GOOD FIND: CRISPIN Cider

Ahhh MAZING.  Slightly sweet, fresh, great body, and perfect when you'd like a kick up from a beer but aren't ready for a heavier wine.  I clearly recommend drinking it poolside in the company of plastic flamingos.  I found this at Whole Foods but I'm sure you can get it around.

GOOD FIND: Santa Cruz Peach or Cherry Lemonade

I haven't posted a "Good Find" in a minute but holy frijoles these are so good.  Just found peach lemonade and cherry lemonade at Whole Foods.  So great and refreshing for the summer and I'm thinking not a bad mixer with some vodka crushed ice and mint garish.

GOOD FIND: blender bottle

I love this thing.  It's made to shake up your protein mix with water or milk but use it to bring soups to work, to mix your batter for pancakes, waffles or even to scramble a couple eggs without the mess if you're apartment living.  Dishwasher safe and the come in a medium and large size.  I got mine at Whole Foods but I've seen them at GNC and a couple other places where heath and exercise products are sold.

REVIEW: Cowgirl Creamery

So I was talking about cheese on Saturday with Jackie and I find out she still somehow has never been to Cowgirl Creamery.  Holy frijoles, this place is amazing.  Located on 9^th and F in DC and @ the Ferry Plaza in San Francisco, Cowgirl Creamery carries its own organic brands while promoting small scale artisanal cheeses from across the world.  Walk in and find specialty sauces, cheese boards, books and accessories then make your way to the back to discover a an overflowing case of cheeses just waiting for you to sample.  Ask your questions and get ready to learn as the maître fromager hands you sample after sample of the world’s finest dairy indulgences.  Don’t get carried away because you can end up purchasing more than you planned but I guarantee if you check it out once it won’t be your last time. Cowgirl Creamery in Washington DC. 919 F Street NW, Penn Quarter, Washington DC202.393.6880

REPOST: whipped lightening

um... This says its all.  Alcoholic whipped cream.  I'm gonna get some of this all up in my coffee!  Fantastic idea. 

Find it here: http://www.whippedlightning.com/index.jsp

Good Find: prepared grape leaves at Whole Foods

I now believe Whole Foods has the best stuffed grape leaves in the city.  Yeah I went there, I said it, and I mean it.  Sorry Lebanese Taverna, you've always been there for us and aways will.  Look near the cheeses in a refrigerated section near feta cheese, mozarella and capers.  They're extra large, moist, soft inside and just the perfect amount of citrus.  Twice this week I've picked up a container and eaten the entire thing for lunch.  Yeah, I'm a pig but you could split this up with a couple people to accompany dinner.

Good Find: mixed vegetable chips from Whole Foods

Holy mother these are good. These mixed vegetable chips are by NO MEANS good for you but they're slammin. Taro, sweet poato, carrot, green beans, zucchini and prob another vegetable or two sell for under 4 bucks in the nut section at Whole Foods.  Give it a shot the next time people are over for drinks and you need munchies.

Good find: Trader Joe's guacamole kit.

I love this and get one almost every time I'm in a Trader Joe's.  For about 5 bucks its cheaper to get this than to buy all the ingredients separately.  Two avocados, a tomato, lime, jalapeño, small onion and garlic.  I've gotten great quality produce every time and its great to take home for dinner, bring on a picnic or take with you when you're going to someone's house for dinner.  Avocados aren't always ready to eat so you MIGHT have to wait a day or 2 before they're fully ripe.  A fool proof fantastic guacamole.

Good find: have you ever used one of these babies?

FANTASTIC.  If you only realize how easy it is to squeeze a lemon or lime it would be in in almost every dish you cook and every cocktail you drink.  These things are a cinch to use, dishwasher safe, and surprisingly efficient at extracting juice.  They come in orange, yellow and green for oranges, lemons and limes.  The yellow one is most vers so no use getting them all. They'll run you a little over 10 bucks at Bed Bath & Beyond or Target and makes a great gift for mom.  Happy squeezing.

slap chopper, or the like

So I've seen the infomercial on the Slap Chopper but never had the opportunity to use one. This is the XO version that I bought at Bed Bath & Beyond. I have to say it's almost always out, it saves you so much time and it makes onions a world easier. here are before and after photos from garlic, ginger and chilies. I definitely recommend cleaning in a dishwasher to get in all the corners but this is on my top ten list of kitchen gadgets to have around.

university mix

I often need a snack or something to pick on to get me through the day in the office so I've been experimenting with the nut mixes in the bulk section at Whole Foods. This so far is my favorite. It's called the University Mix- its fantastic with sunflower seeds, peanuts almonds and dried cherries. Sweet and savory, this good find will quench your appetite and is much healthier than chips or chocolates.

