Foods Discovered! Food Blog|Food Reviews|Recipes

Ravishing Flavors at Robert Rothschild Farm

Have you ever received a beautifully decorated gift basket only to be disappointed at the contents? Perhaps you expected to find chocolates, gourmet cheeses, or sizzling dipping sauces but instead founds lots of fluff and very little real food. Never fear - the folks at Robert Rothschild Farm have designed elegant gourmet foods that are not only wonderful by themselves but add simplistic charm to a wide variety of gifts as well.

Robert Rothschild Farm was founded more than 25 years ago and is completely dedicated to blending nature's finest ingredients to create the boldest tastes in existence. Only here will you find such a wide variety of gourmet products, including but not limited to:

• A wide variety of sweet, sour, tangy, and hot BBQ sauces,
• Seasoned rubs for meats,
• Dipping sauces for breads,
• Cupcake and frosting mixes,
• Sweet or tangy dips for your favorite vegetables and desserts,
• Salad dressings and specially blended oils,
• Mustards and salsas,
• Sauces,
• Soup Mixes,
• and more!

Any of the delicious goodies from Robert Rothschild Farms can be ordered individually, but there are a number of spectacular gift items available as well. Gifts are split into a number of categories, taking both special occasions and price ranges into consideration. Looking for the perfect birthday gift? Try the "Breakfast in Bed Gift Set" complete with pancake/waffle mix and syrup for only $25. Want to thank a colleague for a job well  done? Gourmet snack sets include one of four fabulous dips and a box of gourmet pretzels - each at a reasonable $4.99 each. You can, of course, go up in range for lavishly presented gifts designed to mark any special occasion.

 It doesn't matter what type of gourmet treat you're looking for - Robert Rothschild Farm is bound to have something to satisfy your cravings! And with products in over 5,500 stores around the country you won't have any problem keeping your favorites in stock!

Blue Crab Bay Co. - A Taste of the Chesapeake

In 1985, Pamela Barefoot stood in her seaside farmhouse kitchen and decided to put her recipes and culinary skills to the test by bringing the flavors of the Cheseapeake Bay region to the rest of the country. She created seasonings for crab dip and gift packs wrapped in weathered fishnet with seashells. Her products took off and the  Blue Crab Bay Co. was born. And with the introduction of the now famous Sting Ray Bloody Mary Mixer, Blue Crab Bay Co. exploded!

So the first thing you need to try from the Blue Crab Bay Co. is the award-winning Sting Ray Bloody Mary Mixer, consisting of tomato paste, clam juice, horseradish and seafood spices. Both this mixer and its companion Snug Harbor mixer can be ordered "dressed" -- with a weathered fishnet and nautically tied cord draped over the top, or "undressed." We dare you try one of their oyster shooters...Drop a raw oyster in a shot glass and top with Sting Ray Bloody Mary Mixer! Yahoo!

For a true taste of Chesapeake Bay, try their Crab or Shrimp cheese ball kits. Simply mix cream cheese with a tin of Tiny Wild Cocktail Shrimp, shrimp seasoning and a packet of Blue Crab Bay's chopped Sea Salt Nuts™ for garnish; or Bay Beyond® Premium Lump Crabmeat, crab seasoning and the crushed Crab House Nuts. Think your guests won't be clamoring for more?

In addition, the Blue Crab Bay Co. offers seafood soups such as she-crab soup, crab Norfolk chowder, and New England clam chowder; and premium seafood such as chopped sea clams, Bay Beyone lump crabmeat, and tiny cocktail shrimp,

The Blue Bay Crab Co. also offers gifts such as handmade soaps and candle holders with a nautical theme.

Ahhh...you can almost smell that fresh Chesapeake Bay sea air! C'mon, mates...head over to Blue Bay Crab Co!

Mary Ann's Gourmet Bean Soups Food Review

True comfort food. A big pot of bean soup, simmering all day on the stove with the perfect mixture of beans and seasonings.

Sounds good...but it seems every time I get the craving, I'm missing something in the cupboard. Either the right type of bean, the exact spices or seasonings...something. So there goes my hopes of a hot, steaming bowl of good, old fashioned, homemade bean soup.

Not so! Enter Mary Ann's Gourmet Soup Mixes!

