Food.Fun.Stuff: A Delightful Little Treat

JKGF discovered a new treat for the morning (or as a snack) that actually helps with that fiber intake (*Fiber is soo important to a healthy diet and so many of us neglect to take in enough). Quaker True Delights Granola Bars are what we're ranting about. There are 3 grams of fiber in each bar. It's a combo of real fruit, whole nuts and chocolate mixed into honey drizzled Quaker oats. The 140 calories and the lack of hunger you feel afterwards sold us, in addition to the fact that these are not too sweet (*sometimes you wonder when something is too sweet, are they really just tricking you into thinking it's healthy for you??...Hmmm)

The Flavors of Our Lives:

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Almond
Honey Roasted Cashew Mixed Berry
Toasted Coconut Banana Macadamia Nut

Try one and tell us what you think;-)

*Visit http://www.quakertruedelights.com/ and click on "Try a free sample"...test them out before you buy;-)

Picture source: http://www.quakeroats.com/products/oat-snacks/true-delights/dark-chocolate-raspberry-almond.aspx

Super Bowl Honey Barbecue Wings

Super Bowl Honey Barbecue Wings

1 large package of chicken drummettes
1 tbsp. seasoning salt
1 tbsp. pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
4 oz. hot sauce
3 oz. honey
1 (16 oz.) barbecue sauce (*any regular barbecue sauce from your local grocery store)

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse and pat dry the drummettes. In a baking dish, line up the drummettes so they are in an even layer. Sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides of all the drummettes; cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30-40 minutes. Combine remaining ingredients and top the chicken with the mixture evenly; bake for an additional 10-12 minutes uncovered. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: Super Bowl! Super Bowl! Super Bowl! Ideas all around;-) Wings are a must have at any Super Bowl party and there are so many variations that you can use. There's teriyaki, barbecue, honey barbecue, sweet and sour, buffalo...you get the picture. What better time to experiment with these different ideas than the Super Bowl?!

Picture source: http://www.foxspizzadenver.com/menu/index.htm

Drinks on Me: Arnold Palmer (Non-Alcoholic)

Arnold Palmer

4 oz. lemonade (*Homemade or you can buy from your local grocery store pre-made)
4 oz. Iced tea (*Homemade or you can buy from your local grocery store pre-made)
Fresh mint sprigs
Ice

In a tall glass, combine equal amounts of iced tea and lemonade over ice; give a stir and serve.

*Johnna's tip: We know what you're thinking...this is just an iced tea and lemonade mix that you can get from any third restaurant...this is true. The name Arnold Palmer was given to this mix allegedly after the famous golfer Arnold Palmer became angry with the bartender at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Englewood, Colorado because the bartender refused to mix lemonade in his iced tea. The bartender apparently gave in and the Arnold Palmer cocktail was born;-)

*Background information on Arnold Palmer is courtesy of Wikipedia.org

Picture source: http://ww-recipes.net/2007/03/page/2/

Johnna's Pick of the Week: Tackle Box (D.C.)

Hmmm...this week wasn't a hard one to pick. After rummaging through the five dollar bins of the various thrift stores of Georgetown, our appetites were in need of some filling comfort food. Lucky for us, Tackle Box, came to the rescue:-) Tackle Box is basically a summer afternoon in your backyard all year around. What are we talking about?? Here's the low down:

>The seating is first come, first serve and the tables are the old fashioned picnic tables that your grandparents used to have in their backyard for the family cookout.

>Everything is super informal with paper plates and the menu is posted in chalk on a huge chalkboard.

>The menu selections are even more informal: 13 bucks gets you a fish of your choice (which includes a fried fish, fried calamari or fried shrimp, etc. etc. etc...) + 2 side items (which includes mac and cheese, french fries, green beans, etc. etc. etc...) + a sauce (which includes a cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, etc. etc. etc...)

We liked:
The fried calamari
The fried shrimp (they were soo good!)
The green beans (they have this fresh off the grill taste that we can't seem to shake...)

