Natural Brew Sodas

I don't drink soft drinks as a rule, but once in a while I'll give in and have one that's off the beaten track. I'm not overly fond of cola and the lemon-lime type don't usually do it for me, either. Mostly, it's just too sweet, too fizzy and lacking in any real depth of flavor - and I can't see loading up with completely empty calories in such a lackluster way.

That being said, when it comes to fall and winter holidays, I usually concede and purchase ginger ale or root beer. I like that they aren't so sweet and the flavor is different than the standard sodas. So, when I was offered a full round of Natural Brew, I opted to check them out, knowing that our annual harvest party was in the near future.

I served them up with our fare of pumpkin-everything and pork products galore and the kids, my husband and I all really ejoyed them. This isn't your usual cola, and it isn't even the usual for root beer and ginger ale, these are robust in flavor and very different than all the other ginger ales, root beers, colas and creme sodas I've ever had.

These drinks fit in with my way of thinking - they're hand-crafted in small batches (think micro-brewing), and they're also produced with natural ingredients, using no artificial colors, flavors or additives. WOW!

These are really worth a try, I absolutely love their Draft Root Beer and the Outrageous Ginger Ale? Oh, not only does it taste like it's got the freshest just-grated ginger in it, when I wasn't feeling so good last week, it was just the ticket to settle my tummy. The kids loved it all, too and they can be picky, even when it comes to sodas.

Natural Brew comes in six delicious flavors:

Draft Root Beer – Brewed the old-fashioned way using only the finest ingredients from nature for a classic flavor. No need for anything else.

Outrageous Ginger Ale – We start with the zestiest ginger and add a splash of sweetness to create the brisk zing of our Outrageous Ginger Ale.

Vanilla Crème Soda – A soothing blend of the finest vanilla beans makes this classic a favorite for easy sipping.

Lemon Lime – Refreshing and bold, this lively mix of tart lemon and sweet lime will brighten your day.

Concord Grape – Reminiscent of childhood days, this authentic grape flavor will take you back to the soda fountain, summer time and baseball games.

Natural Brew handcrafted sodas are sold in 4-packs and available nationwide at natural food stores, the natural section of your local grocery and other select vendors for $5.49 per 4-pack.

Find a store near you that carries Natural Brew, because you will most definitely want to try it for yourself. Here in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas you can find it at the following retailers:

Queens Nutritional Products
1450 Pennsylvania Avenue
Allentown, PA
(610)691-6644

Shaffer's Health Center
Fairgrounds Market
Allentown, PA
(610)439-1013

Sign Of The Bear Natural Foods
514 N. Saint Cloud St.
Allentown, PA
(610)439-8575

Grahams Natural Health Source
750 South 25th St
Easton, PA
(610)252-7707

Nature's Way Markets
143 Northampton Street
Easton, PA
(610)253-0940

Healthy Alternatives
7150 Hamilton Blvd
Trexlertown, PA
(610)366-9866

Nature's Garden Limited
4290 Perkiomen Ave
Reading, PA
(610)779-3000

Cookbook Review: The Un-Constipated Gourmet

It's the thing nobody talks about but everyone suffers from at one time or another; constipation. You may think that topic has no business on a food blog and would be more appropriate for a health or medical blog, but try and remember, what goes in must come out, so starting with the source is one of those 'ounce of prevention' type deals. Yes, it's a funny subject, but fiber plays a very important role in our bodies, and not just for purposes of elimination. Fiber helps to keep cholesterol down, our hearts healthy and can reduce the risk of colon cancer, as well.

The Un-Constipated Gourmet by Danielle Svetcov deals with, in a very funny way, not just the subject of constipation, but the very best way to prevent it: what you're eating. Before you run away thinking this will be nothing short of a few recipes including bran muffins and prune whip, think again. Not only is there more to roughage than that, there's a lot more flavor involved, too.

Presented in a simple way, seven chapters and 125 recipes, each recipe is given a T.P. rating, the higher the score, the more likely you are to be hitting the potty in no time flat. I seem to be a number 8, having chosen recipes with that number more often than not. The recipe for Caldo Verde is shared at A Thousand Soups and the recipe for White Bean Dip with Cilantro is here. Danielle describes this as a Latino version of hummus, and my kids and I couldn't get enough of it. How did it, er ... work? Quite well - that's all I'll say here.

This isn't just a book for the colonically challenged, it's filled with just plain good recipes that you'll want to make anyway.

