Never Will I Ever Buy Bread Again

Nichole has been so sweet to feature some recipes inspired by my cooking. And let me just say that the best food that I make comes from her recipes (and of course, yours too, Mom).

One area where Nichole has cornered the market is bread. This girl can bake breads like no one I know. In fact, she brought be half a loaf of her flaxseed bread once that I proceeded to eat. All in one night. It was gross, but I couldn't stop myself. (But I don't recommend it. Bread has yeast in it, you know?)

photo courtesy thefatlossauthority.com

The other day, I ran out of bread. And since my adorable but slightly maladjusted dog can't be left alone yet, I found myself sort of trapped. Until I remembered that I had just stocked up on flour and yeast. Lucky!

So I trolled Veggie Horizons and found Nichole's recipe for easy, can't-mess-it-up bread. And oh. My. God. So good. So very good. And EASY! Why doesn't everyone make their own bread?

Probably because many of us (myself included) can be lazy, and while the recipe is simple, it does require two rises, meaning time. So you have to plan ahead!

But this bread is worth every minute of the rising and proofing stages. I made hummus sandwiches as well as tuna salad sandwiches. I actually cut the recipe in half as well, so that I was only making one loaf instead of two. I vow to never (well, almost never) buy bread again!

As I've mentioned, Nichole's English muffins are an obsession. I make them every weekend.

And I've written about the vegetarian times cinnamon rolls before. Well, last time I made them without baking powder because I was out, and I also didn't roll them to the correct thinness. Well, I was much more careful this time. And...voila!

They were so delicious. And it's great that they are pretty low cal! The glaze is totally amazing as well. The lemon adds a tangy freshness. I like to add about a 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract as well for extra flavor.

I used to love those Pillsbury ones, but they are REALLY unhealthy and no where near as tasty. These cinnamon rolls are simple and have a denser, dare I say bread-ier taste. Worth the extra ten minutes they take compared to the Pillsbury rolls!

So the moral of this Friday story is: never buy bread products. Make your own. They are much tastier and healthier, I swear.

Fast Snack of the Week: Pita Chips

Happy Monday everyone!

I'll admit it: I'm a lazy snacker. Sure, I want to be healthy and feel fulfilled without feeling overfilled when I snack. But I'm not one of those people that whips up fancy homemade snacks. I like to grab something from the refrigerator or pantry and go. But often a Luna bar or Fiber One bar just doesn't sound appealing and the thought of yet another pretzel makes me want to gag.

This past year, I discovered my new favorite snack: Stacy's Pita Chips. My mom and I bought them on a whim to try with dips and guacamole. And was it ever the best impulse purchase!

Apparently there is a real Stacy, but the company is currently owned by FritoLay. Stacy's pita chips come in multiple flavors, including multigrain, parmesan garlic and herb, and cinnamon sugar. My favorite are the Simply Naked chips, garnished with nothing but sea salt.

So why do I love Stacy's pita chips more than other brands? Well, besides being completely delicious, they also contain 0 trans fat and 0 cholesterol. They are also certified by the FDA as all natural, meaning they don't contain any artificial or synthetic ingredients. So what do Stacy's Simply Naked pita chips contain?

Ingredients: Enriched wheat flour, sunflower oil, canola oil, sea salt, whole wheat flour, organic cane sugar, oat fiber, active yeast, compressed yeast, inactive yeast, and malted barley flour.

No synthetic ingredients. Just delicious pitas baked twice for a crunchy, delicious snack. And 10 chips contain just 130 calories.

While Simply Naked chips are great straight from the bag, they are much better paired with other simple, delicious, and healthy snacks. My personal favorite pairing is Simply Naked chips with a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese (35 calories a wedge) in either French Onion, Garlic and Herb, or Mozarella, Sundried Tomato, Basil. I usually add a sliced apple for a satisfying lunch.

For a more substantial snack (not to mention great party food), pair Simply Naked chips with guacamole or hummus (Trader Joe's makes an amazing spicy guacamole if you don't want to make it yourself! And their hummus is amazing, too).

To make Stacy's a meal, try making a plate of delicious yet healthy nachos. Layer pita chips on a cookie sheet. Add chopped onion, jalapenos, and shredded cheddar cheese. Bake for 10 minutes, then garnish with light sour cream, avocado slices, and salsa.

Stacy's pita chips are a simple, basic, high quality snack perfect for lazy snackers like me. In Pittsburgh, find them in Giant Eagle or Target. In California, in Albertson's, Ralph's, and Target. (In the chip aisle in Target but often in the deli section of grocery stores).

Pittsburgh's Farmers Markets: Playing the Field

Photo Courtesy of www.myinwood.com

The weather in Pittsburgh is a fickle mistress. It's either humid or freezing, and the precipitation almost never ends. Many a seasonally depressed individual has criticized the climate here, but it does offer at least one advantage to the locals: the vegetation is riotous.

So, although California may be the Union's most prolific produce-producing state, Western Pennsylvania ain't half bad. Fortunately, the local and organic consumer movements have finally taken hold in this part of the country, and thus, if you live in the Burgh or any of its outlying metropolitan hubs, I guarantee that you live close to a fabulous Farmers Market.