Wouldn't try again:
The mac and cheese (was a little watered down...don't understand?? try them and you'll see what we mean...)
The fries (nothing special about the ones here...)

Of course there are a plethora of items that we did not get to try but we have enough under our belt to want to visit this spot again. Our suggestion: 1 fish (fried shrimp) + 2 sides (green beans and the cornbread) + tartar sauce= happy eating.

*Side note: This could play the spot for a cool cheap date...;-)
**Side, side note: Also, check out their Lobster Pots To Go deal, it's pretty cool, especially if you're into lobster like we are.

Picture source: http://www.tacklebox-dc.com/about-tackle-box-washington-dc.html

Catfish Strips

Catfish Strips

Catfish fingers (*your local grocery store should have these strips in your seafood department; if not there, then buy 4 pieces of catfish and cut into strips)
2 cups white cornmeal
1 1/2 tbsp. all seasoning salt
1 1/2 tbsp. salt
1 1/2 tbsp. pepper
Peanut Oil (*should be enough to cover the fish while frying...2 inches is about right)

Preheat the oil in a large heavy skillet. Combine the cornmeal, seasoning salt, salt and pepper (*the seasonings can be adjusted to your preference...1 1/2 is a good starting point;-). Clean and rinse the strips and dredge in the cornmeal mixture, shaking off the excess; set aside. When the oil is hot, add the strips about 4 at a time and cook for 5-7 minutes, turning the fish over occasionally so it will cook evenly on both sides. The fish is done when it is golden brown and flakes easily when touched by a fork. Remove the catfish from the oil and drain on a paper towel (*paper towel should be on top of a plate). Add additional salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot.

*Johnna's tip: Who said fried catfish is only for the summer?? Catfish strips are delicious and succulent in every bite, especially when served piping hot. Alongside some dipping sauce (*tartar sauce is a good one...), catfish strips will make you want to break your dieting rules repeatedly. Since fried food is allowed every once in awhile (*for the health conscious...;-) try these catfish strips with a side of homemade cut fries...Enjoy!

Picture source: http://tonyseafood.com/reviews.php?action=submit&id=139

Drinks on Me: Jager Shots (Alcoholic)

Jager Shots

1 shot of Jagermeister
1/2 shot of Red Bull
Ice

Shake ingredients together in a cocktail shaker, pour into your favorite shot glass, Shot!

*Johnna's tip: On icy days like the ones we are sharing around the country, shots are definitely in order...Be careful on the ice, Do Not Consume (*Again we repeat, Do NOT) these shots before heading out on the icy wonderland streets, you will bust your butt!

Picture source: http://www.jagermeister.com/welcome/welcome.com.aspx

Food.Fun.Stuff: FREE to be;-)

FREE! Bistrot Lepic is not only offering a 20% discount on its bottles of wine on Tuesdays, it is hosting a complimentary wine tasting every Tuesday (*i.e. today is your lucky day;-) from 6 pm.-8 pm. Georgetown just got that much more appealing...;-)

Picture source: http://www.bistrotlepic.com/

Mixed Bean Salsa

Mixed Bean Salsa

1 (16 oz.) can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1/2 can (16 oz.) pinto beans
2 tomatoes (chopped and seeded)
4 onions (sliced)
1 tbsp. minced garlic
1/4 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
2 tsp. vegetable oil
2 tbsp. lime juice
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Drain excess liquid right before serving and transfer to a serving bowl. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: Super Bowl weekend is vastly approaching and now is the time for finger food ideas. You're either hosting the party or going to it and either way something must be brought to the table regardless of the role you play in the festivities. For those of us going to the parties (JKGF will be an attendee and not a host...yaay for Super Bowl parties!! Even though we have the slightest idea which teams will be playing...;-), we have the easy route out because we can opt to bring a case of Heineken (which always makes everyone or someone happy at these group events) or a bottle of wine versus bringing a food dish.

