Alton Brown Weight Loss Motivational Poster

With Turkey Day come and past, many of us may have overindulged on food and treats. So for those of us in need of a little motivation to recover from Thanksgiving and steer clear of the cookies, cakes, eggnog and the like pitfalls of the Christmas season, I offer away to keep our motivations high.

I have created the Alton Brown weight loss motivational poster:

Something About Cooking

Cyber Monday is here, I'm back to work (bleh) and I still haven't caught up with everything from Thanksgiving! Of course, I brined the turkey breast. Alton Brown would never forgive me if I didn't! :P But this year, I smoked it instead of oven roasting. I tried the pumpkin pie from the last new Good Eats episode, my first from scratch pumpkin pie. Details on that to follow this week.

Until then, I don't think I shared the books AB signed for me while in Cleveland this month. I brought I'm Just Here for the Food and IJHFTF 2.0 because they are the last two books that remained unsigned. If you remember, AB asked me in Lexington, Ky. at the signing for Good Eats 2 if I had anything left for him to sign. Well, not now!

As I'm talking with AB I noticed that he was not inscribing the typical "Cook Smart" in the book. It wasn't until I took the books back to my car that I had a chance to read it. He wrote: To Lisa, Something about cooking.

Mom took my other book because I was getting one signed for someone else. She told AB that the book was mine and she said she saw him writing and writing in it. So when I looked at it he had written: To Lisa, blah, blah, blah cooking.

I was laughing hysterically in the parking lot at the I-X Center. AB never fails to unleash his wonderful wit :)

Alton Brown Owns Thanksgiving

I have a lot of cooking to talk about regarding Thanksgiving but had a ton of other things to do as well. So instead talking about the food, I'll offer up screen caps of Alton Brown riding the giant turkey in the Macy's Parade. He looked extremely happy to be up there.

Alton Brown's Recipe for Fun

Remember that Alton Brown will be in this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

And on Black Friday, if you're like me and would rather spend the day as far away from any store as possible, then tune into Sesame Street to see AB explain the word Recipe to the kiddos.

Thank to a tip from a reader, the video is online and quiet frankly adorable.

Click here for AB's recipe for fun.

Alton Brown at Dauphin Island Gumbo Cook off

A few weeks ago I posted about the possibility of Alton Brown doing a demo and appearance on Dauphin Island, Ala to help out the folks in Gulf region revitalize their tourism hit hard by this summer's oil spill. Well, word is that the event is on and AB is slated for the second annual Dauphin Island Gumbo Cook-Off on March 26, 2011. Ticket and exact details are still in the works so I will be sure to pass along that info as it becomes available. But save the date if you're in the area or would consider visiting to see AB.

Alton Brown's Pumpkin Mousse

Since seeing Alton Brown make pumpkin mousse a few years ago in a Good Eats short online, I have wanted to try it myself. Unfortunately, locating the pumpkin spice pudding needed for the application was not to be found where I live.

Until this year. By a happy accident, I ran into the item this holiday season... right next to the nuclear gummy fruits for the wretched fruitcakes.

Right away I made the mousse and stored them in my nifty Fiestaware ramekins like AB suggests in the video. The mousse is quite simple to fabricate and even tastier.

Pumpkin Mousse

Ingredients:
1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold
15 0z can of pumpkin puree
1/3 cup milk
1 box pumpkin spice instant pudding
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions:
With a stand mixer or hand mixer, whip the cold heavy cream to medium peaks. Start the mixer on slow.

Combine pumpkin puree and milk in a bowl. Whisk together. Then add dry pudding mix to bowl of pumpkin puree and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.

Add whipped cream on top of pumpkin mixture and stir together until well incorporated.

Spoon into ramekins and refrigerate for 4 hours or until set.

So after I made this delicious pumpkin treat, the wheels started turning. Wouldn't this make a wonderful pie filling? It would be a pumpkin chiffon kinda thing. So I decided to whip up another batch and this time combine it with my gingersnap crust.

By the way, I saw that AB made a gingersnap crust for the new pumpkin pie episode... hmmm. Coincidence that I use this same style crust for AB's sweet potato pie... I think not ;)

Anyway, my gingersnap crust is simlar to the one AB made. I use 30 gingersnaps, 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of sugar (or Splenda). Press into a 9 inch, deep dish pie dish and blind bake for 10 minutes at 350.

After the crust cools, add the mousse filling and chill as before.



And if you want to see AB make the mousse here's the video:

How We Helped Heifer International

The final leg of the fundraiser for two organizations Alton Brown supports, Monterey Bay Aquarium /Seafood Watch and Heifer International, is completed. On Friday, I made the donation to Heifer for the other half of the total raised. The nice woman there said they will send AB a card with the notice of the donation.