Mary Ann’s Beans is loving operated by the Lankister Family on their country ranch in Wyoming. Even their three daughters share in the packaging of Mary Ann's nutritious, delicious soups and seasonings. Each spice is carefully measured by hand and each muslin bag is filled and tied by a family member. A true family affair.

Keith and Wendi Lankister believe in the basics...the beans and spices that they don't grow themselves are purchased from local farmers, with no additives or preservatives. Their foods are prepared as whole foods, and shared at the evening table as a family.

Their soup mixes are simply delicious...we took a ham hock, added some fresh chopped onion, carrots and celery, and a bag of Mary Ann's Split Pea and Barley Soup Mix, popped it in a crock pot, and enjoyed a steaming bowl of super soup, with a crusty loaf of bread for dinner. It was so easy, and so good!

They offer a versatile selection, from Fiesta, Frontier, or Darn Good and Spicy Chili Mix, to Rocky Mountain Cranberry Bean. You won't find these unique varieties in the Campbell soup section, guaranteed!

And Mary Ann's Beans now offers a line of tasty gourmet dips and seasonong mixes!

Enjoy some handy bean soup recipe hints from their website:

Soaking Beans: Soak your dried beans in 8-10 cups cold water, in plastic or glass container. Soak overnight, or at least 8 hours. Drain soaking water and rinse beans. Cook in fresh water or liquid.

Rapid Boil or Quick Soak Methods: Some say that this method helps decrease the gas-causing substances, making the beans easier to digest. Put your beans in a pot on stovetop, in 8-10 cups hot water. Heat to boiling and allow to boil 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and let sit one hour. Drain water, and rinse beans. Cook in fresh water or liquid.

Crock Pot Cooking: We cook all of our gourmet soup mixes on high, all day, making sure there is plenty of liquid in the pot. It is always O.K. to add some extra water to you pot of soup. One package of Mary Ann's Beans makes a fairly full 3 1/2 qt. crock pot of soup, ending up with 2 1/2-3 quarts of soup when done, depending if it's a soup with or without meat added to it.

Stove Top Cooking: Always bring your pot of beans to a boil. Reduce to simmer for 2-- 1/2 to 3 hours, or until beans are tender. To test for doneness, bite-taste a few beans. They should be tender, but not mushy. (Everyone's opinion of tender seems to differ).

Never add salt to soups, until it's finished cooking and you've tasted the soup to see if it needs any!! Then salt to your taste. The salt can make beans tougher when cooking. Visit Mary Ann's Gourmet Bean Soups and Seasoning Mixes here.

Maria's Style Food Review

Maria Reid...now, remember that name, because that's one talented woman! Maria prepares a line of wonderful salsas, pasta sauces, dips, soups, jams, and dessert sauces named Maria's Style! And we can assure you, she sure has style! Cooking style!

What started as a great recipe for a great salsa, shared with friends and family who were always clamoring for more, ended as a versatile and delicious line of goodies you will surely enjoy.

I just love items stocked in my pantry that will make my love of cooking easier and more flavorful. These items are just that. You can grab one of Maria's Style sauces and voila! A simple pot of pasta and a little leftover chicken, with some tender baby peas, turns into an elegant meal with the use of her DELICIOUS Maria's Style Vodka Sauce.

Or grab a group of friends, pull out the dusty fondue pots, and have a fondue party. Slice some tenderloin, pop it on a skewer into hot peanut oil, and serve  with Maria's Style Cognac Sauce. Sooo good! How about a tray of crusty french baguettes, and chunky pieces of fresh vegetables for dipping in Maria's famous Asiago Cheese Sauce? Cheesy, hot and bubbly!

See how easy she makes it? Keep her products at hand, and unexpected guests will never go hungry. Pull some Maria's Style Hot Pepper and Jalapeno Jam from the cupboard, spoon over Brie cheese, and bake in the oven until hot. Serve with your favorite crackers. Easy!

Love salsa? What choices! Mango Peach Tequila, Cherry Apple, Peach Pineapple, Garlic Habanero Vodka...the list goes on. Probably the best thing to do is hurry over to Reid's Foods...where you will find the full line of Maria's Style products. Thank me later.

Get some style...Maria's Style!