Hosts, on the other hand, have the not-so-easy route. They have to prepare the munchies that will be consumed before, after and in between those touchdowns and passes. This is a quick recipe to whip up the night before (*it'll hold everyone over until the pizza arrives or until the wings are finished cooking;-) and especially if this Super Bowl gathering is a last minute idea;-) Enjoy!

Picture source: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Black-Bean-Salsa/Detail.aspx

Drinks on Me: Warm Vanilla Twist (Non-Alcoholic)

Warm Vanilla Twist

2 cups low fat milk
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Nutmeg (for garnish)
Cinnamon sticks (for garnish)

In a small pot, combine the milk, sugar and vanilla over medium heat; stir and heat but do not boil. Pour into your favorite coffee mugs and sprinkle the nutmeg on top; stick cinnamon stick in the mugs. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: Tired of hot chocolate and warm tea?? This is your warm drink answer. As the snow falls on this Tuesday in the District, thoughts of warm, creamy vanilla twisted beverages make us enjoy the winter wonderland and the treats that come along with it. Top with whipped cream if you really in the need for added comfort...;-)

Picture source: http://www.southwestblend.com/Food-Drink/index.htm

Food.Fun.Stuff: Restaurant Week All Around!

It's that time of year again when the Restaurants have their annual sale (*the best sale of the year next to the Neiman's and Bergdorf's January sales...). The District will be observing this blissful time of year from February 16-22, 2009. Other local restaurant weeks to try out are:

Baltimore (started already!) January 23-February 1, 2009
Bethesda (starts today!) January 26- February 1, 2009

Around the country:

Los Angeles January 25-30, 2009; February 1-6, 2009
San Francisco January 15-31, 2009
Philadelphia/New Jersey January 25-30, 2009
Charlotte January 24-30, 2009
Annapolis January 16-20, 2009

*Just in case you're not clear on how restaurant week works or why it's a great deal:

1. Two to three course lunches and dinners are served at select restaurants for a price ranging anywhere from $20-$30 for lunches and $30-$40 for dinner.
2. It is the perfect opportunity to try places you never would've dreamed of going unless you planned on only getting an appetizer because the regular priced menu items are so high!

Let us know the places you tried!

*How to find out more details?? Simply Google "Restaurant Week ___" and insert your select city;-)

Picture source: http://www.fame1.com/

Cheddar Turkey Burgers

Cheddar Turkey Burgers

1 lb. ground turkey
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 tsp. parsley
1 tsp. onion salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
Salt (to taste)
Pepper (to taste)
Paprika (to taste)
Non stick cooking spray

In a medium pan, spray non stick cooking spray and put over medium heat. In a large bowl combine all ingredients and form into burger patties (*size depending on how big you want them to be...). Add patties to the pan and cover (keeps them moist); cook for 4 minutes or until done on each side. Serve hot.

*Johnna's tip: Burgers. We love them. They are the perfect All American dish that can be joined by almost any side dish: fries, salad, baked potatoes, etc. Our recent trip to Z Burger in D.C. inspired our desire for some turkey burgers in our lives. Z Burger puts you in the mind of Five Guys (D.C.) or a more versatile In 'n Out (CA)...we sure do miss those animal fries from In 'n Out, but Z Burger will definitely do when in the District;-)

Picture source: http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/hamburger-recipes/burger-of-the-month/apple-cheddar-turkey-burgers/article.html

Drinks on Me: Gin Rickey (Alcoholic)

Gin Rickey

2 parts gin
1 part lime juice
Soda water
Slice of a lime
Ice cubes

In a chilled glass, pour in the lime juice and gin over the ice. Top with the soda water and stir; garnish with lime slice. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: There are a variety of other alcohols you can use to make this drink...try whiskey or a vodka you like;-) Serve in a highball glass like the one in the picture.

