Try The World- Paris

Ahhh Paris, the city of lights, city of love, the city of confusing subway systems, and the home of that scary homeless woman who kicked me out of my seat... but that's a story for a another day.

My Try the World Paris box was delivered and I'm a happy camper! I've actually been to Paris so I'm excited to see what's in this box that maybe I've actually come across.

First off, again, the box is so pretty and well put together.
Second... let's dig in!

*Le Saunier De Camargue

-4.4oz retails for $11.95

-This is the one thing in the box that I was by far the most excited about. I love playing with salt and I've never tried Fleur de Sel. You see it all the time with yummy things and I can't wait to use it. My first mission... learn how to make caramels and they will be topped with Fleur de Sel! Salted caramel is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. You could always use this in your cooking instead of kosher salt, but I feel like this product may deserve to be shown off as a garnish. YUM. Plus it's too expensive to just throw in a dish- show it off! The information card lets me know it's cultivated by hand using tried and true methods from centuries back. There are no chemical treatments or additives so you know you're getting a great product and because of the labor intensive nature of it, Fleur de Sel is one of the most exclusive finishing salts! Plus look at this packaging! C'est magnifique! 

*Francois Doucet Candied Fruit Bar

-I can't find much on these, but what I can find- for a package of five bars it runs around $30. 

-What came in my box was a raspberry and apricot. I knew that my dad would really like these so I let him give them a try- always nice to have a surprise treat! He ate them right away and he said they were excellent. I swear, I've never heard the man say something was so good in the tone that he did about these bars. They must have been excellent  The information card tells me that these treats date back to 10th century France! They come in a variety of flavors, they are all natural, and come from an antique recipe. Made simplely from pure fruit pulp and sugar, they can be enjoyed by everyone... unless your're very diabetic, probably shouldn't indulge too much! 

*Mystery Treat! Sables Shortbread by La Mere Poulard

-Different sized packages ranging from $4-$20

-I'm telling you... shortbread cookies are ranked very high on my cookie list. I LOVE shortbread. So when I saw these cookies I dove right in. And oh. My. Goodness. These cookies just seemed to melt in your mouth but are so crisp at the same time. It tasted like I was eating baked blocks of butter so velvety it would make Paula Deen jealous. These cookies are said to be in the works since 1888 from Mont Saint-Michel (a place I am DYING to visit at least once in my life if possible- it's really very cool and beautiful. Do some research!) Mrs. Poulard herself was known for feeding these cookies to pilgrims passing through the medieval cathedral on the island. A++ from me. All. The. Way.

*Truffettes De France Chocolate Truffles

-I couldn't find a price on these, everywhere I'm looking they are unavailable- sorry!

-I was super excited to see these, however, it was short lived. I popped one of these babies and I quickly wished I hadn't. The information card says these are all natural and sustainably grown, and well, they sadly tasted like they indeed came from the ground. I suppose the taste isn't for everyone, but it was clearly a very dark and bitter chocolate bring used to make these and they had a bit of another funky taste I couldn't really put my finger on. But this one was a bust, sadly. But I must say, it was a very well made truffle! Very dense and chocolatey with that signature light dusting of cocoa powder. Funny story, my sister made truffles once for a family gathering an one of my nephews thought it was a doughnut hole. Let's just say he was surprised, but maybe you had to be there. It was hilarious. 

*Maison D'Armorine Salted Butter Caramels

-$19.95 for a 7oz container

-These are winners in my book. I loooove caramel. Salted caramel? Get outta hereeeee. SO GOOD. These caramels are soft and sweet and have that salty flavor that hits you after. Good caramels are hard to come by, I have a hard time finding ones that don't pull your teeth out or leave you chewing for days and these are perfection! The information card tells the story of how this family recipe was born in the summer of 1946 when the French celebrated the return to the beach in Brittany. If biting into one of these is like being on the beach in Brittany, give me my sunglasses, suit, and some caramels please. 

*Domaine Des Vignes Whole Grain Mustard

-Retails for around $5.00 for a 7oz jar

-I'm a growing fan of mustard. When I saw this I got super excited! You can use mustard in so many things- in dressings, for meat rubs- oh that ham! On sandwiches... the list goes on. Whole grain mustard to me is sweet and kind of hot at the same time, crunchy and smooth, sweet and salty. There are so many different uses for mustard I'm sure you can find one. I use it a lot when making my macaroni and cheese- YUM. 