White Bean Dip with Cilantro

Serves 8 as an appetizer

3 (15 ounce) cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

3/4 cup olive oil (maybe more)

1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3 garlic cloves

3 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons chili powder

Salt and pepper, to taste

Process all ingredients in a blender except for 2 tablespoons of cilantro, which are saved for garnish. For added 'go', serve with thick tortilla chips or homemade whole-wheat croutons (essentially thinly sliced, heavily toasted bread, with olive oil and garlic rubbed in).

Get your own copy of The Un-Constipated Gourmet at Powell's Books or Amazon.com.

Avery & Zazzle Recipe Binder Design Contest

Check this out - and do it NOW - this contest ends November 2, 2009 at 11:59 PM, so get your creative hat on and go submit an entry today! Post a link to your design here and one lucky WINNER will receive their binder FREE!

Here are the particulars:

Prizes:
Grand Prize = $2,000
Second Prize = $500
10 Honorable Mention Prizes = $25 Zazzle Gift Code

How to Enter the Recipe Binder Contest:

1. Create a Zazzle Account (It’s free!)
2. Create your Recipe Binder
3. “Post for Sale” your Recipe Binder with the tag zazzleaveryrecipecontest2009 in the Zazzle Marketplace (learn how to tag your product here)
4. You’re done, good luck!

Create an Entry | View Entries

Contest entries must be received by November 2, 2009 at 11:59pm PT

Contest Rules:

1. You may only submit one entry for this Recipe Binder Contest
2. Entries must be submitted between October 19, 2009 at 9:00 am PT, and November 2, 2009 at 11:59 pm PT, to be eligible.
3. Entries will be judged on uniqueness of design, overall creativity, and best use of the binder space.
4. Entering a contest is done by tagging your product with a specific contest related keyword (or “tag”). If you don’t know how to do this, please read the instructions here. You should also leave a comment under the contest announcement with a link to your product to give it more visibility.
5. Contest is for submissions by residents of the USA only. All other entrants will be excluded from the competition. Read the Official Recipe Binder Contest Rules.

The Last Gourmet

It came today in the mail; my very last copy of Gourmet Magazine. I held it in my hands for a moment, still in its protective plastic mailer and nodded, sighed, and set it down on my desk. The glistening and golden brown Thanksgiving turkey on the front cover stared back at me. An accidentally ominous subscription card poked out from beneath the magazine: "Last Chance Offer For Gourmet Subscribers", it read.

It was like finding a message on your answering machine left by a friend the day before they suddenly and unexpectedly died. Even they thought they would be here tomorrow, but 'the powers that be' had other plans and snatched them away without warning.

I wanted to leave it there in its austere wrapping, inner subscription cards intact, and never open it, leaving for someone else to unwrap years from now. But, like that lost friend, I had to read the last words, see the last photos. I had to breathe in that new magazine smell one last time from within its still-stiff and brand new pages.

Once I'm done reading cover to cover, like always, I'll put it away on the same shelf the others are on, but it won't stay there - none of them do. I'll take it down over and over again to reference a recipe or story, and enjoy it each and every time, but maybe a little more than the rest simply because it is ... the last Gourmet.

Sweet Pumpkin Cornmeal Mush

What the rest of the world calls 'polenta', those of us with a Southern and Midwestern family influence call 'cornmeal mush'. Normally we eat it savory, smothered in butter, salt and often times, cheese.

Wanting to do something a little different, I decided to go sweet, with pumpkin, and the result is velvety and divine. Leave out the very small amount of butter and this can easily go vegan.

Sweet Pumpkin Cornmeal Mush
Serves 8
Cooking Time: 20 minutes

3 cups water - divided
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup finely ground cornmeal
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2/3 cup packed brown sugar - divided
1/3 cup chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Blend together 1 cup water and cornmeal - set aside.
3. Combine 2 cups water and pumpkin puree in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and pour in cornmeal slurry, stirring constantly with a wire whisk.
4. Reduce heat to low and continue stirring until thickened, which is almost immediately.
5. Remove from heat and stir in 1/3 cup brown sugar, vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. Blend well.
6. Pour into 8 small (1 1/2 cup capacity) oven-safe bowls.
7. Stir together 1/3 cup brown sugar and pecans. Top each bowl evenly with mixture.
8. Place bowls on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, or until brown sugar is melted and bubbling. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.