Picture source: http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=13218091

Food.Fun.Stuff: So Much to Do...

To Do List:

>D.C. Restaurant Week- For JKGF D.C. Restaurant Week should be a holiday...food at some of the most expensive spots in the city for cheap! You know the drill: 3 course lunches for $20.09 and 3 course dinners for $35.09 per person. This is the perfect time to do dinner with friends, someone you've wanted to take on a date but didn't want to spend a gazillion dollars or just to try a spot you would never in a million years try on any other arbitrary night.

Spots that seem to have the best deals:
1789 (Georgetown)
Taberna Del Alabardero (Downtown)
The Willard Room (Downtown)

*Why do these spots have the best deals? Well, let's see...they all have regular priced menus that are $50 and up! If for nothing else, you should stop in just to say you've been to a few of D.C.'s best and on a budget;-)

>Chocolate Lovers Festival- From February 7-8, 2009, Virginia will be making chocolate lovers dreams come true. There will be tastings, sculptures, bake sales and more;-)

>V-day- It's about that time to start locking in those reservations for Valentine's Day, well at least to start thinking about where you want to go with that special someone.

A few suggestions for the Love Day:
2941 (Falls Church)
Adour at St. Regis (Downtown)
Corduroy (Downtown)

So you have this weekend to rest from what has been a worldwind of stuff (i.e. the holidays, inauguration...), and then it's back to food business (*which is always good;-) Rest up and stay warm!

Picture source: http://www.washington.org/restaurantwk/

Johnna's Pick of the Week (Travel Edition): Din Tai Fung (Shanghai, China)

Din Tai Fung has the best shrimp fried rice. We don't know if it's because this rice that we tasted was actually in China, Shanghai to be exact, but it was absolutely delicious and has left us with the longing for much more. Another trip to this tasty Chinese food eatery would be absolutely wonderful (*except for the $1,300 plane ride that comes with it...), but lucky for us Americans, they have one in California! We can not attest for the quality or service that you will get in Cali, but when in Shanghai, one must stop in for a drink and some dumplings at the very least...the veggie dumplings are another of our faves;-)

We must also talk about the service when talking about restaurants, especially the service that we received while in China, it was great! We miss this type of service in America, where even the nicest restaurants of the south and Midwest can't compare to the attention that China restaurant waiters/waitresses pay to its patrons. Shall we say, we would welcome another opportunity to visit Shanghai?? Yes, it was fun, tasty and some of the best Chinese food coming out of China...let us know when and where you're traveling, we want to hear all about the food!

*Side note: JKGF is experimenting with the camera now, oh la la, how do you like??;-)

Homemade Ice Cream

Homemade Ice Cream

Ice Cream Maker
1/2 gallon chocolate milk
1 (12 oz.) container Cool Whip
1 (8 oz.) can Condensed milk
1 tbsp. sugar

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Put in the ice cream maker and freeze according to the directions of the Ice Manufacturer. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: Homemade ice cream is perfect for now especially when you have cravings for ice cream but don't want to brave the speeding winds to make a stop at Cold Stone. Make it at home! It's quick and easy especially with the invention of the Ice Cream Maker. Top the ice cream with your favorites and enjoy:-)

Picture source: http://www.targetwoman.com/articles/homemade-icecream.html

Drinks on Me: KiwiLime (Non-Alcoholic)

KiwiLime

1/2 cup kiwi juice
1/2 cup limeade
Ice

In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients; shake well. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: If you're already in a place with beautiful warm temperatures, you don't need a reminder of the sunny, beach life. However, if you're in the chilling temperatures as the good folks of D.C. are, then this recipe should serve as a reminder of the sunny, warm coast side...

Picture source: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/excite/6fa_info.htm

Food.Fun.Stuff: President Obama!!

