NEW! Bread in Aerosol Can

(Click images to enlarge)

This might be the best thing since sliced bread!

Marcelo Tejedor, a cook from Compostela in Galicia, Spain, presented his invention of liquid bread at the gastronomic convention Madrid Fusion, in the Spanish capital.

The product is a "world novelty" that is presented as a mix in an aerosol can, similar to those used for whipped cream. The contents are sprayed onto a pan, baked in an oven for a few minutes and voilá, the bread is hot fresh and ready to eat.

The cook demonstrated the product's features at Madrid Fusion by preparing an empanada de berberechos, a traditional Galician dish consisting of a pastry stuffed with cockles (mollusk) .

Marcelo substituted the cockles' water with an ajada (a Galician paste or sauce made with garlic, potatoes, eggs and olive oil), then he cooked the bread inside the can and, finally, dressed the dish with kelp oil and a salty meringue.

La Voz de Galicia (Link): El compostelano Marcelo Tejedor presenta el pan líquido en aerosol

La Voz de Galicia (Link): Entrevista Marcelo Tejedor

A Unified Theory of Sandwich Physics

There is a method to it all, and sandwiches are not the exception.

Grilled cheese and PB&J (peanut butter and jelly for the uninitiated) sandwiches have been staples for young children everywhere, and part of the recipe repertoire of anyone who has the biological need to eat, from babbling babies to potheads to the most illustrious members of our society.

But there are many more wonders in the sandwich horizon - a plethora of deliciousness delicately stacked between two (or more) pieces of bread.

You can make a sandwich of just about anything; the possibilities of bread and ingredient combinations are quite literally endless...just take a look at this short list: Bacon butty, Butterbrot, Banh Mi, Barros Jarpa, Barros Luco, BLT, Caprese, Cheesesteak, Choripán, Club sandwich, Croque-monsieur , Fluffernutter, Grilled cheese, Gyros, Hamburger, Happy Waitress, Hero sandwich, Hoagie, Hot dog, Tuna melt, Muffuletta, Panini, Po' boy, Reuben sandwich, Sloppy Joe, Submarine sandwich, Torta, Treble- or triple-decker
Tuna Salad .... and these are just the most popular ones, or the ones people have agreed to name. WOW!

Oh I know what you are thinking:

"How is it possible that there be so many combinations of ingredients yet so much simplicity, each a perfectly balanced culinary masterpiece waiting to explode in a million particles of exquisite taste and aroma?"

"How can I, wretched little me devoid of the smallest ounce of food-preparing ability, ever even aspire to understand, let alone master, the secrets of such wonderful craft?" [hyperventilation, cold sweat, abundant salivation]

Let us take a deep breath now. Please don't let this sudden wave of choices and mouth-watering goodness overwhelm you.

As I said before, there is a method... a secret formula for which great women and men have embarked on many a dangerous quest across the ages to obtain what I am about to reveal to you today: A Unified Theory of Sandwich Physics (UTSP or ootspee)

Needless to say, this knowledge will open doors for you, bring fortune, fame and the attention of the opposite sex, or that for which you have a preference or appetite. Just remember that with this GREAT power comes great responsibility...use it for good, not evil.

With that said I bestow upon you the four elements of ...

A Unified Theory of Sandwich Physics

1: Soft fillings are best served on soft breads.

2: When wet ingredients, such as tomatoes are used, a thin coating of mayonnaise, butter, cream cheese or oil should be applied to the bread as a moisture barrier.

3: Avoid placing layers of slippery, slidy substances next to one another.

4: Never, ever use a bread you wouldn't eat on its own.

Now take a minute to digest this revelation.

And now some challenges to test your new skill:


CUBAN SANDWICH (SANDWICH CUBANO)
4 hoagie rolls
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1/4 pound baked ham, thinly sliced
1/4 pound roast pork, thinly sliced
1/4 pound provolone cheese, thinly sliced
10 thin dill pickle slices, approximately
2 whole pickles
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature


Slice the bread horizontally in half, leaving 1 edge intact. Lay the bread open and spread each side with the mustard. Divide the ingredients evenly among the slices of roll. Start with the ham followed by the pork, cheese, and dill pickles. Bring the tops and bottoms together.

Heat your panini maker or sandwich press. Butter each side of the press. Place the sandwiches inside, press down and grill until the cheese is melted and the bread is flat and browned, approximately 10 minutes. If you don't have a sandwich press, you can heat 6 fireplace bricks wrapped in foil, in a 500 degrees F oven for 1 hour and then press the sandwich between them for 10 minutes. Serve warm.



PAN BAGNAT
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 baguette, approximately 16 to 18 inches long
12 ounces canned tuna packed in oil or water, drained and crumbled
1 small green pepper, sliced into rings
1 small red onion, sliced into rings
2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
1 cup chopped kalamata olives
1 tomato, thinly sliced

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper. While continuing to whisk, gradually add the olive oil. Whisk until an emulsion forms. Set aside.

