Norwitz Notions

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The Next Food Network Star: 6/15/08

June 23rd, 2008 · No Comments

Episode three of the Next Food Network Star focused on presentation. Challenge #1: Feature one special ingredient (the potato) in a single dish (45 minutes to make it…if I remember correctly).  Full use of the pantry for other ingredients.  Then hold the dish, face the camera, and speak about it for exactly one minute, telling […]

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Categories: Dressings & Sauces · Food · Food Commentary · Food Television · Recipes · Vegetable Dishes
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Homemade Popsicles

June 23rd, 2008 · No Comments

Popsicles are an easy summer treat that feels like dessert but can be very healthy if made with the right ingredients.  I always use whole fruit, never juice.  And I don’t sweeten them either.  But you can make them any way you wish. The basic recipe is: Pureed fruit Liquid to make them pourable For […]

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Categories: Desserts · Food · Recipes · Snacks
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The Next Food Network Star: 6/1/08

June 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment

When I watch competition shows I do sometimes get caught up in rooting for the people I like but I usually end up wondering what I would do if it were me up there. The Next Food Network Star does include home cooks (though most are professional caterers, chefs, or restaurant owners, nearly all with […]

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Categories: Dressings & Sauces · Food · Food Commentary · Food Television · Meals & Events · Recipes · Vegetable Dishes
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Fun with a Dehydrator: Fruits & Vegetables

June 6th, 2008 · 8 Comments

I’m loving this dehydrator a coworker of Michael’s gave him.  So far, I’ve made Fruit Leather and a bunch of dried fruits and vegetables.  Below are some of my experiments.  Everything was dried at 115*F to keep it raw.  I run the dehydrator all day then turn it off at night (or when going out) […]

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Categories: Food · Recipes · Snacks
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Fruit Leather Roll-Ups

June 5th, 2008 · 1 Comment

I have a new (to me) dehydrator and it has a plastic insert for making fruit leathers. So I had to try it. I just toss some very ripe fruit into the blender. Mostly stuff too soft for the dried fruit I was prepping. Peach, strawberry, banana. And a pinch of salt. I never remove […]

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Categories: Food · Recipes · Snacks
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Stuffed Spicy Peppers with Tofu Basil Filling

May 24th, 2008 · No Comments

Michael and I were in the terrific produce section of the new branch of Farmer Joe’s market in Oakland last week. They had a wide chile selection and we got some that looked like poblanos, but turned out to be spicier. I made a filling for them the other night. Recipe: 4 stuffing peppers (any […]

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Categories: Food · Main Dishes · Recipes · Vegetable Dishes
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Gluten-Free Vegan Challah

May 24th, 2008 · 10 Comments

We belong to a Shabbus potluck group that meets every month or two.  Yesterday, it was at our home.  Although Miriam (and I) can’t have gluten, traces aren’t an issue.  Unfortunately, it’s not that way with egg.  Even a little crumb can give her symptoms. Challah is a braided egg bread that plays an important […]

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Categories: Food · Grains · Judaism · Recipes · Religion & Holidays · Shabbus
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Gluten-Free Bagel or Flatbread

May 14th, 2008 · 1 Comment

This recipe comes from my friend Carys Starfire, who has kindly given me permission to post it here. The bagels look absolutely amazing, though I’ve been holding back on trying the recipe myself because I think I’d like them too much and I’m trying to keep my carbs down. I’ll give in sooner or later. […]

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Categories: Food · Grains · Recipes
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Vegan Pesto

May 13th, 2008 · 7 Comments

Although I adore basil, I usually make my pesto from other herbs, simply due to availability and cost.  My favorite combo is half cilantro and half parsley.  If I don’t have cilantro, or I don’t have enough of it, I will use spearmint to make up the difference.  All the herbs must be fresh. Your […]

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Categories: Dressings & Sauces · Food · Recipes · Spreads & Dips
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Fried Fish with Tarter Sauce (no gluten, eggs, or dairy)

May 7th, 2008 · 2 Comments

This is one of my favorite “fancy” meals that most everyone likes, even some people who don’t like fish (got my fish-hating brother’s seal of approval).  It takes a while to make though (would be faster with thicker fish and a deep fryer) and it’s not exactly lowcarb.  But yum. Recipe: (Makes enough for 8-10 […]

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Categories: Food · Main Dishes · Recipes
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Vegan Cole Slaw

May 6th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Coleslaw is basically raw shredded cabbage, with or without some other vegetables, in a creamy and/or tangy dressing.  I usually make it from green and red cabbage and carrot, in a mayo/mustard vinegrette.  Comes out very pretty. How you cut the cabbage makes an enormous difference.  I have in the past used the shredder attachment […]

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Categories: Food · Recipes · Vegetable Dishes
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Passover Seder 2008

May 4th, 2008 · 8 Comments

I’ve hosted a Passover seder at my home every year for the last 20 or so (except for the year my mother died the night before Passover 1996 and the following year, the first with Michael, when Michael and I both had the flu).  Each one has a different mix of people, cultures, familiarity with […]

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Categories: Family Life · Food · Judaism · Meals & Events · Passover · Religion & Holidays
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Horseradish with Beet

May 4th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Success with horseradish has been extremely variable, both due to variation in the flavor of the unprocessed horseradish roots, and the fact that it is too strong to sniff or taste during preparation to make small modifications. The ones I made for Passover this year were pretty good. I started with two horseradish roots. They […]

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Categories: Dressings & Sauces · Food · Judaism · Passover · Recipes · Religion & Holidays
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Gefilte Fish

May 4th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Passover 2008: the year of the gefilte fish disaster. This is only the second time we’ve made gefilte (gelfilte, gelfelte, gefelte) fish. The stuff in jars is pretty good (some people hate it but I grew up on and adore the stuff) but every last brand has eggs in it. And pretty much all have […]

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Categories: Food · Judaism · Main Dishes · Passover · Recipes · Religion & Holidays
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Mushroom Olive Compote

April 29th, 2008 · No Comments

I make this simple (but time consuming) dish for Passover every year. It’s not a Passover dish persay but it’s become a tradition. Some of my guests count on it being there. Use quality ingredients and watch the cooking methods and this dish will be perfect. Otherwise, it can be bland or just really off. […]

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Categories: Food · Recipes · Vegetable Dishes
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