New. Change. Hope. Those are some of the words that come across our minds today...we at JKGF congratulate the New President of the United States Barack Obama! We welcome the first family to the District of Columbia and hope they enjoy all the food pleasures of D.C. that we have come to love as Washingtonians...we already see that President Obama has been making his way around the neighborhood. He ate at Ben's Chili Bowl (*you know you've been to D.C. when you've had some of this chili...we suggest the chili cheese fries;-) which we just think is great! Check out the pic above of President Obama at the local Mom and Pop eatery...



Picture source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/10/bens-chili-bowl-obama-dro_n_156838.html

Food.Fun.Stuff: Welcome to Red Velvet

Today is the day:-) What day are we ranting and raving about on this cold, chilly, freezing (*you get the vibe of how chilling the temperatures are in the District;-) day?? The Grand Opening of Red Velvet! Red Velvet is the Districts newest cupcake obsession and today starting at 11 am, it will be offering a free cupcake to its first 500 customers:-) Of course, JKGF will be in the building and will hopefully leave the premises without purchasing more than 4 cupcakes (*Recently we left a local cupcake shop and 6 cupcakes came with us...) Stop by and get there Early to beat the rush...

Since we already checked the place out for our readers, we have the low down:

Vanilla Bean-Deelish!! (This is definitely one of our top 3.)
Key West-If your into Lime, you will definitely want to try this one
Southern Belle-Yaay for more Red Velvet cupcakes in the area!
B-day-Stick a candle in this one and make it cute for someone special...Celebrate:-)

Check it out today and let us know what you think...ohh and stay warm;-)

Picture source: http://www.bigscissors.com/grandopeningbanners.html

Chili-Fest

Chili-Fest

1/3 cup olive oil
2 qt. water
1 tsp. garlic
3 lb. ground beef or turkey
3 onions (chopped)
2 tsp. salt
10 tbsp. chili powder
4 tsp. cumin powder
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 (16 oz.) can of diced tomatoes
1 cup corn (*if frozen, defrost before adding to the other ingredients)

Saute the onions and beef/turkey in the oil. Then add in the other ingredients (except chili powder, cumin, red pepper and tomatoes) and cook for 1-1 1/2 hours, add in water as needed. Add in the chili powder, cumin, red pepper and tomatoes and cook for 50 minutes longer. Serve hot.

*Johnna's tip: Chili goes well over rice, hot dogs and burgers. It's the perfect comfort food and as you prepare for the festivities of the weekend and next week, this is the best dish to make in bulk for house guests. Also, there are so many variations that can be made with Chili (i.e. on top of fries, with sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese, etc.) so you shouldn't get bored with this one until probably about Sunday...that's when you pull out the spaghetti ingredients or the take- out menus...;-)

Picture source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bowl_of_chili.jpg

Drinks on Me: 700 Billion Martini (Alcoholic)

700 Billion Martini

Liberal amount (2 parts) SVEDKA Vodka
1 part fresh lime juice
½ part simple sugar
Conservative splash of Lemon Juice
Fresh mint (desired amount)

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker; shake well. Pour over ice; top with fresh mint. Serve!

*Johnna's tip: Vodka and politics. Fun times! This presidential election year has introduced so many new things and changes to the United States that a toast is definitely in order;-) In keeping with the lingo "party politics", Svedka Vodka has unleashed the "700 Billion Martini" which is Svedka's year long invitation to Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to put the “party” back in party politics. Shake it up for your guests on Inauguration Day to celebrate or check out these District bars to have a taste:

Garret’s
Millie & Al’s
Capital City Brewing
Pour House
Nanny O’Brien’s
The Scene, Momiji
Café 8, Wisdom
Chief Ike’s
Bravo Bravo
Remington’s
Bottomline
DC Born & bred
Jacks
Helix Hotel
Station 9
Ben’s Next Door
Felix

Enjoy and Drink responsibly!

