it.
Not only was this the best salmon I have ever had, you won’t believe the glaze on this. The honey balsamic glaze was the perfect finishing touch to this salmon. The flavor was absolutely incredible making this an instant favorite. It was flaky, perfectly cooked and had an incredible glaze. If you are a salmon lover like me, you are going to love this one!
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