Slice the baguette horizontally into 2 pieces. Tear out some of the soft bread in the center of each side, making a slight well in the bread. Place the tuna, green pepper, red onion, hard-boiled eggs, olives, and tomato on the bottom side of the bread in that order. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the vegetables, top with the second piece of bread, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature for 2 hours before serving.

Cut into 4 sandwiches and serve.

More Sandwich Styles (Link).

Cute Pink Cupkakes Galore!

I know what my Valentine's getting this year... a batch of these deliciously pink cupcakes. White chocolate, strawberry, rainbow candy, spongy goodness, all quite delectable. Bon Appetit!

1. Pink Cupcake, 2. strawberry cupcake 2, 3. Pink Cupcakes, 4. Pink cupcakes, 5. pink trio cupcakes, 6. So Pink And Girly, 7. Pink multi-decorated cupcake, 8. pink heart cupcakes 3066, 9. rainbow and cupcake cupcakes, 10. Pink & Pretty, 11. H.E.A.R.T.S. II, 12. White Chocolate Heart, 13. strawberry cupcake, 14. Strawberry Cupcake, 15. Boy and Girl Pirate Cupcakes, 16. cupcake pink

Cute Sesame Street "Sometimes Foods"

Sesame Street "Sometimes Foods" - A collection of really cute Sesame Street cupcakes and other edibles. The textures and detail on these are awesome.

These bakeries are brought to you today by the letters A and R, and by the number 7.

'Sesame Street' advocates healthy eating habits

Thursday, April 7, 2005 Posted: 6:42 PM EDT (2242 GMT) NEW YORK (AP) -- Something must be wrong in the land of Muppets.

First PBS announced that "Sesame Street" would kick off its 35th season this week with a multiyear story arc about healthy habits. No problem there; childhood obesity rates are soaring. Then I learned of changes that turned my "Sesame Street" world upside-down.

My beloved blue, furry monster -- who sang "C is for cookie, that's good enough for me" -- is now advocating eating healthy. There's even a new song -- "A Cookie Is a Sometimes Food," where Cookie Monster learns there are "anytime" foods and "sometimes" foods."

Sacrilege!" I cried. "That's akin to Oscar the Grouch being nice and clean." (Co-workers gave me strange looks. But I didn't care.)

Being a journalist, I did the only thing I knew how to do. I investigated why "Sesame Street" gave Cookie Monster a health makeover.

The answer would lead me into a world where television producers worked with health experts and politicians, a place where Cookie Monster does care about his health, and by association, the health of children.

The first place I headed was the Internet. On the Sesame Street Web site, little had changed. There was Cookie Monster, in all his blue furriness. He was holding a plate of cookies. He was chomping on a cookie. He still looked the same. But as we all know, looks can be deceiving.

So I searched the site for news on Cookie Monster and up popped a press release about the show's "Healthy Habits for Life" emphasis. Buried near the bottom was a one-sentence mention about Cookie Monster eating fewer cookies.

But what did that mean? Scarfing one plateful instead of two?

Talking vegetables

I picked up the telephone. "What's going on with Cookie Monster?" I asked the "Sesame Street" press office. "Why are you doing this?"

They sent me to Dr. Rosemarie T. Truglio, the show's vice president of research and education.

She said the show changes every year, focusing not just on teaching numbers and letters but also emotional and physical health. With the rise in childhood obesity, Truglio said "Sesame Street" is concentrating on the need to teach children about healthy foods and physical activity.

This season, each episode opens with a "health tip" about nutrition, exercise, hygiene and rest.

Truglio said "Sesame Street" also will introduce new characters, such as talking eggplants and carrots, and offer parodies, such as "American Fruit Stand." Even guest stars will address healthy activities, such as Alicia Keys talking and singing about the importance of physical activity.

Even politicians have gotten into the act, filming public service announcements with "Sesame Street" residents. In one taping, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist taught Elmo to exercise -- jumping up and down. In another, Sen. Hillary Clinton and the small red monster discuss the various textures and tastes of foods.

But what about their position on Cookiegate?"

Even Cookie Monster is learning to control his cookie cravings," Frist told me by e-mail. "His sage advice opened our eyes to the simple joys of a tasty cookie and now reminds us that moderation is the key to healthy living."

Cookie Monster was not available for comment. (I'm hoping he hasn't gone too Hollywood.)

"We are not putting him on a diet," said his spokesman, Truglio. "And we would never take the position of no sugar. We're teaching him moderation."

'Sometimes food'

The furry one also plans to try different kinds of cookies (read: healthier cookies) rather than his just staple, chocolate chip.

But will he still scarf his food? Yes, plus the occasional object, Truglio said.But isn't that unhealthy?

Her reply: He's still Cookie Monster.

Cookie Monster appears to be happy with the new "sometimes food" song, because at the end he warbles: "Is sometimes now?"

"Yes," he's told.So there it is. Cookie Monster still gobbles cookies, he's just a healthier version of his old self. His eyes are still googly, his fur is still scruffy and he's still messy.

Even "Sesame Street" recognizes that we all need guilty pleasures.