*Ooo and because we love our readers from all over the country, if you're not going to be in the District anytime soon, try it in: Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York or Boston

Loaded Baked Potato

Loaded Baked Potato

1 large baking potato
1 1/2 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. butter
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 dash of ground black pepper
1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tbsp. bacon bits (*fry 2 strips of bacon in 1 tsp. olive oil in a pan over medium heat; let cool; dice into small bits)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Scrub the potato and poke holes in it with a fork a few times. Rub the potato with olive oil and salt. On a baking sheet, place the potato in the oven for 1 1/2 hours or until the potato has softened and is golden brown. Slice the very top of the potato (versus slicing it in two) and fluff out the inside content, making sure to keep the skin intact; combine content with the butter, garlic powder, pepper and cheeses, spoon back into the skin; top with bacon bits. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: Warmth. That's the going theme for today. As the temperatures reach unbearable levels this is the time to bring in the best, warmest comfort foods we can think of! Baked potatoes are a great start because:

1. They are super easy to make and filling and
2. You can add whatever you like to them (*Potatoes are to the food world as black and white are to the fashion world...they go with everything!

Add other favorites such as broccoli, feta cheese or even chopped up asparagus.

Picture source: http://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/PotatoBaking.htm

Drinks on Me: Hot, Hot Chocolate (Non-Alcoholic)

Hot, Hot Chocolate

1 tbsp. cocoa powder
2 1/2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. water
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. of vanilla

Combine cocoa, water and sugar in a small pot; bring temperature to low heat and stir so that the ingredients don't stick to the side of the pot. Add in the milk and vanilla after the ingredients are warmed; stir. Cook until hot and serve.

*Johnna's tip: Use this recipe now! (*That is if you are in the District...if you're in Miami, please disregard...;-) The temperatures today and around much of the country are below the point of simply having a warm coat to heat up, you need to bring in reinforcement with warm fluids going through the body. If you're making your way here for the Inaugural activities, make this hot chocolate and put in your thermos...you're certainly going to need it.

Picture source: http://www.bigcatcoffees.com/subcategory.cfm?B=&C=&SC=31&PF=B-C-SC-P

Food.Fun.Stuff: Try Something New-TastePost

Do you want to meet other foodies and the like who are just like you?? Well today is your lucky day! Noo, its not a big party, but it is an Internet party...what are we talking about? TastePost.

"TastePost is a new food and spirits club for area residents who love food, wine, beer and spirits." (*Does this sound familiar, like yourself or someone you know??:-)

Why it's a good deal?: It connects members to the experts from The Washington Post Food section to give them recommendations on wine, food pairings, and entertaining. TastePost also provides members with special discounts at local retailers, tastings and other local events. Members can now receive 50% off a ticket to Sunday’s portion of the International Wine and Food Festival in February (*get them fast, tickets are limited...).

How to get it??: www.tastepost.com

Try it and let us know how you like it...come on, it'll be fun to meet some foodies and umm let's not forget the most important thing you'll learn...more about food! Enjoy;-)

Picture source: https://tastepost.com/tastepost/index.php

Food.Fun.Stuff: Cupcakes in Penn Quarter...FREE!

Cupcakes are spreading in the District like no other. As usual, we like our readers to be the first to know and in the know how, so here's the low down on this Thursday (January 15, 2008):

Red Velvet (*the newest addition to the Districts cupcake family) will be handing out FREE (*let us repeat...FREE) cupcakes to the first 500 customers! We are excited and plan on being well, uhh...somewhere between the 5th and 10th customer to get in on the freebies. Come out and test the treats that will be baked in the new Penn Quarter location. More details and reviews of this spot to come, but for now just plan out how you're going to sneak out of the office to get a FREE cupcake...

Picture source: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Runway/8879/

Pecan Pie

Pecan Pie

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup white syrup
1 1/2 cup pecans
1 unbaked pie shell (*can be found at your local grocery store)
1 can whipped cream

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Beat the eggs and butter slightly; add in the syrup and sugar; beat until mixed well. Add in the vanilla and pecans; mix well. Pour into the pie shell. Bake until browned. Serve each slice with about a tbsp. whipped cream.

