THE NIBBLE BLOG: Products, Recipes & Trends In Specialty Foods


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PRODUCT: A Favorite Cookie Becomes A Cake

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Baking Dad a cake for Father’s Day? How about a super-sized cake version of one of his favorite cookies?
What’s new in the world of adorable bakeware, you ask? We’d like to introduce you to Williams–Sonoma’s Sandwich Cookie Cake Pan—too cute to pass up, no matter how cluttered your bakeware cabinet. The set includes two nonstick pans that turn out cakes embossed with the word “cookie,” turning a layer cake into an hommage to an iconic American snack. Make the classic chocolate with vanilla filling, chocolate with peanut butter filling—or try more sophisticated flavor combinations (we like chocolate cake with pistachio buttercream, but don’t think we’re chocoholics—we also tried a delectable hazelnut cake with coffee filling, using The King’s Cupboard Hazelnut Cake Mix). Buy the set at Williams–Sonoma.
  • Learn what other cookies may inspire your next cake-baking venture with our Cookie Glossary.
  • Is it a sandwich cookie or a sandwich cookie cake? It’s neither; it’s a Whoopie Pie. Whoop it up: read our review.

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PRODUCT: Tequila For Father’s Day

Looking for a Father’s Day gift? How about a fine tequila? The best are made from 100% agave juice (the other kind, “mixtos” are mixed with cane sugar). They are distilled into:

  • (1) blancos (“whites”), which are not aged, although some are colored gold with caramel to make them look aged, and are known as joven abocado or oro
  • (2) reposados (“rested”), which are aged for two to nine months, and
  • (3) añejos (“olds”), which are aged from 18 months for up to 4 (some up to 5) years.

 

Margaritas are made with mixtos or blancos; reposados and añejos are enjoyed straight for their oaky, complex qualities. Many añejos are aged in old cognac or bourbon casks, and pick up some flavors from the barrels. Someone who enjoys a fine scotch or bourbon would appreciate an añejo. Herradura Seleccion Suprema Muy Añejo Tequila is considered one of the world’s great spirits. El Tesoro de Don Felipe Paradiso Añejo Tequila is also top-ranked. They can cost upwards of $125. In the $50 range, and almost as good, look for Espolon Añejo Tequila and El Diamante del Cielo Añejo Tequila. Serve fine tequila in a snifter—no salt, no lime. By the way, the spiky agave plant, from which tequila is made, is not a cactus—it’s a member of the lily family!

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The mellow color of an añejo tequila. Añejos should be sipped straight like a fine Scotch; blancos are for Margaritas.

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FATHER’S DAY: A Giggly Good Gift For Dad

It Makes Me Giffle

It Makes Me Giggle’s party-in-a-box delivers a yummy cake.

A gift from ItMakesMeGiggle.com is a party-in-a-box: You choose your party (birthday or other occasion), choose your cake (chocolate-iced gourmet orange chocolate bundt cake or gourmet marble bundt cake) and personalize your gift by calling a phone number to record your greeting. You can also type out a message and include a photo.

Then, the lucky recipient gets a party box with your greeting(s) plus the cake, candles, matches, knife, forks, plates, napkins, party hats, and if that’s not enough, a noisemaker and confetti. We’re pretty picky about our chocolate cake, and we enjoyed every crumb. It’s made with fresh orange juice,orange peel, chocolate chips, cocoa and a bit of whiskey, although the cake contains less than .5% alcohol. Yet, there’s enough alcohol flavor so that the kids will leave it for the grown-ups.

It’s a fun gift for Father’s Day or any occasion with this caveat: We wouldn’t send this gift to anyone very elderly or very young, because when you open the box, the greeting is surprising and loud. The cost is $44.99, and you can place a web or phone order. There are four plates and forks, but you can cut at least six slices—so call dibs on seconds.

Check out the Father’s Day Boutique at igourmet.com

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NEW PRODUCT: Two New Flavors Of Philadelphia Soft Cream Cheese

We admit a weakness for cream cheese in all its forms (those forms include cheesecake). We were raised on Philadelphia Cream Cheese, when there were only Regular, Chive and Pimento options. Today, there are 15 varieties, and the Philadelphia folks have been feeding our habit with containers of tempting, soft, flavored cream cheese: Chive & Onion, Garden Vegetable, Salmon and Strawberry. Two newbies are Spinach & Artichoke (tastes like artichoke dip) and Sundried Tomato & Basil (tastes like our old, discontinued favorite Pimento).

We needed no arm-twisting to dig into these for bagel breakfasts, luncheon sandwiches, casual snacks, baked potato garnishes (hold the Strawberry) and best of all, easy entertaining. You can turn out quick, impressive canapés with soft, easy-spread flavored cream cheese. Just look at the easy, tempting recipes on the Philadelphia Cream Cheese website, and you’ll be chilling the wine and calling your friends.

Sundried Tomato Cream Cheese

Easy, elegant hors d’oeuvres: Your favorite cracker (here, a Triscuit), new Sundried Tomato Philadelphia Cream Cheese Spread, a bit of shredded mozzarella and some snips of fresh rosemary.

You’ve got plenty of time to whip up several of these for Father’s Day, and impress the family (or hubby) with your kitchen chops.

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PRODUCT: See’s Candies Chocolate For Graduates

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No one will throw this mortarboard up in the air—it’s full of chocolates! Photo by Emily Chang | THE NIBBLE.

As graduates across the nation celebrate their transition—whether it’s out of high school, into college or into the working world—celebrate their [hopefully sweet] change with a box of chocolate. And not just any box—See’s Candies makes the Class of 2009’s graduation experience a little more memorable with a keepsake mortarboard (a.k.a. graduation hat) box. Inside the tassel-topped, black box is an assortment of milk, dark and white chocolate candies. It’s priced at $16.20 at See’s Candies shops and Sees.com.

As we all love quoting Forrest Gump, “Life is like a box of chocolates….” Perhaps you can share that wisdom with your young graduate before he or she starts devouring the life lesson.

If all this talk of chocolate and education has made you hungry to learn more about the finer aspects of chocolate, feed your mind with facts from our Chocolate Glossary.

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