Nibbles of Tidbits, a Food Blog

You’ve most likely seen the large Panettone boxes in stores over the years, especially around the holidays.  It’s been somewhat of a peripheral thing for me, because I’d never tried it, nor really known much about it.  I’ve since learned that Panettone is a Classic Italian Sweet Bread, that takes about 52 hours to make — Each tall domed loaf is made with love.  I was recently offered the opportunity to try Bauducco’s Panettone.  They make one with Hershey’s Chocolate Chips and another with Candied Papaya, Lime, Orange and Sun-Maid Raisins.  And to be honest, at first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to try ‘em.  I’m not much of a Bread person and thought the Fruit version may be likened to an Old-Fashioned Holiday Fruit Cake, the kind many of us have avoided over the years.  I now know that Panettone is much better than that and shouldn’t be compared to the aforementioned we all shun – Happily, it’s completely different.  It also has an underlying Orange flavor that I really like.  I’m now a Panettone lover. 

Unlike the long-established American-style Fruit Cake, Panettone is light and airy with Fruit pieces spread throughout.  It’s not dense, nor heavy and hard.  It can be enjoyed by tearing away the sweet layers – But if you’re still weary of Bread containing Fruit, start by giving the Chocolate Chip one a try.  Both are great alone or terrific when used to make French Toast or Bread Pudding.

ENTER A COMMENT to possibly WIN a 9 Pound Panettone (8.8 to be exact).  The ones generally seen in stores are large enough at 2 Pounds (1.64 to be exact), thus the 9-Pounder is gigantic.  The winner will receive a 9lb. Bauducco’s Fruit Panettone and a 2lb. Chocolate Chip Panettone.  The GIANT Panettone could make quite the impression at your holiday party this year.  Just leave a comment on this post to be entered into a drawing to have both shipped to you ASAP.

Note:  You may enter this giveaway once a day from now until Sunday, 12/13/09 Midnight Pacific Time — Random drawing winner will be announced shortly thereafter and the Panettone sent when shipping information is obtained.  Good luck to all!

UPDATE (10/13/09):  Contest will close in a little over an hour and a winner will be announced on 10/14/09.

UPDATE (10/14/09):  And the winner is…

We’re excited about the retro priced Burger and French Fries ($2.70) we had for lunch today at Ruby’s Diner.  The service was excellent and the food was fresh and hot at the Irvine Spectrum location.  This should have been reported earlier, but you can get the same before the close of business today (only).  Maybe they’ll offer it again for their 28th Anniversary.

I haven’t verified the following, but found it very interesting.  It was forwarded to me by a friend, and since it’s food related it qualifies to be shared here.  I’ll be buying some Bananas tomorrow.  Read on to learn about the benefits of the Banana…

A Physiological Psychology Professor at CCNY told his class about Bananas – He said the expression “Going Bananas” is from the effects of Bananas on the brain.  After reading this, you’ll never look at a Banana in the same way. 

Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber.  A Banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.  Research has proven that just two Bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.  No wonder the Banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

But energy isn’t the only way a Banana can help keep fit.  It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to a daily diet.

Depression:  According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a Banana.  This is because Bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. 

PMS:  Forget the pills – Eat a Banana.  The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia:  High in iron, Bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and thus helps in cases of anemia. 

Blood Pressure:  This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure.  So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the Banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power:  200 students at a Twickenham Middlesex School in England were helped through their exams this year by eating Bananas at breakfast, during breaks and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power.  Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:  High in fiber, including Bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:  One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a Banana milkshake sweetened with honey.  The Banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn:  Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a Banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:  Snacking on Bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito Bites:  Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a Banana skin.  Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:  Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Ulcers:  The Banana is used as a dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness.  It’s the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.  It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature Control:  Many other cultures see Bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers.  In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat Bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):  Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use:  Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking.  The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:  Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance.  When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels.  They can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium Banana snack.

Strokes:  According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating Bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%.

Warts:  Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of Banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out.  Carefully hold the skin in place with a surgical tape.

A Banana is truly a natural remedy for many ills.  When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.  It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around, so maybe it’s time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, “A Banana a day keeps the doctor away.”