*Charles Antona Minna Organic Jam- Fig and Walnut

-8.8oz retails for $6.95

-I'm not a fan of fig, but I know my parents are, so this is another treat for them. I have yet to find out if they have tried it, but it looks pretty! And if I liked figs, fig and walnut sounds like a really interesting flavor combination! The information card let me know that the jams are all 100% organic and from Minna's (Grandma's) antique recipes. The preserves are from the Mediterranean and one bite promises to transport you! Book me a trip! 

Overall, I'm really impressed with this box. I may not have loved every single bit of it, but I felt it was a really good representation of the regions in France. My favorites by far were the caramels and Fleur de Sel. Hands down. The other thing that really impressed me was the packaging. I'm a big fan of that first impression and everything was so pretty and enticing! I felt I definitely got my money's worth on this box as well, which is always good to know. Well done Paris box, well done!

Meaghan

Try The World- Marrakech

Amount a month ago I'm just chillin, scrolling through Facebook when I see a suggested ad for a subscription box called Try The World. Now, I'm not a fan of the ads so I usually pass them by, but this one sounded like it was right up my alley! So a quick click and I was hooked.

Try The World is a subscription box that's delivered every other month and every box is a different city around the world. Inside, it's filled with goodies! Different food and culture bits and bobs from the select city.

Ordering the box was entirely too easy and felt dangerous, and danger is my middle name. Just kidding, it's Elizabeth. To sweeten the pot, I got in on an offer of getting a Paris box for free, but I'm still waiting on that one.

Some basics- it's a subscription box you get every other month. You can get a single box, a six month subscription to get three boxes, or a year subscription to get six boxes. As it goes with a lot of these things, the longer you buy the subscription for, the lower the prices per box goes. I decided to go with the six month subscription, so it works out to be about $35 per box. I wasn't sure if it was too much, but you get pretty good sized products. I'm interested to see the value of these things! You also get the typical information card with all the deets on the products and a culture guide about the select city with different movies, music, and uses for the goodies you have just received! And Free shipping! YAY! And you cancel any time. Let's get into this! 

So on this particular day, it was a Monday. Typical Monday, not a fun day at work, it had been pouring rain all day so I looked like an extremely unattractive wet dog (the visual is killing you, I know), I had to go to the store and buy junk food to make my day better, and I had a hot date with my couch for the night. I saw the package on my door step and I thought my roommate had ordered something because I didn't remember getting anything- my email was clear of tracking numbers! SURPRISE it's for me! My day then got a bit brighter. I quickly shuffled myself inside out of the elements so rip open my Christmas in April package.

First off, this box is so pretty and sturdy, impressive.
Second... the colors are just so lovely! Anddddd it was packaged so nicely! The products were packed right and tight so no moving around for these babies. Which is good, because there was a lot of glass in the box.

These colors! Am I right?!

*Dip&Scoop Culinary Argan Oil

-3.4oz retails for $24.99

-This is an oil handmade in Southwestern Morocco by Berber women. This company sources the oil in a way that the argan tree will be sustained while preventing the growth of deforestation. The card also indicates that this oil is the product of a family run business, supports the local community, and is organic. Suggestions for this product include, but are not limited to, topping off fish dishes, veggies, and salads. 



*Titus Sardines

-125g is full size. Retails for different amounts, but generally a few bucks. I mean... it's just fish in a can!

-Did you know that sardines are en excellent source of protein, vitamin D, B12, and that Morocco is the largest exporter of canned sardines in the world? Well, now you do! These little babies packed in oil can be incorporated into a ton of dishes- I've seen them replace anchovies in the traditional caesar dressing. The card suggests you'll be hooked enough to eat them right out of the can... I wouldn't go that far. I'm not a fan of fish so these will be making their way into my dad's pantry for him to enjoy.