*Johnna's tip: Pecan pie is a fast dessert you can whip up when having unexpected company that you might need to impress (i.e. the in-laws, co-workers, etc.) If you really want to comfort yourself, serve with some french vanilla ice cream;-)

Picture source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecan_pie

Drinks on Me: Black Russian (Alcoholic)

Black Russian

2 oz. vodka (*the good stuff is suggested;-)
1 oz. coffee liqueur
Ice cubes

Add ingredients, one after the other, into a glass on top of the ice. Stir. Serve:-)

*Johnna's tip: Vodka lovers, this one is for you. It's the cocktail when you need the milky taste of vodka on your palate:-) Drink responsibly!

Picture source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vodka

Johnna's Pick of the Week: Hello Cupcake (D.C.)

Cupcakes anyone?? When one is in the mood for cupcakes in the District, there is no shortage as of lately...with Cakelove, Georgetown Cupcake and now Hello Cupcake on the scene, cupcakes in the District are far from extinct. Before venturing out to see SlumDog Millionaire (which by the way is one of the best movies of the year!!), JKGF stopped in Dupont for a little cupcake love at the new cupcake bakery, Hello Cupcake. We ended up leaving with a box of 4 cupcakes, 1 cupcake in a bag and one in our tummy that was pretty tasty:-) The niche with this spot is the cupcakes are made fresh daily and from scratch (*sounds like it should be the custom in bakeries, but some places really don't carry this philosophy for some reason...). The cupcakes have some of the best buttercream frosting on this side of Dupont Circle and the various flavors will have you glazing over the cupcakes like a kid at the candy store.

We must say, our favorite cupcake thus far is the one in homage to our next president Barack Obama, the Very Berry Obama:-) The Very Berry Obama is a combo of red and blue berries in a vanilla cake topped with tangy/sweet vanilla cream cheese frosting. Moisture is key in cupcakes and Hello Cupcake has grabbed our attention with its dedication to this important detail. Other goodies to try are: Princess, Lucy, You Tart and 24 Carrot. We hope you enjoy as much as we did...;-)

Picture source: http://www.hellocupcakeonline.com/news.html

Buttercream Frosting

Buttercream Frosting

1 cup powdered sugar
1 egg white
1 stick butter
8 tbsp. Crisco
1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a bowl, combine all ingredients with a hand held blender (*or if you are one of the lucky ones with a KitchenAid mixer, then use this instead;-) Blend all ingredients until fluffy and use to spread on whatever you like:-)

*Johnna's tip: This recipe was inspired by the buttercream frosting at D.C.'s "Hello Cupcake"...it melts in your mouth:-) Cakelove, also in D.C., uses a buttercream frosting as well...whichever cupcake eatery, Cakelove or Hello Cupcake, you can get to first, try it! And if all else fails, make you some cupcakes and this recipe at home to fulfill your buttercream craving...

Picture source: http://thefarmchicks.com/pantry_feb06.html

Drinks on Me: Banana Shake (Non-Alcoholic)

Banana Shake

2 peeled bananas
2 cups cold milk
1 1/2 tbsp. honey
1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a blender, combine all ingredients until smooth. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: Add in a little of the powdered protein to create the perfect protein shake. The powdered protein can be found at your local GNC. Enjoy!

Picture source: http://www.beatrice.ca/kitchen_pages/dssrts_bvrgs/smoothie_coolberry_p.html

Food.Fun.Stuff: FREE Food Alert!!

When JKGF first started out somewhere around the end of November 2007, we talked about a spot called Pinkberry, a frozen yogurt chain spreading around the NY area. Well, now D.C. has its very own cool frozen yogurt spot called TangySweet. TangySweet has been fulfilling sweetooths in the Dupont Circle area of D.C. for awhile now, but TODAY it joins the downtown crowd as it opens its doors on 7th and E st. Run now and grab a spoonful of the freebies that they are giving out! We just thought we would send this alert out there for all the yogurt lovers and to welcome TangySweet to the neighborhood:-) Enjoy and eat good yogurt!

