My Birthday Present! I have wanted a decked out picnic basket for years! One of my favorite things to do is travel around the U.S. and Europe packing little picnics. Now I can do it in style!
Today is Labor Day and I am going on a picnic with my new picnic basket.
The menu is:
Fried Chicken
https://www.tinynewyorkkitchen.com/olympic-fried-chicken/
Green Olives
Boston Baked Beans
https://www.tinynewyorkkitchen.com/boston-baked-beans/
Picnic Perfect Pasta Salad
https://www.tinynewyorkkitchen.com/picnic-perfect-pasta-salad/
Fresh Blueberry & Mango Cake
https://www.tinynewyorkkitchen.com/fresh-blueberry-mango-cake/
I love Root Beer and am always trying brands that I've never tried before. Yesterday, when I was at the Newport, Rhode Island Farmers' Market, I ran into Empire Root Beer. I had this root beer with a delicious piece of wood oven pizza. I think this root beer, which is made in Bristol, RI, is even better than Hank's.
Looks like one can get it at The Root Beer Store
http://www.therootbeerstore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=R-EM
Freezing is an easy way to enjoy fruits and vegetables from gardens or farmers’ markets well into the winter. There are a variety of freezer bags to use for storing and freezing. I think that using a vacuum sealer is the best freezer method out there. Vacuum sealers protect foods by removing the extra air and creating a tight teal. If you want to preserve your fruits, vegetables, and meats through long-term freezing, a vacuum sealer is an investment to consider. Conventional storage bags and containers trap air in the container with the food, which can cause damage from frost and freezer burn. Because the sealer sucks all the air out of the bag before creating a tight seal, the food in the bags is better protected against the elements. A vacuum sealer costs between $75 and $200 and requires the purchase of special bags designed for this use. Besides preserving garden produce, this is a great tool to help you maximize the shelf life of other food items you buy in bulk at club stores or on sale.
To enjoy cakes at their best, follow these tips:
*Allow cakes with butter type frosting to stand for about an hour before slicing.
This allows the frosting to set.
*For cakes that are filled or frosted with whipped cream make sure to assemble
Them no more than 2 hours before serving. This will prevent them from
Getting soggy.
*To cut your cakes use a thin bladed knife cut pieces. Run the knife under hot
Water and make sure to wipe the knife dry before cutting the first piece
And in between subsequent cuts.
*For storing cakes most cakes can be covered and stored at room temperature
For 2 to 3 days. It is good to have a cake cover, but if you don’t have
A cake cover then just invert a large bowl over your cake. If you directly
Cover the cake with plastic wrap then it will for sure make a mess of the
Frosting.
*For those cakes that have a filling or a frosting that contains eggs, whipped
Cream or cream cheese it is best to store your cake covered in the fridge.
*If you want to freeze your cake then you should put your cooled and unfrosted
Cake layers on a baking sheet. Freeze them until they are nice and firm.
After the layers are frozen then transfer them to large freezer bags or wrap
Them and seal them in freezer wrap. They will keep in the freezer for up to
4 months. Thaw them before frosting.
*If you are serving your cake directly from the pan then cover them and freeze
Them in the pan. Make sure to thaw them before frosting them.
Besides getting hit with a lawsuit or having the Department of Labor come after you for not paying employees properly (Fair Labor Standards Act) NOT paying the IRS is one of the worst things that can happen to a restaurant. Ray's Pizza, on 62nd & Lexington, has been shut down and seized for not paying their taxes.
Insulated Ice Cream Keeper Tubbies
I recently discovered this awesome product. If you are storing home-made ice cream or transporting your favorite store bought brand, this insulated ice cream keeper is a must. I cannot tell you how many times I have brought ice cream home from the store only to find ice cream soup. The Zak ice cream Tubbie fits a pint of ice cream from the store so that you can keep it cold on your way home. It is also great for packing cold salads to either take for lunch to your office or a party as well as holding homemade ice cream. This ice cream keeper (made by Zak) is fully insulated with a freezable gel lid to keep contents cold for up to 90 minutes. The 1 pint container measures 5x5x5 ½ inches. These ice cream keepers come in a variety of fun colors and are freezer and dishwasher safe, but NOT microwavable. The seal on the top seems to get quite tight and can be difficult to get off (which can be annoying) right after the container leaves the freezer, but within a few minutes it thaws enough to remove easily or you can run it under warm water for a moment. The cost is from $16 to $25 per Tubbie and can be purchased at either Amazon or the Zak Designs website.
http://www.planet-zak.com/Ice-Cream-Food-Storage-Containers-On-Go/b/5446588011
http://www.amazon.com/Zak-Designs-Insulated-Ice-Cream-Freezable/dp/B001SS1H96