Category Archives: Their Cooking

Chocolate Bread, Berkshire Mountain Bakery

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Last Monday I noticed a link in my Facebook newsfeed to a video from a Food Network Show called “The Best Thing I Ever Ate Messy.”  The video included a loaf of bread from The Berkshire Mountain Bakery called Chocolate Bread.  This wasn’t your typical loaf of bread, it looked like beautiful sour dough bread oozing with chocolate.  Usually I see these things on TV and there’s no way I can get a hold of them but this bread was about a twenty minute drive for me.  Because Monday was my day off I almost went to enjoy it but I decided it wasn’t on my diet plan and stopped myself.

On Friday’s a Farmers Market is literally right outside the door of my office.  I thought I’d seen a Berkshire Mountain Bakery stand out there before but when I went to look at their website I didn’t see anything saying they were at that market.  My break is always at 3:30 on Friday’s, the market closes at 5pm.  So I patiently waited while people went and got their goodies.  I even had an office mate, who happens to be my roommate go and get me a bratwurst for lunch and a pizza for us to share that night.  Finally my break came and I went out with another office mate.  We made the rounds at the other stands and in the distance I saw the Berkshire Mountain Bakery stand.  As we approached the gentleman behind the counter was chatting with other customers.  I looked down at his counter and noticed there was one loaf of chocolate bread.  I wanted to violently tell the women to stop talking and to get the guy to talk to me, instead I waited patiently.  He sold me the last piece of chocolate bread, it was clearly destiny.

I took the bread home and debated eating it but decided to wait.  I had to go back to work for four more hours and didn’t want risk getting myself sick.  I knew that once I sliced into it, it was going to be the bread against me and I would win.  I’d eat the whole loaf.  I made some pizza and left the loaf of bread for my return.

The chocolate bread patiently waited just like this on my cutting board to be devoured!  When I got home the first thing I did was put the oven on 300 degrees because I wanted the bread to be slightly warm when I ate it.  I only left it in for 5 minutes or so.

I cut the loaf in half because I wanted to get a view of the dense dark Callebaut chocolate that was put in the bread.

Look at the density of the sourdough bread and the pocket of chocolate.  As I bit into it I heard the crunch of the almost caramelized crust.  The sweetness of the chocolate played off beautiful with the sourness of the bread.

I shared with my roommate and we continued to eat piece by piece.  I knew that I would not rest until the whole thing was eaten.  Some days I can’t control myself.

Take a look at the amount of chocolate on that bread knife.  Here we are down to the final pieces.  We should have taken pictures of our hands and mouth’s because, just like the Food Network promised, it was messy!

The good news is that according to their website they deliver!  Although I think there is a $50 minimum order.  The bad news is that when I just looked at their website the nutritional information was listed.  Next time I need to share with more people.

I couldn’t figure out how to post the video from The Food Network on my site so it’s on the Facebook page for the site.  Don’t forget to like this page on Facebook!

Breakfast of Champions-Amaranth and Berries

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A few weeks ago when I was working I was introduced to a patron at work.  As I was approaching the patron said “You mean that chubby guy right there?”  I was stunned.  I mean I know I’m chubby, I know my short comings but to hear it voiced by someone else shocked me.  Don’t get all bo ho, blah blah blah, on me.  If my worst quality is that I’m a little chubby, pleasantly plump, then I’m ok with it.  That said, it’s something that I know I have to work on and I’m working on it a little everyday.

I’ve started with counting everything I eat.  I start the day off with a grain called amaranth and some fresh fruit.  Amaranth is a grain that the Aztec’s used 8000 years ago.  It’s high in protein and also gluten free.  I started using it a few years ago when I was on a real health kick.  My older sister introduced me to it.  I buy my amaranth from Amazon.com., I love the prime membership because most things ship for free in two days.

Usually I either use strawberry’s or blueberries but anything really works.  I’ve found that I like the texture of softer fruit, like peaches, pears, banana’s.  I also add just a tablespoon or so of something sweet, like honey or organic maple syrup that I’ve bought at the farmers market.  It usually all comes in at just below 300 calories for the day.

L’Andana Grill- Burlington, Ma

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In less than an hour from when I arrived in the Boston area yesterday I had running shoes on and was starting a 4.5 mile challenge with my twin brother.  An hour after that I was panting but made it back to the house and not too far behind.  While my brother is a big guy, he has run his entire life.  Three weeks ago I couldn't run a mile.  Now I'm not going to lie, I didn't run the whole thing but I didn't walk too much either. 