*Orientines Croquants

-150g retails for around $6.50
-I was most excited for these little treats, I'm a fan of pretty much everything orange. So when I tore into them, I was kind of put off by the look. They looked and felt like little dog treats. BUT what have we been taught forever and ever? Don't judge a book by it's cover. This cookie tastes exactly like a mix of a butter cookie and a shortbread cookie flavored with lots of orange. Very yummy! The card suggests to these make a good pairing with tea. I'll skip the tea and just bring them to work for my 2pm hunger pains. 

*Kefta Rub by Villa Jerada

-50g retails for $14.95

-This spice rub is intended to trasport you to traditional Morocco through the smells and taste of this authentic spice blend of cumin, paprika, morita pepper, mint, coriander, cilantro, and cinnamon. It's suggested to use for lamb, beef, or chicken. This rub is an antique recipe as well as a helper in supporting the community. I don't think I'll be using this one for myself- in my personal opinion, it smells quite horrible and I'm not a fan of pretty much everything that's in it. So this can be a gift for someone who will appreciate it more!

*Dari Organic Couscous

-350g retails for $4.50

-When I think of couscous I think of quinoa. It has very similar uses and tastes. Couscous is rich in potassium, fiber, and antioxidants among other things- it's like a superfood! You can eat it with everything: pretty much every kind of meat, veggie, salads, breakfast, lunch, and dinner! It promises to transform any meal into an authentic Moroccan experience. I haven't had couscous in forever. I used to have it while at one of my best friend's houses I remember- we would have it with Italian dressing. Very classy kids, I know. But I'm excited to have this one and try the topping jar I got as well with maybe some chicken!

*Tajini Couscous Sauce

-400g retails for $5.95

-This product came from the founder's mother-in-law's recipes and his mission to create easy sauces to add authentic flavors to your dishes. In creating this, it supports local farmers and is sustainably grown as well as organic. 

That's the box! From what I'm calculating it's valued at around $50+/-. Pretty good deal for paying $35! Now I must admit, Middle Eastern cuisine isn't my entire cup of tea, but I can definitely find some uses for this stuff. The sardines will go to my dad, no thank you. The spice rub peaked the interest of my roommate- knock yourself out Josh, I'm all set with that. The rest I'm going to play around with andddd I'm excited! 

The culture guide included listed a few recipes for different authentic dishes, a list of some Marrakech music and a Moroccan movie list! If you ever want to have a little theme night, whip up some Kefta, pop in Casablanca, and have yourself an 'ol fashioned good time!

I'm super excited to see what my other boxes will bring, stay tuned!

Meaghan





Go Nuts For Doughnuts

When I was growing up it was glazed, jelly, or powdered sugar. But doughnuts have been a rapidly growing trend in the past few years and there are no signs of it slowing down. I'm not complaining- there are more flavor combinations than I know what to do with! Sweet, spicy, savory... you name it, I'm sure there is a doughnut for it. 

Apparently the doughnut craze hasn't hit hard in my neck of the woods- although we do have a few popping up here and there. Because I don't feel the need to drive half an hour to get one, I figure I can make my own. Can't be that hard right? 

When starting from the beginning we think of the dough, there are a couple different choices. You can go classic yeast that has a light, airy, and sweet flavor. Or you could do a cake doughnut- more dense and heavier. Then you have the latest trend- the cronut. A heavenly hybrid of a croissant and a doughnut. Basically croissant dough fried up like a doughnut. Could there be anything more perfect?! In my best Mrs. Doubtfire voice: Dominique Ansel you wicked wicked man. 

I have a doughnut tin at my disposal, however, I think I may try my hand at the cronut. TO quite Ms Swift... this could end in burning flames or paradise. Go big or go home right? Now that I had the type down, what shall I do to these flavor-wise? Nutella fo sho. Maple... and bacon?! Cheddar with a honey mustard glaze- thought I'd throw in a crazy one. Yes, I think those would be good choices. Let's do this!

The Doughnut:

-I used some all butter puff pastry (You could go all out and make your own puff pastry but giiiirl, ain't nobody got time for that. I'd like to one day, but for now, puff from the box is a perfectly lovely ingredient to work with!) The kind I have available to me has two sheets per box and each sheet is folded into thirds. If this is frozen, you want to thaw in the fridge the night before, or just keep it in the fridge until ready to use. Puff pastry can be kind of picky to work with. You want to put off taking it out of the fridge until the last minute- you want it to stay as cold as possible so that when it cooks all the butter can melt correctly and make some picked steam pockets. Please see below...

