summary: information about world nutella day;
Apparently, today is “World Nutella Day”. And us with no nutella in the house!!! Oh the tragedy!! WHAT are we going to do?!!
Sara from “Ms. Adventures in Italy” and Michelle from “Bleeding Espresso” (and Shelley from “At Home in Rome”, in spirit) solemnly declare Friday, February 5th “World Nutella Day 2010″ – a day to celebrate, to get creative with, and most importantly, to EAT Nutella.
-How to participate in Nutella Day, Nutella Lovers Unite for One Day! 4th Annual World Nutella Day, February 5, 2010
What???! Fourth annual Nutella Day? Are they nuts? 
I’m afraid I just don’t get it. I’ve tasted Nutella. And it’s just too sweet. Especially for breakfast.
However, these Chocolate and Chickpea Cupcakes with Nutella and Sour Cream Frosting (Gluten-Free) sound pretty darn good.
Hmmm. Maybe we’d better put Nutella on the grocery list…. 
go directly to the recipe
summary: recipe for chickpea soup with harissa; chickpeas are tender using soaking technique in “Mediterranean Street Food” by Anissa Helou; brief review of this wonderful book; information about My Legume Love Affair; submission for YeastSpotting (click on image to see larger views and more photos)
My Legume Love Affair #19: Vegetarian (no eggs)
Lablabla… lablablablabla… lablablablablabla!!
Nope. We just can’t stop. And once you’ve lablabbed, I bet you won’t either.
WHAT am I droning on about? I’ll tell you: lablabi. Or at least that’s the non-English label on the Chickpea Soup recipe in Anissa Helou’s really wonderful book “Mediterranean Street Food“. (She is the reason we remembered to have fuhl and will continue to remember to have fuhl…).
With Middle Eastern food on the mind, the other day, T made his best harissa yet. Really fabulous. Clearly we neeeeeeeded to try the lablabi (chickpea soup) on page 8. (continue reading…)
go directly to the recipe
summary: recipe for naan with kalonji (nigella seeds); Bread Baking Babes wannaBe; information on Bread Baking Babes; submission for YeastSpotting; (click on image to see larger views and more photos)
Well, RATS. I really thought I had a chance this time. But, you guessed it, I remain a
Bread Baking Babe wannaBe (BBBwB)
I was so thrilled when I saw that the BBBabes made naan! I can make naan!!! I make naan all the time. And I did make naan.
Alas, no Babe status for me though. Here’s why:
- I missed the deadline. (I really thought that the BBB bread could be baked until the end of the month!)
- I refused to use the BBB’s recipe because it called for raisins, curry powder and mango chutney. But no yoghurt. No yoghurt?? Naan always has yoghurt.
- I put the raisins in a different dish.
- I replaced the curry powder with garam masala. And put that into a different dish as well.
- I forgot to get the mango chutney out of the fridge.
(continue reading…)
summary: how to get dried chickpeas to soften; chickpeas that haven’t been soaked overnight; (click on image to see larger view)
This morning, we decided we neeeeeeded to have naan, palak paneer and chole (chickpea curry) for dinner tonight.
But we hadn’t soaked the chickpeas overnight. There they were, still in their jar….
No problem!! We’ve had this happen before (see Using Dried Beans). It just means that we have to cook the chickpeas longer. (continue reading…)
summary: President’s Choice packaging for free-run egg; how much room do the PC hens really have to range? (click on image to see larger view and more photos)
While it’s true that I’m toying with the idea of running a couple of hens in the backyard, I have to admit that it’s just toying. I haven’t even begun to consider how to deal with the raccoons and feral cats OR where these hens would be in the winter OR what we would do with them once they stopped laying.
In the meantime, I really do prefer the idea of eating eggs from free-run chickens. I don’t care if the shells are brown or white. I do care if I have to wander all over town to find affordable free-run eggs. (continue reading…)
go directly to the recipe
summary: bookmarked recipe for buttermilk cluster based on Floyd’s “Freshloaf” recipe; submission for YeastSpotting (YS); (click on images to see larger views and more photos)
Isn’t this gorgeous?
It seems ridiculous that it took me so long to make this bread. I’ve been staring at the photo of Floyd’s (The FreshLoaf) buttermilk cluster for ages. Every time I thought, “I’ve GOT to make that!”
And then The Fresh Loaf website was featured in this year’s SAVEUR 100. Which bread did the SAVEUR kitchen choose to feature? Buttermilk cluster, of course. (continue reading…)
summary: bloggers working to raise funds for Haiti; tips for donating; links to relief agencies working in Haiti; information about Blog Away Hunger;
It has been just over a week since the disastrous earthquake in Haiti. And if you’ve watched even 3 minutes of news since then, you know that massive amounts are needed to help the relief workers there.
Last Thursday, several bloggers made remarkable offers in their efforts to raise funds for Haiti. Here is Michele’s:
Tonight, rather than spend my money on crab claws or lobster tails or vanilla beans or porterhouse steaks, I’ll be donating the average amount of a Smackdown to Haitian earthquake relief.
-Michele, Thursday Night Smackdown, Thursday Night Giveback
And Pam’s:
I’m not a world famous blogger nor do I have any sponsor to call to to match donation. I’m just a humble and simple stay-at home mom with some personal savings and together with Pierre, we are willing to part it for a very good cause. Pierre & I will match 0.10 € for every comment left on my blog (one per person, up to a 1000 comments) until 24 January 2010 included. The final amount will be donated to Doctors Without Borders for Haiti.
-Pam, The Cooking Ninja, Haiti Relief Support – Comment to help raise funds
and Crystal’s:
There are so many different ways you can give and no matter your financial situation, there is something you do. Even if it seems like it’s a drop in the bucket, remember that a bucket of water is made up of that – drops!
-Crystal Paine, Money Saving Mom, Help for Haiti: Everyone Can Do Something–Comment or Link-Up and We’ll Donate!
And those three are just drops in the bucket of similar posts! (continue reading…)