 

Our reward was dinner at a great restaurant called L'Andana Grill in Burlington, Ma.  The restaurant is chic and stylish with very comfortable seating.  I was worried that we were seated too close to the table next to us but once conversation flowed and food arrived you forgot you were so close.  The menu has an Italian flair but is highlighted by the wood fired grill.  As an appetizer we ordered Carpaccio and a four cheese Fonduta.  The Carpaccio consisted of shaved parmesan, sirloin, buttery croutons and a black truffle aioli.  When all the ingredients were put on the fork it consisted of the perfect bite.  In my opinion it was topped by the gooey, yummy four cheese Fonduta.  My brother had been before and knew to ask for more of the tasty garlic bread that you get prior to your meal as dipping bread.  The bread that came with the Fonduta was wonderful but the garlic bread just added to it.  The best part of the Fonduta was the big chunks of roasted garlic and the salty sopressata. 

 

For entree's my brother decided on the swordfish and I decided on the Scottish salmon.  I just had some of the swordfish for lunch and while it was wonderful nothing could have beaten the perfectly cooked salmon.  Underneath the salmon was a sweet, delicious pile of lentils.  I haven't eaten lentils that good in a long time.  In the lentils were cranberries that popped in your mouth and the tartness was a wonderful surprise.

 

The dessert menu looked delightful but we were so full on the appetizers that we ended up bringing most of our meal home.  I would recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Burlington, Ma area. 

 

While I was successful at the run last night I was woken up by a knock on the door at 5:45am and told it was time for another run.  I felt like one of those whiny teenagers on a episode of MTV's Made.  I only made it 2.7 miles and at the end I could barely feel my legs.  So while I'm reminded that I have a lot of work left to do I'm happy with what I've done so far. 

 

Carrot Cake

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I’m sure I’ve written about this but maybe haven’t posted a pic. Introducing the 7 layer carrot cake from Mitchell’s Fish Market. If you live near a Mitchells you have to try it. Your life will never be the same. Ok it probably will but it will be sweeter!Carrot Cake

PF Chang’s Take Out Service

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Yesterday was my last day of gluttony.  After smoking all week long and eating like a pig I've decided that with a new month it's time to put the body bugg back on and get to work on losing the weight.  So for my last meal I decided on take out from PF Changs because I was supposed to be meeting friends for drinks.  You can read my other reviews of my PF Changs experiences here and here.  Taking out food for PF Changs has always been a hassle.  The last time I risked going through the it was last December.  That time I spent many times calling, literally probably twenty minutes.  I finally got through and went to get my food but I wondered if it was really worth it.  

When I get a hunkering for something I'm going to go through with it no matter the cost.  So I called PF Changs, thinking that it was the end of February and not too many people in town so it shouldn't be too bad.  

"Pf Changs, this is J, how can I help you?"  The polite woman on the other end said.

"Yes I'd like to place an order for take out."  I replied.

"Ok I'll have to transfer you to the take out line."  She said.  I was put on hold and listened to the radio announcer voice tell me about all their new specials, including sesame chicken, mahi mahi etc.  I continued to listen to him and the music and then it repeated.  I held my cell phone up to see how many minutes had transpired.  It said 4.  Annoyed I called back, the same woman answered the phone.  She said that she would take my order.  So at least we had shortened our time by about fifteen minutes.  Now it was early when I did this, about 5:30.  She told me that it would be ready in about twenty minutes so I waited ten, then got in the car.  When I got to the parking lot it was packed!  Spring break hasn't started yet but I parked three rows back, which even during the summer I've never had to do.  

When my friend K was living here she always ordered the Mongolian beef so I decided I'd order the lettuce wraps and the Mongolian beef.  I remember the Mongolian beef as having a fried coating, being crispy, salty and sweet, which is why I wanted it.  When I got home I got the lettuce wraps out and got in inordinate amount of lettuce in the lettuce wraps.  It seems that when I do dine in I have to ask for more lettuce for the wraps.  Then I opened the Mongolian beef and it was nothing like I remembered.  No coating on the beef the best part was the sauce but it still didn't feel like it had the same um pf that it normally does.  

If felt duped.