-You'll need a good pan for frying. I highly suggest a heavy bottomed enameled cast iron pot. This ensures the heat is distributed evenly and it's easy to clean!
-If you want to get technical, get a candy thermometer to make sure your temp stays where you want it to. If you don't have one, throw the oil on medium, let it heat up, and to test if it's ready, you can stick a wooden spoon in. If it starts to bubble up, you're oil is ready. You could test fry a piece of dough- if it sinks and stays down, the oil is still too cold. If it rises to the top the second it goes in- the oil is too hot. If it sinks and then slowly rises and starts to fry- you're in business! Added bonus of this method? You get a little treat : )
-Get some paper towels laid out so that the oil from the doughnuts has something to absorb into. No one like s a mouth full of oil!

Now that we have all the maintenance worked out- let's get down to business. Not, not to defeat the Huns, but to make some treats! 

*Maple Bacon 
This flavor combination is becoming a trendy one and I can see why- it's amazing, duh. Kind of breakfasty/dessert all in one. For this one I just chopped up some bacon and crisped it up. Let it drain on a paper towel and set it aside to cool. For the glaze I just took a few tablespoons of powdered sugar with a table spoon of maple syrup. It's going to be very thick- thin it out with a drop or two of milk and it will be a nice thin glaze. If it becomes too thin, throw a couple pinches of powdered sugar and mix. If it gets too thick- add another drop of milk. Just don't keep doing this until you have a galon of glaze. What will you do with all that?! Nothing, that's what. After the doughnuts are just cooled enough to be handled, dip the top in the glaze. Let it dry for a few minutes and double dunk that thing. If you're feeling frisky... triple dunk. While the glaze is still wet, put some bacon on top and bam. Amazing. Another fun thing to do with maple and bacon is cupcakes! I've done chocolate cupcakes with a maple frosting topped with bacon. They were gone in a second. 

*Nutella

Nutella is so amazing you can put it on pretty much anything and it will just be insane. I decided to make it a bit better with a little peanut butter. Two tablespoons of Nutella and one tablespoon of peanut butter. Toss it in the microwave for 20 seconds to get it nice and thin for dipping. Mix it up and dip the doughnut right in there. Make sure to get every nook and cranny. It's sooooo good. You can dip this one or drizzle the mixture on top- it's all good. 

Playing with my food.

*Cheddar with Honey Mustard Glaze

Yes, I admit, this is weird sounding. I stumbled across this one while looking through some other food blogs.

www.joythebaker.com

I'm a fan of cheddar and I'm a fan of honey mustard sooooo why not?! For the doughnut I started with the dough and rolled it pretty thin. I placed some slices of cheese and folded the layers onto each other. Rolled it flat again to adhere the layers. When this one cooks, the cheese will ooze a little from the insides. Not the most horrible thing that could happen. For the glaze I mixed a table spoon of honey with a half tablespoon of dijon mustard. Dunk those babies in the glaze and set to dry. These actually tasted pretty good. I think next time I'll use yellow or whole grain mustard, but it was still really good! And the cheese gives it a really nice savory flavor! I bet these would be scrumptious with monterey jack cheese or gruyere! Ohhh I can taste it now. YUM. 

BONUS

* Cinnamon Sugar!

Easiest doughnut you could probably make. I had some extra dough so I mixed a couple table spoons of white granulated sugar with a couple dashes of cinnamon. Get your Bob Marley on and stir it up, little darlin. Toss the doughnuts right from the oil into the sugar. Shake it around  to coat. Done. What did I tell you- easy street. 

These are only a few of the many combinations you can do up! This method gives you a lighter doughnut and the layers are just so good! The butter in the dough just puffs up and so many little air pockets appear. Just amazing.

Look how pretty they are! Just waiting to be gobbled up. And I may have had one... or three already. I told my roommate he can taste test when he gets home, lets hope there are some left! 

I think I have to go cook a burger or something to get my mind off the sweets. Off to the grill!

-Meaghan