And finally, need a quick shine on our shoes?  Take the inside of the Banana skin and rub it directly on the shoe… Polish with a dry cloth and voila.  It’s an amazing fruit!  Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time.

Every first Friday of December, I host a Girl’s Christmas Party and this year was my 15th annual.  Guests are asked to bring an appetizer, salad, soup or side dish and a $25 value gift for a crazy gift exchange.  A prize and ribbon are awarded to the person bringing the best voted appetizer.  This year’s winning appetizer is posted above and the runner up is below.

In addition to the winning appetizers, we’ve posted several others to provide a few ideas for your Christmas Party.  Everything was yummy and I’m much appreciative for all contributions.

We enjoyed baked Bruschetta with Mozzarella, Tomato, Basil and Balsamic Vinegar, homemade Guacamole and Chips, Antipasto, Vegetables with Ranch Dip, Chips and Onion Dip, Chicken Wings, Hummus with Pita Chips, a Chopped Salad, Spring Rolls, Buffalo Mozzarella with Tomato and Basil, and much more.  Some dishes aren’t pictured due to photo quality.

Dessert preparation is deligated to the best baker in the bunch, Loretta of Nibbles of Tidbits’ Cookie Decorating fame.  She made a few of our old time favorites for all to enjoy.

Dessert included a homemade Chocolate Cake with Frosting piped using my favorite decorating tip (hair tip), Magic Bars and Lemon Squares.  Loretta receives a prize every year for her amazing efforts.

The past couple years money was saved on a tree, due to the display of our adorable Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.  Champagne flows along with the availability of a semi-full bar and lots of Bottled Water.  And poster boards are accessible to view party photos from all previous years.

This year I pulled out an American Idol Microphone to facilitate the party along.  We (I) had a fun time with it — It’s a great way to get your guest’s attention to coordinate the games, the gift exchange and appetizer vote submissions.  We usually end the party with a group photo to be viewed on next year’s poster board.  Unfortunately two left before we remembered to take our 2009 photo.  To view last year’s par-tay highlights, click here.  Merry Christmas!

Who has the right of way when trying to navigate around the excess displays in a grocery store?  It’s getting a little ridiculous.  Why does every aisle have to be loaded such that only one cart can pass at a time?  It causes too much congestion and makes me feel like I’m on an obstacle course.  I’m not going to buy an item because I have to trip over it — Stop the madness.  It doesn’t make for a pleasant shopping experience.

The linked list of 100 Snacking Tips to keep you healthy and satisfied without draining your wallet was sent to me.  It’s marketed towards college students, but I found it to have useful information that everyone could appreciate, thus it’s deemed worthy of being shared here on Nibbles of Tidbits.  Here’s to your health and wallet!

We briefly reported about this before, but it’s definitely worth mentioning again — It’s Baked Trout with Good Seasons Italian Dressing.  It’s super easy to make and one of our favorite home meals.

We’ve probably made it a hundred times over the years, but recently came across an official recipe on Cooks.com.  It’s a terrific combination that takes minutes to prepare.  If we don’t have Trout on hand, we’ll occasionally use butterflied Coho Salmon.

My favorite part of the Cook Or Be Cooked Wii Game is watching Susie Fogelson gag and Mory Thomas fall back on his chair in disgust of most of the dishes we prepared, HA – We cracked up at that.  We actually wanted more and were disappointed that we didn’t see additional ways of showing dislike.  I know that’s not the object of the game, but it’s entertaining.  We wanted them to run out of the room, fall on the floor, or alternately gag and fall back.  Their reactions are a bit redundant, until you get better at the game.

The graphics and likenesses are well done – It’s a little confusing at first, but once you figure out how to go back and forth between the different dish preparations, it’s more interesting.  Wii Cook Or Be Cooked is fun, but we had a better time playing Wii Air Hockey, Skee Ball, Darts, Bowling, Basketball and Shuffleboard the same day.  We were (6) on an RV vacation when we tried Cook Or Be Cooked.  BBQ’ing on the beach in between our Wii game competition was a great time.  We cooked and got cooked by the Food Network this weekend and look forward to doing it again.