Archive for July 2013

The Food Desert Project: Potato Salad with Veggies

The Food Desert Project: Potato Salad with Veggies
Let’s face it, summer without potato salad is like Fourth of July with no fireworks. Salads are particularly challenging in the food desert, because – at least in my book – a good salad relies on fresh vegetables: onion, celery, and fresh herbs at the very least. Even if you can find the ingredients, comforting... Read more »
By QuipsTravails,
July 31, 2013 at 9:00 am • 

Sundays with Sparky: Neapolitan Marshmallows

Sundays with Sparky: Neapolitan Marshmallows
So, if you recall, last week I posted our now-famous recipe for homemade marshmallows, which is totally worth doing. Seriously – do it; you won’t believe how much better they are homemade. One major benefit to homemade marshmallows is that you can tinker with the recipe – which, this year, we decided to do.  So, we... Read more »
By QuipsTravails,
July 27, 2013 at 9:00 am • 

Policy Point Wednesday: Food Deserts and Internet Access

The most common intervention in food deserts is to encourage food purveyors to move there, assuming that improved access will also improve the health of the residents.  Municipalities frequently put tax dollars towards access, either as incentives for grocers to build stores or as subsidies for farmer’s market purchases.  These interventions require a bit of a... Read more »
By QuipsTravails,
July 24, 2013 at 9:00 am • 
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The Wayback Machine: The S'More Warriors (Part 1 - Marshmallows)

The Wayback Machine: The S'More Warriors (Part 1 - Marshmallows)
You may have guessed by now that when it comes to food, I’m an avid do-it-yourselfer. I find that it’s rare that store-bought foods are better or cheaper than ones I can make myself. I’ve also found there was many a food that I decided wasn’t for me, only to find out later that the... Read more »
By QuipsTravails,
July 21, 2013 at 9:00 am • 

The Food Desert Project: Thai Iced Coffee Panna Cotta

The Food Desert Project: Thai Iced Coffee Panna Cotta
I was racking my brain for an idea for a post, and saw this post on Serious Eats, Coffee-Coconut Agar Dessert, posted by Leela of SheSimmers.com. It looked like such a summery dessert that I thought I should try something like it – I’ve been wanting to try Panna Cotta, a milky Italian gelatin dessert.  The two... Read more »
By QuipsTravails,
July 17, 2013 at 9:00 am • 

Sundays with Sparky: In Case of Palladium Exposure - Green Juice

Sundays with Sparky: In Case of Palladium Exposure - Green Juice
So, we happened upon Green Juice accidentally. Many foodie friends swear by it – but I have no problem getting our family to eat green leafy vegetables, so I just never tried it. Our favorite local grocery store has a terrific juice counter, though – and the last time Sparky and I were shopping, he... Read more »
By QuipsTravails,
July 14, 2013 at 9:00 am • 
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Producemobile - Part II

Producemobile - Part II
Evanston’s site for the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Producemobile, which I wrote about earlier this year, is a volunteer-driven effort that serves our community once a month.  This month, Sparky and I volunteered together and I remembered to bring my camera. Yesterday,  the truck dropped off 8,000 pounds of food.  Volunteers, including many young people,... Read more »
By QuipsTravails,
July 10, 2013 at 9:00 am • 

The Wayback Machine: Magic Banana Boats and Fireside Choripan

The Wayback Machine: Magic Banana Boats and Fireside Choripan
The sad truth: although we go camping every year, Sparky hates it. He’s a luxury-hotel kind of a kid, sadly saddled with our family’s state-park-campground budget.  Sparky’s Dad and I, on the other hand, love being outdoors and cooking on a wood fire we built ourselves. We’ve learned to compromise by camping near a County... Read more »
By QuipsTravails,
July 7, 2013 at 9:00 am • 

The Food Desert Project: Giardiniera Fried Rice with Sardines

The Food Desert Project: Giardiniera Fried Rice with Sardines
Since this project relies so heavily on preserved foods, it’s sometimes difficult to come up with summertime recipes.  I’ve been toying with finding a way to reproduce kimchi because Korean-style fried rice is delicious year-round, and I suddenly realized that the closest counterpart I am likely to find in the food desert is not sauerkraut... Read more »
By QuipsTravails,
July 3, 2013 at 9:00 am • 
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