caitlincooks

Show Episode: Coming Soon!
By: Caitlin Cooks

You’ll Need:
2 eggs
2C all-purpose flour
3T sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2C buttermilk
1/2 stick butter (make sure it’s unsalted!)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Cooking Spray
Fresh Blueberries
Garnishes: confectioners sugar, maple syrup, butter

Make It:

1. Combine all your dry ingredients and sift (this prevents lumps). Whisk your eggs than combine them with the dry ingredients. Add your buttermilk, melted butter and vanilla. Whisk a little bit more.

2. Spray a pan (or griddle) with cooking spray. Drop 1/4C of the batter for each pancake. Scatter some blueberries over the top. Cook until bubbles form on the top. Gently flip the pancakes and cook for another  2 minutes until the other side is brown.

3. Top the finished cakes with powdered sugar, butter and (lots) of maple syrup!

Who remembers the Fla-Vor-Ice pops from when you were little? I bet you don’t remember that they were also artificially died, loaded with sugar and lord knows what else! I’ve been reading labels more and paying attention to what I’m eating. I found these frozen fruit pops by Power of Fruit. Let me break it down for you:
- 100% Whole Fruit
- No corn syrup
- No additives
- No preservatives
And just to keep it real…every fruit bar you’ve tried (cough, cough Edy’s) probably has a small amount of real fruit in it.
They come in cherry berry, banana berry, tropical all fruit and (my fav) orange tango.
More Information: http://www.poweroffruit.com/

Roasted Heirloom Vegetables VIDEO: http://tinyurl.com/6v3v3e4
www.Chefs-Garden.com
www.farmerjonesfarm.com/

As much as I have a sweet tooth, I need to balance it out with healthy, clean eating once in awhile. I was so excited to have discovered www.chefs-garden.com. They produce specialty and heirloom veggies, herbs micro greens and edible flowers. AKA stuff that you just can’t buy in your local store (especially during the winter months). Chefs Garden is supported by top chefs and restaurateurs across the United States. They deliver direct from the farm, are socially/environmentally/economically responsible and pride themselves on food safety and quality. Availability changes based on the seasons and they have a variety of packages available (everything is super affordable). If you have parents/grandparents who can’t get to the store, family or friends who live across the country…this is such a cool monthly gift!

Kombucha Wonder Drink Review:

Car sickness is something that I’ve always had. Dramamine knocks me out for hours and those “sea bands” cut off my circulation. My secret weapon is anything carbonated with pure ginger in it. One of my favorite products of the month is the Kombucha Wonder Drink. Kombucha is a fizzy elixir that promotes health, longevity and mental clarity. They infuse it with organic teas and fruit concentrates. The naturally occurring acids are said to detoxify and energize your body. My favorite flavor is one of their newest, the Asian Pear & Ginger (I’m sipping on it right now).

Caitlin’s Full-Flavor Chicken Pot Pie
Video Tutorial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKMdJtC3Lmw&list=UUnluEXa6CY5Yfs6FAITmLsw&index=1&feature=plcp

You’ll Need:
1/2C butter
4C chicken broth
1/2C flour
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp tarragon
3 dashes, siracha sauce (or your favorite hot sauce)
1T maple mustard
1 tsp fresh ground pepper
3 small shallots, chopped
2C peas
2C red potatoes, chopped
2C carrots, sliced
1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
2 sheets, puff pastry

Make It:
1. Melt your butter in a large pot. Stir in the chicken broth and flour…whisking quickly to avoid lumps!

2. Add all of your spices and cook for 6 minutes until it thickens up slightly.

3. Add the hearty stuff: peas, shallots, potatoes, carrots and chicken. Stir and cook for another 5 minutes so the flavors get incorporated.

4. Put the chicken mixture into individual oven-proof dishes. Top with a square of puff pastry (cut to fit with some scissors).

5. Bake at 400*F for 25 minutes…serve to your family/loved ones and enjoy

Favorite Thing: Petrossian Chocolate Fondue Pots (Dark Chocolate, $39)
Link: http://www.petrossian.com/chocolates-candies-7-chocolate-fondue-pots-351.html

When friends drop by, “wow” them with a fast and fabulous Chocolate Fondue! They have writing in French (tres chic)! Stoneware pots warm quickly and easily in the microwave or bain-marie, then hold heat up to 45 minutes for meltingly delicious table-top dipping of fresh fruit, biscuits—or marshmallows. 7 oz.

Favorite Thing: Postcards from New York (gift set, $19.98)
Link: www.zabars.com
It’s fun to get a postcard in the mail, but it’s even more fun to get postcards and a Zabar’s Babka! A thoughtful little something for anyone pining for 80th and Broadway. Zabar’s chocolate bar, Zabar’s Chocolate Babka, and four Zabar’s postcards, all packed in our new Zabar’s tote.

Favorite Thing: Microplane Classic Series Premium Zester/Grater
Link: http://us.microplane.com/

Features a premium soft-touch handle and non-scratch end tabs. This is my favorite stocking stuffer! I can never have enough of these because I always seem to put them in the wrong drawer and forget where they are. I would just panic if I were making Christmas cookies and I couldn’t find my microplane! I use it for citrus, nutmeg, chocolate and of course for savory dishes too! If there’s a kitchen item that I can’t live without, it’s my classic Microplane!

Favorite Thing: Konitz “Cities” Mugs

Link: http://www.mug-shop.com/

Gourmet coffee certainly needs a good mug to go along with it! I LOVE the mugs by the company Konitz, because they literally have everything you could possibly imagine. Espresso cups, cappuccino cups, minipresso sets. They have the chicest designs on the market. Plus, the prices are reasonable. Give your recipient a nice, old fashioned quality bag of coffee beans and a set of mugs from Konitz…who wouldn’t love that?!

Since 1997, Eleni’s New York has been a must-stop at Manhattan’s iconic Chelsea Market, later followed by an Upper East Side location and an expansive website, where irresistibly designed custom “Conversation Cookies^TM” and other treats await, both locally and nationwide. Today, Eleni’s custom cookie creations are a favorite of celebrities, luxury brands, Fortune 500 companies and cookie lovers alike!

Favorite Thing: “Twas the Night Before Christmas” custom gift box ($135)
Link: http://elenis.com/
*Their website has a huge variety and different price ranges, so browse, click and shop around!