Picture source: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ECOj4uPkAItQXzX-vdVf8w?select=atrfCCxF7ktVnAm7r4TwRg

Peppered Steak

Peppered Steak

2 tbsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
Pepper (to taste)
1 1/2 lb. round steak (3/4 inch thick)
2 tbsp. shortening
1 can Campbell's onion soup
1/2 cup ketchup
1 medium green pepper (sliced into 8-10 strips)

Combine flour and seasonings; pound into the meat with a meat hammer or the edge of a heavy sauce pan. In a pan, brown the beat in the shortening and pour off the fat; add in the soup and ketchup; cover and cook on low heat for 1-1 1/2 hour. Add in the green pepper and cook 20-25 minutes more until tender stirring occasionally. Serve hot.

*Johnna's tip: Add in more veggies that you like i.e. onions, red peppers, mushrooms, etc. Serve with a loaded baked potato (or not so loaded if your watching that waistline...;-) or with some homemade french fries. Also, add in greens such as sauteed asparagus or string beans. Enjoy!

Picture source: http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/steak_au_poivre.aspx

Drinks on Me: Lemon Drop Shots (Alcoholic)

Lemon Drop Shots

2 boxes of lemon Jell-O gelatin
2 cups boiling water
2 cups chilled vodka

Add Jell-O to the boiling water in a pot and stir; allow it to cool before adding in alcohol; add in alcohol. Chill in the refrigerator 4-6 hours before serving or until firm. Serve.

*Johnna's tip: These are great party favors when you have a few guests over this winter. JKGF noticed that when we go out, Lemon drop shots are the common shots that people will buy for the whole gang...so we figured, why not try this at home?? This is the most efficient way to get your lemon drop shots, at home, for a medium-large group of people. Take shots/drink responsibly!

Picture source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon

Food.Fun.Stuff: "On this day of January 20th..."

Inauguration Gala's For All!

All Hail to the New President of the United States!! Next week is going to be the week of all weeks with our new president-elect Obama entering the White House and moving into the District. This means upgrades majorly for the DMV area which translates to new restaurants and places to see and be seen;-) With Inauguration knocking at our front door, you know JKGF made it our duty to seek out what to get into next weekend and on the day of Inauguration. Balls are being held all over the place and require us to get in the gym, squeeze into our most formal attire and celebrate like its 1999 all over again. We scoured out a few that might be of interest to you as you begin your search, check it (list is arranged from least expensive to expensive):

Mambo for Obama = Latin American Inaugural Ball with plenty of goodies and salsa;-) (Tickets are: $75-$250)

Inaugural D.C. Ball = Food, Wine and Chuck Brown...nothing like a D.C. party! (Tickets are: $150-$250)

Metromix All-American Inaugural Ball = All food, beverages and entertainment access for $175, in addition to the fact that Metromix knows all the great parties around the country, so we are sure they can throw a great party...

The Inaugural Purple Ball = Unlimited food, cocktails and "lavish" gift bags...plus Ashley Judd should be in the building (Tickets are: $500-$2,000)

Neighborhood Inaugural Ball = Obama. Enough said. The President Elect himself is supposed to be at this function at some point during the night. (Tickets are: They have not released prices yet, but they will be reasonable and some may be free;-)

Click on each of the above for more info. The tickets may seem pricey but think about how many times this might happen in your lifetime or how many times it has happened in your lifetime...ahhaa, that gives you new perspective, doesn't it?!

We will be in the buildings of one of these hot spots tasting the food, of course and enjoying the change that is about to come to the Nations capitol!

Enjoy,

JKGF

*Feel free to send us any events you know about in the area to johnnaknowsgoodfood@gmail.com.

Picture source: https://www.uma.org/inaugural.asp