Economics

With prices rising as much as they have, it can leave some of us upset and frustrated. Some of those meals that were pricey are even more so. Now, we need to make some decisions..

Creativity and focus on stretching your food dollar skills are quite valuable. If you look at beef prices, it makes one think about that dry-aged steak dinner. Instead of the steak, look at the whole tenderloin or brisket. The initial cost outlay is eye-popping but when you can carve out multiple meals for your family, it starts to make more cents.

Seafood has its challenges too especially for folks not near the coasts. My suggestion is to look at those other options you commonly skip over like monkfish, tilapia or trout. Learn how to cook them and you can find some great recipes. The humble mussel is pictured here. They were $3.99 a pound at my local market. Pretty decent price if you ask me.

If you lean toward more vegetables in your diet, it is easier to save a few dollars but you likely have noticed, availability has been spotty along with some price increases. Quite a challenge these days. I even started my garden up again…

As a member of Nosh Nation, you have the skills and desire to create something and cook great. I know you can find a way or just reach out to us here. We are always happy to help.

Eat.Drink.Savor.

How Can I Help?

As a new brand and company, we often take a hard look at our mission. We ask ourselves, "What are we providing and how do we positively impact the world around us?". While our business is food and beverage content it really boils down to education and entertainment.

We are harshly reminded that the world isn’t always a friendly place. With so much hardship going on today, tomorrow and the future, I am reminded of my childhood and how stars would dedicate their time to entertaining the troops. Here is one of those stars , Bob Hope. He and many others went on USO tours not just in safe areas but war zones. They provided the troops that brief morale boost and an oasis from the danger and hardship they faced.

I am inspired by the USO and all the stars and staff that made those tours a reality. We are committed to our focus on educating and entertaining, you our followers, Nosh Nation. May our content provide you that oasis for whatever hardship you face....

Eat.Drink.Savor.

Feed off the Negative

Well, it was bound to happen… I would attract trolls. What drives them? Is it pure evil or something less sinister? Trolls did exist pre-Internet so this isn’t a new threat. The reverse is true, they feel threatened by positive, encouraging environments outside of their cold, dark caves in person and in the ether. Environments where everyone is welcomed and failure is tolerated and, in fact, celebrated.

In their world, anyone deemed unworthy is insulted, vilified and “eaten”. If you aren’t perfect, in their eyes, you shouldn’t even be out there in their world. And yet, it is the troll that needs the most help to break the chains of negativity.

Turn around the negativity in your life by removing the trolls. Keep pressing on and bury them with positivity. Nothing can penetrate your armor. Feast on them!

Eat.Drink.Savor.

A New Year....

Happy New Year! Buh bye 2021 and hello 2022! Like others, I took this week to reflect on my accomplishments in 2021 and what I wanted for 2022. For me, 2021 was about challenging myself and learning new things. I started to learn about and cook more Italian cuisine and make things from scratch including pasta. I also started to bake more bread and desserts.

This meringue was a first time for me! I watched a fellow YouTuber make hers and I just had to try it. I am not a huge sweets person and rarely make dessert. Since it was the last day of the year, why not go out with a bang? The pie was a big hit and so happy I tried.

I have plenty of sayings that I refer to and one of them is this, “I’d rather fail by trying than failing to try at all”. What great things are in store for you in 2022?

Eat.Drink.Savor.

Holiday Traditions

The childhood memories are strong this time a year. With the holidays, a healthy dose of family and friends is administered along with their culinary offerings. You were exposed to different ways of doing things and different foods and tastes even if you didn’t appreciate it at the time. An interesting food and beverage education was offered without any formal declaration. As I am apt to do, I am working on cooking and improving on dishes I had in my childhood. While Creamed Corn isn’t necessarily a holiday tradition, it has been known to make an appearance on a holiday table here and there.

Now, messing with traditions is a hard choice. For some, it is a change of venue or change of cook. Others it is serving ham vs. turkey vs. beef or going to a vegetarian offering. Whatever avenue you travel down, it isn’t taken lightly. Years ago, I introduced a Paula Deen Chocolate Pecan Pie to my Thanksgiving dessert lineup. It was a hit! But others not so much. Have fun and experiment and maybe you will open up someone else to something new.

Eat.Drink.Savor.

Stressgiving

Most of our meals aren’t much in terms of thought required or advance planning. We just whip something together to keep the family fed. Thanksgiving is such a different beast altogether…

First, the bird, if you are cooking a turkey, is ridiculously large and awkward. Second, you don’t just have 2 side dishes, you have to put out much more. Lastly, and I think the most challenging item is who is coming to dinner and what are their expectations? Are people going to bring food? drink? Do you have some folks who will be assisting you in the kitchen whether you asked them or not? So much of Thanksgiving stress really does emanate from the social aspect of the holiday.

One victory would be to get that turkey cooked right. Another one, would be that you have that turkey resting comfortably while the other side dishes are being constructed, warmed etc. If you could wash away that big worry of the turkey, you’ll have energy for that other stuff.. some that I can’t fix with a fancy cooking suggestion..

Click on the image for my video on turkey prep and dry brining as a solid first step. Happy Thanksgiving Nosh Nation!

Eat.Drink.Savor.

Having Fun

It is only fitting to post a counterbalance to my Stressgiving blurb. How do you make cooking, if you don’t enjoy it as much as me, more fun?

1) You could goof off and create something silly like this Potato Volcano. Nothing says silly like Rosemary spews of ash and Gravy lava flows…

2) Do you play music when you cook? Maybe play some jazz, classical or whatever you enjoy to change the mood.

3) Pour yourself a nice glass of wine. Since wine is made for sipping, it will fit nicely with your prep and cooking times.

4) Invite someone else to help you out. You can be the executive chef and someone else can be the sous chef.

5) Do some experimentation. Experiment on non-essential meal items if you can. Play with the spices, cooking time, method or just frankly make something different.

If cooking is a chore for you, try to make it less so.

Eat.Drink.Savor.

The Mystery of the Latke

I make the latkes every year and yet every year, they are different. Same ingredients, same oil, same cooking method but yet, they are different. Sort of our like our lives every year.

Some years are tumultous, full of change and some are steady, frankly, boring. With all the variables, each year is different. I can’t solve the mystery of the latke.. maybe it is just best to let what happens happen and roll with the tide…

Eat.Drink.Savor.