New Year, New Post(s)

Posted on January 1, 2012 by KzooKitchen

Pretty much every blogger has a new years resolution blog. I’m sorry to say that this post will be no different.

My new years resolution is to blog. To post honest to goodness posts a minimum of once a week for the next 52 weeks. While this doesn’t seem so hard, it has been for me. You see I blog for a living. As in for a company, which pays me good money to blog (and manage a website, email marketing, social media, etc, etc, etc.) So when I get home from work the last thing I want to do is jump on my computer and blog.

The thing is, I love it. I love to post my ideas, cooking and travels. And Google analytics tells me you all enjoy reading them. So here is to a new year with new posts!

RibFest

Posted on August 8, 2011 by KzooKitchen

I know, I know, what is a pesctarian like me doing going to Ribfest? Well, back when I was a carnivore I had a weakness for BBQ. Anything BBQ. I could not go too long without some falling off the bone, baby back ribs. Pulled pork sandwich with cole slaw on top, yes please! While I still indulge with some BBQ sauce on my Boca burger, it’s just not the same.

That’s why when I heard that Ribfest was going on this past weekend in Kalamazoo, I just had to be there! Ribfest is one of many festivals which take place at Festival Place in downtown Kalamazoo. This event raises money to support Community Advocates – advocating for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

From the entrance line, you could smell the ribs cooking! There was a $5 entrance fee which was a bit disappointing, but it did go to a good cause.

When you walk in and see this wall of BBQ awards, you know you are in for some serious food!!!

We decided on OT’s Up In Smoke BBQ because they had a plethora of awards proudly displayed, including the 2010 Ribfest People’s Choice Award.

Knowing I’d be nibbling off of the boyfriend’s selections, I let him decide the tasty bits I’d be sampling. He choose the 3 rib basket with Mac & Cheese (for $7). I’m not gonna lie, the ribs were tasty! I didn’t post a picture, because they weren’t much to look at. Smothered in a not too sweet, not too spicy BBQ sauce, they were gone before we knew it. The Mac & Cheese, a favorite of my boyfriend’s, left a lot to be desired. I’m pretty sure it was Velveeta.

We spent the next fifteen minutes or so wondering around looking at a few craft booths, paying little attention to the live band. Besides the rib stands and beer tent, there wasn’t much else, so we left.

Overall, it was disappointing. The ribs were great, but we could have just gone to the restaurant in Battle Creek. The few bites I had were fabulous (and I didn’t get sick like many told me I would). We probably won’t go back next year, but it is a sight to see.

By the way - I learned something upon moving to Michigan. In Southern California, any time you use the barbecue, you are barbecuing. Regardless of the meat you are cooking and whether or not you were using BBQ sauce. In the Midwest, if you are using the barbecue and cooking hot dogs, hamburgers, steak, etc, you are grilling. If you are using the barbecue for ribs or anything smeared in BBQ sauce, you are barbecuing. Not to be confused.

Forging through winter as a Vegetarian

Posted on March 9, 2011 by kzookitchen

When you walk into the grocery store and see something as beautiful as this, how can you not be a vegetarian? Admittedly it’s not always this easy (or pretty), to have vegetables be the mainstay of your diet, especially this time of year.

A friend of mine who lives in a more remote part of Michigan (in a town I can barely pronounce – Dowagiac (də-WAH-jak)) decided that she was going to give up meat for Lent. I know how hard it is for me to find fresh fruits and vegetables this time of year in Kalamazoo, so I can only imagine what it’s going to be like for her. After encouraging her to make the changes in her diet, I knew that I wanted to find some healthy vegetarian recipes using frozen veggies. So I will develop and post some ideas over the next few days and weeks which are made with ingredients which can truly be found anywhere.

In the meantime, I am often surprised that no matter where I go there are meatless options. The tastiest bites have been at ethnic restaurants. A few weeks ago we hit up a Gyros shop in Grand Rapids. Expecting to be eating another salad (which is fine and I love), I found this amazing plate on the menu. Salad, hummus, dolmas (grape leaves stuffed with rice and vegetables) and falafel – it was an amazing fare!

Even in Kalamazoo it’s easy to find great options when eating out. The University Roadhouse has an amazing Seared Ahi Salad (pictured left). It is pan seared blackened Ahi Tuna, mixed greens in a thai peanut vinaigrette served with a warm bleu cheese wonton. Talk about delicious! I am definitely going to use this as inspiration for a salad soon. My mouth is still watering for that blue cheese wonton.

While not eating meat in the dead of winter in the middle of the Midwest isn’t easy, I have learned to work around it. I am confident that my friend Erin and all of you meatless eaters out there will do the same.