I picked several animals to spread the help.
Here's the list of what we got... yeah I had to get bees!

2 Honeybees $60
1 Heifer (share) $50
1 Flock of chicks $20
1 Goat (share) $10
1 Pig (share) $10


Thanks to everyone who contributed!

If you missed Alton Brown on South Park

Just when I thought South Park had jumped the shark, the creators come up with a cooking show spoof that included Alton Brown! I haven't laughed so hard at an episode in such a long time.

My favorite line was during the cook off segment when AB is doing commentary and says, Jamie Oliver is crying again.

The only thing that would have been better... AB doing his own voice.

The South Park-ized AB was a pretty good likeness. And a lot of laughs without making personal attacks on the hosts.



If you haven't seen "Creme Fraiche" is online now!

Alton Brown plating tip for the day

Another snip from the Alton Brown demo at the Fabulous Food Show. This one is when he plated the beef tenderloin. It also shows that even AB misfires on his applications from time to time.

Everything can't be as perfect as seen on TV, right? ;)

Enjoy AB and his garnishing tip:

Alton Brown Video at Fabulous Food Show

Finally! I have a couple of videos from the Fabulous Food Show and the Alton Brown demo from last Saturday. These are just a few of the fun moments from the event.

First one, AB was lubing up the tenderloin and getting some fun in with his FN colleagues
and their catch phrases:






Next, AB answers about where to get his famous salt cellar:

More Alton Brown and Fabulous Food Show

At the Fabulous Food Show demo Saturday afternoon, Alton Brown discussed salt and made his salt crusted beef tenderloin from the GE special Eat this Rock! The reason AB talked about salt was from the bad press it received earlier in the year.

Of course, people who cook understand that salting your food in something you make at home is entirely different from the salt added to preprocessed foods. In fact, Michael Symon did a visual demonstration of the amount of salt in a can of soup at his demo on Friday. It is startling to see the amount of salt in premade items and there in lies the problem.

AB's demo was completely about cooking with salt and making the beef tenderloin.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the demo:

AB removed the beef tenderloin from the oven and picked it up sans oven mitts. And said, Ouch, hot, Crap, hot.

This one looks like he's telling me to stop taking the photos. ;)
AB's internal commentary: All right Lisa, you've been to how many of these? Enough photos.

Some interesting hand gestures while talking about the salt dough.

I have a ton more photos, I like to "shoot fat" but that always leaves me with a boatload of photos to process.

Alton Brown referenced on South Park

I know Alton Brown referened South Park in the Cheesy Poof application in I'm Just Here for More Food. Well, now the South Park guys have returned the favor. Apparently Randy is addicted to the Food Network.

Creme Fraiche
Tags: SOUTH
PARKRandy Marsh,Sharon Marsh,more...

Its a pretty good likeness.

Alton Brown and Fabulous Food Show Part 1

So much to do and so little time. I am still working to get my crap together to report on the Fab Food Show and Alton Brown and Michael Symon.


I think a lot of you will be happy to know I have video of AB's demo. I will be working to get some of the best segments up soon.


The piggy bank was famous all weekend. Here's AB with it.


I have my own problems, besides getting back to a boatload of crap at work, when we got home Sunday some hooligans had knock down my satellite dish so I was sans FN last night and may be for awhile. Apparently Direct TV doesn't know the meaning of "customer service," they canceled the service call to fix the dish this morning.

But that give me lots of time to work on video, photos and posts!

Quick update from Alton Brown at Fabulous Food Show

A late night in Cleveland, still looking through my photos from the demo Alton Brown did at the Fabulous Food Show.

Here are a few to hold everyone until I get home tomorrow and catch up with everything.

AB signing my copy of I'm Just Here for the Food and my devil, flamed piggy bank.


The demo was about the salt crusted tenderloin and helping dispel the bad rap salt has received of late.

Help Alton Brown help Dauphin Island, Alabama

As most everyone knows, the Gulf coast region suffered a great amount of damage this summer with the BP oil spill. Marion Laney, Director of Photography for GE, is trying to raise awareness that the Dauphin Island area was not damaged by the oil spill and revitalize the tourism industry plus help the area's seafood industry as well. AB has agreed to go a demo on the Island, donating his time and travel expenses. However, more support is needed to host the event and the state's tourism board nor BP will help with the other part of arranging the event. This morning, Marion started a poll for fans to show support for such an event. It only takes a second to vote and tell the powers that by you would come to an event like this, so please vote on Marion's poll! Edit: Marion has a new poll here that doesn't require Facebook or a "real" name. I would certainly consider going down to the Island for an event, it looks so beautiful there. And if were in, say, February that would be a nice birthday present. ;) Here's what Marion posted on the GE Facebook site:

In support of this hard hit (by bad publicity, not oil) island on the Gulf of Mexico. Alton Brown has offered to show his support for our recovery by visiting Dauphin Island. Since I have no money to host him I need the support of fans to show the Alabama State Tourism folks, Alabama fishing industry and BP that we really want him to come visit. Alton is donating his time and travel expenses. A huge gesture. The costs to have him visit are many, a portable kitchen, staging, security, traffic control (no traffic lights on the island) clean-up, etc Please vote and contact these organizations directly and insist they support his visit. Without you it will not happen. http://westbaygulfcoasttdc.org/ Make your voice heard, vote in the poll!