Here's a short little guide to Farmers Markets in the Pittsburgh Area. It's not by any means exhaustive, but it's a good place to start! There are way more markets in the central and southern regions, (sorry Carrie's Mom), but don't give up hope! For a longer list, visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's compilation here. It lists over 100 regional Farmers Markets!

Central Pittsburgh

Photo Courtesy of the Oakland Farmers' Market

City of Pittsburgh Farmers Markets
These fabulous outdoor markets offer fruits, vegetables, herbs, locally farmed meats (ignore if you are a veg head) and dairy, breads, flowers, and other small items. Vendors are very friendly, and many of them offer a wide variety of organic produce as well. Locations include East Liberty, Southside, Carrick, Bloomfield, Beechview, Downtown, and the North Side. Check the website for schedules and times.

Oakland Farmers Market, by the Oakland Business Improvement District
This market is an oasis of freshness for the hungry student stuck smack dab in the middle of the worst grocery scene imaginable. The market runs from 12pm - 4pm on Sennot Street, between Meyran Avenue and Atwood Street, every Friday from July 8th to November 18th. The Oakland Market's Blog provides updates and information about vendors and events that are coming to the market.

The Strip District's Farmers @ Firehouse
Founded as part of the slow food movement, this is the only mostly-organic market in Pittsburgh. It's located at 2216 Penn Ave, and runs from 9am-1pm on Saturdays, May 9th to November 11th. In addition to fruits and vegetables, it also offers chef demos, flowers, and baked goods.

South Hills

Photo Courtesy of the Mt. Lebanon Lions Farmers Market

Green Tree Farmers Market in the Park
This market is situated in Green Tree Park (Lower Parking Lot) on Thursdays, 4pm-7:30pm, until October 28th. Here you can find fresh fruits, veggies, baked goods, and even some Greek food! Parking is free, and it's very family friendly.

Mt. Lebanon Lions Farmers Market
Located at Mt Lebanon United Lutheran Church, 975 Washington Road, this market runs from 4pm-7pm on Wednesdays, until to October 14th. It boasts the usual fare: produce, baked goods, and flowers. If one opts to put lawn-sign advertising the market in one's yard, they'll give you a five dollar voucher good with any of the vendors.

Bethel Park Farmers Market
This market features over 25 vendors and offers fresh produce, baked goods, flowers and coffee. Market runs from 3pm-7pm on Tuesdays throughout the season.

North Hills

Photo Courtesy of the www.enjoybellvue.com

Bellevue Farmers Market
Located on Hawley Avenue, between Lincoln Avenue and Citizen Way, this market is open on Wednesdays from 3pm-7pm through the end of the growing season in October. It features fresh produce, cheeses, baked goods, and a weekly raffle.

Fox Chapel Farmers Market
New this year, this market is open on Wednesdays from 3pm-6:30pm at the Shady Side Academy Senior School Campus, 423 Fox Chapel Road, and will run until October 19th. The market features cheese, honey, eggs, grass-fed meats, and desserts.

Tarentum Farmers Market
This popular market runs from 9am-1pm, every Wednesday, into October. It is located at the parking lot of First United Presbyterian Church, 10th and Lock Street. The market features around a dozen vendors who offer fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, honey, baked goods, fresh eggs, and baked goods.

East Hills

Photo Courtesy of the Monroeville Lions Farmers Market

Monroeville Lions Farmers Market
Located in the Gateway High School parking lot, 9am-12:30pm on Saturdays from May 9th to November 21st, this market offers the wares of over a dozen vendors. Patrons can find fresh fruits and veggies along with other seasonal items, all natural meats, and baked goods.

Forest Hills Farmers Market
This market is located at the Presbyterian Church parking lot on Ardmore Boulevard, and runs from 4pm-7pm on Fridays through October 28th. In addition to the standard farmers market fare, this market also features homemade perogies and authentic Lebanese foods.

Greensburg Farmers Market
Organized by the Central Westmoreland Farmer's Market Association, this market is open Tuesday afternoons from 3pm-6pm in the Westmoreland Museum of American Art's parking lot on North Main Street, and Saturday mornings 9am to 12pm at Lynch Field Parking, Route 819 N. by the Kirk S. Nevin Ice Arena. All vendors come from the local Greensburg cooperative, and feature a wide variety of high quality produce and baked goods.

West Hills

Photo Courtesy of Dawson's Orchards Vendor at the Original Farmers Market

Bridgeville Farmers, Health and Wellness Market
This new market, located at 431 Washington Pike Road (behind Northwest Savings Bank) runs from 4pm-7pm on Tuesdays into September. In addition to fresh and local food items, the market focuses on bettering health in the community. For more information, call Liz Calabro at 412-720-5142.

The Original Farmers Market
This market is located on Route 50, East of Interstate Highway 79, between Cecil and Bridgeville. The market operates Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5:30pm-8:30pm, through mid-September, and offers fresh produce, hot foods, and all the usual goodies!

Farmers Market at Mall at Robinson
The market is located in the parking lot in front of the Macy's at the Mall at Robinson, and runs from 3:30pm-6:30pm on Thursdays, until October 29th. Buy some fresh veggies and a pair of stilettos.

Happy Shopping!