Tip: asparagus steamer for corn

I bought this asparagus steamer for $9.95 last year. It's PERFECT to steam (or boil) a couple ears of corn... and the best part is you can lift them out of the hot pot in the basket where they can cool till they're read to eat.

this be a pitaya

i might have seen them before but never tried it. i bought this beaut at la boqueria in barcelona. it was delicious. its a type of cactus fruit- i can imagine finding them at whole foods... i believe it's of the species Hylocereus polyrhizus, H. undulatus, or Stenocereus queretaroensis. difinately pick one up if you happen to come across it in the produce aisle. slice it and half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. lemme know what you think! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitaya

got crabs?

i have not posted in a bit... and i really dont have time to start now. just wanted to let you know about the steamed crabs at the dupont farmers market. they're slammin. go to the fish lady at the north end of the parking lot. get there early cause the crabs go fast. theyre a dollar each and make a great lunch. you will never find chesapeake blue crabs in dc at this price. ask for them with the seasoning. my mouth is watering. mmm.

Triscuit Cracked Pepper & Olive Oil

basically, all i have to say is i cant stop eating them. if you were a fan of any brand salt and pepper chips, GET THESE INSTEAD. They taste just as good, if not better, are not oily or fried, have a ton of fiber and even 3g of protein/serving.

I was using them to shovel Tribe brand hummus into my mouth but let that go and just stuck to the crackers since they're so yummy.

Great crackers for $3.75

a seriously good snack from cvs

unfortunately many times we're stuck in a part of town where the only retail on the block is dress barn, radio shack and cvs. when youre looking for a quick snack and dont have the time to hike all the way to wherever you usually go, for $1.99 you can get the baked multigrain snack crackers from cvs. the large box is not expensive and the crackers are impressively yummy and healthy: Per 16 Crackers (24 g): Calories 110 (Calories From Fat 30); Total Fat 3.5 g (Saturated Fat 0 g; Trans Fat 0 g); Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 170 mg; Total Carbohydrate 17 g (Dietary Fiber 1 g; Sugars 1 g); Protein 2 g; Calcium; Iron

Robek's wraps..

So yesterday, as I often do after leaving the gym, I stopped next door to Robek's on Conn and L. If you don't know by now I am deathly (whats the word afraid? disgusted? allergic?...) offended by bananas (I'll post that story later on) so I my ordering at this smoothie joint is usually limited to the Cardio Cooler which is [if i remember correctly] orange juice, mango and pineapple sorbet- it also comes with a convenient 17 grams of protein.

YESTERDAY, I stopped in and for the first time ever got a wrap. It was a delicious Chicken Cranberry wrap with sesame seeds and I think pecans with a fair amount of lettuce in a spinach tortilla. MMMM... so good. Very healthy, delicious, no unnecessary condiments, modestly priced at $6.55 including tax and its about the size of a Chipotle burrito.

In my opinion, among the best options in a 3 block radius.
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i just came back from lunch.... the chicken pesto wrap is fabulous. very unique. healthy and delicious

thai kitchen microwavable pad thai

I always like to pass on a good thing when I find one. I bought the Thai Kitchen microwaveable Pad Thai for under $2 at the Walgreens on M Street. Only 2 grams of fat, no cholesterol, and not a crazy amount of sodium. It doesn't really have anything thats healthy for you but its not bad and it's cheap. Makes a little more than a snack but not a full lunch. Even though I'm anti cooking/heating anything in plastic, it gets a 6.5, 7 out of 10 on the Giacomo Scale of Pad Thai Deliciousness.