Fundraiser Finale

Our fund raising attempt for two organizations that Alton Brown supports is officially over. While we didn't rake in a big amount, the grand total was $300, it still is a great amount to the two organizations.

I have already sent the half to Monterey Bay Aquarium/Seafood Watch in! Waiting to hear back from the person at Heifer International about how to arrange the donation in AB's honor.

What I did with that contribution was make the donation to Monterey Bay Aquarium/Seafood Watch in AB's honor from his fans at All About Alton. :) The nice lady said they would send him a card telling him about the donation in his honor.

Now I'm not sure if I want to tell him on Saturday in Cleveland or not. I planned to tell him about it and get him the names of everyone who donating.

Either way, it will be a major surprise for him and that's all that matters!

Thank to everyone who contributed!!! Many hugs and blessings for being apart of the fundraiser.

oxox
Lisa

Exciting Product Review to Come!

My dream kitchen will most certainly include a large island an plenty of kitchen bar stools. Until I hit the lottery or marry an exceedingly wealthy man, that's just a dream. However, the good folks at CSNstores.com have made an offer for a product review, so I can at least get something awesome for that dream kitchen.

The CSNstores.com site boasts of 200+ online stores covering a wide array of items for the home, the pets, the kids and yourself. I normally gravitate to the shops with cooking items, especially with the offer for a product review.

Over on cookware.com there's a sweet cast iron Dutch oven with a flat lid and legs like the style Alton Brown recommends in the "Going Dutch" episode. I've wanted one like that, mine is a domed lid sans legs, but they are out of my price range normally. That No Kneed Sourdough bread would bake up nicely in this.

I will have to peruse the site more to see if they have a single slice toaster, been trying to find one of those for a long time as well.

But whatever I pick, Dutch oven most likely, come back and check out what I do get and how it turns out!

Iron Foodie challenge

Barring a personal invite from Alton Brown (which will not happen because I'm not sure he if he likes, respects or appreciates this site one bit) to join the Parthenon of Iron Chefs, judges or audience members in Kitchen Stadium, I'm must seek my Iron Chef thrills elsewhere. Today I have found something just may be a proper substitute until that invite comes along.

Recently, my site was approved to join Foodie Blogroll and they are co-sponsoring a contest with Marx Foods. To enter, all one needs to do is answer these questions:

Why do you want to compete in this challenge?
Who else but a dyed in the wool AB fan would should be invited to a challenge based on Iron Chef? Not only would I be able to whip up something fun and tasty but I would be able to yammer endlessly on the item at hand.

Additionally, having the opportunity to use interesting ingredients is plus since where I live there isn't much of a selection of grocery stores.

Limitations of time/space notwithstanding, whose kitchen would you like to spend the day in & why? Julia Child, Thomas Keller, Ferran Adria, James Beard, Marie-Antoine Careme, or The Swedish Chef?
Since I'm currently trying to read My Life in France, Julia would be top on my list. That, and the fact I remember watching old episodes of her show on PBS on Saturday mornings. Other kids liked cartoons, I watched cook shows.... bizarre child.

What morsel are you most likely to swipe from family & friends’ plates when they aren’t looking?
I am a notorious French Fry bandit. This is especially the case if fries were not a part of my meal. Seeing those long strips of potato-y goodness is a siren song to my fingers. Beware!

Sum your childhood up in one meal.
Hamburger Helper.

I grew up on the lower end of the economic scale, so mom usually made things to stretch and save money. I can still remember picking out the different types of Hamburger Helpers at the store.

The one mainstream food you can’t stand?
Hold the mayo. I've had a long term hate relationship to the condiment. Something about the smell puts me off mainly. People tell me homemade mayo is superior to the commercially made stuff but I don't believe it. Mayo is mayo no matter what and not welcome on my sandwich.

Alton Brown on Hulu

Alton Brown and Good Eats have come to Hulu.com! Right now there are a limited number of full Good Eats episodes the site, five in all, and segments from the show. However there are several of the web shorts AB has done for Food Network's website both newer and ones dating back to 2008.

I love "Mashed Potatoes of the Third Kind" because of homage to "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Yeah, the film geek in me was happy.







And one from the NY Wine and Food Festival in 2008